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Categories: Tapas Bars, Wine Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
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Wouldn't necessarily say don't go there, but there are certainly better places. The service is good, the white bean soup was great. Unfortunately had to send back the calamari since it was super chewy and kind of greasy. The pierogies were flavorful and the texture good, but a little on the cold side.
Now for the important notes - the cocktail list was not up my alley. There were a lot of brown liquors being mixed with fortified wines, probably all better suited for an after dinner drink. They do carry Bulleit bourbon and I'm not mad at that.
So hoist up the john b sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go...Oh hi!
I guess I really have nothing to say about this place but that I was rather unimpressed with it. The food is basic and not worth the money. Because of that, I'd rather go elsewhere for my alcohol.
Why don't they let me go home
This is the worst trip Ive ever been on
This place is really a snackbar with entree prices! Their portions are very small and the prices are very high so why come here? Their beer selection is good and at times it's a nice cozy place to have a drink and maybe the cheese plate but nothing more, oh i forgot the burger that my boyfriend ordered that was good. I live nearby but i also frequent many other restaurants and this place is a waste of money.
The staff was nice but the place was stuffy too pretentious for my liking.
After reading a review of Snackbar, a friend took us for dinner following happy hour. We had some drinks in us already, and were pretty leniant in ordering. Of course we got more cocktails, then the lomo, beet salad, pierogies, fois gras, calamari and chocolate cake.
I can recommend everything except the calamari (chewy). Awesome beets, pan fried pierogies, fois gras rules as always, and the lomo is great to start the meal.
We had a problem with our service near the end of our meal, but the owner Jonathan gave us great service and was much appreciated!
I would definitely go again, but just have some drinks in you by the time you get the bill.
Last night after work, a friend and I headed over to Snackbar to check out their happy hour specials that I'd seen in a writeup.
The Bellini ($5) with fresh peach juice were quite nice and refreshing. For a snack we shared the margherita pizza ($7) that was marked down from $14. The pizza was thin and crispy, but with the occasional over-salted bite; during my last visit, however, I experienced a serious amount of over-salted food.
Nonetheless, Snackbar was a great place to spend happy hour, sitting outside while enjoying a nice, summer cocktail. The service was also great, despite our small check. They made sure our water glasses remained refilled as well as our cocktail glasses.
Do you like making out with your date at a restaurant in a cozy booth somewhat hidden from everyone else? Then you should definitely eat here and request the table in the little alcove.
Do you want actually good food for reasonable prices served by a great waiter? Maybe you should try somewhere else...
I can only rate this place on drinks and service because i did not order food. That being said....on our way home for brunch, a friend called and told us she was in rittenhouse, and had finished a first date. I love first date stories( especially bad ones) so we decided to meet said friend for a drink or five. A couple of the places we tried were switching over from brunch to dinner and were closed as a result, as we were peering into the Snackbar about to leave because they also seemed closed, the waiter with the curled mu stashed appeared. We asked if they were open, and he said they were switching over and not serving food. he then told us if we didn't care that they were prepping he would be happy to serve us drinks. Yay! a private bar with waiter service, what great luck. My two friends and I all had several cocktails, mine was a tequila and red wine mix called the Red Rita. The waiter who you can't miss because of his unique mustache was friendly, clever and efficient. we talked and people watched for a couple hours, as the Snackbar began to open and serve food. The atmosphere and service reminded me of how special a sunny weekend afternoon in the city can be. Plus we watched two women offer a very drunk women sex for the rest of her bottle of wine. like I said sunny weekend afternoons in Philadelphia.
Snackbar is one of my favorite spots in Philadelphia. The food has always been excellent and outside of one server, the staff has always been very friendly. The ambiance if absolute perfection (for my taste) to just chill out and have a good time without feeling rushed in the slightest.
I come here for dinner or just a couple bottles of wine on a fairly regular basis. While the drinks are not inexpensive, they have excellent pours and all (but 1) of their wines I have tried have been good. Avoid the Viognier...
The tuna tartare, the NY Strip and the burger are all excellent.
