Outdoor seating
Yes
The Olde Bar in Philadelphia
Categories
Location on the map
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, US
Service options
No-contact delivery
Yes
Delivery
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Health and safety
Staff wear masks
Yes
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Great dessert
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Offerings
Alcohol
Yes
Beer
Yes
Cocktails
Yes
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Happy-hour drinks
Yes
Happy-hour food
Yes
Late-night food
Yes
Organic dishes
Yes
Spirits
Yes
Vegetarian options
Yes
Wine
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Catering
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Seating
Yes
Amenities
Bar on site
Yes
Good for kids
Yes
High chairs
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Cosy
Yes
Historic
Yes
Romantic
Yes
Upmarket
Yes
Crowd
Family friendly
Yes
Groups
Yes
LGBTQ+ friendly
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Yes
Accepts reservations
Yes
Payments
Credit cards
Yes
Phone: +1 215-253-3777
Site: http://theoldebar.com/
Site: http://theoldebar.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:Closed
- Wednesday:4–10PM
- Thursday:4–10PM
- Friday:4–10PM
- Saturday:12PM–12AM
- Sunday:12–10PM
The Olde Bar in other cities:
Comments (199)
Phenomenal cocktails, the food is to die for, and such wonderful ambience. Cant wait to come back to town and spend more time here.
What a great place in Old city. The food the drinks and the deserts are all amazing! From the host at the front door to the the wait staff, everyone was great!!! I came in with out of town friends and had such a good time came back the next night. Oh and I almost forgot, the the happy hour is amazing, great drinks and $1 oysters! AMAZING!!!!!
Came to The Olde Bar for restaurant week and before you start judging, I was with a group (that’s a lot of food for just 2 people). Definitely hit this spot up during happy hour. Their Fishbowl punch is on the strong side and surprisingly not super sweet. We got good quality fries with crabmeat on them, clam chowder, oysters which were super fresh (east coast), lobster which came pretty close to a Maine lobster roll, fried chicken which had to be double fried for that extra crunchiness, risotto, and the two available desserts; a flourless chocolate cake (perfect for chocolate lovers, and the cheesecake which also wasn’t overly sweet. All and all the food was great, the serving sizes were good, everything was super fresh, and again hit this spot during happy hour with some friends to really complete a long day.
Food here is always amazing, have been here 4 times already and it has not let us down yet, fried chicken is perfectly crispy and very well seasoned and they make their own ranch and Buffalo sauce which tastes phenomenal together, their pork chops are delicious and burgers as well! And the drinks they make are very strong and tasty definitely worth the money, kind of a hidden gem on the outside youll see the name book binders.
Very welcoming staff. Great atmosphere, and we were seated right away without a reservation on a Friday night. (Allbeit, a very drafty table).We sampled three things from the Happy Hour menu, including a dozen buck-a-shuck oysters, mini lobster rolls, and olde bar fries.Food was fast, lobster rolls lacked luster, but the oysters were outstanding. Hard to wow me with french fries, but the sauce was good!Good price on Happy Hour wine.
We did a group dinner in a separate room and enjoyed an excellent meal with really good service. The wine list was somewhat truncated as they were out of some items.
Our server was knowledgeable and polite. A real pleasure. The food was excellent!!! By sheer luck we had made a reservations at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday not realizing happy hour ran 7 days a week. Which meant appetizers are 1/3 of the cost. We wound up ordering every appetizer and the oysters we ate were unbelievable. The variety of dipping sauces they served with them were excellent. We enjoyed them so much we had three orders. Especially afterwards.😉 It has now became our regular restaurant!!!
Great food and service. Warm atmosphere inside. The bar fries were fresh, hot, and delicious. With a creamy sauce, and sweet lump crab meat. The lobster roll was buttery and full of mayo flavor, with tons of fresh lobster. It was beautifully topped with a claw. And the chocolate caramel cake was decadent, melting in your mouth, so creamy and delicious. We couldnt finish it after everything else we ate.
Great experience coming in for happy hour and trying a variety of appetizers. Yum yum! Great atmosphere with fun artwork on the walls... Friendly staff. Would love to come here again.
Food was very good, but also overpriced and under portioned. Lobster pot pie was almost $40 but had literally 1 small claw in it, the rest was scallops and other stuff. Just call it seafood pot pie, damn. Fried chicken was good, but left me wanting more. Salads and desserts were good.
I dined on 3/21/21 to try their daily (7 days a week) happy hour from 4-6pm. It was awesome. The $1 oysters, olde fries and crab fingers were delicious! However next time, I’m going to pass on $5 shrimp or lobster nugget sandwichy but to each their own. If you’re in old city I def recommend booking a res to avoid a waiting in line.
Made reservations based on the menu; only disappointment was the Lobster Corn Dog was missing. The Lobster Roll , while pricey, was worth every bite-such a generous serving of lobster meat! The Lobster Bisque was beautifully presented as expected from an Iron Chef. My daughter loved her Lobster and Fingerling Potato Salad -it looked delish!!
It was nice. Small service was good as was the food. Cocktail drinks were delicious. Small menu. Mostly brunch items.. It seems more like a quick stop than a full blown restaurant.
Great atmosphere and staff. Oysters are one of the best in the city!
We did the small raw bar tower - (6) ea of East and west coast clams and oysters. There were shrimp, crabmeat and (raw) snapper. It was quite delicious! We also shared the fried chicken and waffles.
Everything we ordered was amazing! I had buffalo cauliflower, crab fries. Happy hour is delicious too.
Oh my goodness this place is so amazing! Fancy pants, elegant, delicious food!! I cant say enough about this wonderfulness!!! The service was wonderful, All of the employees were so accommodating and kind. Crab fingers are such a fabulous idea, so delicious, No work involved :-) and golden tile fish? I had never heard of that before but the server explained it was local fish that feeds only on crustaceans and its light and rich and he was right so good!
Small lunch date with my lady. It was awesome. Will definitely be back again. Went on a Saturday afternoon Around 1:00 p.m. and had no issues parking. Great lighting and atmosphere. Great server too.
The cocktails were very well made and creative. I ordered the crab fingers which were basically crab claws deshelled, very good. The space was elegant and tables were spaced apart. Only downside is that the service was really slow, but it was a busy Friday night.
