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- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 2 am
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Wed, 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:
- Yes
About This Business:
Brewers Towne Tavern is Camden County's favorite place for great drinks, great food and a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. It is also one of the… read more »
89 reviews for The Bards
Review Highlights
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"And the happy hour deals rock, especially on wednesdays." In 11 reviews -
"...nice bartenders and just an all-around laid back atmosphere." In 4 reviews -
"Quizzo Nights with Johnny Goodtimes 2x weekly." In 3 reviews
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89 reviews in English
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Review from Elizabeth D.
Philadelphia, PA
4/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really enjoyed coming here for happy hour. Inside is huge - they have a big bar and tons of tables to choose from. There's a dart board, which is always a plus. The bartenders were incredibly friendly and attentive.
As someone who doesn't get back into the city until 6pm, I really appreciate that their happy hour runs from 6-8pm. Good specials too - $3 "craft" beers - Long Trail & Dogfish included; $4 wine and Stoli cocktails; 50 cent wings; $5 nachos.
The wings were really good! Lots of sauce, nice large wings, and not dried out at all. The nachos could use some more cheese, but the toppings were good.
I thought the atmosphere was great and we will definitely add this to our happy hour rotation. -
Review from Jeff C.
Philadelphia, PA
4/3/2012
A year or two ago, I would have to give 4 stars. They must have changed chefs, because I use to find the burger excellent. The burger went down a notch, not that its terrible, but now there are onions in the meat, which is a pet peeve of mine, because onions belong in steak tartare not a burger. The quality of beef used to be good. I don't know if stop using Angus and just regular beef now.
Despite the decline in quality, the other things remain good like the cozy atmosphere, the good beer selection, the darts and the jukebox. If you are going to just get drinks and play darts or watch the sport game, its a still good place to go to, but the burgers, what happened? -
Review from B. K.
Philadelphia, PA
3/18/2012
St Patricks Day Review -
$5 cover put a bad taste in my mouth off the bat. Inside we found a really nice irish pub, and not in the almost Applebees way that some places try to imitate. Beer prices were reasonable for the event, and importantly, they were only letting people in as others left. Really kept the inside crowd tolerable.
Got some fries and good wings. All around enjoyable time. Want to go back for a normal meal soon. -
Review from Anthony C.
San Diego, CA
5/19/2012
Cheap beer, not too crazy at night and they show 6ers and Phillies games on decent TVs. I didn't get food but the drinks were fine and less expensive than other bars in the area.
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Review from Ryan B.
Philadelphia, PA
4/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I'll rarely give 5 stars for a bar. But Bards has it all. Excellent food on each menu. Always inventive specials on new dishes and alcohol specials. The wait staff and bar tenders are truly the nicest in Philadelphia. They're quick to help local organizations host fundraisers and events. Simply put, it's top class. If you're looking for a place where you feel welcomed like one of the family, Bards is your place. Also worth mentioning, this is the best soccer bar in Philly.
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Review from Ryan W.
Collingswood, NJ
2/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Happy Hours are good here. Happy Hours attract a motley crue here. If you're going to The Bards, you're either a 20-something just getting out of work or a 50-year old coming out with friends. Not that there's anything wrong with either of those groups, I just find it odd that both of these social groups constantly co-exist in this one bar.
It's pretty much always crowded in here. The food isn't that great but they have friendly bartenders and a good beer selection. But I usually go here because the people who plan our nights out tend to choose this place. I guess it's because they don't really like hearing everyone talk and this forces groups to break off into cliques and talk amongst two or three people rather than the whole group.
If you're going out with one or two other people, though, The Bards is a decent choice for the area. -
Review from Michele M.
Philadelphia, PA
1/17/2012 17 Check-ins Here
The Bards has insane happy hour deals. I still can't get over it. I have a thing for chicken fingers when I'm out at a bar and theirs melt in your mouth, 50 cents a pop during happy hour.
