Nick's Bar & Grille

Oooooooh this is my kind of bar. Nice and dark, plenty of TVs to watch sports, friendly service and excellent food. I had the roast beef sandwich, and it was incredible. This is going to be my new go-to spot whenever I’m in old city. Loved all the sports stuff on the walls, too. Hope to catch a game or two here this summer. And again, thanks for the wonderful service! Wish I could remember the bartenders name but she was great.

I visited in the city for a film festival and I loved it here. Its an honest true hearted Philly bar and they had these amazing Cheestake tacos. I would recommend if you want to grab a quick bite to eat while your in the city.

Came from another bar nearby just for the extensive food menu. They have wings, burgers, cheesesteaks. I had the Pub Burger recommended by the bartender and it was really good. The other people I was with had the cheesesteak and said it was delicious! Fries are sold separately but reasonably priced at $4.50.

I enjoyed this nice little bar, it was recommended for a roast beef sandwich however I did not have that. I believe I had an Italian shaved pork? Very good, spinach, provolone au jus, and pork. bartender was very kind and suggested the sandwich. Spot on. I would return.

Went to nicks last night, it was a great place to go after work. The waffle fries were impeccable. The bartender was funny, attentive and had a good attitude. It’s very decorated for the holidays and the music was diverse. I will be going back again!

I got The Italian with pork and it was sooo good! Service was super fast despite how busy they were. Feels like the bartender, Kirsten, went out of her way to be extremely kind and friendly. Also shout out to Jeff! Honestly I would go back just for the staff. It definitely has a local vibe to it. Aside from the food being delicious, it was also VERY reasonably priced for Old City. I'll be back 😃

Great bar food that rivals most restaurants. Not bad drinks either..

Cheesesteak was one of the greasiest things I have ever ingested in my life. Friend's meatball sub was falling apart and had zero flavor. Chili fries were covered in barely seasoned ground beef and a bit of cheese, no actual chili in sight - which is a shame, because the base fries were actually really good. Pickle chips were mushy and flavorless. Onion rings and Italian egg rolls were okay. Server had to be asked for a drink 3 times by my friend, even after being told each time that the request was heard and will be out soon.

I'm sorry I don't have high standards I would normally enjoy any place that treats me well and has good food and drink, in a nice atmosphere. This place treated me and my company terribly and they turned us away they must be making so much money that they could just be mean to whoever they want. We wasted like an hour of our precious time that night recently. It was 1am Saturday night (technically Sunday). He said last call was done and proceeded to kick us out rather than letting us wait there for our Ubers. However there were tons of other people there and he was fine with that. We were well-mannered and did not deserve to be treated that way. The bartender guy even flicked his middle finger at my best friend who is a gentleman that tried to capture a video of the establishment name and him. So he was brazen and bold to be nasty to us. It could've even been due to the color of our skin, and I am saying this as a patriotic Republican (meaning I do not cry "racism" for everything), but I will call it out as I see it. To prove this is a true review and story I've attached a video of the bartender who flicked us off and you can hear a girl in our group talking about how rude he was.

When it hit me that it has been years since I stopped by Nick's for the famous roast beef sandwich, I quickly made a plan to stop by for lunch. When you walk in to Nick's the torn bar stools remind you that you are entering a dive bar, but in that context Nick's is one of the best. The roast beef sandwich with sharp provolone cheese lives up to the hype and lived up to my memory of it. It's so juicy and delicious and it's perfectly complemented by the cheese. People were stopping by just to order that sandwich. I live in the neighborhood and must make it a part of my regular rotation. I did do my job as a Yelper and make a second visit to order other items from the menu. The chicken fingers were not good. Too much breading that is not even crispy and not enough chicken. The mozzarella sticks are your best bet for an appetizer. Made in house, they are large and stuffed with melted cheesy goodness. I also tried the bacon burger. The burger itself is thick and juicy with the perfect cheese to burger to bun ratio. No smash burgers here! But my bacon was dry reheated bacon that was not flavorful. It's a rare thing when the bacon is the worst part of a burger. There are hits and misses when it comes to Nick's, but the hits outweigh the misses. That bartender on my visits is another hit, as she is awesome. The drinks are strong and reasonably priced. I will definitely be back to Nick's.

