Race Street Cafe Reviews

Great beer selection, food is very decent and priced appropriately. Service varies greatly from server to server (in general the ladies are better than the gents).

A little gem a short walking distance from the Holiday Inn Penn's Landing. Loved the draft beer, wings and chicken rellenos sandwich.

Looking for a quick bite while sons at Football. Great local eatery. The beer menu was impressive. Super friendly atmosphere! Wings and soup of the day were excellent. My husband had a grilled chicken sandwich. Loved the menu. Small but covers a lot of delicious food-fare.

Quaint and warm setting. Great food that is better than any bar food I've ever had. Totally fresh. Even the late night menu is amazing. All the bartenders are friendly and very polite. There is a fireplace and a big sky light which adds to the ambiance. It's small but the chef makes incredible plates in a tiny kitchen. My husband and I were in the city for the weekend and went twice because our lunch was so good. They even have Sangria on tap!

But kid items on menu. Group had shrimp queasadilla, Caesar salad with salmon, cheese nachos, steak salad, chocolate torte, creme brulee. No one was disapointed. Excellent service...really friendly server.

Race Street Cafe was a welcome sight after a super-long walk through Philly. The server was really quick and friendly, while the atmosphere was calm and welcoming. Our food was tasty and the prices were predictable for the location. My wife had the mussels, which were huge and flavorful. The wings were also tasty and just spicy enough, but could have been crispier (Full disclosure: We're from Buffalo, so we know wings.) and my Buffalo chicken sandwich was good, but not exceptional. Overall, this place is great for a decent sit-down meal at a reasonable price, but not a must.

The service here very good. Great beer selection and Sean, the bartender, is exceptionally knowledgeable. Mike is a nice guy who will take good care of you. Not a huge selection but always something for everyone and the price is reasonable.Love the steak salad and the chicken roulade. Some of the best fries around. In summer we love to sit outside and we are welcomed by a nice warm fire in the cold months. It's a great place to just hang out with family and friends.We like it so much we had our daughter's rehearsal dinner here. Enjoy!

I wish I could give it 3 1/2 stars. Some of the dishes rated that much, while others were just average; the restaurant itself raises it a little above a 3 for me. The restaurant is in an old farrier's shop and it is very atmospheric. Great beer/wine lists and it is worth coming here for a drink to experience the ambience. The food is solidly good though not spectacular and a little overpriced.

This restaurant is cozy. But the food was disappointing. It's a good place to stop for a drink, although they are expensive. Food was disappointing because there are so many great restaurants in the area. If you only want a burger it would be fine. Service was prompt but the waiters seemed interested. I would go back but with limited expectations.

This was in walking distance from my hotel, so I stopped in for dinner. I sat at the bar and the service was pretty quick. I tried the lamb burger and a moscow mule. Pretty tasty!

Solid restaurant in what looks like a pub setting. Good beer selection, with both local and international brews. Kids menu is not published but ask the server and they have standard kids fare (quesadilla, grilled cheese, chicken fingers). Parking is quite a challenge so definitely plan ahead. And watch your turns - a quick wrong turn getting onto Race St could land you on the bridge to Camden before you know it.

Stopped in for lunch. They had a handful of tables outside, but we opted for inside. Decent amount of seating, but tight. Great beer selection (try a flight) and food was wonderful. Not cheap, but we felt it was worth it.

In all my research for 3 nights in Philadelphia, I did not come across any information about this cafe. Luckily, someone at the front desk at our hotel recommended it, and we were not disappointed. It is very unassuming from the outside and the dining space is small, but you will be glad you came. This is one of the most affordable places we ate all week, and the quality of the food was excellent. We had the seafood risotto (a nightly special), and the stuffed shrimp, both of which were priced under $17. I don't usually review vegetables, but the green beans with onions and sweet peppers that came with the stuffed shrimp were so good I ate them all. After eating there, we happily recommended Race Street to other tourists we met during our time in Philadelphia.

New Year's Eve, always challenging. Too many restaurants go with prix-fix menus and less than decent rushed food. This year our solution to avoid the trap was to change up our schedule a bit. Early dinner, movie, party, fireworks! Race Street Cafe is one of our usual standard go to places every week or so because of the consistency of the food and the specials are well done and creative with basic ingredients. Single serving prosecco in a bottle, single serving champagne in a can. Great beer selections. Most of the time the staff is upbeat and polite, with an occasional less than personable server. The atmosphere is cozy in the winter with a wood burning stove. We were not disappointed. It all worked really well because the staff and cooks always deliver the goods. We had a great meal that wasn't rushed, avoided a wait and less than stellar food, and had a really full day and night to remember.

We walked here after doing a segway tour. It's a small place with a charming atmosphere. The burgers were delicious and the buns were perfect! Prices were reasonable. Large selection of beers as well.

We had a nice time at Race Street Cafe'. It was a slow day when we stopped in but the food was delicious. Quinoa patty and the Moroccan Lamb burger hit the spot. The Fruh Kolsch was a pleasant choice along with a fine draft selection Would recommend as a place to eat and have drinks with friends!

This was the tastiest meal of our 10 day trip. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very homey and comfortable. There are tall tables, short tables, and seating at the bar (as well as outside for when it gets warmer). The food was wonderful and it was clear that the staff care about the food and taken the time to create a menu that reflects how important the food is. The Deconstructed Quinoa Napoleon was amazing, especially for a vegetarian. The rest of the menu looks delicious as well. Treat yourself to a well deserved and tasty dinner here!

Loved the atmosphere in this café! I need to eat gluten free and they were able to happily accommodate this. They have fabulous gluten free sandwich rolls from a local bakery - Taffets Bakery. Enjoyed my grilled chicken sandwich for lunch!

