This place is just super weird. We stopped in here on a Saturday night. I had a little bit of a buzz going already, so it's surprising at how aware I was of how crappy it was. First of all, it's decorated as an old-timey bar, which it should be, considering their focus here is moonshine. Despite the ambiance the decor was providing, they were BLASTING EDM. All remixes of 80s/90s tunes. I mean, we had to yell to each other over the music. We all just kept saying, "I DON'T GET IT!" I found myself wishing that they would switch to country/bluegrass and redeem themselves. I ordered the peach tea (moonshine, peach schnapps, iced tea). It was okay, but pretty sweet. Like sickeningly sweet. I'm pretty sure the moonshine was lacking, as well. I got the tater tots as an app, which were supposed to come loaded with bacon and cheese and chives. What got plopped down in front of me was.. tiny potatoes with a dipping sauce. Turns out their tots are mashed potatoes (with bacon few and far between) rolled in panko and fried. Never have I been so sad. I got the fried chicken sandwich as my entree and the chicken was tasteless. I did like the horseradish sauce that came on the sandwich, but wasn't it supposed to come with a mustard sauce? It was also served with shoestring fries (like the ones you get at McD's). Please, PLEASE start cutting your own fries. Potato cutters are not expensive and it makes a world of difference. I had high hopes for this place but they all went out the window.
(2)
Chris K.
Stopped here with my girlfriend and her cousin before going to a concert. We didn't eat anything just had some drinks. My girlfriend had a moonshine margarita. It was good, and because it was happy hour it was only $5. Her cousin and I took advantage of the $2 bud light special. Not a fan of bud light but it was a good deal and knew I'd be paying $12 for beers at the concert. We will stop in again next time we are in the area.
(4)
Richard N.
Awesome comfort food! We stopped by here for lunch on the 4th of July. Service was a little slow but the quality of the food and drinks made up for it! I'll be back for sure next time I'm in Philly.
(4)
Gia M.
This is one of the more talked-about newer venues in the city so I was excited to try it out a few weeks ago with friends. After some initial navigational issues (the Yelp star is on the wrong block, although the address is correct), we made it over to the bar and eagerly awaited our moonshine. The moonshine drinks were served in Mason jars (typical), but they seemed like excuses to be called moonshine cocktails instead of drinks built around the stuff (margaritas don't call moonshine to mind). The rest of the drinks list was all right, and the bar food was also okay. The chicken sandwich looked a bit bland, and I was initially excited by the tater tots until I discovered that they were fried mashed potatoes with some bacon bits included (I was expecting true tots here). I was expecting a country type bar, with maybe a little bit of a modern twist (given the vibe), but I was a little confused by the end of the night because this place was contradictory. Case in point: at first, the music being played was perfect-- all 70s country rock and a little bit of Bon Jovi-type stuff thrown in. As the night went on, the music became more and more EDM and much faster-paced than you would expect or want at a country-type bar. Maybe they were catering to the younger crowd, but it really did their image no favors. But as it doesn't seem to have found its true identity yet, I would be willing to return in a few months to see if some of the kinks have worked themselves out.
(2)
Vittorio S.
Really cool looking place with wood cask as decorative pieces and mason jars as a bar backdrop to fit the moonshine theme here. Clean place and not dark and dingy as other place on the block. Their signature wings are a must.. Hint of moonshine!!! Taylor and all the bartenders are awesome and very friendly.
(5)
Leah Y.
Food and drinks were fine but the service left a lot to be desired. I can understand if a place is busy but we waited long periods of time while our server sat in the back of the restaurant staring at her phone. I tried several times in vain to get her attention. When she finally came over when we were nearly done eating and we alerted her my husband was missing a side from his meal she just said "ok" with nothing resembling an apology. Seemed like she did not care about her job at all. Also, the appetizer took a long time to arrive, there was no toilet paper in the restroom and the giant jenga games make a deafening noise when people repeatedly lose the game. If you're looking for mediocre food, bad service and an annoying atmosphere, definitely check this place out.
(2)
Justin M.
Awesome bar with moonshine! You don't see that every day which is the reason we came in after dinner. Had some moonshine milkshaes (6$ all day on saturday). The Apple Pie milkshake was boozy and amazing while the strawberries and cream which you couldn't taste the moonshine but also really tasty!
(4)
Kathleen D.
JJ Bootleggers appears to still be finding itself. It's not like it opened last week, but I don't think it's been on 2nd Street all too long, either. Nonetheless, the idea of a bar that focuses on moonshine intrigued me, and I chose it as one of the stops for my birthday weekend friends outing. They were all generally disappointed with the experience, which is a huge bummer to me. For one, JJs absolutely needs to change the music -- STAT. If you want to be moonshiney, go all out. Don't play Blink 182 club-style on a Saturday night. Get some Country sounds in there to go with the rest of the place. For two, perhaps take another look at the drink recipes. My moonshine margarita was perfectly adequate, but I will say that it reminded me of a margarita I could've purchased at a Chili's -- just less potent. My food was okay. I had the chicken sandwich and I have no outright complaints there. My friends weren't so happy with their dishes, though. Our server was nice and accommodating. I also really liked the bathroom set up in the back. I think this place just needs a few tweaks and I would go back in the future to give it another try.
(3)
Bruce G.
Taylor is great! Good choice for food, drinks, and table games
(5)
Anupma S.
More like 0 stars UGH SCARRED FOR LIFE. This place is probably cool, at least it looked cool when we walked in on Saturday night. BUT THEN we walked further in and saw a girl giving a guy a lap dance on the right and a bunch of girls strip dancing for a group of guys in the back... Ain't even writing more details. IT WAS SO WEIRD WHY WAS THIS HAPPENING AT A BAR. Bye, Felicia.
(1)
Shane C.
Awful service. Went there for all you can eat taco night and was only given one round in over an hour and a half. Also never got any water refills and asked for them 3x. The only reason I'm giving them 2 stars is because the manager refunded us for the tacos once we complained.
(2)
Lashonda T.
Made reservations really chill bar didnt really need to though it wasnt busy. The bar was very neat with the mason jars color coded. If you cant find street parking their are garages everywhere. The moonshine is delicious.
(3)
Anthony S.
I stopped in here on Saturday night to grab a bite to eat and drink or two. I tried two of their moonshine drinks--the Hillbilly Peach Tea and the Corn and Coke and was actually very impressed with both of them. Delicious, but definitely strong drinks. $10 each is a tad much, though. I'm trying not to eat meat again, so I found the menu a little hard to choose from. I split an order of the pierogies, and found myself liking the sauces (sour cream and another one that was some sort of cherry-based) more than the pierogi itself. I had the veggie sandwich, which was also fine, but I wish it came with a more substantial bread. It was on the same bun as my friend's porketta sandwich, but found my sandwich falling apart. Some real hearty, nutty slices would've been delicious instead. I wasn't too keen on the rest of the clientele there. We left around 10 and it was started to get a little crowded, but I guess that's to be expected in old city.
(4)
Chris S.
Just happened to stumble upon this place on its opening night. Instantly fell in love with the decor. It's really cool vibe, southern feel. Blues music, moonshine, really old wood throughout. The moonshine drinks are tasty. I had one and then moved on to beer. Tried a Porketta sandwich and the wings which were both very good. This place is definitely a welcome sight for sore eyes in Olde City. Very cool.
(5)
Justin D.
Went in on a dead Wednesday night. It took an hour to make a couple of burgers and a salad. They gave me the wrong order. The salad came out 15 minutes after the rest of the food. The waitress was unfriendly and unapologetic the entire time. I will not go here again.
(1)
Daniel S.
