A Wine Bar That’s More Philly Then Pretentious

Knowing the kind of aloof aftertaste the title ‘wine bar’ can leave on one’s palate, when developing their dining concept, Root Restaurant + Wine Bar restaurateur Greg Root and business partner chef Nick Kennedy were intent on creating a venue that was the antonym to pretension.

As a result, the carefully cultivated wine list - arranged by grape varietal rather than region or vineyard - is humble and approachable, while the perfectly matched food ranges from a series of casual, light sharing plates to a robust selection of main courses that cover the full Mediterranean spectrum from Spanish to Italian with a bit of French thrown in for good measure.

To further reinforce their concept, the trio tasked local outfit Stokes Architects to create a friendly welcoming space befitting of its location on Frankford Avenue, Fishtown’s hottest food strip. As such, colorful handmade Mexican tiles, bright blue Stellar Works chairs and backlit mirrors, surround a central bar, where diners can watch the action while sipping on glasses of deliciously fruity French sauvignon blanc, while munching on chicken liver on toast or mouthwatering spice-rubbed lamb chops.

From “Root Restaurant + Wine Bar,” Wallpaper, 2016; Photo by Sergio Bucciarelli, Bent Herrig & Vicki Liantonio

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