The old Grace Tavern had my vote, but the revamped Grace just was such a disappointment. The burger here used to be the perfect side to a beer or cider, but the prices and portion sizes have completely changed under the new ownership. It was so odd that the burger came out on English muffins instead of burger buns. The fact that the burgers are served as is with no side unless you pay additionally for fries is outrageous to me. The plate looked incomplete and bizarre with just a burger and no fries or side salad. While I like the new look and paint of the tavern under the new management, the food and prices are just not worth it to me. read more

Grace Tavern - Chicken sandwich - Pubs Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The concept of the bar's "Halloween" theme in October seemed apropos. The crowd control, ticket rigmarole, and overly dive-vibes deducts some stars. It is dark, it looks like it is Halloween, and the themed drinks set the tone. When I arrived, with pre-purchased tickets, I was told there was a wait and was directed to the outside seating area. Outside on the sidewalk in the middle of a residential neighborhood with some shops around. The area was cordoned off but not private or comfortable at all. Once inside after a wait, I was directed to a divey bar (the main one) that seemed like it could seat 10 people if I am being generous. The bar was sticky and it was too dark to tell if it was also dirty, but I just hypothesized that it was. No worries, it's a dive bar and it is Halloween. The bartenders and service staff were affable and I ordered one of the themed drinks (see the video for the effect). Was it video worthy? Absolutely! Was it good? Potable and potent, but a little tart from the chemistry/alchemy happening. Still, I drank it. I ordered something else, and it was okay, typical for a Philly watering hole. After two drinks and 30-45 minutes, all the allure and spectacle had worn thin. I dared not order food. Would I recommend the experience? Sure, have a Halloween hoot. Would I return? Maybe as a weeknight regular bar for a quick drink, but not on a themed night. The ticket price and crowd hassle was not for me, but other people looked to be having fun. They nailed the Halloween ambience, if that is what you are searching for. Go experience it for yourself. Dress in a costume and soak it all in. May your night of revelry be smoother. Three stars seem fair. read more

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I really liked the haunted decorations at Grace Tavern. During Halloween they have a thing where you can get a drink and experience the spooky decorations at the bar. There is even a psychic reader on site. We had the electric jolt. This drink had activated charcoal that is put into this tequila drink in a beaker. There is also a dry ice stirrer that is used to cause the drink to start forming a gaseous mixture on the top. The other drink was called Divination. The Divination had mezcal which was over powering. I really liked the brim full of sugar pieces around it. The service was really quick. read more

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This review is for the Frankenstein Lab. We paid $30 each for the experience. All we received for $30 each was a forced upon us nasty margarita that we mixed charcoal into and stirred with a spoonful of dry ice. We were told upon entering to go to the back of the bar & a woman would take care of us. Taking care of us meant scanning our $30 tickets & then point to the tables in the back of the bar. At the end she told us our time was up. She did nothing else! We waited 30 minutes in the beginning with no service, we had to ask for a server. The bar had some Halloween decorations up but nothing special, cobbwebs & spooky pictures on the walls. We could have experienced that without paying $30 each. Disgusting how they are taking advantage of people who want a Halloween experience. read more

Grace Tavern - $30 for a nasty Margarita, that's all this experience was. We didn't even get to choose a drink off the Frankenstein drink menu! - Pubs Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My last last review of Grace was in 2015 and it's time for an update. I've been here a few times in 2023 and this neighborhood bar has really stepped up its game. The service is now outstanding, with friendly bartenders who make you feel welcome and serve great cocktails. The fireside chat is my personal favorite cocktail. You can still get a great bacon cheeseburger here, called the Tavern burger, cooked to temperature with the bacon covered in a generous portion of melted cheese. The chicken tenders are the best in the city, and pair perfectly with a bourbon mayo. I will get them every time I come here. If you live close by, Grace Tavern should be the neighborhood bar you frequent. read more

