CoolPapaBell

In fact, I don’t know if this was at select or all locations, but shortly before Gino’s closed they tried the gourmet burger thing. They even had a condiment bar. As I remember it was not as elaborate as Fuddruckers but along those lines. It used to be where you could get KFC.

The chocolate chip croissants are as good as it gets. Anyone have their homemade ice cream? I will have to try next trip to Joisey.

They were correct, good cheesesteak at Tony Luke's inside. Also there was a long line at Geno's. I've been to another Primo's and I was disappointed but will give it another shot.

Relatives everywhere, so my question is how many are convenient to this route (combinations of trips): From Palm Beach County I-75 to I-85 in Atlanta, to I-95 in Petersburg, VA either through Philly or maybe picking up I-295 in Debellaware?

Definitely very good and more than worth a visit. I will be back.

Uh, Cool, that was awarded in 2003. Which happens to be the most recent "Best of". I believe in South Jersey Mag it got best chicken cheesesteak in the latest issue.

I can’t deny that it’s blasphemy but the truth hurts. Philadelphia Magazine painfully acknowledges the best cheesesteak is not in the City of Brotherly love, it’s in Cherry Hill. And the chicken cheesesteak is even better. Come on over to the wild side.

Okay in honor of the aforesaid snobby guy on another board, I'd like to hear honest comparisons of the non-sushi items to Morimito. Katie I know you weighed in pretty much, but I think this snobby guy is afraid of the 'burbs. Sushi and non-sushi, is Katy correct that Fuji is better than the Philly boy? PS: Next trip I will do Morimito. I've been to the big three in SJ: Fuji, Mikado and Sagami, but not yet Morimito.

I actually use the term “dump” endearingly. Many of my favorite places are. I don’t mean dirty or nasty, just a hole in the wall that thrives sans creature comforts. A new sushi place has opened where Kyoto was. I don’t know of the details as to why they closed. But yes it is an outstanding shopping center for foodies. Meil Pastry from Robert Bennett is in there and there is an upscale Italian places I think called Misto that seemed to at least be doing a bang up business, though I haven’t heard too many reviews.

Okay now your next trip is to Sagami. The service is horrific--here's your hat, what's your hurry. But the food is good. Like Fuji, it's pretty much a dump, but TRUE foodies who know some of the best places are away from where Center City Sam begs for a few bucks must visit as well. I found Misado to not be too bad either though the other two are better. I'm sorry to say Kyoto at Merchant's Walk has closed though.

Why not that place in Salem--Hudack's or whatever it's called? I have not been but for future reference, how close to I-95 or 295 are they.

Okay, I see the talk about meat in a cheesesteak, but how about another item on the menu? When I visit my old stomping grounds, I always have to pick up a hoagie…or two or three. What elevates a Delaware Valley version from the rest of the world is the quality of the rolls. However, I notice most of the top shops in metro use either Dietz & Watson or Thuman’s meat. Both are high quality, but IMHO Boar’s Head is the king. Why the dearth of Boar’s Head in Philly area hoagie places? To me, a place that has Amoroso rolls with a generous serving of Boar’s Head can rise above the rest.

I think Franco's in Haddon Twp/Westmont claims to be the originator of the panzarotti. Maybe their original location is/was in Camden? I think the Mexican places are on Federal St. I ate at Taco Loco years ago--cheap and tasty, with a good Mexican grocery store across the street. It's antics with semantics. A lot of places say they serve “the original panzarotti” which they do via a license agreement. That is different that being the originator of the panzarotti which started in Camden as per the linked story.

I just returned from my old stomping ground across the river and I'd put both Big John's and Chick's (Philly Magazine agrees) as good as any in Brotherly Love.

I would certainly think Camden would have some great authentic Mexican, but it brings new meaning to "food worth dying for". If I am not mistaken, the place that invented panzarotti in the late 60s or early 70s is still around in east Camden. It's on Old Marlton Pike.

I agree with 212 Market. I think we've been three times and it's always very good.

Katie there is a really snobby guy on the aforesaid posting board who is incredulous that lil’ South Jersey could have two sushi places that blow away any in Atlanta. Mikado is a third that may be as good as. I try to educate the boy but he won’t listen. I am very close with an international businessman who has eaten sushi all over the planet and declares that Fuji is “the best sushi in the world”. Also last year I had the pleasure of eating at Kyoto and my buddy and I befriended a well-versed couple at the sushi bar. Having been to all of the touted joints, they actually thought Fuji had the best (non-sushi) Japanese dishes they had ever eaten. If you have not already, get to Chick’s Deli. If you are not of the large appetite, bring a friend so you can share a cheesesteak and a chicken cheesesteak, because both are awesome. Lotus in Marlton BTW is good for well-rounded Asian if you have a large crowd. From sushi to Chinese they do it all well, though Fuji is better with the fish.

