12 Steps Down

Elite '08

22

140

josh f.

Philadelphia, PA

This bar sucks. Its okay though. There are like 100 other bars within a few blocks, its all good.

Its just another "dive" bar with "divey" service....

NEXT!!!

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4

15

Gary E.

Philadelphia, PA

I know Fred and his sister (from talking to them at the bar (they're really nice) and I like them so I added an extra star to a three star review.

12 Steps down is a fine place to go when you're in the Italian market and need a break from the Tony Danza inspired Itallianness of most of the places around there.

They have booze and food, the food is pretty good. It always seemed to me like a nice bar with a good clientelle.

But I should also say that the place does have a local bar type of vibe, generally I have to have a drink or two until I feel comfortable but when I settle in there it's pretty cool!

The thing I do know is that the worst way to meet people is arguing in a chat room, so all the haters should just go here and drink some whiskey!

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Elite '08

165

532

Bill M.

Philadelphia, PA

This is the 12 Steps Down rewrite. needless to say the first one didn't exactly do what I wanted to. In fact when I went onto their Myspace to get some photos for this review I noticed the headline "Not Exactly A Friend Of Bill's" and kind of had a foreboding feeling inside. And I felt that I needed to give here a clean slate.

The first time I reviewed here I felt that it was a no frills dive bar that didn't offer as much as some of our finer dive bars. I also acknowledged that I only really came here when one of my friends was working (who is the man by the way!), and that there were times that it didn't make me feel as welcome as other bars. that was it. but then some reject (whose name I have since forgotten, and whose review has since been pulled from here for good reason) came on here and went on a trigger happy tirade towards everyone who had done a review for here. He even had the keen sense to imply that I was an idiot and comment on my tipping habits even though he never met me. basically a horse's @$$ who wasn't worth my time I know, but it made me angry. and as a result I got a little trigger happy, and shot some unintended fire at here.

So that gained me that status of being mentioned in the Myspace headline above. But it's also far from the truth (at least more now then it was back then). overtime I've found a lot more reasons to gain some appreciation for 12 Steps Down . They have Karaoke Obscura every month which is the essential karaoke event to go to for any music geek like me since it features the songs you won't be able to find at any other karaoke. It has a Beer Of The Week special all the time, and a lot more beers available then I had previously realized. It has a special brunch happy hour every Sunday that offers discount Bloody Marys and Mimosas! They're even friends with Apogee, who are friends of mine and a Philly band that I have nothing but good things to say about. and they're going to be doing one of their CD release shows here for free in April.

So in a lot of ways you can say that 12 Steps Down has taken 12 steps up since the last time I reviewed it. and maybe now we can be friends. it feels good to make amends.

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2

11

Christopher S.

Philadelphia, PA

Yo, seriously. What more can you ask for from a bar that invites you obey the law of gravity and fall right off that wagon into this basement den of depravity. This is a dive, and it is right up the street from my house. What more can a recovering tea drinker ask for?

The food here has changed a lot over the past month or so and their menu has been apparently reworked by some famous chef. I'm not sure if I like it yet or not. I definitely do not like the fancy beer battered chicken fingers. In my book, chicken fingers are supposed to be salty, greasy, and should pair well with a cold PBR. Gormet chicken fingers!? Fuck you 12 Steps!

I am also extremely pissed off that they got rid of the quesadillas. They were huge, filling, and did a great job of lubricating my arteries. Since they have taken away these cheesy wedges of delight, I have responded by taking away one star from an otherwise five star rating.

The fries are much better...

The drink is what this place stands for. The bar tenders are fun, nice, and ready to be your buddy. However if you look like your under 60, they will card you. Bring that ID. The beer selection is way better than the dive setting would suggest and the mixed drinks are strong and tasty. There is always a "Beer of the Week," but it's not always something good. The premium beers will cost a bit more than I'm willing to spend, but I've gotten one or four PBR's on the house.

Basically, this bar does what it advertises and gets you drunk. It's a great way to ease the tension of a day's haggling at the Italian Market or just to get wasted on a Monday even though I know I shouldn't because I have work in the morning.

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6

13

Shawn R.

Philadelphia, PA

You know, I'm not really sure how I feel about 12 Steps Down.  It's essentially right across the street from where I live.

The owner and staff are really nice and that probably raises their rating up a star here.  Unlike others who have reviewed it, I like the food here.  They just changed their menu according to the sign outside so I'm not sure if this means they have the same food with higher prices or different food with higher prices.  The sandwiches are pretty big and the cheese burrito is a good buy.

