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Memphis Taproom
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants Canadian (New) Pubs, Canadian (New) [Edit]
2331 E Cumberland StPhiladelphia, PA 19125
Neighbourhood: Kensington
(215) 425-4460
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 am
Sat-Sun 11 am - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Louis T. said: "I was looking over my bookmarks---Yelp!, why are they defaulting to public?!?!---and was somewhat surprised I hadn't reviewed Jet. Anyway, since Horizons is gone, and I don't have anything intelligent to say about Rangoon, this might…" read more »
316 reviews for Memphis Taproom
Review Highlights
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"I also suggest the chicken fried coconut club." In 24 reviews -
"The beer selection is stellar, the food is eclectic & GOOD." In 52 reviews -
"The mac and cheese was like a mountain of cheesey love." In 26 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
316 reviews in English
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Review from Scott T.
Agawam, MA
5/20/2012
I had been looking forward to going here for a while, I was not let down!! The Draft menu was phenomenal and the craft beer in bottles was an extensive menu 200+ bottles! I sampled the dogfish head Tweason'ale. It was a great summer beer which was also gluten free! It had a light molasses taste and had a fruity taste to it.
They also had 2 beers available in casks, Both were excellent but i forgot the names on both. :-(
For dinner my friends and I split the fried dill pickles which were whole spears served with a horseradish buttermilk dipping sauce and the sweet suicide rings which were served with a habenero cream sauce.
The pickles were great, and a certain person in my group was so excited to dig in she burned the roof of her mouth! they came out extremely hot! the dipping sauce was a great accompaniment.
The onion rings were sliced thin and breaded with what tasted like a chipotle seasoning and the sauce was tasty. It definitely had some kick to it.
My only complaint was the rings were sliced so thin the got stuck together when they were fried.
For our meals we got the Asparagus Mac & Cheese, the Hefeweizen Hummus, and the Slow Roast pork sandwich.
The Asparagus Mac& Cheese was Great! It was coated in a light cheese sauce and roasted asparagus, and had truffled raw asparagus on the top of it. all 3 of us tried it and all really enjoyed it!
The Hefeweizen Hummus plate came with slices of pita carrots and cucumber and olives with roasted chic peas on top of the hummus. This was enjoyed by my 2 friends. Im not a big hummus fan myself but i tried it and it was surprisingly enjoyable.
Now the Slow Roast pork sandwich was great! It was layered with baby spinach, provolone cheese and the garlic mayo spread it was a generous portion and the fresh cut shoestring fries were seasoned perfectly.
I definitely recommend checking the Tap room out. while we were there the place was jam packed and never emptied out. if your in a hurry its not really the place to go. but if you have the time, I recommend it highly. -
Review from Dan H.
Philadelphia, PA
5/15/2012
Awesome! I have been here a few times, the owner(bartender) was there twice and talk to us both times about beer, food, and sports - I really don't know what else there is to talk about. The Roast Pork Sandwich (in my opinion the true philly sandwich) is probably one of the best I have had. The beer selection is amazing, and if you don't know or want to try something just ask.
Now it says it's in Kensington which yea technically it is but its not a bad neighborhood and don't expect ghetto prices, this is a good restaurant (bar) with good food, eat here! -
Review from Callie F.
5/9/2012
Was in Philadelphia at the end of April and a friend mentioned this place. And are we glad we went here. Lots of vegetarian options for one of my friend. I had the Slow Roast Pork Sandwich ($9) and it was absolutely delicious!!!! My other friend had the Crackling Pork Shank ($19) and he actually got a compliment from the kitchen staff saying they've never seen every piece of meat taken off the bone. Needless to say, he loved it too. My other friend had the Monterey Rib Steak ($18) and said it was perfect. My vegetarian friend had the Smoked Coconut Club ($9) and did not complain at all. He complains about almost everything!!!
