Auntie and Uncle

I haven't been anywhere new to eat all week.  Swift Half and Varga open around 4pm, so don't try and go there for lunch (for now).  Varga didn't have their hours posted online, only "Lunch, Dinner, Late Night" so I was annoyed when I pulled up to a closed shop for lunch yesterday.

I am going to briefly write about a couple of the few spots from the Toronto trip.  First of all, Philadelphia has a superb restaurant scene.  While I truly believe that Jonny, Tim and I hit up the best brunch spot in the city (at least

 top three), I rattled off a half dozen from my hometown that topped it.  

So Sunday morning in Toronto we roll up to Auntie and Uncles.  At 10am we had to wait about 25 minutes for an outdoor table, which wasn't bad at all.  The decor on the place totally rocks.  It's a tiny spot, and most of the tables are outside.  There's an awing that can extend to cover the whole dining area, which is great.  Inside is decorated with cool, old kitchen and home antiques.  All the food was cooked in an open kitchen right in the middle of the joint.  Everything about this place was cool.  

Our servers were very nice and mostly attentive.  The menu was pretty small, but everything looked great, and no one minded.  There were also a few specials for the day.  I really could have ordered a few things off the menu and been happy with my choice.  We all put our orders in and enjoyed the perfect weather.  I had the breakfast burger, which was delicious, from the bread and meat to all of the toppings.  Best part was the potato salad that came on the side.  I'm not sure how they make it, but it's super.  All of the food here was delicious (I tired Tim's fish tacos as well) and the portions were perfect.

The best part might have been the price.  Compared to what we normally pay in Philly, this place was cheap! $35 brunch for three with coffee and a nice tip?  You bet.  If you're in Toronto, I recommend making the trip out to this great little spot.

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Originally uploaded by wgkealey

I uploaded pictures from the Toronto trip. Check it out:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wgkealey/sets/72157618868839510/

Trade: Food for free advertising, marketing, PR...

Although I didn't start writing about restaurants so that I could get free food, it would be really cool.  And while I don't think that a plethora of restauranters are reading, I do have steady readership. 

Seriously, I think people should be inviting me in.  Because if your business is good, I'll write all about it and you'll see increase business.  (I've had quite a few people follow my recommendations, which is great).  And if your business is bad, well then what the heck are you doing?

Here's some places I'd love to eat: Varga, Swift Half, Xochitl, Marigold Kitchen, Zahav, Horizons,La Locanda Del Ghiottone, Hot Potato Cafe are all places I'd like to check out.

I'd also like to give a second chance to Local 44, Good Dog, Jose Pistolas, and a bunch more.

Here's hoping a few of these places check blogs via Google Alerts.

Dock Street

I've been to Dock Street several times, but haven't had a chance to write about it. I stopped by last night with a few friends. We waited a while for an outdoor table, which was worthwhile because it was so nice. Dock street was pretty busy, inside and out, so it was pretty weird that they weren't taking names for tables. The whole place seemed to be understaffed, and possibly suffers from poor management.

On my other trips to Dock St the service was good, but last night it was terrible. The table we had been waiting for was sitting uncleared for quite a while, so we just decided to sit down before someone else took "our" table. After waiting about twenty minutes without our server stopping by, I headed into the bar to buy drinks. The food order took about an hour to come out, and wasn't brought over to our table until we tracked down the server and asked about it. I have had great service here in the past, so it's safe to say the service is hit or miss.

For food, Dock St excels at pizza. They have several different specialty pizzas that are great thin crust guys made in an open wood-burning stove. There are also sandwiches and appetizers on the menu, but I recommend sticking to the pies. Dock St is a respectable micro brewery that serves up pints, pitchers, and growlers of their own beers. In fact, they only tap their own beer. They usually have a selection of about five brews that rotate with some regularity. Last night I had the summer session, a light wheat beer with a lemon grass flavor, and the hoppy Bohemian pilsner. Both were good beers. I've always been able to find something on their tap list that suits my mood and palate.

