Suraya (W-F), Middle Child Clubhouse, Front Street

Front street should be so much better than it is. I’d also toss in Cedar Point.

Middle Child Clubhouse.

Second vote for Suraya

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That’s funny, because while I have some issues with Front Street (mostly about their cocktails), I’ve found Cedar Point to be pretty unreliable re: quality.

I like them both, FWIW.

What kind of “talking shit from NJ” are they? Like, sheltered South Jersey suburbs, rather go to Applebee’s, scared of the city? Or NYC area, being dicks about “the city” talking shit? That’s going to affect my call.

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Cedar point isn’t anything to write home about but it’s reasonably priced and their sandwiches are usually very good. In my experience, Front Street is not reasonably priced and their food is usually meh and under-seasoned or lacking flavor. Also yeah you’re right their cocktails stink.

definitely this

Just out of curiosity why are you limiting to just fishtown?

Fair. I like Front St because they do a good job of accommodating my house’s dietary restrictions, and the worst food we ever had there was still pretty ok. I just don’t order cocktails there.

I like Cedar Point for the reasons you mentioned, but when they do fail on me, they’ve failed big. I wouldn’t risk it if I was trying to impress someone.

Oh yeah absolutely. Their commitment to dietary variety is great. I’ve got a bunch of lactose intolerant or vegan and gluten free folk in my life so I’ve been there a bunch. The last few times I’ve been there I’ve avoided anything other than appetizers, just been disappointed so many times.

Cedar Point hasn’t failed me but I did miss in the original post the bit about impressing someone. Cedar Point is a great place for a happy hour beer or two and a burger on a rainy weekday.

Yeah, I like the Riverwards a lot, but most of the nicer spots that you’d take someone that you wanted to impress don’t open til 4 or 5 and only do lunch on weekends.

There’s definitely SOME options, especially if they expand to the Riverwards in general, but I’d need to know more about what kind of Jersey they are. Suraya is probably the safest all around bet, so long as you can go W-F, unless they’re scared of food that they don’t eat at home.

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Middle Child, Pizza Shackamaxon, Murphs

This entire thread is written in a language I don't understand. Who the hell are you people?

Luna Cafe in Olde Kensington because Fishtown is Overrated!

Not familiar with the other two, but Suraya can hold its own against anything in NYC. (Source: lived in Manhattan for a long time.)

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Yeah, I think Suraya would work for the latter, and maybe/probably the former, so long as they’re not the type to be scared of food they haven’t had before, or be pissy about the city being complicated and expensive.

There’s a certain type of South Jersey that would go to Suraya, bitch that nothing is “a regular sandwich” and they don’t want something because it has a word they don’t know in it or whatever, complain about “how much food” you can buy for that price back at their local strip mall, and have Opinions about the way Suraya does seating.

If that’s their brand of difficult, I’d go to Murph’s

Suraya

Applebee’s on Aramingo Avenue. Impress to close the deal.

My go-to for business lunches around Fishtown

Cheu Noodle.

The suggestions have all been valid, but you may need to check the times on half them and see if they even serve lunch

I love middle child

Yep. There's no helping some people, doesn't matter where you bring them. If they want a deli sandwich or a grocery store then they're perfectly welcome to that.

Suraya

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I was going to save that for the last date

That's where they will be "coworking" out of the day they are in Philly. They're a startup founder w/ friends in the area

Front Street Cafe, then Mulherin's (spelling?).

I like Cheu a lot, but they’re not open for lunch, except on Saturdays

Mulherins would be great, but they don’t do lunch on weekdays. Needing a weekday lunch spot definitely rules out a lot of the neighborhood favorites; even the ones that do weekday lunches are often only like, 3 days a week.

great question

I’ve got family in both camps. When they’re together, I give up and go where I want because there’s no impressing both groups in my neighborhood during the weekday lunch hour, especially one that can also accommodate my household’s dietary restrictions. The closest we get to that is Martha, which is open for lunch on Friday and everyone is, at minimum, ok with.

But when they come separately, I pick very different spots. There’s a few places they all seem to genuinely like, but none are open for lunch during the weekday.

“they keep talking shit about Philly”

Are they aware that they live in New Jersey?

Dang. Pre Covid they were bummer. Covid killed lunch business. Places are literally open for like the most profitable 4-5 hours a day now. It’s sucks.

Yeah, I’m a big fan of taking a day off work every now and then and treating myself to a solo lunch date with drinks, somewhere within walking or biking distance.

It’s a lot harder in the Riverwards than it used to be. A few places are an option if I pick the right day, but for the most part, my options are limited, especially now that Memphis Tap is leaving.

This is a good place tho!

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Pretty much everyone who makes fishtown hot-spot recomendations is from jersey

If they’re talking shit about philly you should take them to center city.

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No, this guy is in denial, he's from Collingswood and has told multiple people in my presence that he lives "in Philly"

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Keep that shit where they belong… Jersey

Suraya is overhyped tbh. But perfectly acceptable for a business lunch. Maybe Yanaga’s spot or Hook & Master

So jerkoffs 😂

Downvotes make no sense here

Green line cafe

Then I guess Front Street Cafe is your best option. What about Northern liberties, since that's only about a mile or less than a mile away?

