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]

Don’t even think about missing the Fall Festival at 13th and Sansom Saturday, September 29th. The centerpiece of the festival is Ludwig’s Oktoberfest which is always a can’t miss event. But last year the event was expanded with an “around the world in 80 yards” theme that might be a bunch of marketing mumbo-jumbo but whatever, it’s a good reason to close down some streets and have a big party. In addition to Ludwig’s, Fergies, Raw, McGillin’s, Vintage and El Vez among others all contribute to a great time.

2nd Annual Midtown Village Fall Festival [Midtown Village]
Ludwig’s Oktoberfest [Official Site]

Philadelphia Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan looks back at the year in dining, reviewing the highlights and checking in with several restaurants to see if chef/owner changes or experience have warranted a change in grade. Striped Bass held on to its four bells despite chef Christopher Lee�s departure earlier this year. The news out of Django isn�t as good as the former four beller has dropped all the way down to two bells, having “taken a noticeable step down in elegance and execution.”

Also revisited were Astral Plane, Raw and Ted�s Montana Grill.

Rising stars [Philadelphia Inquirer]

The New York Times plays Philadelphia tourist and manages not to fall for too many tourist traps as they start off with cheesesteaks at John’s Roast Pork before dining on vegan dishes at Horizons.

Day two sees the Times at DiBruno Brothers for lunch. Saturday night brings food and dance at Raw Sushi and Sake Lounge, Vintage wine bar for a drink and Capogiro for a late night dessert.

Sunday gets things going with La Colombe coffee before the Philadelphia Zoo.

Philadelphia [36 Hours, New York Times]
36 Hours In Philadelphia Video [New York Times]

We read the reviews so you don’t have to. Craig LaBan’s look at Raw, in bit-size chunks.
Raw Sushi & Saki Bar, a likable “work in progress

Raw works best as a sleek sake lounge with more than 40 sakes available to try. The food splits between sushi and cooked fare. Among the best is the Bellacucina , combining eel, avocado, and lobster. Also worth noting is the White Tiger roll of white tuna, torched smelt roe with scallions. On some rolls though all the swirling sauces leave the flavors “indistinct.”
The cooked dishes struggle more. Although the Kobe beef carpaccio shines, “but poor execution undermined the kitchen’s good instincts.”

Two Bells – Very Good

Raw Lounge [Official Site]