Great beer pub with a fantastic beer menu. Nice, welcoming interior and awesome food. Only been there a few times but I always came away really liking the food. The burgermeister meisterburger (on the Anytime menu) was killer, "best I've ever had" my picky friend said. Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Bonnie M.
I just had the best Wiener Schnitzel I've had outside of Germany! It was perfect--crisp, but tender, and full of flavor. The spaetzle was excellent-do yourself a favor and ask for gravy to go with it--made it even better! I loved the ambiance of the new Hop Angel. The staff was extremely courteous and very friendly. I had to wait for a table because the restaurant was very busy. The food was definitely worth the wait! I'll be back again VERY soon!
(5)
THE LA G.
What a cozy and fun place! Have been there a few rainy nights. Servers and bar staff are friendly, the food is comforting and you can't beat the potato pancakes! NOM!!!!! Also, it is in a building originating from the 1600s so it has lots of cool historic character.
(4)
Erin C.
I love Hop Angel! When I moved to the Northeast I was a little afraid there wouldn't be a good local beer bar or brunch spot near me, and Hop Angel is both! Good food, decent beer selection, brunch, optional outdoor drinking. AND it's in a gorgeous historic building. What more could I ask?
(5)
Diane C.
I'm first going to say, if you're looking for a good beer garden, this is not the place. They unfortunately do not have the open space, and you're essentially in a parking lot off of a main street, and last night there were an unusually large amount of young children running around. But go inside, you will find multiple indoor seating options, inclusive of sitting at the bar that are quite nice. Depending upon where you sit, you get the feel of either quaint cozy inn like, to friendly neighborhood restaurant. I have been here multiple times and never been disappointed. The käsespätzle is light and delicate, with Caramelized onions. It's fantastic!!!! This last trip they had a pumpkin themed menu, and although not a German dish, the gnocchi with pumpkin sauce was out of this world!!! Not sure who the chef is but kudos to you, for the outstanding complex specials, I was quite impressed. I forgot to mention the beer!!! Wonderful selection of German and craft beers.
(4)
Veronica K.
While I came here for their Philly Beer Week promotion, I still think I got an accurate picture of their typical service. Their beer garden area is small but very cute, the only issue being it backs up against a busy intersection. On the inside the building is dark and somewhat confusing to navigate, but not completely unwelcoming. All the staff here was very attentive and helped us find our way to where we had to be. It's true they don't have a magnitude of beers of tap, but they do have some decent craft selections to chose from at any given time. The prices on their beer aren't too bad either, and seem a bit cheaper than other places in the area. All the food we got was good as well; the cheesy spaetzle was the highlight. The curry wurst is a lot different than one would expect, but still not a bad meal. The 'curry' is more of a spicy ketchup but it still tasted very interesting. I would definitely come back here to try some more of the menu, and would probably advise others to come in the warmer months and sit out in the beer garden. If nothing else it's a relaxing afternoon with good German food and some booze.
(4)
Chris S.
I write this review from the parking lot and while I don't think it's fair to lump one's entire experience on a single aspect of a dining experience, there multiple issues with the Mother's Day brunch offered at Hop Angel. For starters, keep a leash on other servers who talk to you like you're a dope. When asked about their menu, a simple explanation would suffice. Instead, the attitude from someone that works there but wasn't our waitress is unnecessary. The food is cold. The reason I'm in the parking lot is because instead of complaining AGAIN about what is being offered as service and food, I thought I'd share my experience without becoming fully enraged. Family comes together to enjoy their dining experience and to celebrate Mother's Day and all we've experienced is nothing short of terrible and unneccasry. The worst part of this entire situation is my wife and mother in law ate here a few weeks ago and they raved about it. Unfortunately, first impressions go a long damn way and if you're a gambler, then it seems this place is the perfect spot if you want an amazing experience or to deal with ignorant staff and cold, subpar food.
(1)
Von M.
After driving by a million times (give or take a couple), we finally stopped here on a Friday evening for a quick dinner, and we are now fans. Based on Yelp reviews we ordered the Bavarian pretzel with Obatzda, the wurst platter and the mussels in beer. The house-made pretzel had a thick, chewy exterior which was the perfect foil for the richness of the Obatzda. The deliciousness was further enhanced by Mr. M's micro-brew and my light and bubbly hard cider. I would have been content to stop right there. Mr. M ordered the wurst platter, which he declared excellent (not a surprise given the distinguished pedigree of the wurst). What really sold him on the meal, however, were the handcut fries and spaetzle, which recalled Mom's recipe. The mussels were uber-delicious (and comparable to Monk's), and only the rules of decorum prevented me from slurping the remaining broth. We loved the intimacy that the low-lighting created in what is not an intimate space. The service was attentive, efficient and patient with newbies.
(4)
Chris C.
Here's a gem in the northeast that WILL become a regular for me on par with Millers and three monkeys. They have a beer garden and a seat-yourself policy which I love.. Here's why I like this place: The food- this was my first visit here, came for drinks but decided to munch on some apps. The pretzel and garlic fries were the only two items we tried and they were both perfect. The prices- their shots were $5.00 and their signature pretzel is $3.00.. The beers- They had 5+ craft beers and that's good enough to get them a solid 5 stars since we are after all in the northeast.. The service- The bartenders were very approachable and were well informed on the menu and drink selections. The ambiance- Great for small and large groups with seating away and close to the bar. Definitely coming back here!
(5)
Steve K.
Good German food. Had the schnitzel. Only issue is that you only get one side. It should include some red cabbage, spaetzel, and German potato salad to make it authentic.
(4)
Tayo M.
The absolute worst thing in the north east...stay away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The service is The Worst....and the bartenders.......huh????? ,No idea!!! ,we were actually laughing in his face,cause he could not hear a word we were saying....and no...we were not drunk....cause ya can't get a drink..lol.....stay away.......and by the way ..the best bartenders you had was the Ruhlings crew..like Tim....get him back...you be way busy
(1)
Valentino G.
I have never been to a German Pub and I have heard great things about this one. I ame here for my birthday dinner with my parents and I have to say I really like the old German Style of the place and the dark mellow atmosphere. The food was amazing, which I knew it was going to be, we started with the Fried Pickles, on the menu their called "Frickles", these were amazing I would totally recommend if you like pickles. Their beer selection consisted of some German beers and also some of today's craft beers, no argument there, and the best part is there is a detailed explanation of each one. For and entree the Schnitzel is totally recommended, I ordered the Westphalian Schnitzel, which is Schnitzel baked with Westphalian ham & Swiss cheese, it was amazing another great recommendation, I also had a side of Spatzle with green beans and carrots. If you like German food and great beer, I would totally recommend it to anyone. One final note which really made me want to come back was the fact that they pratically give away a growler and a fill for a few extra bucks! This is awesome because the growler has no logo or name on it and to think you save yourself money here then you would going to a craft beer store. I think when I come back next time it will be for Brunch, Dinner, and a nice fresh growler fill! Cheers!
(5)
Dennis B.
Good brews.......very poor menu......I felt like I should have been in EPCOT.......I enjoy the brats......but come on......I can go to the Austrian Village for the food......this is a bar......poor menu.....I enjoy the Gray Lodge but this is a miss for me.
(2)
Jonathan M.
Love this place! Fresh German influenced brews constantly flowing from the ever changing taps... You might consider the bar an altar in this beer church. Thanks for doing us all the favor of fresh and cold beer. Oh hey, and the food is just the tits.
(5)
Pamela V.
I love their bratwraust sandwich with sauerkraut. Their cheese taters and fried pickles are great comfort foods. I don't drink, but if I did, they do have a great beer selection.
(4)
Steve L.
My friends and I came here July 11 for the Barbecue fest for the first time, and it was a very underwhelming experience. The place was packed, and very busy. We were seated quickly, but it took a long time for a waitress to attend take our order. We all ordered off the Barbecue menu rather than the regular menu. No wait service seemed to be the theme of the night because we were barely waited on. And it took even longer for our drinks and food to arrive. And when it did, the food was cold, and a bottle of beer my friend received was slightly warm. I paid $15 for a half rack of ribs and some sides, and $12 for a pull pork sandwich and french fries, and the quality of those two did not live up to their price. Even if they were half off, they still would have been a terrible buy. Maybe it was because barbecue isn't their usual thing that the food sucked, or maybe it was the massive crowd? Maybe Both? I'll give credit where it's due though. All the wait staff and probably the cooks too though I didn't see them, were hauling ass. The crowd probably overwhelmed them so they couldn't keep up with the quality. But in this case, I feel it's the restaurant's responsibility to ensure that all the customers have a good experience, and none of the staff are stretched so thin that quality of service and food suffers. Hop Angel should have been turning people away that night, but I guess the restaurant was just interested in making money rather than serving good food, and looking out for their staff.
(1)
Anthony L.
Hands down the best bar in the far Northeast (Fox Chase to be exact). The atmosphere is cozy and warm thanks to the fact that the building dates back to 1683 (how crazy is that?). It truly feels like what I would imagine a classic bar in Germany or Bavaria would feel like. The beer selection is diverse and constantly rotating. The service is always good and I usually go on a busy Friday night. The crowd is eclectic and tends to consists of both younger and older adults from the area that dont like the dbag crowds you tend to find at places like Paddywacks. The jukebox has a massive digital catalogue and you wont hear bullshit rap or junk pop like Miley Cyrus or whatever the new flavor of the month is on Q102. Most importantly, the food kicks ass. The Brauhaus Mac & Cheese with bacon is the best mac & cheese ive ever had. The wings are perfect and the Oxford Burger is the shit. Everything is made with top quality ingredients and preparation and the menu doesnt stay stagnant. The bartenders are great guys and its never a problem getting a drink in a timely fashion. Ill continue to frequent this joint on Friday nights until they give me a reason not to.
(5)
Kat I.
After receiving my "five-year survivor" letter from Fox Chase Cancer Center, my husband and I decided to celebrate by going to Hop Angel for dinner, which I've wanted to do for, oh, about five years now. The dinner was excellent. We both had the Jager Schnitzel. It was totally authentic and tasted nearly as good as the best Jager Schnitzel I ever had, which happened to be in Germany about fifteen years ago. I loved the ambiance and the old world charm of the place. My only disappointment was that we hadn't given it a try sooner. A German restaurant is hard to come by, but Hop Angel is certainly worth the trip.
(4)
Steven B.
I usually don't get to this part of the city but Monday I was across the street on business. A quick check of my Yelp Mobile App showed me "great beer selection" and 3 1/2 stars. Sounded good to me! I stopped in around 2 pm and the place was dead. Not a surprise for a Monday afternoon. I sat at the bar and chatted about beer with the friendly bartender. I must admit I was slightly disappointed. These folks have 12 taps and one was down with problems. They also have just a few bottles. In today's market there is no way that qualifies as a great beer selection. Without thinking I can name twenty or more places in Philly with a much better selection. Don't get me wrong; my beer was fine, the prices were fine and I loved the choice of three different sizes. GROWLER ALERT! These folks offer the nicest growler I have ever seen. It's very heavy and has a solid metal handle. It also has a beautiful porcelain top that's seals tightly. There are no logos of any kind on it which I really like. You'll pay a little more for it. It goes for $17 empty but it's worth it. I've got mine! Check out this picture- yelp.com/biz_photos/hop-… As I was quaffing my beer I needed something to nibble on. I chose the Hop Tots ($7). They are Hungarian and Munster cheese stuffed potato tots. They were large, beautifully plated and delicious. I was surprised how light they were. I perused the remainder of the menu and there were definitely some other dishes I would like to try. I had a nice three star visit.
(3)
Gloss G.
So, after living in Fox Chase forever, I finally bit the bullet & ventured into this "Haus". The decor is definitely authentic/old. We were seated upstairs, which is very "Flowers in the Attic". Complete with old dusty wood scent. We changed tables twice bc they were ridiculously wobbly. The upholstery is gnarly & just plain old dirty. The server was in an anxious rush..made us feel uncomfortable @ times. From the overpriced menu, we ordered a couple of "authentic" dishes..overall the food arrived hot & well seasoned. Just nothing I would absolutely "have to have" again. The best part was their beer list. The dessert choices were literally store bought American cakes & pies. We hoped to enjoy a genuine Austrian Danish or strudel. Needless to say we will not be returning.
(2)
Sara E.
Very casual and I like that. Food was good. Honestly my first time eating this cuisine but I enjoyed it, very hearty. I would go there again.
(3)
Glenda C.