The food was great.The service was problematic - incorrect appetizers, timing was off with courses, one entree not brought out until 30-ish minutes after the others, dessert coffee came as an afterthought following dessert plates taken away.Check had the erroneous apps added.Too many places with good food in Philly to go back.
April 2022 Wedding The Olde Bar Venue Review:Rating: (3 out of 5 stars)The venue is beautiful and definitely a good choice for small to intimate wedding settings. The Garces events management group definitely needs some improvement in terms of client coordination, contractual management and detailed service assist. If we had failed to capture some of the important information that we had talked about during the calls and check-ins we would have missed a lot of the details for the day of the wedding, as we did not get this from the events management team. However, wed like to give a HUGE kudos and THANK YOU to The Olde Bars Restaurant Manager Leah H.! She truly saved the day and we are so thankful we bumped into her while doing a walkthrough of the venue. She ensured everything ran smoothly through the venue and checked in with the bridal party constantly. She understands true event planning, hospitality, customer service, and overall being a good person!
The oysters are absolutely tiny almost non-existent. We also ordered Chicken and waffles which took forever came out significantly later than we expected even the manager came out and apologized about how long it was taking. Once they arrive the chicken was really really good but the waffles were ice cold not even warm not even a little warm. They made us a new waffle and brought it out. However, after taking all of our plates when they brought out the waffles they brought absolutely no syrup or sauce or anything with it. it was hot this time but it was very dry as no sauce included. By the time they realized their mistake, we were almost done. At this point we figured complaining made no difference so we just wanted to get out of the restaurant. I came here years ago and it was very good. I was excited to bring my wife as she had not been..... totally regret this decision. Waste of money. We have recently gone to Cafe aldo Lamberti in New Jersey and their oysters were huge same exact price but so much better..
Me my husband and friends stopped by here on my birthday after leaving very dissatisfied from another restaurant. We sat at the bar and I must tell you ANDREW the bartender was absolutely amazing!!! The drinks were dynamite, he was fun, and he simply made my entire night!! Andrew my boooyy...is all that and more! If you come here have Andrew make you a drink. I promise..you will love it!! We also had the crab fries, crab fingers, and fritto misto....so so good!! Definitely come through!!
Olde bar crab cake was good but too salty, little sauce. The olde bar fries little barely have the seafood on top.The oysters were delicious
HH snacks were cool, just expect miniscule portions. Im talking one bite and done portions.
My server went out of her way to make sure I was safe with celiac stuff. It was a cool atmosphere. I think after work drinks here would be fun.
Hanging out in Philly visiting our daughter in Grad school. Our server Pete and Danny were amazing. Fish Punch and Gimlet were amazing. We had the Crab Fingers, Fried Oysters, Lobster Bisque, Tamarind Glazed Lobster, Crabcake and Steak Frites. Definitely worth visiting .
Wanted to feel like we were home having a drink and it did not disappoint. great food. great atmosphere. better staff. thank you from these tired detroiters.
First time in Philly. Saw this place while wandering around. Beautiful architecture inside and out. Limited menu at the bar, maybe because of Covid restrictions. We had the Olde Bar Fries, which were amazing. Worth the price.
One of the coolest historic wedding spots in Old City Philadelphia. The Olde Bar is gorgeous and you will love the rich history of the venue. The Garces Group does the catering and as you can imagine the food is incredible. I loved working their and the couple was so happy with the service and how smooth everything went for their Olde Bar wedding!
Really great food!!! Monday Night Happy Hour at one of my favorite Seafood spots in the city @theoldebarphl ; The Cape May buck-a-shuck Oysters were absolutely delicious! I haven’t had Oysters this good in a while honestly. I also had the happy hour special fried shrimp🦐 that were fried to perfection; and the Crab fingers are legit my favorite! 🦀 #philadelphia #philly #happyhour #seafood #crabs #shrimp #oyster #foodporn #food #foodphotography #water
Happy hour is a great deal with $1 super fresh, melt in your mouth oysters. Service was amazing and the lobster roll was out of sight. Their specialty cocktails for happy hour were amazing as well. Go now!
While The Olde Bar is far from inexpensive, the food is AMAZING and the setting rocks. Its so old school, there are literally ashtrays in the bathroom stalls. The dishes available are classic, but executed with modern professionalism yielding meals that are utterly delectable.We ordered the buffalo cauliflower (absolutely delicious, with a nice zing), tater tots (with a nice spice mixed in with the exterior breading), fried oysters (very large in size), the tuna roll (extremely good tuna), the blackened red snapper (every bite DIVINE), and the strawberry shortcake, which is better described as a modern strawberry shortcake-inspired cheesecake.The cocktails ordered were also thoroughly enjoyed, and we are delighted to see that they offer large blocks of ice for certain drinks.The staff was very friendly and we never wanted for anything.Would definitely go again and recommend to friends .
My girlfriend and I were staying in Philadelphias historic district, saw the Olde Bar on maps and thought wed take a look. We went during happy hour and enjoyed decent wine for $5 a glass, and excellent happy hour food specials. We selected the crab fingers (pictured) and the fresh deviled eggs. Both were excellent. Im not a fan of liver typically, but the deviled eggs were stuffed with a pate of chicken liver and it was a very low key and delicious flavor, even for a liver hater like myself. Service and atmosphere were both excellent and we were surprised how low our bill was for the food drink and service we received during happy hour.
Everything was so delicious and well made. Went here on a date with my husband we just missed happy hour but thats just fine, we ordered east coast oysters for Apps and had the fried chicken( FRECKIN DELICIOUS) and a chicken sandwich which came with the most perfectsweet potato fries sooo crunchy( ALSO FRECKIN DELICIOUS). Also for my shirley temple drinkers you have to try theirs its house made and absolutely packed with flavor!!
This is our new Friday night happy hour date night spot! The drinks were SLAMN! The Rose Gold drink. Crab Fingers complaints the drinks. You will still need to order entrées. I was still hungry. Its Covid safe. The tables are six feet apart. We will definitely be back.
Food was amazing as well as the service. The server made excellent suggestions!
