University City Dining Days

Is the recession affecting your taste for fine foods? Well, for two weeks in July you will be able to eat like royalty with minimum impact on your wallet. University City Dining Days are back this summer for two full weeks to allow the people of Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs to come out and enjoy a three-course meal ranging in prices from $15 to $30 depending on the restaurant. Starting on July 15, restaurant enthusiasts can enjoy the finest selections from over 25 University City restaurants for a fraction of the cost. If you are looking for a romantic night out with that special someone, or a casual get together with a few friends, come down to the University City area and enjoy an elegant meal for an impressive price!

Begin your meal at the Dock Street Brewery and Restaurant with a mixed salad topped with their signature house-made raspberry or balsamic vinaigrette. For the main course, choose any of their gourmet hardwood fire pizza! We suggest the Margherita Pizza, which has fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, fresh herbs and plum tomatoes. To complete your meal, immerse yourself in the Italian classic tiramisu, and don’t worry about the bill because it’s only going to be $15 per person.

Start off your $15 three-course meal at New Deck Tavern with their Crispy Calamari, served with fresh Parmesan cheese and warm marinara sauce. For the main course try their Deck Burger, which is an 8 oz. Angus burger with crisp bacon, Portobello mushrooms, and Colby and Jack Cheeses, served with their seasoned fries. For dessert, the Brownie Bonanza can satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. It’s truly a bonanza with a chocolate fudge brownie that is smothered with hot fudge and caramel sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and a cherry. If your hunger is not directing you to this meal, your wallet should.

Sang Kee Noodle House is the perfect place if you want to venture out for some Asian cuisine. Start off with their Peking Duck Roll as your appetizer – you can’t go wrong with this restaurant staple. For your entree, you have the choice of either the Phat Thai Shrimp, General Tao’s chicken, Sauteed Pressed Tofu with chive blossom, beef with pineapple in black bean sauce, or chicken with string beans in garlic sauce. For the perfect ending to your $15 meal, get the Red Bean Coconut Pudding. It will put your restaurant experience over the top without leaving you broke.

There is anything but pub food at the elegant Bridgewater’s Pub. For $25 per person, your three-course meal will be filled with gourmet selections at a low price. If you want to be adventurous, try the Frog Legs with Japanese Seaweed Salad, topped with Honey-Miso sauce. This innovative appetizer will get your taste buds ready for what is about to come next. There are four equally-delicious sounding options for your second course, but we recommend the Pork Flat Iron Steak, which comes complete with sautéed summer squash, sweet potato puree, and peach and Amaretto chutney. You can’t go wrong with Bridgewater’s amazing deal, but you will have to loosen up that belt when you realize that you can try their blissful Black Raspberry Chocolate Lava Cake or Double Chocolate Crème Brulee for dessert.

If you want to have a night filled with comfort food that reminds you of your childhood, go to Mikey’s American Grille and Sports Bar. Whether your start your night off with Buffalo Cheese Sticks or Mac and Cheese Bites, you’re going to want more. For the second course, try the Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes to ensure that your comfort food kick will be completely satisfied. To finish off this $25 “home cooked” meal, there is freshly made Bread Pudding waiting for you to end the night.

When you think of an Irish Pub, you normally just think of the many beers they offer. Sláinte Irish Pub and Grill not only offers a great selection of beer, but also offers unique and creative meals that go along great with a cold spirit. Start off your three courses with their famous Cheese Steak Eggrolls, served with spicy ketchup and mustard. For your entree, try the Black and Blue Flat Iron Steak. This 8 oz. steak is covered in Cajun spices, topped with blue cheese butter, and served with steak fries and steamed vegetables. The Irish Bread Pudding completes your yummy Irish meal (and of course, you know they’ll add some spirits into the dessert, too!). Best part? Sláinte’s three-course meal is only $25.

The City Tap House is well known for its innovative pub fare and wide selection of crafted beer, making their $30 four-course meal impossible to turn down. For starters, try their BLT Salad that has Bibb and Romaine lettuce, tomato, bacon, avocado, blue cheese and their house vinaigrette. The Summer Grilled Vegetable Bruschetta is the perfect choice for the second course – it includes eggplant, Portabella mushrooms, roasted peppers, and goat cheese, all layered on Foccacia bread. For your main entrée, choose the Herb-Roasted Organic Chicken with fingerling potato hash and baby green beans. Finally, to end your meal, get their Homemade Doughnuts, covered in cinnamon sugar with chocolate raspberry fondue dipping sauce.

For your night out, go to Penne Restaurant and Wine Bar if you seek a relaxing setting. For two weeks, all you need is $30 and you can get any of their well-known classic dishes. To start things off, try their Raviolo Al Granchio, which is crab ravioli combined with sautéed spinach, and topped with Corn Vellutata sauce. For your main course, you can choose either the Salmone Con Peperonata, Filettino Alla Griglia, Fettuccine Primavera, or the Linguine Al Ragu’ Di Pesce. To finish the night on a sweet note, we recommend their Chocolate Panna Cotta for dessert.