942nd different cheesesteaks eaten in the last 4 years. Guest Eater Amigo Dan. We went here after reviewing the cheesesteak at Cheerleaders. Amigo Dan wasn't happy that we left Cheerleaders. This was a traditional cheesesteak with a very distinct Barrel's touch. The roll was very good and bready but I don't like it for a cheesesteak. The fried onions had a very heavy beefish flavor. It was like they were sauteed in a beef broth. If you like a bready roll and heavy onions, you will like this cheesesteak. read more

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Had dinner in the dining room tonight- forgot what a great little place this is. Great Italian American food and the best chicken parm I've ever had. Very reasonable prices and excellent quality. To get to the dining room walk past the takeout door make a right and go to the first door- they have about 10 tables usually walk in during the week but Friday Saturday you might want a reservation. read more

Food arrived ice cold. Chicken park is from chicken fingers. Awful. This place really went down hill read more

Barrel's Fine Food - a meal in a plastic container - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

While the food did taste good the portion size they gave us was so small they should have charged $15.99. Instead it was $30!!! And it did not fill up even half of the dinner portion size container. This was just for pasta with sauce!! Shame on them for ripping hard working folks off. Do not waste your money because you'll still be hungry when you're done!! What is astounding is that when you mention this issue to them as we did they do not even seem to care! read more

Barrell's slaps 100% of the time all the time. Penne salad is my shit, however, I wish they'd stop using styrofoam containers for their salads because my hungry ass be stabbing so hard that balsamic leaks all over my desk. I stained a desk calendar. Thanks Barrells! read more

The food is okay but the delivery driver is appalling, while delivering my food he would not hand over the food and demanded a higher tip. I also chose contact free delivery and he still knocked on my door while I had children sleeping and literally argued with me at MY door insisting that I give him more money for the tip. SUPER unprofessional and actually disgusting. read more

Always good food and we love the delivery guy so kind and polite never was disappointed and the price is good i have ordered from here for years read more

Ordered from there the food was horrible Alfredo sampler nothing but bread chicken fingers was a chicken cutlet cut up in little tiny pieces never seen chicken fingers like that my life could not even eat the food just threw it in the trash it was a waste of 45 hours that I ever spent in my life and I'm not afraid to spend money on food I would not recommend them they're not even helpful on the phone when you call back I could not believe that appetizer must've had 12 pieces of garlic bread three cheese raviolis call back and the girls were not helpful they just kept putting someone else on the phone I could not believe that they see chicken fingers on the menu and they give you a chicken cutlet cut up in tiny little pieces ridiculous I will not recommend that place ever ever or for anybody read more

Aside from having the best, meatball sandwich I have ever had, the staff is very friendly and kind and between delivery options or pick up. They are prompt. Love the menu choices. read more

I ordered tortellini Alfredo for delivery. When it got to my home it was cold. Also it was more like tortellini soup. It was literally swimming in sauce. I had to throw it away. Absolutely horrible. read more

Usually the the food is good, but tonight was the worst, very dense gnocchi barely any sauce or crab meat. I got the gnocchi Arianna and am super disappointed. Alfredo sauce on one of my kids was tasteless. Greasy calamari, and stake bread. I can go on, Gnocchi Ariana eww but I'll end it here. read more

Our go to for great food that tastes so homemade. There are so many great dishes to try- but something to note- they have the best soups anywhere! After a long day of work when you don't feel like cooking- Barrels is your place! read more

Food was very good and Vicki was a wonderful, friendly waitress. U need to ease up on the balsamic on the bruschetta. Makes the bread soggy. read more

Ordered the blackened chicken Caesar salad and some fried raviolis as an appetizer. Both were delicious. I've been here about 5 times now and everything is delicious and the service is great. read more

Awhile ago, me and a friend were going to see a 76er's game and we wanted to get a bite to eat before the game. My friend said let's meet at Barrel's for dinner and he text me the address. I used to work in South Philly long ago and often had lunch from Johnny Barrel's, my friend said it was all in the family. Barrel's is different than I expected. Well for one thing, it's a house, so I proceeded not knowing what to expect. It was a cold early night, but it was warm inside, the decor was, well homey and we sat down to order some food. Our server brought us menus and I wanted to order something I haven't tried yet. I ordered the fried gnocchi appetizer and I chose the Chicken Roma as my entree. The gnocchi was good, a little crispy on the outside and goory on the inside. My Chicken Roma was excellent, chicken breast sauteed in wine and butter with a lemony taste, with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese and some linguine on the side. My friend was happy with his food, he ordered the chicken cutlet sandwich,(been there done that). Prices were reasonable, service was good, and we left Barrel's full and satisfied. read more

