Looking for a restaurant

While your at it, I'm looking for a BYOB within about a two block radius of the Kimmel Center. I actually have to work today, or I would have been working on this one myself.

codergrrl wrote:

While your at it, I'm looking for a BYOB within about a two block radius of the Kimmel Center. I actually have to work today, or I would have been working on this one myself.

just go to the 'vous. the food is delightfully greasy and the beer is cheap.

memphis taproom has good beer and is generally pretty vegetarian friendly.

I'd recommend Memphis or Interstate Draft House

Good call, that might be a winner.

I love Memphis, but it is not swanky. I would recommend Vedge, a.kitchen. Havent been to Dandelion but I have heard good things. Of course, it all depends on how picky your veges are, so you'd probably have to check the menus.

jbette01 wrote:

I love Memphis, but it is not swanky.

not even slightly? just a smidge? it's a pretty swanky aged bottle list.

bozoloper wrote:

jbette01 wrote:

I love Memphis, but it is not swanky.

not even slightly? just a smidge? it's a pretty swanky aged bottle list.

The aged bottle list I will give you. I guess when I think swanky, I think a place where I cannot wear my pumas. I can wear my pumas to Memphis. Plus the crowd at Memphis on the weekend comes in waves. You could end up waiting a long time for a party of six I think.

jbette01 wrote:

bozoloper wrote:

jbette01 wrote:

I love Memphis, but it is not swanky.

not even slightly? just a smidge? it's a pretty swanky aged bottle list.

The aged bottle list I will give you. I guess when I think swanky, I think a place where I cannot wear my pumas. I can wear my pumas to Memphis. Plus the crowd at Memphis on the weekend comes in waves. You could end up waiting a long time for a party of six I think.

yeah, the party size could make it tough. they make a mean veggie burger, though.

Memphis Tap Room

Local - Hinge, I think you can BYOB, Interstate Draft House (though not terribly swanky)
non-local - Zahav, Barbuzzo, although beer list isn't extremely extensive

milkbox wrote:

thanks all- yeah, Memphis is right around the corner and we've done that, before... I did a little research, and now I'm thinking Farmacia in Olde City... they've got booze, veg options and meat options (Vedge actually looks really nice, but the boys would be very sad if there was *no* meat available...)

thanks again!

oh yeah! the khyber has veggie bbq. the seitan pulled pork is surprisingly good. it's not really swanky though.

I gotta put in another vote for Barbuzzo. Hands down the best food experience we've had in Philly to date. Awesome.

milkbox wrote:

thanks all- yeah, Memphis is right around the corner and we've done that, before... I did a little research, and now I'm thinking Farmacia in Olde City... they've got booze, veg options and meat options (Vedge actually looks really nice, but the boys would be very sad if there was *no* meat available...)

thanks again!

Ooo farmicia is one of my favorites! Good choice. Just stay away from their specialty mixed drinks, I havent ever had one that I've enjoyed.

CHIFA. They have a separate veg menu, everything is good, it's slightly swanky but not stupid, and I've never known it to disappoint anybody. It would be my choice for such a group.
Farmicia is also good.

You beat me to your own question, milkbox - I was immediately going to say farmacia. One of the better "unknown" spots in the city, with a bar plus BYOB as a bonus! I only said "unknown" because it's not one of the places people tend to immediately think of. If you've never been, I highly recommend. You can take the El too, and if you want - hit up Eulogy on 2nd and Chestnut before or after for a round or two.

Reservations at any of these places might be tough to come by though for tonight, you slacked...

Hone wrote:

Reservations at any of these places might be tough to come by though for tonight, you slacked...

agreed. you might be out of luck getting into Barbuzzo (party of 2, possible; 6, improbable) or Farmica.

codergrrl wrote:

While your at it, I'm looking for a BYOB within about a two block radius of the Kimmel Center. I actually have to work today, or I would have been working on this one myself.

Bellini Grill has gotten some good reviews

Farmacia is supposed to be excellent. Hope you enjoy it!

Down my way, but I'll put in a vote for Royal Tavern on Passyunk for consistently having a lot of vegetarian options and a nice beer selection. Nothing swanky, but it's a nice place. And, yes, the food at Khyber can be very good for those that haven't been there since their transformation.

Old Philadelphia Bar on Dauphin St. Good beer and salads.

Memphis Tap probably has the most vegetarian options and best beer list.

We've found that Johnny Brenda's is oddly not vegetarian friendly. Also found that Kraftwork was limited with veggie options.

Lozo Pez has great veggie options, though I wouldn't call their beer menu extensive.

Draft House has great beer and great veggie options.

If you go into Northern Liberties, El Camino Real has very good options. My wife loves their seitan and veggie wings. Dos Segundos on 2nd Street is another good option.

I would do either Memphis Tap, Interstate Draft House, El Camino Real, or Loco Pez, depending on what you want.

Jordan wrote:

We've found that Johnny Brenda's is oddly not vegetarian friendly. Also found that Kraftwork was limited with veggie options.

