Ok, we are from out of town and just happy to find something open after 10 on a Sunday night, but I do not consider this a dive bar. It was very clean, nicely furnished and the bar is granite. Though we arrived after the kitchen closed, the menu looked better than average for a bar. The waiter was friendly and the patrons were happy.
(5)
Scott B.
Not a good day for Finn McCool's. I placed an order two dinners to go. The first one up too bat was the fish and chips we had to reheat it in the oven when we arrived home since it was all soggy.( Hard to believe when you only live three blocks away.) Hence using Styrofoam to go containers for items like this isn't the best choice. The second item was a grilled steak salad. Now I know what you're thinking this actually sounds pretty good, but beware! When you open the container you are immediately presented with something that Jon Taffer from Bar Rescue would have a field day with. (Pictures will be included at the end of this review so you can develop your own opinion.) The steak was supposed to be medium rare but instead it was something you would expect back in grade school when classmates would tell you ''don't eat the schools meat on Wednesdays'' It was literally all shaved fat trimmings from a Ribeye steak. I'm not sure my dog would even take a gander at it. Moving on... I Immediately called Finn McCool's back to say help! My salad is really messed up I believe I spoke with the Manager and he was very friendly and asked if I would like a new one or a different item. After that horror show, I opted for a different item. The second choice was a Grilled Chicken Sandwich, I was thinking well, let's stick to something safe. When I arrived home with the second replacement meal I was anxious to open this meal up and eat it. The end result is the only thing salvageable was the French fries, there was so much aioli on this chicken sandwich they must of overstocked with Ken's dressing. I do not think I will be returning.. future patrons, returning customers... stick with a cocktail and hope the bartenders do a better job than the kitchen does. -Respectfully Submitted, -Scott, Philadelphia Resident.
(1)
Elaine M.
Finn McCool's is a dive but the servers and bartenders were very friendly when I was there last Friday night for Philly Beer Week. They had a great selection of California beers on tap for Beer Week, in addition to approximately 10 beers that they had on tap normally. My friend's shared a small deviled egg appetizer, that they were both surprisingly pleased with. We honestly weren't expecting much from the food at Finn McCool's. I did not partake in any food while we were there, so I can't comment any further on that. If you are just looking for a chill place, that isn't very crowded, Finn McCool's might be your new spot. Otherwise, keep walking, there are plenty of other bars around of an equal or superior level.
(3)
Cassie J.
Went here on an early Saturday afternoon as a part of a bar crawl. Not crowded-- upstairs bar was really cool. We did not order food-- they had $6 bar snacks though so that seemed like a decent price. Their specials was kind of basic-- light beer, regular beer. No well drinks or anything on special. Atmosphere was nice-- music was at a nice level. It was a nice day-- the upstairs had a big window that was open to view the street below.
(3)
Hali R.
I don't understand the low rating. I'm my experience, this place was great! I stopped in alone on a Monday night for a beer and a French Dip. The bearded, adorable bartender was super attentive and sweet. He told me all the specials and offered to let me sample the draft before I committed. He made nice conversation and made me feel welcome. Generally, going somewhere alone is awkward... It was not here. The place isn't very big but the service will keep me coming back.
(5)
Matt D.
So, there's not a whole lot to say about Finn McCool's other than it's "ok" in most aspects. It's a great location, doesn't get overly crowded, has a lot of tvs for sports watching, and the draft list is decent. My biggest complaint is the draft pours. They were consistently 2oz short on every beer, which drives me crazy at $6-7 a draft.
(3)
Bethany E.
Located in the corner of 12th and Sansom, it was convenient for an evening stop near our hotel. This place was quite busy with happy customers all around. Luckily we were able to find a table. Even with a crowd, our waitress gave us great service with a smile. She frequently checked on us! I decided to try their Cheesesteak of course. I was in Philly after all. The meat was chopped and packed into the hoagie roll. It was filled with flavor and delicious. We also spilt the nachos for an appetizer. Huge! They were good. It was not to long after receiving the nachos that our sandwiches came out. There was no way to finish everything. But I did enjoy my meal. With great service and good food, I was happy about our choice to stop in this pub.
(4)
Michelle S.
I think if I came back here, it would just be for beer, nothing mixed. After having a few brews around town, I just wanted a cocktail. I asked for a Mojito, which I'll admit was probably the wrong thing to order at a place like this, and what I got was sugar water and a few mint leaves. I'm not even sure there was any alcohol in it. Possibly the worst drink I've ever had. The place itself was very nice and clean, maybe they just renovated or something, but if that's how they made the drink, I don't know if I want to have anything off the menu. Who knows, maybe I'll try it again one day and have a better experience.
(3)
Steve L.
Lamb stew and a guiness. Perfect for a winter stop in the city. Service: Excellent, although the place was dead so don't weigh this. Food/dish quality: Taste on the milder side, cuts were a bit fatty. Minus 1 star for fat. All else well executed. Beer: Rich, fresh, clean and with a shamrock. Value: A bit pricy. My stew and brew (only 1 brew) cost about 25 bux. A bit pricy for lunch at a pub. Overall, I'd go back on company dime but not my own. Beer is simply too expensive for me to enjoy more than one.
(3)
Gerald S.
I have a memory of being in this place about twenty years ago, and it looking very different back then. I don't remember if it was McCool's or another name, but for sure it was a much darker and dingier dive in those days. Today, there are large windows along the back wall letting in some light, and the bar has been moved to the inner wall to permit that to happen. The place still has that old pub feel, all dark woods and lots of draft beer handles and liquor bottles on the back bar shelves. Yes. Plenty of choices, and a decent menu, too. When I stopped in around 1 for lunch before a meeting a few blocks away, there was only one other guy at the bar, and one table occupied. Those people were gone before I finished, leaving me to have a good conversation with Heather, the bartender. This is one of the benefits of late lunches. Miss the happy hour, but befriend the bartenders, and ask lots of questions. Very cool that she has been there 13 years, joining the crew shortly after the old place was purchased by the current owners who made all the structure changes seen today. Turns out the hosts are Greek and do a very good take on the tavern comfort foods coming out of the basement kitchen. I'm told the new dumbwaiter was installed fairly recently, saving a load of stair climbing to serve customers. I had a Summer Love draft and the house Macaroni and Cheese for a light meal. The former was cool, mildly complex and easy going down, and the later, hot, cheesy and served in the same crockery as the French Onion Soup. Although an app, it filled me amply, and left room for a coffee stop on my way to the meeting on Market St. I was very happy with my short sojourn at McCool's. In its quiet unassuming way, it is a nice haven from the street hustle, and in a similar vein, a pleasant alternative to the louder vanity stops that abound in Center City. The reincarnation has gone very well.
(4)
Nancy N.
This place doesn't have a lot of tables... It's nice it's two floors. But the second floor was hot and it was only a Saturday afternoon in April. Drink specials are decent. There's plenty of other bars that are better.
(2)
Jessie H.
Decent hh spot from 5-7pm. $4 draft beers (allagash white, stella, etc)..pretty good deal. They also have $6 apps (get the brussel sprouts, mac and cheese, fries looked pretty good too. I only came here Friday but I saw that they had other specials on other days of the week. There aren't many tables so I'd get here earlier if you want to sit somewhere. It does get packed for hh since it's located right in center city.
(4)
Shan S.
Food is completely underwhelming...... Not good at all, everything taste as though it comes straight out of the microwave. Draught beer is warm as well. Don't waste your time!
(2)
Rob H.
Interesting place, really depends on what you are in the mood for. While the downstairs is pretty tight and uncomfortable with any semblance of a crowd, the upstairs is a pretty wild dance party. I'm not sure how many times I had gone there without knowing this, at times when it gets crowded they charge a $5 cover so just be prepared. Overall, good beer downstairs if it isn't crowded, dance crowd upstairs if that is your scene.
(3)
Rob R.
Went here after a concert. Place was dead, but I prefer it that way! Great beers on tap, mostly local at that Located in the bar district in PHL Have a pint there for me!
(4)
Matthew W.
Great place to start out the night or finish up if you are in the area. Plenty of other bars in walking distance. I come here for dinner on the nights I'm going to bar hop the area. The wings are fantastic and the staff is great. The beer selection is good.
(5)
Dave W.
Stopped in the other night to kill some time before the YE event down the street. This is a nice spot for a quick drink and their list of beers on tap is pretty good. The place is small and I only glanced at the menu - but it looked pretty limited. Seems like a place for a quick drink on the way to another place. Nothing really special except for the corner location. the bartender was nice and a good talker, which I like, so I will give the place 3 stars.
(3)
Ali B.
Second time here, specifically for trivia night. Last time I came in on a whim and had a fantastic time with Irish John hosting his Quizo. Tonight I made an effort to be free at 8pm so I could come for trivia- but alas, there were only about 10 people in the bar, so although the host is here, they are not running trivia. The last time I was here the food was fantastic, I had the calamari and a Reuben sandwich, and both were absolutely bursting with flavor and cooked to order. The beer list is rotating, and they have a fully stocked bar. The staff is extremely friendly, the bartender last time was even secretly helping me with trivia questions (shhh). I'm a little disappointed that they decided to cancel trivia although there are a few teams here to play, but I still had a great time with the music playing, the beer pouring, and the conversations flowing. I will most definitely be back again.
(4)
David C.
Pretty standard bar. Good beer selection, dancing upstairs, and solid bar food. Kinda dead during the week but can get packed on weekends. Service is exceptional. Servers and bartenders are great and do their job well.
(3)
Nando F.
#103 for the Yelp Philly challange !! Great corner bar to grab a few libations. Great tapped crafts for the aficionado in you to peruse. Here at Finn they will be rotating their drafts, so you're not stuck with the same selections. Who doesn't like variety? Definitely Cool, like how I tried to work that in there seeing I'm at Finn McCool's. Great selections to be had in the liquor department for one to indulge in. The atmosphere in here seemed pretty laid back . Somewhat of a good crowd in here enjoying a few libations, not a worry in the world. A bartender who was on the game, without missing a beat. I myself appreciate that, plus he had another pint waiting for me. I haven't been upstairs nor have I tried any of their dishes they prepare. I will have to try this out on my next visit to McCool's. The menu they have does look good, they had me raise an eyebrow with some of their ideas. Hey I don't mind coming back again, when I was here it was for happy hour. Speaking of that, they have a pretty jacked up happy hour with some great deals on refreshing pints, along with mixed drinks. Clean and friendly service, it does get a good crowd in here. Nothing but a good time to be had at Finn.
(4)
K D.
I would have given more stars if I had only gone once. The first time I had the best mac & cheese in philly. Baked, piping hot and delicious. The second time it was clearly nuked, watery and barely edible. They really deserve 2.5 stars but can't so giving the third for the 1st mac and cheese. The fish and chips was OK.
(3)
Neil S.
