- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Perch Pub
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 4 pm - 2 am
Wed-Sun 11:30 am - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
81 reviews for Perch Pub
Review Highlights
-
"Their beer list is awesome - and awesomely priced." In 12 reviews -
"The wake and bacon, which is a perfectly fried egg on top..." In 4 reviews -
"Prob one of the best happy hour places I've been to." In 8 reviews
Loading...
81 reviews in English
-
Review from Michelle K.
Newark, OH
5/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I frequent Perch Pub for dinner when I'm in town.
Nice atmosphere, the music isn't too loud. Last night I went up with a hankering for their mussels (fantastic as usual) and also got a side of deviled eggs on a whim. OMG - Absolutely the best devied eggs ever. My husband's aunt makes killer deviled eggs. We are in the habit of dotting them with cajun seasoning or srirachi sauce. These have the srirachi blended in the yolk mix, which is then piped into the white half and garnshed with a small slice of scallion. Food porn!
Beer selection changes all the time - had a real nice ale from Helles - had a nice citrus/honey flavor, which was unexpected. -
Review from Rusty S.
Philadelphia, PA
4/29/2012
I came here with a few people after hearing about it on the radio.
We tried the vino, original, and vegan burger. All there were fantastic.
Also ordered the grilled caesar salad, it could have been grilled more but had great flavor as is.
Great beer selection, they have something for everyone.
Perch Pub has a great interior design and great view out of the second floor. -
Review from Meredith B.
Philadelphia, PA
This is super cool and amazing and fun!
Seriously? Who knew this hidden gem? Standing out in the open!
Broad Street is the road that's the heart of Philadelphia that doesn't getting the usage it should. Perch Pub is right there! Casually overloooking the Kimmel Center at eyelevel of Broad Street signs (plug: check out my picture). I can't vouch for the food but I can for the drink list... Perch Pub has a substantial list.
I'll be back. Its a great atmosphere in the heart of Philadelphia.
Ps. Nachos, yeah you. I'll be back to try you real soon. (I regret not letting curiosity win with an order for the table). -
Review from James C.
5/1/2012
i have gone here a couple of time for happy hour and the place is great. The place has a great view of Broad Street and the atmosphere is pretty good. They have a great selection of beer and the food is decent. I also like that it isn't that loud here and you hear your colleagues talking. It is a good place to hang out and enjoy the end of the day.
-
Review from D h.
Indianapolis, IN
3/27/2012
Being on the 2nd floor is nice / different. Come up the beautiful wooden circular stairs into the middle of the Perch. Bar is on the right (east) and the restaurant is on the left.
Restaurant consists of severl lower eating tables nice brick wall to the north while the west and south walls are all windows. Between the internal light and the light from outside the windows, the Perch is well lit and very comfortable. It must be tremendous in the late afternoon when the sun shines directly into the place. Plenty of tables. Didn't eat, so no idea on the food.
Very legitimate bar on the east side. Mirrors on the east wall make it seem much larger. Bar is a dark wood top with a first I've seen, flat steel "rail". Wooden chairs and a steel pole footrail. Tons of ever changing draft beers, also tons of bottles (even Chimay). Otherwise the bar back is segmented bottle shelves with mirrors. 2-3 42" hdtvs. Sports sound in the bar (music on the restaurant side). Strangest thing is the seating on the south side opposite the bar. It is an elevated bench seat with evenly spaced small circular tables. There's even and elevated foot rest, otherwise you'd sit like a 5 year old in an adult's chair with your feet 12" above he floor.
Fairly low key and quiet. Crowd is average age, not old, but not 20's. Great ceiling over the far east of bar. -
Review from Jessica M.
Philadelphia, PA
3/4/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Pleasantly surprised by Perch Pub. I don't know why but I had it in my mind that this was not a place I ever wanted to go. However, after a night at the ballet and wanting a quick drink and a bite to eat, Perch was an obvious, if not a simply convenient choice.
