Her Place

★★★★★ 4.5 (64)

"Reservations are released every Sunday for the next two weeks (different in 2024 than in the past) at 3pm PST (6pm EST) and the menu is different every 2 weeks. Amanda has really done something special in Philadelphia. Coming here was such a treat. It's a small restaurant so the atmosphere was very warm and cozy, but the size wasn't what made it cozy, it was the head chef. I have never been to a restaurant where the whole restaurant was silenced so that she could walk through every little detail on the menu. It was so great to hear about every pairing and ingredient and she also presented the add on options that are available for the day. Certain items come in pairs, and it's done like that on purpose so it can complement one another. The first course was an orange salad with fete de moines (funky cow milk cheese) and hazelnuts. It was delicious. If you don't know, oranges and cheese pair very very well together. The crunch of the hazelnuts also added the extra layer that elevated this appetizer. What came with this was the English muffin and a foie gras spread on top with spots of fig jam. The sweetness of the fig jam complemented the foie gras very well. It was delicious. The second pair that came out was the fried skate cheeks (fish) with a tartar sauce and a celery root slaw. This was like the fish in fish and chips. The batter was very light and crispy and the tartar sauce was also full of flavor yet not thick and overpowering. But the star of the show was the celery slaw. It paired so well with the fried fish. You get the taste of celery to know that you're eating celery, but it is soft and easy to eat and feels so refreshing when eating something fried. What came as a pair was a broiled scallop with a trumpet butter gratin. The bed of gratin that was so good. I added the beef tartare and hands down it was the best tartare I've ever had. They fermented/pickled peppers from the summer and that was on top of the tartare as a kind of sauce. It was amazing. The tartare was so flavorful and fresh and tasted like summer because of the pepper sauce. What came after was one of the main courses. It was a potato ravioli and the chef described it as a campbells soup but better and I would have to say it's definitely better. The spinach was so sweet and the tomatoes were so fresh. So yes, I guess campbells but way fresher and better ingredients. Another main was the duck breast with red wine sauce. I actually thought this dish was one of the worst ones of the night (worst of the best). What this was paired with was the star though. It was a duck leg confit salad with nuts, pickled, and shallots. It was so delicious and the ingredients worked so well together. For dessert there was a pavlova dessert with citrus sorbet on the inside. A pavlova is a meringue based dessert. And this one had this as the shell with the sorbet in the middle. I paid extra for a crepe cake and it was definitely worth it. Many delicious layers with a chocolate sauce."

Charley Dove

★★★★☆ 4.3 (33)

"Audrey Claire was one of the first restaurants I went to in Philly over ten years ago. Over the years I went back several times and it was always great. Delicious Mediterranean food, BYOB, and a bustling atmosphere that is casual and cozy but still classy. Somewhere you could bring your foodie friend and your picky friend. Charley Dove preserves all of that and offers a slightly more adventurous menu, and due to the pandemic, a way bigger outdoor space. Interior is underrated but cute- tiny glasses and succulents.We went early on a Tuesday (5:45) and had the place to ourselves. We opted for indoor bc of the heat but it may actually have been hotter inside (fans but no central air). Service was great, attentive but not overbearing. The kind of place that brings you an ice bucket for your wine and a pitcher of water but doesn't pour it for you.Food was delicious! They brought out a complimentary goat cheese ball amuse bouche, then we ordered the octopus (loved the sauce) and cauliflower (maybe a bit overcooked but delicious) and whole branzino and veal short rib. The short rib was fall off the bone tender and I loved the Israeli couscous with pomegranate. The fish was perfectly deboned but served with the tail and head and the most delicious sauces. We were going to pass on dessert but the waiter overheard me wish my friend happy birthday and they sent out the chocolate ganache with candied orange peel and olive oil (so rich and so good!)In love with Charley Dove, and glad we dove in to try this new place! To another generation of kids names after this neighborhood gem!"

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."

