On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.

Mugshots

3.5 star rating
based on 68 reviews

Categories: Coffee & Tea, Vegetarian, Sandwiches

Neighborhoods: Fairmount, Art Museum District
2106 Fairmount Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(267) 514-7145
Hours:

Mon-Fri. 6:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Attire:
Casual
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Price Range:
$
Good for Groups:
No
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Wi-Fi:
Free
Good for:
Breakfast, Lunch
Alcohol:
None

68 reviews for Mugshots

Review Highlights   

user photo
"What a great spot, decent (fair trade/organic) coffee, and the best bacon…" (in 11 reviews)
user photo
"I also purchased a vegan peanut butter brownie from Vegan Treats." (in 10 reviews)
user photo
"The vegan BLT w/guacamole is my current favorite." (in 13 reviews)
  Loading...
Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of kate s.

Elite '09

26

38

kate s.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
Updated - 8/25/2009

They expanded the bejeezus out of this place. They've got seating for days and a much-improved internet setup. Way to step it up Mugshots. You've been seeing much more of me lately.

And I was only going to step it up to four stars, but then I ended up there on a Friday night when you were playing The Lion King. Hakuna Matata Mugshots, you're getting five.

Was this review …?

 

1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 3 star rating
    1/27/2009

    Situated across the street from Eastern State Penitentiary, Mugshots' clever menu pays homage to the… Read more »

Photo of John K.

 

6

57

John K.

Queens, NY

2 star rating
Updated - 12/2/2009

Dropped by again this past Saturday (11/29). The sun was out but the wind chill prevailed, and being outdoors while exploring the penitentiary made a hot beverage necessary. You can be damn sure that I kept my ears wide open when I walked in again. I wish I knew the song but all I know for certain that it wasn't Ludacris' "Move, bitch". But jokes aside, the music didn't reaaallly bother me at either time I visited Mugshots.

About the beverage...I ordered an Aztec. I'm no hot chocolate expert so I trusted the server when she dusted cheyenne pepper on the surface, but I didn't pay attention to how much she put in. The first sip was great. It immediately warmed me up, but quite honestly a hot cup of anything would've done the job. My taste buds came back to life as I slowly thawed, but they didn't giving me any good feedback. I barely tasted chocolate and the cheyenne pepper was way too over-powering and my sister, who LOVES anything chocolate, took just one sip and never asked for another.

The interior decor was exactly how I remembered it but unfortunately, my update to my review of Mugshots has changed for the worse.

Was this review …?

 

1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 3 star rating
    11/3/2009

    I took a day trip to Philly with a girl i've been dating, just to get outta New York. We wanted to… Read more »

Comment from Angela V. of Mugshots 12/2/2009   
user photo
John K.,  Thanks for your review.  We greatly appreciate…    More »
Photo of Jane F.

 

5

6

Jane F.

Philadelphia, PA

1 star rating
10/4/2009

I recently moved to Philly and am search of good coffee shop with long hours and truly free internet. A place where I can plug in my laptop and get some job-hunting work done. I tried Mugshots and I did not like it. For these reasons:

1) When I tried to pay for my coffee and bagel (a little over $5 or$6) with my credit card, the woman asked if I could pay in cash. I asked if they had a minimum SINCE NO MINIMUM WAS ACTUALLY POSTED. She said yes, it was $10. To me that doesn't make sense for a coffee shop, $5 min, maybe, but not 10. And if they're going to do that, at least post it.

2) I assume by the posting on yelp that they had 'free' internet. WRONG. You have to purchase something (and remember to ask for your recipient, which the woman neglected to give me) and they give you a code for ONE HOUR of internet. Not cool.

3) There are practically no outlets in this place. ALMOST ZERO. Any real coffee shop that wants people to be able to come work with their laptop should invest in a few power strips. Not that hard to do.

4) The bagel I had was discolored on about half of it. Seemingly old and taken out of a freezer to thaw. Not fresh and not so tasty.

I really did want to like this place. Near my apartment and has a nice view of Eastern State Penitentiary. But alas, I will keep looking.

