phungi

Holly, you rock! Now, if you could only bring back Strolli's and the $4.95 top-of-the-menu Veal Parm! Anyone recall H.A. Winston's, known for burgers and onion soup? Then again, some may think their demise was long overdue!

There is a "sister" topic in the NJ forum, and seemed like a logical jumping point to PA. Growing up in NE Philly, there was Paisan's Pizza, Jerry's Essen House, the Red Lion Diner and the Hardee's that is now Aldo's Pizzarama.

after spending the better part of my 40 years living in the Philadelphia area, I had my first Dellasandro's cheesesteak today. (As an aside, I was planning on going to Zeke's but they are closed on Mondays). I thought it was a good steak, but nothing worthy of top-3 or even top-5 status. I found the chopped meat to be a bit too chopped, and somewhat dry. I did not have the sauce, but I like to rely on the actual meat to have its own flavor, and the only moisture came from the steam of the meat within the roll. Watching the cooking process, I thought they construct a good steak, with any condiments on the roll, some steak, then the upside-down steak/cheese formation. If you get mushrooms or sauce, that goes on top. The roll was very fresh, and there was an Amoroso truck outside if that helps anyone on either side of a debate. On the whole, it was good, but not great. There was nothing to differentiate this from many other "chopped meat" cheesesteaks out there, and in my biased opinion, not close to Johns or Tony Lukes. Oh, and for what may be a whole new rating scale, the clean-up required 2 flossings and a toothpick.

is this a second location or a new locale for the one off Darby Road?

Loving spicy food and living in Wynnewood, Carmine's has to be my favorite local restaurant. Their crab claw appetizer may be the best appy I have had. I have never had a bad meal there, and their BYOB status makes it a true gem.

There was a "teaser" in the Food section of Thursday's Inquirer for a LeBan review of The Smoked Joint in this Sunday's paper...

How about the Toddle House on the Boardwalk in AC, a few doors down from the "Playcade" arcade? I believe I had a hot dog from there every night on "the boards," but was too young to appreciate the Taylor Pork Roll.

Just found this thread in a search... Lou's of Ventnor, on Ventnor Ave. at Nashville? I spent my summers as a kid walking around in their free t-shirts.

Pica's has a square pizza, medium crust, but they use a "flat" cheese that forms a base under, but does not mix with the sauce. The two pies I spoke of had a sauce atop a more traditional grated cheese that had a uniqie texture and taste. Piasan's was on Bustleton Ave across from George Washington High School, and Piccolo's was on Red Lion by Bustleton. Maggios (http://www.maggiosrestaurant.com) is off 232 at 2nd Street Pike. A friend says it is as close to Piasan's and Piccolo's as you can get, but I have not been there yet.

a friend just told me that Maggios on 2nd Street Pike in Southampton serves Piasans/Piccolo's style pizza as well as the old Piccolo's steak-in-a-pouch. I'll have to check it out.

I will be in Orlando with my wife, kids(ages 3 & 5) and in-laws, staying at the Marriott near Sea World, which I believe places us in the International Drive area. My wife and I will be dining out alone one night, and it looks like Moonfish is a good choice, as we love seafood. Any other recommendations? Also, can anyone recommend kid-friendly places for our whole party?

I always loved the bbq pastrami and the good garlicy brisket from Famous in the NE, but do not know if it was linked to the 4th street location. If it is the same owner as the Kibbitz room taking over, I look forward to their face-squinching sour tomatos from the pickel bar.

I was recently talking with some NE Philly friends about Piasan's and Piccolo's pizza, and the famous Piccolo's "steak in a pouch." Are there similar pizza's out there? All I can think of is Pica's in Upper Darby, but their pizza is not quite the swirly sauce-above-the-cheese delight that I remember. What say ye, eGullet pizza club?

Thanks for the info, all! So, the waiting time is long even for take-out? How reliable are theyfor take-out if you call in your order?

I just learned of Debreaux's by the Overbrook Train Station, and it is very close to where I work. There is very little by way of discussion on the site or reviews on-line, so I am appealing to your respective gullets for input.

I think you should have taken the gift certificate and then opened up a new thread requesting eGullet members "bid" for the right to give the gift certificate to a friend or family member who most annoys them. Once the date and reservation is made, we set them up with a few bottles of Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel, and then secretly invite the off-duty manager to join them for dinner. I would love to send some "special friends" to a rude awakening!

I have to second the importance of eating at DeLorenzo's in Trenton. Perhaps the best pizza in the area. I rank them #1 for a "red" pizza and Taconelli's #1 for their white pie.

so, how was fork? gustatory minds want to know!

speaking of rolls, I called Sacko's and White House to get a near-definitive answer to what makes the Atlantic City roll so unique. Unfortunately, all I got was "it's the water" (spoken: "wooter'), but no-one could tell me exactly what is in the water to make the rolls so good. I asked both "if I brought a few gallons of AC water to the mid-West and made bread, would it be AC bread"? I received one "you got me" and one hang-up.

Funny you should mention that... Last time I went to Buddakan (party of 2), we were seated upstairs all the way in the back by the office door. Our table was next to the bar, and the rather large crowd of people waiting to sit down were encroaching on us. We had a $150 gift certificate and I ended up paying about $30 out of pocket (for 3-4 drinks, 2 apps, 1 entree, 1 special entree, 1 dessert, 2 coffees). I love Fork: the food is great, the atmosphere is great, and the cost is palatable.

The Atlantic City/Jersey Shore sandwich appears to have been left out of this thread. I'm not sure if it is the mineral content in the water, but AC rolls are unlike any other place. It is worth the 60-minute ride to Ventnor to Sacko's Subs (www.sackosubs.com). The cheesesteak is average, but highly improved on the roll, but their chicken cheesesteak is a thin chicken breast grilled to perfection... have it with lettuce, tomato and hot peppers. As for hoagies, the Sacko special is excellent, the tuna is white albacore, all on that roll I can't stop talking about. Also one of the best meatball sandwiches I've ever had.