Three of us on a Friday night for dinner. We had a reservation at 9pm. We showed up early but the place was packed. Since I was wearing a boot, he said we could sit on a bench upstairs. That was a brilliant idea and we did while we waited. We ended up being seated at 8:30pm- ty! The bread with the green dipping sauce was crazy good! We also split the calamari appetizer. I got the Angel hair and crab meat and a side of broccolini. All was yummy! Service was great and everyone working there was ridiculously attractive! Not complaining ;) read more

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I have heard such good things about this place. I thought this might be the best time to finally try it since I'm taking an art class in that area. They have a parking lot that was packed. It was funny that they had a sign outside that basically said "Parking lot full, unless I know you." Seems like a lot of Italian come here to eat and liaise. The gossip is it hosts a lot of South Philly Italian gangsters. I found seating at the bar. It seemed like a lot of the tables were already booked/reserved. I had a glass of Pinot Grigio. There was complimentary bread that came with the dish. It was pretty fresh and I liked their coriander sauce. The bartender was nice enough to walk me through all the specials on the menu (there were a lot of specials). She also pointed out her favorites on the menu. After some thought, I went with shrimp scampi with angel hair pasta. I really liked the good quality shrimp and the hot pepper in the dish. The dish was quite spicier than I anticipated which was really nice. The pasta that came with the dish was freshly made and delicious. I didn't realize it would be an extra 13 dollars for the angel hair. My bill came to 80 dollars which was pretty crazy for Italian food. read more

Saloon Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I wanted this place to be special but it was just okay. To start the bread was cold and tough tasted like day-old bread, unacceptable for this neighborhood IYKYK perhaps save it for meatballs but wait you don't serve meatballs, you offer a cornucopia of pasta including my over cooked rigatoni , but no meatballs? However the seafood sampler was good. The service is good our server was attentive and friendly without being overbearing and the wait staff kept our glasses full and our table clear. The saloon is loud, could benefit from acoustic tiles I appreciated the old tile floors, seemed to be original. Underwhelmed. read more

Ok this is definitely top 3 restaurant in the entire city for me. They have 2 floors for dining and 2 bars. I got the Petite Filet and tried about 3 different cocktails that all made to perfection. The staff is so nice and friendly. I will be back ASAP read more

Saloon Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Was so disappointed didn't enjoy at all !!! Then they charged more than the menu said was starving & just wanted to cry both our dinners were horrible!!!!! read more

Came here randomly on a Friday night because a friend suggested it. I loved the old school Italian feel when walking in. The front door is beautiful! The waitress super friendly and giving us suggestions. I decided to get the Bolognese which had a homemade filet mignon ragu. It was absolutely delicious! The only complaint I had is that the Parmesan cheese is a "community Parmesan cheese" (where everyone around the restaurant shares the bowl). For someone who is a bit of a germaphobe that does not work. Overall, I'd come back to try the other dishes on the menu! read more

Saloon Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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It was my family's first time eating at the Saloon and we are looking forward to returning. Great food and service. An all around amazing experience. read more

AMAZING!!! I got the special drink of the night, waterice martini and it was so delicious. I also got the truffle butter steak, which was cooked to perfection and melted in my mouth . They have a valet parking which Nicholas helped assist us and was wonderful. Definitely would go back! read more

