Openings

Reserve and Bierstube Rise Above Old City’s Rampant Riffraff

Reserve
Reserve

Hopefully this week’s run on new restaurants geared toward grown-ups can help turn the tide on the escalating violence and other rampant drunken knuckleheadery that’s plagued Old City in recent years. The steakhouse Reserve took up residency in what was formerly Cebu, which closed back in 2008 shortly after a patron there was shot, at 123 Chestnut. It’s Cuba Libre alum Didier LaFontant’s baby, and according to the Insider exudes a sense of sexiness with mood lighting and decor. As one commenter is quick to point out, a steakhouse concept in this neighborhood and in this economy could be a tough sell. And with steaks and chops ranging in price from $24 to $38, they might be on to something.

Still, it’s worth noting that the bill of fare runs the gamut from raw bar selections to assorted meat entrees and many of the dishes come in at under $20. All of the fish entrees, for example, are priced at $10. Fish dishes range in price from $25 to $28.*

Also new to Old City is Bierstube, which opened ahead of schedule this week. It’s not quite the same hoity-toity affair as Reserve, but it aims higher than the bar set by most of the neighborhood’s other haunts. As we mentioned before, this was originally going to be Eulogy and Beneluxx owner Mike Naessens’ homage to Germany’s occupation of the Chinese port city Tsintao, but has since been dialed back some. The menu and 16 taps are mostly German in nature.

Reserve, 123 Chestnut St., (215) 964-6262
Bierstube, 206 Market St., (215) 922-2958

A steakhouse for Old City [Insider]

*This posted has been corrected to show that the price of fish entrees was incorrect.

Reserve and Bierstube Rise Above Old City’s Rampant Riffraff