Cavanaugh's: Rittenhouse Review

The GF and I tried Cavanaugh's mac n cheese at the Rittenhouse Row Festival last year. Unfortunately, we weren't impressed - it tasted more like roux than anything else. Perhaps it was the fact that they were serving hundreds of people that day, but the execution wasn't there. So in an effort to be fair, we decided to give Cavanaugh's another shot via Seamless.

South Philly Cheese Steak [$8.99]

 

Before we get to the mac n cheese again, I decided to get their iteration on a cheese steak. The steak here is more like minced beef, which had decent flavor. The bits of red pepper were nice. But where was the cheese? It was virtually or literally non-existent. The roll was also a bit too much for each bite to showcase the steak. The "cheese steak" also came with fries on the side which were unfortunately not very crisp, perhaps due delivery. 

Spicy Chicken Ranch Wrap [$8.99]
 

The GF went with the spicy chicken ranch wrap. There were hot peppers and jalapeno (with seeds still intact) to add spiciness to the moist chicken. There were also fresh veggies within to cool off the heat. However, there was no ranch to be had here, which would have been another nice element to balance the heat.

Buffalo Wings [$3]
 

Any bar that serves food can be measured by their wings. While an order of 5 was only $3 for takeout, these wings were dry and hey - no blue cheese? Perhaps delivery really wasn't the way to go.

Onion Rings [$3.99]
 

Now the onion rings were a different story. Though slightly greasy, these had great crunch that was maintained through delivery and the batter was well-seasoned. They also seemed homemade, which was definitely appreciated. 

Mac n Cheese [$5.99]
 

And we're back to the mac n cheese. While this was a bit better than at the Rittenhouse Row Festival, it still needed more flavor - seasoning and a different mix of cheese perhaps? It did come with a cheesy top though ...

The GF and I have been to Cavanaugh's for some drinks with friends and had a decent time. But as for the food? Get the onion rings.

 
www.cavsrittenhouse.com 

Pizzeria Vetri Review [2]

This is for a series of posts for the Vetri family of restaurants including: Pizzeria Vetri [1], Pizzeria Vetri [2], Pizzeria Vetri [3], Alla Spina, Amis, Vetri Ristorante [1], and Vetri Ristorante [2].   

Living right above Pizzeria Vetri, I can't help but stop by every 2 weeks to get a few pies. They're just that good. And who better to make the pies than James Beard award winners (and nominees, once again!). And despite Alan Richman's laughable list of the 10 best cheesesteaks in Philly, Pizzeria Vetri did make his list of top 25 new restaurants in America - so he has that going for him at least.

In any case, that was enough justification to stop by Pizzeria Vetri again when the GF's parents came to visit. We ordered 4 pies and some pizza dough to take care of some hunger pangs. How long does it take Pizzeria Vetri's high-powered Renato oven to cook four of these pizzas? Less than 10 minutes!

Renato [$12]
Mozzarella, rosemary, olive oil, sea salt
 

My new favorite pie at Pizzeria Vetri? Its easily the one named after their oven. Inexplicably crispy, the creamy mozzarella is perfectly accentuated by the sea salt and the rosemary. This pie is so thin it's almost like eating fried, crispy cheese. Delicious.

Quattro Formaggi [$14]
Gorgonzola, mozzarella, smoked provolone, fontina 
  

The four cheese offers great layers of flavor with the smokiness of the provolone coming through the creaminess of the mozzarella and fontina. And over the top is the gorgonzola, which offers a slight funk that is highlighted nicely. 

Salsiccia [$16]
Fennel sausage, roasted fennel, tomato, mozzarella
  

While it's clear the fennel sausage is homemade, there wasn't much of it on this pie. Surprisingly, the flavors do come through on each bite, with the fennel adding sweet, grassy notes that balance out the heft of the sausage.

Melanzana [$14]
Crushed San Marzano, eggplant, stracciatella, oregano
  

We also had the GF's clear favorite - the melanzana. The unctuousness of the roasted eggplant is heightened by the creamy saltiness of the stracciatella, with the crushed San Marznano adding bright, tangy notes.

Fried Dough [$4]
Citrus fennel sugar 

As a sweet note, we decided to get an order of the fried dough - easily the biggest bang for your buck. The fried dough is insanely addictive, with the citrus fennel sugar coming through. This is not a greasy dessert at all and offers a great chew. Do get this. 

Pizzeria Vetri continues to be one of my favorite pizza places in Philly. It certainly doesn't hurt that it's right underneath me. If you haven't had a chance to stop by, be sure to stop in, grab a seat at the counter, and watch your food in action!

pizzeriavetri.com   

Golden Empress Garden Review

It's been awhile since the GF and I have had Americanized Chinese takeout so after a run, we decided to order in from Golden Empress Garden via Grubhub. Not to be confused with Empress Garden on 10th Street, this is the "golden" version on 5th.

