Ms Tootsie’s Restaurant & Bar in Philadelphia

I first ate here over ten years ago, so this was my first visit in a long time. The quality of the food has suffered. They have gone extremely upscale and that is reflected in the price of the plate. Considering their beginnings, they should rethink their options so that everyone can partake.

Absolutely amazing service, food and venue. My husband and I decided to have our very small wedding ceremony and reception at Ms. Tootsies this past October. It was absolutely wonderful. Kudos to Austin, the Special Events manager at the restaurant. He immediately answered my initial inquiry, took the time to answer all of our questions and created an amazing atmosphere for us and our 17 guests within a very reasonable budget. We were beyond thrilled with everything. Austin was absolutely friendly, professional and accommodating. Our guests could not stop raving about the food. I highly recommend Ms. Tootsies as a venue for any event.

Just left after waiting for more than an hour and half for food that I ordered online. The hostess was dismissive and acted as if she didn’t see for the first 10 minutes I was at the pick-up window. The hostess finally came over and told me my food wasn’t done and to wait for them to call me on my cellphone. After 30-minutes, I went back to window and a new women was there. She was friendlier, but seemed unable to comprehend why I was confused about the lack of customer service and my food taken so long. When my order was finally done, the young women at the front acted as if she was doing me a favor by handing me the food I waited on for more than hour. I asked her for a refund and she hesitated to refund my money and instead tried to engage me in conversation. I don’t understand why she thought being friendly would erase the lack of professionalism and care displayed by her and her colleague. If you cannot treat your customers with respect your business will close. I will make sure I tell everyone I know in the D.C area to not patronize this establishment when visiting Philly. Embarrassing to know that anyone would treat people this way - this goes beyond a lack of customer service, I am taking about basic decency between two human was missing.

The lady was super kind when we walked up. Bragged about the food...desserts in the window looked amazing. They hooked us up with a piece of the lemon cake. We order turkey chops with greens & yams and fried chicken with mac n cheese & cabbage. We returned to our AirBnB to find no turkey but straight pork chops. We dont pork so was quite disappointed. Called back and told to come next day to get a free meal. Got the catfish...amazing.

I was there for the first time earlier today being that I’m from out of town. My order was supposed be ready at 7:40 which was 30 minutes after I placed the order online and paid for it. My order was not given to me until about 8:20. Myself and several other patrons stood outside waiting after we kept getting delayed on receiving our orders. My cat fish fingers didn’t really taste like anything so I’m thinking you guys should have a sauce to go with it to dip them in (if you don’t already and it just wasn’t given to me). Also, I would assume that the chicken and waffles are very good, however, I did not get around to eating them because I had no syrup. The few bites of the fried chicken that I had were very good though. Finally, I also ordered your sweet tea and never received it. So all in all, my order took an additional 40 minutes from the time it was supposed to be ready and I was missing condiments that naturally comes with the meal...Kind of disappointing. The food shows it has real potential to be great though! If we could give half, you would actually have a 2 1/2 score :-(.

Their food is always amazing! My sis n I frequent Tootsies every time were in the area. You cannot eat inside just yet I was told they arent comfortable with indoor eating (thinking of the customers as alwaysno outdoor tables or eating either just take out. The last two times I went there was a 45 minute wait but their food is definitely worth the wait. In the meantime u can stroll south street and people watch until your food is ready. No worries, theyll take your number and call/text u when its ready. I cant wait until they fully open again! Top if my list👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽❤️

Due to high demand, the wait was very long. But it was well worth it. The iced tea was amazing. Definitely would recommend ordering as early as possible. Your wait will be a minimum of 45 mins to an hour. But the food and tea were well worth it. My sister and I were very pleased with everything. The cakes were a must have. So moist and huge slices.