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"

Café Click

★★★★★ 4.5 (13)

"This Stephen Starr pop-up restaurant opened recently (6/21/2022) in front of the Comcast center, directly across from where my wife works. She said it looked like an oasis--it's surrounded by beautiful trees and plants--and after seeing all the classic French favorites on the menu, I couldn't wait to check it out. Normally it can be difficult to get a reservation, but going on the Friday night of the July 4th holiday weekend certainly solved that problem.Note: this restaurant is only open weekdays!Given the plethora of Parisian plates (some very similar to what Parc offers), I had a hard time deciding what to order first, so I started off with East Coast Oysters on the Half Shell, and have to say they're the best I've ever had! The cocktail sauce had shreds of incredibly fresh horseradish sprinkled on top, a detail that really brought it to the next level. My wife had the Shrimp Cocktail, which looked amazing. I didn't sample it but she said it was fabulous.I followed with a Niçoise salad, a longtime favorite of mine: I still remember my first ever in its birthplace of Nice, France. So I had high expectations and I have to say that this one really hit all the marks. It's quite large so perhaps plan to share it. Alas, my wife doesn't eat anchovies, but let it be said that the anchovies in this salad are the ultra high quality ones you'd actually get in France, with a delicate flavor and none of the fishy saltiness of the normal variety.For dessert, our server told us about three different options: 1) Pair of éclairs (chocolate and vanilla); 2) Creme Caramel; or 3) Strawberries with Chantilly creme. My wife ordered the Creme Caramel and positively devoured it, but that was OK since I was fully enamored with my very ample portion of strawberries on bed of ultra-light whipped creme.We definitely will be going back to try their other offerings . Kudos also to the very attentive, friendly and personable staff."

Le Caveau

★★★★☆ 4.3 (15)

"Came here with friends a few weeks ago just for a drink and saw the menu items and was very excited. The drinks we got that night were good so I decided to come back. The old fashioned is delicious (albeit strong) and definitely worth it. The french bread they give you is phenomenal and perfectly crusty on the outside with a nice fluffy give on the inside. I tried the fried oysters with roe and some kind of sauce and I must say that the sauce was not appealing. There was so much of it and the flavor was odd for my taste. Maybe I have just never had that flavor before but even if I had, there was so much - what I would essentially call - mayo/aioli. I had to scrape a TON off to even taste the oyster. However, the oyster was perfectly cornmeal breaded and the roe was a nice addition. I also tried one of the cheeses and that was perfectly pleasant and a nice palate cleanser between my other course. The real star of the show (besides the old fashioned) was the smoked whitefish rillettes. I loved smoked whitefish so I may be a bit biased here but it came in this little jar topped with a layer of butter and/or fat that created this shell you had to break through to get to the good stuff. Paired with the aforementioned perfect bread - it was amazing. My only critique would be that there was maybe a little too much of the butter/fat - but that's just me. I would have liked a better proportion since I'm not a huge fan of that. Atmosphere-wise, this place is charming. It's small but not too small, good drinks but not too expensive, classy but not too pretentious, a really good vibe for happy hour, dinner of light snacks to share, and a little bit of a hidden gem as it's upstairs from Good King Tavern (look for the one door on the side for entry). I will be back to try other foods and look forward to their ever-changing menu."

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!"

Sofi Corner

★★★★☆ 4.2 (64) • $$

"My second time coming here and loved it both times.. the food is delish, very flavorful, and I love that it is not your typical breakfast or lunch. The dessert tray we devoured. It's such a cute place, with cute decor, knowledgeable staff, and you can tell the owner cares. After coming here twice, and all of us trying almost everything on the menu my favorites are 1. Croque Madam 2. Tefta Tangine 3. The "crookie" (cookie crossant)"

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."

