700 Club
700 N. Second Street
(215) 413-3181
A sandwich stacker is not a pickle--at least not at the 700 Club. Instead, it's a delicious Midori melon, kiwi and 7-Up drink well worth four bucks. So don't let yourself be fooled by names. After all, the 700 Club is not a club.
This bar/lounge gathers a hip, artsy crowd of twenty-somethings who come to chill with their friends and groove to the hip-hop breaks of the DJ. The first floor is just a funkier version of your typical bar, complete with stools and $3 Yuenglings. But now you know the rule: don't trust appearances. So walk all the way till the end of the corridor and discover the stairs to the magical world of Alice in Wonderland. A friend of mine noticed how the second floor resembles a house party, for next to the crowded dance area sit some comfy couches that are ideal for flirting and for people-watching. A second bar, curiously made out of an old kitchen counter, featured "The Fisherman Drink Special," composed of Bourbon and fish sauce. When I told the bartender to prepare one for me, he laughed. And when I asked what was funny, he pointed at the "no refunds" sign. Still puzzled, I said I really wanted the drink, and he showed me the shelf right behind him. Standing on top of it was a bottle of fish sauce. I mean, some real Chinese shit.
The 700 Club provides an unusual night far from the Penn standards. Cheap tasty drinks and no cover make up for the expensive cab ride. On weekends, its dance floor offers a cozy alternative to the nearby gigantic clubs. And if you are still wondering how it ended with the Fisherman Special... Well, how do you think I know what a sandwich stacker tastes like?