Saloon Restaurant - Waterice martini - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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What an absolute vibe Saloon Restaurant is. I was catching up with a friend and she suggsted this spot for dinner, and after dining there I can absolutely see why. Located in South Philly, you can see upon arrival that this restaurant is iconic and beloved. Step in here to feel like you're stepping into a scene of one of your favorite Italian movies / shows / moments and get ready for a tremendous meal. We dined at Saloon on a Monday, and the first floor dining room was full (always a good sign to have a full restaurant on a Monday). There is a bar at the entrance that looks like somewhere I'd love to sit and yap for hours over a glass or red wine or a martini, but we sat at a table. We started with the octopus salad which honestly was divine. It's served warm, and absolutely a great order to start your dining experience. Our fab server read us the specials and immediately we knew we had to get the rigatoni special. It had spicy italian sausage, a red sauce, and poblanos. Hearty, flavorful, heaping portions of rigatoni are one of my love languages so I was very pleased with this. We also got the Chicken Milanese which was a very large, perfectly breaded chicken cutlet topped with arugula, tomato, lemon, and parm. To drink, while the espresso martinis being served nearby us looked amazing, we stuck with a bold bottle of red. The wine list has a lot on there and with varied price points - our bottle was about $40 which I thought was great. If you are looking for an old-school vibe, this spot is a great choice for a solo experience at the bar, date night, girl's night or whatever you want. Dinner for two with a bottle of wine was $144 - which in my opinion is a great value for the portions and experience. Would definitely add it to my Philly hit list for the vibes alone. read more

Do you have an arm and a leg to spend on a lavish dinner? Are you celebrating a special event and want a place to really go out - no holds barred? Then this place is for you. When you come to Saloon, you don't go out to eat...you go out to EAT. It's an event, a celebration, an institution. When dinner is at Saloon, you cancel all other plans that evening because Saloon IS the night. The food is good. Typical south Philly Italian restaurant food (and by that I mean delicious and incredible flavors - truly fantastic) but my review is more about the experience of it all. The service is incredible and the servers are very knowledgeable and really go out of their way to make your experience memorable. The decor is absolutely amazing and they really hit the nail on the head in making you feel like your meal is absolutely a special occasion. The bartenders are friendly and make you feel right at home. Do I come here often? No. I don't make that much money (haha) but for a special occasion? Absolutely. read more

Wonderful dinner at Saloon last night! We had a 6pm reservation and were seated immediately upon arrival. Our waitress was efficient, knowledgeable, and super friendly. For apps we got the Clams Casino and Stuffed Peppers. The Clams Casino were absolutely delicious, I could have eaten 10 of them! The stuffed peppers were also great. Only three come in an order but we added a fourth. We also enjoyed the complimentary bread and homemade pesto! For my entree I had the Salmon Di marre which came in a delicious cream sauce. I wish it came with a pasta or starch but it was still very tasty! My family enjoyed their entrees of Linguini and Crab, steak, and chicken as well. One little thing I loved was the glass bottles that the sodas came in - such a cute feature! Overall, the ambiance was incredible. You truly felt like you were back in time. The upstairs bar is a must see as well. Would love to return again soon! read more

Saloon Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I have been seeing people rave about the Saloon and as someone who was born and raised in South Philly, I had to add this to my list and my husband surprised me last night. Its true on what they say, when you go to the Saloon, you're bond to bump into someone you know. Our host Gianna was a blast from the past and let me tell you, her remembering all the items for their specials is something that I couldn't remember myself. The restaurant was very beautiful along with the table setting up. Food was absolutely delicious. We ordered scallops, mussels in white sauce, Cesar salad for the appetizers. Entrée was angel hair pasta with crab meat, side of pasta with penne and red sauce for my daughter, and my husband got the fettuccine pasta dish with red sauce. By the end of the night, we were so stuffed that there was no room for dessert. This place is family friendly, perfect for a date night, or a place to meet up with friends by the bar. Will definitely come back to try other delicious items on the menu. read more

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Oh yes yes yes. I love you, Saloon. Step back in time and float away into an abyss of Pinot Noir and octopus salad and RHOSP (real housewives of South Philly) serve staff. We were given some expert intel to grab a drink on the first floor and get dinner up on the second floor, which is the plan we followed. There are bars on both floors where you can grab a drink or food or both, and both had seats for walk-ins throughout the duration of my visit. The main part of the experience is really the ambiance and vibes. Look at every nook and cranny of the restaurant and take it all in. So much history and the staff here really adds to the old school Italian charm. Our server was an iconic queen and everyone from the bartenders to the host staff goes out of their way to make you feel welcomed and like family. All of the food was great, though maybe not my first choice for Italian in town. The truffle steak was tasty and the Chicken Melanzana I found to be good but skippable. Gnocchi with vodka sauce is excellent and, as stated above, I'd come back again and again for that octopus salad. We closed things out apple crumble and ice cream. The bill was high but alas I was not paying and also who cares when the vibes are this good. Go to Saloon! With your ex! BE MESSY! Make out with your ex on the street after and get heckled by a group of middle aged men making fun of you! Have your ex shout "you know how it is at Saloon" to the middle aged men as you all laugh hysterically! This is an integral part of the experience! Overshare about it on the internet after! God bless Saloon may you never change. read more

