A Second Look at Craig LaBan's "Best of the Rest"

Craig LaBan's "Best of the Rest" were revealed in today's Inquirer, listing 25 more of his favorite restaurants in several categories. As promised, here's our run down of reviews and thoughts on the places we've visited. Yesterday we tackled his list of favorite BYOBs.

We have to second LaBan that the "stunning diversity and depth" of Philadelphia's dining scene makes our home worthy of being coined a restaurant town, and we'll defend that position to any doubter. There's also a noticeable number of suburban restaurants on his list, perhaps a sign that we need to gas up the car more often and explore. 

Best Distinctive Italian

Love the mural behind Le Virtu's bar

Amis - Loved it, The menu has changed a bit since our two visits but we have full confidence it will still be amazing. Smaller plates enable sharing but do add up on price. It's also a great spot to just swing in for a glass of wine and a bite at the bar.

Le Virtu - In haste I threw Le Virtu into a weekend roundup post in early 2011, but don't let that diminish your impression. Its "Best of Philly" pasta and goat meatball appetizer were delicious. Eating at the bar was a perfectly enjoyable experience when all the tables were full. I want to go back and sit on the patio during summer.

Melograno - Solid Italian BYOB that has never disappointed. They don't take reservations so sometimes there is a wait, but it's worth it, especially for the wild boar ragu.

Best New American Full Service

a.kitchen egg sandwich

a.kitchen - We've only been here for brunch because, despite a rave review from LaBan, literally everyone we know that's eaten dinner there gives it a waivering, "eh, it was ok." Brunch was great for us though, so at least there's that.

Barbuzzo - We went opening week and have been back since, both times to a unique and memorable meal. Smaller plates means more things to try, and sitting at the bar means fast, friendly service (and possibly more elbow room; the dining tables are tight).

Fork - I never wrote about it but visited Fork about a year ago for a birthday. Everything we ate was very good; I recall a seasonal risotto that did approach mouthwatering status. Except for that dish, most entrees are $28 so with appetizers and drinks, a full meal at Fork is an investment.

[Update, I missed this one before] Supper - We've been several times for both dinner and foodie blogger events, and walk away content with a solid meal each time. The Supper Burger is one of Bradd's all-time fav burgers and may be at near the top of my parents' list, too, after a recent visit.

Surprising omission: Sbraga - Despite a few bumps in service (that others complain about too, including LaBan) the culinary adventure of Top Chef Kevin Sbraga's menu is really impressive. Flavors and combinations you've never experienced before, beautiful presentation and just-right portion sizes make the $45 fixe price menu absolutely worth the trip.

Best Updated International
Koo Zee Doo - Hooray! One of our absolute favorites in Philadelphia. We recommend it frequently to people looking for something delicious but different, which Koo Zee Doo's Portuguese dishes consistently deliver. Go on a Friday for the suckling pig special, or else aim for the Picanha steak and baked duck rice on any night.

Kanella - Been once for dinner and sat outside on an uncomfortably hot summer night, so it tainted our experience a little, though I don't recall disliking anything. I do want to get back there asap for both dinner and brunch. The bright white/blue simplistic design reminds me distinctly of a honeymoon day in Santorini.

Best Gastropubs
Khyber Pass Pub - Yes on all accounts re: the bacon grease popcorn. The po-boys haven't totally wow'd us  but the extensive craft beer list and juke box can definitely occupy us for hours.

Shocking omission: McCrossens Tavern - We could not be more thankful to have finally eaten here just a week ago because it simply was delicious. Food-wise, we are quite surprised it missed the LaBan's list. Our review to follow this week. If you can't wait, just go and order clams, short rib and cavatelli if it's on special. Trust us.

Meritage roasted duck breast

Great Restaurants Deserving More Buzz
Meritage - Our thoughts exactly! It's been literally around the corner from us for years but we never felt drawn to go until this Fall. And good thing we did, because the food was really good and menu made me want to come back for more.

