Casual Must-Do's In Philly For This Friday

[VibeGuy]

Oh great oracles of foodiedom:

I've been summoned for a day of work in your phair city on Thursday, but I'll have Phriday phree. I've spent time in Philly before, but not nearly enough to have any local sensibility.

What I'm looking for are a couple of foodie secrets that I absolutely must experience to understand the regional foodways, preferably casual and relatively affordable. I won't have a car, but I'll be staying at the Hyatt downtown and am perfectly comfortable with public transportation even in neighborhoods that might be considered sketchy.

What are, say, three things I have to taste/see/experience to even begin to "get it"?

Eric

[MarketStEl]

One of the three is within walking distance of your hotel: the Reading Terminal Market. Stroll through the aisles, take in all the sounds, sights and smells. If you go in the morning, have breakfast at the Dutch Eating Place (as you will be in town on a Friday, it will be open). If you go at lunchtime, have a roast pork sandwich from DiNic's. Buy some barbecue chicken from Dienner's to take back to your room for snacking later. (12th and Filbert streets.)

Friday isn't quite the right time to experience the 9th Street ("Italian") Market at its best, but you might want to stroll through the street market anyway just to say you did. Gawk at the folks lined up for cheesesteaks at Pat's and Geno's, but eat at Taquitos de Puebla (Mexican immigrants from that state have transformed the face of Ninth Street without having to change the dominant color scheme on the awnings) or one of the many pho/Vietnamese/Laotian/Cambodian/... restaurants on Washington Avenue in the vicinity instead. (Broad Street Line to Ellsworth-Federal; Washington Avenue is one block north of the station and the Italian Market five blocks east. Or Bus Route 47 southbound from 8th and Market.)

Have a good microbrew while you're in town; the city's brewing heritage has come back from near-terminal condition thanks to a host of great microbreweries and brewpubs. You could pay homage to the craft beer that started it all locally by hopping the Route 34 trolley to 50th and Baltimore and hoisting one at the Dock Street Brewery, which also serves good pizza and light fare. Or you could kill two birds with one stone -- sample good brews and the atmosphere of Old City, the gallery/nightlife district, by visiting Triumph Brewing Company (import from Princeton, but who cares?) in the 100 block of Chestnut Street. (Get some exercise and walk there, but if you must, you can take either the Market-Frankford Line to 2d Street or any eastbound bus on Chestnut; get off at the end of the line if your bus terminates at Independence Mall or at 2d Street if it goes to Penn's Landing.)

Of course, my fellow eGulleteers will have alternate recommendations for the Three Things You Must Do While In Town. But I hope they agree with me on the first one.

Edited September 16, 2007 by MarketStEl (log)

[KatieLoeb]

Sandy and I were obviously cross posting.

Reading terminal Market was first on my list too.

A roast pork Italiano at either Reading Terminal or John's Roast Pork or Tony Luke's.

Gelato at either Capogiro stand.

A great cup of coffee/espresso/capuccino to go at La Colombe. Enjoyed on one of the benches in Rittenhouse Square while watching the dogs and children playing.

Great cheap Mexican food at either Taquitos de Puebla or Jose's on North 10th Street.

Late night Chinatown excursion for whatever strikes your fancy. I'm partial to the Beef & Broccoli Chow Fun with Satay sauce and the dumplings at David's Mai Lai Wah at the corner of 10th & Race.

[Rich Pawlak]

I would only add one must-have to Katie's spot-on list. Grab an Italian hoagie at Carmen's in the Reading Terminal Market, and eat half; head onto DiNic's for that flawless roast pork sandwich with provalone and broccoli rabe, and eat half. Save your half-sandwiches for a killer late-night nosh in your hotel room. Pure, unadulterated Philly.

[VibeGuy]

You guys rule!

I need new pants - breakfast at the market came with bacon the likes of which I have never eaten. The roast pork sandwich was fantastic, the gelato terrific.

I had some very "local" flavors - but I think scrapple is a profoundly acquired taste.

Had a great meal across the street from my hotel at the bar underneath le Bec Fin.

I look forward to my next trip and getting to explore a little more.

Eric

[MarketStEl]

I'm not sure I'd put even Le Bar Lyonnais in the "affordable" category -- Brasserie Perrier in the next block of Walnut comes closer to that, IMO, and it's still not a place I'd think of when someone asks for affordable food experiences in Philly -- but I'm glad you did get to sample what remains the ne plus ultra of haute cuisine in this city.

Come back soon; there's way more to explore!