Tony's I-75 Review

This is for a 2015 Michigan Trip including:

The Filling Station Microbrewery, Morning at Maggies Omelette Shoppe, Mackinaw Brewing Company, and Tony's I-75.

Regular readers know I love bacon. I mean, I love anything pork-related, but bacon and pork belly? Be still my cholesterol-clogged heart. So when I was in Michigan, I knew I had to stop by Tony's in Birch Run to try their BLT.

I don't normally order simple BLT's. But when I do, I go big or go home. What's so special about Tony's BLT? We're talking abut a joint that serves over 1,000 pounds of hash browns on an average weekend. More importantly, they serve 5 and a half tons of bacon weekly! But before we get to the show stopper, let's check out some of their other goodies.

Hot Beef Sandwich [$11.99]

Gravy, potatoes
 

The hot beef sandwich is served open face and draped with rich gravy, which cascades over tender beef and homemade mashed potatoes. Leftovers for days and a food coma to boot!

Grilled Cheese Trio [$4.95]
American, Swiss, Mozzarella

Thinking that she could grab a few strips of bacon off of my plate (was she joking?), the GF opted for a simple grilled cheese. This was a bit disappointing in that the cheese was not fully melted. Still, it's hard to completely mess up grilled cheese - the bread was well toasted and sufficiently buttered.

But really, we're here for the BLT. We had a few friends with us, so check out these heart stoppers. Did I mention that Tony's served 11,000 pounds of bacon per week? Insane. We definitely got a few envious (disgusted?) stares our way. 

BLT [$9.99]
Pound of bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo

What I was most surprised about? How good the BLT was. Yes, I knew I'd be happy with the bacon alone. But the complement of fresh greens, ripe tomato, and a generous slab of mayo between two thick slices of toasted Italian bread was just right for this portion of porky goodness. And the bacon? Amazingly thick and crispy. It was good enough that I could have easily finished this behemoth. But I could feel some judgement coming from my compatriots. But let it be known that I enjoyed bacon for breakfast the next few days!

French Fries
 

This was rounded off by a basket of fries that was shared by all. While it wasn't seasoned, they were crisp on the outside and creamy within. 

So if you're ever by Birch Run, I'd highly recommend you stop by Tony's I-75. I know the next time I'm in the area, I'm going to have to tackle their banana split. You've seen how they do justice to the BLT. If you can imagine this applied to a banana split, you'll get a sense of what to expect. Life goals people!

John's Roast Pork Review

Regular readers know of my quest to search for a proper Philly cheese steak that will top my unbridled love for the offerings from Philly's Best (ironically located in Chicago!). Admittedly, my love for a Philly's Best cheese steak may simply be my nostalgia for late-night college eat. Regardless, I can count on one hand the number of Philly-based cheese steak joints that have impressed me. In my mind though, the one place that is at the top of cheese steak glory and trumps Philly's Best is South Philly stalwart, John's Roast Pork.

Open for more than fifty years, John Bucci Jr. is proud of the fact that his sandwiches contain fewer, but higher quality ingredients. Should be no surprise that my recommendation for Philly's best cheese steak was awarded the James Beard Award for Culinary Excellence back in 2006!

It's a small location, with just enough space to place your order at the cheese steak or roast pork stations. Once you pick up your order, there are tables outside to enjoy your sandwiches.

On this particular visit, I ordered the foot long cheese steak (American cheese, 'wit) and had to try the large version of their eponymous sandwich, with sharp provolone and spinach. 

Large Roast Pork Sandwich [$8.75] with Sharp Provolone [+ $0.75]

My large roast pork was definitely gargantuan. It was even larger than the foot long cheese steak! I loved that they use a seeded Carangi's roll here, which offers great texture on the outside and plenty of yeasty bread within to sop up the juice. The pork was juicy and well-seasoned, with the funky hit of sharp provolone making each bite for me. The spinach helped to balance out the richness, but a light sandwich this is not. Admittedly, Dinic's is still my favorite roast pork sandwich, but more due to their garlicky broccoli rabe and the over-abundance of the sharp provolone featured on their roast pork sandwiches.