Was this review …?

 

Comment from Angela V. of Mugshots 10/29/2009   
user photo
Mugshots insists on serving local and fair trade products…    More »
Photo of Jason F.

Elite '09

13

77

Jason F.

Philadelphia, PA

2 star rating
8/26/2009

I truly dread coming here.  Since there really are no other options in Fairmount, I always come here before or after my haircut at the Beehive.  But no more. The line makes me feel like I am at a bank.  And I have no idea why there is an army of workers behind the counter, yet I have to give my name and wait FOREVER for an Americano.  

FAIL

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Steve J.

 

0

1

Steve J.

Philadelphia, PA

1 star rating
11/19/2009

I normally just read reviews on here, but I just had to register to review this place.  I started coming here a few weeks ago fairly regularly, but it's just too uncomfortable of a place for me to hang out anymore.  Some things that irked me:

1.) I saw the "fresh-squeezed" orange juice being poured from a plastic jug.  After purchasing a few these over the past few weeks, that's pretty disappointing considering they're $5 a pop or so.

2.) Overhearing the employees talking about expired products and how they didn't want to throw them away for fear of "getting in trouble".  Sounds a bit suspicious, eh?

3.) This one's a shame.  I love the kids that work here.  Unlike some coffeehouses, it doesn't require persuasion to get some service at the counter.  They're always courteous and great for a conversation.  But the positive atmosphere quickly drops when the authority figure (I assume the owner?) comes in.  She's pretty disrespectful to them and I'm guessing they don't make nearly enough to be talked to like that.

Other than that, it's a just a little too expensive to frequent this place.  The coffee drinks are priced pretty average relative to other joints, but the quality leaves more to be desired.  Sorry, Mugshots.  1 star.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of monica s.

Elite '09

977

227

monica s.

Philadelphia, PA

3 star rating
8/18/2009

When I'm in the right mood (by myself, driving around on an early Sunday morning, listening to XPN's Sleepy Hollow), there's no place I'd rather be than Mugshots in Fairmount. The busy but quaint ambiance sets it apart from most other coffeeshops in the city. Green Line on Baltimore arguably offers a similar vibe. I think it's something about being a nice-sized, corner coffeeshop in a greenspace neighborhood.

The food misses though. One of my favorite things is a bacon, egg, and cheese with a tomato slice on a slightly toasted English muffin. They don't have English muffins, so that's the first minus and their eggs are often scrambled and flavorless. Their saving grace is the Jailhouse Rock. Fresh, organic peanut butter spread over multigrain toast with banana slices and drizzled honey. Nothing beats that.

If I want to hang out by myself, read a book or the paper to the slight bustle of a coffeeshop, Mugshots is a choice spot.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Molly K.

Elite '09

120

295

Molly K.

London SW13

UK

4 star rating
8/13/2009

At the end of a short visit to Philly, I needed some good sustenance for my 7 hour flight back to London. The morning of our departure, Mugshots offered just what I never knew I needed: a mango "recovery" shake and a PB&J bagel.

Wish I could come back again and again for their movie nights! I'd happily sip mango smoothies for the rest of my days...

Was this review …?

 

Photo of karla g.

Elite '09

13

124

karla g.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
8/7/2009

My first visit her was quite a few years back while waiting for a bunch of friends to head over to Eastern State with. I remember having an awesome little sandwich in a coffee house that still reminded me of those super cool hangout spots of the 90s where there is art everywhere and a young guy with long hair somewhere strumming protest songs on his guitar. I though it was a strange environment to drop such a shop, but at that time I was naive to the gentrification going on around Fairmount.

I went back last night for a cool art opening / fundraiser for Screens 'N' Spokes last night and was highly impressed at the growing menu and the fair trade section they had. I am not exactly veg but was excited to see that they served vegan sausage and tofu chive cream cheese. Mmmmmm....

Oh, and they have smoothies, too. And how I love smoothies.

Have to come back sometime and get some grub. Until then I'm still a fan.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of marissa t.

