A Peek Into Pennsylvania 6

We recently got to take a sneak peek into the about-to-debut restaurant and bar, Pennsylvania 6 (opening is slated for Thursday, April 25th) on 12th and Walnut. The 90-seat, bi level space is meant to emanate a 1940's feel, starting with the name, which is borrowed from The Hotel Pennsylvania, a post-prohibition hot spot in New York City. The lay out and design of the interior echo the luxe, pre-war aesthetic with a grand stair case, regal light fixtures, and plenty of dark wood, red leather, and shiny marble.

Enlarged black and white photos of Marlon Brando, Lauren Bacall, and other old-Hollywood stars and starlets decorate the walls, and infuse the space with glamour and charm.

The menu, designed by Chef Mark Plessis, carries forward the decadent exuberance with plenty of seafood: oysters, clams, lobster and shrimp from the raw bar, a daily crudo, and touches throughout the rest of the menu, with dishes like charred octopus, seared tuna salad, lobster roll sandwich, and pan seared dorade.

Other tasty-looking bites include skillet fried shishito peppers, roasted bone marrow (with an optional Woodford Reserve "luge" shot), and the pork neck entrée, which comes with cheddar grits as an homage to Plessis' southern roots. In addition to seven rotating craft beers on tap, the bar at Pennsylvania 6 will shake, stir and strain a number of crafty cocktails. The "Salinas Valley" (reposado tequila, Aperol and grapefruit, with cinnamon syrup, lime and a cinnamon sugar rim), "Spring Garden" (Bombay Sapphire, lavender water and muddled berries with tonic and lemon) and "Red River Maple" (Knob Creek rye, maple simple syrup, black walnut bitters and orange peel) sound especially promising. A modest, but well-curated selection of wines by the glass will also be available.

Pennsylvania 6 (aka PE6) will be open for dinner seven nights a week, and lunch and weekend brunch will begin soon after opening.