Wednesday, December 25, 2024

White Dog Café: Local and Organic Cuisine

Founded in 1983, White Dog Cafe continues the tradition by committing itself to using ingredients garnered from Philadelphia-area organic, sustainable producers. The result is fresh food that repeat diners seem to adore.

White Dog's dinner menu features small plates like Nature’s Well Beef Carpaccio with Dijon aioli, Chick Pea Fritters with pickled red onions, and Fried Chesapeake Oysters with egg yolk aioli. Handmade pasta dishes include Rigatoni with spicy lamb bolognaise, and Linguini with Kennett Square mushroom pesto. Pocono Rainbow Trout, Lancaster Petite Duck Breast, Maine Dayboat Scallops and Steak Frites are also on the menu.

Try to save a spot for a yummy dessert like Crème Brulee, Caramel Apple Tart or Cinnamon Streusel Cake. Beer, wine and cocktails are also on offer here.

White Dog Cafe
3420 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
http://www.whitedog.com/university-city.html
http://www.yelp.com/biz/white-dog-cafe-philadelphia-2

Public Domain/Public Domain

Alma de Cuba: Cuban Fare in Philadelphia

Alma de Cuba serves up tasty Cuban fare in a modern, upscale setting near Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square. Go there to relax with one of their signature libations, like a Mojito with rum, mint & sugar, or a Caipirinha with rum, sugar and lime juice. Wine and beer are also served.

Alma de Cuba's appetizers include Lamb Neck Casabe with yucca flatbread, Rainbow Ceviche with tuna, salmon & bass, Octopus Escalivada with grilled Spanish octopus, olives & capers, and Royal Palm Dates wrapped in bacon & bleu cheese. Vaca Frita – fried cow – is a favorite among the entrees. Lechon Asado – crispy roasted pork, Peruvian Barbeque Chicken, and Rum Cured Duck Breast are also on the menu. Be sure to try the Chocolate Cigar – almond cake wrapped in chocolate mousse – for dessert.

Alma de Cuba
1623 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 988-1799
http://www.almadecubarestaurant.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/alma-de-cuba-philadelphia

Rotisseur: Seasonal & Delicious

Who says you can’t have a stellar meal artfully prepared from fresh, seasonal ingredients in a speedy, self-serve setting? Not the staff at Rotisseur, who regularly turn out tasty fare at this relaxed little eatery. Rotisserie-roasted Amish-raised chickens that are hormone and antibiotic free and raised outside of cages is what’s on the menu here. You can have yours whole, halved or in pieces, and team it up with flavorful sides like Mac & Cheese, Roasted Potatoes, Pickled Beets, Kale Chips, Green Salad and Corn Muffins. Thai-style sandwiches include a Chicken Banh Mi, Duck Confit Banh Mi, Barbeque Chicken, and Tofu Banh Mi. Salads are also on the menu as are some refreshing drinks. Open Monday through Saturday from 12p.m. until 9:30p.m.

Rotisseur
100 5 S 21st St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 496-9494
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rotisseur-philadelphia

 

South Philadelphia Tap Room: Craft Beer and Good Food

This trendy little gastro-pub has quickly won over Philadelphians with a rockin’ roster of craft beer, a great wine selection and some tasty artisan cocktails. It’s a great spot to sidle up to a pint of Allagash White, Firestone Walker Wookie Jack, or Sly Fox O’Reilly’s Stout while you catch up with friends.

If you're craving a bite to eat, some Mushroom & Goat Cheese Toast, Pork Albondigas, or Grilled Flatbread with chickpea hummus might do the trick. Heartier appetites will want the Grass Feed Cheeseburger, 3 Cheese Grilled Cheese, or Seitan & Sweet Pepper Cheesesteak. Entrees include Roasted Pumpkin Rotini, Salisbury Steak, and Fried Trout. Don’t neglect a tantalizing dessert like Brown Sugar Pound Cake with chocolate stout sauce & dulce de leche whipped cream. The South Philadelphia Tap Room even serves brunch on the weekends!

South Philadelphia Tap Room
1509 Mifflin Street
Philadelphia, PA 19145
(215) 271-7787
http://southphiladelphiataproom.com/index2.html
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-south-philadelphia-tap-room-philadelphia

Public Domain/Public Domain

El Vez: Inventive Mexican Cuisine

El Vez serves inventive Mexican fare to appreciative Philadelphia diners. It features a vibrant, trendy setting, lively music and an eclectic menu of tasty food and drink. Begin your meal with one of their signature cocktails like a Blood Orange Frozen Margarita or the Zapata with vodka, strawberry puree, basil, cranberry juice & a sugared rim.

Six styles of Guacamole are offered on the appetizer menu, along with a nice salsa selection, Macho Nachos, Shrimp Quesadillas, and Tortilla Soup. Crispy Mahi-Mahi Tacos with chipotle pepper remoulade, Black Bean Enchiladas with smoked yellow tomato sauce, and Char-Grilled Beef Tacos are among the entrée options. Sides include Sweet Plantains Con Queso, Polenta Fries, and Grilled Corn on the Cob with lime chipotle.

El Vez is open daily on 13th Street in Center City Philadelphia.

El Vez
121 S. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 928-9800
http://www.elvezrestaurant.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-vez-philadelphia

Public Domain/Public Domain

The Dandelion: Rule Britannia

The Dandelion features an innovative take on traditional British cuisine. Stop in at lunchtime to fuel up on Winter Root Vegetable Soup with buttermilk croutons, Crisp Baby Gem Caesar Salad with parmesan dressing, Grilled Paillard of Chicken Salad with crispy lettuce & chopped vegetables or a House Blend Aged Beef Burger with Vermont sharp cheddar. If you stop by for dinner, you might want to start with an appetizer like Welsh Rarebit on buttermilk toast, Confit Duck Rillettes with pickles & apple, or the British Cheese Board with savory biscuits & quince paste. Move on to a sumptuous entrée like Scottish Salmon with sage brown butter, Rabbit Pie with oyster mushrooms, cipollini onions & smoked bacon, or Braised Celery Gratin with parmesan béchamel, royal oyster mushrooms, & pickled walnuts. Open Tuesday through Sunday.

The Dandelion
124 S 18th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 558-2500
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-dandelion-philadelphia

Vedge: One of Philadelphia’s Best Vegetarian Restaurants

If you think vegetarian food is bland and tasteless, you’re about to change your mind. Philadelphia’s Vedge is widely considered to be one of the best meat-free restaurants in the United States. Chefs Richard Landau and Kate Jacoby have both been involved in the vegetarian movement since the 1990s. Vedge, which opened in 2011 in the historic Tiger Building, takes inspiration from a swath of global cuisines and combines it with fresh, seasonal ingredients from the verdant farmlands of the Northeast. The results are tasty, inspiring, and even healthy. Landau’s philosophy has always been to make vegetarian dishes work for a carnivore’s palate, and some of the standouts at Vedge include the grilled gochujang tofu with smoked miso dashi and edamame puree, as well as the popular “Dirt List,” today’s market vegetables prepared in a way that brings out their awesome essential flavors. Vegetarian or carnivore, you should try Vedge!

Vedge
1221 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 320-7500
http://www.yelp.com/biz/vedge-philadelphia

Restaurant Reviews Are On The Way…

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