City Tap House: New Chef and Menu
Recently, food-and-beer favorite City Tap House (The Radian Balcony, 3925 Walnut Street, 215-662-0105) welcomed new Executive Chef Chad Vetter. Chef Vetter’s thoughtful dishes bring a variety of American regional plates to the menu, including a host of beer-infused dishes inspired by Beer Steward Andy Farrell’s extensive 60+ tap beer list. Chef Vetter has also added his touch to the brunch menu, served Saturdayand Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
“It’s a tough job, tasting through our exceptional beer list and coming up with complementary dishes, but somebody has to do it,” says Chef Vetter, who joined the team as a sous chef in April and quickly ascended to Executive Chef. “I hope our guests enjoy our new dishes as much as I enjoyed creating them.”
Inspired American regional dishes include: Jersey Sweet Corn and Crab Fritters with honey-thyme butter and citrus remoulade; a rustic Mezze Platter with weekly-changing hummus selection, crispy falafel, roasted vegetables, eggplant and feta, cucumber and tzatziki, roasted tomato tapenade and flatbread; Veggie Burger made with wild rice, oats, black beans and beets, topped with cheddar cheese and Love Stout BBQ sauce on a multi-grain bun; Pan-Seared Striped Bass with roasted fingerlings, English pea puree, Jersey sweet corn relish and citrus caramel; and Seared Jump Scallops with maple butternut squash polenta cakes, fennel puree and red pepper jam.
Chef Vetter’s beer-centric plates include: Pulled Pork Nachos with Walt Wit cheddar sauce, Love Stout BBQ sauce, fresno chiles, coriander and red onion; Roast Pork Calzone, slow-roasted pork shoulder with sharp provolone cheese, IPA-braised broccoli rabe and natural jus; and Chicken and Waffles, pan-fried chicken with buttermilk waffle, honey-thyme butter and coffee stout syrup. The full dinner menu is available here; dishes range in price from $6 to $24.
A selection of daily-changing suppers complement the menu throughout the week, and all share the restaurant’s regional American flair and look to craft beer program for inspiration. In addition, Chef Vetter has updated the popular weekend spot’s brunch menu, including salads, pizzas, hearty egg dishes and sandwiches, including the instant-hit Big Chick, a fried chicken breast with sausage gravy, bespoke pepper bacon and a fried egg served on a buttermilk biscuit. The full brunch menu is available here; dishes range in price from $8 to $14.
A longtime cook, Chef Vetter’s one-month trip to his wife’s home country of Costa Rica awakened his passion for letting the inherent flavors of food shine, and he brings that aesthetic to his wide-ranging menu. Prior to traveling abroad, Chef Vetter and his wife lived in South Carolina, where he worked at Sea Pines Resort overseeing five distinct restaurants, from casual to upscale. Chef Vetter, originally from Levittown, PA, currently resides in Philadelphia with his wife, who is expecting their first child next year.
With extensive open-air seating on two terraces and a row of five stone fire pits overlooking Walnut Street combined with the rich, rustic feel of a mountain lodge, City Tap House is one of the city’s most popular food-and-beer destinations. It is located on the second level of The Radian, a pristine landmark building just steps from the campuses of the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. Their ongoing series of beer-focused events and ever-evolving menu have kept them at the forefront of craft beer bars in the city, and draw fans back again and again.
City Tap House serves lunch and dinner seven days a week, and brunch every Saturday and Sunday. For more information, please call (215) 662-0105, visit www.citytaphouse.com, follow them on Twitter (@TapHousePhilly) and like them on Facebook.