Devil's Den

claspada

New Jersey

4.14/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Went on a Saturday evening so we missed the nice 1/2 off pints for Happy hour deal but we missed the later night rush and they were having a "Smoke and Wood" beer event with all oak aged or smoke beers which complemented the fireplace atmosphere nicely. Tables to the back, bar to the right. A little small around the bar area so you kinda have to do a shuffle to head to the back where the bathrooms are.

The line-up was nice with all of the beers being rather rare, special or one-offs. I don't like smoked beers so I ended up getting a Lost Abbey Deliverance and a hand-pull Flying Dog the Fear. I liked that they has around 15-20 beers on tap as well as a huge bottled selection (and the hand-pull tap was a plus as I already mentioned).

Didnt get any food so I can't comment there. Service was as good as can be expected for a bar on a Satuday night. Servers were nice, polite and let you have some samples if you desired.

12-03-2012 16:15:37 | More by claspada

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

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

I've been quite remiss in updating my review of the Devil's Den and I apologize, particularly as it's improved so much. I should have gotten around to changing this months ago.

The food has improved greatly, both in quality and variety. The servers have become more knowledgable about the beer (which doesn't do much for me, but at least now my proper pronunciation won't be corrected with improper pronunciation), and the bartenders have become more attentive. Some minor changes in the appearance of the space have given it a more comfortable feeel throughout as well. The draft selection remains impressive, as it always has been, and the bottle selection follows suit. At this point I'd certainly recommend a visit.

09-03-2008 03:29:53 | More by NeroFiddled

mltobin

Connecticut

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

My friend and I went here on a Saturday in the afternoon and the place was dead. That was a bit of a bummer, oh well.
The selection of beer was good, I had a hanssen`s gueze and my friend had one of the microbrews on tap.
The bartender was personable and attentive which was key since it was so empty at that time. I was here from out of town for the weekend, but note to locals...1/2 off happy hour applies to all of their taps and they had some nice stuff on tap. Devil`s Den is worth checking out.

11-11-2008 01:46:45 | More by mltobin

ImHereForTheBeer

Vermont

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

In our recent crawl around South Philadelphia we made a stop at the Devils Den. We had never been inside before and were quite shocked at the atmosphere once we stepped inside. It was not at all what we expected. More like a chain restaurant than a "den" of any kind. Exposed brick, wood fireplace roaring, few TVs and a primarily khaki and collared shirt crowd.

We settled in and took a look at the beer menu, which was mighty impressive. Large bottle selection and about 20 taps. Prices were reasonable and the happy hour specials were good.

The food left something to be desired. A notch above pub fare but rather pricey for the quality and didn't really fit the atmosphere the way that the beer list did. Perhaps it was an off night (it was a weekday evening, and fairly slow).

Overall, it was a comfortable place to get out of the cold and try some decent beers. We will certainly give it another shot and hope for the best with the food - if they tweak that aspect a bit, this place could be an even better find.

01-16-2009 22:12:26 | More by ImHereForTheBeer

coachdonovan

Rhode Island

4.08/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

My first impression when I walked in is that it's not very Devily. Lots of exposed brick and beams, and there is a fireplace dividing the bar from the dining room. It's very nice on the inside, but I'll stop short of officially calling it classy, thanks to the dude at the bar yelling "FLYER HOCKEY!" at the television while he spits tobacco juice into an empty Snapple bottle. Oh, and this place has a kickass logo.

There have to be close to 100 bottles available, but the well-balanced list of 17 taps kept all my attention. The draft menu includes a description of each along with the state, ABV and pour/price, which range from 10.5 to 23 ounces and from four to eight dollars. It looked like everything above 8% abv was served in the smaller size. Those nine beers were a good mix of styles - DIPA, wee heavy, tripel and a couple of big stouts. Served in pints were six (amber/brown/porter/IPA) including one cask. Also available were two Germans in a large size for only around five bucks. The only complaint you could make was that only two drafts were local, although one was from hard-to-find Spring House (the other was a Yard's cask).

