Full of modernist décor and daring menu offerings, Patagonia Bar and Grillgo is one of the more exotic finds in Bucks County. The restaurant, set in Richboro, is the special kind of place that can work for a casual lunch or romantic dinner.

Right when you walk through the doors at Patagonia, you know you’re in for a unique experience. Being greeted by a flowing waterfall and pond stocked to the brim with extroverted Koi makes the atmosphere warm and welcoming. The vivid bright yellow and deep orange wells set against the rich wood tables makes for quite the impression.

If you’re lucky, you’ll get seated next to the glass-paned waterfall that divides the two dinning room with a veil of flowing water. But if not, each table also is appointed with fragrant flowers that add an elegant touch to the minimalist table settings.

The menu of Patagonia features something for every taste, from multiple varieties of French crepes to Italian paninis. Start things off right with a plate of warm Brie or some light and crispy Asian potstickers. Seafood fans will love the selection of dishes on the dinner menu, like Costa Rican tilapia and sautéed grouper. The crème brulee at Patagonia is one of the best in the county, with a balance of cream and sugar that is perfectly executed.

Patagonia Bar & Grill
59 Almshouse Road, Richboro, PA 18954
(215) 354-9400
www.patagoniabarandgrill.com

If you’re looking for a quality brunch at an affordable price this weekend, look no further than Sullivan’s Steakhouse in King of Prussia. This neighborhood favorite (operated by the same people who brought us Center City’s Del Frisco’s) launched a new Sunday Brunch service earlier this month.

The menu offers classic brunch cuisine, including French Toast, Belgian Waffles, Eggs Benedict, and a Broiled NY Strip Steak, among other favorites. The real surprise here, however, is the value. Each entree comes with a starter (your selection of chilled asparagus bisque, a fresh fruit plate, an Iceberg lettuce wedge, or baby mixed greens with basil dressing) and a trip to the delightful unlimited dessert buffet, where anyone with a sweet tooth is sure to find something they crave. Bellinis, Mimosas and Bloody Marys are available at a very reasonable $5 each for the adults, and, to complete a family-friendly atmosphere, Sullivan’s also offers a children’s menu with entrees at $8.

Delicious food aside, Sullivan’s also offers excellent service from a very well-informed, polite staff. In fact, the quality service begins even before you walk through the front doors, with complimentary valet parking available as soon as you drive up. Sullivan’s truly is a five star experience at a three star price.

If you can’t make it for brunch, try to catch “Swingin’ at Sullys” on Thursdays from 4 to 11pm or Sundays from 3 to 10. This event offers half off the already affordable bar menu, $5 martinis, red wine and white wine, and live music in the front bar area. Fridays, enjoy classic steakhouse dinner selections with all wines below $200 a bottle available for half off.

This weekend, skip the shore and the traffic and the headaches and head the other way to King of Prussia instead to Sullivan’s Steakhouse!

Sullivan’s Steakhouse
700 West Dekalb Pike, King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 878-9025
www.sullivansteakhouse.com

Northern Liberties’ newest addition, The Piazza, brought a decidedly European flair to the hipster neighborhood. It was only appropriate that the space housed an Italian restaurant.

Vino, true to its name, boasts one of the best wine lists in Philadelphia. The wine menu (calling it a list doesn’t give the selection justice) ranges from recession-friendly $6 glasses to the expensive bottles that I plan on ordering when I bring my parents to Vino. If the namesake drink isn’t your beverage of choice, the restaurant also touts an impressive beer list.

My first visit to Vino was a lazy, sunny Sunday. Eric, our entertaining bartender, kept us in stitches and essentially picked out our entire meal, from the red wine from Montepulciano, to the antipasti platter overflowing with cheese and meats, and finishing with the fruit pizza for dessert. Every aspect of the meal was perfect. The comfortable leather bar stools, the wine soaked peaches served as a palate cleanser… perfect. Note to Vino—please make these peaches a permanent fixture on the menu.

The second visit was an impromptu girls’ dinner. After hearing my friends moan and groan about how far Northern Liberties is they quickly stopped whining once we were seated in our booth looking out onto 2nd St. The wine was excellent, the entrees were flavorful (my Risotto Con Zucca was perfection), and the complimentary limoncello shots were a welcome surprise. We left the restaurant planning our next visit, and I mentally added Vino to my list of favorite Philadelphia restaurants.

