I've wanted to come here for years to try their cheesesteaks (we live only a couple of minutes away) but online reviews have mentioned that at night it turns into a dancehall/club. Because we have a toddler, I stayed away. However, on a cold December Saturday night I decided that it was time for an adventure. A Philly adventure... When we arrived the seating area was very empty and we quickly found our own table. There were lots of TVs on showing sports but because they were muted, and because the background music was soft we could actually hear ourselves. It was nice. The staff were very friendly. I ordered a cheesesteak, my wife ordered smoked wings, and we later got a cheese pizza for our son. The food came out pretty quick. I loved my cheesesteak. Now, I have no idea how "authentic" it is but the bread was lovely and light and crisp, the meat was good, and the hot peppers were actually hot. The smoked wings were okay, but I am more of a deep-friend Buffalo sauce type of guy and they tasted more like roasted chicken (which... they were). The pizza was very good and the sauce was a little bit sweet but it was nice that it didn't taste jarred. They have their own type of pizza and it worked. I think we came at the right time, as they were setting up for a 12-person party which would have made things really loud. Is there a dance hall upstairs? I dunno, but I never noticed club music. I don't know if we will always get so lucky on picking a night to visit but I wish I had stopped by sooner as it was a nice place to go and eat. read more

I am in town visiting friends and we stopped here for a drink and a snack. I loved the Adirondack feel of the place. The bartender was attentive and helpful. I have some unique food allergies and they were able to accommodate my dietary needs. I had the chorizo queso and chips. It was delicious! I highly recommend that you check them out if you are in the area. read more

Philly Bar & Lounge - Chorizo Queso and Chips - Bars Near Me - Latham, New York

Came to Philly's with a group of friends to watch some basketball! It's a standard, no frills place. The waitress was super nice and service was quick. They have a good selection of standard bar food and taste was pretty solid and prices were really great too! Most options were between $10-$14 for some really great portions as my friends got loaded nachos, Nashville hot sandwiches, and grilled chicken BLT. Some of the utensils were a little dirty though but replaced quickly. I'd say it's not a bad option to watch a game and grab a drink. read more

Philly Bar & Lounge - Chicken Tenders - Bars Near Me - Latham, New York

Everything has changed but not for the good. Don't see the regular customers coming in and miss the prior bartenders (especially Bianca). It use to have a "cheers" atmosphere where we all knew each other and lots of banter and chat. The lunch menu absolutely sucks! Can't even get a pizza and barely any appetizer choices. Full size Philly steak with 50% less meat. (Where's the beef lol) We've been regulars here for many years but sadly this will be our very last visit read more

Philly Bar & Lounge - Lunch- full size PHILLY CHEESESTEAK - Bars Near Me - Latham, New York

Service was great. Bathrooms clean. Food mid, but well priced. I thought my sandwich needed more seasoning and it wasn't spicy at all - but still not bad just not the best. My friend liked her nachos and my other friend liked her chicken BLT. read more

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One of the top patios in the area! Regular and high top tables along with fire pit tables. I had the Nashville hot chicken sandwich with fries off the regular menu. My husband had a Philly steak and cheese with cheez whiz. The food came out quickly and everything was delicious. Will definitely return! read more

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I must say that the Mushroom Truffle Pizza is the best pizza I've ever had! Nice thin, crispy crust. A variety of cheeses. Lots of mushrooms. No red sauce--truffle oil and truffle shavings. It was so delicious! The menu is varied--lots of options besides pizza, and ambience is cozy with an outdoor bar for nice weather. The waitstaff is friendly, attentive and efficient. Highly recommende. read more

Was at a Holiday party this week and they had a buffet. I am Celiac gluten free so I asked the folks who were setting up the buffet if anything was gluten-free. He said I will make you a gluten-free plate and bring it out to you. I had grilled chicken Parm and grilled salmon. They were both delicious and perfectly gluten-free. Felt great the next day I was pleased with the service and the food and the fact that they accommodated my gluten allergy. Well done Philly's. read more

If I could give no stars I would. Do not host a RELAY FOR LIFE event, and then have reservation only without telling the participants they need reservations to bring their families! This place was standing room only and the servers and hostesses were extremely rude. Poor service, poor idea to have it here. Not again. Good luck to those that visit regularly, to openly host something like that and not have accommodations is absurd. read more

This place is very chill and cozy and believe in giving back to the community this year they hosted King Of The Wings an event to fundraise money for cancer research and housing, and transportation. Philly donated all the wings and more which they did not have to do. read more