OMG! I highly recommend Ms. Tootsies soul food. It is a culinary adventure. The food, the vibe, the drinks all come together to create an excellent dining experience. As you enter the place you are welcomed by a magnificent host. Whether sitting at a table or bar you have a wonderful view of the place. There are pictures displayed on the walls, music in the background played by a DJ not loud and overpowering and the food was absolutely wonderful, from preparation to presentation, very pleasing. The chef was approachable and friendly. The breakfast buffet on Sunday was superb. My only complaint is that they are not national.

Great food and ambiance. My only critique is the limited table space in the 2-party section and the consistent loop of the same musical selection. Other than that I loved it!

Loved this place, reservations must be made in advance via email only. The food was fresh and good. We tried the appetizer sampler to which we added the crab cakes. You must try the sampler!!!! The mac and cheese balls were one of my favorites in addition to the fish which was seasoned perfectly and lightly battered. For Entrees we ordered chicken and waffles, which we wound up taking home because we were already stuffed from the appetizers. There is a bar available and a parking lot on the same street a block away. We went on a Sunday therefore parking only cost $12 for the day. There was also on the street parking meters with a 2 hour limit.The only reason I didnt give Ms. Tootsies 5 stars was because of the Service. Instead of our waitress being more attentive to our needs we always had to look for her. However, she was very nice.Try Ms Tootsies, you wont be disappointed!!!

Visited Ms. Tootsie many times, even before the renovation and expansion. Food is good most of the time. Sometimes it can be a little off. Service is always excellent, staff is always friendly and customer service oriented. Brought my whole family recently and the chef came out to greet us asking us how the food was. We told her it was excellent, because it was. If you eat soul food you will like this. Even better than Sylvias in New York.

This was the second time I’ve been to Ms Tootsie’s, but the first time I have been for brunch. The food was good per usual, we even had the crab Mac and cheese balls as a starter (due to the way our hunger was set up...they never got a photo lol). The only reason I give them 3 starts is because we had to wait an hour to be seated, which I understand on a Sunday afternoon lines brunch is in high demand, but we had to check to see if a seat was open after an hour....they never called us as they said they would. Other than that.....food was amazing!

Awesome food and our waitress was the bomb,even though i didnt catch her name. ♥️♥️

Tootsie get packed fast, I recommend to come earlier in the evening. The food size is worth the price. A downside is when restaurants run out of certain sides knowing they are popular, they should know that people love candied yams. The servers wearing all black except their sneakers looks tacky.

Absolutely amazing food,great staff,great vibe overall.

In town for one night and decided to stop by this restaurant, since it was highly recommended. When we walked in, the hostess said it would be a 30 minute wait, and we could wait by the bar until they called my name, cool. As we walk to the bar that was basically empty, we were about to just order food at the bar until the bartender was rude. Never got her name, but she wore glasses and had twists in her head. She acted like she really didn’t want to even serve us, and the confirmation was when she shouted “I don’t feel like being here and I’m ready to go”, while she proceeds to pick up her cellphone and scroll like there’s no customers (i.e. uswaiting for a menu. So we decided to just wait to get a table. After about 15 minutes we were finally seated, and our waitress was Heavenly. Heavenly basically eased the tension because she was very sweet and attentive. I ordered the “famous” sweet tea and smothered pork chops, while my friend ordered the fried chicken wings. The sweet tea was SWEET, but it was good. However, I can’t give you a review on the food because we never got it. After about 15 minutes of putting in our order, Heavenly came and told us they had just put more cornbread in the oven and it would be about 20 minutes. After about another 20 (still with no foodshe came and told us it’ll be about 5 more minutes ( mind you we were thinking this was for the food , and not the cornbread). The cornbread finally comes and it was good. Maybe 10-15 minutes later, Heavenly tells me “unfortunately they dropped one of your pork chops on the floor and they have to cook some more” 🙃 so after damn near an hour of waiting and it’s now 10:15pm we decided to just leave and not wait another 20-30 minutes for another mishap. Thank you Heavenly for your professionalism, but this place as a whole really needs to do better, and you probably need to start with hiring a bartender that actually wants to work her shift.

