Winter Wrap-up, Part 2
Check out the Wrap-up Part 1 for Percy Street Barbecue, Ladder 15 and more!
Lacroix: I love their brunch, absolutely love it. The next time you have a special occasion, treat yourself to it. It is the best $55 you will spend on a meal this year. Their lunch is pretty good. I was not wowed by their dinner. This could be because they are very fish-centric, and Bryan is a fishophobe.
Silk City Diner: Inconsistent. They had a pork belly special that night that was so nice we ordered it twice (one to eat, and one to bring to a friend), and Jenn actually developed a love of brussels sprouts after eating it. But the tuna tacos were nothing to write home about, and the edamame was a disappointment. If you say “soy ginger & sea salt dipping sauces” on your menu, I expect to receive multiple sauces, not one sauce, and edamame with salt on top. It’s just one of those places that rarely comes to mind when I’m thinking food. But outdoor brunch days are nearly upon us, and they certainly have a delightful spot!
10 Arts: We went to 10 Arts the week after Meritage, and had the pork belly appetizer at both. Meritage had a tasty, crispy, fatty, everything-you-expect-pork-belly-to-be dish. 10 Arts was totally, transcendently different. We licked the plate. I have had some things here that were just ok (skip the pasta), but most things I have had here were truly noteworthy. A pricey meal, but worth trying. I’ve heard bad things about the Restaurant Week experience, though.
Le Virtu: As a rule, I don’t go out for Italian. I think I make it pretty well, and I think Italian out is expensive for what you get. Le Virtu did not change my mind. If you go out for Italian, though, I bet you will like it. My dining companions definitely did, and check out how tasty that mozzarella looks!
New Delhi: Though they are not as spicy as when you order off the menu, I dig Indian buffets. Otherwise, with 2 people, you only get to taste 2 dishes, and this makes me very sad. New Delhi is my in-town standby for buffets, almost entirely because they let you pick your dessert. What if I couldn’t have gulab jamun? I might cry. I had a truly awesome Indian buffet in Exton or Pottstown a few months ago. (It had a chaat bar! And mango lassis in the buffet! Well worth the $12 lunch price.) Where do you head when you’re looking for an Indian buffet?
Fond: Do not skip dessert! I had a mascarpone “cannolis” made out of tuile cookies, a hazelnut sauce and raspberry-rhubarb sorbet that was just incredible. Dinner was tasty, service was lovely, and the price was right. It’s a really small place, though, so a table of loud and obnoxious people can spoil your meal. Not that I wasn’t fascinated by their diatribes on the female psyche, but … I can stay home and watch Spike TV for that.
I’m going to be on my honeymoon in Belize next week. So, keep an eye out for posts from Jenn and Michael, and I’ll see you when I get back!
April 5, 2010
Winter Restaurant Wrap-Up
As a rule, I don’t blog dates I go on with Bryan. I’m busy taking pictures and thinking about what I might write, and it seems less like a date and more like … well, let’s just say I don’t do it. But we go out once a week, so that’s a lot of restaurants that I would tell you about in real life, but don’t get mentioned on the blog. So, let’s have a recap episode!
Ladder 15: We had the Korean tacos. They were good. For everything else, Pub and Kitchen does it better, and I actively disliked the goat cheese and potato cigars. But I loved Ansill, and it’s conveniently located. I would give it a shot again in a few months.
Mémé: I really enjoyed Mémé, even after ending up there during restaurant week (by accident.) The sizzling mussels give Fore Street’s wood oven roasted mussels a run for their money. I loved their chocolate cake; it smashed through the Capogiro barrier (as in “I would rather have had…”) Check it out. I’d definitely go back.
Tiffin Etc: I actually liked the murg makhani pizza. I love kati rolls, and was very sad that Tiffin’s were disappointing. The stuffed parathas were meh. It was just two of us, so I didn’t get to try the south indian options. On the upside, it was super cheap, so you don’t feel bad if you don’t love it. And, you can still order off the regular Tiffin menu, So, if you feel like your standard Tiffin order is getting a little stale, you can mix it up with some of the et ceteras on offer next door.
Meritage: When I go out, I like to taste as many things as possible, an occupational hazard developed from years of eating with 8 people when I went out. So, the snacks/small plates/larger plates setup at Meritage really worked for me. We had 3 snacks, 2 small plates, and 1 larger plate, and it was great variety at a great price. Plus, foie gras dumplings! I had a lovely time at Meritage. But, when I got home that night, they had canceled my opentable reservation. A sour note to end a nice evening. I’ve still already recommended it.
Percy Street Barbeque: I was so happy I got the Lockhart when I went! The Lockhart requires 4 or more people to order it, and gives you a taste of everything on the menu. On a return, I would get the brisket, pork belly and chicken, with pinto beans (this is saying something; I am not usually a bean fan), black eyed peas salad, green bean casserole and german potato salad. The root beer chili was also tasty and interesting, but it’s meat in a bowl instead of meat on a plate, and didn’t really feel like a side. The Lockhart comes with dessert, and I had the apple crisp. It was… smoky. Next time, I would get the german chocolate cake. (This was not a date, if you can’t tell from the 4+ people, and the existence of pictures.)
Stay tuned Wednesday for Part 2: Fond, 10Arts and more!