I only had the oatmeal fries and some beer but will be going back because I'm interested in trying some German food. They also have quizo which was fun. We won most creative name and it got us a round of free beer (;
(4)
DR.Paul T.
HOP INTO DELICIOUS AT THE HOP ANGEL well, ive been this restaurant about 30 times. im also going to do a review on my youtube page which currently gets about 1600 veiws a week. michelle was our waitress. besides being gorgeous she was a professional waitress who made our party feel special and we wanted for nothing. when i told her that i review restaurants she only said that that would be great and thAT SHE WOULD LOOK FOR IT AND Thanked me. It must be nice when you know you are good and can always be proud of the place where you work. when she asked what my favorite restaurant was i did mention one other but i said that at any time someone could suggest hop angel and i would want to go because there is not another restaurant that i like better period. the selection of beers and unusual ones is outstanding and drink and shot prices are not high. i recall seeing "the b man" marky b a blues harmonosist there once upon a time. it is even a venue for music sometimes. just commenting on what i had this time which was a magners hard apple cider in the bottle. which is just the way i like it and a ginger alcoholic beverage that ive not seen anywhere else. i will go back and have another. for my appetiser i ordered the crab mac and cheese. the secret is order that as a meal, share it or take half home. it is a hardy meal by its self. they use a light curly noodle, a mxiture of cheeses and bread crumbs on top. it is so good that i could take the lords name in vain describing it. especially after a couple of those ginger drinks. i really enjoy having nontraditional drinks like hard ciders, i love the fruit and the ginger drink of course. but if im in the mood for beer i will go to the beer garden at the hop angel. i am frothing just thinking about it. for my entree i ordered te sirloin steak, medium rare with mashed potatoes and green beans michelle brought me asparagus. i could go on to talk about the layers of flavor in the delicious brown gravy that is a reduction prepared to perfection drizzled on one edge of the meat so that at my choice and convenience i can taste the tender, thich, perfectly cooked to order steak or dip. and i like to dip. a bus man came to the table within minutes to take extra plates. we were schmearing the signature hop angel mustard on the delicious bread and eating it and watching our faces turn red from the fresh horseradish. i dont eat steak often any more so when i do i want it to be ay least as good as i would make as i come from a family of cookers. i could not stop eating it. i love the hop angel. 6 stars out of 5. there is not a restaurant i like better. from cleanliness aand i have worked in restaurants and kitchens myself, to prompt courteous service im telling you i take my mother to this restaurant and she is one tough cookie and she comes back. i will end this with there is a difference between a cook and a chef. the hop angel has a chef who puts his own flair in the dishes he creates and changes the menu. its about to change and i cant wait. ill miss whats gone but im so excited to try the new addition that it becomes one oif the positive points about visiting the hop angel. always a positive experience. thanx for the pendulous abdomen again oh it hurts but it was so damn good. blessings.
(5)
Beth K.
I found it to be more for the younger groups. Absolutely no room to move when they're busy..drinks are a bit expensive.
(2)
John Z.
Always a great beer list, great food, love this place. Been there 100 times will go 100 more.
(4)
Len L.
I love the atmosphere of the place. Very nice for hanging out with friends on a cold night at Christmas or a warm afternoon in June. As long as Scoats makes the beer calls, I will forever be a fan. The man is a damned beer genius, and he is always approachable, and encourages requests. He gets beers locally, across the country, and across the world, and it is always a good adventurous list. The food is overall pretty good for me, but my wife is not a big fan. It's a little too inconsistent for her, especially the burgers and sandwiches. I'd recommend the Spicy Fish Sandwich, the Homemade Pretzels with stone-ground mustard, and the mac and cheese. If I had to knock it for anything, it's the service. Bartenders get swamped easily when there is a healthy amount of business, and the day-time service has been hit or miss, erring on the side of miss. I think if they train up their staff, they will be able to churn out a nice steady rush during lunch and on the weekends. Until then, they'll have to settle for losing some repeat business due to the slower service. They'll never lose me, however. The beer choices are just too good!
(4)
Patrick F.
Definitely a neighborhood spot and finding a seat at the bar on this rainy Wednesday afternoon was hard. Great rotating selection of beers, including local crafts on tap. I took it easy this time, trying to eat a little better while on the road, and had an apple and cherry walnut salad with grilled chicken. It was huge and the chicken was delicious. Also had a cup of potato soup that was amazing. I'd love to take the chance to come back here again when I have more time to have some beer and schnitzel and dessert. The staff was great, especially Agnes, who made me feel at home. So if you're in the area and looking for some wurst and bier, stop in and Prost!
Wow oh wow, felt like I just took a trip back to one of the german bars i used to frequent in europe. Went with a group of co workers, since we're always looking for new lunch spots, and this place NAiLED IT! They have a very well priced any time menu, with tons of sandwiches around $10. I had the frankfurter with fried onion, potato pancake, kraut and cheese with chips ($10), my other buddy had this burger meister thta was a huge burger with black forest ham, gouda and a fried egg, another friend had the open face reuben (which he said was by far the best he's ever had) and the 4th diner had the short rib sandiwch, which was also awesome! Sadly, it was a working lunch so no beers...and that was TOUGH! They have around 13 or so beers on tap, tons of great germain choices, so we're for sure going back for a beer. The service was spot on and the food was waaaay better than I expected. I'll for SURE be back.
(5)
Donna K.
Post baseball game dinner on Friday night was pretty good. Seared quickly, great service and good mussels and burgers. The only reason we don't go 5 stars is because the mushroom schnitzel was so over cooked it was hard and tough. The fries were also well done. We'll try it again and hope for better cooking.
(4)
Beth P.
Met up with some friends on Saturday night. The bartenders aren't very attentive, waited longer than I feel we should have for drinks. Messed up our drink order more than once. Also, sitting in the beer garden is anything but relaxing, as it's at a major intersection. I felt like I couldn't relax while sitting out there, because cars literally speed around the intersection from every direction. Maybe it's just me? But I kept envisioning cars jumping the curb and coming right at me.
(2)
Julie M.
The atmosphere is whatever, but the food is what's up. I got the haddock sandwich Andy boyfriend got the meatloaf sandwich- both were delicious. Loved trying the different beers on tap.
(4)
Richard S.
Great setup, plenty of unique drinks and food to choose from. Tell them your favorite beer and they will give you the German equivalent.
(5)
Joe L.
Great little spot in Fox Chase. They have a good selection of German beers, as well as some craft drafts, all for a very reasonable price. Most pints are $4-$5, or you can get huge steins to drink from if you are going big that day. Any food I've ordered always is delicious. Highlights for me are the pretzel with the Obatzda dip (cheese, onion), the burgers, the wings, the German fare...actually just order anything and you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Jill M.
At here recently for the first time since the restaurant changed its name and updated the menu. The food was good and the service was good. The beer selection was awesome! Lots of variety. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Tom I.
I've been to the various iterations of the restaurants at this location: Old Brauhaus, Blue Ox Brauhaus, Blue Ox Bistro, and now Hop Angel Brauhaus. The first three iterations were, I believe, owned by the same family and served quality German food, although the latter two were more generic trying to appeal to a broader crowd. Frankly, the quality slowly went downhill over the years. Back in 2010, even thought I was still living in Las Vegas, I was encouraged to hear that the location was being taken over by people formally associated with he Grey Lodge Pub. I had been to GLP a couple of times and recall liking it quite a bit. At the time I went, it was the rare place in the Northeast that had an interesting beer selection. During one of my visit back to Philly, I enthusiastically went to Hop Angel hoping for a similar experience. The beer selection was excellent but the food was just so-so. But they had just opened and I gave them the benefit of the doubt and decided they were still getting their legs under them. I'm glad I did because I've been back a few times since moving back to Philadelphia and my experiences have been much more satisfying than that first visit. The beer list continues to be the best in the area and the food is consistently good and sometimes excellent. Most recently, I was there for their Pumpkin Brunch and enjoyed a flat bread with caramelized onions, apples, smoked bacon, and cheese. It was topped with a fresh arugula salad. The crust of the flat bread was ideal: crunchy along the edges but perfectly soft but not soggy under the perfectly blended flavors of the toppings. I also ordered an incredibly moist and tasty pumpkin muffin and, of course, had a couple of really delicious pumpkin beers. I've been there a few times for brunch and it's been stellar every time.
(4)
Eye M.
This place needs a good cleaning the place smells like deep fried grease and tables are sticky.
(1)
DanaJoy88 ..
Great place to watch the game, I've watched the superbowl and some phillies games here and I never felt rushed or bothered. They have TV's everywhere which is great and all of there prices are super reasonable so you can drink and eat for hours and not break the bank
(4)
David S.
This place was ok. I kinda expected a little more. First off, the staff is very nice. I walked in with my date and we were immediately greeted and told to sit where ever we liked. I sat down and saw my water glass was very dirty. Well...not dirty....but it looked like they dried it with a paper towel. So there were bits of paper all over it and inside. I ordered a beer from their impressive beer list. Prices were a lot lower than I had expected. We started with the deep fried pickles. They were very tough. Like, the pickle skin was very chewy. It tasted like they were either frozen or cooked too long or something. But they were not good. I ordered the Frikadelle burger. I asked for it cooked medium...and it was! A lot of places don't know how to cook a burger made to order, but this place did. The burger was super tender and very very good. As my rating states, this place was A-OK.
(3)
Michelle N.
Hop Angel...you have redeemed yourself. Two years ago I "boycotted" this place due to a few bad experiences. It looks like you have worked out the kinks. I've been back a few times now and really enjoyed it. Had a bacon cheeseburger and fries one of the times, and the burger was cooked exactly how I wanted it. I know that's not rocket science but so many people overcook burgers. Also had the macaroni and cheese...creamy and delicious. I Went back yesterday for the lobster festival. I'll be honest I was totally skeptical...but the twin lobster tails were amazing! Also ordered a filet and it was cooked medium rare just like I wanted. Only complaint is some of the server and the hostess kept us waiting and forgot some of our food/drinks...but it was really busy due the festival so it's understandable. It's nice to have you in the neighborhood!
(4)
Anthony C.
This place has very good bar food. The best appetizers are the fried pickles and the potato pancakes. Great entrees are the fish and chips and the burgermister mister burger. It has ham, cheese, and a fried egg on it . It was delicious . They have the best fries I ever had. Overall a great experience !
(4)
Brad D.
I'm still not even sure where Fox Chase is at - though I was there all day. This place is an endearing hybrid of your Grandfather's basement bar in suburban Ohio, and a potentially-hipster-driven dive bar. The food selection is pretty small and not for vegetarians or people who care about their cholesterol score - but it's great tasting and cheap. Brats-a-plenty. My one complaint was being teased at the bottom of the beer menu with a list of beers on tap... next month. It just made me disappointed I couldn't have them. Alas.
(3)
Frank P.
Great brew pub with great food. Veggie burger was awesome. Everything cooked clean. By no means is this considered bar food. Great variety of beer on tap from local breweries.
(4)
Christopher D.
I have eaten at the Hop Angel four times since it has opened, and there are strengths and weaknesses to the place. Strengths include wonderful selection of german and german style beers from the US served with the correct glassware. I mostly have had appetizers, along with the schnitzel several times. The home made head cheese is rustic and goes well with the toast they serve with it. The salads, pretzels and wursts (locally sources from Illig's and Riekers) are all good. The steam veggies are done nicely and not over cooked. Service is a bit spotty, and some of the other dishes are not up to par. Cost is above a local pub, so do not be surprised to be spending 10-15 for an entree, plus beer appetizer etc. The place has only been open a few months, but there is no doubt it will improve. Looking forward to returning and watching this restaurant blossom.
Burgermeister Meisterburger is much bigger than you can imagine so I recommend sharing it. Definitely get it though. The spaetzle is different than last time I was there, but I love, love, loved it. It's even better now.
(5)
Rich B.
Another beer haven brought to you from the folks @ Grey Lodge. The beer selection is not as adventurous nor is the food as good as at the Grey Lodge.You can always find something great on tap; the emphasis on German and local craft brews.I like the fact that you have a choice between .3 .4 & .5 liter pours. You can get a liter stein also. The building dates back to 1683.The interior is a bit run-down, but I do not come here for the atmosphere. You can also sit outside during warmer months in the biergarten which is kind of in an alley and not too nice either. Never had much food from here. The mac n' cheese was bland even w/bacon. They have a happy hour on Fri. from 4-6 which features select $3 pints (yesterday it was Spaten Lager and Stoudts Pils.)They put out a bunch of free apps around 5.The stuff I tried was actually quite good.. Bavarian pretzels, wings, fries, cheeseburger sliders, some kind of unidentified fried things(Fish cakes?) were very tasty indeed.They have some interesting vegetarian options on their lunch menu that I will definitely try. Service here is good; at the bar at least. This place can become very crowded and unnecessarily noisy(loud music) on the weekends. Plenty of free parking out back.While not as good of a culinary and beer experience as The Grey Lodge this remains a great place to have a beer and some free eats @ Fri Happy Hour.
