#64 - South Street Souvlaki - Sandy's synopsis

Ah, to be transported to Greece for an evening - South Street Souvlaki attempts to do this and since I haven't been to Greece, I cannot tell you if they succeeded. I can tell you, based on their website, that the owner Tom Vasiliades, is a charismatic man, who seems passionate about his restaurant. (Their old website had more direct quotes from him that made this more apparent. I was slightly disappointed to see that their newly re-vamped website removed most of his words.) 

Coming out of the virtual world and onto their doorstep you are first greeted by music, I'm assuming it is greek music? Once inside, you are greeted by the bar. 

It was a very striking sight to me and I loved the lights strung up top highlighting its presence. We somehow fought it's sirens' call and didn't order any alcohol, but I would be interested to give into it on a different day. Speaking of greek mythology, if you are seated on a table next to the wall, you will be surrounded by dramatic paintings from greek myth - something to peruse while you wait for your food.

Sam and I took sometime to look over the menu. Be warned, it is very extensive and the choice can be overwhelming. I am personally a "sucker" for octopus (see what I did there...) so I ordered the charcoal broiled octopus as an appetizer. We also got some houmus to start.

The octopus was delicious, with a few nice crispy burnt bits complemented by some very tender meat. The houmus with pita was fantastic as well and so we were off to a brilliant start, like Odysseus, assuming a pleasant and delicious journey home to Ithaca (or our main course) ahead. 

Well, turns out I had angered the food gods again, for I did not enjoy what I had ordered for the main course. I know Sam had much better luck so be sure to read her review. I tasted some of what she ordered and it was very good. 

Back to my poor choices, I decided to go with the Greek trio for my entree. The trio consists of moussaka. pastitsio and spinach pie. Now, two of those dishes are very similar and contain a lot of ground meat. From their menu, pastitsio is "ground meat with macaroni in a bechamel sauce" and moussaka is "ground meat with layers of potato and eggplant under our bechamel sauce".

I am also not a fan of ground meat, but for some reason thought this would be the dish I should order. 

There you have it, Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos, waiting to screw me over. My biggest complaint about the trio was that it was bland. Even the spinach pie fell flat and I was fighting to secure some taste on my tongue that wasn't just white flour sauce. I prefer my ground meat to have some other flavour than just the meat. I don't want to fault the restaurant on this. I know I have a particular taste when it comes to meat and perhaps this is exactly how most people like their pastitsio. It just wasn't for me. 

In conclusion, I might come back here to order something else. Perhaps give those kebabs a shot and definitely get some of the vegetarian dishes Sam got. For now, my main course left no taste in my mouth and I left disappointed. 

South Street Souvlaki

509 South Street

Philadelphia PA 19147

215-925-3026

#64 South Street Souvlaki - Sam's synopsis

Well, let me first off say apologies for the long absence. It's been a crazy month or so, with the other half of this blog getting married and having family in town, and me having quite the busy few weeks at work (but with a graduation date in sight!). But it's officially summer time, so things tend to slow down a bit and we can back into the swing of sauntering! Anyways, on to the review...

South Street Souvlaki seemed like a serious place when we looked it up, as they close every Monday to power clean all their equipment. When we arrived there, it seemed much more like the type of restaurant you find in the touristy part of town, plastered with photos and paintings of Greece and people who were clearly important to the owners in some way. It was a lot busier than I was expecting for a weekday evening, but I suppose that's a good sign.

We started with an appetizer of hummus (it seemed like the appropriate one to get) and Sandya really wanted calamari so I obliged. I'm not the biggest fan of calamari and wouldn't order it if I had the choice, but it's not something I absolutely despise and it was another appropriately-themed appetizer. I ended up enjoying both appetizers. The hummus was flavorful and smooth, and the pita they gave us was warm and not too dry. I don't know why I'm so opposed to calamari, since it's basically just covered in batter and fried and doesn't have too much of a seafood-y taste to it. I think it's the whole pieces that kinda freak me out, even though I've eaten some weird food items before. But yes, the calamari was fried and tasty and not too chewy or weird in flavor so I ate more than I anticipated.

Onto the main meal! I ordered the vegetable platter, which was (as indicated by its name) an ample variety of different vegetarian dishes, including: spanikopita (spinach and cheese in filo dough), turlu (stewed vegetables), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), and lima beans. It also came with lemon potatoes and orzo, so it was quite the large meal. I thought the food was fabulous. Each portion had a different flavor, but they all accentuated each other very nicely. If I had a better memory, I might be able to tell you what sorts of spices were invoked, but it was definitely a Mediterranean-style set of flavors (makes sense, right?). Everything was cooked to a nice consistency (this can be surprisingly difficult with just vegetables) and the food held up the following day for leftovers. Each vegetable portion was delicious and I would definitely recommend this dish to meat eaters and non-meat eaters alike.

