Category Archives: Restaurants

Jim’s Steaks – South Street – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Bluejeanfood

Jim’s Steaks – South Street – Philadelphia, PA

One of Philadelphia’s hottest tourist areas is the South Street area for better or worse. I find I have a love/hate relationship with this street. You have some of the most tasteless stores and flavorless eateries, but you also have some of the best shopping and amazing eats all right next to each other while trying to avoid the throngs of helpless and wondering visitors from out of town. It is horrible and great all at the same time. One of the most poplar places is Jim’s Steaks (JS) which at times has a line around the block just to put an order in. I passed by JS one day with a light crowd and decided to give them a shot. I would order a mushroom cheese steak with American cheese and fried onions.

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The sandwich itself was slightly above average. The steak was of nice quality, but chopped up way to much as it fell out of the roll, the mushrooms even though generous in portion size came directly out of a can, but I must admit the fried onions were delicious and some of the best around. If you are a tourist it is not a bad one to try and maybe slightly better than the other two well-known tourist cheesesteak destinations while provided somewhere indoors to eat your fare and having some neat pictures to browse around the place.

What really got me at JS had nothing to do with how my sandwich tasted. After my order was when things got a little dicey. The patron in front of me did not have cash so they went over to the atm in JS and tried to get money out of that machine. After a few minutes trying to no avail, they told the cashier that it was not working and that they would be right back as they were going to use the atm around the corner. One would think the cashier would move on to the next customer. NOT!!! The cashier said she already entered their meal into the register and she could not cancel it. I had to wait five to ten more minutes for the individuals to reappear while the line behind me grew exponentially as well with all of our sandwiches going cold on the counter waiting for them. Once that issue was cleared I thought I could move on, but boy was I wrong. Once I handed over my money, the cashier advised me that she did not have any more quarters or dimes at the moment even though it was only 1pm and she just stared at me for fifteen minutes waiting for the other people to find an atm instead of finding some money for herself as well in that timeframe. She asked if it was ok to just give me pennies and nickels. I agreed and was handed some coins. I looked down at noticed she did not give me the proper change in pennies as I was given eight pennies and three nickels for change of seventy-seven cents. I advised her of the mistake, and she said she gave me the correct change and she would have to check register count to refund anything else. With many other customers behind me and having a much longer wait than it needed to be already, I decided to let JS keep my extra change and move on, but I was not happy.

With all said and done I will give JS two ratings, which is the first time ever on this website, but I could not give JS just one score on the basis of one of the employees being completely incompetent.

Three and half out of five stars for the meal and atmosphere in and around JS

and

One star overall for the meal and quality of service JS provided to me

 

*********** UPDATE 01-26-2016 ********************

Talked to the president of Jim’s Steaks over the phone and then he sent a follow up email (shown below). They apologized for my experience and stated he will take corrective actions on the things I mentioned and he strives everyday for every customer to have nothing but an outstanding experience and sandwich. I will have to give them another chance. Kudos Jim’s Steaks for being professional.

 

******************************************************

Derek:
Thanks for your time on the phone this afternoon. It is not often that I get to speak personally to a reviewer, especially a negative one. I apologize for your wait you had in line at our restaurant and the unprofessional way in which your change was tendered. Most of our staff has been with us for many years and would never have handled you in such a manner. The cashier that day was in her second week of training and, as you might imagine, didn’t make it to week three. We pride ourselves on our service as well as our cheesesteaks and the wait you had to endure was completely outside our normal operating procedures. We handle the situation you described multiple times a day and simply move the patron ahead of you to the side if there is a problem. When busy we serve up to 3000 guests a day through a single cash register, so we have to have policies in place that address folks who don’t have cash.
We hope that the next time you have a chance to visit the South St. area you give us another try. I can assure you in no uncertain terms that your experience will be one that will leave you with a much more positive impression of Jim’s Steaks South St.
Sincerely,
K## S##### – President
Jim’s Steaks South St.
400 South St.
Phila., PA 19147

 

 

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Revolution Taco

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Bluejeanfood

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(The following is a special series on Bluejeanfoodcritic.com written by guest contributing writer William Knowles. He highlights his passions of of trying something new whenever the opportunity presents itself, or possibly something old, but new again since it has been a while. I hope you enjoy his very special perspective that I am sure many of you can relate to. Follow him on his exciting journey “Around Town”)

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Last week marked the official grand opening of Revolution Taco, a new eatery at 2015 Walnut Street in Philadelphia, in the shadow of Rittenhouse Square.  Our friends at Aversa PR & Events invited us along for a sampling of the unique offerings that the eatery will have in store.

