This place was really neat. Very laid back vibe with a great concept. It was very dark and loud but there was a good amount of bar space and the tap list was awesome. They have a mystery keg that we didn't get to try but we loved that they had a mystery one. What a nice way to bring excitement to a bar. We didn't get food but we saw other people's, and it looked really good from afar!
(5)
Grace T.
This place has a great beer selection and overall seems like a cool bar. Food-wise though I'd probably give it closer to 2 stars. Just was not impressed. I had the burger. It was fairly large, but I thought it didn't have a lot of flavor. Also got a side of mac and cheese that was nothing special. My husband got the lamb gyro, which he liked but I didn't try. Would come back for the beers but probably not for the food.
(3)
John G.
I've visited the PT on two occasions. The first was an average experience. Ambiance was good, the beer list - though not extensive - offered a varied assortment of craft beverages at a fair price. On the second occasion my wife and I sat down at a table on a Saturday night around 815. The bar was full, but there were multiple empty tables. The waitress informed us that we couldn't sit at a table unless we were eating. Having just arrived from dinner and not feeling argumentative we got up and left. It seems pretentious that a self-labelled 'taproom' should give up seats to paying customers when there are numerous tables available and, presumably, the beer is where they are making their money anyway. Apparently the affordable beers they are hawking only buy you standing room when the bar is full.
(2)
Tom M.
I love this super low key bar in my neighborhood. The staff is quick and attentive. The atmosphere is dark and has a lounge like feel. It is the hipster the hang out for the neighborhood, so expect some great beers on tap. Definitely my neighborhood go to bar. Try the burger. It is one of my cravings.
(4)
Kelsey G.
Always a pleasure coming here. The beer selection is great and I'm definitely a fan of the fact that you can carry out bottles. The food here is delicious. The beer battered green beans are a must and the Mac and cheese is too good to be true.
(5)
Vichet O.
Not sure how I missed reviewing this place, considering how often I find myself here. Prohibition is that wonderful mix of good drinks, great service, great atmosphere and location. Location, you ask? What's so great about being stuck at 13th and Buttonwood? Well, for one, lots of easy parking. And also, the place isn't crawling with douches like me on a Friday happy hour. When I go out, I like to be the only douche in the room. Anyway, their food can be hit or miss, but their drinks are always hit. They have a huge tap list, and tons of bottles available to supplement it. As for mixed drinks, every bartender I've had there is totally cool with specific mixing instructions, and they have a wide variety of gin. This makes Vichet a happy boy. They also have a daily special called the "Old Man Drink." It's something your pappy's pappy would have drank, back when they didn't allow minorities like me in the bar. Take that, Whitey! Who gets to enjoy a mint julep NOW?! This place is always a good choice, especially if you've had dinner in Chinatown and want a few good drinks and a chill night. Otherwise, you can come here for a really good pregame before you hit No-Libs, Old City, or Center City.
(4)
Lauren S.
So my only complaint about Prohibition Taproom is I once came in on a Monday around 9 or 10 and someone gave my group a hard time about sitting at a table because they need to save them for there dinner crowd. What dinner crowd do you have that late on a Monday? That defiantly rub me the wrong way a little but other than that I've had good experience here. They have a fabulous beer list although a few times I've wanted what's up next. Those list always get me.
(3)
Michelle E.
This is a solid taproom. I also dig the location in proximity to other bars and venues. I went here for the first time on St. Patrick's Day. I found a killer parking spot, so that certainly put me in a good mood. The interior is cozy and my friends and I knew we would be in for a long-ish wait, as all the tables were full and the bar was crowded. We were quoted 45 minutes and that was pretty dead-on. The bartender was super friendly and gave us samples to try. She also offered up some recommendations and definitely knew her beers. We weren't super hungry so just split a salad, some fries and falafel. All the food was on point and the service was adequate. I'd love to return and try some new beers and explore the menu a bit more.
(4)
Jennifer M.
This place is my second home. I live nearby and frequent protap for their amazing burgers, beer, fries, brunch, etc etc. The staff is friendly and I love the chilled out atmosphere. Some all time favorites include grass fed beef burgers, fried green beans, pickle plate, pork sandwich, bahn mi... I mean really, I haven't had a disappointing meal at this little gem. Beer selection is great. They always have something new to try... So if you're in the mood for a bud light (eww) this isn't your spot.
(5)
Jennifer S.
Visited in 11/8, early evening Bar was full but not crazy busy yet for a Saturday night. Our food order was half piping hot like Satan fired it and then the other half was frozen like Elsa made it. I was disappointed in the inconsistency It was 2 sandwiches and some calamari....nothing too difficult. They replaced the cold food but it was a huge hassle. Overall not really impressed with the food or the service at this place. Had such high hopes as the decor and vibe in the bar is really cool.
(2)
Bianca B.
Great bar. Food is delicious and you can tell the chefs know what they're doing. Homemade peanut butter ice cream? Yes! Staff very friendly and accommodating. Not badly priced either and parking very easy.
(5)
Fuzzy D.
Great food, great beer, completely awful service. I've had decent experiences here in the past. The food is good and on par with the rest of the Philly gastropub scene. On a cold night in winter, the french onion soup is downright therapeutic. The beer selection is large and they always have multiple great brews on tap. Why am I giving this place two stars? Its staff. My girl and I came early on a Saturday evening, placed an order at the bar, and were straight-up ignored. Twenty minutes later, I saw our bartender at the end of the bar obliviously sipping on a drink. Useless. Maybe the management sent all of their first stringers up to help Bufad get up and running. I'll be steering clear until they get their house in order.
(2)
Sandy T.
Don't be fooled by the sketchy neighborhood. This place is awesome! Food is consistently delicious, great drink menu, and guaranteed good crowd. it's a good place for a date or for hanging out with friends. Either way, you can't go wrong.
(5)
Rick B.
Went here before a show at Union Transfer. This place has a big bar down one side and a few tables on the other side. Not super comfy furniture or decor - clearly a bar for drinking. So a couple of stars off for the rather mundane atmosphere. Everything else was great. Friendly bartender. Good, varied beer selection. I had grilled cheese with tomato relish and pesto sandwich which was quite tasty. Excellent fries. Service was prompt.
(3)
Jheris J.
This place is an awesome chill spot to have great beer and hang. They have an array of brews and their food is good. Our server Jessica was awesome! The staff as a whole was very attentive. I would definitely recommend if looking for a nice place to hang with friends.
(5)
Rebecca N.
My friends all love to hate this spot. Their main gripe is the beer list, which admittedly doesn't quite stand up to the Northern Libs and Fishtown competition. But, still, it's not terrible. Service is usually very friendly and prompt, and the place has a nice feel. The curvy bar is cute, and the food has never made me barf. It's in a location that's convenient for meeting friends coming from other parts of the city. I think it has a lot of redeeming qualities.
(3)
Alicia V.
Tonight we had- and THOROUGHLY enjoyed: beer battered green beans, sweet potato pierogies, Burger Special (honey, ham, gruyere and Dijon) and the coffee rubbed brisket sandwich- what a great meal!!
(5)
Sarah F.
I've been to Prohibition a few times since my one star review, and I'm sad to say I've had nothing but disappointment here. We stopped for brunch one day and it took 45 minutes to get our food. When it came out, it was cold. Not once did the server apologize, so when the check came I paid and asked to speak to a manager. Turns out the server was the manager. She was nice enough to refund the money back to my card, and offer a free round of drinks on our next visit. We haven't been back to cash in on those drinks, and this happened months and months ago. My previous experiences were just as disappointing. I wish I could like you, Prohibition, but I've given up.
(2)
Mallory D.
I have been to Prohibition TR twice now, and both times had a much different experience. My first visit was after a show at Union Transfer, and PTR was hosting the official afterparty. That will go down as one of the most fun nights of my life! The band along with tons of adoring fans were present, the juke box was playing, the beer was great, and the overall atmosphere was just awesome! I have never eaten here, so I can't speak to the food. While the beer list isn't as extensive as some other craft beer bars, they always have a great, varied selection & always something on nitro as well. The last time I went was on a Thursday night, so obviously it was more subdued than my previous adventure. The beer was still good and the ambiance was more intimate, so I was good! My only complaint is the bizarre music they play when not utilizing the jukebox. After last call they blasted some crazy head banger music that I'm pretty sure was meant to send us remaining patrons on our way. It worked!
(4)
Christine B.
After trying to get some pizza down the street and being told we would have a 45 minute wait, ended up taking our group of 7 to Prohibition Tap Room. There was a pretty long wait for a table there as well, but we found a few seats at the bar, and after another group left, everyone was pretty much able to sit. Various food items were ordered. I had a bite of the mac and cheese which was amazing, and I had the grilled cheese special of the night, a brie and pickled fennel concoction. I'm not a huge fennel fan, but this was a good grilled cheese. I also had some kind of stout that was on tap which was good. My friend had fried chicken on a biscuit which was reported to be amazing. Not usually in this area, but it's a good spot.
(4)
Stacey R.
Prohibition, my greatest wish in life is that I could pick you up and transplant you to where I live in West Philadelphia, because you are everything Local 44 is not. Great rotating beer selection for my husband, an amazing wine (and sometimes cocktail) list for me, and stellar food. We don't get here nearly as much as we'd like just because it's a destination-type of place for us, which is a shame! Staff and service is amazing. During our last visit the manager asked how our food was, and I told him, in a totally truthful manner, that I preferred the way they had prepared a certain menu item before they changed their menu, and he insisted upon taking it off the bill. This was totally unnecessary -- I wasn't even complaining, I was just being honest hoping they would bring back the old menu item -- but still the gesture was still appreciated. I also love your Wednesday-Saturday waitress who is a ringer for Lindsay Lohan (pre-downward spiral) and will chat celeb gossip with me. (PS: Did you read that NYT profile of her on the set of The Cannons? AH-MAH-ZING!)
(5)
Phil A.
Great food and atmosphere. Pretty loud but it's a bar so that's expected. Decent prices and drink selection.
(3)
Carolyn L.
The venue really gives you the impression that you've gone back in time and landed yourself in an old speakeasy (I suppose that's what they were going for with the name). Dim, cool, old light bulbs, and the bar setup is really great (lots of seating). The beer menu is often impressive, and the fried green beans are something I crave on the regular. They are served with a garlic aoli and I would eat them all night if I could. All in all a fun place to go with friends to hang out or watch the game. Really fun during the world series! Not a traditional sports bar, but it gets the job done.
(4)
Gabriella R.
Great beer, great specials, great music, great service, but does get REALLY crowded on weekend evenings. But that's because it's so great! Battered green beans? Yes, please! The pickled vegetable appetizer kicks butt! I usually order whatever is on the specials menu, and have never been disappointed. Their grilled cheeses are decadent. This place will make the most irritable of starving people into the happiest of clams! I swear, I was one of them! Sometimes, in the early evening, you can see the pretty carriage horses coming home across the street. Aw. This is another home away from home for me!
(5)
Zoe P.
Prohibition Taproom has been bookmarked on my Yelp profile for waaaay too long, but its difficult for the two of us to find time in our schedules to eat out. Of course, when someone else is paying, it's a little easier to find the time - which is why when his family wanted to go out to dinner with us and asked for suggestions on where to eat, I immediately put Prohibition Taproom on the table. Lucky for me, they trust my Yelp judgment and we went for an early Friday evening dinner. Of course, early dinner for us meant end of Happy Hour for them, so the place was already bustling and boisterous. They were able to fit us five at a table, but after we sat down the few other remaining tables filled up quickly with diners. The bar was packed with patrons, too. Specials were written up on the board above the bar, but were slightly difficult to read from that distance. The two men both ordered pints from what was on tap (do not remember which ones, but they both really liked what they tried). I counseled my fiance's mom to try the grilled cheese special (a brie, caramelized onion, apple, I think) since that seems to be a Yelp fav, so she shared that and their burger with her husband. She could not stop raving about the grilled cheese, and got slightly annoyed when his sister stole a bite. My fiance also got their burger, medium rare, which he said was one, if not the, best burger he's had in Philly (and he's tried a lot - because I've made him ;P). I had to take a bite of it for myself, and it is a damn fine burger. I got their regular mussels despite the special they had, and I made the best choice. The cream sauce was divine with the chunks of pork cheek dispersed among the mussels. His sister went simply with the hummus plate, which had a large glob of terrific hummus accompanied by pita wedges and chunks of roasted beets. We also shared two pickle plates, which I highly recommend if you like pickles. The assortment had pearl onions, shaved fennel, green beans, carrots, cucumber, and something else I'm forgetting, but everything was crisp and tart and fresh. The staff was friendly and patient given how noisy it was - we kinda had to yell at him and each other to be heard - and were so on top of refilling our water that towards the end of the meal my fiance had to ask him to not refill his glass since he really didn't need more water. Everything on the menu sounds so good, we're sure to come back to try even more of the yumminess!
(4)
Joseph C.
Awesome atmosphere. Awesome food. Outstanding rotating beer list. If you're anywhere in the area, this place is well worth a visit.
(5)
Steven T.
Walked here from Chinatown late one night. The streets were mad sketch. We kept hoping that with each corner, we would see some evidence of life, but we didnt. Finally making it to the Taproom, and find a place thats hipster friendly. The place is nice with a bar counter reminiscent of an old western saloon. They have a good selection of beer at good prices ($4 yuengling) and beer cocktails. Service was friendly, and they serve food (but didnt try it)
(4)
Lena W.
I have been here a few times for brunch and once for the bar. My friends and I happened upon this place when the wait at Cafe Lift was much too long for our stomachs to wait. We walked back to this place, seeing they had a brunch deal of free mimosa or Bloody Mary with any brunch entree. We all sat at a sort of peninsula of the bar and enjoyed a great brunch here. I always get scrambled eggs and sausage for brunch. So I got mu usual and it was very good. I got a mimosa and it was pretty good. But, the Bloody Mary is very horseradish-y, my friends didn't enjoy it. I came here another time for brunch and it was much more busy on account of the punk rock flea market. We walked in and waited for a hostess to come up to us, no one came or paid any attention to us. Then, some other group that came in after us got seated way before us. We finally got seated and stuck in the back corner and were ignored throughout our meal. My boyfriend asked for a coffee and did not get it by the time our meal came, so he asked for it again. Then our waiter gave him a measly half-empty, lukewarm mug of coffee, without any cream or sugar on the side. I had to ask for them, which I found strange. Of course, the coffee never got refilled afterwards. Now, I had one brunch that was great and one that was not so great. It may be because they cannot handle being busy, or that they are highly inconsistent. Either way, I would bet to not go here for brunch if you need to wait. I went here to drink for my birthday and had a great time. I got to sample a beer before I ordered it, which was nice. I like that the jukebox has Revolver (favorite Beatles album). Overall I enjoy this place a lot, but I need to take off a star for that horrible brunch I had.
Awesome spot for breakfast lunch OR dinner. For dinner - they have my favorite hummus plate in Philly. For brunch - the egg sandwich is to die for! And of course, beer wise, they have always have a very solid selection.
(5)
Michael A.
Excellent place for hard to find craft beers. Port Brewery Hop 15 and Hoppy Lil'Hudson when I was there. Solid gastro pub food. Gets busy and hard to find a seat until later in the evening. Area did not appear to be sketchy to me, some have commented that it is. Friendly and knowledgeable service.
(4)
Mo A.
This is a great neigborhood bar with just a dash of class to it. The drinks are great and the ood is pretty darn good. The bartenders were very friendly. The Wii is where excellence. Ooh and one more thing, try the Golden Repeal cocktail was excellent.
(4)
Helen C.
Love this place! Prohibition Taproom is my new favorite after-work casual dinner spot. They have an awesome beer selection with plenty of new options all the time. And I'm not sure if this is a regular happy hour special, but sometimes all of their draft beers are $4. Which is a steal, considering the selection. I got to try Clown Shoes Muffin Top-- Belgian strong ale, 10% abv, really how could you resist trying based on that name! $4! and it was delicious! Their food has also been consistently good. I'm in love with their beer brined pork loin sandwich! Serrano chile spread, caramelized onions, aged cheddar, served with jus -- this sandwich is the business (I uploaded a pic)! Curry mussels were also quite delicious. Beer battered green beans. Decent burger. And many of their $4 happy hour food specials have been good too. I always leave here with a happy stomach. The only item I had here that I did not enjoy was the fried chick peas. They had no texture and tasted like nothing. They kinda just disintegrated when you ate them... it was weird. Service is always very friendly, prompt and efficient. The waitresses can make recommends and always with a smile. There was one time that our servers had a mix-up and neither was coming over because they both thought the other had our table. After about 20 minutes of sitting there and waiting, we went to the bar to get our own drinks, and finally flagged a waitress down and asked to order food. She took our order, and then after talking with the other waitress, both of them came over separately to personally and very sincerely apologize about the mix-up. They also offered us desserts or a round of drinks on the house to make up for it. Mistakes happen but it's how they are handled that make the difference! And the service here is fantastic. Even with the mix-up, we somehow ended up liking this place more. Everyone here is so nice. I've heard that this place gets pretty packed sometimes on Friday/Saturday nights but every time I've gone so far I've been able to get a seat.
(4)
Jasmine H.
I've been here several times and enjoy it. The beer selection is always solid The food for the most part is good. I love their mac and cheese, and I've liked their soups and salads. However....the fries, we've ordered then a couple times and always they're too salty. My boyfriend who loves salt on everything and is always adding more salt to all his food even agrees. Hmmm about that. The grilled cheese specials are good sometimes, however sometimes it's just an awkward food combination which makes them taste weird, I've since learned to stay away. It seems something may be awry with the kitchen staff The service is good, the wait staff and bartenders aways manage to be attentive but also not overtly friendly. The music volume is usually too loud, even when not that many people are at the bar which kinda just reads tacky. Still I like this place, I will probably keep going back for the mac and cheese and the beer. But I can understand the reasons for all the other inconsistent reviews.
(3)
Carol C.
GREAT decor, friendliest staff ever, craft beers on draft and bottle, and draft beers are reasonably priced. Whenever there is original sin cider, that is what I choose, and never have I ever had to pay only $5 for it at a bar. GO prohibition taproom!
(5)
mike v.
This place is excellent. The fried chicken platter is TO DIE FOR. It comes with a pickled veggie salad that has a spicy 1000 island type dressing. Absolutely amazing. The mac & cheese is also amazing. They are on-point with pick-up orders, too.
(5)
Matt P.
Nice interior. Good beer selection.
(5)
Russ R.
Firstly let me preface this review with the following, a full bar is great for business, unless there is only one server! We stopped in for a quick bite and the menu and drink list seemed interesting enough. We ordered the kielbasa and pierogis with cabbage and a side of Mac and cheese. The meal on the whole was quite middle of the road. The beers were great, when they eventually came out, 20+ minutes after ordering them. Finally this place could use some much needed sound diffusers, it was incredibly loud, and my party had an incredibly difficult time hearing one another. Stick to drinks at the bar.
(2)
Mary M.
I don't always go to Prohibition Taproom, but when I do: 1 - I will probably just have a Yards Brawler, b/c I'm not a huge beer drinker and I know I like Brawler 2 - I might try another British style beer 3 - I will ALWAYS order the beer battered green beans, b/c they are light, refreshing, and I don't feel like I'm being too unhealthy 4 - I will complain about the loudness; the small room acoustics are seriously out of control once it starts to fill up (and it is almost always full). Honestly, we would probably go here more but it's just a bit out of our way as far as local places. But when we're going to the Troc or seeing a show at Arts Underground then we always make Prohibition a stop. Nice, accommodating staff, nice, clean decor and nice food. Dig it!
Great place..happy hour 5-7 pm .. Hummus delicious... French onion soup"the best"! Very friendly environment
(4)
Ho L.
They don't seem to do a lot of business during lunch, focusing more on the bar aspect than the restaurant aspect. But when I stopped by for lunch during the middle of the week, I was pleasantly surprised. The Loom bartender was very friendly and helpful, abd quickly brought us our drinks along with the menus. I went for the burrito which was arguably the largest burrito I've ever had in my entire life. It was delicious, and I really don't know how I manages to finish it. The rest of my party really enjoyed their burgers and such. Whenever I return to Philly, I'll be sure to swing by Prohibition in the evening hours to see the other side of things.
(4)
Sam C.
Really sweet place! When you walk in, it's got a really awesome vibe. Unfortunately when I went was a really busy time -- we waited for about 45 minutes for a table. Luckily they invite you to the bar to flesh a beer while you wait, they'll even transfer your tab you your table once you're seated. The food is really great! I tasted a little bit of everything, wasn't disappointed by anything. I would suggest the South Philly sandwich.
(4)
Casey B.
iiiiiiiiiiiii love this bar. I've only been here a few times, twice to pregame while waiting for a table at Cafe Lift, and once to postgame brunch at Cafe Lift and ended up staying for several hours. Haven't had the pleasure of trying the food yet but it's definitely on my list. The bartender dude is super friendly and helpful. One of those people that knows when to leave you the fuck alone but is also more than willing to engage in witty banter. The beers on tap are all unique and range from low to high %, and the staff knows how to recommend a winner based on your personal taste. I just really like the vibe here, it's hard to put into words exactly what I mean. The kind of place that it's easy to lose track of time in. Gotta come here yourself and I'm sure you'll see what I mean!
(5)
Jay W.
A basic corner bar, but an excellent corner bar. Interesting beer on tap, with enough variety for most anyone to find something that they like. My favorites were the Helltown Mischievous Brown and the Ommegang Scythe and Sickle. The bar has a lot of warm wood and while it filled up pretty quickly, there was space for everyone. The crowd here seemed pretty relaxed. The shape of the bar is a little strange, but it makes it a bit easier for larger groups to hang out at the bar together. I dislike that they put grenadine in their old fashioned. I tried another mixed drink, a bottlecap, which is made with root beer schnapps. It was pretty tasty, but a little sweet for my taste.
(4)
Isabel J.
On my way to Delaware we decided to make a pit stop in Philly for lunch and found this bar/restaurant on yelp. I'm glad we came here it was such a cool bar. Loved how much space there was between the bar and the tables. They sat us down and within seconds we got menus and tap water, talk about heat service. I ordered the gun shy drink which was delicious and wished I was sticking longer to have more but I didn't have the time. I got the fried greek chicken dish which was delicious just a tad on the spicy side for my Taste but all the flavors were combined beautifully. This came which fries which were so good I couldn't stop eating them. I also got to try the brick chicken and it was super tender and juicy. I was very impressed by the quality of the food and great service here.
(4)
Michael N.
I really enjoyed Prohibition. I'm giving it a solid 4. After driving by here many times, we decided to give it a try. From the outside, it doesn't seem like much other then the big "bar" sign outside. The area itself isn't much to look at either and I would be weary of parking on 13th south of the bar. Walking in we were created by one of my favorite Walkmen song on the jukebox. Already off to a good start. As the other reviews suggested, they definitely have a great beer list. About 15 beers on tap and 50 more on the bottle list. Fairly large bar as well. We decided to try the food as well. I went with the burger which was pretty big. It was a decent burger, but the snowflake bun was fantastic. My wife went with the grilled cheese and she didn't think there was enough cheese compared to some other spots in the area. The fries were excellent though. Overall they had great beer, the good came out hot and quickly, and the service was decent. One draw back is that the room is square and gets extremely loud, even with a few people in there on a Wednesday night it got loud.
(4)
Dee M.
2 Checkins here thus far August 2014. My daughter lives in the neighborhood and this is a great place for the 2 of us. We both found things to like about it. I must confess the history lover in me was initially attracted to the name referencing times past as well as the art deco "BAR" sign above the door. Passed it many times in the winter, vowing to try. Glad we did. Most recent visit was dinner on a Monday night with a summer blonde ale and the beer battered green beans. Kudos to previous reviewers for the headsup. They were phenomenal. We also had the french onion soup with showstring fries which were very good. Both times the service was friendly and attentive. Don't just consider this a local taproom. The menu is varied and good and worth a drop in. We will be back.
(5)
Alexander R.
The very reason for two stars is the beer selection alone not the service or patronage let's be perfectly clear. That said any halfwit can buy a few fridges worth of decent beer. First off I think the bartender was twelve and carded me for the first time in many years. Thanks! It's a compliment once you reach a certain age. Just pull the trigger on the faux-hawk already dude. Yes, the beer is pronounced Brussels but is spelled Bruxelles because it is Belgian (actually the capital) even though it's in a can. Giving people water even though you have no idea of their tolerance can be annoying especially when they are trying to order drinks. You are not allowed to ignore patrons because you think they drank enough. You have NO idea and are twelve. Telling people they cannot change food menu items on the menu is arrogant and not at all friendly to people with allergies. It also stinks of pre-portioned, pre-made, and reheated food. If I can't get something left off the dish I want to because of an allergy or simply because I don't want it on my plate who are you to tell me I can't? Shave your beard and get over your James Beard complex... you will never get a Michelin Star. Sorry to be so harsh but I wouldn't order food from your menu if you paid me in your delicious suds. You are a bar that happens to have food. Stop thinking you are some elite gastropub. Having a beer on the menu in Philly called PPA is just missing the mark... just saying. Must be a diuretic. Serving customers three beers at a time to go that the whole transaction takes longer than it takes to drink said beers right next to people at the bar is annoying and doesn't bode well for repeat business. There are many places in this city to drink good beer, eat good food, and be merry... this however to me is definitely not one of them. Save your loot.
(2)
Lili B.
Went to Prohibition Taproom for brunch last Sunday and I keep a pretty good memory of my visit. My friend and I arrived there ~2PM and the place was not packed so we easily found a sit. The beer selection is pretty decent and I liked the beer I picked (can't recall the name). I ordered the egg benedict (def my favorite brunch plate). My plate was very large and it was delicious. It missed some Hollandaise sauce but it was still very yummy! The bill came up to ~20 a person which is reasonable given we had a drink. I will mostly go back there. The service was Ok but i feel i waited quite a lot given we were the only one sitting at table.
(4)
Yeah D.
my fav bar in philly. the staff is cool, Sunday's are fun for 20% off when you bring your own vinyl, and the food is pretty great. I've seen a pretty killer DJ mixing at the bar before, but I think that sort of thing is pretty rare there.
(5)
Chrim K.
Great bar! Atmosphere was cool as there was a show at Union Transfer around the block and more than a few people were hanging out before hand. The beer list was great, a large number of beers on tap along with a very nice bottle list. Small menu for food, we just split the pretzel with beer cheese sauce (which was great!), but all the food looked really good. Service was great, bartenders always looking for the next customer, happy to answer any and all questions, and none on their phones (I encounter this too many times when a bar is crowded). On top of this, the physical bar is a very unique shape aimed to utilize as much space as possible and encourage talking to your fellow patrons. Jukebox was also on point.
(5)
Emily L.
Oh, how I miss the city! Being able to walk from our hotel to Prohibition was pretty awesome, even if there were a few sketchy corners along the way. Once inside, we took in the serpentine bar and packed tables with some difficulty (it was quite dark) and luckily found seats right away; by the time we left, over an hour later, people were standing three deep all around the bar. We started out sitting at one of the bar islands, directly across from three strangers; this might appeal to some extreme extroverts, but it was a little awkward for us. They paid us no attention and had a very loud conversation (trendy vocal-fry girls -- ugh) so we tried to return the favor, but they were hard to ignore, so when true bar seats opened up we scooted over and left them to their workplace gripes. The drink menu is pretty wonderful; awesome draft / bottle selection, in addition to a handful of craft cocktails. We stuck to beer and were not disappointed; the bartender, once he saw what we liked, offered us a couple of samples and was able to continue making us happy through several more rounds. We weren't dinner-hungry, but wanted to try the battered green beans since so many had raved about them. They were pretty disappointing; the beans were overcooked and stringy, and the batter stuck together in huge lumps -- it was more like a battered green bean sculpture. We ate about half and left the rest. Next we tried the fried pretzel, which was good, though not exactly pretzel-like, since it had been deep-fried instead of soda-boiled. The accompanying queso was delicious, but there was only one small ramekin, so we ate most of the pretzel plain. It turned out there had been quite a party a few hours earlier, as the first friday of every month is a pig roast. It sounded intriguing, but our server didn't know any of the details -- where, how and for what amount of time it was cooked, for instance -- so we didn't try it. We would definitely return for the beer, and to try one of their standbys like the burger or the brick chicken.
(3)
Sarah B.
A bit of advice for this place, you will wait for a large party. No call ahead seating, it's really just a little place that's mostly bar. But what a bar. Forget your Bud Lights, man. Craft beers on tap and tons of bottled. I had a fantastic sour red from Belgium. For dinner I had possibly one of the top 5 burgers of my life. Grilled to perfection, with a bun toasted but soft and buttery with their house sauce. We were pretty well starving by the time the food got there, but I don't believe I was mislead by my hunger. It was all quite tasty.
(4)
Raina S.
Chill spot for hipsters and an okay happy hour for drinks, prices were affordable. We didn't get appetizers for happy hour, just a brownie sundae dessert which was super rich. If you're looking for a hipster spot and that's your scene, this place works.
(3)
Nooshin P.
Great food- a little hidden culinary gem. We have eaten here many times, as it's walking distance, and the food has never disappointed and always very clever! The only reason for 1 less star is the noise level- it is sooooo loud in this place and people are yelling to talk over the music. Doesn't keep us away though!
(4)
Tiffany T.
Based on my most recent visit I had to bring this review down to a 3. Couple of reasons, first being service. Although we were sitting at the bar, we found it hard to be served. We did have a primary server/bartender but she was severely lacking in efficiency as a server. She was friendly I'll give her that, but it was hard to get her attention for a drink or to put our food orders in. There were also a lot of other I'm not sure.. bartenders, barbacks that were standing right in front of us that never once asked if there was something we needed , when we were clearly trying to order or eye-contact our server or do something for that matter. From what I saw, there was one male server/bartender that was the only one doing anything that night besides our female server that was mostly inconsistent with her services. Anyway, when we got our food (got seitan cheesesteak with fries, partner got ricebowl) and no silverware was provided to us (more so for the rice bowl). But of course took a couple of minutes to eye someone down for silverware as well.. Okay on to the food. Fried pretzel with beer cheese $5 -- awesome. Imo, doesn't need to be fried but it was nice and hot, crispy but still soft on the inside. My seitan cheesesteak I give a 4/5 -- the vegan cheese was pretty impressive given that it is vegan. The roll was good, crisped on the outside, but seitan was hard to distinguish from the Kennett mushrooms. Good to try, but not something I crave or would want to get again on my return. The rice bowl was less than enjoyable in my opinion. It was.. confusing I think is the best word, nothing coherent about the dish at all. Let's see it was rice, basil, sliced pickles, 1 dill spear pickle, a couple of pickled green tomatoes, pickled jalapeno, seitan , brussel sprouts, peas , 1 fried egg, and broccoli. It was rather bland, except for the sourness that drowned the rice from all the pickles and whatnot. I won't say that it's inedible because that's not true -- but I definitely did not enjoy this dish. 2/5 for me Even still.. they have good beer -- and some of their other food items I'm sure are better , as I've had the beer battered green beans before which I enjoyed. And I still want the grilled cheese everyone talks about... just no rice bowl again.
(3)
Dan S.
Prohibition is awesome, plain and simple. I love their food, especially the fish and chips, and I'm a big fish and chips eater. They have changed the recipe twice on me now (yes I'm a freak who keeps ordering the same thing), and I didn't like it after the first change. It seems to be delicious again... so we'll see how it goes. On to the beer: They have a great revolving draft list as well as a large selection of bottled brews. There is always something interesting to try. It can get very packed and pretty loud on the weekends in the small space, I like going during the week when it's only semi crowded.
(5)
Tim W.
Fantastic service, great beer selection and the food was Amazing. I had the humus plate to start, then the special pork belly ramen bowl. Not something you would expect but the bartender recommended it and he was 100% spot on. This is my new "must go" place in Philly. May end up back there tonight!!
(5)
Lorma C.
-Our bartender/waiter was super friendly! Took time to have beer talk with us... Really liked this! -Good beer selection--BF was super excited that they even had Goose Island Bourbon County on tap! -Menu was fun... BF had the kielbasa and pierogies...kiel
(4)
Tim D.
This place deserves a full two thumbs up and at least 5 stars on the review. As a solo traveler, you can only eat at the big chain restaurants for so long. Even the better chains grow stale quickly, so you really have 3 choices... 1. Go hungry (not the best option for sure). 2. Continue to eat at Outback and Applebys. 3. Seek out and find new culinary adventures... Well option 3 is a hit or miss endeavor (will you be served a tray of used cigarette butts marinated in measily pork OR will you have an epic culinary adventure that words cannot adequately describe?). The meal tonight qualifies as a true culinary adventure that reaches far beyond anything a corner pub should be able to offer. Granted, this is my first time here, but if the bratwurst feast is any indication of the overall menu, this corner pub should be the gold standard that ALL pubs should be compared against. From the presentation, to the quantity, to the sheer variety of complimentary layers and flavors, the meal is beyond anything you can conceivably expect. Not sure if I can adequately describe the layers, from the bratwurst to the soft pretzel to the stone ground mustard to the potatoes to the sour kraut to the alternating spicy and sweet pickles... The combination, from the top of the mountain to the bedrock below, was designed to compliment and enhance the layers underneath. The journey was delicious! Not to be out done by the menu, the guys at the bar were attentive, but not intrusive. Very interesting (in a good way) music selection. This is a dimly lit, somewhat small, corner pub, with spectacular food (as in SPECTACULAR) and a neat vibe. My only complaint would be that not enough of the PHL locals truly know that this diamond in the rough lies in their midst.
(5)
Hoang T.
Has great potential. Sitting here reviewing as we speak. Came for happy hour. Saw website that says "see hour happy hour menu" theprohibitiontaproom.co… But upon arrival there was no menu except for a special menu. With no discount (i was thinking happy hour specials like drinks) OK cool. Not a deal breaker. Place was empty upon arrival but became completely packed within a few minutes. By the time we left there were no seats which was surprising. Ended up ordering draft pumpkin beer and Oktoberfest. Pumpkin wasn't the best, the Oktoberfest was decent. For food, went with light bites. Poutine special, crab fritters, oxtail emanadas. Nothing was memorable. The winner was prob the empanada but not by much. The poutine was ....blah BC of bad fries. And gravy was thin. Crab fritters were over priced, $6 for 4 small bite sized. I can see great potential here BC the area is up and coming and parking is decent. However the food selection was a big miss for me and beer happy hour was over priced even with $1 discount. Add some variety burgers, get better fries, and perhaps some solid happy hour dishes or half entrees.
(3)
Colleen M.
Came here for Brunch over the weekend.. At first glance the menu looked like it didn't have much going on.. Especially for someone who doesn't include a lot of meat in their diet. However after talking to our very sweet waitress (who was working her first brunch btw) she was very accommodating by talking to the chef to see if he could make some changes to the Eggs Benedict type of menu item I was looking at. I ordered the Lancaster croque sans scrapple and it was wonderful cheesy runny egg goodness on crispy buttery toast while my friend had the eggs Benedict - both were great dishes made with perfection. Will definitely be returning.
Nice, open place to drop into on a humid day... Great beer selection, on tap and in bottles. Lots of new tastes to try while you admire that huge, wooden bar. That is a piece of work right there. Love the beer battered green beans. Order one for yourself and one for your date or friends... you will not want to share. Beware the potential thief of a jukebox... or maybe it just didn't like everything I selected... or maybe it wanted some green bean fries?
(3)
Edward H.
Great bar and great choice of food! The food was good. The music nice but a bit load.
(4)
Devin L.
We were looking for a fun, cool place to grab a few drinks and lunch and what word better jumps out at you than Prohibition? The place wasn't too packed but did have a good number of people inside, I'm guessing for the World Cup. It's a pretty standard set up. Tables and a bar. They had three bartenders working, so it was very easy to get a drink. The menu looked great. I decided on a special though. It was a knockwurst sandwich with Swiss cheese and an egg. It was everything I could ever want it to be. Absolutely wonderful. My girlfriend got the Mac and Cheese which she said was equally as good. We traded bites and it was delicious. Creamy, hearty and tangy all at the same time. They have a great selection of craft and Import beers. I tried a couple different ones and even used the bartenders knowledge of the brews a bit. Honestly, I don't often get to Philly, but when in town I'll be back. I've also already recommended the place to a friend.
(4)
Cat N.
Very cool atmosphere - the bar has an old school feel to it, lighting is dark and kind of intimate. The bartenders were VERY friendly and helpful (a little hipster-esque, but that's part of the charm). Not being a beer drinker, I didn't benefit from the wide variety. Cocktails were mixed well. I had the pickle fries, which were yummy. My friend had the South Philly pork, provolone & broccoli rabe sandwich and was very happy. Menu is good and the location (a few blocks from Union Transfer, where we saw a show after) is convenient.
(4)
Virginia E.
I've been here several times, since this was the closest bar to my apartment before I moved across the city, and I've got mixed feelings. Their food is good and they have a great selection of beer. Also, I like the old-timey vibe, but it gets really dark in there at night, which is fine for a bar, but not for a restaurant. They also are a little piece-meal about bringing out food for big groups. Some of the group is always sitting there w/o food after everyone else gets their's. And don't come in here for drinks on the weekend nights if you're sober. I went 2 times on a weekend night and sat at the bar and sat at the bar and sat at the bar w/o the bartender even looking at me. Both times I just left. But for brunch or on a weeknight, it's fine. And I love the old-fashioned cocktails and the glasses they come in. And the food. That's why I'm torn about this place.
(3)
Lori S.
This is a small bar on 13th Street, had a mix but mainly young crowd, and packed on a Monday night! The Heffe weis beer was good, but I really loved the hummus platter (warm fresh pita, hummus w/ a little bite, roasted beets, cucmber, pickled green tomato slices olives and a pickle. The farmers market salad was good, but lacked a little flavor. Just a touch of a fresh & light dressing would be good. It was a big bowl of greens, peas, roasted squash or pumpkin (needed roasted more), pickles & pickled tomatoes, big red tomatoe slices, bacon & bread toasts w/ chèvre and a fried egg. Great environment for a happy hour or just hanging out & having good food & beer. Large beer list that appears to rotate along w/ food specials.
(4)
Nicolas N.
Only had happy hour food. Good deep fried beer battered green beans. Great beer selection and service. Must come back and provide more details.
(4)
Cecelia S.
Bartender should stop checking herself out in the mirror and check on the patrons. Get real.
(1)
Mark Z.
I have to say that I really dig this bar and it was a great late lunch spot after the Punk Rock Flea Market. The place has a real laid back/contemporary feel when you walk in. The bartender was attentive, and served my buddy and I quickly. The beer list is quite good with a lot of great craft beers. The burger I ordered was incredibly juicy and really hit the spot since I was starving. This is an awesome addition to the area and I will hope to frequent here more often!
(4)
Brittany P.
Fourtyfive minutes after fighting for a table, still no food. The entire place is sitting without food.. Even people who were here before our group. Magically as soon as one of our group asked how long till our food would come out the server said it was being plated now. And our food is kinda ghetto. And by kinda ghetto I mean our hash browns are tatter tots smashed up and one of the meals haven't arrived yet and everyone is almost done eating. Fail. Not returning ! Update; our dessert that we ordered at the same time as our meals took over an hour to come out. When we said we didn't want it and wanted the check our server? Unsure who our server was. Said the dessert has been up in the kitchen and he will get it ... Why didn't you bring it out?
(1)
Steve O.
A friend of mine lives down the street, so I frequent here often enough even though I'm from out of town. Hipster-ish vibe with dive bar type foods with occasionally adventurous options. The bar is scattered about with edison bulbs casting a dimly-lit shadows against the chalkboard menu behind the bar. The rustic theme is enhanced by the leatherbacked bar chairs which add a somewhat 'funk-cozy' touch to it all. Most recently had their "meat and cheese" plate which sounded decent enough, but upon arrival, was just one thin strip of garlic sausage surrounded by a couple slices of cheeses (highway one and gruyere) and a cheese mousse. The remaining half of the dish was casually assorted with bread and pickled vegetables. Nonetheless, this place has other great entree options and would definitely recommend if you're seeking a comfort food option. The beer options though are pretty awesome and they cycle their seasonal selections frequently (went here on a Friday and then returned the Wednesday after and half the board was updated with new options). It's a decent-sized place, but if you get there between 8-10, it does get pretty crowded and wait for a table or bar space to eat could take some time. Get there a little sooner and you'll be in good shape for good eats.
(4)
Donovan M.
Great food. Awesome beer selection. Found this place by accident, definitely worth it. Can't remember the name of the burger I had, but it was topped with pork roll, onions and a fried egg.
(5)
Colleen M.
Stopped here for a beer or 2 and a bite to eat before a concert at the Electric Factory. It was a little out of my way and I probably never would have ended up here if not for the suggestion of a friend. There were quite a few folks here for happy hour but there was no problem getting great service. Our bartender was awesome. The draft list was on point and with $1 off, you can't really go wrong. I ordered the Hummus plate and I was excited to be served the largest pile of very clearly made-from-scratch hummy I've ever seen. The serrano chili sauce was the perfect compliment with just the right amount of kick. I will definitely try and make it back another night and sample more of the menu... and of course MORE BEER.
(4)
Dan A.
The Prohibition Taproom was one of the favorite Friday lunch spots for my office. This was before the owner opened Bufad. Now PT opens at 4pm, so it's no longer open for lunch. So this has relegated this spot to an infrequent happy hour spot. The beer selection here is great. And they also have a full bar. The menu is also nicely balanced with vegetarian options. I'd like to give PT four stars. But I have to take a star off for them not being open for lunch.
(3)
Wayne J.
My new "go to" place. My son goes to Temple. Prohibition TR is the perfect location. Parking in the area is easy earlier in the night so it works well for us. First things first. It's a beer house so I expect a good variety of good beers and knowledgable staff. They have both. There are plenty of places with hundreds of beers boasting the best selection in town. I don't want hundreds, I want the best local and nationally available craft beers and someone to steer me to a great choice. Every time I go, the bar tenders spend the time with me to recommend a beer to my liking. My last trip I was recommended a beer from Left Hand Brewrey called Sawtooth. It was exactly what I was looking for. I then tried the LHB Ocktoberfest beer. Another winner. Now the food. I seem to order the kielbasa and pierogis every time. I can't get over how good it is. The kielbasa is perfectly seasoned and grilled beautifully. They use a robust mix of seasonings that really gives the sausage a kick. The pierogs are about the best I have ever eaten. Lightly grilled, potato and spices are flavorful and well executed. So really can't comment on much else because all ice had is kilbasa and pierogis and some different appetizers. I have to say they make a mean Poutine and crab fritters. By son has had the burger and the Butcher's cut steak frites. He said they are delicious so I guess you can't go wrong with these dishes either. All in all, I enjoy the taproom. The atmosphere is that of a neighborhood pub with really good beer and food. Can't go wrong with that.
(5)
Charlie S.
Food is awesome. Mostly around $12-$15 meal. I had the rice bowl and Kielbasa. Both very good. Good selection of beer, but a little bit too eccentric tap selection. Plenty of good bottles and cans though. Lose 1 star because of slight service issues. Didn't notice my fiance accidentally gave her an extra $20 on her tip, waitress didn't say anything thinking she would get away with it. My fiance noticed the missing bill, and we brought the cash back and still left a good tip. A little underhanded though.
(4)
Lisa C.
This place is unassuming but a great surprise. They have great drinks and an even better burger. Even the fried soft pretzel was good (minus the spicy dip that comes with it). Staff was very friendly. Nice way to end the day.
(5)
Diana K.
Over a year later, I still give this place 5 stars. This is based on 15+ visits. This may seem excessive, but it is the #1 option near my new home, and it is a REALLY good one. The green beans, the burgers, the BRUNCH, oh my gosh, the brunch. The daily specials which are always different, exciting, and reasonable. I love the constantly changing beer selection, and most of all, I really like the people that come here. This place attracts a great crowd, and please, let's keep it that way!
(5)
Michael R.
A little bit overly expensive now. Everything is $1-$2 more than they should be. The service is still solid, and the food gets the job done, but the price is a bit off.
(4)
Anthony S.
If you're in the callowhill neighborhood, prohibition is the place to go. They have a great beer selection at a reasonable price. And major props to them for getting Oberon within two days after it was available this season! The food here is also good. Tonight I had the moules frites and it was absolutely delicious. Seasoned fries on too of a heap of mussels, swimming in a pool of buttery goodness and a garlic aoli on the side. It may give me a coronary but it was heaven. They also have a rotating special grilled cheese and usually have an interesting combination for it. I will warn you not to get the falafel--it has a strange flavor combination and I whole heartedly regretted ordering it. Otherwise it's a fantastic place for late night food. Or daytime food. Service on the busy nights can be a tad spotty, but I think that's pretty understandable. Chill nights during the week are great. 10 stars for the atmosphere. I love the exposed light bulbs and dark environment. Exactly how I like my bars!
(4)
Michael A.
This place is the real deal. Beautifully authentic 1920s decor, clever and friendly service, great ambiance, and amazing drinks. The food is yum. The draft list has been different every time I go, and never leaves me wanting. Their hand-crafted cocktails will swing you right back into a wilder era.
(5)
Brian L.
Good place to grab a quick bite or drink before a show at Union Transfer. From the limited amount that I was able to try off the menu, I can certainly say that the food is tasty. You've probably got a safe bet with most of the items available. The beer and drinks list is quite extensive as well, so you will have little worry finding something you like. It was fairly packed, but the food came out really quickly.
(4)
Hope N.
The fried pickles, rice bowl and hummus is amazing! The service was great! Everyone was friendly and down to earth. The music and vibe was really chill. Rich was the bartender and he was cool as shhhhh
(5)
Lynn H.
Definitely one of my favorite recent finds. Always great food, good service, and warm atmosphere!
(5)
Alex M.
I came in here after a First Friday showcase down the street at Vox let out. I was with a few friends and we snagged the table nearest the door. A couple of us got old fashioneds, a couple grabbed beers, someone drank a Manhattan and someone got something from their cocktail menu. These drinks were all pretty good but the well whiskey they use is Old Crow. I should have asked because that stuff is terrible. In spite of that, all of the other drinks were solid cocktails. We ordered the deep-fried green beans, hummus plate and some fries. All were above-average bar food. I would love to go back and try something on their entree menu. The folks working here are super nice and willing to accommodate drunks, which is more than I can say for all bars... So yeah, this place is super duper.
(4)
Andy S.
I decided to try this out for dinner after reading all of the positive reviews on here. It was a slightly sketchy walk from the downtown Marriott, but not terrible. I greatly enjoyed having the 1930s neon BAR sign guide my walk down 13th street in the dark. The bar has a nice ambience and the best freaking juke box I have ever perused. Seriously, when a bar's jukebox had Black Flag's "Damaged" album you know you've entered a pretty sweet joint. Great beer selection including a lovely Imperial Pilsner from the mystery keg. For dinner I ordered the bleu cheese wedge salad and the kielbasa and pierogi. The dressing on the wedge salad was really tasty. Usually the bleu cheese overpowers the dressing, but this one was nicely balanced out with some lemon. Coming from a Polish family, I am usually extremely hesitant to order any Polish food at a restaurant -- especially Pierogi. Most places serve oily, flavorless excuses for Pierogi. Imagine my surprise when I was served potato Pierogi that my Polish grandmother could have made. It had a nice dough, good flavor and was fried up perfectly. The kielbasa was nice and smoky and tasted like it had been cooking in sauerkraut in my crockpot for 4 hours on Christmas Day. Really amazing stuff. We were able to get a table immediately, but it filled up around 6PM. Despite the crowd we enjoyed excellent service. If I'm ever in Philly again I will be back for the beer, Pierogi and Black Flag.
(5)
Sam B.
Draft list is great and the service is always good. It is a basic, average bar but sometimes that is all you want: a place to get a beer and some comfort food before you start your night off in earnest. The layout to me is a bit weird, when it gets packed it feels like you are always in the way, but the crowd is always cool so it isn't a big issue. Overall if someone asked me to recommend a place in the neighborhood I would suggest this in a heartbeat.
(4)
Nicole F.
Came in last night and YUMMMMMM. Got the fried chicken sandwich and tempura battered green beans. We were so starving we ordered the first things our eyes rested on, and god damn it, my mouth is watering in remembrance right now. They were out of the pita that the sandwich normally comes on, and the server/bartender hybrid very nicely assured me that the ratios of bread, perfectly battered and fried moist amazing chicken, and various accoutrement would still be balanced. Yea, it's a weird question, but when servers play along with foodie questions it makes me feel happy and welcome. We were sitting on these islands that jut out from the bar so we were a bit removed from the flow of service. That made things move just a touch slower, but it's a relaxed bar atmosphere so I think it's fitting. Everything about the place is just right. The people who live near here are lucky to have such a great neighborhood bar.
(4)
L B.
From the food to the service and the stellar beer selection if I could give this place 1000 stars I would. First Visit: I got lured in by the glowing orange BAR sign outside after watching Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats melt faces at Underground Arts. Had delicious draft and bottled beers and noticed some intriguing yumyums written overhead on the chalkboard. The pours and the selection are solid, the service was fast and friendly even though it was busy. Winning already! The Return: eye catching special on the menu was called the Chinese Redneck. Note: You need this in your life. TRUST. Outta this world crispy and well seasoned dark meat chicken over pork fried rice with chili sauce drizzled allll over. AMAZING. The Thousand Star Qualifications: My crispy chicken was a little undercooked and I mentioned it to my server. He instantly took it away and said they'd make me an entirely new plate - I thanked him. Minutes after that, another gentleman who I believe was the manager came over and apologized profusely for the dish and said another would be out soon - thanked him too. Third - possibly another manager (she was helping to run food out to the floor but wasn't a server) came over and added yet another apology. So courteous and thorough - rare to find anywhere these days. My food was brought out shortly after that last visit and holy calamity was it worth the wait! Perfectly cooked through, al dente rice, just enough chili sauce and nice sized chunks of juicy pork. The first manager even came back out to check on me and told me the funny backstory to the title of the dish. Best.Service.EVER PS the coffee glazed donuts? Think more along the lines of beignets and order these asap. My boyfriend did say that he thought it would be complimented by a dollop of vanilla ice cream. But even without ice cream, my mouth waters at the thought of them. Thank you Prohibition Taproom!!!
(5)
Matt R.
Came in on Friday night without reservations at 8pm before a show at the Union Transfer. The place was packed to the gills, but a server came up to us within 5 minutes and asked us if we wanted to put our names on a list to get a table. Figuring that it would be the best thing to do so even if we left, we did. He said it would be about 45 minutes. A couple of sips into our first beer at the bar they called our name for a two top. We got seated and looked over the menu which was pretty straight forward. We ended up getting the Mac and Cheese which was a healthy portion made with maybe a white cheddar, the green beans which might have been the best dish, and the garlic fries. People around us ordered the burger which looked good to. The green beans were fresh, seemed liked they were picked that day, lightly battered and still came out crunchy, not mushy. The fries were shoestring and a bit on the soggy side. Both those sides came with a good garlic aoili sauce. A mediocre selection of craft beer where nothing at the time really stood out for me, but then again I'm a fan of belgian beers and they were moreso concentrated on the American IPA. That night they had a good American IPA that was a probhibition tab room collaboration with yards. Street parking is the way to go in that neighborhood. Next time I'm headed to a show at the UT I wouldn't hesitate grabbing a drink there, but might opt out of the dinner. One of the few places to go in that neighborhood, but not a bad spot to pregame.
(3)
Michelle P.
I'm not sure how I've passed by Prohibition Taproom so many times before and never stopped in. Last Friday night my friend's birthday party prompted my first visit. My experience was for drinks only, but other members of the party had food and seemed to enjoy themselves. The bar was hopping. The bar seats were occupied, most of the tables were full and people were standing in just about every open space. With so many bodies in not too huge of a space it did get pretty hot. Once another group of people left it got a little better. I don't recall if there was music or not as the place was pretty loud with conversation. All in all, the vibe of the place was good so I don't really care if there was music in the background. I thought the beer list was pretty eclectic. Feeling adventurous, I had sampled my first Nitro Boulder Mojo Risin'. I've never heard of it before but was glad I tried it. I look forward to returning and diving into the food menu.
(4)
Liz F.
PT was good but isn't on my get back here soon list. The bar is very cool because of shape and openness. I would recommend coming here for good beer selection and apps. We ordered the beer battered green beans which were by far the best thing we had. Beans are fresh which really helps. I got the barley salad and was underwhelmed. My date ordered one of their specials- some type of kimchi sandwich. He was disappointed in the lack of kimchi. He also got a side of the mac and cheese which was lackluster in my opinion. The service was great and so was the ambiance and noted openness of the bar. So, PT, you were good; but, I'm not dying to come back for food since there are so many other taprooms and gastropub like places with better grub in the area.
(3)
Kirstie L.
Amazing! VERY CONVENIENT if you are going to a show at Union Transfer. My husband and I stumbled across this gem this evening and could not have been happier. Great prices on drinks... Entrees can get a little pricey but if you stick to appetizers/snacks it's pretty cheap. We had a few drinks each +soft pretzel & beer cheese and Angry Shrimp. Both were delicious. The atmosphere was friendly and accommodating. Definitely will be back in the future!!!