Cheese Steak [$9.25]

But really, I was here for the cheese steak. And I was not disappointed. I can see why whiz isn't ever allowed here. It's not needed! I often feel the need to double up on American cheese and whiz on my cheese steaks because most places offer a dry sandwich without enough creaminess. Here, the meat was high quality and well-seasoned, with a proper mix of fried onions. But better yet, the copious amount of American cheese helped to create a creamy, yet meaty bite. Hands down my favorite for best in Philly.

So if you're looking for a high-quality cheese steak, obviously stay away from Pat's and Geno's. Ishkabibble's and Jim's on South Street will set you right. But my recommendation. Take the extra trek down to South Philly by the Ikea on South Columbus and make sure to bring cash. You won't be disappointed! 

San Soo Kap San Restaurant Review

As a New York transplant, I love that Philly offers most of what's available in NYC, but on a smaller, more relaxed, and affordable scale. The one thing that I wish Center City proper did offer? A decent Korean restaurant, replete with BBQ grills and high-powered vents. Admittedly, I hear there are great offerings in Northeast Philly and I've heard good things about Miga in the Fairmount/Logan Square area. But for the most part, it's a barren wasteland when it comes to decent Korean cuisine. 

The type of Korean food I'm looking for? Just look towards Queens, NY. Clearly the place to go if you're looking for real deal Korean BBQ and the like. 

San Soo Kap San is a stalwart when it comes to Korean BBQ, with great food and plenty of high-powered industrial vents to deal with the smoke that comes with grilling your meat tableside. Regardless, I would leave your favorite coat in the car. Otherwise, you'll come out smelling like smoky sweet BBQ marinade for a few days.

For those not in the know, Korean food typically comes with a slew of banchan, or side dishes. They're not to be eaten by themselves necessarily, but in combination with your main dishes.

There are plenty of options from spicy crab, spicy rice cakes, spicy fish, spicy kimchi, spicy cucumber ... you get the picture. We like spice! But there's also sesame-infused glass noodles and plenty of palate cleansing items like sweet and slightly pickled radish. 

But if you've never been - the reason you should check out your local Korean restaurant is to try the Korean BBQ. And if you're in Queens, San Soo Kap San will set you right. Traditional charcoal bricks are brought to your table. No electric grills here! 

Angus Kalbi x3 [$34.95 per serving]
Marinated beef short-rib 

I'd recommend the standard kalbi. I like that San Soo Kap San's isn't overly marinated and they offer good quality ingredients. It's also not cut too thin so you can actually taste the beefiness. I love roasting the mushrooms on the grill as well. And asking for a small tin to cook up garlic slices in a bit of oil? Perfection. 

I like my meat mid-rare, with a quick caramelized sear on the exterior, but you might prefer your meat well-done. It's all completely up to you. Your server will cook it for you, but feel free to take charge. 

You can try the BBQ alone, but it's best eaten as ssahm or within the confines of a build-your-own lettuce wrap, filled with some beef and perhaps a bit of scallion, fermented bean paste, and some kimchi. 

At San Soo Kap San, they'll even serve you some complimentary stews along with your Korean BBQ. Some favorites of mine are the Korean take on chawanmushi (egg custard) as well as the spicy dehn jang ji gae (fermented bean stew). The latter is a meal on its own with some rice. Perfect for those winter nights. 

Asian cuisine isn't typically known for dessert and Korean restaurants don't diverge from this status quo. To end your meal, expect some fruit to cleanse that palate! 

So if you've never been - I'd highly recommend branching out and trying some Korean BBQ. I love that Korean ingredients are becoming more mainstream and non-Asian chefs are looking to ssahm jang and kimchi within their respective culinary toolboxes. Hopefully with places like Southgate Philly, Korean cuisine will have its own place in Center City Philly as well. 

Kite and Key Review [2]

Previous Review: Kite and Key [1]

Kite and Key and Sabrina's are our standard go-to's when we're not looking to cook. And that's no surprise considering they're only a block away. So when some friends stopped by, we all decided to head back to Kite and Key for some eats.

