Crazy Sushi Review

If you're looking for affordable, yet quality sushi, one of my favorite spots to recommend would have to be Crazy Sushi in the Rittenhouse area. An added bonus? It's BYO! 

It's a slim, sleek space with comfortable seating and a sushi bar at the end. 

Apologies in advance for the grainy cell phone pics - didn't have my personal phone charge for this impromptu dinner! 

Salad
 

Salad was fairly standard with fresh Romaine. The ginger dressing was clearly freshly made. 

Vampire Bowl [$9]
Spicy tuna tartare, avocado bowl
  

A must order in my mind is the Vampire Bowl, their unique take on tuna tartare. I loved the contrast in textures with the crunch from the tempura and the creaminess of the avocado bowl. The sweet wasabi mayo was balanced by the light heat from the spicy tuna. 

Vegetable Tempura [$5]

The GF's a sucker for veggie tempura and this didn't disappoint. A thin layer of tempura coated mushrooms, sweet potato, and carrots. It came accompanied with a light tempura dipping sauce. 

Beef Negimaki [$6]
Scallion, thin-sliced beef, teriyaki
  

On this trip, the negimaki was a bit disappointing. The beef could have been more thinly sliced and better seasoned, though I appreciated the bite of the scallion amidst the teriyaki glaze. 

Triple Sushi [$25]
Tuna, salmon, yellowtail, tuna roll

The triple sushi featured some of our favorite nigiri rolls, including salmon, tuna, and yellowtail. All very clean-tasting and fresh, the platter also came with a tuna roll. I appreciated that the tuna was whole and not minced within the sushi. 

Uni Sushi [$8]
 

I was also in the mood for uni so asked for an order of uni sushi. Then again, when am I *not* in the mood for uni? Sourced from California, these were creamy, light, and buttery. 

Bloomingdale Roll [$13]
Spicy tuna, spicy salmon, spicy kani, spicy yellowtail, spicy shrimp, avocado, longan
  

I was also intrigued by their Bloomingdale specialty roll. The pink seaweed seemed a bit more delicate in texture and taste, supporting the sweetness of the lychee. This contrasted with the subtly spicy mixture of tuna, salmon, crab yellowtail, and shrimp (whoa!). Due to the laundry list of items, the flavors were a bit muddled, but definitely veers toward the sweeter side of a sushi roll. Interesting! 

Sweet Potato Roll [$5]

Of course, we also had to try our standard sweet potato roll. Crazy Sushi has one of the best iterations, with a wonderful juxtaposition of creaminess from the sweet potato and a light crunch on the exterior. The black sesame seeds studding the surrounding rice made for a perfect bite. 

So if you're not looking to go omakase and want a relaxed sushi meal, I'd recommend checking out Crazy Sushi. Whether you're looking for Americanized rolls or nigiri done right, they've got you covered. 

Pumpkin Review

Valentine's Day is the time when most restaurants provide set menus that are often overpriced. So navigating the glut of options for a romantic meal that won't set your wallet back too far or leave you feeling overly stuffed can be harder than you might think. But one of my favorite places to go? Pumpkin on South Street. Better yet? They're BYO - so bring on some bubbly to enjoy with your meal.

We brought one of favorites - Moet Nectar Imperial Rose - subtly sweet, lightly tart, effervescently fruity - easily quaffable.

Valentine's Day Prix Fixe [$75 pp]

Pumpkin had us put down a deposit of $50 ahead of time on a credit card. But that's less cash to have on hand since they're a cash-only BYO! 

Bread Service

Our meal started off with sourdough bread that came with some fruity olive oil and a confit garlic clove. 

Cauliflower Soup 
Apple, celery, hazelnut

From there, the GF enjoyed her creamy cauliflower soup that was accented by the fragrantly rich hazelnut and balanced by the bright acidity of the apple and the freshness of the celery leaves. 

