The Olde Bar

Name: The Olde Bar
Address: 125 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA, United States, 19106
Telephone: (215) 253-3777
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.5

4.5

1297 Reviews

$31 to $50

Seafood

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A contemporary oyster saloon that pays homage to the original tradition.

The Olde Bar, located in Philadelphia’s landmark Old Original Bookbinder’s, is a contemporary oyster bar and cocktail lounge steeped in the city’s nautical and culinary traditions. Serving oysters on the half shell, alongside a smart menu of modern re-imaginings of traditional bar snacks and a comprehensive cocktail and spirit list, The Olde Bar is at once a tribute to the city’s storied past and an updated version of one of our most beloved dining spaces.

In accordance with City of Philadelphia COVID-19 guidelines, masks are once again required for all guests, regardless of vaccination status, while inside our restaurant. Masks may be removed while seated. We appreciate your understanding and commitment to safety and look forward to serving you.

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Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Mar 30, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 22 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(215) 253-3777

Other options

Private dining

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Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Seafood, Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Wed, Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(215) 253-3777
Website
http://www.theoldebar.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Jose Garces
Private party facilities
Whether celebrating a special occasion with family and friends or hosting a corporate outing, The Olde Bar can accommodate all your special event needs. Email: pa.events@garcesgroup.com for details.
Private party contact
Garces Events: (855) 893-7201

Location
125 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
Neighborhood
Old City
Cross street
S. 2nd St.
Parking details
Philadelphia Parking Authority Garage located at 125 S 2nd Street, less than a block north and west of The Olde Bar. Private lots located within a few blocks, at 401 S Columbus Boulevard, 109 Chestnut St, 36 S 2nd Street and 299 S Columbus Boulevard.http://philapark.org/locator/ and enter our addressThe Olde Bar does not offer valet parking
Public transit
The Olde Bar is located just over two blocks south of the Market-Frankford EL stop at 2nd and Market Streets.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Popular dishes

What 1,297 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.4Service
4.5Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

