Went with a few friends last night to watch the hockey game and grab some dinner. First off, great Sunday night vibe (crowded with people grabbing a bite and a beer), good prices, and a great menu selection. In terms of service, I think our waitress had a mild case of bipolar -- she went from surly to apologetic to friendly to surly several times over the course of the night. Food was very good, although we went under promise of an Olympic special of Poutine, which they stopped serving! They also ran out of Molson on special -- so much for Olympic spirit! My quesadilla was especially tasty, and my friends who branched out of bar food to scallops and mussels both enjoyed their meals! Amazingly, all I could think about is how a place like this is sorely lacking in my 'hood. Sure, we have Nodding Head and Good Dog, but they're both not conducive to sports watching. Other "sports" bars have terrible food. And although I love Smith's and find the food to be pretty good, their menu lacks...well...selection. Maybe Ansill will change Ladder for the better and actually make that a go-to... Back to New Wave -- a great experience! I look back to going back. read more

New Wave Cafe, where fun goes to die.... It's a nice stand by place. I will go back but am never enthusiastic about it.... I just happen to live about 2 blocks away. They do have good beers on tap. It always seems too crowded for its own good. As of May 4th, they will have been in biz for 25 yrs... They must be doing something right. I guess I liken it too much to a sad sack. That said, they do have great long hots. Their pizza is good some times. It gets better each minute after midnight -post night out. Serving food til 2 is always a plus. Outdoor seating is great for wknd brunches, if you don't mind waiting forever for subpar service. New Wave, your 3 stars are a gift that I can't quite figure out. read more

Decent food, service ok. BEWARE: Mens room door has NO LOCK! Minus 1 star read more

LOVE New Wave! The staff is friendly and courteous. They have excellent service and tons of beer and drink selections. I think I have tried almost every house drink on the menu. The food is good. I wouldn't say it's blow my mind good or anything, but it is good. I like this place because it has a dive bar feel to it and it is far enough off South Street that the prices are more reasonable and there is little to no tourists. This is bar you can feel comfortable in day or night. I haven't tried Quizzo here yet, but I really want to, so if you want to start a team, HIT ME UP! LOL Good food, good beer, good drinks, not too hectic, nice staff, no tourists, mellow and fun. Thumbs up! Oh also, if you want to sit outside and drink you have to order dinner. read more

THIS PLACE ROCKS! I love the food.. the drinks... the bartenders... everything about it! They have realy fun creative food that hits the spot every time... Some of my favs are "Crab guacamole" - I mean WHO DOESN'T want lumps of fresh crabmeat in their guac?? It is delicious! The catfish BLT - YUM! and the lamb tacos with a variety of toppings on the side. If you have never been to "New wave" you are missing out! read more

Ventured here for a birthday dinner a few nights ago! It was my first visit in awhile, but everything I remember it to be! Pub atmosphere with good food, decent beer selection, pool table and lots of TVs in the bar area for the games! Service was fast despite a very busy night. I had the cheesesteak spring rolls which were delicious club sandwich, veggie burger, and chicken fingers were also on our table's tab and no one had any complaints! Love that you can get Tater tots in lieu of fries here, although that seems to be a growing trend! read more

When I walked in, the wings smelled heavenly. So when it came time to order, I had to try the wings, but when I got them, I was majorly disappointed. They tasted kind of slimy and weren't crispy enough. I also tried the chicken italiano sandwich, which was pretty good... it was served with broccoli rabe, roasted garlic, sharp provolone on a long roll. The fries that came with it also weren't crispy enough, and and a thick coat of grease on them. Perhaps their fryer wasn't working that evening. I do however like the ambience of the place and the service was pretty good so I think I'll be back and perhaps give the food another try. read more

Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed with my experience with New Wave Cafe. I called in and ordered a salad to go. When I went to pick up, I was very disappointed in the size of the salad for the price. Not only was the salad way overpriced for what was given, to my surprise, I was also charged $1 because I placed an order to go. I've never heard of an establishment doing this before. Finally, they did not have any plasticware for me to even eat my salad. If you're going to charge me a $1 to take out, at least have utensils for me to take to eat my food. The salad itself was just ok taste wise. I ordered a grilled chicken caesar. I did not care for the Caesar dressing at all. Tasted nothing like a traditional Caesar dressing. I will likely not return here. I can definitely get more bang for my hard earned buck elsewhere. read more