Spanish Rock Octopus 
Citrus, squid ink, couscous

Pumpkin's take on octopus reached gustatory heights in my book and was easily one of the best iterations I've had. Lightly charred on the outside, the octopus cut like butter and was incredibly unctuous and satisfyingly savory. The squid ink provided some backbone to each bite, while the pink grapefruit segments offered some sweet acidity and the watermelon radish offering some countervailing balance. The couscous were moist pearls of caviar, filled with a moist and savory broth. Delicious.

Castle Valley Mill Grits
Taleggio fondue, saba, roasted grapes

The GF and I both enjoyed this next dish, which featured wonderfully local and stone ground heirloom grits. The sweet, yet nutty corn essence could not be denied and was wonderfully paired with the rich taleggio fondue. The saba and sweet roasted grapes were a surprising, yet welcome element to the dish, providing a wonderful juxtaposition to the rich cheese. 

Wild Striped Bass
Leeks, beets, salsify

The striped bass was wonderfully cooked - the fish was moist and the skin was crisp. The dashi broth was poured tableside and added some nice smoky elements to each bite. The leeks and salsify complemented the broth nicely, while the beets offered a break in the form of some subtle sweetness. 

Wagyu Culotte Steak
Escarole, pearl onion, potato terrine

American wagyu was on offer tonight and came appropriately medium rare. Well-seared and seasoned, the sirloin cap featured some great beefiness. The accents of star anise in the bordelaise wine sauce were stellar, with the caramelized pearl onions imparting some additional savoriness to each bite. Technique was showcased in the form of the creamy and crisp potato terrine, which was topped by a sharp cheesy fondue. 

Goat Cheese Cake 
Citrus, pistachio streusel 

The goat cheese cake had a wonderful tang and I appreciated that it wasn't overly sweet on its own, though the tart raspberry sauce and the citrus segments helped to bring it back to traditional dessert territory. The pistachio streusel offered nice crunch and nutty butteriness to each bite. 

Malted Milk Pot de Creme
Peanut butter, chocolate, praline

The malted milk pot de creme tasted like an elevated Reese's peanut butter cup and brought forth some childhood nostalgia. Great consistency and smoothness, with the toffee praline and chocolate offering a textural sweetness I enjoyed. 

Always appreciated, the meal ends with some toasted, salted pumpkin seeds to take home. Service was impeccable and extremely knowledgeable about each dish. Definitely need to stop by for Pumpkin's Sunday Prix Fixe and not just for Valentine's Day! 

Dim Sum & Noodle Review

While walking to Wawa one night, the GF and I noticed that there was a new Asian restaurant next door. Little did we know that it was Sang Kee Noodle House's new sister restaurant! Sang Kee's a stalwart of West Philly and the owners have recently expanded into Fairmount with this new offering, which features Cantonese style food, which is less spicy and likely more associated with "Chinese food" for those with a Western palate.

Dan Dan Noodles [$5.95]
Chili peanut sauce

Had to try the dan dan noodles, because ... they're dan dan noodles. Han Dynasty these are not. Not to say that Dim Sum & Noodle's weren't satisfying, but compared to the spicy caramelized minced pork and the toothsome and chewy noodles at Han Chiang's establishment, these were not up to par. Still, there was a bit of heat from the chili peanut sauce, which is more immersed into the noodles than coating them. There were some crisp julienned cucumber slices that helped cool off any heat from each bite.

Pan-Fried Pork Dumplings [$4.95]

The pork dumplings were great and had a nice gluttonous chew along with some crisp texture from the pan frying. The pork inside was juicy and well-seasoned. 

Crispy Garlic Wings [$5.95]
 

The crispy garlic wings are a must order in my mind. A lacquered, glassy texture on the outside of the wing yielded to juicy chicken. The sweet chili sauce was a nice accompaniment. 

Shrimp Fried Rice [$9.95]

The GF loved the shrimp fried rice, which had a ton of succulent, snappy shrimp. The pineapple imparted additional sweetness to balance the savoriness of the rice. 

