Tattooed Moose

137 Morrison Drive
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 277-2990
Website

The Moose came highly recommended from a number of people as a dive-y beer bar with great duck. That was good enough for me and so after I got my rental car, checked in to my super saweet AirBnB cottage, I wasted no time and was on my way.

A variety of taxidermy animals surround the inside, which was quite cool. However, I didn't see any tats on the moose, but honestly, I didn't really look too hard.

The duck club was a "must try" per the instructions I'd received so my choice was already made before I'd sat down. From the menu: A triple decker filled with duck confit, applewood smoked bacon, & hickory smoked cheddar topped with garlic aioli, lettuce, tomato, & red onion on sweet Hawaiian bread.

There was certainly a LOT going on with this sandwich. The duck confit was delicious, rich and rendered to water fowl perfection. However there was just too much other shit in the sandwich to truly appreciate the duck as served. You can see the bread and ingredient ratio is a bit overwhelming below. Now, I understand that duck is not the kind of protein you heap on, but I just felt like this could have been better served not as a club. It was still a great sandwich full of fresh, quality ingredients, but it was just not a perfect cohesive package.

The house pickled sweet and spicy green tomatoes were amazing, and the garlic dills were another favorite. Also, those fries.

The duck fat fries with duck gravy were amazing. Shatteringly crisp, with a salt punch, the gravy was not even necessary. When I saw the size of the order, I said aloud "wow, I will never finish those". I am betting you can guess how this ended. Clean plate club indeed.

And although I did like that side of duck gravy, it was too roux-y and was missing that deep, dark, rich and fatty meat flavor that I expect out of poutine-impersonators – but as it goes, I ate it anyway.

Definitely a great stop in Charleston for some great beer and good food. A cool bar all around.

Nick's Old Original Roast Beef

10 E Woodland Ave
Springfield, PA 19064
(610) 690-1112
Website

Yea, yea there is no way that the Springfield Nick's is as good as the South Philly staple. I know this. But that doesn't mean it's not still pretty awesome anyway.

Right off the bat, you can sense there aren't too many aesthetic connections between the two...

However, there are similarities: the clientele could still beat you up, they offer wet on the outs (if available), and it's a dark & semi-divey bar/roast beef spot. Differences: the gravy might be a bit more developed in South Philly – undoubtedly because it's been there for decades and still retains the "Mother Jus."

Cheap domestics, serve yourself horseradish & peppers and some hot beef with prov. What else could you need?

Gravy fries, of course. They are unsurprisingly delicious: crispy, breaded and smothered with rich, beefy debris gravy.

It may not be the original, but it's damn close. I was a skeptic, but now I am a believer. 

Brauhaus Schmitz

718 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 909-8814
Website

Just in time for the end of our Oktoberfest contest with CityEats comes a review of Brauhaus Schmitz.

Brauhaus is an anchor of the South Street community, a welcome reprieve for thirsty (and hungry) folks venturing down to the touristy, yet somewhat gritty section of the city. At least one of those sections. So if you aren't looking to buy a pipe, get your hair cut or braided, buy diamond jewelry that is Looney Toons character-studded, this may be just the place for you.

The interior is fantastic, with a strong German beer hall influence (obviously).

The draft list is extensive, heavy in the lagers, hefeweizens, and pilsners.

You can get various sizes, from 12oz., to half liter, full liter, to das boot!

The menu is reasonably priced, and has a wide variety of German fare. I love the ability to sample a number of items for $3 a piece. One of these offerings is the rollmops & sour cream on rye. Rollmops are technically pickled herring filets that are rolled around some sort of filling like pickled vegetables and/or green olives, but in this case, their interpretation is more like a whitefish salad.

There's definitely a briny undertone here, a tasty one. A combination of creamy texture and chopped pickled fish makes for a surprisingly good snack - and a "must try" at this price point.

The landjager, or in this case, pickled smoked sausages, were certainly another surprise. A recommendation from the fabulous bartender, they were (dare I say it) another steal at $3 for four. They had a deliciously addictive, briny flavor, with a touch of smoke, and a nice (un)healthy balance of fat to meat. Delicious.

