Almost left after waiting 10+ minutes to get a beer! This is not an exaggeration. It was last Saturday and it was a crowded bar and band. Three bartenders couldn't keep drinks in people's hands. I had to keep switching sides of the bar to strategically place myself in front of the bartenders. I was not the only thirsty one. Others around me who did get served were watching me beg for a beer and shared their similar experience. They even started helping me waive down a bartender. ha! I live so close I was going to go home, but was meeting a friend there. It was brutal. When I did get served I got 2 for myself to avoid the wait for my next one. As a local resident, I support local businesses and hope to see them survive and thrive. Something needs to change here and this wasn't my first bad experience. I've eaten here twice and it was just okay. Not sure what it's like during the week, but I would skip this place on the weekend. Such a cool, historic building for such a crappy bar. Forest & Main brewery in Ambler should move into 34 East after they close their doors. So many better options in Ambler!
(1)
Chad E.
Very disappointing. Poor draft selection for a supposed craft beer bar. Terrible service at the bar, despite it being very empty. Chicken tenders were mediocre - similar to what you get in the frozen food section. I was excited for a good beer bar in Ambler, but this is really no better than Finn McCools.
I wish I could give a 3.5 because I think a four might be a little too high. Great beer selection, and good bar food but it's not somewhere I would go for a really great meal.
(4)
Harvey G.
Great Food. Great Service! I had dinner there last night with another couple and we all enjoyed our meals. Flat bread was fabuloso, mussels in red were just as good as Ralph's in South Philly (my personal fav). The sweet potato french fries were to die for...Best fries we've ever eaten (this was unanimous). The hamburger, I had was cooked perfectly, big juicy and delicious. My "significant other" had the Italian pork sandwhich with Brocolli Rabe, Spinich and provolone cheese - which she loved. The other couple had a chicken cheese steak sandwhich (mouth watering (according to him) and a Portobello Sandwhich (delicioso according to her). This place iis new. We discovered it after going to the Ambler Movie (it's just down the street). This place is an unbelievable value for the money! Try it...You'll Like It! Harvey G - Elkins Park
(5)
Nicole D.
Worst. Experience. Ever. I went here back in late Sept/ early Oct at the recommendation of a friend. He was buddies with a chef so he brought his wife and I went along with the BF. The four of us were expecting a nice meal. What a disappointment! I don't even know where to start. First of all, it was an early Saturday evening and they weren't busy but there was no server in sight. Once she showed up, it took forever to get our drinks and the order was wrong. I was under the impression this was her first day at her first job EVER. Any beer or menu questions we asked left her bewildered. We tired ordering some of the beers listed on the chalkboard only to find they were out. It is chalk!! Erase it!!! Out of the four of us, only one enjoyed their meal and that was my BF. Our appetizer came out the same time as our food- which took forever. We wanted drink refills however, the ditzy waitress was nowhere in sight so we had to flag down someone else. The broccoli rabe on my sandwich had gone bad. Other people said their food was cold. My friend apologized for being the one that brought us to this mess of a night- but it wasn't his fault. Apparently he had dined there three times before and had never had a problem. Unfortunately, anything for us that could go wrong- did. After several attempts to get our check, we paid and left. We ended up going up the street to another bar where they actually served us beers. Ones they had listed and in stock. I will never, EVER go back here. I'm in Ambler often and every time my BF and I pass this place by, we laugh at the awful experience we had. Our friend is also teased about not being allowed to pick restaurants any more.
(1)
Charles S.
I give this a solid 3 star rating because its good neighborhood family place. Its not great and its not terrible. We like to come here because its priced right, service is dependable, and the food is decent. If I didn't live 5 blocks away, it wouldn't be on my radar. The place is big, has a respectable menu, and offers some tasty beer. I can't complain.
(3)
James H.
This place is dirty, the staff is immature, and the service is god awful. We went here on first Friday before my friend was set to play an acoustic set at Toto's on North Main. We decided we'd grab a drink first, and we walked by the equally horrid Bar 31 to come here. Should've gone to KC's. It took over an hour for a single appetizer, a flat bread pizza, which they made incorrectly. I asked for the pizza of the day, which was BBQ Chicken, and they brought me something smothered in blue cheese, which I hate. It took us over 15 minutes for a single beer. We didn't bother to complain about the abysmal service, the food error, or the dirty environment. We simply left, and missed half of my friend's set. If you're not in a rush, want to sit outside, and want to drink beer, this may be worth a stop as the outdoor seating is a nice draw. Outside of that, KC's dominates the place. 34 East should reach out to bar rescue.. the management, staff, and poor kitchen quality will put them under.
(1)
Kris C.
Looking for a nice quiet place for a drink and a bite on a Thursday night in Ambler? 34 East is a great choice. For the size of the place it was pretty empty but I'm putting that down as a good thing. The place has a nice neighborhood bar ambience without being grimey or pretentious. Our server was Dave and I have to say that he made the experience there all that much better. I read some of the other reviews people have posted and was surprised at the difference of experience that we had there. Our server was nice, helpful and funny without being to overbearing and annoying like so many "funny" servers can be. He made some good food suggestions based off of what we were asking about and had us order the perogie poppers appetizer and the Italian pork sandwich. The poppers were a perfect starter, basically just mini perogies with a delicious garlic dipping sauce. Before we could completely finish them the sandwich was delivered and we were presently surprised at the size of it. Pork, peppers and sharp provolone on a long roll with a heaping pile of sweet potatoes fries. We both only each ate one half of the sandwich and were satisfied fully. Dave did stop by the table with a plate of desserts that really looked immaculate but neither of us had it in us to put down any more food. Almost wish we had ordered some of it to go because the peanut butter chocolate cake/pie/whatever it was looked delicious, and that's coming from someone that almost never eats sweets. Overall I would definitely recommend 34 East Tavern to anyone that wants a nice quiet place to eat, some good American style bar food and an attentive & funny waiter. Just make sure you ask for Dave, I can't speak for any of the other people that work there, but he really did help make our experience there that much more enjoyable. Cheers Davie, Cheers!
(4)
Jill M.
My friend and I enjoyed our salads and delicious Chardonnay. The environment was pleasant. They are starting brunch and live music. I will return to check it out.
(4)
Susan R.
Yesterday was the start of Ambler's RW. We wanted to try the one place we have never been and decided on 34 East Tavern. We arrived around 5:30 for a very late lunch/early dinner. There were a few parties sitting outside and the inside empty with the exception of a few folks sitting at the bar. We were seated at a table directly under a speaker and within 2 minutes they turned up the volume. We asked to be moved at that point. As soon as we were seated at another table, they turned the volume up again. We asked our server to please turn the volume down. It was ridiculously loud for an empty restaurant. My husband is a musician and he was annoyed. This should have been our cue to leave and pick another place to eat. Their "special" chardonnay was described; "it's like butta". Well, it was as unoaked as a chardonnay could be. It was intention to order from the RW menu, but I really thought the beet salad and mussels were more in line with my tastes for the day. My husband ordered the chopped salad and a burger, medium rare. The salads were served on warm plates and the lettuce was basically room temperature. A gentleman stopped by and asked about the salads. I asked him if he was the owner and he said; "I am the general manager. If I was the owner, I would be at the shore". Okay...... Then he said they were so busy outside that the salad plates were just out of the dish washer. Not at all concerned with my comment. Halfway through our salads, the next course was delivered. Our server offered to take the food back and let it sit under the heat lamps. Uh, that would be no. I put my salad aside and started eating the mussels. They were barely warm and starting to dry out. It seems they were already enjoying some quality time under the heat lamps. My husband's burger was almost completely well done. No one came to ask if everything was okay. I picked at the mussels and my husband ate half the burger. When our server came back, we told her we were disappointed with the food. She said she would tell the manager. She returned to our table with our check. That's it. No apology for the poor quality food. We paid and as we were leaving the general manger thanked us for coming in. I replied that we would not be returning. I know that sounds rude, but I was really put off. I give them 1 star because my husband's beer was good and cold.
