#41 Bindi

Overview: The inventive Indian cuisine conjures a palpable excitement that makes first-timers wonder what took them so long, and makes repeat customers feel totally in-the-know.

Recommendations: One bite of Bindi’s spongy-soft stuffed bread (try the spinach) and you’ll swear off the tandoor oven forever. The $20 Thali Tuesday prix fixe gives groups a shareable platter of food.

http://bindibyob.com/bindi/

Beth's thoughts:  Thali Tuesday.  I like me some alliteration.  And for $20, this sounded like the perfect day to visit Bindi.

But what is Thali?

According to Wikipedia, a thali is a selection of different dishes, usually served in small bowls on a round tray.  The selection of dishes varies from region to region, but typical dishes include rice, dhal (which is made from split peas or lentils or beans), vegetables, roti (flatbread), curd or yogurt, chutney or a pickle dish.

Looking at the menu prior to our visit, I already knew I would choose the fish Thali option. 

Before our Thali, we received our complimentary Papad, which is the Indian equivalent of bread and butter.

Next, we ordered an appetizer to split.  David and I decided on the Lamb Sliders.  The patties were a little too well-done for me, but the flavor compensated.  I just wish there were more...

Next, we received our main course.

Notice that, thus far, this entry has been more informational than opinion-drive.  Well here it is.  Here is the great reveal.....

My dear readers (otherwise known as Mom) I have failed you!

In an effort to maintain my girlish figure, I have drastically reduced my caloric intake, not only on 50 Food Dates eating days, but in general.  That noted, I have also reduced my "empty calorie" consumption, also known as alcoholic beverages.  Prior to eating this meal, I met up with David for happy hour at a local drinking establishment and had two glasses of wine.  Typically, this would be no cause for alarm; however, these days two glasses of wine makes me quite tipsy indeed.  I wish I could better describe my experience at Bindi, but with booze in my belly and a fuzzy head, I'm afraid the flavors were dulled......and forgotten.

To surmise my meal: tasted like Indian food.  Very fresh Indian food.

David's Thoughts: "WTF-Indian Food???"...

This was my initial response to Bindi's presence on our culinary road map. Don't get me wrong; I like Indian food. Specifically, I like Indian food that costs $9.95, and there is a buffet, and I probably have to travel to the outskirts of a college campus to find it, but it is always delicious when I get there. So that was my initial thought: Why am I paying more than $10 for Indian food, when the poor-man's version is already so good?

Lets set the stage: Its about 5:15 on a Tuesday afternoon, and I'm casually walking from my office toward the Gayborhood, when suddenly the heavens open. Deluge. Downpour. The kind of rain that forces you to walk under every awning, because the splashback from the rain not hitting you is enough to drench your pants. (Yes, curious readers- I used the phrase "drench your pants." Make a joke. Get it out of your system. Moving on...)

Beth was driving, and the rain had literally trapped her, umbrella-less, in her car. Moment of chivalry: I fought through the waters to Beth's car, paid for her parking, then escorted her to our destination. Beth and I aren't a couple, but if we were... I'd be gettin' some.

... that's probably not true.

Ahem. Back to the food. Right... so we started our evening at Vintage, where we sprinted to the alcoholic "finish-line" of Happy Hour, drinking 2 large glasses apiece in about 20 minutes. This allowed for a fun game I like to call "Arrive at the restaurant sober, then get progressively more intoxicated while you're there, even though you aren't drinking anything alcoholic." This is a fun game, readers- particularly if you're a "slightly too self-conscious" lightweight like myself.

Then we had some food. First: bread. Bread is a nice start. Then we ordered the Lamb Sliders, which Beth mentioned previously. They were tasty, but our photos are too kind; the burgers are two, maybe three bites apiece. For $10. So I ate burger for approximately $2.00 a bite. F-you, Bindi. That's just wrong.

Thali Tuesday was, to my surprise, quite tasty. I have no idea what I ate, though. There was a spinach thing. And a potato thing. And some green stuff. And a spicy thing. And some yogurt sauce. And I got the one with meat instead of the one with fish. Which, in short, means that I had a delicious combination of 7 or 8 diverse and delectable foods, all for $20. Well, plus the cost of the sliders, which I'll never have again. Final verdict: I would recommend Bindi as a culinary adventure on an early Tuesday afternoon, with an adventurous friend or a casual date. But really, truly, anything else is going to leave you with an empty wallet and a broken spirit.

