UPDATE 4/6/13 - This place has seriously stepped it up from when I first wrote a review (I hear they swapped out chefs at some point a while back). The brunch here is incredible. I can't say enough good things! ------------- This place has an amazing rotating beer selection. I like how they give you a beer menu that shows which beer will be tapped next. They also have growlers! I was very happy when this place opened up right around the corner from my house. The only thing I'd have to complain about is the food. It's OK but it's nothing amazing. I feel it's a bit expensive for what it is. I ordered the falafel sandwich for $9 and all that came out was a piece of pita bread, 3 falafel balls and some yogurt sauce. No lettuce or tomato. The people I have gone with all feel the same about the food. I really feel that they could use a food makeover. read more

What a gem of a place. Where to even start? I'm pretty sure I finally feel compelled to review Kraftwork in lieu of the opening of a certain restauranteur's version of a gastropub/beer garden down the way. If any of you are fooled and would rather spend your dollars at Frankford Hall, shame on you, you don't deserve to have a true blue place like Kraftwork in your increasingly white bred neighborhood. Awesome food, awesome beer selection, awesome staff. I started going to Kraftwork last summer when I moved to Port Richmond from NY, and they made me feel immediately at home. Not only have I met awesome people at the bar that are still my close friends a year later, but by my third visit I was already recognized and greeted warmly by the staff- something that is so severely lacking in NY at even my favorite local spots. The decor is inspired- someone worked really hard on making this place look as great as it does. Everything from the car rear view mirrors in the bathrooms to the textured brick walls to the gigantic saw that hangs over the bar to the gorgeous wood bar itself and the matching stools has the touch of a master carpenter and aesthete. They are very conscious about serving up local, seasonal dishes, from hearty hanger steaks and squash soup in the winter, to softshell crabs, ramps and fiddlehead ferns in the spring. Their core menu is a good mix of pubfare while their specials usually push a little beyond the reach of what you would expect from a little gastro. Their extensive beer list changes all the time, and they let you know about all the kegs that are on deck so there's always something I know I need to come back for. Their cocktail offerings are a profound cut above what you would expect from a beer bar- usually places like this punish you for not picking a brew by offering little else, but Christian, one of their bartenders and head of the Philadelphia Bartender's Guild, has created an innovative cocktail menu that always tempts me even when I come in in the mood for beer. A few more important factors; the kitchen serves until 1am every night no matter what, they have growlers to go (and if you already have the glassware from somewhere else you can use that!) and they offer an "in the biz" discount for anyone who works in a restaurant. And did I mention the house made Parmesan flan on their cheese plate? Or the awesome reggae DJs? Go there. read more

I have eaten here at least a dozen times and have never had a bad meal. I love that they use fresh, whole food ingredients in thier food preparations. They know how to add flavor without going overboard and they do get creative. The ambiance is always fantastic, more eateries and imbiberies need to take lessons from whomever is in charge of the tunes at Kraftwork. I really appreciate the industrial supplies used as door handles, automotive side-view mirrors as bathroom mirrors and other industrial effects as lighting. Thier cider list is IMPRESSIVE. If you are a fan of cider, excellent food and tunes, go to Kraftwork. They also have a few wines wines and a lot of beers. read more

This place has an incredible beer selection. As a local, and relatively frequent, purveyor of Kraftwork, I do wish their lunch and dinner menu would change a bit more frequently. That being said, you can't go wrong with one of their delicious burgers or sandwiches, or awesome appetizers. The pretzel bites are an excellent snack. Kraftwork's brunch is heaven, though. A great variety of breakfast staples and some twists on your favorites. Everything is fresh, and their brunch drinks are equally delicious. Get there early, because it's quite popular! read more

Not a bad spot in Fishtown. We went here for an early dinner and we thought it was good. Nothing more, nothing less. Drinks and food were good, not great, we did think it was slightly overpriced for being more of a bar than a restaurant. We may be back, if it's convenient. read more

My boyfriend and I went on a saturday night at about 9. We were seating fairly quickly for how busy it was. Our waiter was very pleasant, attentive and helpful. BUT overall the food was just . . eh. Even a little bit cold. I would go back for a bar experience, but definitely not for a meal or even appetizers. Great beer list though. read more