Another Yelper aptly described this place as a sort of nondescript waypoint for lost souls more or less on their way to another bar. Nothing really distinguishes Finn McCool's from the numerous other Irish-esque joints within a few blocks, though it certainly does not offend in the vein of the more popular/trashier spots that are frequented by the Rittenhouse hordes. The layout and size of the place leaves something to be desired and makes movement around the bar rather difficult, but seats or tables aren't terribly challenging to acquire even on busy weekend nights. That said, the beer selection is fairly good for this kind of spot. You won't find anything rare here, but there's a draft for everyone. Staple craft classics (think Dogfish 60 Minute, Lagunitas IPA, and Allagash White) with a couple of locals thrown in appeal to the beer nerds, while European imports (Guinness, Smithwicks, and their ilk) and American domestic swill (Bud and all that) round out a bigger proportion of the tap lines. Craft pints are $6, which isn't bad. I cannot imagine myself spending more than an hour here due to the array of better or more exciting beer bars in the vicinity (Strangelove's and Bru come to mind), but I certainly will consider this place for a beer or two as a hinge point for a future venue.
(3)
Olga M.
I'm a regular here. Every time I go, Always Great service. Best cheesesteak egg roll in the city hands down! and the fish & chips is a must have! I also booked an event for 100ppl upstairs and they delivered! Everyone had a great time... The drinks keep coming :)
(5)
Colleen M.
I've eaten here once and been here for drinks possibly 3 times. And all of them were somewhat forgettable but not terrible. The drink specials, are pretty good and the bar service is great. The waitresses are less than attentive but the place was pretty busy when I ate there so I will chalk that up to the server having to fight a crowd. I typically only end up here on bar crawls (although I have been for dinner 1x) and the bartenders seem to have a good handle on a crowd. It's not the kind of place where you feel like you need to double fist because you know you'll never get the bartender's attention again.
(3)
Jaime K.
I just don't get this place. My former co-workers loved it and would suggest it often. But I never drank the kool aid. First of all, it's tiny and I like room for friends to be able to join the fun. Secondly, the drinks are pretty expensive. I get that it's in Center City, but you can get better prices at Moriarty's Irish Pub or any of the 10,000 Irish bars in town. Finally the service is, meh. I've had a nice bartender from time to time, but they mostly seem like they can't be bothered. I gave it an extra star because I like the jukebox.
(2)
Tiffany J.
wandering from the Independence Hall area back to Rittenhouse Square, the bf and I came upon Finn McCool's..... name sounded like a pub and/or hole-in-the -wall we usually like. the blonde female bartender was polite enough. we ordered our typical Go-To shots. Orange bombs. Of course, I had to explain it to her as this is largely a west coast drink. Equal parts vodka, orange juice and sprite. what she proceeded to put down in front of mii was The SMALLEST SHOT I HAVE EVER SEEN. it was exactly one ounce. 1/3 equal parts as ordered. I understand pour cost and control. but when you charge for ONE OUNCE of alcohol, your patrons should get ONE OUNCE of ALCOHOL. not 1/3 of one ounce. I feel robbed. we paid our tab and got the heck out of that place. the next bar poured normal sized shots and we stayed for THREE more..... do the math McCool's- you lost $50 in biz from ONE underpour.
(1)
Rick M.
Nice atmosphere, the Cheesesteak spring rolls called "Philly Rolls" are delicious. They had a large beer selection and the waitress/bartender was very attentive. Would I go again? Yes if I lived nearby.
(4)
Serena D.
The selection of beer is ok, but what I had (smithwicks and watermelon) were both very good! We had chicken wings and nachos, for the happy hour price $6 each appetizer, it's a pretty good deal! And the food were tasty! I also had classic bangers&mash, so delicious! The service was good, although it was before dinner time, the place was kinda slow. Overall, I was happy that I stopped by this small place for happy hour. For the reasonable price in center city, service and the selection of beer, I will definitely go back!
(5)
Tamara B.
I've been to Finn's a few times now, mostly due to its convenient location. It's pretty much your standard run of the mill bar. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to complain about either - which isn't necessarily a bad thing. They are consistent, and I appreciate consistency. Their happy hour includes a few different draft beers, house wines, cocktails and $5 apps. The HH nachos aren't incredible, but they are decent, and the portion is pretty big. I usually opt for a couple of Coors drafts and I'm a content gal.
(3)
Paul L.
Came here during beer week and they were introducing craft beers from Dogfish Brewery. It's a fun smallish neighborhood bar with a very, very nice bartender who made our visit very pleasant. We ordered a few Dogfish beers and particularly like the Black and Blue and the Chateau Jiahu. The Black and Blue is crafted using blackberries and blueberries, while Chateau Jiahu is sweetened with honey. I don't really know whether they will have these special beers available after beer week but with the friendly atmosphere and the friendly bartendress (is this a word?) I wouldn't mind coming back again.
(4)
Mic W.
This was my favorite pub to hang at when I lived in Philly! Awesome crowd, kick ass bar tenders, great drink prices [the specials are nice as hell]. I would not go there for a serious sit down dinner, it's an IRISH pub [nuff said] but it is a cool little joint and the atmosphere is chill. If you get the beer buzz munchies DO get the ahi tuna nachos. THE best! I'll always stop by and chill when visiting Philly!
(4)
Andrew H.
Always have a good meal when I come here. Staff is convivial. Selections are varied. A good place for lunch.
(4)
John B.
Seemed just ok. I'm from out of town and have only been here once, on a late Friday afternoon. My main beef with the place is the acoustics. High ceilings look great, but can result in so much echo that people have to shout at each other to be heard. Especially when there's the awful (typical) generic-nothing-style music playing. Service was good, though, and the bar length was better than Fergie's, but I'd still rather be at Fergie's.
(3)
Ryan B.
Meh.
(3)
Tuff Cook E.
Happy hour is really good. My friend & I got 2 beers, 2 wines, & 2 big apps all for $20!
(4)
Mike K.
decent beer selection. $4 drafts at happy hour. the fired peirogees were surprisingly good. good basil pesto chicken sandwich. good service.
(4)
Krista P.
I was on my way to Barbuzzo when I realized it was closed for Memorial day, and ended up checking this place out. I started with a beer, but after chatting with the bartender about my Sangria craving - he whipped my friend and I up a batch, complete with muddled fruit! The place was pretty dead since it was a Monday night, but the people that were there were friendly, the bartender was awesome, and they had a great jukebox selection. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Michael P.
This place is within walking distance from my office, so I stopped in for a quick lunch last week. The food was ok, as was the service. Not bad, but not great either, hence the two stars. Reading the other reviews, I'm curious about the happy hour, but then again, we've closer places that we like.
(2)
Aruna A.
There are SO many great bars in Philly. Finn McCool's isn't necessarily one of them. Every time I go here, the service is slow, the beer selection is a-okay, and not necessarily that which I'd love, and the crowd is so - so. It's just not a place I'd seek out, unless I was with a pack of people who were. There are about 5 - 7 bars in that neighborhood that I'd go to over this!
(2)
Christine R.
I used to work in center city right by this place, and it became our happy hour spot. So I can only speak for their happy hour. They have some pretty good happy hour deals for house wines, drafts and cocktails. As well as $ 5 appetizers. So this place is great if you like to snack during your happy hour without spending a ton of money. The food is solid but not amazing either. This place is perfect for grabbing a drink after a stressful day of work while not breaking the bank. I work as a therapist so I really rely on these happy hours to decompress. The service has always been good as well. I believe you get a free shot if you check in on facebook.
(3)
Tara G.
I stopped in to Finn McCool's last night with two girlfriends for Center City Sips (for those who are Yelping from a cave, CC Sips is a special Wednesday night happy hour from 5-7, during which participating bar/restaurants offer $3 select beers, $4 select wines, $5 select cocktails and various food specials). When we walked in, it was pretty packed. I didn't care about sitting, but my friend was starving, so we asked for a table. The server said they may have some room upstairs, and pointed us in the direction of a very nice gentleman who offered to lead us to a table. We went upstairs and actually preferred the atmosphere of the bar over a table, so he made sure to grab some extra chairs so we could be seated. Very accommodating. We started off with a round of blueberry margaritas. It sounded intriguing enough, but for me, a former bartender of 6 years, it fell a little flat. It was a little overly sweet and reeked of super cheap tequila and ::gag:: triple sec. The other ladies like it though, so it's probably just another case of me being a drink snob. Anyway, we ordered, by the bartender's recommendation, Ahi Tuna Nachos and Cheesesteak Spring Rolls. The Ahi Tuna Nachos were pretty good. The tuna was a tad overcooked for my tastes, and maybe a little too heavy on the soy sauce (I drank a whole glass of water in .5 seconds after eating). However, the little diced veggies on top along with the wasabi mayo added a nice freshness, and I enjoyed the use of wonton to make the "nachos". The Cheesesteak Spring Rolls were exactly as I expected them to be. They were certainly tatsy, but not special either. The menu describes them as being served with a "spicy aioli". When it comes out, it's actually cheese and sriracha swirled on the plate like chocolate sauce on your Applebee's dessert. Don't get me wrong, I liked the addition of the sriracha very much. I just think it could have been a little more accurately described on the menu and more creatively presented. All in all, I think this place has a friendly, accommodating staff, but could use a little help when it comes to executing their dishes as well as their drinks.
(3)
Alyssa E.
I had been here only twice before tonight. Both times were nothing special, once the night before my 21st birthday because they said they didn't mind that I wasn't going to be 21 until midnight, and the other for a work thing. Tonight, though, turned me off for good. We were sitting at one of the tables and my girlfriend had just gotten back from the restroom (which when i was in there, had urone ALL over the seat) and the server, who we found out was named Janie, pushed my friend out of her way, very obviously, to a point where the next table asked if my friend was ok, and then the owner came up to us saying you shouldn't have done that. Stunned, we had no idea what he was talking about and asked what he was talking about and asked to explain what we did wrong. He just said, "you know" which, obviously we didnt. So rude. Have no intention of going back.
(1)
Katrina C.
A friend of mine has thrown several parties in the upstairs "club" area called Prime Lounge. Its a nice modern looking space for a small party, and I don't mind squeezing between the bar stools and people sitting on the side couch area when I know them or at least know of them. However, I do not think I would want to be here when it is full of people that are not my friends. I don't need to practically sit in a strangers lap when I'm trying to cross the room. Anyway, this is supposed to be for Finn McCool's. I have eaten here, and the food is fine. Nothing crazy. They have a decent amount of beer on draft, including a few locals - but it's pricey. $6 for a Harp, $7 for a Victory. I would rather go elsewhere for a drink - a place with more local beer that is $1-$2 cheaper. Also, what is with the light in the bathrooms? Red lightbulbs really? At 7:00 in the evening, I should be able to go into a bathroom and see myself. Seriously.
(3)
Melissa L.
If I could give this place zero stars, that would be fair. Strolled in around 1:30 today to an empty bar. My girlfriend and I were on our way to NYC and stopped in on our way to the mega bus. The red-headed bartender was full of attitude. We ordered nachos with chicken- we counted maybe 4 pieces of chicken in the whole dish. While we waited a few long minutes for styrofoam carry out dishes- we knocked on the door downstairs to let the "bartender", (and I use that term loosely) know that we didn't have time to wait she replied with "well OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THEM". Please, honey. Bars are a dime a dozen in this town. I'll take my business elsewhere. This woman has no clue what customer service means... Especially to friendly/great tippers. The food was mediocre at BEST.
