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- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
69 reviews for St. Stephen's Green
Review Highlights
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"I will definitely go back and try their lamb tacos." In 11 reviews -
"I loved their short rib grilled cheese." In 2 reviews -
"But get the Isabella salad, trust me." In 4 reviews
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69 reviews in English
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Review from Andrea F.
Philadelphia, PA
5/23/2012
Get the pork nachos. Amazing.
That is all. -
Review from Clayton L.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 5/14/2012 4 Check-ins Here
So I just tried their wings for the first time two weeks ago, and they were OUTSTANDING. There is something about that sauce...definitely not your standard fare. Not too spicy and very tasty.
And for only $.50 a wing, I am a huge fan. There is a minimum order of 6 on Thursday nights, but trust me...you will be able to crush 6 and then want 6 more.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/19/2012
Context: Drinks After Kickball
Time of Visit: Thursday, 10:00PM
St. Stephen's Green works out best for… Read more »
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Review from Michael G.
Philadelphia, PA
4/28/2012 7 Check-ins Here
I have nothing but positive things to say about St. Stephen's Green. This is our weekly kickball after/pre party spot as designated by PSSC. The staff expects large groups of sweaty people, wanting their drink specials, and random assortment of food.
The service is positive, and the food is honestly pretty good. (I like it much better than the food that we get at Smith's during Quizzo).
On St. Patrick's Day this year we came by and the entire back patio was open and we were able to claim it. We had a server who worked extremely hard, and was super fun.
If you are in Fairmont, St. Stephen's is a great place for a big group especially if you want to sit outside! -
Review from Aaliyah P.
Wilmington, DE
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
The beer list and outdoor seating make this place pretty much a good time.
"I think I'll try the Tramp Stamp" one meber of our party said to another. (That would be the beer and not the lower back tattoo)
ST Stephens Green's outside deck made for a great place for our second bar stop for Saturdays st pattys day shennigans.
The hummus was very good and our server kept us with beers in hand for hour the or so that we were here. I would return to try some other food items and the draft list(price wise) is ok for the area -
Review from Dan A.
4/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
St. Stephen's Green is a regular spot for work lunches since it's in walking distance of the office. It's good for groups because they take reservations and will rearrange tables to make room. The service is quick and courteous.
The downside is there aren't many meatless options. I know it's an Irish bar. But they really could step up and give just a few solid vegetarian options. The Isabella's Salad is good. But I shouldn't have to order it every time.
I really wish I could combine the service and seating of St. Stephen's Green with the food of Sabrina's Cafe. That would be the perfect lunch spot! -
Review from Ryan B.
Philadelphia, PA
4/18/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Thursday is the best day in my opinion. Take advantage of the specials for the kickball teams and get half off apps and great beer specials. Their wings are top notch and not your ordinary pub wing. They have some type of tomato-y sauce on them that really steps it up in the flavor department. I ate 18 the other night and would have stomached more if it weren't for the disapproving looks of my peers. I admit I've never ventured downstairs, but only cause the ground floor keeps me satisfied as-is.
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Review from Chérie S.
Philadelphia, PA
2/18/2012
I really like this place. The environment is pretty mild, which is great and the food is really good! I've had various soups, salads and sandwiches here and everything is just delish.
Also, this place is right around the corner from my college. Stressful days call for a few ice cold brews after hours of design crits with professors! -
Review from James W.
Philadelphia, PA
4/4/2012
Have been here a few times for drinks and its a fairly laid back neighborhood bar atmosphere. Bar service has been good but the wait staff has left something to be desired. Waitress was not knowledgeable about the specials or recommendations and paid little attention to our table even though it wasn't busy. The food was pretty good. I got the chicken tacos and was pleasantly surprised. They had two tortillas on the tacos and guacamole in between the two which was delicious. My friend got fries that were good but nothing to rave about. I would probably go here again but wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again.
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Review from Nathan S.
Philadelphia, PA
12/11/2011
St. Stephen's is more than a decent spot for a dinner and drinks outing.
The food quality is always top notch- you can't go wrong with the Shredded Lamb Tacos, or the Sirloin Sliders, or the Chili, or they Burgers... You get the idea. Often, they do have special menus as well, my favorite option being Brussels Sprouts with Bacon cooked in Duck Fat. DELICIOUS. Prices are what you'd expect for a $$ bar in Philly, but the quality of the food in preperation is what makes it. However, as for the sourcing of their food, I often see Sysco trucks parked outside, so likely no local or organics here.