If you find the place expensive, then don't go. I would tend to disagree though. A NY strip entree for $22 or a burger and fries for $13 is far from outrageous. Especially when they are so delicious.
If you like having drinks and food in a place the size of a shed then definitely check this place out..Staff is self absorbed because they got some 3 sentence editorial fart in an issue of GQ last year...Used to get dragged here with the company's happy hour from time to time..
After a few scotches I wasn't paying for you could probably hear me saying things like...
"The appetizer is made with ...what? " "what's in this?" Wait, they're really not putting the ballgame on?"
You get my drift
I love Snackbar. It is one of my favorite places in the city. I've been going there since it opened (back when it was all small plates), and it seems to be getting better all the time.
The food is always great and inventive. The menu is always changing. I've rarely had a bad item. The drinks are just as good, and even though the beer list is short, they're always updating it with great options.
The thing I really love about Snackbar is the great atmosphere. I love to go here with friends whether it is for a full dinner, a late night snack and some drinks, or to end the night.
They also have some amazing guest chefs in every once in a while.
Very cozy, hip, fun place to get after dinner drinks or pre dinner nibbles. Good wine selection, solid liquor selection, and super friendly servers. Nicely designed, I'm actually excited to check out their location in my city too! Not much else to say, really; another great spot in a great neighborhood.
I absolutely looooooove Snackbar. Ok, so it IS just right around the corner from my house, but the food is always such a delight. I love how the menu changes seasonally. The burger is always a must, the brussel sprouts are SOOOOO yummy, the risotto is a staple... People say the mac&cheese is good, but I didn't love it...it didn't have the bread crumb crust that I love so much. I would say that the desserts are so-so (except right now there's a tasty pumpkin something or other that should be tried). The rice krispy thing is not so hot, so get something else.
Snackbar is also a great place to chill. How cool is the fireplace and the little hidden table...I heart Snackbar!
Ha! Found this place when desperately waiting for a free table at Audrey Claire and this took an hour to clear up. So, you may forgive me that I am only abusing this lovely little place as an extended bar for another restaurant, but you might also take it as a hint what you can do when you are wandering around and freezing in the cold while anticipating dinner somewhere else. Winter is here and you will definitely enjoy the cozy fireplace, a decent drink or the one or the other snack at the bar... Tip: Difficult in this small place, but try not to sit too close to the door. Chilly breeze alert...
Maybe I'm biased because this place is right next to my building, but I really liked Snackbar despite some reservations after reading previous reviews. The cozy feel, fireplace, and yummy dishes all made for a nice night. From the reviews, I expected tiny portions but the lamb shank (under large plates) was a hearty size. The brussel sprouts with walnut was quite tasty and a decent tapas size, and I really liked the french fries and marinated olive sides as well. Wine list was fair and I had a good Riesling and Bordeaux for $7-$8 per glass. Final bill came out to $40 per person which is completely reasonable. Service was very attentive, although I could see how they could be perceived as snooty and uh...somewhat eclectic. I'll definitely go back...
Just an FYI, when I call for a reservation, I don't want to know that your menu choices have changed, and I don't want to be automatically put on hold and kept on queue for any amount of time. I want to immediately hear a cheery human voice and I want them to tell me if they can accommodate my request so that if they cant, I can immediately call one of the more than 11,000 other restaurants in Philly or one of the 23,000 in NYC. I'm still waiting for a call back from SnackBar, two calls, and Rae not that I haven't made other plans. I really am puzzled by this hubris! A restaurant is not an insurance company, a bank, a hospital or any other institution from which I must suffer arrogance. It's a restaurant, regardless of the regard you or anyone else has for your food! So, for the newcomers to this most competitive business, get a grip. Your job, if you are to max out your chances for success is to make it easy on us, not difficult. Make us want to come to your place and not just for the food, don't ever give us the opportunity to go elsewhere!
Call one of Danny Meyer's or Mario Batali's restaurants in Manhattan. No machine, a real cheery voice. Can't think of two more successful restaurateurs, there might be a connection.
