Sassafras Bar

Sassafras is a hidden gem in old city. From the outside you would think it was just another tiny dive bar. But, once you enter you will be pleasantly surprised.
The atmosphere is very intimate. There is dim lighting and small tables surrounding a fire place. The bartenders are all dressed to impress and are some of the friendliest and most attentive servers I’ve come across in the city.
Food wise, I’ve had the bison burger which was juicy and packed with flavor. A little expensive for a burger, but trust me it is worth it. Besides that the only other food I’ve had here is the cheese board which I split with friends over drinks. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything on the menu looks delicious though, I definitely need to try more of it.
Now, my favorite part about Sassafras, the COCKTAILS. This place makes the BEST dirty martini in Philadelphia. When you order you give them a number from 1 – 10 on how dirty you want it (beware 8+ is very salty). I usually order mine a 6 and it is perfect! They also have a nice cocktail list and will make you anything you want. If you want a well made drink in old city this is the place to go!

Fabulous Bloody Mary. Great place quiet enough to talk on a Saturday night. Descent burgers, (12 $ burgers and drinks).

I just went to Sassafras last weekend and loved it! There are no words that can describe the bartender besides maybe the sweetest man on the planet. The Moscow Mule I got was the best one I’ve ever had — with ginger beer in it mmmm… Loved the atmosphere with fun jazzy music! Four stars because the food wasn’t the best… the pierogis (sp?) and fried pickles were semi bland, though I did love the onions inside the pierogis. Super cute bar to take my mom in before her 1920s wedding this summer. I’d go back JUST to be at that bartenders bar — such a nice, genuine guy.

Sassafras is the perfect date spot. Dim lighting, small tables, and fancy cocktails without being overpriced.

Meh. Cocktails were fine, food was pretty bland and unimaginative. For point of reference, I had the pierogies and tasted my friend’s mac ‘n cheese. Both dishes were seriously under seasoned and made me curse myself for not slipping a mini bottle of Tabasco into my purse before heading out for the night. Rookie mistake to leave home without hot sauce.
They are going for a cozy, 20s inspired ambiance and this is probably the restaurant’s biggest selling point.
I would rate this place 3.5 stars if I could. Again, it’s fine, just not as sassy in the kitchen as I would like.

This bar may not look like much on the outside, hell, even the inside is kind of dated and dark. The food, however, is AWESOME.
The grilled cheese is fabulous, as is the mac and cheese. What I’m really writing this review on are the pierogies. Cooked to perfection and served with a cream that is… just wonderful.
Danny, the bartender/​waiter, is friendly and attentive.
I will be a regular.

I’m a big fan of Sassafras. It is a cozy, intimate atmosphere with old-​world charm. The drinks are very good here. I’ve had many different drinks here and they are always strong and delicious. I can’t comment on the food, but the items that are brought out always look great, especially the burgers. They have a nice size cocktail lists with classics and new-​spins on old classics. The martinis, old fashions, and moscow mules are very good. During the holidays they even had great egg nog and hot spiked ciders. The service is always top notch with very attentive bar tenders who offer suggestions on drinks and can help describe them to you if you aren’t familiar with something. There are multiple nice 2 seat tables lining the wall which would be great for a date spot and there are a few larger booths in the back for small groups.
Every time that I have been here there is always some live jazz music playing at the front of the bar. It is very relaxing and sets a great mood for the place. My friends and I all enjoy this place and frequent it often. It is usually crowded but we have never had a problem getting a seat. This place is a must go!

This review will only cover the drinks at Sassafras as I have never actually eaten here (although I do hear the food is delicious). This is one of our go to places for after-​dinner nightcaps when in old city. It has a cozy old-​timely atmosphere that feels like you’ve stepped in a time machine back to the 1920s. We’ve always come in a group, which they accommodate in large booths in the back, but there’s also many high tops too. Every time I’ve been here they also have live jazz music playing, which is rare in the city!
The drinks here are what makes this bar shine. The expert attention each cocktail receives from the bartender is refreshing and inspiring. Their feature cocktails are split into classic & modern. Although I’ve heard great things about many of these, I always opt for a standard dirty martini. When ordering this they ask you to put it in a scale of 1 through 10 for dirtiness. I usually stick with a 6 or 7 and find it to be just the right amount of olive juice without being a salt bomb.
All in all, Sassafras is the place to go to if you’re looking to sip on some delicious cocktails and escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

The best of the best for cocktails. Yummy snacks. Ladies bathroom is plush, big enough for a private party. Absolutely love the early 20^th century Parisian/​Euro vibe of this place. Old tiles, old tin ceiling, gorgeous dilapidated feeling. You will feel regal and at home at the same time in this place. Enjoy!

