Food

Beer, Eating out, Food, Philadelphia suburb, Restaurant, Reviews, steak

The Refectory – Villanova, PA

January 9, 2022February 13, 2022 ILoveEatingOut

Wow just wow. It was just what I needed to restore my love of eating out and “talking” about it! Everything was simply perfect. The Refectory is located on Villanova’s campus below a student residence hall. But do not let this deter you because you would never know students live in the floors above and quite frankly, everything was so lovely that it really doesn’t matter.

When we first walked into the restaurant, we were pleasantly greeted and taken to our table. We had a reservation and I suggest you make one as this place was hopping. First impression was awesome. I loved the 80’s music playing in the background…not too loud, but just loud enough. The restaurant is quite large. There is a beautiful bar and several booths and tables, large enough to fit all your plates and glasses and tables spaced far apart enough that you aren’t too close to strangers. We were seated close to the open kitchen, so we got to see all of the happenings and it was very cool.

We ordered come drinks, nothing too crazy. A couple of us had wine, an old fashioned was ordered, a Monks sour beer and some chilled club soda. All were happy with their drinks. I did notice they have a nice beer and wine selection, as well as some interesting cocktails. I saw several of them being served throughout our evening and they looked lovely.

We started with some apps to share. We ordered Brussels Sprouts (bacon lardons, apple, balsamic mustard) for $12 and Buffalo Cauliflower (house hot sauce, buttermilk ranch) for $13 and lastly, Nova Fries (brisket, house wiz, pickled onion) for $9.

The cauliflower was lightly breaded and lightly tossed in sauce but still crispy. The brussel sprouts were charred as expected and the bacon consisted of nice chunks…no burnt bits. Also for flavor and added texture, there were delicious golden apple chunks. All were amazing! I personally enjoyed the fries the most, but I’d recommend all of these. You will not be disappointed.

Brussels sprouts and Buffalo cauliflower

At this point in the meal, we were all laughing about and almost had full tummies because we overordered on the apps (2 cauliflower, 2 brussel sprouts and the fries) but we knew we had another amazing course making its way to our table and I can’t wait to show you.

I had the Bronzino for $32. The fish was so good. The skin was crispy and seasoned heavily with herbs. It was served with chard fennel which is a first for me. It’s a veg I never really considered as a good side but let me tell you it was a nice change for something different.

Side note: while preparing this blog I referenced back to the menu, and I noticed that some of the dishes have changed. The branzino filet is on the menu for $23 with different sides and a different preparation. But if it is anything like the fish I had, you will not be disappointed.

The Hubs enjoyed the Kobe New York Strip for $32. The steak was served with onion soubise, royal trumpet mushrooms, cippolini onions and a bordelaise sauce. Just look at how perfectly cooked this delectable piece of meat was. I had a taste, and it was tender and delicious.

Our other party members enjoyed a Branzino (like mine) and one had a very special dish of the night. In addition to their standard menu, the chef had a special offering of wagyu beef starting at $40 for 2 ounces. Yes, you read that right. It was pricey. Below you can see the final presentation. We all tried a piece. The best way I can describe this is that I’ve never had anything like it before. The texture was soft. It was beyond tender. The meat literally melted in my mouth with minimal chewing involved. It was an unexpected feeling, and the taste was magnificent. Now if you like a steak with some structure to it where there is come chewing involved, this would not be for you.

Dessert was the only disappointment of the evening. We ordered the Zebra Cake which is passion fruit cake, coconut cream and dark chocolate for $8. The only thing I liked about the dessert was the passion fruit syrup served on the plate. The white “icing” encasing the cake was so weird. It literally had the look and texture of drying paint. I do not recommend this at all…although it did look beautiful. I guess that is the upside.

One note for the reader…parking is not the best. We had to park in a parkiing lot, across the street. Be prepared to walk a minimum of one block and cross a busy street. I did not see any closer parking or valet.

In conclusion, the vibe was uplifting and positive, and the food and service were tremendous (minus the disappointing dessert). If you are looking for an exciting and fun night out with your special person or even a girl’s night out, I recommend giving Refectory a try. I give Refectory 4.25 out of 5 forks. Thanks for reading and eat out more often folks!

