Philly!

Issue: Where to get a relaxing lunch in Philadelphia the day after a beautiful wedding?

Rule: When traveling I love to find a place to either a) enjoy the local delicacies or b) enjoy a restaurant that looks a lot like the other restaurants I enjoy in my home town. After some web searching (sadly there is no laweatlaw Philly edition) we decided on Fork on Market Street.

Application: This restaurant falls under category (b). Fork is a beautiful New American bistro in Old City. The interior is dark but homey with an imposing bar and many small tables. We were fortunate to visit on a warm Sunday and were able to grab one of the three tables out front.
Service was prompt, friendly and lovely. Everything we wanted arrived timely and our waitress was attentive and sweet. We started with a beer and wine because it was too wonderful outside to not sip a white wine. Sometimes it is impossible not to want just one little glass of white while dining al fresco.
At the end of the meal we had spent $50 for two which is definitely a little pricey for lunch but the quality and amount of food (plus 2 drinks) was certainly worth it. I ordered a spinach risotto which turned out to be a lovely bright green dish with salty and creamy parmigiano reggiano in the middle. The temperature was perfect, something that can often go wrong when dining al fresco. I savored the savory dish for as long as I possible could. We also ordered a side of crisp, browned french fries- a real treat. The highlight may have been the Maryland crab cake sandwich on a home made brioche bun with lettuce, lemon pepper aioli and a light slaw on the side. ("Really good slaw.") The crab cake was not heavy or greasy like some cakes end up, but but light and well seasoned.

Conclusion: Fork was a lovely way to spend a slow afternoon in Philadelphia. We were never rushed out of there, even though there was another group of people eye-ing our spot. We were allowed to finish our drinks and nibble on our fries in peace. Man, sometimes it sure is nice to get out of New York.