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The fix might be on in New Orleans but last night's MSC gathering at Saloon had the odds in our favor. Hot appetizer platter is made to order based on the number in your party so we all got an even share of the goods. The clams casino and stuffed poblano peppers reigned supreme and on the colder side of life the shrimp cocktail were massive and fresh just like the oyster platter. Braciola, Gnocchi, lobster Fra Diavalo along with the Crab Chop were on that elite level as far as entrees go and for dessert we swung for the fences. Our table wasn't jammed up against anyone else so we could be ourselves and perfectly hear all that jive talkin' that we do. Service was an 11/10 and the restaurant itself is class in a glass. Dark n Red works for me. Everything came out timely and the whole staff was extremely attentive. Can't wait to go back and the valet parking lot is a game changer. It's right on the other side. My ignorant Jersey self took way too long to find it. MSC will finalize our mantra and crest by early Q1. Green jacket. Gold jacket who gives a sht. Oh yeah that pesto that comes with the bread. Dangerous not a game to us type good !!! read more

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Absolutely delicious! While looking for a new place to try, a friend recommended Saloon. So we went on a whim. The wait was not too long. This was my first experience and it was 100% worth it! The service was excellent. The server was very knowledgeable and helpful with her recommendations. We all order different items and everyone enjoyed their meals. I was extremely impressed by the Homemade desserts tray that they brought out. I have never seen something like that before. It was a good touch. I ordered the apple tart and that was wonderful. I'm not a big desserts person but after seeing the tray I couldn't say no. I will definitely Be adding Saloon to my rotation. P.s. although I don't think there is a set dress code, I do recommended dressing semi nice or at least in jeans. My friend and I were in athletic wear and felt very under dressed for the environment. read more

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Old school italian with great menu. This building has been here over 60yrs and its got an old but cool decor, definate unique, kinda of like old grandma's place. Service is impecable and you can find fresh pastas, lots of seafood and meats. Came here with friends for dinner. We had the seafood platter, oysters to start. I had the NY strip with mushroom sauce and side if spinach. My steak was cooked perfect medium rare. Many of the patrons are regulars. There is free parking which is a plus! read more

Saloon Restaurant - outside - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I love a consistent restaurant. This is my 3rd time here for the past 4 years and the food is still delicious! read more

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Very comfortable place to have dinner. Beautiful and classy inside and the service is very good. We were also impressed with how well they spaced out appetizers and dinner. The food was very good, portions decent but not the "come home with doggie bag" type portion. Prices a bit high, but I guess to be expected in a classy old school place. read more

Had a fabulous dinner at the Saloon, service was spectacular, the veal was tender and the drinks were flowing. read more

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Just had the most amazing day experience. Cocktails at the bar - PERFECT! Food - PERFECT! Service - PERFECT! This restaurant is definitely the best!! read more

First time to this Philly restaurant. Service was great; food was great; we sat in the bar area and it was WAY TOO LOUD. If I go again, I'll ask for a different room read more

If I could rate this zero stars I would. My 80 year old father fell down the stairs this week and fractured his elbow directly in front of the host stand. Not a single employee asked how he was or checked in. They just stared. Fortunately, the clients are better human beings than the employees. read more

Incredible service - our server Nina was amazing - and food. 10 out of 10. The bone-in veal parm - suggested by Nina - was the best I've ever had. Courteous staff and warm, friendly atmosphere. read more

