Johnny Brenda's
215-739-9684
1201 Frankford Ave Philadelphia, PA 19125About Johnny Brenda's
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Insider Pages Reviews for Johnny Brenda's
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Delicious foods, drinks and a really good atmosphere. Haven't been there in a while but i will return real soon. Live music tends to be really great! Trendy people hang out there -so plan on trying to be cool like them
July 24, 2009Was this review helpful to you?
Insider Guru
| Rank: 1,016
Good place to have a few beers at, kick back and relax with some friends.
Often has live music, quite good the times I have been there.
Food is ok - place is more for drinkers than for diners...
July 24, 2009Was this review helpful to you?
Insider Expert
| Rank: 8,231
They always have a great selection of beer...one of my favorites in the city. Their food used to be a lot better than it is now, but still not bad. There is always some awesome live music or an event happening upstairs. And they have a rockin jukebox!
July 24, 2009Was this review helpful to you?
Chill environment for hanging out. Wide selection of beers and good food. Their french fries are just amazing! Plus they have a great space for live music and a pool table too.
July 24, 2009Was this review helpful to you?
Sometimes I go downstairs, but mostly I go for the music. The space is good and the sound too. Many great local and somewhat local bands play here. If you like live music, you should get on their mailing list.
November 18, 2008Was this review helpful to you?
Johnny Brennda's is a local hub for those who live in Fishtown and Kensignton, artist-concentrated area.
They have great selection of beer as well as food, and the prices are very reasonable.
They have music and event venue on 2nd floor now which is amazingly spacious for the outside look of the building.
Definitely, worth a trip even from outside of city.
November 16, 2008Was this review helpful to you?
good food and a great local beer selection. the juke box kinda sucks and the hipsters are aplenty. but the food and the beer more than make up for it.
March 21, 2008Was this review helpful to you?
Insider
| Rank: 22,012
Whether the crowds at Johnny Brenda's are going there for the shows, the beer, the food, or the atmosphere, it's hard to tell because it's all quite exceptional.
There's been alot of progress over the past year or two at JB's, especially with the renovation of their upstairs music venue, which has a fantastic balcony that allows for a decent size group of listeners, yet maintains a sense of intimacy between the audience and the performers. The line-up is comprised of mostly those from the 'Indie' genre, but don't let titles intimidate you. Local and larger names in the music industry are passing through JB's these days (Broken Social Scene,The Capitol Years, the Clientele, Vincent Gallo(!),Girl Talk, Plastic Little, Hoots & Hellmouth, John Francis, etc.) and there's alot to look forward to in the coming year.
The selection of beer at Brenda's is very satisfying. I tend to veer towards German wheat beers, which the last I had there was the Victory Weissen. No fear though, if that's not your brew. They have a healthy tap menu to choose from, and their bartenders are knowledgeable and really friendly. Their food is amazing and if you have a free Sunday afternoon, the brunch is highly recommended.
extra goodness: pool tables and a great jukebox
January 27, 2008Was this review helpful to you?
Latest reviews from Citysearch.
Well, I think this place attracts too many skinny super straight boys who think they are the cat's meow. These guys are so uptight and so straight you think you are in Oklahoma or Kansas. They need a good boning by a drag queen or something. Boring people. So predictable. So straight and hum drum. The wine is also too damn expensive--8.00 a glass is outrageous for a place in Fishtown/Northern Liberties. I can buy a bottle of wine for 8.00. They give good deals on beer but they ignore wine. Not fair. Plus the place is still a hole in the wall. People go there and pose and pretend they are hip. The music is too loud, you cannot have a conversation because you cannot hear the person you are talking to. Too damn crowded.
Pros: Good food
Cons: the wine is too expensive--$8.00 a glass is an outrage
I fell in love with JBs the first time I stepped over the threshold 3 weeks ago. I went back after a particularly sordid night of agony at the pretentiousness that is the suck-fest at Yakitori Boy.
This place is so chill. It fits like a favorite pair of shoes. The service is good; the barstaff knows how to mix a strong drink. And the prices are reasonable.
The atmosphere at JBs does not quit!
Pros: gritty, comfortable, good service, and strong cocktails...
Cons: closing time. this place should stay open until sunrise...
JB's carries only local draft which is a great reason to go there on its own. On top of that, there open kitchen puts out some quality grub. The menu leans toward Mediterranean - they grilled octopus is some of the best that I've had and you can not beat JB's prices!
Pros: Beer Selection, Prices, Atmoshere
JB has good food for a good price all the time. Nice vibe, good beer selection, good mixed crowd. Service can be slow/indifferent and the place can be smoky and quite loud weekend nights. Overall, a great addition to the local scene and a good value.
Pros: food, price, quality
Cons: smoke (weekend), noise (weekend), parking
This little hole in the wall looked like just a bar but WOW!! food was GREAT! Dropped in for a quick burger for lunch and had best salad and sandwich I have had in a long time! Others in my group loved they food as well. Very fun, friendly staff. Definitely give it a try. I'll be back!
This place is truly a great local hangout. They *do* actually accept credit cards and have always, to my knowledge so this "insider tip" about just accepting cash is wrong. However, there is an Wachovia ATM right across the street. Anyway, the bartenders are super-friendly, the food is delish (although they could use more dessert) and the crowd is always great there. It's a place where you don't have to worry about looking pretty or dressing up--just go there to sip some beers or drinks and catch dinner, even if it's alone!
This bar seems to be a balance of the Standard Tap and the Ministry of Information. Good brew selection, hipster crowd, and odd combination of new and old in the decor. I don't know that I'd venture out of CC for this place, but i'd be a regular if I lived nearby.
Pros: Beer, Food, Atmosphere
