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Il Portico

This weekend, Il Portico invites you and your significant other to dine and dance the night away.

On Valentine’s Day, Il Portico is offering up a special $50 three course menu. Highlights include a Pollo al Chianti, a  boneless chicken breast finished with Chianti wine, and a Lombata di Vitello, a rack of veal chop grilled with rosemary.

Guests will also receive free admission to the Adesso lounge and a complimentary champagne toast.

I’ve got the whole Valentine’s Day menu after the jump. Have a look, and call to book your reservation.

IL Portico
1519 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102-3001
(215) 587-7000
www.il-portico.com

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Brunch!

This weekend, McGillin’s starts serving their new Fe-Brew-Ary Beer Brunch.

The brunch, which is available Saturdays and Sundays, 11am to 3pm, offers up some great drink specials, with mimosas, Ithacan mimosas (with Apricot Wheat), and select micro brews for only $3.

Menu highlights include banana stuffed French toast, and lots of plates for about $7.

For more information and a full menu, visit McGillin’s official website. And be sure to follow them on Twitter!

McGillin’s Olde Ale House
1310 Drury Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 735-5562
www.mcgillins.com

Clockwise from top left: Baby Jesus, housemade vanilla soda and the Fratello pizza (all photos by M. McClellan)

Zavino, one of the newest dining spots along the 13th Street corridor (known in marketing parlance as the Midtown Village), opened several weeks ago to warm praise. This wine bar serves a tidy menu of small plates, salumi (it might sound like sacrilege, but make sure to try the Baby Jesus–a fatty, meltingly good salami), handmade pastas and perfectly blistered pizzas (they’re topped with restrain and creativity).

The only thing they’re not selling right now, due to a glitch with their liquor license, is wine (or beer). Certainly a problem for a restaurant that named itself (at least, in part) after the grape. Thankfully, they’re not asking their customers to stay dry. Instead, they’re skirting the issue by offering complementary glasses of red, white or brew to go along with your food order.

I ate there last night with friends, and I’m happy to report that both the red and the white were highly drinkable (certainly a step up from the house plonk you get some places). Additionally, those of you looking for a booze-less option will be pleased by their housemade sodas. While they’re not free, they are sold by the quart (and served in a customized milk bottle) and runs just $4. Last night, you could choose lemon, orange or vanilla (the vanilla is intensely fragrant, refreshing and not-too-sweet).

Know also that they only take reservations for groups of five or more, so if you’re a smaller party, be prepared to wait. Worry not though, the food (and free booze) is worth it.

Zavino
112 S. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA
215.732.2400
www.zavino.com

Our friends over at Meal Ticket stopped by Supper to check out the DIY hot dog kit. You can still order the take-out package, just place your orders by noon tomorrow.

Check out the video. Enjoy!

[ via Meal Ticket ]

Last March, I had the opportunity to go to Austin, TX for a conference. While there, I spent an inordinate amount of time eating barbecue. While I loved all that smokey, slow-cooked meat, I discovered that, for me, the most direct way to culinary bliss was through the sides. Choosing just one or two out of the assortment of salads, beans, greens and breads was heart-breaking, when what I really wanted was just a couple of bites of everything.

The folks at Percy Street Barbecue (the best way to satisfy a barbecue craving short of hopping on an airplane) have come up with a solution for my desire to have it all. They’re now offering a special that they’ve named “The Lockhart.” When diners choose this $24 per person special, 14 dishes will show up on their table, which is exactly everything on the menu (and each diner still gets to pick their own dessert). Before you make barbecue plans, do know that you must have at least four people in your party to order “The Lockhart” and it’s only offered during the dinner service.

If that seems like too much food for you or you can’t gather the requisite four, Percy Street is also offering “The Combo” (one meat and two sides for $15) and “Double Down” (two meats and two sides for $17).

Percy Street Barbecue
900 South Street, Philadelphia, PA
215-625-8510
http://www.percystreet.com/

Minette's Chef Woolsey

Bistrot La Minette (a new favorite of Uwishunu blogger Samantha Lazar) is offering up a special menu the entire weekend of Valentine’s Day.

Four new additions to the Bistrot menu that weekend include a Veloute de Crusta, a creamy crustacean soup with lobster, crawfish and black truffle oil. Guests can have this served with two ounces of fois gras on the side. Entrees include a lobster thermidor and lamb rack, served with a vegetable tart and lemon confit sauce.

For more on the restaurant, and to book a reservation, visit the Bistrot’s official website.

Bistrot La Minette
623 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 925-8000
www.bistrotlaminette.com

Image courtesy Bistro St Tropez

Still looking to book your Valentine’s Day dining plans? Bistro St Tropez is offering up two romantic dining opportunities; a four course dinner for $45 and a three course brunch for $25.

The four course dinner, served on February 13th and 14th, includes highlights like lobster spring rolls, pan seared boat scallops, fire-grilled filet mignon and rack of lamb.

The brunch, offered only on the 14th, features a choice of crispy duck leg confit with roasted potatoes, lobster crepes, and more. For an additional $25 per guest, you can add a champagne flight, served with each course.

I’ve posted the full menu after the jump. Have a look, and book your reservation.

Bistro St Tropez
2400 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 569-9269
www.bistrosttropez.com

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Photo by D. Sutton for Supper

Getting ready for the Super Bowl this weekend? Well, you’re going to need a good spread. Supper is here to help.

This weekend, Supper is offering up their Super Bowl take-out package, dishing out their popular bacon-wrapped hot dogs and birch beer glazed wings in two delicious sounding bundles.

