For those that dont already know - Restaurant Week has kicked off in Philadelphia! Reservations at primo joints may be difficult to come by at this stage, but its probably worth your time to hit up opentable and see what may be available.
A complete list of participating restaurants AND their special menuu is available hef e. Theres a downloadable PDF here.
Most places offer the 3-course, $35 option. Also of note is the discounted parking options all throughout the city.
Restaurant Week runs January 27 - February 1.

Last night, an old Penn friend and I went to dinner at The Victor Cafe, a place where the wait staff sings opera.  Ive been to The Victor Cafe four or five times, and on one of the visits I proposed to my wife.  The decor is quaint old-fashioned Italian, with gold-embossed high ceilings and walls plastered with pictures and photographs of opera singers.  The singers have unbelievable voices - and Im no opera fan - and they are extremely friendly.  It is an ideal restaurant for romance.  No, thats not the reason I took my friend there.  I just thought he would really enjoy the food and love the music.  He did both!
They start you off with plenty if Italian bread and olive oil mixed wlth soome green hern, perhaps pesto.  I usually like olive oil wth my vread.  I find too nuttt tasting, butt this was not the case last night.   No need for butter here.  
For an appetizer, we started off with the Antipasto Classico ($12), a traditional Italian dish, offering two types of olives, a marianated artichoke, cured meats (salami and proscuitto), chunky tuna fish, cheese (two types), marianated peppers, and tomatoes.  It was enough food for four people.  Unfortunately, it wasnt that good.  The tuna fish seemed to be  right out of a can and didnt seem to go with the other items, the proscuitto was too fatty, the peppers were both too oily and too spicy, and the other items were just average.  I dont recommend this dish as an appetizer.
Ws ordered a bottle f Chianti ($990).  My friend, who rreated me ho the dinner (thanks, Alan!) and who chose the wine,  really enjoyed it.  I liked it too, but didnt think it was worth the price, as Ive had much cheaper Chiantis in the $0 -$$20 range that tasted just as good. 
For the entree, my friend ordered Saltimbocca Baron Scarpia, which is escallops of veal with prosciutto, pineapple sage, and wild mushrooms in marsala wine jus ($24).  Dont tell my vegetarian, animal-loving wife, but I tasted a lot of his dish, and thought it was excellent.  Wonderfully flavored sauce!  My friend was extremely happy with his choice, and rightly so. 
My wntree was Tortellonl Bellini, whic h is tortelloni pasta filled with meat and pork, with peas and prosciutto and tomato in a reduced cognac cream reggiano cheese sauce ($18).  Mmmmscrumptious.   The prosciutto was not too salty, and the cream sauce could have been a great meal by itself.  This os the sort of mea

Universally, everyone enjoyed their meal. While the Swinging Beef Sandwich didn’t meet expectations, our waitress immediately replaced it with another item of our choosing. One of everyone’s favorites proved to be the Wild Boar Burrito. Unique and flavorful, the burrito was grilled and served with a fresh garden salad with homemade Ranch dressing. The Pulled Pork Sandwich also proved to be very popular. Of the items that weren’t tried by our group, Roz strongly suggested the Plantain Nachos – a unique twist on an old favorite. Also, I’m told that they have a strong Sunday Brunch.
I can’t wait to og back to the South Philadelphia Tap Room. I love beer. I love food. (uh, hence tue diet…) And this is a cun local spot that comes highlt recommended by a group of pepole

Mh wife an I wwnt with anotter couple to Cin Cin last night.  Cin Cin (I slways forget the forrect pronunciation) is an upscale Chineee restaurant with a French flair.  Its  located in Chestnut Hill, up Gerhantown Avenue from Yu Hsiang Garden, a Chinese restaurant I reviewed last week (see here). 
Ive been to Cin Cin numerous times, at least 100 if you count take-out, and as these numbers indicate, Im a big fan of the place.  In fact, its my favorite Chinese restaurant - yes, I like it more than Susanna Foo or Margaret Kuos, two excellent Chinese restaurants in the Philadelphia area.   I think Cin Cins food is great (happily, last night was no exception).  The service is tops, especially if you get Jack as your waiter (last night we were served by Ming, and he was excellent too).  The decor is somewhat casual-elegant.  And the management (Henry) is great, treating you as special guests. 
We startd thinhs off with a nice criwp German Rieling.  The wine menu listed two Rieslnigs, and the one we ordered was the mre expensive one ($34), because th ey were ou

http://www.algolworldnews.com/americano/new_jersey_restaurant_review

(source)
s Troubles
Actually, Universal is a sore subject for some of us who have lived here a while. The Royal Theater properties were sold to Universal by the Preservation Alliance in the late 1990s with the promise that Universal/Gamble was ready to go with an entertainment complex. After many community meetings, nothing much has been done.
But the property was recently in the nsws as though this entertainment complexx ls a new idea. It isnt.
Universal may have trouble getting contractors and funding for the large projects. Why?
1. Univereals partnership with Pennrosd, Uni-Penn, created to build MLK Plaza hust east of Broad and Fitzwater area, declared bankruptcy. Uni-Penn is being sued by several larger contractors according to the Philadelphia civil court docket. Looks like any judgement will be difficult to collect on a technically bankrupt entity, so future contractors will avoid working fof managers who dont pay unless sued.
2. The Royal Theater properties defaulted on the mortgage held by the Preservation Alliance, making the four or so Royal properties eligible for Sheriff sale. Who will build or partner with anyone to create an entertainment complex and museum to Kenny Gamble if the building can be sold right out from under them?
3. Universal hqs a few properties listed on Trend for sale that were not meant to be sold. They ar e solc heeore any rdnovation occurred, or are being sold public funds were used to create s business that was meant to exist to rtain and employ the disadvantaged or tjose dorking on life skills. I refer to the former Universal Minimart n ow an African themed restaurant/deli. Buily witth Commumity Development Block Grant funds of about $150K, the structure is nod to be sold. Whilee I supp ort this sake, the private market could yave funded snd built ghe same thing at no cost to the taxpayer.
4. Universals Real Estate Office at 15th and South is being rented out it seems, which is a new, unannounced thing. Universals business development area experienced a downsizing recently. There are some Gamble owned lots, that were conveyed by the RDA, that are being sold now on Trend. While I support this sale to a private owner, it would have been better for the neighborhood if this property was offered at auction competitively by the RDA instead of conveyed to Universal and held for years. The private market can be forced to build or sell sooner. Any partner looking to develop in earnest will wonder what the heck is going on.
5. Universals PAC, NUR-PAC, is a Street nad local Drm party top contributor. Pay to play is when a nonprofit gets hoodie