Rubb, the barbecue spot of former Lacroix chef Matthew Levin has one tough looking pig for a logo.

Rubb [Official Site]

Matt Levin will be opening Rubb, his “punk-rock bbq” spot on Main Street in Manayunk this fall. Michael Klein gets the menu today. We say yes to it all but especially the spicy chicken sandwich with pickles and sweet cabbage as well as hush puppies with poblano ketchup. We’re also intrigued by what Levin means by bug juice.

Also of note, the Illadelph was right, Levin will be at Saturday’s Stephen Starr-Garry Maddox BBQ Challenge.

Therein lies the Rubb [The Insider]
Photo by Coleen Dyer [Flickr]

Adam Erace finds good barbecue at Holy Smoke in Roxborough. Just read his description of the chicken and waffles.

The classic Harlem-born duo takes time, Taylor says. A full 12 minutes to get the breast, thighs and drums fried perfectly. A 24-hour brine kept the meat so moist, a ShamWow couldn’t sop up all its juices, while the thorough dredging in well-seasoned flour gave each piece its crackly, golden coating. The meat arrived over a fluffy Belgian, its pockets like reservoirs for the deadly good mix of soft butter, hot sauce, maple syrup and chicken drippings.

Burn Notice [Philadelphia Weekly]
Holy Smoke [Official Site]

Craig LaBan finds that MangoMoon has the unique flavors to excite. Whether it finds its audience on Main Street in Manayunk is another matter.

[Chef Nongyao] Krapugthong’s confident hand with her native seasoning also lights a fire of new interest beneath some common dishes: lending Blue Point oysters a tingly sour splash of chile-lime sauce; igniting “Bangkok” chicken wings in a fiery glaze that elicited a surprising yelp – “Wowie-zowie!” – from my demure guest. The creamy spice of a killer satay sauce lacquered butter-tender head-on shrimp. And baby octopus, still hot from the grill, basked in a cool marinade that vibrated to the high-toned hum of fried lemongrass and Thai bird chile heat.

Krapugthong even managed to transform skewered chicken livers, marinated in the sweet dark funk of oyster sauce and soy, into crispy grilled cubes with creamy insides that have become a most unlikely bar-snack infatuation.

Two Bells – Very Good

MangoMoon [Philadelphia Inquirer]
MangoMoon [Official Site]

After stinging Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House for a solitary bell Sunday, Craig LaBan will be reviewing Manayunk’s MangoMoon this week. How will the Thai restaurant from the same people behind Chabaa Thai fare?

 Loading ...

We’re indoctrinated to believe the fuglier an ethnic restaurant is, the more authentic its food, but clean, comfortable, impeccably styled MangoMoon is a clear, ringing exception. I never would’ve expected somewhere with 15 different dish designs to deliver me back to Bangkok, but the grilled fat-laced pork neck marinated in garlic, cilantro root and oyster sauce certainly did. As did the chicken livers, skewered and grilled, the smokiness stirring echoes of streetside barbecues crowded with all sorts of weird meats on sharp sticks.

Philly’s most authentic Thai cuisine [Philadelphia Weekly]
MangoMoon [Official Site]

Trey Popp checks heads out to Manayunk to check out the new MangoMoon from Moon Krapugthong who brought us Chabaa Thai. He likes what he finds but it’s the Thai sausage that blows him away.

Have kaffir lime leaves ever sung so clear a note from within a tube of pork? Have lemongrass and galangal ever joined so seamlessly in harmonic complement? If so, I want to know about it. This homemade beauty at MangoMoon — charred at the edges, yet impeccably moist inside — was the best sausage I have ever eaten. Of any kind.

Moonstruck [City Paper]
MangoMoon [Official Site]

Craig LaBan puts Jake’s casual sibling, Cooper’s Brick Oven Wine Bar through its paces

There are the pizzas, of course, which are excellent, their heat-blistered crusts (more crackery flatbread than stretchy pizza dough) laden with well-parsed toppings. The margherita was a fine version of the minimalist classic, its basil-tinged tomato brightness spotted with milky clouds of Claudio’s mozzarella. The “spicy meatball” dialed the zestiness up a notch, with a twinge of chile-flake heat beneath tender veal meatballs and creamy Mancuso ricotta.

Two Bells – Very Good

Cooper’s Brick Oven Wine Bar [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Jake’s Restaurant [Official Site]

Cactus Cantina in Manayunk has a bunch of new deals that are worth a look-see.

Sundays

• 1/2 price Sangria all day

Mondays

• $10 64oz margarita pitchers
• $3 Magic Hat #9
• $8.95Fajitas

Tuesdays

• $2 Tacos
• $5 Margaritas
• $3Hoegaarden

Wednesdays

• $12 select bottles of wine
• Entire wine list is 50% off

Cactus Cantina [Official Site]

Joe Sixpack profiles a good deal in Manayunk. Terrace Street Bistro has a three course meal for $31.50 on Thursdays which would be good enough but then throw in all you can drink home brew from Chef Josh Hunter and according to Mr. Sixpack, this guy can brew.

Manayunk BYO pours tasty sampling of chef Josh Hunter’s home brew [Philadelphia Daily News]