Race Street Cafe

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -7.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Really nice place on the boundary of Olde City in Philly. It's very small and tidy, with a very intimate atmosphere; bar seats about 12-15 people, with a total capacity of maybe 50 people. They have a good, ever-changing food menu, featuring some standard pub fare and seafood, and a nice variety of rotating beers on tap. They usually engage in beer events. Staff can be a bit distant, but are typically knowledgeable, and willing to chat with you about beer, should the opportunity arise.

I need to frequent this place more.

04-29-2011 20:57:29 | More by Rifugium

jjboesen

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

The recent Veteran's Day holiday gave me the opportunity for a long weekend in Philadelphia. Following the required touristy things, such as a tour of Independence Hall and an aimless stroll through Elfreth's Alley, it was time for lunch and around the corner from the aforementioned Elfreth's Alley loomed the Race Street Café. I had yet to try this Center City venue.

This is a hidden gem that is far from the normally beaten path; situated across the street from a vacant lot and block away from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, this beer bar-lounge is worth a trip. Enter the door and climb the stairs. It is especially small and informally cozy. The single room is an L-shaped space that seems no larger than your average living room, if the average living room was furnished with a C-shaped bar nestled beneath a large skylight. Incidentally, the restrooms can be accessed down the stairway at the end of said bar. Along the front are a few windows looking out onto Race Street, with the occasional PATCO train carrying passengers across the bridge to New Jersey. (But that's their problem.)

Above the bar is the chalkboard listing the café's fifteen well selected, draft choices, regional crafts and otherwise. Not overwhelming, but very interesting. During this long and leisurely lunch, the following were gloriously quaffed: Paulaner Oktoberfest, Great Divide Baltic Porter, Centennial IPA, O'Reilly's Stout and some nicely hopped Racer 5 on cask.

The service was superb as the bartenders passed the "Water Test." (Is the water glass automatically refreshed?) As for the food: the grilled cheese and jalapeno brioche was hearty and filling. The folks at Race Street Café do a great job to say the least. The one regret? I did not find this place sooner.

11-15-2010 22:06:54 | More by jjboesen

kgmcdonald

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +16.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

This is my go to bar. The ever-rotating draft and big bottle selection never disappoints. From local staples like Stoudt's and Sly Fox to some rarer Elysian and 21st Amendment beers, I am always able to check something off of my list. Lines are always clean.

The food is top of the line. The regulars like the Race Street Burger (recommend medium with cheddar bacon and jalapeños) or the buffalo chicken sandwich or wings are all fantastic. The specials are out of this world. Brunch features the greatest breakfast in the world... Juevos San Lucas. You will be impressed.

The staff are incredible. Nice, funny and knowledgeable.

02-10-2010 22:44:49 | More by kgmcdonald

MarcGetty

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +4.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Ever since Ludwig's Garten closed more then a year ago, the Race Street Cafe has been my go-to bar of choice. This is odd because I went to Ludwig's for the food and beer (and roaches), but I go to Race Street because it is easy parking, easy on the wallet, and overall just plain easy.

The atmosphere is very good, although I'll give it an exceptional grade just for the heck of it. The place itself is small but does the whole seasonal thing with open doors in spring/summer/fall and a wood burning stove in winter. The other customers are all good folks. Not too trendy, not too low-brow, just good solid folks. Too many Philly bars are cater to one specific group, this is not a problem at Race Street.

The service is always very good. Mind you, I don't think they are Beer Advocate-level connoisseurs, but they serve you well. I would not think to ask them questions about a beer, but they will get you a refill 10x faster then some other more pretentious places that I will not mention.

The food is good to great. I've never been disappointed once. The app selection could be expanded, but they offer a very sold menu with great specials, none of which are overpriced.

The beer selection is very good, and constantly changing. They offer ~12 beers on tap and have 1-4 new beers each week and probably only 4-5 beers which I would say are regulars. With that said *none* of the beers offered are macro-brews. Never, not once. What is offered is typically 80% craft brews with 20% German imports.

If there is one suggestion I can make, it is to *INCREASE THE BOTTLE SELECTION*!!! 12 beers on tap is very good, but if you would please offer 12 to 36 bottles that would be spectacular!

02-15-2009 21:56:05 | More by MarcGetty

doctchad

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

A great low key place with a lot of class. The bar staff is awesome and always done with speaking about beer. The food is great. The beer draft selection is always changing almost every week new beers to try. It is small so big groups might want to try else where. But groups of 4 to 5 and settle down for the night and eat and drink for a great time. Also on 1st Fridays in philadelphia this bar is packed, so i would stay away during that time.

only two tv, so if you want to watch sports i don't know if you should go here.

Overall great bar, great good, great beer.

12-18-2008 16:36:36 | More by doctchad

IgnatiusReilly

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

This is one of my favorite places to stop in and have a beer in Olde City. It doesn’t have the greatest quantity of beers on tap, but the place has a very good atmosphere.

