We were there for the first time in Fishtown (Philly). Wanted something local, the website was easy to navigate. Food was exceptional. The octopus salad was delicious and all our entrees exceeded our expectations. Kevin, the bartender/server was polite, attentive and friendly. Cash only, but there's an ATM inside. We're definitely going back! read more

If you have yet to read up on the history of Murph's (how some of the best pasta in Philly is being served up at an Irish Pub on Girard), then do yourself a favor and dig into some of the media coverage surrounding Francesco Bellastelli and his all-day shifts in the basement kitchen. I've been to Murph's with my boyfriend on two separate occasions, the first being after an event when the kitchen was already closed (sad times) and the second being a very intentional "get-there-before-6pm-so-we-can-house-some-tagliatelle" trip...and house some tagliatelle we DID! Alongside burrata and meats and caprese salad and lobster ravioli and a frozen espresso martini that tastes like ice cream. The hype is real and well-deserved. We found parking easily and had no wait when we arrived just before 6pm on a Wednesday. Come correct: Murph's is cash only, don't expect to make substitutions or requests on menu items, and place your entire food order with the server at once. They run a skeleton staff here with bartenders often doubling as servers and food runners, but everything came out super quick and was outrageously delicious. I grabbed a glass of delicious Montepulciano and really appreciate a place that gives off pub vibes but then also has a sneaky, wonderful wine list at reasonable prices. I want to go back and try the gnocchi and lamb and tiramisu and okay FINE the entire menu, but the tagliatelle with filet is served up in an absolutely bonkers truffle cream sauce that I'll dream about for weeks. Fishtown has no shortage of amazing spots to grab dinner but do add Murph's to your list! read more

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After reading the reviews I decided to check it out on my most recent visit to Philly. We got there early at like 4:30 and were seated right away. The food was amazing and the drinks were great too. Very cool vibes and excellent service. The Branzino was the best fish I have ever had and my son enjoyed the Tagliatelle with Filet. We ate here before heading to the Punch Line for a comedy show. I highly recommend this place. It was getting packed by the time we left. Oh and bring cash. read more

Murph's Bar - Lemon Drop Martini - Sports Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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"Italian Food Irish Bar" That's how Murph's was described by my friend and I had to check it out! Murph's is everything that you want. It has quality Italian food for inexpensive prices along with your favorite selections of beer. I was very impressed with the tagliatelle with filet. I did not expect the pasta to be so flavorful! The truffle pairs nicely with the cream and it doesn't taste too fatty.The meat is perfectly cooked too. The meatballs and fried Burrata was delicious! Their tomato sauce is nice and acidic which pairs well with the Burrata and meatball. It provides a casual vibe as well! They provide outdoor seating which is really nice as the weather warms up. Their service is good too! I need to swing back here soon! This is one of the better Italian places in Philly! read more

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Best bar food you will ever find!! Burgers, chili and people are top notch. Specials are always good as well

My fiance and I loved it here so much that we actually put in a request for a small group to come in after we got married. At first management was accommodating. They were responsive and agreed to open their kitchen on a Tuesday night and allowed us to have the private space for four hours. Then after having the place booked for OVER A YEAR. I received an email from management asking us to move when we were coming in because they had a darts tournament. We are now scrambling to find another private event space to accommodate our group because they notified us three weeks before our event even though we had the space booked for a year. I would not recommend booking a private event with them. read more

Best Italian food in Philadelphia hands down! Get the lobster ravioli, you won't regret it!