Food wise, I do have to note- my mother did get sick after Eggs Benedict at brunch about a year ago. We have been back since and it seems this was either a one-off or her cranky old lady stomach fighting off the deliciously runny eggs.
The beer list, while small, generally has a good mix for anyone into craft beers. St Stephen's doesn't beat out other bars on pricing here, that's for sure- but the selection and locality of the bar to the neighborhood help here. If you're out purely for a beer outing, Belgian Cafe a few blocks over might do you better.
The atmosphere is great! Super cool authentic pub vibes are felt here. Service is consistently a meh from the waitresses, but nothing I would say was 'bad' service... just going through the motions. The bartenders are cool, and the owner is totally rad- He grew up in Belfast, and will share a story or two if you run into him. Clientele is a meh as well. I'd say the place is most often dominated by the neighborhood yuppies. During sports games the ex-fratters come out, and weekend nights are a mix of both and some of the younger crowd.
All in all, you can't really go wrong with this spot especially if you live in the neighborhood. I'm not sure if I would frequent this place as much if I didn't live within walking distance, but it is my go-to place to take friends and family when they visit for that very reason. Cheers! -
Review from Amina W.
Philadelphia, PA
2/23/2012
I love the very chill environment, and the food is off the hook. The service can be a tad slow sometimes, but that's really only when it starts to get crowded. Sunday Brunch menu is usually pretty good--although it is limited. They should really bring back the short rib grilled cheese, though, because was my favorite for a long time. Otherwise--I'll keep coming back to this place for a long time!
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Review from Kate M.
Philadelphia, PA
10/31/2011
Favorite neighborhood spot. Im so happy that i have this great pub just a few blocks away. They have great food. Its always nice to find a spot that features a seasonal menu. They do also have a regular menu, but once you have gone through that, make sure to try something off the specials menu. I have never been disappointed with that list.
They have a great burger here, perfectly cooked with your choice of two toppings, i personally love the roasted red peppers with fried onions. so delicious.
Cheesesteak egg rolls are also a knock out here!
Cheesesteak itself is pretty good too, very good flavors with the sharp provolone.
Hummus is also very good! comes with great toasted pita bread.
Stephens also has a great beer selection with a rotating draft selection.
If you are in the neighborhood you should definitely come check it out! -
Review from Bobby P.
4/14/2011
What a cool little neighborhood pub. The chick pea stew is pretty good, as are the sliders. But get the Isabella salad, trust me.
Not good enough? Well it has toasted hazel nuts warmed with goat cheese, grilled portobellos and roasted red peppers, all drizzled in a balsamic dressing. In other words, it's fucking brilliant. Happy? Now see someone about those trust issues. -
Review from Walter K.
9/17/2010
Wow. I've visited this place before an been indifferent. But my last visit was a different story. I walked into the pub for lunch, and was causally browsing the beer list. It seemed a just slightly overpriced to me (if everything would have been even just $.50 lower I probably wouldn't have thought twice about it.) $7 for Southern Tier's Pumpkin beer, $4.50 Brawler, $4 Yuengling, etc. Not the best prices around by any stretch.
As Dan and I were browsing the beer list, the bartender looked over at us and said, "If you're going to think about having a beer, I'm going to need to see your ID."
I jokingly replied, "Well, you don't need to see ID if I'm thinking about it, just if I'm going to order one." I meant no harm at all, and continued to look to decide on a beer. But said bartender was not amused. The response I received was, "If you want to order a beer while you're here, I'm going to need to see your ID, RIGHT NOW."
Woah dude. You're taking this a bit far. It's lunch time, there's four people sitting at the bar. You're not overworked, and I'm taking my time looking at the beer. No crime here.
I quickly decided that I didn't want to be here, and as I was walking out the bartender said bid us fairwell, but in a tone that suggested "Get out of here and don't come back."
We had one more exchange, and I can't recall exactly what was said, so I won't try to paraphrase and then misrepresent his or my words. What I've written in quotes in nearly verbatim. He projected the message clearly that if we didn't show ID immediately, we were not welcomed at the bar, even to browse. Keep in mind I'm talking about 1pm on an uncrowded weekday.
I actually had my ID on me, and don't mind getting carded. I do mind being treated with condescension and rudeness.
