I had heard that this place was owned by the folks who owned the Drexel Ale House many years ago in the Bond Shopping Center in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby. We used to frequent the DH location frequently but it has come to my understanding that those folkssold some time ago. If so, that might explain what has happened here because it's not even close. It is a dive bar, just like the old Drexel Ale House but in the worst way. It's dirty, dingy and dilapidated inside. When we arrived, there were three women smoking just outside so we entered only to be greeted by a patron who directed us to a table in the back for "the path of least resistance,"whatever that means. We sat a booth near the front only to learn that one of the three women out front (none of whom greeted us) was the barmaid and waitress. After what took forever after she came in, we got a menu and ordered the roast beef sandwich. If you add anything it's extra - cheese $2 or $3, long hots and broccoli rabe also a few buck extra, so your sandwich can easily approach and pass the $20 mark. They came with small plastic cup of jus and a bit of horseradish. The sandwich itself was very generous but unevenly cut with thick and thin slices and not super tender. I stopped to use the ladies' room before leaving. It is not handicapped accessible in any way shape or form. Newtown Square is asleep or just let these guys get away with it. read more

Based upon the photos on their website, I was initially confused when walking inside. The Ale House is more bar than restaurant but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Wouldn't go as far to call it a Dive Bar but portrayed a small, friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Food prices slightly high for the quality but the service was great and the beer was cold. Seemed like a great place to watch a game or meet some friends. Plenty of parking. I wouldn't go out of my way to do so but plan to stop again soon. read more

If you're from DelCo, and you like local bars with a menu, this place is a "4" and you'll feel right at home. 2 yuengling drafts and a meatball grinder/fries was $28. The meatballs were tender, with the right amount of gravy. The bread was good. The fries needed another minute (in case they're reading this) BUT they were hot and fresh out of a clean fryer. The service was as friendly as you'd want and there was a nice assembly of local folks around the bar and few tables to make it feel like home. I'll go back for a bite and a beer next time I'm in town. read more

The food was good and the bartender was very friendly, but I do not like them charging extra for credit cards. They should put this in as the cost of doing business, I will not go back with my friends or me read more

Ordered two hot roast beef sandwiches and cheese curds for the kids from grub hub. Their "famous" hot roast beef sandwich came without cheese, without cheese?! Instead of cheese curds we got tater tots. When I called the place, to ask for the right thing to get delivered, the guy who answered the phone could not have cared less, was trying to rush me off the phone and told me to reach out to grub hub for a refund. I said grub hub didn't make the wrong food, you guys did. Again still didn't get an apology or any empathy at all. Three items ordered in a $70 order and all three were wrong, no apology and the food was garbage. THIS PLACE SUCKS!!!! The 2.9 star review should tell you everything. DO NOT GIVE THIS PLACE YOUR MONEY! Literally eat anywhere else on the planet before them. Scumbag establishment. read more

I didn't feel the same level of comfort walking in with the new bartenders. One needs a shower. The other one needs an ego and attitude adjustment. I really miss the old bartenders. Jerry is the best bartender of all time. He made the place feel like home and the reason why we came. Place is now filthy and dirty. There aren't any familiar faces at the bar. You will hear the most obnoxious music on and bartenders refuses to put the golf channel on for me because they would rather watch their wrestling garbage show that my teenage son watches at home. This place is now empty and lost all its familiarity. Very disappointed. read more

Great roast beef sandwich and twister fries. Great service and always quick. Staff is friendly and to go order is always ready.

a dive bar, was perfect for a mid day sandwich and cold beer not too crowded great service recommend read more

My personal version of Cheers and I am Norm, sometimes Cliff when I've had too many haha. Great RB sammies. Jerry and Layla are like family. See you there! read more

Wonderful food. Great people. Best roast beef sandwich I have ever had. Coldest draft beer in town ! read more

The Ale House - American Near Me - Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

I don't know what happened to this once awesome ale house. The roast beef is exactly how I always remembered; however there was ONE waitress to ALL tables? The lack of service was not her fault. Management really needed to step up and they didn't, epic fail! Roast beef is the ONLY entree to go here for. read more

Prices are ridiculously high. Food is good I guess but it's tough to actually enjoy a 20 dollar chicken cutlet sandwich and 14 dollar French fries. Service was good and all but these menu prices are out of control I won't be back read more

Don't let the shopping center fool you. The Ale House is truly a hidden gem. Excellent service and food!