GG Ra 11 reviews·3 photos just now New Food is amazing. Service not so much. It was not crowded at all when we dined here. We sat at the bar . There were 2 bartenders working that literally acted like we were invisible for 15 mins. Never said.. Hey I'll be right with you, one moment, not even a greeting at all. Then one planted the bar code (menu) in front of us and walked away. Came back in about 5 minutes to take out order. Very matter of fact. No how are you today, nothing. Never asked if we wanted a drink at all. Got the bill. No thank you, no nothing. Keep you Italian food. I'll be going to South Philly for my next. read more

Good pasta, but they don't do any modifications/substitutions which sucks given their selection. As someone who has tried about 3 pastas from their menu and didn't like any of them, I just wanted to try the gnocchi with vodka sauce (both which they have) it was super disappointing that they couldn't simply combine a different pasta with a different sauce. I've tried their cherry tomato sauces that come with the gnocchi and don't like them (too Tart) so really wanted to have a vodka sauce but they said they don't allow any substitutions. They also said they "don't have any extra bread" when we asked for a refill (they usually give plenty and we were willing to pay for more) so I think they've officially gotten too big for their boots recently read more

best modestly priced italian food in the city. portions are great. Tear through the dive bar look, plucky attitudes, and lack of credit card machines and get yourself some incredible food read more

Tried ordering from Murph's Bar last month for takeout, but they wouldn't pick up their phone. We had to go over there to find out in person that the chef wasn't doing takeout orders that day. Last Friday, we decided to go over to Murph's Bar for an early dinner and dine in. When we arrived around 6pm, there was already a 30-45 minute wait. I put my name down for a table of 2 and told the hostess we would be back later. The hostess let us know she wouldn't be able to hold the table for us and did not ask to take down my phone number. My husband and I returned with 5 minutes to spare and were seated. This was our first time eating at and from Murph's Bar and we had a pretty good time. My husband and I split a bottle of red wine for $39, a couple of pastas, and the fried smoked mozzarella. The portions were generous, and the food was delicious. More importantly, everything was so reasonably priced. The ambiance isn't the greatest for a date, but we left with happy bellies and happy wallet. Murph's Bar has its inconveniences but for the quality and prices, we will endure them and definitely would come back again. read more

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Shrimp and Crab pasta will knock your socks off! Great food. Irish bar + Italian food that's what I call a fusion dinning experience! Seriously a great place if you have never been. read more

Murph's Bar - Shrimp and Crab pasta will knock your socks off! - Sports Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ok, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this. Some of the best Italian comfort food I've had is in an Irish dive bar in Northern Liberties/Fishtown. My buddy and I started off sharing a bottle of reasonably priced montepulciano followed by apps of meatballs and eggplant involtini. Both were excellent. My main was the tagliatelle with filet of steak pieces and my friend had the branzino. The beef was fork tender and the fresh pasta was cooked perfectly with a bit of white truffle. The branzino was the best I've tasted. Service is friendly and as you'd expect at an awesome dive bar. Cash only and limited seating. Come early and come hungry! read more

Murph's Bar - Sports Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This place is absolutely amazing ...great food at a great price...nice bartenders...great service. Some of the best Italian food you will get in Philadelphia at a fraction of the price that it deserves read more

I was told by a local that this Irish bar has the best Italian food ever. Strange. But who I am I to test fate? So I go. I get a table right away on a Saturday (which apparently was rare but that's the power of dining alone!) and I order. I get the eggplant appetizer, the pasta with eggplant and cherry tomatoes and a glass of Chianti, ofc. The pasta was freshly made and so delicate and delicious. The veggies were fresh and had the perfect flavor - to be honest they were so grab they didn't need much! The servers were busy but very attentive - and very cute! The ambiance is just a typical Irish bar. Being from Chicago I was used to it and felt right at home. I would a million percent come back here when in town! read more

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Service is terrible. They used to seat you no matter what during dinner service. Now they do everything in their power to not seat people. The chef, who's amazing, lost out on hundreds of dollars because of somebody that's not related that is on an ego trip. We've had many a time when the chef visits our table personally to recommend dishes and see how our meal was, which would've been tonight for the 5 of us, but not tonight because someone decided to ego trip us out of a table. Birthday was ruined read more

Outstanding: Service, People, & Food. Local bar vibes, bistro quality cuisine. Did not charge me $3.50 for Soda Water out of the soda gun like most places in this area. read more

