Wave your goodbyes to canola and peanut oil, because once you try duck fat, you’ll never go back. Just as everything is a little better with some butter, fried foods taste better when shocked by the “quack quack” sizzle. Village Whiskey, Jose Garces’s newest addition to the thriving Philadelphia food scene, is soon to become a city-wide favorite. The duck fat fries ($5) alone draw crowds to this high-end bar food eatery.
Come hungry to this cozy restaurant where courses of gluttonous goodness will surely satisfy not only your stomach but also your wallet. Homemade cheese puffs ($5) and soft pretzels dipped in sweet and spicy mustard ($3) will tickle your tongue as the meal begins.
The extensive selection of pickled vegetables adds a nice, not to mention lighter, option to the starter section. The truffle lemon artichokes ($10) served with black olive tapenade, whipped ricotta and toasted sourdough come in a vacuumed pickling jar.
Once you’ve consumed the perfectly pickled chokes, dive into the jar for the remnant black truffles. The pickled baby carrots ($6) and red and golden beets ($8) provide a more subdued flavor, and since these oblong vegetables indubitably fall off toast, we suggest using your hands or a fork if you so please.
The Kentucky fried quail ($14), a gourmet version of your grandma’s down-home cooking, will satisfy any sub-Mason Dixon cravings. But for the truly starving, the eight-ounce Village Burger ($9) with a healthy shaving of black truffles (market price supplement) alongside short ribs and cheddar duck fat French fries ($12) will satiate the most violent of appetites. The burger, served simply on a sesame roll with lettuce, tomato and house-made Thousand Island has a slightly crispy and well-seasoned exterior with a moist center. The tender short ribs practically melt in your mouth while the wide and crispy skins on the fries add the perfect bite.
While the burger truly needs no accoutrements, Village Whiskey offers nearly 10 “burger additions” including smoked bacon, fried eggs, avocado and “haystack mountain chevre.” Fear not, vegetarians: while this intimate gem may not be your first stop, the black bean and lentil burger ($8) and the non-duck fat fries provide excellent veg options (might we suggest however, trading in those herbivorous eating habits for a taste of duck?).
Loosen those belts and recline in your tufted leather banquette as dessert arrives. The brownie sundae ($6) with vanilla ice cream, peanut butter brownies, chocolate Ganache and bananas as well as the deconstructed s’mores ($6), which feature marshmallow cream, chocolate mousse and homemade graham crackers round out this praiseworthy meal. As you leave, keeling over from fullness, you will already be planning your next trip back.
Village Whiskey 118 S. 20th Street (215) 665-1088 Don’t Miss: The Village Burger Bottom Line: Over 80 whiskeys and great food… what could be bad?
