Ресторан · Philadelphia · ⭐ 9.1/10 · 2452 reviews · $$ · updated: 2026-06-30 20:15:50
Address: 1234 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
Bud & Marilyn’s: Cheese Curds, Fried Chicken and Cocktails in Grandma’s Rec Room
The most comforting bar snack in Midtown Village is beer-battered Wisconsin cheese curds with charred green onion ranch — and it comes with a backstory. Bud & Marilyn’s channels a real 1950s supper club, right down to the vintage-pattern wallpaper, and pairs its nostalgia with a cocktail list that takes the retro theme seriously enough to drink well.
The Story
Chef Marcie Turney and partner Valerie Safran — the duo whose shops and restaurants rebuilt Midtown Village — named this one for Turney’s grandparents, Bud and Marilyn Briese, who ran a supper club called The Spot in Ripon, Wisconsin from 1950 to 1990. The restaurant is their rec room reincarnated: warm wood, throwback patterns and Midwestern hospitality with a city kitchen behind it.
What to Order
Marilyn’s fried chicken is the headliner — half a bird, crackling crust, warm biscuits, zucchini pickles, salted honey butter and hot sauce on the side. Open with those cheese curds and their pickled morita salsa, then detour through short rib stroganoff with hand-cut egg noodles, trumpet mushrooms and horseradish crème fraîche. The menu roams America’s comfort canon with a chef’s precision, and the retro cocktails — old fashioneds and playful spins — keep the supper-club fantasy honest.
The Space
Custom wallpaper based on a vintage print, cozy booths and a glowing corner bar: the look lands somewhere between a Wisconsin tavern and a stylish Philadelphia hangout, which is exactly the recipe. Date-night dim, group-dinner friendly, zero stuffiness.
Who It’s For
Comfort-food romantics, cocktail-first diners, groups that want fun over formality and anyone whose happy place is a plate of fried chicken with a well-made drink.
Good to Know
Do I need a reservation? Weekends yes; weeknights the bar and a few tables usually welcome walk-ins.
What is the must-order? Marilyn’s fried chicken, with the cheese curds as the mandatory opener.
Is there a good cocktail program? Yes — retro classics done properly, plus playful house creations.
Is it kid-friendly? Early evenings, very — the comfort-food menu is a small-diner crowd-pleaser.
Does it work for groups? Well — shareable starters and a booth-heavy room make group dinners easy.
Opening hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 17:00–22:00 |
| Tuesday | 17:00–22:00 |
| Wednesday | 17:00–22:00 |
| Thursday | 17:00–22:00 |
| Friday | 17:00–23:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00–15:00, 17:00–23:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00–15:00, 17:00–22:00 |
Photos
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Visitor reviews
Reviews last updated: 2026-06-30 20:15:50
Data is refreshed monthly. Sources: philadelphia-trend.com and editorial picks based on reviews.
Our server, Jackson, was incredibly friendly and took wonderful care of us. Tasty food and drinks. Love the atmosphere and decor. We'll definitely be back!
First time… will definitely be back! My friend and I were served by Kelly, and she was wonderful. My friend asked her what the reviews were on one of the dishes, and she replied, 'It can be controversial… it's a mix…
I was there for my birthday and really loved everything we tried. The Nashville hot chicken with house-made ranch was incredibly tasty. I also really loved the crispy cheese sticks and the shrimp po'boy rolls. It was…
Dim lighting with candles, the servers and hosts were kind and attentive. The food was tasty. Definitely ask for recommendations, they'll give them! The alcohol was tasty! The restrooms were clean — 3 separate unisex roo…
We went to Bud & Marilyn's for a late breakfast after seeing all the wonderful reviews. We were seated quickly and arrived just a minute before brunch ended, but they still took us in, which was nice. However, the food w…