City Tap House

Probably the best draught beer bar in university city with a huge amount of space and an awesome outdoor patio for seating.

I just had to update this review with five more stars after actually having our wedding at City Tap House yesterday. It was AMAZING! I’m just in awe of the staff there. Everyone from the management to the bartenders to the servers to the busboys and kitchen staff went out of their way to make our day perfect. They all had smiles on their faces and were as helpful as they could be, and truly seemed like they were having fun along with us. All of our guests had nothing but positive things to say about the day.
We had food from the catering menu and it was so delicious (chicken, steak, pasta, mac and cheese, potatoes, salads, sliders, pizza, hushpuppies, nachos and more). People were too stuffed to eat it all and we’re psyched for all the leftovers we have! The staff did a great job keeping the food coming and keeping it hot, and the bartenders worked nonstop to keep everyone happy. After the hot buffet lunch, the staff cleared much of the main dining area to give us a perfect dance floor. Even doing that, there is plenty of seating for those who don’t want to dance.
I’m surprised now that more people haven’t considered City Tap House for an event like this. It’s so rustically beautiful in so many ways, and really has the space to accommodate a lot of people. I’ll add some photos to this review when I get them.
Thank you City Tap House for making our wedding day so special!

City Tap House is a great place for drinks, especially in the summer. There is a nice seating area outside with tables in front of fire places that are great for groups. Drinks are a little pricey, but that is expected of most places in the city. Food is pretty good, nothing special but still delicious. If you’re looking for a place that can give you the option of staying inside at the bar or hanging outside, this is the place!

The food was good once it finally made it to the table… service left a lot to be desired! And it was not crowded.

Walk down a long winding hallway and take the elevator up. You’ll be transported to a dark, wood-​paneled, cavernous space you didn’t image existed from the view from the street. Well, this is if you enter the restaurant from the ground level. You can also take the concrete stairs up from the back, but that makes for a less interesting introduction to this swell venue in the heart of University City.
A very large group (more than 20) of us had come for a weekday lunch, and unlike other classy establishments in the area, we didn’t have to commit to a fixed price menu. Making a reservation was easy and done the day before, although potentially unnecessary as the place had a middling number of diners. Yet, despite the sparse crowd it took an unusually long time for a wait staff to come take our order. There was also a mix up in our bill.
The impressively large burger patty I ordered was barely maintained within its glistening bun. The accompanying fries were not too oily and were served in these cute mesh baskets. There were a lot of fries. For a small person like myself, I cut the sandwich swiftly in half and pocketed the delicious meal for another time.
For the price, wide open space and tasty meal, City Tap House made a great choice for lunch.

Checked out City Tap House last night with my coworker friends and overall had a good time. I absolutely love the outdoor space where we sat. Our waitress, Brandi, was super sweet and made the experience very enjoyable. She put up with our awkward conversations about winking and our total indecisiveness when ordering. The food was all tasty although very expensive. I would give it a 3 star overall based on the price of things, but Brandi bumped it up to a 4 with her great attitude and fun spirit.

City Tap House was A-​Ok. My husband wanted to take me here one evening without a reservation and we ended up at another spot due to the quoted wait time of one hour (aka too darn long); however, I finally got to eat here with a friend. We met for lunch the other day. It’s one of her favorite restaurants and she had her wedding rehearsal dinner here. We both ordered margarita pizzas and shared an order of fries. Service was courteous and our food arrived quickly. Our pizzas were bubbling brick oven goodness and the fries were crispy and hot. I recommend making a reservation if you plan to come after work. During lunch hours the restaurant was practically empty.

