MarketStEl

Well, that explains why Bridals by Danielle's has moved to 13th Street opposite Woody's. It doesn't look like they got all their garb out in your picture, which was taken...when? Is the space clean and ready for remodeling now? Edited to add: The Walnut Street shot is looking east from 12th. That's the Beasley Law Firm building at the left edge. When I arrived in this neighborhood, the building housed a popular after-hours club.

There definitely should be more Wawas around, including downtown. But from a business standpoint, I can see why they don't have more. Too many other minimarts around. They've been closing their less profitable locations around the area already, probably fueling their expansion into MD . VA and parts beyond. There used to be more Wawas in and around Center City. I can recall at least six of them that were either closed or sold to other operators over the two decades I've lived in Wash West: --12th and Walnut (closest to where I live now; this is now an indie, the Pac a Deli) --Juniper and Spruce (in Center City One; this is now a Convenient Food Mart) --27th and Lombard (closed and abandoned) --7th and Fitzwater (approximate location; closed and abandoned) --16th and Walnut (the "Wawa Express Food Court," which sold no groceries; from what I heard, the building owner jacked up the rent. A new Cole-Haan shoe store now fills this space) --Broad and Race (this became an indie; it is now a Quiznos Sub franchise) The Center City locations still open that I know of are: --11th and Arch (perhaps ironically given this topic, just down the block from the Reading Terminal Market) --10th and Walnut (street floor of a Jefferson dorm) I understand that the company is as concerned about safety as it is profitability and will close locations in what it deems unsafe areas. Since all Wawa stores are company-owned -- unusual for convenience stores, which are more typically franchised -- Wawa Inc. can implement effective quality control, which extends to the decision to continue in business at a given site, chainwide. It strikes me that the near-fanatical devotion of its customers in its core market is a sign that they do an exceptional job of maintaining their quality standards. Well, if one must have standards, at least keep them high. I find Wawa hoagies to be more than acceptable, and ordered many a sandwich from the Wawa at the base of Graduate Tower A ('scuse me, Sansom Place East) at Penn when I worked in the communications office on the second floor of the same building. Where I live now, I have a surefeit of good hoagies (Planet Hoagie, Pac a Deli, Primo's) much closer to me than the local Wawa, so that buck-off coupon I got the other day is gathering dust in my wallet. I would love to know what sort of experience you had, jamiemaw, that soured you on Wawa.

Moriarty's Buffalo wings. Absolutely the best in town. The rest of the menu is satisfying, but hardly what I'd call great.

I thought the original poster said romantic. I think both Continentals are a hell of a lot of fun (though the one in Old City gets awfully crowded), but I wouldn't take a boyfriend there on an intimate date.

After reading the review, it seems to me that Yue Kee is one of those Chinese eateries where the proprietors have two menus: one for the clueless, full of Chinese-food cliches prepared effortlessly (and thoughtlessly), and one for those in the know, which is where the good stuff is hidden (and to find it, you need to know Mandarin or Cantonese or whatever dialect the owners speak and cook).

Right now, I have only three things to say on this topic. One is an open comment, which maybe a certain high-up editor may want to consider: If Craig LaBan can review Yue Kee Mobile Kitchen and give it two bells, well, then... Another is this: I really miss Jow's Lunch. It's sad what happened to those two--and to think that my former employer helped wreck their business. Where's (I can't remember his first name, only that it's long and tricky to spell) cooking these days? And the third: Obviously, I wasn't in the know when I last ordered from Yue Kee, many, many, many moons ago. I'll have to phone ahead next time I'm in the area.

I went over into the Food and Dining section of philly.com, looking for (a) clues to this reported Craig LaBan food cart review (for which I should probably just go down to my building lobby--I get the Inky delivered) and (b) that deviled-egg recipe that ran in last Sunday's "Image" section, and I stumbled across a series of fairly vehement posts in the philly.com Food discussion forum under the heading "Copa Too DO NOT GO!" Judging from these posts, the popular Center City casual eatery (and, I assume, its sister, the original Copabanana at 4th and South) has changed hands and gotten a lot worse. Back in the '80s, Copa Too! was one of those places that every city neighborhood needs: a come-as-you-are eatery that offered good food at reasonable prices. Copa Too! added a lively atmosphere to that formula, and it had some really great dishes as well--most notably their Spanish fries, laden with roasted peppers (at least two kinds, jalapeno being one), onions, cayenne, and Cheddar and Monterrey Jack cheeses. Like its sister, Copa Too! also had a rep for turning out a mean hamburger. If these posts on philly.com are any guide, those burgers have gone from mean to mediocre, and the new owners have added attitude to the restaurant's ambience, while slowing down the service. Perhaps equally significantly, there wasn't a single post in defense of the place posted to the topic (granted, only five posts is hardly a large sample size, but...). Any current or former Copa/Copa Too! patrons out there available to confirm or deny this sad news? Anyone want to share memories of past experiences there? (And if all this is true, at least I've still got Moriarty's and More Than Just Ice Cream--or Bump, Woody's, the Westbury Bar and The Venture Inn if I want to express my gay gene.)

