Tiffin Ect

Tiffin quietly expanded their menu a few weeks ago. This excellent Indian take out spot added a few new item, the most exciting being an arsenal of Indian inspired pizzas. Rachel and I ordered a few pies last night to try out the new offerings.

The first pizza was topped with tandoori chicken, crushed red peppers and mozzarella. After a few bites, the spices and heat really kick in. This is a great pie. But I liked the second one even more. It was topped with grilled lamb and little cherry tomatoes. Again, the subtle spices on the meat really make this pizza shine.

We also ordered two stuffed parathas. It's like a gourmet pancake filled with different vegetables. Although these were decent, they paled next to the pizza. The only other part of the new menu includes wraps, and these don't seem too exciting.

The pizzas are excellent, and with six different options, there's bound to be one to please almost everyone. We ordered more than a enough food and the total was $17 for the two of us. Seriously? These pizzas are awesome and $5? You have no reason to avoid Tiffin's new pizza.

The worst part about all of this new stuff is finding the menu. Tiffin is great at Indian food, terrible at web design. Go on a scavenger hunt on their page to find the pizzas, or use this direct link for the menu :http://media.philly.com/documents/ETCMenu+v33-2.pdf.

Essentials:

712 W. Girard

(215) 925-0770

Avg Ent: 5-6

Cash only: No

Reservations: No

BYOB: Yes

My new little blog

Since it's mostly my friends who read this, I just wanted to let you guys in on the "new micro-blog." It's just little things that find interesting while I'm online.

http://weeg.tumblr.com/

A RX Rebuttal

I got a message from the owner of Rx the other day, and I thought it was fair to post his response to my review. I looked back at my review and believe it to be honest and overall, positive. Here's his two cents:

Thanks for taking the time to write your review. I appreciate your attention to detail. So does my brunch chef, who seems to have taken your comments about portion sizes as a personal challenge. I don't think you'll have a problem with portion size should you choose to return.

Re: sides, every dish has some side, whether it's potatoes or salad. There are no plates going out naked.

Re: price, to do what we do definitely costs a little more. There is no other place in the city with such a locally sourced brunch, as any farmer delivering to Philly will tell you. That said, I think paying marginally more for the best available ingredients is a fair trade-off.

Re: minimum, what can I tell you? college students like to camp out over a cup of coffee regardless of ho many people are waiting to sit down to eat.

Thanks again for the input,
Greg Salisbury

And my response: I pretty much agree with Greg. I didn't take offense to the price, the minimum per person, or the portion sizes, but I think that all of these facts were notable. The dish i ordered for brunch was two eggs over black beans, so I guess they're considered the side? I didn't feel like my dish was naked, but just a little bit more would have gone a long way.

But I'm not here to complain. I think there's a lot to be said for restaurant owners reaching out and taking constructive criticism. Cheers Greg. Now everyone go eat at RX...

Supper

I've been wanting to go to Supper since I passed up on their deviled eggs and Slyfox happy hour. Maybe that wasn't the best choice, but it was great to get to visit for a whole meal. Supper is located on South Street, which is an odd location for this nice restaurant. I doubt their really getting any walking by traffic because of their location.

Despite the location, the atmosphere here is great. I've read that they're going for an "urban farmhouse" feeling, and it's easy to see that aim with the decor. Supper also features an open kitchen, which is a treat if you're dining downstairs, but be prepared to have a louder and more hectic dinner. There's also a nice upstairs dining area with a bar, but average beer selection with NYC prices make beer hardly worth it. Sadly, I didn't find a single beer that justified the price they were asking, but my sampling of my sisters' cocktails were delicious. These drinks are mixed well and aren't weak, either.

Supper's menu consists almost entirely of small plates. The recommendation is for each person to order three courses; an hor'dourves with a first and second course. I was out with my two sisters; Laura and Betsy, along with her boyfriend Chris. We were all getting along pretty well, so we abandoned the traditional, boring dining style here and ordered a whole mess of plates to share. The result? Awesome.

