What a diamond in the rough!
I have been a fan of this old time bar for years! Â They were featuring craft beer long before any hipster of beer geek knew what and IPA was! Â
Bob the owner knows his stuff and makes sure that everyone else behind the bar does too. Â They have always been more Euaropean-Belgian import heavy but that's just fine to me. Â
The food has always been really good bar food and presented nicely. Â I love the homemade potato chips and a simple roast beef sandwich. Â
Always great service in the traditional professionally bartender style that you just don't get anywhere else.
We go hear first when we go to manyunk. Great place for a good beer and the food isn't bad either. But I have one major complaint! The men's room never ever has soap. Now I'm sure the bartenders and waiters and food staff all have clean hands but to think that every guy in that bar on a Friday and Saturday has not washed his hands is gross! I'm not a germaphobe but I'm not shaking any of my friends hands while I'm in there.
Review Source:Bad experience! We walked in and sat at the bar, which was not at all crowded, and the bartender took several minutes to even acknowledge that we were there. Â He continued to talk to someone at the other end of the bar. Â When he eventually walked over he was not only unapologetic but he acted as if we were inconveniencing him by being there and wanting to order drinks. Â Although, I should note that we were immediately greeted by the unpleasant odor of stale beer and dirty bar as soon as we walked in the establishment. Â After, the rude bartender finally acknowledged our existence we asked for menus and went to sit outside because the inside of the restaurant was very dirty, smelly and uncomfortable. Â We sat outside waiting for a server and after more than 10 minutes no one came to wait on us so we left. Â I never walk out of restaurants but this was beyond bad service. Never again.
Review Source:The food here is very good and they have a good selection of beers. It's does have an old school saloon type of feel to it. I've read some of the other reviews and I agree on the bottled water. It is kinda of ridiculous they don't serve tap water here. They do have some of the best wings and mussels in the Philly area. It's chill and I really like the musicians they have on the weekends. It is more relaxed but on nights where they have live music, people do dance and it can be a really fun night. It's a place that I can really have a lot of fun on some nights and on others, the atmosphere can really put me to sleep.
Good - Food, variety of beers, live music
Bad - Does not serve tap water, bathrooms are disgusting, cash only.
Manayunk - Lenape for 'a place to drink'. Apparently the owners of the Flat Rock Saloon didn't get the memo because they DON'T HAVE TAP WATER. Bottled water only? Are we in Puerto Vallarta? I get it - this is the type of place that 'doesn't change for nobody'. That's great and all if you have a decent product, but the food is mediocre and the service was slow, rude, and condescending. Skip it, there are plenty of other better places in Manayunk to give your money to.
Review Source:I highly recommend against going here. If I could have given this place negative stars I would have. Our waiter was incredibly rude. We ordered glasses of water and he brought us bottled water. At first I was thinking, "ok, this guy is not only rude but is trying to run up the bill, that's fine I'll get tap water next time." So we ask him for tap water the next time around and he says (verbatim), "We don't have tap water." What? Is this some kind of joke. There is ice in our sodas and water in the toilets and I'm pretty sure they aren't using bottled water for that.
So we started to make our way through our crabs (that we waited 45 minutes for after ordering while there were no more than 6 other patrons), we started to get really thirsty, mainly because they were way over seasoned with old bay and salt. In an attempt not to overpay any more for my meal I confronted the surly waiter again, away from the table. I said, "do you really not have tap water, isn't their ice in our glasses?" to which he replies, "we have it, we just don't serve it." I asked him if that was even legal and he told me, "yea it's legal, we have been doing it for 22 years."
Are you EFFING kidding me?! Did I just find myself transported to a bistro in Paris where they only serve Perrier? No, I'm in this dumpy saloon in Manayunk paying too much for mediocre food, so why don't you spare me the hassle and bring me a cot damn glass water.
