What’s with all the sandwich talk around here? Last week in the Metro we discussed our Pantheon of Sandwiches, then this week Unbreaded is unveiled and Rick Nichols goes all gaga for the Arista at Paesano’s as well as sandwiches from DiNic’s, Q.T. Vietnamese Sandwich and Cafe Estelle.

On the Side: Best Philly sandwiches since sliced chain bread [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Unbreaded [Official Site]

What to do this weekend? Here are two not-too-expensive ideas North of near Spring Garden…

Saturday
Starting at 4PM, check out The Institute’s Beer, Bourbon and Cheese event. They’ll have $4 Bulliet Frontier Bourbons, Stone Smoked Porter on draft, Arrogant Bastard in bottles,  a selection of cheeses from Downtown Cheese in RTM and homemade bourbon chocolate truffles. Cash bar, free Wii.

The Institute [Official Site]

Sunday
Why not investigate Cafe Estelle’s brunch? The Yelpers are raving about it and in these rough-and-tumble recessionary times, it’s good karma to support independent restaurants.

Cafe Estelle [Official Site]

Uncle Jimmy checks out Bistrot La Minette with lowered expectations but comes away pleased with the ambiance, food and service. [Uncle Jimmy Eats Philadelphia]

Phoodie.info escapes XIX at $41 per person. Well played. [Phoodie.info]

Foodzings enjoys a “great bucket of pho” at Pho Hoa. [Foodzings]

Over the weekend we were wondering aloud, just who goes to Pico De Gallo. Today we find out that Food Coma is a fan. [Food Coma]

David McDuff connects with some Philly attitude before escaping to Paris at Parc. [McDuff's Food & Wine Trail]

Foodaphilia gives the first negative review we’ve heard of Northern Liberties’ Cafe Estelle. [Foodaphilia]

The Beer Lass enjoys Cafe Estelle immensely. [Beer Lass]

“Sublime” is the adjective Living on the Vedge uses to describe dinner at Shouk. [Living On The Vedge]

Fig crepes and crème fraîche waffles dot the menu at Cafe L’Aube, a new spot at 15th and South. [Living on the Vedge]

Mac & Cheese wishes Adobe Cafe luck but doesn’t see herself returning. [Mac & Cheese]

David McDuff heads on down to Rehoboth and has a hearty “Indulgence Burger” and 90-Minute IPA at Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats. [McDuff's Food & Wine Trail]

Another Friday and another preview of a Craig LaBan review. We have a feeling Cafe Estelle will be a lot happier than the folk at Chima over their review. Ring out the two bells!

Perfect pancakes, peachy French toast, home-smoked meats: However you navigate, this brunch is not to be missed.
The plumes of mesquite smoke that curled out of the oil-drum barbecue were working slow magic on the meats inside – the Wagyu eyes of round, the mapled slabs of bacon, and the chile-rubbed shoulders of heritage pork, all destined for Cafe Estelle’s tables.

Cafe Estelle [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Cafe Estelle [Official Site]

Rick Nichols visits several spots north of Center City for his piece in yesterday’s Inquirer. He starts off with praise of Cafe Lift, crosses his fingers for Cafe Estelle, stops off to slam Root and ends at Zhi-Wei-Guan, a new restaurant in Chinatown that doesn’t really excite. All-in-all, an odd spin around that section of the city.

New cuisine heard from [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Adam Erace visits Cafe Estelle, located between Old City and Northern Liberties on the ground floor of a loft building and run by a local couple.

The reasonably priced menu focuses on locally sourced, seasonal stuff. The tiny saltwater oysters are from Cape May; the intense coffee is roasted in Germantown; the spearmint in the house-churned ice cream is plucked from a wild patch growing nearby.

Cafe Estelle [Philadelphia Weekly]
Cafe Estelle [Official Site]

Cafe Estelle, the breakfast and lunch spot at 444 N. 4th St. is trying its hand at dinner service starting this Thursday, May 22nd. We’ve got the menu after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

Trey Popp finds the food at Cafe Estelle can’t miss no matter how tough it is to fine the actual storefront.

I didn’t taste a single thing at Café Estelle that wasn’t done just about perfectly. The food, like the atmosphere, is casual, but it’s made with unusual skill and care. A panini filled with dry-cured ham, manchego cheese and a splendid pearl-onion relish was the best hot sandwich I’ve had in ages. A cherry scone broke apart just as a good scone should, and was plenty generous with the cherries.

Positively Fourth Street [City Paper]
Cafe Estelle [Official Site]

Cafe Estelle is open at the 444 Lofts. The 45-seat cafe focuses on breakfast and lunch but will soon be adding brunch. The breads, muffins and sausages are all made on the premises. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Al Paris’ Pat Bombino’s is looking to open next Wednesday. G, the lounge under Davio’s has penciled in November 29th as its opening date. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

The mega-Maia restaurant opening set for the end of this year is looking more like February ‘08. Melissa Monosoff, former sommelier at the Fountain, Striped Bass and Avenue B is the beverage director. [Icepack, City Paper]

The folk behind Gypsy Saloon and Stella Blue are getting in the pizza business with Bella Luna Pizza Kitchen in West Conshohocken. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

The DiBruno Brothers web site has a rendering of their Comcast Center location. There’ll be a paninis, salads, prepared foods, a European-style coffee bar and of course cheese. [DiBruno Brothers]

Eric Ripert of New York’s Le Bernardin is opening his Washington restaurant, Westend Bistro tonight. He plans on opening a Philadelphia restaurant at the Ritz Carlton in 2008. Check the menu (pdf) for a taste of what may be coming. [Westend Bistro]