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Categories: Bars, American (New)
Neighborhoods: Fairmount, Art Museum District3 Courses, 2 People, $20. Juicy Burgers & Tender Ribs. You Choose!
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Went to Jack's last night for the second time and once again, had a great experience. Because we were part of the Terror Behind the Walls package, you'd expect to be shuffled in and out quick and the prefix menu to be limited at best but once again, they did a fantastic job. Not only do they give you a wonderful meal that is tasty and very plentiful, they are all so nice there!
I had the wings and pork loin and the I had the famous Philly Butter Cake as my desert. Yum! After our very relaxing dinner and themed drinks, we were given out tickets to the Penitentiary Event and then PERSONALLY ushered across the street to the main entrance by the Manager! Wow! I sincerely wish I lived closer to Jack's because I would be there often but if you are in town, you gotta check it out! They are running 2 for 2 with me and I highly recommend it.
Until recently, every time I've gone here I've always had a perfectly pleasant time.
I went with my British expat group for a brunch time munch. I didn't really like the food and the service was a bit harsh. For the amount of money I splashed out, I would have liked better food and nicer service
Oh well, I'll go back again--if i'm ever in the 'hood.
We went as part of the "Fright and Bite" package with the Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary as part of a cheesy date night, so I can't speak to the regular menu, but I will say that the food on the special fixed menu was pretty decent.
I had Pumpkin soup, Ribs with Fries, and the Apple Crisp. They were all quite tasty, especially the RIbs which weren't completely drowned in sauce like so many other places do. I also enjoyed snacking off my husband's pulled pork with chips, which seemed like a meal in itself. ALl in all, it was TONS of food and I had to take half of it home with me, but I have to imagine that the regular menu isn't too shabby either.
Great dinners, awesome beer selections, and some of the best desserts around. The short rib, duck and bread pudding is spectacular. The staff is exceptional, and lately there are lots of interesting characters at the bar after 10 pm. One of my favorite gastropubs in Philly.
I've had the opportunity to eat at Jack's at different times of the day, different days of the week. They offer different menus for brunch (Sat/Sun), lunch, dinner and the bar, as well as a tasting option (by request). The menus remain consistent with slight seasonal modifications which allows for personal favorites to be had upon return. Their brunch is killer; mostly traditional items with southern, comfort twists and large portions. I highly recommend the "homemade" Bloody Mary and Southern omelet.
The pulled pork sandwich is phenomenal, served on a homemade bun. In fact, all their baked goods are made in house which just adds to the homey-ness of their flavors.
For dinner I recommend the fried catfish which gets a creative, southern-influenced update accompanied with pecan pesto and polenta "cubes", or try the crab cakes "North Carolina style". Although if you're really hungry and feeling adventurous, the tasting is the way to go. You get an extraordinary amount of food for your money (read: go hungry) and an opportunity to taste items that are not on the everyday menu and so express the kitchen's creativity.
In terms of the atmosphere, Jack's echos Philadelphia history, which is the main reason I love it. The19th c. firehouse that the restaurant is housed in was built in 1860 and continues to flaunt the original interior woodwork. The combination of indoor-formal, outdoor-casual and bar seating makes Jack's very versatile (ie. bring the kids, bring the dog, bring a date...)
The location is great, the place has a look that few can compete with, but I've gotta say, the service is about as poor as I've had anywhere in Philadelphia. I can't begin to explain how many frustrating experiences I've had at jacks, waiting forever to be served a relatively overpriced lager when there's 2-3 other great spots in Fairmount. Food is okay, and if it's a slow night things get better, but safe to say not a favorite place of mine
Good place to sit across from the Eastern State Penitentiary on a sunny afternoon. Nothing stuck out to me on there average menu with a average beer selection. Service wasn't bad, not memorable but in a good way. Overall wasn't terrible, the building is cool and Fairmount ave is especially nice past 19th street, definitely enough to merit another trip to Jack's.
Finally decided to give this place a try after walking by dozens of times, with a friend from the south who really wanted some "homestyle" food.
