Brauhaus Schmitz

I've noticed that is spot is getting mixed reviews. I'm pretty surprised, because I thought I was being critical and I still walked impressed.

I traveled Germany for two weeks. I ate in several beer halls, from the Haufbrau to Spaten to Schneider Brothers. I had a very specific idea of what Brauhaus Schmitz could and should be.

To start, Jonny and I walked in greeted by a hostess in lederhosen. This was probably the only cheesy gimmicky part of the whole night. We waited about 20 minutes for a table; not bad on a Friday night. Our server was great; he had good knowledge of the beer and the food. For this place to be legit, it's imperative to employ workers to can talk about schnitzel and a good rauchbier.

The menu here is excellent. They are a lot of good choices from appetizers and main courses, but I recommend skipping everything that isn't wurst or schnitzel. Portions are huge, so an appetizer could be shared or skipped altogether. The house wurst is a Nurenberger sausage, but doesn't really taste or look like a traditional Nurenberger sausage. It was good, but again, here's a situation where my travel experience causes me to be more critical.

For side dishes, Schmitz continues to impress in taste and authenticity. The spatzle is (almost) a must, and the potato pancakes and asparagus are also top notch. Jonny and I split one meter of sausage. It's a lot of food, really more than two people should eat. But that didn't stop us from emerging triumphant. Overall, the food is very good.

For beer, stick with the German stuff. This beer list here is extensive and well crafted. If you're in the mood to get a little crazy, opt for Stoudt's excellent Gold, which comes in 1 liter mugs and will set you back $9. The rest of the beers are $5 to 7 and come in pints and goblets, depending on the ABV. I didn't take not of everything that I had, but it's not important. It is important for you to go check it out for yourself.

This place seemed expensive when I was looking at the menu. I expected at bill of about $100, but we left paying $40 each after tip. It's not the cheapest meal around, but I was totally happy with my experience.

Bottom Line: This is easily the go to spot on South Street, and probably the best German spot in the city area. Go to Germany if you can. if you can't, come here and consume a healthy amount of beer, meat, and potatoes.

Essentials:

718 South St

(267) 909-8814

Avg Ent: 16-21

Cash Only: No

Reservations: Yes

Hot Dog Launcher

Here's a little mockumentary by Hatfeild and the Phillies abourt the hot dog launcher. What a great way to start the day. I haven't been going out lately, so this is as close as I'll get to a food post.

Paesano's Sandwich Shop

Paesano's is definitely hole-in-the-wall. Besides the kitchen, there is room for about ten people to stand inside. There are two tables outside, but expect this place to be packed. The shop is staffed with a few people all taking orders and frantically whipping up delicious sandwiches.


With almost nothing else to remark upon, Paesano's has to make the food do all of the talking. And I'm glad to report that it's all good. Ten hoagies, all with delicious ingredients like roasted tomatoes, gorgonzola, broccoli rabe, and caramelized peppers all served next to perfectly roasted pork, beef, and other meats. Even if you don't eat meat, there's tuna fish and an eggplant option. The bread is great, the sandwiches are delicious and even thinking about them is making me salivate right now.

I am always searching for eateries that can dethrone the popular choice around my neighborhood. First it was Key, and Primo has nothin' on Paesano's. This picture looks as gross as the sandwich is good.

Bottom Line: Check the menu and call ahead to avoid the inevitable wait. Pick any sandwich; you'll be happy. Sandwiches come with recommended sides, but the staff with accommodate a substitution without the blink of an eye. I'll be visiting again soon.

Essentials:
152 W Girard Ave (2nd and Girard)
(267) 886-9556
Avg Sandwich: 5-8
Cash Only: Yes
BYOB: Walk your sandwich over to the Piazza and enjoy your beer and sandwich

For Pete's Sake

Let's be honest: PW's list of the best bars in the city is a bit shady. Still, it gave me an idea to check out some places that I haven't been before. My friend Quinn just moved in around South Street and was looking for a good bar that was within walking distance. I though it was a great chance to check out For Pete's Sake (#8?) for dinner.

