Sticks & Stones

I think Sticks and Stones is pretty sad and disappointing. It took so long to finally open up, I had higher hopes. It just seems like any old corner bar inside, there is a total lack of décor. There are lots of lonely people reading and drinking alone, probably thinking about where the cool bars might be. The menu is all over the place. If you asked me what kind of food they serve, I wouldn’t know how to answer that question. There was some bar food, Mediterranean, Asian, you name it. And cupcakes? There is one saving grace — a great draft list. Too bad there are a million other bars in Philly who have the same delicious beers in a pleasant atmosphere and with food I actually want to eat.

Went here on a whim because I think I read about it on thrillist or something.
i was expecting it to be crowded on a Friday night. But it was pouring and there wasn’t a game on so it was pretty deserted, which was nice.
We sat at a table (the only one that was filled) in the back but the bartender was our waitress. i thought this was odd and maybe it was because there was only one table, but there were no delays so that was good.
The menu and the beers are written on big chalkboards, which is slightly annoying in my opinion, but since the place was small it wasn’t a problem.
Good beer selection. The food was pretty tasty too. Warning: do not order nachos and then entrees if you are just two people! The nachos are great, but huge and you will eat none of your entrees :) Another warning: the fries are a mix of sweet and regular potatoes. This is good in my book, but my GF hates sweet potatoes (werido I know) so this didn’t fly well with her. Fish and chips are also great.
Overall I totally recommend this place!

Very impressed with the nachos and fries. The mussels were decent. Impressive beer selection.
The prices are very nice. This place could use a little more in terms of decoration and ambience, although I assume this is a work in progress.
I anticipate that once the menu items are just a little more refined, and the place gets ‘broken-​in’ some more (like a pair of Levi’s), I could very likely change this to four stars.
Some people think 3 stars is not good, but I want to be completely fair to Unilocal’s criteria. Unilocal says three stars is A-​OK, which is pretty good in my book. In other words I will be back to Sticks and Stones.

Stopped in to watch the game on a weekday, honestly because our usual go-​to was too loud and crowded.
The bartender took the time to offer us samples before we chose our drafts and although the food was slow coming out, it was better than expected. I was surprised by the great draft list and the good food. I liked the grilled ham and cheese, even if it was pretty greasy.
Music was at a level low enough to actually talk to the people you’re with, which is a major plus in my book.
Oh and drafts were all $ 5 and under, so it made for a cheap night.

Nice place. I’d give it 4 stars but on two separate occasions the beer I got was a bit flat. There may be something wrong with their tap system, or they just aren’t going through beer fast enough, not sure.
Either way, fix the beer and you got a nice 4 star neighborhood pub.
Union scarves hanging are a definite plus :)

Elvis has left the building. And so has the rest of the staff. We (previous regulars) are NOT amused.

Favorite new discovery? Indeed.
Certainly I have heard plenty of S&S — from the Passyunk bar that took forever to open, to delicious nachos. But I really never made it down — until the Bavarian Barbarian BBQ during Beer Week.
Hello…awesome? From a cornhole competition out on the street, a comfort food filled menu, and an awesome draft selection, it had all the ingredients for success. Not to mention the unusual, but well-​appreciated, playlist of classic metal and punk.
And Steph is so right about those nachos. DAMN. The mac and cheese was tasty too — though if you don’t like peas, request that they leave those out. In my opinion, it worked.
Great service and general neighborhood bar kinda vibes. I like you, Sticks & Stones. I think I’m ready for my second date soon.

The place has a lot of potential! A good addition to the neighborhood.
Beer list was interesting, a lot of microbrews I’d never heard of. It was fun to try out a couple new beers and it seems like they change them out pretty often.
Food was VERY good. I liked the nachos– they use flour tortillas instead of corn, which makes for a different texture and a whole other kind of nacho experience.
Service was great. It did take a few minutes too long before they came over to take our initial order, but once we got over that hump all went well. The waiters and bartenders were super friendly.
Jukebox was AMAZING. I don’t know who was picking that music, but it was absolutely what I wanted to hear. Lots of early 90s «alternative» and stuff like that.
The ambiance is a major issue. It seems like somebody’s basement that just got refinished. I’m no decorator, but I think a darker paint color and different light fixtures would make a world of difference. It just didn’t feel like the type of place I’d want to spend an extended amount of time in. Some small changes would make a big difference.