(5)
Anastasia S.
I love this place, because of the laid back environment and beer list. They have a great beer list! The last time I was there I tried the fried green beans. Delicious and unique. I've also had the Pork Bahn Mi. That was also really tasty. Their food menu is a random conglomeration of different types of foods. It's very unexpected, but very well thought out. Good vibes, great beer and food, the reason I will continue to frequent this place.
(5)
Cara S.
Very crowed on a Friday night.. Your average bar . 1 bathroom there was a line all night to get in the ladies room. The bar- tenders were friendly.
(3)
Christine D.
I came here to eat after moving my boyfriend into his apartment. I love the interior and the vibe was friendly and active. Lots of people at 11 pm on a Saturday night, although they came in waves. I was afraid their kitchen would be closed but I'm so glad it wasn't! I ordered the beef sandwich and it came in a reasonable amount of time. The sandwich was a respectable size and quite delicious. Their fries are to die for!!! Shoestring with just the right texture and amount of salt. My bf and his family were drinking, and I was impressed with how friendly the bar staff was. They were more than happy to explain to us their beer selection and gave us samples often! They were always attentive, despite the busy hour, and our drinks were quickly replenished. I would gladly come here again.
(4)
Holly P.
Amazing beer selection and great food. I had the filet mignon and it was out of this world. The bar was comfortable and the staff was friendly. Super comfortable bar stools. I would definitely come back.
(5)
Nazee Z.
Did not actually drink here as I was much too intoxicated, but I loved the atmosphere. As other yelpers have said, quite a unique bar. I loved the christmas lights used as decoration and it really helped to disguise everyone's drunk eyes. All my friends got really fantastic beers and pretty good prices and the mystery keg of the week is a great idea. Next time, I'll definitely have to drink here, but for sure I'll be coming back
(4)
Louisa E.
Great sour beers and beer options. Fun vinyl dj nights. Food is good overall- when I went they had a grilled cheese of the week or night which was fun. Knowledgeable friendly bar staff.
(4)
Emil J.
I have to thank my good friend for bringing me here. It's a nice little find. Good food, good beer, good music, good vibe, clean. And most important: GREAT staff!! Knowledgeable, friendly, attentive. There's not a whole lot to say really. It is a great addition to the neighborhood and totally worth the trip! Go! Support, partake, enjoy!! Eggs Benedict people!! Coupled with good beer, that's a win/win!!
(5)
Sarah H.
This is a great laid back pub with good food (small menu) and a great variety of music. It's a pretty small place which was only noticeable when a large group came in and was rather loud. The small space made the noise unbearable for a dinner on a weeknight but I can see how Prohibition would be a fun spot for an evening out with friends that aren't looking for anything too wild. The beer options, good music variety and friendly bartender made this place fun for dinner while I was traveling. The food I ordered was good and the beers were tasty as well.
(3)
Joseph F.
Absolutely delicious. First off, there were endless choices of appetizers and you can't go wrong with any of them. Filling and awesome! Then the entrees were even better - from the steak frites to the fried chicken. Has a full bar and everything. And it's right in the neighborhoods a little away from the downtown area of Philly.
(5)
Steph D.
I love this place. It's right around the corner from where I work and I end up there at lunch pretty much once a week. The service is great, food is quality, and they have an awesome beer selection. I've only been one time for happy hour, but I'm definitely planning on going more often.
(5)
Emily C.
As good as it gets indeed. Unpretentious neighborhood watering hole with top-notch selection (draft, bottles, liquor.) Personally, I love their collaboration with Yards "Hoppy Lil Hudson." They have a b.y.o.v. night on Sundays (bring your own vinyl) which sounds like an awesome time! Can't wait to go back.
(5)
F C.
Awesome little spot. I stopped there today thanks to Yelp. I had no idea it existed. I look forward to my next trip there. It is a very clean and nice looking bar with a number of small tables. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The bartender made some great recommendations of beer and food. I had the Beef Short Rib Sloppy Joes and they were outstanding. They might sprinkle crack in them. Three fancy beers later I had the cheeseburger. I'd give the burger an 8 out of 10 which on my burger scale is very good. A nice friendly place to meet people and enjoy a relaxed mature atmosphere.
(5)
liz t.
This is my favorite bar in the city! The people here are AMAZING. The bartenders are friendly and welcoming. The servers are quick to refill my beer and make suggestions about what I might like that is new on tap. THE FOOD is why I come here! INCREDIBLE. Best burger in the city!!
(5)
Lori R.
Relaxed atmosphere, friendly service. Great menu and beer selection. Food? G R O A N! Delicious, creative and beautiful food. A new go-to for us!
(4)
Carl L.
Great burger and atmosphere, but it seemed to be in the middle of nowhere...
(4)
Paul B.
Good beer. Small but pleasantly funky menu. Did not dig the walk along 13th to get here.
(3)
Franco X.
Ok I gues I am late to the dance again, never will be a first or probably a elite rater either! So went the other day or on a slow day. First I hope this place makes it in the long run. I never been there on a saturday or friday night maybe thats went the big crowd keeps them going. I got the pulled pork pretty good sandwhich, first came out HOT nice! Fries were warm but alittle too salty, combined with sandwhich too salty. Please cut down on use of salt. Other than that everything else was groovie(lol). Bartenders were friendly and beer selection very good. Place also seemed clear too a plus. Probably go again.
(4)
Wendy J.
Prohibition is a great local spot. When I want to go out for a beer and some food, this is always my first pick. They have a fantastic selection of beers and their food is too good (I always eat too much). It's not particularly healthy, but it's impossible to stay away. And the staff is always super-friendly. No matter how crowded it is, it's always easy to get service. Writing this makes me want to go there for lunch today....
(4)
Stevie S.
I usually feel compelled to write descriptive, thorough reviews, but this time I don't think I'm gonna... -Great jukebox -Good food -Tasteful beer list -Nice Bartender -Rarely crowded I can get down with Prohibition.
(4)
Rob S.
We had a very positive experience at the Taproom on a Friday night. We were rolling in with a large group (approx. 12 people). No reservations here and it was initially hard to find space. There never ended up being enough table space available for more than maybe 4 people, but somehow we ended up etching out an area almost big enough at the bar. The service was wonderful. The bartenders got us all beers within minutes of us entering and remained friendly and attentive throughout the night. The beer battered green beans ARE delicious. (Thank you Yelpers for the recommendation.) My friend and I split the pulled pork and the grilled cheese special, which on this evening was a brie and broccoli rabe combo. Both were very tasty and everyone seemed quite pleased with their meals. The fries and salad as a side are extremely tasty too. The beer list is pretty good, though it by no means can compete with the heavy duty beer bars around the city. There were a couple beers on special for $4 (Coronado wit?) but most beers were regularly listed at $5-$7. This is OK, but I usually like there to be a cheaper option beer if possible after having a few $5.50 drafts or whatever... Anyway, that's a fairly minor complaint in a generally positive experience. This place deserves a very solid 4 stars.
(4)
Scott F.
Decided to go out of the usual loop of restaurants in center city, olde city, south philly, norther liberties and hit up the Prohibition Taproom with some friends. It was definitely worth the 10 minute walk from the train station. The burger and fries were better than the average and the beer selection was outstanding. Good place to enjoy conversation over a small meal or drinks.
(4)
David U.
They gave us regular fries instead of the polenta fries, I was too drunk to complain however. This place has an enormous beer selection. I wish I lived in Philly just so I could try all the beers they had. My favorite was the Walt Wit, very tasty wheat beer. The shark attack is pretty good too but it's REALLY strong. 10% alcohol, halfway through it I was buzzing. Definitely would like to come back here.
(4)
Samantha S.
This is my favorite bar in Philadelphia. Wait, no. THIS IS MY FAVORITE BAR IN PHILADELPHIA. Nobody go here. It is mine. The food is mine. The jukebox is mine. The staff are mine. Stay out of my secret place.
(5)
Quinney H.
Philly restaurants regularly appear on The Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate". Prohibition Taproom definitely deserves a nomination in the dessert category. Seriously, the best bread pudding that I ever ate!
(5)
Nabil F.
Went here based on the reviews on Yelp and was not disappointed. Got together here as part of our yearly reunion with some of my friends from my fraternity right after Christmas. The burger and the beer battered green beans were excellent as reviewers said. The service was friendly and the beer selection was exceptional. We left after four hours (By the time we left it started to get a bit too loud - younger patrons and their loud talking!) Will definitely come back!
(4)
chris h.
i throw my support behind this place. i love the lighting, the weird bar that shoots out the two big polyps for sitting around, the jukebox and the food. though i am obsessed with the green beans, hoisin wings and the mac and cheese to the point that i only order these each time. the mac and cheese is one of the best in the city, with some nice smoky cheese in there and though it may not be on the menu, you can order it as a side, which is a perfect match for the wings. my partner in crime loves the burger and has also been pleased with the grilled cheese. she also usually orders the gin and berry cocktail which is very tasty, while i stick to their great draft list. the bartenders are very nice and it is reasonable to boot. i am not crazy about the location since i live in southish philly and it is a bit of a haul. but a very pleasant walk when the weather is nice. also there is nothing else around there, so it is a single destination evening usually for me.
(4)
Carolina W.
Four stars for decor and craft beer selection. Two stars for food. This place does shine like a diamond in the rough. I'm not too familiar with Philly, but the bar flanked parts of Chinatown and seemed to be in a part of town that was a bit rough-around-the -edges, so finding this cool spot in such a unlikely locale made it ever more of a sweet find. From the vintage sign outside to the wrought iron mustang carved enclosures that meet you at the front entrance, a subtlely hip James Dean appeal imbued the Prohibition. The vibe, beer, and service did not disappoint, so I expected their grub to live up. I was excited to see their pickle plate as an app and ordered it on a whim. Luscious looking carrots and cocktail onions and green beans came out on an equally verdant and zesty looking bed of fresh lettuce, but after my second bite I realized that looks can be deceiving. Let's just say this app tasted more like a vinegar plate than a pickled veg plate. The veggie sandwich tasted overly seasoned and a few bites in, I couldn't even finish it. I almost would have rather they served a Boca Burger and least gotten something somewhat tasty for my money. And then a quarter of the way through our sandwich, a slightly off cook (the head cook?) came out from the kitchen and kept offering the bartenders food, only to be turned down. And they seemed annoyed by her persistence. Weird. The whole situation was odd and made me wish I had only stopped at the Prohibition for a drink and gone somewhere else for food.
(3)
Dalla A.
Love this place! The beer selection is great and the food is way beyond what you'd expect at a typical bar. Service is always extremely friendly.
(4)
Max T.
This bar just feels right. Everything I have had to eat there was spot on, the music is unmatched for any bar, and the staff is always friendly. The price is right too, they have good specials (daily grilled cheese special), with $2 drafts during happy hour.
(5)
David F.
So, whenever I'm in the city visiting friends I always somehow end up stopping into Prohibition. We love the atmosphere and the drink selections. The staff has always been really freindly and helpful. The food has also been consistently good. This time I went on the recommendation of Michelle (Cupcake) to get the green beans. Yup, grean beans. Who woulda thunk it? But those damn things were really tasty with a sweet cucumber dip that you could spoon out alone and gobble up. The burger was cooked just as we had asked, medium rare, and was quite tasty although slightly a little salty (but not too bad). The skinny fries (for lack of a better word) were also nice and crispy. I am definitely a big fan.
(4)
Angela V.
cool atmosphere, pleasant wait staff, awesome food! i had the grilled cheese special with mushrooms and bacon. probably did wonders for my arteries, but well worth it. affordable menu. i will definately hang with friends here again.
(4)
Amie B.
Tonight, I had THE BEST burger at Prohibition Taproom. It was their specialty with pesto, mushrooms and brie. I think I could honestly eat that every night of the week. The bartender was awesome, and there was a really welcoming vibe. It felt like everyone was old friends.
(5)
Kyle N.
I've been to Prohibition Taproom a few times and it was a great experience on each occasion. The beer selection is vast and adventurous. The bartenders are ridiculously friendly and knowledgeable to boot. Last night I had their burger and, holy crash!, it was freaking awesome. Cooked perfectly, well seasoned, and the chipotle spicy mayo was sick! This spot is a great low-key, chill bar with a cool vibe and solid beats. The bar is shaped kinda funky with these two camel humps sticking out, which could cause one to be closely facing, and possibly intruding on strangers, but thats a minor hick-up compared to the overall experience.
(4)
Phil W.
Last night I finally went to THE INSTITUTE for the first time (exactly three blocks away) and realized how much better a neighborhood bar could really be (see separate review). I live a half-block from Prohibition and was a cheerleader for the place when it opened, but Prohibition doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. you never knew what will be on draft (if you find a beer you like, drink up, when they run out it will be gone) - or on the jukebox - or on the menu - any given day. I ordered Irish car bombs with friends once. Tried to order them again a week later but the manager swooped in on the bartender to tell us that Prohibition does not serve car bombs! Prohibition doesn't seem to know if it wants to be an upscale eatery (in which case the overall menu, service and atmosphere fall far short) or a neighborhood bar (in which case "mussels cooked in ale" and "frisse salad with truffle vinagaette" seem pretentous and out of place). As a result, it doesn't really do either very well.
(2)
Sweet W.
i live a block away from this place, yet took nearly a year to venture that long block to what may be my favorite bar in the city. the bar is pretty low key, rarely very full, and a decent place to bring friends or a date. the noise level is acceptable with a great jukebox and, in the few times i've been there, douchebros have been minimally invasive. there was one night that some guy was trying to read a book and some dudes were being total assholes right behind him. i mean, it is a bar, so i don't know why anyone would be trying to read there, but these guys were exceptionally annoying. that was an isolated incident, though. now, i didn't drink beer regularly until a few months ago (i don't really like any of the shitty beers that typically populate college parties, so i'd usually just try and get drunk off of vodka or gin), so i don't know how qualified i am to judge the beer selection. from what i've seen at other bars, prohibition's beer list isn't super extensive, but there's a good variety of beers both on tap and in bottles. the bartenders are nice, attentive, cool folks who know what they're talking about way more than i do. now, the food is nothing out of the ordinary, but damn it's good. i don't like green beans so i haven't had those beer battered things everyone's having conniptions over. the polenta fries are absolutely perfect: spicy, salty, fried crispy on the outside and velvety on the inside. the aioli that comes along with it makes me want to cry just thinking about how FUCKING GOOD it is. the wings are banging, too: good size, tender meat, extra saucy and a 4/5 on the heat level. i had a burger once, and it was decent, but i won't be having it again. it's very reasonably priced with most beers on tap being 5 or so dollars. the food is a little more expensive than usual for bar food, but definitely worth it. and that sign just tops it off. five stars.
(5)
Amanda F.
For brunch we had a great waitress and a nice conversation with some other brunchers, but the eggs were super nasty. Like inedible gross. Which is disappointing because I do love some eggs. Also took them down a star for the seating policy; I understand they don't take names, but then they told us that someone else had put their name in for a seat and had gotten there before us, so we didn't take the table when it was open. Then we proceeded to stand there while no one took the table. Still waiting, because we were under the assumption that someone had claimed it, we watched as two people who had just arrived sat down at it. It was a mess. Make up your mind about whether you are reserving, whether it is first come-first-served, or what. Not cool.
(2)
T P.
Great beer selection!!! They support the local breweries. Its a great old bar The food is great too. Would have gotten five stars but my friend's beer was vinegary and the bartender made him pay for a new beer. That's not classy. I did have delicious fish and chips and the fries are great.
(4)
C J.
In town from Chicago for a night and looking for a place to walk to from the Sheraton (almost a dump). This was the right choice. Excellent draft selection, very cool, unobstrusive and knowledgable staff and the food was excellent (muscles in ale and grilled cheese of the day). Seriously, it was a pretty damn good grilled cheese. Very chill little joint. Good vibe, great music, excellent beer!!
(5)
Scully D.
My favorite watering hole. The drafts are always changing; I've tried so many new beers there. The bottle list is huge. Drafts range from $4.50 to 7 at most- some pints, some glasses. They also do an "old man drink," which is a specialty cocktail of the week for $4.50. The food! It's such an interesting menu. They have different burgers and gourmet grilled cheeses every time I go. The chef does have a strange love of fennel. I've had pot-pies, sandwiches, ribs, etc. and there were all delicious. There are two TVs. If there's a game on, people will be watching, but it doesn't overwhelm the whole place if you are there for some other reason. The staff are generally nice and love to talk. The clientele range in ages depending on time of day and it can get pretty busy (and a little loud for conversation) at night. Lunch is my favorite time to go, when it's nice and quiet. The decor is vintage-y, with low watt light bulbs and dark patterned wallpaper.
(5)
Amy R.
A great neighborhood tavern with surprisingly great food. Unexpected dishes such as Brie Grilled Cheese, make this a nice spot to slide into for a drink and good meal.
(4)
Topher D.
service is very good, food is pretty good (tried the mussels - go for the wine over the ale) - beer selection was ok - had a ton of IPAs on draft which was cool with me, less so with the gf. Biggest drawback to this place was location - we came as tourists and didn't feel safe walking on 13th, with a random person passed out on the sidewalk and another carrying a cash register through the streets (who knows, maybe he just bought it?) If I came back to Philly, I'd consider a cab ride out here, but walking is not a good idea.
(4)
Dustyn C.
i ended up in this bar the first time by accident. i saw the giant neon sign from far down the street and thought to myself "yeah, i could use a beer." so i went to check it out. and i can honestly say that if this bar were pretty much ANYWHERE else in center city, it would be packed all the damn time. the tap list is always interesting and reasonably priced, and the beer bottle list is comprehensive and the menu actually goes out of it's way to explain each style of beer it offers. if you are starting to explore the world outside of mass produced lagers and pilsners, this is a great bar to check out. they have lots of options, and they are more than happy to help you find something you are going to enjoy. the only food I've ever ordered so far is the battered green beans. they are a really wonderful bar snack, and an order is HUGE! although i can certainly put away some food, I've never once been able to finish them by myself. the bartenders have always been seriously friendly, and not in that forced "this is my job and so I'm pretending to like you" kind of way. just genuinely nice people who have always had an answer to any question i've had and can make decent recommendations for drinks.
(4)
Tamiz M.
Nice vibe, interesting tables and bar, good upscale bar food...the food specials are usually what I end up getting, they vary daily but tend to be better than the menu staples.
(3)
Ed A.
I had stayed four nights in Philly and was tired and wanted something different; I found it at Prohibition. The service was superb from the wait staff. The deep fried green beans are out of this world, especially with a Lionshead beer. I have since recommended to several people who live in Philly and have it marked for my return next year and will take my customers here for a repeat treat! I had the Hanger Steak w/Frites. The seasoned butter was a little salty, but still very satisfying.
(4)
Yogi R.
This is the best bar in my neighborhood. The beer selection is great and always changing. The food is in the upper half of Philly's gastropub scene. Burgers are great, but check the specials. Very often you can find something great. The staff is fantastic and quite helpful. They never seem upset no matter how ridiculous the crowd. What makes this bar better than all the other bars (other than the fact it's only 5 mins from me) are the Old Man Drinks. Definitely get these. The price is better than any other cocktail in the city. I can't stress this enough... get one at least. It changes constantly, but is worth it at $4.50, plus you can feel like you are living in the 1940's.
(5)
Me C.
Great brunch and they'll accommodate vegetarians easily. Friendly staff and great jukebox.
(4)
andrew l.
Love love love this place. It's my number 1 pub in Philly. Ten changing taps including a hand pump. Extensive bottle list. Special "old man drink" of the week for $4.50 which is usually a strong old school drink that a madmen character would drink. As stated by many the batterer green beans are a great appetizer. The Pork sandwich is huge a delicious. The burger AND special burger are always good (make sure to order with country white roll NOT CIABATTA). The grilled cheese is my favorite. It too changes ingredients frequently (usually something like gruyere, arugula and fig jam) and comes with half portion of salad and a half portion of fries. Perfect. I forget the name but one of the salads has frisee, fingerling potato slices and pork belly or bacon. Quite tasty. Im also told that almost everything is prepared in house like sauces, marinades and special meat prep. Support this place so it's around forever.
(5)
John D.
Nice, little bar. Good bottle selection and ever-rotating taps. The food is deceptively great--it's a pretty standard menu, at a glance, but the little changes they made transform most of their food into something interesting, memorable. If anyone ever finds out the recipe for their hot wings, let me know. The bartenders and wait staff are superb. It's a great place for 2-4 people looking to relax and have some drinks and tasty food, but probably not so good if you're looking for a place to party while your frat gets bug bombed.
(4)
Shawn H.
I would have to say that I've visited Prohibition a couple times in the last week and have been impressed. The food is great and they have an excellent selection of local beer.
(4)
Erin R.
The service is excellent; they are incredibly attentive to their patrons seated at tables). They have an extensive bottle list (tons of beers, plus 2 ciders), and several on tap beers. The food is decent and came out fast, but I only had appetizers not a full dinner. On Saturday night, tables are only for dining. The atmosphere is very cozy, but it's very loud inside. It's in a sketchy neighborhood, but it's well worth it. I will definitely be going back!!!
(5)
michael j.
Best bar in the area. A friendly and attentive staff makes this a nice place to get a drink. Ask about the Old Man drink. They're the bees knees, fool.
(4)
Steve M.
came in the other night to grab a beer and some dinner. i was pleased with the shrimp appetizer(happy hour special i believe) and the macaroni and cheese entree(expensive though, 13$) service was good too, personable staff i would say. def would come back....
(4)
jonnie d.
I really love this place and glad to have it in the neighborhood. I'm a beer lover and they always have something interesting and different on tap and they're patient with samples and descriptions. Short but good menu with unique and fresh specials. I love the battered deep fried green beans. The staff is super friendly and put me in a good mood. Only thing that ever disappointed me was a pulled pork sandwich which was a little soggy, maybe just wasn't my thing. I enjoy going here on weeknights for a quiet dinner and a beer. Once I took a date there on a weekend and found it a little loud and rowdy for intimate conversation but what can you expect?
(4)
Chrissy R.
I finally was able to get some food at Prohibition Taproom. I got a macaroni and cheese sidedish and it was really good. I was afraid it would be the kind that is all breadcrumb-y and it wasn't. It was full of different flavors of cheeses and I really liked it.
(4)
Sandrine F.
The beer list is great, even more selection that I expected. The menu is pub/comfort food, delicious and awesome value. The portions are generous and the ingredients are fresh and perfectly cooked. The burger was cooked perfectly (medium-rare), ground chuck was very tasty. The serving of blue cheese on top was way generous. The only improvement would be to do away with the focaccia roll which makes it too huge to eat. With a brioche bun, this burger could compete for the best in Philly. The hanger steak was an equally delicious piece of meat, again cooked to perfection served with fries and a side salad (not mentioned on the menu so nice bonus). A bigger plate would have made it easier to cut. And of course the beer battered green beans, perfect dish to share with friends instead of the perennial side of fries. Love the rounded sections of the bar, great for a group of 6-8 to sit at the bar, have dinner and carry a conversation... you can almost picture go-go dancers on there back in the days.
(4)
Michael B.
Great selection , Food. Bit expensive but totally standard for this type of thing. Super cool super neat , as far as the "rape alley" comment below ( or above ) . Look , it's really not that dangerous and if you really live down the street put a light weight baton in your coat. power of a baseball bat and you dont have to get close to the attackers. Check out this business because i would sure enjoy it alot more if it was a bit more crowded !!!!
(4)
Ritu K.
Since I'm such a huge fan of Cafe Lift I was eager to try this place (same owners I believe). It took awhile to flag down a server and get some menus, but it looked like there was only one server around so it wasn't a huge deal. Great beer selection although I was super disappointed to not see The Lost Coast Brewery (the best!!) on tap. I must have been on crack when I read a review claiming they had the Lost Coast Brewery on tap- wishful thinking perhaps- who knows??? Anyways I had the crab cakes (good not awesome) and the other folks I was with had the burgers (once again yummy but not the best they've had). Fries were good, albeit salty. Its hard not to like salty deep fried food with beer. Speaking of deep fried, our server forgot our fried green beans order, but by the time the food was out we decided not to remind her. The best part- the jukebox- I heard a few of my fave New Order songs and I was a fan. A good place to grab a beer (great selection) and the food was fine but nothing really stood out..
(3)
Shay K.
Went here last night. Extensive beer menu, and a nicely concise dinner menu. We ordered the Beer Mussels (hehe) to start, along with a Wit for me, and a porter for le boyfriend. After 20 minutes, the mussels still hadn't arrived, though our beer had. Thinking they were just out fishing for the mussels, we ordered dinner. Another 20 minutes later, our meals arrived- delicious! But, the mussels were nowhere to be seen. So, I mentioned that maybe they got lost in the shuffle to the waitress. She apologized profusely and admitted to forgetting to put the order in. She even offered us a free round of drinks (i got an amazing pale ale on her suggestion... johnny trotter or something). By the end of the meal, we ate our appetizer. Some of the freshest, least sandy mussels, I have ever had (and I grew up on the RI shore catching mussels myself) and felt that overall it was a fabulous experience, amazing service and good food. I can;t wait for a snowy winter day to return here all bundled up and to soak in the cozy atmosphere again.
(4)
Michael L.
We went to Prohibition with a group of 8 people on Saturday night. This has got to be the coolest and most comfortable bar in the city. The subtle lighting and killer jukebox really set the mood. We all sat around one of the peninsula's that juts off the main bar which was perfect for socializing and keeping everyone involved in the conversation. The app's we got were fantastic, especially the crunchy fried green beans. The beer selection was very diverse and the bartender did a great job recommending different ones to try. Definitely a 5-Star, we'll be back soon.
(5)
Raymond P.
So my wife and I came here with high expectations based on reviews on yelp and from word of mouth...First impression upon walking in is that the place, although in a very obscure area, is really cool looking. The bar was great and the decor fit the name. Per multiple reviews, we tried the green beans, which were actually pretty good...With that in mind, we are excited for our meals...Based on recommendations from the waitress, I ordered the chile sauce wings and my wife ordered the Crab cake risotto, again, based on her recommendation. She was wrong...Look...Im usually not very picky, but why try to reinvent the wing??? I've had many wings from many different places and these are definitely on the lower spectrum of taste. The chile sauce...was more like a chile pate that I could have put on my italian hoagie...it was basically chile seeds coated on a buffalo wing...It was both weird and disrespectful to wings! One positive about the wings is that they were big...but they came out kind of soggy and most of the bones were broken, which makes them difficult to eat...and dangerous for your teeth/choking hazard. Ultimately, the wings were a total dud... Now for my wife's crab risotto...First and foremost...LAY OFF THE SALT!!! Wow...way too much. The concept of binding a crab cake with risotto sounded both interesting and delicious, but the cake had little flavor, except for the obvious dowsing of salt. In addition to the crab being flavorless, the cole slaw that came with it was worse that ive ever had and the bed of french fries that the crab cakes sat on were under cooked and bland...Again...this meal was a total dud and 15 dollars to boot! Money wasted. Perhaps we came on a bad night...maybe we picked the wrong food to eat, but my impression is of a place with a burgeoning reputation as the Prohibition Taproom, that all of your food should be at least edible. We've been to Royal Tavern, SPTR, Sidecar, etc...all very similar places, and the meals are consistently good or better...I'd have a very hard time coming back here for food, but I gave it three stars bc the place is a cool bar, with great atmosphere, and good beer. I wouldn't come here for the food.
(3)
Colleen B.
I have never had a bad meal here. Their special burgers have been killer. I still dream about the burger with egg and truffle oil. Great juke box and friendly staff.
(5)
S. M.
My husband & I recently went to Philly to see the mummy exhibit (which was also great). We read about Prohibition Taproom online, and beer geeks that we are, we had to go. It was such a great experience, we had to go back our 2nd night there, too! The beer list was excellent, as was the staff. The employees seemed really happy to be there and were exceptionally service-oriented & friendly. We didn't try the food, but after reading all these reviews, we will be sure to do that on our next trip there.
(5)
Robert C.
Incredible selection of beers and wonderful food with daily specials and unique, classic cocktails (elderflower sidecar, anyone?). My favorites so far have been the beet and goat cheese salad, frise salad and beer-battered green beans. This is not your average bar, and is truly a wonderful place to eat in an unusual location. It is a bit off the beaten track, but is still walking distance from the Convention Center and other Center City locations. The kitchen is also open until quite late (11pm or midnight?). My only critique is that the music is sometimes a bit too loud.
(5)
Brynn D.
i can't stop eating here. twice in three days? seriously? yes. the special - monkfish, mussels, clams, shrimp, tomatoes, leeks in a white wine sauce = amazing. salad with arugula, beets, goat cheese, toasted almonds = equally amazing. beer list = overwhelming. i love the sly fox helleslager and the weyerbacher fireside ale that are on tap right now. i can't get enough of this place!
(5)
Jeremy G.
moved to this area a month ago, been here more than handful of times now. green beans, booyah. friendliest mofo's working here too. guy was telling us the owner is good friends with the owner of yard's brewing, and yards makes a mean ipa that is sold exclusively through this joint. neighborhood only looks shady. worth it for the beers here.
(5)
Tim O.
went on a saturday afternoon. the first ones there. when empty it kinda gives off a vfw vibe. that's fine with me. service was good. prices aren't bad. good selection of draft and hand pump beers. beer battered green beans are excellent. i'd definitely go back, but not before i save some money drinking at my favorites dives.
(4)
Inchul Y.
great bar with a great beer selection and great food. their special grilled cheeses and burgers are amazing. bartenders/waitresses are all very friendly. first time we walked into the bar, the bartender immediately greeted us and welcomed us to the neighborhood. the bar design is pretty cool too with the islands jutting out.
(5)
Greg B.
I went here randomly the other night, after stumbling around from another bar. The big "BAR" sign is wonderfully placed, as many people have already attested to. Be aware, however, that this place has "gentrification" written all over it. Local beers from Philadelphia and beyond are on tap. The coolest traditional CD-player jukebox I've ever seen was resting in the corner, featuring only artists from the early 90s and forward. The lighting is romantic, dark, hollow and welcoming. The bartender who served my friends and I was definitely friendly and gave us information on the beer. The place is a bit pricey, but it's well worth it. What kind of people were in this place? Younger and older, a good mix. Nobody was loud and obnoxious, at least noticeably (the noise-folk music playing in the background kept all the parties pretty detached from one another). I'm not sure if there's a food menu, but I wouldn't be surprised. Oh yeah--the bathrooms are some of the nicest I've seen in a bar in a very long time. Also, though in great walking distance from the subway, this bar is nicely tucked into a back corner where parking shouldn't be a problem.
(4)
Sarah G.
I was visiting Philadelphia from out of town and staying at the nearby Hampton Inn, and looked up this place on Yelp. With a name like the Prohibition Taproom, and based on a couple of other reviews, I thought they might have good cocktails -- but I was mistaken! My friend's drink -- a rum punch -- was so strong she had to ask them to put more juice in it; and either I'm an alcoholic or they forgot to put any bourbon in my old-fashioned. However, the food was GREAT and once we switched to beer, we were very impressed with their selection of awesome local brews. The bartenders were friendly and accommodating and there was a relaxed, congenial vibe to the place. The one thing to be aware of, though, is that it *is* in a very industrial, out-of-the-way spot -- the desk clerk at the hotel advised us to "not look like tourists or like we were lost" while walking there.
(3)
ted b.
Not only is Prohibition good for interesting brews and great food, you can go and hear new albums months before they come out. Yep, one of the bartenders is a music editor and plays all her favorite new picks at the bar, you can preview an album way before you decide to buy it! Just another reason to love the Pro-Tap.
(5)
Alex S.
Came here after seeing their burger on a 'best burgers in Philly' list. Had to try their signature burger and it definitely lived up to the hype, even by west coast standards. Cool little bar with a great beer selection on tap. Cool jukebox in the corner and friendly staff.
(4)
Nate L.
Went here mostly for drinks, but ordered some appetizers and small plates to snack on while we drank. Waited for about 20 mins on a Saturday night for a table. Relatively small space but full size bar. A little overpriced for what it is, but a decent experience. The fries were ok. Artichoke dip was interesting - strong horseradish flavor which I am not a huge fan of. The fried chicken sandwich was large and tasty on a delicious bun. A lot more breading than I was hoping for. Not a bad experience. May give it another shot if passing by.
(4)
Susan M.
Not a bad place to pre-game an Underground Arts or Union Transfer show. Prohibition attracts a young happy hour crowd but patrons grew progressively older as the night went on. I Had a good stiff drink and listened to some good tunes on the old-timey juke box! No touch tunes here! They had a short list of food options that looked delicious - I would definitely like to try a meal here! Powder room style restrooms resulted in a long bathroom wait, but the privacy is nice! Its not too often that I'm in this neck of the woods, but I'll come back here for sure!
(4)
Dave H.
Prohibition Taproom has got personality. Their huge "BAR" sign calls to you, even visible from Spring Garden. This faux-speakeasy's interior fits their name, with a large wooden bar dominating the space, lit by beautiful hanging Victorian bulbs. There's room for a crowd, even in the bathrooms[1]. My only gripe is that the exterior is brighter than it ought to be. Prohibition opened earlier this month, and as young as they are, the staff was anything but. Brendan, our bartender and a trained chef, kept us happy, making us shots and taking food orders (they have a full menu). We took down gin ($7/shot), Jameson, and pineapple rum shooters[2]. Would have drank more, but conceded, with great lugubriousness, that it was a Monday night. Stop into Prohibition[3], and tell 'em I sent you[4]! [1] Their non-unisex bathrooms can fit two comfortably, though most will prefer to go solo. Don't ask how I know. [2] I asked for a light, random shot, and was pleasantly surprised with the shooters. [3] Do this! [4] Don't do that!
(5)
Aruna A.
Recently went back here for the 5,000th time, and had one of the MOST amazing grilled cheese sandwiches I have EVER had in my ENTIRE life. Their available grilled cheese rotates often, depending on what's the daily special / available that season. When I went there last nite, they had something with Jack Cheese, Ham, and Pineapple. I got it without the ham, and it was AMAZING. One of the best I've ever eaten in my life - for all of $10!!!! Oh tap room, how I love you!
(5)
David F.
Decent tap selection. Really nice bottle selection, with reasonable bottle prices. A mix of hipster to business casual. Good looking and friendly wait staff all around. My only critique is to the terrible bulbus-like bar extensions. Although it may be great for a group, it's lack of flexibility makes it different if you are with one two close friends and are in the situation where there is. And seating has never been ample on my experiences going there. Had some fried cauliflower as well. Very salty, but overall tasty. I will go back. I love the vibe. Low-lit atmosphere with a bangin' juke box. I think a tighter bar layout would move it up a notch in my list. Cheers, Dave
(3)
Ramon T.
Great bar! Great beers! Ashley the bartender was awesome!!! She was very helpful. The banana bread pudding was ok.
(5)
Dana M.
This place has gone downhill in a big way. This place is right up the street from my apartment. My boyfriend and I used to go here all the time, the food and drinks were great. Then I started getting sick every time I drank from their taps...that was the start. Then they tried to serve my boyfriend a burger so rare that it was literally seared ground meat...he ordered it medium well. When he talked to the waiter about it the dude argued with us and tried to convince us that's the way it was supposed to be cooked. The steak frites used to be melt in your mouth amazing but the last time I tried that dish it was stringy and chewy and definitely not worth the $17 price. Save your money and go somewhere else. Besides the food going downhill and the dirty taps, the wait staff also have huge hipster egos that only help make place one to avoid.
(1)
Vinny P.
Shazam! Wow I really liked this place. I went out with some friends to catch the *LCS games and Prohibition Taproom was the selection. I'm so happy we came here. Very original bar layout. When I first walked in my comment was, "oh this place is small." Alas, I was incorrect! It's not that I found another room, their bar juts out thus allowing for a more social setting while sitting at the bar. Chairs are around each of these peninsulas which allows for extra seating. Points for the cool bar layout although I'm sure it makes a little hell for the staff having to slide everything. Maybe skip the soup :) The green beans were delicious. Garlic dipping sauce on the side and lighly battered and quickly fried. Almost tempora style. I got to taste the special burger (blue cheese, red wine reduction, arugula on ciabatta) and the special grilled cheese, I believe it was brie and figs. I also tasted the mac and cheese which was made with shells and I don't think contained gruyere which I always thought was necessary in good mac and cheese. It seems they might have proven me wrong! The highlight was certainly the grilled cheese. Brie and figs, cmon, how could that be bad? Beer wise, I was very impressed with the selection. I got the Hoppy Lil Buddy (or something like that) off the cask and it was very tasty. Other members of my group drank the Left Hand Warrior and the Rt 113 IPA. The draft list was printed in a weird font which made it tough to read in the dimly lit bar, but that's no biggie. I wanna go back to this place already. It was really really good.
(4)
Matt S.
This IS my favorite bar in Philly,hands down! The food, beer and service is all wonderful. Jon, and his staff go out of their way to great you and make you feel at home. I feel like Norm from the TV show Cheers whenever I walk in. They have an amazing selection of beers on draft and the bottle selection is great,too. I have NEVER been disappointed by their food. I highly recommend the beer battered green beans. The atmosphere is very comfortable as well. It has a unique bar set up where a group can sit at the bar and still face each other. The brunch is amazing and there's never a wait or a long line for a weekend brunch. Sunday night is Bring Your Own Vinyl where if you bring in your old LPs you get %20 off your food and drink tab! My wife and I love this place so much that we even took some of our wedding photos there! It may get crowded at times, esp. if there's a show at UT. But you the wait staff will serve you a beer and eventually a seat will be available.
(5)
Marissa R.
This place wasn't nearly as awesome as it was cracked up to be. Maybe I get my hopes up WAY too high. The ambiance itself is alright, I guess it's "20's style" but I'm not too sure about that. The bar is awkward... we sat jutted out into the middle where the waitress couldn't really even talk to us!!! However, the beer was tasty, and strong, and priced right. I would return again, but I'm not that sold on it.
(3)
Ace J.
Love this place for 3 reasons: Delicious food: -Highly recommend the beer battered green beans and the pub burger with tomato jam. They cook the burger perfectly!! Diverse drink menu: -Beers are always awesome, and there is enough to choose from. But I wanna talk about the Bloody Mary... ohhhhhhh... SO good!!! I live so close to this place, and I'm usually there on Sundays recovering my hangover with a TASTY bloody mary!! GET IT! The staff: -One word: Hipster. But of course the cool ones. Always super friendly and assist you right away. PS. You don't even have to ask for a glass of water. They will bring it to you. classy!
(4)
T.J. W.
Had a few hours to kill while waiting for my gf's daughters who were attending a show at the Electric Factory. Being unfamiliar with the area, I did a quick Yelp search of nearby joints, and this place looked interesting, and close by. Mixed crowd. And one of the first things that jumped out at as was the loudness of the room. Not the jukebox or other music, but just the overall din. I don't know if it's the layout of the room, or what, but it was noticeably loud. If you're looking to engage in intimate conversation, this probably isn't the place. That being said, we were greeted right away by a pleasant staff member who told us that there was about a 20 minute wait. No problem. Interesting bar seating layout, but we just stood. When a table became available we were seated promptly. Our server was very polite, and rattled off a long extensive list of impressing sounding specials. We opted for some regular menu items, but the grilled cheese sure sounded tempting. My GF had the french onion soup and the BLT. Both of which she said were delicious. I had the crab hush puppy app, followed by the steak frite entree. The hush puppies were great, and were served with a thai chili sauce. The hanger steak was cooked as ordered as seasoned nicely. Had a nice flavor and was juicy and tender. It was served on top of the home cut fries, which had I known was the case, may have asked to have the fries off to the side, but then again, I don't like to mess with the chef's vision. But overall, we bother enjoyed our food very much. Too full for dessert, we headed out for a walk to Penn's landing. Total for two adults with 2 bottles of domestic beer, 2 Cokes, 2 apps, 2 entrees - $49.36 before tip.
(4)
Lin P.
I had the best BLT of my life here. The bacon tasted like it was made from the worlds happiest pig.
This update is dedicated to the PTR burger. It Its technically the first of my burger reviews - prior to deciding that its time to work my way through every phila taproom burger i can find. This unusual take on the burger works: its served with an egg, truffle oil, gruere & arugula on a french roll. Not your usual burger combo, but really unique flavor. Hope they make it a staple. $10. Burgerlicious rating = 7
(4)
Lan G.
My friend and I went to check this bar out before heading to Yelp party last night. They have happy hour from 5-7pm and it was $1 off all the beer selection. I tried gray lady...do not get it. It tasted like soap water after a couple of sips. I liked the Eurotrash my friend got. It's much like a normal beer... We also got their garlic mussels and a side of fries. The mussels were very yummy, especially the sauce. Great for bread dipping! The fries were so-so. The bartenders are really chill and the whole place definitely feels like a neighborhood hanging out place. You can find plenty of free parking on both 12nd and Buttonwood.
(3)
Shane W.
Had a really good sandwich here once, and a damn good burger here another time. I've always been impressed with their tap list, and can always find something new to drink here. Bartenders and servers seem really nice. It's dimly lit but doesn't feel like a dive... it's too hip for that. I haven't spent enough time here to give it a real honest assessment, but I like what I've seen so far.
(4)
Leonidas K.
Was there for a benefit. My second visit. Great food. Great beer. Horrible staff. My first visit was with an almost empty bar. Hipster staff too busy talking to each other to wait on us. This time, waiter actually asked my wife to leave the table she was seated at next to me after she ordered food because "they need that table for someone else". Really? So we squeeze four people onto a two top? Another customer was more important than this paying customer? I am appreciative of the owners generosity to charitable causes and the use of their establishment for these functions. Their food and drink is first rate. But, quite honestly, your staff creates a bad, bad experience. I can find the same thing elsewhere without the poor treatment.
(3)
John M.
When I was trying to decide if I should move into the area or not I stopped in to see what everyone had to say about the neighborhood. I was happily surprised that the staff was pretty friendly and informative. Most importantly the beer selection was great and the food was good too. The staff seemed to have a good knowledge of the beers and what to try to fit my tastes. I love trying new beers!! They have a great list to choose from that is always changing. I've been back a few times and the only thing I don't really like is the actual bar layout. It just seems weird but I get why they did it.
(4)
Eamonn H.
Crab hush puppies are a brilliant idea! So so tasty with a great sweet and spicy dipping sauce, a tasty BLT with thick cut bacon and tomatillos, and the pork sandwich is awesome. The only thing I wasn't completely crazy about was the mac and cheese, it was a little bland. A very enjoyable time, the waiter was really enthusiastic!
(4)
Deann M.
We have been back to Prohibition several times now, and I finally pried my eyes away from the burger on the menu long enough to decide on trying something else. I tried the Beer-brined Pork Loin sandwich with a serrano chili sauce and aged sharp cheddar. OH MY WORD. The bright and lively chilis woke up my taste buds and the pork loin with its au jus for dipping were just delightfully salty. Incredible. The flavors played so well with each other. BF had some other pork special thingy that was a tad sweet but also flavorful. I don't even remember because I was so in love with my dinner. Great beers on draft as usual. This place gets better and better.
(5)
Kelly P.
preconcert stop for beer and dinner. solid beer selection, but minus one star because when my friend and i walked in, the hostess sat us at an open two-top table and then immediately another staffmember asked us to get up because the table was actually for other people. ummm, what? we ARE ordering food. then they asked us not to order food at the bar because they would get us a table. actually, i'm not an idiot, and i know that means you (server) want the tip. thankfully, the bartenders were attentive and quick, so i was happily sipping something while we waited approx 15 mins for a different table. still, major uncool points for the mistake. serrano spread on the pork sandwich was delicious. but the sandwich was a lot larger than i pictured, and i couldnt finish it. didnt want to let a doggy bag cramp my style at the concert after, so the rest went to waste :( overall, good. it would have been cool to comp something small for the trouble of having us sit down, and then again get up. final note: definitely get the green beans!
(3)
Paul D.
Staff are great, the bar is a mixed crowd of hipsters, locals, local office workers. Beer selection is always changing and interesting and the menu is very good. Also the bar is "bro-free", long may it continue.
(4)
Michael B.
I have not eaten a single thing here I DIDN'T like. I'm a huge fan of the daily grilled cheeses, the fried artichokes are terrific, the burgers are classic and delicious, and their fries can rival anyone's. And anyone who turns down a visit because it's "out of the way" is just being lazy (you do realize it's a block from the Broad St Subway, under 10 mins walk from the El and Trolley Lines, and close enough to Fairmount or No Libs to hop around should you feel like it). And if you're going to a show at Union Transfer, I mean come on.. throw back a few "Hoppy Little Hudson"s (collaboration between Prohibition and Yards-- and I think Yards' best beer other than Love Stout) before taking the three block stroll. Happy hour 5-7 Mon-Fri ($1 off drafts.. get here early-- it gets crowded every day!) and Vinyl Sundays, beginning around 5pm, are just a splendid idea (bring a record, get 20% off.. it's like the juke box is paying YOU to play music). Oh, and the service? Some of the sweetest people in the city.
(5)
Sarah P.
I love this place. It's a little out of the way, but worth the trip. Arriving you'll notice the classic neon arrow bar sign. Perfect way to find it on an unassuming block. Inside you'll find a great dimly lit bar with it's own unique shape lit up by the coolest hanging light bulbs. The food is delicious. I have been stuck on my mainstay --- the french onion soup and the beer battered string beans. The french onion soup is made with SlyFox's O'Reilly Stout. Honestly I think it is the best french onion I've EVER had. Recently I ventured outside of my norm and got their burger special -- eggs benedict style. Delicious! The beer list is superb, one of the best around in my opinion as far as the individual beers chosen. The staff is wonderful as well - extremely friendly and willing to make suggestions, but also extremely knowledgeable of the beer - which is high on my checklist. What else can I say, I love this bar.. and every time I go there it makes me think how I wish I lived closer to it.
(4)
Argot B.
We enjoyed this meal. I'll get into more detail but my only complaint was the heaviness of everything. Really heavy! The fried green beans were great! obviously super fresh beans with great dipping sauce but man heavy dish. We got the pork sandwich and a grilled cheese special and both were really tasty. Whoever is in the kitchen definitely has a good notion of balance of flavors and got it done. Pork sandwich was actually soaked in its juices but I know that is actually like a thing they do in some places (or so Guy Fieri would have me believe) so I used a fork and knife and voila. Anyway, we enjoyed.
(4)
Katie P.
First time here, met up with some friends that live nearby. Very cool vibe, good music but not too loud that I couldn't hear the conversation. Bartenders were friendly and accommodating of my love for gin! Made fairly strong drinks for a pretty decent price. Mac and cheese is must! Definitely will be returning for the meat and cheese plate and/or brunch!
(4)
Jason P.
Went here before a concert with my friend at Union Transfer. We spent a good hour and a half just hanging out here. We didn't sample the food, but the menu looked good and decently priced. The beer/bottle selection is pretty standard for a hipster place such as this, not Monk's large, but not too small either. I got a Centennial Red Amber and some Dogfish Head. The staff is friendly and pretty attentive. This will probably be my new go to bar when going to Union Transfer. I wish the place wasn't so out of the way because there really isn't much around it. The place has a really low key feel to it. No bells and whistles, though they do have 2 TV's if you are looking to watch a game.
(4)
Perry H.
Great spot for a pre-show drink if you're hitting Union Transfer. Great, low lit bar with great craft beer and (from how the menu read and packed status) good food. The bar service was good and if I'm in the area I'll definitely hit this spot again. I'm barely ever in this area but this will be my go-to spot when I am.
(4)
Paul D.
Cool place in an up-and-coming... I mean, vibrant.... I mean, sketchy neighborhood. Reminds me of home (I live in a similar neighborhood in Denver). Very cozy, inviting decor, albeit a bit dark. Super friendly and one of the best beer selections you'll ever find from all around the U.S. and the world. Some of the food is quite good but they have a pretty limited menu. But if you like microbrews and are in the area, it's a safe bet.
(4)
Phil T.
I walked in with what would eventually be a party of 13 picky eaters. The staff got us seated and fed. Everyone enjoyed what they had. Thank you, Prohibition Taproom, for great service all around. I hope the tip reflected that.
(5)
Brian H.
It's a bar, it's old, it's laid out funny with parts of the bar not reachable by the bartenders. And there are tables, and it seems there is room for more tables. It was Friday night and it was pleasantly crowded. And the crowd was pleasant, mostly 22 to 30 year olds, until I hauled my old ass up to a stool. A list of specials and draft beers hanging over the bar on a blackboard, were in addition to the beer and food menus. I had a cask hand pumped Hoppy lil Hudson, a very good English IPA from Yards. There was a real nice selection to chose from. We started with the battered and fried string beans. Someone here said they could eat them all night, I agree. We had a cauliflower with coconut curry cream, a super side dish we dubbed as an app and cleaned the plate The grilled cheese of the day was Jack cheese with truffle mashed potatoes ON the sandwich, my dog it was excellent, especially when the server suggested we add bacon to it. The other choice was the brined pork sandwich. It was so good and a nice kick to it. The bread pudding for dessert just topped off this very special find in a semi-deserted neighborhood on north 13th Street. I love finding places like this, thanks to my YELP friends. :-)
(4)
Solomon C.
Cool bar in a dumpy neighborhood. They've got a wide selection of beers and if you're not a beer afficienado, the menu has a brief description of different types of beer so you can experiment a bit. Their burger is delicious. That's all I have to say about it.
(5)
Kurt F.
Cool little vibe to this place, sorta bohemian hipsters mixed with young professionals who live in the area. Draft beer menu underwhelms a bit, a rarely presents a surprise, but the bottle menu is pretty decent. This tends to be a good place if you want to roll up with 6 buddies and grab a seat at the unusually shaped "L" bar.
(3)
Colleen M.
I have always wanted to try the Prohibition Taproom but never had the chance. One Sunday we were driving by and saw a sign posted outside for brunch, so we decided to give it a try. I got the chocolate stout waffles and they were really good. It was basically like eating cake for breakfast. Plus, you get a free mimosa or bloody mary with any brunch item. The place was basically empty for brunch, so give it a try before everyone else catches on!
(4)
Lauren H.
I ended up here Saturday night after attending an event at PAFA. The general wasteland of north Broad Street was a rather daunting prospect in the chill and snow of the evening, but luckily one of my friends remembered that Prohibition Taproom was rather close. I'll start by echoing some of the other reviewers here - the staff is friendly, honest and down-to-earth. The same can be said for the food. The homemade potato chips (which, I think, were a special that night) barely touched the table before they were gone. I ordered the grilled cheese, the contents of which rotate often, which was just cheesy enough, without being greasy, on hearty, toasted bread. The draft selection was thoughtful and had something for everyone at my table. The only thing that threw me off was the room/atmosphere. The bar, which was large and dramatic, completely overpowered the dining tables opposite, which is where we were seated. It felt like we were forcibly divided from the more vibrant bar area by the sheer difference in size and a gulf between the bar and the tables. I'd like to see the place install high tops, so the dining area will feel more connected to the bar. At least we'd be on the same level.... I'll be back, and bring my friends....
(4)
Jacob M.
Ummm...this is so different than what I'm used to in NJ/NY, and I love it. It was great to get away from the busy life of the city, and come to a place that has good beer, great food, and let's sit down and relax for a few. We had the beer battered green beans, and the batter was the best I've tasted. They came with an aioli, which was also very tasty. After we had been there a while, we decided to get the cassoulet: she was a little skeptical at first, but was very glad once it arrived. The meat was so good: the perfect thing for a feast day during Lent! The service was good, and the music was mostly good (very eclectic, so sometimes it was a bit much for us). This place was steady, but not crowded. I would definitely come back if I visit Philly again.
(5)
Yea A.
I LOVE this bar. Great ambiance, very cozy, awesome food, cool bartenders who remember you and what you order and give you beer recommendations based on your preferences, a chill atmosphere and good times overall. This is definitely my favorite local pub. It's the only bar I enjoy going to by myself if I'm on my own for the evening and still want to go out. The burgers are incredible, served on brioche and with grilled onions. The french onion soup is killer, the fried green beans are rich but tasty (so share them), hummus is top-notch, as are the mussels, mac and cheese, salads and the grilled cheese of the day is always a good choice. The beer list is extensive and lists the ABVs; the selection of beers on tap changes frequently and they are $1 off every day from 5 - 7 and 10 - 12 (Mon - Thurs). I've been waiting so long for a local pub that feels like home, and this is the place. During the snowstorm this past weekend a group of us trekked out in the storm, came to Prohibition for burgers and beers and cozied up for the night while playing truth or dare at the bar. It's that kind of place, makes you feel at home while filling your belly with tasty delights and high quality beer.
(5)
Chris P.
Been three times now. Highlight is the beer selection, it's always extremely good. Menu is standard for this sort of place but quality is better then normal. Service is hit or miss.
(3)
Brian A.
Looking to kill some time before a show my band was playing in Northwest Philly I used yelp looking for a good bar. The closest and most interesting bar that popped up was the Prohibition Taproom. We walked in and were initially underwhelmed. One long bar, and some tables in a relatively under-decorated space. We quickly realized don't judge a book by its cover. This place has some great beer for a pretty reasonable price and the menu looks delicious, I will have to try some food next time. Most importantly the staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. They provided great recommendations and insight into their beer selection, were friendly and conversational with us and even offered recommendations for other places to check out while we were in town. After I try the food here this place has the potential to be a 5.
