Philadelphia sugar factory opens

Subtle? Not at all. With multiple chandeliers and mirrors, neon ribbons, a wall of Valentine’s hearts, plus a $ 99 ice cream sundae, ‘smoky’ drinks served in rainbow colored tumblers and sliders rainbow covered with a rubber duck, the Sugar factory is a daring tribute to good and old American excess.

Philadelphia now has a branch of the brewery, which Food & Wine has named America’s Most Instagrammed Restaurant.

Sugar Factory began, unsurprisingly, in this other tribute to excess, Las Vegas, 12 years ago. It was a confectionery that, along the way, added a savory menu, similar to the sweet-and-savory pairing of competitor Cheesecake Factory.

The Philadelphia location, the chain’s 25th, replaces Porta, a pizzeria and nightclub at 1216 Chestnut St. which closed in 2020. An Atlantic City candy store opened at Hard Rock ago. is about three years old, and Cherry Hill’s Garden State Park Town Center will be getting one in 2022.

As Sugar Factory grew, it expanded into celebrity affiliations including Pitbull (via its Voli 305 vodka), Nick Cannon, Snoop Dogg, Bruno Mars, and Mario Lopez. DJ Pauly D, who was featured on MTV Jersey Shore, is the channel’s official DJ. It will shoot during the grand opening on January 8.

»READ MORE: Sugar Factory on the way to Philadelphia and South Jersey

The restaurant is oversized, with a mezzanine overlooking the bar. It occupies a double storefront property that supports the future Barstool Sports Bar on Sansom Street. Of course, there’s an attached candy store with a floor-to-ceiling candy wall.

Signatures on the savory side of the menu: An 8-ounce Angus burger topped with Flaming Hot Cheetos crusted pepper jack cheese, pickles, shredded lettuce and chipotle mayonnaise on a Hot Cheetos crusted bun, as well as ‘an 8-ounce steak and lobster tail for $ 78. Rainbow Sliders ($ 25) include a take-home rubber duck.

Desserts include lavishly decorated shakes served in chocolate covered mugs. The $ 99 splurge King Kong Sundae that serves up to 12 people and includes 24 scoops of ice cream, is drizzled with sprinkles, gelatin bears, caramel sauce, fudge sauce and giant swirling pops .

The drinks are also large in size, served dramatically in tumblers (with colorful gummy candies), like scorpion bowls on steroids. They are available with and without alcohol.

Note to editors: we need to bring in LaBan here.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.