Spectacular Seafood Rittenhouse Square: Devon

Devon Seafood Grill
225 S. 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.546.5940



Devon Seafood Grill knows how to bring in their customers and to keep them coming back. Located in the upscale Rittenhouse Square, Devon doesn't fail to meet the high standards. There is rarely a wait, even without reservations, the inside is spacious and tasteful. The dim lighting gives a hint of romance while the open air seating area is comfortable, casual, and anything you could want in a dining out experience.

Promptly after you are seated they will bless your little side dish with a biscuit beyond biscuits as well as some honey butter. I swear the two together are just amazing, like they were meant for each other. I could eat just these biscuits for my meal if the rest of the food didn't par up, but it does! This is just the beginning of what will be one of your most memorable meals.

There is a pre-fixed menu available, I believe they are $30 and include: appetizer, entree, & dessert. That's a deal! But if what you want isn't listed on the pre-fix then there regular menu will blow you away. But let me not get ahead of myself here, get the Fried Calamari! It's a large plate, along with julianed carrots and sliced jalapenos, breaded and fried with a delicious batter and comes along with some plum sauce and some other spicy delicious sauce as well. The soups are delectable, the salads are scrumptuos, and even when you are filled to the brim you won't want to stop eating.

At the top they start off with many different fishes and such that you can have cooked many different ways, it's exactly like customizing your own dinner. My sister LOVES the halibut from Devon, and I must say I'm a huge fan also! Last time I was there I dabbled in the swordfish, can i just say YUM! I love swordfish, its a bit meaty-er, not as flaky as a halibut or tilapia, more like steak but it is delish! My mom and myself like to often indulge in the Maryland style Crabcakes, which far out shine many of the like. My favorite sides are the plate licking good Garlic Mashed potatoes as well as the asparagus.

For dessert I suggest you dabble in the Creme Brule, it's deligthfully light and topped with fresh seasonal berries. I also tried something called Seasonal Berry Crisp, or around those lines. What it is is fresh seasonal berries between and atop fylo crisps that must have been covered in sugar and baked because they are a sugary delight and whipped cream on top. It was so good! Half of the time I don't even have room in this stomach of mine for the dessert after the appetizer, huge dinner entree and a couple glasses of wine, but if you can stuff it in I say chow down! This meal won't let you down, I promise.

Do South Philly Right: Ristorante Mezza Luna or Dante & Luigi's

If you know anything about South Philadelphia you know it was home to Italians for many many years. The Italian Market is still open and if you search around that area you will find some of the best pizza, sandwiches, italian meats, italian breads, etc. Nothing bad can be said of Italian cooking because, let's face it, it's DELICIOUS!

So through mine and my sister's years away at college in Philadelphia, we ocassionally ventured into South Philly, although we weren't too close to have some of the best italian food out there. First we made our way to Dante & Luigi's. Before you go make sure you have cash, they do not like using credit cards. My first choice at this quaint little restaurant with tacky gold and pink walls that is somehow subtely romantic, was the Broiled Flounder stuffed with lump crab meat in some sort of amazing brandy wine sauce, yum! I must implore you to try the Ceasar Salad, one of the best homemade ceasar dressings I've ever tasted. You may even want to ask for more dressing it's that good!! But my all time favorite dish to get from D & L's is the gnocchis - to die for, in fact, when it's my sister, my mom and I, we each get our own plate of gnocchi...the sauce is delightful and smooth and the gnocchi aren't too heavy and they aren't too light, it's a perfect combination!

Dante & Liugi's
762 S 10th St
Philadelphia, PA
19147-2742
Phone: (215) 922-9501

Not too far from 10th Street sits Mezza Luna right off the corner of Catherine & 8th Streets. Upon walking in the owner and also host will greet and seat you. We used to bring my grandfather all the time, from Napoli, and he'd speak with the owner in Italian, joke around and have a good time. The interior is much less bold, blue moon vases on each table and large windows looking out onto the south Philadelphia streets. There is a bar but I believe you can also bring your own wines, might have to check on that.