Honestly very displeased with my first visit to City Tap House after hearing numerous positive reviews of the place. Overall, food was okay, service was terrible (or maybe we just hit a bad day, giving lots of hope or maybe too much for this place).
We came on a Sunday afternoon around 1PM, which probably wasn’t the best time to go, since there was a 45 minute wait for both outdoor and indoor seating, but they told us we could sit anywhere at the bar. Waited for maybe 15 minutes for someone to finally bring us glasses of water and menus, and waited probably another 15 for someone to stop and take our orders.
We ordered The Big Chick and the Pulled Pork Hash. We waited for over 40 minutes while watching other diners who came in after us receive their food first, so we inquired about our food and were told the kitchen was being «backed up like crazy.» But the place was nearly half empty when we ordered our food… After almost an hour, our food finally arrived, which I was decently pleased about until I realized they made one of our orders incorrectly. The Big Chick we received was made into a burger with buns instead (supposed to come with biscuits as described on the menu and depicted in other reviews) and the potato hash was just… potato wedges. We asked 2 different waiters about our order, one who went to the kitchen to ask, and the other who simply said «the kitchen probably ran out of biscuits or something, sorry» and left. The former waiter came back and told us that the kitchen did in fact run out of biscuits and said nothing about the hash. So… the kitchen runs out of a component of a dish, and simply assumes it’s okay to replace it without asking? Poor play on their part in my opinion.
The food otherwise was decent. I enjoyed the Pulled Pork Hash, and The Big Chick was pretty good despite the lack of biscuits. The portions aren’t huge, but are quite filling.
I should also mention, the bartender who initially took our order in the beginning was throwing a fit with several of the waiters because one of them forgot a ticket or something… maybe that’s why she took so long to give us menus and take our orders.
I would come back for the food, hopefully with the right order. The experience in general? Not so much, was very dissatisfied with everything after leaving.

Had a fabulous lunch today at City Tap House. This place has a very warm atmosphere & both of our barmaids, Diana & Catherine, were personable & attentive. We were originally drawn there because of the 60 craft beers on tap and were delighted to find both young ladies were also very knowledgeable about beer. We tried some truly delicious samples. I ordered the Margarita Pizza which came out perfectly. The crust had a great flavor, it came out piping hot, & the toppings were fresh. Unfortunately it was a bit cold to sit outside but there plenty of tables & they had the fire pits going outside. I would love to return on a warmer day. This place is a gem & I look forward to returning there.

Sometimes I think I hand out too many 5 star ratings. Then I go to a place like this… Yeah, they definitely deserve 5 stars. Reviewing restaurants have so many variables that can go right or wrong. Today CTH certainly got everything right.
We just got our taxes done and although it was before noon we had to eat. At 11:30 AM we had the bar to ourselves. We’ve been to CTH once before and know they have quite an extensive tap beer selection. They continually change their beers and we asked our bartender Diana if the beer list was current. She assured us it was. For those that aren’t real beer fans, you may say, «Why so many different ones, what’s the big deal? I always have a Lite.» Well, for me beers are vastly more diverse in flavor than wine. Sure wines vary year to year, some are aged longer, different grapes, etc. There’s diversity but not like the nearly unlimited variables in beer. My point here is if you have north of 60 beers to choose from you need to narrow it down; a lot.
Diana suggested types in accordance with our preferences and was very helpful in making a decision. She provided as many samples of beer that we showed interest in. Time allowed her to chat with us a bit and she was extremely cordial and a pleasure to converse with. Her fellow bartender C (K)atherine, was equally affable, suggesting other beer bars we might try while in Philadelphia.
While looking over the menu I noticed a pizza called Tartufo. Now to me that conjures up images of Italian frozen dessert. That isn’t the case because a quick Siri consult told me that is Italian for truffle. Intrigued by the ingredients; truffle oil, portobellos, taleggio cheese, and guanciale I had to get it. Delizioso! My wife loved her marguerita pizza.
The ambiance, the beer, the wait staff, the food. Too good not to give 5 stars! Looking forward to my next visit here. Cent’anni.

What a great find! Came here after work on a warm March afternoon and was pleasantly surprised. The outdoor rooftop seating is perfect for these sunny spring days. Their beer menu is quite extensive. Their pizza and nachos were good. Avoid the crab Mac and cheese though. way too rich!!! They need to buy the lot next door. we want more!!!

Great outdoor space on a nice day. Average food. Terrible service.
I had the margarita pizza and the crab Mac and cheese. The Pizza was «ok» and I couldn’t even finish the Mac and cheese. The happy hour specials aren’t anything to brag about — $ 2 off drafts and $ 6 house wine.
Overall I wouldn’t suggest this place but if you’re looking to just have a beer on a rooftop it’s an alright place.

Fantastic brunches that are a bit pricey but you get what you pay for. Their beer mimosas are apparently a thing here, but I think I prefer regular mimosas. I’ve also come here for happy hour drinks during the weekday. Great craft beer selection, but the place can get pretty packed.