New Wave Cafe - Grilled chicken caesar. $13. Totally not worth the price. - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A good neighborhood spot in Queen Village to catch the game, have a drink, or grab a bite to eat. There are about 10 tables outside to enjoy your meal sidewalk style as well. I really enjoyed this place when I first moved to the area but have taken to walking a bit further to enjoy Royal Tavern. The past couple of times that I've been to New Wave and sat in the dining area inside its been unbelievably loud. I mean, can't hear the person beside you due to the people three tables away, loud. I'm all for loud bars and having a good time but when my tastebuds are sidetracked due to this there's a problem. The last time I was in they had a soft shell crab sandwich which was great, but needed a little more zip from a remoulade or something similar. The fish tacos I had here once were not that great however. The wings are pretty good, the hummus plate is massive, the calamari is fine, and the sandwiches are filling and always pretty good. Again, a good neighborhood spot with an attractive beer list and pretty good service. read more

The food has gone decidedly downhill in the 18 months we've lived around the corner. It was a notch above yer standard bar & grill with some eccentric touches to keep things interesting. But the last two times we went I sensed that the tiny kitchen was being stretched to the limit. Dishes took forever and were delivered lukewarm to the table. The final straw were the mussels - the overly fishy smell should have been a dead giveaway, but we dug in regardless. They were...um, bad. Mealy and just not fresh. Burgers were big, but bland. We will probably not be going back for dinner. To sit at the bar and watch a game, sure. But that's about it. read more

Cool, hip, neighborhood bar with great pub grub and service. My friend who knows I am interested in moving to this neighborhood in the near future, suggested I try this restaurant/bar. So,as I was nearby getting my haircut on South Street, I decided to try it today for lunch. Most people were sitting on the bar side but I wanted to sit at a table. It's decorated with album covers moatly signed from the 70'sand 80's time period. They have a variety of foods, I tried the Chicken Italiano sandwich which was sauteed garlic, spinach, red peppers, chicken and provolone cheese and it comes with side salad or fries. I decided to get salad. Free refills on Diet coke. Waitress was very nice and attentive. I will come back in the near future. read more

New Wave is close to my apartment, so I usually go because it is convenient. Unfortunately, it just doesn't satisfy. The waitstaff is a little off. They aren't mean, just different. The service is always very slow. WARNING: Do not go here if you are starving because you will be dead by the time the food comes. Also, on a recent visit, I noticed the menu changed. I ordered the chicken fingers and french fries. The chicken fingers were over-fried and greasy; the fries were soggy. Chicken fingers and fries are pretty basic menu items, so I was very disappointed and kind of appalled. I will probably end up here again for some reason, but I will proceed with caution and a not-so-empty tummy. read more

Loving this Queen Village spot. Always great service and they always have some great specials to add onto the already awesome menu. Ordered the signature fries which were good , but could have used more crab meat. The beer selection is tremendous. Seems like beer week every week. I definitely suggest you check it out!! read more

I've lived in Philly for 4+ years now and have experienced all the young-pro neighborhoods. That being said, this is by far the best neighborhood bar that I've lived around. Great beer, great tvs, great food, pool table and darts, friendly bartenders, play quizzo on Monday nights, plenty of bar seats, outside seating during the warm months, etc. basically everything you want in a bar. The beer list is great and constantly rotating. The food menu goes a few steps beyond your normal bar food; catfish BLT is a top Sammy choice for me. Don't have a single complaint about this place. Def has that neighborhood vibe, which is something I always enjoy. read more

I love this bar! It's my local haunt, and I throw darts for one of their teams. The brisket sandwich is delicious and so is the spicy cheese that comes with the tater tots. I love that they have tater tots. Only a handful of the places I go to regularly have them on the menu. The drink special during Philly sports games is worth it ($3 Kenzingers at least), and I WISH I could say I love their happy hour, but I can't, because it ends way before I could ever make it there after work (4-6). So hopefully they extend those hours to 7 sometime. It's a great place to watch a game, have dinner, or just drink a bunch of whiskey . read more

