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Categories: Gastropubs, Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Washington Square WestMon. 4:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Tue-Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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I have mixed feeling on Varga Bar. First, where are the great cocktails?! I mean c'mon, they have a perfect little niche to have a great cocktail list and yet, none. They do have a pretty great beer selection but sometimes a girl wants a cocktail.
I did have a pretty fantastic veggie burger but I thought their crab fries with real crab were kinda 'eh (I must admit I will crave Chickies and Petes fake gooey cheese over Varga Bars any day). My dining partner raved over his kobe beef burger but I can't speak about it personally. Basically their food is just fancied up pub food which bars have been doing all over Philadelphia for awhile now.
The ambience though, like most people prior have pointed out, is major fail.
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First off, I've been hearing Varga has been getting some beef about their "pin-ups" theme. Yes it may be a bit tacky but I realized now why it's called "Varga". It's named after Alberto Vargas, a famous pin-ups painter from his era.
He lived quite a long life from 1896 to 1982 and has lived in the USA from 1916 living through a good great deal of American History. Wiki this guy, he's pretty awesome besides painting women in suggestive positions. He even did one of the covers for "The Cars" album a few years before his timely death. So no retirement for artists. YIPPY! Not to mention some of his works in 2003 were sold for more than he probably made most his life. Oh the irony!
So now you know why there are tacky pin-up girls up on that ceiling. It's not just to get horny business types or rich Penn jocks to get a bonus with their burger, which by the way was quite tasty! My friend had the lobster rigatoni in a white sauce and it had a great aroma.
We sat outside, it was a pleasent October night ( Thank you Philly humidity! ) and normally I'm against outside seating taking up pavement for city dwellers who commute through but Varga is in a section of town unlike some Rittenhouse Park places that set up tables on both ends up the sidewalk, leaving a small walk-way, which is a pain in the ass to go through, but don't get me started on that.
There beer selections were pretty fair too, it's no South Philly Taproom or Standard Tap or even Monks but they do justice for some of the more beer snobs.
Varga may not be for everyone and the pin-up thing might not go well for some and I wouldn't call this a family spot either but for a good time around the Jewelry District it's worth a peek.
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I hate so many things about this bar. I hate that it's the closest bar to where I live. I hate that they have those stupid 'be a Varga bar gal' flyers that they put on your table...it's sort of a gross rip off. They ask you to be a semi-nude model for free (but you get to keep the photos for your portfolio). Sort of skeezy if you ask me. Then again, they're just praying on pretty, young and dumb Jersey girls to be free PR. I hate the food. Sliders? Are you Chili's? Am I a frat boy? No.
Whatevs.
I like the night bartender and I like that when the Phillies are playing, no one is there. It's awesome. Keep it up. I'll keep coming.
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First off, I think the whole pin up theme is straight up cheesy. There is an actual mural with pin up girls on the ceiling above the bar. I have to admit, when I got here tonight, I was excited to sit down and have a beer. But due to excessive overspending, my budget didn't allow me the opportunity to take advantage of their large beer list.
The service was fine, if not TOO attentive, which is actually more annoying than it is helpful. I ordered the pot 'o pickles. The menu promised pickled vegetables, but it was pretty much just cucumbers, onions, shallots and capers in a bowl of vinegar. My dad is a pickling master of sorts, and he could put Varga to shame. TO SHAME!
The lump crab fries were okay. My dining companions enjoyed them a lot, I just couldn't get down with the taste. Their fries are basically McDonald's fries, which is good thing.
So, Varga, you didn't wow me. But, that's not to say if I'm in the neighborhood and craving a good draft beer I won't be back.
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I have not eaten here, but my initial response is FAIL. Yes, the beer list was decent, and the food looked promising. But I was in the mood for a cocktail. It does feel like a cocktail bar, right? And it is called Varga BAR after all. My choices? A Sidecar, a Margarita, a Gin Collins, and a Bubble Gum Cosmo all simply renamed after pinups--Miss October, Miss November, etc. Lame. Nothing new. No modern twists. There weren't even 12 choices for 12 months for crying out loud!
The decor is kind of boring, if not entirely cheesy. I don't think I will be back.
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I've been to Varga several times and every experience is a good one. I have yet to be let down by this great bar. Whether its for lunch, brunch, dinner or just for drinks. There is a vast beer list and several specialty drinks that are Pinup girl themed. I'm really liking the whole Pinup girl theme, its a nice change from slumming in the dive bars.
The pricing on everything is generous, even the cheese platters are reasonably priced. Considering how close Varga is to Tria, I would definitely choose Varga for cheeses even though the variety is smaller. I'd sacrifice my variety to save money. Also, The service has always been polite and accommodating. No complaints there.
