Interstate Drafthouse has the feel of a true neighborhood bar. There's a great outdoor seating area right next to a park, and the place was full of families. It made me wonder--is Fishtown just packed with families, or does the park send everyone here? Their cheesesteak menu offers several different proteins, and after chatting with the very friendly bartender, I took the recommendation and ordered the Kielbasa Cheesesteak with tots. First, let's talk about the tots. Outstanding. Crispy, golden, and exactly what tots should be. The kielbasa itself was excellent. Am I completely sold on kielbasa cheesesteaks? Not yet. That might just be my old-school thinking. I still believe kielbasa belongs on a soft pretzel roll with spicy mustard. That said, if you're going to order a kielbasa cheesesteak, this is a very good version. The beer selection is excellent, the staff is welcoming, and the atmosphere makes Interstate Drafthouse the kind of neighborhood spot you'll want to come back to--even if you're not there for the cheesesteak.. read more

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Interstate Drafthouse has a pretty standard looking pub and drink menu, but the food was good and the margarita I got was sufficiently strong. The wings were good (pro tip: not all of the wing flavor options were listed on the menu), and I was pleasantly surprised by their French toast churros, which totally stole the show! From the outside, the restaurant looks tiny but it didn't feel cramped inside. Despite it being the afternoon of the Super Bowl qualifying Eagles game, it wasn't deafening loud and our waitress was superb. read more

Interstate Drafthouse - French toast churros - Southern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Very much a local dive bar experience. Both the Flyers and the Phils were playing ,so everyone was drinking and ordering food at the same time. One waiter for the whole place-drinks were good but the service was super slow. Just average food. And waiter never brought my change back. Got tired of waiting so just left. read more

Okay, I know this says "Draft House", but let me start with the cheesesteak here. After years of traveling all over Philadelphia, I have finally found my standard bearer for best cheesesteak in the city. The bread is toasty and garlicky. The meat is nice and toasty too. Excellent flavor in meat and perfect complement with the cheese (no Wiz here). I love it so much, I devoured both mine and half my friend's. One of my friends went with the kielbasa steak. That's not me, but he was completed before I even got through half of mine, so make of that what you will. I'll note that it was the breakfast menu until 2:00. The kitchen is accommodating and there's breakfast cheesesteak on their menu, so there was no issue with preparing the dinner version. (They can also do burgers. Just ask!) As for the draft part of things: friendly frequent service but hardly overbearing, just right. Not a huge selection of beer but I found a local non-IPA that was just right. Small place, a few tables for groups and a few bar seats for individuals, but I can see it filling quickly on a Friday night. My friends and I like roads, so we love all the road signs and license plates and stuff on the wall. Your mileage (pun!) may vary. But for me, there will be return trips in the future. read more

Interstate Drafthouse - noontime meal: Interstate cheesesteak, breakfast potatoes - Southern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Food has improved and it has been consistently pretty good. The service has always been very friendly. It's a great neighborhood place.

Love this spot due to the friendly bartenders, great beer and cocktail offerings, and stellar food/menu. The bar area is very tight, so be forewarned, however, they have a larger dining area in the back and a vast outdoor space that's dog-friendly. You walk in and instantly feel welcomed and part of the family. My only complaint is I'm a lemon drop martini lover and they cost more than I think they should as the serving size is small (short little martini glasses). read more

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Tried Interstate for the first time the other day and I was tragically disappointed :/ I am a longtime vegan and had read great reviews about their food, but sadly it all fell quite flat. I ordered the Vegan Buffalo Seitan Cheesesteak, Ancho Seitan Wings, and Fried Pickles. The cheesesteak was decent but not greatly pleasant to eat. The chunks of seitan didn't go super well with the dish. 3/5 The Ancho Seitan Wings were easily the worst vegan wings I've ever tried. They were literally burnt cubes of fried seitan tossed in seasoning that was working overtime (and failing) to mask the chard taste. I'm not sure if this is how they always come or if the kitchen was off that day but I couldn't finish them. They also included a non-vegan sauce with them instead of the vegan substitute. 1/5 The Fried Pickles were the one redeeming dish of the night. They were well cooked and the portion was generous. I could see myself ordering these while grabbing a drink at the bar. 4.5/5 Would love for this place to redeem itself! read more

Loaded tater tots were good but way too much quantity. I had the beer flight and even though it was the most colorful flight I have seen, I wasn't impressed by any of them. The drinks were also haphazardly thrown on the flight tray and it was spilled everywhere so when I tried to take a sip, it spilled on my clothes and phone - eventually had to drink those by leaning over the bar counter. Anyway, I think it is very popular amongst the neighborhood crowd but I'll not be returning. read more

Interstate Drafthouse - Beer Flight: (back to front) Carrot cake, Pineapple cider, Referend and Pomegranate - Southern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Cheap drinks and cheap food. Great service and nice staff. Loved the outdoor seating!