Never disappoints! Gerry (mgr) is awesome- made us feel very welcomed and you know I'll be back for the great drinks, neighborhood locals, and roast beef sandwiches ! read more

Sometimes you just need comfort food and this little hidden pub is a good place to get it. It's tucked away in a Plaza with a small sign and easy to miss but legions of regulars know exactly where it is. The front of the large single room is dominated by a horseshoe bar. Most of the tables take up the back of the restaurant. Some people find the atmosphere a little dark. Their signature roast beef sandwich will cost you $7.25 and it's darn good. How about this classic comfort food meal? An 8 oz. chopped sirloin platter ($11.95). It comes with mashed or fries and coleslaw. Of course most folks have it with dark gravy. If you are a true carnivore you can step up to the 1 lb. version for $14.55. Something I love is the taste from the grill marks on the meat. These folks also have plenty of seafood choices. This is a solid three star place that's been around for decades. No fancy spices or herbs here just basic American comfort food cooked and served well. read more

The Ale House - Carnivore Heaven - American Near Me - Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

Great place to grab a drink. Beer prices are very reasonable and the staff is super friendly. Definitely a hidden gem in Newtown square!

The prices in this place are a disgrace! Seriously, they're going to rip you off! + Roast Beef Sandwich - $10 (Comes with nothing, no chips, no pickle, no cheese) + A single slice of Swiss cheese - $2 (Seriously, a thin single slice of cheese) +Curly Fries - $8 (It's a very very small side order. These are the same curly fries you can get at Arby's for $3 and you'd get 5x as many) We're up to $20 now + Iced Tea - $3 Now, were up $23 + Sales Tac - $1.38 + Descent Tip - $5 (It's not the servers fault the owner is a greedy asshat) Grand Total - $29.38 But wait, we're not done yet! + credit card fee - $1 (It's roughly 4%) Actual Grand Total: $30.38 I could get the exact same meal at Nicks for about $14 I can get a full Prime Rib dinner, with bread & salad for $19 at the Erin Pub. I can get a full London Broil dinner for $23 at Lehmans. This is outrageous! read more

I lived in Philly for 13 years I moved back to Pittsburgh in 2014 It's been six years, and I STILL crave their roast beef sandwich - roast beef, American cheese, extra au jus on side on a Kaiser roll It's absolutely delicious. Every-time I go back, I get six and haul in a cooler home read more

OVERPRICED. -No lunch menu -No kids menu -Hard as a rock booth seats -$12 for grilled cheese and fries?!?? -WORST OF ALL- 4% surcharge if you use a charge card. WHO THE HECK DOES THAT?!?! read more

Excellent roast beef sandwich. Pink juicy and tender. Along with a cold beer made a great meal. Give them a try!

I have been coming here for 30 years and was in there the other day. I was appalled when I got my hot roast beef sandwich - it's almost half the size. It was served on a baby kaiser roll --not a regular kaiser as always. There was half the beef on it as well. I get it--prices are higher but this is ridiculous. I know it would cost a lot to redo menus to incorporate new prices but to take a iconic sandwich and make it a joke --well the joke is on you ---you lost a faithful customer. I was wondering why it was so empty in there the other night. Now I get it. read more

I haven't been to the Ale House in years...many years...Back then...it was a dark, dirty, dungeon...Since then...its been painted, the lights have been turned on, and it seems like a much friendlier place. The bar is mostly regulars who are very friendly with the staff...A lot of people know a lot of people's names in there...I stopped in because I knew what I wanted...a Hot Roast Beef Sandwich! I went back for that same reason...the Hot Roast Beef Sandwich...and I'll go back again for the same reason...The Hot Roast Beef Sandwich...I've had 2 in one week now, and will try to hold out a few more days before I get my third...I'm dangerously close to having someone in there know my name...and have a feeling that they will after a few more sandwiches! I ordered mine wet with american cheese...wet means they quickly dunk the sandwich in the Au Jus...the beef was cut VERY thin and layered nicely on a Kaiser roll with some american cheese with a little cup of Au Jus on the side...a bit of horseradish and I was set to dig in...I did not specify rare or medium or well done, but I have heard others order it that way...I got a wonderful combination of rare and medium sliced beef layered on the sandwich with tender loving care...I haven't come across any gristle in a sandwich yet and left absolutely NOTHING on my plate, aside from a bit of Au Jus...the lack of gristle is a huge plus...You won't have to fight this sandwich to eat it, it will go down nice and smooth! They also have hand carved turkey breast, but as I said...the beef was the reason I was there, and the reason I'll be going back! They have added more beers on tap and have a better selection of bottled beer as well. The service was solid both times I was there...friendly wait staff, and not just to the regulars! I'm a bit mystified at the 1 star reviews(friends of the old owners?), but I have only had the roast beef sandwich so can't speak on much else, but they get 4 stars in my book! read more