We didn't eat but the menu looks like it has something for everyone while not being to extensive. Our server was able to make some good recommendations and was up to date on any changes in availability. There are 2-3 large TV's above the bar which make it a good place to watch a game without dominating the atmosphere. I'd bet that everyone in the place was older than 25 and younger than 35. I was impressed with the number of people in here at 3pm on a random Saturday afternoon.

In all this was my favorite stop on our pub crawl through South Philly.

01-25-2011 18:56:41 | More by coachdonovan

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$$

We decided to go to Devil's Den early this past weekend for brunch and to start our CBX journey. Very nice looking space, very little people around since we got there right at opening. Extra points to them for having the soccer game on, was afraid I would miss it. Quality was pretty high in my book. They didn't look like they skimp out on much.

Service was really hit or miss. Our server took forever to get our beers and when they did arrive they were wrong and had to be chanced which meant another long wait, about twenty minutes in all. Once that was ironed out it did improve quite a bit but it was sill mediocre at best. Selection was pretty good. They were doing a gypsy brewer event so lots of Evil Twin, Stillwater and Perfect Crime. I went with the Lil B' and it was pretty good. The prices on beer were fairly high, and the prices on some of the growlers were downright insane.

I ordered the corn flake french toast and a side of pork sausage. It was really good and I could only finish three of the four pieces since they were so big. The rest of our party covered most of the rest of the menu and it all looked excellent. I got to try a small piece of the duck sausage and it was very good as well. Overall a pretty nice place to stop if your in the area, I will return in the future.

11-13-2012 05:52:07 | More by orangesol

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev -3.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Being just a few blocks away from Bella Vista makes this place a nice place to hit up before or after your shopping at BV.

I have been here once before, during PBW, and the place was such a ZOO I couldn't stand it. Took me 10minutes to get to the restroom and back out the door....and I didn't even get a beer! I vowed to return to offer fair judgment, glad I did.

A very pleasant interior with lots of wood, nice metal work and inviting tables. I was impressed with how clean and neat the establishment looked.

Our server was quite pleasant and seemed to know her stuff. She was speedy with out orders and we didn't have to wait long at all between fills.

A solid selection of taps with some very interesting choices. We stopped by this day to specifically try the 21st Amendment Monk's Blood. We also got to try the Bitto Honey IPA from the relatively new Prism Beer Company. Nice to see the local establishments offering support.

Skipped food on this visit...but what I saw looked decent.

Another quality establishment in a city FULL of such places. I will certainly stop in again when I find myself in the area.

01-13-2010 12:02:25 | More by Deuane

slander

New York

4.06/5  rDev -3.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Saturday sometime earlier this year. Luked, Poped, and now something something. Our group grown and on the move from where we were to elsewhere not there anymore. An easyish walk through the not terribly deep south to this corner are they open joint? Yes, they be. That's how we beer...

Stepping in and up, a clean wood "L" shaped bar with a foot rail holds the outside wall. Seating for 20 or so on backed stools for Randy's not hating, should he be tricked into coming to town again. Center logo mirror on the barback with tiered booze below, and more shelved vertically to both sides. Glassware on the counter and shelved a length above, below large flatscreens on the ends showing Blazing Saddles today. Drop squarish bell lampage tracing the bar and track spots overhead.

Red & yellow painted walls mostly, with the wall to the adjoining side room being brick with arched cut throughs, and a 2 sided fireplace in between with a rack of cut logs alongside from which to feed. A few pieces on the mantle there; a stein, a vase, and naturally a painting of the devil holding a chalice. I'm looking at that thinking, "Really? He's holding a chalice with cloven hoofs? Really?" Fold out double windows to the front & side wreathed. Red ceilings with wide wood post cross beams framing, and wood slat floorings. The walls decorated with light brewery signage & trays, and a framed Spaten Rheinsgobot print, if only Phil could be here to bitch about it.

