Things to Do in Philadelphia: uwishunu Philly » Happy Hour

Pub & Kitchen Isn’t Afraid of the Snow: Winter Specials Tomorrow

Eric Smith — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:14:27 +0000

Inside Pub & Kitchen, Photo by M. McClellan

According to a press release from Pub & Kitchen, the Rittenhouse gastropub plans to brave the Winter snow warnings and open tomorrow at noon to accommodate winter-effected diners.

They’ve got a special menu planned, and will be serving up $3 Bloody Mary’s from noon to 3pm. During Happy Hour, the pub will dish out $2 bar snacks, $3 Yards Brawlers, and $3 Stoudt’s Pilsner.

Check out tomorrow’s full menu after the jump. Stay warm!

Pub & Kitchen
1946 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146-1411
(215) 545-0350
www.thepubandkitchen.com

Wednesday, February 10th, Opening at Noon

Noon – 3pm
$3 Bloody Marys

Happy Hour
4pm – 6pm
$3 Yards Brawler BRAWLER
$3 Stoudt’s Pilsner
$5 Glasses of Wine
$2 Bar Snacks

Winter Market Salad ($10)
young arugula, persimmon, toasted pine nuts & pomegranate

Windsor Burger ($12)
homemade bacon & english cheddar

Cheese Plate ($14)
{el trigal manchego : boucheron : cashel blue}, pear membrillo & truffle honey

Wild Mushroom & English Cheddar Omelet ($10
mixed greens, toast & potatoes

Potato Hash ($13)
chicken confit & fried farmer’s egg

Celebrate Poe’s Birthday @ Pub & Kitchen on the 19th

Eric Smith — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:00:22 +0000

Inside Pub & Kitchen, Photo by M. McClellan

This Tuesday, Philadelphia’s Raven Society invites you to celebrate Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday.

Stop by Pub & Kitchen on Tuesday, January 19th, for a special Edgar Allan Poe happy hour. The Raven Society promises drink specials, complimentary appetizers, and birthday cake!

Admission is free for Raven Society members, and only $5 for non-members. You can RSVP to raven[at]freelibrary.org.

Lovers of Poe and books in general, the Raven Society is a group of 20 to 30-somethings who support the Free Library of Philadelphia with fun programs, events, and fundraising efforts. To learn more about them (and how to join), visit their page on the Free Library’s website.

Poe’s Birthday Happy Hour @ Pub & Kitchen
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
6pm – 8:30pm

Pub & Kitchen
1946 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146-1411
(215) 545-0350
www.thepubandkitchen.com

Sipping on Winter Cocktails @ Seafood Unlimited

Kara Beitzer — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:00:56 +0000

Caramel Appletini, Black Cherry Cosmo, and Seafood Unlimited's bar mosaic

Not enough can be said about the welcoming atmosphere of Seafood Unlimited in Rittenhouse. I went in for cocktails, not intending to stay too long, but found myself still at the barstool hours later. This is an easy thing to do with the family-like employees of the restaurant and bar, and the patrons who are part of it. It also helps that Seafood Unlimited’s happy hour lasts from 5–close. No closing up shop at 7pm here.

For the cold winter months, Seafood Unlimited has fixed up some lovely seasonal cocktails for a very reasonable $8 a pop. These are sure to warm you for your walk home later. Check out the list.

Frostbite: Tequila, white crème de cacao, blue Curacao & cream. This was one of my favorites. Besides looking pretty, it was a very nice mix of liquor & cream, with the hint of tequila lasting after each sip. Perfect for someone like me who loves the dangerous booze.

Yuletide: vanilla vodka, peppermint schnapps, cream, cinnamon & grenadine. Another joy to look at. It has a very minty kick, though, so I would suggest you save this one for your after-dinner drink.

Milky Way Martini: Skyy vodka, coffee liquor, crème de cacao & cream. This isn’t an original, but it is tasty nonetheless. It was so good we convinced the guy sitting next to us at the bar to order one!

Cinnamon Apple Manhattan: Jim Beam, Dekuyper Sour Apple Pucker, apple cider & cinnamon. A refreshing twist to an old fave.

Black Cherry Cosmo: Red Stag, triple sec, lime, cranberry, sour mix & coke. This was hands-down our favorite cocktail on the fabulous list. It was a yummy concoction somehow tasting like berry jam. But this one’s dangerous, folks, you can’t taste the booze in it. But I promise it’s there.

