The Olde Bar

"Dollar oysters have become rare, but the tradition lives on during happy hour at celebrity chef Jose Garces’ Olde Bar. His Old City restaurant — in the historic building that once housed Philly icon Bookbinders — is actually all about seafood. Find lobster four ways — including pot pie and corn dog — along with crab and corn chowder, crab claws, tuna frites, halibut, scallop pasta, and more. A couple of other nearby spots with great raw bars include The Wayward in Center City and Old City’s Royal Boucherie — both offer seafood towers." - Ernest Owens

"Chef Jose Garces’ Old City restaurant brings nostalgic vibes nodding to its location in the Bookbinder’s building (a historic steakhouse known for its lobster and seafood). During its happy hour (offered Sunday through Friday from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.) you can dine on seafood-centric fare like $2 buck shuck oysters, mini seafood rolls, and shrimp fries while you sip on one of its luscious libations like the fish house punch or one of the rotating bartender’s selection." - George Banks-Weston

"Another Jose Garces classic is celebrating the new year with a four-course menu of their favorites. For $90 per person, diners can enjoy oysters and bubbles, baby gem caesar salad, lobster risotto, the choice between a 5oz lump crab cake or a pork chop, and a sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Reservations are now available to be made at OpenTable." - Ernest Owens

"Executive Chef Jose Garces’ Old City oyster bar and cocktail lounge has gained much notoriety for paying homage to the historic seafood restaurant, Old Original Bookbinders, that used to reside in the same building. Its flavor-packed rendition of shrimp and grits is made with soft-shell shrimp, vanilla grits, pork andouille sausage, garlic kale, and a sunny side up egg." - George Banks-Weston

"The Garces Group's vision for the revamped Bookbinder's included using much of the historic building's ample room for private events, with a huge catering kitchen in the back. The Blackburn Room can seat up to 200 people for a dinner reception, but with a number of different possible configurations (including buying out the entire place), the Olde Bar can accommodate groups of anywhere from 25 to 325 guests." - Ernest Owens, Eater Staff