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name: Action Karate, address: 2235 York Rd, city: Jamison, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: Trainers, Active Life, Fitness & Instruction, Karate, Martial Arts, text: We stopped going to Action Karate in December 2016. It is now the end of March 2017, they charge $116 twice a month in advance. They keep charging my credit card no matter how many times I tell them to stop, we have not been there since before Christmas. They have now over charged me 7 times! 7 X $116 is $812. They won't return phone calls! Very disappointed with my experience with this place. Very unprofessional attitude and Sensei Mikes needs to educate himself first about doing business in the community. They tried to enforce a 9 month contract of lessons on a child. When told our child was uncomfortable with the Sensei Mike and would not continue after 2 lessons they would not let us leave and contacted a collection agency. STAY AWAY!!! This is the email I received from Action Karate Jamison, with the header "Notice of Delinquency", just now.
I had cancelled many, many, many years ago (about 5 years ago) and have since moved out of the area. I had cancelled both by phone and in writing through certified mail.
In one of the plans when you sign up, which is what they did for us, they take your credit card information and then automatically charge you every month.
"Dear *****,
Your last payment was not processed successfully. This could be for a number of reasons ranging from a change of account, non-sufficient funds or expiration date.
Our processor will try to deduct your monthly payment two more times this month to bring your account up to date. You can also make a payment at Action Karate. Just a reminder that it can take up to 6 business days for your payment to process depending on the day of the draft.
Disregard this notice if you have already made a payment at the school to bring your account current. Please give us a call to let us know if there are any changes to your account or if you have any questions regarding your payments.
Thank you in advance for attention in this matter" My son has been doing karate for 5 years starting at the age of 3 in the Mommy & me classes. Over the past 5 years he has had a lot of struggles. One of his many struggles was wanting to quite multiple times. Having to go through the summer and taking time away from his friends and family. He also got bored at times. His father & I sat down with Sinsei Michael and him and we talked me into following through.
He truly has had multiple triumphs at Action Karate. One being winning trophies at the tournaments. I also think the self discipline and self control have not only helped him triumph with his martial arts but has also made him a better student in school. Hoping his biggest triumph is getting his junior black belt. This action karate has a nice and colorful interior, but the location...uhh methinks not! The teachers are nice, but the building is old and ratty because it used to be a roller skating rink. The building is okay. Action Karate Jamison is a fantastic school. For every belt color and year my son attends he loves it more and more. The owner and instructors are amazing with kids (and adults, too) by creating a challenging, fair, and fun atmosphere. They guide the students not only with kicks and punches but also how to "behave" like a Black Belt. My son takes this aspect very seriously. As a young child he was one of those kids who ran around the room and never listened to any adult. At age 9 he is very mature and takes it upon himself to be prepared for class and ensures that he understands all his moves before a test or tournament. As with anything, over the past five years there have been instances where he was unmotivated, but the perseverance he has learned at Action Karate has enabled him to overcome obstacles that he felt along the way.
As I write this my son is actually going through testing to receive his Black Belt in December 2019. He is SO proud of his accomplishments, and he has definitely improved his self-confidence, diligence and mental focus. I highly recommend this martial arts school because I know that the students are cared for and that everyone who works there deeply respects and loves karate. This, in turn, transfers down to students (including my son, of course) and results in a unique and exciting experience that fosters success in class and in many other aspects of life! Great place. Excellent for kids and adults. My kids have become more social and confident as a result of the life values taught at action karate. I think the person who has commented on this, DYLAN M., is mistaken and has written about the wrong location.
This building is BRAND NEW, and clean, bright and nice. The teachers are great and very motivating to the kids, and they do a great job of communicating with you on how the kids are doing and what is up and coming in the classes. My child has been attending since he was 4. He asked to join after Elbow Lane camp took him as part of the camp trip. He has enjoyed it since. He likes when the instructors have the chats about bullies, confidence and never giving up on your goal no matter how far it may seem. Thank you Sensei Michael, Mr. M, Miss Ashlee and to all the instructors at Action Karate for all that you do for the children.
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name: Lens Auto Body & Painting, address: 4819 Cottman Ave, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Auto Repair, Car Rental, Automotive, Hotels & Travel, Body Shops, text: I have to say Len's auto body is the WORST. I would NEVER again bring ANY car to him . Besides the sloppy job he did on my car, he totally lied. He does not stand by what he says initially....so if you don't get it all in writing before he starts the job, you'll get screwed. After i showed a few people the work he did, the horror stories started....but it was a little too late for me. I have had several transactions with this auto-body shop and each has been wonderful. It has a family owned feel with great customer service and a proven dedication to quality work.
Each time my car was returned to me, sparkling clean and with precision work done. Recently, my car needed a new bumper, side panel, etc. and my insurance company was trying to funnel me to one of those overpriced, low quality chain shops. I was able to enlist Len's help and had a wonderful experience! My car looks fantastic.
Please support local, quality businesses that appreciate you as a customer. Len's is one of them! Len's auto body is Awesome!! Been using them for the last 15 yrs or so. He's probably done 5 or 6 cars for me in that time. Why do I keep going back? Simple, Len's a great guy that does great work. He and his team take care of you from start to finish. I tell everyone I know that this is the "go to" body shop in Philly. Hope I never need him again ... but if/when I do I know who I'm calling. Thanks Len! Over the past 30 years, I have taken my cars and van to Len for all of my collision repairs. He has repaired approximately 8 vehicles for me during that time and I would not take my vehicles anywhere else. In my mind his shop is great at blending a repaired area of your car with the rest of your vehicle so that you cannot tell the difference between the newly painted area and the rest of the car. The paint matches perfectly. He has repaired 2 Mercedes Benz, 1 Jaguar, 1 classic Cadillac, 1 Infinity, 1 Chrysler, 1 Conversion Van and 1 Lexus. He has repaired frontal collisions, side collisions, rear collisions and put a car back together that was stolen from me and had the windshield shattered, hood and fender removed and transmission linkage and ignition cylinder destroyed. Several of my cars were in immaculate condition before the damage and I could not tell that they were ever in an accident after his work. I highly recommend his shop for all of your auto body needs. We recently had our 93 Cadillac repaired at Len's and the job turned out great. We took it to another shop and we found out that we were getting ripped off, but Len repaired it not on as good as new but for a lot cheaper. The car is my son's and he is very pleased with the repairs that were done, the car is his baby. Thanks again to Len's that we have our car back and well it looks again.
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name: Chris's Sandwich Shop, address: 1531 W Wynnewood Rd, city: Ardmore, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: closed, categories: American (Traditional), Restaurants, Pizza, Sandwiches, Meat Shops, Food, Wraps, Delis, Specialty Food, Salad, text: This place is sadly perm closed. I was hoping not, however the phone is now disconnected. Really want this place to succeed,
They are attentive, customer service oriented, etc.
Place is clean and bright.
I had really high expectations. Sandwiches were fine. Didn't blow me away, but they were fine.
I probably need to try it a few more times to get a better sense... One of the best hoagies I've ever had. The prosciutto used in my classic italian was to die for.
I've heard through the neighborhood that this place was quite the dive years ago, so it seems like the new ownership has turned it around.
Lastly, the nice woman who made my hoagie was lightning fast. I was about to hop on my phone while waiting to check something, and the hoagie magically appeared on the counter. Amazing.
They have my vote. I'll absolutely be back again. Moving into our new house and I think the Italian hoagie saved my life. Happy to be living close.
Just ate lunch from there again today. 2 days in a row! Based on the reviews from the customers, I ordered 2 hoagies trays for a party. Everyone wanted to know where the hoagie trays came from....so Chris' Sandwich shop be prepared to increase your customer base because I gave out your information. The hoagies were awesome, we even had some people fixing to-go plates and hiding their hoagies. In other words, they became the hoagie-burglar, after taking a bite! I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area. Great gamble! The classic Italian hoagie is fantastic and a great value. Loved it! This Deli is Fantastic! They have been in the same location in Ardmore Forever. They make Delicious Hoagies the size of your Arm. Everything they use is quality! I like both their Tuna and Italian. If you ask for Hot Peppers they use Jalepenos instead of cherry peppers, which give it a little different flair. Delicious. FRESH! Good prices. Now my one and only hoagie pit stop. These are the best hoagies and pizza in Ardmore. The hoagies are sliced to order and they use that real strong stinky provolone on the Italian hoagies. Love it. The pizza is great. The white pizza is nice and garlicky and seasoned well. The grandma pizza is fantastic as well. I hope this place can get more of a following. The reviews for this place were very accurate. The subs are excellent,full of meat, and they really get them out fast. The staff is very friendly. The only confusing thing is the array of choices for an Italian hoagie. So many choices, so I got one of each and then shared with the family. This may be my new go to place for hoagies! Have a daughter at college in the area, so I will be visiting a lot more often. Perfect hoagies and all around great deli. Don't know what people are talking about rude staff. They are amazing! My dad was sick and they asked about him every time i went in there. When he was well, I brought him into the store and they were all so happy to see him. Where do people treat you like that anymore? I know people miss the old place and it was there a long time but the new owners have done a great job! Great sandwichs. Order 7 different ones so far . Loved them all. Meat is sliced thin so it melts in your mouth. Very friendly and the service is fast. SANDWICH SEASON is coming up people. Go check out this shop. You taste buds and stomach will thank you. So this was just fine, but didn't quite live up to the five-star average. I had an Italian hoagie. Meat and cheese were high quality and the bread was fresh, if a little soft for my taste. $8.00 for a footlong seemed more than reasonable.
The space is modest but well-kept and the folks running it could not have been nicer or more welcoming.
That being said, it just wasn't a five-star sandwich for me-- I prefer Carlino's and Soprano's. Definitely worth a stop, though. There are places in life that just make you happy you are an American !! Chris' Sandwich Shop in Ardmore is one of those places. I stopped on a whim on my way back to DC where a good sandwich shop is hard to find. They think Subway is good down here!! Thank God Philly is only a couple hours north. Trust me I bring a cooler.
Just a great corner shop with customer service that is amazing. I stayed for 30 minutes just talking. It was great. If it were not for the money and tons of jobs in DC I'd be back in Philadelphia in a second.
Jason Blum
"Chris Classic" Favorite Italian hoagie in the area. Other sandwiches are great as well! I have ordered a party tray from them and my family really enjoyed the options they offered. Their chicken salad is tasty as well. Sandwiches are made quickly and consistently well every time I order. I really like their roast beef Panini and I grabbed a bag of jalapeno kettle chips and a soda to eat with my sandwich, best combo ever. Staff is welcoming and friendly too! I would definitely come back again Chris' is all about the sandwiches! They kill it in here.
New menu is awesome. They really care that the sandwiches are the best quality meats and ingredients. Chris is usually here and the staff is friendly and fast.
Nice place to sit and have a great sandwich. This place is great! Never have I received a bad sandwich or Hogie from here. One of the best hogie shops in the area. Try it you'll love it. They will make any sandwich you want, that is loaded with meat and cheese. Want extra peppers, no problem. A quality product a reasonable price. You've all heard the saying, "When in Rome..." Well my own personal saying is "When you live in Ardmore, buy in Ardmore..." No really sure if that makes any sense but you catch my drift. I'm all for the mom and pop establishments, the ones that have lasted years upon years and are being slowly outrun by larger more conglomerate type companies. J & G Deli, better known as J & G Lunchmeat Villa, is a favorite local spot of mine...Over stuffed, mouth watering hoagies made fresh on the spot; all kinds of homemade pasta to buy and pass off as your own (oops did I say that out loud?); all types of sandwiches made to order (my personal favorite is "The Sinatra" --try it; you'll like it...); anything you are looking for at more expensive Italian type markets, you'll definitely find here but at a cheaper price. They even make their own homemade red tomato pie...yum..(but if you are having a big party don't forget to order the pie well in advance). The people behind the counter are definitely the friendliest that I have ever encountered. Two thumbs up for J & G.!!! I promise you'll like it. Delicious, finger licking good, and reasonably priced. Hoagies can feed a buffalo, so don't hesitate in coming down. I ate mine...it was great...but now I have trouble getting up as I am soooooo full. I think this sandwich shop has gotten even better since the last time I ate here! The Italian hoagie is fantastic. I considered ordering an extra for the road, but I am fairly certain I couldn't stuff a second sandwich in my body. The medium is an excellent size and I can't imagine the larger size. Do yourself a favor and eat a sandwich tonight. Looking for the best sandwich in Ardmore? Look no further. Try the "Outlaw"... yum. Great quality, always fresh and delicious. Best Hoagies in Ardmore area. Salads are very good. The few times I ordered party trays, the crowd really liked the hoagies and asked where I got them from. Very pleased. I first discovered this great sandwich shop last year. I ordered the Italian hoagie and it was awesome and delicious! The guys working there are great too. I only wish central PA had an Italian sandwich shop like this one [sigh]. Can't wait to stop in again sometime. Definitely recommend! Chris is a small restaurant that has your typical pizza / sandwich options. The interior consists of a small dining flanked by a counter. I tried their Italian hoagie and it was actually very good. I will be back if I'm in the area. This deli is nothing special. Solid sandwiches but nowhere near paganos, p&s or centrellas which are in the area.
I love their chicken salad. Just added seeded rolls to their repetoire. I'm not sure what to say about J&G that hasn't already been said, but I'll try. Every sandwich I've gotten there has been absolutely delicious, and the place has a great family attitude. Prices are reasonable, and there's a good assortment of chips, snacks, and drinks (along with limited Italian groceries). It's definitely a local institution, and when your in Ardmore, one of the best places to get a sandwich. The only real competition in quality is Carlino's, which is only a couple hundred yards down the street.
Note: Yelp shows it to be in the wrong place, I think it's actually at 373 W County Line. In any case it's right on the corner of County Line & Wynnewood Rd. I've been back here at least 5 times since. It's still the best hoagie I've had. I'm moving in a few months and will shed a tear not being able to walk a few blocks for a large classic Italian. This place was top dog when it came to Italian Specialties before Carlino's came into play. It is family owned and run by John (owner) Gary (his son) and sometimes his wife will be slinging out lottery tickets, or helping out in the back. Nice lady, good family and they treat every customer in there like they were a part of their own. Right there you know customer service is something they believe in.
Their sandwich's are good in size, definitely better than Wawa, the freshness alone stands out there. It's a gonna be a good hoagie when you see and hear the hum of that slicer going. Slice after slice of those meats and cheeses in front of you, knowing it is there to soley satisfy your hunger. Not like other places that keep their meats and cheeses in a stainless steel dish, or a plastic dish. Those leave that taste of blah i guess, don't really know how to describe "blah " but I'm sure a facial expression explains "blah" better.
I myself like to add roasted peppers , and long hots on any of their sandwich's.. just brings out the flavor even more. Now if you are a mayo fan, and want it on your sandwich , please don't do it. Adding mayo will just bastardize the whole experience.
***side note- I personally think the sandwich's could be bit bigger, more meat, pack it in there i say ***
In all you will be pleased with any of the fine selections, and you will be treated like family when you visit. All time number one. The SInatra Bomber. If you dare. I dare you. The end. They have changed the name of the place from J & G to Chris's Sandwich Shop & Deli. They've built out the seating area so you can dine-in comfortably or take out. No waiter service, you order at the counter. It's bright and CLEAN and super fast and friendly.
FOUR different styles of Italian hoagies plus many other choices and they were all delicious when we visited last weekend. Same bread - Sarcone's is my bet - and very generous with the meat portions.
Definitely still my favorite, no matter what the name of the place! Fantastic old style hoagies in a friendly, down to Earth deli. They've been there forever for a very good reason - great food, great service. They know who they are, what they do, and consistently they do it very well. Love their Italian hoagie with sweet peppers! Oh yeah and their hoagies are ginormous. As in, their medium easily feeds two people. So while it may seem 'pricey' you get a lot for your money here! The best place to get huge hoagies with all of the fixings. This place is the king of Sandwiches and really knows how to hook you up. you get the freshest ingredients, sharpest provolone, and the meats are piled high. My favorite is the "Dominik Diabla" - cooked hot with melted swiss, chicken breast, and whatever fixing you want.
The hoagies are HUGE so you should be able to have your hunger satisfied with a medium or large hoagie. but super-sized options are available. it is also a pretty good marketplace. J & G has recently been sold, so Faithful Dining Companion and I stopped by to see what did and didn't change.
First, they've cleared out most of the market shelving. No longer will patrons be able to pick up a box of pasta, some gravy, soup and bread. Instead, they've created a dining space by the deli counter with a wall of coolers filled with sodas and such. The 'back' dining area has been curtained off, and there's no shop entrance any longer off County Line Road.
The checkout counter is new, lower, broader and the whole presentation is much cleaner, brighter and more like a restaurant than a deli.
We both ordered the 'medium' (8") Italian Hoagie, which was made promptly. Bread is the same, hoagie is now featuring hard shaved parmesan cheese, which adds a pleasant 'bite' reminiscent of Tony Luke's at 4 & Oregon Aves in South Philly. It's a good taste, very distinctly old school Italian. It is a change from previous though and definitely separates them from the pack of Wawa and Primo's in the area.
Nice to see the place being taken care of with love, it was getting a bit worn down, and the changes to the classic Italian are a nice thumbs up. You still have our love, J & G! Obviously this deli has been around for awhile... It just has an old feel (in a good way). You walk in and there's no confusion as to what they serve here. A few chips and soda refrigerators on the side, but all of the good stuff is behind the counter. I've been here a few times now and haven't had a disappointing lunch here. The specialties have been posted on the wall behind the counter and a menu is to the left of them. Any of their hoagies with a side of long hots is a decent break for lunch.
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name: Erdenheim Bicycle & Fitness Center, address: 821 Bethlehem Pike, city: Erdenheim, stars_x: 3.0, is_open: closed, categories: Bike Rentals, Active Life, text: Owner is extremely rude and condescending...will never go there again! And the cost to tune up kids bikes is a bit outrageous. Years ago, I was an avid recreational cyclist averaging about 100 miles per week and riding alone and with the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia. I discovered motorcycles which resulted in me neglecting other 2 wheeled conveyances, as well as my fitness. So now I find myself in the unenviable position to "get back into shape" and thought that a return to bicycling would be the way to go.
In pursuit of this, I also thought investing in a new bike would be in order. I decided to stop in to Erdenheim to browse and ask some questions since it's near home and I had a few minutes to spare.
This is a nice shop. By that I mean it's clean and well laid out. Unfortunately, that's where my positive comments end. The service I received was teetering on rude and annoyed. My questions were answered, but with something along the lines of a "there is such a thing as a stupid question" attitude. Apparently all of my questions were beneath the salesman's intelligence and so he responded with surly (not the bikes - they seem to be mostly a Trek shop) and almost angry edge.
Long story short...I wouldn't buy a tube here unless I was desperate. Now I understand why I'm the first review of this place. I haven't purchased any bike items here yet, but definitely plan to in the future. I have been riding mountain bike trails for about two years now, mostly around the fairmount park area (wissahickon, penny pack, Schuylkill river trail) as well as white clay in Delaware. I have stripped my rig down with parts purchased on-line, rebuilt them, taken them apart to clean and re-grease them, and completely customized my hard-tail to my own personal liking.
I have been in the shop twice so far, and both times were pleasant experiences. My friend needed his crank arms removed, and not only did they do it cost effectively, but they also provided a lot of great insight into replacing the chain rings and bike setup. I am currently getting a spring in my fork replaced and re-serviced and have expectations inline with my first experience with them.
Most of the prices in here are competitive with the market, so expect to pay what the market dictates. But in terms of service, these guys really know what they're doing. You can expect expert advice and top notch maintenance at a cost effective price. Bought my 5 year old a bike here today, they were nice and reasonable I had a similar experience with horrible service. I had my mountain bike serviced here for a tune up. The first time I rode it the chain kept popping off and get stuck in the dérailleur. When I took it back the owner would take no responsibility for it and wouldn't even cut me a break on labor to replace it. This was even after I had just bought a new bike for my son just weeks earlier there! If you are looking for a bike shop you can partner with this isn't the one. We stopped here to price out bikes and ended up walking out with a new Trek hybrid today!
First of all, they are primarily a Trek dealer. If you're looking to browse various brands, then this store is not for you. I was just looking for a decent bike and had no clue about what to look for. The gentleman that helped us (I think he may have been the owner) was to the point and didn't try to push us into looking at a more expensive model.
After a couple of test drives, I was torn between two bikes (the model he had initially suggested and the next one up...at my husband's request). The owner ended up offering us a deal for the more expensive model and we went with it. The shop includes a one year warranty and I left happy.
Immediately afterwards, I took my new Trek on a 16 mile ride. I absolutely love it! Two thumbs up for this shop! I just picked up my bike here today after having new hybrid tires put on it. They are really professional here and I would go back anytime. My bike is over 30 years old and it has 27" inch wheels, which a now special order items as wheels that size are obsolete. They special ordered them for me, put them one, did a tune-up on the bike, and all in two days, for a great price. They have a good selection of bikes too, plus lots of carriers you can attachable to your car, and exercise equipment. Recommended. If i could give no stars I would. This place has an excellent and knowledgable mechanic named JP. Ask for him. The owner on the other hand is rude and dismissive. I have been there multiple times for small items. If I see the people I know and not the owner I'll stay and make a purchase. If not, I turn right around. I went the other day for part that I guessed would be in the 50 dollar range. When I was rung up for nearly double that I pocketed my wallet and walked out. Go to keswick till this owner gets out of the bike business. He's clueless on bikes and customer service. Oh if you can't spot the owner he's the short mean balding man. My boyfriend and I went in just to check out our options. The owner was very attentive and answered a lot of questions for me. He gave us a great deal on the bike I bought, and when I asked about purchasing an after-market seat, he talked me out of it. He wasn't out to sell me unnecessary things, which goes a long way with me. I bought my hybrid bike from this shop about 3 years ago and brought it in for a tune up. Dropping off the bike went relatively smoothly. When I went in to pick up the bike I inquired as to whether or not any problems were found. I had been having a problem with the bike changing gears all by itself and I wanted to find out why that was happening. The owner of the shop was there and he said he had no idea what was done and he pointed to the sign about what a "tune up" includes. He was extremely rude and dismissive and clearly didn't give a crap about my business. My husband is planning on buying a road bike and we will be taking our money and business elsewhere. Bought my 7 year old a bike to support local business. The price was 30 bucks higher than I could get on line. No big deal. I asked if there was any room to move on the price. Owner says no the bike on line is a different model (it is not). I said ok no big deal local business and all.
Then he says the kick stand is an extra 10 bucks. I didn't want to make a stink because my son was so happy with his bike but the owner is a crook.
Never coming back. Never ever. This place is on my way home from work, so I stopped in to check it out, see what they had, compare prices etc. The person who "helped" me was rude and condescending. He could not wait for me to walk out of the store, I guess because I mentioned that I don't want to spend a whole lot on a bike for a 13 year old? Unless you are really into the sport or have too much money on your hands, don't go.
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name: Manhattan Bagel, address: 200 York Road, city: Willow Grove, stars_x: 3.0, is_open: opening, categories: Restaurants, Food, Bagels, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch, text: Love their asiago roll. That and a cup of coffee. .. good breakfast!
Friendly and fast service too.
Got too get there early for those rolls as they sell out. This place is almost always great... It gets 5 stars solely because of the young manager and their fast job. The older guy, probably the owner? Is not very welcoming. BAGEL NAZI! just kidding. The bathrooms could use some re vamping but thats why I avoid it. Definitely try the BLT or a honey grain bagel with cream cheese. It's delicious. The staff is friendly! Food is great, coffee is consistent. Overall my experience over the past few visits have been great. James and crew thanks for all you do in the community.
Variety of bagels are amazing! See you tomorrow crew! Came here for lunch this past week. We got some coupons in the mail for a buy a lunch sandwich and two drinks and get a free lunch sandwich. We were greeted at the door and the person at the counter offered suggestions about sandwiches. We ended up getting the chicken pesto bagel sandwich and the pastrami sandwich, as well as two drinks per the coupon.
The drink counter needs some re-vamping. I think it was around the time they were closing, and the iced tea smelled like a dirty bathroom. We poured out our tea and got coffee instead. Their iced coffee was better, but a little watered down. I like how you can put in squirts of different flavorings to your coffees, but these dispensers looked like they had been there for awhile.
I think what makes this place a 2 star is the condition of the actual restaurant. It reminds me of a really really old McDonald's in design. The bathrooms were really smelly, and there were around 10 flies buzzing around inside the eating area because they had their door propped open. It made me wonder about all the food behind the counter and how many flies had landed on it.
The sandwiches themselves were quite tasty. Loved the flavors of both sandwiches, although the pastrami probably won out. The pickle on my tray was a little dried out but I love pickles so I ate it anyway. They only give you a small condiment container size portion of either macaroni salad, potato salad, or something else that escapes my memory.
I wanted to love this place, and as good as the sandwiches were, the atmosphere really makes you not want to eat there. There needs to be a little more attention to detail. Worst bagels I've ever had, the place is dirty on the inside, terrible service and the manager is BEYOND rude. Even if the bagels were great I would still never come back because of the manager's attitude. Awesome joint! Today the place was dealing with a short staff in the middle of a blizzard and a lot of ppl coming in, and yet they were hustling a ton, food came out in a normal time and made perfectly. They were super polite (despite being stressed) and were great about filling the coffee pots as needed too. Summary: great bagel sandwiches, very good polite service, came through in the clutch. Great bagel sandwiches. Only complaint is they are very busy w long lines on the weekend mornings. Overall busy but good service, not great. Great bagels/sandwiches! Very rude staff. The looked miserable. I had to say excuse me twice to get the girl to look up from her cell phone. Then she proceeded to give me a look and instruct another miserable employee to help me. There are plenty of happy people who will be willing to take your job Ordered three bagel sandwiches and a person who ordered ten minutes after me got their food first. When I asked the cashier about the issue the made a face and said he was working on my order which was a lie because another person who ordered after me received their food before me. Still waiting......oh and the cashier had hickey's all over her neck. Bagels are pretty much my favorite thing ever. Unfortunately, the boyfriend does not feel the same way, so we must have driven past this place a few dozen times before I vetoed sushi the other day and insisted we come here for lunch instead.
They must have renovated since the two star review from 2010, as everything looked pretty damn new and clean to me. There was a short line, which gave us almost enough time to look over the menu and ogle the huge selection of bagels. I really just wanted my perfect bagel I've loved since I was a kid (sesame bagel with butter, cheese, lettuce and tomato), and there was no drama at all ordering it even though it wasn't on the menu. The boyfriend had a focaccia that looked delicious, and he said as much. The place was pretty packed, but we were able to snag a table right away as someone waiting for a to-go order vacated, and the food was brought to us in no time at all. Everything was spot on, right down to the potato salad.
Oh, and as we were leaving, the guy who took our order was eating his lunch at the next table, which is always a good sign, and he still stopped to thank us for coming.
Yummy food, happy employees, and a convenient location. Yes please. I decided to give this location a try and the service was sub par from the moment I walked through the door. I ordered the avocado, lettuce, and tomato bagel and the sandwich was mostly bread. I was only able to enjoy a third of it because of the lack of ingredients. I would not recommend this location. Place is clean & always busy. Its ok here I'm not a huge fan. I gave it 3 stars for the location, the cleanliness, their fresh food & drinks. this place continues to impress me. i stop in every tuesday on my way to work. i'm usually running a tight schedule, but these guys consistently get me out the door in literally 5-8 minutes. i get the same thing (egg and cheese, toasted onion bagel) every time and by the time i fix my coffee my food is ready and i'm out the door.
i can't stress enough the amazing service here. everyone is super friendly- the guy james is great- he knows my order before i even get up to the register. really A+ establishment. The outside of the store is poorly kept.
It's difficult to trust quality and cleanliness inside when the exterior
lacks care.
K.Tague One of the best authentic bagel houses. It is a little on the pricey side but if you want really really delicious bagels, this is the place to go to.
We had breakfast where we tried a spinach/egg/cheese on an everything bagel as well as the Lox on an onion bagel. Both were really tasty and freshly prepared. Lox comes with a heavy dose of cream cheese so be prepared for that. The capers in the Lox sandwich give it a really nice kick. The chai tea latte was OK, probably won't get it again. Hashbrowns are a little greasy.
They also sell bagels by the Baker's dozen, half dozen, or individually. They provide freezer bags if you want to save for later.
Parking can be cramped especially on weekend mornings but they offer additional parking in rear. This place is the worst. We've gone there a number of times based on convenience and the fact that they have decent food, but they have gotten our orders wrong more than half of the time. Will not be going back, no matter how convenient it is. I went here to grab breakfast the other day. The menu is simple, short and sweet. There were different varieties of bagels to choose from. The girl at the register had a hard time understanding my order when i order Bagel & Lox. she asked me what kind of bagel I asked for honey wheat everything. Somehow she put in the wrong order. As I am trying to hurry for work I was getting inpatient. she said there wasn't anymore everything bagel I just got tired because she does not seem to know how to put bagel and lox together. The bagel was good but it wasn't the greatest. The price is quite expensive, but of course it is a chain. Service and bagel is nothing that wow me. I'm just glad I made it to work on time. Not sure if I will be back. Have been coming here for a while but they have a new cashier who is rude and obnoxious. She asked if she could take the coupon I placed on the counter (I was busy pulling out my credit card and what would have been her tip), I said yes and she responded, "Yeah well you put it there so I didn't know what you wanted me to do with it." I looked at her funny and said, "Yeah well I'm not keeping the coupon so..." and she proceeded to say things like, "I just wanted to know what you wanted to do because you put it there and I don't know what I'm supposed to do with that." Let me make it easy for you--I won't come back--or I'll ask to see any of the other way nicer, less petty staff! Usually they are great but this new blonde lady is obnoxious. Who argues with a customer over a coupon? I tried not to mind her before (was trying to enjoy my breakfast recently but she kept singing Christmas carols loudly and way off key) but if she's going to be rude, forget it. I'll take my business elsewhere. Again...pulled up today at 2:40 when they close at 3 and the open sign is on. Walk up and the door is locked and the girl flips off the open sign right in front of me. Lolololol. I served tables for 11 years and that's a no no In the industry. First time coming here after not coming for 6 months because of bad service. What a taste that left.... My significant other and I LOVE ourselves some Manhattan Bagel. We recently moved to Willow Grove from Northwest Philadelphia where the one in our neighborhood left much to be desired. We joked about the not so happy staff, but then started coming to this location and let's just say this staff makes the staff in Philly look like the kids from the Sound of Music. Every time we walk in the staff almost groans with having to speak to a customer. The manager is friendly but his staff is absolutely miserable. We frequent here, and even as someone who has worked in food service for 10+ years and tips a dollar on just coffee alone, don't ever expect a smile or thank you from this staff. The woman at the register makes going in there a dread of an experience and is so rude. If you ask for a bagel they are out of they literally shoot daggers at you with their eyes, roll their eyes, and almost berate you for trying to choose a bagel you didn't know they were out of. Which how would I know since they put all the bagels away at 2:00 PM when they close at 3PM because they are trying to jet out of there. The chairs are already turned around and on top of the tables at 2. It's honestly the worst because we love the food but every time we go in and try to be friendly we leave feeling horrible at the customer service we just DID NOT receive. I know the treatment food service workers are put through. I try to be the sweetest and most easy going customer, but these people simply are terrible and make me feel awful for even trying to order a darn bagel! I gave this location 5 stars. Its always Clean & the food is made fresh. Staff is friendly & courteous! Amazing ! Amazing! Amazing! Delicious food. Get any breakfast sandwich you can get your hands on. Very tasty . Coffee is delicious . I was a wawa customer but after Manhatten bagel I will not go anywhere else again. They offer a delicious spread of cream cheeses, bagels, and baked goods for corporate or any team meetings. Update******
My husband and I went revisited this location after being invited back by the store manager. We received our order as we ordered it and the staff was much more accommodating. A week or so earlier I went in (due to an e-mail and promise of change by the manager) without my husband, I didn't tell the guy at the counter I was coming in the first time bc I figured its better to see if a place is better by how they treat their run of the mill customer. this place has truly changed for the better.
I have been here exactly 4 times and will NEVER go back.
My first experience was great, my husband and I got exactly what we asked for in a timely manner and with great customer service.