So basically Varga is good if you're on a budget and don't feel like dealing with dive bars. Delicious food, vast beer list, good specialty drinks, nice atmosphere, and light on the wallet. I'd say that is worth five stars.
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So, some comments made at the Pumpkin Beer UYE prompted me to finally give Varga another shot. While the rating remains the same, this experience at least gives me hope that I'll eventually grow to like it much more.
While all manner of delicious meat-based items are available on the lunch menu, I opted for the Veggie Burger since I'm trying to at least remain a weekday vegetarian. It was not a great choice on my part. The flavor wasn't exactly bland but the only things I could taste were the tomato and avocado slices on top. It also fell apart quicker than a Mets playoff run. I hate to say it but it was basically on par with a veggie burger from your grocer's freezer.
The side salad it came with, though, really surprised me. The combination of thin radish slices, red onion and spicy greens was excellent. This is a good sign.
The beer selection remains very strong. I could see myself coming back for one of their nicely-designed growlers (and coming back again to refill it many times).
People thought this was:
I had high hopes for Varga based on my love of cheesy pin-ups and my appreciation of Valanni. I… Read more »
I stopped in here last night after wandering around the neighborhood wondering what to eat. I often find myself frustrated with the local options. But really, I'm just a baby, my neighborhood is rich with possibilities. Not feeling particularly inspired by any cuisine, I settled on Varga where they had exactly what I never knew I wanted: PAN ROASTED CHICKEN BREAST (organic free range chicken) with herb-shallot potatoes, baby carrots, and snap peas. Sweet baby jesus. This was good, great even. My friend and I split a bottle of Russian River Damnation and while her Kobe beef burger was delicious, my chicken stole the show.
Their ever-changing beer list is worth a visit alone, but if it's chicken you're after, check them out. I'm adding this entree to my growing list of main dish must haves around town.
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Being a lover of both interesting beers and interesting food, Varga was right up my alley. I had been to Varga once for drinks a few months ago and, after perusing the dinner menu then, knew I wanted to go back for dinner. Fast forward a couple of months to this past weekend when some friends from D.C. came up to visit; we wanted a low key dinner before heading out on the town, so I suggested Varga.
The first thing I loved about this place, which I discovered when I was there a few months ago, is the beer selection. There are multiple selections on tap for any type of beer lover; IPAs, stoudts, wheats, lagers. Each beer is described to a tee on the beer menu so, say you're like me and love hoppy, piney IPAs but are sometimes disappointed when you order one that tastes like too much alcohol or wheat, you can choose a beer based on the flavors you like. These guys know their beer and that alone makes it worth stopping by.
After we moved on to the dinner menu, we settled on the Truffled Mac & Cheese as our appetizer (I would've ordered some more apps, because they all sounded delicious, but we were going out afterward and didn't want to be too full). What I loved most about this dish was how subtle the truffle and bacon flavors were. Truffle and bacon can too often overpower the dish they are being used in, but that was not the case here. The truffle flavor was nicely integrated into the cheese sauce (which was nice and light as well) and the bacon was limited to crispy pieces crumbled all over the top of the dish. It was a great spin on your traditional mac & cheese.
For dinner, I ordered the Kobe Burger. I'm not sure if the beef was actual Japanese Kobe or American kobe (I'm guessing the latter since it would've been more expensive otherwise), but, regardless, it was a perfectly cooked (I ordered it medium), melt in your mouth burger. I did not find the cheese (cheddar I believe) or bacon to be too much. My one minor complaint about the burger is that the roll was so soft and the burger was so juicy (that is not part of the complaint) that the roll got so mushy, I had to finish the burger with a knife and fork. Also, I wasn't really a fan of the homemade ketchup; it tasted like a fruit that I couldn't quite place...and it was just too sweet for me. The friends that I was with loved it though.
I can't really comment on any other entrees; one of my friends also got the burger (and had the same mushy roll problem)... my other friend got the hand made rigatoni, which I didn't taste. He seemed to like it though.
The other thing I love about Varga is that it is very reasonably priced... between 3 of us we had one appetizer, 3 entrees and 6 drinks (5 cocktails and one beer) and the bill was $100 (not including tip). When I can walk out of a place with a full stomach and a good buzz for $40, I am happy. Without drinks, it probably would've been half that.
I would highly recommend Varga to anyone who loves trying different beer and/or enjoys great food with a unique twist. I am really looking forward to going back so I can try some other things from the menu (like the breakfast cereal ice cream and the ribs). The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because I personally can't give any place 5 stars if I've only eaten there once. If it's as good next time as it was this time, I'll be updating my rating to 5.
