The Twisted Tail

4.5

1598 Reviews

$30 and under

American

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 31, 2025

March 2025

7:00 p.m.

Booked 8 times today

Great for live music
Charming
Great for creative cocktails

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, Regional 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
(215) 558-2471
Website
http://www.thetwistedtail.com/
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.

Location
509 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Neighbourhood
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

Grilled QuailUS$13.00
Herb Chimichurri
Diver ScallopsUS$14.00
Almond Romesco, Parsley Oil, Bacon Jam
Pork BellyUS$14.00
Sea Salt, Lime
Grilled OctopusUS$13.00
Gigante Beans, Chorizo, Pasley Oil
Chorizo TacoUS$9.00
Tomatillo, Queso Fresco, Tequila
Jumbo ShrimpUS$12.00
Grilled Pineapple Confit
Lollipop Lamb ChopsUS$15.00
Cauliflower Puree, Parsley Oil

Vegetables and...

Small Plates

Country Ham & ArugulaUS$14.00
Warm Goat Cheese, Shaved Celery, Sherry Vinaigrette
Heirloom BeetsUS$13.00
Yogurt, Candied Ginger, Mizuna
Crispy FlatbreadUS$14.00
Cauliflower, Almond, Bourbon Raisins, Parmesan, Parsley
Lioni BurrataUS$16.00
Heirloom Baby Carrots, Honey, Rosemary, Candied Walnuts
Gem LettuceUS$13.00
Radish, Torn Herbs, Lemon Vinaigrette
Wild Mushroom ToastUS$15.00
Crispy Pumpernickel, Mushroom Puree, Roasted Mushrooms

Everything Else

Small Plates

Big Eye TunaUS$15.00
Wonton Cups, Chili Oil, Avocado, Cucumber, Sesame
Wagyu Beef TartareUS$13.00
Capers, Cornichons, Grilled Bread
Oysters On The Half ShellUS$18.00
Vodka Cocktail Sauce, Mignonette, Hot Sauce
BBQ Smoked RibsUS$15.00
Bourbon, Maple, Celery Slaw
Smoked WingsUS$12.00
BBQ Spice, Buttermilk Dill Dressing
Scallop CevicheUS$13.00
Jalapeno, Tomato, Citrus, Truffle, Crispy Corn Chips
Pan Seared RavioliUS$17.00
Spinach, Ricotta, Sage, Brown Butter

Plates

Fried ChickenUS$24.00
Rosemary-Honey, Sweet Potato
Blue Bay MusselsUS$24.00
Tomato Broth, Scallions, Crispy Bread
Grilled Hanger SteakUS$29.00
Fingerling Potatoes, Shishito, Chimichurri, Truffle Vinaigrette
Shrimp & GritsUS$24.00
Bacon Vinaigrette, Scallions
Double Cut Pork ChopUS$32.00
Roasted Sweet Potato, Brussels Leaves, Honey Mustard
Catch of the day Fish & ChipsUS$23.00
Garlic Parmesan Chips, Malt Mayo, Malt Vinegar, Tartar
Smoked Duck BreastUS$29.00
Kabocha Squash Puree, Candied Figs, Duck Jus
Stuffed Poblano PepperUS$23.00
Asian Pear, Apple, Coconut 'Sour Cream', Avocado, Pecan
Chesapeake Bay Jumbo Lump Crab CakeUS$22.00
Bell Pepper, Mustard, Turnips, Cornflakes
Braised Short RibsUS$26.00
Sweet Potato Puree, Horseradish Gremolata, Broccolini
Ricotta GnocchiUS$18.00
Basil Puree, Toasted Pine Nuts, Wild Mushrooms, Parmesan
Grilled SwordfishUS$28.00
Eggplant Caponata, Pine Nuts, Raisins, Herb Gremolata

Sides

Crawfish Mac & CheeseUS$10.00
Toasted Breadcrumbs
Traditional CornbreadUS$8.00
Rosemary Honey
Shishito PeppersUS$9.00
Salted Lime
Grilled BroccoliUS$10.00
Bagna Cauda, Chili, Parmesan, Breadcrumbs
Crispy Brussels SproutsUS$10.00
Bacon Crumble, Bacon Vinaigrette

What 1,598 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.5Service
4.6Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Philadelphia
Hot spot

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Twisted Tail offers a charming ambiance with "cozy downstairs" and "romantic" upstairs featuring live music. Guests praise the "great food" and "incredibly awesome" service, highlighting standout dishes like crawfish mac and cheese, pork belly, and chicken and waffles. Ideal for date nights or lively gatherings, its welcoming atmosphere and attentive staff ensure memorable experiences.