BYO, Eating out, Food, Korean, Restaurant, Reviews

Mokja, Modern Korean – Ambler, PA

August 28, 2021September 1, 2021 ILoveEatingOut

“Traditional Korean meets American favorites”

I have never been a fan of Korean food. One taste of kimchi many years ago and I was out. Then I found out about this little spot hidden down on Main Street in the great food town of Ambler. My husband is a fan of Korean food and he convinced me that I would like it if I tried it so here we are at Mokja.

The menu is small but that’s ok, its packed with big flavors. We decided to try a couple of the appetizers. We started with the “mokja fries” for $7. The menu reads they are hand-cut fries with Korean chili and fresh garlic. First off, delish they were, however, I will have to disagree with the hand-cut aspect. They seemed like they could be frozen. Also, they lacked the fresh garlic. I honestly don’t know that I even tasted garlic. But don’t get me wrong, they were tasty (and very greasy) but they weren’t what I expected or as described.

The next appetizer was the Truffle Edamame Mandu for $10. The menu describes it as truffle edamame dumpling with bulgogi mushrooms. See pic below….NO MUSHROOMS. I’m more angry now about it as I type. When we were eating I did say “hmmm, I thought it was supposed to come with mushrooms”, but the dumplings were still yummy. The inside was super creamy with just the right amount of truffle flavor. I will say that the idea of it being accompanied with bulgogi mushrooms does sound quite fine so I’m annoyed that it was left off. Moving on…

Edamame truffle dumpling MISSING PROMISED MUSHROOMS

It’s entree time. BIBIMBOP! A must try for real. This is such a lovely dish. All of the food groups in one hot stone bowl for just $14.

The bowls comes with rice, lettuce, and various veggies. These bowls included rice, zucchini, carrots, sweet potato, mushrooms and scallions. Also included is a fried egg served on top to provide the creamy, dreamy, silky, sauce which mixes in nicely with the spicy bipimbop sauce served on the side so the eater can determine the spice level.

The protein I chose was tofu and it was really good. It was fried so the outside was crispy and the inside was creamy. Dan got spicy pork and he loved it. I tried it and it was ok. A little fatty and chewy for my taste.

Now the restaurant space itself……….

It was hot outside. Probably one of the hottest days of the year. (Actually I think the news said it was the hottest day in the last 3 years). With that said, it was warm in the dining room even with the air conditioners blasting at full speed. They were trying. The windows, glasses, and the floors were wet with sweat, so much that one of the servers slipped and fell right before our eyes. But she is probably 18 years old soooooo she bounced up like she tripped on a flower. It didn’t help that our delicious bowls were so hot because they were stone. They just exuded heat as they should! It was just a really exceptionally hot evening.

Final thoughts…its BYO so bring your fave beverage. We brought a chilled Rose and they kindly brought an ice bucket and glasses with NO cork fee!! This little spot is very cool (figuratively not literally). It’s small. Only about 10-12 small tables inside. I believe I saw a few outside but it was so freaking hot I don’t think anyone was into that. Because of the size, I would make a reservation. I’m not really sure how busy this place gets so it’s better to be prepared than to have to find another spot on a moments notice.

Dessert time!! The server was ready to check us out without mentioning dessert and I swear it was because of the heat but my husband loves dessert so I had to ask. She rambled off two different types and we chose the fried dough which is accompanied by a sugar sauce and a chocolate sauce.

In conclusion, the food was delicious. What I didn’t like was the false advertising. (NO hand cut fries and NO fresh garlic. Also, missing mushrooms on the dumplings!!). Besides all of that, it is a nice little spot for Korean food lovers or those looking for something a little different. I would totally return because there is so much more on the menu I want to try and I love to try new foods. So for my one time experience at Mokja, I give 3.5 out of 5 forks. The lower score is purely for the missing ingredients from my dishes. The servers, the food and the environment (except for the extreme heat) were lovely. So please check this place out.

Welcome back to dining out! Thank you so much for reading and eat out more often folks!!

BRUNCH, BYO, duck, Eating out, Escargot, Food, French, Philadelphia suburb, Reviews

La Provence – Ambler, PA BYOB Series

May 25, 2021 ILoveEatingOut

If you are looking for fine French cuisine, La Provence is a spot for you to try. It is located in an old railroad track stop right on Butler Pike in Ambler, PA. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating available, and reservations are suggested.

We were first greeted by our server and offered an array of water. We chose good ole’ tap. The liquid delight was delivered along with some freshly baked, warm French bread with a room temperature whipped butter. Very comforting indeed.

