Rose Tattoo Cafe
A little off my usual Philadelphia eatery path, I was glad when our group of eight chose the Rose Tattoo Cafe for our after meeting dinner.
Located near the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Free Library of Philadelphia, the restaurant is located in what appears to be an interesting little (perhaps transitional) neighborhood.
Our group was given a long table in a room just off the bar. Seats were comfortable (though those sitting on the bench along the wall said that they felt they were being propelled a little too much towards their food by the angle of the seat).
So, what might the menu be at the Rose Tattoo? You might think Italian (linking into the Tennessee Williams' play of the same name), but no, seemed pretty much a basic American menu, heavy on the seafood with a good selection of pasta and meats.
We had appetizer for the table of Lobster Quesadilla I added a mushroom bisque to my startFor entrees, those around the table chose the fillet mignon, a nice looking salmon, and a generous portion of delicious looking pan-seared scallops. I was having a hard time deciding between the pork chop (mostly because of the side of mashed yams and fried spinach) and the jambalaya. I went with the jambalaya.
An excellent mix of seafood (shrimp, mussels, clams), chicken, ham, and andouille sausage is a spicy sauce served over rice. Topping it off was a broiled chili that made for an excellent addition.
The sauce was perfectly spicy and had just enough zip to keep the rice interesting. The serving of mussels was generous, but there were only two clams. That said, it was an overall generous portion!
I'm not usually a dessert eater, but the table was ordering, so I went with the banana bread pudding (with caramel swirls); others got the Raspberry Sorbet with chocolate mousse pyramid, and the Crème Brûlée. The bread pudding was tasty, but as is often the case, it was heavy and a too big serving.
Service was excellent (thank you Stephanie!) with good suggestions and food pairings.
Highly recommended.
Meal: Dinner
Rating: ****
Date: 20 April 2009
Address: 19th and Callowhill St. Philadelphia, PA 19130
Website: http://www.rosetattoocafe.com/
Showing posts with label Location: Philadelphia PA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Location: Philadelphia PA. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Amada, Philadelphia styled tapas
Amada
Who can't find something to like at a tapas restaurant? Everything from meats, to cheese, to a variety of vegetables, mushrooms, to seafood. Best of all, if you don't like one thing, there's always more of something else (the downside being if you really love something, you'll have to order another one which is why I sometimes think "tapas" is Spanish for "dollars"!.
Amada has the trendy minimalist look often favored by tapas restaurants. Black tables, chrome chairs, high ceilings with the requisite high volume noise level. Amada adds a curious touch.
In the middle of the main dining area is a slightly raised pedestal with a long, rough cut family-style table with bench seats.
Service was great; the server was happy to offer suggestions (which I like in a tapas place) and filled out small plates to make sure we had enough to go around the table.
On this visit, our group of seven shared: cured meat selection (chorizo, serrano ham, lomo embuchado); three cheese selection; Spanish tortilla; artisanal Spanish olives; and ham croquets, grilled vegetables; grilled wild mushrooms; and chicken brochettes. All the selections were excellent! Standouts were the wild mushrooms and the Spanish tortilla (which was accompanied by a tasty side of queso.
A highly recommended stop if your in Philadelphia's Old City.
Dish: tapas selections
Meal: lunch
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 4 June 2008
Address: 217-219 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
Website: http://www.amadarestaurant.com/
Who can't find something to like at a tapas restaurant? Everything from meats, to cheese, to a variety of vegetables, mushrooms, to seafood. Best of all, if you don't like one thing, there's always more of something else (the downside being if you really love something, you'll have to order another one which is why I sometimes think "tapas" is Spanish for "dollars"!.
Amada has the trendy minimalist look often favored by tapas restaurants. Black tables, chrome chairs, high ceilings with the requisite high volume noise level. Amada adds a curious touch.
In the middle of the main dining area is a slightly raised pedestal with a long, rough cut family-style table with bench seats.
Service was great; the server was happy to offer suggestions (which I like in a tapas place) and filled out small plates to make sure we had enough to go around the table.
On this visit, our group of seven shared: cured meat selection (chorizo, serrano ham, lomo embuchado); three cheese selection; Spanish tortilla; artisanal Spanish olives; and ham croquets, grilled vegetables; grilled wild mushrooms; and chicken brochettes. All the selections were excellent! Standouts were the wild mushrooms and the Spanish tortilla (which was accompanied by a tasty side of queso.
A highly recommended stop if your in Philadelphia's Old City.
Dish: tapas selections
Meal: lunch
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 4 June 2008
Address: 217-219 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
Website: http://www.amadarestaurant.com/
Thursday, February 28, 2008
ING Cafe, Philadelphia: Coffee and Cash!
ING Cafe
What an interesting concept. Financial services and coffee (and baked goods, etc.!). Would it just be a novelty? How long could it last?
I first ran across the ING Cafe a few years ago on a visit to Philadelphia. I had breakfast there and looked over the various ING brochures. The concept of the Internet only bank was still kind of new then and I was inspired to sign up for an account.