Much improvement since my last review. We had an amazing waitress tonight. We had lost our power and wanted to hang out until it came back on. She didn't make us feel rushed at all and was very personable. We all enjoyed our food and the atmosphere inside the big club/dance floor area. read more

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What an amazing place to host an event at! The staff was incredible from inception to execution. The food was wonderful. The generosity was unmatched. So many people wanted to attend when Philly's was announced as our host, that the restaurant/Bar was standing room only and every staff member still had a smile on their face and kept accommodating every request. Would absolutely recommend using them for any event or even just dinner or drinks with family and friends. read more

We visited Philly's on Saturday September 27, 2025, and had an awful experience. We waited over 25 minutes for our beers and over an hour for our food. The waitress never came over to give us an update on our food. They brought our apps out at the same time as the main course. The service was awful. My friend asked for no onions on her sandwich and it came loaded with onions. When we told the waitress she was less than apologetic. I ordered a Pilsner and the waitress gave me an Octoberfest. They brought our beers in 12oz plastic cups which the waitress insisted was a 16oz cup., We measured. It was not and they still charged us for 16oz beers. What a scam. Awful experience all around. This was my second bad experience here, but I thought I would give it another try. We will not be back. Too many other great places in the Capital Region. read more

Food ok, service ok, patio was nice. We had reservations inside but as soon as you walk in the restaurant a strong, porta potty smell was overbearing. Very similar to the blue liquid they use inside of them to deodorize. If we weren't able to move outside I probably would have left. read more

Came here on a Sunday with a group of six. The place was empty, so we were able to be seated right away. I got the Chicken and Waffles. The chickens were fried a little too long, but overall it was a good brunch item. No real complaints with the service. We were checked up upon every now and then, refilled some of our drinks, and got our check seamlessly. I guess because they were having a slow morning. read more

Philly Bar & Lounge - Chicken and Waffles - Bars Near Me - Latham, New York

We went to get something to eat after the big storm last month. We were able to eat outside. We were disappointed that they don't have the brunch menu anymore but there was still plenty to choose from. We were there around 11:30 but they had already run out of the soup of the day. We ordered a few things to share. The General Tao's cauliflower and broccoli was amazing. I will order that every time. We also had a wedge salad that was delicious. The food was well prepared and the seating was very safe for COVID. read more

Philly Bar & Lounge - Wedge salad - Bars Near Me - Latham, New York

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I ordered pick up for a friend and I. The process was easy, masks worn, no problems. The place was super crowded for the patio so get there early if you want in! There was a long line wait by 4:45. They have a fabulous patio. I saw that they took over some recipes from The Bull and Barrel and I LOVED their chicken wings prior to them going out of business a year or two back. I was super excited to have them again. They were 100% spot on and so delicious. I got them in a medium buffalo sauce and I would definitely recommend. They got slightly less crisp in transport but survived pretty well. They were super meaty, moist and smokey. Also, the smokey blue cheese was incredible. Definitely took them up a notch. These wings are top notch contenders in my book. Their fries were also pretty fantastic and stayed ultra crisp the whole time. So good, they them out! read more

Philly Bar & Lounge - Smoked Chicken Wings - Bars Near Me - Latham, New York

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With my wife having a craving for some pizza, and both of us agreeing that we didn't want to drive very far from home, she asked if the Philly Bar served pizza and I recalled having some there several years ago. Double checking their web page I was reminded that they cooked their pizzas in a coal fired oven. It had been a couple of years since I last tried their pizza, I seemed to recall that I enjoyed it, but my wife wasn't with me on that occasion. She had never had a coal fired pizza, so our minds were made up. Starting off with pints of DuClaw's Dirty Little Freak (a coconut, caramel, chocolate, brown ale) ($6.50) and Philly Constitutional Brown Ale (possibly brewed offsite for the Philly Bar) ($6), we ordered apps of Cauliflower Pakora ($11) and Brisket Bao Buns ($9). The Cauliflower was served with a side of very good and chunky house made blue cheese dressing and even though the battered coating on the florets was lighter than what you would get in an Indian restaurant, the flavor was augmented by their medium Buffalo sauce. They were quite tasty and enjoyable. The Bao Buns looked like what you might expect in an Asian restaurant, but the buns themselves were not as light and airy as you would have hoped for. But the filling of brisket, pickled onion, and a soy sauce was tasty. For our pizza we chose the BBQ Pork ($14). Topped with smoked pulled pork, BBQ sauce, red onion, cherry peppers, smoked mozzarella, fresh cilantro sprigs, this had a lot of good flavor. The crust is thin, with the hot coals allowing for some nice bubbled up char near the edges. The bottom is firm and just short of being crispy. I took a couple of slices home to have the next day and was impressed with how good they were when I reheated them with my favorite technique. With my induction stovetop and a non-stick fry pan, I place the room-temperature slices directly in the pan with no oil on a medium heat. I partially cover the pan to hold some more heat in and in about five to ten minutes they come out fully heated through with a remarkably crispy bottom. This takes some practice, but I like it better than reheating in the oven or the microwave. Service was friendly and efficient. With a very extensive draft beer list, they retain that 4th star. With few people in the dining area on a Tuesday night, it was quite cool inside. Be prepared to wear a sweater or as Joe Cocker might say, leave your hat on! read more