Elite '09

15

39

marissa t.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
8/6/2009

Ladies and gents of yelp- it's peanut butter jelly time!! Cue the music because I know I just got that song stuck in your head all day. You're welcome :)

Now, I have a deep love for something I discovered here at mugshots- the peanut butter and jelly smoothie drink. I swear that's not soy they add, it's liquid bread because when you drink this- it takes you back to lunch in elementary school, picnics and whenever the cooler was brought out of the garage to stuff with water and sandwiches. I can describe how this drink tastes besides A+, incredible, amazing, fresh and right on point.

Now I've never had coffee here, since I can't stray from the aforementioned drink but there's always a line of people in here and I would encourage them all to order exactly what I did.

You're so far from me mugshots, but oh so close. I'll be back love.

Was this review …?

 

Comment from Angela V. of Mugshots 8/7/2009   
user photo
I am also a PB&J FREAK! I created that recipe and I'm so…    More »
Photo of Sheila B.

 

1

34

Sheila B.

Kulpmont, PA

3 star rating
11/2/2009

I had a salmon wrap, an aztec mocha and a vegan chocolate peanut butter brownie.  My sandwich and brownie were awesome but I didn't like the mocha at all.  My daughter had a vegan blt, which she said was great, a piece of vegan carrot cake which was also great, but she didn't like her pumpkin spice latte.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Ben T.

 

1

25

Ben T.

Philadelphia, PA

2 star rating
11/6/2009

Good place to sit and read the newspaper, bad place to grab a quick breakfast sandwich and coffee on the go. The place keeps me coming back because the lack of any competition in the area. Every time I order food It seems to take a obnoxious amount of time to be prepared. The last time I got a buffalo tofu sandwich and it tasted like straight up hummus. I was really confused, but didn't realize this until I was long gone from mugshots. So again good spot if your just wasting time, bad spot if you have things to do and you need a quick bite and a coffee.

Was this review …?

 

Comment from Angela V. of Mugshots 12/2/2009   
user photo
Ben,   Thanks for your feedback.  We try to make Mugshots a…    More »
Photo of Steph H.

Elite '09

37

70

Steph H.

Philadelphia, PA

1 star rating
9/18/2009

You might ask - why such a low rating, Steph? Did you have a bad day? Did you have your snack today? Are the stars out of alignment? My answer would be no - I'm having a great day, I just ate lunch and the stars are delightfully in alignment. Why then such a terribly low rating for Mugshots? By now you should know that when it comes to Steph H. and coffee shops - it all comes down to internet. When the mark-up of your average cup of coffee from a coffee shop is something like 500%, I REALLY don't think it's necessary to CHARGE FOR INTERNET. It's all part of the coffee shop experience, a nice cup o' joe, and free internet flowing through my wireless card. When those two things don't happen. I GET ANGRY. No, I don't get angry, I just write about it on yelp :)

Was this review …?

 

Comment from Angela V. of Mugshots 9/18/2009   
user photo
Hi Steph,  Thanks for writing. I just want to clear up a…    More »
Photo of Amanda F.

Elite '09

9

66

Amanda F.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
8/4/2009

Yes, it's always crowded, yes, it's expensive, yes, sometimes they will forget that you ordered a coffee and you'll have to remind them, yes, you might get hit up to donate to various political organizations when entering.

The fact remains, though, that Mugshots has pretty damn tasty coffee and some delicious sandwiches. The Scapegoat is great: soft, cool goat cheese on a hot pressed ciabatta loaf, with pesto, the best red onions I've had in a while, spinach, and tomatoes. Simply, satisfying, and (I will kid myself probably) not too bad for you. Their bagels are also some of the better ones I have been able to find in the city, not too dense, toasted nicely, with flavorful toppings--and the veggie and chive cream cheese are standouts.

As for their hot drinks, they're good, very good. During the winter months I can only come to Mugshots a few times every month because otherwise I would just be ordering the creme brulee latte all of the time, and neither my waistline nor my wallet would thank me. It's a sweet, guilty pleasure. The aztec hot chocolate is also great.