The food is delicious ,the Salmon was seasoned well with my favorite old Bay, collards greens,yams, Mac and cheese was💋and I love my grown folk ice tea 😍 I will be back again

Food and drinks were amazing. We made no reservations and waited 48 minutes for a seat, which was fine. However, we waited after being seated 30 minutes for drinks, 40 for appetizers, and WELL over an hour for our entrees. In the midst of waiting we kept ordering drinks but they would take 30/ 40 minutes to come out. We literally got our food and decided not to eat but tho pack it and go. It was a Sunday, kids are at baby sitters, work, school, etc. We had NO Time to eat. So we took it to go . Did manage to get a few bites before hand. Food is amazing tasted great! The cocktails were amazing. If you go you must have HOURS to spare or make reservations. Service is slow but food is great. th the wait in some occasions. I WILL GO BACK. With time.

Food was cooked well could use a little seasoning but still good, i love the decor nice dim lit cozy place

I was searching for a good would good spot and the doorman at my Airbnb recommended Ms Tootsie’s! I’m so glad he did because the food was so darn good. I Had the shrimp and grits which came in a cute cocktail cup, the salmon with asparagus and mash potatoes as well as one of their tropical drinks. I forgot the name but it was non alcoholic, and came with a piece of watermelon. Even though the wait was pretty long And I did not fully enjoy the consistency of the mash potatoes I’m giving the place 5 stars because the the service, ambience and food for the most part was amazing. The waitress also caught me outside to give me my phone that I left. I am so appreciative of her!! I truly recommend 💛

the food was excellent. On Sunday they have a perfect mix of breakfast lunch and brunch options. the atmosphere was beautiful as the restaurant is in an old mansion. parking was a bit tricky and from stepping in the door to the time food reached our lips was about an hour wait. the food options will please even the most pickiest eater. I loved the music.

Let me tell you !!! Go there! So sad I can’t remember my waitresses name , it started with a C (cicely if I’m not mistaken). She was soooo sweet! I had the fried shrimp with greens and yams, everything was delicious! And the watermelon iced tea/Kool aid.... BOMB! The DJ?! Rocking!!!!! And you get a tootsie pop with your check, how cute ?!I loved the ambience!!! I’d def return when in Philly!!!! I’m on IG @trendytopictiff

The atmosphere is really nice. Clean eating area. The food Id give it a 4 out of 5 my mac and cheese had a large piece of burnt siding hidden under the rest and I was disappointed with that. But all in all it was good. Its a nice place to go on a date and vibe with someone. The waiter we had was very good. So if you in the philly area hit up Ms. Tootsies❤

This restaurant had everything. Great food, large portions, wonderful staff, cool modern atmosphere, and a bomb playlist! Highly recommend this spot for couples or groups. The eggs were soft and fluffy. The chicken was very well seasoned and not over seasoned. The greens were delicious! The waffles were very solid.

Great service, the staff was attentive and the food had a fantastic homemade taste and feel to it. The restaurant was large enough to give everyone space, yet cozy and intimate enough to still have an engaging conversation.I had a piece of frosted pound cake that had threw perfect balance of flavor and moistness. Wish I tried it before I got back to my hotel room, I would have ordered another slice.

Amazing place with an amazing staff and great vibe. The owner is definitely doing a great job!Smothered Pork Chops with Caramelized Candied Yams

The food and the atmosphere was amazing, the service was great. The food was delicious and more than enough. I ended up not being able to finish it all. The cornbread was soft and moist. They use a unique strawberry butter ... Yes !!If you have allergies please inform your waitress.. my wife has a strawberry allergy and thank God we let her know .. or it could have been bad. Maybe they should add that info to their menu.Besides that I had a great time. The music was awesome, old and new R&B. Ill be back !

In from Cleveland for the weekend and came across this fantastic, charming gem of upscale southern soul food in the heart of the Philly Arts district. From just the start, with delicious tropical sweet tea garnished fresh watermelon, our tastebuds were treated to culinary expertise. The cornbread itself was exquisite. Adding Ms. Tootsie’s homemade strawberry butter took it over the top. One of the favorite dishes is the fried chicken wings and waffles. It lives up to the hype. The waffles were good, but the wings were sublime. The whole experience was great, including a very attentive staff. Bring your appetite and be ready to be wowed. Can’t wait to come back to Philly to see Ms. Tootsie’s again.

