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    Jack's Firehouse

    3.4 (711 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Jack's Firehouse Photos

    JACK'S FIREHOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Jack's Firehouse

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    Philly cheesesteak and fries
    Jennifer N.

    The ambiance is great. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. Our food was flavorful and the portions were just right. We got complementary corn muffins, which were delicious. My husband had a Philly cheesesteak. The meat was flavorful and the fries were crispy with just the right amount of salt. I had the Green apple salad. This came with mixed greens, shredded apples, spiced pecans and blue cheese. I added chicken. The dressing is apple cider (I think). It could have had a little more sweetness, it was kind of bland (the reason for the 4 stars). We also got complementary chocolate chip pecan cookies. They were delicious! I would still eat here again. Give them a try!! Note...20% gratuity is added to all checks, except bar tab.

    Fall 2025 food menu
    Miles A.

    In a prime location right across from Eastern State, this bar and restaurant is in an old firehouse hence the name. The main draw is likely tourists due to that. The prices for drinks are pretty fair, but food prices are a bit high for what you get. I think there are better options in the neighborhood to hang out and grab a bite and drink.

    Burger
    Catherine B.

    There's so many great places to eat on Fairmount Ave! Jack's firehouse is such a unique location with a unique interior directly across from the Penitentiary. Taking a look at the menu, it was pretty limited and a little pricey, especially if you have dietary restrictions. A member of my party can't eat gluten, so unfortunately wasn't able to indulge in the complimentary cookies and cornbread. There were several seasonal cocktails (and mocktail) on the menu. We chose to sit inside but facing the outside huge doors! Such a unique inside look. I would not be surprised if they frequently host aesthetically-pleasing private events. Overall, felt like a weird mix of unexpectedly classy (large formal dining tables and chairs, tap spring or sparkling water choices, complimentary app/dessert) and casual (one-page menu, fast/casual service, not crowded inside). I was surprised that there were several families with young kids dining about the same time as us because it didn't seem like the menu would be very kid-friendly. I'm not sure if I would come here again; maybe for lunch? When the weather is nice, it's a great place to sit outside and peoplewatch across from the museum, but I think there are other restaurants along Fairmount with a better bang for your buck. I did not have a bad experience, just not sure I would be back. Note: despite closing at 9, it looks like there's some regulars who use it as their local bar.

    Angie B.

    This is such a great vibe. It's a spacious dining room with a whole boat (with oars!) hanging from the ceiling! We wanted to get some drinks and a bit of food after the No Kings protest and landed here. It was crowded, but because it seats a lot of people our wait was only about 10 minutes. The food is good! Great pub food! My kid ordered the burger that was meaty deliciousness! My bestie ordered the house salad with chicken and I went with the portobello sandwich. Everything was tasty. But I gotta mention the Bloody Mary because. Oh. My. Gosh. I love a Bloody Mary but I want the flavor of salt with my tomatoes and I definitely want tomato-y flavor shining through. This was delicious! (I had two!) (house made Bloody Mary mix). Our server was delightful and our late lunch was finished off with small, complimentary chocolate chip cookies! This place has hospitality hands-down. You should come for that. And the food! (And DEFINITELY the Bloody Mary!)

    Menu
    George S.

    Jack's is always a great spot when the weather is nice for a great indoor/ Outdoor lunch or dinner! Great New Orleans style BBQ menu with friendly staff & cool people watching across the street from Eastern State Penitentiary!

    I treated myself yesterday to a lunch out at Jack's Firehouse. Just me- party of 1. BUT I plan on coming back with a friend etc very shortly. Dined inside. Ate a BLT Jack's Caesar salad and granny anny butter cake slice. I had been to this restaurant twice before for lite bites and drinks with my alma mater for high school, The Pennington School. Philadelphia Gathering of Alumni. I had the best time all 3 times at Jack's Firehouse and I highly recommend. The cuisine was the very best as was the service.! :)

    Amber K.

