Le Cochon Noir

While four stars may be over the top, I rate this restaurant/​venue according to Customer Satisfaction and for the Vision of the proprietor! It doesn’t matter when I visit Le Cochon Noir, I know that the food will be amazing and the Music will be rockin’! The proprietor, Mr. Jamal Parker is an exceptional host, who makes sure that all of your accommodations are met! After being a vegetarian for nearly 30 years, I chose to put fish back in my diet, so I can attest to their Scottish Salmon as being the most tender, «seasoned to perfection,» piece of fish I have EVER tasted. Every time I have visited, which is at least once a month, I work my way through every side dish. Their mac & cheese, cornbread, and cole slaw just gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling. So much so, I am usually too full for dessert! On occasion, I’ve had Mr. Parker even prepare a Banana Foster/​Flambé (not sure) right at my table!
But now for the music… Do you have any idea as to the Legacy of Jazz in Philadelphia? Well, Jamal and MacKenzie Parker, do! I cannot begin to tell you who this club has featured within its 4 walls without sounding like a Jazz Reviewer, but here goes… Piano prodigy and Internationally sought-​after musician Orrin Evans-​who has been reviewed in every Jazz magazine (online to print); Philadelphia’s première/​Jazz Organ Trio, THREE BLIND MICE– with Victor North, Lucas Brown and Wayne Smith, Jr.; Philadelphia Legend, Vocalist, Denise King, who has been nominated for a Grammy in France, Vocalists Suzanne Burgess as well as the Shakera Jones Quartet; Lucas Brown’s Trio, SKYLINE, and one of the restaurants first bands booked on a regular basis– LXG, led by Bassist, Jonathan Michel. Trust me, this list continues in a most impressive manner!
As for the vision… It is very inspiring when someone tries to elevate a quality of life, in what is considered a challenging area. I have read reviews about how challenging it is to find the venue, but if a cab driver can’t find THE MANN MUSIC CENTER, or FAIRMOUNT PARK, (both Philadelphia Landmarks) then don’t tip the cab driver! Le Cochon Noir is across the street. You will NEVER, EVER find parking more accessible than right on Parkside Avenue. And it’s FREE! I’m in Center City for most of the week, supporting the Jazz Culture and I live in Delaware County. And parking IS NOT FREE! Okay, so while I may not be a typical patron in that I really look for the all of the music in Philadelphia, it is an easier journey for me to hit Le Cochon Noir than head into Center City! As for being dark, the building was once a warehouse, so yes it is. Perhaps with greater patronage, the investment of a more prominent sign could be in the works. The priority now, is FOOD and ENTERTAINMENT! I have dined at places in South Philly that looked like only a recessed doorway without a sign, but I liked the food! And if you’re from out of town and say you can navigate the triangular streets in S. Philly… you’re a storyteller! If you’re a «foodie,» you give a venue a chance! You are seeking that adventure! You are also exploring the culture of any city.
Service would be the ONLY area in which any venue can improve. I hate to belabor this but, there’s a revolving door of finding good help, and that will always be in the restaurant business. Location has no monopoly on confused or slow service. Once again, steady patronage improves that! I have witnessed parties of 10 – 20 people making extraordinary demands on their server and then not tipping, but complaining instead. I have never experienced the slow service, personally. But experience is a TWO-​WAY STREET! If you like great food and LIVE Blues or Jazz Music, Le Cochon Noir is a great choice!
The vision anyone fosters in bringing a unique dining experience worth remembering to an area that typically has the traffic flow in and out of the Mann Center, never to be seen until the next concert, is more than just admirable. The Parkers share a vision of helping the community and the City at large by providing a service that genuinely uplifts the spirit and says, «There’s Hope For our Town, our Community-​we have something to offer, we matter!»
Jamal Parker is no «newbie» to this business. He comes form a lineage of food service and understands the challenges of this business. But because he’s been weaned on this, he lives for the challenge and is also a collaborator who shows up on the scene to support other venues and its musicians. I would give Le Cochon Noir 5 stars, but the few times I’ve spoken with Jamal, I know him as a man of integrity. I believe he would say that there is always someplace to GROW!
Jamal Parker is one of a handful of Entrepreneur/​Proprietors in this town that take chances, make sacrifices and have enough passion to just keep this scene of great food and LIVE MUSIC going!!! I have no doubt you will hear more of Le Cochon Noir and his vision in due time…
Sista In The Front
Rhenda Fearrington