I wish I didn't have to leave such a negative review, but it feels necessary. We attended the Frankenstein's Lab event here on Wednesday, Oct. 30, with an 8:30 pm reservation. From the start, the experience was disappointing. The woman managing the event (holding a clipboard and scanning tickets) was extremely unwelcoming. Despite having tickets, we were directed to a small corner of the bar against the wall. The bar itself looked like it hadn't been cleaned in hours. The bartender greeted us with zero enthusiasm, and without asking about our drink preferences (I don't drink alcohol), placed two unknown cocktails in front of us with a curt instruction to "pour the charcoal powder on top and use these stirrers to mix." There was no explanation of what the drinks were or offer to accommodate us with something else. We ordered one appetizer (cauliflower bites), a grilled chicken sandwich, and a burger. Our food took 45 minutes to arrive with no updates or apologies. (The women next to us had been waiting an hour for theirs.) When it finally came, the food was served in plastic baskets with parchment paper, which, for a $90 dinner for two, felt inadequate and off-theme. As for the event itself, the "Halloween" theme was practically nonexistent. None of the staff were in costume or even a Halloween shirt and no music. The experience was shockingly lackluster. It felt as though we were at an average dive bar with some halloween decor rather than a special PAID and Ticketed Halloween-themed event. To cap it off, they even had pre-printed apology cards on hand--suggesting that dissatisfied customers are a regular occurrence. Overall, this visit was overpriced, and utterly disappointing. I would caution anyone considering a visit to look elsewhere. read more

This is a sad, sad shadow of the former Grace, which I miss. I don't how the new owners have managed to screw up this straightforward bar, but they have, royally. Time to find another local.... read more

John is the best. Thank you for immaculate service. We appreciate the specialty drinks.

There's no experience happening here we paid $30 to come and experience this amazing drink demonstration and none of that happened. Upon arrival we were given an electric jolt a $13.00 drink & told how to stir it and that was the end of the experience. Then was told you cannot just walk in you have to have the reservation and the place that completes the reservation is a scam. The already have apology cards printed up for customer. DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE TECHNICALLY NO STARS read more

Grace Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The outdoor dining lured me in, but honestly it was much worse than I could even expect. The service was very slow and the food was honestly not eatble. I threw out the majority of my meal. I got the grilled chicken sandwich, which was WAY too salty. The salad that came with it was also very plain and just leaves. Very disappointed by this since their outdoor space is so cute and in a great location. read more

So it's taken me awhile to write this review cause I don't like to write bad reviews, but this experience keeps coming up in conversation and needs to be addressed. July 8, my bf and I went in for some mid day drinks and food. We had an aperol spritz and a glass of rosè to drink, ordered onions rings, tater tots, and a veggie burger with Swiss cheese, mushrooms and tomato and asked for a side of mayo. Well, the onions rings came out and looked like half an order and didn't even look like the picture that was listed on the menu, I would have never ordered them. The tater tots weren't even fully cooked, immediately fell apart and were mushy. And the veggie burger, oh the veggie burger, no tomato came on it so we asked the bartender who was also serving us for the tomato, he comes back from the kitchen with the tomato IN HIS HAND in parchment paper and handed it to me. LOL WHAT?! The side of mayo was not Mayo, it was butter. We put it alllll over our burger before we realized. The bartender, kept telling us no it's mayo, and we kept saying politely it was not and just wanted a side of mayo. He walked away from the table and said to his coworker very loudly and sarcastically us to hear "well I guess everyone's always right all the time." IT WAS BUTTER. He never even fixed the situation and brought us Mayo. We're in the industry, and I eat mayo like ketchup. I know mayo from butter. We asked for the bill and he tried to charge us for 2 bottles of rosè and when we pointed it out he said, oh I do that all the time. Let's just say we will never be back there. read more

Always get the fries with the mayo. You'll thank me later. It's a great spot for an easy meal and just to relax read more

CLOSED. Grace's Tavern unfortunately closed in January 2025. It was our local bar. We miss the staff and the customers. Hopefully another bar will open in its place. read more

Been here twice; once at lunch, another time at dinner during quizzo. They have a decent beer and cocktail menu, and the staff are generally OK. The food is not advisable. Never had anything good. The fish in my fish and chips was decent, but the fries were nothing I'd ever seen before. I thought they were sweet potato fries, they were so dark, but no...just regular fries. Way overcooked, and very oily. The Niçoise salad was ok, but the tuna steak was a bit overcooked. Overall, good for drinks, not for food. read more

