Archive for the ‘Center City West’ Category

TEN STONE BAR AND RESTAURANT

Thursday, August 4th, 2005

ten stone
Ten Stone is a loud, smoky pub/sandwich place that seems to cater to young people. The menu offers some nice variations from typical pub fare, with choices like fondue and 3 cheese risotto fritters. We tried the fritters, and they didn't really taste like anything– but we give Ten Stone props for originality, and we both enjoyed the accompanying tasty horseradish sauce.

Their sandwiches were good, but both of us were desperately trying to recreate an orgasmic past sandwich experience – and Ten Stone's portabella mushroom and goat cheese could not live up to the similar sandwich at Sotto Voce on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Similarly, their pulled pork came up short when compared to other juicy masterpieces Picky has experienced.

The main bar area is spacious. A good sized U-shape bar with a slab of slate displaying the daily brews on tap. Tables line the main room which can get crowded quickly. During the nice weather, tables are set up all around the exterior of the building. There's a seating area directly behind the bar which is good for a gathering of twenty or so. To the side, there's a darker room with a pool table and a plasma flat panel television. This deep room which runs the length of the bar is a great spot to watch sports or get a little space between the more hectic bar area and yourself.

On its face, however, the food is pretty good. And they always have a good selection of local brews on tap and bottled.

Messy **1/2
Picky **1/2

The final word: Good, if you don't make comparisons.

Ten Stone Bar and Restaurant
2063 South St.
Philadelphia, PA
215-735-9939
Mon – Sat: 11:30am-2am
Sun: 10am – 2am (kitchen closes at 1am)

QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL

Thursday, August 4th, 2005

qdoba mexican grill

Our first meal in Philly took place at the Qdoba Mexican grill, a national fast food chain. In fairness to us, we didn't know it was a national chain – we'd never seen one before.

Messy was completely overwhelmed by the process of moving through the line while various people slapped condiments on her nachos and vegetarian tacos, leading to the inevitable result of said condiments ending up on Messy's face. Generous portions, fair prices, but one could definitely find a better deal (and better food) at a more authentic sit-down Mexican restaurant.

One thing Qdoba does have is Picky's favorite hot sauce, Cholula.

Messy **
Picky ***

The final word: Not that great, but who cares when you're totally exhausted from moving all day?

Qdoba Mexican Grill
1528 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA
11am-10pm Daily

PIETRO'S COAL OVEN PIZZERIA AND RESTAURANT

Thursday, August 4th, 2005

pietro's coal oven pizzeria

One of very few gourmet [brick oven] pizza places to earn the seal of approval from Picky, a bona fide pizza snob. With assorted toppings to choose from including, but not limited to: anchovies, arugala, goat cheese, kalamata olives, proscuitto and roasted zucchini. After much deliberation, we settled on roma tomatoes, ricotta and spinach. There is surely something to please everyone.

The desserts were small, by our fatso-American standards, but delectable nonetheless. Picky has sampled their calzones which are both very gigantic and rather pricey, and they were out of proscuitto which he was craving. Messy loved thier Insalata Siciliana which consisted of mixed greens with fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers kalamata olives, capers, anchovies, carrots, grape tomatoes and artichokes, tossed with house dressing – big enough to share.

Pietro's has two locations, one on South and Front Sts and one on 17th and Walnut Sts, we dined at the Walnut St establishment, but we're sure the South St location is full of flavor as well. They even have a spot in Marlton, so if you're craving some good eats on your way to the shore or can't wait until you get back to Philly, stop on in over there.

Messy ***1/2
Picky ***

The final word: Picky's first decent slice of pizza in Philly!

Pietro's Coal Oven Pizzeria Restaurant
1714 Walnut St
Philadelphia, PA
11am-midnight

PICO DE GALLO

Thursday, August 4th, 2005

pico de gallo

Heavenly, savory Mexican food in a tiny, cramped overdecorated place. This was seriously some of the best Mexican food we'd ever had, but our visit was dampened by the service (one harried waitress serving the entire restaurant) and the litany of extra costs added to our bill.

