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Warning! This wiki is not complete. Please read through the thread for more info.. Info Outdated. Check before you go!

Attractions
Franklin Institute
Please Touch Museum
National Constitution Center
US Mint
Adventure Aquarium (just across the river in Camden, NJ)
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA (about 45 minutes south-west of the city)
Eastern State Penitentiary
National Museum of American Jewish History
Philadelphia Zoo
Independence Seaport Museum
Smith Playground
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
One Liberty Observation Deck
Liberty Bell (plus a bunch of other historical sites nearby)
Independence Hall
Trolley tour bus

For discounts on admission, consider the Philadelphia Pass or the Philadelphia City Pass (if your visiting enough attractions), or buy the Entertainment book for the coupons. If you order it online, you should be able to print out all of the coupons you need immediately.

Hotels
The Ritz-Carlton located near City Center was originally a Bank and worth a visit.
Sheraton Society Hill is near the Liberty Bell area and the River. (probably the best place to stay for shabbos)
the Westin is by Rittenhouse Sq and City Center is North of City Hall area closer to Museum Row.
The Westin on 17th & Liberty. has some Old World charm to it
Sheraton City Center - was fine. clean, neat, pool and fitness but nothing special
Le Meridian across from city hall
Hyatt at the Bellevue on Walnut and Broad st.
Hyatt Penn's Landing
Homewood Suites City Avenue

Westin a plain hotel over the River in Mt Laurel , NJ
Aloft - Mt Laurel. (Aloft is  not your typical hotel. Very young crowd. Relaxed staff. Place is nice and new).

Restaurants

Center City:
Burger.org - 1901 Chesnut Street CLOSED
Mama's Vegetarian CLOSED
Center City Soft Pretzel Co. - unusual hours

University City:
Kosher Dining at the University of Pennsylvania - check hours/dates, only open during academic year

Lower Merion (20-25 min from center city, but up to 45 in traffic):
Shalom Pizzeria
Citron and Rose - more upscale. Make reservations in advance. Closed but recently reopened (as of May 17, 2017)
The Dairy - very nice dairy restaurant. CLOSED

Star of David Kosher grill- 942 Montgomery Ave, Narberth, PA 19072. Cheaper option for meat, Chinese, sushi
Nana's kitchen in the JCC-Address: 45 Haverford Rd, Wynnewood, PA 19096 Phone:(703) 586-3103- Call before, but usually open in the daytime with seating. Don't have to be a member to attend. Excellent dairy food options and very reasonably priced.

Northeast (35 min from downtown):
Holy Land Grill-permanently closed
Espresso Cafe

Cherry Grill in Cherry Hill, NJ is just across the Delaware River (via Ben Franklin Bridge.). Fairly classy ambience, better than decent food. 3/5 stars. Hechsher by the O-K and the Cherry K Vaad Hakashruth.

This is a pretty good list of the generally accepted kosher restaurants in Philly.
This is the website for the generally accepted community hechsher: http://www.keystone-k.info/

Shuls
Orthodox Jewish Philadelphia Directory
www.phillyshul.com (actually 2 shuls which they alternate between). Run by a very nice chabad rabbi.
Sephardi shul (www.mikvehisrael.org)
Mekor Habracha

Lower Merion (15 min drive from downtown):
Lower Merion Synagogue
Young Israel of the Main Line
Philadelphia Community Kollel - next door to Citron and Rose

Northeast (35 min drive from downtown):
Congregation Ahavas Torah

Bensalem (10 min drive from Sesame Place)
http://www.bensalemoutreach.org/

Eruv Maps
http://www.philly-direct.com/frum/eruv.html


Author Topic: Philadelphia Master Thread  (Read 188472 times)

Offline RockaHocka

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Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #500 on: June 14, 2017, 01:44:09 PM »
Portion size doesn't bother me, how did they all taste?
Taste wasn't an issue at all. My negative rating was on the overall experience - reservations made in advance and had to wait 30 min for seating, ambiance wasn't great (brightly lit room - not very "taverny"), small portion sizes, and I guess just very high hopes of a top steakhouse locally getting dashed. - and very subpar selections on tap. I mean - this is supposed to be a bar!