Came here with friends. One a vegan and wine drinker, two carnivore beer snobs and me. All of us had a great meal and we're completely satisfied. I like the dark, cozy, pubby, interior. The service is efficient and attentive. All this on a Wednesday quiz night. read more

Went here on a whim. We got the chicken tenders, the fried pickles, and the veggie burger. The food was average. Fried pickles were a bit oily and the burger wasn't anything to write home about. The chicken tenders were good and the fries were the best part of the meal. It was a nice change of scenery, and they have it nice inside for social distancing. read more

Grace Tavern - Fried pickles - Pubs Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

By far the coolest most unique pub in the Rittenhouse area. Ask for a drink from the cold fridge. Don't expect anything other than a chill vibe. If you have the chance to be served by Ian, you got lucky. Ask for the green tea shot. Bring your friends, your first date, your husband, and - your kids can come too. read more

I'm a huge fan of Grace Tavern. Living on my part of South Street, this is one of the few decent sit down establishments in the neighborhood and I've spent a great deal of time here (e.g. get togethers with friends, college football games, nba playoffs, family visits). Not only is the food here great, but the bartenders are really friendly and the place is small enough to have an intimate vibe. The burgers here are some of the best I've had in the area and that also extends to their Veggie Burgers. This is a great place that you can take just about anyone, meat eater or otherwise! I'd also put in a plug for their fried pickles, which hit the spot if you're looking for a decent sized bar snack while you grab a beer or watch the game. Beyond the food, there's usually a great selection of beer on tap that ranges from stout's to IPA's to gose's. If you're not sure what exactly will tickle your fancy, ask the bartender for recommendations and they'll let you sample until you find what works for you. And while you're at it, strike up a conversation with the bartenders. I've been able to meet a couple of them now and they're really great guys to chat with. I'd have no issue coming here alone if I knew one of them were working. Final plug.. in my experience it's never been too busy here. You can usually get a table or squeeze in at the bar with a couple of friends. And the prices here are just right. I'd recommend Grace Tavern next time you're looking for a great burger, a nice beer selection, and decent conversation. read more

Grace Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I've heard of Grace Tavern numerous times over the years in local beer magazines, so when I found myself close by I decided to stop in for lunch. These old row home block type bars always have unique character and charm. Grace Tavern's building bends to the right to follow the street behind it, has extremely high tin ceilings, a 1950's Bevadore cooler and worn but classic woodwork all around. I sat at the bar and was met by a friendly bartender. Their tap-list is on the smaller side but features mainly local craft beer. Their food menu is not extensive, but had a variety that was good enough to find something and seems to lean itself popularity wise on the burger from reviews I've read. On the bartenders recommendation I ordered a Spicy fried Chicken Sandwich at $11 which was battered and deep fried with a red cabbage and jalapeno slaw on Le Bus brioche with a side of salad. The bun was excellent, chicken had decent kick from the jalapeño and the side salad was very fresh. The sandwich on the whole was juicy, tender and a decent size. I enjoyed my visit here, felt welcomed and the food, drink, ambiance was good. 15 years at this location for these guys. They are wearing it well! read more

Grace Tavern - Bevadore cooler. Still works! Their bottle list is housed in there. Nice feature! - Pubs Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I don't know what's going on, but the fries at Grace are getting worse. Last few times I've been here, I've been getting a lot of tiny burnt-to-a-crisp leftover pieces of fries, instead of real full-length, or even medium-length, fries. Are they just re-frying whatever's fallen into the vat of oil from previous orders of fries? This makes me very sad. I used to love Grace, but when most of the fries are shorter than 1" long (with many shorter than 0.5" long), this is a serious problem. In other news, the oyster po boy was solid. Beer's still cold. 3.5 stars read more

Great service and they make a MEAN BURGER! Even with just the meat, pickles, and lettuce it's amazing! (I'm a burger minimalist. What can i say?) Their style of fries is not my personal favorite - a little on the dark side. My kids won't eat them as they do have a hint of spice which i personally like! The green beans are spicy and strong; only order if you love heat! read more