We walked up a little after 7 on a Wednesday, and this spot was packed. I thought that was a little odd, but nothing was weirder than the fact that were the youngest people in here by ten years. Literally, this was an older crowd without a single exception (that's not entirely true, a few parents had toddlers in tow). A short wait yeilded an outdoor table and we began to look at the menu and drinks.

I took a picture of the beer menu to remember everything on tap. I recall being disappointed in the beer selection, and with a second thought, I

still am. While it has a lot of choices from Germany, Belgium and the US, I still think at least four of those taps are kind of a waste. A bar that tap Guinness almost always loses favor in my eyes, despite the fact that I think it's an okay beer. The choices that are good are all widely available.

Come to think of it, the food menu is kind of like the beer menu; it's technically fine but there's nothing on there that is exceptional. The best part of the menu here is the appitizers. We ordered the nachos, and they were good.

Still, we came here for dinner and could not find anything on the menu that we wanted to eat. Maybe we were being picky, but I don't think that's the case. Check the menu for yourself. I just looked at it again, and the lunch section looks pretty good. But we weren't offered that.

Bottom Line: I can't really find any reason to recommend this place. My standards are high, but I have no idea how anyone would consider it one of the best bars in the city. Maybe check it out for lunch if you're right next it up. But there's so little to remark upon, that I'm just going to stop writing.

Essentials:

900 S. Front St (Front and Christian)

215-462-2230

Cash Only: No

Reservations: No

Avg Ent: 10-18

Varga's daunting clam bake

Jonny likes to keep me posted on things. He told me about Varga, and I was interested. When we found out about the clam-bake, I felt called to eat here. Varga is a new, somewhat fancy bar in (I guess) Midtown Village. I probably would have said Society Hill, but that's neither here nor there. The decor is great, with artwork based on Alberto Varga's 1950 pinup artwork. I'm sure it was racy then, now it's kind of cute. Varga has a nice long dark wooden bar, checkered flooring with tables, and an outdoor section. We walked up on a Friday night and were able to snag a seat outside without waiting.

The focus at Varga is American craft beer, and their beer list is excellent. They offer a lot of choices. I had the Ithaca Flower Power, which is a hoppy IPA, and not flowery as the name suggests. I followed with the Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye. Both beers were about the same price and alcohol content, but the first was in a glass and the second in a pint glass. I think the bar is still working out some things, but either way Varga's tap list is up there with the best in the city. It's high priced, but I won't complain that it's overpriced.

Even though I was drinking great beer, I was more excited about the meal. I was telling people about the clam bake long after I ate it. Picture this: crab stuffed lobster, corn on the cob, potatoes, sausage, prawn, scallops, mussels, clams, and shrimp all tossed in a pot with a phenomenal white wine garlic marinade.

This meal comes at $36 and is meant to feed two people. Considering that we are both big eaters and it was enough for us, I'm sure you'll be fine. Every single thing in here tasted great. Even when we had finished swirling the sauce around trying to find hidden shrimp, we used our garlic bread to soak up the rest of the sauce. They kept bringing out more bread (included with the meal) until we really were full. With the beer continually flowing, this is such an excellent meal.

I can't speak to the rest of the menu, I didn't even look at it. But the rest of the food that I glanced at from other tables looked good. The dessert menu here is weak, and I really recommend walking up to Capogiro Gelato (post forthcoming).

We had a few servers waiting on us, and that was nice, but some were more attentive than others. I think this spot is still working out kinks, getting the staff fully trained, and it didn't really bother me.

Bottom Line: The clambake alone is good enough to recommend this spot. But Varga has a lot more going for it. This is a great spot. Because of price and distance, it won't make it into my regular circuit, but I already look forward to my next stop. Check their twitter for latest beer changes. I'm going to upload a few more pictures to my flickr.

