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Overview

Philadelphia’s Friday Saturday Sunday has long been recognized as one of the most innovative dining destinations in America—named among the Top 50 Restaurants in the U.S., a James Beard finalist, and recently awarded a Michelin star for its inventive tasting menu and deeply intentional hospitality.

Beneath the restaurant sits 2023 James Beard Awards winner The Lovers Bar, a jewel-box cocktail space known for its precision, playfulness, and science-driven mixology program. When the bar’s team sought to create an interactive centerpiece for their cocktail experience—a rotating wooden wheel inspired by the Fibonacci sequence—they needed a partner who could move the idea from abstract concept to high-end, functional reality.

That’s where Boundless and Brand Consultant Jenn Klemm stepped in.

Strategy & goals

The Lovers Bar envisioned a tactile, beautifully crafted wheel that guests could spin to generate a custom cocktail. Every spin reveals five ingredients, each precisely proportioned to the Fibonacci-based formula the bar uses to develop perfectly balanced drinks.

The goals were clear:

• Transform a conceptual design into a premium, durable, working object worthy of a Michelin-star environment
• Engineer smooth, reliable rotation mechanics while maintaining an elevated aesthetic
• Honor the artistry of the bar’s cocktail program through thoughtful material selection, woodworking, and laser engraving
• Deliver a bespoke, small-batch run (six final pieces) that looked and performed flawlessly
• Meet an aggressive timeline without compromising craftsmanship

Executing the vision required deep collaboration with designers, woodworkers, and the bar’s creative team, along with hands-on problem-solving—from selecting the right bearings to repeated precision adjustments.

Results

Jenn inherited the early-stage concept, but the project needed a full reset. She connected with a specialized domestic woodworking partner capable of producing highly technical custom pieces.

Over six rounds of prototyping later, there were signs of success!

• Perfected the multi-layer wood construction
• Ensured seamless rotation using specialized bearings
• Laser-engraved detailed floral illustrations, roman numerals, and The Lovers Bar identity
• Integrated the Fibonacci ingredient display window
• Matched the bar’s aesthetic with elevated finishes and brass-tone hardware

Jenn even found herself doing on-site research at hardware stores—“crying at Lowe’s a couple times,” she jokes—to troubleshoot mechanical challenges and ensure every detail functioned perfectly.

The Lovers Bar carousel wheel menu serves up 21 possible Fibonacci-balanced cocktail combinations, each tied to one of the bar’s carefully selected bottles.

Testimonial

"Jenn was a dedicated resource for us when fabricating a unique piece of restaurant collateral for a high-end event. The Lover’s Bar Cocktail Wheel was complicated and unique, a bespoke item dreamed up by our creative team to provide an elegant experience for a James Beard renowned and Michelin-starred restaurant client. 

The wheel had to be executed with top notch quality and care to make sure it achieved what we, and the client, needed. When things went sideways with a vendor during the pre-production process, Jenn worked tirelessly to keep the project moving and make it happen. She did just that. She was able to get another awesome vendor on board to bring the Cocktail Wheel to life. They were responsive and understanding and Jenn coordinated the comms seamlessly. Our clients couldn’t be happier with the results and dedication to the project. And in case you’re wondering, the cocktail wheel helped them secure the James Beard 2023 restaurant of the year!"

Conclusion

The final wheel is equal parts engineering feat, functional tool, and artistic object, now used nightly as a signature element of The Lovers Bar experience. The carousel menu has received praise and influential posts on social media, and it matches the highly awarded bar’s undeniably creative vibe and craftsmanship.