Here is a compilation of several posts I made at Atlantcuisine.com’s national forum relevant to visiting the parents. I think I edited out all the Carolina barbecue reviews and stuck to Philly metro in the compilation here. I had to find out what the ruckus was about. First Philadelphia Magazine names an inconspicuous deli hidden in a Cherry Hill, NJ alley as best cheesesteak in Philly. Then the Philadelphia Inquirer visits 123 touted shops in the tri-state area and rates only one ahead of Chick’s Cold Cuts. It’s certainly among the best I’ve ever had. I’ve had better-stuffed ones, but this is as good as it gets. I also had some of their chicken cheesesteak and that is the best I’ve ever put in my mouth. Go hungry and get a cheesesteak and a chicken cheesesteak. Today I tried Primo’s Hoagies a multi-Best of winner in numerous publications. My Italian hoagie didn’t justify it. A real hoagie or cheesesteak has either an Amoroso or D’Ambrosia roll. Primo’s was a little harder and not as fresh. I’ve also had more generous meat portions. I made it to the new Citizens Park Field and had an excellent cheesesteak at Tony Luke’s wit cheese whiz and wit cooked onions. Yuz would love it. You can’t get food like this at the Ac-a-me. I can see why Chick’s is rated No. 1, but I could eat Tony Luke’s 365 days a year too. I finally made it to Fuji Restaurant in Cinnaminson, NJ rated by everyone I know who has been there as among the best if not the best sushi they ever had. Zagat’s, professional and posting board critics alike corroborate this claim. And now so do I. Though my tuna/foie gras salad was the only thing that fell short of sensational, my ika, uni with quail egg, unagi, hamachi, toro, tako were all much better than I’ve ever had in Atlanta. It runs neck and neck with Sagami as the best I’ve ever had. Sagami and Fuji both lack the big city location that would get it their just due from Food & Wine. Follow the leader tourists are not likely to wander in either of the dumpy neighborhoods that have as much sex appeal as College Park, but I see why I hear comments like “Better than any place in New York or Philly” to describe both. Only veritable sushi fans need apply to either. Many say Mikado in Cherry Hill, NJ and Morimito in Philly are just a notch below the above two. Mikado was also on the docket and proved good, but not as great as Fuji and Sagami. I had my share of yet another food item very conspicuous by its dearth in Atlanta—Italian water ice. Coneheads in Medford, NJ actually best known for their homemade icecream stood above the rest. PJ Whelihan’s a mini-chain lived up to its billing as South Jersey’s best chicken wings. The wife admitted the fact that she gets mild often = bland. She was very impressed that Whelihan’s was not. My meaty and tasty wings had only one false advertisement—the “try them if you dare suicide wings” were in reality between mild-hot. They are very conservative in rating their spice level. However when I visit other cities, I lean towards eating at places that reports say excel in indigenous foods and/or a cuisine/item in which Atlanta has a dearth. I still have yet to find an Atlanta place with sensational wings. Whelihan’s not only would get an Iggy if they expanded to NJ but certainly would win one in Hotlanta if they had a location there. Pizza Fresca previously loved by me not to mention two former coworkers of Tom Maicon was conquered early on my trip. Oh for pastries Miel Pastry from Robert Bennett the former pastry chef at the famed Le Bec-Fin more than passed the test. Among many items, the crème brulet was among the best I’ve had. We are driving out tomorrow and I think we will load up for the road trip.

Obviously we won't be wearing our Sunday best. Any place near the new stadium to eat or should we just try Philly's famous vendors?

Whether my sources want to be named publically I am not sure. It's no rumor. They have closed for 100 percent certainty. I confirmed it from a direct source and a reliable second hand source.

Blais has closed for good (or bad). I hear he and Pano are talking about a project.

Blais has closed.

They have even better legs and breasts.

The place the gentlemen is taking you is Kyoto at Merchant's Walk in Cherry Hill. Sooooooooooo....was I right or was I right?

Last time I was at Le Me Toujours, I got off at Exit 4. That puts you right on Rte 73 South. It took about 2 1/2 minutes to get to Le Me Toujours, on the same side of the road. I guess it will take about 3 1/2 minutes to get back to the Turnpike because you have to make a U Turn at the next jughandle. I guess "Just off the Turnpike" might mean IN the toll booths! Sorry I had never been. It’s on my list of places that I want to try next trip, but my list always exceeds meals I can eat in SJ. I was only going by Zagat’s describing it “between Brick and Evesham Roads” which is nowhere near where you said. In fact where you described sounds like Mt. Laurel not Marlton unless it’s the northernmost tip. Marlton is south of Church Road. I will keep a close eye out for it when I’m in the area in July because Zagat’s is obviously way off.