Bridgid's

Almost 3 years had lapsed between meals at Bridgid's. I remember really liking this spot, but honestly, my standards have gone up since my last visit here. I was under the impression that it was a Belgain joint, but they only had one Belgain on tap. The beer list here is solid, but not stellar. They're all $5 or $6.

As far as a bar goes, they do offer two unique things. First, although small, the U shaped bar is great. Many bars could take cues on how to effectively use a small space. Secondly, the gravity tap is great. When I visited with Dan they had Yard's ESA on. The gravity tap comes from the uninsulated attic. The winter air chills the beer and the gravity forces out through the tap. The result is a beer that has the mouth feel of a beer engine and the temperature of a keg. It made the ESA even better.

I ordered the burger, and this came stuffed with bacon, bleu cheese and onions. It sounded good, but in reality, its a disaster. The burger came out pretty well done, which it needed to be to hold all of the ingredients together. The flavors tripping over each other, and the distribution of the filling was all wrong; they all were concentrated at the center and the edges of the burger were woefully plain. That being said, they do serve the most perfectly crispy fries. They're truly excellent.

Bottom Line: This spot didn't live up to my memory. That said, I still think it's one of, if not the, best in Fairmount. I like the gravity tap, but if you're going to dine here I recommend it for dinner rather than lunch. I still am planning on going back in the near future.

Osteria

Does Osteria have the best pizza in Philly? I think so.

I'm so glad I waited to visit this place until my Mom and sisters were in town. Not only are they a blast to go out with, but this place in certainly best experienced with a group of four to eight. The menu is set up to encourage sharing, and there's so many mouth watering entrees on the menu that it is difficult to settle on just one or two choices.

We only had wine, but Osteria boasts an incredible beer list as well. There are several Italian craft beers on tap; you won't find them anywhere else in the city, or even the state. It's not cheap though, most bottles of wine are $45-65 or more.

The way the menu is set up is a bit confusing. There are the pizzas, a large list of appetizers, first (pasta) courses, and then entrees. We wanted to try a lot of different things, and ended up with two pizzas, one app, two first courses and two entrees.

The pizzas came out first. The margherita is a simple pleasure. The thin crust, sweet sauce, melted mozzarella topped with basil leaf is a delight; it's the definition of thin crust brick oven pizza. While I liked this, the toppings on all of the pizzas are well thought out, and out other choice had fig, prosciutto, and Gorgonzola. This pizza was pretty incredible, and combination of toppings shows that Osteria crafts pizza, they don't simple "make" them.

Our appetizer was the "mozzarella is carrozza," which Craig LeBan hailed as the reinvention of fried cheese. But no one at our table was buying that moniker. Yes, it's the restaurants take on mozzarella sticks, but it most closely resembled stuffed french toast. It was the low point of the meal.

Pasta dishes came out just as we were finishing the pizzas. One was stuffed with sausage, which was a favorite with the girls, and the other with cauliflower. This second one was excellent, my fav, and is a strong case for anyone who thinks they don't like the vegetable.

The first main was rabbit "casalinga" with pancetta, sage, brown butter and soft polenta. Rabbit is delicious, and this was a great dish that was a hit with everyone. We also ordered cod, which was served on a bed of greens and topped with braised pork belly. I'm a big fan of pork belly, and this dish perfectly paired it with seafood. Our entrees, like seemingly everything at Osteria, were put together with care and expertise. But I think I enjoyed getting to this point more than I did eating it.

The service is what you would expect of a place in the price range. I like the atmosphere too. We were seated out on the patio extension, which is a glass-room extension with a great view of the adjacent church. I love the touch of one of the walls covered in old wine crates. My only complaint is that we weren't given the reservation we wanted when we called in, although the restaurant didn't ever come close to capacity all night.

Bottom Line: This is a top notch dining experience. It's authentic northern Italian food, and the brick oven pizza is simply delicious. While the price can be prohibitive, I'm looking forward to my next visit, even if I'm sitting alone at the bar and dropping around $50 for a pizza and some craft Italian beer.

