We are there about once a week and my only problem with the place is my picky teenagers love it there so much that it's very hard to persuade them to try any other restaurants. And secretly I am relieved every time they insist on going because we are never disappointed. The food and service seem to get better every year. read more

Amazing! Shared a bunch of food. Chicken wings so delicious and meaty. The philly and salad so filling and tasty. Drinks were nice and staff super friendly and helpful. read more

The service and food continue to be inconsistent. At today's lunch there was a long wait (despite few full tables) for our order to be taken. Shared appetizer came, followed five minutes later by entrees. Entrees were wrong. I ordered side chips and got salad. My guest ordered a cheesesteak without peppers, and got peppers. My BTT Burger was literally tasteless. Guest's fries were limp and unappetizing. Drinks came only after entrees came -- waitress had to be reminded we ordered them. On the good side, the front of house greeters have been friendlier of late. Not sure why BTT can't get things right more often. Sometimes we go in and the service is amazingly professional and and food is spot on; and sometimes they are like today. It seems safest to stick with the bar and order appetizers, which are consistently excellent as compared to the lunch or dinner entrees. read more

Hardly worth the wait for poor service and unseasoned food. I began writing this as I've ordered my food at 11:10am and it is 12:35pm and I have not received my food. **Update, I received my food at 12:40pm** Visiting family in the area, we decided on a Sunday Brunch at Broad Table Tavern at the Swathmore Inn. We arrived around 10:45am to find a number of open tables, however the hostess would not allow us to sit at them as they had reservations at those tables for 12:30pm and 1pm. By the time we left, at least 3 of those tables had remained opened and unused by reservations. We sat at the bar, as that was the only option. And waited 15 minutes to even get drink menus from the bar tender, who immediately walked away without asking if we knew what we wanted to drink. The bartender returned about 10 minutes later to take our drink and food orders. We received our drinks after another 10 minute wait (a bit long for 1 bloody Mary, 1 mimosa, and 1 glass of wine at a bar where you're the only 3 people seated). Our bartender/waitress, Dana, was obviously frazzled and continuously complained that she didn't have time to set up, wasn't prepared, etc. Which I can sympathize with, however, asking 1 of a party of 3 if they'd like another drink when the other 2 had barely a sip left in their drinks and were not asked. The bartender/waitress was hardly seen or behind the bar. We watched others sit and wait 15+ minutes for a drink. When our food finally arrived over an hour aftwr ordered it wasn't brought on a tray or brought around to us, but slid halfway to us across the bar that the bartender could barely reach to. We had to stand in our seats to reach and pull across the food. Asking for hot sauce was another 10 minute ordeal as she didn't know where to look for some. I had the Vegmore Hash which has absolutely no flavor or seasoning (hence the hot sauce request). We ate within 15 minutes and as we were finishing, the bartender then proceeded to say she'd be back soon, as she had to go make bloody Mary mix. We thankfully called out loud enough to her to get the check before she took off, we paid and left. Essentially a 2 hour brunch experience that was not due to enjoying food and conversation slowly. But by being unattended, ignored, being served poorly and sub par, over priced food. Not somewhere I'll be recommending or coming back to. I give it 2 stars instead of 1 simply because it has a nice atmosphere. read more

My wife and I went here for a couple of reasons: 1- It's walking distance from home 2- We are always looking to try new places 3- The menu looked great. Unfortunately the food was overpriced, portions were small, and everything but the whiskey lacked taste. They tried too hard, sometimes if you keep it simple even with exotic items you will hit it out of the park. I don't mind paying good money for good food, I just didn't get what they were trying to do. read more

Nice bar area with friendly and knowledgeable tenders. There are really nice areas in this place to tuck in and enjoy a meal but the meals are hit or miss. I love the atmosphere but always find myself wishing the food was better. But the wings are always great. read more

