Dmitri's - Fitler Square

glass of the house white

When I think of BYOB's, Dmitri's is always on the top of that list. The location in Queen Village has been popular for years and has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. I've eaten many meals at the bar, squeezed in shoulder to shoulder with my dinner companion and other patrons. This cramped, loud little restaurant makes no apologies for these inconveniences. You either love it or hate it and I happen to be someone who loves it. They serve seafood that is fresh and simply prepared. No foams, no gelee, no freeze dried anything is served here. Just honest to goodness fresh fish, shellfish and a few Greek inspired salads and dips. So given my partiality to this tiny little gem of a restaurant, is it any wonder that I never remember that there exist a sister restaurant in Filter Square?

appetizer sampler

 

sauteed mussels

I finally ate at Dmitris 2  one Friday night and boy was I surprised. This one is not a BYOB like the in Queen VIllage but the menu is more or less the same. They offer a few different items such as the appetizer sampler dish which included a cucumber salad, the beets, and variety of the dips and along with wedges of the grilled pita. I love eating the pita dipped in the olive oil with just a splash of the Tabasco. There's just something about that combination that just makes my tastebuds sing. It is a great starter and more than enough for 2 people. We ordered that along with the sauteed mussels (my favorite) and then one platter, which was the tilapia special (broiled tilapia filets in white wine) and since this was not a BYOB we each ordered a glass of the house white. It was the perfect dinner. The atmosphere was lively, but not as cramped as the Queen Village location and the food well executed. I was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed myself. If you find yourself wandering about Filter Square/Rittenhouse Square looking for a non-pretentious and affordable dinner spot you should check out Dmitri's on the corner of 23rd and Pine.

hidden city soire 2009

From food

I almost never pass up a tasting event. Hidden City had an event at the Armory in Rittenhouse on Thursday June 28. Miss HatT, my trusty eating companion, joined me in ths cavernous location for a chance to sample dishes from a variety of restaurants in Philadelphia.

From food

The event featured foods from Cafe Spice (old city), Friday Saturday Sunday (rittenhouse), Trio (no libs), El Vez(wash sq west), Swanky bubles (old city) and National Mechanics (old city). They also had a signature cocktail made from a ginger liquor called Domaine De Canton (the distributor is based in Philadelphia) - some sort of lemonade concoction. It wasn't half bad but the sticy summmer weather had me thirsting for something a little less strong and a little less sweet. Honestly by the end of the event I really just wanted to get a glass of ice water.

From food

The place got packed quickly as Miss HatT and I arrived about 20 minutes before the official start time and within about 30 minutes it got packed and within 45 minutes food started to run out at certain stalls. The sushi at Swanky Bubbles was the first to go.

From food

The best thing I tasted was the tomato based chicken curry offered by Cafe Spice. The curry was flavorful and the sauce rich but not heavy or too creamy. The rice was also spiced and quite tasty. The rest of the food at the event was just OK. I mean El Vez only offered chips and guacamole (kinda dissapointing). I think attendees that came during the first hour got the cream of the crop while people who got there around 8PM were unfortunately faced with empty stalls and bar stations with 20 minute lines. I had fun and was glad that I bought the $10 ticket but I'm pretty sure the poor suckers who arrived at 8PM had a different opinion.

From food

Tria - Sunday School

Once again I found myself parked inside Tria for a nice glass of wine and some yummy cheese and bread. I was shopping on Walnut Street with Miss HatT before we met up with some of our other Sunday School regulars.

After checking out the merchandise on Walnut Street, sitting down to a chilled glass of wine is a perfect ending to the afternoon. It also helps that the wine is half off and so is the cheese. I had a hotdog from a street vendor before heading into Tria as I had been craving a hot dog ever since the weather turned warmer. I don't know what it is about summer but it makes me want hambugers and hot dogs...perhaps I've watched way too many sitcoms in my youth?

My friend ordered a pine nut and blue cheese salad that was swimming in pine nuts just the way she likes it. She used to be a big fan of the Vintage house salad but recently they have been omitting the pine nuts which has negatively affected her opinion of their salad. However at Tria they have decided that being stingy with the pine nuts is not a necessity to stay afloat in this tough economy. A glass a wine, some cheese, a salad and an hour or two of swapping tales of shopping and we were each on our way. Tria's Sunday school really is one of the best excuses to grab a glass of wine with friends on the weekend.

Ethiopian - Almaz Cafe

Recently, I discoverd Almaz Cafe located right in Rittenhouse. I had passed it plenty of times walking around or driving around that area as Miss HaTt recently moved to the neighborhood. I always thought it was some sort of internet cafe/coffee shop. It turns out that Almaz is indeed an internet cafe offering free wi-fi and the typical coffee drinks that a normal coffee shop would offer however it also has a selection of fresh fruit smoothies and authentic Ethiopian fare.

My first exposure to ethopian food was (like for most people I know) during my undergraduate years at UPENN. As an impressionable freshman, I was introduced to Ethiopian food by some upper classmen who had already wandered past the 40th street boundary into the badlands of West Philly. Baltimore Avenue was the heart and soul of what could be called "little ethiopia." And it was here that I ate my first meal of vegetarian fare at Dahlak. The lighting was dim, the location was exotic, slightly dingy yet oh-so-appealing to be off campus, I found the food to be decent. But it wasthe experience of eating from a communual platter using nothing more than my fingers and some spongy tangy flat bread, I discovered was called injera, that I loved and that lingered in my memories.

I recently dined at Almaz with Miss HatT after an exhausting evening of shopping in an attempt to single handedly boost the economy. Having run out of credit/cash and energy, we settled into this unassuming cafe with its bright green walls and ordered the vegetarian platter and at the suggestions of the woman behind the counter the chicken stew.

Let me just say, it was exactly what I needed. The service was warm and friendly and when the food arrived both orders plated on one large platter over a layer injera, I was delighted. The food looked and smelled amazing. The vegetable platter had a lentil dish, a cabage-carrot-potato stew, and some stewed kale or collard greens. THe chicken stew tasted earthy and satisfing. It came with a hard boiled egg and a little side of cottage cheese that surprising went well with everything. (it reminded me of the riata that is often served with indian food) Miss HaTt and I managed to devour the entire platter but were unable to finish the extra side of injera. I think we impressed the cafe owners. The food felt fresh and cooked with love and integrity.

It was refreshing to find a meal that cost us under $15 per person that tasted homecooked and had a good variety of vegetables and protein. It was hearty but felt healthy and not too heavy like a burger would have. If you find yourself in Rittenhouse and fancy an ethnic meal that taste good and is good for you...Almaz Cafe is definitely worth a try.