What can I say, the first time I walked by this place I was looking for a nice dinner. I noticed the white tablecloths and the menu sounded delicious. I was naive to the fact this was a gay establishment and probably needed a reservation and left a little disappointed because I really wanted to eat here & I was hungry! I still haven't actually eaten here but had a martini afterwork in the outdoor seating and found it quite enjoyable and inexpensive. Maybe it was the good company that added to the experience but overall a ok. read more

I like this place, and I recommend it. It has gradually improved over the years - yes, I've been patronizing Knock since it first opened - and the food is quite good. The salads, entrees and desserts are excellent in fact. I'm sure some of the other reviewers might have come in on an off night, but I will assure you that the "regulars" are devoted to this place and it's very popular. The decor is attractive and upscale. In the warmer months you can sit outside, cafe style. Of all the gay bars in Philly, Knock has the best cocktails of all. The bartenders are experts and you don't have to worry about ordering a Sidecar, a Sazerac, a Mudslide, or a Scarlett O'Hara ... they are masters of alcoholic beverages, the drinks are strong, not watered down. read more

Gourgeous staff! tastey dinner great location the gold club for gay men read more

We went there after visiting the Christmas market at city Hall. My first visit to Knock. Entering Knock the decor was warm and friendly. Local feel with a nice contemporary bar with fireplace, small dining area with a piano. Tables appointment very nice. Atmosphere won me over. Service was just okay, not focused, needs improvement. Food also needs improvement. We both ordered the Knock burger and both were undercooked, and the roll soggy. Will give it another try and report back. read more

Recently in Philadelphia for a day to visit family and friends, I was invited here for pre-dinner cocktails. Owned by Woody (the prior owner of the dimished namesake gay bar Woody's), this bar-slash-restaurant pleasantly kicks it up a notch with an appealing (if constantly crowded) interior, an oblong rich wooden bar reminiscent of Cheers, and a dining area extending through to the back of the space. What's memorable about this invention is that it 1) picks up the neighborhood by making good use of a space which has housed many failed restaurants; and 2) blends in with the revitilization of the 12th and 13th Street corridors that compose Philadelphia's LGBT neighborhood. The bartenders shine, and they are more than pleasant, accomodating and deserving of their tips (albeit very busy during happy hour). The drinks (as previously mentioned in another review) pack a whallop. I had four rum and cokes (purchased by various friends during my time there) and consumption induced a comatose-like sleep later that night. There is a fly in the ointment, however: the food. For such a fine interior, the food (pork shank, lobster and pasta in a cream sauce) were memorable only in that the dishes were horridly bland. I would sooner seek flavor by running my tongue along a carpet in an inner-city needle exchange clinic. The upside: the waiter was pleasant. Final thoughts: Great for drinks, company, and atmosphere. Leave it at that and everyone will have a wonderful time. Three stars for the business, an additional star for the pleasant staff. read more

Always a stop I make after bar hopping for delicious food. James is my favorite server here regardless of how long I haven't been around he always remembers me! The atmosphere is cozy and relaxing. They sometimes even have someone playing the piano. My favorites here is the fried calamari , the jumbalaya, the sunday prime rib, the sliders annddd gah almost everything! Oh and the knock burger is great. The food is good and the drinks are strong! This place is great. read more

Knock has a vibrant bar scene. The bartenders typically make excellent cocktails. During the warmer months they take over the corner of 12th and Locust which I love. The transformation of the block is fantastic. The place has a nice romantic vibe and is quieter than it' surrounding restaurants. Where it falls short is the menu. Some of the appetizers are quite tasty, but the majority of the menu could use some excitement. On a recent visit, My entree was overcooked and a little tough to eat. I can recommend this place if you want a lite bite and some drinks. read more

This is one of my FAVORITE gay bars in the Philadelphia area/gayborhood. I just had gotten in from two job interviews that day (I'm looking to relocate to the city), and instantly guys were striking up friendly conversations with me and wishing me good luck on my endeavors. It felt really comforting and homey! :) If you're looking for excitement, this might not be your bar, but definitely check it out if you're looking to chillax and have some casual chit-chat with the locals. Also, keep your eyes peeled for Zach. He's a total cutie bartender and a delightful conversationalist. It's worth it to check out Knock just because of him. ;) read more

