HAPPY HOUR HOPPER: The Institute

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HAPPY HOUR HOPPER: The Institute

POSTED: Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 9:18 PM

Filed Under: Dealage | Happy Hour Hopper

Happy Hour is a place to vent daily frustrations and unwind, a time to reconnect with friends and coworkers you don't mind seeing beyond the boundaries of Cubicle Land. It's is also the ideal time to score a deal on your favorite gustatives and gulpables. Although my work scenario has me behind a kitchen prep station rather than a desk, I can appreciate HH just the same. For this feature, I'll hop bar by bar to HHs across the area and report back to Meal Ticket every Tuesday. If you've been to this week's featured HH, tell us about it in the comments. I want recommendations for future trips, too! Let's delve into it at The Institute.

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WHERE YOU AT? The Institute (549 N. 12th St.), owned by husband and wife team Charlie Collazo and Heather DeRussy, occupies the corner of 12th and Green. Its dark brick walls house a sick beer selection and pretty hefty grub, too. Inside, a few dining tables, pub tables and a pew-like banquette line the perimeter of the roomm creating a spacious dance floor — at least that's how I envisioned it once I spotted the TouchTunes by the door. The downstairs bar is unique, with faux-suede barstools, stone facing and a frosty glass top shining blue from interior lighting. The second floor's wooden booths, bar counter and stools preach a similar au naturale agenda. WHAT'S THE SCENE? Despite my inclination to dance, I decided against it, though I doubt anyone would have cared or even noticed, considering we were hanging with only a handful of unacquainted bar patrons. Others eventually began trickling in for a fundraiser for Curtis Thomas. Most of them weren't drinking, but those who did asked for wine and martinis. My sister, cousin and I pretty much held down the fort, and I wondered why, what with such great food and drink and equally awesome hospitality. "It's getting there," DeRussy said of the bar's HH. "Saturday is definitely our busiest happy hour." WHAT'S THE DEAL? Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. stop by The Institute to enjoy half-price drafts and $2 off appetizers. I forked down cheesy poutine ($5) in a thick, luscious gravy and dipped crispy bacalaitos ($3) into a cool, slightly sweet sofrito sauce. I pleaded with my mates to order the tostones, French toast sticks or buffalo wings so I could snag a bite but they ignored my requests and opted for a few mains. As DeRussy alluded to above, you can enjoy the same deal Saturday and Sunday, too — you just have to stop by a little earlier, 'cause weekend HH runs 4 to 6 p.m. The Institute's draft list is stacked — I started with Boulder's Sweaty Betty and ended with its Cold Hop. Other notable options this week: Troegs Hopback Amber, Weyerbacher Hotel and Victory Old Horizontal Barleywine.

Michelle C.

Posted 2010-05-11 16:31:05

Gotta love Charlie, Heather and The Institute.  The beer selection is ridiculous and I've enjoyed everything I've tried off the menu.

MaltyDog

Posted 2010-05-12 15:10:44

I wish all the success in the world to the owners of this place cause i love it. But if this article blows up the spot i'll be irked.

sergei

Posted 2010-05-18 11:12:40

Best weekend happy hour in Philly; not even close.  As far as it getting crowded, I am more worried that they have enough clientele to stay open.  I do wish the drafts would change more often, that too would happen if business picked up a bit.

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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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