I just popped in here once for about an hour or so for a few drinks. Didn’t try any food, but hope to make it here again soon so I can try.
This is a very nice, old — timey, laid — back looking bar. Old timey = 1880’s. The tin ceiling looks like it was nicely re-​done, with old — timey looking wood furnishings, but not in the «Irish bar» style. When I went, it was not busy at all, but can imagine it getting pretty loud when it does get busy just from the way it’s set up. They also seem to have a ton of variety of spirits. Maybe I’ll try and ask for some old timey drinks next time I get down Old City way.
Not really a fan of the Old City bar scene, but this seems the one place I wouldn’t mind making the trek to.

This is by far my favorite bar in town. The drinks are top shelf and my date is always the hottest in the place.

After walking in, we were excited about the intimate vibe at the bar. We ordered a couple of drinks and put in an order for the port sandwich and the lobster bisque. We nursed our drinks and ordered another round.
After realizing 45 minutes had passed since we’d put in our order – for a soup and a sandwich – we began to get increasingly frustrated, glancing over the the kitchen wondering why it would take so long for our order to be delivered. The bartender noticed our discomfort and apologized for the wait, saying the kitchen had gotten overwhelmed (we were the only people who had put in an order in quite awhile).
Finally, our food was delivered. The sandwich was terrible. The bun was cold and raw; the meat was unseasoned and undressed. The fries were cold and uncooked. The soup and grilled cheese were similarly massacred. The bread had been burnt but the cheese unmelted. The bisque lacked any obvious pieces of lobster and tasted solely of salt.
We told the bartender about our issues with the food and he apologized. After we asked for the bill (maybe five minutes since we’d received our food), we were shocked to find we were charged full price for the meal. This bar knowingly takes advantage of its patrons by serving undercooked food and waiting almost an hour to serve the most basic of orders. I would recommend avoiding this bar at any cost necessary, despite the seemingly warm and inviting interior.

I really like this little bar. Small, narrow space. Early 20^th Century décor with decorative tile and such. A tad dive. The food was so-​so. But the atmosphere is very inviting and relaxing. Our barkeep was quite nice, too.

I love Sassafras. It’s incredibly cozy– picture 1920s Jazz, which is what they’re going for. Theres a bar area, a couple high tops, a few tables, and three booths.
Their burgers are delicious– choose from a variety of meats and toppings. I usually opt for a plain old beef burger with cheese and caramelized onions. They give you the option of fries or a side salad. The salad is a nice mixed green salad with some carrots and tomato, and a light dressing.
Their wings are also delicious. The hot sauce used on their hot wings is not too spicy, and they have actual chunky bleu cheese dressing to dip in (not some of this fake stuff other restaurants have).
Definitely a place to check out.

Great locals spot. Chill vibe and food is decent also.

This was a great bar. The drinks were strong so I think it’s worth the price. I had the summer Manhattan (which came in a martini glass so that confused me a little) but it was delightful! The vesper was quite strong and wasn’t to my taste however. And once things got busy (it was a Saturday night) the service for our table was decidedly less attentive. But overall, I had a great experience. Would definitely come here again.

A few locals introduced me to their favorite bar in the area. I suggest letting the bar tender choose your drink for you and definitely check out the unique paintings in the ladies room :)

I randomly found this place on Unilocal because my mom wanted a burger and sweet potato fries and she was not disappointed. When we got there Everton was by himself tending to the bar and taking the food orders so he did a really good job juggling bartender and server at the same time. He was really nice and sounded like he new everything about every single liquor ever made. The sirloin burger was huge so I was able to eat ½ of it and it was amazing! It was one of the best burgers I’ve had in a long time. The patty was seasoned really well, so well that I actually forgot to put ketchup on it because it was so good. I actually ordered the Gruyère and ham perogies which were good but they could’ve definitely used some more filling in them. The lobster bisque and grilled cheese were delicious too. The burger was my favorite, then the Lobster bisque/​grilled cheese combo and third the Gruyère & ham perogies. If I come here again I’ll order the Sirloin burger or I might even try the Ostrich, Bison or Lamb burger. The only reason I gave them 4 instead of 5 stars is because the food took 35 plus minutes to come out. The womens bathroom upstairs is also one of the cleanest, coolest and spacious bathrooms I’ve ever been to.

My new local favorite in Old City.
Great drinks and very professional and fun staff: Neil, Everton, Danny, Carl and Farg are all good guys. They will always make you feel welcome even if your a first time visitor or a frequent local.
Please come in and try their amazing burgers, they are simply delicious!
Most nights during the week and I think Sunday night also, Sasssafras has live entertainment. Mostly Jazz. An incredible treat.
To summarize, if you like a relaxing atmosphere, good people, great drinks and amazing burgers try Sasssafras.

