A staple in every one of my visits to Philly, they have a huge selection of excellent Belgians, Germans and local. Pack your own 6 or select singles, have a sandwich made at the attached deli counter, then sit down in their self seating area and enjoy. Prices are the only drawback...they are steep! However, they often have faves that can't be found elsewhere, including Aventinus Eisbock and JW Lees Cask conditioned harvest ales...yum. Time to go visit my brother...
Review Source:This was my first stop during Philadelphia Beer Week. What an amazing store for beer lovers. Their selection is incredible with Midwest breweries like Bell's and Great Lakes, but also stuff like Lost Abbey and Port Brewing.
The place is really big and you can grab glasses to enjoy the beer there. One of the must go to beer stores in Philadelphia.
As much as I'd like to praise this place because of their fantastic beer selection and delicious sandwiches-- I've been disappointed too many times. Â It's ALWAYS the tall skinny guy who never gives me the correct change. Â By the time I'm gonna say something, he quickly starts ringing up the person behind me. Â It's expensive enough, I don't need an employee ripping me off. Â I don't understand why he constantly makes this mistake. Â Does he count the drawer at the end of the night and keep the extra $$?! Â Maybe no one is putting money in his "tip" glass so he needs to steal it. Â
I was hoping that things would change because of the new system, but I guess not. Customers should pay attention to the amount they're "not" getting back.
Do you like having a ridiculous amount of options in front of you? If so, The Foodery is the best place for you to get your beer. They have 6-pack cartons so you can mix & match bottles to make your own variety pack. If you want to pick up a 30-pack of Miller or something, you should go somewhere else. They have Miller & PBR & whatnot, but really, why would you? If that stuff is your jam, go to a dirty hole in the wall where you can get it for super-cheap.
There is also food. Not like supermarket food, but a big selection of little snack things. There are also bottles of drinks that are not beer, like juice & lemonade & those Starbucks sugary caffeinated things if you're into that. There is also a deli, which is quality! They use fresh bread & produce & the sandwiches are cheap. You can get a breakfast sandwich for $2, which is amazing. There are also tables, so you can eat & drink all these things in there if you are so inclined. There is also ice cream. Ben & Jerry's selection in a case & pints of LITTLE BABY'S ICE CREAM behind the deli counter!! I. Love. That. Ice Cream. And this is one of the few places that sells Little Baby's pints. 7 stars.. No, all of the stars.
All of those things combined with the fact that they let me walk around in there with my dog as long as he doesn't try to eat anything at his eye level make this a frequent destination for me. It is in a pretty perfect location, close to Liberty Lands Park & The Orianna Hill Dog Park (both great places to have a beer outside) and a bunch of BYOB restaurants. Instead of just 5 stars, I would give this place a whole constellation of stars.
Oh hey, they finally posted prices! High five, plus one star.
It's always seemed easy to "meh" the Foodery because the prices have always been a little off. But the employees are always very nice and it would be sorely missed in Northern Libs if it ever disappeared. It's a staple. I've had some very interesting evenings here. Fresh sammiches, beers of every imaginable kind, and they don't mind when I bring my silly dog in to hang out. Good place to meet up with a bunch of people on a weekday or just stop by to grab a bottle of some esoteric brew with which to impress some fly honey.
Yay beer and sandwiches!
The deli has a great selection of sandwiches. The Diablo and the Club are my favorite. The sundried tomato pesto is wonderful too!
As for beer, it can be a bit pricey for bottles but I'm glad that they have price tags up now so you can at least gauge what you're in for when you step up to the register. Beer tastings once in awhile is pretty great too! I like that they change their selection of beers so I can try a bottle of something new.
They also stock Joe Tea, which I love, but they charge $2.59 for a bottle!! It's just iced tea! I usually get it from Palm Market down the street, which charges like a dollar less.
Went into the foodery to get a snack and saw their amazing beer selection. I picked out a few beers and made a 6 pack. Now, should I have looked at the price? Yes. However I've been to wegmans countless time where they do the assorted 6 pack for 12 bucks, and a few other places similar. When I got to my register the 6 pack rang up as $38. Absolutely ridiculous. Will never go back. Cheaper to drink at the bar.
Review Source:When the Foodery was the only option for AMAZING takeaway beers it was like a godsend, even when the only location was super inconvenient (the 10th Street jawn). When the 2nd Street location appeared it was really lovely to have it as an option for a mix-a-six, or to grab a big bottle for a byo restaurant. Somehow I'd always manage to spend almost $25 per six pack and I'd always joke that I had expensive taste.
