Behind the the walls of a currently unassuming brick-faced building on Sansom Street is Center City Philadelphia’s latest burger joint. 500º opens today and features handcrafted burgers and fries using only the highest quality ingredients. Owners Rob and Maggie Wasserman, found inspiration for the restaurant and its menu from the their taste of success with the burger at, Rouge. At the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival in 2009, Rouge offered a mini version of the burger, with the same ingredients at a much more affordable price. After quickly selling out that day, and the following explosion of demand for burgers in Philadelphia in recent months, the Wassermans set out on their latest concept.

Yesterday, we were granted the opportunity to check out the food and space before the official opening. The summation in three words: precision in simplicity. That precision is indicated in their name, drawn from the operating temperature of the grill. The burger initiative at 500º is being spearheaded by Rouge Executive Chef, Matt Zagorski. He’s told us that 500º will be using 5.5oz Certified Hereford Beef burgers from Ashley Foods with the same proprietary blend from that has made the Rouge burger a national success. The meat is ground thickly to ensure that a texture is retained even when cooked at rare temperatures. All burgers are served on fresh challah rolls from Wild Flour Bakery, from which they’ll be receiving deliveries twice daily. All burgers will also be made to order according to guests’ preferences, fine-tuned to meet the temperature of perfection according to their order (from rare to well-done).

Our favorite burger was “The 500″ with bibb lettuce, tomato, cheddar, bacon and a special house sauce. This sauce isn’t the typical thousand island dressing by any means, it was sweet, mildly tangy and resembled a smooth dijon mustard in color and texture. Chef Zagorski wouldn’t give up any details to its ingredients, with the exception of noting that cloves were used for its aromatic flavor. All five of their burgers can be ordered individually for under $6 or as combos ranging fro $9 to $12.50. Upon opening guests will have access to the entire menu, with a selection of cheeses includes domestic Swiss, provolone, cheddar and American. Along the lines of toppings, pickles, bacon, mushrooms, jalapenos and grilled red onions can be added to any of the burgers. We certainly can’t forget the amazing hand-cut fries that came with our burger. They’re available plain, with spicy seasoning or dressed with truffle oil. Complementing the burgers and fries are fountain sodas and milkshakes (chocolate, vanilla or black & white) made from locally-owned and sourced Bassetts Ice Cream.

We’re sure 500º is likely to be a Center City staple for years to come for those in search of a great quality burger, fast and don’t necessarily want to people watch at Rittenhouse Square. It opens today with various promotions starting at 11:00 am. The first 100 people will be given a free burger of their choice. After that, until 3pm, bring a friend and split the bill with a buy-1-get-1. From 5-7pm enjoy free soda and fries with the purchase of any burger. And then finally, from 11pm until their yet-undetermined closing time, enjoy free fries with any purchase.

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500º
1504 Sansom St. – Philadelphia, PA, 19102 (Google Map)
(215) 568-5000
Twitter: @500_Degrees

Tucked away between 11th and 12th on Locust is Iron Chef Jose Garces’ latest Philadelphia endeavor, the Garces Trading Company. We’re truly amazed that in just four short years the man has been able to open up six restaurants in our lovely city, with a seventh already on the way in the Cira Centre. Unlike his previous projects which follow more of a traditional restaurant theme, GTC is a one of a kind, pioneer establishment in this city.

Featuring a long list of their own lines of coffee, cheese, house-made charcuterie and meats (the Village Whiskey burger blend is available to-go), oil and vinegar and house-baked breads, GTC is part gourmet market/deli and dine-in cafe with the addition with a very unique, State Store inside the building. Despite the clumsiness of Pennsylvania’s restrictions on wine and liquor, GTC’s special arrangement allows patrons have the ability to buy a bottle of wine and consume it on premises as if it were brought in like a BYO.

Dine-in options feature a nice selection of European-inspired, plates from antipasti, soups and salads, sandwiches, pasta, pizza. The notable exception to the European theme would be the deep dish pizza pies, more than likely a result of Garces being a native of Chicago. Though, we found that their presence on the menu is exceptionally complementary. The plats du jour are complete meals available for dine-in or for take out. Those who opt to take the entrees to-go will find that all parts of the meal are separated and flash frozen to preserve their individual flavors.

We had the opportunity to stop in and try each of the six sandwiches available on the menu. The Spaniard features two respected key players in the modern sandwich world: grilled chicken and bacon combined with crisp romaine, a glorious amount of finely shredded manchego cheese and almond romesco aioli. The Moroccan, from what we can gather, lives up to the name with an authentic taste of Moroccan cuisine. It features roasted lamb loin, roasted pepper, eggplant, bacon and comté cheese.

Tartine Aux Fromage, as the name would indicate to the French-savvy, is an open-faced cheese sandwich using melted tomes crayeuse on fresh brioche and topped with a slice of marinated tomato. The Italian combines bresaola and hot coppa with melted taleggio, it’s then topped with arugula and a lemon confit spread. El Cubano Clåsico is GTC’s delicious interpretation of a classic Cuban pressed sandwich that includes roast pork, ham, gruyere mustard and pickles.