I love this place. The food and atmosphere are typically top notch. However, dinner on Sunday was disappointing. - waited to be seated in a nearly empty restaurant with a reservation. No one was at the host stand. Was passed by an employee who said someone would be with us. - decent cocktail, no head on beer that was ordered. No cocktail napkins. Weird. - asked for bread to have with cocktail it didn't arrive until after 3 requests and was nearly finished with my entree. - tomato basil soup was nearly spaghetti sauce and almost inedible. No crackers, croutons, or bread. See above. - Entrees arrived before we were finished with appetizers. - seared scallop entree was good. 4 seared scallops fingerling potatoes and shallots (no other veg) are not worth $32 Observing other tables, there were those who arrived before us and received their meal way after us. just a disappointing experience at a place I usually really enjoy. Truly hope this isn't a new normal. read more

This is a cute, cozy little restaurant where I had dinner with my friend and her family. The restaurant is so sweet, with a real wood fireplace in the center. Now knowing this, the next time I visit this place, will try to reserve a little table near by and enjoy the warmth. We ordered a few appetizers and drinks during happy house (4-6pm) and were really blown away by both appetizers: grilled octopus and broccoli (and it's relatively hard to impress me with this vegetable...). I am also delighted to see that this place has a menu to accommodate vegans! Also the restaurant was really accommodating to my friend's 1 year old baby, which is super important for any young family! Overall - we had a really nice experience! read more

Updated Review (Sept. 2018): We came back to eat here a couple of days ago and had a very disappointing meal here, so I'm changing my four-star review to two-stars. We ordered a couple of dishes that we've really enjoyed during previous visits--the shrimp and grits and the Vegmore Hash. They were so different that I asked whether there was a new chef, and the server noted that indeed, they now have a different chef, though their cooks are the same. The Vegmore Hash was basically just a couple of eggs on top of a huge pile of decent home fries. The "Veg" part of the dish consisted of a very small amount of shriveled peas and an even tinier amount of chopped asparagus. I'm a total clean plate eater, but I didn't finish most of the dish. My wife got the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were great, but the grits were very bland and runny. She said, "if I'm going to order a rich meal like this, it better count." Unfortunately, it didn't. We told the server that we were disappointed and she was very nice about it, and offered to reduce our bill by 20 percent. But decided not to take them up on their offer and will instead start looking for other options. It's a shame, because Swarthmore College really should have a good restaurant for visitors, and this one falls short. Old Review (March 2018): We've eaten brunch here twice. I was expecting it to be over-priced hotel food, but everything was delicious and very reasonably priced. The shrimp and grits were fantastic--tender shrimp, buttery grits, and a really flavorful sauce. I had the Vegmore Hash, which was surprisingly tasty (in spite of its unappealing name). My daughter had the buttermilk pancakes, which were scrumptious. The staff were super nice and efficient. It's never been busy when we've visited, so it felt fairly quiet and relaxed. I'd definitely come back for another meal. read more

Absolutely ridiculous. Their service is always slower than it should be for the price but this morning was another level. The restaurant was far from full. Maybe 6 or so tables were taken including one large party of twelve and it took us over two hours to be served and complete our meal. When i complained the waitress didn't apologize and instead just made excuses about their being only one cook and that there was that other table of 12. While we waited we had to ask multiple times for coffee refills and the waitress rarely came by despite the fact we saw a group of waitstaff, including our waitress, just chatting to each other. The manager never came by to apologize or explain. When the food finally started coming out, it took more than 10 minutes for them finally get everyone served at our table. They brought out plates one by one and the first of our party of 6 had finished by the time the last were served. We were not offered a discount or anything but an excuse. I think I'm done giving them second chances. read more

