Midtown Lunch

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 John, a lawyer who loves brisket and hates Big Macs.

Name: John E.

Age: 37

Occupation: Attorney

Where in Philly do you Work?: Law firm at One Liberty Place, 17th and Market

Favorite Kind of Food: Barbecue – in particular, beef brisket and ribs. I tell my vegetarian friends that if something will make them switch back to meat, it’s good barbecue.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Mega chain fast food and restaurants. There are too many great places around town to eat to settle for Subway, Wendy’s, Ruby Tuesday’s and Applebees.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: Roast pork sandwich from John’s Roast Pork (14 E. Snyder Ave.), everything from Paesano’s (1017 S. 9th St.), small falafel and side of latkes from Mama’s Vegetarian (18 S. 20th St.), platter from Christo’s Falafel cart (Southeast corner of 20th and Market St.).

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At the end of October, the Swedish Museum held its 2nd Annual Meatball Matchup. I helped judge the 8 amateurs, so I had no room left to try any of the professional meatballs. The crowd chose Pastificio as the pro winner, and I promised myself  a trip down there.

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• honeygrow is coming to Center City with stir fry and salads under $10 [The Insider]
• The chicken maroosh is tender and comes with great sauce at Saads Halal [Philly Phoodie]
• Shrimp tacos at Chili’s aren’t terrible? [The Inquirer]
• A new Vietnamese restaurant has opened on in Southwest Philly [Meal Ticket]

Sometimes, when it is just one of those no good, very bad days, you want a lunch that fits the occasion. A.P.J. Texas Weiner Restaurant, around but not inside Reading Terminal, is a small diner serving the basics to all who enter. The fact that you don’t have to worry about anyone trying to talk to you combined with the greasy atmosphere makes it the right place to eat when you need to sit down and have a little grumpy alone time. And Hot Dog expert Hawk approves of their weiner, so I had faith it would hit the spot.

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I’ve passed by Wong Wong a million times without thinking much about it. I needed a quick lunch in Chinatown and wanted to go somewhere I have never been before. Wong Wong advertised lunch specials, so I went in.

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No profile volunteers today, boo! Instead, I am writing about a few food products I have gotten recently that I absolutely love.

Urban honey! I was so happy to finally get my hands on this. Mine comes from the roof of  SHARE, a non profit food distribution program in North Philly (I recommend volunteering there, it is very rewarding).  The honey is light with floral notes, and is good for allergies at the same time.

After the jump: spiciness

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Taco Loco is a truck on 4th and Washington with a simple Mexican menu. They serve tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas, and sodas. Tacos are $2.50 each, nothing loco about that. I got 2 of them.  A nice day like today is the right time to sit on the plastic chairs they keep on the sidewalk next to the truck and watch the world go by as your wait for your food.

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