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    Watkins Drinkery

    4.1 (154 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Watkins Drinkery Photos

    Business Info

    WATKINS DRINKERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Watkins Drinkery

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    Reviews With Photos

    Scotch eggs
    Gabrielle B.

    A great little dive bar! Affordable food and drinks and there is a pool table upstairs. Great local spot

    Misleading Instagram photo .  A cheeseburger with cheese
    G F.

    Last night my wife and I had a cheeseburger at Watkins Drinkery. Let's just say the photos on Instagram were far from reality. Perhaps the people taking the photographs (on instagram) were luckier than me? My burger, although the meat was excellent, was covered with some type of vegetable and had no cheese. I specifically requested a cheeseburger based on the great pictures I had seen. When asking the food server Why my cheeseburger had no cheese, she said oh you said Watkins Burger. I have no idea what Watkins burger. The food server mildly apologized and asked me if I would like cheese on my cheeseburger. Of course I said yes. After a few moments she returned with what appeared to be a very thin coating of something that resembled cheese. Again nothing like the great photos on Instagram My expectations were too high and based entirely on what I had seen on their Instagram page. Perhaps if I expected I'll product it looks nothing like the photo, I would've been happy Move for recommendation is to base your decision on restaurants on recommendations by other people you know and not on pictures you see on the web Hopefully we can chalk this up to COVID-19 and this instance being an exception to the norm.. Unfortunately, we will not try it again. It had such promise

    Shiny and new!!!
    Rachel W.

    The new bar from jon who runs the dive is shiny and new!!! It's all redone and awesome, and if you hate the dive for it's grimyness and smoking then there are no excuses for disliking Watkins. I had two beers, one bottle and one draught. I had my usual Franziskaner which is always delicious, and I also had the dogfish head punkin ale, which was my first pumpkin ale of the season! Hooray!!!! The menu at Watkins is not your typical bar fare, lots of gamey and non-traditional for a bar meats are used. Alligator, Rabbit, Boar, Buffalo, Venison and Ostrich to name a few. I tried the venison nachos, and holy sweet jesus they were DELICIOUS. The meat was PERFECT, and it was priced amazingly plus the portion size was great. Now that I no longer live right next to the Dive, and Watkins is much closer I will definitely be making it my usual spot. Plus upstairs they have old school arcade games!!! What more could you ask for? For this first week they're going to be cash only, but a sign on the door informed me that they'll be accepting credit cards as soon as possible. Drink up!

    Scotch egg

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    1 month ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great staff, good draft list. Smaller, more laid back vibe. Big upstairs area with a pool table and arcade. Great hard working servers.

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    2 years ago

    This place has righteous attitude from the taxidermy in the walls to the delicious mushroom calamari. A real world gem!

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great food with lots of interesting choices.Good table and bar service. Friendly bar that is comfortable to hang out in.

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    3 years ago

    This is the best bar in Philly in my opinion hands down. This local hang out has a variety of gamey meats and great beer selection.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Watkins Drinkery

    Review Highlights - Watkins Drinkery

    I tried the scotch egg and fish & chips (aioli is a must if you don't like malt vinegar) and both were the bomb.

    $5.95 Farm Fresh Scotch Egg

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    Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen

    Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen

    4.6
    (330 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen is a must if you're in the Independence Park area of Philly! My wife and I…read morevisited while we were there and loved it! They aren't lying when they say that they have an extensive beer menu! I had a Dancing Gnome Kolsch which was very good and then a Corsendork Christmas Ale which was fantastic! I normally don't like spiced beer, but this one was perfect! My wife and I shared the cheese and salumi plate which was so delicious! My only re is not getting the large! My wife had the crispy chicken sandwich which was really good. The crust was crunchy and the chicken was tender and juicy. I had the porchetta sandwich which was recommended by our waiter and was SO DELICIOUS! It is a must! At first my wife was concerned about the limited menu. They may not have an extensive menu but what they do, they do right! Our waiter was really great and very welcoming, especially as we were from out of town. The place has a rustic vibe which fits with its old town location. We loved it! If we ever find ourselves back in Philly, we will definitely visit Glory again!

    Pretty good overall!…read more Considerably big space for Philly. They had an upstairs too but I am not sure why it wasn't open during majority of the night. When the big crowd from the conference left they opened the upstairs. The Mac and cheese is SO GOOD. Very creamy and rich, the bread crumbs were an amazing surprise edition. This fatty finished it before the beer came. Lots of beer choices. I took off a start be size they were under staffed. So we were just waiting around for the check and the waitress kept forgetting what we asked for. Honestly, not her fault. There were like ~100 people and only 3 employees that I saw. So no designated waiter for tables. These poor 3 employees were the bartenders and the table waiters.

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    Mac and cheese
    Mac and cheese
    Chipotle lime wings
    Chipotle lime wings
    Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen

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    The Dandelion

    The Dandelion

    4.2
    (3.2k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$$

    Recently visited with a large group for lunch. We had a severe sesame and nut allergy with us…read more While he packs his own food to be safe, our server Gabby took the time to check on each dish he ordered, even taking care to prevent cross contamination. Her attentiveness was so appreciated so we could all enjoy a meal together, a rare occurrence! The food was great and the vibe was very cool.

