Foodie Finds: My Favorites

"Foodie (sometimes spelled foody) is an informal term for a particular class of aficionado of food and drink. The word was coined in 1981 by Paul Levy and Ann Barr, who used it in the title of their 1984 book The Official Foodie Handbook" (c/o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foodie).

I am a self-proclaimed foodie, which means I've tried a ton of eateries, diners, and restaurants. A few of these neighborhood gems have stuck out as my faves.  Although I am no food critic, I thought it would be a fun idea to do some honorable mentions, that way if you are looking to try something new, you would have at least one recommendation handy! 

Disclaimer: I can't guarantee you'll love it, but I can tell you, it takes quite a lot to make an impression on my palate!

A Stick to Your Ribs Breakfast:
Dutch Eating Place in Reading Terminal
Green Eggs Café in Northern Liberties: I tried the one downtown, and trust me, this one is better! The portions are consistent, and the food is always fresh and tasty!
Sabrina's Cafe in South Philly: The day I went, they had the most amazing pumpkin pancake special!

Best Brunch on a Lazy Sunday:
Max Brenner's Chocolate by the Bald Man in Center City: Oh and by the way, their cocktails are as whimsical as they are delicious!
Bourbon Blue on Main Street, Manayunk

A Great Place for a Quick Lunch:
Marathon Grill (Sansom St & University City locations)

Best Calamari in the City:
Toss-Up between Manayunk Brewery Company on Main Street (delicately fried, crispy, and delicious) & Bar Ferdinand (a grilled tubule filled with delicious crabmeat) in Northern Liberties

Cheap Bar Food at its Best:
The Bayou Bar & Grill on Main Street: they have crazy specials almost every night like $.25 wings Monday & Tuesday!

A (Gentle) Touch of Class:
McCormick & Schmidt's in Center City
Phillip's Seafood in Center City

Higher End: if you ain't got it (if you don't know what it is...you definitely ain't got it...lol), wait 'til Restaurant Week.  It will be just as lovely, but a fraction of the hit on your pockets.
Le Bec Fin in Center City
The Prime Rib in Center City
XIX in Center City: I must admit, the food was not as spectacular as I would have thought, but a few things were quite good, and the atmosphere is almost worth the entire experience.


A Delicious Steak:
McCormick & Schmidt's in Center City: Surprised? I know, you thought I would say Ruth Chris, right? Well actually, their steak was nothing special, and my boyfriend has definitely fried up better.  But as far as a steak that we were both equally impressed with, this restaurant definitely fit the bill.

Slamming Sushi:
Fuji Mountain on Chestnut St: Nice fresh flavors, but can get expensive.
Mixx Asian Bistro (my favorite, period): Now, I have tried many sushi restaurants and locations, in a plethora of locations throughout this city.  This place still remains to be the holy grail in sushi.  Every single time, and I mean every single time, I take a friend here, they become just as obsessed with this place as I am.  And the sushi is soooooo affordable!
Zento in Old City: Now, I must admit, Mixx doesn't have much for decor. Zento is a quaint little spot that has pretty decent sushi.  I enjoyed my meal there, and would not mind venturing back if I am in that area of the city.

Mountains of Delicious Meat:
Chima Brazilian Steakhouse in Center City

Great Ice Cream:
Bassetts Ice Cream in The Reading Terminal

The Greatest Ice Cream...Period:
The Franklin Fountain in Old City

A Good Slice:
SoHo Pizza in Old City (website unavailable)

An Amazing Cheesesteak:
Dalessandro's in Manayunk: Do yourself a favor, just go try it, and tell me it's not the most delicious cheesesteak you ever had!
Max's Steaks on Erie: A very necessary trip to the "'hood".

Swanky Relaxation & Yummy Cocktails:
Vango in Center City
The Continental (both locations)

A Perfect Martini:
Dock's Oyster House in Atlantic City: I know this is the martini category, but I must admit, this is currently MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT! My boyfriend has been a chef for almost 15 years, and I think he might actually agree that this place has the freshest, most delicious, seafood in this area!

The Only 24-Hour Happy Hour I've Ever Heard Of:
Wild Wild West Casino in Atlantic City

I would love to hear if you checked any of these places out, and what you thought!