We popped up and were greeted by a friendly hostess and subsequently a friendly bartender. He could see it in our eyes that we wanted some drinks...STAT...and wasn't pushy about us ordering food but quickly got us menus when we said we were hungry. A few bar snacks - cheesesteak egg rolls and fried cheese(!) - and a couple glasses of wine later we were done and satisfied.
The atmosphere at Perch is so much better than I thought it would be, although again, I don't know why I had these initial feelings. I will definitely be back to try an entree or sandwich and have since recommended it to others who happen to be in the area for a show or just looking for a glass of wine and some gooey cheese! -
Review from Rizwan A.
3/1/2012
Overall a good experience, and I'd come back.
I don't drink so I can't comment on the bar at all but based on the food I think it's a safe bet to say that this is more of a drink spot than a food place.
Everyone here is pretty friendly and the service was efficient and polite and not overly intrusive.
I like the fact that they have a lot of options on the menu but the way some of it ends up coming out makes you wonder if they ever expect anyone to actually order things like the fish tacos or even simpler, the nachos. The nachos were good but their preparation and presentation resembled the kind of nachos you try to make as a kid, eg putting cheese slices on top of doritos and microwaving them for a minute or two. The toppings however were pretty good and they seem to be a big fan of their ingredients as they tend to use the same stuff to top their tacos too.
Their burgers looked a bit better and I guess if I come back here I'll stick to simple stuff like the sandwiches, wings or burgers.
No real negatives here, I liked the ambiance and it was a fun experience in a comfortable place with a lot of room, but the food was just slightly unimpressive for something I was hoping would 'hit the spot.' While I haven't made my own nachos (with the exception of the ones I mentioned above) I have made fish tacos and they're not that hard to get right.
Still, I think this is a safe default for when you're not sure where to go or don't want to go too far from home. I'll definitely be coming back. -
Review from Matt H.
Collingswood, NJ
3/20/2012
I have had lunch here a few times. Nice casual atmosphere and attentive service at the bar has been the norm.
There is a nice bar with an excellent and interesting beer selection on tap which seems to be updated often and definitely offers brews off of the beaten path if that is what you are looking for.
The food is good and the menu has some unique and interesting offerings, but everything could stand to be a dollar or two cheaper than it is. But it is all done well, tastes great and they have great fries. -
Review from Margo K.
Updated - 1/16/2012 6 Check-ins Here
Finally sat down for dinner here on New Year's Eve. The bf and I made reservations for around 8, because we liked the fact that they didn't have a prix fixe menu or an expensive open bar...and were pouring some Ballast Point beers!
Our server was so sweet. She gave us the right amount of time to sit back and enjoy the night and not feel rushed. We each ordered our respective Ballast Point brews and the fresh mozzarella to start. I was torn between ordering a burger (they've got those La Frieda meats) and the salmon. They also had a couple specials for the evening too, most of them were fish. I went with the salmon, and my boyfriend went with the burger with gruyere, caramelized onions, arugula, and garlic aioli. I had a bite of his burger -- when people say "melt in your mouth" this is what they are talking about. Truly. My salmon was good; I really liked the red pepper puree.
The dining atmosphere is nice here. I definitely recommend dinner here for a date or even with a group of friends. The view down Broad Street actually is a selling point. Warm, cozy setting, and nice people.
I really like it here. But see...whenever I go to a beer bar to eat, I can't help but compare it to Varga, and that makes things very very difficult when it comes to a 5-star rating.
I will be back for a meal, and I want to try some nachos and get my own burger! What I love most about this place is their happy hour and pub snacks. Seriously, their happy hour is one of the best in the city. 1/2 off drafts.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/25/2011
I'm pretty into this place so far. The atmosphere is nice, nice mix of folks come here too. I've… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jessica M.
Abington, PA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was pleasantly surprised by Perch Pub. I'd assumed it would be full of suburbanites (hey, like me) enjoying an after-theater drink at a "safe" and "clean" downtown bar. I thought it would be overpriced and stuffy.
