East Falls Taproom

**rideboards** · 06-18-2012, 07:13 PM

I really like this place but please guys....clean up the front of this place every once in a while. The trash and excessive amount of cigarette butts are disgusting. I frequent this place often and I'm really happy it is here. The food is good, beer is solid, they make good whiskey drinks upstairs. But they have to do a better job in keeping the community clean. It's filthy enough on the Ridge as it is. Maybe a cigarette receptacle of some kind or some signage. I have walked by this place in the morning on at least 10 occasions where it was just filthy. I'm not jumping the gun on this criticism. It's time to clean up the mess, that **** ends up in the river.

**alex** · 06-19-2012, 09:40 AM

I've seen someone from a different bar in the neighborhood sweeping hundreds of cigarette butts into the sewer inlet. It looks cleaner out front, but that **** definitely ends up in the river.

**ThinkYourSmart?** · 06-19-2012, 11:02 AM

I vote we knock it down and put a dog park there. That'll teach them.

**Hypebeast** · 06-19-2012, 12:02 PM

Then the taproom would look out of place on Midvale with all of the trash from Wing Lee's, junked cars at the repair garages, and junky furniture from the "thrift stores".

In all honesty though, taproom keeps a pretty clean storefront. They can't help that the rest of the spillover finds its way down the hill.

**rideboards** · 06-19-2012, 01:55 PM

I have to disagree, the cigarette butts are coming from the bar. I have witnessed people smoking out front and throwing their buts on the ground. I walked past this morning and indeed it's cleaner than some other places but it's by no means an example of cleanliness. Like I said, good place but they can do better in terms of the property's appearance simply by putting out some flowers and cleaning up the trash. I won't stop going there over it but they can clean it up with a little more time and just a little more money for plants.

**ericmorgan56** · 06-19-2012, 03:14 PM

Here is a though. If you think they need to clean up the mess why don't you send them a message or say something in person. I know the owner sometimes reads the board but a direct message might get a better result.

**Dalvah219** · 06-19-2012, 06:33 PM

We do clean up the cigarette butts. I see a lot of people saying that they see them in the morning. That would be due to the fact that we don't open til 4pm most and day. Sweeping of the patio area and sidewalk is an everyday chore of the opening staff. We do the best we can but we cannot do much about trash that blows about the neighborhood. Especially on windy days, Midvale ave is like a wind tunnel when it comes to trash blowing about. I assure you that we do tend to this matter every day.

**Guun19** · 06-20-2012, 11:06 AM

I never noticed a problem with the trash. The food and beer selection at the taproom are great though the service upstairs is among the worst I've ever seen. They've lost out on my business multiple times just because the wait to get a beer has been 15-20 minutes, so I left. Not sure why this hasn't been corrected as the usual bartender upstairs seems to be pretty incompetent.

**The Count** · 06-20-2012, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Guun19

I never noticed a problem with the trash. The food and beer selection at the taproom are great though the service upstairs is among the worst I've ever seen. They've lost out on my business multiple times just because the wait to get a beer has been 15-20 minutes, so I left. Not sure why this hasn't been corrected as the usual bartender upstairs seems to be pretty incompetent.

So true. The service, particularly upstairs, is so atrocious it's funny. 15 minute wait for your beer is not at all uncommon. We've learned to order our second beer when he delivers the first.

I think it's a combination of them having to go downstairs and dig around to find your beer coupled with complete indifference on the part of the waiter.

**Speedy Creek** · 06-20-2012, 12:34 PM

What happened to the Falls Taproom website?

**runner13** · 06-20-2012, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Dalvah219

We do clean up the cigarette butts. I see a lot of people saying that they see them in the morning. That would be due to the fact that we don't open til 4pm most and day. Sweeping of the patio area and sidewalk is an everyday chore of the opening staff. We do the best we can but we cannot do much about trash that blows about the neighborhood. Especially on windy days, Midvale ave is like a wind tunnel when it comes to trash blowing about. I assure you that we do tend to this matter every day.

I will start by saying I really like the food and think its been a great addition to the neighborhood. As for the cigarette butts, I have to agree with rideboards. I hate cigarette butts and I, too, have noticed how bad it is in the mornings. I appreciate the Tap Room cleans them up once they open and agree it does look cleaner than other nearby businesses. However, the community should not have to just deal with it and wait until 4pm since that's when they open. Is there something you could do to help alleviate the problem so its not as bad in the morning, such as ashtray receptacles or an extra sweep at night? I'm sure sweeping at night isn't easy to see, but maybe during the summer months when there is more daylight someone could sweep later in the evening so its not so bad in the morning. I also appreciate you posting to address any questions and issues.

**KAB** · 06-21-2012, 01:33 PM

I totally agree the Tap Room could do more. I often pass by and think it would be great if they weeded out front and took care of the planters: it would make the block look much better. No matter how the trash and cigarette butts get there, it is their responsibility to clean it up.