I decided I didn't really like the beer list, and certainly did not like my potential bartender. I walked out and will never visit again. -
Review from Samantha S.
Philadelphia, PA
10/13/2010
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!
The service is the absolute worst! I have been here with groups of 4 several times with the intention to drink, also I have had dinner. The wait staff is not knowledgeable about the beers they serve or the dinner menu. Trying to flag a server down is a challenge. When we finally would get her over she would leave before taking everyone order, we had to yell at her to get her to turn around and get every ones drinks! Once on my way in, I was approaching the side entrance the server ran in front of me to get to the door, and then just stood in the door way with door cracked so she could stick her head in and yell at the bar tender. I said excuse me and she didn't even acknowledge me!
YOU WORK AT A BAR, YOU WORK FOR TIPS! THE MORE YOU SELL THE NICER YOU ARE THE MORE MONEY I WILL SPEND THE MORE MONEY I WILL TIP YOU!
You have got to be kidding -
Review from Shay K.
Philadelphia, PA
6/3/2011
For starters, Green street is beautiful so I am drawn to this restaurant automatically.
I have been here for Brunch, Lunch and dinner twice.
Brunch: my girlfriends and I all ordered different meals from eggs benedict to an egg white omelette with caramelized onions, pears and brie, to fresh rasberry pancakes with fresh whipped cream. All of thesebwere incredible, delicious and not heavy or greasy. My egg white, pear, car. onion omelette was delicious but originally they served me a plain egg white omelette with nothing in it. So i told my waitress there had been a mistake and the original order was served to me shortly thereafter. We ordered mimosas also, which were perfect. And, due to the order mishap, my first mimosa was free.
Lunch: With my grandparents who love love loved the location and food (they were pleased to get out of North Philly where I live). Tried one of their salads with grilled portobellos, and plenty of other fresh ingredients, twas killer. Filet Mignon sliders, nuf said. And fresh fish and chips in a non-greasy batter.
Dinnner: recently went with my boyfriend on a whim. We ordered their specials of lamb, celery mashed potatoes, lemon braised asparagus. And, pork with a vinagrette, garllic mashies, and grilled veggies. The meat was so tender we used butter knives to slice it. The flavors were excellent! Also ordered a couple draft beers each. My favorite was the Shark Attack Red Ale... served in an elegant glass but with definitely more than the expected 12 oz, this beer blew me off my feet. Amazing flavor and 10% abv! ...but this isn't beeradvocate, sorry bout that ;) the draft selection is huge and varied and features several local brewers and mostly microbrews.
I love St Stephens Green and will go back many more times.
Only drawback, the host ignored me and literally put up his finger to have me wait without looking over at my party for about ten minutes while he chatted up what appeared to be some love interest at the bar. Ha. -
Review from Michael P.
Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
3/13/2011
Okay. I may be biased because this is my neighborhood bar, but I dont really understand all the negative reviews.
The beer list is excellent. They always have the good seasonals that I'm looking for (I miss my Southern Tier PumKing) and occasionally have some very rare beers for some great prices (7 bucks for a Dogfishhead Worldwide Stout draught = amazing).
Foodwise - its your typical bar in that they have some very good food, and some so-so food. But if you are stumped, order the shortrib grilled cheese, lamb tacos or a flatbread (with chorizo of course). All three are consistently great.
Prices are reasonable, atmosphere is good (i.e. no house music, long bathroom lines and dudes with dragons on their tshirts) and the beer is excellent. -
Review from Linda M.
Philadelphia, PA
First time here for a farewell party for a colleague. Downstairs space perfect for a private party. Bells Two Hearted IPA on tap very good. Companions really liked the fish and chips and lobster Mac n cheese. I shared the calimari and short rib grilled cheese and enjoyed both although would have preferred thinner calimari so it would be less chewy. The shortrib grilled cheese on challah was outstanding! It certainly lived up to all the positive reviews.
I will definitely be back. -
Review from Chris M.
1/12/2011
Local, neighborhood, perfect spot to chill with a bud watching Phils, Flyers game while eating gourmet grilled cheese and sipping La Chouffe.
Haven't done it, but seems to be a cozy place for a date too: fireplace and nice areas for quiet conversation.
Beer: impressive. I love the availability of regional craft beers and seasonals.
Food menu: my only strike. Food quality is very good. Menu seems very overpriced. Can't we find a better balance of gourmet..and price?
