Is East Girard Gastropub open? Has anyone been there?

The sign was up and the EGG name was on a chalkboard easel tonight. Maybe they have been opened for a few days, but I ride by every night and this was the first time I noticed the signage.

i had the pierogies, i thought they were pretty good.

the EGG burger was delicious and cooked exactly how i asked. also, the fries are awesome.

Yes me and sdm were there. sdm ordered some foo-foo drink that totally knocked him on his arse.

I am here to live to tell the tale that my liver is way, way more powerful and charismatic's than sdm's.

Yeah and it also tasted horrible. Oh no wonder, it was freaking brandy and egg whites.

Yech...egg whites and etoh? As sacrilegeous as any other dairy mixed with alcohol.

i do love an occasional white russian.

EXACTLY THIS.

And for all you amateurs who think Baileys is liquor..its not, its just a waste of Irish Whiskey and your official drunk card should be revoked if you partake in it. If you wanna drink chocolate milk, stay home and watch SpongeBob and drink away.

Umm, I'm going to assume you just forgot about White Russians. Also the Beer Float at Dandelion is awesome and that has an egg in it.

White Russians suck, like all the rest of the Russians.
The rules are not made to be broken, just cause something is 'awesome'.
"Awesome" is not to be associated with such serious business.

I have had a White Russian exactly once in my life - with my Southern Massachusetts cousins who drink Mudslides and Baybreezes on the regular. I spit it out. Liquor and milky dairy things together give me the shivers.

Beer and cooked eggs = good. Beer and uncooked eggs - vomitous.

Come on - you know I am a shot and a beer type of girl.

Tequilas in CC makes an excellent cocktail involving egg whites. Its not as good as their Short Rib cocktail, but still delicious.

The only way I can even stomach milk is in a white russian. I tried to take a sip of whole milk last night to see if I liked it again and it made me feel wrong inside.

Salmonella to you all!

Those chickens are pumped so full of antibiotics I don't even cook actual poultry to 165 anymore let alone worry about their eggs.

Yeah, I never gave up chocolate mousse.

Why would anybody ever give up chocolate mousse?

Egg whites. Uncooked ones.

Take it to the irrational fear thread.

Yes, that explains the salmonella reference.
But it still doesn't answer my question.

This may not be the right place to ask, but does anyone know anyplace that serves Ramos Fizzes? It's a good daytime drink with egg whites in it.

I have an.....I guess you can call it an irrational hatred, for people who order White Russians. it's just a filthy digusting drink. cream or any dairy product, in a mixed drink?!?!? god I need a beer just thinking of the putrid thought of it.

The dude disagrees

Man I'd love a nice cold white russian right now, made with cream, not milk. I had no plans to go out tonight, but I just may for one of these.

We went last night, I guess it was the official grand opening? Free hors d'oeuvre.

It was strange, no barstools? Is that just because it's small in there and they were making more room? I didn't like having to stand up and drink.

I'm pretty sure the Farmer's Cabinet will make one.

How was the food?

Sidecar is probably a good place for the old-school cocktails. Trestle Inn is big on egg whites too though.

Is there another Sidecar besides the one at 22nd and Christian? That is most definitely not a cocktail bar. Are you thinking of The Franklin?

Why is that?

Because they focus on beer and food, not cocktails.

Yes, the first indication is their name: Sidecar.

I didn't name the place, I'm just telling you if you go there expecting elaborate cocktails, you will be let down.

I had a variety of cocktails there recently in addition to the eponymous libation.

This is why I feel like we're talking about two different places.

Sidecar at 22nd and Christian. Places with good beer lists do make cocktails.

Standing room only Thurs at EGG.
Had every intention of eating there last night. Got to Murphs around 5:45 pm, when EGG was practically empty, but had a couple of drinks first, and then went out to look in the window round 7pm...packed . Kept checking in to see how crowded it was. By 8:30 or so, it was still mobbed. Well, the drinking at Murphs continued, and it became mandatory to get some kind of solid food so we just split a cheese steak at the bar. Never got inside EGG, just stood outside, kinda waving in the wind, watching people eat. Ended up tipping out three different barmaids and calling a guardian angel to get a ride home. I love Murphs.

