jmbrightman

not that I am aware of

kibbitz room in Cherry Hill has great, authentic NY style corned beef and pastrami, also fantastic potato pancakes. half sandwich plus one side for $9 is a great lunch. about time we get good jewish deli downtown. the best thing Famous had to offer is the cookies.

get the Omakase. you get the $80 tasting, your girlfriend gets the $120 tasting, that way you get to try the entire tasting menu. sit at the sushi bar if possible. the rock shrimp, toro tuna tartare, and black cod are a slam dunk.

we had a good meal at Fork. I had the hangar steak (perfectly medium rare) and it was delicious. my sides (yucca fries and some unremarkable vegetable) were ice cold, and had to be sent back. The place was so crowded there was no standing room at the bar. I would return, but not on a Saturday night.

Melrose Hash Browns are the best anyywhere I have tried. always a consistent experience. if the West side of Braod was missed, that means the always good, recently expanded La Stanza was omitted, along with Popi's and Barrels.

To my most recent knowledge, only Dalessando's and Jim's use Amoroso rolls. Geno's uses Villotti-Marinelli bakery rolls (the bakery has a differnt name now, Villotti-something), and Pat's and Tony Luke's use National bakery rolls, from Thorofare, NJ. Same rolls used by the Rocco's Hoagie places. ← Kinda strange. yesterday, I was having a discussion with a friend about Tony Luke's rolls, so I called and was told they use National Bakery rolls, have them delivered frozen, then bake on premises. Today, I had lunch at Tony Luke's (pork w/ sharp and hots, gut the roll, side of wings). As we were leaving I saw a giant Liscio's Bakery truck unloading into the restaurant. whichever they use, it is good bread. The terrific P & S deli at 17th and Oregon also uses Liscio's.

Well, you're not going to see Django, Matyson or Marigold on opentable.com, are you? Aside from that, the very fact of their success is what annoys some - because it is often undeserved, and is syphoning dining dollars away from worthier kitchens. Or to put it another way: all you can argue from the website numbers is popularity. Which means McDonald's trumps them all. ← I don't know what it takes for a restaurant to sign up with opentable. I am an eater, not an owner. other small restaurants are represented. Vetri, my favorite of all time, is there. why not the others?

1. Buddakan Old City Asian $$$ 2. Morimoto Center City Japanese $$$$ 3. Zanzibar Blue Center City International $$$ 4. Capital Grille - Philadelphia Center City American $$$$ 5. Alma De Cuba Center City Cuban $$$ 6. Tangerine Old City Mediterranean $$$$ 7. Pod University City Asian $$$ 8. Cuba Libre Old City Cuban $$$ 9. Ruth's Chris - Philadelphia Center City Steak $$$$ 10. Striped Bass Center City Seafood $$$$ These are the opentable top 10 most reserved. Half of the restaurants here are Starr Group restaurants. There seems to be a resentment toward "chain" or "concept" restuarants on this site, yet they are booked to the gills. why? personally, I love Morimoto. I would not return to Ruth Chris (I didn't like the sizzling platter of grease that spattered all over my clothes), liked capital grille (but can't afford it out of my own pocket).

I just cancelled our Buddakan res, thank you all very much. Saturday we are out and about without the little ones, staying over at the Sofitel and we plan to...stop at Miel Patisserie and pick up pastries for a late night snack - go to Morimoto and have the rock shrimp, some sushi and a carafe of chilled sake at the upstairs bar, head to Fork for dinner, wander Old City, maybe stop at Le Bar at LBF for a late bite...

I haven't tried too many S. Jersey pies (I am S. Philly spoiled), but I do enjoy Big John's pizza, both the red and white. For an over-rated pie or slice, I nominate Vito's off Rt. 295 exit 32 (not sure of the road). too doughy, almost undercooked, and way too expensive.

Morimoto in Philly is a great, albeit expensive restaurant. You should look forward to the opening.

Sacko's is a great choice downashore. The special is an Italian hoagie w/ extra meat and cheese, and is a bit too much for my taste. I prefer the regular Italian. For a great hoagie in S. Jersey, try Lou and Ann's deli on Rt. 70 in Cherry Hill. Great bread from a small Camden bakery, meats sliced to order, and only $4.50.

Justin, please visit the Reading Terminal Market for lunch one day. try 12th st cantina for mexican, or dinic's for roast pork sandwiches, or salumeria or rocco's for hoagies (italian lunchmeat sandwiches). call now to get a res at Vetri for one of your $$$ nights. it is only around 35 seats, so reservations must be made well in advance. Morimoto offers amazing seafood - if money is not a concern, book a seat at the sushi bar, and order the omakase tasting, a sampling of the all they offer. dinner for 2 with a couple carafes of chilled sake served in bamboo shoots will run you around $325

my concern about Buddakan is, it seems it is more about the overall concept than the food. maybe it is a better place to visit midweek? I fear getting pegged as a geek and seated next to kitchen doors.

this Saturday, we must choose between Fork and Buddakan. I haven't been to either. I know Fork is less $, but it is an occasion, so cost is not a factor. any thoughts?