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City Tavern
City Tavern

City Tavern Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Elegant
  • Website: http://www.citytavern.com
  • Email: info@citytavern.com
  • Phone: (215) 413-1443
  • Hours of Operation:

    Lunch:

    Monday - Saturday: 11:30am - 4:00pm

    Sunday: 11:30am - 3:00pm


    Dinner:

    Monday - Thursday: 4:00pm - 9:00pm

    Friday & Saturday: 4:00pm - 10:00pm

    Sunday: 3:00pm - 9:00pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Carte Blanche, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: American, Comfort Food, Wild Game
  • Executive Chef: Chef Walter Staib
  • Dress Code: Casual Dress
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Beer, Farm to Table, Fireplace, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Smoking Area, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Private Party Facilities: City Tavern's ten elegantly appointed dining rooms create the perfect atmosphere for every type of affair, from elegant cocktail receptions to smaller, intimate sit-down dinners. Our in-house Special Events Coordinator will assist you with every detail, from menu planning to period music and horse-drawn carriage rides. Contact us at info@citytavern.com for more information.
  • Private Party Contact: Tahera Hasan (215) 413-1443
  • Entertainment: City Tavern's service staff is dressed in period costume. It is not unusual to see colonial re enactors visiting as well.

Getting there

  • Cross Street: 2nd & Walnut Streets
  • Public Transit: The Market-Frankford "El" has a stop at 2nd and Market Streets as well as the 21 & 42 bus lines drops at our door
  • Parking: Public Lot
  • Parking Details: A parking garage is located on 2nd Street between Chestnut & Walnut just before reaching City Tavern. There is also a community valet available at 2nd & Dock Streets after 5:000 PM
A word from City Tavern
Once called "the most genteel tavern in America" by John Adams and the first unofficial "White House," Chef Walter Staib's City Tavern has boasted the finest celebrations since 1773. With over 230 years of hospitality, City Tavern has been the centerpiece of affairs now immortalized in history.… An evening at City Tavern is certain to be remembered. Just imagine sampling specialties, such as pepperpot soup, colonial turkey pot pie, roast duckling, Thomas Jefferson's sweet potato biscuits paired with ales the ales of the revolution made from George Washington & Benjamin Franklin's recipes -- all served by costumed wait staff.

