herbacidal

I wish them all the luck. That space seems "cursed" and I could never figure out why other than its just cursed - a known real estate phenomenon. If memory serves, it was Fratelli's for a long while (?) and then nothingness for many years... 'til now hopefully. Evan ← The winner for Most-Cursed-Restaurant-Space-in-All-of-Philadelphia is a toss up between this place and the former Pompano Grill space in the old bank building at Passyunk & Bainbridge. ← Really? As far as layout, I think the Pompano space is less of a problem. They may well be equally cursed, but for the Galileo space, I think the lack of enough 1st level dining, plus that step down from the entrance to the 1st level or the walk up to the 2nd level is too awkward. At the Pompano space, IIRC both the downstairs and the upstairs levels are much larger, and I don't recall there being a step down from the entrance.

I think Tampopo makes a good version, although I don't remember enough liquid to consider it a stew. Although I could be mixing it up with something else there. At any rate, I like everything I've had from Tampopo, so I'd at least give it a shot. Probably about $8. 21st between Sansom and Chestnut.

The wife cookies were bleah. Fresh but bleah. The flaky pastry was sooooooooo dry, it was like eating parchment paper. The filling was a bit gummy but tasty. <sighs> Must find good wife cookies next time I'm in Philly! ← Haven't found them yet. It all pales in comparision to HK. Last time I was in HK, I bought a dozen, ate about 2/3 myself. Glad the scallion chicken was good. Gastro, I wish you had mentioned more about what you were expecting from DiBruno's. If I knew, I would've steered you away. It's still a great place, but it's too new and in too expensive an area to be inexpensive.

That's right. My bad. Sieu Ky I think is the place your friend got it at. I don't really remember the spelling, only the Cantonese pronounciation. It's on east side of 10th, between Arch and Cherry, between the cultural center and the Friendship Gate. The only shop there with meat in the windows.

Ocean City, corner 9th and Vine Rising Tide, takeout David's Mai Lai Wah at 10th and Race

Actually, my recommendations weren't aiming for Italian. They were for South Philly. I'm playing the percentages, and South Philly BYOBs are more likely to be accomodating to a 15 person table on Saturday. But both Pesto and Lucca can be considerered in South Philly as well, so there's a good chance of getting in there. Also consider Mimosa, on 10th just north of South St.

I think your best bet for a Saturday ressie for 15 is one of the South Philly BYOBs. There may be other available tables around, but as far as playing the percentages, that's where I'd go. L'Angolo, Tre Scalini, Nido, etc. Link to Nido info below. http://citypaper.net/articles/2005-09-08/food.shtml The other alternative is to carry around a list of the locations, phone numbers and names of 4-8 BYOBs and call them about an hour before you think you'll get there call and see if they'll have room. I do wonder if any of them will be at the original price range of 20-30 before tax and tip. I expect they're more like 40. Capogiro might be best to do when you're done cheesesteaks. I think Pat's and Geno's is fine for a Philly cheesesteak virgin, especially since at the other dinner you'll be siting more formally in a tablecloth restaurant.

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Well, the Saloon is local and definitely expense accountish, although it wouldn't be considered a steakhouse in the same way as the others mentioned.

Not just La Colombe. La Cigale, Mugshots, Old City Coffee, etc. The collective/assocation formed for the indie coffeehouses helps a lot.

A lot of family businesses have a succession/similar problem in time. Family businesses probably do make up a disproportionate share of Philly area businesses, and of food-related businesses, which is why we're noticing it here.