Instead, the bar was quite comfortable with friendly bartenders. The kind that gladly let you sample the craft brews and help you choose a drink from their wide selection. They also had really good specialty cocktails.
It was quiet enough to converse with friends, and there was a television for anyone who preferred to watch the hockey game. I guess this is a sign of me getting older: I'll pay a little more for my quality drink, enjoy it, and enjoy the company of my friends in a nice place like Perch Pub. -
Review from Dan S.
Brooklyn, NY
1/9/2012
Haven't done many reviews on here in a while, but I felt the need to commend Perch Pub after attending on New Years Eve.
While in town for the Winter Classic, I wanted to find a bar to ring in the new year that A) didn't have an insane cover charge, and B) would be free of a certain type of person of the Italian persuasion likely from New Jersey (by the way, I'm Italian. But not like "them").
I was able to find Perch Pub and was intrigued by their menu, as well as a quality list of beer selections featuring Ballast Point, a San Diego brewery. And the fact that they had the "first happy hour of 2012" starting at 12:01? Bonus.
Turns out, it was a great experience. Our waitress, Natalie, was absolutely outstanding in every way, from showing off her vast knowledge of all things pilsner to her welcoming, and just plain awesome, demeanor.
The rest of the night was great as the drop of the ball was shown, party favors were given, balloons were strewn throughout and oh yeah, the first happy hour of 2012 started too!
Great beer selection, the Perch Nachos are outstanding. Will definitely be back. And not just for New Years! -
Review from Jennifer N.
Drexel Hill, PA
Huge fan! Especially, their Happy Hour. Was introduced to this bar when I was here during Sips, and I made a mental note to come back. There's a pool table, separate bar area, and exposed brick wall (for some reason, I really dig this!).
Came here for dinner before we hit the orchestra. Their draft list is unique and with lots of choices, there is something for everyone. I lean towards the dark and flavorful beers, so I chose the Bavarian Barbarian Bulldozer (really good!), Weyerbacher Fireside Ale (a little too smoky for me), and my personal favorite, the Southern Tier Oak Aged Pumking (pumpkin beer in the winter? YES, PLEASE!).
Since we sat at the tables, we weren't sure if we could still get the happy hour prices. Luckily, our server was able to help us out (Thank you, Jackie!).
Definitely check out the chalkboard specials. On our plates, we chose the grilled scallops over a lamb sausage cream with crispy sage potato sticks (just a fance name for french fries), the wake and bacon burger (perfect fried egg!), vino burger, and to end our meal, we got the nachos dulce which were sugar and cinnamon dusted nachos covered in chocolate, sliced strawberries, and garnished with mint.
We left extremely happy. And another plus? Coat hooks by the table. Nice touch! -
Review from Gandhus M.
Philadelphia, PA
12/19/2011
I mark my 100th review with one for Perch Pub, not by design, it just worked out that way.
The first adjective that crossed my mind when I climbed the spiral staircase and entered the Perch Pub was "sharp". The place is sharp. Adequately-sized bar & dining room. It's clean, the menus are nice and the service was good. I was greeted & served enthusiastically. TVs. Sharp.
It's not a gastropub, it's a traditional bar. Think Cheers, but above ground & way better. The view is pretty sweet...as sweet as a view of Broad & Locust can be, I suppose.
Their happy hour deal is cool. Half-price on drafts. You don't usually see that around town for craft beers, if at all. That earns it one star alone.
The particular happy hour I attended witnessed the formation of a mildly douchy crowd. It may go part and parcel with the location, I'm not sure. One guy actually cried out when a Billy Idol song was skipped.
Fortunately this variety of d-baggery can be easily ignored or serve as entertainment.
The Perch Pub is alright. I imagined a scene where heavy snowfall descends upon the city and, upon being dismissed from work, I grab a window seat at the Perch Pub and get hammered enjoying my view of Mother Nature's wrath and majesty.