Always the best place ever it's so fun to hang and do karaoke. The bartenders are fun and nice and the atmosphere is very laid back. Plus it's close to pizza for the walk home.

Service and food was fantastic!! Had the roast beef sandwich with fresh cut fries. Highly recommend.

Food and service were amazing. That atmosphere was great. Came from out of state and dropped in to watch a game. Even though we were Cowboys fans they to very good care of us. The French Beef is very good.

This locals watering hole was warm and inviting on a rainy afternoon. We popped in for a Philly cheesesteak and we were greeted with a big warm welcome from Kelly. Kelly made great food and drink recommendations and was fun to chat with.

Amazing bartender and service! Loved my visit at Nick's! It was my first time visit and it was fair!

A really fun place to hang out. Great people and service. The burgers are great! A must try. I got the pub burger, it was cooked perfectly. Great flavor. One of the best burgers I've ever had. The fries were not so great. They were kind of soggy. My buddy had the onion rings and they were awesome. They also have smoked wings. They looked really good but I didn't taste them.

Best service, roast beef sando, and food/drink specials in the city! Always a great time!

Welcome to the foray of dive bars my fellow yelpers and praise be allah, Amen to them all day every day! I went for the signature Nick's roast beef with horseradish, au jus sauce, hot peppers and pickles, you can add provolone or sharp provolone for an extra 50 cents and you can bet your bottom dollar I did! The sandwich was delicious however if you have not learned this yet DO NOT pour the au jus on the sandwich it is meant to be dipped. I made the rookie mistake of dumping au jus all over my beautiful sandwich and it came off tasting too salty...I blame this mistake on the shots me and my girl took at brownies next door. The mozzella sticks were homemade and like I have never ordered before. The fattest mozella sticks I have ever seen and I am including in person, on TV, or in any magazine my friends. Just look at the pic!! Last item we ordered was the hot italian sausage. These had some of the hottest peppers I have tried in quite some time (too hot however). No seriously its too hot to enjoy if you leave the peppers in. The bread grilled splendidly what a job well done...I would take this grilled bread over a panini anyday of the week. They also have karaoke on Saturdays and have a nice local regular crowd. I am putting this bar up there with my favorite dive bars which include : Brownies, Paddy's, and now this jawn.

It was ok. Food wasn't amazing but we had an incredible waiter. He knew we were in a rush because we were trying to catch a show nearby so he was super accommodating, asking if we wanted all our food (apps and entrees) at the same time, asking if we wanted our check right after we got our food so we could bounce, etc. I did ask for his favorite thing on the menu (the cheesesteak) and ordered it but was not impressed. It was super soggy and pretty bland. Overall this isn't my type of vibe but I can see how some people would appreciate it.

This IS my Must Stop when I go to Philly. Awesome Food. Ice Cold Beer. AND THE HOSPITALITY IS BEYOND COMPARE. If you come to (or through) Philadelphia, you must come to Nick's. Chris is a phenomenal bar tender. He goes above and beyond to ensure your drinks are COLD and food is expedited from the kitchen. DONT FORGET THE MAN BEHIND THE SCENES: Alfredo is a Grill Master. I'm first generation Italian and never had a Beef Sandwich like THIS. OMG. Perfect combination with the sautéed spinach, beef and provolone cheese!! AND I COULD NOT HAVE HAD SUCH A GREAT NIGHT IF THE OWNERS DID NOT CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDING AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE. Thank You Joe and Nick for welcoming us into your place and making us feel right at home!!!