The second time I was there was becasue my car broke down in the parking lot adjacent to them and I wanted some water (and a bagel) because it was super hot and I was hungry. After I purchased my water I sat down ate my bagel and waited for my husband to let me know when he was there. I was asked to leave becasue there were customers waiting for tables. Excuse me I just purchased nearly $9.00 of food and drink that makes me a customer. That was beyond rude! On top of it I was 7 months pregnant when this happened
The third time I came in (my husband didnt know about the bad experience from the second visit) my husband adn I ordered a to-go order. My husband said he wanted a large coffee and the kid repeated the entire order back to us, including the coffee, but didnt ring it up. My husband was standing there waiting for his coffee cup and the kid was like "oh I didn't ring it up, did you still want it??" Why would you not ring it up he asked for it and you repeated the order to us, why would he, within seconds, choose he didnt want it? Additionally the coffee bar area was not stocked with milk/creamer and the sugar was empty. On top of it the hash browns we ordered were not cooked all the way and when they packaged them they stuck to one antoher and crimbled all over my car. We decided we would not be back again
We had not gone back for some time, about a month, when we had an issue with our kitchen so we could not prepare our own meals. I went there to get us some breakfast and OMG they screwed up royally! There was a bit of a line but nothing outrageous. I ordered a bagel sausage egg and cheese on a toasted everything bagel with a hot chocolate. the guy rang me up and gave me a cup and a number for my food. I went to the coffee bar and there was no hot chocolate so I went wback and told him I asked for a hot chocolate and he was like "Oh I didnt hear that" ....how do you get coffee out of hot chocolate? and I am pregnant, why would I want a large coffee??? anyway I went to the coffee bar adn it was again under stocked. The coffee flavors (hazelnut, vanillia, and caramel) were all empty so I couldnt get the hazelnut hot chocolate I wanted but I was in a rush to go somewhere so I didnt say anything. While I waited for my food they called out numbers of ppl who ordered AFTER me. After waiting about 15 minutes I finally got my order and left. I should have checked before I left. My bagel was not an evverything, it was a plain. It was not toasted and it had bacon not sausage. At the time I realized it was the wrong order I was already about to get on the turnpike so I just ate it bc I was already running late.
The quality of food is consistent with other Manhattan Bagel Co. stores but the service sucks adnt hey do NOT listen to what you say. This time I really will not be going back, ever! Oh and the configuration ofthe parking lot is totally absurd! Pretty pricey for breakfast sandwiches. You will easily drop $20 or more for two people for little breakfast sandwiches and beverages. The parking lot is super small,awkward shaped,difficult to get in and out of. They have weird hours that seem to change often. Inside is a bit cramped and there's a few super tiny tables that are lined up against the wall next the where people wait in line. So if you want to dine in you have to have someone's butt in your face while you eat. Awesome bagels and bagel sandwichs! So good. Enough said. Only complaint is that they close early. Today, at around 4:40 pm I decided I would commit to the 35 minute commute to my local Manhattan Bagel for dinner since I hadn't had it in a long time and I really wanted it. Prior, I had checked the Manhattan Bagel website for the hours, as well as google and it said 6 pm, which would give me plenty of time. To my dismay, after driving 35 minutes and arriving, this location was closed and had posted on their door that they close at 3 pm. I wouldn't mind them closing at 3 pm otherwise, however I was annoyed that this was not what was depicted on their website. If I had known this, I wouldn't have made the drive. This miscommuncation was very frustrating and needs to be fixed. We came here today on Nov. 23 thanksgiving 2017 and we expected to come and have great service as usual. As we were ordering our cashier Taylor was rude cussing under her breath and rolling her eyes as we were ordering. They took 45 mins to make 2 sandwiches and a bagel. It wasn't busy and it wasn't even close to closing. The workers making the food were cussing and freaking out about 3 small tickets. They also messed up our to lattes they were not even hot with no flavor and no whipped cream that we asked for. I don't think me and my boyfriend will be coming here again. Came here because I received a gift card for xmas. I always wanted to come here but the parking lot looked weird and hard to get into as well as out. I was correct about the parking lot and it didn't help that there was a snow storm a few days before and has piles of snow that doesn't make parking any easier. But the food is a different story! I ordered the Empire State Club on Spinach and cheese bagel and ordered a Bakers Dozen with two cream cheese for my family.
Empire State Club on Spinach and cheese bagel!! OMG IM IN LOVE!! I loved this! and I will definitely come back just for this. I forget how much this is but I will pay for it. LOL It taste was great it wasn't dry and the Spinach and cheese bagel was so delicious.
I ordered the Bakers Dozen with two cream cheese and the bagels were big and were tasty. I also got to choose the cream cheeses but I just played it safe and got two regular cream cheeses. My family loved them and asked me to buy this more often. I will definitely come back! Stopped in Wed and took advantage of their $3.50 bagel/cream cheese and coffee combo. The bagels here are probably the smallest I have ever seen. The cream cheese was good and a very healthy portion. Wish the bagels were bigger and there was a larger selection of cookies and other sweets. There were quite a few muffins, but limited selection of other sweets.
Coffee was good and both hot and cold are self service options.
Place has somewhat of an Einstein's Bagel vibe to it, even some of the fonts and layout of signage looked similar.
Worth coming back again, maybe need to get two bagels next time. Amazing food! clean and fast service can't wait to come back. Everyone here is super nice and make sure the meal comes out correctly. I was a regular costumer, till today. I ordered their Ranchero wrap (to go). Starting eating the first half to find a long light brown or blond hair coming out of the breakfast sandwich. Very disappointed, & gross, besides not having a clean work environment. They are always behind even if there is 10 people working and 3 customers. They always take the phone off the hook. The last 2 times I went in the pretended they didn't know and the other time told me it was dead and they didn't know. Quality of food has dropped drastically in the last few months Ordered a whitefish bagel. Missing completely. Ordered three with Turkey bacon. Got regular. Literally can't eat ANYTHING like, nothing, and was told to file a claim with Uber eats. WOW. Ok. At least my neighbors get some bagels! It's franchise bagels that are better than average as as those from a grocery store. Orders are rarely ever ready on time, and sometimes they aren't even aware of your order, leaving the staff frazzled and backed up. The prices on beverages and sandwiches are overpriced. There's no other competitors in the area and their location is prime. Called in an order to take brunch for my mom. Unfortunately the manager was on vacation, which seemed to leave chaos in the kitchen, and when I got to my mom's place, the sandwiches were literally empty inside! Whitefish salad ordered for both, but none on either one. See photos.
The manager made good on it the next week. She personally made me two huge sandwiches (we could've shared one) and didn't charge for either one. They also had credited my card for the empty sandwiches received a week earlier. So that manager fixed a negative situation.
On the plus side, the whitefish salad is kick ass, and their bagels are light and delicious. I also like that they put toppings on both sides of the bagel, not just on the top. This is definitely my go to place for picking up a bagel when I go to see my mom! What a grouch!! Lady was very rude, arrogant and unprofessional, no customer service skills, bad attitude, won't be returning there I'll stick to Panera Bagel is great! Crispy outside soft chewy inside... the service and cleanliness of the place is lacking. Not sure if I will come back.
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name: Philadelphia, address: , city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Public Services & Government, Local Flavor, text: Ich war das erste mal in Philadelphia und ich bin wirklich positiv überrascht, wie schön diese Stadt ist. Soviel Geschichte auf amerikanischen Boden ist man gar nicht gewohnt! Die Staaten sind ja eher für ihre gleichen Städte und weniger für Ihre Kultur und Geschichte bekannt.
Doch anders in Philadelphia: Hier findet man die Liberty Bell, der Ort der Verfassung, hier liegen die ersten Präsidenten des Landes begraben und aus Philadelphia kommt die amerikanisch Flagge!
Überall im Stadtbild findet man die historischen Gebäude. Teilweise aus dem 17 Jahrhundert sind doch Denkmäler, Kirchen oder Häuser ehalten.
Aber auch die Shopper kommen in Philadelphia auf Ihre Kosten. Die Stadt ist ein wunderbar Mix aus Geschichte und Gegenwart. Wirklich ein Reise wert! Great city.
One of the best to walk in the USA. beautiful sidestreets.
The food, sports franchises, transportation.. Ich habe mal eine Zeit ausserhalb von Philly gewohnt. ISt ne coole Stadt. Man kann Tagestrips nach NY, Washington, Wilmington und Balimore machen. Auf jedem Fall ein Philly Cheese Steak essen.
Die PArty Gegend war damals in der South Street. Ich meine so auf der Höhe 9th! So many option here your mind will go crazy, they have foods hfrom every walk of life here, so many good some over priced you just have to know what u have a taste for and go with it. Upon crossing Kelly Drive at a crosswalk with my nine month old daughter in a baby carrier, accompanied by numerous pedestrians, we were very nearly struck by a car as it drove full speed through a red light. A man on a bicycle was almost hit as he tried to legally cross in the cross walk, and the car came 12 inches from striking my husband and daughter. Kelly Drive is notorious for poor driving, not obeying red lights, and cars stopping and blocking crosswalks. We have seen incidents occur like this on a near regular basis, but never so close to impact ourselves directly. It has disturbed us how there are NEVER traffic cops on the streets protecting citizens (in three years I've seen one). Had we stepped into the crosswalk five seconds earlier, we would be in an ambulance right now. It is imperative that Philly begin prioritizing the safety of its citizens. To think; if horrific drivers like this one today were spotted and held accountable through tickets and penalties, maybe this city could find the funds to provide its children with adequately funded public schools. (As I've typed this I've watched a preschool teacher and toddler get nearly mowed over, and been beeped at for crossing legally in another crosswalk). This is serious. This is an epidemic. I have Philadelphia 5 stars because first I live there:)Plus If you stay in central city you should eat at the reading terminal !! Philadelphia is famous for 3 things: a sandwich, a fictitious boxer and a cracked bell. When in Philadelphia make sure to visit the Liberty Bell, get your photo taken next to the Rocky statue at The Philadelphia museum of Art, and eat an authentic Philadelphia Cheese Steak from Tony Luke's (avoid Pat's and Geno's). Beautiful city. We came here for a day trip while on a New York holiday. Got megabus from New York at 6:50am and arrived in Philly 9am. The city is very easy to walk around. We walked from 30th street station to Philadelphia museum of art. From there it was an easy bus ride to the centre. So many things to do, we had nowhere near enough time for it all. Very easy to walk around. Food is amazing and people are friendly. Have to try the Reading Terminal Market This town is garbage, literally there is garbage in the streets and the town smells like a constant dumpster. The people are not friendly everyone is super ghetto even in the "nice parts of philly". The bums around here are one step below the population the just don't have a house. The drivers use their high beams and horns like its going out of style. You could have your blinker on and get over and people still flashing and honking. There is no redeeming qualities about this city. It may be the birthplace of our nation but it is definitely a snapshot of the beginnings of the end of the nation. Say what you want about Philadelphians, but when the sh*t gets real they step the f*ckp up and do the right thing (cliché much?). We decided to have one day getaway from New York to "brotherly love" Philly! We got off the bus in Greyhound Bus Terminal, which is located in heart of the City next to Chinatown.
Unfortunately mother nature kinda kicked us with weather, because it was endless rain whole day, but still we stayed positive and continued discover the city.
People here are very friendly and always ready to help, whats very suprprised me after always runnin somewhere and not in the mood New Yorkers!
U have to visit Independence hall, independece bell. Also dont forget to visit legendary Rocky statue and my personal recommendation run all the way up on the Rocky steps, come on yall live once:)
Lots of nice hookah spots and just nice cafe's.
I can say that maybe after crazy, never sleepin New York, u can find this city too calm and quiet for you, but still dont listen to me u have to experience it by yourself lol The City of Brotherly Love, home of the classic Rocky movies, the home of delicious cheesesteaks, home of Made in America, the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, and Sixers! Philly philly! Man, oh man do I love Philly! I lived a few minutes outside of West Philadelphia for two years -- finishing high school in PA. Although I'm a proud born & raised native of Brooklyn, NY I call Philly my 2nd home. There's just something about Philadelphia that makes me feel so happy. Maybe it's because I spent a good chunk of my youth here at a very pivotal time where I was finding myself. Maybe it was the happiness I felt being able to get my hands on a pair of Air Jordans when I knew back in NYC, my friends would be sh** out of luck. Haha or maybe I just felt the love from "the city of brotherly love". Either way, I know I love it!
I come here any chance I get to attend an event like Made In America (2014), Roots Picnic (2015), etc. and I'm always happy to drive down all the narrow streets filled with so much nostalgia and history. This go round I came out here to attend to concerts for work. I saw Lil Wayne(for the first time) at Penn State College and it was amazing! Rae Scremmurd opened up for them. We had amazing seats. Front row and it was one heck of a show! I had a great time and can't wait to come back. Oh and of course before I left I had to get my hands on a cheesteak or two in which you'll see in one of my corresponding reviews! Best city on the East coast.
Born and raised in Northest Philly. There is always something exciting going on. I am going all in on this one. There are lots of things that I could point out that are just not right about Philadelphia BUT there are a ton of things this city has going for it too. Here is my list of reasons to love on Philly:
1. Historic sites in abundance. Not too many places in the US with so much history.
2. Architecture. Sine of the most fabulous old structures to gaze upon anywhere .
3. Outdoor art museum all over the city. Literally tons of beautiful pieces of work clutters the main thoroughfare .
4. Amish and Mennonite culinary contributions... Sho- fly pie, soft pretzels, great ice cream!
5. Largest collection of Impressionist Art outside of Paris!
6. Mini Champs- élysées copy.
7. Seafood specials!
8. Italian influences.
9. Theaters and music. All around there is a Philly sound.
10. Water ice! Some of the best anywhere. Ritas and many other local flavors
11. Tastykakes... the first packaged cakes anywhere... not Lil' Debbies. This place is so dirty.I can't belive they don't have people cleaning the streets. No alternate side parking so the cleaning truck can clean the streets is this city that poor they can't afford it. And no one seems to mind that's crazy to me I never seen that and I'm from New York City. For better or for worse, Philly is MY city. (No, it is not the 6th Borough of New York City).
The restaurant scene is strong and getting better all the time.
Shopping districts are improving.
Yes, there is still a huge problem with poverty and street crime.
We have come a long way and we will continue to get better. I never thought about reviewing Philly. I mean I should, there is always something going on, I am always here. I may leave the city, or even the state at times, but my heart will always be here. (Sorry guys I am having a moment here)
The city known as "Brotherly Love" clearly lives up to its name. I guess to outsiders we may seem harsh, or rude. What do you expect, its called tough love for a reason. We may seem that way to the outsiders, but once you accept and take advantage of what this city can offer you'd understand why. If we didn't show that kind of "passion" we'd be a city of push overs.
Okay so we do pay homage to a fictitious character and erected a statue to him, but c'mon he phrased "Hey Yo" with some other great one liners. We also have some of the best attractions with our museums down to painted murals on buildings throughout the city. Apparently we have our own slang, our own language where others look confused. Have you seen or better yet have you heard of the Mummers? Yea on New Years day, this is the biggest parade out there. Come sober at 7 am and leave drunk by days end, it's beautiful.
We dedicate one Thursday a month in the summer for the biggest block party ever in Night Market. I call it food truck row where, it is nothing but food trucks overtaking about 4 blocks feeding the masses. Reading Terminal Market , need I explain more to this foodies paradise? The multicultural scene of South St. where you can find everything to all kinds walking the street. Perfect for people watching if you ask me, hit up one of the local pubs and just take it in. You will eventually end up grabbing a slice at Lorenzo's, even if you know there is better else where.
This is a "Blue Collar" city, we work for ours, we never think we're entitled to anything, we earn it. Where or what city do you know of that has a food battle, with cheesesteaks no less? The rivalry between who and where are awesome by the way. I assure you we don't go to the tourists traps, we have our own personal favorites. You know the Pope had his teeth in a Provo or American wit. I don't think he would have gone with "Wiz" , but I could be wrong. We even crafted a beer in his honor. That's love people ... that's love.
Our passion for our teams can not be matched, and yes how many times do we need to hear about booing Santa , or the snowballs being thrown. Get over it , that was the past. I will tell you this though, that picture of Concrete Charlie (Chuck Bednarick) looking over a helpless Frank Gifford is priceless. We have the same hate for Dallas as everyone else, basically if you are not within a 50 to 60 mile radius ,we could care less for your team. We are trapped in a corridor between D.C. , NYC, and Bean-town (Boston) where everyone is winning, and we get so close to only get disappointed. Philly does recover though, yea we'll bitch, but you know what we're not gonna give up.
I can go on more on how this city, an up and coming city which again is a great city. Jay Z thinks so, and no I don't need his approval even if he is HOVA. I am a 4 for 4 guy where I bleed green along with that I do follow the big 5. Hey its passion, we almost had a parade for Smarty Jones if he would've won the triple crown, this is a horse mind you. We were also saddened when we heard of Barbaro's outcome, which is another race horse from Philly. You see it is not only respect for the people in and around Philly, we respect the animals too.
I love this city ! Wonderful experiences in Philadelphia. Purchased a 3 day Philadelphia Pass at Visitor Center. Definitely worth it! Staff very helpful. Included Big Bus Pass which was a great way to get around. Enjoyed staying near Independence Hall which was very convenient and really added to the experience. Ghost tours included in Pass, make reservations. So much to do, we filled our days. Staff everywhere was excellent. Would love to come back. It's not Fair! My Daughter goes to Philadelphia periodically for work. She's going next week for work and then the following week going for three days with friends! I wanna go! This review is for my one trip July 17th and 18th In 2013. I had so much fun I want to see more! And I want to show you.
My daughter ran the Marathon in 2013. She invited friends to come for the day. Naturally, since it was her first marathon, everyone nearby came to show their support and share in the fun. One of her running friends ran too. Since I was coach and President of my daughters fan club I went with her the night before the race. We stayed in a beautiful hotel near all the attractions. In the running world the marathon runners have a high carb meal the night before the race. Her friend said everyone goes to Ralph's traditionally. Ralph prepares for it. The three of us had a scenic view of Philadelphia on the way there and on the way back to the hotel. Pretty cool! I believe you can read my review on the Yelp Page for Ralph's. Amazing service and food. There's plenty of wonderful food choices in Philadelphia!
At times when my daughter was busy I went sightseeing alone. I'm posting some of my many photos taken on this visit. I found the city to be easy to navigate on foot and very clean. I really had a good time. My daughter went with me to typical tourist sites like the Liberty Bell etc.
After the race friends and family met at a British Pub Restaurant that I don't remember the name. It was so delicious. My photos are great of everyone and my daughter with her marathon medal. The marathon was handled excellent by the city. The event went smooth and safe.
As far as tourist attractions my favorite is the Rocky Statue. I also have the photo of me with Rocky on my profile. I love Philadelphia! I can't wait to return. I have intentions to go every year. Maybe this will be the year I get there! All sports fans in Philly ate paint chips when they were little. Central Philly is an absolute dump. Almost as gross as Manhattan. I'd rather make snow angels in my own shit, than hang out with a flyer fan for more than a second. Other than that really loved the cheese steaks! A really eclectic city. It has the historic charm of other major northeast cities, as well as their modern razzle dazzle. Worth a stop by any world traveler. Ah good o'l Philly!!!! I remember the feeling I got when I first came here years ago, it was so comforting, always reminded me of New York, just smaller. I love the buildings, I love the history, I love the new & old blending together. I love the houses! The little streets, the cobblestone. I've always said IF I ever consider moving out of New York I would live here. The art on the buildings are beautiful, they also have a mosaic glass garden in the city, beautiful place to look around, great place to take pictures. The waterfront is nice also, great restaurants, just a good vibe.... Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's largest city, is notable for its rich history, on display at the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed) and other American Revolutionary sites. Also iconic are the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, immortalized by Sylvester Stallone's triumphant run in the film "Rocky."
Great place/city to visit and view the monuments and most of all, don't forget there food. Our place to escape. We love Philly. We like to go and stay overnight to go and listen to Dena Underwood play her piano and listen to her beautiful voice Took a trip to Philly because my sister is going to school here. Every city has it's pro's and cons driving through the rural areas was quite peaceful, long winding roads and mountains in the background. Once you get into the city it is kind of dirty but it is a city that has a lot of historical sites and adventures to offer. I took my first trip to Philadelphia on February 2nd. I grew up in Rhode Island, and I currently live in Central Jersey. So I figured it was about time.
The city really wasn't what I expected. For starters, the people were super friendly. This came as a surprise, not just because it was Yelp's Philly CMs that took my Elite status away, after three consecutive years of being Elite when I lived in Manhattan. It came as a surprise because these are the people who threw snowballs at Santa Claus for Christ's sake. People held the door for me because I had my baby in a stroller. People helped me with directions. One woman even gave me a whole bunch of suggestions on places to kill time. So, the people were the best part of the trip.
The second best part of the trip was Reading Terminal Market. I'll review that separately.
The third best part of the trip was a little less than I expected. That part was the architecture. The old buildings were gorgeous, but there really wasn't a lot of them.
This brings me to the negatives about the city. Your skyline is an eyesore. I kept waiting for Neo to plug me back into the matrix so that I wouldn't have to look at things like this: http://www.thcphotography.com/slideshow_cache/photos/philadelphia_skyscrapers_5_FULL.500x500.jpg. You have buildings as gorgeous as your city hall and masonic temple, and you blot them out of the sky with buildings that look like they were crapped out by some giant, futuristic glass monster? If you're going to force me to look at the world after Skynet, at least send me Summer Glau.
Additionally, how are there not more food options. I asked a guy if there was anywhere good to grab lunch and he seriouslyy gave me directions to the nearest McDonalds and Subway.
Also, the city was pretty dirty, and didn't exactly transition smoothly from regular city to ghetto. While Boston lays claim to many activities and events that led to the creation of the United States of America, the city of Philadelphia is quite rich with its own history. Not only is it the location where both our Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution were created and signed, it served as our nation's capital during construction of the White House in Washington DC. In and around the city there are attractions too numerous to mention or detail, but I will list some of my favorites: City Hall with Pennsylvania founder William Penn looking over the city; Independence Hall where those two iconic documents were signed; Liberty Bell, now inside Liberty Bell Center; the Washington Monument, outside the Museum of Art; Swann Memorial Fountain, in Logan Circle; Carpenter's Hall, meeting place of the First Continental Congress; the Signer, inspired by George Clymer who signed the Constitution and the Declaration; Rocky, of course, near the Museum of Art; the Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731; and, carriage rides around Independence Mall. Plan to spend a few days to take in these attractions, and many more, and plan to soak up some great American History. City of history and fun! When I first flew in, I was concerned with the weather. It was Fall and I didn't know what to pack! When I arrived it was gloomy and rainy. FML - didn't pack for the rain. The subsequent days it was nice and sunny. Talk about bi-polar weather - LOL
I only had a few days to spend "site-seeing" and wasn't able to get around to too many of the places I wanted to get to, but the main touristy attractions that I went to were thankfully nearby and within a 1-2 mile radius. I walked everywhere!
It was nice to see the city, particularly with such a rich history! My fiancee is a history buff, so I know he would have loved everything going on over at Independence Hall. I felt pretty safe walking alone in certain parts, but the parts that were a little bit sketchy I pretty much walked fast thru.
MOMA and the medical museums are awesome. Wish I had more time to spend there since MOMA was so big!!!
I would love to come back and do more tours and to tour more of the city. Historial sites, world class museums, great restaurants, the Reading Terminal Market, the Macy's light show, the Italian Market, the Mummer's Parade, Rocky, cheesesteaks (and roast pork sandwiches, hint, hint), the Love statue...what's not to like in Philly? The Dallas Cowboys.
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name: Painting with a Twist, address: 998 2nd St Pike, city: Richboro, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: closed, categories: Art Classes, Arts & Entertainment, Paint & Sip, Education, text: Third time visiting this location had a blast super nice artist super nice owner and can't wait to go again Very nice environment, friendly instructors with lots of nice pictures to choose from. I can't wait to go back, will definitely be there again soon. I wish I could give more stars!! My aunt & I went to this location today & had Stephanie as our instructor. She was unbelievable. My aunt is mentally handicapped & needs some extra attention sometimes. Stephanie was so kindly accommodating!! She offered alternative seating & a foot stool, since my aunt was uncomfortable on the stools. She spent extra time helping her, encouraging her & showing her different techniques to complete her painting. Stephanie even charged my dead cell phone for me (after a dead battery, no GPS, debacle on my way to the location). I can't express my gratitude for the truly wonderful service Stephanie gave & the compassion she showed. I will return to Painting with a Twist in Richboro in a heartbeat & will make it known of my wonderful experience to everyone I meet. Plus, our paintings came out great!!! I worked here for a couple months and I will never work here again. They do not treat their stage artists nicely or fairly. The management does not care about anything but profit. I was told I would be getting a specific raise after 3 months and when the time came they refused to give it to me. They expect you to work for free and stay past the time they are paying you. Pick a different place to go to! Or tip your stage artist well. Love this place...it is a happy, escape from everything else, and fun thing to do. I have been here twice. The first time with 12 women for the painting and byob. We had our own private "girls night out" and the second time with my 6 year old Granddaughter and Daughter-in-law. With a spread of ages...everyone enjoyed and everyone liked their paintings. My 6 year old Granddaughter especially felt proud of her creation. It is reasonably priced especially bc all of the quality art supplies are provided and an instructor is guiding you every step of the way. Smocks are also provided. The studio is clean, bright and nice atmosphere. From the minute you walk in it has a nice vibe. I look forward to doing it again.
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name: The Grey Stone Fine Food and Spirits, address: 552 Washington Crossing Rd, city: Newtown, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: American (Traditional), Restaurants, text: It was our first visit to the restaurant under new owners. The building never looked better and the food was great. I had the grilled pork chop with sautéed red onions and apples over roasted garlic mashed potatoes. The pork chop was perfectly cooked and the brown sauce was delicious. My wife had the Greek Feta Shrimp over pasta. It was also perfectly cooked. The craft beer menu is great - 24 beers. The only disappointment was the wait staff - which was polite but disorganized. No silverware, long wait for service. The garden salad was pedestrian. But entrees were perfectly cooked and the atmosphere is really nice. We will be back. Very disappointed. We made a Mother's Day brunch reservation over a week ago only to be told today they couldn't accommodate the reservation. We were excited to go here but given the lack of communication or whatever their excuse, we won't be giving our business. Definitely a great addition to Newtown!
The location marries perfectly the feel of upscale fine dining with a posh bar/lounge. It's a great place to meet up after work for a few drinks and connect with friends or to truly indulge in some delicious food and slow down with family or friends in the dining area
I didn't get the chance to sample any entree items though will definitely be doing so when I return as the food was great! We just got drinks from the bar and some apps this time around. The drinks were fantastic and we sampled many! We got the Bavarian Pretzel & the wings. The wings were the ones with the shishito pepper, sesame seed and gochujang sauce. They were awesome! Kind of like a sweet heat taste to them and were so addicting.
If you're in the area this place is definitely worth passing through! Casual? Yes. Elegant? Hardly.
The owner is on record saying that he has aimed for a place that is "casually elegant". He doesn't pull it off - not even close. [One wonders why someone would aim for an oxymoron.] And what is left is a weird mix that, if he doesn't correct soon, will surely doom the Greystone (and its creditors).
Here's the main problem: The price points are reflective of a white table cloth, high-end, great service restaurant. Examples include the Chilean sea bass ($38 without sides), Stoli on the rocks ($12), a dinner salad with shrimp ($16), and so on. But the food quality is mediocre and the atmosphere and service are more akin to those of a Northeast Philly diner than a fine dining experience. There are simply too many other and far better choices for good food and great service at these price points.
I'll talk about the food first, and then get to "atmosphere": We ordered the dinner salad with shrimp, to share. Split in the kitchen (good), it arrived before the bread and my drink (no big deal). But the shrimp were warm, and "fishy". At $16, I expected the shrimp to be chilled, fresh, and split. My date had the sea bass. It was decent. I had the veal parm in a vodka sauce, over pasta (a dinner special at $28). The veal was good. But the "vodka sauce" was so cheesy that it was literally orange in color. My pasta reminded me of cafeteria macaroni and cheese, grade-school style. (I'm not kidding.) One split salad, two entrees, and two beers totaled $115 with tax and 18% tip. That figure should say "elegant". The food said "mediocre".
Now comes the REALLY weird part, namely the atmosphere: You are handed a series of one-page/paper menus (a cocktails sheet, a specials sheet, a beers sheet, and a regular menu sheet). Huh? What is elegant about that? I was looking for a manilla file folder. The seating (for us) was bench-style. I was literally sitting on a sheet of painted plywood. Huh? And the room itself - with its silver-colored faux-tin drop ceiling, big mirrors, cheap tables and chairs, tube lighting a la a shore house deck, etc - reminded me of the interior of a South Philly row house circa 1977. You just needed plastic seat covers to complete the look. Honestly, if you cleared the tables and hung a disco ball from the ceiling, you would have the wedding scene from "Goodfellas". Somehow, the owner managed to take a 200+ year old building surrounded by stately grounds and turn in into ... well, you get the idea.
Finally, the "flow" of the place is a-"maze"-ing. To move from the "reception room" to the main restaurant room requires a series of turns and stairs, and one has to walk through a hallway about the width of one found in a row house in Frankford (19124). The problem is, that single hallway also leads to the main bar, the kitchen, and the bathrooms! It's like running a gauntlet.
The bottom line is this: Save your money and go out for a lamb burger and a beer at any number of alternative venues; you'll get the same "casual" food, atmosphere and service, but without the "elegant" pricing. I don't consider myself a "serial" reviewer, but I've submitted three earlier opinions a bout this place - 4th visit was and improvement of sorts - food was good (octopus starter was exceptional), drinks were marginal, but service was much improved, although still slow based on managerial choices to minimize staffing. Place was still somewhat empty, especially on a beautiful day. Outside space still a bit antiseptic, and could use more creative landscaping treatments to make it more comforting. Pricing is still above what other local places are offering. In summary, still a place to visit in spite of managerial choices to not improve obvious efficiencies because I think they are attempting to improve the experience. Our 3rd visit here - wanted to determine any improvements, and try the patio area;
food: only had sandwiches - acceptable, but mediocre
drink: a bit overpriced - not expertly well-made
service: Chris was a very attentive waiter
ambiance: patio space is HUGE (two seating areas) but somewhat antiseptic (could use some strategic decorative trees/shrubbery or flower displays) - maybe too large to encourage close-in casual party gatherings, but more fitting for bigger-table banquets/weddings
We arrived at 5PM this past Sunday, figuring to take advantage of temperate weather and a beautiful day. Was somewhat surprised to find the entire restaurant nearly empty - no-one in the bar/lounge area, 4 tables occupied in the main dining rooms, 7 tables on the patio and no-one at the patio bar. Most wait staff complained about the "long walk" from kitchen to patio to deliver food/drink orders
IMO, the restaurant and open space offers a tempting respite for couples/families who may wish to enjoy a meal together - especially outside - and the management should be able to enhance such potential experiences with only a few tweaks to the present operating plan.
WE enjoy coming here, and hope The Graystone can encourage diners to visit regularly enough to make the location a long-term success. The food was pretty good. Staff was attentive and friendly, prices weren't too crazy. The menu is a little all over the place(which is understandable, as the place is fairly new). Would reccomend to friends and family, give them a shot! The brunch menu has some interesting choices including a "Spanish Bowl." The bowl should have been a showcase item for the chef however it didn't taste or look fresh and appeared sloppily thrown together. Waitress service was fine. Bar area was empty at lunch but the volume was turned up way high on the music. The bartender couldn't answer basic questions about Happy Hour saying that "wasn't her shift." Much potential but "meh" fo now. I'm rooting for this place and will try it again. Yesterday, we (my wife Rita and I) visited this newly-opened restaurant at a location that's seen a number of other "fine dining" restaurants close over the years.
The interior décor has been redone to appeal to a more contemporary clientele than previous restaurants, and the design was both fresh and bold. Our waitperson, Megan, was knowledgeable about the menu, and was helpful in our making entrée selections. Each of us made very typical drink selections to start off (wines, and a stout for myself), and the drinks arrived without delay. Our entrée selections were all different from one another, and the food was delivered/presented in an expedient manner. Each of us agreed that the portions were generous, the food was prepared as we requested, and everything appeared to be fresh. After the meal, we also agreed that we were more than satisfied with our choices. I was particularly surprised with the taste of my choice, a spicy steak sandwich. We also sampled from the dessert tray, which consisted of 6 different visually-appealing cakes/pies, that were also fresh and tasteful. We also each had either an espresso or cappuccino. which were brought while still hot.
In closing, the entire experience was better than we all had anticipated, and we've discussed the likelihood of visiting again when the "backyard" that's being constructed is completed.