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Horrible service! Waited in the outside area for 30 minutes without being approached for our food order. Moved inside and waited another 20 minutes without being approached for our food order. Left cash for our 2 drinks on the table and walked out! read more

Had a Ladies get together and we had great time. Our server was very friendly. Food was good. Since it's first time I only tried 2 dishes Buffalo Cauliflower and House smoked wings. Both are huge portions and really tasty read more

A huge question mark for Philly Bar and Grill. I don't know what we got ourselves into when my friend Taz H.'s sister dragged a group of us here. I'm not entirely sure how to describe this place, because from the outside it was a smidge of class with beautifully elongated fire pits and a nice full bar. Inside, it was a nightclub scene on one side and the other side was an overly crowded dive bar. I've not been to a place where you could actually be in 3 different room and they all have extremely different vibe under one roof. It was a very strange experience. Overall Service: I think the bartenders were as expected, lacked personalities and was just pushing drinks out to get people drunk. And DJ Iroc they booked for the night was slumming, I've never heard a DJ ask for tip money in order to request a song. This place, never again. read more

Philly Bar & Lounge - According to my friends, this DJ wants a tip before any song request. - Bars Near Me - Latham, New York

Food we had was great. Mexican street corn and cheese pizza but the mixed drinks were horrible. All mixed. We had a long island iced tea and margarita. Stop for the food. But have a beer. Nice place. read more

Philly Bar & Lounge - Drinks before the game - Bars Near Me - Latham, New York

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I want to start out by saying that I've been coming to this establishment before it's large expansions, and it is a whole different beast now than it was when everything started, and I mean that in a very good way. Rocky is the owner and very talented in the kitchen! Their coal fired pizza's are literally one of the best pies around! If you read my other reviews, you know that I am a pizza snob, but the dog is very New York City like, you can tell that he double proofs the dough and takes his time to get it perfect. The drink prices are very reasonable, and like I said the food is top notch. I've never had anything that I did not love there. Now with the outbreak going on, you can still order food to go, as well as some awesome drinks to go as well. This establishment has a great tiki bar and outdoor seating area, brewery, as well as a private club on one side of it with indoor seating on the other side. If you have not been, you need to go. It's one of the best bang for your buck, in the people that work there and go there are all friendly and a pleasure to be around with great service. read more

Philly Bar & Lounge - Coal fired pizza! - Bars Near Me - Latham, New York

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I really enjoyed the updated patio space. The tables with the fire pits provide space for large groups which can be hard to find. We ordered cheesesteaks and wings. I would order again. Only complaint was the bar was to full to easily get a drink. Overall the updates they have made have made a large improvement. read more

Grab a menu and order...EVERY. SINGLE. THING. So many great items to choose from! My personal fave is the buffalo chicken mac and cheese! Love the atmosphere here as well Great service and the staff are all very friendly! I can't say enough good things to be honest...it truly is a capital region gem! read more

Wow, I haven't been in here in years, but it's been remodeled and looks quite nice. The outdoor patio in the front is very large and a great spot to grab a brew on one of those fleeting warm weather days in the 518. I had a pizza from here. I went for the smallest size and it was generous. I had enough leftover to enjoy it the next day too. The taste of the pie was actually really great. My dining companions also enjoyed their meals. We were here on the early side, they did have some happy hour specials available. If I still lived in town, I could see myself coming here often, especially in nicer weather. The parking lot seems a little on the small for the size of the restaurant and bar. read more