(1)
Colleen M.
We went there on opening night, and it was pretty busy. We didn't have any food or drinks because we wanted to sit at the bar and the bar was full. When we asked if we could sit at one of the high top tables around the bar, we were told no because those tables were reserved for people sitting outside in case the weather turned nasty. Not a good policy in my opinion, and they lost 2 customers at least for that night. Not sure if we will return.
(1)
Meghan B.
Very disappointed by 34 East. My fish and chips were soggy and did not taste fresh at all. We were seated in the back next to the kitchen, which was loud and smelled foul. Our server was friendly, but the food came out slowly. Will try other restaurants in Ambler before coming back here.
(2)
Jackie R.
I went to this place because I had a coupon for $10.00 off a tab of $20.00 from restaurant.com . Based off of the reviews I was expecting a phenomenal burger and ribs. This is not what I got! Based on appearances alone the place definitely stands out and looks inviting both on the outside and inside this is where the praise of this place starts and ends. Maybe 1/3 - 1/4 of the restaurant was filled with other diners, we let this go bc of the time of night (nearly 7:00 on a school night) we sat down and looked over the menu. Both my husband and I decided on the BBQ. After we ordered the waiter tells us of we just ended a promotion that was every Monday night that when you order a burger you only pay half. Ok great, why are you telling me this now when the promotion is no longer valid? It made no sense! Actually it really irritated me and I wanted to leave right then but my stomach held me back and was like "noooo I need you to fill me" haha we waited about 15-20 minutes for our food to come out, which if you ask me is way to long when over half of the place is empty and half of the people who are there are at the bar drinking NOT eating food! The burger itself was totally unseasoned, like the cook just grabbed some piece formed it into a patty and threw it on the grill. The bacon was chewy and tasted like it had been in put in and out of a fridge for some time and reheated and finally the bun was stale. Our waiter came and checked on us halfway through eating but he wasn't super attentive and as soon as he took our plates he just threw the bill on the table. No "would you like dessert" Almost as if he was trying to hurry us out. My husband is a brownie sundae fanatic and saw it on the menu so he asked if we could get dessert. we ordered the brownie sundae and apple pie. Both tasted like they were low quality store bought and the ice cream was crystallizing in the center indicating it had been removed from the freezer several times, thawed, and then refrozen. After we finished eating the waiter again threw the bill on the table my husband again had to get his attention to let him know we had a coupon. Our bill was about $23.00 after the coupon and I feel we paid $23.00 too much. Summary: Bad food Bad Wait staff BAD experience Don't waste your money or time at this place
(1)
Dan P.
we were here last Saturday. With the exception of our bartender, it was really bad. The food was sub-par and the wait staff was not very professional. it was dead so they took this time to eat at the bar with a patron as he drank. they were loud and we had the feeling we were bugging them. we heard one waitress tell another that she would have chased after a guy because of a bad tip and another waitress explain all about her pink eye. we gave it a try and never again!
(1)
Stefanie T.
There really isn't anything good to say about this place. The food is not good and the service is the worst around. I've been here multiple times and each time the menu is different and the service gets worse. Most recently my visit today was so bad there will not ever be a return visit. Which is a shame because I live a few blocks from the place. I ordered fish and chips (it used to be on the menu be was taken off, I think they fired their old chef) I was told they would make it for me even though it's not on the menu. What is was given was some homemade chips and what tasted like Gordon fisherman fish sticks. All 4 of the "fish filets" we in uniform rectangles and tasted frozen. I'm pretty confident they came out of a bag. And the best part was our bored and couldn't care less waitress. Same your money and your time and don't eat here!
(1)
Timothy M.
Bring back Finn McCools. Don't go here if you have any interest in eating or drinking wine. Besides that - and the lackluster service, the place is okay. The female bartender was nice. She refunded our nachos, which looked like dog food on a bed of chips. Good stuff.
(1)
Brian S.
So, my original review had the hopes of this place getting its footing and becoming a go to place to eat and drink. After a few visits over the past few months, it became apparent that this was not the case. I've found that the service is lacking. Most of it seems to point to poor organization and management. The food can go from "pretty good" to "are they even trying?" More often than not, I was surprised how little was known about the menu items when asked about them. Combine that with inattention during our visits it solidified me not wanting to return. There are a lot of choices in Ambler, and this one is a bad one.
(1)
Zach V.
I finally got a chance to try 34 East with a few friends on a Tuesday night. The bar / restaurant is pretty much the same as Finn McCool's. They did some painting and added more high top tables. It wasn't very busy when we arrived and we were seated right away. Our waitress came over quickly and took our drink order and we also put in an order of hot wings. The beer list wasn't very interesting but they a few decent selections. I wanted to watch the Phil's game and we were able to because they have a lot of tv's. Most are pretty small though. Our wings came out quickly. Their blue cheese is made in house and its very watery. I'm used to it being much thicker. The sauce was good but nothing that would make me come back just to grab wings. They have been advertising they have the best burgers in the area so two of us had to try them. The roll was fresh and so was the burger patty. There is parsley and some other spices mixed with the ground chuck and it was flavorful. I believe the fries were also cut in house. I give the burger a solid B rating. Its def not the best burger in the area but it is a good one. I think this place is an improvement from Finn's. However there isn't anything that makes me want to come back on a regular basis. There isn't any specific special or beer that stands out. The patio is the best part of 34 but its only an option when the weather is nice.
(3)
Bryan S.
Great experience at 34 East Tavern. Was in PA for a few days and asked some friends where to go, they suggested 34 East Tavern. I was glad I checked it out. The older reviews did not sound good, but the new ones sounded great, which can be hit or miss, but this was not a miss for me at all. Servers seemed young, but energetic and took good care of our table. I can only talk about what I ate. I was in a burger mood and was very happy with mine. The burger seemed to have been freshly made, which was great. The 34 burger was simple, but exactly what I wanted. If you are in Ambler, check out 34 East Tavern.
(5)
Meredith M.
Gorgeous location (100 year old hotel) right in the middle of Ambler, with some outdoor seating. But that's about where the pros stop. I've been here several times, usually grabbing a beer on my way around town (I live walking distance from Butler, so bar crawls are a Thing with me). Last Friday, during first Friday, I decided to try dinner for the first time. First, I made a reservation because I wanted outside seating, then realized they never asked me the time. On Friday, I called to check and they had randomly written down 6pm instead of checking with me. My husband and I have late work schedules, so I would never schedule something for 6pm, so I changed it to 8. When we got there, they sat us on the patio right away. The menu looked pretty small. Just some apps, salads, burgers and sandwiches. And this is an American classic/bar menu kind of place, so not like they're trying to do high end dishes where a smaller menu would make sense. I have a suspicion they've tried cutting it down because the kitchen can't handle a larger menu. Well, they can't really handle this one, either, as evidenced by the fact that we were there for 90+ minutes. We had the perogies as an appetizer. They were painfully, obviously taken from a bag in the freezer. It's not like I was expecting hand made pasta dumplings, given the look of this place, but they could really try harder. I'm not sure if they baked them or what, but they were chewy. For an entree, I got the fish sandwich. It arrived and it was 2 pieces of fried fish on a bun with some tasteless "remoulade." That's it. No garnish. I asked for some lettuce and tomato, at least, and they obliged. Seriously, when it first came out I said to my husband that I could have gotten a Filet O Fish at McDonald's if that's what I was looking for. Somehow we ended up paying $70 for our experience. Oh, and people come out and smoke on the patio right in front of the door. I had a guy stand RIGHT NEXT TO ME, upwind, and got a huge cloud of smoke in the face. My husband confronted him, and while he moved, he was kind of surprised that smoking around people who are eating (and less than 20 feet from a door, which is illegal) would be frowned upon. So that's the clientele. The beer list is okay. Sometimes its better than others. They have the traditional lager, Miller, Coors, etc, plus some craft options. I'm not sure the staff knows much about the rotating craft beer, though. Forest and Main, Bar 31, and even the Lucky Well are places with better beer lists. In the future, I'll only be stopping for beer. I would highly recommend trying KC's Alley, by the train station about 2 blocks away, over this place. They also have an American/bar type of food menu, traditional beers, and rotating craft beers, plus a casual atmosphere, but with MUCH better service and food.
