They have a table outside the business and so my friends and I sat down planning to buy drinks. The man instead of expressing that he needs to ID us. Instead he asks why we think we could just sit at a table. Making us feel beyond un welcomed. I explained they had a sign on the table stating they always have a table available. After that we provide our id instead of asking to see my face he just continues to stare at me with a cold dead look, waiting for me to remove my mask. I asked oh, did you need me to remove my mask? That is when he responded yes in the rudest way as if it was common sense. I just don't understand what made him in such a bad mood and to express it the way he did. But I wouldn't suggest going if your trying to smile and have a good time! Guy is a bummer and beyond rude!!!!! I wish I could give a zero stars!!! Worst place I have ever experience! read more

Food: 1 Location: 5 Service: 0 Drinks: 3 Price for event/space: 5 I am writing this review as someone who booked an event with Cavanaugh's headhouse. We hosted a bridal shower at Cavanaugh's Headhouse Square location The private venue and price to secure the location were great. We paid less than $200 for three hours. It was great they allowed our guests to order from the menu and didn't pigeonhole us into catering. However, the food and the service the day of were less than satisfactory and disappointing. The event coordinator that helped us book the location over the phone/email, Jenna, was also our server and bartender on the day of the event. When we were setting up, she was distant. I couldn't figure out if she was uncomfortable or annoyed or both. She was so far from warm or welcoming she didn't smile the whole time. We had a very small group but 5 out of 12 guests shared this disposition about her during or after the event. One example I witnessed--a guest asked for waters for the table at the end...I watched her pour a few glasses of water... then leave them on the bar without saying a word. When a guest asked her if the waters on the bar were for everyone (or only for certain people) her response was so ambiguous and unclear we just ended up asking each other if we wanted a water. It was awkward. The food was horrible. One girl sent her chicken salad back twice...yes a salad. The bride ordered steak and eggs and she ended up filling up on drinks because she couldn't finish her meal. As a vegetarian I had to order al la carte--I had eggs, hash, and French toast. I would not recommend this location for an event or food. From other reviews and our experience, I think this would be a fine location strictly for drinks, but there are so many other places on South Street that have drinks and better food and quality customer service. read more

A good place to come into and grab a few pints in a historic area. Everyone was very friendly at this old bar.

The layout here is a bit awkward - lots of stairs - but pick a room and settle in. The service is solid. My boyfriend loves the wings. I did a breakfast hash with poached eggs but the poach left a lot to be desired. The yolk was, sadly, solid. Still worth another trip. Beer and liquor selection is extensive. You can't go wrong. A solid a-ok. Could have been 4stars but the poached eggs impacted my score. I'll be back to offer an opportunity for redemption. read more

Came here with my two daughters and grandson last Saturday to kill some time while waiting for an appointment we had nearby in 50 minutes. One of my daughters and myself ordered the steak wedge while the other two with us ordered chicken tenders and fries. It took them so long to bring our food out that we had to pack it up and leave for our appointment. We were home in less than an hour and neither my daughter or me could eat the steak wedge because it smelled sour and the lettuce was clearly getting old. Also, I ordered my steak medium rare and was completely surprised at how tough the one piece I tried was. They clearly cut it wrong. I called the restaurant and whomever answered the phone offered to redo it if we'd come back. Why would we do that? My first and last time there. read more

I stopped in because I had an old WMMR Deal of the Day coupon. When I first walked in I was thrown off because the place is chopped up in an odd way. There is a small bar when you first walk in, and then a dining room and a second bar upstairs. I walked upstairs, but as it was a weekday it seems that only the small bar near the entrance was open. This is first section is very small, probably 800sq ft, but it wasn't crowded so we grabbed a high top table and ordered some drinks. The beer selection was weak compared to most Philly bars. There were about 5 beers on tap with Dogfish 60 Minute being the most exotic, but their Tuesday special was $4 Dogfish which is a good deal so that was cool. The bartender was a very friendly girl that was upbeat and made the place fun. A young newly engaged couple came in and the bartender bought them and us a round of shots to celebrate. We ordered our food which was really the highlight of the place. I had the shepards pie, which was really good. My wife had a chicken/pesto/avocado sandwich which was really good too. We also shared an order of cheesesteak spring rolls with their Cavanaugh's sauce. The sauce was awesome, and I'm pretty sure it was a mix of sweet and sour sauce and buffalo sauce. The food prices were reasonable for the quality and the beer special was a good deal. Overall, I was really impressed with this place. Without the coupon I probably would have never come here, but I had a good time and really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. I would not hesitate to come back and certainly will. It is one of the best irish pubs I've been to in the city. read more