Owners are the NICEST ever. Good guys, get in here.. support your local establishment, trying to create better things in East Fairmount. Now, if we could do something about that Green Room.... -
Review from Tatyana B.
Wilmington, DE
11/13/2011
My husband and I come here for about 3 years. We drive here all the way from Delaware, knowing its always outstanding food and service at this place! Servers recognize us and always chat friendly and serve promptly. Drinks and food are a very good quality for a very reasonable price! We are not that spoiled in Delaware as those in Philadelphia , lesser food is pricier in Delaware. We enjoy St.Stephen's, and will continue to come here and bring our friends ! Solid 5 stars!
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Review from Felicia D.
Philadelphia, PA
7/21/2008
This place has changed so much since Ben McNamara (from the New Wave Cafe) took over the kitchen.
Mushroom bruschetta appetizer was hugely heaped with shrooms and melted cheese- it could have been a meal in itself. Boyfriend's Guinness battered fish and chips were abundant and crispy, with heaps of chips. My flatbread pizza was guiltily drowned in cheese, but it was very tasty and I ate all of it (pig!).
Beer list is not huge but has great focus- quality Belgians, American craft beers, and standards like Harp on tap. Prices are very reasonable- $5 for a gigantic 20 ounce draft Allagash or Bell's Two Hearted is sick.
Service was decent. I think I seriously offended our waitress by asking *which* Fantome saison they had available. She came back and said "It's a farmhouse beer. " Yes, I know that. Fantome makes like five different saisons (farmhouse beers). She rolled her eyes and brought the bottle over so I could see for myself.
I felt kinda guilty for harassing her with my beer-nerdness and left an apology overtip. Sorry, lady.Listed in: Care for a Beer, Dear?
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Review from Kelly S.
Anchorage, AK
2/11/2008
Okay, I'm a sucker for Irish bars, and I've been to the real St. Stephen's Green in Dublin, which is a very beautiful park and one of the places where the Easter Rising occurred in 1916 (see, I'm a history nerd), so I like this place's name to start with. I'm also more and more pleased with Fairmount the more I walk over to hang out there.
The bar itself lived up to my expectations. It had the nice wood and brass pub thing going and is spacious. The bartender was from Ireland, and a group of men next to me at the bar all spoke with nice brogues, so I felt right at home. There was also a pretty good beer selection, so I indulged my weakness for Duchesse du Borgogne all night (god, I love sour beers). The menu also looked fantastic. Unfortunately, I wasn't that hungry, so my boyfriend and I just split their braised mushrooms. It was fan-freaking-tastic. The dish was basically a small hollowed-out crusty bread filled with braised mushrooms in a tasty brown sauce with a disc of crispy, browned parmesan cheese as a garnish (which was also yummy). I'm definitely up for going back there at some point and getting a real meal. And, of course, more beer.Listed in: Top Restaurants, The Places I Go Out
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Review from Meg B.
11/29/2010
mmm, spare-rib grilled cheese was to die for! Finally got to check out this cozy little pub for more than just a drink outside. The place had a nice authentic Irish feel to it. The beer list was plentyful just like most of the great pubs in fairmount. All three of us enjoyed our meals. Some could argue that the menu is limited and kind of pricey but the meals we ordered were well worth the price. My grilled cheese was overflowing with braised spare ribs and cheese. My brother's roasted chicken with potato pancake and asparagus was tasty and filling. My frien'ds flatbread pizza was tasty as well. I can't complain about the service either.
Another fun place that I am lucky enough to be able to walk to. Oh how I love Fairmount:) -
Review from Katie B.
Philadelphia, PA
11/6/2011
Went there for brunch. The service was incredibly slow, and the place wasn't that busy. Wasn't too impressed with the food, got the french toast and it was really soggy and the flavor was a little off. My girlfriend got a breakfast sandwich that was huge and greasy, she couldn't even eat half of it. I'm sure it's a great spot if you want to have some beers, it looked like they had some fun stuff on tap, but I'd recommend going elsewhere if you're looking for brunch.
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Review from Karen F.
4/30/2009
The food was terrific at St. Stephen's green today - it just took so. so. so. long to get it.
Part of it might have been what we ordered - I had a divine braised shortrib (fell right off the bone) over fettucine. "Does this come in a heavy sauce?", I asked. "Oh, no." replied our server. LIES!!! I asked for light on the oil - and true enough there was very little oil.