Everything looked delicious on the menu. Wanted to try the Pinto Manchego Fritters and the Chile Roasted Broccoli from the appetizer part and the fish and chips, Chicken Fried Chicken, Asparagus Mac and Cheese . . . everything!! It was in an out of the way neighbourhood and had a really comfortable feeling to it. THe music was a bit loud but we survived.
Would LOVE to go back and try other things on the menu. Would HIGHLY recommend this place to anyone visiting Philadelphia! -
Review from Michael O.
Wynnewood, PA
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Could not have had a better time. Great atmosphere, food and service. Ordered several different things and split them each item was fantastic and was more then enough even after splitting.
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Review from chris m.
Riverside, NJ
5/6/2012
Had the beef-and-onion pasties, two fairly small half moons of deep fried dough filled with only stringy beef with a spicy mayonnaise sauce. Nothing else with them. Nine dollars. C'mon, this is Kensington, not Center City or NYC; $4.50 apiece? Yelpers, avoid this particular ripoff on MT's menu.
Excellent, delicious beer selection, so I will be back for another go. Bartender was, eh. It was busy, but he was inattentive. I'll try a slower time.
The "beer garden", which is picnic tables on asphalt out back, serves hot dogs and canned beer literally from a truck. Um, I think you can duplicate the experience sitting on your stoop for a lot less money, but that's your call. -
Review from Molly R.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 5/16/2012
Why does one write an update when it's 5 stars both times? Because I need to give 5 stars to the Memphis Taproom Beer Garden, of course!! I love this place. For the record, I hate hot dogs, but the Memphis Beer Garden serves some amazing, and completely gourmet, hot dogs. Love 'em, and the selection of canned beer in the beer garden is as much fun and interesting as the beer inside. Thanks, Memphis, for being a great place to hang out in all seasons!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/1/2010
It has taken me far too long to write a review for Memphis Taproom. In short, Memphis is one of my… Read more »
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Review from Karen T.
Havertown, PA
5/24/2012
Wonderful! I have gone for a Sunday bunch and another time for lunch. The food is great! The fried pickles are to die for. The best pork sandwich I have ever had. Great atmosphere.
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Review from Maureen F.
Philadelphia, PA
5/17/2012
Great food. Great beers. Better service. Well deserved recognition as one if the best bars in Philly.
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Review from Liz F.
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a great restaurant! Went here with an obnoxiously large (~9?) group of people at almost 10 on a Friday. My first outstanding memory is our waitress- she was SO nice, patient and helpful. Wish I had caught her name. The atmosphere is dark and pretty cozy. Very cute.
I ended up ordering the smoked coconut club. It was SO GOOD- and vegan! I'm going to have awkward dreams about eating this sandwich. My normally very carnivorous man friend was so intrigued by the cauliflower steak that he ordered it and very much enjoyed. He also got the chili roasted broccoli and said it was delish.
Clearly with the word taproom in the name you're guaranteed some good brews. True.
Only thing I'd change? Proximity to my home. -
Review from Tina C.
Upon our party of three's arrival from a long-haul three hour drive from NY/NJ, hunger pangs strike at mid-day.
Lunch was plentiful for the braised brisket at $8.95 is accompanied by a large platter of French Fries. The battered pickles are huge as it is not cut into pieces and served piping hot which burned my mouth. Beer selections are listed in chalk above the threshold's door separating the dinning room from the bar. My close friend's coconut tofu sandwich is enjoyed very much, which this entree was featured in Food Network:
http://www.foodnetwork...
Food portions are a good size, especially the French Fries that accompany the entree as Memphis do not dope patrons. Memphis Taproom is a local neighborhood pub for good eats of pulled pork, and Hefeweizen Hummus where locals and visitors mingle and distress the daily grind from the daily deal. Oddly, their menu cover has a road map of Wyoming but no Memphis, and no Philadelphia as the focal point. This very casual pub is named after the intersection street--Memphis. Business cards were exhausted from Memphis Taproom's inventory but a flyer states their name WITHOUT an address. -
Review from Mike B.
