On Monday, May 10, the people who brought you the likes of Public House and Field House will open the brand new City Tap House, a bar and restaurant in the Radian that will serve American pub fare and one of the largest selections of draught beers in the region. But what will really distinguish the place from its Center City siblings is a large roof deck with stone fire pits and semi-private dining grottoes. Opening just in time for Penn’s graduation weekend and the onset of warm weather, good luck getting a seat. In the meantime, let’s take a look at what’s on the menu.
Culinary director Brian Cooke and executive chef Al Paris are in the kitchen at City Tap House. Cooke is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and former general manager at the Fountain Restaurant at the Four Seasons, while Paris is known for his 20 plus years of cooking experience at various Philadelphia restaurants. The two collaborated on the menu to create 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. 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. There’s also a rotisserie for daily roasted meats and custom made twin brick ovens for pizza.
The food is meant to pair well with the restaurant’s draught beer program, developed by Andrew Farrell. The list is comprised of a large number of seasonal choices and a host of local brews, including hard-to-find, limited-production ales and lagers. A few of the year-round draughts are 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.
City Tap House will serve lunch and dinner, seven days a week.
City Tap House, 3925 Walnut St., in the Radian.
