05/29/09

Novelty

by Seashell1806

L2 has been around forever, a fixture for those pioneers who didn't have a hang out, a place close to their newly renovated home. Yes, the menu is outdated, however, if you enjoy hanging out with locals, a night out with neighbors, sipping a cocktail, then try the bar.

• Pros: Friends, bar, music.
• Cons: Menu, if your there to eat!

05/15/09

OK neighborhood place

by NicoleP

L2 is a pretty decent place in the neighborhood (which I object to another reviewer characterizing as a "dismal" or "depressing" part of town. No, we're not Rittenhouse Square, but this isn't exactly a wasteland a few blocks South!) The dining room decor is fun in a funky, crazy-old-aunt sort of way. I've had no complaints about the food, beyond the fact that the menu seems stuck in the 1980s and they are frequently out of even these standard items. The wine list is my biggest beef - a short selection and rarely seems to reflect what they have in stock! One night I went and the only white wine they had by the bottle was a Cali chardonnay. I've even had the waiter say "Oh, I don't know why that's still on the menu - we haven't had that wine for ages!"

I know it sounds like I'm complaining a lot, but I still like the place well enough for what it is. If you stick with basics like the steak, or whatever fish special they have for the day, you're likely to have a good meal. Just stick with ordering mixed drinks instead of trying to find something on the wine list!

• Pros: Atmosphere, relaxing
• Cons: dated menu, unavailbility of items

02/02/09

Great neighborhood joint!

by NLescaped

I like L2. A lot actually. It has a lot going for it. It's near my house, it's very gay friendly, and the drinks are cheap! The staff for the most part are very friendly and relaxed. (Thank goodness the old bartender is gone-horrible!)

I like coming in here and just chilling at the bar and talking to the regulars. The drinks are really well priced and the regulars are funny as hell! The food is OK, not anything to go crazy over, but pretty good. The decor... well a bit dated. Sorry guys! Whoever does the decorations for the holidays, should be beaten with a big stick! Pretty awful.

Overall, i do recommend this place, stop by when your in the hood!

11/25/08

Cheap Owner

by ChrisPhilly

We went there with my wife on a Thursday night the week before Thanksgiving so it was very quiet. Had drinks at the bar as the room was totally empty, then had dinner in the main room. I warned the owner/waiter that we wanted to use a $50 gift voucher we had been given by a friend ("restaurant dot com") & selected to apply for L2 (strongly recommend to never offer such gift as restrictions are extremely painful). After a $120 bar & dinner bill, the guy decided to not accept our gift voucher which had a minimum $100 purchase restriction. He claimed the restriction applied on food only & our dinner bill was $80...despite the very average food (duck & lamb), we would have considered coming back to this neighborhood place but needless to say they will never see us again...

11/13/08

Why is there no option for zero stars??

by Kevin1984

This was by far the worst eating experience I have ever had. There were only two tables occupied when we walked in and the server (if you can call him that) stood there thinking about where to let us sit. He then came back with three menus for the four of us at the table and never came back with the other. We ordered two burgers, a crabcake sandwich, and a veggie wrap. The restaurant wasnt even half full yet it still took over an hour four our food to come (4 sandwiches!). The obnoxious server never appologized to anyone but stood in the corner at one point after hearing everyone complaining and made an announcement to the room that there was a sudden "onslought" of people so the kitchen is backed up. Let me repeat, the restaurant was not even half full. When people started getting their food who came in 15 minutes after us and we still were not eating we mentioned to the A-hole that we were annoyed and he again didnt appologize he just got defensive and said its coming in a rude voice. One burger came out burt to a crisp, the veggie wrap came out and it included lettuce and zucchini, and the crabcake was mediocre. The other burger (which I ordered rare) came out about 5 minutes later, again burt to a crisp. If you ever go in there and see a flamboyant server with an earing RUN AWAY!!! Please let this place go out of business so we can get a decent restaurant in its place.

• Pros: Nothing
• Cons: Everything

09/07/08

Nightmare experience!!!

by Lenny2000

Walking in on a hot summer night with a date things started out OK. We were seated by a flamboyant waiter. My first dinner choice they were out of... ok, no big deal.... I order something else... comes back 2 seconds later, they were out of that ALSO! Now they only have like 5 dinner selections on the menu, so I had to order some cr*p that I didn't even want.

When it came out, it looked and tasted as if it had come from FRIENDLY 'S in the cherry hill mall in New Jersey. Whatever - i'll just get drunk.

