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]

Joe Sixpack made a resolution to try more suburban watering holes in 2006 and low and behold, he discovered “some primo watering holes.”

• Mesquito Grille (Doylestown)
• Half Moon Saloon (Kennett Square)
• Flying Pig Saloon (Malvern)
• Crabby Larry’s Brewpub Steak & Seafood House (Chalfont)
• Spinnerstown Hotel (Spinnerstown)
• Union Jack’s on the Manatawny (Boyertown)

Joe also recommends these city bars that you may not have discovered yet.

• Three Monkeys (Torresdale)
• Old Eagle Tavern (Manayunk)
• Pub on Passyunk East (South Philadelphia)
• Mermaid Inn (Chestnut Hill)
• Southwark (South Street area)
• Bar Ferdinand (Northern Liberties)

‘Burbs may be scary, but brew’s primo [Joe Sixpack, Daily News]
Joe Sixpack [Official Site]

Jump start your weekend with O’Neals pint deal. For $3 you’ll get pints of the world’s best beers.

Elsewhere near South Street you might consider a Summit Oktoberfest at Southwark, a delightfully malty beer. And since you’re there you may as well have something to eat, we recommend it all, even the sweetbreads!

And finally, why not head down to N. 3rd. Or at least check out their commercial.

Philly’s Bluecoat aims for the top shelf

In certain applications I’ve found it [Bluecoat Gin] absolutely endearing; one being a smart martini offered by bartender Kurt Wunder at 700 Club, the smoky corner bar in Northern Liberties: Wunder adds a dash of aromatic orange bitters to the traditional dry vermouth, and serves it with a lemon twist.

Kip Waide, the master bartender at Southwark, credits Bluecoat – along with the cucumber-y Hendricks – for giving gin virgins a gentler first experience. It makes for a softer negroni (equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, orange slice garnish); it smooths out James Bond’s classic vesper (3 parts gin, 1 part vodka, 1/2 part blonde Lillet). In a gin and tonic, an orange slice plays up its softer-citrus side.

Which may help convert young vodka-holics. But hard-core gin purists may prove tougher customers: They tend to covet that dry, clean (unsoftened) bite of juniper.

Bluecoat Gin [Official Site]