Forget Painted Parrot -- around the corner from the famed South Street eatery lies the Pink Rose Pastry Shop, a cozy dessert caf‚ whose Victorian d‚cor stands out from the nearby body piercing salons and greasy hoagie restaurants.
It is also perhaps the only place within a ten block radius that can be deemed pretty. The inspiration? Originator Julie Van der Graaf wanted to "blend her artistic background with her love of cooking," explains current owner Marlene Lean.
The snug dining room, accented in white and pink, brims with Victorian charm: lace curtains, wooden floors and floral designs abound. Although you may assume you've been transported into an English country inn straight out of the 19th century, you won't find Aunt Sally dressed in a white bonnet waiting in the corner to serve you tea.
| Pink Rose Pastry Shop 630 S. 4th Street (215) 592-0565 |
But if tea's what you fancy, you will find plenty of varieties available, as well as an assortment of freshly baked pies, cakes, cookies and tarts -- all of which cost under $6 apiece and look tempting enough to merit breaking the glass case. You can also purchase authentic tea sets, if so inclined. Whether you're in the mood for scones, banana cream pie, or Pink Rose's own Fiesta Cake (Lean's personal favorite), there is something to satisfy every sweet tooth. And if sugar's your vice, you can always purchase a sandwich.
On weekends, you can expect the typical college crowd, though neighborhood regulars and ladies who frequent Fabric Row often stop by for a quick sugar rush -- or a chocolate-dipped macaroon signature ‚clair (which got local author Jennifer Weiner's Good in Bed protagonist through her depression).
If the windows filled with Zagat distinctions and "Best of Philly" awards won't get your feet past the door, the aroma will. "The smell will suck you in," the owner's son, Scott Lean, informs me, explaining that the ventilation blows warm baking fumes onto the sidewalk. On my way out, I decide to see if this is true - and almost walk right back in.