One last thing...we went around 9pm on a Friday night and there was about a half an hour wait. However, you can also choose to sit at the communal table (a long table which seats about 8 or 10) in the front window if you don't want to wait. We did that and had the whole table to ourselves for the 1.5 hours that we were there. So, if you don't feel like waiting to be seated, it's not a bad choice.
People thought this was:
I ate here this past weekend and had a very good experience. The homemade pickles were delish. Great beer selection, and the menu is not over priced. We also had a veggie burger which was homemade but not the best I've had. I love the fact that they make their own ketchup and mustard. I lalso ordered the mussels which were to die for. Among the best I have ever had, which says a lot. I am guessing they ake their own fish stock which makes this such a killer dish. I plan on going back for happy hour and when I am really hungry a lobster/ shellfish entree which sounded to die for.
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Varga Bar takes a normal bar and just cranks the snooty dial all the way up. That's not necessarily an insult, just an observation. Their beer list is top notch. The food is mighty nice. But really, it's just fancified pub fare.
The cheese fries have jumbo lump crab, the wings are duck confit with a pomegranate sauce, the chili cheese dog and sliders feature kobe beef. The sliders were good, but what with the boursin, caramelized onion, and bacon I couldn't really discern any particular kobe-ness to the meat. Wife enjoyed the veggie burger, which had some nice spice to it at the end. Service was friendly.
I liked it here and I'll probably go back every once in a while, but most of the time I'd rather be someplace with that dial turned down a few notches.
Good atmosphere. Attentive service. Great beer selection! Great food. Solid 4 stars!
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I live right next to this place so when it turned from Azul to Varga bar i was pretty excited. We went to Azul's brunch a lot last year so i was hoping they'd keep a good menu. When it initially opened as Varga bar i was disappointed in the menu. It seemed disjointed and i just couldn't wrap my mind around the concept.
I've since gotten over trying to figure it out, and i think the menu has filled out a bit as well. It's just a strange selection of really good dishes, with no rhyme or reason that i can tell - other than that they're all good. Which is fine for me!
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I went to Varga a couple weeks ago for small plates and some beer. I was attracted by the sexy Varga pinup decor. Perfect place for a date. The inside was cramped, which was fine because it was a beautiful night and we ate outside. Considering it was a Friday and definitely pretty hopping, we got seated fairly quickly.
The food was delicious--mussels, soft shell crab and a bit of goat cheese with some garnishes. I enjoyed all of the dishes, although there was an issue with the mussels having butter on them (no cow dairy for my delicate flower of a stomach!) I think that was mainly our miscommunication with the server so no points off for that. The cheese appetizer was good but they could learn something from Tria about portion size and garnish pairing. The plate the cheese came on was HUGE but there were a disproportionate number of garnish options for the wimpy serving of cheese. I thought the beer selection was fair to good. No real surprises but all bases covered.
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I walk by Varga about 3-4 evenings per week and if it's not crowded at the bar, I like to stop in for a few beers. I like their rotating beer selection and I really like the fact that Varga tweets their beer changes, which is helpful to me because I will definitely stop in if they have something I really love or want to try. I've only tried a few food items - some apps on one visit and the burger on my last visit. Everything I've tried has been good and the burger gets mad props. It was tasty, but not salty. With most burgers, I end up tasting salt for days, so this is a major plus for me. The only downside to Varga for me is not getting a good seat at the bar (I have a favorite) and it can be a little loud in there.
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Varga Bar is one of my favorite stops, in part due to the fact that it's pracitcally across the street from my lady friend's pad. Equally important is the beer selection and food. I don't know about any beer specials, but I like that I can stop in every few weeks and the beers are completely different than last time. I recently boasted to 2 friends from DC that I probably try 2 new beers a month. The food is very good too.
The duck confit wings aren't my style, but they are tasty. Jumbo lump cheese fries, also not my style, but my companion liked them. The Rigato was delicious and went well with the rye pale ale I had. The Pan Roasted Chicken Breast was amazing. Over the summer, lady and I tried the huge pot of seafood. I doubt it's still available, try back next summer, but it was good. Good sauce, good chunks of sealife.
Can't slap the 5th star on, as I've not had the beer here, yet.
Hit it today for lunch. The menu is very short and not much stands out I must say. They really need to work on the menu.
That being said, we had the Kobe Beef Burgers. Unlike Kobe Bryant, our mouths were dribbling as we slam dunked this perfectly prepared portion. You might say it surely is raping the competition when it comes to great burgers in this city. The fries and homemade ketchup both were slightly salty/spicy.. also must haves.
This joint has a great vibe..nice location, and terrific for ppl watching. Service was quick, prices are respectable.
