Here's a look at restaurants and bars suitable for entertaining clients, treating a team, or even making a private presentation outside the office.
Chef Rakesh Ramola and his wife, Heather, opened their second Indeblue location in June in Midtown Village. The eatery has a 12-seat chef's table available for events and meetings, or the entire 1,600-square-foot restaurant seats 70. Indeblue serves modern cuisine with hints of complex Indian flavors.
Photo:Â Joey DeMarco
Chef Mike Stollenwerk opened Headhouse Crab & Oyster Company in October. The 4,000-square-foot space can host private meetings and has a projector screen, a P.A. system, and 10 flat-screen TVs available for events. The cuisine puts a modern spin on traditional seafood dishes, complete with a dedicated raw bar that serves fresh oysters and a bar menu with local microbrews and spirits.
Photo: Erin Pugh
Located in upscale Rittenhouse Square, Ashton Cigar Bar opened in September. The elegant space includes an 18-seat marble-topped bar as well as leather chairs and couches. Guests can sample 200 varieties of cigars as well as a wide selection of alcohol, including 200 whiskies, 300 spirits, six draught beers, 20 bottled beers, 20 specialty cocktails, and 50 wines. The 2,850-square-foot space includes seating for 81; the venue accommodates as many as 115 guests total. The space also includes two flat-screen TVs with cable and DVD hookups.
Photo: Courtesy of Ashton Cigar Bar
For casual meetings, BrĂĽ Craft & Wurst, a combination American craft beer bar and traditional German-style beer garden, opened earlier this month. The decor of the 3,200-square-foot space in Midtown Village mixes reclaimed woods with polished marble and copper for an upscale yet comfortable feel. An area of the communal indoor beer garden can be sectioned off for private parties for as many as 30 people, and attendees can enjoy access to six self-serve beer taps controlled via iPad.
Photo: Amy Gordon
Just east of Rittenhouse Square, Avance opened in December in the space formerly occupied by famed restaurant Le Bec Fin. The elegantly understated 4,000-square-foot dining room features reclaimed wood tables, soft lighting, and living walls of greenery. Chef and owner Justin Bogle's personal relationships with area farmers and artisanal craftsmen inform the seasonal American food and bar menus. Private dining is available for parties of as many as 50 people.
Photo: Steve Legato
In addition to its original suburban location, Stella Rossa opened a Center City outpost in November. The 1,500-square-foot casual Italian space accommodates as many as 200 people. Two bars provide an ideal setting for a cocktail party, and the 20-seat private dining room offers a screen and projector for presentations. The menu specializes in authentic cuisine, wines, and Neapolitan wood-fired pizza.
Photo: Bradley Weld
