I have the utmost respect for a place that only takes cash, serves 23oz beers, has an old school juke box (sadly they have replaced said juke box with a new digital one - oh well, the charm remains) and serves a good cheesesteak with a hot pepper or two on the side. It's the type of place I feel comfortable walking into at 4pm or stumbling into at 1am. If you like dark, cozy holes in the wall, then open that red door and stroll on in. read more

Oscar's Tavern is delightfully grimy. When I think of what a bar in Philly was approx 15 years ago, I think of Oscar's Tavern. My tutor partner and I go to a different dive every Monday. I am pushing to go back! It was the perfect blend of chatter, quiet, and character. The fried food looks delicious. I didn't eat it, but was a little regretful that I didn't. The waitress was sincere and delightful. read more

Oh Oscar's. Two of my friends really like Oscar's so I was happy to give it a try. By text I invited another friend to join us and she said, "I was once projectile vomited on at Oscars so no thanks." This should have been a red flag. Firstly I loved the bouncer. Unlike the douchey body-builder jerks that are bouncers at most Center City bars, this was a friendly older guy in a tie dye shirt. The decor is something out of another era--probably literally, it looks like they have not updated anything since 1974, but that is part of what I really liked about this bar. The patrons were mostly too-drunk and in their mid 30s and above. This is probably the least pretentious place I've been to in Center City. Drinks are cheap, things are a little dingy, and you expect to find a bowling alley somewhere inside. It is not flashy and stylish but I love that. It's also not like a lot of places in the Fishtown area that try to recreate the vintage feel of Oscar's. Oscar's is the real deal. On the downside, the waitress was incredibly rude. We waited at a booth for quite some time and no one came to serve us so my friends went to buy drinks at the bar. The waitress finally appeared out of nowhere and said that the booth was "waitress service only." Me and our other friend had not yet gotten a drink so I walked over to her to ask if she would be coming to our table or if I should go to the bar. She rudely kept walking away from me as I tried to politely ask her. She acted as if I was not even there. After a long wait she did come and serve us but I was not at all happy with the way she treated me. read more

Oscar's is home to the best mozzarella sticks in the city, and the only place I know where you can get a beer as tall as your forearm for $3. The owner is awesome and so is his wife, Angel. The crowd tends to be more diverse than the crowd in many other center city bars, which is a good thing. The food is fine for bar food (except for the mozz sticks -- have I mentioned how much I love them?), and the drinks are cheap. It's the perfect place to unwind after work on a Friday, and to me, the most enjoyable dive bar in Philly. read more

I really love this bar. The perfect pre-gamer. You don't go to this bar for a great beer selection, although they've been getting a few craft beers in more. You go here to have a huge glass of cheap crappy beer, some onion rings, and watch all the interesting characters around you. Always a welcoming place. read more

Cash Only, Great Juke, cheap beers, good sandwiches= Great Dive Bar. On a great street this is the "I dont feel like going out but I feel like just hanging out" kinda bar. Do yourself a favor and grab a beer and their cheeseteak and just hang.... read more

Oscar's is my favorite bar in Center City, hands down. The staff is friendly and the drinks are cheap.

It's been a while since we've been to Oscars but it was just as great as when we left it. Popped in after the mummers parade on new years day to watch some college football and enjoy the jukebox. Had a great time! Stayed later than planned too...it's just tough to leave such a nice time! Wish we had an Oscars in our town! read more

A complete dive bar, not very spacious at all. The bartender Bill is a dick and cannot make a mixed drink to save his life. I complained about one and he said , well that's the way I make it. I would not recommend really hanging out here unless you just want a cheap beer. The yuengling price is excellent. The cheese steaks are just okay, but a little too messy because mine fell apart in my hand. (still filling however if you dont care about quality) read more

Cheap stiff drinks and dinghy decor make for an interesting time. Waitress was drunk... that was somewhat entertaining.

