Bridgid's

Bridgid'sBridgid's
Bridgid'sBridgid's
Bar, Eatery

726 N 24th St
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19130-2535
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.23
Reviews:
18
Ratings:
22
pDev:
4.49%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by jmatthew:
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Reviewed by jmatthew from Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
A great alternative to Monk's Cafe, Bridgid's is more of an out-of-the-way local Belgian Ale House, which means it doesn't get as crowded. The beers on tap are well chosen with a good local showing and rotate on a frequent basis. The bottled selection is relatively small but truly offers good selection. Undoubtedly, the real standout at this establishment is the food, which is one of the best meals in the city in its price range. (Dinners start as low as $7) Definitely not as high profile, it offers the consumer an intimacy that is difficult to find at large beer bars. A real comfort place where you can feel at ease with the laid-back staff, the great cooking and of course the beer, it is well worth seeking out.

Note: Don't expect a price break on your beers because of its low-key nature...
Oct 10, 2002
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.75 by RPH2327 from Pennsylvania

Aug 10, 2014
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Reviewed by drtth from Pennsylvania

4.34/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
Great place for both food and beer, with heavy emphasis on Belgian styles.

Pleasant enough but some dining areas may be a bit of a tight space.

Service is very good and the food has been first rate on every visit.
Jul 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by soulcougher from Pennsylvania

Jun 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

Feb 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by micropale from Pennsylvania

Feb 03, 2014
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Reviewed by rfgetz from New Jersey

4.01/5  rDev -5.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
Small little neighborhood gem... some would call it cramped, some would call it homey. This was one of the pioneers of the craft and Belgian beer movement back in the day. Backwards J shaped bar seats about 15-20 in the front room, rear dining room sits a few more than that, but have never made it back there. Decor in the bar area is mostly Belgian themed beer memorabilia.

Solid list of domestic, European and local craft on draft and bottle. Always something new on tap but always go for the Yards ESB on hand pump. Service always attentive and friendly - bartenders have that vibe of actually hanging out with you as opposed to simply serving you, something lost on many newer spots. Amazingly have never eaten here, but the menu was recently overhauled by the owner of the popular Modo Mio and Paesanos (among others). Prices have seemed to creep up a bit recently.

All in all a nice spot to drop in for a few beers.
Apr 22, 2013
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Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Can't give this cozy little joint a sour mark on any important point. The atmosphere is homey, intimate, often friendly. Entering from a corner in the main room, the space immediately ahead is fine for standing, leaning - maybe 3-4 can fit comfortably. The bar stretches out to each side, roughly following the room's contour. Hard to stand comfortably in the lane between the walls and the bar stools. A second room sprawls back into the latter half of the floor - about 6-8 tables, also a fairly relaxed atmosphere - this area, seated within, somehow becomes loud occasionally. Warm, inviting, familiar: some words I'd suggest.

About 10-12 drafts are listed on a chalkboard behind the bar - always different - as far as contrast between, origin, and with how they've never appeared to have that 1-3 house beers. You won't find BMC or the usual macro imports. They hold I suppose 40-50 bottles or more in a retro-y fridge seen in the back of the bar (6 or less ft from wherever at the bar you are seated). I can't vouch for the freshness of these offerings. They've looked untouched since my first visit a few years back. I'm sure it's safe. Decent selection of bottles - ubiquitous Belgians and other Euro beers as well as some commonly seen domestic/local crafts. The food has always been excellent, priced a little better compared to Rembrandt's up the street. Semi-gourmet, non-traditional bar fare.

Basically that's the deal: Excellent, tasty food. Somewhat unusual rotation/selection on tap - no theme, no trend. The bartenders are usually quite talkative with the regulars as well as the goons like myself that on occasion stumble in there from parts unknown. I just love going out of my way a little to go here, regardless of whether or not they'll have any drafts I'm in the mood for or there was that one time when everyone (including the bartender) was talking about death and gruesome ways to die by gunshot for about 25 min and one dude got up from the bar and practically vowed suicide over the Eagles losing to the Titans (that WAS a sad performance, Birds).

