McCrossen's Tavern Reviews

The place is cool and welcoming. Cheesesteak there is gorgeous. Chicken is a bit too spicy. Great choice of beers. Mot expensive at all.

It's a bit off the beaten path, but it's an amazing little resturant with one of the best burgers, fries and wings I've ever had! A good place to eat after visiting the Pententary!

McCrossen's looks like a neighborhood bar. The prices are reasonable just like a neighborhood bar. The food, however, is a surprise. Yes, you can get a burger and fries, but it will be a great juicy burger with crisp thick fries with plenty of potato flavor. Yes, you can get wings, but these are especially tender and flavorful. You can get a plain salad, but also salads with pickled beets, cranberries, and many other flavorful combinations of ingredients beyond the typical greens. I had the fish tacos, which added kim-chee and pickled onions to the traditional mexican dish. The result was a fresh take on an old standard. Some at our table ordered french onion soup which was rich and flavorful. The staff were pleasant, the food flavorful, and the atmosphere homey and comfortable. 10 of us ate and shared old stories together, thoroughly taking in the good food and friendly atmosphere.

Came here for brunch but ended up having lunch and being amazed! We needed somewhere within walking distance to Eastern State Penitentiary so we settled on this place. We shared the bang bang shrimp deviled eggs which were INCREDIBLE, the short rib birria tacos....OMG YUM and the french onion soup! Everything was delicious! Staff was super friendly. Kind of reminded me of one of the pubs in Ireland as far as decor, layout, etc.

Perfect for travelers who have been doing museums on the Parkway and are looking for some local Philly color. Just a little bit off the beaten path, this Gastro pub serves really good reasonably priced food. It’s family friendly, dog friendly, group friendly & and there’s indoor seating available also. We ate at a Hightop in the bar area. My niece really enjoyed the mussels in red sauce and I had a very good meatloaf sandwich served in pita bread. Fries were very good and their variation on a Moscow Mule called the She’s So Good was excellent. Total for 2 with tip was $60 for a hearty meal. Servers were extremely friendly if a bit haphazard. It’s a relaxed & convivial spot & worth seeking out.

Good location. We had one to a Friday night concert at the Barnes and went to McCrossen's a few blocks away, as a group of 6. We were given a nice booth. Menu was pretty good but most of us had specials: beer batter fish tacos, duck bread, trout, short ribs. Service was somewhat inattentive but we were having fun. Food was well prepared and enjoyed by everyone.

We went for brunch this past Saturday - $20 for your meal and unlimited Bloody Mary's or Mimosas. I had the steak and eggs, which is really 2 eggs over a hamburger and an AMAZING chive potato pancake. It was so good! My only wish was that the eggs were cooked a little bit more, but I didn't specify when ordering. The Bloody Mary's were so good - I don't think it was a pre-made mix. They tasted fresh and delicious - be warned though, VERY spicy! Service was prompt and friendly. I'd highly recommend this place.

Definitely a fairmount favorite

My wife and I stopped here for lunch last year. The only reason I bothered to rate this resturant is because of the clam chowder. It is amazing! Most places up north, the chowders all start to taste the same but not here. Their chowder has a kick to it and leaves you wanting another bowl. Everything else about the resturant was okay but nothing special. Great for lunch

Charming, well maintained Tavern with good service and great food. Tuna and shrimp taco apps were delicious, as was the spring salad with salmon and the burger. The only item we’re sampled which was subpar was the chicken sliders, which were overcooked. Would definitely go back.

I went in for Sunday brunch- its all you can drink mimosas and bloody marys with a choice of brunch entrees or burger/chicken sandwich/wings etc. The food selection is a little limited for brunch but you do get both breakfast or lunch options so everyone is happy. I got a bacon and cheddar omelette and my sister got the chicken sandwich with roasted peppers and provolone. The food was a decent portion, hot and tasty.. the bloody marys were spicy and delicious- the best I have had in a long time. It wasn't that busy when we got there, but it really filled up fast and with this $20 special I can understand why. We sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly and nice- our drinks were always full and we had a great time. I plan to make this place a regular Saturday or Sunday brunch stop.

Good menu diversity. Bar service quite friendly. If I lived nearby, it would be a regular stop. Since we had bought combo tickets, I was worried it would be cheesy and not very good or good value- but is was very good! The menu was limited but addressed all our diverse needs. Arriving early, we started in the bar, which was laid back and friendly. Then seated for a nice 3 course meal.

