Eight Restaurants That Should Replace Dmitri's in Fitler Square

Like the rest of Fitler Square, we were disappointed to hear that increased rent will cause Dmitri's to forgo renewing its lease when the corner building at 23rd & Pine is sold. That seems to be a trend in Philly lately, with perfectly good - if not great - restaurants and locally-based retailers shutting down because of rent inflation. Dmitri's food never knocked our socks off, but the restaurant is a beloved mainstay around here. It is always busy and even draws in regulars from the suburbs. A friend of ours has a love affair with their grilled octopus.

The location has a liquor license, sidewalk seating across from a park and an engaged and culturally-diverse neighborhood to its advantage, so we sure hope to see another non-commercial, fun and casual restaurant take its place.

Here's who we think should move in:

1. Koo Zee Doo. We have not been shy about claiming Koo Zee Doo to be one of our all-time favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. But it fell victim to rent hikes in Northern Liberties and slow weeknights, closing last June to widespread outcry from fans all over the area. The owners said they'd be back and we think Fitler Square is the perfect spot for a Koo Zee Doo resurgence. The neighborhood could use something unconventional like Portuguese food. Only question will be... is the rent still too high?

2. Manakeesh. Along the same lines, Lebanese fusion could be a nice "something different" for Fitler Square. Manakeesh Cafe at 45th & Walnut is a huge hit for its flatbread sandwiches, platters and baked goods (we are obsessed with the baklava). We'd love to see them create a sit-down dinner menu, while also opening for breakfast and lunch, reminiscent of the original cafe style.

3. Chimu. On a recent trip to Brooklyn, we were tipped off to try Peruvian restaurant Chimu. Holy cow was it good. Skirt steak, chimichurri, ceviche... Is there any Peruvian food in Philly? If so, please advise on where we can get this.

4. Girl and The Fig. Another transplant idea. If you've ever been to Sonoma, CA, and didn't try the fresh, locally-sourced French cooking at Girl and The Fig, you missed out. Best meal we had in wine country. Not to mention that its owner/chef was raised and launched her career in Philadelphia. Come back, Sondra Bernstein! Your East Coast outpost awaits!

5. Gayle: The Revival. Daniel Stern's byob off South Street was the first restaurant we tried after moving to Philadelphia that really made an impact. (blog post from 2009, yikes!) The creative twists he put on dishes like pork & beans, shepherd's pie and "breakfast" blew our minds at the time, and the fact that a chef came out to talk to us was mind blowing. A true turning point in our experience with food. We don't doubt he could do that again.

6. Bring back Pat! Friends had mixed experiences at 943 during its run on 9th Street in the Italian Market. Maybe it was the wrong spot? Struggled like other BYOBs to bring in enough revenue? We really liked the Argentinian/Italian blend at 943 and would love to see Chef Pascual Cancelliere (such a nice dude) give it another shot with a liquor license and new audience.

7. Zeppoli. One of the supposed best restaurants in "Philadelphia" is actually in Collingswood, NJ. We have been saying for three years that we'd go, but still haven't done it. So on behalf of everyone who can't mentally cross a bridge for dinner, we'd love to see Zeppoli expand its genius Italian cooking west of the Delaware River.

8. El Bulli. I mean, why not. Best restaurant in the world is now closed, so let's see it re-open in Philadelphia! A foodie can dream.

What we don't need: Brunch joint like Honey's or $27 entree bistro a la Fitler Dining Room. We're not criticizing either popular spot, just don't need another one so close.

Keep in mind that L2 at the corner of 22nd & South is apparently closed and that's twice the size of Dmitri's, so hopefully we'll get two great new places.

What are your suggestions??

Fiorino: A Hidden Gem in East Falls

East Falls seems to be the Philly neighborhood without a food identity yet, at least in our minds. It's stuck between Center City and Manayunk without the panache of either.

Lamb shank special at Fiorino

We're not familiar with any food options in East Falls beyond In Riva (which we like) and Johnny Manana’s - not for the food but the central location and colorful exterior. Major Wing Lee Grocery Market has received notoriety for its $3 hoagies. Anyone suggest we go there for Hoagie Quest?

It's against this backdrop that we visited Fiorino and discovered a top contender in The Nana Test. We probably never would have even heard of Fiorino if a friend had not moved in down the street.

Franco Faggi is the owner and chef of Fiorino, which specializes in the cuisine of Romagna, his native homeland in Italy. Franco also offers FREE cooking classes (minus $10 for the supplies). Wow. We'll be looking to check that out.

Let's get to The Nana Test.

Photos of the Week: Let's Get Cultural

Here are some great bites we've had recently of Indian, Mandarin and Cuban food:

First up is the warm, soft garlic naan at IndeBlue, the new-ish Indian restaurant along 13th Street. I really enjoyed our entire meal there - great colors and flavors across the table. You don't find goat on many menus, but here the goat biryani is a regular item and was quite a treat on a cold night. Before you go, know that IndeBlue puts a trendy, modern twist on Indian cooking, so traditionalists should temper expectations. Adding to 13th Street's already-hyper cool appeal, IndeBlue is one more fun place to go on a date or with friends. Dinner party anyone?

To get even warmer, check out this hot pot from Sakura Mandarin in Chinatown. Our video below does the best job at showing just how H-O-T this was to the touch and to the soul... we're talking red cheeks, eyes-watering, snot-dripping hot. And delicious, too. You have several options of meats, fish, tofu and veggies to toss in there so make it your own. Sakura's steamed crab and pork soup dumplings are also supposed to be the closest thing to Dim Sum Garden's beloved favorite, but we agreed that they still aren't nearly as life changing. As for other dim sum, the scallion pancakes were awesome, shanghai siu mai a little boring. Regardless, this hot pot left its mark. 

Last but not least... the Calle Ocho from Rosa Blanca. It's a twist on the traditional Cubano, with roast pork, chorizo, caramelized onions, pickles and Swiss cheese. We grabbed it at the bar one evening with some empanadas and ceviche. Overall a quality, quick little meal if you're hopping around the city, especially the sandwich. Not quite iron chef material, but we'd like to go back and try the entrees. Rosa Blanca is Jose Garces' latest Philadelphia restaurant, replacing Chifa with a Cuban and Caribbean-inspired diner. If you'd been to Chifa, expect the dining room to be the exact same with dark wood and big booths. The front of the restaurant, however, is bright white, blue and coral with an island-meets-diner vibe. You can also stop in and get an empanada or Cuban pastry to go.