Okay so we sit down and it's gorgeous out - the sky is blue, the sun is going down over the city skyline, so I go to lower the umbrella. The waitress (Rose) comes out: "would you like me to take that out for you?" I fucking love you, Rose. YES. THANK YOU. Maybe take notes @Wissahickon Brewing Company..? Anyway, they also happen to have the best burgers in the city IMO, and a full bar with plenty of beers for the beer snobs in all of our groups. Prices are extremely reasonable for the city. They also happen to be dog-friendly outdoors, which is a huge plus. Five stars, will return again and again. read more

good vegan options and good vibes to watch eagles games! was fun but the food was average (my friends said the sandwiches were fine but the fried pickles/fries weren't great, buffalo cauliflower wings were really good!) . they had a decent beer selection! read more

Grace Tavern - fried pickles vegan cauliflower buffalo wings - Pubs Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The owner called me a "bitch" in front of everyone because I didn't tip due to her poor service. The burger I got was not fully cooked as well. 0/10, wouldn't recommen. read more

James is amazing. The best bar owner in town! You'll never be let down by Grace's burgers. They are perfect every time!

Vibes: divey and local, clearly a beer place Tasting notes: -Kelly's burger: slightly charred, thick patty with melted cheddar and chewy bacon on a griddle-toasted brioche bun; comes with a side of house mayo and two pickle slices. -Blackened green beans: crisp, flavorful beans with just enough salt and burnt-ness to keep me addicted for more. -Fried pickles: piping hot and crunchy slices, great for dipping in the mayo that comes on the side. Will be back for: the Thursday burger and craft beer pairing, the burgers, the green beans read more

The reviews said to get the blackened green beans and that the burgers were divine. The reviews were right! Phenomenal burger -- super juicy and well-seasoned. And the blackened green beans were addictive and nicely spicy! Would definitely go back. read more

Had fun. I loved the BLACKENED GREEN BEANS and Long Island plus the service. Favorable place to watch sports and grab a bite to eat while enjoying a drink or two. read more

This bar is the final destination on approximately four out of five nights when I'm out with my boyfriend. It's his neighborhood bar and it's about to become mine, too, so I'm glad Grace and I get along. The menu is limited but the selections are solid. Plus, the kitchen is open late, which is both a very good (drunken munchies) and very bad (morning food regret) thing. People rave about the burgers although I haven't yet tried one. At 1 a.m. I'm usually getting down with the blackened green beans, chicken fingers or fries, which come with a garlic dipping sauce. I am also a fan of the chicken waldorf salad. The rolls used for the sausage sandwiches are absolutely massive, which takes away from the otherwise awesome sausage, but I'd still recommend the sammies, regardless. The beer selection is always great, and the bartenders definitely know their stuff. When I inquired about the 21st Amendment Hop Crisis on tap last weekend, Leo warned me it was an 11% brew. Then he said he would not carry me home if I chose to drink it. Fair enough! I had two, but only because I had gone easy on the boozies earlier in the night. Overall, I feel like Grace has everything a neighborhood bar should have (including the inevitable neighborhood drunkard makin' a fool at the end of any given night). Cheers! read more

Went here for the first time last night, best burger I've had in a long time and not overpriced. Nice atmosphere and really friendly staff. Definitely will be coming back! read more

Food is okay. Service is absolutely awful. Rude; not helpful and slow. So bad that I'm literally debating leaving a tip.

My wife and I have lived in the neighborhood since 1997. We have frequented Grace Tavern many times. My wife is away and I felt like having a burger and a beer. I remembered how great the burgers at Grace were and it was an easy decision to make. Grace it Was! As usual the place was packed. When trying to order i was informed that the,bartender was the only one on duty and that if I wanted to sit outside (at the one of the two tables) I would have to order inside and take it out myself. No worries. To make it easier (for the bartender) i ordered two of the Fulton sweet child ipa's and a Kelly burger and paid "up front." This is the part that makes me feel ill (in hind sight). Out of the corner of my eye I saw the bartender fill my glasses partially from half empty pitchers and partially from the tap. Although I didn't think twice about it at the time the more I thought about it the more disgusted I become. Beers tastes unusual at best. Now I feel sick. Where did these pitchers come from and why did i not receive beer straight from the tap? In any event, it felt not right I feel ill. read more