While it might appeal to an older clientele, my friends and I still find ourselves coming here often, as the posh ambiance is a refreshing alternative to the usual dive-y establishments that are standard in the Gayboorhood. The cocktails are strong and reasonably priced. The staff is friendly and attentive. I've heard good things about the food, but never tried it myself. read more

Many many, entirely too many shameful nights out with my gay besties are followed by brunch at Knock. My first apartment in Philadelphia was shared with five gay men and my life has never quite been the same since. Most straight girls would find themselves saying that they need a night with their "guys", for them that means throwing back a few beers and singing obnoxiously to Journey. In my world, a hangover is not even a question when you're downing Stoli O and club sodas listening to Britney's newest remix at Tavern. Many morning's after require a hair of the dog that bit you and what I need fast is something that will not only subside my body's alcohol withdrawal, but also replenish my vitamins...this place is home to the best bloody mary's I've found in the city. Not only do they make it with absolut peppar upon request, but they don't skimp on the celery and olives, my faves. Food is pretty tasty, more often than not I order a lunch item over a breakfast, usually because the thought of eggs disgusts me, however their french toast specials always sound fantastic. I love that they have outdoor seating so I can mask my puffy eyes with sunglasses and still people watch, aaaand if no one passes by at least you're guaranteed to have a hot waiter ;-) read more

Food and service were unbeatable. Our server seems knowledgeable and was appropriately attentive. I strongly recommend Knock.

A friend of mine took me here on a recent visit to Philly. He said it was a "gay " restaurant. I didn't believe him because "gay" restaurants really don't exist in my book--but Jesus, it WAS a gay restaurant. All gay men and a few hags. Sigh. I was hoping our community had evolved enough that we didn't need "gay" eateries, but alas... That said, the food was pretty good. Not great, but good. But I suppose most people don't come for the food--they just want to eat around other gays. read more

Here for an event for business. The bar we had the event was just too loud and the food was less than desirable. Since our hotel was only 4 blocks away, decided to just try to find something for dinner as it was close to 9p already. Saw several that had sidewalk dinning, but with lots of people. Walked few more blocks and came to this place. Wasn't as busy and priced decent. My colleague and I got seated right away. Since we were in Philly, was craving cheesesteak. They had the flat bread version which I got along with an order of shrimp and calamari on the side. We were served with bread first, but it was not very fresh. Food came our within 10min. The fried shrimp was good but the calamari was mostly the head of the squid, which I didn't care for. Then came my flat bread cheese steak. The flat bread was round like that of a small pizza and was cut as such. The meat and cheese was very stingy with maybe 4 oz meat at most? Didn't have much flavor and the bread was burnt so I just scrape and ate the topping. For the money, it's not worth it. Guess I should have checked Yelp before coming here. read more

The outdoor dining set during Philadelphia's green phase is less than ideal. They have time limit seatings, 5 PM and 7 PM and the waiters chase you out and rush you through your meal to get the next shift in. This is obnoxious. Also, we asked for a side of bread and the waiter said Knock was not serving bread because of covid. What? What does bread have to do with covid? This was another absurdity. We left and went to Caribou on Walnut and they serve bread there with ABANDON and you can sit and eat there as long as you want. Knock is a disgrace. Fix the problem! Please! The food is good and I generally like it. read more

Came here once a few years ago and now again for my current work conference. Much more down-to-earth and relatively quiet compared to the other bars in the area, older crowd, and friendly bartenders, not crowded at all on a Sunday but pretty busy on Saturday. Had dinner here on the previous visit and it was crowded but fun with decent food. Definitely recommend for the older and more mature crowd with an avoidance of the trashier options in the hood. read more

Love this place! I've been there for happy hour a couple days a week for the past month or so and the bartenders are always friendly and fast, drinks are strong and not expensive, and the atmosphere is lovely and not loud! A bar called "Knock" in any other city would be a dive, but in Philly it's this delight. Highly recommend! Food's great too. read more

