Capaneus

Or you could try the patio: much less noise, and very pleasant otherwise as well.

Walked by, they have rabbit gosh-darn *stew* on the menu! What in tarnation is *wrong* with y'all? ;-) Going Saturday, reasonably excited.

Then it'll please you to know that it doesn't not. It means "grief", "sorrow", "mischance", "sadness". No precise English equivalent, but those will get you started on triangulation. In its event-specific sense, an illness is certainly an instance of "malheur", but "un malheur" is not necessarily an illness. In that context, it means an unfortunate event.

What is this "structure?" ← For a few weeks running, the menus would consist basically of soup (often with dumpling), charcuterie (this course varied most often, though), scallop dish, lamb dish, and dessert. Now, to be perfectly clear: as far as I'm concerned, the variations made every menu entirely distinctive - I was not one of those this bothered. Others have lower thresholds for tedium. And, in any case, this has not been true in recent weeks.

Matyson has been doing amazing food, though Philadining is absolutely correct to point out it isn't terribly novel - just delicious. The absolutely only complaint I've heard is that their weekly tasting menus tend to be structured the same, week after week. Some of the more... discriminating, let's say, among us, have found this a problem. Me, not very much. And since you won't be doing multiple weeks' worth, not a concern for you at all. Zahav... I just don't really like the base cuisine all that much, so I'm a poor judge. Others' opinions are bound to be more enlightening.

PLCB Code for the MPA is actually 28771. 28711 is the Kaiken Malbec, also a decent buy if you like Malbec. Me, not a whole lot.

It's a Starr joint.

Cool. They're really moving on this: when I got a look on Friday, the place was still very much under construction. Food & Drinq has the menu. Decent prices, and really real bistro/brasserie food. They even have braised rabbit and coq au vin as plats du jour. Now I'll go pray for a decent wine list.

Can you explain this? I thought the tasting menu was set. Also, I noticed on the website that there is a "tasting menu" ($115) and a "grand tasting menu" ($135). Since they are so close in price, I'll probably opt for the "grand tasting." But, what is confusing me is that there is a "degustazione" (apparently only offered on Saturday - or currently in the summer, on Fridays only). Is this different from the two tasting menus? I really can't wait for this meal. ← I think the "degustazione" is there because on Summer Fridays, they only offer the tasting menu options, no a la carte. It's the same two tastings. Otherwise, it's as others report: some customization possible, within limits. Totally put yourself in Jeff Benjamin's hands re: wines. He's never let me down yet, with spot-on matches and interesting wines - and, just as importantly, my less-adventurous friends have been every bit as pleased. Well, the markups can hurt, but I try to never look those up. It's just a happier place, and the wines are invariably good. Enjoy. It's been too long since I've been, looking forward to your report.

It's perfectly walkable, halfway or otherwise. But there isn't a heck of a lot right there. You do have the new Ripert-fronted restaurant in the hotel, and they're bound to have private rooms. Amada, Garces' first place, is three blocks past the Constitution Center, a twelve block walk from the hotel. Not sure whether they have the right space, but you can ask when you check into Tinto. Starr has a couple of places you might check: El Vez is pretty good updated Mexican; opinions vary on comfort-fooder Jones, but I've enjoyed it the couple of times I've been; and Morimoto. The main reason I mention these is that they're about the only places which are located exactly where you need them. And checking on space availability and cost should be a snap. Anyway, more when coffee kicks in.

Schweet-haht, you just allowed your open can of worms to go on one terrific reproductive binge: by that particular definition, virtually every restaurant, river to river and Vine to Christian, fits the bill. Probably some others. And that's with just two Capogirae. I shudder to think of the domination they could achieve if they really put their shoulder to the wheel, metastasis-wise. I think at this point you need to ask yourself which dinner spot you really feel for, and pick a Capogiro to match.

Ansill and Cochon are both down in Queen Village. If you think of the distance from Wharton to Broad St. - the kinda-sorta-midpoint of the Capogirae - as a unit, the walk down to these places is roughly that distance again. Twenty-five minute walk, say, to Center City, another twenty-five to QV. Whereas Tinto is across 20th St. from Capogiro v.2.0 As to James, the place was initially poorly received because of specific problems/incidents. If you read on, things do warm up. At this point, I think it's fair to say the consensus is pretty fulsome. Anyway, I don't like it as much as Tinto or Amada, so others can chime in if you have questions.

Israeli. Osteria is not quite Vetri. I think it's a different enough experience to stand on its own: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=99064&st=0 But if it were my Saturday dinner I'd opt for Amada or Tinto. And hey!: Tinto is one drunken stumble away from the 20th St. Capogiro, thereby simplifying travel a smidge. Of the credible roast porks, only diNic's is at the RTM, or, for that matter, within walking distance of Center City. Everything else will require driving or public transit. Make sure you ask specifically for the brocolli rabe: they've only recently repented their spinach-slinging ways, and may relapse. You would then incur a terrible karmic price. Cochon is a terrific restaurant, as you can ascertain from their thread: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=108409&st=0 James is another place you may want to consider: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=98254&st=150 Really, any permutation of the above would be a meal I'd gladly undertake for you, should you feel unequal to the task. You know, if you find yourself "oinked-out", or otherwise unmanned.