Try the spicy bloody Mary with old Bay seasoning and horseradish it's my new fav place for a tasty morning beverage to start the day

Touring Philadelphia and stopped in for dinner. It is a neat pub, open air tables and indoor seating with bar area. Our kids each found something to eat. Two people in the party ordered the house recommended Moroccan Lamb Burger and had great reviews. Service was quick, food delivered in a timely manner and reasonable pricing. Great find!

They have a wonderful and diverse selection of beer on tap. Unfortunately, the food was just so-so. The vegetarian buffalo wings were somewhat spicy, but the blue cheese dip did not seem to have any blue cheese in it at all. I ordered a side of french fries, and got a large plate of fries a step below what you'd get at Mickey D's. You'd think an upscale pub wannabe would either hand cut their own fries, or obtain some commercially that were of better quality. The bread pudding dessert was a real disappointment. Seemed more like Peppridge Farms stuffing mix with raisins and a drizzle of maple syrup cooked under a grill. There were actually crunchy areas of the dessert! I would not recommend this place.

We were refered to this restaurant by Holiday Inn Express. We were pleasantly Suprised by their options for menu. The service was great. Our server was at our table every 5 minutes and our food was amazing. We took our desserts back to the hotel because we were very full. We for sure go back again and try a few things on their menu.

A great place to stop in for food and drinks. Our meal was fantastic. Probably the best wings I have had in a long time. Good selection of beer and drinks. The menu options were great.

We loved this place. So comfy and welcoming and the food was very good. Eclectic menu with a lot to offer from soups to burgers and salads. Use of seasonal produce and fresh ingrediants with a flair. We really enjoyed our meal and will be back for more!

Cozy little neighborhood restuarant/bar. We had been doing a lot of walking with a 104 heat index. They did a great job keeping our water glasses full! Food was very good. It was a great place to relax and cool off.

We first discovered the Race Street Cafe after we walked over the Ben Franklin Bridge a few years ago. Since then it has become our go to spot every time we go into the city. The food us delicious and the staff couldn't be nicer or more efficient. I highly recommend a stop here for a quick drink or a meal.

Worth trying for the vibe and fantastic food. Service was slow. Tables are high tops and we had to squeeze six people around a four person table. There is some outdoor seating.

Was looking for a quick dinner before going to the NCrowd Improv show and they recommended the Race City Café. What a great recommendation! It was very crowded but we found a table. My wife and I had the nachos and the lamb burger with a flight (tasting) of five different beers. Food was absolutely delicious! Service was great as well. A little pricey but to be expected in Philly. Highly recommend!

Not the largest of places or the largest menu but I love it here. I especially love the atmosphere. I feel like I am in a pub in London. The crew are all super-nice. The food if very good. I m not a beer drinker but I know they have a lot on tap. I have brought groups of friends from outside Philly here & they have all loved it, too.

This place is a must in Philly! It's in a very old blacksmith shop so the decor is incredible. Even though it's beside the freeway, with the shutters open, it has a lovely feel to it. They have a great list of craft beers and an unusual menu. I had the chicken roulade with nochi and my husband had chicken dumplings. We both enjoyed our meals very much and the service was great!

We stopped here for a quick lunch, food was good, service outstanding especially when it was 24 degrees and we were sitting outside.

We were exhausted and looking for a place to eat and get off our feet. This looking interesting and we were not disappointed. Great pub atmosphere, friendly service and great food.

The staff was friendly, the food was delicious and they had a good beer/drink selection. A cozy atmosphere. Worth the visit.

Love the ambience of the place. Nice fire going and an excellent beer selection. I had the Black Bean soup and Shrimp Quesadilla- they were both excellent. This is my second time there and I will back again and again.

Had dinner with our family of 5. I had the red snapper special with rice and “vegetable” of the day which was corn. We ordered a variety of salads and sandwiches which were all okay. The staff was very friendly.

The food is amazing. I am still dreaming about the shrimp po'boy my husband ordered. It is open late, which is a huge benefit for travelers arriving after most other restaurants have closed.

Stopped by this place after the final four games for some drinks. Super cool spot by the bridge. Super friendly staff and patrons. We did not try the food but the atmosphere, people and fun we had, we be back to try the food.

Stopped in for lunch, ordered wings which we never got. Good food slow service, waitress seemed swamped

The food was good and different than you local bacon and eggs place. They have outside seating of 3 tables. However you are on the sidewalk next to a busy street. The portions were small but good enough to start the day. I would give it a thumbs up. 👍🏽

We chose a brisket sandwich, which we could have split and still been plenty. Reminded me of what a 18th century tavern might have looked like. Staff was friendly and attentive. His find.

Race Street Cafe is a lovely, small restaurant/pub, located near some very popular clubs and restaurants. We appreciated the quieter ambiance of this establishment. Food was very good. Menu had a nice mix of traditional choices, along with more adventurous fare.

A little off the beaten path, but great on First Fridays and a definite top beer lister.

Great place for drinks and appetizers. Nachos were great. Everyone enjoyed the dinner. Service is slow so be ready. Overall I enjoyed

I stopped by with friends after a concert at festival pier. It was a short walk from the concert venue & we sat outside enjoying our lamb burgers, which were beyond tasty & sipping on a Parisian style cocktail with Elder flower in it that was delicious! Check them out if in the area!

If we are down in the city, we are eating at Race St. If we know anyone going to the city, we send them to Race St. Food is so good. Great portions. Always amazing beer options. Mixed drinks are tasty. Everything is so fresh

We popped into this place to use the bathroom, and decided to stay for dinner! Wonderful smoky aroma from the wood stove, carefully prepared plates. Would come again!

