Personally a cafe-only visitor here. Have done coffee, lunches, late evening teas, and everything in between over the past few years. For a place that tries to split both restaurant, cafe, and even board game restaurant, they do all of it fairly well. Cafe downstairs serves pretty good coffee, and usually has a seat available. There are definitely moments, such as weekend afternoons, when you should be prepared to packed in while working, but otherwise, this is usually a pleasant working environment. On the whole, they've got frequent visitor rewards and stamp card benefits, so if you make a habit out of visiting, you may eventually be rewarded for it with some kind of free drink or otherwise. Wi-fi is solid, and there are plenty of outlets to go around if you get a seat along the windows. Nice thing about this place too is that they're open pretty late for U-City, although they've got competition with all the Yemeni coffee shops popping up. read more

The Board and Brew - Interior. - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Had a problem where I ordered downstairs and they wouldn't let me bring it up but overall I think it's a good spot. Not the biggest fan of these paid gaming places but this might be the best I've gone to so far -- Stayed a while and I think they undercharged our group so appreciate the affordability and understanding, not trying to MEV. read more

I come here nearly every day for drinks/bfast foods. They have a punch card for every 10th coffee. Syrups made in-house and service is always 100%. Love it here and will always come here for a treat. They have good seating up and downstairs and board games. Nice windows for good lighting to get work done. read more

It's rare for me to be anywhere near Drexel University, but I was in the area for a concert last night and decided to stop in to The Board & Brew for dinner. I made a reservation but my friend and I were running behind so I called to ask for a 10 minute grace period. The host who answered the phone gladly accommodated. When we arrived, we were seated immediately upstairs. The restaurant is huge and there's also covered/shaded outdoor seating upstairs. I was shocked by the amount of board games available. The menu had several vegetarian options but the miso marinated tofu sandwich was calling my name. It was a delicious combination of sweet and savory tofu mixed with greens on soft bread. Fries were super crispy. The Spicy Watermelon Margarita was tasty! I loved the tanginess of the watermelon and the spice was just right. If you come here, you MUST get the carrot cake! It was phenomenal. Our waitress mentioned that the owner makes the desserts at his home in Maryland and brings them to the restaurant. That's true dedication - and he is clearly a master at baking. Board & Brew was exactly what we needed before a long, hectic night at a concert venue. We enjoyed it very much and will be back for more! read more

See all

This place was really good if you're looking for a setting to study, chat with friends, or play some games. The staff is super friendly, and really enjoyed their service. The only downside is that our food took a really long time to come out even when it wasn't that busy. I ordered a drink and then soup. The chai was really good, and they had really unique cocktails. I was a little bit disappointed with the soup. Just because it was so salty. I did finish it, but because I was really hungry. Otherwise, the saltiness kind of did it for me. Other than that, I liked the setting, and it was such a cute concept. read more

See all

Why do I always seem to have superb experiences? Maybe I just try to be a good customer but I swear this place has a sandwich that changed my life. I was in Philly to meet with a friend and needed a place to complete my work - I walked for thirty minutes trying to find cafes, finding most closed at 10am on a Friday morning. The Board and Brew saved me by being open, having tables, and having wifi. I had to make sure that I bought food and drink to show my appreciation. I bought the basil pesto and egg sandwich as well as some hot fruit tea and sat down to get ready for my meeting. I took one bite of the sandwich and realized it was by far the best sandwich I've ever tasted in the entirety of my life. I kid you not. The hot tea was also quite fresh and delicious. Even though it didn't have much sugar in it. My friends came and also ordered food a couple hours later and I decided to order... Yet another egg and basil pesto sandwich. I also tried some fries which were perfectly crunchy (though my fry game is not more refined than McDonalds) and my friend who came later got some mini burgers that were perfectly juicy. I have no idea how the Board and Brew does it but I was not only blown away by their sandwich but all the other things on their menu seem really good. I may have spent like 6 hours at this cafe and while I felt guilty, I probably bought like 5-6 things during that time. I will 500% be back in the future because I am now back in New York City and I cannot get that darn sandwich out of my mind. If they share exactly what's in it, I will be forever grateful. read more

