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Romantic joint serving globally accented food & drinks in a warmly lit, wood-paneled setting.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 48 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: (215) 925-2317
Website: https://www.sassafrasbar.com/
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Sassafras Bar | Olde City, Philadelphia
The Grande Dame of neighborhood bars, Sassafras serves lunch and dinner every day with cocktail service until 2 a.m. A classic, cozy bar in the heart of …
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Sassafras | Old City District
A fixture on Second Street for almost 50 years, Sassafras is the Grand Dame of neighborhood bars … Philadelphia, PA 19106. Phone: (215) 592-7929. Fax: (215) 592 …
Reviews
Aneesh Nambiar
The ambience of the place is great. It is a bit congested though, but great atmosphere.
The service and servers were very friendly and top notch.
The good quality and quantity was pretty good.
The alcohol was good and strong
I had the Sailors punch which was a special and it was perfection.
Would definitely recommend this place.
P.S. Danny is just the best.
… moreThe service and servers were very friendly and top notch.
The good quality and quantity was pretty good.
The alcohol was good and strong
I had the Sailors punch which was a special and it was perfection.
Would definitely recommend this place.
P.S. Danny is just the best.
Carl Miller
Amazing atmosphere and great service! The bartenders and servers did a great job explaining the menu, asking our likes/dislikes, and serving up delicious cocktails. There was also live music that was low key but sounded great in their space. Highly recommended by the local bartenders – everyone we asked said we needed to stop by this location and we almost missed it several times just walking but the entrance and not even knowing it was a little gem!
… moreMichael Borst
Jolly time and great vibes. Shoutout to the staff for providing great service. Was the perfect bar while spending a night in philly!! Highly recommend to all! Great prohibition era vibes and live music too boot! A plus
Also the bathroom was such a vibe!!
… moreAlso the bathroom was such a vibe!!
H G
We were convinced to enter when we heard and saw the jazz musicians through the window.
Excellent atmosphere and service, they somehow managed to get everyone coming through the door seated even though it was packed (very quick work from the bartenders keeps a fast rotation).
We ordered mocktails and the bartender, despite the rush, took the time to talk to us about what sort of flavors we wanted in our drinks. They came out perfectly, maybe the best mocktail I’ve had!
The Brussel sprouts were also pretty good and came out quickly.
… moreExcellent atmosphere and service, they somehow managed to get everyone coming through the door seated even though it was packed (very quick work from the bartenders keeps a fast rotation).
We ordered mocktails and the bartender, despite the rush, took the time to talk to us about what sort of flavors we wanted in our drinks. They came out perfectly, maybe the best mocktail I’ve had!
The Brussel sprouts were also pretty good and came out quickly.
Joel Rolon
I’m a big fan of cocktail bars and the style of this one was right up my alley. I sat at the bar and enjoyed a well made classic last word as well as the BLT with the waffle fries. The BLT was nothing special for me but the waffle fries were addicting. The best part of the experience for me honestly was Clark behind the bar with his super attentive service and I learned he’s quite intuitive. I’ll definitely be back and hopefully Clark’s shaking it up behind the bar.
… moreAnna Hoekstra
Im so disappointed in this because I do otherwise like this place.
I went to this venue in January. Clark served me and spent the whole time flirting even once my friend arrived. He made up a drink for me and named it in a way that was super flirty and kinda nsfw. He then spent a week messaging me after putting his own contact in my phone and messaging me straight up sexting, with him sending me graphic photos and videos which I did not reciprocate, as well as just general conversation. Fine by me it was the middle of the blizzard and I was bored until he just stops communicating. I shoot him a message saying if he’s not interested no hard feelings but im done and would appreciate it if he kept it chill when Im at the bar because I do like that venue. I went again to the venue with a friend and he wouldn’t serve the drink without me saying the name of it, which was clearly flirty and also a total power play on his part. I let it slide but also told him I’d like to just be able to order next time without the games. I went one more time with a friend and he would not make my drink without me playing his game. I left after my friend had drunk his drink and clark had made my drink infront of me, I did not get a drink at all just waited on him to make my drink while he tried to shift the power dynamic back in his favor. He even suggested the drink and made it infront of me for another customer, unnaware that the other customer is a regular at my place of work and told me later that Clark told him the story and that he was deliberately messing with me.
I went tonight after messaging him and he again refused to make my drink, i loudly said “so you wont make my drink without me flirting with you even though i clearly drew my boundaries with this?” And myself and my friend left. No one tried to stop us or apologize for his behavior. Hopefully management sees this and stops this behavior as they have lost a solid dozen customers in my friends who all were regulars before this situation.
See my screenshot of drawing my boundaries and him ignoring it if you like. I edited out my original message drawing boundaries because I kept it in the same kinda nsfw energy from our previous conversation to make it less combative.