I went there with my two boys and we really like the atmosphere and the food. We had good service and great salads. Steak was awesome and they even helped us get a plate of tortilla chips without cheese!! Would definitely come back again. And great beer selection.

got into town late and had few dining options, café was walking distance from hotel and kitchen was still open at 11pm on a Wednesday night. food was prepared well and served in a very timely manner

I just walked into this place on a Sunday looking for a burger and beer. WOW, this is Philly at it’s finest. I was watching the NASCAR race and a couple of people at a table saw me and invited me over. Philadelphia the city of brotherly love will show it to you in this place. The burgers were great and the prices were OK. The people all seemed like I was a long-lost friend. This was a great neighborhood bar even though you don’t live in the neighborhood.

Went here for lunch before going to the Firehall museum. All I can say is "wow," I can't wait to go back. The food was amazing (I had a Spanish Burger, my wife has a quinoa stack, and my son had a burger) and there is an awesome beer list. The staff was extremely friendly and the space was intimate. Plus a brunch menu? I cannot wait to go back... And you should race to go there.

Food was amazing and the beer was cold. Very small restaurant. Very close to the Holiday Inn Express Penn's landing. Fish tacos were outstanding

But, I had an overall disappointing dinner. First off, the faro/spinach salad I had wasn't worth the 12.50 or so I paid ... along with a ten dollar drink, I was already up to 25.00 bucks for a mediocre meal. The server was distant and on guard for some reason. I felt as soon as I walked into the joint like I didn't belong, but I wasn't sure why she was giving me the vibe. Was I dressed the wrong way? Who knows ... in the end, the ambiance of this place is its best attribute. And I wouldn't go back ...

great food & beer!

The service- simply awesome. Ordered- Buffalo shrimp- really good, inspite of the fact that we were given a spicy bbq sauce, not buffalo sauce. Race street Burger, Buffalo chix sandwich and the Tilapia Tortilla - were excellent! Calamari- Meh. heavy on the breading and Chewy. Wouldn't order them next time. Our overall experience was great. Would definitely go back to try other items on their menu.

Walked into the Race Street Cafe whilst visiting our son at Drexel. It was busy with Saturday night drinkers but there were tables free. The menu offered lots of variety and we had a delicious lamb burger, succulent brisket and spicy but tasty chicken. They have an excellent selection of beers and our server was able to explain the different tastes. A great place to eat plus a great atmosphere.

We came here after a poetry slam at the Painted Bride and it hit the spot. Service was slow but they were busy. We had buffalo shrimp (just OK) and nachos with chili (pretty good), a root beer float (by all teenage accounts - yum!) cheesecake and creme brûlée. All respectable. Wine was priced as it is in PA but still good.

I had a Chicken Dijon Mustard dish with Scalloped potatoes that was the best meal of the week. Great pub atmosphere with a wood stove to sit next to if you want to warm up.

My family and I were in Philadelphia for a family reunion & stayed at Holiday Inn Penn's Landing. We walked the 2 blocks to this cafe. Quaint, cozy atmosphere & personable staff. My husband and I ordered shrimp quesadilla; our 12 year old vegetarian granddaughter ordered garden burger & sweet potato fries. Food was delicious...exquisite. A true hidden gem! Prices are reasonable too.

Limited menu after 11 pm but good enough to fill you up till breakfast. Try the fish tacos. Food was good but not exceptional. And with in walking distance from our hotel

The appetizers were very good and satisfying. I also loved the home brewed beer and tasted several of them. The waiter and bar tender were very nice. Small quaint place on Race Street. Will definitely return one day again.

Beer selection is good, as iwas the service. The food was good, but nothing spectacular.

This was the perfect place after a long day sightseeing Philly. Pleasant, relaxing, open air, historic little place. Friendly staff, quick service and good food too. Not a huge menu but still a variety and very tasty. Would definitely return.

My husband and I walked over to this cafe from the Constitution Center. It is a little off the beaten path, and he wasn't happy about it. However, after we ate our food he proclaimed that this place was definitely worth the walk! I would say the atmosphere here is more like a pub than a cafe. They have a nice selection of beer. My husband had the Spanish Burger and said it is the best burger he has had in a very long time (and this man eats a lot of burgers). He said that it was flavorful throughout and cooked very well. I had the po-boy. It was difficult to pick up and eat, but it the shrimp was cooked beautifully, and it had great flavor and a good amount of vegetables. I also thought it was nice that I could sub a side salad for only 50 cents. I found that very reasonable, and a nice option since I was eating such a heavy sandwich. The service here was also great. There were two people working, and it didn't seem to matter whether tables belonged to anyone, they simply helped and served people. Glasses were kept full, and they were happy to engage in conversation. I was also impressed with how they worked together, helping each other, not just customers. The waitress even recommended a mexican restaurant for us to try since we were talking about how much we missed mexican food (we are from Arizona). She went as far as looking up the name, location, and phone number. That's excellent service in my opinion. I highly recommend taking a walk and trying this place out! It's in a cool old building and you will leave full and happy!

I was recommended to the Race Street Cafe by the front of house team at the Holiday in at Penn's Landing. I'm pleased I took the advice: excellent beer, great food, and friendly bar staff.

Absolutely love coming to the Race Street restaurant. The staff always makes you feel welcome, the food is really good, and this time of the year to have the fireplace going so it makes the place really cozy. You’re surrounded by locals, which makes it even nicer and you do get the neighborhood feel of the place. I recommend the Negroni.

