The Twisted Tail

4.6

1567 Reviews

$30 and under

American

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 25, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 53 times today

Great for creative cocktails
Good for special occasions
Neighborhood gem

Thank you for choosing The Twisted Tail!

High Top tables are only available on the weekends, and are located on the second floor. They are communal style tables, and you will get to enjoy the band after 8:15PM.

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.

Order delivery or takeout

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 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–1:00 am Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(215) 558-2471
Website
http://www.thetwistedtail.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Leo Forneas
Private party facilities
We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.

Location
509 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Neighborhood
Society Hill
Cross street
Between South and Lombard
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
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Grilled Quail$13.00
Herb Chimichurri
Diver Scallops$14.00
Almond Romesco, Parsley Oil, Bacon Jam
Pork Belly$14.00
Sea Salt, Lime
Grilled Octopus$13.00
Gigante Beans, Chorizo, Pasley Oil
Chorizo Taco$9.00
Tomatillo, Queso Fresco, Tequila
Jumbo Shrimp$12.00
Grilled Pineapple Confit
Lollipop Lamb Chops$15.00
Cauliflower Puree, Parsley Oil

Vegetables and...

Small Plates

Country Ham & Arugula$14.00
Warm Goat Cheese, Shaved Celery, Sherry Vinaigrette
Heirloom Beets$13.00
Yogurt, Candied Ginger, Mizuna
Crispy Flatbread$14.00
Cauliflower, Almond, Bourbon Raisins, Parmesan, Parsley
Lioni Burrata$16.00
Heirloom Baby Carrots, Honey, Rosemary, Candied Walnuts
Gem Lettuce$13.00
Radish, Torn Herbs, Lemon Vinaigrette
Wild Mushroom Toast$15.00
Crispy Pumpernickel, Mushroom Puree, Roasted Mushrooms

Everything Else

Small Plates

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

Plates

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

Sides

Crawfish Mac & Cheese$10.00
Toasted Breadcrumbs
Traditional Cornbread$8.00
Rosemary Honey
Shishito Peppers$9.00
Salted Lime
Grilled Broccoli$10.00
Bagna Cauda, Chili, Parmesan, Breadcrumbs
Crispy Brussels Sprouts$10.00
Bacon Crumble, Bacon Vinaigrette

What 1,567 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Twisted Tail offers a dynamic dining experience with "exceptional" food and service. The restaurant is praised for its "great" atmosphere and live music, enhancing the overall vibe. Diners enjoy the "excellent" brunch and creative menu. Despite occasional service hiccups, the restaurant remains a "favorite" for many, providing a memorable outing.

