Located in East Passyunk, Top Chef winner Nick Elmi’s new bar ITV is a hidden gem. The lights are low and the seats are few, with 12 at the bar and a limited number of small tables in the back if you plan on eating more than just a small snack along with your cocktail. In a word, it’s sexy.
The name stands for In The Valley, which is what Passyunk means in the Lenape language. The drinks range from their Courier cocktail (Trinidad Rum, Tarragon, Sparkling Wine, $10) to an assortment of wines and beers by the glass and bottle, and their food is tapas styled new American. While it may not be filling as a meal, the plates are refreshing with a twist as the Smoked Trout Rillette ($8) came with pumpernickel soldiers, and the Grilled Lamb Rib ($16) was topped off with benne seeds. The crowd ranges from diners in their twenties hanging out in the dimly–lit bar to older men drinking, eating and talking business at a banquet in the back room. Music plays in the background, but the ambiance doesn’t call for you to go dancing to it.