Just tons of BUTTER on the fettucine.
Oh well. My hips will thank me tomorrow.
The Isabella Salad is terrific and I will be getting that next time - if I can do a next time. I get an hour for lunch and we wallked in at 1:05 PM and out at 2:20. I bit too long for lunch, I'm afraid.
And a bit too pricey for lunch - if you order (as I did) a DINNER FOR LUNCH. Next time salad or the grilled turkey wrap.
Server was pleasant (a little slow) and one of the owners was there and he is a doll.
I am very close to giving them 4 stars.
But now I need a post osso-bucco nap .
It was (rich and) delicious.Listed in: Flam Ties One On.
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Review from Alex M.
Philadelphia, PA
7/9/2007 1 photo
St Stephens Green is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
The interior is beautiful - there is the first floor with a large bar, a backyard with a few intimate tables, a basement with a big HDTV and a very cool wine-cellar type feel, and outside seating on Green and on 17th St.
Its a typical bar with 7 or so beers on tap. The food is very good for a new bar.
My picks? The scallops (sans bacon), the lamb skewers, and the wings.
Its a great spot for us Fairmount'ers to spend a weeknight and watch the game or a weekend night to relax and hang with your friends without having to take a cab. -
Review from Ben K.
New York, NY
1/14/2008
Considering St. Stephen's is a block from my front door and consistently has a heady selection of beer, I can't complain too much. That said, the food is really hit or miss. Went in for a burger the other night and ordered it medium. It seemed fine but two bites in I realized it was completely raw and uncooked throughout. Awful. At that point I had basically destroyed the thing and didn't feel like complaining. The waiter offered me a free beer so I obviously took him up on that.
Since the place is less than a year old, they obviously haven't figured out a solid menu offering yet and are constantly updating and changing to work out the kinks. Eventually that might happen, but until then I would only suggest going here if you live in the neighborhood and are desperate for a bite. I also only make it a point to drink the beers because I have heard many complaints about the bartenders' cocktail mixing skills and tasted the worst Bloody Mary of my life there. -
Review from Todd V.
Washington, DC
3/30/2008
4.5 stars
This place was delicious. Our party of two arrived around noon on a Friday. The chicken, chorizo and rice soup was amazing. The spare ribs in basically an asian bbq sauce were amazing as well. I liked my turkey burrito a lot too. The black bottom pecan pie was good, but I'm hard to please since my mom's is so good.
The servers were all really friendly and were overall excellent. The restaurant is pretty nice inside but I didn't get a chance to check out the bar side. Overall I was really happy with the experience and it was worth the long walk to get there.Listed in: Best of Philly Dining
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Review from Meredith K.
Philadelphia, PA
2/22/2009
I have mixed feelings about St. Stephens. Their brunch is delicious and is by far my favorite time to visit. Their Crab Eggs Benedict is wonderful, especially with the tarragon sauce. They have a decent beer selection, but their prices are pretty steep.However, they usually have Bell's Two-Hearted Ale, which makes me really happy, since it's one of my favorite beers. Their food is good, especially the Curried Chicken Wrap, and relatively cheap for the area.
As for the clientele, I absolutely cannot stand most of the people who frequent this bar. I've heard so many conversations that made me want to throw up. Lots of frat boys and girls who wear ten pounds of makeup. Unfortunately, these people crowd up the place, especially on weekends, and make it almost impossible to stand. If not for them, I'd definitely come here more often.Listed in: Artsy Fartsy Fairmount/Spring…, Prost!
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Review from Jess M.
Philadelphia, PA
6/28/2009 2 photos
Arrived just as the kitchen was opening on Saturday morning at 11AM. Decent beer selection and a great menu. Sat outside on the beautiful morning, not a very pleasant waitress until she handed us the check and put in the last minute pleasantry in an effort for a better tip. Regardless, brunch was delish.
I ordered the St. Stephens Green Morning Walk, a full Irish breakfast that was indescribably delicious. The plate featured bangers (sausage), rashers (Irish bacon), fried tomato, eggs (your choice, I went with scrambled), an English muffin, portabella mushroom, black & white pudding (more meat) and baked beans. Only other time I'd had an Irish breakfast was in Dublin a few years back and this was every bit as tasty.
The rest of the menu looks yummy so I'll be back to check it out for another meal.Listed in: Fairmount/ Art Museum Hot…
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Review from Joshua S.
