A Philadelphia Staycation? How often are you a tourist in your hometown? Would you even think to stay overnight in a hotel and visit the popular and offbeat attractions?  The staycation, a term that I’m not a fan of to be honest, has become more popular as folks look to define the fact that they are not doing the “big trip” whether due to schedules, money or kids activities near home.   However you define a staycation, there’s surprisingly lots to do in your hometown and within driving distance that you’ve always said “we should visit that sometime” well now is sometime.  It’s almost embarrassing that I had never visited the Rodin Museum until recently when I stayed at the Logan Hotel.  It’s an amazing collection, the largest outside of Paris, and for years I kept saying “someday”. So while you aren’t at work, let’s plan to get you out and about in Philadelphia.

So how to make the most of your staycation and not do “the honey do” list?  A few ideas to share for folks in the Philadelphia area and for those visiting Philadelphia for a day trip from NYC, D.C. or elsewhere.

Staycation Step #1 – Plan and/or Schedule (accordingly as this is still vacation time)

Plan the day out so you don’t get off track by errands or other home tasks. Don’t get too structured so you can have time to wander and discover something new. The only hard time is when to leave the house.

Staycation Step #2 –Define a Budget

Will you do day trips and sleep at home or splurge for hotel/airbnb? Check out Hotel Tonight, UWishUKnew and VisitPhilly for overnight stays and staycation packages.  Don’t park at the hotel as that could add up to $50 a night to the bill.  Look for local parking lots by PPA or book online advance with your favorite parking provider. If the package offers a choice of food or parking, take the parking!

Staycation Step #3 –Plan Your Meals – You might curate by neighborhood.

Food in Philly – You won’t go hungry in this city. Reading Terminal Market is a must see, do, eat.  After that, the new kid on the food scene is The Bourse Food Hall (across from the Liberty Bell). Throughout the city, there are a plethora of food carts on the corners of the Center City streets (popular before the evolution to the food truck) and food trucks serving all types of cuisine.  Your staycation might include trying the newest, popular or iconic restaurant in the city, for that you’ll need to use Open Table for reservations (maybe this is good time to redeem your points to save money on dining).

Staycation Step #4 –Pick a Theme (Instagram theme day)

There’s so much to do in Philadelphia that it can be overwhelming to think you can do it all.  You can’t.  What you can do though is plan a theme to your day(s).

A few Philadelphia Staycation theme examples:

Art Galleries – Old City First Friday (of the month) when the Art Galleries open to all to wander in/out.

Dinner: The Continental, Spasso Italian or Amada.  You could try your luck at the bar of Zahav, recently named the Best Restaurant in the U.S. (reservations are tough since the awards announcement).

History – One Day in Historic Philadelphia

Liberty Bell – Independence Hall – Second Bank of the US  – Ben Franklin Museum –Elfreth’s Alley – Visitor Center with the Hershey Kitchen Café – Revolution Museum – Constitution Center – US Mint – Betsy Ross House – Christ Church.

Lunch break at The Bourse Food Hall, The Continental or Campo’s (best meatball sandwich)

Mural Arts/Street Art –

Mural Arts Tours – Walking and Trolley Tours – The Love Letter by the El (Fall only).

Philadelphia Street Art Tour by StreetsDept (Conrad Benner) – a different neighborhood each month.

Museums – Too many to list – pick one and explore the nearby neighborhood.

[Parkway Neighborhood] Parkway Museums – Dinosaurs at Natural History – Marvel Heroes at The Franklin Institute – Impressionists at the Barnes – Sculpture at The Rodin – Rocky Steps – Art Museum

Food/Drink (create your own) –

Iconic Philadelphia foods (Jim’s Steaks on South, Rita’s Water Ice, Philly Soft Pretzel Factory, Wawa and Reading Terminal Market for Termini’s Cannoli, Basset’s Ice Cream and DiNic’s Roast Pork Sandwich)

South Philadelphia  – Passyunk Avenue Restaurants from tomato pie to Barcelona tapas.

Beer Gardens and Yards Brewery

Philadelphia Distillery Trail – visit the many PA based distilleries (make sure you have a sober driver or Uber planned out if drinking)

Shopping in Philadelphia – Philadelphia and Pennsylvania has no sales tax on shopping for clothes and shoes.  Sales tax on other purchases is 6% for State of PA and additional 1% in city of Philadelphia.

• Shopping on Walnut Street has a mix of chain stores as well as boutiques.
• Coming Soon (Fall), Philadelphia Fashion District will open near the Convention Center.
• For those venturing outside the city limits, the King of Prussia Mall is a behemoth on the East Coast. It is also surrounded by restaurants, experiences and shops outside the mall.  The mall has an app, make sure to download it to plan your visit.  Comfortable walking shoes are a MUST.
• A bit further away in Oaks, PA is the Philadelphia Premium Outlets, an outdoor mall filled with outlet shops.
• For those QVC fans, you know who you are, you can go to Studio Park and take various tours of QVC studios from the basic tour to a VIP tour (fees vary). They also have a Studio Outlet store in Frazer, PA and Lancaster, PA

Factory Tours – times and costs vary

• Herr’s Snack Factory (Nottingham, PA)
• Crayola Crayons Factory (Easton, PA)
• Asher’s Chocolates (Souderton, PA)
• Harley Davidson Factory (York, PA)
• Hershey World which includes Hershey Park amusements

Staycation Step #6 – Special Events in/around Philadelphia

• Free First Sunday at the Barnes Foundation [combine with The Rodin museum next door, Rocky Steps, photos and stroll along Boathouse Row].
• Marvel Universe of Super Heroes at Franklin Institute
  • Go to Urban Farmer Philadelphia for food followed by drinks with a view at Assembly, the Logan Hotel’s rooftop bar overlooking Logan Circle and the Parkway
• Giraffes in the Suburbs at Elmwood Park Zoo (Norristown)
• Did you know you can stay overnight on the Battleship New Jersey? Fun for kids of all ages.
• Summer on Penn’s Landing –  RiverRink roller skating – Spruce Street Harbor Park – Cherry Street Pier
• Summer Movie Night in the City (time/day varies)
  • Laurel Hill Cemetery $12 – july (Coco), august (Beetlejuice), sept (Gremlins)
  • Mann at the Movies – Philly Orchestra (fee)
  • Philly Parks
    • Moonlight Movies Mt. Airy
    • Dilworth Park
  • Charity Movies – Cira Green (Wed)
  • La Peg Beer Garden (Wed)
  • King of Prussia Towne Center (Thurs)
  • Schulykill River Park (Thurs)
  • Manayunk (Thurs)
  • NE Philly (Thurs)
  • Bartham’s Garden (Friday)
  • Betsy Ross House $5 (Friday)

Philadelphia Staycation Step #7 Walking Everywhere

Comfortable walking shoes are key to visiting Philadelphia. If you’d rather there is the Hop On/Hop Off Tourist Bus as well as the Flash Bus.

