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.

A long overdue dinner at Meritage

It's funny how really good restaurants can sit practically at your doorstep yet you take $10 cab rides to eat halfway across town instead. Meritage is the one in our Philadelphia neighborhood that we've passed 100 times but never felt compelled to go in.

On a whim one recent Friday night, we finally took the plunge. I'd been calling around to a variety of restaurants repeating, "what's the wait for two?" when finally a Meritage hostess said she had an open high top in the bar area. I responded that we would be there in just a few minutes and then arrived to a pleasant surprise that the hostess actually put a reserved sign on the table for us. Brownie points! 

The menu at Meritage is a nice mix of snacks, small plates and entrees. I think it would be fun to go back and just sit at the cozy bar with wine while picking at the snacks. This time we only got the braised kobe meatballs, which were decent, but I'd like to try the crispy calamari in Korean chili sauce; goat cheese, spinach and chicken confit strudel; or the pork and shitake dumplings next time. Each ranges from $4 - $8. 

Off the small plate menu, we shared the octopus sautéed with crispy chickpeas, tapenade, tomato confit

and preserved Meyer lemon for $12. The octopus was cooked just right though mixing each bite with a little tomato and tapenade made this the highlight for me. The chickpeas were also fun to munch on. I overheard others at the bar raving about the butternut squash and apple soup, which I assume is seasonal and sounds ideal for a cold Fall night.

Roasted Duck Breast in plum wine sauce

As entrees, Bradd got grilled hanger steak with new potato croquettes and sautéed garlic string beans. I opted for the roasted duck breast in a plum wine sauce. Both come sliced thin and easy to share. Bradd thought the steak had just the right amount of sauce to complement a quality cut of meat. My duck was not the same entree that's on Meritage's website menu right now but it was quite tasty. Even if you aren't into pink, you'll gobble up every last medium rare slice and drop of the accompanying red wine sauce. The sweet potato puree on the side was so-so. I tend to only like sweet potatoes when they are fried so just my preference. I would rather have had Bradd's yummy garlic green beans.