In addition, although I've never participated in the buying club, I like that Mugshots has the option to buy locally sourced ingredients, although it's probably just cheaper to go to a farmer's market. Still, the homemade red potato salad that they have using these ingredients was a standout that I am going to have to buy again: tangy (it tasted like it had some yogurt in addition to/instead of mayo), chilled, fresh, and bursting with dill and some garlic, it was the perfect accompaniment to our homemade Scapegoat knockoff.

In short, it's pricey, but once in a while, it's nice to drop by, have a drink, and split a tasty, freshly prepared sandwich--just not if you're in a hurry.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Melissa K.

Elite '09

12

33

Melissa K.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
6/28/2009

I liked this place better before they expanded it, though as the owner comments below, their expansion has allowed them to make a lot of food in-house, which has helped them to lower their prices.

Overall, Mugshots is a nice place to study or get coffee with the girls.  The drinks are delicious, especially their smoothies (I love the peanut butter banana one).

I've never been crazy about the food here -- although the price reflects the owner's choice in selling local and often in-house-produced food (which is awesome), it's not the tastiest food I've ever eaten.  But, the chocolate desserts are really tempting and I think they now serve some Capogiro gelato here as well.

One thing that really makes Mugshots stand out to me is that they use 100% wind energy.  I think that's just fantastic.

Was this review …?

 

Comment from Angela V. of Mugshots 7/7/2009   
user photo
Hey Melissa, thanks for taking the time to give us your…    More »
Photo of Attila B.

 

3

21

Attila B.

Philadelphia, PA

2 star rating
8/4/2009

Good seating and environment.
Average food.
The coffee is fair trade (which is awesome) but I have found coffee ground in my drinks way too many times (drinking coffee ground acts as a strong diuretic). I have worked with and been around espresso enough to know what's a quality drink, and this ain't it. Either the machines aren't properly kept, the employees don't give a shit, or they're poorly trained.

I posted a negative review about this place on Google and someone reported it and had it removed, hmm, I wonder who...

Was this review …?

 

Comment from Angela V. of Mugshots 8/4/2009   
user photo
Hi Attila, thanks for writing. Allow me to point out that…    More »
Photo of Brian C.

Elite '09

17

54

Brian C.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
Updated - 10/2/2009

I have one thing that I'd like to address about Mugshots... why are the eggs so bland?  I'm fine with having to put salt and pepper on my sandwich, but something isn't quite right...    i'm going to keep my rating at a 4 star, but I just feel like this should be addressed.  The eggs could be better tasting.

Was this review …?

 

1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    8/18/2009

    Alright, enough of the comments complaining about it being busy and expensive.  Mugshots is popular,… Read more »

Comment from Angela V. of Mugshots 10/18/2009   
user photo
Brian,  Thank you for your continued input!  We take all…    More »
Photo of Stephanie S.

 

0

13

Stephanie S.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
10/4/2009

Love it there!!!!!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of robyn h.

Elite '09

3

42

robyn h.

Philadelphia, PA

1 star rating
9/27/2009

This place is sloooooooooooow!!!!!!  We waited 30 minutes for earl grey and a turkey, cheese and tomato bagel. Mediocre and totally not worth the wait. Not enough on the menu either. Don't go here if you're hungry.,

Was this review …?

 

Comment from Angela V. of Mugshots 10/29/2009   
user photo
Robyn, I am sorry to hear that your service was slow.…    More »
Photo of Bill M.

Elite '09

395

772

Bill M.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
Updated - 4/27/2009

Dropping Mugshots down one notch since I feel it's been overdue. I still love the coffee (and I especially love the spicy hot chocolate on a cold day), And a lot of their great wraps complete me whenever I'm feelin g especially hungry. You also have to give it up to them for their buy fresh/buy local and organic foods commitment whether your vested in it or not.

But when it gets super crowded the patrons can turn the line into a frazzled mess. And on days like I experienced yesterday this can cause the workers to get severley backed up and affected. When I heard them call out a 15 minute wait on all food from the kitchen I couldn't help but cringe, But fortunately I must of ordered in the nick of time to the point that it didn't affect me. But seeing them set it up so 2 people took drinks orders, while only one handled food orders, when more people were ordering food didn't seem to help matters. But overall I can't really blame them for the crowd and setbacks, because they've definitely earned the extra crowd and patronage.