We stumbled on this gem while walking to the Eastern State Penitentiary museum. My teen son was getting a bit cranky about all the walking, and we were hungry. As we are vegetarian, it isn't always easy to find great food on road trips, and the tomato pasta/salad option gets old pretty fast. McCrossen's had a brunch menu on, with a number of veg friendly options. I had an eggs Florentine. Perfectly poached eggs, just done spinach, a hollandaise that was light, smooth and delicious. It came with potatoes fried with red pepper, and they were so good I could have wept. My son asked for a side of toast with his food (there was none on the menu) and they brought him thick cut crusty bread that was just perfectly done. We left there rejuvenated by the great food and warm service. By the way, I saw on the chalk board that at dinner they had a risotto with ramps and asparagus. If we hadn't already made reservations somewhere else, I would have come back for dinner.

We walked from the Franklin Institute looking for lunch on a Sunday and found this cozy comfortable bar/restaurant. They were still serving Sunday brunch which was wonderful. They had some tables along the sidewalk and a nice long bar and a great selection of beers. We chose a table is a small but comfortable dining room. I had a Ham and Swiss omelette which came out fluffy high with some fruit and some of the best Home Style potatoes I've ever put in my mouth. The Bloody Marys were great. Even the Iced Tea was delicious and I did not even need sweetener. Great service from the waiter and staff. I'll certainly stop by on my next visit to the city central area of town

Great small spot with killer food! The Whiskey selection is great! Ranges from basics to 124 proofs. A must have is the French Onion Soup, bring your friends- you'll wanna stay for awhile.

This is a great neighborhood tavern. The staff is very friendly and the food is very good. They also have a very good beer and wine selection. The Beef Brisket is excellent. The Pasta dishes are are also delicious.

Very good food and service...Hamburger outstanding...very good fish tacos....Sat brunch was also very good

Went to McCrossen's Sunday night with family, about 20. Gave us a nice back room to accommodate us. Service was excellent and the food was very good. Wings and Burgers were just right. All appeared to enjoy their meals. Prices were not cheap however and good luck finding parking. You may have to park blocks away to eat or drink here. Must be predominantly locals in the city that come here. Probably great for lunch during the work week or perhaps happy hour after work. The tavern was recommended by my nephew who of course lives around the corner. Great place and would've given 5 star if not for the parking and some of the prices. Many craft beers but not too many domestics that I cared for. If you can get here, you will enjoy it.

While attending a conference in Philly, I approached the concierge of the hotel and asked him my typical question, "if you were gonna take one of your friends visiting from out of town to any place close by, where would it be?". His answer..."McCrossens" Well, if he takes his friends to places like this...he is one heck of a friend... Great food, great service, and an atmosphere that has probably not changed much since the days of Ben Franklin, except for the wider variety of libations! Excellent recommendation from a concierge that knows, his stuff! There it is!

We loved this place, which we stumbled on after blissfully exhausting ourselves in the galleries of the nearby Barnes Collection. The beer menu is great, and the food was exactly right for a Saturday lunch. The service was friendly and quick, and the atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. I would love to try it for dinner sometime when I am back in Philadelphia!

McCrossen's is our go-to spot for burgers, wings and beers BUT don't overlook the wine list or the cocktails! I certainly recommend any of the Decibel wines. The coconut curry mussels are so good--always meaty and the broth is rich and great for sopping up with crusty bread. The wings are some of my favorites in the city. They're breaded and deep fried, so they're super crispy. Being here always warms my heart.

Visited McCrossen's on a Saturday night at the recommendation of the concierge at the Sheraton where we were staying for business. Took a little hike over there through Logans Square and were pleasantly surprised. The concierge said it was a "gourmet" bar with great beer. I think he hit the nail on the head. The place is small and loud, but neighborhood bars are generally like that. The beer choices were great and the beer I had was cold as ice. I didn't stray to far off the food path and had the fish tacos which were delicious. One of my business associates had the salmon and it was perfectly prepared. I'd say give this place a try. Its worth looking for.

Great scallops and burger! Loved the wings ! They were a bit hot but crunchy very good! Atmosphere was nice in the dining area! Great dinner

Great beer variety. Awesome friendly service. Best wings to date in Philly! Our friendly bartender is also in charge of the music, just tell him what you want to hear and he'll put it on. Also on Sundays an ice cold draft and a pound of wings is only $10

I've only ever been to this bar for brunch, but their brunch is great. The food is always really good and reasonably priced.

absolute fun

Our group walked here after Terror Behind the Walls and arrived about 10pm. It was very busy but we only had a 5-minute wait. It is small inside but they make it work! Our waiter was great, our drinks came out quick and our food was delicious. We will come back here again when we visit Philly again.