Was here for the first time back in March. Loved the beer list. Love. Very busy. Getting a spot at the bar doesn't come easy, but getting a table didn't prove difficult. For food I had a burger topped with Gruyere and fried egg. It was cooked perfectly, the beef was tasty and the egg was perfect. Amazing flavors when combined with my imperial porter. Place was loud but chill. Service was laid back and down to earth. The server talked to you like you were his buddy or he had seen you 100 times before. Pretty cool place. Lots of metalwork detail as part of the interior/décor. Prices are respectable and street parking isn't too hard to come by. Went here again back as a stop on the Craft Beer Express and despite the influx of drunks, the barstaff stayed cool and on top of the volume. read more

Go for happy hour! JUST DO IT. 1/2 off twelve of the beers on their very extensive beer list, Mon thru Thurs, 10pm - midnight. You can drink five craft beers for less than $15?! Did I mention that I love late night happy hours? They are the best. And the food! What else can I say? It's pretty awesome too. I am IN LOVE with the mussels! read more

Great happy hour from 10-12. awesome draft list they are much more the beer garden rather than Frankford Hall. New menu change up! Much more diet n pescatairin friendly, yay check it out! read more

Always a solid spot. Incredible beer list. Great charcuterie selection and sandwiches. Missing and mourning the permanent departure of their chicken liver pate with stewed cherry jam from their menu. It was better than sex. Order their cheese or falafel boards, they don't disappoint. Bangin' burger. Also ask about and encourage them to bring back the late night (half off select drafts) happy hour. read more

Awesome beer selection that rotates regularly. Food is fabulous and has variability from creative specials to a killer burger as a staple menu item. The servers , bar tenders, and hostesses are super knowledgable and always friendly. Love this place!!! read more

If you happen to be in Fishtown you should check this place out. I'm not saying I'd make a special trip up there. The last time I was driving down Girard I saw it and since I was moving quickly I thought it was like next door to Johnny Brenda's. It's not. Not that it's far, but a good 5-7 minute walk from JBs. Maybe 10 from the el. Nice beer selection. The menu is a bit confusing to read. It's this grid style approach to the beer selection and if after a long day of work where you stare at speadsheets put together by aspiring marketeers, you don't want to see one when you order beer. Still, it's not that difficult to figure out but it's harder than it should be. I'm up to 4 because I like to err on the side of positive. Honestly, this place would be 3.5 in my mind only due to location. My beet salad with arugula, walnuts and a vinaigrette was tasty and reasonably price. The margherita pizza was think crust, crispy and had a nice sauce on it with fresh mozzarella. They don't skimp on the details. Anyway, I would go back. I find a way to get up to fishtown now and again to visit people. Nice to see another good spot in that neighborhood. If I was local, I would probably be there a lot more. read more

I've driven past Kraftwork on several occasions, but only recently finally made it inside to try their grub and brews. I came prepared to be unimpressed. But.... The pierogi (apparently handmade on site) were delicious and had great texture -- crispy on the outside, chewy and potato-y on the inside. The wild mushroom sandwich was good, though not great. Happily, the server asked if I'd rather have it with fries or greens. I chose the greens, which also accompanied the pierogi very nicely. The beer selection is extensive, with about twenty beers on tap. Conveniently, the selections are listed on a printout that is given to you to peruse at leisure (gee, what a novel idea, all you other bars that only list your beers on a chalkboard tucked away somewhere annoying...). And the list also shows you the next keg on tap for when a keg is tapped (tapped kegs are crossed out on the sheet), so you don't need a ton of back-and-forth with your server -- which is quite useful when the place is packed and noisy. If you do happen to want to discuss the beers, though, the staff is knowledgable and friendly and will do so. The beer list is a bit heavy on the hoppy side, but there are enough other choices to keep a non-hop-head happy. The layout here is quite good, as well, with a large central bar where you can sit and see other patrons and variously sized tables in the periphery if you're with a group. read more

I was just at kraftwork for the game and although the Sixers lost, the service was amazing. Love this place. Keep doing a great job Sunday Crew. You guys are the reason I keep coming back. read more

My boyfriend and I practically live at this place. Their specials are fantastic.. always changing. The beer list is amazing.. always changing as well. All of that aside, it has by far the nicest staff out of any of the places in Fishtown/NoLibs. These people don't seem judgey, they're not lazy, super attentive, they're engaging, and they know their beer and food. I cannot say enough nice things about the people who work at Kraftwork. The environment is super relaxing, the music is never too loud.. just all around great place. This is probably why I'm here 1-2 times a week. I don't feel judged or stressed.. just so chill. Really a great place to be. read more

