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This is the third or fourth time I have been here and finally decided to write a review. I went with my father last night who had also been before.
Great neighborhood feel, cozy, good drinks and the food is always consitent no matter what I order. Last night we had the pulled prok, a burger, onion rings and fries. All were top notch and whoever made my Old Fashion's at the bar did a stellar job as well.
Service is always with a smile here and there is numerous staff to assist if you need something.
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So....I finally made it over my Chaucer's bias and came back to try Pub and Kitchen. I kept an open mind...and what I found was very friendly service...and very good food...if only a little expensive.
I arrived smack in the middle of happy hour...so I didn't get too pissy when it took almost 10 minutes to get my first drink order in. The bartenders were friendly.
I ordered the duck mousse as an app...since it was only $3...and found that you really get $3 worth of app. Delicious....but minuscule.
Main course was the meatloaf...which, despite its humble pedigree was really an amazing dish. It came with mashed potatoes & onion rings (probably the best onion rings I've tasted). At $17...it's a dish I'd order every now & then....but still quality abounds.
What I didn't like about the place was the crowd...a little too yuppie/douche for my tastes...but certainly not the fault of the establishment.
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Yum. Awesome burger with phenomenal bacon and sweet onions on a roll that actually stayed together. My only complaint is that it was closer to medium than medium rare like I had asked for. Fries were standard in a good way. Tub Gin no. 7 cocktail was absolutely fantastic. It bit me.
My friend and I also split some heirloom tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and basil. THEY BLEW MY FRIGGING MIND.
As for the service, it was fine. Our waitress was very friendly, though I was a bit put off when she put down "the new girl" after making a minor mistake.
Pabbit, I approve.
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First off, any bar that has dogfish head raisen d'etre on tap is already a-ok in my book!! Now on to the food, the wife and I both had the english onion soup and the burger/fries - the english onion soup had chunks of pork in it which I wasn't expecting - its a tasty soup for sure - but if you're looking for a "traditional" french onion soup you might not want this. (I guess that's why its called english onion soup and not french onion soup :)
It's kinda funny because as we were waiting for our burgers we heard the table behind us (who all ordered the burger) comment how philly is going through a burger revolution - which is kinda true with all these burger places popping up. Anyhow, the burger did not disappoint - cooked medium rare as we ordered it - and a nice size - and very flavorful.
The service was impeccable. My water glass never made it to half empty as they had someone going around filling water glasses on a regular basis (big plus in my book).
We definitely will be going back to try out some more things on the menu!
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I love this place! It's two blocks over from where I live and their fries and beer/wine selection make it a great place to pop into for a snack with a friend during happy hour or a tasty burger for dinner. If you can, actually, I recommend going to happy hour, because it's a chill vibe, great service, and you can actually hear yourself think before they crank up the music for dinner and after!
The only issue is that the place can get crowded pretty quickly, so it's hard to have a leisurely time there when you feel like you're being rushed out - though the wait staff is polite enough to make it less annoying. The fact that their bartenders are incredibly cute makes up for that, though!
Old reliable. My wife and I live around the corner from Pub and Kitchen, and we can always count on it to satisfy us on those nights when we don't feel like cooking or getting dressed up for dinner. From the English onion soup, to the 80/20 burger, to the fluffy gnocchi, to the spicy pulled pork on a brioche bun, P&K is as good as it gets for fine pub fare. The beer list is respectable and ever-changing, often featuring hard-to-find IPAs. The prices are reasonable and what you would expect at a place with Johnny Mac in the kitchen. With a few exceptions, the staff is attentive and friendly. The lone bus girl is an absolute workhorse. I have heard some say that only yuppies go to P&K, which offends me because I am not a yuppie at all (I may wear a suit to work and dress neatly, but for the record, I have never popped my collar and I don't wear fancy pants). Sure, there are yuppies at P&K, but they are sitting beside the very same "too cool for school" types in their girlfriends' jeans who claim that P&K is Yuppie Central. One night, we even saw Governor Rendell and Her Honor having dinner (Fast Eddie was bumped to the front of the waiting list, of course). So, I don't get it. It's a well-balanced crowd, in my opinion. Minus one star for the hostesses, who pretend that they do not recognize us despite our frequent visits. Step it up ladies.
