Here’s a great chance to enjoy some fine locally prepared dishes for the next two weeks. Around 30 West Philly restaurants (see the full list on the flyer) are participating in the 6th annual University City Dining Days that will run from tomorrow, July 14, through July 28. You can try something new or visit your favorite location. There are options for many tastes and budgets.

Here’s how it works. Each of the participating restaurants will offer a  three-course dinner special for one of the following set prices: $15, $25 or $30. The purpose of this is to encourage folks to dine at as many locations as possible during these two weeks without the fear of going bankrupt.

Please note that the prices are for dinner only so if you want a glass of wine to go with it it will cost extra. Taxes and gratuity are not included either. Reservations should be made directly through the participating restaurant. See the menus and restaurant contact details on this page.

The 4400 block of Chestnut Street is developing a nice inexpensive African/Middle Eastern restaurant scene. The northwestern bookend of the block is the Pakistani kabob spot Wah-Gi-Wah (“spectacular” in Punjabi). The block’s culinary fulcrum is the Ethiopian cafe and restaurant Kaffa Crossing and now on the eastern end of the block is Al-Khartoum Echo Restaurant, a recently opened Sudanese joint.

Al Khartoum maintains the block’s reputation as a solid place to go for inexpensive curry (lamb or chicken, $5.99), shish tawook ($6.99) and kufta ($6.99), but the more adventurous might dip into the Sudanese fare. Examples include molokhia, a stew like dish made from molokhia leaves and a generous amount of herbs and spices usually served over a bed or rice ($5.99).

It appears that there are several options for vegetarians, including staples such as falafel and okra, but you’re advised to ask about most dishes, because many use a meat stock.

Another restaurant, which looks like it will specialize in gyros, appears close to opening next door to Al Khartoum, so the food choices on this little stretch of Chestnut will likely grow even more this summer. Maybe some day it will get its own “stroll.”