Pumpkintini: Vanilla vodka, pumpkin liquor, splash of OJ. This cocktail is definitely for the sweet tooth who can handle their liquor. There was literally only a splash of OJ. But I’m not complaining.

Caramel Apple Martini: sour apple pucker, vodka, butterscotch schnapps. Another fan favorite that tastes just like a candied apple from the carnival, without the nuts. I may have stuck my finger in the glass to get every drop of caramel out. I may have.

Seafood Unlimited's fried calamari... only $5!

Now, with your winter cocktails you will definitely want some apps, so check out SU’s $5 bar menu that includes some fantastic dishes like the awesomely succulent fried calamari (above) and the popular buffalo shrimp – not too spicy, perfectly accompanied with bleu cheese and surprisingly filling.

Swing into Seafood Unlimited after work, and come join the family.

Seafood Unlimited
270 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-5601
(215) 732-9012
www.seafoodunlimited.com

Buns and Beer: Happy Hour @ Chifa

Samantha Lazar — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:00:23 +0000

Two of Chifa's buns, Photo courtesy Chifa

Like just about everyone in this city, I’m a big fan of newly crowned Iron Chef Jose Garces. But, unfortunately, my budget doesn’t leave room for eating at his restaurants very frequently. I’ve got the perfect solution to that, though: happy hour at Chifa!

Chifa is Garces’ classy Peruvian/Cantonese fusion restaurant, and between 5 and 7 on weekdays they offer up a fabulous combination of buns and beers.

There are four different kinds of “buns,” which are tasty little morsels of meat sandwiched between different kinds of delectable breads. Each bun is paired with a specific beer, but you’re free to mix and match to your heart’s content. $10 will get you one beer and one bun, $15 for 2 beers and buns, $20 for 3, and $25 for all 4 combos. Determined to try them all, I sidled up to the swanky bar and ordered the lot of them. If you don’t have a huge appetite, four of the little buns are plenty for a lovely dinner.

The idea for “Buns and Beer” first came from the regular menu’s ever-popular pork belly buns, which is no surprise – they’re melt-in-your-mouth delicious, with flavors heavily influenced by Cantonese cuisine. The pork belly bun is paired with Kenzinger Lager, which never fails to please.

The second bun is grilled chicken with panca emulsion and bacon. The meat is good, but my favorite part of this bun was the “pan de bono” bread. The cheesy bun is made with yucca flour and backed with queso fresco! The chicken bun is paired with Flying Fish’s Bayshore Oyster Stout. The delicious beer is brewed with real oyster shells, but all you’ll taste is the smooth and chocolaty flavor.

The third bun is the braised duck (my favorite of them all), which is shredded and served on a decadent brioche bun slathered in that spicy guava butter I mentioned. It’s super juicy, with quite the tasty kick, and nicely paired with Elysian’s Immortal IPA, which is surprisingly light and drinkable.

If you’re in the mood for seafood, opt for the final bun – spicy shrimp with a slice of avocado. Victory’s Golden Monkey (the only bottled beer of the bunch) packs quite the alcoholic punch as its accompaniment.

At just $25 for all this goodness, I’ll be back for my Garces fix soon enough!

Chifa
707 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-5555
www.chifarestaurant.com

PW’s Happy Hour iPhone App Puts Local Bars at Your Fingertips

Marisa McClellan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:30:37 +0000

Unless you’ve achieved “regular” status at your local watering hole, figuring out where to stop in for an after work drink is often a struggle. Negotiations begin with co-workers or over IM with friends around 3 p.m., and lasts until someone finally remembers which spot is offering $2 Yards or pitchers of lager for $5. Makes you wish you had a simple list of locals bar that included their weekly specials.

Well friends, pine no longer! The folks at the PW, hearing our plaintive cries of happy hour confusion have sallied forth with an iPhone app that compiles information about every 4 – 6 or 5 – 7 p.m. deal around. The app includes the ability to map the specials by distance from your cubicle, allows you search by neighborhood, can post your location directly to Twitter and even makes it possible to call a cab without dialing a single digit.