The Hubs is a true fan of escargot and whenever we go to a French restaurant, he is sure to order the edible snails. The escargot was served traditionally prepared baked with parsley-garlic butter for $15. He described them as “very good”. I on the other hand am not a fan of escargot so I passed on trying this dish. I do like eating out but there are a few things that I just won’t eat, and snails are one of them. I have tried them, and I just don’t like em’ but hey I’m not yuckin’ your yum. If you like them, get them!

Mmmmmmmm pate’ now you’re speaking my language. I know, I won’t eat snails, but I’ll devour a plate of pate’. To each his own my foodie friends! “Pate’ De Campagne” was on the appetizer menu so of course I had to partake. The pate is a pork and chicken country pate, served with a petite salad, cornichons, mustard, and red wine shallots for $14. I really enjoyed the array of flavors and textures. It was quite satisfying. My only critique would be that it only came with one little, tiny crisp of toast but the server brought me some more of their delicious sliced French bread and I didn’t even have to ask! I wonder if I made a face or said something to my husband and the server overheard me? Well, it’s for sure possible but I call that being super observant and that is perfect when you are dining out. Good job server friend!

For my entre I had “Mussels Marinieres” which is mussels served in white wine and garlic with a side of thin, crispy frites. Honestly, I cannot remember the exact cost but I believe it was $22. I went back to their website and I don’t see this on the menu so it must have been a special that evening. Anyway, they were the most tender, soft mussels I ever had. They were grand quality and cooked perfectly in a lovely broth which I sopped up with even more French bread and my salty fries.

My Husband ordered a chef special for the evening. It was a blood orange crispy duck served with braised purple cabbage and mashed potatoes. I tried this and it was mouthwatering. The duck was perfectly cooked, and the potatoes were so creamy just to die for. This was a pure masterpiece for I believe $29.

To finish off this fine meal we decided to share a creme brulee…of course we would get this, it is a French restaurant after all. BUT THEN the server described a dessert special that sounded fantastic, so we decided to try it. I don’t remember what it is called, and I have search and searched online. I have found numerous photos of this dessert but NO NAME! With the number of photos, I have seen online, it makes me believe it’s a “special” on many nights. So I guess you could say it’s “the not so special special” 😆…for $10 bucks.

The dessert was smooth and creamy (almost flan like) vanilla pudding served with a very thin (almost too thin) vanilla sauce. It was good and it was nice to try something different, but I think next time I’ll try the creme brulee for sure. Don’t fix it if it ain’t broken I guess. But no, seriously, it is important to try different dishes I truly believe.

So here are a few tidbits I think are important to mention. First and foremost, it does not seem like the best place to bring kids (or babies – gotta mention that too) so get a sitter and leave them at home. It is a very quiet, dark and romantic place. The outside is decorated so lovely with candles on the tables and lights strung about. So, save dinner at La Provence for a date night or even a nice evening out with some special friends. Second, its BYOB so be sure to bring your favorite French vin to your special dinner. And lastly, brunch is offered on Sundays. Perhaps if you must bring the kiddos, brunch could be an option but I’m not too sure yet as I haven’t experienced it myself. In closing, I give La Provence 3.75 out of 5 forks. Not the best but not a bad score. The food was good but not spectacular. The fries were a bit underwhelming and the dessert wasn’t my fave. The prices seemed fair for the food that was delivered, the service was phenomenal and the ambiance was lovely. I’m not over-the-moon about this place but it was still a nice, romantic spot and I’ll definitely hit it again. Totally worth a try.

Hey thanks for reading and eat out more often folks! Bon appétit!😉

Eating out, Food, Philadelphia suburb, Restaurant, Reviews, Take-out

TAKE-OUT, Benihana, Plymouth Meeting, PA

August 17, 2020 ILoveEatingOut

Great deal ALERT! Sushi take-out for two for $35.00. Have you ever heard of such a thing? It includes two salads, one appetizer and 4 rolls! Delish. It was perfect. Everything was fresh and it was presented absolutely beautifully. Note you choose which appetizer and rolls you want so you can customize it to you liking.

The only thing missing was the ginger and wasabi 🙄. Luckily we had it at home but make sure you ask if you want it.

We ordered:

SPICY ADAMAME (APP)

CHILI SHRIMP ROLL

LAS VEGAS ROLL

SHRIM LOVER’S ROLL

SPICY TUNA ROLL

If you want some yummy take-out at a decent price, give it a try.