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I've never reviewed Philly's? Oops. When I first discovered this place years ago, it was just a ramshackle bar in front of a sketchy motel. But it was a ramshackle bar with a kitchen that was importing rolls from Philadelphia for its cheesesteaks. So I had to go. Cheesesteaks hold a special place in my heart, because I went to college in Philadelphia, and over those four years I became very familiar with these sandwiches. Cheesesteak shops typically take one of two forms, places where you want to get whiz, and places where you want to get provolone. On that maiden voyage to Philly's I tried both and learned that this is definitely more of a whiz kind of joint. Flash forward a few years and Philly's opens up a huge front patio. Flash forward a few more years and the whole place has been transformed into a coal fired pizza place, brewpub, and disco. Actually, I don't think they call 'em discos these days. Dancehall? I dunno. It has a DJ booth, lights, and a dance floor. But when it's time for dinner service, there are chairs and tables in the new space so you can eat somewhere other than the old bar area. Which, by the way, is still there. Although you may want to sit in the bar area, because the new dining room is a little cold and sterile. Actually, the night we were there it was literally cold, as someone had cranked the A/C to the point where the patrons behind me were complaining. Our hope was to sit outside, but the rain had other plans. And Philly's outside patio is not protected from the elements. On my latest visit I was really most curious to try the pizzas. The only other time I've had coal fired pizza was in New Haven at Pepe's. And this is not that. But I wasn't expecting it to be either. Actually, my expectations were fairly low. All three pizzas came out at different levels of doneness. The key is looking at the bottom crust. Of the meat lovers, mushroom pie, and sausage with broccoli rabe pies, I would only get the sausage one again. It was made with Andy's sausage, and it was delicious. I would absolutely return to try a few other pies, but I would also make sure to ask for the pizza well done. I'd also lean toward a sauced pie versus a white one, and stay away from the pepperoni. The traditional medium-hot buffalo wings were excellent. The mozzarella with melba was a little less traditional, but also very good. The light and crisp panko topping was well seasoned, and there was a great balance of sweet and salty going on there. For a bar that touts its craft beer list, the taps don't quite match up with the marketing. There were a couple of good ones, but the draft lines were mostly held by large national breweries that are available everywhere. And oddly, when our pitcher was brought to the table, it was accompanied by plastic cups. I'm told the brewery part of the new expanded operation will open later this year. Service was pleasant, especially since by the time we were done at 9pm there was only one other table in the dining room. Philly's on Thursday was packed just after work. I mean packed. But the place seemed to empty out pretty fast. Before we left though, we had to get at least a bite of Philly's famous cheesesteaks. And our waitress was able to convince the kitchen to make us one cut into six pieces. It was a real treat just to get a few bites, which is really all I need. It does seem that Philly's may have upgraded from whiz to a house-made cheese sauce, which even if untraditional, is mighty cool. I do wish that the cheese had a chance to mingle more with the beef, onions, and beef fat on the grill, so it could really get into all the nooks and crannies. That would be amazing. There's a lot going on at Philly's. And a lot of it is quite good. Part of me feels as if there was less going on, the establishment could really focus on a few things and knock them out of the park. But as it is now, there seems to be something for everyone. Based on the parking lot at 6:30 on a Thursday, I'd say that is working out for them quite nicely. N.B. There is additional parking around the back by the motel, which is still there. read more

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Definitely a dive but not bad! Beers were good, mixed drinks not so much... got a few apps that were solid. The Mexican corn dip was excellent. Server was nice. Not somewhere to go out of the way to go to, but if you're in the area and just want a bite and a drink, it does the job. read more

On a Thursday night, we made an unfortunate choice to dine at Philly Bar and Grill, but we couldn't. Our friend called in earlier to make a reservation, and the hostess said outdoor dining is first come, first serve, but indoor dining is available. When we arrived, the hostess said the wait time was 30min outside; indoor seating was unavailable due to staff shortage. When we reminded the previous conversation and pointed out several occupied tables inside, the hostess rudely asked us to follow and had us sit at a table. For the next 20 minutes, several servers served other tables; nobody even acknowledged our presence-not even made eye contact. So we left after 20min without seeing anyone. We used to come here quite often; the food is mediocre, and the menu is limited, but the location is convenient. While I understand that staffing issues can occur, it is ultimately the responsibility of the management to ensure a smooth operation and that the hostesses are kind to customers. The fact that Philly Bar and Grill failed to address their staffing shortage shows its lack of commitment to customer satisfaction. We are disappointed with the lack of service; I would strongly caution anyone considering dining here until they mitigate the staffing and hospitality issues. read more

Best cheesesteak I've had (and will have). My buddy got the Nashville hot chicken and I was jealous. This place absolutely nails the casual American dining experience. Oh and yeah.... Go Birds!!! read more

Checked out Philly on a Sunday afternoon. Staff was super friendly, and the food looked good. I did a build your own Philly, now I've never had a true Philly but this one was pretty spot on to what I'd imagine one to be. They have an out door bar and seating area as well as indoor, both were spot on. I highly recommend checking it out. read more

