Summer is full of sun and time spent outside, but it’s also a season that’s full of flavor. Here are a few spots in Philly to sink your teeth into some seasonal fare and sip on some refreshing treats.
Red Owl Tavern
You don’t need to flock to the beach to get a taste of a seafood feast, you can stay right here in Philadelphia. Old City eatery and bar Red Owl Tavern has brought back its lobster clam bake to serve every Monday at a discounted price from now until Labor Day. The $41 ($25 on Mondays) Lobster Clam Bake is served in a traditional New England-style speckled pot with a vast array of seafood including a ½ lb lobster, clams, mussels, shrimp, corn on the cob and fingerling potatoes.
433 Chestnut St., redowltavern.com
Chef Keith Taylor’s Ribs
BBQs and summer go together like peanut butter and jelly, and Chef Keith Taylor is offering an event where Philadelphians can sink their teeth into the seasonal staple: Ribs. The tasty event kicks off this Sunday, May 16, which also happens to be National BBQ Day. In correlation with Chef Taylor’s ribs, Brandon Washington is bringing back his family’s sauce recipe from his father—the late Ronald Washington—who owned Ron’s Ribs, a former neighborhood staple at 1627 South Street in Philadelphia which was forced to close back in 2010.
Coincidentally, this Sunday is also the late Ronald Washinton’s birthday. The release states that the launch event will feature 400 ribs from BBQ Chef Keith Taylor (Zachary’s BBQ & Soul; The Soul of Cooking Kitchen), which will be topped with Ron’s Ribs Signature Sauce at Brandon’s new community center and co-op workspace he’s renovating called 1901 — the former South of South Neighborhood Association (SOSNA) space at 1901B Washington Avenue. The community BBQ will begin at noon, with ribs and beverages available to anyone who shows up. Food and drink will be free of charge, however, guests are asked to make donations directly to the community center.
zacharysbbq.com and ronssignaturesauce.com
New Liberty Distillery
Summer wouldn’t be complete without some refreshing treats, and New Liberty Distillery has just what you need. Philadelphians can indulge in ready-to-drink canned cocktails under Robert Cassell’s of NLD’s new company, the American Liquor Company.
According to the release, the lineup of Canned Cocktails includes a tart and zingy Sparkling Vodka Lemonade boasting real lemon juice, Gin and Tonic made with Red Ribbon Tonic Water out of Pittsburgh, a Margarita made with real lime juice and small batch triple sec, a vodka soda, and the shore town classic – an Orange Crush made with vodka, soda water and orange. Hitting shelves in 4pk/355ml slim cans this week each recipe was crafted using quality, house-made spirits combined with real, all-natural high-quality ingredients to create a convenient Canned Cocktail. ALCO Canned Cocktails present at 8% ABV, start at 156 calories and retail for an MSRP of $9.99-$13.99 in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and DC.
Barry’s Buns
After a salt-filled day at the beach, there are a few ways to dip into some sweets with Barry’s Buns. Barry’s has locations in Chestnut Hill and the newly opened storefront in Wildwood Crest, so the only question Philadelphians should ask is which one is closest? Barry’s Buns’ menu features a number of sticky buns, sticky bun bread pudding, cinnamon roll bites, babka loaves, Jewish apple cake, chocolate-chip pound cake, crumb cake, butter cake, 10 different waffle options, a wide variety of cookies, brownies and more, but it’s their newest item: The Bunnoli, which is just as it sounds… a cinnamon bun cannoli, that will have you skipping to and from the beach.
Various locations, barrysbuns.com
Silk City Brunch
Summertime is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the beautiful weather in the morning/early afternoon and get some prime Philly brunch. According to a release, Silk City — the eclectic retro diner and lounge with adjacent art and artifact-filled garden recently brought back weekend brunch service for both indoor and outdoor dining on both Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests can enjoy returning favorites such as the seitan wings ($11), Bee’s Breakfast Sandwich ($12), chicken and waffles ($15), and plenty more during socially-distanced brunch served indoors, in the classic diner and lounge, or in the recently expanded beer garden. In addition, the streetery space is open on Lawrence Street, as well as café-style picnic tables out front along Spring Garden Street.
435 Spring Garden St., silkcityphilly.com
Sterling Pig Brewery
Sterling Pig Brewery brings food and drinks with the smokey summertime feel. Located in Media and West Chester, the BBQ and beer joint serves up some summertime fare including a BBQ pulled pork sandwich, smoked brisket, ST. Louis ribs, a BBQ combo and much more. But their beer is something so good you’ll want to have it delivered, and now you can. The eatery’s new shipping service, titled Pig on the Fly, gets beer sent directly to your door anywhere in Pennsylvania. They also offer curbside pickup on select days. Philadelphians and beyond can choose from their Shoat Pilsner, Big Gunz Double IPA, The Snuffler IPA, The Little Piggy Citra, The Piggy Stardust Tripel and more.
Various locations, sterlingpig.com