I was very excited to see this place settle in about two blocks from my office. The burger is top notch and the fish and chips has become a Fridays during Lent staple for me. Pretty solid beer selection. They almost always have a special with a local brewery so don't be afraid to ask. There are a few TVs in the bar area where you can catch a game or whatever else is going on. The service is pretty solid and I've always felt taken care of and appreciated. Very solid place I go to a little to often.
I went to Pub and Kitchen a while ago, right after it opened, and I was so not impressed. The place was pretty dead, yet the bartender was still not attentive, and we had to tell him how to make a greyhound, which is a pretty classic cocktail as far as I am concerned. I did however enjoy the whitefish salad snacks at the bar. Anyway, recently I had been hearing a lot of positive things about the place, so I gave it another chance.
I went for dinner on a Friday night, and there was a half-hour wait for a table, which really isn't bad. My friends and I got cherry bourbon cocktails from the bar, and they were very delicious. When it was time to be seated, it turned out that we had to close that tab before going to our table, which was time consuming and a little annoying. When we looked at the menu, we were all starving and everything looked really appealing, especially all the vegetables on the side-dish menu. I ordered the English onion soup (the menu didn't describe it but I asked and was told it is made with pork instead of beef, then topped with English cheddar instead of gruyere), and a side of braised carrots. One friend has gnocchi with squash and brussel sprouts with spinach with cranberries and walnuts, and the other had a cheese plate with mustard green beans. Everything was so good and terribly satisfying. Halfway through dinner I switched from bourbon to the Pub and Kitchen Anniversary Ale, and found that to be yummy as well. In addition to good food, nearly everyone in the place that night was really hot, and they were playing a great mix of music, including two of my favorites, Hot Chip and Phoenix. I really talked a lot of trash about how bad this place was when I went the first time and now I feel like I owe them an apology.
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Solid.
If only these guys were a smidge less expensive, this place would certainly be go-to. A nice beer selection, cocktail list (whoop Dahk and Stoahmy!) and range of menu options - but the entrees were a little out of my league.
We started with the sweet and smokey honey whiskey wings, which were simple and lovely. Meat falling off the bone, and surprisingly interesting. It was an Atkins-style evening, so I had oysters for dinner (cape may salts) which were decidedly not slimy and super yummy. My date had the pork chops, which were good, but a little overdone so they came out kind of tough. There was a lot of attention to detail, though, so it may have been a fluke.
Our waiter was very helpful, attentive without being annoying, and timed things well. I'd love to come back and sit at the bar. And eat more oysters. Yum.
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Wandered in on a whim with some friends on a rainy Saturday afternoon for a late lunch, where Pub and Kitchen delivered everything that makes a rainy day comforting and cozy, versus wet and agitating.
We settled in at the bar, where I had my Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, and gnocchi with brussel sprouts and sweet potato (I think, sweet potato? Idunno... I wanted to doublecheck online, but wow, what a lousy web site--er, "web page" with only a contact link to email). My boyfriend had a "po' boy," which was absolutely delicious, but equally as delusional if it really thinks it's a po'boy--fishcake on a round bun, for $11? Feel free to call yourself a delicious homemade fishcake sammich, but PLEASE recognize that a po'boy you ain't, neither by bread nor by price.
Aside from the misleading definition of aforementioned boyfriend's sandwich, and an 'under construction' online presence, Pub and Kitchen is a dimly lit, inviting, and friendly corner pub where I look forward to spending many a lazy winter Saturday afternoon with my ass atop a barstool. And when I do, I'll need to try one of their bloody marys, because my mouth watered as I watched the bartender mix a few.
