701 S 4th St

"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

"Being physically connected to a nationally-renowned restaurant like Ambra can be intimidating. But fortunately for Southwark, co-owners Chef Chris D’Ambro and Marina de Oliveira prove that two hot dining spots are better than one. Southwark is the cooler sibling to Ambra’s more elegant presentation. The Queen Village restaurant serves cheddar stuffed “hush puppies,” 26 ounce bone-in ribeyes, and dazzling cocktails with hilarious names (such as the “Mariah Carey can’t dance,” made with Reposado tequila, carrot juice, Galliano, lemon, and angostura) — convincing evidence that confirms that fancy and fun restaurants can co-exist (read: peacefully) on the same block." - Ernest Owens

"There are a few places where you can eat outside in Queen Village, but nowhere has a better patio than Southwark. The French-American restaurant has a plant-filled backyard where you can order things like savory crab and corn hushpuppies, buttery shrimp and clam bucatini, or the juicy 26oz dry-age ribeye. Inside, there’s a large bar area that serves impressive cocktails named after famous lines from movies, and a dining room for when you want to share a bunch of their half-sized pasta dishes in the AC. For a date night that feels both casual and intimate, Southwark hits the spot." - Candis Mclean, Alison Kessler

"As far as classy, romantic restaurants go, Southwark is right up there with the best. A tight menu of curated fresh dishes — like grilled octopus and local tomato salad — make a solo date night a special occasion, and the bar is just a very nice place to hang out." - Ernest Owens

"Not many places in Philly serve a fancy after-hours meal. Sure, there are plenty of late-night burgers, cheesesteaks, and tacos, but chicken liver mousse toast with almonds, pickled sunchokes, crispy rosemary, and burnt pear? That’s a hard ask outside of Southwark. For its category, this Queen Village charmer stays open late, putting out some excellent bar snacks until midnight. And on Mondays, the sommelier holds court at the bar until 1 a.m., pouring exclusive selections from the restaurant’s cellar." - Carolyn Desalu, Sarah Maiellano, Rachel Vigoda