Despite the fact I'm a straight woman, I've become a regular at Knock. I can't say anything about the food because my friend and I usually hit the Westbury because it's cheaper. What I love about Knock is that it has beautiful decor and plenty of space for socializing. The clientele is diverse, with a mix of regulars and occasional patrons. It's almost entirely gay men, so it's not uncommon that I'm the only woman there. I got lucky there this past New Year's Eve by snogging with a man who defined himself as the "gayest straight man." But that seems typically of Knock- unusual and interesting encounters are possible there. Every night at Knock feels a little different, which makes me want to come back. The bartenders pour the drinks strong and know how to hustle when the place is packed. read more

I had some friends from Cali staying at the hotel up the block and we stumbled in here on a whim. I thought this place was gonna be stuffy - I was so wrong. Everyone was so stinkin' friendly. I had a lovely time meeting with friends, met some peeps, had great drinks and great service. I munched on some sweet potato fries and salad. Bangin' - all of it. Wee bit pricey but you're downtown in the gayborhood, like. Then I met a gentleman out front that serenaded me - "Fly Me to the Moon" That's a good night! Colorful. Lively. Good times. read more

Knock is a beautiful trendy gay bar filled with beautiful trendy people. I've had two great experiences, but a final mediocre one dropped my score down to a 3. The first experience was last fall, when I was visiting Philly. I walked in just for drinks and was surrounded by friendly, smart, accomplished men who wanted to chat and enjoy life! Nothing wrong with that. I was recently in Phily for a couple days and went to have dinner there on the first night. Lovely cocktail, amazing caesar salad, good crab cake, nice wine, attentive service. Great! So great that I went the second night--and something had changed. The caesar salad wasn't as good, the service was harried and rushed. I actually wondered if I had forgotten to tip the night before, but when I looked at my bill, I saw that a tip had been given. So I don't know what happened--maybe they were just overworked that evening. But anyway, it dropped them from a 4 to a 3. read more

Nice atmosphere, attentive staff, average food. The martinis are excellent. The food- meh, forgettable. I had the shrimp flatbread. The flatbread itself was thin and crispy. The flavor wasn't great though. It was a little reminiscent of a frozen dinner. My friend had the chicken caesar salad. It was ok, once again nothing special. Overall, I would come back for the drinks and the atmosphere, but probably not for the food. read more

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We've been here several times as Knock is one of our friend's favorite places in the gayborhood. The staff are warm, friendly, and not hard on the eyes! :-) The bar is well stocked and the staff are efficient and nearly always provide service with a smile. I also like the local vibe to the place....lots of regulars that the staff know by name. The menu is varied, there are always specials and the food is decent in both taste and price. Pizza, burgers, salads, slabs o' meat, are all on the menu. A decent variety of choices, nicely prepared. With the dining scene in Philly as hot as it is, I don't think we would have been here as often but a friend is a friend. One of these days we will give it a try for brunch. read more

I've given up on nearly every damn gay bar in this city - but Knock is the one exception. I have never eaten food here, so my rating only applies to the bar, which in my opinion is awesome if you like strong, large drinks for a good price, oh, and you like older gay guys. I am a not young/not old lesbian. So, I am quite often the only female in the bar, which is fine by me. The bartenders are super sweet, the martinis come in martini glasses from IKEA - which if you have seen these things - you know are enormous. Two drinks at Knock is like having 4-5 at any other establishment. It's a total bargain. The bar is "classy" looking. The bathrooms are almost always totally clean - and the sinks glow red! Least favorite thing about Knock: very crowded on any given night past 6pm and the bar tables are "reserved" LAME. It should be first come first serve. But this is a very minor complaint, and having to stand hasn't stopped me from frequenting this watering hole many times. read more

Lezbehonest, this is a gay male bar but gayelle's are just as welcome. Every time I have come in for some good stiff drinks, the staff and patrons have been more than hospitable. And I really love that. The crowd mostly consists of older men. It gets very packed on the weekends but there are plenty bar seats and tables near the TV's. In the warmer weather I'd imagine the patio area is really fun. I love this bar. It's a good time and everyone will make small talk with you including the bartenders. read more