[EDIT (March 2014) - visited for the first time in awhile - bartender couldn't describe any beer, the color scheme went earth tone... these are poor developments... whyyyy? why do my favorite lil bars feel the need to tidy up? (DSP...) - they end up dumbing down...]
Jun 20, 2011
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Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

3.95/5  rDev -6.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
An interesting little place near the museum district in Philly. And when I say, little, I mean little. The bar is in a little building on a street corner. The front bar holds about a dozen people, and looks like a dive, yet the overall atmosphere is nice. There is a dining room in the back, the size of which I couldn't determine, and I overheard a waitress say that there is an upstairs chamber for special parties. If you're planning on a table, good luck; a bar seat, go around 6:30-7. As for the beer, there are about 10 very good, diverse, and often rotating brews on tap, and a wide selection of bottles, including rare beers and vintages. Food is surprisingly good, even if it's not the best you'll ever have.
Apr 29, 2011
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Reviewed by mobud from Delaware

3.95/5  rDev -6.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Headed here after finding that Bishop's Collar was packed. Glad we did; it has been awhile since my last visit and they still are the small classy place that I remember. A narrow space, we moved to the back to get a table and some food. I did not count the taps, but there were 8-10 of mostly local beers. My beers for the evening included Duvel Green, PBC Newbold IPA, and The Beurey Black Orchard. All three were great and regretted not having more time and money to try some others. They have had a great rep for a long time in regards to their beer and they continue to entertain without being overwhelming. The food was good also. I had the Chirizo sausage nachos. They called it a small plate, but it was a good size and hit the spot. The service was good; it was quiet when we arrived, but 2 hours later, the crowd started rolling in. Only complaint is part of its charm; the size make it tight between tables. The folks that slide in next to us seemed in a bad mood and we got to hear all their issues. Another foot or so further away would have been fine with me. Will go back when in the Art Museum area.
Apr 26, 2009
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Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Bridgids is a great little neighborhood beer bar/ restaurant in the Fairmount section of Philly. They have a rotating draft list of about ten drafts one of which is always a hand-pumped selection from local brewery Yards. They have a solid bottle list of Belgians, American crafts and other imports. Also, they have a rotating guest bottle list which often features nice selections such as Nogne O, Taras Boulba and other high quality beers. The food is excellent probably because it is a restaurant as well as a bar. They don't sell sandwiches, rather higher end appetizers and entrees. The servixce is always very good and every time I visit Bridgids it is a pleasant experience. A little out of the way of center city Philadelphia but worth seeking out.
Nov 26, 2008
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Reviewed by Seanibus from California

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
A must see if you're in this pub-heavy neighborhood. The atmosphere is funky and intimate,with a bar and small dining room crammed into a typical Philly row house. The food is always unusual and tasty, with a rotating cast of regular dishes (the smoked fish platter and the beer-battered Bratola are among my favorites) and an oddball selection of specials and occasional visitors. The food is served on small plates and is always fresh and feels healthy. The beer selection is always excellent, with a nicely balanced lineup of unusual styles and breweries from around the world. You can always count on something unusual. This place is often the first place in Philly you'll find something new or hot. And the wine list, while short, is always decent for the non-beer fan.
Aug 09, 2008
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Reviewed by roan22 from New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I've been to Brigids a handful of times, and twice for beer tastings (once to conduct one, once to attend one), therefore I know Renata and can vouch for her knowledge regarding craft beer and her steadfast efforts to get more people into craft beer. Brigids is located in a nice, pricey neighborhood (art museum area) where everyone definitely chooses to come to Brigids for the beer. Being a Philly neighborhood corner bar though, it is small (only as wide as a rowhouse), and the old typical shape of the bar makes it feel authentic and cool. Its definitely kind of an older, more mature crowd (I'd say grad school age to people in their 50's) which can be nice if you have a headache or don't want to watch sports or just want to be able to talk to your friends and hear them.

I forget how many taps they have, but I do know they have an unused gravity tap that's been there forever. If my memory serves me correctly, they have 20 or so craft bottles and I am pretty sure that all of the taps are also crafts. Locals crafts especially abound here, and the selction is fairly typical of other beer bars in Philly. The waitstaff and bartenders are knowledgable about the beer and are speedy.

Beer tastings and events are held on the 2nd floor, which also has a tiny bar and a tiny kitchen which aren't used much, unless there is an event or its a particularly crowded weekend. The food is really good, affordable and satisfying. What's not to like about Brigids? They even have a bench outside the door for smokers to sit on. Cheers Brigids!
May 26, 2007
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Reviewed by GnomeKing from Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
This is a cozy little place that feels like a neighborhood bar, even though I suspect there are a lot of people who travel to visit it. I know I do.

Bridgid's is small with a low ceiling, which makes it an inviting and intimate place to spend an hour or four drinking. It's non-smoking.

There are now ten taps, with the plan being to split them roughly evenly between American crafts and imports (mostly Belgians). In early July, 2006, the selection was:

Stone Ruination
Yard's Philly Pale Ale
Sly Fox Pikeland Pils
Victory Lager
Old Dominion Oak Barrel Stout
Triple Karmeliet
Moinette Bruin
Biere de Miel
De Koninck
Franziskaner Hefe

The bottle selection is modestly-sized compared with the bigger beer bars in the city (Monk's, Eulogy), but the beers are well-chosen. There always seems to be something new and cool to try, and the place does a good job of balancing the selection in terms of beer style and national origin, with an emphasis on Belgian beers.

