-
- English
- Français
- Log In
- Sign Up for Yelp
Laura "Might Be Lying" S.'s Profile
Culinary Colonialism
See All Lists
1. Famous 4th Street Delicatessen
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 568-3271
Categories:
Delis,
Sandwiches
Neighbourhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
... wow. Just, wow. This review is going to be useless to you. I read the reviews before I went, too. "Big sandwiches," I read, "I get it."
You do not get it. You do not understand. You are going to walk in and be served a sandwich the size of your…More »
2. Distrito
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 222-1657
I will preface this review by saying that I already know that I need to go back at another time to really have a sense of this restaurant. I follow the Garces Restaurant Group on Twitter, and Distrito always has great specials - especially endless…More »
3. El Rey
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 563-3330
Dear El Rey,
I want to love you, I really do. You are so close and convenient. And so unpretentious! When you first took over the location of the old Midtown Diner, I barely even noticed you - then when I noticed your signage, I thought you were some…More »
4. Guapos Tacos
(267) 284-7979
Categories:
Food Stands,
Mexican
Neighbourhood: Powelton Village
Guapos Tacos is working very hard to keep my life delicious and satisfying. On weekdays, they usually set up camp in LOVE park and I can enjoy some delicious tacos while sitting with my feet in the fountain. Now that they have started heading to 34th…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/5/2011 First to Review
With Guapos Tacos, Jose Garces proves himself to be not only a master chef, but a master marketer,… Read more »
5. Lolita
BYOBs are a great idea. BYOTs are maybe the best idea in the entire world.
I can tell you a lot about how my meals here have begun, but not a lot about how they've ended. This is largely a product of their very delicious margaritas. The blood orange…More »
6. Chifa
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-5555
Categories:
Asian Fusion,
Peruvian
Neighbourhood: Market East
I have only been to Chifa during Restaurant Week, and like the rest of Garces' restaurants, it is one of the best deals in the city. For the first two courses, everyone at the table gets to order two plates - I recommend bringing as many friends as…More »
7. Fogo de Chao
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 636-9700
Categories:
Brazilian,
Steakhouses
Neighbourhoods: Penn Center, Market East, Avenue of the Arts South
DO:
* Come for lunch. You will get the exact same meal at a much more reasonable price.
* Save some room for the fried bananas. Holy smokes are they delicious.
* Wait for the better cuts of meat to come around. Do not waste your time on chicken and…More »
8. Bindi - CLOSED
I love the flavors of Indian food, but I tend not to eat it often because it's so hard to find healthy options. Most of the Indian buffets in UCity are full of fried samosas, tons of rice, and lots of other deliciousness that I try to keep to a…More »
9. Pho Cali Vietnamese Restaurant
I'm not a pho expert so I can't tell you how this rates compared to the other options in the area. In terms of general dining and food experience, though, I thought this place was solid.
The decor is definitely minimalist - but hey, you're in…More »
10. Mizu
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 382-1745
Category:
Sushi Bars
Neighbourhood: University City
Solid, reasonably priced, and I have never had suspicions that they are going to kill me with bad fish or unsanitary practices. Everyone needs a go-to, cheap sushi spot. If you are in UCity, Mizu is a good option.
11. Smile Cafe
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 564-2502
Category:
Thai
Neighbourhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
I've gotten takeout from Smile Cafe a few times, but had not been to the restaurant until a friend had them open for her birthday. We had a large group so we basically took over the restaurant. I think it's great that they will do this for large…More »
12. Ariana Restaurant
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 922-1535
Categories:
Middle Eastern,
Afghan
Neighbourhood: Olde City
Ariana is a nice change of pace if you've gotten stuck in a rut of Italian/American BYOBs. They have a huge menu of Afghan cuisine; if you are looking to try something new or head out with a big group of friends, it is definitely worth considering.
…More »
13. Zahav
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 625-8800
Category:
Middle Eastern
Neighbourhood: Society Hill
I went to Zahav twice in two weeks - the first time, they earned themselves a solid 4 stars, but my second visit bumped them solidly into the 5-star category. If you enjoy Mediterranean flavors, Zahav does them exceptionally well - and the atmosphere…More »
14. Audrey Claire
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 731-1222
Categories:
Mediterranean,
American (New),
Seafood
Neighbourhood: Rittenhouse Square
I was leaning towards five stars, until a minor snafu at the end of our meal with the bill that I'm still not quite sure I understand. But more on that later.