Essentials:

10th and Spruce

(215) 627-5200

Reservations: No

Cash Only: No

Avg Ent: 10-16

Belgian Cafe

I really love that when you ask for good beer and mussels in the city, there are more than a few options. These reasons drove me to the Belgian Cafe one night last week. I've been here before, but only for drinks. I really like this spot, because it has outdoor seating, a nice bar, an open area if it gets crowded, and a nice seating area. Inside and out, it looks better than your average everyday restaurant. While atmosphere doesn't seem to add a lot, it's nice to sit in a comfortable area. Throughout the meal, our server seemed to leave us without beer for longer than I would have liked, but this is my only complaint. He was really knowledgeable about beer, and that makes up any small error in serving.

Looking at the beer list and menu, it's no surprise that this restaurant is a Tom Peters venture. The beer list is excellent, with a couple of Belgians on tap at $7 a glass, and a great selection from around the rest of the world and country. A taplist is available online, and although it's slightly outdated because they change beer quickly, it still can give you a good idea. I stayed domestic for the night with the Avery White Rascal (I'm really into Avery lately) and the Anchor Liberty Ale. I was dining with Rachel for the evening, and she was enjoying the Duchesse De Bourgogne. If you can't find something on tap you like, you're: A) likely crazy, and B) not going to be let down by the bottle list. Beer is easily the forte of the whole establishment (as it should be).

The menu leaves something to be desired. To be clear, the menu is not bad. But it seems like the exact same thing as Monk's, and if that's what I wanted, I would just go there. The Belgian Cafe serves up burgers, mussels, and larger entree dishes. After deliberation, we ordered a large pot of mussels in a sauce of of jalapeno pepper butter, cilantro, orange zest, and belgian wit ale. They were solid, and good, but not amazing. Still, it's a really nice dish to share, and comes with a (obligatory) order of tasty fries.

Bottom Line: It seems that my standards are getting too high. Where I would normally rave about this spot, I'm now inclined to tell you to walk up the block if you're in fairmount, or tell you to hit up Monk's if your craving the best Belgian spot around. Don't get me wrong, this is a good solid eatery. I think I'd just rather hit it up in passing as opposed to making it the main event for the evening. And if every spot seems to be crowded in the neighborhood, the Belgian Cafe still has room for you and your friends.

Essentials:

Corner of 21st & Green St

(215) 235-3500

Burgers 8-9 Mussels:10 per person

Ave Ent: 14-16

Reservations: No

Cash Only: No

Arbol Cafe

I've been trying to make it to the Arbol Cafe for a while. It's not open for dinner, and it seems that each time I want to eat here, they're about to close or already are. Despite that, I finally made it out yesterday for lunch.

First, let's set the scene. I was first introduced to Arbol Cafe walking by their courtyard as they projected movies on the wall of the building next door. It seemed like a nice thing to do, and as I stepped into the courtyard yesterday, I was impressed at such a nice little oasis situated right in the middle of Northern Liberties. Refreshing shade from trees and umbrellas, nice wooden tables and chair, and an overall clean and cheery atmosphere dare you not to love this place. Even if the food was terrible I'd still recommend grabbing coffee and just hanging out here. So if you're looking for a new coffee shop in this area, try out this spot.

And if you're looking for amazing sandwiches, try this spot. As a caveat, I must mention that this place doesn't seem good for vegitarians. While there are options, every sandwhich I looked at has steak on it, and it seems like Arbol's specialty are their sandwiches. Check out the menu for yourself. (It's not the full menu, but gives you an idea). I ordered the Lomito Especial, which had thin sliced steak, a over-hard egg, peppered ham, letteuce, mushrooms, peppers, and onion on a buttery roll. Are you drooling? Because I am just thinking about it again. This sandwich was awesome. I was dining with my good friend Holly, and she ordered the "Warrior" sandwich, which was similar to mine. In addition to being delicious and awesome, these sandwiches are large. We ordered a side of seared potatoes, and they were fine, not

totally my thing. We both ordered iced coffee, and seemingly like everything at Arbol, it was great.