As a one-off visitor to Philadelphia for work, I have to say that if I ever find myself back in town, I'll head to Knock for dinner again. The staff was very friendly, from the bartender who mixed my dirty martini, to the host to seated me immediately, to the wait staff who made me feel right at home at my table for one. I started with the mixed greens and chevre salad, followed by the parmesan chicken with fingerling potatoes and asparagus. Although fairly full, I treated myself to the lighter side of the dessert menu, with the sour apple champagne sorbet. (I had to stop myself from ordering a slab of one of the decadent-looking cakes.) read more

A family lunch for the four of us. George was a fun server. The brunch specials were wonderful especially the eggs and salmon. The Montecristo was out of this world. The interior decorator out did her/himself. I never commented on a bathroom review before though this one deserves it because of its great layout and color. read more

No matter who you are, you always seem welcome at Knock. I was alone, waiting for friends to arrive so I sat at the bar. Within 5 min of getting my drink I was in full conversation with total strangers next to me.There aren't many places where you can do that. As for the food, it was excellent. I had the shredded short rib flat bread and just thinking of it is making my mouth water. My friends had chicken marsala and the braised short ribs. Both loved their dishes. Ok...time for the fun part....THE DRINKS!!! One word....STRONG! (in a good way) my recommendations are the Golden Cadillac, Mai Tai and the traditional martini. Love this spot!! read more

Beautiful contemporary setting with the bar as the focal point, Knock was warm and inviting. Small but adequate menu, great beer selections, comfortable dining area. Located in the heart of the Gayborhood. The crowd was certainly older when we went for lunch. Nice atmosphere. read more

When on a weekend in Philly from RI, we ended up at Knock after being turned away at Barbuzzo and El Vez. What a pleasant happenstance. We walked in to a large, boisterous after-work cocktail crowd (no problem for us.) It took a moment for the host to notice we were waiting, but after that, we received excellent service for the remainder of our meal. Our waiter was attentive without being overly present. Cocktails were tasty and ice cold. The asparagus fries are crispy with a hint of tang from the horseradish aioli. We had a caprese salad that was on special, featuring local tomatoes that were ripe and juicy; and the steak and macaroni and cheese, which, on our server's suggestion, we went light on the blue cheese (which was a great tip on his part). We rarely order dessert, but since we'd had a fairly light dinner, we thought we'd at least check it out. An old school dessert tray arrived at our table, which was hilarious, though it was only stocked with cakes. My feeling on cake is that it's only a vehicle for frosting. So we opted for the cucumber lemon sorbet, which turned out to be more like an italian ice (the texture was extremely hard and crystallized), but tasty nonetheless. We were just afraid we'd break the cocktail glass it was served in! All in all, I would definitely recommend Knock and will return next time we're in town! read more

Been coming here for many many years. Brunch was always reliable, but the last month it has slipped. The quiche and roasted potatoes were always fresh. The last two weeks I got a frozen quiche in a pie tin. I was told it was a "different" way the chef was doing it. Also the potatoes were right out of a bag in the freezer. I guess the Sysco truck dropped them off. read more

Another reminder of why I need to stop having dinner at knock!!! inconsistencies is one, I asked for the kale salad with salmon no onions so I'm paying for salad and an extra 9 dollars for the salmon. I had a long week and just wanted to take myself out to dinner and just relax. It took awhile to get my meal and when I did get It I found out the salmon was burnt on bottom( not sure why the chef would let that go, I guess for guys like me who just let It go) then I started eating my salad and found some onions in salad. Server was incredible!!! I will not buy dinner here anymore!!!! read more

Came into the bar...not busy at all...took them 20 mins to even realize I was there...sat there waiting for someone to get me another beer...but they were too busy closing out...a hour before the bar was supposed to close...very poor read more