Food was fair, deserts were frozen, the homemade banana ice cream tasted like vanilla and the service was horrible.

This place is a super fun place to go to. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is very entertaining. They have a cool menu and they offer a surprisingly good amount of items. The burger I had was divine which helps too. The service was excellent, and although it can be expensive depending on what you order, it is still a fun time.

Since moving to Old City in October this has become our "Go to". I have confidently tried everything on the menu and not had a bad meal yet. The beer list is good and I have tried a few new beers there too but as one of my favourite stouts is on the menu I tend not to wander too far away from it. The atmosphere has always been good and we usually get a table as we work unsociable hours and get there at what seems to be the right time. The service has been very good and we have our favourite servers look after us most times. Good food, good drink, good atmosphere, what more can you ask for.

First, we walked into the restaurant and there was no one to greet you, so I asked the bartender if we just seat ourselves. I found myself instructing other guests after me. The service was slow and I was told the menu on TripAdvisor was not accurate, it's under construction. I asked to add a side salad, like you can with the burgers(.75 up charge) and I was told it shouldn't be a problem. I got the bill and the side salad was $7.95, kinda of high for a side salad and probably should have been told likewise. It has potential to be good, but service should match the food. Highly disappointed after reading the other reviews.

Cozy, friendly atmosphere with great casual fare. The turkey burger is awesome and the huevos rancheros for brunch. Great beer selection but don't bother ordering wine.

We ate at Race Street Cafe twice on a recent visit to Philadelphia. It was on the way from our hotel to the historical area. Both times we had burgers - cooked to order and really tasty. Good music and a wide variety of beer choices.

Cute little pub in the Old City of Philadelphia, close to Penn's Landing. Great beers for a good price!

Pleasantly surprised great atmosphere great food within walking distance of our hotel definitely one of the better places to eat what's more of a historic feel the only downside is I don't believe our waitress introduced herself this was easily overlooked do to the atmosphere the quality of the food and the speed with which it was delivered if you're in Philly go it's worth it

Race Street Cafe is one of our go-to places in Old City. They have a good menu which is several cuts above your typical bar food. Always have a few specials on the board, as well. Good service combined with the food and the neighborhood atmosphere makes it always a nice place to go.

I can't wait to go back to try all the things on their menu! Love the atmosphere and you can eat outside too. They have weekly specials. I had boneless port loins in a marmalade sauce.

We went here at recommendation of Ben from Philly by Segway after a tour with him. Great food and nice atmosphere. As tourists you always want to eat where the locals eat and this fit the bill. Good menu options and interesting beer selection. Will definitely return next time to Philly.

Went here for food around 945 pm. They are open until 2 o'clock in the morning so it is a good place to grab some late night food. Had a few drinks and quesadilla and a burger. The food was very very good. The waiter was nice and service was fairly quick.

What a great recommendation from our Holiday Inn hotel. Comfortable and cozy atmosphere. Plenty of beers on tap and the food was good.

This was my first time at Race Street Cage and I am upset that I haven't visited earlier. I love the atmosphere of the dim lighting and the music was a nice variety. I reviewed the draft beer list and it was a nice selection. I was meeting up with a friend so we decided to start with a flight of craft beers - that was the best decision - I enjoyed the IPA's (of course), but a few sours surprised me and that doesn't happen too often. The environment was so chill, we decided to stay and order some food - I had the Calamari and my friend had the quesadilla - both were good and we thought it would be worth returning to try other menu offerings in the future. I will return and bring others - Note: It is not a large place - limited seating - as the night went on it did become crowded.

Recommended by our hotel, this small pub style restaurant offered an interesting menu, reasonable price and amazing flavours. Lots of good craft beers on tap. I had a grilled steak salad that really tantalized my tastebuds. Service was great. Highly recommend!

love this place. and the tacos are RIDICULOUS good.

i loved this place when i lived in old city philadelphia! perfect on cold winter nights. good beer, decent food selection, cozy, dark and warm.

Ever touring and you know you want and need to grab a bite - but want to do it on the healthy side? Get this -small size is plenty big and with the grilled shrimp and/or chicken (think there is another option) is just the ticket. Quick $15 lunch that is nearly perfect. Service is sometimes slow so don't be in a hurry.

The Chicken Roulade wasn’t anything to write home about in my book. It was fine but I wish I hadn’t gone out of my way to go try it. The fall sangria was good. It’s not as strong as Cuba Libre’s but it was pretty tasty. My mother liked their Moscow mule. There was a fried mozzarella sandwich appetizer that I’d definitely recommend. Note that happy hour doesn’t start until 10pm here and that the women’s restroom was FREEZING.

Visiting area. Very small pub, staff not so friendly or attentive. Food was good though. I had the cheese tortellini with shrimp and my husband had the southern meatloaf. Beer needed to be a lot colder. Steps to get into place and from what I saw I believe the restrooms are "downstairs".

This little café bar seems to have everything going for it. It is a short walk from Penns Landing Metro Station but slightly away from the main tourist trails. The beer list was amazing with a wide range of beer styles available, but it had some of the best pub food I can recall, not only from the main menu but also from the specials board. It was all cooked and presented to the highest of standards in a setting that seemed designed for convivial chatter.

lugubrious barman, excellent crab cakes, good selection of beer, quiet in the day, busy at night, close to historic district but not a tourist place. recommended.

My husband and I ate dinner here on the recommendation of the hotel desk clerk. There was sidewalk seating, but we chose inside because of the heat. The atmosphere was pub-like, casual and fun. Our server was very friendly and efficient. My husband was impressed with the beer selections. I had an excellent cocktail. Since I was not very hungry, I had mussels and potato puffs which were delicious. Husband had a fried green tomato and feta appetizer--superb--and a hangar steak dish which he loved. The prices were reasonable and the entire meal was a great value. We would definitely return.