See all

I've only been in the cafe downstairs, though I'm definitely curious how the upstairs service is like. That being said, I have LOVED this spot and it's (no joke) probably my favorite cafe in West Philly so far. Their drinks are ridiculously good (whether tea or coffee), their baked goods are yum, I've had so many of their menu items (brekkie, oatmeal, burger, etc) and each one was incredible?? I've come here with friends and classmates and they (for the most part) had good experiences. And the staff are just ALWAYS so kind - I've been here when it's quiet, when it's super busy, and in between. And they nail it every time. Not to mention the portion sizes of their meals are so filling and big! At least for this girl. The only thing I haven't tried yet is coming here to play some games so I'm not exactly sure how that goes. But I've had meetings, hangs, and work sessions here and it's always lovely. Lots of indoor seating with some outlets. Good vibes overall. read more

I was in the area for Penn Relays, I walked in, and the vibe inside was chill and very sheek. I checked out their menu -- they had several items that were vegan & gluten-free. I ordered the Chickpea & Fava Bean Falafel. When I went to pay, the person who took my order said, "Are you recording?" I responded, "No," because I wasn't recording. I was honestly confused by the question -- like, why are you in my phone, and what makes you think I'm recording you? It's an iPhone; I have a bunch of screens open. They responded, "Well, it looks like you have a camera part open." Huhhhhhhhh??? It went from the vibe being chill to me feeling uncomfortable real quick. I just wanted to take my food & go. I probably won't be back because of this. read more

The Board and Brew - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I love the mango sticky rice matcha so much...!!!! I want to go again and try new drinks~! Quick and price is good! read more

The Board and Brew - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Came here again today and got the strawberry matcha which is favorable. It was really packed with travelers and students. That being said, I appreciated how the staff communicated the realistic timelines and admitted that the kitchen was backed up. Furthermore, what looked like a business owner, he was monitoring the situation and checked in with those in line or waiting for a drink. The staff today was exceptional as they kept their cool and maintained warmth, kindness despite being super busy! read more

See all

In an attempt to redeem the reputation of Board and Brew after trying their wretched chicken and waffles, I ventured there this past evening and ordered the Cheeseburger and the BBQ Fries. The dish hit the perfect "familiar comfort" zone-- nothing over the top, but just simple and reliable in best way. The burger had a classic dinner style warmth about it, with the soft buttery challah bun, and the smokey burger patty that tasted freshly grilled. The BBQ fries were the perfect complement to the burger. The seasoning added the just enough flavor to add an interesting pop of flavor without losing the nostalgic fast-food feel. This meal is a meal that doesn't ask for attention, but quietly delivers and leaves you content after consumption. read more

The Board and Brew - Cheeseburger and BBQ Fries - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It was just alright Cocktails were acidic and Small. Food was just meh* *also despite being there for 3 hours and constantly ordering drinks and some food, it felt like they wanted us to leave. Weird vibes read more

Popped in here for a quick bite with some friends and really love how big the space is for dining upstairs. It's a very relaxed vibe and the food is super fresh. The wait staff was super friendly and didn't forget to check on us. All of the meals were really tasty. The sweet potato fries are delicious and will get those again next time. The old bay fries could have used a little more seasoning for my liking. But the pulled pork sandwich was five stars. The falafel greek salad was a bit over dressed so next time we might order it with dressing on the side but overall everything was great. Pro tip: they have everything from breakfast to lunch and it's only $5 to play the games no matter what time you come in to play. Looking forward to my return. read more

See all

Loved the sparkling apple cider chai - elite sippable drink. Can study downstairs and play board games upstairs. Open late, has wifi chargers, and good food. I could live here... read more

The Board and Brew - Sparkling apple cider chai - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Met a friend for lunch and had an enjoyable experience. Server Tate was incredibly personable and friendly. I've always had good experiences at B&B and am not at all surprised it always has an open ambiance. The chocolate strawberry latte was $7, which felt a little high for me, but I thought it was better than Greek from Greece's version of the same latte. B&B is known around campus as having great flavored coffee drinks, but for a pretty penny! Just because of the price, I don't think I would order again, but I enjoyed it at the time. This was my first time getting a specialty coffee drink. Dessert brownie sundae: I'm a sucker for a brownie sundae, but I was disappointed that this brownie didn't live up to par. I didn't feel like it was moist or flavorful. Portion size is big though. read more