Was this review …?

 

1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    4/28/2008

    when it comes to unpretentious indie coffeehouses Mugshots is definitely the real deal. It has a… Read more »

Photo of JEAN S.

Elite '09

17

78

JEAN S.

Philadelphia, PA

3 star rating
8/2/2009

I have a love/hate relationship with this place. Love their commitment to local food. Hate that they have the slowest service at any coffee bar ever. Just ordered a smoked fish platter from their catering menu for a party and loved it, but hate that they gave my friend a little 'tude when she picked it up. Love the iced coffee with a shot of espresso that my co-workers and I get almost every day, but hate that the first time I ordered it the barista took my order and made it without a word, but the cashier made sure to add a snarky "just so you know when you order again, that is actually called a mugshot". I wanted to tell her to go F herself, but I knew I would be back tomorrow or the next day.

Was this review …?

 

Comment from Angela V. of Mugshots 8/3/2009   
user photo
I have a love/hate relationship with Mugshots too! It takes…    More »
Photo of A A.

 

0

11

A A.

Camden, NJ

1 star rating
Updated - 9/18/2009

Another note: To the owner/manager/employees of Mushots who love to send poeple who give less than glowing reviews about how theyre wrong, and they suck,and its SOO hard to run a coffeeshop correctly, stop hiding behind PM's and post something directly on here if you feel the need to defend your shitty coffeshop service, speed, accuracy, and employees.

A normal responsible manager would ( and this HAS happened to me on Yelp many times) be messaging the unsatisfied customer who pays his bills and is the reason for their even existance with apologies and promises to make it better and ways they are trying to improve- Not the opposite, which makes me want to shit on you even more.

You need to change your attitude, your business plan, and your way of going about things professionally, Mugshots.  If you dont, its going to bite you in the ass, but I guess youll learn that soon enough.

Was this review …?

 

1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 2 star rating
    9/17/2009

    God bless your popularity and expansion- now people actually have enough places to sit if they… Read more »

Comment from Angela V. of Mugshots 9/19/2009   
user photo
A "normal responsible manager", huh? If I told you that you…    More »
Photo of Sarah H.

Elite '09

95

239

Sarah H.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
6/2/2009

Stumbled upon this coffeeshop after taking the tour at the Eastern State Penitentiary right across the street. We so badly needed to sit and have something to drink after wandering around inside an old prison for 2+ hours, and Mugshots was the perfect remedy.

I only got an Italian soda and a red velvet cupcake but both were delicious. This place is really cute and the menu items all have jail/crime-themed names like Bonnie & Clyde and The Scapegoat. There are a bunch of couches and tables, and a bookshelf filled with all sorts of random books.

I do have to say though, the woman who took our order at the counter seemed really confused and asked us to repeat our orders several times. It also took what seemed like forever to ring us up. Otherwise I liked this spot and if I lived in Philly I think this would be a great place to hang out and read.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Ryne D.

Elite '09

44

187

Ryne D.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
3/31/2009

Wow, this place was PACKED for a Saturday morning.  My sis, her boyfriend and I stopped in for a quick breakfast before hitting up the Eastern State Penitentiary across the street (which explains their clever name, har har).  The girl at the register was nice and patient with us, despite an ever-growing line behind us.  I got a turkey/swiss/wheat bagel and a soy hot chocolate.  Sadly, they put a bunch of whipped cream into it, kind of defeating the purpose of my special order.

The sandwich was all right, but greatly benefited from a few dashes of Louisiana hot sauce.  Also, this place needs a few more tables and chairs.  Still, I liked the atmosphere, and I can see why it's popular.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Samantha D.

Elite '09

57

117

Samantha D.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
3/20/2009

I had chili here that was crazy good.

It was busy. It was cozy. I was able to get plenty of work done. Didn't feel like it was too loud.

