Archive for 'University City'

Izakaya Lunch at CoZara

Philly is lacking in Izakayas; the Japanese, tapas-style, non-sushi, drinking encouraged type of place. CoZara, in University City, is helping to fill that gap. Open since late April, lunch service has finally started and I was lucky enough to receive an invite to try the lunch menu items.

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Green Tea Ice Cream Topped Liege Waffles from Carina Tea & Waffles

 Carina’s Tea and Waffles is a new cafe located in UPenn’s International House, though you can access it through a separate outdoor entrance up a set of stairs to the left of the International House. As the name suggests, you will find many  iterations of tea and Belgian style waffles inside.

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Lunch Links (The “Indian Restaurant/Grocery Store” Edition)

Rice and Spice

  •  The kids at Penn don’t have to go far from spicy Indian food at Rice and Spice  [Penn Appetit]
  • And those well fed kids will be getting a fish taco place soon [The Insider]
  • There are some cheap lunches going in at Sassafras while a new lunch menu gets finalized [Phoodie]
  • No love for the Italian hoagie at Pastaficio’s,  stick to the meatballs then! [22nd and Philly]

Must Try: Koreana Wings

A few years ago, Luncher Nick told us about his superior parking lot  lunch from Koreana (he had the bibimbap and jabchae). I visited for my first time and tried some of the other items from their fast- food- meets- traditional Korean menu.

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Going Undercover For Tortas Fronteras

Kids have it so good these days. Back in my day, we had 2 dining options as college freshmen, the dining hall and a pretty lame cafe. But as of last month, Penn students can dine at a fast food concept by James Beard Award winner Rick Bayless. Tortas Fronteras is a Mexican fast food chain that tries to keep things as fresh as possible given the chainyness. Once you find the place on campus (its the Arch building, make a left once inside), all you have to do is switch out your suit for some skinny jeans and a brightly colored top so you too can dine like a college student. Just kidding, its open to the public, but going undercover is fun anyway.  While waiting for your food try to hit on the students and see if you “still got it”

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Lunch at The Fat Ham Had Me Saying Uncle


This winter, Kevin Sbraga (Top Chef Season 7 winner) opened his second Philadelphia restaurant, The Fat Ham, right off the Walnut Street bridge in University City. Last month, lunch service began and I was recently invited to check it out.  I love Top Chef and  I love new restaurants that offer lunch.  I sipped a spiced pear cocktail, admired the country-chic decor, and browsed the concise lunch menu.

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Pakistani Style Fried Chicken for 2 at Kabobeesh

Kabobeesh’s familiar long, single level design would lead you to believe it is a diner. But instead of waffles and milkshakes, you will find curry and  lassis inside. Kabobeesh has a full menu of Pakistaki meat and vegetables in sandwich and platter form. I wasn’t sure what I was going to order when the rotating food slide show above the counter plastered a picture of a whole fried chicken.  I remembered my previous experiences ripping in to an entire fried chicken at Wa-Gi-Wah, and decided to see how this bird compared.

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