701 S 4th St

Southwark Review - Queen Village - Philadelphia - The Infatuation

"Southwark is a solid option in Queen Village for everything from a solo beer and a burger to a romantic Saturday night out. The American pub has three distinct areas: a bar serving good cocktails, a fairly standard dining room, and a back patio. Neighborhood regulars keep the bar busy, and out of the three dining areas in the restaurant, that’s where you want to be. It’s laidback but nice enough, and full of dark wood paneling and vintage artwork. Plus, on Monday nights when the restaurant is closed, you can come to the bar for excellent wines by the glass usually only sold by the bottle. The only exception to this rule is when the weather cooperates—that's when you should have dinner on the plant-filled patio out back. The menu mostly consists of elevated takes on meaty tavern classics, like foie gras terrine, venison tartare, and a bone-in ribeye that's great for sharing. But steer clear of the pastas. They have a Goldilocks problem: some are too soft, some are slightly tough, while others still are over-salted. We haven't found one that's just right. It's especially surprising since these dishes come from the same kitchen as the adjoining sister restaurant, Ambra, which makes the best Italian food in the city. But order like you're on the carnivore diet, or just stop by for drinks and snacks, and you'll be in for a lovely evening. Food Rundown Cheddar-Stuffed “Hush Puppies” These are good—lightly fried, crisp on the outside, and doughy and filled with cheese on the inside. They come with a Calabrian chili hot honey for dipping. Share an order. Baked Rotolo This is like an underseasoned, too-mushy meatloaf rolled up in pasta dough. Skip it. Double Cheeseburger & Fries The patties have a nice char and we love the bacon and blue cheese combo. The thick cut fries are good, too, especially when you dip them in garlicky aioli. But be forewarned: they don’t have ketchup here, in case that's your dip of choice." - Alison B. Kessler