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One Bell for Farmers’ Cabinet
Posted by Foobooz on June 13th, 2011
Craig LaBan reviews The Farmers’ Cabinet and although he thoroughly enjoys the liquid part of the menu, the food leaves him puzzled and asking a ton of questions.
It’s as if the ghosts of A.C.’s Prohibition boss “Nucky” Johnson and legendary beer writer Michael Jackson have been summoned to the bar for a drink.If they had to eat, though, I think even they might protest – especially when they got the steep bill for game entrées that tasted like cooking-school experiments run amok in fruity jams and lambic beer glazes. Scrawny squab slathered in blackberry jam for $28? Or deep-fried quail, whose delicate crust was soggy with onion jam and drizzles of wild-cherry Kriek molasses? The maraschino cherry liqueur that lacquered the chewy $26 rabbit like a Peking duck was only half the problem. The sides of white chocolate-carrot puree and polenta creamed with Greek yogurt and cherries gave it an identity crisis – dinner? breakfast? dessert? – that was all-around disconcerting.
One Bell – Hit or Miss
The Farmers’ Cabinet [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Sacrificial Dance Cocktail [Philadelphia Inquirer
The Farmers' Cabinet [Official Site]
Farmers' Cabinet
1113 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Related Tags: American, Beer, Center-City-East, Cocktails, Craig LaBan, European, Farmers' Cabinet, Reviewed
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June 13th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
This does not surprise me at all. I was there Friday night for a “second chance” meal, as our first go-round with the Farmer’s Cabinet was so-so. I was truly disappointed.
June 13th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
This place stinks of bad karma.
June 13th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
I’ve visited a couple times and the staff was so condescending (some beer geek without social awareness) that I feel like karma is exactly what’s happenning here.
June 13th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Thank goodness this place is finally get a real review. I’m appalled by all these overwhelmingly positive Yelp reviews that have been blinded by FC’s decor more than what they actually offer: mediocre, overpriced food served with a healthy heap of patronizing naivete. I went during its first week, contemplating a return after a couple months to get their growing pains out of the way. LaBan’s review has thankfully saved me at least $100…
June 13th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Wholeheartedly agree with CLB’s review this time. The food here is lackluster, the same as it was at F & B up in east falls.
June 13th, 2011 at 9:48 pm
Agreed that this is not a surprise-
I actually had to send back 2 dishes the night that i visited farmers cabinet.
I was considering giving it a second chance meal like Alexa, but after this- no dice.
June 14th, 2011 at 12:37 am
“this is what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass”
June 14th, 2011 at 7:05 am
Nice Lebowski reference, but it seems like this bunch has fucked a lot of employees and landlords, not strangers. Unless you count as strangers unhappy customers paying huge tabs for mediocre food. Karma, baby, karma.
I wasn’t aware until reading the reveiw that they’d already lost their opening chef – you’ve got to wonder, in what manner did they manage to screw him?
June 14th, 2011 at 7:42 am
Who cares the beer list is amazing.
June 14th, 2011 at 9:37 am
Then maybe they should focus on opening a BAR next time, not a restaurant. If you open a restaurant, we’re going to judge you by your food. If no one wants to eat there, they’ll never survive. Oh wait – that’s what everyone predicted in the first place.
June 15th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
You are all jealous they will not serve your crappy local beers.
June 15th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
If you were anything less than a total idiot, you’d realize that NONE of this has ANYTHING to do with the beer they serve. Exactly the opposite, actually – the only nice things said here were about the beer. But don’t let reality stop you from playing the fool.
June 16th, 2011 at 11:34 am
Just like F & B lasted is probably how long you will be open. Pretensious staff, crappy food and weird music along with shaddy owners who are constantly getting sued sounds like a winning formula to me.
June 16th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Don’t talk shit you know nothing about “willie”. Craig LaBon has his heads so far up Starr’s ass he couldn’t give a true review, if he wiped the shit out of his eyes. Starr already said on TV piss on the little guy. What’s wrong afraid of a little competition. I guarantee Talula’s Garden gets 4 bells, for a place that’s OK at best and nice job on “F”ing the franford beer hall up too, but im sure plastic forks will get 3 bells, LaBan has such class.
June 16th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
Pictures (apologies – not the best quality by candle-light) of the dishes if you’re curious and get our experience of going here over the last 3 months.
Steampunk Style! Steamtable Flavor? The Farmer’s Cabinet in Pictures
http://cephood.blogspot.com/2011/06/steampunk-style-steamtable-flavor.html
June 17th, 2011 at 4:02 am
LOL – WTF does any of this have to do with Starr? Off your meds, Matt? BTW, if you read around this blog at all, you’ll see from my comments that I’m definitely no fan of Starr, so you my friend are the one talking out of your ass.
Just because Laban’s head is up Starr’s ass doesn’t mean he can’t give an accurate review of a place that isn’t owned by Starr. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. He nailed this one.
Oh wait – Matt? That wouldn’t happen to be Swartz, would it? Haha – you’re going down, sorry you can’t manage to keep a place open for more than a year.
June 17th, 2011 at 10:12 am
Hey “Willie”,
People would take you more seriously if you used your actual name an not another fake one like you’ve done on the F&B articles and Yelp. Shouldn’t you be focusing your efforts on finding a job so you can actually contribute to your household?
June 17th, 2011 at 11:28 am
Wow, I must have hit a raw nerve with you Swartz’s!
Ok, #1 – the supreme ridiculousness of (incorrectly) calling me out for using a (not) fake name while you yourself post as “anon” is just beyond discussion. Sorry, not going to post my full name but I assure you my first name is Wilson, aka Willie.
#2: I don’t have a Yelp account and never have. I also have never posted any comments about F&B or Farmers Cabinet anywhere else but here.
#3: I have a job. I’m not one of the ex-F&Bers that you guys screwed royally, I just happen to know what went down and I take their side on this matter.
#4: If you don’t like any of what I’ve said here, or above, too damn bad!
June 17th, 2011 at 11:34 am
LOL I love the obvious shill posts. Especially from “Anon” yelling at Willie for not using his real name. Ahh the irony.
In any case, every single review I’ve read about this place, and everyone I’ve talked to who has been here, has been absolutely consistent with LaBan’s review. It’s unfortunate, but that’s just how it is. Willie is dead-on, and that’s true whether he’s using his real name or not. Those ad hominem attacks just make you look silly.
June 17th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
I eat dog mess.