Meme - We had such an off-putting experience with the host and service here that we honestly can't even remember what we ate. Granted, that was 3 years ago but we haven't gotten over it enough to go back.

The 2011 22nd & Philly Scarpetta Awards

Welcome everyone to the first-ever 22nd & Philly Scarpetta Awards!

Why the Scarpettas? On the About 22nd & Philly page, we detail why we started this blog and how we define a good food experience: "at the end of the day, if Bradd cleans his plate with a piece of bread, you know it was a good meal." Little did we know there is an Italian phrase for using bread to clean your plate, Fare La Scarpetta. We learned about the word from Anthony Bourdain's show, The Layover, when he visited Rome.

What better way to characterize our own "Best Of" awards for Philadelphia?

The Scarpettas are based on the eateries we visited in the past year, food quests, local events, readers and friends we’ve met, among other considerations. It's our way of pointing out some of our favorite - and least favorite - discoveries within local food scene during 2011. Either our plates were clean, or something was left to be desired.

And the 2011 Scarpettas go to...

Something Different: Portuguese Cuisine at Koo Zee Doo

To check another hot spot off our Best of Philly to-do list, we hit up the 2010 Philly Mag winner for "Best New BYOB," Koo Zee Doo.

On top of an adorable, cozy atmosphere and fantastic food, Koo Zee Doo offers something different - Portuguese cuisine. I, at least, couldn't think of anywhere else in Philadelphia to get Portuguese food, nor did I really know what it was walking in the door. Guess that's the power of reviews and other people's "best of" lists.

If you're a more thorough researcher, the restaurant's website gives a really nice explanation of how the owners came to focus on Portuguese cuisine and how Portugal's culture is reflected in its food. The owners also previously worked together at Matyson, another one on our list, as well as several other Philly spots. At right is the small entrance way, where you are greeted by a giant peacock on the wall and the sous chef prepping away right in front of you. (Those people are strangers, not us. I just really liked the peacock.)


Koo Zee Doo's menu is relatively small but the waiter accurately advised that three dishes (two apps, or "entradasm," and one entree) would be plenty of food. You could go back several times and try something new each visit. I plan to! Anyone want to join??

As the website explains, fish is a staple in Portuguese cuisine so you'll find several sea-faring options on the menu. The Amêijoas à Bulhão de Pato - white wine steamed clams - were delicious, and I'm not much of a shellfish fan. As with mussels, it's the sauce that really creates the flavor and Koo Zee Doo's sauce was pretty much to-die-for. I shouldn't leave out that they give you fresh, homemade rolls that were amazing enough on their own, but pure heaven when doused in the extra white wine sauce.

I was a little surprised to find the Rissóis de Batata Doce, or creamy fried sweet potato turnovers, were my least favorite part of the meal. If you're visualizing sweet potato fries, stop now, because these turnovers were very different. There's more bechame inside than sweet potato, which I am not a big fan of, so they had an odd taste.

The best part of our meal was the Bife à Portuguesa, made up of Picanha steak, presunto, fried egg and fried potatoes. The photo above is from the restaurant homepage and does this dish better justice than any pics I could take on my flash-free iPhone. Interestingly, we've been seeing fried eggs show up more often on burgers and other meat dishes in U.S., and it did not disappoint on this one. Break the yolk, mix the egg with the perfectly-cooked, jamon-covered steak, and you will savor every last bite. I recall the egg-on-a-hamburger thing being popular back in my Parisian study abroad days (circa 2002) and not being a fan then, probably just because it was "different," but now I am glad this trend is catching on in European-style restaurants in America because it really does compliment the meat flavor and add a welcomed twist to any hunk of beef.


It is tough to get a table and the place is small, so plan ahead. We were able to get a day-of reservation at the kitchen bar, which we always enjoy anyway. It only has about eight seats but there's plenty of room for your food and you get to watch the chef and sous chef prepare all the food.