Saloon has been our annual go-to spot for my husband's birthday, and while it remains one of our top restaurants in Philly, this visit had a few ups and downs. As always, the octopus is a must order -- the texture this time was nearly perfect, paired beautifully with the light, savory salad and potatoes. Unfortunately, I got an odd piece of octopus toward the end that threw off the otherwise amazing start. We also shared the homemade pasta with vodka sauce. The flavor of the sauce was spot-on -- rich and delicious -- but the pasta itself stuck together, which made it less enjoyable to eat. My husband ordered the tomahawk steak (his favorite in the city), and he was absolutely obsessed -- it was cooked and seasoned to perfection. I tried the Salmon Frutti di Mare, which had great flavor, but the mussels were chalky, so I ended up skipping them. By dessert, unfortunately, I started feeling unwell and had an upset stomach for the rest of the night. We finished with the carrot cake, and while my husband (a self-proclaimed carrot cake snob) appreciated the effort, he was disappointed that it had a regular frosting instead of classic cream cheese frosting. While the food missed the mark in a few areas this time, the space, service, and ambiance were, as always, top-notch -- Saloon nails that part every single time. We'll likely still be back next year, but we're hoping for a little more consistency in the kitchen next time around. read more

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This was my first time at Saloon even though my fiancé's family have been multiple times before. I've heard great things from them and was excited to try it after wedding venue tours in Philly earlier in the day. Anyone who knows me understands how much I hate driving in and parking in Philadelphia. A huge plus about Saloon is that they have a complementary parking lot for paying guests a block or so from the restaurant. An attendant parks your car for you and works for tips. This is so refreshing not having to stress about parking and walking blocks to a restaurant. We walked in without reservations around 5:30 on a Wednesday and they had zero issue seating us even though it was packed by the time we ate and left. There is a bar downstairs right as you walk in the door and another bar upstairs with lots of seating on both levels. The building looks and feels old in a good way. You can tell it has so much history and character. We started off with a round of drinks, each of us got a manhattan made with Woodford and boy did they hit the spot. The martini glasses were big and fit nicely in your hand. We also ordered clams casino to split. The clams tasted great and had a beautiful crust on top. The three of us who got manhattans also all ordered braciole. My fiancé's family LOVES braciole and as soon as they saw it on the menu they made their mind up. This was my first time having braciole. I loved the pancetta and spinach, and the steak very tender. Everyone loved it. It was also served with 2 ravioli which were delicious themselves. Our server was sweet and professional, and the busboys were efficient. Props to our server for memorizing the lengthy entire specials list. For my first time here at the saloon and my first time having braciole I'd say everything was what I'd hope it'd be and more read more

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Very nice restaurant. The decor is cozy and masculine. Food is hit or miss and prices are high for the quality and amount you get. Service is very good. Skip the carrot cake. it's meh at best and $14. Great place just pricey with inconsistent dishes. read more

Best restaurant in Philadelphia hands down!. The food, the service, and the ambiance are great.I love everything on the menu.Goingback again tonight!. Getting the Lobster Frances and the Clams Casino.Everything is wonderful here.My favorite restaurant and I lived in NYC, MIAMI, CORANADO CALIFORNIA, STOCKBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS, AND ARCATA CALIFORNIA AND THE SALOON IS THE BEST OF THEM ALL.THEY HAVE ALL MY FAVORITES!.100 STARS!. read more

Located in a small neighborhood is this gem. If you're not looking for the corner door you'll miss it. When you walk in you have a well stocked bar and a lower level dining room. Upstairs has the history amazing waitresses that take great care of you. The Martinis are filled to the top and the specials and apps are always awesome. This is a go to spot to take your boys or your close work friends. Don't miss it! read more

