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Hidden gem in Olde City.
Went here during First Friday and was impressed. Although not an extensive menu, the food is good and the drink selection offers something for everyone.
World away from the Market STreet scene just a few blocks away. You can also eat outside.
For drinks, ambiance and vibe - the Race Street Cafe is a fun, just-off-mainstream joint with a really nice beer selection. I mean, come on, they even have a working fireplace - perfect for a date night or just a chance to hang out with friends.
When is comes to food however, this place cannot seem to get it together. Over the past two years, I dined there maybe five times, four of which were a disaster. Cold food, forgotten orders (45 min wait time - Tues night), horrible presentation (nachos with a giant chunk of dark meat chicken on top, along with insane amounts of salsa and sour cream glopped on either side with cheese sprinkled AROUND it - all to hide the fact that they forgot to put cheese on first and layer it? That's just sad...nachos are the easiest thing a kitchen can crank out! Or the time I ordered calamari, which arrived and looked liked a small pile of tiny rubber bands (the most overcooked I've ever experienced). When I questioned the waiter, his response was "that's how it always looks". Wow, no, it isn't, I had it once before and it was fine.
Next comes the part I hate most....arguing with wait staff, when I'm supposed to be having a nice time out. If you're a waiter and there is clearly a problem, don't put it on me.....man-up (or woman-up) already! Say, this..."I'm sorry, but I had to refuse the nachos that the kitchen just put up for your table. They were not up to our standards. I've re-ordered them, made sure they are a rush order....". Easy and done with honor. Trying to shift the responsibility by asking me "What do I think is wrong with them?!", is just insulting. Don't do it, it reflects badly on the business and forces me to put something in a review like this one.
Here's another Philly venue with what appears to be a problem between the kitchen, wait staff and management. Maybe the problem is the second or third shifts on Mon-Wed, which keep this place from scoring higher marks?
So, "yes" to drinks with friends, but stay away from the kitchen or you might end up so frustrated, you won't even go back for the bar.
Get it together already!
Back when I was in the full throws of dating, a guy brought me to Race Street Cafe. I don't remember his name, I don't remember much about the cafe, what I ordered, the service, etc. Last night I hit up the same place with a friend, and though I don't remember much about the first time I was there, I had some definite déjà vu.
For someone who drinks beer but doesn't really care what she's drinking as long as it tastes good, Race Street Cafe has a good selection. I took my recommendation from my friend's roommate, but when they were out of the beer my friend wanted to order, the bartender was happy to suggest some similar brews and bring her some samples.
I wasn't that hungry (read: I wanted to fill my gut with beer rather than food), so I ordered the roasted duck spring rolls from the appetizer menu. The plate came out with three good-sized, crispy, full rolls, a side of dipping sauce, and a side salad made of mixed greens, carrot, tomato and a peanutty dressing. I loved, loved, loved it and cleared my plate of all but half of the last spring roll, which, due to the two very tall glasses of wheat beer, there was no room for.
Also at my table were the scallops special, which was served over an amazing risotto, and the spicy southwestern turkey burger, which I didn't try, but my friend loves it so much she orders it every time she goes there.
I really liked the atmosphere of Race Street Cafe. I can see why a date would have taken me here... It's a little dark, relaxed, has a decent beer selection and great food. If you want to prolong your date, you won't mind the fact that the service is slow; more time to make gaga eyes at each other and come up with awkward first date conversation. However, I wasn't on a date this time, and the lack of attention is my reason for the lost star.
She picked this restaurant for our first date. We didn't want to wait for a table so we ended up eating at the bar which wasn't a problem. Service was reasonable, price was better than reasonable. I had a burger, she had the pulled pork sandwich. Both were exactly what you'd expect, nothing too fancy, just good American bar food. Fries were seasoned (think more Arby's fries, less McD fries), def a plus in my book. There were a lot of beers on tap, but we went for only food. Atmosphere was very comfortable (not uptight), not too loud, quiet music, I'd go back.
Located in Old City, near the BF bridge. 7pm on a Sat.
Had a great meal on 11/15/09. Excellent pork chops. Good service. Wife was happy, I was happy. Thanks.
An update: The owners reached out to me with a sincere apology. I was impressed. I will be back. Read more »
Oh, Race Street Cafe, I used to have so much fun at you. Went with the girl on Saturday 7:00 pm and sat at the half-empty bar only to be totally ignored for almost ten minutes.