The food is good and reasonably priced. There's an emphasis on cajun and seafood. The crab wantons, escargot, and duck confit are really nice appetizers. In general, I think that the appetizers here show more creativity than the entrees, which are good but tend not to show much flair.

The bartenders are exceptionally knowledgeable about the beers. They often have interesting opinions about the new brews. You may not get the same amount of beer insight if you sit in the restaurant portion, but you'll get good service nonetheless.

Prices for beer are a little high, but the food menu offers some good values. M-F, 4-6 is happy hour, with discounted beers.

The patrons are friendly and come from all walks of life. This place feels like a home away from home.

Addition: The place closes early-ish (10pm or so) Sunday-Thursday, which is unfortunate.
Jul 06, 2006
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.3/5  rDev +1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
It's a Monday holiday and you know that means "Let's go to Philly and do some damage". Standard Tap for a beer and a not-lunch, McMenamenamenamenamins for a beer and the aforementioned bite, up north to Dawson's for a cask and back down again to see what Bridgid's is about, before hitting Monk's and getting out of dodge. Just another day with (Evil) Davo in the 'hood...
It's totally packed in here but we manage them 4 seats barside just inside the door. Seems like a good score but it's really cold outside and all, "Hey, Fresh air Fred, shut the door" every time someone comes or goes. It's a small front room with a backwards "J" shaped bar seating about a dozen and a half. A large cooler in the corner holds the bottles whith booze stacked high above. I don't know how they got to half of it. Glassware hanging from a rack over the bar, a single TV mounted in the corner and tap, bottle and food selections printed on blackboards on the walls. It's a tight, smart room. Deep red walls with green trim, ochre uppers and ceiling, and a wood panel coat rack section. Lighting on the ceiling fans above, and white Xmas lighting and spruce strung throughout with festive plaid bows.
5 taps (Rogue Chocolate Stout, Rulles Triple, Ommegang 3 Philosophers, Hoegaarden, Yards Philly Pale Ale) and a gravity pour (Yards Poor Richards Blue Spruce Ale) from the third floor. Huh? Yeah, that's right, that pipe looking thing shooting out of the ceiling over the bar is a gravity pour, and the keg's located on the third floor. I did the Poor Richard Blue Spruce Ale which was a nice fresh spruce tree in a glass. The blackboards show some 100+ bottled beers (Roughly 34 Belgians, including offerings from 6 Trappist breweries, 20 American micros, 15 UK, 5 Germans, another 15 more from here and there, and another 15 showcased as "New/Seasonals" (Anchor Old Foghorn, Youngs Winter Warmer, Gales Prize Old Ale, Allagash Grand Cru, DogFishHead 60 Minute IPA, St Bernardus 12, Caracole Nostradamus, Rodenbach Grand Cru).
Had a look at the blackboard listing the food items. Veal, pork chop, duck, rack of lamb, lobster, steak entrees. Plenty of seafood. The menu is upscale but not crazily pricey. Dining to the rear in a narrow room holding a dozen or so tables and fireplace in the way back. More seating upstairs maybe, but we never got there. Very, very comfy overall. I'll get me 3 beers and a meal here next time, yea.
Jan 28, 2006
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Reviewed by GeoffFromSJ from New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
This is an excellent restaurant, with a very good bottle selection. This place is considered a Belgian place, but I think that has more to do with the beer list, which gravitates towards the Belgians, than the food. Crab wontons? Southwestern eggrolls?

While we are on the food, it is eclectic and good. But, while it shows promise, can't push through to being great. Very tasty.

Atmosphere: old Philly house with good ambiance. Upstairs is unnoticeable when you first go in, but the staircase is in the back.

Selection is more than decent. Very good if you want to match with food. Saison Dupont, Mainotte, Oerbier, plenty of others. Locals, British, Germans, and, of course, Belgians. Very few taps, but the taps were decent.
May 07, 2005
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Reviewed by blitheringidiot from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Well lit at night in the "middle of nowhere" section of Philadelphia (if that makes sense) Bridgid's looks like an apartment turned thrift shop from the front. Inside is a tightly tucked in with a shoe horn bar reverse J shaped against the door entrance. Props to the beer chalk bords declaring Echt Kriechenbire, Old Do' Oak Barrel Stout (yum!) Hogaarden, Yards Love Stout.

Huge bottle selection of Chimay, Rochefort, Westmalle, La Trappe Quad, Lindemans Kriek. Oh props to the hand out beer menu that is divided into country designations. That bumps up the quality factor.

