Philadelphia is known for its richness of history and culture seen in various neighborhoods, events and food. East Passyunk is located in South Philly, a quick drive from center city or an easy ride via public transportation. The area offers blocks of independently owned businesses with something for everyone.
We were invited to see the retail area at Barcelona Wine Bar which is well stocked with wines and goods to accompany your take out or dine out order. We grabbed a bottle of sangria and rose' to enjoy later.
We made it a girls days out and dined on the spacious outside patio. The set up was virtually contactless. Colored signage is used to alert the staff when assistance is needed.
The hand sanitizer stations visible upon entrance as a reminder to keep your hands cleaned. You couldn't help but love it since it was made with corks.
Social distancing was in effect as we used a website to place our order and pay. There were servers dedicated to each part of the process either serving food or clearing plates. The system flowed and everyone wore a mask.
This was out first time dining at Barcelona and everything on the virtual menu looked absolutely delicious and the drinks are a mixture of alcoholic and non-alcoholic. The ordering website allows you to see pictures of what you are ordering and the ingredients but I like to ask the servers for recommendations. Barcelona wine bar is well known for its classic Spanish tapas and creative dishes.
This is a just a sampling of what we ordered because I wanted to experience it all. The spiced beef empanadas, chorizo with sweet & sour figs and the grilled hanger steak were our absolute favorites but when you order with your eyes a doggy bag is a must.
The charcuterie and cheese paired nicely with the wine selections that were purchased from the retail store. I highly recommend taking a piece of Barcelona home.
Barcelona wine bar completes the triangle closest to 12th street and is a highlight of restaurant row. A quick stroll down East Passyunk shows that most of the stores are opening to welcome customers back.
While visiting make certain you get a peak at why this area made Food and Wine’s List for 10 Best Foodies Streets in America. And course everyone wants to participate in the battle of the cheesesteaks with Pat’s and Gene’s. A little secret- native philly people rarely eat there. But it does make for a great photo op.
As we progress through the reopening phases of Covid-19, East Passyunk is getting creative with the events because they need our support. The latest contest involves winning prizes for participating in Tic Tac Toe. Show your #PassyunkStrong pride by making purchases from 3 different businesses and sharing your receipts either direct message or emailing strong@visiteastpassyunk.com. Also show the love on social media by tagging @EastPassyunk and the supported business.