John's Roast Pork. Ironically, their roast pork, not so great.

Your friends are locos en la cabeza. In Indian, obviously. It's as good as it's been: I've been twice in the last few weeks, and my only complaint is that I'm running out of new deliciousness to try.

And a little further research prompted by the above leaves me horrified and distressed: the large majority of the new offerings are substantially more expensive than elsewhere. There appear to be the odd bargain scattered in there, but given the overall pattern I think I would be extremely careful before buying those as well: current management don't seem to be especially inclined to cut suckers a break. That, if you're wondering, is you and me.

Further fact checking: Coho Stanley Ranch Pinot Noir '06, "now" $39.98. And "then"? Well, turns out that the PLCB price is higher than any found on Wine Search. Granted, those were all California prices. But it's the first time I've found this to be the case. Just mapping the slide, folks. Filming the slo-mo car wreck. On the up side, the prices on the incoming assorted Australian issues are still competitive, for some fairly appealing juice. Much of it is highly rated by Parker for all the (usual) wrong reasons, but there are some real gems in there. And of course some folks like what Bob likes.

Michael Klein tells us that Overtures is now closed, due to Peter Lamlein's retirement. http://blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/foodanddrinq/ I for one think it's a darn shame. I had some really really good meals there.

I'm sure the insurance company wasn't precisely sandbagged by the terms of the settlement. Keep in mind that it avoids further litigation. It seems pretty obvious that the voluntary assumption of the fees was used as a carrot to get Olivieri to go along peaceably. Anyway, it's done. I'll miss this thread terribly, but somehow we'll soldier on... What's for lunch?

Also because most of those would have trouble fitting in parties the size of yours: you didn't say how many you are, but it can be deduced it's a number in excess of twenty-three. Osteria wouldn't come close to fitting your budget; Fork probably would have to reserve the entire space for you; Tinto's private room seats a maximum of sixteen, and they're busy enough that I doubt they could make other arrangements. I actually have no idea how you'd fare at Supper. And, may I add, your post seemed to imply that you were looking specifically for BYOBs, and none of these four fit the bill in that regard. If that's not a concern, you may also look into Rae: they certainly have oodles of space. I've been to a number of catered affairs there, and although I don't know the cost, I had the feeling that they were reasonably priced.

If you're staying in Philly, Morimoto is pretty much the class of the field, as far as sushi is concerned. Which isn't saying much - I've found I do better there with the rest of the menu, personally. If there's any geographical flexibility at all, I would very enthusiastically recommend Fuji in Haddonfield http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=47824&st=120 The Jersey address is less of a problem than you may think: the restaurant is about a block from the PATCO station, and the ride from the 15th and Locust stop is reasonably quick.

Tinto's upstairs room accommodates 10-16. It's a set menu, $45, $55 or $65, but you can order a la carte above and beyond that, and it's "family style": if anybody has dietary requirements, you could order for them, absorb their portion of the main menu (if you can't, I volunteer) and still come in well within your price range. For the sixty drinkers... Maybe Nodding Head has a private room? Really, that may be a non-starter. It's a big crowd. Are they drinking on the 24th or... you have the 24th twice. If the drinking is on a Sunday, you have some chance of fitting in somewhere. Maybe check if Monk's would let you have the back room? I can't see it happening on Friday or Saturday, even with Memorial Day doldrums.

Much as I enjoy fantasies about my REAL ULTIMATE INTERNET POWER, I suspect that eGullet posts have very little effect on a restaurant's bottom line. Certainly compared to the effect of a review in one of the local papers, it's gotta be tiny. ← I think it's a small but important effect. The people who pay attention to sites like this are frequent diners, yes, but, more important, they're opinion makes, both online and off. And the effect is magnified by the fact that reviewers themselves often read eGullet. I can't tell you how many times I've recognized a paragraph in print, after having read it here. It's possible that two people writing on the same subject might make similar statements, of course, but a few times the paraphrase was so close, and so extensive, that I really do wonder.

That was yet another outstanding meal. I did think the veal chop and the bass were merely excellent. The rest was a good deal better than that. I think this kitchen is improving steadily: I haven't once had a meal here that failed to meet - and exceed - the expectations left by prior visits. The "amuse-bouche" the chef sent out... You know you've struck a good night when someone *gives* you deep-fried pork terrine. And the frogs' legs, perfectly crisp, delicate, almost melting meat... I'd win the Wing Bowl easy, if they let me have these. And why has no one fried head cheese before? It's just beautiful, a stroke of genius. The appetizers were uniformly outstanding: I have to give the nod to the two specials - the pork belly/garlic saussage combo and the blood saussage over frisee - but that may be because they had the advantage of surprise. Of the entrees, I have to say that the pork shoulder continues to be my favorite item on this menu, but the lamb chops and the duck are right there in the mix. I decided I'm going to stop complaining about the (very relative) weakness of the desserts: I figured out that it leaves me free to have three savory courses. Total bonus! In retrospect, someone will have to explain to me why we drank the stuff I brought instead of something, well... better. The rieslings, as usual, were the stars among the potables. They stood up to almost everything on the menu, which is really pretty incredible range. But still no cassoulet. I'm convinced Rae invented these supposed bean-gasmic delights purely to torture me.

Are you sure about the price? The system has the two-pack at $75...