The Drake Tavern

The Drake Tavern is a prime lunch spot located in Jenkintown, PA. Most popular among the twenties and thirties age group, The Drake Tavern is noted for creative pub food and the area’s best drink specials.

Though the dollar drafts reel in the after-work and dinner crowds, this establishment is more strongly recommended for lunch. Without the crowds, you can experience the pub atmosphere with faster service and fresher food. Lunch also means conversation while the music tends to rule out that possibility among the late night crowd.

Pub food at The Drake is often served with a twist. Irish and general seafood staples populate the menu, including mussels. Some of the appetizer portions are large enough for meals. Guests receive a sizeable amount of customization within the menu—the chicken dumplings, for example, come boiled or fried. Patrons also rave about The Drake’s burgers, noting that they cure most burger cravings.

Don’t rule out dessert at The Drake. Selections include sundaes, specifically the Guinness sundae. While most local pubs serve such desserts with Guinness ice cream, The Drake offers a more traditional sundae with vanilla ice cream drizzled in Guinness sauce. The hearty stout taste mixes steadily with the whipped cream, creating a thick, permeating taste.

The Drake has a large full-service bar. During off-peak hours, the bar does not impede the conversation or meals of guests seated in the dining area; it is situated central to the restaurant and to the side of the dining space. Drinks and entrees are mid-priced.

While this isn’t the most ethnic Irish pub setting, The Drake does have its own identity—somewhere between classic sports pub and the hip after-work spot. The pub will soon include an enclosed porch area to alleviate some of the crowd.

The Drake has limited parking at the rear of the store. During busier hours, guests will find parking on the side streets of Jenkintown, including metered parking across York Road. At night, there is a security presence around the parking lot. Police officers frequently cruise the area, ensuring guests’ safety. This is especially important as some evening patrons may have to park some distance away during busier times.

- by Tara M. Clapper, Philadelphia Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Tara M. Clapper

Tara M. Clapper is a full-time freelance writer residing just outside of Philadelphia. Tara enjoys exploring traditional and historical locations in the city as well as quirky and innovative restaurants and attractions. Tara utilizes her background in academic, service-based and traditional publishing to create insider-perspective articles. Her topics of interest include travel, weddings, Irish American culture, and geek subculture.