Center-City-East

More Details on Talula’s Daily

Posted by Sam Bloch on May 23rd, 2013

Back in September we reported that Talula’s Garden expanding with Talula’s Daily. Then in April we snapped a photo of the construction site and gathered a few more details. And now we have a little bit more info, as reported by Philly.com. Talula’s Daily will open in mid-July as the less-expensive, more relaxed version of Talulas’ Garden. Talula’s Table sous chef Scott Megill will take the helm at the new restaurant, which will offer sit down options as well as on-the-go sandwiches, cheeses, and pastries. The hours for the 22 grocery will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Then, after 7 p.m. the restaurant will serve a $50 four-course menu that will change each month, highlighted by a cheese cart that will roam the restaurant.

Talula’s Table expanding on Washington Square [The Insider]

Adam Erace Reviews Brü Craft & Wurst

Posted by Sam Bloch on May 20th, 2013

bru-mixed-meats-wurst-plate

Adam Erace goes with the mixed meats and wurst platter at Brü Craft & Wurst for $48, and enjoys almost all the kitchen has to offer.

Like I nearly did under the onslaught of food. Gose in hand (tepid, with a sputtering fizz), the Drury Street breeze fanning me like a boxer’s cornerman, I prepared for the arrival of the hulking $48 mixed-meats-&-wursts platter, which [chef Matt] Buehler describes as “basically the whole menu.” The carnivore carnival sees a dam of pointy, crispy, skin-on fries, the juicy, edgy, whey-fermented kraut (whose secret accelerator I’m stealing for home) and potato-apple latkes constructed for a slew of proteins. There were sausages both housemade (fresh pork greened with marjoram and chive, liverwurst) and from seminal Fox Chase butcher Reiker’s (veal-and-pork weisswurst, a smoky Hungarian-style link), plus pork meatballs, falling-apart braised bacon blocks, curls of pink Westphalian ham and a slab of melting braised pork rib whose tangy glaze was inspired by, according to Buehler, Chinese sweet-and-sour sauce. Not hardcore like Brauhaus, indeed.

But don’t let Buehler’s self-deprecation fool you. This veteran of Striped Bass, Oceanaire, Kraftwork and Bar Ferdinand has sunk more care and energy into this menu that he probably needs to. Those French fries? Brü would be within its rights to use frozen. They don’t, and they’re some of the best in town. The lightly funky liverwurst, poached like a terrine, sliced and seared until dark and crunchy, brought to mind a more finessed scrapple, veined with ground bacon and pork liver.

Brü, Brö [City Paper]
Brü Craft & Wurst [Official Site]

Bad Movie Monday at Milkboy

Posted by Sam Bloch on May 20th, 2013

Milkboy Philadelphia will be screening Big Trouble in Little China this Monday, May 20, as part of its Bad Movie Monday series. Big Trouble is one of those classic 1980′s movies that is so bad that it is actually great (or at least that’s what Jason Sheehan says). Milkboy will be offering drink specials and its usual dinner menu in conjunction with the free screening. Doors open at 8 p.m. for the 8:30 p.m. start time.

Check out the trailer for Big Trouble in Little China here.

Milkboy [Official Site]

Strangelove’s Adds Lunch

Posted by Foobooz on May 13th, 2013

Purveyors of Fine Craft Beer - The new bar opens Tuesday, April 23.

Starting today, Strangelove’s on 11th Street between Locust and Walnut Streets is serving lunch. The beer bar will be offering its full menu now from 11:30 a.m. to midnight, daily.

Strangelove’s [Official Site]

The Sidewalk at Green Eggs Cafe Is Currently Dug Up and New Pipes Await

Posted by Foobooz on May 10th, 2013

After this week’s rat-astrophy at Center City’s Green Eggs Cafe, the popular bruncherie has been closed. Here’s a look at the work currently being done to address the rat problem.

Sweet Box Opens Brick and Mortar Shop Tomorrow on 13th Street

Posted by Foobooz on May 10th, 2013

sweet-box-shop-window

Gretchen Fantini started selling her cupcakes at Piazza at Schmidt’s farmers’ market. Then came the Sweet Box Cupcake Truck and now she’s opening Sweet Box Shop at 339 South 13th Street (between Pine and Spruce Streets).