The Newtown/Yardley area is filled with a number of restaurants that present themselves as either exceptional or very good, and IMO, after multiple visits, not many have lived up to their respective billings - this 1st try at Greystone, however, made me feel that there now is a goof "go-to" place close by that one can either visit to relax at, or feel good about bringing some outside travelers to for a nice time. This new restaurant is sure to be a hit. Went last (Friday) night for dinner with friends and had a really great experience. Our server, Jax, was wonderful and really helped us pick out great items from the drink, dinner, & dessert menues. She was extremely attentive from start to finish and charming to boot. The ahi tuna appetizer was delicious and the mac-and-cheese burger was amazing. We also liked the roast pork sandwich and the apple cobbler dessert. The large restaurant is broken into different sections, each with its own ambiance. Overall, it has a great look. The larger dining room, where we sat feels a bit cold, but the smaller rooms and bar/lounge area are very warm and cozy. They are also completing a very large outdoor seating area which we can't wait to visit through the summer. We're excited to have this great new restaurant in town! We were very disappointed in the quality of the food and the fact that it was served cold and over cooked. As we were trying our appetizers a server approached us asking if we were ready for the entrees. Apparently the entrees were ready for us, since they came out cold and a noodle dish was congealed. The staff was efficient, but the food was sub par. Even the pretzel appetizer did not taste like a pretzel but chewy bread. This new restaurant needs better kitchen management I live down the road and have been anxiously awaiting the opening of this new restaurant we so desperately need in the area. The transformation is amazing. The interior is beautiful and the outdoor area looks like it is going to be a great place to eat and hang out. Hoping for some fire pits. We dined there for the first time last night. Let me start the restaurant needs to figure out what they want to be fine dining or casual. I had the grilled scallops salad(substituted for shrimp) the salad was good not great. It was huge and served on a flat plate. This made it very hard to eat. My husband choose the Gnocchi, the pasta were like pillows, lots of crab the butter sauce was to rich. This dish was $27. For that price it should have been outstanding. The waiter was fine but not great. When I asked about the signature dishes he told me what people did not like, that was not what I asked. Also asked what the plan was for outside, he's response was it should be done soon. All staff should be able to say what the signature dish is and what the plan for the restaurant is. I may go back when the outside opens as it looks like a lovely place to have a drink. Hope the fix the food issue. We were excited to try this. We were married here 12 years ago when it was the 522. The renovations are nice enough and the new outside patio dining area looks great.
Inside the booths are quite uncomfortable.
The food was good but the service leaves a lot of improvement if they want to stay in business. Worse wss the timing in the kitchen. My food came out at least 10 minutes before my husbands the first time. His pork chop was extremely rare so it had to go back. That took about 15 minutes. I was done my meal long before he got his the second time. By then he was full on the appetizer, so we took it home. No one seemed to really notice, maybe because multiple people took care of it. Guess our waiter wss too busy although it was not at all crowded. The food was very good and menu offerings are interesting and fresh.
The apps were very good but too large for 2 people. Would be nice if they also offered half sizes for half the cost so you could try more of them. Also the salads are meal size and priced accordingly.
They need a side salad. Has lots of potential. Will try again in several months. I really hope they can make those improvements. Could be great! I really wanted to like this place as this location has been the death of multiple establishments and I surely would like to see one succeed. The only positive I see here is the outdoor area. As it is early autumn and the evening was too cool, we sat inside. Outside in the right weather is likely delightful, inside is unbearably noisy, even when not packed with customers. There is nothing elegant about the decor, tables, or the service. The wine pour was stingy for the price. The flatbread we shared as an appetizer, containing duck confit, was quite good. I had a salad with chicken as a main course and it was borderline large enough and tasty. The others at the table had chicken, salmon, and short ribs. Portions were ok but not large. The short ribs were delicious, the other dishes pretty good. Nothing was memorable. The salmon came out 15 minutes after the other dishes, leaving the rest of us to eat our food cold. The server profusely apologized that it was his fault for entering the order incorrectly. Otherwise he was witty, pleasant and ingratiating, so we did not take it out on his tip. We were disappointed that the restaurant did not "comp" the salmon. Indeed, the whole place seemed poorly managed. I do not think any of us will find a reason to return. If I did, it would be to sit outside while enjoying a stingy wine pour and a very good flatbread appetizer. Afterwards, I would go elsewhere for dinner. I was concerned when reading some very negative reviews but friends wanted to take us here so we went not expecting much. I'm delighted to report the food and service were excellent. Another reviewer talked about the dip that came out with the bread. If I had that at home I'd lick the plate. I decided to take a chance on the grilled octopus app. I absolutely loved it; tender as could be. I had the ahi tuna entree and it was perfectly cooked and presented. The others at the table were just as pleased. What a great experience. My wife and I saw some friends photos and decided to check it out. Impressive drink menu, and small but well thought out food menu. My wife tried the Jerk Mahi which we both thought was okay. I had the seared scallops and it was cooked to perfection. We split an appetizer of the General Tsos Cauliflower and we had to fight each other for it. Service was good, and I didn't notice any noticeable wait in between visits. Food was delivered super fast and the desserts were outstanding. We split the strawberry shortcake and had to bring half of it home. Can't wait to go back. First of all, the place is gorgeous. They have done a terrific job with the renovations. We went there today for what we thought was going to be lunch. It turns out that all they offer until 3:30 is their egg heavy "brunch" menu. Since I can't eat eggs, I settled for a turkey burger which was very good. I would have much rather had the lamb burger which is only on their dinner menu and was actually our reason for going there. My wife had the shaved ribeye stack which looked good, but the pepper jack cheese was so (spicy) hot it was barely edible. It should come with a warning label.
A word of caution for short people (5'7" or less): Ask for a table instead of a booth. The benches are so high your feet don't reach the ground!
This would be a terrific place for lunch if only they had a real lunch menu which would include lunch type items from their dinner menu (like the lamb burger and some of the better appetizers!)
We will definitely go back and try it for dinner. The place has great potential, but not quite there yet.
BTY Yelp. The actual name is The Grey Stone Fine Food and Spirits. (Grey Stone is two words.) Had lunch here on Mar 15, 2019 with a group of lady friends. This venue was chosen by others and when I read the reviews I was a bit worried, tho the reviews seemed to be mostly dinner. As soon as we arrived, the head of the group did not like the seating arrangement. Our server apologized (!) and cheerfully re-arranged the whole room for her (there were about 17 of us). Server brought us water, took drink orders, brought drinks, took food orders. The kitchen was a little slow but the food was very good. My only complaint is, with the long wait for food, some bread baskets would have been nice, I got the impression they don't serve bread at lunch. The remodel is stunning. The bar lounge is lovely. So if the bad & so-so reviews worry you, go for drinks and apps. Enjoy the lounge. Maybe you'll decide to stay for dinner. Went last night to the Greystone. The food was mediocre. I ordered the crab cakes and was told lump crab meat...while I received 2 nice sized crab cakes, they were mainly filler and not much crab meat. My husband ordered the halibut...about 1/4 of his fish was not even cooked.
I mentioned this to the man taking our plates who told our waitress (who was not very friendly) and she offered us desert on the house and did not even acknowledge that there was an issue (I only ate part of the crab cake and left one totally untouched).
The room was drafty and cold. We may try again and order something completely different but would not run back anytime soon. It's a cool space and the outdoor area looks very nice but inside is very loud. The food was just okay. We were there for the prix fixe Restaurant Week menu. The portions were unreasonably huge. I had the grilled octopus appetizer which was very good but could have been an entree. We all ordered the fig jam burger and all of them were undercooked compared to what we asked for. It was also smothered in wayyy too much of the jam. You couldn't even taste the onions or the Brie on it. The desserts were decent but again way too big. The chocolate cake was two full slices. The tiramisu was about a 3x6 inch very tall rectangular slice. The creme brûlée was a normal size but was underwhelming and a little runny inside. The booth seats are also uncomfortably high. Im 5'7" and my feet didn't touch the ground. Probably won't be back. We came here for brunch celebrating my friends birthday. I had every intention walking in on getting breakfast items but I was pretty sold on the Mac and cheese burger so I got that and a pineapple mimosa. The Mac and cheese burger was very delicious, the sweet potato and curley fries on the side were delicious and the pineapple mimosa was soooo good!!! I would of gotten two if I wasn't driving lol. The turkey burger and scallop salad had rave reviews as well. We sat out on the patio which was so nice and redone. The birthday girl got a complimentary dessert which was a red velvet cookie with Nutella and it was OMG amazing! I would come back just for that alone!! They put a lot of work making this place beautiful and it really shows! Can't wait to come back! Our first visit here was OK, but our second was much better! I think they're getting a better system and operations as they are up and running longer. We came on Saturday evening for appetizers and they were quite good. The bar was quite active as well and we enjoyed a drink there after we ate. Love this place. The drinks are amazing, as is the food. I didn't take any pictures on my last (first) visit, but will be going back soon to add a more appropriately detailed review. I can say the menu and the drinks are awesome and the venue is beautiful. They really did a great job expanding the outdoor space and making it more usable.
The music playing outside, along with the bars set up out there, make this a wonderful place to hang out with friends and enjoy the wonderful fall weather!
If you haven't been, you should go! Beautiful ambience - it was perfect for date night. We ordered their wedge salad for appetizer, and their rib eye and ahi Tuna steak. Everything was delicious but I wouldn't order the tuna steak next time I come, it was a little over cooked and they put too much peppercorn on it which made it very spicy, I had to take them off. (I am good with spicy food as I eat it all the time)
Their steak was soooo good though. Loved their pomegranate Appletini it was easy and sweet to drink but def was strong because by the second one I fel it Went for Sunday brunch. When I made the reservation I was not told it was a breakfast with Santa with a limited menu. It would have been the professional thing to do and I would have postponed what was my first visit. Instead I had a less than positive experience. Food was OK and the portions were decent. However, we had to ask to have our plates cleared and even then they left the dirty bread plates sitting on the table. It was noisy and with the kids was not the experience we were looking for. Too bad...Not sure I'll return. Gorgeous place but no ones know how to run this place, is so sad.
The food need some update. I can't say enough good things about the food I just had. The goat cheese balls if I could have them everyday for the rest of my life please. The flatbreads are amazing and the drinks were delicious. Perfect date night out I have been to the Grey stone 3 times...the food was good during each visit - the service needs to improve. However, I am giving this a 4 star review because we had a work function there for about 30 people and they did a fantastic job. We were all very concerned about the service and wanted to make sure that the evening went well and the staff did not disappoint.
I really hope that the management gets their act together for normal nights because this could be an excellent restaurant.
Some of the service issues: the first visit our waiter was high as a kite. He clearly was not trying to serve tables.
The 2nd visit was just happy hour at the bar inside. There were 2 bartenders and we still has to wave them down when we wanted something.
The service issues are certainly something that can be fixed! The worst experience we had . Poor service. We were in a group of 11 and the restaurant did not have enough help. We were seated at 8 PM. Bread was served at 915 after two requests.
Members in group were ready to walk out.
The appetizers that were ordered in two plates were served on time delay of one plate at time.
Messed up our celebration of landmark birthday.
The chairs on upper floor were we sat are the most uncomfortable. Poor quality cheap chairs.. You sink into the seat and can't get up.
We wish the management the best but they lost 11 neighborhood guests plus more with our word of mouth experience.
The menu selection is flimsy and not impressive. After reading the reviews my girlfriend and I were a little unsure about attending. But we went for dinner last Tuesday and I have to say the food was excellent and the service was very good. Mind you it was a rainy Tuesday night so it wasn't very crowded but we sat at the bar and the bartender was very pleasant and was prompt with service. I had a Lamb burger which I am shocked to say this was one of the best lamb burgers I have ever had. It was well plated and very juicy and delicious. They have a great selection of beers on draft as well as in cans and a nice range of cocktails. Definitely will be coming back here again and hoping for a similar experience. Second visit. Sat in main dining area. Only about 4 other tables filled at 8:30 on Friday night. Room smelled of mildew. 10 minutes before approached by a server who made it clear she wasn't supposed to be our server. Took our drink orders. While she was gone another server came. She excused herself when the first one came back. Drinks were very good.
Food- shrimp and crab cocktail. 3 small shrimp and some lump crab from a can for $16.
Entree- my wife and I split a $36 bone in ribeye. Meat did not seem to be high end restaurant quality. Actually, the steaks I grill at home are considerably better.
The menu prices are out of context with the quality of the food.
On the plus side, on the way out, the manager/owner? Was waiting to ask for suggestions.
This is a very large space with presumably a very high overhead. I fear for the longevity if they don't pick up the food. The service was inexcusable given how not busy the restaurant was. Went for brunch Sunday - had the La Colombe cold brew on draft which was great to see outside of the city and a Bloody Mary with a nice piece of bacon in it! I had the smoked salmon (delicious) others had the rib eye stack & the short rib eggs Benedict. The short rib was cooked perfectly. Server let us know they serve brunch every day! Much needed in Newtown. Came here for lunch / dinner , there brunch is till 5 , so I went to order a soup that is on there brunch menu and the server said oh we don't have that , so we said ok we will just take the two sodas we have here , and he said " Seriously " !! ...well Mr Chris ... our first time here , wasn't impressed!! Had lunch to go from here today. I had the Buffalo cauliflower Caesar salad & if i could have licked the plate clean, i would've. It was delicious!!!! Will definitely have that again! Also the buffalo cauliflower side dish is a must have too! And the Bavarian pretzel & short ribs! Delicious!!! Went in tonight for dinner in the romance room. I had the veal chops which were amazing! The octopus appetizer was to die for. Server Donna was exceptional and attentive. Will be going back soon! The food here is delicious, my favorites are the noodle bowl (add shrimp), mushroom burger, and if we're close to summer my body makes me go with the kale and shrimp salad. All options are cooked to perfection. The service is great, never need to wait to long for a drink. I highly suggest Grey Stone, especially for a nice night out with your significant other.
One down fall, been there a few times when they're having live music and the lame neighbors that live 3 football fields away through the the forest, somehow always complain about the "music being to loud" (at 7 pm).
*bonus quarantine review*- This place is lucky they're ahead of the game, their outside seats are majority of their seating. But the safety procedures and adjustments they made will make you feel comfortable and relaxed. The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful and the food is delicious!!! I highly recommend a night out at Greystone whether it's for drinks and apps or a delicious dinner!!! Hope you enjoy as much as we did!!! Venue is absolutely beautiful which paired well with the amazing food. From the bread, to the tomato bisque soup topped with a little grilled cheese, to the entree and desserts... everything was top notch! Highly recommended. First time going to Greystone for my birthday dinner and it far exceeded my expectations. The service was attentive and quick. We had the butternut squash dip, which was delightful and they were more than happy to bring back more toast for the dip! The bread to start was delightful and the garlic, tomato, dipping oil was amazing! We kept asking for more bread to dip and they eventually brought us more dipping oil, which was greatly appreciated! I got the tofu dish. It was amazing and a hefty portion. I saved half and finished it the next day for lunch. My boyfriend got the halibut and loved it! I'm glad I got a before picture because it was gone in a few minutes! My parents got the butternut squash ravioli and the duck. The duck was tender and cooked to perfection. The butternut squash ravioli was delightful. It was placed over a butter sauce, which was a little overpowering, but still delightful. Dessert was great! We got the tiramisu. I didn't have time to take the photo because it was gone in a matter of minutes as well! I'll definitely be back! Went for restaurant week, thinking we could check it out, and they would have their best of the best as a showcase. Not so. My date and I had arrived, ordered drinks, and the three course restaurant week selections. Our drinks arrived but still seemed slow. Then we waited and waited. Service seemed slow and unaware of our waiting. We waited. Interestingly, they seem to have plenty of staff buzzing around. First course came, then we waited and waited. Second course came. Good food. Not great. Good. Then our desserts. Delicious. BUt then we waited for our check. The experience was 2 hours. Not a busy place at the time either.
To duplicate another past review I just read, I dont understand what this place is supposed to be. Is it casual dining? Great, then why the 2 hours, and the food seems a bit on the high side if its casual. If its not casual, and more classy, then why is the waitstaff in various clothing. Some in long pants and dress shirts, others in shorts and tee shirts, other is workout pants? And it was loud, so be prepared.
Meh. Weird or eclectic? Maybe just not sure what personality it wants to be. Either way, I wont be back. Great lunch at Greystone. The presentation and food itself was very good. The decor is very modern in a historic setting. The outside dining and happy hour bar look like a great reason to return. Noisy, unprofessional bar staff, not a pleasant Friday night happy hour. Slamming bottles in garbage cans... so damn annoying. We wanted a burger... it is off the menu for Friday and Saturday. Really? Too elite to serve a weekend burger? Clean up your act, hire adults ... and it might offer a happy hour environment that is welcoming.
Never again for us. A friend and I had a nice lunch here. The food was great and not too expensive. The new decor is beautiful. I will definitely be back. Highly recommended. This place serves great food and drinks. The ambience is also very nice and modern. The servers are friendly and attentive. They are building a huge outdoor patio too, will be awesome for summer nights. The establishment used to be owned by William Penn in the 1700s. So much history here. Highly recommend The outside patio and bar is very nice. Inside dining is also very nice. Seems like some start up service bumps to smooth out but the food is very good, nice selection of beer wine cocktails, and they have live music next to smaller indoor bar lounge. First visit service was great, second not as good. Very nicely appointed inside dining rooms, inside beautifully renovated! Look forward to seeing the large fireplace lit in the winter! Not dog friendly. We were told that well behaved dogs could be on the patio but when we called right before going over there, the owner vetoed what we had been told. Seems shortsighted from a business point of view. We had gone to the restaurant early on when they had the disastrous opening menu and then went back more often after they changed the menu. But their current dog policy makes that difficult for us, and less desirable. Hope they see that a change of policy would be good for business. Beautiful place and delicious food!
I ate here twice in one week. My first experience was the other day when they were hit with 2 big parties without reservations. I could tell they weren't prepared for the volume but the staff was busting their butts to take care of everyone and the food was still really good.
Then I was part of a party of 12 for a very busy Mother's Day.
The food was delicious. My family loved everything (ex. Prime Rib, Roasted Pork Loin, Chicken Parm Meatballs), the beer was cold, the staff was on top of everything. The restaurant is new and it's only going to get better as they get into a groove. This may be the new hot spot in Newtown. I'm looking forward to seeing their growth. Beautiful decor. Nice, relaxing atmosphere. The fireplace makes it extra cozy! Excellent food. Even better bartender! Micah was very attentive and quite knowledgeable of the spirits. The Snowflake martini was delicious! Definitely try the sweet potato bisque and edamame dumplings! Just had our 50th anniversary dinner party here and it was fabulous. The upstairs private party room is really beautiful. We had the pasta with vodka sauce which was delicious as well as the manicotti. For dinner there was both salmon with mango salsa and chicken Marsala both of which were really good. Service was great and the management was wonderful to deal with. We will definitely be back for dinner. I went here tonight with a meetup.com group and we were treated so very shabbily by the restaurant manager who wouldn't even let us out on the large back yard area even tho the groups organizer Laura confirmed a week in advance that this would be where we would gather.
To be fair the owner of the place did apologize quite sincerely at the end of the evening for the outrageously lousy behavior of the manager who seemed to be clearly OUT OF HER DEPTH in being able to handle the stress of managing a Friday night scene. Send her back to the kitchen, she's not done yet!
Otherwise the place really is lovely and most of the other staff were quite nice, especially Mike the bartender at the indoor bar. The band they hired for the night was an excellent classic rock band.
But still there is only one chance to make a first impression and the manager pretty much pooped the bed on that one, so only 2 stars. Wow! All I can say is don't waste your time! Owner does not want to hear any criticism. We went in a Saturday and they ran out of several items and they didn't seem to really care. The main dining area does smell of mildew and the service wasn't great. The bartender is rude and the owner is clueless. We ran into him on the way out so we shared our experience with him and he said that's common for restaurants to run out and he didn't seem interested in our feedback on the bartender. We were a party of 6 and we will not go back. The patio is probably the best in the area. It is surrounded by green and land not a road or a parking lot like most of the patios in the area. And it is huge. There is one for larger tables and even if it rains you are perfectly fine to sit outside.
The food was good. I was not the best for the price - it felt like lower quality ingredients but made well. I ordered a burger that had avocado cheese and a chipotle mayo. The ratios were off and the burger was slightly burnt. Also, the amount of avocado was enough to share with 2 other people and the cheese was barely there.
The service was WEIRD. Our server was to say the least - odd. He called everyone "miss" which calling older women miss it almost sounded demeaning. He skipped over the specials quickly and almost like we wouldn't care. He didn't refill drinks until asked and I don't believe anyones waters were refilled.
I will come back for the patio and drinks. Give the service and food another shot. Hoping this was an off night because the atmosphere was great. This is a nice setting and they have obviously invested a lot in doing this place up. Also the dishes ranged from average to good. Unfortunately nothing we ate stood out as very good (which it should considering the prices). However, it feels like they just aren't used to running a restaurant. There weren't many people when we were there but they still managed to forget silverware, bring entrees at almost the same as time as appetizers, get the bill wrong, and forget orders. Also they need to spray the patio as there were ants crawling everywhere on the table. Had a great experience for our first time dining here. We had a drink at the outside bar and then dined outside. It's a little confusing which tables are available to casually sit at and which are managed by the hostesses but we figured it out while we waited for our friends to arrive. There were a few hiccups, had to ask for silverware and one of our meals came out wrong. Nothing major. All of the items we tried were great - a few of the specialty cocktails, an appetizer recommended by the hostess, caprese grilled cheese, and a couple entrees. Everything was delicious. The ambiance was great and definitely something I would go back for. When we were leaving, we walked through the inside to get back out front and stopped for a few minutes to watch the band. This is a great spot - maybe a few kinks to work out but definitely worth trying or giving a second chance for those that didn't have the best first impression. It was just ok. I went with a friend on a Thursday around 6 it was pretty dead. We sat in the bar area. I had wedge salad that came with a side of steak. It was a decent size but some of the lettuce looked a little off. Again ok but not great. I must first state that my experience here was very short. When pulling up to the front door, valet pointed to one of the parking lots for us to self part. I wondered why have a valet service just to point you to a lot. Tried to park and found no spaces where I was directed. Had to park on wet grass as it was the only available spot. With wet muddy shoes we approach the entrance and went pass the valet, who was under the canopy hiding from the rain. Inside, we waited at the reception area for about 5 minutes. During our wait, we noticed very loud live music at the bar area and wondered if the place was more a night club than a restaurant. We love music but the place sounded more like a concert venue and not a place to have a conversation while dining. Our initial impression of this place made us feel that we were better off looking for another place to dine. We walked out the place, never seeing a reception person. Valet looked very dry and comfortable as we went past him and out into the rain to our car parked in the mud. I'm giving this place the benefit of 2 stars in fairness that we actually never got to eat there but first impressions are important. Service was extremely slow and my food came out slow. They have also paired back the menu since they first opened and no longer have burgers and sandwiches, which were the real draw of going there. My sangria had fruit in it that didn't have the label removed. The only saving grace was that the food we did get was good once we did get it, but we likely won't be returning any time soon. Waitress literally mocked us for asking to put the fireplace on AFTER WE CALLED AND CONFIRMED THEY WOULD PUT IT ON. Five feet from us, she said to her coworkers, "Really, theyre going to make us turn on the fireplace tonight? Isn't it hot enough already" Needless to say, we will not be returning Finally a good brunch option in Newtown area, food and service were amazing. The brunch menu has quite a good variety of options. The server (Jax) was very nice and friendly, took care of all the requests. The Nutella French toast, Falafel sandwich and Chocolate waffles were delicious! What an amazing place. Have been all over Newtown restaurants and must say this place is a must go !!! Great bartender Alena and amazing owner Alyssa. Family owned business, great food, amazing drinks, to kill for atmosphere - what's there not to love ? Will be recommending this place to all family and friends for sure. Grey Stone won my heart - u just gained yourself a regular customer !!! We had dinner here tonight and we really want this place to do well....This is our 4th time since it opened.
The martinis were good
The olive oil/ tapenade dipping sauce was delicious.
The cauliflower was very good.
The pizza was good.
However 2 out of 4 experiences, it has been excessively hot at the high top tables near the fire place. Tonight the thermostat read 78 degrees.
The owners need to realize that you can not enjoy the experience if it is hot, simply not acceptable. We went there on a double date and had a wonderful time. Had reservations for 6:45p. Got there early and hung out at the bar/lounge area and I had champagne dreams it was delicious. We were seated exactly on time. Other being very hot there, everything went smoothly. Someone adjusted the temp after a while btw. The dip that comes with bread is hands down the best I've had in a long time. I ordered ny strip cooked nicely however friend's was over cooked. Scallops and short ribs dishes were excellent. Definitely get mezza plate for appetizer. It was lovely. I usually despise my restaurant experiences because they'll be too crowded or hot or bad service because I'll just want to leave. But the venue is drop dead gorgeous and extremely relaxing. This is the best restaurant experience I've had in a long time. Extremely clean place & friendly staff. Extremely quick service with great waiters. We ordered a hummus plate, turkey sandwich, and buffalo wings. The hummus dish was 10/10 and could serve 2 or 3 people. Just had the wings & sandwich and fries and everything was perfect, actually 0 complaints. And I'm one to have a lot of complaints. I am shocked there's not one other person here besides us. (It is a Wednesday at 2:00pm) I think it might be the remote location? I'm not sure but I can't wait to come back. I am so happy to come back and update my review from 2 to 4 stars. We've been twice in the past month, one lunch and one dinner, and both were awesome. Food and service both great. I'd argue the filet (and service) were better than Rocco's! I think they finally figured it out. Only rating 4 vs 5 stars because we were lucky to have a table in the back by the fireplace, and they closed the door to tone down the noise from the live music. If we'd been in the main dining room I think it would have been super loud. But food-wise so good and can't wait for warm weather so we can eat out on the patio! My friends and I have a tradition of celebrating each others birthday by dining at a special place. I've been wanting to try Grey Stone, so we all agreed to meet for brunch this past Sunday. The atmosphere was very attractive, but we all immediately felt a sense of disorganization amongst the staff. Looking down at the table, 2 knives were dirty and a folded napkin had a large stain on it, the waitress immediately replaced all 3 items. We placed our order, and waited, and waited and waited. The order consisted of an omelet, 3 burgers and an order of pancakes. After 45 minutes, maybe more we inquired..."um.. the food we ordered...?" The waitress replied, "the omelette has been done, were just waiting on the burgers." The food arrived, waiter inquiring "who has the well done burger?" (after tasting, that one turned out to be the rare one) The omelette was served cold, I assume as it sat waiting for the burgers..? My burger was cooked perfectly, served with fig jam, brie and carmelized onions, really delicious! At this point we were ready for the check, then the pancakes we ordered to share arrived!.way too late.Seems like timing, rhythm and organization are missing. Someone invested a ton of money renovating this place, but at the end of the day even with a tasty burger its all in the details and the service. None of us would return. Been wanting to come to this place for awhile, but it's hard when you have a kid. We had one night to go out, we were so excited to go to happy hour here. The menu sounded great, only when we get there at 6:27 we find that happy hour ends at 6:30, when everywhere else in the world happy hour is until 7:00. The bartenders were so overwhelmed that it took a good 15 minutes for us to be helped at the bar. We ordered drinks that were overpriced and mediocre. We had to ask more than once to order food. We ordered the falafel nachos and the carrots with truffle ricotta. Nachos were underwhelming and the carrots were essentially raw and did not taste like truffle. Atmosphere and clientele were very snooty and it felt stuffy. The bartenders clearly could not handle the small crowd that they had. We were so disappointed we left and went to Harvest Seasonal down the road where we had great service and food. We were so disappointed and will not be back. Awesome place! Went the other night & was blown away by the service from the lobby right down to getting our check! Seems like there maybe a few kinks to work out, but i think this place will be a success!!! Hoping for some live music once the patio opens up!!! Great food served by Tory who was attentive. We sat outside to enjoy the garden setting and eclectic musical selections. The flatbread and mussels were fabulous. The angus burger was one of the best we ever had. Definitely won't be disappointed dining here. So, I am still thinking about it 2 weeks out, and I will stand by what I wrote. They could have done much better by us. We all did eventually sneak out to the backyard so they really couldn't stop an entire group. We have been invited back by the owner as a group. So stay tuned for the next installment! I really hope this is a turn-around story! I like seeing success!
...
I went here Friday night, May 31st with a meetup.com group and we were treated so very shabbily by the restaurant manager who wouldn't even let us out on the large back yard area even tho the groups organizer Laura confirmed a week in advance that this would be where we would gather. To be fair the owner of the place did apologize quite sincerely at the end of the evening for the outrageously bad behavior of the manager who seemed to be clearly OUT OF HER DEPTH in being able to handle the stress of managing a Friday night scene. Send her back to the kitchen, she's not done yet!
Otherwise the place really is lovely and most of the other staff were quite nice, especially Mike the bartender at the indoor bar. The band they hired for the night was an excellent classic rock band. But still there is only one chance to make a first impression and the manager pretty much dropped the ball on that one, so only 2 stars. The Grey Stone Fine Food and Spirits
552 Washington Crossing Rd, Newtown, PA
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Robert L Tammaro
Robert L Tammaro
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I went here recently with my daughter for her Birthday dinner. It was my first time dining at this restaurant. It is a beautiful facility, a nice setting with excellent service. The food was outstanding, which is why I am rating it five-star. I had Wasabi Crusted Ahi Tuna and my daughter had Almond Crusted Salmon and they were both very delicious and well worth the price. We sat outside because it was a lovely evening and found it very comfortable and the ambiance very delightful.
I highly recommend this restaurant and hope that it is successful because it is one of the best restaurants in the area, and, perhaps my favorite. Newtowns newest restaurant..... Service and food was great.... Crab gnocchi is axcellent entree to have.... Served in a lemon chive dill sauce... There are some glutten free menu items too.....a vegan stir fry is listed too... In recent years I have come to realize that online-review sites like Google Reviews, TripAdvisor, Open Table, and yes, Yelp!--have in effect taken away much of the power restaurants have to defend themselves against malevolent diners and placed it in the hands of those who are out to ruin a restaurant's reputation. Having worked in the business for many years, with the advent of "no-consequences" business-review sites, I began to see how customers owed us nothing as restaurant owners, managers, and/or employees. A table could literally tell their server that everything is great, everything is fine, and then immediately go home and write a scathing one-star review essentially damaging that restaurant's reputation. It seemed one-sided and top-heavy to me, the power-dynamic which puts the customer in a completely dominant position, and the restaurant on the defensive.
I have vowed to try and be a five-star customer when I go out to eat. I try and order from the menu, I try not to make a spectacle of my potential dietary restrictions (gluten free, dairy free, etc. etc.), and I don't ask my server if I can change tables or snap my fingers at them for any reason. This is a long way of saying that my recent experience at The Greystone Fine Food & Spirits was so awful that it made me break all of my new rules, and now I have to write a bad review anyway. It pains me to say this.
To be fair, it was a busy Saturday night, and since all the other restaurants in the area were booked up around 7:00, we booked a reservation on Open Table at the last minute. Obviously, this was a bit of a shock to them, as the hostesses at the front desk seemed genuinely confused that there was a reservation under our name for two people. After awhile of standing in the foyer (again, no big deal), one of them leads us to a banquet table booth which was way too high. My legs were touching the bottom of the table, and it is quite awkward when the person across the table seated in the chair is so much lower than you. Whatever, right? No big deal.
Our server was friendly enough, although after I ordered the beer flights and am in the process of choosing which four beers I want, she has already disappeared to the bar, so she has to come back again and tell me that I'm "supposed to choose which beers I want" for the flights. No big deal.
The server waiting on the table next to us drops a drink from her drink-tray onto the floor and spills a significant (!) amount of vodka down my friend's jacket, soaking his back and running down the back of his pants. Excellent! She was apologetic, though, and brought a surplus of paper napkins to our table. Then came Alyssa, the manager, to ask us the following: "Did someone get Cristened over here?" with a wince and a grimace. She asked us to tell her if there was anything she could do, and disappeared again. We were the only table without bread; so we asked for that. The appetizer came; it was auctioned off at the table. No serving utensil. We asked for that. We had to ask for another bottle of water, they brought our entrees while our appetizer plates were still on the table. They did not clear any of these; they remained with us for the duration of the meal.
In fairness, the valet was great and the short rib fries appetizer was very tasty. But the Crab Gnocchi entree was tasteless and inedible. The Herb Chicken special was ok, broccoli rabe had burnt garlic in it, (for shame!), and the sweet-potato puree or whatever it was was terrible. The same waitress who spilled vodka on my friend is now bumping into his chair and either not noticing or caring enough to apologize. Now, for the first time in as long as I can remember, I ask to speak to the manager. I think "who have I become?"
Alyssa returns, and is all ears about our experience. I explain that we can forget the vodka-spilling incident, but that the other issues with the service and food were unacceptable. Alyssa is genuinely sorry, she says, and will take one of the entrees off the bill. She asks us if we want more food. We cry "NO" in stereo--just the check, please. When our server, Nicole brings the bill, she has an attitude. She is clearly not happy with our antics. When she brings the credit-card receipt back again, we are again met with an attitude. She's pissed.
On leaving, my friend finally tells Alyssa there was something he thought she could have handled better. He told her that asking customers if "there's anything you can do" puts the client in an awkward position to have to ask for something rather than being offered. She said, "Oh, that's not what I meant. I meant did you need another rag to soak up the liquid." When he said he thought she had meant something to make up for the spill, she said that was not what she was offering. "That's even worse," he said, and we left. Maybe it was just an off night, but I don't think so. :( Stay away. We had a bad experience all the way through from the lobby to the food to the service.