One of the best places in old city - great hummus plate and great owners !! Def try the cheesteak and egg sandwich too as well as waffle fries

Great bar, great beer selection, great staff!!! Food menu is great but don't get the wings - they only toss them in sauce after they are fried!

Beer? Check! Philly Cheesesteak? Check! Came here on business travel because it was walking distance from the hotel I was staying at. As I came in, I could see how 'historic' this place was in in the Historic District. In fact, it was so old, the bathroom didn't have a mirror. I guess people in 1969 didn't care how they looked or something. Anyways, this is your typical bar style restaurant where the food is unhealthy but great and the beer is cold. I had the cheesesteak which was tasty and comparable to your Pat's or Geno's varieties. The beer was beer. The bill was decent when compared to surrounding food options. Come here... unless you need a mirror.

I got the Breakfast cheesesteak. This could be my new olde city cheesesteak. Definitely my olde city Cheesesteak when I want a beer. $5 for a can of Ruby Red. Yes, still drinking fruity sour beers. My daughter Karly liked the historic philly decor until she saw Cuba Libre. $10, the crumbled bacon gave it a lot of flavor and the eggs added eggs. Looking forward to going back and getting the 'special steak.' The price for location was delightful.

Thank you Nicole for being such a great bartender at Nick's for our annual dive bar crawl from Twisties Tavern at the shore....The drinks were great along with the food....We all can't wait to see you again and make sure you stop by next year at twisties

I'm sorry, but this just sad imitator of Nicks Original Roast Beef - doesn't even come close! Good service, friendly staff though.

Ugh. This was one of my favorite burgers in the city and I was excited to take someone new. We ordered burgers med/rare and they came out charcoal. There was a big party and we were sat in the corner of it and they might have thought we were with them, but the food was terrible. We should have sent them back (maybe, I hate doing that) but didn't. $60 wasted on two really bad burgers, some fries and two beers.

The vibes are fun at this classic dive. The smoked wings are a must. Karaoke is a blast on Saturdays. Buckets of cold beer round out the experience. Wish they'd make the decor less political and bring back the photo hunt game in the corner.

Just a GREAT spot. Excellent food. Only surpassed by the friendliness of the owners and other patrons. Blocks from all the historic sites so a nice place for a break. I was our first time yesterday and we enjoyed it so much that we are going back tomorrow for the Eagles game

They have great roast beef, but don't even bother... GO straight for the classic burger or applewood bacon BURGER. it's all about the PORK BABY, not only do they throw some bacon on top,,,,, there's pork in the beef. This is where the beef is at!, slap it up, flip it, rub it down,,,, with some American cheese, heaven on a bun.

This is what 17.00 get ya. Burnt fries in a broken container and a 1/2 cooked burger.1 and done.

This place had the vibe of a cool little corner bar while being located in Old City in Philadelphia. We had a burger and a chicken sandwich to eat which were surprisingly good. There was a varied beer selection which was good. The only slightly negative to the experience was the bartender had to service the bar and the table we were sitting which made it a little cumbersome for him. I had to go up to the bar to get our initial drinks but after that he came to our table and he was pretty attentive.

We had a great Sunday lunch here, in town visiting family after having moved away a number of years ago. So happy with our cheesesteaks, meatball parm, a Turkey club sandwich, and my veggie burger. Good beer list too. Our server was also taking care of the bar, and doing a great job of it.

Never had a bad time or meal here!! Always full of characters and always made to feel welcome! Fun attentive crew!