Got here at like 1:15 ish on a Saturday afternoon and they were still serving brunch. It was the perfect spot for a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. If you have like a $ 60 budget for two people (entrée + mimosa) I’d highly recommend this place. He loves his food and so did I! I got the chicken and waffles and a crab corn fritter appetizer. Super good. Will definitely return!

I’ve been to the City Tap a number of times before. I was drinking beer on those visits and the huge list of tapped and bottled beer was a highlight. Unfortunately, my doc had told me cut weight so alcohol is off the diet and ice water was my only beverage.
The bartenders service was ok. We arrived in that weird time zone between brunch and dinner so our only food choices were nachos, wings or pizzas. We ordered wings and a plain pizza to share.
Let’s start with the good– the pizza wasn’t bad. Decent for a bar pie. Was it Beddia or SLiCEor Nomad quality? No. But it was not bad.
The dry rubbed wings were horrible. We couldn’t even eat the order and gave them away. I get you don’t do sauces but you ought do something to as something was needed to take that taste away. Way too salty as well. And I am a fan of dry rub wings. In Strongsville Ohio at the Brew Kettle the best wings in the USA can be found and they are dry rubbed.

I was so offended by my recent experience at city tap house that I felt the need to make my fellow city patrons aware of what happened so that nobody has to go through the same shame that I felt. I have been a breast feeding mother for several months now and I have never been made to feel so uncomfortable about feeding my baby in a public place. I have discretely nursed at many high end restaurants throughout the city and have always been asked if there is anything that can be done to make me more comfortable — I felt not only respected but welcomed… until recently. My mom and I were in the area and decided to grab a quick bite at CTH. (I had been many times before and even celebrated my birthday there last year). We were there at roughly 4pm on a week day afternoon and I’m pretty sure we were THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE RESTAURANT however the servers were giving me glares and made me feel like I was creating a scene by nursing my child. They could not get us out of there fast enough. Needless to say, the management at CTH should be ashamed of the culture they have created around breastfeeding. In my experience, this is a culture that comes from the top down so I can only imagine that the management is sending a message that nursing mothers are not their desired clientele. Well don’t worry. This nursing mother will not be back.

I’ve been here a couple of times. This is one of the least interesting restaurants in the whole city. Food is whatever. Service could really befit from the addition of some dedicated professionals who know a thing or two about beer. There are plenty of much better places to spend your money.

