Just a smidge over priced but overall good food, great fries, and a cool vibe. Love the decor, booths, overall feel. Definitely a good date night spot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
K B
I haven't been there in awhile so now all the people that used to work there are gone. There are new set of people. It is still a good place for a quick bite. I think the option for happy hour is very limited.
Parking: I normally arrive there early so I don't have issue with street parking at that time. It is harder for parking after 6 pm especially on Friday and weekends.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Mark
Always a pleasant experience. Whether you're at the bar, a high top table, or the study, the ambience is lovely. The food was excellent tho the portions a tad small, though that could've just been me being hungrier than usual. The tuna poke appetizer was wonderful. I highly recommend a booth or high top table seat in the bar. The trappings of that room in particular add to the chill yet lively ambience.
Mark Riggs
Our visit to Old Bar, once a favorite of ours for its exquisite cocktails and vibrant atmosphere, was a letdown from start to finish. Hoping to give my mother-in-law a memorable dining experience after a day of exploring historic Philadelphia, we were sorely disappointed by how far the restaurant has fallen.
Upon arrival, the bartenders made us feel like an inconvenience rather than welcomed guests. Their indifference was palpable, with no effort to engage or create the lively, warm environment we once enjoyed. When we were seated, the sense of being rushed was immediate. It seemed like the staff was more focused on turnover than offering a relaxing experience.
The biggest letdown was the menu—or rather, what was left of it. Out of just six entrees, they were out of the steak, which was a surprise for a Friday night. It gives the impression of poor planning, especially at this price point. Unfortunately, the food we did order didn’t fare much better. My wife's “Tuna Frites” was nearly inedible, both in presentation and taste, leaving us wondering what happened to the quality we used to expect here.
Overall, Old Bar felt overpriced for the subpar food, impersonal service, and a stale atmosphere that no longer justifies the premium price. While we used to enjoy coming here, it's clear that things have changed, and not for the better. At $250 for the night, there are certainly better places to spend a Friday evening—places where you’ll actually get what you pay for, including a steak.
Old Bar, once full of charm, now seems to be losing its spark with overpriced cocktails, a menu book, and below average vibe. Don't let the big beautiful menu pictures fool you, it is not the that restaurant any longer. Garcies tanked Old Bar into an Old Has Been.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
D D
Bad value. Had a $15 glass of wine - about 3-4oz served in a small wine glass of the kind you get at dollar tree. Then $38.50 for crab cake Caesar salad- a small side dish sized salad without croutons on a small plate and dressing not even close to a Caesar like taste a with a bland- No crab taste crab cake on the side. Clip joint for tourists.
Food: 1
Jenell Gordy
Ehhhhh at best. Not seasoned well.
Annie Flores
This restaurant has gone so downhill it’s sad to see. Used to be a regular for us but not anymore. There is not even a front hostess desk anymore you awkwardly walk right into the bar until a waiter checks with you - then even though we had a reservation they plopped us in an overflow room with no ambience and not another person to be seen. When asked to be moved to one of the many empty tables they said no. So we left. Waiter didn’t even seem to care. I miss what this place once was.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
John Martin
I just wanted to be review #1111
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ami H.
Fish House Punch amongst other notable historical and/or artful cocktails
Showed up to our reservation to find the usual door and hostess stand has been closed and now there is no hostess stand. You are left to enter a side door and awkwardly stand in the bar area waiting for someone to notice you. We then got placed outside of the bar (when this is where I booked our table) in a private room with no one else there and terrible ambience. We asked to move they said they couldn't. So we left. This place has really gone downhill. Such a shame, this used to be a regular spot for us but the quality has been so lacking and clearly degrading, we won't be back.
Joanna Faber
The service was absolutely horrific, our waiter left my water cup empty for over 20 minutes until I flagged him down and he never came back to check on us once we ordered our food, I had to flag him down again for the check. He did not ask once how our food was and we could barely stomach a few bites of it. The resturaunt was not busy at all so I don't understand the poor service. We ordered two lobster rolls. After we placed our order, they ran out of rolls. Clearly they should not have even given us these rolls as the amount of overcooked lobster bits was absurd. For $36 a roll, we got about two tablespoons of lobster each. Everyone around us who had ordered previously had larger quantities. Would not reccomend to anyone.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Rafael Souza
I chose Olde Bar for my celebration party with my friends, once I’ve heard awesome things about it, and I’ve never been there before. I had a such great time, the food was amazing and the manager Kayley were also so kind and on the top of things, which made our night really memorable. Thank you so much!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Roll
Juli
Below average food and presentation. Dining room is very bizarre. If you go only sit in front room with bar and high tops. Cocktail program is decent. Service horrendously slow. Decor is odd. I believe bookbinders was bought out and it may just be growing pains right now but I would avoid at the moment.