Dock St has a great open atmosphere with a long bar and lots of seating. It was great to sit outside on such a nice day, too.

Bottom Line: Despite my negative experience last night, overall I think Dock St is a good stop. They make great beers that aren't widely found in other places across the city. They change beers and have enough variety to make regular stops dynamic enough. The pizza is good, especially for sharing with three or four people. It's one of the better stops in the neighborhood.

Essentials:

701 S 50th St (50th and Baltimore)

(215) 726-2337

Avg Ent: 5-9, Large pie: 12-18

Cash only: No

Reservations: No

Nudy's Cafe

The best part about writing this post is that I've finally found a decent way to transfer pictures from my phone to my computer without too much loss of quality. Pictures add a lot to a post, and while I really try to focus on writing, it's nice to have an image to share too.

I had to make a trip outside of the city this weekend, and I wanted to stop at a new place for breakfast. I had heard about Nudy's cafe, all the way out in Wayne, and I was excited to see what it was all about.

Nudy's is off a small street, and there were cars parked along the side of the street; the parking lot was full and there were still more people pouring. Amazingly, Holly Z and I only waited about five minutes for a table. There are two really great outdoor seating areas, one is covered so you can still eat outside if it's drizzling a bit. Inside Nudy's is a bustling little diner scene as well.

Immediately I noticed how cheap the prices are. Living in the city I have come to expect to pay at least $10 for brunch, but nothing at Nudy's topped $8. I ordered Crab Benedict, which included poached eggs, lump crab meat, and asparagus on English muffins with Hollandaise sauce. Holly ordered one of their "signature" omelets.


Our food came out quickly, and overall the service was excellent. Our server was friendly and attentive, and didn't rush us despite the fact that he was obviously busy.

I'm not sure if it's because of my high expectations for this specific location, or the kind of bruncheries I frequent in the city, but I was disappointed with Nudy's. First off, the coffee was water flavored coffee; very weak. When my dish came out, I was disappointed with the meager two spears of asparagus, but it was even worse that they were limp and flavorless. In fact, my dish was bland on the whole. Holly seemed to agree for her meal as well. The best compliment we could agree on was that "It's better than Denny's."

Maybe for the area, this spot is great. Maybe I've become too much of a critic. Either way, I was not impressed with Nudy's. I might go here rarely if it was around the corner, but there's not a chance it's worth any driving. Which is sad, because it would be great to find an amazing and secluded place. Nudy's was still hoping, so apparently they are doing something right. Just not for me.

Essentials:
292 East Conestoga Rd (19087)
(610) 687-1345
Avg Ent: 5-8
Casn Only: No
Reservations: No

Standard Tap

I went to the Standard Tap recently. For some reason, I had been avoiding it in the past few months.  My avoidance was passive; I think there are a few better spots within walking distance. Still, when the weather gets just right, it's hard to beat the roof deck.  Also, I heard that Standard Tap has a slamming burger.  And with my Mom was in town it was a great night to grab dinner closeby.

Beer selection at Standard Tap closely mimics Johnny Brenda's: slightly overpriced, but with the availability of pitchers.  Again, like JB, your best bet in terms of price and quality is from a local brewery (PBC or Yard's).  Other taps include choices from Troeg's, Victory, Stoudt's and Dogfish Head.  The tap list is adequate, but not the reason to visit this joint.

The food at Standard Tap is good.  They have two different sections on the menu: sandwiches and entrees.  The entrees sound delicious and are pretty large, but have a substantial increase in price compared to the sandwiches.  I had the burger, and it certainly is good.  But that's all I can say.  To be fair, my hamburger standards are extremely high.  I finished my meal satisfied, but not impressed.  The burger is thick and juicy, so if you just want a lot of meat, this might be your favorite burger.  The bun and toppings are better than average, too.  I was with my mom, Chris (Hi mom!) and her husband , Charlie.  Charlie enjoyed his salmon BLT, and Mom had the portobello sandwich, which was probably the best out of our three dishes.  We were too full for dessert, but I like that they offer four different options.

