A classic dive bar and a true fishtown local spot. Sadly, It doesn't get its due praise. The bar…read morepie is tasty and they have great ice cold beer bucket specials. The family that owns the establishment are great people as well. Pool table is also available

Good cheesesteak but when you are the Blackboard special calling yourself 'Big Daddy cheesesteak'…read moreyou set the bar high. It was good. It came on a seeded roll but it had a little chill to it. Granted it was 21 degrees the night before and maybe they got delivered early. There was a decent amount of meat and it had flavor. The cheese was a mystery we never solved. Heather the bartender was excellent and the chocolate graham cracker stars on the bar were a nice touch. Good overall experience.

My new favorite bar!…read more Many regard Ray's as the best dive bar in the city. My first time here occurred last Sunday at around 11am and the main bar was fairly packed. My buddy and I grabbed some Kenzingers' and a shot of Jamison to start the day and sat at the closet table to the door. They had the door open to let some light in as it was early and nice out, which was nice and the crowd was very friendly. I had on my Philadelphia Live jacket and one of patrons at the bar came over to me and asked how I got the jacket as he worked there. The bar opens at 7am most days and from what I gather it is to accommodate the graveyard shift that gets out at the casino and for the nearby hospital workers. They also have Karaoke nights, open Mic nights, and a band playing it looks like once a week. I definitely plan on coming back here next time I am around South Philadelphia and if my birthday falls out on a weekend day obviously, as you get a free shot on your special day! As always people SYOY!!!

My boyfriend and his friends LOVE this spot so I've been a few times. It is a good dive bar, the…read morebartenders are always friendly, they've usually got a movie playing, and even the other patrons of the bar are usually down to chat and be friendly. It has that local bar, everyone's friends, kind of feel. We have a routine of going to Di Bruno Bros, curating a cheese plate, and bringing it to Ray's. They are always chill with us eating our cheeses in there whether it's at a table or a bar, so long as we're having drinks. And apparently you get a free shot if it's your birthday?

Great location when part of your crew is taking train back to Jersey, the entrance is literally out…read morethe door. Place has been here as long as I can remember, at least 30 years. I like these dive/local hood spots. Very genuine and friendly.

When I lived in the neighborhood, Locust Bar, was a frequent stop for me, but since I moved across…read moreBroad I hadn't been in awhile. I'm happy to report things haven't changed. When you approach, they always look closed. Dim lights and closed blinds. In the evening there's usually someone checking IDs. You can sit at the large bar or the 10 or so booths they have. Music is controlled by TouchTunes and the TV's always have whatever game is playing on. Many dive bars in Philly are very neighborhood focused and sometimes you feel a bit out of place if you're not a "regular", this is not the case at Locust Bar. Their bartenders and friendly and efficient, and the crowd is usually friendly and talkative. Standard selection of drinks and a pretty wide menu. The food is good, but not everything is great. Stick to the fried selections.

The fairmount tavern is my favorite Friday night spot. Priya is an amazing karaoke host and my…read morefriends and I love coming to sing and get drinks. The bartenders are all super friendly and always make sure that I have a nice cold drink in my hand. They have the most elite menu: goldfish and hotdogs. I couldn't recommend this place enough! They are also dog friendly :)

This was my first time at this establishment, and I will absolutely be back. They have several…read moreevents and a first floor and second floor space. Events include karaoke, dirty joke night, and movie showings. Cheaper than Bar Hygge a block away and cool design elements; I was really impressed by the pay-it-forward style whiteboard where patrons can pay for a drink for someone they know the next time they come. A selection of happy hour food and drinks are always sure to pique my attention; bartender was great and love that their bar snack of choice is goldfish! It's clear an establishment like this fosters community and connection.

This place is truly a hidden gem. The people are so nice you'll feel at home right away. Boozy…read moreslushies (cherry and banana) and Slim Jims? Perfection! There are plenty of games to keep you entertained, as well as one of those really high-tech juke boxes. Don't let the fancy technology fool you though - it's a cozy spot for a game of pool or a beer at the bar. P.S. They are cash only, but fear not, for they have an ATM!

Great neighborhood bar with the cheapest beers in Fishtown. Stop in and ask for Mike. The owner…read morewill probably buy you a shot.