It was a saturday night before halloween so the Eastern State Penn across the street was mobbed therefore we waited an hour (my friend REALLY wanted to eat here) so we decided to wait at the bar and were lucky enough to scoop up seats when we got there as a couple was leaving but it then took literally 20 mins for us to get the bartenders attention to order and we actually ordered from the service bartender, I think he just felt bad for us, however when my drink was finished I tried to grab the real bartender and was ignored for another 10 mins until the hostess said our tables ready.
The food was eh. I enjoyed the corn muffins and bread they provided. For my main I got the pecan crusted catfish and the fish insides were good however the breading tasted of old oil, pretty gross and not a hint of pecan. It's served on top of a tomato polenta salad per the menu but in reality it was a very vinegary (to the point I almost thought I was going to choke on my first bite from the overwhelment) tomato and onion salad with polenta triangles around the side of the plate...polenta had a good consistency but the taste was just fine.
My friend got the pork chop and didn't comment so I'm not sure how it was, she mentioned having a hard time cutting it as they didn't give her a steak knife and the waitress never came back during our meal to check up.
The entrees did come with a sharing plate of steamed broccoli (really good for steamed broccoli) and mashed potatoes which was a nice add on.
Factoring the bread and the extra sides the price per entree isn't bad at all but the food is just missing "little things" like being cooked in clean oil and seasoning.
The table next to us had ribs that looked good.
I'd come back to eat the apps (calamari sounded awesome, it has hot lava, i'm so intrigued) but I think the mains are all gonna be a let down.
Jack's Firehouse is near and dear to my heart. It was sort of my first real restaurant that I went to regularly when I was interning and could afford something more than a 30 pack of Natty Ice & a chili cheese dog from 7-11. Bobby Flay and Jack McDavid were on "Grilling & Chilling" and Jack was regularly shuffling in and out of the kitchen to the bar area sporting his patented overalls and red/white 3/4 baseball tee and trucker hat, (before some douchebag made them vogue). The down home feel was there, the food was comforting, the service was great, the atmosphere was laid back and unpretentious. Jack was also an early proponent of the farm to city movement and a true save the farm guy.
Over the years I noticed the food starting to slip while prices increased and portion sizes decreased. Its never been the ingredients that are off and I think that is the problem. Everything is local and fresh but the execution is missing. That just means the kitchen is slipping up which is easily correctable. I've never had a service problem once seated. Once in a while it takes a little longer than the quoted time to get a table, but there is usually plenty of room to hang out by the bar. The seasonality of the menu usually works offering heavier things in the winter and lighter dishes in the warmer weather. The pre-meal muffins and breads are great and could be a meal in themselves if you are on a carb kick especially with the cranberry relish. The location is central if you are hitting Fairmount for the night. Its great this time of year as well when the doors are open and ESP people watching takes the focal point.
All in all, I've never had a truly bad meal here, but the meals have been going south my last four or five visits and with all the potential in the ingredients it disturbs me with the lack of execution. It would only take one knock out meal to erase my skepticism. For all Jack & I have been through I'd have to say I'm a fan and he deserves another chance, but our relationship is on the ropes.
The attractive outdoor seating brought us to Jack's. I'll give it a star just for the seating, which really was quite enjoyable. I love Fairmount.
But the food was truly horrible. The waitress suggested the BBQ Platter. The fries were cold and soggy, the ribs ridiculously overcooked and dry -- it was as if the meat on them had been charred off. The brisket was pure fat. I did like the pulled pork although my companions did not. It was a huge disappointment.