"Knock, knock" "Who's there?" "Al" "Al who?" "Al Caholic" And not just one alcoholic -- I mean dozens. The barflies at Knock are serious about their booze, downing classic martinis and old-fashioneds like there's no tomorrow. They're really friendly, though. When I sat down at the bar for dinner and a few post-convention libations, I was immediately welcomed into the inner circle of regulars -- my status as an out-of-towner be damned. (Maybe that's how they treat all the "fresh meat"? I wouldn't know.) Either way, I had a blast here. The interior was sleek and classy, the bartenders were oh so sweet and friendly, and they pour a mean gin and soda. The surprising part was the extensive and mouthwatering menu. I was immediately drawn to the flatbreads (the locals said that those are most popular), but I opted for a calorie-conscious dinner and ordered a salad with grilled chicken. Little did I know that my calorie-consciousness was for naught, since the salad was the size of a frickin' bathtub and had enough chicken on it to feed about seven of me. There were also generous helpings of dried cherries and a sea of bleu cheese. (The chef might've been a little heavy-handed with the bleu cheese, since the salad ended up a bit salty for my taste.) Luckily, I was surrounded by a bunch of hungry barflies who were more than happy to eat my leftovers. (Good thing they're not germophobes.) All in all, dinner at Knock was a success, and I can't wait to "knock" on its lovely doors again... read more

If you guys don't make serious adjustments to the OBSCENE amounts of noise you make EVERY FUCKING NIGHT I will have no choice but to file a noise complaint with the police. I have to be up in 4.5 hours because it's a WEDNESDAY and I have a JOB read more

My first review of the New Year and I'm sad to report, it's not a good one... Ohh KnOcK, where to even begin....It's restaurant week= a given 'hit or miss' experience! Tonight does NOT even come close to what is acceptable in my opinion. I just left 10 minutes ago, and had to start my review at ONCE, as it was one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had, and I eat ALOT!! Lured by the tempting menu, my friend and I decided to stop in, to sample the fare. We were early for our 5:30pm reservation, so we grabbed a glass of vino at the bar. After couple of sips, the host led us to our table. Our eagerness for great food and light-hearted conversation were quickly turned into a surreal and upsetting evening. Most people would agree, that I am a pretty well rounded, well traveled an open minded individual, rarely in my 33 years of life have I ever felt more uncomfortable than I was tonight. Although, we observed that we were the only women in the restaurant, never did we feel intimidated or out of place. However, our icy server really made us feel unwelcomed tonight. Our bus boy poured our water and informed us that 'Philip' will be by to take our order. Philip skipped the formalities and sauntered over to take our order. We started with the Heirloom tomato salad, he later plopped two pieces of hard sourdough rolls on our bread plates with some sort of whipped butter (I couldn't be sure, as he turned on his heel and disappeared before we could ask what it was) After a few minutes, he reappeared with our starter course, at first glance I could tell the tomatoes were not fresh, reaffirmed when my fork pierced into it, against my better judgment, I took a little taste, Blech!! I glanced at my friend's plate and saw the same lifeless appetizer staring back. As Philip coolly floated by our table, we debated whether to send the food back, we didn't want to be 'THOSE PEOPLE' but this is simply unacceptable! He didn't seem to care that neither of us touched our plate and stopped eating all together. We finally decided to flag him down and informed him that the tomatoes were a little suspect to us and asked for new slices. He quickly swept up the plates and asked us if we wanted to get something else because 'We obviously find something wrong with the tomatoes' Wait for it....EYE ROLL?! Really?! Not only did he express his disdain, that we pointed out that the food was subpar and inedible, but apparently we were really getting on his nerves now too!! GULP, we were the first reservation of the night, and he's already in a huffy mood, what will the night bring?! Back to the kitchen he went, and out came our wedge salad, drenched in blue cheese dressing, which actually wasn't half bad, however the host soon brushed past our table and cooed to Philip 'let's scale back on those portions'. I was shocked at how rude and unprofessional the staff seemed to be! Onto the battered asparagus fries, crispy on the outside and soggy on the inside, however the flavor was nice and the aioli sauce was a nice compliment. My friend's fried mozzarella was very bland, but the pesto and marinara sauce was tasty. The crab cake entree was rather luke warm and salty, it was a bit soggy and could have been cooked a little longer, but the portion size was nice. The dessert was nothing to write home about, pretty to look at, but just meh and was sitting in the fridge a tad too long. My empty glass of Pinot sadly sat barren the whole night, I contemplated asking for a refill, but I didn't know I could handle another awkward exchange and bagged the whole idea. As the night wore on, a nice mix of people came in, Philip seemed to be a little less bent on being rude to us or we were just so immune to it that we didn't really care as much. I can normally balance out the rating with the food to service ratio, however, tonight was unbelievably disappointing in every way! I have been back to a couple of restaurants from visiting them at RW, but I could not bring myself even for a redemption drink, obviously Knock doesn't care so much, as they took my $35 and sent me on my way, lesson learned, however I take my Elite 12' status seriously, so here's another two cents (bad joke, I know) RW is suppose to 'highlight' a restaurant's potential, but dear KNOCK, please consider taking your name off the participating restaurant list, if you feel that being part of RW is a hassle and not profitable enough that tonight was the kind of food and service that was presented, it's a disservice to the industry! Sorry Yelpers, I have to SERIOUSLY disagree with the glowing reviews here, is it possible that we were at the wrong restaurant?! This place is anything but, hospitable!! Maybe if I stick to the liquid diet + karaoke, I wouldn't have been so twisted. Apologizes for the rant, so let me wrap this novel up: KnOcK KnOcK= nobody's home!! read more