We decided to grab take out in the Latham area and I kept hearing about Philly's Bar. Not just for the nightlife but for the food too. I'm glad we did. We ordered a chicken chef salad a philly cheese steak and rosemary chicken wings. I think everything we had was amazing. I do think it's a bit overpriced and that's why I gave it 4 stars but I was not disappointed. I'm looking forward to trying the clams next time. Have you tried food from here? What do you suggest? Delicious! read more

It's fine, it's pub grub. Service is adequate. It's a sports bar so it's a lively crowd. Not special, ok in a pinch

Went for a 40th bday. Had a group of 9. Tessa was amazing. So quick on drinks and let us hang and enjoy our time together. Got apps which were delicious. Highly recommend. read more

Philly Bar & Lounge - Bars Near Me - Latham, New York

This place does something that strikes me as odd. I have never had a restaurant or bar ask me for double identification. My New York State drivers license, the new one at that wasn't good enough and my husband and I were not allowed in not even with our credit cards at that point we pretty much got the idea when they let a white couple go in without asking for double identification. Absolutely disheartening and disgusting read more

Unless this place is named after someone named Phil, it's horribly misguided. I'm going to start with the positives - server and service was good and the beer selection was extensive. After that, it goes downhill quickly. The foods ordered, almost all of it was disgraceful. When you order a Philly cheesesteak that is more banana peppers than steak, you know your in for a long night. Clams ordered were the size of a quarter...not the meat in the clam, but the actual clam, making the meat pea sized. A falafel was horrid, overly spicy is suspect to mask the putrid flavors. I can go on, but why flog a beaten man when down? Look, I love supporting local businesses, but when you can't beat a chain like Chili's, it might be time for an overhaul. Horrible. I guess is you want a drink or three on a nice patio, the place isn't bad. If you want pub grub, look elsewhere. This is bad. read more

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slowest and worst bartenders in area... and that's saying a lot.... worried about their hair.... and talking to friends. embarrassing . btw./. i tried giving 0 stars. read more

I love me some good Philly Cheesesteak! This bar makes it right...the menu items are the typical bar and grill foods including loaded fries, wings, nachos, potato skins, salads, burgers, wraps, and lots of subs/sandwiches. I split some fries and loaded nachos with my group of 4 and ordered from the authentic Phillys section where you can 'create and invent your own taste'. I built my Philly Cheesesteak with beef, jalapeño peppers, sautéed onions, black olives, + cheese wiz. I enjoyed my combination very much and although some might opt for the other cheeses offered I'd say go for the cheese wiz as it was spread throughout my cheesesteak while I noticed my friend's provolone did not melt throughout. If you aren't a fan of this cheesy goodness I'd recommend getting a sandwich or sub instead. The nachos were also very tasty. Split between 4, it was still an enormous amount. We had a kick with all the jalapeños in it...but stay away if you can't take the heat! We also grabbed some drinks on the patio that came in plastic cups...even my Sex on the Beach. Service was quick and efficient until we had requested our check...probably because it was getting busy and only a few servers were caring for guests on the patio. Nonetheless, I'd be more than happy to get my Philly Cheesesteak fixing anytime! read more

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The food is always hot and delicious every time we go here . The staff is very friendly.

I met a co worker here for a quick lunch to catch up. The Philly Bar & Lounge strikes me as a great place to hang out with a group and have some drinks. The restaurant has a indoor and outdoor bar, plenty of seating, and offers a good selection of typical bar food from wings to fries as well as a speciality selection of cheese steak sandwiches. I ordered and shared some wings and a buffalo chicken cheesesteak. The mango habanero wings were tasty and very spicy which I liked more than my co worker. The sandwich was very heavy and left me feeling over full but it did taste as advertised. There were plenty of tvs along the walls to watch sports as we talked which was another plus. The seating, while abundant, did have one oddity however. The bench I was sat on, which was located two immediate rights from the entrance, was raised and had little cushioning. This meant that I was much higher than my co worker seated across from me and uncomfortably situated to the point I would need to bend over a little more than was comfortable to grab food and eat. Overall, The Philly Bar & Lounge is a good place for a group that is clean, offers plenty of tvs to watch sports, offers a good selection of bar favorites for food and a specialty selection of cheesesteaks. I personally did not care for the sandwich I had, and my seat was not very comfortable. The service was great however and my co worker was happy with the place so I would give it another try sometime and possibly raise my rating if I find a meal I really like and a seat that does not make me feel like a giant with a sore butt. read more