4 hightops adjacent to the bar, 1 on the end, and 2 more up front. We are occupying one of them, although (Evil) Davo will be made to stand, odd man out in the cold, without a coat, having drunkenly left it in a bar, again. The side room holds about a dozen tables, more than ½ of which share an "L" bench. Black raftered ceilings and wonderful large city scene prints mounted.

2 burgundy ceramic towers of 8 each along the bar, 16 taps in all. Roughly ½ of them PA & regional (Lancaster Winter Warmer, Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin, Prism Bitto Honey IPA, Brooklyn Winter Ale, Southern Tier Raspberry Porter, Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA, Heavy Seas Winter Storm), and the remainder a mix of micros beyond (Boulder Never Summer Ale, Duck Rabbit Baltic Porter, 21st Amendment Monk's Blood, Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, Great Divide Hibernation Ale), and a handful of imports (N'Ice Chouffe, Schneider Aventinus, Franziskaner Dunkel, Spaten Lager). I drank the Duck Rabbit Baltic Porter on this one and out, and the Ballast Point Sculpin' on revisit this last time around, a few hours early for Bells (booobies!!!) Beers are clean and fresh.

And roughly 160 bottles, including the ones tagged for close out. The list broken out by style; nearly ½ of them US micro, about 30 Belgian and just as many German & UK combined, plus a handful of this and that. It's a solid list. Also, some 3 dozen+ wines, if you're about the stomped grape.

Decent foodings menu, Ed & Heather had wings done hot so as to deny me any & IPA cheese fries with bacon. We liked the tunage and listened at them with our ears. A most comfortable house; newish, clean, sharp & polished. I was expecting more fire & whatever brimstone is, but it's still very nice here. We do dig this place.

06-09-2010 16:19:19 | More by slander

DoubleSimcoe

New York

4.06/5  rDev -3.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Very glad I found this bar listed here on BA, as it was halfway between our bed-and-breakfast in Bella Vista and the restaurant we were dining at in East Passyunk. Close to Hawthornes and Bella Vista Beer Distributors as well.

A great beer choice in Philly, must better than the famed Monk's. Cozy warm inside, with lots of brick and wood plus a fireplace. Great chill Pandora music (which turned to punk/garage later on when we came back after dinner).

They have lots of events here, and it shows on the tap list. Their Arcadia tap event had at least five taps left, including Bourbon-barrel Shipwreck (which kicked just as I was ordering it).

The printed beer menu is not updated, with some beers gone and not replaced, and I'm not sure the server knew a lot about beer. They have 16 taps here, with cool stuff like Iron Fist Gauntlet, Duck Rabbit Wee-Heavy, De Struise/Stillwater Outblack, Weyerbacher Fireside, Victory Dark Lager, Iron Fist Velvet Glove...

Great bottle selection as well, divided by styles and including Older Viscosity, Russian River, lots of Stillwater and Lost Abbey. Not bad prices- I had a Emelisse Jack Daniels Imperial Stout for $9, which is pretty much what it costs at Whole Foods in NYC. Draught beer is similarly well priced, almost nothing over six dollars.

Can't wait to revisit!

02-16-2012 05:58:12 | More by DoubleSimcoe

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

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

Devil's den is another great south philly location for beer. They have an exceptional selection of brews, great atmosphere, and some decent food.

Vibe is very middle ground, not trying to be anything other than a great beer bar. They have nice split between bar space and tables and the vibe is always well placed. I enjoy coming here for brunch, dinner, late night drinks and to catch a game.

Quality is good, the beer is better than the food, but the food is solid. great portions of food and fair prices for beer.

Service is all around; I think the bartenders are very good, very knowledgable and personable; the wait staff is hit or miss, sometimes unattentative.

Selection is always great, its different every time with no real focus on any type, but a tendency to have a few from a single brewery. They have some great tasting events that allow for carryover taps of great taste.

Food is good most of the time, but they have changed chefs and some meals are better than others.

Overall, my second or third favorite behind south philly tap room. I think the beer selection is great, but a bit more focus on the food and service could bring this place up.

04-10-2011 06:22:06 | More by mvanaskie13