This is my least favorite place in Philadelphia. Three chances, mediocre food, always awful service.

DO NOT USE THIS VENUE/BAR. My husband and I used Strange Love for our wedding meet and greet and it was a complete and utter mess. First, their AC broke and the room was 100 degrees, stunk of mold and beer and was missing part of their wall where they "investigated" the issue... things happen but when this happens four days before your event you would hope they would let you know. Not one word until we showed up with a 100 person party. Second, while we all drank the heat away they "served" us food. "Served" meaning they didn't let anyone know and put it out 20 minutes before the open bar (2 hours) ended. By that time, I had left along with half the party because of the heat. I was extremely disappointed by the venue and management. Family and friends traveled near and far to celebrate an extremely important event and strange love took that away. I called following the event and worked with a "new" manager because the other was fired. They gave me hope they would make this right and reimburse at least the food which was untouched. Well.. after two months of being told they'd get back to me and sending all the information asked for, I've officially given up. I will NEVER return or recommend Strange Love. Go elsewhere, there are many great bars in the city that are reliable and organized. Keywords: Event, service & management read more

The atmosphere and vibe is laid back. It's dimly lit, which makes it a good date place, especially if you're a bit nervous. Vegan options to the whole crew can eat there. Unpretentious but not simple. read more

My bf and I were in the area Saturday night and decided we wanted to give this place a try because it had great Yelp reviews. We walked in and no one acknowledged us so we decided to just sit down at an empty table, about 15min passed and no one even bothered taking our order or even approach us. The place was not full and the waiter did see us. We eventually decided to just leave and not waste our time. read more

I was very pleased with my time at Strangelove's. The ambiance was great as well as the food. All of the servers were very nice and attentive and made sure my food came out in a reasonable time. read more

Dive bar that doesn't have table service. You go up to the bar to order. The drinks are ok and the food just ok as well. The staff was really nice! read more

Expensive for mediocre food. Ordered eggplant, carbonara, gnocchi and several appetizers. Food was OK but definitely not worth the price. The service wasn't the greatest either. So busy on a week night that I could barely get the server's attention. I wouldn't recommend. read more

The extra star is really because they used to be so great...and hopefully they'll get there again in the future? Came here for dine in yesterday for late lunch on taco Tuesday. Quite a list of beers, which is great and what we've always like them for. Lots of the food options seem to have changed. We split the avocado fries as an app. Very crispy, so that was good. Hard to find the avocado inside...certainly not enough to taste. Sauce was passable. Whole thing was quite greasy and just salty. For my main dish I had the Rainbow sandwich. 15$ and all I got were not house made fries, a nice enough bun fill with a minimal amount of roasted peppers, shredded lettuce, and some goat cheese. Very disappointing and not filling at all. And a ridiculous price for what you get. My friend had the loaded nachos and the quality was woeful. They were just regular nacho chips you'd get at an affiliate hockey arena with some sad cheese on them. Also may or may not have been a piece of moldy bread we found inside...why was there bread in the nachos? Why was it moldy? Best not to ask... Server was super nice. Service was quick. They have lots of cool things coming up like quizzo and hopefully live music. Taco Tuesday is a nice idea but the menu was uninspired and the margs we got were OK. Why is there a menu for 6$ shots at 1PM in the afternoon? Really wanted to like this place as much as I used to, but it just wasn't good. Food was very disappointing. Maybe come for happy hour? Maybe come back if they change their menu later? read more

Excellent food, was not disappointed at all except the service could of been better, but it was just a bartender and we were at a table. Go for the food, and e electric crowd, not for service read more

Bottom Line: NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL. THE CURE. THE SMITHS. Plus a large craft beer selection and good food. Oddly, tonight, the music was a little croon-y and depressing, but generally Nick's and Adam's playlists really make the place stand out. Have had most of the menu (really good buff chicken sandwich) and love that they have so many veggie/vegan options, too. Just go. You'll like it and you'll be singing along... read more