I literally have never tipped less than 15% on a meal but I was determined to do so today. Screwed again. we had over 6 people at our table so this a-hole is getting a very much undeserved 18% tip. I have never been so close to walking out on a check  in my entire life. Oh yea, they only take cash so bring lots because you'll need it.
Do yourself a favor, walk ten feet in any direction on main street AWAY from this place. It boggles my mind how a place like this can stay in business when there are so many fine restaurants in Manayunk.
Oh yea, let me also ad that the coupon for 10% off the food portion of your meal that you can print online is a load of bull. They don't accept it. don't waste your printer paper.
As far as the Manayunk bar scene goes, Flat Rock is not the best it has to offer. Â It's dingy and last time I was there, they were out of everything I had asked for. Â Everything. Â I was hardly asking for a particular type of imported wine or a potato vodka typically unavailable outside of Krakow. Â I will give Flat Rock two stars since Vinny, the bartender, seemed like a good guy but would urge you to check out Kildare's instead.
Review Source:Disappointed to say the least. They have a 'good' beer list, but that's the only good thing about this place. I ordered the American Burger and it was burnt. On the menu, they said it had a tangy sauce with caramlized onions. I did not see any onions or tasted any of the sauce. My fiance ordered the pork bbq platter. The pork looked like throw up and her veggies were burnt as well. The waiter was nice though. Â Their bathroom had no soap in it, and it looked like something out of Orwell's 1984.
Review Source:Its the third time I've been to flatrock and it's always great! They have the best bloody mary by far in manayunk. The awesome bartender with the suspenders makes amazing drinks everytime! Their mussels are also some of the best around. From 5-7 everyday they have half priced mussels and about 10 or more types to choose from. I tried the spicy type and can't wait to try more! Finally, I had the earth burger last night and it was bangin. Perfectly cooked with a mushroom thyme topping, swiss cheese, and miso mayo. Yummm
Will definitely come back again and again!
Having lived in the Manayunk area for the past 3 years, there hasn't been a bar I've been to more than the good old Flat Rock.  More often than not, on a weekend free to travelling, you'll find my friends and I with 2-4 tables pushed together drinking some great beers and singing along  like assholes to whatever acoustic guitarist/singer is playing that night.
During the week it's a relaxed place to get some dinner with a great, warm interior without being super busy, and on Friday and Saturday nights, it's exactly the place you want to start/spend/end the night. Â There's a great beer selection (although recently it's tapered into around 50 beers at a time), regularly-rotating specials (giving you the chance to try beers that you wouldn't normally buy at $6 a pop), enough room for you and plenty of friends, TVs for sports, live music on weekends to obnoxiously sing along to, old bartenders (who wear suspenders and seem like they've worked there since they were 15 years old back in nineteen tickety-two), and just enough outdoor tables (that if you get there early enough to snag one during nice weather in the summer, you feel like the Mayor of Manayunk), and chicks actually go there! Â WHAT ELSE COULD YOU ASK FOR?
(Actually, one thing they could use: Â A more private toilet in the men's room. Â Oh, and a toilet paper dispenser - I can only imagine the poor souls that go #2, only to realize they have to wipe with their shirt/boxers. Â You've been warned!)
Another warning: Â It's cash only, and their ATM has a ridiculous service fee, so Ladies - Bring some cash! Â I can't afford to buy ALL of you drinks!
If you hate this place, I hate you. Â Seriously.
When I was first introduced to this gem several years ago, I was amazed by the wide variety and selection of beer. It was the beer-topia of Manayunk (sorry Pitchers). So many beers to choose from, only so many brain cells to kill. And pricing was reasonable.
In the last few years, the bottle list has dwindled. The crowds have as well. It is still busy, but not the slam-packed bar it used to be. I remember squeezing into this place at 9pm, with no hopes of ever finding room at the bar. Nowadays it doesn't get too busy until after 10pm.
