Overview: This handsome bar that happens to have a dining room attached turns out a reliable mix of elegantly American noshes.
Recommendations: Your grandfather's favorite mixed drink. Barkeeps Kip and George would do Pop-Pop proud with their manhattan. Also, anything from the small-plates list, like homemade sausage, a crock of warm goat cheese, and vermouth-steamed clams.
Beth's Thoughts: Southwark is an establishment that I have passed on the street for years, but never had I walked through the door.
I am so glad that I finally did.
Seeing that it was next on our list, I took a look at the website to plan my attack. I saw that Philly Mag had recommended mixed drinks, and once I took a look at the "Cocktails" portion of their website, I began to get excited. They have a whole menu page dedicated to rye. I had a feeling this was going to be my kind of place. The food didn't look half bad either ;)
Since this place obviously stood on its own as a bar in addition to a restaurant, I planned to sit and eat at the bar. As there ended up being more than two in our party, I my plan did not come to fruition. In a way, this may have been a blessing. Our server was amazing. I'm not saying that the barkeep would NOT have been wonderful, but I do feel lucky to have sat at our girl's table.
First, she guided us through the cocktail list. Now, as a fan of the "brown" liquors, I was thrilled that they had so many options available to me. Their whiskey and rye drinks ranged from Manhattan's to Old Fashioned's to something called a Brooklyn, of which I had two. It was like a Manhattan, but not quite as sweet. If she had not taken the time to explain, I probably would have just ordered the Manhattan and complained that it was too sweet. Next time - and there will be a next time - I already have my eye on a few drinks that I would like to sample from their cocktail menu.
For food, we decided to order a few appetizers to share. A member of our party began with the Soup du Jour, which was a Parsnip soup. I did not try this, but it certainly looked tasty.
Next, we ordered some small plates to share. We selected the Farmhouse Platter. It boasted meats cured at the restaurant, a selection of cheeses, fruit and nuts. It was one of the best charcuterie plates I have had in a long time.
Having scoped out the menu in advance, and since it was recommended by Philly Mag, I had my heart set on the Steamed Clams with dry vermouth, shallots, tomato and dried chili butter broth. In the future, I would come here just for the clams and a cocktail. They were that good. For some reason, lately, when I have been ordering clams or mussels, they have been overcooked to the point of resembling rubber erasers. These clams were cooked just enough. Be sure to save some bread to sop up the brothy goodness!
The last small plate that we ordered to share was one of the daily specials. Next to the clams, it was my favorite thing on the table. I will let David tell you about it because I believe it was also his favorite dish...
David's Thoughs: The food at Southwark was extraordinary, and Beth is absolutely right- and the Duck Egg appetizer (a daily special) was unbelievably tasty. Sadly, no picture exists to capture its essence (sometimes we salivate and devour before remembering to snap the photo) so let me give you a synopsis. Served warm and gooey, delicately resting atop a crock of sauteed greens, this dish embodied the essence of "savory." It was rich and salty, immediately warmed the stomach, and had that irresistible "I love this but don't need to stuff myself" quality. Absolutely stellar.
Visuals aside, Southwark absolutely blew my mind. Beth's descriptions were on target: The service was phenomenal (informed, polite, lots of smiles and no difficulties whatsoever) and the food was fantastic. I have to say- of the restaurants we've visited so far- nothing has come close to Southwark. It definitely deserves to be on the Philly Top 50, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is higher next year.
I started the evening with a glass of wine and a perusal of the menu. Nothing jumped off the page at me; the entree's are fairly standard (one exception: Steak and Snails, which we didn't try). Our party was drawn to the starter plates, particularly after hearing about the many in-house specials (Southwark cures all of their own meats and sausages), so we went for a tapas-style experience.
As Beth mentioned, the soup and clams were both delicious- truly a notch above what I was expecting. Prices were manageable, and portions were substantial. The Farmhouse Platter, which came a few minutes later, blew me away. I'm something of a meat and cheese aficionado, and I've never had a better plate. The presentation was lovely; thin-sliced pears, apples, and crumbled peanuts scattered across a decadent board of olives, meats, and cheeses. The variety of flavors was intense- 4 meats and 4 cheeses that ranged from a sharp cheddar to a milky blue to a salty salami and a delicious pate- all delicious. Finally, the gargantuan portions: we probably spent the next 45 minutes gabbing and gradually working our way through the platter, literally savoring every bite. I would gladly come back (in fact, I already have) and would recommend the Farmhouse to everyone who visits.
Once we'd worked past the platter, soups, and clams (without even a hint from the waitress that we'd ruined their timing), entrees were served. We went with a Pork Loin from the specials menu, which was perfectly cooked and tasty, but not particularly memorable (sorry guys). We also ordered the Seared Bass, which is served with a sweet potato creamed corn and pancetta. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a big fish person- I love shellfish but almost never order something that swims. I was impressed, it was also delicious, but my mind lingered on the evening's beginnings. Frankly, I don't think anything could have trumped our appetizers- they were that good- and I was completely satisfied before our entrees arrived. On a VERY pleasant final note- our check was accompanied by a chocolate truffle for every member of the party. A lovely parting note!
So far, Southwark is my favorite restaurant on the Philly Top 50. I would take my parents. I would take a first date. I would make reservations for an anniversary. This one covers it all, and I couldn't give a stronger recommendation. Go here, people. Seriously.
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