Jerry’s Bar

I really liked Jerry’s when it opened a few years ago. I even had my birthday there! Unfortunately the quality at Jerry’s has really tanked and this will be my last time there.
First, I championed Jerry’s with my company to have our holiday party there even though it was more expensive than some Center City venues we’ve used in the past. The process was terrible. After we signed the contract it became impossible to reach the woman who was supposed to be handling the event. We scheduled early so we figured no big deal but started getting worried when we still didn’t have the menu when it was stated in the contract that we would. Then when we finally got it 2 DAYS before the event, it was all fried foods even though we had specifically asked for at least one non-​fried item and guess who we couldn’t get a hold of to change it? Then when she finally called us back on the day of, she gave us attitude about changing… When we weren’t actually changing, just asking for what was originally agreed to. In the end the party went fine but I would never recommend hosting an event there.
Tonight I went back for dinner thinking they couldn’t have changed that much. Wrong. While the server was very nice and attentive, the food was terrible. I don’t care that we waited 20 mins for a dip plate, we weren’t in a rush, but the «dips» were more like salad dressing. Next my boyfriend ordered a Jerry’s burger which he said was OK but the fries were tasteless and cold. I ordered the falafel salad. That. Is. Not. Falafel. It had the consistency of salty fried mac n cheese to the point that I had to light it with my phone to make sure it wasn’t. Mushy tasteless and gross. I couldn’t eat it. I don’t send food back or complain to servers because it’s certainly not their fault so I just ate the salad.
So disappointed. Bye Jerry’s.

Let me start out by saying I really wanted to like this place! I was down visiting from NYC, but used to live in Fishtown in 2014 and had always wanted to check it out – I’d walked by a few times in the past and it always looked really cute and cool inside. So, when I was visiting my sister in Philly and wanted to take her out for a belated birthday dinner, I immediately thought of it – I suggested we try it, made reservations, and we came on a Saturday night. Unfortunately, the experience was not good!
We wanted to share something, and the Steak Frites dinner for two looked really good – since it was marked «market price» on the menu, we asked how much it was and were told $ 70. Perhaps seeing the look of momentary sticker shock on our faces, our server said to «think of it as being two individual $ 35 meals combined together,» so we thought there’d be a lot left to take home. As I’d asked what cut of meat it was and was told a Ribeye, I figured we’d at least get a lot of good meat, and that the two sides plus frites that it came with would justify the price. So, we went with it and got some drinks. It was here that things started to go south.
The glass of wine and vodka martini we ordered took about 20 minutes to come out, which was a little inexplicable because the place wasn’t busy (we were sitting right by the bar, so I could see this). Our server apologized. Then I asked for some bread because we were pretty hungry – she forgot about it and it wasn’t until around another 20 minutes later when I saw her next that I was able to remind her. Next, from the time we ordered our plate until the time it came out was approximately 45 minutes. I actually think it was an hour, but I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt. Our server came by and apologized a few times, but really offered no explanation as to what was going on; other than to say that it should be out soon. Were they doing a fresh kill for us? Had they run out of beef and were they getting it from a store? I really had no idea.
At this point, I should say that I was heading back up to NYC that night at 9:30 pm and that our reservation was at 7:15 – more than enough time, one would think, to get dinner and get over to 30^th St Station in time. Hold this thought for a second. So, our steak dinner finally came out around 8:30 or 8:40 and the presentation was really nice – it came with the two sides and the steak on a wood cutting board with a lot of fries on top. All in all, it looked like a decent amount of food – FOR ONE PERSON. Once we pushed the fries off from on top of the steak, we were able to see that our «Steak Frites dinner for two» consisted of about seven or eight sliced pieces of steak. With the two sides and frites, this looks about like what I get in a steakhouse for myself! To boot, in their slicing activities they’d seen fit to include two or three pieces that were just about completely all fat and gristle. Now, I love steak and love the fat, but we were basically left with about six slices of steak, two sides, and frites: FOR $ 70. Not «two individual $ 35 meals combined together,» as our server had said – unless a steak dinner for one at this place for $ 35 consists of four slices of steak, one side, and some fries.
Unfortunately, due to my need to get to the train station soon (seeing as how our food had taken so long to come out), the fact that I was ravenously hungry by this point, and being that this was meant to be my sister’s birthday dinner, I didn’t say anything to our waitress about any of this, as I simply no longer had any time for anything to be done about this. I also didn’t want to mar the occasion. So, in their defense, they had no opportunity to correct anything. I’m also not wont to complain about things like this, which you can see from my previous reviews. The meat that we did get was tasty, cooked perfect, and the two sides were good, though. But, given our overall experience, I cannot give this place more than one star. It’s a shame, because I liked the atmosphere, décor, and music, and really wanted to like this place.
Maybe we came on an off night or maybe we just got the wrong dish, but, if the management or the chef reads this, charging $ 70 for that dish is just highway robbery. You should either drastically cut the price or give more meat and/​or sides to justify the price.

