Varga Bar Reviews

Fantastic experience. Great drinks and food, superb service, and an amazing ambiance. Solid job. Thank you very much.

These are definitely the best cheese fries—I believe there’s truffle oil but I couldn’t really taste it. You can also add crab to them if you like. The salads are small, especially given the price. We had no wait for three for brunch around 1 pm on a Sunday. This place has a bar, but it didn’t feel like a bar to me. It definitely felt nicer. Great service!

We had apps and a delicious cheese board during a weekday happy hour. Friendly, great service, tasty, strong cocktails.

A nice neighborhood spot with good food, perfect for a hearty comfort food meal. Ambiance is casual & Varga would work well for families because of its accessible menu, large portions and moderate prices. We each enjoyed our meals with lots of praise for the truffle Mac n cheese with bacon, the Caesar salad and the roasted Brussels sprouts. Service is warm and efficient and this makes for a good choice if you’re in the area.

came here for a late night bite. The burguer was quite tasty I must admit and the beer selection is quite impressive but the service isn't good. On top of that they had a special karaoke party that given night so the ambiance sound was energetic and couldn't really talk to any of my other friends in the party.

This local spot is a great find for great beers, burgers and the best tomato soup with crab ever! Nice wait staff, nothing exceptional except that it is a go-to when I have no food and want a reasonably priced meal. Always a dependable night to be with locals.

Very good beer selection, but they also have some good cocktails- the strawberry spritz was very tasty. I liked the mozzarella stuffed eggplant sandwich, my dates fish tacos were also pretty tasty. I would have liked the Caesar salad to have a little more zing. Service is very good, too

This great venue on a Philadelphia side street proved to be an excellent choice. Drink choices were great, bartenders very accommodating and the atmosphere was great. Sat outside to eat and food was very good, service great as well. Highly recomend this restaurant

PROS: outdoor seating fun eats craft beer good tacos friendly service CONS: inconsistent quality- been here a couple of times, The first time was amazing, the second time the food did not deliver quite as well as the first. Would still go back again for the variety of foods.

visited last night and service was incredible! best part was the food. can't wait to go back. mostly bar food but reasonable and very delicious. their happy hour is the best deal ever! visited before show at Walnut, but could have stayed all night! wait staff went out of their way to please, but not in an intruding way! just a perfect evening!!!

We went the first time because it was convenient to the hospital we were visiting. We went the second time because it was so good. Highlights - Kobe burger,Mac and cheese with lobster, short ribs and a beer that suits you. Service was attentive and if you sat outside, noise level was tolerable. All in all, a rewarding experience.

I generally like to go to a place at least twice before writing a review, but in this case i have only had one visit. We ordered the cheese plate, which was excellent, the roasted butternut squash & ricotta filled tortelloni, and the boston bibb lettuce wraps, all excellent. The beer selection is excellent as well. The one time we there, it was an early Saturday night. There were a lot of early-to-mid 20s people there, who tended to be quite noisy. We didn't mind, but we did notice that the family next to us sat down, then quickly moved to a table farther away from the bar. However, that being said, the food was worth the noise, and the items on the menu were not your usual chicken wings and burgers - instead they had duck confit chicken wings with pomegranate molasses-bourbon-chili sauce, pork belly BLTs and ribeye cheesesteak sandwiches made with fontina cheese. If you like your food a bit different, this is a nice spot to go to.

Cozy and dark with artsy decor, it was a good sign that we were seated next to a young family with (well-behaved) children, who seemed to enjoy the experience. The bar was pleasantly bustling, service cordial, and the menu creative and enticing with generous portions and downright delicious results, such as chicken pot pie, cous cous with chicken, burgers and a variety of tacos.

I went to Vargas Bar for Sunday brunch. I ordered the "Denver" omelet. I inquired if it came with bread. The waitress responded NO but I can bring you toast. This is code for a 'chargeable' item. I declined. My food came out without utensils. I tried, but failed to get the wait staff's attention. I got up & approached a waitperson. When brought the utensils there was no apology, only an excuse. The omelet was bland & poorly prepared. The side of potatoes were delicious. My iced tea glass was not refilled in a timely manner. I won't rush back.

Neat bar, with an excellent draft list. The daily happy hour seems to be the ideal time to come, since that is when all the neighborhood regulars show up. The bartenders and wait staff were quite helpful and friendly. Nice place to stop when wandering around Philadelphia.

