Cool name, right? Honestly, the name is what drew me to this bar initially — that and the easy-access location of the place in the middle of the city. I like a creative name for any business, one that feels like it has a story.
But this place has no "about page" on their website, and our waiter wasn’t really the kind of person who you would classify as friendly, so if there is a story, it’s a bit of a mystery to me.
Mystery and mood is definitely the vibe of this bar. Little candles on little tables in a dark, long room. Blue velvet benches lined the walls and Art Deco-esque chandeliers lit up a row of tables, drawing your eyes up and back into the dim, glowy light of the place.
At 9 p.m., on a Tuesday night, the place was packed, and a few friends and I found a spot in a little corner near the door. Intimate and moody, the place would be great for conversation between two. For the five of us, hearing was a little hard, but we sat close, read lips and had some good conversation in spite of the chaos.
Food and Drink
As for food, I had some really amazing brussel sprouts, and a friend ordered a burger (vegan!) and fries that looked amazing. She testified that it was indeed amazing. Be advised: they change their menu often, which I know some people love and some strongly dislike, but their online menu is always updated,so check it out before you head in!
Right now, they have some Caramelized Eggplant Bao Buns on the menu that sound incredible. Who doesn’t like eggplant in bao bun form? Well, a lot of people, but for our adventurous eaters, this place is for you. If you like your food a little more normal and predictably delicious, go for the Potato Croquettes with chipotle aioli or the Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake.
What to know
If you can get to Center City, you can get to this place. Located at 131 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, Charlie was a sinner is only a five-minute walk from City Hall. They do take reservations, but we didn’t make one and were still able to find a spot (but it was a Tuesday, FYI). They are open 4 p.m. to 11 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. An important note is that their kitchen closes at 10 p.m. during the week.
Pros
- Good, fun and beautiful drinks
- Intimate and speakeasy-like atmosphere
- Location
- Vegan options
Cons
- Music: it was weirdly loud, random and took away from the mood of the place
- Service: maybe it was just our waiter...
- Trying a tiny bit too hard to be cool, but it isn’t uncool
Conclusion
This is a great place! I will probably come back someday, but I can’t say I’ll be a regular. If you’re around and want to check it out, by all means, stop in.
