Restaurant Review - Jack's Firehouse

My husband and I joined my mother and father at Jack’s Firehouse for brunch for Mothers’ Day after seeing their Mother’s Day brunch availability on opentable.com. Having previously lived in Fairmount, Jack’s was a fond memory of a neighborhood gem and my husband and I were excited to return. Years ago, my husband fell in love with the restaurant over the “best Kobe steak he has ever had in his life”.

Not having been there in several years, I was hopeful that it lived up to my memory. Walking the wonderful neighborhood of Fairmount (and aching to move back), we rounded the corner of Fairmount Ave. to see Jack’s doors open to let in the absolutely stunning weather. My husband and I later both agreed, it seemed smaller for some reason, but still very charming. The outdoor seating couldn’t have made us a happier bunch and we were surrounded by lovely families also enjoying Mothers’ Day.

Service by our young waitress left a bit to be desired, although I think the number of tables that she was waiting multiplied to an unmanagable amount when the lovely weather allowed outside seating to be added. A complete set of water glasses did not arrive until after asking twice and tea & coffee refills were hard to come by.

The drinks were beautifully presented, although I think a bit weak.

The real highlight was the food… ah the food. I think this was the best brunch buffet I have ever had. The woman at the salad station whipped up a delicious starter. I then returned for some pastries (homemade and delicious!) and some of the hot selections. Then… I went back yet again to the carving station where they were slicing up roast beef, turkey and lamb. Under the carver’s suggestion, I sampled the lamb and was VERY glad I did. By far the best lamb I have ever had, rubbed with a delicious seasoning and cooked to tender perfection. After all of this food, I was satisfied… but could not resist going in for one more plate (oink oink) to try the toffee crunch butter cake that my mother was raving about. Heaven!

Jack’s Firehouse you did not disappoint! Another great part of this visit – walking across the street for a quick tour of the Eastern State Penitentiary. My mother, being a lover of history, was as happy as a clam.

Jack’s Firehouse
2130 Fairmount Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19130

Dining al fresco at Jack's Firehouse in Fairmount, Philadelphia, PA.

Restaurant Review - Isabella



A fairly new Tapas restaurant in Conshohocken, Isabella, is still wet under their ears and seems to be working out their kinks. The atmosphere is Spanish/trendy - excellent decor. The clientele is mature and fun. Their new bartender, Malik, is very friendly and helpful.

On our first visit in 2010, I was excited we walked by the pizza ovens outside behind the restaurant - which made for some very legit flatbread! Inside, we enjoyed the mussels - topped with a mountain of crispy shallots, very memorable, as well as sangria. My husband tried the white, I the red. I was happiest with my choice, although the white did not fall too far behind. A brief chat with the mildly-snobbish manager left us a bit weary, but did not let it affect our night.

Their recent addition of happy hour has always beckoned me on my commute home along Elm Street, so I decided to drag my husband and neighbor out for a happy hour this past Tuesday. We enjoyed their new specials, as well as a new manager! Draft specials of many of my favorite craft beers on tap, half price small plates, and wine specials. They also have two Smirnoff cocktails for $5 - a martini and cosmopolitan. The Ommegang or Allegash on tap was enticing, but not being in a beer mood, I tried the Albarino. I was happy I did - it was a perfectly dry white wine that accompanied my small plates rather well.  I sampled the cosmopolitan but I am a bit of a vodka snob and would recommend staying away. A well-made martini or cosmopolitan should never be made with middle-shelf vodka, IMO.

We spoke, perhaps a little slurred-ly due to the several happy hour cocktails, to the owner; a very personable man. He asked our opinion of our experience and being a foodie, I gave it to him straight. The shrimp croquettes were sub-par - the tomato/cumin dipping sauce was delicious but the shrimp just didn't work for me (to be honest, I think a simple chickpea would have worked much better). He agreed with me and actually remarked "I am taking it off the menu!" This really impressed me that he was so willing to listen to a diner's opinion. The calamari was very good, as were the mussels (again), but my favorite was the frites with truffle oil, which can be smelled immediately when entering the restaurant. Not to be missed!

All-in-all, Isabella is a welcomed addition to Conshohocken. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for its potential and my confidence that all kinks will be worked out and this unique dining spot will surpass all of my expectations. I look forward to trying the Tango lessons they offer upstairs on Tuesdays and hope to make it a regular dining/happy hour destination!

Isabella
382 E. Elm St.
Conshohocken, PA 19428
http://www.barisabella.com/

Restaurant Review - The Stone Rose

More than once, I have been asked by a few colleagues, "Why haven't you tried writing a restaurant review?" After all, this is "Suburban Spoon" - the adventures of a foodie in the suburbs of Philly! I have been dying to try a new-er restaurant in Conshohocken, The Stone Rose, so I thought - let's give it a try!

In the past week, I have been to The Stone Rose twice - once for lunch with my neighbor and once for cocktails & dinner with friends. Lunch was good; it was a lovely day and The Stone Rose has outdoor seating at the front of the restaurant which made it feel very metropolitan, as if I were eating downtown. I had the chicken pita special, which was very good but nothing noteworthy.

For my dinner at Stone Rose, I went with a couple of girlfriends for a night out. Since I am getting married soon, we thought it would be fun to go out and taste-test cocktails so that I chose the signature drink for my wedding. The bartender, who I believe might also be the manager, was extremely accommodating and friendly - especially considering I came with a list of cocktail recipes that we wanted to try.

One major point that I appreciated was that the menu strived to include as locally grown and organic ingredients as possible. From the local greens to the grass-raised beef, I was grateful to finally find a local, suburban restaurant with a green conscience.

The Food: presented beautifully, which of course is very important to a foodie. The first thing we have a chance to judge is the way a dish looks. I had the Stone Rose Salad to begin. The attractive pile of greens was tossed with the perfect amount of cider vinaigrette, but I was disappointed by the meagerness of the toppings: Wisconsin sharp cheddar, candied pecans, and apples.

For my entree, I chose the locally raised Oven Roasted Free Range Chicken. Those who know me well know that I love my chicken; I just can't think of anything more versatile and delicious! The chicken was seasoned and roasted to perfection. The herbed rice gratin that it was served with was fantastic, folded with a wonderfully sharp bleu cheese.

Sadly, we did not have any room for dessert, although I didn't even see any mentioned anywhere so I'm not sure that they even SERVE desserts.

The Service: the three of us sat at the bar, although there were open tables since we had gotten there fairly early (7:00PM) and it was a Tuesday night. Like I mentioned before, the gentleman taking care of us was very cordial.

The Atmosphere: the urban-like feel of this restaurant is unique to Conshohocken, and I think it is about time something of its caliber came along. From the open-air seating, to the hardwood floors and beautiful bar, the aesthetic of this restaurant was an A+ in my book.

Will I return? Absolutely. I am thrilled with this addition to my neighboring town. I cannot wait to try the Braised Beef Short Ribs over Mac & Cheese as well as their Stone Rose Burger. Since the location is not the largest, I will surely try another weeknight to avoid a crowd.

The Stone Rose
822 Fayette Street
Conshohocken, PA  19428
http://www.thestoneroserestaurant.com/