Welcome Sor Ynez!

Welcome the newest member of our Family!

Sor Ynéz is, at heart and soul, a Mexican restaurant. Our cuisine is rooted in traditional, Mexican ingredients and methods, but our focus is on a modern and sustainable future. Our food is fresh, flavorful, and vibrant. Located in Kensington, at American and Berks Streets. Convenient to public transportation, and free parking 🙂

Please enjoy all the wine to-go at Jet’s Bottle Shop, visit Jet Wine Garden for spacious outdoor socializing, Rex 1516 for outdoor dining among the plants and stars, and the take-out window at CafĂ© Ynez, where we will soon again be enjoying outdoor dining.

Holiday Gifts!

We have gifts for the Food and Wine lover in your life! And… shipping not required! All of our gifts can be purchased online and are available for pick up. No delivery worries!

Serving the Biggest Crowd

Did you know our gift cards can be used at any of our restaurants? Yes! Buy a card, and use it at Jet, Rex, OR Ynez! Or all 3!

 

Feed Your Southern Soul

Want a little comfort in this rough year? Our gift-wrapped and ready-to-please Pimento cheese OR Crawfish Potpie (heat and serve) from Rex 1516 are the answer! Add a to-go cocktail to feed *your* soul, too.

 

Dr. Jill’s (soon-to-be) World Famous Inauguration Wine Pack

Well, our Dr. Jill created this pack as a biographical homage to our incoming President and Vice President, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris! It comes with a “Bad Things Happen In Philadelphia” ornament, and information on just why these wines were selected!

We have plenty of additional wine gift packs waiting just for you! And you may as well throw in some cheese.

 

Make a Fresh Start

Whether you want to start off your day or night, it is always right with some fresh juice-mixers from Cafe Ynez! Order our Mango Mint, Blood Orange, or Blackberry Thyme and open a bottle of your favorite spirit! May we recommend tequila? Oh, starting the day? A little sparkling wine never hurts…

South of the Border Collab Menu

December 10th and 11th, $55 for two. Add Booze!

Café Ynez and Jet Wine Bar are partnering with El Merkury and Jezabel’s for a one-of-kind “South of the Border” tasting menu! What is the connection? These restaurants are all woman owned and fabulous, of course!

Sofia, Jezabel, and Jill invite you to pre-order this 3-course menu serving tastes of Mexico, Guatemala, and Argentina. Add some wine or margarita’s from Jet and you’ve got a celebration! Your meal will come with heating instructions, just heat and serve!

What’s for dinner???

First course: Mini Pupusas with Chicharron or Quesillo & Bean
Second course: Taco Platter with Chicken Pibil or Adobo Cauliflower
Third course: Passionfruit Pavlova

Pre-orders, only. Orders must be placed by 10am the day before you intend to pick up
Pick up is at Jet Wine Bar (1525 South Street) on Thursday 12/10, 3-7pm and Friday 12/11, 3-7pm

Don’t forget something to drink and breakfast for the morning!

This is the first in a series of tasting menus supported by Let’s Talk Philadelphia. This is an alliance of women restaurateurs across the city, jointly promoting our sustainable success through the pandemic, and beyond. We are proudly collaborative and supportive, and are stronger together.

Let’s Talk is a national collaboration – across 10 cities – of over 200 women restaurateurs, founded five months ago by Chicago’s Rohini Dey, Ph.D., owner of Vermilion, with the goal of bringing together women restaurateurs for collaborative action and support. Let’s Talk is a part of the James Beard Foundation Women’s Leadership Program.

How we do Hamilton

Hamilton: an American Musical has hit Philly. But you probably knew that!

What you may not have known is that Sojourn Philly offers two ways to keep the fun going – or join in if you haven’t seen the show!

Rex 1516

Rex is your home for southern food and hospitality, just off the Avenue of the Arts, and just a 15 minute walk from the Forrest Theatre.

Dine with us for favorites like Crawfish Potpie, Fried Chicken, or our award-winning Pimento Burger, and be sure to have the Divine Rebuke to Human Pomposity. This cocktail is inspired directly by an essay (of the same name) that Hamilton wrote regarding the harmonious balance alcohol provided to the whims of nature (namely, hurricanes).

Jet Wine Bar

Jet is your global vineyard! We are located across the street from Rex 1516, also a 15 minute walk from the Forrest Theatre.

At Jet, we are celebrating Hamilton AND our love of Pennsylvania wines! All October long, we’ll highlight the Commonwealth’s vinous bounty, while connecting our local wines to a statesman with local connections, Alexander Hamilton.  Enjoy wines and fun facts associated with Hamilton: his role preventing the secession of “Westsylvania” (no, really!) whilst the first Secretary of the Treasury, his job as aid to General Washington when the Brits took Philly, and his special connection to the Liberty Bell. This “tour” is available as a flight of 4 wines for $20, all month long. Featured wineries  include Fero Vineyards, Stony Run Winery, and Penns Woods Winery.

Vegan Restaurant Week and Sojourn Philly

Join us for Vegan Restaurant Week at ALL of our restaurants!

