Ye Olde Ale House

Ye Olde Ale House

By: Lily Cope

Just outside Philadelphia, in the suburban community of Lafayette Hill, surrounded by the rolling greens of Plymouth Whitemarsh’s golf courses, sits a local institution with more than six decades of history. Ye Olde Ale House has been serving hearty food, cold beer, and fresh seafood to the community for 60 years, with the past 38 guided by owner Chris Bass.

For Chris, who has spent nearly 50 years in the restaurant industry, Ye Olde Ale House isn’t just a business—it’s a gathering place that feels like home. “It’s a lot like Cheers,” he says. “People come in because it’s comfortable, familiar, and welcoming.”

The atmosphere reflects that spirit—casual and inviting, the kind of place where neighbors, golfers, and families alike can settle in for a satisfying meal. Open seven days a week for both lunch and dinner, the Ale House has become the go-to spot for everything from weeknight suppers to post-golf gatherings.

The menu leans into classic comfort food with a focus on freshness and value. Roast beef is the house specialty—Chris is quick to note it’s the dish that “keeps the doors open.” But seafood plays a starring role as well.

From fresh mussels (served white or red) and little neck clams to oysters, shrimp, and jumbo lump crab cakes, the seafood program has kept generations of customers coming back. Flounder, breaded on site, is another longtime favorite.

Chris has been buying seafood from the Samuels crew since before Samuels was even Samuels, and continues to rely on their products for consistency and quality. “They’ve always delivered what we need,” he says.

Ask any regular and they’ll tell you: Ye Olde Ale House offers quality food at reasonable prices, something that’s harder and harder to find. Pair that with attentive service, familiar faces, and a warm, neighborhood feel, and you have a restaurant that’s stood the test of time.

After nearly half a century in the restaurant business, Chris has simple advice for those just starting out: focus on consistency, take care of your team, and always put quality first.

Reservations are accepted but never required—adding to the casual, welcoming vibe that keeps guests returning week after week.