Thanks Johnny Barrels great cheesesteaks great Caesar salad with blackened shrimp area everything's good there

I've heard the eat-in area used to be shabby, but since I've lived here its been very cozy. I've gone with my girlfriend several times and it's always been really tasty. It's been so long that I don't recall what I had, but I remember the seating area is small and close together. The waitress was a little too South Philly for me, but was attentive and seemed to know everyone who came in. Food is good Little seating Great takeout. read more

Took forever to get to us! It was cold and horrible ! The cheese steak was lacing the steak was like eating just bread! The chicken in the salad was very dry. Will never order from them again. read more

I took a friend here for lunch not too long ago. The idea of dining here made him apprehensive. Although he wouldn't admit it, the look on his face said it all. Nothing really screams "good eats" about Barrel's decor, --not even the bold, red letters above the entryway that read "FINE FOOD." This point was not lost on him. He asked, "Is there anything good here? I mean, what's good here?" I wasn't surprised by the question. I assured him he would be happy with whatever he chose and that, even though their menu was extensive, they did everything well. He ordered the Gnocchi with sausage and I ordered the Chicken Cutlet Italiano. After the first bite, he was relieved. He quickly warmed up to the place and said it reminded him of one of his family's favorite spots in the Italian neighborhood near where he grew up. That's the charm of Barrel's. It's a no-frills South Philly eatery that offers all substance and no glitz. To many locals, it's a true classic or a reliable standby. To those unfamiliar with it, it's a treasure you have to make the effort to discover. read more

Quiet, neighborhood italian joint with take out available. Restaurant seating has a separate side door entrance, and it really is pretty tiny. I've been here twice now, and service is friendly and pretty quick. I am sensitive to smell, so the smell of smoke from perhaps years of smoking being permitted in Philly restaurants is embedded in the place. Once there for a little bit, the smell subsides and you get used to it. The two times I've been there now, food was ok. I recall the calamari appetizer being good and portions being good. Fresh bread was served and salads came with the entrees. Pasta dishes are delicious, but a little liberal with olive oil. I tried the crab cake platter, which I was a little disappointed in. While the 2 crab cakes were a decent size with real crab meat and not a lot of extra filling, but the oil they used must've been a little old. I needed the cole slaw to add flavor. The fries were crispy, but a little oily, too. All in all, I'd recommend the pasta dishes. read more

The very best Italian food I have had. Very extensive selection loved the shrimp. Salad and I don't even like salad was fantastic. Bread, must've been homemade. Super fantastic as well. Very small restaurant definitely make a reservation do not even try to go without one I highly recommend read more

Most tourists would never go down to South Philly to eat. Why would you? Parking is terrible, the entire area looks run down and still has the stench of the mob. But I had the pleasure of spending some time in this area because one of my clients lives in this area. He introduced me to this restaurant and told me he had ordered from this establishment for many years. He suggested that I order the pork sandwich and as a lover of everything pork, I could not resist his recommendation. The pork sandwich was delivered on a french bread and was about 12 inches long. The sandwich was filled with succulent and juicy pieces of pork, topped with a delicious sauce. i intended only on eating half of the sandwich but I quickly devoured the entire sandwich. I realize many reviewers complain about other items on the menu but the pork sandwich has to be one of the best pork sandwiches I've ever eaten. read more

Oy! Kitchen nightmares in real life. If you are forced to go to this restaurant however, order your "food" now read more

Barrel's Fine Food - Oy - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A hidden gem of South Philadelphia! I would have never guessed that the first floor of a rowhome was transformed into a cozy dining space around the corner. It's snowing this evening so we were the only people eating in but I did see two people hustle out with to-go parcels on my way in. We started with the mussels in white which are phenomenal - dunking crusty fresh italian bread in the white broth was delicious (and so much extra broth that I'm excited to cook with the leftovers this week!) Both the mussels and our meals came out in a timely manner - not to quick as we were enjoying a bottle of wine and catching up. I appreciate the intimate atmosphere for that. At the suggestion of my friends I got the gnocchi with the rosetta sauce (that typically comes with the gnocchi ariana or something) and I was not disappointed. It has great flavors and plenty of leftovers for tomorrow - though it was hard not to just sit there and keep eating! I will definitely be back or will be trying the delivery - totally worth a second (and third and fourth and ....) trip. read more

