For one thing the Cheesesteaks there are the staple late night food. I finally got a chance to take a bite from both Pat's and Geno's Cheesesteaks which were across the street from each other. All in all I have to say I would prefer Pat's over Genos, but only by a slight margin.
That was given; I knew that the best cheesesteaks were obviously in Philly. What I didn't realize was the food revolution that was going on in that city. The bistro culture I believe is stronger than - dare I say it - New York. I think the fine dining and white cloth uppity-ness that New York asks at times is stripped out of New York food. For every classic steak and potatoes chain restaurant in Philadelphia there were two to three restaurants in neighborhoods showcasing some fantastic food. While I did not come across any heavy Asian restaurants besides the Japanese/Chinese fusion joints, I was overwhelmed and really excited by the other types of food I was able to see. The Italian market was more robust than New York's little Italy, and the farmer's markets were fresh and cheaper than store-brand produce: as it should be (however not always the case in New York).
Obviously another plus is that the cost of food is considerably cheaper. What I also found was the prevalence of upscale bars and lounges. The nice medium between clubs and bars, these lounges were a nice place to get a fantastic cocktail without having to shell out your paycheck for one drink and the silly dress-code-matching-ratio-cover silliness of New York. I was pleased and revitalized about the sheer relaxed nature of Philadelphians.
What a great escape from New York. Believe me I love the city but there are times when one needs to take a break from the hustle and bustle of New York. You'd be surprised how nice it was to not have to walk through crowded sidewalks, side shuffle through numerous tourists, and worry about to pay through your nose for genuinely delicious food.
I didn't take any pictures - I was spending all of my time catching up with high school classmates - but I have this. The weekend was supposed to storm while I was there, but I'm glad that the sun cleared the air for the majority of my time there.
