Sunday, June 30, 2013

Five Guys Review

In just the past decade, Five Guys has expanded all along the East Coast. Offering delicious burgers in a 'fast casual' atmosphere, Five Guys delivers on price and taste. We're not talking about gourmet burgers here, so set your standards on medium, and you'll be perfectly satisfied.


There are three locations in Philly and after a recent happy hour, the GF and I stopped by the main Center City location for some takeout. 


After putting in your order, feel free to feast on some salted roasted peanuts. A nice way to satiate or whet your appetite while you wait and drool as your burger and fries are made to order. 


Little Cheeseburger ($4.69)
Mayo, lettuce, pickle, tomato, grilled onion, mushrooms, ketchup, jalapeno, green peppers


The little burgers are perfectly primed to fill you up. If you like, feel free to opt for the 'big' burgers, which are essentially two patties. But honestly, the little burgers get the job done. I prefer my burgers medium-rare, but these are cooked well-done. And guess what? That's totally fine with me. The burger blend used at Five Guys is 80/20 chuck. So there's no problem maintaining a juicy patty. The toppings at Five Guys are free - with the exception of bacon and cheese - so I load up! The spiciness of the jalapeno, the heartiness of the mushrooms and onions, and the freshness of the veggies meld well to create a satisfying bite every time.

Large Fries ($4.99)


These spuds are cooked in 100% peanut oil. Better yet, they're almost always fresh and cooked to order. Pro tip: Ask for them unsalted (which is how I prefer them) - they're pretty much guaranteed to start up a fresh new batch of fries, which will pretty fill your entire bag. Perfectly creamy, nicely crispy - these are the real deal.

Five Guys isn't the healthiest meal out there. But if you're looking for a burger and some fries that hit the spot every time, don't hesitate to check out Five Guys.

Five Guys
1527 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 972-1375
www.fiveguys.com

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Kite and Key Review

On a recent trip to the Whole Foods on Callowhill, the GF and I stopped by Kite and Key for brunch. While Sabrina's is right around the corner, the huge lines are always a bother (unless you know how the proper protocol - wink, wink) and it's nice to know you still have a nice meal at this pub.


Fried Pickles ($6)
Chipotle dipping sauce


We started off with the 'frickles' and were surprised when they came out so huge! The ones I've previously tried at other places are usually thinly sliced and crisp like potato chips. But these were 
great in their own right.


The crisply fried batter provided a nice heft that wasn't the least bit greasy, with the pickles adding an expected vinegary tang. The chipotle dipping sauce was on point with a bit of smoky heat that didn't linger. In fact, I caught myself dipping my fork in the sauce. Sorry I'm not sorry! 

Mixed Greens Salad with Chicken ($11.50)
Mixed greens, granny smith apples, goat cheese, roasted shallot & balsamic vinaigrette


The GF's salad was fresh and vibrant. The greens were well-dressed with a light vinaigrette. The grilled chicken was juicy and moist, with the tangy goat cheese and the julienned apples brightening up the dish. 

Kite and Key Burger ($10.75)
1/2 pound ground Angus beef, cheddar cheese, bacon, fried shoestring onions, toasted brioche, fries


I requested the burger medium-rare and unfortunately, it came a bit over medium. Still, having previously had the burger here, I knew it would be well-seasoned enough that the patty would still be delicious. 


The crisply fried bacon, the non-greasy, perfectly fried onions, and the abundant cheddar helped to added heft to the burger. The brioche housed the burger well despite the number of ingredients. The accompanying fries were lightly salted, thin, and crispy.


So if you're by Callowhill and were planning on heading to Sabrina's, don't hesitate to consider Kite and Key for brunch. And of course, if you're looking for some drinks and snacks at night, they've got you covered there as well! 