(1)
Zachary H.
There's an inherent perkiness to restaurant language, a codified set of terms both restauranteurs and diners mostly adhere to. "Fine" means the food is disappointing. "Cozy" eateries are code for tables so near each other you might find a dollar bill stuffed in your waistline after squeezing between them. Persistently being asked if everything's all right or if you need anything else means "Are you going to leave soon? I'd like that. Yeah, you should totes leave soon." I think our server here wanted us to leave soon. Finn McCool's is a chain and the food tastes like it. The cheese on the nachos tasted like it came from a pump and the chicken from a microwave, for example. Yeah, it's only bar food but that doesn't mean you have to build your menu around what your frozen food distributer has in their warehouse icebox. The bar aspect of it might be fun. Or it might just be fine.
(2)
Carol C.
Their beer selection isn't the best, but happy hour deals are pretty good! Tried almost all their bites on their menu, including their nachos, rolls, pizzas, and wings. Out of everything, i'd say their pizza is the best because they add some pesto sauce to it. Also stopped by during center city sips, and the place was super crowded, but the servers were nice enough to try to find us a table.
(4)
Andrew W.
This is the only bar in the city that evokes an angry response from me when suggested as a destination. I'm considering seeking treatment to get to the root of it, but I think it has something to do with the fact that the drinks are overpriced, the food is awful, the service is slow, its an awkward space that gets way too crowded with only a few groups of people, and it doesn't offer anything that can't be found at any of the 100s of bars in the neighboring blocks. Its like the Field House, only smaller and never offers free happy hours for me to take advantage of before going somewhere worth hanging out in.
(1)
Maggie M.
It had been so long since I'd been to Finn McCool's that they had completely renovated and even moved the bar, so it was like visiting a whole new place when we stopped in for the Philly:The Game scavenger hunt "After party" last weekend. I really like the downstairs. the upstairs is a little cold and impersonal for me, but is definitely modern. The bathrooms are completely dangerous when you've been drinking for 8 hours-- red lights and a mini-step and darkness in the stalls...oh my! Finn's gets 3 stars for these 8 wonderful words: $3 stella drafts during happy hour on saturdays! Yay! (keep in mind that i don't know when they'll change it up again)
(3)
Christine B.
Second stop on a Sips night bar crawl. The waitress was friendly, they had a decent draft list, the Phillies were playing, all in all a good time. Worth checking out if you are wandering around the area and everything else is crowded.
(3)
Sarah F.
My boyfriend and I went for dinner. We sat down at a hightop. We waited....and waited....and waited....and left.
(1)
Tai B.
I work next to Finn McCool's and I must say, I don't drink but the food here is outstanding. And the staff and owner are very friendly as well. Tai from D.Tails & Designs
(5)
Anthony V.
Frequented this spot quite a bit all through out the fall/winter/spring seasons, I have no reasons to think it wouldn't carry into the summer as well. Food is what i would say my favorite thing about this restaurant is. Great little sampler apps such as the calamari and mussels. Perfect spot to wind down in their small "pub" like atmosphere. Must be honest and say I have yet to visit on a weekend, or late night for that matter to see how the crowd is.
(3)
Christopher R.
Ate there again today, and while the service remains excellent (that's the second star), my opinion of the food has taken a definite downturn. I ordered the double cheeseburger special, all the while worrying that I would be getting in over my head. I was hungry but not really double cheeseburger hungry, and if it weren't for the special, I never would have been tempted. Well, turns out I had nothing to worry about. The two beef patties on there were tiny, like slider-sized; combined, they were slightly smaller than the size of a normal burger anywhere else. I also ordered them 'medium well' and received them 'vulcanized rubber.' Flavor was not good. It tasted like a Whopper.
(2)
Serena K.
I will start by mentioning that I have been on vacation for a week and continue to jot down every place that I venture in order to yelp them at a latter time, however Finn McCools deserves an immediate Yelp! I will follow by saying that if I had Yelped this place I would not have went and that would not have only been a bummer but a travesty perhaps. When my cousin and I walked in we went for one beer and one beer only but ended up staying for a total of three rounds. Teddy (part owner?) had many local beers on tap and I tried the Victory Golden Monkey (9ish% alc. by vol.) which was amazing and a tad bit sweet. My cousin had another local beer that he enjoyed as well (don't remember the name). While drinking those beers and talking to Patrick the Chef who was hanging out behind the bar we started talking shots and the chef offered to buy us a round:) After a shot of whiskey with him we decided to order another round; my cousin opted for another beer and I opted for a specialty cocktail called "the dark side". I thought the drink would be a bit too sweet for my taste as I am a whiskey up kind of girl so he modified it into a beautiful masterpiece... The guys working tonight were amazing and this is the first buzz I have enjoyed in over a week. The atmosphere is laid back and eventually got a bit busy. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice both Patrick and Teddy were to a couple of out of towners. I know for a fact that if I had multiple days left here in Philly I probably would not venture to another bar as they have me hooked! Thank you so much to Finn McCools for making me feel at home while being all the way across the country
(5)
Min A.
Was in Philly so had to order cheese steak sandwich and fries. Good sandwich and nice atmosphere. Service was attentive and quick. I would go back again!
(4)
Alexandra R.
Cheesesteak eggrolls are great. Definitely not a destination spot, because there is only ever a DJ upstairs, but a great spot to grab a drink for happy hour. Pretty large tap beer selection for being so small.
(4)
Niyant S.
Simply put: this is a great little pub in a great location with the usual drinks to offer at reasonable prices. But the real clincher: DAS BOOT!!! For those who haven't watched Beerfest, this refers to a large beer glass shaped like a boot! While the size of their boot probably does not equal the one in Beerfest, it is still equivalent to about 3 beers worth, and filling it with Miller Lite will only run you $9. Also, they ask to hold a credit card just because the boot costs $30, so if you break it your a little screwed!
(4)
Eric V.
The service was pretty good, but I didn't actually eat anything here... there wasn't really anything on the menu that really stuck out to me. The only question is why this place is considered a sports bar. Seems like a plain old bar to me... nothing particularly sporty about it.
(3)
Lucas C.
Finn McCool's is by far one of the best Irish Pubs I have ever been too. The staff knows their beer and the servers are always friendly...not to mention cute!! The bartenders are all knowledgeable about beer and offer a great ear to listen to when needed. The downstairs of the facility is very friendly and welcoming. You feel as thought you can walk in, grab a beer, and immediately make friends with your surrounding patrons. The upstairs is a little more upbeat and is used for a "club and dancing" scene. They hold private parties up there all week and are open Friday and Saturdays with a DJ on staff. I highly recommend at least checking out Finn McCools and seeing for your own eyes what I experience!!! And DO NOT forget to: Irish Hangover and a Smithwick's when your feeling under the weather the next morning.
(5)
Jose A.
This is a cool concept, a modern irish bar, it's a bit to bourgeois in a NOT good way. The beer selection was ok, definitely better in the city, probably not going back, sorry Finn McCool's, you weren't cool enough, oh snap...
(2)
Chris W.
Since for some reason I always seem to end up at Irish bars, I might as well mention my experiences at Finn Mccools. I have only ever gone for happy hour and it is one of the better drink-wise one's in Center City. $4 Mixed drinks and $2 Drafts can't be beat, there are similar specials during Phillies games too. I have also got the $5 plate of wings before but they were pretty dry and there were only 8 of them, not exactly a special. Important to also note, unlike a lot of places where the Center City Sips specials differ online from when you actually arrive, Finn Mccools is consistent. The biggest dissapointment is the outdoor seating. It exists in limited quantities but for some reason the corner of 12th and Sansom always smells like the sewer threw up. I can't imagine eating a real meal outside.
(2)
Meghan C.
Stumbled in here one Sunday summer afternoon when we drove in for a friend's birthday party at Lolita's (which I recommend). It was POURING and we were early so thought, let's go get a pint! Loved it - great service, decent selection of beers...someone said it's a great place to take things easy and I definitely agree. We stored our six packs under our bar stools (the restaurant we were going to is a BYO) and everyone laughed at us.
(4)
Anita A.
I went to this place after class, so around 5-6pm. The place was dead. Not a lot of people hanging out, or it just might be because it was a weekday. The food was not that great, eatable. I ordered Fish & Chips and the fish was soaked with oil. Fries were cold. Great beer selection, although the price after happy hour could be a bit expensive. Great service.
(3)
Lauren K.
I had never been to Finn McCool's but a friend recommended them as a venue for my husband's 30th birthday. I called and spoke with a manager, Teddy, who was awesome and helped me plan an awesome party for my husband. We had the upstairs bar all to ourselves, they accommodated us with drink specials and worked with my budget to provide my guests with appetizers (about 30 guests). Everybody had an awesome time. It was the weekend before Halloween and the bar was decorated accordingly. We had fun and would go back.
(4)
Bill M.
I apparently went to Finn McCool's without even knowing it on Friday. As Chrissy R. said they were being redesigned recently. Not only is the redesign complete, but they added on a brand new second floor lounge called Prime. It wasn't the kind of place I'd usually go to, but My cousin was heading down for his birthday, and I'd go to a lot worse for him. The first floor is the same off Irish pub with colorful locals, and the second floor is a more swankier offering for dancing and drinks. I'd probably give both a middle ground review if they stood alone. but the fact that you can go from one extreme to the other in the same place makes it a pretty good deal. My only complaint would be the inconsistency of the music. Aside from a few good songs from the likes of Madonna and Rancid (yeah in the same place), I had the benefit of remembering some unwanted tunes like "867-5309". A memo to DJ's everywhere - playing songs by Vanilla Ice and New Kids On The Block in the year 2008 is a bad decision! But aside from the music the service was pretty good. And the Drink prices where pretty reasonable. so overall the good about here outweighs the bad.
(4)
Kristina C.
We went in to Finn's to watch the Eagles game.....uneventful atmosphere really. Beer was a little more expensive compared to other places. We did order food, mine had a modification which totally came out wrong. But the food tasted good. I don't think that we will go back to watch a game again, but if you are looking for a bar to just sit at, there were seats open.
(3)
G C.
Came here for City Sips but only experienced the 15% off dinner special, not the drinks. We had a large group and they accommodated us well. The place kind of emptied out after City Sips was over. Food was okay--just standard. Don't expect anything out of it.
(2)
Ashley B.
Great spot for beer selection & specials!! Staff was super friendly and specials during football were good. Randomly in Philly for the marathon ... So the barstools weren't super comfy but that was all me not them...will def go back!!
(4)
Monique D.
Everytime I visit the Philadelphia area this is place that I must visit everytime. The food and service are always great. Many TV to watch sports and the martinis are delish. I luv this place!!
(5)
Jim F.
Stopped in because it was near my hotel and I needed a bite to eat. I was very pleased with the beer selection and had a very tasty Shepherd's Pie. A small, quaint, fun old-school place with a charming and fun atmosphere.