(4)
Sharon L.
First experienced this bar as a tourist here at a conference - we stayed for 7 hours and filled the table with empty bottles. Now that I live here, I still like the vibe. Came for brunch on Father's Day - figured t wouldn't be as busy. It wasn't and our server was fine, if a tiny bit slow. I had the biscuits and gravy and LOVED it. Their fries are hand cut and taste like the ones my mom used to make growing up. I like this bar and hope to come back again soon. This neighborhood has some positive changes going on.
(4)
Christina W.
My go-to bar. Good beer, good food, GREAT french fries and fried green beans.
(5)
Michelle C.
I returned to Prohibition Taproom for some pre-concert eats and drinks. Happy hour was from 5 - 7 but since everyone in my group was drinking bottled beer, we did not benefit from the specials. Still, the beer selection is very fairly priced. The bartender was friendly and effortlessly handled the entire bar on her own, which was no small feat as mostly all of the stools were taken. Between four of us, we had the hummus plate, deep fried green beans and onion rings. There was more than enough food and we didn't even come close to finishing everything. The hummus was very good, as were the green beans, which came with some sort of garlic dipping sauce. I highly suggest investing in some Altoids if you plan to order either of these plates. The onion rings were really thick-cut and almost a little too onion-y. The dipping sauce seemed like a cross between ranch dressing and vinegar. It was pretty potent and I'd probably lean towards ketchup in the future, but that's just me. I shall return.
(4)
Michael E.
You may need a nose ring to work here, but you definitely don't need one to enjoy yourself. Sidebar: I'm not sure if this is a regular occurrence - I really hope it is - but, the servers/bartenders had some sort of food/beer challenge going on. . Basically, two staffers make up a beer or food combo and the selections are pitted against each other on the special board. It seems the only rule is that the first person to sell out their item wins. So, if you go and, all of a sudden, "final countdown" is, out of nowhere, blaring over the speakers and someone is dancing around with an empty keg over their head like it's the Stanley Cup, you'll know what's going on. The food and beer is excellent. My girlfriend and I had "competing" burgers... I'm not sure exactly who won... her's did have fried pickles. It's hard to beat fried pickles. We also tried the Asian BBQ wings... mmm very tasty. I'm looking forward to going back very soon - but, I probably won't pick Friday happy-hour next time... cause it was pretty damn packed.
(4)
Erica M.
This dive bar has excellent food - much better quality than I ever would have expected! I've been here a few times and each time we got a burger. I can't remember what else we've gotten, but it's all been pretty good. Definitely a good go-to place if you're in the area and want tasty, good quality bar food
(3)
Lauren H.
My boyfriend and I had recently hosted a small event called MOAB (Mother of All Beer-tastings), at which we poured flights of a HUGE variety of beer and paired with food. A week later, we visited Prohibition for the first time and I took one look at the beer list and said to my boyfriend, "Damn! This looks just like the MOAB flight plan!" It was hard to choose which one I wanted. I ultimately settled for a Flying Dog Raging Bitch, to start. My second beer was a Gaffel kolsch. Between the Raging Bitch (I love it!) and the kolsch, I had a hell of a dinner - hummus and a burger to die for. On top of it, the service and atmosphere were awesome. The second we got in the door, we were asked if we needed a table and were immediately told what the estimated wait time for one would be (and it turned out to be less of a wait!). While waiting, I decided to feed the juke box. As my music selection blared throughout the bar, no one minded - they only just talked louder. And, our waitress, well, I don't remember her name, but she was LOVELY. So, take a good look at my profile photo. Get to know the face. You'll be seeing it in Prohibition. A lot.
(5)
Joe L.
My Girlfriend and I stopped by Prohibition Taproom before a show at Union Transfer. It was busy, but we were seated promptly at a table. Our waitress was great and made sure we were taken care of. Being a fan of Yards Brewery I was excited to try the Hoppy Lil' Hudson, and it did not disappoint. There were many other beers listed that looked good as well. We split the Beer Battered Green Beans, Pub Burger, and Grilled Cheese of the day. Everything was so delicious! The menu is on the smaller side, but it seems to work to their advantage since each dish is very well done. The neighborhood might look a little sketchy, but it's really not that bad of an area. I definitely will be back for more, hopefully sooner than later!
(4)
Jennifer L.
I really like it at this bar. I wish I lived closer because it is a great bar to hang out with friends or even for a simple date night. The beer is good and there is always a lot on tap as well as in bottles. There food is surprisingly good too. The french fries are killer shoestring fries, their mac and cheese is pretty good, and the fried green beans are great! I did not like the polenta fries, but the rest of the food made up for it. I would recommend getting a bunch of apps and splitting them, which is what I've done with friends.
(4)
Ryan G.
This is my kind of place! I've passed Prohibition a bunch of times and from the outside (and the location), I chalked it up to being a cheesy dive bar... I was totally wrong. Rumor has it this place is owned by the same owners of Cafe Lift and it makes perfect sense; the food is amazing, everything has a "foodie", gastropub-feel and the beer list was second to none. We had a beet salad, polenta fries and deep fried green beans. As if that doesn't sound appetizing enough, we didn't "polish it off with a cool Budweiser", but hand-pumped firkin... It was firkin great... and I'm a firkin loser...
(5)
Alexandra W.
I never order a burger at a restaurant, unless it's some place like Village Whiskey or PYT and the like. HOWEVER, I did last night. Check it: -arugula -gruyere -fried egg -truffle oil How could you NOT order that burger? It was ridiculous. Messy, but worth it. Other reasons Prohibition rules: -good beer (obv) -great music (if you're an avid reader of mine, you'll note that this is a recurring theme) -somewhat close to my apt. The end.
(5)
Sophie U.
tl;dr: Great service, great food. I hate white truffle. Great service. I really hate white truffle. But the service was great. Nice bar. Cool faucets. Pretty light bulbs. Curious? Read on. Lindsey. Lindsey is the name of the super friendly and attentive server that made tonight's dinner that much more enjoyable. Thank you, Lindsey. Prohibition is this awesome, spacious joint with a jukebox and a beautiful bar that branches out into an island at two or three different places; great for small groups who want to sit at the bar and be able to address more than one person at a time. We started off with the mussels from the specials menu -- the mussels were large (very large) and quite tasty. I was very fond of the broth, which consisted of...lemon (zest?), spinach (yum), and pepper flakes. Two large, grilled pieces of baguette-ish bread came with the mussels and we saved them for last; they were sitting on top of the mussels, not touching the broth at all and thus not soggy, which I really appreciated. Boyfriend went with the Shepherd's Pie; I had a few bites and it was incredible -- very meaty! The Steak Frites were calling my name and I could not resist -- even though the special grilled cheese with date jam sounded pretty damn amazing. I saw "maître d' butter" under the Steak Frites listing and "white truffle" immediately came to mind but I dismissed it... until my entree showed up. White truffle. The pungent smell of white truffle made its way to my nose even before I touched the plate. Working one of the last few mussels out of its shell, I asked Boyfriend whether or not he could smell it. He wasn't sure, so, while I tasted the butter with the tip of my steak knife, he asked Lindsey who then confirmed that yes, that creamy stuff on my medium-rare steak was indeed white truffle butter. I tried to ignore it, but it had already permeated every single piece of steak on the plate (the steak was served pre-cut into decent, tender mouthfuls). For those who haven't figured it out by now: I cannot stand the smell and taste of white truffle. The fact that it's so trendy at the moment really kind of upsets me, but I've done a fairly good job at avoiding it so far. The texture of the meat was wonderful! It was rarer than medium-rare, but I'd rather have my meat underdone than overdone. Delightful, really. Aside from the perfectly thin and seasoned frites, which I took care to dip into the leftover mussel broth every so often, the steak also came with a bit of salad: frisee and roasted red pepper, if I'm not mistaken. I think it's worth mentioning that there is absolutely no salt or pepper at the table, and that Lindsey did not bring us ketchup -- which is truly a great thing because everything was perfect as it was. Except for the white truffle bit, which I really can't get over because after beer and dessert I can still taste it. Still, I ate most of the steak because the texture and the natural flavor (or what I could taste of it) definitely overweighed the bad. We talked about white truffle with Lindsey for a bit after our main course, and she checked the menu -- upset that it wasn't specified on the menu, she bought me my beer, which was not necessary but totally sweet. So while I could deduct one star for the surprise truffle butter on the steak, I'm gonna keep that fifth star for the splendid service that Lindsey provided and for new menus that mention the white truffle. But mainly for Lindsey. For dessert, we shared the Apple Bread Pudding with caramel whipped cream (I think) and almonds. Out of this freaking world. It was that or the Mocha Mousse (with chocolate meringues, holy shit, right?) but for once it was Boyfriend who wanted dessert -- and the mousse would have been too... decadent for him. "Decadent." God I hate that word. Anyway, five stars it is. Also, I really like the faucet in the bathroom. And the light bulbs -- they're really pretty.
(5)
Beth R.
Why did I not know they serve brunch? Next time you see a wait list at nearby cafe lift, I urge you to head to PT and check out their brunch. At noon, there was no wait for a table for 3. If you order one of the brunch items, it comes with a free mimosa or bloody mary. My brioche french toast was great. You had me at "marscapone cheese filling". Actually, you had me at "mimosa". :)
(4)
Bill M.
I have to say I feel a little odd reviewing Prohibition because most of my time there was a good blur, and Dave H. has the photo's to prove it. We went there for a gathering after the last Elite Event, and for the first time in a loooong time the fun filled theme of the night caught up with me. But after piecing together some of those photos, and talking about the evening with Tom and Jenna during the Yelp Anniversary I can only sum up that Prohibition certainly delivered a fun time. There weren't any flappers or mobsters, but there was an awesome wooden decor, a long list of beers to try, and the supercool neon marker that said Bar outside. Brendan was a great bartender who made sure that we were treated right every step of the way. Not to bad for a bar that's only been around for a month.
(4)
Walter K.
My first experience with the Prohibition Taproom was my housemate Jonny telling me that messed up his drink order and that he was not impressed. Despite that, I wanted to try out this new place. Before I even walked in, I was greeted by an awesome sign pointing out the business. It's a simple neon red sign that tersely states "BAR." I like it a lot. Once inside, I was loving the atmosphere. The bar is really great, as you can kind of see in this picture. It runs the length of the room, but also has a few peninsulas. The result is that you can sit at the bar and be across from whoever you are with, which is a great feature. As far as beer goes, PT does not disappoint. There are about ten beers on draft. Further, the choices represent a well thought out variety of brews. PT also supplies a nice bottle list as a supplement. I had the Dogfish Head Aprihop and Brooklyn Brewery Blunderbuss and enjoyed both beers. I can seriously recommend to anyone to go to Prohibition Taproom for one reason: deep-fried green beans. This phenomenal appetizer is a great way to start your meal and comes with a nice aioli. The rest of the food was average. Between Lana, J.Mal, and myself, we ordered two burgers and a grilled cheese, and these three dishes were fine, nothing more. I was happy to be full, but the main dishes are the lowest point of the experience. Friday night this place got a little crazy, with a crowd from art museum area and plenty of "bros." Don't make this your Friday or Saturday night hangout spot. Bottom Line: I like this new place. It has good atmosphere, beer, and one excellent appetizer. Prohibition Taproom has made it onto my list of bars to regularly visit. The biggest downside are the hours. No lunch, no brunch, and the bar opens at 4pm.
(4)
Christina E.
My friends and I went here before a concert at the electric factory for a few drinks and dinner. I can't comment on the beer because I'm not a huge beer drinker, but from what my friends said, they were happy. As far as the food goes, I was somewhat pleased. The chicken wings and polenta fries were good. My friends split the shepherd's pie and enjoyed it, although they said it tasted much better smothered in ketchup. My boyfriend got the burger and was happy. I don't eat red meat or pork so my options at this place were very limited. I hoped at least that they offered a turkey burger or veggie burger in place of their beef one, but they don't, and I wanted something remotely healthy, (so the mac and cheese was out), so I went with the veggie hoagie. The description mentions seasonal grilled and roasted vegetables on a toasted baguette. Let me tell you, this was gross. It was like a cold slimy salad on a roll with balsamic dressing. If I wasn't so hungry, I wouldn't have eaten it. It really was terrible. And how this could be only $.50 less than a burger is beyond me.
(3)
Nicole P.
I do not want to give this place 5 stars because I do not want it to get any more packed! Great, attentive, non-judgemental (if you are not a beer afficienado) staff. The beer selection is always great. And while there are a lot of "beer bars" in the area, this is the tops for food. I have been there a dozen times and had something different every time. I have not been disappointed (although, I would like to see the return of the pork chili). And I love the decor and the bar but it could be a white room with a table with food and beer like this!
(5)
Mindalah B.
Off the beaten tracks of Philadelphia is a gem of a foodie place. Extensive beer menu, great burgers, down home menu and reasonable prices. Ask for the daily specials always a treat. Owner's name is Mike and our waitress was Mary Jane. Philly has many great gems and this is definitely one of them. We took our college kid here because of the younger vibe. You might even want to try the gourmet grilled cheese sandwich.
(5)
Tyler C.
Came here after the Philly half-marathon with a group. Probably the best brunch I've ever had -- the eggs benedict were phenomenal and everyone else's food was top-notch too. Amazing beer selection, great cocktails, nice atmosphere. A bit hipster-y but not overwhelmingly so. Would love to come back here!
(5)
Elaine C.
The workers here know their beers. This place had amazing brews. I think it's a very chill environment!
(5)
Alex F.
Really cool bar with a nice staff and awesome ambiance. I live nearby and it's my go to neighborhood spot. It can easily get to be a pricey experience if you aren't careful, but you get what you pay for! The quality and variety of the beers are great. They come in a range of prices, strengths, and styles from breweries all over! The prices aren't even that bad when compared to how much these beers would cost at a "classy" place in center city. The food is great too! I'm a big fan of the burger and fries.
(5)
Sophia S.
Everything they say is true..... great and reasonably priced beer selection, plenty of seating and bar space, yummy food, and the staff is friendly and down to earth. Plus, despite microbrews/obscure neighborhoods traditionally being hipster domain, I showed up in my button down shirt and dress pants after work and faced no "i'm dirtier and therefore holier than thou" judgement. Its just a low key place for people that like good beer and good food. What more could I want?
This is not a place you would normally stumble across while sight seeing, which means tourists won't likely be frequenting this joint. That fact = happy me. It's tucked off the main drag on 13th street and it's everything I wanted on a Halloween night. Fantastic food, a great beer selection, pleasant staff and the dark interior that I desire in a bar, that's actually quite elegant, not just trying to cover up the grime of the sloppy visitors from the nights prior. No obnoxious drunks in sight, just good people out for the night, enjoying the company of friends. I ordered the fish and chips and my fiance ordered the sloppy joe that was on special. We were both extremely pleased with our meals and I'm already finding myself craving that delicious battered goodness. Excellent cod, excellent fries, excellent slaw. If the prices were docked $3-5 I'd be a regular here and it's not even in my neighborhood. Still, that won't stop me from returning again very soon with friends in hand.
(4)
Brian M.
I had only gone here once for a short while but it was very enjoyable. I went on a Saturday night and it was crowded, but not packed. It has a decent variety of craft beers, and exclusively sells the Yards Beer, Hoppy lil' Hudson which was pretty good. I didn't get any food but everything I saw around me looked awesome. I overheard other people talking about how good it all was. I would love to come back here again for dinner sometime.
(4)
Mike S.
Heard many great things about this place, but had to wait til I moved further south in Philly before venturing further north for this place. Very open feeling. Bar was shaped weird. There were two "stick outs" (its an actual word to describe this, trust me), which if you sat at the end of these you felt like you were really far away, but strangely were still "sitting at the bar". Beer selection is pretty decent. Food is good. The fish and chips were good. Cod fillets were crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. French fries were good. A bit too salty. Cole slaw was refreshing, not too much dressing. Could have used some seasoning. Wife got french onion soup and beer battered green beans. She said the soup was good. She was not a fan of the garlic aioli. It reminded her too much of mayonnaise. Ordered bacon brownie for dessert. Excellent. Crowd was very diverse. Got crowded as we left. Definitely worth a trip out there, even though its surrounded by some shifty areas.
(4)
Keith T.
I ate dinner here a month or two ago while visiting Philly. The only thing I could think when I left was, "I wish they had a place like this in New York." It wasn't crowded, the service was perfect, the music was relaxing and the overall experience was just wonderful. And yes, the beer-battered green beans are worth a try. I left happy, stuffed and drunk... Just how I like to be.
(4)
lyndsey F.
Went last night to celebrate the end of the semester with an old friend who happened to also be in my class this semester (lucky surprise) and the hubs!!! Well, I enjoyed myself very much but there were a few things that bothered me. Number one, I ordered a "rowhouse red" beer and was brought a glass of house red wine. Anyone who knows me will understand that it's not a big deal and I will drink any red wine anyone puts in front of me...BUT we are at a taproom, i pointed to the beer menu and said "rowhouse red." Secondly, our waitress went through the grilled cheese specials three times and each time she pronounced "challah" a different incorrect way. The first time my shiksa friend picked up on it even before I did! The second time, was close to correct but still not, and the third time sounded like a mix of "Shalom" and "Ahoy." Anyway, I had the grilled challah and jack cheese sandwich with tomatoe soup. Now listen, the tomatoe soup was good, but it wasn't soup, it was more like crushed tomatoes and cream. I felt like I was lifting a three pound weight to my mouth every time I took a spoonfull. My friend got the burger which she was over the moon about...Something about not eating a burger in months because when she was in Spain, she ate the entire nation's meat rations... The hubs had the grilled cheese special which was rye bread with jack, blue, and a chutney. He liked it, but didn't go cuhrazy for it. There is no real reason for us to go back. It was similar to what we have on our side of town and it is really out of the way for us. But yay for 2nd semester of grad school done! Cheers to that! xoxo
(3)
Christopher S.
French onion soup = delish. Crab and shrimp soup = delish. Hummus = delish. Messed up my order initially but was fixed quickly and much to our benefit since they let us finish the wrong dish, which was delicious! Bar tender was extremely friendly and quite the expert at mixing a cocktail. The beer selection was also fantastic. All in all this is a fantastic neighborhood bar with a great atmosphere and awesome food. Come for the drinks, eat some food, then stay for the fun!
(5)
Megan C.
This place is great if your in the mood for a great beer selection and comfort food. The grilled cheese of the day always proves to be interesting and I tell everyone I know about the fried green beans, they are addicting! The only downside is the place always seems either to hot or to drafty.. Never a comfortable in between.
(4)
Daniel M.
I can see I'm obviously not the first to find this place, nor the first to think it's wonderful, but I'm so rarely blown over by a bar in gastropub-heavy Philly any more that it bears repeating: It's wonderful. Being on the service side of the table for many years, I'm extremely sensitive to customer service, and these guys excel at their game. I've had two different bartenders the times I've been (one boy, one girl, both of who offered their names, but for bad memory and potent beers, I can't remember), but each was unobtrusively affable and informative. It's such a pleasure to be at a place where those helping you really seem to care, and aren't just going through the motions of half-smiles and forced pleasantries that make it seem they're doing you the favor of allowing you to tip them. You can read the many other posts about the well-curated beer selection, the tasty food and the out of the way (read: comfort zone) location--rest assured that every word is true. The best testament of my love for this place is how far away I live, and how I go out of my way to return time after time. There are many other bars that do what Prohibition does, but in many more ways than location, Prohibition Taproom sets itself apart.
(5)
Sarah L.
To skip the glitter and hearts and overall massive crowds that are Valentines day, Prohibition was my pick of the night for a calm meal. Not only was the setting ideal for kicking back and relaxing, but it was delicious to boot. My favorite was the special appetizer (think fried provolone with goat cheese and caramelized onions) and my boy's burger (egg, Gorgonzola, m.rare) was also tasty. I had a hankering for comfort food, so I went with the mac&cheese, which, was nothing special, but hit the spot. Service was great..beer options were plentiful...yeah, I'll come back.
(4)
Vanessa G.
I had always been curious about the place with the red sign that simply read "Bar" as I rode past on Spring Garden. So glad I stopped. Taprooms are kinda Philly's thing--long beer list, gastropub, kinda varied crowd (Memphis Heights, Johnny Brendas, National Mechanics, Standard Tap) and I think this one does it best. Unexpected, delightful menu.
(4)
Donna E H.
They keep a good draft beer selection. There were only about 6-8 beers on tap, but they were all high quality, less often seen tap beers. The food was good. I had the french onion soup, calamari salad, and mac&cheese. The french onion wasn't my favorite. the mac and cheese was a little spicy! It didn't seem spicy at first bite, but it crept up on me! yum! and the calamari salad was delicious. I wish i could recreate it at home because they have figured out how to do it right. They have a jukebox. Look for a beer list on the bar, the chalk board signs are hard to read once they lower the lighting.
(4)
Dapp M.
I generally love this place because of the unique setup of the bar and the high quality taps. It's definitely a great place for beers. As far as the food is concerned, a little underwhelmed. Went in at lunch during the week... service was slow, and they brought everyone's meal out, and then made two of us wait another ten minutes, which seemed odd since we both ordered a veggie hoagie, which is pretty quick to prepare. The hoagie itself was missing lots of the ingredients the waiter had listed when I specifically asked hi what was in it, so I was (again) kind of disappointed. Bottom line, if you want a typical bar burger and a craft beer, this place isn't bad, but it's not going to surprise you. If you want something more than that, you might have to walk a few more blocks.
(3)
Megan H.
I heart this place- so please stop going there if you are super loud and annoying, you heard me! Prohibition on a Monday-Wednesday night is so nice, you don't have to worry about finding a seat because there are plenty. The bartenders are incredibly nice and remember your face. Fridays and Saturdays it seems littered with young fools who forgot what inside voice is- yea I'm old, get off my lawn! Sundays is bring your own vinyl which is cool, I'm searching for the worst thrift store album I can find just to put them to the test, haha. In due time.... The food is always on, with a late night kitchen open to 1am, and awesome specials I always find myself nomnomnoming on something delicious. The neighborhood is kind of sketch so bike or drive there-walking seems like a good idea if you want someone to drag you into a dumpster. Overall, I'm happy to have this as one of my local haunts. And the best thing about it, it doesn't reek of old mildewy floors or piss littered bathrooms- they keep it clean and that's quite the task in filthadelphia.
(5)
Richard R.
While the area surrounding it isn't the best, this place has a nice atmosphere. The beer selection was very good, the service attentive, and food was enjoyable. As someone else affirmed, the beer-battered green beans are great. My only issue was that they were very conscious of table space. As a result, I felt slightly rushed. Totally understandable, but it cost them a perfect rating. All in all, strongly recommended.
(4)
Yolanda Y.
I found parking right out front, and it was a weeknight, so I was completely unprepared for the ton of people inside. The staff is super friendly and accommodating! They have a lot of beers here, but what I liked was the ciders! A nice surprise. I was disappointed by the food, though. Veggie sandwich was ordinary and overpriced. I realize it's called Prohibition which means their thing is alcohol, but if the food isn't great, then why wouldn't they just stick to drinks?
(3)
Ida G.
This review is pretty biased because I was here with a bunch of great people and no doubt would have had an awesome time no matter what. Although the selection was extensive, very few beers appealed to me, so I spent most of the night loading up on reds. Due to a proliferation of vegetarians, I order the hummus platter at one point; it was pretty lousy and remained mostly untouched. Next time I intend to thumb the herbivores and order a nice juicy burger which, while on the small side, looked pretty tasty. Service was friendly and prompt. Happy hour specials were decent. Not that I'd deduct a star for it, but the biggest con for me was that by the time we were done, there were no more horse-drawn carriages out front.
(4)
Elizabeth D.
Stopped by for some late night beers after a birthday dinner. It's a really chill spot for drinks, but it was almost SO chill I fell asleep. Good draft beer list, and huge bar with lots of seats. I wish the tables opened up for those who just wanted to drink, but they are reserved for restaurant patrons. I can't fault them for that because even at 11pm, there was still lots of folks eating.
(3)
Ben B.
I gotta say this is the definition of not judging something by its cover. I was on a vacation and looking for a place to get a drink with my girlfriend, and we passed by this place 3 times each time joking "I bet there is a bar there". We had trouble finding a place to get a drink so after about an hour, we settled saying "lets just go to that bar sign place". I wished we hadn't wasted so much time looking for another place to go. It was so pleasant, a charming wonderful little bar. I usually like to test a bar by seeing if the bartender knows what an old fashioned is, and then more points if the bar is stocked well enough to make one. This place had old fashions on special that night. I was very impressed. They would have gotten the 5 star from me, but the outside could use some work.
(4)
Sara M.
My fiance and I met a group of friends at the Prohibition Taproom this past weekend. We were a bit apprehensive before we went in, as the block is a bit seedy looking. We had a large group, so finding seating was a bit difficult, but there was enough space at the bar so we all just piled in. My friend and I ordered the pulled pork and veggie sandwich and ate half of each. The pulled pork sandwich was o.k., but the vegetable sandwich still has my mouth watering. It was absolutely delicious! The bread was out-of-this-world, and the grilled vegetables combined with aoili was so delicious, and substantial, that I was completely satisfied. My friend James had the grilled cheese of the day, which was brie and something else (which I was strongly debating as well) and said it was excellent. Their beer selection was incredible, food was delicious, I highly recommend!
(5)
Thomas P.
Incredible environment. Best burger I've ever had and an amazing resonably priced draft selection.
(5)
Johnny B.
Such good food and the staff is notably friendly. Wings were amazing and rotate flavors like their amazing grilled cheese sammys (mashed potatoes in a grilled cheese...oh yes!!!). Please, i implore you to try their fried green beans. They are a delicious gateway into an hour or so of consumption. Enjoy! Beer list is also plentiful.
(5)
Marcia C.
When my bf and I looked at the rating for this place I thought, wow how come we've never gone there? Then, we finally visited Prohibition Taproom: it is a true beer place! No wonder -- I'm not a beer person. But the experience was good. From my point of view, it looked like heaven for the beer-and-sports people. I liked the vibe and service, so I'm givin' it 4!
(4)
Lydia H.
Went back to Prohibition Taproom the other night while looking for a low-key place to have a drink or two, and boy did it deliver. The bartenders were super-friendly again, and were very helpful in choosing a beer that I would enjoy. One of the girls offered me a few samples of some of their beers on tap and were patient while I made my decision. They had sports on the flat-screen, so my honey was happy. 5 beers later, our bill only amounted to $25 for some delish selections. Even though Prohibition Taproom is off the beaten path, I really like going here. It's always a pleasant atmosphere with nice people.
(4)
Kate G.
WHAAAAT. this place rocks! awesome ambiance. chill scene on a weeknight. (i dont know about what hipster trash comes out of the woodwork on the weekends....this neighborhood is swarming with them.) PT is just south of eraserhood in no man's land....so you feel a little bit like you're in a on a big secret when you go here. but a big awesome secret??? i would really like to go back to try the food. i drank some kind of beer or on a drab date. i actually think we drank bell's....but that sort of just made me sad i wasn't in michigan or on a date with someone from the Midwest instead????? Date didn't want to try the grilled cheese of the day. (awkward? )but it's really important to note that Prohibition Taproom HAS a grilled cheese of the day???? that rocks.
(4)
Erin G.
Little dark oasis in the middle of a not-much neighborhood, I love your darkness, your long curvy bar, your great jukebox, and the fact that I know I can still count on you for a delicious specialty grilled cheese (this time brie, spinach, mushroom and walnuts) and an interesting tap list. Fab.
(4)
Ryan B.
The beer, the atmosphere, the location, the staff, and the rad lighting. What isn't to love?
(5)
Erin W.
My favorite local bar. Love to go here after work for drinks or for a night out. Most of the staff knows us when we walk in, and that says alot in such a big town. Food is pretty good too. And I love that I never have to wait for a drink! People watching is great too.
(5)
Leslie M.
Popped by this lovely joint on the delightful celebration of the repeal of Prohibition and I could not be more pleased with my night here. Ambiance: Dim but open and intimate space that throws back to the speakeasy era but keeps things at a comfortable 21st century cleanliness. Echoing previous review, their bathroom was quite spacious and clean! Service: Our gal was humorous spitfire and we enjoyed her friendly banter. She got automatic points for sharing my hatred of all things Twilight. But she was great with our stream of orders and we always felt taken care of. Food: Beer battered green beans. Plates and plates of beer battered green beans are the bulk of my consumption here. Treat yourself to these delicious legumes and thank me later. My eating partners gave a thumbs up to their quite hefty veggie burger. Drinks: Yes please. They have a nice selection of beers on tap and that's all I can speak towards because that is pretty much all that I quaffed here. The best part is that I find their prices to be fairly reasonable. I hope it stays that way!
(4)
Ladan Z.
It's a real shame, because I have visited this place a few times in the past with friends, and the service was always great except for this time. I came alone to get a bite before a show over at Union Transfer this past Friday night, and the place was packed, which I am totally used to there. I wasn't going to drink because I was going over to the show and planned to have one there, and the food here is super-awesome as well. There were no tables available, so I sat down at one of the end seats of the bar. I went to the bathroom, and then returned. I then spent the next 15 minutes trying to wave one of two male servers who were constantly pacing back and forth over the customers seated at the tables. It's a small place, so in my opinion, it would be pretty difficult not to see someone waving their hand out as you're walking by them, but what do I know? The odd part of it was that a server would walk by like every two minutes to check on a table, and as far as I could tell, no one had required anything. So I got a little more aggressive and said "HEY!" with my body almost half out of the chair until one guy, I think I heard someone call him Tom, finally took notice. I said i wanted to order some food, and asked for a menu. He gave me a menu about five minutes later, and that was the last time he came over to me. The bearded bartender politely asked me if I wanted to order a drink, since I was far from the counter, and I pointed to the menu and yelled that I was waiting to order food. He was the only person who seemed concerned or noticed that I wasn't being waited on. I looked at my phone and it was about 6:45pm. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and figured Tom would eventually return because he knew I would order food, but he took no interest at all. I waited another 15 minutes, and the bartender watched me go out the door. I ended up just ordering crappy Chinese from the place across from the venue since I didn't have time to wait at another restaurant. I had waited for about 45minutes in total. I get that it was busy, and it is always busy there, but neither server was giving me the time of day whatsoever, and I don't think I could have waited until eternity for them to do so. It's not even the waiting, I think it is more annoying that I did flag a server down and he never came back to check up on me or take any order. It just doesn't make any sense to turn down business like that. Learned my lesson not to come solo, at Prohibition the power is in the crowds.
(2)
Tom S.
For the burger enthusiast-- ample, flavorful patty cooked properly, nice soft bun. Lack of interesting toppings, more exotic cheeses. Great fries, fresh and handcut style but not nearly enough of them! Got about a third of what I wanted and half of what I expected. For the beer lover - decent (though small) taplist that I felt was pretty in touch with my taste. There was also a great workhorse selection of classic bottles that I'm certain would hold me over if the taplist did me dirty. Would definitely return, just wish it was in a better, more easily accessed neighborhood.
(4)
Larissa M.
Boy is this place ever swell. First and foremost the service is top notch. And I don't give away good service reviews all that often (which you can read for yourself, that's the point here, right?) Whatever recruiting process they adhere to works splendidly because all the waitstaff are not only attentive and accurate but somehow terribly 'talented' (read: easy on the eyes.) Second, the craft beer selection is a nice mix of local and well traveled and the the list is up-to-date even telling you what is coming up next. From high to low gravity with excellent descriptions included. And a fully stocked wet bar for the non-beer drinkers as well. Third, the food has never been a miss in the two fistfuls of times I've eaten there. Deep-fried green beans: check! Meats and veggies: check! (Pulled pork, burgers and wings are all delish, and made to perfection. Plus a beet salad that is enough for a meal.) Market price grilled cheese: are you kidding? Hell yes, check! (I didn't even know cheese fluctuated, but anyone with that much respect for cheese is ok in my book.) Lastly, it may seem to be on a road less traveled but to me this is one of its highlights. It's therefore appropriately named and also, well, less traveled, if you catch my drift. A+
(5)
Emily D.
- fried vegetables that still taste like vegetables --- check. - establishment sign pointing to establishment---check. - waiter who would probably go so far as kill a man for you---check. this taproom really is reminiscent of the prohibitionary 20s. maybe
(4)
christina j.
I popped in here on a Sunday night and boy was it crowded and loud. Not the spot to hit if you've just met somebody and are looking to grab a beer. But, with that being said, the food was comfort with a capital C. I went with a delicious grilled cheese and tomato soup. My friend went with the roast pork sandwich. Plenty of beers to choose from and like the 1 reviewer mentioned the descriptions of beers are very helpful, especially for new beer drinkers like myself. Reasonable prices and friendly staff.
(3)
Chad T.
The beer-battered green beans alone are worth the trip-- we had to get another order to satisfy our need for deliciousness. Great beer list, very cool decor, awesome drinks including a dee-lish punch served in a glass boot. I took off a star for the bland (though very high-quality) ale mussels. The broth was lame, and the bread they served it with had that gas broiled taste... Given how good everything else was, I think this was an outlier...
(4)
Megan O.
I go to this place a LOT (e.g., last weekend I was there for Saturday dinner and Sunday brunch.) As such, I figure I should give them their due despite my praise being undoubtedly redundant. Although I am happy to drink basically any beer that is a step above PBR/Schmidt's/Etc., I do appreciate a good rotating microbrew list, and this place has got one of the better ones in this city which is saying something. Staff are super friendly and helpful if you're feeling indecisive or unschooled regarding said list as I often am. That's all well and good, but I won't lie; it's the food that keeps me coming back, especially the specialty burgers (though the pub burger's always awesome if the stuff on the special isn't to your liking) and their brunch. Mind you, I adore brunch at their sister spot Cafe Lift, but it's hard to resist the no-wait crowds and free-mimosa-or-bloody-Mary-with-meal bonus just a block away. It is the fault of the Prohibition brunch menu's bangin' Croque Madame that I am now a semi-regular consumer of pork roll. Once in a blue moon I will stray from the burger route and have experienced some hits (fish tacos, grilled cheese) and a couple misses (steak kabobs which I don't actually think are on the menu anymore, kinda bland mac and cheese). The famous fried green beans and accompanying aioli are a little too decadent for me to justify ordering alongside my burger and fries so I rarely do, but they do live up to the hype. The Hoisin (?) wings are tasty but the hot-chili-saturated hot wings exceed my spice tolerance, but my boyfriend thinks they're great. We don't often leave room for dessert but when we do (I've had a couple kinds of bread pudding, root beer cake, blueberry lemon parfait, and the semifredo) they are always amazing. That said, don't come here. We almost never have trouble getting a spot at the bar or a table and I like it that way!
(4)
John W.
Prohibition is probably the place I have frequented most in the city. I lived in that area for a year and Prohibition is like a golden treasure some leprechaun must have dropped on his way to other parts of the city. I mean, really, that is such a shady street. I know, I lived on it. Thank you Prohibition for being a haven in bumble-fu¢k Philadelphia. The Fried Green Beans are amazing. And the Grilled Cheese specials which change every week. Oh and the amazing burger specials. Did I leave out the macaroni? They have a consistently changing draught list which is where I have found some of my favorite obscure beers. I can't leave out the fact that the wait staff is one of the best I've encountered in the city. They are over-the-top friendly to the point where they get to know people's names. This is 2010; I barely know my aunt's name. Good job, Prohibition.
(5)
Chau P.
Prohibition is everything I'd look for in a neighborhood bar. Too bad it's not in my neighborhood, but still worth the drive into Philly's "loft district". The bartenders and servers here are really nice and I love the peninsula style bar, which makes for a fun setup to catch up with friends and share a brew. I like that the staff knows their beers, which I'd expect from a spot like this that serves some unique microbrews. While the beer battered string beans are good, what brings me back is the french onion soup and burger. I love me a good burger and good french onion soup and they deliver on both here. Don't be thrown off by the location, because it's definitely worth a try!
(4)
Mike S.
Walking down the street to where the Prohibition Taproom is located, I was reminded of the movie Judgement Night, which starred Emilio Estevez and his crew of suburbanite friends who after witnessing a murder, proceed to get stalked down the darkest alleyways of the inner-city. As I approached building, I wondered when I was going to see a trashcan fire, to make the scene complete. All of my uneasiness was quickly washed away, however, within minutes of walking inside. The two bartenders (who's names escape me, due to the admirable way they made our drinks) were excellent, and went often out of their way to make a good time out of a slow night. Prohibition Taproom is a great off-the-beaten-path bar that can easily find it's way onto your list of bars that you like to frequent in the city.
(4)
Nazim K.
Excellent choice and quality of potables, edibles. Appealing service and decor. Usually busy as hell, but it should be. My only real problem is the noise. It's often busy, and I often can't understand someone three feet from me. Noise alone would lose one star, but the obstacle it poses to socializing is a two star penalty.
(3)
Jonny R.
If you come here to Prohibition nothing else in mind, be sure to order the beer-battered green beans. These are very, very good. It's one of those things that almost makes the beer this bar serves of no consequence. But that's not to say the taplist is not great; with a beer engine and about ten different beers on tap, you can always be sure to have something interesting there. In fact, right now, it looks like it has lots of wonderful beers on tap. Although, I'm never floored by its availability, I think Prohibition's beer list always satisfies me. The bottle list is more than sufficient and fills in the gaps if the taplist doesn't satisfying do to. The truth is that, the beer is good enough at this bar (and I'm quite particular) to make the very good food, service, jukebox, and layout of the bar shine. This is a bar that wins gets four stars in all of the other categories. Where else will you get the Phillies on, a killer appetizer, and a great looking bar? Not in Northern Liberties, that's for sure. Even the entrance with its neon "BAR" sign is a very cool addition--truly this is one of the "barriest" bars in city. Heck, if Prohibition improves its taplist (its only weakness--and a small one at that), I think this spot would be killer; one of the best watering holes in the city. But in a neighborhood where the options are slim, this a top-notch pub.
(3)
Seyma K.
Worst place to have brunch. I went there with a group of four. It took them at least an hour to bring us our food, and everyone's dish was cold by the time to arrived. We ordered four different dishes but they all had the same I ingredients, just arranged differently. I had to ask them three time about an order of French-toast. It came out after we received the check. Needless to say we are never going back nor recommend this place.
(1)
Mark F.
I want to hate this place -- from the name to the hipsters inside to how loud it can be. But it really is our go-to local place. They have changed the menu around a few times, and have it right. Grass-fed local meat, local vegetables, farm-to-table without bragging about it. Beer list is always excellent. I love the burger here, and they always have a few vegan items for that special vegan in your life. Extra bonus - 20% off on Sundays if you bring in a record.
(5)
Stephanie L.
We were told a 20 minute wait, an hour later we finally got a table. I ordered a "rice bowl". This was the most amazing vegetarian dish ever! It was a ridicules dish of rice, spinach, egg, pickles, carrots, green tomatoes, some kind of delicious spicy sauce...eggplant? Apples? Who knows! Point is is it was vegetarian so I ate it. It was so spectacular! Atmosphere was fine, lighting was fine, crowed was fine but none of that nonsense mattered. What I ordered MADE the trip! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
(5)
Meg F.
This is definitely a solid place! I've been here both before & after shows at the Union Transfer. My craft beer-loving friends always find something they like here! The appetizers are pretty good too. I'll for sure be back if I'm in the area.
(4)
Mali D.
I was apprehensive about Prohibition because a friend has had a bad experience here 4 out of 5 visits. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was nice, although not overly fancy. Nice ambience with small candles and very pleasant bartenders. Our service was quite good (reasonable speed and with a casual and kind attitude) and both the food (I had hummus) and beer were of generous proportion as well as great presentation. Speaking of the beer, not only is the beer list extensive (with one nitro and one cask) it was surprisingly affordable. I paid $5 for my peanut butter chocolate stout when I feel like another bar would charge a few bucks more. I get the impression I could go out for a few drinks here and have a very reasonable bill at the end of the night. Overall, I really liked it here and will definitely return. I think I would feel comfortable coming here alone after work even though I tend to not go places by myself, because everyone who worked that night was so nice and welcoming. One star off only because it's small and I hear it's normally too crowded.
(4)
Katerina P.
On our way from Thanksgiving trip in Philadelphia, I realized I was getting hungry. With 2.5 hrs of driving ahead of us I knew I might get the hangries at some point. I really wanted cheese melt all three days while in Philly, but the everelusive melt was not meant to be. It was around 8 pm, so my favorite Reading Market was closed...my travel companion convinced me that eating at an actual place is much better than having Dunkin Donuts while driving. So we found this taproom and went in. It is a pub, with jolly customers, age groups of late 20s to 30s. The staff was very helpful getting us seated and ordering fast. I had fish and chips and my hubby had ramen. I'm not much for ramen...but my fish was amazing, with delicious batter and flaky, white delicate meat, and clean flavor. It was no Tilapia for sure(why does anyone still use that sorry fish). Accompanied by delicious fries and and peas, as well as the best tartar sauce I had in USA till date, this was my perfect dinner. The loud and happy chatter of full pub provided perfect backdrop for parting with Philadelphia getaway...
(5)
Kelli M.
Stopped in here on the way to a show at Union Transfer. Love the old school L-shaped bar setup. They had an AWESOME beer selection. It was a Tuesday night so it was pretty low-key; not sure how it is on the weekends. The food was also really good. We had the French onion soup. Definitely worth a trip if you're in the area.
(4)
John F.
Amazing Brick Chicken w Grits & smokey greens. A lot of herbs!! One of the best dishes ever! Great staff & cool people in neighborhood to talk with. Chocolate Porter was my dessert. Very creamy. Rich behind bar was very knowledgable. Highly recommend!
(5)
Andrea V.
I've never had a bad time here. It's rarely overcrowded like some places, the clientele is interesting and for the most part well-behaved, beer is great, service is great, and I've never eaten anything I didn't like. The burger in particular is fantastic. This may sound maudlin, but all my memories of this place are tinged with that warm glow-y feeling of a night spent with great friends at just the right level of buzz. You won't regret an excursion to Prohibition Taproom.
(5)
Linda M.
Solid establishment I would visit again. Pros: Extensive beer list with rotating drafts. Cool vibe with the lighting, solid wood tables and retro bar stools. Grilled cheese and burger specials were good. Bread for the grilled cheese was perfect texture to support the cheese. Cons: very loud - hard to have a conversation. They could do well with some acoustic tiles on the ceiling. When I first arrived and sat at a table I was told I could not be seated without my full party being present. They were due any minute and there were lots of empty tables. I was told they need to keep it open just in case a large party shows up. Well they aren't here and I am so do you want my business or not? I almost left but glad I did not after I got the guy to agree I would move if the "unknown large group" showed up before my friends. I am sure others would have left so you may want to rethink that approach. The place was still not full when I left two hours later.
(3)
S L.
If I was writing this review for the bar atmosphere and beer selection only, I'd probably give this place 4 stars. The problem is, I had a really bad meal here and so I'm going to write about it. I ordered the hummus and the falafel sandwich. The hummus was just OK. I've had better store-bought hummus if I'm being honest. The falafel sandwich was just awful. It tasted like frozen falafel balls that were microwaved and served. The thing is, if you're going to put a falafel sandwich on the menu, make sure it's fresh and tasty. If you can't do it right, just don't do it at all. That's my beef with a lot of places. Stick with what you know and what you're good at. TL;DR: Don't order the falafel sandwich.
Great beer!!! Great food!! Try the Mac n cheese and the sizzling Gouda. YUM!!! Just don't be an idiot like me and put it in your mouth before it stops sizzling or you'll end up with a really nasty burn on the roof of your mouth like I did.....lol.
(5)
Laura D.
One of my favorite neighborhood bars. My new thing is coming here on the way home for a beer or two after shows at Union Transfer. They have a great draft selection that's always rotating, and what looks to be a good bottle selection too (though I've always stuck with drafts). The long wooden bar, jukebox, and dim lighting make for a nice laid-back atmosphere. Great bar snacks too - I've tried the fried green beans, green curry wings, and the hummus plate. All good. And anytime you can order off of a chalkboard, you know it's a decent place.
(5)
Larissa G.
I have been here numerous times because it's close to my house and it's some of my favorite bar food in the city. They have a rotating daily grilled cheese (swoon) and other specials that are always really good (last night was poutine... double swoon). Had I reviewed this place in the past, I definitely would have given it a solid four stars (the missing one star being that this place sort of sucks to get beer to-go. The selection is weak, you can't mix your 6-pack, and it's too pricey). However, my experience last night was very 3-star, if that. I went with 3 others to grab dinner around 8:30. It was very crowded and there were no available tables. After getting on a list, some spots opened up at one of those outcropped bar sections that are sort of like table (if you have been here, you know what I mean). The problem with this is that the waiters for the tables refuse to serve you here - you are told to yell at the bartender (who is about 10 feet away) to order. So, we got drinks and then ordered food. The last to order was my roommate, who got a falafel sandwich. The bartender REPEATED his order back to him (yelling, again, across the bar). At this point, I was trying to get a second beer. Because it was really hard to alert the bartender, I flagged a server and asked her, but was told that I had to order all drinks from the bartender. Okay, fine. But then I watched that server go behind the bar and make a drink for someone else, and then go stand with all the other employees who weren't doing anything in the corner by the kitchen door. Then, our food came out, and the falafel sandwich came out as a grilled cheese instead. So, the bartender managed to come around the bar this time (whoa! forbidden territory!), but instead of apologizing for messing up the order, she placed the blame on my roommate!! After she had repeated his order back to him! Also, since it had been at least 10 minutes, and this was my only hope of getting another beer, I squeezed in an order while she was guilt-tripping us, which seemed to only add to her annoyance. Some advice: please, please use the servers to deal with food orders on these bar tables. Yelling across a crowded bar was uncomfortable and obviously resulted in some issues. If you make a mistake in a food order, don't blame the customer, and don't let your employees stand in the corner chatting it up when there's a crowded bar of people who really want another drink. The food was great, as it always is, but this experience left a serious bad taste in my mouth.
(3)
Christine E.
This place is great! I've been here for brunch, dinner and drinks and apps and have never been disappointed. The food and beer selection has always been on point. They also make some pretty A+ Bloody Marys.
(4)
Steve T.
While in town, I quickly discovered this little corner bar one block from where I was staying. They offer a great selection of brews and cocktails and the food is just as indulgent. I got their roast pork sandwich and I have to say that the au jus was absolutely hypnotic. The only thing keeping me from giving this establishment five stars is the weird bar set up. I'm not sure how to accurately describe it, but on a busy night, it can make talking to the bartender a lot of work. Aside from that, I will certainly be visiting this place again before I go.
(4)
M L.
I stopped in for a quick dinner before a show nearby. There aren't many veg options, and I went with the falafel sandwich. Sounded pretty classic- falafel, tzatziki, lettuce, tomato. No sides listed. When our food came, I was surprised to see my sandwich came with fries. I remembered seeing "beef fat fries" on the app menu, so I asked if they're vegetarian- nope. So I handed them off to a friend and started on the sandwich. I took one bite... And it was the SPICIEST, HOTTEST thing I've ever eaten in my LIFE. My eyes flooded with tears and I probably broke a few capillaries. I've tasted level 10 dan dan noodles at Han- and this was way beyond that. Nothing about a classic falafel sandwich says searingly spicy, and there was no mention of it on the menu. It was inedible, I couldn't eat the fries, and I didn't have time for a new one... So the server just took it off the check and I left hungry. She was very nice, and it was certainly not her fault. I left her 20% grat as if I'd paid for the sandwich. Considering their lack of veg options, surprise mega spice level, and thoughtlessness in serving fries cooked in beef fat without warning, I doubt I'll go back or recommend it to anyone. It would be super simple to make it a more inclusive place.
(2)
Kyle D.
The beers tasted good but that had nothing to do with the bar itself. Not sure if it was rookie bartenders but they just sucked. Bar was half full and they couldn't keep up with the 'crowd'. Horrible bartender, some blonde guy, that would forget drink orders and mix up bills. Beer: good selection. Food: fair price but nothing to write home about. Ambience: hipsters.
(2)
Kevin F.
Great locals bar with great burgers. It's a nice spot to hit up for lunch on a lazy Sunday and grab a beer and burger.
(4)
Tawny V.
Amazing tap list! After trying and failing to snag one of the Stone Enjoy By September IPAs in Orange County and San Diego before they ran out, I came back to Philly and found the Enjoy by February here. Needless to say I was ecstatic.
(4)
Tara S.
Beer battered green beans were to die for. I will go back for these alone, and the waitstaff was cute haha.
(5)
Naomi W.
Owner was very nice! And food was delicious. I had the chicken sandwich which was very good also. It was a very welcoming chill spot.
(4)
Sarah L.
I have been here twice, and both times were great. FIrst time was just for some beers in the middle of a snowstorm. Prohibition did not disappoint. Great beer selection, great atmosphere, and they didn't mind us occupying a table when we were just drinking and not eating. Second time was for dinner- and we had a great time. I had a delicious vegetarian chili and several drinks off of their cocktail menu. Cocktails are a bit lackluster compared to the elevated beer list, but they are good if you are looking for a drink! Service is good, atmosphere is hipstery but not so much that you're uncomfortable if you lack in hipster yourself. This place is local for me so I will definitely be back.
(4)
Michelle C.
Being that I live three blocks from Prohibition, I find myself grabbing a beer here at least once a week. And being that I'm moving back to West Philly soon, I should probably review it. Prohibition is a no-nonsense beer bar. The staff is great, the taps change regularly, and the bottle selection includes all my favorite tripels at reasonable prices. I don't generally order cocktails here, but when I have they've been fine, although I can't speak to anything more complicated than a greyhound. As for the food, this is where I tend to disagree with some reviews. I do not like the beer battered green beans. I used to, but they stopped doing it for me. The batter is thin and falls off and the beans tend to be less cooked than I like them. Also I'm pretty sure the garlic aioli they come with is just mayonaise. THAT SAID, Prohibition does have some pretty awesome food options. The burger is great, the grilled cheese specials are always fantastic, and it's a great place for brunch if you're a beer-for-breakfast type. In fact, next time you're in the neighborhood on the weekend, instead of waiting 45 minutes at Cafe Lift for some bougie-ass pancakes come here and order the steak and eggs or baked egg with turkey chili and housemade hot sauce. You're welcome.
(4)
Chelsea B.
Loved it. If (when, really) I eat there for a full dinner I bet I'll bump it up to five stars. The boyfriend and I headed to Prohibition Taproom right after work for happy hour because we heard it was come early or good luck getting a seat. From 5-7pm Monday-Friday they do $1 off drafts. I had the Tropic Thunder from Boulder, CO and it was 10% but very drinkable. This combination equals awesome in my beer book. The boyfriend had the Hoppy Lil Hudson and on cask and then switched to the Tropic Thunder for his second because it was just that good. We sat at the bar and the staff was cool and attentive. We shared the beer battered green beans with roasted garlic aioli, which is a delicious and huge appetizer. Not to mention it doubles as a way to get in your daily quota of veggies. Note for first timers: They have a policy that if you sit at a table you have to order food. I believe appetizers count though.
(4)
Kyle W.
I want to like this place, but the service isn't good at all. Jackie was particularly slow tonight and it was a Thursday after everyone left. Also threw some shade for asking for my check before the rest of my party needed to leave. Yeah, I just said threw some shade. Get over it. One of my generous friends over compensated on their tip to make up for my $1 contribution to the bad experience. Kudos to Tommy.
(2)
Liam E.
I want to start by saying i have not eaten here, but i did stop in for drinks, and i heartily approve. My girlfriend and some from of ours stopped here to have a drink or two while we waited for our table at Cafe Lift. There beer selection was very nice, with an extremely descriptive tap list. Had a cask beer from Yards which was out of this world. But what really struck me was the service provided. The bartender, i am not sure of his name, was super friendly. Not overbearing but available, friendly despite knowing we were only there short term, even called the restaurant we had reservations at to see if the table was ready. Great at recommendations. Anyway cool atmosphere and friendly staff, i'd definitely go again, perhaps try the food there this time.
(4)
Augustina G.
Three strikes and you're out!!! That's my stance with the Prohibition Taproom. First attempt: I came here with 2 other people and we wanted to do happy hour. We walked in and asked about happy hour. She said with such attitude that it's not at the table and it's at the bar section only. We were so turned off that we walked out. Second attempt: Came in for brunch and had some beer battered green beans and thought our meals were good enough that my friend and I would come here again. Third attempt: My group of 4 wanted to dine at Cafe Lift for brunch, but they were on a severe wait and suggested we go to Prohibition Taproom. We were super hungry, so we went there and took over a table of a party that was on their way out. There was only one server working the few tables, but it took her 15 minutes to clean off the debris off the table, which is when the server acknowledged us and another 15 minutes to get water. That's thirty minutes for water! It then took another hour to get the food! 90 minutes. But here's the kicker, the whole party wasn't even served and that person was so upset that they said to just forget it. It was so underwhelming that I can't even remember what I ordered in addition to it not being hot. Another table next to me saw the ridiculousness, mind you they came in afterwards and got their food and was also displeased with the poor service. Whoever was managing for the day came over and said that the service was unacceptable and they want our patronage in the future and comped the entire meal. The service was egregiously awful that I can't bare to go back. I really wanted to like this place, I did. But I just can't. You probably shouldn't either.