Watch an episode of A Taste of History on PBS, our Chef Proprietor Walter Staib will give you glimpse of what we do here at City Tavern.Continued
Foodspotting photos
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Diner Reviews
  • "Eat & drink where are founding fathers did! Going back in time is awesome!"
    Dined on 3/2/2014
  • "Excellent food, fantastic, fun service! Worth the trip from NY."
    Dined on 3/1/2014
  • "Had a great lunch at City Tavern on George Washington's birthday last Saturday. Our server, Jessica, was super, the food was delicious, and we even had the privilidge of sitting in Washington's favorite spot in the tavern. The porter made from his own recipe was fantastic, too. Very enjoyable meal."
    Dined on 2/22/2014
  • "Decor is lovely/colonial on entry level floor. But on lower level the rooms are a spare, cold white and echo-ey — can be noisy. The non-stop harpist doesn't help. Food was quite heavy starting with the breads. Pepper-pot soup was more like a stew of coarsely chopped collard greens. Main course portions were overlarge, twice what a normal good eater would eat. Some sauces were thick and gloppy."
    Dined on 2/22/2014
  • "I was expecting more authentic period food and more explain action if the foods. Our server was surprised and a bit put out that we had questions. The ale samer was good but again the server just tossed the card with the explain actions as an after thought. I would go back for a drink but not to eat. The harp music was nice."
    Dined on 2/22/2014
  • "Great spot and lunch was amazing. We have pre-teens who wil try anything and had crab cakes and duck. I wouldn't recommend for younger kids who may not be able to handle a sit down dinner and conversation. The home brews were delicious. The staff was accommodating for a food allergy we had. Meeting the chef and chatting with him was one of our highlights on our trip."
    Dined on 2/19/2014
  • "A taste of Colonial Philadelphia; excellent service, excellent food, excellent atmosphere!"
    Dined on 2/16/2014
  • "My boyfriend and I went here for a restaurant week reservation recently, and we weren't sure what to expect. My appetizer was nice (corn chowder) but the sirloin entree was dry and difficult to swallow, even though it was covered in gravy. And in a fairly empty restaurant it still took more than two hours for us to get our three courses ordered and served. The restaurant has a cute historical charm that may appeal to others, but it isn't enough to bring us back."
    Dined on 1/28/2014
  • "City Tavern's reputation among Philadelphians has long been one of a tourist attraction -- but not a "go-to" restaurant. The food IS better now and a visit makes for a fun (and a little different) evening. It still is an historic tourist attraction but you'll get a comfort-food-oriented menu as well that's worthwhile ordering from -- as well as a harp player who arrived around 8:30pm. Service was energetic and attentive. Recommended to take out-of-town guests to as well as an occasional visit yourself. Most entrees are in the high $20's price range. With wine, 2 1/2 courses each plus tax and tip, our bill came out around $75-$80 per person."
    Dined on 2/15/2014
  • "As an innkeeper, I suggested the City Tavern to my guests since it is not only representative of Philadelphia history but also of fine cuisine. My guests were thrilled and I will continue with confidence to send our guests to this unique and ideal destination."
    Dined on 1/19/2014
  • "What we loved: Shrimp cocktail, salmon entrée, home-made bread, the impressive architecture/building, no wait at the entry (we had a reservation and there were about 4 hosts to help us) and the awesome gauntlets you drink your water out of What was okay: Service (Our server was great, but he had 1 too many tables it seemed, our water cups tended to be empty most the night, but terrible considering it was restaurant week!), Lapin (rabbit < but that totally may just be a matter of "Hey, turns out I don't like eating bunnies") What we didn't love: The chairs and tables fit the colonial feel, but they were pretty uncomfortable because you couldn't push the chairs in much"
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "My husband and I took two neices (12 and 13) here for dinner as we were looking for something different to do with them. They really enjoyed the food and the place. One neice had the trout and the other had the seafood pasta special (as I did) which was delicious. There was a lot of shrimp, scallops and snow crab claws in this so it was a good seafood to pasta ratio. The only thing that was not as good was the rabbit dish. The desserts were also very good - raspberry tart warmed with ice cream, chocolate cake and a berry crumble with ice cream. The wine list is also nice. It was an enjoyable night and one of the girls said she wants to go back there for her birthday."
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "Our server Sarah was very friendly and knowledgable about the menu. The oysters were just ok coming out of the kitchen entirely too fast. We had not yet received our drinks. The corn chowder is hearty and delicious. The trout buttery and wonderful melting in your mouth. My husband had the Benjamin Franklin chicken and he was very pleased. Overall experience was very relaxing and enjoyable. Will definitely go back!!"