Granted they have been open for three weeks. We went early on a sat and it was not busy yet. Hostess had no clue what was going on. Waitress was nice but incompetent. Food was average burger stuff they tried to make fancy. Had to ask for water EVERYTIME my glass was empty (my pet peeve).
I will never go back to this place. On top of all this they took a historic building and gave it a modern/Home Depot decor. I give it 6-9 months and it will be closed. Beautiful place, pretty good food but it varies.
The owner can not keep staff. They micro manage the
Staff and the customers.
We really wanted to love this place.
We were stopped at the door and told we were not allowed to go into the backyard. We informed the "host" that we wanted to just have appetizers and a few drinks for happy hour. We were not allowed to sit at any of the many empty tables that were out on the patio.We were instead crammed int the gazebo bar area without even one seat available . We left As many others have said, I really want to like this place and see it do well. But.... we arrived on a Sunday at 12:50pm. We were two adults and two kids. There was one family of four ahead of us in line to be seated. It took until 1, literally a full 10 minutes, to be taken to a table. Not because they were full but because the hostess was apparently off cleaning and setting tables. I guess 12:50 is a little on the late side but still I'd have expected hostess(es) at the podium, and tables set and ready to be filled!
But okay, finally sat down outside on the patio which was nice, although we were on the "big" side of the patio which was completely empty except for us. Again though, no biggie. We order drinks for us and the kids and they came out pretty quickly and the waitress seemed attentive. So far so good. By now it's 1:15 or so. Then we order food... two kids plates and a breakfast burrito. 2pm came and went and no food, and the drinks were all gone. No sign of the waitress. Eventually I trekked back inside (it ready is a big patio!) and asked the bartender, who was standing behind the bar, seemingly there to serve drinks, whether I could place a drink order with her. She looked at me and said no. Just... "no" Then she asked who my waitress was or what she looked like. My waitress hadn't spent much time with us and I was juggling a 5 and 7 year old but I did my best to explain. The bartender got annoyed, huffily said she'd figure it out, and then sent me on my way. No less than ten minutes later the waitress comes out and said she was sorry she hadn't been back by, but she'd been looking out the window from inside and hadn't seen us staring back that way, so she didn't realize we wanted anything. Again
I really didn't even know what to say to that. But we order drinks, one comes out wrong, eventually gets fixed, and finally the food comes. The food wasn't bad although the burrito didn't quite match the menu description. But it was 3pm before we got a check. Over two hours for 2 drinks, chicken fingers, pancakes (which actually looked the best out of all the meals), and a burrito.
Then when we were finally leaving... we parked in the side lot which is near the door to the kitchen. Getting in the car we looked over and saw 4 or 5 servers standing around smoking. I think we may have solved the service mystery!
The place looks nice but the menu is odd and lacks identity and the service is painful. I think with a fresh, more professional staff and some menu refinement this could be a good place, but if they don't act soon it may be hard to recover from the early day stumbles. Personally I'm going to wait it out another 6 months before even thinking about a return, and may just let it go. Harvest is a far better option and while service there can be iffy too since they're always so busy, at least it feels professional and the food is consistently good. What a great restaurant. The seasonal drink specials were very good. We started with general tso cauliflower, it was amazing. This could have been a meal. The sea scallop dinner, was cooked to perfection. Be sure to save room for dessert!!!!!! Best dessert in the area. Expect to pay for this meal, it is not cheap, but it was delicious. Bad food, sticky floors, sewage smell throughout. Hardly anyone there. This place will not last. Went for a family brunch and had a wonderful experience! From the food to the service we had no complaints, our server Jena was a gem and really friendly and helpful. Definitely will be back, the Chocolate chip pancakes are definitely a must try. Food, drinks and service all five stars, thanks Greystone!!! Such great food and great service! Our waitress was Donna and she was wonderful. We had dinner inside and decided to have drinks outside by the heater and fire pits. I was in the Quiet Room last night and Roxanne blew me away with her excellent customer service and personality! She was super busy but she was very attentive to us and never missed a beat! Easter Brunch was fantastic! Most buffets are just quantity. From salad through entrees and house crafted desserts - everything was so good. The quality of ingredients was evident in every bite. If we could have reserved for next year - we would hav
The staff was great as well from the valet on.
As good as Easter was - last night was awful.
Bad food, service, just awful.
No silverware for 5 minutes after food arrived and incomplete orders, wrong drinks ... We went the second weekend of the opening so the seating and service is still getting figured out. No big deal, still decent service. Our waitress seemed very experienced and polite. The food was amazing. Might be the best burger I ever ate. The mussels and cheesesteak pretzel apps were also great. Will def be back soon. Greystone has an insanely gorgeous outdoor patio. The space is enormous and is filled with multiple tables, cabanas, bar areas and even a garden. That's why on a gorgeous Sunday at around lunch time it was really surprising to see that we were the only people eating in the entire space.
And after we ordered and ate I was even more surprised about this. Everything that we had was delicious. The meal started off with rose watermelon sangria which honestly, can just never be bad. This drink was sweet and refreshing and we all liked it so much that we ordered two.
For my meal I started off with fried goat cheese balls. The order came with three and they were so rich that it was hard to get more than 1 and a half. It's basically just a deep fried mound of goat cheese ::drool:: and the balls were served above arugula, figs and prosciutto. I also ordered a small buffalo cauliflower Caesar salad. For the small sized portion the salad was pretty large, so I'd imagine a large portion is a very filling lunch. The buffalo cauliflower was super tasty -- tangy but not too spicy which is how I like it.
The menu is big and there are lots of lunch options like sandwiches, burgers and various salads. The interior is also pretty massive with lots of party rooms, so it wasn't surprising to learn that you could host a big event here.
Maybe it was just an off day for them. Given the beautiful setting, solid food and service and summery patio drinks it's surprising that they'd be so empty on a gorgeous Sunday. Try them out! I've dined here many times. The food and service are ALWAYS AMAZING - as they were today. Unfortunately, today there was a group of about 50 people on the outdoor patio - which is where we were sitting. As the members of the large party were standing and mingling for the first 40 minutes while I was there, none of them wore masks - putting the other guests and the servers at risk. In the future, I will ask if there will be large groups at the restaurant. Beautiful place and excellent service - we came in for a dinner for 2 late and we still were sat quickly, the service was excellent, our server Jax was personable and friendly and the food was phenomenal! I had the lobster Fra Diablo special and he had the Mac and cheese burger - both amazing and great portions! We can't wait to come back, especially in the summer for the patio and outside bar! Never write reviews but I feel like this restaurant deserves it. No other restaurant like it in the area. The bunch options are amazing. Will definitely be our go to brunch spot for the summer with the new outdoor area opening up. It was wonderful to dine out again with great drinks and food out on the pretty patio! Everyone very friendly, following the Covid guidelines and making the best of a difficult time. Thank you Grey Stone! This place is amazing. The food is to die for.
Amazing cocktails and the wait staff are fun!b We went last night for the first time and it was absolutely amazing! Everything was great, the food, the music, the house wines and even great service! We enjoyed everything so much that we cannot wait to get back and can't believe it took us this long to finally go! You will not be disappointed! The atmosphere is so beautifully decorated and our food was out of this world! Thank you for opening an establishment not only with mouth watering food and presentations but also a classy well taken care of environment with astonishing service! The short rib entree is amazing. The new Resturant makes great use of a historic building. Love this place! Great environment, spacious, nicely decorated, comfortable seating options. Good and unique food. Excellent beer and drink choices. Good, accommodating service. Just a bit pricey. The grey stone is a really nice restaurant like really nice lovely food which is to DIY for yummy
Burgers yummy Awesome! Great food. Menu is a great mix of classics with new twists that work.
Very attentive service. Building a mix of old and new fused together.
Drink menu was excellent!
Definitely coming back with family and friends! Awesome food, great outside scene, good drinks. If you like Rocco's, you'll like it here. I've been here several times. Their drinks are well poured. Nice selection of appetizers. Beautiful location. Entrees are always good. This was a tough review to write because it wasn't one huge, glaring error that made our experience negative, but it was a combination of things. In total it just seemed like this place was just a little off in many ways, which if you're spending a decent amount on a dinner you should not feel. For starters, my wife and I got there early and went to the bar area. There was a large scented candle burning on a shelf. I don't think I've ever seen (or smelled) that at a bar or restaurant. We ordered drinks and my wife's glass had lipstick on it. Ok, that happens sometimes. They got my wife a new one. I asked what they had on tap and the bartender said "we have 24 taps, what do you like? IPAs? Stouts?" I said I liked stouts so she gave me a stout that was a heavy coffee stout. I don't like coffee stouts. Ok so maybe I should have asked for a list, or she should have provided one.
We got seated at a very tiny table for two and we ordered an appetizer and our meals. After a decent wait our meals came out. They forgot our appetizer. The server was nice about it and said she'd take off a dessert if we wanted. I ordered my steak medium-rare and it came out past medium. It also had very little flavor. For a $32 steak that was very disappointing. My wife's pork chop tasted good but was pink. Luckily she had no ill effects. We ordered a dessert to share and my wife ordered a dessert drink as well. About halfway through her drink my wife realized her glass was chipped on the rim in two places.
So, our meal experience was not good.
The ambiance is a little confusing as well. Its hard to tell what they're going for. In some ways they appear to be trying for a high-end look, but in others its just confusing. Some of the artwork looks like cheap 80's art. In the men's room there are framed pictures of Brian Dawkins and Joe Montana. I just felt that was kind of an odd choice.
So we will not be back. We've been to Rocco's and had great experiences there so we will definitely be going back there when we want a nice evening out. Its too bad. We really were hoping for a another option. Easter Brunch was fantastic! Most buffets are just quantity. From salad through entrees and house crafted desserts - everything was so good. The quality of ingredients was evident in every bite. If we could have reserved for next year - we would have!
The staff was great as well from the valet on. First time ever here.... we decided to come here for lunch around 2pm. Very clean atmosphere. There was only three other couples inside as we were being seated. The hostess gave us the menus and we noticed that 85% of it was breakfast. There was soup, salad and a few other options. At the hour it was we were looking for lunch. Our waiter Chris come to our table and took our beverage order as we were still deciding. We asked if this was the breakfast menu and we were told "No, it's brunch." So we then asked when the dinner menu comes out and we were told, " Brunch until 5pm". So we decided to start off with soup. Well that changed very quickly as the Tomato Bisque soup was on the menu but we were told that they don't have that, as Chris began rattling off other options, some which weren't even on the menu. What do you mean you don't have it? You just opened at 11am and by the looks of it, we made the fourth couple inside. So I looked at the waiter and asked for the check so we could pay for our beverages and the attitude we received from Chris was an absolute DISGRACE! He looked at me after I asked for our check and he replied,"Seriously?" Who says that? Yes Chris seriously.... I am hoping you were having a bad day and that you aren't that way everyday because if you are you may want to change your career and not deal with the public! Absolutely appalling and will NOT be back. I don't like the fact that I even have to give this establishment a star period! Honestly I feel like two stars is being generous. The food is good but not great. The service was terrible!! Hostesses were clueless and overwhelmed. They tried to put 6 of us in a 4 person booth. Then brought us to a table meant for 4 people comfortably not 6. (I really hate giving poor reviews but this was not good). Then our waitress was probably the best part of our experience, brought out our bottle of wine and a vodka with a splash of cranberry that was more like cranberry with a splash of vodka. The boys bussing tables were totally clueless. The entree's were all good but nothing to rave about. They redid the place and its pretty but super loud! I think it has potential but not right now. Easter Brunch was fantastic! Most buffets are just quantity. From salad through entrees and house crafted desserts - everything was so good. The quality of ingredients was evident in every bite. If we could have reserved for next year - we would hav
The staff was great as well from the valet on.
As good as Easter was - last night was awful.
Bad food, service, just awful.
No silverware for 5 minutes after food arrived and incomplete orders, wrong drinks ...... This place is a waste of time , do not come here. They have something called forbidden rice and it's forbidden for a reason. Super expensive not worth it. Great new restaurant in Newtown!! Creative and modern food with generous portions. Beautiful modern renovations while keeping the charm of the building. Can't wait for the outside patio, bar and fire pit to open. We had a delicious meal Friday evening and our server, Donna, helped to make our dining experience ! Her recommendation of the special was enjoyed by 2 members of our group. The bowls, which I had, are always a good choice. The patio, which we enjoyed last summer, is perfect this year in the age of outdoor dining! The tables were all spaced further than the required 6 feet, and everyone wore masks. We felt very safe during our experience and would recommend it! It was our 5th time dining here since May! Our experience started a bit precariously as the server was so in-tuned with another table - photos - chatting etc- she flat out ignored us for 13 minutes. Once she readjusted - her service was great. Now what they should tell you is their appetizers are huge - thank goodness because for the price - but really one could be advised a bit better. The short rib fries are amazing - but don't ask the wait staff what cheese - who confidently tells you it's fondue cheese. - um ok....Lol yeah so which fondue cheeses are used? ( errr) As mentioned in the menu ( which I read on line after because you have to pull menu on your phone and some of us don't want to continually take out our phone) it's Gouda but perhaps some other cheeses. Again the dish was amazing. Just some tweaking In training to do.
The lamb burger was perfectly done to our liking, their truffle fries are just truffled enough ( you know what I mean with truffled too much some times) .
The outside seating is great!
Dessert isn't their strong point but I'm sure they'll get there!
The staff truly appreciates being open! Bravo! The food was outstanding. Well manicured presentation without sacrificing any flavor. No shortcuts taken. Well curated beer list as well. A refreshing dining experience in the suburbs where options are limited. We came back again. This time it was during the COVID-19 crisis. They have a huge outdoor area and plenty of tables. Perfect setting for a meal. Beautiful patios and landscaping.
We started with the calamari appetizer and I had a steak. Food was good. We had some drinks and service was good.
Here again. We love the outdoor patio. Especially during the COVID crisis. Came back. This time I had the ribs. They were ok 3/5. A bit fatty. So thinking about it 2 weeks out, and I will stand by what I said. They could have done much better by us. Went for Thanksgiving meal with my parents who traveled from TN. My first time there and overall it was ok. I would not say it's worth the money. 1st off, the valet key holder was located in front of the main entrance. We joked about who wants what car. I was not impressed. Walked in to hostess who was kind but once we asked if we could go to the bar for a drink, literally rolled her eyes, and told us to come back when we were ready. We were only people at bar with 2 bartenders. For a good 5 minutes, we were not acknowledged. When we were, I had recognized the female as someone who worked in Newtown at another spirits spot. When I mentioned it, she completely turned off. 3 drinks, $25 with attitude. No Happy Thanksgiving...Nothing! Just a check at the bar. We were seated and had to ask the hostess to send over a server after a solid 12 minutes, again, with no acknowledgment. I get it's a holiday, but come on people. After getting a round of drinks with waitress, we helped ourselves to the buffet. I will give it to them, the food was amazing. However, when we went up for dessert, they did not have any "traditional" Thanksgiving treats. No pies...just little finger desserts that looked like they bought them from the local Giant. Who doesn't offer pie on Thanksgiving. Next came the bill. WOW...$226 with a 20% gratuity included. Our waitress, who we had to wait for and only cleared our plates 1x made off with at $36 tip, just from us. Was not impressed that I could not decided what to give. Unfortunately, I will not be making another visit. This was their time to shine and they failed miserably...in my eyes. Don't think they will be around too much longer with the stiff competition in the area. We would have been better off at Yardley Inn. LOL This place has AH-Mazing ambiance! The outside is absolutely beautiful! HOWEVER, the food and drinks aren't great!!!! I had a fish dish and it taste like water! It wasn't seasoned! The only thing that was good was the black beans and garlic butter sauce. My husband 's food wasn't good either ! Please SEASON your food!!!
As for drinks : they were the worst mixed drinks EVER!
UPDATE: Let's talk about the food poisoning I got from there!!!
STAY AWAY!!!!! We came back again. This time it was during the COVID-19 crisis. They have a huge outdoor area and plenty of tables. Perfect setting for a meal. Beautiful patios and landscaping.
We started with the calamari appetizer and I had a steak. Food was good. We had some drinks and service was good. The restaurant is beautiful, service slow, food is pretty good. I ordered the "surf and turf" special last night (6 oz filet and scallops) for $39. My friends and I could not believe the size of the filet - we were speechless - more like a 3 oz filet and it was so so. Scallops were very good. Where's the salt? Ok so this place is very nice, the atmosphere is great, drinks great, dessert great....... but the food was lacking flavor. A little salt goes a long way. The few menu items on our plates did not match the description. Ie: the menu said one kind of pasta but we received a substitution without being told. Creme brule came with strawberries in place of blackberries. A little pricy for lack of flavor. Over all We would try them out again in hopes it was just a simple mistake on the chefs part. Stopped by for lunch on the outdoor patio. Staff was great! Food was amazing. Really enjoyed the general tso cauliflower appetizer and the prime cheesesteak. We decided to try The Grey Stone after driving past over the last several months, and were not disappointed. Great big patio and tons of waitstaff available, all of whom were highly attentive and friendly. Our food tasted great and came out quickly despite the place being packed. Will certainly be coming back! Gorgeous place and great food! Our first visit on Valentines Day Eve. Our waitress was very nice and very quick! In and out within 45 minutes. My husband had the salmon, I had the short rib and we shared the calamari (which was just okay). Both entrees were delicious! Prices were appropriate, I thought! Will definitely return and try more dishes! I recently went to The Grey Stone for date night and it was great. The cocktails were great and tasty! The General Tao's Cauliflower was incredible! I highly recommended. And our entrees, salmon and cheese stake were delicious! Enjoy the ambiance and relax! The outdoor patio is GIGANTIC AND ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! My girlfriends and I came here on a Friday night to listen to Danny Lynch who plays awesome music. Unfortunately, the neighbors complained about the noise so he didn't play :(. Who would complain about noise? It's free entertainment!
The food was good. Just wish they had more of a selection to choose from as the menu was very limited.
This place definitely has potential if they would just amp up the menu. Wonderful Thanksgiving buffet this year. Lots of choices and good food. Service was mostly good though I sensed they could have used a little more help. Will most likely come back next year. The main dining room was not as loud as in the past. Perhaps they have deadened the sound a bit. First time here and will definitely go back. Loved the bar , ambience and our dinner was excellent though it is quite noisy in the dining rooms.The live music was an unexpected treat! I give this place 5 stars.. I'll start at the door the hostess Arlene was awesome she's so friendly top notch personality. Then we had a great sever by the name of Donna she was very knowledgeable about the menu super friendly and we didn't wait for anything.. The food was really good also. Have to say this place has come a long way and I'm so happy it has.. Love family owned places. A truly wonderful new restaurant, "The Grey Stone" has recently opened in New Town. Describing its food as "contemporary new American cuisine" This restaurant is both sophisticated and a family affair. The decor is elegantly modern, and the atmosphere is just perfect--with a choice of indoor dining with different sections. The prices are reasonable, especially given the high quality. And there's a well selected drink menu, also reasonably priced. Although Greystone has been open only a month, we've already eaten there twice; and it keeps getting better. I can't wait for the back to open up for the summer. The potential is great for this place. I can't understand why restaurants in Newtown continue to under deliver. I also can't understand why so many reviewers believe this place has a nice ambiance. I'm pretty sure the decor in the bar lounge and walls came from the reject rack at Pier 1 Imports. And the service was amateurish. If you're in the dining room, and a rock cover band is in the bar, forget about speaking at a conversational volume. The food was ok but nothing I couldn't get at Applebee's.
I grew up in Newtown. Now at the age of 53 I wonder if any of the town's restaurant-goers have ever left town. It's clear why the town can't attract talented restaurateurs if the patrons don't know the difference.
Do yourself a favor. Drive a few extra miles and go to a real restaurant in Lambertville. I made a reservation for thanksgiving and had to cancel. I did so 5 days in advance. They refused to refund my money. Considering I come on fri nites and spend up to 100 that adds up in a year. I will never return. The food is not that great anyway neither is their loyalty to customers. There are plenty of really good restaurants to go to. Over the top excellent with service, food and atmosphere for our celebration lunch...15 women. Danny was one of the best servers ever. He wanted to please and made it all seem effortless. I picked the restaurant and I felt responsible...it was truly a winner. My favorite is the general Tso's cauliflower. It is an appetizer but I order it as lunch. Generous portion which makes for a nice lunch. However...the burgers looked AMAZING! Most everyone ordered that and each one was cooked exactly as requested...impressive. As big as the burgers were they all pretty much licked their plates...ha! We sat outside on their beautiful deck and lucked out with a magnificent fall day, however, they have plenty of outdoor heaters to stretch the season. I am so thrilled to have this local restaurant as we seem to have become regulars. It is that good. Well....such a beautiful venue....BUT!!!!
The service was horrendous and provided by an individual who appeared to have just walked in from paving the roads. He did not know anything about the menu, because he had "only been there for two weeks", and paid very little attention to our needs as customers.
Will not return Hearing there's a new chef here. Was never here before last evening. Wonderful service. The beer list is on point! Especially for my fellow Belgian beer fans. The food was delicious and plate presentation was very nice. Had multiple appetizers - in particular Buffalo cauliflower Caesar salad, grilled octopus and general tsos cauliflower were delicious. My main dish - wasabi crusted ahi tuna over soba noodles was excellent. Looking forward to another visit in the future :) Dinner at Graystone was outstanding. The inside is nicely appointed and the patio is spectacular... and huge! Our server was very attentive and made excellent recommendations. He was very patient, answering all our questions.
The Short Rib Fries app was excellent. Tender short rib meat and creamy fondue atop crispy fries. My husband and I shared this (and fought over the last bite). Our friends had the Fried Calamari. It had an equal balance of whole baby octopus, tentacles and rings. The batter was very light and crisp. With the dipping sauce, this appetizer was a hit!
All our entrées were totally on point. Tender, flaky salmon; crab cakes that were all lump crab; Dymanite shrimp tacos stuffed with shrimp. The sides were fantastic as well. Creamy corn polenta, forbidden rice and asparagus.
We were all completely happy and satisfied (not stuffed) after eating. However, we were too full for dessert.
Maybe we'll start with dessert next time!
I say next time because there will definitely be a next time! This was our first time at Graystone but most certainly not our last! I have gone to The Grey Stone 3 times in the last 4 months only to have been met with the rudest hostess service I have ever experienced. Each time it's as if they actively don't want your business and you are a hassle for attempting to dine there. I don't understand.
The first time was over the summer so I gave the benefit of the doubt that perhaps it was a bad night or the restaurant was short staffed due to Covid. I understand it is a luxury to go out to eat during this time and fully expect limited menus or long waits as restaurants struggle to fill positions.
I have gone two more times in the last month and each time a different hostess was outwardly dismissive and rude when I asked for a table. The latest time, I entered and asked for a table. The phone rang and the hostess answered it in the middle of talking to me, without excusing herself. Then she kept turning around and glaring (yes GLARING) at me while I was waiting patiently and silently. I was so confused and taken aback that i left without any further conversation.
It's a shame because when I have eaten there, the inside servers were great and the food and drinks were good. However it's not worth it to me to try to eat at an establishment that doesn't seem to value its customers. There are just as many restaurants with the same quality of good that don't make me feel like a burden. I'll take my business to Harvest, Solstice, Washington Crossing Inn or one of the many other establishments that seem to value their customers From the moment we walked in, we felt very welcomed by our hostess Arlene. We sat on the lovely and spacious patio. Really nice menu with something for everyone. Back again. We love the atmosphere and outdoor area. Especially during the Covid crisis. Plenty of outside tables and spaced out great. Service is always good and the owners are friendly.
This time I had the steak and it was delicious. Haven't been here in a while, actually since a few months after they opened. Glad we decided to give it a try again. The filet carpaccio was excellent as was the surf and turf entree. The espresso frappe dessert was amazing although a little challenging to eat but nonetheless amazing !! Sad they no longer had the glass noodle entree nor the pomegranate salad as they change their menu seasonally. Food was great! Inside seating was very loud and unbearable. Outside seating was unorganized. It took one and a half hours for our entrees for two.
There should be an outside service bar and kitchen.
Inside decor is great. Outside you are sitting on a concrete slab with no plants or atmosphere.
Since this restaurant just opened time will tell Have eaten here a few times and was surprised at the quality of the food on this visit. Calamari appetizer and cocktails were quite good. Our server was clearly busy but attentive and helpful. The indoor dining room was clearly full but not uncomfortably so. Ordered the monkfish for my entree and found it almost inedible. Fish was over cooked and rubbery and swimming in sauce. Couscous on the side was a mix of overcooked under seasoned pieces and some that was completely uncooked with the texture of tiny rocks. Bread pudding dessert was very tasty. Will be a while before I eat here or recommend Greystone again. I wish I heard of this place sooner! The outdoor patio is so beautiful and a great layout. The food was amazing! Everything was super delicious, I'd highly recommend the calamari and shrimp tacos. I came here with my family and all their food was amazing too, we had no complaints. I will be coming back here soon! We came in on a Saturday night. Called in and got a table for 4 around 8pm. Bar is a bit too small. Huge lobby area. Should be much bigger. If bar was larger would get a better after dinner crowd and stay for drinks.
Food was delicious. We started with the Black Pepper Wings. Our entrees were Chilean Sea Bass with Risotto, gnocchi, veggie burger, regular burger.
Drinks were expensive. $12 for a glass of wine.
The restaurant decor was very nice. Old historic building is beautiful.
Give it a try
3rd time here:
We came in on a Saturday night. We were sat in the front room behind the lounge. The band was a bit loud.
The wait staff seemed disoriented. Tried give us
Drinks that weren't ours. Took too Long for drinks. Our service was slow. We started with the octopus. That was really good.
Food was above average.
I had the swordfish and my wife had the gnocchi.
The grounds and property are beautiful. Food, beer, service, atmosphere... all fantastic!! Will definitely be back!! Amazing date with my girlfriend The covid procedures in place. The ambiance was low key, with a fire lit twinkle all around. The food, amazing! The service impeccable. The waitress, Jenn H. was prob the most organized, punctual, and knowledgeable person I've ever met in the food service industry. I've been doing parking garage, and customer service for 25 years. To her, it's not customer service. It's how she lives. It's her. I hope you realize she could help this place do wonders. So happy with tonight! Party of 22 is how we dine out! Jenn and the team were ACES! This place was amazing!! First time here and outdoor seating was so cute. Our service was great, and food was amazing. All of it that we ordered I can't say anything bad about it. The drinks were ok, not the best. Great ambience. Food only so-so. If you want a drink on the patio (whether permitting), I recommend it! Back again. This time we came with a couple friends of ours. We had a great seat in the front lobby facing the fireplace. Made the atmosphere really nice. Our food was good as usual. And we will keep coming back. The atmosphere was okay. The bar area was nice. The lover level dining felt like a spruced up basement. The poor review is really based on the service. The waitress took the dinner order & one drink order. She brought the drink & that was the last we saw of her until she brought the check. The bus boy brought the entrees but a salad was ordered & it dIdn't come out. When we asked about it he was confused, he didn't if he had the right order & was going to take the entree away. We told him forget about bringing out the salad. As the waitress dropped the check on the table she apologized for not putting in the salad order. She basically provided no service. It was actually less then the service at a fast food restaurant. Bus boys shouldn't be bringing out the food. The wait staff should check in with the diner. Plenty of other restaurants in the area. Won't be returning. Greystone opened recently and we have been waiting to give it a try. It was a fair to good experience, but the potential exists for it to be great.
On the plus side--very cool decor inside, great ambiance, lighting, etc. Outside patio is amazing...but it was too hot to sit there. Will try again when it cools down. Food was a solid B. I had the Fireball Burger and it was delicious, and cooked perfectly. Beer was cold. Entrees were all served at the same time...a big thing for me.
On the downside--mostly little things that make a difference. Service was at first really slow; 10 minutes before we got menu's or water. Waitress said "sorry, I was making deserts." We also ordered drinks and some nachos and waited way too long for them to arrive. Instead of a tray for the drinks, the waitress delivered them by holding them all together in her hands. Not cool. The menus were a mess; three different paper documents for us to handle, all on one clipboard, between specials, main menu, and drinks. The were also kind dogeared and dirty. The door to the kitchen, about 25 feet from our table, was propped open the whole night, so we could get a great view of the shelves for mustard and ketchup.
All in all, we WILL be back. But the team should take a look at smoothing out the too many sharp edges. Ok I have to start this review by first giving props to the ambience of this place- super cool! We only sat outside and it was a nice lively vibe with an outdoor bar and good upbeat music. I have to say they did a great job maintaining social distancing while hosting an impressive amount of people. However, I highly recommend reservations! Next I have to give a shout out to Donna who was server and she was very sweet and invested in us! Ok now let's talk about the food. The tso's cauliflower was AMAZING!!! The goat cheese dish was a great appetizer and I have to say for someone who typically isn't a fan of the goat cheese I enjoyed it. The crab cakes were good not great, crispy on the outside but cooked use a little kicked up flavor on the inside, the sauce was what really made the dish. The risotto was on point creamy and cheesy. I loved the mushroom ravioli but I have to admit I love truffle so that truffle flavor really won me over. Similarly the truffle fries was DELICIOUS. The lamb burger pretty good with nice soft meat but the sauce kind of took away from really enjoying the meat. Now the biggest let down was the Thai chicken salad which was essentially a giant bowl of lettuce with a few pieces of bland grilled chicken- not really sure what happened there and if the salad was just a result of lack of ingredients in the time of COVID. The drinks were also a little hit or miss - some were really tasty and strong while others were more watered down or sugary and it wasn't consistent. The options though were large with some great beer choices such as Einstock! Ultimately this was a solid place that I would definitely try again because of their vibe, great service, extensive vegetarian friendly and large drinks menu but I do think they could work on some of their dishes and consistency in their drinks. Went there tonight with wife and four boys. One son ordered the filet medium rare. After a few bites, he became visibly sick and puked in the bathroom at the restaurant. Another son opted to try one bite of the steak. He is still feeling I'll 3 hours later. The plate had puddles of olive oil on it. So did my wife's order of gnocchi, which I tried but abandoned due to the oil. Not sure if the kids are sick bc of the oil or something else. But please beware of the food here. I will likely be up later tonight dealing with this. FML We had the most fabulous lunch today! Only concern was the restaurant didn't have our reservation although I had received a confirmation. It didn't matter since there were plenty of available tables outdoors. Despite the gloomy chill, quite a number of diners sat with us in the beautiful garden. They lit outdoor warmers and all was fine.
We decided to share the autumn salad requesting romaine be substituted for the kale. The salad came plated beautifully with individual dressings. The dish was superb!
We both chose what we named the greatest sandwich EVER... Prime rib cheesesteak with carmelized onions and foie gras with truffle fries. I do not have the vocabulary to adequately describe this treat. Half of it is in my fridge to be enjoyed later, but I know I'll be going back to Greystone again for this one particular item.
Service was outstanding as was every aspect of the Greystone's hospitality. I encourage you to go there soon! Very great service and welcoming atmosphere. The 8 oz filet with crab meat was cooked to perfection. Celebrating our friends new home purchase. Valet parking right out front. An old stone house, perhaps from Dutch times. It was 7pm Saturday in August. We had a reservation.
Checked in with the hostess. There were actually three young women greeting us. There is some interesting art in the foyer. We were seated promptly at a booth. Oddly, the seats did not permit our feet to reach the floor. The table was wobbly. The dining room is spacious with about 15 tables and a line of booths at one end. There is a small bar which we passed on our way to be seated. It looked like live music was being set up. We noticed a spacious outdoor area with plenty of seating and another bar.
Server came by and began explaining the specials - we did not have that menu so she retrieved one. She wanted to take our food order with our cocktails - we slowed her down. We each ordered a cocktail. My gin martini was fine. Others enjoyed their drinks.
Next we got some appetizers and ordered a bottle of wine, R Strong cabernet. My appetizer was wonderful - roasted octopus. Perfectly tender and singed on the edges. My wife could not resist having a bit. The portion was large. Served over a bed of arugula. Excellent. Others got shrimp, and gazpacho. They liked their dishes.
Wine was poured and we ordered mains. I got the ahi tuna - very good, with a tasty crust. The fish melted in my mouth. Rare as recommended by the chef. Others got filet mignon, shrimp and ribs. The food here is very good. We did not get dessert.
We went outside into the back after the meal and had an after dinner drink. There is no table service out there but the bar is nearby and easily accessible. Comfortable seating on a beautiful Summer night. It looked like it could handle a large event.