Arbol is run in a self serve manner. You order at the counter and are given a table number, and after a short wait one of the workers will bring out your food. I think the owner was working while we were there and she was really pleasant. Arbol Cafe only has a small indoor area, so it's best to hit this spot when you want to be outside.

Bottom Line: The Arbol Cafe seems to have everything I want. They have an extensive menu, but also a sandwich good enough I'd be happy eating it every time. Throw friendly staff, delicious coffee, and a cute little courtyard into the mix, and there's not much else you need for a perfect lunch spot. Really, the only downside to this place is that they're just not open more. The menu is a mix of American and Paraguayan cuisine, and my first encounter with Paraguay receives top marks.

Essentials:

209 Poplar St

(215) 284-5788

Avg Ent: 7-10

Cash Only: Yes

BYOB: Yes. This spot is right across from the Foodery, which is prime.

KCFC: A community food co-op in Kensington

There has been a push to get a locally owned and operated, non-profit coomunity food co-op going in Kensington. I attended one of the informational meetings, and it is a really excellent idea. I just want to spread the word on something that I think could be fantastic for the neighborhood.

There is going to be a focus on good business practices, healthy organic local food, minimal packaging, and all kinds of good stuff.

Currently, they're conducting their first membership drive. I'll include the details at the end of this post. A bunch of my (and maybe your) friends are working on it, so you could ask John Kolodziey, Jeff Carpineta, Stephen Way, or others for more info. This is going to be a huge success if the community supports it, and I think there is a lot of potential interest. Now people have to buck up and make it a reality.

FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE (1ST Member Investment Campaign)

This initiative is to solicit the 1st financial investment from our future membership. Our goal is to complete this initial investment campaign by August 31, 2009. Review of Proposed Budget Needs: The start-up budget of each committee for basic expenses has been estimated at $3,200.00. This includes a small number of reimbursements due.

NOTE ***At this time, our project has received support in kind from the following organizations: Cooperative Development Services, East Kensington Neighbors Association, Greensgrow, New Kensington Community Development Corporation, Philadelphia Brewing Company, the Spirit Newspaper, Urbane Development LLC, Walking Fish Theater and Weaver’s Way Co-op.

Terms of Investment:
Membership: A “member” is a person who has monetarily invested in the Coop. A "member" is considered to be the primary contact for communications from KCFC.

$ Amount: Based on the start-up needs of the group the recommended minimum initial member investment from each member is $40.00, though members are encouraged to invest as their means allow. This amount is intended to yield sufficient funds for start up expenses for all working committees.

Credit towards KCFC membership: Any direct financial investment in KCFC will be applied as a credit towards the total investment required of members once KCFC is established. At this time, member investment in KCFC (lifetime) is estimated to be $200.00.

NOTE: Members offering the full investment received or postmarked by August 31, 2009, will receive a 10% discount, making the membership investment a total of $180.00.

Limit to Member Investment: Any total capital contribution to KCFC beyond $180.00 will not be considered member investment, but will be handled as a donation. Donations are happily and graciously accepted.

Record Keeping / Accounts: The Steering Committee (SC) has voted to appoint an interim Bookkeeper - Dina Richman, until a permanent Bookkeeper and/or Treasurer is appointed. The Bookkeeper is required to be a regular participant of the planning and finance committee and must report to the Planning + Finance committee upon request. The SC voted to open an account at a local bank.

Signers on Account: The interim bookkeeper will be listed as signer on the account. In addition to the bookkeeper, the SC has approved 3 signers of the account: Lena Helen, Natalie Pollard, and Sarah Daub.

Refunds: If a member requests a refund while KCFC is active, then the full member investment will be returned to the member only if the KCFC store has been operational for one year and only if replacement capital is available at the time of request. If KCFC is no longer viable either before store opening or anytime after, then a refund of member investments is not guaranteed. Donations are considered gifts and will not be returned.

Transfer of Membership: Member Investment is not transferable.

