By: Anne M. Raso
Philippe in New York's tony Upper East Side is a virtual melting pot of Park Avenue ladies dressed in Chanel, Housewives Of New York City cast members, rap moguls, foodies and folks on first dates dressed their best and trying to impress. They have already garnered acclaim for their crispy Peking Duck (it's $75 for a two-person seven-pound portion but several regular diners there have revealed to
financefoodie.com that they need their fix at least once per month with no regards to the cost)! All the dishes are actually prepared (and priced) for two, but some of them are--in all honesty--big enough for four.
We had the Wok Fried Pork Dumplings ($12) as an appetizer and the tender, juicy pork inside exploded in your mouth--and we have to say that these were not oily in the least (as fried pork dumplings are in many Chinese restaurants). We also ordered Scallion Pancakes ($12) --the pancakes were firm and tasty and almost tasted like they had cornmeal in them, and there was a diversity of onion types used. They were a definite departure from the scallion pancakes traditionally served in the city's Asian-American eateries.
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| Dumplings |
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| Scallion Pancakes |
For our first entree to share, we ordered the $56 Crispy Beef (grass-fed beef dipped in flower and then deep fried in sesame oil and served in a black bean sauce) which was not the healthiest choice, but a Chinese classic we could not resist ordering. We suggest being a little healthier and ordering the Filet Mignon ($64)--"straight up" grilled and completely unadorned except for the plain broccoli that accompanies it on the side. It's an example of simple things being the finer things in life!
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| Crispy Beef |
Scoring big with our "finance foodie-ding" party was Beijing Chicken ($44), tender one-to-two-inch cubes of the most tender breast meat smothered in sweet brown sauce with walnuts. We can still taste it, it was THAT memorable! We suggest the sesame oil stir-fried String Beans ($10) as the perfect side--they had the perfect amount of crunchiness and tasted like they were picked just an hour earlier.
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| Beijing Chicken |
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| String Beans |
Desserts include Creme Brulee, Red Velvet Cake, Key Lime Tart, Peanut Butter Pie and Molten Chocolate Cake and you can bet that we sampled them all. Priced at $14 each, the portions (again) are big enough for two and as one of the people at our table later revealed on Facebook, she was still full two days later! Unlike many upscale Upper East Side eateries, Philippe does not give you "starving model" portions--this is a place to visit if you are someone with a "real person appetite" and like rich food.
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| Dessserrrrtttt! |
The decor is minimalist but with ultra-comfy Speakeasy-style dark brown leather banquets in the downstairs dining area. Reservations are suggested for Philippe and can be made on their website
www.philippechow.com. Be sure to tell them
financefoodie.com sent you and be sure to also start your meal with one of their signature cocktails (there are four of them available at $15 each). At our table, we tried the Mango Iced Tea (Absolute Mango, mango puree, brewed iced green tea, simple syrup and a splash of fresh lime juice) and found it super-refreshing, citrusy and the perfect way to conclude a nearly 100 degree mid-summer day!
Philippe
33 East 60th Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 644-8885
[Photos: Anne M. Raso]
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