With the quality of the food here they have a great foundation and there is potential for this to become a fine dining destination stop, in my view. A few things could be improved. The service was lumpy. Our server was nice enough but we had to slow her down a few times and explain a few things to her she did not know what a vesper was and informed us that the bartender would not know either. Our cocktails came in waves instead of together. I asked for our wine to be decanted. There was no decanter in the place. Get a couple of decanters.
Ambiance is interesting. One of us thought that the place still does not know what it wants to be. I felt like we were sitting in a bistro. Others thought the dining area was like a cafeteria. We all liked the outdoor area.
They need to fix the booth table.
Value was ok. Our meal for four came to $404, with gratuity. About right for a nice dinner with wine in Bucks county.
We say, food "a", service "c", ambiance "c", value "b".
We will return.
Mark & Nancy. Really want this place to succeed. Beautiful building, great parking, but some changes NEED to be made IMO. First: food. It's just weird- I get that it'd be cool to be known for the things that they have on their menu. But nobody eats that stuff. By nobody, I mean nobody. As proof, went there with 3 couples Sunday night 12/23. There were 8 customers in the entire restaurant- 2 plus us. Server disappeared after 8 pm, and when we left there was nobody there... nobody. Bartender- nope. Coat check - nope. Chairs in the bar room were on the bar, lights out. Strange.
Food prices are pretty much either high or low... Mac and cheese burger or $32 lamb chop... please fix the menu.
And, while you're at it, have a carpenter come in and lower the bench seating in the main restaurant eating area- it is so high that people are looking down on their dining table like they're looking down from a helicopter and their thighs are squished up under the table or won't even fit at all.
Problems are Not impossible to fix - but need to be done else this will be the 3rd failure in this building in 10 years. Please fix yourselves. We'd love to come back... My family hosted our baby shower here and it was our first time at Grey Stone. They did a WONDERFUL job and the shower was beautiful. Also, the food was delicious, which is not always expected when you do a buffet-style meal. My whole family commented on how good the food was, and the staff were very attentive and lovely - Christina M., Courtney, and Donna. I believe Christina M. was the main event coordinator and my family said she was amazing, professional, incredibly helpful, and that they would hold another event there in a heartbeat.
We liked Grey Stone so much that a my siblings and I just went out to dinner there last night with our spouses and had a wonderful time. Donna was actually our server so we got to see her again too! We celebrated my sister-in-law's birthday and brought a cake - Donna brought it out and got the whole room to sing to her! Needless to say, we are huge fans and will definitely be back for meals, events, etc! On Oct 13 Greystone provided a Life Celebration luncheon for my family. Everything was flawless. All of the 40 family and friends raved about the food and service. Thanks to Christina and Donna for outstanding service. Just celebrated my mom's 70th birthday at The Grey Stone. It's been a while since I've had such a wonderful experience at a restaurant. They seated us at a comfortable table on the gorgeous/spacious outdoor patio. We were provided with two fire pits since it was a cooler day. Our server was extremely attentive and patient, since two members of our party got stuck in bad traffic and were 25 min late. The food was awesome. We had short rib fries and the general tsos cauliflower for apps and we gobbled them up. Everyone was very happy with their entrees and we we let provided with a cute cake stand and cutting knife for the cake which we provided. We absolutely loved our experience I'm extremely grateful for the team ensuring my mom's 70th bday celebration was special. Will definitely be back!!! What a dumpster fire.... I attempted to host an event at The Grey Stone and it was a disaster since they placed our event (a quieter talk) along with a party in an open-air section. Our speaker had to shout to be heard, making for a really uncomfortable atmosphere.
When asked for some accommodation for the mistake, we were offered "no room fee" on the next event, which was laughable given the fact that we didn't get whatever the room fee was supposed to cover in the first place.
By the time we were told to shove our problems (politely by a reasonable GM), it almost didn't matter that the salads were 20 minutes late or the fact that the carolers they promised weren't going to sing until after the presentation instead started singing for the last 15 min. (I wish I could make this up - they parked an event with carolers next to a seminar...Mensa-level decision-making...)
The final straw was that I was asked to wait so the owner could come talk to me, and then he/she never had the courage to show up (sending the polite GM back into battle for them instead). I question how anyone could work for a leader with such low integrity. I feel terrible for all of their employees. (If they only knew how many better jobs there are out there.)
Avoid this place at all costs. It's not worth your money, your time, or your effort.
(And to think they could have avoided this review if the owner simply had the guts to come talk to me and make it right.) As soon as we walked in to Greystone it was obvious the new owners put alot of money into renovating the old Lavender Hall. Although mostly black and grey, the front bar/ lounge was beautifully sedate, and the dining room spacious with room between tables and large windows bringing in late afternoon light before the coming of dusk. It was impressive, and on this Tuesday evening, not crowded at all, which enhanced the sense that we had chosen well.
We were seated at a table mid floor, but asked to be moved near an electric outlet in order to charge a cell phone. They graciously obliged. Our server quickly introduced himself and brought drink and food menus. The wine and beer lists were broad enough without necessitating a trip to the wine cellar. My old friend selected a glass of zinfandel, while my beautiful date picked a light small brewery pilsner, and I a pineapple cider (delicious). We settled in with the drinks and caught up while perusing the menu.
We kept dinner on the lighter side, with a Chopped Greek Salad, Mushroom Burger and Fig Jam Burger for yours truly. At $15 per slider, the price was high, but still much more in line with our appetites than the entrees which were double the cost. So, we felt that management was smart to offer smaller options that allowed for drinks and/apps and a reasonable bottom line. Besides, we thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The burgers were half pounders with brioche rolls and homemade potato chips or fries. The fig jam added a nice sweet dimension to my burger. My friend asked for grilled scallops added to the salad, but when the kitchen lacked them, they inquired if he would be satisfied with shrimp instead. He was.
We were happy with our experience at Greystone. It was qualitatively superior to the previous tenants who tried to make a go of it in the old mansion on the road between Newtown and Washington Crossing. The outdoor patio looked appealing, but with the steam heat unrelenting even into the evening, now was not the time to try it out.
This was an interlude even George himself would enjoy. Came here for happy hour on a Friday. Service was quick and friendly. Ordered a beer, cocktail and philly steak pretzel. The philly pretzel was really good. The pretzel was buttery and delicious. The steak was good as well with enough cheese. The ketchup had a hint of spice that gave it a little kick. I liked it a lot. Overall a great experience. Sad to write a bad review but it was a sad lunch experience and ruined our lunch. I blame it mostly on the waiter who did not know the menu and did not seem to care anyway. Husband said he could not have cheese or butter. Waiter assured him his lunch did not have either. First bite, Hubby tasted butter. Waiter did not check on us for quite sometime so Hubby got up to look for him. By this time my meal was getting cold and I decided to just eat it. My Falafel was meh...not the best I have had. I asked for no tomatoes and of course they were on my sandwich. (Strike 2). Apparently no manager around and felt strange the chef came to our table (I was almost finished eating at this point) and Chef agreed Hubby's meal sauce was made with butter. We were told we "wouldn't be charged" for Hubby's meal. Really? He didn't eat it, almost made him ill, ruined our lunch, it was not relaxing...do we actually thank them for this gesture? They should have comped my meal as well. A free meal was not on our mind when we picked this new restaurant for lunch...we simply expected a normal dining experience. Thought my lunch was terribly over priced for what was served. We sat at a corner table in the main dining room. It was very uncomfortable bc the table was too low for the bench. I can see this place being a great bar scene but I hope they step up their game. We are not rushing back anytime soon. We are very disappointed with our new local restaurant. Sigh. Very good food and service every time I come to eat dinner. All the specials are very tasty and plentiful on the plates On Sunday, July 11th we had the most beautiful day for our daughter's Bridal Shower ... we could not have anticipated how wonderful everything was at the Grey Stone!! The food was delicious, the venue was beautiful, but most of all, or wait staff was spectacular ... Donna and Sean were beyond attentive, pleasant, etc., etc., etc!!! We didn't even need to ask to have things done, they just did it! I could go on and on!
Our guests are still reaching out to let us know how wonderful everything was!!! The event planners, specifically Tori, or so easy to work with! I can't wait to come up with another excuse to have an event there! Fabulous food .... Best waitstaff ... Donna ... so attentive and recommended the Chicken Milanese ... which was ridiculous!!!! Thoroughly (meh) the service was okay, the prices were high, te drinks were okay, the atmosphere was sub par, but it is a Friday night, lol he burger was decent, but just tasted like 80/20 beef, $1 at the grocery store, the wild mushrooms were just mushrooms, the fries were okay, on par with McDonald's, and the max and cheese should be labeled mac with cream, ie tate maybe a 5 out of 10 if the atmosphere was better and the prices were reasonable also if there was some bread.... I like bread Wow...such an improvement from when they first opened. My first review was a 1 star. Time for an update.
Lately we have been hearing positive feedback and thought it was a good time to circle back for another try. So glad we did...it was good. In comparison...we have been to The new Iron Hill Brewery (in Newtown) and thought Grey Stone was better.
Many have mentioned just how nice the outside patio/deck area is...and YES(!)...nicely done and huge!! I just hope they get heaters for the fall as it was unexpectedly a bit too chilly Saturday night and heaters were needed. We sat with our light jackets on. Every table was occupied by 6:30. Happy to see so many people out and enjoying themselves. (Most wearing jackets). They did a great job keeping the tables spaced apart and following COVID guidelines.
Our food was all pretty good. Stand out was the General Tso's Cauliflower. Although, our friend said last time she had it, it was crispier and much better. She was slightly disappointed. I started with the crab corn chowder soup. $10 soup...I thought it could have been better. It was barely warm. I didn't feel like sending it back as it throws the timing of our main meal off. I read a review where someone mentioned the crab cake not being great but Hubby enjoyed his.
I agree with a previous review who mentioned drinks were nothing to rave about. One speciality drink...I think it was called Gold rush...was not great and same with the sangria. My vodka martini was fine.
Service was friendly and attentive. We did not feel rushed and timing was right on.
Soooo glad we gave another try...they won us back! Seven of us went to celebrate some October birthdays, and we all enjoyed our appetizers and meals, as well as our desserts! They do have a limited menu but the choices are unique. Everything went well, food came out fast, drinks fast, and desserts, too! However, after desserts it took forever for our bill to come, probably close to 45 mins to an hour. I can't understand why but I know it's too long especially for elderly people to sit that long. It's also expensive but a nice place and atmosphere for a celebration or to treat yourself. Birthday dessert is included in your meal so that was awesome, too! The food was mediocre at best. We ordered the Lamb Burger and the Shrimp Tacos. Everything lacked flavor. We waited over an hour for food. Probably the biggest let down was the fries, which clearly sat in a window then instead of cooking a fresh batch they dropped them back in the fryer so while they were warm they were awful. The server was very kind but also he had way too many tables. We dined inside in the bar area where they decided it was a great time to deep clean the bar so we got to enjoy clanking and employees shouting at one another. All really enjoyable we finished eating kind of as most of the food just wasn't good and proceeded to wait at this moment 11 minutes and counting to even ask for the check. I have watched six different people walk by and none of them cleared our plates or asked us if we were finished. Overpriced and underwhelming I will not be back. I'll give 1 star for atmosphere since I can't choose 0. Went for lunch with a friend. Both of us had the same appetizer, same entree (salad) and dessert. Both of us got sick. Called the restaurant to let them know. Was told they would let the owner know and that he would call back, never did. Excellent food, good service. Our server , Donna, was great. Will be back for more! Try the wines, really great selections. We went back for the second time on Saturday of Labor Day weekend. The experience was so poor, our party of 6 walked out after 45 minutes. The reasons are too numerous to mention, from waiting way too long to be seated (with reservations) to only 2 of 6 drinks being delivered after 20 minutes, to no confidence that the service was going to get any better. This restaurant has a beautiful ambiance, great outdoor seating, and a great chance to be successful. But sadly, there doesn't appear to be enough on site, hands on management to fix what is broken. It will be a while before we go back. The Grey Stone is impressive looking with beautiful grounds and lovely fountains and fairy lights. Our server,
Greg, was friendly and attentive and possibly the best waiter we have ever had. So how good would the food be? It was fabulous!!! We loved everything we ordered from the appetizer, dynamite shrimp, Grey Stone merlot - yum, the Shrimp Risotto was perfectly prepared, as was the salmon dish. I had a side of carrots and beets with goat cheese- so good! A shared Limoncello cake was the grand finale. Everyone there was so friendly, including hostess & bussers! The owner asked us on the way out how we enjoyed our meal and sincerely thanked us for coming! We will definitely be back. We came in on a Saturday night. Called in and got a table for 4 around 8pm. Bar is a bit too small. Huge lobby area. Should be much bigger. If bar was larger would get a better after dinner crowd and stay for drinks.
Food was delicious. We started with the Black Pepper Wings. Our entrees were Chilean Sea Bass with Risotto, gnocchi, veggie burger, regular burger.
Drinks were expensive. $12 for a glass of wine.
The restaurant decor was very nice. Old historic building is beautiful.
Give it a try. Celebrating my husband's birthday and the husband of another couple who dined with us. The appetizer General Tso Cauliflower was very good. The drink Tanquery and tonic was good. The braised short ribs lacked any flavor and the baby carrots were extremely under cooked. Very hard to cut with a sharp knife. Cheesey grits lacked cheese. Bordelaise sauce bland. The cheesecake was dry and obviously store bought the ice cream that accompanied it was melted. They seated us upstairs. The very worst part of the evening was the deafening sound coming from the room. The acoustics were horrible. You could not hear anyone at your table without screaming. There was a large party at the other end of the room that as the drinks flowed the group got louder and louder. I went home with a headache. Overpriced for a restaurant that is trying to pass itself off as fine dining. A glorified bar. Service lacked fine dining protocol. No response from the waiter when I told him about the carrots. Dessert was complimentary because of the two birthdays but still wasn't worth eating. Glad we didn't had to pay the $12 each for it. Will not be returning even for a second chance. Extremely disappointed. The food is overpriced and mediocre at best. The $8 cheesesteak at my local pizza place is better than the $20 greasy cheesesteak here. To top it all off, our "homemade" cheesecake which was not very flavorful had hair. They did offer us a $15 gift card which would have been better spent on hair nets. We probably will not go back. My favorite upscale, date night restaurant in Bucks County. I've never had a meal that disappointed here and the service is always impeccable. We love the Greystone! Especially if you can sit out on the beautiful patio! Service is always wonderful and the food is delicious! I recommend their general Tso cauliflower to start! Or their burrata salad. They are always changing their food and drinks for the seasons, which I love! Recently celebrated my daughter's 30th birthday at Grey Stone. We enjoyed eating on the spacious outdoor patio. The food was great and the three staff assigned to our event were fabulous!! Tom, Donna and Mira, thank you for helping to make our event so enjoyable!! Had lunch for the first time at GreyStone here in quite some time, and i was quite surprised at how impressed i was at the restaurant, food, service and menu, for drink and food.
The place has a lovely bar, inside dining, and outdoor patio seating.
Our group sat outside for lunch , and although they were short staffed, you would never know it.
We were very satisfied with everything.
Salads were wonderful and some topped with chicken or shrimp, although salmon and octopus were also alternatives.
They had a great beer and wine list as well as specialty drinks.
I cant wait to return for lunch again, and dinner! Went finally last week. The bread was a "10". The spicy cauliflower was very good. My medium Prime rib was very well done and the Aus Jus was not very good. The atmosphere consisted of blacks and greys and was "cold" and not very warm and inviting.
They spent a fortune renovating the place and I'll try them again and will circle back with an updated review. Came here for my mom's birthday on Friday night. For starters this place is a zoo as in so many people. It was a Friday night and you will definitely need a reservation. They have valet as well which is convenient.
We sat outside and the ambiance/aesthetic is the best part. It was so nice! Lots of space and tables and string lights and just super cute.
The food was tasty. We got the cauliflower general tso's or whatever, so good. The shrimp was fire and the grilled octopus too.
For dinner I regretted getting the chicken cutlet sandwich but that's my fault.
Cocktails were okay nothing crazy, but this is a good spot for a special occasion. A bit pricey.
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name: Paris Wine Bar, address: 2303 Fairmount Ave, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: closed, categories: Bars, Nightlife, Restaurants, French, Wine Bars, text: REVIEW OF PARIS FLEA MARKET:
Accidentally popped in here looking for different parts of pig (Can You Eat a Whole Pig Fairmount food crawl, anyone?) and stumbled into the Paris flea market, held the last Sunday of every month.
Reasonably priced random knick knacks, art, jewelry, and friendly service. Definitely a great Sunday funday stop!
I saw a mirror I thought my friend would love, and at $16, if she didn't like it I decided I'd keep it for myself. Turns out she liked it so I guess I'll have to revisit Paris another time! A bientot, mon ami. They share a kitchen with the London Bar next door. The Wine Bar is dark, quiet and intimate feeling and I really liked it. They have live music on the weekends, Friday it was a guitar duo. They have a nice beer and wine selection and their mixed beer drinks a like deserts, highly recommended! Four stars because they seemed understaffed, our waiter was good but he was running around too much and it took forever to get drinks and our check. I am torn. I love the decor, service, music, wine selection and beer (from London Grille next door). The live music is a nice touch, get a couch seat if you can.. or sit outside. This is a MUCH needed addition to the neighborhood. Very good.. we also LOVE the Vegetable Board, wow.
So what don't we like? The Wine/Beer Prices. Too High. From the makers of London Grill the conveniently located next door Paris wine bar seems to fill a much needed niche for this side of the city.Love this place .... opening day for hh was a great idea. I didn't think it would be as crowded but I'm do glad they had such a great turnout. As the live band played i sipped my local made Syrah and found myself back in France. They offer about 5 different wines on draft (all produced by local PA wineries) I only sampled the Syrah but enjoyed it very much.
The atmosphere very chill ( great place for pre or post dinner drinks or hh)
They will in the future offer the option for happy hour and they also take reservations . They offer a full menu and they also allow you to order from the London Grill. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner who is very proud of this new venture . If your in the area make this a stop for sure. the staff is super nice and the bartender was very knowledgeable about the wines and wineries they had available.
For now it's four stars since I only got to sample the vino but I like this tres bon wine bar on the other side... Searched for a restaurant with live jazz music in Philly. I found it astounding that we lack this great venue. Then I happened to find, on yelp, Paris Wine Bar. Wow!! As we entered, the feeling of, " we're not in Philly anymore," fell over us. The muffled old French music played softly in the background as we were shown our table,way in the back , perfect. Sitting on a banquet filled with pillows as we sipped on wine made locally. Not bad, but drinkable. The food was fabulous. We decided to order small plates and share. Grilled octopus, a vegetable platter and spring rolls. They were prepared with fresh ingredients and tasted so good. At 9:00pm live music softly filled the room until 12:00. Just a great evening spent in a very cool and welcoming spot. Our waiter, TJ (?) was adorable, attentive and helpful. This is a find!! Wine and Jazz
I must have driven by Paris in my Jaguar a thousand times and not noticed it. It sit's in the shadow of the larger, and more well know, London, which is just next door.
I stopped in only because I was invited by a friend to come have a beverage and listen to some music. That sort of thing is right in the Urqhart wheelhouse, so I was happy to oblige.
Paris is more like a sitting room with elements of a bar, than a traditional pub. I wasn't sure if should take my shoes off and sit on a comfy chair, or pony up to the bar. I chose bar...no surprise. They do a selection of local wines, which I like from a business standpoint more than I do from a palate perspective. I tried a Syrah that wasn't horrible, but certainly wasn't good. The wine exhibited very minerally qualities, and was served too cold to have any noticeable bouquet. It read like a 'crude bordeaux type wine of mixed origins.' This point just goes to show why the Northeast Corridor has not been hailed as a mecca by oenophiles.
The music, however, was wonderful. Paris has a real piano, and real musicians. I always so appreciate when a real commitment to culture is made. Hiring actual people sends a clear message which says 'It's important to support Art, and the Artists in our community." I'm happy for every opportunity I have to help in that support. With that being said, the music kept me there until closing.
Without live music, Paris is a solid three stars (maybe 2.75), but with I'm happy to rate it much higher, as a thank you to their support of Art. Stopped in for a glass of wine after dinner. There was a cute young girl singing accompanied by a piano, which was a nice touch but it was so quiet when we walked in otherwise that it was borderline awkward. The decor was charming but all a little makeshift, especially the little bar.
To be honest, I can't give this much of a review other than to say it was a hot, muggy night and it was even hotter inside. My friend and I sat wiping our foreheads - classy! My hope is that their AC shared with London next door was just broken that particular evening because London was just as stifling.
There is no restroom in Paris, so you must head next door into London and up a flight of stairs. The only reason I didn't mind the trek is because I found an over-working and under-delivering AC unit in an upstairs window which I shoved my face in front of for a lingering few moments.
I hope to stop by to sample some food but I am unfortunately not in a hurry. It's a little hard to tell the difference between London Grill & Paris Wine Bar, as London has the draft wines available & Paris currently shares the (updated) London menu. Honestly, it just seems as though London expanded their seating area. Don't get me wrong - this is a cute addition to the neighborhood & the expanded outdoor seating is much appreciated. I just don't feel it's truly a brand new bar.
A friend recommended the Galen Glen white, and it was quite good. I decided to try the Croque Madame. I was a little confused at the ham - it was good, but it's was more like a brisket, rather than ham. There was only a tiny bit of brie, and the bread was pretty overcooked. I'm not sure I'd get this again. The fries (as always) were terrific!
I'd definitely like to return and check out the interior. London is a neighborhood institution, so I'm glad they've expanded! PWC has a charming atmosphere, but the food is just average - fairly consistent with its (Siamese twin) sister restaurant London Grill to which it is attached. The Escargot was tasty and an interesting dish as the snails were wrapped in phyllo dough. The Beet Salad Napoleon was a decent portion, but the did not have a lot of flavor, which is what I would also say about the Mashed Potatoes. The Salmon dish had a good flavor, but particularly since they ask you how you want your sushi-grade fish cooked, I was disappointed that it was slightly overcooked. I like Paris. I like wine. Turns out they have live jazz. Me and my girlfriend have walked past this place many times and have been to London Grill plenty of times. Figured we'd give Paris a shot given the music angle.
The Decor: Walking in to Paris Wine Bar is like stepping into a Parisian salon - or what I imagine it would be like. Little tables, heavy curtains, striped wallpaper, art on the wall, a piano, dim lighting - incredibly cozy and inviting. When we went it wasn't too busy on the Paris side - we had dinner and then sat on the couch (there are two - right near the piano - it felt like sitting in a living room) with an Irish Coffee and listened to the piano and sax. Someone mentioned that it almost felt awkward being one of the few people in there with the performers - it can be, but I think that's because in general we are "afraid" of being that close to art. It wasn't long ago, before musicians were a product on a screen or stage, that this was a normal thing. I enjoyed being so close to the musicians. Even chatted a bit when they asked if we had requests (we did..."April In Paris") - I found the proximity to be warm and inviting and fit perfectly with, and enhanced the charm of the place.
The Food: It's London's kitchen. They have always been pretty solid. Easy 4 out of 5 with anything I've ever had there.
The Wine: Ehhh. The drafts were a little too cold - no problem - let it sit for a few. But, they are all local PA wines - not exactly the stuff of great intrigue. That being said, the Syrah I had was the best PA wine I've tasted - but a pretty middling wine all around. We ordered off the bottle list for round two.
The Service: Very friendly. A little slow, but not overly lagging. We went on a Friday night and it seemed that the London side was quite busy, which in turn makes the Paris side a bit slow as they share the same kitchen and bar. However, we did not mind as we were out for the night and enjoying the music and the room.
In a small way, with enough wine, one could easily imagine they were in Paris enjoying a peaceful night at a cafe before strolling the Champs-Élysées...I mean Ben Franklin Parkway...
Would recommend and am planning on visiting again, soon. Came here Friday evening, and were able to be seated immediately. It is a great concept, I know a few proponents of wine on tap so I was very excited to see it finally available in PA. I do wonder how it can be legal, since pretty much anything that makes sense with alcohol is illegal here.
The wines were decent, I don't have a lot of experience with PA wines so it was nice to try a few. They were out of the syrah so I stuck to the whites and rose. The food menu is the same as the London for now. For the most part everything we ordered was fine, but just fine. Nothing really special, but a step up from a lot of the bar food available in the neighborhood. I enjoyed the arugula salad (hello fried goat cheese what is not to love!) and the apple cake dessert best. The gratin potatoes were underdone, but that is common at restaurants in my experience.
I feel like I will come here a lot. The decor is almost identical to my dad's dining room so it had a homey feeling for me. They do happy hour so I want to check that out next along with the truffle parm fries. Ok so this place is an extremely odd hole in the wall. It reminded me of random real estate open houses when you'd go into a home and it had junk everywhere and a funky smell. We initially walked in and thought it was closed cause it was dead for a Saturday night and the two person band was taking a break and just sitting near the entrance. I was afraid to sit on the couch cause again it just had that musty feel.
But what gives this place four stars is the pricing and service. It's extremely laid back, easy to converse, good drink/dessert selection, and the wine carafes were half off so you basically got four servings of wine for $13. Honestly cannot be beat. It's a great place for a chill night. Don't go there expecting to party, not much going on lol. Cheers! I've liked London (the connected bar/restaurant) for years. The place has tons of character, with a vintage classic-style mahogany bar and tiled floor. The food is equally timeless, and service is always friendly and attentive. On winter nights the bar area can feel slightly cold because of the front and side doors creating a wind-tunnel effect. Paris has that same problem (at least for the table in front of the restaurant next to the bar.)
For a wine bar, the list isn't overly extensive. But the happy hour special was decent- a $4.00 Pennsylvania red. My headache subsided by 9:00 AM this morning, so it couldn't have been that bad? They have complimentary quiche, and cheeses and crackers; a nice gesture. Some of the women had small plates off the menu and enjoyed them.
Decent decor, and an overall relaxing atmosphere with couches and large cushioned chairs towards the back. Don't expect 5 star dining, but definitely a solid place for a quiet date or catching up with some friends. Wine up! It's about to get real: The time has come to find out a hidden gem. The "under-the-radar" Paris Wine Bar ( PWB.)
What's not to love about PWB? It has a sophisticated, yet intimate vibe. With its excellent, causal and elegant French-bistro-style/comfort fare, there's even more to love. Their bloody delicious mini Fish'n'Chips, tasty mini Empanadas, and super yummy mini Salmon Cakes are worth a try!
Paris Wine Bar is so charming and memorable, unlike its sister restaurant, London Grill, which has different atmosphere, also great. Now say what you will about the PWB, but after one visit, you'll have to admit, it's perfect spot for romantic date night! PWB is very cozy, dimly lighted, and an old Parisian-style decor. The chandeliers, and draperies will surely set the mood for a tipsy/ sober feel.
Another trick? PA wine-on-tap. Yep thats right, six local draught wines are offered. Check it out, people! Wine & dine, or snack & sip, whatever you desire - just enjoy!
I look forward to returning for a Friday evening live jazz, or to an improv murder mystery wine dinner, when it's offered.
Four Yelps! Paris Wine Bar is the coziness, friendliest, most chill place to hang out. I've never been to Paris the city, but I hope it's as cool and well-decorated as Paris the wine bar. I spent about three perfectly content hours here sitting on a comfy sofa, listening to lovely live jazz music and sipping on local wines. I also indulged on a cheese plate which was tasty and a great accompaniment to my wines.
I absolutely loved the time I spent here and will definitely come back at the first opportunity, Another new slophouse open.This place won`t last for long.Food is horrible.Waiters.waitress seem confused or hung over when speaking with them.Left there on a saturday and got sick from this dump . There are a few things that make a Friday night special. One is a good glass of wine and the second is listening to good music. I found both at Paris Wine Bar last week. There was jazz going on and the setting was perfect for it.
Our server was very attentive and we enjoyed the music. It really felt like we were in a cafe in Paris not in Philadelphia. My friend ordered a Marie Antoinette which was a drink served in a champagne class. She said it was a good drink. This place is a keeper and I will be returning soon.. My wife and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary at the Paris Wine Bar and loved every minute. We had taken a memorable trip to France in the past and wanted to emulate our French experience. After reading reviews and exploring their website, I called the Paris Wine Bar and asked for their help to find the right table and the right time to enjoy their ambiance. They were amazingly helpful and accommodating. When we arrived they had our seat reserved (even though we called in with a 30 minute delayed arrival). They were amazingly friendly and generous!
From the decor to the wine to the food to the live Jazz music, the experience was amazing. It was the right balance between intimate, romantic, and surprisingly authentic!!!!!
It's casual elegance and amazingly friendly staff make it a gem of a destination for any occasion including a wedding anniversary!
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name: Mr Wong's Chinese Restaurant, address: 1849 Wolf St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: closed, categories: Restaurants, Chinese, text: While there didn't seem to be anything wrong with their food (judging by the Chinese takeout scale), I credit mr. Wong's for being the cause of my longest break from Chinese food. It might just have been all the grease or the crab Rangoon but my body objected heavily to it. I may have temporarily tried to forget about the night I posted abut above. So apparently the claim of not using MSG is just a claim. I definitely had a very uncomfortable night of bloating and stomach pain. The food was delicious, but the pain wasn't worth it. So much for finding a chinese restaurant that I can eat from that's also close by :( Far and away the best Chinese food to order if you live in Point Breeze! A total game changer to the takeout game. It's good to go to a Chinese Fast food pick up without a bullit proof counter! Me wings food is a delicious as he is super friendly. He's my go to Chinese good down in South Philly for the last 4 years. Depending on how much you order you get a free side item. He's always fast and the good is always the best. You can't go wrong! very good food! Fast delivery, big portions. They will even make us battered broccoli, which is not on menu. delicious cheese wonton! Very nice people who work there, always polite and professional. There Chinese food is good for lunch. I usually just buy soda, soup and rice otherwise. I enjoy a good internal dousing of Chinese food every once in a while and Mr. Wong's is where I order from to feed that craving. The fact that they do not use MSG is a plus as well as them being a few blocks from my apartment. My girlfriend and I stopped eating Chinese for a while after a bad experience and we're testing the waters again tonight with Mr. Wong's. I'm looking forward to it all the way! Don't do me wrong, Mr. Wong! Poor tasting food. Restaurant is dirty and unappetizing looking. Within 20 minutes after eating some of the food, my wife was on the toilet. Not long after, so was I. I got a terrible headache that lasted into the early morning and both our faces became red hot flushed, and we did not have anything spicy, just regular. They must use msg, We will not be eating anything from Mr Wongs again. Yuk. This is good Chinese Food. It's not gonna blow your mind away but you won't regret ordering it. Would have given it four stars but the delivery took over an hour. Szechuan tofu was especially delicious. Other reviewers are right, the cheese wontons were totally awesome. Mr. Wong's is exactly what you'd expect from good Chinese. The portions are huge, the chicken is actually white meat when you cut it in half. Your craving will be satisfied without a doubt. I broke down and gave in to my craving for cheese wonton. Mr. Wong is now my main Chinese grease joint. Meestah Wong yoooo rawwwwkkkk!!!
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name: IndeBlue Modern Indian Food & Spirits, address: 205 South 13th St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: opening, categories: Cocktail Bars, Food Delivery Services, Nightlife, Breakfast & Brunch, Food, Bars, Event Planning & Services, Caterers, Restaurants, Indian, text: We went for my husbands birthday in a fairly large group. The service and food were all outstanding. We all had a great time and enjoyed a variety of apps, drinks and entrees.. Everyone left stuffed and happy. We will be back! Thanks for making our celebration a memorable night. We were just here on Sunday with our family and decided to come back on date night! Food is delicious! Staff is very pleasant and the atmosphere is great! We will be regulars here for sure. This is a fabulous restaurant (with a terrible name...gotta say I judged them for that at first). This place does true Indian fusion and pulls it off well! With a group of four, we ordered 3-4 small plates, 2 half-sized vegetarian entrees and one full sized meat entree. While the portions looked small (we literally laughed when they brought out our very tasty half portion of squash), we all left feeling full and happy. Some highlights were the spinach chaat (amazing! crispy!) and the naan pizza. Great cocktails too.
The food is better than Bindi and its less pretentious and more interesting than Tashan. Seriously. A new favorite in midtown village. Just tried to eat here but it's restaurant week only. Also, one of the first places I've been where they didn't accommodate my request to sit beside my husband. This place had really good ratings and decor but alas, off to Cuba Libre instead. I had the pleasure of sampling the life changing "Drums of Heaven", at the Midtown Village Festival and it was love at first bite.
A friend & I made a reservation (which I STRONGLY suggest doing) for a Saturday evening and we were seated immediately. The place is beautiful, candlelit tables, great service and knowledgeable servers a very intimate setting (yes by intimate I do mean small).