In Philadelphia for a short stay, but stopped into this bar for a couple drinks. The AC was nice and cold and Taylor was an amazing woman behind the bar. We had a blast and loved the variety of IPAs and moonshine mixes offered. This place definitely takes me back to my Kentucky roots. I'll be back next week!!! Keep it going!
(5)
Jack F.
The moonshine itself wasnt amazing -- especially not when you're used to getting the legit stuff from WV *wink wink*. But the atmosphere was good and even tho it was busy, the bartenders were all friendly, and quick to respond to drink requests. Id definitely stop in again.
(3)
Jake E.
I'll defer to Yelp here, as I really can't think of a better description for my dining experience at JJ Bootleggers than "A-OK". I grabbed dinner here after the Grim Philly Pub crawl and enjoyed my meal overall, despite some issues along the way. I would describe the atmosphere as somewhere in between "hip" and "industrial" and it was quite bustling when I arrived around 9PM on a Saturday night. As is to be expected from a popular bar located in a well-traveled area of a major city, there was significant din, both from the patrons and the background music. As mentioned in other reviews, the music is very loud (to the point of being obtrusive in conversations) and detracts from the overall vibe of the place. For eats, I ordered the panko-crusted chicken sandwich, which was delicious! The meat tasted of good-quality and I particularly enjoyed the Dijon mustard they used. My girlfriend likewise enjoyed her bacon cheeseburger, though she mentioned her fries were cold. I found that last part puzzling, as my fries were steaming hot as if they had just come out of the fryer (I actually had to let them cool off a bit....) Portions were sizable enough for the price. For drinks, I had one of their moonshine cocktails, which was fine, but really nothing special. It reminded me of an Applebee's margarita, for better or for worse. Despite the overall decent food and beverages, I found the service to be quite lacking. We sat at our table for around 15 minutes before anyone came over to ask whether we were being served. Shortly after, a waitress came over with menus and place settings and asked if we were ready to order. I found this puzzling in itself, since we had just received the menu and I told her we needed a couple minutes to decide. Our waitress seemed to interpret that as "check back after an inordinately long period of time" and it was a while before we placed our orders. Once we had done so, it was another long while before we actually received our meals. I realize the place was packed and honestly think our table was simply neglected amidst the general busyness of the night, but obviously this made for a less than ideal service experience. Once the food was finally served by another member of the waitstaff (who was appropriately understanding and apologetic), he promptly jumped ship to serve another table without asking if we needed anything. I then had to flag him down twice for the simple request of a bottle of ketchup. I would advise the management to leave a set of condiments on every table to allow the waitstaff to more efficiently wait on tables rather than running unnecessary errands such as this. The other issue which detracted from the dining experience was the absence of hand soap, which my girlfriend noted in the women's bathroom. While there were a grand total of 3 hand soap dispensers in the men's room, the women's room was apparently lacking in the sanitation department that night. We both found this somewhat off-putting, since that meant that no female on the premises (customer, waitress, or kitchen staff) was able to wash her hands that night. Obviously not the thought you want on your mind as you start to eat your meal! That being said, I did enjoy my meal here overall. I have listed the tl;dr of my take on JJ Bootleggers below, and it clocks in as a solid 3-start rating in my book. Atmosphere: above-average Drinks: average Food: above-average Price: average Service: below-average
(3)
Nando F.
Well we came in here after the Phillies debacle of being on the bad end of a no hitter. Damn you Dodgers , so you figure you want something that has some octane to it to cure the no hitter blues. Moonshine shots, moonshine concoctions, and more shots was the cure to this ailment. So as we were getting our necessary shots, we happen to peruse the menu to fill a void. I feel in my opinion ordering from the appetizer section is a great way to go at it. This gives you an option to order more than one item where you can pick at things see what works and what doesn't. Our appetizers dishes we had selected were: Stuffed squash~ This was stuffed with shredded brisket , which was pretty damn good. I suggest giving this a try, you'll be impressed by it. Wings~ There were a few versions to go with , we chose to go with "White Lightning" as our flavor. The wings were good in size , it was suppose to be somewhat spicy but never had that kick we were looking for. Tater Tots~ At first when you they come out they are not your average sized tator tot. It is a deep fried mashed potato ball with cheese and bacon (not enough bacon) with a house dipping sauce. These were pretty good, I'd most likely order these again. Bootleggers still being somewhat new has some kinks it needs to iron out. The staff is on point though, making sure you're fully accommodated. The decor of this establishment has a southern Tennessean type of swagger to it. Little odd I thought that there wasn't a whole lot of country music being played, being a "Good Ole Boy " types of places. Our waitress Gina was there, very attentive, making sure we were comfortable. We also met the manager Patty who came to our table seeing we were a lively bunch, harping about the woes of the Phillies. Then there was Bruce, the kitchen chef, the "Don Juan" of the grill, who was wheeling and dealing great meals in that kitchen. He too came out to see if we were enjoying ourselves, if we had any questions or comments. Myself I think that makes or breaks an establishment when the staff comes and interacts with the patrons. They enjoyed our company they brought us out a complimentary Upside Pinapple Cake. Which by the way is a must order, rich in flavor, and sweet enough to make you do a shimmy. In all I, or we I should say enjoyed our time in here. I'd come back in again, now go in for yourself and get you a shot of Apple Pie moonshine!
(4)
Rachel C.
Nice spot to get a drink especially during the calm nights of the week (not Friday Saturday and Sunday). Taylor is a super cool server and there is great service here. Definitely coming back too see how the weekends are.
(5)
Fugum A.
It started out just fine. We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by a friendly lady who made our drinks and gave us menus. However, when the regular bartender returned from wherever she was, we didn't receive any more service as she spent the next 30 minutes talking or flirting with the one other customer at the bar. I can't comment on the food since we couldn't order. We flagged her down, paid $19.00 for two drinks and left to eat elsewhere. We won't be back next time we're in town as service doesn't seem to be a priority here.
(1)
Amy C.
As soon as you come in, you feel you are transported to another time and place. You are transported to the oldin days. The hostess was very nice, friendly and knowledgable. The decor is awesome. What a great find. Moonshine is the main component in mostly everything. How intriguing. I came in during happy hour. Great specials: drinks were $5 wings $6 and pierogies $8. The food was amazing. I had two drinks, the Moonshine margarita and the Smokey mountain sunrise. They were both great. I ordered the asian chicken wings, the fried mashed tots, and the pierogies. Omg deliciousness. 5 stars for food, hospitality and decor. Amazing place. If you are in Philly and in the Old City area definitely stop in.
(5)
Mark Z.
Rude bartenders are fun, limited tap list even better, and a bunch of drunk bros is the icing on the cake! I rather not come back here and waste my time.
(1)
Nick M.
They offer pretty good specials, the food is always pretty good and served in a timely manner. The servers are always pretty helpful and check in with their customers regularly to make sure everything is going well. Music and TVs aren't too loud either
(5)
B A.
Simply put: stay away, many better options. It's a shame because the food was good but the place was WAY UNDERSTAFFED! there weren't any papertowles in the bathroom. The place sorta scared me- the cleanliness. Go else where. They tried.
(1)
Andrew B.
It was a nice place to meet up with friends... Not anything special tho
(3)
Darko S.
This place is not bad. I was there on Monday night and it was not busy at all. The server was awesome (Taylor) and the moonshine was pretty good as well. I liked it so much that we decided to come back on Tuesday, but it was closed for some odd reason. Anyway, it is a pretty neat place and I would def. check it out again if I was in Phllly.
(4)
Kelly F.
Great atmosphere! Friendly bartender/ waitress. Great food. Cheesesteaks were awesome
(5)
Randy S.
