Located less than an hour outside of the heart of Philadelphia; Northbound is a bar restaurant that was established by acclaimed restaurant owners and award-winning craft distillers. Northbound’s building was transformed from a century old train station to high quality dining spot offering seasonally based handcrafted cocktails and mouth-watering meals.
During my visit to Northbound, my friends and I tasted many of the featured cocktails on their menu. The first drink we tried was the Rosa Nova which consisted of: hibiscus vodka and gin, aperitivo, chartreuse, lime, rose syrup, and sparking rose. This cocktail was not shy on liquor, not too sweet, and was by far my favorite drink of the night.
Next up was the Passion Fruit Basil Marg which was a blend of citrus vodka, smoked rye, lime, passion fruit shrub, honey, and basil. As you can see, this cocktail was not a typical margarita. Due to the partnership with Boardroom Spirits, Northbound does not carry tequila. If you are expecting a traditional margarita, this may not be the drink for you.
We then chose to order a fan favorite; their rendition of an espresso martini called Espress Yourself. This cocktail was a combination of Boardroom vanilla vodka, nocino, crème de cacao, coffee, and cream. The best way to describe the topping on this drink was like a cold foam. The presentation is fantastic, just don’t choke on the coffee beans!
The final cocktail of the night was the Hemingway Daiquiri which consisted of: white rum, citrus, and cherry infused chartreuse. The Hemingway Daiquiri is extremely sweet and citrusy. This drink is a hit or miss depending on how sweet you like your cocktails. I am not a fan of super sweet drinks so it was not my favorite but my friends loved it. Nonetheless, still a very well made drink!
At Northbound, one of their most popular menu items are their infamous Sexy Fries. This appetizer has a base of fries topped with parmesan, hollandaise, fresh herbs, and truffle oil. A pro move is to ask for extra green onions. SO GOOD. This appetizer is one of the best fry dishes I have ever had. They are a must try. We also ordered a Caesar Salad because I believe a way to gauge the quality of a restaurant is by if they can make a good Caesar Salad. This one definitly did not disappoint, the plate was clean by the end of our meal.
The vibe in this bar restaurant is cozy and welcoming. The décor is a perfect mix of modern and rustic pieces. My personal favorite feature of this restaurant is behind the bar. The blue neon Northbound logo above the bar casts a blue hue over the restaurant at night. It creates such a cool ambiance! The staff are well trained and extremely friendly. Just the feel of this restaurant made me want to come back before I even experienced what they had to offer!
Overall, my experience at Northbound was 4.7 out of 5 stars. The restaurant is clean; the staff is extremely friendly and accommodating; the cocktails are carefully crafted; the food is high quality and delicious; and the pricing is very fair compared to similar bar restaurants. Shoutout to Dylan and Aidan for the amazing time! If you ever find yourself in this Philly suburb, give Northbound a try. Tell the staff that Raise the Bar - Philly sent you!
