The eatery is small with a giant bar in the entryway and a long, communal table for 10 smack in the middle of the atrium of the hotel. A dining area, by the windows facing Arch St, seats 32. Fresh baked baguettes arrived wrapped in white paper along with a ramekin of room temperature herbed butter (Note: Picky loves when restaurants serve room temperature butter—the only way it should be!). The basil buds brought a sense of summer and thoughts of fresh bruschetta, but they weren't overpowering. An amuse bouche was brought out for each of us along with a signature Amuse cocktail. The champagne infused grape with aged balsamic and a basil bud tingled like fizzy champagne. It was the size of an overgrown olive, not like any grape we've seen. The smooth tinge of aged balsamic rounded out the feel of the bite and welcomed the rest of the meal.

The With Love cocktail [Ketel One, passion fruit syrup, lime juice, ginger liquor, champagne, and raspberry] was refreshing and cleaned off any of the lingering intensity from the amuse bouche. Then came the onslaught. We were ready for a small tasting menu, but what came out was just about everything from the menu; full portions of almost everything on the menu!

Taylor Bay Scallops [$8/$16], from Nantucket, with some petit scallops along with corn, peas, house made fresh chorizo over pappardelle in a bouillabaisse with crostini sprinkled with baby greens. Picky isn't the biggest seafood fan (and Messy stays away completely), he found the scallops nice and most definitely not the rubbery kinds many people complain about at other eateries. The prize was the chorizo. Juicy hunks of spice added an unexpected dimension to this seafood starter. The shells added an incredible dash of variegated color.

A large plate of heirloom tomatoes, house pulled mozzarella with opal basil and herb infusion made our hearts flutter. Note, this was back in November so heirloom 'maters were just about gone by now. Chef Black came out to talk about each course and he noted that they were the last of the tomatoes from the region and they tasted great. No mealy, flavorless globes from afar, but the real local flavor of summer. The bright colors played well on the white china. While the mozzarella didn't stand up to the gold standard of Claudio's in the Italian Market, it was great to see the extra effort put into the dish by the in-house staff. Going the extra mile in-house is a sign that a restaurant is searching for just the right thing all the time by tinkering behind the scenes in their own lab.

The pork shank and trotter ravioli [$9/$16] with mushrooms and chip of house cured pancetta was everything that is good about pork. It was saliva-enducing level of salty goodness. The thick, overstuffed ravioli and deeply earthy mushrooms added a nice range of flavor and texture to each bite. And without a moment for us to catch our breath, the next course was tabled.

The veal chop (Frenched of course), a cheese croquette (made with the delicious Fat Cat from Birch Run Hills Dairy in Chester County) with fried leeks and vegetables in a butter cream sauce was a visual meal in and of itself. It was the larges veal chop (Black Angus?) Picky has ever seen, approaching a foot in length.

The chop had an incredible presence as it was propped up at the bone by the croquette. It was pink and tender as veal ought to be with a hidden morsel of fat right by the bone.

A bouillabaisse [$26] with lobster, halibut scraps, shrimp, PEI mussels, pearl onions and potatoes came next. It was another eye-catching seafood plate with an imposing height, color and inviting smell. Seafood can have an overwhelming punch to it, but it was all under control in Black's kitchen.

And what would any self-respecting French restaurant in America be without steak frites [$24]. This hanger steak varietal was served with three sauces: tarragon pesto, ketchup and bernaise aoli. Chef Black explained that the steak is seared at 1600°F in a special oven. It was perfectly medium rare, but seemingly overcooked next to the beyond tender veal.

Half a free ranged chicken, herb honey crusted [$19], was a fine dish, but not quite as crispy as Picky likes it to be.

The only item that didn't sing at the tasting dinner was the veganized ratatouille [$18] with quinoa ragu.

Chef Black told us that he usually uses butter in the dish. We're big butter fans, so we imagine that would have made a big difference for us. (Amuse is probably not the best choice for vegans, as most French places aren't.) Regardless, Chef Black still managed to coax a buttery crisp texture from the ratatouille.