… moreI went to this venue in January. Clark served me and spent the whole time flirting even once my friend arrived. He made up a drink for me and named it in a way that was super flirty and kinda nsfw. He then spent a week messaging me after putting his own contact in my phone and messaging me straight up sexting, with him sending me graphic photos and videos which I did not reciprocate, as well as just general conversation. Fine by me it was the middle of the blizzard and I was bored until he just stops communicating. I shoot him a message saying if he’s not interested no hard feelings but im done and would appreciate it if he kept it chill when Im at the bar because I do like that venue. I went again to the venue with a friend and he wouldn’t serve the drink without me saying the name of it, which was clearly flirty and also a total power play on his part. I let it slide but also told him I’d like to just be able to order next time without the games. I went one more time with a friend and he would not make my drink without me playing his game. I left after my friend had drunk his drink and clark had made my drink infront of me, I did not get a drink at all just waited on him to make my drink while he tried to shift the power dynamic back in his favor. He even suggested the drink and made it infront of me for another customer, unnaware that the other customer is a regular at my place of work and told me later that Clark told him the story and that he was deliberately messing with me.
I went tonight after messaging him and he again refused to make my drink, i loudly said “so you wont make my drink without me flirting with you even though i clearly drew my boundaries with this?” And myself and my friend left. No one tried to stop us or apologize for his behavior. Hopefully management sees this and stops this behavior as they have lost a solid dozen customers in my friends who all were regulars before this situation.
See my screenshot of drawing my boundaries and him ignoring it if you like. I edited out my original message drawing boundaries because I kept it in the same kinda nsfw energy from our previous conversation to make it less combative.
Kyle Freeman
Cool bar vibe with some relaxing music playing. Really enjoyed the old fashioned and the spicy Paloma. Recommend it
… moreEsmeralda Perez
Sassafras is a restaurant I have wanted to love for years, largely because its reputation and menu promise a refined take on Southern cuisine in a city that could use more thoughtful interpretations of that genre. The reality, however, lands somewhere in the middle. The space itself is intimate and charming, but it often feels dated rather than intentionally nostalgic. Tables are close enough that conversations bleed into one another, which detracts from what should feel like a relaxed, indulgent dining experience. On multiple visits, the room felt understaffed during peak hours, leading to noticeable delays before even basic service steps like drink orders or bread service were addressed.
The food is where Sassafras both shines and disappoints. The menu reads beautifully and shows clear ambition, but execution is inconsistent. Some dishes are genuinely well-composed and flavorful, while others feel heavy, unevenly seasoned, or overly reliant on butter and salt without enough nuance. Proteins have arrived slightly overcooked, and plating can feel rushed or careless for a restaurant positioning itself as upscale. Specials, while enticing, sometimes lack refinement and feel more like test runs than finished offerings. For the price point, diners should expect greater consistency and precision from course to course.
Service is polite and generally well-intentioned, but it lacks the attentiveness and professionalism expected at this level. Servers appear knowledgeable about the menu, yet pacing is often off, with long gaps between courses and minimal check-ins once food has arrived. Requests are fulfilled, but not proactively anticipated, and there is a sense that the front-of-house team is stretched thin rather than confidently in control of the room. Sassafras is not a bad restaurant by any means, but it falls short of its potential. With tighter execution, refreshed service standards, and a more cohesive approach to both food and hospitality, it could easily justify a higher rating. As it stands, it earns a solid three stars for effort and concept, but leaves room for meaningful improvement.
… moreThe food is where Sassafras both shines and disappoints. The menu reads beautifully and shows clear ambition, but execution is inconsistent. Some dishes are genuinely well-composed and flavorful, while others feel heavy, unevenly seasoned, or overly reliant on butter and salt without enough nuance. Proteins have arrived slightly overcooked, and plating can feel rushed or careless for a restaurant positioning itself as upscale. Specials, while enticing, sometimes lack refinement and feel more like test runs than finished offerings. For the price point, diners should expect greater consistency and precision from course to course.
Service is polite and generally well-intentioned, but it lacks the attentiveness and professionalism expected at this level. Servers appear knowledgeable about the menu, yet pacing is often off, with long gaps between courses and minimal check-ins once food has arrived. Requests are fulfilled, but not proactively anticipated, and there is a sense that the front-of-house team is stretched thin rather than confidently in control of the room. Sassafras is not a bad restaurant by any means, but it falls short of its potential. With tighter execution, refreshed service standards, and a more cohesive approach to both food and hospitality, it could easily justify a higher rating. As it stands, it earns a solid three stars for effort and concept, but leaves room for meaningful improvement.
Ananya Vijay
Amazing drinks + huge selection! When we came they had live jazz musicians playing all night and they were lovely.
Our waitress Shay was amazing and so flexible with substitutions when ordering food. They have the most amazing mulled wine too!
… moreOur waitress Shay was amazing and so flexible with substitutions when ordering food. They have the most amazing mulled wine too!
T
I was happy I stopped by Sassafras to check out its charm as I was in Philly. I got there right around when it opened and was able to enjoy the ambiance and a few cocktails. Although the bartenders were clearly well seasoned in making cocktails, I was hoping for a little bit more from both of my drinks – they just seemed to be missing something that made them really stand out. Still was an enjoyable stop for a drink.
… more