Our wait person seemed generally disinterested in us, though I really cannot complain because she let us take our time with ordering and then brought us a phenomenal biscuit/cornbread plate for free. This free yummy plate warrants another star for Jack's but the buck stops there. Try Bishop's Collar or even Mugshots instead.
let me quote the Grammy awarded winner star Whitney Houston and say" crack is wack!' Now substitute crack with jack and add " 's firehouse." The food gets a grade S standing for suckity sucks. Their ribs which are highly touted by the staff is dry and comparable to BBQ at TGIF. The dryness theme continues to their seafood entrees as everything was so dry I doubt the piece of salmon even lived in water when it was alive. Their pulled pork was a oversalted glob of mush. The highlights of each meal are the baked goods they offer you prior to your meal and the chocolate chips cookies offered after which were all very good. I would recommend it for drinks esp on nice days cause the place has a great layout and the front doors of the old firehouse open up to a decent bar.
Had a good experience on a Sunday afternoon. It wasn't very crowded but we chose to sit at the bar and enjoy a beer while we ordered food. We had the shrimp appetizer which had a great smokey flavor. The shrimp were large but there were only four. We ordered two grilled vegetable salads, one with chicken and one with shrimp. The salads were good, the goat cheese was rich and creamy but the chicken was a little too smokey and dry. The veggies on the salad were plentiful but a little underdone.
I guess the food review is consistent with everyone else but I am giving it four stars because of the staff, service, the relaxed atmosphere and the large open atmosphere of the place. Our bartender, JJ, was very nice, fast, and let my girlfriend sample a beer before she tried it. This will win me over every time.
Thought I was a fan from years ago, but now not so much. Ordered a few beers and some calamari on Saturday. Jack's beer selection is still good, and it's still a good place to sit outside on a summer day. However, the calamari were gross. All you could taste was the grease and the breading. When we asked the waitress for some cocktail sauce to improve the calamari (who should have been allowed to live if this was what they died for), Ms. I'm Putting Myself Through College [So Tip Me Well] said "That's ketchup and horse radishes, right?"
I think I'll stick with Silk City
I travel to Philly often, and it is usually my first stop after picking up a car at the airport. The place really was a firehouse, pole and all. The specials are usually the way to go. If you like buffalo and venison, they know how to prepare it, but make sure you follow their recommended degree of doneness. It is a fine line between tender and tasty as opposed to tough as jerky. The biscuits with jam are representive of the southern roots, but this is definately not your local diner, the menu is first class and very creative.
Like many, I was drawn to Jack's by the outdoor seating, which I found to be great. To me, that was the only great thing that I found at Jack's. I went to Jack's with a group of 4, and we all ordered different things from the menu. I ordered ribs, which I was told had award winning sauce. The sauce was gross, as were my ribs. I felt like I could have gotten better ribs at a T.G.I. Friday's. One person in my party ordered crab cakes, which she said was just OK. Another person I was eating with ordered chicken wings, which she said she liked. So... I'll just assume that Jack's has good wings. The final person I was eating with ordered cream of mushroom soup. He said that he enjoyed it. So... Out of a party of 4, 2 enjoyed Jack's, one found it to be just OK, and I found it to be, well... Pretty bad.
Unless there's something Jack's is famous for, and I haven't discovered it yet... I probably won't be coming here again for the food. I've been a couple times and the food was consistently... well... "Meh". I love the building - the old firehouse renovated into a restaurant. The place is very inviting with the big open doors in the front and the outdoor seating... it's difficult to not want to keep giving it another try, but I don't think I can do it again. There are several better places to go for decent food within walking distance... however this will suit fine for a few drinks. Good place to sit outside and people watch, but other than that not really worth the overpriced, uninteresting menu options... kind of a shame, it's a great location.
I passed by jack's randomly because we were waiting for our 10:00pm show at the East State Penitentiary halloween tour. This place was right across the street. There was another lounge/bar about next door but it was too packed so whoever that didn't want to go in a stuffy place, migrated to jack's. The bar was pretty full, no seats were available. The atmosphere was different, just like a smokehouse made of wood. Since it was halloween night, there was this couple who came in, dressed up from head to toe, as the joker and the joker's nurse. it was pretty freaky since they were literally decked out in makeup and outfits. The wife was sitting at the bar most of the time where the husband walked around with his fake knife, asking people at the bar and at the tables if they have seen harvey or not!
