The Yummiest French in Philadelphia

Laurel

★★★★☆ 4.4 (374) • $$$$

"One of the finest culinary experiences in South Philadelphia and possibily all of Philadelphia but is it worth it?I changed my mind approximately four times on choosing a restaurant to go to for a big birthday number for myself however I decided upon Laurel as this birthday was a milestone and I had never had a wine pairing dinner before this occasion which Laurel offered.First of six courses started with a magical presentation of two large oysters over gorgeous rock pebbles that had water poured into them by our server to elicit a smoke rise from the small bowl. Presentation A++. Oysters were bathed in Honey and Camomile on the left side of the oyster. This was a great way to start the experience but I feel obligated to mention when you break down the cost you just ate a $30.00 oyster LOL. Ahhh...Talk about splurging for a birthday.I enjoyed all the wine pairings except the last pairing for dessert. Only criticism I have concerning the wine pairing is I hear most venue's refill pretty quickly once you finish the glass. One of the servers refilled my glass once. Now to be fair the food is coming out very fast at this restaurant, entree after entree very quickly, so it is hard to really time to refill a patron's glass before the next entree/wine pairing, but for $115 for premium wine pairing I think that is worth a mention. You can choose the $85 wine pairing or the $115 premium wine pairing, in my opinion if you are electing to go to a restaurant of this stature opt for the premium and trust the wine sommelier that they task with this service.To summarize, romantic atmosphere creating an intimate dining experience with delicious high end food accompanied with elegant service. Only you can decide if you prefer a more traditional dining experience that is more laid back or a six course set menu prepared by some of the finest culinary masters.As always people SYOY!!!"

Louie Louie

★★★★☆ 3.9 (459) • $$$

"First review of the month and we're starting off with a neighborhood favorite that I'm trying for the first time after all these years! I've been here for happy hour with friends but I've never actually had dinner here. My wife and I had a child free night and decided to stay local and finally try Louie Louie. We immediately started off with the brioche bread which I assumed would be good but not spectacular as it was. Brad was very soft and the marinated heirloom tomatoes with the truffle butter paired so well. I literally could have filled up on that bread. Our server who was amazing, suggested a nice house wine to pair with the bread and our food and he was on point with his selection. I ordered braised short rib which was tender as it could possibly get in so flavorful. The only thing I wished there was less of was roasted carrots and potatoes but I am not complaining at all. I can't even remember the name of a dessert, but it was basically like a cheesecake with a chard orange slice nestled in between it. That was simply amazing. It was super loud there but it was a busy Saturday night and the ambiance was alive and electric. I can't wait to come here for happy hour again and try some happy hour bites. My only tip is to come early because parking is crazy!! Really crazy! lol"

The Good King Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.2 (374) • $$

"We've always heard good things about the Good King Tavern, but never thought to come by. I'm really glad we finally checked it out last month because all the good things we heard are true.I have to admit what really brought us here was the fact that they're DOG FRIENDLY! Since we came with our dog, we had to sit outside, but there are plenty of tables inside for indoor dining as well. Even though the outdoor seating area is on the sidewalk, this street is pretty quiet with not a lot of foot or car traffic, which makes this set up so ideal. There is also an awning attached to the restaurant, keeping guests protected from the sun or light rain. As for the food, everything we had from the beginning to end was delicious and on point. During dinner, my husband knocked over his glass of wine. Even though this was completely his fault, our server felt bad and comped our dessert, which was incredibly nice of her. Overall, we all had a great time. Service was great, and the food was very delicious. A lot of times, when we bring our dog out to eat with us, we have to sacrifice eating well. But NOT at the Good King Tavern. Here, we can have our cake and eat it too. I foresee us having a lot of doggie dinner dates here!"

Caribou Cafe

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (389)

"The Caribou Café has always been a favorite place to stop for a bite in the city. The restaurant is cozy and pretty, the food is always exquisitely delicious, and the service is routinely as pleasant as one could possibly hope. Last night, I was pleased to find that, although there are new owners, everything was just as wonderful as I have always found it to be. Our experience was completely delightful. 3/7/24"

Creme Brulee Bistro & Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (197) • $$

"I've only been here twice, but I will definitely be back a ton more. This spot is the perfect location for a hearty breakfast or a sweet or savory treat. Not only is the food filling and delicious, the prices are really affordable as well. Both times I've come here, my kiddo has gotten the green juice and granola with yogurt and berries. He's not too great with his numbers yet, but based on his reaction to the food and the fact that he eats it all up, I'd say he'd agree with a 10 out of 10. He also really loves that we go inside for a special bakery treat before heading home. Ok fine, I'm not going to lie. It's really me that refuses to leave this place without a delicious treat. For me, I get the eggs with bacon and potatoes. The food is plentiful, fresh and cooked perfectly. Sometimes the kid and I trade a few bites too so we get to try 2 dishes instead of 1. That's a win in my book. So if your looking for something savory, something sweet, something hot or cold, this is your new place to check out."