We ordered the sampler and the catfish with collard greens and yams. The food was flavorful and the drinks were refreshing! There is a bar and a dining room on the first floor. Ms. Tootsies has a feel good vibe!

I would give the restaurant 5 stars but their reservation process we didnt like. We couldnt get anyone to answer the phone for a week nor get any response about reservations. We thought maybe there was something wrong with the site. We went out to Philly anyway and took a chance. There was a 2hour wait but it was Valentines Day weekend so no complaints. We waited. When we were seated its a cross between lounge & dining space but the ambiance is great they had it looking just as the website showed. There was a DJ playing great music. Upstairs it appeared to be a nightclubish area. Now the Food. Best Soul Food Ever In The Tri-state Area...Seasonings On Point...And Great Portions...We were surprised at the muffins..a nice twist but delicious. I will be back just to try the dessert because we were all full but still had enough time to take home for later. Great Menu & Drinks...Well Priced💞😍😚💖 Made for an Amazing Valentines Dinner.

I really enjoyed this place. The food was delicious the service was fantastic.The appetizer was a platter that was so large we thought we wouldnt have been able to eat the entree.I had the turkey with yams and mashed potatoes as the entree and it was delectable. In all honesty this was one of the best dining experiences Ive had in a while. I would wholeheartedly recommend that you give this place a try, its totally worth it!

Omg 😍 this place right here is the best Ive ever had they are so nice the cook comes out and greets everyone shes cooking for she even gave my daughter free fruit and Waffles. Only thing is you have to make reservations after a certain time and you have to wait for a confirmation so if you want to go I recommend rsvp a week ahead. They also have parking 🅿 meters that you have to use or the ppa will tow your car. But ms tootsie staff will let you know if they are about to tow a car which again saved me. I love this place

I really enjoyed the food and the quick service from staff here. The portion sizes are huge, so definitely worth the price!

Nice atmosphere, good food, and the staff are very welcoming.

I loved it!!!! Great food, great service, nice atmosphere, warm ambiance.... Im definitely coming back!!!! I brought my Fiance for her birthday and she absolutely loved it.

The food is sooooooo delicious. The ambience was amazing and the level of customer service was great as well. I was visiting from Cali and I was more impressed with their soul food, then I was with the philly steak sandwich (other food placeshunt I went on. I will definitely be returning when come back. FYI the provide you with complimentary cornbread muffins and they are so bomb. . .along with this unique tasting butter. Ugh. . .and the lobster mac n cheese. . .I just cant. Everything was well seasoned and delicious.

So good! Authentic, lovely hospitality, superbly warm and tasty. Their fried chicken platters are a no brained. Lots of sides. I like the black-eyed peas and candied sweet potatoes 🍠 (“yams”myself. They also have fried fish options and they open the meal with a delectable corn muffin served with a strawberry 🍓 butter.

Wow.....best dinner in a while. The cornbread muffin with the strawberry honey butter is spectacular. I had the spicy crab cakes for an appetizer and they are hands down some of the best crab cakes I ever had. The main course was shrimp and grits, with black eye peas and cabbage with peppers, it was awesome. Best grits and everything had the right amount of spice. You have to try this place if you are in the area.

It was just OK!!!! Im from the South and the food wasnt great! The atmosphere was nice but the staff needs more training for sure! they were nice but it was obvious they need more work. The place is really small and the cornbread has a ton of sugar in it which made it taste like a cupcake. My cabbage was too spicy and my salmon had way too much sauce on it! Lots of work to be done but it has potential.

