Sycamore. Can you Suckamore?

Sometimes you stumble upon a place due to friend's recommendation, advertising, desperation, or in this case.... I saw it on Groupon. If I had taken advantage of the Groupon this review might be more positive. But here goes.

During a week of non stop rain in mid August I found myself in need of new places to nosh at and ended up at Sycamore with my dining companion KrustyBlini. Sycamore is located in Lansdowne, PA. KrustyBlini has an opinion of Lansdowne that is loathsome at best. His opinion was further punctuated by us being seated at the front window with a view of Lansdowne Ave. However he's a cranky pants and I personally enjoyed the seating placement. The seating space, however, was cramped. This is definition of "tiny BYOB". The interior is stylish. Decorated with leaves, tree themed light fixtures and dark chocolate brown walls. The interior decorations are honestly very lovely visually. Which is good. Because for a portion of the evening this was the view out of the window:



Clearly this is not Sycamore's fault. However mood-killa.

However the following things were Sycamore's fault. We waited a fairly long time to be greeted by our waitress. We had some quick questions about the menu which were answered efficiently. I say efficiently because both times we asked how something on the menu was she answered with "amazing" as her stock and trade answer. She later revealed, when we asked why there were no sweetbreads on the menu that night despite their presence on the website, that their menu changes daily. Makes me think that perhaps she had not actually tried the dishes we asked about. Which is fine, but cop to it. Explain them dishes, how they're prepared, etc. After our server first came to our table she quickly returned with an amuse-bouche.



Scallop mousse with a slice of carrot that smelled like it was pickled. I honestly forgot the description due to what happened next. What you can't see in the photo but I discovered when I lifted the amuse-bouche to smell was a hair attached to the mousse. Not off to a great start. Worse was that it took nearly thirty minutes for the waitress to come back to the table for me to tell her this. At one point she stopped off at the tables to the right and the left of us, the only three tables in that room, and skipped over us. She was apologetic and the hairy bouche was removed and quickly replaced by another however, perhaps flustered the complaint, she failed to explain the new amuse-bouche. Judging by the taste I assume it was the same.



It was a delicious little bite. It had a slice of some vegetable, turnip perhaps, that had a tang to it. Reminded me of a bite of a seafood chowder with sherry. That was the first step towards redemption. We ordered the Farmer's Plate $19. We had our selection of three cheese options and three charcuterie options with all of the accouterments offered with cheese and charcuterie plates.


Left to right, top to bottom:

Porcini dusted truffle steak, Prosciutto Di Parma, Chorizo, bread and croutes, sweet mustard, cornichon, olives, grain mustard, cipollini onions, Boucheron cheese, Idiazabal cheese, mostarda, and drunken raisins.

This was a delightful plate. I'm a known hater of pickles but the cornichon was excellent. I'd sit down to a small bowl of them. The meats were both excellent. The Prosciutto was on point for what I expected. The Procini dusted truffle steak was less than stellar on the first time I tried it but it was outstanding on my second try. The restaurant is BYOB and I recommend you take advantage of that because we found that our wine was an excellent pallet cleanser. The combination of the Boucheron cheese with the mostarda or the drunken raisins was fantastic although the combination of goat cheese with a sweet fruit component isn't something new. However it still works and all of the elements offered in the Farmer's Plate worked both alone and coupled in their various pairings. As fantastic as this was the fact of the matter is that this offering isn't a great culinary jump. It's good, high quality meats and cheeses with varying accouterments put together to enjoy. Anyone can do that.

On to the entrees.



KrustyBlini's Roasted Duck Breasts $24. Creamed Escarole, Garlic Confit, aged Pedro Ximenez Sherry Vinegar.

The duck was excellently prepared. Soft, tender, flavorful, and lean. The accouterments (its the word of the day) were under impressive. I'm not a huge fan of escarole so that might be my fault. However I felt with that they took away from the near perfect execution of the duck breast.

On to my meal. The Green Meadows Farm Pork Chop $26




Garlic, Sircha & Orange Brined, Coconut Lemongrass Jasmine Rice with Baby Local Swuat & Sweet Chinese Sausage, Basil Mecerated Plums.


I really enjoyed my entree. The porkchop itself was very large. However the pork-to-rice pilaf was off. I think that sliced pork tenderloin would have been a better medium for this dish. However it was all delicious and very well prepared. I made a point to get an element off all of the flavors (plums, chop, sausage, and rice) as my last bite for the entree portion of the meal. This marks one of the few times I had a dish that I thought out shined one of KrustyBlini's choices.

