UPDATE: Holy Cow. We forgot Honest Tom. His rolling shop won “Best Food Truck.” They write: “Fish, plantain or chicken-and-pork tacos – it’s whatever you ate last that you’ll tell everyone you love best.”
Raise your hand and pat yourselves on the backs West Philly restauranteurs. Philadelphia Magazine named West Philadelphia the “Most Underrated Food Neighborhood” in its “Best of Philly” issue, which hit newsstands this week.
The blurb for the award reads: “Desi Chaat House. Kabobeesh. Vietnam Cafe. Abyssinia. Manakeesh. Vientiane. Gold Standard. Dock Street. Kilimanjaro. Heard enough? Next time you’re bored with the Philly food scene, buy a compass, turn west and start walking.”
Other West Philadelphia winners include the West Philly Tool Library (1314 S. 47th St.), which the magazine deservedly named “Best DIYers Secret.” Go check them out. They have a big new space now and more tools than you can shake a pipe wrench at.
Biba Wine Bar (3131 Walnut St.) and its sister establishment in Center City, Tria, were named best place to get a “Wine Education on the Cheap.” Speaking of potent potables, Capogiro (3925 Walnut St.) won for best “Use of a Liquor License” for its sorbet/alcohol combos.
Penn’s Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli won for best, ahem, “Westward Expander.” The magazine noted that he was “the brain behind a 30-year plan for campus and surrounding community that’s already boosted everything from retail to real estate to West Philly’s image.”
But Penn takes one in the bread basket in the “Worst of Philly” category for “Worst Movie Theater” for Rave (240 S. 40th St.), which is housed in a Penn-owned property. The blurb: “We thought the most obnoxious, cell-ohone using and downright rude crowd was at Riverview or Maybe Franklin Mills Mall. But it turns out that it is on Penn’s campus. For Shame.” Yikes.
July 30th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Kudos to all of the West Philly attention! And the tool library has needed some serious shouting out, it is amazing. Capogiro’s Whiskey gelatos are to die for. So I concur on all fronts. Including the Rave….
Ugh, I was there last night seeing Captain America- there was a man who came in with four children under the age of 7 and sat directly in the front row. From the shadow puppetry during the movie to the running around they did in the front row, constant screaming and yelling during the *entire* movie. With one kid, I get it- it is cheaper to bring them then to get a babysitter. But four kids to an age-inappropriate movie? Leave them at home and get a babysitter. Rudest movie experience I have ever had.
When is Philly going to get a 21+ exclusive movie theater that serves real dinner *not just nachos and chicken tenders* and good drinks like I have been to in so many other cities? Those are always the best kind of theaters to go to.
July 30th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
I have had some of the worst movie experiences at The Bridge but recently it seems better. When I saw HP 7 part one, I had to ask them to turn off house lights. When I saw ‘Tron” I had to ask them to open the building. The last few times I saw a movie have been much better. There is only so much that the management can control. I also had my best viewing experience there when they showed “Harold and Maude” to a mostly elderly audience at 1 pm and it was only $1 and shown on film. It was the best banter ever, and watching the three 80 year old women walk out during the sex scene was priceless. It was also allot of fun to jokingly wink at the older ladies before the film started.
July 31st, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Rave used to be a classy place.
July 31st, 2011 at 10:23 pm
I have to agree that the Rave/Bridge is becoming ‘just another Philly’ place. Bad attitude employees and sticky floors/seats like Delaware Ave theater.
But I have to disagree on how great two of the restaurants are: Vientiane and Vietnam Cafe. Vientiane’s service is very much on the slow side for such average food and Vietnam Cafe’s Vietnamese food isn’t a good representation of Vietnamese food. And it’s overpriced.
The rest of the restaurants on that list however, deserve the praise and much more. Kudos!