For the few times I've been at the Standard Tap, I've come to expect subpar service.  While this past time I had the best service I've experienced here, the staff could be a bit more attentive and friendly.

While everything at the Standard Tap is average or better, the atmosphere is the part that puts it over the top.  Downstairs includes a nice bar and great tables to chill in a dark, relaxed atmosphere.  Upstairs has a smaller bar, and some bigger rooms and tables for larger groups.  And as already mentioned, the outdoor deck is the best spot around.  Really, it can't be beaten on a nice summer eve.  

Bottom Line:  The Standard Tap is good.  It serves a specific purpose, but with such a variety of options for food and beer within a stone's throw, it's hard to really campaign for the Standard Tap.  That being said, you'll probably see me there a few times this summer.  Because no matter what I say, you can't beat a few pitchers of good beer overlooking NoLibs with s nice breeze.

Essentials:

901 N 2nd Street (2nd and Poplar)

(215) 238-0630

Avg Ent: 9-16

Cash Only: No

Reservations: No (ask the bartender upstairs for a spot on the deck)

Bishop's Collar

The prevailing mindset is that Fairmount is an area crowded (possibly overcrowded) with great bars.  It seems that when you're in the neighborhood, there are so many great places to choose from.  I disagree.  There are a few places that make the cut, most notably Bridig's and the Belgian cafe (I haven't been to the London Grill).  But the options aren't so great after that.  But I am now adding Bishop's Collar to the list of decent spots.

I met with my friend Quinn on a Friday night.  We wanted to watch playoff hockey, which was quite difficult with Cole Hamel's first game back.  There were some guys giving us a hard time for liking the Penguins (but it helps a lot to be with a cute girl) and it was pretty annoying.  Their attitude is probably why I could never start liking the Eagles or Flyers.  It seems like being a "Philly fan" is mostly based on blindly hating everyone else.  But that's a different story.

Beer: Bishop's Collar always has some kind of special, which is nice, even if it is only a dollar off something that I would never order.  They have a decent selection, with Harp and Guinness on tap, as well as nice local and regional beers like Yards, Bell's, Allagash, and Six Points.  Prices are mostly $5/pint, give or take a dollar.

I like the place, in terms of the building and the bar.  It's a long open room with a smaller bar and some tables in the back.  They have three nice TVs, and sports and Irish themed decorations.  They also have a decent outdoor seating section when the weather is nice.  The staff here is great.  The bartenders and servers were attentive and nice, more so than I've seen in a lot of other places.  The owner was also hanging out on a Friday night just checking on his business and seemed like a cool guy.

For food, the Bishops Collar does not disappoint.  Everything is under $10, and it is up to par with other beer bars.  They have a nice mix of different kinds of food and a decent amount of vegetarian options.  On any giving night you can grab a burger, chicken sandwich, quesadilla, or similar dish.  The kitchen was a bit slow when it got busy, but everyone around me seemed to be enjoying their food.

Bottom Line: It's not the best bar, but it sure is good.  I was searching for a place that wasn't a sports bar, but would have the sports I wanted to watch, and I really think this is one of the best spots in the city.  The food can't be beat at the price.  It's a good place for your evening, or just a drink as you are passing by.  Either way, the Bishop's Collar is a win.

Essentials:

2349 Fairmount Ave (24th and Fairmount)

(215) 765-1616

Avg Ent: 6-9

Cash Only: Takes cards, ATM on-site

Reservations: No

Fiore Pizza: Move over Key!

The only new place I tried out this week was Fiore Pizza. It's a new spot on the corner of Kensington and Huntington. It is as good, if not better than your average corner pizza shops. The pizza is pretty good; I will order again at some point in the future. The prices are great ($7 large cheese) and the staff is nice. They have some other good specials. I like this place because it's within walking distance, too.