Wow! How delicious was the food and desert at varga bar.A great Sunday eating and drinking on spruce st in good old philly. All is well. Our many compliments to the chef and staff.

My boyfriend and I were just walking by and I was starving at this point so the idea was to just grab an appetizer for me and he would just grab some water. I wish we could have gotten dinner here too. Was super surprised with how decadent the Truffle Mac and Cheese was. Rich and flavorful with bacon on top it practically melts in your mouth, and as a pretty big “foodie”, I would have to say this was definitely large enough for a meal. If we hadn’t had a tour coming up we probably would have hung around a but longer. The only reason it didn’t get full rating is because of the seating arrangement, sometimes the servers have to practically swing food around your head with how cramped the one corner is. Maybe not for a big group, but otherwise? Would totally recommend.

Food is very good, and great craft beer. Outdoor seating, vibrant youthful crowd, dog friendly. Excellent specials--good happy hour. Great brussel sprouts and lamb wraps.

Welcoming, friendly staff with amazing food! Walked a few blocks from the hospital during windy snowy part of the storm. And I was looking for food a glass of wine and a little bit of peace of mind. I was greeted by the bartender, Frank and felt immediately comfortable. I was unfamiliar with the wines on their list and without being asked he served me up a sample of one he said is his favorite. The small eclectic menu offered a couple of vegetarian choices. I am not a vegetarian but decided to try their quinoa meatball hoagie. It was amazing! It had marinara sauce fresh mozzarella a nice balance of herbs and spices and read that tasted like it was just homemade. Thank you! I will return under happier circumstances ❤️

A great selection of drafts and beer. A friendly pub atmosphere. Service was great (not too busy 5pm weds). Had some great specials. Oysters were fresh and sweet. If you are near by stop by and you'll be thrilled. Don't expect fancy. That it ain't. Happy hour specials fine. Just did not include the best drafts.

Stopped by for a Saturday brunch and left very happy. The cocktail selection offered a good variety of seasonal drinks and ordinary brunch staples. My girlfriend was very excited by her hot spiked cider which was perfect for the cooler temperatures outside. I got the rib eye and eggs which was fantastic. The egg, breakfast potato, steak and sauce combo was an impeccable combination that worked very well together. I would defiantly order this again. My girlfriend and i had a hard time deciding on what to order because all of the brunch options sounded so good!

We had bruch and the food was amazing. Highly recommend the Cheesy crab fries. We also had eggs Benedict and the Lemon Ricotta stuffed French toast. Needless to say we left stuffed and have a new must visit restaurant for every future visit to Philly!

Good food, good service, and a great tap selection. Conveniently located to the train for those coming in from NJ. The only drawback is the very tight seating at the front of the restaurant. Varga is a great place to hangout with friends and the outdoor seating is comfortable and well attended to by the servers

Affordable, delicious gastropub food in our neighborhood, offering full entrees and apps in a relaxed setting both indoors and out in the warmer months. They have a great burger and dont forget to order the fried brussel sprouts! The do have for brunch on Sunday, THE best tomato bisque with a huge blob of crab on it that is to die for. Best value in the city. Love this place!

The truffle-cheese-crab fries are a must as are their sandwiches and burgers. Also serves amazing food at brunch and the drinks are divine. One of my favorite restaurants in Philly!

Varga is the stereotypical neighborhood bar & grill with a Vargas Pin-up Girl theme. Really good local beer selections, good Pub food and a fun, lively atmosphere. They have outdoor seating when it's warmer and the service is very good. Try the fried pickles, the're great!

Their atmosphere is hip and fun. makes you feel like you are in a cabaret. Their beer list is great as well as the food menu. I'm usually not a big brussels sprouts person but you should def order it here if you'd do it anywhere. It's crispy and good! Id totally go back just for this!

We had lunch here on a Saturday during beer week and sat outside with our dog. They had a nice selection of beers. My husband and I ordered the kobe burger and the veggie burger; then we split them. We ordered the kobe burger medium, and it came out more like well. But, it was still very tender. The veggie burger was delicious, the menu description doesn't do it justice. Both burgers were served with homemade ketchup and mustard, a nice touch.

We stopped at Varga Bar for lunch. The menu is not huge, but everything looked so good it was hard to choose. I was tempted by the banana chocolate chip pancakes and by the mixed berry stuffed french toast, but I ended up selecting the Varga Burger, a cheese burger piled high with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles on a sesame seed bun. The burger was outstanding, chargrilled just the way I like. My husband chose the French Dip, which he declared to be the best ever. Both were served with delicious skinny fries. I saw a lot of eggs benedict orders going out - they also looked wonderful. There is outside seating which a lot of people were enjoying on this relatively nice day. We thoroughly enjoyed Varga Bar and look forward to returning.

