Big Beef (Del Frisco, Philadelphia)

Well, Happy New Year to all! Celebrated with some friends, having a nice meal at Del Frisco in Philadelphia. This is a place if you like your beef cooked perfectly and big portions. For example, my pal ordered the 24oz bone in New York Strip. See it here:

24oz. New York Strip at Del Frisco, Philadelphia.

24oz. New York Strip at Del Frisco, Philadelphia.

That’s a slab of beef that will keep you full for some time. Note the lobster mac and cheese on the side of the plate. Another great side dish for you to enjoy there. Service here sets the standard for others to aspire to. From the valet parking to the coat check to the wait staff, they’re all pros and handle the tables with ease. Whatever you do, go hungry.

The Kitchen, Aruba

The Kitchen is an easy-going, friendly place for a reasonably priced meal. Located just on the edge of Oranjestaad, close to the large grocery stores, it offers up a wide menu of choices. We dined there a few nights ago, starting with a couple of salads, including this chef’s salad:

Chef Salad at The Kitchen, Aruba

Chef Salad at The Kitchen, Aruba

Note the glass of wine on the side, which was reasonably priced and tasty. Then there was a mixed green salad as seen next.

Mixed Green Salad, The Kitchen, Aruba.

Mixed Green Salad, The Kitchen, Aruba.

This time, to the right you see some fresh toasted bread with tapenade of olives and tomatoes, both of which were quite flavorful. The salads were very fresh and loaded with ingredients. Finally, we tried the tenderloin. It is served on a hot skillet with veggies and a potato. Here it is:

Tenderloin Platter, the Kitchen, Aruba.

Tenderloin Platter, the Kitchen, Aruba.

The steak was good, a little tough, but for the price was a fair value. Most of all, we had great service. I also mention the drink prices as seen here on the table card.

Drink Card, The Kitchen, Aruba.

Drink Card, The Kitchen, Aruba.

For anywhere near the tourist area in Aruba, these prices are excellent. Plenty of seats front the well-stocked bar, so you can stop in for a drink and a snack and stay on budget. Bon dia.

Gil’s Restaurant, Roxborough, PA

On Ridge Avenue in Roxborough, PA, you’ll find Gil’s Restaurant. I consider this place to be a neighborhood joint where you’ll find Italian favorites done right and served up by a friendly staff. So, let’s get right to the food. Started out with some appetizers including a beautiful shrimp cocktail and this version of a caprese salad:

Gil’s Pomodoro and Mozzarella.

Then there was an entree of sea bass with clams, which I thought was an exotic combination. Check it out:

Gil’s Sea Bass with Clams.

This was reported by my companions to be delicious. I enjoyed a simple chicken parm that was tasty. Of course, we had to have dessert. My usual is tiramisu, which came in a huge portion. Then there was this chocolate cake:

Gil’s Chocolate Cake

What a great feed! Gil’s is also a BYOB and we guzzled nearly three bottles before the night was over. The nice thing about at BYO joint is it saves you the liqour markup. Gil’s prices are very reasonable. The setting is like a big living room in your pal’s house. The service is friendly, cheerful, and willing. Stop in here and keep it on your list of regular places.

Local Red Sauce Joint, w/photos

Everyone has their local joint for various types of food. In the past several years (think difficult economy) some of my regular places closed. Thankfully, a new one opened, called Amici, that serves up some Italian standards that are quite tasty. Popped in there for the third time in three months and was well pleased. First off, you have to eat your greens. Take a look at this salad:

Amici salad.

Very fresh that salad was, with all the things I like under a tangy dressing. A great way to start the meal. Moved on to the old linguine with meat balls in an arrabiata sauce.

Amici linguine with meatballs in arrabiata sauce.

The sauce had some kick to it, much better than your standard marinara or other options. Plus, they don’t skimp on the meatballs. Plenty to eat here, but not excessive. As an alternative, there is also the eggplant which is served as an appetizer. However, as you can see in the next photo, is about big enough for an entree, especially if you started out with another appetizer.

Amici eggplant.

Service here is very good, including from the well-stocked bar. If you’re near the Morton Train Station in Morton, PA (Delaware County), you’ll enjoy a good meal at Amici, paying a price that is reasonable. Soon, I’ll be lingering at the bar for people watching and other forms of entertainment.