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "City Tavern is located in a historical building where you feel connected to the founding fathers of our country. We were told that the first Fourth of July was celebrated there and also the second inaugural of George Washington. The staff is costumed in historical garb, the decor is of the period and a musician serenaded us with the harp. None of this was corny. Our waiter was very knowledgeable of the menu and related it to foods of the period. We ordered an ale sampler, and he told us the history behind each drink. Both my husband and I loved the pumpkin and pecan biscuits, and we both order the seafood pasta which was excellent. I would definitely recommend City Tavern."
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "To me the goal of Restaurant Week is to encourage people to come to a restaurant that they would not usually pick and to get those people to come back by showcasing the restaurants food and service. City Tavern did not put their best foot forward. The food was fair at best. An item described as "colossal shrimp cocktail" was baby shrimp salad. The service was not great. We were not asked if we wanted drinks until we ordered, we had to remind the server and received at the same time as our main course. We were not asked if we wanted coffee, we had to ask. No one checked to see how our meals were. We enjoy having a drink in City Tavern's courtyard during the summer and have wanted to try for dinner for a while. We will not return."
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "My bf and i went to the restaurant for his bday. i asked that a candle be put in his dessert if possible. everyone was so friendly. at one point my bf started asking questions about the chef bc he watches the show and a couple mins later the manager walks over and hands us a copy of season 5 bc he was told by our waiter that my bf likes the show. then, at dessert a candle accompanied his tart. the food was very good and it was an overall pleasant experience. i would definitely recommend this to people."
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "Apparently the food was really bland in the 18th century. The recipes were all based on a colonial family's recipe. They probably should've stayed there. Sorry chef, but the food had little taste. The historical ambiance is cool, but I'm thinking a lunch would be a better option."
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "This was the second time we’ve come for restaurant week to take advantage of the lower prices. Both times has been fun. Of course the food is amazing but what’s more amazing is the service. The place was quite busy but we would have never known by the service we’ve received. Our waitress took excellent care of us. Even the manager came to talk with us and listen. As my mother walked down memory lane about her childhood and the memories invoked by Chef Walter Staib, the manager could have rushed away to attend to other customers but he didn’t. He engaged and listened with a smile. We have to go back soon so that my mother can chat with Chef Staib."
    Dined on 1/30/2014
  • "I love this place. the great historical location. The great food. The service is always great! It is a wonderful experience every time."
    Dined on 1/30/2014
  • "Our dining experience at City Tavern was, again, a most notable occasion. We absolutely love Chef Walter Staib's expertise and flourish! Such a wonderful time!"
    Dined on 1/29/2014
  • "The service was fabulous and the ambiance was great, but the food wasn't all that spectacular. I would return only for drinks and desert."
    Dined on 1/29/2014
  • "City Tavern is a tasty way to "time travel" to the Philadelphia of Franklin and Jefferson. The tavern itself is owned by the National Park Service and faithfully recreates the original structure and furnishings. The food is deceptively simple and completely delicious. The Russian Eggs, and Salmon Frittata are scrumptious, and the sauerkraut is amazing. Yes, amazing sauerkraut, so much so that I bought one of Chef Staib's cookbooks to make it at home. The Herb and Veal sausage that is served with the sauerkraut is out of this world. However, reading the menu in the dim lighting was difficult; we solved that with our phone flashlights. Also, the entrance steps front and rear could be a problem for someone with mobility issues."
    Dined on 1/26/2014
  • "The food was great! Pennsylvania Dutch combined with fancy spin on comfort foods! The experience and ambiance was like none other in Phila. Everyone dress's in period garb and they have live music sometimes in the front room. The place settings and love Pewter mugs etc...really bring an authenticity to the period dining! They even tell you a bit of history while your there! I give it lots of stars and stripes!"
    Dined on 1/26/2014
  • "I always wanted to go to City Tavern. Was part of a group of friends. The drinks were great and the food was good. But it was expensive for the type of food. Also our server had a large group and we then had to wait for everything."
    Dined on 10/24/2013
  • "This restaurant is excellent. The Atmosphere is great if you like quite romantic places to eat, plus it also has a bar room that's set in a colonial theme, where things have the potential to get lively if you want it too. The service was great on our visit. The day had not been what I had envisioned, but our waiter went far and beyond the regular level of service to make out night special. At the same time he was also attentive to other guest he was servicing. He went out of his way to make my wife feel she was special. The food is GREAT. Cooked to perfection and serviced right on time. Over all it was a great evening and one that I would recommend to anyone who wants a taste of “old Philly”."
    Dined on 1/10/2014