We saved room for dessert. To the elderly dinner across the way from me: Thanks for taking the last Dark Chocolate Pot de Creme. Damnit.

We decided on the Rum Butterscotch Budino and the Local Honey & Hazlenut Pie with macerated fresh peaches. Both $7.



I'll start with the bad: The Hazlenut pie was a flop in my opinion. KrustyBlini enjoyed it after giving it a second chance. My first bite was way too thick, too heavy, and got stuck in every corner of my mouth. My take is that this is just a matter of personal opinion. To me this needed more peaches and less thick pastey cap. We did both agree that the Rum Butterscotch Budino was far and away the best dessert. This was a nice combination of salty, sweet, smooth, creamy, crunchy, and all pulled together near perfectly. My only suggestion would be to include crispy bacon bits in the Budino aka "pudding" for flavor/texture compare/contrast.


All and all I'll revisit Sycamore but only if they up their service game and revamp their menu a bit to cater their clientele.

Bar Ferdinand - Setting the bar for Tapas. No bull.

I've dined at Bar Ferdinand several times over the last two years. I've always enjoyed myself so be prepared for a blog that is mostly going to be me singing the praises of this five year old tapas restaurant in NoLibs. My most recent trip was encouraged by my new boyfriend the KrustyBlini, who also names Ferdinand as one of his favorite restaurants in the city.

Before I get started I've read other reviews with common gripes. It's expensive. The portions are small. It's busy on the weekends.

So before I get started let me address this:
-It's tapas. They're supposed to be small.
-It's high quality ingredients meticulously prepared. That means they're expensive.
-It's a popular restaurant in a popular section of town.

This means if you want plenty of elbow room and a cheap but filling eat you should go to TGIFriday's mid afternoon during the week and shut up.


This place is usually bustling so reservations are recommended. They do have Prix Fix menus for $40, $50, and $60. Thursdays are a special Chef's tasting menu for $45. Wine pairings are also available. The Chef's menu has been hit or miss for me. The first time I loved it and it was one of my favorite meals of all time. The second time I was disappointed but my dining companion raved. This particular night we made our own selections off of the menu. For the record we selected entirely too much and I feel the need to pop an alka seltzer just thinking about it. Unfortunately my notebook had a mishap with my water so I'm relying on memory and the restaurants menu.



First off we had the Surtido de Carnes. Sliced Serrano ham, chorizo, chorizo blanco, lomo. The artisian meats each have their own particular flavor. Some better than others. The Lomo had an earthy mineral taste to it that was so overwhelming it tasted like dirt in my humble blogging opinion. KrustyBlini noted the earthy taste but stopped short of sharing my dirt opinion. This is where the beauty of Tapas comes into play. They're meant to be shared. Or in this case shovel off what you don't like onto your dining companion while you can eat the portion you like.

Next up was Manchego Frita.



Fried Manchego, frozen apple foam, walnut membrillo purée. These three tiny skewers pack a dynomite punch. The fried Manchego is crunchy and warm. The warmth and crunch of the savory Manchego contrasts with the chill and slight tartness of the apple foam. Then the walnut puree comes in at the end with a sweet wash of flavor. The differing flavors, temperatures, textures, and sweet vs. savory bounces around your mouth like you're gargling salty pop-rocks and cola.


The most kitschy dish we sampled was the Pato Ahumado.





Duck sliders. Now I know the concept of high brow burgers is over done. Sliders are so worn out Denny's is offering them. All of this means naddda when faced with these three delightful little duck burgers on fresh miniature rolls. The almond jam is a sweet compliment to the succulent duck. The concept of small high brow sliders may be consider passé but my mouth doesn't care.

Next up... the Jamon.



Charred Scallion. Not a word pairing that inspires great confidence. However the delicious salty, smokey ham contrasts delightfully with the creamy mixture inside. It's a delightful combination that honestly comes off as a fancy drunk food. If they could mass produce them and sell them in baggies at Acme they would be the hit of Ivy League campuses.


Queso de Cabra Cocindado
Goat cheese, honey, spices, pinenuts, garlic... I don't think you can't go wrong. I'm also completely correct. Wowza. This was a fabulous dish. Again the contrast of sweet and savory, smooth and crunchy where brought to the forefront. Like the duck sliders this overwhelming dish would not be well received in a large dish offering. But in Tapas version it left me at odds with my dining companion fighting it out for the final bite.