I really used to love this place. So many good memories were made here, and then last night happened. I have never had such poor service before. Our waitress was so offensively rude, we walked out completely disgusted. We even mentioned to other staff working how horrible we were treated, and they could care less. I will never return to this establishment, and I will make sure no one I know will spend their hard earned money here either. No one should ever feel as disrespected as my friends and I did, especially after having such a great night before we walked through the door. read more

I work right by this gem and feel so lucky. Big ass beers for dirt cheap. Might not be craft beers, but $3.25 for a 23 oz. Beer is something I can get behind. Serves fried food until it's time for me to smoke inside. Another thing I can get behind. The staff is discerning, meaning if you suck, they let you know it. I try not to suck, so they are alright by me. Perfect place to get drunk for cheap and get left alone. read more

I hate the term "dive bar" this is a great old time bar that has really cheap beers in huge glasses and very friendly waitresses. Some people don't like the old time feel of the place, but if you want a value and quick cheap drink try this place. read more

If I could give less than a star, I would. I brought a family member who was visiting Philly for the first time and a friend here (on the recommendation of the friend, who used to live in Center City and had very fond memories of Oscar's). What we got was the worst service provided by the rudest waitress ever. We got up and left without ordering anything simply based on her attitude. As if I would want someone like that handling my food! There is no way I would give one cent of my hard earned money to this establishment. Beware, Philadelphia--this place is giving the city a bad name. Stay away if you don't want your evening ruined! read more

Wasn't feeling well but we really wanted to go. Saw on an old online menu that they have pierogies so I called just to make sure- was the only thing I could really stomach at the time. A woman picked up already sounding very annoyed. When I asked her about the menu- if the one I found was outdated and if they had pierogies she, in a super rude tone, said "um...we are way too busy to be answering questions like that" then just hung up on me! I tried calling back but my call just rang unanswered until I gave up. Needless to say we went elsewhere. I can't believe someone could be so mean- great service guys. read more

Oscar's rules. I love cheap beer...and the ambiance cannot be beat. :)

I ALWAYS have the best times here. A little dive bar on Sansom has cheap beer and a no frills environment. I went there a couple of years ago and met this guy who kept telling my friend and I to come with him to Bristol (not in a creepy way, but in a fun way). We politely declined, and he said that cousin Earl would be upset and that he is going to tell mama over Sunday dinner. He told us not to be late. I won't. read more

Every time I order the giant sized Long Island Iced Tea, I end the night crying somehow. Look out for the slanted slippy chair, it's in the middle of the bar seats. read more

Oscar's is the quintessential downtown dive bar. It looks like a dump and they got the cheap beer, the greasy bar food and a decent jukebox. The staff aren't fake nice but they aren't mean either. You can still smoke inside too! If you happen to be in the Rittenhosue area on a Saturday night, Oscar's is perfect for getting away from the herds of rich suckers making their way from one corny over-priced cocktail lounge to another. read more

I've been frequenting Oscar's for quite some time now and it never disappoints. Although I was very sad when the 22oz pints went from $2.75 to $3.25 I embraced the change. I recommend getting the long island here. By far the most potent drink in Philadelphia! read more

Good ol Oscars, what can't you do here? Cheap massive beers, eclectic crowd. Great as a full nighter, quick drink, late night food spot. The versatility here ends at formal night out though. Unless you like cheap bar food as a formal night, who am I to judge? read more

How is it that I have lived here for over 1.5 decades and have not been to Oscar's?! Disappointment in myself aside, I luuurrrrved this place. A and I went last night on a total whim. I was just going to get a beer but then when I looked at their awesomely priced snack menu, I was all about nachos and cheese fries. And like while these were not the best notchers in the city, they were pretty damn good for $4.50. But the fries. OMG. They were like double fried or something which made them extra crispy. And they sat in a pool of super hot melted cheese. The waitress was as sweet as a pitcher of southern tea and the vibe excellent until what seemed to be the entire Wharton School of Business all decked out in suits and fancy dresses (?) descended into the bar out of nowhere. Aside from that, LOVE. read more

I will give it 4 stars even though i just walked in , looked around and left. Reason I left, it was very local and I was looking for something different. Looking around it seemed like a great dive bar for a group of 3 or 6, it seemed like a great place to get sloppy drunk. divey perfect. I would go back, but I would bring a few friends too. read more

I tore up the cheap cheesesteaks while sitting in a both that had holes in it. Good times.

