Roache & O'Brien opened in 1933, right at the tail end of Prohibition. For nearly a century, it has remained a no-frills sanctuary on Lancaster Avenue. While a change in ownership occurred recently, the new team has wisely kept the "time capsule" vibe intact--think dark wood, dim lighting, and a total lack of pretension. The kitchen doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, and that's exactly why people love it. The Burgers: Often cited as some of the best in the area, these are classic, juicy bar burgers. They recently introduced a "smash burger" style that has been winning over even the most stubborn regulars. The Cheesesteaks: You won't find any touristy gimmicks here. These are authentic, local-style cheesesteaks--perfectly chopped meat, plenty of cheese, and served on a roll that actually holds up to the grease. This is a Philly sports bar to its core. The walls are adorned with years of sports memorabilia, and when the Eagles are playing, the atmosphere is electric. It's the neighborhood's unofficial living room for Sunday games. You'll find multi-generational fans shouting at the TVs, cold domestic drafts in hand, and a level of camaraderie that you only get in a place that's been around for 90+ years. read more

Roache & O'Brien - interior - Bars Near Me - Haverford, Pennsylvania

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Greg is the man! The burger is *chefs kiss*. Good old school vibe and they still have the old telephone booth!

I rarely rate places that I eat at or frequent. I tend to only go to higher end venues and restaurants as I think I can make better food in my gourmet kitchen, outside grill, or bar area. I went to a business meeting in the back of this bar because I was looking for a non-descript area to hang out. I was blown away by the quality of the bartending and food service. I ordered a whiskey sour and it was made to specification, including whipped egg whites. The old-fashioned included crushed quality cherries with the classic, full single cube of ice. Gabby, the bartender, may be one of the main lines' most hidden secrets! read more

Shit service. Food was better than years past but nothing to write home about. I don't recommend.

Nice place. Been here about half dozen times. Last night, 1/19/26, ordered the chili with a Guinness. Immediately bit down on something hard and thought maybe it was a bay leaf. It was a hard, sharp, clear-as-glass, piece of plastic. Using my spoon, discovered another similar sized piece within the chili. Easily could have swallowed either of them. The bartender seemed horrified (but not surprised, like it wasn't the first time or something) and ran over to the corner to urgently talk to a male co-worker. Then it seemed like he began scolding the bartender for 5+ mins (1st Quarter of Miami vs Indiana game.) The bar was full, with two or maybe three seats open. Because no one came back to address what happened with me, I just left cash to pay for the beer and the cup of chili along with a decent tip. I'll be back for beers but won't trust their food again. The reaction and behavior by the workers was bizarre. read more

Had the double smash burger.. DELICIOUS!!! Waiter was efficient and friendly. The place is GREAT!!!!

Me and my boyfriend were having a good time. We usually keep to ourselves because we arent the most social and decided to play some games in the back. One of the games was broken and it was a bummer so I put it aside on our table and we played the other ones. While i was in the bathroom my boyfriend slammed his hand down on the broken games bubble to get a ball in a hoop thinking it might make the game work and the waitress thought he was too rough and kicked us out for breaking it... They didnt believe me and told me it was his fault and not to worry but we still had to leave. We were about to order more drinks too and were not very drunk just excited that there were board games cause we dont really dance much. It was really dissappointing for the miscommunication and misunderstanding it felt embarrassing to be not believed and kicked out over something already broken. So if you see something broken report it and just hand it in to be safe.. read more

Stopped in for a lunch break recently, and all was good! Service, selections, even the lunch menu (which rose above standard pub fare) was good. Had the pork sandwich with fries which was very tasty. This is a relatively small "dive" bar, so the no-nonsense ambience is what it is, but it was clean, pleasant, there are a few TV's with various sports on - if I'm in the area again, I'd definitely go back. read more

Still the best corner bar and burger on the mainline. Unreplaceable institution in a world of new wave options.