Pixin Con Panceta.

Meaty fish? Indeed. These skewers were excellently prepared with mild seasoning that allowed the texture and taste of the fish to stand on its own. Complimenting, not over powering. The Monkfish had the thick meaty texture of a well prepared tender steak. This was my first experience eating Monkfish and I am converted.


As I said, Bar Ferdinand - I'd fight a lazy bull for dinner here.

Honey's Sit and Eat - Southern Fried Noshes

After a long hiatus and fueled by the wonders of a smart phone, a borrowed laptop and the company of new foodie friend I'm back with a few new blogs.

I'm starting it off with Honey's Sit and Eat. Honey's is a small shabby chic establishment in Northern Liberties. On the weekend the wait for breakfast can easily reach two hours. I personally can't wait for two hours for breakfast. I would either pass out from hunger or eat another patron. That said I have waited over an hour for breakfast there. I may, or may not, have longingly eyed a small child's chunky arm during that wait while wondering how it would taste with a bit of Queso but I refuse to comment on that subject any further. The concept of Honey's to think of the best down home southern cooking made by your Jewish Grandmother after she returned from a visit with your Aunt Edie in New Mexico. Vegetable Latkes sit next to Fried Green Tomatoes on Honey's menu right across from Mahi Mahi Tacos. If you can't find anything to eat on the menu you're either not really hungry... or a picky vegan.

My first couple of trips to Honey's was for their breakfast. On this particular trip I had Nutella and Pear stuffed Challah french toast topped with whipped cream and crème anglaise.



Challah bread is a traditional bread served on the Sabbath as well as anytime a good Jew wants to indulge in delicious braided carb goodness. It's very versatile for use in recipes and has become a popular choice for french bread due to its ability to soak up the wet ingredients without turning into mush. It's also very damned delicious. When topped with the nutella and pear combination it is a decidedly delicious diabetes inducing dish. Since it was late in the day, my dining companion ChopStixx and I shared a plate of Guacamole and Chips. Slightly blurry photo below.



This was impeccable smooth and creamy. The guacamole had a consistency less like a mashed vegetable and more like whipped cream. The triangles of tortilla chips were served spiked into the Guacamole like a culinary hedgehog. Not that I think a hedgehog is appetizing. Although it might be if served with this Guacamole. Sorry, Sonic. I failed to get a picture of the Enfrijoladas with Chorizo but I have to say I've gone to Honey's three times for breakfast at this point and I always order this dish. I may have to wrap it up and take it home but I always have to order the combination of eggs, beans, salsa verde, queso fresco, and fresh fresh fresh micro greens. My only defense for not getting a picture is that I'm usually halfway through the dish before I remember I'm supposed to be blogging.


Originally they were only a breakfast and lunch joint. They have since expanded to include dinner, appear on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and are soon opening a second location. My most recent trip was my first for dinner. I took along my Mom, MommaFox, visiting from California. During what seemed to be the Down Pour Of The Apocalypse I took MommaFox into Northern Libs for a bite at Honey's. After waiting in the car for twenty minutes for the rain to either let up or Noah's Arc to appear on the horizon we finally braved the rain to dash inside. We were quickly greeted by one of the most upbeat servers I've even encountered. I'll forgive him for wearing those hideous tiger print wayfarer sunglasses on the top of his head. We decided on sliced heirloom tomatoes.



The tomatoes although not visually the most appealing dish were full of bright perky flavor that was in stark contrast to the doomsday happening outside the windows. Simple but delicious. For dinner we both decided on Bubby's Brisket Platter. MommaFox is watching her carbs and they were happy to substitute her Red Bliss Mashed potatoes for another choice of side from their list of over twentyoptions. I stuck with the mashed potatoes.



The portions was huge. This was my dinner, lunch and snack. The mashed potatoes were super creamy, smooth, and a perfect comfort food for a rainy day. The brisket was fall-apart-tender. The root vegetables were super fresh and had soaked up the au jus from the brisket. It was honestly nostalgic to share this with meal MommaFox because it reminded me of something that would have come out of her kitchen during my childhood. It was a cozy warm meal served with great friendliness. Our server even managed to convince me to take home an pecan apple tart. I wish I'd had the room to stay and have it at Honey's where they serve it warm and with a scoop of vanilla ice cream from the legendary Basset's. MommaFox confessed that when she first walked into Honey's small dining room and spied the ultra hipster waitstaff she was more than just a little doubtful. Not that I can blame her. Bicycle shorts should never be worn by a man working in a kitchen. That much un-netted hair can't be sanitary. However the food at Honey's shines even when the sun refuses to.