The food, seemingly looks like it wouldn't be filling (clearly I was an Indian food virgin), I had the Seafood Moilee (I may have spelled that incorrectly) along with the drums of Heaven and everything was perfect, the food came out in a timely manner, no complaints about that whatsoever. The only thing I'd suggest is to request to be seated near the wall, as we were seated in the center and constantly had to deal with being bumped by bussers, waiters & waitresses and passersby. We went here for the restaurant week and sampled the fixed course. I was not happy about the lack of vegetarian entrees on the restaurant week menu. [Yes I could have ordered the main menu but I wanted to sample the 'specials']
The food was pretty damn good, it did exceed my expectations but it wasn't the most authentic. After going up and down the coast and sampling the Indian restaurants I appreciate good stuff but I still can never find many places with the authentic taste.
The restaurant is a bit tight with space but is tastefully decorated. It is definitely expensive and not your weekend takeout staple. Amazing
Crispy spinach chaat was so good! I could of ordered a second had another glass of wine and been satisfied. However we ordered more and everything was amazing! Paneer masala lamb and the special seafood dish!! I can wait to go back. Our waitress was wonderful, making perfect suggestion! Checked in on 8/1/2016.
They have express lunch specials in which you can choose one savory snack and one entree. We ordered 2 of these deals:
1) Crispy Spinach Chaat and Lollipop Lamb Chops: The chaat and lamb chops were excellent. The spinach was crispy and the sauce coating the spinach was a perfect balance of tangy and sweet. The lamb was soft and had nice marination. I am biased towards Lamb sourced from New Zealand and when I see those magic words on the menu card of a restaurant, I can't help but order the dish. The only complaint with lamb chops was that they were smaller than I've eaten in other comparable restaurants. Now, I also have to add that price at IndeBlue for this dish was lower than the other restaurants. So, I guess, you pay less and you get less.
2) Drums of heaven and Malai Kofta Bukhara: Drums of heaven were cooked perfectly and were big in size. I would have liked them more if they were spicier and not so sweet. Malai Kofta was excellent. The gravy had lot of flavor, the koftas were soft and tasty.
I would rate the food 4.75/5.
Service was exactly what I expect when I eat out. The timing between the courses was perfect, the temperature of the food was hot when served, the plating of the food was good, the utensils were clean, the hostess was polite, the server asked if we were done before removing the empty plates. Everything was perfect. Service was 5/5.
Summary: IndeBlue is a beautifully decorated restaurant, in downtown Philly, that serves tasty Indian cuisine with high service standards. So good! Excellent, high quality Indian Food. The best naan I have ever had, which is a bold statement! What a great find, my bae took me here for my birthday. It's a great spot, we really liked the decor and dim lighting, a perfect spot for a date night or a dinner night with family.
We tried their multi course meal and we were blown away by the food and service. We tried -
1) Crab Dosa and Fish Tacos for Apps
2) Shrimp Curry and Panner Masala, with assorted naans as entrees
3) Kulfi, Chocolate Mousse with tea as the last course
We really liked the flavor profile of our food, everything was really good but Crab dosa was my favorite, though we were hesitant to try dosa with seafood filing but it turned out to be really delicious.Our server was super nice and the service was extremely good.
Thank you, IndeBlue for making my birthday special. Came to 13th street with a hankering for brunch and wanted Green Egg Cafe; the wait was too long so on a whim I wandered in here, following the "brunch" sign outside and having no idea it was an Indian infusion joint. Sooooo glad I did! Enjoying an amazing spicy chicken and waffles now after an appetizer of a lamb meat poutine and washing it down with a chai sangria. Great find! Awesome service. Food was excellent (pork bhuna, scallops, spinach chaat, kheer). Service was top notch. Bar tender was super friendly. Love the spicy cocktails. Especially the lychee chili margarita. I've been there twice now. First time with a big party and the food was pretty tasty and service was great.
Second time was even better. We went for the tasting menu - you get to pick two dishes out of each section of their menu - and the food was just unbelievable. Lamb skewers, barbecued pork and stuffed eggplant were remarkable. Service was again spot on. Visiting from out of town and was drawn to this place after walking the streets....the food was phenomenal and the service was even better. 5 stars. I had tofu chili and vegetable samosa. Excellent! I often dont love when Indian food is dressed up and become fancy. I have been to several such establishments in DC and NY and usually just leave feeling like though I ate good food I would love some more of the more traditional dishes or at least takes on them. IndeBlue manages to provide good service charming decor while cooking up some traditional (with slight twists) indian dishes. The Naan is executed perfectly with tremendous fluff and flavor. One of the most popular dishes seemed to be the fried cauliflower which was a huge portion though in my opinion not flavorful enough. Overall a great indian restaurant in Philadelphia, possibly my favorite. Great fusion of indian and western flavors.
I had the spicy chicken and waffles which had a nice zing and my wife had the chicken tikka wrap.
Only issue was that we got there without a reservation and they said all of their tables were booked. We sat at the bar without a problem, but there were tables open the entire time we were there up until we left. Unclear why they wouldn't seat us back food was great so I"d recommend it! It took a while to have meal ready but the bartender was really nice and cute.
The food we ordered was good specially the chicken and pancake one. Love it! Don't recommend curry platter. Not that good in my opinion. Live music, crispy spinach chat and thali, just made my Sunday lunch a memorable one. I initially came here just to wait for friends who were LATE. I became enamored with the elegant decor and tasty food! Good for Indian food lovers as well as those who are wary of the cuisine. My favorite thing is the gharwali, sort of pita with mozzarella and baby spinach baked inside. Totally wonderful. They easily accommodate vegan and gluten free eaters and the staff is very friendly and efficient. You can get a drink an app for under $10 or get the chef's tasting menu with wine for $65. Lots of options in between these price points. Gorgeous and delicious! a celiac dream, "regular" eater-of-foods dream, too! lovelovelove They have cider too. (Gluten free naan is a bit pancake-y for me), but I've never had a bad meal there. Small spot so don't expect to go with a large amount of people I had lunch here today and opted for the non vegetarian thali for $17 (over the lunch special of starter and entree). The thali consisted of lamb korma, chicken tikka masala, dal makhani, mixed indian pickle, raita, 5 naan quarters and kheer. Each dish was surprisingly full of flavor. I would highly recommend this place for lunch. Hands down the best indian food in Philly. Dal Makhani is to die for. The crispy spinach chat is a great concept and texturally brilliant. Not to miss at all. Great food and Live Sitar and Tabla you can't ask for more! !! Came here for our first anniversary and we had a great time. A must go for all the indian who miss the indian thali specially. Philly isn't known for its Indian food, but Indeblue is hands down the best option in the city. It is an upscale restaurant with a beautiful ambiance in the heart of Center City. The food is incredible and service is knowledgeable and fantastic. Tables aren't terribly difficult to get so I don't think you even need to make a reservation unless it's during prime brunch hours. Happy hour offerings are terrific. The tikka naan pizza here is the bomb and a great deal at $5! Their express lunch is also great at $15. Their spinach chaat is very popular but I'm not a fan. Personal menu highlights: chicken madras, chicken makhani, and tikka naan pizza. I've also ordered catering from here for a school event and it was executed smoothly. 5/5 Excellent and innovative Indian cuisine. The cocktails are also original and elegant - try the spicy lychee martini or the mango margarita. Beautiful restaurant and very attentive service.
Happy hour or late night is an awesome deal - all drinks and apps are between $4-$5 - truly a steal. Our expectations were exceeded - definitely a must go. I was at IndeBlue the other week. Very beautiful restaurant! The host (Danielle) was very nice, friendly, and accommodating. The staff were very professional, knowledgeable, and outgoing. I had a great experience with Jared and Julie. Both wonderful servers and people. I hear the owners are very friendly, caring, and treat their staff like family. That's always great to hear! I was able to speak with one of them (Heather). She wanted to make sure everything was to my satisfaction and she even sent out a complimentary appetizer after she found out this was my first time here. She was incredibly nice and friendly. I shared quite a few laughs with her as well. If I could, I'd give them 10 stars, but 5 stars will have to suffice for now. Can't wait to go back! Crispy spinach chaat. Crispy cauliflower. Sali boti poutine. Get. These. Things. I have visited this restaurant twice since July. Every dish I have tried has been delicious. The decor adds to the overall experience. I highly recommend dining here. Fabulous food for brunch. Indian fare but some traditional American options. Beautiful decor, live music and excellent service. Came here last night with a friend and really enjoyed the Indian Fusion concept. We both are Indians and know Indian food quite well. The spices were done immaculately, however the mushroom dosa was greasy and there was way too much oil! I felt that the veggie entrees dishes were less fusion however and did have some different accents that I hadn't tasted or experiment with more myself! The ambience is great, a little crowded and noisy after a certain hour... but what good restaurant isn't in the city! Definitely a worthwhile date night spot. And vegetarian / gluten-free friendly! Such incredible service! Our waiter was super patient with our big party of people and was attentive to everything that we needed.
The food we had was authentic and so flavorful. I had a masala chicken with rice. My friends ordered the chicken and waffles as well as the dosa, all of which were delicious.
Definitely recommend if you're here for breakfast, or for bottomless drinks! I and my colleague went to this place after it was suggested by a local client. I like the spicy long hot peppers appetizer and apple jalebi dessert, although the dessert was a little sour. The menu is designed so that people not familiar with Indian cuisine can order easily. They do not have a list of curry, daal and bread you could order from. They have combos (entrees) you can order, that comes with curry and bread (naan) or rice. I ordered malai kofta and my colleague ordered some curry with shrimp. But our curry was the same. I just had kofta in mine and he had shrimp. I wasn't impressed by that. They have just one or two type of rice and they serve that in the entrees. If you want a menu that you can understand easily then pick this place. If you want to order curry, naan, rice separately then this is not the place. I would go there again for the appetizers. Some of them looked good. Came here for the first time last Saturday and was really impressed. This is a really good indian restaurant in the city. It's not authentic indian but it's more modernized indian. The food is amazing here some of my favorites are the drums of heaven and the seared scallops. The drums of heaven have a nice spice to it and it's not overwhelming spicy and everything in the dish complements well. Seared scallops are out of this world it goes especially with the sambar it just makes the dish even better. For those not in the city not to worry they have a location in collingswood, so def try it out you won't regret it. I came here during Restaurant Week for lunch with a group of friends. All four of us were extremely pleased. We all ordered something different for all three courses so that we could taste everything. We were blown away each time.
We were even starting to become cynical after how wonderful the appetizers were. Very often, the next course disappoints but we were completely wrong.
The next time I visit Philadelphia I will definitely revisit IndeBlue. The beautifully decorated interior makes this place extra special to dine in. The service was wonderful as well.
The cuisine is Indian with a modern spin. Wonderful job! We ate here yesterday at the tail end of brunch and it was some of the most amazing and innovative Indian food we've had. We got the cheese board which was so creative, authentic, and delicious! I also got the veggie samosas which were amazing and my partner got masala potatoes and an egg wrap which was also phenomenal. Great cocktails and service too! Glad to find beautiful indian restaurant in the hood. Tried their vegetable samosa, spicy scallop and shrimp crusted salmon. They were all good!
Samosa was crispy and deliciously seasoned. Scallop and salmon were great. I really liked the ambiance, it was lively and was perfect for grabbing some yummy food and enjoy conversation. I tried the lassi as well. And was rich and creamy as I like. I wish I tried their crispy chaat. Looked really but no one wanted to order so we skipped it. I will definitely try that dish next time I am there.
The service was very professional and kind. Me and a good friend of mine decided to try this spot for Happy Hour yesterday (3/31). OMG I can't belive I've gone all this time without their food in my life...AMAZING, I got the spinach chaat (tastes like general tso chicken, I kid you not!), The pizza naan and the drums of heaven. All were on the HH menu for only $4 dollars each!!! This has been added to my list of favorites spots! We went to IndeBlue for a different Christmas Eve experience (tradition usually dictates Chinatown, but last year we realized everyone's discovered Chinese food on Christmas Eve Our secret's out!). Excellent food, great ambiance. Our server was very lovely, despite the fact that she was working on Christmas Eve, and their cocktails were fantastic. We'll be back! Inde Blue is a lovely intimate spot with great food. Please know that the hours have changed. We walked in at 10:55pm on a Saturday and sadly learned they were closing at 11pm. Great concept, delicious food. We enjoyed our valentines day dinner here. Some of the items were classic indian restaurant items, such as a savory black lentil daal, and others were not classic at all, like the lobster tail, hudson valley foie gras on garam masala challah, and crispy spinach. I'd go back and try more items on their menu, like the shrimp skewers, chicken and chutneys, etc. I was told by my indian friend beforehand "it's indian food like you've never tried before," and I would agree. It didn't have the service aspect that some of my favorite places have had to earn the fourth and fifth star. We were initially greeted in an awkward manner by the hostess, but this did not take away from the food, I won't dock the restaurant a star for that at this time. Ambiance: 4 Stars (It was a little too dark in there but the decor and vibe is nice)
Presentation of Food: 4 Stars
Service:4 Stars
Food: 3 Stars-We tried the following items:
Butter Chicken was good, but the portion of rice, very small; Corn salad (which was delicious); the order of nan (okay); brussel sprouts and sweet potato (mushy), vegetable samosa (good); avocado chaat (flavorless); and banana donuts (best thing of the night). Although I enjoyed my experience here, I can't say I'd go back because the food is much to mediocre for the price. Visited on a Monday. Definitely nice setting, friendly and quite informative staff. Can't say I was impressed with the food. "Heavenly drumstick" were subpar at best, cauliflowers were decent but felt like it was done hastily. Chicken tikka was decent. Not sure if it's because it was a Monday but it did not meet my expectations after reading all the reviews. I've definitely had better indian food experience. Overall, would recommend to check it out, sit for a nice choice of wine and beer. Know the food you're ordering. My SO and I decided to check out IndeBlue for lunch this past Sunday and it also happened to be restaurant week. We came around 1130 and the host seated us right away since the restaurant opened at 11 on Sundays. Our server came by to greet us soon after and explained the restaurant week menu along with few recommendations. He was very knowledgeable, attentive and friendly. The restaurant's interior was cozy and intimate with a purple wallpaper and pretty lights/candles. For drinks, we got the chai sangria and spicy bloody mary. I liked the chai sangria a lot, your typical sangria with a touch of chai flavor. The spicy bloody mary was not our favorite and we would not get this again. The pepper taste was a bit too strong that it took away the overall flavor of the drink. For entree, we got chicken tikka makhani and masala dosa. The portions were generous and we were pretty full by the time desserts arrived. The chicken tikka makhani was my favorite. The coconut flavor curry flavor combined with the butter chicken was heaven! The safron rice added to the meal making it hard to resist myself from keep eating it. The masala dosa came with three sauces to dip and a roll up crepe like with fillings inside. It was authentic and each sauce added a nice flavor to the crepe. For a price of $20 during restaurant week, I thought it was so worth it. Great food at a decent price! Can't really beat that. Thanks IndeBlue for a great experience :) Let me first say, I'm new to Indian food. We're in the beginning stages of what I am sure will be a life long love affair, but at this point I'm certainly no expert in the cuisine. What I really love about Indian so far is its rustic-ness and its stewed meats that take nothing but patience and love. Indeblue did not strike me as rustic in the slightest, this was a more refined, modernized Indian that lost some of that comforting hominess I've come to enjoy. I came to Indeblue with a group of friends for brunch during restaurant week. While I enjoyed my meal, I definitely wasn't blown away like I have been at the cozier family run Indian spots.
For starters I got the spinach chaat. Dare I say this was like a fried salad. Literally little baby spinach leaves in a very very light batter fried until crisp. It was topped with some sauces, a sweet chile sauce and a creamy sauce. I've never had anything like this, it was delicious albeit not very filling.
For my entree I got the spicy chicken and waffles. I was honestly pretty let down by this. Don't get me wrong, it was good. The waffles were made well, the chicken was juicy and crispy. But they really failed to deliver on the spice. There was a sriracha drizzle and that was it. I don't need my palate burned out, but if you say spicy I want some spice. Not even necessarily heat spice, Indian chefs are literally masters of balancing spices. Even if it just had some cumin or curry in the batter, that would have made this stand out.
Dessert was a flight of some little goodies. I did really enjoy these perfect little bites to end the meal. The first was a rice pudding with some pistachios, the second a little banana donut doused in a luxurious caramel and finally a thick chocolate mouse covered in coconut.
Overall this was an enjoyable meal but not a "run don't walk" here kind of place. With that said, I wouldn't mind coming back for the full menu not during restaurant week. Loved the drumsticks. Decent taste, but high quality. Go try their food it's pretty palatable. The curries are a little too sweet, control on that and you have a winner. It's about time I started reviewing. Lived near Collingswood, NJ (location of IndeBlue's first joint) for several years and never really gave it a chance. Moved into Philly and IndeBlue followed along opening up their location a half a block from where I live in Center City. The Wash Square West location is pretty amazing. Classy decor, friendly waitstaff, and (though we didn't partake) the bar you pass to get to the dining room looked very inviting.
The fiance liked her Bombay Punch (Bombay Gin, grapefruit and pineapple juice with mint) but the food - the food definitely made the night. We did small plates so no entree review here but each plate kept us wanting more (in a good way). HIghly recommend the Duo Samosa, the U-10 Scallops (with a coconut milk-curry sauce that was even more incredible when lapped up by Naan), and finally - the Chickpea battered Sweet Potato Pakora (could have eaten at least 3 plates of those). We ended with the Stuffed Squash with saffron rice.
It's a little pricey but worth every penny. They even allowed us a taste of several of their chutneys as well as some Gazpacho to start off. For those that want a modern take on traditional Indian cuisine - IndeBlue delivers. Will be back for sure. We were in the neighborhood hopping from happy hour to happy hour and hungry and so happy to find this place on yelp. They have AMAZING happy hour deals with delicious food and GREAT drinks. The food was unexpectedly really good and definitely motivated me to come back next time I'm in Philly. Noise level can get a little louder in the evenings as they get busy. Go try their cocktails! Awesome friendly service. I have been wanting to try out this place since it opened. It's located in gayberhood one of the most happening location in Philly yet I happened to pass by!
I think the place is worth a try. I found the place to be on the higher end $$$. The decor and vibe is formal yet bustling. The service was great. In terms of food I think the $ is not worth the quantity! My bill was $69.00 for two people. I ordered paneer masala, malai kofta, naan, and he spinach chaat.
Overall, the place did not meet my high expectations however I would def take someone I was trying to impress here! I have heard the brunch is better and def do plan on going back in for brunch! This was a great place for a group of guys to meet up on our first day in Philly. They are a bit strict on the whole party being there before you are seated - but also didn't give us grief about having two last minute cancellations from our party. Granted - 6 of us did show up.
Everything I tried, even non-traditional indian food like hummus, was really tasty. Portions varied greatly in size, but were described well so that was okay. Price point was a tad high, but they made up for in a great atmosphere and competent servers.
The only part I have to dock them for was not splitting the check. Fortunately we were all out for the weekend together, so we made things work - but there is no reason in the day and age that you can't split a check. This was my first time at an Indian restaurant and it blew me away. Everything was exceptional. The flavor in every single dish was so complex and decadent. The tasting for $37 per person is a great deal. We had the following, all of which I highly recommend:
Crispy Spinach Chaat (an absolute must, better then you can imagine)
Drums of Heaven (reminded me a little of an Indian version of general tsao's chicken)
Lollipop Lamb Chops
malai kofta bukhara, basically a vegetarian meatball in an amazing sauce
lamb rogan josh
Also the Nan bread was very good, especially when dipped in the amazing sauces. I can not wait to come back and try other dishes. Our waiter was very knowledgeable so his recommendations were spot on. Great restaurant. Great food. This place is always packed so make reservations. And it's not cheap either. You can easily spend $60 to $100 and come out hungry (just like pretty much every other restaurant in the area). The quantities per entree are tiny. I recommend you stick to the happy hour. The drinks are good and the appetizers are not bad.
I give it 3 stars for good food and service. I am taking away 2 stars for very less quantity and being too pricey. If you're looking for the BEST Indian food, look no further! It's a very welcoming restaurant with a great atmosphere. It's somewhat of a small restaurant (but worth it!). The staff was also very kind and helped with any questions on the menu. I've also tried the one in Collingswood which is just as good. However, this one in Philly is a little "fancier." Either way, they're both exceptional! Enjoy! This review is purely a happy hour cocktail review. I will be back to review food and regular menu very soon.
So, I like happy hours for two reasons. 1.) getting together with a friend who you haven't seen in a while and really want to catch up with, but you both have such crazy schedules that all you can fit in is a happy hour, and 2.) Partake in a solo cocktail while I read or introspect, or think big life thoughts and simultaneously not break the bank.
Either way, I love relatively small, quiet but interesting and alive places. Indeblue more than fits this bill.
Good, strong cocktails for a happy hour, friendly and non invasive service, perfect balance of calm and vibrant. I'm glad a made a reservation, because the place was packed on a Saturday night, even after 9pm.
Came here with a bunch of friends. Unfortunately some of my friends were finicky and didn't want the tasting menu because it was too much food for them...so because the entire table couldn't do the tasting menu, we had to order a la carte. It would have been a bit cheaper to do the tasting menu. Which is a reasonable price.
Anyway, nothing in particular really stood out. The bbq pork samosas were less samosa, more bbq pork egg rolls. And the bbq pork was really really sweet. Not a well rounded flavor. The sauce it was served with (some white sauce) had a very indistinct flavor and only served to increase my calorie consumption and mask the sweetness of the bbq sauce. So, this dish was only ok.
The bread basket, consisting of several types of their homemade breads, didn't really vary much. I felt like they all tasted a bit like garlic naan. This didn't stand out at all and is very overpriced.
The nawabi subzi would have been better if everything weren't so finely diced, I think. It certainly would have been easier to eat. But honestly, the flavors weren't very enticing. We mainly just ate them to get our vegetables.
The paneer saag also was very underspiced. I'm not talking about spicy, but rather seasoning. It was just rather bland. I could make better saag in my sleep. Except I'd probably burn down my condo because that stuff takes a while and I have a gas stove.
The tandoori mixed grill was equally bland. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this is the worst "tandoori" that I've ever had. It had virtually no seasoning at all. Even the chicken, which was covered in some sort of a green sauce (mojito sauce?), was dry and surprisingly unflavorful. How do you get chicken to be green AND have no flavor? That takes some skill, come to think of it.
Now, the goat mirch masala was quite good. Usually when I get goat curry it's from a shady buffet/takeaway, and of course the flavor at those places are much better. But at least this is goat, so retains flavor naturally, pretty well. And the sauce here was good, just understated again. AKA whitewashed for non-Indian people. But a major plus is that it was just meat -- no chunks of fat or bone which is typical of goat curry in other spots. It was served with a separate green cilantro rice to complement the flavor. I wouldn't say that added much.
We also had a scallop dish, which consisted of 3 large sea scallops in a reddish curry. This was by far and away the best dish here. Not even so much the scallops, but the sauce itself. It was really great. Sadly, we started with this, and the meal went downhill from there.
Anyway, the food here isn't creative enough to merit getting much of the fusion, and the traditional Indian dishes are better served in a real Indian restaurant that isn't afraid of offending Western palates.
Service was nice, but average. Drinks sound creative, but fall flat as well. E.g. one with scotch and a fig mixture...could barely taste that it's fig, even though it was clearly visible. How are they doing that??
This would have been a two star review if it weren't for the scallops and the goat curry. Very good service and beverage. We ordered naan and curry. Frankly I do not know hot to spell them but it was good. The chicks is dry and I think that's the only thing to improve...no wifi but they have their own musicians playing! Food: 3/5
- Good for people who want Indian fusion.
- Most of the food tasted like sauces on different items (paneer wasn't marinated).
- Everything tasted relatively similar.
- Drinks weren't anything special but they were strong!
Service: 4/5
- Josh, our server, was incredibly friendly and attentive!
- Hosts/Hostesses were friendly.
Ambiance: 4/5
- Semi-casual attire for dinner, casual for lunch.
- We were seated immediately.
Would we go back? Yes (for happy hour & introducing people to Indian food). Our family went there on a Friday late afternoon before we visited the Chinese lantern festival.
We had the chef's sampling and ordered two apps, one small plate and two entrees. I honestly forget all the names of the dishes but the food was fresh, tasty and the service was delightful. The young lady just started recently but she was very helpful in our choices, friendly and professional as can be. I had the great river (?) beer which paired nicely with the meal. Only drawback was we went at happy hour and even though the place was empty in the dining area when we got there, the hostess seated us next to the bar. We should have requested to move but I thought maybe they didn't have wait staff yet in the other areas though it was after 5 :/ my bad.. And hostess poor seating selection for a family. We really couldn't hear each other at and near the end hurried thru our meal just to get some quiet outside.
Again, very good Indian food and presented nicely as well. I needed to make a last minute reservation last night and was able to get one at IndeBlue.
Wow - I'm not sure how I missed this place, but I need to come back to happy hour. Prices for entrees were a little steep but everything was perfect, the food, the service, and the vibe. We had an incredible meal here following the flower show. Everything was flavorful and cooked to perfection. The decor is beautiful. My only suggestion is to dim the bar lighting. Indeblue has amazing service, it's totally low key with a sexy ambiance. I loved it so much, from the food to the drinks (please try the Rose Mimosa at anytime of day), you will not be disappointed. it was my second night there couple days ago. the ambiance was always awesome. this location is the perfect place for a date. there were artists playing drums and guitar which surprised me. but it was still cool.
their drinks were pretty good. I had the mango lassi and it was made just right. Not too sweet and not too sour. We had the family style menu so we can share food and try different things. their food tend to be more spice. we got the chicken tikka masala and goat masala. So for the folks who cannot eat spicy food like me, make sure you drink a lot of water. (or get a mango lassi to easy the burning sensation) The naan breads and the rice were really good. Me and my friend's favorite were actually the dessert. The caramel fried banana and the cinnamon ice cream were to die for. Even though we were really full but we still manage to chew that thing down.
overall I will definitely come back to try out different things on the menu. Visited with a group for lunch and we enjoyed the meal. Samosa chaat, palak chaat, koftas and bhaturas were the highlights. Didn't care much for the paneer tikka or channa masala.
Dessert took forever to come out and it was pretty disappointing.. banana nirvana.. ordered this based on the stellar reviews but it did not live up. The jamun was waaaay too hard. Inside and out like a rock!! My party left most of it uneaten :/ wish we'd ordered just ice cream instead.. A good foray into the Indian restaurant scene in philadelphia. A better experience and more authentic than Tashan and extremely tidy compared to palace at the Ben. Food was good however missed the mark as they were missing true authenticity of Indian food. As an Indian I found the cuisine to lacking some of the spicyness and taste we get on the sub continent. Staples such as chutney and papadum were excluded and basics at every Indian restaurant. The one star is for service as we had reservations for 8pm and were not seated till 845pm. They clearly overbooked and made no excuses for that. Poor front end management, when I complained to the manager I was offered a seat at the bar and food at the bar. Why make a reservations and pretend to be a an authentic fine dining experience when you have not mastered basic restaurant management. Some of the best Indian food I've had. Everything with stellar: food, cocktails, service, and interior. Went during restaurant week and was impressed with the portion size. The chai tea cocktail and crispy
spinach appetizer were especially excellent. Woah - what a great experience! The food was superb, but what really made the experience a five star one was our server. Bennett was more than helpful with choosing dishes that we would enjoy and also was thoughtful of our diverse dietary needs. He recommended an appetizer and said that if we didn't like it he would pay for it - we LOVED it! We all know that if the service is awesome you tend to enjoy your meal that much more. That being said, even if you had a "meh" server at IndeBlue, I'm certain that you would be quite pleased with your meal. Thank you Bennett! we had the most amazing server ever. we were a group of 12 with a reservation for 9, and half our party showed up an hour late. our server was so kind and caring, bringing us complimentary drinks while we complained about our tardy friends and keeping a smile on his face the whole time. at one point a person in our party got some bad news and wanted to stress-smoke a cigarette, our server went out of his way to ask one of his coworkers for a smoke and give it to our friend.
the food was great too, but honestly this server was the best i've ever seen and i would go back for his service alone. i didn't catch his name but sir, we (a group of former servers and chefs), commend you. I'm weary of upscale versions of ethnic cuisine but IndieBlue manages to make it work effortlessly. Where Tashan failed, IndieBlue succeeds. The bar bites actually steal the show- they would do well to incorporate those elements more into their primary menu. The Rose mimosa was wonderful. It smells like perfume and has a crisp bright sweetness of champagne with just a hint of fruit.
We were there for brunch and we got the spicy chicken and waffles and the pancakes. The food is good but was overshadowed by the mimosa.
The chicken on the waffles is a full wing and a half of a breast, which was marinaded before cooking. A lightly spiced but good portion- be prepared to spend some time separating the meat from the bones. If I was rating on food alone it would be 5 stars...the food was awesome. It was a party of 10 of us and we all agreed the food was really really good. There were a few things that occurred that made me knock off a star...1)being charged for 2 items that was supposed to be taken off our bill, but I caught and had it removed. 2) It taking a while for us to receive our food, 3) not being able to separate our bill and them only taking 2 CC max, 4) The staff not clearing our table of the dirty plates in a timely fashion even after I asked them to remove them and 5) the bartender giving someone in our party an alcoholic drink when she asked for the non-alcoholic version and then asking the rest of us at the table if we wanted her drink after she already drank from it and we told him she drank from it & he kept trying to offer it to us for "free"...like wth? I highly suggest that if you make a reservation for a larger party, make sure you tell everyone to just bring cash. I've been to IndeBlue several times for Happy Hour, this was my 1st time for brunch. I'd go again for brunch but just not with a large party... We tried the spinach appetizer and the non vegetarian thali. Both of the choices were amazing. I was not a big fan of the waiter that approached us the first time, seemed to be the bartender. The sarcasm in his tone was annoying and frustrating when you're at a place for the first time and looking for suggestions. However, the waiter that replaced him was a true gentleman. And we had the greatest time with the savory dishes! :-) Going downhill.
Used to be my favorite Indian place in philly. But then they got published in the magazine. Now more crowded and, unfortunately, food feels more 'mass produced' - oily and bland. Very disappointed in my latest visit. This is our second time here. We came especially for unique selection of cocktails and crispy spinach appetizer. We now have tried almost all their dishes in happy hour. $6 cocktails and $5-$4 apps. Damn neat deal. The food comes off very fast.
Things we didn't like:
1. Happy hour is only at the bar. Which means the small bar bear the entrance gets very crowded and people waitong look at u with hungry eyes
2. The bartender tries ro rush u into orders and takes away plates while u r eating. It happened on both the occasions. Not cool.
But over all a decent place for HH and unique cocktails. The food is awesome... Service even better...I highly recommend the chef trading menu... Although it is a littler buy too much for one person... But you can Teetu many items on the menu.no went with spinach chat awesome, chicken drum rule awesome, lamb rack awesome, lamb rogan josh awesome, paneer butter masala awesome chocolate dessert awesome Three of us went there and enjoyed everything we had immensely. Drinks, appetizers and entrees were all delectable. We were visiting the city and have actually considered doing the 3 hour drive (one way) again, just to eat at this place. We had to wait about a 3-4 weeks before we could even consider eating another Indian Indian place because we knew nothing would be as good. He had to come down from the "IndiBlue high". Now we will be "chasing the IndiBlue Dragon's-Tail", if you know what I mean. The service here is amazing, the staff are knowledgeable and attentive. We had some wine-related questions and our server was able to help us pick what would go well with our meal. We decided to go with several smaller plates and a bread basket. We got the shrimp and vegetable skewers and the BBQ pork samosas (the blue cheese dip for this was amazing). Indieblue has amazing ambience that I have not experienced in other restaurants!! This is a great upscale Indian restaurant! Perfect for a date night or special occasions. The decor is beautiful. We came here for husband's birthday and loved it. Spinach chaat was perfectly crispy. We ordered the malai kofta and it was the best malai kofta I've ever had! The koftas were soo soft and the gravy was so rich and had the perfect blend of spices. The drinks were good and strong as well. They have quite a variety on the menu including appetizers and small plates. Only thing is that the portions are very small but I feel this is typical of any upscale restaurant. This is a fun, upscale twist on Indian food. I especially love their Spinach Chaat and the lamb lollipops. If you can make it there for happy hour, it's a great deal! Some of the best Indian food I've had in my life. The short rib samosa was a delicious starter, although it's a little more egg roll seaming than samosa. I had the chicken tikka for my main course and I wolfed down as much as possible. Usually chicken tikka is a little too sweet for my taste. However, this chicken tikka was perfectly seasoned with a slight kick and delicious sauce. I couldn't eat enough of the sauce and soaked up the sauce with my rice. We also shared a roti stuffed with nuts that was sweet and delicious. It tasted like the stuffing of bahklava put into a piece of naan. Delicious!