I had high hopes and was very disappointed. To start of the burger came with a plastic wrapper, not something I would normally expect with a meal. The food was ok, but at the price point I felt that Burger King does a better job. The Caesar salad was salad with no Caesar. I would set your bar low for the kitchen and know that it's hard to screw up beer on draft. read more

The service was pretty awful and the food was mid, the vibe was okay but I'm no entirely sure if that makes up for it or not

Cute little pub, friendly staff, great selection of delicious beers (try the chocolate stout!). The fried Brussel sprouts were delicious! . Will definitely go back! read more

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Shotslmao!!! identity crisis set to a PopRap™ soundtrack. Asking $15 for airport-quality burger/fries in Center City is almost admirable in its sheer ballsy egregiousness. read more

Stopped in to Strangelove's while vacationing in Philly. The bar is very cute and well decorated. I had a draft beer (great list!) and a spicy marg. They make their own habanero infused tequila and it was fantastic. The bartender Kelsey was knowledgeable and so kind. I really enjoyed chatting with her and will be back next time I am on the East Coast. read more

Lipstick covered shot glasses and not enough food for the amount charged. the 6 dollar shots are appealing in concept but barely have any alcohol. Not worth it. read more

This review is for Happy Hour only (5-7pm on weekdays)! I recently took some out-of-town friends to this place and felt the need to give this place some more (strange)love - this is a great spot for happy hour! After failing to find a good Happy Hour with ample seating available on a Friday night, we were overjoyed to circle to Strangelove, which was well-occupied but not overcrowded and no wait! They have a decent selection of local brews on tap that are $4 during HH - we took advantage of this and happily had several glassfuls. For HH nibbles, I recommend the catfish bites - 4 pieces of perfectly fried catfish and a special tartar sauce. We didn't care for the mushroom ball things or chicken taquitos as much. Solid choice for happy hour, especially if you're looking to sit down and engage in conversations. They have an upstairs and service is consistently attentive on both levels. Would've been a 5-star had the half-priced bites been all as good as the fried catfish. read more

Clean. Your. Your. Tap. Lines. Or just serve bottles. Seriously. And be kind, being seriously hard to ppl at the start of the day? Ok..... read more

My friend/colleague Cara and I enjoyed a leisurely lunch at Strangelove's this week. We arrived past the usual lunch hour and there were just a few people eating at the bar. The bartender, Jill, took care of us at a nearby table. We started with a glass of vinho verde which was slightly effervescent and went very well with the delicious pimento cheese we ordered. Next up was a round of gazpacho, which came in an enormous bowl. We both did not finish since we had salads on the way. My arugula salad was dressed in a tangy vinaigrette with a handful of grilled shrimp and pickled veggies. It was light but high on taste; I'd order it again. Looking forward to returning for dinner! read more

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I liked Strangelove's enough to bail on my planned dinner at another restaurant while I was in town. I was completely charmed by the cozy interior, with exposed brick, interesting artwork, and friendly bartenders. A really nice, if perhaps a little pricey, beer menu with lots of good options. It's a good thing they mention the alcohol content in each beer, because there were lots of heavy hitters on the menu. I read through half a book sitting here, met some interesting people, and made love to the menu with my eyes. They have SO many yummy looking things, with plenty of really good veggie and vegan options. The bartender was also kind enough to let me charge my dying electronic device. Whatta guy! If I lived in town, this is definitely where my paycheck would be going! read more

Strangelove's - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

After few visits, it turns out that there's nothing strange about patrons love for Strangelove's. It's a beer-centric bar, of course, with about 20 drafts on tap. There's something for every taste. Couple of weeks ago, I had one of their specials. Portobello sandwich and it was anything-but-basic sandwich, very meaty, and inspired. The service, is always on point, and prices can be on the higher side but its worth the tasty food. Tips... tips... tips: - Remember, there's always happy hour. They are fun and inexpensive. Weekdays 5:00pm-7:00pm. $4 select drafts & house wines, and $5 well drinks. Sundays:3:00pm-5:00pm. - Weekdays lunch 11:30-4pm: 10% off lunch bill to all Jefferson staff and students. - Be prepared to wait for a table on weekends. So be patient. - Street (meter) parking are available, if founded. However, there's a parking garage just across the street. Four solid Yelps. read more