Very cool from the outside but just warning food and drinks are overpriced, so my checking account didn’t think it was cool on the inside. Peep it out for drink during happy hour, otherwise not worth it
Love this place! Awesome happy hour and the ambient. Staffs are friendly and helpful. The Bartenders are all awesome.
Food was delicious and fairly priced.
Great outdoor dining! Wonderful service definitely recommend! The oyster Caesar salad and tilefish are delicious!!
Charming bar in historic Philadelphia. We were drawn to the bar for the oyster happy hour. Unfortunately, not all of their oyster selection were part of the happy hour. The better tasting oysters, at least to us were not part of happy hour. We still had a great time. It was lively on a Friday night. Service was good.
Iconic Philadelphia restaurant / bar with great history. The Olde Bar, formerly the “Old Original Bookbinder’s,” dates back to 1898 when the restaurant first opened in what is now known as Philadelphia’s historic district. Much of the building’s historic attributes have been well-preserved which makes for a unique atmosphere. Great place to go out for dinner or just stop in for a drink at the bar. Highly recommended!
Very tasty lobster roll! Beautiful decor and history. Everything was cooked perfectly. Oddly they added dill as a garnishment to the lobster roll. Other than that it was perfect.
First night in the city in 16+ years, staying next door at Society Hill Sheraton and look out my window and see this gem of a restaurant. I remembered as a kid Bookbinders Snapper Soup and of course had to pop over for dinner which I dont regret. Snapper soup & fish and chips! Delicious - dont miss out on the snapper soup!
An unexpected find wandering through this part of town! In a beautiful building labeled “Bookbinders”. My husband doesn’t like seafood, so we just popped in for happy hour. Had their crab fingers- So yummy and beautiful presentation! And their special drinks were good too.Pleasant and friendly atmosphere for our brief visit.
Friendly staff, good food. Hindsight, would have ordered more oysters and skipped the entrees. Ooh delicious cocktails as well!
Go during Happy Hour, better than the rest of dinner. The house drink was more like a sour than a punch, not impressed. Unfortunately this wont reach my Philly Top 10.
Very nice meal. Perfect place for a quiet dinner with a loved one or family.
Highly recommend. We sat at the bar and had some drinks and food. The food was excellent. The bar staff was changing shifts so there was a lot of staff behind bar between bar backs and bartenders. They each added to our experience. Whether drink recommendations, where to go next while visiting Philly , or talking about food and life in general they helped make our first time in Philly incredible. We will be back. Thanks 🙏 to you all.
Omg,with out words,important go when it opens for the Happy Hour,loved it alot of times,my husband had the appetizer delicious,$1 osters $5 crab fingers.i had chicken with fries,the dessert,out of this world strawberry cheesecake we had wine.The restaurant has a interesting history.Went to celebrate Valentines Weekend
Have eaten here 2x, didnt learn the first time. On par with a mediocre pizza place for the price of a decent restaurant. Cobb salad reminded me of the every pizza place salad scene from family guy - for $13. There are literally dozens of places to get better food for the same price or the same food for way less.
The Best Happy Hour Oyster!!1dollar oyster and tasty cocktail with good spirits.
Not sure why I didn’t find out about this little gem sooner! Stop by last night to check out their eclectic drink menu and get some bar bites. First off, the drink menu is so unique! I don’t even remember what I ordered but it had white rum and cacao! Fantastic! The tater tots changed my life! You gotta check this place out! Another great Garces restaurant!!!
Lone traveler, locates cool looking establishment. Sits down at the bar for dinner and waited on by fabulous bartenders that are so friendly with great service. Have the Lobster Pie which was fantastic!!!
The food was DELICIOUS. I LOVED IT ALL. The drinks were cute and themed and tasted really good. I had the fried chicken and it was some of the best friend chicken I have ever had in my entire life so far. We also had the everything fries for an appetizer and they were better then I thought especially since I dont like seafood and there is crab on them. Will def def def be going back when I come to Philly again one day.
I came yesterday for a return visit and the service was next level . The food is great and the oysters are very fresh . You can see the bartenders have a craft and take they’re time making each drink.
Feels nostalgic. Some drinks were good, but there wasnt an ice cube or a single decoration in any of the drinks. (No lemon twist, no sprig of anything, no ice cube) literally brown liquid in a low ball glass.My drink tasted like cough syrup it was a fig-infused vodka.We didnt eat there as we only went to pregame for our dinner reservation elsewhere.The seafood extravaganza looked awesome. It was huge!
Great food spot for a quick lunch. Atmosphere feels a little cold from the entryway but staff appeared to be nice from my visit.
Fair to say this place is great. Good service and the lobster roll was the best I’ve ever had. Cool relaxing place, don’t walk on by!
The food is amazing and the staff is so friendly. The first picture is the fried calamari and the second is the lobster roll the third is the oysters.
My daughter and I are from out of town and made reservations at this restaurant to celebrate my birthday. The reviews were very good, so we thought we would have a great celebratory dinner. When we walked in, we noticed that the temperature in the restaurant was not very much lower than the temperature outside which was 97 degrees. We asked our waitress to turn the air conditioner down and she said the air conditioner was broken. Admittedly, we should have left at that time, but she stated that it had been repaired and should be working shortly. Needless to say it wasn’t, and it was miserable. This is a seafood restaurant so we ordered seafood and on the way home we both felt nauseated. I think the ownership should have closed the restaurant or we should have been informed of the situation before we were seated. We complained to the management, but nothing was done to help compensate for this s again totally miserable experience. If I could give negative stars I would.I would like to add that the service was good. Our waitress was just as uncomfortable, due to the lack of air conditioning, as we were, but still was upbeat and attentive. I felt even more sympathy for the personnel in the hot kitchen.The manager did call us later that week and apologized as well as offered us a discount for brunch that weekend. However, we were leaving to return home and weren’t able to take advantage of the offer.
I went there for restaurant week, it eased tune last day, however they had limited appetizers @ 8pm and there was no regular menu in case you wanted to order from the regular menu. I just thought this was poor managing. They are listed as a seafood spot.
Get the pork chop; might be the best Ive ever eaten. Great atmosphere and super nice wait staff.
