Center City Restaurant Week - Philadelphia
January 16 - 21, 23-28 (excludes weekends)
http://www.centercityphila.org/life/RestaurantWeek.php
I'm going to divert from the usual restaurant/bar review and discuss something that's just as wonderful - Center City Restaurant Week.
Many years ago, a friend of mine brought this event to my attention. Combining two of my favorites - going out to eat and Philadelphia - this was the perfect event. For $35/person (it was actually only $30/person back then), you could have a 3+ course meal at over 100 restaurants in Philadelphia. This is a great way to try out restaurants and foods that we normally couldn't. The event grew from a one-week event held twice a year (there's another event in the fall) to a two-week event held twice a year.
Most restaurants include an appetizer, entree, and dessert in the price. If you do your homework, you can find restaurants that include drinks, multiple starters, and even multiple entrees. All of these places have a great atmosphere during this week. Some even have lunch menus.
As I said earlier, we were able to try many restaurants that we normally couldn't afford (Ruth's Chris, the former Brassiere Perrier, Swan Cafe at the Four Seasons, XIX [Nineteen], Susanna Foo's). Even some Stephen Starr restaurants participate. Through Open Table, you can often make reservations online. Even Le Bec Fin offers their version of restaurant week. Be sure to check the list, though; the restaurants change from year to year.
After the first few times of going to Restaurant Week, our party just kept growing. We maxed out around 12 at the height, but the event got too big and too tough to coordinate, so we decided to keep our Restaurant Week outings to ourselves and another couple.
Final Outlook: Definitely recommend!
Just a few recommendations: City Tavern, Ruth's Chris, Fogo de Chao, Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, Cuba Libre, Buddakan, XIX (Nineteen)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
He Shoots, He Scores!
The Stadium North - 1923 Bethlehem Pike, Hatfield, PA 19440
http://stadiumnorth.com/
http://www.facebook.com/stadiumnorth
Last night I met up with a friend of mine for dinner and drinks. We were going to a lacrosse game, and I was looking for a bar/restaurant that was close by. Using Google Maps, I found this sports bar.
Now, I've been to my share of sports bars, but I really, really liked this one. When you first walk in, there's a large bar in the room off to the right. Surrounding the bar were high-top tables and stools that sat at least six people. The room to the left had pool, darts, karaoke, air hockey, and video games.
The best part, though, were the number of televisions in the bar. Above the bar and throughout the bar were large, flat screen televisions showing SportsCenter. AND at each table was a smaller flat screen television. When the Flyers game came on at 7 pm, we didn't have to ask anyone to change the channel; the staff had already taken care of that.
The food wasn't bad, either. For a bar, it had a much more extensive menu than just wings, fries, and nachos. I had the fried shrimp basket, and they were more than generous with the fries that came with it. My friend had a buffalo chicken sandwich and onion rings. Each entree was less than $10.00.
The staff seemed really limited, like they weren't expecting to have that many people in on a Thursday night. In fact, right before the face-off of the Flyers game, about ten more people walked in. There were at least two bartenders, but only one waitress. We had to wait a bit for our food and drinks, but it wasn't unreasonable.
All-in-all, I really enjoyed it and would definitely go back. In fact, we should have had the post tournament banquet there after Fann Cup. Atmosphere was awesome and the food and drinks were good and reasonable. I might go back next Wednesday for a cousin's event!
Final Outlook: Strongly recommend!
http://stadiumnorth.com/
http://www.facebook.com/stadiumnorth
Last night I met up with a friend of mine for dinner and drinks. We were going to a lacrosse game, and I was looking for a bar/restaurant that was close by. Using Google Maps, I found this sports bar.
Now, I've been to my share of sports bars, but I really, really liked this one. When you first walk in, there's a large bar in the room off to the right. Surrounding the bar were high-top tables and stools that sat at least six people. The room to the left had pool, darts, karaoke, air hockey, and video games.
The best part, though, were the number of televisions in the bar. Above the bar and throughout the bar were large, flat screen televisions showing SportsCenter. AND at each table was a smaller flat screen television. When the Flyers game came on at 7 pm, we didn't have to ask anyone to change the channel; the staff had already taken care of that.
