Joe Sixpack concerns himself today with finding some beer bargains with his “Recession Numbing Survival Guide.”

Among the suggestions:

• Good beer is still a lot cheaper than good wine.
• Alcohol by volume is more than just the buzz, it’s usually also the complexity of flavor.
• Homebrewing can save yourself some money.
• Buying by the bottle or sixpack is indeed cheaper in Jersey.
• Hit up Center City Sips and find a good beer. Jose Pistola’s offers $2 Blanche de Bruxelles and Marathon Grill gets down with $2 Allagash White.

Recession-proof your beer habit [Philadelphia Daily News]

Mama’s Grill on South Street has a new name, Chickpeas Falafel & Grill. It’s still owned by the Mama’s Vegetarian people though. [The Clog]

Food and Drinq has the Minar Palace menu. They’re promising mid-July but the Time Video sign is still in place and the front really doesn’t look much different from this Google Street View photo. [Food and Drinq]

Molcajete Mixto is closing to install a new hood in the kitchen. Hopefully that’s not a euphemism for closing for good. [The Clog]

Speaking of renovations, the Marathon Grill on the 1300 block of Chestnut will be closed for about 10 days as the popular lunch spot gets an overhaul. [Philly Chit Chat]

Kujaku, the successor to Peacock on the Parkway is already gone, just under 6 months if you’re scoring at home. [Food and Drinq]

We have word that Pagano’s Market, a quick-service restaurant we’ve never heard of (perhaps because it is located below ground at 7th and Market, an area of town we hardly ever visit) is opening  uptown, in the Two Commerce Square space vacated earlier this month by Marathon Grill.

No exact opening date other than “sometime this summer.”

The Inquirer’s esteemed food critic Craig LaBan was en fuego in this week’s online chat! We always love to see how he’ll handle the innocent questions of the proletariat. Woe to the chatter who dares to ask him for a ’special dinner recommendation’! We’ve highlighted the zingers after the jump.

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Philadelphia Weekly profiles some of the best soups in the city in today’s Field Guide.

• Raw Sushi & Sake Lounge
• Marathon Grill
• Harmony Vegetarian Restaurant
• Caribou Cafe
• Sansom Street Oyster House
• Barclay Prime

Broth, Where Art Thou? [Philadelphia Weekly]

On Fridays and Saturdays from 10 to 11 PM you can get free flatbreads and $2 drinks at Marathon Bar. If you haven’t brushed up on your Marathon brand extensions, Marathon Bar is the upstairs bar at 10th and Walnut.

Marathon [Official Site]

Sometimes after an all too festive Saturday night the thought of getting out of bed and waiting outside a favorite brunch spot is just too much to even contemplate. So when getting out of bed seems difficult and showering is out of the question why not have brunch delivered? Marathon Grill (215-569-3278) can deliver to you the sustenance you so desperately need and typically in less time than you would spend milling about on the sidewalk waiting for a table. Belgian Waffles with bananas and chocolate chips delivered to your door, now that’s living.

Marathon Grill [Official Site]

Philadelphia Weekly lists six Bloody Marys that are available whenever you need them, you know like on a Thursday morning after Wednesday happy hour hits last call.

Beau Monde

Crescent City

Marathon Grill

N. Third

Royal Tavern

Swann Lounge at the Four Seasons

Nicely Executed [Philadelphia Weekly]

Philadelphia Magazine interviews Marathon Grill co-owner Cary Borish on what makes the restaurants so successful.

Running a Marathon [Philadelphia Magazine]
Marathon Grill [Official Site]

Gridskipper comes up with the top ten Philadelphia diners, a little something for everyone in this list.

• Down Home Diner
• Little Pete’s
• Marathon Grill
• Mayfair Diner
• Melrose Diner
• Midtown IV
• Morning Glory
• Philly Diner
• South Street Diner
• Trolley Car Diner

Philly’s Best Diners [Gridskipper]
Photo by trishylicious via Flickr