Offline Dan

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #501 on: June 14, 2017, 05:34:33 PM »
Mama’s Vegetarian for lunch and Tavern for dinner?
Or Dairy Cafe for lunch and Tavern for dinner?
Or?

Suggestions for an activity in between?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline RockaHocka

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #502 on: June 14, 2017, 05:37:10 PM »
Mama’s Vegetarian for lunch and Tavern for dinner?
Or Dairy Cafe for lunch and Tavern for dinner?
Or?

Suggestions for an activity in between?
Tough call but gotta say the dairy. Mamas is AWESOME. But it's just falafel.

Offline mochjas

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #503 on: June 14, 2017, 05:38:33 PM »
Tough call but gotta say the dairy. Mamas is AWESOME. But it's just falafel.
I agree

Offline Dan

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #504 on: June 14, 2017, 05:51:51 PM »
Nice thing about Mamas is the location, might wind up doing that unless dairy is amazing?

Best things to do in the city?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline mochjas

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #505 on: June 14, 2017, 06:00:15 PM »
Nice thing about Mamas is the location, might wind up doing that unless dairy is amazing?


not amazing but pretty good

Offline RockaHocka

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #506 on: June 14, 2017, 07:24:05 PM »
Nice thing about Mamas is the location, might wind up doing that unless dairy is amazing?

Best things to do in the city?
Not sure about anything exciting but all the basics - Mint, Franklin Institute, Duck Ride, Horse and buggy ride around the city, Rocky steps, Liberty Bell...

For kids - Please touch museum is great.

Oh - Phillies vs Red Sox tom at 7....

Offline Dan

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #507 on: June 14, 2017, 07:24:55 PM »
And....Jetsmarter cancelled.
Next time!
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline RockaHocka

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #508 on: June 14, 2017, 07:25:59 PM »
And....Jetsmarter cancelled.
Next time!
And here I was planning on crashing... 🤣

Offline Dan

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #509 on: June 14, 2017, 07:26:34 PM »
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline RockaHocka

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #510 on: June 14, 2017, 07:37:22 PM »

Offline ddfried

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #511 on: July 24, 2017, 01:31:13 PM »
Anyone have a VRBO or Airbnb recommendation for a house walking distance to a shul?? I have been searching endlessly but maybe I'm just not looking in the right direction..

Offline Yankee123

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #512 on: July 24, 2017, 01:47:14 PM »
Anyone have a VRBO or Airbnb recommendation for a house walking distance to a shul?? I have been searching endlessly but maybe I'm just not looking in the right direction..

Not sure how you are searching, but maybe narrow the search down to Bala Cynwyd or Lower Merion"?

Offline skyguy918

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #513 on: July 24, 2017, 01:49:05 PM »
Anyone have a VRBO or Airbnb recommendation for a house walking distance to a shul?? I have been searching endlessly but maybe I'm just not looking in the right direction..
Start with the maps of the various eruvs (there are several neighborhoods):
http://www.philly-direct.com/frum/eruv.html

Offline mendy from lakewood

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #514 on: July 28, 2017, 10:15:36 AM »
any kosher food near sesame place?
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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #515 on: July 28, 2017, 10:24:24 AM »
There's a falafel place in Newtown called
World of Falafel 14S State Rd
215-860-5128

Offline RockaHocka

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #516 on: July 28, 2017, 10:27:17 AM »
Just a note - it doesn't have the Vaad as a hechsher which is odd for a restaurant in the Philly area. I personally spoke with R' Aryeh Weinstein (Chabad Rabbi in Newtown) who at that point had certified that he checks its Kashrus. I would recommend calling him to confirm that this is still the case.

Offline mendy from lakewood

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #517 on: July 28, 2017, 10:29:57 AM »
thanks whats the next closest place/places? im being there for 3 days
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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #518 on: July 28, 2017, 10:32:49 AM »
Judah's Grille 9311 Krewstown Rd 215-613-6110

Espresso Cafe 7815 Castor Ave 215-745-0130

If u want info on some minyanim right nearby, pm me.

Offline mochjas

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #519 on: July 28, 2017, 10:51:57 AM »
Judah's Grille 9311 Krewstown Rd 215-613-6110

Espresso Cafe 7815 Castor Ave 215-745-0130

If u want info on some minyanim right nearby, pm me.
is it a private minyan. Why not post the info for everyone in the wiki?