White Dog Cafe - Haverford

"Do we really need reservations?" I asked my friend. (It was Tuesday afternoon, 1:30-ish.) Yep! The place was hopping.Vacillating over what to order I decided on the lunch combo: an open face tuna melt with "Green Meadow farm bacon" on toasted sourdough. It came with field greens and a ramekin of soup. The sandwich was okay. Likely a one time deal for me. But the soup?! Mushroom soup with chives and truffle creme fraiche. A bowl with a hunk of crusty buttered bread is my idea of a perfect lunch.Five stars for the beet and arugula salad, prepared with goat cheese, herb creme fraiche and crisp polenta croutons. It's my friend's go-to dish, without even looking at the menu.White Dog Cafe is beautifully decorated. A great setting for "ladies that lunch." At $13 a glass, wine is more than I'd like to spend for a mid-day meal. But hey, that's me.

This place is great, although expensive, but perfect for a special dinner. I really appreciate how Philly restaurants have outposts in the surrounding suburbs that are easily accessible without having to go all the way into the city. The white dog has plenty of parking out front, some limited outdoor seating that I wouldn't bother with since it's practically in the parking lot, and three separate areas indoors to dine. They have a bar area and booths, a bright and cheery area with many tables for two, and a section further in the back where I've seen large parties sitting. I never really focus so much on the surroundings and decor in my yelp reviews, but here I felt like it was necessary, since their whole brand is built around quirky dog decorations in cozy spaces. Their food is very good, better than other places you'll find in the area, but again be ready to pay. Generally the cheapest entree on the menu costs $29. Their menu changes seasonally, and they always have delicious and innovative things to order. In the fall I've gotten calamari and a short rib dish, and this past weekend I got the spicy lamb bolognese (it wasn't particularly spicy) with a teeny little blob of pesto ricotta on top. It was very rich and delicious. My boyfriend got the double cheddar burger with truffle parm fries (not pictured), which he said were very good. That I think is available year round, along with their meatloaf which is also tasty.

Abysmally slow service really put this review at a disadvantage. Seems like WDC has far too many Chiefs and too few Indians as our poor, overworked server apparently had to double as a bartender while other staff milled by in their obliviousness. Ridiculous. We were all set to leave but then the fine deviled eggs arrived, heavy and well-filled. Pretty respectable. However, nothing prepared me for the meatloaf: About the best I've ever had, with the incredible mushroom sauce on the side (might need to ask for extra), with me also asking for the meatloaf to be pan-fried / extra crispy...and wow, this dish was excellent and huge, with the meatloaf nearly being fried pâté and accompanied by a tasty layer of perfectly done kale with young potatoes (this dish could almost be shared). Our side of pommes frisée, aka very fancy thinner mashed potatoes, were revelatory in their deliciousness. Excellent dark chocolate cake floating on crème anglaise with what I swore were mini mint cocopuffs. Genius. In terms of comfort, we enjoyed our large booths with endless wood everywhere. Plenty of parking, I cannot excuse the slow service (likely management's fault) but I have nothing but accolades for the cooking staff. P.S. That PA wine has got to go.

Five of us dined at the White Dog, which was really crowded for a Tuesday night in August. As usual, the food was outstanding. All five diners agreed that every morsel was perfect. Mushroom soup, matzo ball soup, panzanella salad, swordfish, trout, chocolate chip blondie sundae, etc. All sublime. Wine comes in too-small portions, like every other upscale restaurant. Things can get noisy. We could hear the loud voices at the next table, which was not enjoyable, but I don't know how that could be fixed. I definitely want to heap praise on our server, Manya, she is an absolute treasure. She has a big smile every time she shows up, which is not easy considering how difficult and stressful the job is. She was professional, efficient and thoroughly delightful. We'd come back just to be served by Manya.

White Dog Cafe offers a delightful brunch experience with attentive service and delicious food. The warm donuts appetizer stole the show, closely followed by the homemade seasonal brunch bread, currently featuring a yummy banana bread. My beet and arugula salad, with a smart substitution of avocado for cheese and the addition of jumbo blackened shrimp, provided a perfect balance of flavors and textures. The ambiance exudes good vibes, and the restaurant attracts a steady stream of customers, so making a reservation during peak hours is advisable. Overall, White Dog Cafe delivers a memorable brunch outing, and I recommend it for anyone looking for a satisfying and enjoyable dining experience.

Where do I start with one of the go to places around the Philly area? Do you go for the atmosphere? The stellar food selections or the amazing team that works there? That's this establishments 3 star approach. From the moment you walk in until the time we walked out, food is like artwork there....an experience for the mouth! And the ambiance is just as pleasing! Decor and design inside this place is reason enough to go. Soak in the original artwork, handcrafted sculptures, and one of a kind pieces! Lastly this staff here and at the Wayne location are at the top of their game. Our wait staff was fabulous, smiling, engaging and prompt. And Max, you are a one of a kind- breath of fresh air! I'm bringing a copy of Truman Capote to my next dining session! 5 stars!

Decent food that's pricey, but fresh, in a farmhouse-homey aesthetic. My husband and I enjoyed our dinner at White Dog Cafe. Service was friendly but slow--we looked at each other at one point and wondered what the holdup was. But soon enough we got our food. The green curry mussels were tender and flavorful. Loved the use of dill and the toasted bread. The heirloom tomato salad was perfectly dressed and very light and summery. We ordered it with chicken, which was a bit dry but tasty given the seasoning. The orecchiette was, as my husband put it, "a challenging dish" in that the broccoli rabe was very, very bitter, but I thought it was still decent. Glad it wasn't swimming in oil or butter like some broccoli rabe dishes are in other places. Overall, we liked the food and thought it was fresh and tasty, if a bit overpriced.

Yes, there is a group of White Dog Cafés across the area. But if you're in or planning to be in Philadelphia, you just might want to begin and end your exploration at this particular outpost.The entire place is wonderfully whimsical without being too twee, forced, or formulaic. It's comfortable and has bar, booth, and table seating options. The bar area is a great place for people-watching, and the denizens of the city's historic Main Line make that activity particularly enjoyable.Equally enjoyable? The excellent, friendly, and professional service, and the amazing food. Deviled eggs? With caviar topping? Oh, yes. Multiple items featuring those exceptional Kennet Square mushrooms? Check. Perfectly prepared burgers and sandwiches? Of course. Pulled pork sliders on house-baked Hawaiian-style rolls? Yes, please.You get the idea. Go for a delicious, leisurely, farm-to-table, locally sourced lunch, and make the rest of your day a LOT better.

Fantastic brunch spot in the suburbs. White Dog did not disappoint this Saturday. Friendly reminder, on a weekend, it is likely you'll have a 1+Hr wait with no reservation (bar seating here, however, is first come first served). Highly recommend the butternut squash soup. It's poured over candied pecans and thinly sliced green apples, it's amazing. The Avocado BLT was fantastic - large, full sandwich, and you can't go wrong with the truffle fries it comes with. Can't wait to come back.

Great ambiance, good service. Table was facing the kitchen - terrible. Hostess saw we weren't happy with table and didn't offer any option. BBQ short ribs was fine but cold potatoes and whatever else was on the plate was unappetizing and didn't work with the short ribs. Halibut special was very good. Somewhat disappointing experience.