St Stephen's Green: Is this normal?

Am I crazy, or are experiences like this abnormal?

Wow. I've visited this place before an been indifferent. But my last visit was a different story. I walked into the pub for lunch, and was causally browsing the beer list. It seemed a just slightly overpriced to me (if everything would have been even just $.50 lower I probably wouldn't have thought twice about it.) $7 for Southern Tier's Pumpkin beer, $4.50 Brawler, $4 Yuengling, etc. Not the best prices around by any stretch.

As Dan and I were browsing the beer list, the bartender looked over at us and said, "If you're going to think about having a beer, I'm going to need to see your ID."

I jokingly replied, "Well, you don't need to see ID if I'm thinking about it, just if I'm going to order one." I meant no harm at all, and continued to look to decide on a beer. But said bartender was not amused. The response I received was, "If you want to order a beer while you're here, I'm going to need to see your ID, RIGHT NOW."

Woah dude. You're taking this a bit far. It's lunch time, there's four people sitting at the bar. You're not overworked, and I'm taking my time looking at the beer. No crime here.

I quickly decided that I didn't want to be here, and as I was walking out the bartender said bid us fairwell, but in a tone that suggested "Get out of here and don't come back."

We had one more exchange, and I can't recall exactly what was said, so I won't try to paraphrase and then misrepresent his or my words. What I've written in quotes in nearly verbatim. He projected the message clearly that if we didn't show ID immediately, we were not welcomed at the bar, even to browse. Keep in mind I'm talking about 1pm on an uncrowded weekday.

I actually had my ID on me, and don't mind getting carded. I do mind being treated with condescension and rudeness.

I decided I didn't really like the beer list, and certainly did not like my potential bartender. I walked out and will never visit again.

The Kite and Key

I have not heard much about this spot. That, and the fact combined with it's an inconvenient (for me) location are the two main factors I've never made the trip. But I'm here to try and convince you not to make the same mistake.

It's always nice to see a good beer bar, and especially one that is close to me and open for lunch. The Kite and Key impresses on two beer fronts: reasonable prices and excellent selection. Dan stayed with the $5 16oz Hennepin pours, while I had my first Nugget Nectar of the season (on cask) and Bell's Double Cream Stoudt ($6 apiece, I believe). Their website isn't updated as often as the taps, but it gives a good idea of the type of variety offered. It's almost exclusively American craft beer, which is right up my alley.

The food menu offers standard dishes. The menu opens up during dinner, with the menu almost doubling in size. We split an order of wings to start. We were served large, breaded hot wings. I wasn't impressed with the wing, sauce, or price ($8.5 for seven wings). Must miss.

My entree was an order of three fish tacos. The presentation and portions were good, but the flavors were lacking. It was good, nothing else. I understand that this dish is something that should only be ordered within walking distance of the beach, but it could have still been better. Dan ordered one of his favorite entrees: fish and chips. A plate full of shoestring fries was topped with several large pieces of breaded grouper. I like the choice to use grouper because it's a more flavorful fish than cod or haddock, which are commonly used by other restaurants.

The atmosphere here is great. There are several TVs with different sports on, including hockey and club soccer. The bartender provided great service. Granted, we were two of five in the whole place. I'm sure the environment changes quite a bit on a weekend night.

Bottom Line: I was impressed with my first stop at the Kite and Key. They might not have the food to make me keep coming back, but they certainly have the beers. I'm glad to have discovered another respectable stop in the seemingly barren Logan Square/Fairmount area (but there are a few great ones, to be sure).

