by Kevin Estrella, '23
After having to close shortly after its grand opening in February 2020 (due to the pandemic), The Board and Brew at 3200 Chestnut Street, has re-opened ready once again to welcome the University community into their unique space. Kevin from Drexel Business Services recently met with Michael from The Board and Brew to learn more about the restaurant.
Q: How long have you been in the restaurant business, and what do you enjoy most about it?
A: I have been in the restaurant business since 1988. I always tell people that I make people happy for a living. As a chef, which is my area of expertise, I find creating foods that people enjoy the most satisfying aspect of the business. Creating a dish that is an expression/part of me and having someone enjoy it is very rewarding.
Q: Do you have a new or favorite board game available to play at The Board and Brew? Which are the most popular?
A: We update our library with new games all the time. One of my favorites is Sheriff of Nottingham. It's something I've played numerous times and really have enjoyed it each time. The most popular ones — that's a hard question because it really depends on what people prefer. We teach games based on people's preferences, so what's popular can change from table to table.
Q: When did The Board and Brew open?
A: The first location, in College Park, opened in 2014 and made its way to Philly in 2020. We originally opened on February 5, 2020, and re-opened on March 18, 2021.
Q: What do you recommend customers try for their first time at The Board and Brew?
A: I suggest that people try everything on our menu! We're on two levels – a café-style restaurant on the first floor and a full-service restaurant on our second floor. Our coffee is wonderful, the food is yummy and the games put us over the top. For specific items, I suggest the Oreo Latte, and Kyoto Cold Brew for drinks, and the Brew Burger and Mike's Mistake for sandwiches (or the Lemongrass Tofu if you prefer vegetarian!). We also have a unique milkshake called French Fries with Ketchup — it's a wild eating experience that combines the salty fries with a very cool milkshake!
Q: What does the typical customer experience look like at The Board and Brew?
A: The typical experience begins with a friendly greeting and we ask what you're looking to enjoy. Based on that answer, we take it from there.
Q: What is The Board and Brew's primary goal?
A: We want to make people happy. We want our guests to be our friends and be a part of our community. We're looking to get to know people and have them know that we really care about them and what happens in their lives. We just love everyone who walks in!
Q: What makes The Board and Brew different from its competitors?
A: Our culture. It's that's simple. Our culture is really about the guest and their comfort and it's a unique difference. There are other restaurants with great coffee and great food, but there's no other place where you will ever feel as "at home" as you will at The Board and Brew. We take great pride in that.
The Board and Brew invites the Drexel community to check out the drinks, food, and 500+ games at their restaurant, or order from their awesome menu for pick-up or delivery (Use the code BBDELIVERY to get 15% off your delivery! [PDF]). The restaurant and upstairs game room is open Monday to Wednesday from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday to Friday from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Follow The Board and Brew on Instagram @theboardandbrewpa and on Facebook @theboardandbrewpa.