(2)
Mike C.
Our local swim club has a yearly Board of Directors banquet. Each year we try a different venue. This year we chose the 34 East Tavern located on Butler ave in Ambler, Pa. I contacted the restaurant to get pricing information, and was able to work directly with Chef Justin. We were offered appetizers, a main course buffet, and desert. The servers and bar tenders could not have been more friendly and helpful to our group. We had 30 people attending, and although the restaurant does not have a separate banquet room, they accommodated us by sectioning off a large area in the back. The appetizers were very good, and the main courses were excellent. Our group had a great time, and we will return again. The management also worked very hard to meet our budget needs.
(3)
Alison S.
The Hubby and I decided to try this place out last night for dinner. It looked fun from the outside so we thought "why not?"! OK, I'll tell you why not...expensive and odd. Our waitress, Madison, was FANTASTIC. I would only have given one star if it weren't for her. She was on top of everything and it was refreshing! We ordered nuclear wings with extra hot sauce on the side. The kitchen made plain wings (which were pretty tasty) and a side of hot sauce. Madison quickly noticed and took the wings back to the kitchen. Well, I don't know what kind of "hot" sauce they used, but it wasn't hot-AT ALL. No heat-NONE! I then ordered basically a French dip. It was ok. I ordered a side of roasted veggies that were really good. hubby ordered a burger that he did like. the problem with this place, aside from m'eh food is the atmosphere. What the hell is it? Is it a sports bar? A night club? A restaurant catering to an older crowd? What is it? It needs to hone in on the food and pick an identity and SOON. Oh if you do go, ask for Madison!
(2)
Chris M.
Not a bad place, but I think I am too old to hang out here, at least after a certain hour. We got in around 8pm on a Saturday, and it was little busy (not too busy). They have a few craft options on tap alongside the usual stuff, and the bartenders here are nice. The beer or two we had was pleasant enough. When we got in, there was some diversity of age, but as we approached 9pm and after, the crowd got really young, really fast--like 22 year olds. The jukebox was going all night and playing a curious mix of country (about 70% of the songs) and a blend of pop punk, hiphop, and pop. We left as the crowd was going nuts for "Party in the USA." Exeunt old people.
(3)
John R.
Ok, I don't know where these people are going to get the bad reviews. I have visited 34 East a few times and each time I go, I am greeted and served by very friendly people! The bartenders and servers know how to share a laugh with their guests and the management is just as friendly, approachable and humorous all while staying professional. This is an environment that each patron should love. I have been in the service industry for many, many years and it is rare to see such friendly staff. Especially when I first visited. The food is quite good! I had the sweet potato fries and the honey drizzle made the sweet and salt balance almost perfectly. I also had the Peking Duck Spring Rolls...my mouth is watering just thinking about them. To the owners and management, keep up the great work! You definitely have a long time customer right here!
(5)
Mike S.
Def a great experience had the bacon wrapped meat loaf. Was AMAZING. The gf had the BBQ ribs... Loved them! Great service good beers. Will be back again... CHECK THEM OUT!
(5)
Dan H.
Giving this place another star after visiting again this week. Still not a fan of the atmosphere and the service wasn't great, but their beer selection was much improved from the other times I had been. They had Firestone Walker, Lost Abbey, Troegs Perpetual IPA and a couple of Victory beers on tap, including Dirt Wolf. Their prices seem a little unpredictable, some beers are maybe $1 higher than most other places in the area, but I had my choice of several good beers.
(3)
N P.
I have been here 3-4 times since it reopened as 34 East, and each time has been a different experience. The patio seating is great in the summer. They have a wide selection of beers on tap, including several craft and local beers. The food is hit or miss, and the same menu item may be different on different visits. Overall the food is pretty good, solid pub grub. When the food has been subpar it's usually just bland or tasted like generic fried food. Service is usually good, and the servers and bartenders are pretty attentive, even when its busy.
(4)
Mike B.
I'm a fan. Great servers/bartenders, good food, good beer, good atmosphere!! I would suggest items like the burgers - hand made! Cheesesteak and definitely the stuffed jalapeños. The French fries are crispy, and wings delicious. While the atmosphere is fun, I've never found it loud or obnoxious. I'm excited for trivia, live music, and a dart board!!!
Went on a Friday night and was told that we would have to wait about 15-20 minutes. Ended up waiting an hour. Although there is a room in the front big enough to put benches or chairs in, there were none, and we stood against the wall. The hostesses seemed very friendly and were aware that we were unhappy, so I was hoping that once we got to the table that we would have good service. However, that was not the case. The waitress wasn't rude but was not especially attentive or personable and we waited another hour for our entrees to come out. My sandwich and fries were lukewarm but of course after waiting so long I did not bother to send it back and wait even longer. The meal was very disappointing, although the other three people in my party said that their meals were good. Perhaps there is room for improvement but I will not be quick to return.
(2)
t s.
We went here for Restaurant Week and some of the items on the advertised, limited Restaurant Week menu were not even available--and we were the first diners in the restaurant. That set the tone for the whole meal. First course salad was terrific, second course sandwiches were boring and bland, dessert was fine but not what was advertised. All in all it was a disappointing experience.
(2)
CJ J.
We went here for Dinner on Friday evening and it was just ok. We were seated quickly and the waitress did not tell us the flatbread of the day - we had to ask. You would think that they would tell you about that as it is listed as a special. We ordered drinks and food. Our appetizers took some time to come (cheese and fries - that was it). Then our food came out just a few minutes after our appetizer. We had barely eaten much. Poor timing. My wife and I were not asked if we wanted anything additional to drink. Now on to the food/menu. The menu is ok - nothing special. I expected more after all the hype. There is a good selection of craft beers and that sure does not disappoint. The cheese board ($16 for 2 cheeses) - was ok. I expected more accompaniments or better cheese selection for that price. The fries were ok though the kids liked them. As far as the food goes - I had the cobb salad with chicken and was there was not enough dressing nor was the salad put together well. A little bit more care would have gone a long way. My wife's salad was ok (as she put it). The kid's mac & cheese was disappointing to say the least. Not enough and just penne w/ cheese was it. I think we will wait some time before going back - hopefully they can turn their food and service around.
(2)
Jessica S.
a hidden gem! if you haven't been here in a while, give it another try - new management is excellent and has really pulled things together. the food is fresh and delicious with a rotating calendar of daily specials. i highly recommend the burgers, and the greek salad is amazing. staff is friendly and efficient. to make things even better, they've got live entertainment every night! it's my new go-to spot to listen to music and grab a beer with friends. the atmosphere is fun, funky and laid back. five stars!
(5)
Nick E.
Very nice service for outdoor seating. Nice selection of beers. Did not try the food. Staff at the tavern do take a lot if smoking breaks.
(3)
Marty W.
Another satisfying dinner at 34 East. I enjoyed a nice fat juicy 34 East burger with fries and a Yards on tap, while my guest enjoyed the chicken wings. Big meaty wings with great choice of dips. I wasn't there to drink but beer selection is extensive. Also great atmosphere with mostly friendly staff. Will go back again soon!
(4)
Chris D.