Essentials:

1836 Callowhill St

215-568-1818

Hours: 11am-2am daily, happy hour 5-7 M-F

Avg Ent: 10-18

Cash Only: No

Reservations: No

Belgian Cafe

I really love that when you ask for good beer and mussels in the city, there are more than a few options. These reasons drove me to the Belgian Cafe one night last week. I've been here before, but only for drinks. I really like this spot, because it has outdoor seating, a nice bar, an open area if it gets crowded, and a nice seating area. Inside and out, it looks better than your average everyday restaurant. While atmosphere doesn't seem to add a lot, it's nice to sit in a comfortable area. Throughout the meal, our server seemed to leave us without beer for longer than I would have liked, but this is my only complaint. He was really knowledgeable about beer, and that makes up any small error in serving.

Looking at the beer list and menu, it's no surprise that this restaurant is a Tom Peters venture. The beer list is excellent, with a couple of Belgians on tap at $7 a glass, and a great selection from around the rest of the world and country. A taplist is available online, and although it's slightly outdated because they change beer quickly, it still can give you a good idea. I stayed domestic for the night with the Avery White Rascal (I'm really into Avery lately) and the Anchor Liberty Ale. I was dining with Rachel for the evening, and she was enjoying the Duchesse De Bourgogne. If you can't find something on tap you like, you're: A) likely crazy, and B) not going to be let down by the bottle list. Beer is easily the forte of the whole establishment (as it should be).

The menu leaves something to be desired. To be clear, the menu is not bad. But it seems like the exact same thing as Monk's, and if that's what I wanted, I would just go there. The Belgian Cafe serves up burgers, mussels, and larger entree dishes. After deliberation, we ordered a large pot of mussels in a sauce of of jalapeno pepper butter, cilantro, orange zest, and belgian wit ale. They were solid, and good, but not amazing. Still, it's a really nice dish to share, and comes with a (obligatory) order of tasty fries.

Bottom Line: It seems that my standards are getting too high. Where I would normally rave about this spot, I'm now inclined to tell you to walk up the block if you're in fairmount, or tell you to hit up Monk's if your craving the best Belgian spot around. Don't get me wrong, this is a good solid eatery. I think I'd just rather hit it up in passing as opposed to making it the main event for the evening. And if every spot seems to be crowded in the neighborhood, the Belgian Cafe still has room for you and your friends.

Essentials:

Corner of 21st & Green St

(215) 235-3500

Burgers 8-9 Mussels:10 per person

Ave Ent: 14-16

Reservations: No

Cash Only: No

Bishop's Collar

The prevailing mindset is that Fairmount is an area crowded (possibly overcrowded) with great bars.  It seems that when you're in the neighborhood, there are so many great places to choose from.  I disagree.  There are a few places that make the cut, most notably Bridig's and the Belgian cafe (I haven't been to the London Grill).  But the options aren't so great after that.  But I am now adding Bishop's Collar to the list of decent spots.

I met with my friend Quinn on a Friday night.  We wanted to watch playoff hockey, which was quite difficult with Cole Hamel's first game back.  There were some guys giving us a hard time for liking the Penguins (but it helps a lot to be with a cute girl) and it was pretty annoying.  Their attitude is probably why I could never start liking the Eagles or Flyers.  It seems like being a "Philly fan" is mostly based on blindly hating everyone else.  But that's a different story.

Beer: Bishop's Collar always has some kind of special, which is nice, even if it is only a dollar off something that I would never order.  They have a decent selection, with Harp and Guinness on tap, as well as nice local and regional beers like Yards, Bell's, Allagash, and Six Points.  Prices are mostly $5/pint, give or take a dollar.

I like the place, in terms of the building and the bar.  It's a long open room with a smaller bar and some tables in the back.  They have three nice TVs, and sports and Irish themed decorations.  They also have a decent outdoor seating section when the weather is nice.  The staff here is great.  The bartenders and servers were attentive and nice, more so than I've seen in a lot of other places.  The owner was also hanging out on a Friday night just checking on his business and seemed like a cool guy.

