Diann

where exactly IS pumpkin market? I've driven down south street a couple of times, looking for it, but I haven't spotted it yet. I should probably just look for it on foot, but... is it on south? or 16th? next door to pumpkin?

I don't go there just on a whim because it's far from the city... but given that it's within stumbling-down-drunk distance for Mr. Phil, what about Majolica in Phoenixville? When we went there for dinner Percy got a couple of orders of mussels for the table and they were damn good. Simple preparation, some celery and carrot and broth, but so tasty. I couldn't stop sopping up the juices even though I knew we had four more courses left...

Now that Il Fentoni has brought it up, when I hear "fudgy aftermath" I think of santorum. SIGH. You can google it, I'm sure I can't talk about it on this board.

Kirsten Henri likes the fudgy aftermath, too.

You're kidding, right? Look at the size of that bowl (relative to the utensils and fingers) -- and they fit half a crab in it too? That's insane! P.S. I automatically like a Thai place better if it DOESN'T give you a "pick sauce from Column A, pick protein from Column B" option.

My taste buds were dulled last night due to a head cold (I hope I didn't get anyone sick!) but my basic impressions were: - Duck mousse amuse was really tasty -- strong flavors, and even my sick bouche was amused. Haha. - I loved the slow-roasted halibut. It was a study in contrasting unctuousness, between the silky, tender fish, the egg yolk, and the fava beans. I want some more fish right now. - We ordered the chicken because, well, it sounded good! I'm not going to pass up sunchokes, roasted shallots, and black truffle sauce. The bird lived up to its billing. - Drinks menu looks great -- dirty martini, Manhattan, lavender cosmo with lychee, etc. -- and the beers on tap were interesting (Ommegang, etc.) I will definitely be back to try them. - The private room is definitely one of the more elegant spots in the city, with pretty chandeliers and chocolate-painted walls. Photos, sample menu (not quite like the winter menu we had last night) and more at www.jameson8th.com. All in all, I'm in agreement with Philadining. Lovely space, friendly service, good food. If they were off Rittenhouse Square (and the atmosphere would fit) the place would be MOBBED. As it is, I wonder how busy they are on weekends -- we were there on a Monday night and several tables were occupied, but clearly Mondays aren't the night to judge.

heard somewhere (Michael Klein?) that the owner of Paninoteca sold the place, so yeah, it's new owners. what's it called now?

I bet this is something that's been discussed before, but isn't it a little weird that Philadelphia print reviewers seem to travel in hordes to the same restaurants at the same time? The latest example I'm thinking of is Citypaper AND the Philadelphia Weekly both reviewing Xochitl this week. Sure, Xochitl will need to be reveiwed by both papers -- but really, the same week? And this has definitely happened before with the Inquirer. Why is that? Also, is it common in other cities?