    I came for brunch on a Saturday morning. The menu for brunch isn't extensive but everything they offer sounds really good. I got the chicken and waffle. The chicken was so juicy and flavorful. I will say I wish my waffle was a bit more crispy but overall it was very good. We say by the open doors which I loved because we could people watch while also appreciating the breeze. Our server was also very attentive and brought us out complimentary cookies which were also very yummy.

    Jenni F.

    The setting had a gothic vibe (dark and elegant). The food was delicious (especially the french fries). I like the service because it was fast and attentive. The overall amount spend was around $60 (including service charge). This includes: two food dish, 1 soda, and 1 seltzer, service charge. Highly recommend this vampire/ dark setting vibe !

    Dining room
    Mollie M.

    This restaurant is in a former fire house and it's a really neat space. They also have a rather large outdoor eating space with tents. The waiter was excellent. He made sure I knew the spring water I was ordering was extra expensive and extra bougie (and yet I persisted in ordering it). And made sure I knew the thing I was ordering was spicy. He was really really great. The menu didn't really work for me, but so I ended up ordering a side salad and Mac n cheese. They were both fine. My husband got the BLT Caesar and he liked it. The highlight, however, was the complimentary corn bread muffins served with butter and cranberries!!!!! Oh boy! Was that an unexpected treat! The cookies they gave us with the check were also delicious. This restaurant is convenient to Eastern State Penn. To which we were en route. The cocktail list sounded good, but we had beer garden plans for after.

    North Carolina Crab Cakes with Southern Spiced Vegetable Cous Cous with Garlic Aioli
    Mike C.

    Came here after visiting the Fireman's Museum in Old City and let me tell you if I had any decision power to veto coming to this place ahead of time I would invoke it. I studied the menu intensely trying to find an item that I would enjoy for lunch that would not cost an arm and a leg while also filling me up (sandwiches were out of the question as I didn't want a very bready item and their sandwiches look like they're mostly bread). My choices were basically soup or an entree priced over twenty dollars. After sucking it up and ordering a $27.95 crab cake entree I waited for the meal. We had a very large group I want to say over twenty. The server brought out the tiniest corn muffins I have ever seen complimentary which was appreciated, they were edible but many were left over as one was sufficient. On to the crab cakes, these were good, I kinda wish they didn't pour the sauce over the crab cakes as some patrons may want to eat their crab cakes plain but so far so good. Now here is the hiccup, it comes with southern spiced vegetable cous cous with garlic aioli sauce, imo it is very hard to flavor cous cous, there was ample cous cous but it was very plain tasting. The amount of vegetables plated was small however I see what they are trying to accomplish (spread veggies throughout the cous cous versus have a side of vegetables that would make the cost per meal produced more money perhaps as this would mean the addition of an extra side item accompanying the meal). I feel that Jack's Firehouse can reinvent their menu if they want and offer other options (for starters how bout a BBQ share platter that isn't $42.95), let's say a sample BBQ platter for one? Pretty sure this would bring in more clientele. The server was very good, I will give the establishment credit where credit is due. He brought out small baked pecan chocolate cookies complimentary at the end of the meal and these were warm and freaking delicious. Jack's Firehouse is directly across the street from the Eastern State Penitentiary which makes it prime real estate if you are visiting the Fairmount area. If you like the menu, and don't mind the price points then by all means go for it : ) As always people SYOY!!!

    Jack's One Engine Firehouse.
    Bill G.

    We stopped in for lunch at Jack's Firehouse after a tour the Eastern State Penitentiary and were seated outside in their side courtyard. We were served by Will, a very friendly wait staff member. We had an iced tea and a Southern Peach cocktail, which the later was yummy. Will then brought out these amazing muffins with butter and sweet cherries to nosh on. What an awesome start to ride us over until our Catfish Po' Boy and Pear Salad with Salmon were served. The shaved pear on the fresh salad, topped with the saltiness of the grilled salmon was tasty. The catfish, with Its beautiful crisp outer crust was mouth watering. Will, was very attentive and offered to bring a carafe of tea and wanted to make sure everything was to our satisfaction. It was! Then Will surprised us with two chocolate walnut cookies, on the house! Great meal. Great service. great Food.

