Tavern on the Hill Reviews

So disappointed with the FOOD! We have always raved to our friends about the Cheesesteaks, we consistently rate them the BEST in Philadelphia, but not now. Burnt meat and cheese, and the onions, UGH. What happened to the Chef?

found this local spot on 3/10/12 while in chestnut hill. good food, friendly wait staff. pastrami reuben was great and my wife enjoyed her burger. too bad its not local for us, but can see why it is popular with local "hillers".

My wife and I stopped here on our way through Chestnut Hill and found this gem of a place. The service was excellent and food even better. I had the crab cakes which were large and had little fill and were mostly crab. My wife had the baby back ribs which fell off the bone and literally melted in your mouth. Side dishes were equally delicious. Loved he atmosphere and friendliness of the staff. Will definitely return when we get back to Philadelphia.

Discovered this gem two years ago and it has been a "must" every time I've been back in Philadelphia. It's small--half of the space is a fantastic bar; the other half accommodates about a dozen tables. The intimacy is perfect for date night or lunch and catch up conversation with a girlfriend. The menu is fairly standard, albeit well prepared, pub food. But, the menu boards which change from lunch to dinner and day to day are full of incredible temptations. On my first visit, I attempted to order the cream of mushroom soup which was one of two soups on the menu board. The other was pumpkin bisque. Our waiter, who happened to be part owner/chef, encouraged me to order the pumpkin bisque. When I mentioned that I wasn't really fond of pumpkin, he insisted on bringing me a bowl "on the house." One taste, and I was hooked! It was incredible. Then he shared his recipe. I haven't done it justice, but I'm working on it. In the meantime, I've been back every time I've been in Philly, unfortunately, never when the pumpkin bisque was on the menu. In the future, I'm calling as soon as I get my ticket to give them a heads-up that I'll be there for pumpkin bisque. Love their French onion soup and their stuffed mushrooms, too.

Tasty beers and a wide variety of yummy food. We had the tuna salad sandwich and a cranberry/brie/turkey sandwich on pumpernickel bread with spicy fries. All of it was delicious. We will definitely be returning.

Stopped for lunch on an incredible spring Saturday. Madeleine the server was friendly and very competent. Sandwich was good and the fries were better. Eclectic group of locals at the bar, including a man wearing suspenders and a large skirt (not a kilt). He seemed to enjoy the comfort.

This is the sort of place that Philadelphia nurtures and of which it is especially fond. You won't be able to avoid conversation and cordiality and it's a great place to meet 'hillers' and get some sense of their exotic little world. Food is good, the best bets are the reuben sandwich and the daily soups.

I so often wish there was the ability to provide a 4.5 rating, which this tavern/restaurant would get from me. We arrived at 3:30 pm on a Tuesday after spending the day at the Morris Arboretum. We were handed lunch menus only. We only ordered meals, no hot or cold drinks, alcohol or dessert. Our meals were excellent and our two different orders of fries were both very tasty. Parking, of course, was very difficult to find in this area.

We visited Tavern on the Hill for the first time last night and it was very crowded at 5:45 on a Saturday night. Seating is very limited but the host was able to rearrange the tables so that my husband and I could be seated (we had called ahead even though they do not take reservations). My husband had the crab cakes, which were excellent, and I tried one of the specials, turkey served over focaccia bread with maple mashed sweet potatoes and vegetables (for around $16). Mostly locals visit this restaurant and bar but we will definitely be back. The atmosphere is a quaint colonial tavern experience with friendly service. We even received 10% off our dinner with our theater tickets for Stagecrafters. You need to let them know that you have theater tickets before you order your meal. We can't wait to go back!

This gem is like an ole fashioned British pub with a small table seating in the rear. The host is this older gentleman who always has a smile, a warm laugh, a gentle manner and an open seat if he can find one; and not much of a wait if he can't. Food? Very good pub food. The specials are always good; the ribs fall off the bone; and the fish n chips is one of the best I have ever had.