**billy ross** · 06-21-2012, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by Hypebeast

Then the taproom would look out of place on Midvale with all of the trash from Wing Lee's, junked cars at the repair garages, and junky furniture from the "thrift stores".

In all honesty though, taproom keeps a pretty clean storefront. They can't help that the rest of the spillover finds its way down the hill.

In my experience the trash blows up the hill from Ridge Avenue. I've always considered myself to be part of the neighborhood's trash 'liver', filtering out the trash that blows up the hill as I do my rounds. I look forward to the day when the people on Ridge Avenue are more responsible with their trash, especially in the alley mid-block between Eveline and Stanton, which is foul and disgusting, and has been ever since I started walking past it almost 19 years ago.

**Hypebeast** · 06-22-2012, 11:50 AM

Additional trash cans at Ridge & Midvale would do wonders. Also, is it too much to ask to get some more benches surrounding the thrift store at the corner? Having bus riders sit on the steps and loiter in the enclave (even when the thrift store is open!) just doesn't make that corner look appealing. I feel sorry for the business owner(s).

**splatteredblue** · 06-22-2012, 01:38 PM

Instead of spending time whining like a bunch of divas on here, there are other areas of EF that could use cleaning - organize a clean-up day or petitions for more garbage cans in the community. Falls Taproom is located in a busy section. You cannot place all the blame on here. If you don't like them then go elsewhere.

**Hypebeast** · 06-24-2012, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by splatteredblue

Instead of spending time whining like a bunch of divas on here, there are other areas of EF that could use cleaning - organize a clean-up day or petitions for more garbage cans in the community. Falls Taproom is located in a busy section. You cannot place all the blame on here. If you don't like them then go elsewhere.

That's fighting a losing battle. Inn Yard Park had a "love your park" day. It only took a day or two before the basketball players and septa riders started leaving their trash all over the place again.

**PhillyComedyGuy** · 06-28-2012, 10:57 AM

I have so many mixed opinions on this place!

PROS: I have loved every food item I have ever had there. They have one of the best hamburgers in the city, let alone NW Philly. My vegetarian wife has raved about their seitan wings. Our friends who drink love the weird upstairs scene. I kind of love the decor.

CONS: The service is pretty brutal. The staff has been polite but the food has taken forever to get to my stomach and they're a bit unattentive with water refills and the like. I think they're just understaffed or they take a super long time preparing the food. That's not a bad thing since it shows in the quality but they should address that somehow with you up front. Also, as much as I love the food, it's on equal footing with the Standard Tap or the Abbaye or the Royal and I've never once thought the service at those places was off.

This is the borderline for me. This place has the worst service that I'll endure for the quality food. But we're always on a "This could be the last time" watch since it's been that bad.

**Freckles** · 06-28-2012, 11:13 AM

You would think that consistent complaints about poor service (largely due to understaffing) would make them hire a few extra people.

I went once and it took 20 minutes to get a beer (downstairs, there were only 2 other tables filled). Even then it was like I was doing them a favor by ordering a drink. Thanks but no thanks.

**friendlynerd** · 06-28-2012, 01:15 PM

I go to the Taproom a lot and I've never experienced the kind of bad service being discussed here. Maybe I go at off-peak times or something. My only truly lousy service experience was upstairs when the place was packed. The only seating was up there and my group wanted to eat, but we didn't want the fancy cocktails and got some attitude for daring to order beers they had to go downstairs to get. Cue the tiny violin.

Overall, though, it's my go-to spot and I can tell the owner/managers really care about what they're doing. And as with anything, they're getting better as they go. On that note, Jess and Marvin aren't scary. If you have a complaint, you'd be better served by stopping in to talk to them about it than airing it here.

**MrsWeisass** · 06-28-2012, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by friendlynerd

I go to the Taproom a lot and I've never experienced the kind of bad service being discussed here. Maybe I go at off-peak times or something. My only truly lousy service experience was upstairs when the place was packed. The only seating was up there and my group wanted to eat, but we didn't want the fancy cocktails and got some attitude for daring to order beers they had to go downstairs to get. Cue the tiny violin.

Overall, though, it's my go-to spot and I can tell the owner/managers really care about what they're doing. And as with anything, they're getting better as they go. On that note, Jess and Marvin aren't scary. If you have a complaint, you'd be better served by stopping in to talk to them about it than airing it here.

Then you must be lucky. When we go we expect it is going to take TWICE as long as it should to get anything. Last time we were there, the waitress took almost 10 min to get us the menu, then ran off before we could tell her the beer we had already decided to order. We only go there now if we aren't on a time constraint. It takes as long to get an appetizer and a beer here as it does to get a whole meal at in Riva.