Results tagged “dining”

Something about a fun invitation—this time in the form of a note tied to the stem of a sunflower—makes me want to cancel all plans and head to the event in question. This invite beckoned me to Girasole, a new(ish) restaurant in the ground floor of Center City's Dranoff-developed Symphony House condominium building that got its start in Atlantic City. The small restaurant, with its gold-upholstered banquettes and black granite tabletops, isn't as bright and cheery as one would expect from a restaurant named for a sunflower, but it's certainly Italian in that "Dude, where's my Godfather theme music?" kind of way. (It's an observation, not a negative. Perhaps negative, though, are the plastic chairs at every table in the dining room. Summer heat + short skirt + plastic = not the most pleasant dining situation.)

So you're tired of Center City Restaurant Week. You think you've already done all the restaurants on the list that are worth the deal. You've sworn off three-course prix fixe menus. Done. Fin. No mas.

Oh James. How we love thee so. Tributes have already been paid to your honor here on these pages, but it was not until recently that I had the pleasure of making your acquaintance. From the tagliatelle with duck and dark chocolate to the salted carmel dessert, each dish was a surprise and a delight. I will be back. Often.

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I love La Viola. It was the site of my first foodgasm, and a couple of foodgasms since. It's one of the first places I recommend to people who want a romantic meal before a night at the Kimmel or the Merriam. It's one of the first places I tell people to go for a first date. And when Ross and I decided to celebrate being Libras together, it was one of the first places that we thought of to go with our friends.

We'd like to take a brief moment to thank this week's advertisers on Phillyist.

I have been waiting for tonight for a long time.

Phillyist has always been a big fan of Guillermo Pernot, and with good reason. All of his endeavors have been, in our opinion, palate-worthy if not concept-worthy. He has won awards, written a book and Pasion has always been a consistently great dining mainstay. His standards precede his reputation, which is probably why he has such a good one.

Friday night, the boy and I went out for dinner at a trendy little bistro with some friends of ours. When we arrived, the hostess asked us if we'd like to sit inside, outside, or at the first available table. It was a gorgeous night, and we really wanted outside, but we were starving, so we decided to go with first available. The hostess assured us that we shouldn't have to wait longer than half an hour, and invited us to hang out by the bar in the meanwhile. The bar, however, was packed and loud, and we hadn't seen our friends in quite some time, so we decided to stay outside and people-watch while we waited for our table. People-watching included some of the most god-awful outfits I've ever seen, an adorable baby or two, and a drunken businessman (keep in mind, it was dinner time) calling a woman the Spanish word for whore. It was a good time, but our stomachs were growling, and we turned our attention to people-watching the restaurant's patrons who were dining outside on the patio. Two women in particular caught first our eye, and later, our wrath.

I try, on the whole, to steer Monday Manners away from conventional, old-fashioned etiquette lessons. Sure, I've tackled opening doors, paying for dates, standing for the ladies, things not to talk about in "polite" company, and appropriate sidewalk behavior for ladies and gents, but for the most part, I tend to keep away from the "which fork do I use when?" etiquette lessons that you'd expect of a traditional manners column. (I like to mix things up. A lot.)

Tinto, referring to the red wine often served in abundance at tapas eateries in Northern Spain, is wonderful. Not just because we love Amada. Not just because, despite its drab, low-ceiling, somewhat claustrophobic décor, the attention to detail is still there and appreciated. Not just because the wait staff cannot only memorize, but eloquently explain, the concept as well as the entire wine and cocktail list. Or lastly, not just because the food is perfectly cooked, seasoned and well balanced in both taste and texture. It’s because it helps elevate the Philly food scene to where it belongs by using all of the aforementioned ingredients of a successful dining experience recipe. Revered by Food and Wine, Jose Garces is recognized as a maverick Chef in this area and has been a local darling since El Vez. The Michael Klein sighting last night confirmed it even further.

A steaming hot pile of our favorite things from around the internets.

As I write this, I've just returned from dinner with friends at Bistro Romano. I almost didn't go, because the restaurant's menu on MenuPages indicated that its prices didn't mesh so well with the Unemployment Diet, which I am still on. (I've lost twelve pounds, though!) Fortunately, my buddy Tom, who chose the restaurant, told me about Bistro Romano's Pasta Night on Mondays: a salad and any pasta dish off the menu for less than the cost of one of the pasta dishes alone. I ordered the lobster ravioli, because it's something I love and don't get to eat too often.

