I have to admit to being a Hard Rock Café junky. If there is one in town I am very liable to visit. Alex had been to a Hard Rock with us before but not Julia. 12-year-olds are notoriously finicky eaters and I was pretty sure that I could find a burger and fries that both of them would be willing to eat. Before we even got into the restaurant we spent about a half hour in the gift shop finding T-shirts for them to take home. What finally transpired makes me smile even today. They both ended up picking the same shirt, brown with a white guitar on the whole front, very cute and I think it was very telling about them that even though they are just cousins, not siblings, their tastes are very similar. I wish I had thought to take a picture of the both of them wearing their shirts.

Alex and Julia decided they would share a rack of ribs and fries. I had Wings around the world and Al had a bacon cheeseburger. The menu is a little different at each location as well and here I noticed that they had Philly steak, seems appropriate. If you have never eaten at a Hard Rock Café you can expect to get a large portion of slightly better than average food. This is not gourmet eating but neither is it fast food. I just enjoy the loud music, relaxed atmosphere, and the walls loaded with memorabilia. Every Hard Rock has different things and after I order I always walk around as much as possible to see what they have. It runs the gamut from performance costumes to gold records and instruments.

My Wings Around the World was a dozen wings, four each- typical buffalo sauce, spicy Moroccan and an Asian sesame sauce. They are all perfectly cooked and each of the sauces is unique and quite delicious. It was Buffalo wings and beyond. The burger was cooked just the way Al likes it and what’s not to like about a rack of ribs. The menu is varied and includes plenty of appetizers, sandwiches (I love the pulled pork), salads and main courses. You can choose between tuna steak, steaks, fajitas and pasta. There are also several choices for vegetarians including a veggie burger.


Having finished our meals we all decided that we had room for dessert and they have some might fine sundaes here. We split one and Julia and Alex shared a chocolate chip cookie pie and ice cream. We totally enjoyed ourselves and for families I highly recommend this restaurant, with the loud music no one will notice if your kids act up a bit. We have always had good service and sometimes we are surprised by impromptu concerts and entertainment both from the staff and our fellow guest. Not however the place for a romantic dinner or for quiet conversation.

People, people, I know you're at the Convention Center, exhausted, and this is quick, easy, and reliable, and one place everyone can agree on and...

Believe me: the only excuse to go to a chain restaurant in Philadelphia is... uh... well, there isn't one. There are too many good restaurants here.

Go to Reading Terminal if it's open for lunch. There's enough variety there to satisfy your hunger and cultures to satisfy your soul.

For dinner nearby, go to Chinatown. On this site, you'll find suggestions from cheap to pricey (how much is your per diem on the expense account?) and from all cultures.

There are dozens of great restaurants near 12th and Arch. Walnut Street and Rittenhouse Square have several top-rated sites, like Striped Bass and Rouge. Funkier places, like the White Dog and Pod, can be found in University City, farther west down Walnut (buses go straight down Walnut).

Well, where there is a Hard Rock, I have to go. This one was great, like the others I've been to. I collect the Hurricane and shot glasses, and my husband collects the T-shirts, so, you see, I must go to them all!

I have never tried them anywhere, so since there was no Planet Hollywood, why not? They had good food but lousy service. They also had good decor, but the loud music was disturbing.