Happy Hour with History at National Mechanics

National Mechanics offers a very lively happy hour setting. The building is large, and has become almost packed on several of my visits. In 1837, the building was built by architect William Strickland and since then has housed banks, churches, clubs, and bars. National Mechanics is a wonderful bar to come to, especially with friends from out of town because of its history. It was originally dubbed “Mechanics National Bank”, which is where its current name is derived from. Located in Old City, National Mechanics is a great place to come to top off a day of site seeing or even just to indulge in the city’s historic bar scene after work.

Happy hour is served Monday through Friday from 5 PM to 7 PM. The bar offers $1 off most pints and $2.50 Lagers. There is an extensive draft list that changes seasonally. Amongst others, the draft list includes beers such as; Flying Fish, Bells, Yards, and Philadelphia Brewing Company. Also offered at happy hour are the $6 National or Veggie burgers. The National Burger is a true American style Angus burger topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and any choice of cheeses. The veggie burger is a secret homemade recipe made of real vegetables with the same choice of toppings.

I recommend National Mechanics as a spot to come with a group of friends, as the scene is geared more towards groups than solo drinkers. I always have a great time at National Mechanics and enjoy the food and drink selection thoroughly during happy hour. Indulge and imbibe on a beer and burger, a great American style meal, in a piece of America’s history. National Mechanics is located at 22 S. 3^rd Street, Philadelphia, PA. It can be reached at 215.701.4883 or at nationalmechanics.com. 

*Note: picture to come soon.

Half-Priced Drafts at Perch Pub

Every time I visit Perch Pub I am exceedingly pleased. The draft selection is vast, always changing, and always delicious. The pub snacks (and other menu items) are always delectable and perfectly filling. The front bar offers a lively setting, and there is a more quiet and relaxing setting in the back. With a pool table, dartboard, expansive draft list, and delicious food all at a special price, who wouldn’t want to make Perch Pub their next stop for happy hour?

The bar offers happy hour from 5 PM to 7 PM on Mondays through Fridays. This includes half-priced drafts, $5 Sycamore Lane Cabernet & Chardonnay, $5 Vodka-infused martinis, classic gin & tonics, and well drinks. Pub snacks are also specially priced at $2.50 to $5.50.  In addition, Perch Pub offers a Wednesday lunchtime happy hour from 12 PM to 2 PM and Sunday evening happy hour from 8 PM to 10 PM which both serve the same priced specials.  If you’re looking for a great spot to watch the big game, the bar offers $15 buckets of domestic bottles, $2.50 bourbon shots, and $4 Jager shots.

Pub snacks include Deviled Eggs with Sriracha, Philly soft pretzels ale fondue and chocolate stout mustard, spicy peanuts, warm Malanga chips with garlic aioli dip, French fries with house spicy ketchup and garlic aioli, and onion rings with ranch dressing.  If you have read my other posts, you can probably guess that I love the deviled eggs!  The pub uses a more classic recipe that delivers a mild kick. The Malanga chips with the garlic aioli dip are also delicious. Malanga is a vegetable similar to a potato that is used in mainly South American and Cuban cooking.  The Philly soft pretzels served with the ale fondue and chocolate stout mustard have an interesting and flavorful taste that serve as a great accompaniment to all of the draft beers offered.

Perch Pub calls their happy hour, “A Brew with a View”, and that it certainly is. The bar is located on Broad Street & Locust Street and is located in the upstairs location of Vrailli restaurant. Its large windows offer beautiful views of the buildings around it, including The Bellevue, the Kimmel Center, and the Academy of Music. There is a large bar to sit at, with small tables located behind them, making it comfortable and not too crowded. In the back area of the bar, where the pool table is located, there are tables for larger groups to indulge and imbibe upon.

 This happy hour spot has treated me well both in small and large groups. The service is quick and efficient, and the bartenders will even let you sample a brew if you’re unsure! Be sure not to miss Perch Pub’s wonderfully written draft list, the descriptions are both entertaining, creative, and very informative. Perch Pub is located at 1345 Locust Street. It can be reached at 215.546.4090 or at www.perchpub.com. 