David, I went looking for "blanket recommendation" threads for you and the most recent one I found was...the last time YOU posted, in February or something. So it seems like we're not doing a good job of answering your questions. If you're curious about Django, Pumpkin, Vetri, etc., here's what I would try: - In the Django/Pumpkin category of small BYOBs serving essentially American cuisine, I agree with Kitchenmom: I prefer Matyson, or Mandoline. You will need a reservation for both places -- Matyson is listed on OpenTable. Skip the White Dog; I want to like it, but every time I go the food is completely unmemorable. The restaurant was a trailblazer in its time, I'm sure, but you can find better places to eat. However, I do like the White Dog Foundation's stand at Reading Terminal (the Fair Food Farmstand) where you can find tasty local produce. - Do go to Vetri, but if you want something a little less expensive and definitely less formal, try Osteria. The polpo pizza is especially tasty and everything involving pork is good. I haven't tried the pizza lombarda (sausage with an egg cracked on top) but I always hear good things about it from friends I trust. - If you're trying to pick out an Italian BYO from the 123,087,981 that currently exist in Philadelphia, I'd go with Melograno or L'Angolo. - Amada is fun. Sometimes I'm not overly thrilled by the food, but it's an entertaining package -- I like the decor, the drinks, the atmosphere, and certain dishes rock my world (gambas al ajillo and the short rib flatbread come to mind). - Since it'll be summer you might want to have some margaritas. Maybe Xochitl, Cantina los Caballitos, or Lolita (bring your own tequila, have some watermelon-mint concoctions). - Also, you might want to check out the garden at M, where our very own Miss Katie Loeb will mix you up something tasty. - If you want cheaper stuff Philly has an abundance of tasty bar food -- and by bar food I mean duck confit salad, Roquefort-stuffed burgers, and a million kinds of mussels and beer. - For brunch I, too, hear good things about Sabrina's but I haven't made it there yet because it's always mobbed on weekends -- if you go before 9:30, though, you should be fine. I HAVE been to Carman's Country Kitchen, though, and it rocks. Put yourself in Carman's capable hands and she will take care of you... If you want a fancy hotel brunch I'd try Lacroix at the Rittenhouse Hotel -- great views. I haven't been since Chef Lacroix retired and Matthew Levin took over, but I've heard it's still good. - Also, of course, there's all sorts of cheap Vietnamese food (as mentioned upthread), Mexican (Taqueria de Puebla, but also lots of other taco joints, mostly in South Philly around the Italian market), Korean, Chinese, etc. - Finally: cheesesteaks. And more cheesesteaks. There isn't really much of a lexicon--it's just "Whiz wit" for Cheese Whiz and onions, and "Whiz" if you just want Cheese Whiz, but if you want a TASTY cheesesteak I'd get the cheesesteak Italian at Tony Luke's (comes with sharp aged provolone and broccoli rabe). Nobody's going to give you much attitude about the whole "wit" thing unless you go to Pat's or Geno's (Mr. English Only) because it's sort of expected of them, as the epicenters of cheesesteak tourism. How's that for an internet-friendly post? Sorry it's so long, but Philly is a pretty great food city and there's a lot to cover. My list is far from comprehensive! Hope you enjoy your stay -- let us know where you end up going. PS. James--we should totally do a tasteoff smackdown thing re: Vietnam and Vietnam Palace, as I like both, but for different reasons (beef stew pho at Vietnam Palace, the giant appetizer platter at Vietnam). Edited to add: you should definitely try Ansill. I was having a brain fart -- but it's one of my favorite places in the city -- the osso bucco sandwich, smoked trout & eggs, and pork belly/spaetzle are all deeeelicious. If you're looking for French "bistro" Pif (BYO) is a good option too; it's owned by the Ansill folks.

Marigold's brunch totally rocked. Everyone I took there said it was the best they'd either (a) ever had or (b) had in years. Clearly I miss it... but April is around the corner!

I just had dinner for the first time at Horizons recently and couldn't believe that I hadn't made it over there earlier. It's all-vegan (vegan wines, too), so that will suit your vegetarian person, and, more importantly, it's just really good food. Definitely try the Yucatan chopped spinach salad, the paella, and the grilled seitan. Everything's under $25 and they have a full bar plus good dessert options. We each had a cocktail, glass of wine, appetizer, entree, and split dessert, and it was maybe $55/pp with tax and tip. The restaurant is on the second floor of the building and they have two bars -- one loungey area on the ground floor, and a smaller bar on the top floor -- so that'll work well for your group. I do love Osteria and also Xochitl but they're not quite as affordable/large-group friendly as Horizons... still, if you decide against Horizons it might be worth it to give those places a call.

Foobooz will: It's 12th and Spruce. I think Michael Klein reported this too, but you can go dig up that link if you like.

20th and Sansom. Thanks for the photo Phil

I think Trey Popp is his real name, I've read his reviews before (he's not new to Citypaper). Squash blossoms and tomatoes, I think the guy is just saying it's winter, he wants to eat hearty winter food like kale, not unripe tomatoes. The whole seasonal thing.

That reminds me... I went to Restaurant M a few months ago and the food was outstanding -- and more importantly for your purposes, it seemed Studiokitchen-influenced. The plates are larger than those at SK, of course, but the chef will do a 5-course tasting menu for the table if you desire. I'm sure Katie can give you more details -- she's tending bar there now. Oh!--and in a month, it might be warm enough to eat in their garden. I was just a twinkle in somebody's eye in 1977 and I probably won't be alive in 2077, soo... 7/7/07 is the day to get crazy!

My favorite spectacular places (none require dressing up; all will make your tastebuds do a happy dance): Ansill (3rd and Bainbridge / small plates) Osteria (640 N. Broad / "rustic" Italian) Matyson (19th and Chestnut / American BYO) Pif (8th just north of Washington / French bistro-ish BYO) Melograno (22nd and Spruce / Italian BYO) This list is a little repetitive because lots of people recommend these places all the time, but they are tasty and make me happy. And I'm pretty sure they're all open Tuesday night... Also, Jose Garces' Basque place, Tinto (20th and Sansom) opens March 15, so if reports on it are good, you might want to try that... Happy early birthday! My birthday this year is 07/07/07, so I'm thinking of big birthday dinners too.