Forsythia

★★★★☆ 4.4 (214) • $$$

"To say that I had a very delicious and memorable meal at Forsythia would be an understatement!A friend and I happened upon this spot on a hot as hell evening in Philadelphia. There was an available table for us right away and we both loved the atmosphere and vibe in the restaurant.We decided to share out a bunch of apps and ordered cocktails. We got:The Ay Dios Miso-a cocktail of Tequila, Serrano-Miso Honey, Pomegranate, Scotch and Lime, and,The Benedict Cucumber Patch-which was made from Gin, Salers, House-Made Grenadine, Lime, CucumberBoth cocktails were perfectly balanced and fantastic!We shared an order of beet deviled eggs and an heirloom tomato salad that was truly special. Also forgot to mention super fresh foccaccia was brought to the table with a a honey and turmeric butter. YES!!!These after that we each ordered the escargot and the kale and cheese crepe app for ourselves respectively.And after all of THAT, we shared the Caramel Tart-which was a spectacular combination of sour cherry and nutella cremieux with a citrus meringue.I mean, this was an overall exceptional experience. Our server Devon was also 100%, attentive, friendly and engaging."

Parc

★★★★☆ 4.2 (3370) • $$$

"Fantastic French bistro inspired restaurant. Wonderful atmosphere, good size menu, friendly service and pretty good food. The French Onion Soup was excellent, really enjoyed that. I also had the steak frites... that I was somewhat disappointed as the cut of meat was not very good, had a lot of gristle and nowhere near enough fries for a frites dish.But honestly, I still loved the place. Something about the overall atmosphere that was warm and inviting. Will definitely go back next time I am in Philly."

Café Lutecia

★★★★☆ 4.2 (220) • $$

"Omg the cutest brunch place in the neighborhood!I walked by countless times but either it looked dark and closed or all the outdoor tables were full and I didn't wanna wait.Now I know that a) they were actually closed thos times lol, the glass just looks dark from the outsideAnd b) we have lovely neighbors who are generally respectful and do not dawdle and take up space when others are obviously waiting so the line moves fast. The service was very friendly but low key and the food came very quickly. Overall the menu is very no-frills, not trying to be edgy or "interesting" per se. I wouldn't say the food is what draws me here. It's more the ambiance and the whole package. But I do like that none of the food sounded too heavy. Just simple light cafe food. I enjoyed a lovely duck salad and a cup of soup. Both were light but comforting and seasoned very well. Was eyeing the quiche or a ham sandwich but maybe next time! Very dog friendly place also. The coffee was... Aiight. Would not come here just for coffee. But definitely will be back for a chill day off late morning brunch and friendly neighborhood vibes."

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!"

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!"

Chez Colette

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (44) • $$

"Five star friendliness, and two star food. We went for breakfast today - overcooked eggs, very mediocre pastries, in a place that bills itself as French-like, no less! Good thing, I guess, that our Sofitel room rate doesn't include breakfast, so we'll head somewhere else tomorrow. The restaurant folks here aren't trying hard enough."

Townsend Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (23)

"The best music the in the history of the world. Ever.And since I need to write more characters... the drinks are good too."

Bar Lesieur

★★★★☆ 4.3 (40)

"Food was excellent! We split the tuna tartare, mushroom carpaccio, and veal sweetbreads to start. The tuna had a little spice to it. Mushrooms were amazing. And I recommend googling what a sweetbread is since it could change your mind. But it was delicious! They give you 3 pieces of bread with your meal. For mains we got the duck and the scallops. The duck was very flavorful. The sea scallops were a little lackluster. Servers were very attentive!"

