Salento

Salento, the Center-City companion to South Philly’s L’Angolo, impresses both the pallet and the wallet with its succulent and right-priced dishes. The minimalist interior is certainly overshadowed by the great service and amazing food. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting and the menu does not dissapoint.

We had visited L’Angolo, owned and operated by the same couple, a few weeks prior to visiting Salento, and both restaurants were great. We had a reservation on a Friday evening and were seated promptly. The waitress quickly came over to open our wine, a sign of an attentive staff, especially at a BYOB on a Friday evening! She proceeded to tell us about the specials which all sounded amazing, making our selections even harder. I was determined to try the Orchiette al’anatra with shredded braised duck because the same dish at L’Angolo was probably one of the best, if not the best, pasta dish I had ever eaten. It was equally as delicious at Salento. The Polipo appetizer with octopus and white balsamic was out of this world! It was seasoned perfectly and very light and satisfying.

We never felt rushed and had a fun experience just sharing the dishes as a table and sampling the many flavors of the Salentine Peninsula of Italy. We finished off the meal with some coffee and a chocolate chip cheesecake split among the four of us. We each had a bite and the dessert lasted only a few seconds as we devoured it! Salento comes highly recommended as a great place for the crew celebrating a special occassion to a romantic one-on-one dinner.

Know before you go:
The restaurant takes reservations, which are recommended on the weekends. They also take credit cards, which is nice for a BYOB.

Recommended dishes:
Cozze – Mussels, farro, chickpeas and cannellini
Polipo….Octopus with potato, onion, tomato, white balsamic
Orecchiette al’anatra…Shredded braised duck, thyme, shaved grana

The Verdict:
Amazing food, Amazing prices, Good atmosphere, Amazing service

The perfect companions:
Out with the crew: ****
Out with the date: ***
Out with the clients: *
Out with the parents: ****

The info:
Salento Restaurant
2216 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-568-1314

http://www.salentorestaurant.com/index.html

Du Jour

Hailing from the Main Line in Haverford Square, many a suburbanite will recognize this newcomer to the Philly scene from the partnership group headed by restaurateur, Martin Grims (of the Moshulu and White Dog Cafe fame). Du Jour has occupied its Symphony House location for a relatively short time, but this modern-clad marvel has quickly become a hot spot for those sober enough to awake for a weekend brunch. After one fluffy bite of a made-to-order omelet, or a sip from one of their house-mixed, $5 Bloody Mary’s, you’ll quickly realize why.

We stumbled upon Du Jour one groggy Saturday mid-morning while conducting our weekly attempt to find a good, if not just decent, brunch place that doesn’t require a wait as long as most open heart surgeries. Du Jour was not to disappoint. In fact, Du Jour was such a success that we returned the following morning with some out-of-town guests. The over-stuffed omelets, perfectly toasted array of breads, and grilled-to-perfection breakfast potatoes make this an instant Philly gem. The brunch menu also offers flatbread pizzas and other sandwich items for those in the mood for something of the lunch persuasion. For those of you too hurried to actually sit down for a meal, feel free to order from their extensive to-go menu.

Though reminiscent of an upscale deli, Du Jour also offers dinners, complete with a full liquor license. Upon returning, we were surprised to find the bright and sunny brunch spot transformed into a dimly-lit dining room. Chef Michael Selser did not disappoint with his consistently satisfying meals. The Ahi tuna tacos were perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection; a nice start to our meal. Selser’s wasabi crusted salmon was equally satisfying, with wasabi providing just enough kick to the meal. As a Maryland transplant, I was pleasantly surprised to find the crab cakes not loaded with an overwhelming amount of what those from the Bay area call “filler.” As an added bonus in an attempt to promote the dinner menu, the restaurant often offers deals, such as a free bottle of wine. Check the website or call the number provided below for details.

Du Jour has certainly filled a void in the Philadelphia dining scene: reasonably priced, tasty, and consistently good food. Grims is planning a second City location in Two Commerce Square. Hopefully the expansion won’t stop there as Philadelphians will surely come to love this suburban transplant.

Know before you go:
The restaurant does not take reservations. This has yet to be a problem, however the crowds seem to increase with each visit.

Recommended dishes:
Any of the made-to-order omelets, home fries and toast
Coconut-crusted french toast topped with bananas, strawberries and pineapple
Wild mushroom, goat cheese and carmalized onion flatbread

The Verdict:
Good food, Amazing prices, Good atmosphere, Amazing service

The perfect companions:
Out with the crew: ****
Out with the date: **
Out with the clients: *
Out with the parents: ****

The info:
Du Jour Cafe and Market
440 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
P: 215-735-8010
http://www.dujourmarket.com/

Café Apamate

Since jumping into Philadelphia’s Basque Country scene a few years ago, Café Apamate has slowly honed its craft into a fierce competitor in a city of heavy weights like Tinto and Amada. Though pintxos (or tapas for those of us less worldly) are hardly a new concept for the city, Chef Ormaechea has successfully blended her knowledge of Spanish regional cuisines with an exceedingly inviting atmosphere that leads to a truly winning combination.

My first trip to the row-home sized Apamate was on a pleasantly warm June evening in 2008. Though the restaurant’s interior was quite appealing with its softly lit, spicy-red hued walls, we chose a quiet little table in the minimally adorned outdoor space. The atmosphere proved to be ultimately relaxing and romantic– reminding me more of my grandmother’s back patio (in a good way) than a busy restaurant on Philadelphia’s South Street. Gazing out at the urban scenery under a strand of lazily strung Christmas lights, I almost expected to see an abuela hanging her laundry on a line to dry as I sipped my Tempranillo.

Café Apamate won’t survive on looks alone. It’s a good thing that the kitchen has such a firm grasp on Spanish regional cuisine. The perfectly cooked meats combined with mouth watering sauces create an irrefutably delicious harmony of flavors on the palate. Chef Ormaechea is a master of her craft.

After polishing off a few rounds of surprisingly filling pintxos, we moved on to dessert. The Churros Clásicos are probably the closest thing to heaven on this side of the Delaware. But then again, how could you go wrong with deep fried dough, sprinkled with sugar and dipped in a Spanish chocolate sauce? Believe me, you can’t. Only after we had sipped our last drop of wine did we realize that we had spent nearly 3 hours at that table, and we had loved every minute of it.

Know before you go:

Café Apamate is a BYOB. We suggest picking out a bottle of decent Spanish wine (or several!).

The restaurant is cash only.

Weekend reservations are recommended.

The Verdict: You call this…??
Average
Good
Amazing

Good food, Good prices, Good atmosphere (except for the fake flowers on each table…), Amazing service

The perfect companions: 1 star – Not recommended — 5 stars – Highly recommended

Out with the crew: ***
Out with the date: ****
Out with the clients: **
Out with the parents: ***

The recommended dishes:
Seared sea scallop with garlic, chives, thyme and topped with a lemon-green apple “air”
Slow cook ox tail over a plantain chip, drunken goat cheese and piquillo pepper
Grilled rib eye served with a cabrales reduction sauce and crispy potatoes

And for the vegetarians…

Grilled artichoke hearts, Idiazabal sauce and crispy Iberico

The info:

Café Apamate
1620 South St
Philadelphia, PA
P: 215.790.1620
http://www.cafeapamate.com/