Cool dive bar in Fishtown! (Guy Fieri where you at?!??!) Interstate Drafthouse is cozy in size but the drinks and food pack a punch of booze and flavor. Their play on the Long Island Ice Tea is fun, served in an ice tea carton and renamed the Fishtown Iced tea. The food is elevated from your usual bar food. During my visit I tasted both the grilled chicken sandwich with fries and the burger with tots. The grilled chicken sandwich was my fave, served on ciabatta with cheese, chipotle aioli, bacon, onions and avocado - an absolute perfect bite. The burger featured a cherry pepper that sort of reminded me of a cheesesteak, but better. Can't wait to try brunch! read more

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One of my favorite places to grab a drink in the neighborhood. They serve classic Fishtown iced teas. Every time I go, I seem to make a new friend. The classic dive bar feel makes me feel so at home, the food is good and the drinks are always flowing. Not to mention they're ingrained in the community so always have fun celebrations of local events. Best part is their courtyard in the warmer months. read more

Not quite a dive bar, but definitely has that dive bar ambiance. IMO, that's a good thing. You get all the feels of it being divey, without the underlying reasons for calling it such. Great energy and pretty good service. There was only one bartender working the full bar so it took him time to get to me, but I was enjoying a great beer...or two in the midst of it all and he was super friendly. I ordered the mac & cheese with pork and it was damn delicious...it was, however, missing that certain something I'm looking for in a mac dish, so not one of my favorites, but nonetheless, it was enough to bring me back to try something else. Plus, it's embedded in the neighborhood of Fishtown and not sitting out on the strip, so it seems to attract a lot of locals! Well done! read more

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I have had Interstate Drafthouse in my sites for sometime! I was interested in the menu items that alligator was featured...so we tried the gator and beer chili and the wings! I was satisfied with how well prepared the chili was and the flavors had depth! The wings had a smoky kick at the end..off to a good start! The beer list was just what I needed...I like the offerings of ciders; sours; ipas and lagers. I sampled ..well actually had two..maybe three rounds of what was on tap! The bartender was attentive and friendly..the place filled up quickly...so that's a good sign! I would return, but not making any special trips! 3 stars are for place and food..additional star is for tHe beer list! read more

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My friend was a big fan of Arctic Splash growing up. I guess "real" Philadelphians are in uproar about this. Thankfully, Interstate Drafthouse has come to the rescue by releasing a boozy ice tea version. It tasted less like ice tea and more like bottom shelf rum (but I do like the creativity of this place). While there, we tried the cheese curds and blackened Brussels sprouts. The cheese curds tasted freshly made and the ancho sauce really complemented the dish. The blackened Brussels sprouts on the other hand wasn't my favorite dish. The Brussels sprouts were steamed when usually they are fried or put in the oven (not made in the traditional bar way). Honestly, this place was ok...basic bar with a twist of ice tea. read more

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If you're in need of some real food in Fishtown around midnight, the late night menu at Interstate is as good as many regular menus. We drove in late and got down with a legitimately fantastic burger that was more rare than medium rare (juicy as fuck), chicken fingers, guacamole, and various draft beers (anything from sours to stouts to bocks to IPAs to hefeweisens). They call this a drafthouse for a reason. You can turn any of those beers you order into a beer and a shot too. I don't think they actually have beer/shot combos, but you just order a shot and there you go. Stay for too many rounds with your friends and you may hear a story you didn't want to about using Nair inappropriately. The only thing I don't like about Interstate is that they have Hunt's ketchup. What is that nonsense? Heinz, people. It's the only real ketchup. Don't mess with a good thing. read more

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Very good beer selection, great burger, pretty good seitan wings (somewhat over fried). Oh, the tater tots were plentiful and sensational. Great bar ambiance, both indoors and out. I remember going in there in the past and hearing more alternative music. The other day, it was just commercial hip-hop. Bring back the punk! read more