I’ve walked past Sassafras at least a hundred times and assumed that it was just another 2^nd Street mediocre bar (there are many).
My wife and I were both having our hair done down the street and were looking for a nice place for a light dinner and cocktails, thanks to Unilocal we found Sassafras.
Very intimate décor and a noticeable lack of loud/​drunk patrons. A duo was playing jazz by the window while we enjoyed a nice glass of Pinot Noir. My wife had the steak frites, while I nibbled on some wings and deviled eggs. All were delicious. Sitting at the bar we both commented on the great care they were crafting cocktails (will try next time). The tremendous service from our Irish bartender was the icing on the cake!

When a bar makes you feel like you belong there, that usually means that you’re going to love everything about it. Sassafras is has the warmth of an old school cocktail bar, with easy-​going vibe. They serve killer drinks and serve up food that will just make you smile.
On a weekend escape from NYC, my wife and I decide to go to Philly. For our Saturday night I had several bars in mind that we would go to. As soon as we walked into Sassafras we were hit with great music and a cool hum of energy. We were lucky to sit at the bar and watch as bartenders Carl and Ferguese made drink after drink and manage to chat it with the locals and tourists all the same. They even put on the Mets game for my wife. What was suppose to be our first stop turned into us hanging out the whole night.
My wife enjoyed several rum and cokes and a really nice glass of chilean wine, always a plus in my book when a place has anything from Chile. I enjoyed several dark and storm-​ies and a Vesper, from Bond fame. Truly, these bartenders could open a bar anywhere and knock people of their socks. They taste tested every drink… how they maintain sobriety is beyond me. My dark and storm-​ies were the embodiment of Philly, packing a punch, timelessness and projecting the life of the city, with all the charm and grit in balance. While the Vesper had all the makings of Joe Frazier… you didn’t know what hit you until you realized you were floating in inebriation.
In support of the line up of fantastic drinks, was an awesome bar menu. On the night we enjoyed tomato bisque soup, pretzel crusted mac n’ cheese, bbq pork pierogies, deviled eggs, and fried pickles. Everything single item hit the spot. The tomato bisque was lovely, leaving a nice warm tummy on a chilly night. The pretzel crusted mac n’ cheese offered a rich and hearty food option, with the sweetness of the cheese being balanced by the salty pretzel… final verdict? Food coma. The bbq pork pierogies were simply awesome. What a great idea to use an american filling in a old world eastern european food-​stuff. The devil eggs were tasty and had a modest kick. The fried pickles, however, were my favorite item! Served in fried goodness spears, they were deliciously crispy! The pickles still had their natural crunch and the type of pickle was perfect for frying. It still had that wonderful sourness!
As I mentioned above, my wife and I just ended up spending the rest of our night at Sassafras. Why you ask? Simply put… there was no reason to leave.

Awesome spot for lunch. This cozy little spot on second will keep you coming back for more. I recommend getting the bison burger with the works!

If I had to pick a bar in center city to be my personal bar of choice Sassafras gets it hands down. The place is cozy but not cramped. The staff are all very welcoming and friendly. A hat tip to bartender Neill who is really talented and talkative. Always have great drinks and good company here for a laid back evening.

The food and drinks were prepared to perfection. My congratulations to the chef and bartender for preparing an excellent dinner and drinks. We were a party of three, celebrating a special occasion. We started with the appetizers; their special of the evening was green tomatoes staffed with goat cheese and spinach and we also ordered pierogies. Both appetizers were tasty. I especially liked the staffed tomatoes. The dinner choices are also excellent. Some times bar food is not the best feature of a bar. However, this place offers exceptional meals and drinks.
I highly recommend this bar if you are visiting Philadelphia. It is a small place with a few tables. So get there early to get a table, or there is always room at the bar.

I love this bar. I really love this bar. It might be the Platonic ideal of a bar. The bar is well stocked and the bartenders know how to mix drinks, they’re prepared to tweak things to your requests or to provide recommendations if you want them. They’re good at their jobs and their nice about it.
While I typically go for the drinks rather than the food, the food is also excellent. Their burgers are some of the best around, and while I haven’t personally had many food items beyond that, friends have reported good things about the rest of the menu.
The space is warm, cozy and comfortable, with a classic look that’s classy but simple. While most other bars have fit themselves into the category of dives, over-​the-​top concept places, or obscenely priced and obnoxiously pretentious wine and cocktail spots, Sassafras holds the line on being a nice, authentic, straightforward bar.

We were just walking down the street and this place caught our eye. This was the best bar in Philly. The bartenders know how to make great cocktails and pay very particular attention to the drinks they are making. A true skill i have rarely seen. This place made the best old fashioned I have ever had. A must try.

