Good Dog Bar & Restaurant

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kittybean

Joined 6 years ago

one of my favorite philly bars. the good dog's only downside is that it can get pretty crowded -- otherwise, it's one of philly's best bars. the menu is varied, the food is great and the environment is unique. good music. order french fries, or something that comes with them.

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soblue4

Joined 9 years ago

good burgers. Good food. very crowded but it's worth it. you might have to wait for the table like 30 mins on Friday night, but that's ok you can always hangout at the bar. good happy hour. Only one thing that bother me is that you can't put your name down on waiting list. you just have to tell the waitor that you want a table. he will remember you and he will come get you when table is ready. I am just worry that he might forget about me so I keep eye contact everytime I he walk by to make sure he remember me.

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uncopain

Joined 6 years ago

Serving the best damn burger & fries in the city! Good beer, nice staff - great place to "Come, Sit, Stay". Okay ? I?ve been hitting this spot for close to 3 years. Here?s a news bulletin: IT IS A BAR! Due to the accommodating staff and the place?s popularity, it can feel cramped, be loud, and until recently ? smoke filled so, yeah from time to time; slightly aggravating (but hey, so is home at times, right!). That said ? it is probably one of THE BEST damn bars for the money in Center City. It may not be the roomiest place around, but I love the feel of this place; friendly & relaxed, almost cozy for a bar. The owners? and employees, not to mention the awesome kitchen; as well as the diverse crowd make this place rock! They serve the best burger and fries ? bar none! The menu is full of comfort specials taken to the next level. The signature Good Dog burger is stuffed with Roquefort cheese! The beer selection is interesting and always fresh (something some folks may not be used to). So, if you?re looking for tablecloths, linen napkins and the maitre d? ? move on. But if you want to chill with friends or rub elbows with someone new (from Execs to bike messengers and everyone in-between) while you quaff some good beer (and as well as a nice wine selection) and grab some great food, then check your issues at the curb and come inside. The staff is funky and friendly; the food is delicious and the crowd is relaxed (not to mention entertaining at times). As for the naysayers out there; to each their own, but when one person writes 10 reviews (7 no?s, 1 average) and gives only one ?recommend? and that's for a ?Stephen Starr? establishment, well ? read into THAT what you will ?

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bikesandbooze

Joined 7 years ago

awesome service, cheap drinks, good music, friendly staff. I have been a Good Dog patron for years now (almost since their open 3 years ago), and this is by far the best hip bar in the city. The staff is incredibly nice, and I've never had a problem with service whatsoever. In fact as far as any bar in the city it has been the best! Your pint is refilled before you can set it down empty, the food is always incredibly good and fast, and there is always a smile upon delivery. The menu is also incredibly delicious from vegetarian and vegan options to the best burger I've ever had ANYWHERE, to baked mac and cheese, a melted brie sandwich, a grilled cheese utilizing gourmet cheeses, bacon and apples, bangin fresh salads, and a great "of the day" list of a goodies (pizza, soup, and quiche). There is somewhat of an attitude but you yuppies need to realize that there has to be some what of a badass ambiance to make a place flow that's filled with drunks...

One thing this bar is good for is a buyback. Alot of bars in the city don't do this, but if you take care of your server or bartender and are just a nice and generally patient person, you'll get a free drink now and again which does make a big difference. The jukebox may jump around a bit, but it's only because of the incredible great diversity of the patrons. The music could go from John Cougar Melloncamp to deathmetal, but then once you look around you realize you have lawyers sitting next to bike messengers (as noted by Craig LaBan) and everybody is getting along. Where else can you find this, especially in Center City?!

It has been incredibly busy since their review in the Inquirer but the staff has been busting their asses to make sure everybody is still taken care of. Overall, ignore the problems mentioned above and get over yourselves, this is still the best bar in the city regardless of their surge in business.

Doesn't Recommend

j_infanti

Joined 7 years ago

A Bone to Pick. I have been to Good Dog on many occasions over the past few years. While the food is good, it is not unique. Lately, it seems that the service has become even ruder than in years past. Not so long ago we were made to stand outside in the cold because they were not ready to open on time. We asked if we could stand in the vestibule, but were told to wait outside until they were ready. We left. Not worth the lack of care for their customers.

Doesn't Recommend

seansimmons1

Joined 7 years ago

A Good Dog Gone Bad. used to love eating at good dog and am an AVID supporter of the smoking ban in Phiadelphia. However, since the inception of the smoking ban, the Good Dog has been misbehaving. As business has picked up for places like the Good Dog because people like myself and others are willing to eat at these previously smoke filled restaurants, Good Dog's service and overall willingness to please its regular customers has fallen off. The Good Dog has become a rather rude dog when it comes to working with customer requests. The Good Dog should get over its new found success since the inception of the smoking ban and realize that it is entirely replaceable in cuisine-- the only thing that made it special was its fun atmosphere and staff. The owners of this place need to get a grip and really start catering to those who have kept Good Dog from being a dead dog years ago or those customers will start biting that good dog back.

Doesn't Recommend

annemull

Joined 7 years ago

Apparently everyone has the same evil waitress. Seems like everyone has the same waitress ruining what could otherwise be a great place. Not sure who she is but she is nasty. I agree with the other reiviews, good place that could be better if they just cared about their customers. Especially the people that helped to get them where they are, who suffered through the disgusting cigarette smoke because the food was worth it then. I will not be going back as the attitude makes the experience not worth the time.

Doesn't Recommend

julin07

Joined 11 years ago

Rudest Service. Apparently now that they have gotten their write up in the Inquirer they don't feel that they need to be nice. I was told that my party of 8 could not be accomodated at 1 on a Friday afternoon. So in advance I tried to make reservations for 6 for a Wednesday night. I was then informed by the same evil woman who laughed us out of there the Friday before that they don't take reservations because they are "making more money now then we ever have in our lives". Good for them, but with that kind of attitude good luck keeping the business coming.

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eugene2945

Joined 7 years ago

Good bar, faltering fare.. The Good Dog is the consummate happy hour bar for the young professional, whether your profession requires a brief case or a bicycle. Formerly Frank Clements, the Good Dog blends an ideal center city location, square drink prices, and a friendly hipster staff to offer an ideal after work destination. The lone drawback is the fare, which, once a point of note for the Good Dog, has noticeably declined for reasons unknown. This observation is not based on one bad plate, but upon several disappointing dishes served in succession. But, on the whole, the Good Dog is definitely a good bar.

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beccaroon

Joined 11 years ago

Big Attitude Problem. Great location. Great beer selection. Decent food. Spacious with 3 floors. The service is horrible though. The 7 or so times I have been in with friends there is some angry waitress. It is easier to go to the bar to get a drink from the bartenders than deal with this angry little server. Ok I thought, maybe she is having a bad night.... but every night? Very dissappointed..... I wanted to love this place.