I called a week before our visit to Philadelphia to visit our 2 sons. I called on Monday and left a message since they didn't reopen until Wednesday. I got a call back on Tuesday afternoon to say we were good for Friday at 6:30. We showed up and were told we had no reservations and the wait would be 45 minutes to an hour. We turned around and went down the street to Iron Hill Brewery that was able to seat us and had great food.

Everytime we have stopped by the place is packed. It is quaint but the feeling of the place is electric. Everyone appears happy to be there with friends and the staff was awesome.

On a recent trip to NE Philadelphia we decided to give the modern hotels a pass and stayed at a great boutique hotel, the Chestnut Hill Hotel. We always ask where the best independant restaurants are located and there was quite a choice in this charming historic neighbourhood. We found this tavern about four blocks from the hotel and decided to give it a try for dinner . . . a great choice! This place isn't very big so we had a drink at the bar while we waited for our table. The Owner was a charming host and the food was outstanding I had Duck Comfit that was spot on. This place was so good that on our second night in town we had to go back. I tried the back ribs . . . over the top. We'll definitely go back when we get to Philly again.

I stopped in this restaurant for a light lunch and a glass of wine. They had a great selection of specials including soups, salads, grinders, and pasta dishes. I love a good crab cake, and this place did not disappoint. It came with a very good homemade tartar sauce. The staff was very friendly and shared a lot of information about other restaurants and shops in the neighborhood. I would definitely recommend this place to others.

We loved the cozy, welcoming atmosphere of this tiny bar/ restaurant that is obviously a friendly local hangout. Everyone in our party liked their meals and drinks. The service was a bit off in the sense that our waitress was very attentive at first, but then she seemed to get pulled in to conversations at the bar. She forgot a couple of our later orders and brought us coffee that was stone cold. Nonetheless we'd probably return for another try.

My girlfriend and I just dined at Tavern On The Hill. It was a truly excellent experience. We were greeted by Jeff and he made us feel right at home with his Southern hopitality. The place was packed and I was glad I made a reservation. We split an appetizer and a main course, artichoke and paremesan stuffed mushrooms and blackened snapper with collard greens and green onion grits. Every item was delicious. What a delight. I'm definitly going back.

it is a perfect place to have a dinner as a couple. The food was excellent, waitress was polite and funny. Her recommendations were right on spot. I would love to go back.

Friendly service and daily specials are standouts. You can always find good versions of standard pub food on the menu. Try the specials board if you can for fresh and inventive plates.

We've enjoyed dinner at Tavern on the Hill on two occasions. Each time, the food was delicious and well-prepared, with a nice variety of menu options as well as daily specials. The restaurant is small and cozy, which can be charming. But when the piano is set up and in use, the tables are too close together and the space feels cramped. Service was decent but nothing noteworthy. Overall, we enjoyed the food but weren't overly impressed by the atmosphere.

we really enjoyed this quaint spot! the service was great, the atmosphere was warm and the food was very good! go check it out!

Warm, cozy, and relaxing, this top of Chestnut Hill treasure hosts a happy mixture of clientele from every demographic. Young couples drink excellent beer on tap alongside locals who come for the crab cakes and martinis, both of which are perfect. When I celebrated my birthday, my friend alerted our waitress that I did not want a fuss. So she brought my apple pie with a candle in it and whispered the whole happy birthday song to me. Service is charming and beyond excellent.

Had a very romantic and tasty dinner with wife. Not cheap but worth it. The ribs were fantastic. I highly recomend it.

I live 3 blocks from this restaurant, and I go here frequently for dinner, drinks and live music. This small storefront establishment has excellent food and a varied menu. The best entrees are priced in the 20 dollar range and can include steaks, duck, pork chops, seafood entrees, fish and chips, and there are several specials each night. Bar food is cheaper, of course. The burgers are very good and the fish&chips are superb. Service is excellent. Every Friday evening there is live music, usually a solo piano player named Reverend Chris Marsceill. He's a great pianist and as a member of his larger band, I come here monthly with my soprano sax and I play along with Chris, later in the evening after the big dinner rush. The restaurant has live music many Saturdays, as well, such as a guitar duo or folk/ jazz singing duo. Chestnut Hill is a great urban neighborhood with a lovely, walkable main street (Germantown Avenue), and this is one of the best places to eat in Chestnut Hill. Highly recommended.

