August 29, 2024 – With the impending changing of season and the start of a new month upon us comes a spate of seasonal events, new happy hours, expanded hours, citywide multi-course dinners, and more. From Center City District Restaurant Week to where to catch every NFL game this season at fan-favorite locales, plenty of the Philadelphia region’s top restaurants and bars are brimming with fun-filled activations and can’t miss events with spots including At The Table, Caribou Café, Oloroso, Oltremare, Square 1682, Panorama Wine Bar, The Hayes, The Twisted Tail, Little Walter’s, Stratus Rooftop Lounge, Uptown Beer Garden, Urban Farmer, and Puttshack.
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URBAN FARMER DEBUTS INTERACTIVE DINING EXPERIENCE TITLED “THE BUTCHER’S BLOCK”
UrbanFarmer, the modern American steakhouse located in the Logan Hotel known for its locally sourced ingredients and in-house butcher shop, is launching an all-new interactive dining experience, The Butcher’s Block. This exclusive dinner setting offers an immersive journey through the entire cooking process, complete with insights into the farm-to-table concept. Moreover, the experience includes a full kitchen tour of Urban Farmer’s house grown mushroom terrariums, nose to tail butcher shop, dry aging processes and more.
The Butcher’s Block offers diners a 3-course culinary experience by Executive Chef Sonny Ingui exclusively on Thursdays at 5:00pm or 8:00pm for $300 per couple. The journey begins with a tour of Urban Farmer’s nose-to-tail butcher shop, where diners can learn about the butchering process and select their own cuts. The meal is very interactive and will feature tableside steak slicing, butter melting with a blowtorch, and whole fish filleting. One of the chef’s choice sides will also highlight the restaurants house grown mushrooms, sautéed tableside. Guests can select one option from each course, with standout choices like Caesar Salad, Piedmontese Ribeye, and Flaming Baked Alaska. The second course is served with two chef-selected sides. Tickets for The Butcher’s Block can be purchased here.
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CENTER CITY DISTRICT RESTAURANT WEEK FALL 2024
Center City District Restaurant Week returns for yet another installment from Sunday, September 8 through Saturday, September 21 with more than 100 participating restaurants and a plethora of discounted menus presented via three-course or four-course dinners for $40 or $60, and two-course lunches for $20.
Amongst the diverse and impressive list of top-tier restaurants is a bevy of our personal favorite dining destinations boasting the following offerings:
- Caribou Café – three-course dinner for $40 includes Pâté de Campagne with pork and veal terrine, mustard, cornichons, and sourdough; Skate Grenobloise accompanied by spinach, capers, lemon, and brown butter; Hachis Parmentier, also referred to as “French Shepherd’s Pie”; and Petits Gâteaux au Chocolat served with fresh vanilla ice cream.
- Oloroso – three-course dinner for $40 includes Gazpacho ‘Andalusia’ made with Jersey tomatoes, sweet peppers, and basil; Gambas al Ajillo featuring sautéed shrimp with chickpeas, garlic, sourdough migas, lemon, and chilis; Crispy Spanish Paella Rice with wood-grilled ‘Escalivada’ vegetables, saffron, and pimenton; and Organic Chicken Tagine with cava-poached apricots, zucchini, couscous, cilantro salad, berbere spice, and chicken jus.
- Oltremare – three-courses for $40 includes Peach Panzanella with Folks Farm peaches, heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, and crostini, dressed with white balsamic vinaigrette; Hamachi Crudo, a refreshing mix of citrus, Fresno peppers, and Barolo vinaigrette; Roasted Faroe Island Salmon accompanied by fregola, heirloom tomatoes, and a spiced mint vinaigrette; and Bomboloni an Italian fried doughnuts filled with amaretto cream.