They alos have a nice HUGE flat screen in the back above the fireplace, among the others. It rarely gets packed, only crowded on the obvious Friday and Saturday nights. Overall, it's just really laid back and chill. -
Review from Brian K.
Philadelphia, PA
12/6/2011
I went to The Bards on the Sunday after Thanksgiving specifically because they were advertising a gluten-free menu. As I continue to find more and more gluten-free options in Philly, this place stood out for one reason: their menu said that they offered onion rings. I've been unable to eat gluten for over six years now, so it's been at least that long since I've had onion rings, one of my favorite fried snacks from my former gluten-eating life.
Their gluten-free menu had a surprising number of options considering bar food generally features many fried items. Apart from the aforementioned onion rings, there was a hamburger, fish and chips, soup, a chicken dish, and pizza made with a Still Riding crust (a popular brand of gluten-free pizza crust), among other things. I, of course, went with an order of onion rings, which I split with my friend, and a hamburger for myself.
When the onion rings came out, I could tell immediately that they used only gluten-free baking flour without a stabilizer, such as xanthan gum. The fried crust was barely clinging on to the onions due to the lack of gluten (this is where a stabilizer would help, as it acts as a replacement for gluten and helps bind everything together). While the onion rings were somewhat crispy, they were incredibly bland.
Gluten-free baking flour tends to have a noticeable taste to it due to it being composed of various types of flours (usually beans, rice, tapioca, etc.). Mixing some spices into the flour before the onions were coated would have helped immensely--in fact, I thought this would have been done regardless of whether or not the onion rings were gluten-free. Why would you deep fry something without adding any additional flavor to the flour? Though the menu stated that the onion rings were also beer battered in The Bards' signature gluten-free sorghum beer, I couldn't tell. It was all texture and no flavor. The dipping sauce they provided was decent, but I asked for some ketchup instead, as I've always been a fan of onion rings in ketchup.
A few minutes after we finished our appetizer, the main platters came out--my hamburger on a gluten-free bun, with sweet potato fries, and my friend's fish and chips (once again fried in the gluten-free baking flour). The hamburger itself was quite tasty and juicy, but I had a major issue with the bun. I don't know what brand of bun they use, but it was soggy and rubbery, as though the burger had been sitting on it for ten minutes and it absorbed all the juice. A toasted bun would have worked much better. The whole thing was actually a bit of a physical challenge to eat because I had difficulty biting through the tough, soggy bread.
The sweet potato fries? They were okay, but as with the onion rings, they seemed to lack any sort of seasoning whatsoever. Even some salt would have helped a lot. I had a taste of my friend's fish and chips, but they, too, suffered from a lack of stabilizer and spices in the flour. The tartar sauce provided was quite nice, though, and helped mask the taste (or lack thereof).
I didn't try the gluten-free beer option that they offered, as I don't drink, but I did appreciate that they specifically noted on their menu that it was available.
I absolutely applaud The Bards for having a gluten-free menu--I can't stress this enough. While there is plenty of room for improvement in the quality of their offerings, I am extremely appreciative that they're at least trying. Many restaurants in the city offer gluten-free food, but you'd be hard pressed to find another bar that offers as diverse a selection as The Bards. While the meal I had didn't inspire me to return here anytime soon, I'm hoping that they'll continue to try and find ways to improve their gluten-free items.
I would suggest they start at their spice rack. -
Review from Kristina C.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 11/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This is our second time at The Bards and both times the food and experience has been great for us. They have Gluten Free options all the time but on Sundays they do a special GF menu!
For Food, Yuengling/old bay mussels -A M A Z I N G - I mean WOW! I am a total fan of mussels anyway but these were very delicious.
The hamburger - my husband was very impressed with and he rarely is impressed with hamburgers.
The Shepard pie (Gluten Free) was amazing as well, it was a good size serving and the potatoes on top were creamy and delicious
For beer, they do have Bards GF beer, and their other beer selection is pretty good as well.
