Varga Bar & Restaurant

Varga Bar is a great spot for food + drink, located in Center City, Philadelphia!! I visited with friends this weekend while I was in town for a conference, and we had a great experience. The staff took great care of us during our meal. The atmosphere inside of this place is really cool, as there are dive bar feels to it, but the space is more cozy and inviting! For drinks, I tried their Strawberry Margarita, which tasted really good. But, their food was honestly the most amazing part of my experience - I tried their House Caesar Salad with an addition of HOBBS Hot Sauce, and it was SO delicious!! I had a side of fries with it, which really complimented the dish. This is a great place - highly recommend! :-)

Met Rich for the 1st time....great service ... inviting crowd ...superb craft beer selection and a truly eclectic selection of international and regional bourbons and whiskeys. I will return! Rich made a great perfect Manhattan and a wonderful Boulevardier with Laphroaig.

Great pub vibe and excellent food and service. The Smash Burgers were delicious! Great selection of IPAs. Excellent service. Will try to return. Highly recommended.

Great spot to grab dinner and drinks. The staff is very friendly. The Bloody Mary was great, kind of a smoky flavor to it and a bit of spice. The wings were good as well, and definitely try the crab fries. They are currently checking vaccination cards of guests that dine inside.

I had a serious taste for a really good burger so I started googling good places in center city area. Came across this spot so me and hubby decided to have a date night out here. Got there and was greeted immediately. We were seated and looked over menu. They have a nice selection of drinks. The food menu was exceptional also. We both got burgers, they were smash-style and it was delicious. Catered to my taste buds so well. We really enjoyed the house burger sauce. Sent the burger to another level. The atmosphere was perfect for a weekday. I love the comfortable feel of the restaurant. Nice quietish spot when you just want good food, drinks and conversation. The tab was a bit pricey (to be fair we did order a few drinks and an extra burger because it was that good to us !) but it definitely was worth the evening me and my hubby wanted. We will definitely be back for sure.

Neighborhood go to. Delicious food, creative cocktails (including a hot beverage section in the winter!) and great ambiance. The Italian hoagie salad is a personal fave. See you there!

Varga Bar is good, but it used to be great, and I miss that. They still have a great beer selection, often a cask ale on tap, and good food. But gone are our beloved jumbo lump crab cheese fries that, paired with their delicious house "ketchup", justified a trip to Varga Bar on their own (and that's coming from someone who doesn't even like crab). They've been replaced with a tater tot poutine, which is fine, but not amazing the way the crab fries were. Their happy hour discount used to apply to every beer on their extensive draft list, and now there's only a handful of beers that qualify. As a result, Varga Bar went from being great to merely good, from a place where we'd always go on every trip into the city to a place where we might stop by on occasion.

Great beers and delicious food, coupled with an incredibly friendly and accommodating staff. I can't stress enough how much I recommend Varga Bar. If you haven't visited yet, you're definitely missing out :)

Great draft beers, solid food. I miss the sidewalk booths, as inside it can get a bit loud. But Varga Bar is a reliable spot for good and drinks. Staff has always been cool. There's food for the slightly adventurous, plus reliable, delicious takes on standard pub fare. If I lived closer I might be a regular.

Hello Varga Bar, my name is Megan and, although it took me ~460 days of living in Philly to enter through your doors, now that I have found you I will literally never leave you alone. I actually love you. There, I said it. It feels almost completely tailor made for me but I think it could be completely tailor made for anyone who loves a rockstar beer and wine list in a cozy environment. I bellied up to the bar and grabbed a glass of tempranillo and the buffalo cauliflower appetizer, both of which were complete perfection. The bar was empty when I arrived around 7:45pm but continued to fill in throughout the evening. Great burgers, great menu, just so solid overall. This would be an excellent first date spot, meetup with friends, or solo drink at the bar. Shout out to the excellent bar staff that really helped to up the experience by being personable, knowledgeable, and fun. Looking forward to many more visits!