What about Grocery, opened by the Lolita folks? It's on 13th just south of Chestnut. They have sandwiches, salads, soups, other prepared foods, and bottles of Lolita's margarita mixes (watermelon-mint, blood orange, etc.) to take home...mmmm.

I haven't eaten at the food trucks regularly since I graduated ('05), but I liked Bui's egg and cheese (on 38th at Spruce), the Greek Lady's hoagies, souvlaki and the occasional cheesesteak (the cart is on Spruce at 37th, the store is on 40th at Walnut), and Magic Carpet (around 34th at the beginning of locust walk) for vegetarian entrees -- "meatballs" and the like. The fruit cart on Spruce at 37th (across from the entrance to upper quad) had the most reliable selection of melon, pineapple, etc. The Le Ahn on the south side of Spruce around 36th made a decent (not great) pho -- I like it better than the Le Ahn on the north side of Spruce -- but the Vietnamese restaurant at 44th and Spruce was better than either of those places. Hemo's is "famous" for their grilled chicken sandwiches (basically a frozen chicken breast, honey mustard sauce, I like adding spinach and mushrooms and tomatoes) -- honestly, it's not great food, but I did get a craving for one every once in a while. On 38th street near Walnut, across from Huntsman. I actually like the crepes in Houston Hall -- they're not by any means authentic, but I find them tasty every once in a while. There are savory ones (essentially chicken breast or sliced ham/turkey with cheese, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions and bell peppers and a variety of sauces -- honey dijon, garlicky something, pesto, etc.) and sweet ones (I like strawberries with nutella).

I'm pretty sure you won't get a table without a reservation at Osteria, especially on a Saturday night. There should be room at the bar if you get there between 5 and 5:30.

(This was the only thread I found on Deux Cheminees, so I'm going to use it.) Somewhat unsurprisingly, Michael Klein reports that Deux Cheminees is closing in June, Fritz Blank is moving to Thailand, the building is being sold, and as previously reported, his HUGE library is being donated to Penn. I know it's a Philadelphia institution and all -- question is, should I rush over there for a dinner before they close? How is it nowadays? Anyone been?

i agree. philadining and i discussed the same thing at dinner -- i'm pretty sure everyone going to osteria understands that it's an "osteria" with extremely broad quotation marks. by no means did i expect the place to be cheap -- just a bit more rustic and a bit less expensive than vetri. i doubt you're going to find an octopus pizza at the trattoria down the street in italy, right? i think the love and joy lavished upon this place is based mostly on its currently unique status among philadelphia restaurants. i have minor quibbles with the food (ex. i personally like the crust at una pizza napoletana better than the osteria crust) but the fact remains -- there's no place like this in philly, and when i want good italian food, this will be my go-to.

You DO live like him! We have the photographic evidence to prove it. Alec -- according to Foobooz/Michael Klein, Tinto's new estimated opening date is March 2.

yes, Philly is not New York. but there's plenty of cheap every day places: - Tiffin - Famous 4th Street - Std Tap, N. 3rd, Good Dog, Monks, Nodding Head, Grace, Ten Stone, Abbaye, etc etc etc. - Maoz (I know several of you have objections to the salad bar, but I still like their falafel and frites, damn the germs) - Taquerias, banh mi places, other Vietnamese places, Korean places, Chinese places, Laotian places -- I mean, entire swaths of South Philly, North Philly and basically all of Chinatown is affordable enough for every day eating. - Sarcone's, Tony Luke's, etc. -- hoagie and cheesesteak joints - FOOD CARTS. And I know this breaks the under-$10 barrier, but I just had dinner in the bar at Brasserie Perrier and was pleasantly reminded that everything is under $20 there. The frisee salad ($12) was pretty tasty (although, unfortunately, it paled in comparison to the post-steakathon version).

You can stop it with lack of customer demand -- Philly restaurants are great, but I think the French Laundry is the only restaurant in the world where I woulld even consider purchasing a reservation. And yeah, it does seem sleazy...

yo Pedro -- I ordered a glass of less-expensive wine (a valpolicella, maybe?) and it was $8 or $10. Seriously, I thought the wine prices were pretty reasonable (two-page wine list on opening night, lots of wines in the $40 or $50 range)... just go, check it out. You'll enjoy it.