This week The Bite takes a look at the new Bar 210 being built inside Lacroix and considers other restaurant bars that are worth sidling up to.

The Bite: Hungry? Saddle up [Metro Philadelphia]

Congratulations to Philadelphia’s own Bluecoat Gin. It’s been selected as one of the top 10 spirits to watch in 2008 by Food & Wine magazine.

Food & Wine recommends trying it in an Aviator, which is on the cocktail menu at Southwark.

New Spirits for 2008 [Foodandwine.com]
Bluecoat Gin [Official Site]

From the title to the photograhs, Philadelphia Weekly’s food issue is obviously inspired by Sarah Stolfa’s, the Regulars. Whether quizzo players, dive bar squatters or strip bar voyeurs, every bar has them and needs them. What worries us is how many of them we recognize.

Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Tipping Point
Get Your Game On
Kingdom Come
For The Love Of Mike
Lapping It Up

PW’s Field Guide looks into getting a proper martini around town. Among the choices is the Ritz Carlton which keeps it local with Philadelphia’s own Bluecoat Gin and Southwark which “is like sticking your head under a cold, clear waterfall: refreshing, crisp, clean and just about perfect.”

Vermouthing Off

In the Metro today check out where you can find locally farmed foods in the city, and some local beer too. Local happy hour tonight at Southwark and at Good Food, Good Beer and the Rest Is History under the shambles at Headhouse Square this Saturday. Xochitl, Zot and Bridget Foy’s among others will participate.

Also there are rumors of a mutiny at the Rum Bar. Arrrgh Matey!

The Bite: City gets Fresh [Philadelphia Metro]

Has Esquire lost it? A year after they named Grey Lodge and Southwark as two of the best bars in America the magazine has a new list for 2007. And the lone Philadelphia contribution to the list is the Friendly Lodge at 8th and Washington.

Neighborhood bar, 1950s. Dirty and magical. From the outside, it looks vacant. But that’s the beauty. No burgers here. No mussels. No Abercrombie. No Fitch. Here’s what they have: ashtrays in front of every stool. Three-dollar Budweisers. Good jukebox. A clogged sink in the bathroom. And a cute salt-of the-earth bartender. Heaven.

Not to get too snobby, but come on, Buds and a clogged sink? We’ll be investigating this weekend.

Friendly Lounge [Yelp]

Joy Manning may like a romantic dinner at home best, but a dinner at Southwark is a strong second.

Southwark, that old fashioned bar and restaurant at the corner of Fourth and Bainbridge. I especially like the bar area for its pleasantly cramped quarters, flickering candlelight, dark wood decor and collection of regulars chatting amicably at the bar. The tiny tables are perfect for shared plates and your knees are guaranteed to bump under the table.

The Joy of Dining 04.13 [Philadelphia STYLE]

When we first started Foobooz the idea of a Philly Food Blog Round Up would have consisted two sites but how times have changed,

Blogalicious takes a look at Cafe de Laos which features Lao and Thai cuisine near the Italian Market. [Blogalicious]

Adam Erace also takes a trip to the Franklin Fountain. [Blogalicious]

Finding Philly finds that Southwark does indeed serve a “really effing good” Manhattan. [Finding Philly]

New blog Foodzings describes his favorite Mexican spot, Taqueria La Michoacana in Norristown. [Foodzings]

Foodzings also tries out West Philadelphia’s Copabanana and says the burgers are really good. [Foodzings]

How long a wait for two at Sabrina’s Cafe for Sunday brunch? How about two hours! That’s how long it took Gas•tron•o•my to get a table but their patience and appetite were rewarded. [gas•tron•o•my]

Metroblogging sits down at Tria and is now obsessed with the argula and beet salad. [Metroblogging Philadelphia]

Even though Southwark may be missing the trendy people who have moved on to the next new spot, those in the know know, Southwark still has the goods.

Southwark, the dimly lit throwback of a restaurant on the corner of Fourth and Bainbridge streets. It’s been around for a few years now, and while the city’s trendsters may have moved on to other, newer spots, the restauranti know that Southwark is as good as ever.

Southwark - Hundred Dollar Baby [aroundphilly.com]

Philadelphia bars and restaurants continue to get kudos from national publications.

First it was The Grey Lodge and Southwark being named by Esquire as two of Best Bars in America.

Vetri and Striped Bass cracked Gourmet’s top 50 restaurants. Gayle’s veal stew was named one of the nation’s top ten restaurant dishes of the year by Food & Wine.

Then the Standard Tap and Grace Tavern were featured in Bon Appetit’s January issue on “new American pub food.”

Now McGillin’s Olde Ale House and the Walnut Room have been named in Nightclub & Bar magazine’s top 100 Nightclubs and Bars in the U.S.

Top 100 Nightclubs and Bars for 2007 [Nightclub & Bar Magazine]
McGillin’s Olde Ale House [Official Site]
Walnut Room [Official Site]