• Walking from City Hall/Dilworth Park – LOVE Park – Sisters Park – Logan Fountain – Parkway – Ekins Oval – Rocky Steps – Boathouse Row and back.
• Play a Game – Flags on the Parkway with Photos (Scavenger Hunt)
• Art Museum to South Street Bridge to The Magic Gardens and Jim’s South Street

Philadelphia Staycation Step #8 Have Fun

Discover the City – Go Home to Sleep – Rinse – Repeat for each day of Staycation

Hopefully these provide you with a starting point for how to spend your Philadelphia Staycation. For those wanting to jump on a bus, train or in the car to go to New York, Baltimore Inner Harbor, Washington, D.C. or the Jersey Shore that’s for another post.  Because being in Philadelphia gives us so many options to explore the East Coast in one day or more that we rarely have reason to leave the city.

What do you like to do in the Philadelphia area for a staycation?

Check out my “Staycations” travel segment on WHYY’s You Oughta Know, airing July 4th.

My Philly Dessert Guide (always changing as I indulge in more yummy research!) **note prices may change**

Updated 13 February 2019

Philly Dessert – The Philadelphia Cookies

If you have a cookie monster in your life (like me), they will be very happy munching on cookies from Hope’s Cookies.  I’ve been sending cookie love in over 20 flavors for more than 20 years now. In fact, their bake at home Triple Chocolate cookie dough is in my freezer now for when I can’t get to the store and want my house to smell like chocolate happiness. They offer shipping throughout the continental U.S. – I suggest ordering online Sunday/Monday/Tuesday to get the cookies 2-3 days later.

If you have a cookie snob in your life (like me), they will surely be impressed by the flavors and texture combination in one cookie, The Sour Cherry Sea Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie from Metropolitan Bakery.  A dozen cookies is $19.95 (before shipping).  Metropolitan Bakery also sells bread online, granola, popcorn and for the special dog in your life, homemade dog treats.

Philly Dessert – Philadelphia Chocolate

Spoiled by Chocolate choice here in Philadelphia, we have a handful of locally made by hand small batch chocolates all of which go well with a glass of red. You can order online or find all vendor varieties at the Pennsylvania General Store in Reading Terminal Market in Center City.

The Husband & Wife Team at John & Kira’s – they source local ingredients (or grow their own) and hand make/paint their chocolates (a labor of love) to turn out Salted Caramel Bees, Chocolate Ganache Ladybugs and Grown Up Fruit Squares (just a few of my favorites). I met a woman in Chicago who went I said I was from Philly told me that she has been ordering John & Kira’s Chocolates shipped to her Wyoming home for years. With shipping specials and holiday collections, this is the chocolate to impress your friends, family and Valentine.

Asher’s Chocolates – The Chocolate Covered Pretzels from Asher’s are addictive for me and it wasn’t until recently that I learned my mom lives five minutes from the Asher’s factory now she brings them to all family events and all my gym time goes out the window!  If you ever need to pry secrets from me – these are a good starting point.

The Love Bar, John & Kira’s Urban Garden Bars, Lore’s and Eclat Chocolate – locally made chocolate bars available at the Reading Terminal Pennsylvania General Store. They also have a few more options but those are bespoke and need to be bought in person at the PA General Store.

You can also check out the new Belgian Chocolate vendor, Chocodiem, at The Bourse Philadelphia Food Hall.  They have a chocolate bar, truffles on site and online ordering to ship in the U.S.

Philly Dessert – Ice Cream & Sorbets

Wait, you can ship ice cream and sorbet?  Yes, you can.  I read a post on a forum about a man who lived in Vancouver and shipped Bassett’s Ice Cream from Philadelphia to a friends’ house in Seattle (they ship U.S. only) and drove down to pick up his ice cream.  That’s devotion! Bassett’s Ice Cream is the oldest in the City of Philadelphia with a stand in Reading Terminal.  The pints can be ordered and shipped to your home – minimum of six pints for $59.99 plus shipping.

Philly Dessert – Cannoli, Cupcakes, Macarons and Budinos

The Salted Caramel Budino from Barbuzzo.  Sadly this gooey salted caramel dessert in a mason jar can’t be shipped but you can order it to go at the restaurant (order at the bar) or next door at Verde.

“Leave the Gun, take the Cannoli” a famous line from “The Godfather”.  This Italian pastry is popular year round but more in demand during the holidays.  Termini’s Bakery in South Philadelphia can ship you the cannoli shells and the bags of filling to fill your own cannoli.  Small packages (6 cannolis are $45) and large (12 cannolis for $70) plus shipping costs can be sent to only a handful of states.

Cupcakes from Whipped Bakeshop.  They will deliver locally in Philadelphia neighborhoods but do not ship nationwide.  You can deliver to your hotel room (a minimum amount + delivery fee) or you can visit the shop in Northern Liberties (a cab ride away).

Macarons from Parc.  No shipping, these are a bit of a secret treat as they are not on the menu.  The server will know if you ask, they are sold in small packs of six macarons (chef’s choice of flavors – each lovely).

Philly Gift – A Taste of Philadelphia Baskets

Want a mix of this, that and the other?  All of which are favorites?  Then the PA General Store in Reading Terminal is your go to.  Easy to order online with local delivery or shipping.  A tray of Asher’s Chocolate Covered Pretzels?  They have them. Hope’s Cookies?  They are the only store in Philadelphia to sell them as Hope’s is located on the Main Line in the suburbs.  Want butter cookies from the Melrose Diner in South Philly?  They can add those too.  Amish pretzels?  Yes, those too.  In person, the small stand sells Amish quilts and other handmade local Philadelphia items including LOVE souvenirs.

Warning:  The Philly dessert treats are so good, your friends and family may just expect them in the future. Not responsible for weight gain or dessert addictions

There’s a new food hall in Philadelphia and it’s at The Bourse in Old City’s Historic District across from Independence Mall and Liberty Bell Pavilion and next to the Hotel Monaco Philadelphia on 5th Street.  The newest entry in the Philadelphia dining scene is hitting on all cylinders to satisfy the food cravings of locals and tourists.  I visited The Bourse Food Hall after lunch on a Saturday and it was better that way because otherwise I would have been paralyzed with too many food decisions because I wanted to eat everything!  The curation of the food vendors and international food offerings is quite good in my opinion.  Plus there a new chocolate shop, Chocodiem, for me to indulge in (the owner is from Antwerp) authentic Belgian Chocolate goodness which is sorely needed in the city.

The History of the Bourse Building

The Bourse building, like so many in Old City, began its life serving a different purpose, in this case as a commodities exchange.  Old City was closer to the water in the early days and ships would arrive with products that found their way to the many exchange buildings in the neighborhood. The building was designed and modeled after The Bourse in Hamburg, Germany.  The terra cotta coloring outside is what you will notice first, in my opinion, at the Victorian building then the columns and the carving of Philadelphia Bourse name above the entrance.

The building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has housed offices for years and the lobby level at one point had some luxury shopping vendors before the souvenir shops moved in to serve the tourists visiting across the street. I’ve not been inside The Bourse in over twenty years if not longer. For years, it fell out of favor until the new owner (from D.C.) poured money into the building to upgrade the offices, add co-working space and add this food hall to serve more than tourists.

The Philly Food Hall at the Bourse

As we entered the food hall, I looked up and remembered visiting in my youth and appreciating the interior design and architecture.  Look up to see the architectural detail and the railings on the stairs are lovely. It’s a building that was in need of love and through food, it’s found it.