    Pork Loin
    Frances U.

    I'd recommend for coming alone, with one person or with a group. It's a cute bar, friendly staff, very very casual. Every drink was fantastic! The food was hit and miss. The ribs are a hit, Smokey and yummy, but the mashed potatoes are a miss. The cornbread was a hit but the lobster mac looked like it's from a box. Come check it out, the menu is well varied so you'll find something you like.

    Organic Field Greens Salad with Chicken
    Nia D.

    Haven't been here in years - like way before the pandemic. So I met a friend for lunch on a Friday afternoon. Because we met closer to 1 o'clock and the place is pretty spacious anyways, I was able to get a seat for us as soon as I got there and we were seated spread out from other diners. The vibe gives old tavern in a way, but the music playlist while we were there was 90s/2000s mix, which I appreciated. We kept it simple with drinks (water with lemon and a ginger ale for me) and healthy for our meal. My friend got the Granny Smith Apple Salad with Chicken and I ordered the Firehouse Field Greens Salad with Chicken. She said hers was good and definitely enjoyed mine. It was such a large portion (which I appreciated) tasty from the combo of the dried cranberries, tomatoes and goat cheese, with the right amount of dressing on it. Service was good and timely throughout our dining experience also. I would definitely go back for lunch or drinks again soon.

    Catfish po' boy w/ potato fries

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    8 months ago

    Went here a while ago - great place in a fun location! The drinks were good as well as the food. Servers were pleasant and efficient !

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    4 months ago

    Delicious brunch, welcome corn muffins and departure pecan cookies. Great service and loved the vibes. I will be back for sure!

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    10 months ago

    This is a great place. Will was a delight as a server. The food and atmosphere were terrific. Highly recommend!!

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    Mike's BBQ

    Mike's BBQ

    4.6
    (306 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Mike's BBQ! Ordering from here is truly worth every penny--honestly, Mike's catered for us on the…read moreday he was closed! Mike's has the best brisket I have ever tasted. We've trusted Mike to cater not just one but two of our office events, each with over 100 guests, and every time the food has been a crowd-pleaser. Mike's generous portions really stand out, and the menu always surprises and delights. The collard greens with black-eyed peas were a hit--something I never expected to enjoy so much! And don't even get me started on the rest: the mac & cheese, potato salad, ribs, and chicken had everyone raving and coming back for seconds (and thirds). It's such a relief not having to fire up the grill ourselves when we know Mike's BBQ will deliver mouthwatering food that keeps everyone happy. If you're considering catering for your next gathering, I can't recommend Mike's BBQ enough--it's a guaranteed way to make your guests happy and your event memorable!

    I was looking for BBQ in Philly and saw Mike's BBQ on Instagram videos. I decided to stop by. The…read moreservice was good. The restaurant is small but big enough for small group seating inside. The waiter was nice and helpful with the menu. She gave me time to decide what I wanted to order. I ordered the Half Rack Ribs and a small order of Baked Beans with a Yuengling beer. The Ribs were good. It came with 2 sauces. I liked the sweet sauce more than the other one. I didn't like the Baked Beans. I didn't think it was sweet at all. It reminded me of regular Brown Beans.

    Photos
    Inside Mike's - there was a restaurant tour taking place when I was there!
    Inside Mike's - there was a restaurant tour taking place when I was there!
    Falling off the bone smoked wings!!!
    Falling off the bone smoked wings!!!
    Mike's BBQ

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    Fette Sau

    Fette Sau

    3.8
    (733 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Amazing spot for a large group dinner. They tables are long benches, so they were able to…read moreaccomodate our group of 9 no problem. You can also make an advance reservation which is a plus. Because we were a large party we shared a bunch of the family style trays which ended up being perfect. Meat highlights were the juicy brisket and flavorful pulled pork - on a Hawaiian roll this was absolute perfection. The best sides were the burnt end beans and the mac and cheese. The vibes are fun and lively and they have an extensive list of beer, wine and cocktail. The negroni was so smooth that I had to order a second. Because of its proximity to The Fillmore this is a great pick for a pre-concert dinner. For epic bbq and good vibes you gotta get to Fette Sau.