For food, the Bishops Collar does not disappoint.  Everything is under $10, and it is up to par with other beer bars.  They have a nice mix of different kinds of food and a decent amount of vegetarian options.  On any giving night you can grab a burger, chicken sandwich, quesadilla, or similar dish.  The kitchen was a bit slow when it got busy, but everyone around me seemed to be enjoying their food.

Bottom Line: It's not the best bar, but it sure is good.  I was searching for a place that wasn't a sports bar, but would have the sports I wanted to watch, and I really think this is one of the best spots in the city.  The food can't be beat at the price.  It's a good place for your evening, or just a drink as you are passing by.  Either way, the Bishop's Collar is a win.

Essentials:

2349 Fairmount Ave (24th and Fairmount)

(215) 765-1616

Avg Ent: 6-9

Cash Only: Takes cards, ATM on-site

Reservations: No

North Star Bar

North Star Bar has done it: best happy hour in the city of Philadelphia. Four reasons: First, 5:30-7:30. Far too many bars cut happy hour at 6pm. It is hard to find many bars that go until 7pm, and North Star even exceeds that. The time slot is excellent. Second, it's available everyday of the week. Understandably, a lot of bars run happy hour during the week, when the need the boost in business the most. North Star bucks the trend again. Third, $.25 wings, and they are good. When you can get two dozen wings for $6, it's surely a decent joint. Lastly, and most importantly, beer. 1/2 off drafts of a good beer selection that is moderately priced in the first place. I had a Rouge Dead Guy, Stone's Arrogant Bastard, Yard's ESA, and Sierra Nevada Pale ale, and they were all $2 or $2.50.

Other than the wings, I've never had food at North Star, and I will assume that it's good, and nothing more. As far as location goes, North Star is a bit off the beaten path, which isn't too bad and makes parking easy to find. Inside, there are a decent amount of tables and a small bar, all with a nice neighborhood bar atmosphere. They recently opened an upstairs dining room that looks really nice. To top it off, the bartender and the waitress were providing great service.

Last but not least, the North Star bar is an excellent venue. They have a mix of all ages and 21+ shows that are usually in the 8 to 12 dollar range. It has a small stage with an upstairs balcony that gives you a great view. They specialize in intimate and cozy shows, and it's great. I've been to a handful of shows here over the last 4 years and always leave thinking how great a spot this is.

Bottom Line: When compared to the best of the city, the North Star Bar does not hold up. But with awesome shows and happy hour filling the week, and it's gritty local attitude, the North Star Bar manages to establish itself as a stable in Philadelphia, especially the north Fairmount/Brewerytown section of the city, which is starved for decent spots. I'm a fan.

Essentials:
2639 Poplar St (27th and Poplar)
(215) 787-0488
Avg Ent: 6-9
Cash Only: No
Reservations: No

Sabrina's Cafe

I went to brunch with my girlfriend, Lana, on Sunday. Neither of us had been to the S. Philly Sabrina's, so we headed down there, ready for a wait. This cafe has a surprisingly long wait on Saturday and Sunday, be we arrived around 10:10, and were seated by 10:40. If you arrived between 10:30 and 11:30, however, you're likely to stand around an hour before you're ordering.

Looking at the menu, I was kind of baffled that there was this kind of wait. I go out to brunch often, and I couldn't understand why so many people keep showing up here. Because it was so busy, the service wasn't the best, but it was more than acceptable.

Lana custom made an omelet, and I ordered the barking chihuahua burrito. The coffee kept flowing while we waited for our food, and once it was delivered I knew why this spot was so popular. The food looked great, and between the two of us we had enough to feed a small family. Most of the dishes come with Sabrina's homefries, which are not to be missed. The food, overall, was excellent, and was definitely worth the wait. The menu at Sabrina's allows you to stick with what you know and love, or go all out and get something that is truly a one of a kind creation.

At Sabrina's, you'll leave full, happy, and probably with some left overs for later.

Essentials:
Sabrina's Cafe
910 Christian St
Phone: (215) 574-1599
Avg Brunch: 7-13