P.S. Thank you for not giving us a problem when we split the check 3 ways with 3 credit cards--it was reflected in your (cash) tip.
I liked this place a lot. The atmosphere was good, with a lot of fun banter between the customers and the staff, who were very friendly and a good laugh. We went there for a bite to eat and were not disappointed. My friend ordered the charcuterie plate and I got the burger. Both were excellent.
The charcuterie plate was very generous: a huge ramekin of rich chicken rillettes was accompanied by several cured meats, crispy pork cracklings, duck liver mousse, bread, cornichons and olives. My burger was ordered medium-rare, and that's exactly how it came out. The bacon was good and crisp, there were some fried red onions (a nice touch) and the meat was really well-seasoned. My friend said he heard they brush white miso on their burgers. I'm not sure if that's true but that sounds like a good touch and it was certainly delicious. The bun was really buttery brioche and the fries were crisp and perfectly salted.
We had a few good beers, and would have stayed longer but we ran into closing time!
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I was expecting a lot from Pub & Kitchen--too much, as it turned out. Their Anniversary Ale was probably the tastiest part of the meal. My salmon was prepared, y'know, fine, but didn't exactly blow me away with flavor. My boyfriend's fish and chips were good but a tad soggy by the time they came out (I dug the mushy peas, though). My friend said her burger was kinda cold. Service lagged at times. But the vibe is SO cool--very date-friendly (not that we were on a date). And the dessert list looked delish, so I'll have to come back for that. All in all, not fabulous, but not a bad place for dinner either, and prices were decent. At least we didn't have to wait on a Friday night--the place was hopping, but the three of us got a table immediately.
I've been a few times as i used to live around the corner. My biggest complaints are it should be called pigbunny and why did they take the fish and chips off the menu?
Seriously, if Craig LaBan tells the world that your fish and chips are the best fish and chips he has ever feasted upon you do not rip them off the menu. Even if you loathe the man!
The pate is superb, served with cornichons and quite cheap for a small plate.
The frites are addictive....we never get out of there without ordering two orders.
They make a lovely margarita with cranberry juice as well.
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I have been here a few times for drinks- the beer selection is good. I recently ate here and thought that the food was pretty good. Not very veg friendly however. Nice crowd, friendly staff, and outdoor seating will definitely bring me back.
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Eh, heard great things, but really didn't like what I ordered. I'll try it again, but for now, chalk up as overrated.
It's summer-summertime (Ah, Will Smith) now, and we went back to Pabbit. We wanted to sit outside on a Thursday night around 6-7, but the wait was too long for outdoor seating so we opted for the second-best but not-too-bad-at-all seats inside next to an open window.
P&K is still a much better option for people like us who aren't up for Parc or Rouge, but who still want great food without the (at the risk of sounding totally dorky) 'tude.
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Twice now, I've run from the cold to squeeze through the door of Pabbit. It's been a nice refuge… Read more »
This place is pretty expensive. I do not mind expensive. I frequent expensive places. I like quality too. This place is not quality. I've been here a couple times before writing a review because too many people whose opinions said great things about it. Fuck that noise.
I've found cocktails to be inconsistent each time I was there. The bartenders do not know how to make a good drink more complicated than 1 mixer and 1 liquor.
I'm not a fan of the starters either. I've never had a full meal here based on the starters. First off, they're all pretty rich and decadent. Sounds good, yeah? Every time I tried they've been over salted and if it's hot, a bit burned.
It's just another place for people in the neighborhood to show people how awesome they are. The older douche crowd.
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Picture the scenario:
You've just flown in from England, you're tired, it's humid, it feels like 1 am and you're hungry. You want food that you know, but you're happy to try some American stuff, too. You want it to be tasty but not too expensive. Sound reasonable? Alright, not if you live in Philly, but you know what I mean...