I came to this bar for a weekend event, and the place was empty. I sat down and waited for it to start and it simply never did. Such a bummer! I felt silly making my way there by a certain time to find the event just evaporated... The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable about liquor. Seriously, great staff! The decor is really cute too, like retro pinup girls everywhere. And the layout def reminds me of Parisienne brasseries. I ordered Mac and cheese, and oh no! It, was, awful! It seriously tasted like Velveeta cheese and overcooked shells. I'm not hard to please either, but this was just, bad. As much as I love ooey gooey cheesy pasta, I actually couldn't finish it! And that's saying a lot. I will give it another chance at some point, as I'm hoping they do other dishes better, and I want to like this place.

best vegetarian cheesesteak in the city!! bartenders & the owner are nice :) i always have a good time when i go!

Stopped in for a few drinks during Happy Hour and I only wish we would have stayed. We walked in and were instantly greeted by both bartenders. Both were nice and attended to us well. Had a few beers and had to rush out due to a change of plans. Looking forward to coming back to get the full experience.

Varga just delivers time and time again. A gem of a place. We spend a lot of time at Varga because of proximity to my apartment, and have never been disappointed. In the past, I've gotten the gnocchi, sweet potato fries, and sandwiches, and we always order the espresso martinis too. Most recently, I had the brisket birria tacos which were delicious. We love Varga - great food, great drinks, great service. Only possible critique is the prices, but they deliver on quality so it's hard to complain. 5/5

(3.5 stars) A solid neighborhood bar I'd love to have nearby. Lots of draft options, great vibes, and a solid food menu. Loved the Brussels sprouts, could eat those for days, wish the Buffalo cauliflower just had more Buffalo, and the burger and tots were good but not my favorites, definitely needed some sauces perhaps even with a little bit of heat, otherwise the tots were just very straightforward.

Great American/pub food, and good vegan/veggie options. Great atmosphere for a drink at the bar or a full dinner.

Sat outside for a drink and an app last night. Vibes are good outside and they have plenty of seats! I got a beer and my husband got a margarita, but it was a little sweet. The popcorn shrimp was delish, can't recommend the garlic sauce enough! Service was quick!

I mean, this place was fine. My main bish and I took it upon ourselves to patronize this place on a crisp fall Saturday afternoon in late September. The weather was b-e-a-u-tiful and thus my main bish chose this place given the presence of outdoor seating. They tried to initially throw us down literally right at the corner between the outdoor promotion sign and the entrance to the restaurant despite the fact that there were like 80% of the other tables available. This was odd. I kindly requested another table. To start things off I went with the tried and true vodka soda. Unlike an adult-sized tall glass, this was given to us in a "fun size" rocks glass, which was disappointing. We went with a random assortment of appetizers. The cheese plate was a given, the deviled eggs were a given, and the pickled veggie bucket because who can resist anything pickled or anything contained within a bucket. The cheese plate was good. There were 3 cheeses: a gouda, a very hard parmesan-like cheese, and a super silky-smooth-soft-creamy cheese. Accompaniments included caramel, this crazy "bourbon-maple" mustard, "truffled honey", a bunch of fruit, and candied almonds. All three cheeses were delicious. The soft cheese (it's soft BTW) was the softest and smoothest cheese I've quite possibly ever had. The pickled veggies were just meh The deviled eggs were DELICIOUS. I wish there were more of them. Service was just alright. If I may reiterate, size of the beverages was disappointing.

We've been to Varga a few times to grab drinks, but this time we decided to order from their ever-rotating food menu. Food is a craft here, and everything they do, they do it well. The wall is decorated with pretty pin-up girls, one in particular that I really like. ;) Needless to say, they have a great craft beer menu that even features a lot of local brewers (we decided which brewery we'd like to visit next after our drinks this evening!) We ordered a Hefeweizen and tropical IPA that were both so good, we ordered them twice and switched beers! There is a great variety of beers on the menu too, so there's certainly something for everyone. I ordered the mac and cheese, because once I saw their instagram post with the photo, I knew I had to come in just to try it. It was so tasty, in that little cast iron pan! The portion size doesn't look that big, but it was actually just the perfect amount. My fiancé really enjoyed the popcorn chicken as well. Service is always just right too. We'll be back again for sure.

Great corner place. consistent good food and the staff is great!