Martha

OP is going to have similar challenges in Northern Liberties, to be honest, though it would maybe add a few options. The weekday lunch scene in the Riverwards is pretty limited if you’re not just doing a grab and go kind of thing.

Front St might work. Depends what the nature of what the NJ folks’ issue with the city is.

Both are good, but neither is open at lunch during the weekday.

Suraya

Yeah, I know. I used to live in Libs and used to get lunch at a number of coffee places, The Abbaye, Bourbon & Branch, Pizza Rustica and the Tap. Not sure how many are still doing lunch these days. And Jersey will always dump on Philly; it's just jealousy.

Rustica and B&B do. The other two (which I prefer), don’t open til at least 4 on weekdays. Though for some reason, I think Rustica is take out/delivery only now. I don’t know why I think that though.

Pizza shackamaxon is an odd suggestion for a business lunch. There’s limited seating, it’s all outdoors which can be awkward for a longer lunch in winter, there’s no bar so you’d have to byob. Wouldn’t be my pick even though I like their pizza.

Not open for lunch

The quote marks made me think of that one restaurant scene in Godfather

Martha. Very mellow lunch vibes compared to some of the other places listed and super deserving of your business!

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Depending on what variety of shit talking they do and kind of NJ they are, a casual lunch at La Colombe might work. They do have a small beer and cocktail menu, and the food is fine.

I don’t know that I’d consider it “impressive” like Suraya, but it is the kind of place that I’d appreciate if I was working nearby, so it’d be a good “show you around spot” for a more casual visit.

The former owner was killed in a freak skiing accident about 4-5 years ago so I assume the business changed hands, plus COViD didn't help.

Oof. That’s awful. I didn’t know that.

Yanaga's is top 3 sushi in the whole city for me.

Me, personally, I’m down for some Sulimay’s for a business lunch. If they can’t respect the Sulimay then dump em’ off a South Philly bridge

It’s the 21st century, engaging in a “traditional business lunch” is not what these “futurist start-up bros” want … unless they’re liars. Pick up some Za, grab some 4 packs from Other-Half or a real local brewery, roll some joints and hang out by the delaware. That’s the most Fishtown thing that exists…

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LaColombe

Sancho pistolas

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Loco Pez, Front Street Cafe, Martha, and Cedar Point would be my picks.

>>That’s the most Fishtown thing that exists…

JFC

Don’t use my name in vain

Front street is terrible

Middle Child for casual. Suraya for a bit nicer.

Goldies is casual but super good. Kalaya just opened and is beautiful.

Front Street Cafe AND Cedar Point both are generally underwhelming, IMHO. I’d honestly have opted for Soup Kitchen any day over them, even with how brutal the service was there. (RIP Soup Kitchen)

Middle Child is your answer if you’re in this area and need a solid place. Sucks that virtually nobody bothers opening for lunch, definitely a tough job finding a perfect restaurant before 4pm.

Keep in mind, if he’s from Collingswood, they do have a couple SOLID restaurants-Hearthside, Sagami, and Zeppoli to name a few, plus a ton of others that are pretty decent.

Lunch scene is very bleak post Covid! And don’t get me started on coffee shops closing at 3…. (La colombe but it turns into Mommy & Me in PM).

Aside from what was already suggested, Johnny Brenda’s or Milk Crate give a hit of a hipster experience with good food too.

Nolibs: Anejo has a great lunch and good margs and while it’s an active construction zone, def gives a nod to all going on in the city. Cafe La Maude is also always a hit.

Could lean all in to the burbs fear and take him to cantina la Martina (no but honestly they’re amazing and everyone should go or order from there!!! And they have the best damn margs I’ve had in the city yet!)

Middle Child

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za is the most annoying slang terms in the history of slang terms. use of it should come with an automatic penalty.

It was used in a mocking manner… but yes, anyone who seriously uses it should be given 10 lashes

Oooo I’m from Collingswood. Definitely not Philly. Definitely not what it used to be, either.

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Front Street is really not very good IMO. It felt like the food was from a 'gastropub' from the mid 2000's when it didn't matter how good it was, because the idea of it mattered more.

Cedar Point is fine, but I don't find it particularly good/interesting.

I generally default to Lloyd for that level of food, plus good cocktails.

Middle Child CLubhouse is where it's at, that place is the shit.

i'm relieved to see someone agree on this. I don't know what the appeal of that place is. it's really quite mediocre 'pub grub'.

it quickly has become the best spot in the 'hood

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I’m a big fan of Lloyds. They have some fantastic cocktails and food at a reasonable price.

Front Street’s food doesn’t need to be great to get asses in seats. The location, inclusion of dietary alternatives, and the interior and exterior seating areas will do that by itself. I get why the food isn’t as good as it should be, but man is it way overpriced for what it is.

Yeah they have trees in New Jersey unlike Fishtown

He does have a subway line to downtown

Laser Wolf

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being from south Jersey and leeching off Philly for culture/food/anything even mildly interesting is a tradition at this point.

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