Forget the standard Mexican restaurant free chips-and-salsa, you can't even get water for free here. There's a dollar-per-person beverage minimum, and even though it's B.Y.O.B, there are glass fees and corking fees. Sides, like a dollop of sour cream, also cost extra. However, if you get around all that, this is some seriously good food. You can even rent out the whole restaurant for a suckling-pig dinner, if you call 24 hours ahead. Not many other places where you can do that around here. . .

Update [June 2005]: Messy returned for an out of this world portabella mushroom, cactus and homemade cheese burrito. She was pleasantly surprised to discover that she was offered two baskets full of chips and that the beverage minimun was no longer enforced.

Messy ****1/2 [upgraded from ***]
Picky **1/2

The final word: Too much of a hassle for us to be regulars.

Pico de Gallo
1501 South Street
Philadelphia, PA
Mon – Thu: Noon – 10pm
Fri – Sat: Noon – 11pm

PAD THAI SHACK

Thursday, August 4th, 2005

pad thai shack

A perfect place for a lunch date, especially if you want to avoid eye-contact at all costs. This yummy take-out joint is very vegetarian friendly, but unfortunately, there are no tables, just a row of stools facing the street. Messy's pear, tofu and yam salad was humongous, with the exact right dressing-to-salad ratio. Picky's shrimp pad thai was good, but slightly dry – definitely in need of a lemon slice to add some zing. Otherwise, everything made a tasty picnic to eat in nearby Rittenhouse Park.

Messy ****
Picky **1/2

The final word: Quick and unique alternative to normal take-out lunch fare.

Pad Thai Shack
18 S 20th St
Philadelphia, PA
11-5 M-F

NODDING HEAD

Thursday, August 4th, 2005

nodding head

Can it be? Is it possible we found the perfect restaurant this early in our adventure? We had only dreamed of such a place, where Messy could have a vegan burger and baked brie while Picky gobbled on ribs and beer-battered onion rings. Nodding Head boasts an extensive menu that could satisfy anyone from, well, Messy to Picky. Make sure to order fries, or something you can dip into the highly addictive signature bourbon mayonnaise.

We've been to Nodding Head with as diverse companions as Picky's carnivorous college buddies; our vegan couple friends; and Messy's diabetic dad, low-cholesterol-dieting mom, and notoriously picky brother. The food has been consistently good all around. Even though the food there is great, on two subsequent visits, we've come across some serious Philly 'tude from the hosts at the top of the stairs. But that hasn't stopped us from going back, the food is just too good to pass up and the service is almost always great (always accomodating requests for extra bourbon mayonnaise!).

Nodding Head is a brewery as well. Award winning beers flow from their taps. They usually have about five to choose from each day, Picky's favorite is the Grog – a dark beer falling in between a Newcastle and a Guinness.

Messy ****
Picky ****

The final word: Bound to please everyone.

Nodding Head
1516 Sansom St, Second floor
Philadelphia, PA
Mon.-Sat.: 11:30 am- 1:30
Sun.: 11am-Midnight. (Jazz brunch and Quizzo at 9pm)
(215) 569-9525

MY THAI

Thursday, August 4th, 2005

my thai

Totally unassuming from the outside, My Thai is classic "I know this cute little Thai place. . ."

The interior is romantic, with low lighting, an exposed brick wall, tapestries and couples everywhere. Unfortunately, the food wasn't that amazing. Maybe our expectations were too high. We had a misunderstanding with our waiter over Thai iced tea, and he got a little snappy with us, but he was happy to vegetarianize Messy's dish.

The Pad Thai was unremarkable.

Messy **1/2
Picky **1/2

The final word: Cozy and cute datespot. Ambience wins over food.

My Thai
2200 South St
Philadelphia, PA
215-985-1878