Cash only! Very cheap beer and decent service for a dive bar. Tall Yuengling draft is the real pick. You can always get a booth or table and the atmosphere is fun with lots of different types of people. read more

Great cheese steak! We loved the cheese fries too! Great bartender Joe! Reall highly recommended!

Awesome dive bar in center city. Emphasis on dive. Cheap drinks and decent french fries, its a great place to start the evening.

A place that appears to not have changed in 50 years. It's not pretending to be anything other than it is: a spot for a bite and a drink at reasonable prices. read more

Love that a place as cool as Oscar's still exists in Center CIty. this is a real bar, been going here for years. Staff is awesome minus the miserable blonde server. Get the Cheesesteak or burgers, great stuff on the grill. I like that it's cash only too, this place keeps it real. read more

came here to hide and it did the job ! prices were low and the bartender was friendly. nice little dive bar

If you need to drink in Center City (I generally prefer not to) this is one of the best. Dirty, dingy, cheap and dirty. And cheap. I have to say that sometimes the beer lines aren't clean. Sometimes there is shady ish going on. Sometimes it's the best place you have been in a while. A welcome breath of fresh air in an area where the bars often lack soul. read more

Chill ass dive bar. Great to hang out with friends and have drinks.

I came here specifically for the cheesesteaks. For around $6-$7 they were a good price. It was also more than I expected because they give you an extra half after 5pm. The steak itself was tasty and I liked how thinly cut it was. However I found the bread to be a bit too doughy and dry. It also needed more cheese. They have cheap beers and a good variety on the menu though so I wouldn't mind going back. read more

Definition of a great dive bar. It smells weird, is a little outdated, and has the strangest mix of people. The bartenders are nice enough. The drinks are mad cheap (3.25 for 22oz) and the food specials are great. Cash only. I hear on Wednesdays they have Swag Night and that its pretty cool, but I've yet to go. Definitely on the to-do list. read more

Can't believe I have never reviewed Oscar's, my favorite go-to dive bar. It's everything you want in a dive: greasy food, huge cheap beers, low-key environment, and a juke box up for grabs. I like the clientele at this bar, and I like that I never have to spend more than $10 here. They also have a cheesesteak and a half special here, which I'm pretty sure nobody else does. Check it out, but also keep it on the downlow, so that when I come here, I can easily find a seat! read more

What a bar should be,but, be forewarned that they carded at the door during my last visit. Apparently it's common practice now for Thursday-Saturday. Had to venture back to South Philly & drink elsewhere. read more

It's a dive bar, and it's what you want -- cheap, dark, cheap, friendly-tho-weathered servers, cheap, you may or may not get assaulted in the bathroom, cheap, every kinda fried pub-grub you'd want (and cheap), a TV with Phillies/Sixers/Flyers on it, and cheap. Definitely gets real busy here on Fri and Sat nights especially, but during most weeknight happy hours, too. read more

Although it's been some time since I was last there, I have many fond memories of Oscar's. The aroma of grease and fried food hits you immediately as you enter by the cooking station located by the front door. Narrow and long, the setup is a little difficult to navigate when the crowds fill the place. The prices on tall beers can't be beat, and this place has two things going for it that any good tavern should: the lighting is dim and the jukebox offers an excellent selection of music to match your drinking mood. A very worthwhile stop for beer and bar fare. read more

This is a little hole in the wall that we found when wandering out of the Christmas Village, bellys full of Brats and in need of a beer. Everyone was super friendly, the bartender especially, and eclectic gal with tons of charm! We had a ton of fun. Prices were cheap, and we weren't shunned for not being local regulars. read more

After our groups outing in the city for the holiday events we stopped in at Oscar's on the way to the high speed line. A long and narrow place was pretty busy. We found a few small tables together since the bar was full. Bar maid immediately came over to ask what we needed. Ordered up a few beers to kill some time. I felt a little cramped and it was very warm, but it fulfilled a need at the right time. read more