Though I am only 28, I feel like I have outgrown the crazy party bars! I am a fan of KNOCK! I love the style of the bar and I enjoy the food in the restaurant. It's the kind of place that makes you want to settle in for a while instead of bar hopping. Well, during most of the day. At night, it becomes a pit stop of sorts and I prefer to be there at an earlier time. Just me, but I also love the brunch. It's a simple menu which is all you need and the staff is very personable a easy-going. I believe the two who run the place are brothers and one of them has greeted us everytime. I am so glad that a great business will survive in this often cursed location on the corner of 12th and Locust. I believe KNOCK is here to stay! read more

Walked in excited for cocktail week specials back in April not knowing it was a gay bar until the person I was with mentioned it. Everyone was friendly and polite, but I really can't see myself staying here for more than one or two drinks. It's such a classy place I'm pretty sure I'd room to breath. Definitely a great place to start if you're in the neighborhood. My one complaint? The bartender kept putting glasses to be cleaned in front of us. The dirty glasses were on his side of the bar, but really, there must be a better system than making us look at the dirty empties. read more

Not being gay myself but having many gay friends, I have seen my share of gay bars and know the scene in Philly pretty well. Pluses of Knock: - Not at all divy or seedy - Knock is clean, bar is well stocked and the clientele is definitely upscale - Not overbearing - I've been in gay bars before where you can't order a drink without getting picked up. This isn't the case here, although if you are looking for a quick hook-up, that's pretty easy here as well. - Pleasant staff - nice guys (and they are all guys, in keeping with the theme here) who will joke with you and pay attention to detail - Strong drinks - not shy about pouring the booze Minuses: - The food is definitely mediocre, at best. While it isn't that pricey really and they clearly attempt to make it a little more upscale, the kitchen execution is pretty lousy. Asked for a burger medium, got it beyond well done and an hour after I ordered it. Calamari was rubber. - Drink prices are high, but welcome to Philly and the Gayborhood Worth a trip by, but walk up the street to Garces Trading Company or Morimoto to eat. read more

Knock sponsored a charity event for my church and I thank Bill Wood for his kindness. But the staff failed him. We arrived at 11:30AM sat down for brunch and given a glass of water. We sat for a hour and a half waiting for our food that finally came cold. No coffee was offered until after we ate. I am grateful for Bill taking the time and the cost of the food but sitting for a hour and a half with just a glass of water, then eating cold food, well all I can say is that I won't be back to this place anytime soon. read more

Now that I've actually eaten here a couple of times, I feel like I should update my original review. I still like Knock for all the same reasons, but now I also give them two thumbs up for the yummy and reasonably priced (for small plates anyway) food. Shrimp and beef skewers with apricot glaze are delish, the lobster and brie flatbread is amazing, and the chicken fingers were huge and delightfully crispy. read more

I recently came back for drinks and appetizers. We ordered corn fritters with a mushroom and goat cheese sauce....yum! We also ordered some shrimp with beef skewers. Everthing was delicious! Aaron, our server, was awesome! Even though it was weeks ago, he remembered what me and my friend ordered the last time we were there! This totally impressed my other friend who used to be a restaurant manager. This place just keeps getting better and better! Love it! read more