Supper Dog Kit: Four house-made bacon-wrapped hot dogs, vacuum sealed and ready for the grill or deep fryer; four house-baked buns; one pint each of barbecued onions, sauerkraut and house-cured pickles; and a half pint of beer mustard, $25.

Best Damn Wings in Philly: Smoked birch beer glazed chicken wings with black pepper and buttermilk dressing for $12 per pound.

Interested? Orders need to be placed by noon on Friday, February 5th. Give them a call!

Supper
928 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 592-8180
www.supperphilly.com

Last weekend, I had brunch at Marigold Kitchen, and while it’s a lovely place for a daytime meal, I know from past experience that cozy, romantic suppers are really where MK shines. In the evening, it’s all low-light, whispering fireplaces and well-paced meals that give you plenty of time to nuzzle your sweetheart between courses.

This year, they’re offering a special Valentine’s Day menu that includes such traditional aphrodisiacs like oysters and almonds, along side venison, scallops or three takes on the potato (see the complete menu after the jump).

This holiday menu is $65 per person (Marigold Kitchen is a BYO, so don’t forget to pick a bottle or two of your favorite food-friendly wines) and will be served between the hours of 5:30 and 10:30 p.m. They’re taking reservations for V-Day now, so call now to secure your spot.

Marigold Kitchen
501 S. 45th Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 222-3699
www.marigoldkitchenbyob.com

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Starting tomorrow, Oyster House is dishing out their new Tuesday Night Shrimp & Crayfish Boil.

For $19 a person, guests will be served a venerable Southern seafood feast; wild shrimp and whole crayfish thrown together with chunks of kielbasa, seasoned with Creole spices.

This special is only available during dinner service on Tuesdays . For more information on Oyster House, check out their official website.

Oyster House
1516 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 567-7683
www.oysterhousephilly.com

Brunch at Marigold Kitchen (all photos by M. McClellan)

Marigold Kitchen is a Philadelphia institution. This stately rowhouse in West Philly, just a few blocks from Clark Park has been a restaurant since 1934. In those days, it was known as the Marigold Tea Room, and was a haven for Penn students and professors. Since 2004, it has been a casually elegant BYOB that has nurtured several talented area chefs. The most recent alum is Erin O’Shea, who is now at the new Percy Street Barbecue on South Street.

Philly-area native Robert Halpern has taken over the kitchen from O’Shea and brings nearly fifteen years of experience with him. Halpern recently expanded Marigold Kitchen’s offerings to include Sunday brunch (a brilliant move in this residential neighborhood with relatively few brunch spots) and so last Sunday, my husband and I paid a visit* to see how this new incarnation of Marigold Kitchen does eggs, waffles, french toast and coffee.

Walking in right at 10:30, we were greeted by a small, crackling fire. There were just a couple of occupied tables, but this wasn’t a worrisome sign, as we were there within minutes of opening. The friendly front-of-house staff soon had us tucked away in the house’s former dining room, with menus, coffee (good, strong) and orange juice (freshly squeezed, with abundant pulp).

We ordered the steak and eggs (one over-easy egg perched atop a gorgeously medium-rare petite filet), the pain perdu (cereal-crusted challah with a cinnamon-infused foam) and their version of a croque monsieur (essentially a truffled smoked salmon sandwich. I am a sucker for anything truffled). Additionally, the kitchen sent out their house waffle, which was crisp, tender and was topped with whipped cream and toasted pine nuts. Certainly, the most indulgent waffle I’ve had recently (it made my homemade whole grain ones seem prissy and staid in comparison).

My only word of warning about Marigold Kitchen is for those of you who like a egg with a firmly cooked white. I found their egg whites to be the runny side of acceptable. Certainly edible (and with gorgeously hued yolks), but if you’re at all picky about such things, you might want to include a word in your order, to ensure you’ll receive a egg that you’ll be happy with.

Marigold Kitchen
501 S. 45th Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 222-3699
www.marigoldkitchenbyob.com

*Disclosure: Our meal was organized by Marigold Kitchen’s PR firm and was complimentary.

Half lobster atop pasta & red sauce, salad, and dessert at London Grill... all for under $20

Fairmount’s London Grill combines the atmosphere of a neighborhood pub with a fine dining experience. For a limited time, with reservations, the restaurant is offering all guests a three-course “Surf or Turf” special for $18.95. I stopped in with a friend last week to try out the new menu, and left impressed.

Commenced with fresh salad served alongside house-made focaccia and olive oil, completed with a delicious chocolate mousse, diners have two options for main entrees. The petite filet, served with scalloped potatoes and spinach, or the half lobster, served atop pasta and red sauce. Wines specifically chosen to be paired with the dishes are also available for $5 a glass.

If the special doesn’t pique your interest, the restaurant has a variety of dishes for any diner. With a creative menu that changes daily, London Grill has a focus on fresh and local ingredients to bring about dishes from Seared Duck Breast (fregola sarda, butternut squash, apple chutney, tangerine sauce) to BBQ Pork (with collared greens, mac and cheese).

Beyond the restaurant, the bar offers a robust selection of imported and domestic drafts and bottles, from the local offerings of breweries such as Victory, Stoudts and Dogfish Head to lagers, ales and porters from England’s Sam Smith or France’s Kronenbourg Brewery. In addition, there is also an extensive list of cocktails and wine.

All in all, London Grill was a multitude of pleasant experiences under one roof. It’s the venue for both a cozy dinner date or for sitting at the bar for drinks and watching a game, whilst satisfying late-night cravings.

London Grill
2301 Fairmount Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 978-4545
www.londongrill.com
Twitter: @LondonGrill