When I visited Philadelphia again in January 2008, I made sure to stop by the ING Cafe, but it wasn't open yet when I stopped by. Luckily, I had to make a return trip in February and this time it was open. Not only open, but they were having Sunday special and a coffee, tea, and two muffins were only $4.00! What a bargain!
ING Cafe brews up Peet's Coffee and has Internet access to check your ING accounts or for other purposes.
Additional locations in Chicago, New York City, Wilmington, and Los Angeles.
Meal: afternoon snack
Rating: ***** of 5
Date: 24 February 2008
Address: 1636 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Website: http://home.ingdirect.com/about/about.asp?s=INGDIRECTCafe
What an interesting concept. Financial services and coffee (and baked goods, etc.!). Would it just be a novelty? How long could it last?
I first ran across the ING Cafe a few years ago on a visit to Philadelphia. I had breakfast there and looked over the various ING brochures. The concept of the Internet only bank was still kind of new then and I was inspired to sign up for an account.
When I visited Philadelphia again in January 2008, I made sure to stop by the ING Cafe, but it wasn't open yet when I stopped by. Luckily, I had to make a return trip in February and this time it was open. Not only open, but they were having Sunday special and a coffee, tea, and two muffins were only $4.00! What a bargain!
ING Cafe brews up Peet's Coffee and has Internet access to check your ING accounts or for other purposes.
Additional locations in Chicago, New York City, Wilmington, and Los Angeles.
Meal: afternoon snack
Rating: ***** of 5
Date: 24 February 2008
Address: 1636 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Website: http://home.ingdirect.com/about/about.asp?s=INGDIRECTCafe
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Rick's Steaks: the Philly Cheese Steak!
Something controversial! What's the BEST Philly cheese steak!?!?!
I have my own preference, which, sadly, can't be found anymore. My uncle John ran a dinner outside of Allentown, PA for many years and made, the best Philly cheese steak. The secret was a special sauce - sadly, I never got the recipe - that was poured over the steak.
So, back to what is possible. Do you do provolone? Whiz? Some other cheese? Well, my personal preference is for provolone. On this day, I had my cheese steak at Rick's Steaks in the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. I went with the steak and provolone. I added peppers and pickles. Very tasty!
Meal: lunch
Rating: ***** of 5
Date: 13 Jan 2008
Address: 1 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Website: http://www.rickssteaks.com/
I have my own preference, which, sadly, can't be found anymore. My uncle John ran a dinner outside of Allentown, PA for many years and made, the best Philly cheese steak. The secret was a special sauce - sadly, I never got the recipe - that was poured over the steak.
So, back to what is possible. Do you do provolone? Whiz? Some other cheese? Well, my personal preference is for provolone. On this day, I had my cheese steak at Rick's Steaks in the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. I went with the steak and provolone. I added peppers and pickles. Very tasty!
Meal: lunch
Rating: ***** of 5
Date: 13 Jan 2008
Address: 1 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Website: http://www.rickssteaks.com/
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Palace at the Ben: Dinner
Earlier in the week I had walked past The Palace at the Ben in the morning and the smell of lunch cooking was irresistible!
After being very sad when I couldn't get reservations on my first try (it was a Saturday night), I was extremely pleased when I was able to get my group of five a table at "The Palace" on a Sunday night.
We arrived for dinner at 7:30 and had the restaurant nearly to ourselves. Our waiter was very attentive - in fact, a little too attentive in pushing certain items when it was clear we didn't want the Indian Masala Tea. All was forgiven when one of his entree suggestions, the Navratan korma, turned out to be the hit of the evening.
Other items that meal included the lamb roganjosh, chicken mutali, and the other major winner of the night, vegetarian biryani. The favorite starter of the night was the assorted samosa (vegetable, chicken, and panir). The selection of breads (including the onion kulcha) was excellent as were the accompanying chutney, papadam, and raita.
The special drink, a pomegranate, ginger, and gin concoction, was not to my taste.
The casual elegant atmosphere made for a fine evening out.
Meal: dinner
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 13 Jan 2008
Address: 3834 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Website: http://www.thepalaceattheben.com/
After being very sad when I couldn't get reservations on my first try (it was a Saturday night), I was extremely pleased when I was able to get my group of five a table at "The Palace" on a Sunday night.
We arrived for dinner at 7:30 and had the restaurant nearly to ourselves. Our waiter was very attentive - in fact, a little too attentive in pushing certain items when it was clear we didn't want the Indian Masala Tea. All was forgiven when one of his entree suggestions, the Navratan korma, turned out to be the hit of the evening.
Other items that meal included the lamb roganjosh, chicken mutali, and the other major winner of the night, vegetarian biryani. The favorite starter of the night was the assorted samosa (vegetable, chicken, and panir). The selection of breads (including the onion kulcha) was excellent as were the accompanying chutney, papadam, and raita.
The special drink, a pomegranate, ginger, and gin concoction, was not to my taste.
The casual elegant atmosphere made for a fine evening out.
Meal: dinner
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 13 Jan 2008
Address: 3834 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Website: http://www.thepalaceattheben.com/
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