We’re Set… (a S.E.T No Libs Review)
Authored by Nina Wilson and Dynisha Murray
August 10th, 2022
Pictured above from top to bottom, Jaeger Cold Brew Iced Coffees ($14), SET Steak and Eggs ($25), S.E.T 4 (Bulgogi Burger) ($16), and S.E.T 2 (Avocado Toast) ($16). Photo Courtesy of the Brunch Besties.
This week’s edition of restaurants that we thought were going to be good, but were actually disappointing, is… S.E.T No Libs!!
S.E.T No Libs, is located in Northern Liberties, and is owned by Michael Tang. The restaurant is a part of a NYC based hospitality group managed by Tang called SET Hospitality. S.E.T No Libs Opened on August 21st, 2020, in collaboration with GLU Hospitality, and is classified as an Asian Fusion Restaurant. They’re open for brunch, lunch, and dinner and offer a full bar as well. They also have a sister location that is located in NYC called SET, L.E.S. The main appeal of the SET Restaurants is that menu items come grouped together, in sets. In completing research on SET No Libs, There were a few points that Tang discussed in the promotional articles for the restaurant that struck us as interesting. One thing in particular, was wanting to create a comfortable neighborhood spot for local residents in the area as well as wanting to make sure that it was instagrammable (Metro). Tang also felt that the culture of Philadelphia was apt for a restaurant like S.E.T No Libs.
There was not much to be found about the other business endeavors that Tang has pursued. The only other restaurant mentioned in connection with Tang was called the Coney Shack. Which like S.E.T No libs, has a location in New York City as well as a location in Philly. However the Philadelphia location closed sometime within the past year.
Let's hop into our visit to S.E.T No Libs. We went on July 17th, 2022 and made reservations in advance. It was a sunny day in the 80’s. They do offer outdoor seating options, however we made our reservation for inside dining. The interior of the restaurant was beautiful, and very instagrammable. The walls were covered in colorful graffiti art that paid homage to various historic figures and landmarks within Philly. Additionally there was use of warm toned wood to pair with the cool colors of the graffiti on the wall. The chairs and tables were made of warm toned wood. Blocks of wood were staggered along the top of the bar and the ceiling, which looked really cool.
We ordered the Jaeger Cold Brew Iced Coffee ($14), S.E.T 4 which was a Bulgogi Burger ($16), S.E.T 2 which was Avocado Toast ($16), and the SET Steak and Eggs ($25).
The Jaeger Cold Brew Iced Coffee was okay. It was really strong. So much so, that Nina struggled to finish it. But if you’re looking for strong drinks to pair with your brunch, then it’s an option you can’t go wrong with.
Pictured above Jaeger Cold Brew Iced Coffee ,($14/each). Photo Courtesy of the Brunch Besties.
S.E.T 4 (Bulgogi Burger)
Pictured above, S.E.T. 2 (Bulgogi Burger), ($16), Photo Courtesy of the Brunch Besties.
S.E.T 4 is described on the menu as “Bulgogi Burger with Korean BBQ Marinated Sliced Ribeye, Tex Mex Cheese, Caramelized Onions, Kimchi, Sunny Side Egg & Chili Garlic Aioli on a Brioche Bun, with your choice of sriracha home fries or waffle fries.” We ordered the home fries, which seemed to be a good idea in theory, but not in execution. The presentation of the dish was nice, it was nothing extravagant.
The home fries looked like a problem from the beginning. They appeared to be mushy and overcooked, and that is exactly how they tasted. So much so that a lot of the different seasonings and flavors that were put into the home fries felt like a waste.
In regards to the burger, it kept slipping off of the bun making it a bit messy and difficult to eat. Additionally, the texture of the meat was more minced than sliced, so it felt more like a sloppy joe than a burger which was off putting to say the least. The flavors were really good, It was a little cheesy, creamy because of the aioli and the egg and savory flavor of the bulgogi and paired well with all of the other elements of the dish. Good flavor alone is not enough to give an item a high score on our list, and if it were it would be more like handing out participation awards than critiquing food. That said, we scored this dish 2.5 stars out of 5. Not the most vile thing we’ve eaten.
S.E.T 2 (Avocado Toast)
Pictured above, S.E.T. 2 (Avocado Toast), ($16), Photo Courtesy of the Brunch Besties.
S.E.T. 2 is described via the menu as “Avocado Toast with Guacamole Spread, Sauteed Cherry Tomatoes, Feta Cheese, Pickled Onions and Balsamic Vinaigrette. With your choice of sriracha home fries or waffle fries.” We decided to go with the waffle fries and thank god that we did, because that was one of the redeeming qualities of our visit.
The fries were crisp and fresh and perfectly seasoned. The presentation was again decent, nothing visually entertaining. The avocado toast was savory but creamy due to the guacamole spread and feta. The cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette added a more tart/ sour flavor to the toast. However it was delicious and it worked well. If you’re not crazy about feta or balsamic vinaigrette, this dish could come across as too salty or a bit sour, but it can still be enjoyable depending upon your tastes.
The main issue we had with this dish was that the bread was soggy. Which threw the texture of the dish completely off. We’re not sure what it is with this place and texture, but apparently they have some beef. Overall, besides the texture issues, this was not a special avocado toast. You could easily make it better at home or get it from someplace else. Thus why we roasted the toast by giving it 2.5 out of 5 stars.
SET Steak and Eggs
Pictured above, SET Steak and Eggs ,($25), Photo Courtesy of the Brunch Besties.
Last but certainly not least, we have the SET Steak and Eggs.The second redeeming dish of our visit. The menu describes this dish as “ Vietnamese Buttered Skirt Steak, Sriracha Garlic Home Fries, 2 Sunny Side Eggs.” The presentation of this dish was definitely a step up from the other two dishes, and looked really delicious. The fried eggs weren’t anything special. The home fries were still absolutely vile. The steak was magical. It was tender, savory but also slightly sweet, juicy and bursting with flavor. We requested our steak be cooked medium rare and it came back a bit more medium well done, but it was still delicious. This dish could have been improved, if there was only one side dish. Like eggs or home fries, but not both. Overall considering the flavor of the steak and how well it was executed, we gave this dish 3 out of 5 stars.
In Conclusion
Another week, another disappointment. I’m (Nina talking here lol) not too disappointed by this week's restaurant mainly because of where it is located, which is in a recently developed area of the city. Within the past ten years, Philadelphia has undergone a huge amount of gentrification. With that, not only have people of color and low income families been displaced from their homes, but we’ve seen a rise in newer restaurants that are meant to cater to the new residents of these neighborhoods. S.E.T No Libs is an example of one of those restaurants.
In regards to large-scale gentrification, I’m referring to entire neighborhoods completely demolished to make room for new developments. While I think change is to be welcomed, I think change to this extent is not sustainable. Especially so if people who are moving to these newer neighborhoods are not invested in staying in philly on a long term basis. Which is its own can of worms I won’t get into.
I believe that people have grown to not be picky about where they eat. As long as it looks good on their instagram feed and has a bit of seasoning to it, it’s considered to be the best place to eat since sliced bread. Don’t get me wrong, I can understand and appreciate when people have tastes that differ from my own. I think that’s what makes the culinary scene so unique to be a part of. However, when it’s not just about seasoning but also execution. There is no reason why anyone should pay 25 dollars for overcooked home fries.
That being said, our final rating of S.E.T No Libs averages out to 2.66 out of 5 stars. I can’t say it wasn’t well deserved.
What are your thoughts above this review? Do you agree or disagree? Did we go on a bad day? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Until Next time.
XOXO,
The Brunch Besties