- Panorama – three-courses for $40 includes Lobster Bisque, Pear Salad made with field greens, poached pear, Italian goat’s cheese, black walnuts, and pear-moscato vinaigrette, Eggplant Parmigiana, Pork Tenderloin, N.Y. Strip, Braciola, Orecchiette, and Tiramisu. The featured cocktail is the SCOFFLAW ($16), made with A. Overholt Rye, Italian Dry Vermouth, Wigle Orange Bitters, and Pomegranate Simple Syrup.
- Square 1682 – two-course lunch for $20, three-course dinner for $40 includes Tofu Chorizo Tacos served with corn tortillas, cabbage, avocado, and salsa verde; Square 1682 Burger with a single patty, South Philly jam, sesame bun, garlic aioli, and LTO; and a Philly Style Budino dessert topped with candied peanuts and salted caramel for lunch. The dinner menu features Mushroom Toast with brown butter, whipped ricotta, hazelnuts, frisée, and pickled shallots; entrées including Bucatini & Clams accompanied by Calabrian chili butter and marinated artichokes, Airline Chicken with potato purée, charred broccolini, and lemon chicken ju; and Polish Olive Oil Cake. CCDRW featured cocktails include Rye of the Tiger, an autumnal sipper made with Overholt Rye, lemon, simple syrup, and apricot butter, and the Arte de Volar, a riff on a classic aviation made with tequila, lemon, crème de violette, simple syrup, Luxardo Maraschino, and garnished with skewered cherries.
- The Hayes – two-course lunch for $20, and three-course dinner for $40 includes Butternut Squash Soup, featuring smoked and candied pecans with a maple syrup gastrique; Fried Calamari with Calabrian chilis, pickled long hots, and dill pickle mayo; Hayes Tavern Burger with a grilled house blend patty, caramelized onions, clothbound cheddar, pickles, and a brioche bun; Shepherd’s Pie featuring braised lamb shoulder, peas, carrots, and potato gratin; and Half Roasted Chicken with late summer tomatoes, chimichurri, and potato wedges.
- The Twisted Tail– three-courses for $40 includes Shishito Peppers as a first course, Crawfish Mac & Cheese as a second course, and crispy Fried Chicken drizzled with rosemary honey and served with sweet potato fries. Dessert options include Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta, Caramel Budino, and Bourbon Pineapple Upside Down Cake. All dishes pair perfectly with the featured cocktail, a Manhattan or Old Fashioned made with A. Overholt Rye, available for $14.
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SECOND ANNUAL SUNSET SOIRÉE AT STRATUS ROOFTOP LOUNGE
Stratus Rooftop Lounge is bidding farewell to summer and welcoming the autumn equinox with the second annual Sunset Soirée, slated for Friday, September 20 beginning at 6:30pm. This end-of-summer bash is free to attend and includes an optional two-hour open bar upgrade, pay-as-you-go spirited seasonal cocktails, DIY arts and crafts, a guided Sip & Paint, live entertainment, lawn games (think: corn hole and giant Jenga),and much more.
Doors open at 6:30pm, with free admission for those looking to partake in the DIY wine glass decorating held in one of the two adjacent pavilions, and a guided Sip & Paint located in the second pavilion starting promptly at 7pm. Philadelphia-based R&B band Suede Lace will perform from 6:30pm – 9:30pm on the patio, followed by DJ Capps closing out the evening. Additionally, Sunset Soirée boasts a bevy of complimentary summer-centric small bites as well as cocktails, wine and beer for purchase à la carte.
For $30/person, imbibers can add on the two-hour open bar package which includes a selection of festive craft cocktails utilizing Rémy Martin. More information on Stratus Rooftop Lounge’s Sunset Soirée and open bar packages can be found via www.stratuslounge.com.
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GO BIRDS! WHERE TO WATCH + GAME DAY SPECIALS
Puttshack is the ultimate destination for Game Day enthusiasts. Combining cutting-edge technology with the classic fun of mini golf, Puttshack offers a unique way to enjoy the excitement of football season. For the first game of the Eagles’ season on September 6th, they’ll be turning up the energy as they broadcast the highly anticipated game against the Green Bay Packers at 8:15 PM EST on their multiple TVs surrounding the massive oval-shaped bar.
