615479 Mon Apr 27 17:36:42 -0700 2009 9 15 Pennsylvania 0 4634112 Hi - I'm in business for the week and will be treating 3 college kids to a well-deserved dinner during final exams. I'm interested in recommendations for seasonal & organic fare in Philadelphia, $30-$60pp. I did a quick search on the board and came up empty. Much thanks! Mon Apr 27 17:36:42 -0700 2009 14592 joe_can_bike 1 4634232 Meme, Ansill, Marigold Kitchen, & Matyson. Most of the smaller restos are seasonal. Organic seldom translates to quality so I really can't help you there. Well, there is White Dog by Penn, but I can't recommend it. Mon Apr 27 18:30:23 -0700 2009 4634112 53643 Boognish 1 4634552 As Boognish said, the seasonal is easy. I'd add Pumpkin to that fine list, but otherwise, hit one of the smaller spots. White Dog, well, I don't think I've seen reviews for it since the new menu/overhaul/whatever happened, so if you go that route, you might want to post asking if anyone has been recently. Mon Apr 27 20:29:43 -0700 2009 4634112 17410 Ali 1 4634570 Not sure what you're getting at with the organic request, but Horizons is a vegan restaurant that has excellent food and the menu changes seasonally. It's done up like a nice, proper restaurant, not a health food bungalow, and the food is good enough that omnivores can enjoy it. The food may or not be organic, I don't know. I'll also add that, despite the hype White Dog gets for being locally sourced, sustainable, yadda, yadda, I have never found the food to be particularly great (especially considering the price). The other posters are on point with their recommendations that a small, chef run place is your best bet for seasonal, quality food in Philly. Mon Apr 27 20:38:28 -0700 2009 4634112 281736 barryg 2 4635425 Seconding Horizons. Hands down best restaurant in Philly, with the eco-consciousness as a bonus. (Caveat: I am vegetarian but know plenty of meat-eaters who are equally smitten.) You may want to give them a call re: how much of their menu is organic. Creative, delicious, and incredibly consistent. Everything from their cocktails through to dessert. Tue Apr 28 08:15:06 -0700 2009 4634570 14202 spyturtle008 1 4634654 Joe, you are a SAINT! What a kind dad / friend / uncle / muse / whatever-you-are. :) I recommend Apamate if you & your students like Spanish food. It's one of my favorite restaurants ever, fairly seasonal, with significant (but not exclusive) use of organic ingredients. And delicious. BYOB. Café Apamate www.cafeapamate.com 1620 South St Philadelphia, PA 19146 (215) 790-1620 Mon Apr 27 21:26:29 -0700 2009 4634112 42513 Mawrter 2 4634658 Ha, I'd also like to put Joe up for canonization! Those are some lucky kids! If there's a particular school whose environs you'd prefer to frequent, we may be of slightly more help. Mon Apr 27 21:33:28 -0700 2009 4634654 53643 Boognish 1 4635197 Here's a link to a local non profit that advocates local/organic/sustainable food. http://www.buylocalpa.org/map?zip=19147 If you put in a zip code, it will list restaurants that share the philosophy (then you can check this board for reviews!) A lot of our local restaurants do sustainable/oragnic when possible Tue Apr 28 06:53:32 -0700 2009 4634112 76938 Bigley9 1 4640986 Thanks everyone! I went with Marigold Kitchen, as it was just a few blocks from my niece's dorm. Sadly, her friends bailed on us (something about finals & studying....bah!) We had a very nice meal. I enjoyed my parsnip fritters and my niece loved her steak. My pork shank & beluga lentils were tasty, but the shank bone was almost comically gigantic. The place is very sweet and I'd return for certain. The ham tasting menu intrigued. Service seemed a bit stressed, like they were down a server maybe? Didn't impact us much, but I thought I'd note it. Thanks Hounds! You never fail me! Wed Apr 29 19:29:48 -0700 2009 4634112 14592 joe_can_bike 2 4642789 Hah, that pork shank really is almost comic, eh? My fiance ordered that a few weeks back. Fred Flintstone-esque. Thanks for the report back. I'm sure they will appreciate your feedback. Thu Apr 30 11:40:43 -0700 2009 4640986 53643 Boognish