I entered from 4^th Street (the more popular entrance is on 5th street across from Independence Hall Park) and was met with the directory pointing to Bourse food vendors right and left. With the various food vendors in the food hall at the Bourse, I think you can satisfy your fast casual food needs and those of your family, including the picky ones!

**Note that Caviar is the delivery service so you can order from your hotel room or house to satisfy food cravings. If you order with the link below I may earn an affiliate commission**

Desserts at the Bourse Food Hall Philadelphia

Of course, dessert is my favorite in any food hall around the world.  At the Bourse Food Hall Philadelphia, there are three dessert options – chocolate, bakery and ice cream – all ready to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Chocodiem at the Bourse – Luxury Belgian Chocolate in Philly

We started walking on the right and didn’t get too far when I saw the Chocodiem shop with displays full of chocolate truffles which looked (almost) too good to eat. On the other side were the colorful French macarons that are from a French vendor in New York City.

Next to the counters, I saw the bar serving chocolate martinis with a liquid chocolate wall display in the center.  I already knew I was going to like it here.  I met the owner, Jean-Paul Hepp, who was happy to talk about his background (PhD in Science who left the Pharma industry) and how he opened his chocolate shop and in four years had won acclaim (Top Ten Chocolatiers in North America list in Dessert Professional Magazine) and my recent chocolate trip to Bruges where he and I agreed that Pierre Marcolini Chocolates are fantastic.

Jean-Paul uses locally sourced ingredients (where applicable) from Pennsylvania and New Jersey farms.  The chocolates are gorgeous – really pretty and my favorites included sea salt caramel and wine truffle (wine + chocolate = LOVE).  The stall has two walls filled with chocolates in small packages which are easy to buy and quick to consume (so buy a few extra).  Chocodiem has an online store for chocolate gifts, business gifts and offers special event chocolates to order.  If you can’t visit their Philly location, online is the next best thing.

 Barry’s Buns – Bakery at The Bourse

This all natural from scratch bakery got our attention with the gourmet sticky buns (my friends favorite), cinnamon rolls and my favorite, coffee cake (seriously could you walk past this display and not stop to at least look?).  The cakes on display were a sugar fantasy and I didn’t even have time to peruse the other display filled with cookies.  This is the only bakery in the Bourse Food Hall and in the neighborhood so find your favorite cake or cookie and indulge.

 Scoop DeVille – Ice Cream near the Liberty Bell

Scoop DeVille has been a local Philly favorite for over twenty years (they have a store on Chestnut Street).  When I worked in the city, my co-workers and I would visit a few times a week for sweet treats – they enjoyed the ice cream and I would often find a chocolate covered something to enjoy.  This location is easy to find when entering from the Liberty Bell/Independence side of the Bourse (5^th Street), it’s the first stall on the left.  So if you have kids with you and they are screaming for ice cream or milkshakes, Scoop De Ville is the place to go.  The brownie bowl ice cream is out of this world.

Food at The Bourse Food Hall Philadelphia

As we wandered about we marveled at the specificity of the vendors, they have limited menu options and focus on pretty much one theme (similar to a food truck concept)– there is a chicken soup shop called Prescription Chicken (from Washington, D.C.) and they only sell chicken soup in a variety of options.

There’s #GetFried Fry Cafe that focuses on fries (four types – hand cut, coated straight cut, waffle and sweet potato) and fried foods like the Mac N Cheese Crunch rolls. I will take issue with the Cheesesteak bowl (Rocky Balboa) as cheesesteaks DO NOT have peppers and mushrooms (see my Philly Cheesesteak post).  Another family friendly option is Mighty Melt Shop which specializes in Grilled Cheese.  Think you know grilled cheese?  Think again as they assemble a plethora of flavor on sourdough (note: the beef fat fries with parmesean, garlic and sea salt sound fantastic, sorry GetFried).

As for the other vendors?  Travel the world with your taste buds and choice.

• Italian at Bronze Table and Rustica Rosticceria
• Tacos at – Rebel Taco and the Korean Taco shop
• Indian Street Food – Hawaiian Poke – Egyptian Food (kiosk ordering) – Filipino Comfort Food
• Ramen – Chinese Dumplings – Fried Chicken
• Grubhouse (All Day Breakfast in Old City)
• Cheesesteak shop to taste the iconic Philly sandwich (but why oh why are there green peppers and mushrooms?)

Drinks at The Bourse Food Hall

There are three bars inside the Bourse Food Hall – a small bar at Chocodiem (chocolate martinis anyone?), the Bar by Bluebird Distilling with craft cocktails and full bar and the Taps Fill Station which has kegs full of beer, cider, wine and other (bring your own growler or buy one here).

There is a specialty tea bar, coffee shop and juicer for your non-alcoholic drink needs.

Specialty Gifts at the Bourse Food Hall

When you enter the Bourse Food Hall from 4^th street, you will be welcomed by the floral displays of Bonatsos for fresh flowers and plants.  If you fancy olive oils and vinegars then Olive with a Twist is the place to go for specialty cheese and charcuterie as well as the signature olive oils (I did an Olive Oil tasting in Barcelona and it was quite interesting).  Now that you have flowers to set the table and charcuterie and olive oils for the appetizers, your next stop should be Penzey’s Spices to add some flavor to your cooking.

Final Thoughts – Bourse Food Hall Philadelphia

My friend remarked that she didn’t see a salad only place.  Don’t worry, you can get your lettuce on at a number of spots as many vendors offer their own salad options.  We also didn’t see soft pretzels which are a fantastic Philly snack staple (for those go to Philly Pretzel Factory on 7^th & Chestnut).  Other than those two items, the Bourse Food Hall has pretty much everything you can want to enjoy a fast casual meal with friends and family in Philadelphia.

The only concern I have is that it opened in late fall/winter (slow season) and the tourists won’t really arrive en masse until May so its quiet now as local residents and workers in the area continue to learn about it.  I’ve seen so many other iterations of the space fail over the years so hopefully this will be the successful venture the building and neighborhood needed. Fingers crossed.

There was a bit of local grumblings about the lack of Philly vendors (and rent pricing) but honestly, it was nice to learn about other vendors from D.C., Baltimore and elsewhere (I think Reading Terminal covers the Philly only scene quite nicely).  Philly has so much food to taste, enjoy and experience that we have room to welcome everyone to the city.  That’s kind of our thing anyway right?  City of Brotherly Love.

Visiting:

Building Hours (individual vendor hours may differ)

Monday-Thursday 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Friday/Saturday 7 a.m. – midnight

Sunday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Parking – On Street Meters (meterUP app) or Bourse Parking Garage (enter on 4th street)

Delivery Service – Caviar delivers from a few (six)  of the 30 vendors at the Bourse Food Hall

I’m not much of a gambler, to be honest, I tend to lose more than I win and think how I could use the money elsewhere to enjoy (i.e. – shoes or vacation). That said, I do enjoy visiting the casinos for the food and entertainment options.   Having grown up in Philadelphia, Atlantic City was only an hour (in off-season) away to enjoy good food, music and a quick spin of the slots.  But in the past few years, Philadelphia now has its own casinos with a plethora of restaurant and entertainment options to enjoy much closer to home.  I was attending the Sarah McLachlan concert at the Parx Casino Xcite Center so figured best to try out the new food options in Bensalem (about 1/2 hour from Philly with no traffic). Joining the already tasty list of food options at Parx Casino is Liberty Bell Gastropub (“farm to fork” menu) and Oliveto (Italian classics) each with compelling menus.  Since I was in the mood to cheat on my diet with fries, the Pub won this time but I’m definitely going back to try the three course Oliveto $18 lunch special menu (Wed-Sun 12pm – 3pm) or Wild Boar Bolognese for dinner.

