The Twisted Tail Reviews
Submitted by Anna Collis on 01/22/2022
Anna Collis 4 stars rating.
Loved the choice of complimentary popcorn instead of bread! We ordered the whipped ricotta, shishito peppers, grilled shrimp, mac n cheese, fried chicken, short rib, beignets, and brownie for restaurant week. We also had the bourbon apple cider, which was by far our favorite thing that night. The ricotta was also excellent. The food had good texture, but was a little bland overall. Still good, but nothing blew us away. The brownie was extremely disappointing if you were hoping for a dense, chewy brownie. If you like cake brownies, you might like it.
Julian Andrews 3 stars rating.
We visited The Twisted Tail earlier this week for the 2022 CCD Restaurant Week. Sadly, the experience did not match our expectations. To start with the positive, all of the staff I interfaced with were friendly. I received a call a few days prior to the reservation to confirm the details. The host and waiter were both very welcoming as well. The cocktails we ordered, the Black Cherry Gimlet and Honey Apple Sidecar were delicious. Really some of the better cocktails had in Philly recently. We were surprised to be delivered some complimentary popcorn to accompany the drinks while we waited for the food. As far as the ordered food, the crawfish mac & cheese ended up being our favorite. The cheese sauce was pretty good.
Unfortunately, that’s about where the positive ends.
For my four-course experience, I ordered heirloom beets, salmon wonton cups, fried chicken, and ricotta beignets. The wonton cups tasted extremely bland and the only memorable note from them was that the cups produced a comically loud crunch biting into them. I ended up adding other elements from our meal to my last cup to try to help it out. The fried chicken was the biggest disappointment for me. It was the reason I made the reservation and while the chicken was undeniably fried well with crispy skin and juicy meat, the flavor was completely absent. The chicken tasted unseasoned and lacking flavor. The hints of honey on the skin were good but overall extremely disappointing. The beignets didn’t fully hit the mark either and after seeing a peach galette on another plate, I wish I had gone in that direction.
For my girlfriend’s four courses, she ordered the aftermentioned crawfish mac & cheese, the chorizo taco, braised short rib, and bourbon crepe cake. The chorizo taco was prepared much differently than both of us were expecting. It looked like a hotdog or sausage on a tortilla. While that alone wasn’t an issue, the taco itself was rather dry tasting even with the sauce and fresco added. It seems the taco was missing an element or two to add more freshness and juiciness to complete the experience. For the braised short rib, it was also anywhere from underseasoned to not seasoned at all. It amounted to just eating a giant slab of meat. Her dessert was not her favorite in taste and one minor note was that the menu read that it was served with raspberries but instead hers was delivered with blueberries.
Overall, The Twisted Tail seemed to have strengths on the menu that maybe we missed. The drinks were very good which leads me to believe the brunch experience might be much better but I’m not in a hurry to find out.
Submitted by Julian Andrews on 09/19/2022
Cole Woods 3 stars rating.
Although I had previously planned to experience the Twisted Tail during their Dining in the Dark experience, those plans fell through. However, I did end up visiting just a few days later for an after work date night. We grabbed a table outside for our reservation at 5:45 pm, just in time to catch the end of happy hour. From the happy hour menu, I ordered the Crawford Mac & Cheese, the Smoked Wings and the white house wine. We received popcorn for the table while we waited which I thought was different. As I looked around the area, I noticed how quaint this nook of Center City was. It was very quiet and clean.
The food arrived and I was excited to dig in. What I didn't expect was for the food to be as bland as it was. I really had high hopes for this. I decided to order the Swordfish from the dinner menu to supplement my disappointment which was actually quite good!
I probably wouldn't come here again for the food but perhaps to enjoy the drinks and live music.
Submitted by Cole Woods on 07/31/2022
Samantha Winterburn 5 stars rating.
Great spot for cocktails in Society Hill. The vibe is very cozy. Had a mint julep and it was super tasty. Would recommend! The food looks great too but I haven’t eaten here in a while!
Submitted by Samantha Winterburn on 07/11/2022
Jeremy Yowell 5 stars rating.
Been to Twisted Tail a few times and each visit has been fantastic. The bourbon and scotch menus in particular are very solid, with some inventive flights as well. The space is large and well decorated, with fun vibes throughout. Service is also fast and often makes great recommendations. Highly recommend!
Submitted by Jeremy Yowell on 06/12/2022
Aaron 5 stars rating.
Upon entrance, you feel right at home with a classic neighnood pub ambiance.
One of the attractions is a specialized extensive bourbon menu. Drink enough bourbon here, and you can join an exclusive club where you recieve a special letter etched glass to drink from every visit.
Pictured is the "Kiss of a Dragon." At first you get the sweetness of the blood orange and then you get a "kiss" of spice from the ancho chili. Second drink I am told is a play off of a Fireman's Sour but I am going to call it the "The Christina Special." You have to see bartender Christina to have this made for you as it is not on the menu, and is her own creation. She knows I like spicy and this drink was super smooth at first and then had a spicy bite on the back of your tongue that satisfyingly lingered just long enough for this heat chaser. Extremely refreshing with every sip as good as the last! The drinks at Twisted Tail are beautifully crafted and executed, even non-bourbon drinkers will enjoy.
I will inform that they offer a delicious upscale menu for everyone's pallet. The Twisted Tail has a scratch kitchen that is centralized around their charcoal grill. There is no shortage of complex and savory flavors in these dishes.
Beyond great food and drinks, The Twisted Tail hosts many different special events, and has pleasant live blues playing most days of the week. Definitely check out their event page!
Submitted by Aaron on 06/07/2022
K Johnson 4 stars rating.
very good grits & lamb chops. good cocktails as well, however the cornbread was dry, likely just overcooked. live music was nice.
Submitted by K Johnson on 04/17/2022
Mindy P 5 stars rating.
Went for dinner last night and ordered the swordfish special which was delish. Everything was amazing from the drinks, dinner, to dessert. There was also live music which was very nice, chill blues vibes. Ambiance is chill and everyone was nice. We had the best waiter, ask for Nick! He’s spot on and goes above and beyond. He made sure everything was perfect and made dinner such a pleasure! It’s hard to find a restaurant that I don’t find one complaint and Twisted Tail was perfect for a Friday night out with a friend. Highly suggest! Oh and they take reservations too which makes it more convenient. My new favorite place! Can’t wait to go back!
Submitted by Mindy P on 03/12/2022
Sam T 5 stars rating.
We came here on a Tuesday for Restaurant Week. Overall, we were happy with our experience and the food. It was a nice cozy atmosphere with live music. I got the whipped ricotta, crawfish mac & cheese, salmon, and beignets. My favorites were the mac & cheese and the salmon. The mac & cheese wasn't overly heavy and cheesy. The fish was perfectly cooked. I would definitely come back.
Submitted by Sam T on 01/18/2022
