I understand that the Blue Angel has closed. Coming soon to the site will be an Italian restaurant. No word yet on menu or prices.

For Cuban dining, we like Cuba Libre on 2nd St.

My wife and I enjoyed the delicious Catalunyan quiche and cubanos sandwich with a side order of chorizo sausage during a Sunday brunch at Cafe Habana.

It's a very informal and cozy place to brunch in the neighborhood. They have a menu listing for brunch, lunch, and dinner at www.cafehabana.com

Would anyone recommend Adriatica, which opened up on Chestnut St. between 2nd and 3rd St. recently?

Would anyone recommend Sunday brunch at either Rouge (18th & Walnut) or Striped Bass (16th & Walnut)? I heard a rumor that live jazz music is performed at Striped Bass.

I would go with Rouge. I hear that Striped Bass is overrated. If you want a restaurant that has live jazz, you can't go wrong with Zanzibar Blue at Broad and Walnut.

http://www.zanzibarblue.com/

I recently enjoyed a fantastic roast pork with broccoli rabe sandwich at Tony Luke Jr's (18th St. between Chestnut and Sansom). Price ranges from $5.70 to $6.30 depending on whether you add sharp provolone cheese or not. It's a delicious alternative to cheesesteaks, which you can get there as well. If the weather's nice, you can eat outdoors in Rittenhouse Square.

Buddakan is great Asian-Fusan....entrees like 22$ great food decor & service

I'm planning a birthday dinner for my wife and was thinking of the following 3 choices. Any preferences for one over the other in search of a romantic, preferably non-smoke filled dining experience?

1) Striped Bass
2) Circa Restaurant
3) Django

Sorry to insert another question, but what's a good see-and-be-seen restaurant in Center City that won't break the bank (prix fixe lunches?) -- frequented by the city's top business and political leaders? I'll be there for July the Fourth weekend.

You might want to try Striped Bass for a prix-fixe power lunch scene. Dined there for my wife's birthday last Friday. It's a chic, elegant space without being overly formal or stuffy. Service was attentive & professional: we had a lovely, romantic window-side table for 2.

We ordered the 4-course tasting menu for 2 people. Total bill with tax was $151 including $6 for two iced teas, and $136 for two tasting menus at $68 per person. (with tip it was $181).

1st course: Seared Scallops w/ Foie Gras was the better choice over the Hamachi with Wasabi Reduction. 2nd course: Preferred the Arctic Char with Tomato & Mushroom over the Halibut. 3rd course: Striped Bass or the Mahi-Mahi were both delicious. 4th course: Orange Sorbet or Taste of Chocolate (Bread Pudding, Mousse with Nougat, and Chocolate Flan). Preferred the latter.

The only mistake the restaurant made was not including a candle for my wife's birthday. Not a big deal, but a minor blemish on what was otherwise a great culinary performance! If you are averse to seafood at all, don't come here.

Gilber20 - I think she forgave the missing candle. ;) At any rate, I've read some great things about Striped Bass, but it's out of reach for this budget. I'm pondering others, such as Novelty, Django's, Fork, or Rouge. Thanks nonetheless.

Hi, designmr~Of the places you are thinking of, I would choose Fork. It is in a great location, browsing before or after the meal, definitely a happening place! The decor is very nice, the service is impeccable and the food is great!
We were seated right by the window, it was fun, being a part of the restaurant scene and yet, watching what was going on outside too.
The owners wife is usually on hand to meet,greet and make nice, as is the chef when he is not in Paris.
Have fun!

Gilber, Circa would be 3rd on the list you provided. Striped Bass is still very good, but the chef who made the restaurant's reputation is no longer there (you can see the restaurant in the movie The Sixth Sense, the anniversary scene was filmed there).
Romantic choices also include Les Deux Cheminees (romantic but old style Continental cuisine, however they do that kind of cuisine very well). The Swan at the Four Seasons is nice and of course, Fork.

Forgot to add that one of the great see and be seen places used to be Dirty Frank's. You could always find top politicos and journalists in there. It was, in fact, a total dive that nonetheless, had a total love-me or leave-me kind of appeal (we actually got engaged there). I don't know if it's still around or has the same vibe.