Bizarre night at 34 EAST...We won't hold against the place the drunk guy at the bar who wanted to befriend us as soon as we were seated. But we will hold against the place the less than mediocre service and 'less than less than mediocre' food. When we got the food (the runners seemed to have issues with the table configuration - supposedly as a result of restaurant week) we wished we hadn't. Giving credit where it's slightly due, the cheese steak eggroll, I mean spring rolls were decent. My wings, ordered 'hot' were a notch above mild to no flavor and who serves wings with celery but no blue cheese dressing!?. Oh and one of the wings on my plate appeared half eaten! Honest to god! (see photo - yummy huh?). The Greek Salad could have been a 'big side salad' with chicken on it - for $15 - no kalamata olives and hardly a trace of feta. The dressing was lacking as well. The server never checked back with us until we were through with what we could eat. His excuse was that its restaurant week - which is strange because the place was half empty. You be the judge. Give it a whirl and see if you agree. Hopefully you'll have a better than 1-star experience.
(1)
Donna C.
Worst place I have EVER been to! The food is terrible, the bathroom was filthy, it took 15 minutes to get a drink and it wasn't even busy! The night manager saw that my friends and I were waiting for a drink and didn't offer to help! Instead he continued to sit at the bar and drink his own Alcoholic beverage when he was supposed to be managing the place and making sure that every customer is taken care of! A very unprofessional business! My friends and I will NOT be returning there!
(1)
Emily H.
When we heard about a new restaurant opening in Ambler with a focus on craft beers we were thrilled. Unfortunately our first experience here was disappointing and inconsistent at best, and we don't plan to return. We went for a casual dinner Saturday and were pleasantly greeted and seated outside. We were excited about the beer options and thought the menu looked promising. My boyfriend ordered the California burger and I had the Asian chicken sandwich. The chicken was cooked well though not very flavorful considering the wasabi mustard that accompanied it. The burger was extremely over cooked (he ordered it medium rare and it arrived well done). Both came with fries and when the server inquired about the meal and I let her know that both portions of fries were cold. I typically don't send food back but i wanted to give them a chance since it was my first visit. She politely stated that she would bring us new fries, and returned quickly with additional fries, but these were still cold! Clearly she had simply returned to the kitchen and taken fries from the same batch. i have been a server before and i wouldnt have had a job long if i handled a complaint that way. I wasn't given a chance to say anything about this, however, as she pretty blatantly avoided us the rest of our meal. She also didn't ask how our dinner was when she came to clear the dishes, even though my fries were clearly untouched. It's a small thing but struck me as unprofessional, and I don't have much optimism about future meals when a restaurant cannot cook a burger and fries correctly.
(2)
Yvonne A.
Dropped by this place on 7/20/13 to check out the new ownership and just to have beer on the deck. I have to say that I will NOT be stopping by any time soon. This place has no idea what they are doing. I orderd a half Guinness /Half Cider located on the bottom of the drink menu, afte about 5 mins the waitress came out and asked if I wanted Two drinks? I showed her the menu and explained what I wanted again, when she came out I had a glass of just Cider! I sent it back and for the THIRD time told her what I wanted. About 20 mins into ordering these drinks she finall got it right. Another couple sat down next to us and waited over 45 mins for their dinner and had to cancel cause the meal didnt show and they were going to a movie in less then 15mins. THe four top of individuals on the other side of us was complaining out getting there desserts and they had been waiting over 30 minutes????? Not a single table around us was happy. It took more that 25 mintues to get our check and the waitress said you can just leave your beers are on me. Needless to say we did pay our bill and left. This place needs some management skills. Its a great location, the outside patio is awesome but service is poor!
(2)
Bob B.
Wow this place disappoints. The fruit flies at the bar were disgusting. My wife had to keep a napkin over her glass. Summer corn chowder had frozen vegetables and no flavor. Was told the flatbread of the day was BBQ chicken. They served ours with sundried tomatoes mushrooms and feta. My wife hates mushrooms. Pork sandwich was Luke warm and the fries were cold and so over salted they were inedible. Halfway home we realized they did not give our credit card back so we had to drive back. Don't waste your money here. Too many other great dining options in Ambler.
I've been there four times now. At first it was pretty bad. The staff were busy talking among themselves, the burger tasted like Lipton onion soup mix and ground beef. Not bad but not what you expect at a restaurant. I just figured it was because it had just opened and they were working out the kinks. Nope. Second time I just stopped in for a beer on a hot day. I was the only person at the bar other than a person who worked there that stopped in on his day off. It took forever to get a beer. Again, they were just talking to each other. At least this time there was a mystery. They were discussing a missing jar of cherries. But this last time.... I was standing there waiting to be seated while the hostess was watching one of the million TVs. She turned and saw us but didn't get up till the bartender said something. Then a guy with a leaf blower made us get up after we were seated outside to blow the cigarette butts onto the sidewalk. Then we had to go in and ask for forks and napkins. The food is okay at best. The worst in Ambler though. The staff is unbelievable. They don't clean their lines at the taps. The atmosphere is not very Ambler either. Picture a Fridays without the stuff on the walls. Way too many TVs. They do have that outdoor seating though. That's the ONLY draw.
(1)
Sally A.
My husband got the cheesesteak and wings, i got side salad and kids got hamburgers. The food was mediocre. They seem like they are trying to figure out their identity and just haven't gotten it right. There are so many good restaurants in Ambler ~ I don't need to go back to this one.
Tried for first time... Which will be our last. Went for dinner during the week. Beer is expensive. Nearly $7 for a Guinness? Had loaded fries which were pretty good but not special. Steamers were sub par and broth way over salted. Practically inedible. My wife had a beet salad that was "meh." she said beets were tasteless and dressing was clearly commercial quality. I had the trout which was greasy, fishy tasting, skin was soggy and it too was way over salted. Everything here was slightly subpar, and overly salted and fatty. Trying to cover up poor ingredients? Is their cook a smoker with no taste buds left ergo all the salt? We were hoping for an alternative to Fireside or defunct Schanachie. This is not it and we will not be going back. Too bad.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : DJ, Live Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Mike N.
Almost left after waiting 10+ minutes to get a beer! This is not an exaggeration. It was last Saturday and it was a crowded bar and band. Three bartenders couldn't keep drinks in people's hands. I had to keep switching sides of the bar to strategically place myself in front of the bartenders. I was not the only thirsty one. Others around me who did get served were watching me beg for a beer and shared their similar experience. They even started helping me waive down a bartender. ha! I live so close I was going to go home, but was meeting a friend there. It was brutal. When I did get served I got 2 for myself to avoid the wait for my next one. As a local resident, I support local businesses and hope to see them survive and thrive. Something needs to change here and this wasn't my first bad experience. I've eaten here twice and it was just okay. Not sure what it's like during the week, but I would skip this place on the weekend. Such a cool, historic building for such a crappy bar. Forest & Main brewery in Ambler should move into 34 East after they close their doors. So many better options in Ambler!
(1)Chad E.
Very disappointing. Poor draft selection for a supposed craft beer bar. Terrible service at the bar, despite it being very empty. Chicken tenders were mediocre - similar to what you get in the frozen food section. I was excited for a good beer bar in Ambler, but this is really no better than Finn McCools.
(1)George G.
Steak salad was gristly and almost uneatable. Beat salad had 4 slices of beats and the cheese was forgotten Asian chicken sandwich was ok, only because it was 8 bucks. Beer selection was expansive but lacked variety of brew types. The service was outstanding. I'd come back for beers and bar snacks but not dinner especially with the good variety of bars in Ambler like KC's Alley and Forest in main. Ill try back in about a year to see if there is any improvement, maybe earlier if the management wants to redeem their cook staff's attempt at a meal for my fiancé and I. I'd like to see this place succeed but have yet to see any redeeming qualities.
(2)Julie M.
I wish I could give a 3.5 because I think a four might be a little too high. Great beer selection, and good bar food but it's not somewhere I would go for a really great meal.
(4)Harvey G.
Great Food. Great Service! I had dinner there last night with another couple and we all enjoyed our meals. Flat bread was fabuloso, mussels in red were just as good as Ralph's in South Philly (my personal fav). The sweet potato french fries were to die for...Best fries we've ever eaten (this was unanimous). The hamburger, I had was cooked perfectly, big juicy and delicious. My "significant other" had the Italian pork sandwhich with Brocolli Rabe, Spinich and provolone cheese - which she loved. The other couple had a chicken cheese steak sandwhich (mouth watering (according to him) and a Portobello Sandwhich (delicioso according to her). This place iis new. We discovered it after going to the Ambler Movie (it's just down the street). This place is an unbelievable value for the money! Try it...You'll Like It! Harvey G - Elkins Park
(5)Nicole D.
