Elephant & Castle

Elephant & CastleElephant & Castle
Elephant & CastleElephant & Castle
Bar, Eatery

1800 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.39
Reviews:
5
Ratings:
5
pDev:
13.86%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by NeroFiddled:
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +14.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Modeled after an English style pub, the Elephant 'as'ole is a very touristy restaurant that does a pretty good lunch business but not much dinner. There are some after-work crowds but it's not exciting enough to warrant a visit. The food is fairly good at an OK price (it is Center City after all) and the beer selection is alright (it used to be much better). You'd be much better off to travel the few blocks to the Bard's on Walnut Street, or Tir Na Nog off of the Parkway for a more authentic interperetation of an Irish pub.
Nov 27, 2002
More User Ratings:
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

2.7/5  rDev -20.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2
This is a chain "British" pub on the ground floor of the Crowne Plaza hotel in Center City. The atmosphere isn't terrible but it's kind of like Applebee's interpretation of what a pub should be. This follows on to the selection with British macros, BMC, Guinness, Harp, etc. as well as a few locals. Service is pretty good but nothing out of the ordinary. They will keep your glass full but don't expect much beer knowledge. I would suggest skipping this place since you would be so close to so many other great beer destinations.
Apr 13, 2011
Photo of Zaccone
Reviewed by Zaccone from Texas

2.98/5  rDev -12.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 1.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Atmosphere gets major points for lack of blaring music during weekday happy hour. Sweet, I can actually hear the people I'm trying to talk with!

Food is good. A little pricey unless one remembers that this is in Center City. Had a burger the first time - for supper - and nachos my second time - a Happy Hour.

The beef nachos deserve commendation. They were really good.

Both times, service was a little flaky. The place was mostly empty during Monday night happy hour but we were not well attended.

Beer selection? Sixteen on draft, half British, half American.

Beer quality? Hmmm... neither my Sierra Nevada Pale nor my Dogfish 60 seemed right.... they didn't taste stale, but they just didn't taste like they "normally" do. I don't think this is what happened, but the taste was as if they were half Yuengling, half what I ordered.
Dec 08, 2009
Photo of michael573114
Reviewed by michael573114 from Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev +12.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4.5
It's a chain, sure, but it's a good one. The food is always good, the beer always cold... there just needs to be a bigger selection. They do have decent beers though, it's not just the usual american pilsener junk.

Don't expect E&C to be a real authentic pub - it's a commercial chain, they're not really looking to be exact. But that's okay - it's actually great for what it is. I love the food, especially the "english pub food" style dishes like the stew, the shepherd's pie, the bangers & mash. Salads are a bit dull (I was spoiled by Monk's steak salad earlier), but looking at the rest of the menu, why would you get a salad anyways :)

I still like the E&C in Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) best though.
Aug 20, 2007
Photo of WilliamPhilaPa
Reviewed by WilliamPhilaPa from Pennsylvania

3.61/5  rDev +6.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 4
A traditional English/Irish styled pub, a chain of around 10-20 across the country. Cool phone red phone booth outside, just like the ones in Ireland/England/Europe. Around 15 taps and a good bottle selection, around 50 bottles or so. The bar is right under a The Crown Plaza hotel on 18th and Market St. The interior is cool, dark wood, long bar areas, large. I did not have any food, but it smelled good. a nice place to grab a Guinness, but mostly packed with tourists.
Sep 30, 2002
Elephant & Castle in Philadelphia, PA
Place rating: 3.39 out of 5 with 5 ratings