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The Twisted Tail, Philadelphia, PA

The Twisted Tail

4.6
4.6
1346 Reviews
$30 and under
American
Thank you for choosing The Twisted Tail! All reservations may be moved indoors at our discretion.

The Twisted Tail is a bi-level restaurant, bar and live music venue featuring a charcoal-fired grill, a wealth of bourbon selections and the rollicking ambiance of a "juke joint" (or old school Southern music hall). The inventive menu highlights ingredients in their simplest form, flame-broiled over live coals for rich, authentic flavor.

Inside a warm, welcoming dining space makes The Twisted Tail South Street’s best place to catch a band - and a bite.

Make a reservation

2 people

8:30 PM


Booked 8 times today

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    American, Southern

  • Hours of operation

    Brunch Sat 11:00 am–4:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Wed, Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (215) 558-2471

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Executive chef

    Leo Forneas

  • Private party facilities

    We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.

  • Private party contact

    our Private Dining Coordinator: (215) 558-2471

  • Neighborhood

    Society Hill

  • Cross street

    Between South and Lombard

  • Parking details

    Metered street parking is available in front of and behind the restaurant. The closest available parking garage is located on Lombard Street between 2nd and 3rd.

  • Public transit

    The closest public transit stop is at 2nd and South for the 40 Bus. For the subway, take the Broad Street Line to South Street, or the Market-Frankford Line to 2nd Street.

  • Entertainment

    Free Live Blues Music Tuesday - Sunday

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

What 1,346 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Philadelphia

    Hot spot

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  1. DandthenK

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    The food is good, not great. They had a good selection and a few items were different than the usual. I had the roasted octopus. It was cooked correctly. The music was better. I would go back.
  2. JohnF

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    All good. Had the chefs tasting menu. And our waiter James was on top of everything
  3. Chumley

    Philadelphia

    11 reviews

    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on March 18, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience2
    Great casual place to meet for drinks, bar food. Seems a bit pricey for a meal based on the food but that could just be my opinion.
  4. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great Food, Great Service, Great Music ! Very Friendly Management and Servers ! ⭐️👍⭐️
  5. TomG

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great brunch with live music. Will definitely go back!
  6. strawberry

    Philadelphia

    186 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    186 reviews

    Dined on March 11, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    We went for the brunch with live music. Of the 3 menu items ordered I loved the cheesy grits best. The avocado toast was great except for the radishes, which don’t seem to blend well with avocados. Although the burger was decent and prepared as I requested, there was way too little cheese on it The ambiance was great because of the live music performed by Andrea Carlson!
  7. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Hidden gem in south Philly. Incredible drinks, food and live music. Dior I say don’t miss the music. Bringing friends here again.
  8. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food, the service, was excellent, as always! My go to spot when I’m in the city.
  9. RonS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great Food. Great Price. Exceeded Expectations. Would return again, and again.
  10. OliveOil

    Philadelphia

    22 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on February 26, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    A different experience with Louisiana flair a must try
  11. NEPAman

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 16, 2023

    overall4food3service4ambience4
    Love Mikey Jr on Wednesday nights. Great music. Food was fair
  12. CatherineR

    Philadelphia

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on February 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    First time at Twisted Tail. Will definitely be coming back!
  13. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on February 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The ambiance, food, and pricing is great. Lovely gem tucked in old city, I’ll definitely be back. I got the beef tartare and it was quite filling for an appetiser.
  14. superjfc

    Philadelphia

    72 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    72 reviews

    Dined on February 5, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    The service was very good, as were the Bloody Mary's. The ricotta and cheese curd appetizers were very good. The crawfish Mac and cheese lacked taste and very limited crawfish. The chicken/waffles and pastrami sandwich were good, but the salmon eggs Benedict was heavy on the mustard. Mustard on the side would have been preferred.Portions were good, especially a side of fries.
  15. MonicaJ