This joint is the real deal. DARIA ROCKS. It's just that simple: Food? Awesome! Service? Devine!! Drinks? Need I say more . . . MOONSHINE!!!
(5)
Paige C.
The moon shine is great and the manager is very nice! They have tons of flavors of moon shine. Mark is very cool and he told us a little about the city too. If your in Philly you should definitely stop by!
(5)
Amy E.
Loud but good place to eat. Yummy Mac and cheese with buffalo chicken. Large portions so a good value for the money. Also got an apple pie a la mode milkshake. Yummy!! Wait staff is courtesy nice and quick. Also fun games to play at your table.
(4)
Joey M.
This was one of the stops on a Grim Philly Pub tour! If you are into Moonshine you MUST check this place out. I have never seen such a selection of moonshine before. This bar is very large with ample seating and TV's just about everywhere! They served us complimentary wings (they have different varieties) and some fried mashed potato things both of which were good! I also sampled the apple moonshine! It is way too strong for me but if you're into moonshine you're bound to like this stuff.
(4)
Ian K.
Ambiance - Very cool setting, really embraced the concept of a moonshine bar/saloon. When we arrived the place was pretty quiet but quickly picked up as more parties were seated for dinner. Overall though was a casual noise level. Service - Service staff was great, very welcoming when we walked in and were seated immediately. Our waitress knew the menu and was able to speak to both the dinner items and cocktail specials. She regularly asked how we were and if we needed anything else. Drinks - Our party of three each order a different drink special. They all were a typical bar drink you would order from any bar but the liquor was replaced with a moonshine. Drinks were pretty good. Thought they would have more of kick to them but overall the moonshine provided a unique flavor on otherwise ordinary drinks. We also ordered a flight of moonshine shots after our meal so we could try some of the different flavors. Food - Our group order the fried tater-tots as an appetizer which were delicious. Our entrees consisted of the meatloaf (recommend by waitress), veggie burger, and the Lightnin'Burger. After ordering I was informed that they were out of pork belly for the Lightnin' Burger and asked if I would be ok with bacon instead. I reluctantly agreed. Friend who got the veggie burger just thought it was ok, nothing special. Lightnin' Burger was good even without the bacon. The remoulade sauce gave a nice kick to the burger. The meatloaf however was not very good. Tasted like a frozen, pre-made concoction. My friend barely touched it. Overall - Our group was pretty disappointed with the quality of food that was served. However the saving grace of the evening was our waitress. She saw that my friend didn't enjoy his meatloaf at all and without us saying anything, comped my friend's meal and our flight of moonshine. Because of her I will probably return however only for drinks and possibly bar food.
(3)
Monique W.
So me and my family if 6 just left here and im going this place a 2 star only because my mom like her burger i will not be going back to this place at all the food was ok nothing worth going back for i order all 3 wings and lets just say i money back...the drinks are not strong at all i had to get a beer smh
(2)
Chris B.
Awesome old time style bar with great moonshine style drinks! I had the lightning burger and the corn n' coke drink. Both awesome. Service could have been better, but can't complain for a Wednesday. Will return! I had the yelp $10 discount so the owner had to see it. He asked how the drinks were, and I said that the corn' coke could be stronger. He came back with a jar of whiskey and gave me a free shot! 105 proof! He had the bartender make me extra strong drinks for the rest of the night. Overall awesome place !
(5)
Alexis M.
WAAAAAAH! They don't sell the cool little mason jars with the bars name on em! Real bummer! Besides that, this place was spacious, and nice. The bartenders were aware and attentive! Not a single complaint.... Except for the fact that they didn't sell those cool little mason jars!!!! Dangit!
(4)
Vannessa M.
We were celebrating our anniversary about two weeks ago! It was a great experience and the Bartender was very nice.
(5)
Dana S.
Thought this place was solid. Was impressed that there was a decent crowd for it being a little early on a Friday night. It's country themed but had a party vibe. Drinks were reasonably priced which is always a bonus for a weekend night.
(3)
Sarah H.
The atmosphere here was awesome and our server, Eddie, was so great. We stumbled in literally off the street after seeing it was nearby on yelp. We were pleasantly surprised by the decor. The bar area was already packed and was pretty loud by 7 on a Saturday evening. We sat for dinner. Unfortunately they were out of the duck tacos but we did get the honey shine wings which you have to try. The sweet potato fries were also good. The shine drinks were fun and unique, we also had apple pie shots. To end the night we couldn't leave without trying the bread pudding and it is definitely worth it..amazing.
(5)
Rob S.
Girlfriend and I went here for lunch today and I must say it was awesome. The waitress was very kind and happy to serve us. I had the cheese steak special for 4 bucks and it was excellent. I highly recommend the old city fries! Keep up the great work!
(5)
Sean M.
Cool sports bar. Good drink specials. Great Yelp check in special. ($10 of $30 purchase) lots of moonshine to choose from. Lots of TVs not to loud even when crowded. Looking forward to going back.
(3)
Lizzie L.
good vibe, average drinks. all sugar for every cocktailk.
(3)
Bob F.
My wife and I had reservations at another restaurant around the corner but canceled them after reading all of the horrible reviews it was getting here on Yelp. On a whim, we decided to give JJ Bootleggers a try. We were not disappointed. The moonshine drinks were very good. Nice selection of beer as well. The food was great. We had the tater tots and cheesesteak spring rolls for appetizers. Both were excellent. I enjoyed the Lightnin' Burger and my wife thought the shrimp tacos were delicious. We would definitely recommend stopping in for a few drinks and a meal.
(4)
Kristen R.
This place is really great! The fried smashed tots were delicious and the cheesesteak egg rolls looked great! The Shirley temple moonshine drink brought me right back to my childhood, only this time it was spiked w booze! Will definitely be returning!
(5)
Thom Y.
The ambience is great. Cool decoration. Awesome music. I had duck tacos and sweet potato fries. Duck tacos are amazing for a first time having duck meat. Bartender was very nice and she was hot! I didnt have moonshines just because I was driving. Only negative thing is that the place had flies!
(4)
Kim T.
Friends and I stumbled upon this place one evening. The moonshine drinks seemed intriguing but as it was a school night I just had a glass of wine. The menu was very limited for a vegetarian. The oddest thing for me and probably my reason for such a low rating is that on the way to the restrooms in the back there were chicken wings scattered across the floor. Not ideal for a vegetarian or really anyone! There are just so many better options in that part of Old City.
(2)
Kara S.
Fun drink menu, reasonable prices, fast service, excellent food (cheesesteak wit moonshine & lightening burger)
(5)
VL C.
I don't typically give out one star, ever, but this place was awful. Ordered an old fashioned and it was made wrong. Ordered 6 shots and watched the bartender pour straight from the bottle (with no pourer and didn't use a jigger) into the shaker which was full of ice. I didn't order them chilled. I told my friend she wasn't going to have enough, because I'm a bartender and could see she didn't put enough tequila in. She came up half a shot short. Instead of putting more tequila in I watched her try to shake the rest of the ice into water to fill it. It wouldn't work so she went to get the bottle. I told her when she came back, "listen, I didn't order them chilled so for the next round don't chill them, it's much less alcohol when you shake it with ice", she replies "I measured 6 shots with this (shows me a jigger)". I smiled at her lie and said "ok, well I'm a bartender and I know it waters it down so just don't chill them next time". She tells me it's $60 for 6 shots of 1800, which is expensive for mediocre tequila, and we drink our half water shots. The place was pretty dead for a Saturday night. As soon as it hits 2am everyone is practically thrown out and the bartender refused to serve anything else. As my friend is trying to order one last drink, a man that was sitting alone at the bar punches her in the arm in a "hey buddy" sort of way. A man punched my friend in the arm....wtf. I tell a guy behind the bar what happened and he tells the guy he has to leave but then let's him stay, without so much as an apology. Pretty sure that place is on it's last leg. What kind of bad hires bartenders that can't even serve shots correctly?