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OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
vip
2.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
overall2food2service1ambience4
Terrible food, surely waitress- was afraid to ask for silverware. Our tiny cod portion, which was overcooked, was maybe 2 ounces. Obnoxious. One of the worst waitresses , I have ever experienced. Never again!!
NY
NY212
New York Area
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always our favorite spot for cozy dinner, HH, and holiday cheers
L
Librarian
Philadelphia
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
The crab cakes were delicious and the cod with harissa was also delicious according to my husband. It has been a long time since we had been to the Olde Bar because of Covid. It has grown and I loved the seating outside the bar area. The area was quiet and the staff was exceptional. I would rate the entire experience as exceptional. I have enjoyed all of Jose Garces restaurants!
AC
AviatorCQ
Chicago
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall3food3service5ambience5
This is a good place for appetizers and drinks. Not so much for dinner. The Crab fingers were way over cooked with too much garlic, and the lobster risotto was dry and bland. The lobster salad and the burger were good. My recommendation For the Olde Bar would be for Happy Hour only. There are plenty of other great restaurants in Center City for dinner.
SS
SusanS
Richmond
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Birthday dinner for my date. A lovely chocolate mouse slice of cake with candle was a sweet treat
A
Ashley
Philadelphia
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service and food. Leah and janelle exhibited excellent hospitality
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on March 20, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
We like to sit in the bar area so by nature it can create a noisier atmosphere, especially when all the tables are full. Our server was very attentive in the beginning and answered all of our questions, there were just periods that we did not see her. As mentioned, the tables were full so it could’ve been that they were understaffed. The food, as usual was delicious. It was a lovely night and will always be one of our go to spots.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Charlotte
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on March 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food—crab fingers, tamarind lobster, and lobster pot pie were all amazing. Great service!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Columbus
8 reviews
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience5
I've visited before. However, the experience overall was not as good as before. The host who seated me was awesome. The waitress was just okay and could have been more attentive. I ordered the crab fingers/crab claws as I always do and I don't know if they were properly cooked and I found them tough. I made the reservation last minute, so it did not seem to be too crowded, but I understand that there are staffing shortages across the U.S. I will visit again...maybe it was an off night.
LM
LisaM
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We are seafood lovers, and The Olde Bar was the perfect spot for dinner after the Philadelphia Flower Show. Seating at one of the large booths in the bar area was cozy and lively, without being too loud. The Oyster special was a great value, and highly recommended. There was a nice selection of oysters, and our server described them all perfectly, All of our food was delicious, and the cocktails were unique and delightful. Well worth a visit!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 5, 2023
overall3food2service3ambience2
Sorry, but way over rated. Enough said
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was my wife’s birthday, and she was surprised when I bought her to your restaurant. She was very happy !!! Keep up the great service !!!
KC
KangC
New York Area
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on March 4, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Great food and service. Gorgeous building and decor inside!
s
supru
Philadelphia
136 reviews
vip
5.0
136 reviews
Dined on February 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love this place! Went for their “secret” OYSTER and cocktail special. The staff, especially their GM Leah, always goes above and beyond. She knows I like albarino and made sure there was some in house. We had a dozen oysters, chili-garlic mussels, lobster salad, Buffalo cauliflower and salmon spread. Food as always was fabulous. Can’t say enough. Thanks again for a wonderful experience. And reserve a booth in the bar as the atmosphere there is great!
B
Berm
Philadelphia
40 reviews
vip
2.0
40 reviews
Dined on February 27, 2023
overall2food2service3ambience4
Mediocre food. Mussels tasted bad. We didn’t eat them as we were afraid we would get sick. I ordered lobster risotto. Server told me it was half a lobster. When it came out it was only half a tail. No claws.
F
Foodee
Miami
24 reviews
vip
2.0
24 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2023
overall2food3service1ambience1
Awful experience, place was nearly empty and then worse they stuck us in a dark corner where it was just us we felt so uncomfortable and purposefully separated. Just bizarre experience from what we hoped was going to be a cute niche old historical vibe. Not worth the trek down there or anywhere for that matter. Waitress was giving major attitude and rude - when she took us to the table so far away we felt really nervous and it was just so weird. we were definitely a complete bother to her. She came 1 time during meal. Will not be back.
R
Rich
Philadelphia
23 reviews
vip
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on February 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our pre-theater dinner at The Olde Bar was wonderful. We arrived a little late because our GPS could not find the address. When we were close the GPS said look at your map...LOL We did find it going down Chestnut Street to Front Street then right on to Walnut Street. Anyway, the meal was delicious as well as the drinks. Our server was very helpful and readily available. The value of the meal was to current standards in this inflationary environment. The staff did make sure we were able to get to the theater on time. We will be back.
MG
MariaG
Philadelphia
16 reviews
vip
3.0
16 reviews
Dined on February 25, 2023
overall3food4service2ambience2
Food was fine. Everything tasted good. Very disappointed that snapper soup is no longer offered though. And the service, while friendly was just odd. Table of 4. 4 appetizers. Each one brought out one at a time at different times, so none of us ate together. Aside from the taste of the hamburger, nothing about this is on the same level as any other of Chef Garces restaurants. It was perfectly fine, just not at the level we expected and hoped for.
N
Nick
Charlotte
100 reviews
vip
3.0
100 reviews
Dined on February 25, 2023
overall3food3service1ambience3