Prices were a bit high - but umm, it's the art museum district. Have you looked around you? Gentrification 101 - charge $5 for a cup of coffee.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Meredith K.

Elite '09

77

116

Meredith K.

Philadelphia, PA

3 star rating
2/22/2009

Mugshots is right around the corner from my apartment, so I go there pretty often for coffee. The atmosphere is nice, but it is sometimes hard to find a place to sit, even after the expansion. It's clean, the coffee is delicious, and the food is usually very good. The prices, however, are pretty steep. It's nice that it's Fair Trade, but it's still pretty steep. I still go there, though, because the quality of the coffee is better than anywhere else I've been in the area. I've had different interactions with the staff. Most of them were good, but I did find one employee to be a bit rude one time. Still, mostly nice experiences.

Last time I went there, the music was really annoying and was being played too loudly, so I decided not to sit down and read my book like I had originally planned. Maybe they planned it that way, since it was really crowded in there to begin with. The music is usually at an okay level, so perhaps that was just an off-day. My only other gripe with the place is that they have a $10 credit card minimum, and I hardly ever carry cash.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Warren A.

Elite '09

35

152

Warren A.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
Updated - 12/21/2008

Part III of my Mugshots Review Mini-Epic: The Expansion of the Empire.

Shut up Warren A. Mugshots finally expanded, and now has /twice/ the space of your average walk-in closet.  Actually, I've been in a few times since the expansion and even on a Sunday morning (albeit in crap weather) there were a couple of tables available. The coffee's still great, though the drip is a bit inconsistent in strength. Also, they have a surprisingly good bagel, and you can get it with soy cream cheese!  I haven't been in for the new latenight hours ('til 10 most nights, I think?) but their soy latte and vegan deserts are going to precipitate my fat arse visiting soon.

Was this review …?

 

2 Previous Reviews: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    8/31/2008

    Okay, so they do accept plastic. You just get that crap about "we ask that you have a minimum of $10… Read more »

Photo of mimi h.

Elite '09

34

47

mimi h.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
Updated - 9/22/2009

grand update-mugshots expanded and has WAY more seating now. the last few times i've been we had no problems getting food or drinks and a table.

Was this review …?

 

1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    5/16/2008

    love mugshots. the food is great (yes, a little pricy for what it is but o well). they always have… Read more »

Photo of Ali E.

Elite '09

64

181

Ali E.

Philadelphia, PA

3 star rating
1/9/2009

Hooray for the expansion! Kudos to free wireless! Right on free tradiness. And, contrary to some of the reviews, I have always found the staff to be friendly and attentive. Their iced tea is quite good, and in fun flavors. However, much of the reason I prefer local coffee shops is for their lack of pretension artifically constructed through price gouging. The four-dollar drink is not an anomaly here, by a long shot, which is unfortunate.

Also, the chai I got today accidentally got a shot of espresso. I brought it up to the barista, who said their chai lattes came with espresso. This seemed odd to me, but it didn't taste terrible so I conceded. A few minutes later the barista apologized and said that he had botched the order and that in the future a chai would be espresso-less. Generally I think the thing to do here would be to make a normal chai, as ordered, as a replacement for the chai-flavored cafe latte, but no such luck. If barista boy wasn't kind of cute I would have been annoyed.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Nat Z.

 

0

47

Nat Z.

Lancaster, PA

3 star rating
7/26/2009

my coffee was alright.

i feel like i might have enjoyed this place more if i had been in a different place in a different time. i guess i wasn't quite sure what was going on... couldn't find a seat anywhere. philadelphia's selection of coffee shops is rather limited north of vine street.

next time i'll get a baked item. they had these ones that looked really good...

Was this review …?

 

Comment from Angela V. of Mugshots 8/3/2009   
user photo
Just alright?! I'm so sad. What did you get? Do you like…    More »
Photo of sara c.

Elite '09

96

218

sara c.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
8/17/2008

Have I really not reviewed Mugshots?