The grand opening of the storefront is tomorrow, Saturday May 11th at 11 a.m. Fantini and her staff will be handing out mini-cupcakes and mimosas through 2 p.m.

There are now TWO ways to satiate your cupcake cravings, follow the Sweet Box Cupcake Truck or visit the new Sweet Box Shop at 339 South 13^th Street (on 13^th between Pine and Panama Streets).

The shop will stock the following cupcakes:

Red Velvet
Snickerdoodle
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip
Bacon Maple Pancake
Chocolate Ganache
Strawberries and Champagne

Cupcakes are $3.50 each and the storefront will also sell icebox desserts, cakes and custom creations.

The Sweet Box Shop details »

IndeBlue on 13th Street Sets an Opening Date

Posted by Foobooz on May 7th, 2013

The long anticipated Midtown Village outpost of IndeBlue, the popular Indian BYOB in Collingswood now has an opening date. A sign in the window promises a June 1st opening.

unlike the New Jersey location in dry Collingswood, the Center City location of IndeBlue will have a full bar, It’s also a sizeably larger operation, as IndeBlue’s L-shaped building wraps around neighboring Bridals by Danielle.

indeBlue [Official Site]

165-Seat Restaurant Sneaking into Center City

Posted by Foobooz on May 6th, 2013

Full Size Drawing

Eimer Design recently sent us a note that they are designing the forthcoming Good Stuff Eatery by Spike Mendelsohn. And that’s cool and all but what really struck our fancy was the Center City restaurant drawing they have on their site. It’s a 163-seat restaurant that is inspired by a classic 1920’s Americana diner.

What’s bothering us though is we don’t know where it is going or who is running it. And it is hard to sneak a 165-seat restaurant into town. Could it be the rumored PJ Clarke’s at Broad and Spruce? Perhaps a hotel-related project?

Have any guesses or inside information? Leave a note in the comments or annotate the image above.

Red Owl Tavern Stumbles Out of the Gate

Posted by Foobooz on April 29th, 2013

red-owl-charcuterie-courtney-apple

Red Owl Tavern couldn’t put it all together for Trey Popp as the restaurant in the Hotel Monaco was the definition of hit-or-miss.

Such was the pattern: a few things to like in a dish, and then something else that marred it. Luscious house-made pastrami sandwiched in flaccid “grilled naan” without char. Exquisitely cooked sheepshead snapper over an underseasoned cassoulet. A dynamite linguica sausage—arranged on awkwardly oversized toast bites. A deep liquor list but completely forgettable cocktails. Even the beet pasta I loved at Square 1682 was gummy here. And service was a roll of the dice: swift and candid one night, clueless and interminable another.

One Star – Fair

Philadelphia Restaurant Review: Culinary Fumbles at Red Owl Tavern [Philadelphia magazine]
Red Owl Tavern [Official Site]

Photo by Courtney Apple

Photo Tour of Strangelove’s

Posted by Foobooz on April 22nd, 2013

Strange Love tops the bar.

Strangelove’s is set to open tomorrow, April 23rd. Yesterday we were invited to check out the two-floored space from the team that has brought us Memphis Taproom, Local 44 and Resurrection Ale House. The new space is their most ambitious yet, with 22-taps and a menu that will appeal to vegans and meat eaters alike. Brendan Hartranft promises a beer list that will always be worth a trip and judging by what was coming out of chef Paul Martin’s kitchen, there will be worthwhile food to pair with those beers. We tried the oh-so-buttery O. Redenbacher’s chili dusted popcorn and rueben croquettes that featured a Russian dressing that was distractingly good. We also downed a roasted turkey grinder with muffaletta spread that truly satisfied and finished it off with a lemon icebox cream pie, that we kept eating despite being way too full.

The grand opening kicks off at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, with complementary bites from the menu and a really impressive opening tap list.

Check out our tour of Strangelove’s »

« Previous Entries

Neighborhoods

Features

Recent Comments

Foobooz Jobs

Tip Jar

Opening Soon

Upcoming Events

Categories

Archives

Masthead

Fun Things To Do in Philly

Subscribe