Philly’s first-ever Vegan Restaurant Week is happening September 16th-22nd, and we are happy to participate with an individual, vegan dish at Cafe Ynez, Rex 1516, and Jet Wine Bar. Proceeds benefit the Peace Advocacy Network.

So, what will you find?

 Vegan Burrito: sauteed shallots, corn, whole black beans, baby spinach, pico de gallo, avocado, & quinoa in a wheat flour tortilla w/side ensalada verde $9
Our Vegan Burrito is available everyday, but during VRW, $1.50 from each burrito will go to Peace Advocacy Network.

 

 

Vegan Mediterranean Dip Trio: muhammara & two types of hummus, toasted pita, fresh veggies, & olives $15
This is a special take on this tasty trio. We’ll give $3 from each Trio sold to the Peace Advocacy Network.

 

Red Beans and Rice: Carolina Gold rice, tomato-braised Sea Island red peas, and scallions $10
Chef Swain knows Rice & Beans, and during VRW we’ll donate $2 from each dish sold of this special recipe to the Peace Advocacy Network.

Will you be our Valentine?

Tacos, caviar, cured meats and cheese… where can you get this and more on Valentine’s Day? At Cafe Ynez, Rex 1516, and Jet Wine Bar, of course.


BYO tequila or wine (or anything you want!) to Cafe Ynez for flavors of Mexico City and try our Valentine’s Day specials:

  • Chicken al Pastor Tacos……$8
    Marinated Chicken, Queso Fresco, Cilantro, Radish, lime, & jalapeno salsa on 2 soft corn tortillas.
  • Salmon……$17
    Pan-seared Salmon on Cannelloni Bean Ragout & Fennel Salad
  • Cordero……$18
    Pan-Roasted Rack of Lamb, Pimiento Romesco, parsely & micro greens

Feeling fancy and want a bit of Southern Comfort? Then Rex 1516 is for you.

  • Crawfish Arancini $8
  • Celery Root Soup $10
    Smoked maitakes, crispy celery root, Three Springs farm apples
  • Pan-seared Salmon $23
    Hopping John, collard pesto
  • Fried Chicken & Caviar $50
    Fried half-chicken, paddlefish & tobiko caviars, chive biscuits, Alabama white bbq sauce, cucumbers
  • Triple-Chocolate Cake $9
    Dark chocolate cake, milk chocolate frosting, Chocolate cookie crumble

Yes, of course there will be Specialty Cocktails

  • Jack Rose $9
    apple brandy, rye, lemon, house-made grenadine
  • Velvet Slipper $11
    Raspberry brandy, crème de cacao, cream, shaved chocolate
  • Seelbach $10
    Bourbon, angostura & Peychaud’s bitters, sparkling wine

Thinking Pink? Jet Wine Bar is the place to be.

Jet will have appetizers perfectly paired with pink wines:

  • Sea Scallops with a grapefruit gastrique & bacon $12pairs perfectly with Via de la Plata Sparkling Brut Rose Cava, Spain $10
  • Lamb Sliders, pomegranate glaze, spicy slaw $13pairs perfectly with Vina Real Rose Rioja Alavesa Rioja $9
  • Charcuterie and Artisnal cheese plate, chef’s choice $15pairs perfectly with Escudo Real Rose Minho Vinho Verde $9

Like your wine in flights? Flight of all 3 for $14


All Valentine specials are available a la carte, full menus also available. We can’t wait to see you!

New Year’s Eve with Sojourn!

What are you doing New Year’s Eve?

Join us! Whatever your plans, we have something for you.

How does eggnog and crawfish deviled eggs, or a French 75 and chicken and caviar(!) sound? Then Rex 1516 is for you! Check the full menu here

Want ALL the bubbles and cheese (plus Chef Yasi’s cheese ball!)? How about Serbian Riesling and Italian Sausage Rolls? Then come out to Jet Wine Bar!

Perhaps you have your own bubbles? Then bring them to BYO Cafe Ynez to have with lobster brisket, filet of beef with cherry gastrique, or good old-fashioned tacos!

 

Dia de Muertos at Cafe Ynez

Dia de Muertos is a trio of days honoring ancestors and remembering the souls of the dead. It is celebrated from October 31st to November 2nd. The Mexican holiday has evolved from its original, Aztec origin, but still involves feasting and dancing, as well as visits to graves and cemeteries, costumes and decorations.

We’ll be celebrating the Day of the Dead on November 2nd, with foods that speak to Puebla and Mexico City – the traditional home of the holiday and its Aztec roots.

Join us on the 2nd and try one (or all!) of these special dishes:

Classic Pumpkin Soup   $10
with crispy onions and parsley
Savor this Sopa de Calabaza, knowing that pumpkin comes from Mexico.

Lomo de Cerdo    $15
Pork loin served with a sweet potato puree and swiss chard
Spaniards brought pork to Mexico, but defeños make it all their own

 

Romeritos de Branzino    $14
With mole, red bliss potatoes, watercress
Enjoy romeritos – a needle-shaped green with flavor similar to spinach – with its classic counterpart, mole.

