Ep. 87: Craig LaBan Reviews Philly’s Ever Evolving Food Scene

Delicious City Philly

Happy Halloween! In this fully masked episode, the Delicious City team talks to Craig LaBan himself—a man truly dedicated to his craft. For over 25 years, this acclaimed restaurant critic and writer has eaten his way across town and back in relative anonymity, which is quite a feat in the digital age. His reviews in The Philadelphia Inquirer have shaped the city’s food scene for decades, and he reflects on all this and more in a special interview with Delicious City that peels back the curtain…

• (00:00) We’re all wearing masks today, but not only because we’re in the Halloween spirit… Check our Instagram this week to see how bizarre we all look (@deliciouscitypodcast)
• (06:45) A conversation with Craig LaBan: we dive into his most impactful pieces, memorable meals, and why he’s chosen to keep his face off of the internet. He breaks down “The 76,” a comprehensive guide from the Inquirer on where Philadelphians are eating and drinking.
• (30:17) Does a critic like this get threatened for doing his job? Craig spills the tea
• (38:23) Craig divulges what his last meal would be… It's probably not what you think
• (42:00) A tasting of Bird Gang bourbon… What's Craig's take?
• (48:37) In It to Win It: Get the secret word you’ll need to DM to us on Insta, and you could win a gift card to Royal Tavern, serving up some of the best burgers and desserts around
• (54:19) Bookmark this episode for a ton of Best Bites! Craig tells us what’s resonated with his palate recently, Dave has an adventurous dinner, Eli revisits a Chinese seafood classic and Marisa has her first-ever Milanese experience
• (01:09:52) Event and Pop-Up teaser: a quick rundown of what’s happening this week. Follow us online for all the details, posted weekly!

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

• For the most tasty, healthy, and satisfying salads and noodle dishes in Philly, click here to order Honeygrow
• If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
• Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

Connect with us on Instagram and, of course, share your eating adventures with us, as well as tag us in your posts so we can talk about them on air!