General Tso's Chicken [$13.95]
 

You'll find this dish on almost all Americanized Chinese food restaurant menus. Dim Sum & Noodle's iteration is the version all of these restaurants should strive for. In fact in Philly, the only one that comes even close is Square on Square. The chicken was crisp on the outside and revealed juicy white chicken breast within. The sweet and spicy sauce on the outside didn't overwhelm the chicken and the accompanying broccoli florets weren't overly blanched. 

Taiwanese Braised Pork Belly [$10.95]
Aged egg, Baby bok choy
 

Dim Sum & Noodle has a pork belly dish. I repeat. Dim Sum & Noodle has a pork belly dish. And it is stellar. Braised in sweet soy, the unctuous fatty chunks of pork belly were plentiful and had a nice crisp on the outside. A soy-marinated soft boiled egg and some baby bok choy also accompanied this dish, but it's all about that pork belly. This will always be a part of any takeout order from Dim Sum & Noodle in my mind. 

So if you're in the Fairmount area, eschew all other Chinese food restaurants and get your butts over to Dim Sum & Noodle. Make sure you order the crispy garlic wings and try some of that pork belly! 

Dim Sum & Noodle
2000 Hamilton St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
http://www.dimsumandnoodle.com/

King of Tandoor Review

Living in the Fairmount area affords a random sampling of various cuisines. Case in point - King of Tandoor. They offer a decent foray into Indian cuisine with affordable prices, though in an 80's-esque atmosphere. Regardless, it's a great place for takeout - so recently, I indulged in a few of their dishes through Eat24, which seems to be a great new way to order delivery.

Garlic Naan [$2.75]

You can't help but get some naan. King of Tandoor's garlic naan was light, with hints of garlic. It was perfect for the variety of chutneys that they provide. 

From left to right, the plum chutney was subtly sweet, with hints of spice. A great cooling element for the other two chutneys. The onion chutney provided a sharp bite, with heat that starts on the tongue which eventually moves to the back of the throat. The lime chutney has a sweet heat that was definitely my favorite. 

Vegetable Samosa [$3.50]

Samosas are another must order and these didn't disappoint. The melange of potatoes, cumin, peas, and carrots offered a hearty bite which contrasted nicely with the crispy texture of the outer shell. 

They also offer a ground lamb samosa which I didn't get to try on this visit.

Poori Bhajee [$4.25]
Fried chickpeas, light fluffy bread
  

For less than $5, you can indulge in a delicious fried chutney, nicely stewed with tomatoes and and spice.

It comes accompanied with "fluffy" bread to dip in the chickpea stew. It's  a bit greasy and actually heavier than the naan.

Motor Paneer [$10.95]
Fried homemade cheese, peas
  

Paneer is a favorite of mine. The light homemade cheese came in huge chunks amidst the stewed peas which had a nice medium heat to it. The buttery rice was simply melt-in-your-mouth and completely light.

Ultimately, King of Tandoor offers a safe bet for comforting and affordable Indian cuisine. It's great to know that the Fairmount area has a wide variety of offerings on hand and for myself, it's just steps away.

Bud & Marilyn's Review

Ever since Chef Marcie Turney & Valerie Safran opened up their latest venture on 13th Street, I knew I had to stop by Bud & Marilyn's. I don't know why it's taken me this long, but I finally made it and I'm here to stay. 

During Happy Hour, the ambiance is relaxed, yet bustling. There are plenty of seats at the handsome vintage bar, as well as smaller 2-tops by the bar. We were lucky enough to snag one of these tables so indulged in a few of the Happy Hour offerings, on top of some of the dishes from the regular menu. 