Liberty Bell Gastropub

Parx Casino recently added the Liberty Bell Gastropub to their dining line-up in January 2018.  I chose to try the Liberty Bell Gastropub because I was intrigued by their “grass-fed” meats and in-house rotisserie options (plus fries). The restaurant considers their menu “farm to fork” and surprisingly downplays the “grass fed” instead calling it craft food. For the Bensalem area lined with a variety of fast casual and casual chain restaurants, the “farm to fork” menu is a welcome change in my opinion.  The prices for the portions and quality were reasonable if not a bargain compared to Center City Philly options.   The bar area was quite busy for a Monday night with the side booths and tables filling up quickly with hungry people before the Monday night concert.

The large restaurant has a contemporary design and yet retains an intimate feel to the separate dining areas around and behind the U-shaped centerpiece bar.

Liberty Bell Gastropub Dinner

I met the press group for dinner and we couldn’t decide what to try and share so they ordered a bunch of appetizers.  I ordered the grass-fed short rib with jalapeno cornbread (note that the short rib is hot but the cornbread is not. the jalapeno heat was a surprise kicker).  The table ordered wild mushroom crostini, clay pot crispy fired shrimp,, fish tacos and pub wings.  They also enjoyed many of the signature cocktails like I’ll Have Another (Casamigos Reposado, cucumber, fresh lime and ginger) and the popular Fig-get-me-not (Knob Creek rye, fig + rosemary, lillet blanc, fresh lemon and black walnut bitters)  while I stuck with a glass of Pinot Noir.

Our server was noticeably busy with many tables seated at once, but he handled it like a pro and we were quickly acknowledged and served.  He suggested options, favorites and helped explain a few dishes. As a former waitress, the service was spot on despite the number of tables seated at once in his section. The cocktails did take time as the bar quickly filled up.

The appetizers were quickly delivered and filled the table with temptation. (Sorry about the lighting challenges I had).

I stayed on the sandwich side of the menu, opting for the Featured Sandwich – Grass Fed Roast Beef Sandwich (essentially a French Dip) with French fries.  My dining companions ordered the entrée Short Rib, the Pork Loin and the Rotisserie Chicken.  Each was a good size portion (if slightly on the larger side) and my dining companions easily cleared their plates, proclaiming their entrees were tasty.

Final Thoughts – Liberty Bell Gastropub at Parx Casino

To be honest, I expected a Pub even a “Gastro Pub” to have the same burgers, wings and salads so I was happily surprised by the varied “farm to fork” menu with fish, grass-fed meats in entrée and sandwich form and the variations of appetizers offered by Liberty Bell Gastro Pub at Parx Casino.  Spying other tables, the famous burger could be seen in abundance as a fan favorite.

I grew up not far from Parx Casino and spent a lot of time in the area at chain restaurants so it’s nice to see that Center City Philly quality food (and dining) has come to Bensalem.  Since this is a casino, you do need to be 21 years old to enter.  The Liberty Bell Gastropub is open from 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. to satisfy your comfort food cravings – with free parking and attentive staff, it’s definitely worth your time to go visit.  Maybe you’ll also get lucky on that slot spin!

Note that concerts tend to fill the restaurants quickly so I suggest making a reservation at Liberty Bell Gastropub and allowing ample time to enjoy your meal.  We arrived 1.5 hours before the concert and with appetizers had to forgo the dessert menu (yes, I was sad to miss out on the brownie!).

Thank you to Parx Casino for hosting me for dinner.  As always, my opinion is uniquely me on this dining occassion.

A Philly Cheesesteak in London?  Call me skeptical, as I’ve argued Philly Cheesesteaks around the world.  No…… green peppers are not a topping…mushrooms and green peppers are even worse and don’t get me started on the bread.  The Philadelphia Cheesesteak is imbedded in my childhood and those memories of how to do it right won’t go away.  I’ve since stopped telling food truck vendors around the world how they are ruining my city’s iconic sandwich.  That said, even at home, I’m a picky cheesesteak person.  So would Passyunk Avenue London pass my Philly Cheesesteak test? Can you really export an authentic taste of Philly?

Growing Up in Philly – Cheesesteak Memories

Growing up, the local butcher supplied my mom with the thinly sliced ribeye that she would then fry up and fill the local Amoroso rolls that my dad would bring home from his visit to the bakery.  Cheese Whiz, a key ingredient in the more famous Philly cheesesteaks never made it into the kitchen pantry.  Don’t think Mom was being health conscious of the fake processed cheese stuff, she favored another fake processed cheese, Velveeta.  Ah, those memories of childhood foods.

As I began traveling after college, back in the days before the smartphone, internet and globalization of foods, my “welcome home meal” was at the local diner, The Dining Car, with my parents who would pick me up at the airport.  My dad would insist it was “my treat” with leftover money I converted (he would do anything to make me pay).  My “back to the US” meal was a cheesesteak royal (American cheese no onions), extra pickles and a Pepsi.

As I grew older, the cheesesteak outings lessened (damn healthy lifestyle!) and somewhere along the way, it became a special treat when I was back in my childhood diner (an hour away) or if I wanted to relive my high school South Street memories at Jim’s Steaks.

When I discovered the posh cheesesteak eggrolls of Davio’s it allowed me to experience my childhood cheesesteak in a posh way – the cheesesteak in an eggroll, deep fried and served with onion strings and spicy ketchup.  But I never outgrew (or abandoned) the original cheesesteak.

Philly Bar in Fitzrovia

Philadelphians have their own cheesesteak memories and favorite places (hint: neither of which are Pat’s or Geno’s). But now I was in London and on my way to the quiet Fitzrovia neighborhood to the new Philly Bar, Passyunk Avenue, to see if an authentic Philly Cheesesteak in London really exists. The London Philly Cheesesteak version?

Fitzrovia is a residential neighborhood that I’ve stayed in many times before at my favorite hotel, The Charlotte Street Hotel.  On Cleveland Street, many blocks from the hotel, I saw the Passyunk Avenue sign and then the famous Philly “Yo” on the street and knew I was in the right place.  They might need to add JEET to the sign.

Passyunk Avenue London Philly Cheesesteaks

Immediately upon walking into the sport themed filled “dive” bar, I walked into the small neighborhood Philly bar of my youth.  Crossing the line from the outside in was strangely comforting – the wood panels, the tables and metal chairs, the music playing rock in the background.  The only indication I wasn’t at home in Philly were the accents from the tables – those were British.  I could imagine my college self eating here watching sports in my youth – it really was designed to capture the rowhouse bar experience.