When my Uber dropped me near Interstate Drafthouse, I had no idea where to walk. It just looked like a nondescript, chill residential city block. I stared at the little blue dot on Google...eventually looking up and realizing the bar was about 30 yards away. Interstate is tiny but packs a punch. The front bar area is narrow and hard to navigate with a group. My first visit last Saturday night was with five others, so we opted to sit on their patio at a picnic table. Much more room to breathe! At one point, it started raining, but the umbrellas guarded us from the shower successfully. Both visits were for special Beer Week events with taps from California's Casa Agria, but ID had been on my bookmarks list for ages. I think originally they popped into my radar for selling gator mac and cheese (and I was obsessed over gator in food items after a trip to New Orleans...), but I actually ordered chicken tenders during my visit instead. Their version was really good! Panko fried so they felt fancy and not too-too unhealthy. I felt silly ordering them when their menu had so many cooler items, but our server reassured me that they're not just for kids...they can be a great comfort food for any age! The next afternoon, the atmosphere was much calmer, and a couple friends and I chit chatted at the bar while sharing nachos. Their version is pretty tasty, and the helping was massive. Interstate isn't in my neighborhood, nor in my city anymore (sniff, miss ya Philly), but it's a cool, unassuming little bar and I'd recommend it wholeheartedly to both locals and visitors. I'll know where to find it next time. read more

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Interstate has consistently good food and a fun atmosphere, but service can vary. We come in pretty often for a bite to eat or to watch a game. This spot is one of the closest things Fishtown has to a sports bar, and it's a convenient location to the more residential area of Fishtown, too. Drinks are more than reasonably priced and there is a large draught beer selection, which is constantly rotating and offers both standard and seasonal options. I usually go with a beer or the Fishtown tea, if the bartender will make it without rum* (sometimes they will, sometimes they won't, depending on how busy it is)! Food selection is American/Southern - we usually order some variation of cauliflower bites, nachos, and tacos as appetizers and salads, burgers, or sandwiches for entrees... highly recommend the salad mexicana, interstate burger, and chicken panini. The only thing that has ever been a let down is the poutine - I LOVE poutine, but the cheese curds they use are deep fried... some might like this, but I definitely prefer regular curds! read more

We were staying in Fishtown and wanted to watch an Everton match on Peacock. The AirBnB we were staying at had dodgy Internet service. The Drafthouse was right next door so we called to see if they were televising the game. "No, but we can change the channel." So friendly! We walked over and sat at the bar, ordered a drink and they put the match on. They saved the day! After the game we ate Fried Pickles and Loaded Fries. Both were delicious It was a great afternoon. Check it out if you're ever in the neighborhood. Great neighborhood bar and the people, staff and patrons, so friendly! This could become the official Everton bar of Fishtown! read more

Really great prices - so an awesome spot for happy hour (food and drinks)! I loved the outdoor space, and the Austin theme was very cool. Overall the food wasn't anything special but definitely hit the spot. read more

We stopped here after learning they're the creators of the infamous Fishtown Tea. But we learned quickly that their food is also something to go for. We went later in the evening and were seated right away at a table outside. Big props to them for having a water cooler where you could serve yourself water as you wanted it. I wish everywhere did this. They're also dog friendly and have a variety of games you can play while hanging outside. We were quickly waited on and ordered the nachos to start. The nachos were deliciously huge and we weren't sure if we would be able to eat our actual meals. Highly recommend sharing them with your table, especially if you're with more than two people. As for our meals I got the grilled chicken sandwich and my fiancé got the kielbasa cheesesteak. Both meals were a great amount of food and taste great. We were a little full from the nachos so were luckily able to take them home. Overall, Interstate is a great casual place in Fishtown if you're looking to get some food and drinks while hanging out with friends!!! read more

The Thursday night special of a drink and a sandwich combo was a great way to try the food at this bar. While the bread was a little dry, the chicken itself and the toppings were fresh, hot, and satisfying. Fries were addicting with some great dry seasonings on them, and being able to finish it all down with a cider was alright too. My favorite part of the evening was the down to earth Quizzo (trivia) that we got to play! The rounds weren't impossible and the game stayed very competitive until the very end. Couldn't use the gift certificate until the following week but I don't mind needing to come back again! Very attainable drink prices otherwise, and a good neighborhood vibe from the waitstaff and patrons! read more

Interstate Drafthouse - Southern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Good food and service, good place to watch the Phillies game too. Will probably be back when in town

Eek!! I don't know what happened here! I had plans to go to Prohibition Taproom last night, but when we got there, there was not one single seat to be found. So, I thought to myself, where can we go instead that will undoubtedly be delicious? Unfortunately my experience at Interstate wasn't nearly as good as last time. The service was pretty terrible, and the food was quite disappointing. The fried pickles, which I loved last time I was there, were completely different. Long gone were the golden brown, crispy pickles. What appeared at our table was more of a tempura type fry, that was soft and mushy and peeled off the second you picked up a pickle. In fact, looking back at the picture I took in May, and comparing it to what appeared at our table last night, I wouldn't even begin to think that both dishes were from the same place. As for the mac and cheese - I wasn't really a fan. It tasted like a grilled cheese sandwich (and my date agreed). The breadcrumbs on top were buttery and browned (borderline burned) and made the dish taste like a sandwich. It wasn't really hitting the spot. Lastly, I got the catfish po boy. It came out on a regular hamburger-type roll, which isn't usually how a po boy is served. I could overlook that, but the fact was that my entire sandwich was beyond soggy. It was absolutely drenched in the juice from the cole slaw that it was topped with. I was only given one napkin, and I could barely get through two bites without feeling like I needed to go wash my arms and wrists in the sink. Overall my date and I were pretty jilted by this experience. It's quite unfortunate considering how much I loved our outing in May. read more