#42 Supper

Overview: South Street’s prettiest restaurant serves up all kinds of clever twists on New American cooking, courtesy of chef-owner Mitch Prensky.

Philly Mag's Recommendations: Scallops and roasted cauliflower. Duck and waffles. The intensely rich burger.

http://www.supperphilly.com/default.asp

David's Thoughts: First, a quote:

"At Supper restaurant, Chef Mitch Prensky offers upscale modern American cuisine served in a beautiful, relaxed setting. Our urban farmhouse atmosphere is inviting and cozy. Our goal is to serve upscale food in a setting that breaks the traditional fine dining mold. Supper is a place to feel welcomed and relaxed while experiencing a great meal."

I think it is important to have a bit of context when your opening dish is pastel-colored deviled eggs. Which, for our excursion to Supper, was undeniably the case:

There was a lot going on in this dish, so let me see if I can break it down for everyone. Egg #1: Yellow egg, black truffle center. Egg #2: White egg, crab and old-bay center, topped with a fried piece of something "pork-ish." Egg #3: Pink egg, I forget the rest (maybe something pepper-oriented??), topped with scallion.

All jokes aside (and I'm sure Beth has an opinion on this dish), I enjoyed our deviled-egg starter. It is weird, and kinda fun, and pretty tasty. It is certainly not "upscale", and looks a bit more Easter-themed than I would prefer, but I wasn't displeased. However, I did have one criticism: serving half-egg portions makes the dish nearly impossible to share, and frankly feels a bit stingy.

Next up was the fried cauliflower, as recommended by Philly Mag (and also our waitress). Portion size, again, was unrealistic for splitting, and the cauliflower itself was pretty flavorless. The texture was interesting, and I enjoyed the accompanying mustard sauce.

Next, we embarked on my favorite culinary tour: the Charcuterie Plate. The spread was diverse and intense: a pate, a mousse, a house-made lamb pastrami, and a selection of seasonal pickled veggies to accompany the carnivorous collection.

I think it is important to mention that Beth and I visited Supper before Southwark, due to scheduling restrictions. Had it been the other way around, I would have been disappointed; Southwark's Farmouse Platter is definitely the better dish in my opinion. Why? Let me break it down for ya:

Cost: Supper's Charcuterie: $17. Southwark's Farmhouse: $15.

The spread: Charcuterie: 4 meats, no cheese, pickled veggies. Farmhouse: 4 meats, 4 cheeses, olives, nuts, bread, and fruits.

The journey: Beth and I devoured the Charcuterie pretty quickly- the veggies were too acidic and the meats went down fast. The Farmhouse literally extended our evening; we spent an hour working our way through that feast.

Overall: While the Charcuterie is a bit more adventurous on the red-meat end, I wasn't a big fan of the pastrami (though I was glad for trying it). The Farmhouse, as I wrote previously, altered my entire evening. Ultimately, this isn't a competition; the Farmhouse is simply better. I just like pro-con lists.

After all of our samplings, I was stuffed before my Burger arrived. The Supper Burger is not to be ignored. I am a big fan of the "judge a restaurant by it's burger" theory, and Supper doesn't disappoint. It is an 80/20 brisket composition topped with applewood smoked bacon, gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, and served with a side of duck-fat potatoes. At $14 it feels like a bargain (six dollars less than any other entree), and even the next day it was moist and delectable (the fries, however, were a dud). Truly a dynamite dish, and I would definitely order it again. Probably without all the apps. And probably at the bar. So ultimately, I'd come here for beer and a burger with a buddy, which I love; but this is not at all what Supper proposes to be- and I think I'd leave disappointed asking for more.

Beth's Thoughts:

(David: great post.) 

Moving on.

We ruined it by going to Supper before Southwark.  We should have maintained blogging order, but we failed.  If I had eaten at Southwark first, Supper would have received an even less glowing review.  To their advantage, we did go out of order and dined here first, without Southwark lingering on our palates.

I have often walked by Supper and was looking forward to finally going inside to eat.  My foodie friends have always held it in high regard and I was excited to give it a try.