Honey's Sit and Eat: Fox tested, MommaFox approved.

Monk's Belgian Cafe - Beer me.

One fine early March afternoon ChopStixx and I discovered we were both off. What to do? Lunch, of course! Off to Philadelphia for the Best Lunch Ever: Part III. This time we invited along Roux-bbinson for the festivities. We first stopped by Ikea to replenish my wine glass supply and ogle the bizarre offerings at the Swedish all-assembly-required emporium. Such as the following:



I admit it: I bought the chocolates. They were only $1.50!
Edit: ...And there is a reason they were only $1.50. Yuck.



Then we were off to Monk's Beglian Cafe. I'd hoped to check out Zot but they've closed. Damn. Monk's is easily spotted with a black, red, and yellow facade calling out to you "Come, we have beer!". Once you step inside however you have to walk down a dark narrow hallway until you reach this door:




This intimidated me. Would we be cool enough to enter? I suppose so since the staff didn't chuck us out and instead seated us in the pews. No, really. The back of this supermodel skinny building is striking in its similarity to a church. After all the place is called Monk's. The pews we were seated in were just about as uncomfortable as the real deal are for me. It's impossible to get in and out without sliding the table to the side. This is especially cumbersome when you add in a (wobbly) table full of food and dining companions on the other side of the table you have to squish in order to get to the restrooms. The restrooms are also uncomfortably small. Belgium must be the land of very skinny dwarfs.


Each table is fitted with two small one sided menus. One lists what they have on tap and the other with special brewed offerings. They also have a brochure listing the rest of the beers available. I didn't count but they appeared to have about a hundred or so options. None of these options contain the word Miller, Bud, or come with a lime.



Unibroue Ephemere, Houblon Chouffe, and Chimay Cinq Cent


These were just a small sampling of the beers we tasted. I declare them Apply-Yum, Spicy-Yum, and WAY too hoppy for my sissy mouth.

I was absolutely famished by the time we ordered and ready to launch myself at every waiter who walked by with a half eaten plate of food. Roux-bbinson agreed to split a "small" pot of mussels. We went with the Thai Curry mussels.



From the site: Monk's Flemish Sour, fumè, Thai red curry, bais, garlic & coconut milk. Served with bread for sopping up the tasty juices, an order of their Pommes Frites and their spicy bourbon mayonnaise. $9.95. $9.95!!! THAT'S CRAZY!

Let me make it perfectly clear when I say their idea of "small" is huge. The first time I dined at Monk's and the brought out a huge pot of mussels I thought that someone had made a happy mistake. No, their small is easily a meal in and of itself. Unless you're a professional athlete, competitive eater, or just a bottomless pit (See: Roo-bbinson). The Thai Red curry was very good however I have to admit that I preferred the DeKonick mussels (caramelized leeks, apples, swiss cheese & deKonick antwerpen ale) from my previous visit.



Delicious tender little lovies.

For my meal choice I went with the Monk's burger with a side of Pommes Frites. Because really, is one order of deep fried starch ever really enough?


Monk's Burger with carmalized leeks and bleu cheese.

I wish they'd melted down the cheese a bit to make the burger more manageable, but that aside it was one big messy delight. Excellent beef cooked to a perfect medium rare, juicy not greasy. The bite of the bleu cheese contrasted with the sweetness of the leeks. Obviously I enjoyed because I got halfway through the burger before I remembered to take a photo. I'm not a burger girl. I haven't ordered a burger since the 90's, but this was excellent. I've been craving another. Honestly one of the best burgers I've ever had. Which can only mean one thing: I'm stealing the recipe and forcing my fave local bar to recreate it so I can be within walking distance of this meaty delight. Chopstixx also ordered the Monk burger and while she enjoyed, she was more enamored with the spicy bourbon mayonnaise that came with the fries.


Roux-bbinson went with the Chicken&Apple sausage with raspberry mustard.



I didn't try this. The concept of raspberry mustard made my stomach churn a bit. As did the concept of the raspberry beer he later tried. Beer shouldn't be blood red. I do not approve. However, to the rest of my experience with Monk's I absolutely do approve.






