The terrifically idiosyncratic Goat’s Beard name references a perennial commonly found in Pennsylvania, not the barn-yard animal. So it’s fitting, then, that Sean Coyle and chef Dan Connelly juxtapose their bi-level, mod-meets-rustic whiskey bar with some serious sustainable efforts.
Coyle is also the founder of the nearby Bourbon Blue, so any meal here should start (and perhaps end) with a stiff drink. The mirrored bar dominates the downstairs dining room, with the area’s largest domestic whiskey selection as its focal point. Surprisingly, signature cocktails top out at just $8.50—many of them contemporary takes on the classics.
Former owner of Northern Liberties’ Copper Bistro, Connelly has crafted a menu of a shareable comfort food made with locally sourced ingredients—all of it approachable, with creative accents. Big moments among the small plates include the house-ground beef sliders layered with Roquefort, the unforgettable Lancaster County chicken nuggets with lime-laced bleu cheese crumbles, and bacon-juice-dressed day-boat scallops with crispy leeks.
Their weekday happy hour is an affordable way to sample Manayunk’s swankiest new watering hole, where a local craft pint and a satisfying tapas-style dinner are as easy to come by as the “water of life.” Is it 5 o’clock yet?
4201 Main St., Manayunk, 267-323-2495, thegoatsbeardphilly.com.
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