I was told to take any table so I walked to the booth that gave me a view of the bar, tables and the street.  The mural at my booth was familiar, the television was playing the Phillies and another was playing “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (to be honest, I’ve never watched the show but it does have a following).  I didn’t get a chance to ask when “The Goldbergs” would be shown (a television comedy based on growing up in suburban Philadelphia in the 80’s which is so spot on with local references that I can’t help but watch, reminisce and be proud).

Passyunk Avenue London Philly/American Menu

Unlike the Philly cheesesteak shops at home, Passyunk Avenue in London has servers (and takes reservations!).  My server was from Jersey (New Jersey that is, not the nearby Channel Islands).  She fell in love with a Brit and moved to London a few years ago (I think that’s the plot of many movies).  I ordered wine, a cheesesteak wiz without (onions) and a side of skinny chips (fries to us Philly folk).  I had to argue a bit about the parmesan and oregano fries which she said were “a south philly thing” because I’ve never heard of those as being “a Philly thing”.  The crab fries with Old Bay, yep, those are a “very Philly thing” and Passyunk Avenue has those on the menu along with hot wings and mozzarella sticks (which falls into the American food column).

Other Philly things – hoagies, roast pork sandwiches and the selections of parm sandwiches (eggplant, meatball and chicken).  In the coming soon column – soft pretzel bites!  I’ve learned how to make the Philly pretzels and they are a bit tricky so I can’t wait to see how those turn out. On the bring your own menu – Tastykakes.  If you want the iconic krimpet or chocolate cupcakes, you’ll need to bring your own from Philly and if you do, bring a few extras to share with the staff.

Now to be fair, I had read the background of how Passyunk Avenue came to be (origins: food truck called Liberty Cheesesteak Company) and how the owner, JP Teti, has created his own version of Cheese Whiz (seriously folks, not everything needs to be exported).  So I had high expectations for the Philly experience.

The London Philly Cheesesteak experience

The cheesesteak presentation was a winner, served in the plastic tray with a sheet of paper underneath for the grease and mess, because there is always a mess.  This is a sandwich meant to be eaten by picking it up with both hands, not cut with a fork and knife as so many Brits do with their burgers.  For me, I didn’t care how I looked, I picked my half up with both hands (so very American of me) and bit into it and started to laugh.

I was laughing because I could instantly taste the quality of the cheese used for the cheese sauce and it’s already a bit high end for the cheese whiz folks but it was mighty tasty and complemented the meat in such a way to fake out my senses.  I could have been home in Philly as this was the real deal. Even the bread was close enough to an Amoroso roll to pass the test (we take our bread quite seriously in Philly).

During my meal, the booth in front of me, adorned with an accessible sticker (adhered on the day that Professor Stephen Hawking passed) a young girl was seated.  We got to talking as solo travelers do but also as Philadelphians around the world do.  She was also from New Jersey (Cherry Hill) and working as an au pair in Paris during her work sabbatical as a primary school teacher.  She was in London for the weekend for a music festival and craving a pizza steak, which is a cheesesteak with pizza sauce (marinara) on top.  As we chatted about how good our meals were, two guys from Philly came into the bar bearing gifts (Philly sport pennants).

Dessert at Passyunk Avenue London

At the tables around us were a variety of people which my server said were either local students or Londoners.   Did I want dessert?  To be fair, I was stuffed as I went beyond the typical cheesesteak meal with the fries but agreed when told the owner has his own cannoli.  Hmmm, cannoli?  I requested they be put in a takeaway container so I could try one and take the other two back to the hotel.  Italian pastry is also a contentious issue in Philadelphia with Termini’s and Isgro’s to name the two more famous cannoli bakeries in South Philly. The cannoli filling was a bit too sweet for me as I rarely eat cannoli but that said, they will also get a pass from me as being really close to home.

Passyunk Avenue Basement Bar – Nick Foles Bar

With my stomach confused by my foods – are we home in Philly?  Or are we still in Europe? I decided to descend to the basement “Nick Foles” bar, named for the Superbowl MVP who helped our Philadelphia Eagles win the Superbowl in 2018.  It wasn’t open during my visit but ok to go look at the cozy spots and additional sports memorabilia.

While taking photos, the manager escorted those Philly guys (on their business trip) from the bar (one guy lives 5 minutes away from me at home) downstairs to show them the key piece of Philly memorabilia – the bar back from Dirty Frank’s (classic dive bar) in Center City.  He talked about how they obtained the décor, moved from successful food truck to storefront and about the various groups in London that meet in the bar for sports games and school alumni events.

Eagles Game in London – October 2018

I asked about the upcoming (Philadelphia) Eagles game to be played at Wembley in London in October.  I can’t imagine how this tiny, quiet street (and the rest of the city) will react to chants of E-A-G-L-E-S.  He said media outlets had contacted them already and they are hoping to have a bit of street event to watch the game (it’s so Philly to close the street for a block party).  No word at this time if the street event is approved so as my British friend likes to say “watch this space”. I’m sure many media outlets will broadcast a story (or a hundred) about Passyunk Avenue in London.  Who doesn’t love the London Philly Cheesesteak story?

Passyunk Avenue London Philly Cheesesteak Verdict

If you are craving the Philly accents, food and sports, Passyunk Avenue in London is a definite must do.  If you are keen to learn about this iconic Philly sandwich (without having to take the flight and deal with the jet lag) then put the fork and knife down and learn to be messy at Passyunk Avenue London.  After twenty years of traveling to/from London, it’s nice to finally have a place to go and have a taste of home (and play the which Philly neighborhood are you from game). The cheesesteak is definitely a winner for me and I can’t wait to return! Thankfully there are no calories on vacation right?

A few notes:

1. The server telling the table of four that a “steak sandwich” is not a filet steak inside bread (yuck!).  That’s usually what people tend to think at first.  The steak is thinly sliced like the meats on the charcuterie tray or the Iberian ham on the tapas menu.
2. Cheesesteaks are a fantastic late night snack after the bar – in the US the bars are open to 2 a.m. and many diners are 24/7 so cheesesteaks after drinking were a normal outing (for my much younger body and self).  In London, the bars tend to close at 11 pm or midnight (Passyunk Avenue closes at 12:30 am) so it’s a perfect after the pub destination or takeaway option as well as all day dining.
3. If you are visiting from Philadelphia, bring Tastykakes and sports memorabilia (I’m already planning my next visit with Villanova NCAA Championship banners!).