10/10 this place exceeded my expectations! If I could, I'd dine here every single week. Old school Italian restaurant situated in a neighborhood. Nice bar with plenty of seating upstairs and downstairs. Old antiques and upscale attire. Came here to celebrate my birthday and I would come back for any special occasion. Our waitress was so knowledgeable, attentive, friendly and amazing at her job. All of her recommendations were on point. For drinks, we ordered the manhattan and dirty martini (stuffed and non stuffed olives). Made to perfection! The pesto that came with our basket of bread was out of this world. It was so good, they packed extra pesto for us to take home. It was seriously good with just about anything. Secret is pistachio rather than pine nuts! For food, we ordered the calamari and peas, filet truffle (special), veal Parmesan (special) and the carrot cake. The only thing we would not order again would be the calamari and peas. Wasn't terrible but it was drenched in marinara, which made me want fried calamari. If I'm eating sautéed calamari, I'd prefer more of a lighter sauce. Personal preference. Our entrees were both out of this world. Highly recommend!! read more

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I've long heard about Saloon, a Philadelphia institution. At last we went, and it did not disappoint. First things first, the ambience. It's got the nice high end Italian vibes. You meet the hostess at the front door and she takes you and your guests to the table. Then comes the server that asks for your drink order, while rattling off the notable menu items and specials. It feels nice, perfect for a date. The drinks were great, as was the service. The veal chop and angel hair pasta were awesome, definitely reccomend those. And we topped it off with some excellent tiramisu. Overall a very good experience that I will probably be back for. True south Philly italian experience. Do attend. read more

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This is a great spot. The ambiance was perfect, the waitress and two helpers were outstanding. Our waitress even did it in heels. While the food was cooked to perfection, they could've used a bit more seasoning. But overall 5/5 restaurant. We will be returning (We had chicken Milanese with mash and bolognese rigatoni) read more

Saloon Restaurant - Pomegranate cosmo and pear mule - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I've been trying to write this review for Saloon since I went a month ago, but I just haven't been able to. This has never happened to me before. I'm not sure why my writer's block has been so formidable, but I really haven't been able to pen anything. The only thing I can think of is that Kendrick Lamar lyric when he says: "Writer's block for two years, nothin' moved me, Asked God to speak through me..." It's just on loop for me when I try to detail how beautiful this place is. The only words I have been able to come up with to describe the authentic Italian energy and decor of Saloon is "Quintessential New York," but I don't want to say that because it's so trite and boring. I begin detailing how fantastic this 11oz Truffle Filet topped with herb truffle butter and a side of mashed potatoes was, but all I can hear between my ears is Kendricks weird, nasally voice saying "Writers block for two years, nothin moved me..." As I try to find the words to describe how delicious this homemade bolognese was and pair those adjectives with a witty and kind of funny metaphor, I just start thinking "God I hope this writer's block doesn't last two years......." Maybe it's because Saloon is my girlfriend's favorite restaurant in Philly, and I know she'll be going over this with a fine tooth comb. Or Perhaps it's because I felt so underdressed in my plain white t, oversized Alo corduroy button down, and Jeans that I don't want to relive that experience. Or it could be that the Negroni and glass of Montepulciano I had hit me harder than I thought and I can't authentically recall the experience like I want to. It could simply be that I'm just not who I thought I was. Maybe I don't deserve the Yelp Rookie of the year award. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because certain experiences are so moving that they are truly ineffable. Sorry, Saloon. I'll come back one day and update a review that isn't brought to you by writers block, because you deserve it. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__ read more

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Came to Saloon for my birthday weekend (thanks to Philaqueens for the recommendation!) and it was everything I dreamt of and more! We arrived a bit before they started seating but they were kind enough to let us sit at the bar to evade the heat. Our server, Taylor, was an absolute gem - she (along with the rest of the FOH staff) were incredibly friendly and helpful- some of the best service I've had in the city. The espresso martini was amazing and had the perfect espresso to vodka ratio. The truffle filet (a special) was delicious- it had a beautiful crust that I can't stop thinking about. I cannot leave this review without mentioning the pesto that came with the bread - it was probably the best pesto I've ever had. Saloon is a south philly gem!! read more