Stumbled across this place while visiting Philadelphia. Was very surprised at how delicious and affordable everything was!! I ordered the bacon wrapped filet, which was cooked perfectly and served with one of the best twice baked potatoes that I've ever eaten. Service was pretty slow which is to be expected when busy. Will definitely return the next time I'm in the area.

After walking several blocks in snow/sleet and soaking wet I was very pleased to walk in and see the wood burning stove. The food was great as was the service. I had the mussels in coconut milk and spicy curry and my boyfriend had a burger. Both were great. I had a drink called Moscow something or other which was Tito vodka, ginger beer and lime. It was fantastic.

We were in Philly for a show and needed a restaurant close by. We were looking for a reasonably priced place but something special. Wel the Race at cafe hit the mark 100%! We loved the food and the atmosphere was cozy and welcoming. The waitress was excellent. Very pleasant and helpful and not overbearing. My wife had the deconstructed Quinoia and she loved it. And it was A lot of food enough for me to have some tases well. My dish was fish tacos and I was pleasantly surprised they were very yummy three tacos with fresh fish that were deep batteredA lot of food enough for me to have some tases well. My dish was fish tacos and I was pleasantly surprised they were very yummy three tacos with fresh fish in deep battered fish. Make sure if you go to go online and sign up for their emails and you will get 10% off your meal. By the way, we noticed other dinners coming out and they looked awesome. Especially the burgers and the salads looked huge. And also I upgraded to a nice side salad with my fish taco for .75 more. Great food and great value!

Fantastic food, great service, and a stellar beer list. Best wings in the city hands down. Great burgers and fries. Always new and creative specials with something on the menu for everyone. The staff is accommodating and knowledgable. A neighborhood gem!

Great food. The hamburgers are so good and the service is wonderful. We ate outside and really liked the atmosphere.

Deceided to catch the last half of the game here and was pleasantly surprised ... the food and the burger were awesome!! Warm cheers like setting. Good amount of beers on tap! Has open seating area to people watch from inside and curb side seating outside.

Quaint and cozy atmosphere. Delicious menu and delicious specials. Service really lacked even basic kindness. Not offered specials... Pork belly burger -Although we served them because we can read them. Not offered water on a day with a heat advisory. Not offered refills- although we ordered drinks for 8. Not sure our server even smiled. Never checked on our food or drinks. Seemed unable to split a check for two families- though added gratuity. Maybe that's why she didn't care. Would have been five stars but for the completely lackluster service.

I placed 3 to go orders. The orders were mixed up (wrong sides for wrong food, no dressing with salad etc) The food was good.

great beer selection. food is ok. i had the pulled pork sandwich - was disappointed. the fries were really good, though. service wasn't that great.

In Philly on Sunday, we were looking for a nice little place for lunch. Since we were in Old City, we found ourselves at the Race Street Café, a cozy little bar/restaurant that had a real local vibe. At first I was afraid it would be too noisy for conversation, as there was music playing and the place was almost full. Our table was in the back, though, so the noise was lively, not horrible. The warm atmosphere was great on a very windy day. We started with drinks...a sumptuous Bloody Mary for me, complete with lemon and lime wedges and lots of horseradish. Spicy and rich. The guys enjoyed tasting their way through the beer sampler. My turkey burger was great, with guacamole and cheese, and crispy homemade fries on the side. Service was more than friendly; when we asked what kind of cheese would be on the burger, our waiter made a trip into the kitchen to check with the chef. He was great. I recommend this place to anyone visiting that neighborhood, which is full of warehouses converted into chic apartments. A little gem of a spot.

A first-time stop and a find I got through a TA search. We were staying close by (Holiday Inn Express) and it seemed to be a well-rated and close option. There were several options on the standard and specials menu, and I opted for the Southwestern Style Meatloaf ($18.25) of their basic menu. The meatloaf is bacon-wrapped, drizzled with house-made chipotle BBQ sauce (not too much) and served with potato croquettes and vegetable du jour (red onions, cauliflower, and broccoli). The meatloaf was a fine mince, was very moist and had just a slight crust on the bottomed – very good. The vegetables were good just right (cooked, with some crunch), and the croquettes had a crisp outer and creamy, smooth inner. My other half chose the Smoked Salmon Salad ($15.95): julienne smoked salmon & green apple slices atop baby lettuces with red onion in a honey-lemon vinaigrette with goat cheese crostini. The crostini had a slight crust but was still somewhat soft on the inside, a better offering for this dish than the typical too-hard, stale-toast-like texture crostini sometimes comes with. It’s not an overly large space with very comfortable “local pub” feel. The prices are very reasonable, and the food, drinks, and service we’re all great. Highly recommended.

Great place. Stuffed chicken sandwich had a lot of great flavors. Good beer and wine list. Will go back.

We were in town overnight last weekend and this was walking distance from the marina. We stopped in for a late dinner. We sat ourselves and the server came over with menus. I tried a beer that server recommended and liked it. Husband and I both had the turkey tortellini soup and it was so very unusual and different (something I would have made at home) and delicious. It had fresh homemade tortellini, chunks of turkey, great stock, diced carrots, and collard greens or swiss card diced. Super tasty!! My husband had an entree which he enjoyed (I don't remember what he ate- must have been that beer that went to my head!) Overall this place has just a few tables and bar seating. You have to go up a front stoop so may not be accessible for everyone but overall it was worth going to. Low lighting for a nice ambiance. We sat a table by the window so we were people watching after a long day. Very nice, would go back.

