An Early Finch Catches the Spice…
January 26th, 2023
Authored by Nina Wilson and Dynisha Murray
Pictured above is Lamb Shank for 2 ($65), Photo Courtesy of the Brunch Besties.
Picture this. It’s a not so wintery Saturday afternoon, nearly a full month into the new year. You’re feeling a little adventurous and want to push yourself out of your comfort zone, and decide to dine at one of the many restaurants in the rittenhouse square area. One restaurant in particular catches your attention. It’s across the street from your favorite culinary supply shop, and is only a block away from the shops on walnut street and rittenhouse square. It’s someplace that you’ve walked past multiple times before and never thought twice about, but today is different. Today you’re going to take a step inside and figure out what is just so special about this blue and white restaurant on the corner of the Warwick Hotel. This is the story of our experience at Spice Finch.
Of north african and mediterranean inspiration, Spice Finch is owned by Chef Jennifer Carroll and Billy Riddle. The restaurant first opened its doors on July 12th, 2018, but was a concept that the duo had been working on for several years. Carroll, a Philly native, got her start in the culinary world by attending the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College (Cook). It was soon after her graduation that she became the first female sous chef at Sonoma. She worked at various restaurants in Philadelphia and San Francisco before ending up at Le Bernardin in New York City(Chestnut Hill Local). She spent 9 years at Le Bernardin under the tutelage of three star Michelin chef Eric Ripert before being invited to open his next restaurant concept called 10 Arts located in the lobby of the Ritz Carlton Hotel here in Philadelphia (Presently Aqimero). After working at 10 arts for 7 years, Carroll continued to go on to work with various chefs running and opening multiple restaurants in DC, Philadelphia, NYC, and Bermuda. It was not soon after this that she ended up as a contestant on Top Chef, and was one the finalists on the show (Bravo TV).
If you anticipate making a visit to Spice Finch, we would recommend making a reservation in advance to secure your spot. Although on the day of our visit it was not crowded , it is always a good idea to make a reservation. Upon arrival, it is easy to get taken by the interior design. A lot of websites and articles that we read in our research referred to the interior as being “art deco”, which is accurate but there is also a slight contemporary mediterranean twang to the styling. There was usage of dark natural woods, and blues, and the table tops are mosaic styled tables. Overall this made the general vibe of the restaurant feel comfortable but elegant simultaneously. For drinks, Nina ordered an Espresso Martini ($15) and Dynisha ordered Chardonnay ($16) which was DE WETSHOF. In terms of food, we ordered the Trio of Spreads ($15), Mushroom Nwassar Pasta ($18), Lamb shank for 2 ($65), and the Honey Semolina Custard ($11).
Drinks and Appetizers
Espresso Martini ($15) , Photo courtesy of the Brunch Besties.
Let’s start with the drinks! The best part of brunch. Starting with the Espresso Martini, which was strong, but also smooth and robust with flavor. It was a bit more on the boozy side, which if you’re getting a martini is what you want. We give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
Chardonnay ($16/ a glass), Photo courtesy of the Brunch Besties.
The chardonnay was crisp and refreshing. It was light, not too dry, and had slightly buttery notes, and it was a nice wine that paired well with everything we ordered. You’re able to get a sample of the wine, prior to getting a full glass, and our server was nice enough to provide additional insights into its origins. We give this wine 5 out of 5 stars.
Pictured above the Trio of Spreads ($15), Photo courtesy of the Brunch Besties.
The next item was the Trio of Spreads, which the menu describes as garlic yogurt, red pepper hummus, melitzanosalata, crudites, and berbere chips. The garlic yogurt was savory but creamy and smooth. The garlic was subtle and didn’t overpower the rest of the yogurt. The red pepper hummus was smooth and had a bit of a kick, it was balanced. Lastly, the melitzanosalata was savory and smokey but the pomegranate seeds added a lick of saccharine flavor. Each spread was fresh and well made. The berbere chips were crisp and crunchy without being hard or stale, and were dusted with paprika which added an additional layer of smoky flavor. The crudites were crunchy, and refreshingly delicious. We give this trio of delight, 5 out of 5 stars.
Pictured above Mushroom Nwassar Pasta ($18), Photo courtesy of the Brunch Besties.
The last item was the Mushroom Nwassar Pasta. It is described as having, “sunchokes, brussel sprouts, and manchego cheese.” The pasta was thin, almost like sheets of paper, but was smooth and melted in your mouth. The mushrooms added a nice bit of umami to the dish and the manchego added a sharp flavor but added to the creamy and buttery texture of the sauce. The brussel sprouts were well cooked and contributed to the umami combination, while still adding a variety of flavor. The sunchoke crisps that were on top of the pasta worked really nicely to add an additional dimension of texture. Overall, this dish was really delectable and we thoroughly enjoyed it and gave it 5 out of 5 stars.
Lamb Shank for 2
Pictured above is Lamb Shank for 2 ($65), Photo Courtesy of the Brunch Besties.
This item was the most expensive, but was worth every single penny. When we spoke to our server about this dish, they told us that it was one of their most popular items that people order when they visit. And we soon figured out why. The menu described this dish as being a “date braised lamb shank with vegetables and a warm grain salad.”
The lamb shank was incredibly tender and fell off the bone. The braise that was used on the shank was the perfect combination of sweet but also savory. Almost like a complex barbecue sauce. The vegetables were right underneath the shank, so they soaked up the braising liquid, but still retained their form and weren’t over cooked. The warm grain salad was also delicious. It was mainly quinoa but also had bits of couscous and something that added a light bite of crisp that broke up the texture of the rest of the salad. This entire combination married well together and was succulent. If you go and decide to spend the coin on the Lamb Shank for 2, we definitely recommend it. Our final rating of this dish is 5 out of 5 stars.
Honey Semolina Custard
Pictured above is Honey Semolina Custard ($11), Photo Courtesy of the Brunch Besties.
This last item was one that was a bit polarizing. The Honey Semolina Custard, is described as containing phyllo dough, pistachio, rose, and honey. The texture of this dish took a few bites to get accustomed to. It had the texture of a custard as well as having the consistency of a pastry. It was not a particularly sweet dessert. I would say it’s a mix of having a neutral flavor, plus a sprinkle of sweetness from the honey. The dish was garnished with pistachios and rose petals, which also took a few bites to get used to because it creates an interesting mix of textures, out of textures that are already distinct.
The rose petals had a very floral flavor to them, which can be a bit off putting if you’re not used to it. Would we recommend this dessert? It depends on your tastes. If you prefer rich indulgent desserts, this dessert is not that. However if you like something that light, has a tad bit of sweetness, and overall a delicious custard, then this may be up your alley. All in all, we rated this dish 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Closing Thoughts
Normally, one would associate brunch to solely indulging in some variation of eggs, french toast, waffles, and coffee. But it is refreshing to deviate from that norm and try something a bit different. Our experience at Spice Finch was an enriching one. From our wonderfully attentive server, Max, who was incredibly erudite and assisted us with making some delicious selections for our dining experience to the completely delectable food that we ate.
If you are looking for an authentic Mediterranean experience, this is not that. A lot of the food served at Spice Finch leans more on the side of fusion between multiple mediterranean cultures executed in an american style. However, if you are looking to have an enjoyable culinary experience, with amazing service, and sublime vibes, then this is the place for you. Regardless, we give this place 4.83 stars out of 5.
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XOXO,
The Brunch Besties