After anxiously awaiting its opening for months, I finally got to check out City Tap House, the sprawling new beer hall and gastropub on the balcony of The Radian at 39th and Walnut. The restaurant has been advertising itself as having the region’s largest selection of beers on tap as well as inventive high-quality food and a unique atmosphere.

The wait was worth it. The laid back vibe puts you at ease right away, and the seating choices are numerous. You can grab a stool at the bar, enjoy a meal in the vaulted 120-seat dining room, or lounge at a table outside. Even more exciting, there are five stone fire pits on the terrace which are great for sipping beers later in the evening.

Though there’s a nice wine list as well as other beverages, hops and barley come first here. The beer list is more like a beer book, containing a whopping sixty brews on tap, and handed to diners on a clipboard. My boyfriend nearly squealed with delight when he saw all of his favorite hard-to-find micro brews on the list. Not being as much of a suds expert myself, I was thankful for the line or two of description accompanying each offering. If sixty choices is too overwhelming for you, try a flight of beers. There are several pre-selected flights, or you can create your own and get mini portions of any four beers you choose. My favorites of the evening included my old friend, the refreshing Dock Street Summer Session (as local as local beer gets!), the light Allagash Tripel, and the desserty Bell’s Rye Stout.

The food that accompanies the beer (or is it vice versa?) is outstanding, and the chef has a knack for combining flavors that you wouldn’t think would mix well – but they have magical results. I loved the Crispy Gulf Oysters appetizer, which were crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside and beautifully presented atop Johnny cakes with pickled red onion on top, adding a great salty and sweet contrast. For more traditional bar food, the 10-Spice Dry Rubbed Wings are easily some of the best in the city, with the ten different spices making for a complex and unique flavor. On the lighter side of the menu, the Organic Pulled Chicken Salad was phenomenal. With warm hunks of chicken, crunchy pancetta, sweet green apples and raisins, toasted pecans and crumbles of blue cheese, I’m going to be dreaming about this salad for a long time. For heavier fare, you can’t go wrong with brick oven pizza. I took the server’s recommendation and tried the Tartufo, which sounded wrong; it was outstanding. Generous slices of potent and fragrant tartufo mushrooms flavor the whole pizza, and the fried egg on top adds a whole level of surprisingly complementary flavor. Among the sandwiches, try the Tavern Grilled Ham and Cheese for something really special. Made on walnut raisin bread and spread with black fig jam, you’ll never think of ham and cheese the same way again. Oh, and don’t forget dessert – made fresh with an eye towards lightness and not necessitating a wheelbarrow to roll you home, they’re decadent as can be.

From top to bottom, this place is killer. City Tap House is University City’s next great restaurant.

City Tap House
The Radian Balcony, 3925 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19104
www.citytaphouse.com
Check out their Facebook Page for up-to-the-minute info.

Related Destination: City Tap House »

Related Categories: Dining + Food, Nightlife + Bars

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by Katie on May 28, 2010

We just had an a-mazing YOUCIE event there. The service and food were excellent. I highly recommend this place!

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