Now that the warmer weather is finally hitting us, so many New Yorkers are looking to take those vacation days that they have stowed away and get out of the city for a bit. With so many different options to travel to, why not settle for something that is literally a 90 minute Amtrak ride away, with endless benefits that will guarantee you a great trip? This is of course, the “City of Brotherly Love” that we know as Philadelphia. At Manhattan Digest, we have visited some great cities in the United States from DC, Providence to most recently San Francisco, and we are very excited to show you why Philadelphia has so many great options to enjoy with such a short distance to get to them. First on our list, my personal favorite- where to eat? Going to another city should never mean hitting up a chain restaurant due to familiarity, you should divulge into the local scene and see what makes that particular city so great in terms of its fantastic food adventures. Staying in the “Gayborhood” part of Philly, there were a couple that really stood out to me for several reasons. Here are some you should visit on your next trip down there.
Bud & Marilyn’s- 1234 Locust Street
If you are looking for some great American classics in a beautiful, relaxed environment, then Bud & Marilyn’s is the place to go. Located in the heart of the Gayborhood, Bud & Marilyn’s boast a retro rec-room vibe yet has an incredible modern touch and feeling to it upon your entry into its location. A highly ranked restaurant in Philadelphia, with 4.5 stars on both Yelp and OpenTable, this place serves the best of the best when it comes to Brunch, Lunch and Dinner, all in one amazing setting.
As someone who is a big fan of cocktails, their selection of liquor paired with something very delicious is one of the best parts of the experience. I would recommend their Winter Sour with blended scotch, honey, lemon, and allspice dram or their Planter’s Punch with Jamaican rum, orange & lime juice, nutmeg. Both have a great amount of flavor to it that mask the alcohol taste to it, in particular the Planter’s Punch and the delicious orange that it comes with. Two great starters to what will be a phenomenal meal.
For starters, I recommend their Crispy Cheese Curds with Wisconsin cheddar, smoked guajillo chile salsa, and burnt scallion ranch or their Creekstone Steak Tartare with smoked garlic aioli, capers, black truffle vinaigrette, arugula, lancaster pecorino, bbq fingerling chips. Two great ways to start your meal, with the Cheese Curds packed with a ton of flavor and the Tartare’s preparation marrying very well with the rest of its ingredients. I am a lover of salads, so their B&M Wedge is absolutely delicious if you are more in a “green” type of mood. It comes with iceberg, basil goddess, buttermilk blue, avocado, tomato, Nueske’s bacon, and crispy onions. SOLD! For the entree, try their Fontina & Chard Stuffed Meatballs or their Campanelle Pasta. The former has Yukon mash, mixed mushroom gravy, peas and carrots and is a great meal for a breezy type of night. The Campanelle Pasta is delicious in its execution, as the pasta with the veal meatballs and truffle oil really blend well together.
For dessert, finish off with their Funfetti Cake. You know, that big piece of cake in the photo above! You won’t be disappointed. Two thumbs up overall, seriously. For more information, check out their official site.
Double Knot- 120 S. 13th Street
For any type of restaurant, it can be very difficult to meld two different ideas and make them work. Double Knot, located on the very busy S. 13th Street, has done that in a very clever way. It is described on Google as a “Charming coffee shop with a secret izakaya in the basement offering sushi & robatayaki meats“. I never thought a concept like this would actually work, but in actuality, it really does! The upstairs portion of Double Knot reads like a normal coffee shop outside of the Starbucks types of places you would see, yet when we went and were taken downstairs, you feel like you are in the middle of a top Sushi type place, filled with several different types of delicious Japanese cuisine for you to enjoy!
Let’s break down the menu. One thing you absolutely have to devour is their Robatayaki, otherwise known as a variety of food types placed on a skewer. Each type of Robatayaki, albeit Scallops, Chicken, Smoked Bacon, and so much more, are perfectly prepared, spiced, and fall off the bone good. Heavenly. Their Bao Buns are absolutely delicious as well, with The Duck Scrabble Bao Bun being my personal favorite. With Maple Teriyaki, Cucumber and Chili, it is a tasty and shareable item to enjoy with your other guests. Their cold menu also delivers when it comes to taste and execution in the absence of heat, with standouts being their Tuna & Albacore. The Tuna was fantastic with the avocado and chili oil adorned throughout. They also have great sushi, fish and meat options to enjoy. A huge standout in Philly for sure. For more information on Double Knot, check out their official site.
Next stop on our trip to Philadelphia… where to stay!!