-Courtesy of Cashman & Associates
Starr Restaurants’ Continental Midtown announces a brand new cocktail menu designed in partnership with Unfiltered Hospitality, a collective of obsessive bar operators, award-winning mixologists and the brains behind nationally renowned cocktail menus at Miami hotspots The Broken Shaker, The Sylvester, The Standard and more. The highly anticipated bar program at Continental Midtown debuts this week, breathing new life into The Continental’s retro cocktail culture and redefining the modern martini experience in Philadelphia.
“When opening its doors nearly two decades ago, The Continental set the standard for how to create and consume martinis,” said Gui Jaroschy, Partner at Unfiltered Hospitality. “Using a combination of modern techniques, tableside flair, dynamic presentations and bold new flavors, the new cocktail program will reclaim The Continental’s status as a trend-setting drink destination that’s sure to leave an impression after just one sip.”
In this new era, Continental Midtown’s cocktail menu features nine new martinis and six creative twists on classic cocktails that takes imbibers on a sensory journey with unexpected flavors and visually appealing presentations. Such is the case with the Cosmo Spacely, a spin on a traditional Cosmopolitan made with vodka, triple sec, acidified white cranberry juice and citrus bitters. Shaken tableside and served completely clear, the Cosmo Spacely retains the drink’s iconic flavors while introducing a lighter mouthfeel.
Smellin’ Melons, a unique Asian-inspired highball, takes inspiration from the popular throwback Melon Ball to create a “same but different” beverage not found on highball menus elsewhere. A shrub consisting of fresh melon, shishito peppers and rice wine vinegar is combined with vodka, melon liquor, orange juice and club soda to create a tart, vegetal and photo-ready cocktail when poured into a fluted carousel highball glass.
Additionally, French Kiss reimagines the French martini, substituting vodka for gin shaken together with framboise, fresh pineapple, lemon citrate and pandan elixir.
The Continental’s cocktail menu wouldn’t be complete without the beloved Astronaut.
“We were challenged with the most daunting task in recreating this iconic Continental classic,” continued Jaroschy. “The flavors of the original Astronaut play so well that we wanted to keep them all in place but update the ingredients and presentation to reflect modern cocktail trends.”
The drink’s signature Tang has been replaced with a “Stratospheric Sherbert,” a reduction of fresh orange juice and orange zest with pearlescent edible glitter. The Stratospheric Sherbert is combined with peach vodka and fresh lemon, and poured into a gold Electric Dust rimmed martini glass that tingles the lips with every sip.
“We’re always looking for innovative ways to enhance our guest experience and set the stage when it comes to what’s trending in food & beverage,” said Stephen Starr. “We’ve partnered with the best in the business to bring Continental’s guests an unparalleled new cocktail menu full of creative twists and turns.”
Additional cocktails on The Continental Midtown’s new menu include, but are not limited to:
- Frozen Appletini – Vodka, Apple Liqueur, Lemon Citrate and Apple Bitters
- Shakey Scotsman – Scotch, Drambuie and Orgeat shaken with Cold Brew Concentrate
- El Chapo Fizz – Mezcal, Campari, lemongrass Oleo-Saccharum, Fresh Pomelo Juice with Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic
- Golden Ticket: Vanilla Vodka, Giffard White Crème de Cacao, Oloroso Sherry, Chocolate Milk
- Risky Business – Blended Scotch shaken with Amaretto, Fresh Lemon, Fee Foam and Angostura Bitters
- My Girl Sasha – Bacardi Gold Rum, Hennessey vs cognac, creme de pêche, mango, lime juice
The complete cocktail menu can be found here.
More information about The Continental Midtown can be found via Instagram or at www.continentalmidtown.com
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