I recommend coming when you can have a beer (not have to go back to work like me). Speaking of beer, their list looks impressive (craft brews, local potations).
Go now, go hungry.
Nice work Varga, can't wait to come back.
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My mom and I had just finished some shopping on an absolutely perfect Saturday, when we decided it was time for lunch. We made our way towards Tria, which I have always raved about, and I was surprised to find that they do not open until late afternoon. Varga Bar immediately popped into my mind so we continued down Spruce. We opted to sit indoors, since the large windows were open anyway and we had all the benefits of being outdoors but with slightly more comfortable seating and more table space.
My mom ordered a glass of the viognier, which she enjoyed. I asked our server the difference between two white beers on the list and it was pretty clear that he had no idea, so I figured I would just try one first and the other later (turns out, they were pretty similar).
We ordered the pickled vegetables, a Varga salad and the sliders. My mom loved the vegetables and said that they reminded her of the ones she used to eat with my grandpop when she was growing up. We'll have to bring him with us next time.
The salad was delish. Large slices of beefsteak tomato were doused with oil and vinegar and topped with different lettuces and slivers of onions. In the center of the pile, hidden from plain view at first, was a surprisingly large hunk of cheese. I loved the presentation and the cheese was fantastic- like a creamier, tangier mozzarella. The salad was an excellent accompaniment to the sliders, which were far superior on this day than on my first visit.
When I told my mom that I had only rated Varga Bar at three stars, she was shocked and said that I had to update my review and my rating. I will definitely return and I know I won't be the only one. Say hi to my mom if you see her in there!
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Varga Bar is a laid back place that is perfect for a weeknight drink or bite with a friend. The beer… Read more »
While returning to Philly for a couple of days, my boyfriend and I decided to try out Varga Bar on the recommendation of someone else in our party. First off, the location is quite easily accessible and we didn't have the slightest problem finding it.
The interior itself is pretty nice. There are a couple of pin-up gals on the walls, and the coasters themselves are of pin-up girls. Which definitely scored a few points in my book.
The menu is a bit too bistro-y for my tastes. Too small and nothing really stood out at all to me. I ended up ordering a gin and tonic, served in a midget sized glass and the tempura asparagus. The tempura itself was a little soggy so I ended up picking it off anyways. My boyfriend tried the chicken dish which was quite flavorful. I stayed away from the pickled pot but everyone else at my table seemed to love it. The fries topped with lump crab meat intrigued me, but I couldn't handle more than a few bites. It was a little too much for me.
The atmosphere was relaxed and the waitstaff was quite friendly. I liked the casual feel everyone had to it. Jeans and a t-shirt was pretty much all the ladies were wearing. Tattoos showing here and there.
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I guess I went here with high expectations. The thing with Varga Bar is, while nothing is particularly bad, nothing is particularly great about it.
The best things Varga has going for it is its location....seemingly devoid of places for younger people with disposable income to hang out and pay higher than normal prices for things like "homemade pickles." (they are pretty awful by the way). The other good thing going for this place is its beautiful airiness which is perfect during the spring, summer, and i'm assuming, the early fall.
the menu is very limited. that's not necessarily bad, it's just that nothing screamed "order me." the menu items actually seem pretty similar. there are only a few sandwiches to pick from. one of which, the kobe burger, is also available as an appetizer in the form of kobe beef sliders. not a big deal you say? when the menu consists of 15 or so items, having 2 of the same dish, personally, i think is kind of stupid.
i only had the kobe burger for my meal. it came with fries, which i am assuming were frozen "fresh cuts." the burger was quite good. they give you home made ketchup (it was ok) and homemade beer mustard (tasted like poison...i'm not joking. it was b-a-d) i also had to sit on one of those stools. yes, you get to pay $13 for a burger and eat it on a stool.
i kind of feel bad for giving varga only 2 stars. location, service, atmosphere...all great. the menu (and stools) is such a downer. maybe if it upped its menu a bit, i would change the rating. until then.....2 stars it is.
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Lactose intolerance!
Varga is headquarters to most meals served with cheese. No complaints out of me because cheese is my number one food group and I have had many a night with just a wheel of brie and trust me, it's never pretty. But seriously speaking though, Varga isn't a place to eat when you're watching your waistline - most of the stuff on their menu is very rich.
Jumbo lump crab cheese fries, Truffled mac n' cheese, cheese fondue with grilled veggies, wings with blue cheese dressing, kobe beef sliders with, yes, you guessed it: cheddar cheese. Perhaps my group of friends and I should have been more varied in our selection but it was a Friday night indulgence, we were sharing and we ordered to please the crowd.
