HAPPY HOUR HOPPER: Sampan's Graffiti Bar

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HAPPY HOUR HOPPER: Sampan's Graffiti Bar

POSTED: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 9:16 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Dealage | Happy Hour Hopper

Happy Hour is a place to vent daily frustrations and unwind, a time to reconnect with friends and coworkers you dont mind seeing beyond the boundaries of Cubicle Land. Its is also the ideal time to score a deal on your favorite gustatives and gulpables. For this feature, Team Meal Ticket hops to happy hours across the land and files a report every Tuesday. Lets delve into it at Sampan's Graffiti Bar.


Photos \| Anthony Sica

WHERE YOU AT? This weeks Happy Hour Hopper brought us to Michael Schulson's rainbow-splashed slice of 13th Street, the Graffiti Bar (124 S. 13th St.). Open in Sampan's alley/courtyard space since spring, Graffiti Bar offers a more casual atmosphere than the slick color-changing-panel dining room inside. Out here there's a full bar and a long communal table that can also be reserved for dinner; a flat-screen makes this a chill spot for a Phils game. Sampan recently added an all-weather cover to the area, equipped with ceiling fans and heaters.

Photos | Anthony Sica

WHAT'S THE SCENE? It was empty for the majority of our stay, but a couple more people were making their way outside as we wrapped up. The inside bar was populated with suit-and-tie types getting out of work, whereas the Graffiti Bar, I think, appeals more to a younger crowd. Bartender Meghan's iPod provided the soundtrack on this evening; she was also well-versed in the food and drink options and made spot-on recommendations for beverages and small plates. And that all-weather cover proved its worth fast when the sky opened above us, keeping us dry throughout the storm.

Photo | Anthony Sica

WHAT'S THE DEAL? Sampan isnt exactly cheap, so this happy hour running Monday to Friday, from 4 to 7 offers a chance for anyone to sample small bites off the menu for two dollars a pop. Satays are the main draw, but Kobe hot dogs, Kobe sliders, spring rolls and dumplings round out the HH menu. Winners among our group were the scallop and corn satays as well as the bulgogi, some of the best Ive ever had. There are specials on cocktails, too, topping out at $9 for a Classic French Martini, but considering the freshness of the components in the $6 Vietnamese Fizz or the $8 Mango Cardamom Sour, you should buy into something a bit more exotic. Pints of Asahi Dry are available for $9, while a pitcher will put you back $27. Other drafts include Stoudts American Pale Ale ($6/$18), Flying Fish Summer Ale ($7/$21), and Brooklyn Brown Ale ($8/$24). And although not on the HH menu, check out the daily soft serve ice cream flavor. They run a chocolate and a vanilla variation every day; during our visit they offered Nutella and Blueberry Pop Tart. The trio of tiny cones is a perfect way to end a hop.

Tonight: Twitter launch party at Sampan :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-10-13 09:41:57

[...] from the grill, special raffles and music from DJ KGURU. Sampan has also upped its happy-hour game (check out our summer Happy Hour Hopper on the Graffiti Bar). Now on the menu is a HH-size version of Schulson’s signature edamame dumplings for $4, a [...]

Rolf

Posted 2010-07-13 16:37:38

Interesting concept for fusion.. well written article.  Bolgogi looks banging

Rachel Burgos

Posted 2010-07-13 16:54:25

Awesome write up! I had no idea this place existed (whoops). I must try it out soon.

Tonight: Felicia D pours at Sampan :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-08-09 17:20:50

[...] is guest-bartending tonight at Sampan (124 S. 13th St.), whose open-air Graffiti Bar was the subject of a recent Happy Hour Hopper. From 5 to 7, check out specials like $2 kobe sliders and chicken/shrimp spring rolls and $4 [...]

Posted by Anthony Sica @ 9:16 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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Founded in October 2008, Meal Ticket is a City Paper blog about food, drink and assorted other things that make you go mmm. We do recipes, interviews, restaurant news, commentary and much more. We don't do restaurant reviews here — those are handled in print, mostly by our critic (and Meal Ticket contributor) Adam Erace. Got a tip, question, thought or concern? Just want to say hello? Please shoot a note to caroline@citypaper.net.

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