Thank you, Chowhounds! Amazing Chicago
So based 100% Chowhound recs, we two Philadelphia hounds chose our Saturday dinner and Sunday brunch.
Saturday dinner was at Quartino. At first, we were a little intimidated - big, noise, mobs of people, noise, servers with plates running around, noise - too too much. We were blessed with a corner table - which cut the noise - and a sweet server. Wonderful food - mushroom risotto, pizza, beef carpaccio, all delicious. The only dish that off was the mushroom bruchetta which tasted like pure vinegar, but the joy of small plates is that a misfire doesn't impact the overall experience. I'm just surprised there aren't more places like this in other cities.
Sunday breakfast was at Primehouse in the James hotel.
Wow. We're currenty sitting here trying to recover. What we can't figure out is how they do all that for $35 a person, and not a pancake in sight. What a foodie experience! Difficult to describe - you sort of have to experience it. And the staff was absolutely delightful, from the hostess to the manager to the bus guy, who was happy to answer our questions. Our one suggestion - go to the gym for a few hours beforehand.
Philly is not exactly a culinary wasteland, but we were wowed by these two places. And we wouldn't have found either without the assistance of the boards here. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Keep on posting!