Previously unheard of by our group. The restaurant was recommended by the Franklin Institute staff and was close by. (we also received a 10% discount for having come from the museum) Loved it. We hit it at a wonderful time, 4:30 PM for a late lunch/early dinner. Initially the only patrons at this time, it was cozy and quiet, a real shelter from the storm because it was pouring on the streets. (don't know how it is when the bar crowd hits) A cute bar on one side and a very comfortable small room with a fireplace on the other. The menu included interesting items, one of which was a meatloaf sandwich on pita bread, excellent. French fries served with the sandwiches were some of the best I've eaten. Quite a few choices of mussels.... the mussels in Dijon sauce were plump and juicy and I would have loved a spoon to eat every last drop of the sauce they were prepared in. We were very happy with our meal, would recommend and will come back.

They had us with the fireplace on a cold january night. the food was extraordinary with a wine / beer list to match. A lovely evening.

Great food and wonderful wait staff and bartenders. Excellent weekend brunch and happy hours as well. Their selection of pastas, chicken, seafood as well as light fare fills the bill. Their beer selection is wonderful on tap and in the bottle. Very warm and friendly neighborhood atmosphere in both the bar and restaurant area. It's the restaurant/bar/hangout that everyone wants to have near them.

Wanted something local to our hotel near Logan Square. The tavern was an easy 6 min walk and while it was a busy Sat night, McCrossen's had a comfortable, non hurried pace. Fried brussel sprouts were excellent. The whipped ricotta was truly unique and the smoked salmon flatbread was a great appetizer. Would strongly recommend this plan for a casual dinner.

Nice selection of beer, friendly staff, and imaginative, well prepared menu. Hard to see from the street in front of it, but worth the effort. Well done...

We didn't do our homework and decided rather spur of the moment to drive the hour or so to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see an exhibition on its last day. Yeah, I knew it was the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. No, I didn't know about "Made in America," the music festival up and down the Parkway, 5 stages strong. Bet it was awesome. But the plan was eat first and see art after. We chose McCrossen's the old fashioned way--by looking on Google Maps to see what was in the general area of the museum that offered food we felt like eating. Confirmed that McCrossen's would be open and were satisfied with menu. Off we went. Then we went detoured around closed streets. Finally we got onto 20th, couldn't find a parking spot, circled back onto 19th and voila! One space just about the size of our RAV4. Did a pretty amazing parking job if I do say so myself; didn't even kiss a bumper. Would have helped if the car ahead had rolled 18 inches or so closer to the sign pole but no never mind. A couple folks sat at the bar. A couple families with small children were in the dining room, where we took a seat. The menu was the brunch menu and it all looked good. I ordered a pinot gris because I was pretty sure I'd get an omelet. My husband tried a craft beer from Maryland. Sadly, the chorizo benedict was all sold out but he went for a burger and it was very good. Properly cooked to medium. Juicy. Well melted provolone. Fresh bun. My omelet was pretty good and the combination of mushrooms, goat cheese and leeks was excellent. Particularly the goat cheese. It's not something I would have reached for in my own fridge, but it turned out to be tangy and flavorful and a good match to the mushrooms. The home fries were absolutely awesome. There was even a sprinkle of sea salt on them and for once, neither of us thought our meals, either of them, need any more seasoning. The whole meal came in at about $51: 1 beer, 2 wines and 2 meals. Not something we'd do every day, or even once a month, but entirely reasonable. The restaurant is small and I wouldn't be surprised if it gets jammed in weekend nights. Conceivable that making a reservation is a good idea. Service could have been quicker and I think they might have been short staffed. The food came out in its own time--that was fine. I don't much like having to work to scare up the bill, though. And I might have ordered a coffee had we not waited. But no mind. The staff are all friendly and easygoing. It is clear this is a place that parents are comfortable bringing very young children and rather older folks like us can be assured of a pleasant meal. Good food. Good bar. Good time.

Visited on a Sat afternoon after a trip to the Barnes museum. Eclectic selection of beers on tap, mostly from Goose Island and a limited lunch menu. Service was so-so and we felt like we had crashed a private party. The music was very loud and the servers were having multiple conversations with patrons, shouting to be heard over the music. Not very cozy, we probably should have opted for the dining room. Food was good, cooked to order and delivered hot. Probably not a place I would go back to.

