Bridgid's

mobud

Delaware

3.95/5  rDev -6.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Headed here after finding that Bishop's Collar was packed. Glad we did; it has been awhile since my last visit and they still are the small classy place that I remember. A narrow space, we moved to the back to get a table and some food. I did not count the taps, but there were 8-10 of mostly local beers. My beers for the evening included Duvel Green, PBC Newbold IPA, and The Beurey Black Orchard. All three were great and regretted not having more time and money to try some others. They have had a great rep for a long time in regards to their beer and they continue to entertain without being overwhelming. The food was good also. I had the Chirizo sausage nachos. They called it a small plate, but it was a good size and hit the spot. The service was good; it was quiet when we arrived, but 2 hours later, the crowd started rolling in. Only complaint is part of its charm; the size make it tight between tables. The folks that slide in next to us seemed in a bad mood and we got to hear all their issues. Another foot or so further away would have been fine with me. Will go back when in the Art Museum area.

04-26-2009 15:51:21 | More by mobud

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -6.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

An interesting little place near the museum district in Philly. And when I say, little, I mean little. The bar is in a little building on a street corner. The front bar holds about a dozen people, and looks like a dive, yet the overall atmosphere is nice. There is a dining room in the back, the size of which I couldn't determine, and I overheard a waitress say that there is an upstairs chamber for special parties. If you're planning on a table, good luck; a bar seat, go around 6:30-7. As for the beer, there are about 10 very good, diverse, and often rotating brews on tap, and a wide selection of bottles, including rare beers and vintages. Food is surprisingly good, even if it's not the best you'll ever have.

04-29-2011 13:19:18 | More by Rifugium

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.01/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | $$$

Small little neighborhood gem... some would call it cramped, some would call it homey. This was one of the pioneers of the craft and Belgian beer movement back in the day. Backwards J shaped bar seats about 15-20 in the front room, rear dining room sits a few more than that, but have never made it back there. Decor in the bar area is mostly Belgian themed beer memorabilia.

Solid list of domestic, European and local craft on draft and bottle. Always something new on tap but always go for the Yards ESB on hand pump. Service always attentive and friendly - bartenders have that vibe of actually hanging out with you as opposed to simply serving you, something lost on many newer spots. Amazingly have never eaten here, but the menu was recently overhauled by the owner of the popular Modo Mio and Paesanos (among others). Prices have seemed to creep up a bit recently.

All in all a nice spot to drop in for a few beers.

04-22-2013 15:31:00 | More by rfgetz

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -2.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4

Well lit at night in the "middle of nowhere" section of Philadelphia (if that makes sense) Bridgid's looks like an apartment turned thrift shop from the front. Inside is a tightly tucked in with a shoe horn bar reverse J shaped against the door entrance. Props to the beer chalk bords declaring Echt Kriechenbire, Old Do' Oak Barrel Stout (yum!) Hogaarden, Yards Love Stout.

Huge bottle selection of Chimay, Rochefort, Westmalle, La Trappe Quad, Lindemans Kriek. Oh props to the hand out beer menu that is divided into country designations. That bumps up the quality factor.

Comfy padded backed stool and a bright psuedo ice cream shop yellow interior, but a great beer bar nonetheless. The kind of place that is worth a stay for even the most discrimiating beer connoiseur. Well deserving of a Blue Ribbon of Phila. A closet bathroom is a bit squeezed into the far right corner of the joint. It will do for when ya gotta drain the willie after a few brewskies.

Last call: Comfy tight fit with good brews. You can't be dissapointed here. Does it pass the "Could you bring your Mom here" test? Yes. but I'd take Mom elsewhere and go here with your fellow beer buddies. Don't try stealing any baby carriages from the neighboring aparments...they are chained down.

03-24-2005 06:44:57 | More by blitheringidiot

rdrummer

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 5

I have heard about Bridgid's for years, but it seemed that every time I was in that neighborhood, the place was closed. I finally got there not once but twice in a two week period. It is one of the better beer bars in Philadelphia without a doubt.

