We went for restaurant week. Awesome menu! I'm gluten free and there were so many options. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant has very high ceilings and is quite loud so it can be a bit hard to hear if you're looking for an intimate dinner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My drink was just so so and pricy read more

Philly, we are not welcome here. Meet Henry, the manager at Fringe Bar. As a Northern Liberties resident, I've visited Fringe Bar several times and have generally enjoyed the experience before my recent experience with the manager. Unfortunately, my visit on June 13 around 4:30 PM completely changed my opinion of this establishment. My friend and I were seated and waited nearly 20 minutes before our food order was taken. Our server explained that their ordering system had gone down.... We were understanding and patient but to be honest it felt like she forgot. About 10 minutes later, we finally received our drinks, and our server shared that management had continued assigning her additional tables despite the issues, making it difficult for her to keep up. We sympathized with her and gave the staff plenty of grace. After waiting another 30 minutes, nearly an hour total since arriving, we still had not received our food. What made the situation even more frustrating was watching another table that arrived roughly 30 minutes after us receive their meals before we did. At that point, I approached Henry to ask about our order. I explained that we had been waiting for nearly an hour and that guests who arrived significantly later had already been served and they needed to hurry up with our food because we were hungry. Before I could even finish speaking, Henry interrupted me, stated that he would comp the food, and told us to leave. All I wanted was an explanation and asked that our order be prioritized after such a long wait. Instead of attempting to resolve the issue, Henry immediately escalated the situation and effectively removed us from the restaurant. The interaction felt dismissive, unprofessional, and completely lacking in customer service. Even another manager appeared surprised by how quickly our order was canceled and how the situation was handled. The entire experience left me feeling unwelcome and disrespected. Mistakes happen. Delays happen. What determines whether customers return is how management responds. Unfortunately, Henry's arrogance, poor communication, and inability to handle a reasonable customer concern ensured that I will never return. The attached photos include timestamps documenting our visit and the lengthy wait and a photo of Henry so you can avoid him. DO NOT COME. read more

Fringe Bar - Henry the manager - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I'm not one to complain, especially because I've worked in food service/restaurants for years. But I've been here about 5 or 6 times, each time trying to give it another chance. I understand restaurants and staff can have off days where service isn't a perfect 10/10, it happens. However, I am finished giving this place any more chances. Each time worse than the time before. Food is overpriced especially for brunch. For a standard plate of eggs bacon toast and potatoes, you have to get that as a "build your own"... $6 for 2 eggs, $5 for potatoes, $6 for bacon and $2 for toast with butter. Thats pure theft. For service, I have nothing good to say because it doesn't exist. Sat at the bar for 25 minutes before a bartender acknowledged me with water. In my opinion, it was not particularly busy (or at least busy enough to have waited that long for water). No greeting, no "be right with you" or anything of the sorts. He also moves at a snails pace. Waited nearly an hour for an overcooked burger and had gratuity added automatically to my bill afterwards. Tips are for good service and not giving me the choice to tip how I see fit was my final straw. I cannot understand what is so difficult about providing even the most minimal service to patrons. I don't even want good service at this point, just ANY service! I arrived with the intention to have a pleasant meal with a friend on a nice day, and I left very upset and dissatisfied. read more

Went for the restaurant week. There were 4 courses with first course being shared cheese plate, crackers, eggplant spread, fig jam, etc. Appetizer was tomato soup - it was so salty. The cheese bread was also salty. Catfish was ok. The side of corn was frozen corn so it's too chewy for me. Banana pudding was great. But by the dessert time, I was so full. Portions were huge! Service was a bit slow. Server didn't fill water even though the bottle was empty. Had to find street parking which wasn't that difficult around dinner time. read more

