5 stars for Bud and Marilyn's? I recently gave The Love 5 stars for its fried chicken! The Marilyn's Fried Chicken I had this evening was every bit as good! I'm not sure why I waited so long to try the chicken at Bud and Marilyn's, but better late than never! They serve a LARGE 1/2 chicken. I started with the thigh. I was smitten by the first bite. I was told the chicken is soaked in a buttermilk brine for 24-48 hours - dipped in a buttermilk dredge - covered with their 'secret recipe' seasoned flour - and fried in a 'pressure fryer' that cooks the chicken in 12 minutes. It was perfectly fried - so crispy - the texture and seasoning of the exterior coating was incredible. The chicken was tender and juicy - the thigh was the juiciest - I didn't get to try the drumstick as I was too full! I had the thigh and 1/2 the breast. The breast is my favorite and I savored each large delicious piece I broke apart. It's important to pick up the chicken and eat it by hand - I did cut mine in half for a picture - but didn't use a fork to eat it - you lose the 'panache'of the meal. I didn't use the hot sauce served with the chicken - I brought my own bottle of honey and poured it over the chicken and biscuits. It was heavenly! Which brings me to the Biscuits! The dish comes with 2 large fluffy buttermilk biscuits - they were golden brown on the outside and tender and fluffy on the inside! They had such a rich, buttery flavor. I took several pieces of chicken and layered them on pieces of biscuit, drizzled with honey! It was truly a 5 star fried chicken and biscuit dinner! read more

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I've been here a couple times. Loved it. Plenty of options and everything was well made. Everything I ate had a hint of decadence without being gross or unhealthy. This is my new go-to for chicken & waffles. Concise, excellent beer selection. And interesting, well-made cocktails. The banana cream pie is one of my favorite desserts anywhere. Staff is friendly. Prices were very reasonable. read more

My friends, get your butt here if you like that retro cool vibe of mid century modern bars and lounges. Also get here early because we went on a TUESDAY and man it filled up fast! We ordered the crispy cheese curds (Wisconsin cheddar, smoked guajillo salsa, and charred scallion ranch). These were a unique take on the classic and I was here for it, definitely try these! I then had the wedge salad (blue cheese, nueske's bacon, cherry tomatoes, radish, pepitas, crispy onions, and thai basil goddess). There were no tomatoes on ours, and so we were given sliced avocado instead. This was an interesting attempt but not my favorite take on this dish, I probably would not get this again. However, the shrimp po boy buns came through to round off this meal! (crispy shrimp, smoky aioli, house made choppy chop, dill on two buttered potato rolls.) These were fantastic and absolutely fire. NOTE they are tiny, almost appetizer sized, which didnt bother me because after the salad and cheese curds I was feeling full already but I would go back and get two orders just for myself they were that good. All in all a great place, I recommend! read more

Very busy even on a Tuesday evening. Had a side salad (tasty vinaigrette tossed), Nashville Hot Buns (sliders but tall/full/flavorful)& a side of fries. Tasty. Loud atmosphere, fairly dark but tastefully decorated/modern woods & metal. The service was prompt, polite and the food came out fairly quickly. I'd return. Tasty food all around. Love the briny flavor of the sliders, and decent fries. read more

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This is a great place to stop in for a mean when in the Gayborhood that has menu items for all eating types and delicious drinks. As a sober girlie, I enjoyed the Wil E Coyote mocktail with pineapple and cranberry and ginger. I also enjoyed the crunchy almond French toast with scrambled eggs. My party had the seasonal espresso martini and loved it. We do wish there were more options for those with food intolerances but the menu can be worked through nonetheless. read more

Bud & Marilyn's - CRUNCHY ALMOND FRENCH TOAST (v) - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bud and Marilyn's is a Philadelphia institution. Went for brunch right as they opened and was seated immediately. Great service with a casual vibe. Tofu teriyaki bowl was a great portion and very filling. Tiramisu French toast was also delightful but too rich to finish in one sitting. Great place to come with friends and try a few different options. Was looking forward to trying their brunch happy hour, but it is only available at the bar. read more