Heads-up for history buffs: Next time you're there, if you haven't already, take a look at the newspaper clippings that adorn the walls of the bar. They're from The Philadelphia Independent, a feisty African-American newspaper that had its heyday from the 1930s to the late 1950s. The building that houses the Astral Plane used to be the newspaper's offices.

You wanna read my comments on the place, go out and buy the next (July/Aug) issue of Philadelphia Style.

Twist my arm. But wait until I'm back in the city to do it.

As someone posted to this thread today, it gave me an opportunity to view this post two years later--and to note that a fair bit has changed. Of the establishments listed above: Judy's just had its farewell celebration a week or two ago. The Inn Philadelphia closed about a month back (the day I called you, Katie, an acquaintance was giving me the backstory behind its closing). The Astral Plane is still going strong. Along with Friday Saturday Sunday, it's the last survivor of the 1970s Restaurant Renaissance still in business. L2, if I'm not mistaken, is also no more. Key West serves a lunch menu, but I really wouldn't consider it a restaurant any more. It's now a bar that serves food. In which case, Woody's also belongs on this list. Bump has established itself as a popular hangout and good place to eat. The two-for-one entree/dinner specials two nights a week are also a plus. The Venture Inn is also still in business, and drawing decent patronage in the restaurant, but it's not as packed as it once was, and the bar has seen its patronage drop as well. Some of this is due to the place's reputation as a hangout for older men ("The Denture Inn"). Owner Ted Wasserman, I hear, would like to sell the business. The Westbury Bar (13th and Spruce) should also be on this list, for it has a full lunch and dinner menu. A couple of other restaurants do not explicitly identify themselves as "gay restaurants" but are known for attracting sizable gay patronage: Mixto, on Pine just east of 12th, and Valanni, on Spruce between Camac and 13th. One item worth noting for non-Pennsylvanians reading along: Philadelphia has long had an unusually high number of gay bars that serve food. This is due to a provision in the state liquor code that requires that bars derive at least 1/3 of their revenues from the sale of food in order to open on Sundays. As I recall, the Bike Stop didn't run that restaurant for too long. But I forget whether it preceded or followed the gay restaurant run (if you can call it that) by David Fattah in that same space.

Thanks for filling me in on what's going into that space. The area in question is my stomping ground, so I take an interest in what's happening there. I'm not surprised you had no trouble with the Civic, although your side of Walnut is (I believe) technically outside the territory of the Washington Square West Civic Association. The Civic loves restaurants; it's bars they can't stand. You will have the potential added benefit of a sizable gay population with money to drop living within walking distance of your establishment. Not to mention the before- and after-theater crowd right at your doorstep. Welcome, neighbor! I'm looking forward to your opening--and further transforming the 1100 block of Walnut into Wash West's Restaurant Row. Edited to add: Though, speaking of "Subway," that name certainly won't fly in that location, as the sandwich shop down the block--and its franchiser--would definitely sue. Maybe "R7 Sushi" instead?

Yes, I did, which was why I posted.

I've come to the conclusion that mayonnaise on burgers is an East Coast affectation (and probably a Northeastern one specifically), first spread beyond its original habitat by Burger King, whose Whopper comes with mayo standard.

FYI: Food & Wine requires you to subscribe to the magazine before giving you online access to its recipes. Maybe you could share this directly with us?

I haven't yet been able to pull off homemade potato chips. The homemade chips served in my company's office cafeteria are quite good, but they haven't yet offered a blue cheese version. But what's the trick to cooking your own chips? Mine so far have been too thick and hence too chewy.

If I might comment here: The typical Philadelphia soft pretzel is denser and chewier than the typical Pennsylvania Dutch soft pretzel. I do believe we are talking about two distinct species here. The Auntie Anne's chain, for example, sells Pennsylvania Dutch-style pretzels. And as chains go, they're not too bad. But I also gotta cast my best-pretzel vote for those served at Fisher's. I also like their pigs in blankets, which use the little smoky links sold just down the aisle at Hatville Farms.