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TLDR: What was once a great place, has lost its way. We've been regulars at Fringe Bar, always enjoyed their trivia night and the food -- but they've lost their way in a most dramatic fashion and a moment when it mattered. We booked a table weeks in advance for a fun family meal, but upon arrival the maitre d' informed us that the inside restaurant had been closed for a mariachi musical evening and they were going to seat us on a picnic table outside. Putting aside the fact that it was 90 degrees and muggy, and that one of our guests was 85 years old, we said "ok." [[HIGHLIGHT]]The appetizers and drinks came promptly and then suddenly, we were blasted with mariachi music out of a speaker next to our picnic table.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We asked the manager to turn the music down and it was ok for a little while, but then someone came outside and turned it back up. It was so loud, you couldn't speak[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. And remember: this was the Fringe Bar - blasting Mexican music was not what we signed up for. We politey but firmly told the waiter that if he wanted a good tip, he would turn the music down, and he said that since we were a party of five, our tip was automatically charged. WTF! Fortunately, the manager got it, and she turned the volume down again. And it stayed down for the rest of the meal. The food was not as good as previously -- the chicken sandwich was overcooked and dried out, the rice bowl as underseasoned and the rice was overcooked, and the french fries soggy, not crisp. The caesar salad lettuce was crisp. Thankfully! When the check came, it totaled $310 with the 20% automatic tip. I had ordered a Tito's on the rocks and they charged an extra dollar for Tito's and an extra $5 for the "rocks". I wish I had kept the receipt because I would posted it. This was the first time that I was charged for the "rocks". Rather than complaining again, I'm posting this review for others to see. Fringe Bar - adios (para siempre) read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Cool vibes outside if you can handle the heat in the summer.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Inside looked really cool but they didn't have any music playing so it felt like a library![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I got an espresso martini but wanted tequila instead and the up-charge was crazy ($15 for the espresso martini, which is normal, but then an added $7 for tequila!). If I was getting charged the normal price, then where's the shot of vodka that wasn't in the drink: I would have given that to somebody in my party. Anyway, I'd go again, jut would order the expensive stuff. read more

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Was visiting Philadelphia and came across this restaurant for my research into GLUTEN FREE RESTAURANTS. They have a gluten free hot chicken sandwich. When I told the server I was gluten free he told me all of the substitutes and what I could eat. Which I appreciated. Apparently the restaurant is mostly gluten free anyway which I loved. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The night we went they had a salsa night with a live band which was super cool.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I could tell that in the summer it would be a great place to sit outside. It's on the water and right across from a pier.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The hot chicken sandwich really changed my life and was HUGE! My friend got the empanadas and he loved that too. I felt like the server was awesome. I wish I remembered his name but he was chill and my friend and I were just hanging out for a while even after we paid. read more

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The food was great. The service was so good. Our server showed us so much attention even though the place was busy. The view of the bridge from the bar was amazing.. read more

Fringe Bar - The view from the restaurant - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I tend to judge every city's bar scene by how the wings are. If they get them right, the beer and everything should flow effortlessly. All puns intended. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We came here for a live podcast down the hall and the overall vibe was super chill.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Think community theater by with the cool hip hop kids in high school. Pretty sweet location close enough to the water, and easily accessible for Uber, etc read more

The customer service was okay. However, the drinks we had were really really good and reasonably priced. The menu options when we went were limited but we did find a few options that were cool. I would def go back. read more

Shout out to fringe bar for going above and beyond accommodating my dietary restrictions. I'm gluten free and vegan and they literally got tofu for me after I messaged them on instagram letting them know I was planning on coming. The tofu scramble they made me was amazing and they even gave me a gf vegan bun and cashew cheese on the side. thank you!!!! read more

Went to Fringe Bar today for brunch and overall I enjoyed it! The donut appetizer (5/10) took longer than it should have to come out and it really had no flavor at all until you add the Dulce de leche sauce. It was ok wouldn't get it again. I ordered the Chicken Biscuits (6.5/10) and that was pretty tasty. I also got a side of pancakes (7/10) that was pretty good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I loved the aesthetic of the restaurant and how it overlooks the Ben Franklin Bridge, pretty cool.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'd def go back maybe at night to try dinner. Service was good as well. read more

Fringe Bar - Donuts - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Manager was rude and vulgar. Told me i was being "dickish" for asking for a beer on the house for an order mixup