I have gone through many iterations of my relationship with being a fan of sports teams…read more Younger me's whole personality was based around Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, Angels Baseball, and USC football. I vividly remember after the Lakers game 7 Championship win against the Celtics in 2010, 14 year old me who had just wrapped up the 8th grade, had a major realization. After a night of pure exaltation and chirping all my friends who were Celtics fans, I woke up the next day and realized my life had not changed AT ALL. I had a metamorphosis of sorts, realizing that I should put all of this time, energy, and passion into myself rather than being fans of players and teams who didn't know I existed. While I remained a fan, it was never the same. I stopped wearing my Kobe jerseys everywhere I went. I began to look at grown men walking around wearing other grown mens jerseys like they were DORKS. Don't you want to do something impactful with your life to where people would want to wear your jersey? Or wear your own, at least in a metaphorical sense? Idk. In retrospect, I became a little asshole lmao. --I promise The Garage will tie in here in a second stay with me I love this place-- It wasn't until I went to Europe on a school trip towards the end of High School when my 2nd metamorphosis began. I was OBSESSED with everything about European culture, thinking how fascinating it was that people live so differently than myself, but it's just normal life to them. My American ignorance led me to believe that everyone lived like I did, had the same interests I did. Idk, it blew my mind and I just couldn't get enough. I thought it was SO cool how passionate the Europeans were about their soccer, not realizing how contradictory this was to my own beliefs about American sports fans. I even bought a Messi Jersey and allat! It wasn't until years and years later, when I really put it together. These European Football fans were essentially paralleled to American Football fans. Both getting SO invested in these games, SCREAMING at the screen between sips of beer at a local bar like that will have any effect on the outcome of the game lmao. The older I have gotten, the more I have begun to respect the passionate sports fan, no matter what sport it is. Even if, for me personally, this passion is better to be placed somewhere else, I respect and love to be around passionate people no matter where that passion is placed. Who am I to tell someone what to be passionate about? I have gone through this life meeting people who are passionate about literally nothing, just kind of numb to life and that makes me sad and just scares me. How could you be numb to life? It's such a beautiful gift tha---okay I'm getting way too existential, let me reign it in. All this to say, I watched game 1 of the NLDS here where the Phillies were playing the Braves the other night. I feel like the reputation of the Philly sports fan is the best we have in America, and they did NOT disappoint. They were going BRAAAZYYYYYY in here lmaaaoo. Every base hit felt like a homerun, every home run felt like they had just won the mf powerball. For every single out they were counting down for how many more they needed to win. "ONLY 18 MORE WE GOT THIS!" lmao. The passion was tangible and beautiful. There was a guy slanging $4 hotdogs that were delicious, 100% pure American beef (allegedly). The bartenders were LOCKED IN, getting people drinks quick and moving onto the next. This was one of the best, most efficient bartending performances I have ever seen. Almost as efficient as a Philadelphia Eagles QB sneak. Almost. You can also bring outside food which is IDEAL, as I saw some people walking in with a couple pizzas. That's a vet move, I'll be ready next time. Also, get the grape funbag for a drink if you're feeling adventurous. Well even if you're not feeling adventurous get the grape funbag. Have I ever lied to you, my dear reader? All in all, I can't imagine a better place to watch a game. I love The Garage and I love the city of Philadelphia. Passion oozes out of the streets and the people. I'll be back, and with pizza next time. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__

Big fan of Garage but for the love of God please get more than 1-2 bartenders on a busy night…read more It was packed during the US vs Bosnia and there was only 1 bartender. The guy was hustling, moving, grooving and doing his best, but he needed someone else there. Waited 30 minutes to get a drink. Big shout out to the bartender for working hard, he deserves his roses.

Such a cool vibe, this place could be a PBR memorabilia museum. Clean, friendly, chill vibe. Great…read moreDJ and Jazz trio.

James at the door can't be more easy flowing professional and, inviting. Justin our bartender at…read morethe bar lord that's home no matter how busy he is you feel like you're welcomed and special ! Also next door lord Jesus the patty melt and tots fried hard and she's a doll it's a the cure after drinking GREASE AND LOVE ...I give this place a 11 and I dined and drank in 7 continents..this is no dive bar this place is home understand the difference .

love this south philly spot. Great staff and great food (and amazing prices). cozy and warm and…read moresmall

This bar is very unassuming at the corner of 8 and Tasker. The only sign of it is " The Jim" at the…read morebottom of JC sign. Inside is very dark and small . You definitely need extra light to take pictures. Food options are varied. There are Indonesian food such as fried tofu, nasi goreng, Mie goreng , Dan Dan noodles, tacos, kimchi dumplings. Fried tofu: there are six cubes of dense tofu with dipped in batter served with sweet soy sauce aka kecap. Unfortunately the batter fell apart. Mie goreng: huge portion. I asked for seafood. There are several small shrimps. It is missing a punch flavor that I expected from an Indonesian dish. Steamed kimchi dumplings are pretty good and spicy. Tacos and dan dan noodles are decent. The drinks: my husband likes the spicy margarita