Burritos the Size of Your Head

Restaurant Review by Aaron Stella

Since 2004, El Fuego has been setting Washington Square West ablaze with their California-styled burritos made with fresh, locally bought ingredients, beer, margaritas, and an ardent passion for soccer. What’s more is that they provide clean furnishings, and a warm, neighborhood bar/burrito joint run by an enthusiastic staff who seeks to enkindle the same verve for the West coast in their patrons that they embrace themselves. Think of it as a clubhouse for all the aforesaid. You mosey over to 7th and Walnut, pull up in a bar chair, and soak in the vim and good vibes. Grab one of El Fuego’s beers on stock: any Mexican beers you’ve even vaguely heard of, they got it (and they’re easy on the wallet, too). But down to business: the burritos. Every season of meat is available, and is dished out in copious portions and wrapped in plenty of spice. These burritos are gigantic. Tacos and quesadillas–also enormous–are offered as well, along with a smattering of sides (guacamole, anyone?). If not one of the budget beers, then slake your burrito giganticus away with one od El Fuego’s house margarita mixes—also a steal. Be wary if you’re a soccer fan: you might never leave, because most of the time a game’s playing on one or more of the plasmas. All in all, El Fuego’s a great hang out spot and neighborhood eatery—as West Coast Philadelphia as they get. Love them!

Monk’s Cafe

626 S 16th St
Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 545-7005
monkscafe.com

Restaurant Review By Aaron Stella

Rittenhouse residents patronize Monk’s Café for two reasons: their tour de monde of brews containing more than 250 beers, and their mussels, which are arguably the best and most affordable in the city. The beer menu is hardly your standard order wash of local and imported; it’s a phalanx of curios, obscure as they’re beautiful, and refined and they’re diverse. Such that Monk’s appropriately titles their beer list, “The Beer Bible.” You could probably dream up some beer with random attributes and find it or something scarily similar to it at Monk’s. And the quaint cafe treats imbibing beer with same care that the brew masters took concocting them. All beer’s are served in precisely shaped glasses or are decantered for maximum flavor and breathing effect. Now for the food. After the braised veal cheeks, country terrine, a smattering of burger stacks and the seitan cheese steak, there are the mussels. All boast of rich herbaceous vigor—chervil, an uncommon herb, is in Monk’s Flemish-styled and Red light Mussels—with infusions of choice beers and varying consistencies in the broth, all of which are preceded by two copious rolls so nothing goes to waste. Broth recipes include Ghent (Saison Dupont, fum, parsley, caramelized leeks, bacon, bleu cheese & garlic), Provence (fume, celery, olives, bell peppers, mushrooms, leeks, garlic, parsley and cream), and Monks (Cantillon, gueze, fum, garlic and parsley). Monk’s Belgian pub interior is usually packed on the weekends, and experiences high volumes during the week. But all in manageable droves. So drop on by and partake in the sensation Philadelphians know and love. Beer and Mussels. You can’t go wrong.

Restaurant Review by Aaron Stella

North Third
3rd and Brown
Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-413-3666

www.norththird.com

Northern Liberties has enjoyed many modern revamps of the traditional gastropub in the past 4-5 years. North 3rd has the best of what both gastropubs and friendly neighborhood bars have to offer.  And it’s all Philadelphia all the time. The dark wood interior is adorned in a grab-bag of spiritist artifacts and the perpetual aftermath of a Mardi Gras party. Although the décor is not so much meant to theme the bar than have it emanate a sense of cordiality. North 3rd boasts of an array of local brews, from hoppy to smooth, from amber to ecru, and all spices and viscosities across the board. Plenty of bottle beer varieties are also available. Lunch and dinner menus consist of American classics made with fresh locally bought ingredients (crowd faves include roasted beet salad and Bee’s backyard burger). But North 3rd’s biggest claim to fame is their brunch menu, loosely based off their lunch menu but also modified by the chef’s whimsy. Be sure to try the mulled red wine. North 3rd devotes Tuesdays nights to independent movie night, where local filmmakers can showcase their creations to patrons looking to a catch a quick flick. Visit North 3rd’s web site to learn more. Like most brunch spots in Northern Liberties, the food is no joke and it’s no mystery to the surrounding residents, so calling ahead on Saturdays and Sundays can’t hurt.