Monk's Belgian Cafe - Next to godliness.

Back with a bang ...and a bust - Part One: Bibou - What the french?

After a very long hiatus I return with two reviews for local eateries. The first is the highly hyped Bibou in the Italian Market district of Philadelphia. Bibou is a teeny tiny french BYOB operated by Pierre and Charlotte Calmels that is currently getting more foodie press time than a blonde heiress in a supermarket tabloid.

A year or two back I received a Zagat's guide as a gift. They have a list of the top 40 most popular restaurants in the front of the book and I've made it my personal goal to eat at at least the top five. As of right now my remaining two are Capital Grille and Le Be Fin. However since GQ rated Bibou on of the top 10 new restaurants in the country and Pierre's background as the former Executive Chef at Le Bec Fin I'm using Bibou as my proxy to scratch Le Bec Fin off my list. In all honesty I hope that by the time the next Zagat's guide comes out that LBF has been replaced by Bibou.


As a surprise treat for my sweetie, Antonio Braisederas, I made reservations for the Sunday night prix fixe menu. Four courses for $45, free parking next door, and no corkage fee, and the ability to taste several dishes at one price? That my friends is one bitchin' deal. Despite all of the acclaim that Bibou has received I was still antsy to see how the evening would go. Antonio Braisederas has a background working in very nice restaurants and is a bit of a snob because of it. I figured worst case scenario if he hated dinner I'd take him a few block down to the Neon Wasteland at the corner of Pat's/Geno's and get him a cheesesteak.

When we arrived at 7:30 the restaurant was packed. This isn't a great accomplishment because the dining room is, as I said, teeny tiny. However watching the waiters artfully dance between the tables without knocking into themselves or the patrons is quite impressive. We were seated by Charlotte Calmels who is exceedingly pleasant and quickly brought our menus by our waiter who would prove to be very attentive, polite, and efficient in his service. We easily made our selections and were brought out our first course of soup.



Creamy cauliflower soup, lamb merguez and saffron cauliflower florets

It was divine. Antonio Braisederas kept quiet until he'd had his first two spoonfuls before announcing he hated cauliflower, but this dish had changed his mind on the vegetable. This is far to rich to sit down to a bowl of on a cold day, but this just right portion was perfect for a chilly March evening. It seems like a small touch but the pinch of chives on the top of the soup were so fresh and bright they cut the richness of the soup perfectly. I'm not ashamed to say I used the fresh bread to sop the last bits of the soup out from the bottom.



Fresh bread with imported french butter. This was a very nice touch and far beyond your run of the mill butter-in-foil experience.

For my first course I chose Escargots.


From the webiste: Snail ragout, Fava beans and mushrooms, flavored with tarragon

I'll admit it: I chose this dish because of continuously seeing its image on the website and other blogs reviewing Bibou. The presentation is just so gosh darn CUTE. The firmness of the beans contrasted beautifully with the squishy (yes, squishy) juicy tenderness of the escargot. To give credit to this dish: I hate tarragon. HATE. I don't like the word, the smell, the taste, anything. I see tarragon and avoid it like an Al Qaeda meeting. However the other flavors and textures made me forget all about my arch nemesis tarragon and enjoy.


For my main dish I chose the braised lamb shank.



From the website: Braised lamb shank, quinoa and root vegetables, natural jus.

Oh holy mother. I started by peeling back a layer of crisp skin to the sound of my dining companion asking me, on the verge of screeching, "If you're not going to eat the skin give it to meeeee!". The waiter accidentally set down a steak knife in front of me at first before realizing it was Antonio Braisederas who had ordered the hanger steak. Pah. I needed no knife! All I needed was a fork to make the meat gleefully part from the bone. Antonio Braisederas and I lamented that these must have been the Terminator of Lambs. The shank was bloody huge. The quinoa was nutty and firm. The veges were just as lovely as the meat and I enjoyed every bit. I attempted to make every bite the right mixture of protein/quinoa/veges.

This is where our waiter comes into play. Because I have a small stomach capacity I was only able to eat a small bit of my main course and still maintain enough space for dessert. Our waiter took note of this and repeatedly asked if everything was okay, if I really liked the dish, and if I didn't he would happily bring me something else. I've only experienced this level of thoughtfulness a few times and sincerely appreciate it. Far too often the attitude is "You don't like it? Too bad." once you have ordered. This was not the case at Bibou and it made me very happy to see this level of attention paid to me by our server (and obviously this was backed by the chef). While waiting for dessert Chef Pierre Calmels came out to speak with each table and ask if we we had enjoyed our meal. Again, a small personal touch that goes far in my book.