Bud & Marilyn's - Tiramisu French Toast - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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OK, so we've been here a couple times and we always got the fried chicken because it's always a hit. I actually think about this chicken and crave it randomly! Their burger is probably one of my favorite burgers that I've had. It has a perfect amount of freshness and I could probably eat the whole burger and that is very hard for me to do because I usually get tired of too much meat but this one perfection read more

Bud & Marilyn's - BUD'S DOUBLE PATTY BURGER and MARILYN'S FRIED CHICKEN - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Have been for happy hour & to dinner for the first time for restaurant week and both were lovely experiences. I love the whole vibe of the restaurant itself and the menu has a bit of everything. Really enjoyed the restaurant week menu and everything was delicious. The best part is trying dishes I may not typically order at a certain spot then being pleasantly surprised! My favorite bites were the nashville hot buns and the bread pudding. So yum! read more

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My fiancé and I stumbled across this place by walking around trying to find a last minute place to get dinner on a Friday night. Luckily, they were able to seat us without a wait despite being busy. We were pleasantly surprised by how great the food was - we thoroughly enjoyed every bite! We will absolutely be back and frequent here as a go to. read more

Bud & Marilyn's - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Right in the heart of the gayborhood this little spot is incredible! A dimly lit space with fun dark vibes and great food. My group split the cheese curds, mac and cheese and chocolate cake with a few rounds of drinks. Everything came out quick, our bartender, Lauren, was super nice and recommended some fun off the menu drinks. The bill was reasonable and we had a great time. read more

Top to bottom, my experience at Bud & Marilyn's was amazing. I went at about 2pm for brunch on a Saturday and there was great availability, though their reservation system is also easy to use and a good way to ensure you get a table. The space itself is bright and beautiful, and this is a great space for a larger party. Staff was helpful and knowledgeable, and kept things flowing with ease. Food is the star of the show here: + Smoke salmon salad. A MUST order and perfect shareable under the starters section. Delicious smoked salmon is served atop crispy latkes with beet boiled eggs and tons of dill. Perfect blend of smokey, tart, and rich. One of my favorite bites. + I went with the grilled shrimp benedict for my main and this is indulgent perfection. The grilled shrimp are served on the side and the benedict itself is served on a lobster roll style roll. + I sampled my date's fried chicken and can see why it is a staple dish. A ton of food, crispy fries, and respectable fries. + My strawberry spritz cocktail was the perfect accompaniment and the espresso martini I sampled is on the creamier side. I look forward to taking out of town guests here in the future and will be back when I have a hankering for boozy brunch. read more

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Bud & Marilyn's is a gem and I can never stay away for too long. Whether I am grabbing a meal or just a few drinks, this is a staple on my outing list. When friends from out of town visit, it's always on the agenda for a visit, because I know we'll receive great service, delicious food, and some of the best drinks. The music is always top tier and the vibe is impeccable. I love the intimate atmosphere and energy here. One of my favorite neighborhood places and I'll always recommend. 10/10! read more

Bud & Marilyn's - Regal Beagle - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Really loved this cozy comfort spot for dinner! The service at the bar was great and the happy hour drinks were a great deal! Food wise- I loved the Nashville hot buns and the fried cheese curds. Would definitely recommend for drinks and apps! read more

Bud & Marilyn's - NASHVILLE HOT BUNS - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Had a large reservation for 10 and it was a very easy process! Had a great server and our drinks stayed full and our food came quickly. Large portions. read more

Bud & Marilyn's - Brunch - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My wife and I came to Bud and Marilyn's on a Saturday morning for brunch. We were in the city for a matinee show and made a reservation a week in advance. We were seated right away. The front of house staff was very friendly and engaging. We were given ample time to decide and order without feeling ignored. The cinnamon roll arrived about 5 minutes after ordering it and it was delicious! Definitely worth sharing. I ordered the sausage and biscuits and my wife ordered the Croque Madame which was a daily special. Both were fantastic. The biscuits were not dry and the gravy had a great flavor without being overly salty. The bread on the Croque Madame had a little sweetness to it with great balance to the ham and cheese. Overall, everything was great and would highly recommend! read more