Bartender was the only one working the bar full of people. I was impressed that he was very efficient and quick with drinks/orders/bills. if only all bar service was like jack's, it would make our lives all much easier and satisfying when we go out.
I've been a fan of Jack's since Grillin' & Chillin. The BBQ is really quite good, and I love the Calamari w/ Fried Carrot and Jalapeno.
I'm really disappointed with the way the Dining Room is run. It screams, "We have no management!" I have been there a couple of times when the bartenders were "using" behind the bar and got so stoned it was uncomfortable.
I still love Jack, and his BBQ really is top notch, but this place screams neglect.
So we were TRYING to go to Urban Cafe - but it was closed for a private party. Firehouse looked like an awesome time when we walked past - and they had those propane porch heaters on a perfect night - so five of us sat outside. The atmosphere was awesome and the torches were warm and the waiter seemed cool. My first bite of pumpkin soup was great. It looked like it was going to be a good night.
So how did I get from that part of the review to rating this place two stars?
Easy. I stayed a while.
First - they brought out a basket of amazing looking bread that I just wasn't a fan of. My tip should have been the waiter telling me most of the breadbaskets go back to the kitchen full.
Second - the drink menu was a bit shallow on beer. There were a whole lot of choices if you love IPAs (8 different craft IPAs... would a lager or wheat have killed someone?). Oh... and the menu had fancy descriptions for the trash beers - Miller Light - so popular we can hardly keep it stocked! Coors Light - A Summertime favorite! When I saw that I should have just waked out.
Third - our waiter was cool... but it was like having an awesome catcher on a baseball team with no pitcher. My beer and water were empty most of the night, two of the entrees were dropped on the way out, resulting in a 30 minute wait for me and 45 minutes for my buddy. When the steaks came out I realized they hadn't given me a steak knife - I waited ten minutes to see ANY waiter before going inside to the bar to complain. Honestly - this was one of the amazingly few times in my life I actually considered reducing how much I normally give on a tip.
Forth - the food just wasn't great. Everything was over salted. My "New York Strip" steak seemed to be the kind of cut they normally serve in third world prisons... and beyond that was almost completely flavorless except that they covered it in extremely salty gravy. Oh, and it was served cold after I waited a half hour for them to "warm it back up." The ribs were far too chewy (assuming you like fall off the bones ribs) and came with no extra sauce. The calamari was rubber and came with more deep fried jalapeno slices than squid - and was coated in salt. Worst of all - the mashed potatoes were awful and the side veggies overcooked.
Fifth - they charged too much. A quick look at my other reviews will show that I don't mind spending a lot on dinner - but I expect that if I spend $30 on a steak, I'll get a $30 steak experience. If this place had cost me $12 a plate, this review might have been entirely different. As it is I am left sort of bitter about the mugging.
Sixth - Remember the nice torches? They ran out of propane - BOTH OF THEM - about an hour into dinner. The waiter's answer on a 60-degree night was to simply turn them off. So we all spent the last hour waiting for a check and shivering on the porch. Wrap that up with the lack of atmosphere music outside - and the night ended on a pretty miserable note.
Long story short - there are some great restaurants up that way - and I want to start trying them all out... but Jack's I don't know if I'd even return for a happy hour.
Unique in the setting! Fun to eat there! Food was good. I had the Clam Chowder and the Ribs. Dark and a lot of wood inside. A very large Bar set centerstage.
I saw Jack McDavid walking around and said to my server, "I used to watch him on t.v. cooking with Bobby Flay" and she sent him over and he signed a mini menu for me! That was better than anything. It said "Keep on Chillin, Jack McDavid". Cool, huh?
Service was on and off...informative and helpful, but then we were left for long times without drinks and had a long wait for them to pick up the check while the server chatted up a girl. Interesting specialty cocktails, but they weren't described in the drinks menu so you'd have any idea what they were. Dinner was fair...a bit bland for what we'd expected from a place that specializes in BBQ and such. Biscuits, cornbread and homemade preserves to start were a really nice touch, as were little pecan chocolate chip cookies with the check. Apple crisp was underdone. Inside atmosphere was fun and nice tables out front and along the side of the restaurant for plenty of outdoor seating on a nice night.