Finally I went for the ultimate indulgence: Chocolate Mousse. Properly known as "Mousse Au Chocolat"





omg. No. Really. OMG. This was so dark, so rich, yet light and airy. It was beautiful. I loved every single bite. It was well worth getting raspberry seeds in my teeth. This was an excellent end to a wonderful meal. My final thoughts:

Bibou BYOB: You bring the booze, they'll bring the yum.

Ikea Restaurant - I got your swedish meatballs right here, baby.

On a recent trip to everyone's favorite Swedish build-it-yourself furniture store, Sir Forksalot proposed that we sit down to a fancy dinner... at the Ikea cafeteria. Sir Forksalot holds the Ikea cafeteria in high esteem, having been won over years ago when he discovered their breakfast deal: Two eggs, two bacon strips, home fries for $.99.

We each grabbed a tray and went through the cafeteria selecting our dinners. We each got our own entree, shared a bowl of soup and drink, and I had dessert.




Sir Forksalot selected Chicken Marsala over rice with mixed veges. Surprisingly, ordering an Italian dish from a Swedish furniture store doesn't inspire much confidence. However the Chicken Marsala was surprisingly good by my take, better than some I've had at actual Italian establishments. The veges were cooked within an inch of their existence, however. Sir Forksalot proclaimed it not spectacular, but the chicken was tender and tasty. The final word was that it "couldn't be beaten for the price", which sums up this dish. Incidentally, the price was $4.29+tax.

The soup was a hearty vege-lentil mix that I thought was very good, but Sir Forksalot proclaimed it "blah". This recollection is odd, seeing as how I remember him finishing the soup quickly. However, it's my blog not his, so I give it a thumbs up. Soup $1.79 + dinner roll $.35 = Damn fine dinner for roughly $2.




I went with the quintessential Ikea dish, Swedish Meatballs with gravy and mashed potatoes. This is a hearty, stick to your ribs meal that filled me up easily (and then some) with the "small" portion that consists of 10 meatballs. $4.29, and served with a dabbing of their lingonberry sauce. Now while I enjoy lingonberries,at least I do while I'm at Ikea, I have no idea what the hell these things actually are. Are they even an actual berry? Did the Swedes just make this up to screw with us?

For dessert I had the Apple cake, which is absolutely delish. I wish I'd had asked to have it heated, but even cold it was well worth $2.29. I'd actually put this above any of the samplings I've had at the Pinky Rose Pastry shop. The apples still have a bit of crunch to them, and they resist over sweetening them. Instead, they're heavily dosed with cinnamon and a vanilla sauce tops the cake providing much of the sweetness.

Together, we shared a lingonberry/sprite drink at $1.29

All together, including tax, our meal came to about $15.30 for both of us. So although Ikea might not be the world's most memorable dining experience, it is a great place for some good cheap eats.

Ikea Restaurant, giving you fuel for assembling your new entertainment system.

Pink Rose Pastry - Almost Quaint

I'm going to have two blogs featuring places I ate at on a recent South Street trip. Yes, I do eat on South Street fairly often. Shopping at Passional makes me hungry, and they always require you to eat before making a visit at Infinite or Body Graphics. Since these are the top three reasons I go to South Street, it leads to a lot of noshing in Philly.

Today I'm going to feature The Pink Rose Cafe. Sir Forksalot, CreampuffGrrl, and SpoonsMacgee went there one evening after a day of shopping. I've been there twice in the past. Once I was ignored by the two people working behind the counter for so long I skipped out and went across the street to Famous 4th Street Deli for cookies instead. The second time, I had a very nice time and the service was friendly. However on the third time out of the gate, I think I have to give up. Our waitress acted very put out by our presence. My original selection wasn't available, so I asked for a few minutes longer to decide. I went to the counter to tell her my order (as she was the only one there and currently getting our drinks) and she ignored me, walking by me twice.

The decor is done in a shabby-chic french countryside look, heavy on the pink. This look would be better accomplished if you couldn't see into the very industrial, cramped, dark, almost dirty looking kitchen area. This would be a fine time to invest in better lighting or block off that area from view. They also have a large snapple refridgerator that throws off the look as well, not to mention causing the place to lose several notches in my book for serving snapple tea rather than the real deal.