Decent happy hour: Buck-a-shuck oysters, Crab fingers were standard. Crab fries were good, plus friendly service. Happy hour drinks were so so, but my Veuix Carre was great. Sort of an unusual dining room and undrinkable tap water (warm and funky taste). About $30/ person isnt bad for dozen n half shellfish plus other apps and 2 drinks per. Id revisit for the bar which looks impressive
Had a great visit start to finish. Evan waited on our table of two and was attentive, funny, personable, and knowledgeable of the menu. The food was really really good. I had the stuffed lobster and babe had the pot pie; both were good. The bartender was amazing! I didn’t get his name but he we were able to watch him work from our seats which was really entertaining. I had the fish bowl drink (rum) and it was great. I would definitely recommend.
The building and history alone warrants 5 stars.. but the drinks and seafood sealed the deal. So good! Jose does it again.
Awesome place with a really great happy hour. Historic building in an amazing neighborhood. Great oysters too. No downside, really. Highly recommended.
We had our rehearsal dinner here and it was everything we could have wanted! The food was great, and the servers were very attentive.
I love this historic space and have been going for the buck-a-shuck happy hour for years. They usually have oysters from Virginia or Delaware and theyre pretty decent quality for a dollar a pop. The Fish house punch is so yummy-but be careful-its strong. Recently had the hh lobster rolls and they were yummy. The bartenders and servers are always attentive and friendly. This is one of the few places in Philly that has a happy hour on the weekends--take advantage of it!!
My fiancé took me here for my birthday dinner. Our first waitress was not pleasant at all but they quickly switched her out to another waiter who was great! They have a cute side walk area to dine on. We had the oysters for the app which were out of this world and of course ordered the lobster which was fabulous, though was expecting more than whole potatoes for the side dish.
Too bad they dont have an anti-star rating. I was served the equivalent of a pasta snowball; cold and clumped together. I should of known; whenever a server is acting like youre best friends from elementary school the moment you sit down, youre in for slop on a plate. The wine was fantastic-oh, wait a second, they didnt make the wine...never mind.
Love coming here for happy hour (especially for the fish house punch). The service is excellent - our last server was on top of things and was extremely personable. Im not the #1 seafood fan but I always enjoy eating here because of the atmosphere, quality of food, and wonderful service.
Kind of disappointed. Went for happy hour. The drinks were great (local craft beer, and signature drinks). The $1 oysters were less than average. The lobster roll and crab roll was ridiculously tiny. The fries were the best. Maybe dinners are better.
Surprisingly disappointing for such an upscale location. The food was prepared well in advance of being served. We ordered drinks, oysters, appetizers, entrees and dessert and where in and out in less than 30 minutes, which may work for McDonalds but is a little unnerving for seafood. Staff seemed annoyed we were eating in. Definitely not kid friendly.
Amazing food and service! I got The Burger with a fried egg and the seafood tower and it was sooooo good. They have their own pastry chef and u can tell. The strawberry trifle is 👌😩. Atmosphere is very nice too!
Joe makes the best old fashioned drink I have tasted so far. Always have a great experience with all of thr staff there.
I took my wife here for her birthday dinner. The place is really nice. Spacious. The cocktails were excellent as were the appetizers. The main dishes were average. They were out of the two top dishes my wife wanted for dinner. For the price we paid, I expected better quality main dishes. I felt like I was eating at a chain restaurant. At this price we’ll go elsewhere.
The Bookbinders neon signage out front tips off the fact that this should be a great experience- and it is. The staff knows their business- our wonderful waitress and the servers knew the food and had upbeat attitudes, which gave us an upscale dining experience. The food is outstanding, and the happy hour prices allowed us to create a mini buffet at our table. Then add in the Fabulous drinks, and The Olde Bar gave us a great night out!
Walked into a relaxed ambience, like it could be someones dining room and didnt have to wait long for the server to approach our table. Started out with happy hour drinks and appetizers that didnt disappoint . The food was hot, fresh, and delicious. One of the best seafood restaurants in Philly.
We had a great eexperience here! The buffalo culiflower was awesome!! The oysters were fresh and we especially liked the ones from. British Columbia. The shrimp cocktail was very nice as well. We will definitely return soon. They also have a great happy hour!
Beautiful atmosphere! Love the Buck A Shuck Oysters during Happy Hour! Our drinks were very good as well!
Beautiful, classic style interior indoors, nice tables outdoors. Great service. The food is very good. Ive dined at the Olde Bar twice and both times food and service were consistently good. Ill definitely come back.
A little mayo rich but one of the best warm lobster rolls ever. Lovely. courteous, if not novice service but a total enjoyable dining experience. look forward to returning soon.
Great service at the bar! Loved the quiet vibe. Delicious food and drinks.
This was my first visit, but I will definitely be back. The food was amazing. I took half my burger home to share with my boyfriend and he agreed, lol. I also had the cauliflower appetizer and the crab fingers. Both were very well seasoned. I think you will enjoy whatever you order from their menu.
Great service. Well stocked bar. They offer happy hour everyday 4-6 pm. Enjoyed a shrimp cocktail and raw oysters.
My spouse and I celebrated our XXXII anniversary at the Olde Bar. We ordered two vodka Martinis-they came in champagne glasses(?)The lobster hoagie was presented on a round tin-basket with a small salad. The salad did not look/taste fresh, however, the lobster hoagie was superb!! The banoffee was great too!
My boyfriends father is severely allergic to shellfish and the hostess made it clear they have separate cooking options to avoid cross contamination. We double checked with the waiter to let him know we have a severe shellfish allergy at the table. My boyfriends father got an immediate reaction from the buffalo cauliflower and we soon found out the waiter forgot to make note of the allergy on the ticket for that dish. The service was extremely slow and food came before our cocktails. Our dessert took 45 min. After having to talk to manager multiple times to check on food and make sure there was no cross contamination they took off nothing from the check including the buffalo cauliflower! Would never recommend this place thankfully my boyfriends dad did not have a serious reaction but the restaurant should be extremely careful when they are aware of a reaction.
