Carrying out food from family-owned, small businesses and locally grown produce, Reading Terminal Market provides customers with opportunities to explore, eat and shop in the heart of Philadelphia.
To start off, Old City Coffee delivered a rich roast of espresso in their iced latte, with just the right amount of caramel syrup.
Their medium size was much larger than expected, and was reasonably priced.
There was also the perfect amount of ice.
Not too much that it filled the cup, but not too little that the coffee was lukewarm.
Nothing says “Philadelphia” like cheesesteaks, and Reading Terminal did not disappoint.
At Uncle Gus’ Steaks, a classic cheesesteak provided a filling and flavorful entree.
With its warm, melty cheese and piping hot, tender steak, Gus’ served up an authentic Philly staple.
While the filling was savory and comforting, there was so much of it in comparison to the roll that it was overflowing onto the table.
However, that did not stop us from enjoying the cheesesteak.
To wash it down, Kamal’s offered unique fruit smoothies right next door.
Whether in the mood for tropical pineapple, citrus or even earthy carrot in your drink, Kamal’s incorporates a variety of fruit and vegetables as well as add-ins such as peanut butter and Nutella on their menu.
While the smoothies were slightly watered down in taste, the flavors were still very fresh and sweet.
Staying with the fruit theme, Wilts’ signature dish of chocolate ‘smoothered’ strawberries exceeded our expectations.
The melted chocolate covered the fresh strawberries, making a delightful dessert to eat and conveniently walk around the market with. Their large size was also the perfect shareable amount among friends.
Continuing through the market, the next stop included a trip to Hershel’s East Side Deli for pastrami sandwiches.
The roast beef was smoky in flavor with crispy edges, and the juicy pastrami paired well with the buttery, soft bread.
A final stop at Basset’s Ice Cream for a ‘Go Birds’ milkshake helped boost the gameday morale.
With a mix of mint chocolate chip base and mint cookie pieces, the sweet combination satisfied the group.
While the food and environment provided a fun experience, there were some downsides to the day.
Given that we went on a Sunday, many Eagles fans packed the market.
However, too many Detroit Lions fans were present to fully enjoy the Philly pride.
The day of the week also limited our options when it came to food.
None of the Amish shops were open on Sunday, which eliminated some of the options we had been looking forward to on the ride there.
The layout of the market also became an inconvenience.
While we expected the market to be crowded, the walkways were very packed considering all of the lines for the different eateries bordered both sides.
While the food itself at Reading Terminal Market offers a little something for everyone, it does not take into account the amount of seating they offer for patrons.
With only one major seating area with a cafeteria-style vibe, finding a place to eat, especially for a group, may be more of a challenge than one might expect.
A few restaurants offered a lunch counter option, but many did not exceed more than five or six seats.
Others had a small section of designated seats for people dining with that specific eatery.