EDIT: I questioned whether or not to mention this but I had reason to believe the woman owner was HOMOPHOBIC (I'm gay and had a dangle earring in that night) and after reading one of the reviews that was hidden on this page (scroll to the bottom and click the link that says "21 other reviews that are not currently recommended") it appears as though she is a Trump supporter and screamed some Trump slogans at another bar patron in the bathroom and then kicked them out last year after finding out they were a Hilary supporter, so I believe my suspicions of her intolerance for LGBT people to be warranted. ------------------------- I come to Philly a couple times a year to visit friends and have always had a good time at Nick's...until this past weekend. A group of 15-20 of us came in around 7pm on a Saturday were having a great time until one of the owners came in. My friends who frequent Nick's knew her and tried to introduce us, but she took one look at me and put her hand up in my face and turned around and walked away before I even said a single word. We were all very confused by that interaction but just brushed it off, as she appeared to be pretty drunk and was drinking with some of her friends at a table nearby. About an hour later I was sitting at the bar and she came and stood next to me and ordered some drinks from the bartender, and while she was waiting I again tried to introduce myself (and even offered to buy her a drink) and again she just looked at me and said "I don't care" and turned her back towards me until she got the drinks she ordered and then she walked away. The whole situation was so bizarre, and left us all pretty confused and disappointed. About an hour later the other owner (her husband) came in and was very friendly and chatted with us for a bit but the two interactions I had with his wife were enough to tarnish my experience and most of us ended up leaving shortly after and going to another bar.

Wow! Fantastic burger. For lack of a better way to say it, the burger melts in your mouth. The Cowboy burger is flavorful without being drenched in bbq and making a mess. The cheese steak tacos, recommended by the bartender were perfect. Just the right amount of spice with the hot cherry pepper mayo. We'd love to come back for another bite!

Nick's Roast Beef of Old City is a bar, and a slightly dingy-looking one at that. The bartender there that night was funny and didn't waste any time when it came to making drinks. The place was crowded and the crowd was boisterous. People were cheering along a sports game. I had a the best stuffed mushrooms I've had in recent memory, with a spicy, tangy dipping sauce (recommended). Their cheesesteaks are ho-hum but tender and warm. Get the mozzarella cheese sticks, they're sure to satisfy. Worth a visit if you don't mind a crowd. Cheap, tasty food. UPDATE: Came back for dinner in December and sat in the back - got a variety of sandwiches, which weren't half bad (the roast beef club isn't all that, but I'm not a fan of roast beef anyway) fried mushrooms, and an order of "hot" wings. Jessica (our server) brought out everything fast, and I still love their stuffed mushrooms.

I saw an article in the Metro touting Nick's Roast Beef Bar & Grille's 5 year Anniversary celebration with $5 burgers. Good burgers, good price, new venue, and a cheat day fuel? Sure, why not! Venue was homey, service a shade slow (busy), not much of a beer selection, but the burgers were delicious. So why 1 star? Nothing is more frustrating than misdirection, and we definitely felt "had" by this experience. So the bar was a bit busy with the regulars - fine. But we specifically asked the staff for the $5 Anniversary Burgers, but they gave us the $10 "Anniversary Burger" ... but oh, all the other burgers "on the menu" (which they didn't hand us) are $5 for their Anniversary celebration. Argh. The burgers were surprisingly good, but because of this shady experience we probably won't be returning for a while. Truly bummed.

Very clean establishment. Nice Tap selection. Happy hour 4-7pm. Includes $1.75 domestic draughts, $1.00 off "you call its" and $5.00 appetisers. Love to come back for a sandwich.

Two words...... "Hardcore Philly". A wonderful cold evening where our bartender knew the lowdown on everything from politics to sports. He knew what the regulars drank and had their bucket of beer in front of them before their butt hit the barstool. The food order was strictly on his recommendation. Start with their grilled chicken wings, no need for any wing sauce as they were full of flavor just from their grilling process. Next, grab a pile of napkins and order Nick's Famous Hand Carved - roast beef or roast pork, roasted low and slow, horseradish, hot peppers and au jus on the side. Tastier than any cheesesteak I had during my visit. Experience the city at Nick's.

