Saloon Restaurant

Saloon in Philly is the kind of place that makes you feel like you've stepped into a fancy, old-school saloon - but with a modern twist. It's got that cool, vintage vibe that immediately sets the tone for a special night out. Yes, it's on the pricier side, but trust me, it's worth every penny.I decided to go all in with the Tomahawk Parm, which set me back $50 - and wow, what a dish! It was perfectly cooked, flavorful, and definitely a splurge I didn't regret. But the real showstopper of the night was the veal poblano pepper appetizer. I wasn't expecting it to steal the spotlight, but it totally did! Bursting with flavor, it was the kind of dish that makes you want to order another round, even though you know you've got a massive entrée coming.The ambiance is just right - sophisticated yet inviting, making it a great spot whether you're celebrating something special or just treating yourself. And the people? Absolutely lovely. The staff made the experience even better with their warmth and attention to detail.If you're in Philly and looking for a spot that combines great food, a unique atmosphere, and a touch of luxury, Saloon should be at the top of your list. Sure, it's a bit of a splurge, but with food and vibes this good, it's money well spent!

I've long heard about Saloon, a Philadelphia institution. At last we went, and it did not disappoint.First things first, the ambience. It's got the nice high end Italian vibes. You meet the hostess at the front door and she takes you and your guests to the table. Then comes the server that asks for your drink order, while rattling off the notable menu items and specials. It feels nice, perfect for a date.The drinks were great, as was the service. The veal chop and angel hair pasta were awesome, definitely reccomend those. And we topped it off with some excellent tiramisu.Overall a very good experience that I will probably be back for. True south Philly italian experience.Do attend.

This was my first time at Saloon even though my fiancé's family have been multiple times before. I've heard great things from them and was excited to try it after wedding venue tours in Philly earlier in the day. Anyone who knows me understands how much I hate driving in and parking in Philadelphia. A huge plus about Saloon is that they have a complementary parking lot for paying guests a block or so from the restaurant. An attendant parks your car for you and works for tips. This is so refreshing not having to stress about parking and walking blocks to a restaurant. We walked in without reservations around 5:30 on a Wednesday and they had zero issue seating us even though it was packed by the time we ate and left. There is a bar downstairs right as you walk in the door and another bar upstairs with lots of seating on both levels. The building looks and feels old in a good way. You can tell it has so much history and character.We started off with a round of drinks, each of us got a manhattan made with Woodford and boy did they hit the spot. The martini glasses were big and fit nicely in your hand. We also ordered clams casino to split. The clams tasted great and had a beautiful crust on top. The three of us who got manhattans also all ordered braciole. My fiancé's family LOVES braciole and as soon as they saw it on the menu they made their mind up. This was my first time having braciole. I loved the pancetta and spinach, and the steak very tender. Everyone loved it. It was also served with 2 ravioli which were delicious themselves. Our server was sweet and professional, and the busboys were efficient. Props to our server for memorizing the lengthy entire specials list. For my first time here at the saloon and my first time having braciole I'd say everything was what I'd hope it'd be and more

10/10 this place exceeded my expectations! If I could, I'd dine here every single week.Old school Italian restaurant situated in a neighborhood. Nice bar with plenty of seating upstairs and downstairs. Old antiques and upscale attire. Came here to celebrate my birthday and I would come back for any special occasion. Our waitress was so knowledgeable, attentive, friendly and amazing at her job. All of her recommendations were on point.For drinks, we ordered the manhattan and dirty martini (stuffed and non stuffed olives). Made to perfection! The pesto that came with our basket of bread was out of this world. It was so good, they packed extra pesto for us to take home. It was seriously good with just about anything. Secret is pistachio rather than pine nuts! For food, we ordered the calamari and peas, filet truffle (special), veal Parmesan (special) and the carrot cake. The only thing we would not order again would be the calamari and peas. Wasn't terrible but it was drenched in marinara, which made me want fried calamari. If I'm eating sautéed calamari, I'd prefer more of a lighter sauce. Personal preference.Our entrees were both out of this world. Highly recommend!!

Not an exaggeration, best steak I've ever had. The 11oz Truffle Filet was amazing. Ordered rare, it was perfect. Wife and I spent an anniversary dinner here. Service was very attentive, valet parking was appreciated, scallops were perfectly cooked. But that Truffle Filet.... It was so good. The pesto served with the bread was also awesome.