As a neighborhood bar, it may be ok, but it is not in my neighborhood. I came here for dinner on a recent Saturday night with family; my companions had dined here before and raved about the sandwiches. It was my first time. If you are dining, you have to walk past the bar area, which is a bit of a tight squeeze. Food was fine pub fare. I had a hot roast beef and sharp provolone sandwich which came on a kaiser roll, and a little dish of au jus for dipping. It was good excellent, as were the fries. The appetizer was broccoli bites, and not exceptional but not bad; not much flavor. One tablemate (who also got a roast beef sandwich) ordered the cheesesteak eggroll appetizer, which was also pretty good. The third member of our party ordered flounder and thought it better than average. Overall, if one is looking for pub fare, it isn't bad. For what it is, the food would be in the 3-4 star range. But the atmosphere and service was definitely 3 star. If I was in that neighborhood again, and someone wanted to go there to eat, I wouldn't complain. But I won't be rushing back. read more

Food would be 4 stars but service and staff was garbage. The waiter had no idea what he was doing and the chef kept fucking up everyone's orders. Everyone around us had items missing, food undercooked etc. Our appetizer came out in the middle of our meal. I really want to like this place, its a well priced dive bar in Newtown Square. Please fix your staff and service. read more

This place used to have the best steak sandwiches, real steak sandwich that is, and excellent hand-carved roast beef. It here for years and was always very happy with the food, but the last two times, the food took forever to come out and it was all completely burnt and overdone. The roast beef looked and tasted like shoe leather as did the petite filet sandwich. Really disappointing as we drove 40 minutes to get there thinking it would be like it used to. Hope it changes back soon! read more

Ordered here last weekend based on recommendations from friends. We wanted to order take-out and support local during the crisis but were really disappointed. For example, our order included two of the Ale House burgers that we ordered done medium. When we got them home, not only was the bacon charred, but the burgers were beyond well-done. My point is if you're going to bother to ask how I want a burger cooked, please make the effort to cook it the way I order it. With all of the other options out there, I think we'll take ur support elsewhere. read more

This spot is LEGIT! I'm in the area about one weekend a month visiting family but I always make it a point to drop into the Ale House. It's easy to miss because it's tucked into this huge shopping center with an Acme and a McDonalds, but it's definitely worth checking out! The place is an old-school kind of a dive and it's got kind of a dated look to it, but that's why I love it. They've got these hand-carved hot roast beef sandwiches that are outstanding! They come with a side of au jus and you can upgrade your cheese to a sharp provolone thats great. If you're sitting in the right spot you can actually watch your sandwich being made through this huge service window which looks into the kitchen, they pull this hunk of roast out of a heated tray and carve it right there on the spot, it's phenomenal. I like the bar a lot too, it's a really large horseshoe shaped bar that takes up the front half of the place (there are booths in the rear) and its surrounded by TV's that always have sports on. The bar is dark just like bars are supposed to be, and they've got $2.50 Rolling Rock drafts all day, every day, outstanding!!! They've also got a big selection of craft beers on tap and they know how to crank out cocktails too, I always see folks drinking Martinis and cosmos and stuff like that. The bartenders are always very friendly and attentive, you never need to ask for a refill, they're on it. It's definitely a neighborhood spot, the folks sitting around the bar all seem to know each-other. I don't know anyone in there but I'm always treated well and taken care of by the bartenders. Long story short, go check this place out, you'll love it! read more

By far the best hand carved roast beef around. We've been going to the Ale House for years, usually our go to place at the last minute but probably gone there more than most other places. However, we won't be back. 1. Service charge - maybe I didn't notice it before but at least say something that there is a charge using a CC. I understand they've been charging this for a while now so guess we haven't been there in a while. 2. Years ago when I got the Roast Beef, it came with fries and pickle, then they changed it to chips and pickle. This time, I didn't even get the chips and pickle but it is on the menu. Either change the menu or put it on the plate. They said people don't eat it so we don't put it on the plate. Really... what kind of business is this? How do they stay in business? Not getting our business ever again. read more

We walked in and spent around 500 dollars in beer and food. There was a server that was mad we were in her way., after we moved several times to accommodate her. We left. Post funeral, might I add. They're brutal. I don't recommend coming if you would like to enjoy yourself. I don't recommend coming ever, actually. Avoid at all costs. read more

