West Tavern

Everything at this place was incredible with they exception of one individual. The male bartender. Service exquisite, cleanliness pristine, the food delectable, the male bartender vulgar. I was enjoying myself until my girlfriend asked for her second drink and he reached for her breast. I would say it was unprofessional but the way he coddled her bosom was nothing short of spectacular. The only thing that upset me was when he asked for a tip after the whole encounter. That is why they received 4 stars instead of 5

Pretty nice and laid back local bar with Karaōke. We were here on a Thursday night and it had a good amount of people, without being too crowded. Friendly service and laid back atmosphere. There is karaōke on a mini stage so we had a great time doing that.

Went here on 11÷6÷15 my drinks was good. margaritas very cool atmosphere never ate here though cant seem to get here when the kitchen is open

Let me start out by saying that this is not a review of West Tavern in it’s entirety, but rather a review of the Saturday night atmosphere, particularly related to karaōke. My friends and I have spent many enjoyable nights at West Tavern, aka Westies, and I’d hate to give the whole place a bad name. But unfortunately, this Saturday night DJ may have negatively impacted both the reputation and the future patronage among our (large) group of friends at Westies.
If you happen upon Westies on a Saturday night for karaōke, first off — if you read this in time and Jerry [Gerry (sp?)] is the DJ, GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN. Let me assure you of a few things: if you suck at karaōke, the DJ will certainly sing over and above you. And if you’re great at karaōke, the DJ will for sure make it known that he can sing that particular song better… after all… he did play the starring role in that production…*twice.* So, if you want a career as a musical performer, then why take a job as a karaōke DJ where your sole responsibility consists of LITERALLY LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLE SING (terribly, sometimes — yes, but isn’t that the point of karaōke?). Let me be clear, some could pull off this nonsense, but this guy was way too controlling to come close.
All in all… a very aggressive, somewhat psycho DJ.
Will absolutely not be going back to this place anytime soon if this guy is still working there.
Cool bartenders. Psycho DJ. Do yourself a favor and go to Moriarty’s for Saturday night karaōke.

This place is an absolute dump. I was there 3 times. All 3 times I drank the beer from the refrigerator and had explosive diarrhea for 10 hrs after. Must be bad refrigerant. Another lovely time my girlfriend had a mouse run past her shoe. And the managers a pervert. I’d rather drink a 40 in an alley way by myself. I’d save myself money and the embarrassment of crapping my pants in front of all my friends. Have a great day mr. West tavern pervert.

I used to work at 15^th & spring garden from about 2010 – 2012 so I was familiar with West Tavern, or what used to be West Tavern. I used to go there for lunch to get the infamous Dirty Burger. I haven’t been there since 2012 but have been craving one ever since. I decided I wanted to introduce my boyfriend to the Dirty family cause I knew his mind would be blown so we went there on a random Thursday afternoon. When we walked it there were about 12 people already there. We sat down after some hard stares and whispers. No exaggeration. Had time for both of us to use the rest room and the «waitress» still had not come over to the table. Being as though I had been here before I knew this was not standard procedure. I had to go to the bar where she barely acknowledged me and ask for a menu. Upon opening this menu I noticed it was different. Not an official menu but one that was made on a word document and placed in the holders to cover the original menu. I saw no «dirty» anything. No fries. No chicken. No burger. What is going on. When she finally made her way over I asked her about it and she muttered they don’t sell them anymore and they were changing their whole menu. I knew in my heart that we should have left at this point but I figured we were here now and I was starving. She ask for our drink orders, I got a coke and my boyfriend got a beer. He first asked if they had any fruity drinks. She looked at him like he had 2 heads and gave a shrug. Then she said no they don’t have anything. You’re a «bar» and have no liquor? Ok. He ordered a beer. I ordered a cheesesteak. I know for a fact the menu said all entrees come with fries. Got my soda-​flat. Got the cheesesteak with some kind of salad. Wtf? Who eats a salad with a cheesesteak. I didn’t bother saying anything to the waitress because the icy reception we were already getting was not going to make me eat anything else coming out of that kitchen. Cheesesteak was juvenile. I ate and we had to ask for the check because who knows how long we would have been sitting there waiting. Paid and left. WILL. NEVER. RETURN. TO. THIS. BAR. If I could give it 0 stars I would have.