Thursday night was their official Grand Opening. We got there right at 6 and got to try a bunch of their (comped) appetizers. Overall it was pretty tasty, solid stuff. Afterwards got gator sausage jumbalaya at Interstate Draft House, awesome stuff.

I just got this the other night. Really nice kick.

just read on Meal Ticket that Interstate has a new chef. used to work at Supper and Hawthornes as well as a country club or something in Doylestown (???). I don't think the menu will change that much, but expect the Jumbalaya to be added to the regular menu as well as a Po'Boy.

awesome. we'll have to try it again. last time we went, i wasn't impressed with the food.

really? I get bored with their draft list sometimes, but the food has always been stellar.

still surprised that they first fired Todd, who has been with them since Azzure, and now they have fired their chef, also with them since Azzure.

we didn't have much. just the taquitos, which were crunchy but the chicken and filling was bland, and the corn soup, which was also bland.

The beer list is uninspired.

why would you order something made famous by 7-11? thats just asking for mediocre

it was on special for their taquito tuesday night.

how stupid, why would you order something on the menu?

You should have known better.

Your joke rests on the assumption that everything on a menu is worth ordering.

it rests on the assumption that the person putting together the menu believed it was worth ordering.

I don't see why one would assume that, especially when the stated reason the taquitos were ordered was because they were on special. Given taquitos reputation as a fake mexican foodstuff designed to be inexpensive rather than tasty, there is a significant probability that they were added to the menu because of their low cost, perhaps specifically as a potential weeknight loss-leader.

But even beyond that, why would one assume that any restaurant was preparing their menu with only taste in mind instead of a complicated interaction of cuisine interests, cooking skill, and economic considerations? It doesn't make much sense.

man, it really is a slow day on here. you're waxing poetic on taquitos.

i believe the taste of the food is one of the over riding factors in preparing a menu, but i've never been in the restaurant biz, so it's just a hunch.

take out the phrase overriding and you have got yourself a true statement. You can make the most scrum-diddly-umptious item of food but if you can't hit the price point you need then its not going to make the menu. Also keep in mind that a lot of psychology goes into restaurant menus. Adding one or two items at the extremes makes those items in the middle look like more appealing options.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/23/dining/23menus.html?pagewanted=all

that's an interesting article.

i understand what you're saying, but this is a weekly special for them. i don't think it's unreasonable to believe it's something they think they make well. as far as i can tell 7-11 went for the taquito because it's one of the few things you can put on a hot dog roller. i don't think they went for it because it had a reputation for mediocrity.

that said, i think it needs a little salt and a lot more spice. i liked the salad like stuff on top of it and the dressing. it's a 1 for 2 in my book. the $3 drafts were nice, but i don't know if they're still doing it in january. i'm definitely interested in trying that jambalaya, though.

which would be similar to basing a joke on the assumption that any word used by 7-11 makes food bad

It's 2012, who still hates on 7-11?

WaWa
Sheetz
Alimentation Couche-Tard

Sheetz uber alles.

Now I really want to try taquitos so I can have a say in this matter. Will be at Pez Loco Friday. Do they have some terrible vegan version I can try?

Terrible vegan is redundant.

I haven't tried the faux chorizo but the mushroom tacos are delicious.

clearly you've never eaten at Horizons/Vedge?

The soy chorizo at loco pez is delicious. Better then the seitan ones that they sometimes have on special. Btw I'm not sure they've announced it yet but I have on good word that they're having another dollar taco night tomorrow, tuesday

Who is hating on 7-11? They serve an important purpose but will never be mistaken for a fine dining establishment.

Horizons was amazingly good. I can't wait to try Vedge.

