Welcome to New Wave Cafe
Nestled in the heart of Philadelphia, New Wave Cafe is a vibrant neighborhood bar known for its exceptional scratch-made comfort food and lively atmosphere. The menu boasts an array of hearty bar plates, such as standout Cheesesteak Spring Rolls and crispy Buttermilk Chicken Fingers, both beloved by patrons for their quality and generous portions. Diners rave about the diverse range of options, including a daily-changing pasta selection and flavorful buffalo wings. With a welcoming service and lively ambiance, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a game day or a casual dinner. A true gem where great food meets community spirit.
- 784 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147, United States784 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147, United States Hotline: +1 215-922-8484
Welcome to New Wave Cafe, a vibrant dining spot located at 784 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA. This cafe redefines casual dining with a menu that strikes a perfect balance between comfort food and culinary creativity. Known for its laid-back atmosphere, New Wave Cafe offers a diverse selection of dishes that cater to a variety of tastes. Whether you're craving a juicy burger or a hearty slice of pizza, this place has something for everyone.
One of the standout features of New Wave Cafe is its commitment to quality. As frequent patrons rave about the homemade dishes, it's clear that there’s a special touch in the preparation. Take the classic New Wave hamburger, available with a choice of toppings that allow you to customize your burger experience for just $17. The veggie option featuring creamy avocado and ranch dressing is another hit. And if you’re in the mood for something a bit more adventurous, their Fig and Prosciutto pizza showcases roasted figs, prosciutto, and goat cheese, all drizzled with balsamic glaze for $18 - a delightful blend of sweet and savory.
For those who love sides, New Wave Cafe doesn’t disappoint. Their HandCut French Fries ($7) and Sweet Potato Tots ($8) are perfect complements to any meal, with customers highly recommending the latter as a tasty upgrade. If you're after something heartier, the Buttermilk Chicken Strips have received rave reviews for their crispy perfection and rich flavor, reminiscent of a classic southern fried chicken experience.
The atmosphere here is equally inviting. Several reviews highlight the friendly service and the overall welcoming vibe that makes this cafe a staple for both locals and visitors alike. It’s a great place to gather with friends, watch a game, or simply enjoy a relaxing meal. As one customer put it, it’s the kind of place you'd want to come back to again and again - not just for the food, but for the experience.
So, whether you're visiting Philadelphia or a local looking for your next favorite haunt, New Wave Cafe promises a memorable dining experience filled with delicious offerings, friendly service, and an ambiance that invites you to unwind and savor every bite.

I love this place. The food has no business being as good as it is. They make so many of their dishes from scratch in house. The dishes are huge so you don’t need to order apps. I’ve tried the beyond burger, the bbq burger, the veggie sandwich, the turkey sandwich, the buttermilk chicken tenders, the Caesar salad, and the fried mozzerella. The only thing I would pass on is the veggie sandwich, there are just better veg options on the menu. The buttermilk chicken strips are made from scratch and are sooooo good. They are definitely marinating them overnight in buttermilk Red Rooster style but for half the price. I highly recommend upgrading to the sweet potato tots instead of fries, but the hand cut fries are good too. The service is always good and it’s never too crowded. The prices are great value for the quality and quantity of the food. I will keep coming back.

Different Cheesesteak #1191. It's a sneaky good cheesesteak. If I were young and hip, I would be a regular at New Wave Cafe. The cheesesteak came with sneaky good French fries. It passed the eye test mostly due to the seeded roll, red peppers, and a big pile of french fries. Provolone cheese. Very well-melted provolone cheese. A sneaky good amount of well-melted provolone cheese added a hardiness to each bite. Nothing really stood out. This cheesesteak by itself may not win any awards. But, all things considered; prime rib, french fries, presentation, decor, and service; I really liked it!! You know I don’t like 17.

really good choices of food and beer. Classic neighborhood bar that’s worth a visit.

