Amá: Inside Look at Philly's Mexican Bar that Wants to Be More Than Just Margaritas

Photo by Drink Philly

Amá is the newest addition to the trendy and bustling Fishtown neighborhood in Philadelphia. Under the El on the corner of Front and Oxford is where you'll find this completely open-wall modern Mexican concept from Chef Frankie Ramirez (formerly the chef at LMNO), Robert Medina and Crisalida Mata (both from La Catrina in Media), and Veronica Ramirez.

Photo by Drink Philly

The massive venue features 23 seats at the bar, 130 seats in the dining room, and 25 seats in the lounge. The restaurant is an open wood fire modern culinary concept that highlights food from every region of Mexico.

Photo by Drink Philly

Everything on the food menu is made from the open-fire wood oven, which was made and shipped from Texas specifically for Amá.  

Bar Manager, Diego Langarica, Photo by Drink Philly

At the helm of the beverage program is Bar Manager, Diego Langarica. Langarica has worked at cocktail staples like The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co, a.bar, and Butcher and Singer. The entire philosophy behind the food and beverage menu as they describe it is "old flavors, new hands," meaning nothing they're doing hasn't been done before, but they are putting their own touches on them to tweak them slightly. The recipes are very traditional, but with a different point of view. Langarica says that's the inspiration behind his cocktail menu. He says he's taking a traditional idea and trying to give it a different perspective.

Langarica, who originally came from the kitchen, says he's very food-focused on his recipes, so if he sees something he really enjoys in the kitchen, he tries to recreate those flavors in a cocktail.

Kiin Baat'aan: gin, amchur, fino, chiles, Photo by Drink Philly

There's only one taco on the menu for a reason. The same goes for the cocktail menu. There are no margaritas on the menu. They'll make it for you if you ask, but they want their guests to experience more than just margaritas or tacos. They want to showcase different aspects and flavors of Mexico's culture. "We get asked to make Margaritas a lot less than I thought we would," says Langarica. "People are very open to trying new things."

Pepe El Grillo: uruapan, sotol, coriander cordial, nopal, chapulín (grasshopper), photo by Drink Philly

The martini has notes of green mango and habenero. The Pepe El Grillo is based off the Milpa Salad on the food menu, which has nopal and chapulin (grasshopper), so he used that to create a garnish for the drink. The Dixbee is a mezcal old fashioned, or Oaxacan old fashioned with the same mole negro that's used in the Chile Braised Beef Cheeks. Wherever possible, the cocktail menu showcases elements from the kitchen in its drinks.

Dixbee: mezcal, reposado, mole negro, totomoxtle, Photo by Drink Philly
 

Mercado Sonora: tequila chai, rhubarb, nopal, burnt tortilla, Photo by Drink Philly

The Mercado Sonara is made with a sweet and fruity nopal foam, which cuts the rhubarb vegetable notes of the drink, and is garnished with amchur powder - dehydrated mango mixed with ground burnt tortilla and salt.

It's Always Sunny in Puebladelphia - reposado, tomato shrub, roasted poblano, dill, Photo by Drink Philly

Tejuino is a popular beverage in Mexico that is traditionally made from masa and cane sugar. It's lightly fermented and then mixed with lime juice and salt, then topped off with Lime Water Ice. 

Whole Octopus - Photo by Drink Philly

The cocktail menu is inspired so much by the food menu, you will not want to miss dishes like the Swordfish Taco with labneh, sour orange pickled onions, and salsa árabe. The Tuna Tostadas are made fresh daily with smashed avocado, salsa, macha, and cilantro macho. And the absolute highlight is the Wood Fire Pulpo - a three to four lbs. whole octopus with camote, salsa verde, meco sauce, and black fried rice.

Photo by Drink Philly

The spirits by the glass list consists of around 40 bottles of tequila and mezcal, as well as other varieties like Sotol and Raicilla, seven wines by the glass, and five different beer offerings. 

Photo by Drink Philly

Amá is open seven days a week for drinks and dinner and reservations are highly recommended.

Amá Restaurant: 101 W Oxford St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 933-0707

Hours:
Sunday - Thursday: 5 PM - 10 PM
Friday - Saturday: 5 PM - 11 PM