    First off, we love BBQ. We've enjoyed it in KC, Texas, Iowa, Tennessee, North Carolina, and many…read moreother amazing BBQ destinations, so we admit we're pretty picky. I really liked the location and ambiance of Fette Sau. The chicken was outstanding--moist, flavorful, and one of the highlights of the meal. We also enjoyed the ribs. They were huge, tender, and very tasty. Unfortunately, there were several disappointments, which is why Fette Sau only earns 3 stars from us. When it comes to brisket, I'm not accustomed to BBQ restaurants serving almost exclusively the point cut or fat cap. We ordered a pound of brisket and could only eat about a quarter of it because it was simply too fatty for our taste. We strongly prefer the flat cut, which can still be incredibly moist and flavorful when prepared well. A combination of both cuts would have been fine, but receiving mostly fat was a major letdown. The large mac and cheese side easily fed the three of us, but it was very dry and lacked flavor. The cornbread muffin was similarly disappointing--dry and bland. I'm glad we took the time to visit because the atmosphere, chicken, and ribs were enjoyable, but given the brisket and sides, I don't see us returning.

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    Fette Sau
    Fette Sau
    Fette Sau

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    Sweet Lucy's Smokehouse

    Sweet Lucy's Smokehouse

    4.3
    (1k reviews)
    8.8 mi
    $$

    I'm going to sit down and give this a proper review, so here goes... over the years I've gone back…read moreto Sweet Lucy's. I can't go often, since it's not that close to me, but when I go, I typically order the rib platter. I typically get the same sides (beans and mac n cheese) along with cornbread. It is certainly more deserving than my initial 3 star review on my successive visits, but I never updated my review. Not everyone will love the sauce, which tastes more tomato-based, but that's okay. As I've gotten older, I appreciate it more. It's almost like... they put... ketchup... in the sauce... and if that's what it is, I'm fine with it. It tastes good. The ribs on that initial visit were tough; that's not a lie. On three visits afterwards, it was not as tough as the first time. On my most recent visit today, the ribs were really, really tender. Like... this is how tender ribs should be. The only difference between my experiences before versus now is I placed a takeout order this time whereas I always ate at the restaurant before. If takeout will always yield the freshest, most tender ribs, I'm good with ordering takeout from now on. The ribs were tender to the point of being delicate. They were SO GOOD. Even the rib that looked like it could've been tough was tender. That's how you know ribs are good. I would give 5 stars for just the ribs alone, but aha... there were more items... baked beans... SO GOOD... they have sausage bits in them. Cornbread... baked fresh and cut in front of my eyes... WARM, SOFT, FLUFFY.... SOoo GOOOOD... the mac n cheese... well, ehhh... can't win them all... it was just mac n cheese. I have to remember to order something other than mac n cheese next time, but I always forget because I don't go here often enough. Still, this is a 5 star meal all the way and I look forward to more meals like this. I thought I had to drive over to Camden all this time to get tender ribs. Let's say that all again... the ribs are damn good... tender and juicy. Yums. Go get some. Parking lot on the premises. Hope you get the same experience I just did.

    This little spot is a total diamond in the rough. The atmosphere, the decor, and most of all the…read morefood! This was my first time here so I didn't fully understand how they had a "full service" section and a "order and take a number" section. Although the staff and service were fabulous. Everyone was so kind and friendly. I wish I lived closer so I can frequent this place more often! Definitely will be back and will rant about this place to friends and family!