(4)
Matthew L.
Quizzo: aka drinking, laughing, and being baffled by crazy questions. Decent food. Fun times! Clearly, most of my time is spent here on Tuesday evenings playing Quizzo. I've likely had most of the menu at this point, most notable are the fries, meat and cheese board, mac & cheese with bacon, and you know.. the whole Brauhaus part. They've been a bit lacking in the stout/porter category at times but that's just being picky. The rotating selection always makes me happy, with draft lists updated daily via chalkboard. Our standard waitress, Michelle, is always chipper and even when it gets busy she makes sure we're taken care of. Oh right, winning is awesome too. $25 gift cards to the top team which can be used on the spot. If ever you find yourself in the Fox Chase area, grab a beer and mac and cheese. No disappointment will be found. Cheers.
(4)
Glenn B.
Good food and a great beer selection. They have fresh cut fries and chips that come with all sandwich orders that are delicious.
(4)
kelly f.
One of my boyfriend and I's favorite place to go in Fox Chase. They have an assortment of craft beers and great descriptions so you know what your ordering. The service is very friendly and attentive with a comfortable atmosphere. Hop Tots are addicting...cheesy goodness. I also like cheese spatzel. You never can go wrong with a burger and their prime rib sandwich is delicious too! Only thing I wouldn't suggest is their meatloaf, kinda dry and bland.
(4)
Liana L.
Very cool german theme bar restaurant! It felt very quaint and welcoming inside this place. Free parking is in the back of the restaurant where they have back entrance. I came here for quizzo on Tuesday night so I can't comment on too much. The menu looked good but didn't have too many items that I would eat. A very glutenous, carb, cheese, meat menu but I guess that is what German food is like. But everything else and service of this place was great!
(4)
Lisa S.
I'll preface this by saying that I don't drink beer and I've never had German food. So if you're going there for those things specifically, my opinion might not mean much. I went to this establishment for an impromptu lunch with friends. Now, maybe my review is influenced by the crowd I was with or the three glasses of wine that I had, but I thought the food was delicious. (Even the leftovers were good.) We had the fish and chips (it came with this awesome sauce on the side in addition to the tarter sauce that was so good) and mac and cheese for appetizers. Both were amazing. The mac and cheese could easily be a meal in and of itself. It was exactly how mac and cheese should be -- al dente pasta (I'm a fan of the cavatappi) and lots and lots of cheese! For my meal, I got the Burgermeister Meisterburger (with no ham), which exceeded my expectations. I had never had a burger with a fried egg before, but that, with the combination of the smoked Gouda on it, made this literally one of the best burgers I've ever had. It was pretty big, so I only ate half of it, and enjoyed the other half for dinner. I also had the warm German potato salad, which was delicious too. (Also, another huge portion.) All in all, a great place. The waitress and bartenders were both nice. Will definitely visit again.
(5)
Holly W.
Warning - if you are into healthy food you might find this review revolting as I believe we managed to order every delicious carb and fat laden item on the menu. The outside is very "Ye Olde Ale House" and inside quite reminiscent of that restaurant where Jenifer Jason Leigh goes on a date with the nerdy guy who forgets his wallet in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (anyone?) - all darkish interior with 'they were cool in the 70's' wooden captains pub chairs. A 70's soundtrack was playing overhead and I looked at the menu suspiciously, expecting to see Pasta Primavera or some other 70's dish. Happily there were many German specialties and lots of things with cheese - I was so in. They have both a Dinner and "Anytime" menu so if you are in more of a sandwichy mood you can ask for that. In spite of being in a place that specializes in beers -and they seemed to have lots of interesting brews - we just weren't in a beer mood so actually started with gin and tonics which were nice and strong. Being slightly tipsy and really hungry are the only excuses we have for the delirium that took over when we ordered. We got the mac and cheese as an app (yes, an app!). And it was awfully good in a terrible hot melted cheesy, bacony carlorie laden way. The bread basket was a little bit of heaven as it contained very delicious freshly baked herb bread that I slathered in butter and ate way too much of. For my meal I had the Philly pork sandwich which turned out to be a mistake as it wasn't that good. The waitress heard me saying I wished I had gotten cheese and she brought me a little cup of yummy melted cheese out which helped. The pickles were so nice and sour and the fries were fresh cut and soooo good - when I got the cheese cup to dip the fries in I was in heaven. Hubby had the "Holstein" which is fried veal with capers, anchovies and a sunnyside egg on top which he enjoyed along with delicious homemade mashed potatoes that were accompanied by a pitcher of some kind of gravy with wine (yum). Our server was excellent. We saw a lovely Crème Brulee and some nice Apple Strudel go by on the way to another table but feared they'd have to get a wheel barrow and roll our groaning bloated bodies to our car if we ate one more fat or dough loaded item. Luckily my husband remembered his wallet so he didn't have to go call his cool, ticket scalping friend who looks way too old to be in high school to bring it and pretend he just happened to bump into him (anyone?) and we paid and waddled out, vowing to return the next time we feel the need to deliciously self induce a pair of carbohydrate comas.
(4)
Chris G.
This place is a real diamond in the rough in the fox chase section of NE Philly. Beautiful, inviting interior and they just recently opened an out back section which is awesome when it's nice out. The beer selection is like nothing you will find in the North east. The food is all german cuisine based. I have been here many many times and have had almost everything on the menu. My favorites are the Reuben, the burgermeister, the open face ham and swiss, the crimini crab mushrooms, and their mac and cheese and fries are always great! The only things I didn't like from their menu was the salmon (very bland and thin, not worth of the price they charge for it) and the yodeler. Other then that, thumbs up all around. The bartenders are super professional which is extremely hard to find at any bar restaurant in the north east.
(5)
Amy N.
After looking forward to a night at the Hop Angel Brauhaus - I was more than underwhelmed. Pros: -Free parking out back -Decent selection of draft beers -The Weisswurst was wunderbar! Cons -Draft beers include only one or two actual German beers! -Their Braised Red Cabbage? Super weak. -Slow service -Lacking in atmosphere... sort of sad, Germany. -Bathroom during a rainstorm = slip & slide Went to the Hop Angel for a birthday outing. Our waittress would bring out a beer, saying its name and when we all agreed we hadn't ordered it, she slapped it down on the table anyway and left. Not a fan. I know large parties aren't always easy - but I've eaten at Brauhaus Schmitz with a big group and our waittress couldn't have been more of a pro. We had several issues that occurred involving our waittress than you can forgive or forget if other things make up for it. Everything was not her fault.... But add this to the fact that the atmosphere dark (not in an intimate way) and felt old & unloved, the bathroom floor was covered in water & had buckets placed throughout that were overflowing as they caught drips from the ceiling... and the simple fact that their food wasn't all that delicious or authentic tasting --- I'm doubtful I'll be back. The weisswurst was definitely excellent - but their other wursts weren't all that great, and their side dishes just didn't live up. If you're looking for German food with ease of suburban logistics (hooray free ample parking) - head to the Hop Angel. Otherwise, for more authentic food, better beer selection, and the atmosphere of South Street to enjoy on a nice walk after your meal -- head downtown to Brauhaus Schmitz.
(2)
Debbie T.
Went for my birthday a couple weeks ago. While the beer was good the food was certainly not the same good German food that the Old Brauhaus used to have. Not impressed at all and would go to the Austrian Village next time.
(2)
Raj M.
Food at this place is good... and I enjoyed myself at their bar. It's got the kind of vibe where anyone is welcomed like you're a guest in someone's happy home. If it weren't so out of my way, I would definitely visit this place more often. But no matter how far it may be from you, it's worth at least one try!
(4)
Alan K.
As for "SPIKE" being a food snob, I don't know about that, but he is most definitely a SNOB! At the Hop Angel Brauhaus, he couldn't figure how to enter the building. Must have been embarrassing! Most people use the front door. And he must have been embarrassed again when a server had to actually mention that his tip wasn't sufficient. He must have finally realized that he was cheap. Now it's understandable why he prefers the Brauhaus Schmitz down on South Street.
(5)
Caroline L.
What a great place. I went there with a large group on a Saturday night and the service was pleasant, the food was diverse and good, the beer selection great, and the price was exceptionally reasonable for Philadelphia. The menu is eclectic with an array of German selections and other fare such as duck, smoked fish appetizers, and salads. Because of the diverse menu, it's a good place to split appetizers and then get stuffed on an entree.
(4)
Gretchen M.
3.5 stars, really. This is the craft beer oasis in Fox Chase and the surrounding area, and they do have an impressive rotation of local, German, and other creative beers. Their vegetarian menu is limited (extremely limited) but the macaroni & cheese is so good it's probably the only thing I'd order anyway. My husband is always happy with whatever he orders - brats, fish & chips, scrapple, whatever... Service is what you'd expect for the neighborhood. The waitresses aren't always knowledgeable about the beers available, so it's a good thing that whoever writes the beer list knows what s/he is talking about. It's a really cool, really old building that could use some TLC to show off its character and history.
(3)
Keith B.
I'm a fan of this place. It's a nice historic building, with a good American Craft beer bar that also has some German beer choices thrown in to fit the overall decor. I really like they give you a bunch of different size options for beer (.3 .4 & .5 Liter, or 1 Liter pours). I got Truffle Egg Toast for Sunday Brunch, it was awesome. One of the best brunch foods I have ever had. Highly recommend it. Parking lot is a big plus in my book, making it an easy spot to visit in Philly for people not from the neighborhood.
(4)
Jessika S.
I love this place. A great beer selection for beer lovers that's always changing. My husband likes to get his growler filled here. I lived in Germany for 6 years- I think it would be better to call this American/German cuisine and that would solve all the little nit picky complaints about the food. With that said- if you're not in to counting calories, you'll love the food. Everything is good. I love the spaetzle, I prefer it with out cheese because they can get this perfect crunch on it. I can't wait to go back and build my own pork sandwich- I sat in jealousy as I watched a friend eat his. I did try the scrapple snack. I didn't really care for it but that doesn't mean it was bad. My husband started to eat it. I was told they make it from scratch for any of you scrapple snobs out there. I can't wait to go back. Service is always good and parking is free. We were last there on Wednesday 2/29/12 and they had live folk/German music upstairs. The bartender said they come in once a month on Wednesdays. I'm guessing its the last Wednesday of every month.
(5)
Pete L.
Scoats and Patrick have done it again with a German-centric menu and killer - often local - beers. It's great, enjoy.
(4)
Nik K.
As someone who has been to Germany and had real German food (there, and at other places in America), this place really didn't do much for me. Went to the Hop Angel for a birthday with a large group (first mistake). Our waitress was definitely not happy to have the group of youngish people. She was irritable and didn't do a very good job of taking orders for the whole group or communicating. Wish I could remember her name so I could put her on blast. I order (second mistake) one of their "specialties," Jäger-Schnitzel, which in opinion was awful. It was chewy and very think and smothered in the sauce that reminded me more of a smothered pork chop than a schnitzel. Their potato pancakes were very greasy and the wurst were... Well they just were. They're not made in house; instead they're from the German place (Rieker's) down the street. The food pretty much sucked. The beer selection is nice, and would probably be the only reason for my return. The building itself was in a delapidated state, seeming rather dirty, and I couldn't figure out how to enter the building. When we finally did, we walked through a very messy and dark entry with no signs. At the end of it all, we had a problem with the bill because people don't know how to pay and the waitress had the audacity to stop me and tell me the tip wasn't sufficient. I was miffed to say the least... Third mistake was not making the reservation early enough so we could head downtown to Brauhaus Schmitz instead of this dive. I'm sure it's great for locals who don't know what good German food is and expect crappy service, but I know I'm neither a local, nor willing to accept crappy and rude service. I know I won't be returing.
(2)
Jessica S.