The Olde Bar has a good menu and old world ambiance. The food was good but server would disappear for extended periods of time- which made the experience less enjoyable. A server also dropped a tray of empty glasses, and we locked eyes as shards of glass landed on our table. Never did they come to wipe off the table or offer to replace our food that was near the scene. Because on a date, I chose not to make it an issue but this was not just an accident but a legitimate safety concern.
MJ
MartinJ
Philadelphia
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on February 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love the red booths in the bar.. Great food and always dependable
PJ
PatJ
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our waiter was great. She checked on us frequently and was very couteous.
EJ
ErinandJoeT
New England
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was such a great experience. Everyone was really friendly and professional, the food was delicious and in good portions for sharing but not too big so that we left feeling sick. The partial walls made us feel like we were in our own nook. The decor is charming but simple and then noise level allowed real conversation. Thank you!
JS
JenniferS
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall2food2service2ambience2
Look and feel of the place was outdated Portions small and lacking taste. My fish was good but the portion was ridiculously small and the plating was poor.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing food and service!
PQ
PalletteQueen
Philadelphia
40 reviews
vip
2.0
40 reviews
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall2food3service1ambience3
I know it's been challenging for the restaurant business since the pandemic, but the experience was not what I'd expect from The Olde Bar. We had multiple issues with the service, which included at least 3 instances of miscommunication between our server and our table, which ended up with food being delivered that we didn't order, wrong food delivered, and our request to have a candle was not fulfilled even though we asked 2 separate times — when we arrived and immediately after we ordered the desserts —and was assured it would be done with the desserts. We also witness a neighboring table receiving food they also didn't order. The service was just haphazard and amateur, and I felt like I was eating at a chain family restaurant. The server would sort of randomly walk by and do a drive-by order taking. The food overall was decent, so I hope the service will pick up again.
K
Kate
Philadelphia
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience3
Wonderful if you’re seated in the bar room. Otherwise the atmosphere is awful and the lights are WAY too bright. We had an amazing time in the bar area though!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, better than I remembered it being from the last time I went years ago. Service was excellent, cocktails were very good, the oysters from the raw bar were excellent, and the lobster risotto was delicious. The presentation threw me at first, but it all came together. I’ll definitely be coming back here more often.
C
Carol
Philadelphia
51 reviews
vip
5.0
51 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best fried chicken I have had in a long while. Great hamburgers and lobster roll as well!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love this place . Oyster are the best
m
mariannee
New York Area
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on February 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food is reliably wonderful - creatively conceived and masterfully executed.
WG
WayneG
Philadelphia
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on February 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great good and atmosphere
MC
MrCE
New York Area
55 reviews
vip
2.0
55 reviews
Dined on February 5, 2023
overall2food2service1ambience1
Never written a bad review before. The food was overpriced, service was poor at best, and it was empty. After reading about it, Jose Garces don’t even own it anymore and it was sold to a “hospitality” group during bankruptcy… it def shows.
F
Faithfulsherper
New York Area
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on January 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Classic seafood spot in the historic district. Wonderful ambiance and service. Dynamite cocktails and super fresh seafood. Be sure to order the raw bar tower…
t
trogers
Philadelphia
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 28, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
WE LOved the food ,added a few extras to the restaurant week menu. The service was good and friendly, the kitchen and bar a bit backed up. The food was well prepared, and delicious. We would come back again,the oysters were fresh and clean and amazing. The interior seemed a bit stark compared with the old beauty of Bookbindere Building. However it was great for conversation because the tables were separate enough to make you feel private. Nice touch.
RT
RichelleT
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Went for restaurant week. Food choices pretty good. Food taste was excellent. Old Bookbinders. Ambiance very nice.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic waitress!! Great meal
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was our first time at The Olde Bar. We decided to go during restaurant week. It was nice because we were still able to order some starters off the normal menu to add to our pre-fixed dinner! Between the two of us we ordered the lobster bisque, shrimp cocktail, crab fingers, the cod and the burger. I wish there were more seafood options for the entrees but I understand the $40/person value wouldn’t really make sense for the restaurant’s sake to put all the seafood forward options as an entree choice. The cocktails were excellent and our server Pete was very nice! The dining area was very spacious and intimate which is hard to find in Philly. The bar area was louder and more casual but the vibes were great! Will definitely go back and hang in the bar for a more casual experience with friends.
FM
FeedMePhilly
Philadelphia
14 reviews
vip
3.0
14 reviews
Dined on January 25, 2023
overall3food2service3ambience4
Excellent bar, really good cocktails and starters; however the mains were unimpressive. I had the campenelle pasta and the squash was underdone, my friend had the shrimp and grits and the shrimp was mealy. My other friend had a burger, and while good, was very fatty and greasy. I would go back but only for starters (the cauliflower is great!) and cocktails during happy hour. Service was great and the ambience was lively.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was excellent! We are already planning our next trip back!
d
donnab
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 24, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
We went for restaurant week. I wasn’t impressed with the food selection from the regular menu to the selected menu. Everything was fine.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

The Olde Bar does offer delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. The Olde Bar also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (215) 253-3777.

The Olde Bar is rated 4.5 stars by 1297 OpenTable diners.

The Olde Bar does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.