  • "The entree I ordered was completely different than the menu description. It wasn't good either. I was pretty disappointed. Hot cider drinks were great. West Indies Pepperpot Soup was outstanding. The Russian eggs were nothing but a hard boiled egg cut in half, with caviar put on top of each half. Dessert was good/average. Unfortunately my experience here was not what I expected, & I had been looking forward to eating here for a very long time. However, I would give it another chance & order the weinerschnitzel."
    Dined on 1/21/2014
  • "the food and service were excellent. It was very quiet which made it kind of romantic."
    Dined on 1/19/2014
  • "We were here for Restaurant Week lunch. The home-made kielbasa was very good as were its accompaniments, if a bit salty. The beef pie was less than good. The pastry was burnt on the outside and raw on the inside and the sauce slathered on top was reminiscent of jarred gravy. We did enjoy the Russian Eggs and the Onion Soup was the highlight of the meal. Our server was friendly and helpful. Although it seemed there was only one or two other tables, it took forever for each of the three courses to come out. Finally, we asked for our check before our desserts came because the time was ticking on our meter. After 15 mins our desserts came with the explanation that a turkey had to come out of the oven before our desserts could go in."
    Dined on 1/19/2014
  • "This is a wonderful place to come with a family for an excellent dinner and piece of history. We have been here in the past and were never disappointed. Great food and family experience. We were celebrating our Anniversary with our twin daughters staying in Philly for the night from the Jersey Shore and were treated wonderfully and enjoyed the dining experience."
    Dined on 1/19/2014
  • "The food was excellent. It was restaurant week and we both got the strip steak. My daughter thought the staff uniforms were hokie. I liked them and tourists and kids liked them. Service was great. I found it unusual there was no art on the walls."
    Dined on 1/19/2014
  • "Had a great time. People/place/food/ambience was what I hoped for & more! Service was to want for nothing. Food was an experience that we want to have every year -- totally awesome!"
    Dined on 1/18/2014
  • "The good: We had a large group, and they accommodated us without a problem. The waitstaff was extremely friendly and accommodating. The accuracy of the building reproduction creates a wonderful space to enjoy your meal. There are several unique options on the menu which are less often seen (rabbit, etc.) The bad: The entrees were little underwhelming. Not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but somehow a little forgettable. I would absolutely recommend City Tavern for the historical value and the ambiance, and I would dine there again without hesitation. Everyone should try it at least once. However, if one is after a truly terrific meal there are probably better options."
    Dined on 1/10/2014
  • "City Tavern is a special restaurant with a unique history. The cuisine is both modern and yet firmly rooted in our earliest years as a nation. Staff are congenial and eager to share their culinary/historical knowledge."
    Dined on 1/5/2014
  • "This place is a wonderful experience with my only it's colonial design, but also with its warm and welcoming staff and delicious food. My boyfriend and I go here every chance we get!"
    Dined on 1/3/2014
  • "A very special place to have dinner, considering the historical significance. The Medallions of Beef Tenderloin with was delicious."
    Dined on 10/30/2013
  • "Very good restaurant that takes you back to the 1700's in presentation. It's a fun place to go with out of town friends, they won't be disappointed. Good food, good service, will look forward to taking guests there in the future."
    Dined on 12/14/2013
  • "Oldest continuously operating tavern in Philly (perhaps America). Building itself, with sconce lighting, old-timey artifacts, colonial furniture, back porch and taproom, is a pieceof architectural history worth seeing. One doesn't expect to find good food in a place such as this ... but one would be wrong. The seasoned chef here turns out delicious, well-portioned meals of great variety and imagination, priced moderately. In summer a hearty salad on the porch is a satisfyng lunch; in winter, dishes like rabbit stew, venison and roasted meats are on offer at dinner, served in an atmospheric dining room by swift and professional waitstaff. A pleasant surprise, all around. Would return to try other seasonally appealing menu items."
    Dined on 12/23/2013
  • "we haven't been for a long time- decided to go downtown to skating rink and dinner to celebrate the holidays and time off. We enjoyed it- upstairs room lacks a bit of ambience but was ok... service ok- not great but good. food was pretty tasty. overall very good but a bit on the 'boring' side."
    Dined on 12/28/2013
  • "A unique dining experience that takes you back in time to Colonial Philadelphia. This is a must-do for anyone new to the city. We loved the historical ambiance and would highly recommend City Tavern to our friends. Enjoy!"
    Dined on 12/21/2013
  • "The City Tavern is an asset to the country. Located in a period building, the food is based on traditional colonial fare, but has some modern twists where appropriate. Specials enhance the atmosphere, such as wassail - - where else would you be able to experience that these days?! Be sure to try the mushroom toast and the turkey pot pie, both to die for!"
    Dined on 12/12/2013
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