The food is healthy, reasonably priced and tasty. Only street parking available. Small place, but enough room between tables. The only dissapoinment was the service. The servers were nice, but it took three of them to wait our table. They forgot one of our groups drink order and messed up one dinner order. Also, not very quick or frequent with the water refill when there was only one other table ordering food.

Really enjoyed a dinner - nice flavor. Good selection of craft beer on tap. Option to get sample flight of 5 beers. Music is 80's & 90's themed. They offer eating on the sidewalk but there is a bit of traffic from the red light. Recommend indoors overlooking the sidewalk.

Very cute little place to have a drink. Outside seating is available. Didn't eat here but the drinks were well priced and the atmosphere was great!

We discovered this small establishment on our walk to the Betsy Ross House. We stopped in for a quick beer. I enjoyed a five beer sampler that included beer from local breweries as well as a delicious Belgian beer. The atmosphere was cozy and the servers were friendly. We sat at the bar but there were also tables set up outside if preferred.

Nothing to write home about. Steve ordered the meatloaf sandwich - he did not like it. Debbie had the chicken salad sandwich and salad, she thought was dry and wished for waiter to bring mayo but waiter never came back after we got food except to bring check. I had the burger and fries and it was ok, but wish I would have walked around corner of Archer St to OPC grill, Cheese steak and Gourmet Pizza slices. Both places had nice atmosphere.

Good food. Good beers. Good price. Good hours. Tini little bar with good craft draft beer selection. Great food for a very good price. Open late.

We were in town and staying at the Holiday Inn Express at Penn Landing. The desk staff suggested this place because it is in walking distance from the hotel. I had a burger and my husband had a pulled pork sandwich. Both were tasty and very filling. Good sized portions. Service a bit slow, but we weren't in any hurry.

Had dinner with my son and husband after a Temple football game. Great place! Food was excellent, we had a burger, meatloaf sandwich and the brisket. All were delicious. We will definitely visit again.

We were walking from the seaport and found this gem of a resturant. As soon as I walked in, I could tell it was my kind of place and could have stayed all night! The bar and most of the resturant are wood so it has such a warm and welcoming feel to it. The food and service were outstanding. It would be my " local" if I lived in the area.

This small cafe/restaurant/bar is not far from the Delaware river. We had lunch there and we chose their one of its daily specials - pork tenderloin (USD 19.50). The meat was very tender, sweet potato mash with apple cider sauce was excellent as well as veg. Their toilets are in the basement with steep stairs which was a bit problem for me as I had bad knees but I managed and the toilet was clean. The service was OK. If you are in the area make a stop and if it will be good weather you can use table outside.

This is the epitome of a "local" bar. Friendly servers, delicious, "homestyle" food, and great beers on tap, all in a cozy atmosphere. I recently found they have board games you can play as well, which was a nice touch. The bar is in a very old, revolutionary(?) setting, but they have managed to make it very comfortable, with a roaring fireplace in the winter, and a huge, garage-like door they open in the summer. I've never been disappointed with Race Street!

While we were greeted immediately upon arrival, once we got our menus the service took a downhill slide. The table behind us, who all arrived after us, got their orders taken first. Then we waited an interminably long time for our food to arrive. I'm not sure if our order was misplaced or what. The food was hot and tasty once we finally got it however.

Good welcome, fast service, good food and friendly atmosphere. I tested a local beer. She was good. I recommend!

Tasty food and pleasant service. There are not many places to eat in this area. The menu was varied and had something for everyone. Splurge for the sweet potato fries (extra .75)!!

Was ignored basically. Never got refills, asked if we needed anything else, etc. this is not new...it’s their business model. Many friends have said you go for the awesome food and put up with the service. Cute place. Great food. Sort of feels like they want you in and out.

We had a very nice time on the terrace of the race street cafe! We enjoyed wine and beers accompanied with classic burgers that were very tasteful and more important very generous plate! I recommend!

The race street café has the feel of a British pub. Dark wood prevails in the décor. The menu has sandwiches and a limited number of entrees including vegan items. The twin filet wrapped in bacon dinner (around $30) was raved about by people that we spoke to before entering the café. Six or seven "specials" were written on a large chalk board. I decided on a fried green tomato appetizer which was out of this world and a hanger steak in burgundy sauce which was cooked to perfection. My wife has mussels which were served with home made bread and were also cooked to perfection. The selection of brews was extensive, I had a local porter that was very good. My wife had a Manhattan, perfectly made. I definitely recommend dining here.

Top notch food, quick service, it was a big portion and very good value, less than $15 for a burger, fries and drink. Its very central and would highly recommend.

Heading back to our hotel looking for a place to eat. We found this little gem! Very interesting menu. Doesn't look like much but it is very welcoming. I had the lamb sandwich and hubby had the potstickers. Awesome!

The night we went was very crowded, but front staff handled the customers with aplomb. Despite the room being packed, and a short line at the door (no hostess) we got seated within minutes, and the service was great from that point out. We ate two of the nightly specials, both of which were delicious, well prepared and a good value. The drink I had was generous, and not overpriced. I would definitely recommend this pub/restaurant, and would definitely go back (had we been there more than 4 nights). It seems to be very popular among people in the neighborhood.... which is always a good sign.

Food was really good, but limited menu, not a lot to choose from. Small Pub-like, pretty cool place within walking distance of the Comfort Inn on the water near Pier No. 9.

This is a friendly bar/restaurant with a nice alcohol, and a limited food menu. I had their meatloaf sandwich, and was probably the best meatloaf I've ever had. Very friendly and helpful staff. It was the first time I'd ever been there, but they made you feel as if you were a regular.

