Midtown Lunch

Solomonov is back with another food gimmick that works too well to make you mad at it. Across from his chicken and donuts shop is the newest mini-restaurant, Dizengoff, a hummusiya. Like a savory, chick pea based ice cream shop, you get to pick your topping.  Although I am a life long member of Team Baba Ganoush, I knew this particular hummus would be a nosh worth spending my gelt on.  Dizengoff, named after a super hip shopping area in Tel Aviv, bring some hipness to Sansom Street with its open entrance, colorful tiled and mirrored walls, and baseball card ordering system. A few tables are located in front of the counter, though its more of a take out spot.

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Photo Courtesy of Zagat

• Reading Terminal is getting a new burger stand. Would you choose a burger over Dinics? [The Insider]
• Speaking of Dinics-I am going to have to agree with most of this “overrated” local foods list from Zagat. Especially about Dinic’s pulled pork over the roasted  [Zagat]
• South St Bagels (which this New York bagel snob actually deems as decent) is opening a Center City location [Foobooz]
• And I can’t vouch for any of these, but a whole slew of other bagel spots are on their way too. Its about time we have  Philly bagel revolution [Zagat]

Traditional Szechuan opened a few months ago on the corner of 9th and Arch this year. I like to try out all the new restaurants that pop up in Chinatown, especially the spicy ones, so the $6 lunch special was just an extra incentive.

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I have been picnicking pretty hard this summer; casually eating outside is one of life’s simple pleasures. Making my way over to a Mann Center performance, I wanted to pick something up nearby to make a little picnic to go along with the classical music and BYO summer friendly white wine we brought. The area by the Mann Center is rich with tiny, Caribbean and Jamaican spots.  I picked two of them, right across the street from each other, just north of the 52nd Street subway stop.  Both had similar set ups, a counter to order large platters from and a few tables to sit at.

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Hummus elsewhere, from King of Falafel

• The Zavino crew is opening a Mediterranean enoteca in Midtown Village next year [The Insider]
• For something happening sooner, the Solomonov hummisaya,  Dizengoff,  is sort of open! [Eater]
• Play around with Yelp “trends” to see what other locals really care about [Foobooz]
• I could go for something peachy right now, 7 Zagat recommended peach dishes around town [Zagat]

Foods on First on Arch Street is pretty easy to walk by. I stopped in because I confused it with the place next door offering fried chicken. But once I was inside and realized my error, I already sort of felt like I had to go with it. I was the only one inside and it felt wrong to walk out, plus I figured I could find something worth eating.

Besides a slew of sandwiches, they had a list of pasta specials for lunch. I so rarely order pasta, that I was tempted.

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While looking for lunch somewhere near the Barne’s Museum, I remembered wanting to try Zorba’s, a sort of casual Greek restaurant that is unfortunately uncommon in Philadelphia (the other ones that comes to mind are Sandy’s and  South Street Souvlaki, which I liked and owe  revisits to).

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