Baltimore Avenue offers several different kinds of cold desserts during this hot, sticky summer, from vegan ice cream at Little Baby’s to enormous shaved ice concoctions from the Ice Cave. Now we can add another to the list — Swirl Cafe at 46th and Baltimore.

This small family-owned shop features old-fashioned soft-serve with new-fashioned swirled-in “Flavor Burst!” flavorings, as well as bubble tea and milk tea in various fruity and creamy flavors. Seating is limited to a pair of small tables and a five-seat counter, so it might be wise to get your desserts to go. Right now food is limited to a small handful of prepackaged snacks, though there are plans to expand the menu further.

Swirl is open from 1 p.m. – 10 p.m., seven days a week. For more info and updates, check out their Facebook page.  Continue Reading

Though it opened a few months ago, many West Philly Local readers may not be familiar with Hadramout Restaurant, a Yemeni eatery located at 136 S. 45th Street (between Walnut and Sansom, just across from the AICP mosque).

Hadramout serves generous portions of traditional Yemeni dishes, many of which feature ingredients and flavors not often seen in American eateries. Among these dishes are molokhia chicken (chicken with cooked greens), saltah with holba (beef stew with fenugreek topping, served with fresh-baked flatbread), haneeth (pressure-cooked lamb) and Yemeni milk tea (shahi haleeb). All the meat is halal, slaughtered in accordance with Islamic dietary law.

Hadramout offers both takeout and dine-in options, with delivery a possibility for the future. The restaurant is open until 10 at night, 7 days a week.

– Mike VanHelder

Photos by Mike VanHelder

A West Philly branch of the Fishtown taco jawn Loco Pez has been threatening to open for months now. Taco lovers will be happy to know that the time is finally upon us! The bar & restaurant on the ground floor of the Montrose building at 47th and Baltimore had a soft opening with limited hours on Saturday. The official opening night is tonight (Monday, July 30).

The menu features most of the same dishes as served at the original Fishtown location, along with a full bar that has both draft and bottled beer and wide selection of tequila. There are options for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, but unfortunately no options for credit-card users. Loco Pez is cash-only with an ATM on-site, and management has no plans to add credit card service at this time. Current hours are 5 p.m.-1 a.m., with eventual plans to expand to daytime service and weekend brunch.  Continue Reading

Mariposa Food Co-op is planning to directly support local community groups and organizations through a new initiative – Round-up for Change. The Co-op is currently accepting applications from Philly-area groups and organizations to receive funding/donations from this initiative, which is expected to launch in early September.

Through the program, the Co-op will donate the extra change when shoppers choose to “round-up” their purchase to the nearest dollar, at the register at their store at 49th and Baltimore.  Continue Reading

Honest Tom’s new logo.

Neighborhood foodies may have noticed that popular local spot Honest Tom’s Taco Shop (on 44th between Spruce and Locust) was closed most of last week following a power outage on July 3rd, caused by a falling tree. While the power outage did cause them to close a bit early, Honest Tom’s had planned to close for a few days around the 4th of July holiday anyway, in order to change their menu over to a completely plant-based (aka vegan) menu. That’s right: it’s vegan-only tacos, burritos and bowls from here on in. Many of the new menu’s items were available on the old menu, or run as occasional specials, so they won’t be completely unknown to Honest Tom’s regulars. Others are brand new.  Continue Reading

University City Dining Days, the popular annual event organized by University City District, is returning this Thursday, July 12. This is a great opportunity to visit some of the best local restaurants and enjoy a three-course dinner at a fixed price – $15, $25 or $35.

More than 35 restaurants, from craft beer bars to celebrity chef restaurants to cozy BYOBs, are participating in this year’s Dining Days (the biggest one yet!). University City’s international dining scene features dishes from India, Ethiopia, China, Vietnam, and more! Some recently opened restaurants are also on this year’s list of participants.  Continue Reading