City Tap House To Open Monday, May 10

After much speculation, the good folks at City Tap House have sent out official word that the indoor-outdoor pub, located on the second floor of the Radian, will be opening on Monday, May 10. Never mind that this date is nearly a year after it was first rumored to open its doors, their lengthy press release got us psyched for what's to come! The restaurant is said to feature an "island" bar with 60 taps, 120-seat dining room, open kitchen, and two outdoor terraces complete with five stone fire pits. There will also be two semi-private grottoes and a semi-private elevated lounge. Swanky!

The drink menu includes a number of seasonal and local beers, as well as wine by the glass and "festive cocktails". Culinary Director Brian Cooke (formerly of The Fountain Restaurant) and Executive Chef Al Paris will be serving up American pub fare on the restaurant side. Dishes include Crispy Gulf Oysters, Center-Cut Pork Chop, Roasted Local Beet Salad, and a variety of pizzas. Prices will range from $6 for Hand-Cut Sweet Potato Fries to $29 for Grilled Bone-In-Rib-Eye dinner special.

Read after the jump for the full press release. Our favorite parts include the "timber-framed interior with a natural color scheme outfitted by reclaimed wood from old barns" and "open-air views of the High Rises and Dubois Walnut Street and beyond". Normally we'd judge, but the combo of pretentiousness and booze should find them right at home on Penn's campus.

CITY TAP HOUSE TO DEBUT IN UNIVERSITY CITY

WITH 60 DRAUGHT BEERS AND AMERICAN PUB FARE

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Monday, May 10, City Tap House (The Radian Balcony, 3925 Walnut Street, 215-662-0105) will open, serving the region’s largest selection of draught beers – 60 in all, including many rare and sought-after craft offerings – and a menu of American pub fare.  With extensive open-air seating on two terraces and a row of five stone fire pits overlooking Walnut Street combined with the rich, rustic feel of a mountain lodge, this University City newcomer is sure to become one of the city’s most popular food-and-beer destinations.

“We’re excited to be joining University City’s growing restaurant community,” says Gary Cardi, one of four co-owners who also include Chris Coco, Brian Harrington and Frank Falesto.  “We hope to bring something new, combining beer, food and our large outdoor space, that isn’t offered here now.”

City Tap House will be located on the second level of The Radian, a pristine new landmark building just steps from the campuses of the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.  The restaurant will feature a large “island” bar with all 60 taps, a welcoming 120-seat dining room, an open kitchen and two expansive outdoor terraces.  There will also be two semi-private dining grottoes, and an elevated semi-private lounge with up to 12 dedicated taps from the adjacent walk-in keg cooler.

The welcoming, timber-framed interior with a natural color scheme will be outfitted by reclaimed wood from old barns, used for everything from the walls to the ceiling beams.  Slate tile floors and hand-hammered copper accents, including the bar top, will lend to the comfortable, lived-in aesthetic.

In addition to large picture windows throughout the space, there are clear glass panels around the terrace, for guests to enjoy open-air views of Walnut Street and beyond from virtually anywhere in the restaurant.  Guests dining inside will see “green” as they look out onto the building’s lush-yet-functional plant-covered roof.

The restaurant’s draught beer list, developed by knowledgeable beer steward Andrew Farrell, will include a large number of seasonal choices, selected to complement the menu while turning guests on to what might be their new favorite brew.  A host of local brews, including hard-to-find, limited-production ales and lagers, will be the heart of the seasonal beer menu.  Year-round draughts will include:  Tripel Karmeliet, a slightly sweet Belgian Tripel brewed from wheat, oats and barley;  Hitachino Nest White, a tangy, well-balanced Japanese white beer;  Ace Pear Cider, a pear-and-apple cider that is a rare gluten-free draught selection;  and Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale, an IPA with a big hop finish and fresh, floral aroma.  A stellar selection of wines by the glass, festive cocktails and a wealth of whiskies will round out the beverage lists.

“This is a bar for guests who want to take the time to experience and savor interesting and unusual craft beers,” says Cardi.  “Our wine list will also offer a wonderful selection of New World wines.”

Anchoring the restaurant side will be American pub fare from Culinary Director Brian Cooke and Executive Chef Al Paris.  Cooke is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and former General Manager at The Fountain Restaurant at The Four Seasons, and Paris is known for his 20 plus years of cooking experience at various Philadelphia restaurants.  Their extensive culinary backgrounds are the basis for perfectly executed dishes such as:  Crispy Gulf Oysters with horseradish aioli, Johnny cakes and pickled red onion;  Lancaster Lamb ‘Merguez’ Sausage with red pepper hummus, flatbread, marinated olives and feta;  Roasted Local Beet Salad with radicchio, goat cheese croutons, haricot vert and orange-rosemary vinaigrette;  Center-Cut Pork Chop with apple-fennel mash and roasted pepper salad;  and several varieties of mussels.

The state-of-the-art kitchen will be filled with chef’s accessories such as a rotisserie for daily roasted meats and poultry and custom made, twin brick ovens for a variety of pizzas.  Menu items will range in price from $6 for Hand-Cut Sweet Potato Fries to $29 for Saturday’s Grilled Bone-In Rib-Eye dinner special.  Other “Daily Supper” plates-of-the-day will include Monday’s Pan-Seared Grouper and Wednesday’s Rosemary-Mint Grilled Lamb Chops.

“Our food pairs beautifully with any of our draught beer offerings, but the menu also stands on its own as an example of humble bar food elevated to its finest form,” says General Manager Gordon Dinerman, who previously worked as general manager at Barclay Prime and Buddakan, as well as a manager for Morton’s and Dock Street Brewing Company.

City Tap House’s breath-taking design comes from Partridge Architects, an architecture, planning and design firm located in Center City.  At the forefront of the sustainable design movement, the firm has completed more than 50% of the total LEED-CI projects in the Philadelphia area and is a member of the US Green Building Council and the Delaware Valley Green Building Council.

Owners Cardi, Coco, Harrington and Falesto are also the operators of several other restaurant concepts including Mission Grill, Field House and Public House, with 12 locations including four in the region in Philadelphia, PA; New York City, NY; Oxon Hill, MD and Wilmington, DE.  Since opening their first location in 2005, Public House has offered upscale American cuisine in a fun, sophisticated setting that is equally appropriate for a meal with friends or a beer at the bar during the big game.

City Tap House will serve lunch and dinner, seven days a week.  For more information, or to make a reservation, please visit www.citytaphouse.com or call (215) 662-0105.

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