(1)
Laila C.
great food, great beers on tap. only a mile from Eastern State Penn. Literally everything in Philly seems to be only a mile away from everything else. Only thing that's a little weird is the horse that's parked outside and made the surroundings smell like horse poop. Get the grilled cheese special!!! Get the fries and dip it in a gallon of aioli! Mac & cheese was ok but definitely needed more flavors.
(4)
Luke D.
Excellent. Went there for my first night in Philadelphia. Great food, friendly staff who very knowledgeable about the entire menu and all drinks available. Our server was also fun but didn't overdo it. Ordered the roast pork roll, was perfect. Hommus plate left a little to be desired though. Overall great experience.
(5)
Shane J.
The first time I went here - I was a little suspicious, but after a few more times - I am a FAN!! The area is questionable, but once inside - you feel so cozy and comfortable. The Beer selection is cool and the food will make you want to come back - FO SHO!! I had the Hot Chili Sauce WIngs and I have also sampled the Grilled Cheese - these didn't disappoint at all. Although the crowd can consist of hipsters - it seems to have a good variety of people that rotate through regularly and they all act appropriately - BIG PLUS!! The staff - super friendly The service - not bad - for a busy place TIP - new place - Fubad - Pizzeria just opened up one block down - so be prepared to wait for seating - really busy these days...
(4)
Christian C.
First of all....great beers on tap. Got to try some special selections that are not available outside of the taproom and are definitely not to be found in cali. the food was pretty good too. the battered green beans were really tasty, although i have had better versions of this dish. still, nothing to complain about. the pork loin sandwich i am a little on the fence about. there was something off. I think there may have been one too many elements going on here. I think the jus may have sent my tastebuds over the top. A little bit too salty for my liking. All in all a great place that i would go to frequently if i live in the area. The beer alone is enough reason to visit.
(4)
Joanne T.
Oops! I got my taprooms mixed up. I meant to take the bf to Memphis Taproom to check out their coconut burger but ended up here instead. But it was a good mistake. We enjoyed our Saturday late afternoon/early evening visit here. I opted for four starts because of their hot cherry dipping sauce. It was out of this world delicious. It came with the baba ganoush and tortilla special. I enjoyed that sauce more than the actual appetizer. If you hear it on the special then make sure you get that sauce! The french onion soup topped with burnt gruyere. I can't ask for more. I had the pear cider and it was thirst quenching. The bf loved his blue cheese burger. Good solid spot.
(4)
Bailee F.
I've been coming here since it opened. Undoubtedly my favorite spot in the city. Every time I go I swear there is always something new to try. The atmosphere is very warm and welcoming, so much so that it's the only bar I feel comfortable going to even by myself. Not to mention they even make sure I get home safely. The food is truly phenomenal. I highly recommend the Chicken Paillard, Fried Green Beans, Steak Frites, Ribs (only available in the summer), and the Specials are always a good bet as well. As far as beer goes, ask anyone who works there and they will help you find something you will enjoy. The "Old Man Drink" special is always an entertaining option! The staff never forgets a friendly face. And better yet, they will even tell you they look forward to work everyday. Unbelievably awesome people who love good company, a good jam during Bring Your Own Vinyl Night, appreciate a quality beer or cocktail, and will always go out on a limb to make sure you enjoy yourself. You really can't find a better place in Philly as far as I am concerned!
(5)
Lauren S.
What a cool and unique little bar! We went here whole we were waiting for a table at Bufad, and we were pleasantly surprised with our experience. I've heard of this place before and never figured to venture down, but now that I know the glowing BAR sign next to my beloved Bufad belongs to Prohibition Taproom, I will be visiting more often! Didn't get a chance to eat the food, but the menu looks wonderful. The drinks are SO cheap here, pretty sure we got a jack and coke for $3? That's ok in my book! Can't wait to come back and try out the food. I left a star open for that reason. I'll update when I do!
(4)
Jamie N.
What a cool place! This is the kind of bar that you dream up when everybody goes through the fantasy of wanting to own a bar. The general feel of the place is quite casual, but in a way that's simultaneously classy as well. When I went there they had some Christmas lights strung about and some candles lit on each of the small tables; good ambiance. The bar has table-like extensions that jut out which makes it very easy to carry on an intimate conversation with 3 or 4 people while still sitting at the bar (instead of the typical yelling-across-people method I employ at other bars). I haven't tried the food just yet, but the draft list is really good, tons of variety and a lot of newbies for me.
(4)
Andrew R.
truth. the fried green beans alone are worth the drive into philly. i had french onion soup which was spectacular. my sister in law had some chicken bowl thing the size of china which she inhaled in 4 seconds. even my brother didn't complain, and trust me, if there is something to complain about you'll know. good service and excellent food. you seriously can't go wrong here unless you are unlucky enough not to find an available seat :)
(5)
Chris M.
We've been here before and loved it, and will prob come again. Let me be clear, we LOVE Prohibition, and never had a bad time. Even places we love need constructive criticism, no? This time, a rare un-fun experience. Wings. undersauced, overcooked. Horrific. These wings must come from dieting chickens, there was zero meat. And 6 come in and order?? Yes, they are 'Whole' wings.. but they are still tiny.. 6??? $11 for these, are you insane? Sunday, Prohibition has bring an LP.. get 20% off. Not only did we bring, and not get 20% off.. it was an inconvenience for our waiter. Which brings us to the waiter. I'd say the guy with the Tats, but everyone has Tats here. This guy as not amused having to serve us. We disrupted his day, that or he had far better things to do than ask us if we were ok, or get us water, or anything a happy waiter does. Horrible service, food. We've been here many times.. and usually love the menu.. the dinner menu is far superior to the brunch menu which is greasy, fatty. Hope this was just an off-night for Prohibition.
(2)
Nikki R.
Ahhhh, I love this place. But in the "I dont want a lot of people to know how much I love this place because I am afraid they will ruin it for me" kind of way. I daydream about Prohibition on an embarrassingly regular basis. The beer selection is amazing and rotating! Yes, please. Fried green beans...if you dont get them, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Burgers, delicious! Jukebox, very fun. The atmosphere is chill and laid back, as is the clientele. It can be a hit or miss with the staff. Typically a hit, but I often find myself sitting at the bar to eat most of the time so I dont stand around looking like an idiot waiting for a server to notice my friends and I to seat us. The bartenders are super great. I went last week and one of the girls forgot the fried green beans I ordered and just brought out our entrees. When I asked about the beans, she genuinely apologized, made sure they came out quickly, and then comped them to make up for the mistake. Very cool. Prohibition, I dont care how near or far I am from you, I will be back again. And again. And again. Just make sure you never take the fried green beans off the menu. Ok, I'm done talking about them. Yum!
(4)
Stephen R.
Prohibition Taproom is one of the better bars in the city. I'll start with the beer (as I always do). PT has a very good rotating draft list. They include all different styles, so you're not stuck drinking a stout in the middle of Summer. They seem to pull in selections from all over the US while still including some local ones at the same time. The food at PT is sometimes great, but mostly good. I almost always order the Beer Battered Green Beans. These are so good that there is no reason to order fries, even though PT's french fries are excellent hand-cut ones. I had the French Onion Soup the last time I visited and was surprised how well accomplished it was. It's unfortunate that I'm a vegetarian now, so technically beef stock soup is out, because I really enjoyed the one at PT. Get it - you won't be disappointed. I have not actually had them, but my friends and family rave about the burgers here, too. Other than a few standouts most of the menu is just good, in my opinion. The Mushroom Grinder is too dry and the mushrooms are flavorless. The roast pork sandwich is also too dry and a little boring. I have had the mac and cheese as well and was left thinking, "I make this better." There wasn't anything that made the mac and cheese special, no fun cheese or extraneous ingredients/toppings/spices. But it isn't bad by any stretch. The service at PT is good, usually friendly. I've come half a dozen times and only had a bad experience once, where it was a packed house and 3 different waitstaff members ignored our table for over 30 minutes. No beer, no water, and they did not take our order, so we left. I was pretty annoyed by it considering my wife and I were trying to show off PT to friends from out of town. We ended up going to Llama Tooth and were served right away. I remember even writing an email to the owners so that they were aware of how the staff on duty that night treated us, and I never heard back, so I don't know if they don't care or if they never saw it. Either way, PT has at least redeemed themselves by treating us well the next few visits. I should also mention that brunch is very good, so don't be afraid to leave that huge line at Cafe Lift and walk up the street to the PT. The scrambled eggs had my wife talking to anyone she could find. I was really surprised because she is an amazing cook - but she was so happy with the eggs that day that she was still bringing it up a few weeks later.
Great beer, great interior and exterior. Looks like a pretty shady place from outside which is what you want, I also liked the music selection inside. I came here on a Sunday night and it was really chill. Great beer selection for bottles, wish there were more on tap. The menu at first didn't seem all that great, but there were a lot of specials above the bar that wasn't mentioned to me! I didn't realize it until it was too late, I totally would have gotten something else. Only because I'm on a one night layover in Philly, and only because the food on the special menu sounded awesome, I will give it three stars, but what I ordered was definitely not good, sad to say. I really wanted to like this place more. Do NOT get the mussels with frites. Frites came served directly on the mussels, a few minutes in they were all soggy. I wasn't a fan of the aioli dipping sauce. Also, about half of my mussells had no meat in them, and the ones that did had little meat and were way over cooked. The broth was good as long as I didn't get bites of the chopped garlic and onions, which tasted burnt. Also there was no bread to dip into the broth. The cocktail it got as well had whiskey in it, and it pretty much just tasted like straight up whiskey, I couldn't even taste anything else, I think I would have been better off just getting it on the rocks. I could just be spoiled. Places in Indy like The Libertine or Black Market have amazing mussels and frites, and the other prohibition bars I've been to have all had extremely gourmet cocktails as well. Again I really want to like this place and it was probably my fault for ordering the wrong thing, but seriously, if this place makes better cocktails and advertises their specials better, it could be a hit.
(2)
Stephanie S.
This hole-in-the-wall pub is usually empty (I go during weeknights, can't vouch the crowds on weekends), but don't be fooled! Its amazing! I've been here for numerous happy hours, the staff is so friendly and remembers who you are. They have ever-changing selection of beers on tap, and a huge selection of bottles. Street parking is very easy, since this is not in the center city crowded area of Philly. The Herb Provolone Polenta Fries here are the best I've ever eaten. The beer battered green beans are also a favorite, and the hummus is amazing! I've eaten the pulled pork sandwhich which is also delicious. I've never had full entree here, because I always go for beers & appetizers. I wish I could give a 4.5 stars -- It doesn't get 5 because its a little small for my liking, and I like a more "hoppin" place so I don't get bored, but if you like beer & chillin out, then go here! They also have several flat screen TV's in case you want to watch a game here. Chill crowd, doesn't usually get too rowdy.
(4)
Kurt Y.
My review is from a Sat brunch visit. I've never been at night so it could be quite good as a bar to frequent. That said their breakfast was OK, nothing to write home about - in fact there's a cafe right across the street (cafe lift) and I would argue they have a much more tasty brunch option. That said this place definitely has great options for watching games and seating with groups at a bar.
(4)
Nicole D.
Always a good spot with a small but tasty menu and many daily specials. Nice beer draught and bottle list and a small list of specialty cocktails. Service is fast and friendly and the large bar has generous seating.
(4)
Karyn L.
Service is obviously not a big concern here. Why stop at the tables and ask what people want? Why come back within five minutes after leaving a menu. Let the customer wait 20 minutes before you return for their order. Service is not the priority of these folks, so what is? The one star is for the beer. Glass was empty for 20 minutes and not one request for a refill. What on earth can be their priorities. Hot sandwich come cold. Waiters go out for smoke (who knows what) breaks. The jute box has old old tunes that are NOT popular!!
(1)
P S.
I've been to Prohibition a few times now: once for a quick bite before a Phillies game and again recently for brunch. Each time I was very pleased with service and the eats! The food menu is interesting while succinct. The beer menu is extensive enough to have variety without being overcomplicated. The dining room is inviting and cozy. The food was delicious. The place is pretty unassuming from the outside, but don't be fooled. I brought a few friends visiting from out of town here and they had great things to say. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)
Maxine C.
Not what you expect from the outside. Very chill place with a great beer selection and food. Definitely get the mango wheat and beer battered vegetables (so much better than french fries!) They had awesome food specials such as korean fried chicken with this awesome watermelon salad, bbq brisket sandwich, crab roll and the list goes on. Their food menu isn't huge but you're bound to find something for everyone! Located near the Callowhill/Spring Garden area, it's so easy to find parking! I would definitely go back again!
(5)
Brian M.
Great beer selection, food and very friendly staff. Had an engaging conversation with the GM (Matt?) who was a very cool dude. Gave me the history of the place and telling me what was good to order. Made the experience even better. I ordered their 'Donkey Cheesesteak' which was a special. This was superb and a great twist on the Philly Cheesesteak. I paired this with a Philly Gose beer and it was one of the best meals I had in Philly. I highly recommend checking this place out.
(4)
Leigh S.
I came here with a friend after a library book signing hoping to get a good mixed drink. You'd think with a name like Prohibition Taproom that there'd be a nice list of vintage-style cocktails. Yeah, you'd be wrong. I also tried to get the fried pretzel with beer cheese dipping sauce, which was on their chalkboard menu and was told it was only for happy hour so I was 'out of luck.' Well, if it's only for happy hour then SAY it's only for happy hour, you pretentious jerks! Too many Chucks, too many now-defunct trucker hats. A lame attempt at a hipster cocktail bar. Won't be going back.
(2)
Robin S.
Nice, old school space with a long bar. It reminded me of some places I've been out west, which might be a little strange in the heart of Philadelphia. Not too loud at all - conversations were easy and a lot of the patrons were doing just that. There's a jukebox, so maybe it cranks up later in the evening. We were there pretty early. Great service from several people working behind the bar. Several beers on tap including a local CCCCC IPA, which was solid. Not many wines, though. Small menu but very good food. The elote (corn) is quite good, as was the cucumber(?) salad. But the brat plate was the star. Wonderful brat, German potato salad, sauerkraut, pretzel and a hot salsa/relish. Best brat plate ever. Served on a cool wood board. Prohibition is located in or near a somewhat dicey neighborhood, at least to this non-resident's eye. I may very well be wrong about that. We had to walk a trashy, pissy street past what seemed like skid row coming from the hotel on Race St. If it was later at night we might have chosen not to walk back.
(4)
Christina V.
Its been a while since I've seen you, PT. This time for brunch I was equally impressed. Highlights- The brunch rice bowl with pork belly was out of this world. I would eat it every day. Tons of veggies, lots of flavor, the sauce was amazeballs and the porkbelly was tender and rich. Oh and the crowing jewel - the fried egg on top. AAhhh! Heaven. The bloody marys- good morning/afternoon, Philadelphia! These bad boys are served with smoked, Yes- SMOKED, olives and they stole the show. I'd bottle those suckers up and eat them throughout the day if i could. Please, put these lil jawns as a side plate option. I can't stop thinking about them. Service- spectacular as always. Another sucessful visit to PT, two years later! :)
(4)
lisa y.
Decided to try this for dinner after ComicCon last weekend. glad I found it on Yelp! The food was delicious!!! And plentiful!!! We ordered the string beans that everyone was recommending and so glad we did! Batter was light, not too oily, yum!!! My friend had the fried chicken sandwich. OMG! Heaven!! The chicken was brined in pickle juice and buttermilk, sounds gross, but it was delish! I had the homemade beer brat. Soo much food, but very tasty! the pretzel was soft on the inside, but had a nice hard cover to it. Will definitely go again the next time I'm in Philly!
(4)
Kathleen D.
I took a photo of the menu so I could remember all the toppings on the massive hot dog I ordered here a couple weeks ago. Let's see. So it was bacon-wrapped with guac, salsa verde, chipotle aioli, and pico de gallo. The menu has also reminded me that it was a "kobe beef jumbo" dog. Sooo basically, it was out of this world. It also came with a heaping portion of fries. There was no way I could finish everything. At all. It was a special, so I don't know if they have it anymore, but that plate, along with the relaxed vibe of this place and the excellent beer choices (hello Weyerbacher Sunday Morning Stout!), makes me want to return again soon.
(4)
Jon T.
The South Philly sandwich was terrible. It had almost no meat on it and really no evidence of the promised sharp provolone. The pork was very fatty. And it was $14. Complete waste. The beer selection was impressive. They should stick to only that. Our "server" was awful and didn't check in even once before we were ready for the check. I would have sent my sandwich back but she was busy checking her cell phone under the bar. Also, a small thing, but it was uncomfortably warm inside. It was dinner time and the air conditioning was not on or not working well. It is AUGUST. Sure, maybe it was a seasonably cool day outside. But 80+ degrees is not ideal in a closed space with a bunch of people and no breeze. Make me feel like you care about my business.
(1)
Bryson V.
I went to prohibition taproom after the gun range. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, this place has an awesome ambiance and a ton of beers on tap. I also tried a Manhattan which was one of the better ones I had ever had. The crowd appeared to be mostly 20 and 30 somethings. The service was decent, but took a while even though it wasn't crowded, so I'm deducting a star.
(4)
Wade T.
Great drinks and service but the pancakes are never fully cooked the 2 times I've come here.
(3)
John L.
Prohibition quickly became my go-to neighborhood place shortly after moving in. The kitchen here is exceptional. The regular menu is pretty spectacular but the best food is on the ever-rotating list of specials that the kitchen turns out daily. They are AMAZING. The vibe is friendly and comfortable. The list of beers on tap is impressive. There are tons of bottles as well. Pretty much every meal I've had here has been great. Come hungry and enjoy this neighborhood gem. Oh, and Sundays are BYOV (bring your own vinyl) days....bring vinyl, they will play it on the turn table and offer you a discount.
(4)
Q K.
Not bad, but nothing special. Smaller room than expected and very busy on a Saturday night. Nice tap list, but nothing overly crazy or interesting. Bartender was mostly attentive, but food was slow. Fried shrimp sandwich was a hit, but rice bowl was a dud. Odd combo of ingredients and not all ingrredients were prepared properly. Fried pickles were solid, but not much different from what's served at other bars. Dishes being served to other patrons looked intersting so will try this place again, but underwhelming first experience.
(3)
Jimmy D.
Such a great place to eat, drink, socialize, but the music selection was so wack! and personalized to one girl's iPod or something. The beer selection is perfect! The food is amazing! but the music is lame most the time, so my friends left after eating.
(3)
Chaucee S.
I live a couple blocks from here and it's one of my favorite places to stop for a drink and dinner. Their mac & cheese is amazing. Friendly staff and good atmosphere.
(5)
John K.
If you're looking for a neighborhood bar where the food is good and they've got craft beers on offer, look no further than Prohibition Tap Room. Located near Bufad Pizza and Cafe Lift, Prohibition Tap Room can hold its own as well. There are plenty of comfy bar stools and several tables as well. It's a dive in the best sense of the word. Bourbon County Stout [$10.50] Aged Imperial Stout, Goose Island Beer Co, IL As soon as I saw that Bourbon County Stout was on offer here, I was sold. Rich, creamy, with a subtle bitterness and chocolate on the finish, this makes for great drinking. Spring Garden [$9] Tanqueray gin, basil, grapefruit, lemon, sugar The GF was in a cocktail kind of mood so went with their Spring Garden cocktail - sweet, tart, with nice basil undertones. Corn Chowder [$6] They had a corn chowder special which we opted for. Rather than a cream-based broth, this was clean, with great corn flavor, which I appreciated. Whole chunks of potatoes had nice bite, with plenty of corn and ham studded throughout. There was some depth here. It was served with some crisp, buttery bread. Poutine [$9] House-cut fries, shredded beef gravy, melted cheese curds The poutine was a decent iteration, showcasing crisply, thin house-cut fries. The beef gravy wasn't overly heavy, and bits of melted cheese curds helped to create a good bite. Could have used more curds and gravy though. Mixed Green Salad [$10] Baby lettuce, cherry tomatoes, radish, pickled red onion, Millwood Springs blue cheese, toasted walnuts, red wine vinaigrette The GF enjoyed her salad, which was well-dressed. The pickling of the red onions offered some sweet acidity along with the red wine vinaigrette, which balanced the funky blue cheese nicely. The walnuts and fresh radish helped to add some texture to each bite. Burger [$13] 100% grass-fed beef, Amish cheddar, Bibb lettuce, onion rings I'm normally not a big fan of grass-fed beef, but this was the butteriest version I've ever tasted. The Amish cheddar was nicely sharp and the onion ring added some extra heft to each juicy bite. This was accompanying by well-seasoned and crisp fries. So if you're in the area, don't hesitate to check out Prohibition Tap Room. They make a mean burger and they curate some good brews!
(4)
Brittany A.
Thanks to Yelp we found this gem of a watering hole while exploring Philly. We ended up spending a couple of warm boozy hours here, inside protected from the very chilly weather that day. Loved all of the unique choices they had on tap and in bottles. Our bartender, Rich, was super awesome and took the time to explain the different styles of beer to us as we tried samples. This is a great place to check out if you are a fan of craft beer and good times. Next time I will be trying their food for sure - everything looked great!
(5)
Steve P.
Very cool bar near Barnes Museum and other downtown attractions. Looks like a dive bar initially but closer inspection reveals very nicely done bar area. And food is excellent unlike almost any dive bar. Great selection of beers.
(5)
Patricia D.
Really friendly service. Prices are more than reasonable and the fried chicken sandwich is excellent. Highly recommend.
(5)
Vanessa M.
Great drink spot with really good food. The grilled cheese special is a favorite! We also tried to fried green beans and pickles and loved them. They have a beef fry Friday where things are fried in you guessed it beef fat---we didn't try but will the next time we go!
(4)
Amber T.
This place is almost always packed! I've stopped here a couple different times. Medium sized space but the food has always smelled and looked good. Drinks are decent but the service is usually a little slow (at both the bar and the tables). The beer selection is good if you're into craft beers etc. In general, the place seems decent but it's just always so packed i try not to stay too long. You CAN also buy sixpacks to go if interested.
(3)
Steven S.
Tiny beers and way overpriced. Terrible.
(2)
Sean M.
Great place. Nice beer selection and the food and service was excellent. Green bean crispers were outstanding as was the mac and cheese and south philly sandwhich.
(5)
Andy B.
Chances are you're never going to find yourself in the neighborhood, because I'm not really sure what neighborhood this even is. But if it is your neighborhood, then you have a really good neighborhhod bar. Prohibition has a constantly changing beer list, a killer french onion soup and beer battered green beans, and an above-average burger. Paired with a friendly waitstaff, if you're lost near some horse stables, look for the neon BAR sign and drop in.
(4)
Joshua T.
I live down the street from this place, so one of these stars might just be due to the fact that they frequently save my ass from the dead zone that is the loft district. That being said, content is king, and I wouldn't keep coming back no matter how close it is if the place was terrible. As most people have noted, its never overly busy so going in is never stressful. The barkeeps are all quick to acknowledge you, and getting something in front of you within minutes of entering isn't a problem. They have a good menu, everything I've eaten here has been a pleasant surprise and that doesn't even include the fried green beans since I haven't tried them yet. You can't ask much more out of a beer menu, and you can get a decent cocktail as well. The only thing that seems off to me is the space. Something in the decor lacks character. That atmosphere just doesn't seem inviting enough. The room feels very sparse and just makes me uncomfortable like I couldn't spend an entire evening there. Maybe it just hasn't had time to wear in yet. To end on a positive note, the jukebox always cheers me up, and seeing that iconic sign above the entrance every day brings up the quality of the whole neighborhood.
(4)
Jess N.
I would go to Prohibition Taproom for the staff alone. They're friendly, personal and authentic. They don't do the fake smile and bother customers like a lot wait staff in other joints. The atmosphere is hella good. Relaxed. Chillaxed. It's the kind of place you can see yourself hanging out in. The bartender's a rad guy who likes to add his own personal twist to drinks, and is totally cool with it if you're not happy. Luckily, I loved his idiosyncratic drinks. As for the food, I keep getting the burgers which come with fries. They make some fry sauce which I can't remember the name of but tastes good and gives you killer bad breath. It's probably not the best condiment if you're on a date. Better yet, they have a jukebox. It's just one more way to control your experience. Good food, good music, what more could you ask for?
(4)
Cdr G.
This review is not based on a single but rather multiple visits to this fun bar with great friendly staff and food in the gentrifying Callowhill/ West Poplar neighborhood. As the "gastropub" concept goes this is a cut above typical bar food. Seems they actually care that they are running a bar as well as a restaurant. Beer battered green beans, are a standard in an ever rotating menu of appetizers and main courses. Staff is very friendly and actually seem like they enjoy bother their jobs and their customers. This and the quality probably accounts for the crowds as well as the challenge to get a seat sometimes. .
(4)
Catherine K.
Love that this bar is so close to my apartment buliding. It has a great cozy bar atmosphere and the food is delicious! Fresh ingredients and cooked perfectly. After reading several yelp reviews, we decided to try out the famous green beans and they were well worth it. We received a mound of deliciously fried green beans and ate every single one of them. Other dishes of the night which were noteworthy are the hummus appetizer and the steak frite with truffle oil. The service/staff were friendly, attentive, and fun to chat with. To make top everything off, the music selection was on point with our taste in music as well. I definitely plan on revisiting this place again. I have a feeling this will soon be my go to neighborhood bar/dinner spot.
(4)
Rachel W.
This place was pretty good, the decor inside is super simple but with an odd bar that has little jutted out sections which is neat. Other than that, and the large wooden bar, its simply tables and chairs and totally unassuming. It seems like the type of place that anyone can go to and feel comfortable at. I just stopped in for one beer and a snack, (I mostly just wanted to try the fried green beans everyone had been talking about) and I'm glad I did! I had pliny the elder on draught for 6 bucks, and it was worth every penny. There's a good reason it's in beer advocate's top 10 in the list of best beers. My boyfriend got the sierra nevada belgian trippel, it was good as well. And yeah, the fried green beans were AMAZING. So good, I could eat 50 more plates of it. The staff were super friendly as well. The only thing that bothered me was so many things on the chalkboard that touted what draught and bottle selection they had, were misspelled... haha. Sierra Navada Belgian Tripple... it made me giggle, not a big deal though. Definitely didn't put a damper on the experience.
(4)
Terry C.
BF and I come here for the following reasons: - GREAT food and GREAT beer selections (hard to find a neighborhood bar with food/drinks being equal). More on food later. - Cool atmostphere- It is a dimly lit bar with plenty of seats at the bar and maybe 10 tables. It is not the best place to go if you are looking for a quite and bright atmostphere. It's a fairly small place so it can get crowded during dinner time. Service is always friendly and attentive. - LOCATION- right in the loft district where there aren't many bars in the vicinity and right by the orange SEPTA line if you are looking to meet up with friends. FOOD: We've had everything from appetizers (you must try the Polenta Fries and Green Beans), Sandwiches (Pulled Pork is always hot and juicy and Pub Burgers), Salads (I like the Chicken Paillard) and the Crab/Shrimp Riscotto Cake. Prices are VERY reasonable.. DRINK: With so many beer (on tap and bottles), liquor, and wine selections, there's something for everyone. They have a great happy hour (m-f 4-7?). It's a neighborhood gem for a quick bite, after work drink or simply a night cap.
(4)
Tina N.
So I like this place. It's straight up, and straight to the point. It feels like a cross between a comfortable neighborhood dive bar...but not as divy, with a gastropub menu...but not as pretentious (ie: a sandwich is a sandwich, not "prosciutto and aged Gruyere harmonized with a spring mix, dressed in light citrus vinaigrette, and pressed into a perfect panini with aesthetically pleasing grill marks.") I had the hoisin wings, and fried greens. Good stuff. However, with so many places to eat and try in Philly, I've unintentionally developed my own, over analytical, circumstantial, far too detailed rating system. That being said, this one gets a "I would come back if I were in the neighborhood or if I were craving hoisin wings" rating. But I wouldn't necessarily make the trek from afar.
(3)
Jessica W.
During a short spurt of vegetarianism, I came here and got the Grilled Vegetable Sandwich. It was SO.GOOD. They definitely used Metropolitan Bakery's Pain Au Levain bread for this particular sandwich, and it was fabulous. My boyfriend got the burger (of course) and it looked amazing. It almost convinced me to give up my temporary vegetarianism. But not quite. (Saved that for In'N'Out burger during my summer trip to CA!! shutup.) The beer list was great...very extensive. It was even categorized, which made my heart skip a few beats. I suppose I'm left-brain dominant, because I REALLY like things like that.
(4)
Erin s.
MMMMMMMM. The place is slowly starting to get more crowded, but I'm enjoying my slightly empty sunday dinners. Really great service, the people there know their stuff and I've seen them guide people through picking a beer and food. Their daily burger and grilled cheese specials are awesome and they've just added some new items like tortillas and salsa that are really good too. Brunch is rather new too.... but good! Love it here.
(4)
Julia N.
When I came here for the first time, it was pouring down rain and I wasn't quite sure where it was...thankfully there is a giant red neon sign announcing the BAR. Inside, it's dark and cozy, with bare old timey lightbulbs, a long, curvy, attractive bar, and a really good jukebox. I could see myself spending lots of time here. Maybe it was the weather, but the place was at a comfortable half-full level on a Saturday evening. Our server was super nice and it kind of felt like we had bumped into a friend who just happened to be taking orders and bringing out beer that night. The beer list is solid, with a lot of the usual suspects and some rarer options as well - I was happy to see Fuller's London Pride, which might be the all-time most perfect summer beer, and Hobgoblin on the bottle list, and they have a good range of things on draft. The beer-battered green beans really are as good as Yelp says! We should've ordered more. I've never met a mac n cheese I didn't like, but this one had a gluey texture that put me off a bit. My grilled cheese had delicious roasted fennel and pesto on it, and my friends liked their burgers, veggie and beef. This is all fairly standard nice-bar food, but you can sit down with a beer and a satisfying meal for under $15.
(4)
Mitchell H.
Located on the edge of some District 9-like wilderness complete with tumbleweeds blowing by, Prohibition Taproom boasts an exterior that looks like a little like a brick probation facility. It has small windows with only a pink neon BAR sign to disabuse those looking for their probation officer. Step inside the dim surrounds, and you arrive in America's ultimate neighborhood gastropub dive bar. The staff are great, consistently & genuinely friendly, and very knowledgeable about their beer & food. The food is high quality and all about the flavor; healthiness is not a concern. The beer selection meanwhile, has been curated with the sort of tender loving passion you'd expect to see at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can feel the love. The crowd is quiet locals and passionate beer nerds in fairly equal numbers. Music is care of a reasonably well-stocked jukebox. Phillies games play on two medium sized flat screens. Basically it's the sort of laid-back and genuine neighborhood bar that hipsters seem attracted to like junkies to smack.
(5)
Carl F.
Nice beer selection, but not massive like, say, Memphis Tap Room. Depends on what kind of beer dork / snob you are. Chicken Tacos and tortillas were right on...not overtly spicy. Fun atmosphere, esepcially when it got crowded. Friendly staff that won't put you off. Large bar with 2 camel hump excursions that seat like six people. Dark but not seedy. $1 jukebox plays 3 songs. Bathroom: clean. Crowd is mixed. Old dudes in for a quick pint, but mainly 20s - 30s. You cannot miss the signage = massive neon "BAR" sign pointing at the place.
(4)
Elizabeth G.
Ended up here twice on our recent trip to Philly: once for an afternoon cocktail,and again for a hangover brunch. We were struck by how cute the spot was, the juke box held some good tunes, and the bartenders were helpful and attentive. One of the women went to her bartending book when I requested a gin drink, which wasn't exactly confidence-inspiring, but then the other bartender quickly stepped in and made me a delicious citrusy drink using local Bluecoat gin. The next day we ended up here for brunch when Cafe Lift's wait was overwhelming. For less than $20, we each had a really superb meal and a brunch drink. The Bloody Marys were delicious, and the mimosa was heavy on the champagne (I mean that as a compliment). The fries and garlic aioli were terrific. If we lived in Philly, this would definitely become a regular haunt.
(4)
Anna Marie C.
so i've been trying to come here for like, ever. i am sincerely in love with cafe lift down the street, and so since i heard of the opening of this place, i put it on my list of places to try. so on a random wednesday night, i finally get to go. and uh, yeah, the wait was totally worth it. i love the decoration, the lights on the wall. the bar is tres tres cool, and the place just feels warm. and despite the fact that people say it's getting crowded, on this night, it was empty... a perfect place just to get away and be alone. the server girl was quite swell--i want to be her when i grow up. in any case, just go go go for the beer selection and fried green beans. and perhaps you'll find me there.
(4)
A. Jordan R.
Great spot; it really does have the look and feel of a 20s taproom. Love the atmosphere. Extensive beer list both bottled and on draught. You name, it's probably here plus a few you've never heard of. I had a Cane and Able (never heard of it) and a Bell's Expedition. Menu is interesting and typical gastropub fare, on par with something like North Third, Memphis Tap, or Johnny Brenda's but less expensive. Service was very good. Our server was friendly, polite, and knowledgeable about the beer. I would go here all the time if it were in a different part of town. Not that I don't like the Spring Garden area, it's just far from my house in Fishtown. Seems like the Spring Garden area is coming up thanks to places like this and the Institute.
(4)
Melissa K.
We waited quite some time for a neighborhood bar that had staying power. In the past year and a half, we saw the old carriage house turn to "Maker's Local" and then to "Callahan's Pub(?)" and finally, to nothing. When it reopened as Prohibition, we knew it would last and I'm happy that it has. This place is great for all occasions -- a beer following a crap day at work; a low-key birthday party; a dinner date with the spouse. The food is tasty, the beer list is long, and the waitstaff are friendly and helpful.
(5)
Kathy D.
Hm, so the wanna be speakeasy J.L. Sullivans closes down, but Prohibition is still going strong. Speakeasy is a new trend to reach Philly, although not as popular as the gastropub trend, but Prohibition does it right. (Maybe it's because they don't do that cheesy "knock on the door with the password" thing most speakeasy's do...) Although this place is a little hard to find, at least it was for my friend and I, it was definately worth the trip. Got my favorite, Walt Wit, from Christina the bartender, who knows her stuff. Of course, I had the crunchy green beans, which is PT's speciality. It was a great laid back, cozy vibe with good music,and conversation friendly noise level. I seem to equate the Loft District with Finnegans or McFaddens, but this place is the anti-McFinnegans as it is an authentic, cool place. There's a few places popping up in this area--including the Institute, so this may be the next hot restaurant area. Bottom line: Definately go, and have the crunchy green beans! Hot tip: I heard they just started serving lunch!
(5)
Bob F.
Came in for Beer week to try some Sixpoint beers. Great tap list and interesting menu. Atmosphere was OK. Reminded me of a college bar. If I were 20 years younger it would have been perfect :). Biggest gripe is it took 25 minutes to get my dinner to me...the guy next to me at the bar, a Drexel Prof. and a regular, only waited 5 minutes so not sure what happened. I might go back on a slower night if I am in the area.
(3)
MaryKate M.
I go here for happy hour with my co-workers because there aren't a lot of bars near Broad and Spring Garden...it's interesting. I love the glowy sign stating that it is a bar from the street and the horse that hangs out across the street and all. The food was just eh and the drinks were a little different each time we got them so I'd say it's good but not unbelievably awesome.
(3)
Brian L.
Stopped by with friends who are living in the Fairmount area. It's dim lit and is very cozy. The service was great from the moment we came in. The waiter/server greeted us with a smile and as soon as we seated, we were immediately asked if what we wanted to start off with. The menu has a good selection of beers. I ended up spending a little more than I wanted due to all the choices, but it was great. We also ordered a tortilla chip appetizer which came with two really tasted dips. I was also great to not hear Dave, Creed, or radio rap blasting from the jukebox. I enjoyed my experience here and would definitely come back if I'm in the area.
(4)
Mindy K.
the 4 stars are for the bar and decor - awesome beer selection ALWAYS, fantastic staff and uber cool decor. the food, though, definitely leaves something to be desired. i don't think i'm in the majority here, but eh - pass on the food. the only exception being the fried string beans. those are AWESOME. most def get those. perfect complement to a perfect beer. fantastic for happy hour or drinks. or for a first date.
(4)
Meredith K.
I went to the Prohibition Taproom for the first time tonight, and I don't have anything but good reviews. The first thing that impressed me was their beer selection. They didn't offer too many beers, but what they had was pretty rare. My boyfriend and I enjoyed two Lost Coast Indica IPAs, which I thought were discontinued. At least I know the bottles were at some point. Either they just sell it in kegs now or they resurrected the beer completely. Anyway, it's an amazing IPA, and I was blown away that this place had it on tap. My second beer was a Rogue Brutal Bitter, which is fairly rare to see on tap. Both beers were delicious. We went for happy hour, so all draughts and well drinks were $1 off. Their prices are reasonable: my Indica was $4.50 with $1 off, so $3.50. Very reasonable. Their other beers on tap included Weyerbacher Fireside Ale (granted, Weyerbacher is probably my least favorite brewery, but at least it's something different); Brooklyn Blunderbuss (a stab at an English Strong Ale... it smelled like caramel but ended up tasting all right, and not nearly as sweet as it smelled... also a pretty rare beer to see on tap); the typical Philadelphia New Bold IPA (at least it has 6.5%...); Ballast Point Wahoo Wheat (a beer I have yet to taste, but I'm not really a wheat fan); Sly Fox O'Reilly's Stout (I lived in Phoenixville for three years and enjoyed this stout all the time... comparable, if not [dare I say] better than, Guinness; and Dogfish Head Aprihop (which I've had before, but is just ehhh). They had a hand-pump as well, featuring Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball, which is a pretty damn good beer. My boyfriend and I split the Beer-Battered Green Beans, and they were really delicious. As for atmosphere, the Prohibition Taproom really nailed it. The light is mellow and low, but not so low that you can't see where you're going. The music is at a reasonable volume, and I easily carried on a conversation the whole time. They have a jukebox, too, with a great selection! I enjoyed drinking my beer while listening to "Born Under Punches". And they had an old jukebox, not one of the digital ones you see all over the place now. The place only opened in late October, but still, it was very clean. The bathroom was near immaculate... probably the cleanest bar bathroom I've seen yet in Philly. There were cool candles made out of beer bottles. I like to see a display of craftsmanship at a bar. :) The only thing I found to be not quite up to par was their bottle selection. I desire a lot of IPAs and a lot of stouts, and they just didn't have that. Of course, I had what I liked on tap, so I didn't need to resort to bottles, but for take-out purposes, I'd like a little more variety. Last, but certainly not least, was the bartender that was serving us. She was awesome! We conversed with her pretty much the entire time we were there, and she was down to earth and knowledgeable about beer. She even covered one round of our beers because she wanted us to come back. Now that's cool in my book. I will make this my regular watering-hole for sure.
(5)
Tom D.
I like this place a ton. I walk everywhere I go. This place happens to be like exactly equidistant from my apartment and the Troc and the E Factory. So when I am going to see a show, I eat dinner here and drink some tasty brews rather than spending money on the stuff at those venues. I like the burger and the ever-changing grilled cheese. The appetizers are good, too. There is usually a stout, a brown ale, an ipa (or two), and a special bitter on tap; in addition to a hand draught. The waitstaff is super friendly. They have a killer jukebox. The sign out front is something I need for my bedroom as a night light.
(5)
Darnelle R.
Anybody that has a good pulled pork sandwich has my vote!! We walked into Prohibition Taproom just before 10. The place looked divy as in a local bar. Only a few people at this time. We pony up to the bar and check out the menu. Nice menu. Nice Beer Selection. Really cool staff. We get the pulled pork. Comes with fries. I'm in love. The runny goodness of the juice drips from the bun. I devoured the fries and i even ate the coleslaw!! I never eat coleslaw. Just as I'm about to undo the belt, the crowd comes in. Maybe they sensed that an "Elite" was dining! Hmm...my belly was as full as I am of myself...:) I'm a huge fan of Prohibition Taproom! Not at all like the pretentious Cafe Lift!! I am not a fan!!
(4)
Natalie M.
Ok, so I am proof that even when there is a large sign that says "BAR" and points directly at the bar in question, it can still be hard to find. Of course, I was also driving down 12th St, instead of 13th, so that may have had something to do with it. Once we figured out where we were going, it really was impossible to miss, both because of the sign, and the fact that in a three block radius of this bar, there is nothing but burnt out buildings and meth labs. Once you find it, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Not only did we get two prime parking spaces (right out front) where, had our cars gotten broken into, at least we would have known immediately, but we also walked into a bar on a Thursday night that wasn't super full, loud, or obnoxious, and got prime seats at the bar. The bartender was attentive and knew her beers. She was pretty good at describing the beers so that they sounded really good. Mostly, they were, too. They have a nice draft list as well as a sizable and perhaps random bottle list. The food was super plentiful. I expected less for my money, but the bellyache that came with eating too much greasy food in a short period of time was also free. We had the mussels (which were good), the beer battered green beans (which were about as far from healthy as green beans can possibly get, but super yummy), and the grilled cheese special. I've never eaten anywhere where there was a grilled cheese of the day, so this was new and exciting. Our grilled cheese had bacon and apples in addition to cheese. It was good and came with a side salad and fries. I definitely had the feeling that this is a neighborhood bar, and, since the only bars in my neighborhood are super sketchy, I may adopt it as my own. It certainly makes for a nice, relaxing place to have a few drinks with friends. Oh, and the bar itself is the coolest thing I've seen in a long time, even if it might not be the most practical way to set up a bar. I'm still confused how the people at the ends get their drinks, so maybe next time I'll sit at an end and find out...
(4)
K J.
Great bar that's tucked away off Spring Garden. First off, they have a great beer list, Belgium beers, milk stouts, IPA's and other seasonal brews. What I was pleasantly surprised about was the food. I had their grill cheese sandwich which was great, and it eats like an entree. I also tried their fried beer battered green beans which I recommend if you are in the mood. The hoisin wings I had were ok, wasn't as crispy for my liking, but not bad either. The service was great and they know their beer. The atmosphere had a local yuppie feel to it which I definitely appreciate. It's a down to earth bar which is now on my favorites list.
(4)
Jason B.
Stopped in before a show to grab a drink and some food. Had the turkey chilli very good, with great corn bread. Beer selection on draft I thought could have been a little better. Place was crowded but 2 bar seats opened up eventually. Overall an OK place nothing to great though.
(3)
Robin T.
I'm surprised at myself for only picking 3 stars - I'm usually an enthusiastic reviewer. I wanted to try this place's root beer float, after reading about it in one of the local alternative weeklies. Yes, it was in a strange place - an area I never go to, but not too difficult to find. The bright "bar" sign really helped! And the room was cool - large, dark and candlelit, huge bar, nice wooden decor. So, it could have been quite cozy. I was with two friends who wanted some food, so we grabbed an empty table. My root beer float was excellent, but they are difficult to mess up! (I suggest adding a shot of vanilla vodka to "grow it up" for you. Yum!) My friend's fries were great, and everyone seemed happy with the food - Shepherd's pie and a grilled cheese sandwich. The server was pretty efficient, always checking to see if we needed more drinks and food. We didn't have to wonder where he was, at all. Why the 3 stars, you ask? Well, I was seated at a table and trying to talk to my friends, one of them across from me and one next to me. We had a very difficult time hearing each other, due to the deafening sound levels. The jukebox was okay, but just added to the high-decibel din. Too much! I was shouting at them and missing half of what they said. Most of our conversation consisted of "what?" I felt like when I left, it would be like when you left a concert - still shouting at each other with a raw voice. It might be good for dinner, due to the good food and atmosphere - I'm not sure - but Saturday night at 9:30-12:00 is too loud for me.
(3)
Victoria H.
All the bartenders - friendly and helpful Selection of brews- amazing. They had a lot of beers from the west coast and i loved that. Also a lot of great local micro brews. And a hand pump! Great mixed drinks....try the elderflower sidecar or the gin berry. (My faves) Not a let's go party bar, but a lets sit down and get our buzz going bar with good people, good music (Jukebox selection roooocks), and good drinks :)
(5)
Maria S.
Thanks fellow Yelpers. I'm from Denver and I needed a good place to go that was near my hotel. I looked to you for help. I really, really like this place. The beer was really good, the food was unexpected and the service was great. I had the grilled cheese of the day, which was pepper-jack, apples and bacon. I loved it. My friend had pork loin and she talked about it all the next day. Thanks again Philly Yelpers!
(5)
Ben K.
I was tipped off to the Prohibition Taproom after reading about the November 1st opening on Uwishunu. The owners also own Cafe Lift (which I've never visited), also located in the loft district. The place is well lit from the outside with a huge red neon arrow reading "BAR" pointing to the front door. You can't really miss it. Inside, you get the speakeasy feel with dim lighting, clear large filament lightbulbs on the walls that are clad in dark wood paneling. A huge, giant wood bar runs the length of the plus with highbacked leather lounge style chairs. The menu consists of your typical gastropub fare. Appetizers: mussels, BBQ or Ranchero wings, and beer battered green beans. Sandwiches: Burger with choice of jack, blue or brie cheese, pulled pork and a grilled marinated veggies for the herbivores out there. Entrees: steak frites, baked mac and cheese, crab & shrimp cakes and roasted chicken. The real reason we came by was to checkout the beer selection which was definitely larger than most places but not mindblowing. I'd say about 10 brews were on draft including Slyfox Stout, Post Road Pumpkin, Stoudt's Oktoberfest, Allagash White, Hook & Ladder, Victory Braumeister and a few more. They also had Yards ESA on cask (hand pump). The bottle selection included several Belgians and Germans plus the usual domestic suspects like Dogfish Head 90-Minuyte IPA. We had the pulled pork and burger. Both came on toasted Metropolitan Bakery ciabatta with a side of fries and the pork came with coleslaw and an out of place babycarrot. Although the burger was ordered medium rare, it came much closer to medium but the big patty and fresh produce (lettuce, tomato, fried onions) made up for it. The pulled pork was great, a little spicy and not too saucy. The fries taste housemade and are cut shoestring style. Overall, we liked Prohibition Taproom but weren't blown away. I don't think I'd go out of my way again to come back here. It seems like it will be a great spot for the people living in the loft district, but might be a little too low key for some. However, there isn't too much in the area with this sort of beer selection - but if you're looking for really great stuff, I'd recommend trekking a little further to Belgian Cafe anyway.
(3)
Erin A.
We hit up the Prohibition Taproom on Friday for some food and cocktails. We wanted something local and casual and PTR fit that bill. I'm not a huge beer drinker but I did have something good and my husbadn seemed pleased. It was kind of hard to read the dimly lit chalkboard and they weren't listed in the menu. Maybe they could put some lights on the board to make it more readable. We had the green bean fries which were excellent. Perfect bar food and not overly greasy. He had the pork sandwich and was very pleased. I got the burger and honestly the burger was great but the bun was like a sourdough roll or something else really hard and it was hard for me to bite. But I just ate most of it with a fork which didn't bother me. It is SUCH a great addition to the hood and it was full by the time we left so obviously it was an underserved area. They have a jukebox! And it was awesom!. I am partial to early/mid-90's hip-hop so I was super excited to hear a little Warren G. and Dr. Dre while sipping my cocktail. I don't think my husband was too embarrased. Parking should be okay too since its a wierd location.
(4)
Julie F.
What I really love about this place is the part of the bar that kind of juts out. It's so novel to be able to talk to more than the person on either side of you while you're sitting at a bar. It definitely creates a more jovial, we-are-the-world, koombaya type experience. The beer selection pretty much blew me away. The bartenders were friendly and not too cool for school like some around this city seem to be. Also impressed by the diverse, and down-to-earth, jukebox selections that were rolling out. Minus one star for fairly boring and tiny mussels I ordered. Next time I'm showing the burger who's boss because it looked fierce.
(4)
Jonny G.
Great beers available on tap (taps rotate constantly) and a solid bottle/can selection. The food never disappoints--my friend said that the BLT was so good it felt like he was on ecstasy. Best burger in the city. Specials rotate so there is always something new. Menu lacks a chicken sandwich which should be featured in some form at every gastropub. Juke box with wu tang, smashing pumpkins, dr. dre, nirvana and zeppelin--can't beat that.
(5)
Tom B.
Ate here tonight, and was very pleased indeed! Among the 3 of us: fish soup, beet salad, beer battered green beans, chicken-apple sausage, and beer. Everything was quite tasty! Our server went out of her way to answer questions about the dairy content of the food (daughter has a dairy allergy) and she was pleasant and efficient. We were here around 7-8:30 Pm, and the place was not crowded or too loud then. I recommend.
(5)
Alex V.
We stopped in for a beer after dinner. It was my first time at Prohibition Taproom and I was really impressed with this place. A great selection of craft beers on tap and fantastic vibe to the room. The bartender was also extremely knowledgeable about the selections of draft. I can't wait to go back and try the food, it looked really good.
(4)
Jonelle G.
2 happy hours... need I say more. I live in S.Philly and make it a point to stop by Prohibition when I'm north. The green beans are killer. The bartenders are very helpful and polite. We always end up chatting it up with the bartenders. If you're looking to take a date for diner & drinks, hit this place up. Did I mention 2 happy hours.
(5)
Tre R.
So I feel like a lot of Prohibition's brunch reviews start the same way: Yesterday, I went to Cafe Lift to meet some friends for brunch. They told me it would be a 35 minute wait. I walked down to Prohibition for a beer and never left. The brunch was AMAZING! We all shared the Egg Sandwich, Biscuits & Gravy, and the Waffle with Orange Butter, Maple-Soaked Walnuts, and Chantilly Cream. Eggs are a b**ch to cook. But this kitchen pulled off scrambled and fried perfectly. And the waffle... wow. wow. Throw in a free Bloody Mary or Mimosa, and I'll definitely be back. Oh yeah, and the Roy Pitz Gobbler beer? AWESOME.
(5)
Elisabeth Y.
I just returned to the Prohibition Taproom and I'm happy to report that things were much improved. Our waitress was EXCELLENT and, I'm not exaggerating when I say this, she gave the best descriptions of specials that I have ever witnessed. So many details about cooking techniques- wow! The beer selection was excellent and so was my special grilled cheese. Prohibition Taproom has won me over again!
(4)
Annie D.
I've been going to the Prohibition for quite a while now and last night I was reminded of why this is easily my favorite bar in the city of Philadelphia. The beer selection is great if you include the bottled offerings. The food is delicious and always really consistent, but the best thing at Prohibition is the bar staff. Last night we had such a good time that the bartender introduced himself to us; his name is John and if he is working you are guaranteed to have a good time!
(5)
Beth L.
We checked out the taproom prior to a concert at the new Union Transfer (old Spaghetti Warehouse!). This place is small, but has a huge beer list! Their menu is not very extensive, but everything that came out of the kitchen looked amazing, very classy for pub fare. We had polenta fries and their macaroni and cheese, both awesome! Other food we saw come out was wings (good sizes and smelled yummy), burgers (looked like someone made the patty by hand), hummus plate (a mountain of hummus), salads (nice greens). I would definitely check it out again to try some more local brews and their food. We ordered the bacon brownie (something I saw reviewed here on Yelp) but it was a sunday night and unfortunately they didn't have any! Good excuse to go back!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner, Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Average Music : Juke Box Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jennifer R.
This place was really neat. Very laid back vibe with a great concept. It was very dark and loud but there was a good amount of bar space and the tap list was awesome. They have a mystery keg that we didn't get to try but we loved that they had a mystery one. What a nice way to bring excitement to a bar. We didn't get food but we saw other people's, and it looked really good from afar!
(5)Grace T.
This place has a great beer selection and overall seems like a cool bar. Food-wise though I'd probably give it closer to 2 stars. Just was not impressed. I had the burger. It was fairly large, but I thought it didn't have a lot of flavor. Also got a side of mac and cheese that was nothing special. My husband got the lamb gyro, which he liked but I didn't try. Would come back for the beers but probably not for the food.
(3)John G.
I've visited the PT on two occasions. The first was an average experience. Ambiance was good, the beer list - though not extensive - offered a varied assortment of craft beverages at a fair price. On the second occasion my wife and I sat down at a table on a Saturday night around 815. The bar was full, but there were multiple empty tables. The waitress informed us that we couldn't sit at a table unless we were eating. Having just arrived from dinner and not feeling argumentative we got up and left. It seems pretentious that a self-labelled 'taproom' should give up seats to paying customers when there are numerous tables available and, presumably, the beer is where they are making their money anyway. Apparently the affordable beers they are hawking only buy you standing room when the bar is full.
(2)Tom M.
I love this super low key bar in my neighborhood. The staff is quick and attentive. The atmosphere is dark and has a lounge like feel. It is the hipster the hang out for the neighborhood, so expect some great beers on tap. Definitely my neighborhood go to bar. Try the burger. It is one of my cravings.
(4)Kelsey G.
