To eat or not to eat?

Birthdays become less relevant to me as I get older but every year I summon enough enthusiasm to play it out because of my kids. Their excitement is contagious and a fancy dinner is imminent. That's the one day I am not allowed to cook( enter the kitchen). I surrender quite easily and scout for a likely restaurant. Last night we decided upon Garces Trading Company which opened in Philly earlier this year. It was, to say the least, a bit of a surprise. We entered and stood off to one side because the hostess was very busy; she didn't have the time to acknowledge our presence even with a nod. The decor was interesting, rustic with an old world touch, but the menu was the deal breaker. I am not a fan of pizza and pasta and most of the menu was about that, albeit discreetly. It has been reviewed positively for the most part, but if I am out to eat I want real food ! We debated going or staying. Unfortunately the deafening noise level in the dining area and the particularly indifferent staff helped us make up our minds quite quickly and soon we were back out on the street.

Since the car was safely parked we walked towards Rittenhouse Square and spotted Le Bec Fin another of Philly's most revered restaurants. This time the Hostess was very friendly and the menu was definitely a lot more exciting. Behind the hostess station I caught glimpses of white tablecloths, wine glasses and food- lots of delicious food! However to our disappointment she ushered us downstairs to a basement level bar with a bunch of little tables which were being set up before our eyes. It did not smell or look remotely like the upstairs and so I was forced to question why we did not deserve a table upstairs. She stated that "denim" was not an accepted dress form there- both my sons were in jeans with collared shirts. We were back out on the street.

We ended up at the Parc, a French Bistro style Steven Starr establishment where we were greeted and seated within minutes. A couple of glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon helped lift the spirits( pun intended) and the dessert menu was enough to cheer anybody up. Beef Bourguignon (that can be eaten with just a fork), juicy Hangar steaks, Roast chicken au jus, Macaroni gratin, creamy mashed potatoes - now that's food... followed by Tarte Au Chocolat, Creme Brulee and Tarte Au Citron. Great food, great ambiance and great service. We rolled out of there happy!!