Absolutely LOVE Jerry’s Bar!!! First off, the atmosphere is so cool, apparently they have even used it for photo shoots! So, the food at Jerry’s Bar is fantastic. I have been there about 5 times, had my Engagement Party, and Easter Brunch there. The bloody Mary’s are like a mini meal on their own!
Pro’s-The food is very fresh, and delicious! Some of my favorites are the Rock Shrimp, Steak Frites, and the Pierogi’s are absolutely to die for!
The staff is friendly and attentive. Planning my engagement party there was really easy, and they really worked with me to make sure that we tailored a plan for the food and drinks that worked for me and my now husband!
Con’s-They are too far away from me! My husband and I moved away from the Northern Liberty area and we don’t go there as much as we would like to!

My first time attending the Jerry’s bar, I fought with my man friend THE ENTIRE VISIT. That being said, the food was so incredible paired with Hill farmstead’s hop Galaxy brouhaha on tap that night. Didn’t even care. Speaking of care, I could have fed a team of inner city children the carrots they were splashing on my table EASY. People! The vegetables here are on point!!! Bring your grandkids for their greens! Philadelphia — this here establishment has all of your quinoa kale hipster addicted fancy food at deal prices. And meat. Actually, get the meat here too.

I’ve been here twice now, once for brunch and once for dinner. For brunch, I ordered the west coast burger. The burger itself tasted good, but was VERY greasy and soaked right through the bun. I kind of wish the bun was something sturdier. I also got a Bloody Jerry, which was incredible! We also got to sit in the little side garden area, which was super cute, and lit up with heat lamps since it was pretty cold outside. For dinner, I ordered the Reuben — which actually contained NO meat. It was the first time I’ve ever had a reuben with no meat, but it was actually quite delicious! They subbed the meat for some kind of broccoli I think. My only complaint would have been the drink prices, which were a bit high, even for the NoLibs area. Other than that, the atmosphere and service was great.

Jerry’s is a great little spot in Northern Liberties, located off the main drag of 2^nd street. We’ve been for both brunch and dinner.
First things first, let me get this out of the way: they have a side garden area that they open up to the outside in the summer, and close off in the winter with heat lamps. We were sat in this area the other night (it’s the winter), and were under a heat lamp. We were the only ones in this part of the bar. For SOME reason, they decided to set up a table outside– and proceeded to continuously open and close the door, letting the freezing cold air in. When we asked why they were doing this, we just received stares, and the busboy stared at us dumbfounded, in shock that we were asking why he was doing this. When we spoke to our waitress about it, she was extremely apologetic and stood guard for us (saving me from dropping down to three stars, because, really?) My other complaint about the same night is that they were setting up a private party in the side patio, and when the party came, they weer standing around in the patio (like they should have been and I most likely would have too), but we were then surrounded by people standing around our table and we couldn’t talk/​move/​breathe. If the bar knew that this private party was coming in, it makes no sense to have sat us out there, especially when there were seats still inside.
But as to the food– it’s delicious. I am a big fan of their West Coast burger and their buffalo wings. Aside from that one bad experience, Jerry’s is still one of my favorite local bars.

Be it a straight up draft or perfectly mixed cocktail the bartenders here know what they’re doing. Step in through the cozy doors, pull a stool against the marble top bar and ask for your favorite pour.. you’ll be amazed. Jerrys is always a perfect end to a debacle filled night in no libs and while some may be dismayed by the pin ups on the wall, enjoy the step back into 1940s fashioned drinks.

A group of us ventured out for some food at Jerry’s bar, highly recommended by someone in our group. Music was a bit loud, but that seriously is my only complaint. Food, awesome. Service, incredible. Décor, hipster fun.
My friend and I split the pork sausage & spatzle (favorite), pierogies (perfectly crisp on the outside and the damn caramelized onions were delish), falafel salad & brussel sprouts. Loved every dish! The other guys and gal got burgers & fries and another order of pierogies. For a cocktail, I went with the Lost in Thyme (wow!) and he got the Hot Cider.
So much more on the menu I can’t wait to try. Great neighborhood as well.

