Midtown Lunch

Wokano on Washington Ave serves dim sum every day. The exterior is not too inviting, but inside it has the standard dim sum joint look; you know, gaudy chandeliers and big round tables.  Like most dim sum places, the stream of goodies dies down after lunch time, but at Wokano you can order from a one page menu of dim sum option, ensuring a fresh and hot product. Just know that they do run out of things.

I have certain standard for dim sum, so I had to find out: Woka-no or Woka-yes? I’m sorry, that’s likely the worst pun I have ever done.

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This weekend was the 4th Annual Meatball Matchup at the American Swedish Histpril Museum. I judged the amaetuer competitors along with Hawk Krall and was reminded of a review he wrote a while back about the sandwiches made at the tiny El Soto Deli & Grocery.

El Soto was even smaller than I imagined, just a few shelved stocked with things like jalepeno chips, tropical jello flavors, and mole starter kits plus a counter to pay at one end and a counter to order from their selections of sandwiches at the other end.

While they don’t make their own stuff here- the deli meat is mostly Dietz & Watson, they do have great options for sandwich accompaniments and were flexible enough to let me create me own.

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On a pork mission, the greatest type of all missions, I went northwards to Freddy and Tony’s Restaurant, a Puerto Rican staple established in 1980. Inside, the multiple Puerto Rican flags and wood paneling assure you won’t mistake this place for anything its not.

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Friends from NYC came to visit our humble city to take advantage of the fact that so many of our bars serve amazing beer without pretension or annoying crowds. I mostly take that perk for granted, but my taste buds and liver were quickly reminded with the help of my friends.

One of our stops for beer and food was American Sardine Beer, because I can count on it for a good meal and interesting beer. Plus the patio is open, equipped with bright flowers and a tomato plant I may have stolen from.  Read more »

Pumpkin restaurant on South Street is a classy “farm to table” style joint, with beautiful looking food that I can’t really afford. Next door, at Pumpkin Market, the sandwiches, soups, and salads are more accessible, but keep with the local wherever possible concept.  Order at the counter and seat yourself in the small downstairs area or outside in the mini garden abutting South Street. You may be a foot away from exhaust engines, but position yourself so you can focus on the cuteness of the flowers and herbs surrounding you.

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Cousin’s Grubhouse, a luncheonette in South Philly, was revamped under new ownership in March of this year, though I have no idea what the previous Cousin’s was like.   Few luncheonette style places like this are left  in the city; the kind Guy Fieri would visit on Triple D.  The menu includes all the breakfast staples you can think of, plus meat filled sandwiches, and things like hot dogs with peanut butter and bananas, chicken and waffles, and pancakes stuffed with bacon. Its a lot of comfort food to choose from.

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Today, Luncher John is eating giant portable BBQ.

I was very excited when the Guerrilla Ultima Truck appeared on the LOVE Park and City Hall Courtyard schedules this summer. Earlier this year, I spotted this truck in Pennsport, where it had been making occasional appearances. Recently, it expanded its schedule to now include weekly stops in Center City. It was worth the wait.
In its most basic description, Guerrilla is a barbecue truck, but that’s too simplistic to describe what it does. Guerrilla takes basic America barbecue, like pork or chicken, and integrates different cooking styles, such as Asian and Latin flavors.
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