In most sections of Philadelphia, the only food one can get delivered is cheese steaks, pizza, and Chinese food.
In NYC, you have all of the above, plus Thai, Indian, Japanese, Sushi, quality Italian and Mexican food, the list goes on. Delis deliver sandwiches and everything else from a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream to a box of sugar to a pack of cigarettes.
Diners deliver everything on the menu. There’s nothing like waking up Sunday morning and ordering a bacon egg and cheese sandwich and coffee delivered from the diner down the street to eat while watching the early football game.
You have to go to South Philly for good Italian food, or so I’m told. I have not yet found good Indian food, in or around Philadelphia. Those are my two favorites so I find that extremely annoying.
In NYC, good food is everywhere. Every single neighborhood in Manhattan has good restaurants. Many of the even deliver.
This is obviously one of the things I hadn’t thought through when I moved here. Then again, I was under the assumption that Philadelphia was a city only half a step below New York.
You know what happens when a person makes assumptions. Bad things happen.
In order to get good food in Philly, I either have to drive at least 20 minutes or make it myself.
The only way I can describe this is culture shock. I freely admit to being spoiled by having such an array of great cuisine available just by picking up the phone.
It still just bums me out that I can’t get decent food delivered to my house in a “major” city…….
A menu for a different delivery restaurant is jammed under my door almost every day. They all have the same things – pizza, cheesesteaks, and tons of fried appetizers. I have tried ordering from many of these places, and they have all been nasty. I have never had worse, soggy, greasy, pizza anywhere than I have had in Philly. How can this be? I have always heard the pizza and cheese steaks are amazing. This city is so horrible, they cant even do junky delivery food right. I have not eaten a good hamburger (not from a fast food joint) since I moved here. And I miss all the terriyaki places we had on every street corner on the west coast…
I definitely understand your pain, most of Philadelphia is a hole. But maybe you should move to one of those neighborhoods that are great? I’m guessing from your lack of good food delivery options and presence of a garage that you don’t live downtown, or in South Philly/West Philly/NoLibs/Fairmount. As a resident of one of those areas I’ll grant you that my Indian delivery options are limited to 2, ditto Thai, which I’m having to get used to, and the food isn’t totally the same as I’d expect in another bigger city. But it’s still decent. I’ll also grant you that food delivery options are many in *all* parts of Manhattan, unlike Philly, where you have to stick to one small part. But is it really that small of a part? I’d say anywhere between Washington and Spring Garden you’re good, and that’s about 2 miles by 2 miles or so. Compared to Manhattan, which is about 2 miles by 9 miles. Plus good parts of BK and Queens. But I’m sure there’s plenty of parts of far-flung Queens with shitty food delivery options.
Andrew – Agreed.
It’s only Manhattan where you can get a bounty of good food delivered. That’s where I lived so that’s what I was used to. There are plenty of places in the outer boroughs where the delivery options are probably much more dismal than mine.
If I could afford to move to a better neighborhood (and I have seen some nice ones downtown), I would!
Haaa….I feel understood. Going on 2 years in this depressing city. Moved from NY as well, although I’ve lived in other major cities (like Toronto and Montreal…I’m Canadian btw). Unfortunately, Philly has the worst food possible and by far. Every place I’ve been, I found good little joints that became my favorites.
That never happened here..I’m still looking for something half decent and I’m not even that difficult! I’ve tried many places but they all have this in common: poor food at a ridiculous price. EVERY single time I leave with the impression of having been screwed.
And it’s the same no matter what type of cuisine you try..heck, I go to this supposedly amazing Mexican restaurant the other day, I step in, and it’s all white people working there! Man, I really do miss New York, can’t wait to go back permanently!
“In order to get good food in Philly, I either have to drive at least 20 minutes or make it myself.”
God forbid you should prepare your own food.