I got a great story to tell that literally happened May of last year but has continued to be an epic tale to tell every single person I know. I’ll get to it in just a minute but first:
City Tap use to be sort of like the place to have a drink in UCity. Outside fire pits, large indoor bar, and a substantial beer list. As a cider drinker however, I’m usually limited to the one keg of Angry Orchard they always carry and God forbid that kicks, I gotta man up and drink a Jack’s hard cider. The cocktails, they have very few of and are not so great. Good wine list though, and not so terribly expensive that two glasses means I can’t pay cable for the month.
Anyway, City Tap is where I would meet friends, have a drink or two or suddenly 6 and 4 hours later I’m shoving chicken fingers down my throat at Axis before I blackout in a friend’s bed. City Tap is the precursor to all bad things. And I’m not the only one who thinks that; the bar is an interesting mingle of college kids (duh) and old heads. The bar can get loud and rowdy as a cafeteria and I can barely hear anyone over the noise, especially if they jam a dj or musician in the corner.
Okay, the story that really prompted this review: It was May. I was picked up for my first date with a guy, and everything was going pretty neat as we hit it off with nice conversation, stuff like that. It was raining and City Tap was a decent choice and not too far from home so I could book it if things got weird.
It was a weekend I think, but we got there early enough that there was no bouncer checking IDs. I have a Connecticut state ID, and I was 22 at the time of this happening. CT is a commonly fake ID, but I’ve never gotten issues with any bar I’ve gone too. Yeah they play with it a little more than a PA ID and might use the blacklight, but what happened this one particular night was so awful, so pitiful, that all I can do now is laugh and use it as an excuse to tell people never to come here.
The bartender we went up too was a younger looking girl, and she asked for ID. Cool, no problem. My guy showed his, a PA license, and it was no problem. My turn. She glances over my ID and says, «I’m sorry I can’t accept this, it’s fake.»
Okay. I’m a born and bred blue blood New Englander. I patiently explained to this obvious youngster that it is indeed, a real ID. I also work as a bartender, so I explained how you can tell it’s a true license by the tree hologram, clear picture, etc, etc. I said she could test me on the info from the card. No go. I offered to show her my credit and debit cards, and even school ID to prove I’m the person on the ID, but she refused to accept anything but a «passport or birth certificate or SS card.»
Yeah, let me reach into the crack of my ass and grab those for you.
Eventually, she left to ask a manager. Okay, that would take all of 5 seconds. If not the bartenders, at least the manager should be skilled in deciphering what is a fake or real ID. Especially for those IDs that are commonly used as facts.
No lie, we were there waiting for FORTY-​FIVE MINUTES. As in, 15 minutes shy of an hour.
I could not have been more embarrassed. I told my date he could leave if he liked and we could reschedule for another time. My date however, bless his heart, stayed with me (and that’s why we’re dating now) despite the aggravating wait time. Several other bartenders asked if we needed anything, and after I told them what was happening, shared my look of confusion.
Finally, the bartender came back, my card in hand, and surprise, everything was legit! Apparently they were GOOGLING what a real CT license looked like. And to top off this lovely start to the night, the manager did not come out and apologize, offer to comp us a drink or two or ANYTHING. Not even the bartender offered to pay for our first drink. Nope, we payed the full entire $ 7 or so for each beer.
The next day, I emailed my angry rantings to the general CTH address and got not one single reply. However, because I’m a sadist and love my personal misery, I have gone to City Tap a couple times after this event took place. I have not seen that particular bartender and I’m hopeful that such an incompetent ditz got fired.
I get that living in a college area, you gotta be wary about them fakes. But that’s no excuse not to hire intelligent staff who could tell a real ID from a fake. I guess CTH has had a bunch of strikes with letting underage kids wriggle through, and I was just that unlucky one to walk in with an out-​of-​state ID.
City Tap definitely stopped being my going to bar after that, and I only find myself there when my friends want to get wasted next to a firepit, or I’m bored and want to casually sip a glass of fine wine while sitting outside in the luxurious company of 40^th street traffic. They still get 2 stars for the outside seating and sure the staff might be a bunch of boobs, they are nice and attentive and apologize for mistakes. City Tap, at least it ain’t Smokey Joe’s.

I had been a huge supporter of City Tap House for some time. Having been a Philadelphia resident for over 20 years, CTH became a place for good friends, good food, and great service. Unfortunately, while the quality of food and drink has gone down, so has the service. Tap House has been slowly turning their high-​end restaurant into a low-​end Cheesecake Factory. Several of my favorite bartenders and servers in the entire city were driven out of work over the past few months as part of several scumbag moves from higher-​ups. The menu is deteriorated in class and variety, the selection of drinks can just as easily be found at a slew of other local Philly bars, and the vibe has gone tacky. I can safely say that those who run this business are rapidly driving it into an early grave. I will no longer be supporting, nor promoting Tap House. Many of those with whom I’ve frequented Tap House, (and there are many), are aware of what’s been happening and won’t be returning. Hope to spread the word that while the City Tap House product might appear like a trendy college bar, in actuality it’s run by a slew of greedy men hoping to cut corners and destroy the integrity of this once wonderful joint.
I’d also like to note that a sir «Andy F» seems to have the arrogance to believe no one would write a negative review without a seemingly personal vendetta. It’s been a few years since I worked in industry and I assure you the only «saltiness» I have towards a former employer is a franchised Dunkin donuts back in college, and I still dig their coffee.

Pretty decent service. The waiter gave my friend a dish with meat even though she specified that she wanted it without the meat. The chicken and waffles was pretty good, but it was a bit too sweet.

Ambience was great, a nice environment to recover from New Years with friends. Brunch specials were delicious with big portions. However, service was slow and they were out of biscuits (had to substitute with an English muffin). Also I think they served tap water that tasted a little funny.