Fringe bar only has happy hour on Thursday nights from 5pm-9pm so of course I had to stop by after work. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I arrived around 5:30pm and there was maybe 5 other people at the bar but by 7pm the restaurant and bar was full of people.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Music is playing and it is not too loud.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They appeared to be setting up for some live music but I left before the live music started.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They have $3 mini martinis! For food I ordered the egg fried rice (10/10) lemon pepper wings (7/10) beef sliders (10/10) build a fry( 9/10) and mini Caesar salad (10/10). [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great atmosphere![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great food and drinks! Along with Great Prices! read more

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I went to Fringe Bar for brunch and stayed fit the NFC Conference Championship game. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The environment, energy, and service was great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The chicken was good but the biscuits, not so much. The breakfast potatoes were basic. read more

Fringe Bar - Chicken Biscuits - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The wings were solid--good heat, crispy. But the real problem: they slapped 20% auto-gratuity on the subtotal AND the sales tax. Nowhere on the menu says that. Manager told me 'that's how the computer is set up'--no apology, no fix. I zeroed it out on the receipt, but they still ran my card with the full amount. That's not service, that's a scam. Philly deserves better. read more

Fringe Bar - They slapped 20% auto-gratuity on the subtotal AND the sales tax. !!!!! - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I checked out Fringe Bars all day happy hour and man was I impressed. The food was delicious and well priced. I liked the falafel sliders a little more than the beef. The cheese dip is great and they came with more crackers when we ran out. The mini martinis were so fun. I had six for $18 and was feeling pretty drunk. I will say though the garnishing was very hit or miss with them. For example, only 3 of my six cosmos came with a lime and only 2 of my friend's manhattans came with a cherry. I don't think that's a big deal though. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a GREAT spot for larger groups. I was one of six and all the food came out properly to each person.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]More importantly, the music wasn't too loud that we couldn't hear each other.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were sat on the balcony which was very aesthetic and fun.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For being pretty busy, I don't have any complaints about the service. Fringe bar will 100% be added to the list of places I recommend. I can see myself going back!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]PS for those who care about the bathroom, it's very clean and the stalls leave no gaps. It's gender neutral, so everyone is in there. There are several stalls.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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We went here before meeting up with some friends in Old City. We had a 10/10 experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It wasn't too busy when we went so perhaps we got more attention.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] But we had an amazing conversation with the bartender/server, who made us delicious drinks that were not officially on the menu. He also had excellent drink recommendations. We also ordered the empanadas to snack on. They were large and packed with so much flavor. The empanada dough was crunchy and flaky. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside of the building is also pretty with really high ceilings and plenty of space for both dining and drinking.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I look forward to coming back if Im in the area. read more

Fringe Bar - Chicken Empanadas - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Here for jazz night on 1/14. I gotta say. The service is kinda slow but I understand if they are weeded. No worries. The food however, over seasoned and underwhelming. The gumbo is very cayenne forward and not much else. They give you a splash of rice and the roux taste overdone. The shrimp cocktail is not amazing. The cocktail sauce taste more like katchup. Not much horseradish in it. The wings are also just spice or peppery and not much of a flavor profile. The Brie cheese is cut super chunky and not ideal for the crackers they come with. My friends couldn't even enjoy the tuna. It just wasn't enjoyable. Overall, the food is super duper mid. But the entertainment is superb. That is all. read more

Fringe Bar - Cheese plate - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I attended a private event and would highly recommend! The space is a refurbished pump house so it has an industrial vibe. The patio has a beautiful view of the waterfront and Ben Franklin bridge. The food was delicious! Some places have a event menu that isn't up to par with their regular food. Not here! The cheese board was above average with the most yummy homemade potato chips. The butlered hors d'oeuvres were excellent. They were served hot with a nice presentation. The fried cheese curds and steak with mashed potatoes were my fave! The shrimp cocktail and falafel were also yummy. The service was too notch with friendly servers. One server even brought back a plate for me when the tray was empty before I got one. Bathrooms are gender neutral with common sinks. Honestly this makes it so much easier. Street parking is available with a public lot nearby. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Beautiful extremely large building with surprises around every corner... there's even a theater in the back of the restaurant that's hidden...[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I love this place. The food is great! I believe the menu changes seasonally too! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This place was vibey, very hipster.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Their espresso martini was a hit. The bartenders were nice. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very busy & bustling.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Cool vibes, really tasty drinks. read more