Swift Half

I've been to the Swift Half about four times since it opened, so this is a pretty well thought out review. Although I don't have any pictures from my trips, I do have a good amount of insight. Here it comes:

I expected this new Good Dog outpost to have excellent food. I went recently with Allie, John, and Rachel and they were all ready for dinner. They ordered mussels, fish and chips, and cucumber sandwiches, respectively. I had a few mussels, and they were decent, but this is clearly not the spot you want to hit for mussels. The fish and chips looked delicious when they were served, but further investigation revealed that they were overly breaded and couldn't keep up with Memphis Taproom. Rachel commented that her small appetizer was good, but also that she could have made something better at home. Needless to say, the food is not a selling point.

To be honest, I'm also disappointed with the beer list. In fairness, Swift Half has some good beers on tap. But when a week passes in between visits and not a single tap changes, I'm not inclined to return anytime soon. The beer list is not totally uninspired, with Southampton, Flying Fish, Stoudt's, Brooklyn, even Chimay represented on tap. The bottle list is extensive and well priced. One nice part of the menu is the inclusion of small plates of meat and cheese that could be matched to beer, if you're so inclined.

Currently, they have the Six Points Sweet Action on tap, which I raved about ever since the first time I had it at Sidecar. It's not as amazing as my memory made it, but I was glad to see this hard to find beer on tap. It's still excellent, and a nice find for a rare style: American Blonde Ale.

Service here is meh. It's not bad, I think it's pretty hit or miss depending on who's working. My favorite thing about this spot, and the reason that I keep coming back, is the outdoor seating. The piazza is a really cool area, and it's great when the Phillies are on the big screen. Inside

Swift Half is a normal bar, and I wouldn't eat or drink inside. Outdoor seating is closed at 11:30 on weeknight, which can be annoying if you want to just hang out, or are shoo-ed inside as you're finishing your last pint.

Bottom Line: This is just another spot on my list of places that are most remarkable for outdoor seating. As the list grows, Swift Half loses favor in my book. The food is okay, but I wouldn't want to come here for a meal. Really, this spot is only a go to for me if they continue to have beers that aren't available elsewhere in the city.

Essentials:

1001 N 2nd St (Piazza in No Libs)

(215) 923-4600

Avg Ent: 9-16, menu here

Cash Only: No

Reservations: No

Pho Thanh Thanh

There is a strong Vietnamese community in our neighborhood, which makes for a great authentic restaurant scene. I recently went to meet my friend Brooke for lunch. She told me exactly where the restaurant was, and I arrived and sat down and waited for her. After a few minutes, I realized there was another Vietnamese restaurant directly across the street, and she was waiting for me! We did met for lunch though, and Pho Thanh Thanh is a interesting spot.

This small little cafe was filled with people, and Brooke and I were clearly in the minority; there was only one other white guy. Again, the key word here is authentic. Also, my friend Dahn works here, and that makes the place even cooler. We placed our orders while the TV blared out soccer and commercials in Vietnamese.

The menu only really consists of pho, which is a traditional noodle soup dish. But it's way more gourmet and delicious than any kind of soup I'm used to. The specialty here is chicken pho, which I ordered. A "small" costs $6. It's actually a huge portion, and the only real reason it can be called a small is because there's an even larger portion.

The pho comes with a side dish of greens, jalapenos, and sprouts that should be mixed into the dish. I put a lot of peppers in mine, and it ended up being quite spicy. I'm not great with chopsticks, but I used them for the whole meal. The meat comes in huge chunks, and there's really no elegant way to enjoy your meal. Later in the night I felt a bit sick, but I don't think it was from this meal. I'll report back for sure, because I'm definitely going to eat here again.

Bottom Line: For me, this is a local place with great food where I can sit elbow to elbow with my neighbors. The food, service and atmosphere are all great, and the food is a distinct change from my weekly menu. I image it tastes even better when it's cool outside. If you want to lunch here, just let me know. We'll meet up.

Essentials:

2539 Kensington ave

(215) 427-0483

Pho: $6-8

Cash Only: Yes