Mmm yummy beer list that changes constantly. Has a good variety of wheat/white/german beers, which keeps my palate happy :) It's more of a bar than a restaurant nowadays and even has quizzo on Tuesday nights. We looked at the bar menu/regular menu and my group was unsatisfied with the appetizer menu, but I've only been there to drink, so I can't complain about the menu. I saw beer cheddar soup, pretzels, sausage apps, cheese board etc. I understand they are trying to keep a German menu so they aren't going to have some of the reg apps such as fried cheese, wings etc. Parking out back and a biergarten in the summer. It's nice to have some culture in the neighborhood! O yea, girls bathroom was leaking, so a bit nasty. I think they were fixing it. Also, bartender will let you sample beers so take advantage! Friday HH has $3 pints and free apps.
(4)
Shubhra B.
We had great meal at this restaurant! They had a special that day with a sampler of different wursts, which was a big hit with my husband. He had the Schnitzel a'la Holstein, which he really enjoyed as well. The trout I had was just perfect. I couldn't stop eating the potato pancakes. The kids loved the macaroni and cheese too. Of course the selection of beer was excellent too! Overall, it was a great experience!
(5)
Brendan H.
I've been to the Hop Angel a bunch of times and have always left happy. The bartenders are always friendly, knowledgeable and willing to help with any questions you have. The mussels are amazing but my favorite are the wings and smoked salmon & egg on rye. Just a good spot to chill it. You gotta love that the bar sticks to the German roots of the area.
(5)
Jake F.
Since we're talking about a bar, lets discuss the beer first. FANTASTIC selection that rotates based on what craft beers are available at the time. Beer is served in your choice of 3 sizes of mugs / steins. The bartenders there are first rate, constantly moving around to check on your drink, order food, or whatever. I am very impressed with both the beer selection and the bar service. Additionally, the prices were quite good, especially when you consider that they are serving "gourmet" beer. Food: OK, sort of common bar fare. Have had great food one night, then other meals I'd rather forget about. But, do yourself a favor and get the knockwurs. Tthey get them from the German butcher across the street, Rieker's Meats. They are delicious and go sooooo well with good beer. General comments: overall, quite good. I get down there only a few nights a month, mostly in conjunction with a meeting with one of my clients. But I really look forward to those nights I can get there, those beers ethereal. And if you ask, the employees will tell you how to drive home so you can dodge those wiley Rockledge Police who wait for you up from the Hop Angel's parking lot.
(4)
Taylor B.
The Beer here is excellent. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to try the food. After being told that our table would be ready in 20 minutes, my wife and I watched as the host went around to most tables and helped clean and set up the tables. 50 minutes later he came back and sat us. After being at the table for 10 minutes and no server to take out order we left. The place is pretty cool, the beer is good, The food looked pretty good. Unfortunately, we had a bad customer service experience, everything else was cool. Maybe make reservations if you go! They will have to do something big to get us back.
(2)
Gary G.
we ate there for lunch today, we sat outside, very nice and good food and beer
(4)
Becca E.
Went at 6:15 last night (Sunday) to celebrate my German in-laws' 40th wedding anniversary. My brother and sister-in-law even called and spoke to the owner earlier during the day to talk about what we wanted and a specific food allergy. While they were super helpful with the food allergy we were highly disappointed when the waitress came back four different times to announce they were out of different things on the menu - potato dumplings, bread dumplings, Knackwurst and the chocolate roll. We didn't understand this because it was the beginning of dinner service and there was NO ONE else in the restaurant! The beer selection was weak and confusing - apparently "Next Up" on the beer menu means they don't have it yet, but they will next month (although it's not clearly stated that way), so we were disappointed we couldn't order certain beers...? Overall, a disappointing experience.
(2)
Helen D.
I really wanted to LOVE this place. I knew what it was all about - German Beers / German Food -- but secretly I was hoping it would be "Grey Lodge North"...... which it's not..... The beer selection was okay & we each found at least one we sort of liked. The food was ok too - but we didn't think it was GREAT. Service was just "ok" too. I did write Scoats (owner) he said they plan to expand their beer selections & will soon add Belgiums. They also plan to expand their menu. This is all good news. Hop Angel is a good addition to Foxchase & I can only anticipate it improving with age - like a fine wine! Also - if you have ideas/suggestions - relay them to Scoats - he WANTS to make this place ROCK!
(3)
Tara E.
I saw a mention of an "Applefest" here in October, so I thought we'd check it out. Applefest was pretty much just a couple of extra ciders on tap, but it was a nice night in the biergarten so we stayed for a pint and a couple of appetizers. The kasespätzle were homemade and very good with the caramelized onions, though the portion was rather large for two as an appetizer. The Hop tots disappointed. They promised potato tots stuffed with hungarian bratwurst and Munster cheese. I saw no sign of bratwurst, and only vague notes of cheese flavor. This is my opinion based on only two appetizers, so if I'm in the area again I'll try the Brauhaus again.
(3)
Karlie A.
We love going here for the ever-changing cycle of craft brews on tap, served in a variety of sizes. Had a bad day? Try the humongous size one (I can't remember how big it is and you won't either after you've had a couple of them). The Frikadelle burger (stuffed with Butterkase cheese) and the Mac & Cheese with Bacon are perfect accompaniments to the beer. Somewhat less kid-friendly then most gastro-pubs--definitely caters to a more adult crowd.
(3)
Holly T.
I totally dig Hop Angel. When we go up to visit family in Fox Chase, Hop Angel is my favorite thing about the neighborhood. It has a great rotating selection of beers, both German and local craft brews, and all the food I've had here has been really good. During Oktoberfest, we went for Sunday brunch several times, and I really couldn't stay away from their truffle egg toast. Many of our favorite dishes have been one-time things from the specials board, such as bacon-wrapped, gorgonzola-stuffed figs, so be sure to check out the specials. From their regular menu, I really enjoy the weisswurst with some nice seedy mustard. The lentils with spätzle is an excellent vegetarian dish, and their hop tots are pretty decadent (stuffed with Hungarian and Munster cheese). Everything here seems to be getting better over time, so if you haven't been for awhile, you may want to give it another chance. Enjoy!
(4)
Marvin L.
Not great, but okay beer selection, not too thrilled about the food quality, but a perfect neighborhoof bar for a lazy Sunday afternoon beer with a friend or two.
(4)
Ess P.
Beer? Great selection on tap - best around this area, poured and served properly. It's all about the beer because the food? Not so great. We've eaten here twice and both times the food was passable but nothing I would recommend. I hate to say that, really, but food is just not their strong point yet. The first time, we got a basket of good rolls for the table. Tonight? 4 stale slices of some kind of unknown type white bread just sort of tossed into the basket. Probably one of the most unbecoming bread baskets ever. Seriously. We've had several apps including mac and cheese (meh), meat plate which was supposed to include fresh fruit and toast points. Reality? Some lingonberries scattered around, 2 orange wedges and, literally, 3 little dried out bread rounds (same bread that was in the basket), but the grilled sausages were pretty good; potato pancakes (not bad - a bit greasy) and a few others that were obviously not very memorable. Onion soup wasn't too bad, again a bit greasy. Meatloaf, which others have raved about, I found was fairly awful. Listen. I'm a meatloaf lover. If a menu has meatloaf on it, I order it. Theirs is prepared with a fried egg (what is up with the fried egg on top of things these days?) which I scraped off and gravy, that I got on the side, thankfully. Gravy was terrible - greasy and bland. Come on, people. Even I make good gravy! It's fundamental! I didn't even bother taking home what I didn't eat. The wursts were okay. A steak special was cooked just right and was very good but the artichokes as veggie were decidedly weird. The menu is quite nice, on paper, but so far the execution is way off the mark. Maybe the chef on tonight was the stand by guy or something, but this was just not a good meal overall. Prices are reasonable for a restaurant, high for a pub, and service both times was friendly and competent. One time was busy, tonight only a few tables occupied. This could be such a great place to have a few terrific beers and some hearty fare but until they improve the kitchen, stick with the beer. I wonder if Martha H was at the same restaurant we were? If we had driven 10 hours for our meal, we'd have been mighty pissed.
(2)
Scott L.
The house wine was lacking at best, but the the prices were fine. The garlic mushrooms and string beans were WONDERFUL. My sirloin was at best 12 oz. and hardly selected for its quality.. But this new management is void of maturity and professionalism. Rock music in the foyer???, five drunks at the bar. Steven Starr would shutter at the mere thought. Does the northeast really need another sports bar?
(2)
Moira M.
I have been to the Hop Angel a few times since it opened and I have to say it is improving. At our last visit, everyone in the family was impressed. The potato soup is wonderful. Also they have a gluten free menu, which satisfies our needs. And the beer is always good.
(3)
S L.
This was our first visit to Hop Angel, and possibly our last. After paying for the babysitter and making the 20 minute drive, we were left sorely disappointed with our choice for the rare date night (should have gone to Otto's). First the good points - the beer - well, at least the draft list (we never saw a bottle list, so I don't even know if they even had bottles). Good mix of German and US - both local and good craft beers from other states. Now the bad. Our appetizer came out after our main courses (burgers) - we were never asked "do you still want the appetizer?" after we were told the chef burnt our first apps. Burgers came out but we were left with no napkins or silverware and had to chase our waitress down (she gave us napkins and we had to chase her a 2nd time for silverware). I ordered my burger medium rare, and it was SO overcooked. It was actually crunchy on the outside it was so bad - gray and crumbly on the inside. Had to find the waitress a 3rd time to send that back because no way in hell am I paying $11 for a burger that over cooked. The 2nd burger came out perfect, but my wife was already done her dinner by that time. Also, we never received any sort of itemized bill - just a credit card slip with a total due on it. It's a shame - the atmosphere of old people from NE Philly was kind of charming, but I'd be hard pressed to say I'd want to visit here again.
(1)
Karen M.
Good bratwurst!
(4)
Kimberly M.
Had lunch here for the official grand opening this past Saturday and I was very pleased. They had a German band playing and free food outside. Also, the outside patio is a very nice addition. It looked like there was also a deck upstairs which I am assuming will be open in the warmer months. Inside, they did not go too over the top with the decor, it was subtle and cozy. We got a little table in the back and ordered our food. I got the Rahmschwammerln mit Semmelknodel (mushoom dumplings) and the boyfriend for a burger of some sort. I was very impressed with the amount of vegetarian options listed on the lunch menu. Usually places just stick a veggie burger on the menu and expect that to be enough. I loved my lunch. The dumplings were flaky, buttery, delight and the mushroom cream sauce was incredible! The fries were really good too, although I think they should offer a more creative dipping sauce other then just ketchup. The beer list was very impressive and our server was very friendly and helpful. I am definitely going to go back here in the future!
(4)
DAVID G.
i Really enjoyed this place a lot. Felt like i was in Germany! very cool looking . Many good German beers on tap .Mainly i loved the food. i had the the scrapple which was really delicious and fresh which i was told was the chef's own scrapple made from a german recipe. the breakfast potatoes were hands down the best breakfast potatoes ive ever eaten. Service was great. place was cool. the chef knows what hes doing. love it. definitley going back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner, Late Night Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
John W.
Great beer pub with a fantastic beer menu. Nice, welcoming interior and awesome food. Only been there a few times but I always came away really liking the food. The burgermeister meisterburger (on the Anytime menu) was killer, "best I've ever had" my picky friend said. Can't wait to go back.
(4)Bonnie M.
I just had the best Wiener Schnitzel I've had outside of Germany! It was perfect--crisp, but tender, and full of flavor. The spaetzle was excellent-do yourself a favor and ask for gravy to go with it--made it even better! I loved the ambiance of the new Hop Angel. The staff was extremely courteous and very friendly. I had to wait for a table because the restaurant was very busy. The food was definitely worth the wait! I'll be back again VERY soon!
(5)THE LA G.
What a cozy and fun place! Have been there a few rainy nights. Servers and bar staff are friendly, the food is comforting and you can't beat the potato pancakes! NOM!!!!! Also, it is in a building originating from the 1600s so it has lots of cool historic character.
(4)Erin C.
I love Hop Angel! When I moved to the Northeast I was a little afraid there wouldn't be a good local beer bar or brunch spot near me, and Hop Angel is both! Good food, decent beer selection, brunch, optional outdoor drinking. AND it's in a gorgeous historic building. What more could I ask?
(5)Diane C.
