John's Grille

This place is amazing! You will feel like you time traveled. They were playing Nirvana, which immediately made me happy. I had an emergency situation and had to turn my order into a to go order. Our waitress kept forgetting the order, but she was very friendly and kind. Ordered mozzarella sticks. They were a good size and tasty. This is sort of a dive environment. But I liked it! I plan to go back for the music and very decent prices.

Highly disappointed. Their food was always good quality great price. Tonight I asked for well done wings and fries. The fries were raw. Absolutely terrible. The wings I have to bake in the oven as they came out undercooked. I won’t be ordering any food from now on.

If I could give 0 stars I would. 1/15/2025 at 6:50pm my boyfriend heads into the bar with me on the phone to order some wings for us since it’s his birthday. While walking in he sees someone he used to work with chatting with a female bartender. He waves and calls out to the person he used to work with. At the time the former coworker did not see my boyfriend, so he continued to try to get his attention. After about 30 seconds the female bartender walks over and says “when you can get off your phone you can order” and was saying how it was rude that my boyfriend was “rushing” her. Even though he was not even talking to her to begin with. After he explained that he wasn’t doing that to her and was waiting patiently his turn, she then denied service. Is this really how things are ran here? We have frequented John’s Bar numerous times (My boyfriend more than myself since I have had some questionable experiences there) and know how the system works. We are not rude people and there was no need for us to rush to place our order. Whoever was the bartender on this day was extremely unprofessional and shooed a paying customer away because she misunderstood what was going on. Horrible! I tried to call multiple times to speak with someone but it seems as soon as this situation happened no one is no longer answering the phone. Stay away from this place.

Media may be one of my new favorite places in the world!?!? John’s Grill interesting place to get a beer and cheesesteak. I liked the cheesesteak. I have to find my receipt to verify but I am 95% sure it was under $8. I wish it had more meat but at under $8 I am not going to complain. I think my pint of Yards was $4.50. The cheesesteak was all around solid. In the picture you shd be able to see a nice big slice of mushroom. Very good amount and melt of cheese. Triple crown; good cheesesteak, good beer and good prices.

Nice change-of-pace type of joint. Cheap food & drink. You can even find some craft beer here!

Great dive bar with diner style breakfasts band the best burgers around. Surprising selection of craft beer. Generous pours from a friendly staff. You see a great cross section of Media folks. Opens at 10 except on Sundays. A fun counter to the more polished State Street spots.

Solid experience across the board. Excellent pricing on drinks and food. If you want a chill and easy location to enjoy a drink, this is a nice spot to stumble too!

I was surprised at how much i liked this place. The bar service was great, and kind, and the food was delicious. The drinks were reasonably priced, and the regulars were welcoming and happy to have a conversation over a drink. I'll definitely be going back.

This place hates patriotic music. I tried to play taps 20 times and they kept kicking it off. I wanted to relive my Nam era and they stopped playing Flight of the Bumblebees. 0/10 would not recommend for a nostalgic flashback

I don't make reviews ever but all 3 times I've walked into this bar to give it a chance I've had a horrible experience and I'm sick of it. My boyfriend and I love dive bars, so moving here we were super excited to find this spot. The first time we came here one of the regulars asked us to move, telling us we were in another regulars spot that was not even there. Once we happily moved they continued to talk about us one seat away WITH the bartender as if we had any idea there was assigned seats. The second two times I came here with friends that were visiting, the bartender did not acknowledge us at first and once she did she showed complete annoyance. Every time I've come and had a bad experience it's the bartender with the red hair. She is SO rude and it's disheartening because we want to love this place so much especially considering it's the only late night spot.

Food is great and nice portion on servings. Bartender is polite and friendly. People at bar seemed friendly

I was in the area with a friend who lives close by and we decided on John's! I heard this place is a go-to for the locals in Media! John's is a BONAFIDE DIVE BAR & you know how I do--Dive Bar to Dubai--I'm ALL IN either way! The jukebox is legit and the TV's have local sports playing to set the mood! The locals definitely give you a once over, but if you are chill-so are they! I enjoyed my pass thru and would come back if I am in the area!

