Red Owl Tavern Awards

Red Owl Tavern Restaurant Review:

Ben Franklin certainly never dined at Red Owl Tavern at Kimpton's Hotel Monaco Philadelphia across from Independence Hall. But it's the kind of affordable and lively spot that someone as thrifty and social as our Mr. Franklin might have enjoyed. The soaring corner space in the circa 1907 Lafayette Building is at once rustic and industrial-chic, with touches of barn wood balancing exposed brick and Edison bulb-style fixtures. The wide-ranging farm-to-table menu covers the necessary bases with a few twists. The breakfast menu offers granola and yogurt, french toast, omelets and other egg dishes, while lunch is mainly salads, burgers and sandwiches, perhaps Wagyu brisket with pickled onions on a roll. At dinner, there are mussels, steaks, pastas and other grilled meats, along with enticing seafood dishes such as scallops over succotash with chive oil. Pork shank with chimichurri sauce on mashed potatoes is about as upscale as comfort food can get. Home-style desserts --- chocolate pudding with vanilla mascarpone and mixed berry shortcake --- round out the meal. At the bar, you can sip house cocktails like the barrel-aged Treme with Basil Hayden’s, Remy Martin VSOP, Carpano Antica, Allspice Dram and Gran Classic bitters, or choose from a well-constructed list of wines and local, craft and imported beers.