Washington, DC
5/12/2012
Amazing, impeccably prepared, yet down-to-earth food at a decent price. One of the best meals I've had in years. And the atmosphere and service are chill as hell, not hipper than thou as might be expected. Go. And try the pork shank. Ad save room for dessert.
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Review from Casey R.
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
There are many days I wish that Memphis Taproom was in Fairmount or at least a little closer. They constantly have great drafts, a truly amazing bottle list (that I often overlook), and great food.
It is always fairly busy, but not impossible to find a seat at the bar or a table during the off hours I have been there. Their food is great, although I will buck with trend and say I don't love the fried pickles here. I am personally not a fan of their batter or that they fry the whole spear. However, the fried onions are amazing (if you love spice) and other seasonal dishes I have tried have also been great.
If I lived anywhere near here I would definitely consider Memphis Taproom for my go to spot, since I don't I try to pop in whenever I am nearby. I look forward to trying out their garden during the warmer months as well. -
Review from David F.
Philadelphia, PA
4/13/2012
All I really need is Memphis Taproom and the Interstate Draft House. Both nice and off the beaten path, and both with amazing customer service.
Memphis has an awesome beer selection, an awesome beer garden, and most an amazing well priced selection of rotating draft beers. Although there food is not excellent, and slightly overpriced it does do the job. You see though it being one of the few places I get great service in the area, I am thankful to live so close to it. Quite the regular hangout.
Great to grab a brew. And do not overlook Hair of the Dog Fred in a bottle. One of my favorite west coast beers.
Pros: Great beer, great price, buy it all to go!
Cons: Seating is sometimes tough, and the beer garden is not open until mid april. -
Review from Keang H.
Philadelphia, PA
5/1/2012
I've been wanting to try Memphis Taproom for awhile. I once ran by it during the Kenzinger run, and was so tempted to just hang out and eat a hotdog and drink a beer. They have a really creative menu with equally enticing vegetarian/vegan options, while still remaining casual. Our waitress was so nice and was able to check on us and refill our waters without being asked in a full seated dining room. Food and beer was great. Since we were just stopping by for a quick snack, I curbed myself from ordering multiple things off the menu like I usually do. This time I had the kielbasy grinder, tofu club and ginger beer. Will be back to hang out in the outdoor seating and try the hotdog bar.
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Review from Michelle B.
Delran, NJ
I went here twice last week after a long hiatus. The smoked coconut club that I wasn't into before? I had it both times last week. I find it super delicious now. The fried pickles are still a must. The ever-changing beer menu often introduces me to new favorites. Both Brendan and the staff are welcoming and appreciative when you come in. Solid place to grab a delicious meal and a pint.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/20/2011
I went to Memphis Taproom for dinner around 8:30 on a Saturday night and could barely get in the… Read more »
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Review from Nick S.
Philadelphia, PA
3/1/2012
The coconut club is amazing. You just can't top there coconut bacon, vegetarians and meat lovers alike. In fact I always enjoy the food at Memphis, specials and regular menu included. The beer selection is very good as well. The staff is down to earth, friendly without being phony about it.
Ive noticed lately it's been getting more packed on the weekends, but usually the service is pretty quick. -
Review from Jaime B.
Philadelphia, PA
3/14/2012
I really like this neighborhood joint. I don't drink beer but if I did, this would be my taproom heaven. They have a nice selection of items for meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. My favorite item on the menu is the Slow Roasted Pulled Pork sandwich. It is beyond delicious! I also loved the sweet suicide rings and the Portobella Mushroom grinder. They are full of flavor and always satisfying!
The taprooms only downfall is the lack of tables. It fills up fast so there might be a wait from time to time. Definitely worth the wait! -
Review from Kristine d.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 3/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I hate to do this. I really do. But I can't sweep my last experiences under the rug, and chalk it up to "bad day". Last week, my husband and I drove by and he asked if I wanted to go in for dinner, and for the first time ever, I said no.