Media may be one of my new favorite places in the world!?!? John's Grill interesting place to get a beer and cheesesteak. I liked the cheesesteak. I have to find my receipt to verify but I am 95% sure it was under $8. I wish it had more meat but at under $8 I am not going to complain. I think my pint of Yards was $4.50. The cheesesteak was all around solid. In the picture you shd be able to see a nice big slice of mushroom. Very good amount and melt of cheese. Triple crown; good cheesesteak, good beer and good prices.

The bar is not well lit and the furniture takes you waaay back to a different era- the chairs are very uncomfortable. When you sit down, get ready to wait, & all bartenders except Gretchen are incredibly rude. There is rarely a friendly greeting and there is rarely options for top shelf liquor (they simply don't carry it). You might wait awhile , so hold onto that first drink- even if it's not busy at all- and you will get attitude for inquiring about another drink. It gets to a point where you wonder if you are even in a place that desires customers? Anyhow, Several of the bar tenders have suggested not to drink beer if not from the bottle because lack of cleanliness. I witnessed mold on bread and a recent roach crawling across the bar- . I've also witnessed fights and dealing of illegal substances and character defamation of individuals- all to keep up their own poor appearance; and "they"- those who run the bar- are the ones running the whole show. You soon figure out who they are after going there twice or three times. I've also witnessed bar tenders drinking on the job and withholding a customers credit card, making her feel crazy and unable to pay her tab only to come in the next day with different bar tender who pulls her card out of the cashier. The crowd is eclectic, and mostly older. Good music, sports always on & they are willing to change the channel to accommodate you on low traffic Philly sports evenings. It's not a spot to sit down and eat out or bring children and the cook is a whole other issue. He's like the soup nazi of Media. He will only make certain things on the large menu- and there are no waitresses- the bar tender takes care of persons at seats as well, taking away from the already shoddy service. The bar tenders not only find reasons to dislike customers they feel personally threatened by, but also make up stories to their boss, neglecting potential future customers and only hurting their business. The owner doesn't really care about the clientele, but smile because you are on candid camera and he's listening to every conversation. Just don't enter unless you need to be incognito. Better dive bars out there with much better service (after all, we are in Delaware County). Cheers!

So John's has been around since 1936. I grew up in Media so I knew kids who went to the bar here, but I never went out drinking much in Media, so I never tried them. We wanted to try them for food tonight because they've gotten some good reviews on Yelp, and because when we looked at the menu on allmenus.com, we could not believe how well-priced they are compared to ANYWHERE else in Media. We were pretty impressed with our food quality, especially for the price. The waitstaff was friendly on the phone and in person, so I don't know why they got some bad reviews, but maybe alcohol got involved in that opinion? We got simple things for our first try, but their menu is pretty vast, including seafood, pastas, dinner entrees, as well as standard sandwich fare. Something for all palates, for sure. They even have a bigger section on hickory-smoked BBQ ribs, which we want to try next time. The reuben was really flavorful and nicely cooked. Proportions of cheese/meat/kraut/sauce were tasty. Bread was crispy, with a nice crunch against the soft fillings. Unlike anywhere else in Media who makes burgers for takeout, John's actually asked me for a temp on the burger, which was pretty upscale for their competition. And all that at $2 or more under what everyone else charges! The deluxe burger was fresh tasting and for $4.75, they give you 2 real handmade beef patties (not frozen pucks), plus cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion, and on a decent roll! That is really impressive for the quality and price. Fries were good old fashioned steak fries, real potatoes and NONE of that batter-dipped junk. Very good. We also like how John's is old school and not partaking in the hipster froo-froo nonsense that happens up the block on State Street. Places like John's put effort into the food and the customer, not trendy slick looks or other shallow stuff.

Great service and consistently great food! Highly recommend. It's s but of a dive bar vibe but wonderful staff and food!

