Sometimes, in an atmosphere as intense as Penn’s, it helps to get away by having a low key meal and a bit of kitsch. King Tut, a new Egyptian BYO on 13th and Pine, offers just the right balance of laid back ambiance, good food and mummy paraphenalia. The restaurant is a far cry from the glitz of the Garces, Starr and Vetri triumvirate, and all the better for it.
The space is small, so seating is tight but cozy. The service is friendly, though a bit slow. A picture of King Tut greets patrons on the front of a menu that begins with soups, salads and appetizers. Unique offerings include Egyptian lentil soup ($3.75), Loubieh Bil Zeit ($6.95) — simmered dandelion with olive oil — and Youmami (a mix between your standard garden and Greek salads with tahini and chicken kabobs for $10.95).
For those with less adventurous taste buds, there is the standard fare of falafel ($5.95) and stuffed grape leaves with falafel and mint. King Tut serves up a variety of vegetarian options, too. My dining companion loved the Bamiya (12.95), which consisted of pita with okra in salsa, saying it tickled her Turkish roots. “The Vegetarian” includes spicy potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, chick peas and mint with sides of rice and pita ($12.95) All items are available either as platters or sandwiches (ranging from $5.95–$7.95).
For carnivores, your bases are covered with selections of beef and chicken, but King Tut does seem to lay it heavy on the lamb. Meat entrees include Shawarma Dajaj and Shawarma Lahme (chicken and beef respectively), and like the vegetable ones, can be ordered as platters ($16.95) or sandwiches ($7.95). King Tut's lamb options are more varied, ranging from minced lamb in the Grilled Kafta, to the style of the Hawache, for which toasted dough is stuffed with ground lamb and spices.
I chose the Barbequed Ganbari (grilled shrimp in garlic, onion and spices for $22.59). Ladled over spiced rice, the shrimp tasted like normal barbequed shrimp, but the accompanying sharp, tangy salsa is what convinced me that King Tut is worth visiting again. I felt like I was enjoying the dish on the banks of the Nile.
Dessert is a must at King Tut. The chocolate baklava ($2.50) and Kanafe with walnuts ($3.95) transported us to a land of sugary delight. Both were soaked in a special milk, which was a bonus to an already yummy treat. Between the delicious food and the staff who treated us as if we were royalty, King Tut is truly one restaurant fit for a pharaoh.
KING TUT 401 S. 13th St. (215)-735-8111 Don’t Miss: The entire dessert menu Skip: The falafel — get more adventurous! $$$$$