Go to Pub and Kitchen. There's a pub. English style, with pints and everything. And a kitchen. With great food cooked extremely well.
I had a dark n stormy (rum and ginger) and it was just what I wanted to wake me up and see me through the night. Then I had the gnocchi, which was quite simply the best I've ever had. Light, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, wonderfully seasoned with subtle flavors, it was awesome. The salad we shared was simple but great - well dressed and fresh. The burger and salmon also looked very tasty.
It's a good spot and it gets the mixture of drinking hole and restaurant absolutely right. The chef is fantastic and the atmosphere is perfect. Far from a sports bar, it does show the game on the screens so you can keep score without it being intrusive on your night out with buddies.
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Ok... So there is another overprices bar in my neighborhood. So why the 4 stars? 2 reasons:
1. The Oxford Burger. I know, there is no dearth of "best burger in philly". Hell, Yelp exists to give people an outlet for their feelings on the best burger in Philadelphia. But for my vote, I am going with the Pub and Kitchen burger. In includes everything everything I want, namely bacon and cheddar, and nothing that I don't (a gob of blue cheese cooked into the center of a baseball of meat that runs all over my face, plate and lap when I bit into it, ie the "other" best burger in philly). AND the other food is good too... check out the Tilapia Po Boy or the English Onion Soup.
2. Miller Lite on tap. More specifically, a plethora of fancy-pants beers which you can choose from, AND Miller Lite on tap. I get it. People like microbrews and beers that make your tongue hurt and other fancy-pants beers. But what I don't need is a place that judges me because I want a Miller Lite. And this place embraces both ends or the spectrum and the people that inhabit these polar opposites. But if you do want a fancy pants beer, I recommend the Old Speckled Hen.
So yeah, I'll take another overpriced bar in my neighborhood. Because I like it.
And if you need another reason for 4 stars I'll give it to you: THE PABBIT!
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I was in the mood for a field trip this past Sunday (5/31/09) so I hopped the train into the city with a print out of the places I wanted to try. After rounding Rittenhouse Square and soaking up the beauty of the day I consulted the list and set off to have some grub with Richard Yates at Pub & Kitchen. Yes, I am aware he is dead. I was reading 'Revolutionary Road.' (So far pretty good.)
To my surprise, I had virtually the entire outdoor seating area to myself. As it was Brunch, the menu was pretty simple, which is nice since I often suffer from "analysis paralysis" when given too many options. I went with the burger and their "Wrangler Bloody Mary." The burger was cooked to perfection, but enough about that... Let me spew my love about "The Wrangler." The "Wrangler" was heaven in a glass. If you love a spicy Bloody Mary, Pub & Kitchen will not disappoint.
I'll be back soon. Bonus points to Pub & Kitchen for allowing me and Yates to hang for almost 2 hours without giving us (ok, me) the ole "stink eye"!
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When my friend called me up for dinner, I wasn't sure what to expect. First off, this place was a little hard to find: no sign anywhere out front! It's conveniently on the corner though, so I wasn't really lost. Just confused.
We were greeted by a very preppy girl, who appeared to be the hostess. The waitstaff was attentive (there seemed something off about them.) We both ordered the pulled pork sandwich and a beer.
It came with a salad. The pulled pork was well spiced, and the bun had a mildly sweet taste to it. It was one of those brushed with yolk while baking buns and so it was shiny on the outside and incredibly tasty.
Why three stars? Because it wasn't spectacular and somehow I felt rushed. The sandwich is pulled pork and I've realize this isn't a smoke house, but still, I guess I had very high hopes. The waitstaff looked like they were waiting for me to finish my sandwich. We were also offered another beer which I didn't really need, but we got it anyway - they were a little pushy about us getting one more (they did offer to split it for us, which was nice - we got these mini beer glasses.)
