For decades Passyunk Avenue has been the main artery in the heart of South Philadelphia. The demographic has historically been White and old school Italian with Geno's and Pat's Steaks at the epicenter. Not very welcoming to outsiders, it's a tight-knit, conservative populace and Passyunk is their shopping mecca ('Speak English' signs allowed at Philly shop)...but for the past ten years the times have been changing.
Cheap real estate and close proximity to Center City (and the creation of Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods) has attracted a new class of citizens around the neighborhood. Young and mostly single, it's a much more diverse and liberal crowd who prefer working or hanging out in coffee shops and hip clothing stores to shopping for First Communion dresses. (Changing City: Passyunk Ave.)
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| Barista Edward prepares a shot of Rival Brothers Whistle & Cuss |
In 2011, Plenty opened along the Avenue. Initially it was a boutique deli and prepared food shop. The concept didn't thrive and brothers Damon and Anthony Mascieri took over ownership about a year later. After extensive remodeling, Plenty became a coffeehouse / cafe and a popular destination. Locally roasted coffee and sourced food is the theme. House brew is Rival Brothers and they also feature ReAnimator and La Colombe. Anthony plans on offering other local roasters as guests on his brew bar. I love the idea of a cafe that works exclusively with local roasters. The food reflects Anthony's global travel experiences, featuring selections such as a beef-chorizo meatball sandwich, an homage to Spain and the "Seoul" short-rib, a Korean offering.
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| Plenty Cafe, Rittenhouse |
In the beginning of December, the Mascieris opened their second cafe near Rittenhouse Square in what was a former jewlery store. The building is listed on the Register of Historic Places and careful attention was paid to make sure the building's integrity was kept intact. There's reclaimed wood throughout. It's a warm space thats beautifully designed with limited bi-level seating. The coffee and food selections are the same at both cafes.
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| View from above, Plenty Cafe, Rittenhouse |
In addition to the classic coffee offerings, Anthony also put together a small specialty drink section that is international in scope. I tried the San Telmo made with espresso, steamed milk, dulce de leche and a sprinkling of salt on top. It was really lovely, a nice contrast of flavors, something more akin to a dessert drink.
My hope is that the coffee roaster selections rotate often. I was told that they were going to offer some roasts from Square One in Lancaster, PA in a few weeks, a roaster I've heard about but haven't tried and a reason why Plenty will be my constant coffee destination.
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Plenty Coffee
Rival Brothers Coffee Roasters
La Colombe Coffee Roasters
ReAnimator Coffee Roasters
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