The two bartenders (who have always been a skipping stone away from being TGIF bartenders) used to do a pretty good job. This night they cruised around, passing me several times, finishing off a few cocktails for the waitress and mucking with the cash register. Just a nod would have satiated me, a little "be with you in a sec", but I got nuthin.
That sucked. So I left. This is ALWAYS a deal breaker for me. Hopefully you have better luck.
I really love going to this place during the summer and sitting outside and having some drinks or inside when they have their huge windows open. It's also great during the fall and winter as they have an steel fireplace which makes it cozy. The owners and servers are really nice. They have great brunch on the weekends at a great price too! they have a good beer selection and the food has always been good. It's standard tavern food in my opinion, but always tasty. Def stop in for a drink and/or brunch on the weekend ;)
Probably my favorite local bar. The location is very convenient for me and I love the setup. The outside seating is great when it's nice out and they also have a large door/window that opens up inside. Service is always top notch. The bartenders are very friendly and quick in getting you your order.
The beer selection is vast and is always changing. The staff is very helpful in making recommendations as they often have beers I'm not familiar with.
The food is also good. I would recommend the Turkey Burger (spicy!) or the Pulled Pork sandwich.
All around this place is a cozy bar with great food, and a great drink menu. I cannot emphasize that enough, my cheese stuffed chicken was delicious, and my date's burger looked just as good!
What is really killing this place for me was the slightly unwelcoming wait staff, along with the extreme difficulty we had with getting her to tend to our drink and food needs. By all means I think she just had one of those tough gal personalities, and power to her, but the service was all around rough and really took the experience down.
This place used to be a lot better than it is right now. The service was always slow, but now it's out of hand. The food used to be great, especially the burgers, but now has gotten to be just ok...
The tables outside are good for chilling in the daytime and people watching. It's actually pretty easy to find a parking spot that has no meter, which is always a positive.
Just wish it were handled better all around. This was a solid four star spot, now I'm giving it three, just for the memories...
I would have never thought the Race street cafe was a serious bar or restaurant. I passed by it dozens of time without even realizing so. With its proximity to the major tourist district, it could stay probably in business with mediocrity made unimportant by prime location. Race Street is an easy place to get to if you're on a bicycle, kind of inconvenient otherwise. The guys working there were nice enough to make change for the meter. A quarter only gets you 7.5 minutes now, so there's a real need to stock up.
There is an impressive tap menu with 15 taps, one being a hand pump. There was a great mix of all kinds of different beers, and I love a place that strives to have a few brews that aren't found elsewhere in the city. I had a Summit Pale Ale, which I've never even heard of before, and it complemented my food well.
For atmosphere, the bar is really nice. There are three tables outside, and I think it's really nice to eat outside when the weather is great. They even have a dish for water for dogs when you're outside. There is a nice wooden bar, and although I was barely inside, it seemed like a great spot. I went with Jonny and we arrived shortly after the opening time, so the waiters weren't too attentive. The menu had a good mix; this is a great brunch spot, and I image it's even better for dinner. I ordered a frittata, which came with their "brunch salad." My meal was excellent. Jonny had some kind of Mexican themed breakfast, which also looked good. I was really impressed with the food.
Bottom Line: This is easily one of the best bars in the Olde City area. Still, it's not remarkable. I'd like to give it a shot again, and see how it is on a weekend night. With a great menu, and an ample supply of beer, Race Street could be a regular spot for almost anyone.
Okay, so a few nights ago, my parents ask "Hey Jim, why don't you take us to one of those good spots in the city for dinner? Maybe Aunt Carolyn would like to come along too". It was a Wednesday night, and I had nothing better to do, so I figured why not? They wanted to go to the usual places they go down here...either Soho pizza or Campo's. They're both great, but they get old after a dozen or two times. Also, if I was going to be dining with my parents & slightly-less-than-normal aunt, I would need a place capable of continuously supplying me with beer....lots of beer. Finally, I had a chance to try the Race St. Cafe! I've been wanting to get there for a while...seemed like such a cool place. Well, it was the perfect idea. From the minute I walked into this place, I knew I was going to like it. Easy going, nice people, cool atmosphere, and...lots & lots of beer. Dad & I quickly ordered...Oktoberfest for me, and I think a #9 for him (at first he was thinking Coors light...but after a seriously disappointing grin from me, he changed his mind). The menu was adequately sized...not huge, but very good, with great variety, and well-priced. Perfect for this place! All in all, the meal was great. I'll definitely go back soon, hopefully without the parents. This is one of the few bars in the city that I know of that are perfectly fine to go to alone (if necessary). Being that many of my friends are reluctant to go out in the city (or even leave their damn house)....this is a big plus. It's nice to escape the ridiculousness that Old City can be sometimes. Race Street Cafe does a nice job of being different, and different is always GOOD.