Really great food and really great drinks. Always have a changing menu where unique meal options are rotated. Their Instagram is great for following what they are serving. The pictures always make the food look so delicious This time I got the popcorn chicken and it was the freshest I've ever ordered from a restaurant or bar. Scorching hot too. It comes served with a spicy honey mustard dipping sauce which by coincidence is my favorite. My fiance got the Mac and cheese, which was as equally good. I was very surprised the food was this high quality. Their pinup theme is very cool. In 2019 Varga had a pinup calendar and my beautiful fiance Gia was Ms December. We we're lucky enough to go in January and her calendar photo was still hanging up! Overall Varga is definitely worth the trip. Between the fresh food and craft beer selection, we will definitely be back again. They also have trivia nights which seems like it would be fun to try. It's an easy walk right off the PATCO from the 9th/10th and Locust stop.

Great beer offerings. A good number is seitan choices in food selections. Overall good food. A relaxing and pleasant pub.

Absolutely awful bartender that lacked any form of professionalism or friendliness. Avoid this bar at all cost.

Came for happy hour on a Friday summer evening. It was fine. Nothing special. They had some drink specials and three appetizers on the happy hour menu. We got the beef nachos and cheesesteak egg rolls, each were $5. They nachos were good but very small. The atmosphere is very nice and they have outside seating on the sidewalk. We didn't have to wait at all to be seated, and our waitress was great.

staffs super chill the twisted teas are ice cold and rumor has it the owner has a monster hog 7/5 stars

Positives: they had seating for 8 people on a Saturday evening, service and drinks were good. They had the sports games on! Could be better: the food was very spicy, even things on the menu that you wouldn't expect. They didn't have many gluten free or vegetarian options. I ordered an eggplant and mozzarella sandwich that had about 7 hot peppers in it with the seeds. With the hot peppers the sandwich would be rated at a 1. Without peppers? maybe a 3- pretty bland without much substance compared to the large bun.

Been here a couple times, thought it was finally time to leave a review after my visit last week. Just came to have a few drinks/watch a game, and think this may be a Philly hidden gem. Have had their food before, and it is definitely elevated bar food with some unique twists on some classics (the Buffalo cauliflower is so good). Had two different whiskey drinks (one a twist on a Mule, the other just a stronger liquor based drink) and they both were decent in their own ways. Bartender was great and explained them to me in detail before making to ensure that I would like them. $24 for 2 whiskey based drinks seemed fair. The drink list must have had 20+ different cocktails, 15 or so different beers on draft, and plenty of other bottles. My friend got the Burger w/ a side of pasta salad to which he said both were great. There isn't a ton of seating (probably 40 seats inside and 20 outside?), but think it really is a great neighborhood corner bar that is crowded on the weekends. Overall, a place with a good vibe, good staff with solid food and drink. Beats a couple other places around the city that charge more!!

My previous visit to Varga Bar was for happy hour. My most recent visit to Varga Bar was for happy hour plus dinner and totally warrants a review update. The happy hour special is still killer. And then some, since they have it on Saturdays too. Half price craft beer drafts on a weekend? Half price craft beer drafts in general? Yes, yes, yes! And then you throw food into the mix and you have a seriously winning combination. I had the eggplant parmesan sandwich and they took this basic concept to the next level. Firstly, it was ginormous. I've walked away hungry after eating eggplant parm sandwiches, but this was far from the case. There were so many ingredients that went beyond basic as well including manchego, sprouts, pickled red onions, organic greens, heirloom tomato and rosemary aioli. The marinara came in a little dish on the side. It was a little messy to eat but well worth it. My husband had the duck confit wings. I got to try one and kind of wish we got a second order just for sharing. They were on point all around. The only thing making this a 4 star review and not a 5 was the service. Our server was so disinterested and inattentive. He was merely going through the motions. We had to flag him down a few times and he just seemed to be dragging his feet. This is not enough to dissuade me from returning (because everything else was stellar!), I just feel it should be noted. Hopefully my next update will include 5 star food, drink and service across the board from Varga Bar.

Very average experience. Their fried pickles are good and cocktails remain dependable, but their main courses need some work. Turkey burger was a bit dry and their fries were unseasoned... but heck, who really cares, you're at a bar right?!