Murph's Bar - Lobster Ravioli / Cheese Ravioi - Sports Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Irish pub serving fresh Italian dishes! 10/10 would recommend! On the outside this is your typical Philly dive bar, very small but if you can snag a seat at the bar or a table in this establishment it'll be well worth it. I recommend getting there before 7pm for dinner. The few times that I have been (week day & weekend ) they have stopped seating around 7:30 PM & they do not take reservations. Pasta is freshly made & so tasty! Haven't had a dish here that I didn't like. If you're local to this area or visiting I highly recommend Murphs Irish Pub for some Italian food! I mean.. is this not the most Philly thing you ever heard of! Give them a try! read more

Murph's Bar - Lobster Ravioli - Sports Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Expect to wait for a spot/table by 6pm, everyone's there for the food! I've grabbed a spot to eat at the bar and waited for a table the two times I've gone. Perfect hole in the wall vibe, decent selection for beers/cans. It's first come, walk in only. Easier to get a spot if you come in as a party of 2. Also, Cash only- they do have an ATM if needed. Expect the service to not be its best- but honestly the food is well worth it. I recommend the bar seating over a table! If dining later, I'd preview the menu before hand and have a few dishes in mind because once the food is out, it's out! Luckily have never had that issue, but have heard the server mention to tables they were out of options they wanted. Pricing for food is great for what you get. Arancini, Seafood Manicotti, Tagliatelle with Filet and Lobster Ravioli were options I've tried and recommend. read more

Murph's Bar - Tagliatelle with Filet - Sports Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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A dive bar that has unexpectedly great Italian food. No reservations unless you have a group of 6+ and they only receive inquiries via email or Instagram. My favorite is the Murph's Pasta, which is cooked very al dente with a red sauce and spicy sausage. The pasta seems to be fresh made and such a unique firmness that most restaurants don't offer. The portions are extremely filling, from the appetizers to pasta and even dessert. The prices are reasonable too! The only downside is that since it's a bar in the front, it can be extremely chaotic. The majority of the crowd is in the front and that's also where a lot of the staff's attention is. The service is understandably catering to a lot at once while the environment is on the louder side, so it's not your typical restaurant experience but very worthwhile for good pasta! I highly recommend the Murph's Pasta and their tiramisu for dessert! read more

Murph's Bar - Murph's Pasta - Sports Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Rude service! Despite signs saying 90 min max at the table, we were asked to give up the table in less than 60 mins, after ordering beers, food, and dessert. We had just finished dessert and weren't even done with our drinks when the server interrupted. Food is mediocre at best, same with dessert. Won't waste our time again read more

The service was great.Had the most hospital server. The food however was subpar. We did not like 2 out of our 3 dishes. The fried eggplant and mozzarella appetizer with red sauce was bland along with the bolognese with meat sauce. The sauces were lacking in flavor.The bolognese tasted like it was burnt. We ate two bites of it and did not touch it, we didn't even take it home with us but still paid for it . I will say the pear and Parmesan fiocchi was good. I wanted to like this place because I heard so many good things but it was a flop for us as far as food. I did order a stuffed olive dirty martini which I really enjoyed. Would go here for drinks but not for food read more

Came in on Saturday night, the place was packed. We waited a while to sit in the bar. Ordered a strawberry cocktail with strawberry syrup (forgot the name) it tasted like lube soda, no flavor what so ever, not sweet hi t, my hubby ordered hibiscus tea margarita, samr with that, no flavor just sour and bland. We ordered an appetizer, fried stuffed eggplant, it was good but very bland, not even salt. My hubby ordered the "Garganelli Arrabbiata" pasta which was not cooked, pasta was still hard and very rubbery, no flavor again, sauce was bland and all you got was an unpleasant spicy dish that he could not eat. I ordered the "Parpadelli Pasta with shrimp and crab" another bland dish, no flavor and crab was barely in there, I had to sprinkle so much salt and parmesan to give it flavor and still did not taste yum. Food must have flavor and cooked with salt at least The atmosphere to sit and have a beer is cool, but bartender she was not friendly l, no smile. When you order food especially Italian spot I expect to be asked or served about parmesan, bartender needs to come back and ask how is evt with us, do we want another drink.....service was not friendly and welcoming at all. read more

I don't want to write this review but the cat is out of the bag. Murph's has the best pasta in Fishtown. Italian food at an Irish dive bar in Fishtown? You betcha! This place is sincerely incredible. I don't think they take reservations so it's first come first served but if there is a wait, it's worth it. Wait. Murph's is an institution in Fishtown and if you know, you know. read more

Came here on a recommendation and had an amazing meal here. The pasta with vodka sauce was among the best I've ever had.

