One good thing about Center City Philly is, you don’t see many fast-food
chain stands or corporate chain restaurants. Not like NY. One local chain
you see is Cosi. Don’t ask me how to pronounce it, I don’t
know. It’s for the wannabe hipster YUPPY and Ivy league preppy scum.
I went into a few and the help have attitude oozing out their arses. I
was ignored at the counter more than once. I was clean-cut , shorn, well-dressed
and well-mannered. I hadn’t even been to Jersey yet. I say Fuck
‘em. I have never eaten at one, and have no plans to ever eat there.
The city is full of fine independent diners. Another popular YUPPY chain
is Marathon Grill. Classy decor, reasonable prices.
Smoke-free
Philly I old list (some establishments out of business)
http://www.smokefreeworld.com/phila.shtml
Smoke-free Philly II http://www.teachpa.org/smokefreedining.html
Vegan
restaurants Also an old list. http://www.vssj.com/diningoct99/phili.html
The Philly diet consists of over-cooked beef: Steak, hamburgers and sausage as is the staple of a Pennsylvanian’s diet. Everything you order they ask if you want cheese on it. And if you decline, they say "What?" as though they don't speak non-dairy. Italian & Greek play a large role. Most Greek places are pizzerias that serve cheese steak and gyros. Few offer any Greek food.
Pizzerias. I have seen plain slices for as little as $1.25 – outskirts, and as much as $2.50 – University City. The size and quality vary. Most of Philly pizza is Greek style. If you grew up in Connecticut, skip this part, you already know. Greek pizza is greasy. The cheese tends to be yellowey. It is akin to pan pizza, only not as thick.
Food Courts are popular, too. One in the basement of
the Bellevue*, one upstairs at Liberty Plaza, another in the subterranean
Pedestrian Complex, the Bourse**, 30th Street Terminal (AmTrak), University
City 3401 Walnut Street in West Philly/University City, and there is Reading
Terminal Market, the mother of all food-courts. Italian Market 9th Street
between Wharton and Christine Streets, stradling Washington Avenue, offers
mostly raw food. Which brings us to food stores.
** 111 S. Independence Mall East
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