I give talk-out sushi from Benihana 4.5 out of 5 forks. Thanks for reading and remember, eat out and ORDER OUT more often folks! Stay safe.

Burger, Eating out, Food, Philadelphia suburb, Restaurant, Take-out

Friday Night Date Night at Home! TAKE OUT from Redstone, Plymouth Meeting, PA

May 22, 2020 ILoveEatingOut

Friday Night Date Night! Well if you can’t get there, bring it home!

It’s not secret that The Hubs and I love Redstone. It’s close to home, they make the best cocktails and they serve delicious food. It’s known that the menu is a bit pricey so we save it for special occasions. We also like to go when I work late. We head over about 9 PM for a cocktail and some appetizers in the bar area. Man I CANNOT wait until we can do that safely again! Anyway since we can’t make that happen right now, we made our own cocktails and brought some of our favorites home for a date night!

Not bad for made-at-home cocktails!
Gin martini and an Old Fashioned – the drinks we order when we are at Redstone.

One of the items Redstone is famous for is their Buffalo Shrimp. They are expensive but they are good. We got the large portion of 5 shrimp for $19. The smaller portion is 3 for a few bucks less but trust me if you are sharing make sure you get the large. Delish.

What was great about the take-out serving is that they had everything packaged separately so the shrimp didn’t get mushy. The buffalo sauce and the very high quality blue cheese crumbles were both in separate containers. We put it on the crispy shrimp when we were ready to indulge.

We also ordered a Wedge Salad. This is one of my favorite salads ever. Sadly, Redstone took this salad off their main menu last year sometime. That was very disappointing. They said that they were trying to get all of their locations with the exact same menu for consistency so this was one of the salads that was removed. BUT HAPPILY THEY RETURNED IT TO THE COVID19 TAKE-OUT MENU HERE in Plymouth Meeting!

The lettuce was cool and crisp. It is made using thick, seasoned bacon and creamy blue cheese dressing. There is also diced green onion, perfectly ripe grape tomatoes and those high-quality blue cheese crumbles used on the shrimp. It’s a large portion and it was fine for us for sharing! (Around $10).

Mmmmmmm The Redstone Burger. (I believe it was $16). Let me tell you this is one of my top restaurant burgers. It is always cooked perfect. The chefs always get it right no matter who is on the grill. It’s toppings, including lettuce, tomato and pickles, are always fresh. The bacon is thick and crispy and the brioche bun is toasted and complimentary. The BBQ sauce is delicious. If they bottled it, I’d buy it. The fries…well they are just ok. They remind me of McDonalds fries which are good but I would expect a little more sophisticated fries from Redstone. If you are at the restaurant ask them to “truffle your fries” for a few extra bucks (I think $3). It’s totally worth it. They drizzle truffle oil all over the fries and load them up with herbs and grated cheese. You can probably substitute the fries with mashed potatoes or coleslaw. The other sides are probably available too with a small up-charge…usually $2. (I hate up-charges – I think they’re tacky).

Redstone did not disappoint. We were satisfied with all that we ate and it was worth every penny. I encourage you to support Redstone in Plymouth Meeting so that they can open again for us all to enjoy. Here is a picture of their current menu items available for pick-up. The only problem here is they don’t list their prices! You’ll either have to call for prices or just take your chances. 🤷🏼‍♀️

In addition to what I mentioned in my blog, I can also recommend for appetizers, the brussel sprouts and the wings with BBQ sauce. For main entrees I can recommend the classic chicken, the baby back ribs and the braised beef short rib. I’ve had them all and they are all Redstone classics (like the burger).

That’s it for this edition of TAKE OUT. I give Redstone a 4.75 out of 5 forks! Be safe everyone! Remember I wear a mask for you and you wear a mask for me. Thanks for reading folks! And don’t fret, we will be eating out again soon enough!

Eating out, Food, Indian, Philadelphia suburb, Restaurant, Reviews, Take-out

Choolaah, King of Prussia

April 4, 2020 ILoveEatingOut

Hey folks. Today I thought I’d share a yummy little place in KOP that is now offering delivery and take-out. It’s a nice choice for something a little different and inexpensive. Choolaah is basically fast casual Indian deliciousness. Their cooking method is an ancient clay cooking style. It’s healthy and exotic. Yes I am describing food people not a handsome gentleman LOL.

