Race Street Cafe

Nestled in a quiet corner of Old City, Race Street Cafe surprises with its relaxed charm, local character, and food that goes beyond expectations. Among the highlights of our recent visit were two standout dishes: the beef patty burger and the crispy tilapia taco. The beef patty burger, ordered medium, was cooked to perfection. Juicy with a slightly pink center, it struck that elusive balance between seared exterior and tender interior. The seasoning was subtle yet satisfying, allowing the quality of the meat to shine. Paired with fresh toppings and a lightly toasted bun, it delivered comfort and flavor in every bite. The crispy tilapia taco was equally impressive. Each bite offered a satisfying crunch from the perfectly fried exterior, giving way to tender, flaky fish inside. The freshness of the tilapia was unmistakable, complemented by zesty toppings and a soft tortilla that brought it all together. It’s a dish that’s simple on paper but executed with care and attention. Race Street Cafe keeps things unpretentious, but the kitchen clearly knows what it’s doing. Whether you’re stopping in for a casual bite or lingering over drinks with friends, it’s the kind of place that leaves a good impression—and keeps you coming back. Worth a try.

We stopped for a quick bite to eat before a concert. Our server was great and the atmosphere was pleasant. The food came quick and was delicious but we were expecting slightly larger portions for the price (the salmon but big but there wasn’t a lot of pasta). It was great anyway. If you’re unsure of where to eat- go here.

During our recent visit to Pennsylvania, my partner and I had the pleasure of dining at a fantastic spot that truly exceeded expectations. For a very reasonable price of $59, we enjoyed a delicious spread, including tacos with a side of chili, two burgers with fries, tea, and two waters. One of the standout features was that everything on the menu could be made gluten-free, which was a huge plus for us. The buns on the burgers were especially delicious—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The atmosphere was just right—not too loud or crowded—creating a relaxed and welcoming vibe. The service was top-notch as well. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive, ensuring we had everything we needed throughout the meal. A nice touch is the digital payment option on the receipt, where you can easily pay and leave a tip with a code. Overall, the experience was fantastic, and we are definitely looking forward to coming back the next time we’re in the area. If you’re in PA and craving some great food in a comfortable setting, this place is highly recommended! Thank you for such a wonderful experience!

OMG . I am so happy I found this place. The best brisket I've ever had in my life. Audrey was the best and I'm here for a government contract for the next 4 months and this is my new go to place!!

Race Street Cafe was an unplanned stop for us on our way through Philly. We were staying nearby and needed dinner for a hungry toddler and ourselves, and we’d just spent a whole southern NJ vacation trying to manage eating out with food allergies and dietary restrictions. I was fully prepared to arrive and have them say they couldn’t meet our dietary needs (as many restaurants had before them). What a pleasant surprise this place was! The bartender (maybe owner? I’m not sure) was beyond kind to our family, making sure we all had everything we needed to feel comfortable. Our waitress and the kitchen made sure we all had not only something to eat, but a wonderful, full meal. My and our baby’s dairy-free needs were easily met, and all of us had a wonderful meal! We loved seeing the staff be so friendly with everyone around us - we saw hugs all around and it really gave the feel of a local, beloved spot. We feel lucky to have found it and so grateful for our time there. Thank you to all who made our experience so lovely!

Been here a few times now and I'll be back. I haven't found any particularly "great" standouts on the menu, but still quality, solid bar food made with fresh ingredients and served with a smile. The vibe is always nice and light and it's just a fun chill place to hang. The main room is cozy and warm in the winter and cool in the summer so it's never a bad time to go. It gets busy after work especially on Fridays but weekends are pretty chill. Very inexpensive considering the area but still a high-quality experience. Would 100% recommend for a couple or very small group.

We stopped into Race Street Cafe for a spur-of-the-moment brunch. Unfortunately, we were too early to try one of the specials I saw on the board which was a take of a fancy grilled cheese. They said the specials weren’t made until 3 pm. I settled for the Race Street Burger. I asked for it medium and it came out essentially just well done. It still tasted okay but not my favorite. The fries tasted good but the portion seemed a bit less than typical in this type of dish. My girlfriend really enjoyed her order of The Hangover. The croissant was baked well and the tater tots were nice and crunchy. The location itself gave off a friendly sports pub/tavern feel. The staff was very welcoming.

Best Bar in Philly!!! Mark was an absolutely amazing bartender who really cared about the experience for us. He worked hard to ensure we enjoyed our great time. Mike was awesome and ensured we had a fun time! Definitely recommend!!!