The ambiance is great for a date with pretty interior decorating, a nice bar at the front and a classy but casual ambiance. The servers were attentive and friendly. This restaurant will definitely be added to my list of regulars when I visit Philly. Rich Ambiance, Perfect Light and Good Staff. The food was really good and perfect quantity. We ordered Masala Bloody Mary which was a well made drink. For appetizers we ordered Chilled Dahi Avacado Chaat, Mangalorean Crispy Vegetable and Vegetable Shashlik Skewer - All tasted so good. We were 6 people and Dahi Avacado has just 5 pieces - the staff was flexible to add one more piece to it by charging a little extra. We then shared the Veg Thali between 2 of us and was sufficient considering the appetizers we had. there are 2 veggies, raita, mango chutney, dal makhani, rice and hot eggplant bhajiya. This is served in a Thali and it so much reminded of home. We felt like we are sitting in Mumbai at some high end dhaba enjoying the delicious food. The veggies had paneer makhanwala and spinach chana - mouth watering! We replaced the normal naan with lasooni naan and it was a good decision. To add to the meal we ordered Mango lassi which was again good. We all enjoyed the food and I believe it has a lot of options for Vegetarians.I would definitely recommend this place. Anytime I feel like having Ghar Ka Khana..it is IndeBlue. Also since it was Sunday afternoon they had Sitar and Tabla playing Live on the Background...very soothing to ears. My friends visited Philly for first time and I am glad we picked this place as they all enjoyed it a lot. Excellent Indian food - a bit pricey, but you pay for the higher quality stuff. Some friends and I ordered off the restaurant week menu, which was prix fixe at $35 with multiple options per course and served family style. At the end of the night, I was glad I tried some tasty, more upscale Indian food, but for the price difference, I think I might actually prefer the good Indian buffets you'll find in University City. Good place to go for a change of pace though and more unique/creative offerings.
1st course:
+ Vegetable samosa chaat - pretty standard but good, not incredibly different from samosas you'll find elsewhere
+ Spinich chaat - my favorite of the first course. Incredibly crispy fried spinach flakes and paired perfectly with the accompanying sauce
+ Tandoori shrimp skewer - tasty and came with a delicious, creamy/spiced sauce
2nd course:
+ Shrimp & crab moilee - a bit too "seafood" tasting for a curry but still good. The crab & shrimp bits were very tender and flavorful
+ Lamb balti - delicious and had a wonderfully savory, spiced, and developed flavor in the curry. I'm not a huge lamb fan, but I love lamb and goat in Indian curries somehow - maybe it's the richness of the meat paired w/ the spices/curry. tbh though, I think I actually prefer the goat curries that I've had at those Indian buffets near Penn campus.
+ Methi mutter malai - very creamy, basically used it as a sauce to soak up in the deliciously garlicky naan that came with our restaurant week meal, or the rice.
Dessert sampler: Espresso ice cream w/ saffron rabri was probably my favorite - melt-in-your-mouth creamy with just the right level of coffee. I couldn't taste any effect of having saffron in there though. The ras malai was standard but good, and the peanut butter & jelly samosa was unique and satisfying. I also had a mango lassi, which was very thick but a bit too sweet for my taste and not strong enough on the mango flavor. One of my favorite places ever!!!! This is the best Indian food in the city hands down. Definitely worth going with a big group and getting the tasting menu- it's out of this world! My friends and I went for restaurant week to Indeblue for two of their birthdays. The service was amazing. Our server gave great recommendations. Another server didn't bring out the candles for our friends birthdays, but then Indeblue gave us a complimentary dessert to fix their mistake. The cheese board was one of my favorite parts! The main course was good, not amazing. The dessert was pretty good though. Amazing authentic Indian food! Love this place. Will be going back there again. Went there with my mom and ordered the Dosa, and their paneer it was amazing. For dessert we had the fig kulfi - perfect ending to an delicious meal. My favourite restaurant in Philadelphia. Indian food balanced with perfect spice. You won't regret this choice. Ordered takeout, 4 dishes.. Non of us were satisfied, my chicken tikka were rinny and were separating so I had a lot of water in the bottom of my plate.. and the chicken were super dry. Expensive and really bad food! Avoid!! One of the best restaurants in the city! What incredible service! My husband and I walked in on what seemed to be a crazy busy Saturday night, though the restaurant was packed the hostess was so attentive and generous, I cannot recall her name but she went out of her way to accommodate us and made our night! Our server was fantastic and the food was amazing. I love their spicy spinach chaat! I recommend making a reservation, especially on a Saturday night. Indeblue thank you for a fantastic night, please let the host know we appreciated her making room for us!
Side note- their happy hour is from 5-11pm on Saturdays, unheard of, this place just keeps giving!Highly recommended I just love this place. I have been to the center city location on numerous occasions and have always been wowed by their offerings and the fact that they keep reinventing their menu with awesome offerings.
A highlight is also happy hour at the bar. Same delicious food and drinks at great happy hour special prices. I haven't dined in at indeblue, but I did get the chance to sample some food at the recent Midtown Village festival. Friendly service. The drum of heaven was delicious. Crunchy coated chicken with a sweet, tangy sauce. The basil-mint chicken kabob had good flavor, but was dry. It really needed some sauce. The samosa was really good though. It had a nice chickpea curry that accompanied it and it was very good. App: vegetable samosa, lamb chop / lollipop, sweet potato pakora
Entree: chicken tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, lasooni naan (garlic)
We share the above food with party of four. Service and food were great! IndeBlue is amazing Indian food that is much needed in Center City. It's slightly fusion, but not so much that it loses its authenticity.
I've tried many of the menu items, but there are still so many more that I have my eye on. Highlights:
Crispy Spinach Chaat: Amazingly crispy, light, and fresh. The tamarind date chutney makes a perfect "dressing" for this little spinach salad. I want to know how they cook the spinach to make it THAT crispy. I could eat this every day and wouldn't feel too guilty since it's a healthy option!
Drums of heaven: Wings in an Indian-style spicy sauce. This sauce would be good on anything! Really crispy, almost Korean-style fried.
Sweet potato pakora: Chickpea battered sweet potatoes. Super addicting. One order for 2-3 people will disappear in minutes.
Paneer tikka makhani: I love paneer so I had to try this. The sauce is slightly sweeter than other dishes, so it was the perfect complement to the spicier entrees. Order a side portion and take a bite every time your tongue is on fire from something else.
I usually only like to try places I've never been to for restaurant week, but I love this place so much, and their restaurant week menu is a steal. It's the perfect way to try a bunch of different things here. I got the non-vegetarian thali sampler platter as my main course, which came with chicken makhani, lamb rogan josh, dal makhani, rice, raita, mango chutney, and garlic naan. WAY TOO MUCH FOOD, but I ate it all and enjoyed it so much. I regret it after, of course, but it was worth it.
Try the cocktails! The Monsoon is delicious with a spicy kick from cinnamon, star anise, and ginger. I have been to indeblue MANY times. It is my favorite Indian food. I can't say it's a traditional Indian restaurant, but in my opinion, it's a good mix of traditional and contemporary. For appetizer, my favorite is the spinach chaat. It's usually done well, though once it was a little salty. Others that are good include the naan pizza and dahi avocado chaat. For the entree, I always get paneer. They currently have paneer tikka masala which is delicious. I like my Indian food spicy, so they will make it spicier for me. The naan is amazing- fresh, hot, soft. 2 of us can go through 2-3 orders in one meal. Sometimes my boyfriend and I will forego an appetizer and share an entree sized paneer tikka with an additional entree but in the smaller portion size. That with the naan will fill us. The dessert in general are pretty good. I love their house made chai and cocktails (chai sangria) as well! Overall, love this place! Our latest hunt for Indian food ended in having dinner at Indeblue. The restaurant is nicely tucked in the heart of the food scene in the city. The restaurant itself is very cozy. The decor is very classy. It's not too bright and not too dark that you won't see what you are eating.
I wanted to give this restaurant a five star for the service alone. There is a first time for everything and this was the first time we were asked to try the 'lassi' before ordering it. The drinks menu was well rounded. They have a good selection of local beer as well as good wines. Our waiter was on point all the time. And for someone not from India he was very knowledgeable about the menu.
The appetizers were a good start. The dinner seemed promising. We got the Avacado chaat. Every component in it was very discernable. It was fresh with the herbs and the Avacado made it's presence felt. Although it was a good dish it was one of those where it seemed to lack a little bit of the oomph.
We got the special of the day which happened to be a salmon dish and a goat curry. The description on the menu was very helpful.
The fish was very nicely cooked by the dish as a whole was poorly made. It was accompanied with cumin rice. I mentioned that to highlight the fact that there was an overpowering use of cumin in the fish curry too. And also a heavy hand of mustard seeds. Which made the curry a tad bit bitter.
The first few bites in to the goat curry were to the point. Properly marinated and cooked to perfection. But few more bites in and some of the goat pieces were over cooked.
Other things to pick on, were the tissue paper on the dinner plates. Not sure what the idea was but it was very annoying.
All in all it was an ordinary experience. Fantastic. Went for Sunday brunch. Very creative, out of the ordinary, small plates, entrees, and breakfast selections. Service was exceptional as well.
Try the shrimp tacos and waffles with chicken, but, everything was delicious. Highly recommend. coming here for restaurant week was the worse idea ever .. the place is nice and all, server was pretty cool, did his job, but .. the food? eh. it wasn't all that great to be honest. I didn't even get my soup lol. I just wasn't satisfied sorry. maybe I'll give this place another try with the regular menu. Tips? Don't come here restaurant week. I like this place and I came here 4 out 7 days it's disappointing to come here and not find my favorite bartender Jeff. The service here has declined at the bar since. M. This is hands down my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia. Everything from the decor to the presentation of meals is amazing. Very romantic and dimly lit environment. Great for dates. Started with the shrimp tacos. This is the most delicious thing I have ever eaten in my life. Moved onto the vegetable paneer which had a good ratio of coconut milk to curry. Had to order the basmati rice and garlic naan on the side (the garlic naan is the best I have ever had). The only issue is the spoons. I don't understand why they are so deep in the center. It does not allow for you to scoop ANYTHING. Please change the silverware. It's the only thing that kept this place from being perfect. Finished with a creamy and aromatic chai tea pot and fig ice cream (comes in a bar and drizzled with syrup). Dined in for restaurant week, which a friend had recommended the restaurant. Ambiance was beautiful and the staff attentive, but portion size and seasoning seemed to be an issue. Started with tuna tartar, which lacked any flavor of tuna in the tartar. However, the drums of heaven (chicken wings) seemed to be the saving grace by delivering enough heat, crisp skin, and a lovely blue cheese.
As I was excited for the main course having seen other diners receive entrees, I realized that what I ordered versus what I expected did not match. I ordered per the menu cornish game hen, which my expectation was a full, cornish game hen. However, I was served maybe half of a cornish game hen with rice, which left me wanting more.
Overall, the restaurant appears to be on the right track from the looks of things, but lacks all of the correct reasoning for a return visit given my experience. This was a great meal. The happy hour had amazing prices and is every day, even the weekends. We had a table of 4, so we shared 4 mains family style and a bread basket with 4 types of naan. We had one who needed gluten free options, which every main complied with and she even got her own gf naan. We ordered 1. the eggplant, almost pureed like a babaganoosh which was tasty with a mild heat, 2. a dish the ended up being vegetarian meatballs made of cashews, dried apricots and cheese in a mildly spicy creamy sauce, very good, 3. Cheese in masala, big hunks of cheese in a creamy mild sauce, very nice and 4. The goat in a rich, warm velvety sauce which was out standing. If you get a drink, opt for the signature drink, which is mango puree with citron vodka - like an adult lassi.
The interior is beautiful, the service was great and we'll def be back. My boyfriend and I came here because I was craving some Indian food. My dad and I came here about 2 years ago and I remembered it being pretty good so we decided to come and give it another shot! So we ordered the spinach crisps (spinach chaat) as an appetizer--this was the highlight of our meal. Our super nice server suggested them and they were AMAZING. We cleaned the plate in a matter of seconds. I'd love to try and explain the flavor to you but I never had anything like it.
Next we tried the butter chicken--it was the last entree in the middle I forgot the actual name but it's also known as butter chicken. I wanted chicken tikka masala which they don't have on the menu but they can make it for you--but the server suggested that we try their most popular dish--butter chicken--so we did! It was good but chicken tikka masala will always have my heart
I'm glad I tried it though it was interesting--I think what made it good for me instead of excellent was that it had sooooooo much black pepper in it to the point where it was just slightly overwhelming for me.
We also has the garlic nann which was sooooooo yummy, the best I've had-- BUT, it was 8 dollars for 1 piece which they cut into two.
The bill came out to about 60ish dollars (including our tip).
Anyway, so the reason I gave 3 stars is mainly because the food is just "good" so I subtracted a star -- and it's very pricey (to us at least) so I took off another star.
My boyfriend and I are from Brooklyn where we CONSTANTLY eat Indian food from this place called Bombay Grill (in bay ridge). We eat there all the time, get twice as much food, the food is CRAZY delicious and still the bill comes out to pretty much half of what we paid here for the both of us together! (If you ever find yourself in bay ridge check it out)
Haha, well either way--both my boyfriend and I are happy we stopped by indeblue, since that appetizer was the highlight of our night--not exaggerating at all. I doubt I'll ever come back again (or if I do it'll just be to explore the appetizers) but I'm happy I got to stop by to experience it one last time with my boyfriend. Good, not great. The space itself is very nice and tastefully decorated. We went to the Center City IndeBlue location on a Tuesday night, and the service was attentive without being overbearing. We started with the crispy vegetable chili and sweet potato pakora, and the chili appetizer was quite good. Our entrees of aloo bhindi and tikka paneer were rather bland, no hint of spice and generally not memorable. My expectations for IndeBlue were high, the reality was rather meh. the food is amazing and gluten free! woohoo! service is great! I dont know how I didint write a review for this place before but it has to be my top 3 favorite restaurants in the city, especially for indian food. The ambiance is amazing, a great mix of traditional eastern decor with solid wood elements.
The service has to be even better than the decor (or dare I say it even better than the food). Different staff have their own tasks/jobs, your waiter ensures you have a good experience, they have different busboys bringing you food and taking away your used dishes. I think a manager even came over to readjust my friend's napkin when she stepped back to use the restroom. That keen attention to detail is something to admire and worth it!
Now onto my favorite part- no not the food yet - LIVE music! On a weekday night (tuesday or wednesday - i cant remember) and sunday brunch they have live sitar and tabla players which is the icing on what would be a perfect night.
Ok food- the Paneer Tikka masala is to die for, the spinach chaat, the avocado appetizer, and lastly the unique rosemary herb naan.
I cant wait to go back! We had dinner here last night and it was a very good experience.
Highlights:
- Mixed drinks cocktails were interesting and flavorful (e.g., chai sangria was a pleasant and unique surprise)
- Appetizers were the best part of the meal. Crispy spinach chaat was cooked perfectly although it had a bit too much cheese on it. Crispy cauliflower was also cooked perfectly. Crisp, moist, and perfect size.
- The entrees were good but not great. Laal mass was a bit overcooked and the lamb had started to fall apart as a result. The chana masala with pomegranate juice sounded better than it tasted. It was our least favorite thing we tried.
- Lemon cashew rice was definitely the right choice over the basmati rice and the garlic naan portions were perfectly-sized and not burnt which happens too often in Indian restaurants.
- Service was timely and professional and our waiter was able to answer all of the questions we had.
- Only downside was that the restaurant was very dark inside and it was quite loud. There was a table next to us of 8 people who had two younger children under the age 3. Predictably, the two kids who were out after 7 PM were not well-behaved and cranky since they were almost certainly tired.
I would definitely come back here again especially if it was for happy hour to sit at the bar with a mixed cocktail and appetizers. I returned with friends for a brunch on Sunday morning. It was an excellent experience! They offer both breakfast items as well as lunch. I had a chicken tikka wrap which is very tasty with masala fries, one of my friends had the chope batture which was excellent. As always this place had great service and I would highly recommend going for brunch or any other meal. Made reservations for Fathers Day Brunch last week with a woman hostess. I just called because we were running a few minutes -reservation was not in their system. They offered me a seat in ten minutes, no apologies or anything. Disappointed that our Father's Day celebration isn't happening . Modern twist to indian cuisine. Chilli lamb chops one of the highlights on the menu !
Mango panacotta for the dessert Booked weeks in advance and was really looking forward to trying out their menu. Turns out I booked it for Fathers Day and they were only offering that menu. Kind of annoying because if I knew they only were serving a set menu, I wouldn't have came on that day.
Anyways food tasted great and was a lot to eat - ended up taking most of it home.
Waiters were smiling and friendly. Our main waitress didn't know much about the menu so had to keep going back and asking the chefs - but she was willing to help us out.
We were the first people there despite a 11am booking but towards the end of our meal- a tabla and sitar group were playing and it sounded great.
Only negative is the menu issue, otherwise enjoyed the food, ambiance and chai. Great authentic Indian food! Food was steamy hot, one of the best chicken tikka masala gravy's I have had in East Coast. The gravy was smooth and thick in texture. The lighting and ambience was delightful. My lady loved her Baingan barta (eggplant gravy) which was spicy, tangy and flavorful as she expected and she's Indian too. This place is way way better than it's competitor - Tashan.
If you are in Phily area and looking to eat fine dining delicious Indian food, please stop by and check out IndeBlue (NOT Tashan). Amazing, amazing, amazing! I came here for the lunch menu with a friend. The crispy spinach chaat was one of the best dishes I've ever tasted. I would be happy to eat just that and nothing else. We also had the deep fried cauliflower - tasty, but not as good as the spinach. For entrees we had an amazingly tender lamb rogan josh and a pork dish that I forget the name of, but was also amazing.
Excellent services from the staff - I can't have dairy so they pointed out everything vegan on the menu and offered to specially cook our meat dishes with oil instead of butter. I will definitely be coming back! Upscale, delicious and healthy Indian food! They had some new takes on some of the classics. All spice levels were perfect. The restaurant is a neat decor and classy yet cozy. The prices were a bit high but it's downtown philly so that's a thing. The staff was super nice even when they were very busy. It was clear our waitress was trying to speed up our drinks and was thoughtful in letting us know the status of our order. I hope to come here again! This was nice! We made reservations for a Saturday night and arrived early, so we took a seat at the bar for some drinks. Our table was ready promptly.
We thought about the chef's tasting but eventually ordered a la carte. We started off with the spare rib samosa rolls and the spice crispy cauliflower. These were both delicious, especially the samosa rolls with the sauce on the side. I liked the crispiness of the cauliflower but I did expect it to have more of a kick.
For my main I ordered the lamb rogan josh with a side of malai kofta. The lamb was super soft and tasty and the malai kofta was creamy and rich of flavor. The lamb was spicy, but not too spicy. M ordered the tandoori mixed grill with a side of chana masala. He liked the lamb chops very much - it also came with prawns. The chana masala was very nice too. We also had the garlic naan. Be warned: it's pretty strong flavored.
The restaurant is beautiful; it's definitely a nice place for date night or a girl's night. All the staff we interacted with were friendly, and the chef even came to some tables (including ours) to check if everything was OK.
Great Indian food in a great setting! I've always been wary to try Indian food. I've heard the horror stories and have always passed. After being introduced to a few of the menu items at Yelp's 10th Anniversary Bash, I was determined to come here and try a few more items off of the Happy Hour menu.
Everything was wonderful from the food to the service. The bartender was friendly and made sure that we were catered to. The ambiance is great- trendy, romantic yet casual.
As for the food, 10/10. Like I said before, Indian has always creeped me out, but since IndeBlue is Indian infusion, it opened my eyes to a cuisine I would not normally try. The vegetable samosa's were full of flavor, resting on top of a bed of chickpeas. The spinach chaat was unlike anything I have ever tasted before- the crunch of the spinach paired perfectly with the sweet yogurt. The naan pizza is a nice portion for everyone to try- a bit small but the flavors were outstanding. The star of the evening though was the BBQ pork spare rib samosas. The meat was seasoned with tamarind and the blue cheese wine sauce mixed well with every flavor.
I cant wait to come back and try the items on the dinner menu as I ordered almost everything on the HH menu. First time at Indeblue. I'm a regular curry hand but am generally disappointed by Indian food in the US. This was great. Food and service very good. Will be back RE: the most amazeballs chicken and waffles I have EVER EATEN/endless brunch mimosas and a little bit of RICK ASTLEY
We're no strangers to love.
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment's what I'm thinking of
You wouldn't get this from any other girl
I just want to tell you how I'm feelingggggggg
Gotta make you understand.
Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
We've known each other for so long
Your heart's been aching but you're too shy to say it
Inside we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it
Aaaaaaaaand if you ask me how I'm feelinggggggg
Don't tell me you're too blind to see
(swoon) Great Indian cuisine in downtown Philadelphia. They have a great ambiance and food that is authentic with perfect spices. The portions even for dinner are a bit small on the entree and a huge plate of rice. If you go with another person I would suggest 1 plate of rice per 2 to 3 people depending on how much you like.
The service is good. There is a wine list as well as cocktails available. Daily happy hours, even on weekends from 5-closing!! Got the Mumbai mirch which tasted like a spiked, spicy mango lassi. It's a tequila based drink with orange, lychee, lime, and chili. I tried the monsoon too which tastes like a spicy mulled wine but chilled. Will have to try the food next! This is it. Wow. This was one of those meals (and they are few and far between) where with the last bite I had to sit back and savor the moment. If it wasn't perfection, it was darn close.
If you are looking for superb Indian food in Center City, at a place that is upscale (without the upscale surcharge) and offers a fine dining experience, look no further.
Not that I've been to the competition, but this was so top notch, I don't need to go anywhere else. IndeBlue has me.
I arrived at little after 8pm on a Thursday. They were busy, not overtaxed. A good sign, I thought.
Another good sign: all the entrees are Gluten Free. That's right: all the entrees. And they have gluten free naan, too. I'm telling you: they do gluten free.
The food was spectacular. The flavors full and layered. Even the rice had spices & seasoning that flowed and danced.
I am a one trick pony and had the chana masala, spicy. One of the finest dishes I have ever had.
I know; you've heard me say this before, perhaps. Well, perhaps, but the truth still stands here. And, note, I've had plenty of food I've never written about. Why Yelp about mediocrity? I don't.
IndeBlue is not a one trick pony; looking around the restaurant, it was clear that every dish was being thoroughly enjoyed.
The gluten free bread was naan-like. It was light (not fluffy) and thin and roasted with seasoning (and tomato?). I'd give is a GF "A." A delicious GF naan substitution. For the first time since going gluten free, I could actually enjoy the meal with naan. And had I been with non-GF, I could have convinced them to forgo the gluten and join me with the gluten free.
A word about the price: this place is a bargain. I'm not going to say under-priced, but let us do say that I was surprised at how little my check was. For instance: the GF naan was $3. And so is the regular naan. Yup; no gluten free surcharge. You've seen it: the GF item is 1/3 to a 1/2 more expensive. Not so here.
And the chana masala was a more-than-reasonable $14.
The service was very good. The waiter extremely pleasant & helpful. He knew gluten free. He had great banter and table-side manner. He found me papadam and recommended Bushmills as my Seagrams VO replacement.
The Indian restaurant didn't have a Canadian whiskey. The horror. ;-)
Bottom line: Excellent food. Great urban decor. A fine dining experience.
I'd only wished I'd had a date. Brunch + Endless Mimosas + Indian Food!!!
I'm not super familiar with Indian food, so this was a good introduction. I went to brunch on a Sunday with three friends - we all ordered be endless mimosas of course! And they truly are endless - the staff will come by to re-fill/top you off the entire time! I tried both the regular mimosa and the rose mimosa. (The rose was a bit too sweet for my taste.) We ordered a naan basket that came with three different seasonings (sweet, roasted tomato and rosemary). This was my first time having naan and I'm addicted!
I ordered the omelette with lump crab meat, cheese, tomato and bell pepper. Five stars for actually giving me substantial lump crab meat! So often it's super minced meat, but at Indieblue you get delicious huge chunks. It comes with a side of potatoes and naan, which were so good!
My 2 friends ordered the chicken and waffles and the other ordered the French toast. The chicken and waffles were a hit and looked pretty delicious! The French toast was good but didn't come with a side and wasn't 100% filling.
We ended the meal (or so we thought...) with dessert and ordered the salted caramel ice cream with banana balls. Honestly I could eat this everyday! It was just enough sweet without being too much and was also just pretty to look at!
Then, we really ended the meal with a drink (or two) at the bar. We got the chai sangria. WHAAAATTT! My new favorite drink!!! I will 100% go back very soon! Brunch was great. Chicken and Waffles were amazing. The lamb and shrimp apps were good too. Great Bloody Mary. Wish there were 6 Stars This is a great place for people that are trying Indian food for the first time. i think it's a perfect combination of authentic Indian with creative twists on classics. I went for restaurant week and couldn't have been more pleased!
We started off with a trio of soups that were all equally delicious and making our 3-course meal more like 4 courses! Then I had the spinach chaat which I'm still dreaming about! This may have been my favorite part of the meal! I had the non-vegetarian sampler platter for dinner, all parts amazing! For dessert was a fried banana flavored dough with cinnamon ice cream, rather dense but incredibly delicious! I will definitely be returning! Sighhh. I honestly wanted to give this a 2 star rating, but because I have had great experiences at the Collingswood location I bumped it up a star.
My parents and aunt and uncle came to visit me in Philly, and we decided to go to IndeBlue since we loved the Collingswood location. We arrived at the restaurant a little after 8pm on a Saturday night. We waited at the bar, and it took a good 10 minutes before the bartender came back to the bar and took my order. I got the chai sangria, which was good but a little sweet for my taste. My mom and aunt really liked it though.
We were seated shortly after I got my drink. And this is where, in my eyes, the experience went downhill. My parents and aunt and uncle are vegetarian. The menu had a total of 5/6 vegetarian entree options, 2 of which were daals (lentils). We started off by ordering 3 vegetables (2 of which were paneer based and one eggplant) and one daal. I asked our waitress if there were any other vegetables we could order and she suggested appetizers, which we weren't interested in getting. We asked for all of the dishes to be made spicy and they were. One of the most disappointing parts of the night was when our food came out. Indian food is meant to be eaten family style, but the portions were so small that by the time the 5 of us put a spoonful of the entree on our plate the bowl was empty... But of course we received a mountain of rice with each entree. We immediately had to order another entree, another paneer based vegetable. Luckily the service was very attentive and our last minute entree came out piping hot within 10 minutes.
Now the bill. $14-16 per entree for the tiniest, most simple punjabi food. On top of that, we were charged $2 for a small plate of onions and lemon. What happened to the days of free pappadam and onions? I've been to many upscale American restaurants in NYC and they have no trouble serving table bread without charge. These things cost the restaurant literally nothing to make and if you're going to charge some absurd amount for a tiny entree, it's the least you can you do.
To top it all off, my dad was looking at the receipt today and noticed that they charged a 20% tip for our party of 5! What is that about?! We hadn't noticed this at the restaurant so the waitress went home with a nice 40% tip.
Bottom line - I won't be back, at least not to the Philly location. The lack of vegetarian variety and the hiked up prices (and nonsense tip policy) have ruined it for me. Great regular menu! Restaurant Week menu sucks. Curry Goat is terrific! Nice happy hour! The food is amazing! The menu provides a lot of options for gf and v preferences. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The restaurant has a great atmosphere too with candle light and there was a live sitar player. Great happy hour! We sat at the bar and had drinks, appetizers and some great entrees.
Food was quite tasty and they have both gluten-free and vegetarian options. Service was friendly and when they took some extra time with our entrees they apologized in a way that seem genuine and comped us some bread.
Great happy hour and I hope to return for dinner soon. We came into town several days before attending a New Year's Eve wedding. My husband did a bit of research and found Indeblue.
What a fabulous find! The atmosphere was sophisticated and quiet. The wait staff was knowledgeable and service was timed perfectly. The food was delicate and very tasty. Each dish had its own unique flavor and the portions were generous but not overbearing. Highly recommend this restaurant. Excellent food! One of the best that I've personally had and I'm from NYC. Very enjoyable, I would recommend their mango alcoholic drink, naan pizza, garlic naan, and chicken tikka. Definitely will come back for dinner. Why is this place so delicious! I was nervous to try Indian food and after I been here I am hooked. Everything here is perfectly cooked with flavors that just melt in your mouth. I been to several Indian restaurants after to compare and no place beats this place! The place is so beautiful too with a great atmosphere The food is a bit expensive. Seafood Moilee: This dish is very unique and fabulous. Indeblue has a great environment, good service and fantastic food. Good Indian food. I had originally preferred the NJ location but I heard its closing. Nice date night place, enchanting atmosphere, and pleasant staff. So amazing to have our favorite spot add another location! Food here is up and above excellent, bordering on spectacular. Chef Rakeesh blends flavors and spices seamlessly and easily. Every bite, from their apps to their amazing chutneys are an experience not to be missed. Philly is gaining a brilliant chef and soon to be hot spot. We will be here again and again. Great food, service, value, and atmosphere! Will be going back soon :) Get the Samosa Chaat - it was WONDERFUL! Of course my meal and service here was damn spectacular and I was very happy with it. I'm a bit bitter about how expensive everything is and that it didn't have the same great options as the Collingswood location I had tried, but it was absolutely delicious.
This is some high quality indian and the restaurant itself was gorgeous, so I was thrilled to be here, I just don't think a rice dish with a cheap cut of lamb needs to be over $20. It was Lamb Biryani which was spiced so well with whole coriander and saffron and everything great about indian, so really no complaints on food at all. We also got a crisped spinach app and a tikka masala pita pizza which was straight awesome with the amount and type of spice used. We sprung for some fancy cocktails and all of them were delicious and strong. Go for them if you're celebrating or are ok with paying $14 for a drink.
I'd sooner go to the Collingswood location over this for everything but atmosphere. If they added the $20 thali sampler to the Philly location, my butt would be at the door immediately. If you're going on a nice date and both can appreciate some spice, I would definitely recommend this place. Attentive service. Their sincerity in ensuring a perfect dining experience was top notch.
A must visit whenever in Philly! Tonight was looking for spice and flavor, enter IndeBlue. Modern decor and dishes that had just a hint of a contemporary twist - barring the fish taco which was completely outside the box, though tasty - I found everything I was looking for! If I had a genie in a bottle though, I'd update the decor making it less 'fancy' to highlight the food and make it less about what feels like a movie set. Loving this place so far. IndeBlue is what a certain other nearby upscale Indian restaurant should have been. The ambiance is nice and the food imaginative, but still distinctively Indian. We've been here for dinner and Sunday brunch and haven't had a bad meal.
Brunch features both very Indian foods and more classic egg-based dishes, with an Indian slant. I had the Non-vegetarian Thali, which featured a chicken dish and a lamb dish, along with chickpeas, a green salad, a vegetable fritter and some naan. My wife had the masala omelette, which tasted more like a traditional Spanish tortilla than anything distinctly Indian, but also definitely wasn't just a traditional Spanish tortilla. The omelette also came with some tasty naan that had special seasonings and cheese on it.
The service is also very friendly and efficient. We've had the same waitress both times we've gone, and she's been friendly and attentive both times.
This place isn't cheap, but you're getting some quality food and service for the price you pay. I went to try this restaurant with my family given good reviews. But, I was totally let down and did not meet any expectations.
Its definitely not classical Indian food. Only thing we liled was the spinach chaat. Main course dishes were terrible. we went during the restaurant week and did not have full menu also and the service was horrible and too pricy givem you had to choose only 2 to 3 from the menu.
Live sitar was the only good thing. Great find in philly! Yelpers thanks for the tip. Had the shrimp "tacos" to start. Chicken madras to finish. Wife had veggie jalfrezi. All awesome. Recommend with only one reservation--they need more Indian beer! The food was just amazing. I had malai kofta for lunch and it was creamy, the paneer was soft and overall, it was delish! We went to Indeblue at the recommendation from a friend- it was delicious! We did an earlier dinner (6pm) before seeing a show at the Academy so when we arrived the dinner rush hadn't started yet. We asked for recommendations and were directed to the Mumbai Mirch - their own version of the margarita - it was perfect! We did the tasting menu which was great - it wasn't the typical the chef picks everything for you but more of a pick x amount of items form each section specials included for a set price. As an appetizer several people told me to make sure I tried the crispy spinach chaat amazing and I highly recommend. We had the stuffed long hot peppers as well as the cauliflower appetizers and they too were on point. The chicken tikka kebabs were cooked perfectly- the chicken was juicy and flavorful and our waiter told us anything from the oven was great. As entrees I had the Sea Bass- note that the sauce is a little sweet which some may not like, but the fish was cooked exactly how it should be- crispy on the outside but not overdone. The naan basket- it may have been the best naan I have ever tasted. By the time we left around 730 the dining room was packed. Finally!!!!! Philadelphia has an amazing Indian restaurant in Center City. (EKTA you're great but you're in No-lib)
This is the best indian I've had in the city and actuallly it can be in the argument with really good Indian restaurants in the region.
