Philadelphia 2035 (Austin: lease, tenants, university)

[thedirtypirate]

So Cleaver's has made it into the category of touristy spots? I wouldn't categorize it as such. To me, Cleaver's, Oh Brother, and other likewise Cheesesteak places are just modern or new age. Unlike the touristy ones which can just be a strange relic of the 20th century

[cpomp]

Some more info about the James Beard awards and ongoing food momentum in the city.

'Big night for this town': 2023 James Beard Award wins further elevate Philadelphia's status as a dining destination
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...ing-scene.html

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Some more info about the James Beard awards and ongoing food momentum in the city.

'Big night for this town': 2023 James Beard Award wins further elevate Philadelphia's status as a dining destination
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...ing-scene.html

Perhaps relevant fact:

Friday Saturday Sunday is the last surviving member of the trio that sparked the "Restaurant Renaisasance" of the 1970s, the other two being the Knave of Hearts and the Astral Plane.

Those three restaurants gained followings for their inventive approach to food, service and environment (the Astral Plane, for instance, had mismatched flatware on its place settings and front pages from the Black weekly newspaper whose former offices it occupied on its walls).

The Knave was the first to close, in the early 1990s. The Astral Plane survived into the mid-2000s.

Friday Saturday Sunday, as its matchbooks (which featured the staff on the front cover) used to say, still "loves you every night."

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Perhaps relevant fact:

Friday Saturday Sunday is the last surviving member of the trio that sparked the "Restaurant Renaisasance" of the 1970s, the other two being the Knave of Hearts and the Astral Plane.

Those three restaurants gained followings for their inventive approach to food, service and environment (the Astral Plane, for instance, had mismatched flatware on its place settings and front pages from the Black weekly newspaper whose former offices it occupied on its walls).

The Knave was the first to close, in the early 1990s. The Astral Plane survived into the mid-2000s.

Friday Saturday Sunday, as its matchbooks (which featured the staff on the front cover) used to say, still "loves you every night."

That's pretty interesting, thanks for sharing. I lived around the corner from there for years. I saw the most recent rebrand happen and went a number of times since then. Now did it ever cross my mind as the best restaurant in the United States? I don't think so.

[Hermit12]

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

That's pretty interesting, thanks for sharing. I lived around the corner from there for years. I saw the most recent rebrand happen and went a number of times since then. Now did it ever cross my mind as the best restaurant in the United States? I don't think so.

A lot of reviews imply 'don't come hungry.'

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Hermit12

A lot of reviews imply 'don't come hungry.'

Again, sources, please.

Cumulative 4.5/5 stars on Yelp and TripAdvisor.

The Gastronomic Traveler raves.

So does The Infatuation (9.1/10).

Craig LaBan, who no longer gives out bells in his Inquirer restaurant reviews, also gave the revamped restaurant high marks when he reviewed it in 2017.

So again, I have to call your recollections into question, as a Google search on "Friday Saturday Sunday restaurant reviews" turns up nary a negative one.

I see, however, that it's been quite some time since I was last there: the restaurant had a dark blue color scheme and an upstairs bar with an aquarium behind the bartender (it was called the Tank Bar). And it's replaced an a la carte menu with a $130 prix fixe tasting menu (or perhaps added that option to the a la carte menu).

So I guess the place has upped its game since either you or I last encountered it (or someone writing about it).

[Hermit12]

I didn't say the reviews were bad, it's what I read on Yelp. Yes, the food's good, but they give you small portions.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Hermit12

It's what I read on Yelp. Yes, the food's good, but they give you small portions.

Oh, that "don't come hungry."

There are two kinds of pricey restaurants in my experience: steakhouses, where everything, including the sides, is a la carte but the steaks are huge; and high-end restaurants where the food is brilliantly prepared, delicious and fabulous to look at, but the plates are small.

I know there's an in-between but don't run across it too often. OTOH, I have eaten at fancy restaurants where the portions looked small but I felt satiated after the meal.

[Flyers Girl]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Perhaps relevant fact:

Friday Saturday Sunday is the last surviving member of the trio that sparked the "Restaurant Renaisasance" of the 1970s, the other two being the Knave of Hearts and the Astral Plane.

Those three restaurants gained followings for their inventive approach to food, service and environment (the Astral Plane, for instance, had mismatched flatware on its place settings and front pages from the Black weekly newspaper whose former offices it occupied on its walls).

The Knave was the first to close, in the early 1990s. The Astral Plane survived into the mid-2000s.

Friday Saturday Sunday, as its matchbooks (which featured the staff on the front cover) used to say, still "loves you every night."

I LOVED Astral Plane and was sad to see it go.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Flyers Girl

I LOVED Astral Plane and was sad to see it go.

As did I.

By the way, I left two restaurants out of that group of pioneers:

Steve Poses' two establishments, the fine-dining Frog and the more quotidian The Commissary.