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Every now and then, someone brings up an ugly story of working in restaurants or retail. Spending many years in both, I’ve got plenty.
It may come as a surprise, then, when I get together with colleagues from my food service days, the last place we’d want to go is a restaurant. On many occasions, this would be true, but when we spot a deal — and we know one — there’s no doubt we’ll show.
Last Wednesday, we got the most for our money at Center City District Sips, a weekly event running 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 27. Sips, as it’s affectionately known, is really just one big happy hour at more than 65 restaurants and bars. Each location selects beers, wines and cocktails for $2 to $4 and offers half-priced appetizers. The only requirement is being the legal drinking age.
Sips is all about unwinding after a long workday and — of course — socializing. No need to worry about a dress code, either. We saw everything from young professionals coming from their offices to tourists dressed in comfortable clothes.
Jimmie was in my company once again and we decided to start off at XIX atop the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue, Broad and Walnut streets. We grabbed a cocktail — both going for the Mango-rita as opposed to the Poma-rita — and gave the cafe/bar/restaurant a walk-through. The interior is stunning with distinct design styles in each room. A 19-foot Italian chandelier graces the 36-foot high ceilings in the cafe, where oversized windows overlook the city. The bright white is a stark contrast to the bar, where mahogany and leather are the accents. Seating wasn’t ample by 5:30 when we arrived, so we stood and talked while grabbing Yuengling Lagers before the rest of our party showed.
Group assembled, we walked to Alfa at 1709 Walnut St. and found a sleek, modern setting where small plates and communal dining are the norm. Again, Jimmie and I stood at the bar, each ordering a few more Yuenglings. Our friend, Jen, ordered the Leblon Refresco, a grapefruit-infused cocktail, and her boyfriend, Jason, a chardonnay. We nibbled on several starters, a mix of the traditional and trendy, for $3 each: Tater Tots, hummus and pita, spicy Asian wings and edamame. Alfa’s selections are unique to Sips because the latter two usually go for $9 and $4, respectively, and the former aren’t even on the regular bill of fare.
As crowded as both places were, we thought it funny as soon as the clock struck 7 — and the proverbial enchantment ended — the majority cleared out. We agreed Sips should become our weekly ritual with plans to hit Bistro St. Tropez, 2400 Market St., where French martinis and Bistro Punch await, and Upstares at Varalli and Sotto Varalli. 231 S. Broad St., for fried shrimp dumplings.
A list of places is on www.centercityphila.org, but try the spots above and perhaps you too can toast to past days of food service and retail — or at least give a hand to those making your Sips trip a good one.