(1)
Alison D.
Stopped in because it looked like a neat place to go. I was convinced the music was from my own Pandora station, but then came my bartender. I only give it 3 stars because the worst service in the world was paired with a hard to swallow drink. I'm sure some people would love this place but if you're not in your early twenties slamming shots, go find yourself a nice Irish pub.
(3)
Leena W.
Awesome Carmel Apple moonshine! The pricing is typical for philly. We ordered wings and fries as appetizers too. It wasn't bad for bar food. Would recommend to stop in for a drink!
(4)
DJ D.
Had restaurant week dinner at JJ Bootleggers last night 1/24/15. Everything about the experience was excellent! Nicely made drinks, I started with the scallop appetizer, had the grilled Bronzino and a delicious deconstructed chocolate cake. Definitely a few steps above "bar food". Also had to try their famous fried mashed tatter tots -- amazingly addictive! Will be back for more, the wing selection looked good too.
(5)
Emily P.
Love the atmosphere and ambience of the bar. Food is good as well. Overall great bar to come to all the time. Can't beat the moonshine drinks and flights as well :-)
(5)
Lisa R.
This is a great new addition to the Old City scene! We have been here a few times over the past month and have had a great experience every time. The decor is rustic and fun-- the moonshine theme is carried through very well and there is plenty of space for large groups. They play loud, upbeat and fun music all night long. The service was great every time as well-- very responsive, friendly and knowledgeable. Food: The food here is excellent! Savory, delicious and tasty. Highlights include the Old City fries, the Porketta sandwich, and the meatloaf. Our group tried numerous things and everyone really enjoyed their food! You must try the cookie dough dessert as well! Drinks: A variety of moonshine flavors add to the unique-ness of this place. The drinks are all creatively named and delicious. They also have a great draft beer selection, and prices are very reasonable. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the Philly area. We will be making this one of our regular hang out spots for sure!
(5)
Lolly G.
Taylor the bartender is super sweet but also suggested a great moonshine. Apple pie. Not too sweet! I went during happy hour and you get a beer (any craft of your choice and a shot of moonshine for $5) This is a pretty sweet deal that will attract some people who are skeptical of this spot as the last place was way lame. There's a cool vibe in here and we were told the moonshine is actually made in Tennessee and shipped up so it's the real deal. I didn't eat here so I will come back to review when I have. Good vibe, great for old city, and something DIFFERENT!
(4)
Nicole P.
So I think I may be a bit bias because I do not like Old City. However, I was heading to meet friends and needed a drink first. So seeing all of my options (and not loving them), I ducked in here. First, the place is really nice inside-very cool set up. Second, the crowd was not as "Old City" as some of the crowds. That with the set up made the vibe cool. With that my drink...I had a Peach Moonshine drink made with fresh peaches and it was amazing. Really good. It was a warmish winter night and it tasted like spring. We all really enjoyed our drinks and wish we had time for another. The food smelled good but we were off to the movies. So four stars because I did not try enough but when in Old City...I think it needs another look!
(4)
Garrett H.
This was the worst dinner experience I have ever had. Our waiter would constantly ignore my friends and I as he was busy with other tables. The food took a very long time to come out and it was only so-so. They failed to split our check correctly and charged me more than they should have. I will not be returning.
(1)
Melissa V.
Stopped in for drinks and snacks. Good service and beautiful decor. The music was good too. The moonshine is smooth and packs a punch. The honey wings were good but the blue cheese was way too thick. Stop in for at least one drink and you might stay for more.
(5)
Peg A.
What a wonderful crew works here. Creative restaurant week offerings, beautiful AND delicious. Kudos to the owner and the staff for putting it out there for all to enjoy.
(5)
Lina B.
Stopped in on Friday night and let me start by saying, this place is awesome! Good food, good drinks and good music. Even more importantly though, GREAT staff. Everyone was friendly, despite being extremely busy, the bartenders still took the time to explain the moonshine menu and ever offer my friend and I a sample of their apple pie moonshine. Sam the bartender suggested we try lemon moonshine in my yards pale ale and she was spot on! Gave my beer an extra kick with awesome flavor. I will definitely be back on a Thursday to take advantage of the all you can eat tacos :)
(5)
Matt B.
I stopped by on a Monday and while it was not very busy I had a great experience thanks to Ashley D. The food was great, the beer cold, and the bartender was beautiful. Not much else you could ask for!
(5)
Lori R.
Love the vibe, very different from other restaurants in Philadelphia. If you get anything get the tater tots, they are the best, we liked them so much we ordered another plate. Food was great, raves on the moonshine.
(5)
Tony D.
Great new spot located in a hip part of Philly. Really cool bar scene and the drinks are terrific, they feature moonshine! The food was outstanding and a very well thought out menu. Would definitely recommend.
(5)
A.Andre F.
The worst service and disrespectful staff. We (african american's) walked in last night asked if they were closing and serving food. Bartender said no but the lady who was then locking up the windows said yes and we aren't serving food. I said well why would you say yes the lady just looked angry. When we walked out upset I calmly expressed my frustration and she said she didn't care if we came back ever. I replied, "Not an issue we won't be back." We are three business owners who understand that one person represents thousands. I hope they close down and an appreciative restaurant opens. We highly recommend Nick's across the street. We had their crushed bacon burger and curly cheese fries and then left there and went to Infusion Lounge. Nice spot and has the best hookahs we have ever had in the city.
(1)
Emily S.
I can't say enough about this place! My in-laws were in town and wanted to try something different. Sometimes this can be a challenge, because as a vegetarian, I prefer having something more than just a salad. I called ahead and just so happened to speak with the owner. I asked if they had any vegetarian options; he informed me that they had a grilled vegetable sandwich, but would be willing to make me anything! I responded that I was happy with whatever and that we would be there in about a half an hour. We walked in (and I just assumed that this conversation would be forgotten) sat down and ordered drinks - AMAZING drinks by the way. I asked the server if there were any other options for a vegetarian. She let me know that the owner was expecting us and he had created a vegetable pasta primavera in a garlic sauce if I'd like. She said that as a vegetarian herself, it was amazing! I couldn't believe the service!! Not only did I order this, but after our entrees arrived and we were able to enjoy some, the owner himself came out to be sure that I was enjoying it! It was soooo so good! I have never felt more taken care of! I recommend this establishment to anyone! The ambiance is impeccable and the service phenomenal!! Thank you!!
(5)
Gino G.
This neighborhood was a highlight of my Philly trip. We had a great time at this place. Lotsa beers to choose from. Friendly staff and patrons. I had the short ribs and my girlfriend had the meat loaf. Both were excellent. Next Philly visit .... I'm coming back here.
(5)
Barry F.
excellent bar....great atmosphere...daria the bartender...pleasant, polite..... food and drink couldn't have been better..and daria made the whole experience worthwhile
(5)
Kelly R.
Great way to spend the day! All the drinks are awesome, I love the hillbilly peach tea made by Daria....perfection!
(5)
Beth K.
Ate here last night and it was so good! The shrimp tacos were delicious, and the fries with horseradish dipping sauce were addictive! Great drink choices too...not just the usual stuff. I recommend the Shiney Shirley for an adult version of a childhood favorite. Great fun, great atmosphere, and the staff was friendly and attentive. Definitely will go back!
(5)
Bruce S.
Jjbootleggers food was excellent hats off to chef santino. The inside is rustic and very cozy . Moonshine drinks and hapoy hours you can't beat . Check out JJBootlegger when in old city phila
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Late Night Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Lindsay V.