Awful, just awful. Why did I go back? Why didn’t I check recent Unilocal reviews? The last 3 reviews and my original review say it all. Oh, and why in the world did I give them 2 stars the first time?
Also, don’t put a lot of stock in the some of previous positive reviews — there likely fake. Some of the 5 star reviewers only have one or 2 reviews — a sure sign of someone creating multiple Unilocal accounts to boost their ranking. Just saying.

I read the reviews of the other diners but I had a very different experience on Feb 18^th, 2012. I was attending a meet up with the Philly Blues group to see the Dukes of Destiny Two tables were set up for our group. There was another larger group attending a birthday ahead of us. Well they must of ate all the food because they ran out of brisket and and hamburger rolls. The waitress was unable to handle that large of a table, the manager kept making excuses for poor service and lack of food. The bar is a joke they pour mixers out of cans and the Oh did i mention the manager canceled my Open table reservation? Guess he did not want the review

From the other reviews listed, it makes me wonder if I was attending the same establishment. Tonight would have served a twofold purpose, as I was researching this venue as a potential place for an upcoming event and seeing a concert.
First of all, if you are unfamiliar with the area, this place is hard to locate especially in the dark. Spacious and artfully decorated from the red, white and black motif to the jazz artwork in the hall preceding the unisex bathroom along with its open kitchen should lend a good atmosphere to this place and that’s where the good stops. It was all downhill after that!
We were attending a Blues concert and had 2 tables reserved. From all appearances, the waitress was overwhelmed. It took her 20 minutes to even acknowledge I was there and ready to order. I asked her if I could place my order with her and she said that she would be right back after dashing off. She came back another 15 minutes later with an order for someone else and only after I got her attention again, did she remember that I did want to place an order. I ordered the beef brisket sandwich but was told a few minutes later by her that «we are out of the brisket… would you like something else?» Since I had already been waiting close to 45 minutes and was famished I opted for a second choice of The Cochon Burger. Lightning strikes yet again, as she returns minutes later to tell me that NOW they were out of buns.
How in the he– can you run out of both buns and brisket on a Saturday night with a supermarket right around the corner and it’s still early? At this point, I wanted answers and proceeded to the open kitchen to ask why but was thwarted at the pass by the «owner» who asked if he can help me.
I proceeded to inform him of what had transpired up to this point. His «excuse» was… we only serve fresh individual orders, not pre made beforehand and/​or frozen and that there was a large party that «apparently» ate up the inventory. To add insult to injury, as I was at the open kitchen, I saw 2 orders of the exact same brisket I had ordered coming out along with the elusive burger buns on the Cochon Burger and inquired about them. His answer — apparently they were ordered before yours. Is there anything else we can get for you? At this point now, I am steamed and returned back to my table to make my departure.
Now how can you run a business, have 2 large parties going on and not enough food to serve them? As an astute businessman, you should anticipate what you will need for the evening.
After such a rotten evening of food or lack thereof, atrocious customer service and bungling, needless to say, I will NOT be returning to this venue for any reason.
If I could have given them a half star, I would!