On a Saturday (you better get here early), I took my BFF and daughter here for the first time, We waited 2 hours before finally getting our table. Ive been here before to eat, so I knew it was worth the wait! They both agreed it was worth the wait, they loved the food, everything we ordered was so damn good. It was also such a coincidence that our waitress name was August, which is my youngest daughters name😄😄 Best place to get Soul Food, good music and tasty drinks🍸🍸🍸. I ❤❤❤ Ms. Tootsies

One of the hostess was a lil rude and I dont care for there policy of waiting for the whole party to arrive to get seated but once we were seated we were tooken care of food was good but son had some chicken that wasnt done didnt know til he ate the rest of his peices at home I think I might like the take out better

Great chill spot. Enjoyed sitting at the bar, eating soul food and listening to music. Service was great!

Ive been to several soul food restaurants in Philadelphia. Ive tried Warmdaddys and Relish but the one that has the best food is Ms Tootsies. The catfish and the turkey chops as well as the macaroni and cheese are some of the best items on the menu. They are seriously delicious. The only item that was a disappointment was the turkey wings and thats because they were dry. However, the fried chicken is super crispy and juicy, the buffalo shrimp was amazing. I mean literally almost everything is good, now I will say the cornbread muffins and their iced tea is a bit on the sweet side so if you have to kind of stay away from sugar those items would be a problem. The only thing I dont like is that they dont take reservations so getting a table is an issue and you have to wait around a lot.

Ms. Tootsies is Dynamite!! Good portion size and party like atmosphere. It has 3 levels and all 3 fill up fast. So, reservations is a must. Im not a fan of the unisex bathroom Or the steep steps. However, the house punch is sweet but refreshing.

Ms. Tootsies is always a staple for trips back home. The Turkey wings is my favorite. Great atmosphere for dates or a night out with friends. Ive always had great service.

There are some things you come to expect from certain restaurants such as foul customer service, bad food, bad attitudes, screwed up orders, and a lack of parking. Tootsie fits all of the above and the TO GO service and experience was a hellified nightmare. Its listed phone number went straight to an error message several times during business hours. When I finally got through the male who answered the phone was rude and irritated for having to explain menu items. Once that dramatic episode played out, he said the order, smothered pork chops & catfish dinners, would be ready in 30 minutes. No problem, right. Wrong. We arrived to find NO PARKING within several square miles. One would think that Tootsie would give customers the heads up as a courtesy and for convenience. We parked illegally, hoping to run in and out before the parking enforcer returned. Not only was the order NOT READY, it HAD NOT BEEN PLACE because that rude guy "forgot" to expedite it to the kitchen. Got back into the car and called to speak with a manager. The same rude guy at the host stand out front of the restaurant answered and said that no managers were available, "theyre all busy." I explained that we were sitting in the car across from the restaurant, illegally park. He asked if he could take a message and have a manager call when one was available. Clearly this guy suffers from too much air to the brain. I got out of the car, went into the restaurant, asked for a manager, and within moments, one stepped from the kitchen. This male manager was courteous, empathetic, and very professional. But that did not make up for the inedible smothered pork chops that tasted like a pillar of salt and paste-like gravy, the too-sweet mushy yams and cornbread, food truck mash potatoes and jacked-up mac & cheese. No way in hell were we going to eat this. It ended up exactly where it belongs, IN THE HOTEL TRASH. I would not recommend Tootsie to anyone looking for QUALITY SOUL FOOD OR AN UPSCALE SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT. The Tootsie Pop candy that came with the order tasted better than the food. Not a good impression of soul food in Philly for a visitor.

The food is delicious and they make really good drinks. They also play old school 90s R&B so when you come prepare to have a nice time.

Such a good time, check this place out. Fried chicken was on point! Drinks were so good too. Great Philly experience.

The atmosphere, service, and food was awesome. I love soul food and Ive had alot, so this was a different experience. My drink was worth the price and Id return again. First-time!Sold!

Overall, the food here is really good. The greens were flavorful, but a little heavy on the salt this time. The cocktails were delicious! My friends and I arrived shortly after opening and were seated immediately. This was great as the restaurant does not accept same-day reservations, but will accept walk-ins.