The place is small, especially the bar. 12 people cramp the place, but the bartender easily handles the demands. My major complaint is a lack of draft selection. There are only five beers on tap, although they are all good. The Yard's on the gravity tap is a fixture from what I understand, but the other four change regularly. I had the Rogue Dead Guy and a Duchesse Flemish Sour Ale that were superb. The bottle selection is larger of course, but even that is not huge. It is full of quality. I had two different Trappists, the Westmalle Tripel and the Roquefort 8 in the two trips. Prices for the beers were reasonable (less than Monk's for sure).

I ate appetizers on the first visit, and the escargot were outstanding. The second visit I was seated in the dining room and had the full experience. Not one dish was anything but excellent. The menu is heavy on fish and seafood, and it is all done perfectly. I had the escargot again, but also had a wonderful snapper entree. The salads were fresh and well dressed, and the coffee was great.

The service during the second night was less than perfect. It was inattentive for such as small room, leaving us to wait for each refill and for the check, which is a pet peeve of mine.

I will definitely be returning for another meal and some more lovely beers.

09-23-2004 23:22:32 | More by rdrummer

WilliamPhilaPa

Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4

Bridgid's is a small Belgium Pub located in the Fairmount, right near London Grill and the Bishop’s Collar. They only have 5 taps, usually a few Belgians, and a a couple locals. The interior is small, the bar is fairly big, it looks like it can sit about 15-20 patrons. Even though the taps selection is small, there is also a good bottle selection. Prices really vary though. The good thing is that if your looking for more beer, you can go to the Bishop’s Collar & The London Grill & Rembrandt’s which are all good bars that are less then 2 blocks away from each other.

01-02-2003 12:51:51 | More by WilliamPhilaPa

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5

Bridgid's is a small Belgian restaurant in the Art Museum / Fairmount section. It may be hard to find, but it's well worth the effort for those seeking fine Belgian cuisine. The whole restaurant is small, which means the bar is small. I personally prefer it that way. The draft selection is excellent, and quite often includes a good selection of Belgians. If you're not impressed with what's on tap, don't worry, there's an impressive collection of bottles. Draft selections also include quite a bit of local beer. Way to go! Highly recommended.

07-14-2002 18:27:30 | More by NeroFiddled

jrancan

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5

Bridgid's has pretty much everything I look for in a pub, cozy atmosphere complete with fireplace, great food, and of course great beer. While there might not be a massive bottled or draft selection, everything they do put out there is well cared for. As this is a Belgian restaurant, the focus is on Belgian beers with quite a few locals making the list as well.
One thing I found interesting was the pricing: Bottle of Hoegaarden was $6.75 while a bottle of Victory Storm King was $3.75. Nothing like a price break for locals! I'm not complaining, but do they really get that many people in there willing to shell out that much for a Hoegaarden (as good as it is)?
Questionable pricing aside, this is a great place to belly up to the small bar up front, or take a date for a romantic night out.

03-01-2003 22:48:54 | More by jrancan

Scoats

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5

It's days as the vanguard of the Philadelphia beer scene are long gone, but that's OK. This is a great, great restaurant.

This place never had a large beer selection. Preferring instead to go for quality and rotation. This remains true. I had a draft of Duchess de Bourgoine, which I never had on tap before. So even the most jaded beer geek can get excited.

The food is prefect. Prices range from $6 to $15. For that money you get a wonderful plate of high quality, tasty food that is for me the perfect amount of food, not too little - very filling, and not too much to make one feel bloated and guilty for eating so much, or for leaving so much.

This is a perfect date place.

Barwise, there is nothing to do but drink and talk. For those capable of sitting still, that is probably more than enough. For antsy people like me, that ususally probably isn't enough.

09-22-2003 13:24:05 | More by Scoats

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Bridgids is a great little neighborhood beer bar/ restaurant in the Fairmount section of Philly. They have a rotating draft list of about ten drafts one of which is always a hand-pumped selection from local brewery Yards. They have a solid bottle list of Belgians, American crafts and other imports. Also, they have a rotating guest bottle list which often features nice selections such as Nogne O, Taras Boulba and other high quality beers. The food is excellent probably because it is a restaurant as well as a bar. They don't sell sandwiches, rather higher end appetizers and entrees. The servixce is always very good and every time I visit Bridgids it is a pleasant experience. A little out of the way of center city Philadelphia but worth seeking out.

11-26-2008 08:15:37 | More by corby112