Jonathan C
We came here after my wife graduated from Drexel and absolutely loved it! The staff were incredibly nice, and even gave us 2 glasses of champagne to celebrate! The food was delicious and cooked perfectly! The atmosphere was really cool and you could feel the history all around you. Definitely recommended for a nice night out / date night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Snapper, Olde Bar Fries, The Burger
Delishes
Just a smidge over priced but overall good food, great fries, and a cool vibe. Love the decor, booths, overall feel. Definitely a good date night spot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
I haven't been there in awhile so now all the people that used to work there are gone. There are new set of people. It is still a good place for a quick bite. I think the option for happy hour is very limited.
Parking: I normally arrive there early so I don't have issue with street parking at that time. It is harder for parking after 6 pm especially on Friday and weekends.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Always a pleasant experience. Whether you're at the bar, a high top table, or the study, the ambience is lovely. The food was excellent tho the portions a tad small, though that could've just been me being hungrier than usual. The tuna poke appetizer was wonderful. I highly recommend a booth or high top table seat in the bar. The trappings of that room in particular add to the chill yet lively ambience.
Our visit to Old Bar, once a favorite of ours for its exquisite cocktails and vibrant atmosphere, was a letdown from start to finish. Hoping to give my mother-in-law a memorable dining experience after a day of exploring historic Philadelphia, we were sorely disappointed by how far the restaurant has fallen.
Upon arrival, the bartenders made us feel like an inconvenience rather than welcomed guests. Their indifference was palpable, with no effort to engage or create the lively, warm environment we once enjoyed. When we were seated, the sense of being rushed was immediate. It seemed like the staff was more focused on turnover than offering a relaxing experience.
The biggest letdown was the menu—or rather, what was left of it. Out of just six entrees, they were out of the steak, which was a surprise for a Friday night. It gives the impression of poor planning, especially at this price point. Unfortunately, the food we did order didn’t fare much better. My wife's “Tuna Frites” was nearly inedible, both in presentation and taste, leaving us wondering what happened to the quality we used to expect here.
Overall, Old Bar felt overpriced for the subpar food, impersonal service, and a stale atmosphere that no longer justifies the premium price. While we used to enjoy coming here, it's clear that things have changed, and not for the better. At $250 for the night, there are certainly better places to spend a Friday evening—places where you’ll actually get what you pay for, including a steak.
Old Bar, once full of charm, now seems to be losing its spark with overpriced cocktails, a menu book, and below average vibe. Don't let the big beautiful menu pictures fool you, it is not the that restaurant any longer. Garcies tanked Old Bar into an Old Has Been.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Bad value. Had a $15 glass of wine - about 3-4oz served in a small wine glass of the kind you get at dollar tree. Then $38.50 for crab cake Caesar salad- a small side dish sized salad without croutons on a small plate and dressing not even close to a Caesar like taste a with a bland- No crab taste crab cake on the side. Clip joint for tourists.
Food: 1
Ehhhhh at best. Not seasoned well.
This restaurant has gone so downhill it’s sad to see. Used to be a regular for us but not anymore. There is not even a front hostess desk anymore you awkwardly walk right into the bar until a waiter checks with you - then even though we had a reservation they plopped us in an overflow room with no ambience and not another person to be seen. When asked to be moved to one of the many empty tables they said no. So we left. Waiter didn’t even seem to care. I miss what this place once was.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
I just wanted to be review #1111
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fish House Punch amongst other notable historical and/or artful cocktails
Restaurantji Recommends
Showed up to our reservation to find the usual door and hostess stand has been closed and now there is no hostess stand. You are left to enter a side door and awkwardly stand in the bar area waiting for someone to notice you. We then got placed outside of the bar (when this is where I booked our table) in a private room with no one else there and terrible ambience. We asked to move they said they couldn't. So we left. This place has really gone downhill. Such a shame, this used to be a regular spot for us but the quality has been so lacking and clearly degrading, we won't be back.
The service was absolutely horrific, our waiter left my water cup empty for over 20 minutes until I flagged him down and he never came back to check on us once we ordered our food, I had to flag him down again for the check. He did not ask once how our food was and we could barely stomach a few bites of it. The resturaunt was not busy at all so I don't understand the poor service. We ordered two lobster rolls. After we placed our order, they ran out of rolls. Clearly they should not have even given us these rolls as the amount of overcooked lobster bits was absurd. For $36 a roll, we got about two tablespoons of lobster each. Everyone around us who had ordered previously had larger quantities. Would not reccomend to anyone.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
I chose Olde Bar for my celebration party with my friends, once I’ve heard awesome things about it, and I’ve never been there before. I had a such great time, the food was amazing and the manager Kayley were also so kind and on the top of things, which made our night really memorable. Thank you so much!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Roll
Below average food and presentation. Dining room is very bizarre. If you go only sit in front room with bar and high tops. Cocktail program is decent. Service horrendously slow. Decor is odd. I believe bookbinders was bought out and it may just be growing pains right now but I would avoid at the moment.
We came here after my wife graduated from Drexel and absolutely loved it! The staff were incredibly nice, and even gave us 2 glasses of champagne to celebrate! The food was delicious and cooked perfectly! The atmosphere was really cool and you could feel the history all around you. Definitely recommended for a nice night out / date night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Snapper, Olde Bar Fries, The Burger
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