I've dined Jack's during 2 milestones. The first being my father's surprise 60th birthday dinner, and I was pleasantly surprised. They accommodated our large group, provided us with a great personalized menu, and made sure our wine glasses were never empty. The food was very good -- the steaks were tender, and the cooked veggies were perfect (even the spinach, which I usually find to be overcooked at most places.) That night, they easily earned 4 stars, if not 5. That was 2 years ago.
The second milestone occurred this weekend: the meeting of the parents. My soon-to-be-live-in boyfriend's 'rents were in town, and finally met my father and his wife. We decided on a brunch date in Fairmount and I set a reservation.
I really did not need to set one. The place was empty when we got there, and though it began to fill up as the afternoon progressed, it still was fairly empty -- which was great for our party, but it quickly became clear why it was quiet.
Their brunch is simply not good. The menu has a couple breakfast-y items on it, but for the most part, it's lunch bordering on bar food. Overlooking their weak brunch offerings, I ordered the calamari to share with everyone, and it really was just a hodge-podge of bits n' pieces that seem to come from the bottom of the fryer. Part of it was mushy rings of calamari, part of it was deep fried bits of green pepper, and the third part was anyone's guess. Clam strips, maybe? Bits of shoelaces? Damned if I know.
I also ordered the seitan salad. The seitan tasted like the chef got a hold of some liquid smoke and just went buck-ass wild. It could've been good, and once I got past that initial flavor, it was edible enough, but still. It tasted like propane. How the f@&% does that even happen???
On the upside, our waiter was polite and attentive, and it's a really great space, especially when they open up the large doors in front. But it's always going to be more about the food for me, so 2.5 stars. But because they did do a phenomenal job a couple years ago, I'll round it up to 3.
This place is great. We usually go for brunch on the weekends. They have a special menu which somehow slightly changes every time I've been there. It is nice when the weather's good because you can either sit outside, or the inside kind of feels outdoors since the front is completely open.
The food is pretty good. Their menu has some cool variations and the price is right. A good atmosphere to just relax and enjoy your meal!
Not really memorable. The building itself is pretty cool... any place that dares to hang a boat from the ceiling gets props from me... but the food... not amazing enough for the price.
If you find yourself meandering down Fairmount (which get cooler and cooler since I moved to Philly a year ago), you will undoubtedly come across Jack's, a converted firehouse turned semi-upscale Southern BBQ fusion(????). I love this place. I'm from Texas so any sort of meat cooked over an open flame is right up my alley. And they got some good stuff that doesn't make me cringe like most Northern attempts at Southern cooking. I'm getting ahead of myself though.
I love th decor and he atmosphere. The dark wood and high ceilings add to the huge firehouse door that turns the entire front half of the dining room into a great outdoor meal without leaves and birdshit falling into your food (like at the Mexican Post). The couple of sidewalk tables they put out have the most comfortable chairs that are more lounge chairs and where I like to sit when getting late afternoon beers and aps. There is a cool vibe that E. State Penitentirary across the street gives off that makes it cool to sit outside around there. Plus, as Fairmount grows, there is all kinds of people watching to engage in while the area isn't congested and smelly like it gets as you go South.
The side of the joint has a surprisingly cozy little garden area where a big party and a few couples can have their meal. That is other place I sit, and sometimes the big BBQ they have is billowing the smell of what you will probably be ordering.
They have some really good local brews and the bartender knows how to make a hell of a good drink, regardless of what it is that I've ordered. The service is prompt and warmly inviting.
They bring out an assortment of breads to snack on while you wait for your meal, and I must say bravo for having cornbread muffins with sweet cream butter and an ever changing fruity dipping sauce.