Vino. I love the drink. I love the restaurant.

Vino Restaurant
1001 N 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Oh boy, it’s that time of year again. Get ready to experience some of the best dining University City has to offer, when University City Dining Days strikes at the end of July. Running from July 23rd to the 30th, UCity Dining Days dishes out an excellent array of restaurants, each serving up specialty courses for three fantastic prices; $15, $25, and $30.

If you visit the University City District’s official page for Dining Days, you can check out menus from Slainte Irish Pub, Vietnam Cafe, Bridgewater Pub, World Cafe Live, Marigold Kitchen, and Penne Restaurant & Wine Bar, however over a dozen more establishments are participating in dining days. So go check out the list!

Looking forward to visiting a specific restaurant? Tell us all about it.

University City’s Dining Days
July 23rd - 30th, 2009
www.ucityphila.org/diningdays

Barcelona Delusion Cocktail @ Fri Sat Sun

Work week got you down? Dreaming of a trip to someplace more civilized, more romantic?

Well then, grab a table at Friday Saturday Sunday and order up a Barcelona Delusion, and dream away. Prosecco, sherry and sweet vermouth. Mmm. All you have to do is mention it to your server and it’s on the house during dinner on Monday through Wednesday.

Nestled on a quiet little street just off of Rittenhouse Square, Friday Saturday Sunday is the “little restaurant that could.” Known for its great food, fair prices, and intimate atmosphere, they’ve been a neighborhood classic for 35 years. Give them a call and ask for outdoor seating.

Few things beat free drinks and fresh air. You might just become a regular.

Friday Saturday Sunday
261 S. 21st St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 546-4232
www.frisatsun.com

Outdoor dining at the Swift Half

If you read the bottom of the cocktail menu at the Swift Half, you’ll spot an all too familiar quote. “There’s No Such Thing As Just One.” And you know what? They’re correct.

This new addition to The Piazza sits innocently in the corner and draws in an eclectic crowd of hipsters, preps, and small dog owners for what they assume will be a quick drink. Don’t let the name fool you—no visit to this Northern Liberties watering hole will be swift.

The menu serves up sophisticated bar food that compliments the long beer menu and innovative cocktail list. Being averse to beets, I was shocked at how much I enjoyed the beet-and-goat cheese sandwich, accompanied by perfectly crisp fries. The meal, while fantastic, was overshadowed by what turned into a day-drinking event with Swift Half’s incredible drinks menu.

Traditional bar food isn’t the only thing getting an upgrade at The Swift Half; classic cocktails have also been given an elegant (and potent) transformation. Take the Ghost of Mary, a drink that boasts the all the flavors of a classic Bloody Mary in a grapefruit juice-like liquid, accompanied by olives. This cocktail packs a punch; drink these wisely. The Dirty Tom on the Rocks puts the timeless dirty martini in a tumbler over ice, but don’t assume these changes reduce the potency of the drink. And if beers and wine are more to your liking, your only problem will be choosing one from the lengthy list that The Swift Half provides.

Whether it be for dinner, to watch the Phillies, or for some good weekend day-drinking, plan on visiting Swift Half this summer.

The Swift Half
1001 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Visiting Philly for the 4th of July and looking for unique way to celebrate? Or maybe you live here and just want to shake up your routine. Perhaps you know that they best way to enjoy fireworks is with a full belly. Get in the spirit with City Food Tour’s Red,White & Blue tour to sample some patriotic colored food while visiting classic Philly institutions.

You’ll start in Center City in the private dining room at Solefood, where a cheese expert will answer all your questions about moldy cheese as you sample American blue cheeses and accompaniments. Moving on to Tavern 17 the historic Radisson Warwick Hotel, toast to independence with a flight of red California wines, while an friendly expert takes the intimidation out of wine tasting. Ready for dessert? Stroll to the popular Naked Chocolate Café and feast on several desserts made from white chocolate (make sure to ask for the recipe!).

Plan ahead for this July 4th and order advanced tickets at www.cityfoodtours.com, or call 1-800-979-3370.

