Bastia Offers a Laid-Back Alternative to Philly’s Italian Standbys
Tucked inside Fishtown’s stylish boutique hotel Anna & Bel, you’d be forgiven for missing Bastia once. But if you want to enjoy quality coastal Mediterranean cuisine without the checkered tablecloths and oversized meatballs, you can’t overlook it again.
What to order
- Brunch bounces around lunch and dinner menus with some egg options, but the semolina pancakes with honey labneh, a lemon sumac curd, and strawberries are the star of the show; sweet without being saccharine, hearty without being overfilling ($22).
- Vegetarians have a few standout choices, like the Honeycrisp apple starter with endive, pecans, and ricotta ($21), or entrees like a grilled squash, hearts of palm, cannellini beans, and fennel ($30).
- Look out for seasonal pastries, like the flaky-and-sweet nectarine tartine, or the savory Sardinian seada packed with the big three of cheeses — pecorino, mozzarella, and ricotta — atop homemade plum mostarda.
What to drink
- You don’t have to go far for an exceptional experimental cocktail, because the hotel’s lounge, Caletta, is just across the hall. Try the tropical Mainstay Spritz ($20), a mix of dry vermouth, genepy (an Alpine herbal liqueur), bianco, and fruity flavors like kiwi, maraschino, pineapple, and lime.
- Not to be outdone, the bar at Bastia offers its own herbal cocktail: a namesake spritz ($18) with a citrusy, bitter mazzura aperitivo.
Insider tip
The tiny two-seaters right in front of the fireplace offer a view of the chic hotel clientele, and the hallway connects Bastia and Caletta, so you’ve always got something beautiful to see while being tucked into an intimate area.