We started with a cheese plate, which had six different domestic cheese that varied in style. Even the worst one good, and the best one, well, maybe the best cheese I've ever had. (I may have been sold even before I tried it when our server hinted at a beer aftertaste). The portions of the cheese plate were enough for the four of us to sample everything a few times, which is a nice change from overpriced microscopic dollops of cheese found in too many other restaurants.

The rest of our appetizers consisted of deviled eggs, which are rightly so one of Supper's trademarks. Four different eggs are served up: paprika, sirachi, truffle, and crab. It seems that there's a lot of different eggs, it just depends on the night. Another appetizer that everyone seems to be crazy about are the duck fat fingerling potatoes. Laura liked them a lot, I just thought they were fine. To round out the appetizers we had excellent crab cakes.

We were served a chilled corn soup next. As a rule, I'm against chilled soups, but Chris went ahead and ordered it, and I'm glad he did. This soup was excellent, and has given all chilled soups a second chance in my book. We all continued sharing with the Pan Roasted Sea Scallops, Moroccan Grilled Lamb Ribs, and Spice Crusted Tuna. I don't want to go into detail about every single dish, but the order I mentioned them is the order that I liked them most to least. Everything was good, but the scallops were just the best.

Lastly, we finished up the meal with one of the big plates which included: Beer braised belly w/ peach & kale, smoked loin w/ warm potato salad, grilled housemade brat w/ picalilli & crispy pigskin slaw. These things were good, but I don't recommend the big plates here. I think lost of small apps and firsts are great for the whole party.

The price here can vary greatly depending on how much you want to sample and how hungry you are. Still, there's no way around it, Supper is not cheap. At these prices, I'm glad I was sharing a table with some of my favorite people in the world.

Bottom Line: This place serves up great food. While it might not be in your budget, restaurant week is around the corner and this would be an excellent spot. Drink somewhere else, eat here. Plan dinner with the online menu.

Essentials:

926 South St (10th and South)

(215) 592-8180

Avg dinner: 30-60 per person

Reservations: Yes

Cash Only: No

McGillin's Olde Ale House

Because I ocassionly work in Center City, I've been searching for the perfect lunch spot within walking distance of City Hall. I really like to try out new places too, but after lunch at McGillin's I could give up my search and make this my regular spot.

My friend Dan and I hit up this spot for lunch after passing on Misconduct Tavern's average beer list. McGillin's is hidden on Drury St, a side street off Juniper. Because of this odd location, and the fact that it was the middle of the day, I expected to walk into a quite little spot. It didn't even really look open for the outside. But inside, it was bustling with business. There were a few tables filled with clear tourists checking out Philadelphia's oldest bar (established 1860), but it was mostly filled with the Philadelphia work force taking a break.

McGillin's is holding on to the old time mentality, with the decorations and atmosphere, and a collection of servers who look like they're been working here for years. They also offer free soup with every entree, which seems like an old time practice lots in search of increased profits.

When we visited, the soup was turkey vegetable, and it was surprisingly flavorful. We ordered a side of wings. They were fine, but a mistake, considering we both had soup and entrees. Further, the service was so fast that we barely had time to finish the soup, let alone with wings, by the time main course came out.

Dan chowed down on an average burger, and I went with the German platter. Potatoes and Veggies served up with two types of sausage. It was okay, but my experience on South St raised my expectations. The food was okay, but the prices seemingly made it taste better.

In general, the prices are great here, especially for the location, and that extends to the beer. Pitchers are $9 to $13, depending on what you want. The tap list here is respectable too. We split a pitcher of Ommegang Rare Vos and then moved to Brooklyn's Sorachi Ace. The Sorachi Ace is a crazy hop, and I think that Brooklyn did a nice job making this beer, although I won't order it again. McGillin's also has three house brews from Stoudt's, a brewery I like a lot. These all come in at less than $10 a pitcher and would make for reliable choices anytime.

