The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar

Homemade comfort food meets urban chic at The Hamilton Kitchen and Bar, where recognizable favorites are rejuvenated in the kitchen with innovative tweaks. The staff is so passionate that they spend their days off texting each other menu ideas, and they clock painstaking hours–often spanning 15 rounds of tasting–perfecting every recipe.

Anything to look for this summer? This season brings a fruity splash of fun cocktails like the Kiwi Strawberry Rum Smash, ideal for sipping on the stylish patio while swaying to nightly live music. Also on the calendar is the honor of hosting a prestigious James Beard Foundation dinner on September 19.

If it’s my first time, what should I order? You can’t go wrong with twists on comfort food like the Cheese Curds appetizer–warm nuggets of Pennsylvania cow’s milk cheese served with local honey.

What’s the chef’s favorite protein? Chef Drew Stark favors fish. He says there’s less margin for error than with more forgiving proteins like red meat, and showcases his expert handling with dishes like the Salmon Crudo, served with curry leaf aioli, jalapeño, orange, and cilantro.

What’s Hamilton Kitchen’s best-kept secret? Perhaps it’s the bottomless Bloody Marys on deck during weekend brunch. Better yet, it might be the 11 unique barrels of bourbon made specifically for the restaurant. Then again, it could be as simple as the parking situation: convenient valet after 5 p.m. and free validated parking at PPL Center all day.