The worst bar ever. Food was okay. It was hard to watch the rudeness of the bartenders to the patrons. 0 stars for the rudeness of the bar tenders. They were even rude to the guys playing music, saw them ignore 3 different people, I asked for a menu 3 times and got myself one after being ignored 3 times. The bar tender was complaining that she got tipped with 4 quarters but when your rude and mean I have no sympathy for you.

A true CLASSIC dive-bar - but luckily the low, low prices ($4.95 for a patty melt - no fries) and decent "greasy short order" cookery match the dated '70's décor. Gretchen is a great bartender and the locals all gather round to down a few beers and grab a quick smoke out back. NOT a yuppy-Media-bar at all. This is one of the TRUE Media originals. Family owned - great customers and low-brow food and décor. Just what I need when I want a CHEAP drink.

I stopped by this place with my girlfriend today after dropping off our dog for grooming. I didn't expect much but we started with the French onion soup which was perfect! It was absolutely delicious and I made sure to scrape off all the cheese. For the entree we had the flat iron sandwich, which was delightful! Got side salad with ginger dressing and it was amazing. The only con is that they didn't ask us how we wanted our steak and it was on the rarer side. But overall I had an awesome experience and would come back! Price was excellent as well, which is a bonus.

I've never tried the food here, but for a dive bar that isn't even near my house, I've been here an awful lot. I have friends in Media, and no matter what cute BYOs and swanky bars we start out at, we always seem to end up at John's. I give them points on a lot of fronts. The service is quick, and the bartender Blake was really attentive and friendly. The joint is clean, even though it looks a little run-down. The drinks are cheap, but I was still able to get shots of Patron (don't ask), so I could drink well without breaking the bank. And the atmosphere is just so comfortable and chill. No one's there to impress, just to have a good time. I also love that they have a modern day jukebox with tons of music. We picked out a little Gorillaz, Daft Punk and MJ. My only reason for not going with 5 stars was the lime slices I was given (not so fresh), and the cranberry juice I drank (syrupy and not very tart). Otherwise, always a great time. Fantastic place to grab a few beers if you're in the area..

John's is a dive bar... and that is a good thing. you do not come here to see and be seen. You come in for a cold beer, conversation with other patrons and pretty decent grub if you are so inclined. This is the one of the few "locals" bars in Media, the Plumstead is the other. John's is a throwback to the 70's, Formica bar (until a few days ago CRT TV's) and they still allow smoking. I don't smoke but I appreciate a "classic" bar, second hand smoke and all. Doctors to ditch diggers are apt to belly up to this bar. The wings are the best in Media, just avoid the Monday special, they are too small. Cheep, cold beer and shots, good bar food and a "Cheers" kind of vibe, what's not to like? Just don't tell anyone, too many people will ruin it!

Definitely a locals only dive. Gretchen refused to serve us drinks until we told her what towns we were from. Cheap whiskey and beers, ill be back to try the food.

We were heading into Media to take "back roads" and get off the congested "Blue Route" at rush hour, and knew The quaint downtown had a decent selection of places for drinks. John's just looked like an old school mainstay, so we opted to try it rather than some of the hipster-ish alternatives. Inside, looks like the y last updated in 1970, wood paneling, old light fixtures - but it had a homey quaint feel. Huge bar, cheap drinks. This is definitely a locals place. Menu looked like a reliable list of traditional pub food - though we just enjoyed $2 pints. Media is an upscale town, so I doubt this place could attract the crowds it does unless the food was decent. Don't come here if you want an open-arms welcome or any pleasantries from the bartender. This is pay-as-you-go baby.

Best kept secret around! Favorite lil bar for a quiet drink. Gretchen is the bomb!!!

Hole in the wall. Terrible customer service. I'm only ok with giving it a one star because it's cheap. Did I mention horrible customer service yet? Be prepared to be ignored or rolled eyes.

BEST DIVE BAR EVER!!!!! not disclosing any more information, since this is a locals best kept secret!