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Went here for brunch and it was a cute restaurant. Pretty small and the tables are super close together so you'll basically be having a convo with the tables next to you. Our waitress wasn't the most attentive in the world. There were a couple of times that we just looked around wondering where she went. The food was okay. We got the hushpuppies which were pretty good but the cinnamon roll was mid. We both got the breakfast sampler platter which was mid. I'd probably go here again if someone else wanted to but I wouldn't suggest it myself. Just overall a mid experience. read more

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From what I can tell, this is a small restaurant that's known for their fried chicken. The restaurant was dark and had wooden tables with some booth seating along the walls. Unfortunately, I was not very hungry and didn't order any fried chicken. The route I took included biscuits and banana cream pie. Both were amazing. The biscuits were crispy and fluffy and came with chive butter, and the banana cream pie had caramelized halved bananas that made my taste buds sing. The only thing I disliked but wasn't detrimental to our meal was that the waitress kept calling us "my loves", and it gave me the ick. I didn't want to be rude and ask her to stop since we were only there for a short while, but pet names from strangers are a pet peeve of mine. Otherwise a great place to enjoy a meal that conveniently had a few open tables without a wait on a Wednesday night. read more

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Had brunch there--very loud! I had the biscuits and gravy. Very good but heavy on the salt. Next time, chicken and waffles.

I had a great Sunday brunch here recently with some friends. Gorgeous photos and records all around, beautiful ambiance and overall a great vibe! Pictured are the Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders, truly recommend! The size, taste and presentation, can't go wrong. They had a full menu, much to choose from and (not pictured) the cheese curds were a good. Reminded me of home! Service was okay, and not much of a management presence but I think with the volume and upkeep of what all was going on, I extended grace. I love all their restaurants! Check out Darling Jacks if you get the chance. read more

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Love the ambiance here. Great for date night. We sat at the bar and ordered a few drinks, a few apps (warm biscuits & a rice dish with shrimp), and then dessert. Bar was packed but it was a Saturday night, and we were still able to snag 2 seats. Wish they offered weekend happy hour. Service was attentive. read more

Bud & Marilyn's - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Fantastic Sunday Brunch at Bud & Marilyn's! I arrived at 12pm and it was packed! Checked in and was seated immediately. The entire restaurant was dimly lit. I learned that there is a brunch happy hour on the weekends from 10am--12pm. I will have to check out the brunch happy hour in the near future! I ordered the GRILLED SHRIMP BENEDICT with eggs over well opposed to poached (10/10) and a Strawberry Spritz (8/10). read more

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We tried bud and Marilyn's for a few reasons. 1: It was 2 doors down from our hotel. 2: They have good reviews on Yelp 3: A close friend of ours is named Marilyn so we thought it would be funny. The fried chicken was really good. I thought their spicy sauce was d was going to be one of those super salty ones you get from a bottle so I asked for it on the side rather than the chicken being dipped in it, but it's actually home made and tasted great, if I ever go back there I'll have it included in with the meal. The biscuits were really good too and you could tell they were also home made. The service was super friendly and the ambiance was nice, loved our window seating too. read more

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Very much love this place. They have some staples and also rotating options. I feel like I get something different every time. All great. Ambiance is lovely and good for delivery as well. read more

Bud & Marilyn's - Banana Cream Pie - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bud & Marilyn's has cemented itself as one of beloved dining staples, with retro charm and contemporary creativity. As for the food, it's all about expertly crafted comfort dishes with bold flavors. The watermelon and feta salad is a refreshing start, a light dish perfect for the warmer months. For seafood lovers, the sea scallops are it--tender and perfectly seared. Don't miss out on the fried rice, topped with a sunny-side-up egg for that extra indulgence, or the pappardelle, a creamy pasta dish that is so rich. This spot is a Philly Staple! read more

