Summer Food: The Tastes of Summer: Root Beer Floats

Like the turn-of-the-century decor, root beer floats at the Franklin Fountain (116 Market Street, 215-627-1899; franklinfountain.com) are quirky and authentic. Sidle up to the ingenious “fold-down” fountain seats for the best view as homemade­vanilla-bean ice cream is scooped into tall 22-ounce mugs. After experiments with­various kegged root beers, the proprietors decided Briar’s all-natural birch beer delivers the best flavor and the fewest foaming explosions.