Suppa
1040 N. American Street, Liberties Walk, Northern Liberties, Philadelphia
(215)644–9324
$$
Don’t Miss: The Burger
Skip: Fries as a side, if they’re offered (VIVA TOTS)
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When we arrived at Suppa, it was another dimension. It’s located right on the corner of the regularly crowded Liberties Walk—just blocks away from the Girard stop on the Market–Frankford Line. The restaurant looked cozy and inviting, except for the fact that we were virtually the only patrons the entire evening. This was unfortunate, because aligned with the superb background music (we walked in to Pat Benetar and left to “My Humps”) was an eclectic array of cuisine options to match any palate and budget.
With such variety, we had trouble deciding on appetizers, eventually going for the Falafel & Naan dish ($7.50), as well as the lamb curried spring rolls ($9). While the falafel itself didn’t have a kick, its texture was rich in an almost un–falafel way, and far less mealy than the balls we’re used to elsewhere. The dish came together well. The spring rolls had the perfect combination of flavors, as the spices and mango coconut sauce calmed the gaminess of the meat.
Opting to go for the lower–priced but oh–so–appealing mains, we ordered the burger ($12) and a smoked chicken sandwich ($11), one of the evening’s specials. The sandwich, which sported buttercup brie from the local Cherry Grove farm, was perhaps a bit too rich, with pieces of pulled, smoked poultry dwarfed by the cheese and green apple–cranberry chutney. The burger, however, was a true suppa–star (retiring that pun), and, luckily, it’s always on the menu. Its supporting cast was equally stellar—we’re talking caramelized onions, roasted tomato jam, heavenly Cooper cheese and fresh pickles packed in the brioche bun. The chicken came with forgettable fries, not usually on the menu, since most sandwiches are served with chili lime popcorn. The burger, it must be noted, was accompanied by orgasmic homemade tater tots, which were basically big, fried, tender explosions of latke.
Even though we were stuffed by the time dessert rolled around, we couldn’t resist choosing two of the housemade options. The strawberry mascarpone empanadas ($4) were everything: a creamy, fruity concoction of fresh ingredients that were fried to perfection in a light, doughy shell. The peanut butter brownie was massive, but caky and not overwhelmingly fudgy. While not paradigm–shifting, it was, of course, a delight, because how can a PB brownie not be?
In addition to trendy mixers for your brought booze, Suppa features a diverse menu beyond our satisfying new American rendezvous—try Southern (shrimp ‘n’ grits, $18), Indian (tandoori fried chicken, $18) or Vietnamese (banh mi, $8) and more. Entrees are hearty, with many between $10–12, so your bill may be way lower than the usual catastrophe at Charles Plaza—and it’s delicious! Next time you ask your friends “What’s for suppa?” (which we all do), consider Northern Liberties’ newest BYO.
