Dining tour gives taste test of Philly

Restaurant Week ran Sept. 12-16 and will be running the rest of this week through Friday. Restaurants lower prices considerably in order to accommodate those who can’t typically afford the steep prices.

“It’s a good way for Temple students to have a reason to go into Center City and eat something that’s better than [Johnson & Hardwick dining hall food],” junior veterinary major Lindsay Friedenberg, said.

Center City restaurants like Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, the Prime Rib, the Melting Pot and Chops Restaurant and Bar are participating in the event by changing its dinner prices to only $35 and its lunches to $20, which is more affordable than its usual prices.

“Philadelphia’s food scene is getting really big, so it’s a good way to get people to explore the different restaurants in the city,” junior nursing major Melissa Vance, said.

Beyond Restaurant Week, there are some other dining experiences throughout the city, like City Food Tours. The purpose of the tour is to introduce those who are or are not from Philadelphia to different delicious food places hidden within the city.

Jamie Larkin, a Philadelphia native who works as a tour guide for City Food Tours, led a tour on Tuesday with guests from Honolulu and Orlando, Fla., starting at the Shops at Liberty Place on 16th and Chestnut streets. Larkin started with a brief history of the shops before leading the tour to Joe’s Pizza Brick Oven on 16th Street between Chestnut and Walnut streets to start with a slice of tomato pie.

From there, Larkin guided the group to Philly Pretzel Factory where they were given authentic Philadelphia pretzels and another serving of knowledge–the factory goes through 2000 pounds of flour a day, and starts making the day’s pretzels at midnight.

With a little something in their stomach, visitors were led to non-food related, important and historical buildings, such as the Union League Building, the PNB Building, City Hall and the Wanamaker Building which is now Macy’s. The last stop, the Packard Company at 15th and Chestnut streets, was originally a bank built in 1924 and once closed, lied vacant and abandoned for years until it was made into Del Frisco’s Steakhouse.

Zio’s pizza shop at South 13th Street in Midtown, otherwise known as the ‘Gayborhood,’ was the next stop. There everyone enjoyed a quality Philly cheesesteak–with whiz–and a veggie steak option for the vegetarians.

Larkin also taught how to properly order a cheese steak at Pat’s or Gino’s which includes the quantity of cheesesteaks one wants, with or without fried onions and the kind of cheese– American, provolone or whiz.

“Never order Swiss or they will kick you out of line,” Larkin repeatedly and adamantly  instructed.

After the steaks, the tour concluded at Reading Terminal Market where the group was treated to a dessert of chocolate covered pretzels at Chocolate by Mueller and chocolate chip cookies at Famous 4th Street Cookie.

When asked what she thought of the tour, one of the Hawaii natives, Laney Martin said, “It was most excellent. The veggie cheese steaks were epic.”

To join one of the City Food Tours, visit their website at cityfoodtours.com.

Alexsia Brown can be reached at alexsia.brown@temple.edu.