Fast forward to now, when we have options- Wegman's, Beer Heaven, Bottle Bar, etc. and that's when I realize that my taste is still a little expensive, but not as much as The Foodery would like me to think. It is kind of ridiculous how much they charge for certain beers in comparison to other places, and that is why people get annoyed with them. The other reason is the lack of pricing. It is always a shock once you get to the register. I usually try to have them price it beforehand, or consult the binder that is either wrong, or doesn't have half the bottles listed for which I'm looking. Â Put your prices in the damn case! I see the same bottles over and over again so I know this is possible. Â
I would give Foodery two stars for the price gauging, but they also have a deli, and I am a sucker for sandwiches. You can build your own sandwich and pair it with a lovely bag of chips and other fun snacks that they sell. I usually opt for a swiss, avocado, lettuce, tomato, pickle and mayo sandwich and they have always been delicious. You can also sit in and drink one of your stupidly expensive beers while noshing on your reasonably priced delicious hoagie.
I'm hoping that all of the competition will force The Foodery to stop being so greedy, or at least to be honest about it with more apparent pricing.
I've heard that this place is overpriced, but I can't complain when I can get a six-pack of craft beer for $16 - which is $2.66 per beer - when the average rate per 12 oz glass at local bars for the same stuff is $6 per beer.
The sandwiches and hoagies are yummy. I love going here for lunch.
It's awesome that they're open late on weekends - it's nice not go have to go into a bar for beer-to-go late at night.
One thing I would recommend is that they update their website more frequently. It's December 31st and the site says they still have pumpkin beer, which was off their shelves a few days after Halloween.
I will praise the fact that they do update the site frequently enough to put up the seasonal arrivals on a seperate page. I knew I wanted a seasonal beer going in today and I was able to google beer descriptions before arriving.
The staff is helpful and knowledgable if you have questions. Once I went in and a staff member gladly recommended various stouts to me when I asked for something similar to a beer I had the night before. They are also nice enough to look up prices, which is nice, but I'm not sure why the prices aren't marked anywhere on the shelves.
I would also recommend the staff smiles more. They're helpful but not super friendly.
Overall, I'm a fan and I would recommend this little market to anyone looking to try different beer or in need of a good sandwich.
The Foodery is really an important take-out store in Philadelphia and it has so much to offer. In terms of variety, accessibility, and just the culture of the place--it is the ultimately beer destination in this part of town. The bars are cool, and sometimes even impressive, but the Foodery is just where it's at in Northern Liberties. You'd be hard-pressed to find some of the stuff they have here anywhere else in the city, and from what I understand the 2nd Street store is better than the one in Center City. It's and important store. And the I think the staff, though generally glum, has a good knowledge of beer that they are willing to share with you, too. Of course, I love going there to do some window-shopping.
Best bottle shop in town, hands down. And the sandwiches from the deli aren't too bad, either! It is expensive, so only go here for bottles you are sure you can't get anywhere else. Employees are people; they can be helpful and sometimes a bit off-putting. I think that's normal.
Im really surprised at some of the reviews of this place. Are the beers kind of expensive? Yes. But unless you're just getting a 6 of Miller Lite, they're worth it (try the black currant hard cider - amazing).
The employees have never been anything less than kind, even when they have a huge crowd. They seem like they actually have fun at work, which is awesome.
They just have basic sandwiches, but everything is super fresh. I would go here over Wawa's pre-formed gelatinous coldcuts any day! Their reaction to my superweird sandwich request was the best: "Alright! That sounds awesome!" (PS: its turkey, cream cheese, romaine and honey mustard on sourdough or whole grain. Its amazing.)
My only small request is prices on the beers, please! I never have any idea how much a mixed six is going to cost.
I've been to this establishment several times and I decided to write this review based on my experience within it last night, during the Norther Liberties Festival that was held on Second Street.
The place has killer beers and a friendly staff. Â I bought a mixed six pack of a few locals like Stoudt's and a few internationals, the names of which I cannot remember, to drink during the festival. Â The cashier-man opened up two of the bottles, one for me and one for my girl, after we paid for the brews!
Later, its staff was kind enough to dig up a wine key as one of the beers was corked. Â It did this amid a sprawling mass of patrons.