Went for brunch and was not satisfied. They do take reservations and had live music, to set a pleasant mood. The bar/​restaurant itself has a stylish décor (inclusive of the mini flower center pieces) and the service was ok.
We were very unhappy with the food. The menu was fairly small and not cheap. The chef apparently doesn’t allow substitutions for home fries, leaving the option to eat fries or salad with breakfast/​brunch foods. My company, ordered the pork roll sandwich and didn’t finish it because it was too greasy. I ordered the waffles with a side of smokey bacon, which were totally burnt and crunchy!!! Also, they put some type of yogurt on top of one of the waffles. That waffle wasn’t touched. Bacon was fatty and definitely a lot of salt was added. The smokey flavor wasn’t terrible though

So-​so at best.
Parking was an act of mercy not knowing where is allowed (legal) and where that you’d end up on Parking Wars to get your car out of impound. Service was very slow for both drinks & food. Our server was far out… in left field. Fries were great! My wife’s kale salad looked great. Very cool interior and bar/​courtyard area. ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ as to going back.

Bar tender was too busy talking with the obnoxious girls flirting with him to serve the rest of the bar.
Was fed up after a single drink and gladly walked my company elsewhere.

Since our first meal out upon moving into the city almost a year and a half ago until tonight, Jerry’s has been one of our favorite local hangouts and go-​to dinner places, and we’ve recommended them countless times to friends and visitors. And the Jerry’s Burger has been my go-​to meal; always and dependably cooked to order, tender and juicy.
Look, I’m definitely not that guy that bitches about some minor imperfections, but tonight my burger came out badly overcooked (medium rare is what I asked for) and clearly overworked and dense. After I sent it back (and our server, Cate, was very apologetic), it took a surprisingly long time to come back and was no better at all (still well done and very dense and overworked). I did point out out again but chose to eat it, rather than making my dinner companions wait for attempt #3 (and it was taken off the bill).
Personally, I think of burgers as a sort of canary in a coal mine for restaurants… if you can’t get this right, especially with two tries, it’s worrisome. I hear that there is a new chef that just took over… let’s hope it’s just a momentary glitch.

As Mike Z. wrote, Jerry’s Bar is not what one would expect from the name. There is a bar inside but it is more of a restaurant and a really nice one at that. The place is larger then I thought with two dining rooms and also an upstairs. It is also really pleasant and comfortable inside, with large windows, wood and tile floors and brick stonework.
On this Sunday night the restaurant was not crowded. There were a few other diners and some customers at bar. Our server was really great and explained all the specials in great detail. Jerry’s has a good selection of beer also.
We had the Moules Frites for a starter and the muscles, thin fries and broth were very good with subtle flavors. We had the East Coast burger and the Chopped Beef and Sausage sandwich for our dinners. The burger was outstanding, on a brioche bun with caramelized onions. The Chopped Beef and Sausage was also quite good and the sauce was spicy and flavorful. Both came with a nice side salad.
For dessert we had some sort of chocolate cake that was pretty much otherworldly. It was moist, not overly sweet with a perfect house made whipped cream.
The menu at Jerry’s Bar is not big, there were only 4 entrees but they did have a couple of entrée specials. All the food was prepared with great attention to detail. This is definitely a good spot to check out when looking for a nicer restaurant in Northern Liberties.

On a cool Saturday evening in September my party and I celebrated a birthday dinner at Jerry’s. We sat in the atrium (for lack of a better word), where there was a pleasant breeze and you could sit outside without feeling like you were sitting in the street breathing in car exhaust. The outside area is the bomb-​diggity.
The overall ambiance of the restaurant is modern industrial. You could see the old features of the previous life of the building but there were many modern touches. The bar was beautiful. They had tealights burning and tiny containers with flowers on the tables.
The cocktails were amazing. We all got something different then ended up passing them around so we could get a taste of each others drinks. Props to the bartender than night (9÷19÷2015). I had the Lavender something-​or-​other (I can’t recall the proper name) but it was so good; a little sweet and a little tangy! Perfect on a cool summer night.
The menu was nice. I would best say upscale American fare. The «small plates» really aren’t all that small. I had one for my meal (the scallops) and it was plenty for dinner — of course the table also shared a few appetizers. Others has steak, brisket and shrimp — there wasn’t a complaint in the bunch. Desserts were good too — simple but good.
Service was great too!
Future plans are in the works to attend Jazz Brunch.
Parking is a bit of a PITA but is that a big surprise?