Almost everything that I have had here is great. The only thing keeping them from getting a 5th star from me is that I didn't really care for the burger I had one Saturday afternoon, and you should just be able to make a good burger these days (see Misconduct's). The calamari is great, as are the salads. I have to say that despite being a huge carnivore and loving their meat plates, my favorite thing on the menu s their crab cake sandwich. It is almost more like a crab salad sandwich on toast but if you are there for lunch or a light dinner, you have to get it. You can't go wrong with most anything else though.
Not only is Jack's a great spot in an increasingly great neighborhood, but it is one my favorite places to grab a relaxed meal in the city.
Attention southern transplants (or other interested parties): this place has over 40 bourbons on the menu. That is all.
Ok, that is not all....
Not only do they have over 40 bourbons on the menu, but the bartender (at least, the bartender who was working on the Thursday night that I visited) knows a fair bit about all of them and can make recommendations accordingly. About eight of us bellied up to the bar to drink and eat from about 6:30PM to 9 or so. A few other people trickled in and out, mostly to and from the bar, but other than that the place was pretty empty. The bartender was fantastic, keeping track of all of our crazy orders and then splitting everything one by one (or two by two, depending) as we needed. Food was delicious, but if you're a bourbon drinker.. you need only look at their website to make a decision.
I've been here a couple of times for dinner, including their special price-fix meal they do around Halloween in conjunction with Eastern State Penitentiary. Each time I've been really happy with the food I've ordered, but the service has been spotty (I'm guessing this is because it's usually PACKED on a Saturday night). They also seem to run out of items on the menu early on, which is a bummer.
However, their pulled pork is great and the ribs are amazing. The portions are a bit overwhelming, but that just means you get leftovers for lunch the next day!
The bar downstairs is not conducive to hanging out (it's smack dab in the middle of the busy restaurant and gets LOUD) but they have a great selection of beer. During warmer weather they put tables out on the sidewalk so you can take in the neighborhood and get some fresh air while you imbibe.
Not impressed at all. Everything was totally average, from the service to the bland food. I had salmon which was doused in some kind of orange cheese sauce. Yuck. The artichoke hearts were excellent, and you don't usually see artichoke hearts on a menu, so that was nice. That is the only good thing I say abut Jack's, though. They once had artichoke hearts and they were good. Nothing more. Go past the penetentiary to Rembrandt's or around the corner to the Rose Tattoo instead.
Beautiful place, fabulous food.
The first thing I noticed when I walked in was a huge scull hanging from the ceiling. The wood cabin feel provides a very comfortable atmosphere to eat.
I had the pulled pork on corn chips as an appetizer. The pulled pork was brimming with flavor and the corn chips were the thick and buttery kind. I had the crabcakes as my main course. They were oven baked, which is definitely the way I like my crabcakes cooked, and they were seeping in a spicy chipotle sauce with corn. Not your typical crabcakes, but unique in a good way.
My boyfriend had the ribs, which are obviously the chef's specialty. They were unbelievable.
Do not walk into this place without expecting to pay, pay, pay out the ASS for nothing special. EXPENSIVE!!! You have been warned.
I come for the atmosphere, not necessarily the food. Bar is great and outdoor dining is very nice when the weather is cooperative. Wait staff is attentive.
Food, however, is not particularly interesting. I remember one time a friend ordered a burger and it looked like a sorry piece of beef between two slabs of bread. It didnt look very appetizing. I ordered a risotto which was just too salty.
We walked by and saw a big, open firehouse-turned-pub/restaurant. There was patio and sidewalk seating and bunch of locals at the large bar in the center of the place. It's large and airy yet comfortable and cozy.
We were looking for a quick bite before a visit to Eastern State Penitentiary and heard the burgers here were good.
We were surprised when we got a menu with no burgers and entrees ranging $20-30--much more than we planned to spend on a quick bite. But our server was incredibly accommodating. She let us see the bar menu, and we ordered sandwiches from the bar ($6-8 each), delicious pecan-crusted catfish on toasted bread with homemade fries. Our pulled pork appetizer was good, though the tortilla chips seemed too fragile to scoop the meat. The pork was delicious and tangy. We also shared gazpacho, which was tasty. Our server even let us share it and put it in two cups for us.