I'm first going to say, if you're looking for a good beer garden, this is not the place. They unfortunately do not have the open space, and you're essentially in a parking lot off of a main street, and last night there were an unusually large amount of young children running around. But go inside, you will find multiple indoor seating options, inclusive of sitting at the bar that are quite nice. Depending upon where you sit, you get the feel of either quaint cozy inn like, to friendly neighborhood restaurant. I have been here multiple times and never been disappointed. The käsespätzle is light and delicate, with Caramelized onions. It's fantastic!!!! This last trip they had a pumpkin themed menu, and although not a German dish, the gnocchi with pumpkin sauce was out of this world!!! Not sure who the chef is but kudos to you, for the outstanding complex specials, I was quite impressed. I forgot to mention the beer!!! Wonderful selection of German and craft beers.
(4)Veronica K.
While I came here for their Philly Beer Week promotion, I still think I got an accurate picture of their typical service. Their beer garden area is small but very cute, the only issue being it backs up against a busy intersection. On the inside the building is dark and somewhat confusing to navigate, but not completely unwelcoming. All the staff here was very attentive and helped us find our way to where we had to be. It's true they don't have a magnitude of beers of tap, but they do have some decent craft selections to chose from at any given time. The prices on their beer aren't too bad either, and seem a bit cheaper than other places in the area. All the food we got was good as well; the cheesy spaetzle was the highlight. The curry wurst is a lot different than one would expect, but still not a bad meal. The 'curry' is more of a spicy ketchup but it still tasted very interesting. I would definitely come back here to try some more of the menu, and would probably advise others to come in the warmer months and sit out in the beer garden. If nothing else it's a relaxing afternoon with good German food and some booze.
(4)Chris S.
I write this review from the parking lot and while I don't think it's fair to lump one's entire experience on a single aspect of a dining experience, there multiple issues with the Mother's Day brunch offered at Hop Angel. For starters, keep a leash on other servers who talk to you like you're a dope. When asked about their menu, a simple explanation would suffice. Instead, the attitude from someone that works there but wasn't our waitress is unnecessary. The food is cold. The reason I'm in the parking lot is because instead of complaining AGAIN about what is being offered as service and food, I thought I'd share my experience without becoming fully enraged. Family comes together to enjoy their dining experience and to celebrate Mother's Day and all we've experienced is nothing short of terrible and unneccasry. The worst part of this entire situation is my wife and mother in law ate here a few weeks ago and they raved about it. Unfortunately, first impressions go a long damn way and if you're a gambler, then it seems this place is the perfect spot if you want an amazing experience or to deal with ignorant staff and cold, subpar food.
(1)Von M.
After driving by a million times (give or take a couple), we finally stopped here on a Friday evening for a quick dinner, and we are now fans. Based on Yelp reviews we ordered the Bavarian pretzel with Obatzda, the wurst platter and the mussels in beer. The house-made pretzel had a thick, chewy exterior which was the perfect foil for the richness of the Obatzda. The deliciousness was further enhanced by Mr. M's micro-brew and my light and bubbly hard cider. I would have been content to stop right there. Mr. M ordered the wurst platter, which he declared excellent (not a surprise given the distinguished pedigree of the wurst). What really sold him on the meal, however, were the handcut fries and spaetzle, which recalled Mom's recipe. The mussels were uber-delicious (and comparable to Monk's), and only the rules of decorum prevented me from slurping the remaining broth. We loved the intimacy that the low-lighting created in what is not an intimate space. The service was attentive, efficient and patient with newbies.
(4)Chris C.
Here's a gem in the northeast that WILL become a regular for me on par with Millers and three monkeys. They have a beer garden and a seat-yourself policy which I love.. Here's why I like this place: The food- this was my first visit here, came for drinks but decided to munch on some apps. The pretzel and garlic fries were the only two items we tried and they were both perfect. The prices- their shots were $5.00 and their signature pretzel is $3.00.. The beers- They had 5+ craft beers and that's good enough to get them a solid 5 stars since we are after all in the northeast.. The service- The bartenders were very approachable and were well informed on the menu and drink selections. The ambiance- Great for small and large groups with seating away and close to the bar. Definitely coming back here!
(5)Steve K.
Good German food. Had the schnitzel. Only issue is that you only get one side. It should include some red cabbage, spaetzel, and German potato salad to make it authentic.
(4)Tayo M.
The absolute worst thing in the north east...stay away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The service is The Worst....and the bartenders.......huh????? ,No idea!!! ,we were actually laughing in his face,cause he could not hear a word we were saying....and no...we were not drunk....cause ya can't get a drink..lol.....stay away.......and by the way ..the best bartenders you had was the Ruhlings crew..like Tim....get him back...you be way busy
(1)Valentino G.
I have never been to a German Pub and I have heard great things about this one. I ame here for my birthday dinner with my parents and I have to say I really like the old German Style of the place and the dark mellow atmosphere. The food was amazing, which I knew it was going to be, we started with the Fried Pickles, on the menu their called "Frickles", these were amazing I would totally recommend if you like pickles. Their beer selection consisted of some German beers and also some of today's craft beers, no argument there, and the best part is there is a detailed explanation of each one. For and entree the Schnitzel is totally recommended, I ordered the Westphalian Schnitzel, which is Schnitzel baked with Westphalian ham & Swiss cheese, it was amazing another great recommendation, I also had a side of Spatzle with green beans and carrots. If you like German food and great beer, I would totally recommend it to anyone. One final note which really made me want to come back was the fact that they pratically give away a growler and a fill for a few extra bucks! This is awesome because the growler has no logo or name on it and to think you save yourself money here then you would going to a craft beer store. I think when I come back next time it will be for Brunch, Dinner, and a nice fresh growler fill! Cheers!
(5)Dennis B.
Good brews.......very poor menu......I felt like I should have been in EPCOT.......I enjoy the brats......but come on......I can go to the Austrian Village for the food......this is a bar......poor menu.....I enjoy the Gray Lodge but this is a miss for me.
(2)Jonathan M.
Love this place! Fresh German influenced brews constantly flowing from the ever changing taps... You might consider the bar an altar in this beer church. Thanks for doing us all the favor of fresh and cold beer. Oh hey, and the food is just the tits.
(5)Pamela V.
I love their bratwraust sandwich with sauerkraut. Their cheese taters and fried pickles are great comfort foods. I don't drink, but if I did, they do have a great beer selection.
(4)Steve L.
My friends and I came here July 11 for the Barbecue fest for the first time, and it was a very underwhelming experience. The place was packed, and very busy. We were seated quickly, but it took a long time for a waitress to attend take our order. We all ordered off the Barbecue menu rather than the regular menu. No wait service seemed to be the theme of the night because we were barely waited on. And it took even longer for our drinks and food to arrive. And when it did, the food was cold, and a bottle of beer my friend received was slightly warm. I paid $15 for a half rack of ribs and some sides, and $12 for a pull pork sandwich and french fries, and the quality of those two did not live up to their price. Even if they were half off, they still would have been a terrible buy. Maybe it was because barbecue isn't their usual thing that the food sucked, or maybe it was the massive crowd? Maybe Both? I'll give credit where it's due though. All the wait staff and probably the cooks too though I didn't see them, were hauling ass. The crowd probably overwhelmed them so they couldn't keep up with the quality. But in this case, I feel it's the restaurant's responsibility to ensure that all the customers have a good experience, and none of the staff are stretched so thin that quality of service and food suffers. Hop Angel should have been turning people away that night, but I guess the restaurant was just interested in making money rather than serving good food, and looking out for their staff.
(1)Anthony L.
Hands down the best bar in the far Northeast (Fox Chase to be exact). The atmosphere is cozy and warm thanks to the fact that the building dates back to 1683 (how crazy is that?). It truly feels like what I would imagine a classic bar in Germany or Bavaria would feel like. The beer selection is diverse and constantly rotating. The service is always good and I usually go on a busy Friday night. The crowd is eclectic and tends to consists of both younger and older adults from the area that dont like the dbag crowds you tend to find at places like Paddywacks. The jukebox has a massive digital catalogue and you wont hear bullshit rap or junk pop like Miley Cyrus or whatever the new flavor of the month is on Q102. Most importantly, the food kicks ass. The Brauhaus Mac & Cheese with bacon is the best mac & cheese ive ever had. The wings are perfect and the Oxford Burger is the shit. Everything is made with top quality ingredients and preparation and the menu doesnt stay stagnant. The bartenders are great guys and its never a problem getting a drink in a timely fashion. Ill continue to frequent this joint on Friday nights until they give me a reason not to.
(5)Kat I.
After receiving my "five-year survivor" letter from Fox Chase Cancer Center, my husband and I decided to celebrate by going to Hop Angel for dinner, which I've wanted to do for, oh, about five years now. The dinner was excellent. We both had the Jager Schnitzel. It was totally authentic and tasted nearly as good as the best Jager Schnitzel I ever had, which happened to be in Germany about fifteen years ago. I loved the ambiance and the old world charm of the place. My only disappointment was that we hadn't given it a try sooner. A German restaurant is hard to come by, but Hop Angel is certainly worth the trip.
(4)Steven B.
I usually don't get to this part of the city but Monday I was across the street on business. A quick check of my Yelp Mobile App showed me "great beer selection" and 3 1/2 stars. Sounded good to me! I stopped in around 2 pm and the place was dead. Not a surprise for a Monday afternoon. I sat at the bar and chatted about beer with the friendly bartender. I must admit I was slightly disappointed. These folks have 12 taps and one was down with problems. They also have just a few bottles. In today's market there is no way that qualifies as a great beer selection. Without thinking I can name twenty or more places in Philly with a much better selection. Don't get me wrong; my beer was fine, the prices were fine and I loved the choice of three different sizes. GROWLER ALERT! These folks offer the nicest growler I have ever seen. It's very heavy and has a solid metal handle. It also has a beautiful porcelain top that's seals tightly. There are no logos of any kind on it which I really like. You'll pay a little more for it. It goes for $17 empty but it's worth it. I've got mine! Check out this picture- yelp.com/biz_photos/hop-… As I was quaffing my beer I needed something to nibble on. I chose the Hop Tots ($7). They are Hungarian and Munster cheese stuffed potato tots. They were large, beautifully plated and delicious. I was surprised how light they were. I perused the remainder of the menu and there were definitely some other dishes I would like to try. I had a nice three star visit.
(3)Gloss G.
So, after living in Fox Chase forever, I finally bit the bullet & ventured into this "Haus". The decor is definitely authentic/old. We were seated upstairs, which is very "Flowers in the Attic". Complete with old dusty wood scent. We changed tables twice bc they were ridiculously wobbly. The upholstery is gnarly & just plain old dirty. The server was in an anxious rush..made us feel uncomfortable @ times. From the overpriced menu, we ordered a couple of "authentic" dishes..overall the food arrived hot & well seasoned. Just nothing I would absolutely "have to have" again. The best part was their beer list. The dessert choices were literally store bought American cakes & pies. We hoped to enjoy a genuine Austrian Danish or strudel. Needless to say we will not be returning.
(2)Sara E.
Very casual and I like that. Food was good. Honestly my first time eating this cuisine but I enjoyed it, very hearty. I would go there again.
(3)Glenda C.
I only had the oatmeal fries and some beer but will be going back because I'm interested in trying some German food. They also have quizo which was fun. We won most creative name and it got us a round of free beer (;
(4)DR.Paul T.
HOP INTO DELICIOUS AT THE HOP ANGEL well, ive been this restaurant about 30 times. im also going to do a review on my youtube page which currently gets about 1600 veiws a week. michelle was our waitress. besides being gorgeous she was a professional waitress who made our party feel special and we wanted for nothing. when i told her that i review restaurants she only said that that would be great and thAT SHE WOULD LOOK FOR IT AND Thanked me. It must be nice when you know you are good and can always be proud of the place where you work. when she asked what my favorite restaurant was i did mention one other but i said that at any time someone could suggest hop angel and i would want to go because there is not another restaurant that i like better period. the selection of beers and unusual ones is outstanding and drink and shot prices are not high. i recall seeing "the b man" marky b a blues harmonosist there once upon a time. it is even a venue for music sometimes. just commenting on what i had this time which was a magners hard apple cider in the bottle. which is just the way i like it and a ginger alcoholic beverage that ive not seen anywhere else. i will go back and have another. for my appetiser i ordered the crab mac and cheese. the secret is order that as a meal, share it or take half home. it is a hardy meal by its self. they use a light curly noodle, a mxiture of cheeses and bread crumbs on top. it is so good that i could take the lords name in vain describing it. especially after a couple of those ginger drinks. i really enjoy having nontraditional drinks like hard ciders, i love the fruit and the ginger drink of course. but if im in the mood for beer i will go to the beer garden at the hop angel. i am frothing just thinking about it. for my entree i ordered te sirloin steak, medium rare with mashed potatoes and green beans michelle brought me asparagus. i could go on to talk about the layers of flavor in the delicious brown gravy that is a reduction prepared to perfection drizzled on one edge of the meat so that at my choice and convenience i can taste the tender, thich, perfectly cooked to order steak or dip. and i like to dip. a bus man came to the table within minutes to take extra plates. we were schmearing the signature hop angel mustard on the delicious bread and eating it and watching our faces turn red from the fresh horseradish. i dont eat steak often any more so when i do i want it to be ay least as good as i would make as i come from a family of cookers. i could not stop eating it. i love the hop angel. 6 stars out of 5. there is not a restaurant i like better. from cleanliness aand i have worked in restaurants and kitchens myself, to prompt courteous service im telling you i take my mother to this restaurant and she is one tough cookie and she comes back. i will end this with there is a difference between a cook and a chef. the hop angel has a chef who puts his own flair in the dishes he creates and changes the menu. its about to change and i cant wait. ill miss whats gone but im so excited to try the new addition that it becomes one oif the positive points about visiting the hop angel. always a positive experience. thanx for the pendulous abdomen again oh it hurts but it was so damn good. blessings.
