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Otis & Pickles Speakeasy Is Done Fermenting And Ready For Consumption

The Pennsport bar opens Friday

Otis & Pickles during the early stages of construction
Otis & Pickles Speakeasy

The latest from Charlie Collazo, owner of Spring Garden brewpub The Institute Bar, touches down in Pennsport on Friday. Otis & Pickles Speakeasy takes the place of the former Cooley’s Bar on South 3rd Street, ready to serve the “best damn pickles and beer in Philadelphia” — their words, not ours.

Whereas Institute swings more towards craft beer, Otis & Pickles will mix it up — there’s no menu available yet, but the hints dropped suggest some creative spins on classics. There’s the Distrito Federal (akin to a Manhattan with reposado tequila), a pickle-spiced Meyer Tom Collins, and the blood orange and scotch-based Blood & Sand with Aperol added. Eater also learned previously that 11 craft-focused beers will be on tap.

Districto Federal ( reposado Manhattan, if you will) Pickle spiced Myer lemon Tom Collins. Just two of the cocktails our team will be crafting.

Posted by Otis & Pickles Speakeasy on Saturday, February 4, 2017

As for food, it’s more or less classy takes on bar and pub classics, albeit with no shortage of pickles — sliders, for one, and their riff on Hungry Man platters, the Hungry Hipster, with roast beef, mash, and grilled corn.

Snacks Grilled Corn $3 Chile oil and cilantro or Cajun-honey compound butter and romano cheese Pickled Plate ...

Posted by Otis & Pickles Speakeasy on Monday, January 30, 2017

As for the inside, it’s not actually doing any of the “hidden/secret” things that so-called speakeasies do (side note — since Prohibition is no longer in force, there is no such thing as a genuine speakeasy) — there’s rough wood, galvanized metal, and some custom lighting, all built by Collazo, evocative of the bar’s namesakes, a pair of heavy-drinking mechanics Collazo encountered while helping to run Kennett Square’s Creamery Beer Garden. Collazo previously told Eater that “No douchebaggery” is a key part of the bar’s ethos, preferring to have customers "come the fuck in, and have a good fucking time." You can do that as of the grand opening, on Friday afternoon.

STATUS — Otis & Pickles opens Friday March 3 at 2500 S 3rd St, from noon to 2 a.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. weekends.

Otis & Pickles Speakeasy

2500 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19148 215-787-0888 Visit Website