In here on a packed Friday night. I guess that's why 1* has to be removed, because it's a shame it is so small. It often makes getting a table a real effort.
We arrived at 7:30 with a party of 7. Server was quick to come and find us at the bar and ask if we wanted a table. When we told him we were a 7, he said at least a 2 hour wait so we planned to just have a few drinks and move on.
Now, in a bar tender from Philadelphia being out of the way helpful, he came back 10 minutes later and started discussing how he could move tables around to fit us in. Another 10 minutes and we had a big table for dinner. Impressive service.
The beer selection is always interesting and the prices are standard for premium beers. I had the Southwestern Turkey Burger which was good, everyone else's food looked solid and there weren't any complaints.
Highly recommended, just plan on getting there early on the busier nights if you want to get a table and eat.
Great neighborhood bar! Really good food and beer. Cool little microbrews and they change them up all the time.
Many of the Philadelphia Flyers hang out in this joint. They live in the area.
Get the wings. The best.
The service and ambiance were great. They had a really great beer selection. The menu was really weak for vegetarians. Although meat eaters had much larger, selection I would not recommend this place for dinner. A light and boring lunch if you in the area. But Dinner no.
I would not come back to eat, drink yes. But given that it is a tad out of the way and the beer was a tad pricey, it will be awhile. But it is well worth checking out if you have not already done so.
I would give it 3.5 stars if that were possible. I will round up due to great service and great beer selection.
We love this place and go all the time for weekend brunch. The owner is really friendly and he stops by our table to say hi and talk to my boyfriend about hockey.
They can't quite get the over easy/poached eggs right. The yolk is usually hard. I compensate by ordering an omelet. The potatoes are to die for, and every breakfast dish is served with a fresh fruit cup.
The atmosphere is great. We love that they have trivial pursuit!
There really needs to be more places like here by my book. It's a bar/cafe that has really incredible food that goes beyond the usual bar expectations. It also has an incredible beer selection. It's not Monk's/Eulogy incredible but it is amazing. possibly even my third pick for beer selection in the city. and the staff are all friendly and capable of matching a beer to the description of what you like.
Another reason to like this place is the atmosphere. even when it's packed it doesn't feel crowded. it also has a good decor that adds onto it welcoming appeal. It also changes it's art monthly to go with the nearby First Friday flair. and a lot of it's art is usually available for sale.
I have been to Race Street twice. The first time I went was for some drinks after work and I had a great time, today I went back for lunch. I had a south west turkey burger. The burger was tasty, well spiced and juicy. Unfortunately the bun and fries were lacking. I'll go back for drinks but probably not for lunch.
i'm torn on this place. it's a cute, cozy spot to grab drinks, the beer selection is quite good, but as for a restaurant this place is lacking. the nachos are gross. and the food is overpriced for what it is.
race street, if you want to be a bar that serves food, then make it really well done bar food, don't try to get too fancy. if you want to be a restaurant with a great beer selection, then you're gonna have to step up your game and serve some better food and improve the service. the waitstaff here is blah and a little rude at times.
all in all, if you want a place to grab a beer in old city but want to avoid the nonlocal douche crowd, this is your place. if you want a great meal, however, i suggest you look elsewhere.
My FAVORITE place in Philly (seriously, if you see a tall blonde at the bar there's a good chance it's me). Great food with yummy daily specials and excellent beers on tap. Not really a place to go for a crazy night, but If you're looking for a great neighborhood spot in Old City, this is the place to go.