::mind blown:: how are the wings not the NUMBER ONE thing on this menu???? #theunsunghero #bestever #dipit #bleucheesesauce #todiefor read more

Great beer selection, food, staff, vibe and neighborhood. only downside.... which, i know, it's probably silly to you:: the placement of the 2 televisions. they seem like an afterthought to me. unless you are at the bar, they are very tough to see. i guess i would just rather them not be there. it is torturous to know that the phillies are playing but that you can't actually see the game from your seat. : / much love anyway. : ) read more

Meh. It's, fine. I live on the other side of town and always wanted to check this place out because I really like their other bar, Sidecar. Unfortunately I don't see much reason to return. Another neighborhood spot that pleasantly caters to its regulars while turning quickly terse on people they don't recognize, which is funny because I recognized one bartender from another establishment across town where I was left with ironicallythe same impression. Lukewarm sincerity and an overly krafty menu create a conundrum: potentially confused customers and bartenders who seem annoyed by the fact that you don't immediately 'get it'. It seems like a lot more effort went into eye-catching design elements, some of which are admittedly cool - like the giant saw and the wrench-held chopping blocks that deliver the cheese plates - but that stuff wears off when the bartender ignores your order to yell at the waiter because he just dead bolted the front door that kept flapping open in the wind. HINT: use one of the fancy wrenches to tighten the hydrolic arm on the door and that probably won't happen. It's like being in a library with a bunch of illiterates. read more

Hands down the best looking and most architecturally interesting bar in Philadelphia. Whoever did the metal work in there is a gifted human being. My roommate and I sat at the bar, in awe by the giant metal saw hanging above the twenty something drafts they have there. Awesome. Everything from the giant-bolt doorhandle to the walls had me in a trance. Now onto the meal. We did the cheese plate, which was excellent. Great variety and the accoutremont (?) that came with each cheese worked really well. I had the calamari over a salad with roasted cherry tomatoes and it was great, as well as the fries (MUSTARD sauce rocked). My roommate had a burger and was making noises similar to the ones i hear coming from his room at night. Awesome beer selection. I will definitely be back here. For dessert, The Strawberry Shortcake over a BISCUIT with balsamic reduction. This was the best part of the meal and really had me speechless. The biscuit was awesome, and the balsamic/strawberry/whipped cream connection was awesome. Best use for whipped cream since that scene in Varsity Blues. My only beef is that the bartender wasnt friendly and took a long time for everything. Will definitely be back here in the future. read more

The beer selection at Kraftwork is amazing (25 beers on tap), and the food is delicious! I went once for brunch and had eggs benedict with potato hash and fruit salad. I loved the potato hash, and the fruit salad was really fresh. I also went for dinner more recently and had pretzel bites and vegetable flatbread. I didn't love the pretzel bites -- they were sort of greasy and the cheese sauce didn't have much of a taste. But the veggie flatbread (tomatoes, summer squash, onions, goat cheese) was great. My only complaint is that the dinner menu isn't huge. The veggie flatbread was on the specials menu and nothing was really jumping out at me on the regular menu. The industrial look is really cool and unique. And the staff is friendly and helpful -- they're good about recommending beers and letting you taste something before ordering it. read more

Lovely, simple brunch menu, lovely service, and good drinks. Very cute place; I would definitely eat here again. Recommended items: huevos rancheros, French toast, and mimosa varieties. read more

Went there for the second time yesterday. I ordered the hazelnut salad. At first I felt like the salad smells overpoweringly of vinegar. As I got used to it, I enjoyed the salad more, and actually ended up really liking it a lot. My boyfriend ordered a customized burger, cooked at medium. We both thought it was a little dry. The fries are really well seasoned but I like them a lot! Overall not a bad experience at all read more

Kraftwork - Hazelnut salad. Very interesting but also very yummy - Gastropubs Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I really really dug this place. Every aesthetic detail is paid attention to at this place, and its all brought together by a beautiful large Saw that hangs above the bar. You just want to like this place right when you walk through the door. I had a great cheese plate with my roommate and a burger that had to be in the top 3 I've had in Philly. The burger was cooked perfectly (which is seemingly hard to get these days) and topped with a poached egg that made the whole experience a messy, gooey, salty heaven. Im pretty sure I should have been pixelated so the kids around me couldn't see the faces I was making. I'll definitely be back to try more of this menu, and hopefully they'll hire a better bartendress by the next time I head here. A Definite Stop in Fishtown. read more

