Message from Black Sheep Pub

An Irish pub in the heart of Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square.
  • Pub
  • Large Selection of Beers
  • Private Parties

Just a few steps from historic Rittenhouse Square you'll find the Black Sheep, Philadelphia's favorite Irish pub since 1999. Antique bars and a fireplace make you feel right at home inside the three-story colonial townhouse. They offer a wide selection of drinks from around the world to enjoy at lunch, dinner or with a late-night snack. Try their house specialties like the Shepherd's Pie or Guinness Irish stew plus plenty of other traditional favorites. The Black Sheep also has six TVs, including one plasma screen on the main floor.

MarkerBlack Sheep Pub & Restaurant

(215) 545-9473

247 S 17th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Editorial Description by Citysearch
Refurbished townhouse transforms from dive bar to upscale Irish pub.
Rated 8.9 out of 10 by Citysearch.

2 Reviews of Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant in Philadelphia

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It's okay  3 Star Rating - Satisfactory

I work across the street and oddly don't go here that often. The pork sandwich is amazingly good. The beer selection is average for an Irish pub. I stay away because it is usually too loud and the last time we were there we were plagued by flys.

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One of our favorites!  4 Star Rating - Very good

Excellent Celtic inspired food, cozy Irish pub atmosphere with large, open hearth. Gets crowded with young partiers later in evening. We often bring guests here for an early dinner and ambiance.

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5 Reviews by Citysearch: (read all 16 reviews on Citysearch)

Factor in an ER visit... 1 Star Rating - Unsatisfactory

The last time I ate at the Black Sheep I left the restaurant and went directly to Jeffersons emergency room where I was diagnosed with a severe case of scromboid p0isoning* resulting from consuming part of a tuna steak that had been allowed to spoil before landing atop my salad.

Adding insult to injury, the response of Black Sheeps management to my experience, despite having the hospital report and a lunch receipt to prove that I had eaten the offending tuna within 20 minutes of being admitted to the ER, was a shrug. Forget an offer to pay the ER co-pay or even refund the cost of the meal or consideration of the fact that I lost the better part of a day at work, they did not even offer a word of apology or a simple thank you for bringing the matter to their attention. This place is true to its name.

* Scombroid is a type of food intoxication caused by the consumption of scombroid and scombroid-like marine fish species that have begun to spoil with the growth of particular types of food bacteria. www.cfsan.fda.gov/~ear/FLSCROM.html

Pros: None.
Cons: Food, management's attitude.
Posted 04/21/08 at 12:33pm

Way Downhill 1 Star Rating - Unsatisfactory

Hey Ikat, I completely agree. This place has gone way downhill and lost all charm.

Was trying to enjoy a football game with friends. I'd been to Black Sheep in the past and thought that it would be an ideal spot. Horrible mistake. While I was getting off a barstool, the busser told me to "come on, get out of the way, man" so that he could head outside and light the cigarette already in his mouth. Have worked at multiple restaurants and never seen a guest treated this way.
Once we finished mediocre food and non-fresh pints, no one cleared our plates away for 30 minutes. We were only a party of 5, but the waitress added a 20% gratuity to our check. We explained the siutation and that it was clearly not worth it, but got nowhere with the cover-my-own-butt management. I'm a Philadelphia resident that lives close by, but won't be going back.

Cons: Horrible Service
Posted 02/19/08 at 6:25pm

avoid all together--- bad service 1 Star Rating - Unsatisfactory

I live and work in the city. I had friends visiting town and we decided to go out in the Rittenhouse area.
We stopped by the Black Sheep for its casual, unpretentious atmosphere.
Instead, from the point we set foot in the bar, we were greeted with rude service and major attitude from the bar hands and bartender. The bar seemingly draws a regular, abrasive, scruffy looking crowd-- who scoff at the sight of any well-dressed newcomers. Overall, the bar was unfriendly, dirty and dark, filled with a bunch of hostile nerds. I will be sure to tell everyone I know to boycott this place.

Posted 05/27/07 at 10:41pm

Only good for young kids 1 Star Rating - Unsatisfactory

This bar can be very dark and dreary and at night is usually filled with young kids. Not good for people who are older.

Pros: good service and food
Cons: college bar
Posted 01/05/07 at 12:19pm

Good food... good weekend spot 5 Star Rating - World class

Black sheep is a great place to go for food during the week (their veggie burger is great).
It's great for weekend nights out too... not too crowded, but just enough people. Nice atmosphere.

Posted 11/09/06 at 10:58am