Philadelphia is one of those cities that I never got around to visiting back when I lived in Boston and New York. Frankly, the idea of a Philly cheesesteak never appealed to me.
Early in June, I attended a workshop in the city of Brotherly Love. Catching wind of a recent NYT article boasting about Philly’s newfound gastronomical charms, I was excited to find out what the city had to offer beyond the purview of greasy steak subs.
Dinner @ Cuba Libre
My first meal was a Smörgåsbord of Cuban inspired tapas in the faux indoor courtyard at Cuba Libre. The place was packed but the accommodating staff made way for our massive party without flinching. Quite a nice surprise.
The bad news first. Despite an extensive menu of mojitos in all flavors, the libations we ordered were watery and overpriced. As for the food, my friend Jen and I ordered a combination of small dishes to share. We mixed up fried plantains and empanadas with plates of fresh seafood, and in conclusion los mariscos won our favor.
Fried Plantains - thick and dry
Caged Shrimp Empanada - tasty but too heavy to finish
Tuna Ceviche - our favorite hands down!
Marinated Octopus - delicious!
I wasn’t surprised to find out after the fact that Cuba Libre is an East Coast franchise, as the TGIF quality drinks were a dead give away.
Dinner @ Mercato
Next I tried an early dinner at Mercato in one of Philly’s gentrified hotspot neighborhoods. The obvious appeal of an intimate candlelit open-air BYOB restaurant was enough to make me happy off the bat. Good company and a lovely menu completed my sense of satisfaction. The only thing that stung was the bill.
We indulged in one of Mercato’s cheese plates and a large and luscious grilled artichoke for starters. Although the latter cost a whopping $12, it was arguably worth it. We loved every bite and agreed that we’d all happily come back for another artichoke anytime. The next course, I’m sorry to say, didn’t live up to its pricetag.
My secondi featured a tender short rib served over fluffy ricotta gnocchi in a rich tomato-based sauce. All the makings of a delicious meal no doubt. But the fact that the dish cost upwards of twenty dollars was too shocking to get past. Let’s face it, Philly is not Manhattan, no matter how many New Yorkers commute there. Yet there I was paying Big Apple prices in the city of cheesesteaks. For shame.
Dinner @ Supper
Our last supper was at this aptly named eatery across the street from a bustling Whole Foods market in an otherwise quite nook of the city. The menu was set by our hosts, who gave us nothing to complain about, as their selections were fantastic.
The starter was a carrot and orange soup with…drumroll…cardomom marshmallow! I know it sounds odd, but it was goood. Burnt, sweet and slightly gooey, the candy coated spoonfuls of beta-carotene rich soup somehow made sense in my mouth.
My neighbor opted for the beef brisket au jus over creamy grits. A wise choice.
I went for the perfectly cooked salmon on a bed of wilted spinach, with salmon roe and sunchoke hash and lemon jam. I devoured it. The slightly sour tang of the jam was a perfect compliment to the rich buttery salmon and roe.
Finally, dessert was a delight. Banana bread pudding with praline ice cream and nutella. Need I say more? Though, I probably didn’t need to finish it all on my own.
Three dinners later I feel like Philly has a range of warm and creative restaurant options for a passerby foodie to give a go. Quite frankly, I don’t know how the locals can afford to eat out. It’s no wonder the supermarket was buzzing with customers.