Comfy padded backed stool and a bright psuedo ice cream shop yellow interior, but a great beer bar nonetheless. The kind of place that is worth a stay for even the most discrimiating beer connoiseur. Well deserving of a Blue Ribbon of Phila. A closet bathroom is a bit squeezed into the far right corner of the joint. It will do for when ya gotta drain the willie after a few brewskies.

Last call: Comfy tight fit with good brews. You can't be dissapointed here. Does it pass the "Could you bring your Mom here" test? Yes. but I'd take Mom elsewhere and go here with your fellow beer buddies. Don't try stealing any baby carriages from the neighboring aparments...they are chained down.
Mar 24, 2005
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Reviewed by rdrummer from New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 5
I have heard about Bridgid's for years, but it seemed that every time I was in that neighborhood, the place was closed. I finally got there not once but twice in a two week period. It is one of the better beer bars in Philadelphia without a doubt.

The place is small, especially the bar. 12 people cramp the place, but the bartender easily handles the demands. My major complaint is a lack of draft selection. There are only five beers on tap, although they are all good. The Yard's on the gravity tap is a fixture from what I understand, but the other four change regularly. I had the Rogue Dead Guy and a Duchesse Flemish Sour Ale that were superb. The bottle selection is larger of course, but even that is not huge. It is full of quality. I had two different Trappists, the Westmalle Tripel and the Roquefort 8 in the two trips. Prices for the beers were reasonable (less than Monk's for sure).

I ate appetizers on the first visit, and the escargot were outstanding. The second visit I was seated in the dining room and had the full experience. Not one dish was anything but excellent. The menu is heavy on fish and seafood, and it is all done perfectly. I had the escargot again, but also had a wonderful snapper entree. The salads were fresh and well dressed, and the coffee was great.

The service during the second night was less than perfect. It was inattentive for such as small room, leaving us to wait for each refill and for the check, which is a pet peeve of mine.

I will definitely be returning for another meal and some more lovely beers.
Sep 24, 2004
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Reviewed by Scoats from Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
It's days as the vanguard of the Philadelphia beer scene are long gone, but that's OK. This is a great, great restaurant.

This place never had a large beer selection. Preferring instead to go for quality and rotation. This remains true. I had a draft of Duchess de Bourgoine, which I never had on tap before. So even the most jaded beer geek can get excited.

The food is prefect. Prices range from $6 to $15. For that money you get a wonderful plate of high quality, tasty food that is for me the perfect amount of food, not too little - very filling, and not too much to make one feel bloated and guilty for eating so much, or for leaving so much.

This is a perfect date place.

Barwise, there is nothing to do but drink and talk. For those capable of sitting still, that is probably more than enough. For antsy people like me, that ususally probably isn't enough.
Sep 22, 2003
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Reviewed by jrancan from New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Bridgid's has pretty much everything I look for in a pub, cozy atmosphere complete with fireplace, great food, and of course great beer. While there might not be a massive bottled or draft selection, everything they do put out there is well cared for. As this is a Belgian restaurant, the focus is on Belgian beers with quite a few locals making the list as well.
One thing I found interesting was the pricing: Bottle of Hoegaarden was $6.75 while a bottle of Victory Storm King was $3.75. Nothing like a price break for locals! I'm not complaining, but do they really get that many people in there willing to shell out that much for a Hoegaarden (as good as it is)?
Questionable pricing aside, this is a great place to belly up to the small bar up front, or take a date for a romantic night out.
Mar 01, 2003
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Reviewed by WilliamPhilaPa from Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Bridgid's is a small Belgium Pub located in the Fairmount, right near London Grill and the Bishop’s Collar. They only have 5 taps, usually a few Belgians, and a a couple locals. The interior is small, the bar is fairly big, it looks like it can sit about 15-20 patrons. Even though the taps selection is small, there is also a good bottle selection. Prices really vary though. The good thing is that if your looking for more beer, you can go to the Bishop’s Collar & The London Grill & Rembrandt’s which are all good bars that are less then 2 blocks away from each other.
Jan 02, 2003
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Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Bridgid's is a small Belgian restaurant in the Art Museum / Fairmount section. It may be hard to find, but it's well worth the effort for those seeking fine Belgian cuisine. The whole restaurant is small, which means the bar is small. I personally prefer it that way. The draft selection is excellent, and quite often includes a good selection of Belgians. If you're not impressed with what's on tap, don't worry, there's an impressive collection of bottles. Draft selections also include quite a bit of local beer. Way to go! Highly recommended.
Jul 14, 2002
Bridgid's in Philadelphia, PA
Place rating: 4.23 out of 5 with 22 ratings