Loading ...A Peppercorn for Picking in the ‘Port
Posted by Kirsten Henri on September 8th, 2008
We haven’t heard much about Pennsport spot Peppercorns since it opened late last year, but it looks like the building is for sale. The phillyblog thread, ominously titled “Poor Peppercorns“, offers 10 pages of neighborly assessments that run the gamut from hopeful to grim on the future of the spot.
Pennsport is a tricky spot for a restaurant, bar or resto-bar. It clearly can support a bar – there’s no shortage of them there – but the food situation is inconsistent. The Ugly American seems to be surviving. There’s a newish BYOB Nicholas (anyone been?). So what might work in Peppercorns space, if not Peppercorns? Another BYO? Another gastropub? Sushi? Bueller?
Here’s the Restaurant Yenta’s pick: lose the restaurant and open a craft beer store with prepared foods. The prepared foods should be delicious, but affordable and accessible. It should be staffed by cute guys and girls who are earnest but not snotty about their love of craft beer. They should have cake, because cake is wonderful and everyone loves cake.
Thoughts?
Related Tags: Pennsport, Peppercorns, restaurant-yenta
September 8th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Nicholas is outstanding. The chefs have a great seafood resume and it shows in their excellent food. I’ve been there several times and enjoyed each visit.
I think Pennsport can support a great restuarant. There is a thriving community scene and few good places to eat within walking distance. Unfortunately, Peppercorns is not a great restaurant. Overpriced and inconsistant is what I have frequently heard.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Nicholas is EXACTLY the restaurant that can thrive in Pennsport; prices are more than reasonable, the food is interesting without being TOO “interesting”, it’s BYO, and it’s really well-appointed in a colorful South Philly kind of way. All in all, it actually works as “neighborhood” restaurant, without sacrificing an emphasis on seasonal cooking and solid, well-balanced preparation.
September 8th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
At the beginning of August, Peppercorns had a “closed for vacation” sign on the door and my boyfriend opined that you don’t go on vacation if your restaurant is less than a year old. He rightly predicted they’d be closed for good. The most successful idea for that location would be a sportbar with big tvs. Call it Widescreens with NFL Ticket and you’ll be packed every weekend.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Nicholas is fantastic – great food, makes the most of good ingredients (nothing too over the top) and affordable. Perfect for the neighborhood.
I wish the Peppercorns space would turn into a bar with good food. Another gastropub would be great, but the Ugly American is very close by and I don’t know if this part of town could support two within 5 blocks of each other. They do have great TVs and a big space though, so a place to watch the game while eating some quality wings and beer specials would be fun. I’ve lived in the neighborhood for over a year, and the only bar I feel comfortable in is the UA, because the rest of the places are full of South Philly lifers who look at us like we’re strangers, and only drink BMC (Bud/Miller/Coors). Maybe the Memphis Taproom slash Kelliann’s people would like to venture into South Philly?!