Spring Preview: 6 Bars to Look Forward to in Philadelphia
As winter wanes, Philadelphia bar openings are heating up. Here are six bars and restaurants to look forward to in the coming weeks and months.
Cedar Point Bar and Kitchen: Fishtowners can look forward to classic Southern food from the team behind Northern Liberties’ A Full Plate Cafe, set to launch sometime this month. Menu items include fried chicken, catfish and jambalaya, vegetarian friendly options will also be available. A rotating selection of craft beers will flow from 15 taps, and cocktail lovers can choose from a selection of spirited drinks. Outdoor dining will be a welcome addition come spring. Follow their Facebook page for updates.
Fitler Dining Room: Folks in the Graduate Hospital area are in for a treat from the Pub & Kitchen team. Housed in the old Mémé space, the new spot will feature food from chef Rob Marszinsky, along with beer from two taps and 12–20 bottles, wine by the bottle and glass and several digestifs and sherries (fancy!). Look for an opening sometime very soon. Follow them on Twitter @FitlerDiningRM for menu previews and updates.
Bru: Hooray for this upcoming indoor German beer garden in Center City. It's coming to life in the space formerly occupied by the Mitchell and Ness retail shop. Instead of trying to copy a historic beer garden, the place will be tech-driven; according to The Insider, half a dozen drafts will be poured from a self-service wall outfitted with iPads. Another 32 taps will pour local and other crafts from a side of a tree. Woah! Expect a March launch.
Pennsylvania 6: PE6 is coming to Midtown Village this spring in the former Tweed/Les Bon Temps space. The 1930s era American brasserie will have a raw bar, a cocktail bar and half a dozen craft brews curated by Field House and City Tap House beer steward Andy Farrell (its owned by the same management group). The design will feature marble details, white subway tiling, luxurious leather chairs, antique mirrors and photos of old time greats like Sinatra and Brando. Follow their Facebook page for updates.
The Goat's Beard: Coming to Manayunk (possibly in early March) is this whiskey bar featuring American cooking. The team includes Sean Coyle of Bourbon Blue and chef Dan Connelly, according to The Insider.
Strangelove's: Brendan Hartranft and Leigh Maida, who own beer meccas Memphis Taproom, Local 44 and Resurrection Ale House, are taking over the shuttered Butcher and Brewer (formerly The Boilermaker, formerly Blue Bear Tavern, formerly Doc Watson’s). The two-story space will have a bar on each floor with 18 drafts and two beer engines along with a seasonal bottle selection. Look for it around mid-March.