West Tavern exceeded my expectations. As Good As It Gets — if you know that you’re going to a quiet local place. No specific character and nothing fancy, but if you are looking for a chill place to chat with friends and watch a game, nothing wrong with that!
Pleasant surprise, though, was the food: generous pours are accompanied by surprisingly great food! I got the mussels, in a delicious and spicy red sauce, and after the chef came to check on me he came back with a dessert of bread pudding, on the house. (Either very friendly, I guess, or he knew I would be writing this review!)
Wine comes in a big jug, and the beer selection is pretty basic. Pitchers of beer and/​or strong drinks seemed to be the norm. Great spot for bar food, but it’s still primarily a bar!

Don’t waste your time. I sure didn’t. I walked in and made eye contact with the male bartender. I sat down. He walked right by to get on his phone!!! What? So my friend practically yelled «hey bartender» but no response. Again «excuse me!» Ignored. The female bartender walked by and didn’t even look at us. I said ok, thats it we are leaving and as im walking away the male bartender swings around like, oh hey what can i get you. Um, sorry too late. Learn some customer service skills asshole.
It was karaōke and the dj sucked his equipment sounded like shit.

Went here yesterday after the St. Pattys Day Parade. They had awesome specials: $ 2 Lagers and High Lifes and 50 cent wings. We got 12 Garlic Parm wings, they gave us like 20. They were so good! Crunchy and not greasy, which is rare in Garlic Parm wings. We also got sweet potato fries, fries with cheese and bacon (which I didn’t eat), fried pickles, sliders, and a chicken quesadilla. everything was super yummy.
It’s a quiet corner bar but I love places like that. If you want to go out to a little place for good food and cheap drinks and still have a convo. this is your place.

Could be a little better painted, but friendly service, good tap selection and surprisingly good food.

I had never heard of West Tavern before being invited there for a friend’s birthday karaōke celebration last night. I went with my girlfriend and three friends to meet up with our birthday friend and numerous of her friends that I didn’t know. It was convenient that there was a parking lot where we could park for free.
Upon entering the bar I felt like I was transported to another dimension. It’s hard to explain what I mean, but it was just unlike any bar I’ve ever been to in Philadelphia. I felt like an anthropologist studying the strange ways of a new culture. There were only a handful of «regulars» who weren’t there for the birthday gathering and they seemed pretty perplexed by us. My friend overhead one 50-​something-​year-​old white guy say to his buddy, «What the hell are all of these people doing here?» to which his buddy replied, «I don’t know, maybe they are thirsty?»
The karaōke got started with a middle aged woman who struck me as someone who probably worked as a janitor or at some kind of quiet, labor-​intensive job but every Saturday she comes to let her diva out at West Tavern karaōke. I want to be like her when I grow up. She sang Eric Clapton’s «After Midnight» like she was born to do it. The set up of the karaōke seemed well suited to the seemingly-​awkward-​or shy crowd who really wants to let out there inner superstar because the lyrics are broadcast on a TV facing away from all of the tables, so you are pretty much giving a concert for only the front door of the bar. No one can judge you if you’re giving your all to a duet of Johnny Cash and June Carter’s «Jackson» if they can’t see your face.
Despite having the charm and clientele of a rural watering hole, the drink prices were not actually cheap. I just drank well Woodchucks all night for $ 5.50 a pop. I would have expected cheaper from this kind of place.
It was also awkwardly bright in the bar, at least near the pool table where we were seated.
There were numerous single lone middle aged men, getting wasted alone at the bar and I think that is probably the kind of clientele that keep this establishment going. That and janitors-​by-​day, lead-​singer-​of-​Heart-​by-​night types. It was totally unlike any bar I’ve ever been to in Philly before and I definitely felt like I was in an alternate universe but in a way that I actually really enjoyed. Hell I can’t afford to travel often so if I can use a token to take myself to another world right inside Philly then that is okay by me.

I walk in and sit at the bar where both bartenders ignore me until I finally ask them if I can have a drink. Then at the end of the night, someone stole my $ 1,200.00 coat while I was in the bathroom and when I told the bartender he basically was like, oh well. He did not offer to look out for it or take my name and number in case it turned up. Karaōke was fun but otherwise booooooooo!

Got strange tasting Hoegardens and Woodchucks. Went back to get a different drink, the bartender said sometimes the first pour tastes bad. Got a repour still didn’t taste good at all.
Went during Caraoke which was fun, but repetitive. Seriously heard «take care of your bartenders, cause they are taking care of you» at least 60 times throughout the night!
Didn’t get any food, but friends said nachos were ‘edible’.