Saturday, June 22, 2013

Shady Maple Smorgasbord Breakfast Review

If you're looking for an assortment of Pennsylvania Dutch cooking - a smorgasbord if you will - look no further than the 200 feet of quality cooking featured at Shady Maple Smorgasbord. Located in East Earl, PA, it's 45 minutes outside of Center City. Still, the quality, quantity, and assortment of dishes can't be beat at this buffet. More importantly, the prices really can't be beat. They vary depending on the time and day, but on a Saturday before 10AM - we're talking about $11.75 per person, inclusive of tax and tip. That's insane!


If you don't get there early, be prepared to wait on line. Lucky for us, we arrived around 9AM so there wasn't much of a line. Yea that's right. This guy wakes up at the crack of dawn to drive outside of Philly for some quality grub.


This was the line when we came out - a little before noon. 


We went with a group of 9 so got the VIP treatment. You're able to get a table in the banquet room, which is reserved for larger groups. Pro tip: The lines are much shorter for large groups as well!


The layout is basically stations upon stations of dishes that are turned over at an incredible rate.


Crisp bacon? Country Ham? Scrapple? Don't mind if I do. 


Sausage anyone?


Heck - they've even got mush - literally!


The GF was happy with the dessert options, to be sure. She was giddy with joy upon seeing the wide variety of donuts!


Whoopie pies? Regular pies? 


If you're into cleaner eating - they've got a variety of fruit for you to indulge in.


How about some close ups - starting with my first plate.


After which I descended upon the pancake station.


Chocolate chip pancakes anyone?


Next up - the egg station, where I opted for the spinach florentine.


Check out that artery clogging hollandaise.


This was all mopped up with what I like to call my 'meat plate.'


And a biscuit or two. 


After which, I indulged in a cookies and cream donut. 


Along with a red velvet whoopie pie. 


Annnnd a boston cream donut.


Shady Maple Smorgasbord offers Turkey Hill ice cream as a palate cleanser of sorts.


Or if you need a pick me up, they've got cappuccino machines! 


Or if slushies are your thing - they've got that as well.
 

I ended my meal with some cookies and cream ice cream and a smile on my face.
 

If you're looking for delicious eats, a wide variety of options, and an incredibly affordable price, look no further than Shady Maple Smorgasbord. I definitely need to head back on a Wednesday night - they offer all you can eat prime rib!


Shady Maple Smorgasbord on Urbanspoon
http://www.shady-maple.com/smorgasbord/

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Bread Top House Review

If you're looking for affordable, yet delicious baked goods, look no further than Chinatown. This section of Philly is home to numerous Chinese bakeries which offer the ubiquitous BBQ roast pork buns, among others. Bread Top House is one of the ones that gets it right.


Don't be alarmed by the Chinese lettering. Most items, if not all, are written in English as well.


Just grab a tong and get to picking and choosing between all the goodies. 


And talk about affordable! I got all of these for $5.55!


Egg Custard Tart 


The egg custard tart was interesting, the innards were subtly sweet with a crispy crust.

Curry Chicken Bun 
 

I've always enjoyed the curry buns at Korean bakeries like Koryodang which are admittedly infinitely better. But those outposts are limited to NY and NJ. The curry buns here are decent, with a small mix of onions, potatoes, and small bits of curried chicken amidst a soft bun.


Roast Pork Bun


But really, we're here for the sweet BBQ roast pork buns, which are good here. The roast pork isn't plentiful, but the mix of onions and sweet pork leave you wanting more. Guess the solution is to get two or three of these, especially at these cheap prices. I got two on this trip.

Raisin Twist
 

The dough on the raisin twist is subtly sweet and eggy, with nuggets of raisins interspersed throughout. 

Pineapple Custard Bun
 

The dough is airy and the pineapple custard is not overly saccharine. 


Sesame Red Bean Ball


The outside contains fragrant, toasted sesame seeds, the middle is glutinously delicious, and the innards consist of a sweet red bean paste. One of my favorites.


I still can't get over how cheap it was for all seven of these baked goods. If you're feeling adventurous and have a few dollars on hand, don't hesitate to step into Bread Top House to try some Chinese pastries.