New Chef & New Menu at Tavern on Camac

Located at 243 S. Camac Street in the center of the Gayborhood, Tavern on Camac is housed in an historic building that has been serving Philadelphia’s gay community for nearly 100 years, making the address the longest continually operating bar serving the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S. With three floors, each of which offer a distinctive experience, the Gayborhood staple is known for a number of different attributes, including serving delicious tavern fare, having a lively piano bar, and being a destination for singalongs and dance parties on one of the most historic streets in the country.

Now, it’s a spot with a new chef who has recently introduced a new menu for the 40-seat restaurant, with one of those items benefitting The Attic Youth Center, which creates opportunities for LGBTQ youth to develop into healthy, independent, civic-minded adults within a safe and supportive community and promotes the acceptance of LGBTQ+ youth in society.

Chef Henry McGuigan recently took over the kitchen, bringing with him a resume that includes quality time spent on the lines of some of the top restaurants in Philadelphia, with influences ranging from classic French to modern Israeli cuisine thanks to experiences at Zahav, K’Far, and June BYOB. Professionally, McGuigan enjoyed a long and successful career in the U.S. Coast Guard, serving with honors and distinction. It wasn’t until the age of 39 that the now 46 year-old Veteran started a new life as a chef with the support and love of his wife, Kendra. McGuigan, one of six children growing up in a U.S. Army family in Europe, learned many of his skills from his Irish-born mother, who advanced her techniques and refined her style while the family lived in France, Italy, and Germany.

“I’m hoping to bring a bespoke approach to New American tavern cuisine that pulls on the heartstrings of nostalgia while exciting the soul with a new approach to classic flavors,” said McGuigan. “Growing up, my mom passed her passion for cuisine, technique, and bold flavors down to me, who was very attentive and always really hungry.”

The new menu features starters including Sriracha Deviled Eggs; Fried Pickles; Surf and Turf Skewers; French Fries; and Fried Brussels Sprouts; seasonally-inspired salads, including the Autumn Salad, which features spring mix, butternut squash, pepitas, dried cranberries, bleu cheese, and vinaigrette; sandwiches (served with a choice of fries or a salad) include the Tavern Burger; a Fried Chicken sandwich; and entrees including a Grilled Salmon Filet with fingerling potatoes, asparagus, and Beurre Blanc; Pork Belly with cheesy polenta, fried egg, and pickled onion; Steak Frites featuring filet mignon au poivre, shiitake mushrooms, and frites; Pumpkin Crème Pasta with bucatini, shiitake, butternut squash, tomato, and pepitas; Fish & Chips; House-made Chicken Tenders; and a Short Rib Mac & Cheese featuring a Cooper Sharp cheese sauce, braised short rib, cavatappi, and panko breadcrumbs, which operators Randal Mrazik and Stephen Carlino will use to raise funds for The Attic Youth Center through the end of January. Starters range from $6 to $16, salads and sandwiches cost between $13-$18, and entrees are priced from $13 to $36.

“We’re really excited to have Henry onboard, and his new menu is both delicious and comforting,” said Mrazik, who is the Managing Director of the business. “We’re thrilled to use our new Short Rib Mac & Cheese as a fundraiser for The Attic Youth Center,and we’ll be donating proceeds from the sales of that dish through the end of January to what we feel is one of the most important LGBTQ+ organizations in the region.”

Tavern on Camac is a cozy, subterranean, modern destination that has been a mainstay in Philadelphia’s gay community since 2004. Throughout the building’s rich history, the address and operation has been identified as a vital stop on the Underground Railroad and was a speakeasy for the “artistic” crowd during prohibition. Arguably the oldest continuously operating gay establishment in the United States, the restaurant features a fully renovated kitchen, craft cocktails, a curated wine and beer list, and delicious tavern fare. The business is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and from 5 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Tavern on Camac is part of The Tavern Group, which includes U-Bar and Otto’s Taproom.

---

If you like what I do, throw me a coffee or a stiff drink!
I’m a *REAL* person and your support means the world to me!