This place makes any dive bar a Michelin 5-star Resort. As Bette Davis put it, "What a dump!" It's fabulous. Hahaha. Just off-duty servers, Wawa crew, and the greatest collection of Media's fine crazy people round out this diverse crowd of the fun-loving and the depressed. Hahaha. Drinks are cheap and strong. Internet-linked juke box, REALLY FANTASTIC food, and some new drama story every few minutes. Perfect way to end a rainy-night. Everybody knows each other, it really is the epitome of a good ol' neighborhood dive bar.

I like it. Place is right out of the 70s. A regular bar, great prices, hard to find these day. They have Miller High Life on tap and true drinkers know that is something special.

Awesome dive bar as you walk in your taken back in time with the 70s decor; great place, cheap and stands out from all the hipster bars in Media. I love a good dive that has beer for under 3 bucks! get the Miller high life all day special, it's 2 bucks. if you want to know a town I always say visit the local dive bar because you will experience the heart of a town.

This is the second time I have been here. First time the cheesesteak I ordered was subpar. This time there was 6 customers and two bartenders. Four of the patrons sat with no drinks for over 10 min. The bartender finally decided to serve some customers he decided not to serve me. I sat for another 15 min until he finally decided to get me another drink. Was also kind of in the mood for mozz sticks but the bartender rudely told me the kitchen was closed ( when two other people just ordered ). I will not be coming back.

GRETCHEN is the worst bartender I have ever met in my entire life. She was so rude! She also decided to tip herself when I did not leave a tip for her terrible service. I will never be returning. Also, trying to talk to a manager/owner to report my problem was impossible. DO NOT GO TO THIS BAR!!!

Ok so I'm definitely not a big bar person let alone a big drinker period. I went out Saturday night to a bar for a party and I order a Pepsi (for myself), a shot of fireball (for my sister), and a corona (for a friend). When the bartender gave me my drinks and walked away I realized that my Pepsi was completely watery and tasted disgusting. I get it, it happens. Even the couple next to me that I didn't know but seemed to be regulars said I wouldn't drink that just get the bartender to give you another one. So when the bartender came back I nicely said can I get a different one this is all watered down and doesn't taste right and she proceeded to just stare at me for about 5 seconds and not say anything, grabbed the soda off the bar, rolled her eyes, and went and got me another one. She was completely rude to not only me but a lot of other people. So I asked for my check which came to $8.50 and I signed my name and that was it. I did not tip her because I was extremely dissatisfied with her attitude and behavior. I normally ALWAYS tip because I know they live off their tips but because this was my first time there and even watching her interact with others guests rudely I did not think she deserved a tip. Now fast forward to today, two days later, and I see on my bank statement that $10.50 was taking out. Since Saturday night it was pending in my account for the $8.50 that my original bill was. So that rude nasty bartender took it upon herself to give herself a $2.00 tip that I absolutely did not give her. I went into the bar to report it to the manager but they were bush so she told me she would look it up and call me. She called me back and basically said she couldn't find my slip (of course) but she did see my charge in the computer. She said "the best I can do is give you your $2.00 back. You can come in and get it." I said "no what I really want is my full $10.50 back and I want you to reverse the transaction because now you want me to waste my gas coming back in again to get my $2.00 back because that's all your going to give me"....she than proceeds to say yes I can give you the two dollars because supposedly she wrote in a two dollar tip....I said NO SHE DIDNT SUPPOSEDLY WRITE THE TIP IN SHE DID WRITE THE TIP IN BECAUSE I DIDNT"....than the manager says well you can come in and talk Gretchen than and I asked who is Gretchen and she said the bartender from that night and I said "well what is that going to do, she is not authorized to give me my $10.50 back".....long story short the manager was JUST AS COMPLETELY RUDE as the bartender was. I ended up telling the manager to keep the two dollars because I'm not wasting my time coming back to get it and that I would be bashing them and their business all over Facebook and I would be making sure that all of my friends NEVER went there. SO EVERYONE DO NOT GO TO JOHNS BAR AND GRILLE IN MEDIA ON MONROE ST. They are terrible and the bartender writes her own tips in. Her name was Gretchen. They are disgusting and I hope to god that karma gets them!