Potato & Cheddar Perogi ($9)
Sauteed onion, sour cream
  

If pierogi's are on the menu. I'm ordering it. Kite and Key had these bad boys on special and they were crisply fried, with a creamy, cheesy mixture within. Sauteed onions and sour cream rounded out each bite.

Calamari ($10)

Spicy tomato sauce, arugula

 

The calamari were expertly fried, yet tender. For $10, they gave you a boat load to boot! Presentation was prototypical of a bar, with spicy marinara hiding underneath, with a field of arugula lightly dressed on top. But again - it's unbelievable how much calamari there was!

Steak Sandwich ($10)
Grilled filet, chimichurri, caramelized onions, pepper jack cheese, french fries

The filet sandwich came out perfectly cooked - medium rare and well-seasoned. The caramelized onions added some acidic depth, with the earthy chimichurri providing herbaceous notes. The pepper bite of the pepper jack cheese was nice. The fries were thin and crispy, nothing wrong there!

Fish and Chips ($15)

Beer-battered fish, french fries, malt vinegar

You can put money on the fact that the GF will usually order the chipper. The beer-battered fish was light and flaky, though the batter wasn't as malty as she normally likes. The pat of malt vinegar helped though!

The only issue we had on this particular night was that the sodas we ordered were completely flat and tasted of Robitussin. The server gave us a weird look, which prompted me to invite her to have a taste. She declined. In all fairness though, that's not typical and the drinks were obviously taken off. In any case, if you're looking for a proper drink (read: alcohol) and good bar eats, Kite and Key is a great bet on Callowhill Street. 

The Fat Ham Review

I've been meaning to stop by the Fat Ham for awhile. But frankly and shamefully, I tend to stay within the corridor of Center City proper. And while the Fat Ham recently hopped on the Reserve bandwagon, the inability to reserve a table previously resulted in a few unsuccessful waits that were over an hour long. 

Granted heading over during the Happy Hour rush isn't the best strategy and it's not to say we didn't enjoy ourselves while we attempted to be seated for a table. With a fairly extensive bourbon list and with great cocktails, what's not to like? The interior is wonderfully designed, with a quaint Southern feel and a gorgeous bar wall. 

Memphis Mule [$10]
Basil & grapefruit infused vodka, citrus, ginger beer

Speaking of drinks do try their take on the mule, which features basil and grapefruit-infused vodka, ginger beer, and citrus. Subtly sweet, this was light and refreshing. 

Diamondback [$12]
Rye, apple brandy, chartreuse, sassafrass
  

The Diamondback featured Old Overholt, with the apple brandy smoothing things out. The sweetness of the chartreuse helped it along, with some spice coming through from the rye whiskey.

Pro-tip: If the weather's nice, be sure to enjoy a drink on the front porch! 

Sunday Supper [$30 pp]

The best tip though? Head over for their weekly Sunday Suppers - a steal of a deal at $30 pp for 9+ dishes from Kevin Sbraga. And with the ability to make a reservation using the Reserve app, there's no excuse now! Fair warning - the dishes come out as soon as they're executed by the kitchen so be prepared for an onslaught of food! 

Pimento Cheese
Grilled country bread

You'll likely start off with the pimento cheese along with some lightly buttered and hearty country bread. The perfect vessel for the slightly smoky, sharp, and peppery pimento cheese. It's no wonder it's a favorite bite during Happy Hour! 

Squash Dumplings
Granny smith apple, toasted pecan

The squash dumplings reminded me of spaetzle. Tender and emanating squash essence, the tart Granny Smith apples were a nice counterpoint, with the toasted pecans providing texture. 

Blackened Catfish
Comeback sauce, okra, walnuts

The catfish was moist and well-seasoned with blackened spice. The okra was expertly cooked, without much of the mucilaginous texture one usually associates with the greens. The "comeback" sauce had a nice bit of heat that played well with the components of the dish.

No. 20 [$11]
Bourbon, aperol, averna, lemon

The No. 20 was nicely citrus forward, with a great juxtaposition of Italian apertifs and digestifs. 