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OK, I am torn between 3 & 4 stars. Food is 3, Drinks are 4. I would definitely come back for drinks - especially the "Blush" a rum, sugar, lime and pink grapefruit juice cocktail. So refreshing. They also make a REAL "Dark & Stormy" that packs a robust gingery punch. Soooooo good.
Meanwhile, 4 of us lovely ladies had drinks & dinner here last night. Service was good by the servers, but the bus "girl" was too aggressive in removing plates before we were finished. She got the hint the 2nd or 3rd time we guarded our plates. "No, we're not finished quite yet".
After a round of refreshing drinks (best part of the evening for me, anyway), we started with a $3 bar snack of duck liver, spread thinly on 2 crisp toast points. It was a little gamey. Would not re-order.
The best appetizer by far was the gnocchi. Now I realize the reviews here on that gnocchi are mixed, but we told them light on the oil and it was great. Served with REAL morel mushroom. 2 of us split one order and another lady had an order all to herself.
Honey & Whiskey glazed petite chicken wings were very tasty, but also small and boney. (Large portion, small wing size.)
2 of us, myself included, had the tilapia po boy. My friend loves this sandwich, i thought it was just OK. I wanted to try the lobster BLT special, but the night we went (a Sunday there were NO SPECIALS at all.)
Quel Dommage.
After our meals, we had a dessert course. A nice cheese plate came with red grapes, walnuts and 3 generous cheese selections including Morbier and Stilton.
The rest of the gals shared a chocolate/peanut butter mousse, which was chilled, dense and not at all goopy. It was served in a perfect circle with a dulce du leche beneath it. Not too peanutty, but full of milky chocolate flavor.
The booths are made of a hard wood and look great but are small for a party of 4 and not comfortable. This can actually help the restaurant to turn tables - as you won't sit too long (ha, ha!). The bar was packed at 8:30 PM on a Sunday. Nice to see in this crappy economy.
I will return to P&K but it is not a holy grail. Oh, and it's not cheap. (but not horrible) $40 each for the 4 of us.
Oh, and we love the "pabbit" logo - pig/rabbit. Reminds us of the divided we fail logo where the Democratic Donkey and Republican Elephant are merged. CUTE.
Nice job! Please don't let it slide.
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Poor service. The food is not good. The selection is not great at all.
True story: One night one of their bartenders got angry that somebody had dropped a napkin. He flipped out, started screaming, "Do I come to your work and throw sh*t around?! I will come to your house and sh*t on your pillow!"
Then he threw across the room one of those plastic draft list menus from the table. It smashed a fan that was near the entrance, could have hit someone coming in and really hurt them. That guy was a complete a**hole, and I feel like a moron for ever trying this place again. But I did, and I was again dissappointed. Although, it was a less violent night, I guess.
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3.5 stars - and that's partially because I do miss Chaucer's. Oh Chaucer, you with your oriental rugs pinned on the ceiling, your free jukebox and your overall lovely and dive-y charm - how I miss you! You were a definite memory maker (even though I don't exactly remember everything that happened there - though I'm sure it was commemorated in that photo album they kept at the bar...)
But one must move on. Pub and Kitchen did, though they kept certain remnants of Chaucers, like the bar and the booths (which I appreciate) It's definitely airier (and most definitely cleaner) and I love the addition of the two big french doors lending much light to the space. It's a completely different atmosphere which I like (and at times makes me nostalgic for Chaucer's)
What I'm not nostalgic about was Chaucer's cuisine. This is where the Pabbit has lept and bounded above the former tenant. Though a bit expensive, the menu (with its tantalizing bar snacks) is lovely (if not a bit too ambitious).
The bar has got a decent beer and wine selection - and speaking of, I also like that the Pabbit has the beer balls to serve Miller Lite on tap. Not everyone always wants to drink a belgian or micro brew- sometimes, I like to slum it too (beer-wise, of course)
The outdoor tables are-a-plenty, and I like the big wood slab that runs alongside the wall from across the bar too- it doubles the bar seating and gives you a place to rest your beverage or your snacks.