At this time, this app costs $.99 and is only available for the iPhone or iPod Touch (they hate us Palm Pre folk, don’t they?). The calling feature doesn’t work with on the touch (as it’s not a phone). To download this app, either click here or navigate to the App Store and search for “Philly Happy Hour.” You’ll be ready to drink within minutes.

Deal Feed: The 456 Happy Hour at Ladder 15

UWISHUNU — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:46:54 +0000

The 456 Happy Hour at Ladder 15 runs Monday through Friday from 5-7 pm and features:

- $4 draft beers
- $5 house wines and call drinks
- $6 specialty cocktails

A few of Ladder 15’s nine specialty cocktails:

- “The Dirty Martini,” with Belvedere vodka, olive juice and blue cheese stuffed olives
- “The Perfect Gentleman,” with Gentleman’s Jack Daniels, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, and a dash of bitters
- “Black & WHite Milkshake Martini” with both Godiva Milk and White Chocolate liqueurs, Creme de Cacao, Smirnoff Vanilla and chocolate shavings
- “Thin Mint,” with Rumpleminze, Frangelico, Green Creme de Menthe, cream and chocolate shavings.

You can also grab a 10% off any meal at Ladder 15 coupon valid through October courtesy of the Center City District.

Ladder 15 [Official Site]

Deal Feed: Two New Happy Hours, Including One Late Night, at the Brand New Square 1682

James — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:08:47 +0000

Square 1682, the brand new restaurant in the brand new Hotel Palomar Philadelphia , just announced the two happy hours they’re kicking off immediately.

Helmed by Executive Chef Guillermo Tellez, Square 1682 boasts a New American menu that emphasizes local ingredients and is designed for sampling and sharing.

A great time to check it out for the first time would probably be during one of these two happy hours…

The Rittenhouse Squared Happy Hour

The first is the “Rittenhouse Squared Happy Hour,” which runs Monday – Friday from 5 – 7 pm. This happy hour will feature:

- A choice of two $7 signature cocktails, pre-selected by the bartender each day from the restaurant’s impressive list of expertly crafted cocktails conceived by Kimpton’s Master Mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout. (Cocktails are normally priced between $9-$11.)

- A $5 wine(s) of the day. Each day, a wine will be featured by the glass for $5 from Square 1682’s extensive artisanal wine list created by Kimpton’s Master Sommelier Emily Wines.

- A selection of half-price bar bites. These are probably going to rotate, but they’re opening with 1/2 price Crispy Maitake Mushrooms (usually $7, $3.50 during happy hour) and Masala Spiced Calamari Strips (usually $11, $5.50 during happy hour).

The Lounge Around Late Night Happy Hour

The second happy hour is the “Lounge Around Happy Hour,” which runs Sunday – Thursday from 10 pm – 12 am. This happy hour will feature:

- Same cocktail special as above: a choice of two $7 signature cocktails, pre-selected by the bartender each day from the restaurant’s cocktail offerings conceived by Kimpton’s Master Mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout.

- A $3 beer special

- $6 sparkling wine by the glass

- Specially priced bottles of wine

- The full bar menu is available for half-price. For example, the West Chester Texas Longhorn Burger (usually $11/$12 with quail egg) is $5.50/$6.

Bonus: To mark Square 1682 sharing a birthday with William Penn, they’re giving away complimentary champagne to guests who mention “William Penn” to their servers. So go ahead and enjoy a glass of champagne on old Billy Penn courtesy of Hotel Palomar Philadelphia.

If you want to take a look at the full bar menu (and we highly recommend that you do) as well as the full list of signature cocktails, we’ve included both after the jump.

BAR MENU

Fingerling Potato Chips 4

Truffle Popcorn 4

Crispy Maitake Mushrooms
citrus dipping sauce 7

Spinach and Artichoke Dip
pretzel chips 7

Chilled Rice Paper Rolls
spicy noodles, preserved vegetables and tamarind sauce 7

Masala Spiced Calamari Strips
marinated cucumbers and tangy sauce 11

Tiger Prawns
ginger, yogurt, cashew nuts, coriander and mint 8

Roasted Dates
wrapped in smoked bacon, Shellbark Hollow Farms goat cheese, piquillo pepper
and stone-ground mustard vinaigrette 7

Jumbo Lump Crab Fritters
curry yogurt and chipotle aioli 8

Beef, Chicken, and Shrimp Yakitory
peanut sauce, Korean barbecue and chili-mustard 8/14