Much like the Bishop's Collar, I'm not in Fairmount much, but when I need the caffeine fix, I'm here in a snap.  Beyond their wonderful selection of fair trade/organic coffee and tea, their sandwich menu is to die for.  The Elvis sandwich is a wonderful breakfast, and they always have wonderful soups of the day.  Let's not forget the smoothies.  They truly are a meal in itself.

The only thing that bugs me is that it is ALWAYS crowded here, and because of that, they've covered up all of their outlets as to discourage folks from hogging the tables. So don't come here to do any kind of important work on a computer.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Holly H.

Elite '09

60

131

Holly H.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
1/24/2009

Since opening in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia several years ago, a lot more has sprung up around Mugshots, but this remains one of my favorites.

The drinks are a tad pricey for coffee (even in the era of Starbucks), but expertly made from knowledgeable baristas. The mocha is steamy and think, and there are a ton of protein and vitamin beverages that are great with the gyms right next door.

The food is what's really awesome - it's very much a part of the "eat local" movement and  there's some really great snacks and sandwiches, that are delicious and totally home made. My regular breakfast sandwich is the eggs whites on wheat bread with guacamole, tomatoes and pepper jack cheese. The husband regularly gets the everything bagel with scrambled eggs, cheddar, and bacon (most meats here are vegan, and maybe the bacon is, but it's delicious).

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Clea M.

Elite '09

19

48

Clea M.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
12/11/2008

My thoughts on the place are really a mixed bag, but I appreciate their dedication to fair-trade coffees and teas and local ingredients for food, so that bumps them up a star.

I went in here on a Saturday at maybe around 1, and it was ridiculously crowded. I had some time to kill before catching my bus, so I didn't really mind standing in line for a while and browsing their menu. Looks like they have some tasty options, and as someone looking to incorporate more vegan and local cuisine into my diet, I found the menu exciting.  However, the prices on some of these things (and the fact that I was on my way to a Honey's Brunch-- seriously, an addiction) deterred me.  

As a company that snubs Starbucks (and hey, I do too, so I appreciate it!), I was a little perplexed by their coffee menu, which looked like it had some pretty frou-frou and expensive drinks not unlike the bigger chains.  I like places that list a cup of coffee as being COFFEE, not Americano, or "mugshot," whatever that is (is it their coffee? plain? Suppose I could've asked).  I got the Mayan Chai tea, mainly because I found their coffees overpriced.  Let me say, it was delicious!  And I'm really happy they offer a variety of milks (including soy) by the counter, not just cream.  Probably my biggest peeve about DD is that they don't have milks and sugars out on a counter for you to mix in, but my problems with Dunks' should probably be reserved for a different review.

Overall, cute little place, a little overcrowded and hipstery/yuppie-ish, but I like their mission to provide decent vegetarian/vegan options and fair-trade drinks.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Meg C.

Elite '09

158

282

Meg C.

Philadelphia, PA

2 star rating
8/18/2008

Mugshots (a.k.a. Smugshots) is a good enough coffee bar, I suppose. It is overpriced and I have felt ill multiple times after consuming things here, but I guess you should appreciate what little you have in Fairmount.

Actually, nevermind. I will pay more for quality, but honestly nothing here is much better than what I can get at a chain. I can usually tell the difference between natural and standard eggs, but not when they're overcooked.

It is insanely crowded on the weekends and I have a low tolerance for double strollers in small spaces, so I don't even bother anymore. They also have credit card minimums, one of my biggest pet peeves .

I might grab a coffee here again, but that's about it.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Chrissy R.

 

181

480

Chrissy R.

Philadelphia, PA

2 star rating
8/19/2008

Meh. I've experienced better.  It's been busy whenever I've gone and the service has been kind of slow.  There's also a crap load of Fairmount yuppies and their pooches there which give the place a definite snobby coffee shop feel that is perhaps a bit unfair.

I'd like to go here when it's less busy to see what the service and atmosphere is like.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Saul S.

 

4

6

Saul S.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
1/26/2009

Mugshots is a welcome coffee shop. Great coffee, great food. The service isn't half-bad as well.