The Board and Brew - Sliders - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Got a decaf Kyoto inza coffee hoping it was going to taste good like the barista insisted... I'll just say it was really bland. I ordered oat milk with it which they forgot and I had to remind them, but the milk didn't even make it better. I'm unhappy that I spent more than $8 just for it to taste horrible I went there wanting to study but the loud music made me overstimulated so I ended up leaving read more

The Board and Brew - Inza decaf Kyoto with oat milk - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

**Games & affordability: 5 stars** Food: 1 star Ambiance: 3 stars Service: 4 stars It would have gotten 4-5 stars overall if the food was a little better. We got the burger and the chicken parm, and ate both -- both were edible and we were ravenous when we arrived -- but we won't be ordering those again. The hard cider was good. All sodas are from a small distributor (ie not typical brands) & all spirits are pre-mixed. We will return, but we'll eat beforehand. read more

I went to this place twice in a group of two, and both times the hostess said we would be seated shortly, then never returned. Would not recommend wasting your time trying to eat here. read more

Total college spot with lots of games. Not a bad price to play them if that's your thing. Pancakes were just average. Bacon tasty. Daughter liked the avocado toast, especially the egg. Her exact quote, "that's a damn good egg!" Service friendly and attentive. Cool space, upstairs had a pretty cool room with a door. Served the purpose and field goal is good read more

See all

Came here one day to hang with my friends. The service was rather slow, but the food arrived quickly after I ordered it. Unfortunately, they got my order wrong, and gave me a Buffalo chicken sandwich instead of Buffalo chicken fries, but it ended up being enjoyable anyways and the waiter even offered to have the sandwich not charged if I was not fine with it. Luckily I loved the sandwich and the fries that came along with it. Was a decent price at $16 and didn't last long (as it was devoured pretty quickly). Other than the food the ambiance is very relaxed and chill and they have a very nice selection of board games to choose from. The place is very clean as well. It's much larger on the second floor so don't be deterred if it looks small on the outside! Even with the minor slipup, I'd still highly recommend this to anyone who is in the area as quite an enjoyable hangout location. read more

The Board and Brew - Buffalo Chicken Sandwich - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Be very careful to double-check the amount they charge you. I been there multiple times and after a few times they overcharged me by $10 for the same thing I ordered multiple times less than a month before that didn't change price. read more

Great breakfast/brunch spot to meet up with friends and play games! The breakfast foods weren't showstopping but pretty solid- the drinks were creative and yummy across our lattes, matchas, and chais. The servers are really great at being attentive while you have food but leaving you alone when you're settled in with a game. There's plenty of game space upstairs and even an outdoor area for warmer weather. I'd give it 5 stars if the food were a little better (the waffles could be fluffier and the egg sandwich could be thicker/more stacked for its price) but as it is, I would definitely come back! read more

The Board and Brew - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

We checked out this game location because I'm truly a fan of this concept and wanted to find others in the city. As such, we landed on this establishment. It is in the busy section of university city with street parking being somewhat of a challenge but parking decks ample. The location is hard to miss, and upon entry in the dimly lit entrance there are folks busy with their activities such as drinking coffee, reading, and talking. As you walk upstairs you will find folks well focused on their games. There was a flat fee with no time limit at the time so that was comforting. The food, not many options on the food menu and similarly, the drink menu is lack luster but I was able to settle on something but unfortunately it was forgettable. The games, VAST! I did experience some indecision because there were so many options, but I went with games that I knew more because I wasn't in the mood to read rules or learned anything new. Anyway, very cool spot! read more

The Board and Brew - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I've been to many snooty coffee shops, but this has got to be the worst. I've been here 3-4 times, most times for coffee & a snack, once for lunch, & each time the baristas treated me like they were doing me a favor by taking my money & serving me overpriced coffee & mediocre food. I understand they're busy, I understand they get a lot of customers being smack dab in the middle of the lunch crowd at Drexel and Penn, but so do a lot of coffee shops in the area who don't treat you like a pest they're trying to get rid of. Today one of the baristas couldn't be bothered to even look up my order & let me know why my coffee was taking so long when people who ordered after me had already gotten their drinks. When I went back a second time to ask, the other barista with whom I'd ordered at least looked up the orders and told me I was next (after an interminable 10 mins). When I asked for the wifi password, he dismissively pointed to some board somewhere & a customer had to direct me. When I was leaving I was looking for a dirty dish tray to put my used cup in (I shouldn't have bothered & just left the cup on the table not allowing space for other customers) & the barista looked at me like I had two horns - I'm sorry but a dirty dish tray is a common provision at most coffee shops I visit. In addition to the bad customer service, there is almost no space to sit and work in peace - the tables are so close together someone bumps into you every few seconds squeezing between the tight tables or pushing their chairs back. Not a coffee shop I want to go back to, especially considering there are many good ones in the area read more