Walk up a few steps to the ‘L’-shaped bar on the left, a handful of tables and booths throughout, with a wood-burning old-style furnace going in the front. In the warmer months they open up the front for some sidewalk seating. The chalkboard will always give you what’s on tap, and they always have a couple Stoudts, Yards, Victory, Lancaster, as well as Bell’s and some Great Divide. Chimay and a few other German hefes usually complete the list. Beers are typically priced for a Philly restaurant, and the food isn’t too expensive (burgers are about $8 or $9). Service is very good, quick and attentive. Cool art on the wall changes regularly as it’s for sale. Located right underneath the Ben Franklin Bridge, this is a good spot to hit if you’re in the neighborhood, and only a short walk from Eulogy Tavern and Triumph Brewery.

01-03-2008 21:01:13 | More by IgnatiusReilly

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

This was a tiny place with an angular bar that began at the top of a short flight of wood steps. The interior boasted exposed brick, ducting, and wood beams, as well as a huge skylight. There was a working wood stove against the front wall. In order to use the lavatories, one had to go all of the way aft, turn left and descend a flight of steps. Not a lot to say about the physical layout, but we did have a great server.

Chalkboards listed beers, wines, and food specials. They offered twelve (12) taps and our visit they consisted of two (2) Yards products, O'Reilley's Stout, LNCBC Dunkelweiss, Goffel Kolsch, Jever Dark, Maredsous 8, Climax ESB, Legacy Midnight Wit, Warbird IPA, Yuengling Lager, and Stoudt's Pils. In bottle, they had Corsendonk Pale and Brown, Fin du Monde, Duvel, and Chimay Red. Pretty impressive for such a little place!

01-03-2008 01:41:43 | More by woodychandler

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

I stopped by the Race Street Café for a pre-split thy skull warm-up with my brother, his friend and BA woodychandler. I must say, I was quite impressed with this little out of the way bar. As we stepped up the stairs inside, I found myself surrounded by dark hard woods and an over all open and airy feeling which was odd considering this is in center city. We grabbed a spot in front of the brass tap tower at the crook of the L-shaped bar and ordered some pints. If my memory serves me well, Woody and I grabbed some IPA from somewhere in New England that I had never heard of, my bro got the O’Reilly’s Irish stout and his buddy got a tasty Belgian dubble served in an attractive chalice. They had about 12 no-nonsense beauties to offer with a nice bottle list to boot. Looking around the bar from our seats, I noticed a whisky selection that got me to drool a bit. They had some of my favorite Scotches, Irish whiskeys and bourbons to offer. I didn’t partake today, but the rounded selection gave this place a lot of bonus points in my eyes. They also seemed to have a good deal of wine around, but I can’t comment too much on that. I have to say that the most charming feature of the bar was the huge skylight that let in the late morning sun and caused the whole building to glow a happy, pastel white. It really set the mood and makes me want to come back for lunch some day. My last observation was that the latrines are down the stairs. Where are the stairs? Why under the bar, of course. Walk down to the far end of the bar, and you’ll see the stairs disappear underneath. For some reason I was/am terribly amused by this. This bar is really top notch. Good beer and whisky, great atmosphere and we had the fortune of getting an attentive bartender. Granted he didn’t seem all that busy, but he made our stay a pleasant one.

04-19-2007 16:43:09 | More by DarkerTheBetter

GeoffFromSJ

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

In the shadow of the Ben Franklin Bridge is a pretty neat beer bar. Very nice atmosphere and vibe. Not a huge place, but there was plenty of room when my wife and I went there. As blitheringidiot mentioned, an L-shaped place.

Service was very attentive. Not Le Bec Fin attentive, but attentive and friendly.

I had a pulled pork bbq sandwich and my wife had a grilled chicken sandwich (minus the bread). My wife really like the fries, but I found them adequately good. Not the worst by any stretch, but not in the top tier of fries either. Sandwich was alright. Could have used a much better roll.

Beer list was a nice mix. A couple beers from Yards. A couple from Sly Fox (Seamus Red and the dry Irish stout). Laguaninas. A few Belgians. A Kolsch of some sort (or Grolsch, something like that).

03-03-2007 05:10:48 | More by GeoffFromSJ

roan22

New Jersey

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

Went to Race St. Cafe on a Sunday night about 8:30pm for dinner. Also, I wanted to try it as a beer bar. I had a $16 London Broil dinner, big portion size, cooked to order (medium), tender and tasty. Served with (too much) mashed potatoes and a sauteed vegetable medley of my faves: sugar snap peas, zucchini, yellow squash and carrots. The veggies were perfectly buttery and tender-crisp, and delicately spiced. The meal part was awesome.

Next the beer: this being Sunday night, I couldn't get too inebriated however they had Titan IPA on tap, and it was so good I ended up finishing two pints and half of my friends' pint. They had about 8 or 9 taps I believe of locals and micros, also a large selection of wine.

Also this bar featured a real wood-burning stove, which helped to cut the chill in the air, and added atmosphere points with the lovely, lightly "smoked wood" aroma wafting throughout the restaurant. The service was excellent; attentive without being to intrusive.

All in all it was a great place for a substantial Sunday meal and a couple of very fresh pints. Prices were average center city to me.

01-31-2006 00:36:46 | More by roan22