This place is just super weird. We stopped in here on a Saturday night. I had a little bit of a buzz going already, so it's surprising at how aware I was of how crappy it was. First of all, it's decorated as an old-timey bar, which it should be, considering their focus here is moonshine. Despite the ambiance the decor was providing, they were BLASTING EDM. All remixes of 80s/90s tunes. I mean, we had to yell to each other over the music. We all just kept saying, "I DON'T GET IT!" I found myself wishing that they would switch to country/bluegrass and redeem themselves. I ordered the peach tea (moonshine, peach schnapps, iced tea). It was okay, but pretty sweet. Like sickeningly sweet. I'm pretty sure the moonshine was lacking, as well. I got the tater tots as an app, which were supposed to come loaded with bacon and cheese and chives. What got plopped down in front of me was.. tiny potatoes with a dipping sauce. Turns out their tots are mashed potatoes (with bacon few and far between) rolled in panko and fried. Never have I been so sad. I got the fried chicken sandwich as my entree and the chicken was tasteless. I did like the horseradish sauce that came on the sandwich, but wasn't it supposed to come with a mustard sauce? It was also served with shoestring fries (like the ones you get at McD's). Please, PLEASE start cutting your own fries. Potato cutters are not expensive and it makes a world of difference. I had high hopes for this place but they all went out the window.
(2)Chris K.
Stopped here with my girlfriend and her cousin before going to a concert. We didn't eat anything just had some drinks. My girlfriend had a moonshine margarita. It was good, and because it was happy hour it was only $5. Her cousin and I took advantage of the $2 bud light special. Not a fan of bud light but it was a good deal and knew I'd be paying $12 for beers at the concert. We will stop in again next time we are in the area.
(4)Richard N.
Awesome comfort food! We stopped by here for lunch on the 4th of July. Service was a little slow but the quality of the food and drinks made up for it! I'll be back for sure next time I'm in Philly.
(4)Gia M.
This is one of the more talked-about newer venues in the city so I was excited to try it out a few weeks ago with friends. After some initial navigational issues (the Yelp star is on the wrong block, although the address is correct), we made it over to the bar and eagerly awaited our moonshine. The moonshine drinks were served in Mason jars (typical), but they seemed like excuses to be called moonshine cocktails instead of drinks built around the stuff (margaritas don't call moonshine to mind). The rest of the drinks list was all right, and the bar food was also okay. The chicken sandwich looked a bit bland, and I was initially excited by the tater tots until I discovered that they were fried mashed potatoes with some bacon bits included (I was expecting true tots here). I was expecting a country type bar, with maybe a little bit of a modern twist (given the vibe), but I was a little confused by the end of the night because this place was contradictory. Case in point: at first, the music being played was perfect-- all 70s country rock and a little bit of Bon Jovi-type stuff thrown in. As the night went on, the music became more and more EDM and much faster-paced than you would expect or want at a country-type bar. Maybe they were catering to the younger crowd, but it really did their image no favors. But as it doesn't seem to have found its true identity yet, I would be willing to return in a few months to see if some of the kinks have worked themselves out.
(2)Vittorio S.
Really cool looking place with wood cask as decorative pieces and mason jars as a bar backdrop to fit the moonshine theme here. Clean place and not dark and dingy as other place on the block. Their signature wings are a must.. Hint of moonshine!!! Taylor and all the bartenders are awesome and very friendly.
(5)Leah Y.
Food and drinks were fine but the service left a lot to be desired. I can understand if a place is busy but we waited long periods of time while our server sat in the back of the restaurant staring at her phone. I tried several times in vain to get her attention. When she finally came over when we were nearly done eating and we alerted her my husband was missing a side from his meal she just said "ok" with nothing resembling an apology. Seemed like she did not care about her job at all. Also, the appetizer took a long time to arrive, there was no toilet paper in the restroom and the giant jenga games make a deafening noise when people repeatedly lose the game. If you're looking for mediocre food, bad service and an annoying atmosphere, definitely check this place out.
(2)Justin M.
Awesome bar with moonshine! You don't see that every day which is the reason we came in after dinner. Had some moonshine milkshaes (6$ all day on saturday). The Apple Pie milkshake was boozy and amazing while the strawberries and cream which you couldn't taste the moonshine but also really tasty!
(4)Kathleen D.
JJ Bootleggers appears to still be finding itself. It's not like it opened last week, but I don't think it's been on 2nd Street all too long, either. Nonetheless, the idea of a bar that focuses on moonshine intrigued me, and I chose it as one of the stops for my birthday weekend friends outing. They were all generally disappointed with the experience, which is a huge bummer to me. For one, JJs absolutely needs to change the music -- STAT. If you want to be moonshiney, go all out. Don't play Blink 182 club-style on a Saturday night. Get some Country sounds in there to go with the rest of the place. For two, perhaps take another look at the drink recipes. My moonshine margarita was perfectly adequate, but I will say that it reminded me of a margarita I could've purchased at a Chili's -- just less potent. My food was okay. I had the chicken sandwich and I have no outright complaints there. My friends weren't so happy with their dishes, though. Our server was nice and accommodating. I also really liked the bathroom set up in the back. I think this place just needs a few tweaks and I would go back in the future to give it another try.
(3)Bruce G.
Taylor is great! Good choice for food, drinks, and table games
(5)Anupma S.
More like 0 stars UGH SCARRED FOR LIFE. This place is probably cool, at least it looked cool when we walked in on Saturday night. BUT THEN we walked further in and saw a girl giving a guy a lap dance on the right and a bunch of girls strip dancing for a group of guys in the back... Ain't even writing more details. IT WAS SO WEIRD WHY WAS THIS HAPPENING AT A BAR. Bye, Felicia.
(1)Shane C.
Awful service. Went there for all you can eat taco night and was only given one round in over an hour and a half. Also never got any water refills and asked for them 3x. The only reason I'm giving them 2 stars is because the manager refunded us for the tacos once we complained.
(2)Lashonda T.
Made reservations really chill bar didnt really need to though it wasnt busy. The bar was very neat with the mason jars color coded. If you cant find street parking their are garages everywhere. The moonshine is delicious.
(3)Anthony S.
I stopped in here on Saturday night to grab a bite to eat and drink or two. I tried two of their moonshine drinks--the Hillbilly Peach Tea and the Corn and Coke and was actually very impressed with both of them. Delicious, but definitely strong drinks. $10 each is a tad much, though. I'm trying not to eat meat again, so I found the menu a little hard to choose from. I split an order of the pierogies, and found myself liking the sauces (sour cream and another one that was some sort of cherry-based) more than the pierogi itself. I had the veggie sandwich, which was also fine, but I wish it came with a more substantial bread. It was on the same bun as my friend's porketta sandwich, but found my sandwich falling apart. Some real hearty, nutty slices would've been delicious instead. I wasn't too keen on the rest of the clientele there. We left around 10 and it was started to get a little crowded, but I guess that's to be expected in old city.
(4)Chris S.
Just happened to stumble upon this place on its opening night. Instantly fell in love with the decor. It's really cool vibe, southern feel. Blues music, moonshine, really old wood throughout. The moonshine drinks are tasty. I had one and then moved on to beer. Tried a Porketta sandwich and the wings which were both very good. This place is definitely a welcome sight for sore eyes in Olde City. Very cool.
(5)Justin D.
Went in on a dead Wednesday night. It took an hour to make a couple of burgers and a salad. They gave me the wrong order. The salad came out 15 minutes after the rest of the food. The waitress was unfriendly and unapologetic the entire time. I will not go here again.