Specializing in tacos, empanadas and burritos, the restaurant is the result of a partnership between three food truck entrepreneurs uniting their product and brands.  Mike Sultan, operator of Street Food Philly;  Alan Krawitz, who runs Say Cheese; and Carolyn Nguyen, proprietor of Taco Mondo, all share in the creation of Revolution Taco.  The offerings were impressive, and there is much to choose from the menu.  The beef, brisket and chicken tacos were delicious.  For vegetarians, there are mushroom and tofu tacos; as well as roast duck.  The empanada we sampled was out of this world…the chips and guac fresh with flavor.

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The food truck industry has seen a surge in recent years, particularly in our area.  The success that led to the formation of Revolution Taco comes on the heels of this boom, and it’s interesting to see those with different visions unite their talents.  It’s also refreshing to see more and more smaller eateries opening, and thriving, in the city.  Competition with chain restaurants and their popularity can be a difficult thing to encounter, but most will find the quality at a local neighborhood joint to be above those of said chains.  If you presently frequent a well known taco or Mexican theme restaurant, you may find this new option to be superior to them, in many ways…

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Revolution Taco celebrated its grand opening this week, and you should visit soon to enjoy a nice atmosphere and great food. Happy New Year, and see you around town…

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Cafe Mai Vy – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Cafe Mai Vy – Philadelphia, PA – NOW CLOSED –

With all of the Banh Mi options around Washington Ave in South Philly it can be overwhelming, especially with half of them not even having things to read in English. I decided to give Café Mai Vy (CMV) a try and it was a worthwhile trip.

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I ordered the spicy bbq pork banh mi and it was not only one of cheaper ones around, it was one of the better ones as well. The freshness of the roll, carrots, cilantro and nice fatty pieces of barbequed pork in every bite were wonderful. The service was very minimal as the language barrier made things a bit difficult, but they were friendly and gracious. The décor is very dated and a little mish mash of trinkets and do-dads, but for the quality and price CMV will be seeing much more of me.

Overall

Four out of Five Stars

 

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Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge – Philadelphia, PA

Working your way up Spring Garden from the Delaware River, the first place to grab your attention (besides Delilah’s) is sure to be Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge (SCDB). The outside beer garden looks and feels like an outpost of South Street Magic Gardens, the old school dining car from the 50’s transports you back to another time, and the lounge has some really nice entertainment options with almost something for everyone at least one day on the schedule. Owner Mark Bee who also runs N.3rd Bar & Restaurant and Frank Bradley’s has a flair for visual stimulation. That is all fine and well, but it is my belly that needs to be stimulated the most to make me happy.  I would go with their Italian Dip with hand cut fries.

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The Italian Dip may look ordinary in the picture, but it was the opposite of visual stimulation, as it was its inner beauty that counted the most. Underneath the ciabatta roll was thin sliced roast beef, sharp provolone, marinated peppers and onions, roasted garlic aioli, arugula and rosemary jus. I really liked the combination of ingredients it the serving size was generous. The ciabatta was of nice quality and it held up well throughout the meal. The one thing I noticed immediately was that the peppers were raw. They were fresh and throughout the sandwich, but I prefer cooked marinated peppers as was stated in the menu in my sandwiches and the peppers being raw distracted me from my full enjoyment. The hand cut fries were pretty good and enhanced the overall experience as a good French fry should do; I just wish I had a larger serving of jus to dip them into. SCDB is probably the most eclectic diner I have ever visited, and sometimes the “show” overshadows the food in these sort of hipster havens. With superb service, a decent meal at an affordable price, and plenty to look at and experience at SCDB they are more than just a gimmick, they are gastronomic gem as well.

Overall

Four out of Five Stars

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Buffalo Bills Barbecue – Sicklerville, NJ

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Buffalo Bills Barbecue – Sicklerville, NJ

I find critiquing barbeque one of the more difficult genres to be objective about since I am a Kansas City Barbeque Society Certified Judge. Eating barbeque from teams with dreams of winning hundreds of thousands of dollars for just one serving of food they labored over for days with recipes perfected over the years and then eating barbeque from a retail location setup to feed the masses is like night and day. With keeping this in mind I decided to try Buffalo Bills Barbecue (BBB) as I was seeing a lot of things posted about them on the internet. BBB is strictly a no frills take-out location. When I picked up the menu, I was a little hesitant as their menu was more on line with a pizza joint than a barbeque location and a little all over the place. I would go with a full rib combo.

