Dining Around Philadelphia

    I constantly get emails for restaurant recommendations.   Here are just a few places
    I’ve had the pleasure of visiting this year.   Philadelphia is chock full of inspiration for
    great food!  Please contact me if you would like recommendations for a particular
    cuisine or occasion.

    Xochitl
    408 S. 2nd Street

    I dined here last night at 6:45 pm.  Called the night before to make a reservation, but no
    answer?  When I arrived for dinner, they were fully booked.  Lots of buzz for a place just
    opened.

    I ate at the bar which had the full menu.  Bob, the bartender, was most accommodating.  
    We enjoyed original cocktails mixed with high end tequilas.  They do not skimp on the
    alcohol, and they taste so delicious, you could easily get in trouble here.  

    For the food, Bob gave some honest suggestions, but referred to his cheat sheet, as the
    restaurant has been open for only 3 days.  I loved the Sopas Azteca, strips of crunchy
    green tortilla in a savory broth of pasilla pepper and mushroom, crema and Chihuahua
    cheese.  I would walk through snow for this soup.  Enough said.    

    I opted for the whole snapper, done perfectly.  For dessert I had the black pepper
    chocolate cake topped with a warm tomatillo sauce and accompanied by a sesame ice
    cream.  The cool texture of the ice cream was a good balance to the hearty cake, but the
    sesame flavor was over powered by the tomatillo sauce.   

    It’s purely psychological to get past the idea of tomatilllos for dessert.  I appreciate the
    risk in creating this item, but this is not surprising from the team that created Marigold
    Kitchen in West Philadelphia.  I look forward to visiting again!


    Figs Restaurant
    2501 Meredith Street

    I dined here with suburban friends for the first time.   I had heard of this place over the
    years, but living in Washington Square, I’m spoiled by the good dining near me, and
    rarely venture across Broad Street.  As my friends live in Chestnut Hill, this seemed like
    a “mid point”.  Besides that, I had dined a few months ago at Divan’s Turkish Kitchen,
    (great meal there) and enroute to Divan’s, the cabby recommended Figs.  

    A few important points of interest: This is a BYO CASH ONLY joint.  Given the residential
    neighborhood, you would be hard pressed to find an ATM nearby.  Also, parking for
    suburbanites can be tough, although I hear there is a lot near Fairmount and 25th.

    Service was inconsistent at times, but not terrible.  The kitchen staff gets a kick in seeing
    what patrons will hit their head on the ceiling on their way to the upstairs bathroom.  
    They have a good time in their open kitchen, and execute the food well.

    The menu has a lot of variety.  I enjoyed the peppery seared rare tuna with a mango
    curry sauce, vanilla rice and bok choy.  My favorite flavor was my guest’s crispy duck with
    bread stuffing.  Yes…I know I’m supposed to be pescatarian for the month, but had to try
    it!  Perfectly tender and not too syrupy sweet.  

    I will definitely revisit Figs for the rest of the menu.  It was worth the cab ride to the other
    side of town.  
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best dining in Philadelphia