Looking for adult fun

[hungry100]

My best friend and I have a chance to go out w/o our significant others Friday night. In our late 40s, we're not looking for a party scene, but someplace fun with good food and drinks -- not too stuffy, not too young. I'm thinking along the lines of POD, Standard Tap, etc. I know there are a ton of places out there, what do you suggest?

[bigredfsu]

I'm a traveling salesman who visits Philly a lot and am partial to El Vez, on 13th and Sansome (very good not-your-typical Mexican food with a lively bar), Eulogy Tavern on 2nd & Chestnut (Belgian-style, very good food, great beers) and across the street is a newish place called Triumph Brewing. Haven't tried the food, but the bar's great. Have fun and remember, Philly's not Vegas.

[rabidog]

ugh. we stopped in at triumph for drinks a few weeks ago, having never heard them mentioned here before... disgusting. nice bar, nice service, but i thought the beers were terrible. maybe that's why i'd never heard them mentioned here.

[ishkabibble]

That's odd. I've tried a lot of different beers and brewed some myself. I'm going to disagree and say that Triumph is a fine brewpub with fine brews.

[lillotis]

I think Continental Mid-town is great- and the rooftop bar with heat lamps is great for after dinner drinks. I happen to love the food and drink there.

I have not been yet- but I have also heard great things about Bar ferdinand.

I also enjoy late nights at Rouge- great people watching in a sophisticated atmosphere. The food is good- not fabulous and unique, but good. Bar seen is hip and older.

[Schpsychman]

I second Rabidog's suggestion of Bar Ferdinand wholeheartedly. My wife and I are in our mid-40's and thoroughly enjoy this place. It is romantic and trendy without being a scene whatsoever. The quality and selection of tapas and Spanish wines are wonderful and, while the quality is not the same as Amada or Tinto (what in Philadelphia is?), you will spend less than half of what you will at those places. At our last meal there, we had 5 of 6 tapas, a glass of very good Spanish wine, and then sat at the bar (which is very nice) and had great Japanese and German beers. The service is friendly and attentive and the bartenders are great as well. One of the best kept secrets in the city IMHO.

[DaisyM]

Amada is very good and it is fun to have drinks and order tapas in a leisurly way. You can walk around Old City before or after and tak it all in.

[idia]

Nectar in Berwyn

[GBak504]

I read up recently about the Caribou Cafe. French...it menu and atmosphere looks appealing http://www.cariboucafe.com/

While I have not yet been there personally perhaps others can recommend or discourage.

[Mawrter]

I haven't been to Caribou in years but I remember it as romantic as hell, with great food and well-priced drinks/wine.

Obviously, a lot can have changed and I'd love to read a more current post about it.

[gina]

I've been to Caribou Cafe a few times recently. The tartines and the cheese plate are pretty good, and the Croque Monsieurs are very good. My fiance also likes their onion soup. The house Champagne is nice and inexpensive, and they've usually had a jazz duo playing when we've been.

I'd especially like to recommend Xochitl, for unique and excellent Mexican cuisine. They also have many interesting tequila cocktails (not just Margaritas), and flights of various high-end tequilas to sample.

Ansill and Bar Ferdinand are great suggestions. There's also Deuce, a cool spot across the walkway from BF. Todd Lean, the former chef/owner of Mandoline, is at Deuce now, so the food should be fantastic.

[rabidog]

did deuce get a menu overhaul since the new chef joined? the menu used to be too meat-heavy to get me in there for anything more than bar snacks (hummus platter was good). i do like going there for eagles games and open mics, they have a good neighborhood-y crowd. looking forward to trying them for dinner if the menu's changed.

[gina]

Oh yeah, I had that hummus platter a while back--I agree, it was good.

The menu at Deuce has changed, and there appears to be non-meat options. But if you're a strict veg, I'd ask first before ordering. At Mandoline, it was not mentioned on the menu, but I was told by the server that a "non-meat" entree--stuffed acorn squash--was made with chicken stock (it was delicious, BTW).

[rabidog]

...and i though you were going to ask for places with bellydancers!! (though that could be fun, but i don't know of any yet!)

bar ferdinand in northern liberties sounds like a great fit for you. it's a spanish tapas bar/restaurant, not as pricey as amada but food is still good (and don't miss the sangria). cute atmosphere, fairly dark and romantic but not stuffy-quiet AT all - a perfect atmosphere for throwing back some tasty sangrias! you could hang out for hours slowly ordering small plates. plenty of vegetarian and meat options. i took a group of 20 through 40 somethings there and they loved it. and then you could walk a couple blocks to the standard tap for drinks afterwards!

[brightman]

Ansill or Amada, if not too late to get a reservation at either choice. if no reservations available, Dimitri's.

[Buckethead]

I suggest Ansill, but then I always suggest Ansill. It's great. I'm not sure what to make of "along the lines of POD, Standard Tap, etc.", one is a japanese fusion place with plastic walls and all colors of lighting, the other is a dark neighborhood bar.

[Boognish]

I second Ansill (although I'm still pissed he took the foie off the menu).

Start at Southwark for cocktails, then head to Ansill. Follow this up with another trip to Southwark.

[hungry100]

I agree POD and Standard Tap are at either end of the spectrum, but they both have what I consider "fun" and good food. Ansill might be a bit meat/offal-centric for my taste.

[Buckethead]

Of course I don't know your tastes, but I will say that Ansill's reputation as a brain and tongue emporium is far from the reality. There are several offal dishes on the menu, but not many. The best dish I ever had there was actually vegetarian.