I went here a few times after it opened. The first couple times it was great! Really nice servers, great food, and a fantastic beer selection. The mac and cheese is amazing. The fries are fabulous and the selection of all different types of food is great.
However the reason i only mark it as Ok instead of fabulous is that the last time i was there the service was extremely slow and the food came out cold. The place was not even that busy so there was no reason to have to have to wait so long (almost an hour) for cold food.
It could have been an off night for them because the service was good the other times but it was still a disappointment.

Hey — Solid Bar/​Food spot
GRUB — Less than 20 items but ALL under $ 10 and way better than your average bar food. They take what you usually enjoy Nacho’s, Cheesesteaks etc and turn the quality up way past 10! I saw a burger go by that I almost chased. I actually opted for a lil something different. Fried Rice with Pork Belly and was very satisfied. Nacho’s were great as well.
SUDS — If your pallet is a few notches above Sam Adams you will have no shortages of great beer to chose from.
SCENERY– Definitely could use a few more TV’s in the back half to finish it off and a few other decorations. But they been open for a short while after a long set up process.
OVERALL — I dig it and will go back, I just wonder how hot and crowded it will get in the summer.

After having low expectations (purely from the time it took to open), I’ve been twice and can say I really like this place. It fits a niche that seems to be missing. Good beer list (I say «good» not «great» only because I favor more classic Belgian, German, and English beers to their American interpretations, but still very thoughtful), an enthusiastic bartender/​manager, and a feel that is casual yet not divey. They’ve kept the prices low on food and drink and I think that was smart. I find the food a little hit or miss, but I appreciate the value and the concept of the menu. I plan to keep trying different dishes — at about $ 7 a pop, how can you not?
I also like that I can go in at 6 or 7 on a Saturday and actually enjoy sitting by the bar for a few hours. The crowd picks up a bit, but it never gets insanely loud in there.
Oh and as a beer geek, I really appreciate that the BMC beers are kept off the chalkboard list.
This place is around the corner from my house, so trust me, I’ll be going often. I’m glad it’s here!

I’m updating my review because after my previous one, the bar manager, Elvis, contacted me privately to apologize for the missteps documented below and invited me back for another try. I was really impressed by this. Not only did he actually bother to respond, but he did so privately, and in an open, non-​defensive manner. Now that’s how you use the power of the internet! Thank you, Elvis!
Upon our return, everything was improved — food, service, beer list (with great selections — including a cherry beer that is one of my new favorites). This place took 2+ years to actually open, so in retrospect, it’s not surprising that their start was a little rocky. I think this place has real potential, and definitely has people involved that really care. They read your reviews and they listen.

Cheap and creative grub. Both apps and entrees are usually under $ 10. Great beer selection.
One of our entrees did not come out (the chef was not happy with the way the dish was coming out), so they bought us a round of beer and another free entrée. Both thoughtful and generous.
The décor is wanting, but I couldn’t care less.

Do not pass go, do not collect $ 200 — go directly do the NACHOS. These things are out of this world, not your average tortilla chips with cheese. The chips taste like fried pita chips… SOOO GOOD. I would come back only for those.
Been here a few times, it’s good. Staff is friendly and prompt. I am giving my rating only 3 stars more for the atmosphere than anything else. I don’t really like the narrow train-​car feel and events here are a disaster. Went to eat one time when it was not busy at all and while I know it sounds dumb there was this neon light right above the people sitting against the wall that I had to stare at all night, and it was distracting. When there are so many other places in south philly there has to be something really fantastic or different about a place to draw me in. Other than the nachos, it’s just another south philly bar.

One Friday night after my sister’s birthday dinner we were looking for a place to keep the party going. My father suggested Sticks & Stones since a friend of his owns the place. He figured we’d stop by to say hello.
Dinner was highly satisfying so we were really just looking to drink. Sticks & Stones was Dad’s good call of the night. It appealed to us all: Mom could have her Sambuca, I could have some Russian River, my sisters could have their whiskey drinks. The vibe was lively and fun and people were very friendly, including the staff.
Dad’s buddy wasn’t around but I’m glad we checked it out. I’d like to go back for another beer and a bite.