One busy Saturday afternoon, my husband and I were absolutely starving, and all that could satisfy my hunger was a burger. Off to MT we went! We walked in and were pushed out of the dining room back into the bar by a surly man who told us to wait for a table. Ok, no problem, we can handle that, we just weren't sure where to go, since no one made an attempt to help us with a table, and we know you can't seat yourself. We have been here before, we know the drill. So we waited, and then were sat, and our waitress comes over about 10 minutes later, we knew everything we wanted: 2 beers, fried greenbeans app (we were curious about this one, since we haven't tried it before), a burger for me (ordered medium rare), and my husband got the port richmond platter. Our greenbeans never arrived, but our meals did. I was really disappointed that she forgot the beans, I really wanted to try them. But I brushed it off and moved on. We actually didn't bother to mention it to her, we didn't want her to feel bad. We decided to wait for the bill, and if it was on there, we would just ask her to take it off. Anyways, since I cannot stand a well done burger, I always check before taking a bite to make sure it is cooked properly. I cut into the burger and it was so well done that the meat was crumbling out of the bun. I called the waitress over and showed it to her and asked for another one. She agreed that it was well done, and said she would bring me a new one. 20 minutes later, my husband is finished his meal, our beers have been empty and at the edge of the table in hopes to be re-filled, and I still have no burger. The waitress comes over and asks "how is everything over here?" and I just looked back and said "still waiting". It took her a second, but she realized and ran back to the kitchen, but didn't return with food for another 5 minutes or so. My burger finally came out, and it was less cooked this time, still not med-rare, but edible as it was. So I decided to eat it. We didn't feel like doing another beer at this point so I asked for a water, and my husband got a soda. Now, when i was a bartender, a general rule of thumb was that when someone had been drinking beers, then ordered a soda, it was on the house. But the soda still ended up on the bill, along with the burger, but the greenbeans were absent. She came back over to pick up the bill and said "oh, i don't know why i put that soda on there, i will take that off" (we didn't promt her, she offered that up willingly). But still, shouldn't the burger have come off to? But alas, this had not been the first time my food was cooked improperly at MT, and it will not be the last.
In addition to this experience, my husband frequents this bar after work and on one occasion he came in and ordered the hanger steak medium. It came out rare. Long story short, he had to send it back twice, and it kept coming back rare. He finally told the bartender to just take that steak back and throw it on the grill, don't cook a new one. But they just couldn't get it right.
I really hate to see a good place go bad. But I feel like each time i go back, it gets worse. MT really needs to update their menu a little too, not a lot on her thrills me anymore and there are never any changes or specials. Also, why is there never any PBC beers on tap? The brewery is one minute away, why can't they have it on tap? I am looking forward to the hot dog cart this summer, though. Gourmet hot dogs and good beers. I will still frequent MT for this, but dinner in the dining room is going to be out for a little while.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/3/2010
Beers are unique and delicious. Food doesn't dissappoint and the woman who runs the dining room (not… Read more »
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Review from Ray L.
2/22/2012
This convenient neighborhood bar not only has a good selection of beers, but really great food. And I'm not just comparing it to other BAR food, I am totally down to come here for the food itself (but WHILE I'm here, yes I guess I'll have some alcohol too). While this is a hot spot for locals I'm sure, I sometimes make my way over here from Center City.
Try the chicken fried chicken, which comes with a side of collard greens & mac. The fried chicken has thicker skin than your regular friend chicken and is delicious. Their onion rings here are awesome too (they are the thin curly variety) so make sure you get that to go along with your beer.
In the summer the beer garden is open. It's a great place to hang out on a warm summer night while you scarf down their hot dogs. -
Review from Bri H.
1/12/2012
"Weird". That is how our server described my dinner selection. Ha! I knew I was really going to like this place.
Great service, great beer, great food. The bartender was super friendly and helped us pick out a beer - the Taras Boulba: light, crisp, hoppy...exactly what I was looking for. When the rest of our party arrived we moved into the dining room and started out with some beer battered pickles. I've had some bad fried pickles before, so I was a bit skeptical, but these did not disappoint. The contrast of juicy yet crunchy pickle spear against deep fried crispy dough makes for the perfect bar snack.