Absolutely incredible food, great service! Hidden gem! We were traveling and staying near by and accidentally wandered in, but pleasantly surprised! read more

I went to Fringe Bar with a friend for Happy Hour and ended up being sucked into Quizo. But quizo was fun and added to the overall good happy hour experience at Fringe Bar. The bartender kept the drinks flowing, and I sampled a few items from the menu. I started with a tasty plate of Buffalo wings, moved on to a disappointing plate of cheese curds, and then went off the happy hour menu for the burger entree. It's a double patty burger on a sesame seed bun that is much juicier than the Big Mac it is modeled after. Dessert was a delectable chocolate cake. The burger was the star of the show. Nothing wowed me at Fringe bar, but I had a good time at happy hour, and I live close by, so I will be back. read more

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Pretty perfect brunch with exactly what I'd want on the menu. Went with the kids and service was top notch and accommodating. Our toddler downed the pancakes, fries, sausage, and donuts. Could not think of a dish we didn't like. Street parking is available and there's a beer garden outside as well! read more

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Had an awesome experience at Fringe Bar in Philly! Our server, Niah, was absolutely wonderful--super friendly, attentive, and made fantastic recommendations. The food was delicious, and the drinks were great! Can't wait to come back! read more

Had brunch here today for my brothers birthday. We sat outside and it was extremely hot but I appreciated the restaurant for having umbrellas to assist with the shading. My sister in law made a reservation for 2PM which was weird because the kitchen didnt accept brunch orders after 2. Not sure if that was explained to her when she booked or not. Anywho, they were nice enough to take our brunch orders quickly before the cut off time. I ordered shrimp & grits. They were really good! I also had some of my brothers potatoes and they were perfect. My drink if choice was...you guess it, a lemon drop. It was sooo good. The view of the Ben Franklin bridge is also a cool vibe while dining outside. Our waitress was super nice as well. All and all, I would definitely go back to this place. The only real con was PARKING! Literally the worst. I had to park at the D&B parking lot a block & a half away for $30. read more

Fringe Bar - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The breading on this sandwich is tempura light! The fries are better than McDonald's and served hot. Everything was delish! read more

Fringe Bar - Blueberry cider....DELISH! - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Really nice place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Servers are always helpful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is laid back and easy going.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The menu is simple and straight up. I have been here many times and really enjoy coming back. The hot chicken sandwich is great ! The burgers really are exceptional. The mashed potatoes always perfect. I'll be back! read more

Went for pre-show drinks and appetizers. We were running a little late, but still had nearly an hour before the show started. We waited a few minutes for the server, and when she came, we told her immediately we had a show to catch, and asked what the quickest apps were. She made some recommendations, and as we were about to tell her the order (we had already narrowed it down, awaiting her suggestions), she told us to "browse the menu a minute" and she'd be right back. We didn't see her again for nearly 15 minutes, so we cut back the apps to just two and crossed our fingers. It took another 15 minutes for the apps to come out. The lamb gyro flatbread was AMAZING - so flavorful, piled high with diced cucumber and tomato, big chunks of lamb, and tzatziki sauce with a nice dose of dill. The cheese curds were meh. They were not cheese curds - more like a mozzarella stick cut into bite-sized pieces. They were super bland - no flavor at all. The marinara helped a bunch, but it too was under-seasoned. The flavor was similar to canned tomato sauce that could eventually become marinara with the right love and spices. It had neither. The one cocktail we ordered - a Cherry Wooder ice - will take you right back to your South Philly childhood. It was a gem. Our server never came back to ask how anything was or offered additional drinks, but literally minutes after our order was delivered to our table, we flagged her down to take payment. She snagged our credit card, and we waited until very nearly show time before she came back with it. To be fair, they recommend two hours before showtime to enjoy a meal, but we figured drinks and apps would be a much quicker pace. They weren't super busy in terms of tables - there were quite a few empties in the outside area where we sat, but that doesn't necessarily mean they weren't short-staffed or whatever caused service to be so slow. If you dine outside, as we did, you are on a busy Philadelphia street, but the space feels insolated enough that you aren't eating car fumes while you dine. It's also super cool to be under the Ben Franklin Bridge - but the high speedline will grind conversation to a halt as it passes - it's kinda loud. The only other thing to note here is there is one, non-gendered bathroom for the restaurant and the theater, with doors at both the restaurant end and the theater end. The line was pretty long at both ends, and you're sort of competing with people from the opposite end for a stall. This is probably less of a problem when there's not a sold out show going on. We'd try them again - not order the mozzarella sticks, but go when we aren't in a rush. Our menu items were a 50/50 mix, so definitely worth giving something else on the menu a try. read more