Vedge is really good but I'd say their move to tapas-like dishes was a slight downgrade from Horizons. My meal @ Horizons last year was easily in my top 3 all-time (and I am most certainly not a vegan).

probably ate at Horizons at least once a year. loved their food and their beer list was always decent. haven't been to vedge yet.

Blue Sage, if you can handle a drive to Southampton, PA, was actually better IMO than Horizons.

I think "Couche-Tard" could make an effective offensive insult.

We actually checked that out a couple years ago. The food was good but I kinda felt like they tried to overcompensate for the lack of meat by giving you insanely large portions and very heavy, dense food. Horizons was a bit more refined & creative -- Blue Sage felt more like home cooking.

And why would I ever want to do a silly thing like that?

^refer to comments above^

Hmm...I went maybe 6-7 years ago (couldn't do the trek again...ever) so maybe it was a different chef?

There are several comments above about Horizons/Vedge offering delicious vegan food items to vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike. Thus, offering some evidence that "terrible" and "vegan" are not inherently redundant terms. (I'll agree with you that there's some pretty uninspired vegan fare out there, but when done well it can be fantastic)

Ok, so here it goes.
We finally made it to E.G.G. last night. We got there really early, like around 5:30, so seating wasn't an issue. Let me just first say, regarding the room. It's too cold in there. I know there is some value to having alot of glass, that affords a view of Girard Avenue, but its still an old Fishtown building, and there are drafts. I really think it would have benefited from some kind of window treatment that would keep the drafts down while still allowing a view. It would just warm up the room, both visually and physically. Its so small in there, that everytime someone came in the door, winter came right in with them.
Okay, so now the food.
The apps were very good. I had the spinach arugula salad, and it was really good. Nice gorgonzola, shredded apples, pecans...and a whisper of a sherry vinagrette. Nice size, nice greens. Very good.
My companion got the lobster and shrimp empanadas. There were two, that were a good size, and very tasty. So then came the entrees. I ordered the hanger steak with chimichurri, roasted fingerling potatoes, and grilled asparagus. And let me tell you...I love asparagus. When its in season, I have no problem just eating a nice plate of asparagus with maybe some butter and cracked black pepper. Its my favorite vegatable. So imagine my surprise, when my steak came out with ..yes...wait for it....brussel sprouts. Not quite the same thing. The steak was good. It was a healthy portion, and done perfectly. It was squirted with the chimchurri sauce, that really was undistinguishable from anything...if it wasn't green I wouldn't have even noticed it. I was really quite bummed that the asparagus was not available, and the server seemed really surprised that it was supposed to be on the plate, and that she was serving a substitute. Quite honestly, I could have made that plate at home easily. My companion got the bangers and mash. Well...its not good news. First of all, the sausage themselves where disappointing. They were sausages allright, but nothing special to denote "Irish". There were seasonings, but you couldn't taste any rusk, and they certainly weren't Cumberland sausages, as we couldn't taste any black pepper. There were two of them, and they sat on a pile of good mashed potatoes...and thats pretty much it. There were no peas, instead, a schmear of pea puree. The shallot gravy that was on the menu, again, was not on the plate. No explanation given. If you really want bangers and mash, go to the New Deck, where they do it right.
So we moved onto dessert. We just wanted a little somthing to share. We ordered a chocolate brownie with peanut butter, whipped cream. Well...I didn't taste on scintilla of peanut butter. It was brownie chunks in a bowl with whipped cream. And the edges of the brownie were burnt. Really. I kid you not.
So...I think E.G.G. needs to pick a lane and stay there. The menu is so varied, that I'm afraid they're all over the place. Its not an Irish pub, its not Latin, its not a seafood house, and its not a steak house.
They are trying to hard. Pick a style, stick with it. And pay attention to the details.
The server was fine, although as the night progressed it was obvious she could have used some help. The gentleman behind the bar did try. (I do realize sometimes people call out of work, and your short handed, so I can forgive that.) I think my suggestion would be to go and get a variety of apps. They seem to be much better than the entrees.
Above meal, plus two glasses of Pinot Noir, and two glasses of Shirraz. Total bill before tip $93.40

Very good review and similar to what I've heard from others. I hope they get it together; the owner seems really nice and committed to making it work.