Always a pleasure coming here. The beer selection is great and I'm definitely a fan of the fact that you can carry out bottles. The food here is delicious. The beer battered green beans are a must and the Mac and cheese is too good to be true.
(5)Vichet O.
Not sure how I missed reviewing this place, considering how often I find myself here. Prohibition is that wonderful mix of good drinks, great service, great atmosphere and location. Location, you ask? What's so great about being stuck at 13th and Buttonwood? Well, for one, lots of easy parking. And also, the place isn't crawling with douches like me on a Friday happy hour. When I go out, I like to be the only douche in the room. Anyway, their food can be hit or miss, but their drinks are always hit. They have a huge tap list, and tons of bottles available to supplement it. As for mixed drinks, every bartender I've had there is totally cool with specific mixing instructions, and they have a wide variety of gin. This makes Vichet a happy boy. They also have a daily special called the "Old Man Drink." It's something your pappy's pappy would have drank, back when they didn't allow minorities like me in the bar. Take that, Whitey! Who gets to enjoy a mint julep NOW?! This place is always a good choice, especially if you've had dinner in Chinatown and want a few good drinks and a chill night. Otherwise, you can come here for a really good pregame before you hit No-Libs, Old City, or Center City.
(4)Lauren S.
So my only complaint about Prohibition Taproom is I once came in on a Monday around 9 or 10 and someone gave my group a hard time about sitting at a table because they need to save them for there dinner crowd. What dinner crowd do you have that late on a Monday? That defiantly rub me the wrong way a little but other than that I've had good experience here. They have a fabulous beer list although a few times I've wanted what's up next. Those list always get me.
(3)Michelle E.
This is a solid taproom. I also dig the location in proximity to other bars and venues. I went here for the first time on St. Patrick's Day. I found a killer parking spot, so that certainly put me in a good mood. The interior is cozy and my friends and I knew we would be in for a long-ish wait, as all the tables were full and the bar was crowded. We were quoted 45 minutes and that was pretty dead-on. The bartender was super friendly and gave us samples to try. She also offered up some recommendations and definitely knew her beers. We weren't super hungry so just split a salad, some fries and falafel. All the food was on point and the service was adequate. I'd love to return and try some new beers and explore the menu a bit more.
(4)Jennifer M.
This place is my second home. I live nearby and frequent protap for their amazing burgers, beer, fries, brunch, etc etc. The staff is friendly and I love the chilled out atmosphere. Some all time favorites include grass fed beef burgers, fried green beans, pickle plate, pork sandwich, bahn mi... I mean really, I haven't had a disappointing meal at this little gem. Beer selection is great. They always have something new to try... So if you're in the mood for a bud light (eww) this isn't your spot.
(5)Jennifer S.
Visited in 11/8, early evening Bar was full but not crazy busy yet for a Saturday night. Our food order was half piping hot like Satan fired it and then the other half was frozen like Elsa made it. I was disappointed in the inconsistency It was 2 sandwiches and some calamari....nothing too difficult. They replaced the cold food but it was a huge hassle. Overall not really impressed with the food or the service at this place. Had such high hopes as the decor and vibe in the bar is really cool.
(2)Bianca B.
Great bar. Food is delicious and you can tell the chefs know what they're doing. Homemade peanut butter ice cream? Yes! Staff very friendly and accommodating. Not badly priced either and parking very easy.
(5)Fuzzy D.
Great food, great beer, completely awful service. I've had decent experiences here in the past. The food is good and on par with the rest of the Philly gastropub scene. On a cold night in winter, the french onion soup is downright therapeutic. The beer selection is large and they always have multiple great brews on tap. Why am I giving this place two stars? Its staff. My girl and I came early on a Saturday evening, placed an order at the bar, and were straight-up ignored. Twenty minutes later, I saw our bartender at the end of the bar obliviously sipping on a drink. Useless. Maybe the management sent all of their first stringers up to help Bufad get up and running. I'll be steering clear until they get their house in order.
(2)Sandy T.
Don't be fooled by the sketchy neighborhood. This place is awesome! Food is consistently delicious, great drink menu, and guaranteed good crowd. it's a good place for a date or for hanging out with friends. Either way, you can't go wrong.
(5)Rick B.
Went here before a show at Union Transfer. This place has a big bar down one side and a few tables on the other side. Not super comfy furniture or decor - clearly a bar for drinking. So a couple of stars off for the rather mundane atmosphere. Everything else was great. Friendly bartender. Good, varied beer selection. I had grilled cheese with tomato relish and pesto sandwich which was quite tasty. Excellent fries. Service was prompt.
(3)Jheris J.
This place is an awesome chill spot to have great beer and hang. They have an array of brews and their food is good. Our server Jessica was awesome! The staff as a whole was very attentive. I would definitely recommend if looking for a nice place to hang with friends.
(5)Rebecca N.
My friends all love to hate this spot. Their main gripe is the beer list, which admittedly doesn't quite stand up to the Northern Libs and Fishtown competition. But, still, it's not terrible. Service is usually very friendly and prompt, and the place has a nice feel. The curvy bar is cute, and the food has never made me barf. It's in a location that's convenient for meeting friends coming from other parts of the city. I think it has a lot of redeeming qualities.
(3)Alicia V.
Tonight we had- and THOROUGHLY enjoyed: beer battered green beans, sweet potato pierogies, Burger Special (honey, ham, gruyere and Dijon) and the coffee rubbed brisket sandwich- what a great meal!!
(5)Sarah F.
I've been to Prohibition a few times since my one star review, and I'm sad to say I've had nothing but disappointment here. We stopped for brunch one day and it took 45 minutes to get our food. When it came out, it was cold. Not once did the server apologize, so when the check came I paid and asked to speak to a manager. Turns out the server was the manager. She was nice enough to refund the money back to my card, and offer a free round of drinks on our next visit. We haven't been back to cash in on those drinks, and this happened months and months ago. My previous experiences were just as disappointing. I wish I could like you, Prohibition, but I've given up.
(2)Mallory D.
I have been to Prohibition TR twice now, and both times had a much different experience. My first visit was after a show at Union Transfer, and PTR was hosting the official afterparty. That will go down as one of the most fun nights of my life! The band along with tons of adoring fans were present, the juke box was playing, the beer was great, and the overall atmosphere was just awesome! I have never eaten here, so I can't speak to the food. While the beer list isn't as extensive as some other craft beer bars, they always have a great, varied selection & always something on nitro as well. The last time I went was on a Thursday night, so obviously it was more subdued than my previous adventure. The beer was still good and the ambiance was more intimate, so I was good! My only complaint is the bizarre music they play when not utilizing the jukebox. After last call they blasted some crazy head banger music that I'm pretty sure was meant to send us remaining patrons on our way. It worked!
(4)Christine B.
After trying to get some pizza down the street and being told we would have a 45 minute wait, ended up taking our group of 7 to Prohibition Tap Room. There was a pretty long wait for a table there as well, but we found a few seats at the bar, and after another group left, everyone was pretty much able to sit. Various food items were ordered. I had a bite of the mac and cheese which was amazing, and I had the grilled cheese special of the night, a brie and pickled fennel concoction. I'm not a huge fennel fan, but this was a good grilled cheese. I also had some kind of stout that was on tap which was good. My friend had fried chicken on a biscuit which was reported to be amazing. Not usually in this area, but it's a good spot.
(4)Stacey R.
Prohibition, my greatest wish in life is that I could pick you up and transplant you to where I live in West Philadelphia, because you are everything Local 44 is not. Great rotating beer selection for my husband, an amazing wine (and sometimes cocktail) list for me, and stellar food. We don't get here nearly as much as we'd like just because it's a destination-type of place for us, which is a shame! Staff and service is amazing. During our last visit the manager asked how our food was, and I told him, in a totally truthful manner, that I preferred the way they had prepared a certain menu item before they changed their menu, and he insisted upon taking it off the bill. This was totally unnecessary -- I wasn't even complaining, I was just being honest hoping they would bring back the old menu item -- but still the gesture was still appreciated. I also love your Wednesday-Saturday waitress who is a ringer for Lindsay Lohan (pre-downward spiral) and will chat celeb gossip with me. (PS: Did you read that NYT profile of her on the set of The Cannons? AH-MAH-ZING!)
(5)Phil A.
Great food and atmosphere. Pretty loud but it's a bar so that's expected. Decent prices and drink selection.
(3)Carolyn L.
The venue really gives you the impression that you've gone back in time and landed yourself in an old speakeasy (I suppose that's what they were going for with the name). Dim, cool, old light bulbs, and the bar setup is really great (lots of seating). The beer menu is often impressive, and the fried green beans are something I crave on the regular. They are served with a garlic aoli and I would eat them all night if I could. All in all a fun place to go with friends to hang out or watch the game. Really fun during the world series! Not a traditional sports bar, but it gets the job done.
(4)Gabriella R.
Great beer, great specials, great music, great service, but does get REALLY crowded on weekend evenings. But that's because it's so great! Battered green beans? Yes, please! The pickled vegetable appetizer kicks butt! I usually order whatever is on the specials menu, and have never been disappointed. Their grilled cheeses are decadent. This place will make the most irritable of starving people into the happiest of clams! I swear, I was one of them! Sometimes, in the early evening, you can see the pretty carriage horses coming home across the street. Aw. This is another home away from home for me!
(5)Zoe P.
Prohibition Taproom has been bookmarked on my Yelp profile for waaaay too long, but its difficult for the two of us to find time in our schedules to eat out. Of course, when someone else is paying, it's a little easier to find the time - which is why when his family wanted to go out to dinner with us and asked for suggestions on where to eat, I immediately put Prohibition Taproom on the table. Lucky for me, they trust my Yelp judgment and we went for an early Friday evening dinner. Of course, early dinner for us meant end of Happy Hour for them, so the place was already bustling and boisterous. They were able to fit us five at a table, but after we sat down the few other remaining tables filled up quickly with diners. The bar was packed with patrons, too. Specials were written up on the board above the bar, but were slightly difficult to read from that distance. The two men both ordered pints from what was on tap (do not remember which ones, but they both really liked what they tried). I counseled my fiance's mom to try the grilled cheese special (a brie, caramelized onion, apple, I think) since that seems to be a Yelp fav, so she shared that and their burger with her husband. She could not stop raving about the grilled cheese, and got slightly annoyed when his sister stole a bite. My fiance also got their burger, medium rare, which he said was one, if not the, best burger he's had in Philly (and he's tried a lot - because I've made him ;P). I had to take a bite of it for myself, and it is a damn fine burger. I got their regular mussels despite the special they had, and I made the best choice. The cream sauce was divine with the chunks of pork cheek dispersed among the mussels. His sister went simply with the hummus plate, which had a large glob of terrific hummus accompanied by pita wedges and chunks of roasted beets. We also shared two pickle plates, which I highly recommend if you like pickles. The assortment had pearl onions, shaved fennel, green beans, carrots, cucumber, and something else I'm forgetting, but everything was crisp and tart and fresh. The staff was friendly and patient given how noisy it was - we kinda had to yell at him and each other to be heard - and were so on top of refilling our water that towards the end of the meal my fiance had to ask him to not refill his glass since he really didn't need more water. Everything on the menu sounds so good, we're sure to come back to try even more of the yumminess!
(4)Joseph C.
Awesome atmosphere. Awesome food. Outstanding rotating beer list. If you're anywhere in the area, this place is well worth a visit.
(5)Steven T.
Walked here from Chinatown late one night. The streets were mad sketch. We kept hoping that with each corner, we would see some evidence of life, but we didnt. Finally making it to the Taproom, and find a place thats hipster friendly. The place is nice with a bar counter reminiscent of an old western saloon. They have a good selection of beer at good prices ($4 yuengling) and beer cocktails. Service was friendly, and they serve food (but didnt try it)
(4)Lena W.
I have been here a few times for brunch and once for the bar. My friends and I happened upon this place when the wait at Cafe Lift was much too long for our stomachs to wait. We walked back to this place, seeing they had a brunch deal of free mimosa or Bloody Mary with any brunch entree. We all sat at a sort of peninsula of the bar and enjoyed a great brunch here. I always get scrambled eggs and sausage for brunch. So I got mu usual and it was very good. I got a mimosa and it was pretty good. But, the Bloody Mary is very horseradish-y, my friends didn't enjoy it. I came here another time for brunch and it was much more busy on account of the punk rock flea market. We walked in and waited for a hostess to come up to us, no one came or paid any attention to us. Then, some other group that came in after us got seated way before us. We finally got seated and stuck in the back corner and were ignored throughout our meal. My boyfriend asked for a coffee and did not get it by the time our meal came, so he asked for it again. Then our waiter gave him a measly half-empty, lukewarm mug of coffee, without any cream or sugar on the side. I had to ask for them, which I found strange. Of course, the coffee never got refilled afterwards. Now, I had one brunch that was great and one that was not so great. It may be because they cannot handle being busy, or that they are highly inconsistent. Either way, I would bet to not go here for brunch if you need to wait. I went here to drink for my birthday and had a great time. I got to sample a beer before I ordered it, which was nice. I like that the jukebox has Revolver (favorite Beatles album). Overall I enjoy this place a lot, but I need to take off a star for that horrible brunch I had.
(4)Andrew S.
I've been before, and that time was an awesome meal. This one, sadly, wasn't so great. I got a duck confit salad. It was duck confit, over friseé. Usually, I don't like frisee, but I deferred to Prohibition's culinary judgment. The confit was very well-done and crispy - I'd call it overcooked. The whole experience was these tough pieces of duck, over a bed of friseé, and I kept getting little pieces of both of them caught in my throat. The whole experience was one that I wasn't happy to pay money for. To their credit, the drinks were good. I got a Flemish sour ale - my favorite style.
(2)Rachel K.
Awesome spot for breakfast lunch OR dinner. For dinner - they have my favorite hummus plate in Philly. For brunch - the egg sandwich is to die for! And of course, beer wise, they have always have a very solid selection.
(5)Michael A.
Excellent place for hard to find craft beers. Port Brewery Hop 15 and Hoppy Lil'Hudson when I was there. Solid gastro pub food. Gets busy and hard to find a seat until later in the evening. Area did not appear to be sketchy to me, some have commented that it is. Friendly and knowledgeable service.
(4)Mo A.
This is a great neigborhood bar with just a dash of class to it. The drinks are great and the ood is pretty darn good. The bartenders were very friendly. The Wii is where excellence. Ooh and one more thing, try the Golden Repeal cocktail was excellent.
(4)Helen C.
Love this place! Prohibition Taproom is my new favorite after-work casual dinner spot. They have an awesome beer selection with plenty of new options all the time. And I'm not sure if this is a regular happy hour special, but sometimes all of their draft beers are $4. Which is a steal, considering the selection. I got to try Clown Shoes Muffin Top-- Belgian strong ale, 10% abv, really how could you resist trying based on that name! $4! and it was delicious! Their food has also been consistently good. I'm in love with their beer brined pork loin sandwich! Serrano chile spread, caramelized onions, aged cheddar, served with jus -- this sandwich is the business (I uploaded a pic)! Curry mussels were also quite delicious. Beer battered green beans. Decent burger. And many of their $4 happy hour food specials have been good too. I always leave here with a happy stomach. The only item I had here that I did not enjoy was the fried chick peas. They had no texture and tasted like nothing. They kinda just disintegrated when you ate them... it was weird. Service is always very friendly, prompt and efficient. The waitresses can make recommends and always with a smile. There was one time that our servers had a mix-up and neither was coming over because they both thought the other had our table. After about 20 minutes of sitting there and waiting, we went to the bar to get our own drinks, and finally flagged a waitress down and asked to order food. She took our order, and then after talking with the other waitress, both of them came over separately to personally and very sincerely apologize about the mix-up. They also offered us desserts or a round of drinks on the house to make up for it. Mistakes happen but it's how they are handled that make the difference! And the service here is fantastic. Even with the mix-up, we somehow ended up liking this place more. Everyone here is so nice. I've heard that this place gets pretty packed sometimes on Friday/Saturday nights but every time I've gone so far I've been able to get a seat.
(4)Jasmine H.
I've been here several times and enjoy it. The beer selection is always solid The food for the most part is good. I love their mac and cheese, and I've liked their soups and salads. However....the fries, we've ordered then a couple times and always they're too salty. My boyfriend who loves salt on everything and is always adding more salt to all his food even agrees. Hmmm about that. The grilled cheese specials are good sometimes, however sometimes it's just an awkward food combination which makes them taste weird, I've since learned to stay away. It seems something may be awry with the kitchen staff The service is good, the wait staff and bartenders aways manage to be attentive but also not overtly friendly. The music volume is usually too loud, even when not that many people are at the bar which kinda just reads tacky. Still I like this place, I will probably keep going back for the mac and cheese and the beer. But I can understand the reasons for all the other inconsistent reviews.
(3)Carol C.
GREAT decor, friendliest staff ever, craft beers on draft and bottle, and draft beers are reasonably priced. Whenever there is original sin cider, that is what I choose, and never have I ever had to pay only $5 for it at a bar. GO prohibition taproom!
(5)mike v.
This place is excellent. The fried chicken platter is TO DIE FOR. It comes with a pickled veggie salad that has a spicy 1000 island type dressing. Absolutely amazing. The mac & cheese is also amazing. They are on-point with pick-up orders, too.
(5)Matt P.
Nice interior. Good beer selection.
(5)Russ R.
Firstly let me preface this review with the following, a full bar is great for business, unless there is only one server! We stopped in for a quick bite and the menu and drink list seemed interesting enough. We ordered the kielbasa and pierogis with cabbage and a side of Mac and cheese. The meal on the whole was quite middle of the road. The beers were great, when they eventually came out, 20+ minutes after ordering them. Finally this place could use some much needed sound diffusers, it was incredibly loud, and my party had an incredibly difficult time hearing one another. Stick to drinks at the bar.
(2)Mary M.
I don't always go to Prohibition Taproom, but when I do: 1 - I will probably just have a Yards Brawler, b/c I'm not a huge beer drinker and I know I like Brawler 2 - I might try another British style beer 3 - I will ALWAYS order the beer battered green beans, b/c they are light, refreshing, and I don't feel like I'm being too unhealthy 4 - I will complain about the loudness; the small room acoustics are seriously out of control once it starts to fill up (and it is almost always full). Honestly, we would probably go here more but it's just a bit out of our way as far as local places. But when we're going to the Troc or seeing a show at Arts Underground then we always make Prohibition a stop. Nice, accommodating staff, nice, clean decor and nice food. Dig it!
(4)Richard R.
Prohibition Taproom is from the owners of Café Lift and Bufad. The space is open and clean and outfitted with retro-funky black leather barstools, filament bulb lighting fixtures and nice vintage jukebox. The menu includes a solid tap list of domestic microbrews and hundreds of bottles, along with some really solid and diverse comfort bar foods. We started with the crab fritters. These were similar to a crab hushpuppy and not greasy at all. There are not too many foods much better then Crab and fried bread! I had the Burger which is 100% grass fed local beef, butchered & ground at Kensington Quarters topped with a 6yr. Rustic cheddar, lettuce, & onion stout jam on a Snowflake bun. This cheese and bun were excellent and the burger was juicy. My daughter had the Kielbasa & Pierogies - House smoked Polish sausage served with our potato pierogies, sauerkraut, and hot mustard. That was really good also. For dessert we had the the Pumpkin Tres Leches. The sauce and brittle were fantastic. Callowhill is really changing and becoming a cool and funky neighborhood.
(4)Lyn P.
Great place..happy hour 5-7 pm .. Hummus delicious... French onion soup"the best"! Very friendly environment
(4)Ho L.
They don't seem to do a lot of business during lunch, focusing more on the bar aspect than the restaurant aspect. But when I stopped by for lunch during the middle of the week, I was pleasantly surprised. The Loom bartender was very friendly and helpful, abd quickly brought us our drinks along with the menus. I went for the burrito which was arguably the largest burrito I've ever had in my entire life. It was delicious, and I really don't know how I manages to finish it. The rest of my party really enjoyed their burgers and such. Whenever I return to Philly, I'll be sure to swing by Prohibition in the evening hours to see the other side of things.
(4)Sam C.
Really sweet place! When you walk in, it's got a really awesome vibe. Unfortunately when I went was a really busy time -- we waited for about 45 minutes for a table. Luckily they invite you to the bar to flesh a beer while you wait, they'll even transfer your tab you your table once you're seated. The food is really great! I tasted a little bit of everything, wasn't disappointed by anything. I would suggest the South Philly sandwich.
(4)Casey B.
iiiiiiiiiiiii love this bar. I've only been here a few times, twice to pregame while waiting for a table at Cafe Lift, and once to postgame brunch at Cafe Lift and ended up staying for several hours. Haven't had the pleasure of trying the food yet but it's definitely on my list. The bartender dude is super friendly and helpful. One of those people that knows when to leave you the fuck alone but is also more than willing to engage in witty banter. The beers on tap are all unique and range from low to high %, and the staff knows how to recommend a winner based on your personal taste. I just really like the vibe here, it's hard to put into words exactly what I mean. The kind of place that it's easy to lose track of time in. Gotta come here yourself and I'm sure you'll see what I mean!
(5)Jay W.
A basic corner bar, but an excellent corner bar. Interesting beer on tap, with enough variety for most anyone to find something that they like. My favorites were the Helltown Mischievous Brown and the Ommegang Scythe and Sickle. The bar has a lot of warm wood and while it filled up pretty quickly, there was space for everyone. The crowd here seemed pretty relaxed. The shape of the bar is a little strange, but it makes it a bit easier for larger groups to hang out at the bar together. I dislike that they put grenadine in their old fashioned. I tried another mixed drink, a bottlecap, which is made with root beer schnapps. It was pretty tasty, but a little sweet for my taste.
(4)Isabel J.
On my way to Delaware we decided to make a pit stop in Philly for lunch and found this bar/restaurant on yelp. I'm glad we came here it was such a cool bar. Loved how much space there was between the bar and the tables. They sat us down and within seconds we got menus and tap water, talk about heat service. I ordered the gun shy drink which was delicious and wished I was sticking longer to have more but I didn't have the time. I got the fried greek chicken dish which was delicious just a tad on the spicy side for my Taste but all the flavors were combined beautifully. This came which fries which were so good I couldn't stop eating them. I also got to try the brick chicken and it was super tender and juicy. I was very impressed by the quality of the food and great service here.
(4)Michael N.
I really enjoyed Prohibition. I'm giving it a solid 4. After driving by here many times, we decided to give it a try. From the outside, it doesn't seem like much other then the big "bar" sign outside. The area itself isn't much to look at either and I would be weary of parking on 13th south of the bar. Walking in we were created by one of my favorite Walkmen song on the jukebox. Already off to a good start. As the other reviews suggested, they definitely have a great beer list. About 15 beers on tap and 50 more on the bottle list. Fairly large bar as well. We decided to try the food as well. I went with the burger which was pretty big. It was a decent burger, but the snowflake bun was fantastic. My wife went with the grilled cheese and she didn't think there was enough cheese compared to some other spots in the area. The fries were excellent though. Overall they had great beer, the good came out hot and quickly, and the service was decent. One draw back is that the room is square and gets extremely loud, even with a few people in there on a Wednesday night it got loud.
(4)Dee M.
2 Checkins here thus far August 2014. My daughter lives in the neighborhood and this is a great place for the 2 of us. We both found things to like about it. I must confess the history lover in me was initially attracted to the name referencing times past as well as the art deco "BAR" sign above the door. Passed it many times in the winter, vowing to try. Glad we did. Most recent visit was dinner on a Monday night with a summer blonde ale and the beer battered green beans. Kudos to previous reviewers for the headsup. They were phenomenal. We also had the french onion soup with showstring fries which were very good. Both times the service was friendly and attentive. Don't just consider this a local taproom. The menu is varied and good and worth a drop in. We will be back.
(5)Alexander R.
The very reason for two stars is the beer selection alone not the service or patronage let's be perfectly clear. That said any halfwit can buy a few fridges worth of decent beer. First off I think the bartender was twelve and carded me for the first time in many years. Thanks! It's a compliment once you reach a certain age. Just pull the trigger on the faux-hawk already dude. Yes, the beer is pronounced Brussels but is spelled Bruxelles because it is Belgian (actually the capital) even though it's in a can. Giving people water even though you have no idea of their tolerance can be annoying especially when they are trying to order drinks. You are not allowed to ignore patrons because you think they drank enough. You have NO idea and are twelve. Telling people they cannot change food menu items on the menu is arrogant and not at all friendly to people with allergies. It also stinks of pre-portioned, pre-made, and reheated food. If I can't get something left off the dish I want to because of an allergy or simply because I don't want it on my plate who are you to tell me I can't? Shave your beard and get over your James Beard complex... you will never get a Michelin Star. Sorry to be so harsh but I wouldn't order food from your menu if you paid me in your delicious suds. You are a bar that happens to have food. Stop thinking you are some elite gastropub. Having a beer on the menu in Philly called PPA is just missing the mark... just saying. Must be a diuretic. Serving customers three beers at a time to go that the whole transaction takes longer than it takes to drink said beers right next to people at the bar is annoying and doesn't bode well for repeat business. There are many places in this city to drink good beer, eat good food, and be merry... this however to me is definitely not one of them. Save your loot.
(2)Lili B.
Went to Prohibition Taproom for brunch last Sunday and I keep a pretty good memory of my visit. My friend and I arrived there ~2PM and the place was not packed so we easily found a sit. The beer selection is pretty decent and I liked the beer I picked (can't recall the name). I ordered the egg benedict (def my favorite brunch plate). My plate was very large and it was delicious. It missed some Hollandaise sauce but it was still very yummy! The bill came up to ~20 a person which is reasonable given we had a drink. I will mostly go back there. The service was Ok but i feel i waited quite a lot given we were the only one sitting at table.
(4)Yeah D.
my fav bar in philly. the staff is cool, Sunday's are fun for 20% off when you bring your own vinyl, and the food is pretty great. I've seen a pretty killer DJ mixing at the bar before, but I think that sort of thing is pretty rare there.
(5)Chrim K.
Great bar! Atmosphere was cool as there was a show at Union Transfer around the block and more than a few people were hanging out before hand. The beer list was great, a large number of beers on tap along with a very nice bottle list. Small menu for food, we just split the pretzel with beer cheese sauce (which was great!), but all the food looked really good. Service was great, bartenders always looking for the next customer, happy to answer any and all questions, and none on their phones (I encounter this too many times when a bar is crowded). On top of this, the physical bar is a very unique shape aimed to utilize as much space as possible and encourage talking to your fellow patrons. Jukebox was also on point.
(5)Emily L.
Oh, how I miss the city! Being able to walk from our hotel to Prohibition was pretty awesome, even if there were a few sketchy corners along the way. Once inside, we took in the serpentine bar and packed tables with some difficulty (it was quite dark) and luckily found seats right away; by the time we left, over an hour later, people were standing three deep all around the bar. We started out sitting at one of the bar islands, directly across from three strangers; this might appeal to some extreme extroverts, but it was a little awkward for us. They paid us no attention and had a very loud conversation (trendy vocal-fry girls -- ugh) so we tried to return the favor, but they were hard to ignore, so when true bar seats opened up we scooted over and left them to their workplace gripes. The drink menu is pretty wonderful; awesome draft / bottle selection, in addition to a handful of craft cocktails. We stuck to beer and were not disappointed; the bartender, once he saw what we liked, offered us a couple of samples and was able to continue making us happy through several more rounds. We weren't dinner-hungry, but wanted to try the battered green beans since so many had raved about them. They were pretty disappointing; the beans were overcooked and stringy, and the batter stuck together in huge lumps -- it was more like a battered green bean sculpture. We ate about half and left the rest. Next we tried the fried pretzel, which was good, though not exactly pretzel-like, since it had been deep-fried instead of soda-boiled. The accompanying queso was delicious, but there was only one small ramekin, so we ate most of the pretzel plain. It turned out there had been quite a party a few hours earlier, as the first friday of every month is a pig roast. It sounded intriguing, but our server didn't know any of the details -- where, how and for what amount of time it was cooked, for instance -- so we didn't try it. We would definitely return for the beer, and to try one of their standbys like the burger or the brick chicken.
(3)Sarah B.
A bit of advice for this place, you will wait for a large party. No call ahead seating, it's really just a little place that's mostly bar. But what a bar. Forget your Bud Lights, man. Craft beers on tap and tons of bottled. I had a fantastic sour red from Belgium. For dinner I had possibly one of the top 5 burgers of my life. Grilled to perfection, with a bun toasted but soft and buttery with their house sauce. We were pretty well starving by the time the food got there, but I don't believe I was mislead by my hunger. It was all quite tasty.
(4)Raina S.
Chill spot for hipsters and an okay happy hour for drinks, prices were affordable. We didn't get appetizers for happy hour, just a brownie sundae dessert which was super rich. If you're looking for a hipster spot and that's your scene, this place works.
(3)Nooshin P.
Great food- a little hidden culinary gem. We have eaten here many times, as it's walking distance, and the food has never disappointed and always very clever! The only reason for 1 less star is the noise level- it is sooooo loud in this place and people are yelling to talk over the music. Doesn't keep us away though!
(4)Tiffany T.
Based on my most recent visit I had to bring this review down to a 3. Couple of reasons, first being service. Although we were sitting at the bar, we found it hard to be served. We did have a primary server/bartender but she was severely lacking in efficiency as a server. She was friendly I'll give her that, but it was hard to get her attention for a drink or to put our food orders in. There were also a lot of other I'm not sure.. bartenders, barbacks that were standing right in front of us that never once asked if there was something we needed , when we were clearly trying to order or eye-contact our server or do something for that matter. From what I saw, there was one male server/bartender that was the only one doing anything that night besides our female server that was mostly inconsistent with her services. Anyway, when we got our food (got seitan cheesesteak with fries, partner got ricebowl) and no silverware was provided to us (more so for the rice bowl). But of course took a couple of minutes to eye someone down for silverware as well.. Okay on to the food. Fried pretzel with beer cheese $5 -- awesome. Imo, doesn't need to be fried but it was nice and hot, crispy but still soft on the inside. My seitan cheesesteak I give a 4/5 -- the vegan cheese was pretty impressive given that it is vegan. The roll was good, crisped on the outside, but seitan was hard to distinguish from the Kennett mushrooms. Good to try, but not something I crave or would want to get again on my return. The rice bowl was less than enjoyable in my opinion. It was.. confusing I think is the best word, nothing coherent about the dish at all. Let's see it was rice, basil, sliced pickles, 1 dill spear pickle, a couple of pickled green tomatoes, pickled jalapeno, seitan , brussel sprouts, peas , 1 fried egg, and broccoli. It was rather bland, except for the sourness that drowned the rice from all the pickles and whatnot. I won't say that it's inedible because that's not true -- but I definitely did not enjoy this dish. 2/5 for me Even still.. they have good beer -- and some of their other food items I'm sure are better , as I've had the beer battered green beans before which I enjoyed. And I still want the grilled cheese everyone talks about... just no rice bowl again.
(3)Dan S.
Prohibition is awesome, plain and simple. I love their food, especially the fish and chips, and I'm a big fish and chips eater. They have changed the recipe twice on me now (yes I'm a freak who keeps ordering the same thing), and I didn't like it after the first change. It seems to be delicious again... so we'll see how it goes. On to the beer: They have a great revolving draft list as well as a large selection of bottled brews. There is always something interesting to try. It can get very packed and pretty loud on the weekends in the small space, I like going during the week when it's only semi crowded.
(5)Tim W.
Fantastic service, great beer selection and the food was Amazing. I had the humus plate to start, then the special pork belly ramen bowl. Not something you would expect but the bartender recommended it and he was 100% spot on. This is my new "must go" place in Philly. May end up back there tonight!!
(5)Lorma C.
-Our bartender/waiter was super friendly! Took time to have beer talk with us... Really liked this! -Good beer selection--BF was super excited that they even had Goose Island Bourbon County on tap! -Menu was fun... BF had the kielbasa and pierogies...kiel
(4)Tim D.
This place deserves a full two thumbs up and at least 5 stars on the review. As a solo traveler, you can only eat at the big chain restaurants for so long. Even the better chains grow stale quickly, so you really have 3 choices... 1. Go hungry (not the best option for sure). 2. Continue to eat at Outback and Applebys. 3. Seek out and find new culinary adventures... Well option 3 is a hit or miss endeavor (will you be served a tray of used cigarette butts marinated in measily pork OR will you have an epic culinary adventure that words cannot adequately describe?). The meal tonight qualifies as a true culinary adventure that reaches far beyond anything a corner pub should be able to offer. Granted, this is my first time here, but if the bratwurst feast is any indication of the overall menu, this corner pub should be the gold standard that ALL pubs should be compared against. From the presentation, to the quantity, to the sheer variety of complimentary layers and flavors, the meal is beyond anything you can conceivably expect. Not sure if I can adequately describe the layers, from the bratwurst to the soft pretzel to the stone ground mustard to the potatoes to the sour kraut to the alternating spicy and sweet pickles... The combination, from the top of the mountain to the bedrock below, was designed to compliment and enhance the layers underneath. The journey was delicious! Not to be out done by the menu, the guys at the bar were attentive, but not intrusive. Very interesting (in a good way) music selection. This is a dimly lit, somewhat small, corner pub, with spectacular food (as in SPECTACULAR) and a neat vibe. My only complaint would be that not enough of the PHL locals truly know that this diamond in the rough lies in their midst.
(5)Hoang T.
Has great potential. Sitting here reviewing as we speak. Came for happy hour. Saw website that says "see hour happy hour menu" theprohibitiontaproom.co… But upon arrival there was no menu except for a special menu. With no discount (i was thinking happy hour specials like drinks) OK cool. Not a deal breaker. Place was empty upon arrival but became completely packed within a few minutes. By the time we left there were no seats which was surprising. Ended up ordering draft pumpkin beer and Oktoberfest. Pumpkin wasn't the best, the Oktoberfest was decent. For food, went with light bites. Poutine special, crab fritters, oxtail emanadas. Nothing was memorable. The winner was prob the empanada but not by much. The poutine was ....blah BC of bad fries. And gravy was thin. Crab fritters were over priced, $6 for 4 small bite sized. I can see great potential here BC the area is up and coming and parking is decent. However the food selection was a big miss for me and beer happy hour was over priced even with $1 discount. Add some variety burgers, get better fries, and perhaps some solid happy hour dishes or half entrees.
(3)Colleen M.
Came here for Brunch over the weekend.. At first glance the menu looked like it didn't have much going on.. Especially for someone who doesn't include a lot of meat in their diet. However after talking to our very sweet waitress (who was working her first brunch btw) she was very accommodating by talking to the chef to see if he could make some changes to the Eggs Benedict type of menu item I was looking at. I ordered the Lancaster croque sans scrapple and it was wonderful cheesy runny egg goodness on crispy buttery toast while my friend had the eggs Benedict - both were great dishes made with perfection. Will definitely be returning.
(5)Brett M.
I walked in and wasn't sure if I was allowed to order a scotch, but they let it slide. All the terrible music aside, the entrees were slamming. I say entrees because the oxtail empanadas and crab fritters had a lot to be desired. Once we got to the Vietnamese-type sandwich and rice bowl, I knew I was destined to come back. The rice bowl was heavy on the aioli, but had enough fresh vegetables and rice to compensate for the topping. Add in the braised beef for a nice contrast to the crunch and freshness of the vegetables. A country fresh egg? I don't know the that is, but the resounding egg flavor was an effective topping. The sandwich was a mixture of soft block tofu, mushroom pâté and pickled vegetables. The roll was a welcome vehicle, as it soaked in the residual flavors. My girlfriend wasn't a fan, so she feasted on the salt-laden fries. The atmosphere was a little weak on a Wednesday night, but as I wasn't clad in full hipster attire, so I must not have fit in.
(4)Claude H.
Nice, open place to drop into on a humid day... Great beer selection, on tap and in bottles. Lots of new tastes to try while you admire that huge, wooden bar. That is a piece of work right there. Love the beer battered green beans. Order one for yourself and one for your date or friends... you will not want to share. Beware the potential thief of a jukebox... or maybe it just didn't like everything I selected... or maybe it wanted some green bean fries?
(3)Edward H.
Great bar and great choice of food! The food was good. The music nice but a bit load.
(4)Devin L.
We were looking for a fun, cool place to grab a few drinks and lunch and what word better jumps out at you than Prohibition? The place wasn't too packed but did have a good number of people inside, I'm guessing for the World Cup. It's a pretty standard set up. Tables and a bar. They had three bartenders working, so it was very easy to get a drink. The menu looked great. I decided on a special though. It was a knockwurst sandwich with Swiss cheese and an egg. It was everything I could ever want it to be. Absolutely wonderful. My girlfriend got the Mac and Cheese which she said was equally as good. We traded bites and it was delicious. Creamy, hearty and tangy all at the same time. They have a great selection of craft and Import beers. I tried a couple different ones and even used the bartenders knowledge of the brews a bit. Honestly, I don't often get to Philly, but when in town I'll be back. I've also already recommended the place to a friend.
(4)Cat N.
Very cool atmosphere - the bar has an old school feel to it, lighting is dark and kind of intimate. The bartenders were VERY friendly and helpful (a little hipster-esque, but that's part of the charm). Not being a beer drinker, I didn't benefit from the wide variety. Cocktails were mixed well. I had the pickle fries, which were yummy. My friend had the South Philly pork, provolone & broccoli rabe sandwich and was very happy. Menu is good and the location (a few blocks from Union Transfer, where we saw a show after) is convenient.
(4)Virginia E.
I've been here several times, since this was the closest bar to my apartment before I moved across the city, and I've got mixed feelings. Their food is good and they have a great selection of beer. Also, I like the old-timey vibe, but it gets really dark in there at night, which is fine for a bar, but not for a restaurant. They also are a little piece-meal about bringing out food for big groups. Some of the group is always sitting there w/o food after everyone else gets their's. And don't come in here for drinks on the weekend nights if you're sober. I went 2 times on a weekend night and sat at the bar and sat at the bar and sat at the bar w/o the bartender even looking at me. Both times I just left. But for brunch or on a weeknight, it's fine. And I love the old-fashioned cocktails and the glasses they come in. And the food. That's why I'm torn about this place.
(3)Lori S.
This is a small bar on 13th Street, had a mix but mainly young crowd, and packed on a Monday night! The Heffe weis beer was good, but I really loved the hummus platter (warm fresh pita, hummus w/ a little bite, roasted beets, cucmber, pickled green tomato slices olives and a pickle. The farmers market salad was good, but lacked a little flavor. Just a touch of a fresh & light dressing would be good. It was a big bowl of greens, peas, roasted squash or pumpkin (needed roasted more), pickles & pickled tomatoes, big red tomatoe slices, bacon & bread toasts w/ chèvre and a fried egg. Great environment for a happy hour or just hanging out & having good food & beer. Large beer list that appears to rotate along w/ food specials.
(4)Nicolas N.
Only had happy hour food. Good deep fried beer battered green beans. Great beer selection and service. Must come back and provide more details.
(4)Cecelia S.
Bartender should stop checking herself out in the mirror and check on the patrons. Get real.
(1)Mark Z.
I have to say that I really dig this bar and it was a great late lunch spot after the Punk Rock Flea Market. The place has a real laid back/contemporary feel when you walk in. The bartender was attentive, and served my buddy and I quickly. The beer list is quite good with a lot of great craft beers. The burger I ordered was incredibly juicy and really hit the spot since I was starving. This is an awesome addition to the area and I will hope to frequent here more often!
(4)Brittany P.
Fourtyfive minutes after fighting for a table, still no food. The entire place is sitting without food.. Even people who were here before our group. Magically as soon as one of our group asked how long till our food would come out the server said it was being plated now. And our food is kinda ghetto. And by kinda ghetto I mean our hash browns are tatter tots smashed up and one of the meals haven't arrived yet and everyone is almost done eating. Fail. Not returning ! Update; our dessert that we ordered at the same time as our meals took over an hour to come out. When we said we didn't want it and wanted the check our server? Unsure who our server was. Said the dessert has been up in the kitchen and he will get it ... Why didn't you bring it out?
(1)Steve O.
A friend of mine lives down the street, so I frequent here often enough even though I'm from out of town. Hipster-ish vibe with dive bar type foods with occasionally adventurous options. The bar is scattered about with edison bulbs casting a dimly-lit shadows against the chalkboard menu behind the bar. The rustic theme is enhanced by the leatherbacked bar chairs which add a somewhat 'funk-cozy' touch to it all. Most recently had their "meat and cheese" plate which sounded decent enough, but upon arrival, was just one thin strip of garlic sausage surrounded by a couple slices of cheeses (highway one and gruyere) and a cheese mousse. The remaining half of the dish was casually assorted with bread and pickled vegetables. Nonetheless, this place has other great entree options and would definitely recommend if you're seeking a comfort food option. The beer options though are pretty awesome and they cycle their seasonal selections frequently (went here on a Friday and then returned the Wednesday after and half the board was updated with new options). It's a decent-sized place, but if you get there between 8-10, it does get pretty crowded and wait for a table or bar space to eat could take some time. Get there a little sooner and you'll be in good shape for good eats.
(4)Donovan M.
Great food. Awesome beer selection. Found this place by accident, definitely worth it. Can't remember the name of the burger I had, but it was topped with pork roll, onions and a fried egg.
(5)Colleen M.
Stopped here for a beer or 2 and a bite to eat before a concert at the Electric Factory. It was a little out of my way and I probably never would have ended up here if not for the suggestion of a friend. There were quite a few folks here for happy hour but there was no problem getting great service. Our bartender was awesome. The draft list was on point and with $1 off, you can't really go wrong. I ordered the Hummus plate and I was excited to be served the largest pile of very clearly made-from-scratch hummy I've ever seen. The serrano chili sauce was the perfect compliment with just the right amount of kick. I will definitely try and make it back another night and sample more of the menu... and of course MORE BEER.
(4)Dan A.
The Prohibition Taproom was one of the favorite Friday lunch spots for my office. This was before the owner opened Bufad. Now PT opens at 4pm, so it's no longer open for lunch. So this has relegated this spot to an infrequent happy hour spot. The beer selection here is great. And they also have a full bar. The menu is also nicely balanced with vegetarian options. I'd like to give PT four stars. But I have to take a star off for them not being open for lunch.
(3)Wayne J.
My new "go to" place. My son goes to Temple. Prohibition TR is the perfect location. Parking in the area is easy earlier in the night so it works well for us. First things first. It's a beer house so I expect a good variety of good beers and knowledgable staff. They have both. There are plenty of places with hundreds of beers boasting the best selection in town. I don't want hundreds, I want the best local and nationally available craft beers and someone to steer me to a great choice. Every time I go, the bar tenders spend the time with me to recommend a beer to my liking. My last trip I was recommended a beer from Left Hand Brewrey called Sawtooth. It was exactly what I was looking for. I then tried the LHB Ocktoberfest beer. Another winner. Now the food. I seem to order the kielbasa and pierogis every time. I can't get over how good it is. The kielbasa is perfectly seasoned and grilled beautifully. They use a robust mix of seasonings that really gives the sausage a kick. The pierogs are about the best I have ever eaten. Lightly grilled, potato and spices are flavorful and well executed. So really can't comment on much else because all ice had is kilbasa and pierogis and some different appetizers. I have to say they make a mean Poutine and crab fritters. By son has had the burger and the Butcher's cut steak frites. He said they are delicious so I guess you can't go wrong with these dishes either. All in all, I enjoy the taproom. The atmosphere is that of a neighborhood pub with really good beer and food. Can't go wrong with that.
(5)Charlie S.
Food is awesome. Mostly around $12-$15 meal. I had the rice bowl and Kielbasa. Both very good. Good selection of beer, but a little bit too eccentric tap selection. Plenty of good bottles and cans though. Lose 1 star because of slight service issues. Didn't notice my fiance accidentally gave her an extra $20 on her tip, waitress didn't say anything thinking she would get away with it. My fiance noticed the missing bill, and we brought the cash back and still left a good tip. A little underhanded though.
(4)Lisa C.
This place is unassuming but a great surprise. They have great drinks and an even better burger. Even the fried soft pretzel was good (minus the spicy dip that comes with it). Staff was very friendly. Nice way to end the day.
(5)Diana K.
Over a year later, I still give this place 5 stars. This is based on 15+ visits. This may seem excessive, but it is the #1 option near my new home, and it is a REALLY good one. The green beans, the burgers, the BRUNCH, oh my gosh, the brunch. The daily specials which are always different, exciting, and reasonable. I love the constantly changing beer selection, and most of all, I really like the people that come here. This place attracts a great crowd, and please, let's keep it that way!
(5)Michael R.
A little bit overly expensive now. Everything is $1-$2 more than they should be. The service is still solid, and the food gets the job done, but the price is a bit off.
(4)Anthony S.
If you're in the callowhill neighborhood, prohibition is the place to go. They have a great beer selection at a reasonable price. And major props to them for getting Oberon within two days after it was available this season! The food here is also good. Tonight I had the moules frites and it was absolutely delicious. Seasoned fries on too of a heap of mussels, swimming in a pool of buttery goodness and a garlic aoli on the side. It may give me a coronary but it was heaven. They also have a rotating special grilled cheese and usually have an interesting combination for it. I will warn you not to get the falafel--it has a strange flavor combination and I whole heartedly regretted ordering it. Otherwise it's a fantastic place for late night food. Or daytime food. Service on the busy nights can be a tad spotty, but I think that's pretty understandable. Chill nights during the week are great. 10 stars for the atmosphere. I love the exposed light bulbs and dark environment. Exactly how I like my bars!
(4)Michael A.
This place is the real deal. Beautifully authentic 1920s decor, clever and friendly service, great ambiance, and amazing drinks. The food is yum. The draft list has been different every time I go, and never leaves me wanting. Their hand-crafted cocktails will swing you right back into a wilder era.
(5)Brian L.
Good place to grab a quick bite or drink before a show at Union Transfer. From the limited amount that I was able to try off the menu, I can certainly say that the food is tasty. You've probably got a safe bet with most of the items available. The beer and drinks list is quite extensive as well, so you will have little worry finding something you like. It was fairly packed, but the food came out really quickly.
(4)Hope N.
The fried pickles, rice bowl and hummus is amazing! The service was great! Everyone was friendly and down to earth. The music and vibe was really chill. Rich was the bartender and he was cool as shhhhh
(5)Lynn H.
Definitely one of my favorite recent finds. Always great food, good service, and warm atmosphere!
(5)Alex M.
I came in here after a First Friday showcase down the street at Vox let out. I was with a few friends and we snagged the table nearest the door. A couple of us got old fashioneds, a couple grabbed beers, someone drank a Manhattan and someone got something from their cocktail menu. These drinks were all pretty good but the well whiskey they use is Old Crow. I should have asked because that stuff is terrible. In spite of that, all of the other drinks were solid cocktails. We ordered the deep-fried green beans, hummus plate and some fries. All were above-average bar food. I would love to go back and try something on their entree menu. The folks working here are super nice and willing to accommodate drunks, which is more than I can say for all bars... So yeah, this place is super duper.
(4)Andy S.
I decided to try this out for dinner after reading all of the positive reviews on here. It was a slightly sketchy walk from the downtown Marriott, but not terrible. I greatly enjoyed having the 1930s neon BAR sign guide my walk down 13th street in the dark. The bar has a nice ambience and the best freaking juke box I have ever perused. Seriously, when a bar's jukebox had Black Flag's "Damaged" album you know you've entered a pretty sweet joint. Great beer selection including a lovely Imperial Pilsner from the mystery keg. For dinner I ordered the bleu cheese wedge salad and the kielbasa and pierogi. The dressing on the wedge salad was really tasty. Usually the bleu cheese overpowers the dressing, but this one was nicely balanced out with some lemon. Coming from a Polish family, I am usually extremely hesitant to order any Polish food at a restaurant -- especially Pierogi. Most places serve oily, flavorless excuses for Pierogi. Imagine my surprise when I was served potato Pierogi that my Polish grandmother could have made. It had a nice dough, good flavor and was fried up perfectly. The kielbasa was nice and smoky and tasted like it had been cooking in sauerkraut in my crockpot for 4 hours on Christmas Day. Really amazing stuff. We were able to get a table immediately, but it filled up around 6PM. Despite the crowd we enjoyed excellent service. If I'm ever in Philly again I will be back for the beer, Pierogi and Black Flag.
(5)Sam B.
Draft list is great and the service is always good. It is a basic, average bar but sometimes that is all you want: a place to get a beer and some comfort food before you start your night off in earnest. The layout to me is a bit weird, when it gets packed it feels like you are always in the way, but the crowd is always cool so it isn't a big issue. Overall if someone asked me to recommend a place in the neighborhood I would suggest this in a heartbeat.
(4)Nicole F.
Came in last night and YUMMMMMM. Got the fried chicken sandwich and tempura battered green beans. We were so starving we ordered the first things our eyes rested on, and god damn it, my mouth is watering in remembrance right now. They were out of the pita that the sandwich normally comes on, and the server/bartender hybrid very nicely assured me that the ratios of bread, perfectly battered and fried moist amazing chicken, and various accoutrement would still be balanced. Yea, it's a weird question, but when servers play along with foodie questions it makes me feel happy and welcome. We were sitting on these islands that jut out from the bar so we were a bit removed from the flow of service. That made things move just a touch slower, but it's a relaxed bar atmosphere so I think it's fitting. Everything about the place is just right. The people who live near here are lucky to have such a great neighborhood bar.
(4)L B.
From the food to the service and the stellar beer selection if I could give this place 1000 stars I would. First Visit: I got lured in by the glowing orange BAR sign outside after watching Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats melt faces at Underground Arts. Had delicious draft and bottled beers and noticed some intriguing yumyums written overhead on the chalkboard. The pours and the selection are solid, the service was fast and friendly even though it was busy. Winning already! The Return: eye catching special on the menu was called the Chinese Redneck. Note: You need this in your life. TRUST. Outta this world crispy and well seasoned dark meat chicken over pork fried rice with chili sauce drizzled allll over. AMAZING. The Thousand Star Qualifications: My crispy chicken was a little undercooked and I mentioned it to my server. He instantly took it away and said they'd make me an entirely new plate - I thanked him. Minutes after that, another gentleman who I believe was the manager came over and apologized profusely for the dish and said another would be out soon - thanked him too. Third - possibly another manager (she was helping to run food out to the floor but wasn't a server) came over and added yet another apology. So courteous and thorough - rare to find anywhere these days. My food was brought out shortly after that last visit and holy calamity was it worth the wait! Perfectly cooked through, al dente rice, just enough chili sauce and nice sized chunks of juicy pork. The first manager even came back out to check on me and told me the funny backstory to the title of the dish. Best.Service.EVER PS the coffee glazed donuts? Think more along the lines of beignets and order these asap. My boyfriend did say that he thought it would be complimented by a dollop of vanilla ice cream. But even without ice cream, my mouth waters at the thought of them. Thank you Prohibition Taproom!!!
(5)Matt R.
Came in on Friday night without reservations at 8pm before a show at the Union Transfer. The place was packed to the gills, but a server came up to us within 5 minutes and asked us if we wanted to put our names on a list to get a table. Figuring that it would be the best thing to do so even if we left, we did. He said it would be about 45 minutes. A couple of sips into our first beer at the bar they called our name for a two top. We got seated and looked over the menu which was pretty straight forward. We ended up getting the Mac and Cheese which was a healthy portion made with maybe a white cheddar, the green beans which might have been the best dish, and the garlic fries. People around us ordered the burger which looked good to. The green beans were fresh, seemed liked they were picked that day, lightly battered and still came out crunchy, not mushy. The fries were shoestring and a bit on the soggy side. Both those sides came with a good garlic aoili sauce. A mediocre selection of craft beer where nothing at the time really stood out for me, but then again I'm a fan of belgian beers and they were moreso concentrated on the American IPA. That night they had a good American IPA that was a probhibition tab room collaboration with yards. Street parking is the way to go in that neighborhood. Next time I'm headed to a show at the UT I wouldn't hesitate grabbing a drink there, but might opt out of the dinner. One of the few places to go in that neighborhood, but not a bad spot to pregame.
(3)Michelle P.
I'm not sure how I've passed by Prohibition Taproom so many times before and never stopped in. Last Friday night my friend's birthday party prompted my first visit. My experience was for drinks only, but other members of the party had food and seemed to enjoy themselves. The bar was hopping. The bar seats were occupied, most of the tables were full and people were standing in just about every open space. With so many bodies in not too huge of a space it did get pretty hot. Once another group of people left it got a little better. I don't recall if there was music or not as the place was pretty loud with conversation. All in all, the vibe of the place was good so I don't really care if there was music in the background. I thought the beer list was pretty eclectic. Feeling adventurous, I had sampled my first Nitro Boulder Mojo Risin'. I've never heard of it before but was glad I tried it. I look forward to returning and diving into the food menu.
(4)Liz F.
PT was good but isn't on my get back here soon list. The bar is very cool because of shape and openness. I would recommend coming here for good beer selection and apps. We ordered the beer battered green beans which were by far the best thing we had. Beans are fresh which really helps. I got the barley salad and was underwhelmed. My date ordered one of their specials- some type of kimchi sandwich. He was disappointed in the lack of kimchi. He also got a side of the mac and cheese which was lackluster in my opinion. The service was great and so was the ambiance and noted openness of the bar. So, PT, you were good; but, I'm not dying to come back for food since there are so many other taprooms and gastropub like places with better grub in the area.