And here's Picky's plate with one of everything crammed onto it.

Here's the gang chowing down with Chef Black talking about the offerings of the entrees in front.

As our plates were cleared, they were replaced with clean ones and a giant spork. It was a moment of haute cuisine meets KFC and in this case, it worked. Annie Heckenberger of Red Tettemer (which organized the tasting) talked up the desserts and got our motors going once again after what was already an astounding amount of food.

The tarte tatin [$6] with vanilla creme was deliciously topped with berries. The delicious thick crust on the bottom was just crispy enough without giving up any moisture.

The pot de crème [$6] was everything it should classically be. Luscious thick ganache, freshly whipped cream with cacao nibs and fresh mint sprig acting as the proverbial cherry on top.

Finally, the Mille Feuille Classique with berries and a Chantilly cream sauce [$6] ended the night. It was plain and simple with a dry and not oily filo tower standing tall. Picky was a little sad that there was a crème brulée on the menu, but not for our special tasting (wait, did that bastard just complain about something from this evening?!).

It wasn't surprising to learn that the young chef is a LCB graduate. The eatery was a few months old at the time of our visit, but everything was already running very smoothly in the newly renovated historic space. Our servers were attentive and well-versed on the menu and were able to answer any and all questions we had during our meal. Chef Black took a few minutes after our meal to chat with the group. He said his move from Vermont to Philly was tough. At his former restaurant he had produce growing out back.

Taking a look at the bar menu, you'll notice a nice range of classics and house specialties all at great prices. Their wine list is modest and focused. Their beer list, however, is sadly lacking. But this isn't the place to have session brews, there are plenty of places for that around town. Even the bathrooms are thoughtfully done. Down a set of stairs and a hallway which looked like it belonged in a outer-space based Sci-Fi flick, you opened pocket door stalls with a sexy red glass tile interior. Friends of ours stayed there over the summer for our wedding and they had a great time. Unfortunately, the great summer deals of their first season are over, but the prices for rooms at Le Méridien are compatible with other downtown hotels, but with a much better restaurant!

The take from Bridges, Burgers & Beer, Philly Food and Beer and I'll Eat You. A special thanks to Chessia Kelly and Annie from RT. Thank you Chef Black and the wonderful servers and staff at Amuse for the wonderful evening. We're incredibly sorry for the delay, but we wish you all the best.

And below is a slideshow of all the photos above and more in 1200px glory on flickr

Amuse bar & brasserie
1421 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 422-8222
Hours: Breakfast: M-F: 6:30am-10:30am, Sa-Su: 7:00am-11:00am Lunch: M-Su: 11:00am – 2:00pm Dinner: M-Su: 5:30pm – 10:00pm

LA CIGALE
113 S 18th St
(215) 569-1970
La Cigale was always my favorite place to go to reward myself. When the CityPaper asked me to write something for culture shock, La Cigale was the first thing I thought of. (Okay, that's a lie — the first thing I thought of was the terrible television shows I love to consume, but then I thought about what I wanted appearing in print next to my name and went with La Cigale instead.) I love the environment, there's always sort of jazzy music playing and pretty French girls who make a mean panini. There are two paninis that I could never get enough of – the St. Tropez (mozzarella, tomato and basil pesto) and the Golf Juan (brie, tomato and tomato paste). The soup and 1/2 sandwich combo is so good, particularly when the soup is tomato-cheddar or something creamy like that. It never seems to be crowded here at lunch time, but if it is, there is seating upstairs where you can hang out and drink coffee for hours, if you wish.

