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From time to time, I deviate from the usual format and write about a group of restaurants.
Recently, I discovered the Reading Terminal Market will be open Sundays during the run to Christmas. This is a first for the 112-year-old market. I have enjoyed breakfast, lunch and snacks at this Philadelphia landmark for many years and thought this was the perfect time to review many of my favorite places.
Whether you visit the Reading Terminal on a weekday or weekend, here are my three tip-of-the-toque spots. They have always served top-quality dishes at moderate prices.
Let’s begin with breakfast or a tea-time snack. I always buy a cup of Joe from Old City Coffee. The owners use only Arabica beans and grind them throughout the day. At breakfast, I have enjoyed a pain au chocolate or almond croissant from Le Bus Bakery, a filled-to-order cannoli from Termini Brothers Pastry or a bagel from Metropolitan Bakery. When I toss my diet to the wind, I sneak a chocolate chip cookie from the Famous 4th Street Cookie Company. If I truly want to indulge, I head over to Bassett’s for a scoop of French vanilla with jimmies on a sugar cone.
At lunch, any type of food can be found here. The best vegetarian hoagies are at Salumeria. They build it high with sliced-to-order sharp provolone, roasted peppers, sliced marinated artichokes and mushrooms all topped off with shredded lettuce, tomato and onion.
If I am in the mood for Mexican, I stop by 12th Street Cantina for homemade salsa and dreamy guacamole with a warm corn tortilla. By George Pizza has been serving perfect thin-crust pies for years, but if you want an antipasto, you can choose from fresh roasted peppers, small balls of mozzarella or a tossed salad.
Southern cooking reigns as Delilah Winder whips up fried chicken, greens and macaroni and cheese for hungry patrons. In 2003, Oprah Winfrey named Delilah’s mac and cheese the best.
You can travel to Italy with DiNic’s hot roast pork or roast beef. If in the mood for Mediterranean, go to Mezze for a platter of grape leaves, salads, couscous and the like. Mezze also offers homemade soup, which will warm you up on a cold shopping day.
Soup, particularly snapper, is sometimes on my mind when I sit down at the counter at Pearl’s Oyster Bar. I like her fried oysters, oysters on the half shell and fried shrimp. If I want a walk-away shrimp cocktail, I visit John Yi, which offers mounds of perfectly cooked cool shrimp.
During Thanksgiving weekend, I noticed the line snaking around the counter at Rick’s Philly Steaks. Several tourists told me they would not think of leaving town without sampling their first cheesesteak. I told them to forget the calories, add fried onions and go to town.
My hands-down favorite for Chinese is Sang Kee Peking Duck. I love their big bowls of rice noodle soup with homemade wontons, greens and roast pork. This is a meal in a bowl. The wonton skins are so translucent you can read a newspaper through them. You can order the soup with squiggly egg noodles, but I prefer the rice variety. The Asian greens are akin to broccoli rabe and enhance the flavor of the broth. I’ve enjoyed roast duck, in soup or as a platter with rice and greens, a roast pork platter and exceptional barbecue ribs. All items can be packed to go.
Sushi has become as ubiquitous as bagels and salsa. The Tokyo Sushi Bar serves up freshly made sushi, sashimi and sushi rolls. I recommend the tuna rolls and California rolls.
The Down Home Diner affords the ultimate diner experience of years gone by. Owner Jack MacDavid installed a jukebox and makes the best biscuits this side of his native Virginia. The place is open for breakfast and lunch. You can order eggs with ham or sausages for breakfast or a marvelous smoked turkey and cheese sandwich for lunch. Hot platters are also available.
After returning from a trip to Israel a number of years ago, I had a hankering for falafel. Falafel is made with ground chick peas and seasonings. They are formed into balls and deep fried. The falafel balls are then stuffed into warm pita bread and topped with any number of condiments. Kamal’s Middle Eastern Specialties serves freshly made falafel, freshly squeezed fruit juices and crispy baklava for dessert.
If you want to make your own salad, head over to DeSimone’s Salad Express. You will find hot and cold foods to build your dream dish.
Turkey may not always be the stomach’s preferred choice this time of year, but if you want a sandwich made with the fresh roasted variety Bassett’s Original Turkey is for you. You also can get a platter with all the trimmings.
A number of Reading Terminal restaurants have their own counters or tables and chairs, but there is ample seating throughout the market.
Don’t forget to visit the Holiday Railroad through Dec. 31. It’s free and a delight for adults, as well as kids.
Three tips of the toque to the Reading Terminal Market.
Reading Terminal Market
12th and Market streets
Credit cards accepted
by some merchants
Wheelchair accessible
Open Dec. 4, 11 and 18
Open Monday through Saturday
www.readingterminalmarket.org