Bud & Marilyn's - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Every time I come to Bud and Marilyn's I have a great experience! The brunch is amazing and the fried chicken sandwich is perfection. We also usually opt for the cheese curds as an appetizer. This past trip my daughter even got a pancake which was delicious as well! read more

I stopped by Bud & Marilyn's for brunch and LOVED it. The food was amazing. I got this ham and cheese croissant benedict situation (no idea what it is called bc it is a special). I think about how good this breakfast was regularly. It even reheated well. To be completely honest, I remember the service being a little slow, but as it was a Sunday just after noon, it was pretty busy. The food, aesthetic, and portions made up for this easily too. The interior is adorable, and I even saw that they do brunch happy hours. Next time I come back, I hope to check that out. This jumped to the top of my list for brunch spots in Philly. read more

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Great spot for brunch. The drinks are small but quality and Good comfort food for dinner. read more

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One of my friend and I always like to try a restaurant we haven't been to before, during restaurant week. This time it was Bud & Marilyn's! We wound up getting lucky and found a parking spot right on the corner! Although there is a lot right across the street so that's great too! It's a cool vibe in the restaurant. Everyone who interacted with us was pleasant and professional. We started with espresso martinis which were wonderful! We chose the same foods except for dessert. We both enjoyed the crispy cheese curds and the shortrib stroganoff. I ordered the dark chocolate espresso pot de creme and my friend had the bourbon peacan bread pudding. We enjoyed everything! We said today how we'd love to go back tonight to try some different choices! It was all such great comfort food! read more

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I must say this was an excellent brunch. The fried chicken was so delicious and an amazing presentation. The Croque Madame was one of the tastiest we've ever had. Our server was sweet. The dining room was a bit worn as was the bathroom ceiling. Maintaining appearance of a restaurant is very important. read more

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I really wanted to love Bud & Marilyn's after discovering their social media presence, but sadly I didn't. My partner and I went for a week night date night and the restaurant was decorated very nicely - we really appreciated the little vintage touches throughout the space. The food was alright, but not worth the price. The salmon packed a punch, which was a little much for my partner. I had the fried chicken, which was good but a little underwhelming. The highlight of the night was the mashed potatoes. My biggest issue was that seasonal special espresso martini did not sit with me well at all. Within three hours I was sick as a dog. There's no ingredients listed on the menu so I am assuming they used one of the alcohols that my body does not agree with. If they had an ingredient list, I probably would have avoided getting ill later in the night. read more

A few weeks back I stopped at their location in the Philadelphia airport and was extremely underwhelmed. Being that it was an airport location, I chalked the lackluster experience up to that. Oh how I wish that would've been the case. I've been back to Bud & Marilyn's a few times over the past several months. But always for a seat at the bar and maybe some cheese curds. This past weekend we had some friends in from out of town and I was talking up Bud & Marilyn's and their chicken. They trusted my input so in we went. There was no wait at all, half of the restaurant was empty as was the bar. We sat, and sat, and sat some more until ten minutes later our server came over. She was nice (very difficult to hear because she spoke so softly) but seemed to make up for the long wait. We ordered our cocktails which she brought back fairly quickly. It was around 12:00pm so they were on the brunch menu. We decided to share a few items. The cheese curds, warm pecan cinnamon roll, pork belly and the fried chicken bucket. We were asked if the food could come out as ready and we said that was perfect. What ever was easiest. About fifteen minutes later we were through our first round of drinks. Server gone, nowhere to be found (and it was still fairly empty). Another ten minutes and nothing. My wife commented the food was very slow too, I hadn't noticed since I was more concerned with my second drink. Finally the first two dishes came out from who I believe was the manager. The cheese curds and the warm pecan roll. We asked him if he could send our server over for another round, he said he would handle it and quickly came back with the drinks. The cheese curds were very good just as always, I didn't try the pecan roll but the rest of the group said it was good (very sweet though). Then out came the pork belly and the fried chicken. Both looked great, the pork belly was served over a bed of arugula, some slices of tomato with a toasted English muffin on then side. I cut a slice and was instantly disappointed, the menu mentioned it was topped with marmalade, but this thing was swimming in it. All of the tomatoes and arugula as well. Now the chicken, which let's be honest, this is what brought us here. It looked great (a little darker than normal but still good), served in the bucket with fries underneath. We took a piece of the breast, it was moist and crispy, but no flavor....like nothing. Maybe a one off because the breast meat was thick, so onto the thigh, the same. The wing, the same. The leg, the same. It almost begs the question if the chicken was seasoned at all. Major let down. When we were ready it took some time, we had only seen our sever once after placing our order so it wasn't a surprise by this point. The four top next to us were actively trying to track her down for quite some time as well. Although, surprisingly as soon as the table next to us got up, she was right there checking the tip. I would imagine she was just as responsive when we left. The chicken used to be phenomenal here, the service used to be phenomenal as well. Both are so far from that it's honestly sad. Their cheese curds are still great and the fries served with the chicken is great though. read more