I love this city and everything it stands for. Yeah, there are definitely some assholes (I have a strong feeling you’re living somewhere in the Northeast) but this city is home to me and millions of other people who have to deal with the ignorance of outsiders like you, a “New Yorker” (aka a person from New Jersey/suburban New York state who moved to the city at some later point in life), who can’t seem to get it through his/her head that, in Philadelphia, we don’t have water to separate us from the “boroughs” we don’t want to be a part of — all our neighborhoods are connected, and we can’t just stay on our little island or venture to select parts of Brooklyn that we enjoy and find pleasing and pretend that’s the whole city!
Oh, and if you think the best cheesesteak you ever had was in SoHo, I can’t say you’re “wrong” because you might have different taste than I do. But I can say you might not know what a cheesesteak is ‘supposed’ to taste/look like because you didn’t grow up eating cheesesteaks made in a city that takes pride in the delicious sandwich.
I live in New York now and I can honestly say I hate this city. So many people in Manhattan walk around, convinced there’s a secret film crew recording a reality show about how great their “New York City life” is. Philly’s a real city comprising people who were raised to take pride in where they came from; New York’s a place filled with people who were convinced by popular images that they loved it from hundreds of miles away.
H. – God Bless you for loving Philadelphia and for sharing your opinion.
I don’t agree with some of your points but don’t have the time or inclination to rebut any of it. This blog is my sounding board for what annoys me, not to argue with those whose opinions differ. Besides there’s football on now.
To all New Yorkers…
We get it, Philly is not NY. You know where else isn’t NY? Everywhere else! Get used to it, stop whinning and be open-minded. If you are former New Yorker staying here and all you know about Philly cuisine is Cheesesteaks and soft pretzels then you have already proven yourself as someone who knows nothing about food. We have bars that rival NY and museums that EVEN New Yorker’s visit. Stop blogging for three seconds and put some minimal effort in to finding these places and you may become a little less miserable.
OK then, can someone tell me where there’s decent Italian food to be found in this city besides South Philadelphia? I’ve put in the minimal effort of suffering through dozens of horrible meals in search of good Italian. And no, Olive Garden does not count.
To the guy who said people in Philly were raised to take pride in where they came from-if that is true then why is there garbage blowing around everywhere? I am from the Atlanta area and I was shocked when I first moved here (for work) at how filthy this city is. In the south, people who take pride of their city help to keep it clean. Also they are friendly.
I think people who are from this city have a deep ingrained anger that keeps them from realizing they behave so badly.
Maggiano’s @ 12th & Filbert St.
Maggiano’s is not bad, especially for a chain! I’m disappointed that they took shrimp oreganta off the menu though. Still it’s not what I would call really good Italian.
Yes I admit to being a food snob, especially when Italian food is concerned. Can’t help it. After all I’m a guinea and make Sunday gravy that would make you cry
Travelers should know that when you see a sign in Phila that says “steaks” they mean cheese steak sandwiches not real steaks.
Why did you move to North Philly if you lived in manhattan? You could have justas easily moved to queens and gotten a crappier selection of restaurants and eateries. Quit complaining about your food choices and go to south Philly and go to Ralph’s. Or be a New Yorker and complain about how every place is different than manhattan. Stop being so xenophobic and hoitty toitty and deal with it.
Sunday to Thursday, NO ONE in Philly will serve you if you walk into their restaurant. I mention restaurant because you may find a cheesesteak or pizza joint, but that is fast food. If you are bringing your wine to a BYOB, or they have entrées for over $20, you have a better chance of getting electrocuted than a Philly waiter wanting to serve you. They don’t care about the tip, they just want to leave for home at 10 o’clock on the dot.
City of brotherly love my ass.
u are pathetic. U hate everything about Philly, but u still live here? Go back to NY with all the other fags and jews. You dont understand cus u not a native. go away skeez wap. no one cares about ur blog go kill urself. u would hate whereever u live caus ur a miserable person
You’re right, I probably don’t understand because I’m not a native (or as you so eloquently put it I dont understand cus i not a native). I don’t know what it’s like to grow up in a culture of ignorance. Thank God.