Limited menu Fishtown iced tea novelty* No rush to return *I'll bring my out of state friends here for the fanfare of drinking out of an iced tea box read more

Interstate Drafthouse is now my official Philly gator spot. While I was drawn in by their Philly Beer Week events, the alligator offerings hooked me. So let me start with beer week. They were the only bar in Philly to carry California's Casa Agria. I hope they get the hook up again in the future. Shout out for the stellar sour brunch as well. Back to the gator. After a trip to New Orleans a few years been back, I've been on the hunt for gator but hesitate to find a restaurant up north that will do it right. Interstate casually and skillfully will add gator sausage into so many of their dishes. If you are an egg-oriented brunch fan you are in luck. The breakfast flatbread and breakfast flatbread were delicious in their own right, and then you can add on gator. Not to mention the portions were huge. Prepare to have leftovers, split with friends or leave full. Although a little buggy, I loved the outdoor area. There was a tent so we were able to eat outside without baking on the sun; there were tables not covered if you do need some rays. The outdoor section is a fenced in backyard so there's some privacy from the neighborhood. Now that I've been introduced to Interstate, I look forward to keeping an eye on their beer menu and the creative dishes they can prepare gator. read more

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Not sure why, but the kitchen has gone to shit. Lived nearby for 5 years and the food has steadily gone downhill. I know it changed ownership a few years ago. It's a damn shame because it used to be my go-to. Pictured is the Instagram special, the bottom is the reality. read more

Interstate Drafthouse - The chicken sandwich "special" - Southern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We stopped in yesterday awesome wings salt n pepper, tequila was great service was great. Even smoked a pre roll outside made everyone smile will be back for the vibe again real soon. read more

This is my all time fav place in fishtown and its a must eat! Even if you are just visiting, make time to EAT & DRINK here. It's not to far from Girard stop on The MFL subway so it's perfect for pre game or post game drinks. I have eaten here for brunch and dinner and all hours of the day this place is great. The staff are unbelievable- so friendly and so helpful. It is a laidback environment, very "cheers" like bar, but honestly have never had a bad meal. My go tos are the panini and the quesadilla! For brunch (blanking on the name) but I usually have a bagel with egg and alligator sausage and home fries! The craft beer selection is also constantly rotating and always many good options. I can't say it enough- EAT AT INTERSTATE! you won't regret it! read more

Interstate Drafthouse - Magnify, up up & away dipa - Southern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great, dog friendly spot with a nice outdoor area. Staff is friendly and drink options are plentiful.

Everything is phenomenal! I am Not vegan and still choose vegan options as they are delicious as well! read more

Great neighborhood bar. Good drink selection and the food was delicious. Not local at all yet staff and clientele were friendly and a good atmosphere. Good place to watch games or just grab a pint. read more

Great dive bar - reasonable prices, friendly service and laidback vibes/music. We came here for brunch to avoid the waits and high brunch prices for mediocre food. The fried chicken on eggs benedict was very tasty, and they had some bloody mary/ other brunch drink specials too. Not often that I see happy hour prices for brunch beverages. A neighborhood gem. read more

Good spot to get hammered and watched sports. Local dive feel. Good place to try fishtown tea.

This place is a little hole in the wall. I did ordered the Mac and Cheese With Chips And Salsa! Too much garlic in the salsa! The Mac and cheese was runny and not cheese enough. I received okay customer service however, had to call on the waitress a lot. Cool little Jugg for the Long Island Ice Tea read more

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I believe it was the great poet of our time, Omarion, who once said "I got a Fishtown Ice Tea Box where my heart used to be" All parodies aside, I found the spirit of Philly in this little dive. The people of Philly I've grown to love: honest, hard-working, and totally hospitable. A local friend recommended the mac and cheese, with a special request of their gator sausage to be added. Hands down, my new favorite dish in the city of brotherly love. read more