Strangelove's - Portobello sandwich - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I will never go back to Strangelove's. The food was ok, but the service was terrible. The bald male bartender (Matt C.) is the worst service professional I have ever dealt with, and that includes fast food. He was rude, inattentive, and sexist. The female bartender tried to make up for his attitude with good service, but he was rude to her as well. She's the only reason Strangelove's gets 2 stars instead of 1. I had a photo of the bartender on here, but Strangelove's had it removed. read more

Being a fan of Leigh Maida, Brendan Hartranft and Brendan Kelly's other bars like Local 44 and Resurrection Ale House; I was ready to give Strangelove's a try from the moment that I first read about it on Foobooz. Especially since it was taking over a location that I wanted to see succeed on 3 other separate occasions, and heard that it was going to be a beer lovers paradise that hooked up some creole inspired cuisine. And after trying it to cap off a successful First Friday, I'm happy to see that it was all I was hoping for and more. Since I've been to Doc Watson's back in the day I knew that it was a huge establishment, and initially couldn't fathom how well it would work for just a bar & restaurant establishment when the other 2 spots moved in. But considering this crews track record of adding an impressive beer garden to Memphis Taproom, and an abundantly stocked bottleshop to Local 44; I figured it would add up to being little challenge for them. And Strangelove's is definitely a double feature with its chill barroom and plush seating downstairs, and ample dining space upstairs. Given the track records of the other bars behind the team I expected Strangelove's to be worthy of the Beer Haven title. But I didn't expect to arrive on a night where they had a special Hitachino (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/697/2013) tap takeover that featured a couple select brews that have only been tapped on at least 2 other occasions. That was one of the many things that I learned when talking with Ryan P., our knowledgeable server who was able to walk us through the many distinct characteristics of our beer selections. And if you add in the selection of drafts that weren't Hitachino that evening, and the widespread assortment of bottles, and you have a plentiful selection to go through. With many creole inspired dishes like duck and sausage gumbo, shrimp or catfish po'boys, and shrimp etoufee; pub standbys like a solid burger and salad offerings, and noteworthy things like smoked potato perogies and crispy conch & grits fritters; it was a pretty hard yet tempting menu to choose from. But I decided to go with my standby mussels that I use to test a new establishment; And it delivered a healthy mix of blackened andouille sausage and crawfish butter in a beer broth. I also ordered a side of fried okra in cornmeal batter that was pretty damn amazing. Add in things like a good rotating cheese platter and some decadent sounding desserts, and a satisfactory lineup of events scheduled for Beer Week; and there's plenty to have me coming back for more. read more

Was able to visit Strangelove's for their Grand Opening tonight. First, a caveat that I was on crutches. I had just learned that morning that I had torn my ACL and meniscus and would need surgery in a few weeks. I mention this only because the service was super friendly, but I worry that the servers were so nice only because I was disabled! The tap list for the opening was unbelievable. I was able to have Dogfish Head Bitches Brew from 2010 on draft. Also tried Nebraska Brewing Melange a Trois which was delicious. They had a great mix of American IPAs, stouts, etc. along with a couple Belgians and a German helles. For the opening they had free samples off the menu. I hope the free-ness of the food does not color my opinion here too much but the food I was able to try was delicious. I was able to try the wings, which were some of the best I've had in memory. The sauce was good, but the meat was the standout as it was fall-off-the-bone tender and sprinkled with real blue cheese. Also tried a bit of the grilled ham and cheese that comes with truffled honey bacon. It was really tasty. Finally, got to taste the goat cheese and mushroom flautas. I'm not a big mushroom fan but the goat cheese reigned supreme and the flavor here was also outstanding. The opening began to get insanely crowded and me and my friend needed to get a full meal so we had to evacuate after a bit. But, it was a great sneak peak into things to come. I was very excited to try the newest pub from the Local 44/Resurrection Alehouse/Memphis Taproom crew. With the success of these places and based on my brief first experience, I'm betting they'll do much better than the other recent residents of the old Doc Watson's space (Blue Bear Tavern/The Boilermaker/The Butcher & The Brewer). I definitely plan to be back. read more