Another great pub from the folks who brought you Monk's and Nodding Head. Great beer selection, quality food, friendly vibe. Try the spicy green beans. People eat them like French fries here...so good. But the real fries are good, too. And the burgers. The Philly 'gastro-pub' scene is a bit richer thanks to Grace. read more

I live closer to Ten Stone, but I walk the extra few steps to Grace. Reese is my favorite bartender. The mixed drinks are great. Stiff and cheap. They do not have frills or redbull, but to make up for they have the most delectable green beans on earth. The toilets are amusing little nooks resembling harry potter's bedroom under the stairs, but they have two which is awesome. The place is great on quiet nights of the week a little crowded on weekends, but what bar isn't? The bartenders are quick to throw out anyone who annoys them or they think might be trouble. The ashtray outside is always catching on fire. The beer selection is awesome. The chairs at the bar are comfy. It's a great bar in my hood and way better than that other place. read more

I've been to Grace's at least 10 times in the past 2-3 years. The service is always great. This place has a lot of history and could really use all of the support. They actually had to shut down for a few months throughout Covid, but have recently reopened. Seating is obviously limited, but it's definitely a place worth checking out. Surprisingly, they were even showing the UFC fights on ESPN last night, so that was pretty cool too. Their beer selection is good and the food is also pretty decent. read more

First time here. We both love the fried codfish!! Fries were good it was added something special like chips flavor?? The fried cauliflower was good the sauce is a little bit strong. Honestly I prefer the one from Cheesecake Factory. The chicken breast sandwich has a oily bottom because of the dressings of the salad but it wasn't greasy. it might be blend for someone else but that's my type. read more

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We randomly stopped by after taking our child for ice cream next door. Decided to get beer and wings. Husband, who's always chill and not easily bothered, came out upset by the bartender's attitude toward him. She was condescending apparently. Also charged $1.60 for a glass of tap water, even though we paid for food and drinks. He went 15 mins later to pick up the food and she told him off and that the wings would need 30 mins. So he went again after 15 mins and nothing was ready. Told to wait a few more minutes. 20 minutes later (50 mins from the time we ordered) I asked for a refund because we wanted to leave. She said it's too late. I said it's too late for an appetizer and I want my money back. She said wait for a min and started serving other customers. Another 5 mins (total 55) the wings came with very minimal sauce, no celery or the ranch we asked for. My husband told her that this is the most subpar dining experience he ever had. Her answer was "ok thank you" without asking why or how to fix it. She absolutely doesn't care about business and it seems that rudeness is her usual behavior when you read reviews on google (sort by the lowest). read more

Service is terrible, five times I've been there either my friend is harassed for his Canadian ID or they wouldn't seat a party of three when two people arrived early. Once I can forgive, twice is annoying, three times in just about over it. Five you're just wasting your time. I was really trying to make this my go to spot. Just go down the street to Devils pocket. Nicer owner and staff and much nicer place with good food. 7/21/18 Went back for another chance and the service was so bad again. The food was ok but the service was just so bad. I'd love for them to improve but it's gotten terrible. read more

I've been here a few times but came back this past weekend after a long time away from the area. Really glad I did. It's everything I'd want in a neighborhood bar, good beer, good food and good people. The lighting is dim but not too dark; it's a cozy spot. I went with a friend on Saturday afternoon and there were a few people in there but it wasn't crowded. The food and beer were good (I got the Italian sausage sandwich and Ace Pear Cider) and the atmosphere was nice. Will be coming back for sure. read more

Grace Tavern - Highly recommended combo - Pubs Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Came here late at night just looking for a no frills, inexpensive dinner and got just what I wanted. Although the service was a bit slow, the food made up for it! I got one of the specials: a black and blue chicken sandwich (blackened chicken with bacon, blue cheese--which I omitted, lettuce, tomato on toasty ciabatta) which came with a side salad. Although the side salad was just spring mix and a way too high oil to vinegar ratio, the sandwich was delicious. The chicken was smoky and tender and the ciabatta was perfectly toasted. My roommate got her go-to Grace burger and it was honestly one of the best burgers I've had...the burger itself was juicy and cooked with tons of flavor. I'd definitely recommend this place if you have a little bit of time and want a reasonably priced dinner with a drink! read more

Grace Tavern - Left: blackened chicken sandwich; right: grace burger - Pubs Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania