Roache & O’Brien - Review - Haverford - Philadelphia - The Infatuation

"Don’t let the name fool you–this is not a funeral home or law firm. This Haverford bar has been a reliable place to slink in for a shot, a beer, and a burger since 1933. Well-worn woodwork, historic photos and taxidermied local wildlife (which doubles as the restaurant’s racoon mascot) gives you the sense that this kitsch is the real deal, not the phony flair of a chain restaurant. The food and service confirm the authenticity. Both have gotten a boost from being recently acquired by the team behind Pub and Kitchen, Trattoria Carina and Carina Sorella. photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch Pause Unmute Attentive and chatty bartenders, a compact but well-executed bar food menu (we love the smashburger in particular), and cocktails starting at $10 are all the ingredients you need to make this neighborhood bar your local. Pregame before a BYOB date night at The Choice or settle into a booth with friends for a no-frills meal. Food Rundown Caesar Salad Homemade caesar dressing, large croutons and crisp lettuce remind us that this is not just any neighborhood dive but the sister restaurant of nearby Carina Sorella, which serves a show-stopping chicken caesar. photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch Burgers Despite the small menu, there are two burger options: the eight ounce Roache burger, a generous tavern burger with lettuce, tomato and onion, and the four-ounce double smash burger. Two patties are topped with cooper sharp and fried onions, and you can tack on fries or onion rings for a few bucks more. It’s up there with Fountain Porter for an affordable and satisfying bar burger. Wings Generous Buffalo sauce, homemade bleu cheese dressing, and crisp celery and carrots. These wings have zero culinary creativity and leave us with nothing to complain about. photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch Eggplant Italiano The sleeper hit of the menu, this is not the anticipated soggy eggplant parm bar sandwich. It’s a light and fresh rendition, with a crisp eggplant cutlet, roasted marinated red peppers, arugula, basil pesto and fresh chilled mozzarella cheese (that could have benefitted from some time under the broiler). photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch" - Jonathan Deutsch