Audrey Claire is a cute, TINY little restaurant. I went at 8:00 on a Sunday night and the…More »
15. Barbuzzo
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 546-9300
Category:
Mediterranean
Neighbourhoods: Market East, Avenue of the Arts South
Barbuzzo was a great choice for Restaurant Week. This was my first trip, and I will definitely be returning to sample the full menu.
The RW menu began with two types of crostini. The bread was thin and toasted so you ran the risk of biting into your…More »
16. Effie's
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 592-8333
Categories:
Greek,
Mediterranean
Neighbourhood: Washington Square West
Effie's is a great place to come if you've got a lot of friends and intend to drink a lot of wine. I'm not sure if I'd come here for a date or a casual dinner out, but if you're looking for a place that will accommodate a dozen (or more) of your…More »
17. Kanella
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 922-1773
Category:
Greek
Neighbourhood: Washington Square West
I went to Kanella with about a dozen friends for my birthday dinner, and it was GREAT. Food, service, ambiance - everything was phenomenal. If you've got something to celebrate or just a lot of hungry friends, this is definitely worth adding to your…More »
18. Opa
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 545-0170
Categories:
Mediterranean,
Greek
Neighbourhoods: Market East, Avenue of the Arts South
I'm a big fan of Greek food and was looking forward to trying the newest addition to Philadelphia's collection of Greek restaurants. My birthday provided the perfect opportunity, so I headed here with a group of 7 friends on a Thursday evening. Last…More »
19. Bistro La Baia
Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 546-0496
Category:
Italian
Neighbourhood: Rittenhouse Square
Bistro LaBaia is one of my go-to restaurants for BYOB dinners with a large group. It's a small place, so you will definitely need to get reservations if you're planning to bring a crowd. Pin your friends down to make plans in advance, because it is…More »
20. Mercato
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 985-2962
Category:
Italian
Neighbourhood: Washington Square West
My first trip to Mercato happened during Restaurant Week, so some of the slips of service we had were probably due to the crazy number of people they were trying to feed. The food was stellar enough to make up for the minor hiccups, I'll definitely…More »
21. Vetri
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 732-3478
Category:
Italian
Neighbourhoods: Washington Square West, Avenue of the Arts South
Vetri is very good. You don't get this many awards and become this well-known without doing something right. Everything about the experience, from the food to the service to the ambiance, was very good. I think the only problem I had at Vetri was…More »
22. Amada
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 625-2450
Category:
Tapas Bars
Neighbourhood: Olde City
My gustatory love affair with Jose Garces is well-known among my friends. Surprisingly, Amada was one of the last JG restaurants I tried. As his flagship restaurant, it is perhaps his best-known - and deservedly so. Every time I have eaten here,…More »
23. Tinto
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 665-9150
Categories:
Tapas Bars,
Lounges
Neighbourhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
I accidentally ended up at Tinto during Restaurant Week, so I thought I'd update my review to tell you about what the place is like during this most wonderful time of the year. In a nutshell, just as good as it is the rest of the year, and if y'all…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/17/2011
As much as I love all of Garces' restaurants, Tinto has a special place in my heart. And in my… Read more »
24. The Dandelion Pub
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 558-2500
Categories:
Gastropubs,
British
Neighbourhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
Thumbs up, Starr. I've always thought you were a bit pretentious and overrated, but your recent enterprises are getting me to rethink my opinion.
