Dining

Brunch Adventure in Collingswood, NJ!

Collingswood

Philly has plenty of cheap and lovely brunch spots.  You can’t beat the $10 Kegs and Eggs at Distrito, or the $5 classic breakfast at the adorable Fitzwater cafe.  But if you’ve been-there-done-that and are looking for something new, different, and exciting, why not make a day trip out of it and make your way to Tortilla Press in Collingswood, New Jersey?  Every weekend, this Mexican-influenced restaurant serves a $6 Early Bird brunch from 10:00-noon that’s worth getting up early for! Collingswood was originally buildt as a railroad suburb of Camden, but over the last few decades its been renovated in an effort to make the area a restaurant destination, and almost all of the restaurants are BYO. Collingswood also has a reputation of being LGBT friendly. To get there from Philly, take PATCO from 15th& Locust, or 8th & Market, to Collingswood.  The trip only takes about 15 minutes and…

Read more »

Tacos and Tequila at Loco Pez

Loco Pez

A trip to the taco truck can be a delightful cheap date. But as winter sets in, the prospect of waiting outside and then hunching over to eat before it all gets cold seems decidedly less pleasant. Enter new Fishtown pub Loco Pez! I spent a lovely date there recently, relaxing at the bar with an oversized margarita and fish tacos – for less than $15! Read the full review here, at Drink Philly (now Drink Nation!)

Read more »

Meet Me Downtown! Happy Hour at Sampan

Sampanbar

A downtown date for happy hour may seem convenient and economical, but it can also be majorly hit or miss.  Overcrowding, poor selection, long waits for service, and lack of food can turn what should have been a happy hour (or two) into a date disaster.  Luckily, my date recently introduced me to the perfect center city happy hour spot: Sampan. Located at 124 S.13th street, Sampan is a contemporary-Asian bar/restaurant that’s sophisticated and modern without being snobby or trying too hard – a good balance for a post-work date. It’s large enough to accommodate a sizeable crowd without feeling cramped, yet the cool lights that saturate the walls cast an intimate and almost sensual glow. There’s also a giant wraparound bar in the center where you can watch the chefs hard at work expertly slicing Satay and garnishing dumplings as fast as the orders come in.  And ordering is…

Read more »

I’m Seeing Other Blogs #4: My Lunch date with Midtown Lunch

Jamie and her lunch!

The lunch date should not be easily dismissed. And no one in Philly knows that better than Jamie, who runs the Philly arm of the blog Midtown Lunch, a review-based site focused specifically on, you guessed it—lunch!  First started in New York, the site but has now expanded to the lucky cities of Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Jamie was tapped to run the Philly site, which she now does in addition to the small job of being in law school. Petite and pretty, and wearing some of the coolest pink plastic-frame glasses I’d ever seen, Jamie does not look like a woman who can or does put away a lot of food. But don’t be fooled. On our date, Jamie ate everything with gusto, as well as with a large store of experience and knowledge to size things up against. It is obvious she loves her job and being a…

Read more »

Find Lights, Music & Action at Fishtown’s Johnny Brenda’s

Wye Oak

Going to see a band play can make for a great date. It can also make for a very expensive date, depending on the venue and the band. There are times when it’s fun to splurge on $50+ tickets to see a band you love (Phoenix at the Tower last year, anyone?) but that’s certainly not a cheap date. So where can you see consistently good bands at affordable prices that also has a decent date atmosphere? My go-to venue is Fishtown’s Johnny Brenda’s. How cheap we talkin’? Look for a show that’s $10-$12 at the door. True, that won’t leave much leftover for eating or drinking, but there’s always at least the $3 Kenzingers. Why this will impress your date: Show off your good taste by introducing your date to a new band that you think they will love. That’s what happened on this date, and I was definitely impressed.…

Read more »

Brunch at Fitzwater Cafe, then Browse at Fleisher Gallery

Brunch at Fitzwater Cafe, then Browse at Fleisher Gallery

The Fitzwater Café is a bright, cheerful, and surprisingly affordable brunch spot in Bella Vista.  A classic breakfast of eggs, toast, and home fries is only $5.00, which means you can order bottomless coffee and fresh squeezed orange juice without breaking the bank.  For those with more of a morning sweet tooth, Pancakes and French Toast are each only $5.50.  After a leisurely brunch, it’s only a short stroll to the Fleisher Art Memorial  gallery at 719 Catherine street.  In addition to curating multiple art exhibitions throughout the year, the Fleisher also offers free (with membership) art classes for both children and adults. How cheap we talkin’: $5.00-$5.50 for breakfast, $1.75 for coffee, $2.95 for O.J., and approximately $3 for a must-have shared dessert (plus tax and tip). Entry to the Fleisher is FREE! Why this will impress your date:  As the oldest free community art school in the United States, Fleisher will impress both history and…

Read more »