Great beer options and brunch on a Saturday Definitely will be coming back here after my first visit yesterday! They have two hand pumped beers, they remind me of the room temperature caste beers that I had at The Dandellion Pub but a new experience and awesome different options for beer! The bartender said it is a great beer if you just want to chug a bunch of beers and relax all day, SOLD! For brunch there were MANY stellar options, I opted for the lump crabmeat, spinach, and boursin cheese omellete. This was a great selection - healthy, filling and when I see the words lump crabmeat with eggs its very hard to choose another meal option. When I return I will definitely try something different however as there are plenty of neat menu options. I am debating going back today to try the duck confit chicken wings which I have been hearing great things about. I will see you again Varga bar in the very near future. Bravo and SYOY!!

My visit tonight was less than stellar. It was a weeknight with very few patrons. I sat at the far end of the bar and ordered a chicken sandwich and beer. The sandwich took a long time to come out. So I had to look at it before I took a bite. It barely had any crust on it and was soggy from the pickle. No one wants to bite in to a fried chicken sandwich with no crunch. It was so disappointed from previous orders. The shoestring fries and slaw were good. The beer was on special and I know why but I choice poorly. The bar service was also lacking. He never checked on me once during my meal. Towards the end of my meal, the bartender had his back to me for a considerable time. I was trying to get my check and leave. He even walked twice over to the register but never checked on me. He was talking to either employees or regulars. I had my plate pushed up to the end of the bar and he didn't even see it twice. Finally, the wait staff picked up my plate and cleared it before he did. I had to ask the wait staff to tell the bartender to bring my check. He brought my check and didn't even say one word to me. Just left it on the counter. No apology or kind word. He never once checked on me during my meal. I'll walk a few block before I'll dine here again.

Right when we are seated the bar area has a swarm of people and we assume it is a birthday party or flash mob. Nope. Beer chugging contest is what one person says to another. A photographer is on deck and as a winner is decided all hands go to the air. Excitement. Burgers are coming and going. Drinks are flowing. Wait staff are climbing through the crowd. 30 minutes later it's back to business as usual as if nothing ever happened. At my table 5 girlfriends trucked in from the NJ train station to share plates, drink a little and enjoy the open air since warm weather is within days reach. We're on an appetizer/small plate extravaganza: Kobe beef sliders (a favorite), wings, gooey cheese fries, Mac and cheese (heart attack heaven), fried pickles, won-ton thingys and the best pick--the spring rolls with ham. 3 stars for our fried food kick. Next time we come back we're signing up for that beer chugging contest. Eye on the prize.

Varga has a cozy neighborhood vIbe. The staff are friendly and well informed about craft beer and whiskey of every walk, whIch they carry upward of 50 varieties, including Irish, Scotch, Bourbon, Rye, and various other areas of production including Philadelphia. The menu offers elevated and creative pub fare. If you've got a question about a brew or a spirit, ask Rich. He's an encyclopedia on the subjects.

The service was below par. We were forgotten for the most part of dinner with no refills on water and a good 15-20 minutes after we sat down and someone came over. We had the Kobe sliders, duck confit chicken wings, some mixed drink, and a beer. The cocktail was barely there and tasted like juice. The beer was a solid beer. The duck confit chicken was a strange flavor. We liked it... we think? It was a taste we just couldn't figure out, but I don't think it's something we would order again. The Kobe sliders were the best thing of our visit. It was incredible and full of flavor! There were only 3 and it came with just 3 onion rings. The overall experience was ok. The service poor. For the price, it wasn't something we would consider worth it. Don't think we'll be back but a place to try if you're in the neighborhood and are looking to sit outside.

Varga is just all-around great. The bartenders are super friendly. The draft list is always fantastic. And now that I've finally tried their food (the kobe sliders), I can only say good things about that too. So, yes, Varga emanates all the positive describers. I was here most recently Monday night for a meet-and-greet with Ninkasi's founding brewer. They're out of Eugene, Oregon, and I LOVE THEM. They also had bottles of Ninkasi's new Ground Control. I'm not actually sure how to put into words how excited I was about both of those points (my hands shook a little upon receiving the pretty pretty space stout..), but I feel like I have to mention it here because Varga is awesome and hosts must-attend events like that. Definitely returning soon!