I stopped by here for a late lunch and a couple of beers on a layover in Philly. This place is right in the old town a few blocks from Independence Hall. It has the feel of a local bar, not of a place catering that tourists. I didn't see any tables, only a long bar against the wall. There were only a few other patrons when I visited. Their beer selection is ok, with a few decent craft brews. I got some blood orange IPA from a Pennsylvania brewery and then a Yuengling. I had their specialty, a roast beef sandwich. This is really quite an excellent sandwich with a lot of tender, juicy beef on a fresh roll. There's horseradish and some peppers on the side that you can add to the sandwich. Their sandwiches don't come with any sides--if you want fries or something you need to order separately. The sandwich was $8 without cheese. Service was good and friendly. This was a nice place to stop by and relax. They also give 7% Yelp cash back, which is always a plus for me.

Best bar in Old City! Amazing food (mozzarella sticks are bomb and the size of your head) and the bartenders feel like your neighbors. Perfect place to watch a Phillies or Eagles game.

Could be the worst service in the city. The waiter was eating nachos in the corner. They didn't take my order for a real long time.

After popping our heads into several bars on 2nd and finding them too crowded or too smokey, we decided to make Nick's work. I pushed myself through the crowded entrance forcing my husband to follow me and I was pleasantly pleased when I found two seats at the end of the bar. Bar service was prompt and friendly!! At our bartenders suggestion I ordered their wings and they might be the best wings I have ever had!! They were juicy with a nice smoked flavour on the inside and crispy, without being greasy, on the outside!! You control the bbq sauce and you have 3 to choose from! My husband ordered their 'roast pork' and although it was excellent he was disappointed because he meant to order the pulled pork! lol!! men!! I will be back to try a burger as I was told it's a blend of ground beef AND ground bacon!! I just needed to be a bit hungrier......

Don't let the initial look fool you. Cozy little dining area back past the bar. Not fancy. Fanatic meatball sub and fantastic French dip style roast beef sandwich. Fries are great. Service was quick and very nice. We also tried the old bay wings which were yummy. Definitely try this place out. Lunch or dinner.

After reading Zagat's ranking it the #1 burger in Philadelphia, I knew I needed to try it immediately! (Apparently we were customers number 55 and 56 today alone, so not immediately immediately, but you know what I mean!) By the time we got there (Thursday night), they'd shut down the "restaurant" portion of the Bar & Grille, but we took a seat in the window at a high top and had a lovely chat with owner (and bartender) Joe Schultice, who said he'd been happily surprised by the Zagat rating and the steady stream of new customers--seriously a sweetheart! The southwest-style bacon burger patty with house-made salsa, jack cheese, fried pickle, and jalapeños on brioche was every bit as good as the article promised (fried pickles?! hello!). It was a perfectly cooked burger (medium rare) with an evenly spread 35% bacon/65% beef patty (mixed in house): absolutely loved the jalapeños and (as I parenthesized earlier) the fried pickles! The curly fries we ordered on the side were also perfection (though Joe told us to try their hand-cut white potato fries next time, which are "better than those you get down a'shore"). We'll take his word for it and be back for sure!

Nick's is the best bar in Philly!! And trust me I've been to hundreds. First, the owner, Joey, and the bartenders, both named Joe, have created an atmosphere that is very welcoming to everyone from local neighborhood people to visitors from all over the world. Their service is impeccable! You can stop into Nick's at any hour for a roast beef or amazing burger. Sit at the bar and have a chat with the people next to you. It will quickly turn into a party. Buy a round of Fireball shots and root for the E-A-G-L-E-S. Step outside for a smoke and join the 2 street scene. The Old City locals will embrace you as one of their own. There's only one Nick's in the world. It's one of a kind!!

Where to start? Amazing to find a local neighborhood joint with a smoker in-house! You have not experienced wings without trying their crispy smoked wings. The seasoning is beyond delicious. They also have a variety of homemade variety of homemade bbq sauces. I love the hot! The mozzarella sticks are homemade and some of the best I've had. They could be a meal for two in itself! The smoked pulled pork, I think I could eat everyday....it's so moist and full of flavor. Great go-to spot!