Extremely expensive place (e.g. all wines by the glass start at $10) that has somewhat tasty delights. I wouldn't call it tapas so much as pretentious meals for women who don't eat and the men who pretend to love them.
Don't think I'll be back.
Good service, good drinks, decent atmosphere. The food seemed to be over glorified on the menu and wasn't nearly as good as it sounded. It wasn't bad, just not worth it. Great place to stop in for drinks though.
I had trouble deciding how many stars to give this place. On the one hand, I really liked the atomsphere - warm, cozy, nice lighting, love the fireplace. The drinks were also good - I had a specialty cocktail that my waiter recommended and it was delicious, unique, and strong enough to justify the $10 price tag (assuming such a thing can ever really be justified). On the other hand, the corn dog that my friend and I shared as a "snack" was truly terrible, and come on, how can you screw up a corn dog? The other menu items looked intriguing, and I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and say that the corn dog may have been a fluke. Anyway, I'd say it's a nice place to grab a cocktail or a glass of wine, but I'd probably eat elsewhere next time.
Went here late on a Saturday and had a great time with friends -- Snackbar walks the line between being classy (great!) and pretentious (boo), and is a comfortable place to grab drinks with friends. We met a group of people there, and quickly it felt like the bar was ours! Agree that the wine is somewhat pricey; they also have beers and cocktails.
Menu looks more comprehensive than "snack", although i haven't tried anything.
Quality over quantity. Tiny everything. But, small is not always bad.
As a recently ex-single, I understand that a girl sometimes just wants a snack for dinner. So, when my hubby is not in town, I grab a beer here and choose a few small dishes for dinner.
I don't know if it fair for me to comment on this place, because i think we just had a few glasses of wine and no food, right? Well, it was kinda charming, very cramped and crowded, which is good. Busy is good.
Easily one of my favorite bars in Philly. The ultra-mod minimalist decor is very pleasing, and the fireplace makes it extremely cozy in cold weather. The menu offers many delish entrees and snacks - my favorite is the mac 'n cheese. I often come close to tears if I don't arrive before the kitchen closes at 1AM.
Another major plus to this relaxing spot is the friendly and attentive service. Bartender Doug plays excellent tunes and will concoct a glorious cocktail upon request. He recently fulfilled my request of mixing something inspired by George Michael. Also, Ryan the server is extremely friendly and easy on the eyes.
You will catch me at Snack Bar at least once a week having a glass of wine with friends.
Snackbar is great, it has an extensive menu for all appetites. The last time I went I had the cheeseburger and a side of mac and cheese and it was t-a-s-t-y. I have never had a problem with the service, the wait staff has always been pleasant and attentive. I don't go there regularly, but I appreciate my visits there from time to time
They are not kidding about being a SNACK BAR. If you want to show off and spend your mola on tiny portions then this is the joint. Now I've been to some countries where that would be considered normal but then again they had Socialist idealism and their business began to fold when the economy changed...slightly. Thus I would consider eatting dinner before you have a snack!
i traipsed here on a random monday night.
it's much smaller of a place than i expected it to be, but modern and clean and rather comfortable.
the food and drinks were way too expensive (and small), but quite tasty. the mac and cheese is spicy-good, and the crab cake with pretzel salad is to die for (it better be for $24!). there is no cocktail menu, but there are specials to be had.
if you're in a rush, this is not the place to go, as the service can be on the slow side...most people seem like regulars and don't mind--which further slows things down, as they all seem to stop and chat...and chat...and chat.
so yes, expensive food and drinks and chatty servers. if that's what you're looking for, this is the place to be.
This is a super cozy and fun place to grab a pre-dinner drink. (Food looked delicious, but I had other places to Yelp, you know?) There is a fireplace on one side of the red room -- great ambiance for a cold winter night. Service was excellent -- I recommend Ryan... Almost passed him a napkin with my number on it.
I went here the other night for dinner. With an abundance of less crowded less expensive, tastier fare within a few blocks of the snackbar I'd suggest to snack elsewhere.