Overall, I really enjoyed the food and was even a little pleasantly surprised at how good it was given the restaurant's touristy feel and cheaper prices. The staff was friendly as well and the service was good, so that's another plus. I've been to Greece before, but it's hard to really comment on the authenticity. While I was there, I had some straight-out-of-the-water seafood and real homemade food that doesn't really compare to this experience, but I also had some standard off-the-street restaurant food that is more on par with what we had at South Street Souvlaki. And given that the owners are Greek, I'm pretty sure their food does get a stamp of authenticity.

South Street Souvlaki
509 South Street
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 925-3026

#63 - Manny Brown's - Sandy's synopsis

Manny Brown's is a pub I would never have walked into if it wasn't for the blog. As I think about that statement more, there are very few places on this end of South Street that I would go into if it wasn't for the blog. I have walked by Manny Brown's a multitude of times and never really had the desire to check it out. Not that it looks awful or anything, but that it looks ordinary and unassuming - sort of like a dive but not quite. I assumed the beer selection would be drab and the food drabber.

Well, let me tell you that my insistence on avoiding Manny Brown's was misguided. It is an unassuming, ordinary bar but it has a great beer selection at affordable prices. The food is standard but delicious and very affordable. 

The interior of the bar is pretty dimly lit with signed dollar bills stuck to most of the open surfaces. If you can look past all the bills you can discern features like bull horns (pictured below). This gave me the suspicion that the theme of the bar was a tex-mex saloon...joint. A buffalo "bill" type place if you will.

An additional perk, especially in summer, is their open door policy. By that I mean that they open their large front door/window things so it almost seems like you're sitting outside.

It was indeed 40 cent wings on this Monday but the deal starts at 8pm and we were in for an early dinner. So we forsook the wings for some beer and other grub. 

They have about 16 beers on tap ranging from Kenzinger to Bear Republic. They also have atleast one cider on tap and Crabbies Ginger beer in bottles (for the gluten conscious folk). Speaking of which, they have a well stocked bottle selection. They don't have a website but if you are looking for their latest tap and bottle list and daily specials, their Facebook page is the place to go. 

I ordered a Flying Fish Farmhouse ale on their happy hour price, while perusing their large and rather eclectic menu for food. They offer standard bar fare (fried food, nachos etc) to BBQ fare like Short ribs. They also have a pizza section where the pizza is made using two flour tortillas. Yes, that is what I ordered - a ground beef and veggie tortilla pizza. Oh and the tater tots with bacon. How could I forget the tater tots with bacon. And cheese. Tater tots, bacon and cheese.

They were both simple but delicious and really hit the spot. The tortilla "crust" was essentially two flour tortillas with lots of cheese in between them. The veggies on the pizza were fresh and the dish came together surprisingly well. The portions were so big I had leftovers of both dishes for a couple of days. In case you are wondering, the tortilla pizza re-heats well - especially in a toaster oven.

So we spent our time relaxing with great weather, beer and food vowing to come back to this place that is gentle on our wallets while being delicious in our tummys. (My entire bill was around $20 for 2 beers and 2 food items that lasted me 3 meals total). We intend on keeping our vow, maybe for the wings next time. 

Manny Brown's

512 South Street

Philadelphia 19147

215-627-7427

#63 Manny Brown's - Sam's synopsis

Manny Brown's is another anomaly on this part of South Street. It seems like it should be a bro-y bar overrun with your New Jersey weekend warriors, but it wasn't. I guess going on a Monday evening might have contributed to that, but the overall atmosphere of the bar was very laid-back and friendly. The staff was nice, there were some obvious regulars getting their post-work fix, and the windows were open to the street, making it perfect for people watching and weather enjoying.

Sandya and I arrived for a pre-quizzo dinner and managed to get there in time for happy hour. I ordered probably the only beer on the list that wasn't on special for happy hour, but y'know, gotta get those badges on Untappd. The draft list was a nice mix of local breweries and some around-the-US winners - I started with an Allagash Curieux and my second beer was the Chillwave DIPA from Great Lakes. All in all, very pleased with the draft and bottle selection, and the price for beer was among the lowest I've seen at bars in awhile. Definitely a major plus for this place.