We always have a great time with great service here!
.Listed in: Gluten Free Spots
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/26/2011
Gluten free Sunday's!!! Ohh yes...everything that is gluten free = beer, pizza, pasta...you will… Read more »
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Review from Kyle M.
Philadelphia, PA
3/16/2012
Man regretfully I have to write a terrible review of this spot. Went here with my lady to just have a bite and a few beers and it couldn't have been worse.... I say that sitting here with an uncontrollable case of hives.. Yes hives. what am I allergic to good question..??? Nothing that I know of.. but apparently something from the Bards.
So we sat down had some pretty sub par service.. its whatever.. I'm not a prima donna, and I don't expect to be waited on hand and foot. But after waiting for a good bit for beer/food service our food came. I bit into my burger which I requested Med well which to anyone I've ever known or met means a dark inside or atleast a light brownish inside.. this burger was pink or bright red.. whatever your eye wants to call it. I politely flagged down the waitress after I took that first bite... she complied to my requested and then about a minute or two late (after I just apologetically asked for some chicken fingers) brought out the burger cut in half with a challenge from the cook who wanted to put me in my place and to let me know that if I had just looked further in the burger that it wasn't pink.. well only in certain spots.. HAHA.. my girlfriend and i looked in awe and the waitress said "we'll you know cooks". Well I know cooks but a business, a restaurant that challenges their patrons?? albeit if that patron is right, wrong or what.. its a 9 dollar burger and I said to the waitress before she left it has nothing to do with money... Btw the waitress said she likes her burgers Med/well and hates it soggy and pink in the middle in the inside.
Anyway thats all I ate today so either my crap shit burger or my chicken fingers which the cook seemingly was pissed or at the least antagonistic to give me made me break out in hives... either that or it was the Guinness that I drank at the place. I literally only had a grilled cheese and cup of tea prior to this. To the Bards I say screw you, you have a completely elementary and unrefined way of serving people. NEVER EVER should you as a management staff EVER allow your staff to bring food out to challenge a patron... IT IS THE MOST ABSURD THING I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED IN A RESTAURANT and I have grown up around a restaurant manager as a father and a bartender manager as a mother. SHAME ON YOUR MANAGERIAL STAFF. not to mention the hives that I mysteriously have. twats. -
Review from Vinny P.
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I like the vibe this place has going on and after my initial experience, I'll definitely be back.
My first experience here was atypical (a CMYE) yet I could not help but notice the prompt service, accommodating staff and of course, some pretty serious food. I tried a number of their menu offerings and each one was made with care and had a very balanced flavor as well as the delectable wow-factor you look for in food.
The mussels in my mind were a straight up hit because anytime a place can get the mussels themselves to taste like the sauce, they are doing something right. The braised items I tried (pork shank and some sort of beef offering) as well as their Irish stew were really fantabulous. I don't know the price for these delectable offerings but I'm quite sure they are well worth it.
The happy hour special we hit was nice because it included 5 dollar stoli martinis. Yes, this place has a decent selection of beers but it's kind of hard for me to turn down a martini at that price. They also offered up Firestone Walker Reserve, in a pint, for a great price.
I'll be back Bards. I like what you've got goin on. -
Review from Sarah B.
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
The boyfriend, Victor C., and I made the super wise decision around 7:30 Saturday night to walk around and look for a place to grab dinner. (Can I just reiterate how much I hate restaurants that don't take reservations? You suck.)
After some walking around (boo rain) we settled on Bards since it wasn't really crowded. At first glance, it's a pretty cute spot - I love the fireplace in the back. The music wasn't really loud, which was nice because I could actually hear the conversation I was having!
I was so excited to try the mussels I had seen on the menu posted outside - after a disappointing time at Devil's Alley (no mussels), I was ready to get my mollusk on.
