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The Twisted Tail, Philadelphia, PA

The Twisted Tail

4.4 (1616)
$30 and under
American
509 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

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2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 16 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for live music
  • Lively
  • Neighborhood gem
The Twisted Tail is a bi-level restaurant, bar and live music venue featuring a charcoal-fired grill, a wealth of bourbon selections and the rollicking ambiance of a "juke joint" (or old school Southern music hall). The inventive menu highlights ingredients in their simplest form, flame-broiled over live coals for rich, authentic flavor.

Inside a warm, welcoming dining space makes The Twisted Tail South Street’s best place to catch a band - and a bite.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Southern
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat 11:00 am–4:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–1:00 am
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Leo Forneas
  • Catering
    Weddings, Showers, Birthday Parties, Business Events, Presentations, Holiday Events!
  • Private party facilities
    We host lovely events at our bi-level restaurant, bar and live music venue featuring a charcoal-fired grill, a wealth of bourbon selections and the rollicking ambiance of a Juke Joint (or old school Southern music hall). It's a chic and rustic style and allows you and your guests to enjoy the night celebrating, eating and drinking.
  • Neighborhood
    Society Hill
  • Cross street
    On 2nd Street, Between South and Lombard Streets
  • Parking details
    Metered street parking is available in front of and behind the restaurant. The closest available parking garage is located on Lombard Street between 2nd and 3rd.
  • Public transit
    The closest public transit stop is at 2nd and South for the 40 Bus. For the subway, take the Broad Street Line to South Street, or the Market-Frankford Line to 2nd Street.
  • Entertainment
    Free Live Blues Music Tuesday - Sunday
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dancing, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,616 people are saying

The Twisted Tail reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Philadelphia

    Hot spot

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Twisted Tail offers a delightful dining experience with "friendly and knowledgeable" staff, a "creative menu," and an "awesome drink list." Guests love the "cozy ambiance," "live music," and "varied, delicious small plates." Despite occasional service hiccups, the restaurant consistently provides "great food" and "a welcoming atmosphere."
1,616 Reviews
  1. Samone

    Nashville1 review

    2.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    We arrived for our reservation on time but ended up waiting 15 minutes for our table, despite giving us a 10-minute grace period and our card on file being charged if we could not be accommodated due to our lateness. While we waited at the bar, the service was less than attentive. When we asked the bartender for drink recommendations, he simply handed us the menu, leaving us feeling like a bother. The bar wasn’t busy with patrons but he was making drinks for those at tables. When we finally got to our table, our waitress jumped right into her routine, but it felt more like a rushed drive-thru interaction than a welcoming dining experience. She didn’t introduce herself or engage in any light conversation, which was surprising on Mother’s Day. There were long gaps between our courses, and we often found ourselves having to shout out our requests as she rushed by. On a brighter note, another waiter named Daniel was a breath of fresh air. He brought us our mains with genuine kindness and engaging conversation, which added a much-needed touch of hospitality to our brunch. As for the food, it was a mixed bag. The grits, cornbread, and mushroom salad were delightful, but the burrata came with an odd ratio of two halves of bread, and the swordfish was disappointingly dry. The chocolate bread pudding also missed the mark. To top it off, it felt like the staff wasn’t quite prepared for a busy Sunday service. The table behind us, a party of six, had to drink out of paper cups because they ran out of glassware, even though there were empty tables nearby with glassware that could have been used. Overall, our experience was disappointing on what should have been a special occasion.

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  2. Geri

    Baltimore2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was our fourth time, and it lived up to our expectations - actually exceeded them - which were super high - since every time we go it is THE BEST! We love Will - a great waiter!

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  3. doris VIP

    Philadelphia6 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Probably great if not a holiday (Mother’s Day) Fixed price was too much food and very noisy upstairs

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  4. Austin

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Staff is always amazing and accommodating… creative menu and awesome drink list. Great job Cody, George, and team! We’ll be back to our special place.

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  5. Simon

    New Orleans3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The restaurant is situated in an excellent location, making it easily accessible for both locals and visitors. The food is not only delicious but also thoughtfully prepared, showcasing a variety of flavors that cater to diverse tastes. The attentive service enhances the dining experience, with staff members who are friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The ambiance is inviting and pleasant, featuring tasteful decor and comfortable seating that create a warm atmosphere for enjoying a meal. Overall, this combination of factors makes for a delightful dining experience.

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  6. JeffreyC

    Philadelphia3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on April 27, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    Server had zero personality and service was exceptionally slow

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  7. Ivan

    Tucson1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice ambience, I just prefer slightly more light, and the cheese selection was delicious

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  8. Yvonne

    Atlantic City4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    First time at Twisted Tail. 7pm reservations. Immediately sat upon arrival. Experienced and knowledgeable host. 7pm seating. Final plate came to table maybe 8:15p. I prefer the plates to come together but each item came out as it was done. Meaning some eating at the table some not / waiting. Food portions were plenty. I had short rib and sweet potatoes/ mac and cheese. Great with the cornbread. My counterparts had fried chicken, mussles, and crab ale which they all said was amazing. The punch bowls were a great saver for the table. Served about 5 people 2-3 cups of rum punch. I went during dinner hours. I think I will go back to experience brunch and some of the music. Couldn’t hear much on first floor dining. Just minutes away from Penns Landing and south street. Great before and after dinner walking and sight seeing.

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  9. lorna

    New York State9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our visit her was great. The server was very attentive. We have some food allergies so they made sure they understood exactly what they were. First time here and location is so inviting, the food was good. Will definitely return.

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  10. Kimberly

    Washington DC1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The beef short ribs and the fish and chips were delicious. We very much appreciated the attention from waitstaff and the manager. The drinks were well-made and delicious as well. It was my second time here and was again a very good experience. We will be back.

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FAQs

The Twisted Tail does offer delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. The Twisted Tail also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (215) 558-2471.

The Twisted Tail is rated 4.4 stars by 1616 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Philadelphia County
  4. Philadelphia
  5. Society Hill

Make a reservation


Booked 16 times today
Google Map for The Twisted Tail

509 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    On 2nd Street, Between South and Lombard Streets
  • Neighborhood
    Society Hill
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat 11:00 am–4:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–1:00 am
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Southern
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Metered street parking is available in front of and behind the restaurant. The closest available parking garage is located on Lombard Street between 2nd and 3rd.
  • Public transit
    The closest public transit stop is at 2nd and South for the 40 Bus. For the subway, take the Broad Street Line to South Street, or the Market-Frankford Line to 2nd Street.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Leo Forneas
  • Entertainment
    Free Live Blues Music Tuesday - Sunday
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dancing, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Weddings, Showers, Birthday Parties, Business Events, Presentations, Holiday Events!
  • Private party facilities
    We host lovely events at our bi-level restaurant, bar and live music venue featuring a charcoal-fired grill, a wealth of bourbon selections and the rollicking ambiance of a Juke Joint (or old school Southern music hall). It's a chic and rustic style and allows you and your guests to enjoy the night celebrating, eating and drinking.
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