It's better than Key Pizza, which for some reason has established itself as the best pizza place in Kensington and Fishtown, at least in the minds on my friends. Fiore is here to challenge that claim. I like promoting new spots, and I think this place is definitely worth a try if you're in the nieghborhood.

(215) 739-6800

Link Love

I've been getting a decent amount of hits from foodzings.blogspot.com. In additional to that, its a pretty cool blog. So I thought I would return the favor.

And since I've borrowed the term link love, I guess I should give some credit to Mark and his blog: Poverty Jetset.

Project list

There's a lot of stuff that I want to do with the house. Here's a short project list of stuff I'd like to get done sooner rather than later:

1) The backyard needs a lot of work. These a few feet of uneven brick laid, and then clay/dirt with a few weeds and not much other growth.

2) The gutter on the back of the kitchen needs some work and/or cleaning. Not all water is being diverted to the downspout.

3) At least one window needs to be replaced. This one has a crack in the top half.

4) There's a weird space in between two cabinets in the kitchen. There's wood paneling over what is really otherwise empty space. I'd like to do something nice and/or useful with this space. I also can't fit my trash can under the sink because of the way the plumbing is set up. I'd like to find a solution for this, which probably just means buying a smaller trash can.

5) The hot water heater is kind of old, and huge (80 gal). I think a new energy star one around 40 gal would be great and pay itself off within a few years. The fridge is also old, 1992, and using this calculator from the department of energy, I found out that a new fridge would easily pay for itself within five years with the energy it saves. The difference is roughly $133 to $43 per year.

6) The front of the house has a great facade, but could use power washing. The handrail in front isn't totally secure. I need to replace the light bulb out front. The decorative capping at the top of the house desperately needs to be repainted. This stuff is low on the priority list and I will probably get around to it when I also get the furnace replaced and the chimney capped.

7) I'd like to get rid of most of the white walls in the house. The painting projects are ongoing.

8) The front room doesn't have any overhead lights. One idea is to place some nice track lights above the front door. There's an outlet near the ceiling, but sadly, it's not controlled by the light switch. There is an extra light switch by the front door, and it controls one of the outlets in the room. I'd really like to put a ceiling fan with lights in this room, but I'm not sure how much work this would take. There's also a motion sensor and siren installed for the security system. I don't really like them, but I will probably leave them up for the time being.

9) In addition to being ugly, the kitchen floor has a few gashes that are covered by an ugly Ikea rug. It did a good job of hiding them every time I walked through the house though; I never thought to look under it. I'd like to replace the flooring at some point.

10) There are two weird spaces in my bathroom. I'd like to convert one into a linen closet, but I'm somewhat at a loss on how to best use the available space.

Quick food update

Although I know that 90% or more people who read this are my friends who are just interested in what's going on with me, I'd like to think there's a few people who are checking in here because they want to see what I think of new restaurants. That being said, I haven't been to a new place in a while, the house stuff is keeping me busy. Three notes though:

I went back to Sketch and it's as great as I first thought. My recommendation is a medium rare kobe burger w/o cheese. The meat is flavorful enough; don't put cheese on it, and that's coming from a big cheeseburger fan. Try the chipotle spread if you like it spicy. Last time I went with Jonny R and we got free cookies because they messed up my order (or because someone was trying to hit on me or him). This place continues to impress me.

Varga is opening soon, and I think it's going to be great. I didn't see a date, but rumors are that it will be open within the next two weeks. I'm also looking forward to Good Dog's new spot in Northern Liberties.

Memphis Taproom has started charging for the beer tax. When you visit, you will now see a 10% increase on all beers. Without bashing one of my favorite bars, I will state that I believe their first year of business has gone extremely well, and probably are not hurting for money. It's better than raising all prices by $1, but paying $4.40 is just annoying. I hate getting change, and I'm not about to tip $1.60 either. I guess I should take my change purse (if I had one) next time I go. I may be looking for a new go to spot in or near my hood. Taking recommendations...