Yeah, I definitely want to try that sometime...weather permitting. -
Review from Paul B.
Philadelphia, PA
2/26/2012
I went to Perch Pub last tuesday for happy hour. I have got to say it way everything I expected and more. Their happy hour has half priced drafts. Very awesome.
The beer list was excellent. I tried a Scotty Karate first which was a scotch ale from Dark Horse brewery in Michigan. This is one of the best scotch ales I have ever had and my new favorite. I also had an adoration ale from Ommegang (normally $9 not during happy hour, but since it was 1/2 price drafts now was the time to try it).
For an appetizer, we tried sriracha deviled eggs. Very interesting take on deviled eggs, but good none the less.
Because it was fat tuesday they also had $5 hurricanes . Also good. There was a brand ambassador their from malibu black (a higher proof malibu) giving out free shots that they were putting in the drinks. Nice touch.
To get into the "holiday spirit" we ate jambalaya and it was delicious. It had sausage, shrimp, chicken, rice, and tomatoes in it. It tasted like you were in Cajun country. Very impressive.
We also got a French Burger Medium Rare with Gruyere and caramelized onions. This was cooked as desired and very juicy. Not as good as a village whiskey burger, but definitely up there in the best burgers in philly discussion.
Overall, a fun time and great experience. -
Review from Jose A.
12/16/2011
Love the spot, each time I walk by I marvel at how cool it would be sit up there and overlook broad st. Going there was maybe a slight disappointment after all the generally positive reviews. The waitress was a little awkward/standoffish, maybe she was new or something, but something was off.
I also thought there draft selection was a little lacking for philly gastropubs. The food was good enough, not memorable, but if you're going out for bar food this is good enough, though maybe a bit expensive for what you're getting. -
Review from Andrew E.
Havre de Grace, MD
3/11/2012
Great beer selection, food was very good, atmosphere was great. I had the special lamb burger and my wife had the cuban. We shared the cheesesteak eggrolls which were good but small. Sit by the window for great people watching.
-
Review from Chris W.
10/5/2011
Went here for happy hour yesterday after walking by it going to and from work the past 10 months, now I'm sad I've been missing out.
They have about 10 beers on tap, great variety with descriptions for each on the menu. Best of all, they are all half off during happy hour from 5-7! The Colorado Brewing Co Hazed and Confused is a must try. My crew set up shop in the corner to the right when you walk in and had great service throughout the Phillies game. Not much of a view from there with the actual bar area is on the smaller side but it got the job done. We had some delicious pretzels with mustard and cheese that hit the spot too.
Probably will be back there in about 4 hours, hopefully in the same seat watching the same TV with the same beer in hand with the same Phillies result. -
Review from Perry H.
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Didn't sample the food but I can give the beer list a resounding five stars. Sitting on the second floor overlooking Broad street, the Perch Pub is a new spot with friendly bartenders and a great draft list in a casual space. I really dig this place and its a welcome sight in what was previously kind of a barren area for cool bars. They had some hard to find Port City brewing on tap which was very cool. Definitely look forward to going back and checking out the food menu.
-
Review from Azucena R.
Philadelphia, PA
12/19/2011
This place has a great view and a decent beer selection. However, please don't try any of the food. I've had a lot of great food in Philadelphia, but this place is the worst I've had in Philly and outside of it. The burger tasted like cardboard, my husband tried to take a second bite and he felt sick. I had the fish and chips, my first bite of the fish turned me off to the food so much I wanted to leave. The fish was the most insipid piece of meat I've ever eaten. I repeat do not eat the food! Dinner at this place was the worst $80 I've ever spent.
If you are looking for decent food please look elsewhere. If you are just looking for a good place to hang out and grab a beer be my guest but be sure to stay away from the entrées. -
Review from Aristos E.