This one's short. I don't have anything to complain about. Every time I have been there, the service has been excellent. The bagel sandwiches are to die for, and their pastries are just as good.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Kim B.

Elite '09

26

188

Kim B.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
6/19/2008

What a great spot! I was at the art museum today and my friend referred me to Mugshots. I was just expecting a coffee shop, but was pleasantly surprised to see a wide selections of food, including vegan sandwiches. I chose the Vegan BLT (because I can never pass them up) and a soy latte (made with organic & fair trade coffee). I also purchased a vegan peanut butter brownie from Vegan Treats. The sandwich and latte were both excellent (and that is saying a lot, because I am not only a coffee snob, but also a sandwich snob). I saved the brownie for later.

Mugshots has a great laid-back feeling and I didn't get a hipster vibe from it (double plus). The clientele was pretty diverse (business people, stereotypical "teacher/librarian" types, misanthropic vegans [that would be me]). It wasn't super busy when I was there, but then again, I was there at 2p on a weekday, so I would imagine this place would be packed on weekends (or at least, it should be).

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Matthew S.

 

6

12

Matthew S.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
4/21/2008

Great little coffeehouse. It's a tad pricey, but the coffee's great. And I *really* love their blended fruity drinks. I haven't tried the food yet.  

My office is nearby, so I sometimes head over with my laptop to check email, etc. and escape my desk.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of X marks the spot ..

 

102

120

X marks the spot ..

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
3/26/2009

Since I moved to the Fairmount neighborhood I have dropped in on occasion for my usual caffeine fix. They've expanded since then but I rarely go to sit and relax. It simply isn't an open, light filled place like the sort I'm fond of.
The good-I have yet to order anything I don't like. No surprise there since you can't really go wrong when using locally farmed ingredients. The vegan BLT w/guacamole is my current favorite. I'm not a latte person and don't like syrup in my coffee so I can't comment on their flavored espresso drinks but the Americanos are good. The coffee sometimes is hit or miss but overall I'd say it's a hit. The workers are all very nice and approachable and unlike others my experience with their service has been positive.
The bad-Prices, especially in this crappy economy are higher than I'd like to pay. I chalk it up to the fact that it's directly across from the penitentiary and in the art museum district.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Natalie M.

Elite '09

23

81

Natalie M.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
12/4/2008

So, I really love this little coffee shop.  I love the teas and the smoothies, and all of the snacks that I've tried have been absolutely yummy.  I'm not vegan, but I certainly appreciate the vegan options, and love that they use a lot of local ingredients in the food.  

My one pet peeve is that they have removed all the plugs from the wall, so plugging in your laptop is just not an option.  Ok, now I really get that they don't want someone sitting there all day taking up space, but how about a one hour or two hour policy?  For someone as hairbrained as I am, I regularly show up at coffeeshops to check my email with a dead battery.  I promise I won't stay for hours, but please can I have a little outlet love?

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Pzy C.

 

4

5

Pzy C.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
4/6/2008

I like to go here every time I go to ESP either after to welcome myself back into the real world or before to gear myself up for a cold visit. Either way it is always a treat!

Every time I have been here the staff is always friendly! They must get an adequate dose of caffeine everyday! It is typical of a coffee shop in that quarters are close and the seating is sparse, unless you come when it's warm out and the outside tables are set up. But you have to know how to garner yourself a seating area. It's a required skill here.

I love both their drinks and their food. I usually always get a mocha latte with a shot of mint in it, (YUM) and have now tried both their breakfast fare and their jailhouse rock sandwich! I have been eying this concoction for a while but, never was I brave enough to try it. I went with a friend who said they would happily share in this new experience with me. The sandwich consists of organic peanut butter (which can literally keep your mouth shut for minutes as you pry away at it), bananas, honey, and if you're really feeling brave bacon. So we went all the way with it. And I have to say I really enjoyed it!

I am so glad that they are located outside of one of my favorites places! As I find that nothing beats coffee after being in prison!

Was this review …?

 

1 to 40 of 68 |  
Page: 1 2
Write a Review

People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...

People Viewed This After Searching For...