(1)Daniel S.
In Philadelphia for a short stay, but stopped into this bar for a couple drinks. The AC was nice and cold and Taylor was an amazing woman behind the bar. We had a blast and loved the variety of IPAs and moonshine mixes offered. This place definitely takes me back to my Kentucky roots. I'll be back next week!!! Keep it going!
(5)Jack F.
The moonshine itself wasnt amazing -- especially not when you're used to getting the legit stuff from WV *wink wink*. But the atmosphere was good and even tho it was busy, the bartenders were all friendly, and quick to respond to drink requests. Id definitely stop in again.
(3)Jake E.
I'll defer to Yelp here, as I really can't think of a better description for my dining experience at JJ Bootleggers than "A-OK". I grabbed dinner here after the Grim Philly Pub crawl and enjoyed my meal overall, despite some issues along the way. I would describe the atmosphere as somewhere in between "hip" and "industrial" and it was quite bustling when I arrived around 9PM on a Saturday night. As is to be expected from a popular bar located in a well-traveled area of a major city, there was significant din, both from the patrons and the background music. As mentioned in other reviews, the music is very loud (to the point of being obtrusive in conversations) and detracts from the overall vibe of the place. For eats, I ordered the panko-crusted chicken sandwich, which was delicious! The meat tasted of good-quality and I particularly enjoyed the Dijon mustard they used. My girlfriend likewise enjoyed her bacon cheeseburger, though she mentioned her fries were cold. I found that last part puzzling, as my fries were steaming hot as if they had just come out of the fryer (I actually had to let them cool off a bit....) Portions were sizable enough for the price. For drinks, I had one of their moonshine cocktails, which was fine, but really nothing special. It reminded me of an Applebee's margarita, for better or for worse. Despite the overall decent food and beverages, I found the service to be quite lacking. We sat at our table for around 15 minutes before anyone came over to ask whether we were being served. Shortly after, a waitress came over with menus and place settings and asked if we were ready to order. I found this puzzling in itself, since we had just received the menu and I told her we needed a couple minutes to decide. Our waitress seemed to interpret that as "check back after an inordinately long period of time" and it was a while before we placed our orders. Once we had done so, it was another long while before we actually received our meals. I realize the place was packed and honestly think our table was simply neglected amidst the general busyness of the night, but obviously this made for a less than ideal service experience. Once the food was finally served by another member of the waitstaff (who was appropriately understanding and apologetic), he promptly jumped ship to serve another table without asking if we needed anything. I then had to flag him down twice for the simple request of a bottle of ketchup. I would advise the management to leave a set of condiments on every table to allow the waitstaff to more efficiently wait on tables rather than running unnecessary errands such as this. The other issue which detracted from the dining experience was the absence of hand soap, which my girlfriend noted in the women's bathroom. While there were a grand total of 3 hand soap dispensers in the men's room, the women's room was apparently lacking in the sanitation department that night. We both found this somewhat off-putting, since that meant that no female on the premises (customer, waitress, or kitchen staff) was able to wash her hands that night. Obviously not the thought you want on your mind as you start to eat your meal! That being said, I did enjoy my meal here overall. I have listed the tl;dr of my take on JJ Bootleggers below, and it clocks in as a solid 3-start rating in my book. Atmosphere: above-average Drinks: average Food: above-average Price: average Service: below-average
(3)Nando F.
Well we came in here after the Phillies debacle of being on the bad end of a no hitter. Damn you Dodgers , so you figure you want something that has some octane to it to cure the no hitter blues. Moonshine shots, moonshine concoctions, and more shots was the cure to this ailment. So as we were getting our necessary shots, we happen to peruse the menu to fill a void. I feel in my opinion ordering from the appetizer section is a great way to go at it. This gives you an option to order more than one item where you can pick at things see what works and what doesn't. Our appetizers dishes we had selected were: Stuffed squash~ This was stuffed with shredded brisket , which was pretty damn good. I suggest giving this a try, you'll be impressed by it. Wings~ There were a few versions to go with , we chose to go with "White Lightning" as our flavor. The wings were good in size , it was suppose to be somewhat spicy but never had that kick we were looking for. Tater Tots~ At first when you they come out they are not your average sized tator tot. It is a deep fried mashed potato ball with cheese and bacon (not enough bacon) with a house dipping sauce. These were pretty good, I'd most likely order these again. Bootleggers still being somewhat new has some kinks it needs to iron out. The staff is on point though, making sure you're fully accommodated. The decor of this establishment has a southern Tennessean type of swagger to it. Little odd I thought that there wasn't a whole lot of country music being played, being a "Good Ole Boy " types of places. Our waitress Gina was there, very attentive, making sure we were comfortable. We also met the manager Patty who came to our table seeing we were a lively bunch, harping about the woes of the Phillies. Then there was Bruce, the kitchen chef, the "Don Juan" of the grill, who was wheeling and dealing great meals in that kitchen. He too came out to see if we were enjoying ourselves, if we had any questions or comments. Myself I think that makes or breaks an establishment when the staff comes and interacts with the patrons. They enjoyed our company they brought us out a complimentary Upside Pinapple Cake. Which by the way is a must order, rich in flavor, and sweet enough to make you do a shimmy. In all I, or we I should say enjoyed our time in here. I'd come back in again, now go in for yourself and get you a shot of Apple Pie moonshine!
(4)Rachel C.
Nice spot to get a drink especially during the calm nights of the week (not Friday Saturday and Sunday). Taylor is a super cool server and there is great service here. Definitely coming back too see how the weekends are.
(5)Fugum A.
It started out just fine. We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by a friendly lady who made our drinks and gave us menus. However, when the regular bartender returned from wherever she was, we didn't receive any more service as she spent the next 30 minutes talking or flirting with the one other customer at the bar. I can't comment on the food since we couldn't order. We flagged her down, paid $19.00 for two drinks and left to eat elsewhere. We won't be back next time we're in town as service doesn't seem to be a priority here.
(1)Amy C.
As soon as you come in, you feel you are transported to another time and place. You are transported to the oldin days. The hostess was very nice, friendly and knowledgable. The decor is awesome. What a great find. Moonshine is the main component in mostly everything. How intriguing. I came in during happy hour. Great specials: drinks were $5 wings $6 and pierogies $8. The food was amazing. I had two drinks, the Moonshine margarita and the Smokey mountain sunrise. They were both great. I ordered the asian chicken wings, the fried mashed tots, and the pierogies. Omg deliciousness. 5 stars for food, hospitality and decor. Amazing place. If you are in Philly and in the Old City area definitely stop in.
(5)Mark Z.
Rude bartenders are fun, limited tap list even better, and a bunch of drunk bros is the icing on the cake! I rather not come back here and waste my time.
(1)Nick M.
They offer pretty good specials, the food is always pretty good and served in a timely manner. The servers are always pretty helpful and check in with their customers regularly to make sure everything is going well. Music and TVs aren't too loud either
(5)B A.
Simply put: stay away, many better options. It's a shame because the food was good but the place was WAY UNDERSTAFFED! there weren't any papertowles in the bathroom. The place sorta scared me- the cleanliness. Go else where. They tried.
(1)Andrew B.
It was a nice place to meet up with friends... Not anything special tho
(3)Darko S.
This place is not bad. I was there on Monday night and it was not busy at all. The server was awesome (Taylor) and the moonshine was pretty good as well. I liked it so much that we decided to come back on Tuesday, but it was closed for some odd reason. Anyway, it is a pretty neat place and I would def. check it out again if I was in Phllly.
(4)Kelly F.
Great atmosphere! Friendly bartender/ waitress. Great food. Cheesesteaks were awesome
(5)Randy S.
