Friendly's (Guest Blogger)

Fort Washington, PA --

D - The monster mash never looks like a monster :(

Souf Street Challenge

South Street, Philadelphia -- I don't feel so hot right now. After playing football for a couple hours, some of the guys and I went to South Street to try the South Street Challenge. For those of you who aren't familiar with this, it is when you get a cheesesteak from Jim's Steaks on 4th and South and wrap it with a slice of Lorenzo's pizza (which is a HUGE slice of pizza). Anyway, we got to Jim's and the line was out the door and to the street corner. So, we decided to go to Steak's on South instead. Honestly, I think Jim's Steaks is pretty overrated. They are pretty tasty but you don't get a lot of meat and the cheesesteak itself is really small (also, you have to wait in line for like 20 years). The cheesesteaks that we got at Steaks on South were actually a lot bigger than the Jim's steaks so even though we didn't technically do the South Street Challenge, we ate even more than we would have.

Furthermore, we were hella hungry at this point so we all go full throttle at the gargantuan sammich in front of us. At first, I thought: this pizza is going to ruin the cheesesteak, but it actually tasted pretty good. After about 15 minutes, I finished the sammich and I actually felt content, not extremely stuffed. But, my body was probably saying: Glutton! Why the hell did you just do that to me?!? You know this is going to hurt the whole way down and the whole way out or the whole way up. You will regret this in the morning. Well, it is 1 hour since I finished that thing and I don't feel so well. I can feel my arteries clogging and my stomach trying to explode. Now that I think of it, how is that huge thing sitting inside me right now? I can only compare it to when a snake eats a hippo.


Overall grade:

C (Louie) - The actual cheesesteak+pizza was pretty decent but when averaged with the after-effects and health hazards, the grade is much lower. Now, I have the itis and I'm slowly falling assslee

Sabrina's Cafe

Italian Market, Philadelphia-- Sabrina's is a wonderful place to grab brunch. A small cozy BYOB cafe with an eclectic waitstaff, it's a neighborhood favorite-- which means it's always bustling with activity. On a normal weekend around 11am-12pm, the wait can be well over an hour. If you do decide you want to go, I would definitely call ahead. You'll still have to wait a little, but you'll get a table much quicker. One nice thing about the wait is that they usually have coffee and sometimes pastries out. It was great to sip on some free coffee while waiting for our table, especially when it was a little chilly outside.

We've been here a couple times, and we've gotten to try a bunch of their dishes. Beware though... you must come with an empty stomach, because the portions are huge. I can never finish my plate. The menu has a lot of variety, and their Brunch specials are very unique. Here are some noteworthy ones:

The Stuffed French Toast is heavenly and definitely a must-try dish. Their fruit toppings change often, but it always comes with French toast challah (holla!) bread filled with sweet cream cheese and topped with syrup and powdered sugar. When we had it, the toppings were strawberries and blueberries. It is also really rich and pretty big, so I would recommend sharing it with the table (we split it 3 ways as a brunch-itizer and it was still a lot of food).

The Skinny Omelet is actually very good and also very big (seemed like they used 5 eggs!). It is an egg white omelet stuffed with roasted cremini mushrooms, red onions, fresh spinach, parsnips, sun dried tomatoes and feta cheese. All of their egg dishes come with homefries tossed with caramelized onions (mmm) and Le Bus bread. I think it's definitely more economical to go with an omelet from their specials list since you get more toppings. Howeva, you can also create your own omelet and choose from 3 toppings (with additional toppings for $1). This pleased Louie since he is a MAN and is "all about meat" (the Skinny is the only omelet for brunch specials).

We also got to taste the Mexican Special, which had pepper jack eggs with grilled jalapeno chicken, chorizo, turkey bacon, red beans, corn, green onions and roasted peppers served in corn tortillas and topped with salsa verde and a roasted tomato-cilantro sour cream. It was, no surprise here, another big dish and quite yummy.

