Archive for 'Center City'

Dos Tacos in Center City

If I had a dollar for every iteration of casual eatery I have written about that existed at the corner of 15th and Sansom (Aqua, Shank’s, Enzo’s) I could buy quite a few tacos. Dos Tacos opened this summer with a menu of fanciful tacos. They made the most of the small space with Day of the Dead themed wall decorations.  Tacos come 2 to an order, as the name suggests.   Read more »

Parkside Beef and Ale

Parkside Beef and Ale is a bar right by LOVE Park that you may never have noticed. I noticed it because of the sign announcing its $5.55 rotating lunch specials every week day. On Wednesdays the special is…

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Fried Sushi Burritos + A Free Lunch at Hai Street Kitchen

Today, in celebration of their 1 year anniversary, Hai Street Kitchen is offering FREE sushi burritos (starting at 11am, for the first 200 customers at both the Center City and University City locations). I have been a fan of Hai Street and their sushi burritos since I visited soon after their opening last year. I liked the shrimp tempura, loved all the veggie fillers and sauces, and was just ok on the pork belly. Plus I was sad there was salmon but no tuna. The kitchen is really receptive to feedback. Now, the rolls are bigger, the pork belly was replaced by citrus pork,  and spicy tuna tartar has found its rightful place on the menu.  And more recently, they did something extra awesome, catering to the ladies and fellas who always want to take it to the next level- any sushi burrito can now be flash fried.

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Toasted Corn Bread from The Bakeshop on 20th

Although I am enticed on the daily by the petite- sized Bakeshop on 20th and its changing specials board, it took me a while to stop on in. The cafe sells simple breakfast and lunch sandwiches and pastries, along with coffee.

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Savory Bowls at Metropolitan Cafe

Metropolitan Cafe is conveniently located on the South end of Rittenhouse Square, next to its small bakery. The cafe sells  sandwiches, soups, snacks, pastries and more, plus a caffeinated drinks. It’s pretty cozy in there, and the large windows are perfect for watching people walk by.

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Federal Donuts Coconut Curry Fried Chicken

Now that the lines have died down, and the possibility of selling out is not as dire, Federal Donuts has become a favorite place of mine to take visitors. The Center City location seems to have a steady steam of traffic at all times. They make the most out of the small space with little tables and window counter seating.

A half order ($9.25) consists of a breast, thigh and drumstick; its a lot of fried chicken for one person, but its also awesome to share if you are trying to give someone a taste of Philly. (On that same block of Sansom Street you can also get dosas, korean tacos, and hummus)
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Top Lunches of 2014

A pre New Year round up of my favorites bites is a fun excuse to look back on each year of dining. It is also incentive to get down and hold the plank position until the ball drops.  Here are my 2014 eating highlights:

During my first overseas trip of the  year, I ate my way through Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai!

Soon after, I started giving Chinatown Food Tours! (if you still owe someone a belated Holiday gift, its not a bad idea!)

I wrote a few fun articles for Zagat, including one on shopping at “ethnic” markets.

On an outing to Graffiti Pier in Port Richmond, I put together a Polish picnic that you can replicate.

For my birthday, we celebrated with beer and a Puerto Rican Pork feast.

I coordinated a food truck festival for 15,000 people in Mt. Airy.

On a solo vacation in Mexico City, I ate a ton of street meat.

I was really proud of my Federal Donuts costume this Halloween.

Way more, after the jump…

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