The crowd, as aforementionned in other reviews can tend towards the yupperites, but during the week it is simply pleasant.
Oh Chaucer, I'll never forget you - but the Pub and Kitchen has made a decent, clean eatin' and drinkin' place out of you.
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I checked out the place because it was a pub with pub food that made the philly mag top 50.
After eating and drinking at Pub & Kitchen I'm not sure I'll be checking places out merely on the philly mag recommendation.
The food was good, but not great. Granted my friends and I had only the pub food and not the entrees, but nothing that we had was worth writing home about.
The beer selection was good, but only up to the normal philly standard.
After dinner we drank for an hour or two and ended up receiving over-priced drinks that were nothing special.
I would not recommend this place to friends because it did not seem like the food was anything special, and the same drinks could have been had at dozens of similar bars for almost half the price.
I think 'meh, i've experienced better' fits this place just fine.
i put off trying P & K because of the $12 price tag on the burger, even though it's been recommended. yesterday i decided i'd try it out for drinks. the mark up is almost as bad for drinks. however the real turn off was the service. the hostesses and waitresses were all aloof and unengaged. hypothesis 1- management sought to hire snooty staff. hypothesis 2- they are made to dress them in quite constraining clothes and they can hardly breathe enough to talk to customers. who knows?
I never went to this is place when it was Chaucer's, but I was impressed with Pub and Kitchen that's for sure. I love their logo too. It's so cute!
I went with two friends who are hard to please when it comes to dining out. But all of us agree that we love to eat at these gastro pubs.
My friends each ordered the special: Lobster salad BLT on brioche bread. They said it was awesome. I had the Po' Boy with fried Tilapia, lemon mayo and cole slaw on toasted thick bread. Terrific.
We loved what we shared for starters the most: freshly made guacamole topped with jumbo lump crab meat and the gnocchi that was outstanding.
Service was excellent and we opted for the artisan cheese plate for dessert as well as the peanut butter/chocolate mousse. They should have given us plenty of bread and crackers to snack on with the cheese plate. They were skimpy in that respect. But I guess we could have asked the server to bring more bread.
I enjoyed my Merlot and my friends enjoyed their swanky cocktails. Totally impressed!
We will definitely be back!
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It was our first time in Philly last October and the weather was nice enough to we wander from neighborhood to neighborhood. On the way back to the hotel we spied what looked like a pub at which to kill time before another restaurant opened.
I was more than pleasantly surprised by the beer menu, and the "snacks," including one of the best cheese plates I've ever tasted had us thinking we might have to cancel our other dinner reservations. To round out a meal, my wife had a fish dish with "smushy peas" and I had the sage/apple/pumpkin risotto.
It was also early enough in the day that we completely missed the most of the dinner/drinks after work crowd, so the atmosphere held up. We practically had the place to ourselves for a while. All in all it was the perfect place to stumble into.
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Yes, Pub & Kitchen is on the pricier side and yes, the crowd is a bit yuppy but I still love this place. Maybe it's the outdoor seating or the delicious $3 bar snacks or the amazing fries or the nicely curated beer menu or the fact that I live across the street....Pub & Kitchen has quickly become my "go-to" place for a chill night and drinks with friends. Order a dark & stormy.
During certain busy nights (like game nights) they'll open the second floor which has 3 or 4 large plasma-screen TVs and a second bar.
Beware the Friday and Saturday night crowd as it does skew yuppy - and by that I mean ANNOYING.
Did I mention they do brunch on the weekends?
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Wow, this place was packed on a Wednesday night.
If I'm going to pay $18 for fish and chips, then there had better be a decent amount of fish. Fail. Half of what was served to me was batter with no filling. My girlfriend had a better experience but there was still nowhere near enough fish for this premium price point. The batter itself was good though, the closest to proper english fish batter I've had in the States. However, the mushy peas were an abomination. Worst mushy peas...ever.