1,567 Reviews

M
Medina
Philadelphia
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined today
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
I think some of the food I had was really good. The only thing that I had that I would say was very mid was the octopus on the restaurant Week menu. It was very Bland, I had to get it without the chorizo, and honestly, if the chorizo is the only thing that adds flavor to the dish, it's not that great of a dish. The crawfish mac and cheese tastes really good, but it's more like a cream sauce versus like mac and cheese. There's no cheese pull. I took dessert home, and I haven't tried it yet, so hopefully, it's good it looks good. I got the pineapple upside down cake. Also, I ordered the steak and fingerling potatoes medium, and my steak was extremely well done. I was chewing for hours, LOL. Overall, the flavors were great,but my food was not prepared the way I asked for it to be prepared. The charcoal fire dish was ultimately a disappointment for me. I went with some friends, for their charcoal grill dish they got the seared tuna, and the edamame. Edamame was very well prepared and came with some lime which was really good, this year tuna is for very thinly sliced slices of seared tuna that's prepared medium rare So if you don't like raw fish do not get that dish I thought it was very tasty but my friend isn't really a fan of raw fish he didn't hate it but not his favorite thing. For their entrees,they got the raised short rib and the fried chicken. The braids short rib comes with a very limited amount of sweet potatoes but the sauce for the short rib is very good a little vinegary not too thick it's more like a light gravy, but definitely needs a little more sweet potatoes if that's the only side that's going to come with it. The Fried Chicken comes with deep fried sweet potato sticks, I don't think deep frying sweet potatoes is necessary because the fried chicken is already like double fried, but to each his own both dishes were very tasty but very fulfilling all in all I give my experience maybe a 3.5 but you can't rate things at 3.5 on this app so it's a 4.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Antonio
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined today
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 1
I don’t know what happened to this place. We used to be regulars, but not coming back based on the last experience. The food was awful, particularly the meat (lamb lollipops and steak). The noise level was also out of control.
Is this helpful?
J
Jim
VIP
Charleston
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Twisted Tail Was a wonderful experience to celebrate my husbands retirement. We had a large party of 9 and they couldn't' have been more accommodating. The only negative comment is that the hangar steak was a bit chewy. Other than that, the food, drink and service was great.
Is this helpful?
S
Shandala
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The experience was great and the food even better
Is this helpful?
G
Gavin
Philadelphia
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We went for restaurant week menu, and wasn’t disappointed. They offered smaller portions of the main item menus. Definitely worth a second visit.
Is this helpful?
D
Deirdre
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
LOVE THE ENERGY THE ATMOSPHERE THE MUSIC THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS AND SERVICE WAS DELIGHTFUL
Is this helpful?
N
Nassef
Philadelphia
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Been coming for years. Love this place never a disappointment
Is this helpful?
m
melissa
VIP
Philadelphia
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on January 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always a great time at Twisted Tail. We were a party of 6 and everyone loved their meal!
Is this helpful?
R
Robin
Philadelphia
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on January 5, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Drinks were watered down, food was unseasonably bed, steak was like rubber, apple cobbler was not fully cooked and what I was told was chocolate mousse tasted more like coffee/espresso
Is this helpful?
N
Neil
Philadelphia
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on January 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent way to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Dinner was very good and adding the entertainment upstairs was and much appreciated bonus!
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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 4.6 stars by 1567 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 25, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 53 times today

Order delivery or takeout

509 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Between South and Lombard
Neighborhood
Society Hill
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat 11:00 am–4:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–1:00 am Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
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
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.thetwistedtail.com/
Phone number
(215) 558-2471
Private party facilities
We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.

The Twisted Tail

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

From the Charcoal Grill

Grilled Quail$13.00

Diver Scallops$14.00

Pork Belly$14.00

Grilled Octopus$13.00

Chorizo Taco$9.00

Jumbo Shrimp$12.00

Lollipop Lamb Chops$15.00

Vegetables and...

Country Ham & Arugula$14.00

Heirloom Beets$13.00

Crispy Flatbread$14.00

Lioni Burrata$16.00

Gem Lettuce$13.00

Wild Mushroom Toast$15.00

Everything Else

Big Eye Tuna$15.00

Wagyu Beef Tartare$13.00

Oysters On The Half Shell$18.00

BBQ Smoked Ribs$15.00

Smoked Wings$12.00

Scallop Ceviche$13.00

Pan Seared Ravioli$17.00

Plates

Fried Chicken$24.00

Blue Bay Mussels$24.00

Grilled Hanger Steak$29.00

Shrimp & Grits$24.00

Double Cut Pork Chop$32.00

Catch of the day Fish & Chips$23.00

Smoked Duck Breast$29.00

Stuffed Poblano Pepper$23.00

Chesapeake Bay Jumbo Lump Crab Cake$22.00

Braised Short Ribs$26.00

Ricotta Gnocchi$18.00

Grilled Swordfish$28.00

Sides

Crawfish Mac & Cheese$10.00

Traditional Cornbread$8.00

Shishito Peppers$9.00

Grilled Broccoli$10.00

Crispy Brussels Sprouts$10.00

Overall ratings and reviews

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

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information