First thing the waitress said to our party? "We're out of mussels." OH HELL NAH. Okay, not her fault. Le sigh. I kind of wish she had made an alternate recommendation, especially because I made the saddest face I think I've ever made in my life when I heard her say those terrible words.
The beer prices looked pretty decent, and I was close to ordering a Chimay Red but at the last minute decided to stick with water.
We ordered the chicken lollipops as an appetizer. They were okay, nothing to write home about.
My entree was fish and chips. I was expecting the meal to be amazing, but I'm sad to report that I wasn't. The fries (oops - chips!) were soggy and sopped in grease. The fish was also greasier than I would have liked and a bit bland.
I'd consider giving this place another shot, but only if they have mussels available.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Dave H.
2/21/2011 4 photos
The Bards is surprisingly homey, and way more Irish than its neighbor, the airport bar of Irish pubs. Practice your aim with a game of darts, or burn your hand in their fireplace.
During busy times, it can take a bit to get noticed at the bar. Those in a hurry to drink will not be amused. (Our bartender was pleasant but overworked.) After sambuca shots and Irish car bombs, we retreated to a table - especially for the faster service - to munch on curry fries and nachos. Their curry fries were wicked tasty. The nachos, not so much.
The best part about the Bards is their reasonable prices, a boon for any place around Rittenhouse Square.Listed in: Philly Drinkeries
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Review from Keysha T.
Philadelphia, PA
6/16/2011
I was looking for a bar to make my neighborhood go-to spot and I think I have a winner.
I've tried a few of their foods and even more of their beer specials. The bartender is willing to tell me the specials before I even ask and gives me his food recommendations all in his lovely Irish accent.
The crowd is mixed. Going there for about the fifth time yesterday, there was a group of sassy females in the front, an old drunk at the end of the bar, several groups dressed for happy hour, and even team members arrived after their league game was over to settle themselves in the back of the bar.
They are a bit short staffed at times but service is never too slow. The bartender is attentive, the beer selection is fair, and the total atmosphere is welcoming.
If you're going to venture along the Walnut Strip of Irish Bars (as I call it), The Bards is the one to choice. -
Review from Victor C.
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
My group of 3 was wandering around Rittenhouse Square on a Saturday night, hoping (key word) to score some good eats. We stumbled upon The Bards after looking at the menu and noticed Mussels and Fish n Chips.
The Bards is a pretty laid back spot. The volume is comfortable, conversing was effortless. Sarah B. pointed out a nice fireplace located in the back.
The waitress was a very nice lady. She took our orders and didn't give me trouble for subsituting one of my side dishes (not huge fan of peas).
On to the food. They ran out of Mussels (-1). We ordered the Chicken Lollipops. It was.. okay at best. The chicken was a double sized nugget from McD's stuck on a wood skewer. The chicken itself was moist, but so was the crust. The weird sauce tasted like it was a mixture of sweet and sour sauce and barbeque sauce.
My entree arrived and I couldn't wait to indulge, because I was starving and it's Fish n Chips! What a disappointment this was. After 2 bites of soggy fish, all I could taste was grease (-1). The fries (chips) were cooked until translucent (-1).
I hope the city offers a decent Fish n Chips meal somewhere. At least my pint of Yards Brawler was good! -
Review from James O.
Philadelphia, PA
7/19/2011
Been hanging around Philly about a year, and the Bards is definitely one of my standard hangouts. Never really get any more food than fries (which are pretty much what I'd expect from an irish pub, quality-wise), but it's a great place for drinks and meeting up. Has never been too loud, and the service is on the friendlier side of average.
Usually show up with a crowd of 3 or 4 and take up some other folks in darts, nice way to socialize with some of the other cityfolk. All in all, one of the nicer irish pubs to hang out at. -
Review from Igal K.
Philadelphia, PA
6/2/2011 15 Check-ins Here
As I work across the street from this "ye olde pube" I usually order takeout, it helps that they have 1/2 price burger Mondays...It plugs that Monday blues hole right up!