Food is decent pub food. The vibes are awesome for winter. Service was lacking unfortunately. It wasn't very busy the night we dined, we didn't receive a side item and drinks we slow to come out and a missed opportunity for a second drink

Omg it was sooooo sweet. The waiter with short hair was super nice and #needaraise. The food was really good since this is the first time I've ever been to Philly! Service was #better than any other place I've been

Little small dive bar feel inside but the food is top grade. Packed with flavor and love. We sat at the bar which seats maybe 10 people so very small. Few tables inside as well and if you're lucky enough you can sit next to the fireplace on a cold afternoon. The brisket sandwich was juicy and the bun was toasty to keep it together. The dipping sauce on the side was very good and shoestring fries were an easy 8.7 Chicken sandwich didn't disappoint as well. My girlfriend doesn't like the buffalo sauce so she got chipotle mayo on the side to put on. Sweet potato fries were salty and crispy. Wait staff was kind along with the bartender and cooks. Very nice people.

Definitely a fun place to find yourself! Parking is rough, so I would suggest parking on Columbus. It's paid, but it's cheap. Like six bucks for almost 4 hours. The inside is definitely more bar looking than café. The food was excellent. I always sleep on a basic burger, but I regretted that today ha ha. The race Street burger is simple, but done so well. Delicious, toasted brioche bun with a massive. Mmm. I got the brisket and the twice baked potato accompaniment was fantastic. It could've been its own appetizer. Beer is great, service is chill. Definitely cool.

Race Street is the best!! It's the perfect place for a night cap or brunch. The servers are incredible, so warm and attentive! I love stopping in when I'm in the neighborhood and chatting with the bartenders or sitting at one of the tables by the big windows in the summertime! Such a great summer spot for drinks and getting together with a group!!

Absolutely love this place. Wonderful hidden gem in Olde City, tucked away at the end of - you guessed it - Race Street, practically under the bridge. I don't live in Philly but it's one of my go to places when I'm in the city because it never disappoints. It's a gorgeous small space with dark wood everywhere that adds to the atmosphere. There's also a wood burning stove (real or gas, not sure) that was a welcome sight after stumbling in from walking in 28 degree weather. Came here for dinner last night with my girlfriend. Every table was filled so it was a nice atmosphere, but it wasn't super loud or crazy. We each had a beer from the excellent list of draft beers, and she got the brisket sandwich while I got the meatloaf sandwich. They came out quickly and we loved them both. We will be back!

Went here for lunch during the week on an off day because my neighbor recommended! The service was attentive and quick - the restaurant wasn't completely full but it was pretty busy. Food came out pretty quickly as well. I'm a plain Jane so I went with the quesadillas a little too much chicken for my liking but flavor profile was great and it reheated well when I took home what I couldn't eat. Sour cream was extra but guacamole was included. My boyfriend got the brisket sandwich. He raved that the fries were cooked perfectly and well seasoned. The brisket he like the texture and the temp the meat was cooked with but said Brisket was a little too sweet - but the sauce on top was not to sweet and helped. His also reheated well for leftovers - and you definitely can't say that about just any sandwich! We checked out on a QR code which made it really speedy!

Pleasantly surprised by the charm, prices, and food. I passed by this place so many times, and for some reason never stepped in. Should have come sooner. Simple and inviting ambiance, good food, and very reasonably prices! My husband and I came in for an unplanned brunch and were shocked at how great our experience was and how sad that we didn't come sooner! Would come back!

The people who work here are perhaps some of the best in Philly. This bar is quaint and always provides just what I'm looking for. They have a good wine selection for what appears to be a beer centric joint. The price point here is phenomenal for city living. I am a frequent and repeat customer. Keep on crushing it

Went on a Friday night on the weekend of the Broad St 10 mile. Very busy but we got a table in 5 Min. Service was ok for a busy time, very dark in the whole area. Beer choices were ok,We had burger and pulled pork both were good.

Interesting menu, friendly, knowledgable bartender, great service (even on a busy Friday evening), large beer selection and cozy ambiance. I liked it so much I went back for lunch the next day.

15 years later, Race Street Cafe remains a reliable stop for a drink or some pub grub. Now that I live in the neighborhood, I don't think it will take 15 years to return. This time around, my tastes have changed. The chili wasn't my favorite any more. But the turkey burger was good. They've got some good beers available. Staff are efficient and super-friendly. They have sangria on tap.