HAPPY HOUR 🍹The drinks were great and in aesthetic small cups. The Fruit House punch is my fave. I recommend Tob Crab Fries and the Banana Bread/Pudding(?) Sundae. There menu is online nothing physical. There were umbrellas and it started getting busier later but in a nice way. Very silent, nice atmosphere. Would come here again during happy hour 4-6pm
I went on a Saturday evening there was a short wait to be seated.(no reservation) I had a olde bar burger. And 2 bloody Marys.The burger came with fries.I thought the burger was a bit undercooked and fries were OK. The drinks were average.
An honest 2 star review.. and I rarely leave bad reviews. Took 20(!)mins to have a waiter come to our table, which was comically sticky. 25(!)mins for drinks to arrive. Corn crab chowder was bland, crab fingers app was so bad we didnt even finish them, fried chicken was dry, fries were meh, and even their self-proclamimed best burger around was greasy. Disappointed to say the least. Sad we took our friend there 🤷♂️
Sat outside during happy hour, nice atmosphere. Attentive staff. Fried oysters, crab fingers and the warm lobster roll were very good. The raw oysters were so so.
This place never lets me down! The oysters are so fresh....one of the best places in philly!!! The happy hour menu always makes me happy! The drinks are strong, not too sweet with freshly squeezed fruit....yum!
Just here for drinks can’t wait to come back for dinner
Went for happy hour for the second time. First time was excellent; this was average. Oysters were ordinary. Crab fingers were prepared in a scampi presentation which did not work. Crab was mealy. Buffalo cauliflower was great and the fries were delicious. Had an issue with the waitress not disclosing that a drink was not a happy hour offering. Resulting difference in the bill was $14 (20% of the total bill). She had it taken care of. Very accommodating. Service otherwise was excellent.
Wont go back. I ordered the crab stuffed lobster, and it was mediocre. Crab stuffing was creamy for some reason w little crab. Lobster claw piece was good, and what little was left was mush. Super disappointed!
I had a pretty lackluster experience despite high expectations. It started with the passive aggressive and disinterested hostess who told us that the open table right next to her was for us but that it would take her 10 minutes to get ready. Then the lukewarm waitress told her she didn’t like any of the beers or ciders so couldn’t help us make a decision. After the poor service, the food took way too long to come, and the drinks were incorrectly served. The place is overpriced and the service is not worth the time and money spent. Seek patronage elsewhere
Great happy hour with buck-a-shuck oysters. My bartender Mike was great. Friendly service and good conversation.
Great cocktail bar in old Town location. Wide cocktail menu. Excellent service.
Very nice indoor decor. The happy hour is a great way to sample a few different sharable options. Very easy to rack up a high bill but definitely worth it 👌. The mood lighting is on point at this place and the Krab Fingees are the best
Good food, but a little overpriced. Had the crabcake, which was great. One of our oysters looked like half was missing, but they were very nice and apologetic about replacing it.
Okay. The cocktails were a little too sweet for me, but the lobster roll is moan-out-loud delicious! Seriously - the fries and the lobster were so outstanding!!!
Always a wonderful experience here! Happy hour drinks and snacks always keep us coming back. And the ambience, service, and dinner menu is one of my favorites in the whole city of Philadelphia.
Thank you for an amazing experience Emrich! We will be back.
The experience here is relaxing. My waitress has perfect timing, knew not to be over bearing and was attentive before I needed assistance. Host was very friendly and welcoming. They have qr barcodes on the table to pull up the menu..... COVID precautions. Did not order any appetizers, only a roll and drink. The drink was great, and the roll was even better. There wasn’t a big crowd so I’m assuming that is why I got my food so quickly but either way I was pleased all around. It was walking distance from the hotel I was staying at. Needless to say if I pass through here in the future I will be staying at the same hotel just to come back here and indulge.
Nice relaxing, friendly atmosphere. Food was very good!
So I stopped at this bar for happy hour during a stroll in olde city and let me just say it was wonderful! My server JOSEPH was phenomenal! Seriously just the most kind and genuine server. I ordered 4 buck a shucks and the crab fingers (so good weird name but read the description and order them you won’t regret it;) ) and a lot of drinks as I’m typing this I’m still drinking bc I don’t want to leave. The (I think) manager Jeff is also great! He was walking around checking on all the tables to make sure everything was going smooth. Bathrooms are clean. Overall highly recommend.
I ordered appetizers and the happy hour cocktails. Not only was the entire bar staff amazing, but the food was great. Wonderful atmosphere and very charming. Everything I saw come out of the kitchen looked yummy.
Happy hour during outdoor dining was delicious. Service was quick, prompt and safe. Probably shouldnt go when a storm is headed into Philly. Empty water glasses fell off tables and bills flew away, pretty funny.
I am rating purely on the bar experience as I have never gotten a meal here. The cocktails are absolutely exquisite and the bartenders definitely know what theyre doing. They can recommend beverages for you, and are very attentive to you while enjoying a beverage. Their beer list is also pretty good. The management and staff are all very professional, and I will definitely be back.
Amazing cocktails. Great food. Open late. Comfortable dark atmosphere. We went for food and drink around 10pm and really enjoyed ourselves. We will be back again. Olde Bar does not take reservations. We had the snapper soup, clam chowder, oysters, crab cake and lobster roll. All were excellent. The cocktails here are top notch and now prefer this as the place for my last cocktail before retiring in for the night.
Went for drinks and a snacks. The crafted drinks and the crab fingers were amazing!
Delicious cocktails. Great service.
Decor at the bar is nicely done in retro style, decor in the restaurant is a bit bland. Food and service was good. I had the Trout special that was seared and seasoned perfectly. The only drawback to the main course was the funky presentation on paper in a galvanized serving dish. The paper got soggy from the food and came apart with eat cut of the knife and fork. Please consider serving your good food on actual dishes.
Great service with an AWESOME happy hour! Good appetizers & cocktail selection. Would definitely recommend the chowder & the crab fingers.
Went for happy hour, wasnt disappointed 🤣👌. Drinks on point. Raw Oysters 😍, then Iordered the fried chicken O my and thank you😍will be back 🤗😋
We had an amazing experience at this restaurant! JOHN is a great 👍🏽 server! He’s very attentive and cares about the experience customers have. I would recommend him to anyone going to Olde Bar for dinner or even just cocktails 🍹
Not my crowd. A bit yuppy for my tastes. Drinks are ok, but overpriced. Desserts were not very good unfortunately.