I was here for the first time last Thursday for a Brew & Chew event, and I really enjoyed myself. First of all, this place is way bigger than it looks from the outside. And it's not just one bar, it's a whole bunch of little bars in this neat little maze- sort of like a fun house, but with bars. The food was good. I also appreciated how accommodating they were to my food allergy by making me an item different from the one on the already set menu for the event. As always, the beers they featured were of course delicious. The staff I encountered here were all very pleasant and professional. I will definitely plan on coming to more Brew & Chews here as well as stopping in for a drink when I'm in the neighborhood. read more

We came to cavanaugh's on a Friday around 8pm. We decided to sit upstairs to eat. We sat in the back room and it was really dark. It was actually too dark in my opinion, I had to use my flash to read the menu. We had a very nice waitress though! I ordered the $2 mystery beer, and my husband got a bud light. The mystery beer was fun! It came in a brown paper bag. We both ordered wings and shred fries. Our food came out quickly. The wing sauce is really good! However, the wings themselves were not. We both ordered the large size of wings, and out of 12, I only had 2 drumsticks. The rest were flappers, which is really disappointing. I would expect a 60/40 ratio of flapper to drumsticks. The wings also tasted a tad bit old. I got the impression this place is generally really good, but I'm thinking maybe we just went and they were having a bad or off night. While I was disappointed with the food, I would still go back and give them another try. The fries were good and our waitress was very attentive. read more

See all

The Headhouse is really as good as it gets when it comes to this kind of stuff. Where else would you really want to go around here other than Cavs? This place features great sports bar seating with nice staffing. They have the serene view from a dock. There's drinking games and cornhole to play. Not to mention mentioning the outstanding Cavs wings and sauce combo. C'mon, you're really not going to find another spot better than here. read more

Stopped in one afternoon for a drink. Sat downstairs. Look closely. The area behind that bar is dirty. I was grossed out. I wouldn't order a drink from a glass there because they are sitting on a dirty shelf. I've never ordered food. I wasn't offered a menu. Place isn't clean enough to eat in. read more

I didn't know that this place existed until a friend and I were on the lookout for a decent bar to get a decently-priced drink on a Friday night. I was surprised to see a completely empty bar on a Friday night but glad because it felt like a well-kept secret. I usually stay out of Olde City because the bars always seem to be so crowded! This place has two stories and would probably be very crazy if it got packed. We sat down and ordered some stuff and the bartender was really nice about letting us transfer outside when a table opened up. I've gotta say that I really love the outdoor seating in this place! People tend to bring their dogs here and that's something I definitely enjoy! One person's dog was so friendly that he was allowed to go to every table and just be loved on. If you're a dog person this is probably a great spot for you (as long as you have a social dog that is) We split the appetizer platter which was delicious and split some good beers. They weren't overly-priced at all and everything was fresh and delicious. I'll definitely be back to this place for happy hour or a drink or two before First Friday! read more

Sooo many gluten free options!! Stella Cider, Woodchuck Pink, Angry Orchard Cinnful Apple, Estrella Daura...I'm in Gluten Free heaven! Came to Cavanaugh's for a yelp elite event a couple months ago...LOVE IT! So when we were looking for places to watch the Eagels playoff game, of course we wanted to come back. The decor is excellent, there are tons of seating options, lots of tables and room to bring a group...it's great! They have so many screens that really no matter where you sit, your gonna see the game. Their food is all great, we had the wings, nacho's, steak, guacamole, and fries. All of the food came out great and hot even though they were totally slammed. They also have lots of game day drink and food specials and a great happy hour as well. The drinks during this playoff game were a little different...their taps froze so no draft Lager, the servers were so slammed so it seemed really understaffed for a playoff game. There were multiple times that our table sat for at least 10 minutes with all 6 of us totally dry on drinks, and we didn't all finish our drinks at the same time. read more