We ended up here for a late night night cap and snack with a friend who is a regular. Fun little bar - very tiny but it adds to the ambience. Doug the bartender and Ryan the waiter treated us like regulars. We snacked on the sides - brussel sprouts, mac and cheese and bok choy - all very good confort food. Would definitely want to come back for dinner.
So, I've been to this bar of snacks many many times, and have been through many iterations of their menu. While I usually like the changes they make their recent changes are sub par at best. They no longer have any viable vegetarian options and everything is served in a cream sauce.
The drinks and service are still good, but the snacks left me hungry. Great french brioche desert tho and fries. However desert and potatoes does not a meal make.
I want the server w/ the stovepipe mustache to come back, he added some much welcome character to the place. Also, they are welcoming of additional people to your party, so long as they have chairs to seat you.
Love this place! A great ambiance, great drinks, good selection and waiters that are cool, but not in your face- place isn't that loud- totally chill.
My favorite hang out int he city, for sure
the fireplace in the winter makes it
Snackbar is a small space on just off the SW corner of Rittenhouse Square that makes every effort to be vibrant and hip. The ultra-contemporary decor, down to the minimalistic fireplace on the wall and the menu written on a huge mirror definitely achieves that goal on the appearance front. There is substance to the good looks too: the menu is filled with inventive dishes; none is boring. I highly recommend, but note the "small dishes" really are quite small.
This place had such potential but the service ruined it.
First off if it is hot outside and their fireplace was running it was about 100 degrees inside. It took forever to get a waiter and he did not even come until we had already ordered from the bartender (who then got a hold of the waiter). Later on in the night we wanted to try another bottle of wine (we had gotten a bottle of Albarino) but our waiter was no where to be found. I usually am pretty patient on a weekend night but this was ridiculous. I had to order bottle of wine from the bartender. Conveniently our waiter finally came back from smoozing with a customer. I told him I order a different bottle of wine from the bartender. So what did he do.... gave us another bottle of Albarino. He never even showed anyone the bottle he was pouring until the second glass was poured. I explained to him this is not what I order and he told me I asked for another bottle (clearly his head was in the clouds because I told him I order something else from the bartender). Then he proceeded to argue with me that there was nothing he could do because he already poured the wine. It was his mistake a) he didn't check with the bartender and who doesn't show you the bottle before they pour it. I talked to the bartender and he was much more reasonable he comped us with a glass of the other wine we wanted. He did say since the waiter poured the entire bottle there was nothing he could do. It was seriously disappointing. experience and I will not go back.
Snackbar is a fun place. It has gone through some changes.
When it first opened they had great cocktails and that menu is now gone. The dinner menu has always been creative and offered many options. Recently the portions got much smaller, but the service and atmosphere have improved.
Another great place to go if you're looking for a nice, but not overdone, dinner before going out in Center City.
Stopped for a beer the other day - a bit slow and they were out of the beer I wanted but it was all in all not a bad time. Cheese plate was good, well chosen and well presented if a bit skimpy.
I wish I could give this place zero stars, it barely deserves one.
Incredibly rude/incompetent service.
After standing inside the door for 2-3 mins I was eventually approached by a staff member to whom I asked if there was a table available. In reply I got a brusque "No". After further prompting she volunteered that one might open up in 15 mins and that I could wait at the bar.
The only plus I can offer for this place is that it does have a small but interesting beer selection.
While drinking my beer at the bar two further parties of two, neither of whom had reservations arrived and were seated immediately. The second of these was 45 mins after I had arrived. At this point I asked for the check for my drink as I no longer wanted to spend my money where I was being ignored.
To add insult to injury my beer was charged at $1 more than the menu price; small mistake but given the entire experience summed this place up for me.
Avoid
I was surpised to see that Snackbar wasn't on Yelp already. This small Tapas bar just off of Rittenhouse Square is not bad. The prices are high in comparison to some Tapas bars I have been too, and the space is small. But for a quick bite it's not bad.
grabbed a spiked coffee here one chilly night. it was spot-on. dug the fireplace. there was popcorn on the table that tasted like feet. straight up, feet! never considered this place for dinner, perhaps i will soon.
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