For those of you who have been following along from home, you know that my first impression of a restaurant comes from the wine, beer and cocktail menu.  Supper did not disappoint when it came to the wine list - there were several interesting, moderately priced wines-by-the-glass available.  Their wines-by-the-bottle list was somewhat limited, as was their beer list, so I decided to order a drink from their cocktail menu.  I selected a Lou London, which was a combination of Maker’s Mark, ginger cognac, fresh orange juice, and citrus bitters.  David ordered a glass of white wine.  When my drink arrived, it tasted like orange juice with a hint of bourbon garnish.  As I am not a fan of sweet drinks and David is less particular about these things, he was kind enough to relieve me of my poor selection and traded his glass of wine for my orange juice spritzer. 

After spending some time studying the menu and, with the help of our waitress, planning our attack strategy, we decided on three appetizers and two main courses.  Of the three appetizers, I enjoyed the deviled eggs the most.  I thought the concept was quirky and interesting and the presentation was delightful.  Being so close to Easter, I appreciated well-arranged colored eggs appearing on our table to kick off the meal.  I do agree with David that it was difficult to share if both parties wanted to sample each egg, but I enjoyed this dish nonetheless.

The Cauliflower Special can best be described as a piece of cauliflower, breaded and fried.  I felt as if I had seen this before - cauliflower tempura.  I'm not quite sure why it was so "Special" but so be it.  It was suggested by our waitress so we ordered it.  I never need to order it again.

I love David's assessment of the Charcuterie vs. Southwark's Farmhouse Platter, so I am going to let that description stand.  I do want to point out, however, that Supper does offer a Famhouse Platter including meats, cheeses and pickled vegetables, but it costs $32, which is more than double the price of Southwark's Farmhouse.

For my entree, I selected the Day Boad Scallops, as recommended by Philly Mag. The scallops themselves were excellent.  They were crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and overall a delight.  I wished there were more than three.  The rest of the dish was not quite so memorable.

My favorite element of the "Supper experience" was the decor.  The modern design, clean lines and soothing wood tones immediantly put me at ease.  It made me think of autumn.  On my trip to the ladies room, which was on the second floor, I discovered the upstairs bar area.  This space was closed on this particular Sunday night, but I could imagine meeting a friend there for a glass of wine on a more-croweded weekend night.  Of course the cynical side of me wondered: If they hadn't spent so much on the decor, would the food prices be lower and more reflective of what you get for your money?

#43 Southwark

Overview: This handsome bar that happens to have a dining room attached turns out a reliable mix of elegantly American noshes.

Recommendations: Your grandfather's favorite mixed drink. Barkeeps Kip and George would do Pop-Pop proud with their manhattan. Also, anything from the small-plates list, like homemade sausage, a crock of warm goat cheese, and vermouth-steamed clams.

http://southwarkrestaurant.com/

Beth's Thoughts:  Southwark is an establishment that I have passed on the street for years, but never had I walked through the door. 

I am so glad that I finally did.

Seeing that it was next on our list, I took a look at the website to plan my attack.  I saw that Philly Mag had recommended mixed drinks, and once I took a look at the "Cocktails" portion of their website, I began to get excited.  They have a whole menu page dedicated to rye.  I had a feeling this was going to be my kind of place.  The food didn't look half bad either ;)

Since this place obviously stood on its own as a bar in addition to a restaurant, I planned to sit and eat at the bar.  As there ended up being more than two in our party, I my plan did not come to fruition.  In a way, this may have been a blessing.  Our server was amazing.  I'm not saying that the barkeep would NOT have been wonderful, but I do feel lucky to have sat at our girl's table.

First, she guided us through the cocktail list.  Now, as a fan of the "brown" liquors, I was thrilled that they had so many options available to me.  Their whiskey and rye drinks ranged from Manhattan's to Old Fashioned's to something called a Brooklyn, of which I had two.  It was like a Manhattan, but not quite as sweet.  If she had not taken the time to explain, I probably would have just ordered the Manhattan and complained that it was too sweet.  Next time - and there will be a next time - I already have my eye on a few drinks that I would like to sample from their cocktail menu.

For food, we decided to order a few appetizers to share.  A member of our party began with the Soup du Jour, which was a Parsnip soup.  I did not try this, but it certainly looked tasty.     

Next, we ordered some small plates to share.  We selected the Farmhouse Platter.  It boasted meats cured at the restaurant, a selection of cheeses, fruit and nuts.  It was one of the best charcuterie plates I have had in a long time.

Having scoped out the menu in advance, and since it was recommended by Philly Mag, I had my heart set on the Steamed Clams with dry vermouth, shallots, tomato and dried chili butter broth. In the future, I would come here just for the clams and a cocktail.  They were that good.  For some reason, lately, when I have been ordering clams or mussels, they have been overcooked to the point of resembling rubber erasers.  These clams were cooked just enough.  Be sure to save some bread to sop up the brothy goodness!

