Meme’s elegant American dishes seem right at home in this small restaurant, nestled on a quiet street among some of Rittenhouse’s toniest row homes. Diners can’t help but feel at ease when they walk into the unpretentious space filled with cherry wood tables, cutlery chandeliers and a blackboard which displays a menu that changes daily depending on seasonally available ingredients.
The menu is small but diverse, with six to seven options for each the first and second course. Among the appetizers, the potato gnocchi ($11) was perfectly pillowy, and the combination of earthy wild mushrooms and sharp reggiano allowed each component to shine. The similarly successful butternut squash soup ($9) was a vision in a bowl, the orange–hued broth accented by a dash of black pumpkin seed oil.
The second courses offer a wide variety of proteins, but there were no vegetarian–friendly entree options on this particular night. That detail aside, the main courses improved upon the impressive first offerings. The sizable cut of NY strip steak ($26) was cooked perfectly and provided almost enough meat for two people. The plate also included hearty portions of fingerling potatoes, royal trumpet mushrooms and some exceptional Brussels sprouts. The orecchiette ($18) was the perfect lighter option. The bowl of tiny, ear–shaped noodles contained a well–balanced portion of Italian sausage, broccoli, garlic and chiles, which provided some welcomed heat.
For dessert, the chocolate ganache cake ($8), paired with vanilla gelato, was delicious but incredibly dense, so it’s wise to split it between two people, especially after such a filling meal.
While dinner dishes provide sizable portions, they don’t come cheap. No worries though, Meme has cheaper options that don’t sacrifice taste. The restaurant opens for lunch only on Thursdays from 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. with a very simple menu: fried chicken. For just $11 dollars, diners get two pieces of fried chicken, a biscuit and an iced tea or a Miller High Life for just $11, and $2 more gets you the side of the day (on this day, potato salad).
With such a limited menu, you’d hope the chef would serve a good bird, and he absolutely does. The fried chicken is extremely juicy and packed with flavor. The biscuit was perfectly dense and flaky, and the potato salad was cool and creamy. If you have time on Thursdays, this lunch is worth the trip across the Schuylkill.
Meme also serves a Sunday brunch that has been rated amongst the best in the city, so there are plenty of opportunities to try the chef’s inventive, reliable cooking.
Meme 2201 Spruce St. (215) 735–4900 Don't Miss: Thursday fried chicken lunch. Skip: ordering too many courses. $$$$$
