Getting to 1601 is kind of sketchy. The restaurant looks, from the outside, almost as seedy as the surrounding streets. My date and I were feeling pretty far away from Penn when we finally found the place. The interior is so dimly lit that it’s hard to tell who or what is inside. Needless to say, I was having second thoughts about my choice of restaurant by the time I arrived at 1601.
And then, in just about the amount of time it took for the bartender to flash me a warm smile, I changed my mind. The walls of the restaurant are covered with an impeccably chosen collection of pop art, which changes every First Friday. The food is extremely well–priced for the quality and attention to detail that the locally–focused chef Regis Jansen puts into every dish. And the bartenders and waitstaff couldn’t be more friendly or thrilled to talk about all the cool stuff going on at 1601, like the hip–hop DJs who can get a dance party going on even the deadest of Monday nights.
We started out with an appetizer of bacon–wrapped figs on a bed of shallots topped with warm gorgonzola. It was just about the best thing $5 could ever buy. The portion was generous, which was a good thing because neither of us could get enough of it. A $6 appetizer of "fried Spanish cheese" undersold itself, like pretty much everything else about 1601, with such a mundane menu description. Crispy sticks with gooey insides were piled, Jenga–style, atop a pungent romesco sauce with a great, garlicky kick.
Our entrees were similarly cheap and delicious. Blackened fish tacos ($11), smothered in queso fresco, citrus cream, avocado and grilled red onions, were a sensory delight. Bright flavors popped in the warm tortillas: creamy sauces, crunchy onions and fresh herbs were brilliant foils for the meaty fish. Steak frites (at $13, the most expensive item on the menu) come with a generous portion of flavorful, spice–rubbed meat. The accompanying frites, advertised as Locatelli truffle fries, (also available as a side dish for $6) happened to be the one misstep of the whole meal — halfheartedly gussied up with what appeared to be a sprinkle of parmesan, they basically looked and tasted as though they had come directly out of an Ore–Ida bag, with a creamy horseradish dip that tasted more like plain sour cream than anything with punch. I must admit, though, they can’t have been all that bad — they had a sneaky way of disappearing, bite by bite, along with the filet.
1601 is also famous for its bar scene and meticulous selection of draft beers, which helped the evening roll along quite nicely. Terrible lighting doesn’t do justice to this restaurant/bar/gallery/space for dance parties, and neither does its location. Like the art unassumingly decorating the walls, the menu items will wow you when you give them the attention they deserve. South Philly insiders have dubbed 1601 a destination for its upscale pub fare, and if you’re looking for an unpretentious night out with surprisingly elegant food, 1601 is your diamond in the rough.
1601
1601 S. 10th St.
(215) 218–3840
Don’t Miss: Bacon–wrapped figs
Skip This: Truffle fries
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