I have been considering stopping into the Broad Table Tavern for a while now and finally decided to pull the trigger for brunch. The interior of the restaurant is cute and the staff was relatively friendly. We ordered mimosas, chicken and waffles to share along with a side of bacon and well done home fries. The chicken and waffles were GOOD!! The chicken was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The waffles were warm and fluffy. The bacon was also very good. Now, the home fries...first they came out completely white. They did not look like they had been cooked or seasoned. We notified the waitress and had them remade. She brought them back a few minutes later, still looking barely cooked but swore that they were as dark as they would get and she had watched them put them back in the fryer. I was skeptical because I have cooked potatoes plenty of times and have never heard of potatoes that won't brown but I took her word for it and tried one. They were HARD and basically raw. I'm not even sure how they were still raw considering they were cut pretty small so they should have cooked pretty fast. Needless to say, we didn't eat them, but the waitress never asked us if they were okay and of course when the bill came we were charged for them. They were only $3 but I'd prefer not to pay for something that is inedible. They are also a bit pricey, we ended up spending about $50 before tip. Not sure if it's worth going back. read more

Came here for dinner and a drink. I was impressed with the decor and atmosphere. It has a contemporary and refined feeling. I sat at both the bar and a table and found the restaurant to be well laid out, comfortable, and it didn't feel crowded despite being full of customers. I ended up having the airline chicken breast with polenta, collard greens, and cajun veloute. It was tender and quite delectable. I also got the 'Wisdom' cocktail, which is gin, cranberries, sage infused syrup, and cranberry juice. While it was $14, it was certainly delicious and was not light on the alcohol pour. I will certainly come back here for dinner again. I hear that a lot of their menu is seasonal and it changes from time to time. read more

Broad Table Tavern - A gin based drink called "wisdom" - Bars Near Me - Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

I'm a big fan. Excellent beer. Nice atmosphere. Dinner is tasty and they do change up the menu seasonally. I don't know if they do the brunch anymore but the french toast is amazing! read more

Went there today (Christmas) for lunch with my wife. Lunch was being served from 11 to 2, we got there at 11:15. Five occupied tables: all 2-tops except one 4-top. Two waitstaff in duty plus a hostess. We were seated promptly, given menus, told our server would be by shortly. Six minutes later, a server came by and asked if our server had come by yet. No ... I'll see that they get to you quickly. Six more minutes, no server at our table and only saw the other server attend to one other table. Another minute ... and we're gone. No hostess at the door to ask why we were leaving. I've heard there's a new chef and the food is greatly improved. A shame we didn't get to try it. read more

This is a two-star review. I am giving this establishment two stars because every aspect of my dining experience was sub-par, but nothing was so heinous that I feel comfortable giving only one star. It seemed that not a single waiter knew anything about the menu. My partner requested information about the beer menu, that two waiters were unable to answer. We suggested asking the bartender, which our waiter agreed to. We heard nothing, and eventually flagged another waiter down to ask, and finally received some information. It took an absurd amount of time to receive our food, about forty minutes. Furthermore, there were patrons that ordered fifteen minutes after us and received food before us. Another point of consideration was the fact that our waiter was chewing gum while serving us. I understand this may not upset everyone, but I personally found it unprofessional. Then there was the food. The best thing I can say are that the portions are large. I ordered an appetiser of fries that was, like much of this restaurant, completely mediocre. Both my partner and I ordered burgers, hers ordered medium and mine rare. Burgers came (and I know we we served correctly because of the dietary restrictions that prevented my partner from ordering bacon on hers), and we found hers rarer than mine, which was a crisp well-done. On top of all that, it took thirty minutes for a waiter to circulate outside and give us our cheque. This is the dining experience that inspired me to create a Yelp account. I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone. Do not eat here, you will be disappointed. read more

My husband and I have been back twice-- we can't get enough of the mushroom soup. It's amazing!!! I get the steak and he gets the chicken, both times we left super satisfied. Our waitress Page was incredibly personable and had a real personality, we both said we would want to hang out with her. We will be back again for sure. read more