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on January 29, 2023

    overall5food4service4ambience5
    Love this place!
  16. BridgeD

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 28, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    It was nice. nice atmosphere, enjoyed the music - Not for a first date music too loud for a conversation but fun place if you enjoy music and entertainment.
  17. Tokyo

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 27, 2023

    overall3food2service3ambience4
    Food was ok. The plating was beautiful but everything was under seasoned. The drink wasnt too good either lacked flavor.
  18. JenG

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 24, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Service was great...food was good....the appetiter was my favorite
  19. CharlesJ

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on January 22, 2023

    overall3food2service4ambience4
    The food was ok. The salmon was over cooked, it was very dry. The braised short ribs needed some mash potatoes to go with it, portion was too small. The crawfish mac and cheese was runny. The desserts took a long time to come out. Desserts were very rich and ice cream may have balanced it out. The atmosphere was nice. But for the price of $40 per person, it was not worth it.
  20. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 22, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience5
    I enjoy the cuisine, especially the Restaurant week selections. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The one thing I thought was expensive were the drinks. A Tito’s and Sprite was a little extreme. Other than that, it was pretty good.
  21. Clcall

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on January 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food, awesome service and always consistent. Absolutely love the twisted tail!
  22. NiaA

    Washington DC

    1 review

    vip
    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 21, 2023

    overall1food1service3ambience4
    Went for restaurant week, the food that chose, the fried chicken was tasteless n skin taste like grease. My cornbread was dry, definitely not worth $8.. The mac n cheese was the best thing i ate. Very disappointed because the food looked good but just didn’t taste good.
  23. HeatherM

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We went to Twisted Tail for Restaurant Week. Excellent food, excellent service, excellent ambiance, and excellent price! We enjoyed the live music too.
  24. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    7 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on January 17, 2023

    overall3food4service4ambience4
    Too loud for dinner conversation. Acoustic guitar player did not need an amp
  25. OpenTable Diner

    Atlantic City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great good and service !
  26. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Awesome brunch ! Very accommodating as our party size changed. They were very pleasant and ambience was great!
  27. Holly

    Philadelphia

    12 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience4
    My meal came out way after everyone at the table
  28. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 14, 2023

    overall3food2service5ambience2
    As I first entered I heard a loud piano. I don’t mind background music but his keyboard playing was loud and his notes were sharp. It sounded like carnival songs and definitely did not add to the ambiance. We were all happy to be on the other side of the room. If he played the music a little quieter it would have been fine. One of the servers even mentioned how loud the music was when we were trying to order. One friend had a chicken sandwich and he said the chicken was so tough he didn’t finish it. We also ordered sweet Potatoe Fries. The fries at the top were fine but halfway down they were all burnt and thin and small cuts. I ordered the ribs under the sandwich and entree section. I specifically said to the waiter I would like the rib sandwich. She took my order but when it came out it was only three ribs on a plate for $18. There was a lot of fat on the meat and wasn’t seasoned well. We ordered Bloody Marys and the garnishes were one olive and one lime and one lemon wedge. This was by far the most underwhelming display of a bloody I have ever received. It tasted ok but the point of a good bloody is eating the olives and celery. This was my third visit and the first time they disappointed me. I will give it one more chance but they are on thin ice. Lol.
  29. KristinL

    Philadelphia

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on January 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service, nice ambiance, loved the food…glad to have a new neighborhood spot! The live music was a little loud…but they were good so we didn’t mind.
  30. EatMan

    New York Area

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on January 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Waitress extremely accommodating and helped make the dinner very enjoyable
  31. OpenTable Diner

    Memphis/West TN

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 8, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Great experience! The service was exceptional. The food was very good. We loves the fried chicken, ribs, and Brussels sprouts. Great place to go for a wonderful evening.
  32. MandyF

    New England

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on January 8, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Nice menu and selections. Had brunch - great music
  33. Happydiner

    Philadelphia

    43 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    43 reviews

    Dined on January 8, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience3
    Solid Sunday brunch choices and outstanding bloody marys! Service is friendly and prompt. Only complaint is the live music is always way too loud, especially if the performer decides to sing.
  34. Brian