    Visited The Dandelion during a beautiful day in Philadelphia and decided to take advantage of the…read moreoutdoor seating, which was a great choice. A quick note for first-time visitors: the restaurant has multiple entrances, and I initially arrived at the back door. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful in directing me to the correct entrance. The space has a unique atmosphere. The indoor dining area felt quite dark, but the restaurant appears to have multiple levels, including an upstairs dining area and a bar, which adds to its charm. I started with a cocktail and really enjoyed it. It was fruity, well-balanced, and had just the right amount of alcohol without being overpowering. Based on recommendations, I ordered the burger. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype for me. It could have been cooked better, and overall I wasn't particularly impressed with it. What stood out most was the service. My server was attentive, friendly, and checked in regularly without being intrusive. Overall, The Dandelion offers a pleasant atmosphere, excellent service, and great cocktails. While the burger wasn't a standout for me, I'd be willing to return and try other menu items.

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    The Dandelion
    The Dandelion
    The Dandelion

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    Butcher Bar

    Butcher Bar

    3.9
    (843 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Last night was my 40th birthday and our original dinner spot didn't have room for us in the end…read more The weather was nice so lots of people were out around Rittenhouse Square, and we felt SOL for dinner plans. On a whim, I called Butcher Bar and told them I know it's last minute on a Saturday night, but could they accommodate 9 people. They told me if we were there in 30 minutes they could make it work, so we rushed over. We sat at the bar for drinks as they cleaned up a table. They overheard us talking about how The Trough would be nice (feeds 8 for $300, but was more than enough for us 9), and said if we wanted that they could get it started as the table was prepared. We said yes, and were sat a few minutes later with drinks in hand. Jenna (Gema? She had grape earrings) was a fantastic server and just so kind and attentive. She kept the drinks flowing and The Trough arrived sooner than I expected and was everything I wanted for dinner and more. I can't thank Butcher Bar enough for saving the night for my 40th and just providing a fantastic experience. We'll be back, and we promise to give more notice next time! :)

    Great spot for pretty much anything. Brunch is glorious and you can smell the kitchen's aroma when…read moreyou open the door. I'm a little old school and go to a bartender, rather than the bar. This place has got one of the nicest and most attentive staff in the city. Definitely one of my favorite spots in town. Cant go wrong here.

    Photos
    Great place for brunch. Pre-set menu &bottomless brunch option but for everyone in the your party. wish the menuhad more vegetarian options!
    Great place for brunch. Pre-set menu &bottomless brunch option but for everyone in the your party. wish the menuhad more vegetarian options!
    Eggplant Meatball Parmesan Sandwich
    Eggplant Meatball Parmesan Sandwich
    Ready to eat

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    Ready to eat
    Monk's Cafe

    Monk's Cafe

    4.0
    (2.5k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    This is hands-down my favorite bar in Philly! Every time I'm in town, I make it a point to stop by…read more If you're a fan of Belgian beer or rare brews that are almost impossible to find elsewhere, this place is heaven on earth. The first thing I did was head straight for my favorite, Cantillon from Belgium. This visit, I tried their Kriek LG, a fruited lambic made by adding sour cherries to a two-year-old aged lambic. All I can say is... WOW! Tart, complex, refreshing, and dangerously drinkable. If beer could win an Academy Award, this one would be giving an acceptance speech. Now, let's talk food. I ordered the Thai Curry Mussels, and they were absolutely outstanding. The broth was packed with flavor, and the mussels were cooked perfectly. They easily rank in the top five mussel dishes I've ever had, and I've done my research! Pro tip: Don't make the rookie mistake of eating all the bread first. Save some for the end so you can soak up every last drop of that incredible curry broth at the bottom of the bowl. Trust me, you'll thank me later. The service is always excellent. John usually takes care of us in the back, and he consistently makes the experience even better with great recommendations and friendly service. In side is cozy and friendly! If you live in Philly and haven't been here yet, what are you waiting for? Great beer, amazing food, and outstanding service--this place checks every box. Just be warned: one visit and you'll be planning your next trip back before you even leave.

    While I was in Philadelphia, a friend mentioned that this unpretentious neighborhood cafe sold west…read morecoast Russian River beers and other unique Belgian beers. And it was walking distance from my hotel. Indeed their beer selection was impressive and carried Belgian Tripels, ales and IPAs and the elusive Pliney the Elder on tap at $8.50 a pint. I also learned their food menu boasts some well known choices. However, on this lunch visit the grill was out of service; no burgers, steaks, etc. I pivoted to their popular steamed mussels. A sizable pot of plump mussels in their black shells swimming in their liquor and considerable diced garlic and chopped fresh parsley. Delicious. The meal was accompanied by pommes frites and small slices of baguette for sopping. A chilled pint of Elder finished the monk's testament to excellence. Take a break from the cheesesteak and commit to the Monk. Well worth it.

    Photos
    Monk's Cafe
    Seitan Cheese Steak
    Seitan Cheese Steak
    Fries

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    Fries

    Watkins Drinkery - gastropubs - Updated July 2026

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