With a great variety of experiences under one roof, the Garces Trading Company is already gaining some notoriety for being a wonderful addition to not only the neighborhood but to the city as a whole. We definitely anticipate some repeat visits to dine on the other wonderful selections on the menu, or pick up a plat du jour to go.

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Garces Trading Company
1111 Locust Street – Philadelphia, PA 19107 (Google Map)
(215) 574-1099

R2L is serving up some of the city’s most inspired and delicious sandwiches from their perch high above the city in Liberty Two – a location that happens to overlook South Philadelphia.  The symbolism is not lost on the menu, as Chef/Owner Daniel Stern has created food that “walks the fine line between traditional and modern, where the old school things that people grew up on also grow up.”  Old school sandwiches like cheese-steaks, burgers, lobster rolls and the Reuben are transformed by Stern into unbelievably decadent, yet unpretentious finger-foods.

We started with cocktail Reubens.  Stern had to get this one perfect, as he is a believer that there ”probably hasn’t been a better sandwich invented.” House-brined corned beef, fresh-made sauerkraut, Gruyere cheese and a stone ground mustard are wrapped in a pocket of homemade rye dough, grilled and baked.  The crunchy, tangy and savory delight is served on a plate dressed with celery-root ketchup based thousand island dressing and stone ground Dijon. “Eat it with your hands” – the Chef insists.  Our complaint was that we didn’t have 700 of these little treasures lined up to knock down.

The venison cheesesteaks draw inspirations both from South Philly and Stern’s days as executive chef of Le Bec Fin.  The cheesesteak has grown into a seriously sophisticated sandwich here, as venison loin, sauteed wild-mushrooms and carmelized onions with a reduced venison jus is served inside an Amoroso roll, cut bite-sized to force you to savor the richness of this masterpiece.  The Amoroso roll and Fontina fondue “whiz” that the morsels rest upon both ground us in this dish’s roots, while the old-world preparation of the venison brings the flavors sky-high.

The lobster roll, inspired by the chef’s visits to the coast, is lip-curlingly delicious and has us inventing adjectives. Tail, claw and knuckle-meat is dressed with a smooth and light, yet rich home-made lavender mayonnaise. The finely diced blanched celery balances well texturally with the hunks of lobster, and the home-made potato roll brings a very homey property to the sweet and savory sandwich.

The Chef has imparted his decadent signature on the classic cheeseburger, and to do so spent weeks experimenting to get his meat proportions perfect.  We love when a chef aims for “optimal fat and flavor content” when selecting what to grind – and this burger, with aged cheddar and smokey bacon, can’t help but make you giggle like a school girl.  Both the mind and taste buds are absolutely tickled by the unsweetened donut that it’s served on, as well as by the fermented mushroom-ketchup that the chef created after “researching the various forgotten ketchups that stopped being made when people started relying on the grocery store for their condiments.”  This burger is legit.  To paraphrase MC Hammer, this burger is R2L2Q.

R2L is open from Monday through Wednesday 5pm to 1am and until 1:30 Thursday through Saturday, serving food until 10 and 11 respectively, and offers a full menu fit for the exclusive and inviting cocktail-party ambiance that the decor and highrise view suggests.   While we came for the sandwiches, we wouldn’t mind spending an evening here, eating the finger food, sampling the well-crafted cocktails and moving on to the full menu.

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R2L
37th Floor of Two Liberty Place
50 S. 16th Street – Philadelphia, PA (Google Map)
(215) 564-5337

While many of us are unfortunately unable to attend this year’s 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, we can still participate in competition and Canadian-esque celebrations. Five local bars in five neighborhoods (Smiths Restaurant and Lounge, the Kite and Key, the New Wave Café, the South Philly Bar & Grill and the Swift Half Pub) are participating in selling $3 bottles of Vancouver’s Molson Canadian throughout this month in the “Barstool Olympics” with proceeds to benefit the Fraternal Order of Police Survivors Fund.

The Barstool Olympics is the brainchild of Smiths Restaurant executive chef and owner, Brendan Smith. “Last year was a particularly hard year for the Philadelphia police and we are honored to be able to support them through a little friendly neighborhood competition,” says Smith. “We encourage everyone to visit one of the participating Barstool Olympics bars during the 2010 Winter Olympics to root for the USA, drink some Molsons and raise funds for the families of fallen officers. Adds Ken Brownell, owner of South Philly Bar & Grill, “We’d also like to thank our partners, the Molson Coors company and Origlio Beverage for their support and generosity.”