This was my 1st time at the olde bar. Very upbeat and friendly hostess and waitress. Our waitress was Janelle and she was awesome, had a lovely smile, great personality and did a fantastic job explaining what was on the menu and wine & happy hour specials. The food was delicious, good portions and had to request a doggie bag to take some of the food home...great place to eat and socialize. FIVE STARS
Perfectly crafted cocktails. Excellent service and the Olde Bar fries are a must have!
Went for happy hour, the apps were very tasteful, we ordered the crab fingers, fried shrimp, deviled eggs, and buffalo cauliflower. All 4 were my fav things to eat, also ordered the fish punch *definitely a strong drink, will not disappoint*
I will start out by saying that I am a fan of this restaurant. However the latest experience the drinks and food were incredibly slow to come out and some of the drinks at happy hour weren’t available. During a happy hour this is a bad look. We had to ask waiters multiple times where our drinks were and no one seemed to know.
Felt really disappointed, and I was really excited to go. First the happy hour drink, which was gin, lime, and grapefruit; just tasted like lime juice. They apparently just got rid of their fish and chips. I saw good reviews on them. I just was not a fan of the menu.
It used to be better. Had the large raw bar tower, corn and crab chowder and the Olde Bar crab cake.The chowder was barely warm. The raw bar tower had oysters, clams, ceviche (or a version of it), shrimp, alaskan crab leg, and lump crab meat. The lump crab meat had a mustard flavor which killed the crab taste. The ceviche was had a nutty flavor but that was all can be tasted. The Alaskan crab leg was very salty. Service was good though.
Best fish and chips Ive ever had. Cod was super fresh and breaded perfectly. Want to try the raw bar next. Just the service was a bit off. Couldnt get a server to take my order until the manager finally came by. Food came promptly but after I finished, it took over 15 min to get them to give me a check, Otherwise I would have given 5 stars.
My husband and I went to the Olde Bar last night for our anniversary. We had an amazing time. Jasmine, our server was attentive without being pushy. The atmosphere was fantastic including the classic rock playing in the background. The food is amazing. The Olde Bar fries are not to be missed and definitely order items off the raw bar. If you love seafoods, the Olde Bar is not to be missed.
Very underrated cocktail bar and raw bar. Olde Bar occupies the space formerly inhabited by Bookbinders, which if youre unfamiliar was a Philly institution and high quality seafood restaurant - long before the restaurant scene took off in this city. They did an excellent job paying homage to the original restaurant - and maintain a small seafood driven menu along with excellent drinks. Old, dark wood and red vinyl are the motif. Come for happy hour and get some oysters!
We travel as much as we can, trying new places and food where possible. The Olde Bar strives for a good experience, but fails to deliver. We ordered the “happy hour” oysters, which were supposed to be $1 each vs. $3. We were still charged for the regular offering, despite our protest to the staff manager. We also ordered the deviled eggs, which didn’t ever show up (until we asked about them when the meal was cooling). An even smaller complaint (but why not, let’s hear it)- my wife ordered a martini, and never received the extra olives that she asked for. The crab cakes (our main entree) were very gamey- we left half on the plate. Overall, had the meal been $50-60, I would’ve been accepting, if not pleased. For $130 with the tip we STILL left, it was undesirable. Bad experience. I hope others fair better.
What a wedding! We got married here at the end of 2018, and the Olde Bar was fantastic. We received countless compliments on the quality of the food, as well as the venue itself (it was decorated for the holidays, and had a really festive feel). Both Sydney and Milanee were terrific to work with, and made a stressful time much more manageable. We opted to rent out the entire restaurant, which we’d recommend to anyone considering a ceremony and reception here. Thanks to the entire Olde Bar staff for making it a day that our guests won’t soon forget!
Very nice bar with great oysters. Very good drink menu. Great place to stop for a snack and a drink in Philly.
Came for a company event so it was open bar and the food was free. However the staff was super helpful and friendly even when we crowding one room. They also pay attention to everyone and make sure your plates are always picked up and your questions are answered. Bathrooms were clean and stocked. Theyre entirely closed stalls.The food was delicious and the appetizers were always stocked and fresh.
Wonderful atmosphere. Slow service this night (Christmas Eve) can be excused. Some food overcooked (tuna and fried oysters) the rest (appetizers, lobster and crab salad) were excellent. Go for Happy Hour and get great value on appetizers and drinks.
Food was delicious, service was good. I had lobster roll. Hubby had tilefish. We both had crabfries with cheese. Restaurant week prices were good, but I think they would be high otherwise.
The service just ok, the food not as good as the price. The drinks even though I am not a drinker are other friends are, $15 gor a drink is average for the city, but it was very small. So I will not ever go back.
The Olde bar did a fantastic job of presenting us with an elegant dining experience in a time when that has become extremely difficult. It was a genuine pleasure eating there and I look forward to my next meal there
This is a favourite summer location. Their cocktails are excellent and their oysters are super refreshing. They also pay a lot of respect to the original Bookbinders restaurant by incorporating small homage to them throughout their menu. Im usually not one for dessert, but their contemporary take on the original Bookbinders strawberry shortcake is wonderful.
We had our son’s rehearsal dinner at the Olde Bar. We had a raw bar set up with a traditional served dinner. The food was superb and the service was excellent. The room is classic Philadlephia- just beautiful. Claire was the event specialist and she was a huge help during the set up as we had a special request- showing the first Eagles game of the season. I strongly recommend the Olde Bar for weddings or corporate events.
Great food! Service was very friendly.
Always a great experience here. The oysters are best in the city. Perfectly shucked. Cannot beat their amazing buck a shuck happy hour. Most establishments for buck a shuck, they oysters are not shucked well, are shucked too far in advance, or not as good quality. They do not skimp out at olde bar. Their west coast selection is always great as well. Other highlights include their amazingly well balanced drink menu, buffalo cauliflouer, the burger, and their fresh market fish. I have been here multiple times and have yet to try the steak, but my friend tells me it was excellent.
