Rich Pawlak

This place perfectly with your plans: Seafood Unlimited, 20th St, near Locust. Superb stuff, and inexpensive to boot. Snockey's, on 2nd st., near Washington will also work for you.

Got some bad news for you Rich, Tattoni's has closed. No doubt due to Trenton's ever rising gang/drug problems. This is the 2nd of my favorite places to go after Sal De Forte's closed. Before having pizza at Delorenzo's yesterday, made a quick stop for some cheese at Porfirio's where I was given the news. Really sucks, I loved that place ← I received this e-mail today. I don't know why Charles didnt just post this here, but he didnt and rather chose to privately e-mail me this: I'm not a member of egullet and don't plan to sign-on right now, so could you please pass this on to those who've been told that Tattoni's has closed that Tattoni's has not closed -- it just has a new name -- Casdeluna -- why it needed a new name, I can't tell you. We are taking four of our friends there tonight, and I'll be able to tell whether it really is the same or not. However, the restaurant has assured me that they have the same chef and the same food. We peeked in yesterday afternoon because we were worried. It looks the same same, but there is a new sign on the outside and new decor on the inside -- and Tattoni's needed new decor a lot. They even said in response to my question that they have the same menu. I asked again, and the clarified that that meant that there is no menu, they just tell you what they can prepare that night. The waitress was new, but they really want people to know that the experience is supposed to be same. Charles Carmalt I feel somewhat relieved. I'm hoping that Charles will post about his visit soon.

What skulky said. Hilarious take, but sadly true.

Funny, I've been saying "sammies" since high school, I think it's a Scranton thing; everybody says "sammiches" up there. And who is this Rachel Raygun of whom you speak?

I found the article superficial and weirdly assumptive. Ms Cowin's exclusion/ignorance of Reading Terminal Market alone indicates to me that she was led around by the folks at Philly Mag, and some trendy publicists. That being said, she barley skimmed the surfaced of the city and, as Holly correctly stated, she made no effort to find the city's food soul. It as good as we can expect from a national magazine, I suppose. But with the budget and editorial time to do a thorough job, it's a disappointing article.

That's about right. With the fishcake sandwich, you pretty much have to be in the mood for some hot starch-on-starch action. Anyway, this thread + a day off = a trip to Johnny's for me today. While I was there, I noticed a sign saying that they had won a Best Of prize from Philadelphia magazine for their cheesesteak. Anybody tried it? ← The cheesesteak, roast beef and roast pork sammies are all first class, easily some of the best in the city. The cheesesteak earned the BOP. It's that good.

Even the great restaurants have off nights and I expect that Chef/owner Bobby Trigg's efforts at gutting and restoring the nearby Plumet Royal at the Peacock Inn may be taking him out of the Ferry House kitchen. I have never had anything less than a spectacular meal when Ive dined there, admittedly before he took on this new huge venture

At Johhny Hots, Ive had the hot dog-fishcake combo with a little mustard, a little ketchup and some of John's amazing pepper hash. Ask for extra pepper hash and spill some off the sandwich and taste it solo, it is a great condiment.

The deck at Standard Tap is quite nice, especially on a clear night. And well, ya cant beat a roster of only local tap beer. Food is great across the board, especially any seafood. The deck at the Manayunk Brewery is also quite imprfessive; Chris Firey's beers are terrific, especially his dark brews, and the brick oven pizza, rotisserie meats and chicken, and mahognay wings are equally impressive. Pick a spot on the LEFT side of the huge deck to avoid the crush of bodies than mingle rudely near the deck entrance, and sit near the smaller thatched roof bar; great views of the Schuylkill, an old bridge and the almost silent stream of expressway traffic. Really pretty at dusk too. The roof deck at Coyote Crossing in West Chester and Coyote Crossing's outodoor patio in their Conshohocken outpost are magical outdoor spaces, decent Tex-Mex food, decent beers on tap and killer tequila selections at both places.

Larry, CONGRATULATIONS on being selected!! I am happy to report that Amazing Hot Dog has also been selected in a way. We have been asked to cater the Munchmobile Kickoff party. We are humbled by Pete Genovese's consideration in this capacity. It is a great honor, albeit a bittersweet one. It has been catered by Syd's over the past few years, and I grew up eating Syd's hot dogs. I am mourning the loss of this iconic hot dog joint that has paved the way for new guys like us. It may sound bizzare that a business man is saddened by the closing of a competitor, but there is enough room for everybody in this business. Anyway Larry, If you are attending the launch party, please introduce yourself to us. Eric--Amazing Hot Dog ← Your existence and elevation of the hot dog is a great tribute to Syd's in a way. And I'm sure those dogs will continue to inspire you guys at AHD.

1. David Drake, Rahway 2. Brothers Moon, Hopewell 3. Ferry House, Princeton

Nice to see that you're still working, James.

Actually, it's this place (I found it listed in Lew Bryson's superb beer book, New York Breweries): Shoreline Beverage 645 New York Avenue Huntington, New York 11743 800-783-BEER

There is that huge beer store in Huntington, NY, whose name escapes me, that ususally has a few Utopias on the shelves. I would check there. Last time I was in there, while on a visit a few months back, I noticed at least 3 Utopias on display.

Sweet mother of God, it's a silly, poorly written article in a free weekly paper. I cant fathom why you're giving it this much attention!

It's on the restaurant now, it seems to me.

The food at Independence is quite good all around the menu actually, and the beers, especially their porters and stouts, and their kolsch, are excellent.

Until you've had the Red Thai curry mussels at the Grey Lodge, you havent, in my opinion, had the best mussels in Philly.

Food porn at its most insidious.

Buckley's is a good one, I had forgotten about it. Avalon, to me, is downright magical at dusk, and as the evening continues, it has an atmosphere that is quite exceptional.

.....in little white shirts, black bow ties and caps. Could be classy! Let me round up some investors.....

Le Jardin at the Art Alliance just closed for good, and I dont think the restaurant at Longwood Gardens is worth any serious consideration

Thought you might have liked this part: ← MY BAD for not reading the article to the end! I just reviewed the incredible Meridith's for MAINLINE magazine, too.

Well, Phil, April's article showcases sidewalk dining and centers on Center City places, not suburban locales.

Well, not yet, but I'm an optimist.