Had Chicken roulade with green beans and mashed potatoes. Everything was exceptional. They have many beers on tap. I asked for a light beer that was not too sweet. They suggested Harpoon Summer Beer. Perfect!

We absolutely love this bar/restaurant. The menu is surprisingly diverse with lots for everyone. The food is well made and the atmosphere is laid back.

Great food and friendly, prompt service. We had the brisket and meatloaf which both came with a nice serve of vegetables. Good sized meals, not overly large. Exactly what we wanted. A nice Weissbier and a Corona - 2 happy diners from Australia.

Stopped here for lunch with my wife and aunt. The food was great and the staff was really friendly. The one thing that stood out to me was that their flights of beer and 5 sample as opposed to the standard 4. I can’t wait to stop by here again.

I had a fabulous lunch here. The brunch items on the menu are so intriguing I want to go back and try more. I had a quinoa patty with egg and hollandaise sauce on top. Delicious. The beer selection is impressive and the place is very kid friendly. We went from here to the Fireman's Hall Museum, which made for a great afternoon.

Just moved into area and found this place from menu they left in my building a block away. Have been there twice in last 2 weeks. It's such a comfortable easy going place. Nice bar and eating area - not huge but never had problem with seating. many beers on tap, tried quite a few. Burgers are very good but the Brisket sandwich is awesome! I thought the salads are expensive for the size but were good. This will be my go to place while living here.

Excellent food and unusually large beer selection for a small pub. It has become a must visit the next time I am in the area. They have a small but varied menu that is constantly changing. Good sized entrees in the $15-20 range

Service was awesome. Very friendly staff. Great local beer selection with knowledgeable bar tender. The steak salad was what I needed and done to perfection. No wilt to the greens and steak done to order. Outdoor seating is available for bar service only.

I am looking at 205 from the window of my rented apartment thinking ..... must try somewhere else....but why? My colleague and I have been there twice now...and from the perfectly cooked burger and fries and beer on the first night to the fantastically tasty tuna special on our third night this is a real draw... great service great atmosphere and a drinks list to suit any pallet this is local philly at its best ......

Mixed bag of reviews on yelp, but had learned of this place on a local food show, and wanted to give it a try. Food looked much better on TV. Good 2nd Street Cosmo, nicely chilled. Shared the Buffalo Shrimp. My mom's hot sauce is exponentially better than the sauce here. Portions fair, 8 med shrimp, but not the flavor I expected.Had the Adobo Chicken as an entree....chicken very moist, decent portion, but not as flavorful as I had hoped, given the description. Dining partner had a special, turkey and eggplant, both very bland, watery tomatoes, ( this is August, when Jersey tomatoes are everywhere!). Coffee weak, decided not to try dessert. Service attentive when we first arrived, but as it got busy not so much, although all servers were polite. Nothing wowed us, doubt I would return.

Located on the edge of Old City it is tucked out of the crowded area but still close to the galleries, theaters and the shops that make up this fashionable neighborhood. Like most taverns, it is dark in side, light enough to see what you are doing of course but easy on the eyes. There are large windows that were originally loading stations which open and allows the ambiance of being outdoors, in. There is a good selection of spirits and an interesting menu. The beautiful MsKim likes their turkey burger and I am stuck on the lamb burger. Although we did not try it, they just added a BEER FLOAT to the dessert menu. Not Root Beer, BUT Stout and ice cream. There are tables for two but most are for four. Whenever we have been there it has always been busy but never overly crowded or noisy.

We went here on a recommendation from the hotel staff. Not a huge menu, but I got the burger, and it was awesome. Wife got some shrimp something, It was very good. I put the bar tender to a few tests making drinks from taste and not a recipe. That guy rocks!! I wanted something red with vodka and he hit it just right, then another crazy order and he was spot on. Very old building and nice décor! Staff was excellent! Definitely recommend this place to anyone.

My neighborhood jaunt at least 3-4 times a month!!!!

A late Sunday brunch ,not a long wait, very good food, fruit cup was on the plain side,Bloody Mary's were good,casual not too loud.

Saw this place a couple of days earlier while wandering around the old town. Looked to have a great menu and beer selection, as well as a nice atmosphere. Not disappointed on any fronts. First come, first serve for tables, but great service when we arrived. Food was excellent - shepherds pie & Spanish burger - as was the beer. They actually keep cask ales - as a Brit in the US, that’s amazing!! Really good place to come drink, eat & relax.

Lot of craft beers on draft. Wood stove in seating area which made a nice, cozy atmosphere. Beef brisket is a must I hear! I got the turkey burger- I never finish a meal and my plate was clear. Excellent service too!

I have visited this Cafe twice in the last 3 days as it is very close to my accommodation and offers great food and ambience at the end of a busy working day in this most attractive and welcoming City. The staff at the Cafe are charming and the great, imaginative food is served promptly by the lovely staff who clearly care that their customers have enjoyed their meal. The local beer served from the bar is also first class.

Good place to hang - food quality flucuates - but can be really tasty

Ate here two nights in a row. Enjoyed the people and the food was also very good. Do not need reservations. Felt like we were in a pub somewhere in the English countryside.

The lamb burgers were the best I have had yet. The staff were friendly and our food was delivered fast.

The food is good, the hand-pumped ale excellent and the board games that are available make this a great place to visit. Watch the world go round from the open window seats

In spite of it's location; pretty much right under the Ben Frankling Bridge, the Race Street Cafe always serves up a good meal to go with it's impressive bar selection. The service lacks consistency sometimes, but outside of that, it's a solid place to eat and/or have a drink any time of the day.

