Get on the Same Level: Games & Grub at the Board & Brew
On the corner of 33rd and Chestnut, across from Drexel’s campus, lies a two-story building where things get a little dicey and a little spicy. Marketed as a “board game restaurant,” Board & Brew combines the ambiance of a coffee shop with the controlled chaos of a casual board game tournament. Come for the drinks or come for the games – it’s sure to hold a ~monopoly~ over your wallet just the same.
Jokes aside, the Board & Brew is a great study spot where you can work hard and then play hard. On the bottom floor are tables where you can pull out your laptop and mull over an assignment or sit with a cappuccino in hand and have your main character moment. The restaurant stays open until 11 PM on most days (with the exception of Sunday), so staying late is a valid option. Say goodbye to your days of having to café-hop to find a place that doesn’t close before 8 PM!
Additionally, one of my other favorite things about Board & Brew are the drinks, unsurprisingly. While they can be a bit pricey, I haven’t been able to stop myself from indulging in an iced matcha latte or black thai latte (made with oat milk, of course). Their vast collection of loose-leaf teas, house coffees, and specialty drinks are always guaranteed to satisfy any customer that walks in, and I’ve definitely heard my fair share of Mhms, Wows, and One more pleases during my time here.
Not to mention, they have a menu for every big meal of the day, whether it be breakfast, lunch, or the snack before your dinner. Two of my personal favorites are the tomato-basil soup and the Granny Smith apple and arugula salad. While my love for the tomato-basil soup might stem a bit from my love for tomatoes, it mostly comes from the creaminess of this particular recipe. Topped off with some crunchy croutons, this soup warmed my soul up on a cold night better than chicken soup ever could. On the other hand, the salad was perfect for providing the refreshing crunch I needed with apple slices, dates, and spiced walnuts generously mixed into the arugula. Topped off with bacon and a white balsamic vinaigrette, it made for a real hearty meal.
Now, on the second floor, almost 500 games lie on the shelf, waiting to be played. For an additional charge of $2.50 per person, you and your friends have unlimited access and unlimited time to indulge in your wildest board game dreams. The store features both well-known games like Catan and lesser-known ones like Diplomacy and categorizes them by genre (e.g. deduction, party, worker placement, etc.) to make it easy to discover new games. I recently became quite obsessed with the “deduction” category and spent hours playing games like the Unlock! series or Detective, where I got to put my true crime knowledge to the test. Spoiler alert: turns out I’m pretty good at connecting the dots.
Hopefully, I’ve piqued your interest and you feel the urge to check out this gem in the near future. Whether for the drinks, games, ambiance, or the free WiFi, there’s no better place around campus to indulge. So go and take the risk. You won’t regret it.