Golden Gate Restaurant

Came here to celebrate my birthday last Saturday and was VERY disappointed. There was a huge Georgian birthday and almost all tables were taken for it. Nobody told me about that. It was like if I go to a someone’s birthday without invitation. I felt so uncomfortable and embarrassed. We were far far away from the stage bc as I mentioned before all tables were taken by this birthday party. We had to listen to a lot of Georgian songs which we didn’t know and could not dance. We had to watch videos with congratulation from this big screen but it was so strange for the rest of the people who were there. When we asked a dj to play some songs for us he charged us $30 for 1 song. Yes maybe you have such kind of rules but! If you didn’t warn people about Georgian birthday at least let other people enjoy THEIR BIRTHDAY too later when Georgian people left by playing music for us! Later dj started to play songs for us but what was this $30 request for and why. At 11:30pm this birthday party began to go away and around 12:00 there were 4 tables left and the restaurant was empty. I was expecting a big party here with a lot of fun but we had to go home earlier because it was so boring to dance just for ourselves and two more tables with weird men who always wanted to touch us and security did nothing about it. I loved my birthday here last year but it was so messed up this year. You HAVE TO WARN people about such kind of celebrations and let them choose if they want to spend their birthday with a huge celebration next to them. Food was 10/10 as always btw. And servers did their job great!

I will think twice before I ever go there again!! Everything was arranged: I discussed the menu with the chef-cook Ella, ordered a birthday cake from her and left a deposit. My biggest concern was that that there was enough food. The chef assured me that there would be more than enough. On Saturday morning I called to confirm that there were going to be 10 ppl. However, they messed up. The food that I ordered was never served. I even discussed with Ella what type of cake I want for the Birthday guy! But we did not get the cake!!!!! How come??! If we did not have our own cake, that would have been a disaster. The bottom line: mediocre food, OK service, and horrible management. They did all they could to f... up the birthday party: forget about the cake, put unopened wine bottles on the table (literally, I had to ask 3 waiters to open the bottles), ignored my preferences regarding the food. I can say my guests were not happy - I would not be happy!!! I went to Samarkand a couple times - it's great there!!! Music, food, service!!! Never-ever let GG ruin your party - go to Samarkand instead!!!

The food here is incredible. The B/L Bbq ribs are the best I have ever had. You can tell that the meet was sliced right off the bone. The General Taos chicken is the most delicious combination of crispy and sauce. The sauce it self is perfect. It isn't so spicy that you can't eat it but you can still understand while its advertised as hot. The sweet and sour chicken makes me wanna weep. They have found a combination of crispy outside and still light and fluffy inside the chicken is ag as in brilliantly cooked. And the sauce is great. The only tjing that needs changing is the fried rice. I cant quite tell what it's missing but it needs something. Anyway overall though this store deserves 5/5 the management is very kind remembers uou when you come back. And is ok overall nice

Their food is amazing, and their customer service is great. They’re polite people.

My food was to fired I couldn’t eat

Love the food one of the best place I'll always eat from very clean and fast well cooked

Food is great. Service is great. Really recommend this place.

Not good the store cleck was cool, but the chic wings were not so good

I can't believe i am writing the first review for what is obviously a long-standing Philadelphia institution, but here we are. Short answer to the question you are all asking: if you are friends with someone who's plugged into the Russian community in Philly, and they ask you to celebrate with them at Golden Gate -- just do it! YES it costs $60 per person, YES it is BYOB, YES there is more food than you can imagine. YES YES YES! Just say yes. It's called "grabbing for gusto." I say this all because I had to be convinced. As a vegetarian, I thought I wouldn't get enough to eat (ha!). I thought $60 was a lot for a dinner that included no booze. Then I heard the magic words: Floor show. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there is live entertainment all night. The night we went two women and a man, all in multiple sparkly outfits, belted out everything from Lady Gaga to Russian pop songs everyone else knew all the words to. There was nonstop dancing. When we arrived with a group of 20 or so at 9:30 on Saturday night, a long buffet table was already groaning under the plates of smoked fish, different salads, cheese, bread, fruit, and pickled vegetables. A photographer circulated, taking surprisingly good pictures of all the couples, which were then offered to us, framed, for sale -- for $15, we all bought them, because how could you not? 15 minutes later, more plates started arriving, and they rarely slowed down for the next hour. Meanwhile, by the second course, the lights had already dimmed and a dozen people hit the dance floor. More followed. The MC introduced people celebrating weddings and birthdays, then more dancing, singing and feasting. Cakes were cut, songs were sung.The dance floor was full all night. All told, I think we enjoyed something like six courses of food. My husband was excited by the caviar and blintzes, and we both loved the roasted potatoes -- crispy and flavored with fresh dill. Everything was served family style, and when one dish was finished, the waiters quickly rearranged to add still more food to our table. By the time dessert rolled around, we could barely nibble at it. Really, if you get a chance to go to this marvelous place, do it! I imagine reservations are a must, since this place is hopping. Bring a great bottle of vodka (or two). Wear your dancing shoes, and don't plan on leaving before 2 AM (or doing anything the next day).

Golden Gate Diner is one of the friendliest Diner I visited. Golden Gate name is coming from the refinery.The old refinery had a gate right across from where the diner is. That's where the name comes from. Friendly staff and good food. If you are nearby please go check their food and service. My favorite Breakfast meal, Poached Eggs, French Toast, Hash Browns, Cofee.