They had french onion soup on the menu, so I had to order it as an "appetizer." For the main meal, I went with a chicken caesar wrap (fries replaced with salad this time around), something I haven't ordered in a long time but was really craving for some reason. Actually, this is not unlike the meals I would eat every Sunday in high school when I worked at a local restaurant - a restaurant that ended up becoming terrible for many reasons, but still had the best french onion soup I've ever tasted.While we were sitting around waiting for our food, we noticed that the restaurant space is a lot bigger than we thought and that they hosted quizzo on Wednesdays. Sandya and I agreed that Manny Brown's reminded us a lot of Tangier in a good way, and seeing that they had quizzo brought a little pang to our hearts. If only they had it on our usual Monday nights, it would be perfect...

Anyways, our food arrived promptly and the correct temperature. The french onion soup, while still not beating my old pal at the Beehive, had a very savory broth and a nice balance of cheese, bread and onions. The wrap had the proper ratio of dressing to filling and was also full of fresh ingredients. The side salad had non-crappy romaine and a nice mix of vegetables - I always appreciate it when places use chopped tomatoes instead of cherry/grape tomatoes in their side salads. I ordered caesar dressing, because when the waitress asked me what kind I wanted I thought she was referring to the dressing in the wrap, which was fine; but in reality I would have preferred some variety. Again, I was pleasantly surprised at the pricing of the menu - lots of great dishes for cheap prices.

Overall, I would definitely return to Manny Brown's. They have a great beer list, lots more food I want to try, awesome prices and a great atmosphere. Who knows, maybe we will venture out on a Wednesday and check out the quizzo scene.

Manny Brown's
512 South Street
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 627-7427

#62 - Ishkabibble's II - Sandy's synopsis

I need to preface this review with admitting that I'm not a cheesesteak fan.

Ishkabibble's II toots it's horn for two things - for having the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia and for a drink called the gremlin. That is what I prepared myself to have whilst there. 

Ishkabibble's ordering works on the number system, where you order up at the counter, you get a receipt with a number on it and then you find a table to sit and wait for your number to be called. I ordered a buffalo chicken cheesesteak (as I figured having something slathered in buffalo sauce will make me forget I'm eating a cheesesteak) and cheese fries. I also ordered the gremlin which is a drink containing grape soda and lemonade. I assume the ratios of one to the other are a trade secret. 

Sam and I proceeded to a table and people-watched while we waited for our food. There aren't too many tables to sit at but there is a rather quick turnaround of people. This isn't really a place you sit for an hour finishing your meal. 

Our number was called and our food was ready to be picked up from the counter on cafeteria-like trays.

Lets start with the cheesesteak - firstly, my devious plan failed. There was so little buffalo sauce I could barely taste it.

There was alot of cheese though which was nice, but on the whole, it seemed flavourless - just a lot of chicken in a nice soft roll. I wasn't a fan. 

The gremlin though was a pleasant surprise - grape soda should be more popular and available everywhere. It was delicious.

The best part of the meal though was the cheese fries. I also don't have a photo of it (of course I don't).

The fries were perfectly salted, perfectly sized with a healthy dose of cheese wiz. Well, healthy is probably the wrong word to use there. Also, why is cheesesteak one word?

So, I probably ordered the wrong thing again, but the cheesesteak just wasn't for me. If you are hankering for some sandwiches with fries as a quick food option when in the area, this place might be your thing. 

Ishkabibbles II

517 South Street

Philadelphia PA 19147

215-922-0494

#62 Ishkabibble's II - Sam's synopsis

Where is Ishkabibble's I? I just looked it up and it's apparently 2 blocks down South Street. Greeeeeat. I say this because I was simultaneously impressed and disappointed with Ishkabibble's II. I was only impressed in the sense that it was better than I expected, but it still wasn't all that great.

We went on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, probably the first really nice weekend in the city in a long time, so the streets were bustling with people. As I waited for Sandya outside, the speakers were blasting current pop music hits (which I don't mind all that much but other people might find annoying. Seems like a lot of restaurants on South Street in this area like to blare their music...). Venturing inside, I noticed that the restaurant was teeming with people, and that you order at the counter, pick up your food, and hope to find a table. Luckily, things move at the right pace that there is the proper ratio of people ordering/eating/leaving that it wasn't difficult to find a table. The inside color scheme is bright pinkish purple and yellow, which is a strange combination to me. Seems a little childish, but this isn't the classiest of places and they know it. I also learned while waiting for my food that ishkabibble is a yiddish/possibly German-originating word that roughly translates to "who cares?" and was used as a stage name for a character on a radio show. Ya learn something new every day I suppose.

