The Timeless Philadelphia Restaurant Everyone Needs To Visit At Least Once
Old Original Bookbinders, known now as The Olde Bar, can trace its history back to 1893, when Samuel Bookbinder opened an oyster house on Fifth and South. A few years later, in 1989, Bookbinder moved his oyster house to 125 Market Street to be closer to the docks that brought his oysters in from the Delaware Bay. After many, many successful years at the same location, the restaurant ran into trouble and faced bankruptcy, forcing it to close. In 2015, restaurateur Jose Garces stepped in to re-open this timeless Philadelphia restaurant, and now everyone can enjoy Bookbinders as it was meant to be enjoyed – as the city’s best oyster house!
Jose Garces is committed to preserving the history of this timeless Philadelphia restaurant.
According to The Olde Bar's website, it's important to Garces and the restaurant to pay homage to the original traditions that made Bookbinder’s such a Philadelphia legend. Garces set out to recreate the experience of an early 20th century oyster bar, with a modern spin - and he could not have done a better job.
The Olde Bar looks very much like, well, an old bar. The tasteful decor will bring you back to the days when this was the top spot for oysters in Philadelphia.
They frequently have "buck-a-shuck" specials, and the happy hour is one of the best in the city, with traditional drinks and unusual "snacks" for just $5. Try the beef fat fries or the battered shrimp for a real treat.
The incredible entrees here will blow you away. Chef Jose Garces is one of the best restaurateurs in the city, and you can be sure that quality is oh so important to The Olde Bar.
Garces won a James Beard Award for the "Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic" in 2009, and is also an Iron Chef. He fills all of his restaurants with top notch staff that will make this one unforgettable dining experience.
Of course, the star here is the extensive raw bar.
Bookbinder's was founded in the late 1800s as an oyster bar, and it remains the best place in the city to feast on these treats. If you need an excuse to visit this timeless Philadelphia restaurant, the second week of September is the Philly's restaurant week! Check out The Olde Bar's restaurant week menu to see the delicious dishes awaiting you. For just $35 per person, you'll enjoy Chef Garces' selection of oysters, housemade rolls, and chilled shrimp to start, and your choice of second course, third course, and delicious dessert.
Order up - they serve oysters from all over the country! (I am partial to Delaware oysters myself).
Shucking oysters at The Olde Bar actually benefits the environment as well - they proudly participate in the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary's oyster recycling program. Every baby oyster needs an old oyster shell to attach to in order to survive, and the program works hard to return oyster shells to the bay so that new oysters can thrive. This, in turn, also helps to protect the shorelines and natural habitats for many native species.
Have you visited The Olde Bar to indulge in their famous oysters? If you have yet to go, you’re missing out – add this awesome spot to your restaurant bucket list!
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Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