This place has the worst service. I came here one morning and we ordered three things off the menu. Our waiter only wrote down two of those things. Even worse, he was the manager. Furthermore, it took almost forever to get a check, and it wasn't even from him. He must have forgotten about us. The next morning, we sought better service. We ordered our food, yet instead of receiving sunny-side-up eggs, like I had asked for, I got scrambled. Both days, waiters would explain how they were low on staff. Get those staff and figure it out, because I'm tired of not receiving what I ordered. read more

I really wanted to,like this place a lot as it is close to home. It is located on the newly minted roundabout on the south side of the Route 320-Septa train underpass in Swarthmore. It's really just OK, not fantabulous. Visually, inside, the place is stunning, modern but warm, inside fireplace and what looked like an outside fireplace as well. They have a full bar in otherwise very dry Swarthmore. I stopped in for a late lunch with a friend around 2:30 and found the place empty except fo the few tables outside that were taken. We opted to stay inside because of the noise from the roundabout. The menu had a limited number of entrées. There were four types of sandwiches, none particularly exciting, six or so salads to which you could add shrimp, chicken, etc., and 10 or so appetizers including octopus but my dining partner was not going for that. I opted for the double cheeseburger which was too large for one. There was no option fo single patty and I did not ask. This was served well done and a bit greasy. Fries were shoestring and quite crispy. My dining partner ordered the asparagus salad. This came with some greens, radicchio, asparagus and slices of parmesan cheese. These were $13 and $9 dollars respectively - a bit high for the salad. For dessert we split the panna cotta which came with a strawberry topping. This was very good and the portion quite large. The coffee was fresh, the decaf, not so much but it was 2:30 with no one in the house. Service was exemplary, friendly, and professional. This was the highlight of the visit. Parking is metered, street parking just outside the entrance. Food 3 stars. Atmosphere 4. Service 4. Menu 3. I might give them one more shot at dinner because they are local. read more

Always a nice atmosphere for a drink, but the food quality has deteriorated significantly since the restaurant opened.

I had very high hopes, but was disappointed. We had 6:30 reservations for outside. They sat us inside by the fireplace, which seemed nice, but the chairs are too low for the table. Our kind waitress hooked us up and we got to sit outside. After the same waitress forgot to put in our baratta order, she did reorder it for us at no charge. The swordfish was cooked perfectly, but the sauce was tasteless. It was very green, but no taste. Would I go back? I'd try their happy hour. It seems like more of a winter place to me with the indoor and outdoor fireplaces. read more

My husband and I have been coming here since we were married two years ago. The staff are always fantastic and friendly. Today in particular Ricardo and Annita who were working the bar were such a delight to be spending time with. I can't wait to spend many more wedding anniversaries at this great establishment. Hummus is DELISH so definitely get it but you need to split it with at least one other person. read more

Broad Table Tavern - Bars Near Me - Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

So we came back after we heard they found an executive chef. The food continues to be good - if slightly unimaginative and limited in selection. However the service also continues to be uneven. We're hopeful and maybe things will improve. Unfortunate given the space is great and the location is convenient. read more

Went there for breakfast on 12/17. Upon entering the hostess and waitress couldn't figure out how to properly seat us. We should have taken that as an omen and left. The wait to order was way too long given the 5-6 other tables and at least 3 staff members available. The food was undercooked to the point of a food safety concern(the eggs bubbled whitish liquid) and our server was AWOL for way too long. A second cup of coffee was never offered. It was an absolutely terrible experience. Before writing this review I did try and address it with a manager at the Broad Table. I tried calling twice and got no answer either time. I will not go back, nor would I recommend it to anyone. read more

We were there for my birthday! 5 people we shared appetizers cocktails- and then the main courses chicken fish and pasta! All delicious! Excellent service! Deserts apple pear tarte and 3 dips of ice cream -we all sang happy birthday to me! read more

This is Swarthmore's upscale joint and only bar in the boro. Not the place to go tie one on for drinking but a nicely appointed bar with friendly waitstaff and a super knowledgeable bartender who might tell you about Hawaii if you ask. Octopus app is a fave and their wings are slammin' too. Sometimes it can be a tad noisy but I am ok with noisy. read more