KENNEDY FOOD GARDEN
1901 John F Kennedy Blvd
(215) 977-9655
This might sound weird, but Kennedy Food Garden (essentially an expanded convenience store on the ground floor of a residential building) makes some of the best sandwiches in Philadelphia. If you have coworkers with similar food tastes, it's a good idea to split a sandwich here. The sandwiches are huge, and they're not that great left over. My favorites are the health sandwich and the barbecued vegetarian cheesesteak. The health sandwich (which is probably not all that healthy, but is definitely delicious!) is an overstuffed sour dough hoagie containing romaine lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers, avocados, sprouts, feta cheese, and in my case, lots and lots of mayo — oh my God, is it good. Another favorite option here is the brie and herb sandwich (which comes with cucumber, romaine, tomatoes and olive oil on a baguette) but you have to really like brie or else you will end up talking at least half of it off. This place can get a little hectic around lunch time, and I don't recommend eating in if you prefer a tranquil atmosphere. However, they do cater, and while I never sampled their catering, I would recommend it based on their sandwiches alone.

LE BUS
135 S 18th St
(215) 569-8299
Le Bus also makes some of the best sandwiches in Philly, but whereas Kennedy Food Garden serves up overstuffed hoagie-type sandwiches, Le Bus has more of the artisan variety. These are still big enough for two meals, and the ones I get are around $6. My absolute favorites here are the Lebanon sandwich and the chilled mango soup. The farmer's breakfast sandwich is also really good. The cons about Le Bus are that it gets really hot in the summertime, it's usually crowded, and there is no seating. One tip: no matter what sandwich you get, and how strange it seems, ask to get it toasted. I had a couple of sandwiches at Le Bus that I found unimpressive until someone in front of me in line turned me on to toasting. They just toast things a teeny bit, so the bread gets a little crunchy and the cheese starts to get a tiny bit melty, yet somehow, the things that are supposed to be crisp and cool remain that way. Even though I don't eat chicken, the curried chicken salad on raisin bread here makes my mouth water. Someone, please eat it and think of me!

DI BRUNO BROS.
1730 Chestnut St
(215) 665-9220
You have to be careful at Di Bruno's because it's not cheap. It is however, really good, and there are all kinds of samples if you go at the right time. I always try to hit Di Bruno's a little early, because the lunch crowds can get insane and people totally gobble up the cheese samples and sometimes they are not replaced later. The sandwiches available at the deli counter are delicious and even though they cost about $7 a piece, I always turn them into two meals. The upstairs prepared food is also heavenly, particularly the house of cheese panini, the hummus and the bruschetta. I haven't had as good luck with the upstairs salad bar or the soups. Also, the downstairs prepackaged salads and wraps are nothing to write home about. However, it's always fun to stop in just to look around at all the fancy foods and try some cheese or olive oil.

TAMPOPO
104 S 21st St
(215) 557-9593
Tampopo's bento box is the honestly the best healthy but still filling lunch option around. It really blows other Japanese restaurants out of the water. We've reviewed Tampopo and Tampopo II before — and I can guarantee, they are both worth it. Once in a long while, I get a hankering for a vegetable (a strange break from my normal 24/7 craving for all things bread and cheese related) and on those rare occasions, a noodle-y-vegetable-y dish from Tampopo is just what the doctor ordered.

THE WRAP SHACK ON THE SQUARE
120 S 18th St
(215) 569-1666
The new, fancy Wrap Shack is quite different from the original Wrap Shack. I only spent a few months working in proximity to the new Wrap Shack and during that time, I felt obligated to try all of the vegetarian wraps. I ended up with three favorites: the Thai peanut popper, the Bean Burrito and the Pizzabella. The Pizzabella (portabella mushrooms, pizza sauce and cheese) was an extra favorite for me – I would order it on a spinach wrap, and it would satisfy my pizza cravings while simultaneously providing me with the vegetables I usually avoid. I don't recommend the salads here, I got one once and it was heavy on the lettuce and light on everything else (however, if you can't tell by now, I am a vegetarian with an anti-vegetable bias). Also, the service was kind of hit or miss, but I chalk that up to working out the original kinks of opening up the new location.