Egg Roll [$1.25]

Since our order was at least $15, Empress Garden included a pair of egg rolls gratis (not just one - score!). The egg rolls were crispy and laden with shredded, braised cabbage and bits of roast pork too.

Chinese Pickled Salad [Complimentary]

With orders over $30, Golden Empress Garden tosses in a complimentary chinese pickled salad, which is essentially a non-spicy Kimchi cabbage salad. It had some vinegary tang and was a nice complement to the 'grease' of some of the other dishes.

Crab Rangoon [$3.75]

Crab rangoon at American Chinese takeout places are pretty commonplace. A somewhat thick wonton wrapper with cream cheese and artificial crab innards - this was a fairly standard iteration, yet still hit the spot. This is nothing fancy, but paired with the sweet and sour dipping sauce, it provided a satisfying bite. No shame here!

Chicken Lo Mein [$6.50]

The GF was itching for some lo mein and this was a decent interation. The noodles were lusciously coated with the salty brown sauce and the chicken chunks were juicy. Sometimes you just need the greasy, salty goodness that Chinese takeout can offer.

String Beans with Garlic Sauce [$6.95]

The string beans were unfortunately a bit over and thus, chewy. This was also drenched in sauce, with a pooling underneath all the greens.

Sesame Chicken [$9.50]

Of course, the epitome of Americanized Chinese food is General Tso's or sesame chicken. The sesame chicken's sauce was really soupy and the chicken was not crispy, which is what was advertised on the menu. Still, the chicken was incredibly succulent and the broccoli was nicely al dente.

General Tso's Chicken [$9.50]

The General Tso's was similar, but the sauce seemed even more watered down, resulting in a bit of a soggy mess.

Overall though, if you're looking for average Americanized Chinese takeout, Golden Empress Garden has got you covered. Delivery is only $1 and they get the job done for the most part. Nothing wrong with a little grease and salt in your diet every once in awhile. Right? 

http://www.goldenempressgarden.com/

Del Frisco's Steakhouse: Philly Review

Philly is home to quite a few steakhouses. You've got Barclay Prime and Butcher and Singer from Stephen Starr. The chains also have you set with Ruth's Chris and Smith & Wollensky, of which the latter is one of my favorites in NYC. And of course, you've also got Del Frisco's, a "chain" steakhouse that embodies all things power lunch or expense accounts. And regular readers know that, at least in my opinion, higher-end chains like Ruth's Chris and Del Frisco's are nothing to scoff at. If anything they have consistent execution and service down pat.

Philly's outpost for Del Frisco's is cavernous. It all starts with the iron-clad gates that welcome you in. You can venture downstairs and have your meal in a bank vault. 

Or enter straight ahead and enjoy a drink at the bar, with the vaulted ceilings providing a grand atmosphere. 

Or do as the GF and I did and reserve a table upstairs to overlook it all, right next to a spiral staircase filled with hundreds, if not thousands of bottles of wine.

Old Fashioned [$14]
Knob Creek bourbon, muddled cherry, orange, sugar, bitters

I started the meal with an oft-enjoyed cocktail. Can't go wrong with Knob Creek - the orange helped to add some lightness to this well-made drink.

Diet Coke [$4]
 

The GF wasn't feeling a drink that night, so went with a Diet Coke. FYI - this is the type of place that won't invest in fountain soda, for reasons that are financially obvious. Interestingly though, the soda was initially completely flat. No carbonation whatsoever. The server was a bit flummoxed as well, but once we offered her a taste to dispel any disbelief (which she declined), she brought us another which was just fine. Weird.

Bread Service
 

The meal starts off with bread service - crusty, yeasty, and salty sesame bread. Whipped butter was served at room temp, which is always appreciated. The server stopped by to ask if we wanted some more bread, but we decided to save room for what was to come.

Del's Salad [$10]
 

The GF ordered the house salad, which the servers graciously split for us, much to the chagrin of the GF. A thick-cut, crispy piece of bacon sat atop Romaine and field greens, in addition to a melange of cherry tomatoes, carrots, avocado, green onions, and croutons. Ranch dressing was provided as well.

Fried Calamari [$17]
Shanghai style 

This was our second time at Del Frisco's in Philly and we had to order the calamari again. Sweet and crispy, the calamari had a nice bit of head on the end. The mung bean sprouts and pickled jalapeno offered some texture and tang, with the sweetness of the black sesame accenting the delicious sauce. Highly recommended.

