Just a few steps up from the corner of 2nd and Race Streets, resides a cozy little pub by the name of John Patrick's. The storefront is very unassuming and if you regularly get on I-95 from the Race Street on-ramp, you've probably passed it a million times without even thinking there were any bars in the area. John Patrick's is definitely on the very edge of Olde City, which is one reason why it's taken us so long to visit. 

First off, we visited on a Monday Night, to catch a little grub, a lotta brew and Monday Night Football. As soon as we were handed menu's, the waitress proceeded to tell us that they were out of half the items on the menu. That's a definite turn-off. It was not an exaggeration that half of the menu was unavailable; they were even out of items like honey-mustard, blue-cheese dressing (what are wings w/o blue cheese?), london broil and the French Dip Sandwich (a mainstay of pub sandwiches).

The Dog ordered the Chicken Fingers which were coated in a tempura batter. The batter was light and airy, but the fingers were supposed to come with a Plum dipping sauce, which they were out of also. When the waitress was asked for alternative dipping sauces, she offered us a blank stare. I hate to bust balls but chicken fingers just don't "cut it" with the "out-of-the-bottle" Heinz BBQ sauce. On the other hand the fries were great. They were coated in a beer batter.

Unfortunately the remaining food left a bit to be desired. Phillytown cub reporter Elbo described the taste of the food as, well, let's just say not good.  He got the chicken wings, so beware. The Nutty Irishman said his Buffalo Chicken Sandwich stunk. Quoting the Nuttmeister "It was just chicken fingers in a crappy roll with a wee bit of buffalo sauce. Point one: this is Philly, there is no excuse for poor bread, buy Amoroso. Point two: the chicken fingers are fine to use, just soak them in the buffalo sauce." Speak it brother!

You enter John Patrick's through the left door picture above. Up a couple of steps and you're into the main room.  In the left hand corner of the room is the bar; the remaining area of the room filled with tables and chairs. An authentic looking turn-of-the-century streetlamp is mounted in the center of the room that brings to mind days of old when there were no such things as "Lite" and "Ice" Beer. The bar is a sight to behold because they have over 30 beers on tap!

Without a doubt, this pub is the undisputed king of beer taps in Olde City. We award them this honor based upon the sheer volume and quality of the taps. The following brews are on tap 7 days a week: Murphy's Stout, Tetley's English Ale, Guinness, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Red Hook ESB, John Courage, Woodchuck Cider, Boddingtons, Bass, Whitbread, Double Diamond Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Yard's, Green King Abbot Ale. Yes, the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up too.

For entertainment there are TV's in every corner of the room. Also music is pumped through-out the place at night. When we first sat down to eat our dinner, only the TV's were on. But by the time the appetizers were delivered, Radiohead was playing on the sound system (time was about 8PM). The musical selections have a distinctive alternative feel.  Radiohead was followed up by: the Lemon Heads, New Order, the Cure, the Police, Indigo Girls, Morrissey and the Psychedelic Furs.

Admittedly the place has a nice Irish pub feel. The walls are colored the prerequisite green and off-white - which is the color scheme of every "Irish" themed bar in the city. The streetlamp provides a dual purpose of aesthetics and functionality to the dinning and bar areas. The clientele at John Patrick's is people in there 20's. As the Monday Night Game progressed, the place filled up. This wasn't a Sword Fight situation either, there were just as many honeybabies as there were guys, so don't be getting the idea that football is just a manly "spectators sport."

Parking can be difficult. You may be lucky enough to find a spot along Race street, otherwise there is a public lot on 3rd Street, about a block away. The only neighboring bar is a place called Paddy Mac's. Aside from that, you have to "hoof it" up to 3rd and head south or walk a few blocks more to Market Street and hit the concentration of bars there.  

On Tuesdays & Saturdays, between 8-12 they have a drink special that includes $3 domestic pitchers; $6 imported pitchers & $1.50 wings.

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