3.5 stars (+.5 stars for the ambiance).
I am frequent patron of Tap House, and on some days it’s awesome and other days it really is terrible. You just gotta cross your fingers and hope that you made it there on the right day!
The good stuff:
— decent happy hours given the large number of selections on tap
— above average food — the nachos are huge (can share with 4+ people), and the fries are pretty decent as well. I’ve also been here for brunch, and most of us were happy with our choices.
— fun atmosphere, esp on a busy Friday night if you manage to sit outside by the fire pits
The not-​so-​good stuff:
— some of the bartenders can be really slow and attitude-​y — especially if you are a big party sitting near the bar area. I would recommend dining in in their dinner section if you are a party of 5+
— all the recruitment events that happen here can get super annoying, as they tend to dominate entire areas of the bar area, and you can barely squeeze by to get anywhere. or you get trampled by men in suits. especially if you’re a bit vertically challenged (like me)
All in all, Tap House is a decent option if you’re UC, and you want a slightly more upscale bar scene (compared to New Deck or Mad Mex).

Pulled pork nachos. Extensive draft list. ‘Nuff said.
Not a fan of the deep fried green tomatoes.

I went here for brunch last weekend and to be honest, I wasn’t the most satisfied. Now, it could have been my fault in choosing what I ordered but from what I heard about this place for brunch, I guess I just a slightly higher expectation.
So I’ve never been the biggest fan of black coffee, so for the espresso lovers out there… they don’t do espresso coffee. Nonetheless, a Sunday doesn’t begin without coffee in my book so I still went for it. Now, to be honest, their coffee wasn’t bad… but then again I don’t know black coffee well so don’t take my word for it.
Moving on to what I ate, I got the sicilian pizza. In my opinion, it was a bit too much salt. Also too much tomato sauce base… it became a little soupy for my liking. Objectively, it was a good pizza, but next time I will not be getting this. It could be spicier, less sauce, and more cheese.
Honestly, who gets pizza for brunch… from now on, not me.

I’ve been to this restaurant a handful of times because it’s convenient for big groups. The restaurant is spacious and always seems to have enough space to accommodate us. The food is your standard bar food. Nothing amazing but at the least decent to good. When the weather is nice, outdoor seating with the fire is desirable.
Food comments:
1)I think my favorite safe thing to get here so far is their burger and sweet potato fries.
2) The pizzas are a good size.
3) Loaded nachos is another good pick.
4) Fried chicken biscuit, the chicken is tough.
5) Chicken wings are unique and tasty. It’s dry rub with dip on the side.
6) Rib eye was good but small for the price you pay. You might as well get steak at a steakhouse.

Came here on a brunch date on Saturday afternoon. The waitress suggested we try their new test items that were listed on a separate card, so I went w/​the French Toast Croque Madame. It was good! I liked the sweet and savory combo. I was a little nervous it would be TOO sweet since I’m not a sweet meal person and I think by the end, it was just that. If the chef put a little less of the maple bechamel on, that would be a good move. The dish was drowning in the sauce and by the end, it was just too cloying. Also, I 100% didn’t taste the gruyère. Not a smidge. BUT I loved the idea! And the ham and egg on top of unsweetened french toast was a good idea. Both were perfectly cooked, too. Just lighten up on the sauce and double down on the gruyère and you have yourself a winner!
I also had the Bloody Mary and it was probably the worst Bloody Mary ever. It was very one-​note and that note was pepper. There was a ton of horseradish in there, too, but instead of giving it depth, it just gave the drink a flavorless chunky texture in not a good way. I couldn’t taste any tomato juice, salt, Worcestershire, ANYTHING. It was just peppery. I’m not entirely convinced there was any alcohol in there, either.
Our server was nice, but kinda not w/​it. She literally came over at one point and said she had forgotten about us b/​c we were behind a pole. She wasn’t on her water game AT ALL. My date had requested an item be left off his burger and the burger came w/​that item on, which she then said was her fault. She dropped the check off and said «Take your time!», but then came back 20 minutes later and asked if we could pay so she could leave. Ugh.
In summation, the food was good and I enjoyed trying something different. The no bueno drink and server drag down my rating.