8 oz. Filet Mignon [$39]

The GF went with the 8 ounce filet, cooked nicely medium-rare. This is USDA prime beef, though not aged. It had great flavor with a tenderness that's prototypical of the filet. The crust was nicely seasoned and accentuated the beef. Unfortunately, here, they cut into the steak before bringing it to your table. Understandably, they want to get the temperature correct before their patrons dig in, but in my mind, it brings down the experience a bit, especially at these prices.

16 oz. Ribeye [$45]

As expected, I went with the ribeye which was beautifully seasoned on the outside. This USDA prime beef is wet-aged for 16 to 18 days. While I give the nod to Ruth's Chris's ribeye for their superlative crust, this was still quite delicious. The deckle or cap of the steak was gorgeously marbled - clearly my favorite cut on the steak.

Onion Rings [$10]
 

Knowing the belly of this pig, you'd expect me to order a few sides as well. For me, a steakhouse's sides are often measured by their onions rings. Though not as crispy as other steakhouses, these were huge and had a creamy batter - reminiscent of a malt/vinegar fish n chips batter.

Lobster Mac n Cheese [$18]
 

When I see lobster mac n cheese on the menu, it will be ordered. This was creamy and the briny essence of the lobster comes through nicely, with a few chunks of lobster interspersed throughout. The top of the mac n cheese was nicely crispy, offering some texture to each bite. Apologies for the picture, but our server had already spooned a serving to each of our plates.

And with that, our meal was over, with plenty of leftovers for the next day. Other than the flat soda ($4!!), the meal was on point and service was excellent. Though Barclay Prime and Ruth's Chris remain my favorites in Philly, Del Frisco's offers a great meal as well. Not that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's choices for fine dining are anything to consider (they're not), but they did enjoy a meal here when they were last in town.

And about a week later, we received a thank you card from Del Frisco's. 

Certainly a nice touch and definitely appreciated! 

http://delfriscos.com/location/philadelphia/

Hop Sing Laundromat Review

If someone takes the time to travel 33,000 miles to venture into 48 states over the course of  70 days, all for the sake of a bar - you go to that bar. If you see a gaggle of people shivering in 20 degree weather to get past an iron gate in the middle of Chinatown, you get in line. 

And after grabbing dinner with some friends at Dim Sum Garden, that's exactly what we did. Hop Sing Laundromat is proclaimed to be a simple bar by its gregarious, if not eccentric proprietor, Lêe. Yet, it is clearly anything but. In fact, though we were shivering with other soon-to-be patrons, it was clear that we were all excited for what was to come. 

To give you a sense of what to expect in terms of wait times, there was no one in front of the iron gate at 7:30PM. But by 9PM, the line was almost 45 minutes deep. But that's to be expected. Lêe clearly wants you to enjoy the experience - and an experience it is. Though his demeanor seems to be tempered from earlier accounts of his scrutinizing ways, at the very least, be prepared to be in dress shoes. No sneakers or flip flops to be had here.

Courtesy of Yelp & Photo by Robert Neroni Photography

When you're up to bat, Lêe will ask if you've been here before. If the answer's a no, be prepared to let him know how you heard about Hop Sing Laundromat. And once those answers are satisfactory, be prepared to enter into his dominion. You'll lounge in the intimately and dimly decorated waiting area for a bit, replete with shoe shine stand! Lêe will ensure that the rules are understood - no talking on the cell phone or pictures allowed. Why is this you might ask? To protect the privacy of the patrons, of course! And if you really need to take that urgent phone call on a Saturday night? Lêe will direct you back to the waiting area. Once you have that down pat, you'll enter into a uniquely designed studio, filled with candelabras, antique books, paintings, and exposed brick - simply gorgeous. The stacks of booze along the bar - you can't help but gawk a bit.

Note: In deference to Lêe's rules - there are no pictures to be had of the drinks (the credit for the above photo goes to Yelp & Robert Neroni Photography). And really, I can't capture the true essence of these drinks in words so do yourself a favor. Go to Hop Sing Laundromat, wait in line, and enjoy your experience!

Preacher Bourbon [$12]

Elijah Craig 12 year, Lazzaroni Amaretto, Fernet Branca, Absinthe  

A popular libation, the preacher bourbon satisfied my need for American whiskey. One of my favorite 12 years, the Elijah Craig paired beautifully with the amaretto and absinthe to create an almost chocolatey note. The bitters added complexity while the anise flavors helped to bring about a clean finish. Delicious.