Their bathroom is a tiny closet tucked away in the corner. The sink leaks, and the this literal water closet (it's as small as one) reeks of my Grandmother's house - like stale cigarettes. Using the bathroom is a challenge for anyone who weighs more than 150lbs, as you will have to twist yourself inside out to get into the facilities.

If you take the time to walk through the bakery and read all of the plaques on the wall, you'll realize the bakery has actually won many awards for it's baked goods. Look a little closer, and you'll notice the dates which tell you this place used to be a really awesome place to eat....In the late 90's.

Here's the lowdown:

-Iced coffee is so bitter you'll wonder what tar pit it was scraped out of. I like strong coffee, but this stuff could have powered my SUV for at least five miles.

SpoonsMacGee had an Ultimate Brownie:


Price: $4

He deemed it "delectable". Obviously too large for a person to eat in one sitting, unless said person had recently had a bad breakup or was suffering from an especially heinous case of PMS, this brownie is meant to be shared. He said it felt like once it hit his stomach, it expanded like a ballon being inflated. Despite this statement, we have no reason to believe he is a drug mule, simple that this is one heavy piece of chocolate goodness.


Next up, Sir Forksalot's Millinais:


Price: $2

What the hell is a Millinais? It's a french hazelnut flavored sponge cake. That's how the menu described it, although Sir Forksalot said it ate more like a pound cake. Very dense, crispy on the outside and moist in the center, covered with powdered sugar. This was the smallest of the desserts we ordered, and could be easily enjoyed in a single sitting. I had a bite, and although I wasn't blown away it was an enjoyable bit of sweetness that would go well with a good cup of coffee and morning paper. Obviously, not coffee that you got at the Pink Rose.


CreampuffGrrl ordered the Raspberry and Creme Napoleon.


Price: Err... I forgot.

According to her, it was dynamite. Right mixture of Raspberry Preserves and Creme, it had a light taste and a touch of tart from the raspberries. However, due to the toughness of the pasty, you needed a steak knife to eat it. Her attempts at using a fork and butter knife left her looking like she'd been involved in a cocaine bust. I did get to enjoy a bite of hers, and I will say I was envious of her pastry choice.

And finally, my Signature Eclair


Price: $7

The picture doesn't quite capture how incredibly massive this thing is. It's literally the size of a softball, and then some. I only ate a quarter of it, and forced CreampuffGrrl to take a quarter of it home with her. The cream is isn't overpoweringly sweet and the chocolate is semi-sweet, however I wish they'd top it with more strawberries to give it a better balance of sweetness. My main axe to grind was the puff pastry. Any part not covered in chocolate was stale as a crouton. Not enjoyable at all. It seems that although enjoyed by my companions, the Pink Rose Cafe and I are doomed to dislike each other. Especially after I read that the Signature Eclair is mentioned in the book "Good In Bed" that I particularly hated.


Though my dining companions might not agree, my final vote is to skip this wanna-be tearoom and head across the street to Famous 4th Street Deli where they give you a smile with your cookies.

Jim's Steaks: Better than Pat's or Geno's, for real.

In Philadelphia, the battleground for cheesesteak fame has always been at the intersection of 9th and Passyunk. This is where the legendary Pat's Steaks and Geno's Steaks are located at, catty-corner from each other. Each of these establishments claim to have invented cheesesteak, and inturn have the better cheesesteak. Pat's tries to booster it's claim to cheesesteak superiority by having the rudest little shits in all of South Philly running the counter. Geno's, meanwhile, tries to booster itself by drowning out the light of the moon with more neon lights than a Las Vegas go-go bar with half the taste. I've eaten at both, and each left me with the same feeling: that I needed to floss vigorously to get the half a cow out that was still stuck in my teeth.

My cheesesteak heart has come to belong at the corner of South&4th St, at Jim's Steaks. I have never been there anytime of day when there wasn't a line, usually out the door and around the corner. The guys at the counter are in a hurry and you'd best be ready to order when you get to the counter, but they won't cop an attitude if you don't use the "proper" ordering lingo. When my good friend Soda-Frybread was in town from Phoenix, I took her to Jim's South Street location to satisfy her cheesesteak tooth.


The counter at Jim's, smell the cheesesteaky goodness.


