Midtown Lunch

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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Last week, Szechuan Dim Sum Restaurant opened at 9th and Arch,  taking over the Happy Restaurant space. Another newcomer attempts to make it in Chinatown. So new, that take out menus aren’t available yet. Don’t expect an Americanized menu over here, this crew is not afraid to dump a pile of peppers on you.

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• Blackbird Pizzeria and Cantina Dos Segundos are the places to be for vegan cheesesteaks [Philly.com]
• For something meatier, a Zagat slideshow of sausage sandwiches around town [Zagat]
• For something cheesier, Eater suggests 5 calzones worth the calories [Eater]
• Save this Zagat post with links to the Spring food truck schedules at LOVE Park, The Porch, and the Navy Yard [Zagat]
• Tickets are on sale for Flavor of the Avenue with a long list of participating E. Passyunk restaurants [Aversa PR]

Now that the horrible weather is finally breaking, snacking at a stand is sounding like a better idea. Porky’s Point in North Philly is a Puerto Rican take out restaurant with a lot of pork and cheap, fried snacks.

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Bored of food from the European and American continents? Travel west on Woodland Ave, really really west. It doesn’t take as long as you think. When you get to the 60s you will start to see a few African restaurants. You can do as we did, picking African Small Pot, a small restaurant specializing in West African food.

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Photo Courtesy of Zagat

• A round up of Pi Day specials [Foobooz]
• The Penn Museum is offering Native American lunch specials to coincide with their Native American voices exhibit. Fried hominy and buffalo chili with a side of art  [Foobooz]
• Foolish Waffles truck will be sweetening up the streets in a few weeks [Zagat]
• As always, Thrillist does not disappoint with a round up of something fatty we all crave- this week, the best mac and cheese in Philly [Thrillist]
• Penn students love Cheese E.. Wagon‘s quesadillas like we do [Penn Appetit]

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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