Bloggers’ Bites: Koo Zee Doo

Bloggers’ Bites is a series of posts chronicling the foodie adventures of Penn Appétit’s blog staff. On a chilly Wednesday evening, Penn Appétit bloggers went to Koo Zee Doo in Northern Liberties, a Portuguese BYOB.

Chelsea Goldinger: Koo Zee Doo has been on my radar since freshmen year, but for whatever reason, I have always ruled it too out-of-the-way to give it a try. I was delighted to have the motive to finally schlep, which, as it turns out, really wasn’t that much of a schlep. I was very pleased with the size of the dishes; the restaurant advertises them as family-style, and they definitely are (FYI, keep this in mind when looking at the prices, they’re actually completely reasonable). This means it is vital to go with a bigger group of people with similar tastes to your own.

I shared an appetizer and entree with a friend. We quickly agreed on a clam appetizer, a special of the evening, that seemed to be very popular for everyone at the table. The best part of the dish was indubitably the sauce, which my friend and I attempted to lather up with our forks, since we were so desperate to eat every last drop and had run out of bread (didn’t work so well). For our entree, we split the Massa com Tamboril, which was monk fish in a lobster sauce and pasta filled with peas, peppers, and onions. Like with the appetizer, the sauce was the star of the dish, although the fish flaked perfectly and had the right balance of tenderness and meatiness that chefs sometimes struggle with on monk fish. Overall, I was very pleased with my meal, and I think I would go back to try some of the meat dishes.

Laura Sluyter: Walking into Koo Zee Doo in the middle of a busy week was a much needed respite. The atmosphere was homey and relaxed with exposed brick walls, a splash of green paint, and two small rooms. Fluffy rolls and flavorful biscuits, clams, sardines, monkfish and macaroni, crispy duck rice, and mushroom and bread porridge: the courses, all served family style, were plentiful and delicious. Without a doubt, however, my two favorites were the duck rice and mushroom and bread porridge. The rice had a beautiful golden crust with slices of duck laid across the top, and when I broke the crust, I discovered that small pieces of duck added texture and rich flavor throughout the rice. The vegetarian porridge may have been on the opposite end of the spectrum from this meat lover’s delight, but I found it equally delicious. Topped with two poached eggs that looked suspiciously like scoops of ice cream, the porridge was soft but not too soft and exploded with the earthy taste of the mushrooms. When the meal came to an end, I was stuffed, content, and pleasantly surprised by the moderate bill. For the atmosphere, the quality of the food, and the reasonable price, Koo Zee Doo is not to miss. I only hope that service is a little faster when I go back.

Hoi Ning Ngai: While the service was slow as molasses, I must admit that the seafood was certainly worth the trek from campus. With their amazing saltiness, the sardines made for a delicious and hearty appetizer. In contrast, the clams were much milder in flavor profile, sitting in a broth that required copious amounts of bread (which the staff happily provided us) to sop up. Although the entrees were less impressive on my palate, I appreciated the variety of textures and flavors that ended up on my plate. A fair representation of Portuguese cuisine, but another run to Northern Liberties may be necessary to sample more of the menu (including dessert)!

Katie Behrman: The meal began with delicious hunks of bread. The bread, quite substantial, left me feeling satisfied, and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to finish my meal. However, when the food arrived, I knew that I would not have any trouble finishing. Chelsea and I split the Bife à Portuguesa, a steak dish comprised of Picanha steak, presunto, a fried egg, and fried potatoes. The steak and presunto were delicious, though a tad salty. And, although I normally don’t enjoy fried eggs, I thought the egg added a nice layer of texture to the dish. The fried potatoes were absolutely scrumptious! A sort of medallion-styled french fry, the potatoes were crunchy, salty, and tasty. Overall, I thought that the meal was really delicious, and I would go back to Koo Zee Doo in a heartbeat.

Vatsala Goyal: I could feel the warm and cozy atmosphere the moment I stepped into the restaurant– it definitely had a “family-style” feel to it.  The first dish to come out was the warm bread rolls with butter, and let me say, it was fantastic bread.  I couldn’t eat much of the food since I am a vegetarian, but I did enjoy the one vegetarian dish I did eat– mushroom and bread pudding topped with grated cheese and two poached eggs.  The dessert menu was so enticing, but by the end of the meal, I found myself way too full to even think about eating anything else.

Nicole Woon: Some of the most memorable dining experiences I’ve had have been family-style. Passing plates haphazardly around the table, sampling more fare than you’ll try on a tasting menu, savoring both the bites and the jovial discussion between diners… Koo Zee Doo was no exception. This tiny gem in Northern Liberties does Portuguese food right. From the pillowy bread with an excellent crumb served at the beginning to the crispy baked duck rice (with meaty duck not only layered on top in slices, but also incorporated into the rice itself as shreds). The most outstanding dish I tried was the steamed clams, a special on the menu that evening. The tender clams themselves absorbed the flavorful broth, the tastes exploding in my mouth. I wouldn’t have second thoughts about drinking the savory, piquant liquid– indeed, I very nearly did if there wasn’t soft bread to soak up the broth at the table.