Printer-friendly version

Send to a friend

This Issue 04/24/2008

Also in this issue

• Ego of the Week
• Letter from the Editor
• Bottoms-Down

Frog legs, snails and stinky cheeses. I know that sounds gross, but growing up as an American in Paris, I also know that these oddities are delicious. Although Franco-American relations have had some rough patches (remember "freedom" fries?), Philly is full of French. Ben Franklin was ambassador to France, Philadelphia's city hall is supposedly modeled after the Hotel de Ville and most importantly, Google Maps boasts 8,918 search results for "French restaurants" near Philadelphia, PA. I've sampled a few for you:

Cochon

801 East Passyunk Ave. (at Catharine St.)

This quaint BYO pays a lovely tribute to the pig ("cochon" in French), from country paté served with homemade mustard to 12-hour roasted pork shoulder over lentils du puy and the occasional special of roasted pig's feet (really, you'll never know until you try). Cochon's steak frites mimic the taste of home to a tee - a perfectly pink steak with a rich Bernaise sauce and an abundance of thin fries. They excel with seafood and game as well, serving a delectable free-range duck with white bean rago–t. The dessert menu was a bit skimpy though.

Beau Monde

624 S. 6th St. (at Bainbridge)

An excellent authentic crˆperie off South Street, Beau Monde is a great place for brunch or lunch (try the terrace on any fine weather day). They serve both sweet wheat flour dessert crˆpes and savory buckwheat entrée crˆpes. On the sweet side, try lemon and sugar or the crŠme de marron (chestnut "better than Nutella" spread); for the savory, all combinations of vegetables and seafood work marvelously (scallops and tomato; shrimp, spinach and leeks), as does the coq au vin. Affordable, with good service. Beau Monde's bar L'Etage is well stocked and tended.

Old City Cheese Shop

160 N. 3rd St. (between Cherry and Race)

This place keeps me sane. I don't really know how I would get by without cheese. Here, a friendly Spaniard sells cheeses from all over, and if you don't enjoy chŠvres and bleus, the soups, salads and tapas are excellent as well. Old City Cheese Shop also sells a vast variety of crackers, cookbooks and sparkling Italian lemonades. The best may not even be the food - a tiny courtyard hides out back, creating a lovely outdoor lunch patio or a perfect spot for outdoor movie screenings, which takes place every Wednesday night.

La Terrasse

3432 Sansom St.

As French as the name sounds, La Terrasse succeeds more in American classics than in classic French fare. A disappointing "traditional onion soup" and an unimpressive filet mignon au poive vert left me disatisfied. The grilled polenta, tuna and mahi mahi all leaned on the heavy side. Also somewhat pricey, LTs works best as a bar, serving crispy fries and tenders.

Coquette

700 S. 5th St. (at Bainbridge)