Philadelphia, PA
2/27/2012
This place has decent pub cuisine and offers great panoramic views of Broad Street. I'm not a beer connoisseur, but the draft list seemed pretty good to me, and featured plenty of cold-weather favorites (porters, stouts, etc.). My only reluctance was the service - it wasn't terrible, but I really don't think that each person at the table should have to ask for a water refill individually. That said, I wouldn't rush back, but I wouldn't avoid this place either.
-
Review from Rich R.
Riverton, NJ
2/3/2012
We stopped in there before seeing Rain at the Academy across the street. The atmosphere is very cozy and the view of Broad and Locust from the second floor was amazing. The windows were so clear you thought you were outside. They have around 15 craft beers on their menu and many more bottles. The waiter was knowlegable on the beers and food. Smutty Nose Smuttenator was a tasty choice. They have a 1/2 price happy hour that is for the bar only, not tableside, not mentioned in the website, but standard practice in restaurants. We ordered mussels in garlic sauce. They were large and tender in a tasty dipping sauce. My California Cobb burger was awesome, cooked as ordered, and served with a side salad or fries. After dinner we stopped at the bar for the happy hour prices. The place is a gem and will become a favorite, as we also visit the Wilma down the street.
-
Review from Sophia K.
Eugene, OR
11/12/2011
Pretty sweet spot. Decent prices and raunchy crowd. Maybe because I'm not from Philly or the east coast, but there was something funny about this place that was super entertaining. It could've been the girl who was pretty drunk that lost track of her credit card and went around looking for it. Or the guy at the bar that was nonchalantly flirting with credit card girl. Or the sleezy looking bartender. Or the birthday boy and his party friends that were suppose to be in a private room, but somehow overflowed to the bar area.
It was a funny night. My friend and I went here after the bigger group we were with couldn't decide on a place to go. This place was a nice retreat. Atmosphere was nice. More of a bar to meet people or watch a game rather than anything else. -
Review from Steve W.
10/2/2011
Went to the Perch to grab a bite to eat and watch the Philly's playoff game. The bar was jammed so we sat in the dining room, which had a big screen tv set up so it was a nice place to watch the game. Nice views out to Broad street too.
I had the chili, which is made with braised short rib meat. Excellent. Not very spicy as chili's go but tasty. Only downside was the chili was only temp warm. Had to eat it right away or it would have been room temp in 10 mins. My wife had the mussels, which was very good too. We split the scallop appetizer and a side of deviled eggs. The deviled eggs had a bit of a kick to them, which was great.
Only negatives were: no drink or food price specials in the dining room even though the bar is literally a few feet away, which had specials. Also; they were very understaffed. Our waitress was good but given her and one other waiter had to cover the entire dining room, wait times for drinks in the early innings was long. Overall the price was a bit on the high side. We'll go back again but definitely go earlier to get a seat at the bar. -
Review from Wendy S.
Philadelphia, PA
2/19/2012
This place is awesome for the beer. They have an extensive brew list with about a dozen rotating choices on tap. It's a well-edited selection, but the best part is the super reasonable prices. It's a great place to experiment with microbrews you've never tried...most of the choices on the beer list are in the $5-$8 range.
Unfortunately, the bar area is smallish. We've been several times and the service always seemed to be lacking a little. Despite the other reviews, I find that the crowd actually is very suburbanite-headed-to-a-show combined with a bit of Center-City-lawyer-after-work. I believe every time we've been here was an early (around 6-8) weekend night. It doesn't really matter since I'm not there to socialize or make friends, but maybe worth noting.
The food looks good, but otherwise I can't comment as we've moved on to dinner elsewhere every time.
**Edited to add that I've now eaten here twice. First time we snacked on the pretzel and it was ridiculously good. A few nights ago we shared an order of buffalo wings and the gruyere burger. Both were excellent. Big yay for the food. -
Review from Vinny P.
6/16/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I was here for Sips and then I stayed afterward for a little while. It was pretty good.
I was unimpressed with their sips specials. They have a pretty solid draft list and what was on for Sips? Coors light and lager. Cmon Perch, you can do better than that!
