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Published On: Nov 21, 2005 06:01 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Nov 21, 2005 06:01 PM
El Vez
121 S. 13th St., Philadelphia, PA, (215)
928-9800
I have been wanting to try El Vez
for quite a while, because, despite our recent Morimoto less-than-grand experience, I enjoy
Stephen Starr
restaurants and I enjoy Mexican food. So, since Sara was in
town, I thought we'd try something relatively
nice.
Like many Starr restaurants, the room is loud and over the top, this time with loads of Day of the Dead dioramas and bright colors. A fun room. For some reason, our waiter annoyed me from the get-go; Sara felt the same way, but we couldn't really put our finger on it. That being said, he was largely competent.
We started with the freshly made guacamole and a melted manchego appetizer: both were heavenly. These were accompanied by strong and good margaritas that were perhaps a bit pricey, but still good.
The main course for me was a vegetarian stuffed corn cake of sorts. It's really hard to describe actually, but it was sort of like a huge open-ended tamale with beans and vegetables. It was quite tasty. Rick had the taco sampler which looked great, filled with all sorts of creative combinations. Sara had the carnitas, which are rarely bad.
Dessert really blew me away though: I had empanada pockets filled with caramel. Wow. Soooooo good. Sara's flourless chocolate cake also rocked.
So, all in all, El Vez was good, though perhaps a bit more expensive than it should be; however, you are paying for the Starr-ness of it all...and apparently the stars: Mo Rocca was there, dining with another gentleman. Of course none of us had the nerve to approach or say how cool we thought he was. Stupidheads.
PS: the celebrity sightings didn't end there. After dinner, we walked for a bit and I wanted to show Sara the beautiful Ritz lobby; don't you know that having a drink in the lobby bar was John O'Hurley! So, apparently Philly is finally living up to its status as a B-list town by having B-list celebrities roaming about. Hurrah!
Like many Starr restaurants, the room is loud and over the top, this time with loads of Day of the Dead dioramas and bright colors. A fun room. For some reason, our waiter annoyed me from the get-go; Sara felt the same way, but we couldn't really put our finger on it. That being said, he was largely competent.
We started with the freshly made guacamole and a melted manchego appetizer: both were heavenly. These were accompanied by strong and good margaritas that were perhaps a bit pricey, but still good.
The main course for me was a vegetarian stuffed corn cake of sorts. It's really hard to describe actually, but it was sort of like a huge open-ended tamale with beans and vegetables. It was quite tasty. Rick had the taco sampler which looked great, filled with all sorts of creative combinations. Sara had the carnitas, which are rarely bad.
Dessert really blew me away though: I had empanada pockets filled with caramel. Wow. Soooooo good. Sara's flourless chocolate cake also rocked.
So, all in all, El Vez was good, though perhaps a bit more expensive than it should be; however, you are paying for the Starr-ness of it all...and apparently the stars: Mo Rocca was there, dining with another gentleman. Of course none of us had the nerve to approach or say how cool we thought he was. Stupidheads.
PS: the celebrity sightings didn't end there. After dinner, we walked for a bit and I wanted to show Sara the beautiful Ritz lobby; don't you know that having a drink in the lobby bar was John O'Hurley! So, apparently Philly is finally living up to its status as a B-list town by having B-list celebrities roaming about. Hurrah!
Posted: Mon - November 21, 2005 at 06:00 PM |