Service was great, fast, attentive. Food was your average decent fare, with generous portions and expected bar food selections.
Great corner property with huge open windows and a lot of outdoor seating. Good place for groups. The beer selection doesn't dissapoint (aside: I've found most new Philly restaurants are consistently good that way) and their signature cocktails are cute if not a little too sweet.
I didn't care for the shorter bar stools that accompany the seating by the tables and booths by the bar; they were positively lilliputian and uncomfortable. Also only two unisex bathrooms for the patrons? On a Friday night, there was always a line that was in the way of all the servers because of its position right by the kitchen in the bar.
The highlight our meal? Dessert. Be sure to try their Trio of Breakfast Cereal ice cream. They crunch up cereal to a powder and mix it into homemade ice cream! It was magically delicious. We had honeycombs, Lucky Charms and Count Chocula. All topped with a few pieces of cereal so we knew what was what. Now if they could bring that kind of creativity to their menu...
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I am going to start this review out by saying that frankly, I could have made a much better grilled chicken Caesar salad with my face with my hands tied behind my back after drinking a whole 5th of whiskey.
I went to Varga last night for the first time with my sister. The only two good things about this bar is that it features ample outside seating and the service is great. The food infuriated me, because as mentioned above, I could have made myself a better dinner with ingredients that I already had at home and for a much cheaper price. The chicken Caesar salad looked and tasted as if the chef simply overcooked a chicken breast, ripped open some bagged romaine, and set said dry chicken breast atop said bagged lettuce. For the sake of not seeming lackadasical about the dish's presentation, the chef then decided to add some "unique" fried polenta croutons to the mix.
I had heard good things about Varga's beer selection, but after experiencing it for myself last night, I would rate it as simply lazy. They could have a much greater selection than what they have both on tap and in cans and bottles, especially for a place that markets itself as a "gastropub". For the love of all that is holy, Skinner's Tavern in Old City surpasses Varga's beer selection by leaps and bounds. In fact, rather than wasting my money at Varga, I will go to Skinners the next time.
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Decided to go on a rainy Friday night with a few friends. I will definitely be back. One of the better burgers I have had in the city. The service was good, the food was good, the drinks were good. No complaints and I would recommend this place to others.
I would like to see some healthier options on the menu but a good place if you want to splurge.
I like this place a lot. great beer selection from micro breweries all over the place and good not expensive food. This is defiantly a hot spot!
What a perfect outdoor spot! i visited Varga a few weeks ago for lunch, and was blown away by ambiance, and delicious food!
First: ambiance. the restaurant is all done up in black and white, with Varga girl prints adorning the walls and copious outdoor seating.
The food ranges from tried and true comfort food (made better with gourmet touches) to fancy-schmancy -- my friend Sam and I tried the cheese platter, which for $15, came with 5 unpronounceable, but undeniably yummy cheeses (including hickory-smoked goat cheese...mmm) and a variety of accoutrements, including caramel, almonds, and fresh fruit. I'll definitely order this again!
Then there were the jumbo lump crab fries -- piled RIDICULOUSLY high and covered with jumbo lump crab meat. OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG. The kobe beef sliders were pretty delish too - and the homemade condiments! I don't know if I've ever ventured into the world on non-Heniz before that night, and I have a feeling I might never go back.
The beer list was small but well-chosen -- and word on the street is during happy hour (M-F, 4-6) there's $2 cans. Do I need another excuse to return? Dining al fresca, sipping craft beer, eatin' crab fries -- oh Varga, you're divine!
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Went with friends a few weeks ago. Two of us had the burger, another a special that was essentially a BLT but made with ridiculously soft and delicious pork belly, and the last of us got the sliders. Everything was solid. I got the burger medium and it was perfect - very juicy. I tried the pork belly sandwich and was sad that I did not have the whole thing to myself. Nice beer selection and thankfully a waitress who could describe them.
I will be back for sure....
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I finally went back to Varga for a sitdown dinner. All week I'd been craving their brussel sprouts and pulled pork sandwich. Alas, neither were on the menu!!! Bummer. But I did start off with the crab fries, which were smothered in tasty lump crab meat and a luxurious cheese topping. For dinner, I had the kobe burger, which was appropriately drippy and gooey and full of flavor. My guests had the fish and chips, which were fantastic, and a veggie burger, which she stated was one of the best she's ever had. For dessert, we split a brownie sundae which was not overly rich or sweet. It was delectable. I begged our server to not bring me a spoon for sharing, but she did anyway and I was forced to gobble down a third of the sundae.
My only problem? Capers on everything. Just like at Valanni, that odious little berry pops up in the most unexpected of recipes.