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Strangelove's kale salad is the BIGGEST salad I have ever been served. Kale, edamame beans, farro, beets, pecans, vegan dressing. It could have served three people as an appetizer. I got one dinner and one lunch out of it. Very impressive at $10. Very delicious also. Happy hour drafts are $4. Service is swell. You'd never believe this place used to be the Butcher and Brewer. Long gone are the candles and dim lit dining. I hope Strangelove's is here to stay... read more

Strangelove's - Kale salad. Massive!! - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I really wanted to like this place, but we ordered three different beers, all of which were flat. The wings and other happy hour food seemed microwaved as well. Very disappointing. read more

This isn't the same place it used to be. $18 for a burger that you can't order to temperature is airport-league.

'Rents were in town and I was tasked with taking them for brunch near their hotel which was right next to Market East. I asked friends for suggestions, had a list of places, checked out distances and Yelp reviews... and off we went to Strangelove's! I always like trying new places that seem a bit funky, my stepmom is vegetarian, and my dad is the legit pickiest person on the planet. Not only did Strangelove's have something for all of us, but it was absolutely delicious, service was great, and the place itself was charming and different. I had the shrimp and grits, my stepmom had the cucumber soup and pretzel bites, and my dad had the old timer breakfast. My shrimp and grits were cooked perfectly and super creamy! I tried the cucumber soup and it was so fresh and refreshing, and the mustards for the pretzel bites were divine (sumac one was my fave). The servers/bartenders were great to talk to and joke with. We didn't have any alchy drinks, but the beer list was impressive! Overall, wonderful experience! My dad was a giant fan of the music playlist that was on ... and points for the picture in the bathroom of the sheep wearing a Santa hat :) read more

Great environment and friendly staff. Anywhere with a Dr. Strangelove theme, outside a nuclear silo, calls to me. Management was also very accommodating for a party I was arranging through work. They have a second level with its own bar that's perfect for private events. Looking forward to coming back. read more

A friend recommended this venue for a bridal shower and boy am I glad she did. From start to finish the event planner Morgan was helpful and very responsive. Although she was not there the day of the event, Andy the bartender was helpful and made the event flawless. We were able to use the upstairs floor and had plenty of space for 20+ people. All our guests were surprised how good the food was! After calling a dozen or more places in the city, Strangeloves could not be beat, as they say most bang for your buck. Parking in this area can be tough, but I parked at Hamilton Garage right across the street, $12 all day parking on a Saturday. read more

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My Strangelove's experiences have just been for happy hour but I'm sold. Not only do they have a regular weekday happy hour, they have Sunday happy hour specials too. I really liked that it wasn't limited to the bar area only. On my most recent visit, my group of four sat at a table upstairs. Everything was $4 including a nice list of craft beers. I opted for the Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. There were also several appetizers for $4 as well. My group split a few orders of the chicken taquitos and cat fish bites. Both snacks were definitely tasty but not the type of appetizers to have if you are super hungry. The service was fine. Our server was friendly and attentive but there was nothing noteworthy otherwise. There was something familiar and nice about Strangelove's. Maybe because it used to be Doc Watson's or maybe it just has a nice atmosphere of its own. Whatever it is, I have a new happy hour spot when I'm in that part of town. read more

Strangelove's - Catfish bites - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Decent beer and the menu looked appealing. We ordered some boiled chili peanuts, worst nuts I've had in my mouth. They were not poorly done or poorly flavored, we just weren't fans of soft warm nuts. We realized that dry crunchy nuts are preferred. read more

Strangelove's - Boiled nuts - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Hmm. A strange place. It's trying to be hipster but everyone on the night I went was suited up, fresh from work. The menu is eclectic to say the least. A mash-up of Cajun, French, and Texas influences. Po' boys, vegan chorizo, pork belly. I had the po' boy which was delicious and for $11 was big enough for lunch the next day too. For an app, we had the popcorn which was good but strange-chili, cheese, and butter over top which made each bit interesting. I was also happy to see the wine selection since I'm not into beer. They do have a fairly decent wine list-about 10 wines you could get by the glass. Would love to see some original cocktails from this place though. I'll def be back for the happy hour specials. read more