The physical space here would be worth coming for alone. It seems to have taken over two adjoining…More »
25. Pub & Kitchen
Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 545-0350
Categories:
Pubs,
American (New)
Neighbourhood: Rittenhouse Square
I've been to Pub and Kitchen for both Sunday brunch and weeknight drinks, and thought it was a great spot for both. During my second visit I brought an Authentic British Friend (TM) to suss out the authentic English-ness of the place - apparently it…More »
26. Sycamore
I keep meaning to write up some of my thoughts about our UYE dinner at Sycamore. But then I remember the chilled carrot soup, and I realize that I am not at this very moment sitting in Sycamore and cannot have the soup, and I know that I cannot make…More »
27. Almaz Cafe
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 557-0108
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Ethiopian
Neighbourhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
I couldn't understand why Almaz Cafe kept popping up on my Yelp homepage. "Why do they want me to write another review?" I thought. "Wasn't my original one enthusiastic enough?" I was sure that I'd already sung the praises of this spot, one of my…More »
28. Alma de Cuba
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 988-1799
Categories:
Latin American,
Caribbean
Neighbourhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
I've been to Alma de Cuba three times, and each time I visit I find myself liking it more than the last. My first encounter was during Restaurant Week, and I left underwhelmed - while the ambiance and service were stellar, I didn't think the food…More »
29. b.b.go - CLOSED
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 569-3905
Categories:
Korean,
Asian Fusion
Neighbourhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
I have absolutely no qualifications to write this review. I had never eaten Korean food in my life before walking into b.b.go. I can't tell you if this is authentic, if there is somewhere better in the city to get it, or how it compares to your…More »
30. Manakeesh Cafe Bakery
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 921-2135
Categories:
Bakeries,
Coffee & Tea,
Middle Eastern
Neighbourhoods: University City, Spruce Hill
Manakeesh was SO GOOD. I was excited to try out the restaurant, but was cautious because a few friends whose opinions I really respect had given them 3-star reviews. My experience was absolutely 5-star caliber.
The menu is extensive. I'd checked it…More »
Recently updated lists from Laura S.
Philadelphia Bucket List (9)With just a few weeks left in Philadelphia, I set out to return to some old favorites - and try some great new spots! |
Back of the Bus (8)Remember in elementary school when all the cool kids hung out in the back of the bus? That's what Yelp Elite events are like. But with booze. |
Ritten-hungry (20)Places to eat within walking distance of the city's backyard. |
I Would Walk 500 Miles (4)It takes a lot to get me out of Center City. These places have what it takes. |
It's a Beautiful Day in the Gayborhood (4)Out in the land of rainbow-flagged street signs. |
ROTD (4)My 15 minutes of fame on the internet, accrued 24 hours at a time. |
Nobody Likes You (24)You have no friends, you have no date, you're all alone. The bright side is, you can still eat well! Here is a list of places I have had good solo dining experiences. |
Campus Eats (7)Penn grad student? Undergrad? Resident? Visitor? Sometimes you don't have time to leave campus for food ... |
Pleased to Meat You (7)If life were a game of rock, paper, scissors, BBQ would beat EVERYTHING. |
Dine and Drink En Masse (9)Where to head with a half-dozen (or more) of your closest friends and a half-dozen (or more) bottles of wine, for hours of boozy enjoyment. |
See all 32 lists »
"Eats the Whole Pig"
- 92 Friends
- 215 Reviews
- 4 Review Updates
- 5 Firsts
- 27 Tips
- 8 Fans
- 43 Local Photos
- 32 Lists
-
Rating Distribution
Loading...
- View more graphs »
Review votes:
321 Useful, 188 Funny, and 222 Cool
Philadelphia, PA
Yelping SinceNovember 2010
Things I LoveRabbit, Diet Coke, Goldfish, Tequila, Pork Belly, Creme Brulee, Corn Chowder, Lamb, Reckless Abandon
Find Me InPhiladelphia, PA
My HometownI'm a local born-and-raised.
When I'm Not Yelping...I sell my soul to academia.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsFood & books are the only things I spend my money on.
The Last Great Book I ReadTwilight. But I read it ironically so it was OK.
My First ConcertGrateful Dead (Age 3) "Mommy what's a contact high?"
My Favourite MovieI hate James Cameron but I LOVE Titanic. I'll never let go, Jack.
My Last Meal On EarthSopa de Castano, rabbit, and a hot fudge brownie sundae.
Most Recent DiscoveryTurkey pastrami, swiss cheese, potato salad and Russian dressing on rye.
Current CrushMichelle C.