The space is nice and it's good to come with a group or just another friend. The whole area was lit by the natural light from the windows coming in and I thought that was pretty cool. You definitely have a nice view of broad street from this vantage point.
We split the wings which were pretty good. They were also on the sips special so like a fool, I didn't specify the heat level. Actually, I'm not even sure if they have different heat levels. The wings themselves were rather tasty and the sauce definitely had a nice spice level to it. I was pleased.
I can see myself coming back here to try a few more items. It's too bad this place wasn't around when I lived two blocks away. Anyhoo, I'm glad that perch is yet another bar in Philly that features good food and an impressive beer list. -
Review from Keith M.
Wayne, PA
11/17/2011
Stopped by before going to an event at the Kimmel Center. They were cognizant of our time constraints and got us out in plenty of time. The food was flavorful and memorable. I had the Cuban sandwich, which was excellent.
The menu is very pub-like (i.e. mussels, burgers, sandwiches) but I think the presentation was way better than what I would get at most pubs. They also have a good beer selection, which always makes me happy. I'll definitely return to try more things on the menu. -
Review from Elizabeth D.
Philadelphia, PA
7/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I would rate Perch between 3 and 4 stars. It's in a great location - right off the BSL, convenient to several buses. I enjoyed the winding staircase to the 2nd floor. It provides a great view of Broad Street. Inside is pretty spacious and despite arriving right after Sips, it wasn't too crowded.
Nice beer and cocktail list with plenty to choose from and the prices were pretty good. I had the P's A Sweet Tart, Plymouth Sloe Gin, Finlandia Vodka and pink grapefruit juice topped with club soda. Very refreshing.
The nachos with short ribs were tasty and filling. I had the Lincoln burger (as did a few others). It was a tad overcooked for my taste but the tomato jam was AWESOME. I was a little peeved that they charge extra for fries with it, and chose the included side salad. Disappointed it was just basically a pile of lettuce with olive oil. Should have asked for dressing on the side.
Our server was great accommodating such a big group, but the food runners were not good at their timing. We had 2 burgers arrive and then 10 minutes later 2 more burgers, and then another 5 before the rest of the food.
Otherwise this was a good pub type place and I will definitely come back. -
Review from Leah G.
4/17/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I decided that a burger and fries would be the only way to brave through the seemingly thousandth night of rain we've had recently. We headed to perch pub because of everyone's rave yelp reviews.
The location would not be my first choice were I a restauranteur . . . but the second floor view is pretty exciting, especially on a rainy night.
Normally when I order a burger and fries, I only really want the fries. Thus I typically finish the fries in a hurry and am no longer hungry enough to eat the burger. Our burgers at Perch were soooooooo good that it was the fries I couldn't finish.
We opted to split the french burger and the wake and bacon burger. Both were delicious. The Wake and bacon burger, however, might join the ranks of my top five burgers in Philadelphia (dining companion said it definitely made his top five list). It was perfectly cooked, perfectly flavored, and so just downright amazing that I really no longer wanted to split it and had to restrain myself from asking for the other half back.
The beer list is also pretty great. Great list on tap.
I will definitely be back and will not share my burger next time. -
Review from Jj N.
6/6/2011
I love the little bar upstairs! That is if you can get a seat! The wood bench seats with bar tables against the windows are genius. I love the feel of the place. It has a positive vibe. The staff is super friendly as well.
Food:
I've had the Italiano and the mussels. Both were very good. If you are looking to grab a beer and a bite to eat this is a cool spot. Also would probably be a great first date spot to try and get to know someone!Listed in: Philadelphia
-
Review from Sophia S.
5/1/2011
Tap list: 5 stars
Location: 4 stars
Food: 3 stars
Service: 2 stars
The tap list and the view are the reason to go to Perch. They have some of the cheapest microbrews in the city! Plus I was able to find some beers that are less common in philly, like the Great Divide brewery
The food was meh and the service was awful. The burger was respectable but will not blow your mind. Nothing else was particularly noteworthy. My salad was downright bad.