Overall grade:

A- (Steph) - Great brunch food, huge portions, friendly servers, not just your average cafe. The price is also pretty fair (~$10-12/plate for specials). The only thing is the wait can sometimes be really long, but it is definitely worth it.

B+ (Louie) - Mad emos, whippicles, and artistic people up in this joint. Once again, I luh the huge portions they give you here. Their service was also pretty fast.

Monk's Cafe

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia -- If you like beer and/or mussels, then Monk's Belgian Cafe is the place for you. This place has one of the most extensive beer menus I have ever seen. Upon entering, there is a small but comfortable bar with two rooms at the rear for dining. It's a pretty small restaurant and is very busy, so we had to wait about half an hour to get seated. The lighting is very dim but is well suited for the atmosphere. Per, this is your kind of place. I could picture a bunch of Vikings eating here.

For dinner, Steph got the Provence mussels and a glass of framboise. I ordered a bacon cheese burger and a glass of their sour ale. I know that sounds lame, but sometimes, you just get that craving for a nice, juicy burger. The mussels were steamed (fumè) with celery, olives, bell peppers, mushrooms, leeks, garlic, parsley & cream. You can get the mussels in small or large but the small is actually more than sufficient for one person, and it came with a side of french fries with mayo. Overall, the little sea creature was perfectly steamed and the ingredients helped create a very tasty sawce/broth. On a side note, framboise is a belgian beer that is fermented with raspberries and is very sweet, almost too sweet (can't believe this is considered a beer).

Furthermore, the burger (medium) came out very well: extremely juicy, flavorful, and seasoned perfectly. And the bacon just made it so much more incredible. I luh bacon (almost more than I luh Popeye's...almost). Anyway, the only thing I didn't like about my burger experience was that it came in a dry ciabatta roll. Weird. I would've preferred that yummy burger in a soft, squishy bun. Their "award winning fresh cut fries", which I had to order separately, were actually nothing special. Although, it did come with their famous bourbon mayonnaise for dipping. Once again, weird. I don't know about yins, but I like putting my fries in the burger. Lastly, the sour ale was... sour.

Overall grade:

B (Louie) - The food was moderately priced and very tasty. There were only a few things that bothered me: burger in a roll, small and crowded, slow service. Oh yeah, I forgot... the burger didn't come with fries. WTF?! That's like a Chinese restaurant that charges extra for rice, a bathroom without a toilet, or a girl that you bring home who actually turns out to be a dude. Otherwise, everything else is great. I kind of want to go there again to try some of the other Belgian beers on tap.

Sakuza

Chinatown, Philadelphia -- Sakuza is this new BYOB joint that just opened up not so long ago on the edge of Chinatown. The decor is very hip and trendy. The whole restaurant is painted this very happy, lime-green color, and although the restaurant is not very big, they seem to get a lot of business. It is a very relaxed environment and the wait staff are super friendly and welcoming. Most of the dishes on the menu are between $5-$15, with the majority being under $12. We've been there on several occasions and have tried many dishes.

They serve both Japanese and Chinese cuisine. The sushi is prepared at the bar and is very fresh. I would strongly recommend the shrimp tempura rolls. You get a very large portion because the shrimp are quite large. (Note: we couldn't find a picture of their tempura rolls so this is just a picture of another Sakuza sushi roll.) Anyway, the Japanese sushi stuff serves as a good appetizer for the Chinese dishes. However, they do have Japanese entrees (Chicken Teriyaki, sushi platters, tempura, etc.) As for the Chinese food, we've tried the Mapo Tofu with pork, Shanghai Pan Fried Udon, and the Seafood Noodle Soup. These dishes, unlike other standard Chinese restaurants, were all very artfully presented. Compared to authentic Mapo Tofu, this is pretty true to taste. But, be careful, because this dish is extra spicy--you're gonna need a good amount of rice to go with it. The Udon was very delectable: the noodles were thick yet soft, and the sawce was very tasty (highly recommended). It comes with meat and vegetables, but serves only one person.