Fake Philly Flower Show
$250 a pop for the gala.
Paris is theme.
No Grey Goose.
No champagne.
No Pernod or Ricard.
No Bordeux wine.
They ran out of chardonnay.
A bloody disgrace.
I found out it’s because Aramark strong-armed the Philadelphia Convention Center into HAVING to use all their services.
Think I’m gonna puke. Sooooooooooo glad I am leaving. The only fun group were the drag queen and gay botanists at the after party.
Philly just looks awkward when they try to be cool. Like half the women who don’t know how to walk in heels.
What an international cultural disgrace. The French would have puked, I did.
Mel
Saturday Mrch 5, 11PM. All dolled up with my date. Walking down 13th Street to grab a late night meal at a restaurant (won’t name it) between Chestnut and Sansom. Asked the waiter for a table for two, and he quickly replied with “Sorry, the kitchen is closed.” The 5th largest city in the US has restaurants closing at 11 PM on a Saturday night. Really? El Vez was the only option?
This village sucks. 5 million population and the kitchens close at 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. I came here because I was a good son and moved to be closer to my father. Now that he has retired and moved, I have absolutely no culinary, cultural and fiduciary reasons to stay her.
Good-bye Philadelphia. Not au revoir, arrividerce, or hasta lluego. Good-bye.
For outsider: It’s sad, isn’t it. You HAD to mention that Olive Garden does not count. You most probably did that because many Philadelphian’s think Maggiano’s and Olive Garden are real Italian restaurants.
Try Tre Scalini on Passyunk in South Philly. Molisana recipes made by an Italian chef. BYOB.
Radicchio on 5th and Wood in Olde City. If you can put up with the pretentious New Jersey folk who drive their expensive cars (Benz, BMW SUV’s, Lexus) over the bridge (only to go home with a fifth of a bottle of wine they did not drink), then you will enjoy it. Grilled calamari is delicious and it’s a BYOB.
Il Cantuccio in Northern Liberties. Creative items, great seafood, especially if you like garlic.
Buona fortuna. E bon apetito.
I was born and raised outside Chicago. I have lived in fourteen states and three countries. I have called cities, suburbs, and the mountains home. Philadelphia is second worst when it comes to food. My mountain home was the worst for food only because the nearest restaurant was a half an hour away.
@Baffled I never lived in New York. It’s not a case of New Yorkers complaining about everywhere else. It’s a case of people who know a better way to live understanding that Philadelphia is a shithole full of assholes like you.
Philadelphia DOES have restaurants with superb pizza and cheese steaks. Some, not many, are right in center city and have some regional fame. However, these delicious (and usually very affordable) restaurants are usually hole in the wall joints or low-key shindigs outside of center city that are popular in the local neighborhood. Any outside visitor might over-look these restaurants and gravitate toward the fancy neon lights and flash and flare bc their retard big-city Manhattan instincts tell them to do so. These restaurants have been in the neighborhood for decades and have credible LOCAL fame, not national. Either way, they exist. But, there are definitely imitators who know Philadelphia is known for their cuisine and they offer “traditional” Philadelphia options, which is actually just soggy pizza and gross “cheese steaks”, like you mentioned. These imitators bank on the fact you retards from NY and elsewhere hear how good our food is and want to try it. In fact most of the shittiest restaurants in philly are run by non-philadelphians or dudes that moved here from NY. Sift through the imitators and stop complaining you idiot.
ps- La Fourno on south street is fantastic italian food.
@drewbeswick Thanks for sticking up for us illadelphs. It was a tad aggressive and belligerent but i like the effort.
@ H That was awesome, keep doing what you do to be you
@jerp You’re getting hassled by the intimidators
@baffled: you’re the man
@Flipadelphia Food Phanatic Philadelphia is known for their cuisine? Who told you this? Never in all my travels have I heard Philly mentioned among the cities known for great cuisine. Sorry to burst your self-righteous bubble but people equate Philly only with cheesesteaks.
