Curiosity got the better of us last night, and we surrey’d on down to Prohibition Taproom at 13th and Buttonwood last night for a hearty test drive. And guess what: We kinda loved it. More than kinda, even. In fact, we’ll be back as soon as we can. Nestled firmly in what one friend calls “Eraserhead Neighborhood,” the Prohibition is clearly a godsend to the increasing population of urban settlers in the area previously defined by the Trestle Inn who, up until November 1, had nowhere close to go once Cafe Lift closed for the evening. And God help ‘em if they wanted a beer. (Fun fact: The Cafe Lift peeps own the Pro-Tap.)
But like we say, the Prohibition solves a handful of problems in this up-and-slooooowly-coming neighborhood. For one, here is a bar one can really live in: An odd-shaped bar makes plenty of conversational nooks and islands, but there’s also plenty of table seating, and what we can handily say it’s got the best gastropub jukebox in town. (Confidential to the rest of you gastros: Take all metal, math rock and employees’ bands off your jukeboxes at once; come 10pm, your clientele just cannot be trusted with it.) But here’s the other thing: The food is good. While we would have liked to have seen some more soups (it’s cold outside!) and vegan options, baked mac and cheese ruled, and the pulled pork sandwich, in a rogue move when compared to others we’ve sample recently, had real-deal spicy, smoky BBQ kick to it. Side salads were generous, and fried green beans were taut, crunchy and off the plate in a flash.
Meanwhile, the Prohibition is also secretly doubling as a great tasting room for craft beers: In addition to Autumn ’08 staples like Sly Fox Dry Stout and plenty of other locally made suds, the bottle selection was great, too; we tried Samuel Smith Winter Warmer (amazing, creamy, smooth) and a big ol’ bottle of Brooklyn Local 01 (hearty, satisfying, flirty). All in all, it’s rare to see any place come this strong out of the gate, but by doing a handful of simple things really well in a part of town that has been starved of just that, Prohibition Taproom is gonna win friends left and right.
Prohibition Taproom, 501 N. 13th St. 215-238-1818.
I was there with a couple of friends last night for the first time as well. The food was definitely solid, the Hoisin wings could have used some more spice though. I agree on the salads and the beer-battered beans. I was happy to see hand-pumped ESA on tap. That shit will never stop being delicious.
umm…the institute deserves some love for being a bar with good beer on tap in the area.
my one complaint about prohibition is its ordering policy. its weird to order at the bar and then have the food and drink come to the table. either let me do everything myself, or do it all, imo.
and it was kinda loud in there.
but those green beans are damn good.
are they opened for lunch??
I went last night and found the spot to be nicely put together. I love the shape of the bar, it totally allows for larger groups of people to sit at the bar and actually converse with more than just the person to your right or left.
The food was tasty but EXTRAORDINARILY greasy. My stomach is still reeling from the shock.
I will go back, but will stick to the very nicely priced beers.
WOW what a place, i don’t know what Crystal is talking about the food was actually light for a pub menu. I had “beer mussels” and a burger that was perfect with house cut fries, and a heavy seas winter ale which was a delight. It is so nice to go to a place that calls itself a beer bar and actually have craft beers from somewhere other then the typical local stuff. I cant wait to go back and see what is new on draft.
and why are we taking metal and math rock out of the jukeboxes? to fill it with mediocre, mid-tempo unnoffensive 2nd/3rd wave indie/hipster demographic drek?
and by the way what the hell is wrong with the trestle inn? great, good job, hipsters. 2 years from now there will be a tria and a byob and a starbucks. 2 years after that, bed bath & beyond and panera bread. great. good job philly.
@silverbullet: hey, nobody said it has to be Of Montreal: i’d gladly replace all the Tool on jukeboxes in this town with Sam Cooke or Peter Tosh CDs purchased with my own money. Don’t be so defensive, it’s not Craigslist Rants N Raves here, brah.
haha, he said “brah”.