The Black Sheep Pub is the epitome of what every good Irish Pub should be -- dark, cozy and friendly -- and it's located a short block from Rittenhouse Square on a beautiful tree-lined street. The pub is something of a superstar among other Philadelphia Irish booze halls, boasting three very well-stocked bars on three separate floors with tons of liquor and a wide variety of beer and wine. There's also a large plasma TV on the main floor, which somehow fits in with the Celtic decor. The bartenders are older than those found at Blarney's -- they actually know how to mix a drink, and they don't automatically assume that you want your mixed drink made with Banker's Club.
The menu offers a vast array of delectable dishes, from the standard Irish fare to more international choices. If you don't feel like bangers and mash or shepherd's pie, try the grilled tuna block over spicy Vietnamese noodle soup or the Thai basil grilled lamb loin with polenta. The entrees and homemade desserts are different every night, so you can always find something new . If you're not feeling especially Irish, you could stick with an all-American burger. Hopefully, regulars will then point and laugh at you, tell you to broaden your incredibly narrow tastes and stop being such a sissy. The choice is yours.
The pub also offers an Irish cure to your hangover with a hearty Sunday brunch. Offering everything from an omelet and pancakes to Sambal wings with Thai basil and salmon, you're bound to feel better after having closed out Smoke's. Or, if you have a good enough night at the Black Sheep on Saturday, you might as well just sleep under a booth in the back and wait until the chefs start cooking up breakfast in the morning (speaking, of course, from personal experience). The Black Sheep Pub is a great place to try new things -- new drinks, new foods and a new location off of Penn's campus. Get out there and be adventurous.
Black Sheep Irish Pub
247 S. 17th Street
(215) 545-9473