Jerry’s Bar is certainly a pretty cool restaurant a little bit off the beaten path in Northern Liberties. In fact, if you didn’t know what you were looking for, I’m sure you’d never find it.
The food menu is limited but solid. As for the drinks, they have a good selection of cocktails and craft beers. Unfortunately, overall the restaurant is a little expensive.
I’d like to stop in for their jazz brunch one of these days… I’ve heard good things.

Came here for an event and was really pleased at the service and the food. The staff were very accommodating and pleasant. The food was served buffet-​style due to the amount of people. I’m not typically a fan of buffets, but the food here tasted fresh and delicious. I especially liked the salad with the citrus dressing — so good! The brussels sprouts were also cooked to perfection.
While I didn’t have any mixed drinks, my husband said his manhattan was great. A few of the kegs kicked while we were there, but perhaps we just have good taste in beer.
Will definitely go back, as I would love to try their outdoor area (and sushi).

Excellent Food. Amazing service. Highly recommended.
I had the short rib, kale and cheddar omelette. It was cooked perfectly. Extremely flavorful and the ideal portion size.
The waitstaff was very attentive. Water glasses were always full and we didn’t have to flag down our waitress to ask for refills on the coffee.

Happy hour. Pleasant experience. Bar tender was very nice and also confident in mixology.
Started my meal with oysters (6), they were delicious! Nice and fresh. I felt compelled to try two more things even though I knew it would be too much food. I ordered the French Onion soup. It was very good I enjoyed the tasty broth. Next course was the rock shrimp. It was a healthy portion on the small plates menu. The shrimp were very tasty and presented well. The only thing negative about the shrimp was that it was a little greasy.
Overall décor, cleanliness and ambience was up to good standards. I enjoyed dining here and I look forward to coming back.

Eight of us came here for brunch a few weeks ago and I was hesitant to go at first. Not because it didn’t look good but because, as a vegetarian, there are so many places who accommodate to the breakfast side of this lifestyle. When I first looked at the menu, I only noticed a few things I could order. After some convincing — we headed here.
I was THRILLED to have gone here. There was a live «jazzy» band playing when you walk into the bar area. We didn’t have to wait long for a table of 8, this was also at 1030am. I sat at the bar and the bartenders were so so helpful in helping me decide what to order. They poured me a cup of coffee while i sat there and chatted about options for a vegetarian. He didn’t even charge me the coffee — thanks bartender!
I settled on the stuffed French toast (as per the bartender) and OH EM GEE, it was amazing! I could not have been happier with my selection of breakfast and being convinced to come to this place. A side order of hashbrowns because I got a tip that the home fries were spicy and it was delish. Cocktails? Fresh squeezed mimosa? THANK YOU. I am not a big drinker but fresh squeezed at Sunday brunch? I can’t say no.
This meal hit the spot on a Sunday morning after bar hopping the night before. I suggest coming early if you’re looking for brunch because it was packed by the time we left at 11:30−12.

I’ve had Jerry’s Bar on my bookmark list for a long time. It was recommended to me by several friends! I finally made a trip up to NoLibs over the weekend to hit Jerry’s Bar on a Saturday night. I was pleasantly surprised upon walking in, such a warm inviting atmosphere of a cool gastropub. The bar seats were all taken, so we were seated at a table near the bar. There’s also an entire patio out back, with tons of outside seating that is enclosed inside a patio with cool lighting and a second bar. That was impressive!
The food was amazing. We originally came for drinks, but after seeing the glorious options on the food menu, we quickly changed our minds. We ordered:
1. Trio of Dips — really good! Fresh feta, pickled cucumbers, hummus, red pepper hummus, olives, beets, and a delicious tzatziki.
2. French Dip — a HUGE sandwich overflowing with meat and cheese. This was so delicious, especially when dipping in the au jus.
3. Gnocchi — with goat cheese and sweet potatoes, this was also amazingly delicious!
4. Cream cheese doughnuts for dessert was good, and the chocolate dipping sauce made it even better.
The drinks were also really good! We had several vodka cocktails with creative mixers that were specialties on the menu. We also tried a champagne drink and a gin drink from the menu. For once, I didn’t order beer, since the drink menu seemed more interesting than their current beer selections. Only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because a combo of a few small, relatively unimportant things: cocktails were steep at $ 10 each, one bathroom stall could cause problems on a busy night, our waiter didn’t seem very thrilled to be there, although it didn’t seem to bother us too much because he was still quick. Overall, fantastic bar! Highly recommended.