The last small plate that we ordered to share was one of the daily specials.  Next to the clams, it was my favorite thing on the table.  I will let David tell you about it because I believe it was also his favorite dish...

David's Thoughs: The food at Southwark was extraordinary, and Beth is absolutely right- and the Duck Egg appetizer (a daily special) was unbelievably tasty. Sadly, no picture exists to capture its essence (sometimes we salivate and devour before remembering to snap the photo) so let me give you a synopsis. Served warm and gooey, delicately resting atop a crock of sauteed greens, this dish embodied the essence of "savory." It was rich and salty, immediately warmed the stomach, and had that irresistible "I love this but don't need to stuff myself" quality. Absolutely stellar.

 

Visuals aside, Southwark absolutely blew my mind. Beth's descriptions were on target: The service was phenomenal (informed, polite, lots of smiles and no difficulties whatsoever) and the food was fantastic. I have to say- of the restaurants we've visited so far- nothing has come close to Southwark. It definitely deserves to be on the Philly Top 50, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is higher next year.

I started the evening with a glass of wine and a perusal of the menu. Nothing jumped off the page at me; the entree's are fairly standard (one exception: Steak and Snails, which we didn't try). Our party was drawn to the starter plates, particularly after hearing about the many in-house specials (Southwark cures all of their own meats and sausages), so we went for a tapas-style experience. 

As Beth mentioned, the soup and clams were both delicious- truly a notch above what I was expecting. Prices were manageable, and portions were substantial. The Farmhouse Platter, which came a few minutes later, blew me away. I'm something of a meat and cheese aficionado, and I've never had a better plate. The presentation was lovely; thin-sliced pears, apples, and crumbled peanuts scattered across a decadent board of olives, meats, and cheeses. The variety of flavors was intense- 4 meats and 4 cheeses that ranged from a sharp cheddar to a milky blue to a salty salami and a delicious pate- all delicious. Finally, the gargantuan portions: we probably spent the next 45 minutes gabbing and gradually working our way through the platter, literally savoring every bite. I would gladly come back (in fact, I already have) and would recommend the Farmhouse to everyone who visits.

Once we'd worked past the platter, soups, and clams (without even a hint from the waitress that we'd ruined their timing), entrees were served. We went with a Pork Loin from the specials menu, which was perfectly cooked and tasty, but not particularly memorable (sorry guys). We also ordered the Seared Bass, which is served with a sweet potato creamed corn and pancetta. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a big fish person- I love shellfish but almost never order something that swims. I was impressed, it was also delicious, but my mind lingered on the evening's beginnings. Frankly, I don't think anything could have trumped our appetizers- they were that good- and I was completely satisfied before our entrees arrived. On a VERY pleasant final note- our check was accompanied by a chocolate truffle for every member of the party. A lovely parting note!

So far, Southwark is my favorite restaurant on the Philly Top 50. I would take my parents. I would take a first date. I would make reservations for an anniversary. This one covers it all, and I couldn't give a stronger recommendation. Go here, people. Seriously.

#44 Kanella

Overview: The sparse decor of this affordable Cypriot BYOB serves only to make the ingredients here–the velvety-rich olive oil, the biting feta, the sweet eggplant–the real stars of the show.

Recommendations: The katsaki alone is worth the trip, a hearty mélange of braised goat, orzo, eggplant, yogurt and salty kefalotyri cheese.

http://www.kanellarestaurant.com/

David's Thoughts: Mediterranean food (Greek, in particular) is one of my absolute favorites, and while I'm not convinced that Philadelphia has a "go-to" Mediterranean restaurant, there are definitely a few standouts. Living in Fitler Square, I am a big fan of Dmitri's; a glass of white wine and a heaping plate of grilled octopus (at the bar) is one of my favorite Philly meals. Zorba's on Fairmount certainly deserves a shout-out, as does Effie's on Pine. When I saw Kanella on our agenda, I was very excited to add another dynamite option to the list.

