Ten Stone — Restaurant in Philadelphia

Ten Stone is an objectively good "third space" as defined by the relevant literature.

Like the show "Cheers," this bar exemplifies what Ray Oldenberg calls "The Great Good Place" as defined by the following criteria.

Neutral Ground: "The space is for anyone to come and go without affiliation with a religion, political party, or in-group."

I see people of all races, creeds and backgrounds here breaking bread.

Level Ground: "Political and financial status doesn't matter there."

The drinks are slightly pricier than some other bars within walking distance, but that doesn't affect how you're treated or whether you "fit in" socioeconomically.

Conversation: "The primary purpose of the location is to converse and be social."

I've had excellent conversations with customers and staff on a wide range of topics, regardless of the elevation of one's brow.

Accessible: "The third place is open and available to everyone and the place caters to the needs and desires of the community that frequents it."

Check.

Regulars: "On a nightly or at least weekly basis the same cast of people rotate in and out, contributing to the sense of community."

Check.

Unassuming: "Third places aren't regal or imposing. They're home-like and serve the function of a home away from home for the patrons."

This is possibly the greatest appeal to me, as the decor is aesthetically pleasing without being snooty or contrived.

Lack of Seriousness: "Third places are a place to put aside person or political differences and participate in a community. Joking around and keeping the mood light is a big part of the "public house" experience."

Many a belly-laugh was had here.

Third Place as Home: "A third place must take on multiple elements of the home experience including a feeling of belonging, safety, coziness, and a sense of shared ownership. A successful third place has visitors saying 'this is our space and I feel at home here.''

Double check.

Highly...

We (party of two) stopped in for a quick dinner on a Tuesday night before heading to play pickleball. We were quickly seated and given menus. They had a good number of draft craft beers, a Belgium, some IPAs, and one cider. We ordered the short rib steak sandwich and a jerk chicken sandwich with fries. Don’t forgot to check out the daily specials on a board near the entrance. Their sandwiches were very large! My rib sandwich had a pile of rib meat with melted cheese. Even though my bun was a pretzel bun, the bottom bread bun was a little soggy and soft from the weight and heat. It was kind of a good problem to have but it might be a problem for the unadventurous eater. They also gave lettuce, tomato, and several pickle slices for toppings. The jerk sandwich tasted more like a bbq sauce. My friend was not a fan of it but it didn’t stop him from eating the whole sandwich. The fries were cooked just right, being crispy on the outside and a soft on the inside.

There were two wait staff. They bounced around their duties. Both were friendly enough and provided quick service. No complaints here.

It was around 8pm on a Tuesday but they still had about 5-6 groups at tables and a few at the bar. They even had a family dining with two children so bring you kids. The atmosphere it’s more of a sports restaurant. There are TVs playing sports games with retro music playing and a jukebox if you want to pay to play your favorite hits.

They have billards table with ample room to play around it and a dart board. There was additional seating in the back behind the bar.

Please check this place out. It has everything from good food, lots of draft beers, some wine, billards table, a dart board, jukebox, televisions playing sports games, and a...

My husband and I had a great experience at Ten Stone while we were visiting Philadelphia. It was a lovely and warm evening, so we sat outside. We enjoyed excellent pub food and were taken care of by a warm and friendly staff. We departed for the night and headed up to upstate New York for a week. The next day I realized that I had left my favorite jacket on the back of the chair at Ten Stone. Long story short...I called, and was able to establish that they had my jacket, and were willing to mail it back to my home in NY. The owner even called me a few days later to confirm that he received the information that I had sent to help with the lost jacket. Bottom line: I highly recommend Ten Stone....you can't go wrong: fantastic food, and an excellent staff willing to go above and beyond. Thanks for...