You don't need to go to the Electric Factory for live music, nor do you need to break the bank for a decent meal. Just past DRL on Walnut Street, World Cafe Live, a restaurant venue with two seating areas that both host live music, combine these two just east of campus.
My friend and I were promptly seated in the Upstairs Cafe, which, with its colorful mood lighting and candles, manages to be intimate enough for a date but also good for groups. The crowd consisted of groups of 20-somethings who came to enjoy the music and extensive selection of alcohol. The drink menu is impressive, with large specialty martinis ($9-11).
The dinner menu has a wide range of "Openers" ($3-$12), from soups to salads to seafood platters. The chicken nachos ($12) alone could have fed two people. A mountain of crispy chips is covered in plenty of fresh, flavorful guacamole, endless sour cream, mounds of melted cheese and surrounded by mild salsa that tastes store-bought. It was topped with chicken that was a bit dry and bland but overall worth ordering.
The "Headliners" include a pasta of the day, as well as various meat and fish dishes. The NY strip steak ($24) was juicy and tender but somewhat plain, with the flavor coming from the sauce. The best part was the unique garlic-flavored mashed potatoes.
Our waitress was very attentive and helpful, particularly in recommending the chocolate brownie ($8) for dessert. The rich brownie was warm and topped with a large scoop of rich vanilla ice cream. It was drizzled with raspberry and chocolate sauce, a nice combination of flavors, and topped with pistachio nuts, an interesting twist. Overall, the food presentation was simple but attractive and thoughtful -- just as much care was put into arranging the food on the plate as was put into cooking it.
The band, Soulamite!, started half an hour late, but once they did, chatty diners turned their attention to the show. If you're looking for a place for a meaningful conversation, this probably isn't the best choice. Go to enjoy the music instead.
The biggest drawback to World Cafe Live is that it still remains an unexplored mystery to most on campus. As our waitress, a Penn senior, said, "No one at Penn knows about it." Instead of heading downtown for dinner, save yourself the cab fare and splurge on dessert after a deliciously satisfying meal at a budget-friendly price.
