American pride's a tough sell these days: the housing market's still a disaster, unemployment's through the roof...where's the Arena Football League when you need it?!? Fostering patriotism the old-fashioned way, via brews and grub: The American Pub.

Nestled in Centre Square's underground concourse and within spitting distance of the Clothespin, TAP's a traditional, 120-seat tile-floored alehouse/eatery with a 25-seat wraparound bar and seven plasmas amidst dark wood wainscoting and crown molding bordering walls tastefully populated with Americana collectibles, like framed '40s and '50s auto ads, old-time Yuengling and Ziegfeld Follies posters, a decades-strong collection of promotional Iron City beer cans, and a mold of Strawbridge & Clothier's Seal of Confidence -- nothing sells gear like a cocksure pinniped. Appetizers include Maryland crab cake pancakes, coconut shrimp w/ pineapple chili sauce, and five varieties of chicken wings (garlic, caesar, Santa Fe, ...), but sandwiches run the show, from the meatgasmic King, piled w/ roasted turkey, baked ham, and beefs both roast & corned, to paninis like the proscuitto/Genoa salami/fresh mozzarella & balsamic herb mayo Centre Square Classic, the South Philly pork w/ aged provolone & roasted red peppers, and the Miami, which is actually just a Cuban with worse health care. On the grill side, 10oz burgers take on six region-specific topping combos, including the bleu cheese & apple-smoked bacon Chicago, and the marinara slathered Brooklyn, w/ grilled onions & provolone; there's also classic cheesesteaks, chickensteaks, and seven grilled sandwich options, like the andouille sausage & peppers Baton Rouge, the pulled pork Durham, and the Mayor's Special: marinated chicken breast w/ basil mayo -- so good, it'll make it worth people thinking you're a Nutter.

Booze-wise, 12 taps pour an all-USA selection including Yards Philly Pale, Tröegs Rugged Trail, and Brooklyn Pennant '55, while cocktails include the Beam Black-infused Kentucky Lemonade. There're also house specialties like the Baker's/Knob Creek/Booker's/Basil Haydens-combo American Bourbon Sampler, and the Noah's Ark, which lets you choose one of eight Absolut varieties to mix with five flavors of Hank's soda -- drink them all, and think: where's the Arena Football League when you need it?!?

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Open 11am-10pm Mon-Fri -- check out the full menu and the extensive rundown of the (four-hour!!!) happy hour at TheAmericanPub.com --

The American Pub (Emailed on August 7, 2009)

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