The gravy fries were more than plentiful. Smothered in brown mushroom and beef gravy, with a blanket of Emmenthaler, this was a maximum value at $7. The portion was seriously ridiculous. The fries were extra crispy, and the gravy was so deeply condensed, had it been taken any further I am sure it would have been burned. This is one hell of an order of gravy fries, and a delicious German nod to poutine.

Every platter is served with a side or two, and as I went with a double wurst, I had to try the sauerkraut in addition to my two other (included) sides. The tart, tangy cabbage was no slouch, though the encased meats were so delicious they really didn't need any help.

The main event.

On the outside is the Bauernwurst, pork & beef, hickory smoked, with garlic, pepper, and mustard seed. This was by far my favorite of the sausages that day. The rich smokey flavor really permeated throughout, and the addictive snap of the casing was exactly how it should be. On the inside was the Käsewurst, pork-based with emmenthaler cheese, hickory smoked, and some garlic thrown into the mix. Surprisingly, the cheese didn't add much that wasn't already there. Don't get me wrong, this was a delicious tube steak as well, but I would highly recommend the Bauernwurst as top dog.

Now opposite sides, you can see a pocket of cheese on the left.

A side of pickled cucumber and red onion salad was another highlight, with the fresh crispy cukes contrasting with the inordinate amount of meat products I was consuming.

In addition, the spätzle, buttery rich, crispy fried egg noodles, were a big hit.

There were two types of mustard brought to the table, and both were delicious, but the stone ground really won my heart (which was struggling to beat at this point).

While there may be another German beer hall in Philadelphia with a slightly nicer atmosphere, this one takes the food category and runs away with it. I absolutely loved this place, and I can't wait for the winner of our contest to get a chance to eat, drink, and be merry. One word of advice, I learned the hard way, DO NOT play in a hockey game after consuming this much sausage and beer. It was seriously the wurst.

Old Original Nick's Roast Beef

2149 South 20th Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19145

(215) 463-4114

Website

I have not been to Nick's in a long time. Far too long, I know, but there are so many new (and delicious) places to eat, I just haven't been to that neighborhood in a very long time. My mistake, for sure, and one that I will not make again.



Nick's is located in deep South Philly. It's old school. And that is what makes it so amazing. Although the prices have slightly increased since my last visit, the remarkably dingy, dark dining has not. Neither has the most incredible roast beef I may have ever tasted. Ever. Although they offer a few other items, the beef is where it's at. Hand carved to order, the au jus tastes as though it has been slowly reducing from the original slab of beef when they opened sixty years ago. That good.



I order the roast beef combo, on the outs, meaning they slice the crispy bits off of the outside and mix it with your sandwich meat. A slice of provolone makes it a combo and oh, SO good (can you tell I like this place?).



The interiors of the bun are lightly dipped in the meat gravy, and you won't believe how good it is. Rich, salty, indulgent, simple and oh so satisfying. The only condiments are banana peppers, horseradish and yellow mustard, all served table side. I made a vow to eat here more often, and I am already planning my next trip. Oh wait, I forgot to mention the gravy fries (I don't know how, they are AMAZING!).


Smothered (and I mean smothered) in shredded beef and au jus, these things are just the ticket to ensure you reach your maximum allowance of red meat in one meal. The fries themselves are just your standard, battered frozen french fries. But when coated with that delicious gravy, they transform into a comforting meal of meat and potatoes in its most delectable form. You are going to have to use a fork, which is convenient, because one of the biggest problems is fending off the people you are having dinner with before they eat all of the fries. The gravy soaked delights usually come out a few minutes after the sandwiches, so here's a little tip, eat the first half of your sandwich, take a bite of the second half, and then dig into the fries. As soon as they hit the table, drop that sandwich (it will be there waiting for you when you're ready for it again) and stake a claim to your sector of that juicy fry boat. You'll notice that when sharing an order, some people definitely end up eating more than their fair share... Don't say you never learned anything over here!




The pictures really can't do these sandwiches justice. If they look dark it's because they are. The gravy is deep and darkly hued, and the dining room is just as dark. It's the perfect place to enjoy a guilty pleasure. $7 pitchers aren't too shabby either! Below is the old school sign marking the spot. Although it says Nick's Cafe, we all know its Nick's Roast Beef.