1,598 Reviews

B
Bruce
Philadelphia21 reviews
4.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
Third time my wife and I have been there - VERY noisy, but the small plates are outstanding with one exception - the octopus - still tastes very good but for the price paid, not much octopus and alot of greens. Otherwise the food is outstanding and the service is OK for the number of servers and the amount of guests. Upstairs where the band is playing is even louder - so we sit downstairs and talk loudly to hear each other. Nice place for an occasional dinner.
Is this helpful?
M
Melissa
Philadelphia5 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 23, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We enjoyed a really delicious meal. And the musical entertainment was lots of fun.
Is this helpful?
RS
RobS VIP
New York City44 reviews
4.0
Dined on March 22, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Had a very nice dinner but there was barely 4 tiny pieces of octopus in the octopus salad, it was not worth the price and seemed very chintzy and left an overall disappointment with the meal.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas15 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 20, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We absolutely loved this place. If you google “fun restaurants in Philly” this was in the top search results!
Is this helpful?
AK
AmyK
Atlanta2 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 20, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Good night… Great food, and incredibly awesome live music!
Is this helpful?
JF
JulieF
Philadelphia8 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Daniel, our waiter, did a wonderful job making us feel at home bringing us delicious food while being very kind and considerate throughout. You can count on the twisted tail for a delicious brunch in a warm environment. Head House Square is just outside, with its active farmers market, great bars, and beautiful houses to look at in Society Hill.
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B
Bea
Orange County2 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We went here for brunch. The gritz and crawfish mac and cheese were amazing. I ordered the chicken and waffles for my entree and there was an issue with the waffle maker where the waffle didn’t come out crispy enough. It truly was not a problem on my end but the staff were so kind to comp the meal for me and brought us out a complimentary crème brûlée French toast for the mistake. A very unexpected but a very sweet gesture. Such great service and hospitality!!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia3 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a wonderful time! Celebrating 🍾 🍾 🍾 hubby birthday 🎂 and the band was great! South Philly represented
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D
David VIP
Philadelphia63 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was our 4th visit to Twisted Tail and it was as good as ever. No entrees, but had several apps and small plates. Highlights were the baby lettuce salad, pork belly, and ravioli in brown butter. Just great food. Drinks were terrific. Service was good. The welcome upon arrival always makes us feel special. Not sure why other restaurants can’t do that. Twisted Tail is consistently terrific.
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C
Chris VIP
Philadelphia18 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was delicious, the bartenders made great mixed drinks, and Daniel, our server, had great recommendations for which food to try.
Is this helpful?

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 4.5 stars by 1598 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Booked 8 times today

509 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross Street
On 2nd Street, Between South and Lombard Streets
Neighbourhood
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, Regional 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

Website
http://www.thetwistedtail.com/
Phone number
(215) 558-2471
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.

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat

The Twisted Tail

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

From the Charcoal Grill

Grilled QuailUS$13.00

Diver ScallopsUS$14.00

Pork BellyUS$14.00

Grilled OctopusUS$13.00

Chorizo TacoUS$9.00

Jumbo ShrimpUS$12.00

Lollipop Lamb ChopsUS$15.00

Vegetables and...

Country Ham & ArugulaUS$14.00

Heirloom BeetsUS$13.00

Crispy FlatbreadUS$14.00

Lioni BurrataUS$16.00

Gem LettuceUS$13.00

Wild Mushroom ToastUS$15.00

Everything Else

Big Eye TunaUS$15.00

Wagyu Beef TartareUS$13.00

Oysters On The Half ShellUS$18.00

BBQ Smoked RibsUS$15.00

Smoked WingsUS$12.00

Scallop CevicheUS$13.00

Pan Seared RavioliUS$17.00

Plates

Fried ChickenUS$24.00

Blue Bay MusselsUS$24.00

Grilled Hanger SteakUS$29.00

Shrimp & GritsUS$24.00

Double Cut Pork ChopUS$32.00

Catch of the day Fish & ChipsUS$23.00

Smoked Duck BreastUS$29.00

Stuffed Poblano PepperUS$23.00

Chesapeake Bay Jumbo Lump Crab CakeUS$22.00

Braised Short RibsUS$26.00

Ricotta GnocchiUS$18.00

Grilled SwordfishUS$28.00

Sides

Crawfish Mac & CheeseUS$10.00

Traditional CornbreadUS$8.00

Shishito PeppersUS$9.00

Grilled BroccoliUS$10.00

Crispy Brussels SproutsUS$10.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does The Twisted Tail offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is The Twisted Tail restaurant rated?

Is The Twisted Tail currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information