Beer selection is still pretty good. Same bartender. Same food. Mussels seem to be the food of choice for patrons here. Pricing is still reasonable. Cash only. There is an ATM machine in the bar in case one always tends to use el pastique.
Recently they installed a Golden Tee. My dream bar had come to fruition. And then sadly, it was gone last time I ventured in there. I can only hope it returns. There is nothing like playing a simulated game of golf and drinking decent beer.
The Flat Rock Saloon was below average in most respects
Service: We were given a single menu for a table of 5, but, in their defense, it was busy.
Drinks: They had about 5 beers on tap and moderate bottled beer selection. Â They had some good beers available at reasonable prices.
My group was a little annoyed by being given $1 bottled water when you ask for water and charged $2 per glass of fountain soda.
Food: The group shared some wings, which were OK. Â I had a burger, which was 10 oz of unseasoned ground chuck. Â It was bland depite the fact that it was covered with smoked gouda. Â The order was medium-rare, but burger was medium to well-done. Â It tasted a bit charred and something had a funky smell. Â The french fries were undercooked as well. Â Needless to say, It was not enjoyable.
cash only
A great selection of beers both on tap and by the bottle, live music that doesn't make your ears bleed, and no cover will make you smile. Â Food that is pretty much what you expect won't shake this rating. Forgetting that it is cash only might irk you a bit. Â However, the lack any customer focus kept this Saloon from a higher performance.
Other Notes:
1) While prices are reasonable for the beer selection, it isn't exactly Manayunk cheap (again cash only).
2) A slightly older crowd for Manayunk.
Just dropped  in tonight after a trip to Cactus nearby. I was impressed by this place, and disappointed that i was already full when I saw their 1/2 price mussels special was going on. Either way, we just got drinks, mine a bottle of Delerium Tremens and my lady's a draft of Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (and i indulged in a $3 Tullamore shot). At 6 p.m., we avoided any kind of loud, late-night crowd and made note of the deep bottle list, but excruciatingly shallow draft list. Either way, I look forward to commenting on the food the next time I drop by.
Review Source:There are plenty of other reviews, I'm assuming because I didn't have the attention span to read them all, that will tell you the vast selection of what I surmised to be excellent craft, local, and other delicious beers. I, unfortunately, do not have the palate for good beers. I like Budweiser. Yum. But my friends threatened to make me sit by myself if I ordered one there.
So I got a Bloody Mary, one of my favorite drinks of all time. Holy intense experience, batman. Go get it right now. Go when the owner (?) is there, an older man who always seems to be wearing a white shirt and suspenders. It may take 10 minutes, but because he makes them FROM SCRATCH.
Hand trimmed celery. Scooped horseradish. Cracked black pepper. Celery salt. Hot sauce.
That's all I can say without salivating an embarassing amount. Go get the bloody mary! And I guess the ambiance is cool, everybody is chill, blah blah blah.
Bloody Mary!
I have been wondering about this place and also heard about their amazing specials. $19.95 all you can eat crab legs and 1/2 price mussels everyday...I have to try it.
Drag the husband and now I know where to go for my mussels and crab legs fix. We order their Queso Jalepeno mussels and it was delicious. Came with a side of fries and a delicious dipping sauce. Their beer selections are great too.
Hands down, without a doubt, my favorite watering hole in Philadelphia! Â The amalgamation of the food menu, the beer selection, and the staff make this place near and dear to my heart. Â
While living in Manayunk (only 2 blocks away from Main Street) my husband and I would frequent the Rock about 3-4 times a week. Â We now live a bit further away but still try our hardest to get there at least a few times a years. Â It is definitely worth a drive and fighting the hills of Manayunk to be able to pull up a chair at the bar and enjoy the Flat Rock goodness!
Seasonal beers, micro brews, and boutique beers adorn the ever changing and always refreshing beer list. Â As one reviewer mentioned....do not attempt to order Coors, Corona, Miller, etc. Â While the bartenders and staff will try to steer you in the right direction (in terms of beer choice), don't be "that" guy or girl who puts up a fuss because you can't get your Bud Light Lime or MGD. Â Â They also have a full liquor bar.....my suggestions: a dirty Arnold Palmer or the raspberry vodka with fresh squeezed lemonade.