 

Want to know more about our chef? Read here!

PA Wine Month at Jet

Celebrate PA Wine Month at Jet Wine Bar

October is PA (as in Pennsylvania) Wine Month and we are joining the fun by featuring 3 of our very favorite wineries: Galen Glen, Stargazers, and Va La. Never tried PA wines? You are in for treat!

All month long we’ll have a wine from each winery, available by-the-glass or – at Happy Hour (5-7 daily) – in a flight of 3 for $15.

We’ll start the month with three,exceptional rosĂ©s, move to cool-weather whites, and finish with 3, outstanding reds.

THE WINERIES

Stargazers Winery

We’ve been big fans of Stargazers for a while now. Jet’s very first menu – in November of 2010 – featured their magical, 2008 Cabernet Franc. It was a customer favorite then, and our appreciation for John’s wines has only grown since.

IMG_20170930_144421931_HDR (694x1024)Stargazers is found in the rolling hills of Chester County, an hours drive out of Philly to Coatesville. John Weygandt – with his late-wife Alice – planted the first vines in 1979 before creating wines under the Stargazers’ label in 1996. John and Alice were pioneers in many ways, by championing solar energy and sustainable agriculture, coordinating the efforts of the growing, PA wine-community and, above all, visualizing the potential for high-quality wines from grapes grown in the local soils.

The name, Stargazers, is a nod to the Mason-Dixon line, and the observation tower that was used to survey the land and create the boundary between Maryland and Pennsylvania.  The location of the tower – the Star Gazers tower – is today marked by a stone.

This month at Jet you can look forward to:

  • Rose Gold – an approachable rosĂ© of Pinot Noir, with minty/nutty start and a soft cherry and white-pepper finish
  • Arneis – The piemontese grape does very well here, and this Arneis is creamy (it spends ample time sur lies) fruity, and well-balanced with acid. 
  • Warp Drive – Petit Verdot is one of our favorite grapes, and this PV blend has all of its dusty, lavender, white-flower charms.

Galen Glen

photo: Lenn Thompson, thecorkreport.us
photo: Sarah and Clemens, the wine Lab

Sarah and Galen Troxell own and operate Galen Glen. The vineyards are ideally situated on glacially deposited, fosilliferous shale at cooler, higher altitude amidst mountains.  This land used to be underwater, as evidenced by the Crinoid (sea creatures) fossils that litter the ground. According to Sarah, “no one noticed (them) until I started pointing them out. It’s overwhelming to touch something 360 million years old and think about the vastness of time.” The couple took over Galen’s family estate in 1995, and started planting vines. Sarah’s wine-making skills have been well-recognized, and are especially apparent in her structured, mineral driven, German-influenced offerings. Experimentation with german grapes has paid off for the couple. Sarah famously planted GrĂĽner Veltliner in the vineyards not after tasting the grape, but after reading about it and the food with which it pairs well; Galen Glen’s GrĂĽner now garners numerous awards.

  • Vinology Rosé – this easy drinker is off-dry, fruity, and zippy, with a looong finish.
  • Stone Cellar Gewurztraminer – a beautiful, minerally wine with tropical fruit undertones and good citrus-y zest.
  • Stone Cellar Zweigelt – a little spice, earth, and bright berries.

Va La Vineyards

IMG_20170930_163513401_HDR (742x1024)Va La is the youngest of our featured wineries; the first vines were planted in 1999 and the winery doors opened in 2002. Anthony and Karen Vietri own the small – but storied – Avondale vineyard on land that has been in Anthony’s family since 1928. Growing up, his family bought wine grapes from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, not realizing the land’s grape potential. Coincidentally, while on a trip to California, Anthony and Karen stumbled upon the very-same vineyard that supplied grapes to Anthony’s parents and grandparents; the couple subsequently used grapes from that vineyard to make wine for their wedding.

Today, the Vietris no longer need to purchase grapes. They grow numerous – mainly Italian – grapes on their small property (under 10 acres), which they craft into field blends. For their efforts, Va La has been named among the 101 Best Wineries in America for 4 years running.

Try these wines during October at Jet:

  • Silk – a juicy, fruit forward, lightly-spiced dry rosato. Pleasing to the palate.
  • La Prima Donna – a field-blend “orange” wine (extended skin-contact) that is mead-y, fruity, nutty, complex, and wholly delicious.
  • Castana – Only made occasionally, the name is an homage to the “chestnut” treasure of Vietri family-lore. Dark, rich, and complex.

While we are featuring wine from these three wineries, there are many more to try among Pennsylvania’s xx. Over the years, Jet has featured wines – in one form or other – from these additional wineries:  Allegro Winery, Black Walnut Winery, Blair Vineyards, Briar Valley Winery, Crossings Vineyard, Fero Vineyards, Galer Estate, Grace Winery, Karamoor Estate, Penns Woods, Pinnacle Ridge, Presque Isle, Waltz, Wycombe Vineyards. Try one or try them all!