Here's where the nightmare begins:

After paying we leave, and ARE OUT OF THE DOOR, when the 'manager' rushes out and says 'next time we need you to wear a shirt' ( I had a wife beater on because it was 200 degrees out )

Anyway the manager in all of her unintelligent glory succeeded in ruining a good nigh and turning a miserable dining experience into a horrible one that left a sh*tty taste the mouth.

I literally thought this manager had DOWNS as she said this too me. (surely a handi-CAPABLE person would not do something so r*tarded) Way to tell me the dress code 2 hours after I eat, drink, pay, and leave.

Avoid this anti-Semitic restaurant like the plague!

08/14/08

Absolutely Wonderful!

by nhoj

As a regular patron of L2, I feel obliged to comment on the nonsense written by dallascarter/djhives (clearly the same person).

#1 ? The fact that you would categorize L2 as ?Anti-Semitic? is completely ridiculous! Anyone who has ever set foot into L2 knows the absurdness of your comment. If you read some of dallascarter/djhives reviews of ANY restaurant in Philadelphia, they are all ?Anti-Semitic? in his/her eyes. Instead of slandering restaurants, maybe you should find a therapist and work on some of your personal issues.

#2 - I?ve eaten at L2 SEVERAL times and I have always found the food to be delicious! The prices are really reasonable and entrees are not $40 and drinks are not $15.

#3 ? The immaturity of your writing sickens me. You managed to insult many groups of people by hiding behind a * so you could write offensive words.

#4 ? If you are so well world-traveled, and are comparing a Philadelphian restaurant to places in New York, London and Italy; then why do you know so much about Applebee?s and TGIFridays?

#5 ? Simply grow up and find a hobby. Writing slanderous reviews doesn?t seem to be working for you.

With all that behind me ? I?d like to say that L2 has been a wonderful, consistent hide-away for me for almost 10 years now. The staff is very pleasant and the food is delicious! I still look forward to the L2 salad every time I go there. If you are reading this, please disregard the 2 review under this, he/she clearly just a negative person. Check out L2 for yourself?.I doubt that you?ll be disappointed.

• Pros: Great Service, Delicious Food

06/22/08

Wonderful Surprise, tasty delicious food

by parkdoc

Our party of 4 had dinner on 6/22/08 (Sunday evening). Each of us had a separate dish: red snapper, Chilean sea bass, roasted duck, and r__k of lamb. The duck actually was crispy and perfectly cooked. The fish was not overdone and cooked perfectly. The r__k of lamb was prepared exactly as requested and the portion was larger than I have experienced in many other restaurants. Everything was perfectly prepared and tasty. No one in our party had a single complaint about any aspect of the meals or dessert. Our server, Glen, could not have been any friendlier or more helpful.

The decor is a bit eclectic and seemed to resemble someplace that might be decorated for a halloween party. This is not a complaint , because I enjoyed it being different and not a "cookie cutter" decor. The cost of each slice of pie was $6. Another dessert that sounded delicious was the blueberry bread pudding.

The price of the main entrees was reasonable considering the quality and presentation.

The L2 salad was a generous serving that allowed it to be easily shared among at least 2 people.

Our total bill for 4 entrees, 3 desserts, 1 soup, 1 salad, 1 coffee came to $123. before tax and tip.

I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant to anyone, though my preference would be to go at a time like we did when it was deserted, allowing us to find a parking space on the street.

So, if you go...enjoy yourself. Now I am laughing because the review came back as rejected because I used an inappropriate word to describe the lamb dish. The inappropriate word begins with an r followed by an a, then a c, and then a k. So, I conclude this website's automatic screen software is a bit overdone.

• Pros: Friendly server, excellent presentation, tasty food, eclectic interior....different.
• Cons: Street parking

01/13/08

LOVE THE ATMOSPHERE THE FOOD IS A BONUS

by 1lovelylady

If you have ever seen the TV show Cheers you will understand what it is like to walk into a resturant/bar and have eveyone know your name. You are a valued customer and the food is outstanding. There is nothing on the Menu that I don't like. My favorites = Fried Calimari, Beet Salad,Filet Mignon, and the chocolate flourless cake is to die for.

ENJOY!

• Pros: FOOD
• Cons: Parking- but where isn't parking in Philadelphia an issue

01/02/08

cool place, not too complicated

by phillycs85

went here with family for my birthday. it was nice, the food was good. Not spectacular. the waiter was nice, kinda slow on specials- like he just read it a minute before. the sea bass was tasty. the menu is not too large, so review before you go.

• Pros: Ambience, sea bass, simple
• Cons: Not too many items on menu