My friends and I were burned by another bar being too busy to accommodate us for karaoke, so we'd heard that Nick's had Saturday karaoke. That was absolutely false. HOWEVER, we took over the juke box and turned the place into a singalong paradise. We were joined by a jovial man (Nick himself? We were never quite sure if he was an excited patron as well or if he was an employee.) who sang along with us (he did a great rendition of "I Wanna Dance With Somebody") and invited us to dance. It was a treat. A night that will live on in infamy. ALSO, I got their thanksgiving sandwich once. It was delicious.

The beef and pork sandwich's were just ok. The rolls were hard and the pork didn't have much meat. Pulled pork was good Fired pickles and Mac bites were good. They have a good happy hour.

This is a great place for an inexpensive meal and good service. The roast beef sandwiches are good and go for 5 bucks and change. There is a substantial fry menu with lots of variety and seasonings available. The menu in general is huge. I'd call it bar food+. It should satisfy just about everyone. This is a dark bar/restaurant with seating in the back. As the summer heats up you should know they have excellent AC. Some reviewers have called it a dive bar but I disagree. It's a step up from that classification. If you go you'll have a decent meal, decent service, and walk out with $$ remaining in your pocket.

Amazing happy hour special. Domestic drafts $1.75. $5 selected appetizers. Roast pork sandwhich comes on a kaiser roll as opposed to long roll which caught me off guard but had the fixings with it: pickle, hit peppers and horseradish all on the side. No fries with the sandwich though. Chicken fingers app was fairly large. Nachos weren't anything to write home about but the fries excelled. The French fries were boardwalk cut with the skins on them. Came out extra hot and crispy. The kind of cut you want to throw some malt vinegar on.

I took a ride to Philly for some cheese steak... I was told not to bother with those other places. Nick's did not disappoint. I ordered 3 for take out and even reheated at home they were very good. OK, so a half of one didn't make it home. Sue me. The place was clean and the people inside are very nice. I even chatted with the regulars. This was a quick spur of the moment adventure. I will be going back to eat in, grab a beer or three, and relax.

Had a very pleasant lunch experience here. I work right up the street, and in passing, we decided to stop in for lunch. I ordered the southwest burger (their burgers are highly rated so I had to try one). I was surprised at how great it was. The waiter said it was a mix of 30% bacon meat. Very delicious meat. Come with fried pickles and pepper jack cheese. I would certainly order it again. Also ordered the curly fries. We all had a great meal. The waiter was quite poor, forgot drinks, mixed up our orders - this is the reason I gave only 4 stars. Eat it!

Best cheesesteaks and they even have one for BREAKFAST! I love Nick's! Pretty much everything I've had to eat here is delicious and fresh and the drink specials really can't be beat for Old City! Seriously, check out their happy hour sometime! I recently discovered the Breakfast Cheesesteak and haven't been able to stop recommending it to everyone I meet. Classic cheesesteak topped with crunchy bacon and a fried egg! Best hangover cure, for sure!!!

Great roast beef sandwiches. Nice locals vibe w/ reasonable beer and food prices. Brew selection pretty basic so if ur a craft beer hound go elsewhere. If I lived in the area this would be my go-to pub for a couple pints and the game.

This is simply to review Nick's on their awesome entertainment! This is the kind of place where you come to pregame with friends, or after too many drinks ask them to sing single ladies, and perhaps in the process get a lap dance from a big hairy retired football player? Yes, that happened. They hubby and I constantly hit up Nick's if we are pregaming to go into Cuba Libre next door, mostly because Cuba Libre's drinks suck (watered down) and are quite pricey. So we get the city special for $5, Jim Bean Shot and PBR, jug that down, and one drink, and maybe one more shot....and boom, we get the party started! I also came celebrating my bff's bachelorette where we had a great time butchering Beyonce and embarrassing the bride. Really, this is a no brainer, get here, come thirsty, and grab a mic!