My intended restaurant choice was too busy today, with a long wait, so I walked around Chestnut Hill to find and try someplace new - sooooooo glad, because I found Tavern and had an amazing meal - portabello fries, and a special on the menu - grilled cheese made with smoked mozz, bacon, and asparagus - OMG - this meal was perfect. LOVED! Super attentive staff, offering flexibility to accomodate food/prep preferences. Personally loved the atmosphere as well, ambient with nice music. I WILL BE BACK!!!

Best choice in Chestnut Hill for later night dinners. Warm, friendly staff, live entertainment (Reverend Chris at the piano most Friday nights) - and always consistently very good food with a nice selection. Never, ever disappointed - and always feel welcomed. What is even more amazing the prices are very reasonable (especially their "after 9pm" menu). The only hesitation I have about writing such a positive review is this place is like a well kept Chestnut Hill secret... locals love it!

We go here a few times/month and it's always something to look forward too. We are always greeted warmly, but the food is wonderful. They have the absolute best wings I've ever had and I am not using hyperbole. I've even been to the anchor bar in Buffalo, NY. They have different flavors too, but their hot wings are a slightly different take on the chicken wing. Hard to describe, but simply amazing. Their spicy fries are also to die for. Menu is not huge, but has a good variety of options, along with daily specials. I've never had a bad meal here and prices are reasonable, atmosphere is quaint (though I wish they'd mix up the weekend entertainment a little). Mix in an acoustic guitarist or something. Good burgers, cheese steaks, ribs, soups and more. The only problem is the wings are SOOO freaking good, it's hard not to order them and try other things. Sadly our favorite waitress recently left and she was always spot on and attentive without being intrusive. Some of the other staff are a little slow with refills on water or get special orders wrong. Not enough to hinder a great meal though. We usually treat guests to the Tavern when we have out of town company too. Definitely give this a shot.

We go to the tavern on the hill about once a month and just sit at the bar. They have a decent beer and wine selection but we always get into good conversations. The food is good too, and there’s a great piano player Friday nights after 6. Such a great ambiance.

Tavern is one of our most frequented pub/restaurants in the neighborhood. It is our tradition to eat here after arriving home from long road trips, but we also visit here for small, intimate celebration meals as well as with visiting family and friends. The atmosphere is intimate. You walk past the pub/bar area to a seating area in the rear of the restaurant. The proprietor is very friendly, and usually greets and seats us. Of the menu items, I love the portabello sandwich and I usually order it with the goat cheese and beet salad. My husband loves the burger with sweet potato fries. The crab cakes are fabulous here. They also have a late-night menu; the petite filet is wonderful, as is the salad with chicken, blue cheese, apples and walnuts.

If you are looking for the tenderest corn beef and sweetest cabbage outside of Dublin, run to to Tavern and order the Leprechaun special. It is on menu for a limited time. You will not be disappointed & btw it includes a creamy pint of GOT. Slainte!

The food is good, the Tavern is charming, and our host was fantastic! Burgers are big and the chicken Caesar salad was fresh and crunchy with a nice home made dressing. The delightful atmosphere was right up there with the huge brownie ice cream sundae! Can wait to return!

good food and fun atmosphere. Very small place so get reservations. Onion soup was superb. Sweet potato fries and fried pickles very tasty. The host was a breath of fresh air--not the usual teenager. Parking available in the back.

Server (behind bar, where we ate) was extremely attentive and eager to make sure we were happy. All three of us enjoyed medium rare blue cheese burgers, perfectly cooked. Side of spicy fries were fine. Would return next time I had a craving for a similar burger.