(5)Beth K.
I found it to be more for the younger groups. Absolutely no room to move when they're busy..drinks are a bit expensive.
(2)John Z.
Always a great beer list, great food, love this place. Been there 100 times will go 100 more.
(4)Len L.
I love the atmosphere of the place. Very nice for hanging out with friends on a cold night at Christmas or a warm afternoon in June. As long as Scoats makes the beer calls, I will forever be a fan. The man is a damned beer genius, and he is always approachable, and encourages requests. He gets beers locally, across the country, and across the world, and it is always a good adventurous list. The food is overall pretty good for me, but my wife is not a big fan. It's a little too inconsistent for her, especially the burgers and sandwiches. I'd recommend the Spicy Fish Sandwich, the Homemade Pretzels with stone-ground mustard, and the mac and cheese. If I had to knock it for anything, it's the service. Bartenders get swamped easily when there is a healthy amount of business, and the day-time service has been hit or miss, erring on the side of miss. I think if they train up their staff, they will be able to churn out a nice steady rush during lunch and on the weekends. Until then, they'll have to settle for losing some repeat business due to the slower service. They'll never lose me, however. The beer choices are just too good!
(4)Patrick F.
Definitely a neighborhood spot and finding a seat at the bar on this rainy Wednesday afternoon was hard. Great rotating selection of beers, including local crafts on tap. I took it easy this time, trying to eat a little better while on the road, and had an apple and cherry walnut salad with grilled chicken. It was huge and the chicken was delicious. Also had a cup of potato soup that was amazing. I'd love to take the chance to come back here again when I have more time to have some beer and schnitzel and dessert. The staff was great, especially Agnes, who made me feel at home. So if you're in the area and looking for some wurst and bier, stop in and Prost!
(4)Marty D.
Very Satisfied Indeed ! Food Quality & Taste B Presentation B Service A Décor B- Cleanliness B Five of us showed up without a reservation on a Friday evening and were seated in 5 minutes without a hassle. Very shortly afterwards our group grew to 10 and still not a bit of trouble joining tables and seating more friends. Our server was really attentive and friendly. We worked her pretty hard between several food orders and quite a bit of beer. Eight craft beers were offered and since I only drank the IPA I can tell you that it was very nice. I had the "butchers plate" featuring meats from the German butcher across the street. Great assortment of German offerings. If you like craft beer in a casual atmosphere try this place and don't be a sissy, go for the half liter over the pint........
(4)Brian T.
Wow oh wow, felt like I just took a trip back to one of the german bars i used to frequent in europe. Went with a group of co workers, since we're always looking for new lunch spots, and this place NAiLED IT! They have a very well priced any time menu, with tons of sandwiches around $10. I had the frankfurter with fried onion, potato pancake, kraut and cheese with chips ($10), my other buddy had this burger meister thta was a huge burger with black forest ham, gouda and a fried egg, another friend had the open face reuben (which he said was by far the best he's ever had) and the 4th diner had the short rib sandiwch, which was also awesome! Sadly, it was a working lunch so no beers...and that was TOUGH! They have around 13 or so beers on tap, tons of great germain choices, so we're for sure going back for a beer. The service was spot on and the food was waaaay better than I expected. I'll for SURE be back.
(5)Donna K.
Post baseball game dinner on Friday night was pretty good. Seared quickly, great service and good mussels and burgers. The only reason we don't go 5 stars is because the mushroom schnitzel was so over cooked it was hard and tough. The fries were also well done. We'll try it again and hope for better cooking.
(4)Beth P.
Met up with some friends on Saturday night. The bartenders aren't very attentive, waited longer than I feel we should have for drinks. Messed up our drink order more than once. Also, sitting in the beer garden is anything but relaxing, as it's at a major intersection. I felt like I couldn't relax while sitting out there, because cars literally speed around the intersection from every direction. Maybe it's just me? But I kept envisioning cars jumping the curb and coming right at me.
(2)Julie M.
The atmosphere is whatever, but the food is what's up. I got the haddock sandwich Andy boyfriend got the meatloaf sandwich- both were delicious. Loved trying the different beers on tap.
(4)Richard S.
Great setup, plenty of unique drinks and food to choose from. Tell them your favorite beer and they will give you the German equivalent.
(5)Joe L.
Great little spot in Fox Chase. They have a good selection of German beers, as well as some craft drafts, all for a very reasonable price. Most pints are $4-$5, or you can get huge steins to drink from if you are going big that day. Any food I've ordered always is delicious. Highlights for me are the pretzel with the Obatzda dip (cheese, onion), the burgers, the wings, the German fare...actually just order anything and you won't be disappointed!
(4)Jill M.
At here recently for the first time since the restaurant changed its name and updated the menu. The food was good and the service was good. The beer selection was awesome! Lots of variety. Will definitely be back.
(4)Tom I.
I've been to the various iterations of the restaurants at this location: Old Brauhaus, Blue Ox Brauhaus, Blue Ox Bistro, and now Hop Angel Brauhaus. The first three iterations were, I believe, owned by the same family and served quality German food, although the latter two were more generic trying to appeal to a broader crowd. Frankly, the quality slowly went downhill over the years. Back in 2010, even thought I was still living in Las Vegas, I was encouraged to hear that the location was being taken over by people formally associated with he Grey Lodge Pub. I had been to GLP a couple of times and recall liking it quite a bit. At the time I went, it was the rare place in the Northeast that had an interesting beer selection. During one of my visit back to Philly, I enthusiastically went to Hop Angel hoping for a similar experience. The beer selection was excellent but the food was just so-so. But they had just opened and I gave them the benefit of the doubt and decided they were still getting their legs under them. I'm glad I did because I've been back a few times since moving back to Philadelphia and my experiences have been much more satisfying than that first visit. The beer list continues to be the best in the area and the food is consistently good and sometimes excellent. Most recently, I was there for their Pumpkin Brunch and enjoyed a flat bread with caramelized onions, apples, smoked bacon, and cheese. It was topped with a fresh arugula salad. The crust of the flat bread was ideal: crunchy along the edges but perfectly soft but not soggy under the perfectly blended flavors of the toppings. I also ordered an incredibly moist and tasty pumpkin muffin and, of course, had a couple of really delicious pumpkin beers. I've been there a few times for brunch and it's been stellar every time.
(4)Eye M.
This place needs a good cleaning the place smells like deep fried grease and tables are sticky.
(1)DanaJoy88 ..
Great place to watch the game, I've watched the superbowl and some phillies games here and I never felt rushed or bothered. They have TV's everywhere which is great and all of there prices are super reasonable so you can drink and eat for hours and not break the bank
(4)David S.
This place was ok. I kinda expected a little more. First off, the staff is very nice. I walked in with my date and we were immediately greeted and told to sit where ever we liked. I sat down and saw my water glass was very dirty. Well...not dirty....but it looked like they dried it with a paper towel. So there were bits of paper all over it and inside. I ordered a beer from their impressive beer list. Prices were a lot lower than I had expected. We started with the deep fried pickles. They were very tough. Like, the pickle skin was very chewy. It tasted like they were either frozen or cooked too long or something. But they were not good. I ordered the Frikadelle burger. I asked for it cooked medium...and it was! A lot of places don't know how to cook a burger made to order, but this place did. The burger was super tender and very very good. As my rating states, this place was A-OK.
(3)Michelle N.
Hop Angel...you have redeemed yourself. Two years ago I "boycotted" this place due to a few bad experiences. It looks like you have worked out the kinks. I've been back a few times now and really enjoyed it. Had a bacon cheeseburger and fries one of the times, and the burger was cooked exactly how I wanted it. I know that's not rocket science but so many people overcook burgers. Also had the macaroni and cheese...creamy and delicious. I Went back yesterday for the lobster festival. I'll be honest I was totally skeptical...but the twin lobster tails were amazing! Also ordered a filet and it was cooked medium rare just like I wanted. Only complaint is some of the server and the hostess kept us waiting and forgot some of our food/drinks...but it was really busy due the festival so it's understandable. It's nice to have you in the neighborhood!
(4)Anthony C.
This place has very good bar food. The best appetizers are the fried pickles and the potato pancakes. Great entrees are the fish and chips and the burgermister mister burger. It has ham, cheese, and a fried egg on it . It was delicious . They have the best fries I ever had. Overall a great experience !
(4)Brad D.
I'm still not even sure where Fox Chase is at - though I was there all day. This place is an endearing hybrid of your Grandfather's basement bar in suburban Ohio, and a potentially-hipster-driven dive bar. The food selection is pretty small and not for vegetarians or people who care about their cholesterol score - but it's great tasting and cheap. Brats-a-plenty. My one complaint was being teased at the bottom of the beer menu with a list of beers on tap... next month. It just made me disappointed I couldn't have them. Alas.
(3)Frank P.
Great brew pub with great food. Veggie burger was awesome. Everything cooked clean. By no means is this considered bar food. Great variety of beer on tap from local breweries.
(4)Christopher D.
I have eaten at the Hop Angel four times since it has opened, and there are strengths and weaknesses to the place. Strengths include wonderful selection of german and german style beers from the US served with the correct glassware. I mostly have had appetizers, along with the schnitzel several times. The home made head cheese is rustic and goes well with the toast they serve with it. The salads, pretzels and wursts (locally sources from Illig's and Riekers) are all good. The steam veggies are done nicely and not over cooked. Service is a bit spotty, and some of the other dishes are not up to par. Cost is above a local pub, so do not be surprised to be spending 10-15 for an entree, plus beer appetizer etc. The place has only been open a few months, but there is no doubt it will improve. Looking forward to returning and watching this restaurant blossom.
(3)Lauren M.
Let me preface this review by saying that it comes based off of 3 years of patronage. The beer selection is the shining star in the this place and is an appealing feature when you just need to kick back and have a low-key Tuesday night brew with your significant other in a small and aesthetically interesting environment. They rotate their selection of microbrews frequently and always have a diverse mix of light and darks to choose from. To add to this appeal is the option of ordering hands down THE best fried pickles that I've ever had to gratify any twangs of hunger you may be feeling while enjoying your beers. The fries and curry ketchup are also pretty damn good. This, sadly, is where the charm of this place ends and all of the things wrong with it come in to play. On 3 separate occasions I made the unfortunate decision to order a burger in the hopes that a different cook was working. Much to my dismay that didn't work in my favor and repeatedly I had to send my food back at least twice to have the beef cooked more thoroughly. "Well done" is a point I covey passionately and the fact that I was repeatedly served a medium rare/medium piece of meat made me woozy and regretful that I didn't stick with the frickles. Added to this is the unfortunate decision that me and my fiancé made last New Years to attend their New Year's Eve prefixed menu dinner. The menu itself was about 70% seafood which I found unfortunate. No big deal, I had a NY strip to look forward to! Only that became problematic when the kitchen very evidently ran out of the promised cut of meat and tables began receiving far inferior cuts of meat. Mine included. No explanation. And, yet again, the requested temperature was totally ignored and I was served meat that may as well have been mooing on my plate. For what I spent, I was pretty upset when I left at 10:30 that night because the 30 minute wait for a drink was too much for me to bear on an empty stomach resulting from undercooked meat and poorly seasoned and cooked course options. My fiancé recently went to Hop Angel for Lunch and beers with friends and had a similar experience in regards to his food being undercooked and cold. As far as the staff goes, the bartender is usually pretty nice but on occasion you get a night where the bartender kind of ignores you and has no interest in keeping your mug full. The waitresses suffer the same fate and it's a total crap shoot as to whether or not you'll get a server who is capable and pleasant or one who very obviously doesn't care. Simply put, I tried so hard to ignore all of the things wrong with this place in terms of the poorly run kitchen and hit or miss staff because of its quirky appeal and awesome beers but after a while it kind of lost it's charm and frustrated me to the point of no return. I really hope that I'll pop in again on a whim and find that the food has gotten better but for now I would not recommend this place for anything other than a couple beers before the Friday and Saturday night rush makes it impossible to get served in under 15 minutes.