A great dinner just a quick walk from the Franklin Institute. Great place, comfortable atmosphere and great, friendly service. Menu was interesting and offered several appealing choices. I had the scampi spaghetti, and my husband had the pickled beet salad and hanger steak. Both meals were fantastic. The salad was fresh and bright. The steak cooked to perfection and the chorizo-rosemary potatoes were to die for. The scampi was light, flavorful and delicious with ample jumbo shrimp. Our picky 11 year old enjoyed her grilled chicken sandwich from the bar menu and said the fries were some of the best she's ever had. We finished our great meal with Praline ice cream, Raspberry sorbet, and fresh-brewed coffee. While we did seat on the early side, a table of 10 arrived at the same time as us. The service & the kitchen kept up, even as the rest of the place filled. We were looking for a nice place to have a dinner/drinks while we waiting out the traffic before heading out of the city and McCrossen's Tavern was a spendid find.

We spent a couple of days in Philadelphia and I must say, the lunch we had here was the best food of the trip. We had the meatloaf sandwich, split it actually as it was at kind of an odd time of day to be eating. The food was great, the service helpful and friendly. I'd definitely go back if I had the chance. I think other people like this place too as we overheard the staff saying they were totally booked up that night, even though it was a weekday.

Actually more than a pub. Varied menu with daily specials and numerous beer choices. Delish burgers and the best hummus platter we’ve had in quite some time. Very fairly priced. Will visit again...often.

Walked there from art museum, but it is quite a walk and crossing the streets was a bit of a challenge. Ate outside and loved it. I think they were a short on bussers that night, but otherwise the staff seemed on top of things. Our server was attentive but never rushed us. My hamburger was delicious; so were the fries. So was the wine. It is obviously a popular place and I see why.

We had visited the Barnes prior to our dinner.It is just up the street.The service was fantastic, and the food was good.Portions are generous.

McCrossen's Tavern is a peaceful bar and restaurant near the Barnes Foundation. We order onion soup, risotto and a pasta. The food was good and the service very eficient. The bill inclunding 2 cokes was 38 dollars. For this kind of prices was the best restaurant during our stay in Philadelphia.

We found this place on Google maps while looking for lunch after the Rodin Museum. We were pleasantly surprised with how clean, bright and friendly this place was. The bartender was fantastic but clearly busy because he was the only server in there! We were not in a rush and so very happy we waited. My Purple Orchid drink was delicious and my breakfast, a brandied mushroom and Brie omelette, melted in my mouth. However, the highlight of the meal was my husband's steak and eggs. The "steak" was actually a hamburger and it was on top of a fried mashed potato patty. Oh. My. Goodness. This combination of meat, Hollandaise, mashed potatoes and a perfect egg was outrageously good! Make sure to come here between museum visits; it's certainly worth the 3 block walk!

A cozy pub in an unsuspectedly nice area of Philadelphia's Center City. Nice ambiance, good beers, corteous service. Food was ok but quite expensive. On the plus side, the kitchen is open till 1 a.m.

Recommended by our Airb&b host. Guacamole & watermelon salad as starters were great options. Tacos, ribs & pasta dishes were well prepared and generous portions. Recommend the blood orange cider.

Went here with a group of people and although the food and drinks were fine the staff didn't really do it for us. Put our name in with the hostess, when she went home for the day, no one passed it along to the other two people working and we stood at the bar far too long with open tables. When asked to pull tables together it seemed painful for them to want our business.

We stumbled upon this place in the dark when tired and hungry and were delighted. Warm, busy, noisy and friendly. No space in the dining room but fine at the bar, though at little cramped. Superb brandade (dried cod with mashed potatoes) great desserts and of course excellent microbrewerey beers.

Great salads and burgers. Nice selection of beers. Great neighborhood place.

A local told us to try this pub for lunch, and we were happy we did. It is off the beaten path, but worth the walk from downtown. It was a chilly rainy day and the atmosphere in the pub was warm and cozy. The food was excellent, the french onion soup was wonderful.

Having recently read a glowing review in the Philadelphia Inquirer, my wife & I decided to try McCrossen's. We made reservations on a Tuesday evening at 6:00 expecting to avoid the "prime time" crush. We were seated immediately, but were directly in the path of the air conditioner duct & asked if they would turn down the AC. This never happened! Our server [who was extremely busy] took our drink order & after returning sometime later, told us that they were out of the wine we ordered. We made another selection & he disappeared once again. As time passed, the noise level increased proportionately. By the end of our meal, I was shouting across the table [for two] just to be heard. I couldn't wait to return to the peace & quiet of my car. That being said...the food was spectacular! I had the sweetbread appetizer which was "smallish" but excellent. I ordered the shrimp scampi pasta [loaded with plump shrimp] as an entree & was very pleased with the flavor & size of the portion. Both items were affordably priced. My wife had the wild stripped bass & it was delicious. All in all we would love to return but probably won't due to the excessive noise level. If you're looking for great food...GO! If your looking for a nice quiet dinner for two...DON'T! Oh yeah... don't go on a Tuesday. Their suppliers deliver on Wednesday, and after a busy weekend they run out of some items. Also, plan on several laps around the block...parking is at a premium!