The food menu is a departure from normal bar fare.  Interesting soups, salads, and sandwiches (and rotating specials) come as a pleasant  and unexpected surprise.  The food is always fresh, innovative, and extremely well prepared. Â
When you go try to get Vinnie as your bartender.....he is seriously the best in the biz!
A few other notes: cash only, outdoor tables (in the spring/summer), live musicians, and plenty of TV's to watch the game.
Flat Rock has a true 'Old World' pub feel to it. The beer selection is out of this world and changes frequently! All-U-Can-Eat Crab Leg night is a must! Their wings are also very good but I usually order them for the blue cheese which is absolutely AMAZING! (I keep meaning to ask what brand it is). Definitely a nice casual spot to go on a date or meet friends.
Review Source:The Flat Rock is nice bar to go relax with a good meal and a tasty beer in the evening. Weekend nights can bring in live music and bit of a crowd, but there's always window sills to sit on and walls to lean against until someone clears out. There are food specials here worth looking into, I like the roast beef. The beer selection here is the main draw because it is quite large and varied; every time I go there I can try a new beer. Has that saloon feel with the mirror behind the bar and varnished wood everywhere. I usually go to the back to eat so I never noticed a problem with lack of TV, and suspenders has generally always been friendly, but I've also been there when his service slipped a bit (usually weekend nights). This spot is probably my favorite on Main st.
**Recently came here as the fourth stop in a long night so I don't know how accurate this info is, but last time I was there the beer selection seemed to have been cut drastically..... it could have been them transitioning into new beers, it could have been them limiting their selections permanently, or I could have imbibed too much and created the whole memory..... I plan on looking into it
I didn't even bother reviewing some of the bars on tonight's pub crawl but this place demands a review.
Right on main street in Manayunk. Â The beer selection and the specials are tasty and cheap. Â I am going to have to come back here and try more things off the menu. Â I am only rating this place as a bar but as a bar it is top notch and clean.
I was there on a dead night so I don't know how they manage a crowd but the old man behind the bar was friendly and welcoming.
Top 5 beer bars in the city. Â Period. Â [Edit: Since I wrote this review there are a bunch of new fantastic gastropubs. Â But we'll still say... top 10 beer bars????]
Great selection of rotating beers all the time. Â And C-H-E-A-P to try new and interesting bottles. Â Great food here too with an expanding menu! Â Usually have very entertaining acoustic music acts at nights on the weekends.
Only cons: limited draft selection, no soap in the men's room (gross...), no gun system so if you want water you have to pay for a bottle. Â And the TV quality leaves a bit to be desired if you want to watch a game.
Don't worry about the cons... check it out.
Flat Rock Saloon is a great place to go and "kick it" on a Friday or Saturday night. Â It's laid back, there's live music on weekends, and get this, the music doesn't suck. Â There's a board that's filled with beer specials. Â The prices are acceptable too. Â While there's a significant amount of "dude bros," that's usually counterbalanced with a fair amount of attractive ladies.
I haven't tried any of their food, so I can't comment on that. Â Regardless, Flat Rock is a nice casual place for young single people to drink, flirt, and have fun.
By the way; its cash only, which I'm not a fan of. Â If cards were allowed, I'd give Flat Rock 4 stars, but it doesn't, so I'm gonna be a jerk and knock it down to three (boo hoo).
I literally live two blocks from this place, so resisting their 30 cent wings on Tuesday is a losing battle for me. I am dying to know what kind of blue cheese they use.
Beer selection is great & reasonably priced. They usually have anywhere from 3-4 ciders available- which is nice for me since I don't drink beer. Wish their Lambic was a little cheaper, but I can't manage $13 for a pint. Their burgers are by far the best on Main Street with thick homemade patties & hand cut fries. The lamb sliders are pretty choice, too.