Jim's has a distinct Art Deco style. You can see the black and white sign like a beacon in a sea of neon. The tile and signs are all set in black and white, fitted against the chrome counters, fixtures, and stove. You've heard of the velvet rope? At Jim's they have a chrome rope, helping to keep people from jumping the ever present line.

While waiting in line at Jim's, and you will be, you can spend your time reading the walls which are decorated with reviews, articles, and pictures of famous patrons. This is especially helpful if the D-bag in the pink Abercrombie t-shirt behind you in line starts running his mouth about how you'll never be able to get a seat upstairs. Behind the counter Jim's has several glass refrigerator cases full of drinking options including Yoo-Hoo, Dr. Brown's sodas, and beer. The smell of the meat and onions cooking on the grill will make your mouth salivate like teenage boy opening his first girly magazine. In true Philly fashion, the steaks are served on Amoroso rolls. You can get your order to go, or to eat in the up stair's dining area. Soda-Frybread and I each got "Whiz,wit" or roughly translated from Philadelphianese: Cheesesteaks with fried onions and Cheez Whiz. Soda-Frybread also got a package of Tastykakes to complete the quintessential Philly meal.

Soda-Frybread's Cheesesteak:




The cheesesteaks at Jim's are juicy and flavorful. I'll allow that Jim's steaks are kind of greasy, but this is a cheesesteak, not a soy burger. The onions are cooked till they are tender and sweet, and the salt of the Cheez Whiz compliments them. I've had the cheesesteaks with provolone cheese, which are good but have a heavier cheese flavor. I washed down the salty, greasy, cheesy goodness with a Dr. Brown's Cream Soda. If it's available, get the Pennsylvania Dutch Birch Beer.

The Cheesesteak aftermath:



I always suggest eating in the upstairs dining area, which gives you a panoramic view of South Street. Seating is limited so you may need to make new friends in order to get a seat. If you snag a spot by the window you can enjoy your meal while watching the on going scene on the street below.


View from Jim's:




Jim's is well worth the trip into center city, the fight for parking, and the long wait. According to Soda-Frybread, it's even worth a cross continental flight!

Lickity Split: Home of the best lunch bargain on South Street.

Three things I love: Good food, booze, and a bargian. When all three of these things combine, it makes my inner foodie/alcoholic/cheapskate sing. After a hard day of shopping and body modification on the world famous South Street my traveling companion of the day, ChopStixx and I went in search of lunch. For those of you unfamiliar with South Street, allow me to enlighten you: South Street is a cornucopia of eateries and shops. You can choose from middle eastern, vegan, French, bar fare, Thai, kosher, sushi, etc all within a few block's span. Lunch is easy to find. Picking one place...that's where it gets tough. We strolled for a few blocks, not finding anything that really called out to us. Then we spied a sign hanging outside of Lickity Split that would live in infamy:





16oz of Pabst Blue Ribbon, shot of Power's whiskey, and a slice of pizza for $5? Oh, talk dirty to me.

In the upstairs bar our friendly bartender took our orders and set out our drinks for us as our pizza warmed in the kitchen. The second floor bar affords you a nice view of South Street, and across the street into Jim's Steaks. This is prime people watching, if you're into it. ChopStixx and I overfed the digital jukebox before getting down to the very serious business of getting drunk during the mid afternoon. With a happy little dance, we found that the jukebox contained Dropkick Murphy's, Flogging Molly, and Queens of the Stone age. Rock out with your PBR out!



I admit, I was hesitant. I figured if nothing else, the pizza slice would be puny and tasteless. After all, once you're half loaded on cheap whiskey and beer your taste buds have usually ceased proper function anyway. Au contraire, my sweet. Imagine my shock and delight as our bartender rolled out of the kitchen toting this:



Quite possibly the biggest slice of pizza I've ever seen. Tastey too! Despite being half in the bag at this point, I will make two complaints about the pizza: The sauce needed a little more oomph and the cheese was lackluster. However the crust was solid, and the sauce carried enough flavor that an extra sprinkling of garlic salt and hot peppers brought the flavor out nicely. But the portions were gigantic, and it satisfied a mean hunger.


For less than the cost of a value meal at Mc.D's, we satisfied our hunger, got drunk, and had a bar side sing along. Sweet!

To Lickity Split, we dub thee the finest lunch deal in all of South Street!

ChopStixx tested, Fox approved!