I don’t really understand what Sticks & Stones is supposed to be, and I don’t think the owners do either. It is neither a true dive bar nor a gastropub. The décor is best described as «frat house living room after everyone has gone home for the summer.» That is to say it’s clean and empty, save for a few beer signs thrown haphazardly on the wall.
One of the signs read «La Chouffe,» which is my favorite Belgian beer ever, so I asked the waitress if they had any and she wasn’t quite sure. She also wasn’t sure where the drink menus were, or what was good on the menu (when asked, she replied «I don’t know, I haven’t tried many things.») To be fair, she was VERY kind, but not all that helpful.
The food was pretty good, especially for the prices (we’re talking $ 6 -$ 8 entrees). I liked the gourmet flair — such as whole grain mac ‘n cheese, and vegan Udon noodles. I got a fancy «kobe» hot dog. I liked it, and the fries that came with, aside from the mayo-​based sauce layered on both. My friend really enjoyed her Mediterranean plate (the most expensive item on the menu — $ 10).
This place is just bizarre. I’d like to say that if I lived near East Passyunk I’d stop in for a drink and quick meal, but when I really think about it, I’m not sure that I would. It does have potential though (flatscreen tv, jukebox, decent chef) so I’d like to see it come into its own.

I’m just confused about this place. .. the décor, the menu, the food. .. Looking around, we kept remarking about how strange we thought the décor was; this probably occupied about 20 minutes of our conversation; it was that strange. The food was fine. When we asked our waitress what she could recommend, she told us she didn’t know because she hadn’t really eaten anything there. I would not recommend the cheesesteak. My friend, however, enjoyed her mediterranean plate very much. The beer list was good, but they were out of lots of things. I will say 2 ½ because the sweet potato fries were quite delicious. Beyond that, I’m not quite sure what all the hype about this place was.

Recently stopped by for dinner on a Sunday evening and was pretty impressed. The bartender was extremely friendly and attentive… he was sure to mention all of the food specials as well as the beers that weren’t listed on the menu… and the food came promptly and was a-​ok. My only complaint was the burger was a bit overcooked, but still flavorful and the bleu cheese on it was bangin’. And the fries that came with it were absolutely killer. Great beer selection, interesting menu, and super awesome staff. Can’t wait to come back and try out the rest of the beer and food menu. Definitely an awesome addition to the neighborhood. Definitely check it out… you won’t regret it.

Like a lot of people, was anxiously waiting for this place to open. It’s close to me.
I was not impressed with the chicken wings at the opening party, and whatever else was served was not memorable either, but went in for dinner at about 8 on a Monday.
There were people at the bar, but no one else at the tables in the back. The waiter didn’t seem very comfortable with the menu, which was tough to read in the dim light (and we only got one for our party of two). The beer list was familiar for the neighborhood, but of the 12 options, 5 were unavailable.
The menu was much like other places in the neighborhood, and between us we had the burger, hot dog and mac and cheese (that sounds gross just writing it, but it’s what we ordered). The mac and cheese was whole wheat pasta with scallions in a cheesy sauce. I liked it, it reminded me of something I would make at home, and I look forward to the leftovers, but I might not call it mac and cheese. The burger was just meat cheese and bun, but the meat was incredible, very moist and flavorful.
The hot dog was ridiculous. I haven’t ordered a hot dog other than at a ballgame in two decades, but the «kobe» dog was incredibly flavorful, but not too spicy, covered in a mustard/​onion relish that was sweet, smoky and a bit spicy. My dining companion described it as a hot dog he wouldn’t be embarrassed to order in front of other people.
Overall, great food, but they didn’t have it quite together with the menus, beers and ambiance. We’ll definitely be back.

So Sticks and Stones is finally open. I went with a party of 5 on a wed and found a table in the back immediately. It has the same IPA heavy beer menu that all Philly gastro-​pubs have. So I ordered an Old Fashioned, which was very good. High-​Life bottles are $ 2, which is nice. Menu is the usual league-​of-​nations style pub fare, though the physical menu is very odd to decipher and required a few questions to the server. The Steak-​Um made steak sandwich was meh, and the fish tacos arrived a little on the sushi side, but the jerk chicken quesedillas were nicely seasoned. Service was quick and friendly. Interior is sparse, but not too loud. Back of the space smelled like cigarette smoke.