We had a chance to stop in at Smiths Restaurant and Lounge during their kickoff and sample some of the Canadian-themed food specials. The Canadian Bacon Sliders featured fresh miniature rolls, grill-toasted with ground beef, Canadian bacon and cheese blissfully combining the two, topped with lettuce and tomato. The seafood inclined will be pleased with the Maple-Glazed Salmon, served as either a salad or a sandwich. We of course opted the for sandwich, a hearty portion of grilled salmon covered with creamy fresh guacamole containing large chunks of avocado. Both sandwiches went very well paired with Canada’s premium lager.

Be sure to stop into Smiths or any of the other participating venues from now through Sunday, February 28th, watch the 2010 Winter Olympics and help raise money for the FOP Survivors Fund. The announcement of the three winning bars (Gold, Silver and Bronze) and check presentation of the proceeds to the FOP will be held in early March.

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Smiths Restaurant and Lounge (representing Rittenhouse Square)
39-41 S. 19th St., Philadelphia PA 19103

The Kite and Key (representing the Art Museum area)
1836 Callowhill St., Philadelphia, PA 19130

New Wave Café (representing Queen Village)
784 South 3rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19147

South Philly Bar & Grill (representing South Philadelphia)
1235-37 East Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19147

Swift Half Pub (representing Northern Liberties)
1001 North 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19123

Feel the need to spice up your lunch in the Rittenhouse Square area? Head below ground to Argan. There, owner Mounir Draissi will build from scratch your customized sandwich. With six meat options and three vegetarian spreads to pair with a choice of three (of about 10) vegetable toppings, combinations are almost infinite.

Stuffed in the home-made semolina-based Moroccan flatbread, the Slow Cooked Lamb is topped with grilled peppers and onions, marinated carrots, and slices of cucumber. The bread absorbs the saffron broth perfectly and doesn’t break. If brave enough, ask for a side of Shekshuka and lather it inside your sandwich. The flavors of the fire-roasted peppers, tomatoes, and garlic will make your lunch even more delectable.

Finish your meal with an authentic Moroccan mint tea and let its aroma transport you to Casablanca before coming back to reality. Then go back to work while thinking about what to have in your sandwich for your next visit at Argan.

Argan
132 S. 17th Street – Philadelphia, PA 19103 (Google Map)

As the name suggests, The Kibitz Room has an informal atmosphere where the deli men crack jokes about as fast as they slice the meat.  And this traditional Jewish deli has a few rules: corned beef, pastrami and brisket are only served hot; there is absolutely no white bread; no French’s yellow mustard; and no corned beef or pastrami will be served on whole wheat.  But if you ask owner Neil Parish, a Baltimore native who’s been slicing corned beef since he’s 14, the best sandwiches are served on rye with nothing more than their signature mustard.

The Kibitz Room is the sister restaurant of Parish’s New York style deli of the same name in Cherry Hill, no relation to Kibitz in the City on East Chestnut Street.  The 70-seat restaurant offers Jewish soul food via dine in, take out, delivery, catering, deli trays and meat by the pound.  About 95% of people order a sandwich.  The best sellers are corned beef, pastrami, turkey, roast beef, tuna, turkey pastrami and nova on a bagel.

Parish’s extensive taste testing led Kibitz to import brined, uncooked corned beef from United Meat & Deli in Detroit, which is boiled and steamed on the premises.  They also serve Naval cut Vienna Pastrami, which Parish calls “the best there is.”  They get bread from a variety of sources: seeded or plain rye bread from Collegeville Bakery, bagels from New Jersey, but the kaiser rolls, challah rolls and onion rolls are baked fresh at Kibitz.  The restaurant’s pickle bar (sourced from a local Philadelphia vendor) offers New York sour pickles, half sours, spicy pickles, pickled tomatoes, pickle chips, hot cherry peppers, a sweet pickle mix, sauerkraut and health salad.

Meat is piled high on bread, but the sandwiches are still manageable to eat – they compress just enough to bite so you don’t have to deconstruct the sandwich before you begin.  The pastrami has a peppery, spicy crust with a bold, smoky and salty flavor.  The meat is trimmed to offer enough fat to keep it moist and juicy but not thick ribbons of fat that overshadow the meat.  The corned beef is exceptional: warm, moist and full of rich flavor that significantly outshines most competitors’ corned beef.  (Extra lean corned beef is available but Parish doesn’t recommend it.)  The speckled deli mustard is a unique recipe made exclusively for Kibitz from a company in New York.  Not too vinegary, not too hot, it offers just enough twang to electrify the meat.

So where does the deli man go to get a sandwich?  Straight to Shank’s & Evelyn’s (soon to be a Center City neighbor of Kibitz) where Parish enjoys just about everything on the menu but called out the meatball, chicken cutlet with broccoli rabe (no cheese), roast beef and Italian by name.

Kibitz stays open until 9PM during the week, 11PM on Saturday and 8PM on Sunday because according to Parish, “Sandwiches are as good for dinner as they are for lunch.” (Editor’s note: Agreed.)

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The Kibitz Room
1521 Locust St, Philadelphia PA 19102 (Google Map)