I was here for dinner and a drink with my mom and bf. We were seated quickly without calling ahead and the service was great. I ordered a burger with onions, bacon and cheese (5/5 stars) which was easily the best burger I've had in university city. The bread had garlic butter on it and was perfectly toasted. My gin and tonic was also delicious and reasonably priced. The beer list was awesome, as were my moms mini corn dogs (4/5 stars). I felt they might have had a little too much batter, but I'm no corn dog expert either. The vibe was good too, somewhat noisy but laid back and not so noisy that you couldn't hear your companion(s). I'll definitely be coming back for dinner or to watch a game at the bar, it was refreshing to see real people rather than the college students that flood bars nearby. read more

Solid beer room. Their menu includes a beer "style" guide that outlines all of the different styles of beer that they keep on draft. Except, they didn't have the first 3 that I suggested. So I suppose the styles on their menu don't necessarily match to what they have available at any given time. I initially thought it was a beer of the week kind of deal. As in they always had a Belgian pale ale on tap and it got rotated through; they always had a british stout on tap, and so on and so forth. Nope - just a generic beer guide. I thought it had a good atmosphere inside. High tables were scattered throughout and it was easy to catch up with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. Prices were on the higher side but nothing atrocious. I wouldn't be opposed to going here in the future. read more

I stopped in here for some beers one day while visiting Philadelphia, and then found myself back for brunch the very next morning! I feel this place! The interior is classy and relaxed. The alcohol selection is rather impeccable. The prices are fair and the staff treated me wonderfully on both visits. The Local 44 is definitely a spot for beer drinkers. Their rotating beer list is quite tastefully chosen, and priced nicely. However, I was not very impressed with their bloody mary. Its good, but different. I'd say order one and see for yourself if it's up your alley. It's dark. It's hardly red, I'm still wondering what makes it so dark. I definitely tasted a TON of Worcestershire sauce. For a minute, I almost thought I tasted soda in it (?!?). Brunch was delicious. The prices/portions are great. The menu is exciting, and features a nice balance of classics and innovations. Our server was awesome. My lady and I split the fish and grits, roast beef hash, and a side of bacon. All were great, the fish and grits was particularly wonderful. The fish was fresh and perfectly fried, the grits were smooth and creamy. The roast beef hash was tasty, but I have a feeling that the cooks forgot to put the horseradish cream sauce on our plate. I LOVE horseradish, and was sold on this dish because of the sauce, but when it was delivered I had a hard time finding it or even tasting horseradish. Alas, a tasty brunch item. The side of bacon was legit: smokey and thick cut. All-in-all, recommended. read more

Came here for our first Quizzo experience a few weeks ago and had a pretty good time. The host was really funny & outgoing and the bar service was more than acceptable given how packed the place was. Beer selection is obviously great, although I agree with other reviewers that it's annoying as hell to not list the prices with the tap list (especially when they seem to be pretty affordable). Come on now. We ordered popcorn (surprisingly delicious), an eggplant parm sandwich (solid red sauce), and a cuban (a little greasy but really good overall). I wouldn't come here specifically for the food, but it's definitely above average bar food and not crazy expensive (cough, City Tap, cough). All in all, I definitely plan on coming back to Local 44 and would recommend it to people looking for a good beer and a bite in West Philly. read more

3.5 stars. Local 44 seems to have a Janus like personalities. On the weekend, its a jam packed, loud hangout for under and graduate Quakers. It's so loud that it can be hard to hear anything without yelling. And if you are blessed with a table, you are seated so close to other tables that you can hear their conversations quite clearly. Service can be slow due to the waitresses having to wade through the crowds. And its hard to read the beer menu once seated. Off popular hours, ie. a slow Sunday, its a nice warm place where the beer selection is diverse and delicious. The local house burger is pretty tasty. The mixed green salad tastes good, though $7 for grape tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce with vinaigrette does seem a tad pricey for West Philadelphia, I'd avoid this place like the plague on weekend nights and go off hours. Oh yeah, also avoid this place during Quizzo night since it gets ridiculously packed then too. read more