Yelped this place when we were stuck in the rain at the Magical Gardens. It was such a treat! Brunch goes until late afternoon (bellinis were really good). The vegetarian sandwich was a treat as well! The bartender (Frank, i believe) was really cool and we enjoyed good conversation. Felt like a good locals bar vibe, no frills, good company and good food. 10/10 recommend!

We recently held a party at Varga over holidays and all were very satisfied with the food choices and quality. Management did a great job making sure we were seated in an area away from the bar and service was timed well without being intrusive. Many in our party commented on the excellent food (wings, sliders, pork buns, cheese plate, crab fries). Nothing was greasy or heavy either which is surprising given the lineup of choices. Beer selections are varied (like to have more on tap). Prices are not over the top for high end bar food. Management followed-up to make sure we were satisfied with our experience. Definitely will be back soon.

Menu is interesting. Chili dog and Cheesesteak were excellent, however the crab fries was saggy. Drinks are lacking unless you like beer. The place inside is cramped and noisy so you can not stay there for long unless you hammer yourself with beer.

Three of us had a very nice brunch here recently on a Sunday. It was our first stop here although we pass through this Washington Square West neighborhood frequently and one of us lives within three blocks. One of my dining partners and I had omelets of differing types. Mine was the spinach, fontina and egg white omelet. My friend had the truffled mushrooms and fontina omelet with roasted potatoes. Mine had a nice salad with it. Our other diner had the turkey burger, minus the bacon, with salad. All were good. The burger eater said it was a bit bland but otherwise good. We arrived about 12:45 PM. the restaurant was quite busy with diners both inside and out. The crowd tended toward the mid-twenty early 30's range. With the exception of one in our group, we are older but felt at home regardless. Service was prompt and courteous. Business like. The bar was fairly full. We had good meals and enjoyed the visit. Total bill for 3 without alcohol, including tax and before tip was $52.

I have been here several times this year. We have eaten at the bar and at tables inside. Outside seating looks enjoyable too. They serve a large variety of craft beers, which my son said was good. I had red wine, also very good. Malbec, I think. We had the mussels and the sliders. Both very good. The sliders were better than most. People were friendly and service was fast.

Nice small place, very friendly service, nice looking small bar. Fun menu with interesting choices. The buck-a-shuck oysters were pretty shriveled and not well cleaned and w/o brine. We got two specials: lamb sandwich and skate wing sandwich. Both were tasty but a bit heavy, fries were fine. The price was high - $18 and $14 for the sandwiches (wish they put prices on their specials board). I'd happily go here for a drink and bite but wouldn't go out of my way.

My spouse and I stopped at Varga Bar for a drink on a Sunday morning in late June 2017. The restaurant/bar is open daily from 4:00 pm until 2:00 am, with brunch hours offered on Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 11:00 am. The Anni Family Restaurant Group operates Varga, along with Valanni Social, Butcher Bar, and Mercato. Varga Bar is located on the corner of South 10th and Spruce Streets in Center City/Washington Square. It gets its name from artist Albergo Vargas, who painted the family-friendly pin-up images on the ceiling. Inside the cozy Varga Bar, you can sit at the bar itself, or at tables/booths adjacent to windows/doors that can be rolled back to join the indoor and outdoor spaces. You can dine outdoors at one of the numerous sidewalk tables that wrap around the corner of the building and sit under the protection of a narrow canopy. (We even noticed one well behaved dog accompanying his owners for an al fresco brunch.)Décor includes black-and-white tile floors laid in a diamond pattern, black-and-white patterned both upholstery, and mauveish-colored walls. We did not dine at Varga, but the bartender sung the praises of the food and encouraged us to return to try it. The menu currently lists a selection of snacks, small plates, sandwiches, and large plates, with daily specials and weekend brunch dishes. Our bartender made the best margarita! Listed as lychee flavored on the menu, it tasted similar to a regular on-the-rocks margarita. Without tasting like alcohol, it packed an amazing punch that kept me “happy” for over an hour! But the bar’s real “claim to fame” is their extensive list of craft beer on tap (with more by the bottle). We will return to Varga Bar sometime to sample the food – we already know the drinks are great!

