New bars on your block
Soon-to-open pubs in and around Philly

By Erin Roop
Philly EDGE Correspondent

Every year people make New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking and countless other predictable (read: “boring”) ideas.
In 2006, crank it up a bit and opt to do something you’ll actually stick with: promise yourself that you’ll check out some of the newest bars popping up all around the Philly area. These new bars deal in everything from “unleashed dancing” to fresh Tex-Mex food.
Afraid of change?
Check out new locations from some of your old favorites like Chickie’s and Pete’s and Kildare’s.

Resolution: Out with the old...
Some of these bars are expansions of some Philly-area legends, while others are reincarnations of the owner’s vision. The latter is the case with Derek’s.
On his business’ Web site, Derek Davis, the owner of Derek’s, describes change as something, “that invigorates me and causes me to be so excited that I can't sleep at night.” Thus the old Sonoma was reborn as Derek’s.
If you happened to chose to quit smoking for 2006 then you’re in luck. Derek’s is completely smoke free.

Derek's
4411 Main St., Philadelphia
215.483.9400
www.dereksrestaurant.com

Resolution: Eat more fruit
Some restaurateurs funnel their ambition into liquid form.
Sean Coyle, the managing partner of the Agave Grille and Cantina, passionately explains that the margaritas for the recently-opened Ambler restaurant and bar went through multiple batch tests to get them to their current level of perfection.
“The bartenders were getting drunk every night until we figured out the perfect balance.” The original margaritas have the option to come with a little kick of flavor — I recommend the prickly pear.

Agave Grille and Cantina
110 E Butler Ave., Ambler
215.641.1420
www.agavegrille.com

Resolution: Stay up later...
Membership to Zee Bar, an exclusive after-hours club, not only gets you in the door, but also “extended hours, VIP spaces, bottle service and far more.”
Zee doesn’t open until 10 p.m., so you’ll have to pre-party somewhere else. However, they shut down around 3:30 a.m. with last call sometime in the 3:00 a.m. hour.

Zee Bar
100 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia
215.922.2994
http://zee-bar.com/

Resolution: Change...but just a little
Both Chickie’s and Pete’s and Kildare’s have branched out to some new areas. The new Chickie’s and Pete’s is the only one of the chain in Jersey. Although the parking situation can be a little tough, it’s worth it just to taste those famous Crab Fries.

Chickie's & Pete's
183 US Highway 130, Bordentown, NJ
609.298.9182
http://www.chickiesandpetes.com/

Kildare's (2nd and South Street, Philly)
509-511 South 2nd St., Philadelphia,
215.574.2995
http://www.kildarespub.com/

No matter what your resolution this year, you’ve got to make an excuse to visit these up-and-comers. So kick back and peruse a selection of some of the following new bars. Salut!

In alphabetical order:

Agave Grille and Cantina
110 E. Butler Avenue, Ambler
215.641.1420
www.agavegrille.com
• What’s on tap: multiple beers, but try the margaritas first.
• Gotta try: Everything is fresh and made to order. You’ve gotta try the nachos, the best I’ve ever had. Mmmmm!
• Before and after: Agave is right next door to the Ambler Theater, make it a full-blown date night and check out both places.

Chickie's & Pete's
183 US Highway 130, Bordentown, NJ
609.298.9182
http://www.chickiesandpetes.com/
• What’s on tap: Towers! Two pitchers worth of beer in a tricky little clear plastic contraption that keeps it cold.
• Gotta try: Crab Fries and famous red sauce
• What you should know: Ladies, be forewarned that the restroom attendant is a stickler for keeping an orderly potty room.

City Limits Sports Bar & Grill
1 E. Philadelphia Ave., Morrisville
215.295.2207
• What’s on tap: Ten beers including Victory Hop Devil – a beer with 6.7% alcohol. According to the bartender, “People like this because they get really shit-faced when they drink it.”
• Tuesday night: Free pool.

Dave and Buster's Grand Sports Cafe (old Jillians in Franklin Mills Mall)
1995 Franklin Mills Circle, Philadelphia
215.632.0333
http://www.daveandbusters.com

Shtick: “Great food and big fun served up by some of the friendliest people in town...” An arcade for adults with alcohol and great food. Games and beer – is there anything better?