Worst. Experience. Ever. I went here back in late Sept/ early Oct at the recommendation of a friend. He was buddies with a chef so he brought his wife and I went along with the BF. The four of us were expecting a nice meal. What a disappointment! I don't even know where to start. First of all, it was an early Saturday evening and they weren't busy but there was no server in sight. Once she showed up, it took forever to get our drinks and the order was wrong. I was under the impression this was her first day at her first job EVER. Any beer or menu questions we asked left her bewildered. We tired ordering some of the beers listed on the chalkboard only to find they were out. It is chalk!! Erase it!!! Out of the four of us, only one enjoyed their meal and that was my BF. Our appetizer came out the same time as our food- which took forever. We wanted drink refills however, the ditzy waitress was nowhere in sight so we had to flag down someone else. The broccoli rabe on my sandwich had gone bad. Other people said their food was cold. My friend apologized for being the one that brought us to this mess of a night- but it wasn't his fault. Apparently he had dined there three times before and had never had a problem. Unfortunately, anything for us that could go wrong- did. After several attempts to get our check, we paid and left. We ended up going up the street to another bar where they actually served us beers. Ones they had listed and in stock. I will never, EVER go back here. I'm in Ambler often and every time my BF and I pass this place by, we laugh at the awful experience we had. Our friend is also teased about not being allowed to pick restaurants any more.
(1)Charles S.
I give this a solid 3 star rating because its good neighborhood family place. Its not great and its not terrible. We like to come here because its priced right, service is dependable, and the food is decent. If I didn't live 5 blocks away, it wouldn't be on my radar. The place is big, has a respectable menu, and offers some tasty beer. I can't complain.
(3)James H.
This place is dirty, the staff is immature, and the service is god awful. We went here on first Friday before my friend was set to play an acoustic set at Toto's on North Main. We decided we'd grab a drink first, and we walked by the equally horrid Bar 31 to come here. Should've gone to KC's. It took over an hour for a single appetizer, a flat bread pizza, which they made incorrectly. I asked for the pizza of the day, which was BBQ Chicken, and they brought me something smothered in blue cheese, which I hate. It took us over 15 minutes for a single beer. We didn't bother to complain about the abysmal service, the food error, or the dirty environment. We simply left, and missed half of my friend's set. If you're not in a rush, want to sit outside, and want to drink beer, this may be worth a stop as the outdoor seating is a nice draw. Outside of that, KC's dominates the place. 34 East should reach out to bar rescue.. the management, staff, and poor kitchen quality will put them under.
(1)Kris C.
Looking for a nice quiet place for a drink and a bite on a Thursday night in Ambler? 34 East is a great choice. For the size of the place it was pretty empty but I'm putting that down as a good thing. The place has a nice neighborhood bar ambience without being grimey or pretentious. Our server was Dave and I have to say that he made the experience there all that much better. I read some of the other reviews people have posted and was surprised at the difference of experience that we had there. Our server was nice, helpful and funny without being to overbearing and annoying like so many "funny" servers can be. He made some good food suggestions based off of what we were asking about and had us order the perogie poppers appetizer and the Italian pork sandwich. The poppers were a perfect starter, basically just mini perogies with a delicious garlic dipping sauce. Before we could completely finish them the sandwich was delivered and we were presently surprised at the size of it. Pork, peppers and sharp provolone on a long roll with a heaping pile of sweet potatoes fries. We both only each ate one half of the sandwich and were satisfied fully. Dave did stop by the table with a plate of desserts that really looked immaculate but neither of us had it in us to put down any more food. Almost wish we had ordered some of it to go because the peanut butter chocolate cake/pie/whatever it was looked delicious, and that's coming from someone that almost never eats sweets. Overall I would definitely recommend 34 East Tavern to anyone that wants a nice quiet place to eat, some good American style bar food and an attentive & funny waiter. Just make sure you ask for Dave, I can't speak for any of the other people that work there, but he really did help make our experience there that much more enjoyable. Cheers Davie, Cheers!
(4)Jill M.
My friend and I enjoyed our salads and delicious Chardonnay. The environment was pleasant. They are starting brunch and live music. I will return to check it out.
(4)Susan R.
Yesterday was the start of Ambler's RW. We wanted to try the one place we have never been and decided on 34 East Tavern. We arrived around 5:30 for a very late lunch/early dinner. There were a few parties sitting outside and the inside empty with the exception of a few folks sitting at the bar. We were seated at a table directly under a speaker and within 2 minutes they turned up the volume. We asked to be moved at that point. As soon as we were seated at another table, they turned the volume up again. We asked our server to please turn the volume down. It was ridiculously loud for an empty restaurant. My husband is a musician and he was annoyed. This should have been our cue to leave and pick another place to eat. Their "special" chardonnay was described; "it's like butta". Well, it was as unoaked as a chardonnay could be. It was intention to order from the RW menu, but I really thought the beet salad and mussels were more in line with my tastes for the day. My husband ordered the chopped salad and a burger, medium rare. The salads were served on warm plates and the lettuce was basically room temperature. A gentleman stopped by and asked about the salads. I asked him if he was the owner and he said; "I am the general manager. If I was the owner, I would be at the shore". Okay...... Then he said they were so busy outside that the salad plates were just out of the dish washer. Not at all concerned with my comment. Halfway through our salads, the next course was delivered. Our server offered to take the food back and let it sit under the heat lamps. Uh, that would be no. I put my salad aside and started eating the mussels. They were barely warm and starting to dry out. It seems they were already enjoying some quality time under the heat lamps. My husband's burger was almost completely well done. No one came to ask if everything was okay. I picked at the mussels and my husband ate half the burger. When our server came back, we told her we were disappointed with the food. She said she would tell the manager. She returned to our table with our check. That's it. No apology for the poor quality food. We paid and as we were leaving the general manger thanked us for coming in. I replied that we would not be returning. I know that sounds rude, but I was really put off. I give them 1 star because my husband's beer was good and cold.
(1)Colleen M.
We went there on opening night, and it was pretty busy. We didn't have any food or drinks because we wanted to sit at the bar and the bar was full. When we asked if we could sit at one of the high top tables around the bar, we were told no because those tables were reserved for people sitting outside in case the weather turned nasty. Not a good policy in my opinion, and they lost 2 customers at least for that night. Not sure if we will return.
(1)Meghan B.
Very disappointed by 34 East. My fish and chips were soggy and did not taste fresh at all. We were seated in the back next to the kitchen, which was loud and smelled foul. Our server was friendly, but the food came out slowly. Will try other restaurants in Ambler before coming back here.
(2)Jackie R.