Quaint little cafe/brew pub. Not sure what to classify this one. However, the interior is cozy, service is great, prices are decent and portions are good size. I had the soup of the day which was chicken something... sorry, I forgot the name, but it was broth base with various veggies, chicken and meatballs. It came on a big soup plate, piping hot and delicious. Just right to warm you up on a cold dreary day. I had also ordered the nachos, being that I anticipated a small soup... I couldn't eat all of it. They were served on a big baking dish and wonderfully spread out with toppings clear across the board. Not one of those tall stacks of chips with a bit of topping and nothing but plain chicps below. This was beautiful topping coverage and had a really nice flavor to it. If you are visiting the local sights like the Betsy Ross house or Elfreth's Alley, take the few steps out of your way and stop by here. It's worth it.

Still my go-to spot for catching up with friends over great food and drinks. And u still can't go wrong with the specials. Any special will be a winner. On my last visit I had the special appetizer, a delicious plate of pork spring rolls. It did not disappoint. My previous review in 2015 wasn't too specific, so I'll highlight some of menu mainstays that keep me coming back in 2021. The bacon wrapped meatloaf is my favorite entree. My mouth waters just thinking about it. The brisket entree is good too. For appetizers the wings & nachos are awesome. The carrot cake is my favorite dessert. It's a moist square slice that stacks up against any bakery. If they don't have that go for the bread pudding. For lunch the juicy race st burger always hits the spot. I'm so happy to report that Race Street Cafe continues to be a 5 star spot after all these years.

The lemonade was a bit sour for my taste but it was still pretty good probably a 6/10 Really good food and nice service The pumpkin cheesecake was so good!!! The place is small but pretty cozy It's also quite dark in there but I didn't really have a problem with it

Locals love this cozy eatery in sight of the bridge, which features a serious bar. Low marks for food presentation -- nachos arrive on a baking sheet covered in goo, Caesar salad drizzled with bottled dressing on randomly torn Romaine lettuce plus 8 (exactly) grilled shrimp, calamari is greasy. On the plus side, table is available for hours and allows for hanging out with pals.

Great people and service. Wish I was a local, but I was just doing a Philly bar crawl.

Overall 3.5 stars. It's a solid bar. Definitely would come here if you're looking for a chill bar with a decent beer menu and good food. The brisket sandwich was amazing! It came with what seemed like an aioli sauce, on the side, and it was very tasty. The fries also took me by surprise, they were seasoned very well and I'm not even a fries person like that. The ranch was super watery, which turned me off and my friends aioli sauce had a dry top coat, which made us wonder how long it was sitting out for. My friends bun was also burnt and she had to ask for another one. Thank hey had no problem changing it, though, which was very nice of them. The lighting was also dark, which normally isn't a preference of mine. The staff was very friendly. Pertaining to COVID, everyone wore masks and was very cautious with their distance. Most of the guests were sitting outside, but they offered inside seating as well. Overall, decent spot.

Great little spot in old town area. Elevated pub food, good beers, friendly service, cozy intimate interior. Perfect casual dinner. Steak on salad was a bit raw and they fixed it no problem. I'd return many times if I lived in the area.

I ordered the Race Street Burger. The brioche bun was nice and soft and buttery. But the patty was too densely packed and lean. I prefer a more crumbly and fatty patty. The toppings were perfectly fine standard burger toppings. The fries were thin and crispy, which I enjoyed.

Originally I gave them 5 stars for their wings and salad but I returned again and ordered the wings, This time around I was very disappointed. Consistency is key

Came here two days in a row. The brisket meal is absolutely perfect. I also had the buffalo chicken salad which was also good.

Some young people need to learn a fundamental piece of etiquette - When a customer says hello, say hello back, instead of presenting an inane stare. It's simple decency. It's only human. Maybe this has come about because they don't have to greet their phones, but business owners would do well to instruct their young staff in manners. It surely makes or breaks repeat business.

We ate here on a whim and it didn't disappoint. Our service was fantastic, great drink menu and our food was fantastic! It was nice and cozy inside. Every staff member was helpful and so nice. There seemed to be a lot of people doing take out as well as eating in. The meatloaf entree was perfect and the steak salad was amazing.

Great menu. Seemed more thoughtfully curated than a typical bar-restaurant. The Moroccan spiced lamb burger was excellent! Also, the beer selection was very broad. I tried a flight of several beers that I might not have tried otherwise. A server was helpful with beer choices. The only reason I took off a point is that the service did not seem organized. We had to flag down one of the servers as they were passing for each part of our order and to get our bill. The servers were all very nice and helpful when present but we dealt with 4 people who seemed to be randomly sharing jobs. This could have been an off experience but, based on the food, the beer selection, and the pleasantness of the staff, I'd definitely return.