(2)Jen M.
Burgermeister Meisterburger is much bigger than you can imagine so I recommend sharing it. Definitely get it though. The spaetzle is different than last time I was there, but I love, love, loved it. It's even better now.
(5)Rich B.
Another beer haven brought to you from the folks @ Grey Lodge. The beer selection is not as adventurous nor is the food as good as at the Grey Lodge.You can always find something great on tap; the emphasis on German and local craft brews.I like the fact that you have a choice between .3 .4 & .5 liter pours. You can get a liter stein also. The building dates back to 1683.The interior is a bit run-down, but I do not come here for the atmosphere. You can also sit outside during warmer months in the biergarten which is kind of in an alley and not too nice either. Never had much food from here. The mac n' cheese was bland even w/bacon. They have a happy hour on Fri. from 4-6 which features select $3 pints (yesterday it was Spaten Lager and Stoudts Pils.)They put out a bunch of free apps around 5.The stuff I tried was actually quite good.. Bavarian pretzels, wings, fries, cheeseburger sliders, some kind of unidentified fried things(Fish cakes?) were very tasty indeed.They have some interesting vegetarian options on their lunch menu that I will definitely try. Service here is good; at the bar at least. This place can become very crowded and unnecessarily noisy(loud music) on the weekends. Plenty of free parking out back.While not as good of a culinary and beer experience as The Grey Lodge this remains a great place to have a beer and some free eats @ Fri Happy Hour.
(4)Matthew L.
Quizzo: aka drinking, laughing, and being baffled by crazy questions. Decent food. Fun times! Clearly, most of my time is spent here on Tuesday evenings playing Quizzo. I've likely had most of the menu at this point, most notable are the fries, meat and cheese board, mac & cheese with bacon, and you know.. the whole Brauhaus part. They've been a bit lacking in the stout/porter category at times but that's just being picky. The rotating selection always makes me happy, with draft lists updated daily via chalkboard. Our standard waitress, Michelle, is always chipper and even when it gets busy she makes sure we're taken care of. Oh right, winning is awesome too. $25 gift cards to the top team which can be used on the spot. If ever you find yourself in the Fox Chase area, grab a beer and mac and cheese. No disappointment will be found. Cheers.
(4)Glenn B.
Good food and a great beer selection. They have fresh cut fries and chips that come with all sandwich orders that are delicious.
(4)kelly f.
One of my boyfriend and I's favorite place to go in Fox Chase. They have an assortment of craft beers and great descriptions so you know what your ordering. The service is very friendly and attentive with a comfortable atmosphere. Hop Tots are addicting...cheesy goodness. I also like cheese spatzel. You never can go wrong with a burger and their prime rib sandwich is delicious too! Only thing I wouldn't suggest is their meatloaf, kinda dry and bland.
(4)Liana L.
Very cool german theme bar restaurant! It felt very quaint and welcoming inside this place. Free parking is in the back of the restaurant where they have back entrance. I came here for quizzo on Tuesday night so I can't comment on too much. The menu looked good but didn't have too many items that I would eat. A very glutenous, carb, cheese, meat menu but I guess that is what German food is like. But everything else and service of this place was great!
(4)Lisa S.
I'll preface this by saying that I don't drink beer and I've never had German food. So if you're going there for those things specifically, my opinion might not mean much. I went to this establishment for an impromptu lunch with friends. Now, maybe my review is influenced by the crowd I was with or the three glasses of wine that I had, but I thought the food was delicious. (Even the leftovers were good.) We had the fish and chips (it came with this awesome sauce on the side in addition to the tarter sauce that was so good) and mac and cheese for appetizers. Both were amazing. The mac and cheese could easily be a meal in and of itself. It was exactly how mac and cheese should be -- al dente pasta (I'm a fan of the cavatappi) and lots and lots of cheese! For my meal, I got the Burgermeister Meisterburger (with no ham), which exceeded my expectations. I had never had a burger with a fried egg before, but that, with the combination of the smoked Gouda on it, made this literally one of the best burgers I've ever had. It was pretty big, so I only ate half of it, and enjoyed the other half for dinner. I also had the warm German potato salad, which was delicious too. (Also, another huge portion.) All in all, a great place. The waitress and bartenders were both nice. Will definitely visit again.
(5)Holly W.
Warning - if you are into healthy food you might find this review revolting as I believe we managed to order every delicious carb and fat laden item on the menu. The outside is very "Ye Olde Ale House" and inside quite reminiscent of that restaurant where Jenifer Jason Leigh goes on a date with the nerdy guy who forgets his wallet in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (anyone?) - all darkish interior with 'they were cool in the 70's' wooden captains pub chairs. A 70's soundtrack was playing overhead and I looked at the menu suspiciously, expecting to see Pasta Primavera or some other 70's dish. Happily there were many German specialties and lots of things with cheese - I was so in. They have both a Dinner and "Anytime" menu so if you are in more of a sandwichy mood you can ask for that. In spite of being in a place that specializes in beers -and they seemed to have lots of interesting brews - we just weren't in a beer mood so actually started with gin and tonics which were nice and strong. Being slightly tipsy and really hungry are the only excuses we have for the delirium that took over when we ordered. We got the mac and cheese as an app (yes, an app!). And it was awfully good in a terrible hot melted cheesy, bacony carlorie laden way. The bread basket was a little bit of heaven as it contained very delicious freshly baked herb bread that I slathered in butter and ate way too much of. For my meal I had the Philly pork sandwich which turned out to be a mistake as it wasn't that good. The waitress heard me saying I wished I had gotten cheese and she brought me a little cup of yummy melted cheese out which helped. The pickles were so nice and sour and the fries were fresh cut and soooo good - when I got the cheese cup to dip the fries in I was in heaven. Hubby had the "Holstein" which is fried veal with capers, anchovies and a sunnyside egg on top which he enjoyed along with delicious homemade mashed potatoes that were accompanied by a pitcher of some kind of gravy with wine (yum). Our server was excellent. We saw a lovely Crème Brulee and some nice Apple Strudel go by on the way to another table but feared they'd have to get a wheel barrow and roll our groaning bloated bodies to our car if we ate one more fat or dough loaded item. Luckily my husband remembered his wallet so he didn't have to go call his cool, ticket scalping friend who looks way too old to be in high school to bring it and pretend he just happened to bump into him (anyone?) and we paid and waddled out, vowing to return the next time we feel the need to deliciously self induce a pair of carbohydrate comas.
(4)Chris G.
This place is a real diamond in the rough in the fox chase section of NE Philly. Beautiful, inviting interior and they just recently opened an out back section which is awesome when it's nice out. The beer selection is like nothing you will find in the North east. The food is all german cuisine based. I have been here many many times and have had almost everything on the menu. My favorites are the Reuben, the burgermeister, the open face ham and swiss, the crimini crab mushrooms, and their mac and cheese and fries are always great! The only things I didn't like from their menu was the salmon (very bland and thin, not worth of the price they charge for it) and the yodeler. Other then that, thumbs up all around. The bartenders are super professional which is extremely hard to find at any bar restaurant in the north east.
(5)Amy N.
After looking forward to a night at the Hop Angel Brauhaus - I was more than underwhelmed. Pros: -Free parking out back -Decent selection of draft beers -The Weisswurst was wunderbar! Cons -Draft beers include only one or two actual German beers! -Their Braised Red Cabbage? Super weak. -Slow service -Lacking in atmosphere... sort of sad, Germany. -Bathroom during a rainstorm = slip & slide Went to the Hop Angel for a birthday outing. Our waittress would bring out a beer, saying its name and when we all agreed we hadn't ordered it, she slapped it down on the table anyway and left. Not a fan. I know large parties aren't always easy - but I've eaten at Brauhaus Schmitz with a big group and our waittress couldn't have been more of a pro. We had several issues that occurred involving our waittress than you can forgive or forget if other things make up for it. Everything was not her fault.... But add this to the fact that the atmosphere dark (not in an intimate way) and felt old & unloved, the bathroom floor was covered in water & had buckets placed throughout that were overflowing as they caught drips from the ceiling... and the simple fact that their food wasn't all that delicious or authentic tasting --- I'm doubtful I'll be back. The weisswurst was definitely excellent - but their other wursts weren't all that great, and their side dishes just didn't live up. If you're looking for German food with ease of suburban logistics (hooray free ample parking) - head to the Hop Angel. Otherwise, for more authentic food, better beer selection, and the atmosphere of South Street to enjoy on a nice walk after your meal -- head downtown to Brauhaus Schmitz.
(2)Debbie T.
Went for my birthday a couple weeks ago. While the beer was good the food was certainly not the same good German food that the Old Brauhaus used to have. Not impressed at all and would go to the Austrian Village next time.
(2)Raj M.
Food at this place is good... and I enjoyed myself at their bar. It's got the kind of vibe where anyone is welcomed like you're a guest in someone's happy home. If it weren't so out of my way, I would definitely visit this place more often. But no matter how far it may be from you, it's worth at least one try!
(4)Alan K.
As for "SPIKE" being a food snob, I don't know about that, but he is most definitely a SNOB! At the Hop Angel Brauhaus, he couldn't figure how to enter the building. Must have been embarrassing! Most people use the front door. And he must have been embarrassed again when a server had to actually mention that his tip wasn't sufficient. He must have finally realized that he was cheap. Now it's understandable why he prefers the Brauhaus Schmitz down on South Street.
(5)Caroline L.
What a great place. I went there with a large group on a Saturday night and the service was pleasant, the food was diverse and good, the beer selection great, and the price was exceptionally reasonable for Philadelphia. The menu is eclectic with an array of German selections and other fare such as duck, smoked fish appetizers, and salads. Because of the diverse menu, it's a good place to split appetizers and then get stuffed on an entree.
(4)Gretchen M.
3.5 stars, really. This is the craft beer oasis in Fox Chase and the surrounding area, and they do have an impressive rotation of local, German, and other creative beers. Their vegetarian menu is limited (extremely limited) but the macaroni & cheese is so good it's probably the only thing I'd order anyway. My husband is always happy with whatever he orders - brats, fish & chips, scrapple, whatever... Service is what you'd expect for the neighborhood. The waitresses aren't always knowledgeable about the beers available, so it's a good thing that whoever writes the beer list knows what s/he is talking about. It's a really cool, really old building that could use some TLC to show off its character and history.
(3)Keith B.
I'm a fan of this place. It's a nice historic building, with a good American Craft beer bar that also has some German beer choices thrown in to fit the overall decor. I really like they give you a bunch of different size options for beer (.3 .4 & .5 Liter, or 1 Liter pours). I got Truffle Egg Toast for Sunday Brunch, it was awesome. One of the best brunch foods I have ever had. Highly recommend it. Parking lot is a big plus in my book, making it an easy spot to visit in Philly for people not from the neighborhood.
(4)Jessika S.
I love this place. A great beer selection for beer lovers that's always changing. My husband likes to get his growler filled here. I lived in Germany for 6 years- I think it would be better to call this American/German cuisine and that would solve all the little nit picky complaints about the food. With that said- if you're not in to counting calories, you'll love the food. Everything is good. I love the spaetzle, I prefer it with out cheese because they can get this perfect crunch on it. I can't wait to go back and build my own pork sandwich- I sat in jealousy as I watched a friend eat his. I did try the scrapple snack. I didn't really care for it but that doesn't mean it was bad. My husband started to eat it. I was told they make it from scratch for any of you scrapple snobs out there. I can't wait to go back. Service is always good and parking is free. We were last there on Wednesday 2/29/12 and they had live folk/German music upstairs. The bartender said they come in once a month on Wednesdays. I'm guessing its the last Wednesday of every month.
(5)Pete L.