(3)Kirstie L.
Amazing! VERY CONVENIENT if you are going to a show at Union Transfer. My husband and I stumbled across this gem this evening and could not have been happier. Great prices on drinks... Entrees can get a little pricey but if you stick to appetizers/snacks it's pretty cheap. We had a few drinks each +soft pretzel & beer cheese and Angry Shrimp. Both were delicious. The atmosphere was friendly and accommodating. Definitely will be back in the future!!!
(5)Anastasia S.
I love this place, because of the laid back environment and beer list. They have a great beer list! The last time I was there I tried the fried green beans. Delicious and unique. I've also had the Pork Bahn Mi. That was also really tasty. Their food menu is a random conglomeration of different types of foods. It's very unexpected, but very well thought out. Good vibes, great beer and food, the reason I will continue to frequent this place.
(5)Cara S.
Very crowed on a Friday night.. Your average bar . 1 bathroom there was a line all night to get in the ladies room. The bar- tenders were friendly.
(3)Christine D.
I came here to eat after moving my boyfriend into his apartment. I love the interior and the vibe was friendly and active. Lots of people at 11 pm on a Saturday night, although they came in waves. I was afraid their kitchen would be closed but I'm so glad it wasn't! I ordered the beef sandwich and it came in a reasonable amount of time. The sandwich was a respectable size and quite delicious. Their fries are to die for!!! Shoestring with just the right texture and amount of salt. My bf and his family were drinking, and I was impressed with how friendly the bar staff was. They were more than happy to explain to us their beer selection and gave us samples often! They were always attentive, despite the busy hour, and our drinks were quickly replenished. I would gladly come here again.
(4)Holly P.
Amazing beer selection and great food. I had the filet mignon and it was out of this world. The bar was comfortable and the staff was friendly. Super comfortable bar stools. I would definitely come back.
(5)Nazee Z.
Did not actually drink here as I was much too intoxicated, but I loved the atmosphere. As other yelpers have said, quite a unique bar. I loved the christmas lights used as decoration and it really helped to disguise everyone's drunk eyes. All my friends got really fantastic beers and pretty good prices and the mystery keg of the week is a great idea. Next time, I'll definitely have to drink here, but for sure I'll be coming back
(4)Louisa E.
Great sour beers and beer options. Fun vinyl dj nights. Food is good overall- when I went they had a grilled cheese of the week or night which was fun. Knowledgeable friendly bar staff.
(4)Emil J.
I have to thank my good friend for bringing me here. It's a nice little find. Good food, good beer, good music, good vibe, clean. And most important: GREAT staff!! Knowledgeable, friendly, attentive. There's not a whole lot to say really. It is a great addition to the neighborhood and totally worth the trip! Go! Support, partake, enjoy!! Eggs Benedict people!! Coupled with good beer, that's a win/win!!
(5)Sarah H.
This is a great laid back pub with good food (small menu) and a great variety of music. It's a pretty small place which was only noticeable when a large group came in and was rather loud. The small space made the noise unbearable for a dinner on a weeknight but I can see how Prohibition would be a fun spot for an evening out with friends that aren't looking for anything too wild. The beer options, good music variety and friendly bartender made this place fun for dinner while I was traveling. The food I ordered was good and the beers were tasty as well.
(3)Joseph F.
Absolutely delicious. First off, there were endless choices of appetizers and you can't go wrong with any of them. Filling and awesome! Then the entrees were even better - from the steak frites to the fried chicken. Has a full bar and everything. And it's right in the neighborhoods a little away from the downtown area of Philly.
(5)Steph D.
I love this place. It's right around the corner from where I work and I end up there at lunch pretty much once a week. The service is great, food is quality, and they have an awesome beer selection. I've only been one time for happy hour, but I'm definitely planning on going more often.
(5)Emily C.
As good as it gets indeed. Unpretentious neighborhood watering hole with top-notch selection (draft, bottles, liquor.) Personally, I love their collaboration with Yards "Hoppy Lil Hudson." They have a b.y.o.v. night on Sundays (bring your own vinyl) which sounds like an awesome time! Can't wait to go back.
(5)F C.
Awesome little spot. I stopped there today thanks to Yelp. I had no idea it existed. I look forward to my next trip there. It is a very clean and nice looking bar with a number of small tables. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The bartender made some great recommendations of beer and food. I had the Beef Short Rib Sloppy Joes and they were outstanding. They might sprinkle crack in them. Three fancy beers later I had the cheeseburger. I'd give the burger an 8 out of 10 which on my burger scale is very good. A nice friendly place to meet people and enjoy a relaxed mature atmosphere.
(5)liz t.
This is my favorite bar in the city! The people here are AMAZING. The bartenders are friendly and welcoming. The servers are quick to refill my beer and make suggestions about what I might like that is new on tap. THE FOOD is why I come here! INCREDIBLE. Best burger in the city!!
(5)Lori R.
Relaxed atmosphere, friendly service. Great menu and beer selection. Food? G R O A N! Delicious, creative and beautiful food. A new go-to for us!
(4)Carl L.
Great burger and atmosphere, but it seemed to be in the middle of nowhere...
(4)Paul B.
Good beer. Small but pleasantly funky menu. Did not dig the walk along 13th to get here.
(3)Franco X.
Ok I gues I am late to the dance again, never will be a first or probably a elite rater either! So went the other day or on a slow day. First I hope this place makes it in the long run. I never been there on a saturday or friday night maybe thats went the big crowd keeps them going. I got the pulled pork pretty good sandwhich, first came out HOT nice! Fries were warm but alittle too salty, combined with sandwhich too salty. Please cut down on use of salt. Other than that everything else was groovie(lol). Bartenders were friendly and beer selection very good. Place also seemed clear too a plus. Probably go again.
(4)Wendy J.
Prohibition is a great local spot. When I want to go out for a beer and some food, this is always my first pick. They have a fantastic selection of beers and their food is too good (I always eat too much). It's not particularly healthy, but it's impossible to stay away. And the staff is always super-friendly. No matter how crowded it is, it's always easy to get service. Writing this makes me want to go there for lunch today....
(4)Stevie S.
I usually feel compelled to write descriptive, thorough reviews, but this time I don't think I'm gonna... -Great jukebox -Good food -Tasteful beer list -Nice Bartender -Rarely crowded I can get down with Prohibition.
(4)Rob S.
We had a very positive experience at the Taproom on a Friday night. We were rolling in with a large group (approx. 12 people). No reservations here and it was initially hard to find space. There never ended up being enough table space available for more than maybe 4 people, but somehow we ended up etching out an area almost big enough at the bar. The service was wonderful. The bartenders got us all beers within minutes of us entering and remained friendly and attentive throughout the night. The beer battered green beans ARE delicious. (Thank you Yelpers for the recommendation.) My friend and I split the pulled pork and the grilled cheese special, which on this evening was a brie and broccoli rabe combo. Both were very tasty and everyone seemed quite pleased with their meals. The fries and salad as a side are extremely tasty too. The beer list is pretty good, though it by no means can compete with the heavy duty beer bars around the city. There were a couple beers on special for $4 (Coronado wit?) but most beers were regularly listed at $5-$7. This is OK, but I usually like there to be a cheaper option beer if possible after having a few $5.50 drafts or whatever... Anyway, that's a fairly minor complaint in a generally positive experience. This place deserves a very solid 4 stars.
(4)Scott F.
Decided to go out of the usual loop of restaurants in center city, olde city, south philly, norther liberties and hit up the Prohibition Taproom with some friends. It was definitely worth the 10 minute walk from the train station. The burger and fries were better than the average and the beer selection was outstanding. Good place to enjoy conversation over a small meal or drinks.
(4)David U.
They gave us regular fries instead of the polenta fries, I was too drunk to complain however. This place has an enormous beer selection. I wish I lived in Philly just so I could try all the beers they had. My favorite was the Walt Wit, very tasty wheat beer. The shark attack is pretty good too but it's REALLY strong. 10% alcohol, halfway through it I was buzzing. Definitely would like to come back here.
(4)Samantha S.
This is my favorite bar in Philadelphia. Wait, no. THIS IS MY FAVORITE BAR IN PHILADELPHIA. Nobody go here. It is mine. The food is mine. The jukebox is mine. The staff are mine. Stay out of my secret place.
(5)Quinney H.
Philly restaurants regularly appear on The Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate". Prohibition Taproom definitely deserves a nomination in the dessert category. Seriously, the best bread pudding that I ever ate!
(5)Nabil F.
Went here based on the reviews on Yelp and was not disappointed. Got together here as part of our yearly reunion with some of my friends from my fraternity right after Christmas. The burger and the beer battered green beans were excellent as reviewers said. The service was friendly and the beer selection was exceptional. We left after four hours (By the time we left it started to get a bit too loud - younger patrons and their loud talking!) Will definitely come back!
(4)chris h.
i throw my support behind this place. i love the lighting, the weird bar that shoots out the two big polyps for sitting around, the jukebox and the food. though i am obsessed with the green beans, hoisin wings and the mac and cheese to the point that i only order these each time. the mac and cheese is one of the best in the city, with some nice smoky cheese in there and though it may not be on the menu, you can order it as a side, which is a perfect match for the wings. my partner in crime loves the burger and has also been pleased with the grilled cheese. she also usually orders the gin and berry cocktail which is very tasty, while i stick to their great draft list. the bartenders are very nice and it is reasonable to boot. i am not crazy about the location since i live in southish philly and it is a bit of a haul. but a very pleasant walk when the weather is nice. also there is nothing else around there, so it is a single destination evening usually for me.
(4)Carolina W.
Four stars for decor and craft beer selection. Two stars for food. This place does shine like a diamond in the rough. I'm not too familiar with Philly, but the bar flanked parts of Chinatown and seemed to be in a part of town that was a bit rough-around-the -edges, so finding this cool spot in such a unlikely locale made it ever more of a sweet find. From the vintage sign outside to the wrought iron mustang carved enclosures that meet you at the front entrance, a subtlely hip James Dean appeal imbued the Prohibition. The vibe, beer, and service did not disappoint, so I expected their grub to live up. I was excited to see their pickle plate as an app and ordered it on a whim. Luscious looking carrots and cocktail onions and green beans came out on an equally verdant and zesty looking bed of fresh lettuce, but after my second bite I realized that looks can be deceiving. Let's just say this app tasted more like a vinegar plate than a pickled veg plate. The veggie sandwich tasted overly seasoned and a few bites in, I couldn't even finish it. I almost would have rather they served a Boca Burger and least gotten something somewhat tasty for my money. And then a quarter of the way through our sandwich, a slightly off cook (the head cook?) came out from the kitchen and kept offering the bartenders food, only to be turned down. And they seemed annoyed by her persistence. Weird. The whole situation was odd and made me wish I had only stopped at the Prohibition for a drink and gone somewhere else for food.
(3)Dalla A.
Love this place! The beer selection is great and the food is way beyond what you'd expect at a typical bar. Service is always extremely friendly.
(4)Max T.
This bar just feels right. Everything I have had to eat there was spot on, the music is unmatched for any bar, and the staff is always friendly. The price is right too, they have good specials (daily grilled cheese special), with $2 drafts during happy hour.
(5)David F.
So, whenever I'm in the city visiting friends I always somehow end up stopping into Prohibition. We love the atmosphere and the drink selections. The staff has always been really freindly and helpful. The food has also been consistently good. This time I went on the recommendation of Michelle (Cupcake) to get the green beans. Yup, grean beans. Who woulda thunk it? But those damn things were really tasty with a sweet cucumber dip that you could spoon out alone and gobble up. The burger was cooked just as we had asked, medium rare, and was quite tasty although slightly a little salty (but not too bad). The skinny fries (for lack of a better word) were also nice and crispy. I am definitely a big fan.
(4)Angela V.
cool atmosphere, pleasant wait staff, awesome food! i had the grilled cheese special with mushrooms and bacon. probably did wonders for my arteries, but well worth it. affordable menu. i will definately hang with friends here again.
(4)Amie B.
Tonight, I had THE BEST burger at Prohibition Taproom. It was their specialty with pesto, mushrooms and brie. I think I could honestly eat that every night of the week. The bartender was awesome, and there was a really welcoming vibe. It felt like everyone was old friends.
(5)Kyle N.
I've been to Prohibition Taproom a few times and it was a great experience on each occasion. The beer selection is vast and adventurous. The bartenders are ridiculously friendly and knowledgeable to boot. Last night I had their burger and, holy crash!, it was freaking awesome. Cooked perfectly, well seasoned, and the chipotle spicy mayo was sick! This spot is a great low-key, chill bar with a cool vibe and solid beats. The bar is shaped kinda funky with these two camel humps sticking out, which could cause one to be closely facing, and possibly intruding on strangers, but thats a minor hick-up compared to the overall experience.
(4)Phil W.
Last night I finally went to THE INSTITUTE for the first time (exactly three blocks away) and realized how much better a neighborhood bar could really be (see separate review). I live a half-block from Prohibition and was a cheerleader for the place when it opened, but Prohibition doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. you never knew what will be on draft (if you find a beer you like, drink up, when they run out it will be gone) - or on the jukebox - or on the menu - any given day. I ordered Irish car bombs with friends once. Tried to order them again a week later but the manager swooped in on the bartender to tell us that Prohibition does not serve car bombs! Prohibition doesn't seem to know if it wants to be an upscale eatery (in which case the overall menu, service and atmosphere fall far short) or a neighborhood bar (in which case "mussels cooked in ale" and "frisse salad with truffle vinagaette" seem pretentous and out of place). As a result, it doesn't really do either very well.
(2)Sweet W.
i live a block away from this place, yet took nearly a year to venture that long block to what may be my favorite bar in the city. the bar is pretty low key, rarely very full, and a decent place to bring friends or a date. the noise level is acceptable with a great jukebox and, in the few times i've been there, douchebros have been minimally invasive. there was one night that some guy was trying to read a book and some dudes were being total assholes right behind him. i mean, it is a bar, so i don't know why anyone would be trying to read there, but these guys were exceptionally annoying. that was an isolated incident, though. now, i didn't drink beer regularly until a few months ago (i don't really like any of the shitty beers that typically populate college parties, so i'd usually just try and get drunk off of vodka or gin), so i don't know how qualified i am to judge the beer selection. from what i've seen at other bars, prohibition's beer list isn't super extensive, but there's a good variety of beers both on tap and in bottles. the bartenders are nice, attentive, cool folks who know what they're talking about way more than i do. now, the food is nothing out of the ordinary, but damn it's good. i don't like green beans so i haven't had those beer battered things everyone's having conniptions over. the polenta fries are absolutely perfect: spicy, salty, fried crispy on the outside and velvety on the inside. the aioli that comes along with it makes me want to cry just thinking about how FUCKING GOOD it is. the wings are banging, too: good size, tender meat, extra saucy and a 4/5 on the heat level. i had a burger once, and it was decent, but i won't be having it again. it's very reasonably priced with most beers on tap being 5 or so dollars. the food is a little more expensive than usual for bar food, but definitely worth it. and that sign just tops it off. five stars.
(5)Amanda F.
For brunch we had a great waitress and a nice conversation with some other brunchers, but the eggs were super nasty. Like inedible gross. Which is disappointing because I do love some eggs. Also took them down a star for the seating policy; I understand they don't take names, but then they told us that someone else had put their name in for a seat and had gotten there before us, so we didn't take the table when it was open. Then we proceeded to stand there while no one took the table. Still waiting, because we were under the assumption that someone had claimed it, we watched as two people who had just arrived sat down at it. It was a mess. Make up your mind about whether you are reserving, whether it is first come-first-served, or what. Not cool.
(2)T P.
Great beer selection!!! They support the local breweries. Its a great old bar The food is great too. Would have gotten five stars but my friend's beer was vinegary and the bartender made him pay for a new beer. That's not classy. I did have delicious fish and chips and the fries are great.
(4)C J.
In town from Chicago for a night and looking for a place to walk to from the Sheraton (almost a dump). This was the right choice. Excellent draft selection, very cool, unobstrusive and knowledgable staff and the food was excellent (muscles in ale and grilled cheese of the day). Seriously, it was a pretty damn good grilled cheese. Very chill little joint. Good vibe, great music, excellent beer!!
(5)Scully D.
My favorite watering hole. The drafts are always changing; I've tried so many new beers there. The bottle list is huge. Drafts range from $4.50 to 7 at most- some pints, some glasses. They also do an "old man drink," which is a specialty cocktail of the week for $4.50. The food! It's such an interesting menu. They have different burgers and gourmet grilled cheeses every time I go. The chef does have a strange love of fennel. I've had pot-pies, sandwiches, ribs, etc. and there were all delicious. There are two TVs. If there's a game on, people will be watching, but it doesn't overwhelm the whole place if you are there for some other reason. The staff are generally nice and love to talk. The clientele range in ages depending on time of day and it can get pretty busy (and a little loud for conversation) at night. Lunch is my favorite time to go, when it's nice and quiet. The decor is vintage-y, with low watt light bulbs and dark patterned wallpaper.
(5)Amy R.
A great neighborhood tavern with surprisingly great food. Unexpected dishes such as Brie Grilled Cheese, make this a nice spot to slide into for a drink and good meal.
(4)Topher D.
service is very good, food is pretty good (tried the mussels - go for the wine over the ale) - beer selection was ok - had a ton of IPAs on draft which was cool with me, less so with the gf. Biggest drawback to this place was location - we came as tourists and didn't feel safe walking on 13th, with a random person passed out on the sidewalk and another carrying a cash register through the streets (who knows, maybe he just bought it?) If I came back to Philly, I'd consider a cab ride out here, but walking is not a good idea.
(4)Dustyn C.
i ended up in this bar the first time by accident. i saw the giant neon sign from far down the street and thought to myself "yeah, i could use a beer." so i went to check it out. and i can honestly say that if this bar were pretty much ANYWHERE else in center city, it would be packed all the damn time. the tap list is always interesting and reasonably priced, and the beer bottle list is comprehensive and the menu actually goes out of it's way to explain each style of beer it offers. if you are starting to explore the world outside of mass produced lagers and pilsners, this is a great bar to check out. they have lots of options, and they are more than happy to help you find something you are going to enjoy. the only food I've ever ordered so far is the battered green beans. they are a really wonderful bar snack, and an order is HUGE! although i can certainly put away some food, I've never once been able to finish them by myself. the bartenders have always been seriously friendly, and not in that forced "this is my job and so I'm pretending to like you" kind of way. just genuinely nice people who have always had an answer to any question i've had and can make decent recommendations for drinks.
(4)Tamiz M.
Nice vibe, interesting tables and bar, good upscale bar food...the food specials are usually what I end up getting, they vary daily but tend to be better than the menu staples.
(3)Ed A.
I had stayed four nights in Philly and was tired and wanted something different; I found it at Prohibition. The service was superb from the wait staff. The deep fried green beans are out of this world, especially with a Lionshead beer. I have since recommended to several people who live in Philly and have it marked for my return next year and will take my customers here for a repeat treat! I had the Hanger Steak w/Frites. The seasoned butter was a little salty, but still very satisfying.
(4)Yogi R.
This is the best bar in my neighborhood. The beer selection is great and always changing. The food is in the upper half of Philly's gastropub scene. Burgers are great, but check the specials. Very often you can find something great. The staff is fantastic and quite helpful. They never seem upset no matter how ridiculous the crowd. What makes this bar better than all the other bars (other than the fact it's only 5 mins from me) are the Old Man Drinks. Definitely get these. The price is better than any other cocktail in the city. I can't stress this enough... get one at least. It changes constantly, but is worth it at $4.50, plus you can feel like you are living in the 1940's.
(5)Me C.
Great brunch and they'll accommodate vegetarians easily. Friendly staff and great jukebox.
(4)andrew l.
Love love love this place. It's my number 1 pub in Philly. Ten changing taps including a hand pump. Extensive bottle list. Special "old man drink" of the week for $4.50 which is usually a strong old school drink that a madmen character would drink. As stated by many the batterer green beans are a great appetizer. The Pork sandwich is huge a delicious. The burger AND special burger are always good (make sure to order with country white roll NOT CIABATTA). The grilled cheese is my favorite. It too changes ingredients frequently (usually something like gruyere, arugula and fig jam) and comes with half portion of salad and a half portion of fries. Perfect. I forget the name but one of the salads has frisee, fingerling potato slices and pork belly or bacon. Quite tasty. Im also told that almost everything is prepared in house like sauces, marinades and special meat prep. Support this place so it's around forever.
(5)John D.
Nice, little bar. Good bottle selection and ever-rotating taps. The food is deceptively great--it's a pretty standard menu, at a glance, but the little changes they made transform most of their food into something interesting, memorable. If anyone ever finds out the recipe for their hot wings, let me know. The bartenders and wait staff are superb. It's a great place for 2-4 people looking to relax and have some drinks and tasty food, but probably not so good if you're looking for a place to party while your frat gets bug bombed.
(4)Shawn H.
I would have to say that I've visited Prohibition a couple times in the last week and have been impressed. The food is great and they have an excellent selection of local beer.
(4)Erin R.
The service is excellent; they are incredibly attentive to their patrons seated at tables). They have an extensive bottle list (tons of beers, plus 2 ciders), and several on tap beers. The food is decent and came out fast, but I only had appetizers not a full dinner. On Saturday night, tables are only for dining. The atmosphere is very cozy, but it's very loud inside. It's in a sketchy neighborhood, but it's well worth it. I will definitely be going back!!!
(5)michael j.
Best bar in the area. A friendly and attentive staff makes this a nice place to get a drink. Ask about the Old Man drink. They're the bees knees, fool.
(4)Steve M.
came in the other night to grab a beer and some dinner. i was pleased with the shrimp appetizer(happy hour special i believe) and the macaroni and cheese entree(expensive though, 13$) service was good too, personable staff i would say. def would come back....
(4)jonnie d.
I really love this place and glad to have it in the neighborhood. I'm a beer lover and they always have something interesting and different on tap and they're patient with samples and descriptions. Short but good menu with unique and fresh specials. I love the battered deep fried green beans. The staff is super friendly and put me in a good mood. Only thing that ever disappointed me was a pulled pork sandwich which was a little soggy, maybe just wasn't my thing. I enjoy going here on weeknights for a quiet dinner and a beer. Once I took a date there on a weekend and found it a little loud and rowdy for intimate conversation but what can you expect?
(4)Chrissy R.
I finally was able to get some food at Prohibition Taproom. I got a macaroni and cheese sidedish and it was really good. I was afraid it would be the kind that is all breadcrumb-y and it wasn't. It was full of different flavors of cheeses and I really liked it.
(4)Sandrine F.
The beer list is great, even more selection that I expected. The menu is pub/comfort food, delicious and awesome value. The portions are generous and the ingredients are fresh and perfectly cooked. The burger was cooked perfectly (medium-rare), ground chuck was very tasty. The serving of blue cheese on top was way generous. The only improvement would be to do away with the focaccia roll which makes it too huge to eat. With a brioche bun, this burger could compete for the best in Philly. The hanger steak was an equally delicious piece of meat, again cooked to perfection served with fries and a side salad (not mentioned on the menu so nice bonus). A bigger plate would have made it easier to cut. And of course the beer battered green beans, perfect dish to share with friends instead of the perennial side of fries. Love the rounded sections of the bar, great for a group of 6-8 to sit at the bar, have dinner and carry a conversation... you can almost picture go-go dancers on there back in the days.
(4)Michael B.
Great selection , Food. Bit expensive but totally standard for this type of thing. Super cool super neat , as far as the "rape alley" comment below ( or above ) . Look , it's really not that dangerous and if you really live down the street put a light weight baton in your coat. power of a baseball bat and you dont have to get close to the attackers. Check out this business because i would sure enjoy it alot more if it was a bit more crowded !!!!
(4)Ritu K.
Since I'm such a huge fan of Cafe Lift I was eager to try this place (same owners I believe). It took awhile to flag down a server and get some menus, but it looked like there was only one server around so it wasn't a huge deal. Great beer selection although I was super disappointed to not see The Lost Coast Brewery (the best!!) on tap. I must have been on crack when I read a review claiming they had the Lost Coast Brewery on tap- wishful thinking perhaps- who knows??? Anyways I had the crab cakes (good not awesome) and the other folks I was with had the burgers (once again yummy but not the best they've had). Fries were good, albeit salty. Its hard not to like salty deep fried food with beer. Speaking of deep fried, our server forgot our fried green beans order, but by the time the food was out we decided not to remind her. The best part- the jukebox- I heard a few of my fave New Order songs and I was a fan. A good place to grab a beer (great selection) and the food was fine but nothing really stood out..
(3)Shay K.
Went here last night. Extensive beer menu, and a nicely concise dinner menu. We ordered the Beer Mussels (hehe) to start, along with a Wit for me, and a porter for le boyfriend. After 20 minutes, the mussels still hadn't arrived, though our beer had. Thinking they were just out fishing for the mussels, we ordered dinner. Another 20 minutes later, our meals arrived- delicious! But, the mussels were nowhere to be seen. So, I mentioned that maybe they got lost in the shuffle to the waitress. She apologized profusely and admitted to forgetting to put the order in. She even offered us a free round of drinks (i got an amazing pale ale on her suggestion... johnny trotter or something). By the end of the meal, we ate our appetizer. Some of the freshest, least sandy mussels, I have ever had (and I grew up on the RI shore catching mussels myself) and felt that overall it was a fabulous experience, amazing service and good food. I can;t wait for a snowy winter day to return here all bundled up and to soak in the cozy atmosphere again.
(4)Michael L.
We went to Prohibition with a group of 8 people on Saturday night. This has got to be the coolest and most comfortable bar in the city. The subtle lighting and killer jukebox really set the mood. We all sat around one of the peninsula's that juts off the main bar which was perfect for socializing and keeping everyone involved in the conversation. The app's we got were fantastic, especially the crunchy fried green beans. The beer selection was very diverse and the bartender did a great job recommending different ones to try. Definitely a 5-Star, we'll be back soon.
(5)Raymond P.
So my wife and I came here with high expectations based on reviews on yelp and from word of mouth...First impression upon walking in is that the place, although in a very obscure area, is really cool looking. The bar was great and the decor fit the name. Per multiple reviews, we tried the green beans, which were actually pretty good...With that in mind, we are excited for our meals...Based on recommendations from the waitress, I ordered the chile sauce wings and my wife ordered the Crab cake risotto, again, based on her recommendation. She was wrong...Look...Im usually not very picky, but why try to reinvent the wing??? I've had many wings from many different places and these are definitely on the lower spectrum of taste. The chile sauce...was more like a chile pate that I could have put on my italian hoagie...it was basically chile seeds coated on a buffalo wing...It was both weird and disrespectful to wings! One positive about the wings is that they were big...but they came out kind of soggy and most of the bones were broken, which makes them difficult to eat...and dangerous for your teeth/choking hazard. Ultimately, the wings were a total dud... Now for my wife's crab risotto...First and foremost...LAY OFF THE SALT!!! Wow...way too much. The concept of binding a crab cake with risotto sounded both interesting and delicious, but the cake had little flavor, except for the obvious dowsing of salt. In addition to the crab being flavorless, the cole slaw that came with it was worse that ive ever had and the bed of french fries that the crab cakes sat on were under cooked and bland...Again...this meal was a total dud and 15 dollars to boot! Money wasted. Perhaps we came on a bad night...maybe we picked the wrong food to eat, but my impression is of a place with a burgeoning reputation as the Prohibition Taproom, that all of your food should be at least edible. We've been to Royal Tavern, SPTR, Sidecar, etc...all very similar places, and the meals are consistently good or better...I'd have a very hard time coming back here for food, but I gave it three stars bc the place is a cool bar, with great atmosphere, and good beer. I wouldn't come here for the food.
(3)Colleen B.
I have never had a bad meal here. Their special burgers have been killer. I still dream about the burger with egg and truffle oil. Great juke box and friendly staff.
(5)S. M.
My husband & I recently went to Philly to see the mummy exhibit (which was also great). We read about Prohibition Taproom online, and beer geeks that we are, we had to go. It was such a great experience, we had to go back our 2nd night there, too! The beer list was excellent, as was the staff. The employees seemed really happy to be there and were exceptionally service-oriented & friendly. We didn't try the food, but after reading all these reviews, we will be sure to do that on our next trip there.
(5)Robert C.
Incredible selection of beers and wonderful food with daily specials and unique, classic cocktails (elderflower sidecar, anyone?). My favorites so far have been the beet and goat cheese salad, frise salad and beer-battered green beans. This is not your average bar, and is truly a wonderful place to eat in an unusual location. It is a bit off the beaten track, but is still walking distance from the Convention Center and other Center City locations. The kitchen is also open until quite late (11pm or midnight?). My only critique is that the music is sometimes a bit too loud.
(5)Brynn D.
i can't stop eating here. twice in three days? seriously? yes. the special - monkfish, mussels, clams, shrimp, tomatoes, leeks in a white wine sauce = amazing. salad with arugula, beets, goat cheese, toasted almonds = equally amazing. beer list = overwhelming. i love the sly fox helleslager and the weyerbacher fireside ale that are on tap right now. i can't get enough of this place!
(5)Jeremy G.
moved to this area a month ago, been here more than handful of times now. green beans, booyah. friendliest mofo's working here too. guy was telling us the owner is good friends with the owner of yard's brewing, and yards makes a mean ipa that is sold exclusively through this joint. neighborhood only looks shady. worth it for the beers here.
(5)Tim O.
went on a saturday afternoon. the first ones there. when empty it kinda gives off a vfw vibe. that's fine with me. service was good. prices aren't bad. good selection of draft and hand pump beers. beer battered green beans are excellent. i'd definitely go back, but not before i save some money drinking at my favorites dives.
(4)Inchul Y.
great bar with a great beer selection and great food. their special grilled cheeses and burgers are amazing. bartenders/waitresses are all very friendly. first time we walked into the bar, the bartender immediately greeted us and welcomed us to the neighborhood. the bar design is pretty cool too with the islands jutting out.
(5)Greg B.
I went here randomly the other night, after stumbling around from another bar. The big "BAR" sign is wonderfully placed, as many people have already attested to. Be aware, however, that this place has "gentrification" written all over it. Local beers from Philadelphia and beyond are on tap. The coolest traditional CD-player jukebox I've ever seen was resting in the corner, featuring only artists from the early 90s and forward. The lighting is romantic, dark, hollow and welcoming. The bartender who served my friends and I was definitely friendly and gave us information on the beer. The place is a bit pricey, but it's well worth it. What kind of people were in this place? Younger and older, a good mix. Nobody was loud and obnoxious, at least noticeably (the noise-folk music playing in the background kept all the parties pretty detached from one another). I'm not sure if there's a food menu, but I wouldn't be surprised. Oh yeah--the bathrooms are some of the nicest I've seen in a bar in a very long time. Also, though in great walking distance from the subway, this bar is nicely tucked into a back corner where parking shouldn't be a problem.
(4)Sarah G.
I was visiting Philadelphia from out of town and staying at the nearby Hampton Inn, and looked up this place on Yelp. With a name like the Prohibition Taproom, and based on a couple of other reviews, I thought they might have good cocktails -- but I was mistaken! My friend's drink -- a rum punch -- was so strong she had to ask them to put more juice in it; and either I'm an alcoholic or they forgot to put any bourbon in my old-fashioned. However, the food was GREAT and once we switched to beer, we were very impressed with their selection of awesome local brews. The bartenders were friendly and accommodating and there was a relaxed, congenial vibe to the place. The one thing to be aware of, though, is that it *is* in a very industrial, out-of-the-way spot -- the desk clerk at the hotel advised us to "not look like tourists or like we were lost" while walking there.
(3)ted b.
Not only is Prohibition good for interesting brews and great food, you can go and hear new albums months before they come out. Yep, one of the bartenders is a music editor and plays all her favorite new picks at the bar, you can preview an album way before you decide to buy it! Just another reason to love the Pro-Tap.
(5)Alex S.
Came here after seeing their burger on a 'best burgers in Philly' list. Had to try their signature burger and it definitely lived up to the hype, even by west coast standards. Cool little bar with a great beer selection on tap. Cool jukebox in the corner and friendly staff.
(4)Nate L.
Went here mostly for drinks, but ordered some appetizers and small plates to snack on while we drank. Waited for about 20 mins on a Saturday night for a table. Relatively small space but full size bar. A little overpriced for what it is, but a decent experience. The fries were ok. Artichoke dip was interesting - strong horseradish flavor which I am not a huge fan of. The fried chicken sandwich was large and tasty on a delicious bun. A lot more breading than I was hoping for. Not a bad experience. May give it another shot if passing by.
(4)Susan M.
Not a bad place to pre-game an Underground Arts or Union Transfer show. Prohibition attracts a young happy hour crowd but patrons grew progressively older as the night went on. I Had a good stiff drink and listened to some good tunes on the old-timey juke box! No touch tunes here! They had a short list of food options that looked delicious - I would definitely like to try a meal here! Powder room style restrooms resulted in a long bathroom wait, but the privacy is nice! Its not too often that I'm in this neck of the woods, but I'll come back here for sure!
(4)Dave H.
Prohibition Taproom has got personality. Their huge "BAR" sign calls to you, even visible from Spring Garden. This faux-speakeasy's interior fits their name, with a large wooden bar dominating the space, lit by beautiful hanging Victorian bulbs. There's room for a crowd, even in the bathrooms[1]. My only gripe is that the exterior is brighter than it ought to be. Prohibition opened earlier this month, and as young as they are, the staff was anything but. Brendan, our bartender and a trained chef, kept us happy, making us shots and taking food orders (they have a full menu). We took down gin ($7/shot), Jameson, and pineapple rum shooters[2]. Would have drank more, but conceded, with great lugubriousness, that it was a Monday night. Stop into Prohibition[3], and tell 'em I sent you[4]! [1] Their non-unisex bathrooms can fit two comfortably, though most will prefer to go solo. Don't ask how I know. [2] I asked for a light, random shot, and was pleasantly surprised with the shooters. [3] Do this! [4] Don't do that!
(5)Aruna A.
Recently went back here for the 5,000th time, and had one of the MOST amazing grilled cheese sandwiches I have EVER had in my ENTIRE life. Their available grilled cheese rotates often, depending on what's the daily special / available that season. When I went there last nite, they had something with Jack Cheese, Ham, and Pineapple. I got it without the ham, and it was AMAZING. One of the best I've ever eaten in my life - for all of $10!!!! Oh tap room, how I love you!
(5)David F.
Decent tap selection. Really nice bottle selection, with reasonable bottle prices. A mix of hipster to business casual. Good looking and friendly wait staff all around. My only critique is to the terrible bulbus-like bar extensions. Although it may be great for a group, it's lack of flexibility makes it different if you are with one two close friends and are in the situation where there is. And seating has never been ample on my experiences going there. Had some fried cauliflower as well. Very salty, but overall tasty. I will go back. I love the vibe. Low-lit atmosphere with a bangin' juke box. I think a tighter bar layout would move it up a notch in my list. Cheers, Dave
(3)Ramon T.
Great bar! Great beers! Ashley the bartender was awesome!!! She was very helpful. The banana bread pudding was ok.
(5)Dana M.
This place has gone downhill in a big way. This place is right up the street from my apartment. My boyfriend and I used to go here all the time, the food and drinks were great. Then I started getting sick every time I drank from their taps...that was the start. Then they tried to serve my boyfriend a burger so rare that it was literally seared ground meat...he ordered it medium well. When he talked to the waiter about it the dude argued with us and tried to convince us that's the way it was supposed to be cooked. The steak frites used to be melt in your mouth amazing but the last time I tried that dish it was stringy and chewy and definitely not worth the $17 price. Save your money and go somewhere else. Besides the food going downhill and the dirty taps, the wait staff also have huge hipster egos that only help make place one to avoid.
(1)Vinny P.
Shazam! Wow I really liked this place. I went out with some friends to catch the *LCS games and Prohibition Taproom was the selection. I'm so happy we came here. Very original bar layout. When I first walked in my comment was, "oh this place is small." Alas, I was incorrect! It's not that I found another room, their bar juts out thus allowing for a more social setting while sitting at the bar. Chairs are around each of these peninsulas which allows for extra seating. Points for the cool bar layout although I'm sure it makes a little hell for the staff having to slide everything. Maybe skip the soup :) The green beans were delicious. Garlic dipping sauce on the side and lighly battered and quickly fried. Almost tempora style. I got to taste the special burger (blue cheese, red wine reduction, arugula on ciabatta) and the special grilled cheese, I believe it was brie and figs. I also tasted the mac and cheese which was made with shells and I don't think contained gruyere which I always thought was necessary in good mac and cheese. It seems they might have proven me wrong! The highlight was certainly the grilled cheese. Brie and figs, cmon, how could that be bad? Beer wise, I was very impressed with the selection. I got the Hoppy Lil Buddy (or something like that) off the cask and it was very tasty. Other members of my group drank the Left Hand Warrior and the Rt 113 IPA. The draft list was printed in a weird font which made it tough to read in the dimly lit bar, but that's no biggie. I wanna go back to this place already. It was really really good.
(4)Matt S.
This IS my favorite bar in Philly,hands down! The food, beer and service is all wonderful. Jon, and his staff go out of their way to great you and make you feel at home. I feel like Norm from the TV show Cheers whenever I walk in. They have an amazing selection of beers on draft and the bottle selection is great,too. I have NEVER been disappointed by their food. I highly recommend the beer battered green beans. The atmosphere is very comfortable as well. It has a unique bar set up where a group can sit at the bar and still face each other. The brunch is amazing and there's never a wait or a long line for a weekend brunch. Sunday night is Bring Your Own Vinyl where if you bring in your old LPs you get %20 off your food and drink tab! My wife and I love this place so much that we even took some of our wedding photos there! It may get crowded at times, esp. if there's a show at UT. But you the wait staff will serve you a beer and eventually a seat will be available.
(5)Marissa R.
This place wasn't nearly as awesome as it was cracked up to be. Maybe I get my hopes up WAY too high. The ambiance itself is alright, I guess it's "20's style" but I'm not too sure about that. The bar is awkward... we sat jutted out into the middle where the waitress couldn't really even talk to us!!! However, the beer was tasty, and strong, and priced right. I would return again, but I'm not that sold on it.
(3)Ace J.
Love this place for 3 reasons: Delicious food: -Highly recommend the beer battered green beans and the pub burger with tomato jam. They cook the burger perfectly!! Diverse drink menu: -Beers are always awesome, and there is enough to choose from. But I wanna talk about the Bloody Mary... ohhhhhhh... SO good!!! I live so close to this place, and I'm usually there on Sundays recovering my hangover with a TASTY bloody mary!! GET IT! The staff: -One word: Hipster. But of course the cool ones. Always super friendly and assist you right away. PS. You don't even have to ask for a glass of water. They will bring it to you. classy!
(4)T.J. W.
Had a few hours to kill while waiting for my gf's daughters who were attending a show at the Electric Factory. Being unfamiliar with the area, I did a quick Yelp search of nearby joints, and this place looked interesting, and close by. Mixed crowd. And one of the first things that jumped out at as was the loudness of the room. Not the jukebox or other music, but just the overall din. I don't know if it's the layout of the room, or what, but it was noticeably loud. If you're looking to engage in intimate conversation, this probably isn't the place. That being said, we were greeted right away by a pleasant staff member who told us that there was about a 20 minute wait. No problem. Interesting bar seating layout, but we just stood. When a table became available we were seated promptly. Our server was very polite, and rattled off a long extensive list of impressing sounding specials. We opted for some regular menu items, but the grilled cheese sure sounded tempting. My GF had the french onion soup and the BLT. Both of which she said were delicious. I had the crab hush puppy app, followed by the steak frite entree. The hush puppies were great, and were served with a thai chili sauce. The hanger steak was cooked as ordered as seasoned nicely. Had a nice flavor and was juicy and tender. It was served on top of the home cut fries, which had I known was the case, may have asked to have the fries off to the side, but then again, I don't like to mess with the chef's vision. But overall, we bother enjoyed our food very much. Too full for dessert, we headed out for a walk to Penn's landing. Total for two adults with 2 bottles of domestic beer, 2 Cokes, 2 apps, 2 entrees - $49.36 before tip.
(4)Lin P.
I had the best BLT of my life here. The bacon tasted like it was made from the worlds happiest pig.
(5)Perry A.
Came here for brunch as their sister bruncherie Café Lift had a long wait. Was seated after a brief wait. I had the eggs benedict which was meatless (if you don't consider eggs meat) with braised kale. Sounded great, but it had execution issues. One of the poached eggs was broken and over cooked. The saffron hollandaise had a strong tart taste (lemon, perhaps) which was odd and threw the flavor balance off. Their shoe string fries were great, though. Crisp, hot and nicely browned. The wife had the sausage gravy and biscuits with eggs. Gravy was good but the biscuits were way too dense and dry to enjoy. Over easy eggs were fine. Coffee (la Coloumbe) was great but mug was too small and they did not refill. The famous beer battered green beans were great with a nice snap to the fresh beans. However, our friends found a blond hair in one of the beans. We sent it back and they took it off the check.
(2)Matthew B.
This update is dedicated to the PTR burger. It Its technically the first of my burger reviews - prior to deciding that its time to work my way through every phila taproom burger i can find. This unusual take on the burger works: its served with an egg, truffle oil, gruere & arugula on a french roll. Not your usual burger combo, but really unique flavor. Hope they make it a staple. $10. Burgerlicious rating = 7
(4)Lan G.
My friend and I went to check this bar out before heading to Yelp party last night. They have happy hour from 5-7pm and it was $1 off all the beer selection. I tried gray lady...do not get it. It tasted like soap water after a couple of sips. I liked the Eurotrash my friend got. It's much like a normal beer... We also got their garlic mussels and a side of fries. The mussels were very yummy, especially the sauce. Great for bread dipping! The fries were so-so. The bartenders are really chill and the whole place definitely feels like a neighborhood hanging out place. You can find plenty of free parking on both 12nd and Buttonwood.
(3)Shane W.
Had a really good sandwich here once, and a damn good burger here another time. I've always been impressed with their tap list, and can always find something new to drink here. Bartenders and servers seem really nice. It's dimly lit but doesn't feel like a dive... it's too hip for that. I haven't spent enough time here to give it a real honest assessment, but I like what I've seen so far.
(4)Leonidas K.
Was there for a benefit. My second visit. Great food. Great beer. Horrible staff. My first visit was with an almost empty bar. Hipster staff too busy talking to each other to wait on us. This time, waiter actually asked my wife to leave the table she was seated at next to me after she ordered food because "they need that table for someone else". Really? So we squeeze four people onto a two top? Another customer was more important than this paying customer? I am appreciative of the owners generosity to charitable causes and the use of their establishment for these functions. Their food and drink is first rate. But, quite honestly, your staff creates a bad, bad experience. I can find the same thing elsewhere without the poor treatment.
(3)John M.
When I was trying to decide if I should move into the area or not I stopped in to see what everyone had to say about the neighborhood. I was happily surprised that the staff was pretty friendly and informative. Most importantly the beer selection was great and the food was good too. The staff seemed to have a good knowledge of the beers and what to try to fit my tastes. I love trying new beers!! They have a great list to choose from that is always changing. I've been back a few times and the only thing I don't really like is the actual bar layout. It just seems weird but I get why they did it.
(4)Eamonn H.
Crab hush puppies are a brilliant idea! So so tasty with a great sweet and spicy dipping sauce, a tasty BLT with thick cut bacon and tomatillos, and the pork sandwich is awesome. The only thing I wasn't completely crazy about was the mac and cheese, it was a little bland. A very enjoyable time, the waiter was really enthusiastic!
(4)Deann M.
We have been back to Prohibition several times now, and I finally pried my eyes away from the burger on the menu long enough to decide on trying something else. I tried the Beer-brined Pork Loin sandwich with a serrano chili sauce and aged sharp cheddar. OH MY WORD. The bright and lively chilis woke up my taste buds and the pork loin with its au jus for dipping were just delightfully salty. Incredible. The flavors played so well with each other. BF had some other pork special thingy that was a tad sweet but also flavorful. I don't even remember because I was so in love with my dinner. Great beers on draft as usual. This place gets better and better.
(5)Kelly P.
preconcert stop for beer and dinner. solid beer selection, but minus one star because when my friend and i walked in, the hostess sat us at an open two-top table and then immediately another staffmember asked us to get up because the table was actually for other people. ummm, what? we ARE ordering food. then they asked us not to order food at the bar because they would get us a table. actually, i'm not an idiot, and i know that means you (server) want the tip. thankfully, the bartenders were attentive and quick, so i was happily sipping something while we waited approx 15 mins for a different table. still, major uncool points for the mistake. serrano spread on the pork sandwich was delicious. but the sandwich was a lot larger than i pictured, and i couldnt finish it. didnt want to let a doggy bag cramp my style at the concert after, so the rest went to waste :( overall, good. it would have been cool to comp something small for the trouble of having us sit down, and then again get up. final note: definitely get the green beans!
(3)Paul D.
Staff are great, the bar is a mixed crowd of hipsters, locals, local office workers. Beer selection is always changing and interesting and the menu is very good. Also the bar is "bro-free", long may it continue.
(4)Michael B.
I have not eaten a single thing here I DIDN'T like. I'm a huge fan of the daily grilled cheeses, the fried artichokes are terrific, the burgers are classic and delicious, and their fries can rival anyone's. And anyone who turns down a visit because it's "out of the way" is just being lazy (you do realize it's a block from the Broad St Subway, under 10 mins walk from the El and Trolley Lines, and close enough to Fairmount or No Libs to hop around should you feel like it). And if you're going to a show at Union Transfer, I mean come on.. throw back a few "Hoppy Little Hudson"s (collaboration between Prohibition and Yards-- and I think Yards' best beer other than Love Stout) before taking the three block stroll. Happy hour 5-7 Mon-Fri ($1 off drafts.. get here early-- it gets crowded every day!) and Vinyl Sundays, beginning around 5pm, are just a splendid idea (bring a record, get 20% off.. it's like the juke box is paying YOU to play music). Oh, and the service? Some of the sweetest people in the city.
(5)Sarah P.
I love this place. It's a little out of the way, but worth the trip. Arriving you'll notice the classic neon arrow bar sign. Perfect way to find it on an unassuming block. Inside you'll find a great dimly lit bar with it's own unique shape lit up by the coolest hanging light bulbs. The food is delicious. I have been stuck on my mainstay --- the french onion soup and the beer battered string beans. The french onion soup is made with SlyFox's O'Reilly Stout. Honestly I think it is the best french onion I've EVER had. Recently I ventured outside of my norm and got their burger special -- eggs benedict style. Delicious! The beer list is superb, one of the best around in my opinion as far as the individual beers chosen. The staff is wonderful as well - extremely friendly and willing to make suggestions, but also extremely knowledgeable of the beer - which is high on my checklist. What else can I say, I love this bar.. and every time I go there it makes me think how I wish I lived closer to it.
(4)Argot B.
We enjoyed this meal. I'll get into more detail but my only complaint was the heaviness of everything. Really heavy! The fried green beans were great! obviously super fresh beans with great dipping sauce but man heavy dish. We got the pork sandwich and a grilled cheese special and both were really tasty. Whoever is in the kitchen definitely has a good notion of balance of flavors and got it done. Pork sandwich was actually soaked in its juices but I know that is actually like a thing they do in some places (or so Guy Fieri would have me believe) so I used a fork and knife and voila. Anyway, we enjoyed.
(4)Katie P.
First time here, met up with some friends that live nearby. Very cool vibe, good music but not too loud that I couldn't hear the conversation. Bartenders were friendly and accommodating of my love for gin! Made fairly strong drinks for a pretty decent price. Mac and cheese is must! Definitely will be returning for the meat and cheese plate and/or brunch!
(4)Jason P.
Went here before a concert with my friend at Union Transfer. We spent a good hour and a half just hanging out here. We didn't sample the food, but the menu looked good and decently priced. The beer/bottle selection is pretty standard for a hipster place such as this, not Monk's large, but not too small either. I got a Centennial Red Amber and some Dogfish Head. The staff is friendly and pretty attentive. This will probably be my new go to bar when going to Union Transfer. I wish the place wasn't so out of the way because there really isn't much around it. The place has a really low key feel to it. No bells and whistles, though they do have 2 TV's if you are looking to watch a game.
(4)Perry H.
Great spot for a pre-show drink if you're hitting Union Transfer. Great, low lit bar with great craft beer and (from how the menu read and packed status) good food. The bar service was good and if I'm in the area I'll definitely hit this spot again. I'm barely ever in this area but this will be my go-to spot when I am.
(4)Paul D.
Cool place in an up-and-coming... I mean, vibrant.... I mean, sketchy neighborhood. Reminds me of home (I live in a similar neighborhood in Denver). Very cozy, inviting decor, albeit a bit dark. Super friendly and one of the best beer selections you'll ever find from all around the U.S. and the world. Some of the food is quite good but they have a pretty limited menu. But if you like microbrews and are in the area, it's a safe bet.
(4)Phil T.
I walked in with what would eventually be a party of 13 picky eaters. The staff got us seated and fed. Everyone enjoyed what they had. Thank you, Prohibition Taproom, for great service all around. I hope the tip reflected that.
(5)Brian H.
It's a bar, it's old, it's laid out funny with parts of the bar not reachable by the bartenders. And there are tables, and it seems there is room for more tables. It was Friday night and it was pleasantly crowded. And the crowd was pleasant, mostly 22 to 30 year olds, until I hauled my old ass up to a stool. A list of specials and draft beers hanging over the bar on a blackboard, were in addition to the beer and food menus. I had a cask hand pumped Hoppy lil Hudson, a very good English IPA from Yards. There was a real nice selection to chose from. We started with the battered and fried string beans. Someone here said they could eat them all night, I agree. We had a cauliflower with coconut curry cream, a super side dish we dubbed as an app and cleaned the plate The grilled cheese of the day was Jack cheese with truffle mashed potatoes ON the sandwich, my dog it was excellent, especially when the server suggested we add bacon to it. The other choice was the brined pork sandwich. It was so good and a nice kick to it. The bread pudding for dessert just topped off this very special find in a semi-deserted neighborhood on north 13th Street. I love finding places like this, thanks to my YELP friends. :-)
(4)Solomon C.
Cool bar in a dumpy neighborhood. They've got a wide selection of beers and if you're not a beer afficienado, the menu has a brief description of different types of beer so you can experiment a bit. Their burger is delicious. That's all I have to say about it.
(5)Kurt F.
Cool little vibe to this place, sorta bohemian hipsters mixed with young professionals who live in the area. Draft beer menu underwhelms a bit, a rarely presents a surprise, but the bottle menu is pretty decent. This tends to be a good place if you want to roll up with 6 buddies and grab a seat at the unusually shaped "L" bar.
(3)Colleen M.
I have always wanted to try the Prohibition Taproom but never had the chance. One Sunday we were driving by and saw a sign posted outside for brunch, so we decided to give it a try. I got the chocolate stout waffles and they were really good. It was basically like eating cake for breakfast. Plus, you get a free mimosa or bloody mary with any brunch item. The place was basically empty for brunch, so give it a try before everyone else catches on!
(4)Lauren H.
I ended up here Saturday night after attending an event at PAFA. The general wasteland of north Broad Street was a rather daunting prospect in the chill and snow of the evening, but luckily one of my friends remembered that Prohibition Taproom was rather close. I'll start by echoing some of the other reviewers here - the staff is friendly, honest and down-to-earth. The same can be said for the food. The homemade potato chips (which, I think, were a special that night) barely touched the table before they were gone. I ordered the grilled cheese, the contents of which rotate often, which was just cheesy enough, without being greasy, on hearty, toasted bread. The draft selection was thoughtful and had something for everyone at my table. The only thing that threw me off was the room/atmosphere. The bar, which was large and dramatic, completely overpowered the dining tables opposite, which is where we were seated. It felt like we were forcibly divided from the more vibrant bar area by the sheer difference in size and a gulf between the bar and the tables. I'd like to see the place install high tops, so the dining area will feel more connected to the bar. At least we'd be on the same level.... I'll be back, and bring my friends....
(4)Jacob M.
Ummm...this is so different than what I'm used to in NJ/NY, and I love it. It was great to get away from the busy life of the city, and come to a place that has good beer, great food, and let's sit down and relax for a few. We had the beer battered green beans, and the batter was the best I've tasted. They came with an aioli, which was also very tasty. After we had been there a while, we decided to get the cassoulet: she was a little skeptical at first, but was very glad once it arrived. The meat was so good: the perfect thing for a feast day during Lent! The service was good, and the music was mostly good (very eclectic, so sometimes it was a bit much for us). This place was steady, but not crowded. I would definitely come back if I visit Philly again.
(5)Yea A.