The food and atmosphere are great, but being located in penn it sometimes draws an obnoxious crowd, and service takes a while– also expensive. This is a good option if you have picky people, a large group or your parents.
There is a great selection of beer, however everything is very pricey. Similarly there is a great selection of food, ranging from muscles (delicious), through to steak, burgers, and pizzas.
Most recently my girlfriend and I got the mussles and the pizza, and were both very pleased. The mussles come in white wine sauce that is acidic, and tangy, but also savory and salty. ITS PERFECT. All things considered I give this 3 stars because of the fact that often its so crowded that you cannot get a seat, and also because it takes a long time to get drinks.
The outdoor firepits are very nice, though it can get very crowded.

To be honest, I have a complicated and sometimes frustrating relationship with City Tap House.
The food is always good, the beer list is always extensive, and the ambiance is always very nice.
My issue stems from the menu. I think the menu is a bit all over the place and sometimes mis-​guided. A number of years ago they had many more sandwich options, which was nice, because most of the entrees hit around the $ 20+ mark. City Tap House is a great place to go with your parents, or when you feel like splurging a little bit. But to go just to grab a casual dinner (ie. not spending $ 15+ for just the entrée) can often be a frustrating experience. There’s a smattering of appetizers, none of which are as appealing or affordable as I wish they were.
I’ve had all of their sandwiches/​burgers, which are all very good. The entrée list covers a wide scope of food, which is nice. My favorite of which is the Shrimp & Grits, which is really great. The Grits ‘cake’ is rich and luscious, and the shrimp have great flavor.
On my most recent visit, I ordered the Avocado & Grapefruit Salad, which was really delicious. It had a tremendous bright and fresh flavor. With the addition of chicken, it was a light, but filling entrée that I enjoyed a lot.
All of my complaints aside (in an ideal world/​if I ran the place, I would add 3 – 4 more sandwich/​burger options in the $ 9 – 14 range to make it more desirable for a casual dinner, instead of always needing to splurge) I have been to City Tap House many, many times and had generally good experiences across the board.

City Tap House will always hold a special place in my heart. I lived in The Radian during my 21^st summer and this gastropub was my gateway into the wonderful world of craft beer. There were endless possibilities when the server handed me the clipboard of 60+ beers on tap with helpful and entertaining flavor descriptions.
Every food item I’ve had here is solid too. I remember my friend pushing the Tartufo pizza on me (mushrooms, taleggio, fried egg, black truffle oil) and saying, «Trust me» after I questioned how an egg could work on a pizza. He was right! The unique combo of ingredients were so flavorful and worked well together. The majority of the time I opt for a Craftwich like the wild boar burger or the Free Range PA Turkey Burger. The Tap Burger, especially when an add-​on of pork belly is an option, is easily the best burger in Philly.
Make sure you save room for dessert: there are a variety of freshly baked cookies that come in a mini cast iron pan and can be topped with house made gelato. My mouth is watering just thinking about that killer combo!
Overall, City Tap House has been the go-​to place for any occasion. I’ve been here for birthday celebrations, farewell parties, and even a watermelon eating contest (with delicious watermelon beer of course). This West Philly institution hits the spot every time.

A decent, go-​to place to go for the bar and open-​fire pits, although the drinks are extremely overpriced (don’t go for the hard liquor). I guess it’s the only non-​sketchy, non-​dive bar on campus though, so there’s no way not to go. It’s not a terrible place to go if you just want to hang out with minimal service.
However, if you do want service – especially for a meal, and ESPECIALLY with a large party, I would recommend checking your other options. Yes, they do take reservations for large parties, but are so bad at serving them. During senior week, a group of 10+ other friends and I tried to come for lunch… and ended up getting almost-​dinner instead, since we waited 1+ hours to be served and another hour to get our food. After a waitress came and stopped by finally, she argued that we had already ordered, stating that the other waitresses attested to seeing us place our orders. Meanwhile, we sat there in the sun, with no waters, forlornly looking at our menus, wishing the whole time that we had picked another lunch plate.
To be fair, the food, when it finally arrived, tasted great. Portions are huge, and the fries & special sauce are delicious.

Tap House is the go to place to grab a drink and munch on delicious pizza with friends! Being centrally located on Penn’s campus, Tap House combines the convenience and fun all in one location.
They offer such a wide variety of beer on tap that you will no have a problem finding something that suites your taste buds. They also offer seasonal choices, which some of them have become my favorites over the year as well. In terms of food, I always order the pulled pork nachos and the margheritta pizza. The pulled pork nachos are a MUST try! I have even asked for the pork on the side for my vegetarian friends, and they still love the dish without the pork. It’s a plate full of deliciousness!
Even though I enjoy the food, beer, and rooftop/​outside seating, the service is always a hit or miss. Sadly, the majority of the time it’s been a miss. The service isn’t really friendly, but I understand they’re trying to work with a college customer base. No matter, I’ll definitely come back for the food and beer though!

