Frog legs, snails and stinky cheeses. I know that sounds gross, but growing up as an American in Paris, I also know that these oddities are delicious. Although Franco-American relations have had some rough patches (remember "freedom" fries?), Philly is full of French. Ben Franklin was ambassador to France, Philadelphia's city hall is supposedly modeled after the Hotel de Ville and most importantly, Google Maps boasts 8,918 search results for "French restaurants" near Philadelphia, PA. I've sampled a few for you:
Cochon
801 East Passyunk Ave. (at Catharine St.)
This quaint BYO pays a lovely tribute to the pig ("cochon" in French), from country paté served with homemade mustard to 12-hour roasted pork shoulder over lentils du puy and the occasional special of roasted pig's feet (really, you'll never know until you try). Cochon's steak frites mimic the taste of home to a tee - a perfectly pink steak with a rich Bernaise sauce and an abundance of thin fries. They excel with seafood and game as well, serving a delectable free-range duck with white bean rago–t. The dessert menu was a bit skimpy though.
Beau Monde
624 S. 6th St. (at Bainbridge)
An excellent authentic crˆperie off South Street, Beau Monde is a great place for brunch or lunch (try the terrace on any fine weather day). They serve both sweet wheat flour dessert crˆpes and savory buckwheat entrée crˆpes. On the sweet side, try lemon and sugar or the crŠme de marron (chestnut "better than Nutella" spread); for the savory, all combinations of vegetables and seafood work marvelously (scallops and tomato; shrimp, spinach and leeks), as does the coq au vin. Affordable, with good service. Beau Monde's bar L'Etage is well stocked and tended.
Old City Cheese Shop
160 N. 3rd St. (between Cherry and Race)
This place keeps me sane. I don't really know how I would get by without cheese. Here, a friendly Spaniard sells cheeses from all over, and if you don't enjoy chŠvres and bleus, the soups, salads and tapas are excellent as well. Old City Cheese Shop also sells a vast variety of crackers, cookbooks and sparkling Italian lemonades. The best may not even be the food - a tiny courtyard hides out back, creating a lovely outdoor lunch patio or a perfect spot for outdoor movie screenings, which takes place every Wednesday night.
La Terrasse
3432 Sansom St.
As French as the name sounds, La Terrasse succeeds more in American classics than in classic French fare. A disappointing "traditional onion soup" and an unimpressive filet mignon au poive vert left me disatisfied. The grilled polenta, tuna and mahi mahi all leaned on the heavy side. Also somewhat pricey, LTs works best as a bar, serving crispy fries and tenders.
Coquette
700 S. 5th St. (at Bainbridge)
Coquette was the first restaurant I tried this school year, the night before my parents flew home. This was also to be my last taste of French-ness until winter break. Starting with some of the most delicious duck rillettes I've ever had, followed by a delicate trout and a fabulously dense chocolate fondant for dessert, Coquette made the cut with room to spare. The raw bar boasts a fresh selection of oysters and other fruits de mer. Picks from the wine list and cheese plate adequately complement any meal. The tarnished mirrored wall and tiled floors create the bistro mood, yet also echo all sounds for a louder-than-enjoyable experience. The patio makes for a quieter late-night supper.
Zinc
246 S. 11th St. (between Locust and Irving)
A real Paris-imported bar occupies about half of the bistro's small interior. Wine bottles line the wall and a chalkboard of specials hangs in a corner. The menu, in French, reads a tad pretentious (Calling the chicken "roasted poussin with garlic au jus"? Poussin means "chick".). The mushroom rago–t and Morbier cheese tart was flaky, while the duck soup special was salty. The St. Pierre (John Dory white fish) over rice worked well. Ending with a sweeter-than-necessary chocolate custard, Zinc's atmosphere proved to be the most memorable aspect of the restaurant. The food is greatly enhanced by top-notch wines, many available by the glass. Also on the pricey side, it tends to attract an older crowd.