I went here for breakfast and placed an order for pick up. Although the servers were nice when we first arrived I showed them my order details and she kind of nudged me away and said the order will be coming out soon. She didn't look into it she just told us that to keep us occupied so we stood there for about 20 mins to find out that our order was actually meant to be picked up an hour later. The bar tender was more attentive and looked into the order to speed it up for us. Would've been nice to know that they actually didn't have our order yet! Food was okay tho a bit over priced we got the hangover breakfast option.

I was in Philly for a weekend and stopped here for brunch with some friends. The ambiance was a little dull and the service could have been better. I must say they had great appetizers though. I would recommend this place as a quick stop for a drink and app.

I had the large shrimp Caesar salad. It was good but a tip my friend had the small and she got about the same amount of salad and shrimp for less money. Mine was just in a larger bowl. Another friend had the steak salad and that looked great too. Waiter very friendly. I had a cocktail with tequila and orange type soda and lime - recommend and get it as a tall. Great atmosphere too.

Came in last night after attending the Chinese lantern festival with my boo. The festival didn't have much food- so after all the walking we did we worked up an appetite. On this night it was very crowded but we got in right before the last table was taken. We started off our meal with some drinks, he got the rum and coke I just got a plain coke- and he was enjoying his drink. Then we ordered the chicken quesadilla for an appetizer to start off. It came right away and tasted so good. It had just the right amount of chicken and cheese inside, and had a spicy salsa drizzled on top. As for entrees I got the grilled chicken sandwich with French fries and my man got the pan seared duck which was the special of the day. My sandwich was huge and the chicken was juicy and flavorful, it was dripping down my hand! When the sandwich drips down your hand or mouth.... then you know the sandwich will be good. The French fries were nice and crispy and were salted perfectly! I'm not a duck eater but my boo enjoyed the duck and was saying that it was really good. I like this place cause the food is always so tasty, and the staff are super friendly and are good at their jobs. When people get finished and leave- the tables are cleared off quickly and are ready for the next mass of people walking in. This is a new favorite spot for me and maybe one day soon I'll try one of their mixed drinks and see how well they are put together as well! I definitely recommend this spot to have a nice meal!

Dropped by on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant was packed! It had a real neighborhood feel. I mean, there was literally only one table left and luckily, it was ours for the taking!! My friend and I were tucked away in a corner of the restaurant, directly adjacent to the large barn doors that open in the warmer months (so I am told). The downside to this is the fact that there was a cold draft that kept creeping in the entire time we sat there. We were freezing our butts off the majority of the time. :-/ We ordered a few specialty cocktails (can't recall the name, it was pretty uneventful) and I had a turkey burger. Yep! I ate meat and it was AMAZING (I am practically 95% pescatarian). The burger was so juicy, the bun was soft, the pickle, the guac and the red onion slices were the perfect balance! Overall, I enjoyed my food. I am giving 4 our 5 stars (technically 3.5/5) because our server was so busy that we barely saw her. We had requested to change the channel twice (my favorite football team was playing) and she never came back to say whether she could honor the request. I felt it was a bit rude to simply pretend like we never made the request. She hardly checked on our table.

First time at Race Street Cafe and it did not disappoint! I got the Race Street Burger with fries. Burger was cooked well, very juicy! The meal came with garlic aioli sauce that paired perfectly with the burger. The service was great which I always appreciate. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for a burger, sandwich pub type place. They had a great selection of beer, wine too.

I find myself eating here about once a week since moving to the city. Their salad with medallions is delicious and healthy. The steak is filet mignon tips mixed with a lot of dark fresh lettuce and appetizing vinaigrette dressing. Also ordered the Race Street burger which was tasty but like 99% of the places I've ordered a burger came out medium well instead of my requested medium doneness. Also ordered the tortellini which was half decent but very small portion for the price. My wife always likes her go to Buffalo salmon salad, with a huge piece of delicious salmon dressed on top of lettuce and arugula. The soups are ok but not worth the $7 price. I've also ordered the wings here which are excellent and a must have. I believe I also had the meatloaf here which was super delicious, good portion but not healthy enough for me to continue ordering it! The service is mainly good here, especially the sociable and helpful bartender. He's by far the most active and nicest bartender I've met in Philly. Pro Tip: You may see a local politician here who sometimes drinks alone. He doesn't want to be bothered and not a fan of interacting with his constituents.

We stopped by on a Sunday for brunch and it wasn't packed at all. We order the eggs your way and the hangover. Honestly they are the same exact things. It's just that one has everything put together as a sandwich and the other has all the ingredients of the sandwich separated. There's really no difference between the two other than that. Both were very good and it seems like a really chill spot to grab a quick bite.

Came to this place for the first time the other day for a bite to eat. The menu had a great selection and it was hard to pick one thing! A lot of unique spins on popular bar food dishes. The bartender and staff were very friendly. Only thing was that I didn't feel like the place was the cleanest, but other than that I really liked it! Food was really good, I will definitely be going back!

