What a unique, curated, and enriching experience. The bar is upstairs of Sassafras, with a cozy…read moreclose stairwell leading upstairs. You'd be unlikely to find this unless you knew to look for it. The main feature of this bar is the cocktail menu; it's creative and ambitious and yet very approachable, with helpful adjectives for each cocktail. The Mango Sticky Rice made my jaw drop; not only did the juicy mango come through, but also somehow a sense of starchiness, while being entirely balanced with the liquor. Definitely some of the best cocktails in Philly. And the music and vibe is so cozy but lively; the live records spinning create a warm atmosphere that is not sleepy nor dancey, instead you'll find yourself tapping your feet and swaying in your seat while in deep conversation or just enjoyable contemplation. I have to shout out Carl and Brianna, who made our evening especially unforgettable. They guided us seamlessly through the menu, were so knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. They really made 48 Record Bar feel like a second home we can't wait to return to. Last thing- the bathroom setup was such a fun surprise, you have to check it out!!

I'm a bit of a cocktail bar snob, and 48 Record Bar is definitely on my short list. They have a…read morecreative menu full of thoughtful concoctions and interesting techniques. My two favorites are Born Again and Buck 48. The Born Again is a clarified punch that's super refreshing--almost leaning tart, but in a really good way. The Buck 48 is also refreshing, with warm, spicy notes that give it an autumn vibe, though honestly, it's great any time of year. If you're in the mood for something bold and boozy, I also recommend The Golden Ticket. My palate leans away from anything overly sweet or overpowering--I appreciate balance--and every cocktail I've had here hits just right. The only sad thing is that my favorite bartenderess is no longer there, but the staff is still awesome, and the music is always on point, which keeps the vibe strong. Just a heads-up: this cocktail bar is upstairs from Sassafras, and the menus are completely different. If you're looking for a true craft cocktail experience, make sure you're upstairs at 48 Record Bar. The atmosphere is great. I usually go on Saturday nights around 8 p.m. and have been lucky to grab a seat, though it definitely gets more crowded later. The fact that I've been back several times says a lot--especially since I usually only visit a place once with so many options in the city.

I wish Jen and I had shown up in matching flapper dresses because Sassafras feels like stepping…read morestraight into the 1920s. Huge bar, giant wall of liquor bottles, dim lighting, and a cool old-school vibe. I told the bartender that ordering a beer in a place like this felt like I was insulting him. He laughed and told me not to worry about it. The drink special was called "Naked and Famous," which honestly sounded like the perfect cocktail to order in honor of Jen. But then I spotted a dark beer on the menu that sounded too good to pass up. If you follow me, you know I'm slowly becoming a dark beer guy. I liked it a lot. The sandwich special was a cheesesteak. Sorry, I should've taken a picture of the menu. But I really enjoyed it, and for $18 it came with a mountain of seasoned fries, which feels like a bargain these days. Bomb Shell: the two people working absolutely crushed it. I don't know if they were understaffed or if Monday night got busier than expected, but they were working their tails off the entire time. Even with that, they stayed polite, friendly, helpful, and incredibly accommodating to the guy carrying around a mannequin. Great visit to Sassafras!

Found this on the first day of our trip and ended up going back the 2nd night as well. The drinks…read morewere such high quality and they had something for absolutely everyone. We also ordered a grilled cheese with sweet potato fries which was so so good. The service was top tier. I cannot recommend this place enough.

This was worth every bit of the 5 star rating I gave!…read more I've been wanting to try this place for a couple years and finally had the opportunity to do so. The organization and seating was clear and optically pleasing, the fruits were fresh and tasty, and the support staff was awesome! While I'm traditionally not a cocktail person, my new go to is a mezcal margarita for a cocktail option. While this time I experienced the fruit cocktail class, I would certainly want to try their other classes.

Came here with my office and had a great class experience! Our instructor was very friendly and did…read morea great job managing our group's different tastes. We did the herb-themed class and got to incorporate lots of fresh ingredients into our drinks. We made three throughout the class, but we didn't feel rushed. We just wish there was something to snack on while drinking (chips, popcorn, crackers,etc). We all had come straight from work, so it did feel like a lot of alcohol without anything to snack on. The classes are held in Infusion Lounge, an upstairs bar/night club.