First real dive bar I've found on the Main Line. Unapologetic grungy aesthetic. Good, non-fancy food. Cheapish drinks. A (defunct) phone booth. A (I believe defunct) cigarette machine. Dart board. Not-so-fancy TVs for Philly sports. Friendly and chatty staff. Diverse and mostly friendly crowd. Jukebox. Open early, closes late. I could go on, but you should simply go to see for yourself! read more

A review below referred to Franny's jokes. I once asked him what the soup du jour was, and he said, "It's the soup of the day." read more

Best damn bar on the main line. Old school...no martini bar or sushi but the best burger you can find. Other menu options will surprise you as well. Their pour is generous and bartenders will remember your name. read more

Was really excited to try this place tonight because they are known for their burgers. I ordered a couple burgers to go; I will say the bartender was extremely friendly. Got the burger, the first one was delicious... right before I'm about to start on the second one I find a long scraggly hair right in the middle of it; I'm sorry but that's just GROSS ! Unfortunately that ruined my experience (and their cook should be wearing a hair net). I wouldn't go back ! read more

This place is awesome. It's been around for nearly a century and not much has changed. It has an authentic vibe that you won't find anywhere else on the main line. The bar literally has a phone booth in it. It's totally unique and is a staple in the area. The bathrooms are a little funky, but it's all part of the experience. The beers are cheap and the hot dogs are delicious. This is a great place to stop after work for a bite. It is a smoking bar, so thats something to consider, but I didn't find the smoke to be too overwhelming around happy hour. Lots of character! Check it out read more

Legendary dark traditional corner bar. Great people run the business. Still allow smoking, so just know that you could ruin your cloths! One of a kind. read more

I love this place. It's a local bar with a decent bar menu with good prices. The bartenders take care of you, the other folks at the bar (at least during after work hours, the only time I've been) are friendly. It is decidedly not fancy, and if you are looking for ultra premium drinks probably not the place for you. If you want a spot to stop after work for a few drinks and fun bar talk, you can't pick a better spot. I only get to visit 3 or 4 times a year when I visit relatives in the area. It is always part of the trip I look forward to. read more

Classic old school bar that serves up great cocktails, conversation and food at very reasonable prices. Family owned, multi-generation with a great history. If you are nearby you definitely have to stop in. read more

This is THE ultimate dive bar on the mainline, you can smoke inside, play darts, use the juke box and play your favorites tunes and enjoy cheap dollar beers. The food is bar food which despite cheap as well is very filling and tasty. Besides the cheap drinks there are also quality beers and booze at very affordable prices. Occasionally celebrities like Charles Barkley show up there. So it is a dive but with mostly non dicey people, excellent hangout place read more

I only went to this bar once, and it was to drive my neighbor to the airport. he told me to be ready at 4am, and his flight was at 7am. i checked the math, and it made sense, so I said OK. it turns out his airline had not accounted for some type of cloud formation, you know like stratus or nimbus or some shit like that. so when got to the airport, his flight was shutdown. Instead of going home, he said he had to stop by somewhere. well it turns out Roaches was the place we had to stop by. its an elegant little joint, sprightly perched on the troves of Lancaster ave. i figured my neighbor had been here before, because everyone there knew him. the beer was cold and served quickly. it was actually bustling, as Roaches opens at 6am or so to serve the night crew workers. i had a great conversation about one guy who is saving up to buy the internet. he said he heard being online was awesome, and I got going about Yelp, and it was just pretty awesome. you may want to keep an eye on your wallet, as a few less-then-savory characters were present. this was about 10 years ago when I went. i remember because it was around the same time as Y2K bug. that was a bad time in my life. read more

Dive bar. Smoking permitted. PBR on tap. Cool bartenders. I like this joint. read more

I like roaches mostly because i can get a cheap beer and their bacon cheeseburgers are pretty damn good. Now if your looking for something other then a dive bar you can smoke cigarettes in then keep on walking. Its the kind of place that still has the softball trophies from the early 80's hanging out all over with some antique radios and a god damn phone booth in the middle of the bar. i shit you not...a freaking phone booth with one of those big phones you put change in. Who has change anymore? Its probably the only stand alone phone booth on the whole main line. Get this...I come to find out that it is the bar phone too. Hello Roaches!!!!.....payphone. haha. Old school dart board with real sharp darts. Fun. Now onto important things The jukebox. This is the most technology that has entered this bar in 20 years. The still have tube TV's...no flat screens...and the 2 TV's aren't even in front of the bar. You have sit with your head turned sideways...anyway, back to the crazy future music box. The jukebox has a decent selection and if their is an artist you like but the song you want isn't on the list...you can download it right there. Cool. So I put my money in, choose a song and blammm!!! The music starts screaming out of the sides of the Jukebox. Yep....not a single speaker through out the bar. All the sound and power is flying out of the box. Now try having a conversation while sitting next to that. It was difficult and comical at the same time. Roaches is about cheap beer and experiences....and every-time I've been there I've had some kind of experience. Either from 1980 or the FUTURE!!!! read more

Great little dive bar right here on the main line. Don't expect anything fancy but the food is good drinks or cold.