Sunday night is $1 PBR night which is good if you don't really care what your drinking and only have a few bucks.  Or if, say, you've been drinking while watching football on Sunday and either ran out of beer or want to get out of the house and continue on the cheap.  It's also usually pretty empty in there, which isn't a big surprise as we're talking about Sunday night.  

That said, this place is right across the street and I hardly go there despite being insanely lazy.  If you go there to watch sports (even casually while sitting there), watch out because the TV's are synched differently with one running a little behind the other two.  The prices are kind of high for what I usually do and I typically avoid it for take out as well and walk my lazy ass down to the beer store at 9th and Washington.  Instead of 100 feet away and 12 Steps Down.

I haven't been to their happy hour lately, but awhile back it was 1/2 price drinks or something like that.  The brunch I haven't checked out yet but as someone mentioned, it's $3 bloody Mary's and Mimosas.

So check it out for yourself but you do need your ID.  Doesn't matter how old you are - with no ID they will kick you out.

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Elite '08

72

105

Stephanie M.

Philadelphia, PA

12 Steps is your standard neighborhood dive bar. It's one of those places that you never set out to go to but somehow end up at anyway. As noted by other reviewers, it's best to avoid the food. But if you want to toss back a few cold brews in no-frills environment, this place is as good as any other. Like many other corner bars, they offer takeout for six packs as well, which comes in handy when you want to get your drink on at home (where the food's probably better) but didn't make it to the beer store before closing.

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2

30

Alicia O.

Philadelphia, PA

My boyfriend once said that 12 Steps Down felt like he was drinking in someone's finished basement. It's true! This bar was only a few blocks away when I was living in South Philly. It was a nice place to go when I didn't feel like walking far. The beer is okay. I'd go elsewhere if you want to get food though. Overall, if you live around Bella Vista/Italian market area, it's worth checking out, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go here.

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Elite '08

15

122

kathleen t.

Philadelphia, PA

let's seee...one star for being a place where a couple of friends like to meet up, and one star for being cool when it was kathleen's.

aaaaaand, that's about it.

if i want to support the hood, i'll go the extra bit to the friendly, or ray's, or anywhere else really. i just don't dig on the sports bar vibe at all, and the bartenders ain't all that.

i hear that karaoke obscura is amazing, though, so maybe i'll give that a shot someday.

el hubbo seems to love it, as an aside.

addendum as of 4/19/08:
uh...i'm pretty sure the whole "not a friend of bill's" thing is more to do with the name of the bar than anything else. 12 steps=AA=friend of bill w.

just a possibility, you know?

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2

14

J Q.

Philadelphia, PA

Another neighborhood hang, weds nite is for quizzo, Tues movies, Monday free pools (all sbjt to change). Danielle and Freddy do a great job at the bar. I like the food, inexpensive and quick, go for the chicken quesadilla. Cash only though, and if it's your first time, bring your ID!
It ain't swanky nor does it smell of cigarettes, grab a beer - something good is always on special.

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2

4

Dave R.

Philadelphia, PA

yeah, not the best bar for fine dining and drinking... that's obvious as soon as you step down those stairs. BUT they have Karaoke Obscura on the First Thursday of every month! Alt-rock karaoke! http://www.myspace.com...

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2

3

Molly A.

Philadelphia, PA

This could be the worst place I have ever had to go to. It is dimly lit, the people are not friendly, the food sucks and the beer selection is no good. The only thing that it really has going for it is there is plenty of room to sit down.

Be careful as you need to be from the area to get served. We went in with friends from Germany and they would not accept the passport ID as proof of age.

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Elite '08

55

351

Susan G.

Philadelphia, PA

It's a dive bar...it's good at being what it is...and it has such a tricky name.  Do not walk in without your ID in hand or they won't even let you sit!  They do not play that game.  They serve pub food and like Nicole R. said, it's crap.
I'm proud of the place for one reason...they aren't  even trying anymore!  They just are...there have been some nights, that I now shutter to think of, that we've ended up here, been turned away(usually because I never carry ID) and was angry about it.  Hey we ended up at Royal and that was a great night.  
If your a dive fan check it out..

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70

300

Nicole R.

PA

The myth goes that the name 12 Steps Down actually has nothing to do with AA, rather the fact that the bar is located 12 steps down from the pavement.  I don't know if I buy the conceit this funny (or unfunny if you are a recovering alcoholic) coincidince went completely unnoticed by the owners, but that's the story.  

The bar is a complete dive.  There's a large circle shaped bar, pub food, crappy tables and a pool table.  There is a ginormous flat-screen TV which seems to be primarily used for watching sports.  There's not much in the way of beer, so I usually stick with the whiskey if, due to uncontrollable circumstances, I happen to find myself at 12 Steps.

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