Philadelphia, PA
6/25/2008
The interior is beautiful. I've heard it was crafted in Ireland, then shipped over here and put together on site. During the winter it was a nice place to sit at one of the fireplace tables and drink dark beer.
During the summer, it is the tables outside on the corner of Green St. that make it a nice place to sit and people watch the dog walkers and passerby.
The beer selection is good European fare and definitely more diverse than Kellians two blocks over. The bloody mary I had at a pretty sub-standard brunch was dark brown and tasted like bong water and A-1 sauce. The downstairs bar is really cool for those who reminisce of getting shitfaced during Monday Night Football at your friend's basement bar.
The food, although quite limited, is pretty good. Lamb Tacos or the Warm Spinach Salad stand out nicely, but they really should get a handle on what they want their menu to be. I have enjoyed a few items that have since been replaced by lesser choices.
It is in the neighborhood, the crowd gets amped for sports, and you can have a good draft beer on a sunny day. That makes it worth stopping through once a month or so. -
Review from Michelle B.
Philadelphia, PA
9/19/2011
If you're going for dinner, run, don't walk, away from this place. I've gotten food poisoning after eating there as have three of my friends (all instances of food poisoning occurred on separate occasions, one as recently as mid-August). The drink list is average and the service is average. There are tons of other places in the neighborhood with better drink/beer lists and immensely better food and service.
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Review from Jacquelin K.
PA
9/10/2010
Service and decor: awesome. Food and comfort: not.
We visited on a weekday evening, and were greeted warmly by a host who I think also served us. She was attentive without smothering - seemed to show up just when she was supposed to. But all her niceness couldn't make up for some genuinely bland food. Strangely, my pal and I were both compelled to order the same thing: fish and chips. The fish was battered perfectly in terms of technique, but there was just no seasoning anywhere. At all. The fries had a stellar texture, but again, kind of no flavor. Ugh.
I would visit again since it's too close to home, but the chairs at Belgian Cafe doesn't give me scoliosis like St Stephen's chairs did so... count me in for Belgian instead! -
Review from Michael P.
Philadelphia, PA
11/6/2009
Needing to get out of my apartment to watch the Phillies, I found that most of my usual game watching friends had other plans. I called up my brother.and found that he was watching the game at St. Stephen's Green. I found him in the downstairs bar, with a stool at the ready.
The downstairs bar is a bit claustrophobic, with a low ceiling and a long, narrow space. Other than that, its a good space, with a bar on one wall, a rail on the other, and some seating in the back. It looked like they had a big TV at the far end too. The tap looked to be mostly microbrews, but as I was watching baseball, I stuck with lager.
We split a tasty pizza from the entrees also, but it would have been a little light as a meal. The other food going by looked fantastic, I'll have to get back here to give it a try. The food service did seem to be bit slow, mostly because they just had a runner rather than a waitstaff. That might be different upstairs. Our bartender was incredibly attentive, and I actually had to tell her to slow down, because there was a full beer waiting for me before my empty bottle hit the bar.
I don't get up that way very often, but it seems like this is a good addition the the bar scene in the Art Museum/Fairmount area. -
Review from Meg C.
Philadelphia, PA
8/24/2008
Everything I have had here is fine. Nothing spectacular, just good.
When it first opened it had a lot of pub food. It didn't seem like it was trying to be a gastropub, just a nice neighborhood bar. But since then, the prices have gone up and the portions have shrunk. They serve some fancier items now and have removed most of the comfort food.
The fries aren't as good as they used to be, I think they used to double fry them. The sea salt is a very nice touch.
The service is friendly, but some servers are much more skilled than others.
Beers are fine, it is a nice place for a drink. The interior is lovely, but it gets very loud on busy nights. -
Review from Alain L.
Atlanta, GA
10/14/2008
This may be the most un-Irish pub I've visited. Don't mean that as a slight at all, by the way. I just found the atmosphere and food to be very atypical and refreshing from your usual pub experience.
Their menus are very unique in design and they just changed for the fall. Very friendly and informative staff. So I order the lamb tacos with Manchego cheese and black bean paste, these were served with onions and peppers on the side. These 2 huge tacos were just enough for lunch and a welcome surprise from my expectation.
I took a look at their beer selection and it's impressive. They have several Belgian ales that may require my attention one night this week or on a subsequent visit. -
Review from Tom D.
