kretch

I'm in town for a week and had plans to check out Amada. For personal reasons a proper visit isn't in the cards but I called there last night to confirm that they can arrange for take-out; they said that's no problem, so that's the new plan. However, I don't know what Amada's signature dishes are, or more importantly what would travel well in a cab. Anyone want to suggest a mess of courses that would? The more the better, especially given that it's tapas. Thanks for any recommendations. Tom

However you start it, it ends with Commissary carrot cake.

Either Ludwig's or El Vez would be perfect for pregame depending on your tastes. I'd go with Ludwig's. And a couple drafts of Avenitus to go with their steak tartare. They're both a block from City Hall around the corner of 13th and Sansom. Ludwig's: http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/profile/11352827/ El Vez: http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/profile/38047584/ Skip Monk's on 16th because the whole world will be there. Edit: Good Dog on 15th, the perennial egullet favorite, would be a good move as well. Or Nodding Head further up Sansom. Both likely more crowded, however.

I'm a recent arrival in Atlanta (moved here in August for graduate school.) I'm a devotee of Trader Joe's (in Philadelphia) and a weekly, newly loyal customer of the Dekalb Farmer's Market. My two cents: the two places have nothing to do with each other; there's no way whatsoever that TJ's will impair DFM's business, at all. Nominally or otherwise. Tom

La Colombe of course, but also, Ray's: http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/profile..._tea_house.html

Cherie, you might mean Square on Square at 19th and Chestnut. Szechuan Hunan is on 20th between Locust and Spruce. More interestingly, SH is also apparently where Laban regularly picks up Chinese, because it's his kids' favorite, or so I'm told.

I second philadining on the Hand Drawn Noodle House. Also: 1) Poached mozarella in sundried tomato broth at the Happy Rooster 2) Tortilla soup at Tequlia's (at the bar, with a margarita, after a day's shopping) 3) Any/every soup at Shiao Lan Kung

One of the absolute best burgers around Rittenhouse (better than Rouge, Loie, etc IMHO) that nobody ever really seems to hype is the burger at 20 Manning. Consistently excellent. Outstanding fries as well. And the perfect bar to eat it at, as long as it's not a Friday or Saturday night (too crowded.) Shame you can't get it until after 10:30, or whenever it is that the bar menu kicks in. Unless that's changed. tmk

I know you're not talking about me but I'm pretty sure I brought you a few bags of bacon crisps at one point or another between 2000 and 2002. Anyway, I'm pretty sure Fado was selling Hula Hoops, or maybe it was Walkers, at some point over the past couple years. Check in there. And I might be making this next part up, but I think I saw various packets of British crisps for sale at the asian (southasian) supermarket next door to the 7-11 at 41st and Chestnut (is that right? 41st?) several years back. And if you can find anywhere that sells Diet Apple Tango stateside, lemme know.

The direction of the thread almost has me thinking I should do lunch at Le Bec while I'm in town. Would hate to see the place close before my next return visit. Here's a dumb question - anyone know if LBL is open during lunch hours? I've only ever gone downstairs at night. I don't know what my schedule looks like the day I'm in town so a reservation is out of the question (jas, you'd be my first choice for a date, sugar.) actually jas, if LBL is open during lunch, would you want I try and call an audible and meet you there for a plate or two? Probably sometime after 1 and before 3. or maybe i'll just go down to wash ave with shola for some pho. haha. any more recs? tmk

Shows how long it's been. Did Starr even try it or has there never been lunch since the sale? PS Thanks for the recommendations!

He recently suggested that Matyson is now a standard deviation or two better than it used to be. Is this accurate? I'm going to be in Philly for a single day next week, around Market St/Rittenhouse, and I'm looking for an interesting lunch. When I was working at 19th and Market Matyson's lunch was perfectly pleasant... but what pray tell has gotten Laban all hot and bothered lately? BTW, this isn't really a post about LaBan, feel free to leave him out of it. I'm just trying to figure out where to eat the most interesting lunch next week. I might try the bar at Striped Bass in the alternate. (I expect to be dining solo.)

Ate there some time between Christmas and New Year's. Don't remember the date. The music was too loud, and wrong. The back corner where Salt's bar used to be looks awkwardly, coldly naked. I nearly got up and left when, after being seated, the server came up to our table (after a runner had silently corked our wine) and the very first words out of her mouth were "So do you guys know what you want?" We didn't leave. The pork entree I had (a braised pork shoulder, I think?) was absolutely phenomenal. Out of this world. A+. And when we were leaving, I checked the menu on the front door to double check what the pork dish actually was, because it was that good. I couldn't find it because the previous evening's dated menu was still taped to the glass. tmk

Hi everyone. I moved to Atlanta back in August for graduate school and, due to time and budgetary constraints, I'm only now starting to feel out the dining scene here. Specifically, I'm looking for a restaurant producing food in the same pioneering spirit as my favorite spot back home in Philadelphia, the brilliant and sadly short-lived Salt. (Vernon Morales, exec chef.) After poking around on google and egullet, it sounds like Richard Blais, armed with with that El Bulli pedigree, is exactly the man I'm looking for. So, I need to know: is getting his tasting menu as easy as making the request at the time of reservation? Ie, is it generally available? If so, price? I really look forward to experiencing Chef Blais' creativity. It sounds like it's exactly what I'm looking for, and very much in line with what I loved so much at Salt. Thanks for any information. Tom tkretchmar@gmail.com

Meritage. What a horrible name. Oddly reminiscent of Heritage, the non-starter on Broad St.

That's it! Thanks. Handful of nice memories of that place. "Cherry Coke" was a regular fountain Coke with real cherry syrup, etc...

nobody? this is driving me nuts.

it would make my day if someone could remind me of the name of the 50's style restaurant/diner that was in the Bourse (or adjacent to it?) back in the 80's...? they had great food (from a kid's perspective, at least) and all these amazing vintage "video" (mechanical, not electronic) games in the back room...