They always have something I really want on the menu. (+ vegan options that make it very gf-accessible.) They are not afraid to have some baseball on the TV. Solid beer selection for a novice like me who just wants to try different things. Just about perfect because it doesn't try to do too much, but ends up transcending itself because of it's simple eloquence. Like the New Order of local bars. read more

Better than average gastropub fare with a better than average beer list. I had a burger with fried onion and "thick-cut" bacon, rare. The burger was still mooing (just the way I like it), and the roll was good, but the bacon was just...meh. Being that it was thick cut it should have been cooked longer so it had that nice crispy texture, instead it was chewy and flavorless. I found myself wanting to sprinkle salt on a bacon cheeseburger, what's wrong with that picture??? The fries were so hot they burned my fingers when I grabbed one, but again, were undercooked. They had no crispy texture to speak of and were very greasy. I did however enjoy more than one pint of the Great Lakes "Eliot Ness" Lager, very tasty beer! read more

As far as bar food/fair goes this place is great. I've been here twice now and gotten different things each time. The food is delicious, tastes fresh, and is much more unique than most bar food while still having some traditional favorites. I love that the menu changes depending on what is in season, and they have a great beer selection on tap that also rotates seasonally. Additionally they have a ton of great vegetarian options for a bar. I'm not vegetarian, but some good friends of mine are and we've gotten veggie options as aps before and they have always been great. Finally the wait staff that I have interacted with both times I have been to Local 44 have been attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. Great little place. read more

Food was good, server was friendly and knowledgeable. We had a group of three and were told we couldn't move two tables together due to limited seating options (although the place was only 50% capacity). Very loud patrons next to us made it difficult to talk to each other at our table. read more

Can you say rotating happy hour specials? I love, love, love the fact that I can try different menu items at different times for happy hour prices. The french fries are seasoned so well that they don't require any dipping sauce. In face, they are best on their own. I recommend the mac and cheese for anyone looking for a tastebud party; it's so cheesy and delicious. For vegetarians, I suggest ordering the seitan nuggets. They are the best meatless nuggets I've had and the dipping sauce they come with pairs perfectly. It's clear that Local 44 took their time and thoughtfully considered what sauce pairings when they created this menu. read more

Good selection of beers, intimate atmosphere perfect for good company. Might be hard to get a table on peak nights but sitting at the bar asking for recommendations from the bartender/owner was definitely pleasurable. She even was able to decrypt our code words for desired beers, serving up tasty selections from our "holiday" and "wheaty" beer requests. I'm impressed and will definitely be back another night soon. read more

I've been here a bunch with friends for late night brew & noms. Great bar food & exceptional beer list. A West Philly fav :)

I love Local 44! It's a reliable neighborhood bar with an incredible selection of beers. Last time I was there I had The Great Pumpkin....it was delicious! The food has been hit or miss. I will never forget the Irish Cheesesteak I had...it was PERFECTION! But the French Toast for brunch didn't do it for me, and the last time I had dinner I asked for the Local 44 Cheesebuger with no pickles...which apparently translates to getting a sad burger with hardly any cheese and no condiments. Astonishing. Still, Local 44 is very cozy and holds a sentimental place in my heart because that's where my boyfriend and I had our first date :). It's a nice place to relax with a beer and watch a game. read more

This place has tons of excellent vegetarian options! Everything I have ordered here has been superb! read more

You wouldn't think it by simply looking at the place, but Local 44 has a very bold menu. They don't settle for the basic pub fare, which is impressive given how little restaurant competition there is in the Spruce Street stretch. They could get by with the standard burger, pasta, fries, and that token cobb salad. Instead, they push themselves to reinvent the bar food wheel. They have some good vegetarian and vegan options, for one thing, and even the burger has a twist: lamb. The lamb burger came highly recommended, but all in all, there were definitely better options on the menu. My mom went with the Roasted Bone Marrow, which was a bold choice and not sure I'd go that route. The Beef on Weck was my dad's choice, and he thought it was decent. The Scallion Hushpuppies were remarkable and the Black Bean Burger looked really good (that would be my choice next time around). The last thing would, of course, be the drink selection. While I didn't try any cocktails or mixed drinks, the generous beer selection is scrawled on a chalkboard on the north end of the long bar. The taps are constantly changing and the selection is the best in West Philly, bar none. Nothing about Local 44 is cheap, but it's certainly nice to have it in the area. This place and Dock Street Brewing are rays of light in an otherwise bleak culinary scene. I'd like to give brunch and quizzo a try, so look for a follow-up review soon. read more