Build a bowl is their primary method. You pick a protein, a masala sauce and a base like rice and/or veggies. The proteins you can choose are chicken, lamb meatballs, veg croquettes, tofu, paneer and salmon. The masalas are tikka masala, chickpea masala and a couple different lentil daals. They offer both white rice and brown rice. Anyway, I could read you their entire menu but I think you should check it out yourself because there are so many different bowl or salad combinations.

Our Food

Below are pics of our bowls. I got half brown rice and a half roasted veg base with veggie croquettes and tikka masala. It was super good. Dan got white rice and a half veg base with lamb meatballs and tikka masala. He also enjoyed his. Actually, we both ate our entire bowls!

They offer other menu items like wraps, naan and additional sides. They also have a fixin’ bar with a variety of accompaniments. Above is a pic of a few of the sauces including but not limited to spicy mango and tamarind ginger. I tried most of them and they were all delish.

We went to Choolaah way back in October 2019 so we were able to eat inside. It was clean and super busy. The staff were so helpful and inviting. I remember commented on how well they must have been trained. They really seemed to care if we were enjoying our meals. I give Choolaah 4.5 out of 5 forks! So needless to say we will be back once this stay at home order is over.

I thought I would share this little place with you now since they continue to deliver and have take out. Give it a try for something different. Well,thanks for eating folks and soon we will be eating out again!

Beer, Eating out, Food, Restaurant, Reviews, Wings

Order Take-Out or Delivery TODAY! We did! The Whitpain Tavern / Blue Bell, PA

March 28, 2020May 3, 2020 ILoveEatingOut

Wing pic from their website…to put you in the mood.

We are all feeling it. This quarantine is trying in so many ways. Beside all of the other issues like employment insecurity, financial burdens and mental sanity to not say the least, not being able to eat out really hurts. It’s changed my routine for sure. Listen I’m not complaining, just stating a fact. This blog’s name for goodness sake is ILoveEatingOut….so duh.

Now is the time for us to buy at least one meal a week from your favorite local place to give them a little helping hand. You want them to still be in business when all of this craziness is past us right? You might have a concern over ordering take-out right now and I do too! I have copied a couple of Q and A directly from the CDC website regarding this so hopefully it will ease your mind if you have concerns. See below.

“Q: Can I get sick with COVID-19 from touching food, the food packaging, or food contact surfaces, if the coronavirus was present on it?

A: Currently, there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19. Like other viruses, it is possible that the virus that causes COVID-19 can survive on surfaces or objects. For that reason, it is critical to wash your hands often, including utensils.

Q: Can I get COVID-19 from a food worker handling my food?

A: Currently, there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19. However, the virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person in some communities in the U.S. The CDC recommends that if you are sick, stay home until you are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

Anyone handling, preparing and serving food should always follow safe food handling procedures, such as washing hands and surfaces often.”

AND back to my thoughts…

Listen, it won’t hurt to follow some basic precautions while getting your take-out. While I’m certainly not an infectious disease expert by any means, I have the internet and TV to inform me (LOL). No seriously, I read and heard that stomach acids will kill the virus so there doesn’t seem to be any risk in investing it. Just be careful when you get your food home. Empty the food directly onto your own plates and discard the containers. Heat up your food in the oven for a bit or even microwave. Again, I’m not an expert and I don’t know if this will help but I can’t imagine it will hurt. WASH YOUR HANDS after handling the containers and before you eat.

The Hubs and I ordered from one of the local watering holes The Whitpain Tavern in Blue Bell, PA. We love to go there and listen to live music and just chill with some wings, fries, drinks whether its just us or with some of our neighbors. It was really nice of them to offer us delivery without a charge. I’m not sure what their requirements are but you probably have to be pretty local to qualify for this free service. Note they do have curbside pick up too if you need to get out and take a drive. OH! And they also delivered a 6-pack too so that was very convenient.

I’m lacking pictures this time folks sorry but I can tell you our food was great. We had hot wings, hot BBQ wings, and Shane’s French Onion Fries. The wings are always big and meaty. They are fried and generously tossed in your sauce of choice. The Garlic BBQ sauce is so good. Little pieces of real garlic mixed into the traditional BBQ sauce makes this very special. Wings are served with celery and blue cheese. The fries we got are sidewinder fries which are basically curly steak fries crispy on the outside and soft and hot on the inside. On top they melted provolone and Swiss cheese and then covered it with a layer of crispy onion straws and its served with the most delicious beef gravy I have ever had. Really if it was acceptable, I’d drink this gravy from a cup. Mmmmmmm drinkin’ gravy from a cup…LOL. I should mention that the fries weren’t as delicious as when they come directly from the kitchen to the table but that’s ok, they were still very satisfying.