(4)
Alex V.
We stopped in to Finn McCool's to watch the second half of the USA vs. England Word Cup match. We didn't have any food, but the beer selection is good and the bartending was attentive and friendly. Despite some of the negative reviews on Yelp, I don't really have a bad word to say about this place. The prices were fine, and the atmosphere reminds me a of nice local pub. Its definitely not a destination, but a good option if nearby and looking for a decent beer.
(3)
Dana L.
Two words: The Boot Greg was deliriously happy to be able to drink from the Boot ala "Beer Fest". $9 to fill it up (server said it was equivalent to 2.5-3 beers), and they hold a credit card (since the glass itself is so expensive). Totally worth it. We caught the last overtime and the penalty kicks for the Ghana/Uruguay World Cup quarterfinal, and it was great. Servers were completely chill with the fact that patrons had switched to water or were nursing their beers because they were so into the game. Vibe changed a little after the game, but was still fine for a beer.
(3)
Alan B.
This is a GREAT place to hang and take thing easy, depending on what time you try to go. I tried to get in this place 500 times during dinner hour, and it was impossible to squeeze in. I found out that Sunday afternoons are ideal and provide the perfect watering hole to drink/eat/chill and even catch a game. The atmosphere is perfect for a corner bar: wooden stools, marble-top bar, brick walls and old-school lighting fixtures. Noise level is perfect (no yelling needed), and the staff is quick to your needs and open to conversation. The food was very well done, and really not that $$$$$$ for a Philly bar. I have every intention of spending Sunday afternoons here for an early dinner.
(5)
Fred C.
This is a pleasant, very neat ale house. My pulled-pork with BBQ sauce sandwich was excellent, and the French-Frieds accompanying it were very good. Also, there were about a dozen beers on tap, and the Magic 4 I selected was first rate. My companion had a burger which was rated very good. The server was pleasant and efficient, and we will be coming back here again.
(3)
Kelly C.
Stopped in Finn McCool's last night for a bite to eat. If I'm in the neighborhood again looking for food, I'll definitely be back. The food was good and cheap. The atmosphere was nice, and the variety of music played was entertaining. Plenty of beer and cocktail choices too!
(4)
Rich G.
Average Irish pub, good place to sit down and have a Guiness
(3)
Zachary F.
Finn MacCool's is a tragic establishment. The wait and bar staff is super friendly, but unfortunately that's not quite enough to make me want to come back here. The clientele they attract (at least when I was there on a Monday evening)are horribly low-brow. Sure, it's an irish-pub, but these weren't slightly vulgar coal miners...I'm talking about loud and obnoxious, inappropriately dressed street urchin types. If I had to describe them in more common terms, I'd say "white trash". I ordered the shepherd's pie - what should be the FLAGSHIP dish at any irish pub, and was sorely disappointed. The lamb filling was a tad dry, and my potato crust was stiff and cold in the middle, leading me to the obvious conclusion that my dish was... MICROWAVED. Won't be back here any time soon, in spite of the friendly staff.
(1)
Kai Z.
A group of friends and I ended up here after the Philadelphia Marathon in November. Everywhere else we wanted to go was closed on a Sunday, so we meandered into Finn McCool's. I'm sure this is a decent place if you just want a hang out with a beer and watch football on TV. But DO NOT order food here. It took over an hour to get our food, and it was terrible. I ordered fish and chips, standard pub fair, and it came out cold, with soggy, limp fries on the side. Everything tasted like it was frozen and microwaved. My friend found a hair in her salad. FAIL.
(1)
Susan L.
Went here once for Prime Lounge. It was a very small room but they had a decent bar, DJ playing and tables for you to sit and order a drink. They had $3 Malibu Bay Breezes as their special that night and it was well made. There was no cover, I don't think there usually is any. Place started to pick up around midnight and my girls and I were dancing our butts off even though no one else really was (you gotta make your own fun, right?). A guy ended up buying us a round of shots which were pretty good. All in all a fun place to hang out with a small group of people, nothing crazy like a club or lounge. You can get up a dance if you wanna, you can sit and chill if you wanna.
(3)
Jacquelin K.
Finn MacCool's suffers from a cripplingly weird vibe. In other words, this bar sucks. They do serve up a mighty strong, mighty large long island iced tea for $7. However, when I walked in with my friend on Friday night, every single person sitting at or standing behind the bar turned to stare at us -- and proceeded to do so for practically 30 seconds. Um, what the hell? Is it not normal to be black or something? Besides that bizarre inspection, the music was pitiful top 40 being blasted over a pitiful section of tables and a barren dance area. For some reason, the ceiling in the back of the place is very high, which is disconcerting in a small, dark space. No decor to speak of. Some places pull off being no-frills without excessive wacknesss. Finn MacCool's, which misspells its own name on its building, is not one of those places. The bouncer is cool, and the long island had me on my ass, but trust me: if you take your friends here for anything other than cheap drinks before really hitting the town, they should smack you upside your head.
(1)
Jeff H.
Stopped in for the first time yesterday while on my lunch break in search of a place to watch (and hear!) the Phillies day game. Pleasantly surprised to see the two bar TVs had the game audio. The French onion soup was huge, had a sh-t ton of provolone and a lot of onions. I devoured it. Not the best I've ever had, but it was good, and probably the largest/cheesiest. Britany behind the bar was friendly and re-filled my iced tea (not from Long Island - damn you, responsibility!) a number of times. The three bean soup, which I stole a couple bites of, was also damn tasty. The happy hour specials seem decent. The place was pretty immaculate.
(4)
Adam C.
Important preface to any club type place I review... I don't like clubs. Or bars. Or social situations at all. Ok, that might be an exaggeration, but if you like crowded, loud places where you have to take out equity on your home to afford to get drunk... well, then you probably won't get much use from my reviews. So Prime is a new 'lounge'. And had a promotion where they would offer free drinks from 9-11 for a $5 cover fee. So a friend of mine signed us up online. That means, when we were there, we were on, "The List" (quotations and capitalization added for emphasis). Of course, I was on the list with my first and last names mixed up, but no matter. Headed upstairs to find... a long thin room. You might think, hey, a bar is a long thin device... it should fit, right? It does, with just enough room to pass by next to the windows. So to use up this 'extra' space that someone might use to 'walk' in the 'lounge', they stuck a long bench along the window. This merges the convenient social atmosphere of a bus stop with the calisthenic side to side motion you have to engage in as anyone who wants to get a drink at the bar sticks their ass in your face. As for walking from one end of the bar to the other... you can't. Our free drinks turned out to be free vodka drinks... that may have been mentioned on the website; I assume so. And, while we were there, we were informed that the bartender was asked to slow down, because he was being 'too efficient'. Turns out that was probably because they were running out of vodka, because the free drinks stopped before 10PM. So, we decided to leave this lounge, offended by the misnomer, for there was nowhere that I saw that I could lounge effectively. I hate to be entirely negative. So, was there anything good? Well the crowd was eclectic and multicultural, which I always appreciate. Also, my friend Natalie almost saw this one woman's boob. But mostly, it's that it only cost me $5 to learn that I never want to go back there. Ok, well, coming on here to find out what this place was to review it, I realized it's just part of a bigger place. A bigger place with a funky Irish name and a pub atmosphere. And I like funky Irish names and pub atmospheres, so maybe at some point I'll give the first floor another chance, but I didn't see the first floor the first time, I can only go on what I saw, so that's the review you get. Take it as you will.
(1)
Chrissy R.
Such a friendly place and an interesting group of people. It is a local bar and beings as though it is in the gayborhood, you can expect to see some older queens in here who love their drinking. The mayor is one of my favorite regulars. Right now it's currently undergoing a redesign and I can't wait until it opens up again. That will be an event!
(5)
Mona W.
We stopped here for lunch yesterday and had a nice time with a few disappointments. Heather worked the very busy bar and all the tables by herself while the manager watched and socialized with some people he knew so this caused slow service a couple of times. Heather was awesome. She helped us with the menu and beer choices. We ordered Shepards pie and fish & chips. The fish & chips arrived with two small grease saturated pieces and a mound of fries. It wasn't eatable so we sent it back & ordered a sandwich. The portion sizes were good with the Shepards pie and the sandwich so we were very upset as to why they would serve just two small pieces of fish. The quality was good with the other two dishes so we suggest not ordering fish & chips! And....be ready to wait on this one server to take care of you! We won't go back.
(1)
Matthew S.
We found this bar randomly through Google Places and I'm glad we did. They had 12 beers on tap and pretty much all of them were hard to find and very good. Out bartender was good and very friendly. Although I didn't order food all 3 of the friends I was with did and as usual I mooched off of each them. I just tried some French fries off my one friends cheese steak, but the other 2 dishes I tried were very good. The first was calamari topped with a spicy aioli sauce. The calamari was huge and very fresh. Fried perfectly . The sauce complimented it very well. The other thing I tried was a cheese steak spring roll. How could that not be amazing? If you come here do yourself a favor and try it. Wouldn't suggest coming in large groups because it isn't very big.
(5)
Stan B.
Two words: it sucks. Lousy atmosphere. The only thing Irish about it was whiskey and beer. Other than that typical, uninteresting dive bar.
(1)
Joseph S.
Finn McCool's Ale House. The "new" Finn's has been open for over a year now, but I long for the old Finn's. The renovated Finn's is a nice, somewhat high end pub meets lounge. It's decent, the food is decent, the DJ can be hit or miss. It's not a bad time. But I do long for the pre-renovated, hole in the wall bar that Finn McCool's Ale House once was.
(2)
Hidon M.
I go to bars to eat all the time. Its as simple as this...Go get a shepherd's pie from "Fergies" or some other local pub and then go have one at Finn McCool's. I've had a server there offer me escargot. I'm not sure if everything fits the whole Irish theme, and i think maybe the layout creates some problems, but the food is far beyond your average pub and the taps are nice. I happen to be in the food service industry and i can't help but root for these guys and their progressive approach to pub grub.
(4)
Rueben C.
I came to Finn McCool's to watch game 3 of the Penguins v Flyers - 2008 - playoffs, where the Flyers lost. Honestly, the place could use more tv's, specifically the place needs two more 40 inchers. There's a couple spots, near the door where the closest TV is about 30 feet. Anyhow they served beer, on tap and cold,. My buddy was drinking top shelf scotch and times were merry so no complaints about the liquor served. I did have the Shepherd's Pie and the appetizer sampler and the food was hohum but I chowed it down because I had the drunk munchies. I wouldn't go to Finn's just to eat but if I end up there again and drunk and I'd eat the food. I will say the pie I had was a bit lacking of ingredients. Finn's served the pie as ground beef w/ too few carrots covered with powder mashed potatoes; a proper shepherd's (or cottage) Pie SHOULD have carrots, onions, peas mushrooms, potatoes, tomato puree and of course some gravy. The space is a bit small so groups larger than 7 should call ahead. BTW the way after the game the place tried to do some Karaoke and the mc was terrible and the audio was terrible and the night would have been so much better if they just altogether stopped doing karaoke. Then the place could stay as a local pub watering hole.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Garage, Street, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : DJ, Juke Box Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Maggie K.