Local 44 is a great place to grab a pint and a sandwich. I swung by last week for dinner with some friends. We were seated in a cozy booth in the corner. They hit one of my pet peeves though- they list the beers without any sort of indication as to what they are. Fortunatly, there were some familliar ones, and it was happy hour so the risk was minimal. They also don't list the prices. I mean that stuff is good to know! I had the veggie ruben for dinner, and it hit the spot! I love that they have vinegar for their crispy fries, and i love the feeling of having a hearty meal- really sinking teeth into something vegetarian that will keep me full for quite some time. It was great! My boyfriend had the wedge salad, and the wings. He seemed happy. Our friend had Beef on Weck and also seemed pleased. Our 4th friend had fresh fries and seitan wings. The seitan wings are inedible! I love this place, I do, but I don't know what they're doing serving that stuff! There are some places that have KILLER seitan wings. These things are rock solid and fairly tasteless. I wouldn't recommend that. Pretty much everything else on the menu is better. read more

Local 44 serves up interesting culinary fare and killer craft brews. I always meet the most interesting people here. All of the waitresses are vaguely attractive hipster chicks, with interesting ink. Though I may look out of place here, I never feel out of place. They have great brews, and though sometimes the food choices are a bit out there, they are always good. I particularly recommend the Mac & Cheese. Don't forget their bottle shop next door! read more

While the vegan and vegetarian options sounded delicious and drew our party of 9 in, the staff was extremely rude. At no point were we told during that hour that all people had to be 21 in order to be served. There website nor phone calls made prior to arrival indicated any of this. read more

Great location. Good food. Love their wings and even the vegan buffalo nuggets. Their burgers and fries (must get the fry sauce!) are also really good. Atmosphere is dark and a little loud but it is a bar so it's expected. I always have good service here. I only took a star away because I think their brunch menu could improve. read more

Pour the maple beinegts glaze on your Korean fried chicken. You'll thank me later. Affordable too

The burger, the beer, the service. All those things were really good on my first visit to Local 44. I live close enough that I should have been going here a lot sooner. I had a Rogue anniversary Imperial IPA which is awesome, Great Divide Titan IPA and my girlfriend enjoyed their cask conditioned selection. I'm definitely going to be bringing my buddies here soon. When I first sat down and looked over the menu I was skeptical of the choices. It is not the most diverse menu, but as my girlfriend quickly stated when our food arrived, "I am pleasantly surprised how good this is." We started with the Cheesy Mac for an appetizer that we destroyed rather quickly and as soon as we finished, our entrees of eggplant parm sandwich with broccoli rabe pesto and a cheeseburger showed up. The burger was AWESOME. Very flavorful overall with a pile of generously salted fries. We couldn't stay too much longer after we ate as I was pretty much ready to fall asleep once I stuffed my face. I'm going back, sooner rather than later. The bartender, who also was our server, was quick with refills and very friendly. Hopefully visit two is just as positive. read more

Specifically came for the seitan Reuben after a recommendation from a friend. It did not disappoint! Loved everything about it - flavor, size & fries were great too. Nice atmosphere, friendly bartender & spoke to the owner for a few. I'll definitely be back. read more

Local 44 - Vegan seitan Reuben. - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Best bet if you're looking for some decent beer, but not food. It's a bar, and they have bar food, but it's pretty forgettable. I literally can't remember what I've eaten. Something in the hot dog family, I think. Maybe wrapped in something? And fries, I guess. The Sunday night Quizzo is excellent, but it's packed now that the word's got out, so if you want to play, get there early with your team so you can get a seat in the dining area. Otherwise you might be banished to the open spot near the bathroom. read more