The Commonwealth (because we are technically not a state although we say “State of PA” often) of Pennsylvania controls all alcohol, yes, all of it via the Liquor Control Board (LCB).  The LCB regulates happy hour rules/prices, charges a fortune for liquor licenses (which is why Philly has over 200 BYOBs) and is the largest purchaser of wine (which keeps prices pretty low based on bulk buying) .   If you ever see me (or other people) gawking at the ease of buying liquor in the corner store, supermarket or Costco you can guess we are from Pennsylvania.  There is no Two Buck Chuck at Trader’s Joes, no wine at Costco (let me repeat, I go to Costco and there is no wine!) and forget the supermarket (that would be too easy to have it all in one place although some markets can now sell beer.).  To make it even more complicated:

Wine & Liquor

• Wine and Liquor is only available at the Pennsylvania Wine & Spirits Store – staffed by government employees and owned by the state.  The stores are few and far between, not consistent in the products and a few are closed on Sundays.  Football Sunday needs advanced planning.
• There are a few specialty deemed premium wine stores that have a better wine selection – it has definitely gotten better over the years but the choices are still limited

Beer take-away depends on the size

• Six Packs are only available at restaurants, bars and licensed package shops.  A recent state amendment has expanded to supermarkets. You can only buy two 6 packs at a time (or go out to your car and come back in) or one 12 pack.  Individual bottles and cans can be sold for takeout.
• A case of beer or a keg is only available at a beer distributor – you can’t get six packs here.  Beer Distributors sell beer, soda and water by the case.

When I have parties, I need to go to at least three stores to set up the bar – beer distributor, wine & liquor store and the supermarket for ice.  If I’m like the typical resident, I will break the law and drive to a neighboring state (New Jersey or Delaware) to find wine nirvana at Moore Brothers (they have bespoke options) or Total Wine (a superstore)- there’s a reason the larger liquor stores are just over the state line or bridge – check out the license plates in the parking lot, pretty sure there is a high concentration of Pennsylvania plates.

So maybe you don’t feel my pain thinking “I’m sure not all the wine is bad” and you would be correct, there are definitely good options if you look and are willing to pay a premium for a bottle.  Let me give you a recent example that will make any wine lover shudder – returning from Australia (Yarra Valley visit), I visited the downtown location of the Wine & Spirits Shop and walked to the “Australia” aisle.  My gasp was audible – the entire aisle was full of Yellow Tail and that was all.  I had to ask for help and was directed to a small shelf in the premium area for Australia options.  Ok, yes, I know I’m being a bit of a wine snob but there are so many great Australian options from the Yarra Valley, Hunter Valley and Margaret River and my options were limited to maybe ten bottles (I didn’t count as I was in a bit of shock).

In the past few years, I’ve biked the vineyards of Chile for Carmenere, visited the many wine regions of Australia, marveled at the beauty of the two regions of South Africa’s vineyards and many others over the years.  It is wrong to want to relive those wonderful wines here at home?  Sadly, the politics, state union jobs and money continue to make this a huge issue – there are many screaming to sell the licenses to private companies to give residents more choice and convenience as well as additional revenue to the state. Others lament the loss of union jobs, control and the high cost of the licenses (out of reach of small business owners), higher prices and rise of societal problems.  The saga of privatizing has gone on for years and no end is in sight so residents will continue to be law breakers in search of good choices such as the local attorney charged with selling high end wine (97 pages of wine not available in Pennsylvania!).

Now, when I travel, wine tasting means so much more, it means I need to savor the wine since I won’t be able to ship it home.  I take pictures of the wine, the bottles, the names to remember in case I ever see those bottles again.  I drink the local wine on the plane for me, it’s a treat.  I buy the wine kiosk card on the Celebrity cruise to sample the wines I’ve heard of but we don’t have in Pennsylvania.

Luckily, the rise of wine bars like Tria and the explosion of craft brewers (see Philly Beer Week)  in the Philadelphia area are helping one glass/growler at a time making memorable meals, now if I could only buy that bottle when I travel and ship it home (without being a criminal!)

No visit to Philadelphia is complete without a visit to the Reading Terminal Market (tagline Fresh and Local Every Day) located in downtown Center City across from the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  The market is one of the largest and oldest markets in the U.S. with its origin in 1892 as part of the Reading Railroad train shed (the market was located below the tracks).  Over the years with the bankruptcy of the Reading Railroad and neglect, the market was in disrepair.  In the 1980’s, the city embarked on a massive relocation of the commuter rail system to bypass the terminal and in the 1990’s the Convention Center bought the building and set about to rebuild the historic market and train shed.  All of this happened before I started working in Center City, so I only know the Reading Terminal that I visit weekly.  I often think how nice it would have been to see the old train station live (not in historic photos) and the market area prior to all of the new buildings which are now almost 25 years old.  For the past twenty five years, many vendors have come and gone but the spirit of the market remains as each day it is filled with locals, tourists and convention attendees – it really is a gem in Philadelphia.

Before you enter, you will hear the street musicians outside the market and see the One Step Away vendors who are trying to combat homelessness by writing, producing and selling a street newspaper for $1.00 (it is a great local cause to help people earn money to find housing and jobs).

As I enter Reading Terminal Market, the four corners are enough to keep me blissfully happy without exploring the middle of the market.

In one corner, my favorite Amish counter, The Dutch Eating Place, for breakfast (blueberry pancakes, crispy bacon and fresh squeezed orange juice) or lunch (hot turkey platter with fresh squeezed lemonade).  In another corner, I’m indulging my sweet tooth at the PA General Store with locally made treats and goods such as chocolate from Asher’s, John & Kira’s and Neuchatel and my favorite cookies from Hope’s Cookies. Across the aisle are freshly made baked goods from Metropolitan Bakery (love their sour cherry sea salted chocolate chip cookie).  A new entrant to the tempting baked goods is Beiler’s Donuts which are made right in front of you – try to buy (eat) one!  All are included in my Philly Dessert Guide!

As you wander the aisles trying to decide what to try first, you may hear live music coming from the piano player in one of the seating areas.  You will see the lines at the stands (which move quickly).  You will wonder if you can snag a seat (this takes a bit of skill to learn the nuances of when someone is done eating and about to leave their table) – we generally find a table and take turns going for our food during busy times.  You will start to eat your food and then look around and see all the other foods people are eating – don’t worry you picked well for today, you can come back later to try something else.  If your visit is short, many vendors have online ordering to ship in the U.S.  I always encourage folks to take foods with them on the car/plane ride as it will be better than what is served along the way (I always travel with Hope’s Cookies).

The far corner of the market is where Iovine Brothers Produce sells a myriad of fresh fruit and vegetables (a healthy balance).  The final corner for me is Termini’s Italian bakery – cannoli or baker’s cheesecake anyone?  If these are not enough to tempt you to bring your stretchy pants and divorce your food journal when you visit Philadelphia then step inside the four corners to the fresh fish, market made cheese at Valley Shepherd Creamery & Meltkraft, DiNic’s Roast Pork (best sandwich in 2012 by the Travel Channel’s Adam Richman)  and over 70 tempting  stalls to eat, drink and shop while supporting the local small businesses.

To say Philly is spoiled with food choice is an understatement, the Reading Terminal Market alone can keep you busy for days while trying to eat your way through all of the options.  Other famous vendors are Bassett’s Ice Cream (since 1861 – the oldest ice cream shop), Bassett’s Turkey and the Down Home Diner.  I read a post recently of a man in Vancouver, Canada who shipped Bassett’s Ice Cream to a friend in Seattle and then drove down to pick it up – that is dedication!  The Amish section of the market is a big draw, their stalls are open Wednesday – Saturday.  There is a demonstration kitchen, private event space and market tours every Wednesday and Saturday at 10 a.m (there is a fee for the tour). For the holidays, a big draw is the toy train display, it reminds me of my childhood when we would visit the light show and see the toy trains with Santa at Gimbel’s.

