Over the past several weeks, I have been spending time in Philadelphia. For the most part, food and drink have been low on the priority list when I hit the City of Brotherly Love. Juggling family chaos and work has been the priority. There has been an exception though. Well, two. The same exception made twice - at a new South Philadelphia restaurant called River Twice.
The dining room is a low-key affair with a modern design sensibility and a bit of Japanese flair. Members of the kitchen staff are on full display in an open kitchen - including James Beard-nominated Chef/Owner Randy Rucker - and all are gregarious, food-lovin', attentive gents. The food? Freakin' amazeballs!
Case in point: A humdinger of a bone-in strip steak, aged enough to give it a marvelous edge of funk and cooked to a perfect deep ruby medium-rare. It didn't need the homemade steak sauce that accompanied it, but who am I to tell anyone not to gild the lily? And, the glazed brassicas hearts alongside were unlike any other green that I've had before. I don't know what those boys put in the butter to create the "glaze," but I am thinking some form of umami black magic might be involved.
So impressed was I by that meal, that I felt inspired to return days later for brunch with Mama Vamp in tow.
Just take a look at how brunch started...
Yeah. With a Duxbury oyster the size of my head. Seriously. It was roasted and topped with uni butter and pickled mustard seeds. It totally did not suck. In fact, it was kinda genius. (Thanks for making this beauty for me, Chef de Partie James!)
And, then there was the off-menu - because I was trying keto this month and Chef Rucker took pity on me - brunch main dish that came my way...
Yup. Not the least bit special. Not the least bit OH MY FREAKIN' GOD THIS IS GOOD!
Heck, even Mama Vamp approved of River Twice and tough customers don't get much tougher than my mom.
So, in other words, if you are in Philadelphia or are in close proximity - or have an excuse to haul ass to Philadelphia - I strongly recommend you do so and pay call on River Twice before they get reviewed and you can't get in the door.