This joint is the real deal. DARIA ROCKS. It's just that simple: Food? Awesome! Service? Devine!! Drinks? Need I say more . . . MOONSHINE!!!
(5)Paige C.
The moon shine is great and the manager is very nice! They have tons of flavors of moon shine. Mark is very cool and he told us a little about the city too. If your in Philly you should definitely stop by!
(5)Amy E.
Loud but good place to eat. Yummy Mac and cheese with buffalo chicken. Large portions so a good value for the money. Also got an apple pie a la mode milkshake. Yummy!! Wait staff is courtesy nice and quick. Also fun games to play at your table.
(4)Joey M.
This was one of the stops on a Grim Philly Pub tour! If you are into Moonshine you MUST check this place out. I have never seen such a selection of moonshine before. This bar is very large with ample seating and TV's just about everywhere! They served us complimentary wings (they have different varieties) and some fried mashed potato things both of which were good! I also sampled the apple moonshine! It is way too strong for me but if you're into moonshine you're bound to like this stuff.
(4)Ian K.
Ambiance - Very cool setting, really embraced the concept of a moonshine bar/saloon. When we arrived the place was pretty quiet but quickly picked up as more parties were seated for dinner. Overall though was a casual noise level. Service - Service staff was great, very welcoming when we walked in and were seated immediately. Our waitress knew the menu and was able to speak to both the dinner items and cocktail specials. She regularly asked how we were and if we needed anything else. Drinks - Our party of three each order a different drink special. They all were a typical bar drink you would order from any bar but the liquor was replaced with a moonshine. Drinks were pretty good. Thought they would have more of kick to them but overall the moonshine provided a unique flavor on otherwise ordinary drinks. We also ordered a flight of moonshine shots after our meal so we could try some of the different flavors. Food - Our group order the fried tater-tots as an appetizer which were delicious. Our entrees consisted of the meatloaf (recommend by waitress), veggie burger, and the Lightnin'Burger. After ordering I was informed that they were out of pork belly for the Lightnin' Burger and asked if I would be ok with bacon instead. I reluctantly agreed. Friend who got the veggie burger just thought it was ok, nothing special. Lightnin' Burger was good even without the bacon. The remoulade sauce gave a nice kick to the burger. The meatloaf however was not very good. Tasted like a frozen, pre-made concoction. My friend barely touched it. Overall - Our group was pretty disappointed with the quality of food that was served. However the saving grace of the evening was our waitress. She saw that my friend didn't enjoy his meatloaf at all and without us saying anything, comped my friend's meal and our flight of moonshine. Because of her I will probably return however only for drinks and possibly bar food.
(3)Monique W.
So me and my family if 6 just left here and im going this place a 2 star only because my mom like her burger i will not be going back to this place at all the food was ok nothing worth going back for i order all 3 wings and lets just say i money back...the drinks are not strong at all i had to get a beer smh
(2)Chris B.
Awesome old time style bar with great moonshine style drinks! I had the lightning burger and the corn n' coke drink. Both awesome. Service could have been better, but can't complain for a Wednesday. Will return! I had the yelp $10 discount so the owner had to see it. He asked how the drinks were, and I said that the corn' coke could be stronger. He came back with a jar of whiskey and gave me a free shot! 105 proof! He had the bartender make me extra strong drinks for the rest of the night. Overall awesome place !
(5)Alexis M.
WAAAAAAH! They don't sell the cool little mason jars with the bars name on em! Real bummer! Besides that, this place was spacious, and nice. The bartenders were aware and attentive! Not a single complaint.... Except for the fact that they didn't sell those cool little mason jars!!!! Dangit!
(4)Vannessa M.
We were celebrating our anniversary about two weeks ago! It was a great experience and the Bartender was very nice.
(5)Dana S.
Thought this place was solid. Was impressed that there was a decent crowd for it being a little early on a Friday night. It's country themed but had a party vibe. Drinks were reasonably priced which is always a bonus for a weekend night.
(3)Sarah H.
The atmosphere here was awesome and our server, Eddie, was so great. We stumbled in literally off the street after seeing it was nearby on yelp. We were pleasantly surprised by the decor. The bar area was already packed and was pretty loud by 7 on a Saturday evening. We sat for dinner. Unfortunately they were out of the duck tacos but we did get the honey shine wings which you have to try. The sweet potato fries were also good. The shine drinks were fun and unique, we also had apple pie shots. To end the night we couldn't leave without trying the bread pudding and it is definitely worth it..amazing.
(5)Rob S.
Girlfriend and I went here for lunch today and I must say it was awesome. The waitress was very kind and happy to serve us. I had the cheese steak special for 4 bucks and it was excellent. I highly recommend the old city fries! Keep up the great work!
(5)Sean M.
Cool sports bar. Good drink specials. Great Yelp check in special. ($10 of $30 purchase) lots of moonshine to choose from. Lots of TVs not to loud even when crowded. Looking forward to going back.
(3)Lizzie L.
good vibe, average drinks. all sugar for every cocktailk.
(3)Bob F.
My wife and I had reservations at another restaurant around the corner but canceled them after reading all of the horrible reviews it was getting here on Yelp. On a whim, we decided to give JJ Bootleggers a try. We were not disappointed. The moonshine drinks were very good. Nice selection of beer as well. The food was great. We had the tater tots and cheesesteak spring rolls for appetizers. Both were excellent. I enjoyed the Lightnin' Burger and my wife thought the shrimp tacos were delicious. We would definitely recommend stopping in for a few drinks and a meal.
(4)Kristen R.
This place is really great! The fried smashed tots were delicious and the cheesesteak egg rolls looked great! The Shirley temple moonshine drink brought me right back to my childhood, only this time it was spiked w booze! Will definitely be returning!
(5)Thom Y.
The ambience is great. Cool decoration. Awesome music. I had duck tacos and sweet potato fries. Duck tacos are amazing for a first time having duck meat. Bartender was very nice and she was hot! I didnt have moonshines just because I was driving. Only negative thing is that the place had flies!
(4)Kim T.
Friends and I stumbled upon this place one evening. The moonshine drinks seemed intriguing but as it was a school night I just had a glass of wine. The menu was very limited for a vegetarian. The oddest thing for me and probably my reason for such a low rating is that on the way to the restrooms in the back there were chicken wings scattered across the floor. Not ideal for a vegetarian or really anyone! There are just so many better options in that part of Old City.
(2)Kara S.
Fun drink menu, reasonable prices, fast service, excellent food (cheesesteak wit moonshine & lightening burger)
(5)VL C.
I don't typically give out one star, ever, but this place was awful. Ordered an old fashioned and it was made wrong. Ordered 6 shots and watched the bartender pour straight from the bottle (with no pourer and didn't use a jigger) into the shaker which was full of ice. I didn't order them chilled. I told my friend she wasn't going to have enough, because I'm a bartender and could see she didn't put enough tequila in. She came up half a shot short. Instead of putting more tequila in I watched her try to shake the rest of the ice into water to fill it. It wouldn't work so she went to get the bottle. I told her when she came back, "listen, I didn't order them chilled so for the next round don't chill them, it's much less alcohol when you shake it with ice", she replies "I measured 6 shots with this (shows me a jigger)". I smiled at her lie and said "ok, well I'm a bartender and I know it waters it down so just don't chill them next time". She tells me it's $60 for 6 shots of 1800, which is expensive for mediocre tequila, and we drink our half water shots. The place was pretty dead for a Saturday night. As soon as it hits 2am everyone is practically thrown out and the bartender refused to serve anything else. As my friend is trying to order one last drink, a man that was sitting alone at the bar punches her in the arm in a "hey buddy" sort of way. A man punched my friend in the arm....wtf. I tell a guy behind the bar what happened and he tells the guy he has to leave but then let's him stay, without so much as an apology. Pretty sure that place is on it's last leg. What kind of bad hires bartenders that can't even serve shots correctly?
