Social club revives Italian-American culture in South Philly

Sep 06, 2017 1162

BY: Angela Gervasi

When Bon Appétit magazine ranked the Palizzi Social Club as the fourth best new restaurant in America, Owner Joey Baldino was honored. But he doesn’t want people tweeting about it. “I feel like what happens here should stay here, almost,” said the chef and 2001 entrepreneurship alumnus. The Palizzi Social Club has a list of house rules, one of which prohibits excessive cell phone use. The intention, Baldino said, is to preserve the club’s legacy as a spot for socializing in person.

“Before there was social media, there were social clubs,” he said. At first glance, the Palizzi Social Club blends almost seamlessly into its narrow corridor of South Philadelphia row homes. A softly lit sign whispers to visitors that the building at 1408 S. 12th St. is a mixture of a restaurant and bar. After purchasing a membership — $20 a year — outsiders become guests, gaining access to a menu brimming with Southern Italian foods like escarole, stromboli and spaghetti with crabs.

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SOURCE: http://temple-news.com

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