Happy Hour in Old City Tonight: Old City Eats Thursdays

Here is a fact about me that all my friends know- I HATE Center City Sips. I hate it deeply. Little sweaty babies in their first suit their mom helped pick out or in heels only appropriate in NYC run rampant, making getting a drink at the bar a nightmare. Yes, naturally, the older I get, the more the hatred grows.

But I do like a good deal and I do like a good happy hour. Old City launched Old City Eats in June. Over 30 restaurants will be offering two or more half-priced appetizers and at least one five dollar drink every Thursday from 5 to 8:00pm.

I toured around with Old City district, sampling at a few of the participating restaurants.

At the new Old City location of Jasmine Rice, I recommend the Thai Basil Meatballs.

Jasmine Rice

224 Market Street

http://jasminericephilly.com/

Appetizers: Crispy Spring Rolls, Thai Basil Meatballs, Spicy Whisky Wings

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the cheesesteak eggrolls at Prime Stache. We found that here are a lot of spring rolls offered during Old City Eats and these may be the best. They weren't greasy and the meat inside had a great Philly, actually capturing the essence of a cheesesteak in a more reasonable size.

Prime Stache

110 Chestnut Street

http://www.primestache.com/

Appetizers at the bar: Macaroni & cheese with or without pork belly; Edemame Ravioli, Cheesesteak eggrolls, friend green tomatoes

Drink: Long Island, Well drinks

Revolution House nailed the pork shank wings, really meaty.

Revolution House

200 Market Street

http://www.revolutionhouse.com/

Appetizers: Pork shank dry rub; house-made slaw / Firecracker shrimp

Drink: Local drafts from local breweries

I finally got to try Buddakan's heavenly edamame dumplings.

Buddakan

325 Chestnut Street

http://www.buddakan.com/

Appetizers: Edamame Dumplings, Cantonese Spring Rolls

Drink: House Sake

Other offerings that I have on my radar:

High Street on Market- daily breads and spreads

Fork- pork and crab arancini (crab fat aioli)

La Famiglia Ristorante- Gamberi con fava, Paccheri alla Scarpariello

The Olde Bar- Fried Oysters & Oysters

The Victoria Freehouse-Welsh Rarebit,

The full list of participating restaurants is here. Old City Eats lasts through August 25, 2016. That means you still have a few Thursdays left, how about tonight?