04/14/09

Bigoted Staff in the City of Brotherly Love

by Rman

5/15/09 Update: I was impressed to the point of adding this - The owners reached out to me with a sincere apology. Thanks and I'll be back!

My wife and I stopped by on 4/12/09 and ordered two beers. We had just moved into the area a stones-throw away, we had been there before and expected a low-key night. A drunken patron at the other end of the bar makes a tasteless joke involving Asians being small - my wife is Asian - we both hear this and I am ready to walk over and tell the guy to shut his mouth or come outside. The waitress could not stop laughing at the joke and loudly repeats it to the bartender and they both laugh, meanwhile we are 15 feet away and my glare does nothing to stop them. The bartender comes over to see if we are ordering food, I tell him no and why not. I tell him the waitress was out of line and he so was he, that we had just moved into the neighborhood, are offended and will probably never come back . At that moment he had his chance to do the right thing and apologize, he said only "OK", takes our money for the beers, gave us our change, again no apology. We leave.

My response is "OK" and we will never go there again. We will also go out of our way to tell everyone we know never to go there and why. The staff was too ignorant to understand they lost a customer for life. Is business that good that customers can be offended, bring it to the attention of the staff and still be ignored? There are too many bar options in Old City to go and be treated with respect. I will not patronize a place employing bigots. I did have success in contacting the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which gave me the liquor license #, owners name, etc. of Race Street Cafe. They also told me that complaints of this nature go to the PLCB Enforcement Division and can be a determining factor in whether or not a liquor license is renewed. I hope to be a factor.

• Pros: The owners did the right thing and apologized later.
• Cons: Mistakes happen

12/17/08

Bad service, overpriced and mediocre food

by Norland

I'm really surprised at the good reviews here. I've been to Race St. several times, but only because work colleagues choose to go, and it's not worth making a fuss. It really isn't very good - the food is mediocre yet terribly overpriced, and the service is really bad. It's not rude service, it's just not attentive. The servers repeatedly forget to bring you things, like forks, that you asked for, and I've more than once just walked over to the supply shelf and gotten those things for myself. It's one of those places where you wait a long time to get a menu, and an even longer time to get the bill. It has a good choice of beers, but so does Plough and the Stars and practically any other bar in Philadelphia. Trust me, skip it.

• Pros: French fries
• Cons: Bad service

08/04/06

favorite neighborhood bar

by kerriah

Race St Cafe has definitely become a weekly hangout. Good selection of beer on tap and the service is the best (Vanessa! Franny!). The menu is limited, but always consistent and good. Definitely my local favorite.

• Pros: great beer, phenomenal service

07/30/06

every neighborhood should have a Race Street Cafe

by kyle19125

a nice combination of bar food and bistro-ish entrees. check out the blackboard dinner specials as well as amazing sweet/spicy chicken wings. a great selection of microbrews on tap, good inexpensive wines by the glass and a full bar. prices are moderate, $8-$18. the atmosphere is very relaxing....high ceilings, exposed brick and nice subdued lighting. service is friendly but non-obtrusive. attracts a varied mix of neighborhood locals as well as those who've discovered this little gem of a place.

• Pros: food, bar selection, atmosphere
• Cons: can get crazy at brunch on sunday

07/29/06

Great neightborhood Hangout

by shanebro

If you live at all in the neighborhood, make this your new once/week stop. GREAT beer selection, food is a little bit limited, but you can find a couple gems. Bartenders and wait staff are great.

• Pros: Beer selection, ambiance, service
• Cons: Everything on the menu isn't great

Old City hideaway for casual comfort food.

by Contributor

In Short
Sit inside the low-key café and you'll feel like you've settled into a rustic bistro: heavy wood beams hold up the ceiling, a wood stove warms the room, and a gas street lamp throws dim light on exposed brick. Friendly bartenders anda broad selection of 12 beers on tap helps you wet your whistle, and the menu is simple but accomplished. The burgers are adequate so consider the hearty, tangy pulled pork barbecue sandwich.

06/08/06

New favorite brunch spot

by lorn

This is our new favorite brunch spot. The food is interesting without being pretentious, the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly without being overbearing or chatty, and the prices are reasonable. The only issue I have, and it is minor, is the music selection, at least on Sunday afternoons, is a little corny. I can ignore it, though.

07/26/03

twice good

by kingstonmercury

I've been to this bar /cafe 2 times. The first it was a little smoky but the bartenders were friendly and mellow. Great beers on tap. The second time sat by the open window and had great food and again great beers. Our waiter was super nice and helpful.It wasn't crowded and no pretense. Just a great place to relax with friends and linger

• Pros: beer selection on ta, friendly, relaxed