I went to this place because I had a coupon for $10.00 off a tab of $20.00 from restaurant.com . Based off of the reviews I was expecting a phenomenal burger and ribs. This is not what I got! Based on appearances alone the place definitely stands out and looks inviting both on the outside and inside this is where the praise of this place starts and ends. Maybe 1/3 - 1/4 of the restaurant was filled with other diners, we let this go bc of the time of night (nearly 7:00 on a school night) we sat down and looked over the menu. Both my husband and I decided on the BBQ. After we ordered the waiter tells us of we just ended a promotion that was every Monday night that when you order a burger you only pay half. Ok great, why are you telling me this now when the promotion is no longer valid? It made no sense! Actually it really irritated me and I wanted to leave right then but my stomach held me back and was like "noooo I need you to fill me" haha we waited about 15-20 minutes for our food to come out, which if you ask me is way to long when over half of the place is empty and half of the people who are there are at the bar drinking NOT eating food! The burger itself was totally unseasoned, like the cook just grabbed some piece formed it into a patty and threw it on the grill. The bacon was chewy and tasted like it had been in put in and out of a fridge for some time and reheated and finally the bun was stale. Our waiter came and checked on us halfway through eating but he wasn't super attentive and as soon as he took our plates he just threw the bill on the table. No "would you like dessert" Almost as if he was trying to hurry us out. My husband is a brownie sundae fanatic and saw it on the menu so he asked if we could get dessert. we ordered the brownie sundae and apple pie. Both tasted like they were low quality store bought and the ice cream was crystallizing in the center indicating it had been removed from the freezer several times, thawed, and then refrozen. After we finished eating the waiter again threw the bill on the table my husband again had to get his attention to let him know we had a coupon. Our bill was about $23.00 after the coupon and I feel we paid $23.00 too much. Summary: Bad food Bad Wait staff BAD experience Don't waste your money or time at this place
(1)Dan P.
we were here last Saturday. With the exception of our bartender, it was really bad. The food was sub-par and the wait staff was not very professional. it was dead so they took this time to eat at the bar with a patron as he drank. they were loud and we had the feeling we were bugging them. we heard one waitress tell another that she would have chased after a guy because of a bad tip and another waitress explain all about her pink eye. we gave it a try and never again!
(1)Stefanie T.
There really isn't anything good to say about this place. The food is not good and the service is the worst around. I've been here multiple times and each time the menu is different and the service gets worse. Most recently my visit today was so bad there will not ever be a return visit. Which is a shame because I live a few blocks from the place. I ordered fish and chips (it used to be on the menu be was taken off, I think they fired their old chef) I was told they would make it for me even though it's not on the menu. What is was given was some homemade chips and what tasted like Gordon fisherman fish sticks. All 4 of the "fish filets" we in uniform rectangles and tasted frozen. I'm pretty confident they came out of a bag. And the best part was our bored and couldn't care less waitress. Same your money and your time and don't eat here!
(1)Timothy M.
Bring back Finn McCools. Don't go here if you have any interest in eating or drinking wine. Besides that - and the lackluster service, the place is okay. The female bartender was nice. She refunded our nachos, which looked like dog food on a bed of chips. Good stuff.
(1)Brian S.
So, my original review had the hopes of this place getting its footing and becoming a go to place to eat and drink. After a few visits over the past few months, it became apparent that this was not the case. I've found that the service is lacking. Most of it seems to point to poor organization and management. The food can go from "pretty good" to "are they even trying?" More often than not, I was surprised how little was known about the menu items when asked about them. Combine that with inattention during our visits it solidified me not wanting to return. There are a lot of choices in Ambler, and this one is a bad one.
(1)Zach V.
I finally got a chance to try 34 East with a few friends on a Tuesday night. The bar / restaurant is pretty much the same as Finn McCool's. They did some painting and added more high top tables. It wasn't very busy when we arrived and we were seated right away. Our waitress came over quickly and took our drink order and we also put in an order of hot wings. The beer list wasn't very interesting but they a few decent selections. I wanted to watch the Phil's game and we were able to because they have a lot of tv's. Most are pretty small though. Our wings came out quickly. Their blue cheese is made in house and its very watery. I'm used to it being much thicker. The sauce was good but nothing that would make me come back just to grab wings. They have been advertising they have the best burgers in the area so two of us had to try them. The roll was fresh and so was the burger patty. There is parsley and some other spices mixed with the ground chuck and it was flavorful. I believe the fries were also cut in house. I give the burger a solid B rating. Its def not the best burger in the area but it is a good one. I think this place is an improvement from Finn's. However there isn't anything that makes me want to come back on a regular basis. There isn't any specific special or beer that stands out. The patio is the best part of 34 but its only an option when the weather is nice.
(3)Bryan S.
Great experience at 34 East Tavern. Was in PA for a few days and asked some friends where to go, they suggested 34 East Tavern. I was glad I checked it out. The older reviews did not sound good, but the new ones sounded great, which can be hit or miss, but this was not a miss for me at all. Servers seemed young, but energetic and took good care of our table. I can only talk about what I ate. I was in a burger mood and was very happy with mine. The burger seemed to have been freshly made, which was great. The 34 burger was simple, but exactly what I wanted. If you are in Ambler, check out 34 East Tavern.
(5)Meredith M.
Gorgeous location (100 year old hotel) right in the middle of Ambler, with some outdoor seating. But that's about where the pros stop. I've been here several times, usually grabbing a beer on my way around town (I live walking distance from Butler, so bar crawls are a Thing with me). Last Friday, during first Friday, I decided to try dinner for the first time. First, I made a reservation because I wanted outside seating, then realized they never asked me the time. On Friday, I called to check and they had randomly written down 6pm instead of checking with me. My husband and I have late work schedules, so I would never schedule something for 6pm, so I changed it to 8. When we got there, they sat us on the patio right away. The menu looked pretty small. Just some apps, salads, burgers and sandwiches. And this is an American classic/bar menu kind of place, so not like they're trying to do high end dishes where a smaller menu would make sense. I have a suspicion they've tried cutting it down because the kitchen can't handle a larger menu. Well, they can't really handle this one, either, as evidenced by the fact that we were there for 90+ minutes. We had the perogies as an appetizer. They were painfully, obviously taken from a bag in the freezer. It's not like I was expecting hand made pasta dumplings, given the look of this place, but they could really try harder. I'm not sure if they baked them or what, but they were chewy. For an entree, I got the fish sandwich. It arrived and it was 2 pieces of fried fish on a bun with some tasteless "remoulade." That's it. No garnish. I asked for some lettuce and tomato, at least, and they obliged. Seriously, when it first came out I said to my husband that I could have gotten a Filet O Fish at McDonald's if that's what I was looking for. Somehow we ended up paying $70 for our experience. Oh, and people come out and smoke on the patio right in front of the door. I had a guy stand RIGHT NEXT TO ME, upwind, and got a huge cloud of smoke in the face. My husband confronted him, and while he moved, he was kind of surprised that smoking around people who are eating (and less than 20 feet from a door, which is illegal) would be frowned upon. So that's the clientele. The beer list is okay. Sometimes its better than others. They have the traditional lager, Miller, Coors, etc, plus some craft options. I'm not sure the staff knows much about the rotating craft beer, though. Forest and Main, Bar 31, and even the Lucky Well are places with better beer lists. In the future, I'll only be stopping for beer. I would highly recommend trying KC's Alley, by the train station about 2 blocks away, over this place. They also have an American/bar type of food menu, traditional beers, and rotating craft beers, plus a casual atmosphere, but with MUCH better service and food.
(2)Mike C.
Our local swim club has a yearly Board of Directors banquet. Each year we try a different venue. This year we chose the 34 East Tavern located on Butler ave in Ambler, Pa. I contacted the restaurant to get pricing information, and was able to work directly with Chef Justin. We were offered appetizers, a main course buffet, and desert. The servers and bar tenders could not have been more friendly and helpful to our group. We had 30 people attending, and although the restaurant does not have a separate banquet room, they accommodated us by sectioning off a large area in the back. The appetizers were very good, and the main courses were excellent. Our group had a great time, and we will return again. The management also worked very hard to meet our budget needs.
(3)Alison S.
The Hubby and I decided to try this place out last night for dinner. It looked fun from the outside so we thought "why not?"! OK, I'll tell you why not...expensive and odd. Our waitress, Madison, was FANTASTIC. I would only have given one star if it weren't for her. She was on top of everything and it was refreshing! We ordered nuclear wings with extra hot sauce on the side. The kitchen made plain wings (which were pretty tasty) and a side of hot sauce. Madison quickly noticed and took the wings back to the kitchen. Well, I don't know what kind of "hot" sauce they used, but it wasn't hot-AT ALL. No heat-NONE! I then ordered basically a French dip. It was ok. I ordered a side of roasted veggies that were really good. hubby ordered a burger that he did like. the problem with this place, aside from m'eh food is the atmosphere. What the hell is it? Is it a sports bar? A night club? A restaurant catering to an older crowd? What is it? It needs to hone in on the food and pick an identity and SOON. Oh if you do go, ask for Madison!