Service: friendly and efficient :)
Food: I tried the tartufo and the honey goat cheese flatbreads and the chicken and waffles — all of the tasted amazing! But I would only recommend the tartufo if you like truffle oil since it does have a strong taste
Drinks: I didn’t not get drinks my first time here, but my dad enjoyed the selections of beer
I would definitely come here again! The portions are big so the prices are worth it

City tap has the best of both worlds, good food and good beer. We sat outside because it was a lovely sunny day and had the pleasure of listening to Splintered sunlight. The beer selection is vast. I had half philly brewing co Walt wit with half lemonade (not on the menu but they did an excellent job making it) and my boyfriend had a Sierra Nevada Kellerweis. We ordered a Chicken Caesar Salad and the Potato Leek Flatbread.
The Caesar was delicious! It had Parmesan crisps and garlic croutons and the chicken was grilled really well and was tasty. Our flatbread had a bit of a kick to it. The potatoes were a bit under done for me but were still good anyway.
Our waitress was very nice but when the check came we happened to notice that were charged to split the salad. No where on the menu does it say there is a split charge nor did the waitress give the courtesy of telling us about it so that was a bit disappointing.
All in all it was a good experience.

I’m a bit hesitant to write a poor review on the strength of only one visit, but it was just not a great experience and I won’t be going back, and that’s the gist of a two-​star review.
Yes, the City Tap has a great selection of beers on tap, a kind of nouveau California-​ish inspired menu, and a fancy ski-​lodge-​like interior. Those are the reasons to give the place a try, and your mileage may well vary quite a bit from mine.
What did not work: turkey burger that was so badly charred on the outside (yes, yes, I understand, with ground poultry they *have* to cook it to kill the pathogens) it tasted like burned toast, and the avocado was cold and kind of greasy and just lowered the temperature of the burgers. I honestly should have sent the thing back but between the late hour and the relatively slow kitchen service I was just starving. Apps were a bit unusual (the wings were fairly original cripsy style) but extremely unevenly cooked. I was a little surprised there. I am not getting the «generous portions» comments; none of the four entrees ordered by our table seemed that large.
Now, let’s throw in: only one wait person that day, and the front of the house staff *sharing this fact with us* as a pre-​excuse. I’m sorry, well-​run high-​end restaurants have backup plans when servers call in sick, and *do not tell the customers about their staff management problems.* It is ****NOT OUR PROBLEM*** that you don’t have enough wait staff. So we ended up at the bar.
Now, I also appreciate beer recommendations, but tiny glasses at $ 6.50 a pop? It inhibits sampling their large selection. In turn, places that aren’t willing to price their beer up front or don’t automatically let their customers in on the range are running a bit of a thin game.
So, you throw in the three– to four-​star pricing, and it just makes it a bit discouraging. Perhaps we did get them on a bad day — but again — this is not *my* problem to deal with, it’s the managements. Manage your kitchen. Manage your front of the house. Let the customer know what they’re in for when you push something. Thank you.

As the name suggests, there’s a lot of beer on TAP here. And it’s in the CITY. And people live upstairs, so you can think of it as a HOUSE. But seriously they have a lot of weird beers here, and if you can’t decide what you want, you can ask to try a few and then decide. Or just try a few more.
Me, I’m not a huge beer person, so I usually stick to one of the Belgians on tap (Belgians are lighter beers). Some of the food here is definitely worth a try: the Tap burger is surprisingly good; the meat is usually juicy and it comes with all the trimmings. I’m not a fan of their margherita pizza — the crust is a bit too think and floppy for a brick oven pizza and the toppings don’t have much flavor — but the Salumi pizza has a nice kick and is worth a try. Their rotating selection of chicken is also usually decently cooked. Also, the silverware is wrapped in cloth, which I like for some reason. So once you’ve finished sampling all of the beers on the list, grab a fork and have some dinner.