The beer selection is solid and I think it would be the only reason I'd go back. All their entrees just seem overpriced for what you get. Someone needs to tell the owners that the whole Gastropub revolution involved good quality food at normal pub prices, not overcharging for pub classics.
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I went to Pub & Kitchen last night with a friend. I arrived before he did, so I stood outside and waited. I watched quite a few people enter and questioned if I should run in and grab a table. I decided to wait, but it was fine since we were seated right away. I loved the exposed brick and windows framed with picture frames. The candle lit table was cozy and romantic. The music was fantastic as well, it set a perfect mood.
We had decided on this restaurant because my friend told me it was the "best burger he's ever had" and the burger was quite delicious. The bun was fantastic too, it held up as I chowed through. The fries were comparable to Monk's. I had to ask the server for a side of dijonaise, and though it was quite good, it wasn't as good as Monk's "crack sauce".
For dessert, we decided to get the bourbon soaked apples and donut holes. It came with a side of sauce that tastes like vanilla bean ice cream, but wasn't cold. It was quite delicious. The ratio of donut holes to apples was off, as we were left with a plate of apple slices.
I look forward to going back to try each of the $3 bar snacks. In fact, I'll be back next week with a friend from Memphis, TN!
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Truly ... I have experienced better. I miss Chaucer's and thought I'd give this place a try with a friend who was very excited about it.
There weren't too many appealing choices on the menu, so I went with a hamburger ... definitely mediocre. I am picky about how my burgers are cooked and I didn't realize this was too rare until I got into the middle of it ... it was so dark in there ... and by that time I felt like I couldn't send it back to the kitchen.
My friend had the crab cake sandwich which she really enjoyed.
The service was fine, nothing to write home about, but our tables were soclose together that we had to ask the diners next to us to move their table and the diners behind us to move their chairs. That is uncomfortable. Obviously. It was very busy but they just crammed too many people in there.
The ambiance is very nice. I think it would be a good place to come with a date for a quick drink at the bar.
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Good beers and decent food. Good spot for catching a drink with friends although it might get pricey compared to other options in the area. Can get crowded after work so watch out for the yuppies.
I've been to Pub and Kitchen several times in the past few months and I have to say that the food has just gotten more disappointing the more I've gone back. I love the restaurant's feel and the staff is great, I've just been less than impressed with the food as of late.
I think as a bar it's a great neighborhood spot with a nice selection of wine and beer. Hoping the food will revive its self in the spring. I really want to enjoy this place again.
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My once favorite bar- Chaucer's- converted into a yuppy bar- where have I been??? Yuppy or not I like what they've done with the place.. The weathered beaten down bar look has been replaced by dim lighting and tasteful dark tables. A slew of nice outside tables afford a view of the graduate hospital area- awesome.. what can i say its a nice tree lined street and you get to sit outside. The service was a bit disappointing- not effusively friendly or helpful with a few mishaps on the orders- oh well- i can't be that picky...
As for the food- yum! i split some fries with a few friends, which were super yummy- fried and salty just the way I like em. For my entree, I had the scallops with risotto, which i thought was delic! The scallops were generous and cooked perfectly and the risotto that accompanied the scallops was a whole lot of cheesy goodness..Others at the table ordered the burger, which by the looks of their empty plates, I'm guessing was pretty good.
It was crowded for a Tuesday night but I will certainly be back!
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Good. Nice beer selection. The food was ok.
I'm kinda surprised that the Pub and Kitchen (or Pabbit!) got rated so low. Are you guys still reviewing Chaucers? That place was probably the worst pub in the city.
Anyway, Pub and Kitchen is nothing like Chaucers and that alone makes it a huge improvement. It's actually nice inside now! You can sit down without getting hepatitis! They turned it into a gastropub that has good food instead of the worst hamburgers known to man!