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    Other 1/2
    Other 1/2
    Sweet Lucy's Smokehouse
    Sweet Lucy's Smokehouse

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    Chuan Kee Skewer

    Chuan Kee Skewer

    4.3
    (165 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Came here on my own and overestimated my appetite! The serving size is bigger than what I a used to…read morebut justifies the price. I like that they had everything you would need at the table, a variety of seasoning, napkins, and gloves! Pretty big selection on the menu with many of my favorite items that I would normally get in China. I strongly recommend eggplant and chicken gizzard. They lean on the spicy side even when I asked for mild. The service is solid, casual and quick. They did forget one of my items but after I reminded them, it came out within a few minutes. The restaurant is small and comfortable. I would come back again for Chinese bbq.

    Came by for skewers with some friends visiting from out of town. Was able to be easily seated on a…read moreweekday evening for dinner. Service was reasonably fast, though nothing blazing fast here. All of our order was well-spiced, and well-portioned. Things are a bit pricier here, but I think the quality matches. We ordered a good mix of veggies (I recommend the cauliflower and the chives) and meats (pork belly and lamb). Nothing was a miss on our menu, but we weren't getting too wild with our ordering. "Weirdest" order was probably limited to the chicken hearts. On the whole this place is a bit dim, but a good place for smaller groups mainly. There's only a few large tables, so large parties will have a harder time during busier or weekend hours. But on the whole, a great experience for skewers in the city!

    Photos
    A variety of skewer dishes including: fried donut, fried rice cakes, sausage, fried tofu, pork belly, beef.
    A variety of skewer dishes including: fried donut, fried rice cakes, sausage, fried tofu, pork belly, beef.
    BBQ delicious!
    BBQ delicious!
    Chuan Kee Skewer

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    Mr Pig Korean BBQ

    Mr Pig Korean BBQ

    4.4
    (121 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    Mr Pig is quickly becoming my go-to spot for BBQ in the city. They offer fixed priced options…read morealong with al la carte extras. The meats are of high quality, the side dishes always tasty, and staff super helpful. While I've never came to a BBQ place and didn't leave smelling of meats, the systems and venting they have setup does minimize that side effect of your visits nicely. I highly recommend for groups of 4!

    My friend and I finally decided to try this spot we always pass, and honestly I'm glad we did. What…read morepulled us in was that it's not AYCE. We're never great at eating our money's worth, so the pay-as-you-go setup felt like a better fit. We got the favorite set for two, which ended up being plenty. The biggest highlight right away: they grill everything for you. KBBQ is just better when you can sit back and eat instead of managing the grill yourself. They also use a back grill to keep things moving, so there's barely any pause between rounds of meat. It felt really efficient. Also, the place is surprisingly clean and doesn't have that heavy "you're going to smell like smoke for the next 5 hours" vibe, which I really appreciated. Somehow they keep it all under control even with constant grilling. Service-wise, the staff were attentive and clearly working hard, especially since it seemed a bit understaffed. That said, my friend did feel a little uncomfortable at times. There were a few moments where it felt like we were being watched closely, almost like they were worried about a dine-and-dash situation, and we were asked multiple times if we had paid. I personally read it more as things being slightly disorganized with a small team juggling cooking, serving, and payments, but I can see how it might come across differently depending on how you interpret it. Food-wise, the meat was very good, but the banchan really stood out to me. The cabbage salad with a gingery soy dressing was super refreshing and cut through the richness of the meat perfectly. Free refills on banchan are always a win too. I also liked that the grill came with corn cheese, egg, and sprouts, nice extras you don't always get. The corn cheese wasn't as sweet as I expected, and the egg was a bit on the salty side, but still enjoyable. The tilted grill setup was another plus since it lets the grease drain away, so the meal didn't feel overly heavy like some AYCE spots. Overall, it was a really fun experience. A bit pricey, but worth it for the quality and how easy the whole meal felt. Just something to be aware of with the service dynamic depending on how sensitive you are to that kind of thing.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Soju and banchan
    Soju and banchan
    Side dishes...

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    Side dishes...

    Jack's Firehouse - bars - Updated July 2026

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