Sips pick: Gran Caffe L'Aquila
Gran Caffe L'Aquila, the thoroughly Italian destination at 1716 Chestnut St. in Rittenhouse, is a wonderland of experiences.
Warm-weather Wednesdays mean Center City District Sips, the weekly promotion in which dozens of downtown restaurants and bars discount drinks and appetizers from 5 to 7 p.m. Sips runs weekly through Sept. 2.
Gran Caffe L'Aquila, the thoroughly Italian destination at 1716 Chestnut St. in Rittenhouse, is a wonderland of experiences. The first floor opens to a case stocked with some of the city's best gelato (made upstairs) and includes a coffee and wine bar.
The second floor offers a second bar, as well as several seating options: a romantic set of tables beneath a greenery-ringed skylight, a library-like dining room, and booths tucked out of the way near the gelateria and coffee roastery.
Among the half-price appetizers are arancini (the fried balls stuffed with rice and meat) and grilled octopus over a salad.
$5 Cocktails include Aperol Spritz (Prosecco, Aperol, Spritz of Club Soda), Negroni (Bombay Gin, Sweet Vermouth, Orange Garnish), and Milano Sour (2 Gingers Irish Whiskey, Splash of Ramazzotti)
$4 Wines include Prosecco, Dom Bertiol; Ischia Bianco, Terradei; Sangiovese, Di Majo; and Nero D'Avola, Villa Pozzi.
$3 Beers are Peroni and La Rossa
Craig LaBan's review is here.