The beer selection is nice as well as the ambiance, I mean it claims to be a neighborhood Irish pub and that's exactly what it is, it's a pub, and not only it's Irish by name it also has real bloody Irish people working there with their awesome accents and their welcoming nature.
P.S: The "Irish Pub" what? -
Review from G S.
Philadelphia, PA
12/14/2011
Good selection of beers on tap. Food overall is very good. Great happy hour specials.
BBQ wings fucking rock. -
Review from Mark S.
Philadelphia, PA
3/12/2012
The Bards strikes that hard to reach middle ground as someplace that is accessible and fun for a group to sit around and talk to each other (i.e. sportsbar), but also has an upbeat atmosphere that encourages meeting new people and being seen (trendy bar). It's certainly not fancy, but for a group unable to decide what to do with their night it always strikes a nice common ground.
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Review from Erica C.
11/12/2011
Like many other people, I purchased a Living Social deal for the Bards...and I waited to use it until the last night. The host was VERY nice and seated us without reservations, even though the restaurant was packed. I saw that he had to turn people away later, which is unfortunate for them! The service was ok...the servers were extremely nice, but slow on water refills (we always had to ask). But they were crowded, so I understand they were running around. Why only 2 stars? No where on the Living Social deal (that I saw, even after reading the fine print 5+ times) did it say that there would be a limited menu. That was disappointing...I wouldn't have bought the deal had I known that. Either way, the food was only OK (except the wings were great). I wouldn't come back, except for wings!
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Review from Louis D.
11/9/2011
A great neighborhood bar. The vibe here is great (and is only going to get better in the winter, as it's kind of a warm/cozy type of place) and the waiters/waitresses are always nice. The food here is really good and has a good mix between bar food and irish fare - the shepherds pie is excellent. They also have a pretty good beer selection, although it's not the cheapest place. A great bar to have a meal or a beer or two with friends, maybe watch a football game, but I wouldn't spend an entire night out here.
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Review from Vichet O.
1/11/2011
This place has a good vibe. It's my Irish pub of choice in Rittenhouse. Much more Irish-y than its neighbor, the Irish Pub. The latter isn't a bad choice in itself - I just prefer the Bards.
Anywhoo, it's your standard bar set in a Philly row. They have a good selection of local beers on their northernmost tap, and a kitschy whiskey dispensing tap mounted on the wall that looks like it was DIY'd, but with talent. They've also got your light beers on tap closer to the dart board, you pansy.
The food here is always changing. I've had a rotation of pub grub standards (chicken fingers, fries, etc) here, and between the breading changing, the fries being spiced/unspiced, and the curry being awesome/mediocre, the food averages out to 3/5. Tasty and satisfying enough to order, but nothing you should feel compelled to try.
Here's to the Bards staying chill.
Pro-tip: 3 dollar Yards pints at Happy Hour and late night (I think). Basically, every time I'm here (usually late night), Yards is almost always on special.
Bonus points: the jukebox has Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life." HUGE plus for me. The song doesn't really fit the mood of the place, but it's good to know it's an option if I want to feel pretty. -
Review from Tara C.
Clementon, NJ
Updated - 11/3/2010
Went here after a day-long scavenger hunt. I still love it, but some of their "on tap" beers were not on tap. Don't run out of Harp. Most places suck and don't serve it at all! :(
This place still has a perfect Guinness pour, btw, and bartenders who were actually born in Ireland or who have been there.Listed in: Best Guinness Pours in Philly…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/1/2010
I like this place best because it's low-key when other places go all Plastic Paddy. I took some… Read more »
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Review from Justin F.
Philadelphia, PA
6/12/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Every time I walk in to The Bards for lunch It's the damn mixtape that always gets me. Death Cab today, followed by umpteen songs that follow in the vein of the aforementioned. But I've stumbled upon brunch/lunch specials that last till 3pm. The two that catch my eye are the Full Irish Breakfast and the French Toast that's dipped in Bailey's (what else?!)