Varga Bar, oh how I love you! It truly is a hidden gem tucked away on the corner of Spruce street. There is something so comfy, cozy, and intimate about this bar. It is a fairly tiny bar so it is an ideal spot if you're looking to grab food and drinks with a couple of friends. Varga Bar has a nice ambience and gives off a chill vibe. The Pandora playlist that played throughout the night was on point. A lot of well known old throwbacks... Third Eye Blind, Chumbawumba, and Jack Johnson just to name a few. The bar is dimly lit and there were tiny candles placed on the bar. Really set the mood! Paintings of pinup girls adorn the ceiling and walls. The bathroom was very clean which is always a plus. The food was so tasty. I tried the truffle mac and cheese, fried pickles, and chicken and vegetable soup. All three were phenomenal. The soup was very hearty and the perfect choice given the cold weather. The truffle mac and cheese was also very good. The truffle flavoring is what really made the entree. The portion size was decent... it definitely was enough for a meal for me. The fried pickles were delicious and served piping hot. They came with a side of chipotle mayo. The drinks were just as good too! Service was awesome. Our food and drinks were prepared very quickly. All of the employees were really friendly. I'll be back soon! Already craving the truffle mac and cheese again...

The four of us celebrated Mother's Day and dined outside in their partially enclosed seating area. The overhead infrared heaters chased the damp chill away. The appetizers provided a great selection and the entrées were limited to two. This is how it is during the pandemic. We feasted on six appetizers and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. The inside bar was closed though it was very funky. Can't wait to go back!

So varga is or I should say used to be my favorite place to eat delicious food and drink great beers! however I went there last week raving about it to the staff at my new job, but to my surprise we were very disappointed and I was embarrassed to have recommended this place. Such a shame. Seems like they recently replaced their chef BIG MISTAKE!!! And kept the same menu that was not executed anywhere near the standards the other chef had set. I've never met that chef or seen him but his food and creativity said enough! The Kobe burger which used to be my absolute favorite burger! And in my opinion the best burger in philly, now is served with a less quality meat not nearly as tasty as the one they used to use, and they replaced the delicious brioche buns with simple seeded rolls not at all what the burger used to be!!! Sad I paid 14.5 for that the old one I would have paid double!!! Also I ordered my burger medium and it came out nearly well done. Cheese plate was still good pretty hard to mess that up tho, service was terrible, they weren't on their game at all! We could've drank 3 more rounds of drinks if they were attentive. This place really saddens me how they've changed. Seems like poor decisions have been made and the quality has gone down immensely. My advice is to hunt down the original chef give him a raise and retrain the staff get this place back to normal please cause I will miss the old varga greatly!

Been coming here since I moved to Philadelphia four years ago, and I have to say I'm never disappointed. They have one of the best beer selections in the city. The outdoor dining is a must right now, and I didn't feel like other people were sitting too close. The crispy Brussel sprouts are my favorite thing on the menu. I always recommend this place to anyone visiting the city. Great food, great atmosphere, friendly staff, and great beer.

Hungry? They have decent crabcakes and sliders. Duck confit chicken wings doused in a pomegranate molasses-bourbon-chili sauce fail to impress, so go for their zippy macaroni and cheese instead - they're popular for a reason. Have a sweet tooth? Share an order of their cereal ice cream. Refined booze-hounds will appreciate their beer selection. At night, a DJ does his thing for the crowd. The crowd itself is interesting, but there were too many dudes last I was there (read: they're not Vagina Bar).

Serendipitously, I paid a visit to Varga Bar 5 years later with another girlfriend of mine...almost to-the-date (August 8 instead of August 3, according to the previous review's post date) :D Eating outside in the city at an establishment like Varga Bar is a treat, indeed - we got lucky with such pleasant weather! Without updating myself on the menu options before making plans, I enticed my gal friend with the calamari that I had last time. When we got there and looked at the menu, we didn't see it! Bummed out, but we persisted and ordered the pot o 'pickles, pork belly blt (1 per person), and cocktails. It was still a wonderful dining experience, and I would go back - without or with calamari!