He's less of a mystery than it seems, and has really cool shoes. --Sandy, channeling upenn.talk while visiting Boston

Reread your initial post. Please forgive my dyslexia. Glad to be of service anyway.

So Joe and I ate at Redbones, and I'm one happy diner. These people know their 'cue, although as a Kansas Citian I cringe whenever I see "St. Louis-style ribs" on a menu. I ordered the "Barbecue Belt" plate (Memphis, St. Louis and Arkansas ribs plus brisket, with beans and coleslaw) and an appetizer sampler. The smoky aroma that rose off the BBQ plate the moment it was set down in front of me was a good sign, as was the pink ring on the edge of the brisket. Everything tasted as good as it looked and smelled. The beans merit special mention, for they were a perfect balance between tangy and sweet. I asked for all four of the barbecue sauces they offer (hot, mild, sweet, vinegar), and the only one I didn't much like was the sweet sauce, which was way too heavy on the molasses. I hope they don't consider this an example of Kansas City-style sauce, which has more tang--their hot sauce, which was vaguely reminiscent of Arthur Bryant's, was closer. And speaking of Kansas City-style: One demerit to the restaurant for not including something from America's barbecue capital on the menu. Washed it down with a local raspberry beer that went well with the meat. Service was prompt--given the size of the plates I ordered, maybe too prompt. I've got leftovers to share with my friend when he arrives in about an hour on a much-delayed flight. Davis Square has become a real nightlife center, I see. Lots of really stylish eateries, too--happily coexisting with the old established neighborhood joints, a good sign. Note to self: Must return to eat at the Rosebud Diner, an honest-to-God 1940s vintage dining car. I'm still amazed, but on the whole, it's a change for the better.

Anthony's Coffee House is still going strong in the Italian Market. Some other places near me your Parisian friend might want to try: --The Last Drop Coffeehouse, 13th and Pine streets. Very boho; clientele heavy on the UArts crowd (natch; the school is one block west). --Millennium Coffee, 216 South 12th St. Great place to people-watch, especially if you're a gay male (as the bulk of the customers are). You may see me there on occasion, as it's directly opposite the entrance to my apartment building. --The Mean Bean Cafe, 1112 Locust St. Good for communing with nature, as most of the cafe's seating is on a covered outdoor terrace surrounded by a community garden. Dog owners like this place, as the owners set out water bowls by the front door. They serve La Colombe coffee. The following place is not a cafe, but may evoke some memories of home for your friend: --Caribou Cafe, 1126 Walnut St. A moderately-priced French bistro with simple, honest food and a good selection of beers and wines. Has outdoor seating.

Well, since I'm a barbecue fiend (search eGullet on my member name, and you should find some posts extolling the virtues of Gates' Bar-B-Q, one of the best 'cue joints in America's 'cue capital, my hometown of Kansas City), Redbones would be a strong candidate, as well as an opportunity to see whether New England 'cue is up to snuff yet. (For purposes of comparison, here's what I had to say about Philly's newest BBQ place, The Smoked Joint in Center City.) These folks entered any Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned contests yet? But I don't want to limit myself beforehand, so if you could provide address/directions to Dali, I'd appreciate that too.

Hello, everyone: I'm back in Boston for an extended visit (concurrent with my 25th Harvard class reunion) for the first time since 1988, about four years after I left for Philadelphia. I must say that the city looks as gorgeous as it ever has, although someone with bad taste has inflicted a few crappy skyscrapers on the Back Bay. Anyway: I'm posting to tap into your collective wisdom. Tomorrow (Monday 6/6), I plan to spend some time with my old roommate from college, who lives near Davis Square, Somerville. I've heard that Davis Square has become quite chi-chi since the Red Line extension opened (it was still new when last I visited), and, as I told my roomie, I really want to see what a gentrified neighborhood in Somerville looks like. I imagine that among all the new shops and stuff in Davis Square, there must be some good restaurants where Joe and I can have dinner. Any suggestions? In addition to posting to the board, you may PM me or send e-mail to SandySmith80@post.harvard.edu. Thanks in advance!

Hey, y'all have fun. Maybe I can persuade my host and old college buddy to take me out to Watertown this (Sat 6/4) afternoon. That would only be if he's throwing the party for me on Sunday rather than Saturday.

I can think of four foods I absolutely hated as a kid: Beets, turnips, chitterlings and liver. Many years later, as an adult well out of college, I ordered pickled beets as a side dish with a meal. I can't say I've now gotten to the point where I can't live without them, but I have come to like beets as a result. Liver is now a fairly regular item in my diet. And chicken liver pate or spread with minced onion is absolutely divine. As for the other two: Nope, still don't like 'em.