Vegan cuisine can usually be found in two types in Philadelphia: Magic Carpet style food carts and expensive meals at Vedge. Charlie was a sinner fills the in–between void and provides this city with a trendy and affordable vegan meal.
The lights are dim, the restaurant is small and there was a black and white film playing on the far wall of the room. When seated, we were immediately offered cocktails from the very extensive list of interesting alcoholic combinations, divided between classics and signatures. Mixers change frequently but include kombucha, fresh clementine, aloe vera and nary a dry lime wedge to be found. Try the Ask Again Yes ($12) with blanco tequila, rhubarb, lime and agave.
The menu consists of small plates that change frequently with the seasons, and we sampled some of their latest additions as well as some of the classic staples. The Maryland Style Crab Cakes ($4) are delicious and adorable sliders, albeit not properly named since they are more similar to zucchini cakes than mock seafood. The Harvest Salad ($6) is an interesting mixture of warm cooked root vegetables and herbs, just newly added and perfect for the fall season. The Chickpea fries ($7) was a huge hit and came out crispy on the outside and warm and tender on the inside, seasoned well with spicy pepper to add a kick. The Korean Tofu ($7) is spicy and crunchy with house–made pickled vegetables lining the plate to offset the heat.
For larger plates, we tried one seasonal item and a menu favorite that was recommended to us by the waitress as one of their most popular dishes. The Buccatini and Meatballs ($10) is a play on spaghetti and meatballs, and while the sauce is delicious, the meatballs are rather bland and dry. As remarked by my friend, they aren't any better than the ones her mom makes at home. However, the star of the night was the Spiced Cauliflower ($8). I couldn’t stop eating the pieces of cauliflower, seasoned in Moroccan and Middle Eastern flavoring, charred to perfection in a cast iron skilled and served over Israeli couscous. The flavor profile of the dish was addictive and brilliantly executed- and yes, if it would have been socially acceptable to lick the dish clean, I would have.
Charlie was a sinner is a really unique addition to the Philadelphia food scene. The restaurant has created a chic atmosphere and serves up–scale, delicious vegan food, at a very reasonable price. Definitely don’t let the term “vegan” scare you and grab some friends, dress up a little and try this perfect new Thursday night restaurant.