A cozy little sports bar in Headhouse Square, a great place to get fried pickles, and a funny place to send your friends to meet you at if they've never been there before. "Hey, I'm upstairs" doesn't begin to help them figure out WHICH room upstairs you're exactly in! Are you in the whiskey room? Hmm, that place looks too small.... Are you in the wine room? Hmmm, well, it's almost empty in there right now... What about the back room? It looks like everyone knows each other in THAT room...let's go back towards the front... Well, you can see how it goes. Lots of little rooms in a VERY old building makes this one of the most unique bars I've ever been to. Oh, and they also have funnel cake fries. Yes, french fries made of funnel cake batter. Yes, it's worth it. I love the little outdoor seating area too, with the table that has a firepit in the middle...so fun! read more

After some a holiday outing with my kiddo and my folks my dad asked to have lunch at "the old dickens inn". He wanted to see what had replaced it. I did an inward groan when I saw it was now a Cavanaughs. While they retained the decor of the "inn" the rest was pretty bad. Our server was mediocre at best. The food was terrible. For example: We ordered the chip and dip, one of the dips was supposed to be queso. It was really just cheese wiz. It was awful. I got the shrimp tacos which were equally terrible. They were boring and the tortillas had the texture of having been microwaved. My mom's fish (fish and chips) looked terribly greasy the chips were cold. I guess this is a good place for a few beers and watch a game. To actually go for a meal, not so much. read more

Cavanaughs is my go to spot when my Steelers aren't on TV. The food is good and the staff is friendly. Unlike the other "sports bar" in the area, they actually have all the games on not just the Eagles games. Drink specials are also decent. read more

Been coming to this location since it was Dicken's Inn and the Dark Horse. I don't eat here, but it's a great place to shoot darts and watch a game. Bartenders are good people who play the appropriate music for the crowd. Excellent Guinness, but on the pricey side. Awesome, cozy setup for a crisp fall day or cold winter day. I'm glad the place has kept it's integrity since Cavanaugh's took over. I will continue to come here a few times a year. read more

I'm a chicken tenders snob so that's why I'm writing this review. I frequently stop by Cavanaughs for cocktails but never order from their menu. I was starved on this particular stop and decided to sample the chicken tenders after looking at the bar menu. It's was awesome!!!! Why did I wait so long to discover this chicken tender nirvana. They give you 3 extra large chicken breasts which are breaded. It came out hot, crispy and the chicken was moist. This is what you look for in my opinion in a chicken tender appetizer. They also provided me with a choice of several different dipping sauces which was a nice plus. Normally most places only offer one sauce unless you request more then one. I will definitely be ordering those again along with my usual cocktail. read more

I rolled into Cavanaugh's late on a Tuesday because my friend and I were dying for a bathroom. We grabbed drinks and took care of business, lingering for about 45 minutes. Even though it was Tuesday and the place was pretty dead, there was a lively crowd of fantasy drafters crowded around the TV in the front room. Probably the biggest thing that this Cavanaugh's has going for it is the size. The many different bars and rooms on multiple levels means that you can find a room that works for you and your friends, but still feel like you're in a tiny neighborhood hole in the wall. Drinks specials and food ostensibly don't seem much different than when this bar was Dark Horse, but there were a surprising amount of craft brews on the list, so that was pleasant to see! (I expected it to have a much more limited selection.) I miss Dark Horse (token whine here), but the bones and general decor are still there, so Cavanaugh's is definitely worth a visit if you're looking for a fun place to watch a game, especially if you like when the crowd is involved and enthusiastic. read more

Bartenders are friendly and willing to offer suggestions on food and beverages. Although this may seem like an obvious characteristic of bartenders, it's not seen at all places! They have a good beer selection and although I didn't get any food, the menu looked really appetizing. There's an outdoor space that looked really pretty, I plan on checking that out next time. read more

