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Jack's Firehouse 2130 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19130 |
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Location: Fairmount, Philadelphia, PA
Phone: (215) 232-9000 Overall Rating (1 to 10): 7 What I’d Do To Improve the Place: Add more beer on tap.
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Jack's Firehouse 2130 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19130 |
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Location: Fairmount, Philadelphia, PA
Phone: (215) 232-9000 Overall Rating (1 to 10): 7 What I’d Do To Improve the Place: Add more beer on tap.
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| In the shadow of Eastern State Penitentiary is a turn-of-the-century firehouse turned bar/restaurant by the name of Jack's Firehouse. Jack's is one of those places that is not necessarily a pub or a bar.
It would be better described as a dining establishment, but when you are on a crawl, you gotta eat (unless you are one of those wacko die-hards). Jack's bar area has piqued our interest and we thought it would be
an interesting addition to the Phillytown list.
The front of the building is actually a huge sliding door that they open up in nice weather. During a visit on a nice autumn evening, the door was opened and the effect was absolutely fantastic. Tables and chairs were set-up on the sidewalk and like a convertible in warm weather Jack's took on a new look. The inside of the building is decorated in richly done woodwork: floors, walls and ceiling are all wood. Jack's interior consists of one large room containing a dining area and bar. The center piece of the establishment is a full sized eight-man rowing scull complete with oars suspended above Jack's bar. The bar itself is a beautiful wooden structure. The libacious offerings are disappointing, in that they only have one beer on tap: Ortlieb's. Fear not, they do have a varied selection of bottled beers and a nice wine selection. If you were planning on putting back a couple of pints, you might prefer going down the street a bit to the Bishop’s Collar or London. The food is exotic and a little pricey. Be prepared to pay upwards of $28 a plate for roast buffalo or venison, but it's worth it. They also have a large selection fish dishes from which to choose. On the weekend nights, Jack's often features a jazz combo to keep the drinking public occupied while they contemplate how in the heck that rowing scull remains suspended in mid-air after all of these years. Just a tip if you're going to Jack's for grub: Make a reservation! Parking used to be a problem, but in February 2000, a brand new lot opened up across the street from Jack's, so there's really no excuse not to head down to this interesting bar. Reviewed by the combined experiences of The Dog and The Nutty Irishman.
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