My favorite restaurant in Philadelpiha

There have been several “restaurant renaissances” in Philadelphia. It’s ironic that they’re all called “renaissances,” because in my research on the last 30 or so years, I haven’t exactly been able to find a “dark ages.” Perhaps my native readers can offer some enlightenment. It seemed that my first four years in Philadelphia was marked mainly by the “gourmet BYOB,” with restaurants such as Django and Pif joining the restaurant scene. The current trend seems to be focus on the continued revitalization of West Philadelphia, correlated strongly with my defection from UCity. Granted, with the exception of Pod and Nan, the fantastic 40^th and Chestnut restaurant, not a lot has happened in West Philly in the last 15 years, but it’s coming.

When you think of the remnants of the first restaurant “renaissance” in Philadelphia, there are some shared characteristics – long time waitstaffs, gourmet food done simply and well, and a feeling of comfort in the restaurant – you feel like you’re eating at a restaurant, not a theme park (although sometimes I enjoy this as much as the next person). The restaurant that I think best embodies this spirit is the famed Fri Sat Sun, my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia.

Fri Sat Sun is a funny place. First off, the décor is pretty tacky – and surprisingly similar to that of Japanese restaurant Aoi, but we’ve already discussed that. Neon tube lighting is ample at worst, and the dark space is in use of a makeover. However, that’s where the negatives end, in my opinion.

The service at Fri Sat Sun is exemplary. It’s my understanding that the waiters are all partial owners and this shows. Waiters are courteous, helpful, and gregarious, yet polite. There is such a difference when you experience service by people who have chosen this as a career, rather than as a stepping stone. Each time I’ve been there, I’ve been impressed. This time was no surprise, where my dining companion and I chose to split a salad, and they responded by bringing out half portions on separate plates for no charge.

A nice feature of Fri Sat Sun is their wine policy – all wine is offered at only $10 above cost. This gives you the opportunity to experience a really great wine at a pretty reasonable price. We enjoyed a Napa Cab that was quite good, and would have gone for a lot more at most other restaurants.

And then there’s the food. Simple, yet elegant. I have a few favorites on the menu, first of all being the Dijon chicken. Two chicken breasts are pan fried, and served with a dijon cream sauce. The portion is generous, and a pretty basic chicken dish is made spectacular with a wonderfully tangy sauce. Most dishes are served with haricot vertes and mashed potatoes, and this is no exception. The citrus tuna is also quite good – a large tuna steak is served perfectly seared. Desserts also stand out, with the rich cheesecake and thick mousse cake among favorites. Dessert portions are quite generous.

Fri Sat Sun won’t break the bank, either, with apps in the $7-11 range, entrees from $18-25, and desserts at an incredibly reasonable $5. It’s the combination of great, consistent, reasonably priced food and unbelievable service that make Fri Sat Sun my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia.

www.frisatsun.com