We got the nachos, Brussel sprouts, short rib grilled cheese and salmon salads. Salmon was cooked well and seasoned perfectly. Grilled cheese was delicious. I would have preferred the Brussel sprouts were crispy personally. Food was hot, however, and served in a timely manner. Service was good. We were greated quickly and the waitstaff was friendly. There were several options for gluten free and vegetarian which was helpful. Overall, good experience. I would recommend trying this restaurant out!

New Wave Cafe was my first time going out to watch an Eagles game in Philly, and it was straight culture shock. I felt like I was watching a highly competitive college football game between two top 5 teams. On an 11 yard gain the bar would EXPLODE like a 60 yard TD run, so imagine how crazy they went when Saquon Barkley actually housed a 60 yard TD lol. It’s only week 3, I can’t imagine what it’s like come playoff time. New Wave pushed a TV up to the window for outdoor patrons, who didn't complain once about the glare that made the game borderline unwatchable. We sat in the sun and I ordered some buffalo wings and a couple aperol spritz's as I need to get my last few in as summer fades away. I was shocked at the quality of these wings. They were actually crack. The perfect amount of buffalo sauce, along with an ideal crisp on every bite. We almost ordered 10 more but had an early dinner, so we made a business decision. As the Eagles began to get the game under control, the desperate cries of "WHAT THE HELL SIRIANI" turned to "Okay, great win, but we need to stay focused for Tampa after what Atlanta did to us..." How can you not love Philly? IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews

Where to begin. Well we had a party of 15 people on more than likely the busiest day of the year, Super Bowl Sunday! The place was packed , though it wasn't ridiculously packed. With that being said, Sam and his serving crew were AMAZING!!!! This wasn't just for our group, they were SPOT ON for the whole Place! Tables around us would order drinks etc and would be served in above average time for that busy environment! Food was on time, food was awesome! It was an Awesome experience and Awesome place to celebrate The Birds bringing home our 2nd Lombardi! Thank you Sam and crew ! Keep up the OUTSTANDING work! Oh, put us in for Next Season SB when the Birds go for #3 !!!!

female bartender was very friendly and welcoming, food was excellent! The misses and myself had their version of the impossible burger and the hummus platter and tater tots. The only bad experience was the male bartender who was working kept skipping over everyone's songs on the jukebox so he could play what he wanted to hear. Very unprofessional but we didn't let him ruin our night and we will definitely be back again! Ethan the bartender is amazing! Very friendly and knowledgeable about drinks and the menu when you are ready to order.

7/17/20 My partner came her around 5PM on a Friday. There was outdoor seating available. The owner "Sam" immediately offered my service animal a piece of jerky and they accommodated him. We thank you for that. Sam is a very amusing, and friendly man and got my partner and I to laugh and feel comfortable trying out a new establishment. The server even brought extra cups of water that we could pour into his bowl so he could drink. I felt very comfortable as some restaurants are not so accommodating. Our server was very sweet, attentive, and did an amazing job. All the staff were so friendly. My service animal ordered the "Cheeseburger" with no bun or veggies and enjoyed it very much! This has to be some of the tastiest food I've had in a while! It's on the 2nd time I'm eating out since March. I love that they have vegan options! I ordered the "White Bean Hummus" which was amaaaazing. It was just the right consistency and flavor, it tasted FRESH and came with a great combination of veggies. I also ordered the "Veggie Burger" which happened to be the Beyond Burger so it's wonderful for those of us with soy intolerance/allergies. Added jalapeno and our server had pickles thrown on there as well. I rarely review about a "Side Salad" but the balsamic dressing was soooo good and unique! My date ordered the "Mozzarella" and the "Short Rib Grilled Cheese". I love how they come round shaped with such nice crunchy breading! He moaned after taking his first bite of the grilled cheese sandwich which is a huge sign he's satisfied. We are both major foodies so for us to find a place where we both loved and enjoyed the food and could both easily find something to order was great. Prices were reasonable and portions large. We both had to box some food up for later. We would MOST DEFINITELY return again to this establishment and this has secured a place in a top choice and restaurant in Philadelphia to visit. Keep up the great work guys and thanks for such an amazing and memorable experience! I recommend everyone to come here, you WON'T be disappointed and there is something for everyone! 5/5