Before arriving at Kanella, I stopped by Jose Garces' Trading Company (JGTC- my favorite destination for good wine) and picked up a bottle of Spanish white wine. What's that you say- a Mediterranean BYO??? Indeed. This was particularly appealing to me, as eating my way through the Top 50 has become financially strenuous, and I'm always happy to avoid bar charges. For once, I was the early bird for our meal, so I grabbed a table and absorbed the ambiance for a few minutes. The restaurant itself is pleasant: small, with lots of tall windows looking onto the street. Our hostess was delightful- smiling, polite, and friendly. Our timing was perfect; we arrived early, and the restaurant filled around us. The decor is indeed sparse, and the tables are tightly-packed (at one point, I had to stand up while the waiter moved our table about 4" to the left, to accompany other guests).

Kanella's menu is ideal for the "small plate" approach. We started with the Saganaki- which is one of my favorite Greek dishes- and I found it tasty but not necessarily memorable. I was excited that the option was on the menu;  I hadn't found another Philly locale that served flaming cheese. Sadly, our order was not ignited at the table- this was disappointing. (Note: I'm pleased to share that the new Dmitri's in NoLibs has added Saganaki to their menu, and they, too, are a BYO). 

In addition, we ordered the Flatbread- which featured a tapenade spread, zucchini, eggplant, apricot, goat cheese, and yogurt. Sounds tasty, but I can't say that I was impressed. We rounded out the evening with the Grilled Octopus- another of my all-time favorites- and it was indeed tasty. The meat was sweet, rich, and delicately-grilled- though the texture was not as crisp as I would prefer. Also, there was only 1 piece on the plate- not nearly enough to satisfy.

I suppose it is only fair that I let Beth provide some food feedback, so I will leave our entree for her. Overall, I have to say that Kanella did not leave much of an impression on me. The food was perfectly tasty, but portions were modest and flavors were... not memorable. Frankly, if I were headed out for an evening and craved Mediterranean, this wouldn't be my top choice. It might not make my top 3. I feel bad saying that, but it was my genuine response. Nothing here stood out; no mouth-watering, no jaw-dropping, and nothing that made me want to come back.

Beth's Thoughts:  Anytime I have the opportunity order goat, I do.  For our main dish, we selected Katsaki, as recommended by Philly Mag. 

But let me back up a bit.

The Flatbread was largely forgettable.  The Grilled Octopus was grilled octopus.  It fell somewhere between the gummy octopus at Standard Tap and the melt-in-your-mouth octopus at Stella.  Now, the Saganaki, on the other hand, I thought was very good.  It had flavor, was not too salty, and I particularly enjoyed that pan-fried cheese texture common in Middle Eastern dishes.  My heritage is partially Lebanese, so many Greek favorites are dishes that I grew up with but called different things.

(That, and I may have worked as a server in a Greek restaurant while I was in high school....yes, that could have been me taking your order...)

But back to the goat. 

I really wanted to love the goat.  I wanted Kanella to be my new "go-to" place for all of my goat-eating needs.  It is not.

I enjoyed the dish more than David because I enjoy goat.  I liked the flavor, but I wished that there was more to it.  It was like "goat for beginners," mildly flavored and cooked thoroughly.  The preparation and presentation were nothing noteworthy or memorable.  If I have a yen for goat, you are more likely to find me at the good ol' Jamaican Jerk Hut.   



If I were in the neighborhood, I would return to Kanella.  It is not a "destination" restaurant, in my opinion, and it is not my first choice for Greek, but the service was very good and it had a nice little vibe going on.   

#45 Standard Tap

Overview: The original Philly gastropub remains one of the best. Low-key chef Carolyn Angle has been delivering spot-on fare since 2001 to go with the all-local beer list.

Recommendations: The messy, drippy, delicious pork sandwich, the better-than-any-of-our-moms’ meatloaf, or the flaky, rich chicken potpie.

http://news.standardtap.com.s86406.gridserver.com/

Beth's Thoughts:  Now, as a Philadelphia food enthusiast who has lived in the city since 1998, I became well acquainted with Standard Tap when they first exploded onto the food and beer scene in 2001.  Since moving to South Philly in 2003, I have not spent quite as much time up in NoLibs and had not visited Standard Tap in years.  When I saw that it was #45 on the list, I was excited to rediscover one of my old faithful haunts. 

Ok, I cheated.  I admit it.  Sue me.

I went there a week before we went for this blog.  I went with a group of people for a birthday gathering. 

We ordered half the menu.