Small dive bar in Newtown Square with a homey feel. Came for lunch on a Friday with a few friends and there was a surprisingly decent crowd for a weekday afternoon. There wasn't much seating at the bar so we opted for a booth. We got the fried pickles for an appetizer, which were some of the better ones I've had. The batter was seasoned well, which was different and added a lot to the flavor. I had the Reuben sandwich and I enjoyed it a lot. There was a huge amount of corned beef included and I couldn't even finish the entire thing, so get this if you're hungry! One of the people in my party heard about the roast beef sandwiches and was glad she ordered that. The service wasn't great, but there were only two waitresses for the entire restaurant. I would come back to try out some more of their sandwiches and the bar food, because it all sounded yummy. They offer decent prices for the amount and quality of the food. read more

The food at the Ale House is amazing. I love their burgers and their roast beef is out of this world. They do charge a 4% service charge when using a card to pay. This was not advertised any where that I could see. If you don't pay cash be ready to pay that extra 4%. This service charge is the reason I will not go back to this establishment. read more

I gave this place one last try. The hand carved roast beef is way over priced. But tonight was the clincher!!!! Got wings, fries and jalapeño poppers. It was 36.50. Hahaha. And they shorted me a wing and gave me 9 instead of 10. And they forgot my salsa that comes with jalapeño poppers. And the wings were dry like they sat in sand. Hot wings should have hot sauce on them. Not a few drops on a few. And I had to ask for blue cheese. I guess I should of asked for the other dip for the poppers and if they counted my dry overpriced wings. read more

I ordered a DoorDash from this place and I was extremely underwhelmed. They charged me $11 for a bag of soggy Curly Fries. They charged me $10 for a Chicken cheesesteak that had barely any meat inside of it. i would reduce your prices to reflect the quality of your food, or improve the quality of your food to meet the prices. read more

Food is great. However the last 4 times I ordered either delivery or food to go my order was wrong. Either wrong food, missing food, or they get the order wrong. read more

Stopped in at 11:45 on a Monday and the place was empty. Started to fill up a bit by the time I left, Very tasty (and bug) BLT for $6.75. Basic, good "bar food" and sandwiches and lots of beers on tap. Not bad! read more

My boyfriend and I ate here today during his lunch break. I liked the cozy atmosphere but the food was lackluster. I ordered a cup of lobster bisque and a caesar salad with grilled chicken while my boyfriend got a cup of clam chowder and a chicken parm sandwich. When my salad arrived, it had no grilled chicken. No big deal - the waitress might have misheard me and I was fine eating the salad sans chicken. Although the salad was nicely chopped, it was dull and didn't contain much to justify it's price. It was very light romaine, a few croutons, and grated cheese sprinkled over top. I did appreciate that the dressing came on the side but to me it seemed more like a side salad than something I would eat as a meal. The lobster bisque was thick and rich but the flavor wasn't that great. I did like the clam chowder that my boyfriend ordered. He felt that his chicken parm sandwich was just okay. I can't really comment on the beer selection as we only got a Sam Adams and didn't try anything else. Overall, this place was okay for lunch but I feel like it was kind of overpriced for the quality of food. It's not expensive, but for the price, I think I could have gotten better food elsewhere. Maybe it was just what we ordered, but with so many places to try in the area, I don't think we will be back to the Ale House. read more

The air conditioner hasn't worked in two weeks. The owner owns enough businesses in Newtown Square and other cities that he can afford to fix it. WTH?? I stopped in there last night hoping to get a great roast beef sandwich and a beer but the place was stinking hot...just like last Saturday night. He's losing business and forcing employees to work under inhumane conditions. Cmon, Mr. "Costa", spend a little of your profit so we can all enjoy our hometown bar again! UPDATED REVIEW!! The air conditioner is working! Now, if Mr "Costa" would just stop charging the 4.5% charge when I use my credit card, we would all be happy and the bar might fill up again! read more

Great roast beef sandwiches! Nice staff and good prices - what a neighborhood bar should be.

Yeah, No. lived in the area for a decade and finally tried this place. I can safely say I will never try again. Service was not great but the problem really was the food, it just wasn't good. I wasn't expecting amazing, knew it was bar food going in, but I expected at least decent bar food. I tried the roast beef sandwich and honestly if that was even just good I would overlook everything else and go back at some point for a beer and that, but nope not in my future plans. read more

Well this is my Our First time here, and I must say that the Service (Briana) was Perfect, Courteous, Attentive, Okay I'm stopping to finish my Beer, well I almost forgot the Food was Perfect as well with a Pleasant Atmosphere read more