Went there twice this weekend, and, except for the big color TVs and Kannerstein Corner, it hasn't changed much since 1965, when I graduated from Haverford. (Greg K graduated in 1963, but really never left the college.) Tenth Entry's still THE Haverford-Bryn Mawr place, both for the colleges and the towns. The cheeseburger is excellent, the prices reasonable, and I'm still pathetic at darts. Despite appearances away from the Main Line, this small part of the world remains in superb working order. read more

This is a wonderful neighborhood bar with friendly clientele and a wonderful staff. The beer is cheap, the burgers are delicious and the service is great. What more can you ask for? read more

Roach & O'Brien's has the second oldest PA liquor license on the Main Line (Lacy's Tavern, later You Bet Your Life, later still Mallory's, now The Grog, was first). A great drinking person's shot and beer joint. Look for the real Emmy Award statue above the bar... A long story, but Frannie will clue you in of you ask. The place is small and gets crowded on special nights. The ball game is always on and the guy on the next stool will gladly share his (usually expert) opinion on why the team in question is either doing well or not so much. I mean these guys know up to the last at bat averages on everyone. That said, I stopped being a shot and beer guy long ago. The reason I still stop in is to grab a booth on the back for a burger and onion rings. Without doubt the burgers at Roachies are the best. Fresh meat hand formed, toasted hard roll and cooked just right. Go at lunch and Frannie O'Brien himself is both cook and waiter... And be ready to hear the latest joke. A neighborhood taproom in the best sense of the word. Hungry for a real burger? RUN, don't walk to Roach & O'Brien's. Fun Fact: AA rents the storefront next door to hold meetings. A little too ironic. read more

Best old time shot and beer bar on the Main Line. Huge burgers, chicken salad sandwich is very good, and how do you beat $2.00 pints of beer? read more

What they lack for in craft beers they make up in food quality and value. Smoker friendly.

This is a main line landmark which will outlive most Bryn Mawr residents. If you have not had a Roach Burger, you should be ashamed of yourselves. The service is great and the beers flows freely. If Franny O. is working, make sure to demand a great Roach Burger. read more

dive bar through and through. onion rings & fries surprisingly good. there were some regulars when we arrive but overall very friendly atmosphere. read more

Roach's was a staple when I was at Haverford in the early 80s. Excellent sandwiches if you like grease, but grease in a good way. One of those places you could go after drinking for a while in a dorm to get a cheesesteak to help keep the beer down, then decide to have a few more beers because you were there. And so were all of your friends. And some old guys over there. All of the beer was served in "shells". At that time, all regular beers were $0.25/shell, but "premium" beers were $0.35, and you knew they were "premium" if they started with Sch (Schlitz, Schmitz, Schaefer). The strangest and most amazing things about Roach's were the back door on the side that was marked for women, so they wouldn't be seen entering from the street. And the electric chair. A real, freaking, honest-to-dog electric chair from one of Pennsylvania's prisons. One of the patrons was said to have acquired it and brought it there when his wife threatened to leave him if he didn't get rid of it. He must have liked her. It sat right next to the bowling machine, sort of centered in the bar and the barman liked to say how 21 or 22 guys had been fried in it. So strange. A bit of a mood killer or mood accelerator, in a weird way, depending on how things were going. Like where else do you walk into a room with an electric chair and walk out alive? I've been back once or twice since. Electric chair was gone, but I think the beer I slopped onto the floor the last time was still there under the table, because my shoes still stuck to the linoleum. Some things never change and some things never should. No trip to the Main Line should end without a late night at Roach's. Put your wallet in your front pocket, though. read more