Restaurant Week: Our Top Picks
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
If you have to do Restaurant Week...
Full disclosure: We're not big fans of Restaurant Week around these parts. Honestly, it's probably because we are still experiencing some post traumatic stress disorder from years of working hellish Restaurant doubles, but we're not going to get into that. Instead we thought we'd take a peek at this year's $35 dinner offerings and round up our top picks.
Zahav (237 St. James Place) runs a $39 prix fixe year-round that's one of the best deals in town and during RW they're basically knocking $4 off the price tag for the same menu. The meal kicks off with Zahav's ever amazing hummus and salatim followed by two small plates (everything from fried cauliflower with labne to crispy lamb's tongue with pistachios), a main and dessert. Short story - Zahav is always awesome, Restaurant Week or not.
If you haven't had a chance to check out Jose Garces' latest, Rosa Blanca (707 Chestnut St.), we suggest you head on over for $20 Restaurant Week lunch. The Cuban diner-inspired menu has everything from empanadas and ham croquetas to excellent Cubano sandwiches and ropa vieja with black beans and rice to pineapple upside-down cake.
As you may or may not know, Craig LaBan bestowed a glowing three bell review to High Street on Market (308 Market St.) over the weekend making a dinner reservation here one of the hottest tickets in town. Chef Eli Kulp and company aren't dumbing things down for restaurant week. Instead they're offering two starters (go with the crispy broccoli with chow-chow and rabbit & chestnuts), a main (including American Waygu with crispy rice cakes and fermented parsley) and a choice of two desserts for $35 leaving you plenty leftover to explore High Street's intriguing wine list.
Oh and speaking of wine lists, Restaurant Week is the ideal opportunity to check out the excellent by the glass offerings at a.kitchen (135 S. 18th St.). Their lunch and dinner menus don't look too shabby either.