(1)Alison D.
Stopped in because it looked like a neat place to go. I was convinced the music was from my own Pandora station, but then came my bartender. I only give it 3 stars because the worst service in the world was paired with a hard to swallow drink. I'm sure some people would love this place but if you're not in your early twenties slamming shots, go find yourself a nice Irish pub.
(3)Leena W.
Awesome Carmel Apple moonshine! The pricing is typical for philly. We ordered wings and fries as appetizers too. It wasn't bad for bar food. Would recommend to stop in for a drink!
(4)DJ D.
Had restaurant week dinner at JJ Bootleggers last night 1/24/15. Everything about the experience was excellent! Nicely made drinks, I started with the scallop appetizer, had the grilled Bronzino and a delicious deconstructed chocolate cake. Definitely a few steps above "bar food". Also had to try their famous fried mashed tatter tots -- amazingly addictive! Will be back for more, the wing selection looked good too.
(5)Emily P.
Love the atmosphere and ambience of the bar. Food is good as well. Overall great bar to come to all the time. Can't beat the moonshine drinks and flights as well :-)
(5)Lisa R.
This is a great new addition to the Old City scene! We have been here a few times over the past month and have had a great experience every time. The decor is rustic and fun-- the moonshine theme is carried through very well and there is plenty of space for large groups. They play loud, upbeat and fun music all night long. The service was great every time as well-- very responsive, friendly and knowledgeable. Food: The food here is excellent! Savory, delicious and tasty. Highlights include the Old City fries, the Porketta sandwich, and the meatloaf. Our group tried numerous things and everyone really enjoyed their food! You must try the cookie dough dessert as well! Drinks: A variety of moonshine flavors add to the unique-ness of this place. The drinks are all creatively named and delicious. They also have a great draft beer selection, and prices are very reasonable. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the Philly area. We will be making this one of our regular hang out spots for sure!
(5)Lolly G.
Taylor the bartender is super sweet but also suggested a great moonshine. Apple pie. Not too sweet! I went during happy hour and you get a beer (any craft of your choice and a shot of moonshine for $5) This is a pretty sweet deal that will attract some people who are skeptical of this spot as the last place was way lame. There's a cool vibe in here and we were told the moonshine is actually made in Tennessee and shipped up so it's the real deal. I didn't eat here so I will come back to review when I have. Good vibe, great for old city, and something DIFFERENT!
(4)Nicole P.
So I think I may be a bit bias because I do not like Old City. However, I was heading to meet friends and needed a drink first. So seeing all of my options (and not loving them), I ducked in here. First, the place is really nice inside-very cool set up. Second, the crowd was not as "Old City" as some of the crowds. That with the set up made the vibe cool. With that my drink...I had a Peach Moonshine drink made with fresh peaches and it was amazing. Really good. It was a warmish winter night and it tasted like spring. We all really enjoyed our drinks and wish we had time for another. The food smelled good but we were off to the movies. So four stars because I did not try enough but when in Old City...I think it needs another look!
(4)Garrett H.
This was the worst dinner experience I have ever had. Our waiter would constantly ignore my friends and I as he was busy with other tables. The food took a very long time to come out and it was only so-so. They failed to split our check correctly and charged me more than they should have. I will not be returning.
(1)Melissa V.
Stopped in for drinks and snacks. Good service and beautiful decor. The music was good too. The moonshine is smooth and packs a punch. The honey wings were good but the blue cheese was way too thick. Stop in for at least one drink and you might stay for more.
(5)Peg A.
What a wonderful crew works here. Creative restaurant week offerings, beautiful AND delicious. Kudos to the owner and the staff for putting it out there for all to enjoy.
(5)Lina B.
Stopped in on Friday night and let me start by saying, this place is awesome! Good food, good drinks and good music. Even more importantly though, GREAT staff. Everyone was friendly, despite being extremely busy, the bartenders still took the time to explain the moonshine menu and ever offer my friend and I a sample of their apple pie moonshine. Sam the bartender suggested we try lemon moonshine in my yards pale ale and she was spot on! Gave my beer an extra kick with awesome flavor. I will definitely be back on a Thursday to take advantage of the all you can eat tacos :)
(5)Matt B.
I stopped by on a Monday and while it was not very busy I had a great experience thanks to Ashley D. The food was great, the beer cold, and the bartender was beautiful. Not much else you could ask for!
(5)Lori R.
Love the vibe, very different from other restaurants in Philadelphia. If you get anything get the tater tots, they are the best, we liked them so much we ordered another plate. Food was great, raves on the moonshine.
(5)Tony D.
Great new spot located in a hip part of Philly. Really cool bar scene and the drinks are terrific, they feature moonshine! The food was outstanding and a very well thought out menu. Would definitely recommend.
(5)A.Andre F.
The worst service and disrespectful staff. We (african american's) walked in last night asked if they were closing and serving food. Bartender said no but the lady who was then locking up the windows said yes and we aren't serving food. I said well why would you say yes the lady just looked angry. When we walked out upset I calmly expressed my frustration and she said she didn't care if we came back ever. I replied, "Not an issue we won't be back." We are three business owners who understand that one person represents thousands. I hope they close down and an appreciative restaurant opens. We highly recommend Nick's across the street. We had their crushed bacon burger and curly cheese fries and then left there and went to Infusion Lounge. Nice spot and has the best hookahs we have ever had in the city.
(1)Emily S.
I can't say enough about this place! My in-laws were in town and wanted to try something different. Sometimes this can be a challenge, because as a vegetarian, I prefer having something more than just a salad. I called ahead and just so happened to speak with the owner. I asked if they had any vegetarian options; he informed me that they had a grilled vegetable sandwich, but would be willing to make me anything! I responded that I was happy with whatever and that we would be there in about a half an hour. We walked in (and I just assumed that this conversation would be forgotten) sat down and ordered drinks - AMAZING drinks by the way. I asked the server if there were any other options for a vegetarian. She let me know that the owner was expecting us and he had created a vegetable pasta primavera in a garlic sauce if I'd like. She said that as a vegetarian herself, it was amazing! I couldn't believe the service!! Not only did I order this, but after our entrees arrived and we were able to enjoy some, the owner himself came out to be sure that I was enjoying it! It was soooo so good! I have never felt more taken care of! I recommend this establishment to anyone! The ambiance is impeccable and the service phenomenal!! Thank you!!
(5)Gino G.
This neighborhood was a highlight of my Philly trip. We had a great time at this place. Lotsa beers to choose from. Friendly staff and patrons. I had the short ribs and my girlfriend had the meat loaf. Both were excellent. Next Philly visit .... I'm coming back here.
(5)Barry F.
excellent bar....great atmosphere...daria the bartender...pleasant, polite..... food and drink couldn't have been better..and daria made the whole experience worthwhile
(5)Kelly R.
Great way to spend the day! All the drinks are awesome, I love the hillbilly peach tea made by Daria....perfection!
(5)Beth K.
Ate here last night and it was so good! The shrimp tacos were delicious, and the fries with horseradish dipping sauce were addictive! Great drink choices too...not just the usual stuff. I recommend the Shiney Shirley for an adult version of a childhood favorite. Great fun, great atmosphere, and the staff was friendly and attentive. Definitely will go back!
(5)Bruce S.
Jjbootleggers food was excellent hats off to chef santino. The inside is rustic and very cozy . Moonshine drinks and hapoy hours you can't beat . Check out JJBootlegger when in old city phila
(5)