I will definitely continue to patronize it.
The Foodery is like that snobby waiter with an arrogant ego but you still feel the need to figure out..
Pricey. Very pricey. Yet, they DO in fact have a rather fabulous beer selection..although it seems the magic number here is $10..how does anything I end up purchasing equal $10?
Again..like that arrogant waiter..this place is ridiculously overpriced..but it's still just so COOL!
The Foodery is not to be undersold. Far more than a happening neighborhood sandwich spot and convenience store, there's a reason why I call this place the "Beer Library of Philadelphia."
Craft beers abound, including cider and some gluten free options, adorn the 6-8 coolers of this place. They have your mainstream fare: Blue Moon, Heineken, PBR, if that's your thing. If it's not, you always know you can grab a fancy 12 oz or even a 22 for far less than your local bar. You can even mix a 6 pack for a 10% discount. More expensive than a case of Lionshead, sure, but it's a great way to try something new. They also have free tastings on most Thursdays, and sometimes promotions are had as a result.
Ah yes, the sammies. The grillmeister here makes a mean panini or cold sandwich. My favorite is their Son of Diablo (not to be confused with the equally excellent El Diablo) which is a chipotle-mayo smothered delicacy of turkey, tomato, melted cheese and, of course, tasty bacon.
The staff are helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. On one occasion I asked, "What's good here? What can I try that's different?" and the gentleman on duty was more than happy to give me some options I wouldn't have considered. On another I bought a gift box for my brother and, although they did not have gift wrap, the fellow working was nice enough to help me cover it in Citypapers.
Finally, if you're just looking for a place to grab a Mexican Coke or a bag of Pirate Booty, they have you covered there, too. The Foodery has it all, and then some.
I love this place and I wish I lived closer. They have great sandwiches for good prices. I adore the son of diablo! It's kinda spicy, but not too much for me. Also bacon.
As other reviewers have said, they have an amazing selection of beers and other beverages. They also have great beer tastings frequently. I enjoy hanging out with my boyfriend there, having a few beers. Â A really nice place, with an inviting environment.
It's a goddamn shame that the city has to resort to bottle shops if you only want beer in non-case form. That being said, The Foodery is a great option for local and craft beers. My biggest complaint is that the prices are way too much and the employees are very bizarre.
I always come here though because I just simply don't have the dough to fork over for a 24 of my favorite craft beers. I would still recommend people Brew down in South Philly over Foodery.
There is not much to say that has not already been said. The beer selection is fantastic, and it easy to get carried away (there have been many times I have spent well over 25 dollars for a six pack)
however, buying beer should be a happy experience....But the staff can ruin it!
the employees that work there suck.
Bottom line.
I am sorry you are 35 years old, and that art history degree did not get you where you wanted. and selling beer to kids half you age was not your chosen career path.
but i hate to break it to you. your poop smells just like the rest of ours. Simple questions (i.e do you have this beer?) does not needed to be answered with such malice and rudeness.
I will still buy beer here. but I wont like it
Now that I think about it, why is it called "Foodery" when I'm (and most of Philadelphia) only going in there for the beer? Maybe a quick snack too, but only while I wait in line to pay because that's when impulse purchases attack.
This Foodery location kicks ass - except its WAAAAAY too far away from my apartment. It's BIG, carries far more beer than their Pine Street location, has a deli counter, and more importantly has tables with chairs where one can sit, talk, and drink. Drink delicious beer amongst fellow beer lovers and then decide its a good idea to buy MORE beer. And drink it. Then get more to bring home, since you also drink beer there. Genius.
For whatever reason, only this location has Doc's Draft in stock (WHY?!) so I always get tempted to stock up on that, but they always have plenty of seasonals and rare bottles in stock - including one that I had on draft at Monk's Cafe that's amazing and really hard to find. I won't tell you which one because I want it all for myself :P My only gripe (which is always the same) are PA's stupid laws and the prices that go along with them. Beer is expensive. But I still drink it, so I'm still gonna buy it.
But they need to get an electronic version of that price list in there STAT since I couldn't find a bottle listed that I really wanted to try, but not without knowing what kind of financial sacrifice I might've had to make. That bottle is still there...taunting me...
I stopped in to this bottle house briefly on someone's errands, and it was quite the first experience. I will need to go back and spend about 40 minutes absorbing the situation.