Throughout history, top hats have signaled an air of class and sophistication. Whether on a rich man or a poor man, you always get the impression that a top hat is sitting above someone of importance; a real man-about-town who knows where the action is. So it should come as no surprise that Lucy’s Hat Shop, Philly bar-baron Avram Hornik’s Old City institution, is sporting some sleek new headgear.

Top Hat resembles a dance studio, with white walls combining with exposed brick and hardwood. And with dance spaces on either end of the room and windows overlooking Market street, you will quickly find your groove.

And that shouldn’t be too difficult with Friday and Saturday parties from some of the best Philly DJ’s. If you are a fan of the party nights offered by Bar Noir, you are in luck. Because even though Bar Noir is in the process of being sold, the party nights like Breath Stretch Shake and cuts from Ian St. Laurent are still hitting the dance floor every weekend

But because top hats are generally thought of as high-class accessories, Top Hat will feature weekly first Friday events exhibiting local artists and crafters with art/trunk sales. Featuring free appetizers, two cash bars and a ton of local talent, First Friday’s at Top Hat gives Lucy’s the formal touch to impress the Old City scene. Come see what a famous hat shop puts on its head this weekend. For more info, visit www.tophat215.com.

Top Hat @ Lucy’s Hat Shop
247 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.tophat215.com

Inside Local 44

Local 44 is University City’s surprise hit beer bar, found at the corner of 44th and Spruce Street. Local just opened on New Years Day in 2009, and was packed to the rafters that night. This place is really easy to get to – plenty of bike racks out front, and the #42 Septa bus stopping literally right at the front door.

Known for it’s selection of all-draft beers, Local 44 rotates out its kegs on an almost weekly basis, so everyone is bound to find something they like. Beers range from hard-to-find imports to local staples, hoppy to yeasty, light to very dark. Local has a number of events (it really is worth signing up for the e-alerts on their website), including Quizzo every Sunday night at 9pm with host JB Farley.

Check out the menu while you’re there – not only do they offer great bar food, but they’ve got some pretty delicious entrees as well, and they’re all reasonably priced (think the $7-11 range).

The best part? Local 44 is hosting a summer-long “Locals Happy Hour” from 5-7 every weekday, with discounts on locally brewed beers.

Local 44
4333 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 222-2337
www.local44beerbar.com

L2 has been a fixture at the corner of 22nd and South Streets for years, however it’s only been within the recent economic downturn that the bar menu available in the front of the house has gained such popularity. Affectionately referred to by some patrons as the “recession menu”, this limited-but-flavorful selection offers high-end food at prices you can even afford on a decent-sized unemployment check.

A mere $8 gets you an excellent hamburger on a fresh roll with delicious hand-cut fries. Step up to the $11 sirloin steak and you’ll enjoy a well-portioned 8oz cut of beef grilled to your liking, more of those amazing hand-cut french fries, and a small salad. The same plate at many other center city restaurants would easily run you twice the price. Invest some of those saved dollars into a smart martini from the bar to fully round out your dining experience.

And if you like jazz music, L2 has a treat for you: on most Thursdays, swing by in the evening between 7:00 and 11:00pm to enjoy the live musical styling of Mary Ellen Desmond (her newest CD, Darn That Dream, is available on iTunes or at her shows). The bar menu is a great choice any day of the week, but with (free) live entertainment on Thursday nights, that’s the night to go and enjoy a night out with your friends or with that special someone.

L2
2201 South Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 732-7878
www.l2restaurant.com

If there are 3 words sure to get my attention (and raise excitement levels big-time) they are, without question: outdoor happy hour. Sipping cocktails, relaxing with friends, soaking up some rays… life really doesn’t get any better! My new favorite spot to do all of the above? The Terrace at 13, the laidback, breezy outdoor patio, just outside 13 Restaurant at the Marriott in Center City.

With bev specials that include $3 wines, $5 margs, and my personal fav, the $4 Leblon Breeze (pineapple juice and cranberry cachaca, served with a lime… mmm) it was hard to resist… especially as singer/guitarist Hal Aaron churned out easy-going summer anthems. “I take requests!” he announced, before launching into “Margaritaville.”

The appetizer list proved equally seductive: garlic chili shrimp, jerk chicken skewers, cheese steak hoagie pizza and more. I tried the shrimp and the beef empanadas and devoured both – the shrimp was sweet and tangy, and the empanadas fresh and flavorful. Dessert was mojito mango sorbet – light and refreshing!

