Midtown Lunch

Today, Nick from My Inner Fatty is seeking pho in University City.

Now that we’re deeply entrenched in the Fall season, the weather’s getting less pleasant, and the temperatures are dipping. With the depressing nature of the upcoming months, sometimes it can feel like a chore to even bother trekking out to make that daily trip for lunch… unless waiting for you at the other end of that trip was something so deliciously heartwarming and uplifting. Pho does that. When it’s absolutely frigid outside, a hot bowl of sweet beef broth can solve even your greatest of problems. Now all I had to do was find it in University City…

I had heard about Pho Cafe Saigon when I asked a few friends about Vietnamese noodles a few weeks ago. Located on 43rd and Spruce, it’s a bit out of the way, requiring a dedicated trip, but having no other immediate options, I still wanted to try it out personally. The store itself is small and nondescript, with only a simple red awning reading ‘Vietnamese Restaurant,’ hinting at its potential for greatness. Their menu is long and diverse, but let’s be honest… you’d only go here for the main attraction. They list various types of Pho (differing in the cuts of meat used) all ranging in price from $7.25-8, from the relatively innocuous plain beef, to a tripe infested ‘deluxe’ incarnation for the more adventurous eaters in many of you. With virtually no wait time to speak of and excellent prices, this could truly be considered a hidden gem of noodling excellence.

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As is customary at Philly Lunch, every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Philadelphia. This week, it’s Meredith, aka The Blue Jean Chef.

Name: Meredith

Age: 41

Occupation: Self-employed television presenter on QVC – Blue Jean Chef

Where in Philly do you Work?: Queen Village

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Wasabi House is a small and rather cute looking sushi spot that blends into scenic Pine street. Inside, it is just as small as the outside, with a sushi counter and a few tables for intimate sushi eating and BYOBing.  While I thought I was coming in for the $6.95 lunch bento, it just didn’t sound so appealing to me- I didn’t really feel like getting a plain old California roll and some plain old dumplings that were most likely frozen.  And although the signs displaying new menu items -bibimbap and japchae- sounded good in theory, I figured with a small kitchen like that, I should stick to the basics. More ordering philosophy after the jump…

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The Perkedel I mention in the “Unfamiliar” Category of the Philadelphia Weekly article

• Check out this article from Philadelphia Weekly compiling suggestions from local food writers, including 2 suggestions (picks from Rangoon and Indonesia Restaurant)  from me! [Philadelphia Weekly]
• And Midtown Lunch creator Zach Brooks is #4 on Food and Wine’s 40 big food thinkers under 40 [Food and Wine]
• Cheesesteak Egg Rolls are apparently amazing at JR Monaghan’s [Foodzings]
• Middle Eastern Restaurant replaced by Middle Eastern Restaurant. King Tut will be replacing Leila Cafe on 13th and pine by the end of the month [The Inquirer]
• The chef from the late Bebe’s BBQ has found a new home in the kitchen of Fergie’s Pub. Seems like a good time for a beer and bar food [Meal Ticket]

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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Today, Nick from My Inner Fatty is sharing secrets of campus dining for the general public.

Campus dining?  Yes… I know, repressed memories of vegan ‘ribs’ are all flooding back. Luckily, it’s not always as bad as it sounds. Case in point… the crepe place at Penn. Hidden inside Houston Hall, located on Walnut just West of 34th, there exists a small place called “Pari La Petite Creperie.” It’s a magical corner shop that serves up a dizzying variety of thin crepes, stuffed with your choice of savory or decadent,expected toppings like Nutella and chocolate. It’s a place that most students here know well and hold dear to their hearts. The guy at the counter is about as friendly as they come, the prices are reasonable ($5-7), and the crepes are made fresh and fast. Despite the fact that they’re awesome at what they do, most people don’t know about this place. It’s about time that someone corrected this grave injustice. Penn students should share their secret with the public. It is open to everyone after all.

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After being missing for several months the Irie Food Truck is back. They needed some time to get the truck inspection level ready. For now, just breakfast and sandwiches will be served. The Jamaican menu, including the Jamaican patties and stew chicken, is back next week.

Meal Ticket has just reported that a taco truck opened on 12th and Norris. Chris’s Taco Truck is now in its 2nd week. Tacos are $6 for 3. Check out the Facebook page or Twitter for updates.

Update: And more tacos! It looks like Coup de Taco is testing out Temple Campus on Tuesdays. This would be their 3rd location, in addition to University City and LOVE Park. Double check their location on Twitter.