BIG fan of New Wave. Simple, yet delicious food--great prices--awesome service. Myself and a few other food loving friends mozied into New Wave one night after having a terrible experience at another [new] local spot. We were relieved to be greeted with a friendly server and were eternally grateful for the prompt service since we were completely famished. Keep up the good work, homies! read more

After a recent event, two handfuls of Yelpers congregated (read: took over) the pool table area. I'm glad, because the space surrounding the bar was pretty congested. While I am fine with standing around in a bar--in fact, prefer a bar to lounge, for example--I don't enjoy doing so in narrow spaces. This isn't The Skinny and we're not in New York, so to such circumstances I say Nay. That said, the staff behind the bar were on top of the high-traffic situation. The place is in good shape, and I had a good time failing at pool. Otherwise, I find the place a little odd. Kitschy, even: Women walking around with complimentary shots and a reindeer hat. Christmas decorations stored under the pool table. Yeah, you bet we found that stuff, New Wave. And we decided to wear it for a while. Because we are Yelpers and we are silly. And what is with the name here? It really makes no sense. read more

Good bar food, but if you leave your keys at 2AM they do not let you in to retrieve them ;( read more

New Wave Cafe - Dogs allowed outside. - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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From what I can tell, New Wave has some hardcore fans. My first visit was the night of their birthday party, which advertised a random hour of open bar. Unfortunately it wasn't during the hour I was there. The service was good- great South Philly vibes from the staff. Good beers, decent prices. What really draws the crowd is the outdoor seating, for sure. read more

New Wave is a great neighborhood bar for Queen Village. I literally signed my lease here. The pool is cheap and often open, as are darts, and there's usually lots of space to hang out. The food isn't very appealing for vegetarians and vegans, but you can get by on hummus. The booze prices are great, and they have a good tap list that changes enough to keep it interesting, but doesn't change obsessively often. It's a great bar for hanging out, and the staff is super nice. The staff doesn't appear to change that often, which I'm a great fan of. I hate going to places and having a different server every week! If I were into sports, this would be my go-to hangout for that as well. And the sidewalk seating in the warmer seasons is really nice! read more

I had heard a lot about this place and probably would have been on my perpetual to-try list until the other evening when my girlfriend and I were redirected here from a failed dining attempt at For Pete's Sake. Their friendly bartender informed me that their kitchen closed at 11pm that evening and kindly directed us here. We were particularly pleased. It was late night on a Tuesday and the bartender was pretty helpful at informing us of their specials and offering up some suggestions. We shared a massive 9oz. burger topped with pork belly, caramelized onions and provolone. It was on special and proved to be quite delicious. All in all, I'll gladly return to this place to check out their other offerings. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere seemed pretty chill & laid back. It also looked like they had a pretty good draft and bottle selection. read more

New Wave Cafe is a great neighborhood bar. We stopped in a couple of weeks ago for a quick bite and a beer, and really enjoyed it. The beer list is great. They have a nice selection of drafts written up on the chalkboard--you know a place has good beer when they use a chalkboard for the beer list, since it changes so much. I was able to get one of my fav pumpkin beers, which is the Elysian Dark Side of the Moon. Extra points for that. They also had a nice bottle selection. For food we split an order of the brussels sprouts and the chicken fingers. Both were tasty, and I would totally come back for a more substantial meal. Service was quick and efficient. read more

The food is so yummy! Try the veggie burger and the goat cheese salad and sling back 4 pumpkin beers and you're good to go. Pup friendly on the patio and the server brought my Pitbull a big bowl of water AND treats. He's also sold on New Wave. The service is great, the owner rules, and it's an all around chill spot to hang for drinks or dinner. read more

This is my boyfriends favorite place, and it has become a favorite of mine as well! Really great place to meet a group of people or for a chill night out. The food for more of like a pub is really good. Everything I have had is great. The catfish sandwich is really outstanding. I also love their fries. Its really fun to go and play pool, darts or watch a game. Overall, a great neighborhood bar. read more