At first, I had trouble believing Varga Bar was a 5-star place. After all, it was only my first visit. Maybe the wonderful weather for March influenced my rating. Maybe it was a carry over from events from earlier in the evening - those Yelp events are known to add subsequent stars. Then again, maybe it was the result of the great new people I had met and was hanging out with - Vinny P, Maggie M, and Callan W. Unable to trust myself, I decided to return a second time before offering a rating. This time, with a completely clear head and my a few friends, Varga Bar still hit the high notes. The food is delicious, the drinks unique, and the homemade ketchup... well the homemade ketchup is probably the best I've ever tasted. Enjoy Varga! Running into the Mayor relaxing in Varga Bar certainly didn't hurt its rating any!

It pains me to have to say it because the bartenders are decent and the food used to be one of my favorites, but this place is just horrible when it comes to service! It take a lot for me to give 1-star anywhere (especially after formerly rated it at 5 a few years back) but I must say the host staff is so horrendous over the past 6 months or so, I'll never be back and if I ran this place I'd want to know. Twice I've come (after probably 25 past visits) where the hostess (both, different each time) acted so rude and caddy that I have now officially decided that this place is not worth it. I was always so proud of this neighborhood spot, and then to be made to feel awful during two occasions out was horrifying. These meaningless individuals honestly put a major damper on two separate dinners meant to be special with their awful attitudes, and as someone who works in customer service, it disgusted me. I'm ashamed to say that I have referred as many out-of-towners here. Hire talented, more customer-oriented folks! Your staff is disrespectful to the point it outweighs the food and ambiance. What a shame to waste that on a few lousy representatives of your brand. After one laughed when we walked out, I realized they may not realize - or obviously be able to grasp - how detrimental their entire presence is to such a formerly awesome spot. Bummed for whoever is managing this place!

Highly recommend! This is definitely a go-back-to-place for me. I think I found my favorite snack place. Here is everything we got: Truffle mac and cheese with bacon - it was so good! It was topped with bits of truffle too and was really cheesy. They put mascarpone cheese in it! Crab lump fries - I am not crazy about crab, but this was a winner too. It was shoe string fries topped with this melted cheeses with crab. Fish (shark) tacos - spicy and delicious! It's a must try! Buck a shuck special - the oysters were huge! It also came with this vinaigrette that I also liked. You should also try their homemade ketchup! Our server (Dan, I believe) was great. He was swift and attentive. We never had to get his attention because he got to it before we did. It's as if he were psychic.

Can't believe I haven't written a review yet for as often as I come here. About time! I love Varga Bar because: First and foremost: Buck a shuck Oysters!! All day every day!!! (except now i'm told they are no longer $1 on Fri & Sat, which is OK by me, too busy anyway). I'm used to most gastropubs serving $1 oysters only during 5-7pm HH. Not Varga!! Come here at 10pm, who cares!? Still get your oysters for a dollar. Secondly, the food is always top notch. Everything I've had has been phenomenal. Turkey & warm brie sandwich with caramelized apples was lip smacking delicious. The pork tacos were also great. The Boston Bib Lettuce wraps were so yummy, and so was the veggie burger. I've heard (but not tried yet), the truffle mac & cheese is a signature dish along with the brussel sprouts, so I will try those next. The place itself is small, but there's plenty of outside seating which is nice. They open up the huge windows to the outside seating area. Waitresses are always friendly. The bartenders are nice, and very knowledgeable about the beer. There is about 20 taps here, always rotating and they always have several selections of "heavy hitters" with 10%+ ABV. You will always find something rare here. Also, if you're not a beer drinker (sorry for you!), J/K, they also have several kinds of specialty house mixed drinks that are delicious. Varga bar is certainly one of my favorite local spots in the city, to drink a rare craft beer, eat some dollar oysters, and chow down on amazing food. Hell, I love this place so much that I bought the t-shirt!

Had a very weird experience today when I came in today to grab a beer. I was Id'ed, which is flattering because the idea that I look 20 is a nice one. I presented my Hard Copy license (which is expired) and the temp license (which is very much NOT--it's good until PennDOT sends me my updated ID. So good that I got onto a flight with it. It is legitimate ID and that is why the state issued it to me.) I'm 27. I understand refusing service for someone that doesn't have legitimate ID even if they are clearly of age but I did have legitimate ID? No problem with the food, I moved out of the neighborhood in 2016 and still bike down from my "new" house specifically for Varga. I love this place as a whole and would've easily given it 5 stars at any other point in the past five years, I'm just rather put off by the SUPER strange interaction.

