Midtown Lunch

• I don’t always love kale salad, but this blurb on Hibiscus Cafe piqued my interest in the rest of their menu [Phila Weekly]
• Andy’s Chicken in Fishtown has a menu [Foobooz]
• I’ve been wondering what all that construction at the former Crumbs location on 18th St was all about, a vegan Latin bar is coming [The Insider]
• Craig Laban and Brian Freedman have good things to say about Same Same- both agreeing the more expensive than average banh mi is worth it

In 2012, Luncher John reported on the newly opened honeygrow and was relatively satisfied by the noodles and fruit bowls, but not enthused about the lines. While the crowds seem to still favor Honeygrow, they are a bit more manageable now, which meant it was finally time for me to check it out. I have passed by countless times, smelling good things, but being skeptical of the concept.

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Earlier this month, T Swirl Crepe, which has several locations in NYC, opened in our Chinatown. The menu consists of sweet and savory crepes, all made to order in a pretty efficient assembly line style open kitchen.

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• Others agree, the dan dan is the only weak link at DanDan [Philly Lunch Hour]
• Cochon is turning in to Square Pie [The Insider]
• Georgio’s on Pine is opening a pizza place too  [The Insider]
• A Circles Thai has replaced Tuk Tuk Real, thankfully [Eater]

This should be your lunch plan for tomorrow. Only open Friday-Sunday, South Philly Barbacoa recently moved from weekend cart oasis in South Philly to an  Isaiah Zagar decorated space at 11th and Morris- 2 blocks away from where the cart used to be parked.  Like the cart, the main offerings are barbacoa and pancita tacos, the former = slow cooked lamb, the later = organy, lamb loose sausage. I wimped out on the pancita, but I eagerly watched my lamb pieces get pulled apart and placed in the taco for me.

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Bistro South East opened quietly last month by a husband and wife team, serving Vietnamese influenced sandwiches for lunch every day and a seafood focused menu at night.  The name doesn’t do it any favors.  Unless you knew they served Vietnamese food, you might be confused why a restaurant on South Street West would pick that name. But now, we get it. Staff is super friendly and I liked the drawn guides to eating seafood on the wall (dinner menu includes crawfish by the pound). Read more »

• Gusto makes a solid Italian hoagie [Philly Phoodie]
• 4 food kickstarters around town- help make these businesses happen/grow! I am biased towards my  baker friend, Jimmie [Eater]
• Kung Pao chicken wings at Whetstone sound great [Zagat]
• Pizzeria Beddia in pictures [Ted Nghiem]