I was intrigued by the spaghetti sandwich with lentil fake meatballs. I asked our server what he thought of it. "It's wierd!" he replied enthusiastically. Sold! He informed me that it came with a side salad instead of fries. Blech, I detest side salads. Just because I enjoy the occasional lentil meatball does not mean that I'm too health conscious to eat fries. No worries, he said he could substitute fries. Yay....or so I thought. Much to my dismay, the sandwich came out with a side salad anyway. It was ok though, my boyfriend had a giant pile of fries with his burger for me to pick at. The sandwich itself was quite tasty, although a bit dry. It could have used some extra sauce. Basically it's a roll with lentil meatballs and spaghetti on top. Odd but delicious.
I'd prefer it if Memphis Taproom was within walking distance (wouldn't everyone??) but it's well worth the car ride.Listed in: Fake Meat Eats
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Review from Patty G.
Philadelphia, PA
2/8/2012
Wonderful neighborhood place. The beer selection is amazing and ever-changing so there's always something new to try. The sweet suicide rings are my favorite thing on the menu. They're like shoestring onion rings- crispy and delicious. I also recommend the hefeweizen hummus, it's served with vegetables and pita and fried chick peas on top.
The ambiance is great. Nice bartenders and servers and a mix of hipsters, locals and visitors. All co-mingle quite well. It can get very crowded and the dining room isn't huge so expect a wait if you come at a peak time for dinner. But there's usually a seat or standing room in the bar area so you can sip on a great beer, watch the game or make some new friends while you wait. -
Review from George R.
Philadelphia, PA
3/4/2012
This place is no big deal. Just another pub on the edge of an edgy neighborhood. It's crowded and there's no place to wait without being in someone's way every other second.
I had their equivalent of Eggs Benedict. The sausage was pretty good but the eggs were too vinegary. It's one of those pet peeves I have about Philly gastropubs. All of the sudden vinegar is the coolest thing. Yuk.
And the portions were small. I know you can't fit a hipster in those jeans with Tex-Mex-like portions, but I'm sure they'd be fine with more than three tiny potato wedges.
I give it three stars because I know it will please more than half of the foodies out there but certainly not all of them. I know what y'all like -- I get it. This place needs some work though. It's got a decent vibe and the potential to become a neighborhood institution, but at the moment it's a bit over-hyped. -
Review from Amanda O.
Philadelphia, PA
12/31/2011
I've been here three times and just don't get what the big deal is about this place.
The good:
- The food, if you enjoy beer-battered fried pickles or the like.
- The drink selection is top notch for a neighborhood bar in the city.
- For most of Fishtown it's walkable.
^^ Those facts represent the three stars above.
Detractors:
- If you go at a peak hour, expect to wait for at least a 20-30 minutes before getting a seat. Even for a party as small as two.
- The service, in my experience, was really slow.
- It's very loud, thanks to tiny spaces and crowded tables.
- If you're in the front on a cold night; dress warm. That door is open more often than not.
Maybe the Memphis Taproom was better before the rest of the city, Diner's Drive In's and Dives and I found out about it.
Maybe if I was one of those people that knew what was cool before it was cool I'd have a different opinion.
But the cat is long out of the bag... when with local friends discussing where to go out for an evening, we'd prefer to drive somewhere rather than wait an hour for a table in a crowded, noisy dining room and lukewarm service. -
Review from Erin may D.
Philadelphia, PA
2/28/2012
The food is spectacular. So many great options and very vegetarian and vegan friendly. The beer garden is fun, too, but a little weird the way it is set up to be a completely different venue than the restaurant. I like the idea of sitting at the bar, then deciding to make my way outside with it (like most beer garden situations). Also, they don't have fries in the beer garden. Really?? Isn't that a staple?
Overall, pretty awesome. A few kinks to work out in regards to the beer garden and the sometimes very unfriendly staff, but otherwise well worth it. -
Review from Tommy H.