Randomly wandered in here one day with my boyfriend by accident. It was nicely air conditioned, clean and the staff was very nice. I was pleasantly surprised by the menu - lots of vegan items on it, yay! Had the general tso's tofu, which came with jasmine rice and broccoli rabe. Delicious! Wish there was more tofu, less rice, but what can you do. The broccoli rabe was spiced very well, too. The waitress forgot our appetizer but we overlooked it because we figured we'd probably be stuffed by the time we were done our entrees, which was correct. Still, would have loved to try the brussel sprouts. Maybe next time. read more

This is my local brewpub, but I don't go as often as i might because it is always loud. The food is good--a friend and I really enjoyed the fried Brussels sprouts, and his vegan Reuben sandwich was really fine. I had a lamb-burger, done to perfection at a medium rare, and served with generous fries. Of course we were there for the beer--Great Lakes Lager, Lancaster Milk Stout, and several others. They were so good, but so effective that I lost track after a while. Unfortunately our conversation was difficult because of the ambient noise, though it was early on a Saturday evening. read more

I recently came to Local 44 for drinks and a snack on a weekday. The servers are very knowledgeable about the beers they have and are always ready to provide a recommendation. I gave our server my taste preferences and she recommended an awesome Colsch. My friend is a beer aficionado and he could certainly attest to the expertise of the staff here. We also ordered the Mac and Cheese which was delicious! The serving was sizeable for $11 and easily shared. The atmosphere is really laid back and is a great addition to the row of places on 44th (Honest Tom's, Lil Pop Shop). Their bottle bar right next door was open until midnight which was an added bonus! We stopped by after and were impressed with their selection. If you're in the mood for a laid back evening, definitely check out Local 44! I want to come back for their brunch, which I've heard is really good! read more

It's been a very long time since I've been to eat at Local 44, and the changes to the menu since the last time I visited are great. As always, the appetizers get my hungry mojo going, so we had to start with: Charred Broccolini with Thai peanut sauce, chili oil - so delicious and so very spicy so watch out, but for us it was prefect. Scallion Hushpuppies with Smoked maple mustard - solid, a little doughy sweet, but who can resist the allure of all things fried The man had the Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder, which I did not try although the presentation was certainly beautiful. For my entree I had the Red Beet Burger with white beans, lentils, pickled onions, lettuce, ranch - should added the feta for a dollar, but the burger was seriously solid and delicious. Fries were fine. What made our visit was the service. Our server, Colleen, was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, especially the wine selection. She guided me towards two glasses of white wine that were really off the beaten path that I definitely enjoyed. So cheers to Local 44. I can't wait to get down to South Philly to see what the new Coeur has to offer very soon! read more

My go-to spot in the neighborhood! The cheeseburger, seitan nuggets, and Vietnamese wings are awesome, as is the selection of local drafts that changes regularly. If you come for trivia on Sunday night, be prepared for a packed house. read more

GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD BAR!!!! Awesome beer selection with knowledgeable and attentive bartenters. You gotta try the bacon cheeseburger it was amazing. read more

Burgers are DELICIOUS (ask for a side of their horseradish sauce for dipping). The pork-belly tacos are also pretty unbelieveable. Awesome beer selection. Friendly staff. read more

I've been here three times now and I think my conclusion is that if I were interested in the fifteen kinds of beer they have on tap, I'd like it, but since I'm not, I don't. My wife and I went today for bunch. I got pastrami hash, which was underwhelming, with not much not-very-good pastrami under a pair of sunny-side-up eggs. My wife's burger was quite good, though, large and juicy. I ate her fries, which were excellent. But the service was slow and indifferent. Total bill for two people was $22. The dining room is bright and attractive but very noisy. read more

Great service + amazing vegan-friendly menu. And not that I'm eating it, but I'm fairly certain this is the only place in the city that you can get cheesy blasters! You take a hot dog, stuff it with some jack cheese, fold it in a pizza, you've got cheesy blasters! read more

I like the brunch here. The breakfast special with tofu scramble is my usual choice. Corned beef hash is pretty good too. I don't like their omelet but to be quite frank I don't have specific interest in omelet in general. And they have awesome beer selection. Bartender is great:) The only problem is, they require ID even for brunch without alcohol. This is ridiculous. Other than that it's fine. read more