So my colleague an myself are wandering aimlessly through Philadelphia, hoping to find a suitable place for food. We're doing the familiar zig-zag pattern of predators seeking pray. This one's too fancy, this one's too asian, this one's too closed, and then we run into Race Street Cafe. Looks OK from the outside, the price is right, it's crowded, let's do this one.
As we walk in we are greeted by lots of eyes saying "what are these out-of-towners doing here? This is our place!" Which means, yeah, this is a cool place where the locals hang out, not one of the touristy cheesesteak places on South St.
There were interesting beers on tap. There were interesting dishes on the menu. There were friendly and happy waitresses. There was good food coming out of the kitchen. Yeah, I'd say it's an all-round good experience.
Sometimes I just get lucky!
Go for the vibe, the atmosphere and the beer. With so many great restaurant options nearby, I usually stop by Race Street when I need a meeting place or good spot to chill out.
Regardless of season, sit inside unless traffic is light. It's an open-air dining room during the warm months and, personally, that's my favorite time to go. I must admit that I have not been there when the fire place is going, which could be pretty sweet.
Good beer selection. Service is spotty.
This place really has nothing going for except for a pretty good beer list. The food is good, but the service is horrendous. My wife and I often feel as if we are invisible as drinks go unfilled, plates uncleared, checks un-brought-en. It is the most convenient restaurant to our house, and we tried to give it as many opportunities as possible, returning 4 times. We were constantly disappointed. We have made a promise to eachother that we will not give into convenience and walk the extra blocks to Standard Tap or North Third.
I like this place!
Good pub fare, friendly service, comfortable atmosphere.
In the warmer months, they open a set of doors which open like a sort of balcony, which is nice, & in the colder months they have the place toasted up with a wood burning stove.
Always on the lookout for a good brunch (my fave meal of the day, for sure), the one offered here is tasty. Not particularly stand-out, but I won't have a problem returning again for it some other time.
One of my favorite places. Great food. Comfort, bar food. But better. Lots of beers to choose from and a great wine selection. It's a neighborhood bar for those who live in old city. But not an old city hang out. People from Jersey don't go here. It's adorable. The only reason I can't give it 5 stars. The service isn't the best. Sometimes it's awful.
This place is probably the first place for a beer if you're walking into old city from the Comfort Inn.The atmosphere and beer selection is what make this bar different than the others in the area. The food is good, and the service was just fine.
Along with National Mechanics, Race Street is one of my go-to places for when the wife and I just don't feel like cooking. Solid food all around at reasonable prices. Good beer list, and, unlike National Mechanics. the game is usually playing on tv. Among the highlights I've had there is a sausage sandwich and a turkey burger.
Also, the place has a nice homey feeling, and the service is always friendly.
Race Street is one of those places that I often forget exists, which is a shame. They have a decent beer selection including Delerium Tremens and some other great Belgians in bottles. They usually have a German beer or two on draft and a nice selection of microbrews. The wine wasn't bad either, even though I don't think it's a huge selection.
The bar itself is big and classy--very substantial with comfy bar stools. The food is really good. I've had chile, a burger, a steak salad and one mean as hell bloody mary. I also like the outdoor cafe seating because it means you can bring your beer outside if you want to smoke a cigarette. My favorite thing, though, is the view of the bridge. I love that bridge.
Anywhere I can get Sheppard's Pie is OK in my book. I was very thankful for Race Street Cafe on Friday night. It was freezing out and I was ready to duck into the first bar that I came across, this just so happened to be Race Street. I knew I found a home when I smelled the wood burning stove and saw the beer list hanging above the bar.
The menu is broad and very reasonable, ($10 for Sheppard's Pie, $17 for Crab Cakes). This was THE place I had a been looking for, cozy, populated but not crowded and warm.
I liked this place so much I plan on venturing out in the cold just to go there...
-On a side note: on my walk home from Race St. some tools were running down the ice lined sidewalk, forcing me off to the side to let them pass. One sports jacket, two sports jackets...is that it? Nope here comes one more...wait, is that...yes the third tool wasn't tool at all...it was none other than Eagles 3rd string QB AJ Feeley.
This was more like a comfortable pub than a cafe on the night I went. They have an eclectic selection of taps, but the ones I ordered were all delightful. The food was also really good. I had what they deem a Crab Melt, that was well seasoned and tastey. My lovely date for the evening had a burger, and I wish I could remember what kind it was to recommend it to you folk. At any rate it had guacamole on it, and the burger had the best spicy seasoning I've ever had on a burger. This place is great for hanging out and drinking with buds, or nice dates.