I would definitely go back for dinner when I'm prepared to make an evening of it and spend more than usual. And the service, as I said, was incredibly accommodating and friendly. I'm glad we stayed, instead of balking at the cost and grabbing to-go food at a market.
Good to know: It does get a little loud during busy times due to the high ceilings.
I am originally from the south and it breaks my heart to not have decent BBQ, sweet tea and etc. This place is not that bad. I went there for lunch. I tried the pulled pork sandwich and the brisket sandwich. Both of them were really good, however the brisket was more difficult to eat. The biscuits were very hard, which is not what I am accustomed to. The corn bread was very tasty. To finish your lunch, they offer complimentary chocolate chip cookies. The only thing that was missing was good ol' sweet tea. Other than that I would say try it out.
If you like bad food that is over priced, this is the place for you. But if your not eating its a great place to hang out on a warm night with its outdoor seating. Also has over 40 differnt types of bourbons which is an useful aid to make the food taste better. Definitely not the best that Fairmount has to offer.
Awesome setting with a really unique interior and open air dining.
The menu describes the dishes a bit too well--they are not as good as you might think by reading the description. It is also pretty expensive for the food quality, but I guess that you are paying for the ambiance.
I had the calamari, described in another review, and found it to be pretty good. It had fried carrot strips I think, in addition to jalapenos and calamari. My spinach salad was pretty basic but not bad at all.
The food is amazing and with a constantly reinvented menu you're never in danger of falling into the "old standard" routine. I had the cream of portabella mushroom soup as an appetizer last time and it floored my tastebuds it was so delicious. Equally delicious was the Waldorf salad.
Do yourself a favor and don't skip dessert; you'll regret it.
On warm days they'll open the fire door so that natural light can stream into the restaurant creating a sun-drenched, relaxing ambience that is more at home in Mayberry than the busy streets of Philadelphia.
Remember to bring a credit card and wear a nice outfit. This place isn't exactly a rib shack.
I give it 5 stars for amazing atmosphere. What a great place. The food was excellent as well. Though, the ribs were a little thin on meat and slighty overdone. The service was prompt and polite. BUT, I remove 1 star for the piece of 'firehouse' falling from the face of the building almost hitting a lady next to us. Else, really cool place. Very reasonable too.
so disappointed as a resident of fairmount. two bad restaurants on the same street, and i dont know which is worse, jacks or urban saloon. at least jack's has a good pulled pork sandwich but its not served on a traditional roll! thats THE ONLY good thing about jacks.. is the pulled pork... lets move on from there...
the service was some of the worst i have ever seen... the plates were DIRTY... I.E. your first clue... you dont want to know whats going on back in the kitchen. the plates, table cloth, silverware... all dirty...
went for "brunch" i suppose... they give you these lousy biscuits and muffins.. oh my god, one bite and we all spit them out.. sent them back.. didn't even want them on our table.. dish of watery "marmalade" ... wow.. this was beyond BAD...
a friend got the omelette which was DROWNING in grease, couldn't even eat it.
and the whole time all we wanted was some tea, and we couldnt even get it until we were almost done and ready to leave... the service was INCREDIBLY bad...
NEVER go here. save your time and money.
it's awful, there's no where good to eat in fairmount :(
if someone can prove me wrong, please do.
but in the mean time, someone needs to save fairmount from bad food.
This place is highly overrated. The food is ok, but not the best that I've had and it is a bit overpriced. Also, the service is super slow. The atmosphere here is great, which is probably why so many people come here, but I would rather be somewhere that offers really good food with great value.
I was in Philly a few weeks ago visiting the bf's family and we went to this awesome restaurant. It was really crowded and busy but the waiter was super nice and seemed so chill, despite the crowd. We had barbecue ribs, amazing fresh salad with spinach and apples, shrimp and his dad ordered some kind of spicy chili. Great time so if you go down to Philly plan to stop in. (I heard they had great desserts but we were too full)
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