You must go here when in Philly. It's wonderful. Loud, full of life, fantastic beer, service. We had the chicken wings, cheesesteak and Brie and turkey sandwiches. Outstanding and delicious. NOT healthy but wonderful . Highly recommend

Varga is a must-stop and eat while in Philly. Where else can one can crab fries, calamari in a perfect sambals sauce, amazing salads, sandwiches and drinks without breaking the bank? Service is always on point and friendly. Love this joint.

If for no other reason, giant bacon-wrapped olives, served w/ Bloody Mary's at Varga are reason enough to stop at this trendy, popular (often very crowded) bar in Center City. Beyond the wide selections of brews, the menu - w/ several daily specials as well - is original & enticing. When we stopped recently for Sunday brunch, a beautifully constructed watermelon & feta salad was piled high w/ glistening greens; an egg-white omelet cooked to perfection; and a lamb shoulder sandwich w/ porcini pate intriguing. It's a minor point, but while the glamorous '30s décor w/ gorgeous pinups adds to the fun, the music from the 60s is incongruous & we would have preferred some real oldies; but my guess is the young crowd doesn't get it & doesn't care either.

Great craft beer selection and food was not bad for bar food. I highly recommend the craft beer enthusiasts to visit.

We stopped here for lunch on a Friday afternnon. At the time we were the only patrons, so the service was excellent. They have a nice tap beer selection at reasonable prices. The food was delicious and in large portions. My wife had the Humus appetizer and I had the veggie burger. Everything was delicious, including the housemade ketchup. A perfect dining experience.

Pretty ladies on the walls and ceilings. Saturday pm around 8pm was not very busy at all. Appetizer came just minutes before our meals did. Beer selection was good but waitress was a bit snotty about how it’s would be serviced. One brew ordered was hand pumped and the other came only in a 6oz. When we agreed and said yes those are fine she was surprise and questioned us a second time. Burger was good turkey burger has dry but seasoned well. Not sure we’d hear back for the food.

It’s almost Spring and Varga Bar at the corner of 10th and Spruce is a good place to celebrate being able to dine outdoors. We made our reservation on Open Table. We were delighted to have the choice of inside dining orvoutvon this warm evening. We stayed inside with great views of the outside with their large windows. They have about 3 food items on the Happy Hour menu, and yet they can make the nachos and potato skins w/out meat for the vegetarians in our group. Many wines and beers were $5.00. We opted for the roasted Brussel Sprouts and Kale salad with blue cheese. They were good and the atmosphere was a lively one.

Just had an early dinner at Varga and found that the food was terrific, reasonably priced and the service was friendly. We dined on the cheesy crab fries, the kobe chili dog, barbeque chicken sandwich and chicken caesar salad. This is a really comfortable neighborhood place and there were all ages enjoying meals while we were there. For the residents in the Washington Square West neighborhood as well as those of us that visit Philly often,it is great to have restaurants like Varga. They offer great food, friendly service and a no rush atmosphere.

We just happened upon this place and decided to try the infamous sandwich while in Philly. Wow!!!! This was the best meal we had on our week long trip to NYC and Philly! The bun was so, so perfect...and totally made the sandwich. Crispy on the outside, perfectly soft on the inside.... Quality steak cuts! We agreed that we could not order this meal again anywhere else, because we wanted to remember the meal as this bar made it.

The food a well presented and tasty, although not extraordinary. The selection of beers, though, is quite impressive. Several specials, covering multiple tastes. The service was quite welcoming and professional, although I was there on a rather calm night.

I had been to this bar a few times when I lived in Philly a few years ago. Went on a trip to visit last weekend and had to hit up Varga. They have a great selection of beers, we didn't eat this time but the food looked and smelled delicious! Bartenders were great, very attentive and friendly. We would highly recommend visiting this bar if you are in the area.

It was slow and so the servers were in a lazy way, no napkins, no side plates for appetizers we were sharing, refills were a challenge and no one seemed like they wanted to be at work. That being said I always have liked the food here, and love the fried cauliflower. I got fish tacos, they were good, but wish I got the fish and chips (it looked awesome). Everyone was satisfied with their meals and drinks.

Met a friend for lunch and enjoyed the outside seating. Food was delicious. Service very laid back - not a bad thing if you’ve got time to burn.

Went there twice and enjoyed the food and drinks. The staff were friendly and remembered us when we came back for a second time. You can sit outside or by open windows which is nice in hot weather.

