Michael’s Cafe
3640 Street Road
Bensalem
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 6 p.m.-2 a.m., unless otherwise noted: Closed Mondays
215.633.7171

Scene: It’s a lot bigger inside than its exterior might suggest. There is plenty of room to move around with five bars nicely separated from each other. It’s a bit dimly lit, but probably not much more than any other nightclub.
On this night there was a BIG Sunday crowd with more than 150 people inside before 9:30 p.m. Mature, enthusiastic crowd of 30 to 50 year-olds who were more into dancing to 94.5 PST’s retro-dance party than daring each other to do keg stands.
According to other bar patrons there are solid crowds there Friday and Saturday nights when “As it gets later, the crowd gets younger,” according to a regular customer. Thursdays offer WXTU country night and line dancing –lots of it.

Staff: Capable, attentive and plentiful. Two clearly marked bouncers kept sentry, but didn’t loom over the proceedings. There was staffing at three of the five large bars. The barkeeps handled all the drink requests fast, including refills. Several waitresses scurried around to the high top tables.

Food: There was some food around, including free snack mix on the bar, much to the delight of a butternut leather-coat-wearing fellow bar-goer a few seats down (using both hands to scoop up the munchies). Additionally, I noticed a woman at one of the high tables scarfing down shrimp cocktail like it was her last meal.
A woman next to me at the bar lamented that Michael’s had (a few weeks ago) stopped the Sunday buffet, which by her admission and appearance, was something she greatly enjoyed.

Sounds: The simulcast retro dance party from WPST (94.5 FM) spun gold from Cher (“Believe”), Shelia E. (“The Glamorous Life’) and Technotronic (“Move This”), all of which helped the large dance floor fill up quickly. No explanation for why it cleared during Rick James’ “Superfreak,” though.
She’s a very kinky girl, people!
Maybe it was a tribute.

Games: None. But there is a coat room, so I guess you can play “Store the Coat,” and hope that the clerk will give you a nicer coat in return. Tough odds, though.

Parking: Plenty, but get there early for the best space. Adjacent lots of the Macintosh Inn and Hooters are nearby but you’ll be parking at your own risk. FYI - slow down as soon as you get under the Turnpike heading east on Street Road, otherwise you’ll blow right by Michael’s.

Most Popular Drink: Mixers of all sorts: rum and cokes, Malibu bay breezes, vodka and tonic. It wasn’t a huge beer-drinking crowd, though there were a few bottles on the bar.

Overheard: “I was at my son’s basketball game…They lost, but it’s okay. He doesn’t play very much. He’s not very good.”

Cost: Two Miller Lites ($2.50) and some snack mix (free): $5.

-Joe Student
Philly EDGE Editor