The food wasn't bad, either. For a bar, it had a much more extensive menu than just wings, fries, and nachos. I had the fried shrimp basket, and they were more than generous with the fries that came with it. My friend had a buffalo chicken sandwich and onion rings. Each entree was less than $10.00.
The staff seemed really limited, like they weren't expecting to have that many people in on a Thursday night. In fact, right before the face-off of the Flyers game, about ten more people walked in. There were at least two bartenders, but only one waitress. We had to wait a bit for our food and drinks, but it wasn't unreasonable.
All-in-all, I really enjoyed it and would definitely go back. In fact, we should have had the post tournament banquet there after Fann Cup. Atmosphere was awesome and the food and drinks were good and reasonable. I might go back next Wednesday for a cousin's event!
Final Outlook: Strongly recommend!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Vegan Chinese Food
SuTao Cafe - 81 Lancaster Ave, Malvern, PA 19035
http://www.sutaocafe.com/
A friend of ours turned 25 this week and we were invited to a birthday dinner in his honor. Interestingly enough, our friend is a vegan, and his live-in girlfriend is allergic to gluten (wheat). The restaurant that was chosen, SuTao Cafe, is a Chinese restaurant that caters to the vegan friendly, gluten free, no sugar diet.
As a carnivore, I was pretty impressed by the food. The meal was served buffet style and had many of your traditional Chinese dishes - fried rice (vegetable), lo mein (vegetable also), vegetable and vegetable/tofu sushi, and more. Many dishes had the "meat substitute," like the General Tso's chicken. There was also a salad bar with fresh fruit, miso soup, vegetables tempura, and some really awesome spring rolls. Unlike many vegan/vegetarian meals I've had, I actually felt fulfilled with this one. The meal was very flavorful, and I didn't feel like I was "missing" anything.
The service was fine; since it was buffet style, our party didn't require attention. The wait staff came in a few times to check up on us, but since we had pitchers of beverages, it wasn't necessary. As the early evening wore on, more and more patrons arrived to the restaurant, but there were still quite a few tables available as we walked out around 6:45 pm (we had the private room in the back). The restaurant is tucked into the corner of a shopping center that I've driven by on numerous occasions but never knew it was there.
One of the other options that the SuTao Cafe offers is menu service. They have a full menu, which we did not take advantage of.
The best part was the affordability of the place. While we were lucky and had our dinner paid for, a quick look at their online menu shows that the dinner buffet costs under $15/person.
In all, great food, decent service, no vote on atmosphere (we were in a private room), and great price!
Final Outlook: Strongly Recommend!
http://www.sutaocafe.com/
A friend of ours turned 25 this week and we were invited to a birthday dinner in his honor. Interestingly enough, our friend is a vegan, and his live-in girlfriend is allergic to gluten (wheat). The restaurant that was chosen, SuTao Cafe, is a Chinese restaurant that caters to the vegan friendly, gluten free, no sugar diet.
As a carnivore, I was pretty impressed by the food. The meal was served buffet style and had many of your traditional Chinese dishes - fried rice (vegetable), lo mein (vegetable also), vegetable and vegetable/tofu sushi, and more. Many dishes had the "meat substitute," like the General Tso's chicken. There was also a salad bar with fresh fruit, miso soup, vegetables tempura, and some really awesome spring rolls. Unlike many vegan/vegetarian meals I've had, I actually felt fulfilled with this one. The meal was very flavorful, and I didn't feel like I was "missing" anything.
The service was fine; since it was buffet style, our party didn't require attention. The wait staff came in a few times to check up on us, but since we had pitchers of beverages, it wasn't necessary. As the early evening wore on, more and more patrons arrived to the restaurant, but there were still quite a few tables available as we walked out around 6:45 pm (we had the private room in the back). The restaurant is tucked into the corner of a shopping center that I've driven by on numerous occasions but never knew it was there.
One of the other options that the SuTao Cafe offers is menu service. They have a full menu, which we did not take advantage of.
The best part was the affordability of the place. While we were lucky and had our dinner paid for, a quick look at their online menu shows that the dinner buffet costs under $15/person.
In all, great food, decent service, no vote on atmosphere (we were in a private room), and great price!
Final Outlook: Strongly Recommend!
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