Love fringe bar! Went last weekend and had a great time. The service was impeccable - our server Katherine was super attentive and very friendly. Loved the space inside - it's huge and it looked like a great place to visit in the spring/summer time when it's warmer with their outdoor seating. Drinks were solid and their food portions were huge! (Love that!). And everything was delicious. My favorite was the Nashville hot chicken and cheese curds. Their fryers are gluten free and they have tons of options on their menu as well. Will definitely be back! Gotta try brunch :) read more

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The food was not great. The server was really nice but did not check on us after we got food or asked if we wanted more to drink. It is definitely a great place to go drink and watch a game or just enjoy the weather right by the river. Definitely need to improve their food and service. read more

Delicious food, tasty drinks, and a cool vibe. Loved the option for outdoor dining. We'll definitely be back. read more

Fringe Bar - a sandwich and french fries on a plate - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We made a reservation last week for Saturday brunch at 2p. We were told that they were having a party 11a-3p and that the food was $35 per person for a buffet. We were not happy about that but didn't have another day to go. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We showed up at 2p and they did not have a table for us inside. We sat outside and they moved the heaters around us but it was still COLD AND WINDY.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Again we HAD A RESERVATION. The buffet food was cold and you could tell it was sitting out. We got bottomless mimosas which were great but the same price as the buffet. Besides being cold our server was very attentive. We were not told about the gratuity automatically added to the bill, it was written on the bill but you know how bottomless mimosas go. We ended up tipping on top of the added gratuity. We will not be back... read more

Food was okay, I had the pesto pasta but the chicken had no seasoning. I went as soon as the opened, customer service was elite. Ambiance was chills. read more

I went to the Survivor watch party last night, it was my first time at Fringe, and I must say that it was a great experience. The Food was great and was really good er had the burgers and the chicken sandwich. The Cocktails were also very good. We had Grace as our waitress she was excellent. I will be going back there. The Survivor Watch Party was a lot of fun, I also attended YamYam watch Party in Puerto Rico last year great time there also, YamYam is the best we love him. Ellen Nuciforo read more

My husband & I went to Fringe last night on a total whim. We loved that it was set right under the bridge & had a cool view. The cocktail menu was super small but I went with their tequila drink which was yummy. The server was super nice but overall the service was very slow. My husband had the burger which was nothing to write home about. I had a salad & added shrimp. The shrimp (that i paid an additional $8 for) was cocktail shrimp so I was pretty disappointed. The dressing was good & the salad was large. Overall it was just an ok experience which is a bummer because it has so much potential. read more

Fringe Bar - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Terribly experience. We'd not heard of this restaurant, but when we tried to reserve a table at a nearby French bistro and found that it had no tables available, the website directed us to Fringe Bar. Featureless space and food that makes one regret the calories consumed. Poor quality. Our server was kind, so there was that. Would neither return to this restaurant nor recommend it to others. read more

It all seemed promising at first, the appetizers were great, the vibe was nice. However, it took close to 2 hours for us to receive our food, which wasn't even really the worst part. 2 health hazards occurred. My boyfriend found a blue rubber band in his dish. His sister, who has dietary sensitives, was unable to eat her meal completely because it had sesame seeds. Needless to say, this is completely unacceptable and not okay by any standard. There should never be foreign objects in food, and you need to mention if anything might be different for those with allergies or intolerances. Worth mentioning: our server was kind and understanding of our situation and took it off the bill for us. read more

Fringe Bar is UH-MA-ZING!!!! Great vibe, great service, awesome selection of beer and cocktails, food is yummy.