Thinking about relocating to Northern Liberties?

Remax City Space specializes in the neighborhood and has many innovative listings available – click here to check out Northern Liberties listings.

Restaurant Review
by Aaron Stella

There are many transports of delight posited down the promenade of Liberties Walk in Northern Liberties, but none tantalize curious strollers quite like Bar Ferdinand. BF’s Sable-sheened woodwork is often licked with gold trim, marrying rustic and opulent, and in captivatingly spacious quarters to boot. It’s a “bar” in the most liberal sense of the word: aside from an international tour of beer and a wine menu of practically every vintage from Spain, BF serves up tapas galore. Forget cheese fries and chicken fingers slaked away with can of PBR (not that there’s anything wrong with that); instead, sumptuous salads (arugula, spinach and quail), pastries filled with every season of meat with a plethora of seasoning in each (lobster in a croissant), simple cold tapas like salted Marcona almonds and cheese and quince, creamy croquettes, skewers, veggie comestibles and the list goes on. Did I mention BF’s a cheap date? Tapas range from $6 to $12, in easily shareable portions, too; and it’s hard not to get a good bottle of wine. Bar Ferdinand is great for brunch, dinner, or just a midday snack.

Thinking about relocating to Northern Liberties?

Remax City Space specializes in the neighborhood and has many innovative listings available – click here to check out Northern Liberties listings.

Bar Ferdinand is located at 1030 N 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123 – check out their website!

by Aaron Stella

As far as its name, “Foodery” belies the presence of its fridge containing more than 800 American and Imported Craft beers and counting. At the Foodery, located in the eco-friendly, pseudo hipster neighborhood of Northern Liberties, you can create your own custom six or twelve-pack, and save ten percent on the total (not too shabby). And don’t be shy to ask for help. With more than 800 beers, the staff is more than happy to be a part of orchestrating your next brew-venture. But aside from all this beer talk, this doesn’t mean the Foodery doesn’t carry food—on the contrary. The Foodery carries all your cold cuts favorites and then some, complete with a toothsome selection of sandwiches, subs and salads, including make-your-owns. Be sure to take advantage of their sitting area, which looks onto the 2nd Street promenade of NoLibs. As per tradition with NoLibs purveyors, everything is kept fresh and bought local. Probably the Foodery’s most popular attraction is their Thursday night free beer tasting offered from 6-8 pm with a different brewery featured every week. Other free tastings happen periodically throughout the year, sometimes lasting up to a full week. And all upcoming tastings are posted on their website.

Thinking about relocating to Northern Liberties?

Remax City Space specializes in the neighborhood and has many listings available – click here to check out Northern Liberties listings.

Also – check out our featured open houses in Northern Liberties for this coming Sunday by visiting our open house page.

If you would like to download a flyer to take with you on your Sunday tour of Northern Liberties, click here.

The Foodery is located at 837 N 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Contact them at (215) 238-6077 or visit their website.

$10 bottomless beer, a music festival and a Rib Cook-off all on one afternoon!? It is almost too much for my local brew and grill lovin’ self! Northern Liberties is bound to be a great time this coming Saturday, September 13th!

Start your day off right with the 2nd Annual Northern Liberties Rib Cook-off at the corner of Bodine and George Sts. How often do you get to go to a Rib Cook-off? I can’t even fathom the things that might happen there? Rib cookin’, rib eatin’, rib throwin’, rib buyin’, rib sellin’… you name it! And with a mere $25 at the door… that is a meat eatin’ dream! 4 pm on Saturday – for more info contact Shannon Dougherty at shannon@afullplate.net.

And then… after you have eaten up all those finger lickin’ tasty ribby snacks, head on over to dance with your bottomless cup at the Northern Liberties Music Festival happening at Liberty Lands (on 3rd Street between Poplar and Wildey) from 4 to 10 pm. Proceeds benefit the new Northern Liberties Community Center and the NLNA office! Good job Philadelphia Brewing Company for the beer donation! For more info on this great event contact Larry Freeman at larryfreedman@comcast.net.