Nice location in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. The service was fast, attentive and friendly. Burgers cooked exactly as specified to medium rare. Delicious spicy fries. Great pub food at a reasonable price

We stayed in the area at an air bnb so this was recomnended. The service was great and the food was ok. It is a quaint little place with with good atmosphere. Its close to a very nice downtown area. The food was not ad great as we were hoping but honestly cant complain about it. Have to ask for water which isnt a bad thing either just a new concept to us. Over all we had a good dinner and a few cocktails to enjoy or evening.

A great, cozy little restaurant in chestnut hill. Chef and owner are serving excellent food at a great price. Fun crowd. Have to try their daily specials.

Our favorite haunt, McNallys, was closed so we decided to try Tavern on the Hill. First impression: dark inside, not many customers, one awesome bartender holding down the fort. Our BLT sandwiches were the best! I added avocado, the freshest lettuce, abundant of crispy bacon. It was memorable! I would go back! (But it was so dark inside.

Excellent cuisine,efficient service,friendly staff,good bar (if you only want a drink!)To be recommended as a restaurant and/or a bar

Best Clam Chowder ever! Very friendly and fast service. I stopped in because I liked the name and now I can't wait to go back. Woodwork and decor was so welcoming and the menu looked so good. I will be back.

We got into town very late on a Monday night, and most of the restaurants were closed. Tavern on the Hill kept their kitchen open a little longer so we could get some food. We felt terrible (and expressed that in out tip), and ordered the Tavern wings and turkey Brie sandwich to go. Both were very tasty. The cheese fries reminded me of home (Chicago).

Went in to have a drink, and over-heard the bartender speaking on a black woman. No I will not go back, I was not raised like that.

Lovely evening at chestnut hill and at the tavern .... ribs to start were very good ! Fish and chips were also really well recommend small bar great atmosphere live jazz pianist was interesting We had a great meal

We had a nice meal at the tavern. It was very busy, but the one waitress was attentive and our food was served in a timely manner. We enjoyed three steaks, all cooked at different temperatures. We all were satisfied. We would go back in a flash.

Their motto is "Where a warm welcome awaits you" and nothing could be truer. The hostess and the server were delightfully friendly. We immediately felt like we were favored locals. The space has a very nice ambience suitable for couples and friends. Micro-beers are available as well as a full bar. We sighed in happiness over the tender cheese steak sandwich on a fresh, soft roll. We devoured the sweet potato fries with maple bourbon BBQ dip. A grilled Ahi tuna steak salad was perfection. Prices are reasonable. Parking is on the street. The location is close to the Morris Arboretum.

If you don't eat anywhere else, you must visit here! This is where our liberty was first hatched and the rooms are still pristine. The food is outstanding and reasonably priced. Part of the menu consts of some of the original meals served and you can get George Washington original recipe beer here. Don't forget to visit the basement where the historic meetings took place!

What a place this is! Visited previously around 2 years ago and had a great time but came again tonight and had an amazing experience! The most attentive bar staff, drinks were flowing and food was incredible! Get a seat at the bar if you can because the staff are so great to chat away to! Would recommend to anyone, just a shame we’re not from the area or I can guarantee this would be our local!! So worth a visit!

Part of me doesn't want to let too many people know about this place because I like the small and quaint feel of the place. We have gone a number of times during the week and have always been pleasantly greeted by the friendly staff and owner. If you can find a seat at the bar, I would suggest asking the bartender (David) for recommendations on both food and libations. You have to try the wings (go half spicy and half bar-b-que) and there are a number of fresh beers on tap

A warm and intimate bar with a staff who actually realize that you are a customer and you can go anywhere!

Although a little unprepossessing from outside, I dropped in for lunch alone whilst staying in Chestnut Hill. Wonderfully welcoming staff who chatted in a really friendly way whilst I ate at the bar. Also very good banter with a couple of other drinkers at the bar. Had a tuna burger from the lunch specials which was good indeed. Wholeheartedly recommended.