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The meal consisted of a full rack of baby back ribs, mac and cheese, and collard greens. BBB is nowhere near championship caliber barbeque, but I must admit I was impressed for what is readily available barbeque in South Jersey. The ribs were cooked nicely and were tender throughout. I enjoyed the rub they used and the mild sauce painted on with just the right amount of sauce, unlike some places that pour the sauce on to hide an inferior product. Each bite was juicy and meaty as well. The collard greens really shined as hidden inside each forkful were tiny pieces of pulled chicken that enhanced the overall flavor profile and add a special surprise. The mac and cheese was not too impressive, but I have had worse and it held its own as a decent side.

BBB was enjoyable and I would be happy to try more things on their very large menu and hope everything is as good as what I had my first visit there. The staff was very personable and friendly. The woman behind the counter said she thought she recognized me and had I been to BBB before. With me responding I had not, she replied, “Well darling, I guarantee you are going to love your meal and if you don’t, come back and I’ll give you something else you like instead.” I respect a dining establishment who has confidence in what they are serving. I will be going back to BBB. Not to return what I ordered, but to order some more!

Overall

Four out of Five Stars

 

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Royal Mandarin Chinese Restaurant & Sushi Bar – Deptford, NJ

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Royal Mandarin Chinese Restaurant & Sushi Bar – Deptford, NJ

The Deptford Mall area is surrounded by restaurants, but sadly the vast majority of them are chains. Now Royal Mandarin Chinese Restaurant & Sushi Bar (RMC) has quite a few restaurants of their own, but they are mostly all located in South Jersey. In an unassuming strip mall sits RMC, and walking inside they really don’t have a lot character, but it gets the job done nicely and staff was friendly. I would go with a Chicken Teriyaki lunch special.

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The meal was good, just not great, but it was affordable. The chicken was a generous sized piece, but was a little dry from being overcooked. The sauce and rice was just your standard variety, but the veggies were nice and fresh and crisp. RMC is a nice change of pace around the area they serve; I just do not see myself rushing to visit them on their own without a pre-planned visit to this shopping area. If the next time I visit them, if their sushi selection knocks my socks off, then I will reconsider making them a destination.

Overall

Two and half out of Five Stars

 

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Little Spoon Café – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Little Spoon Café – Philadelphia, PA

It is well documented that people go “GAGA” for Little Spoon Café (LSC) breakfast and brunch. I am not a huge fan of either, so of course I would try them for lunch. LSC is a very quaint dining destination, but they pack people in to every spot available while a line to order was long, yet calm and quiet. I would order their Braised Pork Sandwich with chips and homemade dip.

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Let me start out by singing the praises of LSC’s homemade French onion dip. I could easily eat this stuff buy the bucket load and be pleasantly plump and happy. You are sorely missing out on a delicious treat if you do not order the dip on any visit to LSC. I cannot believe they are not pairing the dip with homemade chips to go with it. The braised pork sandwich on the other hand was good, just not great. It was braised pork shoulder, with fontina and braised greens on grilled artisan bread. The combination was nice, but was much too salty, greens were bitter, and bread was very greasy. These are all things that are easily fixed, and as busy as LSC is they just need to take the time to execute a little better. I enjoyed the LSC experience; it just did not “WOW” me. Maybe next time I will try them from breakfast or brunch.

Overall

Three out of Five Stars

 

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IL Fiore Restaurant – Collingswood, NJ

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

IL Fiore Restaurant – Collingswood, NJ

The game of Eeny Meeny Miny Moe usually lands you a decent place to eat on Haddon Avenue in Collingswood, New Jersey. I have had a few duds here or there, but for the most part, I enjoy stopping by this dining destination of a town and just choosing at the last minute anywhere that fits my fancy. The latest adventure would be IL Fiore (IF). IF has always been jam packed whenever I have been around, but I decided to go early and was able to grab a seat. IF is tiny on the inside, very tiny. The décor is average and seating makes you get to know your dining neighbors very well as they squish as many people in as possible. I would start things out with the Funghi Gratinati.

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The dish consisted of baked porcino, shiitake, and portabello mushrooms, shrimp, bread crumbs, garlic and olive oil. I did not have any expectations, but I must admit the dish was delicious. It was the perfect combination of flavors and mixture of mushrooms and shrimp were a nice touch and cooked just right. I would go with the special fish of the day branzino for my entrée.