Lobster and Sweet Corn Quesadilla
jicama and mango salsa 13

West Chester Texas Longhorn Burger
Pennsylvania blue cheese and fingerling potato chips 11
add quail egg 12

C O C K T A I L S

1682 SIGNATURES

LONDON CALLING
Chamomile infused Beefeater 24 Gin, apricot liqueur, orange bitters and grapefruit juice. 10

BELL PEPPER SMASH
Ketel One Citroen Vodka, Canton Ginger liqueur, muddled raspberries and bell pepper. 11

TOBAGO SWIZZLE
Ten Cane Rum, Velvet Falernum, Angostura bitters, apple juice and ginger beer. 8

CADIZ APPLES
Plymouth Gin, Fino Sherry, St.Germain Elderflower liqueur, apple juice. 9

INDIAN SUMMER
Blue Coat Gin, Pimms, pineapple juice, cardonmon pods and grated nutmeg. 9

APERITEAF
Belvedere Orange Vodka, mango jasmine tea, Campari and Cointreau. 10

1682 CLASSICS

ANTICA MANHATTAN
Makers Mark, Antica Formula Vermouth, Angostura bitters and maple syrup. 9

NECTAR MARGARITA
Partida Blanco Tequila, fresh lime juice and organic agave nectar. 11

GRAPEFRUIT VESPER
Plymouth Gin, Absolut Ruby Red Vodka and Lillet Blanc. 8

TAI-FASHIONED
Flor de Cana 7 yr Rum, orgeat syrup with a dash of Angostura bitters and muddled ginger. 9

AVIATION
Tanqueray 10 Gin, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice. 11

SAZERAC
Woodford Reserve, Herbsaint, and Angostura bitters. 9

WINTER SMASH
Bulleit Bourbon, Port, mint, maple syrup, and Angostura Bitters. 9

RUSH HOUR
Russian Standard Vodka, Coffee Liqueur, espresso and cinnamon sugar. 9

AGAVE HONEY
Cuervo Tradicional Reposado Tequila, cranberry juice, ginger and honey. 9

Square 1682 [Official Site]
Hotel Palomar Philadelphia [Gophila.com]

Introducing Square 1682, Now Open at the Hotel Palomar Philadelphia

James — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:40:53 +0000

Square 1682 at the brand new Hotel Palomar Philadelphia (Photos by M. Edlow)

Square 1682 is the brand new restaurant that opened yesterday at the brand new Hotel Palomar Philadelphia by Kimpton Hotels. (We’ll have more info on the hotel shortly.)

The two-story restaurant is located at the northeast corner of 17th and Sansom Streets. The bar, lounge and exhibition kitchen are on the first floor and the main dining area (top photo above) is on the second floor.

The kitchen at Square 1682 is all about the combination of great food and eco-sound culinary practices.

Developed by executive Chef Guillermo Tellez, the restaurant’s menu is New American and is tempered with international influences.

The food at Square 1682 encourages you to experience a variety of dishes and flavors on each and every visit. The bar menu features dishes designed for sharing like Truffle Popcorn, Masala Spiced Calamari Strips, a Lobster and Sweet Corn Quesadilla, and Tiger Prawns.

A combination of small and large plates on the dinner menu welcomes sampling: Seared Mini Scallops; Maine Lobster Tacos; Serrano Ham with Saffron Tomato Bread and Manchego Cheese (below left); Lemon Scented Hummus with Garlic Naan Bread (below right); Potato and Sage Gnocchi; etc.

Two dishes from the opening menu at Square 1682 (Photos courtesy of Square 1682)

As alluded to before, across the menu at Square 1682, there is a deeply-rooted commitment to quality, freshness, and eco-friendly culinary practices. Each dish is hand-crafted using sustainable and organic ingredients, from local seasonal produce to free-range meats and ocean-friendly seafood. For the freshest local produce, and the highest quality grass-fed beef and pastured poultry, Chef Tellez is sourcing ingredients from some 40 farms in Pennsylvania

Square 1682 also features an impressive bar program. There is a large selection of expertly crafted cocktails conceived by Master Mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout; an extensive artisanal wine list created by Master Sommelier Emily Wines; and a craft beer list recommended by General Manager Thomas McAleer.

After the jump, take a look at the full bar and cocktail menu of Square 1682.