Artisan Boulanger Patissier

★★★★★ 4.5 (236) • $

"tl;dr skip the oft-recommended pistachio croissant in favor of this inviting, family-run bakery's more savory optionsArtisan Boulanger Patissier is a popular French-Vietnamese bakery, opened back in 2002 ago by husband-and-wife team Andre Chin and Amanda Eap. A Cambodian refugee, Chin escaped to France and studied cooking and baking in Paris, before he and Eap wed and moved to South Philly. Over the years, the patisserie became most well known for the nut-flavored croissants and bread leaves, earning them multiple James Beard Award nominations.The shop is built into the corner of a side-street townhouse. A maroon-and-white awning hangs over the window planters and black metal patio furniture. The inside is bright and inviting. Floral-cushioned benches are built into the window alcoves. The pastries are meticulously arranged onto ornate dishware on the white-marble display counter. The chalkboard menu and a portrait of the late Chin hang on the subway-tiled wall behind the counter. Red-and-white woven chairs are pressed up to rounded marble tables at the far end of the room.When we arrived, one of the friendly staff members gave us a quick rundown of the entire pastry lineup. Enthused by all the options, we decided to dine in and split an assortment of items: an Almond Stick (the last one!), a Pistachio Croissant, and a special Ham and Cheese Croissant. My friend's favorite item was the almond stick: long, dense, and flaky, with an even layer of semisweet almond paste. Meanwhile, my partner and I preferred the ham and Swiss croissant was drizzled with rich bechamel sauce, toasted up, and served on a porcelain dish. While slightly soggy on the inside, the exterior was flaky, and the combination of flavors was absolutely delicious. The size and flavors felt hearty enough to be a standalone breakfast. Lastly, the pistachio croissant was the only letdown -- the pine-green filling was overwhelmingly sweet and only moderately reminiscent of pistachio.The bill ran a little under $20, and we were satisfied but not stuffed. While Artisan has to compete against some superstar South Philly bakeries, it nonetheless blends quality with comfortable, neighborhood-oriented service. While I wouldn't recommend the popular pistachio croissant, be sure to snatch up a ham and cheese one the next time they are on special."

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!!!"

Vintage Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (448) • $$

"Me and my wife stopped by vintage Wine Bar literally to get some wine on the way home from hanging out with friends across the street from this place. I was always attracted to how dimly lit and classic the place looked from the outside and we figured why not. At first, we were sitting just outside the open window but it was a bit too loud outside and we really couldn't enjoy the atmosphere. We asked to be moved to the back and they quickly got a table ready for us which was pretty cool. We didn't intend on ordering food but a couple of few tables down had the most exquisite looking lamb shank on that their plate so we figured it would pair well with a wine the wait staff suggested that pretty amazing wine. Was it good? Absolutely! We enjoyed the combination of the lamb shank which tasted just as good as it looked of course we are going to add vintage Wine Bar into the rotation now!"

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."

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!"

My Loup

★★★★★ 4.5 (73) • $$$$

"We sat at the bar table and it was a vibe. Very busy as a fine dining spot, but I got the hype! They change menu daily based on what is fresh.＊ Sea Urchin, Sweet Potato *They mashed sea urchin and sweet potato into a creamy mixture, and delicately poured it into a sea urchin shell. Breadcrumbs were added for extra crunch and texture. I appreciated the creativity of flavors and presentation of this starter.＊ Green Garlic Escar-roll **MY FAVORITE of the night or maybe even in the entire Philly trip. It was a brioche roll soaked in green garlic sauce packed with chunks of escargot, topped with shredded cheese. So so soooo buttery. A tasty match made in heaven. ＊ Duck Breast, Kumquats, Beets My friend's favorite! Perfectly cooked meat with a golden crispy skin and pinkish center. The kumquats and beets were some delightful sides to dip with the sauce.＊ Littleneck Clams, Fennel, Kielbasa, Vermouth The saltiness from fennel sausages and briny taste of the clams blended pretty well tgt. It came with French fries with malt vinegar aioli which we really enjoyed。＊ Banoffee Pie Eclair **I am a sucker for banoffee pies and this eclair version was incredible. It featured a choux pastry shell filled with layers of toffee cream, sliced bananas, and whipped cream. I wish this could be on the menu forever so I could order it again. ＊ Rosemary Fig HighballA rosemary-forward mocktail. Very refreshing and appetizing to pair with our meal."

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"