I have been wanting to check out this place for awhile. I had a few friends come out of town this weekend and based on the many reviews I was curious to see what Le Cochon had to offer. So off we went.
Pros
Ambiance was a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed the exposed brick and the many different pieces of art hanging on the walls. I felt like I was at a jazz club and the fact that it was a restaurant with great food was an added bonus.
The servers and greeters were EXTREMELY attentive. When it came to drinks needing to be refilled, plates needed to be taken away and bringing the check. The servers were on point with absolutely no slip ups. They were very attentive but not in an annoying manner. Never did I feel I was being imposed by the servers. There was a good balance there. The service was great, I can’t say this enough!
The restaurant was spacious, situated in an old warehouse. I really liked the feeling of bountiful space. I don’t liked to feel crowded in tight spaces so this worked for me.
I was certainly appreciative the owner was the first person to greet us, he checked on our table to make sure everything was running smoothly throughout the evening and got on stage to acknowledge/​recognize birthdays/​birthday celebrations that evening. I was impressed to see the owner be so visible with ensuring the everyone was content with the level of service they were being provided throughout the evening. This won major points with me. The personal touch was noticed and definitely appreciated.
Cons
First off, at night. If one is unfamiliar with the area and is going there for the first time one would have a hard time locating the restaurant. We ended up passing this restaurant a couple of times because there weren’t any bright/​noticeable signs. A bright neon sign of their logo would have been nice.
Some of the entrée dishes are a bit pricey, but given the quality of the meat I didn’t mind. What I didn’t particularly care for were the side dishes they were being stingy with. The side dishes (that accompanied the meal) were the equivalent of baby jar portions and for someone who is looking to be fed, this wasn’t a good look. Everyone in my company agreed there could have been A LOT more added to the side dishes for the price that was being spent on the meal
This was the biggie. Apparently when there is a live band performing, they charge a $ 10 entertainment fee (per person). I was not informed of this upon entering the restaurant by the greeter, by the server, nor were there any visible signage that disclosed this information. Needless to say, we were unpleasantly surprised when we received the bill to notice a $ 30 entertainment fee had been added to our bill for that evening (this left a very nasty taste in my mouth). I was not a happy camper having to find out this way and on my check of all places. This should have been told to us upon entering the establishment.
Lastly, not sure if we were suppose to be given cornbread as a complimentary start to the meal, but cornbread we did not get.
All in all, I am not sure I would frequent this establishment as I am a vegetarian and there weren’t that many options for me, but if someone is in the mood for some good olé bbq in a sit-​down restaurant setting, this would be a good option. Be prepared to pay the $ 10 entertainment fee per person if there is a live band performing.

Like other reviewers, I think Le Cochon Noir is a stellar find, and you’ll have a great time here, guaranteed. We happened to go on an evening that saw a (probably) once-​in-​a-​lifetime pairing of a harmonicist, Larry Wise, who has been around for a lonnnng time, and an area jazz band, the Philadelphia Blues Messengers, that backed Wise up. First time pairing, first class blues.

I never do 5 stars, but because this place offers great BBQ and fantastic live music, I had to do it. Now and again the food can use help, and sometimes the servers are not as great as they could be — but overall, this place is really excellent. The ribs are amazing. I think some other reviewers had some specific style in mind, and these ribs just didn’t meet their expectation. These are dry-​rubbed, and served with great sauce. The flavor is amazing and they are as tender as you would want them. The sides are good, mac and cheese, collards, etc… and the cornbread is fair.
The key is the music, the great art on the walls, and Jamal doing whatever he can to make your experience memorable.
Forget that you are out on the outskirts of the city, forget that you could barely see the sign, chalk it up to characteristics of a good jazz spot.
GET HERE NOW.

Don’t let the mention of barbecue conjure an image of something rustic. Le Cochon Noir is an unusual mix of great barbecue and great music with more the atmosphere of a night club or nice restaurant than a rib joint. The ribs are delicious and perhaps the meatiest that you are likely to find anywhere and you can have a dessert like bananas foster to finish. Huge booths with high backs can seat at least six comfortably. They also have a full bar, good service, lighted parking outside the front door, and everything else you could want for a pleasant visit. Proximity to the Mann Music Center in Fairmont Park makes it a convenient stop before a concert. I only wish they would push ahead their plans to have beer as well as mixed drinks and wine. They might have a $ 10 entertainment charge after 8PM, but the food prices are so reasonable you probably won’t mind. Can’t wait to go back.