Showed up for dinner right around 5 pm and sat down at the spacious bar. The whole restaurant is…read morehuge and so much bigger than you expect. Service was impeccable from David. I got a crisp XX on draft. The tortilla soup was hot and mildly spicy, just the way I like it. But the real star was the chipotle chicken. Juicy and tender chicken, stuffed with cheese and peppers then smothered in the chipotle sauce. It was perfect. Absolutely love this place and will be back again. P.S. they also host dance parties on Saturday nights and a pool table in the back ;)

This restaurant occupies the space where Han Dynasty used to be. The entrance is on Chestnut…read morestreet. Very big space. I got there on Wednesday around 6 and there were only a couple of customers at the bar. I almost left because I didn't see any employees. Finally someone came out to greet me and seated me in the middle are. He had to put some paper at the bottom of the table because it was a bit wobbly. A lot of choices in the menu. I ordered guacamole and chips for appetizers and it came out right away. The chips are fresh and not stale. Good amount of guacamole. Street corn aka elote. The corn is juicy. Unfortunately, it was not enrobed with mayo and cotija cheese as a typical elote should be. Fried plantain: not many slices. They are dry and not sweet . I was hoping for more ripe plantain Birria tacos: small tacos, the consommé lacks of depth of flavor. I could only taste saltines. The waiter asked if I wanted rice and beans. I said only beans. It's basically mashed refried beans. I wasn't aware that it costs extra $4. My husband ordered this dish served in half pineapple. It has chorizo and shrimp. Again , lacking depth of flavor, very salty. Service was great. The staff is friendly. Credit card is accepted but with a fee. There's an ATM if you prefer to pay with cash.

Staff and my new friend made me feel like I was the only person in the room, paying attention to…read moredetails and my unspoken cues, making the evening magical and flawlessly easy to just sit back and enjoy every moment. Thank you. One for the 'princess secrets for Real Men'. Watch out for the article boys. This night nailed it even for a pro player;)-

My husband and I went here as a little birthday celebration/fourth of July vacation treat…read more My husband's food ranking: Yuzu Miso Glazed Wings - Addictive Cucumber - Spicy Miso Mazeman Ramen - Ocean Trout Crudo My food ranking: Addictive Cucumber - Yuzu Miso Glazed Wings - Spicy Miso Mazeman Ramen - Ocean Trout Crudo We agreed that the Miso Ramen was easily the best bang for your buck and the Ocean Trout Crudo was the only thing we wouldn't order again; it wasn't horrible it just had waaaay too many almonds which took away from the fish itself. Unlike others, we felt the portions were not too small. Overall a very respectable dinner showing from Almanac. I kind of regret ordering a pre fixed cocktail because his Omakase was so on point to what he asked for and was delicious. I love rhubarb and Gin is my usual spirt of choice, so I didn't want to pass up the Hanamachi Rikki, but while I found the tart rhubarb refreshing, it fell flat when placed next to the Omakase. While I enjoyed the music choices, he did not and it was also INCREDIBLY dark/moody which isn't our preference, but makes sense for the intimate vibe they are clearly going for.

What a fun bar! The…read morebartender is super knowledgeable and made us fun gin drinks off the menu. Fig tini? Something with fig like an old fashioned is a must try.

The staff makes you feel welcome the moment you walk in. It's a small space, but seating is open…read moreand you can even grab one of the booths in the back, which we fully expected to be reserved only. Drinks are a bit on the smaller side for the price, but the menu is packed with fun, creative options. The combinations are unique, and the bartenders are happy to make just about whatever you're in the mood for. They have beer and wine as well. Important to know, there is no food, so this is best for a pre dinner cocktail or an after dinner drink. Also, parking is a nightmare so Uber or Lyft if you can. Overall, a great little spot for inventive drinks and a welcoming vibe.