Amuse

★★★★☆ 3.6 (168) • $$$

"Amuse usually means to entertain or charm; however, this Amuse is the sorely-understaffed-but-with-totally-charming-staff Le Meridien Hotel lobby bar and restaurant in downtown Philadelphia. My advice is to not consider it a destination for food and drinks ... unless that objective includes a guest room in the hotel.Because I was staying here for several nights, I definitely found Amuse convenient for a late-night cocktail (or 6) as well as some nibbles to help pass the time. Nothing was horrible ... and nothing was delightful either. I could easily order the Classic French Onion Soup ($8) with 3-cheese Gratin or the board with French Brie and Prosciutto ($14) plus Dried Fruit, Candied Nuts, and Stoneground Mustard again ... or not ... either way, really.Because the service was sooooo slow, I quickly learned to double-up on orders with Makers Mark Old Fashioneds, Bombay Sapphire Gin Mules, and bottles of Dogfish Head 60-minute IPAs satisfying me while my mates opted for Cranberry and Vodka cocktails or classic Tanquery Gin and Tonics.I don't hate Amuse and you really shouldn't either ... as long as your already at the Le Meridien Hotel. Otherwise, Amuse really wasn't charming or entertaining, or staffed enough to be a destination restaurant or bar."

Sontuosa

★★★★☆ 4 (102) • $$

"Food is authentic! Service is great! Indoor and outdoor dining spaces are very pleasant!One thing to consider: Food portion is not large for the price."

Mabu Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (73) • $$

"Mabu Kitchen is a favorite of friends who live in Society Hill. No denying our meals were delicious. The experience however, was somewhat below five stars.Though not a fan of kale, my friend insisted I'd love the chicory kale salad. She was right! (I regretted getting one portion to share with T.) Frisee, radicchio, honeycrisp apple, pepitas, poppyseed vinaigrette ..... it worked beautifully. Apparently, one can order the salad as an entree, topped with shrimp.The fish of the night was hake. Our server described it as milder than cod, moist and flavorful. Looooved it! (See my photo.) It was a toss-up between hake or the roasted brick chicken. Based on a taste my friend offered, that too is an excellent choice. The brick keeps the skin crisp and the flesh of the bird moist. Prepared with broccolini and smashed potatoes in pan jus, it's on my list for next time. While certainly good, my husband's confit fried chicken wasn't as "exciting" as the other entrees.Several desserts are listed on the menu, all sounding delish. My friends shared something apple-y. They loved it. T and I went with banana pudding, which may be the best banana pudding I've ever had.So where did the restaurant fall short? It's BYOB without a corkage fee. That's great! But the restaurant is small with some tables one-on-top of the other. During peak hour, it was hard to carry on conversation. Plus the dining room was hot! Did the air conditioner work? Our fish was brought out way before the chicken. (Do we eat, or politely let our meals go cold as we wait?!) There are a few tables outside. Al fresco would be my preference, but my friend said the chairs are uncomfortable, which hurt their backs.When all is said and done, would I return? Yes, in a heartbeat!"

Liberte Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (99) • $$$

"So, my friend and I were walking back the car from Love park and decided to take a quick detour into the Hotel Sofitel in Philly. For starters, the lobby was very inviting with a welcoming aroma - not food but a lovely scent - so we wandered into the lounge to find happy hour specials. Well, thank goodness we did! We hit the jackpot! Happy hour was in full effect as cocktails were 1/2 off! Yeah!!Our bartender, Kellen, was superb! I mean, STUPENDOUS!! His recommendations were even more tasty than they sounded! He served me up the famous Libertè with a twist of - his special ingredient - that was delectable! It was the perfect mix of sweet and ummm sweet! Just how I like it! My friend ordered the cheesesteak rolls and loved them! Perfect appetizer to the real thing! #wheninPhillyDefinitely hit the Libertè Lounge and get served up a tasty cocktail from the friendly bartender Kellen!"

Matines Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (42) • $$

"My friend and I had brunch at Matines Cafe a few weeks ago when we were in Philadelphia. It's tiny but so charming. We sat outside, which was gorgeous and very comfortable. My friend and I ordered the same thing - their smoked salmon tartine (with cucumber, tzatziki cream, lemon pepper, olive oil, and augula), which was really good - fresh, bright, light, and delicious. We had a couple of coffees as well. There's a small shop at the entrance to the cafe, and the interior of the cafe is as cute as the outside seating area. The service was great. Overall, it's a great place for a quick brunch or for a pastry and coffee to go!"