And if capers are all I can really gripe about, than that means my dinner was pretty damned good. Man, what a filling and satisfying meal I had at Varga. And the best part was that for 3 people, the bill came out to just over $80.
People thought this was:
Another great restaurant from the owners of Valanni & Mercato! Varga is small, chic and sleek. The… Read more »
I have been to Varga twice for dinner and a few drinks, both times on a weeknight. Overall, I really enjoyed it.
The service was excellent on both occasions. The host, server and food runner were all courteous and engaging, and seemed happy that we were there, which isn't always the case these days. We had a miscommunication about which beer my friend wanted, and the server handled it smoothly.
The atmosphere is great, at least for the warmer months. The windows open out onto the street and the outside tables, making it a really nice place for evening summer dining. In the winter, I'm not sure how lively the bar will be, considering its small size. The pinup theme is cool, but unless you sit inside, you won't see much evidence of it (not even in the bathrooms). My only complaint was that our two-top table outside was about three inches from the couple next to us. It's understandable at a crowded place, but still not my favorite situation.
The food was pretty great overall. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich the first time, and was able to get it without mustard. It came with fries and was really delicious. The homemade ketchup is fine, a little sweet for my taste. Their hot sauce is awesome... although it may be Frank's Red Hot (or at least, that's what it tasted like). I also had a chicken cheese steak that was great and reasonably-priced.
Drink prices are lower than I expected, and the beer/wine selection was ample for my liking. I also LOVED that they offer Coors Lite, PBR and Schlitz cans for $2.75. Genius.
People thought this was:
So I predict this place will last as long as the cantina that was here before it. I don't even know where to begin. If the theme of the place is pin-up girl inspired cocktail bar, I think maybe my server shouldn't be wearing a polo shirt, saggy jeans, and sneakers, and I think there should be more than 4 cocktails on the menu. And speaking of menus, we had to ask for a food menu, then when we ordered our drinks and one friend ordered a pot of pickles, the food menu was cleared away. We had to ask for it again. I decided to split crab meat cheese fries with a friend, and they were actually really good. They were skinny and crisp with lots of crab, white cheddar, and parmesan - it's nice to see actual cheese on cheese fries! I was almost done with one beer and ordered another, then before I realized what was happening, my existing beer was cleared away. When the check came it was tucked into a Coors Light can, which I totally didn't get. I thought there were a few things on the menu I might want to try, but I won't be rushing to head back.
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What does every major city need now? A pin-up girl themed bar!
After spending last Friday at Varga Bar, it's become one of my new favorite center city gastropubs. A combination of reasonably priced good food with a superior beer menu and a well educated staff is all you need for a good night and Varga Bar delivered. If I sense that a server has even the slightest understanding of good food/beer pairing, I leave the evening in their hands. Not to mention, I'm an overtipper because I used to wait tables so if they nail it, I won't make rent that month. At VB, I was pampered with "try this, it goes great with that" and "if you liked the last beer, you'll looooove this."
To me, that makes the experience that much better and that's why I'll go back.
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I'd give the food a 5 star rating; if the service wasn't wack. Good help is hard to find. The chef and sous chef though are thumbs up. Everything here is tasty. Inside is quite noisy though. Both times I was here I sat outside. Both times the waiters were not on it. Both times the food was stupendous! It's a cool hang, beers and martinis good. Food excellent. Service - tres bad. I wish all these trendy places would hire women and men 50 yrs and up? Young waitri just suck. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.
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I would actually give this place 2.5 stars, but I'm feeling generous.
First of all, the best thing about my whole experience at Varga was the Victory Root Beer that that have on tap. So dark, so sweet, and oh so syrupy.
There is also a good selection of other local beers and some good cocktail options, but it was really the food here that is bringing the rating down.
Simply put, the food was not good. It was like the people putting the menu together have a very skewed idea of what kind of flavors and textures go into make good sandwiches. We started off with the mac-n-chesee, which was good, but nothing special.
I ordered the Kobe beef burger and it felt like it was fried in a pan. My boyfriend got a pork sandwich that was so "off" that he couldn't even finish it. Nothing was really melding in the way one would hope it would. Each bite began to feel like work, just wanting to get it over with.
I did like the concept of their own house made ketchup and mustard, but like most of the things at this place, I liked the concept more than the execution.
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I had a flank steak sandwich on ciabatta that was on their specials which was nicely done, but too hot and large for my mouth (that's what she....oh forget it).
Also had the homemade pickles, which were very good.
Drinks were decently priced, although $4 beers for happy hour isn't really that great. The waitress did extend the happy hour pricing to around 6:15 for us.