A coworker recommended this place. Good pasta but cheesy overdrive. It's Italian-American so what more to expect? Cheesy, tomatoey, herby. But tasty! read more

Great cozy byob spot for classic Italian food. The blacken shrimp with penne was amazing. Started off with the stracciatelli soup, amazing. And the meatballs were perfectly crisp on the outside and lots of flavor on the inside. Service was excellent! read more

i order chicken alfredo from here all the time. this time it was not good at all. I returned my food and asked for a refund. The manager on duty Tue Dec 7th @ about 8:30pm was extremely nonchalant/rude. I will no longer spend my money here. read more

Barrel's is my favorite place to order from....I love it so much that I don't know where to begin...I order everything from the Lentil Soup to the Penne Rosetta to the Cheesesteak Hoagies! Barrels is a down home authentic South Philly restaurant where everything is like your Grandmom or Mom would make it at home..none of those fake Italian overly rich pasta sauces that put you on the toilet afterwards! This is real food! Something that I have said this before during many cheesesteak debates and during online competitions is that Barrel's in my personal opinion makes the best cheesesteak! My reasoning...we'll they aren't packed with fatty meat ...that's the key to a good cheesesteak..isn't it after all? I mean aside from the fried onions and gooey cheeses their meat is cooked just right ...the only thing that can complain about it that lately I noticed they have been skimping on it...so Barrels all I ask is that you add a little more meat for me please! Other than that, I call them when I am sick and just want soup for nourishment or my daughter wants her favorite dish...ravioli with marinara because there is just something about their Ravioli...she always says! So if your in the neighborhood don't just walk/drive by...go in and you will see what I mean! read more

My first three star review. And I'm still sitting here. To be honest, the food leaves something to be desired here and the service is sub par. Our server perhaps because she's used to catering to regulars or maybe she's just too old school but she left me to myself most of the meal and didn't offer water or anything during the course of the meal. The place was as if I walked into some South Philly Italian grandmothers living room. The Christmas lights and plastic ivy leaves all over the wall were a hilarious touch. Pasta and the red sauce were not my favorite, actually they wouldn't even be in the top 50 or 100 I've ever had. The chicken was nice and thin and crispy however so that saves this from being two stars. read more

A friend suggested Barrels - which I had never heard of. I haven't yet found a South Philly Italian place that I can resist, so off we went. We took the Broad Street Line down from Center City and got off at Snyder and then weaved our way southwest in a light rain to what looked like an Italian take-out store front. Which it was. But if you go around the corner, there's another door, which will put you in their small dining area, which looks like my grandmother's living room. Complete with a priest. The dining area is tiny, with 5 or 6 tables tops. When we arrived for our 8pm reservation, we were seated across from the aforementioned priest who seemed to be counseling his parishioners via cell phone. There were two other tables occupied and it was clear that everyone in the dining area knew each other. The menu held everything you would expect from a homey Italian restaurant. We were there specifically for the mussels in red sauce, which my friend had ordered via take-out on a previous visit. The mussels were some of the best that I've had in the city, but the red sauce was lick-the-bowl good. I very easily could have sopped up the rest of the sauce with the crusty bread we were served and spoiled the rest of my dinner, but it was my first time there so I held back. I ordered the eggplant parm and my friend ordered the Chicken Barrels (chicken sauteed in a brown sauce topped with mozzarella and prosciutto). The entrees were large portions preceded by a small garden salad, so we had more than enough food. I took half of mine home and am happy to report that the eggplant parm fares very well on day two. Service was efficient (which owing to the small size of the dining area, it can't help but be) and I definitely felt like I would be boxed 'round the ears if i didn't eat my veggies. Very much a family feeling here. I will certainly be back to this little BYO - if I can find it again! read more

Great local spot. The calamari in red sauce is delicious - it's literally a container full of calamari. Amazing. I really like their eggplant dishes and solid broccoli rabe. Can't go wrong with linguini in garlic and oil, chicken dishes, or really anything. Decent cheesesteaks too. Yummy barrel fries are soaked in ranch dressing and covered in cheese and bacon. A guilty pleasure, although sometimes if they take too long to be delivered the cheese gets gross. read more

Delivery driver was rude and the food didn't make up for it... Won't be ordering from here again. Tasteless and dry food. Salad was watery pasta was dry and burger was nothing. read more

Tina P Great Food wonderful service. I had the Veal Serena my husband had the Seafood Cioppino over pasta wonderful and a great price. Our waitress name was Vinnie good waitress and very entertaining. Do yourself a favor and go to Barrel's you will not be disappointing. read more