The first thing I noticed about this restaurant was its awkward floor plan and decorative aspects, but I chalked it up to the restaurant’s newness. I imagine that this will come together as time goes on, and not give the impression of a warehouse with blue walls with some paintings slapped on. Overall, the atmosphere of the place is laid-​back. My friends and I were promptly seated and introduced to the most amazing server! We ordered burgers (medium rare) and mac n’ cheese, as well as a few rounds of drinks. The drinks were fine, but our food wasn’t. The burgers were well-​done, and the mac n’ cheese didn’t have much taste. Even still, I enjoyed the night because of the music, as well as our server’s wonderful personality. I appreciate any venue that supports live music, especially jazz, but I was disappointed with the quality of the food, and subsequently, the price! I will most certainly patronize them again, but I may eat before I go or try a different dish.

Five Stars for Food!
Five Stars for Music!
Three Stars for Sound!
Four Stars for Service!
Four Stars for Ambiance!
I gave this business five stars because it really deserves your support in light of its out of the way location. Any place that features quality live jazz and great food is my kind of place, and the music here was terrific – some of the best young local Philly jazz musicians. For those who don’t know – philly has a great local jazz scene, and Le Cochon Noir is part of it.
The barbeque is the best I’ve had outside of Texas – Salt Lick outside of Austin has nothing to worry about – but I don’t know of a better place in Philly or anywhere in the Northeast (We had ribs and brisket). Go for the food even if the music leaves you cold. The pork ribs were the meatiest, most tender and moist and among the most delicious ever eaten.
The room and the sound — now there’s the rub. A great jazz room should have great sound. The space is warehouse like – cavernous. Special attention needs to be paid to the sound in a place like this – and it isn’t happening. The musicians need monitors so they can hear each other, someone needs to adjust the balance. When we were there, the piano was way too soft relative to the drums and bass. Even with meticulous sound, the room will have problems – but they can do much better.
The service was attentive, but the place attracts large parties (probably because the prices are so reasonable). If you find yourself in the order queue behind a large party, you’ll wait a while for your order. The food was worth the wait, and the portions are generous. Come hungry!
Ambiance. They have changing artwork for sale on the walls. It gives the place another artsy dimension. We liked it.
I’m a low carb guy, but my wife says the cornbread was excellent, though surpassed by Warmdaddy’s.
Update: Thought I’d done a new review after my last visit a few weeks ago, but I must have messed up the post. The place remained terrific and it seemed that my complaints about the sound from my earlier review had been addressed. My only problem now is that there were not enough customers. So what’s so tough about supporting great music and great food in Philadelphia?

The BBQ is amazing! I brought my family here for brunch and everything is yummy. The ribs are smoked and the best I’ve had in a long time.

We went last night with another couple who said we had to try this place. It sounded awesome but I was reluctant with several of the bad reviews on Unilocal (I usually give more credence to the bad reviews). Well, before we even ordered food, my wife and I looked at each other and started saying who else we’d like to bring here. Without making this too long:
The ambiance was warm and Southern-​authentic, despite it’s high ceilings.
The art work on display (and for sale) was impressive (not our style for purchase this time but looking forward to what we discover next).
The food was excellent — the ribs are truly delicious (dry and succulent with great hot sauce on the side) but the selection is diverse enough for health food patrons (one in our group got the fish which she said was very good). And we loved the white chocolate bread pudding and the banana foster that is flambé’d at your table (not low fat; cooked with a ½ stick of butter).
The wine list was modest with, maybe, 8 reds along with several whites and champagnes… but the choices were good and reasonably priced (I hope they add an Australian Shiraz in the future).
The music was fantastic. We never heard of Jessi Teich, but she is beautiful and charming with a voice that was like silk (yup, we eagerly bought her cd for $ 10).
As for the complaints in other Unilocal reviews, they were all baseless from our experience. The service was great, the food was perfectly presented, there was no napkin issue (please!), we were welcomed to stay all night (music was 8 – 11), it was easy to find (hard to miss with a sign on the street), and the parking lot couldn’t be more convenient.
The place was half full on a Saturday night and they will need a lot of word-​of-​mouth to survive. Go while you can to discover excellent authentic New Orleans in our own backyard.

