Jaded foodie looking for something new

[FriskLamb]

Tired of the usual haunts constantly posted - looking for something new and unusual, and will not cost an arm and leg - in Phila or the burbs. Prefer something genuine - cooking from the heart?

[FriskLamb]

Live near Chestnut Hill - which may explain some of my lost enthusiasm.... :-) Will and do eat most things - seem to be gravitating away from fancy to simple and well cooked. My view on driving is once your in the car - not much difference between 10 mins and an hour. I guess I am over all things European - and enjoy finding something new. Well versed in Asian - although Korean has never quite done it for me. Travelled extensively in Thialand / Vietnam / Cambodia - so always feel food here is a compromise. Enjoyed Banana Leaf - and would go back. Tierra Colombiana - love - highlight was the dance floor upstairs a 10 yrs ago when the smallest man in the world (and he was so small be may well have been) showed up at 2 a.m. with 2 body guards and was dancing with all the ladies... hmm Urebakstan - seemed to remember Craig L reviewing that.

[Chefpaulo]

I had dinner with friends at the Big Easy (Cajun cuisine) in Malvern last week and was quite happy with the fare even though Chef/originator, Dan Funk, was not cooking. Take some buds and do a bunch of small (ha ha) plates - Voodoo Shrimp, if you dare. Popcorn crawdad tails with mustard sauce is a fave. We liked everything.

CP

[xtian]

Had a great Malaysian dinner recently at Banana Leaf Cafe in Chinatown (next to the Troc). It was a nice change of pace from the thai, vietnamese, etc. that we usually hit for take out.

Also, an oldie, but goodie is Tierra Columbia on N. 5th. They have both a cuban menu and columbian. Nothing fancy --Very inexpensive, very pleasant. Love, love, love their papas rellenos.

[DaisyM]

Uzbekistan in the NE. Bring a bottle of vodka.

[barryg]

Maybe the Indonesian and Cambodian spots in South Philly? Not gourmet, but different and cheap. There is also a lot of ethnic food in Olney and the Northeast.

[allenla98]

Zacharia's Creekside Cafe in Worcester - they have their new winter menu out but it's not on their website. I haven't gotten there to try it myself yet but I really like their food and their pastries are to die for. The last two times the food has been very salty and when we commented last trip were told to request lower salt when ordering.

[Chefpaulo]

Allanla98: As you posted a year ago, you dropped $125 (without tip) for a dinner for two at Zacharia's . Quite steep for a suburban BYO, if you ask me, That's a center city restaurant tab for two WITH bar which is why Zacharia's has fallen off my radar (and most foodies in these parts - I'm 8 minutes away) long ago. Salty, overpriced and "dry" - not worth a drive out from CC.

So, Friski, where are you and where might you head for something worth the drive?

CP

[Buckethead]

It's impossible to say because you don't list any of the places you're tired of, but Koo Zee Doo in Northern Liberties is new and kinda unusual (family-style Portuguese).