Some days we actually have a good number of vegetarian and/or vegan options at JB's, others not so much. The constants are the veggie burger, hummus, falafel, eggplant parm, and a salad or two. The root salad up now is very good. Not long ago we had a spaghetti squash & veggie meatball entree that was really nice. Hopefully it makes a return engagement soon.

george wrote:

Jordan wrote:

We've found that Johnny Brenda's is oddly not vegetarian friendly. Also found that Kraftwork was limited with veggie options.

Some days we actually have a good number of vegetarian and/or vegan options at JB's, others not so much. The constants are the veggie burger, hummus, falafel, eggplant parm, and a salad or two. The root salad up now is very good. Not long ago we had a spaghetti squash & veggie meatball entree that was really nice. Hopefully it makes a return engagement soon.

I'm a meat eater so I'm just fine with JB's. However, my wife is a veggie. She refuses to go there because there isn't enough vegetarian fare on the menu, at least consistently. Like once she ordered collared greens and they came with bacon in them (delicious, if you ask me). The menu didn't specify that the dish had meat in it, though.

Another thing to note -- most veggies don't want "salad" when they go out. Memphis Tap puts together a lot of "meals" that are veggie / vegan.

Jordan wrote:

george wrote:

Jordan wrote:

We've found that Johnny Brenda's is oddly not vegetarian friendly. Also found that Kraftwork was limited with veggie options.

Some days we actually have a good number of vegetarian and/or vegan options at JB's, others not so much. The constants are the veggie burger, hummus, falafel, eggplant parm, and a salad or two. The root salad up now is very good. Not long ago we had a spaghetti squash & veggie meatball entree that was really nice. Hopefully it makes a return engagement soon.

I'm a meat eater so I'm just fine with JB's. However, my wife is a veggie. She refuses to go there because there isn't enough vegetarian fare on the menu, at least consistently. Like once she ordered collared greens and they came with bacon in them (delicious, if you ask me). The menu didn't specify that the dish had meat in it, though.

Another thing to note -- most veggies don't want "salad" when they go out. Memphis Tap puts together a lot of "meals" that are veggie / vegan.

I can't imagine having collards that weren't prepared with some sort of pork.

sdm wrote:

I can't imagine having collards that weren't prepared with some sort of pork.

Same here BUT I'd definitely agree we should make that clear to anyone ordering it. I think some servers do it, others don't.

Now I'm in the mood for collard greens.

Jordan wrote:

Another thing to note -- most veggies don't want "salad" when they go out. Memphis Tap puts together a lot of "meals" that are veggie / vegan.

Oh, I hear 'ya.

When Hector and I were together (he's a vegetarian) it was a struggle finding good places that would please both of us. Indian was usually a good fallback choice, but that can get old, too.

sdm wrote:

Jordan wrote:

george wrote:

Jordan wrote:

We've found that Johnny Brenda's is oddly not vegetarian friendly. Also found that Kraftwork was limited with veggie options.

Some days we actually have a good number of vegetarian and/or vegan options at JB's, others not so much. The constants are the veggie burger, hummus, falafel, eggplant parm, and a salad or two. The root salad up now is very good. Not long ago we had a spaghetti squash & veggie meatball entree that was really nice. Hopefully it makes a return engagement soon.

I'm a meat eater so I'm just fine with JB's. However, my wife is a veggie. She refuses to go there because there isn't enough vegetarian fare on the menu, at least consistently. Like once she ordered collared greens and they came with bacon in them (delicious, if you ask me). The menu didn't specify that the dish had meat in it, though.

Another thing to note -- most veggies don't want "salad" when they go out. Memphis Tap puts together a lot of "meals" that are veggie / vegan.

I can't imagine having collards that weren't prepared with some sort of pork.

Same.

george wrote:

Jordan wrote:

Another thing to note -- most veggies don't want "salad" when they go out. Memphis Tap puts together a lot of "meals" that are veggie / vegan.

Oh, I hear 'ya.

When Hector and I were together (he's a vegetarian) it was a struggle finding good places that would please both of us. Indian was usually a good fallback choice, but that can get old, too.

We've found Memphis Tap to be the most consistent, followed by El Camino Real. Steph loves their veggie wings.

jbette01 wrote:

milkbox wrote:

thanks all- yeah, Memphis is right around the corner and we've done that, before... I did a little research, and now I'm thinking Farmacia in Olde City... they've got booze, veg options and meat options (Vedge actually looks really nice, but the boys would be very sad if there was *no* meat available...)

thanks again!

Ooo farmicia is one of my favorites! Good choice. Just stay away from their specialty mixed drinks, I havent ever had one that I've enjoyed.

Yea, same here with the cocktails. I have had amazing food there. But some of the worst cocktails I have ever had in my life. They all sound good when you see them on the menu, and then taste terrible.

milkbox wrote:

Farmacia was a thumbs-up for food (the mushroom croquettes got rave reviews) and thumbs way down for beer... we eschewed the fancy cocktails, but fortunately, I'm always happy if I can just get a whiskey and soda... a pretty good place, but not one I'd put into regular rotation... now I want to try Barbuzzo for myself...

i've heard nothing but rave reviews for barbuzzo. i'd love to go there sometime.

I don't know how much creedence to give the blog Staph Meal, but man, there were some horror stories on there about how those owners treat the staff. When it was mentioned to someone who worked there, the just laughed and stayed very close mouthed.