Ok, we are from out of town and just happy to find something open after 10 on a Sunday night, but I do not consider this a dive bar. It was very clean, nicely furnished and the bar is granite. Though we arrived after the kitchen closed, the menu looked better than average for a bar. The waiter was friendly and the patrons were happy.
(5)Scott B.
Not a good day for Finn McCool's. I placed an order two dinners to go. The first one up too bat was the fish and chips we had to reheat it in the oven when we arrived home since it was all soggy.( Hard to believe when you only live three blocks away.) Hence using Styrofoam to go containers for items like this isn't the best choice. The second item was a grilled steak salad. Now I know what you're thinking this actually sounds pretty good, but beware! When you open the container you are immediately presented with something that Jon Taffer from Bar Rescue would have a field day with. (Pictures will be included at the end of this review so you can develop your own opinion.) The steak was supposed to be medium rare but instead it was something you would expect back in grade school when classmates would tell you ''don't eat the schools meat on Wednesdays'' It was literally all shaved fat trimmings from a Ribeye steak. I'm not sure my dog would even take a gander at it. Moving on... I Immediately called Finn McCool's back to say help! My salad is really messed up I believe I spoke with the Manager and he was very friendly and asked if I would like a new one or a different item. After that horror show, I opted for a different item. The second choice was a Grilled Chicken Sandwich, I was thinking well, let's stick to something safe. When I arrived home with the second replacement meal I was anxious to open this meal up and eat it. The end result is the only thing salvageable was the French fries, there was so much aioli on this chicken sandwich they must of overstocked with Ken's dressing. I do not think I will be returning.. future patrons, returning customers... stick with a cocktail and hope the bartenders do a better job than the kitchen does. -Respectfully Submitted, -Scott, Philadelphia Resident.
(1)Elaine M.
Finn McCool's is a dive but the servers and bartenders were very friendly when I was there last Friday night for Philly Beer Week. They had a great selection of California beers on tap for Beer Week, in addition to approximately 10 beers that they had on tap normally. My friend's shared a small deviled egg appetizer, that they were both surprisingly pleased with. We honestly weren't expecting much from the food at Finn McCool's. I did not partake in any food while we were there, so I can't comment any further on that. If you are just looking for a chill place, that isn't very crowded, Finn McCool's might be your new spot. Otherwise, keep walking, there are plenty of other bars around of an equal or superior level.
(3)Cassie J.
Went here on an early Saturday afternoon as a part of a bar crawl. Not crowded-- upstairs bar was really cool. We did not order food-- they had $6 bar snacks though so that seemed like a decent price. Their specials was kind of basic-- light beer, regular beer. No well drinks or anything on special. Atmosphere was nice-- music was at a nice level. It was a nice day-- the upstairs had a big window that was open to view the street below.
(3)Hali R.
I don't understand the low rating. I'm my experience, this place was great! I stopped in alone on a Monday night for a beer and a French Dip. The bearded, adorable bartender was super attentive and sweet. He told me all the specials and offered to let me sample the draft before I committed. He made nice conversation and made me feel welcome. Generally, going somewhere alone is awkward... It was not here. The place isn't very big but the service will keep me coming back.
(5)Matt D.
So, there's not a whole lot to say about Finn McCool's other than it's "ok" in most aspects. It's a great location, doesn't get overly crowded, has a lot of tvs for sports watching, and the draft list is decent. My biggest complaint is the draft pours. They were consistently 2oz short on every beer, which drives me crazy at $6-7 a draft.
(3)Bethany E.
Located in the corner of 12th and Sansom, it was convenient for an evening stop near our hotel. This place was quite busy with happy customers all around. Luckily we were able to find a table. Even with a crowd, our waitress gave us great service with a smile. She frequently checked on us! I decided to try their Cheesesteak of course. I was in Philly after all. The meat was chopped and packed into the hoagie roll. It was filled with flavor and delicious. We also spilt the nachos for an appetizer. Huge! They were good. It was not to long after receiving the nachos that our sandwiches came out. There was no way to finish everything. But I did enjoy my meal. With great service and good food, I was happy about our choice to stop in this pub.
(4)Michelle S.
I think if I came back here, it would just be for beer, nothing mixed. After having a few brews around town, I just wanted a cocktail. I asked for a Mojito, which I'll admit was probably the wrong thing to order at a place like this, and what I got was sugar water and a few mint leaves. I'm not even sure there was any alcohol in it. Possibly the worst drink I've ever had. The place itself was very nice and clean, maybe they just renovated or something, but if that's how they made the drink, I don't know if I want to have anything off the menu. Who knows, maybe I'll try it again one day and have a better experience.
(3)Steve L.
Lamb stew and a guiness. Perfect for a winter stop in the city. Service: Excellent, although the place was dead so don't weigh this. Food/dish quality: Taste on the milder side, cuts were a bit fatty. Minus 1 star for fat. All else well executed. Beer: Rich, fresh, clean and with a shamrock. Value: A bit pricy. My stew and brew (only 1 brew) cost about 25 bux. A bit pricy for lunch at a pub. Overall, I'd go back on company dime but not my own. Beer is simply too expensive for me to enjoy more than one.
(3)Gerald S.
I have a memory of being in this place about twenty years ago, and it looking very different back then. I don't remember if it was McCool's or another name, but for sure it was a much darker and dingier dive in those days. Today, there are large windows along the back wall letting in some light, and the bar has been moved to the inner wall to permit that to happen. The place still has that old pub feel, all dark woods and lots of draft beer handles and liquor bottles on the back bar shelves. Yes. Plenty of choices, and a decent menu, too. When I stopped in around 1 for lunch before a meeting a few blocks away, there was only one other guy at the bar, and one table occupied. Those people were gone before I finished, leaving me to have a good conversation with Heather, the bartender. This is one of the benefits of late lunches. Miss the happy hour, but befriend the bartenders, and ask lots of questions. Very cool that she has been there 13 years, joining the crew shortly after the old place was purchased by the current owners who made all the structure changes seen today. Turns out the hosts are Greek and do a very good take on the tavern comfort foods coming out of the basement kitchen. I'm told the new dumbwaiter was installed fairly recently, saving a load of stair climbing to serve customers. I had a Summer Love draft and the house Macaroni and Cheese for a light meal. The former was cool, mildly complex and easy going down, and the later, hot, cheesy and served in the same crockery as the French Onion Soup. Although an app, it filled me amply, and left room for a coffee stop on my way to the meeting on Market St. I was very happy with my short sojourn at McCool's. In its quiet unassuming way, it is a nice haven from the street hustle, and in a similar vein, a pleasant alternative to the louder vanity stops that abound in Center City. The reincarnation has gone very well.
(4)Nancy N.
This place doesn't have a lot of tables... It's nice it's two floors. But the second floor was hot and it was only a Saturday afternoon in April. Drink specials are decent. There's plenty of other bars that are better.
(2)Jessie H.
Decent hh spot from 5-7pm. $4 draft beers (allagash white, stella, etc)..pretty good deal. They also have $6 apps (get the brussel sprouts, mac and cheese, fries looked pretty good too. I only came here Friday but I saw that they had other specials on other days of the week. There aren't many tables so I'd get here earlier if you want to sit somewhere. It does get packed for hh since it's located right in center city.
(4)Shan S.
Food is completely underwhelming...... Not good at all, everything taste as though it comes straight out of the microwave. Draught beer is warm as well. Don't waste your time!
(2)Rob H.
Interesting place, really depends on what you are in the mood for. While the downstairs is pretty tight and uncomfortable with any semblance of a crowd, the upstairs is a pretty wild dance party. I'm not sure how many times I had gone there without knowing this, at times when it gets crowded they charge a $5 cover so just be prepared. Overall, good beer downstairs if it isn't crowded, dance crowd upstairs if that is your scene.
(3)Rob R.
Went here after a concert. Place was dead, but I prefer it that way! Great beers on tap, mostly local at that Located in the bar district in PHL Have a pint there for me!
(4)Matthew W.
Great place to start out the night or finish up if you are in the area. Plenty of other bars in walking distance. I come here for dinner on the nights I'm going to bar hop the area. The wings are fantastic and the staff is great. The beer selection is good.
(5)Dave W.
Stopped in the other night to kill some time before the YE event down the street. This is a nice spot for a quick drink and their list of beers on tap is pretty good. The place is small and I only glanced at the menu - but it looked pretty limited. Seems like a place for a quick drink on the way to another place. Nothing really special except for the corner location. the bartender was nice and a good talker, which I like, so I will give the place 3 stars.
(3)Ali B.
Second time here, specifically for trivia night. Last time I came in on a whim and had a fantastic time with Irish John hosting his Quizo. Tonight I made an effort to be free at 8pm so I could come for trivia- but alas, there were only about 10 people in the bar, so although the host is here, they are not running trivia. The last time I was here the food was fantastic, I had the calamari and a Reuben sandwich, and both were absolutely bursting with flavor and cooked to order. The beer list is rotating, and they have a fully stocked bar. The staff is extremely friendly, the bartender last time was even secretly helping me with trivia questions (shhh). I'm a little disappointed that they decided to cancel trivia although there are a few teams here to play, but I still had a great time with the music playing, the beer pouring, and the conversations flowing. I will most definitely be back again.
(4)David C.
Pretty standard bar. Good beer selection, dancing upstairs, and solid bar food. Kinda dead during the week but can get packed on weekends. Service is exceptional. Servers and bartenders are great and do their job well.
(3)Nando F.
#103 for the Yelp Philly challange !! Great corner bar to grab a few libations. Great tapped crafts for the aficionado in you to peruse. Here at Finn they will be rotating their drafts, so you're not stuck with the same selections. Who doesn't like variety? Definitely Cool, like how I tried to work that in there seeing I'm at Finn McCool's. Great selections to be had in the liquor department for one to indulge in. The atmosphere in here seemed pretty laid back . Somewhat of a good crowd in here enjoying a few libations, not a worry in the world. A bartender who was on the game, without missing a beat. I myself appreciate that, plus he had another pint waiting for me. I haven't been upstairs nor have I tried any of their dishes they prepare. I will have to try this out on my next visit to McCool's. The menu they have does look good, they had me raise an eyebrow with some of their ideas. Hey I don't mind coming back again, when I was here it was for happy hour. Speaking of that, they have a pretty jacked up happy hour with some great deals on refreshing pints, along with mixed drinks. Clean and friendly service, it does get a good crowd in here. Nothing but a good time to be had at Finn.
(4)K D.
I would have given more stars if I had only gone once. The first time I had the best mac & cheese in philly. Baked, piping hot and delicious. The second time it was clearly nuked, watery and barely edible. They really deserve 2.5 stars but can't so giving the third for the 1st mac and cheese. The fish and chips was OK.
(3)Neil S.
