A Sneak Peak at Post-Apocalyptic Restaurant Mad Rex

October 5, 2017 by HughE Dillon

A Sneak Peak at Post-Apocalyptic Restaurant Mad Rex

Hello Thursday. Sorry about missing yesterday’s post, I have been so busy shooting client parties which I place in the media, I havent been able to keep up on chitchat. I’m off next week for about 4 days and will catch up. Also I’ve decided to move my “gossip column” to Friday.

Sneak

The murals and menus at Mad Rex were designed by local artist Alloyius Mcilwaine

That way I can drop some fresh gossip during my Friday morning segment on WOGL during the Morning Buzz in the 8AM hour. Then you guys can check out PCC at 9AM for all the gossip. This week I’ll be chatting about M Night’s Glass movie, as well as other celebrity sightings in the City. OK Let’s check out the new Post-Apocalyptic Restaurant Mad Rex located in Fishtown, next to the Fillmore. That area is blowing up.

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I’ve been at Mad Rex twice now once for a food tasting a few Sunday’s ago and I photographed the VIP Media party the other night.

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I thought my tasting at Mad Rex, the first post-apocalyptic theme restaurant, would be bar food at best as the investment would have been made in acquiring all the props to create the restaurant. I was wrong. The food was delicious, better than non themed, celebrity chef driven restaurants. Above is definitely my favorite dish where customers are able to cook their own meals (chicken, salmon or beef) at their table on 700-degree slab of rock. We also ordered asparagus and broccoli for the table. So tasty.

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During the opening night party they had a buffet of salads that they serve:

Pear and endive salad $10 Bosc Pears, candied walnuts, manchego, pomegranate vinaigrette
Rock grilled caesar salad $10 wedge of char grilled romaine, parmesan croutons, housemade caesar ( add chicken $5)
Rock charred octopus and fennel $11 grilled on lava rock, balsamic reduction, panzanella salad in a citrus vinaigrette
Sea green salad $11 Japanese seaweed, kale (the best kale I ever had, not the small green crinkly kind), roasted ginger garlic carrots in a buttermilk vinaigrette Quinoa salad $10 cucumbers, fresh basil, tomatoes, and shallots in a citrus vinaigrette

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Then there was this out of the world ice cream mixed in a Himalayan Salt Rocks Bowl served with toppings du jour. So good. Over time the bowls will shrink as the salt gets mixed into the ice cream.

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Mad Rex features a multitude of amusements with a post-apocalyptic twist: virtual reality gaming, dining and live entertainment including a DJ and a late night bar menu.

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Alex Holley, Fox 29 getting down with the virtual reality – where patrons can enjoy the experience in a recliner chair and sip drinks through a straw (set up like an IV drip – see contraption to the right of chair)

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The lobby during my sneak preview last week
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The VIP opening night party with invited guests from the hospitality industry, friends, family, and Phila media.

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Guests can expect to experiencing earthquakes and other disasters. when I was there there was a plane crash.

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Talk about an open kitchen, in the “food hall” you can watch all the action from your communal table

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a server

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guests hanging out in the Virtual Reality Lobby

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Seating in the lobby while you wait for your table to be ready

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a communal table

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These tables can be moved to create a dance floor as the DJ is located to the left of this photo.

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The best smelling bathrooms in Philly, definitely the best decorated in a bar/restaurant

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These tables, and the wood paneling were burned to look post-apocalyptic

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Guests pouring in for the party

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The fire breather Rev of Unholy Sideshow and his muse Karin Hein

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The windy night was not a friend of the Rev’s, but the show was spectacular

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Draft beers are $4-$6. Cocktails are around $10 and wines start at $9. Sandwiches are priced at $10-$14, while entrees and the hot-rock option are upwards of $20.

Mad Rex will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

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