New Deck Tavern

New Deck, being so close to UPenn and Drexel, is a college-town pub with an Irish theme and tends to be somewhat hit or miss.
The hosts and hostesses are often rude and difficult to deal with, especially if you have more then 2-4 people in your party and the waitstaff isn't particularly attentive. However, the bartenders are fantastic -- they are very friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about their craft, from perfect pours to drink suggestions. As an aside, most, if not all of them, are from Ireland or the UK. As such, I recommend trying to get a seat at the bar.

The bar has a very nice selection of liquor, especially whiskeys, as well as a diverse selection of beers, including Irish/UK imports, American macro- and midi-brews, and various regional micro-brews (eg. Dogfish Head 90 IPA). Food is a pretty standard Pub combination of Irish and bar food. I've had most of the appetizers and they are good, but none stand out, with the possible exception of the Nachos, which were very unspectacular, but then again, this is not a cantina, so I can't say I was suprised.
The crowd tends to be mostly students, as well as some faculty and staff from the local collages.
Overall this is not a bad place to meet someone for a beer after work or a drink later, but only if you can get a seat at the bar.

Liberties Restaurant-Caterers

Liberties is a perfect neighborhood bar to visit for a beer or catch a game, so much so that I am a regular patron. It has antique decor and a cozy atmosphere centered around a large wooden bar, plus 2 HD TVs. Both the patrons and staff (especially Todd!) are friendly and ready to chat or cheer on Philly sports teams. The crowd tends to be sports fans, working folks, and locals.

The beer selection is pretty standard, including American and imported macro-brews (Bud, Guiness, Harp, etc.), as well as the American "midi-brews:" Sam Adams seasonals and Sierra Nevada. I would say that this is the only area holding me back from a 5-star review -- a rotation of local/regional microbrews would be nice. The food is very good -- be sure to try the waffle fries and quesadillas. Prices are very reasonable in the $5-10 range for food and there are plenty of regular drink specials.

Added bonus: Liberties has a rail out front, along with some bar stools, so you can enjoy your beer and still catch some sunshine.