B+ (Louie) - Sakuza is a pretty nice spot in Chinatown. It doesn't look as grimy as some of the other Chinese restaurants that are there. Plus, it is new so the food is not overpriced yet. Therefore, go there now while it is cheaper. The food is very tasty there and pretty authentic. The reason why Sakuza doesn't get an A for me is because they charge you for rice. That shit is so stupid. That is like charging for water. Or, an airline charging for your luggage, a bathroom that charges you for toilet paper, a girl who gives you herpes.

A- (Steph) - Good food, moderate price, friendly staff, neat and pretty atmosphere. We have yet to go for the Bento box lunch special, but that seems like a great deal. For $7-$9 you get miso soup, salad, sumai, rice, california roll and your choice of meat/seafood/veggie teriyaki or tempura.

Devon Seafood Grill

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia -- We've been to Devon twice now (once for restaurant week and once on our own), and we absolutely love it. It sits right across from the square, and on a good day, you can ask to sit outside and people/dog-watch. It's a semi-pricey (not that bad) seafood place, but the food is sooo good here it's worth it. Also, if you're a first-time customer, they'll give you a card to fill out your name, birthday, and e-mail so you can join their listserv. Definitely do this, because when your birthday rolls around, they'll send you a voucher where you get a free entree (up to $25 and valid for about 2 weeks around your bday)...hence, the reason for our second trip. So here are the items we've tried on the menu:

They always come around and give you one cheddar biscuit per person. These biscuits are warm and buttery and perfectly flaky. Really good and probably really bad for you (but pho real, Popeye's biscuits are where it's at). Anyway, if you want more, make sure to ask for them because they'll only give you one if you don't.

Appetizers-- we've had the house salad and the Maine lobster bisque. The house salad wasn't anything extraordinary, but the toasted pine nuts were a nice touch and it was still very tasty. On the other hand, the lobster bisque was phenomenal. It was rich and velvety and tasted like a fisherman teleported to Maine, slayed a lobster, teleported back, put it in a blender, put his magic sawce in it, and made a bisque out of it. In all seriousness, it was full of flavor and very creamy.

Entree - we've had the center cut filet, seared Georges Bank scallops, san fran style cioppino with pasta, and the Japanese breaded fried shrimp. The filet was "the best steak I've ever had-very juicy and tender (medium)" (Louie)...and it came with very creamy garlic mashed potatoes. Most people will tell you that the filet and the Maryland crab cakes are the best thangs on their menu. The scallops came with a lemon risotto and were succulent. Tender and flavorful, they melted like butter in your mouth. They did come with a weird green sawce that Louie said looked like alien's semen, but still tasty. The cioppino and the fried shrimp were very filling, but I wouldn't go to Devon to order them again. It didn't taste as spectacular as the other entrees.

Dessert--we've tried the key lime pie, the warm Ghirardelli chocolate cake, and the apple crisp dish. Key lime pie and apple crisp were nothing special. Howeva, the choc cake with a gooey center was to die for. It came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, raspberries, peanut brittle, and some pirouettes. It looked so beautiful I almost didn't want to eat it, but then I smacked myself twice and licked that plate clean when I was finished.
Note: This pic is missing many parts and doesn't look as good as it does in person.


Overall grade:

A+ (Steph) - Beautiful presentation, nice ambiance, amazing food, and good drinks (Prosecco was yummy)...it's my fave restaurant in the city so far. Also, this kid from UDHS is a waiter there (Dan Hyatt).

A (Louie) - Devon is definitely one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Despite the high cost and the somewhat low quantity served, the food is very rich, which gets you full. It's a great place to take a jaun and there is a bar there too if you want to crunk. If you are in Philly and want some good seafood or a good steak, I would definitely recommend this joint.