Another Yelper aptly described this place as a sort of nondescript waypoint for lost souls more or less on their way to another bar. Nothing really distinguishes Finn McCool's from the numerous other Irish-esque joints within a few blocks, though it certainly does not offend in the vein of the more popular/trashier spots that are frequented by the Rittenhouse hordes. The layout and size of the place leaves something to be desired and makes movement around the bar rather difficult, but seats or tables aren't terribly challenging to acquire even on busy weekend nights. That said, the beer selection is fairly good for this kind of spot. You won't find anything rare here, but there's a draft for everyone. Staple craft classics (think Dogfish 60 Minute, Lagunitas IPA, and Allagash White) with a couple of locals thrown in appeal to the beer nerds, while European imports (Guinness, Smithwicks, and their ilk) and American domestic swill (Bud and all that) round out a bigger proportion of the tap lines. Craft pints are $6, which isn't bad. I cannot imagine myself spending more than an hour here due to the array of better or more exciting beer bars in the vicinity (Strangelove's and Bru come to mind), but I certainly will consider this place for a beer or two as a hinge point for a future venue.
(3)Olga M.
I'm a regular here. Every time I go, Always Great service. Best cheesesteak egg roll in the city hands down! and the fish & chips is a must have! I also booked an event for 100ppl upstairs and they delivered! Everyone had a great time... The drinks keep coming :)
(5)Colleen M.
I've eaten here once and been here for drinks possibly 3 times. And all of them were somewhat forgettable but not terrible. The drink specials, are pretty good and the bar service is great. The waitresses are less than attentive but the place was pretty busy when I ate there so I will chalk that up to the server having to fight a crowd. I typically only end up here on bar crawls (although I have been for dinner 1x) and the bartenders seem to have a good handle on a crowd. It's not the kind of place where you feel like you need to double fist because you know you'll never get the bartender's attention again.
(3)Jaime K.
I just don't get this place. My former co-workers loved it and would suggest it often. But I never drank the kool aid. First of all, it's tiny and I like room for friends to be able to join the fun. Secondly, the drinks are pretty expensive. I get that it's in Center City, but you can get better prices at Moriarty's Irish Pub or any of the 10,000 Irish bars in town. Finally the service is, meh. I've had a nice bartender from time to time, but they mostly seem like they can't be bothered. I gave it an extra star because I like the jukebox.
(2)Tiffany J.
wandering from the Independence Hall area back to Rittenhouse Square, the bf and I came upon Finn McCool's..... name sounded like a pub and/or hole-in-the -wall we usually like. the blonde female bartender was polite enough. we ordered our typical Go-To shots. Orange bombs. Of course, I had to explain it to her as this is largely a west coast drink. Equal parts vodka, orange juice and sprite. what she proceeded to put down in front of mii was The SMALLEST SHOT I HAVE EVER SEEN. it was exactly one ounce. 1/3 equal parts as ordered. I understand pour cost and control. but when you charge for ONE OUNCE of alcohol, your patrons should get ONE OUNCE of ALCOHOL. not 1/3 of one ounce. I feel robbed. we paid our tab and got the heck out of that place. the next bar poured normal sized shots and we stayed for THREE more..... do the math McCool's- you lost $50 in biz from ONE underpour.
(1)Rick M.
Nice atmosphere, the Cheesesteak spring rolls called "Philly Rolls" are delicious. They had a large beer selection and the waitress/bartender was very attentive. Would I go again? Yes if I lived nearby.
(4)Serena D.
The selection of beer is ok, but what I had (smithwicks and watermelon) were both very good! We had chicken wings and nachos, for the happy hour price $6 each appetizer, it's a pretty good deal! And the food were tasty! I also had classic bangers&mash, so delicious! The service was good, although it was before dinner time, the place was kinda slow. Overall, I was happy that I stopped by this small place for happy hour. For the reasonable price in center city, service and the selection of beer, I will definitely go back!
(5)Tamara B.
I've been to Finn's a few times now, mostly due to its convenient location. It's pretty much your standard run of the mill bar. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to complain about either - which isn't necessarily a bad thing. They are consistent, and I appreciate consistency. Their happy hour includes a few different draft beers, house wines, cocktails and $5 apps. The HH nachos aren't incredible, but they are decent, and the portion is pretty big. I usually opt for a couple of Coors drafts and I'm a content gal.
(3)Paul L.
Came here during beer week and they were introducing craft beers from Dogfish Brewery. It's a fun smallish neighborhood bar with a very, very nice bartender who made our visit very pleasant. We ordered a few Dogfish beers and particularly like the Black and Blue and the Chateau Jiahu. The Black and Blue is crafted using blackberries and blueberries, while Chateau Jiahu is sweetened with honey. I don't really know whether they will have these special beers available after beer week but with the friendly atmosphere and the friendly bartendress (is this a word?) I wouldn't mind coming back again.
(4)Mic W.
This was my favorite pub to hang at when I lived in Philly! Awesome crowd, kick ass bar tenders, great drink prices [the specials are nice as hell]. I would not go there for a serious sit down dinner, it's an IRISH pub [nuff said] but it is a cool little joint and the atmosphere is chill. If you get the beer buzz munchies DO get the ahi tuna nachos. THE best! I'll always stop by and chill when visiting Philly!
(4)Andrew H.
Always have a good meal when I come here. Staff is convivial. Selections are varied. A good place for lunch.
(4)John B.
Seemed just ok. I'm from out of town and have only been here once, on a late Friday afternoon. My main beef with the place is the acoustics. High ceilings look great, but can result in so much echo that people have to shout at each other to be heard. Especially when there's the awful (typical) generic-nothing-style music playing. Service was good, though, and the bar length was better than Fergie's, but I'd still rather be at Fergie's.
(3)Ryan B.
Meh.
(3)Tuff Cook E.
Happy hour is really good. My friend & I got 2 beers, 2 wines, & 2 big apps all for $20!
(4)Mike K.
decent beer selection. $4 drafts at happy hour. the fired peirogees were surprisingly good. good basil pesto chicken sandwich. good service.
(4)Krista P.
I was on my way to Barbuzzo when I realized it was closed for Memorial day, and ended up checking this place out. I started with a beer, but after chatting with the bartender about my Sangria craving - he whipped my friend and I up a batch, complete with muddled fruit! The place was pretty dead since it was a Monday night, but the people that were there were friendly, the bartender was awesome, and they had a great jukebox selection. I will definitely be back!
(4)Michael P.
This place is within walking distance from my office, so I stopped in for a quick lunch last week. The food was ok, as was the service. Not bad, but not great either, hence the two stars. Reading the other reviews, I'm curious about the happy hour, but then again, we've closer places that we like.
(2)Aruna A.
There are SO many great bars in Philly. Finn McCool's isn't necessarily one of them. Every time I go here, the service is slow, the beer selection is a-okay, and not necessarily that which I'd love, and the crowd is so - so. It's just not a place I'd seek out, unless I was with a pack of people who were. There are about 5 - 7 bars in that neighborhood that I'd go to over this!
(2)Christine R.
I used to work in center city right by this place, and it became our happy hour spot. So I can only speak for their happy hour. They have some pretty good happy hour deals for house wines, drafts and cocktails. As well as $ 5 appetizers. So this place is great if you like to snack during your happy hour without spending a ton of money. The food is solid but not amazing either. This place is perfect for grabbing a drink after a stressful day of work while not breaking the bank. I work as a therapist so I really rely on these happy hours to decompress. The service has always been good as well. I believe you get a free shot if you check in on facebook.
(3)Tara G.
I stopped in to Finn McCool's last night with two girlfriends for Center City Sips (for those who are Yelping from a cave, CC Sips is a special Wednesday night happy hour from 5-7, during which participating bar/restaurants offer $3 select beers, $4 select wines, $5 select cocktails and various food specials). When we walked in, it was pretty packed. I didn't care about sitting, but my friend was starving, so we asked for a table. The server said they may have some room upstairs, and pointed us in the direction of a very nice gentleman who offered to lead us to a table. We went upstairs and actually preferred the atmosphere of the bar over a table, so he made sure to grab some extra chairs so we could be seated. Very accommodating. We started off with a round of blueberry margaritas. It sounded intriguing enough, but for me, a former bartender of 6 years, it fell a little flat. It was a little overly sweet and reeked of super cheap tequila and ::gag:: triple sec. The other ladies like it though, so it's probably just another case of me being a drink snob. Anyway, we ordered, by the bartender's recommendation, Ahi Tuna Nachos and Cheesesteak Spring Rolls. The Ahi Tuna Nachos were pretty good. The tuna was a tad overcooked for my tastes, and maybe a little too heavy on the soy sauce (I drank a whole glass of water in .5 seconds after eating). However, the little diced veggies on top along with the wasabi mayo added a nice freshness, and I enjoyed the use of wonton to make the "nachos". The Cheesesteak Spring Rolls were exactly as I expected them to be. They were certainly tatsy, but not special either. The menu describes them as being served with a "spicy aioli". When it comes out, it's actually cheese and sriracha swirled on the plate like chocolate sauce on your Applebee's dessert. Don't get me wrong, I liked the addition of the sriracha very much. I just think it could have been a little more accurately described on the menu and more creatively presented. All in all, I think this place has a friendly, accommodating staff, but could use a little help when it comes to executing their dishes as well as their drinks.
(3)Alyssa E.
I had been here only twice before tonight. Both times were nothing special, once the night before my 21st birthday because they said they didn't mind that I wasn't going to be 21 until midnight, and the other for a work thing. Tonight, though, turned me off for good. We were sitting at one of the tables and my girlfriend had just gotten back from the restroom (which when i was in there, had urone ALL over the seat) and the server, who we found out was named Janie, pushed my friend out of her way, very obviously, to a point where the next table asked if my friend was ok, and then the owner came up to us saying you shouldn't have done that. Stunned, we had no idea what he was talking about and asked what he was talking about and asked to explain what we did wrong. He just said, "you know" which, obviously we didnt. So rude. Have no intention of going back.
(1)Katrina C.
A friend of mine has thrown several parties in the upstairs "club" area called Prime Lounge. Its a nice modern looking space for a small party, and I don't mind squeezing between the bar stools and people sitting on the side couch area when I know them or at least know of them. However, I do not think I would want to be here when it is full of people that are not my friends. I don't need to practically sit in a strangers lap when I'm trying to cross the room. Anyway, this is supposed to be for Finn McCool's. I have eaten here, and the food is fine. Nothing crazy. They have a decent amount of beer on draft, including a few locals - but it's pricey. $6 for a Harp, $7 for a Victory. I would rather go elsewhere for a drink - a place with more local beer that is $1-$2 cheaper. Also, what is with the light in the bathrooms? Red lightbulbs really? At 7:00 in the evening, I should be able to go into a bathroom and see myself. Seriously.
(3)Melissa L.
If I could give this place zero stars, that would be fair. Strolled in around 1:30 today to an empty bar. My girlfriend and I were on our way to NYC and stopped in on our way to the mega bus. The red-headed bartender was full of attitude. We ordered nachos with chicken- we counted maybe 4 pieces of chicken in the whole dish. While we waited a few long minutes for styrofoam carry out dishes- we knocked on the door downstairs to let the "bartender", (and I use that term loosely) know that we didn't have time to wait she replied with "well OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THEM". Please, honey. Bars are a dime a dozen in this town. I'll take my business elsewhere. This woman has no clue what customer service means... Especially to friendly/great tippers. The food was mediocre at BEST.