Besides the killer tuneage, Bards has a pretty sexy draught list. Being a Wednesday, I order a Yards Brawler ($3 Yards Brews all day Wednesday!) My darling Rinnster orders the lunch special (Fish Bites, talked up by our female server) I go with my new favorite, The Architect: A chicken sandwich smothered in mushrooms, caramelized onions, melted provolone and chipotle mayo! Seriously, order this feckin' sandwich.
The main reason my S.O. and I frequent The Bards is because: 1. It is her favorite restaurant on Rittenhouse and 2. Football
And I mean Football, Not American Football, but the one you actually play exclusively with your feet. There's always a match on during the day when we normally show up and it makes for great distraction and sporadic cheering of two Americans loving every minute of a Man U match.
Usually during the lunch and happy hours there is one bartender/server on staff, making for a laid back atmosphere. That and the fact you're going to hear an Irish accent almost 100% of the time makes for a great authentic time.
Best times to go are during Lunch (11-3) and Brunch (11-3 Sat. and Sun.) because of specials and Happy Hour (5-7) because of 50 cent apps and beer specials!
Get a little Irish from a great pub with a sweet atmosphere and great food! -
Review from anna m.
Philadelphia, PA
1/22/2011
Absolutely a must visit in Rittenhouse.
1. Fireplace
2. Long tables for large parties, or just sitting next to strangers
3. Darts
4. Quizzo Nights with Johnny Goodtimes 2x weekly
5. Great beer selection
6. Never too crowded
7. Good food selection, though small
8. Separate seating area, away from the bar crowd
9. The bartenders remember you, you can become a regular pretty fast.
I wish they would dump the three TV's they have. The bar is so small, it's overkill and very distracting. All the TV's are usually showing the same game. -
Review from David G.
Philadelphia, PA
10/17/2011
When I go to an Irish pub I want it to be owned by Irish people, play Irish music, and show rugby games on TV. That's what this place is. Funny how it's located right next to the faux-irish joke called "The Irish Pub." I have only been in Philly for a few months, but so far The Bards is my favorite bar. The food is good--meaty wings, tender chicken tenders, good shepards pie (it'd be great if it had more meat though). The crowd is diverse--not too much of the douchey striped button-up shirt crowd nor too many of the plaid shirt hipsters nor too many of the mouth breathing sportards. And the happy hour deals rock, especially on wednesdays. Food service can get a bit slow on weekends when it gets crowded though. Make sure your waiter or waitress knows you're there.
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Review from Ted C.
Philadelphia, PA
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great chill pub. They have a limited beer selection but they definitely carry the best selection and seasonal beers. I enjoyed the Spaten Ocktoberfest. For food I only got the appetizer Guiness Brie, which was Brie with pita and mixed berries. It was just perfect to go with a few beers.
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Review from Ryann T.
West Deptford, NJ
3/6/2012
Our first time at The Bards was a special treat. Waiters with Irish accents add to the ambiance of a small backstreet Irish pub. The lighting is very low, the walls very dark and littered with newspapers and nick-knacks, and the people very loud, happy, and boisterous which added to the experience. There's no coming here without having a Guinness with dinner. The Irish sausage wrapped in pastry and Guinness brie served with pita are excellent appetizers. The burgers are thick and juicy. First bite reveals the sweet onions that made it into the burger mix; a nice surprise. I went for Gorgonzola, mushrooms, bacon and swiss to top it off, and it was more burger than I could handle. I opted for a side of salad instead of fries, and was perplexed when I received only dry mixed greens with no dressing, but ate them atop my burger nonetheless. I will definitely be back, and highly recommend swinging by. Make reservations, as the place isn't that big, and seems that it may always be hopping.
