Esquire's Best Bars in America: Philly Winners

[Mummer]

This is in the June issue that hit my mailbox today.

The Grey Lodge and Southwark are the Philly winners.

The article uses about a dozen icons for the qualities the contributors appreciate.

Both winners hit for good conversation, which speaks well for our fair city. The Grey Lodge also gets a nod for a little rowdy, really cheap and great for daytime drinking while Southwark hits for no TV and excellent bartenders.

Grey Lodge didn't get a nod for outstanding jukebox.

Since I've not had an expense account for over 20 years, I can't relate to the really expensive quality; I'm glad those are in other cities.

Better than more talk about mouse droppings, eh?

[KatieLoeb]

A well deserved congratulations to both the Grey Lodge and Southwark! Way to go Scoats, Kip and Sheri! Good going folks. Way to represent the City of Brotherly Drinkin'! Woot!

[SaxChik]

yay scoats!

did they have a picture of him all "007'd" out in a tux with a beer in his hand?

[Rich Pawlak]

The description of the bar is priceless. I'm gonna have to cut and paste it somehow. Priceless.

Kudos to beer writer Lew Bryson for tipping off writer David Wondrich to the GL.

[KatieLoeb]

Kudos to beer writer Lew Bryson for tipping off writer David Wondrich to the GL.

When I met David Wondrich at Red Sky for Book & the Cook in March, he mentioned both places to me and said they were on his list to visit again next time he blows through town. Seems the beer and whiskey selection as well as the overall vibe at GL really knocked him out, and the very professional bar staff at Southwark made a very good impression.

[mrbigjas]

there's a great whiskey selection at grey lodge too? i gotta get up there again; now that i have a designated driver i'd say a trek up there is in the cards for the near future.

edited to say congratulations to all involved! i agree with dude wholeheartedly, except about his description of frankford.

Edited May 11, 2006 by mrbigjas (log)

[Rich Pawlak]

Here's what ESQUIRE and Mr Wondrich had to say about The Grey Lodge:

The Grey Lodge

PHILADELPHIA

YOU'RE HAVING: A pint of Flying Bison once things start to pick up a bit.

At the outer edge of the vast sea of decrepit two-story row houses that is northeast Philadelphia, there's a cemetery. Past the cemetery, there's a Burger King and a car dealership. Past them, there's the Grey Lodge. If Moe Szyslak's umpteenth suicide attempt actually succeeded and if, through some unlikely but amusing chain of events, Comic Book Guy took over his bar, this is what you'd end up with. It's a long way to go for a beer. It's worth it. (6235 Frankford Avenue; 215-624-2969)

and what they say about Southwark:

Southwark

PHILADELPHIA

YOU'RE HAVING: A rye old-fashioned.

After fifteen minutes at this uncanny re-creation of a pre-Prohibition corner bar, you'll be running simultaneous conversations with one stranger about Sumerian zymurgy and another about the problems dating a girl who live with her identical twin raise. And drink a perfect rye old-fashioned. (70 South Fourth Street;215-238-1888)