Friendly staff, happy hour menu & drinks. Bar, large high table, traditional dining and arm chair seating. All about seafood, crafted cocktails and fresh ingredients. Try the snapping turtle soup - rich yum at $$ prices!
Service and food was good, but the waiter I had made up his own tip rather than taking the tip I put down on the receipt. I ended up being charged $11 more than I should’ve been just because he put down his own tip. I’d double check on your bank statement the tip is right and keep your receipt.
I go here go the happy hour oysters and house punch. I will add that the buffalo cauliflower is bomb :)private bathrooms are nice too if the need arises.
This place is awesome! It was my hubby and I 12th anniversary. They made us feel so special, they offer us so many great items to try and did I mention... It was free. Omg talking about making us feel special. We would definitely come back. I had the red snapper.
Great happy hour I like oysters
Stopped there for their Saturday Happy Hour because of the sign on the side of their building. Order all the appetizer on the Happy Hour menu. Nicec hot and delicious drank the Happy hour punch and the ... OMG cant remember the name but it was like a margarita. Our waiter was so accommodating and very attentive ... Cant wait to go back
Went in for Happy Hour on a Friday. Found a seat at the bar which was dirty and covered in alcohol that had spilled. Took 10 minutss for someone to ask us what we wanted. Drinks were overpriced compared to other places. Service definitely needs to be improved.
Excellent happy hour! Buck per shuck oysters, great drinks, Andrew behind the bar rules!
This place has been a favorite since Ive moved to this city 3 yrs ago. Great cocktails..Great staff. Ambiance...Im sure the food is good however Ive only eaten the oysters (which are delicious)so I cant talk much about the food.
Been there for a wedding reception,Very nice place good food but really good drinks!
The occasion that drew us here was a wedding. The venue was perfect for the event. A hall that held the ceremony and then everyone was moved into the bar lounge area while it was setup for dinner. The food was terrific the drinks were great. The kitchen is close the ceremony room so some of the hustle and bustle noise did spill into the ceremony.
I came during happy hour when the deals were great. Good oysters for $1 and the battered shrimps were really tasty. The service was amazing. Would definitely come back.
Where do I start the decor was very strange had paintings of animals at the table. Went there for a friends birthday and got the stripe bass and crab cakes both my friend and I got food poisoning from the crab cake. I will not be eating there again
Food overpriced my dinner was tasteless fish, my daughters steak chewy, her boyfriends Burger fries way too salty just a really total disappointment on every level.Next visit to Philly anywhere but here.
Good food, great cocktails!
Stupid. Thats the only word to describe how good the food was, stupid good. I had fish and chips. The batter on the white fish was light, thick crunchy and delicious. The fries were double fried in beef fat. Stupid good. A little expensive but so worth it. Would eat here again.
The oysters were fresh and varied and reasonably priced. The beverage selection was varied. Its not Snockys, but what is. Ill be back - and the parking is easier than the up town 1st rate oyster restaurant.
There for a wedding last night. The reception ( and ceremony) was in what was Bookbinders( attached) many years ago. Dining room modernized,but somewhat plain. Appys very good and were not the norm! Dinner very good,served timely by a very attentive staff. A fun time had by all!
Cool spot, happy hour can be fun. Event space is really cool.
Great cocktail bar! Ask for unique drinks. Rhubarb and rum went So Smooth. We made a meal of oysters. Warm and inviting on a frigid night.
My Dad used to dine here years ago when it was the original Bookbinders. The Olde Bar has done an admirable job of maintaining the Nostalgic atmosphere of Bookbinders while providing some really good food!! The snap turtle soup with sherry was phenomenal! Definitely will be back! Ask for Sam... excellent waiter!!
Ive only been here for the AMAZING Saturday happy hour. Five dollar appetizers cheap fun drinks....get the punch I promise it will make you feel just right. Great vibe great service. Classy way to go out on the cheap.
Get the Ramos Gin Fizz - few places offer it, and this is among the best.However, their prices for most of the menu items are a tad steep. The cocktails are often worth their steeper prices, but some less so.Often the olde bar has barely anyone in it, sad to see - perhaps a few more casual items for daily dining are needed to attract?
My new favorite bar in Philly. Awesome bartenders who really go the extra step to make a good drink. Food is phenomenal, whether youre there for a meal, or just want some savory bar food.
BEST CRAB CAKE EVER!!! Even the fried shrimp were Awesome! Nice cozy atmosphere, the staff was friendly and the service was on point! I enjoyed everything and I will definitely go back!
If you are prepared to spend money you will be thoroughly pleased. Amazing cocktail list. Crab cake is top notch. If you like oysters its a cant miss spot.
Aaron is such a top notch bartender
Would give it no stars if I could. Worse dining experince we ever had in Philadelphia. Horrible service and aweful food. The shrimp n grits were bland n something I could of done better at home drunk. The lobster roll was also bland and had chuncks of mayonnaise. Chips that accompanied the lobster roll were so sad salty I could not eat them. We ordered oysters as an appetizers, bartender forgot to give us our plates and utensils, we got up to get our own. Expensive prices and no quality.
Very good! Our server was efficient, bright, and helpful. A nice, mellow ambiance... The food was quite good, and the drinks were just fine. A solid, satisfying choice in an area packed with overpriced mediocrity.
This place is phenomenal! Not only are the cocktails divine, but the service was wonderful. Specifically, Andrew, Joe, and Steve did an exceptional job of helping us feel at home!
The dishes were a bit on the small side considering the price but all seafood is expensive. The waiter was wonderful. He gave recommendations quickly and was not turned off by my lactose intolerance.
