We Finally Visit The Famished Frog

With all the insanity going on , it can be easy to throw sensible dining out the window.

Oh, that's a fine excuse just before a storm, but what about the rest of the time?

I recently finished a satisfying, butt-kicking yoga class with over at , and wanted something satisfying, but reasonably healthy. is nearby, but I wasn't feeling it. I could have just gone home and made something, but that's no fun.

For some reason, all I kept thinking about was . Maybe it was because I really wanted a beer.

Ignoring previous dining experiences there–full of stacked nachos, cheesy sliders and other meals not fit for post-gym consumption–I ventured over to Washington Street and took a seat in the bar, where my Philadelphia Phillies were on their way to kicking some serious New York Mets butt (sorry, fans).

My waitress/bartender–resembling Fergie from The Black Eyed Peas, only attractive–happily served up a pint of Magic Hat #9 while I looked through the menu.

There were the usual suspects: burgers, chicken fingers, pasta dishes. Then, something in that burger section caught my eye: Buffalo Burger. Once a trendy option at many diners, its availability as a lower-fat alternative to regular cow has waned in recent years. And, instead of fries, it came with a salad. This was calling me.

Shane Victorino hit a home run. Poor Mets. Still wanting beer but trying to minimize the damage, I switched over to a Coors Light with a lemon wedge. Seriously, try it with lemon, it's almost passable.

My meal arrived. The scents of fresh-grilled meat, the tang of sour and bitter vinagrette over a lush bed of greens, were welcoming.

I tucked in. The slightly gamey flavor of buffalo meat was evident. A little ketchup, a little tomato, was really all it needed. The accompanying salad was more than the lame iceberg chunks some pass off as salad. It certainly wasn't an afterthought, but as important a part of the entire meal.

I stuck around long after my burger and salad were happily hanging out in my tummy, to watch more of the game and get a couple more beers (hey, I would have ordered them anyway!). All in all, my meal at The Famished Frog was a very pleasant, satisfying alternative to the usual bar fare I have had there, and will certainly have again. But, now I know there are worthy, healthier alternatives, too.