Saloon Restaurant - Espresso Martini - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Dined on 6/20/25. Dinner was great and service was fantastic. I had the Ossobuco and would definitely order in again. My wife had the angle hair with crab and my daughter had the shrimp, muscle, and clams pasta dish. Everything was delicious. The atmosphere was beautiful and very comfortable. read more

Saloon Restaurant - Ossabucca - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Always Good food! Always good service! This restaurant has been in business for a long time! Doing things right. read more

I have wanted to dine here for years. We had dinner 5pm Tuesday 12.5.23 for my birthday. We managed to arrive early at 4:45 due to lack of traffic coming in. My phone said the restaurant was open so we tried the door but it was locked. No big deal I was tipping the Uber on my phone and figured we would wait. The bartender unlocked the door and offered us to sit at the bar until they actually open. She did not have to do that and it was greatly appreciated. Service and food was phenomenal. I loved the old world charm of the dark interior and all the varied lights. They had red roses on each table. Old woodwork abounds. I loved the ambiance. The complimentary bread and fresh pesto to start was delicious. We had Joel Gott Cab and a Lychee Martini for drinks. To start: *Tuna Carpaccio-yellowfin tuna pounded thin and served raw; topped with oranges, arugula, capers and lemon olive oil *​Pear and Burrata Salad -arugula, dried Turkish apricots, pine nuts in a Nocella dressing Entrees *Scallop Special With Lump Crab In Cognac Sauce Over Linguini * Lobster Francaise -South African lobster tail out of its shell, dipped in a light egg batter and sautéed in white wine, lemon and butter sauce; jumbo lump crab meat Dessert *Lemon Layer Cake My tuna carpaccio was so bright and fresh I couldn't stop eating it. The Burrata was very fresh and a great mix of flavors. The lobster was cooked perfectly it practically melted like butter when cut. The scallops were cooked spot on as well and the cognac sauce was scrumptious. Everything was delicious and perfectly executed. Our server was professional, attentive, and friendly. We felt welcomed during our visit despite not being from the area nor being regulars. Highly recommend this spot. I wished we lived closer. read more

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Saloon in South Philly is by far one of my favorite restaurants and is definitely my favorite old school Italian restaurant in the city! This restaurant has an upscale ambiance about it, offers terrific service, amazing seafood, homemade pasta offerings as well as your classic old school Italian meals that taste just like your Nonna makes! Some of my all time favorites here are the clams casino, shrimp cocktail, angel hair & crab meat and the lobster francaise. It is a nicer date night out so be sure to dress the part! Can't wait to go back to Saloon for a double or triple date night! Appetizers: - Clams Casino - Burrata Tomato Stak Entrees: - Angel Hair & Crab Meat - Veal Parm with a side of spaghetti read more

Food was great. Service was outstanding and it's probably the coolest "old school" Italian restaurant I've been to. Loved the ambience. Would love to go back. read more

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A friend of ours was recommending this spot. We were a little skeptical but when we got there we fell in love with the place. Old school where everyone knows everyone. Almost like a godfather setting. lol. Bella was our waitress and very friendly and nice told us of what is on special and. But the best of the best was the vallet guys. Nicky and Greg. Nicky was cool around the town guy who knows a lot super friendly very knowledgeable of the city. And Greg very sweet fellow and hard working. If you're ever in the Philly area. Go see the at the saloon restaurant read more

I ate here with work colleagues at the recommendation of the company that I was visiting. I arrived to what appeared to be a small restaurant in a residential area. When I arrived inside I was surprised to see a restaurant with complete bars on two different levels inside. We were seated immediately with a reservation. The decor was amazing as the exterior wall and even staircases were covered with fancy wooden panels. The menu was large and I needed assistance with my phone to illuminate the menu as the place is dimly lit (which complements the decor). The menu features Italian pastas and seafood mostly but I did find an 11 oz. tenderloin called Filet Moda. This comes encrusted with black peppercorns and a creamy cognac mustard sauce but I asked for the port wine sauce instead. My steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Our server was great as she was very knowledgeable about the business and also had great menu recommendations. My colleagues enjoyed their meals and we had great service. This was a five star visit for me. read more

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