The Reading Terminal Market really does a great job to showcase the diversity of our city through the food and brings people together with the many events throughout the year.  So if you visit the market on your Philly visit, do reach out and I can save a table for you!

For a first time visitor to Philadelphia, you will be overwhelmed (and surprised) by the amazing Philly foods available 24/7 (the pretzel bakeries and cheesesteaks are great midnight or 3 a.m. treats).  I always joke to bring your stretchy (fat) pants but the good part is that all of the food (and drink) calories are usually offset by the amount of easy walking you can do in Center City and along the Schuylkill River (running, walking and bike paths).  We are a foodie city (didn’t know that?  you should, we are a hidden gem of food) with a great range of restaurants, chefs, iconic foods, neighborhood institutions and local favorites.  No Philadelphia foods list will ever be the same – they will always include the cheesesteak, soft pretzel and water ice and then veer from there.

Now while I could probably write 100+ Foods to Eat in Philadelphia, let’s start with the most famous top 10+ that I usually suggest to first time visitors (not in order because that’s too hard).

Philly Foods – The Sandwiches

1. Cheesesteak – No Philadelphia visit is complete without trying our famous (and beloved) cheesesteak sandwich. It really is that good – even bad cheesesteaks are usually ok.  But you are a visitor and the key is to find the good ones with the best bread.  I’d order a whiz without.
   1. Don’t bother with chicken, the only choice is the beef (it’s thinly sliced sirloin).
   2. Next do you want with (or without) onions
   3. Pick your cheese (or fake processed cheese that we love)
      • American
      • Cheese Whiz
      • Not Provolone as it screams “I’m not from here” and can lose you the election

Now where to go?  That’s the question that can start fights with everyone having a favorite.  If you are staying in downtown Philadelphia, then there are two options for me. (Note there are many vendor carts and pizza shops that also do good cheesesteaks if you can’t get to my favorites).

√ Jim’s Steaks on South Street

√ Campo’s in Old City

√ Davio’s – The luxury version of the cheesesteak, the cheesesteak spring rolls with spicy ketchup and onion straws. You can sit at the bar and enjoy these with the bar menu or opt for a table and a special meal of freshly made pastas like the truffle oil gnocchi or angel hair pasta.  The dessert cart is heavenly so leave room.

2. DiNic’s Roasted Pork Sandwich. The Food Channel named this America’s best sandwich and we smiled as we already knew it was a winner (after the cheesesteak of course).  Located in Reading Terminal across from the Convention Center be prepared to wait in line.  The roast pork sandwich with broccoli rabe is massive so be prepared to share.
3. Hot Turkey Platter at the PA Dutch Eating Place (Reading Terminal Market) – This Amish counter is worth the wait.  My all time favorite is the Hot Turkey Platter which is two slices of white bread (or one slice of bread for open face) with freshly sliced turkey covered in gravy with a side of mashed potatos or freshly cut fries (we are indulging, right!?).  It looks messy (it is) but it’s amazing!  Order with a fresh lemonade.

   

    

4. Hoagie – You might call it a sub but here in Philly, it’s a hoagie. Please don’t think Subway is your hoagie option – go to Wawa or find a Primo’s Hoagies.

Philly Foods – The Sides with Beer

Go to any bar and ask for a Yuengling Lager.  This famous beer from Pottsville, PA can only be found locally. We also have many local craft breweries supplying the city with unique offerings (bring your growler to fill) and pop up beer gardens that you’ll be hard pressed to find someone ordering a Budweiser or Coors Light.  For the true craft beer fan, Philly Beer Week, is a reason to visit Philly in May/June.  What goes best with beer?  Pretzels and Fries!

1. The Philadelphia Soft Pretzel (we love our carbs!). You will see soft pretzels available in a variety of stores and vendor carts (we have many bakeries so you will notice a difference). In Center City you will see (and smell) a plethora of Philadelphia Soft Pretzel Factories.  Walk inside the green & white stores and be enveloped by the aromas and all of a sudden you are scarfing down more pretzels than you intended.  These fresh out of the oven treats go best with a spicy brown or hot mustard (yellow mustard is really a NO in my opinion).   All are good just remember you are walking all of these calories off, right?
2. Chickie’s & Pete’s Crab Fries – A special blend of old bay seasoning that tops your basket of crinkle cut fries (regular and/or sweet potato) that comes with melted cheese and/or honey. This is a special trip to South Philly, the Sports Stadiums or at the Philadelphia airport on your way home.  These are not to be missed (and are worth the added gym time).

   

Philly Foods – The Sweet Treats

1. Philly Water Ice – This is usually a confusing one for visitors. It’s not shaved ice, it’s not a snow cone with flavored syrup.  It’s an icy treat to make the humid summers seem bearable.  It might be closer to a sorbet but not as creamy.  Made with fresh fruit and a variety of flavors, pair it with the salty soft pretzel and memories of my youth are returning.  Rita’s Water Ice can be found by its red and white striped awning throughout the city.
2. The Philly Desserts – I’ve written an entire dessert guide about my favorite Philly desserts that you can enjoy locally and send home as a reminder of your trip. Here are just a few of the highlights near the Convention Center and at Reading Terminal Market:
   1. The Barbuzzo Budino – salted caramel, cream lined with a cookie crumble base (Barbuzzo -13^th Street near Sansom)

      

       

   2. Termini Bakery Cannoli’s (famous Italian pastry at Reading Terminal Market first aisle)
   3. Metropolitan Bakery Sour Cherry Sea Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie (enough said – find in the back corner of Reading Terminal Market)
   4. Asher’s Chocolates (I’m addicted to the chocolate covered pretzels – available at the PA General Store at Reading Terminal Market)

      

   5. John & Kira’s Chocolates – Husband/wife team producing hand crafted chocolates (love the sea salted caramel bees) and candies.  Worth the extra cost trust me! (available at the PA General Store in Reading Terminal Market)

      

       

       

3. Donuts at Federal Donuts – This is your foodie version of the donut. Federal Donut sells two foods – fried chicken and donuts.  A weird combination that is a winning one.  While we all love our Dunkin Donuts, Federal Donuts becomes the gourmet version for our grown up foodie tastes. With flavors like Vanilla Spice, Strawberry Lavender, Blueberry Marscapone, Chocolate Peanut Butter and of course, the old standard, Old Fashioned Glazed you will find a favorite. You can get a hot, cooked to order donut or try one of the fancy ones (this is a great example of when to wear your fat pants).

   

4. Capogiro Gelato & Sorbet – a husband/wife team creating small batch locally sourced gelatos and sorbets. They give you free tastes and are a luxury treat throughout the city.  When its raspberry season I would go daily (lots of walking folks!), others enjoy the dark chocolate and Dulce de Leche.  The sorbet options (dairy free) are unique in fruit & vegetable flavors. (13^th & Sansom, across from Barbuzzo)

Philly Foods – Vegetarian, Vegan, Coffee

• Vegetarians and Vegans Philly Foods – Philadelphia has a variety of food options to satisfy your veggie needs. Top spots include Vedge, Mama’s Vegetarian and Sweet Freedom Bakery.
• Coffee  – La Columbe is the top spot but coffee (and tea) is quite competitive with a plethora of neighborhood coffee shops vying to feed your caffeine fix.