Huge selection of unique domestics and rare internationals, varying sizes, plethora of tastes. 800+ bottles such as Russian River and Infinium. Very pricey, though... don't stop in for something you could find somewhere else, because chances are it's way overpriced here. IS recommended for trying something new, or looking for a rare gift.
Every time I walk into the Foodery, I'm excited by the well stocked beer selection, which I am confident has been handled with care to avoid any possibility of spoiling. Â Â
Every time I walk out of the Foodery, I feel like I've been robbed in broad daylight in front of a police station.
Why did two bottles of Stillwater Ale cost almost TEN DOLLARS more at Foodery than at a competitor (ahem, Food & Friends) across town? Â I get the convenience factor of the location, and the fact that Foodery started the trend, but come on. Â Maybe the price gouging works on the clueless but I'll mix my six elsewhere.
Being close to a friends flat, We ventured here often and I have missed it sense he moved. Â I love my beer and this place definitely quench my thirst for new tasty goodness. Â BUT, Im not here to review their 3 towering walls of water, malt, hops, and yeast or their selection of healthy snacks, Â for what i remember mostly veggietarian. Â Im here to tell you all about their great sandwich center hidden in the corner, beggin for a second look. Â These tasty creations are served to U by a very courteous gent. Â My fav: S2 Maple Honey Turkey & Cream Cheese: sourdough bread with the cucumber crunch and their cold cuts stacked between. Â These sandwiches tackled my hunger every time. Â
So... Â Yes, the beer is expensive. Yes, the staff could be way more considerate when asked questions. Â But if you want a quick stop where you can put down a great beer and fill your belly. Â The Foodery will never fail.
If you're looking for sophisticated suds that you can take home to enjoy by your shut-in self, or bring to rescue a party with your heroic, good taste. This is the place.
Pros
-Truly amazing selection - local, domestic, international, extra-MF'in-terrestrial
-DIY Six Packs (or more, really...)
Cons
-Gets a bit pricey
-Sneaky tactics what without putting prices on the individual beers and then you're kind of on the spot when charged with a custom sixer in the $35 range. Buy hey, you've got great taste and don't want anyone to see you sweat with sticker-shock or know the real you is a cheapskate, so you pay up and The Foodery Wins (but so do you because the beer is great).
Due to being so used to The Foodery on 10th and Pine it took awhile for me to consider reviewing the NoLibs one as a deli. Grant it the 1st one has the same fab sandwiches and deli counter. But it so small and gets so packed, that the thought of using it for sandwiches never crosses my mind. But with the awesomeness that is the NoLibs location it's a totally different story. Bring on the sammiches!
The Asian guy working the sandwich section was tops. And it was pretty damn tricky choosing what sandwich to go with since there's at least 12 specials and plenty of customization options. But in the end I grabbed a smoked turkey BLT with sharp provolone on toasted white bread. And my eating companion scored a fully loaded veggie sandwich on multigrain bread. So it's not like I'm complaining, especially since you enjoy it with a beer from their vast selection (I love me some Hitachino!).
Yes, the selection of beer at the Foodery is unparallelled. Â They have, pretty much, everything. Â They have delicious sandwiches and a bevy of other delightful little convenience items. Â And the staff is cool.
The only problem (and the reason this review is 3 and not 5 stars): Get ready for $30 6 packs. Â YIKES!!! Â That'll wash that great imported beer taste out of your mouth!
Excellent inexpensive sandwiches, amazing beer selection, and a nice mix of convenience store extras (chips, coffee, etc). Â Staff is friendly and you'll always find a beer nerd to help you there; whether it's one of the staff or a random customer. Â
I'd wholeheartedly recommend a visit with only two caveats: the beer is really expensive, and the deli is slow. Â So, call ahead for a sandwich, and go to a distributor or Jersey for anything bigger than a sixpack. Â Otherwise, the Foodery is a great spot.
Ode to a gourmet convenience store:
Ahh foodery you wreck me. So many good things, so little money. Indie domestic beers, german beers, belgian beers, in row after row of malted/hoppy goodness. You're sandwiches made fresh on the spot are delightful. Your salsa is hot and spicy. Â Your chips are natural and delicious. Your ice cream bars are tasty and full of chocolaty/creamy goodness. Â It is but the bill that is frightful.