I returned to Race Street Cafe for brunch recently and was not disappointed. Service was friendly and there were quite a few brunch selections that sounded great. In the end, I went with the feta and spinach omelet, which came with tater tots, choice of breakfast meat and toast, and a side of fruit. Everything was delicious! Tables are packed together pretty tightly and my chair was constantly bumping against the person seated behind me. It's a tight squeeze when all the tables are seated. I was glad we decided to check out Race Street for brunch. I don't get there too often but am always happy with my experience.

Race St Cafe is great for what it is. A neighborhood cafe with fairly priced grub and beverages. And it is on par with the expectations of similar places to it. I guess this is my way of saying for a neighborhood bar and casual restaurant with fair prices, it's pretty darn good. 5 of us are outdoors, getting 4 sandwiches, a salad, and a few beers, a mixed drink and a glass of wine. Somehow the bill was like $100... unheard of really. We tipped well because of the fair prices, great service, always full water and pet friendly sidewalks where nobody treated us like the "annoying being your dog to dinner people" that I have seen others say they were treated like elsewhere. They clearly are a part of the neighborhood and appeal to local guests of all ages, pets and no pets. The burger and fries met my expectations - it was actually better than I had expected. That alone would keep me coming back (that and it's so close).

Beef brisket sandwich was essentially a sloppy Joe from a microwave-ready dry brisket. Only good was Phillies won their Game3 of the World Series while here but even then, the vibe was low key.

Really delicious Buffalo chicken sandwich and the fries were also very yummy. Price was reasonable especially for center city Philly. Service was perfect and very enjoyable.

Service blows. Bartender seemed nice but my waitress looked either really sick or hungover, the other one seemed grumpy. They handed me a menu, took my order and dropped my food on the table. No words spoken. Food is okay, nothing special. Definitely wouldn't go back.

"Fine" dining (as in Meh). Nice view of the bridge from outdoor seating. Veggie burger was decent but the side Caesar salad was basically Mayo with sprinkled cheese. My husband's burger was decent. His fries were good but served with a weird Mayo sauce. Won't return.

My new office is down the street so I had to try out Race Street Cafe!! I got a filet mignon salad which was amazing with a hazy IPA. It was beautiful out especially with the bridge in the background. Waiter was very friendly and the wait wasn't long! I'll have to come back with friends! @sebbybelly Instagram

Verdict: Nice find on a random night in Philly I'd go back. Just ate before arriving but the food looked good. Nice selection of beers. I got a Weihenstephan and it came in a nice, tall glass. Recommend you get one of those. It's a good bet and not too filling. Interesting journey to the bathroom. It's in the back and you'll feel like you're going into the kitchen. Have faith. It's back there.

This was my first time at Race Street Cage and I am upset that I haven't visited earlier. I love the atmosphere of the dim lighting and the music was a nice variety. I reviewed the draft beer list and it was a nice selection. I was meeting up with a friend so we decided to start with a flight of craft beers - that was the best decision - I enjoyed the IPA's (of course), but a few sours surprised me and that doesn't happen too often. The environment was so chill, we decided to stay and order some food - I had the Calamari and my friend had the quesadilla - both were good and we thought it would be worth returning to try other menu offerings in the future. I will return and bring others - Note: It is not a large place - limited seating - as the night went on it did become crowded.

This place was great. Food was awesome. We got the impossible burger and impossible burrito. All made very well. And the sides were good as well. Atmosphere is good with friendly staff. Definitely a great place to try!

Came here for a quick late lunch. The Benedict was good but nothing special. The yolk was runny but not all the way through. So slightly over cooked in the edge. The tots were just ordinary. Replacing the potatoes tots with home fries would be such an upgrade. Old city is a competitive place for restaurants. Small changes would go a long way.

the world is better place with race street cafe in it. this neighborhood joint feels like the cast of a sitcom's favorite place to meet up. the beer menu is extensive and the food is SO GOOD. i've gotten into the habit of eating their race street burger at least once a week, and accidentally got my boyfriend addicted too

This is one of our favorite places. The staff especially Britt is extraordinary. Very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Never had a bad meal the food is outstanding. This is our go to place and we are there at least once a week. Stop and for dinner and drinks and say that Jess and Sam sent you.

Great for take out, but a little loud to dine in. Don't get me wrong, the food is wonderful, but the noise is a little louder than most places.

Last minute pick as it was close to our hotel. The food arrived quickly and it was amazing, service was just as great. We were very happy with our last minute pick. Will visit again.