I've been trying to write this review for Saloon since I went a month ago, but I just haven't been able to. This has never happened to me before. I'm not sure why my writer's block has been so formidable, but I really haven't been able to pen anything. The only thing I can think of is that Kendrick Lamar lyric when he says:"Writer's block for two years, nothin' moved me, Asked God to speak through me..."It's just on loop for me when I try to detail how beautiful this place is. The only words I have been able to come up with to describe the authentic Italian energy and decor of Saloon is "Quintessential New York," but I don't want to say that because it's so trite and boring.I begin detailing how fantastic this 11oz Truffle Filet topped with herb truffle butter and a side of mashed potatoes was, but all I can hear between my ears is Kendricks weird, nasally voice saying "Writers block for two years, nothin moved me..."As I try to find the words to describe how delicious this homemade bolognese was and pair those adjectives with a witty and kind of funny metaphor, I just start thinking "God I hope this writer's block doesn't last two years......."Maybe it's because Saloon is my girlfriend's favorite restaurant in Philly, and I know she'll be going over this with a fine tooth comb. Or Perhaps it's because I felt so underdressed in my plain white t, oversized Alo corduroy button down, and Jeans that I don't want to relive that experience. Or it could be that the Negroni and glass of Montepulciano I had hit me harder than I thought and I can't authentically recall the experience like I want to.It could simply be that I'm just not who I thought I was. Maybe I don't deserve the Yelp Rookie of the year award. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because certain experiences are so moving that they are truly ineffable.Sorry, Saloon. I'll come back one day and update a review that isn't brought to you by writers block, because you deserve it.IG @jnov_Tiktok @jnov__

Started off w a deuce upstairs by the stairs where when the streets lights when on blinded her! The pesto dipping sauce was fabulous. The salad, a caprese salad came out in a hot plate, really! Although good come on, hot tomatoes! My wife veal Picatta was excellent! The Dover sole was sad, not overcooked like other places. I had the Dover sole which was tasteless and dry, without drawn butter the richness of the fish just doesn't come out, what a wasted pieces of fish! Our waitress appeared bored but yet nice! Told them it's my BD and still got the worst table in the house w no dessert! Most Italian places at least give a cannoli!, that might be too much! Lots of locals got better service, I understand that would happen at my home place too. So good and not so good here! Buy some new dishes so plates don't come out hot from the dishwasher!

Saloon has been on my to-do list for many years, and it's really sad I just made it there in 2024. I love the ambiance of old school restaurants like Saloon. I arrived with a friend as soon as they opened on a Saturday night and the place filled up quickly. The bartender gave us a warm greeting and we had a drink in our hand within minutes. A meal at Saloon starts off with a bread service. It's good bread, but not memorable. For my entrée I had one of the specials, which was seafood stuffed ravioli. It was a memorable entrée. Large ravioli stuffed with various types of seafood, with even a few small pieces of lobster and shrimp mixed in with the sauce. I wanted to lick my plate when I was done. My friend had the Braciole. It's two filet medallions pounded thin, rolled and stuffed with spinach, pancetta, and parmigiano cheese in a tomato sauce; served with cheese ravioli. I was able to try that as well and it was just as memorable as my entrée. I will not soon forget how delicious both of those entrees were. I could not resist taking a look at the dessert tray after that meal. It was hard to pick out one dessert, but I ended up with an apple tart with ice cream. A delectable dessert with a unique texture and flavor compared to other apple tarts I've tasted. I ate it it slowly in order to savor every bite.I waited way too long to go to Saloon. I should have been there years ago. I will not make that mistake of waiting years again. Saloon is a five star restaurant worthy of many repeat visits.

I have wanted to dine here for years. We had dinner 5pm Tuesday 12.5.23 for my birthday. We managed to arrive early at 4:45 due to lack of traffic coming in. My phone said the restaurant was open so we tried the door but it was locked. No big deal I was tipping the Uber on my phone and figured we would wait. The bartender unlocked the door and offered us to sit at the bar until they actually open. She did not have to do that and it was greatly appreciated. Service and food was phenomenal. I loved the old world charm of the dark interior and all the varied lights. They had red roses on each table. Old woodwork abounds. I loved the ambiance. The complimentary bread and fresh pesto to start was delicious. We had Joel Gott Cab and a Lychee Martini for drinks. To start:*Tuna Carpaccio-yellowfin tuna pounded thin and served raw; topped with oranges, arugula, capers and lemon olive oil*​Pear and Burrata Salad -arugula, dried Turkish apricots, pine nuts in a Nocella dressingEntrees*Scallop Special With Lump Crab In Cognac Sauce Over Linguini* Lobster Francaise -South African lobster tail out of its shell, dipped in a light egg batter and sautéed in white wine, lemon and butter sauce; jumbo lump crab meatDessert*Lemon Layer CakeMy tuna carpaccio was so bright and fresh I couldn't stop eating it. The Burrata was very fresh and a great mix of flavors. The lobster was cooked perfectly it practically melted like butter when cut. The scallops were cooked spot on as well and the cognac sauce was scrumptious. Everything was delicious and perfectly executed.Our server was professional, attentive, and friendly. We felt welcomed during our visit despite not being from the area nor being regulars.Highly recommend this spot. I wished we lived closer.

My sister and I absolutely love the Saloon restaurant. The food, service is always on point. The second floor bar is a favorite for everyone. Besides the obvious reasons the Saloon has been open for decades they have the friendliest valet parking attendants ever! Nicky and Greg not only make center city parking experience safe and easy, they also add a lot of charm with their humor and friendly demeanor. It's not often that you find such a great team who can make something as mundane as parking your car an enjoyable part of the evening. Cheers to Nicky and Greg for their excellent service and for going above and beyond to ensure a great start and end to our dining experience! See you next time!