This is one of my favorite bars in Philly. They have live music almost every night of the week, and for some inexplicable reason it’s never that crowded – I can always find a seat at the bar. It’s cozy and low-​lit, especially during the winter, but not cheesy or contrived. Of course, it’s a little pricy, but the happy hour is a great value (although it doesn’t include any of their speciality cocktails, which are definitely worth trying, even at full price). I’m only taking away one star for the food, which is usually decent, but nothing special. One exception: I got the seitan nuggets last time I was here and they were so salty I couldn’t finish them – and I like salt. Overall, the perfect neighborhood date night location.

We just came in for a cocktail and sat at the bar.
The interior is really cozy and old fashioned. Not a trendy spot but I loved it.
I had their Summer Manhattan with bourbon. My husband asked for a Pimms’ cup. Initially, the bartender said he couldn’t make it but then he came back and asked how to make it, and did. It was a very good Pimms’ Cup.
We will definitely come back.

I loved the vibe here! It’s an upscale dive bar w/​a 1920s feel, if that makes any sense. I split the salad special of the day (argula, watermelon, and feta cheese) w/​my date and had the fish and chips as my entrée. The salad was ok (the watermelon was a little too ripe and had turned less crisp, more mealy), but I really enjoyed the fish and chips. The fish was perfectly cooked and the batter was light and fluffy. The fries were clearly handmade and cut in house and the dipping sauce was awesome. I also had the root canal as my drink and despite it’s gruesome name, it was amazing. There was a great ginger aftertaste from the liqueur that I loved. I’ll be back!

The last time I was in Sassafras I was after my office’s Christmas party expanded across 4 different locations. My recent visit came this past Friday with a few of my peeps. I’ve had this establishment on my list to visit after it’s burger made one of Philadelphia’s top burger list.
Some would say Guinness is Guinness. I am not so sure that is true. Throughout my travels I realize some places serve, and pour a better Guinness than others. I don’t know if it’s in the cleaner lines, but the Guinness at Sassafras is some of the smoothest ever, and the pours are neat.
I love the atmosphere here. The bar is not hip or trendy. It is old school with a touch of modern. No, that does not mean Sassafras is a dive, it is a simple bar, and simple is good. During my recent visit the bartender was playing some old school R&B, and soul jams throughout the bar. I could have kicked back with my friends and downed pints of Guinness had time allowed. That same feeling of simple done good is also evident in the kitchen.
The purpose of this trip was for the burgers. Now you can get your burger make with sirloin, lamb, bison, or ostrich if you wish. I decided to go with the sirloin burger topped with blue-​cheese. There is a veggie option, but why would you do that? Everyone received their burgers exactly the way they ordered them. My friends groaned and moaned when I ordered my burger well, but it did not come dry or lacking any flavor. I can’t vouched for the person that ordered salmon, but he said it was good. We expected our burgers to be bigger in width, but it was a thick, juicy, patty so it kind of evened out.
Sassafras is your place is you are looking to sip on good cocktails, quality drafts without the trendy scene. Throw a burger to boot and I am sure you are not going to regret your choice to lounge here.

I absolutely loved my first visit at Sassafras this weekend! I first heard of Sassafras a year ago when they sponsored some dishes at a Unilocal elite event last year, and I remember everything I ate and drank at the event was amazing. Hence, I always remembered the name, Sassafras, I need to go there one day!
Boom, it happened, and was such a great experience. We sat at the bar, so had personalized service with the friendly bartenders who entertained us all night by whipping up some very creative and artistic drinks. My first round was a grapefruit infused vodka martini with lemon zest, amazing. Second round, I asked the bartender to make me something with gin and cucumber, and he took a simple request and created a masterpiece drink with fresh cucumber, gin, basil, and a few other ingredients that I don’t remember. It was perfect.
Food: The hummus plate was delicious, it comes with artichoke hearts! What?! Yes! Also, try the home-​made Pierogis of the day… the special Pierogis I had was ham, aged cheddar, and potato, pan sauteed, with a delicious (but light) sour cream base. Phenomenal! Probably the best Pierogis I’ve ever eaten in my life, besides my grandmas! My friends also ordered the chicken sandwich, which looked good, but was a tad spicy (even though the bartenders informed them in advance). They seemed to enjoy it!
Overall, very impressed here, and will come back a million more times. Its refreshing to have a unique, un-​crowded cocktail bar with great food, and great bartenders, in the middle of the busy hustle-​bustle of Old City. Winner!!!

I took some out of town friends here on a whim and was very glad I did! Great drinks, yummy appetizers and friendly staff. We got the French fries with beer cheese and the Mac and cheese topped with pretzels. Both excellent!
Only weird thing was the women’s bathroom was up a very steep, narrow set of stairs so I’m not sure if this would be handicapped or elderly friendly. As a healthy 29 year old, I felt nervous going down the stairs.