*Cash only* (ATM onsite) Some of the best Italian food at an Irish dive bar? Count me in! Murph's is a small venue so expect to wait for a table. But trust me, it's so worth it. Pro tip: they DO take reservations, but you have to have a minimum of 6 people (I believe they only have 1 reserved table). You can't go wrong with anything on menu! read more

Had little nonna's and Murph's in the same weekend and vote Murph's as the best choice. Got the seafood manicotti (3 out of 4 at the table ordered this, 1 person ordered the pear and cheese fiocchi). To start, Murph's is an Irish bar and was so booked that we were worried we wouldn't be able to be seated in time. The inside has bars, table tops and tables for 4 as you go back and It looked like they even had an outdoor area in the back with tables as well as two tables out front on the sidewalk! My friends got the calamari and It was very lightly fried, not too rubbery. We got our dishes fairly quickly and inhaled them. The portions weren't huge like some of the reviews mentioned, we were able to finish our plates and didn't feel too heavy. The manicotti was light, seafood was definitely there but not overflowing with It, and the tomato sauce was very creamy. I tried a bit of my friend's pear and cheese fiocchi which was delicious! It didn't taste fruity but the cheese was light and the pear added a bright flavor that I've never had with pasta before. Unfortunately the food was so good and we were in such a rush that I didn't even take pictures of the food. I really wanted to get a slab of the tiramisu that I read about but because they're so busy they don't do any takeaway orders so we left. Overall 9/10, difficult to get seated and felt a bit rushed since there were people waiting out front. Definitely would come back and reorder the manicotti with some apps and the tiramisu that I'm still thinking about! read more

The food here is always on point, but heads up - they don't serve food on Tuesdays. It's also cash only, there's an ATM inside though. It's half bar, half restaurant, with not a ton of tables, so roll in early to dodge wait times. Inside has a distinct smell - some dig it, some don't. If the weather's good, you can grab a spot at the outdoor tables in the back. I highly recommend the Pacherri Aum Aum and the Pear & Cheese Fiocchi read more

Murph's Bar - Paccheri Aum Aum - Sports Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The best Italian food is a great Irish five star dive bar! The inside is small and you will probably have to wait to sit, but that wait is worth it. Depending on the time of day, will depend on how many wait staff there are working. So don't expect a fast in and out meal, sit back, relax, enjoy the sights from the fun wall decor, to all the people coming in and out. Great selection of drinks, decent selections of beers. The menu is Italian, the meatball appetizer is amazing as well as the eggplant appetizer. All of the sauces are slightly different and super tasty. For dinner I had the tagliatella with filet mignon in a white truffle cream sauce which damn near brought me to my knees lol. So good words can't even describe it. The stuffed gnocchi was a favorite as well. Saved a room for a dessert and had the limoncello cake which was light and delicious. Others in our party had been there before and all of their meals they said we're delicious. Definitely plan a trip here. You don't even have to dress up to have such fine Italian food! read more

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Absolutely worth the hype. The tagliatelle w/ filet and burrata appetizer were both excellent, and my girlfriend's cavatelli w/ sausage looked good too. The menu has so many options and things are really affordable - I need to go back to try everything. The atmosphere is just as described - truly a packed Irish bar that happens to serve some of the city's best pasta. So unique. I'll be coming back for more. read more