We love the food and company at the Tavern on the Hill. Sit at the bar for great beer on tap or ask Maureen to mix you one of her created drinks. The dinners are fantastic. I also take colleagues there for a quiet lunch.

Had lunch with my husband and two friends. The food was excellent and so was the service. We had to wait about 35 minutes for our appetizers, and the food was long in coming as well. But we had a chance to chat and catch up!

Awesome, simply awesome! My wife and I had actually been in a couple of times before we tried the wings. Wow! Very unique and very worth whatever trip you make to get to this "find". The staff is very casual and friendly and the quiet is very nice, at least the times we've been there (afternoon to late afternoon). Chestnut Hill is a wonderful village sort of area, and this amazing place fits in perfectly! Ya just gotta go.

We stopped in for a late night Saturday dinner and were seated immediately. We inquired about the beer selections and were able to get a sample of what we were interested in. The food was extremely good (Cream of Asparagus soup, Sweet Potato Fries, Fish & Chips, Ahi Tuna Steak Salad, Salmon) and we couldn't have asked for better. Our waitress/server unfortunately was totally indifferent to our oder and when we asked the status of our Sweet Potato fries (alreasdy more than halfway thru the Entree) we were told, more or less, "Where can they be?" and went to check in the kitchen. When we finally received the fries, we were done with our entree. No apology other than "its been busy in here earlier" and blamed it on the kitchen. I would definitely return but would hope for a better server.

We avoided Tavern on the Hill because with no real basis, we assumed it to be old and antiquated - how wrong was I?? VERY!! Tavern on the Hill is old, but newly renovated and beautifully so. But more important - the food and service are superior! Our first trip was for our anniversary so we went all out on food selection. Starting with Cajun Chicken Wings. I'm not sure I have ever had wings this good! So crispy on the outside and fall off the bone on the inside! We each had the Filet Mignon, a nice large portion, grilled to perfection! BUT you don't have to go for the expensive menu, they offer burgers, pub food, and blackboard specials, as well. The atmosphere is wonderful, with old world charm. Intimate and small, so make reservations. This restaurant is quieter than many, nice for conversation. Service is superb. Kind, helpful, fast and attentive! They have a late night menu "$10 after 9pm" and fully stocked bar fully stocked bar, with 10 beers on tap and twice as many by the bottle, and a well-rounded selection of reasonably priced wines. Happy Hour Monday thru Thursday. And LIVE music on Friday night. We've been all over Chestnut Hill looking for our local haunt - I think we found it at Tavern on the Hill.

This is a very dark bar with a a VERY nice lunch menu. Table seating is behind the bar area. Just walk in and past the bar to the restaurant area. Very small and tight space, but the food was excellent. I had a sandwich and chips and my husband had fish. Both were very tasty and served promptly. The restaurant filled up quickly after we arrived. We loved our lunch and would not have found this except for a review we had read online. Great meals. I would not bring children in here.

We live in Chestnut Hill and visit "The Tav" at least once a week. This is a great place for locals but doors are open to all. Jared the chef offers several lunch and dinner specials/day - I'd classify his choices as comfort food. Last week I had ginger spring rolls and lollipop lamb chops- I'm still thinking about them they were that good. My go to sandwich is an albacore tuna with thinly sliced Granny Smith apples and cheddar cheeses on multigrain toast. My husband loves their soup specials and the BLT which includes a stack of really thick bacon perfectly crisip. The taverns wings are great- my favorite are the Cajun wings which are spicy and dry rubbed and served with celery and carrot sticks, homemade blue cheese dip and hot sauce. If you are looking for a late night bite (after 9pm), the tavern offers 4-5 dinner entrees for $10. Typical choices are open face roast turkey with cranberry and stuffing, fish and chips, bangers and mash. John and Cathlyn are superb hosts. Go! You will enjoy it!

We stopped in for a drink while walking by and thought it was a quint place. The bartender was certainly friendly and the materde was very warm and friendly. We order a crab cake which must have been frozen because it was cold inside of it, otherwise it was fair. If we lived here we would come back often. Overall a nice, warm place to come.