Came here for a date and it was so much fun! There are so many games to pick from. They also have gane recommendations if you need help picking. They serve breakfast all day. Their fries are yummy and crispy & their pesto sandwich is good. The star of the meal was their iced latte! read more

The Board and Brew - Pesto Chicken Sandwich - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Listen, did this place absolutely blow my mind? No not at all. Did I still inhale my entire plate? Yes. Solid breakfast food but nothing very innovative. They have your standard breakfast foods and they do them well. I will also give them credit for still being very well priced. My breakfast platter was $11 which is pretty great for this economy Upstairs wait was about 25 minutes at 10am on a Saturday so not too bad but there is a self-serve downstairs which is much quicker and pretty easy. Vibes are good. Downstairs is a mix of people studying and people sharing a meal but more so the former. read more

The Board and Brew - Two Eggs - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went here for lunch. They both have take-out and in-house options. The in--house is on the 2nd floor, where they offer both in- and out-door seating. We sat outside on a great summer day in Philadelphia. They have a broad selection of coffee and tea drinks. For lunch they have a good selection of salads, sandwiches, and snacks. I had the pesto chicken sandwich, which was great. It was the appropriate size for a lunch. I had it with the Cesar side salad, which also was tasty, but not very big. The service was great with the right amount of attention for a lunch service. Overall a great place for a quick lunch. read more

Service and environment were great; came with a big group and were seated pretty quickly. Fun atmosphere with ridiculous number of games. Great vibes overall. I imagine most people come for a drink and dessert and to play games but dinner was disappointing. Burgers and fries were fine; anything else was a miss. Would definitely go back, but only after eating dinner elsewhere. read more

Loved the ambience. Clean, great food, comfortable and fun to be at. Highly recommend

While in the area for some meetings, I had to find a spot to stop for a coffee, bite to eat, and wifi for a quick video meeting. I searched through my Yelp map to see what was open near by and found The Board & Brew. As soon as I walked in the doors, I was greeted by the staff. I was able to place an order at the counter and was told I could dine in and grab a table on the first floor, or be seated upstairs. I opt-ed to sit down stairs because there was a cozy little corner seat available that was perfect for my video call. I asked and received the wifi password and went over to claim my seat. To drink, I got an iced latte with oat milk and for food, I ordered the Korean Style Pulled Pork Sandwich with fries. I appreciated that you could get a side of fries or salad for no additional price. Most places will charge you more for the salad option. My drink was ready immediately and my food took about 10 minutes. The timing was perfect so I could have some food before my video call. The wifi was reliable and my call went on without any issues or interruptions. When it was time for me to go, I realized I didn't get a receipt but needed one. I went up to the counter and asked for help, they were easily able to print one out for me. My entire experience was full of great and friendly service, delicious and well made drinks, and surprisingly good food. When I found the cute little coffee shop with board games on Yelp, I was not expecting such an overall amazing experience. I can't wait to return! read more

The Board and Brew - Iced Oat Milk Latte - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

This is such a cute idea and the whole inside is very nice and clean but the food was so meh. I got 2 eggs and a side of toast (2 pieces) and it was the smallest toast I've ever seen. Our waitress didn't bring us any butter or anything for the toast it was very odd. My friend and I split a coffee cake and a apple cinnamon cake (they came with butter!) and they were both just ok. Very pricey for what it was and extremely not satisfied. We weren't going to pay $5 each to play a board game because we did not stay very long. I also felt like our waitress was trying to get us to leave. We weren't completely done eating and no where done talking and she's giving us the check and taking plates. Keep in mind no one is in the restaurant besides 4 other people on the upper floor and some downstairs. No reason to rush customers out. I will not be going back as the food really wasn't good to us. read more