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Review from Skip S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious soup and grilled cheese. Tasty beer selection as well. Very nice guy too, gave us a discount even though it was expired!
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Review from Karen A.
Philadelphia, PA
5/7/2011
I fell in love with this place yesterday. My two friends felt the same way, from the moment we walked in at 6 pm on a Friday until we left around 10. You can actually TALK to your friends, the bartenders are attentive and so friendly, the specials until 7 were great, and the food! Wow.
Nachos with real melted cheese, and the chicken tenders with honey mustard were probably the best I've ever had. Unique breading that was just so perfect and crispy. My one friend really enjoyed the mussels as well. They changed the TV's for me, which are not the centerpiece but there for you to follow whatever you want.
The bathroom was a joy too. Scented candle, clean, bright, everything a girl could ask for.
In short, I will be back to this place, hopefully frequently. I have yet to find a place I could be a regular at in Philly, and this may be it! -
Review from C M.
Portland, OR
5/4/2011
Favorite neighborhood bar. Ever.
Too bad we moved away. :-( -
Review from Lauren R.
Philadelphia, PA
11/10/2011
Been here twice, fantastic service both times and my four year old's food came out super fast - always a fan of that. The Shepherd's pie was enjoyable as was the pumpkin cheesecake - ate the whole thing even though I was stuffed (slob).
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Review from Sophie U.
12/5/2009
It was a rainy day, kind of like today only not as cold, when a friend and I walked into The Bards in search of some grub. A mid-afternoon soup? Don't mind if I do!
I first hesitated when I learned that the soup du jour was chicken noodle, but it was a good day for soup and I wasn't super hungry. Got a bowl of it and two slices of their homemade brown bread (very crumbly and a bit sweet; $5 a loaf). The soup was much better than other chicken noodle soups I've tasted; loads of vegetables and a good chicken-to-noodle ratio.
It's a nice space; probably excellent for a post-work drink on a chilly winter evening. -
Review from Yuri R.
Philadelphia, PA
11/23/2009
Gourmet Irish food - an oxymoron? Well, apparently, not entirely (yes, I can say that, my sister-in-law is Irish, I've eaten there, so I'm Irish by extension - disparaging comments are within my rights). I can unflinchingly state that this dim and cozy nook, just two doors down from its well-trafficked and tacky imitation, has the best shepherd's pie you'll find outside of your Irish grandmother's kitchen.
I've had some fine roast pork with cabbage here as well. I can't say the Guinness is, as one might naturally wish, as close to St. James's gate as one can get stateside. But other fare, including the beltline-busting bread pudding with chocolate sauce, is truly well-crafted.
The atmosphere and decor are unimpressive, but again, that's spot-on for authenticity, and really quite soothing. And as a bonus, when I stopped in yesterday for a late weekend-eve business chat, the iPod powered soundtrack provided surprisingly edgy background tunes. It's a comfy room to take shelter from a raw emerald isle day. -
Review from Bill M.
Updated - 8/14/2008 1 Check-in Here
After tonight I'm definitely have to take these guys down a notch. I guess the tendencies of their neighbor is starting to rub off on them(http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
Our server made more than enough mistakes. She took awhile to check on us during more than one occasion. Of course it was after Dr. Dog rocked out Rittenhouse Square. So there was an ungodly number of people inside the area. So I'm not going to fault them for that one. But orders that were taken were totally forgotten and remembered again after we had to wait 20+ minutes for the server to come back and ask what our table wanted to order. The wrong amount of change was bought back for a bottle of lager, and if the person didn't check it would have translated to $8 for a bottle of lager. It also took the server about an hour to bring one of us the glass of water she asked for. At least she was pretty apologetic about the screw ups. But they were pretty mind numbing.
I'm only dropping it down to 3 stars because it can still be a pretty chill off Irish pub with a good jukebox. And I do love me some Strongbow on tap! But the service has definitely dropped to some dismal levels and they need to pick it back up.Listed in: Philly Bars
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/26/2007
The only major flaw to this place is that it's right next door to the "Irish" Pub that I previously… Read more »
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Review from Christopher W.