A couple weeks after Pub and Kitchen opened, a friend and I were walking by and decided to nab one of the only empty tables outside. We had a blast! We ordered a really tasty bottle of Malbec ($45 and totally worth it) and chilled. We didn't eat anything, but the people who were sitting outside were raving about their food.
The servers were hilarious. They inspired a lot of conversations that night. One of the servers (one of the non-hipsters who was working there) was particularly awesome. We totally bro'd down with him and made him our friend for the night.
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The logo is amazing. Everything else is one giant MEH. At least I got a good laugh reading the wine list--i.e. "Riesling, Germany." Gee thanks. Who could possibly want more specific information than that? Everything from the decor to the food is so incredibly half-assed. Well except their PR team; they clearly work very hard.
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We went here because the screening for the Terminator was all filled up. My crew had heard that this place was good. Well the chef was off and the monkeys in the back took over the preparing of the food. Salt, lots and lots of salt. The food might have been good if there wasn't so much salt on everything. C'mon, salt on the salad! The only good thing was the Belgian Beer and our waiter whose name was Ghost! Great redo of Chaucers but the food was the same but the prices were sky high.
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As I walked passed a few cafe tables and through the door of what I used to know as Chaucer's, it was clear that this is a different establishment. Pub and Kitchen revamped the already unique space, combining a large bar area with a comfortable dining room.
I was greeted at the door by Nate, the manager, and a smiling hostess. I was seated with my friend Sarah immediately even though there was a good crowd both at the bar and in the dining room, even at 6p on a Sunday.
The decor was a rough, simple elegance complimented by a cute, friendly staff. Our server welcomed us and spoke knowledgeably about the specials. I spied the beer list as she grabbed us a couple of waters and saw a few solid options. I ordered a Lager while Sarah asked for a glass of the Malbec as we conversed with our server about some of her favorite dishes.
We agreed on the goat cheese pierogies as an app which was preempted by some white bread and salted butter. For the main course, I went with the already fan favorite: Fish and Chips. Sarah requested the duck breast and debated on substituting regular mashed potatoes for the sweet potato mash. In the end, she decided just to trust the chef.
The pierogies hit the table in no time with an arugula salad on the side. It's presentation traveled well from the upstairs kitchen and the flavors collaborated nicely. The two pierogies were small at first but very rich in flavor, thus justifying the portion size. Our server checked up on us and the support staff helped her clear the table quickly and often throughout the meal. Our entrees came out a few minutes after we finished our first course and they both looked great. The duck breast was in a maple glaze that really made the sweet mash a good decision. The fish and chips was served in a basket over smashed peas that really made the dish. I asked our server to grab me another beer as the she filled our water glasses. This is a huge step of service in my book because as any professional drinker will tell you, hydration is essential to boozing.
I was checking out the desserts on the chalkboard on the ceiling above Sarah's head long before we finished our dinner. She agreed to split the warm dark chocolate cake and ice cream with me like she had a choice at all, it was adorable. We sat salivating only briefly before the dessert was delivered and it was a perfect size. The rich, flavorful ice cream spread nicely over the cake and we devoured it in no time. We asked for the check and it was dropped with logo card that read "I have never developed indigestion from eating my words". Spot on, Mr. Churchill.
We settled our $77 tab with our server and tipped her well for her food knowledge, attentiveness, personality and support staff. I ran to the bathroom before we left, as it is a key element in the dining experience. I prepared myself for the heavy stench of old urine that haunted the mens room of Chaucer's. I was tense as I hit the door but much to my relief the ghost of old urine past had moved on. The new bathroom was clean and tidy allowing me to dash back up the stairs and be on my way.
All in all it was a great dining experience and I'm sure to be back again. Nice work, P&K!
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FREE Book by Susan Smith Jones
Neighborhood: Northern Liberties
Go Phillies
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Graduate Hospital
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Category: Tapas Bars
Neighborhood: Graduate Hospital
Category: American (New)
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