Okay, I've only been once, but I think I'm in love. I could easily spend an hour surveying the cases, reading the names of obscure beers, examining their labels, carefully crafting the perfect six pack. Then I could grab a delicious, inexpensive veggie sandwich and sit down to pass a Saturday afternoon with a friend enjoying good food, good drinks, and some crossword puzzles. Oh wait, that's exactly what I did.
I'm not going to complain about the prices- it's worth the money to sample new and exciting beers- but it would be helpful if they were at least posted somewhere, so you had some idea how much that tasty, tasty nectar was going to cost.
I agree that the prices there for beer are a bit high... but go to a local bar and buy that micro-brew from Harrisburg and see how much you'll pay. Â No joke, you'll pay $4 - $6 for a Troegs or Victory at some bar and pay half that at the Foodery. Â Obviously, beer is marked up at bars because people are willing to pay it but the Foodery, as far as I know, is the only place in town where you can mix-a-six with such a great selection... besides the other Foodery in Old City.
In regards to the food, awesome sandwiches. Â I take friends there all the time to try what they have. Â Now they go there all of the time.
the feeling i get when i walk into the Foodery conjures memories of when I was but a wee lad being ushered into, and in a single moment let free from the firm grasp of my mother, the little corner of heaven known as Toys-R-Us. I'd run up and down aisles for minutes, taking it all in.
Dizzy from the possibilities, I would (and still) dream of having 5 minutes, a shopping cart, and no budget: oh, if life could only be so grand.
Yeh, it's kinda like that.
Best place to get take-out beer in the city. Â They've got way more variety than your usual place, so if you like German, Belgian, local microbrews, etc., this is the place for you. Â They also let you do a mix-n-match 6 pack, which is awesome. Â I usually want to buy way more than 6 bottles whenever I go, but I keep myself in check. Â The only downside is that you can easily spend $40 on a six-pack, depending on what sort of beer you select.
Philly would be a sad, sad place without the Foodery... Â I wish I could live there.
Great beer selection, good deli, good selection of upscale corner store grocery items, and friendly staff who don't have problems answering questions. That is what you get at the Northern Liberties location. Yeah, it'll cost you an extra buck or two, but I also know of places that are way more expensive, so I'm not gonna complain about the prices. I'm always happy to stop in here and patronize this place...
Plus, the last time I was in here, I saw hipsters, yuppies, and hippies all shopping here at the same time. Now if that doesn't prove that this place has magical powers, then I don't know what does...
Wait, what? A place in Philly that sells beer that I don't need a college dude to carry out to my trunk because I'm drinking when I should be working out, and thus not strong enough to lift a case? And not just beer, but BEER...the best selection I've come across in ages. Maybe I am dreaming, but this little corner store is too good to be true. Can someone please explain to me how they can do this and not be shut down in a hot second?
Who cares that it's pricy? For realz, I'll get a second job or hock some of my estate jewelry (ha ha) to pay for this nugget of goodness. I am totally in love with the Foodery. Throw in a pizza from Rustica and I am good to go.
The Foodery and I have some sort of weird relationship. Â It's beer is of a wonderful, varied selection and the food is really good but then you get to the counter and that's where it goes downhill. Â
First, you encounter the dead-eyed dude who rings you up. Â It's almost as if you personally woke him out of bed, dressed him quickly, drove him to the store and made him ring up your beer order at 3am. Â That's about how pleasant/attentive most of the help is here. Â
When the attendant does mumble out the price, you may just have the urge to check the paper to see if prohibition was re-enacted and if so agree the rightly justified prices at the Foodery. Â Trust me, it hasn't. Â The Foodery just charges an obscene amount for beer that you can get at a distributor for half the price. Â
But that's the price you pay for convenience, selection, and the fact that our state was formed by quakers and maintained by racketeering jerks.
Ok, so let me break it down.
The Foodery is super sweet because:
- it's only two blocks from my house
- the Pennsylvania buying cases only crap is so effin' annoying
- a 6 pack fits in my fridge and leaves space for groceries (yeah huge stupid case, let me see you do that)
- you can mix and match whatever you want and create your own broken 6
- the selection is overwhelming; you could try something new every time you go
- the deli is super convenient when you need a quick lunch
- it's always super clean
The Foodery sucks because:
- everything is jacked up in price; you're paying for convenience
- the checkout line on a Friday night at 9-10pm can take foreverrrr
- the selection is overwhelming; it takes me at least 10 mins to make a decision
I'd say the Pros outweigh the Cons.
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