"Comfort Food" in Phila

[Bigley9]

So as the weather and the economy simultaneously take a turn for the worse, where to Chowhounds go for comfort food? I realize that what is comfort food may have something to do with what you were raised with, but it also has to do with the atmosphere it is served in (IMHO). For me, the oldJudy's was perfect for comfort food (although that wasn't always what I ordered!), but I'd like to know what places that exist now fit that bill for you! I await eager with anticipation.

[rabidog]

mmmm... in this rainy weather, i just stopped for a beer lunch at the abbaye at 3rd and fairmount... they've got the troegs mad elf on tap (and once that runs out there's a wonderful hand-pumped yards esa) and i would highly recommend getting that with a nice tomato bisque, if it's raining and cold like today.

i also had the seitan cheesesteak, but i really wish they scooped the bread (which isn't the best bread in the world) and added more seitan filling. i always end up opening the sandwich and eating the insides with a fork, or i run the risk of filling up on bread before the innards are finished.

[GBak504]

Reading Terminal Market does the trick for me. The wife and I like to roam about pick up a bit of this and a bit of that...take the feast on over to the Beer Garden...plop down and enjoy all the hustle and bustle. Maybe over to the Flying Monkey(??) for a couple of their cupcakes and a coffee after.

Kinda broad, I know...

Down Home Diner within the RT used to do the trick too. Old Jack McD did a mean black eyed pea and hogjowl soup....and I know its a love it or hate it....and I dont know if they still do it....but they did a sauteed chicken livers with bacon..touch of balsamic....that was to die for once upon a time....

[RichieT]

MMM--barbeque meat loaf at Sam's Grill in Wynnewood~

[hungry100]

Shrimp dumpling noodle soup from Sang Kee.

[yankeefan]

any time driving through Philly, soft pretzels.

nothing better to 'hit the spot', especially the Amish ones when they are cooking them fresh. Their hard pretzels are no joke either.

[mazza3]

pretzels!!!! mmmmm. so good.....

[bronwen]

I would say any pub food (bangers and mash, shepherd's pie, etc.) are comfort foods!

[mazza3]

i miss judy's too, though i can't complain about ansill. for comfort food i definitely hit up a few predictable places (and dishes):

down home diner at reading terminal
any place that serves good fried chicken (usually my friend jeremy's house :D )
cucina forte's maria's dream soup
pasta dishes at dante and luigi's
chicken and waffles and toad in the hole at a full plate (liberties walk)
brown betty's cupcakes
naked chocolate cafe's hot chocie (AZTEC!)
pizza from marra's (i know, not the best, but memories of my youth are hard to escape)
nick's roast beef

ok, i'll stop. i had taco bell for lunch and should NOT be getting hungry again. :D

[lawgirl3278]

It depends on what type of comfort food I'm in the mood for, but here's my list: in no apparent order

Royal Tavern - Mac & cheese or meat loaf
Silk City - fried chicken & jalapeno cornbread
Bomb Bomb - chicken parm
Genji - tempura soba

[bluehensfan]

Hand Drawn Noodle Soup at Nan Zhou fits the bill for me.

[rabidog]

in these tough times i've been all about the pizza and beer! i enjoy dock st... and recently tried out a place near rittenhouse called mix (i think). it must be new - never seen it before. good pizzas (great crust) and a laid-back bar area. i definitely dug this place!

[cwdonald]

Rabidog, if you like pizza and beer... Earth Bread and Brewery (7136 Germantown Ave in Mount Airy) is another place to consider. They do "flatbread" individual pizzas, along with four house beers, along with a great number of guest beers. What I like most about their beers is they are aimed at being session beers (lower than 6 percent alcohol) along with being very flavorful. They also have good salads, rotating soups (had a tomato bisque the other day that was perfect for the cold weather) and a nice cheese plate.

[rabidog]

:) i just went there! it was my last-night-before-going-carless date and i wanted to go somewhere i'd been hearing about but that was hard to get to via public transit. it was great! specifically i loved my dark malty beer and the seed pizza. we had a salad with goat cheese that was also very tasty. the soup of the day didn't impress so much. the margarita pizza was good, but i knew i was going to fall in love with that seed pizza from a menu i found on the internet before i even left the house. and i did!

[bluehensfan]

Actually we went a few weeks ago to Nan Zhou and it seemed to be not quite as good in the past so maybe axe that recommendation.