I LOVE this bar. Great ambiance, very cozy, awesome food, cool bartenders who remember you and what you order and give you beer recommendations based on your preferences, a chill atmosphere and good times overall. This is definitely my favorite local pub. It's the only bar I enjoy going to by myself if I'm on my own for the evening and still want to go out. The burgers are incredible, served on brioche and with grilled onions. The french onion soup is killer, the fried green beans are rich but tasty (so share them), hummus is top-notch, as are the mussels, mac and cheese, salads and the grilled cheese of the day is always a good choice. The beer list is extensive and lists the ABVs; the selection of beers on tap changes frequently and they are $1 off every day from 5 - 7 and 10 - 12 (Mon - Thurs). I've been waiting so long for a local pub that feels like home, and this is the place. During the snowstorm this past weekend a group of us trekked out in the storm, came to Prohibition for burgers and beers and cozied up for the night while playing truth or dare at the bar. It's that kind of place, makes you feel at home while filling your belly with tasty delights and high quality beer.
(5)Chris P.
Been three times now. Highlight is the beer selection, it's always extremely good. Menu is standard for this sort of place but quality is better then normal. Service is hit or miss.
(3)Brian A.
Looking to kill some time before a show my band was playing in Northwest Philly I used yelp looking for a good bar. The closest and most interesting bar that popped up was the Prohibition Taproom. We walked in and were initially underwhelmed. One long bar, and some tables in a relatively under-decorated space. We quickly realized don't judge a book by its cover. This place has some great beer for a pretty reasonable price and the menu looks delicious, I will have to try some food next time. Most importantly the staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. They provided great recommendations and insight into their beer selection, were friendly and conversational with us and even offered recommendations for other places to check out while we were in town. After I try the food here this place has the potential to be a 5.
(4)Sharon L.
First experienced this bar as a tourist here at a conference - we stayed for 7 hours and filled the table with empty bottles. Now that I live here, I still like the vibe. Came for brunch on Father's Day - figured t wouldn't be as busy. It wasn't and our server was fine, if a tiny bit slow. I had the biscuits and gravy and LOVED it. Their fries are hand cut and taste like the ones my mom used to make growing up. I like this bar and hope to come back again soon. This neighborhood has some positive changes going on.
(4)Christina W.
My go-to bar. Good beer, good food, GREAT french fries and fried green beans.
(5)Michelle C.
I returned to Prohibition Taproom for some pre-concert eats and drinks. Happy hour was from 5 - 7 but since everyone in my group was drinking bottled beer, we did not benefit from the specials. Still, the beer selection is very fairly priced. The bartender was friendly and effortlessly handled the entire bar on her own, which was no small feat as mostly all of the stools were taken. Between four of us, we had the hummus plate, deep fried green beans and onion rings. There was more than enough food and we didn't even come close to finishing everything. The hummus was very good, as were the green beans, which came with some sort of garlic dipping sauce. I highly suggest investing in some Altoids if you plan to order either of these plates. The onion rings were really thick-cut and almost a little too onion-y. The dipping sauce seemed like a cross between ranch dressing and vinegar. It was pretty potent and I'd probably lean towards ketchup in the future, but that's just me. I shall return.
(4)Michael E.
You may need a nose ring to work here, but you definitely don't need one to enjoy yourself. Sidebar: I'm not sure if this is a regular occurrence - I really hope it is - but, the servers/bartenders had some sort of food/beer challenge going on. . Basically, two staffers make up a beer or food combo and the selections are pitted against each other on the special board. It seems the only rule is that the first person to sell out their item wins. So, if you go and, all of a sudden, "final countdown" is, out of nowhere, blaring over the speakers and someone is dancing around with an empty keg over their head like it's the Stanley Cup, you'll know what's going on. The food and beer is excellent. My girlfriend and I had "competing" burgers... I'm not sure exactly who won... her's did have fried pickles. It's hard to beat fried pickles. We also tried the Asian BBQ wings... mmm very tasty. I'm looking forward to going back very soon - but, I probably won't pick Friday happy-hour next time... cause it was pretty damn packed.
(4)Erica M.
This dive bar has excellent food - much better quality than I ever would have expected! I've been here a few times and each time we got a burger. I can't remember what else we've gotten, but it's all been pretty good. Definitely a good go-to place if you're in the area and want tasty, good quality bar food
(3)Lauren H.
My boyfriend and I had recently hosted a small event called MOAB (Mother of All Beer-tastings), at which we poured flights of a HUGE variety of beer and paired with food. A week later, we visited Prohibition for the first time and I took one look at the beer list and said to my boyfriend, "Damn! This looks just like the MOAB flight plan!" It was hard to choose which one I wanted. I ultimately settled for a Flying Dog Raging Bitch, to start. My second beer was a Gaffel kolsch. Between the Raging Bitch (I love it!) and the kolsch, I had a hell of a dinner - hummus and a burger to die for. On top of it, the service and atmosphere were awesome. The second we got in the door, we were asked if we needed a table and were immediately told what the estimated wait time for one would be (and it turned out to be less of a wait!). While waiting, I decided to feed the juke box. As my music selection blared throughout the bar, no one minded - they only just talked louder. And, our waitress, well, I don't remember her name, but she was LOVELY. So, take a good look at my profile photo. Get to know the face. You'll be seeing it in Prohibition. A lot.
(5)Joe L.
My Girlfriend and I stopped by Prohibition Taproom before a show at Union Transfer. It was busy, but we were seated promptly at a table. Our waitress was great and made sure we were taken care of. Being a fan of Yards Brewery I was excited to try the Hoppy Lil' Hudson, and it did not disappoint. There were many other beers listed that looked good as well. We split the Beer Battered Green Beans, Pub Burger, and Grilled Cheese of the day. Everything was so delicious! The menu is on the smaller side, but it seems to work to their advantage since each dish is very well done. The neighborhood might look a little sketchy, but it's really not that bad of an area. I definitely will be back for more, hopefully sooner than later!
(4)Jennifer L.
I really like it at this bar. I wish I lived closer because it is a great bar to hang out with friends or even for a simple date night. The beer is good and there is always a lot on tap as well as in bottles. There food is surprisingly good too. The french fries are killer shoestring fries, their mac and cheese is pretty good, and the fried green beans are great! I did not like the polenta fries, but the rest of the food made up for it. I would recommend getting a bunch of apps and splitting them, which is what I've done with friends.
(4)Ryan G.
This is my kind of place! I've passed Prohibition a bunch of times and from the outside (and the location), I chalked it up to being a cheesy dive bar... I was totally wrong. Rumor has it this place is owned by the same owners of Cafe Lift and it makes perfect sense; the food is amazing, everything has a "foodie", gastropub-feel and the beer list was second to none. We had a beet salad, polenta fries and deep fried green beans. As if that doesn't sound appetizing enough, we didn't "polish it off with a cool Budweiser", but hand-pumped firkin... It was firkin great... and I'm a firkin loser...
(5)Alexandra W.
I never order a burger at a restaurant, unless it's some place like Village Whiskey or PYT and the like. HOWEVER, I did last night. Check it: -arugula -gruyere -fried egg -truffle oil How could you NOT order that burger? It was ridiculous. Messy, but worth it. Other reasons Prohibition rules: -good beer (obv) -great music (if you're an avid reader of mine, you'll note that this is a recurring theme) -somewhat close to my apt. The end.
(5)Sophie U.
tl;dr: Great service, great food. I hate white truffle. Great service. I really hate white truffle. But the service was great. Nice bar. Cool faucets. Pretty light bulbs. Curious? Read on. Lindsey. Lindsey is the name of the super friendly and attentive server that made tonight's dinner that much more enjoyable. Thank you, Lindsey. Prohibition is this awesome, spacious joint with a jukebox and a beautiful bar that branches out into an island at two or three different places; great for small groups who want to sit at the bar and be able to address more than one person at a time. We started off with the mussels from the specials menu -- the mussels were large (very large) and quite tasty. I was very fond of the broth, which consisted of...lemon (zest?), spinach (yum), and pepper flakes. Two large, grilled pieces of baguette-ish bread came with the mussels and we saved them for last; they were sitting on top of the mussels, not touching the broth at all and thus not soggy, which I really appreciated. Boyfriend went with the Shepherd's Pie; I had a few bites and it was incredible -- very meaty! The Steak Frites were calling my name and I could not resist -- even though the special grilled cheese with date jam sounded pretty damn amazing. I saw "maître d' butter" under the Steak Frites listing and "white truffle" immediately came to mind but I dismissed it... until my entree showed up. White truffle. The pungent smell of white truffle made its way to my nose even before I touched the plate. Working one of the last few mussels out of its shell, I asked Boyfriend whether or not he could smell it. He wasn't sure, so, while I tasted the butter with the tip of my steak knife, he asked Lindsey who then confirmed that yes, that creamy stuff on my medium-rare steak was indeed white truffle butter. I tried to ignore it, but it had already permeated every single piece of steak on the plate (the steak was served pre-cut into decent, tender mouthfuls). For those who haven't figured it out by now: I cannot stand the smell and taste of white truffle. The fact that it's so trendy at the moment really kind of upsets me, but I've done a fairly good job at avoiding it so far. The texture of the meat was wonderful! It was rarer than medium-rare, but I'd rather have my meat underdone than overdone. Delightful, really. Aside from the perfectly thin and seasoned frites, which I took care to dip into the leftover mussel broth every so often, the steak also came with a bit of salad: frisee and roasted red pepper, if I'm not mistaken. I think it's worth mentioning that there is absolutely no salt or pepper at the table, and that Lindsey did not bring us ketchup -- which is truly a great thing because everything was perfect as it was. Except for the white truffle bit, which I really can't get over because after beer and dessert I can still taste it. Still, I ate most of the steak because the texture and the natural flavor (or what I could taste of it) definitely overweighed the bad. We talked about white truffle with Lindsey for a bit after our main course, and she checked the menu -- upset that it wasn't specified on the menu, she bought me my beer, which was not necessary but totally sweet. So while I could deduct one star for the surprise truffle butter on the steak, I'm gonna keep that fifth star for the splendid service that Lindsey provided and for new menus that mention the white truffle. But mainly for Lindsey. For dessert, we shared the Apple Bread Pudding with caramel whipped cream (I think) and almonds. Out of this freaking world. It was that or the Mocha Mousse (with chocolate meringues, holy shit, right?) but for once it was Boyfriend who wanted dessert -- and the mousse would have been too... decadent for him. "Decadent." God I hate that word. Anyway, five stars it is. Also, I really like the faucet in the bathroom. And the light bulbs -- they're really pretty.
(5)Beth R.
Why did I not know they serve brunch? Next time you see a wait list at nearby cafe lift, I urge you to head to PT and check out their brunch. At noon, there was no wait for a table for 3. If you order one of the brunch items, it comes with a free mimosa or bloody mary. My brioche french toast was great. You had me at "marscapone cheese filling". Actually, you had me at "mimosa". :)
(4)Bill M.
I have to say I feel a little odd reviewing Prohibition because most of my time there was a good blur, and Dave H. has the photo's to prove it. We went there for a gathering after the last Elite Event, and for the first time in a loooong time the fun filled theme of the night caught up with me. But after piecing together some of those photos, and talking about the evening with Tom and Jenna during the Yelp Anniversary I can only sum up that Prohibition certainly delivered a fun time. There weren't any flappers or mobsters, but there was an awesome wooden decor, a long list of beers to try, and the supercool neon marker that said Bar outside. Brendan was a great bartender who made sure that we were treated right every step of the way. Not to bad for a bar that's only been around for a month.
(4)Walter K.
My first experience with the Prohibition Taproom was my housemate Jonny telling me that messed up his drink order and that he was not impressed. Despite that, I wanted to try out this new place. Before I even walked in, I was greeted by an awesome sign pointing out the business. It's a simple neon red sign that tersely states "BAR." I like it a lot. Once inside, I was loving the atmosphere. The bar is really great, as you can kind of see in this picture. It runs the length of the room, but also has a few peninsulas. The result is that you can sit at the bar and be across from whoever you are with, which is a great feature. As far as beer goes, PT does not disappoint. There are about ten beers on draft. Further, the choices represent a well thought out variety of brews. PT also supplies a nice bottle list as a supplement. I had the Dogfish Head Aprihop and Brooklyn Brewery Blunderbuss and enjoyed both beers. I can seriously recommend to anyone to go to Prohibition Taproom for one reason: deep-fried green beans. This phenomenal appetizer is a great way to start your meal and comes with a nice aioli. The rest of the food was average. Between Lana, J.Mal, and myself, we ordered two burgers and a grilled cheese, and these three dishes were fine, nothing more. I was happy to be full, but the main dishes are the lowest point of the experience. Friday night this place got a little crazy, with a crowd from art museum area and plenty of "bros." Don't make this your Friday or Saturday night hangout spot. Bottom Line: I like this new place. It has good atmosphere, beer, and one excellent appetizer. Prohibition Taproom has made it onto my list of bars to regularly visit. The biggest downside are the hours. No lunch, no brunch, and the bar opens at 4pm.
(4)Christina E.
My friends and I went here before a concert at the electric factory for a few drinks and dinner. I can't comment on the beer because I'm not a huge beer drinker, but from what my friends said, they were happy. As far as the food goes, I was somewhat pleased. The chicken wings and polenta fries were good. My friends split the shepherd's pie and enjoyed it, although they said it tasted much better smothered in ketchup. My boyfriend got the burger and was happy. I don't eat red meat or pork so my options at this place were very limited. I hoped at least that they offered a turkey burger or veggie burger in place of their beef one, but they don't, and I wanted something remotely healthy, (so the mac and cheese was out), so I went with the veggie hoagie. The description mentions seasonal grilled and roasted vegetables on a toasted baguette. Let me tell you, this was gross. It was like a cold slimy salad on a roll with balsamic dressing. If I wasn't so hungry, I wouldn't have eaten it. It really was terrible. And how this could be only $.50 less than a burger is beyond me.
(3)Nicole P.
I do not want to give this place 5 stars because I do not want it to get any more packed! Great, attentive, non-judgemental (if you are not a beer afficienado) staff. The beer selection is always great. And while there are a lot of "beer bars" in the area, this is the tops for food. I have been there a dozen times and had something different every time. I have not been disappointed (although, I would like to see the return of the pork chili). And I love the decor and the bar but it could be a white room with a table with food and beer like this!
(5)Mindalah B.
Off the beaten tracks of Philadelphia is a gem of a foodie place. Extensive beer menu, great burgers, down home menu and reasonable prices. Ask for the daily specials always a treat. Owner's name is Mike and our waitress was Mary Jane. Philly has many great gems and this is definitely one of them. We took our college kid here because of the younger vibe. You might even want to try the gourmet grilled cheese sandwich.
(5)Tyler C.
Came here after the Philly half-marathon with a group. Probably the best brunch I've ever had -- the eggs benedict were phenomenal and everyone else's food was top-notch too. Amazing beer selection, great cocktails, nice atmosphere. A bit hipster-y but not overwhelmingly so. Would love to come back here!
(5)Elaine C.
The workers here know their beers. This place had amazing brews. I think it's a very chill environment!
(5)Alex F.
Really cool bar with a nice staff and awesome ambiance. I live nearby and it's my go to neighborhood spot. It can easily get to be a pricey experience if you aren't careful, but you get what you pay for! The quality and variety of the beers are great. They come in a range of prices, strengths, and styles from breweries all over! The prices aren't even that bad when compared to how much these beers would cost at a "classy" place in center city. The food is great too! I'm a big fan of the burger and fries.
(5)Sophia S.
Everything they say is true..... great and reasonably priced beer selection, plenty of seating and bar space, yummy food, and the staff is friendly and down to earth. Plus, despite microbrews/obscure neighborhoods traditionally being hipster domain, I showed up in my button down shirt and dress pants after work and faced no "i'm dirtier and therefore holier than thou" judgement. Its just a low key place for people that like good beer and good food. What more could I want?
(5)Chérie S.
This is not a place you would normally stumble across while sight seeing, which means tourists won't likely be frequenting this joint. That fact = happy me. It's tucked off the main drag on 13th street and it's everything I wanted on a Halloween night. Fantastic food, a great beer selection, pleasant staff and the dark interior that I desire in a bar, that's actually quite elegant, not just trying to cover up the grime of the sloppy visitors from the nights prior. No obnoxious drunks in sight, just good people out for the night, enjoying the company of friends. I ordered the fish and chips and my fiance ordered the sloppy joe that was on special. We were both extremely pleased with our meals and I'm already finding myself craving that delicious battered goodness. Excellent cod, excellent fries, excellent slaw. If the prices were docked $3-5 I'd be a regular here and it's not even in my neighborhood. Still, that won't stop me from returning again very soon with friends in hand.
(4)Brian M.
I had only gone here once for a short while but it was very enjoyable. I went on a Saturday night and it was crowded, but not packed. It has a decent variety of craft beers, and exclusively sells the Yards Beer, Hoppy lil' Hudson which was pretty good. I didn't get any food but everything I saw around me looked awesome. I overheard other people talking about how good it all was. I would love to come back here again for dinner sometime.
(4)Mike S.
Heard many great things about this place, but had to wait til I moved further south in Philly before venturing further north for this place. Very open feeling. Bar was shaped weird. There were two "stick outs" (its an actual word to describe this, trust me), which if you sat at the end of these you felt like you were really far away, but strangely were still "sitting at the bar". Beer selection is pretty decent. Food is good. The fish and chips were good. Cod fillets were crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. French fries were good. A bit too salty. Cole slaw was refreshing, not too much dressing. Could have used some seasoning. Wife got french onion soup and beer battered green beans. She said the soup was good. She was not a fan of the garlic aioli. It reminded her too much of mayonnaise. Ordered bacon brownie for dessert. Excellent. Crowd was very diverse. Got crowded as we left. Definitely worth a trip out there, even though its surrounded by some shifty areas.
(4)Keith T.
I ate dinner here a month or two ago while visiting Philly. The only thing I could think when I left was, "I wish they had a place like this in New York." It wasn't crowded, the service was perfect, the music was relaxing and the overall experience was just wonderful. And yes, the beer-battered green beans are worth a try. I left happy, stuffed and drunk... Just how I like to be.
(4)lyndsey F.
Went last night to celebrate the end of the semester with an old friend who happened to also be in my class this semester (lucky surprise) and the hubs!!! Well, I enjoyed myself very much but there were a few things that bothered me. Number one, I ordered a "rowhouse red" beer and was brought a glass of house red wine. Anyone who knows me will understand that it's not a big deal and I will drink any red wine anyone puts in front of me...BUT we are at a taproom, i pointed to the beer menu and said "rowhouse red." Secondly, our waitress went through the grilled cheese specials three times and each time she pronounced "challah" a different incorrect way. The first time my shiksa friend picked up on it even before I did! The second time, was close to correct but still not, and the third time sounded like a mix of "Shalom" and "Ahoy." Anyway, I had the grilled challah and jack cheese sandwich with tomatoe soup. Now listen, the tomatoe soup was good, but it wasn't soup, it was more like crushed tomatoes and cream. I felt like I was lifting a three pound weight to my mouth every time I took a spoonfull. My friend got the burger which she was over the moon about...Something about not eating a burger in months because when she was in Spain, she ate the entire nation's meat rations... The hubs had the grilled cheese special which was rye bread with jack, blue, and a chutney. He liked it, but didn't go cuhrazy for it. There is no real reason for us to go back. It was similar to what we have on our side of town and it is really out of the way for us. But yay for 2nd semester of grad school done! Cheers to that! xoxo
(3)Christopher S.
French onion soup = delish. Crab and shrimp soup = delish. Hummus = delish. Messed up my order initially but was fixed quickly and much to our benefit since they let us finish the wrong dish, which was delicious! Bar tender was extremely friendly and quite the expert at mixing a cocktail. The beer selection was also fantastic. All in all this is a fantastic neighborhood bar with a great atmosphere and awesome food. Come for the drinks, eat some food, then stay for the fun!
(5)Megan C.
This place is great if your in the mood for a great beer selection and comfort food. The grilled cheese of the day always proves to be interesting and I tell everyone I know about the fried green beans, they are addicting! The only downside is the place always seems either to hot or to drafty.. Never a comfortable in between.
(4)Daniel M.
I can see I'm obviously not the first to find this place, nor the first to think it's wonderful, but I'm so rarely blown over by a bar in gastropub-heavy Philly any more that it bears repeating: It's wonderful. Being on the service side of the table for many years, I'm extremely sensitive to customer service, and these guys excel at their game. I've had two different bartenders the times I've been (one boy, one girl, both of who offered their names, but for bad memory and potent beers, I can't remember), but each was unobtrusively affable and informative. It's such a pleasure to be at a place where those helping you really seem to care, and aren't just going through the motions of half-smiles and forced pleasantries that make it seem they're doing you the favor of allowing you to tip them. You can read the many other posts about the well-curated beer selection, the tasty food and the out of the way (read: comfort zone) location--rest assured that every word is true. The best testament of my love for this place is how far away I live, and how I go out of my way to return time after time. There are many other bars that do what Prohibition does, but in many more ways than location, Prohibition Taproom sets itself apart.
(5)Sarah L.
To skip the glitter and hearts and overall massive crowds that are Valentines day, Prohibition was my pick of the night for a calm meal. Not only was the setting ideal for kicking back and relaxing, but it was delicious to boot. My favorite was the special appetizer (think fried provolone with goat cheese and caramelized onions) and my boy's burger (egg, Gorgonzola, m.rare) was also tasty. I had a hankering for comfort food, so I went with the mac&cheese, which, was nothing special, but hit the spot. Service was great..beer options were plentiful...yeah, I'll come back.
(4)Vanessa G.
I had always been curious about the place with the red sign that simply read "Bar" as I rode past on Spring Garden. So glad I stopped. Taprooms are kinda Philly's thing--long beer list, gastropub, kinda varied crowd (Memphis Heights, Johnny Brendas, National Mechanics, Standard Tap) and I think this one does it best. Unexpected, delightful menu.
(4)Donna E H.
They keep a good draft beer selection. There were only about 6-8 beers on tap, but they were all high quality, less often seen tap beers. The food was good. I had the french onion soup, calamari salad, and mac&cheese. The french onion wasn't my favorite. the mac and cheese was a little spicy! It didn't seem spicy at first bite, but it crept up on me! yum! and the calamari salad was delicious. I wish i could recreate it at home because they have figured out how to do it right. They have a jukebox. Look for a beer list on the bar, the chalk board signs are hard to read once they lower the lighting.
(4)Dapp M.
I generally love this place because of the unique setup of the bar and the high quality taps. It's definitely a great place for beers. As far as the food is concerned, a little underwhelmed. Went in at lunch during the week... service was slow, and they brought everyone's meal out, and then made two of us wait another ten minutes, which seemed odd since we both ordered a veggie hoagie, which is pretty quick to prepare. The hoagie itself was missing lots of the ingredients the waiter had listed when I specifically asked hi what was in it, so I was (again) kind of disappointed. Bottom line, if you want a typical bar burger and a craft beer, this place isn't bad, but it's not going to surprise you. If you want something more than that, you might have to walk a few more blocks.
(3)Megan H.
I heart this place- so please stop going there if you are super loud and annoying, you heard me! Prohibition on a Monday-Wednesday night is so nice, you don't have to worry about finding a seat because there are plenty. The bartenders are incredibly nice and remember your face. Fridays and Saturdays it seems littered with young fools who forgot what inside voice is- yea I'm old, get off my lawn! Sundays is bring your own vinyl which is cool, I'm searching for the worst thrift store album I can find just to put them to the test, haha. In due time.... The food is always on, with a late night kitchen open to 1am, and awesome specials I always find myself nomnomnoming on something delicious. The neighborhood is kind of sketch so bike or drive there-walking seems like a good idea if you want someone to drag you into a dumpster. Overall, I'm happy to have this as one of my local haunts. And the best thing about it, it doesn't reek of old mildewy floors or piss littered bathrooms- they keep it clean and that's quite the task in filthadelphia.
(5)Richard R.
While the area surrounding it isn't the best, this place has a nice atmosphere. The beer selection was very good, the service attentive, and food was enjoyable. As someone else affirmed, the beer-battered green beans are great. My only issue was that they were very conscious of table space. As a result, I felt slightly rushed. Totally understandable, but it cost them a perfect rating. All in all, strongly recommended.
(4)Yolanda Y.
I found parking right out front, and it was a weeknight, so I was completely unprepared for the ton of people inside. The staff is super friendly and accommodating! They have a lot of beers here, but what I liked was the ciders! A nice surprise. I was disappointed by the food, though. Veggie sandwich was ordinary and overpriced. I realize it's called Prohibition which means their thing is alcohol, but if the food isn't great, then why wouldn't they just stick to drinks?
(3)Ida G.
This review is pretty biased because I was here with a bunch of great people and no doubt would have had an awesome time no matter what. Although the selection was extensive, very few beers appealed to me, so I spent most of the night loading up on reds. Due to a proliferation of vegetarians, I order the hummus platter at one point; it was pretty lousy and remained mostly untouched. Next time I intend to thumb the herbivores and order a nice juicy burger which, while on the small side, looked pretty tasty. Service was friendly and prompt. Happy hour specials were decent. Not that I'd deduct a star for it, but the biggest con for me was that by the time we were done, there were no more horse-drawn carriages out front.
(4)Elizabeth D.
Stopped by for some late night beers after a birthday dinner. It's a really chill spot for drinks, but it was almost SO chill I fell asleep. Good draft beer list, and huge bar with lots of seats. I wish the tables opened up for those who just wanted to drink, but they are reserved for restaurant patrons. I can't fault them for that because even at 11pm, there was still lots of folks eating.
(3)Ben B.
I gotta say this is the definition of not judging something by its cover. I was on a vacation and looking for a place to get a drink with my girlfriend, and we passed by this place 3 times each time joking "I bet there is a bar there". We had trouble finding a place to get a drink so after about an hour, we settled saying "lets just go to that bar sign place". I wished we hadn't wasted so much time looking for another place to go. It was so pleasant, a charming wonderful little bar. I usually like to test a bar by seeing if the bartender knows what an old fashioned is, and then more points if the bar is stocked well enough to make one. This place had old fashions on special that night. I was very impressed. They would have gotten the 5 star from me, but the outside could use some work.
(4)Sara M.
My fiance and I met a group of friends at the Prohibition Taproom this past weekend. We were a bit apprehensive before we went in, as the block is a bit seedy looking. We had a large group, so finding seating was a bit difficult, but there was enough space at the bar so we all just piled in. My friend and I ordered the pulled pork and veggie sandwich and ate half of each. The pulled pork sandwich was o.k., but the vegetable sandwich still has my mouth watering. It was absolutely delicious! The bread was out-of-this-world, and the grilled vegetables combined with aoili was so delicious, and substantial, that I was completely satisfied. My friend James had the grilled cheese of the day, which was brie and something else (which I was strongly debating as well) and said it was excellent. Their beer selection was incredible, food was delicious, I highly recommend!
(5)Thomas P.
Incredible environment. Best burger I've ever had and an amazing resonably priced draft selection.
(5)Johnny B.
Such good food and the staff is notably friendly. Wings were amazing and rotate flavors like their amazing grilled cheese sammys (mashed potatoes in a grilled cheese...oh yes!!!). Please, i implore you to try their fried green beans. They are a delicious gateway into an hour or so of consumption. Enjoy! Beer list is also plentiful.
(5)Marcia C.
When my bf and I looked at the rating for this place I thought, wow how come we've never gone there? Then, we finally visited Prohibition Taproom: it is a true beer place! No wonder -- I'm not a beer person. But the experience was good. From my point of view, it looked like heaven for the beer-and-sports people. I liked the vibe and service, so I'm givin' it 4!
(4)Lydia H.
Went back to Prohibition Taproom the other night while looking for a low-key place to have a drink or two, and boy did it deliver. The bartenders were super-friendly again, and were very helpful in choosing a beer that I would enjoy. One of the girls offered me a few samples of some of their beers on tap and were patient while I made my decision. They had sports on the flat-screen, so my honey was happy. 5 beers later, our bill only amounted to $25 for some delish selections. Even though Prohibition Taproom is off the beaten path, I really like going here. It's always a pleasant atmosphere with nice people.
(4)Kate G.
WHAAAAT. this place rocks! awesome ambiance. chill scene on a weeknight. (i dont know about what hipster trash comes out of the woodwork on the weekends....this neighborhood is swarming with them.) PT is just south of eraserhood in no man's land....so you feel a little bit like you're in a on a big secret when you go here. but a big awesome secret??? i would really like to go back to try the food. i drank some kind of beer or on a drab date. i actually think we drank bell's....but that sort of just made me sad i wasn't in michigan or on a date with someone from the Midwest instead????? Date didn't want to try the grilled cheese of the day. (awkward? )but it's really important to note that Prohibition Taproom HAS a grilled cheese of the day???? that rocks.
(4)Erin G.
Little dark oasis in the middle of a not-much neighborhood, I love your darkness, your long curvy bar, your great jukebox, and the fact that I know I can still count on you for a delicious specialty grilled cheese (this time brie, spinach, mushroom and walnuts) and an interesting tap list. Fab.
(4)Ryan B.
The beer, the atmosphere, the location, the staff, and the rad lighting. What isn't to love?
(5)Erin W.
My favorite local bar. Love to go here after work for drinks or for a night out. Most of the staff knows us when we walk in, and that says alot in such a big town. Food is pretty good too. And I love that I never have to wait for a drink! People watching is great too.
(5)Leslie M.
Popped by this lovely joint on the delightful celebration of the repeal of Prohibition and I could not be more pleased with my night here. Ambiance: Dim but open and intimate space that throws back to the speakeasy era but keeps things at a comfortable 21st century cleanliness. Echoing previous review, their bathroom was quite spacious and clean! Service: Our gal was humorous spitfire and we enjoyed her friendly banter. She got automatic points for sharing my hatred of all things Twilight. But she was great with our stream of orders and we always felt taken care of. Food: Beer battered green beans. Plates and plates of beer battered green beans are the bulk of my consumption here. Treat yourself to these delicious legumes and thank me later. My eating partners gave a thumbs up to their quite hefty veggie burger. Drinks: Yes please. They have a nice selection of beers on tap and that's all I can speak towards because that is pretty much all that I quaffed here. The best part is that I find their prices to be fairly reasonable. I hope it stays that way!
(4)Ladan Z.
It's a real shame, because I have visited this place a few times in the past with friends, and the service was always great except for this time. I came alone to get a bite before a show over at Union Transfer this past Friday night, and the place was packed, which I am totally used to there. I wasn't going to drink because I was going over to the show and planned to have one there, and the food here is super-awesome as well. There were no tables available, so I sat down at one of the end seats of the bar. I went to the bathroom, and then returned. I then spent the next 15 minutes trying to wave one of two male servers who were constantly pacing back and forth over the customers seated at the tables. It's a small place, so in my opinion, it would be pretty difficult not to see someone waving their hand out as you're walking by them, but what do I know? The odd part of it was that a server would walk by like every two minutes to check on a table, and as far as I could tell, no one had required anything. So I got a little more aggressive and said "HEY!" with my body almost half out of the chair until one guy, I think I heard someone call him Tom, finally took notice. I said i wanted to order some food, and asked for a menu. He gave me a menu about five minutes later, and that was the last time he came over to me. The bearded bartender politely asked me if I wanted to order a drink, since I was far from the counter, and I pointed to the menu and yelled that I was waiting to order food. He was the only person who seemed concerned or noticed that I wasn't being waited on. I looked at my phone and it was about 6:45pm. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and figured Tom would eventually return because he knew I would order food, but he took no interest at all. I waited another 15 minutes, and the bartender watched me go out the door. I ended up just ordering crappy Chinese from the place across from the venue since I didn't have time to wait at another restaurant. I had waited for about 45minutes in total. I get that it was busy, and it is always busy there, but neither server was giving me the time of day whatsoever, and I don't think I could have waited until eternity for them to do so. It's not even the waiting, I think it is more annoying that I did flag a server down and he never came back to check up on me or take any order. It just doesn't make any sense to turn down business like that. Learned my lesson not to come solo, at Prohibition the power is in the crowds.
(2)Tom S.
For the burger enthusiast-- ample, flavorful patty cooked properly, nice soft bun. Lack of interesting toppings, more exotic cheeses. Great fries, fresh and handcut style but not nearly enough of them! Got about a third of what I wanted and half of what I expected. For the beer lover - decent (though small) taplist that I felt was pretty in touch with my taste. There was also a great workhorse selection of classic bottles that I'm certain would hold me over if the taplist did me dirty. Would definitely return, just wish it was in a better, more easily accessed neighborhood.
(4)Larissa M.
Boy is this place ever swell. First and foremost the service is top notch. And I don't give away good service reviews all that often (which you can read for yourself, that's the point here, right?) Whatever recruiting process they adhere to works splendidly because all the waitstaff are not only attentive and accurate but somehow terribly 'talented' (read: easy on the eyes.) Second, the craft beer selection is a nice mix of local and well traveled and the the list is up-to-date even telling you what is coming up next. From high to low gravity with excellent descriptions included. And a fully stocked wet bar for the non-beer drinkers as well. Third, the food has never been a miss in the two fistfuls of times I've eaten there. Deep-fried green beans: check! Meats and veggies: check! (Pulled pork, burgers and wings are all delish, and made to perfection. Plus a beet salad that is enough for a meal.) Market price grilled cheese: are you kidding? Hell yes, check! (I didn't even know cheese fluctuated, but anyone with that much respect for cheese is ok in my book.) Lastly, it may seem to be on a road less traveled but to me this is one of its highlights. It's therefore appropriately named and also, well, less traveled, if you catch my drift. A+
(5)Emily D.
- fried vegetables that still taste like vegetables --- check. - establishment sign pointing to establishment---check. - waiter who would probably go so far as kill a man for you---check. this taproom really is reminiscent of the prohibitionary 20s. maybe
(4)christina j.
I popped in here on a Sunday night and boy was it crowded and loud. Not the spot to hit if you've just met somebody and are looking to grab a beer. But, with that being said, the food was comfort with a capital C. I went with a delicious grilled cheese and tomato soup. My friend went with the roast pork sandwich. Plenty of beers to choose from and like the 1 reviewer mentioned the descriptions of beers are very helpful, especially for new beer drinkers like myself. Reasonable prices and friendly staff.
(3)Chad T.
The beer-battered green beans alone are worth the trip-- we had to get another order to satisfy our need for deliciousness. Great beer list, very cool decor, awesome drinks including a dee-lish punch served in a glass boot. I took off a star for the bland (though very high-quality) ale mussels. The broth was lame, and the bread they served it with had that gas broiled taste... Given how good everything else was, I think this was an outlier...
(4)Megan O.
I go to this place a LOT (e.g., last weekend I was there for Saturday dinner and Sunday brunch.) As such, I figure I should give them their due despite my praise being undoubtedly redundant. Although I am happy to drink basically any beer that is a step above PBR/Schmidt's/Etc., I do appreciate a good rotating microbrew list, and this place has got one of the better ones in this city which is saying something. Staff are super friendly and helpful if you're feeling indecisive or unschooled regarding said list as I often am. That's all well and good, but I won't lie; it's the food that keeps me coming back, especially the specialty burgers (though the pub burger's always awesome if the stuff on the special isn't to your liking) and their brunch. Mind you, I adore brunch at their sister spot Cafe Lift, but it's hard to resist the no-wait crowds and free-mimosa-or-bloody-Mary-with-meal bonus just a block away. It is the fault of the Prohibition brunch menu's bangin' Croque Madame that I am now a semi-regular consumer of pork roll. Once in a blue moon I will stray from the burger route and have experienced some hits (fish tacos, grilled cheese) and a couple misses (steak kabobs which I don't actually think are on the menu anymore, kinda bland mac and cheese). The famous fried green beans and accompanying aioli are a little too decadent for me to justify ordering alongside my burger and fries so I rarely do, but they do live up to the hype. The Hoisin (?) wings are tasty but the hot-chili-saturated hot wings exceed my spice tolerance, but my boyfriend thinks they're great. We don't often leave room for dessert but when we do (I've had a couple kinds of bread pudding, root beer cake, blueberry lemon parfait, and the semifredo) they are always amazing. That said, don't come here. We almost never have trouble getting a spot at the bar or a table and I like it that way!
(4)John W.
Prohibition is probably the place I have frequented most in the city. I lived in that area for a year and Prohibition is like a golden treasure some leprechaun must have dropped on his way to other parts of the city. I mean, really, that is such a shady street. I know, I lived on it. Thank you Prohibition for being a haven in bumble-fu¢k Philadelphia. The Fried Green Beans are amazing. And the Grilled Cheese specials which change every week. Oh and the amazing burger specials. Did I leave out the macaroni? They have a consistently changing draught list which is where I have found some of my favorite obscure beers. I can't leave out the fact that the wait staff is one of the best I've encountered in the city. They are over-the-top friendly to the point where they get to know people's names. This is 2010; I barely know my aunt's name. Good job, Prohibition.
(5)Chau P.
Prohibition is everything I'd look for in a neighborhood bar. Too bad it's not in my neighborhood, but still worth the drive into Philly's "loft district". The bartenders and servers here are really nice and I love the peninsula style bar, which makes for a fun setup to catch up with friends and share a brew. I like that the staff knows their beers, which I'd expect from a spot like this that serves some unique microbrews. While the beer battered string beans are good, what brings me back is the french onion soup and burger. I love me a good burger and good french onion soup and they deliver on both here. Don't be thrown off by the location, because it's definitely worth a try!
(4)Mike S.
Walking down the street to where the Prohibition Taproom is located, I was reminded of the movie Judgement Night, which starred Emilio Estevez and his crew of suburbanite friends who after witnessing a murder, proceed to get stalked down the darkest alleyways of the inner-city. As I approached building, I wondered when I was going to see a trashcan fire, to make the scene complete. All of my uneasiness was quickly washed away, however, within minutes of walking inside. The two bartenders (who's names escape me, due to the admirable way they made our drinks) were excellent, and went often out of their way to make a good time out of a slow night. Prohibition Taproom is a great off-the-beaten-path bar that can easily find it's way onto your list of bars that you like to frequent in the city.
(4)Nazim K.
Excellent choice and quality of potables, edibles. Appealing service and decor. Usually busy as hell, but it should be. My only real problem is the noise. It's often busy, and I often can't understand someone three feet from me. Noise alone would lose one star, but the obstacle it poses to socializing is a two star penalty.
(3)Jonny R.
If you come here to Prohibition nothing else in mind, be sure to order the beer-battered green beans. These are very, very good. It's one of those things that almost makes the beer this bar serves of no consequence. But that's not to say the taplist is not great; with a beer engine and about ten different beers on tap, you can always be sure to have something interesting there. In fact, right now, it looks like it has lots of wonderful beers on tap. Although, I'm never floored by its availability, I think Prohibition's beer list always satisfies me. The bottle list is more than sufficient and fills in the gaps if the taplist doesn't satisfying do to. The truth is that, the beer is good enough at this bar (and I'm quite particular) to make the very good food, service, jukebox, and layout of the bar shine. This is a bar that wins gets four stars in all of the other categories. Where else will you get the Phillies on, a killer appetizer, and a great looking bar? Not in Northern Liberties, that's for sure. Even the entrance with its neon "BAR" sign is a very cool addition--truly this is one of the "barriest" bars in city. Heck, if Prohibition improves its taplist (its only weakness--and a small one at that), I think this spot would be killer; one of the best watering holes in the city. But in a neighborhood where the options are slim, this a top-notch pub.
(3)Seyma K.
Worst place to have brunch. I went there with a group of four. It took them at least an hour to bring us our food, and everyone's dish was cold by the time to arrived. We ordered four different dishes but they all had the same I ingredients, just arranged differently. I had to ask them three time about an order of French-toast. It came out after we received the check. Needless to say we are never going back nor recommend this place.
(1)Mark F.
I want to hate this place -- from the name to the hipsters inside to how loud it can be. But it really is our go-to local place. They have changed the menu around a few times, and have it right. Grass-fed local meat, local vegetables, farm-to-table without bragging about it. Beer list is always excellent. I love the burger here, and they always have a few vegan items for that special vegan in your life. Extra bonus - 20% off on Sundays if you bring in a record.
(5)Stephanie L.
We were told a 20 minute wait, an hour later we finally got a table. I ordered a "rice bowl". This was the most amazing vegetarian dish ever! It was a ridicules dish of rice, spinach, egg, pickles, carrots, green tomatoes, some kind of delicious spicy sauce...eggplant? Apples? Who knows! Point is is it was vegetarian so I ate it. It was so spectacular! Atmosphere was fine, lighting was fine, crowed was fine but none of that nonsense mattered. What I ordered MADE the trip! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
(5)Meg F.
This is definitely a solid place! I've been here both before & after shows at the Union Transfer. My craft beer-loving friends always find something they like here! The appetizers are pretty good too. I'll for sure be back if I'm in the area.
(4)Mali D.
I was apprehensive about Prohibition because a friend has had a bad experience here 4 out of 5 visits. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was nice, although not overly fancy. Nice ambience with small candles and very pleasant bartenders. Our service was quite good (reasonable speed and with a casual and kind attitude) and both the food (I had hummus) and beer were of generous proportion as well as great presentation. Speaking of the beer, not only is the beer list extensive (with one nitro and one cask) it was surprisingly affordable. I paid $5 for my peanut butter chocolate stout when I feel like another bar would charge a few bucks more. I get the impression I could go out for a few drinks here and have a very reasonable bill at the end of the night. Overall, I really liked it here and will definitely return. I think I would feel comfortable coming here alone after work even though I tend to not go places by myself, because everyone who worked that night was so nice and welcoming. One star off only because it's small and I hear it's normally too crowded.
(4)Katerina P.
On our way from Thanksgiving trip in Philadelphia, I realized I was getting hungry. With 2.5 hrs of driving ahead of us I knew I might get the hangries at some point. I really wanted cheese melt all three days while in Philly, but the everelusive melt was not meant to be. It was around 8 pm, so my favorite Reading Market was closed...my travel companion convinced me that eating at an actual place is much better than having Dunkin Donuts while driving. So we found this taproom and went in. It is a pub, with jolly customers, age groups of late 20s to 30s. The staff was very helpful getting us seated and ordering fast. I had fish and chips and my hubby had ramen. I'm not much for ramen...but my fish was amazing, with delicious batter and flaky, white delicate meat, and clean flavor. It was no Tilapia for sure(why does anyone still use that sorry fish). Accompanied by delicious fries and and peas, as well as the best tartar sauce I had in USA till date, this was my perfect dinner. The loud and happy chatter of full pub provided perfect backdrop for parting with Philadelphia getaway...
(5)Kelli M.
Stopped in here on the way to a show at Union Transfer. Love the old school L-shaped bar setup. They had an AWESOME beer selection. It was a Tuesday night so it was pretty low-key; not sure how it is on the weekends. The food was also really good. We had the French onion soup. Definitely worth a trip if you're in the area.
(4)John F.
Amazing Brick Chicken w Grits & smokey greens. A lot of herbs!! One of the best dishes ever! Great staff & cool people in neighborhood to talk with. Chocolate Porter was my dessert. Very creamy. Rich behind bar was very knowledgable. Highly recommend!
(5)Andrea V.
I've never had a bad time here. It's rarely overcrowded like some places, the clientele is interesting and for the most part well-behaved, beer is great, service is great, and I've never eaten anything I didn't like. The burger in particular is fantastic. This may sound maudlin, but all my memories of this place are tinged with that warm glow-y feeling of a night spent with great friends at just the right level of buzz. You won't regret an excursion to Prohibition Taproom.
(5)Linda M.
Solid establishment I would visit again. Pros: Extensive beer list with rotating drafts. Cool vibe with the lighting, solid wood tables and retro bar stools. Grilled cheese and burger specials were good. Bread for the grilled cheese was perfect texture to support the cheese. Cons: very loud - hard to have a conversation. They could do well with some acoustic tiles on the ceiling. When I first arrived and sat at a table I was told I could not be seated without my full party being present. They were due any minute and there were lots of empty tables. I was told they need to keep it open just in case a large party shows up. Well they aren't here and I am so do you want my business or not? I almost left but glad I did not after I got the guy to agree I would move if the "unknown large group" showed up before my friends. I am sure others would have left so you may want to rethink that approach. The place was still not full when I left two hours later.
(3)S L.
If I was writing this review for the bar atmosphere and beer selection only, I'd probably give this place 4 stars. The problem is, I had a really bad meal here and so I'm going to write about it. I ordered the hummus and the falafel sandwich. The hummus was just OK. I've had better store-bought hummus if I'm being honest. The falafel sandwich was just awful. It tasted like frozen falafel balls that were microwaved and served. The thing is, if you're going to put a falafel sandwich on the menu, make sure it's fresh and tasty. If you can't do it right, just don't do it at all. That's my beef with a lot of places. Stick with what you know and what you're good at. TL;DR: Don't order the falafel sandwich.
(2)Randy R.
Everything from the décor to the drink selection to the food is simple, yet extremely well done. The staff is very friendly and attentive. There's also some older punk and ska on the jukebox. All around a great experience.
(5)Nicole C.
Great beer!!! Great food!! Try the Mac n cheese and the sizzling Gouda. YUM!!! Just don't be an idiot like me and put it in your mouth before it stops sizzling or you'll end up with a really nasty burn on the roof of your mouth like I did.....lol.
(5)Laura D.
One of my favorite neighborhood bars. My new thing is coming here on the way home for a beer or two after shows at Union Transfer. They have a great draft selection that's always rotating, and what looks to be a good bottle selection too (though I've always stuck with drafts). The long wooden bar, jukebox, and dim lighting make for a nice laid-back atmosphere. Great bar snacks too - I've tried the fried green beans, green curry wings, and the hummus plate. All good. And anytime you can order off of a chalkboard, you know it's a decent place.
(5)Larissa G.
I have been here numerous times because it's close to my house and it's some of my favorite bar food in the city. They have a rotating daily grilled cheese (swoon) and other specials that are always really good (last night was poutine... double swoon). Had I reviewed this place in the past, I definitely would have given it a solid four stars (the missing one star being that this place sort of sucks to get beer to-go. The selection is weak, you can't mix your 6-pack, and it's too pricey). However, my experience last night was very 3-star, if that. I went with 3 others to grab dinner around 8:30. It was very crowded and there were no available tables. After getting on a list, some spots opened up at one of those outcropped bar sections that are sort of like table (if you have been here, you know what I mean). The problem with this is that the waiters for the tables refuse to serve you here - you are told to yell at the bartender (who is about 10 feet away) to order. So, we got drinks and then ordered food. The last to order was my roommate, who got a falafel sandwich. The bartender REPEATED his order back to him (yelling, again, across the bar). At this point, I was trying to get a second beer. Because it was really hard to alert the bartender, I flagged a server and asked her, but was told that I had to order all drinks from the bartender. Okay, fine. But then I watched that server go behind the bar and make a drink for someone else, and then go stand with all the other employees who weren't doing anything in the corner by the kitchen door. Then, our food came out, and the falafel sandwich came out as a grilled cheese instead. So, the bartender managed to come around the bar this time (whoa! forbidden territory!), but instead of apologizing for messing up the order, she placed the blame on my roommate!! After she had repeated his order back to him! Also, since it had been at least 10 minutes, and this was my only hope of getting another beer, I squeezed in an order while she was guilt-tripping us, which seemed to only add to her annoyance. Some advice: please, please use the servers to deal with food orders on these bar tables. Yelling across a crowded bar was uncomfortable and obviously resulted in some issues. If you make a mistake in a food order, don't blame the customer, and don't let your employees stand in the corner chatting it up when there's a crowded bar of people who really want another drink. The food was great, as it always is, but this experience left a serious bad taste in my mouth.
(3)Christine E.
This place is great! I've been here for brunch, dinner and drinks and apps and have never been disappointed. The food and beer selection has always been on point. They also make some pretty A+ Bloody Marys.
(4)Steve T.
While in town, I quickly discovered this little corner bar one block from where I was staying. They offer a great selection of brews and cocktails and the food is just as indulgent. I got their roast pork sandwich and I have to say that the au jus was absolutely hypnotic. The only thing keeping me from giving this establishment five stars is the weird bar set up. I'm not sure how to accurately describe it, but on a busy night, it can make talking to the bartender a lot of work. Aside from that, I will certainly be visiting this place again before I go.
(4)M L.
I stopped in for a quick dinner before a show nearby. There aren't many veg options, and I went with the falafel sandwich. Sounded pretty classic- falafel, tzatziki, lettuce, tomato. No sides listed. When our food came, I was surprised to see my sandwich came with fries. I remembered seeing "beef fat fries" on the app menu, so I asked if they're vegetarian- nope. So I handed them off to a friend and started on the sandwich. I took one bite... And it was the SPICIEST, HOTTEST thing I've ever eaten in my LIFE. My eyes flooded with tears and I probably broke a few capillaries. I've tasted level 10 dan dan noodles at Han- and this was way beyond that. Nothing about a classic falafel sandwich says searingly spicy, and there was no mention of it on the menu. It was inedible, I couldn't eat the fries, and I didn't have time for a new one... So the server just took it off the check and I left hungry. She was very nice, and it was certainly not her fault. I left her 20% grat as if I'd paid for the sandwich. Considering their lack of veg options, surprise mega spice level, and thoughtlessness in serving fries cooked in beef fat without warning, I doubt I'll go back or recommend it to anyone. It would be super simple to make it a more inclusive place.
(2)Kyle D.
The beers tasted good but that had nothing to do with the bar itself. Not sure if it was rookie bartenders but they just sucked. Bar was half full and they couldn't keep up with the 'crowd'. Horrible bartender, some blonde guy, that would forget drink orders and mix up bills. Beer: good selection. Food: fair price but nothing to write home about. Ambience: hipsters.
(2)Kevin F.
Great locals bar with great burgers. It's a nice spot to hit up for lunch on a lazy Sunday and grab a beer and burger.
(4)Tawny V.
Amazing tap list! After trying and failing to snag one of the Stone Enjoy By September IPAs in Orange County and San Diego before they ran out, I came back to Philly and found the Enjoy by February here. Needless to say I was ecstatic.
(4)Tara S.
Beer battered green beans were to die for. I will go back for these alone, and the waitstaff was cute haha.
(5)Naomi W.
Owner was very nice! And food was delicious. I had the chicken sandwich which was very good also. It was a very welcoming chill spot.
(4)Sarah L.
I have been here twice, and both times were great. FIrst time was just for some beers in the middle of a snowstorm. Prohibition did not disappoint. Great beer selection, great atmosphere, and they didn't mind us occupying a table when we were just drinking and not eating. Second time was for dinner- and we had a great time. I had a delicious vegetarian chili and several drinks off of their cocktail menu. Cocktails are a bit lackluster compared to the elevated beer list, but they are good if you are looking for a drink! Service is good, atmosphere is hipstery but not so much that you're uncomfortable if you lack in hipster yourself. This place is local for me so I will definitely be back.
(4)Michelle C.
Being that I live three blocks from Prohibition, I find myself grabbing a beer here at least once a week. And being that I'm moving back to West Philly soon, I should probably review it. Prohibition is a no-nonsense beer bar. The staff is great, the taps change regularly, and the bottle selection includes all my favorite tripels at reasonable prices. I don't generally order cocktails here, but when I have they've been fine, although I can't speak to anything more complicated than a greyhound. As for the food, this is where I tend to disagree with some reviews. I do not like the beer battered green beans. I used to, but they stopped doing it for me. The batter is thin and falls off and the beans tend to be less cooked than I like them. Also I'm pretty sure the garlic aioli they come with is just mayonaise. THAT SAID, Prohibition does have some pretty awesome food options. The burger is great, the grilled cheese specials are always fantastic, and it's a great place for brunch if you're a beer-for-breakfast type. In fact, next time you're in the neighborhood on the weekend, instead of waiting 45 minutes at Cafe Lift for some bougie-ass pancakes come here and order the steak and eggs or baked egg with turkey chili and housemade hot sauce. You're welcome.
(4)Chelsea B.
Loved it. If (when, really) I eat there for a full dinner I bet I'll bump it up to five stars. The boyfriend and I headed to Prohibition Taproom right after work for happy hour because we heard it was come early or good luck getting a seat. From 5-7pm Monday-Friday they do $1 off drafts. I had the Tropic Thunder from Boulder, CO and it was 10% but very drinkable. This combination equals awesome in my beer book. The boyfriend had the Hoppy Lil Hudson and on cask and then switched to the Tropic Thunder for his second because it was just that good. We sat at the bar and the staff was cool and attentive. We shared the beer battered green beans with roasted garlic aioli, which is a delicious and huge appetizer. Not to mention it doubles as a way to get in your daily quota of veggies. Note for first timers: They have a policy that if you sit at a table you have to order food. I believe appetizers count though.
(4)Kyle W.
I want to like this place, but the service isn't good at all. Jackie was particularly slow tonight and it was a Thursday after everyone left. Also threw some shade for asking for my check before the rest of my party needed to leave. Yeah, I just said threw some shade. Get over it. One of my generous friends over compensated on their tip to make up for my $1 contribution to the bad experience. Kudos to Tommy.
(2)Liam E.