Alright enough of my rambling. It’s getting close to dinner time so start thinking about what restaurant you want to support and I don’t mean McDonalds or Wendy’s people! I mean those small businesses that have delicious food we crave along with the warm environments we love. Help keep these places above water until they can get back on track. Thanks for reading folks and we will be eating out more often soon enough! Stay safe everyone.

Eating out, Food, Philadelphia suburb, Restaurant, Reviews

Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar, King of Prussia, PA

October 10, 2019 ILoveEatingOut

We started with the Craft-Your-Own Guacamole for $20. Yes this is a bit pricey but it is freshly made and a nice starter for a group. It starts with the traditional guac and you add your own mixins such as crispy capers or roasted red peppers. Their are multiple mixin options available but we chose to have one traditional, one with pickled jalepenos and the last with candied pumpkin seeds. They are served with fried plaintain, tortilla and malanga chips. It is very good and its not just your old typical guac and chips so give it a try!

Since we had all of the delicious guac to eat and that’s not good for leftovers, I decided to get an appetizer as my main dish. I ordered the Paladar Empanadas stuffed with portabella mushrooms. I wasn’t too impressed with this at all. It was a bit overdone and too greasy. The filling and toppings were just okay. I will probably won’t ever order this again.

The Hubs ordered a traditional Latin dish, the Feijoada Stew which is made with pork, chorizo sausage, black beans, sofrito vegetables, kale, sofrito rice and grilled Cuban bread for $19. Oddly I’m not a huge fan of Latin food but my husband is. He really enjoyed this dish. My only observation (I took a pic so you can see) is that the chef clearly burned the bread and covered it with a second sadly prepared piece of bread. That’s lame. If you know you ruined something fix it before it goes out to the guest. Don’t try to hide it like your customers are stupid and won’t notice! It’s insulting. I mean this is a nice restaurant, not a cheap place.

Stew served with both burnt and underdone bread

Paladar offers a nice cocktail menu including different styles of margaritas and mojitos. Its main feature is the extensive rum list. They even offer rum flights ranging in price from $9 to $25. If rum was my thing I’d totally try this but its not so I didn’t!!

Paladar is located in the King of Prussia’s happening Town Center. There is a lot of action all around especially this beautiful fall time of year. Like most of the restaurants throughout the Town Center, they get busy so make a reservation. In case you haven’t guessed, this is not the place to bring young children.

The main dining area and indoor bar have have nicely decorated interiors and is very spacious so tables aren’t on top of each other. Outside seating is also offered. We sat outside with no regrets. Our server was busy but attentive so no complaints there. You know I just realized that my heart isn’t really into this review and I’m not sure if its because I’m not a Latin food lover or I just didn’t have a really great meal. Either way I’m still going to share this brief review for you. I give Paladar 3 out of 5 forks. Thanks for reading folks and eat out more often!

Eating out, Food, Philadelphia suburb, Restaurant, Reviews, scallops, steak

White Dog Cafe, Haverford, PA

October 3, 2019 ILoveEatingOut

There were four of us that met out for dinner at White Dog Cafe in Haverford. We started with Sandy Ridge Farm Deviled Eggs for $11 which included a half dozen, cage-free eggs with an assortment of seasonal fillings. Ours included caviar and chives, a crispy potato crumble and a blue cheese and bacon topping. These were fantastic and unlike any deviled eggs we had ever had. They were so creamy and the toppings were unique and complimentary.

We also shared Parmesan Fries with truffle oil, grana, and chives for $8. They were cooked just right and were served with care. However, they could have used a bit more truffle oil. You could barely taste or smell the truffle oil but they were still tasty.

The Hubs ordered the Butcher’s Cut which was a filet mignon. It was served with locally sourced, shallot butter, house made steak sauce, truffle fries and arugula salad. The plate looked nice but the filet was overcooked. He ordered medium but there was no pink inside. The Hubs isn’t a complainer but I could tell he was a bit disappointed.

I had the Locust Point Farm Chicken served with goat cheese whipped potatoes, baby spinach and mushroom marsala for $27. Now this chicken could not have been cooked more perfectly! It was so tender and juicy and the skin was so crispy. The potatoes were a little runny but I think that’s because the chicken on top was so juicy. The flavors were divine. I would order this again.