(1)Zachary H.
There's an inherent perkiness to restaurant language, a codified set of terms both restauranteurs and diners mostly adhere to. "Fine" means the food is disappointing. "Cozy" eateries are code for tables so near each other you might find a dollar bill stuffed in your waistline after squeezing between them. Persistently being asked if everything's all right or if you need anything else means "Are you going to leave soon? I'd like that. Yeah, you should totes leave soon." I think our server here wanted us to leave soon. Finn McCool's is a chain and the food tastes like it. The cheese on the nachos tasted like it came from a pump and the chicken from a microwave, for example. Yeah, it's only bar food but that doesn't mean you have to build your menu around what your frozen food distributer has in their warehouse icebox. The bar aspect of it might be fun. Or it might just be fine.
(2)Carol C.
Their beer selection isn't the best, but happy hour deals are pretty good! Tried almost all their bites on their menu, including their nachos, rolls, pizzas, and wings. Out of everything, i'd say their pizza is the best because they add some pesto sauce to it. Also stopped by during center city sips, and the place was super crowded, but the servers were nice enough to try to find us a table.
(4)Andrew W.
This is the only bar in the city that evokes an angry response from me when suggested as a destination. I'm considering seeking treatment to get to the root of it, but I think it has something to do with the fact that the drinks are overpriced, the food is awful, the service is slow, its an awkward space that gets way too crowded with only a few groups of people, and it doesn't offer anything that can't be found at any of the 100s of bars in the neighboring blocks. Its like the Field House, only smaller and never offers free happy hours for me to take advantage of before going somewhere worth hanging out in.
(1)Maggie M.
It had been so long since I'd been to Finn McCool's that they had completely renovated and even moved the bar, so it was like visiting a whole new place when we stopped in for the Philly:The Game scavenger hunt "After party" last weekend. I really like the downstairs. the upstairs is a little cold and impersonal for me, but is definitely modern. The bathrooms are completely dangerous when you've been drinking for 8 hours-- red lights and a mini-step and darkness in the stalls...oh my! Finn's gets 3 stars for these 8 wonderful words: $3 stella drafts during happy hour on saturdays! Yay! (keep in mind that i don't know when they'll change it up again)
(3)Christine B.
Second stop on a Sips night bar crawl. The waitress was friendly, they had a decent draft list, the Phillies were playing, all in all a good time. Worth checking out if you are wandering around the area and everything else is crowded.
(3)Sarah F.
My boyfriend and I went for dinner. We sat down at a hightop. We waited....and waited....and waited....and left.
(1)Tai B.
I work next to Finn McCool's and I must say, I don't drink but the food here is outstanding. And the staff and owner are very friendly as well. Tai from D.Tails & Designs
(5)Anthony V.
Frequented this spot quite a bit all through out the fall/winter/spring seasons, I have no reasons to think it wouldn't carry into the summer as well. Food is what i would say my favorite thing about this restaurant is. Great little sampler apps such as the calamari and mussels. Perfect spot to wind down in their small "pub" like atmosphere. Must be honest and say I have yet to visit on a weekend, or late night for that matter to see how the crowd is.
(3)Christopher R.
Ate there again today, and while the service remains excellent (that's the second star), my opinion of the food has taken a definite downturn. I ordered the double cheeseburger special, all the while worrying that I would be getting in over my head. I was hungry but not really double cheeseburger hungry, and if it weren't for the special, I never would have been tempted. Well, turns out I had nothing to worry about. The two beef patties on there were tiny, like slider-sized; combined, they were slightly smaller than the size of a normal burger anywhere else. I also ordered them 'medium well' and received them 'vulcanized rubber.' Flavor was not good. It tasted like a Whopper.
(2)Serena K.
I will start by mentioning that I have been on vacation for a week and continue to jot down every place that I venture in order to yelp them at a latter time, however Finn McCools deserves an immediate Yelp! I will follow by saying that if I had Yelped this place I would not have went and that would not have only been a bummer but a travesty perhaps. When my cousin and I walked in we went for one beer and one beer only but ended up staying for a total of three rounds. Teddy (part owner?) had many local beers on tap and I tried the Victory Golden Monkey (9ish% alc. by vol.) which was amazing and a tad bit sweet. My cousin had another local beer that he enjoyed as well (don't remember the name). While drinking those beers and talking to Patrick the Chef who was hanging out behind the bar we started talking shots and the chef offered to buy us a round:) After a shot of whiskey with him we decided to order another round; my cousin opted for another beer and I opted for a specialty cocktail called "the dark side". I thought the drink would be a bit too sweet for my taste as I am a whiskey up kind of girl so he modified it into a beautiful masterpiece... The guys working tonight were amazing and this is the first buzz I have enjoyed in over a week. The atmosphere is laid back and eventually got a bit busy. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice both Patrick and Teddy were to a couple of out of towners. I know for a fact that if I had multiple days left here in Philly I probably would not venture to another bar as they have me hooked! Thank you so much to Finn McCools for making me feel at home while being all the way across the country
(5)Min A.
Was in Philly so had to order cheese steak sandwich and fries. Good sandwich and nice atmosphere. Service was attentive and quick. I would go back again!
(4)Alexandra R.
Cheesesteak eggrolls are great. Definitely not a destination spot, because there is only ever a DJ upstairs, but a great spot to grab a drink for happy hour. Pretty large tap beer selection for being so small.
(4)Niyant S.
Simply put: this is a great little pub in a great location with the usual drinks to offer at reasonable prices. But the real clincher: DAS BOOT!!! For those who haven't watched Beerfest, this refers to a large beer glass shaped like a boot! While the size of their boot probably does not equal the one in Beerfest, it is still equivalent to about 3 beers worth, and filling it with Miller Lite will only run you $9. Also, they ask to hold a credit card just because the boot costs $30, so if you break it your a little screwed!
(4)Eric V.
The service was pretty good, but I didn't actually eat anything here... there wasn't really anything on the menu that really stuck out to me. The only question is why this place is considered a sports bar. Seems like a plain old bar to me... nothing particularly sporty about it.
(3)Lucas C.
Finn McCool's is by far one of the best Irish Pubs I have ever been too. The staff knows their beer and the servers are always friendly...not to mention cute!! The bartenders are all knowledgeable about beer and offer a great ear to listen to when needed. The downstairs of the facility is very friendly and welcoming. You feel as thought you can walk in, grab a beer, and immediately make friends with your surrounding patrons. The upstairs is a little more upbeat and is used for a "club and dancing" scene. They hold private parties up there all week and are open Friday and Saturdays with a DJ on staff. I highly recommend at least checking out Finn McCools and seeing for your own eyes what I experience!!! And DO NOT forget to: Irish Hangover and a Smithwick's when your feeling under the weather the next morning.
(5)Jose A.
This is a cool concept, a modern irish bar, it's a bit to bourgeois in a NOT good way. The beer selection was ok, definitely better in the city, probably not going back, sorry Finn McCool's, you weren't cool enough, oh snap...
(2)Chris W.
Since for some reason I always seem to end up at Irish bars, I might as well mention my experiences at Finn Mccools. I have only ever gone for happy hour and it is one of the better drink-wise one's in Center City. $4 Mixed drinks and $2 Drafts can't be beat, there are similar specials during Phillies games too. I have also got the $5 plate of wings before but they were pretty dry and there were only 8 of them, not exactly a special. Important to also note, unlike a lot of places where the Center City Sips specials differ online from when you actually arrive, Finn Mccools is consistent. The biggest dissapointment is the outdoor seating. It exists in limited quantities but for some reason the corner of 12th and Sansom always smells like the sewer threw up. I can't imagine eating a real meal outside.
(2)Meghan C.
Stumbled in here one Sunday summer afternoon when we drove in for a friend's birthday party at Lolita's (which I recommend). It was POURING and we were early so thought, let's go get a pint! Loved it - great service, decent selection of beers...someone said it's a great place to take things easy and I definitely agree. We stored our six packs under our bar stools (the restaurant we were going to is a BYO) and everyone laughed at us.
(4)Anita A.
I went to this place after class, so around 5-6pm. The place was dead. Not a lot of people hanging out, or it just might be because it was a weekday. The food was not that great, eatable. I ordered Fish & Chips and the fish was soaked with oil. Fries were cold. Great beer selection, although the price after happy hour could be a bit expensive. Great service.
(3)Lauren K.
I had never been to Finn McCool's but a friend recommended them as a venue for my husband's 30th birthday. I called and spoke with a manager, Teddy, who was awesome and helped me plan an awesome party for my husband. We had the upstairs bar all to ourselves, they accommodated us with drink specials and worked with my budget to provide my guests with appetizers (about 30 guests). Everybody had an awesome time. It was the weekend before Halloween and the bar was decorated accordingly. We had fun and would go back.
(4)Bill M.
I apparently went to Finn McCool's without even knowing it on Friday. As Chrissy R. said they were being redesigned recently. Not only is the redesign complete, but they added on a brand new second floor lounge called Prime. It wasn't the kind of place I'd usually go to, but My cousin was heading down for his birthday, and I'd go to a lot worse for him. The first floor is the same off Irish pub with colorful locals, and the second floor is a more swankier offering for dancing and drinks. I'd probably give both a middle ground review if they stood alone. but the fact that you can go from one extreme to the other in the same place makes it a pretty good deal. My only complaint would be the inconsistency of the music. Aside from a few good songs from the likes of Madonna and Rancid (yeah in the same place), I had the benefit of remembering some unwanted tunes like "867-5309". A memo to DJ's everywhere - playing songs by Vanilla Ice and New Kids On The Block in the year 2008 is a bad decision! But aside from the music the service was pretty good. And the Drink prices where pretty reasonable. so overall the good about here outweighs the bad.
(4)Kristina C.
We went in to Finn's to watch the Eagles game.....uneventful atmosphere really. Beer was a little more expensive compared to other places. We did order food, mine had a modification which totally came out wrong. But the food tasted good. I don't think that we will go back to watch a game again, but if you are looking for a bar to just sit at, there were seats open.
(3)G C.
Came here for City Sips but only experienced the 15% off dinner special, not the drinks. We had a large group and they accommodated us well. The place kind of emptied out after City Sips was over. Food was okay--just standard. Don't expect anything out of it.
(2)Ashley B.
Great spot for beer selection & specials!! Staff was super friendly and specials during football were good. Randomly in Philly for the marathon ... So the barstools weren't super comfy but that was all me not them...will def go back!!
(4)Monique D.
Everytime I visit the Philadelphia area this is place that I must visit everytime. The food and service are always great. Many TV to watch sports and the martinis are delish. I luv this place!!
(5)Jim F.
Stopped in because it was near my hotel and I needed a bite to eat. I was very pleased with the beer selection and had a very tasty Shepherd's Pie. A small, quaint, fun old-school place with a charming and fun atmosphere.
