Queer Chef D. DeMarco debuts Cuisine at Sonny’s Cocktail

Sonnys Cocktail Joint
Executive Director of PhillyGayCalendar

Chris Fetfatzes and Heather Annechiarico announce the grand opening of Sonnys Cocktail Joint at 1508 South Street Today, August 6th at 5:00 pm. The new feel-good laid-back neighborhood bar and the covered backyard are located next to Wine Dive and one block from Tio Flores. Sonnys will feature expertly made cocktails, New Age American eats, Instagram-ready throwback vibes, a house band, and even a classic jukebox.

From the kitchen, Chef D. DeMarco (they/them) will fire up inventive plays on the classics with food that would be considered high-end if it weren’t so down to earth. For the drink program, look for an extensive list of well-executed cocktails for cocktail lovers from every walk of life, along with a tightly curated list of wines, and 14 beers pouring on draft. For vibes, look for welcoming, warm, and comforting throwback elements like checkered floors, vinyl, textured glass, vintage beer art, thrift purchases, a jukebox, and an old-school fridge. Sonnys is casual, no pressure, and no reservations. Opening hours, for now, will be Wednesday to Saturday, from 5:00 pm to 2:00 am, with kitchen hours 5:00 pm to 12:00 am.

"Sonnys Cocktail Joint is a bar for everyone where your glass is always full. As professionals in the industry, we craved a watering hole that had quality cocktails without judgment, so we created one. The resulting highbrow/lowbrow bar offers an array of seriously crave-able food from Chef D. DeMarco and ever-evolving innovative beverages. With a strong focus on craft spirits and cocktails, Sonnys offers a little something for all — from Hawthorne Cafe’s deep craft beer roots and branching out to a small but thoughtful all natural wine program curated by Wine Dive’s Jeffrey Hyman. Real people serving real drinks, Sonnys Cocktail Joint is everyone’s bar."
Chris Fetfatzes
Chris Fetfatzes
Owner

Sonnys is proud to introduce Executive Chef D. DeMarco (they them), who brings a wealth of experience from their work with LPNG Restaurant Group (American Sardine, Second District Brewing Company, and South Philly Taproom), where they started as a Sous and quickly worked up to Culinary Director. Chef is now transitioning and at this stage of the process is using D. and they/them.

Chef hails from Willingboro, New Jersey in Burlington County, where they spent their childhood in kitchens next to their father, who was a chef. They started answering phones and the more they worked with their father, the more their passion for cooking grew. Chef moved to Philly at 19, and worked under some great chefs. They loved traveling and checking out new restaurants and quickly found they had an unquenchable thirst for new flavors and inventive cuisine.

“We reached out to D. because we love their food and style, and we hoped they would believe in what we were trying to do with Sonnys,” said Fetfatzes. “We hit it off immediately. Our vision and attitudes aligned right from the start, and here we are ready to open our doors!”

Chef and the kitchen team are firing up a full from-scratch menu that features New Age American Cuisine – which is more fun, quirky and accessible than typical New American. The dishes are designed to be inventive plays on the classics – where each item leaves guests wanting another cocktail (or two).

"We want the menu at Sonnys to continue to push boundaries of creativity. We want to bring highbrow food down to earth. Our constant theme will be approachable, fun and fresh."
Chef D. DeMarco
Chef

For the design of the opening menu, Chef took the cocktails and beverage program as inspiration to build a complementary food program. The end result features a unique collection of dishes that elevate bar fare to the next level, with Crab Roll, Steak Tartare Grilled Cheese, Fresh Oysters, Chicharrón with Caviar, and French Onion Dip, Crispy Shiitake Mushrooms and more.

The opening menu features a lot of vegetarian options, with some vegan and gluten-free options. Chef is well known for their vegan cooking, and down the road, additional vegan options are in the works to be added.

Chef is sourcing locally to support area purveyors, including ingredients from Rineer Farms Beef, Fifer Orchards, Demeter’s Source, The Pickle Man, and more.

Sonny’s Cocktail Joint
1506 South St,
Philadelphia, PA 19146

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