The Board and Brew - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Very fun concept for a cafe- I mean who wouldn't want to play board games while sipping on coffee? Note a $2.50 charge per person to play games! Gave Board and Brew a shot in University City and it was a fun experience! However, the food that we got was extremely mid. The pulled pork was on the salty side with nothing to balance it, the black thai latte was good but no noticeable thai tea flavor, the plain latte lacked a strong coffee flavor, and the bagel could have had more bang for your buck. It was pretty standard brunch food but I wouldn't count it out. They have a lot of games to choose from, though most of them probably take a while to play (1+ hours). The service was mixed, mostly hospitable but one rude remark from a worker. Would come to maybe reconnect with some friends or play some interesting games that you wouldn't otherwise purchase on your own. read more

See all

I totally give this place 4 stars. I mean, everyone was super friendly & the spot was clean, overall pleasant, and they even serve alcohol! I was introduced to this place by a friend (hopefully more one day;) & I loved it. I totally recommend this spot!! k.David read more

Everything was delicious, the staff was great and attentive, the board game selection was awesome and had assisting notes and recommendations. The fries were beyond great, crunchy but not burnt and the coat was right, the eggs were made with cheese and I had ended up adding bacon which was also good, the Mac was good and better than I expected! The chorizo tacos were delicious, the jalapeños were fresh and had that crunch to them so it added to the taco and brought a little kick with it. Would definitely try everything again! read more

See all

The place looked really nice and the cashier was very friendly but they have Extremely slow service. And they're very expensive. Almost $6 for a small iced coffee. And they were so slow I didn't even have time to put milk in it before my bus came along. No one was in front of me either. She only had 2 coffee orders ahead of mine and it took her 7 minutes. Definitely no multitasking here. read more

The Board and Brew - My fist is bigger than the cup. - Beer Bar Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Breakfast on a Sunday was surprisingly quiet, although this was before fall classes started at Penn or Drexel. Service was super friendly and prices reasonable. The breakfast items were all 3-4. The pancakes, however, were top tier. Our party of four agreed the pancakes were among the best we had ever had, definitely top five lifetime. Thinner with crisp edges, served fresh and hot. Pancakes pull this into a solid 4. read more

This place is fantastic! My mom and I went to Perelman Center for her check up and left before other lunch places were open so we took our chances here. The person behind the counter immediately greeted us and was very kind, and we were glad to learn we could order either breakfast or lunch (it was about 10:30 am). We ordered: Lavender lemonade - SO good! The person behind the counter said they squeeze their lemons fresh every day and make an in house lavender syrup. Latte - Excellent, super smooth, my mom said it was the best she's had in a long time. Mike's Mistake (?) - I think that's what it's called, without a bun or goat cheese and caesar salad as a side. This was SO good!! The chicken was cooked deliciously and the salad was incredible. Hummus and falafel plate - Not for us, especially since we were just in Israel with other falafel, hummus also not for us, but not bad. The falafel here seemed like a healthier alternative to normal falafel. Loved having cucumbers and radishes in addition to the pita. Sweet potato fries with honey mustard - SO GOOD!! The fries had salt on them which was so good and the honey mustard was bomb dot com. I dipped the cucumber slices and radishes into it and it was divine. (I tried posting the "drool" emoji but it didn't transfer over). They do not have gluten free pastries and after I asked, the girl behind the counter made sure to let me know the fries we almost ordered had gluten so I was grateful for that. This is a fantastic spot. People were here working too - if I lived closer I would LOVE this spot, somewhere where you can work AND have protein options!? Amazing. read more

See all

went here for brunch a few weeks ago and loved it. Jack was our server and even though they were training someone they were super friendly and attentive. the pancakes are a hit and the board games are so fun. def a great brunch spot read more

It's a cool spot to kill some time and hang out. They have a lot of board games. Food is average from what I tried. I had the 2 eggs, pretty basic but the portions were kind meh Got a cold brew and I liked it. I would come here to do work or have some alone time during the week days when it's not too busy. I went on a Sunday and it was pretty packed read more

See all

Three stars for the taste of the food. Minus stars for forgetting one of the three items for take out and messing up another one. They called me 5 minutes after I left to say they forgot to put it in the bag. They said they would refund me. They still haven't refunded me for the missing item $6.50 and the $1.75 I paid for cream cheese. With the prices of things these days I feel disappointed. With two small children in tow it was impossible to return to the restaurant (they offered) to get the missing items. I feel slighted that they didn't make it right by refunding me as they said they would. read more