On to the best part, the food! My first vist I must have done something good because I chose a veal breaded and cooked to perfection, the veal was practically falling apart. Not only did I get the most tender veal ever but it was in a sauce that was like heaven in my mouth, I'm positive that the base of the sauce was champagne, must have had some butter along with garlic and other such delicious cooking ingredients! The best veal I've had and even compared to the veal at Davio's, an upscale, center city restaurant where the veal is tough, meaning it's cooked too long. I'm a huge fan of Calamari but for even those who aren't, I know there is an appetizer dish of calamari but if you hear of some kind of special of Calamari Fritti, do not hesitate, say "I'll have one of those, please!" I was talking about heaven in my mouth before, but these are so fresh, that they basically melt in your mouth. There is none of that tough chewing or spitting pieces out because it's just too unmanagable to break down. The breading is very very light so we thought at first that they might not be cooked enough, don't be fooled! The breading is just as scrumptuous as the squid itself, with a delectable flavor that will soothe your craving taste buds.

Ristorante Mezza Luna
763 S 8th St
Philadelphia, PA
19147
Phone: (215) 627-4705

Mangia!!

Steven Starr's 'The Continental' will Tempt your Taste Buds

Steven Starr has some of the most tastefully delightful restaurants in the city. Some of the restaurants include but are not limited to: Pod, Buddakan, Jones, Tangerine, and Morimotos. A few also have second locations in New York and Atlantic City. I first visited the eclectic Continental before the Midtown Continental came to be and let me tell you that I was blown away. We had so much food, about five dishes, everything served family style. It was so good, I went beyond being full and moved right on to about to pop from all that delicious food. We started with a huge mound of Szechuan Shoestring Fries drizzled with Chinese mustard sauce, a heaping plate full of Lobster Mashed Potatoes made to perfection and an amazing red wine sauce on top, Beer Battered Shrimp & Calamari with saffron aioli for dipping (one of my most favorite of treats!), and an over the top pile of the most delicious, mouth watering Crab Pad Thai, never had anything like it. Just thinking about this meal is making me drool.

I have to say, the trendy decor of The Continental did not fall short in the make of The Continental Midtown, as you can see from above. It is magnificent inside, with a third floor roof bar that holds a beautiful view of center city. The thing I thought was most attractive were the hanging basket seats along the railing of the 2nd floor, stay away! They are not comfortable and you have to swing to get close to the table, no! The menu is basically the same as the one in Olde City, might possibly be identical. One thing I forgot to mention which is an at least "Must Try" from the drink menu called the Buzz Aldrin. It is a beautiful mixture of Tang, Absolut peach vodka and triple sec in an orange tang-rimmed glass, TANG! How exciting is that? It is so delicious! At the midtown Continental I ventured into the Brunch menu and the Continental Cheese Burger just about knocked my socks off.
Continental Cheeseburger: 8oz burger with creamy tomato relish, shaved lettuce, sauteed onions and sharp cheddar served with fries
First, I DO NOT like burgers, I don't know why, I'm not much of a ground beef fan I guess, but this burger must have a special ingredient because I could barely contain myself, or maybe it was the special sauce? Either way, it's worth the travel if you are an outsider!

Some of the other dishes that I may suggest, the spicy tuna roll is the best I've had thus far, and I've eaten A LOT of Sushi since my move to New York City. The flavor runs so smooth along your tastebuds, and the special spicy sauce i'd probably eat with a spoon if it wouldn't send fire out of my nostrils, delicious! Another Japanese style dish that is tastey is the Seared Tuna, sesame and black pepper crusted. If you are a lover of egg rolls I suggest you try the Lobster Spring Rolls, they are crunchy and fantastic, just a great blend of flavors for a spring roll. I also find this dish is better from the original Continental, just a little side tip.

And to finish it up I'd suggest any of their delicious desserts. The portions are rather small, a bite each for a table of three, I'd say. Not to knock them because they are great, it would just be nice if they were larger. What can I say? I love food!

Some of Steven Starr's other fine restaurants that I've been able to indulge at include Pod which is located on Univ of Penn's campus on Sampson Street, its pretty hidden. But it's just as trendy as the rest, window seating where eye level is about walking level outside, secluded booths, a rotating sushi bar, it's quite a place. Also Jones, which serves what is known as "comfort food" som of your favorites form home such as, Macaroni and Cheese, Meatloaf, Burgers, Salads, Grilled Cheese...just like Mom used to make. If you go to Jones for Brunch I suggest the Monkey Bread to start, it's foaming from the corners of your mouth delicious! I haven't had the pleasure of Morimotos or Tangerine unfortunately but I did make my way to Buddakan which serves modern Asia food. I don't remember much about the food we ordered, I had some type of pad thai dish with cashews I believe but for dessert we got a little chocolate box with ice cream and fudge, and that made the meal. Buddakan is a bit more pricey and I feel is not up to par, I'd stick with the Continental, the basis of the menu is almost the same.