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The fish was just was slightly overcooked, sitting on top of carrots, broccoli, and string beans in a white wine fresh lemon sauce with capers. The veggies were fresh and crisp, but presentation could have used some help. The dish was good overall; it just did not stand out in any way. For dessert I would go with tartufo.

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The outer shell was nice and ice cream inside was decent, but when I think of tartufo I usually think of more than just a plain vanilla. I will commend IF though for the attentiveness and the quality of their staff. Everyone was very friendly and service went smooth and quickly for how busy they were. IF also surprised me with their very affordable prices. IF is not by far my favorite Italian style restaurant, but with their low prices, good service, and tasty meal I will certainly be dining their more often.

Overall

Three and a half out of Five Stars

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Kunkel’s Seafood and Steakhouse – Haddon Heights, NJ

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Kunkel’s Seafood and Steakhouse – Haddon Heights, NJ

Driving down the stretch of road called Kings Highway in Camden County starting in Brooklawn until you get to Haddonfield a little place called Kunkel’s Seafood and Steakhouse (KSS) sits. It is very unassuming and really comes out of nowhere since there is not much around them, but once you step inside you are transported to a very nice dining destination. I would stop there for lunch and with the name Seafood and Steakhouse listed, I was looking forward to possibly one or the other. When the menu was handed to me, I chose neither. Their lunch menu only consisted of nine out of the forty-five selections containing a seafood item and out of the nine, seven of them were either an appetizer or salad option. So only five percent of the menu had a seafood entrée, which was even better than the steak option as that had only the filet as its only choice equating to only two percent of the menu. So I went with the Cajun Crusted Pork Loin Sandwich.

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Even though I was disappointed at first not seeing many seafood or steaks options, I must admit I really enjoyed my lunch. The meal consisted of Pork loin seasoned with Cajun spices and then slow roasted and served with au jus, topped with roasted red pepper and provolone cheese on toasted ciabatta bread with a side fresh cut potato wedges. The potato wedges were delicious especially dipping them in the au jus, the bread was a perfect match, and the pork was moist, plentiful, and seasoned beautifully. My only complaint would be the roasted red pepper seemed like they came out of a can. It would really be an outstanding sandwich with fresh roasted red peppers or fresh sautéed long hots. The service was friendly, décor may be a little dated, but overall KSS was a pleasant surprise. Unless they add more seafood or steak options, they may just want to be known as Kunkel’s.

Overall

Four out of Five Stars

 

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(DeLuca’s) Villa di Roma – Italian Market – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

(DeLuca’s) Villa di Roma – Italian Market – Philadelphia, PA

Hey everybody did you know the Pope is coming to Philly? Yep, that is right; Pope Francis is taking a trip from the Vatican to visit the “City of Brotherly Love” for the World Meeting of Families 2015 and the city has been in frenzy for months. Millions of people are descending upon my hometown and they are all going to have to eat somewhere. Even though Pope Francis is from Argentina, and maybe because I am not Catholic, I always relate the Pope to Italy first and foremost. With Italy on my mind, I decided a trip to the Italian Market was in order. The place I decided was worth a try was (DeLuca’s) Villa di Roma (VDR). VDR is old school. You know immediately not to waste your time here unless you are paying in cash. The lights were dim, the staff Italian, and a certain atmosphere that can only be described as hipishly outdated. I would start out with their clams casino.

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I do not know if holy moly is the best way to describe the dish, but there was defiantly something holy about what I was served. This was hands down the BEST clams casino I have been served EVER. The generous sized clams were squirting full of juice while still intact in the shell and topped with an amazing combination of herbs, spices, and bread crumbs all cooked to perfection. They were blessed indeed. Up next would be a meatball parmigiana sandwich.

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The roll appeared to have gotten a little too close to the fire pits of hell as it was burnt pretty bad, but GLORY GLORY to the gravy and meatballs inside as they were righteous and angelic. The meatballs were huge, yet moist in every bite and firm enough that they did not crumble or fall apart at all while eating. The sweet gravy poured inside was topped with just the right amount of mozzarella cheese made the sandwich exult in all of its tasteful glory.

I do not know how I will feel once Pope Francis arrives, but I can tell you that my experience at VDR was heavenly. I really enjoyed my visit and will certainly be back. AMEN!

Overall

Four out of Five Stars

 

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