Brooklyn, NY
12/28/2011
A friend familiar with this pub mentioned it on my last visit to Philly. Hearing about the Chicken Fried Chicken, it'd been on my mind for about a month, even after days of eating holiday food.
We started with Beer-battered Kosher Dills which were perfectly crispy. The dipping sauce, made with horseradish and buttermilk, was a perfect compliment to the batter and vinegar, respectively brightening and mellowing.
The Chicken Fried Chicken was every bit as good as I imagined. The habanero sauce on the side had a brilliant spice without killing the flavor of the perfectly moist fried chicken fingers. Accompanied by a solid side of collards and mac and cheese, I was full and sated.
If you like beer, they've got a great selection on tap, that I understand rotates often. I had the Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper. A great seasonal stout. -
Review from Miki W.
West Hollywood, CA
3/5/2012
Great vegan brunch! I got the Vegan Rooster, which gave me the first vegan blood sausage I have ever encountered... it was good! As was the coconut bacon and especially, the potatoes. Thanks for offering vegan brunch options... I hope to return for lunch one day!
Listed in: Unexpected Vegan!
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Review from Kristi B.
Philadelphia, PA
3/26/2012
I LOVE this place! The Taproom is great because it has so many veggie options for me, and also lots of meat dishes for the hubby. I have been here too many times to count, and I have tried all the vegetarian options on the menu. My current fave is the shepard's pie. I also swoon for the mushroom grinder. I get the fried pickles almost every time, which are apparently local pickles with a nice light breading. I know I don't have to mention the beer, but I love that I can come here and try something new every single time! The only drawback is their lack of high chairs for my toddler and the huge crowds that started after they were featured on the Food Network. Good for them, but bad for the regular neighborhood folks just trying to get a table.
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Review from Richard R.
Cherry Hill, NJ
12/28/2011
This was another restaurant that we wanted to try on the local DDD hit list. I would describe the Memphis as upscale/bar/comfort food. The place is very small and unpretentious with lots of great brick work, wood trim and charm. The dining room is fairly small so there is a pretty good chance you may wait to be seated. The Memphis has an excellent beer selection on tap and in bottles.
We had the chicken confit appetizer which was fantastic. The three entrees we ordered were the tofu coconut club, the lentil spaghetti sandwich and the fish and chips. Everything was great, the batter for the fish and chips was excellent and the serving size was huge, the coconut club and lentil spaghetti sandwich were also really good and unexpected.
Service was fast and friendly. It was not very difficult to park on street. I would go back again. -
Review from Rick K.
Lancaster, PA
1/30/2012
Memphis Taproom has plenty to offer: a fantastic beer list (one of the best in Philadelphia), a variety of innovative and interesting vegetarian and vegan options, great homestyle comfort food, and an extremely knowledgable, attentive, and friendly waitstaff. It also has something called Chicken Fried Chicken.
I've been here a handful of times, and everything I've had has been phenomenal. The Vegan Shepard's Pie? Phenomenal. The Smoked Coconut Club? Phenomenal. The Port Richmond Platter, with its juicy kielbasy, buttery pierogies, potato pancakes, and sauerkraut? Phenomenal. Seriously, if you haven't tried any of those, you need to get real. And also, if you get the chance, check out brunch on Saturday or Sunday. It's totally awesome. And phenomenal. It's all phenomenal, but up until this point, however, I have not written a review. I've thought about it, but before I can get to it, I forget or get sidetracked. This time, it's different, because I can't forget. Chicken Fried Chicken is all I can think about.
Now, Chicken Fried Chicken is not chicken that has been fried in chicken (to my knowledge). It is essentially just fried chicken, but it's good fried chicken. It's great fried chicken. Not only that, but it's lathered in this fantastic habanero mustard sauce. They make the perfect team. It gets better though, because it also comes with a side of creamy mac and cheese and braised collard greens. This is southern comfort in Philadelphia. -
Review from Megan D.
Philadelphia, PA
4/2/2012
Memphis Taproom gets 5 stars from this vegetarian simply because of the smoked coconut that tastes like delicious bacon! The smoked coconut club is amazing.
