Hopping into Spring with Fishtown Hops at Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia, PA

Looking glowing in the lobby at Fishtown Hops in Sugarhouse Casino. Submitted Photo

Story, photos by David Krakow

It is of course a paragon of journalistic integrity that one should not write a subjective story infected by mood. If I had just finished a knock down, drag ’em out with my wife or boss, I probably wouldn’t turn around five minutes later and pen a piece on mindfulness.

It was with this potential conflict in mind that I gritted my teeth while staring at an uninspiring plate of nachos during a recent Saturday night visit to the new Fishtown Hops.

The conflict? On this particular afternoon, most of the many television sets above the bar and seating areas were showing a playoff game between our beloved 76ers and the not-at-all-loved Boston Celtics. In control for much of the game, the 76ers suddenly in the fourth quarter and overtime seemed a team whose players had just morphed into a collection of JV players with blindfolds. I, like many Philly sports fans, had drunk the Kool Aid after recent championships by the Eagles and Villanova and did not believe that one of our teams would fail in the clutch.

Drink up 76ers. So, question was, in cart and horse world: did I respond poorly to the nachos on merit or because I was choking on my chips after watching one after another 76er player heave a shot or pass nowhere near its intended target? Relatively able to self-reflect accurately, I’m going to say the nachos would have let me down even in the middle of a championship parade. But that is my only complaint: if the 76ers had won, I probably would have buried my nacho incident much further down this story.

Okay, one other complaint but honestly, it’s a personal and possibly idiotic nitpick. I can’t buy the name Fishtown Hops. Although what constitutes Fishtown is a malleable thing these days, a bar in the back of a casino it is not and never will be. But Fishtown Hops is indeed in Fishtown, so I’ll stop there.

And despite the overcast weather during this late afternoon/early evening, Hops, splayed out in the space between the rear of SugarHouse Casino and the Delaware River, showed every sign that it is going to be an easy win. I can’t imagine that between stand alone visitors and those coming to or from the casino, that Hops won’t pack ’em in.

There are plenty of places to sit between the bar and the outside patio. Clouds notwithstanding, the views outside were stunning. There’s a river and not far beyond, the Ben Franklin Bridge. Case closed. There was seating for about 60 and board and other games in case you don’t care about the NBA playoffs. There is a lower seating level right above the water with round tables, more games and generously sized wooden back chairs. There is a small stage which was empty the first time we visited but manned by a funky pop ensemble the second. One group played Cornhole and groups of four to six ate and drank everything from beer to tequila flights and everything in between.

Also outside is an unpaved path between the river and casino that leads to an opening across from the adjacent Penn Treaty Park. You really can make a day and evening out of all this.

The crowd was noticeably not young and not very Fishtown. I’m guessing that has something to do with the fact that Hops occupies the back section of a casino. The other reminder that this is the back of a casino? Smoking is allowed in the casino and you will get some second hand smoke for your time. AMA findings notwithstanding, I doubt the occasional visit to Hops will do permanent damage to your health. It’s an excuse to get out of the bar and hit the patio.

Fishtown Hops sliders and wings looking tasty. Submitted photo

Back to the food. The aforementioned crab nachos weren’t bad; they just weren’t necessarily good. They were not hot enough and they didn’t have that explosion of color that makes a good plate look like something you’d see in a Parisian pastry window. And, frankly, they weren’t much better when we gave them another shot during our second visit.

But all was not lost. The sliders – a $12 combo of burger, BLT and crab cake – were zesty and made great use of their small size. I had to try the cheesesteak rolls and, wit or witout, they lived up to the pressure of being, well, a cheesesteak in Philadelphia. My wife thought the Shishito Peppers were a bit salty, but Kathryn Grau at the next table over – while agreeing about the salt – thought they were a great appetizer.

The drinks my wife and I tried were mixed just right and undoubtedly helped as the 76ers game – and, for all intent and purpose, season – fell to pieces. At our second visit, the watermelon cucumber margarita received a major shoutout from patron, Ashley Braker.

There are $20 tequila flights, four for $10 beer flights and happy hour Wednesday to Sunday that features $10 Yards’ pitchers and discounts on all food.

On our first visit, there was a DJ playing a great mix that had my wife dancing in place and, on our second, a nine-piece funk group that had the entire room moving. Every Wednesday night, there is Quizzo. You can also book private events.

And, let’s not skimp on the price breaks: there is no cover charge and parking is free in the casino lot. Case closed again. Next visit, I’ll skip the nachos and avert my eyes from any local sports programming. My Kool Aid glass isn’t empty just yet.