Had the wings. Thai Chili. Bit spicy for me but I am overly sensitive to spice. Also had the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Pretty good. Sat at the bar and the service was great. Price was not too bad. Had their famous fries. Not my cup of tea but the others loved them although three of us did not finish the bowl???? One of our group had the burger. Looked great and he said it was good but again did not finish it???? Limited menu for Brunch!

We came here after visiting the Flower Show today. A cute little bar with pinup girl pictures from the 30s!! We had the Varga Burger---it was quite tasty! I had a cocktail and my husband, Steve had a beer. Both were drinks were delicious!! Nice place to rest and relax!! Can't wait to stop in again!!

This place was reeeeaaaallly good! We had 3 days 2 nights to hit all Philly's highlights; we had an itinerary that had us trying two brunch spots.. Varga Bar was first.. and we never made it to the next because we just came back to Varga the next morning:) Everything was great here! I feel qualified to say this because in two days we tried nearly the whole brunch menu:) crab cheesefries, banana chocolate chip pancakes <--absolutely amazing, ribeye and eggs, kobe burger, grilled cheese and tomato bisque, french toast, the mimosas, and the miss february cocktail.. and again, EVERYthing was great! We saw the building where they signed the Declaration of Independence, but honestly, the highlight of our trip was the Varga Bar!

We stopped by for their outdoor beer week shindig. It was good for a quick beer but there wasn't too much excitement or socializing. The dj was playing some good music and the drafts were great and only $5 no matter what you ordered. I probably wouldn't go back for drinks with all the places to go in Philly but I hear the brunch is good so I might try that.

The bar tender knows his beer - you describe what you like and he (Chris) nails it. The food was excellent, great service and the 1920-30's theme of pin up girls was tasteful and fun. Daily specials. Smaller restaurant/bar - get there early - unisex bathrooms.

Saw the spot listed in a Philly visitor publication. Also was a recommendation on the list at the Alexander Inn. Visited at about 6:30 PM on a Thursday night. Inside was crowded and loud. We were able to snag seats at a sidewalk table and really enjoyed it. The street is busy enough to be interesting with traffic, bikes, and walkers, but not so busy as to cause regrets for being outside. Food and drink were very good and reasonably priced. Kobe beef sliders were delicious. Sad that we missed the painted ceiling- will have to see it the next time we are in Philly.

Good beer selection. Order the deep fried pickles, kobe burger, or Kobe hot dog. The rest of the food is not good. Service here is generally poor. We were ignored by the bartender while he helped a friend with fantasy football. Kobe dog was good once the correct order was placed but onion rings were disgusting. I also got served corn on the cob that wasn't even room temperature. My partner got the wrong burger served to him but it didn't matter since it was inedible anyway.

I spent a very enjoyable afternoon over a meal and several craft beers while sitting at a sidewalk table. The food was good, the staff attentive and the steady stream of people walking by were fascinating. Hipsters, medical types from Thomas Jefferson Hospital, joggers, families, gay couples all proved entertaining.

This adorable restaurant was recommended by a friend who lives in Philly. It was not very far from our hotel but brought us into a cozy neighborhood feeling (off the tourist path). The weather was beautiful, and Varga had outdoor sidwalk seating. Our meal was great, our service was great and we lingered and enjoyed the experience! I would highly recommend and go back myself if ever in Philly.

Varga pretty much has everything in its arsenal to make you fat: crab fries (smothered in cheese curds and fresh crab meat), duck wings, delicious craft cocktails and other types of pub food, but greatly elevated. love the vibe, the staff, and the bloody marys.

We enjoyed an extremely tasty, fun, reasonably priced meal. Friendly atmosphere although loud. I had fish and chips with authentic malt vinegar and 2 dipping sauces. The fish was flaky and the crust not crisp and not greasy. My wife had the kobe sliders. She said they were delicious although a tiny bit heavy on the boursin cheese. The onion rings that came with it were HUGE, crispy and delicious. My son had a turkey burger that was juicy with goat cheese, bacon, pickled onions, tomato and red lettuce. For dessert we shared a flight of breakfast cereal based ice cream - count chocula, apple jacks and cinnamon toast crunch - unusual but very flavorful and very dedlicious. Service was fast and extremely friendly. We would definitely go back.

I was here during a crowded Friday happy hour. The fish and chips I ordered were average, but the selection of craft beer on tap was excellent. The place is small and some of the tables are uncomfortably close together. It was like sitting in a crowded theater since I had to keep standing up or scooting in to allow servers and customers access to the neighboring tables. I recommend going for the beer & beware of your table placement.