Derek's (formerly Sonoma in Manayunk)
4411 Main St., Philadelphia
215.483.9400
http://dereksrestaurant.com
• Shtick: Café/bar with contemporary American cuisine and menus for café, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, wine and beer tastings
• What’s on tap: Over 20 different types of beer as well as a myriad of wine choices. Plus, make sure to check out the second floor, it boasts a Vodka bar that is touted as one of the largest selections of premium vodkas in the U.S.
• Don’t even think about lighting up: Derek’s is completely smoke-free.

G.G. Brewers
282 Keswick Rd. Glenside

Shtick: Word around Keswick Village is that they’re still waiting to get their alcohol license. However, they have started to set up shop.

Kildare's
509-511 South 2nd St., Philadelphia
215.574.2995
http://www.kildarespub.com/
• Gotta try: Irish Coffee – coffee with a shot of Jameson.
• What you should know: The Pub, menus and recipes were designed and created in Ireland. Menu features such traditional Irish favorites as Guinness Stew and Bass Ale Battered Fish & Chips.

McFrog's Pub, Grub & OK Destination
812 N. Easton Rd., Doylestown
215.489.3535
• What you should know: open for lunch, dinner, happy hour, and late-night dining with a menu for the “tadpoles” and activities to keep them occupied.

Pitcher's Pub
4328 Main St., Philadelphia
215.482.2269
• Shtick: Tavern - i.e. leave the sequined halters at home and bring your team jerseys.
• What’s on tap: about 20 beers.

Zee Bar
100 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia
215.922.2994
http://zee-bar.com
• Type: “Private Social Club for the 21st Century” only for members and their guests
• Membership: $20 processing fee, each member is welcome to bring guests
• What’s on tap: full bar featuring the finest vodkas, single-malt scotches, champagne, and wines with a light-fare menu.
• Shtick: “Unleashed dancing to undisturbed chill-ing” (according to Gabby of Zee)
• What you should know: Being a private, after-hours club, they open at 10 p.m. but can stay open until 3:30 a.m. (with no alcohol served past 3 a.m.)

Also on ready to open in 2006: Big Heads in Bensalem, House of Blues/Philadelphia, and an as yet unnamed bar on Butler Ave. in Ambler

New restaurants

If/when you’re heading out prior to your New Year’s Eve celebrations, in addition to Agave Grille and Cantina in Ambler there are also several other new restaurants either open, or soon-to-be-open in and around Philadelphia.

Jonathan's American Grille
West & Greenwood Aves, Jenkintown
215.885.9000
http://www.jonathansamericangrille.com
• Contemporary American cuisine with a bar overlooking the historic Jenkintown Train Station platform
• Upscale and affordable with dinners ranging from $4 to $20. The Web site is worth a visit for its jazzy music, and the pictures of Jonathan’s delicious-looking food.

Fish Tank on Main
4247 Main St., Manayunk-Philadelphia
215.508.0202

This new B.Y.O.B. opened recently in Manayunk. It specializes in Northern Italian cuisine, and of course, seafood.

Coming soon:

The Grotto (scheduled for February 2006)
101 South State St. Newtown

This soon-to-be new Newtown eatery is taking shape on the corner of State St. and Centre Ave. in the Rockwellian-Bucks County borough. Word on the street is to expect a very cool, elegantly designed new bistro.

Cheeseburger in Paradise (opening January 10)
750 Middletown Blvd., Langhorne
215.757.3170

The Parrothead king himself, entertainer Jimmy Buffett, owns these chain restaurants which share the title of his hit song. The menu, however, offers more than just cheeseburgers, it also has island-themed salads, sandwiches and seafood.
AND a fully-stocked bar.

Ted’s Montana Grill (opening soon)
S. Broad & Spruce Sts., Philadelphia
http://www.tedsmontanagrill.com

Ted, is former media mogul Ted Turner, who along with George McKerrow, Jr., founded the Grill. The chain, according to its Web site, offers “comfort food for the 21st century.” That means hearty, hand-made food and drinks such as hand-cut beef and bison steaks, made-from-scratch meatloaf, big ol' cookies, fresh-squeezed lemonade and old-fashioned milkshakes.
We’d tell you about the mahogany décor and the non-smoking atmosphere, but we know you’re still salivating over the prior paragraph.