Midtown Lunch

This week I sent our bagel hungry Profiled Luncher Lauren to check out the veggie packed lunches at Picnic, mentioned briefly by Luncher Wayles

After almost four years at Penn, I had somehow managed to miss Picnic, a casual restaurant at the edge of University City.  Finally, two friends and I braved the cold and walked the daunting eight blocks (a serious endeavor for a weekday!) for a late lunch.  Picnic offers a selection of daily specials that include soups, sandwiches, salads, and dishes from their refrigerated case.  For those who don’t have time to sit, they also offer “ready-to-go” items that can be quickly wrapped.  We decided to order one soup, one sandwich, and one salad to best cover the menu.

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I know there are people out there who simply do not love the flavors of Indian cooking, and that’s their business. And of course, like myself, there are tons of people who seek out Indian food. At Philadelphia Chutney Company both types of diners can share a table. Many of the dosas are filled with atypical ingredients, like ones you would find in a wrap. So, this is a way someone could dip their toe into trying Indian food, with experiencing the dosa wrapper, while remaining in their comfort zone. And, since the 2 menu items -dosas and uttapas- are gluten free, this was the another place to dine with my gluten free, non-Indian food loving friend.

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Back in April, the Renassiance Sausage Truck made its debut, and everyone was excited. The truck guys hopped on the organic/local bandwagon, plus they offer a vegetarian sausage. They cleverly covered all their bases. After many months, I finally got to try their product. The other menu items are fancy sodas and teas, some side dishes, and breakfast sandwiches. The organic/local thing does not come cheap, all sausages are $7 or $8 dollars. Was it worth it?

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My mission to Govindas’s Vegetarian To- Go may have been motivated by a carnivore’s smugness, an assumption that fake meat is categorically lame. My expectations were low, to say the least. I didn’t care how many hippies penned odes of love for Govinda.

But when I walked in (to the informal take out area, as opposed to the dining room which has a separate menu), I didn’t hate it. There were no wheatgrass lined windows, no ironic posters, not even a menu written on a chalkboard with cutsey handwriting and drawings.  I didn’t feel like the people behind the counter would detect last night’s pork on me and scorn me for it. It was just about getting the food; I appreciated that.

At the stark counter, with no judgments passed on either side, I ordered my fake meat.

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I won’t lie, I have hit up National Mechanics for a late night dance party or two. And maybe while cutting a rug I thought to myself, “but how is the food?” National Mechanics claims to have the best veggie burger in the world. I love vegetables, but I can’t remember the last time I had a veggie burger. But with a claim like that, I’m game. But will it really win me over and make me not miss the beef?

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What is the deal with the Bellevue Food Court? Is it worth checking out? Is it overpriced garbage or might there be some hidden gems? I had to find out. I bravely entered the Bellevue and made my way down the escalator having no idea where I would end up.  Then I saw Yunique Noodle House and I was back in my comfort zone. They have a mostly Korean menu, but they serve both Pho (Vietnamese soup) and Ramen (Japanese soup)…  this could be a bad sign or something great.

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