I want to start by saying i have not eaten here, but i did stop in for drinks, and i heartily approve. My girlfriend and some from of ours stopped here to have a drink or two while we waited for our table at Cafe Lift. There beer selection was very nice, with an extremely descriptive tap list. Had a cask beer from Yards which was out of this world. But what really struck me was the service provided. The bartender, i am not sure of his name, was super friendly. Not overbearing but available, friendly despite knowing we were only there short term, even called the restaurant we had reservations at to see if the table was ready. Great at recommendations. Anyway cool atmosphere and friendly staff, i'd definitely go again, perhaps try the food there this time.
(4)Augustina G.
Three strikes and you're out!!! That's my stance with the Prohibition Taproom. First attempt: I came here with 2 other people and we wanted to do happy hour. We walked in and asked about happy hour. She said with such attitude that it's not at the table and it's at the bar section only. We were so turned off that we walked out. Second attempt: Came in for brunch and had some beer battered green beans and thought our meals were good enough that my friend and I would come here again. Third attempt: My group of 4 wanted to dine at Cafe Lift for brunch, but they were on a severe wait and suggested we go to Prohibition Taproom. We were super hungry, so we went there and took over a table of a party that was on their way out. There was only one server working the few tables, but it took her 15 minutes to clean off the debris off the table, which is when the server acknowledged us and another 15 minutes to get water. That's thirty minutes for water! It then took another hour to get the food! 90 minutes. But here's the kicker, the whole party wasn't even served and that person was so upset that they said to just forget it. It was so underwhelming that I can't even remember what I ordered in addition to it not being hot. Another table next to me saw the ridiculousness, mind you they came in afterwards and got their food and was also displeased with the poor service. Whoever was managing for the day came over and said that the service was unacceptable and they want our patronage in the future and comped the entire meal. The service was egregiously awful that I can't bare to go back. I really wanted to like this place, I did. But I just can't. You probably shouldn't either.
(1)Laila C.
great food, great beers on tap. only a mile from Eastern State Penn. Literally everything in Philly seems to be only a mile away from everything else. Only thing that's a little weird is the horse that's parked outside and made the surroundings smell like horse poop. Get the grilled cheese special!!! Get the fries and dip it in a gallon of aioli! Mac & cheese was ok but definitely needed more flavors.
(4)Luke D.
Excellent. Went there for my first night in Philadelphia. Great food, friendly staff who very knowledgeable about the entire menu and all drinks available. Our server was also fun but didn't overdo it. Ordered the roast pork roll, was perfect. Hommus plate left a little to be desired though. Overall great experience.
(5)Shane J.
The first time I went here - I was a little suspicious, but after a few more times - I am a FAN!! The area is questionable, but once inside - you feel so cozy and comfortable. The Beer selection is cool and the food will make you want to come back - FO SHO!! I had the Hot Chili Sauce WIngs and I have also sampled the Grilled Cheese - these didn't disappoint at all. Although the crowd can consist of hipsters - it seems to have a good variety of people that rotate through regularly and they all act appropriately - BIG PLUS!! The staff - super friendly The service - not bad - for a busy place TIP - new place - Fubad - Pizzeria just opened up one block down - so be prepared to wait for seating - really busy these days...
(4)Christian C.
First of all....great beers on tap. Got to try some special selections that are not available outside of the taproom and are definitely not to be found in cali. the food was pretty good too. the battered green beans were really tasty, although i have had better versions of this dish. still, nothing to complain about. the pork loin sandwich i am a little on the fence about. there was something off. I think there may have been one too many elements going on here. I think the jus may have sent my tastebuds over the top. A little bit too salty for my liking. All in all a great place that i would go to frequently if i live in the area. The beer alone is enough reason to visit.
(4)Joanne T.
Oops! I got my taprooms mixed up. I meant to take the bf to Memphis Taproom to check out their coconut burger but ended up here instead. But it was a good mistake. We enjoyed our Saturday late afternoon/early evening visit here. I opted for four starts because of their hot cherry dipping sauce. It was out of this world delicious. It came with the baba ganoush and tortilla special. I enjoyed that sauce more than the actual appetizer. If you hear it on the special then make sure you get that sauce! The french onion soup topped with burnt gruyere. I can't ask for more. I had the pear cider and it was thirst quenching. The bf loved his blue cheese burger. Good solid spot.
(4)Bailee F.
I've been coming here since it opened. Undoubtedly my favorite spot in the city. Every time I go I swear there is always something new to try. The atmosphere is very warm and welcoming, so much so that it's the only bar I feel comfortable going to even by myself. Not to mention they even make sure I get home safely. The food is truly phenomenal. I highly recommend the Chicken Paillard, Fried Green Beans, Steak Frites, Ribs (only available in the summer), and the Specials are always a good bet as well. As far as beer goes, ask anyone who works there and they will help you find something you will enjoy. The "Old Man Drink" special is always an entertaining option! The staff never forgets a friendly face. And better yet, they will even tell you they look forward to work everyday. Unbelievably awesome people who love good company, a good jam during Bring Your Own Vinyl Night, appreciate a quality beer or cocktail, and will always go out on a limb to make sure you enjoy yourself. You really can't find a better place in Philly as far as I am concerned!
(5)Lauren S.
What a cool and unique little bar! We went here whole we were waiting for a table at Bufad, and we were pleasantly surprised with our experience. I've heard of this place before and never figured to venture down, but now that I know the glowing BAR sign next to my beloved Bufad belongs to Prohibition Taproom, I will be visiting more often! Didn't get a chance to eat the food, but the menu looks wonderful. The drinks are SO cheap here, pretty sure we got a jack and coke for $3? That's ok in my book! Can't wait to come back and try out the food. I left a star open for that reason. I'll update when I do!
(4)Jamie N.
What a cool place! This is the kind of bar that you dream up when everybody goes through the fantasy of wanting to own a bar. The general feel of the place is quite casual, but in a way that's simultaneously classy as well. When I went there they had some Christmas lights strung about and some candles lit on each of the small tables; good ambiance. The bar has table-like extensions that jut out which makes it very easy to carry on an intimate conversation with 3 or 4 people while still sitting at the bar (instead of the typical yelling-across-people method I employ at other bars). I haven't tried the food just yet, but the draft list is really good, tons of variety and a lot of newbies for me.
(4)Andrew R.
truth. the fried green beans alone are worth the drive into philly. i had french onion soup which was spectacular. my sister in law had some chicken bowl thing the size of china which she inhaled in 4 seconds. even my brother didn't complain, and trust me, if there is something to complain about you'll know. good service and excellent food. you seriously can't go wrong here unless you are unlucky enough not to find an available seat :)
(5)Chris M.
We've been here before and loved it, and will prob come again. Let me be clear, we LOVE Prohibition, and never had a bad time. Even places we love need constructive criticism, no? This time, a rare un-fun experience. Wings. undersauced, overcooked. Horrific. These wings must come from dieting chickens, there was zero meat. And 6 come in and order?? Yes, they are 'Whole' wings.. but they are still tiny.. 6??? $11 for these, are you insane? Sunday, Prohibition has bring an LP.. get 20% off. Not only did we bring, and not get 20% off.. it was an inconvenience for our waiter. Which brings us to the waiter. I'd say the guy with the Tats, but everyone has Tats here. This guy as not amused having to serve us. We disrupted his day, that or he had far better things to do than ask us if we were ok, or get us water, or anything a happy waiter does. Horrible service, food. We've been here many times.. and usually love the menu.. the dinner menu is far superior to the brunch menu which is greasy, fatty. Hope this was just an off-night for Prohibition.
(2)Nikki R.
Ahhhh, I love this place. But in the "I dont want a lot of people to know how much I love this place because I am afraid they will ruin it for me" kind of way. I daydream about Prohibition on an embarrassingly regular basis. The beer selection is amazing and rotating! Yes, please. Fried green beans...if you dont get them, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Burgers, delicious! Jukebox, very fun. The atmosphere is chill and laid back, as is the clientele. It can be a hit or miss with the staff. Typically a hit, but I often find myself sitting at the bar to eat most of the time so I dont stand around looking like an idiot waiting for a server to notice my friends and I to seat us. The bartenders are super great. I went last week and one of the girls forgot the fried green beans I ordered and just brought out our entrees. When I asked about the beans, she genuinely apologized, made sure they came out quickly, and then comped them to make up for the mistake. Very cool. Prohibition, I dont care how near or far I am from you, I will be back again. And again. And again. Just make sure you never take the fried green beans off the menu. Ok, I'm done talking about them. Yum!
(4)Stephen R.
Prohibition Taproom is one of the better bars in the city. I'll start with the beer (as I always do). PT has a very good rotating draft list. They include all different styles, so you're not stuck drinking a stout in the middle of Summer. They seem to pull in selections from all over the US while still including some local ones at the same time. The food at PT is sometimes great, but mostly good. I almost always order the Beer Battered Green Beans. These are so good that there is no reason to order fries, even though PT's french fries are excellent hand-cut ones. I had the French Onion Soup the last time I visited and was surprised how well accomplished it was. It's unfortunate that I'm a vegetarian now, so technically beef stock soup is out, because I really enjoyed the one at PT. Get it - you won't be disappointed. I have not actually had them, but my friends and family rave about the burgers here, too. Other than a few standouts most of the menu is just good, in my opinion. The Mushroom Grinder is too dry and the mushrooms are flavorless. The roast pork sandwich is also too dry and a little boring. I have had the mac and cheese as well and was left thinking, "I make this better." There wasn't anything that made the mac and cheese special, no fun cheese or extraneous ingredients/toppings/spices. But it isn't bad by any stretch. The service at PT is good, usually friendly. I've come half a dozen times and only had a bad experience once, where it was a packed house and 3 different waitstaff members ignored our table for over 30 minutes. No beer, no water, and they did not take our order, so we left. I was pretty annoyed by it considering my wife and I were trying to show off PT to friends from out of town. We ended up going to Llama Tooth and were served right away. I remember even writing an email to the owners so that they were aware of how the staff on duty that night treated us, and I never heard back, so I don't know if they don't care or if they never saw it. Either way, PT has at least redeemed themselves by treating us well the next few visits. I should also mention that brunch is very good, so don't be afraid to leave that huge line at Cafe Lift and walk up the street to the PT. The scrambled eggs had my wife talking to anyone she could find. I was really surprised because she is an amazing cook - but she was so happy with the eggs that day that she was still bringing it up a few weeks later.
(4)Chris L.
A group of my co-workers and their significant other walked here after a wedding at nearby Chinatown. We did not get in to the laundry mat because we were a large group. On the walk we saw a very sleepy guy. He was so sleepy he slept right on the corner of the street. He could have easily slept on a stairs/entrance to one of the abandoned building. And we also met a fur vendor under the overpass. When we got to the Taproom is very a nice, low key bar. We were there around 1am so there was not that many people. The jukebox has an eclectic choice to play. The beer selection is beyond the typical bud and miller lite the media thinks we should drink. I salute this place. We liked this place so much we went to Café lift as well.
(4)Andy-Long L.
Great beer, great interior and exterior. Looks like a pretty shady place from outside which is what you want, I also liked the music selection inside. I came here on a Sunday night and it was really chill. Great beer selection for bottles, wish there were more on tap. The menu at first didn't seem all that great, but there were a lot of specials above the bar that wasn't mentioned to me! I didn't realize it until it was too late, I totally would have gotten something else. Only because I'm on a one night layover in Philly, and only because the food on the special menu sounded awesome, I will give it three stars, but what I ordered was definitely not good, sad to say. I really wanted to like this place more. Do NOT get the mussels with frites. Frites came served directly on the mussels, a few minutes in they were all soggy. I wasn't a fan of the aioli dipping sauce. Also, about half of my mussells had no meat in them, and the ones that did had little meat and were way over cooked. The broth was good as long as I didn't get bites of the chopped garlic and onions, which tasted burnt. Also there was no bread to dip into the broth. The cocktail it got as well had whiskey in it, and it pretty much just tasted like straight up whiskey, I couldn't even taste anything else, I think I would have been better off just getting it on the rocks. I could just be spoiled. Places in Indy like The Libertine or Black Market have amazing mussels and frites, and the other prohibition bars I've been to have all had extremely gourmet cocktails as well. Again I really want to like this place and it was probably my fault for ordering the wrong thing, but seriously, if this place makes better cocktails and advertises their specials better, it could be a hit.
(2)Stephanie S.
This hole-in-the-wall pub is usually empty (I go during weeknights, can't vouch the crowds on weekends), but don't be fooled! Its amazing! I've been here for numerous happy hours, the staff is so friendly and remembers who you are. They have ever-changing selection of beers on tap, and a huge selection of bottles. Street parking is very easy, since this is not in the center city crowded area of Philly. The Herb Provolone Polenta Fries here are the best I've ever eaten. The beer battered green beans are also a favorite, and the hummus is amazing! I've eaten the pulled pork sandwhich which is also delicious. I've never had full entree here, because I always go for beers & appetizers. I wish I could give a 4.5 stars -- It doesn't get 5 because its a little small for my liking, and I like a more "hoppin" place so I don't get bored, but if you like beer & chillin out, then go here! They also have several flat screen TV's in case you want to watch a game here. Chill crowd, doesn't usually get too rowdy.
(4)Kurt Y.
My review is from a Sat brunch visit. I've never been at night so it could be quite good as a bar to frequent. That said their breakfast was OK, nothing to write home about - in fact there's a cafe right across the street (cafe lift) and I would argue they have a much more tasty brunch option. That said this place definitely has great options for watching games and seating with groups at a bar.
(4)Nicole D.
Always a good spot with a small but tasty menu and many daily specials. Nice beer draught and bottle list and a small list of specialty cocktails. Service is fast and friendly and the large bar has generous seating.
(4)Karyn L.
Service is obviously not a big concern here. Why stop at the tables and ask what people want? Why come back within five minutes after leaving a menu. Let the customer wait 20 minutes before you return for their order. Service is not the priority of these folks, so what is? The one star is for the beer. Glass was empty for 20 minutes and not one request for a refill. What on earth can be their priorities. Hot sandwich come cold. Waiters go out for smoke (who knows what) breaks. The jute box has old old tunes that are NOT popular!!
(1)P S.
I've been to Prohibition a few times now: once for a quick bite before a Phillies game and again recently for brunch. Each time I was very pleased with service and the eats! The food menu is interesting while succinct. The beer menu is extensive enough to have variety without being overcomplicated. The dining room is inviting and cozy. The food was delicious. The place is pretty unassuming from the outside, but don't be fooled. I brought a few friends visiting from out of town here and they had great things to say. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)Maxine C.
Not what you expect from the outside. Very chill place with a great beer selection and food. Definitely get the mango wheat and beer battered vegetables (so much better than french fries!) They had awesome food specials such as korean fried chicken with this awesome watermelon salad, bbq brisket sandwich, crab roll and the list goes on. Their food menu isn't huge but you're bound to find something for everyone! Located near the Callowhill/Spring Garden area, it's so easy to find parking! I would definitely go back again!
(5)Brian M.
Great beer selection, food and very friendly staff. Had an engaging conversation with the GM (Matt?) who was a very cool dude. Gave me the history of the place and telling me what was good to order. Made the experience even better. I ordered their 'Donkey Cheesesteak' which was a special. This was superb and a great twist on the Philly Cheesesteak. I paired this with a Philly Gose beer and it was one of the best meals I had in Philly. I highly recommend checking this place out.
(4)Leigh S.
I came here with a friend after a library book signing hoping to get a good mixed drink. You'd think with a name like Prohibition Taproom that there'd be a nice list of vintage-style cocktails. Yeah, you'd be wrong. I also tried to get the fried pretzel with beer cheese dipping sauce, which was on their chalkboard menu and was told it was only for happy hour so I was 'out of luck.' Well, if it's only for happy hour then SAY it's only for happy hour, you pretentious jerks! Too many Chucks, too many now-defunct trucker hats. A lame attempt at a hipster cocktail bar. Won't be going back.
(2)Robin S.
Nice, old school space with a long bar. It reminded me of some places I've been out west, which might be a little strange in the heart of Philadelphia. Not too loud at all - conversations were easy and a lot of the patrons were doing just that. There's a jukebox, so maybe it cranks up later in the evening. We were there pretty early. Great service from several people working behind the bar. Several beers on tap including a local CCCCC IPA, which was solid. Not many wines, though. Small menu but very good food. The elote (corn) is quite good, as was the cucumber(?) salad. But the brat plate was the star. Wonderful brat, German potato salad, sauerkraut, pretzel and a hot salsa/relish. Best brat plate ever. Served on a cool wood board. Prohibition is located in or near a somewhat dicey neighborhood, at least to this non-resident's eye. I may very well be wrong about that. We had to walk a trashy, pissy street past what seemed like skid row coming from the hotel on Race St. If it was later at night we might have chosen not to walk back.
(4)Christina V.
Its been a while since I've seen you, PT. This time for brunch I was equally impressed. Highlights- The brunch rice bowl with pork belly was out of this world. I would eat it every day. Tons of veggies, lots of flavor, the sauce was amazeballs and the porkbelly was tender and rich. Oh and the crowing jewel - the fried egg on top. AAhhh! Heaven. The bloody marys- good morning/afternoon, Philadelphia! These bad boys are served with smoked, Yes- SMOKED, olives and they stole the show. I'd bottle those suckers up and eat them throughout the day if i could. Please, put these lil jawns as a side plate option. I can't stop thinking about them. Service- spectacular as always. Another sucessful visit to PT, two years later! :)
(4)lisa y.
Decided to try this for dinner after ComicCon last weekend. glad I found it on Yelp! The food was delicious!!! And plentiful!!! We ordered the string beans that everyone was recommending and so glad we did! Batter was light, not too oily, yum!!! My friend had the fried chicken sandwich. OMG! Heaven!! The chicken was brined in pickle juice and buttermilk, sounds gross, but it was delish! I had the homemade beer brat. Soo much food, but very tasty! the pretzel was soft on the inside, but had a nice hard cover to it. Will definitely go again the next time I'm in Philly!
(4)Kathleen D.
I took a photo of the menu so I could remember all the toppings on the massive hot dog I ordered here a couple weeks ago. Let's see. So it was bacon-wrapped with guac, salsa verde, chipotle aioli, and pico de gallo. The menu has also reminded me that it was a "kobe beef jumbo" dog. Sooo basically, it was out of this world. It also came with a heaping portion of fries. There was no way I could finish everything. At all. It was a special, so I don't know if they have it anymore, but that plate, along with the relaxed vibe of this place and the excellent beer choices (hello Weyerbacher Sunday Morning Stout!), makes me want to return again soon.
(4)Jon T.
The South Philly sandwich was terrible. It had almost no meat on it and really no evidence of the promised sharp provolone. The pork was very fatty. And it was $14. Complete waste. The beer selection was impressive. They should stick to only that. Our "server" was awful and didn't check in even once before we were ready for the check. I would have sent my sandwich back but she was busy checking her cell phone under the bar. Also, a small thing, but it was uncomfortably warm inside. It was dinner time and the air conditioning was not on or not working well. It is AUGUST. Sure, maybe it was a seasonably cool day outside. But 80+ degrees is not ideal in a closed space with a bunch of people and no breeze. Make me feel like you care about my business.
(1)Bryson V.
I went to prohibition taproom after the gun range. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, this place has an awesome ambiance and a ton of beers on tap. I also tried a Manhattan which was one of the better ones I had ever had. The crowd appeared to be mostly 20 and 30 somethings. The service was decent, but took a while even though it wasn't crowded, so I'm deducting a star.
(4)Wade T.
Great drinks and service but the pancakes are never fully cooked the 2 times I've come here.
(3)John L.
Prohibition quickly became my go-to neighborhood place shortly after moving in. The kitchen here is exceptional. The regular menu is pretty spectacular but the best food is on the ever-rotating list of specials that the kitchen turns out daily. They are AMAZING. The vibe is friendly and comfortable. The list of beers on tap is impressive. There are tons of bottles as well. Pretty much every meal I've had here has been great. Come hungry and enjoy this neighborhood gem. Oh, and Sundays are BYOV (bring your own vinyl) days....bring vinyl, they will play it on the turn table and offer you a discount.
(4)Q K.
Not bad, but nothing special. Smaller room than expected and very busy on a Saturday night. Nice tap list, but nothing overly crazy or interesting. Bartender was mostly attentive, but food was slow. Fried shrimp sandwich was a hit, but rice bowl was a dud. Odd combo of ingredients and not all ingrredients were prepared properly. Fried pickles were solid, but not much different from what's served at other bars. Dishes being served to other patrons looked intersting so will try this place again, but underwhelming first experience.
(3)Jimmy D.
Such a great place to eat, drink, socialize, but the music selection was so wack! and personalized to one girl's iPod or something. The beer selection is perfect! The food is amazing! but the music is lame most the time, so my friends left after eating.
(3)Chaucee S.
I live a couple blocks from here and it's one of my favorite places to stop for a drink and dinner. Their mac & cheese is amazing. Friendly staff and good atmosphere.
(5)John K.
If you're looking for a neighborhood bar where the food is good and they've got craft beers on offer, look no further than Prohibition Tap Room. Located near Bufad Pizza and Cafe Lift, Prohibition Tap Room can hold its own as well. There are plenty of comfy bar stools and several tables as well. It's a dive in the best sense of the word. Bourbon County Stout [$10.50] Aged Imperial Stout, Goose Island Beer Co, IL As soon as I saw that Bourbon County Stout was on offer here, I was sold. Rich, creamy, with a subtle bitterness and chocolate on the finish, this makes for great drinking. Spring Garden [$9] Tanqueray gin, basil, grapefruit, lemon, sugar The GF was in a cocktail kind of mood so went with their Spring Garden cocktail - sweet, tart, with nice basil undertones. Corn Chowder [$6] They had a corn chowder special which we opted for. Rather than a cream-based broth, this was clean, with great corn flavor, which I appreciated. Whole chunks of potatoes had nice bite, with plenty of corn and ham studded throughout. There was some depth here. It was served with some crisp, buttery bread. Poutine [$9] House-cut fries, shredded beef gravy, melted cheese curds The poutine was a decent iteration, showcasing crisply, thin house-cut fries. The beef gravy wasn't overly heavy, and bits of melted cheese curds helped to create a good bite. Could have used more curds and gravy though. Mixed Green Salad [$10] Baby lettuce, cherry tomatoes, radish, pickled red onion, Millwood Springs blue cheese, toasted walnuts, red wine vinaigrette The GF enjoyed her salad, which was well-dressed. The pickling of the red onions offered some sweet acidity along with the red wine vinaigrette, which balanced the funky blue cheese nicely. The walnuts and fresh radish helped to add some texture to each bite. Burger [$13] 100% grass-fed beef, Amish cheddar, Bibb lettuce, onion rings I'm normally not a big fan of grass-fed beef, but this was the butteriest version I've ever tasted. The Amish cheddar was nicely sharp and the onion ring added some extra heft to each juicy bite. This was accompanying by well-seasoned and crisp fries. So if you're in the area, don't hesitate to check out Prohibition Tap Room. They make a mean burger and they curate some good brews!
(4)Brittany A.
Thanks to Yelp we found this gem of a watering hole while exploring Philly. We ended up spending a couple of warm boozy hours here, inside protected from the very chilly weather that day. Loved all of the unique choices they had on tap and in bottles. Our bartender, Rich, was super awesome and took the time to explain the different styles of beer to us as we tried samples. This is a great place to check out if you are a fan of craft beer and good times. Next time I will be trying their food for sure - everything looked great!
(5)Steve P.
Very cool bar near Barnes Museum and other downtown attractions. Looks like a dive bar initially but closer inspection reveals very nicely done bar area. And food is excellent unlike almost any dive bar. Great selection of beers.
(5)Patricia D.
Really friendly service. Prices are more than reasonable and the fried chicken sandwich is excellent. Highly recommend.
(5)Vanessa M.
Great drink spot with really good food. The grilled cheese special is a favorite! We also tried to fried green beans and pickles and loved them. They have a beef fry Friday where things are fried in you guessed it beef fat---we didn't try but will the next time we go!
(4)Amber T.
This place is almost always packed! I've stopped here a couple different times. Medium sized space but the food has always smelled and looked good. Drinks are decent but the service is usually a little slow (at both the bar and the tables). The beer selection is good if you're into craft beers etc. In general, the place seems decent but it's just always so packed i try not to stay too long. You CAN also buy sixpacks to go if interested.
(3)Steven S.
Tiny beers and way overpriced. Terrible.
(2)Sean M.
Great place. Nice beer selection and the food and service was excellent. Green bean crispers were outstanding as was the mac and cheese and south philly sandwhich.
(5)Andy B.
Chances are you're never going to find yourself in the neighborhood, because I'm not really sure what neighborhood this even is. But if it is your neighborhood, then you have a really good neighborhhod bar. Prohibition has a constantly changing beer list, a killer french onion soup and beer battered green beans, and an above-average burger. Paired with a friendly waitstaff, if you're lost near some horse stables, look for the neon BAR sign and drop in.
(4)Joshua T.
I live down the street from this place, so one of these stars might just be due to the fact that they frequently save my ass from the dead zone that is the loft district. That being said, content is king, and I wouldn't keep coming back no matter how close it is if the place was terrible. As most people have noted, its never overly busy so going in is never stressful. The barkeeps are all quick to acknowledge you, and getting something in front of you within minutes of entering isn't a problem. They have a good menu, everything I've eaten here has been a pleasant surprise and that doesn't even include the fried green beans since I haven't tried them yet. You can't ask much more out of a beer menu, and you can get a decent cocktail as well. The only thing that seems off to me is the space. Something in the decor lacks character. That atmosphere just doesn't seem inviting enough. The room feels very sparse and just makes me uncomfortable like I couldn't spend an entire evening there. Maybe it just hasn't had time to wear in yet. To end on a positive note, the jukebox always cheers me up, and seeing that iconic sign above the entrance every day brings up the quality of the whole neighborhood.
(4)Jess N.
I would go to Prohibition Taproom for the staff alone. They're friendly, personal and authentic. They don't do the fake smile and bother customers like a lot wait staff in other joints. The atmosphere is hella good. Relaxed. Chillaxed. It's the kind of place you can see yourself hanging out in. The bartender's a rad guy who likes to add his own personal twist to drinks, and is totally cool with it if you're not happy. Luckily, I loved his idiosyncratic drinks. As for the food, I keep getting the burgers which come with fries. They make some fry sauce which I can't remember the name of but tastes good and gives you killer bad breath. It's probably not the best condiment if you're on a date. Better yet, they have a jukebox. It's just one more way to control your experience. Good food, good music, what more could you ask for?
(4)Cdr G.
This review is not based on a single but rather multiple visits to this fun bar with great friendly staff and food in the gentrifying Callowhill/ West Poplar neighborhood. As the "gastropub" concept goes this is a cut above typical bar food. Seems they actually care that they are running a bar as well as a restaurant. Beer battered green beans, are a standard in an ever rotating menu of appetizers and main courses. Staff is very friendly and actually seem like they enjoy bother their jobs and their customers. This and the quality probably accounts for the crowds as well as the challenge to get a seat sometimes. .
(4)Catherine K.
Love that this bar is so close to my apartment buliding. It has a great cozy bar atmosphere and the food is delicious! Fresh ingredients and cooked perfectly. After reading several yelp reviews, we decided to try out the famous green beans and they were well worth it. We received a mound of deliciously fried green beans and ate every single one of them. Other dishes of the night which were noteworthy are the hummus appetizer and the steak frite with truffle oil. The service/staff were friendly, attentive, and fun to chat with. To make top everything off, the music selection was on point with our taste in music as well. I definitely plan on revisiting this place again. I have a feeling this will soon be my go to neighborhood bar/dinner spot.
(4)Rachel W.
This place was pretty good, the decor inside is super simple but with an odd bar that has little jutted out sections which is neat. Other than that, and the large wooden bar, its simply tables and chairs and totally unassuming. It seems like the type of place that anyone can go to and feel comfortable at. I just stopped in for one beer and a snack, (I mostly just wanted to try the fried green beans everyone had been talking about) and I'm glad I did! I had pliny the elder on draught for 6 bucks, and it was worth every penny. There's a good reason it's in beer advocate's top 10 in the list of best beers. My boyfriend got the sierra nevada belgian trippel, it was good as well. And yeah, the fried green beans were AMAZING. So good, I could eat 50 more plates of it. The staff were super friendly as well. The only thing that bothered me was so many things on the chalkboard that touted what draught and bottle selection they had, were misspelled... haha. Sierra Navada Belgian Tripple... it made me giggle, not a big deal though. Definitely didn't put a damper on the experience.
(4)Terry C.
BF and I come here for the following reasons: - GREAT food and GREAT beer selections (hard to find a neighborhood bar with food/drinks being equal). More on food later. - Cool atmostphere- It is a dimly lit bar with plenty of seats at the bar and maybe 10 tables. It is not the best place to go if you are looking for a quite and bright atmostphere. It's a fairly small place so it can get crowded during dinner time. Service is always friendly and attentive. - LOCATION- right in the loft district where there aren't many bars in the vicinity and right by the orange SEPTA line if you are looking to meet up with friends. FOOD: We've had everything from appetizers (you must try the Polenta Fries and Green Beans), Sandwiches (Pulled Pork is always hot and juicy and Pub Burgers), Salads (I like the Chicken Paillard) and the Crab/Shrimp Riscotto Cake. Prices are VERY reasonable.. DRINK: With so many beer (on tap and bottles), liquor, and wine selections, there's something for everyone. They have a great happy hour (m-f 4-7?). It's a neighborhood gem for a quick bite, after work drink or simply a night cap.
(4)Tina N.
So I like this place. It's straight up, and straight to the point. It feels like a cross between a comfortable neighborhood dive bar...but not as divy, with a gastropub menu...but not as pretentious (ie: a sandwich is a sandwich, not "prosciutto and aged Gruyere harmonized with a spring mix, dressed in light citrus vinaigrette, and pressed into a perfect panini with aesthetically pleasing grill marks.") I had the hoisin wings, and fried greens. Good stuff. However, with so many places to eat and try in Philly, I've unintentionally developed my own, over analytical, circumstantial, far too detailed rating system. That being said, this one gets a "I would come back if I were in the neighborhood or if I were craving hoisin wings" rating. But I wouldn't necessarily make the trek from afar.
(3)Jessica W.
During a short spurt of vegetarianism, I came here and got the Grilled Vegetable Sandwich. It was SO.GOOD. They definitely used Metropolitan Bakery's Pain Au Levain bread for this particular sandwich, and it was fabulous. My boyfriend got the burger (of course) and it looked amazing. It almost convinced me to give up my temporary vegetarianism. But not quite. (Saved that for In'N'Out burger during my summer trip to CA!! shutup.) The beer list was great...very extensive. It was even categorized, which made my heart skip a few beats. I suppose I'm left-brain dominant, because I REALLY like things like that.
(4)Erin s.
MMMMMMMM. The place is slowly starting to get more crowded, but I'm enjoying my slightly empty sunday dinners. Really great service, the people there know their stuff and I've seen them guide people through picking a beer and food. Their daily burger and grilled cheese specials are awesome and they've just added some new items like tortillas and salsa that are really good too. Brunch is rather new too.... but good! Love it here.
(4)Julia N.
When I came here for the first time, it was pouring down rain and I wasn't quite sure where it was...thankfully there is a giant red neon sign announcing the BAR. Inside, it's dark and cozy, with bare old timey lightbulbs, a long, curvy, attractive bar, and a really good jukebox. I could see myself spending lots of time here. Maybe it was the weather, but the place was at a comfortable half-full level on a Saturday evening. Our server was super nice and it kind of felt like we had bumped into a friend who just happened to be taking orders and bringing out beer that night. The beer list is solid, with a lot of the usual suspects and some rarer options as well - I was happy to see Fuller's London Pride, which might be the all-time most perfect summer beer, and Hobgoblin on the bottle list, and they have a good range of things on draft. The beer-battered green beans really are as good as Yelp says! We should've ordered more. I've never met a mac n cheese I didn't like, but this one had a gluey texture that put me off a bit. My grilled cheese had delicious roasted fennel and pesto on it, and my friends liked their burgers, veggie and beef. This is all fairly standard nice-bar food, but you can sit down with a beer and a satisfying meal for under $15.
(4)Mitchell H.
Located on the edge of some District 9-like wilderness complete with tumbleweeds blowing by, Prohibition Taproom boasts an exterior that looks like a little like a brick probation facility. It has small windows with only a pink neon BAR sign to disabuse those looking for their probation officer. Step inside the dim surrounds, and you arrive in America's ultimate neighborhood gastropub dive bar. The staff are great, consistently & genuinely friendly, and very knowledgeable about their beer & food. The food is high quality and all about the flavor; healthiness is not a concern. The beer selection meanwhile, has been curated with the sort of tender loving passion you'd expect to see at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can feel the love. The crowd is quiet locals and passionate beer nerds in fairly equal numbers. Music is care of a reasonably well-stocked jukebox. Phillies games play on two medium sized flat screens. Basically it's the sort of laid-back and genuine neighborhood bar that hipsters seem attracted to like junkies to smack.
(5)Carl F.
Nice beer selection, but not massive like, say, Memphis Tap Room. Depends on what kind of beer dork / snob you are. Chicken Tacos and tortillas were right on...not overtly spicy. Fun atmosphere, esepcially when it got crowded. Friendly staff that won't put you off. Large bar with 2 camel hump excursions that seat like six people. Dark but not seedy. $1 jukebox plays 3 songs. Bathroom: clean. Crowd is mixed. Old dudes in for a quick pint, but mainly 20s - 30s. You cannot miss the signage = massive neon "BAR" sign pointing at the place.
(4)Elizabeth G.
Ended up here twice on our recent trip to Philly: once for an afternoon cocktail,and again for a hangover brunch. We were struck by how cute the spot was, the juke box held some good tunes, and the bartenders were helpful and attentive. One of the women went to her bartending book when I requested a gin drink, which wasn't exactly confidence-inspiring, but then the other bartender quickly stepped in and made me a delicious citrusy drink using local Bluecoat gin. The next day we ended up here for brunch when Cafe Lift's wait was overwhelming. For less than $20, we each had a really superb meal and a brunch drink. The Bloody Marys were delicious, and the mimosa was heavy on the champagne (I mean that as a compliment). The fries and garlic aioli were terrific. If we lived in Philly, this would definitely become a regular haunt.
(4)Anna Marie C.
so i've been trying to come here for like, ever. i am sincerely in love with cafe lift down the street, and so since i heard of the opening of this place, i put it on my list of places to try. so on a random wednesday night, i finally get to go. and uh, yeah, the wait was totally worth it. i love the decoration, the lights on the wall. the bar is tres tres cool, and the place just feels warm. and despite the fact that people say it's getting crowded, on this night, it was empty... a perfect place just to get away and be alone. the server girl was quite swell--i want to be her when i grow up. in any case, just go go go for the beer selection and fried green beans. and perhaps you'll find me there.
(4)A. Jordan R.
Great spot; it really does have the look and feel of a 20s taproom. Love the atmosphere. Extensive beer list both bottled and on draught. You name, it's probably here plus a few you've never heard of. I had a Cane and Able (never heard of it) and a Bell's Expedition. Menu is interesting and typical gastropub fare, on par with something like North Third, Memphis Tap, or Johnny Brenda's but less expensive. Service was very good. Our server was friendly, polite, and knowledgeable about the beer. I would go here all the time if it were in a different part of town. Not that I don't like the Spring Garden area, it's just far from my house in Fishtown. Seems like the Spring Garden area is coming up thanks to places like this and the Institute.
(4)Melissa K.
We waited quite some time for a neighborhood bar that had staying power. In the past year and a half, we saw the old carriage house turn to "Maker's Local" and then to "Callahan's Pub(?)" and finally, to nothing. When it reopened as Prohibition, we knew it would last and I'm happy that it has. This place is great for all occasions -- a beer following a crap day at work; a low-key birthday party; a dinner date with the spouse. The food is tasty, the beer list is long, and the waitstaff are friendly and helpful.
(5)Kathy D.
Hm, so the wanna be speakeasy J.L. Sullivans closes down, but Prohibition is still going strong. Speakeasy is a new trend to reach Philly, although not as popular as the gastropub trend, but Prohibition does it right. (Maybe it's because they don't do that cheesy "knock on the door with the password" thing most speakeasy's do...) Although this place is a little hard to find, at least it was for my friend and I, it was definately worth the trip. Got my favorite, Walt Wit, from Christina the bartender, who knows her stuff. Of course, I had the crunchy green beans, which is PT's speciality. It was a great laid back, cozy vibe with good music,and conversation friendly noise level. I seem to equate the Loft District with Finnegans or McFaddens, but this place is the anti-McFinnegans as it is an authentic, cool place. There's a few places popping up in this area--including the Institute, so this may be the next hot restaurant area. Bottom line: Definately go, and have the crunchy green beans! Hot tip: I heard they just started serving lunch!
(5)Bob F.
Came in for Beer week to try some Sixpoint beers. Great tap list and interesting menu. Atmosphere was OK. Reminded me of a college bar. If I were 20 years younger it would have been perfect :). Biggest gripe is it took 25 minutes to get my dinner to me...the guy next to me at the bar, a Drexel Prof. and a regular, only waited 5 minutes so not sure what happened. I might go back on a slower night if I am in the area.
(3)MaryKate M.
I go here for happy hour with my co-workers because there aren't a lot of bars near Broad and Spring Garden...it's interesting. I love the glowy sign stating that it is a bar from the street and the horse that hangs out across the street and all. The food was just eh and the drinks were a little different each time we got them so I'd say it's good but not unbelievably awesome.
(3)Brian L.
Stopped by with friends who are living in the Fairmount area. It's dim lit and is very cozy. The service was great from the moment we came in. The waiter/server greeted us with a smile and as soon as we seated, we were immediately asked if what we wanted to start off with. The menu has a good selection of beers. I ended up spending a little more than I wanted due to all the choices, but it was great. We also ordered a tortilla chip appetizer which came with two really tasted dips. I was also great to not hear Dave, Creed, or radio rap blasting from the jukebox. I enjoyed my experience here and would definitely come back if I'm in the area.
(4)Mindy K.
the 4 stars are for the bar and decor - awesome beer selection ALWAYS, fantastic staff and uber cool decor. the food, though, definitely leaves something to be desired. i don't think i'm in the majority here, but eh - pass on the food. the only exception being the fried string beans. those are AWESOME. most def get those. perfect complement to a perfect beer. fantastic for happy hour or drinks. or for a first date.
(4)Meredith K.
I went to the Prohibition Taproom for the first time tonight, and I don't have anything but good reviews. The first thing that impressed me was their beer selection. They didn't offer too many beers, but what they had was pretty rare. My boyfriend and I enjoyed two Lost Coast Indica IPAs, which I thought were discontinued. At least I know the bottles were at some point. Either they just sell it in kegs now or they resurrected the beer completely. Anyway, it's an amazing IPA, and I was blown away that this place had it on tap. My second beer was a Rogue Brutal Bitter, which is fairly rare to see on tap. Both beers were delicious. We went for happy hour, so all draughts and well drinks were $1 off. Their prices are reasonable: my Indica was $4.50 with $1 off, so $3.50. Very reasonable. Their other beers on tap included Weyerbacher Fireside Ale (granted, Weyerbacher is probably my least favorite brewery, but at least it's something different); Brooklyn Blunderbuss (a stab at an English Strong Ale... it smelled like caramel but ended up tasting all right, and not nearly as sweet as it smelled... also a pretty rare beer to see on tap); the typical Philadelphia New Bold IPA (at least it has 6.5%...); Ballast Point Wahoo Wheat (a beer I have yet to taste, but I'm not really a wheat fan); Sly Fox O'Reilly's Stout (I lived in Phoenixville for three years and enjoyed this stout all the time... comparable, if not [dare I say] better than, Guinness; and Dogfish Head Aprihop (which I've had before, but is just ehhh). They had a hand-pump as well, featuring Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball, which is a pretty damn good beer. My boyfriend and I split the Beer-Battered Green Beans, and they were really delicious. As for atmosphere, the Prohibition Taproom really nailed it. The light is mellow and low, but not so low that you can't see where you're going. The music is at a reasonable volume, and I easily carried on a conversation the whole time. They have a jukebox, too, with a great selection! I enjoyed drinking my beer while listening to "Born Under Punches". And they had an old jukebox, not one of the digital ones you see all over the place now. The place only opened in late October, but still, it was very clean. The bathroom was near immaculate... probably the cleanest bar bathroom I've seen yet in Philly. There were cool candles made out of beer bottles. I like to see a display of craftsmanship at a bar. :) The only thing I found to be not quite up to par was their bottle selection. I desire a lot of IPAs and a lot of stouts, and they just didn't have that. Of course, I had what I liked on tap, so I didn't need to resort to bottles, but for take-out purposes, I'd like a little more variety. Last, but certainly not least, was the bartender that was serving us. She was awesome! We conversed with her pretty much the entire time we were there, and she was down to earth and knowledgeable about beer. She even covered one round of our beers because she wanted us to come back. Now that's cool in my book. I will make this my regular watering-hole for sure.
(5)Tom D.
I like this place a ton. I walk everywhere I go. This place happens to be like exactly equidistant from my apartment and the Troc and the E Factory. So when I am going to see a show, I eat dinner here and drink some tasty brews rather than spending money on the stuff at those venues. I like the burger and the ever-changing grilled cheese. The appetizers are good, too. There is usually a stout, a brown ale, an ipa (or two), and a special bitter on tap; in addition to a hand draught. The waitstaff is super friendly. They have a killer jukebox. The sign out front is something I need for my bedroom as a night light.
(5)Darnelle R.
Anybody that has a good pulled pork sandwich has my vote!! We walked into Prohibition Taproom just before 10. The place looked divy as in a local bar. Only a few people at this time. We pony up to the bar and check out the menu. Nice menu. Nice Beer Selection. Really cool staff. We get the pulled pork. Comes with fries. I'm in love. The runny goodness of the juice drips from the bun. I devoured the fries and i even ate the coleslaw!! I never eat coleslaw. Just as I'm about to undo the belt, the crowd comes in. Maybe they sensed that an "Elite" was dining! Hmm...my belly was as full as I am of myself...:) I'm a huge fan of Prohibition Taproom! Not at all like the pretentious Cafe Lift!! I am not a fan!!
(4)Natalie M.
Ok, so I am proof that even when there is a large sign that says "BAR" and points directly at the bar in question, it can still be hard to find. Of course, I was also driving down 12th St, instead of 13th, so that may have had something to do with it. Once we figured out where we were going, it really was impossible to miss, both because of the sign, and the fact that in a three block radius of this bar, there is nothing but burnt out buildings and meth labs. Once you find it, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Not only did we get two prime parking spaces (right out front) where, had our cars gotten broken into, at least we would have known immediately, but we also walked into a bar on a Thursday night that wasn't super full, loud, or obnoxious, and got prime seats at the bar. The bartender was attentive and knew her beers. She was pretty good at describing the beers so that they sounded really good. Mostly, they were, too. They have a nice draft list as well as a sizable and perhaps random bottle list. The food was super plentiful. I expected less for my money, but the bellyache that came with eating too much greasy food in a short period of time was also free. We had the mussels (which were good), the beer battered green beans (which were about as far from healthy as green beans can possibly get, but super yummy), and the grilled cheese special. I've never eaten anywhere where there was a grilled cheese of the day, so this was new and exciting. Our grilled cheese had bacon and apples in addition to cheese. It was good and came with a side salad and fries. I definitely had the feeling that this is a neighborhood bar, and, since the only bars in my neighborhood are super sketchy, I may adopt it as my own. It certainly makes for a nice, relaxing place to have a few drinks with friends. Oh, and the bar itself is the coolest thing I've seen in a long time, even if it might not be the most practical way to set up a bar. I'm still confused how the people at the ends get their drinks, so maybe next time I'll sit at an end and find out...
(4)K J.
Great bar that's tucked away off Spring Garden. First off, they have a great beer list, Belgium beers, milk stouts, IPA's and other seasonal brews. What I was pleasantly surprised about was the food. I had their grill cheese sandwich which was great, and it eats like an entree. I also tried their fried beer battered green beans which I recommend if you are in the mood. The hoisin wings I had were ok, wasn't as crispy for my liking, but not bad either. The service was great and they know their beer. The atmosphere had a local yuppie feel to it which I definitely appreciate. It's a down to earth bar which is now on my favorites list.
(4)Jason B.
Stopped in before a show to grab a drink and some food. Had the turkey chilli very good, with great corn bread. Beer selection on draft I thought could have been a little better. Place was crowded but 2 bar seats opened up eventually. Overall an OK place nothing to great though.
(3)Robin T.
I'm surprised at myself for only picking 3 stars - I'm usually an enthusiastic reviewer. I wanted to try this place's root beer float, after reading about it in one of the local alternative weeklies. Yes, it was in a strange place - an area I never go to, but not too difficult to find. The bright "bar" sign really helped! And the room was cool - large, dark and candlelit, huge bar, nice wooden decor. So, it could have been quite cozy. I was with two friends who wanted some food, so we grabbed an empty table. My root beer float was excellent, but they are difficult to mess up! (I suggest adding a shot of vanilla vodka to "grow it up" for you. Yum!) My friend's fries were great, and everyone seemed happy with the food - Shepherd's pie and a grilled cheese sandwich. The server was pretty efficient, always checking to see if we needed more drinks and food. We didn't have to wonder where he was, at all. Why the 3 stars, you ask? Well, I was seated at a table and trying to talk to my friends, one of them across from me and one next to me. We had a very difficult time hearing each other, due to the deafening sound levels. The jukebox was okay, but just added to the high-decibel din. Too much! I was shouting at them and missing half of what they said. Most of our conversation consisted of "what?" I felt like when I left, it would be like when you left a concert - still shouting at each other with a raw voice. It might be good for dinner, due to the good food and atmosphere - I'm not sure - but Saturday night at 9:30-12:00 is too loud for me.
(3)Victoria H.
All the bartenders - friendly and helpful Selection of brews- amazing. They had a lot of beers from the west coast and i loved that. Also a lot of great local micro brews. And a hand pump! Great mixed drinks....try the elderflower sidecar or the gin berry. (My faves) Not a let's go party bar, but a lets sit down and get our buzz going bar with good people, good music (Jukebox selection roooocks), and good drinks :)
(5)Maria S.
Thanks fellow Yelpers. I'm from Denver and I needed a good place to go that was near my hotel. I looked to you for help. I really, really like this place. The beer was really good, the food was unexpected and the service was great. I had the grilled cheese of the day, which was pepper-jack, apples and bacon. I loved it. My friend had pork loin and she talked about it all the next day. Thanks again Philly Yelpers!
(5)Ben K.
I was tipped off to the Prohibition Taproom after reading about the November 1st opening on Uwishunu. The owners also own Cafe Lift (which I've never visited), also located in the loft district. The place is well lit from the outside with a huge red neon arrow reading "BAR" pointing to the front door. You can't really miss it. Inside, you get the speakeasy feel with dim lighting, clear large filament lightbulbs on the walls that are clad in dark wood paneling. A huge, giant wood bar runs the length of the plus with highbacked leather lounge style chairs. The menu consists of your typical gastropub fare. Appetizers: mussels, BBQ or Ranchero wings, and beer battered green beans. Sandwiches: Burger with choice of jack, blue or brie cheese, pulled pork and a grilled marinated veggies for the herbivores out there. Entrees: steak frites, baked mac and cheese, crab & shrimp cakes and roasted chicken. The real reason we came by was to checkout the beer selection which was definitely larger than most places but not mindblowing. I'd say about 10 brews were on draft including Slyfox Stout, Post Road Pumpkin, Stoudt's Oktoberfest, Allagash White, Hook & Ladder, Victory Braumeister and a few more. They also had Yards ESA on cask (hand pump). The bottle selection included several Belgians and Germans plus the usual domestic suspects like Dogfish Head 90-Minuyte IPA. We had the pulled pork and burger. Both came on toasted Metropolitan Bakery ciabatta with a side of fries and the pork came with coleslaw and an out of place babycarrot. Although the burger was ordered medium rare, it came much closer to medium but the big patty and fresh produce (lettuce, tomato, fried onions) made up for it. The pulled pork was great, a little spicy and not too saucy. The fries taste housemade and are cut shoestring style. Overall, we liked Prohibition Taproom but weren't blown away. I don't think I'd go out of my way again to come back here. It seems like it will be a great spot for the people living in the loft district, but might be a little too low key for some. However, there isn't too much in the area with this sort of beer selection - but if you're looking for really great stuff, I'd recommend trekking a little further to Belgian Cafe anyway.
(3)Erin A.
We hit up the Prohibition Taproom on Friday for some food and cocktails. We wanted something local and casual and PTR fit that bill. I'm not a huge beer drinker but I did have something good and my husbadn seemed pleased. It was kind of hard to read the dimly lit chalkboard and they weren't listed in the menu. Maybe they could put some lights on the board to make it more readable. We had the green bean fries which were excellent. Perfect bar food and not overly greasy. He had the pork sandwich and was very pleased. I got the burger and honestly the burger was great but the bun was like a sourdough roll or something else really hard and it was hard for me to bite. But I just ate most of it with a fork which didn't bother me. It is SUCH a great addition to the hood and it was full by the time we left so obviously it was an underserved area. They have a jukebox! And it was awesom!. I am partial to early/mid-90's hip-hop so I was super excited to hear a little Warren G. and Dr. Dre while sipping my cocktail. I don't think my husband was too embarrased. Parking should be okay too since its a wierd location.
(4)Julie F.
What I really love about this place is the part of the bar that kind of juts out. It's so novel to be able to talk to more than the person on either side of you while you're sitting at a bar. It definitely creates a more jovial, we-are-the-world, koombaya type experience. The beer selection pretty much blew me away. The bartenders were friendly and not too cool for school like some around this city seem to be. Also impressed by the diverse, and down-to-earth, jukebox selections that were rolling out. Minus one star for fairly boring and tiny mussels I ordered. Next time I'm showing the burger who's boss because it looked fierce.
(4)Jonny G.
Great beers available on tap (taps rotate constantly) and a solid bottle/can selection. The food never disappoints--my friend said that the BLT was so good it felt like he was on ecstasy. Best burger in the city. Specials rotate so there is always something new. Menu lacks a chicken sandwich which should be featured in some form at every gastropub. Juke box with wu tang, smashing pumpkins, dr. dre, nirvana and zeppelin--can't beat that.
(5)Tom B.
Ate here tonight, and was very pleased indeed! Among the 3 of us: fish soup, beet salad, beer battered green beans, chicken-apple sausage, and beer. Everything was quite tasty! Our server went out of her way to answer questions about the dairy content of the food (daughter has a dairy allergy) and she was pleasant and efficient. We were here around 7-8:30 Pm, and the place was not crowded or too loud then. I recommend.
(5)Alex V.
We stopped in for a beer after dinner. It was my first time at Prohibition Taproom and I was really impressed with this place. A great selection of craft beers on tap and fantastic vibe to the room. The bartender was also extremely knowledgeable about the selections of draft. I can't wait to go back and try the food, it looked really good.
(4)Jonelle G.
2 happy hours... need I say more. I live in S.Philly and make it a point to stop by Prohibition when I'm north. The green beans are killer. The bartenders are very helpful and polite. We always end up chatting it up with the bartenders. If you're looking to take a date for diner & drinks, hit this place up. Did I mention 2 happy hours.
(5)Tre R.
So I feel like a lot of Prohibition's brunch reviews start the same way: Yesterday, I went to Cafe Lift to meet some friends for brunch. They told me it would be a 35 minute wait. I walked down to Prohibition for a beer and never left. The brunch was AMAZING! We all shared the Egg Sandwich, Biscuits & Gravy, and the Waffle with Orange Butter, Maple-Soaked Walnuts, and Chantilly Cream. Eggs are a b**ch to cook. But this kitchen pulled off scrambled and fried perfectly. And the waffle... wow. wow. Throw in a free Bloody Mary or Mimosa, and I'll definitely be back. Oh yeah, and the Roy Pitz Gobbler beer? AWESOME.
(5)Elisabeth Y.
I just returned to the Prohibition Taproom and I'm happy to report that things were much improved. Our waitress was EXCELLENT and, I'm not exaggerating when I say this, she gave the best descriptions of specials that I have ever witnessed. So many details about cooking techniques- wow! The beer selection was excellent and so was my special grilled cheese. Prohibition Taproom has won me over again!
(4)Annie D.
I've been going to the Prohibition for quite a while now and last night I was reminded of why this is easily my favorite bar in the city of Philadelphia. The beer selection is great if you include the bottled offerings. The food is delicious and always really consistent, but the best thing at Prohibition is the bar staff. Last night we had such a good time that the bartender introduced himself to us; his name is John and if he is working you are guaranteed to have a good time!
(5)Beth L.
We checked out the taproom prior to a concert at the new Union Transfer (old Spaghetti Warehouse!). This place is small, but has a huge beer list! Their menu is not very extensive, but everything that came out of the kitchen looked amazing, very classy for pub fare. We had polenta fries and their macaroni and cheese, both awesome! Other food we saw come out was wings (good sizes and smelled yummy), burgers (looked like someone made the patty by hand), hummus plate (a mountain of hummus), salads (nice greens). I would definitely check it out again to try some more local brews and their food. We ordered the bacon brownie (something I saw reviewed here on Yelp) but it was a sunday night and unfortunately they didn't have any! Good excuse to go back!
(5)