Just walked in to get a six pack around 1:00pm. 2 people at the bar, a couple guys playing the golf game and a few people eating in the dining room. Stood there at the bar with my six pack for a good 5 minutes with being acknowledged, finally asked the guy at the bar if there was a bartender. He said the lady standing five feet from me at the kitchen door filling cups with potato salad or something was the bartender. She never even acknowledged me, No "I'll be with you in a minute sir" or anything. Finally I gave up, left the beer on the bar and walked out, never to return. People who work in these places should understand customer service instead of just ignoring people. Time is money and if I owned a bar and saw something like that the bartender would be right out the door. Don't bother

Absolutely the worst service. Six of us walked into this dump and stood starring at the bartender while she walked past us several times not even acknowledging us. Then she is on her cell phone walking around aimlessly. Needless to say we all walked out.......

Aside from the Plumbstead inn this is the best way to sit with friends, have a drink, eat a decent meal and escape the D-bag hipster mentality that has swallowed Media like a plague. Johns was always a "locals only" sort of place. Not by exclusion, but by tradition. It's where blue collar meets white. Where they know what your drinking before you order it. Where generations have always met friends.

Food is really low priced, but still tastes amazing. The place definitely takes you back to the 70s and I love the whole decor. A true Media original and not one of those hipster places popping up recently.

The bartenders were rude, ignored you if you weren't a local and the place is dark. Save yourself and go elsewhere.

High drama bar. I have never been to a bar where I felt so uncomfortable... Staff fighting, rude to customers and not to mention an extremely long wait for "the best wings in town". No thanks.

Look, kids. It's a dive. It's a local bar. It's a shot and beer bar. But it's perfect. How do you know? Walk in any day of the week after 11:30 and you'll see it populated by the local service industry folks.

John's is a great place to go to lunch with friends. The food is inexpensive and good (they just got a new cook, who does a great job), and the drinks are very reasonable. Try their salmon special over spinach and mashed potatoes, or their terrific fish & chips. The atmosphere is definitely retro; John's is a neighborhood bar where you can feel really comfortable. All are welcome.

A great local bar with all the color you would have found 30 years ago. Good service and friendly people. The drink prices are fair and you can smoke but you don't have to. LOL

May 4th, 2015 I have been a customer before the original owner died of Cancer who believed we all should get what we pay for. However, John the owner of County Beverage on Monroe across the street doesn't believe in good quality, infact served me a french onion dip for $7:95, no chips, no ff, no pickles. AND was NOT Roast Beef as advertised but INFACT Steak Umms....Salty --A-Jus envelope . Tried to feed it to my beloved dog who also rejected it!! AVOID unless you want to support Karen and Andria who I do Adore.

4 outta 5 only because of a terrible bartender that has been there over 20yrs. Good News? He's not always there. So if Joseph is working on your first visit, give John's another chance. It really deserves a 5 star review. A good ole real bar and grill.

Several of my friends and I went out for a couple drinks for a birthday. We took into consideration it was a Tuesday and probably a slow night not to mention we started at several other places on the strip. We came across this dive bar and headed in. to our surprise it was pretty busy probably a few regulars. At first I thought the bar tender was pretty cool. He came off as a pretty straight forward guy and suggested a "tip" on how to order a drink. Being all early 21's we appreciated his advice. As the night went on he became pretty annoyed with is. We honestly didn't do anything to offend him, or piss him off. It seemed he was giving us jabs to show off to all of his other costumers/friends. Finally it was the final straw when he accused one of my friends to have a "substance" on them. To all of our surprise we were highly offended and he kicked us out by 1 o'clock. I just want to warn anyone whose looking for good drinks and price(4.50 for a bottle perhaps he over charged us for we were young) this was not the place to go and I hope this review helps.