We opt for kitchen bar seating often and usually find the chefs start up good conversations with their newest guests. The guys at Koo Zee Doo that night never actually acknowledged our presence, which was a little disappointing, but admittedly they were pretty occupied with multi-tasking an entire restaurant's worth of meals.

Koo Zee Doo doesn't just have amazing food and a great little atmosphere with brick walls and homely furniture, it offers something different. I like all kinds of food, but can only do sushi, heavy Italian, Mexican and good ol' bar food so often. The mix of flavors, the menu options and their presentation are refreshing, making the experience at Koo Zee Doo unique and special, without feeling like it has to be a "big night out." Don't forget it's a BYOB designed for sharing dishes, so the bill should be pretty reasonable. We only ended up paying around $65 for one of the best meals we've had in a while. The restaurant could be a great date spot, a place to catch up with friends, or bring the family. 

Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Best of Philly To-Do List... and Yogorino

Since moving into Philadelphia about four years ago, I have really enjoyed reading Philadelphia Magazine for its new ideas of things to do and places to eat, hearty (and somewhat snooty) gossip, and extensive local feature stories. The biggest issue each year is the annual "Best of Philly" edition, which showcases the best food, drinks, shops, activities, people and more that Philadelphia and the surrounding 'burbs have to offer.

The 2010 Best of Philly list just came out, so today I settled into a shady bench in Rittenhouse Square to carefully read every review and start my own new to-do/eat/see list. Here's what I picked off the Best of Philly for 22ndandPhilly to check out in the coming months:

Fish - It's right down the road from 22nd Street (a.k.a. us) and Best of Philly listed it as the best new restaurant. We've walked by and peaked at the menu a few times, but will have go check it out now.
Ko Zee Doo - New Portuguese spot in Northern Liberties, named best new BYOB.
Le Virtu - Italian restaurant on Passyunk that supposedly has incredible pasta (just say duck ragu and we're there).
Paesano's - Italian sandwiches at 9th & Christian.
Stogie Joe's - Philly Mag says they have the best tomato pie. And Bradd loooooves tomato pie.
Supper - Foodie friends recently named this spot on South Street their current favorite. Philly Mag says it has the best bar snacks. And I looooove bar snacks.
Kanella - Recently went to the Greek BYOB for dinner and it was alright, but I still want to go back for brunch, which Best of Philly says is #1.
Garces Trading Company - We've stopped in to see it and buy wine, but I definitely want to go back and eat sometime.
Amis - Marc Vetri's newest got a Best of Philly nod for "power snacking." I like feeling powerful, plus we loved every bite of food at Vetri a few months ago, and my Vetri-groupie boss gave Amis a great review.
Dante & Luigi's - Best old school Italian. 'Nuff said.
Fork - I pass by Fork all the time but never think to eat there. Philly Mag gives it props for the best charcuterie.
Silk City - Been there late night for dancing (super fun, good music, but it quickly heated up to about 300 degrees and everyone got all sweaty and gross). Philly Mag says it has the best outdoor dining. It looks fun from the outside on Spring Garden St. 

One more spot would have made it onto this list - Yogorino, named the best frozen yogurt - but it was hot in the park and I got inspired reading the Best of Philly issue so I dashed over to 20th Street and grabbed a cup before I continued reading. Yogorino only offers the traditional, Greek-style flavor but then you can pick a slew of toppings. Philly Mag raved that its the smoothest and richest yogurt out there. I will say that it was much better than Sweet Endings (which I thought was pretty nasty) but I still wasn't thrilled. FroYo to me should taste like ice cream but smoother. Maybe thats just the Americanized version, but oh well, thats what I like. This "mini" size at Yogorino cost me $3.00 but don't let this pic fool you. The bottom half of the blue cup is curved, so it only holds about an inch of ice cream. The fresh strawberries and chocolate shavings I added helped, but I wouldn't go back. I miss my hometown shop, Denville Dairy!

Thank you Best of Philly for all these new ideas!