 

Boston Healer [$12]
Elijah Craig 12 year, Licor 43, Honey Liquer, Cream, Coffee, Mint

My next tipple was another favorite - the creamy coffee came on the initial attack with the bourbon on the finish. The Licor 43 wasn't as pronounced, but the honey and mint offered refreshing flavors to balance out the coffee and cream. A great pick me up.

Beecher's Bibles [$14]

Elijah Craig 12 year, Licor 43, Grape Fruit Juice, Lime Juice, Egg White

 

If you haven't noticed, Lêe's drinks are an ode to America. Keeping with the bourbon vibe, my third drink of the night was a new addition to the menu and a nod to the Sharps rifles used by anti-slavery immigrants in Kansas. Certainly appropriate since it was a few days before MLK Day. But back to the drink itself! The egg white provided the froth, with the grape fruit and lime juice bringing forth some tartness to balance out the vanilla from the Licor 43.The citrus really comes through on the finish. Not my favorite, but certainly not bad.

Blood and Sand [$14]

Glenlivet 16, Carpano Antica, Cherry Heering, Orange Juice

Some of the other drinks to be had by the group included this aged-Scotch based Blood and Sand, another new addition to the menu. You can't go wrong with 16 year Glenlivet, which brings forth warm spice notes typical with this Scotch. That's tempered by the high-end sweet vermouth, and Cherry Heering - perhaps a nod to the classic Manhattan? The addition of OJ makes the tipple clean and light.

And with that, we're done with the whiskey experience. Let's move on to some of the vodka-based cocktails!

Sicilian Screwdriver [$14]

Double Cross Vodka, Blood Orange

The GF went with this new addition - one of our favorites of the night. Not overly saccharine and slightly tart, this was easy and enjoyable drinking, to be sure. Lêe, who stopped by multiple times to check on us, made sure to inform us that all the juices are fresh-squeezed and it's apparent in this drink. Apparently, blood oranges are especially red this season and this particular drink had a gorgeous dark red tinge. 

Stonewall Riot [$12]

Double Cross Vodka, Green Grape Juice, Orange Juice  

Lêe also made sure to note that you won't find the "cheaper" Grey Goose here. This Double Cross-based drink had fresh green grape and orange juice offering an even lighter and sweeter twist compared to the screwdriver, thanks to the green grape. If you're looking for incredibly easy drinking, look no further.

East Passyunk Yacht Club [$12]

Plymouth Gin, Honey Liquer, Lime, Mint

 
We also tried a gin-based cocktail. This one was sweet from the Honey liquer and tart from the fresh lime juice, with the mint providing a nice herbaceousness to break it all up.

Philly Colada [$14]

Don Q Gran Anejo Rum, El Dorado 151 Rum, Kalani Coconut Liquer, Cream, Pineapple Juice, Lime Juice, Mint

The GF tried this new addition to menu - an obvious ode to an oft enjoyed Caribbean drink. Creamy with coconut on the initial attack, the pineapple and lime really develop on the palate. The 151? As expected, that really hits you later! 

Hotel National [$12]

El Dorado 15 Year Rum, Rothman and Winter Apricot Liquer, Pineapple Juice, Lime Juice 

This particular rum-based drink was slightly tart from the lime and pineapple, with the apricot liquer bringing forth even more saccharine notes..

And from there, the ladies wanted to end with tequila, so that's what we did.

Duke of Funk [$14] 

Casamigos Reposado Tequila, St. Germain Elderflower Liquer, Vida Mezcal, Red Grape Juice, Lime Juice 

The ultra-premium tequila melded beautifully with the bright and fragrant St. Germain. The lime was tart and balanced nicely by the sweet red grape juice and the Vida, which had a nose of fruit aromatics, hints of honey, and vanilla. On the palate, there was some banana as well. Complex, but not harsh in the least.

El Diablo [$12] 

Tres Agaves Tequila Reposado, Creme de Cassis, Lemon, Fever Tree Ginger Beer

And for the final libation, this particular reposado is a blend of tequila that is housed in Woodford Reserve, Jack Daniels, and Heaven Hills barrels - a nice whiskey nod to bookend the night. Oak and agave came through, with the creme de cassis offering sweetness on the forefront and the tartness from the lemon and the spice from the ginger beer offering a great counterbalance. From the name alone, we expected some spice, but regardless, another great drink!