  

Philly Foods – Wawa:

• WAWA is an Institution in Philadelphia (yes, it’s a funny name but just go with it). Don’t look for the 7-11, just find the Wawa for all of your Philly Foods like Hoagies, Herr’s Potato Chips, Tastykakes (Butterscotch Krimpets are the best) and Wawa coffee.

  

There‘s no calories reading this post but there sure are indulgent calories in trying these Philly foods.  But that’s what vacation is for to indulge in local favorites for special memories.  Hopefully you’ll find a few options above to enjoy during your visit.  Just remember to pack those stretchy pants!

If you are a local, comment below with your favorite Philly Foods that you’d recommend to a visitor.

My friends often think me crazy when I get excited by a new restaurant or shop (Primark) that comes to Philly that I’ve experienced whilst traveling.  When I heard that Urban Farmer Philadelphia was making its steakhouse debut inside the new hotel, The Logan, I was pretty happy.  Both are Sage Hospitality properties with the hotel part of the Curio by Hilton Collection.  I first came upon Urban Farmer in Portland as the on-site restaurant at The Nines Hotel.  It was local, farm to table freshness and so good I forgot to leave the hotel to explore other Portland offerings (the many food carts, wine bars, etc.).

For the past month, I’ve been on a strict “get healthy elimination diet” and at one point might actually hurt you for a dinner roll as I weened myself off of my bread addiction.  For my visit to Urban Farmer Philadelphia which just opened earlier this month (January 2016), I decided I was going to cheat on my food journal and let my inner fat girl free to indulge (everyone needs a cheat day to stay somewhat sane in my opinion).

Open Table Is Your Friend in Philadelphia

The Friday night reservations were full at normal dining times but thankfully my friend agreed to the early 5:30 p.m. slot (one of the only available times).  While waiting for my friend on the hotel side of the restaurant (you can enter via the hotel or from the Parkway), the hostess more than once checked on me and asked if I wanted a drink or snack while waiting (two servers did the same).  My friend would arrive late but entered from the street side and found me easily after walking through the crowded restaurant and bar area.

The Casual Elegance

With a hip, modern luxury design, the restaurant has plush chairs, nicely arranged shared tables in the bar, a few booths and many different seating options around the bar and lounge.  The tables are very warm and inviting. We were seated in a cold zone when the door first opened but once the restaurant was full, I didn’t notice a chill at all (ok, it might also have been the wine).

Dinner Service

Our server, Anthony, quickly greeted us and walked us through the menu and had patience with our many questions. Another server was quick with the water refills and neither of us could even get to the bottom of our glass. Throughout our meal, everyone was attentive and helpful as we had one or two minor issues to resolve.

The Food Fest Dinner

This is where my inner fat girl decided gluttony was on tap for the night. She shunned any thought of a vegetable (there were many to choose from).  A bread plate was served with fresh homemade rolls along then Anthony motioned a soup can and out popped homemade corn bread (hello bread, I’ve missed you).  My friend and I split the cornbread and then ventured into a roll each.

My friend started with the Caesar salad without anchovies and I took a photo.  The server asked me about this and I said “I like Instagram worthy photos” and steak isn’t so pretty in pictures.

I had seen the tableside old school rolling cheese cart circulating and serving happy tables with cheese.  The cheese was served at $6 per selection.  I asked if I could get a photo while sadly saying “I’m lactose intolerant and miss cheese”, my friend exclaimed “I’m not”.  As the server explained the cheese choices, two were goat’s milk cheeses which I can eat.  He served up a gorgeous tray of cheese, homemade wheat cracker, local honey, fruit and sea salt. Knowing that my steak was arriving soon, I tried my two options and my friend enjoyed the local beer infused cheese before asking to put in a takeaway box.

And then my lovely 8 oz. grass fed tenderloin arrived cooked perfectly (photos of steak are never good) with a side order of fresh cut farm fries.  My friend ordered creamed spinach with the au gratin topping and despite the outside temperature of the dish, the inside spinach was barely warm so she sent this back and it returned not much hotter for her (the server and manager apologized and didn’t charge us for this).  Her steak wasn’t as medium well as she wanted (I think she got my medium steak) so she sent it back to cook a bit more.

Oh right, since I’m allowed two slices of bacon a week (yes, a week!), I took advantage of this and ordered the candied bacon with a tomato bacon jam on top (probably a month’s worth on my diet).  Bacon on bacon is just divine!  The bacon was absolutely worth every calorie, push up, jumping jack and whatever else I need to do at the gym.

Surely, that’s it, gluttony over?  One would think but we were having too much fun catching up over wine (the wine list has a great varied selection – I started with a Willamette Pinot Noir and moved to a Malbec for the steak and bacon pairing.  Since I was in full cheat mode, I was going all in…..as “an explorer of food”.

Dessert at Urban Farmer Philadelphia

My friend was super thrilled after she checked out the menu earlier in the day spotting her favorite Butterscotch Sundae – a warm brown butter blondie with toffee chip ice cream.

I was going to pass on dessert (the gluttony and diet deviation was already bad) but she didn’t want to dessert alone and who am I to pass up chocolate?  I had two interesting choices – the chocolate bon bons (six truffle like chocolates in flavors like lemon, raspberry, mint, hazelnut and two other flavors) or the chocolate sea salted whiskey ganache cake with hazelnuts (go ahead read that again to let it sink in).

Chocolate, Salt, Whiskey, Chocolate and Hazelnuts was the clear winner for me (I had to skip the caramel ice cream) if only for a few bites (I brought the rest home).  Since I had inquired about the bon bons, our server was all too happy to oblige (dear doctor, I’ve gain weight this month due to Anthony deciding we must enjoy all of the indulgences at Urban Farmer Philadelphia).  I could only manage the raspberry on site as I had a bit of wine left to finish. I put the rest in the takeaway box and gave them to the hotel staff at the Hyatt at the Bellevue where I was staying for the night to use expiring points. They were quite happy.

Social Media Posts

When I posted on social media, my friends all came out saying “Why didn’t you invite me” and “When can we go there” and “OMG, share that dessert” (If you know me, I don’t share dessert, you’ll need to get your own!). I had such a fantastic dinner experience at Urban Farmer on Friday, I returned on Monday for lunch with a friend!

Lunch on Monday

My former colleague met me for a late lunch on Monday and the manager came over to apologize for the “spinach incident”, they must have it noted in my file now!  He sent over a cheese tray (I notified the server that I’m lactose intolerant, so the manager returned with a charcuterie tray – who am I to say no?).

Photos from lunch – my friend ordered the deviled eggs, a turkey panini with a side of fruit and the chocolate whiskey cake.  I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with bacon and fresh avocado side of fries. Sadly, there is no cornbread at lunch.

Overall

The Urban Farmer Philadelphia is my new happy place in the city (no easy feat given all the amazing food options I have to tempt me but my inner fat girl was blissful).  While Urban Farmer is the new kid on the Parkway, I can already see a long successful relationship in our future and more cheating on my food journal as I still need to hit up breakfast and the happy hour menu……..