Nice review, coder. Bummed the experience wasn't better.
(Did you ask them if they have a secret menu?)

Cliff notes version please?

It's a very pleasant read.

Get the apps, the entree's aren't what's advertised.
Wear a sweater.

Too wordy. Try this...

Rating:

Thank you. Between this and the wretched egg white and brandy drink, I think I'll put this place on my never going to go to again list. Well that and the fact that they advertise themselves as a gastropub.

Worse part was we had a card for 20% off that we forgot to use.

they can't all be O'Reily's

Does it still smell like wet sponge? I would have eaten there a few weeks ago, but the "wet sponge" aroma was overwhelming.

No, I did not notice wet sponge smell.

did you try blowing your nose? and, if so, did you find a wet sponge? Ive been looking for one that I misplaced.

Just sayin'

Now that you mention it…

http://phillydealyo.philly.com/intro?redirectUrl=home.action&useDefaultCategory=true

Usually not a good sign.

If I remember correctly, Fathom didnt replace the old storefront glazing that was there from Fishtown Airways days. In that case, it is monolithic clear glass with no energy saving properties whatsoever. If they replaced the storefront it would save them a ton of money in the long run. Although the exterior alcove (a la Honey's) and interior curtains (a la Loco Pez) look sort of ridiculous, they seem to be moderately effective.

I believe its still the same glass from Blackies Drug Store days. (RIP Seymour)

just because you are threatened by most things that are not divey or perfect when opening you dont have to be so transparent about your 'tude about this place

Actually, a number of great places have been doing these groupon-like deals, from cafe's to high-end restaurants. It seems smarter than advertising. Any new business would be wise to do this, in my opinion.

And to be completely transparent about my own agenda regarding E.G.G., I am not disappointed by it at all, just not as impressed as I was when it had a better focus as Fathom. I do, however, hope it survives because there are few places in the area you can eat and still talk easily. Because of the size, you never have to yell like at any of the places nearby (though I like those also).

Oh, who got up on the wrong side of the bacon?
Look, I thought the place was fine. Minor mistakes made, but not the end of the world. I'd go back for the salad alone, but when they are trying so hard, they shouldn't overlook the little things, like cold and incorrect menus. I think I went into the place still expecting the greatness that I believed Fathom to be.
As far as the groupon thingy, I have heard it repeatedly uttered regarding other places, that it was pretty much a death knell, to have to put yourself on a groupon type thing. I think its a good idea too, when you need to fill tables.
I know you miss your Fathom, and I agree, its a nice not to have to yell. I don't wish ill on them...
only you, my friend, only you.
By the way, have you had a bacon milkshake yet?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/03/bacon-milkshake-jack-in-the-box_n_1253159.html

i heard they get their meat at dan's.

I thought Coder's review was of EGG was very fair and not negative but just honest. It's frustrating to order a dish and have it arrive either not as it was described or missing sides.

And as far as the discounts go, I know at least one business that is going under because customers refuse to pay full price for services buying half-off vouchers. It seems to work out well when an already established business wants a boost rather than when fledgling businesses participate becasue they need customers.

What is a gastropub? Is it like a diner?

A gastropub is an eatery that serves higher quality beer and food than your average bar.

Went there last night for dinner and it was actually better than previous visits. Of the three of us at my table, all the food was great and the beer selection equally pleasing. Our server was top notch. I hadnt had her before but I am glad I stopped in again.... I know, I know, I sound like Im campaigning. Hope it's as good next time (and for everyone else).

Going to the Interstate Drafthouse tonight, haven't been since they've changed up the menu.
I want to go back to E.G.G. Believe me, I want them to succeed. There is no reason on god's green earth I would want a good restaurant, especially local, to fail.
I still have my 20% off card, so I'll be back for sure.