Headed here before seeing a show at the TLA. I picked this place based on the Yelp reviews I read and the location being with in walking distance of the venue. First of all, this place is huge. We walked in, went up steps, there are rooms to the right and left and then more steps and another little bar room. That is where we sat. The bartender, Pat, was super awesome and had great sexy hair!! ;-) He was attentive and friendly and offered samples of beer to one of the people I was with. The food was brought out hot as well. I did originally order something that was forgotten about, but it was ok bc it would have been a waste since I was stuffed and couldn't finish what was actually brought out correctly. We ordered the hummus plate. That was fantastic. I loved it. The fresh, warm pita bread was awesome. We ordered mac and cheese, and fried pickles as well. All of that was off the pub menu which was half price! #winning! The other girls got burgers, which they loved. They came with Cavanaughs Sauce. Basically a homemade, spicy bbq sauce. Had lots of kick and was delish! Glad we went! read more

This is my favorite neighborhood bar. I am a regular here on Wednesday nights for Quizzo. Compared to other Quizzos in town, this one is good because Gunner goes at a decent clip and doesn't drag out the rounds. However, you still have plenty of time between rounds to drink and hang out. Round of shots for the best team name, cash prizes for the winners. 8.30. I have also been here on several other occasions. The food is great, with enough variety that we can bring out-of-town guests here with something to please everyone. I am a vegetarian and there are several options available. I've even come here several times with a vegan friend and he was accommodated, no problem. I recommend the veggie flatbread or the black bean burger. Drinks are also great. The on-tap offerings are diverse, unlike some other bars that only have IPAs. Cav's also does "mystery bags" pretty often, where you get a bagged bottled beer for $3.50. Look for specials during Phillies games. The service here is also top-notch. The bartenders are patient and kind, even when things get crowded. They are quick with a joke, and even quicker with your order. Yes, I've been keeping this one a secret, but we're moving this week, so I figured I'd finally share the Cav's goodness with the Yelp world. We'll definitely miss this place. read more

Came here for the first time to watch the champions league match. Got there after kickoff so was tough to find seats and I wound up at the side bar and got a seat later. Good setup to watch soccer and while 2nd time it was dead for the Norway Australia match the specials sounded decent. I got the fish and chips which were okay. Initially wanted the Shepard's pie or chicken pot pie but was told they don't have it at all since it's mainly a winter time type dish which is understandable. This may be a go to spot for soccer matches. read more

The food is excellent every time. Only order takeout but I imagine the food is just as good dining in.

Came to this bar to watch the Army Navy game. From the moment I walked in the place was playing absolute bangers on the radio and the drinks were cold! Great atmosphere and great place! 10/10 will be coming back!! read more

Made a stop at Cav's after the Mummers parade. The bar itself is a great spot. Saw a lot of people getting wings that looked awesome so I gave them a shot. Was unsure about which sauce to get and the bartender suggested the "Cav" sauce and let me try it before ordering. It was tasty so that's what I went with. When the wings came out they looked legit, but unfortunately they went way too light on the sauce and they almost tasted plain. Would go back, but next time I'd order them with extra sauce. read more

Love Cav's Headhouse Square! Tons of options for food and draft, and there are multiple bars throughout the establishment. My favorite place to cozy up is the room as soon as you walk in before going upstairs. I was at Cav's a couple times over the last few weeks(I think it was a Thursday and a Saturday), and that downstairs bar is definitely my kind of place. Full beer list available (the bartender was so nice that she ran upstairs to get something that wasn't directly on tap at her bar downstairs, how nice was that!) and there are happy hour specials most nights. The crowd is friendly and entire staff is nice, with special mention to that bartender. Definitely go with the Cav's sauce for your food options! They say it is a special recipe that they won't tell me, but it keeps me coming back for more. No fuss bar food, just what i wanted and just what I come to expect from Cav's. See you there soon! read more

Every time I go here, I miss the Dark Horse. It's funny, the last year or two of the Dark Horse showed a clear downhill slide, and the Cavanaugh's team has done a pretty good job cleaning up and improving the bars inside, but still, it just feels bro-ier and more generic now. The space hasn't really changed. The ground floor bar is still deceptively small and quiet, with the real activity in the main bar upstairs down a long hallway. There are more TVs than before, filling in some gaps where no TVs could be seen from the bar stools. The tap list isn't really improved either. The dining room and whisky bar seem to be in better shape now. The food is pretty generic sports bar fare now, and on a busy night you're likely to get a plastic cup instead of a proper English pint. It's still a decent place to watch sports, but it's just another face in the crowd, instead of having a real identity. read more