(2)Chris M.
Not a bad place, but I think I am too old to hang out here, at least after a certain hour. We got in around 8pm on a Saturday, and it was little busy (not too busy). They have a few craft options on tap alongside the usual stuff, and the bartenders here are nice. The beer or two we had was pleasant enough. When we got in, there was some diversity of age, but as we approached 9pm and after, the crowd got really young, really fast--like 22 year olds. The jukebox was going all night and playing a curious mix of country (about 70% of the songs) and a blend of pop punk, hiphop, and pop. We left as the crowd was going nuts for "Party in the USA." Exeunt old people.
(3)John R.
Ok, I don't know where these people are going to get the bad reviews. I have visited 34 East a few times and each time I go, I am greeted and served by very friendly people! The bartenders and servers know how to share a laugh with their guests and the management is just as friendly, approachable and humorous all while staying professional. This is an environment that each patron should love. I have been in the service industry for many, many years and it is rare to see such friendly staff. Especially when I first visited. The food is quite good! I had the sweet potato fries and the honey drizzle made the sweet and salt balance almost perfectly. I also had the Peking Duck Spring Rolls...my mouth is watering just thinking about them. To the owners and management, keep up the great work! You definitely have a long time customer right here!
(5)Mike S.
Def a great experience had the bacon wrapped meat loaf. Was AMAZING. The gf had the BBQ ribs... Loved them! Great service good beers. Will be back again... CHECK THEM OUT!
(5)Dan H.
Giving this place another star after visiting again this week. Still not a fan of the atmosphere and the service wasn't great, but their beer selection was much improved from the other times I had been. They had Firestone Walker, Lost Abbey, Troegs Perpetual IPA and a couple of Victory beers on tap, including Dirt Wolf. Their prices seem a little unpredictable, some beers are maybe $1 higher than most other places in the area, but I had my choice of several good beers.
(3)N P.
I have been here 3-4 times since it reopened as 34 East, and each time has been a different experience. The patio seating is great in the summer. They have a wide selection of beers on tap, including several craft and local beers. The food is hit or miss, and the same menu item may be different on different visits. Overall the food is pretty good, solid pub grub. When the food has been subpar it's usually just bland or tasted like generic fried food. Service is usually good, and the servers and bartenders are pretty attentive, even when its busy.
(4)Mike B.
I'm a fan. Great servers/bartenders, good food, good beer, good atmosphere!! I would suggest items like the burgers - hand made! Cheesesteak and definitely the stuffed jalapeños. The French fries are crispy, and wings delicious. While the atmosphere is fun, I've never found it loud or obnoxious. I'm excited for trivia, live music, and a dart board!!!
(4)Vicki S.
I've been to 34 east tavern for drinks on several occasions, usually when my fiancée and I visit his parents in Ft. Washington. The service is always friendly and the drinks are great. They always have a good selection of rotating craft beers. Food-wise, I'd recommend the wings, sweet potato fries, and turkey and brie sandwich. We came here on a late night once after the kitchen was closed and the chef was nice enough to still open the kitchen and make us food. This obviously makes this place worthy of repeat visits. Since the new management has taken over, they are always doing some sort of event, a lot of which involving the community or live music so that's a big plus for a neighborhood bar.
(5)Sam H.
Went on a Friday night and was told that we would have to wait about 15-20 minutes. Ended up waiting an hour. Although there is a room in the front big enough to put benches or chairs in, there were none, and we stood against the wall. The hostesses seemed very friendly and were aware that we were unhappy, so I was hoping that once we got to the table that we would have good service. However, that was not the case. The waitress wasn't rude but was not especially attentive or personable and we waited another hour for our entrees to come out. My sandwich and fries were lukewarm but of course after waiting so long I did not bother to send it back and wait even longer. The meal was very disappointing, although the other three people in my party said that their meals were good. Perhaps there is room for improvement but I will not be quick to return.
(2)t s.
We went here for Restaurant Week and some of the items on the advertised, limited Restaurant Week menu were not even available--and we were the first diners in the restaurant. That set the tone for the whole meal. First course salad was terrific, second course sandwiches were boring and bland, dessert was fine but not what was advertised. All in all it was a disappointing experience.
(2)CJ J.
We went here for Dinner on Friday evening and it was just ok. We were seated quickly and the waitress did not tell us the flatbread of the day - we had to ask. You would think that they would tell you about that as it is listed as a special. We ordered drinks and food. Our appetizers took some time to come (cheese and fries - that was it). Then our food came out just a few minutes after our appetizer. We had barely eaten much. Poor timing. My wife and I were not asked if we wanted anything additional to drink. Now on to the food/menu. The menu is ok - nothing special. I expected more after all the hype. There is a good selection of craft beers and that sure does not disappoint. The cheese board ($16 for 2 cheeses) - was ok. I expected more accompaniments or better cheese selection for that price. The fries were ok though the kids liked them. As far as the food goes - I had the cobb salad with chicken and was there was not enough dressing nor was the salad put together well. A little bit more care would have gone a long way. My wife's salad was ok (as she put it). The kid's mac & cheese was disappointing to say the least. Not enough and just penne w/ cheese was it. I think we will wait some time before going back - hopefully they can turn their food and service around.
(2)Jessica S.
a hidden gem! if you haven't been here in a while, give it another try - new management is excellent and has really pulled things together. the food is fresh and delicious with a rotating calendar of daily specials. i highly recommend the burgers, and the greek salad is amazing. staff is friendly and efficient. to make things even better, they've got live entertainment every night! it's my new go-to spot to listen to music and grab a beer with friends. the atmosphere is fun, funky and laid back. five stars!
(5)Nick E.
Very nice service for outdoor seating. Nice selection of beers. Did not try the food. Staff at the tavern do take a lot if smoking breaks.
(3)Marty W.
Another satisfying dinner at 34 East. I enjoyed a nice fat juicy 34 East burger with fries and a Yards on tap, while my guest enjoyed the chicken wings. Big meaty wings with great choice of dips. I wasn't there to drink but beer selection is extensive. Also great atmosphere with mostly friendly staff. Will go back again soon!
(4)Chris D.
Bizarre night at 34 EAST...We won't hold against the place the drunk guy at the bar who wanted to befriend us as soon as we were seated. But we will hold against the place the less than mediocre service and 'less than less than mediocre' food. When we got the food (the runners seemed to have issues with the table configuration - supposedly as a result of restaurant week) we wished we hadn't. Giving credit where it's slightly due, the cheese steak eggroll, I mean spring rolls were decent. My wings, ordered 'hot' were a notch above mild to no flavor and who serves wings with celery but no blue cheese dressing!?. Oh and one of the wings on my plate appeared half eaten! Honest to god! (see photo - yummy huh?). The Greek Salad could have been a 'big side salad' with chicken on it - for $15 - no kalamata olives and hardly a trace of feta. The dressing was lacking as well. The server never checked back with us until we were through with what we could eat. His excuse was that its restaurant week - which is strange because the place was half empty. You be the judge. Give it a whirl and see if you agree. Hopefully you'll have a better than 1-star experience.
(1)Donna C.
Worst place I have EVER been to! The food is terrible, the bathroom was filthy, it took 15 minutes to get a drink and it wasn't even busy! The night manager saw that my friends and I were waiting for a drink and didn't offer to help! Instead he continued to sit at the bar and drink his own Alcoholic beverage when he was supposed to be managing the place and making sure that every customer is taken care of! A very unprofessional business! My friends and I will NOT be returning there!
(1)Emily H.