There's not much wrong with New Wave. It has pool tables, a dart board, a decent beer selection (including Chimay Blue in the little bottles) and their food is really good gastro-pub food. I really, really dug the wings which give that little extra kick. The bar is a huge, horseshoe shaped dealie and I believe you can still get relatively low-priced sixpacks to go. I went to their New Years' party last year and it was a blitzy-blast what with the open bar. We were ordering many shots of Powers and Jameson at a time. We even conducted a Powers/Jameson taste test to see who among my bartending friends could distinguish the two. I'm happy to say that I could. The douchebag factor can be pretty high on a weekend night, which is the only thing that keeps the place back. My recommendation: go on a Sunday night with friends and monopolize the pool table. Fun stuff. read more

I think the weather would play a factor. On a rainy night, it was crammed inside. The bar staff was very friendly, but given the games in the back room, there was no place left to chill (all stools occ'd), so you're left in that "I'm in everybody's way" mode. Drinks were good and cheap. The vibe inside was kind of cool, but the Maroon 5/Three Doors Down music playing was kind of a downer. I'd go back, but on another night... where I'm sure this place gets a little cozier, like the neighborhood it's in. read more

The food here is decent. I like the veggie burger or the siracha shrimp, but i's hit or miss. Last time i was there my girlfriend got the tofu tacos which tasted sorta rancid (all you Bizzare Foods fans, think stinky-tofu episode). The buffalo tofu strips are ok, but typically over-cooked. The pizza is basically on a pita, but it's ok and I liked that one of them came with greens on top. Redeeming qualities: close to my house (not that it matters to you); $3 Kenzinger specials during all Phila sports teams' games; and - best of all - across the street from Dmitri's, so you can drink & stay warm while waiting for amazing Greek food. read more

I'm diggin' New Wave like dirt in a garden. Walt Wit on tap. Phillies on the TV. A damn good cheesesteak on the menu. And a dart board on the wall. The Wave has all the details of a great bar with the staff to match. Keep doin' what you do dudes! read more

New Wave is a bar on 3rd and Catherine in Queen Village. It's a pretty laid back bar usually with an older crowd during the nights. The layout of the place is a little tight especially where the bathrooms are located. They have a decent beer selection but New Wave does not include tax on their beer prices like most bars so you end up paying something like $4.32 for a beer and always end up having a bunch of change rather than just $4 or $5 flat which was just something weird that stuck out to me. New Wave also has tv's scattered throughout the bar for sports games, but what makes New Wave a laid back and entertaining bar to hang out in is the room in the back. They have darts and a pool table back there and is a great spot for a small group to play some recreational games and shoot the bull. I have also heard that the food is pretty good at New Wave but haven't personally eaten here yet but am looking forward to trying it out soon. read more

I'm a bit biased towards New Wave since I met my fiance here, but I just met some friends here for dinner/drinks recently. I'll go off of that meal: The beer is fabulous. SO many draughts and bottles- you absolutely will NOT dehydrate at this establishment. The servers are also on-it! Before our pitchers were empty, she was taking our order for the next one. Food came out quick, plates were taken as soon as the last person finished eating... like a fine ballet! I ordered the fish taco appetiser as my dinner, and I have to admit it was very gringo execution. I kinda admit partial fault for that as it was kind of a weird thing to order though. I also really liked that they left us alone to chat and have fun and relax. I didn't feel rushed at all, and as a result I definitely ordered more. I've been here for brunch, dinners, lunch, snacks, waiting for a table at the BYO across the street, and long nights of intense drinking etc. and I've really never had a bad experience. read more

Earnest, dedicated ownership; polite, attentive waitstaff; limited, but quality menu; what more do you want in a neighborhood pub/bar that welcomes regulars and first timers with the same respect and attention? Terrific outside, covid-inspired seating. Great burger. If you're in the 'hood, stop by. read more

So we did go back for a Phillies game. I admit I was drunk when we got there (blame it on half a bottle of wine and grand marnier). Place was full, not crowded. We were able to grab two seats at the bar after a few patrons left (how could they leave during a Phillies game? Especially when the Phils were beating up those lowly Mets). Kensingers were $3. The crowd was semi-lively for game (it was kind of out of hand when we showed up). Will have to try and make it before the game starts at some point soon. read more