No this isn't an ode to the Rolling Stones (though we do hear the bass line from that song in our head when we're walking down Market Street in the summertime). This is an ode to our love, Philadelphia. We are counting the hours until we get back to your edgy goodness. Unlike our other trips to Vegas, this one sucks. Perhaps it is because we are travelling alone and aren't in the mood to...

that Phillyist writer Sydney de Lapeyrouse sent us a little while ago about Philly's BYO "revolution."

About ten days ago, I was able to live out a fantasy of mine (not that kind, you perv): I had the perfect (read: boys), which was awesome enough. But we got to do it over some truly fantastic dim sum, which made the whole experience even better.

In the past month, the only place besides work, home and L2 that I've actually incorporated into my life is Ten Stone. The place is adorable, their fondue brings tears to my eyes and they always have Woodchuck. These factors alone are enough to make me up and marry the establishment, but after discovering that even their bathroom is decorated in happy-Katie-fashion last night, I'm now trying to determine how to propose to a bar.

I have suddenly and rather unexpectedly found myself unemployed.

As a small child, I was obsessed with Shirley Temple. I watched her movies until I memorized every last word to them, and subsequently became convinced that it was perfectly normal to break out in song to express my thoughts anytime, anywhere. My friends, uncultured fools that they were, did not share my views. My parents have always encouraged my creative pursuits, so I relegated my musical outbursts to the dining room.

. Then they did everything in their power to stop me from throwing things at the screen.

Earlier this week, I celebrated Restaurant Week by hitting up Astral Plane with some Phillyists. My food was wonderful, and the dining room’s décor was comfy and adorable. But, trust you me, if there is one room in that place that truly reflects the restaurant’s name, the dining room it ain’t.

To the people around me at lunch yesterday:

It’s Wednesday night and you find yourself in Old City. You’re tired of your old haunts (read: Eulogy is boring and nothing's doing at the Khyber) and you’re looking to do something a little different. We suggest flamenco.

So your New Year's Resolution was to lose a little weight, work out more, maybe not eat out so much. That last needs to be put on hold for a week: University City District is offering up its fourth University City Dining Days, running from January 11th to the 18th. Twenty-one restaurants are offering up fixed three-course menus in three price ranges: $20, $25, and $30, with some places offering two-for-one dining. Phillyist does the lunch rounds in UCity, and has been to most of these places; while we love Fatou & Fama ($20) and Lemongrass ($25), wethinks perhaps such a nighttime occasion might call for a little White Dog splurge ($30). Maybe, if we're feeling saucy, some Penne ($30). The promotion has grown in popularity each time they've run it, so reservations (phoned in to the restaurant of your choice) are strongly recommended; there's even $7 parking at 38th and Walnut and 40th and Walnut from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. with restaurant validation. Alas, tax, tips, and drinks aren't included, but still and yet most of these places are a good deal. And if you hit Score at Strikes Bowling Lounge ($30 for two), you'll even be able to fit in some of that exercise you resolved to do.

A ferocious head cold is slowly attacking everyone I know, and this Wednesday evening, I accepted that I, too, am sick. And then I accepted that I wanted soup and I wanted it now. On my way home from a rehearsal, I stopped by Szechuan Hunan Chinese Restaurant to pick up as much Wonton Soup as I could carry.

We here at Phillyist know that a good portion of our readers may not reside within the limits of the City of Brotherly Love, and instead retreat to the pleasant confines of suburbia after a hard day's work. Rest assured, suburbanites! You are not alone, and Phillyist cares about your entertainment needs, too.

We are terrible at managing money. It’s always feast or famine—either we're livin’ large the closer we are to pay day or slumming it pauper-style on the opposite end of the spectrum. Payday is Friday, so today it’s all pauper, all the time. Fret not, because it’s Wednesday, the day when you can have a night out in Old City for less than $20.

From cult to college?

(BRAT Productions) (Future performances).

Even as the stores sport back to school sales (which depress us, even now), summer lingers on your friends the -ists. This week's collection of links provides some of the best, worst, and oddest bits of summer fun. So, bring your laptop up onto the roof, make yourself an umbrella drink or ten, and enjoy this week's choice posts from across the Gothamist network.