I can also vouch for the roasted mushroom grinder, the veggie burger, the fried pickles and the onion rings.
We made the trek to Kensington on a Saturday afternoon and had to wait a little over a half hour for a table. Luckily the beer selection was amazing. I just wish Kensington wasn't so far out of the way! -
Review from Renee M.
Philadelphia, PA
11/28/2011
Memphis Taproom has an AWESOME brunch menu. Check out the Eggs Benarik. Like eggs benedict but with KIELBASA. Like, really really really good kielbasa. And I'm Polish, I've had this smoked sausage many many a time. And Memphis Taproom knows how to make it right.
And not only that, they have an awesome selection of craft beers, and lots and lots of beer events. Beertoberfest was fantastic, as was Black Friday. Screw shopping, go to Memphis Taproom for a delicious black beer instead.
And if you think that's enough to make you wanna go here, I can't forget the great staff. Everyone is so friendly (but not in a fake way) and willing to make recommendations. Dude, I think it's safe to say I love this place. A couple more visits and beer events and I'll probably hafta bump my rating up to a 5. -
Review from Allie H.
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
The menu is not anything terribly impressive or innovative; they just know pub food and do it well.
A weeknight dining room was packed, surprisingly, and very dark, but the wait for two was quick. The beer list rotates and is written on the chalkboard; servers are knowledgeable and helpful with recommendations (or in our case, substitutions when several of the kegs kicked). I enjoyed the Port Richmond Platter, which was an excellent value for the money. Tender kielbasa and crisp peirogies were the highlight; soggy potato pancakes went mostly uneaten, though. My boyfriend ate the hell out of some chicken fried chicken. Delish.
I fully admire the fact that the menu says "We seat only complete parties in the dining room (no begging or whining or acting insulted please.) Also, we reserve our dining room tables for diners only. It's a house rule. All the time. Please don't go home
and blog about this." More restaurants should take this approach! -
Review from Noah G.
11/14/2011
After an "unfortunate" incident at the Fitz and the Tantrums concert I knew I had to do something nice for boo on Sunday morning. Once she began speaking to me again I told her I wanted to take her out to brunch, her choice. It came down to Parc or Memphis Taproom and I was in no shape to be seen anywhere within 4 blocks of Parc so we decided on the Taproom.
Both our first time there and I don't think we could have made a better choice. A very welcoming bartender greeted us and instructed us to sit where we'd like. We started off with the Bloody Memphis and a Whitbaer (sp?) Mimosa. The mimosa was very good but my bloody lacked the bite I need to help me press on.
The fried pickles were the app of choice and they did not disappoint. As I'm writing this I can still feel the burn on the roof of my mouth from the pickles. They were so hot but I couldn't stop myself from eating them. I got burned 7 consecutive times and if I could go back in time I would have done it all over again.
The main courses were flavorful and delicious, I had a mash of potatoes, kielbasa, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. It was as good as it sounds. Boo had what looked like bangers and mash, which she raved about. I apologize for the lack of details but even today my head is a bit foggy. You know what that's like right? -
Review from Ian F.
Philadelphia, PA
1/5/2012
Plenty of vegetarian options are available here.
The chicken-fried cauliflower is amazing, and so is the tofu club sandwich with coconut!
I went here two nights in a row . . . -
Review from Milton A.
Lower Makefield, PA
12/27/2011
This is a great neighborhood bar with a great beer selection but the slowwwww service, crowded seating and uneven food quality make this place, as a restaurant, a stinker.
Our party waited forever for a seat, which is common since they do not accept reservations. So one staff member will take your name and another will slot someone else ahead of you on a separate list. Then, the kitchen and server took an eternity to get the order to our table.
The french toast was, at best, edible. It was somewhat burnt and dull. The ricotta and chocolate dont help average bread or the tiny portion size. The burgers were good but again, not at al remarkable. The fried pickles were liked by half our party and avoided by the other half. The whitefish toast dish is absurdly tiny. The chicken wings were good but that is something you can get a lot of places.