I will probably come back for the prices and a decent burger.Listed in: Gastropub Mania
-
Review from Colleen M.
Philadelphia, PA
7/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had a good beer or two here but there are so many other spots in Philadelphia in which to grab a good beer... so many other spots who have the same beers, cheaper and better food. I was not bowled over by any of the food selelctions or the food itself. We tried the calamari and jalepeno fries. They were both definitely "meh".
This place earns itself 2 stars for the atmosphere. The upstairs location gives a good view of the Avenue of the Arts and there is a definitely upscale pub-type feel to it. I just can't see what all the hype's about. -
Review from Sara L.
4/18/2011
I will admit that my knee-jerk reaction to the Perch Pub was negative, but I quickly got over it and can see many repeat visits to enjoy the always high-quality offerings of the Varalli crew. I was initially quite disappointed when I saw that Upstares at Varalli's was on its way out (having celebrated several of life's milestones there), but I think the concept of combining it with the downstairs venue will actually work out quite well. Realistically, I always found the more "casual" downstairs to be a nicer place to eat.
As for the Perch Pub, I have only made one stop so far, but was really pleased. I enjoyed some tasty bar food, and drank some very reasonably priced drafts while watching the Phillies play some great baseball. The service was a little disjointed (they had only been open for a few days), but ultimately pleasant and effective. The room still allows for some fantastic people watching above The Avenue of the Arts as well. If this new model for using the space keeps these restaurants in this location, I am all for it. -
Review from John L.
Philadelphia, PA
1/22/2012
WOW a pool table AND darts! those are hard to find these days. decent prices, wasnt overly crowded on a saturday night, and the staff was friendly. ill stop back and try the food and if thats good as well they could definitely be bumped up to 5 stars.
-
Review from Karen T.
7/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Don't know why we haven't been here before. Conveniently located to PATCO, awesome views of the Academy of Music through the treetops, lovely wooden spiral staircase leading you upstairs (little iffy coming down after you've had a couple though), cool bar seating by the windows with built-in tables. The service was decent, beer selection was good and had a nice descriptive beer menu. Good happy hour specials.
Would like to see improvement in the food. Had the pretzels (awesome mustard!), onion rings (greasy), fish tacos (dude, is that sour cream? eww). Other members of my party complained that the crabcake sandwich was greasy, side salad boring. It could really be awesome with minor tweaks to the food. -
Review from Sara C.
2/19/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I'm impressed, Perch.
I knew we were in for a good time after hearing some word of mouth raves. Honestly if I passed this place on the street with no prior knowledge, I would have assumed it to be no more than an average pub catering to Doubletree guests across the street and post-concert/play crowds along the Avenue of the Arts. But that's SO WRONG.
First, let's start off with drink prices - absolutely reasonable for being smack dab in the middle of Center City. They could charge a lot more...but they don't play that game. The draft list is made up of local brews (150 mi radius) and they've got a solid bottle list to please everyone. They also had some tasty sounding cocktails, but I just went for a Flying Dog Raging Bitch.
They've got an extensive menu of pub snacks, starters, sandwiches, melts, burgers, and bigger plates. We opted for the pretzels, but they were out - so the second choice was the bangers - Irish sausage with saltine crackers and a spicy homemade pub cheese. This ended up being a delicious, decadent option that did not disappoint. For dinner, I went with the Jacob's Ladder melt - a generous serving of short rib, oven roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, and aged cheddar. And let me tell you, I have not met a sandwich this delicious in a while. I also tried a couple onion rings, which are offered as a side - but I went for the french fries, also decent.
Overall, Perch Pub is a relaxed, unpretentious dining choice for Broad Street. Service was attentive and on point. For a new place, it was hopping on a Thursday night, which is a good sign. I will definitely be back to try some of the other snacks and dinner choices. -
Review from Alicia R.