For food, I ordered the South Philly Chicken Cheesesteak, which consisted of chicken, spinach, roasted peppers and provolone cheese. Sandya and I also split an order of cheese fries and we both ordered a beverage known as the "Gremlin" - half grape juice and half lemonade. I was underwhelmed by the sandwich - there was too much chicken and the overall flavor was on the bland size. Not enough melted cheese. The bread it was made on was very good though. The cheese fries were a little better. The fries were fine on their own, and the cheese they used was probably melted cheese whiz, but it had that "I know this is terrible for me but I still like it" flavor, as opposed to the "this tastes like plastic and I'm pretty sure it's toxic" flavor. I find that that is a very fine line that bright orange cheeses walk when melted and placed on things. The best part of the meal was the Gremlin, which had the perfect balance of sugar and tart to make it a really refreshing drink. Afterwards, Sandya and I both commented that we didn't feel that great. The food was sitting pretty heavy in my stomach and made me feel rather lethargic. Not a good feeling after such a promising Saturday afternoon.

We will see if the original Ishkabibble's is any different, but this is more of a kitsch place than anything that is somehow still a contender for best cheesesteak (maybe the beef version is better?).

Ishkabibble's II
517 South Street
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 922-0494

#61 Tattooed Mom - Sam's synopsis

friends + colors + kitsch

My first impressions upon walking into Tattooed Mom were "how have I never been here before?" - which is probably a good way to start a visit. The inside consists of overly saccharine colors and has a lot of figurines from obscure media series - Erin spotted the robot from Cromartie High, among others. I was going to link to a picture but instead I recommend everyone type in "cromartie high" into google image search and just look at the pictures that show up. The bar has a divey feel to it - I think it's the kitschy feel of the layout and the almost child-like way of ordering food. I say that because it was Thursday, which is apparently Pierogi Thursday, where you can get individual pierogis for 50 cents. But you fill out a piece of paper, almost like a worksheet assignment from 5th grade, and your writing utensil is a crayon. Also, there are bowls of dum dums on all the tables, and those frog hopper toys, except they were actually rabbits and not frogs, and mini versions of those games where you have to try and roll multiple small silver balls into holes and it's really hard because you want to throw it out the window. These things. I don't think either of those toys has an official name, but maybe someone can correct me. All of these childlike qualities, the brightly colored walls and the mismatched tables, couches and chairs gives the place a sort of surreal feel, but maybe that's why I liked it so much - it jives very well with my personality.

fill in the blanks: pierogi ed.

dem pierogis

Since it was Pierogi Thursday, I of course ordered some pierogis - 4 to be exact, which I scrawled out in crayon. I ordered a cajun lime ranch dipping sauce and decided to see how full I felt after this before ordering more food. The pierogis themselves weren't bad - they were salty and hearty but not overly flavorful, but I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. There are a lot of dipping sauces to choose from, so it's best to keep the dipper on the blander side so you can maximize pairings of sauces. The cajun lime ranch dipping sauce was delicious, creamy and had just the right amount of kick to it. I'd definitely recommend it. After finishing my pierogis, I decided I wanted more food so I ordered a veggie burger and curly fries. The curly fries never did come out (I don't think the waitress remembered to write it down), but that was for the better. Turns out I was more full than I anticipated and those fries would have been way too much. The veggie burger was good, nothing extraordinary but a nice patty that had a mix of beans and corn. If you've been to Doobie's, I'd say the offerings on the food menus are very similar.

excuse me miss, I believe
there's a baby in your drink

As far as a bar goes, the beer selection was pretty standard. They had a nice variety of offerings with a lot of local choices, but nothing extremely rare. I had the Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager, Hop King from Evil Genius, and a Yards Brawler to end the night. They also have a nice collection of cocktails, that didn't seem to be super outstanding but do sometimes contain tiny purple baby figurines in them. Tattooed Mom also has some fun beer events, one being a barleywine extravaganza that I attended recently which had a nice selection of barleywines both local and from afar, some being more rare than others. I will comment that I was less impressed with the staff on that visit then the one for our blog outing - they were a bit rude at the end of the event and I did not appreciate that. But overall the service is fine - nothing to write home about, good or bad.

Tattooed Mom was a fun experience with a big group of friends, and it's a very laid back atmosphere. I'd definitely go back to enjoy a beer or two, or maybe spend a Friday night getting progressively drunker in a relaxed environment (*sigh* ... I still miss you Tangier...)

Tattooed Mom
530 South Street
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 238-9880