My favorite watering hole. The drafts are always changing; I've tried so many new beers there. The bottle list is huge. Drafts range from $4.50 to 7 at most- some pints, some glasses. The food! It's such an interesting menu. Their brunch is incredible! The staff are generally nice and love to talk. The clientele range in ages depending on time of day and it can get pretty busy (and a little loud for conversation) at night. Lunch is my favorite time to go, when it's nice and quiet. The decor is vintage-y, with low watt light bulbs and dark patterned wallpaper. read more

I live a short walk from Kraftwork - this is exceptionally dangerous as I have a love of sour beers and they're always there to help me out. My wife loves IPA's, so we both end up happy due to their large beer selection. The mushroom baguette is addictive and the fries are awesome. Try coming for brunch. They have fantastic biscuits with homemade jams and never too much of a wait! read more

Kraftwork always delivers. Great tap selection. Beer menu also shows what is coming up next. Tasty and presentable dishes with excellent service. Atmosphere inside and outside is also always very casual, chill. Great place to carry a conversation so if you want to meet with a friend and catch up this is a place for you. I have been here many times and always left satisfied. Keep up the good work. read more

Kraftwork is an eclectic restaurant and beer bar with unique industrial design elements. I enjoyed the small design touches everywhere from the metal industrial handle on the appetizer platter to the large bolts used for the toilet paper holder. The menu is diverse and offers cuisine that ranges from Vietnamese Banh Mi to Korean BBQ tacos to the German/Polish drinking staples of pretzels and pierogies. I had the bone-in pork chop a couple of weeks ago and it was perfectly juicy and very flavorful. My friends say their craft beer selection is on point but as a proclaimed beer bar I'd really appreciate it if they had at least one gluten free beer option (not just cider, but a beer). read more

The food is great - somedays the selection of beers are not the best. Great location, great service and fun style group seating. So if you like eating with perfect strangers this is the place to go to. A MUST read more

My mission to hit the 2012 top 50 bars in 2013 brought me to Kraftwork which was awesome. Loved the circular/u shaped bar. The beer list was fabulous, although I always fine the what's on tap next list to be a bit of a tease since I always seem to want something on it. I split one of the flat bread specials of the day and Wild Mushroom Baguette with my friend and we were so glad we shared so we could tastes more of there awesome food. I've been meaning to get back here and keep passing on the way home from the gym so I know I will at some point. I just wish it was closer to wear I live cause I'd defiantly frequent it more it if was. read more

My girlfriend and I recently went to Philadelphia on a 4-day sight-seeing tour. We're both teachers, but I also work for a craft brewery part-time and craft beer is one of my passions. We had heard about Kraftwork on the Philadelphia episode of the tv series "BrewDogs". It was rated as one of the Top 5 best craft beer bars in Philly. We stopped in for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, in between our trips to Philadelphia Brewing and Yards Brewing. The place seemed really cool and they had a great selection of beers on tap. I loved the whole 'Kraftsman' decor theme. We had heard great things about their pierogis, but apparently they only serve brunch until 4:00 or so. Some people next to us ordered some delicious-looking eggs dishes so we decided to do the same. I had the Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and my girlfriend ordered the Huevos Rancheros. Both were delicious and paired well with the beers. All in all, we were very impressed by our visit to Kraftwork and would definitely return if we ever visit Philly again. read more

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The burger here is absolutely delicious. The burger meat is awesome and doesn't really need any toppings because of it. Good selection of beer too read more

They have a great selection of beer at this joint. I had two flights of beer and which the bartender accidentally gave me an extra beer. Each beer I tried over her was amazing and had a distinctive great taste! read more

Great beer selection The duck sausage was one of the best food items I have ever had anywhere. read more

Top notch brunch spot. Great beer list, zesty Bloody Marias with their own pickled vegetables, and a fantastic array of breakfast-y options with the choice of salad on the side. I grabbed tofu scramble and a bloody Maria. So so so good. The interior was artfully rockin' and the metalwork detail within the walls/tables/bar was beautiful. Can't wait to come back! read more

This is what you get when you accept and order and then cancel it because you decided to close 3 hours before your stated closing time. Honor your commitments. read more