Not here or there with this place.Came here for a weekday dinner and overall I left with a blah feeling.Its the new look of Bookbinders - a mix of surf and turf and standard steakhouse fare. The location is nice, deep into Old City, and close to the water. Can definitely make an evening out of exploring the area. The inside has elements of a family style Italian restaurant (a la Maggianos) with their checkered table clothes and dark wood fixtures. There are also different framed portraits of foxes - peculiar, but conversation pieces.For the meal I ordered the arugula salad to start. The veggies were fresh and tossed together in an olive oil vinaigrette. The ingredients were fresh but overall a basic salad with nothing spectacular.For my meal, I asked the waiter what they had for vegetarian options. He responded by asking how serious of a vegetarian I am? Uhhh...I got him to put together a pasta dish that was just OK. The pasta pieces werent homogeneously al dente - some being chewy and requiring a bit of work to get through. There was some flavor from the spices they used in the sauce, but I was still fighting with the pasta at times so didnt enjoy completely without issue.At dessert, they served me a strawberry (I think?) sorbet. It was fairly creamy for a sorbet, and I welcomed the sweet, fruity ending from the more savory elements of the whole meal.Overall the service could be better. I inadvertently had brought a bottle of water with me, and ended up finishing it since my water glass was never refilled during the meal! It was hard to get the waiters attention, and we werent checked in on during the meal to see if we required anything.In the end, likely wont return. Personally dont see too many options to try and since the food and service were subpar, I dont think Ill be giving any of my future business to this business.
We always go for happy hour and buck-a-shuck oysters. The food is a little pricey, but definitely worth it! Its a beautiful building as well.
Enjoyed Happy Hour, great deals on drinks and appetizers at the bar, the staff was entertaining and attentive.
Amazing ambiance, great service. Yummy oysters. Good company.
Went to happy hour and loved the fresh seafood choices. The crab fries are great!
Charming waiter, dark and sort of sad front dining room.Expensive food served inexpensively--like a $20 crabmeat cocktail with no seafood fork and noi lemon--and no underplate. Just a martini glass with good crabmeat. Mediocre lobster roll ($26!) and literally cold coffee.Great value at 40% less.
Scallop papperdelle was amazing!! Servers were all very friendly and worked well as a team.
The seafood tower was fresh and delicious. The cocktails were well crafted and the ambiance was retro and refined. Good times.
Great space with amazing seafood! I had some fun cocktails as well. Next time Ill have to go during Happy Hour for the buck a shuck oysters.
Great place in Philly for buck a shuck happy hour! Also the fried oyster happy hour special is worth it and more.
Really good oysters very strong cocktails great experience while in the area
The food is excellent, just as good as when it was The Old Original Bookbinders. Super friendly staff.
The place is nice, its trendy ! the cocktail beverages are specialty cocktails that take talented mixologist to create. also the place has a big kitchen and does outside venues inside the building such as weddings, parties etc. using Jose Garces catering company.This place was the original bookbinders which has historical value in the city of Philadelphia.
Food ihere is awesome! Love coming back here. the staff are so nice and the people are so friendly too!
Quaint place, cool old style decoration and very good food; a mix menu of raw seafood, Louisiana style and American food. Highly recommendable!
This is my 1st time dining here. They seemed to have a long history in Philly. Services is great; but the food which we ordered seemed to be over cooked.
Excellent happy hour with $1 oysters but great cocktail bar and other dishes. Great decor and location.
Had a great time. Service was exceptional. Food was delicious. Plus a great whiskey selection. I will be back 👍
Total reviews rating 4.5
199 Reviews for The Olde Bar 2023:
Review №1
2022-02-20Best Happy Hour I know of! I live 2 hours away and I wish I lived closer I would eat here all the time. The manager was super accommodating and sat us down at an available table even though the high top we booked was still being used.we got 3 drinks, 3 dozen oysters, lobster croquettes, buffalo cauliflower, crab fingers, and smoked salmon spread with sour dough. Everything was delicious and our bill came out to $88. what a steal.
Review №2
2022-05-08Great place! Very good quality oysters during happy hour and good drinks. Our servers were great and we were well taken care of. I loved the dining space and the bar looked lively. For food, the fries and crab fingers are a must besides oysters. I cant wait to come back and check out the brunch menu as well.
Review №3
2022-04-01The happy hour might be the best in the city! $2 oysters, $6 Fish bowl punch, half off crab fries and more. Everything was damn good. I am not even a fan of oysters but had 2 dozen!The host, Zollie, is personable, professional and makes you feel appreciated the moment you step foot in the door. The service is fantastic at the table. Janelle and Danielle took care of the table and offered their favorites on the menu. I will be a regular.
Review №4
2021-12-18I had the lobster roll it was good but small, they did give a big portion of fries. My friend had the halibut tasty also small. My other friend had the lobster salad. We all left hungry. Food good but expensive. They should at least serve bread. Atmosphere beautiful. Very convenient after the movies.
Review №5
2022-04-01Boy, if you like lobster, THIS is it. Plus they have great, tasty craft cocktails.I had the lobster fries, a delicious scotch honey ginger drink called a Penicillin, and lobster pot pie (yummmmm).I have you say though the best part was the fabulous service. From the door to the bar, top notch.Def recommend.
Review №6
2022-03-05My first time dining at the Olde Bar for my partner’s birthday. I love the ambiance, vintage books, real plants, candles and friendly hostess, bartenders and waitstaff . Our server Janelle was a great ! So attentive, accommodating , and a lovely personality . The food was soo good. The apple salad was delicious They made the Maitake mushroom dish vegan for me. I’ll definitely be back.
Review №7
2022-03-23Sat at the bar for some drinks and it was exactly the kind of quality youd expect from a place like this.Ambiance was amazing, wait staff is incredibly friendly and kind, drinks were STELLAR and the food smelled so good (Im sad I ate dinner before this)! 10/10 would recommend. Will be coming back ASAP!
Review №8
2021-09-28If you are near the waterfront this is a great place for lunch whether you are eating solo, as a couple or a group. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Our server was amazing and super attentive. I ordered the lobster roll and it was delicious! My friend had the crab cake and she raved about that also. I will definitely come back!
Review №9
2022-04-17Customer service was top tier. Very welcoming atmosphere. Loved the ambiance. We ordered the lobster salad and shrimp and grits. Amazing flavor and fresh taste. For drinks we had Girls Night Out and the Boulevardier both were crafted to perfection. Couldn’t have asked for a more perfect quick date at the bar. Will definitely be visiting again to try other things on the menu!
Review №10
2021-11-16I looove their wall art choices. So aesthetic 😍Amazing option of cocktails and main course dishes (especially sea food). The strawberry dessert was a bit of a disappointment.