Amazing!!!
No words can better describe the evening I just had here. Food was great, atmosphere was perfect. The service tonight was a bit slow because of a large party, but the wait was well worth it.
When you first walk in the door you instantly notice the awesome color scheme. After that the music starts, and you can spend the whole night looking into your lovers eyes like I did.
Drink selection is a bit limited and restrictive, but it does compliment the food and mood well. This place is definitely a gem in Philadelphia, and it is a MUST visit, you will not be disappointed!

«There can never be too much cornbread» Jamal, owner and manager of Le Cochon Noir, declared as he brought two more heaping plates over to our table and removed a platter of crumbs that hinted at our ravenous appetite for the comforting carbohydrates.
In other words, Southern ladies and gents feeling homesick in Philadelphia, rejoice. Le Cochon Noir offers some the best dishes I’ve had while living in the city of brotherly love. The prize-​winning ribs are falling off the bone tender; paired with the brunch special of a sweet syrupy waffle, your taste buds will enter a higher realm. The sweet cornbread and savory drop biscuits remind me of my momo’s (those of you with a momo or a mimaw know what I’m talking about).
The ambience is reminiscent of local joints I’ve been to in New Orleans. There’s live jazz and blues during service hours, with acts so good Downbeat Magazine ranked Le Cochon Noir among the top 150 venues in the world! Adding to the charm is the family-​friendly atmosphere – there’s a table for young children to play with building blocks and puzzles. This family oriented approach makes sense, given that the restaurant is a family run establishment, with Jamal, his sister, mother and father helping out and chatting with patrons. If you’re lucky, his wife will sing a few numbers with the band. All in all, if you’re searching for a classy but laid back joint with great tunes and good eats at a reasonable price, Le Cochon Noir is worth a visit.

I’m going to start this review off by echoing what I think I’m reading in many of the other reviews… I really want Le Cochon Noir to survive and thrive. Philly needs this place. It’s a great space — plenty of room & plenty of vibe, with owners and servers who care and really seem determined to make sure everyone who walks through the door has a great time. There is no cover to hear great music — we were really impressed with Jesse Teich and her band — and you can’t help but enjoy yourself with good food, good art (large pieces of art, with artists rotated on a monthly basis), and good music.
That said, I do want to try to be objective and review the good and the bad of this place. The food is all very good — but, it’s also expensive. You’ll wind up spending $ 100 for 2 for dinner. I expected this going in & figure it’s worth a couple of extra bucks since they have a no cover charge policy. And they recently got their liquor license… but for now, they only serve wine & liquor. It may be just me — but, if ever there was a place that needed to serve beer, it’s a BBQ place that features live music. I hope they put in a nice selection of beers by the time I return again.
We loved the Char-​Grilled Colossal Shrimp appetizer (athough it really should be 4 shrimp instead of 3, so you don’t have to fight your date over the last shrimp!), quesadilla (the best deal on the menu) and the Hickory Smoked Rotisserie Chicken. I’d recommend all of the above and would get them again next time. We wanted to try their crabcakes — but, oddly they had just run out… oddly because there were only about a dozen people there all night. They clearly take pride in the food and seem to want to make the food be the star of your experience.
If Le Cochon Noir was downtown, the sights, sounds & smells would be drawing in passersby and it would be filled to capacity — but, this location draws no foot traffic (on Parkside, behind the Mann Music Center), so it’s more of a destination spot.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!
I am relatively new to Philly from DC and have been looking for a place like this since I arrived. It’s aesthetically pleasing upon entry. I don’t know how they pulled it off, but despite the size (quite spacious), it has an «intimate» vibe. The artwork, which changes monthly, is consistently impressive, alluring even. The last time I was there the walls were covered with black and white photographs from the 60’s, including photos of the March on Washingtion, Selma and Dr. King that I’d never seen before. The varying sizes and subjects in the photos caused me to spend a good 30 minutes browsing. The artworks is all for sale too, which is very nice and shows the venue is supporting the local arts community.
I had the full dining experience and found the service and food impeccable. I went on a Wednesday evening and it was somewhat slow, which may explain the wonderful attention I receive as a dining guest. Whatever the reason, I must admit, I didn’t mind that I was treated exceptionally well and I am looking forward to receiving great service when the place is packed as well.
There was a stage there and the owner/​manager invited me to go up. I was in a great mood that evening and feeling very comfortable there, so I did. The next thing I knew some music was put on the sound system (which is very nice/​full) and I was «crooning» away. I must admit I am a singer and had shared that in passing during the meal service.
I walked out the place that night with a wonderful impression, not to mentioned a doggie bag (nice portions). That was a few months ago and I am itching to get back. Now back from heavy work travel and the holidays, I will make it a point to happen by there within the next few days.
I took the time to write this «review» so I could celebrate this establishment. A place of this calibre is much desired, needed and appreciated. From the «green» perspective of one just arriving to the city, I must say I have yet to encounter a place of this size within the city possessing as much flair and potential as this. I am «literally» praying for its continued success!
I encourage everyone reading this to at least give it a try!
Don eL
(Avid «Le Cochon Enthusiast»)

