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.
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
BlueJeanFood 