A bright Interstate sign illuminates this great little new spot from an otherwise unremarkable block. I stopped in the other night to check out what it's all about. The Interstate Draft House is a beer bar/gastropub rendition by the owner of the late Azure in Northern Liberties. Great craft beer selection is combined with pub and Mexican food. The atmosphere here is great; it's really cozy, dim with candles along the bar. A medium sized wooden bar runs half the length of the building and gives way to a dining room in the back. Good music plays in the background until the Phillies come on. And I love when bars play the sound for local sports casts. There's on HD TV over the bar, and a chalkboard will the current beer selections. With the exception of the prices noted on the beer list (and this is a welcomed inclusion), many details are reminiscent of Memphis Taproom. I say this with a note of admiration. I was hoping this new spot would have a lower price point, but let's face it: Fishtown is expensive now. This place, in price and a lot of other ways, it right up there with Memphis and Kraftwork. The staff here is attentive and friendly; more so than I expect. I did visit while the business was quite new, but these guys still seemed genuine. For the menu, there are a few options that sound great. The one downside is that the mains and all sides are separate. First, ordering a burger and getting just that on a plate is disappointing; somehow just wrong (fries are a right, not a privilege). Second, a simple meal can inflate to almost $20 with a main and a side. I ordered the Cubano, and this was a traditional representation of the delicious pressed sandwich. No complaints here; good ingredients, with special props to the spicy mustard. Rachel ordered the quesadilla and was happy with her order. The real treat was our order of fried plantains; sticky-sweet, perfectly cooked, and overall delicious. The might not be the best food to go with beer, but I'm happy to order them anytime nonetheless. I like to write a lot when I visit spots and I doubt most anyone reads the whole thing. The Bottom Line: I like this spot, it will thrive. I hope that it can keep the neighborhood feel and not get overrun. Interesting beer lists and a tasty, albeit a bit overpriced food menu will keep the folks coming again and again. Cash only at the moment. read more

Interstate Drafthouse - Southern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I had lunch at Interstate Drafthouse on a Sunday afternoon. We sat in the outdoor area, which was filthy. The table and chairs were covered in old dried up bits of food. The chalkboard walls also had food particles and a thick layer of dirt on their frames. It was disgusting, and if this is how clean they keep the areas that they allow the customers to eat in I can only imagine what the kitchen looks like. I was served a bloody mary with a bug on the celery, so they didn't clean that. There were also signs posted that said that there's no smoking in the outdoor seating area. That is great except for the fact that they allow the employees to take smoke breaks out there in front of the customers, and there is a bucket half filled with cigarette butts in plain sight. The third issue we had was the food quality, specifically how old the ingredients were that were served to us. I requested pico on the side, and it looked to be many days old and obviously going bad. The tomatoes were withered and slimey and the pico was sitting in a pool of its own juices. I took a picture of it. The french fries were so old that they were dried up and hollow on the inside. They were over salted and disturbingly old. I have never had fries like that before. Doesn't the health department specify lengths of time in which prepped food can be kept and considered safe to serve? Lastly, the menu is random and has no theme. Nothing we ordered was good or interesting. My boyfriend got a "panini" but it was served on a hoagie roll and not pressed. I mean, that's not a panini, that's a hoagie. The service was fine and the food and drinks did come out in a timely manner. I do not recommended this place. Go elsewhere, there are plenty of options in Fishtown. read more

After trying to get to the Interstate Draft house I finally made it there on a Friday night in March. We were lucky to get rock star parking about 100ft from the front door. We walked in and found two seats at the bar right near the front window. I'm glad we arrived at 9:30 because by 10pm the place was full. As soon as we sat down our bartender came over and took our drink orders. My girlfriend ordered a Fishtown Ice Tea and I had an Otter Creak Baltic Porter. Our drinks arrived quickly and both were great. As most said the Fishtown Ice tea is a must try. I could drink 10 of those things on a nice spring day as long as I'm not driving. The interior of the building has the bar along the right wall and a few two top tables along the left side. As you walk past the bar area they have a dining room followed by the kitchen. Since it was a cold night we didn't get to check out the back patio. I will return when the weather is warmer to check it out. After perusing the menu I settled on the beef & gator chili and the Filet Tips with chipotle aioli, fresh greens & flour tortillas $12. My girlfriend had the Chicken Panini with marinated chicken breast, smoked apple wood bacon, sliced avocado, red onion, cheddar cheese and lime cilantro mayo. The panini came with fresh cut fries and they were some of the best we have had in a while. The vibe of Interstate is very chill and relaxed and the bartenders were very friendly and helpful. This small bar has great food and a good beer selection to match. I really like this place a lot and can't wait to go back. read more

I'm adding a star for their wings. I've been back here a bunch of times since my first encounter, and their wings are the BEST.