My husband and I came here twice in the same week. We initially went to celebrate our 1-​month anniversary, but were drawn back 2 days later by the ribs and bread pudding.
First of all let me explain something — I love jazz, and used to go to Ortlieb’s at least once a week for years. After it changed ownership I went less, and now that’s it’s closed down I’ve been craving a place w/​good jazz, good food, and friendly staff.
Le Cochon Noir has all this and more. Everyone we’ve met who works there seems excited and dedicated to the place’s success. The chef came to our table and talked to us for a good 10 minutes! One of the waiters we had said he loves jazz and that most of the people who work there are doing it for the love of the music. And the manager (i can’t believe I’ve forgotten his name) was excited to show us where the bar will be (they’re getting their liquor license very very soon!!!), and to talk to us about the artisits, musicians, etc.
Speaking of which, they display different art there, on a rotating basis. Right now there’s some interesting photography dealing with everything from civil rights marches to smoky jazz performances in by-​gone eras. Apparently the artist/​art changes monthly, and they have various events scheduled to meet the artists and talk to them abou their work.
I’m a vegetarian, and I left STUFFED each time I went. Their mac-​n-​cheese is outstanding, the parmesan potatoes are just right, the coffee was great, and the cinnamon raisin bread pudding was out of this world. They have several sides, each of which is huge. As for the meat, my husband (who’s as avid a carnivore as they come) was talking about the rib sauce all weekend! He got the half chicken the second time, and he seemed just as happy with this.
You’ve got to give this place a try — there’s parking, great food, and a real love of music in this place. And did I mention the bread pudding?