Philadelphia, PA
1/30/2010
When I moved to Philadelphia, I lived on 17th Street just north of this place. It was still a closed bar, apparently a place owned by a nut job that ran off with the money. So there it sat. Then we all learned that it would re-open as St. Stephen's Green.
St Steve's is a pretty cool place. There is a lot to like about this place. Outdoor seating in the summer, a fireplace in the winter, a basement bar to escape the crazy crowds upstairs.
The food is not bad, somewhat inspired gastro-pub type food. I've had just about everything on the menu. However, last night, I wanted to order this "chick-pea crepe" of their's and it was out. That's a bummer. I've had brunch here many times and they do that pretty well, too.
Another plus is the beer selection. I find that it is really all over the place, but not in a bad way. There are belgians, germans, micros from all over the country. Last night, I was drinking the Great Lakes IPA (Commodore Perry) and the Yards Brawler.
The waitstaff used to be notoriously bad, but I didn't notice any of those people working and I think they boiled out the fluff and kept the good ones. The bartenders are super cool. My party had a nice time chilling with Stacey downstairs. She's pretty righteous.
The only thing that sucks about this place is the clientele. That's part of the reason I haven't yelped this place until now. I didn't want to write only from memory, but I also kinda hate going because of the douchey pricks that hang out there. Case in point, some ass-hat stole my coat last night (and later that night returned to the scene still wearing it). The dining room is a great way to avoid the scum. -
Review from Michael R.
Philadelphia, PA
4/16/2011
Trips to St. Stephen's have only ever resulted in disappointment. On my first trip, having read positive reviews, I was very excited. After getting there and looking over the menu, nothing stuck out or looked particularly interesting so I got the burger. It was $10 and rather bland and uninspired. Although not liking it, I decided that it deserved a second chance. The second time I went with a group of 5 for brunch, and that was what really turned me off. First, they were out of several items on the menu. I ordered the Eggs Benedict. Then, after the food arrive it was very average and not very filling. I left that morning still hungry and knowing that it would be my last time there.
In addition to the food, the atmosphere is rather bland. You could move this place down to center city and it would look just as generic as any of the other Irish pubs down there, sans Fergies. -
Review from Andrew W.
Philadelphia, PA
5/30/2009
In a past review, I called The Standard Tap 'the only true gastropub in Philly. let me just take the time to amend this position. . .Although The Tap is still number one in my book, I've really grown to appreciate St. Stephen's.
The lamb tacos are seriously good. The lamb is perfectly braised: tender, flavorful and not-at-all greasy or slimy. I'm a fan.
Burgers are fresh and juicy and the chopped Caesar is simple and tasty.
They have enough good beer on tap and they are always properly served.
What I like best is that the service is always friendly and patient. It's true that the kitchen can be slow, but its a sure thing that your server will keep your beers coming with a smile. -
Review from Jay J.
Philadelphia, PA
7/17/2009
From my back yard I can throw a stone and hit St. Stephen's. And yet, even though the food is great and the beer selection is good, I don't end up going nearly as often as you might think.
The reason I tend to avoid this bar, especially on nights and weekends, is because the service is normally poor, the atmosphere is lacking, and the music is always too loud (and bad). It is also somewhat expensive to eat and drink at St. Stephen's, although the food is generally well above average in quality.
There is great outside seating, and the wood work inside the bar is outstanding. I also appreciate the beer of the day (normally only changes every week or so) special, which offers $4 pints of a variety of quality beers.
Multiple flat screens make it a good place to watch a game, including premiere league and international soccer.
All in all, this is a nice place, its just too bad that some of its negatives keep it from being a great neighborhood pub. -
Review from Lydia H.
Philadelphia, PA
6/1/2010
This place has character, and I LIKE it!
You feel like you're stepping into a pub in Europe in a lot of ways. The furniture, the lighting, the general mood. There was an interesting beer selection, and our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about the choices. I ended up with a variation on a Belgian white.
For dinner, I tried the burger and my honey got the salmon. You could choose two toppings for the burger, and I ended up with caramelized onions and brie. Our food was great and plentiful, and I took a nice doggie bag home.
To me, this is the perfect neighborhood bar for when you're looking for a step up from wings and fries. Sure, it's slightly more expensive (4 beers, 2 entrees and a dessert got us to around $65), but nothing too steep. We didn't get to explore the bar area, but it seemed comfortable and inviting as well.