Such a Philly kind of day... a half hour meander from my office in the Gayborhood to Old City for…read morean entertaining evening at this bar. Tiny pockets of garden squares with burbling fountains. Cobblestone streets. Around every corner is a sign or plaque boasting about this city's history. From the outside, it looks like you're walking into an old bank. Inside, it's just about 6:00 PM and the place is packed for happy hour (one of the few places, by the way, that has happy hour until 7:00 PM) and for one of the monthly talks sponsored by local science museums. As soon as I walked in, they found us an open spot right up front. A cheery waiter took our order - the $8 burger sliders didn't come with any fries, but they were tiny and delicious. I love the idea that this place sponsors monthly science talks. Just a bunch of nerds all gathered here to listen to local experts talk about different topics. One week it might be about rare Galapagos birds to how to preserve fossils or the etymology of vampire lore.

This spot is super fun, and the food is great. The breakfast burrito is probably the best one I've…read morehad in the entire east coast, which means a lot given I lived in Arizona for 10 years which is positively known for amazing breakfast burritos - and they largely suck here out east by comparison. THIS breakfast burrito is excellent. Service is also great here and I love the building/space!

Get the lomo saltado with the green sauce and the ceviche vista Peru! I think those two dishes are…read moredeliciously! The first time I came here I got those two dishes as well and thought it was delicious! Then went to Miami and kept thinking of this place!! Had to come back to verify that this place was better than most of the places in Miami! Granted it is much more expensive but it's worth it!

I was eager to find a Peruvian restaurant in Philly and came to Vista Peru with a group on a Sunday…read moreevening. It was easy to make a reservation for the time we wanted. The main dining room is pretty narrow without much in the way of decor, and I think more could be done to help the space pop, but as always the food is my main concern in the end. The complimentary crunchy corn snack for the table was a nice surprise! We ordered an app, a ceviche, and four entrees to share between the six of us and found that plenty filling. The Yuca Frita app was tasty with a delicious dip we held on to, but I wish it came with more as six pieces felt small for the price. The Ceviche Mixto was a more solid portion with a great variety of seafood; it was on the tart side but came with a really nice cilantro sauce that the table ate clean. Out of our entrees, the Lomo Saltado was the highlight with well-cooked and tender chunks of steak and yummy fries (simple, I know). The Pescado a Lo Macho and Arroz con Mariscos were very generous portions with a ton of various seafood; even the fried fish dish came with shrimp, mussels, and scallops on top. The Aji de Gallina was maybe the least noteworthy entree, a chicken stew with cassava and rice, but even that was hearty and filling. Service was good throughout with plenty of water refills, and the cost was surprisingly reasonable for what we ordered. I'd definitely recommend this place for seafood lovers, and I'd be interested in coming back to try the roast chicken and to have the lomo saltado and ceviche again!

Quiet night at the quaint, sleek hidden jazz lounge…read more Saw on their event page that they had jazz music for the night along with a Galentine Paint nite that I could have joined but was too tired from the day's work. Had a drink and wanted to order apps but already full from another location. Visited this place a couple years ago and glad to revisit though this time was a lot more serene.

This spot isn't my scene, but it's super fun and a cool vibe. The bank vibe goes out the window on…read morethe weekends when it turns into a full club space. More of a college aged crowd with some seating areas in the middle but the main dance floor is truly giving club - which is fun, if that's your style! The music is good and the bartenders are on it!

The fries really ARE to die for. You MUST get the loaded ones with cheese and gravy, also their…read morechicken sandwich is BETTER than I expected, to where I finished it in one sitting. Would definitely recommend again!

This place really surprised me. We were seated immediately for a larger group. Interior was fun bar…read moremixed with Parisian cafe with the open garage vibe. Food came out fast. Waitress was attentive and on top of getting drink orders. The gumbo was dark and flavorful in a thinner style which I hadn't had before but enjoyed. The caramelized onion dip was a surprise. It was chunky but in a good way. Loved the chips. The po boy was delicious. The bread so fresh. Great beer and drink selection. Very reasonably priced