I’ve now been twice, both on a Friday evening when there was live music and on a Saturday at 5 PM. Jamal, the owner, was very friendly and welcoming both times.
Service was a bit slow. The employees are a bit of a motley crew – they’re very nice, but it can be hard to flag someone down and things take awhile. On the first visit, we avoided the soufflé because we were warned it would take half an hour – it still took half an hour for the rest of the meal. Because of the live music on my first visit, the wait didn’t bother me. However, the second time we came, it was early, and there weren’t many other customers, so it was more irksome. The space also feels ware-​housey, and when things are slow, the atmosphere is a bit disjointed.
On the first visit, I tried the pulled pork quesadillas, crab cake, Caesar salad, baby back ribs, garlic mashed potatoes, strawberry/​crepes dessert, and bread pudding. The quesadillas were less cheese-​centric than regular quesadillas, and might’ve been more aptly called pulled pork-​stuffed tortillas, but they were pretty tasty nonetheless. The crab cake, salad, and mashed potatoes were all fairly good (the crab cake was probably my least favorite as it was a bit messily composed), but the ribs were the star. They were meaty and a bit chewy and the smoke was a really strong presence. None of us had had ribs like it before. I liked the bread pudding, and the strawberry crepes were serviceable but not as soulful as the rest of the meal – an actual biscuity shortcake would’ve been better.
On the second visit, I tried the snapper soup, seafood chowder, prime rib, roast chicken, garlic mustard greens, and chocolate soufflé. I enjoyed both soups, although I preferred the complexity of the snapper soup more. The prime rib was tender but not as smoky as the ribs had been, and it leaked juices onto the plate which made an unappealing mess when they mixed with the horseradish sauce. The whole chicken (which was quite large) had some smokiness, but the skin wasn’t succulent and crispy, and the meat had a slightly odd texture. Its fibers had sort of fused and didn’t shred so much as peel off in larger chunks. Although it was moist, I wonder if the texture was that way because it was overcooked. While the chicken was perfectly serviceable, it wasn’t as good as the rest of the food. The greens were a bit soupy, but I still enjoyed them. The soufflé was dark and bittersweet – it was definitely excessive at this point (there were only two of us) but I still wanted more!
In the future, I’d probably stick with the ribs as the main course and fill out the rest of the meal with any of the sides or appetizers other than the crab cake. I know they’re working on getting a liquor license, and they added a hot-​towel service between my first and second visits. Jamal clearly cares about how his customers feel, and I’m curious to see how things evolve.

I had the pleasure of experiencing this great new restaurant last month about a week after it’s soft opening. What’s not to love about Jazz and great BBQ. We started off with the Pulled Pork Quesedillas, which let me tell you, I could have eaten those all night long! I’m normally not one to enjoy smoked BBQ because most of the time I find the flavor too strong, almost to the point of feeling like I’m eating a piece of wood, but this time it was the perfect blend of smoked flavor and BBQ sauce. For the main course I shared a half rack of the pork ribs and a prime rib. For sides, make sure you get the Garlic Mashed Potatoes. We finished off with some strawberry crepes and bread pudding. Well it was more of a tasting because by then I didn’t have much room, but next time I’ll make sure to save room for the bread pudding. And of course the live music was a perfect complement to the great food. Keep an eye on their Facebook site as every week they have different artists performing.

My wife and I visited on a Thursday night because we received an email from the Jump City Jazz Orchestra stating that they would be playing there for free. My wife has been trying to get me to see them for a long time, but I’m not a big fan of revival bands and try to avoid that scene. Nevertheless, we arrived about 7 PM (the show was to start at 8) to a nicely renovated performance space located in a former factory building situated across from the Mann Music Center.
We were warmly greeted at the door by the hostess and taken to a nice table close to the bandstand. We also had a pleasant discussion with Jamal Parker, the Owner, about the bravery of and real need for establishing a new live jazz venue in Philadelphia.
We were a bit disappointed that the liquor license had not arrived, but that feeling faded once the food arrived. Being quasi-​vegetarians, we were pleased to see that red meats (ribs, chicken, pulled pork, etc.) shared the menu with salads, crab cakes, shrimp, and broiled mushrooms. We ordered the crab cakes and broiled shrimp and a side of grilled asparagus, all of which were very fine, as was the bread and home-​made butter. After the meal, Jamal came over to see how things went and prepared a beautiful vacuum extraction pot of excellent coffee for us. Deserts looked great; next time for sure.
Oh yes, the band was fine (they are most assuredly not a revival group) and they will play there on the last Thursday of each month.
To summarize, things were great (the food and the music) and they will get even better when the bar opens in two weeks or so. However, you should also go now so you can say you were there «back when.»