PhillyFoodGuys: Hittin’ the Streets for Underground Eats

 

 Tandoor India [7:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tandoor India is the third stop on the Indian Lunch Buffet Round Up and it did not disappoint. A popular place for lunch in University City, Tandoor India offers a great mix of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items in a well-lit, comfortable environment.

Disposing of the pleasantries, we got down to business immediately after entering Tandoor India and being shown to a table. The buffet was attractively presented and well laid out; the cold salad items and a variety of chutneys displayed first with the hot entrees and desserts afterward. All items appeared to be freshly prepared and appetizing.

 

 Lucky Strike Lanes [7:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Center City’s Lucky Strike Lanes has something for everyone with equal parts bowling, bar and restaurant. Maybe the best way to describe Lucky Strike is bowling lounge and restaurant? I dunno, but however you describe it, Lucky Strike Lanes is a cool place to dust off your game, have a few cocktails and maybe even dinner.

Granted, Lucky Strike is a chain and we didn’t get the opportunity to sample the food. To be honest, I couldn’t tell whether Philadelphia Weekly’s Fall 2006 review was positive or negative, but based on what we saw, but I’d give it a chance. Regardless, we enjoyed the bar, bowled a few games and had a great time.

Cafe Pier One is the “other” coffee shop on Baltimore Avenue that the local hipsters have yet to discover. Owner Pamela Williams has created more than just a cozy, Afro-Beatnik joint for superb coffee, hot chocolate and tea it’s an excellent spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I happen to live right around the corner from Cafe Pier One. As of a week or so ago, I’d only had one item on their menu, the Bistro Salmon Salad. It is so awesome, I could eat it every day. A nice marinated salmon steak (or fillet, excuse me if I cannot recall this detail) atop of a bed of greens with apples, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, nuts AND the most amazing dressing, I don’t know what is in it but it’s tangy and terrific.

 

 Sitar India [10:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

University City’s Sitar India is the second stop on our Indian Lunch Buffet Roundup. Still basking in the glow from an excellent experience at our first stop, Sitar already has some tough competition. Fortunately, Sitar India’s Indian Lunch Buffet would prove to be a worthy challenger.

I couldn’t wait to check out Sitar India for a couple reasons. First, it was recommended by several of my friends from Penn who know what they’re talking about when it comes to Indian food. Second, Sitar India claims to serve both Northern (Mogulai) and Southern Indian cuisine, which is rare. Lastly, I’m a freak for Dosas. They are my crack. I go to northern New Jersey and Queens to get my “fix.” But enough about my personal pecodillos, I digress!

 

 Feast of the Seven Fishes [10:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

With the holidays upon us, including the Italian tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes , we thought we’d do something different after stumbling upon a unique opportunity: A Contest.

Author and Feast Freak Bob Tinnell contacted us about two upcoming events in Philly promoting his book, Feast of the Seven Fishes. A chronicle of an Italian-American family’s preparation and celebration of the traditional Christmas Eve seafood feast, the book is the combination of a graphic novel and cook book. Uh, when I say “graphic novel” I mean the type of illustrated artwork often found in comic books, not the stuff wrapped in brown paper at the newsstand.