Brad's rating (out of 5):
Food: 4
Drinks: 3 (Happy hour from 4-6?)
Price: 3
Decor: 4 (pinup girls and dark wood furniture stolen from my living room)
Service: 5
Wild card: tons of outdoor seating
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Let me cut right to the chase: NO HAPPY HOUR.
That's kind of disappointing considering the following:
1. Compared to other bars of similar offerings/character, the drinks are definitely overpriced by a buck.
2. Valanni, their sister bar/restaurant, has a terrific happy hour ($5 premium you-call-its that are nice and strong and worth every penny).
3. They have a terrific beer list, clearly making this a good spot for the beer drinker in all of us.
The food menu isn't as overpriced (certain items, yes) and is interesting enough. Kobe beef shaped into a hot dog, anyone? Cereal ice cream?! Oh definitely, yes. It's made in-house and changes regularly, last night's being Lucky Charms, Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch and Cocoa Puffs. You better believe I tried it and it was DELICIOUS! But you know, I love cereal so ... score!
The Kobe sliders, served with bacon, shallots and cheddar, were also quite tasty. The addition of the house-made mustard and ketchup to the burgers is a smart choice. Yum! I would've preferred fries rather than the three gigantic onion rings that come with the sliders but mama tells me I can't always have my way. My main man, who had the mussels and cockles, reported back with approval. I guess I'm going to have to try those next time.
All in all, I could probably give this place another star if I were to come back for a real dinner, complete with entrees and a sampling of one of their cocktails (named appropriately Miss May, Miss June, etc.). Or if they decide to get with the program and add a happy hour.
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The name may have changed but at least a few of the staff that worked at Azul transitioned over to Varga Bar. Other than that the 10th and Spruce location has been completely transformed and mostly for the better.
The host was very friendly and accommodating. The server seemed well versed on their fairly comprehensive selection of American beers. I tried the Miss June, a wiskey collins, which was pretty nicely executed.
Although I would come back again for one of their specialty drinks or a beer, I think the real draw is the truffled mac n' cheese. It was both creamy (thanks in large part to the marscapone) and crunchy (thank to the bacon bits and black truffles on top). My friend had the chili dog, which was good but nothing spectacular.
I look forward to trying Varga Bar again and hope that everything on their menu is brought up to the same standard as the mac and cheese.
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When we found out about the clam-bake, I felt called to eat here. Varga is a new, somewhat fancy bar in (I guess) Midtown Village. I probably would have said Society Hill, but that's neither here nor there. The decor is great, with artwork based on Alberto Varga's 1950 pinup artwork. I'm sure it was racy then, now it's kind of cute. Varga has a nice long dark wooden bar, checkered flooring with tables, and an outdoor section. We walked up on a Friday night and were able to snag a seat outside without waiting.
The focus at Varga is American craft beer, and their beer list is excellent. They offer a lot of choices. I had the Ithaca Flower Power, which is a hoppy IPA, and not flowery as the name suggests. I followed with the Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye. Both beers were about the same price and alcohol content, but the first was in a glass and the second in a pint glass. I think the bar is still working out some things, but either way Varga's tap list is up there with the best in the city. It's high priced, but I won't complain that it's overpriced.
Even though I was drinking great beer, I was more excited about the meal. I was telling people about the clam bake long after I ate it. Picture this: crab stuffed lobster, corn on the cob, potatoes, sausage, prawn, scallops, mussels, clams, and shrimp all tossed in a pot with a phenomenal white wine garlic marinade.
This meal comes at $36 and is meant to feed two people. Considering that we are both big eaters and it was enough for us, I'm sure you'll be fine. Every single thing in here tasted great. Even when we had finished swirling the sauce around trying to find hidden shrimp, we used our garlic bread to soak up the rest of the sauce. They kept bringing out more bread (included with the meal) until we really were full. With the beer continually flowing, this is such an excellent meal.
I can't speak to the rest of the menu, I didn't even look at it. But the rest of the food that I glanced at from other tables looked good. The dessert menu here is weak, and I really recommend walking up to Capogiro Gelato.
We had a few servers waiting on us, and that was nice, but some were more attentive than others. I think this spot is still working out kinks, getting the staff fully trained, and it didn't really bother me.
Bottom Line: The clambake alone is good enough to recommend this spot. But Varga has a lot more going for it. This is a great spot. Because of price and distance, it won't make it into my regular circuit, but I already look forward to my next stop. Check their twitter for latest beer changes.
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You should happily check out Varga, but don't go all stalker on it like I have.
My friends will happily inform you that I was obsessed with Varga Bar before it opened, because the details that came out about it were, in a word, awesome. As a visiting friend put it, "I don't understand why the restaurant business is so hard. You have good food. You get good beer to go with it. What's the problem?" Agreed.
