The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 116

32 Friday, May 27, 1983 Philadelphia Inquirer Good food and good prices a crowd Dieaser make Threes hour to 45-minute wait, there must be something good going on. Tho oruvt in trio rwprall Amhinnrp Dining find FRESH PLUP CHICKEN s- of each charming dining room and the straightforward food preparation. An appetizer specialty that Included pickled tripe, mushrooms fresh and mushrooms pickled, a large cold shrimp, roasted peppers, chicken salad and tuna salad was fun to pick at and fairly tasty overall, with a full range of flavors to savor. FULL RACK OF BABY BACK RIBS COMBINATION RIBS CHICKEN The Three Threes 333 S. Smedley St.

Telephone: 735-0667 Open: Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Price range: Entrees, $6.50 to $15.95 Credit cards: All major cards. Atmosphere: Quaint, woodsy and candlelit. By Gerald Etter Inquirer Food Writer The Three Threes Restaurant, at 333 S.

Smedley actually has a fourth three to its credit three generations of tradition that includes consistent quality in food and service, as well as a reasonable and sane approach to price. The 300 block of Smedley Street in which, the restaurant has been housed for more than 50 years also has its own tradition. It probably has undergone fewer changes over the decades than the area surrounding City Hall has in the last several years. And The Three Threes has fortunately been equally slow when it comes to change. One interesting change that has occurred at the three-story, three-dining-room restaurant is the bar and small cocktail lounge.

Although The Three Threes had been a "speakeasy" under original owner Gino Fornarol prior to the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, there had never been a bar there until several years ago, when the third generationconvert- ALL SERVED WITH TOSSED SALAD, WINSTON POTATOES, FRESH COLE SLAW, BREAD AND BUTTER. lilWmSTOIUCG lie uuuse saiuu wus mil, miu tuuavi- vatively bathed in a rather thin roquefort dressing. Making his way around some busk hessmen dressed in khakis and blue blazers, some courting couples, groups of three or more and a few singles, our waiter brought us the entrees we had selected from the continental-Italian-American menu. Veal Three Threes, a house specialty, was a generous amount of good veal slices that had been sauteed, with mushrooms in a sherry. Over- HtiUMBIHHaH VAUO AT PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS ONLY NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER SPECIALS ed one of the small first-floor dining rooms into a lounge.

This drinking room, decorated with a mural of Philadelphia life in the 1920s, is a welcome addition if one must wait for a table, which is pretty often the case. When it is consistently difficult to visit a restaurant in the middle of the week without making reservations, and an unannounced arrival brings a half- nil thoro uns flnvnr and tondprnpis I1.J 1 I nau mere uui uueu a ic-w tuewy spots and a slight taste of flour, the dish would have been quite good. The Prime Sirloin Steak Three Threes was deliciously tender, broiled to a medium rare state that seems to occur only on rare occasions and full of robust, juicy and Dinner theater comes topped with green peppers, onions and mushrooms in a light marinara sauce. Vegetables were carrots and potatoes. Doth were adequately cooked and respectable, with the carrots being the tastier of the two.

There are chicken preparations available here, as well as the restaurant's well-known Roast Duckling Bi-garde, a preparation done in an orange sauce and served with wild BROADWAY BABY Springs Valley Luncheon Theater, Avondale, 268-2016. Tue-Wed. To 8 10. CAN-CAN Riverfront Dinner Theater, Delaware River at Poplar St, 925-7000. Tue-Sun.

To 6 12. C'EST MAGNIFIQUE Lily Langtry's, Valley Forge Sheraton, Rte 363. King ol Prussia, 337-5459. Tue-Sun. To 911.

I DOI I DOI DeMaio's, 624 Main St. Norristown, 277-21 1 1. Call for specific days. Through June. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and The Owl and tha Pussycat, alternating.

Falcon House Dinner Theater, 525 West Chester Pike. Havertown, 446-1065. Wed-Sun. To 71. FORTY CARATS Zsa Zsa Gabor stars in Broadway comedy.

City Line Dinner Theater. 4200 City Ave, 879-4000. Tue-Sun. To 626. THE ODD COUPLE Stone Barn Dinner 'C'est Magniique," at Lily Langtry's Theater, Unionville, Wed-Sun.

To 625. THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG Huntingdon Valley Dinner Theater, 2633 Philmont Ave. Huntingdon Valley. 947-6000. Wed-1 Sun.

To 1030. WHERE'S CHARLEY? Downingtowri Inn Resort. Rte 30, Downingtown, 269-2000. Wed-Sun. To 626.

dishes available, as well as seafood and fish offerings. It should also be noted that The Three Threes has an interesting and reasonably priced wine list. Mystery muncher rfMt -lib. Broadway's biggest hits and Gershwin's rolls around; ditto for the Italian hoagie There's also a selec- tion of sandwiches corned beef roast beef turkey breast tuna and liver- wurst and onion to name a few. A large plain pizza is $4.75 and the Fiesta has strombolis antipasto ($3.75, or $4.75 for tuna antipasto) and salad, too.

You can take a seat in one of the large padded booths or order to go. The menu includes a selection of platters roast beef chicken greatest music come to life in Lily's newest entertainment extravaganza! Ninety minutes of non stop action with a spirited French finale ant the added attraction of International Guest Stars. All at Lily Langtry's, the ultimate entertainment experience in the Delaware Valley. Matinee and evening (l) -performances with lunch '4tUlM 0lQlW and dinner served. (7 For information and Theatre Restaurant reservations, call sheralm-MUleyFbrgelfotd Route 363 King of Prussia.

PA 19406 215-337-ULY. the New York cheesecake Just short of being artery-clogging rich, this was the Real Thing, laden with creanv cheese. Dessert for the Deputy was a goodly piece of chocolate cake with enough calories to support a small undeveloped nation through the day. This baby could push even the staunchest recovering chocoholic over the edge. A nice extra touch is that soft drinks (45 cents) come with unlimited refills.

Lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. So what if Chestnut Hill has a restaurant renaissance in progress, with gourmets tripping all over themselves and each other, up and down the main drag? The Muncher always knew that what the community really needed was a decent steak shop. Now it has one.

Fiesta Pizza III (247-4141) opened recently at 8339 Germantown Ave. The place serves a fine cheesesteak ($2.25) on one of the freshest-tasting In the mood for some high-class edibles at low-class prices, the Mystery Muncher and a middle-class Deputy wandered into Taylor's Country Store (563-7627), a marvelous, multilevel lunchery at 1609 Sansom St. The first thing that struck the hungry duet was the fine fingertip control of pianist Arnold Wirlicov on the old upright in the front of the restaurant. A retired lawyer; Wini-cov relaxes during lunch by playing for free. Bravo, sir.

First up for the Muncher was a turkey sandwich with smoked muen-ster on black bread Fresh, different and delicious, this work of art was a culinary adventure to be savored. The Deputy opted for the chili which was mild but well-seasoned with both cooked and raw onions. Served with mild Cheddar cheese on top, this was a perfect prelude to some more serious eating. The Muncher heartily approved of for four pieces of white meat), veal parmigiana big shrimp ($5.50 for four), fish 'n' chips ($4.50) or fried flounder A plate of spa- -ghetti with meatballs or sausage is $3.75. Fiesta Pizza II opens at 7 a.m.

Monday through Saturday. It closes at midnight Monday through Thurs- day, and at 1 a.m. Friday and day. Sunday's hours are 8 a.m. to midnight..