Our friends ordered Yellowfin Tuna Tartare served with avocado salsa, sesame soy emulsion and true leaf micro cilantro for $16 (no photo taken). They also ordered the special appetizer for the evening. It was a Tempura Battered Cauliflower all sauced up.

For their entrees they ordered the Cape May Scallops served with sweet corn ragout, basil charred tomato romesco sauce and almond crumble for $35 and the fish special which was swordfish with various accompaniments. They enjoyed their entrees although they (and we) struggled to finish them as we had so many apps and a few cocktails. We were even all so full and content that we skipped dessert!

The decor was very warm and comforting. There are a few rooms available for dining. We were seated in The Living Room. It was super crowded so make sure you make a reservation. There are adorable pictures of dogs a dog related art throughout the restaurant and I loved it. I even enjoyed my trip to the ladies room because I got to enjoy more of the dog related decor.

The bar is small and it was crowded. The bartender and the servers were personable, attentive and knowledgeable. It’s a great date place and a nice place for friends to gather. I do not think it’s a good place for small children so best to get a sitter. I give White Dog Cafe in Haverford 4.5 out of 5 forks. It’s a bit pricey but totally worth it. Thanks for reading folks and eat out more often!

Eating out, Food, Mexican, Philadelphia suburb, Restaurant, Reviews

El Limone, Ambler, PA

September 20, 2019 ILoveEatingOut

El Limone is one of our favorite spots to go for quick, inexpensive and delicious Mexican food. It’s authentic and we always leave with big smiles and full tummies.

El Limone is a BYO. We often see people sharing a bottle of wine or drinking a couple of beers. If you forget your alcohol fear not my friends as they offer FREE margaritas. I understand they are supposed to offer a max of 2 margaritas per entree but I have seen them pour more. The margaritas are sometimes a bit watered down on occasion but who’s complaining if they are free right!?

I almost always order the same thing…the loaded nachos with carnitas for $9.95. They are mouthwatering. I literally crave them at times. The pork is shredded with big chunks of meat found throughout the plate (see blown up pic below in pic collage). The nachos are smothered in refried beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo. The chips are house made and served crunchy and warm. I love adding their house made hot sauces. They offer a tomatillo and a chipoltle option. I love both and I use both. Use the chipoltle cautiously though…it’s hot both at the time you eat it and the next day (if you get my drift). It’s true folks. I gotta let you know but I also have to let you know that, to me, its worth it.

The most perfect nachos you’ll ever have

Below is a pick of Dan’s sopes. He ordered a chorizo and an al pastor. Sopes are a thick corn tortilla (fried masa) covered in Mexican goodness. Note El Limone’s sopes are often greasy (as well as the chorizo) but still so good. Sopes are covered in lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and cheese at $2.50 each. You just can’t beat it.

My Mom got a shrimp quesadilla for $8.00. It was cooked perfect and the shrimp were big. She was happy…I was happy.

Dan and I love the Tres Leches cake at El Limone. It’s only $5.95 and it was big enough for the 3 of us to share. It was wet with milky sweetness and satisfied our dessert desire. Yum. Get it!

The restaurant is located in the middle of a strip of stores in Ambler. It’s a bit run down and lacks everything fancy. The tables are set close together and there are a few placed outside on the sidewalk. The chefs are not in a closed kitchen so you can see them cooking in the very small space. TV’s are anchored in the corners of the small room often showing sporting events.

This place is loved by many so it’s usually crowded. Expect to wait on busy “out-to-eat” nights like Friday and Saturday evenings. Its always a full house with a full (and cramped) waiting area and a line often out the door but they have a quick turnaround so the wait has never been extreme. They are also very popular with the take-out so you will see door-dash folks coming and going.

It’s a great place for friends to gather, families with small children to get together and honestly, even a fun date night with maybe a show to follow down the street at Ambler Theater. One last note, in addition to it’s Ambler location, there are locations in Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Conshohocken, Norristown, Malvern, Paoli, Royersford, and West Chester. I have only been to Ambler and Norristown. Ambler is my fave of the two.

I give El Limone in Ambler 4.75 stars out of 5 forks. For the money you can’t get a better meal. Skip the fast food restaurants and head on over to El Limone. Thanks for reading and eat out more often folks!