During the lunch rush, the service also seemed rushed. Also, I must admit I'm turned off by seeing a cook weave his way through the dining room in the middle of lunch with a full bag of garbage. Even if there's no other way, can't it wait until the dining room isn't packed?

Bottom Line: My first experience at McGillin's was definitely positive. It's almost a no brainer for a lunch spot close to City Hall, and the beer list and specials every night make it a good bar in it's own right. This won't be my last time here, and either for beer, food, or simply historical value, this stop is a must.

Essentials:

1310 Drury St (Off 13th between Sansom and Chestnut)

(215) 735-5562

Avg Ent: 5-10

Cash Only: No

General Lafayette Brew Pub

General Lafayette seems to be in trouble, and if this business has to go under, I wanted to make sure I had a chance to check it out before it was too late. Last weekend I made the annoying trip out to Lafayette Hill, PA to check out the food and beer at this legendary spot. The results were mixed, to say the least.

Because the General is primary a brewery (at least in my mind), I want to focus on the beer. Brewmaster Christopher Leonard keeps his taps rotating with several beers, alongside the tried and true house brews. Germantown Blonde, Sunset Red Ale, and Pacific Pale Ale are the house brews. I tried two of these, and they are very good, but not outstanding.

Other brews when I visited where a chocolate porter and Biere des Cerises (I passed on both of these), and Griffin's Mild (think brawler). Two beers stood out for me that night: The Mirage, at 2.8% beer that's the best one I've had of that style. It's well carbonated, not bitter, and perfectly hopped. Even better than that was they Le Marquis de Lafayette, a Belgian style amber ale with amazingly subtile and complex fruit aftertastes. I wanted to buy a case of this on the way out, but sadly, they weren't bottling it.

All pints ran from 3 to 5 dollars, with most ringing in at $4. For the with quality of beer you're receiving, this is excellent. If you're indecisive (or driving) bring on the Four, 5-ounce samples of your choice - $6.00. Additional samples just $1.50. They also always have a beer on cask, if that's your thing. The General also fills growlers, which I would have purchased, but they're been out of stock for months. For a business/profit standpoint, this type of oversight has no explanation. I was also bummed not to be leaving with beer.

I wish I could stop writing here, because it just goes downhill. Our server was slow, but very friendly and good. To be fair, we were the only table in the courtyard, which I can't really understand as it was a perfect summer evening.

We ordered buffalo wings to start. They were okay, but I'm becoming much more critical of foods that are served everywhere. If you're going to serve something that every other place also does, you need to make it outstanding. These wings were not.

I was out with Rachel, and we decided to spilt to main dishes since we were being indecisive. I tried to order the sweet potato fries, but the kitchen had run out. Before we were even half way through out wings, the mains came out. We spilt the crab cake and a burger. The crab cake was bland. I think we should have known better than to expect this to be worth ordering. The burger was just plain bad. It tasted as if I cooked it at home and did a terrible job. The meat seemed to be a poor cut and the grill was too hot, so the inside wasn't cooked enough and the outside too much. The meal was all around disappointing.

Sadly, the place was mostly empty for the whole evening. When we left a bit after 10pm, there was only one other table in the dining room. If this spot were in the city, it would be hopping until 2am, especially with the free live music they provide most nights. At the very least, I like this place better than Triumph, which can pack in crowds most nights.

Bottom Line: It's annoying that this place is so far away because the beer is excellent. It is honestly worth making the 30 minute drive from my house. The beers are sold at Bella Vista in the city limits, but the cases have been sitting for some time and may not be recommended. Try to come here after dinner or lunch to avoid the food, although there were a few other appetizers that I wanted to try and may be good. A new chef could make this place on the top of its game. Still, get to this place before it's too late, I know I'll try and go again.

