I am going to Philly and would enjoy some really good crab cakes ^ , (I know Baltimore is known for crab cakes) any suggestions for sampling them. Don't want to have to dress up much, prefer casual. Also enjoy Bar B Q, German, and Thai, and perhaps Italian.

Thanks,
Phil

There used to be 2 very good no-frills down-home, brown-paper-on-the-table crab houses

-- DiNardo's, on Race Street between 3rd and 4th Streets in the Old City section down in the historic district

-- Walt's King of Crabs on Third Street around Christian Sreet in Queen Village, just south of the historic district. But I think it may have closed.
very. The best was their slogan: "Walt's got crabs!"

The Crab Cakes are quite good at Devon Seafood Grill; nice ambience as well, but casual. It is right across Rittenhouse Square.

German: Ludwig's at 13th and Sansom is quite good with the requisite beers, wienrschnitzel, and spaetzel. The sausage platter is very good.

Thai: Very casual is My Thai, 23rd/South. A little more upscale and different is Nan, 40th & Chestnut. It is Thai/French Fusion. BYOB. One of my personal favorites.

Italian: There are two types in the city. Upscale and "South Philly" style. Vetri is one of the best restaurants I have been, but extremely pricey and upscale. For South Philly Italian, try Villa di Roma around 11th/Washington Sts.

Email if you need more details. I hope you enjoy.

Also try Ralphs in S.Phil just up the street from the Pats cheesesteak,the veal is outasite

Thanks so much to the two posters that have given their suggestions
for dinning in Philly. It is greatly appreciated.

Phil

When you think of Philly, you've got to think of Cheesesteaks! Especially South Philly. I recommend Pat's. Very casual.

http://www.patskingofsteaks.com

If you are going to Philly, you will eat WELL!!

Especially the seafood. I can't recommend any place in particular - well, you could try the big food market on Market and 10th - but I would find it hard to believe that it's possible to get a bad meal there.

No kidding! ^

Ugly city (IMHO) but outstanding eats.

There are a number of good restaurants around Rittenhouse Square: Rouge, Bleu, and Salt come to mind immediately. There's also a good Cuban restaurant in the area, Alma De Cuba, as well. So many others I've eaten at whose names don't come immediately to mind. Personally, I blame Philly for falling off my diet.

ps. Forget the cheesesteak thing unless it's around 2am and you need something to absorb the alcohol.

Well that too has certainly worked in the past! But forget the cheesesteak when in Philly? No way. Unless you are a vegetarian, you have to experience it in all its casualness and yumminess.

I have yet to experience the Philly Cheesesteak, I have attempted a few times to try one but something has always gotten in the way.

I have discovered that in DE there is a place that serves Philly Cheesesteaks, I am told by a co-worker that they are as close to the real thing served outside of Philly.

Next time I am in the DE/PA area Pats or Ginos are going to be the first place that I hit up.

Dan

I have never been to Pat's but I have heard how great their cheesesteaks are. I went to the website and the recipe shows they use Cheez Whiz�. Is that true? GROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Original

Pat's King of Steaks� Philadelphia Cheese Steak recipe

For all the people who can not get to South Philadelphia to get the Original. here is the recipe for you home chefs.

Serves 4

24oz thin sliced rib eye or eye roll steak

6 table spoons of Soya bean oil

Cheese {we recommend Cheez Whiz�} American or Provolone works fine

4 crusty Italian Rolls

1 large Spanish onion

Chee Wit (that's how they pronounce it) works. You can't go into eating a Philly cheesesteak at Pat's with a hoity-toity, uppity frame of mind. A Philly cheesesteak isn't a health food; you shouldn't have one everyday (probably someone here is asking 'why not'). It's sinfully delicious. It's messy. And you need to bite into one to have the true experience.

Dear Colleagues,

If you must have a cheesesteak, I strongly urge you to hop in your rental car or take pricier cab to Tony Luke's at Front/Oregon Sts. Pat's and Geno's are in my mind, full of style but lack in substance. At Tony Luke's you get both; provolone is shaved into your bread, etc.

If you are in South Philly and need a deli sandwich, let me strongly suggest Sarcone's to you, at 10th/Fitzwater Sts. Their rolls are hands-down the best. They only bake a set amount of rolls per day, and once they are sold, they close the door!

I just have stomach problems with oils and Cheez Whiz is mostly oil. I don't want to sound like a snob but even the thought that liquid cheese sauce places use on nachos makes me want to gag.

I don't eat fried foods for the same reason.

Do they give you a choice of cheese or just their original?

Hey, my end advice on this is, go have a Cheesesteak. And the next day go enjoy one of the outstanding restaurants Philly has to offer.