Vienna, VA
2/18/2011
Just came home from here! Great atmosphere and service. We only waited a few minutes for our table despite the packed bar and tables.
I wanted the perch nachos but they were out. Then I wanted chili but again, they were out. That's why the 4 stars for me. Make more! D: I settled on fried mozzarella which was delish, my mom got jacobs ladder melt which was divine. My friend got french fries but they were just alright.
The service was really wonderful. My mom ordered a drink she didn't know had whiskey and just couldn't drink it so our waitress brought her something else no problem. :)
Overall I'd love to come back! Thanks for a wonderful evening! -
Review from Robin D.
Philadelphia, PA
8/19/2011
I'm giving perch pub 2 stars, just because we went there for dinner and were looking for good food.
the atmosphere is REALLY beautiful, a huge corner window overlooking broad street with a nice pubby feel on the inside. and the beer list is very good.
but in terms of the food, it was pretty much the definition of mediocre. i got the nachos and a salad. they used wiz on the nachos and the salad was drowned with dressing. my boyfriend got a burger, which was good not great.
I'd go back for drinks but probably wouldn't even order an appetizer if i was hungry. maybe i would if i was wasted at the end of the night, but that's not saying much. -
Review from Brent S.
Philadelphia, PA
4/30/2011
I don't get the reviews of Perch Pub????????
Mel and I were happy to finally visit. The reviews are so good on Yelp. I have to assume most were written by friends or by the staff themselves. This is a two star place.
Now I wasn't looking to have my world changed. I wasn't looking special treatment, or fine dining. I just wanted to have some pub food, a few snorts, and a beer or two with my girl.
They had the opportunity to do something really different with the space but played it so safe. Take Ten stone, Pub & Kitchen, Sidecar, Good Dog, Devil's Den...shake 'em all up and spray the decors in a second floor space and you have Perch Pub. In short, you've already been here before even if you've never stepped through the door.
The food menu is the same. I mean exactly the same as the places mentioned above.....and more expensive then I'm used to seeing. I had nachos that were just ok. They use better chips than most places, but try to disguise the small amount of meat, and veg by slathering a ton of cheese whiz over everything. Mel had fish tacos that were pretty good but really small for $5.00 per taco. we tried a couple of sides and were underwhelmed all over.
The beer list is good, but again....there are a dozen other places I could get the same list. Give me something...focus on a couple of specific breweries, give me a special price to try something different, give me a tasting option....for god sakes take a risk somewhere.
The booze. This sealed the deal for me. The short pours we got were ridiculous. It's insulting when the bartenders buddy is getting a bucket full of booze and your giving me a thimble at full price. Whiskey village looks generous in comparison! {That is not an endorsement of WV..they are far too short with their pour as well}.
Before you go back to Perch Pub go back to or try:
Varga Bar, Devil's Den, Royal Tavern, Race Street Tavern, Good Dog, Ten Stone, Sidecar, Pub & Kitchen, Misconduct. They are all doing the same as Perch. They all just do it better and mostly likely cheaper. -
Review from Erin P.
Charlotte, NC
8/8/2011
Simply one of the best burgers I've ever had--I'm sad I don't live close by! I stumbled across this trying to find a place for dinner with a friend while attending a conference, and was really impressed with their beer
selection as well as their high recs on Yelp (especially for the burgers!)
Love the design of the place as well, and it has a terrific location with huge lovely windows for great viewing. Highly recommended! -
Review from Joe W.
Philadelphia, PA
4/14/2011
Varelli hits it outta the park.
Handsome decor, smart tasty drafts selection (they give you a sample if asked!) plus delicious bar menu. All this at reasonable prices and a wonderful view.
Bartender Nick is tops. He was very busy but exceptionally knowledgeable about the food, brews and wine. The onion rings were awesome. Can't wait to try rest of menu - from what I saw, people were raving.
There are many great pubs in Center City but it's hard to beat this location, service and pricing. More: there's a cool pool table in rear....