Of course, it can be hard to pull off. The menu at Varga Bar is amazing - you could call it gastropub or like, way-upscale bar food. I went on the second night after it opened, split the truffled mac and cheese with my companions, and had the kobe burger with goat cheese.
Since a stalker is always good at rationalizing his obsession, I'll chalk the not-incredible parts of my night up to inexperience - Varga is new and I'm sure they're working out the kinks. The mac and cheese was a little runny, and they didn't give us plates - we just poked our forks into the serving dish and hoped for the best, leading to plenty of mac on the table.
The burger was excellent despite the fact that they were unable to identify which of the burgers coming to our table was medium-rare and which was medium-well. I ate a burger cooked well past my preference for 5 minutes without realizing it. My friend also enjoyed the fried oyster sandwich a lot, but we all agreed the fries could have used some work - some were not cooked through and others were just soggy.
The beer selection is from all over the place, extensive, and amazing, (except for that "hand-pumped" Yards for $6, which was just extremely confusing). One thing of note: GROWLERS. Yes, you can take a half-gallon jug of your favorite draft home with you. Unbelievable.
So, Varga, I'll see you again. If you get the details right, I'll be stalking you for a long, long time.
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I really wanted to try Varga Bar after seeing, twice, quite a full house. So, I went on a Thursday, and was surprised to get a seat immediately. Thought there would be a wait. Our waiter was very casually dressed, making me think he might be a busboy, but their dress code is apparently just really casual. He turned out to be very polite and knowledgeable, recommending a beer, which I tried. No non-alcoholic beers on the menu, though, which my friend drinks. We were enticed by the somewhat limited menu. The truffled mac and cheese turned out to be the highlight of our meal. Rich and cheesy and soooo yummy. Darkened on the top, just to perfection. We ordered that with the beet salad. I'm not a fan of beets, but I thought it was tolerable.
For my main meal, I had a burger. I figured that no one can mess up a burger! It was quite good, yet so tall that I had to mash it down. Traded half for half of my friend's pork sandwich. Burger was better than the pork. Very interesting - they make their own ketchup and mustard, pickles (with pickled ginger). The waiter mentioned their breakfast cereal ice cream, which sounded fascinating, but we were too full. I have also read about a root beer float, which could have been good, if I weren't so full. Overall, I'd recommend this place. I thought the prices were okay, the vibe in the restaurant was great (though it was quite loud), and the food was decent, depending on what you ordered. I can't forget that mac and cheese, though. I'll be back for it!
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I should preface every review and comment with the fact that I have high expectations. That being said, I'll continue to impart my experience at this joint.
Service: A+
The only problem that I had with the service was that our server actually asked how everything was a little TOO much. Over-zealously attentive is the only way I can describe it.
Atmosphere: A
If it hadn't been for the paddy-wagon parked outside with the lights a-blazing the entire time we were inside, the setting would have been tops. (Naked chicks floating amorously above me... I'm in.)
Food: B
Ok, here is where we have some problems. The mac-n-cheese that is often touted as such glorious fare was (in my humble opinion) boring as f--k. Honestly, the flavors were much too mild for me to really appreciate.
I asked the server what to order and she said that the chicken breast, which my friend had ordered, was the best thing on the menu. Well, we can't have two of the same at one table, so I ordered the veggie burger which I was told (again, by the server) was very good and made in-house. Here's the thing: if you are going to call something a burger, it really needs to be in patty form. Period. This "thing" was total mush. The whole jawn fell apart as soon as I looked at it. It really was held together by love alone. Love couldn't save it. The chicken, on the other hand, was pretty darn good.
The rest of the menu was somewhat uninteresting to me - I try to maintain at least a somewhat healthy diet, so all of the ultra meaty, fried, heavy options really threw a wrench in the works. On the other hand, there were some tempting appetizers that I will return to try out in the future (crab cheese fries... what?!)
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Umm, what? Everyone seems to be raving about this place, proclaiming that it's the greatest bar Center City has seen in ages. I'm sorry, have you been outside lately?
Granted, it's decidedly average. The beer list is fine. I didn't peruse the wine list, but I'm sure it's mediocre. Cocktails are okay. The food is passable, but not croon-worthy--a bit overseasoned sometimes, underseasoned others, but overall cooked to the point that you say "good" but can't remember what you ordered a week later. The atmosphere isn't bad, even though it's a small spot. The service is passable, if a bit diffident.
But, at the end of the day, all it's got going is location and the novelty of newness. If you need an average bar, with average food, and a trendy atmosphere, it the place to be.
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