Rhubarb Basil Smash [$6 Happy Hour | $10 Regular Menu]
Tequila, rhubarb liqueur, grapefruit, basil syrup 

The Rhubarb Basil smash is a slushy on steroids. Saccharine with a nice herbaceousness from the basil and a tartness from the rhubarb liqueur and grapefruit, this will start your night off right. One's probably enough or else you'll go into a diabetic coma, but not going to lie, I ultimately indulged in a second. 

Cannonball! [$6 Happy Hour] 
Blanco tequila, lime juice, orange, "Electric blue" 

The cocktail of the day came in the form of the Cannonball, which was electric blue! Basically Bud & Marilyn's take on a margarita, it was strong and boozy. Our server David knew I enjoyed the basil smash a lot better though, so brought me another one of those instead. Clairvoyant, I tell ya. 

Nashville Hotbun [$3.50 Happy Hour | $10 for 2 Regular Menu]
Hot fried chicken, little pickles, ranch, pickle brine slaw

Bud & Marilyn's standardly has a trio of buns available on the menu. For Happy Hour, they offered the Nashville hot bun, which was stellar. So much so that I had to get another one of these bad boys and was itching for a third. A buttery and crusty bun house crispy chicken. The chicken had a nice cayenne kick that wasn't exactly on a spice level that would make the Fat Ham sweat, but it was just right for the GF. The vinegary slaw and pickles made each bite, offering some acid and respite from the chicken. Get these! 

Crispy Cheese Curds [$5 Happy Hour | $8 Regular Menu]
Wisconsin cheddar, smoked guajillo chile salsa, burnt scallion ranch 

You know I won't be denied fried cheese curds, and these are some of the best I've had. Lighter and airier than the Cow and the Curd's take, I enjoyed the glassiness of the crisp batter. The accompanying burnt scallion ranch and smoked guajillo chile offered contrasts for your dipping pleasure. An obvious must order.

Pan Seared Pierogis [$6 Happy Hour | $9 Regular Menu]
Shallot, brown butter, apple-celery root salad, horseradish creme fraiche 

Well-seared and crisp, the brown butter came through and the creamy potato innards were hearty. The celery root salad offered some freshness and while I enjoyed the creme fraiche, it would have used a bit more horseradish. 

Pork Belly Buns [$10]
Shaved pork belly, Korean chili, papaya slaw, peanuts 

From the regular menu, I had to get the pork belly buns. I prefer my pork belly to be thick, unctuous and fatty. Here we're talking about crisp, shaved pork belly housed within buttery buns. The papaya and Korean chili slaw had a nice fermented funk and acidity that I enjoyed. 

Chop Suey [$12]
Country ham fried rice, carrot, broccolini, English pea, fried farm egg, pork belly, kohlrabi, cabbage

That same crisp pork belly made its way into the chop suey, which was essentially Korean bibimbap fried rice. I loved the acidity from the lime, which offered some balance to the hearty heft of the rice, pork, and fried egg. A healthy portion for only $12! 

Seared Sea Scallops [$23]
Fava & corn succotash, pancetta, Castle Valley corn cakes, smoked orange dressing

Bud & Marilyn's had a stunner of a scallop dish as well. Well-seared and seasoned, the huge scallops were supported by the additional sweetness from the corn succotash and grit corn cakes. The salty savoriness from the pancetta was appreciated in its effort to prevent the dish from becoming overly sweet. 

Peanut Butter Maltball Cake [$9]
Dark chocolate cake, peanut butter buttercream, crispy pearls

Despite being stuffed, I knew I couldn't leave without having tried one of the cakes I've heard so much about. The peanut butter maltball cake was gorgeous to look at and even better to eat. Creamy, chocolatey, and moist, the cake had a nice contrast in texture from the shattered malt pearls. 

Service at Bud & Marilyn's is top notch, personable, and efficient. And without a doubt, the food here will leave you wanting more. Considering the 80's theme, I was concerned that Bud & Marilyn's might go the way of Kevin Sbraga's now defunct Juniper Commons. Clearly, there's no reason it should.