Bastille Day is the Fourth of July flipped upside down and painted an odd shade of chartreuse. Dating back a little over two centuries, this odd holiday celebrates the storming of the Bastille, a French prison, in 1789 marking the start of the French Revolution.
And because Philadelphia's French population is so overwhelming (I hear its up to a whopping .05% now)restaurants from Old-City to the West Philadelphia have planned a little something something for the holidays.
London Grill
2301 Fairmont Avenue
Calling for entries. Do you own a powdered wig, like to serve cake and have a fetish for short french men? Enter London Grill's Marie Antoinette look-alike contest. Part of the Eastern State Penitentiary's Bastille Day Block Party, the contest will be held on Sunday, July 15, across the street from the penitentiary. Judging will take place at 5PM. The grand prize winner will receive round trip air fare to France.
La Terrasse
3432 Sansom Street
A little more local. On Friday the 13th, La Terrasse will host their own Bastille Day festivities including a 3 course prix fixe dinner at $35.00 per person. Live music will be provided throughout dinner. Later that evening the bistro will join forces with the entirely un-French White Dog Cafe for a Sansom Street block party with a DJ and cash bar.
Brasserie Perrier
1619 Walnut Street
For fourteen dollars more diners can upgrade downtown to this bistro on restaurant row. $45 per person buys a three course meal of escargot in champagne sauce, steak frites and creme caramel. A DJ will play a mix of modern French and American top forty hits.
Bistro St. Tropez
2400 Market Street #427
On Saturday, July 14th screw the Bastille and storm the Marketplace Design Center for a four course feast at $39 a person. Remember thats a whole course more than at the other two high-class joints. Pretend you're in Paris and the Schuylkill River is the Seine while live French Music plays. Vive La France!
