My suggestions would be Gourmet at Frankford and Cottman in Mayfair (French), Moonstruck in Foxchase (Italian), Moziac in Frankford, Zaccones at Cottman at about Hawthorne (Italian), Johnnies (Italian) at Harbison and Comly, Guidos at Welsh below Frankford (Italian).

For Brazillian food there is Picanha Grille at Castor and Hellerman though I am not quite sure. There is Paloma between Hellerman and Magee. (haven't been there in about a year or so) There is also Kashmir for Indian on Krewstown Road, Rylei on Frankford Avenue which I have not been to yet, however there is a thread about it in this forum.

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As for the tea lounge. Does he have different hot teas?

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Now-a-days, men wear a fool's cap, and call it a liberty cap.
Thoreau from Slavery in Massachusetts

21 different flavors/kinds....that are either hot or iced.....he has 27 different flavors of Milk Tea (bubble tea), hot or iced.

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For a nice, little, non-chain mom & pop place, I would suggest D&W's at 1460 Brownsville Road, just about a minute or two from the Trevose fire house. I have only been there for breakfasts mind you, but if you want to get stuffed on some good quality eatin's, at a fair price, in a friendly atmosphere, give it a try. I know it's not actually N.E. Philly, but I think it might be what you are looking for.
And when you are done (if it's a Sunday) stop in at the flea market at the fire house to walk off that meal!

My family actually frequents a restaurant in our area...(my family meaning my siblings and parents and their families) One day about 15 of us were eating and a crawler fell from the ceiling...we kept our cool put it in a napkin ( brothers are great) and called the owner over, she of course was mortified and told us she just had the exterminator out and paid our bill. We fondly refer the the place as THE ROACH motel and still go there....my kids dont get the joke as it started before they were born, we have never seen a bug since.

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I think any place that serves food is going to have issues with creatures....I remember one of the local news stations did a "story" on the horrible conditions of resturaunts....and they focused on several "big end" places in Center City....and even a health inspector will tel you the same thing...every place is going to have issues....but when you see several in a 10 minute time frame...then you know it's a dive....but once in a blue moon?....is just that.

As I said, the old Pippo's on Rising Sun was notorious for roaches running around the place....people still flocked there in droves...I know I didn't.

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Their Bubble Tea's (milk tea) you can get with or without the tapioca balls....for those who don't like them, this is a plus.

Cantaloupe Tea (drinking now)....mmm, good.

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Yo Mar !
I have never heard of Butterscotch Ice Cream ? You said he has Turkey Hill and I never seen Butterscotch Turkey Hill "do tell"...also Bubble Tea Ive seen that on TV and very curious would love to try...On TV I "assumed" it was a cold sweet drink as it was served in tall glasses with a straw ?? BEST food hands down is in PHILLY !

My son worked at THE POD in College days with a few buddies , and they were all so appalled at the filthy conditions and work habits. They didnt clean up before closing instead food dirty dishes was left
for next day crew to clean up. There were Rodents and Roaches scattering all over every morning all over dishes
cups tables patrons eat off of. It made them sick to have to see this first thing and to have to touch their plates. NONE of them would eat there for free and brought their own bottled water ! POD is suppose to be very UPSCALE and pricey to boot.

Butterschotch/Caramel....to me they are the same but their is a difference in sweetness and texture...I love butterschotch anything....so it's a plus for me.

Bubble tea/Milk Tea is just that...tea...seved cold is best IMO, but you can get it hot...served as you described... with tapioca balls which are the "bubble"...I had cantaloupe tea (I love anything cantaloupe too...especially candy) which had the perfect flavor IMO. Not sweet sweet, but not black tea either.

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