I’ll definitely be returning to 13 for more summer cocktails soon – and next time, I’ll make sure to bring my friends. Before the shore or just after work – either way works for me!

“Before the Shore” Summer Cocktail Parties
Every Thursday, 5PM to 8PM

Terrace at 13
1201 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 625-6795

Drum circle at the Kimmel Center on the Solstice

Looking for something to do on the longest day of the year? (That’s June 20th for those of you not following the calendar.) Well, we’ve got an idea for you. The PSPCA and the Kimmel Center throw together a Summer Solstice party every year for this first day of summer celebration. This year, however, you can bring the whole family – including canines!

Appropriately named, a Yappy Hour takes place from 5:30-10:30pm on the Broad Street side of the Kimmel Center. For the first time ever, the Kimmel is bringing its restaurant, Cadence, street side for the Summer Solstice event, which is what allows you to bring your pooch along and eat outside. The menu includes a Doggie menu, and 10% of food sales and anything bought from the doggie menu will help build the PSPCA’s new dog park on Erie Ave. You are helping build a sanctuary for shelter dogs to play, exercise and relax from the stresses of a past abusive life.

Other things to do at this 15-hour event: day time face painting, chair massages, dance performances, nighttime club dancing, drag show, henna tattoos, tarot card readers, and more! There will be plenty of food, drinks and entertainment to fill the extra time on this longest day of 2009.

Kimmel Center
260 South Broad Street on the Avenue of the Arts
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Joe Pesce's prime location on Walnut Street; Photo courtesy Joe Pesce

Joe Pesce has a great location on Walnut Street for some early evening drinks and eats.

Conveniently enough, they also have a great happy hour, Monday - Friday, from 4 - 7 pm.

$4 Appetizers
$4 Cocktails
$4 Wines
$2 Beers

CLICK HERE for more information on the official Joe Pesce website.

Or CLICK HERE to check out even more happy hour deals.

In Center City Philadelphia, there is no shortage of events geared toward the upwardly mobile, social-networking, business-savvy mogul-in-their-own-mind types. Galas, singles nights, even generic bar specials are a place to see what is going on in while sipping on a $5 martini.

But say your friends wanna come along; you know, the ones without the cushy jobs or who just got laid off this year? Do you give up your happy hour business card swap meet to slum it over some Philly specials? Do you force your pals to go into shock for another round of shots at full price?

But with Center City Sips, no one is left out in the cold. Because with $2 beers, $3 wine, $4 cocktails and half-priced apps, anyone can be a Center City snob. And this bargain basement special is good at any participating Sips establishment.

Rub elbows with the elite at places like Bistro St. Tropez, Palace at the Ben and Pearl. Try out the hot spots, like the upscale newbies Union Trust steakhouse and Chifa. And hit up your old haunts like the Irish Pub and Doc Watsons. Its all in play at the summer’s best drink special event.

If you wanna really live it up this summer, create a card with all participating bars and see if you can hit them all before the close of the summer. You will have your work cut out for you though. With 80 different restaurants and bars to try, you will have to hustle. Check out the full list at www.centercityphila.org.

Center City Sips runs every Wednesday through the end of August.

Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

Is it Friday Yet?

Do you know the rush that you experience every time the clock hits 5pm on Friday afternoon? It’s the feeling of sweet, sweet freedom. The long work week is finally over and you can let your hair down. What better way to ring in the weekend than attending Philadelphia’s new socialite event, Finally Friday, held at Ms. Tootsie’s Restaurant Bar Lounge.

Finally Friday a five-hour networking opportunity when Philadelphia’s elite can come together to enjoy reduced prices on cocktails, premium beer and specialty drinks that are all priced at just $5. Guests can also indulge on Ms. Tootsie’s extensive menu of hardy soul food, including gooey mac-n-cheese, buffalo, barbecue or teriyaki wings and catfish fingers, each priced at just $5.

Come in and see what your happy-hours have been lacking! Finally Fridays are held each Friday from 5pm to 10pm at Ms. Tootsie’s, located at 1312 South Street.

Ms Tootsie’s Restaurant Bar
1312South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 731-9045