I think everyone will always like their own neighborhood's non-gastropub-beer-bar the best, but I really do like Local 44 best in the city. My first review still stands as pretty accurate, but I think since Local 44 got their first executive chef last summer, meals have been a lot more consistent. The menu has always been promising smart and quirky options with good variety, but the kitchen has been really delivering with their A-game. All the appetizers I've had this past year have been great, from scallion hushpuppies to the crispy brussel sprouts (!!!) to nutritional yeast popcorn to the grilled caesar salad. Had the sriracha pickled eggs this week and they were so weird and spicy and it was just amazing! Entrees have always been good, but I was really liking the cauliflower mac and cheese and the fried chicken this winter, and we've enjoyed brunch a few times this year, including beer week when I had this crazy toast with mussels on top. I think service is still great, and am confused by reviews that charge that bartenders don't have time to recommend a beer or help you navigate the long and always-mysterious-to-me beer list. That has never been my experience, the regular folks I see working at the bar are always super casual & friendly and even when it gets busy, do stop by to make sure you are doing well and eating something you like. Dining room service can be aloof at times, but can also be friendly & warm -- that is more variable, and I have a slight preference to sit at the bar tables. I've had the same service going with my partner as two weird 20somethings as when my goofy upstate NY parents are in town and we bring them-- I think this also speaks to the lack of pretentiousness. read more

I found this location using Yelp, and was very satisfied. I visited here on Monday at about 245pm. The bartender was very kind and greeted me immediately. I had a pint and the Buffalo Wings. The pint was very good and the Buffalo wings were really delicious. The wings were great quality, with a lot of meat and cooked perfectly, and the Buffalo Sauce was exceptional. There was a dipping sauce that accompanied the wings, but it wasn't really needed. Between the kindness of the bartender and the great quality of the food and drink, I really enjoyed my visit here and will stop in again next time I'm in town. read more

Local 44 - Wings with buffalo sauce - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I came here two times, and each time I cam here to drink the beer. However, the second time I did indeed order some food, and I found the finger food that we got to be pretty acceptable. Not great, but acceptable. The pickled deviled eggs were a pretty nice touch. I would certainly eat more of them. The real reason to come here is for the beer. The last time I was here, they had collaborations with Manayunk and Brewer's Art (both of which were tasty farmhouse ales). They also had Pliny the Elder, which I have never yet seen on tap (maybe it is because I live in New York and just visit Philadelphia (my real home) on occasion... I have seen plenty of other Russian River in the past though). I also had an experimental Victory Moving Parts and the Victory Uncle Teddy's there, and while neither was that good, it was nice to try some of Victory's rarer offerings. The staff seem to know what they are talking about. They are rather attentive. I don't really have much to complain about. I will certainly be back the next time that I am in the area, at least for one beer (maybe, seeing all these reviews, I will avoid the food). read more

yummy food, beer selections, and friarly affordable. I'm marred, but if you have a date or something, it's great to show up and have food and beers, great place for talks, not too quite so your date will be awkward, lol, and not too loud so you will never hair your date. Anyway, go their if you visit west philly. read more

I love local 44 (great happy hour and veg options) but wish they would change up their music a little!! If I hear rapper's delight one more time I'm gonna scream. read more

This is an awesome place for a burger and a beer in West Philly. Their beer least showcases many different styles, which means there is something for everyone. I'm pretty sure the prices for a pint top out around 5 or 6 bucks and you can even order tastes of beers, which is cool because it might be the only way you could make it through the 30+ selections in a sitting. The burgers are WONDERFUL. Mine latest came a perfectly cooked medium-rare with sauteed mushrooms and bleu cheese. It was juicy as hell and embarassing to eat. In other words perfect and the kind of thing you wished you were eating in the privacy of your own home. Fries were a knockout too. Next time out I'm gonna have to try the mini-corn dogs. They looked slammin'. read more

I met up with a new friend at Local 44 on a Sunday night. That is when they were having a quiz night. Quiz nights are a lot of fun if you're participating, but if you're trying to chat, not such a good place. The other thing was there was no A/C and the air was not circulating at all. I left completely drenched in sweat just from sitting at the bar. That said, the bartenders were friendly, the crowd was just my speed (mid to late '20s/early '30s, not preppy, not too hipstery, just right). I would totally go back there when it wasn't so hot. read more