TOKYO LUNCH BOX
1705 Chestnut St
(215) 564-3306
This place is not amazing by any means, but there is one item I always order when it's cold or rainy or I don't feel well: the tofu soup with the udon noodles. It costs about $6, and is huge and chocked full of spinach, mushrooms, tofu and scallions. Make sure to ask for the red spice at the check out counter, otherwise it's kind of bland. My only complaint is that the soup is never hot enough. I used to always have to take it back to work and nuke it. The rolls at this place are okay, but they are actually better at the fresh sushi place inside Liberty Place. I can't really speak for anything else here, but man, that soup. . . I miss it.

HOT TAMALES
1805 John F Kennedy Blvd
(215) 557-9009
Many times in the last three years, I had less than five dollars in my pocket, and these were the times I would head to Hot Tamales. If you are looking for authentic Mexican food, head elsewhere (this place rocks a BLT burrito!). But if you need something cheap and fast and filling, there aren't too many options like this one. I always get the refried bean burrito or the hummus burrito. The lines can be really long at peak lunch hours, but they usually move quickly, so know what you want before you get to the counter. Also, there is a guy who works there who has the coolest voice, it is like it was made for calling out orders: "Two beef tacos, side of guac to go!"

LEON'S LUNCH CART
18th & Chestnut Sts
Leon's lunch cart is on the northeast corner of 18th and Chestnut. I understand lunch carts are very specific and people develop unshakeable lunch cart loyalties. I am loyal to Leon, and his (presumably?) father and daughter who are so fast and friendly and make coffee just how I like it. I tended to go to Leon for breakfast rather than lunch, as lunch carts aren't usually bastions of vegetarian options, but over the last few years I have consumed about a million cheese hoagies from Leon and I've never been disappointed. Across the street on the northwest corner of 18th and Chestnut is a great fruit salad cart. The fruit has always been fresh every time I've had it, but I will be honest in admitting that I tend to go for gooey egg sandwiches over fruit salads pretty much every time I have the chance.

Messy began her meal with a good, strong coffee and a few slices of bread. We both found the complimentary bread and butter to be somehow addictive. We can't tell you exactly what made it special, but it was so good we ended up eating two baskets full. Messy had the soup of the day for $5.50 — an excellent red pepper tomato bisque. However, it didn't come with any crackers (this is where that second basket of bread came in handy). Messy also had the Salad de Chèvre (baked goat cheese in pastry with a frisée and a red beet vinaigrette). She found the salad to be a little too beet-y. If you're really, really into beets (and who is?) this one's for you. If you just kind of tolerate beets but you really like goat cheese, skip this one. Messy was also confused as to why this particular salad is $11 on the lunch menu and only $9.50 on the dinner menu. Perhaps there is a difference in size? Although Messy really liked the ambience, she was dissapointed by the menu — there are almost no vegetarian options except for soups and salads. And this is definitely not a place for vegans.

Picky's Croque Monsier came with a nice helping of fries and a salad. On the menu, it was supposed to be a choice of one or the other, but he got both and ate it all up graciously. The Croque Monsieur is a grilled Parisian ham and cheese sandwich served on a brioche. Oh, those French and their simple ham and cheese sandwiches! Picky recalls seeing many a ham and cheese sandwich in various eateries when he visited Paris as a teenager. The whole sandwich was nice and warm and the cheese melted, but not overly gooey – after taking a bite, the rest of the sandwich didn't ooze out.

Caribou also offers a $16 prix fixe lunch menu which includes the soup of the day or a small salad and one of their classic French entrees. There's also a $29 prix fixe dinner menu which includes a wider selection of first courses and entrees. In addition, Caribou offers up a weekend brunch menu which varies slightly from their regular lunch menu with treats such as omelettes and crêpes.

Messy ***
Picky ***

The final word: Good French food in a nice setting, but not a lot for the vegetarians among us.

Caribou Café
1126 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 625-9535
Fax: (215) 625-2423
Mon – Thu: 11:30am to Midnight
Fri & Sat: 11:30am to 2am
Sun: 11:30am to 11pm