Popeye's Fried Chicken

Philadelphia, PA-- Tryna grab a quick bite to eat that is also the best food known to man? Popeye's, originally from New Orleans, will offer this to you with it's unbelievable fried chicken and many side dishes. First, let's talk about the chicken because I luh dat chicken. The skin is crispy and the meat is juicy (not drenched soggy with oil). They add their special cajun spices on the batter to make it taste extra grindin'. You can get the chicken in mild or spicy (recommend spicy). They also have their Louisiana Hot Sawce there if you're down with that for the chicken.

Next, while you're eating that unbelievably yummy fried chicken, there are plenty of sides you can get to add to your experience. My favorites are the mashed potatoes, biscuits, french fries, and the apple pie. The mashed potatoes are very good. They use their own special cajun gravy. I usually dip the fries and/or my chicken in this and eat them together. I think their biscuits are the best biscuits you can get in a fast food place (very buttery). The fries are spiced cajun fries that are probably the best fries ever (Checkers might be up there too). Lastly, if you go to Popeyes and you're lame and don't get any chicken, you MUST atleast try the apple pie. It is the best apple pie you will ever find. They are LITERALLY deep fried and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Remember that scene from American Pie where Jason Biggs tries his mom's warm apple pie? That's how a Popeye's apple pie feels. Do it!

OVERALL GRADE: A+ Amazing food. Fast service. Good prices. Why go to Buddakan and spend $100 on dinner when you can spend like $20 eating gourmet chicken and biscuits.

Buddakan

Olde City, Philadelphia --We went here for Restaurant Week ($35/person for a 3 course meal) but were only able to get a reservation for 9:15PM, even though we called two weeks in advance. Right when we walked in, the ambiance was very chic and the women who frequented this establishment were HOT. Also, the jauns who work there were HOT too. You could tell that the normal dinner crowd was the "posh, young, whippicle, after-work crowd." Here is a breakdown of our dining selections:

For the appetizer, we got the grilled octopus and the tea-soaked spare ribs. The grilled octopus had that really nice grilled smell and taste to it but was way too salty. Although, it helped that the two sauces it came with somewhat balanced out the flavors. It was also a very small serving (4 little kernels of octopus for $16?! Ridiculous!). On the other hand, the spare ribs were very tender and were full of flavor. For an appetizer, you get a lot of food because it comes with cole slaw and chips as well.

Next, for the entree, we ordered the hot and sour scallops and the grilled lamb chops. The scallops were cooked to a perfection and the sawce ( sweet corn, tofu, black mushrooms) that came with it was very delicious and unique. Obviously, I (Louie) was not tryna with the four scallops that were prepared because I'm all about quantity. I'm a grown ass man and I need a lot of food. Actual retail price? $27 for 4 measly scallops...Furthermore, Steph got the lamb chops, which came with Chinese eggplant, garlic sauce, and Thai basil pesto. The lamb chops were good, but the eggplant side dish was actually more enjoyable. As far as quantity goes, the plate was gigantic and the quantity of food was more than the scallop dish.

Finally, dessert! We got the dimsum donuts and the crying chocolate cake. You get six donuts covered in cinnamon sugar with three types of dipping sawces (chocolate, gingered cream cheese, and African American-berry jam). Pretty average if you ask me. The crying chocolate cake, on the other hand, came with a side of Vietnamese coffee ice cream and was topped with powdered sugar. Once you dipped your spoon into the cake, the center melted all over the plate with ooey gooey goodness. The outside was a rich chocolate cake and the inside was a huge pocket of hot fudge with crunchy chocolate bits. Delicious!

Overall grade:

B (Louie) - The food was very well prepared but I thought the dishes were a little bit too salty for my liking. This is a good place to take a girl on a date because she'll love the atmosphere and you can impress her with the big CA$HMONEY you will be shelling out to pay for the meal.

A- (Steph) - :) I like dessert. Definitely go for restaurant week. We only paid $70 for what would've been a $120 meal (not including drinks)