This place is horrible for children, who go even crazier with the long waits. The booster seats have straps that do not work. I hope to never have to go back.
I suppose if I was a local and liked to go to bars, this would be a good bar to hang out at in the front portion of the building. -
Review from Rachel T.
10/18/2011
I spent almost an entire day at Memphis Tap this past weekend.. We got up to get brunch/lunch and made it there by 1 or so, but what I really wanted wasn't served until 3 - the pork and pumpkin salad. We decided to get breakfast, mosey around Kensington and return for the restaurants Octoberfest celebration and my unrequited love, the pork and pumpkin salad and an order of fried pickles. I don't make it to Kensington very often, and I wasn't going to pass this up.
Five stars is for the amazing Thirstoberfest that happens annually in the patoio area next door t the restaurant. A FINE selection of beers for cheap and excellent conversation with this country's finest beer reps who worked on a weekend day to do their job right.
But I digress - after a day of drinking we sat at the bar to get the food I'd been dreaming about for weeks after seeing Guy Fieri devour it in on national TV. It was worth the trip and a dozen more. The fried pickles were yummy, but next time I'll try something new. It was really the pork.. the twice - maybe three times fried, soaked in flavor for days, literally melt in your mouth PORK. Paired with pumpkin for the fall season, I was in love.
Keep in mind that while I mentioned that I ate breakfast here, I do not recommend it. Lunch/Dinner was worlds above it. The creamed chipped beef was heavy and had way too much gravy.. To give this place 5 stars is to choose to forget about the breakfast and hold my memory of their after-3pm food in my mind forever and ever. -
Review from Lilli C.
12/5/2011
The food here is fantastic, they have a great selection of beers on tap, and the servers/bartenders are knowledgable and really nice.
The coconut tofu club is amaaazing. There are crunchy smoked coconut bits in the sandwich that taste exactly like bacon. Everyone that I ate with loved the fried pickles, but I think they're just not my thing. Despite being fried, the pickles were surprisingly very crunchy, but I found the batter to be a bit too doughy and thick. The wings were pretty enormous and were fantastic. The bartender also recommended a Samuel Smith organic cider, which was great- not too sweet for a cider.
There was no wait for a table on a Friday night, the food came out fast and the ambience is great here. I will definitely be back. -
Review from Toni C.
Philadelphia, PA
1/5/2012
Good, efficient and non-invasive service, delicious high-gravity cask beers, and okay food.
The onion rings were well spiced, though kind of a messy slop in a bowl. The dipping sauce simply tasted like butter, meaning, not very good. It was my own fault for not realizing the vegan shepherd's pie was not a pie, but it wasn't really very flavorful so I switched entrees with my date. The fish that came with the fish and chips was excellent, however! Flaky and moist. Fries were hand cut, nothing crazy. Again, dipping sauce was pure butter.
Would go back again to give it another try. -
Review from Elizabeth S.
Elkins Park, PA
12/4/2011
This is inventive comfort food at its best.
1) I am grateful that there are so many delicious vegetarian options. Fried pickles, mushroom grinder, coconut club-- it's all delicious and unexpected.
2) Beer is abundant. There is always something new to try-- and so much of it is local!
3) Staff is attentive and so helpful. If you don't know what to order, the waitress will make suggestions which I love. She makes it feel like eating at your families house.
It's not close to where we live but it's definitely worth the trip. Memphis Taproom has never let me down. -
Review from Julia N.
8/16/2011 ROTD 3/3/2012
Totally, this place has a sick beer list (I would like to try some of the beers aging in their basement but I keep finding an interesting something-or-other on draft instead) and good, if heavyish, food (fried pickles fried pickles fried pickles fried pickles).
Can we talk about the hot dog garden, though? It's magical. You can get a veggie dog with avocado and wasabi mustard and 6 other awesome things on it, and it's called California Uber Alles. Wells Bombardier in a can. Twinkling lights and warm, heavy nighttime air. That one Daniel Johnston song playing. SUMMER!