Philadelphia, PA
2/9/2011
This place Baaalooows. I can't believe it has more than 1 star, and I surely can't believe it is still in business. I had dinner here (we got a living social deal) so I played it cool, realizing I was at a bar, and stuck with wings and a chicken sandwich. The wings were halfway decent (I mean how can you mess up some wings), but the chicken sandwich was inedible. And when I say that I mean I couldn't eat it, and I'm a big dude who likes to eat and hates to waste money. My girlfriends pulled pork had globs of fat in it that she was picking out (the guy at the table next to us was doing the same thing, and looked at us with an equal disgust)
Our waitress was a cold bitch who couldn't be less interested, and as we walked out neither her nor the bartender said anything to us (like thanks, or see you later). In tough times I can't imagine people coming back to a place like this and being treated so poorly. Forget it man, you wanna see some Footy on the Telly? Head to the 700 club (2nd and Fairmount) -
Review from Debbie G.
Philadelphia, PA
3/16/2010
The Bards is kind of like a cozy, close-knit party in the midst of other, bigger/louder/lame-o bars that thankfully attract and draw away the undesirables that flock to Rittenhouse on the weekends. Stand outside, you can hear the zapping as passersby get sucked into the glowy lights of nearby places.
Personable bartenders
Great Guinness
Fun jukebox
Darts
Love the fireplace on a cold night
Good spot to watch sports
Decent pub food but nothing special -
Review from Tom D.
Philadelphia, PA
2/25/2010
Howling wind on a Thursday night with snowflakes whizzing by like locust in the end of days...
"I think the Bards is around the corner." As we walked down Walnut Street, the snow flurrying in every direction but down, my friend and I nearly walked by until I said "Stop, I think this is it."
We both turned and looked up and said "yes" and walked inside. It was quiet, a few random heads sitting and watching Olympic Curling and Ice Dancing on a small television leaving us plenty of space at the bar. It was comforting.
We ordered some beers and I asked for a menu. It is a short menu and I decided to go for a special. Special is an understatement: Rabbit sausage. I had never had rabbit before, but it was damn tasty.
An interesting mix of herbs helping tame the gaminess of the meat. The potatoes were layered with sauteed onions. I was hopping happy out the door to a prior engagement in under 45 minutes from walking in, but I would have gladly stayed longer.
Decent service, but I will reserve that fifth star for a stellar return.Listed in: Three Sheets to the Wind
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Review from Erin W.
Philadelphia, PA
1/25/2012
The Bards is a fun place to go with friends to watch a baseball game. Food is not the best, but if youre looking for a place thats not terribly crowded, Bards might be the spot. I've had so much fun just hanging out grabbing drinks. Its got a laid back atmosphere, perfect mix of being crowded but being able to hear yourself talk.
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Review from Hilary P.
12/18/2008
Why, oh why, is the dartboard right by the entrance? This is a hazard for those who want to sit by that side of the bar, and for general movement to the back of the restaurant. The cheese fries were excellent because the cheese was a dipping sauce, sort of the consistency and milder flavor of what's on Welsh Rarebit. Plus, they were cheap. I was intrigued by the notion of Guinness Brie, but was the only one eating and didn't want to cough up $9 for a bar appetizer. The beer isn't so cheap here and there weren't any specials on the Saturday night we went (there from 10:45PM - 12:30AM). I got a black and tan, which helped wash down the cheese fries.
They need to update their website in a major way, at least the menu portion of it. Some of the selection and prices are different now. The service was decent enough, but it took us 5 minutes to exit the place, probably due to that pesky dartboard by the door. I'd be interested in trying their Quizzo, but the fight for group seating was pretty discouraging.Listed in: Cheese Fries and Cheap Drafts