Scoats and Patrick have done it again with a German-centric menu and killer - often local - beers. It's great, enjoy.
(4)Nik K.
As someone who has been to Germany and had real German food (there, and at other places in America), this place really didn't do much for me. Went to the Hop Angel for a birthday with a large group (first mistake). Our waitress was definitely not happy to have the group of youngish people. She was irritable and didn't do a very good job of taking orders for the whole group or communicating. Wish I could remember her name so I could put her on blast. I order (second mistake) one of their "specialties," Jäger-Schnitzel, which in opinion was awful. It was chewy and very think and smothered in the sauce that reminded me more of a smothered pork chop than a schnitzel. Their potato pancakes were very greasy and the wurst were... Well they just were. They're not made in house; instead they're from the German place (Rieker's) down the street. The food pretty much sucked. The beer selection is nice, and would probably be the only reason for my return. The building itself was in a delapidated state, seeming rather dirty, and I couldn't figure out how to enter the building. When we finally did, we walked through a very messy and dark entry with no signs. At the end of it all, we had a problem with the bill because people don't know how to pay and the waitress had the audacity to stop me and tell me the tip wasn't sufficient. I was miffed to say the least... Third mistake was not making the reservation early enough so we could head downtown to Brauhaus Schmitz instead of this dive. I'm sure it's great for locals who don't know what good German food is and expect crappy service, but I know I'm neither a local, nor willing to accept crappy and rude service. I know I won't be returing.
(2)Jessica S.
Mmm yummy beer list that changes constantly. Has a good variety of wheat/white/german beers, which keeps my palate happy :) It's more of a bar than a restaurant nowadays and even has quizzo on Tuesday nights. We looked at the bar menu/regular menu and my group was unsatisfied with the appetizer menu, but I've only been there to drink, so I can't complain about the menu. I saw beer cheddar soup, pretzels, sausage apps, cheese board etc. I understand they are trying to keep a German menu so they aren't going to have some of the reg apps such as fried cheese, wings etc. Parking out back and a biergarten in the summer. It's nice to have some culture in the neighborhood! O yea, girls bathroom was leaking, so a bit nasty. I think they were fixing it. Also, bartender will let you sample beers so take advantage! Friday HH has $3 pints and free apps.
(4)Shubhra B.
We had great meal at this restaurant! They had a special that day with a sampler of different wursts, which was a big hit with my husband. He had the Schnitzel a'la Holstein, which he really enjoyed as well. The trout I had was just perfect. I couldn't stop eating the potato pancakes. The kids loved the macaroni and cheese too. Of course the selection of beer was excellent too! Overall, it was a great experience!
(5)Brendan H.
I've been to the Hop Angel a bunch of times and have always left happy. The bartenders are always friendly, knowledgeable and willing to help with any questions you have. The mussels are amazing but my favorite are the wings and smoked salmon & egg on rye. Just a good spot to chill it. You gotta love that the bar sticks to the German roots of the area.
(5)Jake F.
Since we're talking about a bar, lets discuss the beer first. FANTASTIC selection that rotates based on what craft beers are available at the time. Beer is served in your choice of 3 sizes of mugs / steins. The bartenders there are first rate, constantly moving around to check on your drink, order food, or whatever. I am very impressed with both the beer selection and the bar service. Additionally, the prices were quite good, especially when you consider that they are serving "gourmet" beer. Food: OK, sort of common bar fare. Have had great food one night, then other meals I'd rather forget about. But, do yourself a favor and get the knockwurs. Tthey get them from the German butcher across the street, Rieker's Meats. They are delicious and go sooooo well with good beer. General comments: overall, quite good. I get down there only a few nights a month, mostly in conjunction with a meeting with one of my clients. But I really look forward to those nights I can get there, those beers ethereal. And if you ask, the employees will tell you how to drive home so you can dodge those wiley Rockledge Police who wait for you up from the Hop Angel's parking lot.
(4)Taylor B.
The Beer here is excellent. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to try the food. After being told that our table would be ready in 20 minutes, my wife and I watched as the host went around to most tables and helped clean and set up the tables. 50 minutes later he came back and sat us. After being at the table for 10 minutes and no server to take out order we left. The place is pretty cool, the beer is good, The food looked pretty good. Unfortunately, we had a bad customer service experience, everything else was cool. Maybe make reservations if you go! They will have to do something big to get us back.
(2)Gary G.
we ate there for lunch today, we sat outside, very nice and good food and beer
(4)Becca E.
Went at 6:15 last night (Sunday) to celebrate my German in-laws' 40th wedding anniversary. My brother and sister-in-law even called and spoke to the owner earlier during the day to talk about what we wanted and a specific food allergy. While they were super helpful with the food allergy we were highly disappointed when the waitress came back four different times to announce they were out of different things on the menu - potato dumplings, bread dumplings, Knackwurst and the chocolate roll. We didn't understand this because it was the beginning of dinner service and there was NO ONE else in the restaurant! The beer selection was weak and confusing - apparently "Next Up" on the beer menu means they don't have it yet, but they will next month (although it's not clearly stated that way), so we were disappointed we couldn't order certain beers...? Overall, a disappointing experience.
(2)Helen D.
I really wanted to LOVE this place. I knew what it was all about - German Beers / German Food -- but secretly I was hoping it would be "Grey Lodge North"...... which it's not..... The beer selection was okay & we each found at least one we sort of liked. The food was ok too - but we didn't think it was GREAT. Service was just "ok" too. I did write Scoats (owner) he said they plan to expand their beer selections & will soon add Belgiums. They also plan to expand their menu. This is all good news. Hop Angel is a good addition to Foxchase & I can only anticipate it improving with age - like a fine wine! Also - if you have ideas/suggestions - relay them to Scoats - he WANTS to make this place ROCK!
(3)Tara E.
I saw a mention of an "Applefest" here in October, so I thought we'd check it out. Applefest was pretty much just a couple of extra ciders on tap, but it was a nice night in the biergarten so we stayed for a pint and a couple of appetizers. The kasespätzle were homemade and very good with the caramelized onions, though the portion was rather large for two as an appetizer. The Hop tots disappointed. They promised potato tots stuffed with hungarian bratwurst and Munster cheese. I saw no sign of bratwurst, and only vague notes of cheese flavor. This is my opinion based on only two appetizers, so if I'm in the area again I'll try the Brauhaus again.
(3)Karlie A.
We love going here for the ever-changing cycle of craft brews on tap, served in a variety of sizes. Had a bad day? Try the humongous size one (I can't remember how big it is and you won't either after you've had a couple of them). The Frikadelle burger (stuffed with Butterkase cheese) and the Mac & Cheese with Bacon are perfect accompaniments to the beer. Somewhat less kid-friendly then most gastro-pubs--definitely caters to a more adult crowd.
(3)Holly T.
I totally dig Hop Angel. When we go up to visit family in Fox Chase, Hop Angel is my favorite thing about the neighborhood. It has a great rotating selection of beers, both German and local craft brews, and all the food I've had here has been really good. During Oktoberfest, we went for Sunday brunch several times, and I really couldn't stay away from their truffle egg toast. Many of our favorite dishes have been one-time things from the specials board, such as bacon-wrapped, gorgonzola-stuffed figs, so be sure to check out the specials. From their regular menu, I really enjoy the weisswurst with some nice seedy mustard. The lentils with spätzle is an excellent vegetarian dish, and their hop tots are pretty decadent (stuffed with Hungarian and Munster cheese). Everything here seems to be getting better over time, so if you haven't been for awhile, you may want to give it another chance. Enjoy!
(4)Marvin L.
Not great, but okay beer selection, not too thrilled about the food quality, but a perfect neighborhoof bar for a lazy Sunday afternoon beer with a friend or two.
(4)Ess P.
Beer? Great selection on tap - best around this area, poured and served properly. It's all about the beer because the food? Not so great. We've eaten here twice and both times the food was passable but nothing I would recommend. I hate to say that, really, but food is just not their strong point yet. The first time, we got a basket of good rolls for the table. Tonight? 4 stale slices of some kind of unknown type white bread just sort of tossed into the basket. Probably one of the most unbecoming bread baskets ever. Seriously. We've had several apps including mac and cheese (meh), meat plate which was supposed to include fresh fruit and toast points. Reality? Some lingonberries scattered around, 2 orange wedges and, literally, 3 little dried out bread rounds (same bread that was in the basket), but the grilled sausages were pretty good; potato pancakes (not bad - a bit greasy) and a few others that were obviously not very memorable. Onion soup wasn't too bad, again a bit greasy. Meatloaf, which others have raved about, I found was fairly awful. Listen. I'm a meatloaf lover. If a menu has meatloaf on it, I order it. Theirs is prepared with a fried egg (what is up with the fried egg on top of things these days?) which I scraped off and gravy, that I got on the side, thankfully. Gravy was terrible - greasy and bland. Come on, people. Even I make good gravy! It's fundamental! I didn't even bother taking home what I didn't eat. The wursts were okay. A steak special was cooked just right and was very good but the artichokes as veggie were decidedly weird. The menu is quite nice, on paper, but so far the execution is way off the mark. Maybe the chef on tonight was the stand by guy or something, but this was just not a good meal overall. Prices are reasonable for a restaurant, high for a pub, and service both times was friendly and competent. One time was busy, tonight only a few tables occupied. This could be such a great place to have a few terrific beers and some hearty fare but until they improve the kitchen, stick with the beer. I wonder if Martha H was at the same restaurant we were? If we had driven 10 hours for our meal, we'd have been mighty pissed.
(2)Scott L.
The house wine was lacking at best, but the the prices were fine. The garlic mushrooms and string beans were WONDERFUL. My sirloin was at best 12 oz. and hardly selected for its quality.. But this new management is void of maturity and professionalism. Rock music in the foyer???, five drunks at the bar. Steven Starr would shutter at the mere thought. Does the northeast really need another sports bar?
(2)Moira M.
I have been to the Hop Angel a few times since it opened and I have to say it is improving. At our last visit, everyone in the family was impressed. The potato soup is wonderful. Also they have a gluten free menu, which satisfies our needs. And the beer is always good.
(3)S L.
This was our first visit to Hop Angel, and possibly our last. After paying for the babysitter and making the 20 minute drive, we were left sorely disappointed with our choice for the rare date night (should have gone to Otto's). First the good points - the beer - well, at least the draft list (we never saw a bottle list, so I don't even know if they even had bottles). Good mix of German and US - both local and good craft beers from other states. Now the bad. Our appetizer came out after our main courses (burgers) - we were never asked "do you still want the appetizer?" after we were told the chef burnt our first apps. Burgers came out but we were left with no napkins or silverware and had to chase our waitress down (she gave us napkins and we had to chase her a 2nd time for silverware). I ordered my burger medium rare, and it was SO overcooked. It was actually crunchy on the outside it was so bad - gray and crumbly on the inside. Had to find the waitress a 3rd time to send that back because no way in hell am I paying $11 for a burger that over cooked. The 2nd burger came out perfect, but my wife was already done her dinner by that time. Also, we never received any sort of itemized bill - just a credit card slip with a total due on it. It's a shame - the atmosphere of old people from NE Philly was kind of charming, but I'd be hard pressed to say I'd want to visit here again.
(1)Karen M.
Good bratwurst!
(4)Kimberly M.
Had lunch here for the official grand opening this past Saturday and I was very pleased. They had a German band playing and free food outside. Also, the outside patio is a very nice addition. It looked like there was also a deck upstairs which I am assuming will be open in the warmer months. Inside, they did not go too over the top with the decor, it was subtle and cozy. We got a little table in the back and ordered our food. I got the Rahmschwammerln mit Semmelknodel (mushoom dumplings) and the boyfriend for a burger of some sort. I was very impressed with the amount of vegetarian options listed on the lunch menu. Usually places just stick a veggie burger on the menu and expect that to be enough. I loved my lunch. The dumplings were flaky, buttery, delight and the mushroom cream sauce was incredible! The fries were really good too, although I think they should offer a more creative dipping sauce other then just ketchup. The beer list was very impressive and our server was very friendly and helpful. I am definitely going to go back here in the future!
(4)DAVID G.
i Really enjoyed this place a lot. Felt like i was in Germany! very cool looking . Many good German beers on tap .Mainly i loved the food. i had the the scrapple which was really delicious and fresh which i was told was the chef's own scrapple made from a german recipe. the breakfast potatoes were hands down the best breakfast potatoes ive ever eaten. Service was great. place was cool. the chef knows what hes doing. love it. definitley going back.
(5)