Philly Restaurant – Landmark Americana

It has pained me so much these last few years, because of financial constraints, not to participate in Restaurant Week and Dine Out for Life. However, this year I thought, perhaps if I give a little, I’ll get a little, or a lot! And made Dine Out for Life reservations (Thurs 4/28) at Landmark Americana /University City (3333 Market Street).

The restaurant doesn’t look very crowded in this picture because I went for a late 3pm lunch. But I can imagine on the nights featuring trivia, musical bingo and open mic, accompanied by various drink specials like $3 Margaritas and $1 Miller Lites, this place is probably hoping with the younger set.

It’s the perfect college campus first date night. Not too upscale, but a good step above the neighborhood hangout. The menus are those big fancy book type, normally reserved for Steak Houses, yet inside the menu are comfort foods such as:

Mac N Cheese –cork screw with bacon, sharp cheddar and grueyer cheese baked with buttery bread crumbs $8.99 

Smokehouse Ribs –basted with smoked bbq sauce full rack $22.99 half rack $15.99.

If you’re on a good first date, you may want to order something with a bit more panache – Potato Crusted Seabass pan seared chilean seabass and finished with a butter chive sauce $22.99 (although Chilean seabass is really so 2004).

Rating System:
* Excellent – 4 Tines / * Great – 3 Tines / * Good – 2 Tines / * Fair – 1 Tine / * Poor – Tarnished

I went with one of the dishes marked “new” – Short Rib Lollipops braised short rib rubbed with Chinese five spice served with wasabi mashed potatoes $17.99

I order wasabi mashed potatoes wherever I go. These were by far the hottest. Certainly opened my sinuses. But truly, when it comes to wasabi mashed, getting the ratio correct is tricky, so far, Buddakan has been the best.

The Short Ribs tasted better than they look, as you can see, they appear rather dry and rather unappealing in the pinwheel formation; but it was tender and flavorful, the zucchini an adequate side, but on the whole, I can’t recommend this entree –1 Tines

I had the choice of either a house salad, Caesar salad or soup, chose the Cream of Tomato. Loved the consistency, but someone was heavy handed on the salt. – 2 Tines

I didn’t do dessert, mindful of my credit card, but I did have coffee – decent cup of joe, not wonderful, problem being the mugs don’t keep the coffee hot for even 5 min.

My server was excellent! – 4 Tines

On a side note, one thing I noticed was the floor, because I almost slipped twice. The material isn’t tile, nor carpet, but some strange coated amalgamation. And I didn’t even have on heels, so if you are out in your date night platforms beware!