End of Center City's Restaurant Week approaching quickly

By Michelle Talisesky
Collegian Reporter
September 13, 2006

While many La Salle students might consider Checkers to be just about the classiest food Philadelphia offers, it might be worth it to take a break from fries, burgers and shakes, and try out Philadelphia’s own Restaurant Week.

This fall, the celebrated event takes place from Sept. 10-15. Parking in the city is offered at a minimal price in conjunction with the reduced price of the meals. There are over 100 restaurants participating, giving many diners the chance to eat extravagant dinners.

Although Restaurant Week ends soon and tables fill quickly, it is not too late to take advantage of a discounted meal downtown. One restaurant, Bistro Romano on Lombard Street, has extended Restaurant Week prices until Sept. 22. For those who are not able to make it this week, be sure to put it on your calendar when it is offered again in February.

The semi-annual event sponsored by Mercedes-Benz gives area residents a chance to sample a three-course meal for only $30 at participating Center City restaurants, which include the likes of Alma de Cuba, The Melting Pot and Fork. The menus are typically shortened versions of the restaurant’s regular fare, but still include your choice of appetizer, entree and dessert.

These restaurants are normally priced far above the typical college student’s budget, but Restaurant Week gives students the opportunity to try delicious food for a more reasonable price. Patrons should make reservations early, because there are no guarantees that there will be any table openings throughout the week.

To make getting reservations simple, Mercedes-Benz and Philadelphia’s Center City council utilize opentable.com, which lists all participating restaurants, their menus and their table openings. Not all of the restaurants take online reservations, but most allow potential diners to search for available seating times.

Last year, I had the opportunity to dine at McCormick and Schmick’s, a seafood restaurant on South Broad Street, right across from City Hall. It was a meal I’ll never forget. The Restaurant Week menu gave diners about three options for each course, excluding a salad that was compliments of the chef.

My first course was fried calamari, followed by a Caesar salad. My main entrée was crabmeat and lobster stuffed salmon and the vegetable du jour. I can honestly say now that chain restaurants have nothing compared to McCormick and Schmick’s.

Finally, for dessert, we had a choice between “Jake’s Chocolate Cake” and apple pie. Luckily, our waiter liked us very much (even though it was 11p.m.) and gave us both of the dessert options. Even your grandma’s chocolate cake never tasted so delectable.

While the food at McCormick and Schmick’s was outstanding, this year I have Ruth’s Chris and Washington Square on the menu for a change of pace. The menus of both offer more traditional meat and potatoes type of meals. The participating restaurants have meals that range from Caribbean to Continental, and include everything in between.

I have had the Ruth’s Chris reservation since about July, when the fliers for Restaurant Week were debuted, but there are last-minute tables still available, so take a break from the typical dinner of Checkers, Wendy’s or Taco Bell, and try out Philadelphia’s own Restaurant Week.

taliseskym1@lasalle.edu