The Farmer’s Cabinet: 1113 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Last night we went out for our first Center City Sips Happy Hour this summer at The Farmer’s Cabinet. All I knew of the place was that it has a huge European draft selection, something I can get behind. My first impression, when I entered, it was ridiculously dark. Not just eye adjusting dark, but nothing but candles dark. When I could actually see, the decor was fabulous. It had a rustic Victorianesque look with bottles and deer heads covering the walls. Candles were the primary illumination (hence the darkness) coming from a number of hanging mason jars, and tall pillars stacked and piled on tables. The place was a buzz, a large crowd, fitting the roaring 20’s motif.

Sitting at my farm style dinning table I located the Sips menu, which should be drinks less than $5 and half price appetizers. Their menu consisted of a tiny 3X3 square, with a Bavarian Pretzel and Moroccan Chicken option for $4 each. We ordered a few of each for the table. And I got a glass of Pinot Noir for $4, not too shabby. We were disappointed to say the least with the food, but only in it’s quantity and not quality. The pretzels were smaller than my tiny hand and the chicken was one petite drumstick on a plate. So, it would seem that normally that this drumstick is $8? While it was delicious, it was certainly not 8 dollars delicious, or even 4. I had a feeling from the look of the regular menu, it would be more of the same. So I just stuck to wine for the evening.

The service was not the most hospitable either. I got the overwhelming feeling of inferiority ordering from their tiny Sips menu, despite the fact that everyone in my line of sight was doing the same. At one point, we were actually scolded for ordering one more drink a minute past the Happy Hour. Please, sir, may I have another?!

This makes me out to be a cheap miserly diner, but the fact is, when dining out, I’m looking at the experience on the whole. Food, service, ambiance. Which is why I love specials like Center City Sips and restaurant week. I go to places outside the realm of my wallet, to see if they’re worth the hype. I’d love to love this place, but between the service that’s too high on it’s hipster horse, and the overly priced menu, I just can’t. At this point, the only reason I’d go back is to tell them they spelled “Bavarian” wrong on their chalkboard.