Do not be fooled by the cheesy exterior. Walking up to Jose Pistolas, you’ll honestly feel like you’re hitting up some suburban tex-mex family restaurant chain where the waiters wear sombreros, name tags, and tons of flair. Fortunately for the city of Philadelphia and beer lovers everywhere, this is not the case. I have been to my fair share of Philadelphia bars and I would go so far as to say Jose Pistolas is quite possibly my favorite in the city.

The vibe at Jose Pistolas is just cool, and there really is no better way to describe it. It is very rare that you’ll find a place that manages to keep out the d-bags AND the self-righteous hipsters as 90% of Philly bars are either or. But Jose’s has somehow managed to do just that. There is exposed brick everywhere and bars and table seating on two floors. Downstairs is a bit quieter, while the upstairs has three flat screens where you’ll usually find a game on. This is also where you’ll find quizzo and other random activities. I was there on Thursday and played a solid game of Wii bowling. One of the bartenders—Buddy—kicked all of our asses from behind the bar. He’s some type of wii bowling wizard. Ultimately, you really can’t go wrong with a good crowd, cool atmosphere, and a playlist that has yet to let me down.

Then there is the beer. I’d say there are at least 50+ international options to choose from and I guarantee your bartender will know enough to write a novel about any one of them. Ask for recommendation and they’ll be happy to give you the run down. I once asked about the milk stout on tap and got a 10 minute description. These people love their beer. They do carry a selection of your standards, but prices are pretty reasonable across the board so I’d definitely take advantage of their selection. The majority fall within $4-6 a pop, but I’ve heard rumors of some crazy Belgium for $14 if you feel like getting fancy.

So that alone is enough to make this place amazing but it doesn’t end there. If you like Mexican food, get ready to have your mind blown. All I can say is pulled beef nachos. Just do it. They’ll change your world. Other favorites include Swordfish Gorditas, Jose’s Fish Tacos, Soft-shell Crab BLT, and the Pulled Pork Sandwich. Their vegetarian and vegan options are great as well. Veggie nachos and quesadillas are awesome. I haven’t tried the vegan chili, but I hear nothing but good things.

All in all, this place is golden. Just don’t tell the d-bags.…

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Philadelphia is such an interesting and dynamic city when it comes to food. Picking favorites is almost impossible so I have allowed myself to change my top picks from week to week. So here are two interesting spots around town.

If you're like my girlfriend and me, you never know in advance when you are going to want to eat out. For us, it is much more spur of the moment. This usually works wonderfully except when a new hotspot restaurant comes to town. I have been trying to get a table at Amada (217 Chestnut St.) for three weeks but it seems whenever I call they only have reservations available at 5:30 and 10:30. Well I finally solved the problem and it comes in the form of a Basque inspired restaurant, Tinto (114 S. 20th St.). Being Amada's Rittenhouse concept, the food is, of course, excellent. But even more amazing is the slightly bearable waitlist - we got a table at 8:30 on a Friday when booking 2 days in advance. The cozy wine cellar inspired main dining room is intimate and comfortable. Everything has an old-world charm, being made of wood - even the menus. We really enjoyed the mirrored walls and the many candles. The food is tapas-style so you can eat a little or you can eat a lot. The prices are a little high but definitely worth it. The wine list, although not world class, is very well edited and has some wonderful wines that you most likely have never tried (a lot from the Northern Spain region). If you have a slightly larger party (read: maximum 6 people) they also have a comfortable downstairs seating area with booth tables.

Just around the corner is another great gem of a restaurant, La Creperie Cafe (1722 Sansom St.). La Creperie serves some great traditional and not so traditional crepes - both savory and sweet. Make absolutely sure that you try the iced tea - it is a sweet, fragrant blend of goodness. (I really have no idea how they make it - maybe apple juice, cinnamon and cloves?) The prices are reasonable and it is a great place to grab lunch if you happen to be braving the shopping district on Walnut St.

Tinto Wine Bar

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