To further spoil your small-minded rant, intelligent people looking for good food are not lured in by neon lights. We know to look for the small local places. My favorite restaurant in the world doesn’t even have a sign to advertise it’s existence. It’s NOT in Philadelphia.
I can help anyone looking for DECENT Indian food cos I am from India. I say, with emphasis, DECENT INDIAN food because Filth-a-day Filthadelphia does NOT I repeat does NOT have GOOD INDIAN FOOD. It is a terrible disappointment to move here from WDC – NOVA area (that is the Washington DC – Northern VA area) for yet anothe reason – NO good Indian and Not enough Chipotles/California Tortilla. In WDC – NoVA I would be surrounded literally surrounded by atleast 5 great Indian restaurants wherever I went and wherever I lived. Ok, if anyone is looking for decent Indian in the ‘burbs – Try Sher-e-Punjab, Media; Spice Bistro (THE BEST so far), Newtown Square; Spice Kitchen, Trooper; Royal Indian, Malvern; Devi, Wayne; As for downtown I dont waste time there looking for Indian restaurant but Palace at the Ben, which is not too exciting either except for its royal interiors, is decent. I have heard Minar Palace and Bindi which are both in the Avenue of the Arts area are decent. There is one more recently opened restaurant-cum-lounge called ‘Tashan’ on Broad Street, close to Kimmel center/Merriam Theater which I havent tried yet but have read good reviews.
And forgot to add, I seriously miss the middle-eastern cuisine chain in the WDC – Nova- MD area called ‘Moby Dick’ which had great hummus and great naan/chicken kababs. For that matter I miss any ordinary middle-eastern restaurant from that area which is another great cuisine that Filthadelphia lacks. Oh I forgot – when Filthadelphia cannot even make Americans feel welcome, how can they possibly allow middle-eastern restaurant chains to open here? But for the last two years I have been praying for that restaurant chain Moby Dick to open at least ONE restaurant in Philly. There is a restaurant called ‘hummus’ in Univ City, has anyone tried that? Please dont, because you will puke! Like you would at everything else in Filth-a-day Filthadelphia.
Vijay, thanks so much for the info! I miss good Indian food sooooo much but will settle for decent, which I have not found in this area thus far so I will try your suggestions!
…You are quite welcome. Hope you like some of those restaurants. And try “Sitar India”, a congested but great place in UNIV CITY by the Chillis on Chestnut street. It has one of THE BEST lunch buffet in town, comparable to Spice Bistro and Royal India. And the good thing about this restaurant? If you didnt like it, you could always try Chillis!
The Italian food in South Philly sucks as does the rest of the city. People are rude and cliquey and have no clue what good Italian foods is. They think that provolone belongs on anything Italian…ha, ha.
This is one angry, depressed emotionally unhealthy city.
Okay, I went to the new Indian restaurant-cum-bar-lounge ‘Tashan’ on 777 S. Broad Street, PHL. The word ‘Tashan’ means style/fashion. It is defnitely good albeit expensive. They also serve small portions making it even more pricy. But all in all a great ambience and a great restaurant that lives up to its name (‘tashan’). An Indian restaurant-cum-bar in Philaldelphia and open until 11 pm, is very rare in this area and I appreciate the owner for opening one. May not be the best but it is a welcome relief for me in this crappy town. Perhaps some of us philly haters should meet there to swap horror stories?
Let me know what you guys think.
More great info thanks Vijay! Have you heard of Saffron in Bala Cynwyd? I hear good things about it but haven’t been there myself yet.
I think if we all got in a room together we’d explode
Oh yes I have already tried Saffron at Bala Cynwyd. It is….ummm…..well….so-so. I wouldnt say anything like “Good” or “Nice”…and have you disappointed, but definitely worth a try. As such I have already told you in general, all Indian restaurants in Philly as decent, average, or below.