Heard about it from a local who said is was a favorite. Cold Saturday about 1PM. Fire in the wood burning stove and very friendly. Had a brunch menu with a few additional sandwiches. I ordered the salmon eggs benedict and my wife got the tomato bagel sandwich. We both enjoyed our time there and would go back.

What a diamond in the rough! Tucked away on Race Street, on the edge of Old Town Philly, this place blew my socks off. Walking back to our hotel, we passed on several places along the way and thought we might have to turn around and go back to town, but we saw this place and decided to give it a try. SOOOO glad we did. I had the brisket dinner and cut it with a fork! It's not the kind of brisket I'm used to from TX, but it was absolutely delicious. Veggies were done to perfection and I love twice-baked potatoes. My wife had the Chicken and Shrimp dinner. Since she couldn't finish, I helped her out a bit and it was awesome too. I tried a flight of 5 beers from their extensive list of choices. I chose 3 and let the server choose two. All of them were terrific. Service was great and the atmosphere was really laid back. I would drive back to Philly, just to eat here again.

I think they make all their own sauces- ketchup, honey mustard, etc. What we got was good! Trade up for the sweet potato fries! Regular fries are good too!

We had a very nice evening. The food was absolut excellent the beer was cold and the prices extremely fair. We will recommend the place. Go there and you will not regret it 😍

If you're looking for something small, dark and not quiet, Race Street Café is an interesting spot to try. Its décor is real - an old blacksmith shop - wonderful woods all around. Its food is bar food done very well and very good beers. It was built to shoe horses not to dine in and for a small place it can sound loud in there even when there are just a few diners. In winter they'll have a stove with a fire blazing - it might be the best time to go but anytime you go it's a good place to have a beer or a bite.

As I was sweaty walking back to my hotel, I stopped in to a very quaint homey place I could call home if I lived around here (sorry, just here for a couple day seminar). But I was a bit dismayed with the staff. At first the bartender seemed very helpful finding a beer for me, but then rather dissapeared. A seasoned citizen came in from the outside table to pay and she really had to chase him around the bar between his time on his phone (generational??) and walking away from her...... VERY nice, could be better...

My husband and I frequently go here, as we live in the neighborhood. Race Street Cafe is a good low key spot to go hangout on a date or with friends. Bartenders and servers are very friendly. The food is always fresh and good. Has some different options/takes on traditional bar food.

Doors open to the outside, felt like you were sitting outside Had a daily special although I was torn between that and the meatloaf Had the mixed seafood cakes with linguine and garlic toast. Not a crumb left on my plate. Service was prompt and friendly. Only reason not a 5 was that the seafood cakes were undercooked, more the texture of scallops rather than the shrimp the contained. Still it didn’t keep me from eating them.

Excellent is the only word to describe this low key cafe with a warm feel of home to it. To the British amongst us it reminded of our favorite local pub back home. Good food, good drinks and great deserts. A screen or two to glance over the sports. In short put this place on your list and go pay them a visit.

Stopped after work while headed back to hotel. Great burger coupled with good fries and a nice IPA draft. Great finish to the day. Would definitely return. Seemed to be a good crowd for a Thursday night. Did not affect the service and we had no problems getting our food or beers. Only criticism would be the lighting as the area around the tables was a little dark.

And I'm so glad she did. I visited Race Street Cafe on a recent trip to Philly for a music festival. Already over the food trucks and street vendors, this day I craved a cool brunch environment before venturing to the hot park. Before entering the restaurant, I noticed a few square tables lining the sidewalk, slightly shadowed by the surrounding buildings. I imagined this would be just perfect for outside dining when fall officially arrives. We were seated immediately. Our server was a nice gentlemen who was very eager to satisfy our many demands. I ordered the Orange French Toast and was pleasantly surprised by the tastiness of it. It has to be the softest toast I've ever eaten -- fluffy, gently toasted, then lightly dusted with powder sugar. Also on the plate was syrup, strawberry purée, a bowl of fresh fruit, and my choice of breakfast meat. I would say the price was right on and the serving portions were more than enough. The drinks are good but more pricey than expected. Look them up if you ever find yourself near Penn's Landing.

The food is exquisite. Never would I have thought the food here would be this good. It looks like a plain old bar. The secret must be the chef. It's also reasonably priced. Loved it!

This cafe was recommended by the desk clerk at our hotel. The menu wasn't overwhelming but everything sounded delightful. It was hard to decide! I had the steak salad and my husband ordered the brisket, we had nachis with the chorizio as an app. Everything was fantastic!! We also sampled their assortment of beers, which were also top notch! Definitely recommend to singles or couples!

I had 3 dinners there as it is walking distance from Holiday Inn Express. I ate there twice and 1 take out. All 3 were fantastic! Great flavors and reasonable prices.

I really want to love this place but it's hard. Nice beer selection, but at $6 a glass.....if you stick to standard bar food (burgers, etc) OK, Speciality dishes tend to be hit or miss. Salads are over dressed. A comfy place with a wood burning stove. Worth a visit if you are in the neighborhood. But there are be options.

What's not to like about race street cafe? Tons of great beers on draft that are always rotating. The specials are also always changing and are usually pretty good. I am particularly fond of their various burgers, which always hit the spot. The main reason we frequent it so often is that the kitchen is open with a full menu til 11:00 and they never make you feel uncomfortable to order a full meal after 10:00. In the winter you have the wood burning fire place. I the warmer months they open the large doors for fresh air and there are a few sidewalk tables as well. The staff is always very friendly and welcoming and the food does not disappoint.