Ate here for the first time this Sunday for lunch. We wanted noon reservations but they only had 12:15. So we took that. Anticipating a busy place we arrived at 12:00. Nothing but empty tables. No reservations for noon, yet not a single occupied table at that time? I guess 10 parties must have cancelled at the last minute. Anyway, service was still slow. Waiter seemed in no hurry, spilled water 6 separate times while pouring across the table rather than moving around the table. We had a menu question - of course we had to ask it twice before we got an answer. There were 6 of us. Burger was good. Kid's grilled cheese was OK. Chicken in my chicken Caesar salad was dry and very hard. Tacos in the chipotle chicken taco dish were very, very stale. My wife ate the filling, eventually complained about the tacos when the waiter finally reappeared. He said, "I will certainly alert the chef as that is unacceptable". We never heard another word, so either stale tacos ARE acceptable to the chef so he/she thought we were only warning them to use fresh tacos the next time. Well, there won't be a next time for us. The kid's chicken tenders were way over cooked, downright rocks. Flavor was good but a major effort to chew! Finally, the quinoa bowl was good and the fries were delicious. The ambiance of the place is very nice, as you would expect in Swarthmore, but the food and service were definitely subpar. Prices were fine for a nice place, but I would have liked McDonald's more and saved $60 in the process. Can not recommend read more

We went for Mother's Day brunch. I made a reservation months ago and was never told that they would have a special limited menu for the holiday. There was no mention of it on their website either. They didn't even mention it when they called to confirm the reservation this past week. It seemed that every table, the ones that actually had diners, had the same confusion. The manager came over to our table after we asked the server if other items might be available as a courtesy. He was more combative and defensive than apologetic. He said they do this for every holiday but it is not advertised on the website or mentioned when they take the reservations - yet he was surprised at our frustration. Moreover, the service was slow. It took over 30 minutes just to get our drinks, let alone order our food. I will say that the server was really nice and wanted to be helpful. He just wasn't very knowledgeable and didn't have any control over the circumstances. No blame to him. Finally, the food was just okay. Nothing special. They definitely aren't what they are trying to be. In all honesty, if the manager had been at least a little apologetic or tried to make our experience any better, I might have let it be. I would have still been disappointed and would not return; however, I may have spared this review. The fact that they didn't seem to care is my biggest complaint. Not worth a visit. read more

The food at Broad Table Tavern was very tasty, and the portions were filling. Unfortunately, they seemed pretty understaffed. Our server did not arrive with water for 10 minutes, and another server ended up taking over for us despite between her other tables. They ran out of gluten free bread, which happens and I totally understand. However, when we asked for some sourdough, it took 10 minutes for the server to come back and tell us they were out of sourdough. We asked for white toast, and that didn't arrive, so we had to ask the hostess to make some. The toast then came out very underdone. I certainly don't blame our server, she actually came out to apologize to us, which I found very professional. It was just unfortunate that they were so understaffed. read more

The food was edible and the service acceptable. However, whoever created the menu made a naive, provocative and unnecessary mistake by listing the couscous as "Israeli." Couscous is actually North African and no more "Israeli" than is hummus. The truth is that Israel treats its minorites in ways that would be illegal here in the U.S., and is presently trying to appropriate not only someone else's land, but someone else's food. And, it seems that the Broad Table at Swathmore is OK with this. As a patron, I am not. Lawrence Davidson 12/27/19 read more

Cassoulet not so good. And not cheap. My comments not well received by waitress. In fact she walked away mid conversation. Not Usual experience here. read more

We want Broad Table Tavern to be great, but they can't seem to get there. Bar and restaurant atmosphere is nice. Service is very good. Food is good but not great. We have tried a little of everything over multiple visits. During our last visit our 2 year old was served chicken tenders that were not fully cooked and were in fact cold in the inside. I think it's time we finally put a fork in the place. read more