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Love a good small plate menu! Plenty of variety, definitely a little something for everyone. Went here for date night with my girlfriend and got to try a number of different plates. Everything was amazing, ribs and cornbread were definitely a standout. Drinks also great, will be returning!
  35. OpenTable Diner

    Jacksonville

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on January 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Tapas style small plates to share. Food was great and the presentation was fun. Service was excellent. If you have Tatiana taking care of you, you’re in great hands. The room has a great vibe. Definitely worth a try!
  36. Map4

    New York Area

    8 reviews

    2.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on January 6, 2023

    overall2food3service4ambience3
    We wanted a quick, quiet dinner out after a very hectic few days, and chose to try Twisted Tale based on a check of the website, which says live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This was a Thursday… and there was live music. Don’t get me wrong, the ensemble was good, but the place is small and although we were as far from the musicians as possible, it was really loud. It’s a small place and all hard surfaces, so amplification really doesn’t need to go to 11. Guess I’m getting old, but sometimes you just want a quiet meal. Our food and drinks were good, but we had one course each and went home. Please update the website!
  37. JackPhilly

    Philadelphia

    101 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    101 reviews

    Dined on December 22, 2022

    overall5food4service3ambience5
    The music makes up for the very slow service. Mikey Jr is fabulous!!! Food is good but not quite excellent. Chargrilled octopus was served on roasted potatoes. Too many poyatoes, not enough octopus, which was excellent. Fresh oysters with 3 sauces; remoulade, "hot sauce" and Mignonette. No issue, no problem, just a tough choice on sauce. I mixed the red with the hot but the Mignonette was good too. Shrimp n grits tasted great but the bowl was way too small to contain the dish & the shrimp were served tails on and with the disconnected heads in the bowl. The small bowl made it virtually impossible to get the heads out of the dish and to remove the tails without covering yourself with grits. There is no reason to serve the heads in the bowl; remove them in the kitchen. Whiskey flight was a great end to the meal.
  38. Datl

    Baltimore

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 17, 2022

    overall2food1service3ambience2
    This is a drinking and party place. Not a pleasant dining establishment. The lamb chops were cold and overcooked. The fish was farmed and tasteless. The apple salad was too tart. The beets were good. The beignets were raw balls of dough.
  39. NeillH

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Probably one of the best kitchens in the city , currently! Always amazing.
  40. RCitron

    Atlantic City

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on December 3, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had an incredible meal at the Twisted Tail. First of all, if you love bourbon, rye, and whiskey, they have an excellent cocktail list and an impressive list of straight liquor to sample. I got the fried chicken entree, and I have to say, it was one of the very best fried chicken meals I've ever had short of Louisiana - the breading was crispy and not too greasy, the rosemary honey was divine, and the chicken itself was full of flavor and almost fall-off-the-bone. Ambiance is lively but friendly, not too fancy but still quite nice, and you definitely feel at home there. Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun and yummy night out!

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • 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 Twisted Tail does offer delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. The Twisted Tail also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (215) 558-2471.

The Twisted Tail is rated 4.6 stars by 1346 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

8:30 PM


Booked 8 times today
Google Map for The Twisted Tail

509 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street

    Between South and Lombard

  • Neighborhood

    Society Hill

  • Hours of operation

    Brunch Sat 11:00 am–4:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Wed, Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    American, Southern

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Parking details

    Metered street parking is available in front of and behind the restaurant. The closest available parking garage is located on Lombard Street between 2nd and 3rd.

  • Public transit

    The closest public transit stop is at 2nd and South for the 40 Bus. For the subway, take the Broad Street Line to South Street, or the Market-Frankford Line to 2nd Street.

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive chef

    Leo Forneas

  • Entertainment

    Free Live Blues Music Tuesday - Sunday

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Phone number

    (215) 558-2471

  • Private party facilities

    We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.

  • Private party contact

    our Private Dining Coordinator: (215) 558-2471

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