I stopped into Kraftwork last night to grab beer and a bite with a friend of mine. The beer menu blew my socks off! They have an extremely wide variety of beers. I was most impressed with the Racer 5, which they had on cask. I also noticed that they had a beer sampler for $8...you get 4 6-8 oz glasses of any beer on tap. Moving on to the food menu. As a full-time vegetarian and part-time vegan I have come to expect a few things from most of the gastropubs / restaurants in and around the northern liberties area. I was a little surprised by the menu in 2 ways. Firstly, the items on the menu seemed to be a little overpriced. Secondly, they had no vegan entrees on the menu and unless you wanted an appetizer the only vegetarian selection was the falafel sandwich. I ordered a falafel sandwich, which was $10. The bartender informed me that the only sandwich that comes with fries is the burger and that the kitchen doesn't allow substitutions. For a falafel sandwich and fries the total was $16, almost twice what I would have paid elsewhere. The sandwich itself was a decent size with three falafel cakes spread out with an ample amount of cucumber tzatziki sauce (could have used some tomato and lettuce). The sandwich also came with a side of kosher pickled carrot, cucumber and cauliflower...which was pretty tasty. The french fries were a tad dainty, but the portion was a nice size and the mustard aioli was terrific. All in all....Kraftwork is an awesome watering hole because it has a fantastic beer selection (which would please any beer snob) and neat contemporary decor. (Plus the staff is extremely friendly and hard working!) I haven't decided, however, if I will be returning. With the extremely limited vegan/vegetarian options and the high food prices... I feel as though I could make out much better at other local stops....like my personal favorite Memphis Taproom. Ohhh. and although I can not eat it. The hamburger looked incredible. Definitely a homemade roll! read more

Kraftwork is legit, like 2legit2quit legit. And with that reference, I've proven my antiquity and thus my lack of qualification to bestow upon anything (save perhaps Matlock) the title of legit. Nonetheless, trust me on this one: you'll like Kraftwork. We went for brunch, and have a great meal. They have a lot of beers on tap, and I think there had just been a Bear Republic tap takeover (that alone tells you how awesome this place is). So at least half of the taps were made up of hard-to-find Bear Republic beers. Food is also very good. I highly recommend the beer-can chicken sandwich. The roll it was on was perfect (fresh and crusty), the chicken was moist, and I loved that it was topped with fried long hots. My wife got the stuffed french toast, which seems like a sweet tooth's dream. It was covered in a mascarpone cream sauce and apple compote. Really delicious, but I couldn't eat more than a bite or two of that, given how rich it was. She loved it though. The ambiance is pretty relaxed, and the servers were nice enough. I would definitely recommend Kraftwork if you're in the area. read more

Great decor and environment for drinks but the food is really lacking. I'd come here to hang out any night still but only if I ate beforehand. The food is very over priced and just not that exciting. Greasy, sloppy food. Perhaps it would taste better at half the price. I really want to like the place as the ambiance is so great but I just cannot get over the ridiculous prices. read more

This place definitely did the trick last night. It was a friend's first night in town and we were looking for something low-key where we could walk in without a wait, eat good pub fare, and not pay too much. Their tap list is impressive and I tried both a blonde and wheat beer that I loved. Our party of three had to sit at a communal table, which was okay. I prefer separate tables, but it really wasn't too much of a bother. Like others have said, the beer can chicken sandwich was a bit too soggy for the bun. They also didn't cut either sandwich we ordered in half (the chicken or the bahn mi), which was a small annoyance for eating, but again, nothing too terrible. Based on reviews, I got the french fries and they were pretty good. When my friend got the butter lettuce side salad though instead, I was a bit jealous. It looked really fresh and delicious. Her boyfriend ordered the ribs and was very happy with his choice. The service here is fine, but nothing too special. The only real mishap is that we used two cards to pay (which they state is fine on their menu- you just can't split checks more than three ways) and our server mixed up the cards and the amounts going on them. When we pointed it out, he seemed annoyed that he had to fix the problem (and didn't apologize), which was a bummer. Regardless, it was a good overall experience and the food is definitely worth returning for. If I could change one thing, I would add a veggie burger or something similar to the menu. There is a falafel sandwich, but that's the only vegetarian option that I saw, which seems a bit lacking to me. read more

God I love this place. My sister brought me here quite a few times when she lived in this neighborhood. It was always a treat. We sat inside and outside. We came for lunch, for dinner, and for drinks. I have not one bad thing to say. The people who work here are always cool. The people who come here are cool too. It would be sad for you to skip out on the: Popcorn Hazelnut Salad Pirogues The build your own burger .. I wish she would move back to Fishtown! read more