Craig LaBan
Philly Inquirer
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Past articles by Craig:
Plov House serves the tasty wonders of Uzbekistan 24 hours a day
Come for the signature dish, but don't miss out on the delights of Uzbek noodles. → Read More
Honeysuckle Provisions ‘Dolla’ hoagies are some of the city’s best sandwiches
Omar Tate and Cybille St.Aude-Tate are making hoagies in West Philly from scratch ingredients, from breads to meats and smoked turnips. → Read More
Famous 4th Street Deli is serving pastrami with a stash of mustard
Hikes in the cost of plastic packaging and aluminum lids have tripled the cost of mustard. → Read More
Seek out these fragrant lamb shanks and kebabs at Afghan grill in Rittenhouse
A neighboring construction project has hampered business at this lowkey new Afghan grill. But its classic lamb shanks, kebabs and dumplings are worth seeking out. → Read More
An Oregon dolcetto is the latest winner from Di Bruno Bros. wine collaboration series
Di Bruno's beverage team gets hands-on in collaborations with independent wine makers. → Read More
Sip a holiday taste of Trinidad and Tobago with the festive Flambo Crème
Flambo, the Trinidadian spot in Center City, is serving up this season's most delicious riff on a Caribbean classic. → Read More
Craig LaBan picks the best whiskeys for the holidays
Powerful cask-strength spirits with proofs in the triple digits are this year's full-flavored trend. → Read More
Heavy Metal Sausage Co. is Philly’s latest hybrid restaurant star
It's a retail sausage and sandwich shop by day, a pop-up tasting menu trattoria by night, bringing exciting new life to a South Philly corner. → Read More
This rich, oozing, Lehigh Valley cheese has peak farmstead flavor
American versions of brie tend to be either bland or overly funky, but OK Bloomer from Haven Farmstead in the Lehigh Valley hits a perfect middle place. → Read More
Don’t miss the bánh khọt at Hên Vietnamese Eatery in Cherry Hill
The menu is inspired by the dishes chef Andrew Ma grew up eating: “I want to make my mom proud.” → Read More
Doro Bet is a winner on Philly’s international fried chicken scene
A fast-casual Ethiopian chicken house brings berbere spice to its crisply fried birds, which also happen to be gluten-free. → Read More
Inconsistency and service problems undermine Restaurant Aleksandar’s upscale intrigue
The promising concept near Rittenhouse Square is helmed by owner Aleksandar Stojnic and executive chef Montana Houston. → Read More
Craig LaBan says goodbye to restaurant review bell ratings
A ratings system rooted in the pre-pandemic era no longer applies to today’s restaurant world. → Read More
16 rising stars in Philadelphia’s restaurant world
This group of emerging chefs offers an exciting glimpse into the future. → Read More
Order the whole duck at Forsythia for a modern French splurge
The whole bird at Forsythia is a three-course master class in destination duck dining. → Read More
Boricua #2 in Port Richmond glows with Puerto Rican flavors and culture
The Serrano family's Puerto Rican restaurant has add a festive second location in Port Richmond, with plans to open a 300-seat destination in North Philadelphia in September. → Read More
Summer soup? A special at Sapori Trattoria Italiana in Collingswood is an ode to fresh produce.
The dish features pasta cooked in broth, then floated with fresh, seasonal ingredients. → Read More
Philly's largest food truck commissary gets a new lease and owner after $532K in settlements
Former operator Gary Koppelman has been ordered to pay more than $532,000 in settlements to Philadelphia food truck owners. → Read More
At Mish Mish, ex-food journalist conjures Mediterranean dinner-party vibes to mixed results
The lively 32-seat bistro marked by a giant apricot across from East Passyunk’s Singing Fountain is Alex Tewfik's restaurant debut. → Read More
Craig LaBan picks the 6 best new restaurants down the Shore
Some of this season’s most vibrant new restaurant energy can be found on the Shore’s Southern end. → Read More