Guests can show off their mini golf skills between plays, making it a dynamic spot to engage with the game while having fun with friends and enjoy a plethora of food and drink offerings, with globally-inspired shareable options including Mediterranean Lamb Skewers ($16) seven-spiced lamb, served with cucumber salsa, grilled pita, minted yogurt, and peri-peri sauce, Thai Fried Chicken ($14) green curry and coconut chicken bites served with Thai sesame peanut sauce, Buffalo Chicken Dip ($13) with cayenne hot cream cheese and fire-braised chicken dip with a house chip medley, and Rendang Lettuce Wraps ($16) beer or oyster mushroom complete with Indonesian coconut marinade, bibb lettuce, carrot, radish & fennel slaw, fresh herbs, sriracha mayo
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The Hayes is the place to be this football season, kicking off with the Eagles’ first regular season game vs. Green Bay Packers on September 6th. Known for its inventive takes on classic American fare, The Hayes offers a warm, inviting pub atmosphere that’s perfect for Game Day. Guests can enjoy a variety of Game Day specials, expertly crafted dishes, and a selection of local brews while cheering on the Birds this season. Highlights from the menu include Crispy Chicken Wings ($15), the Philly Special ($16) featuring Wagyu ribeye, kielbasa, fried onions, sharp American cheese, mustard, and hoagie spread on a seeded Liscio’s roll, and Fried Chicken ($12) with buttermilk fried chicken tenders, shredded lettuce, dill pickles, BBQ sauce, and ranch seasoning—perfect choices to fuel up for the big game.
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Uptown Beer Garden is the quintessential locale for an outdoor watch party this football season. With giant screens strategically placed throughout the garden, fans won’t miss a moment of the Eagles’ action while soaking in the lively atmosphere. Guests can indulge in Game Day food and drink specials, including a wide selection of local craft beers, creative cocktails, and delicious bites, all tailored to elevate the Game Day experience.
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LITTLE WALTER’S LAUNCHES HAPPY HOUR SERVICE + OPENS ON MONDAY
Little Walter’s has recently expanded service to six days a week— adding Mondays — in addition to the debut of its first-ever Szczęśliwa Godzina, or more commonly known in these parts, as Happy Hour.
Little Walter’s Szczęśliwa Godzina menu includes $9 cocktails such as Piłkarz (Little Walter’s popular pickle juice martini); Urbanista (16 oz bottle of Żubr Polish lager and shot of Żubrówka Polish Vodka); and Wino-iewski (blackberry nalewka, sparkling wine); along with $5 select beer and wine by the glass; $4 Pickle Popcorn with aged cheddar and dill; and $6 Pierogi Ruskie offered nonstop during Monday’s service, 4pm – 10pm, and then 4pm – 6pm Tuesday through Saturday.
Szczęśliwa Godzina / Happy Hour is first-come-first-served in the bar area, while dinner reservations, Monday – Saturday, 5pm – 10pm, are strongly encouraged and may be made via Resy.
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AT THE TABLE CELEBRATES ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY AT LARGER-SCALE LOCATION WITH LAUNCH OF 8-SEAT COCKTAIL BAR
September marks the one year anniversary of At The Table’s relocation to a much larger, entirely renovated restaurant at 118 W Lancaster Ave in Wayne, PA. With this move down the road from the original venue came an opportunity to acquire a liquor license for the first time in the restaurant’s tenure, allowing Chefs Alex Hardy and Tara Buzan-Hardy to incorporate seasonal cocktails, PA and global wines, and local brews onto their ever-evolving dinner menu. Launching on September 1, imbibers can now enjoy a glass of wine or one of the many curated craft cocktails at the all-new eight-seat in-door cocktail bar.
– Nicole Schofield