Fish & Chips were the best I've had! Yum! My wife had the ribs and they were great, too. read more

Bud & Marilyn's - Fish & Chips plus Ribs - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Fried chicken was Crispy, moist and juicy just lacking seasoning. The shrimp bao buns are a bang, homemade hot sauce was good. Opt for the Nashville hot chicken for the flavor. read more

This resturant definitely seems like a busy go-to for many folks in Philly. When arriving, we did not realize what "sips" are and they had that option of dining along with normal dinner dining. We chose the dinner dining since sips dining had a 45 minute wait. We got the shareable buns and MY GOODNESS were they good, we ordered 3 servings of them lol. We also ordered their kimchi fried rice but I'd definitely skip that or remove that from the menu, something about that did not taste great. Drinks were good and server was really kind . Prolly would be back to actually try the "sips" menu read more

Bud & Marilyn's - Nashville Hot Buns Shrimp Po Boy Hot Buns - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Food was great. My kids loved their meals and the price point was perfect. My short rib stroganoff was a bit too salty but overall good flavors. The winter salad was amazing. The service was quick and very friendly. The atmosphere is loud and a bit crowded for us. Thus the four stars. But overall good experience read more

Just OK. They try hard and the menu is ambitious but they don't quite pull it off. The chicken is good but the pasta was uneven. Had the three course Restaurant Week offering. Vegetable soup was excellent. The biscuit with the chicken was delectable. While it was pretty solid, the meal was hardly memorable. read more

Food is pretty good. Service is terrible. I was traveling for work so just sat at the bar for brunch. Placed a drink order and a food order that had 3 components that I wanted to eat together. 1st food component arrived before the cocktail was made. Cocktail didn't arrive until 10 minutes after 1st food component (after asking 3 times for cocktail). Asked for other components of meal so I could eat them together. Was told, "too bad, it just comes out when it's ready. " I asked, "shouldn't you deliver the entire meal together, as is customary in millions of restaurants?" Response was, "I don't know, it's just what happens ". I was looking forward to this establishment, but will not visit here on my next trip to Philly. read more

I called this location to confirm a corporate policy after I was told at the airport location that they don't offer change for less than a dollar when the customer is paying with cash. I had a $50 bill to cover a $34.20 tab and they only gave me $15 in change. Imagine if they do that for everyone... The person who answered this phone at the Locust Street location also said they do not give change with coins because they don't keep coins anymore and said it's because pennies aren't minted anymore. What a strange policy. So be prepared to pay with a credit card so you don't lose money. read more

The steak tartar was great. However two fried chicken dinners at $25 per half a chicken, from a place where everyone was raving about their chicken and both were over cooked and super dry. Was it an off night? Presentation great but the fried chicken was dry inside. $75 dinner is a huge bummer when both entrees of fried chicken are super dry. read more

Bud & Marilyn's - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Excellent food. Good service and Cozy inside. Their special cocktails are a must to try. read more

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