When we heard about a new restaurant opening in Ambler with a focus on craft beers we were thrilled. Unfortunately our first experience here was disappointing and inconsistent at best, and we don't plan to return. We went for a casual dinner Saturday and were pleasantly greeted and seated outside. We were excited about the beer options and thought the menu looked promising. My boyfriend ordered the California burger and I had the Asian chicken sandwich. The chicken was cooked well though not very flavorful considering the wasabi mustard that accompanied it. The burger was extremely over cooked (he ordered it medium rare and it arrived well done). Both came with fries and when the server inquired about the meal and I let her know that both portions of fries were cold. I typically don't send food back but i wanted to give them a chance since it was my first visit. She politely stated that she would bring us new fries, and returned quickly with additional fries, but these were still cold! Clearly she had simply returned to the kitchen and taken fries from the same batch. i have been a server before and i wouldnt have had a job long if i handled a complaint that way. I wasn't given a chance to say anything about this, however, as she pretty blatantly avoided us the rest of our meal. She also didn't ask how our dinner was when she came to clear the dishes, even though my fries were clearly untouched. It's a small thing but struck me as unprofessional, and I don't have much optimism about future meals when a restaurant cannot cook a burger and fries correctly.
(2)Yvonne A.
Dropped by this place on 7/20/13 to check out the new ownership and just to have beer on the deck. I have to say that I will NOT be stopping by any time soon. This place has no idea what they are doing. I orderd a half Guinness /Half Cider located on the bottom of the drink menu, afte about 5 mins the waitress came out and asked if I wanted Two drinks? I showed her the menu and explained what I wanted again, when she came out I had a glass of just Cider! I sent it back and for the THIRD time told her what I wanted. About 20 mins into ordering these drinks she finall got it right. Another couple sat down next to us and waited over 45 mins for their dinner and had to cancel cause the meal didnt show and they were going to a movie in less then 15mins. THe four top of individuals on the other side of us was complaining out getting there desserts and they had been waiting over 30 minutes????? Not a single table around us was happy. It took more that 25 mintues to get our check and the waitress said you can just leave your beers are on me. Needless to say we did pay our bill and left. This place needs some management skills. Its a great location, the outside patio is awesome but service is poor!
(2)Bob B.
Wow this place disappoints. The fruit flies at the bar were disgusting. My wife had to keep a napkin over her glass. Summer corn chowder had frozen vegetables and no flavor. Was told the flatbread of the day was BBQ chicken. They served ours with sundried tomatoes mushrooms and feta. My wife hates mushrooms. Pork sandwich was Luke warm and the fries were cold and so over salted they were inedible. Halfway home we realized they did not give our credit card back so we had to drive back. Don't waste your money here. Too many other great dining options in Ambler.
(1)Karen S.
Not good. Started with having a waitress almost walk into me and did not even excuse herself or apologize. Then there was a waiter(?) who thought he was God's gift to all women in the world. He was loud, inappropriate and hanging all over the waitresses. He looked like a muscle head and seemed to indicate that he owned the place. However, there was an older gentleman there who I thought also might be the owner. Anyway, Our waitress was attentive enough but I had to ask her what the specials were; she pointed to the plastic table tent without actually telling us what they were (I don't think she knew). Regarding the food, i had the summer chowder. I needed to add salt but it was edible ( although a bit of a strange color). I ordered the meatloaf (which I have never order in a restaurant) but it was wrapped in bacon so how can that be bad, right? Well, it was not good. Meatloaf had very little taste so obviously was not made using veal/beef/pork combination. Also, it seemed dry as it broke apart into crumbs. The garlic mashed potatoes were ok but the green beans were absolutely raw. My companion had the pork chop (very dry), brussels sprouts (uncooked) and a parsnip purée which looked like mashed potatoes with oranges; absolutely terrible. When I asked about dessert, I was told cheesecake and moose. We passed and paid $45 plus tip for truly awful food. Maybe bar food items are better? I won't be returning to find out.
(1)Tim B.
I've been there four times now. At first it was pretty bad. The staff were busy talking among themselves, the burger tasted like Lipton onion soup mix and ground beef. Not bad but not what you expect at a restaurant. I just figured it was because it had just opened and they were working out the kinks. Nope. Second time I just stopped in for a beer on a hot day. I was the only person at the bar other than a person who worked there that stopped in on his day off. It took forever to get a beer. Again, they were just talking to each other. At least this time there was a mystery. They were discussing a missing jar of cherries. But this last time.... I was standing there waiting to be seated while the hostess was watching one of the million TVs. She turned and saw us but didn't get up till the bartender said something. Then a guy with a leaf blower made us get up after we were seated outside to blow the cigarette butts onto the sidewalk. Then we had to go in and ask for forks and napkins. The food is okay at best. The worst in Ambler though. The staff is unbelievable. They don't clean their lines at the taps. The atmosphere is not very Ambler either. Picture a Fridays without the stuff on the walls. Way too many TVs. They do have that outdoor seating though. That's the ONLY draw.
(1)Sally A.
My husband got the cheesesteak and wings, i got side salad and kids got hamburgers. The food was mediocre. They seem like they are trying to figure out their identity and just haven't gotten it right. There are so many good restaurants in Ambler ~ I don't need to go back to this one.
(2)Ryan S.
I ate dinner there with my family last night (Wednesday), so this review is from the point of view of a family and food experience. I didn't have the opportunity to experience drinks. The service was good, not amazing, but definitely above average. We were seated quickly (though it wasn't busy), and the staffing was very courteous and engaging, from the door greeter to the hostess to the waitress. The atmosphere and décor are nice. It has the feel of an upscale tavern, not a pub. From what I could see, there was a TV within view of just about every seating position, which is important to me in a place like this. I was able to comfortably watch the Phillies game from my table. The bar area has an abundance of TVs, so it would probably be a good area to just pull up and watch a game with some friends. The main detractor from the experience, and unfortunately to me probably the most important part, was the food. I ordered a chicken cheesesteak, my wife ordered a '34' burger, and my kids ordered a half roasted chicken, kids' cheeseburger, and Caprise burger minus the burger (for the vegetarian child). The chicken cheesesteak had potential, but the problem was that it was seriously lacking in meat. I'm not a person that has to have the roll completely overfilled with meat (though I do appreciate that), but this cheesesteak seemed to have as much onions as chicken, and there wasn't much of either. The roll was not bad. The '34' burger tasted like meatloaf, which is interesting, but unexpected. My wife stopped eating after one bite. The half roasted chicken was somewhat bland, but the major problem with this entrée was the mashed potatoes - they were not worth eating. I get better potatoes out of the pre-made containers at the grocery store - the rotisserie chickens at the grocery store also have more flavor, and you get a whole chicken for about $5. If the entrée was more conservatively priced, I wouldn't point this out, but at $16 for a half chicken, mashed potatoes, and carrots, I would expect better quality. At $10-12, I might not complain - as much. I was expecting to take home what my daughter didn't eat for lunch the next day, but it wasn't worth keeping. My son really enjoyed the kids' burger. I didn't try it, but he ate the whole thing, which is rare. The Caprise burger (without burger) looked fine, though it would have been nice if the price was adjusted to reflect that the costliest part of the sandwich was not there (though if everything else was good, I would have ignored this). Overall, due to the staff and the atmosphere, I'd say this place has potential, but the food will keep me from coming back until I get a review from somebody that I trust that the food has improved. I would be willing to try it out for drinks, but another review about the beer selection may keep me from doing that.
(2)matt g.
Tried for first time... Which will be our last. Went for dinner during the week. Beer is expensive. Nearly $7 for a Guinness? Had loaded fries which were pretty good but not special. Steamers were sub par and broth way over salted. Practically inedible. My wife had a beet salad that was "meh." she said beets were tasteless and dressing was clearly commercial quality. I had the trout which was greasy, fishy tasting, skin was soggy and it too was way over salted. Everything here was slightly subpar, and overly salted and fatty. Trying to cover up poor ingredients? Is their cook a smoker with no taste buds left ergo all the salt? We were hoping for an alternative to Fireside or defunct Schanachie. This is not it and we will not be going back. Too bad.
(2)