Murph's Bar - Tagliatelle Filet - Sports Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Murphs is definitely in the running for best pasta in Philly. I had the best time here, from the unique dive bar atmosphere to the surprisingly gourmet food. It's an unusual arrangement (read about the Italian chef who rents the kitchen before going!) but it's so smart and it works SO well. For our meal, we simply ordered four plates of pasta. Nothing disappointed. I can't recommend stopping by enough. The steak pasta was particularly a stand out. I honestly don't think you could go wrong here. Went on a rainy Friday night and only waited half an hour, but people report waiting more than two hours for a table. It's totally worth it. Just go to garage and have a drink while you're waiting. When you get there you put your number down and they call out your name when it's ready. Cash only! If you consider yourself knowledgeable about the Philly food scene, you're truly missing out till you try Murph's. read more

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Irish bar with Italian kitchen...... but it works. Pasta was perfect. Apps were great. Cheesesteak eggrolls are the best in Philly. They were huge. read more

Delicious food, cute "dive" bar. Not sure if my server was the owner or not but he was super friendly and gave great recommendations on what to order. I also loved his accent ( not that that has anything to do with the place but so you know who I'm talking about) would go back! read more

You won't regret this place!!! Don't wear anything fancy, you will need comfy pants because your stomach will be so full from all the delicious meals!!!! Get the lobster ravioli!! And everything else at that matter! It's amazing here get early so they won't run out of anything. read more

The sauces here are next level delicious. Came here with my dad and we shared the Garganelli amatriciana, Garganelli alla vodka, and the tiramisu and hazelnut truffle for dessert. Portions are generous and pricing is very fair for the quality and quantity of food you get. The only reason this gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because I personally didn't love how Al dente the noodles were, but that's just personal preference. My dad thought these were some of the best pasta dishes he's had. Will definitely be back to try their other pasta dishes. read more

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Horrible service! Not accommodating. Very rude staff. Meatballs were ok but pasta was HORRIBLE. The bar looked cool. Their soda was good.

Came in before the show at Punchline came on at 7:30pm. Intended just to check the place out and get a few drinks. Not the best area but it's on a busy street. It's also down the block from Garage which is another decent bar. This should make it on a bar crawl event. Bar is small seating maybe a dozen people. Few high stools on the side ,which we sat, and a few tables in the back. Nice little Irish Pub vibe. They have a jukebox but I didn't see if it worked. Food list does look really good and wanted to try their homemade pasta. Definitely coming back to try their desserts which need a proper review themselves. read more

Yeh it's exactly what you've heard. Amazing Italian food inside of an Irish dive bar. I have no idea how they keep their cost so low, but this place kills it every god damn time. Try and sneak in as early as possible and try some of the heavier cream sauces (so you can go slumber into the evening appropriately). Favorites are the filet pasta and the pear purses. Make sure to grab some charcuterie for the table. There will be a wait at night, which is fine because you're in Fishtown and have a bevy of bars to choose from. This place truly fucking rips. No notes. ATM in the back as they are cash only. read more

Food was delicious. Hard to accommodate a young child but we're nice in helping us figure out the best way. Fast service as well. Will be coming back for sure. read more

Murph's Bar - Sports Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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After my first visit to Murph's, I can proudly say that I get it now. There is a lot of hype about the pasta here and it is well deserved. A friend and I were in the neighborhood with time to waste before an event at 7 PM, so we decided to give Murph's a try. We got there around 5:30 and grabbed a spot at the bar while we waited a few minutes for a table to open up. The space isn't huge and is definitely a no frills, dive bar feel. Once we were seated we ordered the fried burrata, bacon wrapped filet medallions, and the garganelli with braciole. While all of the white and light sauce options sounded incredible, we were about to get onto a trolley with no bathroom for two hours and felt that the odds would be stacked against our stomachs if we risked it for the blush or cream sauce options. Everything was delicious! I was really impressed with the tenderness and flavor of the braciole, because my Italian grandmother makes it the best and I'm pretty picky. The fried burrata was incredible, I think about it often. The bacon wrapped filet was perfection. Important notes - they do not take reservations. Seating is first come first serve and by 6 PM they are usually packed. Come early or anticipate waiting a bit. They serve dishes until they sell out, so the later you come the chance the pasta you were hoping for is no longer available increases. It is also cash only, they have an ATM inside. Pricing is pretty average, not crazy expensive. The service may not be the most warm or welcoming, but I think that's part of the charm. read more