City Tavern

City Tavern
The façade of the building
Restaurant information
Slogan A Triumph of Tradition
Established 1976
Current owner(s) Walter Staib
Head chef Jason Wilkinson
Food type Colonial Cuisine
Street address 138, South 2nd Street,
Walnut Street
City Philadelphia
State Pennsylvania
Postal/ZIP Code 19106
Country United States
Reservations Yes
Website citytavern.com

The City Tavern is a late-20th century building designed to be the replica of a historic 18th-century building which stood on the site. It is located at 138 South 2nd Street in Philadelphia, at the intersection of Second and Walnut Streets. The original 18th century building was frequented by the Founding Fathers of the United States and other distinctive people. High profile events took place there, including the first anniversary celebration of the 4th of July.

The original building was partially burned down in the 20th century and the remains were demolished some years later. The present building is open to the public as a restaurant which uses typical 18th century recipes.[1][2][3]

History

The original structure housed a business which John Adams called the "most genteel tavern in America", and it was a favorite meeting place of some of the Founding Fathers and members of the First Continental Congress.[4][5] The land on which City Tavern was built was conveyed in 1772 by Samuel Powell to a group of seven wealthy citizens, and the building was completed by subscription at a cost of more than £3,000.[6]

On May 20, 1774, more than 200 men gathered in the gallery of the building to respond to the request for assistance from Bostonians following the passage of the Boston Port Bill.[7] Many other important events took place at the building in the first few decades of the new nation; for example, the first 4th of July celebration was held at the building in 1777, marking the anniversary of America's Independence from Britain,[8] and General George Washington first met the Marquis de Lafayette at City Tavern in 1777.[9][10]

The building was partially destroyed by fire on March 22, 1834, and was completely demolished by 1854.[11][12] The present building was constructed in the 1970s and opened in 1976 for the United States Bicentennial as a functioning tavern and restaurant. It is now operated by Walter Staib, a chef and host of the television shows A Taste of History and World Cuisine of the Black Forest. On October 1, 2013, the building was temporarily ordered to close by the National Park Service as a result of the United States federal government shutdown of 2013.[13][14][15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  2. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Cookbook: 200 Years of Classic Recipes from America's First Gourmet Restaurant, pp. 6-17, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 1999. ISBN 0-7624-0529-5.
  3. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Baking & Dessert Cookbook: 200 Years of Authentic American Recipes, pp. 9-25, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 2003. ISBN 0-7624-1554-1.
  4. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Cookbook: 200 Years of Classic Recipes from America's First Gourmet Restaurant, p. 5, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 1999. ISBN 0-7624-0529-5.
  5. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Baking & Dessert Cookbook: 200 Years of Authentic American Recipes, pp. 9, 14, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 2003. ISBN 0-7624-1554-1.
  6. ↑ Thompson, Peter (1999). Rum Punch & Revolution: Taverngoing & Public Life in Eighteenth-Century Philadelphia. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 146.
  7. ↑ Thompson, Peter (1999). Rum Punch & Revolution: Taverngoing & Public Life in Eighteenth Century Philadelphia. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 169–170.
  8. ↑ "This is Where the Founding Fathers Partied on the First Fourth of July | The Savory". Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  9. ↑ "City Tavern: A Feast of Elegance". www.ushistory.org. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  10. ↑ "Marquis de Lafayette". George Washington's Mount Vernon. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  11. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Cookbook: 200 Years of Classic Recipes from America's First Gourmet Restaurant, pp. 5, 15, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 1999. ISBN 0-7624-0529-5.
  12. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Baking & Dessert Cookbook: 200 Years of Authentic American Recipes, pp. 8, 15, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 2003. ISBN 0-7624-1554-1.
  13. ↑ Lattanzio, Vince. "Founding Fathers' Tavern Closed by Government Shutdown", NBCPhiladelphia.com, October 3, 2013.
  14. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Cookbook: 200 Years of Classic Recipes from America's First Gourmet Restaurant, pp. 5, 15, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 1999. ISBN 0-7624-0529-5.
  15. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Baking & Dessert Cookbook: 200 Years of Authentic American Recipes, pp. 8, 15, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 2003. ISBN 0-7624-1554-1.

Coordinates: 39°56′50″N 75°08′40″W / 39.947128°N 75.144558°W / 39.947128; -75.144558

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