(4)Alex V.
We stopped in to Finn McCool's to watch the second half of the USA vs. England Word Cup match. We didn't have any food, but the beer selection is good and the bartending was attentive and friendly. Despite some of the negative reviews on Yelp, I don't really have a bad word to say about this place. The prices were fine, and the atmosphere reminds me a of nice local pub. Its definitely not a destination, but a good option if nearby and looking for a decent beer.
(3)Dana L.
Two words: The Boot Greg was deliriously happy to be able to drink from the Boot ala "Beer Fest". $9 to fill it up (server said it was equivalent to 2.5-3 beers), and they hold a credit card (since the glass itself is so expensive). Totally worth it. We caught the last overtime and the penalty kicks for the Ghana/Uruguay World Cup quarterfinal, and it was great. Servers were completely chill with the fact that patrons had switched to water or were nursing their beers because they were so into the game. Vibe changed a little after the game, but was still fine for a beer.
(3)Alan B.
This is a GREAT place to hang and take thing easy, depending on what time you try to go. I tried to get in this place 500 times during dinner hour, and it was impossible to squeeze in. I found out that Sunday afternoons are ideal and provide the perfect watering hole to drink/eat/chill and even catch a game. The atmosphere is perfect for a corner bar: wooden stools, marble-top bar, brick walls and old-school lighting fixtures. Noise level is perfect (no yelling needed), and the staff is quick to your needs and open to conversation. The food was very well done, and really not that $$$$$$ for a Philly bar. I have every intention of spending Sunday afternoons here for an early dinner.
(5)Fred C.
This is a pleasant, very neat ale house. My pulled-pork with BBQ sauce sandwich was excellent, and the French-Frieds accompanying it were very good. Also, there were about a dozen beers on tap, and the Magic 4 I selected was first rate. My companion had a burger which was rated very good. The server was pleasant and efficient, and we will be coming back here again.
(3)Kelly C.
Stopped in Finn McCool's last night for a bite to eat. If I'm in the neighborhood again looking for food, I'll definitely be back. The food was good and cheap. The atmosphere was nice, and the variety of music played was entertaining. Plenty of beer and cocktail choices too!
(4)Rich G.
Average Irish pub, good place to sit down and have a Guiness
(3)Zachary F.
Finn MacCool's is a tragic establishment. The wait and bar staff is super friendly, but unfortunately that's not quite enough to make me want to come back here. The clientele they attract (at least when I was there on a Monday evening)are horribly low-brow. Sure, it's an irish-pub, but these weren't slightly vulgar coal miners...I'm talking about loud and obnoxious, inappropriately dressed street urchin types. If I had to describe them in more common terms, I'd say "white trash". I ordered the shepherd's pie - what should be the FLAGSHIP dish at any irish pub, and was sorely disappointed. The lamb filling was a tad dry, and my potato crust was stiff and cold in the middle, leading me to the obvious conclusion that my dish was... MICROWAVED. Won't be back here any time soon, in spite of the friendly staff.
(1)Kai Z.
A group of friends and I ended up here after the Philadelphia Marathon in November. Everywhere else we wanted to go was closed on a Sunday, so we meandered into Finn McCool's. I'm sure this is a decent place if you just want a hang out with a beer and watch football on TV. But DO NOT order food here. It took over an hour to get our food, and it was terrible. I ordered fish and chips, standard pub fair, and it came out cold, with soggy, limp fries on the side. Everything tasted like it was frozen and microwaved. My friend found a hair in her salad. FAIL.
(1)Susan L.
Went here once for Prime Lounge. It was a very small room but they had a decent bar, DJ playing and tables for you to sit and order a drink. They had $3 Malibu Bay Breezes as their special that night and it was well made. There was no cover, I don't think there usually is any. Place started to pick up around midnight and my girls and I were dancing our butts off even though no one else really was (you gotta make your own fun, right?). A guy ended up buying us a round of shots which were pretty good. All in all a fun place to hang out with a small group of people, nothing crazy like a club or lounge. You can get up a dance if you wanna, you can sit and chill if you wanna.
(3)Jacquelin K.
Finn MacCool's suffers from a cripplingly weird vibe. In other words, this bar sucks. They do serve up a mighty strong, mighty large long island iced tea for $7. However, when I walked in with my friend on Friday night, every single person sitting at or standing behind the bar turned to stare at us -- and proceeded to do so for practically 30 seconds. Um, what the hell? Is it not normal to be black or something? Besides that bizarre inspection, the music was pitiful top 40 being blasted over a pitiful section of tables and a barren dance area. For some reason, the ceiling in the back of the place is very high, which is disconcerting in a small, dark space. No decor to speak of. Some places pull off being no-frills without excessive wacknesss. Finn MacCool's, which misspells its own name on its building, is not one of those places. The bouncer is cool, and the long island had me on my ass, but trust me: if you take your friends here for anything other than cheap drinks before really hitting the town, they should smack you upside your head.
(1)Jeff H.
Stopped in for the first time yesterday while on my lunch break in search of a place to watch (and hear!) the Phillies day game. Pleasantly surprised to see the two bar TVs had the game audio. The French onion soup was huge, had a sh-t ton of provolone and a lot of onions. I devoured it. Not the best I've ever had, but it was good, and probably the largest/cheesiest. Britany behind the bar was friendly and re-filled my iced tea (not from Long Island - damn you, responsibility!) a number of times. The three bean soup, which I stole a couple bites of, was also damn tasty. The happy hour specials seem decent. The place was pretty immaculate.
(4)Adam C.
Important preface to any club type place I review... I don't like clubs. Or bars. Or social situations at all. Ok, that might be an exaggeration, but if you like crowded, loud places where you have to take out equity on your home to afford to get drunk... well, then you probably won't get much use from my reviews. So Prime is a new 'lounge'. And had a promotion where they would offer free drinks from 9-11 for a $5 cover fee. So a friend of mine signed us up online. That means, when we were there, we were on, "The List" (quotations and capitalization added for emphasis). Of course, I was on the list with my first and last names mixed up, but no matter. Headed upstairs to find... a long thin room. You might think, hey, a bar is a long thin device... it should fit, right? It does, with just enough room to pass by next to the windows. So to use up this 'extra' space that someone might use to 'walk' in the 'lounge', they stuck a long bench along the window. This merges the convenient social atmosphere of a bus stop with the calisthenic side to side motion you have to engage in as anyone who wants to get a drink at the bar sticks their ass in your face. As for walking from one end of the bar to the other... you can't. Our free drinks turned out to be free vodka drinks... that may have been mentioned on the website; I assume so. And, while we were there, we were informed that the bartender was asked to slow down, because he was being 'too efficient'. Turns out that was probably because they were running out of vodka, because the free drinks stopped before 10PM. So, we decided to leave this lounge, offended by the misnomer, for there was nowhere that I saw that I could lounge effectively. I hate to be entirely negative. So, was there anything good? Well the crowd was eclectic and multicultural, which I always appreciate. Also, my friend Natalie almost saw this one woman's boob. But mostly, it's that it only cost me $5 to learn that I never want to go back there. Ok, well, coming on here to find out what this place was to review it, I realized it's just part of a bigger place. A bigger place with a funky Irish name and a pub atmosphere. And I like funky Irish names and pub atmospheres, so maybe at some point I'll give the first floor another chance, but I didn't see the first floor the first time, I can only go on what I saw, so that's the review you get. Take it as you will.
(1)Chrissy R.
Such a friendly place and an interesting group of people. It is a local bar and beings as though it is in the gayborhood, you can expect to see some older queens in here who love their drinking. The mayor is one of my favorite regulars. Right now it's currently undergoing a redesign and I can't wait until it opens up again. That will be an event!
(5)Mona W.
We stopped here for lunch yesterday and had a nice time with a few disappointments. Heather worked the very busy bar and all the tables by herself while the manager watched and socialized with some people he knew so this caused slow service a couple of times. Heather was awesome. She helped us with the menu and beer choices. We ordered Shepards pie and fish & chips. The fish & chips arrived with two small grease saturated pieces and a mound of fries. It wasn't eatable so we sent it back & ordered a sandwich. The portion sizes were good with the Shepards pie and the sandwich so we were very upset as to why they would serve just two small pieces of fish. The quality was good with the other two dishes so we suggest not ordering fish & chips! And....be ready to wait on this one server to take care of you! We won't go back.
(1)Matthew S.
We found this bar randomly through Google Places and I'm glad we did. They had 12 beers on tap and pretty much all of them were hard to find and very good. Out bartender was good and very friendly. Although I didn't order food all 3 of the friends I was with did and as usual I mooched off of each them. I just tried some French fries off my one friends cheese steak, but the other 2 dishes I tried were very good. The first was calamari topped with a spicy aioli sauce. The calamari was huge and very fresh. Fried perfectly . The sauce complimented it very well. The other thing I tried was a cheese steak spring roll. How could that not be amazing? If you come here do yourself a favor and try it. Wouldn't suggest coming in large groups because it isn't very big.
(5)Stan B.
Two words: it sucks. Lousy atmosphere. The only thing Irish about it was whiskey and beer. Other than that typical, uninteresting dive bar.
(1)Joseph S.
Finn McCool's Ale House. The "new" Finn's has been open for over a year now, but I long for the old Finn's. The renovated Finn's is a nice, somewhat high end pub meets lounge. It's decent, the food is decent, the DJ can be hit or miss. It's not a bad time. But I do long for the pre-renovated, hole in the wall bar that Finn McCool's Ale House once was.
(2)Hidon M.
I go to bars to eat all the time. Its as simple as this...Go get a shepherd's pie from "Fergies" or some other local pub and then go have one at Finn McCool's. I've had a server there offer me escargot. I'm not sure if everything fits the whole Irish theme, and i think maybe the layout creates some problems, but the food is far beyond your average pub and the taps are nice. I happen to be in the food service industry and i can't help but root for these guys and their progressive approach to pub grub.
(4)Rueben C.
I came to Finn McCool's to watch game 3 of the Penguins v Flyers - 2008 - playoffs, where the Flyers lost. Honestly, the place could use more tv's, specifically the place needs two more 40 inchers. There's a couple spots, near the door where the closest TV is about 30 feet. Anyhow they served beer, on tap and cold,. My buddy was drinking top shelf scotch and times were merry so no complaints about the liquor served. I did have the Shepherd's Pie and the appetizer sampler and the food was hohum but I chowed it down because I had the drunk munchies. I wouldn't go to Finn's just to eat but if I end up there again and drunk and I'd eat the food. I will say the pie I had was a bit lacking of ingredients. Finn's served the pie as ground beef w/ too few carrots covered with powder mashed potatoes; a proper shepherd's (or cottage) Pie SHOULD have carrots, onions, peas mushrooms, potatoes, tomato puree and of course some gravy. The space is a bit small so groups larger than 7 should call ahead. BTW the way after the game the place tried to do some Karaoke and the mc was terrible and the audio was terrible and the night would have been so much better if they just altogether stopped doing karaoke. Then the place could stay as a local pub watering hole.
(3)