Kennedy Food Garden

1901 John F Kennedy Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 977-9655

Kennedy Food Garden is a hidden gem in Center City west. It's the ground level of a large retirement/older person apartment building. They have EVERYTHING there, from groceries, to rotisserie chickens, to a pretty damn good deli.

Also, the chip and drink selection is second to none. It's like a high-end Wawa.

Although you can order your food at the counter and eat it there, I usually get mine to go. Whether I am going back to work or headed to a park, its a perfect grab-n-go lunch. Now this may be surprising, but one of my favorites there (you really can't go wrong as long as you get something on a French baguette) is the veggie sandwich. This allows me to feel as though I am eating healthy, but I still get the "ingredients on crusty roll" experience I crave. Plus they load this one up with ripe avocado (every time!) and feta.

This one has tomato, banana peppers, cucumbers, avocado, sun-dried tomato, romaine, feta, and mayo. Fantastic. $7. The sun-dried tomatoes give it a meaty chew, the avocado adds the fat, and the feta has the salty kick that would otherwise be missing. I am also a sucker for cucumbers, fresh tomatoes, and vinegary peppers. Did I mention that the rolls are fantastic? This sandwich is more than enough to fill you up until dinner. Or five o'clock, the snacking hour.

Another big winner is the chicken Parmesan. Although its more of a chicken pizza steak, with chunks of chicken rather than breaded cutlets, it's really tasty. Melted mozzarella, tangy marinara sauce, and tender chicken is all it takes to make this one a winner.

It is by no means a clean eat, but its not overly sloppy either. Well seasoned, and again, served on this great roll, its a filling sandwich for about $8.

If you are working in the area, I recommend stopping by the Food Garden to give it a try. It's not the most incredible thing ever, but it's consistent and has the reliable familiarity of an ex. But in this case, it's a good thing.