The service, wonderful! The staff, wonderful! The food, LOVE! The atmosphere is my absolute favorite inside and outside the view is relaxing... Cheers! read more

The drinks were so-so, and the food was soooo overpriced for such small portions. For example, $9 for 5 lame mozz sticks, or $12 for just a few bits of calamari. Not worth the money. The bartender was conversational and attentive, and at least one football game was on TV, so that's good. I'd been to this location a few times previously, and the times before were much better. Seems to have gone downhill. read more

we had a super weird experience here due to our bartender. we sat outside and there was one other table and maybe 3 people at the downstairs bar. our server was the bartender and she seemed to have had a few drinks prior to us getting there. she couldn't remember our orders to save her life yet wouldn't write it down. we wait 15 minutes for our drinks and after a while just started going inside to get them because she kept forgetting about us. our food orders were wrong but we were starving. bartender ended up comping a bunch of stuff though because she knew we were pissed read more

During college football season, every room of the bar plays a different game (because there's a lot of rooms). During summer, air conditioning feels limited. read more

Just like Fawkes rising from the ashes in Dumbledore's office, Cav's Headhouse has risen from the ashes of the once massive establishment known as the Dark Horse but they are distinguishing themselves well so far. We stopped in for the first Sunday of football and were able to grab a room with 3 televisions all showing different games. Beer specials were not fantastic but I was more there for the feel of it and the wings. Speaking of the wings, I'm wondering if the "Hot" are hotter than the "3rd Degree" because my buddy and I split the 3rd Degree wings and we were pretty sure it was just sweet chili sauce. Food aside, the bar staff was nice, treated us well and was very involved in the games. They even had a staff suicide pool going which made it fun because there was interest in so many games that day. The room we were in (side bar, upstairs) had a ton of natural light and the temp/crowd was excellent for watching the games. I think they've got a little ways to go but I see potential here. Cavs Headhouse is massive and it must be difficult to assume a spot with so many individual bars. Still it seems like they get their ish together and this could be a good destination for sports and general shenanigans. read more

So what makes this bar is the space. Think British pub with several small rooms, a bit like a maze. Very cool. Everything else is average. read more

This is a bar- not a sports bar. We went with best intentions - enjoy good wings & burgers. No dining area - only bar. Other reviews made it seem like a sports bar - it is NOT!! Also Not the best atmosphere with an 8 & 12 year old. ( drunk guy spouting profanity @ bar) My 12 year old enjoyed the wings. (Learned some new words ) my chicken cheeses steak was super spicy- did not expect that ! And not in a good way guess I should have stuck with a burger. All in all - not great but not terrible read more

This isn't a strip Club for republicans. I was very disappointed. The food was pretty good though and the service was okay.

Love this place. Foods always good. Bartenders always nice, especially Jake and Stever. Cavs sauce on everything

This place is small and kinda dingy. It seems to be a bar for locals mainly. It felt like we were in a movie. We came in and the music stopped... The usual suspects looked over at us...and "You ain't from around here" mutters the surly bartender... It wasn't quite that bad but it was close....The service was slow and bartender had a "little" bit of an attitude. I was surprised cause the place was kind dead and she wasn't serving anyone else... we ordered a beer, vodka red bull, and three tequila shots. We were doing a bar crawl and were looking for a round and keep on moving.... Took forever.... Not impressed.. read more

Excellent services! Bartenders and security are very nice, menu looks awesome... but.... they don't don't discover cards.... it's 2018 come on get with the program people. You guys just lost money from me ): read more

Recently I had a surprise birthday party for my husband. From emailing and phone contact with event coordinators was a breeze. The day of the event, the guests raved about the appetizers and the buffet. Service was amazing- from the food to the beverages. Absolutely wonderful service! I would not have changed a thing. And yes ..my husband was surprised! read more

My favorite neighborhood spot. Food is great, and the wait staff and bartenders are awesome. Cheese steak egg rolls w/ cav's sauce.