Now, since I was not on "Official 50 Food Dates Business" I did not take pictures at the birthday gala extravaganza.  The reason I am choosing to discuss it is because my experience varied so much based upon our selections.  At the gala, we started with Fried Smelts and Grilled Octopus.  I enjoyed the smelts, but I'm afraid I don't have much to compare them to - that may be the first time I ever ordered Fried Smelts.  The Octopus, on the other hand, I did not enjoy.  I liked that the portion was huge, but they were overcooked and rubbery.  The birthday boy (man) ordered the Shepherds Pie.  I tasted it.  It was rich, heavy and I felt that if I continued to eat it I would inevitably grow hair on my chest.  Being that I am already a girl who will last through the winter, I left the Shepherds Pie to him.  I ordered a Shad BLT, which was good, but not worth the trek to Northern Liberties.  At this meal, I was not impressed.  It tarnished my otherwise fond food memories of Standard Tap.

...fast forward to my "Official 50 Food Dates" trip to Standard Tap with David and his ladyfriend.   
Upon arrival, we made a beeline to the upstairs bar area, which was empty - just the way I like it.  We chose a table and bellied up to the bar to place our orders.

I began with a Weyerbacher Winter Flight.  I figured it was probably my last shot at a winter flight this season, so I indulged.  I have to say:  I was a bit surprised to see that the winter flight was still on the menu, but fine, whatever.  I enjoyed it.

Next, I ordered Mussels and Sausage. This dish I thoroughly enjoyed.  If I had to make one complaint, it was that the longhots really REALLY spiced up the broth.  As a fan of spicy foods, I wasn't opposed to this, but it was teetering on the threshold of too hot.  For those of you who know me, that threshold is seldom - if ever - approached.  This definitely gave me a run for my money, and I was somewhat concerned that the next day I would get "the runs" for my money.  Thankfully, this was not the case.

David's Thoughts:

I have lived in Philadelphia for 10 years, and I have never been to Standard Tap. Never- not once. I have heard of Standard Tap, and the word "gastropub" was usually thrown around in those conversations. To be totally honest, I didn't really even know what that meant. I figured it had to do with fancy cooking techniques, which sounded ill-suited for a bar. (Yes, I knew Standard Tap was a bar).

So... we drove to Northern Liberties- which is definitely not an area I frequent regularly. I live and work in Center City, which makes NoLibs feel distant and inessential. I should probably be judged for this, but whatever.

We walked in, and the place was crowded. And NOISY! The only table was near the door, and it was cold outside, and music was blaring, and I was not happy. But then Beth led us to the upstairs- a "members only" style move. Quiet, comfortable, and half-empty (we were the only patrons at a table instead of the bar)- I instantly felt like a regular. Nice move, Beth. Bonus Points.

I didn't feel particularly hungry, and I was about to order a cheap beer when Beth recognized that it was "Flight night." I am immensely susceptible to peer pressure, so I instantly ordered a flight for myself. I'm not a heavy drinker, but I was impressed (read: tipsy).

Entrees were next on the list. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by A) the menu itself- which offers unpredictable but saliva-inducing twists on otherwise "normal" foods (chicken pot pie, pulled pork) and B) the widely-ranging comments I'd read earlier that day on Yelp!. Evidently, every person in Philadelphia has been to Standard Tap. As a result, the reviews suffer from elevated expectations and distorted memories of previous tastings. I was genuinely nervous that I might order regrettably. So I did what I always do when I'm nervous: I ordered the burger.

What can I say- the burger was really good! Dynamite fries, perfectly-cooked patty, great toppings and ooey-gooey drippy (but not too drippy) cheese!

OK- so I know we're on the Philly Top 50 and I should be all snooty and as a lot from a restaurant. But honestly- a damned good burger goes a long way for me. I don't need anything else. I tend to judge a restaurant by a burger (You want $8 for a burger? always cool. $14? You'd better impress me) and Standard Tap's was dynamite. I suppose gastropubs encourage the gourmand approach, but I would much rather just enjoy a good burger at my good bar. Which is exactly what Standard Tap is: a really good bar. (For the record, my lady ordered the Duck Salad. She said it was really really good. Like the best she'd ever had. But she doesn't get to write these things- so instead you're getting 3 paragraphs about a burger. Here is a photo...)

My conclusion about Standard Tap: I wouldn't go here again for dinner. The food is damn good- better than a lot of restaurants, I'm sure. But it is a bar. You can't avoid that. Would I go back for drinks and end up eating dinner- Absolutely! But it isn't going in my Top 10, because it isn't really even a restaurant. I'm sure everyone will disagree with me. I don't care.