While I do want to give this place a pass or two bc of COVID, completely forgetting to put in the order for someone's meal really has nothing to do with a restaurant's struggle during a pandemic, neither is the poor quality food served. When someone who loves bacon ranks their bacon below the eggs you know there's a problem. Not only was it rubbery, but the flavor was off. Coffee was terrible too. This might be a decent spot for a cocktail, but right now you can't get a drink without ordering a meal...I guess you could buy whatever meal is cheapest, get your drink and don't touch the meal? Sorry, BTT, you'll need to try harder. read more

Dear Chef at Broad Table Tavern, I am pleading with you to improve the quality of food at your restaurant. We love your restaurant and that is why we write you. We love the waitstaff, the managers, the ambiance, the drinks and the concept. However the food is rarely good and usually disappointing. Do you even notice which are the popular dishes? It looks like you don't because those tend to be the ones you get rid of. The pancakes you made years ago which used to be the best anywhere--the recipe is no longer used. Shrimp tacos? Gone. Nachos? Gone. Bibb salad that everyone loved? Gone. Super popular Ricotta toasts with honey? Gone. The hummus platter that used to be to-die-for, now has a bunch of inedible pickled junk. Why, on earth, would you eliminate what works for your guests and replace it with garbage? I take this personally because I have been supporting this restaurant long before you came. This is where I would like to bring my friends but the sub-par food is steering us elsewhere. We need a chef who LISTENS to his guests, OBSERVES their preferences and CARES. We have repeatedly made suggestions and requests via the wonderful waitstaff and you always ignore. I don't think you care. Please either care or leave. We want this restaurant to be a success! read more

This was my first time at the Broad Table Tavern. I was there with 2 friends on a Wednesday. First, I love the ambiance. It is a great place to meet friends and actually be able to have a conversation. The food was delicious and prepared exactly as we asked. Two of us had the salmon and one had a pasta dish. All very good. We also got a cheese board and dessert. I like a good bread when I dine out and this bread did not disappoint. I am going to be regular from now on. read more

Cute, local, cozy place w a good vibe. Good cocktails and good food. You HAVE to get the burger. It's absolutely to DIE for. Perfectly flat top grilled, w this house sauce that you'll want to buy a jar of. Awesome salads and great desserts. Pricing is a little all over the place but a great neighborhood staple. read more

Way too expensive, $14 for a very small glass of wine, food ok but $150 for 2 entree's of pasta, will never return.

Very unprofessional. A colleague and I (both people of color mind you) were sent to a booth in the back corner with ripped seats, dingy menus, and broken pens for the tab. There were plenty of better, open seats available, yet this is were they placed us. Disgraceful. read more

Came for Mother's Day. In addition to the fact that the food took 40 minutes to come out during a not very busy time, as well as two dishes that came out another 20 minutes after the others were served, the food was horrible: completely under seasoned, dry, some vegetables burnt. There are tons of runners just standing around doing nothing, and the servers are flustered. Will not be coming here ever again and will definitely not recommend this place to anyone. read more

Came here the other day to get a salmon salad. My salmon was not cooked all the way through. So disappointing. read more

Broad Table Tavern - Raw salmon. Order a grilled salmon salad and they did not cook it right. - Bars Near Me - Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

My extended family gathered at the Broad Table Tavern recently for a milestone birthday dinner. Guests traveled from the west coast as well as up and down the east coast. As the organizer of this get-together, it was important to me to find a venue that would make our event a success. The Broad Table Tavern at the Inn at Swarthmore exceeded my expectations. The staff cheerfully accommodated a special dietary request, the privacy and charm of the Ingleneuk Room created the perfect atmosphere, and the food was excellent. Neela and the other wait staff were considerate and attentive without being intrusive. I highly recommend the Broad Table Tavern and hope to visit again soon. read more