Okay, given the timing, your best bet is Wawa, one of the best convenience stores around. There's 3 that might be conveniently on the way. 11th and Arch, border of Chinatown. 17th and Arch. Map them and your route yourself. 21st and Hamilton. My gut tells me that this is the best one. The easiest route for a non local is: From Penns Landing Hyatt, take Columbus Boulevard/Delaware Ave north to Callowhill/Spring Garden (SG has a mini mart/gas station on the corner, and also a club called Egypt in the GF of a roughly 8 story office building.) Make a left on either street and go to 20th. Then if you're on Callowhill make right and go one block to Hamilton. Make a left and the Wawa is at the end of the block. If you were on Spring Garden, continue another block to 21st and make left. Wawa ahead on left. From the Wawa, either go south on 21st to the Ben Franklin Parkway where you make a right OR continue on Hamilton to 22nd St where you make a right and then a left on Spring Garden. Take either the Parkway or Spring Garden to Kelly Drive where you'll make a right. Continue on Kelly to wherever your boat site is.

Capogiro is open late Friday and Saturday. Google their site for exact hours. The Italian Market, like the Reading Terminal market is best on Saturday afternoons, as far as being busy. I'm not sure how much of the Italian Market is even open on Sunday, much of it may be closed. (Remember many of the produce vendors are Italian Catholics.) There's a thread on roast pork on Sundays? After checking Chickie's, TL's and a few others, I just gave up on good sandwiches on Sunday in South Philly outside of the Passyunk Triangle. The Italian suggestions above are good, although based on what I've seen and heard from most everyone recently, my 2 current recommendations would be Radicchio at 4th and Vine and L'Angolo on Porter between Broad and 15th. The former is closer to Center City. Italian for 20-30 pp before tax, tip and wine is doable, but that's 2 courses. For 20-30 pp before tax, tip and drinks, I'd go with Mexican, Ethiopian, Burmese. Other than that, there's a ton of great bars in the city that serve really good food and would work for 20-30 pp, even including tax, tip and drinks. Royal Tavern, Standard Tap, Abbaye, N 3rd, Good Dog are a few. I'd recommend Golden Phoenix for dimsum, or at least I think that's the name. It's the biggest storefront restaurant on the north side of Race between 9th and 10th. Dimsum as good as Ocean Harbor, but without the crowds. The other place around the corner from Lolita and Capogiro that seldom gets mentioned for drinks is Ludwig's Garten, between Broad and 13th on Sansom. Also Fergie's, my ideal corner bar is on Sansom between 12th and 13th. When will you be at the DragonBoat Festival? I'm supposed to stop by some time between 10 and 2. I'd be happy to guide you around, for a few hours at least.

I'm wondering at what price point are the similar themed restaurants in Japan. That's my particular problem. While the theme may be novel, and should be an entertaining attraction to the average diner, to me that doesn't mesh with the prices they seem to be charging. That they don't meet the anticipating level of food innovation and entertainment value only makes the value of the experience even worse.

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Certain things are cool, like the outfits. A great "concept" restaurant, like Pod in Philly. But not a fine dining establishment priced that high. And sneaking up on customers? Jeez, get real.

Many Vietnamese restaurants in Philly, and probably NYC because the population base is similar, are opened by Cantonese and/or Cantonese-Vietnamese who grew up in Vietnam.

I believe that to be a difference between Asian and non-Asian tastes. I don't like calamari because it's not chewy. In my experience, most non-Asian friends I know don't like chewy foods. I do, as do many Asians, as long as I'm not chewing the same food for 10 minutes. The best salt baked squid is, in my opinion crispy and chewy, and not too soft and mushy.

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It's my preferred joint for Vietnamese in South Philly. My preferred Vietnamese joint overall locally is Xe Lua.

There's a thousand different places possible. I'd try to narrow it down: where are the rehearsal participants staying? What kind of cuisine are you looking for? If the rehearsal dinner is Friday/Saturday though, the field gets narrowed a whole lot.

The only place I've been to for soul food in Manhattan is Amy Ruth's, a few years ago. I thought it was fine stuff, but coulda been better. At the time, the other place I remember thinking about was Charles Southern Kitchen.

BoyChoir School may have gone exclusive. Mountain House can't take 250. Any place that you need that large is very likely to be exclusive. I'd look at beach clubs and museums, but a lot of them won't be able to handle 250.

Dean, much love and respect to you for hosting the shindig. I liked the stews the best myself from Sunday night, and the risotto from Saturday.

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