Following my initial review of this place, I've visited quite a few more times without a subpar experience (or beer, for that matter). Ultimately, a recent group dinner here with a large, raucous party bearing mixed dietary needs and preferences merited a fifth star. Our server did not make any errors despite our huge order, and acted rather attentively despite our nigh-constant distraction. Furthermore, most diners enjoyed their meals to a significant extent, and the only miss out of the many dishes tasted that evening was a fairly pedestrian chicken sandwich. Still the copious amount of reasonably portioned, tasty Southern inspired grub (they seem to have upped the plate sizes, mitigating my prior gripe) more than made up for that small miss. The vegan tostadas are as deceptively meaty as ever, the mussels still intensely seafood-y, the burger killer, and the po-boys on point. Whether for a few brews or a full meal, Strangelove's does the job well; it will remain my favorite neighborhood spot for quite some time. read more

I headed to Strangelove's for dinner before a show at The Forrest Theatre and it ended up being a great choice. The close proximately to the theater and friendly accommodating staff made eating and getting to the show a breeze. You can get happy hour specials at a table which was a major bonus since most place only let you get them in the "bar area". Any beers on draft that at $6 are $4 during happy hour and they had an awesome draft list you have a lot of options. The food was great. I was a little wary about ordering the Tofu Saag since I really like the Paneer part of Saag Paneer but a friend did and share a bit it was delicious, part of me wish I ordered it but my choice was great as well. I went with the veggie burger it had a nice kick to it so if you're not a spicy fan you might want to pass on this one. The portion sizes were decent and price average. I'd totally stop by again especially if I am on my way to a show in the area. read more

Kat was amazing had a great time! Best bar tender definitely would come come back. Visiting from LA and no bar tender can compare she made our time in philly great! She makes the best shots too! 10/10 recommend read more

Strangelove's - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great restaurant! We had a large group come to Strangelove's with no notice after our other plans didn't work out and they handled it fantastically. The food was hot and delicious, cool vibes, and nice staff. Brittney was great at managing the tables. Would definitely recommend! read more

We took my vegan sister in law here who was visiting from out of town for her birthday. I made a reservation and we were able to pick a sweet four top in the back near the kitchen. There was a larger party seated upstairs. I had been once before but had no idea how large this place is. Overall the food was delicious. We split the cauliflower, brussel sprouts and the kielbasa corn dogs (my fave). They had $5 wine specials on a Saturday (wow!) but then after we ordered they were out . My heart sank when I saw my sis put her veggie patty to the side and eat her veggies on the bun. She said she didn't mind. I tried a bite and it was so bland, like not even salt. You need lots of flavor with that vegan cuisine. Our server, LT seemed concerned and we both explained it just wasn't very good. I caught a view of her in the kitchen, in my mind she was giving the chefs a verbal lashing. The unseasoned veggie burger came off of the bill which was a relief. My sister in law was happy to be able to order a vegan brownie for dessert. Food is great with exception of the veggie burger which, it is awesome that they make it-perhaps it was just a dud that day. The service was friendly, attentive and efficient! read more

Great food and beer selection. But NOT A SPORTS BAR like it once was if thats what you're looking for.

Casual but also clean/polished-looking place. It's pretty small, but there's a second floor. This might sound weird but I liked the wall booth seats, which felt quite spacious. I didn't try the food, but they seemed pretty good. I tried a french fry, which was good, and one friend said his pork sandwich was probably the best he's ever had. My biggest complaint is the beer list. I am a stout person - there's only one stout (and it's not good) on the list, while all the rest are pale ales/IPAs or cocktails. Cocktails were pretty good (tasted a bit watery though), but the long island iced tea was excellent. Very friendly server, and she's very knowledge about drinks. Wish I could like the bar more, but nothing about it really stood out to me. I had a great time there, but I know I would've had a great time at any other bar too. If only Strangelove's beer list were more delectable to me! read more