Make time for Time

Time is a special bar in Philadelphia that truly offers something for everyone. It is split into three sections, which include a dining room with a large bar, a whiskey bar and taproom, and the lounge on the second floor that hosts a DJ every Friday and Saturday night. The dining room’s large bar offers a classy experience to dine, snack, and sip on cocktails. It often offers live music for guest’s entertainment. The whiskey bar and tap room offers a more lively scene that would be perfect to watch the big game while imbibing on cocktails and bourbon with friends.

Happy hour at Time is served from 5 PM to 7 PM every day of the week with live jazz at 6 PM on Thursday- Saturday. The drink specials include $3 Yards Thomas Jefferson Ale Draft, $1 off all other drafts, $5 Dark and Stormys, Presbyterians and Champagne Cocktails. The bar bite offerings are $3 mini French fries or onion rings, $5 mini mac and cheese, and a $6 crostini of the day. My personal favorites are the champagne cocktails and the mac and cheese to indulge on, although all of the beverages and bites are mouth watering.

The venue’s Dark and Stormy is comprised of Gosling’s dark rum, Jamaican ginger beer, and a lime. The Presbyterian consists of Jim Beam rye, ginger ale, and bitters.  There are several champagne cocktails that are sure to get you feeling bubbly. The mac and cheese is made with smoked brisket, cavatelli, white cheddar and fontina cheeses. Any of the crostini’s offered are sure to take your taste buds on a ride!

“The Foobooz Top 50 Bars for 2012” included Time, and the voters were certainly not wrong. It can cater to almost any scene that a consumer is looking for because of its diversity and options. If you’re looking to have a quiet and relaxing drink alone or with a small group, the dining room with its center bar is the place for you. If you’re looking for a more animated and bustling scene, the whiskey bar is perfect for a group of friends or coworkers to come together. I have enjoyed the bar in all of its capacities and have never been dissatisfied.

Time is located at 1315 Sansom Street in Philadelphia. The restaurant/ bar can be reached at 215.985.4800 or at http://www.timerestaurant.net/. 

$5 Wine and Cheese at Tria

My latest expedition in searching for the best happy hour spots in Philadelphia landed me at Tria Cafe at the Washington Square West location, the only one of the three that serves specially priced happy hour selections.  From 5 PM to 7 PM, on Monday- Thursday, Tria serves one white wine, one red wine, one cheese plate, and two types of beers for just $5 each!

While the options may sound limited, I have thoroughly enjoyed my selection during each visit. My full priced bills at Tria have gotten pretty pricey, so I absolutely seized the opportunity to sip on several glasses of wine for $5 each and to snack on a cheese plate served with a sliced baguette for $5 each. 

I have been frequenting this happy hour to ensure that the beverages and cheese plates offered varied upon the different days, and was pleasantly surprised to see that they do. My favorite wine on the full wine list is the Albarino Namorio, a “zippy” white wine from Rias Baixas, Spain. This refreshing beverage usually goes for $9 per glass, and was available on one of my happy hour visits. I also found my favorite Yellow Springs Farm Nutcracker cheese, along with Tria’s more expensive red wines and beers offered at happy hour.

Tria offers a wonderful experience for your taste buds, but can also enhance your knowledge of wines, beers, and cheese. The staff is incredibly friendly, passionate, and knowledgeable.  I have had this experience at all of the Tria locations. The welcoming atmosphere of the staff has kept me coming back from more, even if I am by myself. I have found that I actually enjoy going to Tria solo, so that I can chat with the staff and learn about the beverages and cheeses that I am drinking. It's nice way to relax, and to ensure that you will not feel lonely at the bar. I have had a great time in groups of all sizes at Tria as well, but if you’re looking to learn about the menu offerings I would definitely suggest indulging and imbibing alone or with a very small group.

Tria’s Washington Square West location is at 12^th and Spruce, this is the only location that serves a specially priced happy hour. The Rittenhouse Square location is on 18^th and Samson and the Tria Wine Room in University City is located at 31^st and Walnut.  Their website and contact information for each location can be found at triacafe.com.