Skillet Cornbread
Tasso, molasses butter, fine herbs

You'll also likely receive the cornbread and for good reason. The crisp edges were where it was at, with the sweetness of the corn coming through. Slathered in the gorgeous tasso molasses butter? Let's just say it was hard not to inhale the entirety of the cornbread in a single bite. 

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
Butter bread crumbs

With Fat Ham's take on mac, there was great bite to the noodles, which were dripping in liquid gold. The buttered bread crumbs offered nice texture. 

Collard Greens
Pork shank, potlikker

A wonderful counterpoint to the richness of the supper, the vinegary collards were much needed and especially enjoyed. That's not to say that there weren't any tender pieces of pork shank topping the dish. I couldn't help but slurp some of that potlikker broth as well. Easily my choice of palate cleanser.

Smoked Pork
Sweet potato, parsnip puree, granola

The gorgeous hunk of savory, smoky and tender pork had a nice interplay with the sweet potato. The bits of granola offered some sweet balance in partnership with the parsnip puree underneath.

Hot Chicken 
Brioche, ranch dressing, dill pickles

There's a reason hot chicken is the Fat Ham's most celebrated dish and is essentially becoming the new pork belly. The chicken was moist and expertly fried with a great crisp. But the star is that cayenne-saturated heat, which will creep up on you! The dill pickles were much needed, attempting to provide some vinegary balance. I also appreciated the thin toasted brioche which had enough substance to stand up to being inundated with the ranch and spice-laden sauce. Much better than simple sandwich bread. Expect the spice sweats - that's a good thing! 

Gingersnap Tart
Eggnog cream, citrus segments, nut tuile 

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Our dessert was a gingersnap tart that featured the spice within the crust. Wonderful palate cleanser. The eggnog lightly permeated the cream, with the candied citrus elements brightening up each bite. 

Hat's off to the staff on this particular night. While the initial onslaught of dishes was a bit jarring at first, the fact that one server and manager were taking are of all the diners at a relatively relaxed and comfortable pace was commendable. And perfectly delicious execution at $30 pp? There's no fault there! Highly recommend the Fat Ham's Sunday Supper - I know I'll be back! 

Bainbridge Street Barrel House Review [2]

The GF and I had previously stopped by Bainbridge Barrelhouse for lunch. Noticing that they hoted Quizzo, we decided to invite some friends to check it out. Advertised as starting at 7 - 7:30PM, the games began closer to 8PM. Not incredibly busy like Fado, there were about 8 teams on Tuesday night.

Kentucky Orchards [$9]
Applewood infused Buffalo Trace, Fernet Branca, Lillet Blanc, apple cider, honey syrup
 

I decided to start off the night with some applewood-infused Buffalo Trace bourbon, which was brightened up with apple cider and honey. Nicely light and smokey.

Cicharron Special [$4]
 

Had to order the pig skins, which were freshly fried and covered in subtly smoky espelette spice mix.

Beer Battered Pickles [$5]
Whiskey aioli
  

We also went with the fried pickles, which were not as good as Kite and Key's and showcased a chewy batter. Definitely could have used a thinner coating and some more time in the fryer.

Fish & Chips [$17]
Beer battered haddock, fries, housemade tartar sauce  

The GF went with the fish and chips, which also had a well-seasoned, yet chewy batter. Still, the fish was flaky and meaty. The accompanying fries were crisp and nicely fried.

Sally Smothers [$13]
8 oz. Pat la Frieda, fried egg, pancetta, sharp provolone, fried shallots, mayo, brioche
  

I went with another of Bainbridge's Pat La Frieda burgers, which had good flavor and was moist. The fried shallots were a nice touch, though the pancetta seemed a bit lost. The sharp provolone and fried egg helped to bring each bite over the top. 

Overall, Bainbridge seems to do burgers decently, but there are more than the occasional missteps. In fact, the GF ordered a Diet Pepsi that tasted of chlorine. Seems that this was the case in some other reviews on Yelp as well.