Bartender got drunk, lost a bunch of credit cards, had regulars covering his slack, started fights, pocketed cash and closed the bar an hour and a half early. This place should be shut down. Pure garbage.

Oh Westies, what a place. Like it or not, this is our bar (being so close to school) and I can’t help but review it. For me personally, it’s not my favorite place in the world because I really enjoy getting dressed up and going out when I’m feeling like drinks with the girls. However, there are those times when westies is the perfect location — after a long day of work/​class, in our scrubs or sweats, when all you want to do is relax with a glass of wine/​beer where you won’t be spotted!
It’s mostly beer and hard liquor here (decently large beer selection on tap), only one red and one white wine option, another reason it’s not one of my go-​to spots. The bartenders are always beyond friendly and work really hard to make sure everyone is taken care of. Though it’s not my cup of tea, I really don’t mind it here and it gives you a nice warm hometown feeling. And they have a jukebox which is fun!
A little less clean than I typically prefer, but like I said, there is always a time when you need a bar like this in your back pocket! So I’m keepin it there for now :)

Looking for a decent cheesesteak in Philly? Don’t go here. My companion and I both ordered one. They were out of Wiz, so I went for provolone and a side of fries. Companion ordered the side salad. My fries, while fresh cut, were so well done and thusly dry. The bread was overly toasted, and the meat over-​cooked. DRY, DRY, DRY! The kitchen prepared new cheesesteaks for us, and meh! Average and once the dryness was corrected, well, the meat was not seasoned. No flavor.
On a positive note, the bartender was pleasant and the salad was great! Real greens and the salad dressing tasted fresh, almost like homemade.
The patrons are friendly and welcoming to travelers. I imagine this is a great place to go for a few beers, but the food is standard average for a dive. Eat elsewhere. Go for the atmosphere and beer.

Went for a bachelor party. Over all wasn’t a bad place. Friendly bartender. Karaōke. Fun environment. Was a little crowded.

The banner on the side of the building screams: «You may never eat elsewhere again!» Before entering, we wondered if it was because the food was that good, or that bad.
I ordered the Dirty Burger, and asked for cheese, lettuce tomato. «No, sorry, we don’t do that. The chef loves the flavors so much that he doesn’t want anything on the burger, the taste just doesn’t work right.» Okay, sure, I’ll take your advice.
And what do I receive? I preformed, frozen burger cooked well (they didn’t even ask about temperature) on a store bought white bun. With fries it came to $ 11. I can’t tell what was worse, the quality of the food, or the price charged. The burger would barely beat a Big Mac in a taste contest. The fried cheese is also a miss, instead of the normal mozzarella sticks the bar serves fried cubes of cottage cheese. It sounds appetizing until the first bite. Avoid the food.
Inside, the bar is a bit run down, it’s a dumpy sports/​karaōke bar with a ton of TVs. Service was average, the draft list is okay, and beer prices were fine (they serve pitchers).
Bottom Line: If West Tavern embraced the «no class» attitude the place exudes, they might be able to succeed. But West Tavern tried to be unique and sophisticated and fails on every front.

You know it’s a good sign when they tell you the price of 2 drinks and you go… each?
PROS
Cheap drinks and pitchers.
Free karaōke on Saturday nights, but with normal music played in between, so you’re not constantly listening to drunk people wailing. Also, last time we were here, some of the older, regular, (almost homeless looking) men started singing and were SERIOUSLY talented. Jaw-​dropping, make you not want to follow them, talented. The voices of angels. Pretty cool.
Great atmosphere. Kinda divey but in the best way possible.
CONS
Only downside is the location, we had a hard time getting a cab from here.
Also, one Saturday we came, our voiced prepped and excited for kareoke and they were having a private event and no kareoke! We were devastated.
Super fun place!

Wow Westy’s — with so many «dive bars» with good food in the area, how on Earth do you keep up? Our dinner was bad… and insanely expensive for what it was. $ 12 for a Wendy’s-sized burger on a Wendy’s-esque bun? And my California chicken club sandwich was pathetic — I don’t need a whole lot of food — I’m a little girl — but I definitely left hungry. $ 74+ tip for 4 sandwiches and 7 drinks (and that includes the Hahnemann special for $ 2.50 drinks). Pretty pricey for less-​than-​mediocre food…
Oh and by the way? We waited over an hour for our food? Yep. Over an hour. And we were one of 3 full tables…