Excellent food, okay drinks, average service. Delicious food at a great price point! Everything I've had - the arugula/pear/mushroom salad, goat cheese salad, seared scallops, brussel sprouts - have all been very good. I think part of why I'm such a fan is because the quality of the food is a total surprise judging by the average bar ambience; don't be fooled - this is gastropub quality food! Drinks are okay (have tried a few of their cocktails and just thought "meh"). Service has been really attentive sometimes and super slow at others. read more

New Wave has such excellent customer service and goes above and beyond! New Wave helped host a memorial brunch for my mother's passing from cancer. The owner Sam was so helpful in planning out and hosting the event. He made sure every detail was just right and checked in our group many times. Our group of over thirty people enjoyed delicious food and drinks with excellent service. They helped make the day very special for our family and we are so grateful. Thank you!! read more

This is such a shame because I had such a great experience the first time I came here back in April. Came here Friday night (6/15/18) and by mistake our food order was never put in. No big deal because mistakes happen. Well our burgers were quickly made and then brought out to us. Instead of the juciy burger I had been dreaming about it was a little dry and overly cooked. The side salad had barely any dressing on it so that wasn't worth it either as it was just a spring mix. Fast forward to right now I have been sick with probably food poisoning since Saturday morning. So needless to say I'm never coming back here. I'm so mad I spent money even after the mix-up on our food order. read more

New Wave is about 50 ft from my front door, so it goes far and above being just a neighborhood bar...it's my neighborhood bar. First off, they have a great beer selection, both on tap and in bottles. They have a permanent Strongbow Cider tap, which is fantastic because cider is gluten free! And having a restricted diet can sometimes be a pain when going out to drink. They also have seasonal beers, such as Pumpkin beer for the fall. The food is just standard pub grub. Nothing fancy, but works if you need a bite to eat. The staff is what makes this place. Quick to pour you a drink, laugh at a joke, or yell at the TV during sporting events. Speaking of sporting events, there are Kenzinger specials during all Philadelphia games. If you live in Queen's Village, this place is a must-go. read more

I have to confess that I've only been to New Wave for Sunday brunch, but love it so much that my husband and I make it a point to go at least once a month. The coffee is hot, plentiful, and perfectly brewed, and the staff is friendly, quick, and attentive. The portions are generous but not so large that you feel like a glutton if you finish. My go-to is the morning special but if I'm feeling indulgent, the Nutella waffles are fantastic too. If you order up a mimosa you get the split of champagne to finish at your leisure, which isn't too shabby! You also get to sit outside and people watch on nice days while you sip your coffee and decide on your Sunday plans. All in all, this is a delightful spot for a relaxing breakfast. read more

New Wave has become my go-to place for watching sports games. All in all it's a very solid neighborhood pub. The draft list is impeccable, the food is decent if unspectacular, there are lots of TVs and a pool table, servers are friendly, and there tends to be a pretty good crowd. Also their NFL gameday special of $2.75 for lager pints is about as good as it gets. That said, New Wave is not a hot nightlife destination and the food is just average pub fare, so there's not much reason to go here if you don't live within walking distance. p.s. Weekend brunch here is actually excellent. The fish and grits was to die for, and other things on the menu looked great too. read more

This bar has a nice vibe, decent seating, friendly service. The reason for the 3 stars, well the food. This kitchen uses quality product, our salmon was cooked nicely, many restaurants tend to overcook salmon... Scallops could have used slightly more sear, fresh cut fries great, the crab Mac and cheese was a miss... The general issue with the food is under seasoning... We had to add salt and pepper to everything except the fries, and more than once. The Mac and cheese had a lemon flavor which was off putting for Mac and cheese and also masked the flavor of the lump crab that was added... Also, it's nice that the modern Mac and cheese has new cheese mixtures but all macs should have a good sharp cheddar or else it's just going to be lacking. Overall, it's definitely a step above average pub food but the recipes need to be tweaked, mostly to enhance flavor read more

Nice neighborhood bar. Good food great service. Got to try Crab cake good stuff. House salad dressing excellent.