On September 20, 2025, I went to Philadelphia’s Plough and the Stars. It is located at
123 Chestnut Street in Old City. The pub hosts live music and is known for
their excellent traditional Irish cuisine.
This pub is the first pub I ever went to in Philadelphia, so
it holds a special place in my life, even a decade later. From what I have
heard, George Donaldson from Celtic Thunder (may he rest in peace) used to
perform here under the painting of the blue bowl upstairs.
I ordered my typical shepherd’s pie. Most Irish pubs use a
long and shallow dish to serve this meal. However, the Plough and the Stars
used a round dish to serve the food, allowing for more depth. It would make
sense to have more meat and vegetables on the bottom, which did happen, but the
mashed potatoes were piled high on top. Their shepherd’s pie is made with beef.
Usually, the potatoes tend to be flavorless when people make shepherd’s pie, but
that was not the case here.
In the past, I have gone to pubs alone, but this time, I had
the pleasure of enjoying my meal with my good friend. She ordered the Dubliner fries
and the tomato and bleu cheese soup. I got to try both, and they were both
delicious. She raved about how the bleu cheese balanced out the tomato soup and
added a bit of zest to it. I do not typically order dessert, but we had their flourless
chocolate truffle cake. It had a raspberry drizzle and whipped cream, and it
was delicious.
The overall atmosphere is open and friendly yet cozy. We
were seated near the fireplace, which was not going as it was still September,
but I had been there in the past when it had been on during the winter months.
There is some Celtic décor, including knotwork in the flooring and Celtic
crosses in the windows. While I have been there when they have Celtic music
playing, they were playing pop and rock music the day of this review.
Overall, this pub continues to be one of my favorite pubs in
Philadelphia. It is such a fun, warm atmosphere perfect for groups of all
sizes, from just two people to larger groups. The food is delicious and
affordable. If you are ever in Old City Philadelphia, stop in for a break.
-Irish Pub Review: The Black Sheep: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/09/irish-pub-review-black-sheep.html
-Irish Pub Review: McGillin's: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/08/irish-pub-review-mcgillins.html