Good beer, good food. A little cramped when you're trying to squeeze six people into a four top without pissing off management, but the food and beer makes it worth the close atmosphere. I had a pint of Bar Harbor Blueberry and the Spicy Southwestern Turkey Burger. Both were delicious, delightful, and de-lovely, the whole bit. Even the fries were amazing. Looks like a good place to get a "step above" your normal pub fare. There sandwiches are reasonably priced, the staff is attentive, and I definitely wouldn't mind going back and trying the Crab Melt that my date said was delicious!
I've always been a supporter. September - March, it's a pretty cool spot on account of the fireplace. The burgers are outstanding, the BBQ sandwich, not so much. This is a cool atmosphere on sight, but it also feels like a terrible/impossible bar to meet new people.
I've heard good things about their brunch, but summers have come and gone, and I've never tried. All I know is this is one of the few olde city spots I can claim... and though I'd never set foot in here on an "on night", I think it'll please newcomers.
Great food, great atmosphere, great beer/wine list, but spotty service. Its a great spot in the winter because of the fireplace, and cool in the summer. The Crab melt was good, but our waitress seemed to ignore us and be bored with us. Great if you are in the area!
Very nice pub atmosphere with low lighting, but slightly loud music. (They were perfectly willing to turn it down when we asked.) 5 of us were eating:
Chicken roulade--very tasty with a good herb crust. Came with very mild garlic mashed potatoes.
Grilled chicken sandwich--"met my expectation of a chicken sandwich at a pub" according to my sister's boyfriend. The accompanying french fries were crispy and very tasty.
Stuffed trout--my dad's choice from the specials menu; he considered it very good...so good that he ate it all before I could con him out of a bite.
Duck spring rolls--Mom made dinner out of this appetizer item, but found them rather disappointing. The duck was somewhat oily and lacked the vegetables one normally expects in spring rolls. She was glad it came with a small green salad.
Veal ravioli--my own choice from the specials menu. Tasty, with a good sauce that mopped up well with the 2 pieces of french bread that came on the plate.
Service was good and very friendly. We were offered tastings of several of the 12 microbrews they had on tap.
BONUS: Just around the corner from the restaurant is Mr. Barstool, a bar supply store. Life-size statues of Jake & Elwood Blues, Charlie Chaplin, and Elvis were arranged outside, perfect for photographing!
Good food that is more than your standard pub fare. Good beer/wine list. Great atmosphere. The chili was especially good; I'd order it again. The roast beef sandwich was delicious. The turkey burger was just okay. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu.
For the neighborhood I give it cred. This area is difficult for me to uphold as a bastion of food opportunity (outside of Amada), it is Philly, but we will be surprised... I have been. The Race Street is very quant for a Philly bar / restro the service is more friendly than most. Options are not high end but it is fair priced for the area... so I guess you cant expect much. I understand the sandwiches are very good and I will stand for what a few have told me.... tasty. I had the super spicy wings albeit while despondent and intoxicated and was appropriately flummoxed, a good bet. All in all not a high end answer to good eats but for a favorable place to dip in and nawsh whilst savoring a late night ale next' the good ole Ben Franklin, Bridge, god rest his soul. He was as I understand him a good man and the Race Street Cafe a fine place to discuss his mark on Philly. If only the Race street cafe could bring its measure to bear on such a place in history and concern for food and grog.
These boys put together one nice, comfortable place with excellent food and service. Stan (if he's still behind the bar) will keep you entertained and satisfied. If you really want a good time, just ask him what's good and what drinks best with it... he won't steer you wrong. In the winter months, nothing beats hanging by the woodburning stove. 5 happy, cozy, warm stars.
I've only been here once, but it was an enjoyable experience. Good food, relatively cheap, good service, good wine. I would definitely go back again. It's also right around the corner from Elfreth's Alley, so it's nice to walk through the alley and then go get some good food and wine.
nice, as bars go. i've been there twice and never had any food, and was very pleased. a casual atmosphere and good beer selection, with a few TVs for watching a game.
such a good spot - - cozy neighborhood bar with a fire place and good beers. love it here!
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