The ambiance is somewhere between your classic pub & a dive bar. My only real quibble with this place is if you go anytime after 7 you'll end up waiting for a table for up to 20 minutes. Oh, and don't expect the bartender/owner to be very attentive, gotta wave that dude down if you want some service!
This is my favorite bar ever. I used to live in Manayunk, about 2 blocks from Flat Rock. My wife and I would go to Flat Rock around 4 times a week when we lived there. We try to make it there around once a month or so now that we moved out of Manayunk.
Their beer selection is phenomenal. You'll see a chalk board full of beers on the back wall, categorizing beers into domestics, imports, and Belgians. And, even better, the prices are super-reasonable. Beers start around $3. They also have several 750ml bottles of beer that you can share.
An unexpected treat from Flat Rock is the food. The ambiance is that of a bar so you might not expect very well-prepared food. The standard bar fare is good (love the wings and the nachos), but they also have more creative dishes as specials.
But, the best, by far, reason to go to Flat Rock is Vinnie the bartender. Vinnie is great.
Flat Rock gets very crowded on weekend nights (and on some weekdays), so you might want to get there early to get a seat. Also, as anywhere in Manayunk, parking can be an issue, especially on the weekends.
Most importantly: 1) Flat Rock is cash-only and 2) Do not attempt to order a Coors Light here.
I love Flat Rock! Â Theirs no cover to get in unlike many other Manayunk Bars and they have beers that you have never even heard of on tap at a resonable price. Â The best part is the live music that everyone loves to sing a long to while throwing back a couple. Â One negative: does not accept credit cards, but its only a minor thing...
Review Source:My favorite bar in Manayunk. I love the fact you cannot order a Miller Lite here :)
They have such a huge selection of beer and at great prices. When you go check out the chalkboards for the specials. I usually just work my way down the list! Most of the time you can get some good beers for only $2! They also have live music later at night.
By the way its Cash only.
Flat Rock is a very laid back bar with a great beer selection. Â I've been to most of the bars in Manayunk numerous times, and this is where I come when I just want to have a couple good beers with friends. Â It's a great Thursday night bar... not too crowded, not too crazy. Â Weekends they have a guy play cover songs on acoustic guitar which is a nice touch. Â And there are good beer specials, usually $3 or $4. Â Did I mention the beer selection is awesome?
Review Source:Went to Flat Rock to meet some friends for a brew on a Friday night. FRS isn't the type of place I would usually goto but I really enjoyed myself. They have an amazing selection of micro-brews and I noticed their bartenders were especially knowledgeable about them. I had not heard about some of them and asked about them and both of the 'tenders had a lot to say, and upon their recommendations I was very impressed.
On this particular night they had a guy on acoustic guitar playing some phenomenal covers of Sublime, Marley, etc. Lets just say we went there with the intention of having one beer and moving on and we ended up staying all night.
I love this bar.
Outstanding selection of beers. Great service. Happy people. Tasty food. Good music. Fun times.
When you consider your other options in Manayunk, like, oh, say, the Manayunk Brewery, which has pretty much the worst beer on the planet, Flat Rock looks even better. Even when this place is crowded, I still seem to have a good time here, which is a testament to the vibe this place exudes.
It tends to be a young crowd here, but it's not to say you couldn't saddle up to the bar or grab a table with a few friends even if you're about to hit the big 3-0 like me.
A quick note... last time I checked it was cash only, but there's ATM's all over Main St., so that shouldn't be an issue...
This is a great bar to grab a beer. Â There selection is pretty awesome with a wide variety of micro-brews. Â Definitely one of the better beer bars around. Â With its laid back crowd It's one of the few bars in Manayunk that makes you forget that your in Manayunk. Â Prices are very reasonable and the specials include good beers.
Review Source:
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