Service was great but food no so good. I had horrible heart burn later in the night to the point where I felt like I couldn't breathe. Food tasted very processed.

I would have given them two stars. However, my server Dana was really nice. We had the St. Louis barbecue dinner and the lump crab fries. The ribs nor the fries were enjoyable I wish the taste match the presentation. We also had a sangria and a root beer to drink. Those were really good

Great spot to grab a quick bite and a beer. Solid draft list, and plenty of fun finger foods: fried pickles, calamari, fries, etc. Mid-day it's pretty quiet and a good spot to catch up and have a conversation. Although there wasn't anything that really set it apart from other spots, it was a good time and enjoyable!

Great vibes and great food. Delivered delicious bar food brunch. Kids had fun too. We didn't have any drinks. Service was attentive and friendly.

We just ate at Varga Bar outside during COVID and the experience was fantastic. Our server was extremely pleasant and efficient. The food and cocktails were delicious per usual! Would definitely recommend visiting while outdoor dining is permitted because it felt safe and professional.

Went back here for brunch on a Sunday morning and was pleasantly surprised! They weren't particularly busy which is rare for Philly brunch and we able quickly able to get a seat without a reservation. They have outdoor seating with heating lamps available as well. We tried the lump crab omelette which was tasty and pretty filling. We also shared the French toast which was a total winner--it was HUGE and very decadent. Overall solid staple brunch, with good service.

Good drinks, good bar and table service, but the food is just OK. I've been there a few times now, but I ate there for the first time for brunch. I had the eggs Benedict (my absolute favorite) and they were not particularly good. The hollandaise sauce wasn't very flavorful, they used bacon instead of ham (I love bacon, but it's weird on an eggs Benedict), and the English muffin was mostly soggy. We ordered the duck wings to share (a friend told us it was one of their signature dishes) which were pretty good, but I wouldn't go out if my way to get them. The atmosphere is fun and lively, and I would definitely recommend as a place to get a good drink at the bar, but I would not go back for food.

I love the beer selection here and the ambiance of the place. I really like the food for the most part. I felt that the calamari was a bit sweet for my liking, so I might not get that again. Overall, pretty decent place to stop by for a beer and something to eat :-)

Went here for happy hour after walking by the day before, having been totally drawn to its outdoor seating and crowd--I figured it must be good! My friend and I ordered off the happy hour drink menu: he got a beer and I got a glass of Cabernet. I was disappointed that they only had two wine options for the happy hour special, which were Cab and Chardonnay. They also only had 3 happy hour food options, which were all odd and didn't seem that appealing. Nonetheless, we were both hungry for a full meal, and each ordered a turkey burger. The burger was pretty good, although, personally I thought it lacked some flavor. My friend loved it, though. Not the biggest fan of their house-made ketchup, but I like how they have an option in sauces. The service was fast and efficient, as well as welcoming and friendly.

I went to Varga with a friend for City Center restaurant week, but we didn't order from the restaurant week menu. Drinks: The beer list is extensive & seems worth exploring. My dinner companion ordered a beer the waitress recommended, and I had a glass of wine. For dinner, I started with the Kentucky fried cauliflower and it was perfectly fried. The texture was great and there was a hint of spice, but overall they lacked flavor. I don't think the batter was well seasoned, and it's a shame, because with better seasoning I'd come back for the cauliflower. I had the fish tacos and they were good, as was the corn that came with them. My friend had a Caesar salad with polenta croutons and wings, both of which he enjoyed. I'd try this place again for happy hour.

Butternut Squash soup with Lump Crabmeat and maitake mushrooms. The soup had so much flavor. My sister in law had the ham and cheese firing rolls. They were absolutely delicious in her words. The combination of the ham and cheese with the pickle gave it just the right tang. The scallop special with vegetables was just devine. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the vegetables were just beautiful. There was such a great variety of vegetables cooked just to perfection.