Clearly, if you're in the mood for an experience and not just another random night in Old City or Rittenhouse, check out Hop Sing Laundromat. Be prepared though - it's cash only and depending on the group and/or line, there may be a 2 drink minimum. But really, why would you get just one? And this is an equal opportunity destination at that! Lêe made sure to inform us that certain celebrities have been kicked out for disobeying the rules by talking on their phones or taking pictures. Frankly, half of the reason we'll be back is for Lêe himself. Besides being a character, he takes service to another level - from swirling and pouring the excess cocktail thimble to top you off or providing illuminating commentary throughout the night - it's clear it's not just the drinks that make the experience - it's Lêe himself.

http://hopsinglaundromat.com/

Dim Sum Garden Review [2]

If you're craving soup dumplings or Xiaolongbao (XLB) in Philly, the one place you have to check out is Dim Sum Garden. Highly praised by Iron Chef Jose Garces, DSG offers cheap, and most importantly, delicious bites. How good is it? Iron Chef Garces sources his soup dumplings from DSG for his new Revel Casino restaurant, Yuboka. The one caveat associated with DSG? It used to be in a dumpy location behind Reading Terminal Market.

But all that's changed now - DSG has moved to a better location on Race Street, replete with a sleek interior design. So before heading to Hop Sing Laundromat for some drinks, the GF and I met up with some friends for good eats in Chinatown.

The Da family came to Philly in 2008 to represent Shanghai's style of dim sum. The head chef, Shizhou Da, is the fifth generation of the original four chefs who created the first soup dumping. With the assistance of her daughter, who runs the front of the house, they've created a restaurant that's becoming a popular spot for Philadelphians to grab a delicious bite.

DSG does take reservations, though it seems as though this simply gets you a table quicker, rather than providing you with a seat at a designated time. Still, without one, you'll be waiting in line for a bit. On a Saturday night around 7:30PM, the line was about half an hour deep, though the turn around was relatively quick.

Pro tip? DSG is BYO! So bring on some bubbly or some wine to pair with your dim sum and start your night off right.

Pan Fried Beef Dumplings [$5.75]
 

But on to the food. Dishes here come as they're prepared so don't expect any sort of coursing. But no matter. We started off with deliciously gluttonous pan fried dumplings, with a meaty exterior that was nicely crisp. And inside? Sweet and savory pork. These gorgeous bites are meant to dipped in the vinegar and chili oil provided at the table.

Vegetable Fried Rice [$7.50]
 

The veggie fried rice was really good as well. Though a bit salty, you could taste each individual grain of rice, which was the main component for this melange of scallions, eggs, and carrots. This was a larger portion than it looks and was quickly devoured.

Double Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce over Noodles [$6.95]
 

The pork with garlic sauce was available to come atop rice or noodles. The noodles were clearly hand-crafted and simply amazing. It's a bit cumbersome to eat for date night, so I'd advise you not to wear a crisp white shirt. But the noodles are definitely worth it - the texture and the way it holds the garlic sauce is simply superb. And the tender pork combined with baby bok choy and celery? Savory, sweet, and texture abounds.

Shanghai Wonton Noodle Soup [$6.95]
 

This isn't your Americanized Chinese food joint's won ton soup. The broth is clear and deep. The wontons are well-crafted and large, filled with abundant portions of pork. Not overly salty, this soup will fill you up for under $7.

Stewed Chicken Over Rice [$5.95]
 

For the stewed chicken, we went with the rice. The moist and tender chicken came with a gravy that was rich. With baby bok choy on the side, this definitely eats like a meal - for under $6.

Pan Fried Beef Potato Cake [$3.80]

And if anything is a must order (other than the soup dumplings), it's these pan fried potato cakes. A gluttonous form of Chinese latkes, there was richly seasoned beef and potato bits within. And the crispy exterior offered great texture.

 

Shanghai Pork Soup Dumplings [$5.75]

 

But what are we really here for? The infamous XLB. For everyone other than myself, this was the first adventure into soup dumplings. So naturally, some instruction was needed so the night didn't end with peoples' mouths being scalded. 

Simply grab your dumpling with your chopsticks and place them on your soup spoon. Then, pierce the skin to allow some of the hot broth to seep out. Slurp and then take a big bite of the dumpling. Sweet, savory, and then sweet again. All filled within a gossamer thin fresh dumpling wrapper. I could easily eat three orders of these in one sitting. 

Crab & Pork Soup Dumplings [$6.25]
 

But on this occasion, we had to try the crab and pork iteration as well. The scent and taste of the crab comes on the forefront, with the pork taking over on the end. I prefer the regular pork soup dumplings, but this offers a nice change of pace for those inclined for surf and turf. 

So at Dim Sum Garden, for under $60, a party of 4 can get their fill of great food to start off the night. But really, I'd pay twice as much for these Iron Chef-endorsed soup dumplings. They're just that good. And don't forget - add an order of those delicious pan fried beef potato cakes!

 


http://www.dimsumgardenphilly.com/