Impossible to truly describe how awful the experience was. Reservation on Open Table. Called to confirm. Seated outside; very modest crowd. Waited...waited some more...ordered a drink...table of four seated next to use at least 15 minutes after us served drinks, and food, before anyone approached our table for a dinner order. Left after sitting for forty minutes without ordering dinner. So disappointed because i used to be a four nights a week regular and returned with my wife for a simple Sunday dinner. Seemed that they did not want our type there (middle aged? professional?). Will never return. Even the food we never ordered was terrible.

This restaurant was recommended by my hotel. I found the atmosphere inviting, the barmaid friendly & knowledgeable, and Kolsch on tap (unusual outside Germany). I had ribs and a ceasar salad. The ceasar dressing was excellent. Additionally I had the potatoes/fries w/ chorizzo--very good. Highly recommend.

Visited with some friends after viewing the Barnes collection. We were able to get a table on Friday without a reservation which was good for us. The food was great, the guys loved the beer selection, our waitress was friendly and competent and even though we has a few drinks the bill was reasonable. My husband loved a chicken dish served with fresh homemade tomato sauce.

This is our “go to place” when we’re visiting family in the area. The food and service is always very good. We did the outside dining recently and it was very enjoyable. We had the Pork Sandwiches and the Chicken Cheese Steaks with really tasty French fries and some very good beer.

Was my favorite hang out back in the day! Usually after work, sometimes for lunch - but we walked over. Parking is a real pain, took be 1/2 hour to find one and it cost $5.00 for 2 hours, which meant we had to run back and had to cut our lunch short. Don't miss Philly much at all. I had one of my old favorites which was still on the menu. Penne ala vodka. Should have some form of ham, peas and blush sauce. Cooked the penne ok, but the sauce was very bland. Only saved by the parmesan cheese. Very, very little ham.....so just ok. I was disappointed. Friends had chicken sandwiches and fries - nothing special. Service was very good and the beer was nice and cold.

Nice waitress! Great atmosphere! But... and I truly understand that no place is perfect, they would have saved us as customers had they just shown a little compunction about the hair we pulled from my daughter’s roast pork sandwich. Not even a complementary beverage or desert was offered to us. The food tasted great and I really would have liked to have given them a second chance. However, if they aren’t shaken up about a long hair in one of their customers’ meals then how much can they really care about the quality of the food they serve...or about repeat business. Seems a bit arrogant not to show some compunction about such an off-putting and preventable mistake.

Wonderful indoor/outdoor cafe but the outdoor table was exceptional. Great service and food. Neighborhood cafe.

My wife's meal was much better than mine. She ordered the meatloaf special on pita. (She gave me a bite: quite tasty). I got a burger. The bun was very ordinary, and the meat was dry. But the fries! Wow. Best I've had in years. So good I forgot all about my boring burger. Very attentive staff and the ambiance is quite nice. This is not a run-down tavern.

We were in the art museum area looking for a place and found this neighborhood place down the street from the Barnes. We thought we'd go light and order soup, salad, and appetizer. The hummus came and what a plate full of food: pita, olives, crudites. And what an impressive presentation. We couldn't finish it all. The salad was delicious and also couldn't finish. They had a creamy tomato soup de jour that I told the waitress was actually the best I've ever had. Alas! we couldn't finish any of it, though not because we didn't want to.

We went here with a group of 4 on a cold Saturday night - it was perfect - dry cozy atmosphere with extremely friendly staff. The service and food were excellent. We had onion soup, hangar steak, falafel sandwich and pesto pasta, and spaghetti and meatballs. Everyone enjoyed their meals and we had a really nice evening there would love to live near a place like this and be regulars!

This cool little pub/restaurant was a delight to dine at. We did a pre-fixe menu because it was part of a package, but the four course meal did not disappoint, from the shrimp brushetta appetizer, to the tender cut of beef, to the snickers mousse pie dessert. Everything was reasonably priced, the only thing lacking was our unfriendly waitress. Check it out if you are in the area.

What a great spot for brunch downtown. Wings are fantastic! Beer selection terrific. Service was friendly and welcoming. I'll be back!

From ESP we walked to the Rocky Statue and then to here. We were there just in time for brunch and it was great. Waffles are amazing. There are seats outside as well. Great historical place!

Slip past the crowded bar (or not) to cozy fireside dining room. Start with asparagus salad! Maybe some mussels with red or white sauce? Burgers or pasta good too! Or just hang at the friendly bar with high top tables.