Essentials:

646 E Germantown PikeLafayette Hill, PA 19444

(610) 941-0600

Avg Ent: 9-17

Cash only: No

Reservations: Yes, but not needed

RX

Jonny has been telling me about RX for a while, and I'm always looking for new brunch spots. I don't make the trip to West Philly too often, but I will in search of an excellent breakfast.

I rolled into RX around 11 on a Sunday morning with Rachel. It was busy, but we were seated quickly. The service was adequate throughout breakfast. In terms of atmosphere, RX is a fine spot, it's a nice long dining room with some cheery decorations. Judgement aside, RX also provides the opportunity to rub elbows with smarmy University City college student. Be prepared.

The menu has a decent amount of options for breakfast, and I opted for the huevo ranchero: two over-medium eggs with salsa and black beans. It wasn't quite filling, and I'm surprised that most of their breakfast dishes are served up solo, without any toast, potatoes, or any other sides. Rachel ordered a standard eggs and bacon plate, which sounds boring, but seemed like one of the best options after I saw and tasted a bit.

Rx is a bit expensive for what you get, but overall I wouldn't complain about the price. On the menu there's a note that there must be a $6 per person minimum, which I thought was funny. The coffee is average, but rumor has it that the lemonade is the choice beverage. It's a BYO, so it might be a nice spot for a dinner date.

Bottom Line: I said I'd make the trip for an excellent trip out to West Philly if it was in my neighborhood. But it's just not that good. It would be infrequent for me even if it was around the corner. In this city, there are just so many better places. The best thing going for RX is the focus on local and sustainable food, and they're not the only place doing this. There just nothing that makes this place stand out.

Essentials:

4443 Spruce St (45th and Spruce)

(215) 222-9590

Avg Brunch: 7-11

Cash only: No

Reservations: Yes

BYOB: Yes

Milk Dud Cookies

I have to get up the energy to make these. They look so good.

Or, you know, my birthday is in a few weeks...

http://adashofsass.com/2009/03/29/chocolate-caramel-cookie-bites/

Last of the Belgians: Eulogy

I'm not totally sure why I hadn't been to Eulogy in so long. Sure, it's in a spot that annoying to drive to, and weekend night here are more crazy than that of the zoo. But my love of beer and food should bring me here more often.

Eulogy has a lot in common with Monk's: Excellent Belgian bars with great tap and bottle lists. They both have great food, including mussels, and also sport multiple bars with different taps. So far, everything is great. But I'm not just going to write a comparison between the two, because it might just be boring.

I've been on a quest for my favorite burger in Philly, but after eating too many fist-thick pub burgers, I decided to scale back a bit. Still, I've heard good things about the burger here, so I couldn't resist. The result? A perfectly cooked, shaped and seasoned burger. Burgers come with your choice of cheese and one topping. Cheddar and leeks did me very well. It's easily one of my top burger spots in the city. I also tried the white wine mussels. These are also a delicious choice.

Now throw some of the best beer selection in the city on top? Eulogy makes good use of their bar to serve up a Belgian heavy menu, while also keeping a few excellent domestic beers. I started out with Kwak Amber. It was a delicious beer, and could only be outdone by me next choice, Gulden Draak. These are some of the premier beers in the world, available only a short bike ride from my house. The Draak comes in at %10.5, but is so well crafted you can't even tell. Sure, it's $9 a glass, but that doesn't change my recommendation.

I visited over lunch, so it was pretty slow and the staff was restocking a bit and moving things around. But the food still came out quickly, and the bartender was on top of the service. To boot, he was also really cool. I'm sure it's a trend with most who work here.

Bottom Line: Come here ready to eat, drink, and have an excellent time. Make sure you have your wallet, because the bill can add up quickly, especially with the beer. This is one of the top spots in the Olde City, and my favorite Belgian spot in Philly.

Essentials:

136 Chestnut Street (2nd and Chestnut)

(215) 413-1918

Avg Ent: 9-16

Cash Only: No

Reservations: Yes