A few things. This is not your traditional indian restaurant. This is extremely modern and Indeblue has done what no other Indian restaurant has ever done. Make curry sexy! its really hard to describe but you just have to try it out for yourself and let me know if you agree with me or not.
Ok enough of my rant. I started off with the Spinach Chaat, which was so different but tasted exactly how a good chaat should taste. The Spinach is baked (I think) with spices and probably oil to give it a really crispy texture. Piled on top of the spinach is a wonderful combination of everything chaat. Moving on, scallops were the bomb, I could never imagine scallops in a sambar base tasting as glorious as it did, what a pleasantaly surprising dish. Shrimp, amazing, super super fresh like it just came out of the water fresh in a spicy tomato based blend. Chicken kebab, Spicy very Spicy but super tender and delicious.
I can't talk about this anymore. Its frustrating me that I'm not there and I'm on my computer salivating. I would rate this place 5 stars, the food sure deserves it, but I can't due to their volatility of the bar. Jeff was an amazing bartender but suddenly he wasn't working. This situation needs to be resolved and Jeff needs to come back and this place will be a proper 5 star place 5+ stars for food and like 2.5 for service...
If you want a high quality dining experience, come here.
Our server was rather interesting. He spilled wine, couldn't talk properly, forgot an entree, and charged us the wrong check. Still giving 5 stars because that's how redemptory the food was.
Get the spinach chaat. It's basically lightly fried spinach and it's delicious. Mixed grill was perfect for those who want some variety. Couldn't try the eggplant because the server forgot it unfortunately...
Pepper boat appetizer is spicier than I thought so don't get it unless you're REALLY into spicy. Luckily I am!
Overall, the service needs improvement here but hey, the dining ambiance/food is worth it. Pretty sure this place is also legit in terms of authenticity. FINALLY got to try out this (not-so) new Indian spot that everyone has been raving about in Philly!
Rested cozily amongst some of the best bars in center city, it's a great spot to go to before a night out. The ambiance is great, although I thought it would be a little bigger, just judging from other photos I've seen, but that does not affect my rating at all.
Went sporadically on a Saturday night and somehow was able to snag a table for 3 very last minute. I think we may have just gotten lucky because I've looked before, and this place is usually pretty booked up.
We started with 3 appetizers. First up were the long hots. Basically, a green hot pepper stuffed with cheese. I was not a fan due to the extreme level of spice, but my friends loved it. We also had the samosas, which in my opinion were pretty delicious. Nothing out of the ordinary, but great, nonetheless. My favorite was the crispy spinach! Never had anything like it and it was amazzzzing. Great sharing size for an app, as well!
For dinner, we shared 3 entrees, the lamb rogan josh, chicken madras, and paneer tikka makani. The serving sizes were pretty great for sharing. Each had a good amount of spice, which is pretty important to me when having Indian food.
We were too stuffed for dessert, but I willl certainly save room for next time! Highly recommend this place to satisfy your Indian craving with a twist! Delicious food but a little in the pricey side. Had gluten free options for my dietary restrictions. One of the best Indian restaurants I've ever dined at, excellent service and food was delicious! I had the moilee which had jumbo shrimp and lump crab meat in a coconut and mustard curry, soooo good. If you are a novice to Indian food you should definitely go here to try it. So worth it! I was introduced to Indian food about 5 years ago and it's still my favorite ethnic food to eat! The spinach chaat is my favorite thing on their menu! I went with a friend and we did the course option and it was so fun and delicious, and for the amount of items you get the price was worth it! It's my top choice for Indian! I was so excited to try out this restaurant. After all, I have a love for Indian food! I was expecting this place to blow the competition out of the water.
But... I must have dined on an off day? Other than beautiful interior and plate presentation, it did not exceed my expectations compared to local Indian restaurants in Manayunk.
First impressions... Upon looking at the menu, I was stoked to see that the chef cooks with free range chicken! I wish more restaurants advertised this! But I was surprised to find French toast, waffles and bacon alongside traditional Indian selections. It felt so out of place that it seems it shouldn't be on the menu? Perhaps it's for customers that don't want Indian food for brunch? Yeah I know, confusing. This in no way impacted my rating, I just found it interesting and would put it out there. :P
My friends and I first ordered samosas. The sauce that accompanied the samosas was delicious, but the samosas themselves were just ok. I recommend Laxmi Indian Grille on Main Street for the best samosas (the dough has a perfect thickness with a beautiful aroma of Indian spices). Next we ordered the chicken drums of heaven. Everyone also thought that it was just ok.
On to entrees. I ordered butter chicken. Unfortunately the chicken was dry!! But the curry itself was fragrant. My friends ordered the chef platter which came with several curries, rice pudding and nan. It looked great and I immediately regretted my entree decision! What can I say, always go with your gut - chose the first thing on the menu that stands out to you! :)
We also ordered drinks - a mint lemonade (not too sweet, pretty good) and lassi (delicious and filling).
After speaking with the table (dined with two Indian friends), they thought the food was at 3 - 3.5 stars overall. However, would be happy to come back and try more in hopes to improve this rating. The food is solid here. Everything I've tried from brunch to lamb chops has been good.
My problem was with the service. Our waiter seemed impatient and rude to answer questions, forgot multiple items, and refused to split a check in a way that we asked (and there were only four of us). A nice restaurant. Being a big party without a reservation, we waited for our table at the bar. The girl working the front of the house was very nice and attentive. Food got to our table very quickly and, most importantly, it was very good. Everyone was very pleased with it. The goat dish and the pork vindaloo were especially tasty. Naan bread was delicious, incredibly light, perfect for scraping that last bit of sauce out of the bowl. I would definitely recommend this place. The food is good. You pay 10 dollars for about two or three pieces/ 2 ppl and your going to still feel hungry at the end. I heard their happy hour was really good but buyer beware when coming for dinner. This is Tashan 2.0 I'm from the west coast and I still think about this place. The food is AMAZING! Will definitely visit again when I go back to Philly. We were visiting Philly from Portland, Oregon and heard the Indian cuisine in the city was worth trying. We found IndeBlue on Yelp and read a few quality reviews before pulling the trigger on a Saturday night reservation. We were blown away by both the quality of the food (and drinks!) and our charming waiter, Nitesh. This restaurant is a real treat for your tastebuds. We opted for the tasting menu and picked the Indian Paella and the Vindaloo for our entrees. Both perfectly executed -- even accommodating my shellfish allergy by substituting additional scallops (cooked PERFECTLY!) for shrimp (which I can't have). Honestly, this was an excellent experience. They were quite busy and there's a good reason why. You'll definitely want to make a stop at IndeBlue if you have the chance. Oh, and a note to management: Nitesh is Manager-worthy. Our experience simply wouldn't have been the same without him. Take this with a grain of salt because it was restaurant week. We had a reservation and were seated. After sitting at the table for more than 15 minutes without so much as a member of the waitstaff making eye contact with us (and believe me we tried to get their attention), we walked out. It wasn't even particularly busy! The worst part was the maître d' who had just seated us told us to have a good night as we walked out the door, not even realizing that no one had come to help us and we had not even ordered. I think the food is actually very good. I want this place to do well. They can and should do better. However, what we experienced was hands-down the worst service (or lack thereof) I have ever experienced. Again - it was restaurant week, which I usually avoid like the plague, we actually went there not even realizing it was. Still, there is no excuse for what happened, especially when the restaurant wasn't even close to full and the staff didn't look like they were hustling even a little bit. My friend and I went on a Tuesday and they had live sitar playing. The music was awesome, and of course accompanied by great food. Service was a bit slow but pleasant. Today - The best Rogan Josh and Nan I have had in the last several years, Very Authentic Indian food. Five stars for cleanliness, ambience, authenticity and quality.
No question in my mind that I will eat here again. There's a lot of good restaurant right within a few blocks but this is worth a stop. It's an American-Indian fusion with very good results. The drums of heaven are delicious wings with just enough spice and go well with tamarind chutney. The naan pizza is a nice touch. The seafood moilee is should try. It's hard to get a good meal on a Saturday night in Center City without a reservation, or so I thought... until IndieBlue rocked my world.
I've been to IndieBlue in Collingswood so I thought that I knew what I was getting myself into, but boy was I wrong. Our party of four decided to split a few small plates and one larger entrée and every single thing that we ordered was off the charts! The crispy spinach chaat was crispy, yet juicy, in a way that I find hard to explain. The shrimp roti tacos were an awesome and unexpected standout and the tandoori mixed grill and bread basket were a great way to sample a little bit of a lot of different flavors.
Prices were reasonable for an upscale, center city restaurant and the servers were all friendly and attentive. I'll definitely be back for happy hour at the very least! Some of our friends highly recommended IndeBlue so our family of four went for dinner.
The ambiance is nice, and the service very good.
We had the spinach chat, since so many reviewers had raved about it, honestly we were disappointed. It is very oily and filling, luckily we shared the plate so was OK.
We ordered chicken tikka makhani, chicken madras, lamb roghan josh and malai kofta with some naans. We really liked the roghan josh, chicken tikka and malai kofta in that order. The chicken pieces in chicken madras were very dry, though the gravy was flavorful.
Finished the meal off with chocolate sutra - which was very good as well. Every dish was amazing. Full of flavour and lovely atmosphere. I had the veg samosa to start, butter chicken curry and then chocolate sutra for dessert. All delicious. Best Indian I've had in the US so far. This is a very cool restaurant. We only came in for a drink at the bar, so I can't review the food, but the menu looked awesome and the place smelled great. They get 5 stars for their unique, delicious cocktails. They have a fun little bar area, and a bartender who is super friendly and very talented.
We visited on Memorial Day for a drink before dinner at a different restaurant. I had the Monsoon cocktail, which is sangria, sparkling wine, chai and cardamom. Totally unique drink, I loved it. My sister had a Mumbai Mirch, which is made with tequila and tastes like a fancy margarita, she enjoyed it quite a bit. Her boyfriend tried the Indebluetini, which was delicious and refreshing. All three drinks were served on the rocks in a squat, round, heavy glass, and it was happy hour so they were only $6 each.
If I'm ever back in Philadelphia, I'd love to try the food here. As it stands, definitely worth your time if you're looking for a beverage. Excellent! First time eating Indian cuisine and it was absolutely delicious. My boyfriend and I shared the cauliflower. Which was my favorite of the night. My boyfriend choose the sea bass and I had the moilee...both were amazing would be visiting again. This restaurant was such a pleasant surprise. The menu has familiar Indian food but with a twist. The vegetarian dishes, that can be ordered as sides, were excellent and the spinach chat was wonderful. Even the rice was very good.
The service was perfect. Our sever was very attentive and didn't hurry us even though the restaurant was full.
The ambiance is casually sophisticated and the noise level was acceptable.
I thought this was the best Indian food in Phila. (my husband says Tashan but they really both are great) The mixed grill was excellent. The lamb chops were just perfect in the clay oven. I'd get them alone the next time. I'm a big indian fan and the flavors were up to par. I'd definately eat here again. Next time i'm up for happy hour. the reviews for HH great! Love!!! I was there Saturday night with my boyfriend. You could honestly walk right by this place, but the outside is not a true reflection of the sleek, ambient, Indian-with-a-modern-twist vibe that exists in there. It was even romantic, I'd say.
I love Indian food, but am also pretty new to it, so I was interested to see what IndeBlue's take on it was. We were not disappointed! Started off with a bourbon, lemon, honey, lavender cocktail, which was on point. The cocktail menu itself was very nice. For an appetizer, had somewhat of a paneer bruschetta, which was outstanding, and also a really fun play on traditional bruschetta. Entrees were delicious as well - definitely reminiscent of your favorite Indian take out dish, but with lovely, fresh, and exotic ingredients, served super elegantly. Dessert menu was also very fun!
I read some reviews on here complaining about the food here, and I, quite frankly, don't get it. Hoepfully no one comes in here expecting a fully traditional Indian experience...This is a beautiful, fun, twist on the flavors and dishes you know and love. :) This was my first time at the Philadelphia location. We made reservations and were seated quickly. The service was fine and the waitress kept our drinks filled well enough. The food was okay but it was different from what I remember at the Collingswood location so that was disappointing and they didn't offer their full menu so my son was unable to order what he wanted. I wanted my kids to try some of their ice cream but their dessert menu was also limited. So it wasn't a horrible experience but a bit disappointing overall. And we had to pay for parking and valet so I think we'll stick to the Collingswood location in the future. This is easily the best Indian food I've had in Philadelphia. I loved that they do a modern reinvention of classic Indian cuisine that still nevertheless remains true to tradition.
Must order dishes:
1. Spinach chaat. This was the perfect opener, and I've never had anything quite like it before. The spinach is flash-fried so it's perfectly crispy, and we loved the yogurt and tamarind date chutney together. It was light, but very well-rounded in flavor.
2. Malai kofta bukhara. We ordered this as a side, rather than the entree, so we could try more dishes, but this is something I would order as an entree next time. The creamy cardamom sauce was delicious, and the kofta filled with apricot and cashew was heavenly.
3. Any of the bread selections. Seriously. I especially loved the provencal (garnished with rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano) because I'm a sucker for truffle oil.
We also tried the chicken madras--it was well-flavored, but we didn't find it particularly rave-worthy. Maybe it just didn't stand out in comparison to the other dishes that we loved.
(Also completely irrelevant note, but the Williams-Sonoma nerd in me loved the silverware here! Such a unique design that fit in so well with the decor and ambiance of the restaurant.)
The service was perfect and attentive. We came relatively late on a Saturday night (around 9:30 PM), and it was surprisingly busy. We were seated right in the middle of the dining room, so it was a little loud at times, but to be fair, we spent a decent amount of meal eating and not a lot of time talking once the dishes came out. The decor was gorgeous. On the whole, can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu! Happy hour only served at a small bar at the front. They definitely don't explain this on their website and happy hour signs. When we asked the manager about this he told us that they basically didn't need our business because the place will be packed regardless... Not a very professional way of handling your customers if you ask me. They did end up giving us a few apps at happy hour prices and we did ended up staying and paying a lot to eat there.
The food was over priced and not that great, it was just ok, definitely not worth the money. I will not be returning. We didn't know it was Restaurant Week but enjoyed sharing 3 apps and 3 "entrees". I feel like the flavors are similar to standard Indian dishes (tikka masala) but not labeled that way. They didn't ask about spice level here and I could have definitely done with more but none-the-less it was good. The lamb was my favorite: tender and with a great sauce. The chicken and salmon were still good but overcooked (stringy and tough).
I have been corrected as the owners are from India here, but the wait staff isn't. I'd classify this as "modern Indian" for sure which actually was a refreshing change. Very nice ambience, trained staff and good service.. Musicians playing around lunch time on Sunday made it even better..
We were a bunch of friends meeting up after a long time.. Had reserved a table and hence got seated immediately.. We all had Thali, all of us were happy with the food.. The Channa was just awesome, we ended up requesting for a second helping which they obliged.. Quantity was adequate, Dal, chicken and fish were all tasty and Naan served with the Thali was nice and fluffy too.. Overall, it was a very nice experience..
PS : They charged 20% gratuity, I personally don't like this policy by restaurants since that is like having a blanket cover for shoddy service.. This is my fave place in the city! I usually never write reviews but Indeblue deserves it :) I come here at least once a week, sometimes 4. It's my go to meeting spot and first place where I bring all my out of town friends. The bar menu is so perfect, I always get the crispy spinach, pizza and crab dip and wine! Bar menu apps are $4-$10, wide variety and drinks are very reasonably priced as well($6 wine all day)!
Jeff makes me feel so welcome every time I sit at his bar, he knows I always try the beers but go with wine anyway, so he has the wine glass out when I walk in :) the actual restaurant is prestige and classy, amazing menu and great staff that will take very good care of you, the atmosphere is so cozy and beautiful interior is a perfect place for a chill date. Also, it's never too crowded.
I could go on and on about how amazing this place is but I'll end this review with genuinely expressing my appreciation that Indeblue exists :) An Indian restaurant with brunch? Where they do that at??? This was a new concept to me and I couldn't pass up the opportunity since it was my last day in town. Luckily, we walked in with a party of five and were able to be seated right away. We were at a round table in the dead center of the restaurant with a perfect view of the decor all around. We heard music as soon as we stepped in, but I was so surprised when I turned around and realized I was sitting right in front of the stage where two gentlemen were playing instruments. The music was LIVE! I can count the brunches I have went to with live music on one hand. This was definitely a plus, and made the experience all the better.
I decided to try the rose mimosa. It was very sweet, but still enjoyable! I ordered paneer bhurjee and vegetable raita for my main course. Paneer bhurjee was basically like a breakfast scramble using indian spices, sauces and the paneer cheese. It came with chili-topped naan and was very delicious. I was also surprised to see mango chutney on my plate, but that was actually my friend's. I had already started eating it, so our server was kind enough to give her another one at no charge. Some of my friends had their spiced chicken and waffles and offered to share... wow. It was definitely in the top three chicken and waffles I have ever had. The sriracha really set it off too!
It is an understatement to say that I enjoyed myself at this establishment. At times, the service was a tad slow, but not so slow that it was intolerable. Just a heads up, there is a 20% gratuity charge to parties of five or more, and only two credit cards can be used with any check. This is my favorite Indian restaurant in the city. We got their spinach appetizer which was out of this world! The samosas are also excellent. Having never been to an Indian fusion place I didn't know what to expect. I was super happy with the results. Also, as a person who enjoys very spicy food, I was able to request really spicy curry and was not disappointed. Excellent Indian Brunch - order any of the thali's and you'll be super happy you did:) I hate to admit this but I am picky about food, I'm picky about service......probably not the greatest quality but it is me.......that being said...I LOVED IndeBlue....the wet cousin of IndeBlue in Collingswood which is dry!!
WONDERFUL food and great service....can't wait to go back!! Complicated review here. Just the two of us this go around. Philly was sweltering, much more humid than the west coast. We had reservations and were seated quickly. Place was empty, maybe 5 tables taken.
Upon our seating, our very nice server sold us on the 6 course Pre Fix. Neither of us had much of an idea of what to order or expect. We have had poor experiences with Indian Food in the past, however we wanted to try at a higher level of eatery before we closed the doors forever to eating this type of food.
I think the quality of the ingredients, the staff, the portions, the ambiance was top notch.
The other person joining me loved the meal. But for a few exceptions, Please understand, I realize there is a difference between a quality meal which this was, and me just hating the tastes. I'll list the courses. And my ending of this challenging meal.
Started with some sort of cold soup. - to me it was ok. The other person said it tasted like vomit.
Fried Spinach Salad - Fantastic texture and taste! Simply marvelous, Both of us loved it.
Seared Scallops,- Over cooked by a hair, not seared properly. Very sweet Sauce inedible. The other person liked it. Here take mine.
Lolly POP of a Lamb Rib with a Small Chicken Breast. - To me inedible, tangy and very spicy. Chicken was in a spicy Coconut Chutney. The other person loved it, I hated it. The Naan Bread which came with it sucked.
Pork Shank with a roasted Potato. To me inedible. Other person enjoyed it.
Dessert was Fig Ice Cream Drizzled with Honey. I hated it, Inedible, Too sweet. The other person enjoyed it.
I think this type of food is not for everyone. I gave it an honest shot.Never again will I eat Indian Food I did not enjoy it from start to finish. I didn't eat anything but for the one fantastic salad course.
I think evaluating the experience honestly is to say, if you like Indian Food, you probably will very much enjoy this place. However I won't be joining you.
I rather eat my own throw up My partner and I had two amazing meals with friends at the new IndeBlue - Midtown Village. The entire experience from arrival to departure was great both times!
Tobi the Bar Manager made us feel welcome and made great drinks. We sampled specialty drinks that were innovative and delicious - He was also very interesting to speak with while waiting for friends. Maura the Manager is a "Switched" on professional who was at our table at just the right times to check on us and we really felt looked after. Our servers have been wonderful both times. Justin really introduced us to the concept and the menu on our first visit, and Jarrod did an amazing job when six of us returned and tried the four course tasting menu -DELICIOUS and so reasonable! I could go on and on about the food because everything was so memorable. For example - the Spinach Chaat was one of the most interesting dishes I have had in an Indian cuisine restaurant. The Lamb Shank plates looked as though they were licked clean by all six of us. This restaurant has a true vibe, the minute that you walk in the front door. From styling to music, lighting to layout, it is the type of place you feel at home in immediately! I Might stop in tonight and here their live Sitar musician who I believe is there every Friday night! Came here for lunch with a few of my friends who have been dying to try Indeblue. Finally came, and loved it! The food was phenomenal, great service, and swanky cute atmosphere. Highly recommended!
For appetizer we had the crispy spinach chatt and the dahi avocado chatt. Both delicious, but the spinach was mind blowing. So flavorful and just the right amount of crispy texture. Amazing!! For entrees we ate off the lunch menu: I had the Kaju Paneer Mattar, which was thick and creamy but very delicious. Housemade paneer, with peas, cashews , creamy caradamom sauce. (See photo). My friends had the non-vegetarian tahli , which was served on a silver platter and several different small dishes of apps, entrees, And salads. They all loved the chicken curry on the tahli platter, but didnt like the chicken tikka. I tried the lamb from one of my friends platters, and it was juicy, rich of flavor, and delicious. The naan was also wonderful and they give you plenty for dipping. The sweet chutney I loved, the cilantro chutney was also good, and the spicy chutney I stayed far away from lol. Overall great experience, and my friends from India say the food is very good up to their quality standards!! Bravo chef! Delicious indian option for center city and all who sorely miss Bindi. I went here last week to try. It out and was very pleased with all aspects of this new 13th street addition. Upon walking in I felt transformed - maybe not to India but definitely to an elegant an pleasant dinner setting. The noise level was fine for conversation at the table which is getting to be an unheard of attribute of late and the food was spectacular. This is not your average Philly Indian it is definitely a notch or two above that will leave you wanting for more. The portion size is appropriate and the service was very attentive but not overdone. Can't wait to go back. IndeBlue offers exceptional service, incredible food and a beautifully charming restaurant--all at very reasonable prices. My companion and I had the Chef's Tasting Menu. I am vegan, he is not. We both loved our meals and were very satisfied. You must order the vegetable samosas and the vegetable skewer. My companion had shrimp, chicken and lamb and he said they were all incredibly high quality meats, seasoned and cooked to perfection. Our waiter, Chris, was awesome and made us feel like family. This is my new favorite restaurant! Came in just before the kitchen closed and they still let me order. The tikka masala and naan pizza were great and the garlic naan bread was amazing! Also recommend the ginger twist from the bar, very good! I was craving a traditional Indian brunch, and got more than I could have asked for. I came to the restaurant to order Chole Bhature, a favorite dish of mine. It was well seasoned and very satisfying. We also ordered Eggs Vindaloo, which had nice flavors and was a unique fusion of Indian-American cuisine. The spicy Chicken and waffles was great too; there was a spicy sauce drizzled over it all that really made the dish superb. We topped off the meal with a pot of chai that was made perfectly. I had an amazing brunch experience with amazing food, for a reasonable price, and great customer service. I will be bringing my family here when they come into town. Very nice experience on Saturday night. The restaurant is very attractive, although the noise level is pretty high. The diver scallop appetizer was good, but the crispy spinach chaat was excellent. My tandoori mixed grill was very good, although the lamb chops were just ok. Chicken, shrimp and vegetables were all excellent and portion size was filling. Dining partner's butter chicken was liked but not loved. Fig ice cream dessert was very interesting and worth a try. Get the chef tasting if your in group of 6 or more. U get plenty of food which u can eat for lunch the next day. This is food you want to take home! Classic indian dishes with touch of todays modernness. 5 stars and the other reviews are on point! The food here is mouthwatering during happy hour! I am still thinking about the platters hours after consuming them. The crispy cauliflowers, pizza naan, & drumsticks are highly recommended. The atmosphere is also very sophisticated and welcoming. You must go here if you're nearby! Great ambiance, great service, very sheer. Food was awesome. I recommend the Dal Makhani, paneer tiki Marsala, and Chana saga. All great options and delish. IndeBlue is, by far, my favorite Indian restaurant in Philadelphia :-) 5 stars, woop woop!
I would go back for happy hour and order the chikni shandar that really tated more like the yummy sangria with just a touch of chai and cardamom. Innovative, to say the least! Then, I would sit in the dining room for a lamb biryani dinner that was more like dinner plus lunch for two more days! The atmosphere was on-point with great service and even live music to put you more in the mood for Indian food! I feel like I have only touched the surface of what IndeBlue has to offer - I mean, Sunday brunch? Tons of other happy hour goodies and dinner goodies? Yes, please! IndeBlue, you've made me excited for another Indian food adventure! I get the full restaurant experience at Indeblue. The staff is fantastic. The food is flavorful. I learned that the owner is still actively involved in the kitchen as Head Chef (and its apparent in the foods/consistency). Overall, I have always had a positive experience here. I've enjoyed lunch, happy hour, and dinner. I have yet to have dessert, but the sweet breads are enough for me (carboholic). The only thing I didn't like was fried bread that came with my dish. I ate it, but afterwards, it sat a bit too heavily in my stomach. I'll go for the regular bread next time... didn't know fried was the option that came. Anyway, both me and the parties I am with are always satisfied. I look forward to dining more. Lots of veg options. Fantastic service and the food was delicious. You have to try the lamb lollipops they were amazing! A little pricey but a great place to go for a different take on Indian food. I have being eyeing this restaurant for months now and finally decided to try it for happy hour. The place was kind of empty when I got here immediately after the start of happy our at 5 and I got the seat at the bar. The bar never filled up till the close of happy hour, maybe because it was a Thursday. Now for the main part. The bartender Jason was very friendly and knew how to mix drinks and make happy hour happy with some strong cocktails. I had the monsoon, Mumbai Mirch and indebluetini. Mumbai Mirch and indebluetini were my favorites.
For food, we ordered samosa chaat, crispy spinach, shrimp koliwada tacos, chicken chilly bao bun, stuffed pepper and chicken tikka pizzas. The food has a good twist to Indian food but do not come here expecting authentic spicy Indian food. Go to New Jersey for that, you won't get it in Philly. Crispy spinach was my favorite dish of all. Samosa chaat had good chutneys but was not spicy enough for me. The rest of the dishes were just above average.
I think I will come back to try the entrees and thalis next time. IndeBlue from Collingswood. New Jersey has successfully added a sister restaurant in the popular 13th Street corridor of Center City Philadelphia. This is an upscale Indian restaurant - one look at the décor will tell you that - although prices remain fair and there are always specials. My favorite dish so far here is actually an appetizer. Their bbq pork samosas with a bleu cheese wine sauce are so tasty, I almost wanted to make a meal on them alone. For my main course I wanted to try out their version of malai kofta bukhara. I did enjoy it but for my tastes I could have used a little more seasoning and kick. The house-made paneer, apricots, cashews and cream sauce had all the right ingredients ... they just needed a little push to bring out the various flavors. If you do eat in IndeBlue, be sure to check out the gilded screen in the center of the restaurant - it's impressive. SPINACH CHAAT! That is all. Ya'll NEED to try this.
I've come here multiple times for Happy Hour and once for dinner. The drinks are unique (one was super spicy which I wasn't a fan of) and the food is tasty. I was raised in an Indian household so I am a snob when it comes to Indian food - I highly recommend this place!
Note: Not all the Naan Pizzas are yummy - they change them daily. Choose wisely. Great Indian food and excellent service. However there are some misconceptions. Their samosa chaat is NOT samosa chaat. It's 2 samosas on a tiny portion of chickpeas and a touch of yogurt. Not enough to call it a chaat, sorry. The price you pay for Indian food is HIGH compared to the portions you get. Their chicken tikka masala was good and at $12 but you get a small plate of it. They do what I would consider small plates/tapas but then don't call it an entree. When you order their naan which is $3 you get half of a naan lol. That's 2 quarters of a whole. I need one whole naan to eat for dinner, so I have to order 2 naan ($6) to get one whole naan Great Indian food, excellent service and nice strong drinks from the bartender! So many appetizers, mains, vegetarian items to choice from. Loved the cauliflower, pork rolls and grilled salad. Currently eating leftovers from IndeBlue as I write this review. The food here is lovely, though I would stay away from any prix fixe menu they offer.
Below is what I (and my bf) tried from their $50pp Valentine's special menu (don't think all items are on their actual menu):
Course 1:
Red kidney bean soup: Ok, tastes like chili. I could do without
Chicken and kale soup: Tastes a bit like chicken noodle soup but with a thicker consistency. I wasn't a fan
Course 2:
Chickpea salad: Fine, but I can't believe they listed this out as a separate course.
Course 3:
Foiegras on toast: This was tasty, but I don't see the Indian connection at all..
Mushroom uttapam: Yum! Mushrooms + truffle oil over a light rice cake bread. This I would definitely recommend.
Course 4:
Chicken Tikka Masla: No trip to an Indian restaurant would be complete without this British rendition of Indian food! You cannot go wrong with this! While my bf and I wanted to be adventurous and try something else, we just couldn't resist. The chicken was completely tender and the sauce slightly sweet.
Lamb chops: These were juicy, but I didn't particularly care for some of the spices which lent a bitter flavor.
This came with a bread basket of 3 naans: sesame, paneer, and garlic. I loved all 3. I could eat naan for days.
Course 5:
Red velvet cake: delicious, though I'm pretty sure this is a Valentine's day special.
Bread pudding: definitely could skip
While my review is not all that favorable, I still give this place 4 stars because the mainstay food items (I think) that the restaurant normally serves are great - chicken tikka masala, naan, mushroom uttapam. yumyum. I wish I had a choice to order a la carte.
Point of the story: regular menu items are great. valentine's special, not so much. I love this restaurant sooo much. Everything on the menu is amazing and they have 2 happy hours every day at the bar that is so cheap. The crispy salad long hots and wings are our fav... The look is so good here.. It was my first time trying Indian food and this place gave me an amazing first time. My best friend and I tried the tasting menu it was $45 a person. I have no clue what I ate because we allowed the our waiter and the chef choose our appetizer, entree and dessert. I had zero complaints with everything even the nan bread. Our waiter even gave us complimentary champagnes. It was hard to figure out if the place was up scale or not I did my best to take clear pictures for y'all. But the spot is business casual. Surprisingly good lunch.
It takes a lot for me consider indian food good (I'm no expert), because there's plenty of Indian spots that try too hard with the high-end look. Pricing is always a focus when I come to asian restaurants because the truth is that I really don't like to pay for stuff that I know costs little to nothing to prepare.
Maybe it was the fact that this was a lunch meeting (expensed) which allowed me to enjoy the food a little more than I anticipated....who knows. Fact of the matter, it was plain delicious.
This is a lunch review so I can't wait to see what a dinner experience will bring. Appetizer was a "crispy spinach chaat" that was refreshing and full of salty sweet flavors. Entree was a "sea-food thali" which was essentially nan, rice and 5 small bowls of goodness (mainly curries, pickled mango & yogurt).
I look forward to trying out the dinner menu at some point. I feel that the food, coupled with the modern/sheek decor, will make for an amazing night. We came down this weekend, for restaurant week. Lots of pressure this week, I know from experience it can be a big challenge for front and back of house.
I thought they did an admirable job. Service was on, attentive non intrusive, water glass full.
Food very good, mussels were notably excellent, wife's spinach chaar. My lamb shank was excellent and not over cooked, which is endemic when the dish involves a heavy sauce.
I was a little nervous ordering a lamb shank with a robust sauce, a sauce is often used to precook the shank, reheat it and the sauce covers many sins.
Probably not the case here. Shank was actually medium.
Negatives? Get a coat rack. Coffee was poison, tasted like Sysco coffee pulled through my college dorm's common Mr Coffee and saved (I graduated in 1997). And Mussels need mussel spoons and a bowl for shells. I understand the mussels were a new dish. I'd say work out the presentation and make it a menu item.
Otherwise, good showing! Read the reviews... This place has great food, the crispy spinach was delicious.
But... Breakfast was terrible. Waffle came out cold, French toast came out cold. Waffle was spongey... No crisp at all... I would have gave this place one star, but for the crispy spinach which I read off the review.
I believe this place has good food. I will give it one more chance and pick items listed in the reviews. AMAZING AMAZING service, food and atmosphere!!! We've only ever gone to the Collingwood location so definitely wanted to try out this location since they seem to have a good happy hour menu. Usually for happy hour menus alot of places provide very small quantities but not here...we were so full and satisfied by the quantity and the quality. Also I like that happy hour goes on until close and not restricted to only 2 hours like other places. Definitely making this a regular stop for date night, girls night, or just because. Best experience with staff I've ever had at a restaurant!!! Really happy I went to brunch here. Spinach chaat was awesome and the masala potato and egg kathi roll is amazing. Service was great. Very nice, efficient and knowledgeable about the menu. Received very good recommendations. This Modern Indian place is worth checking out. Even if you don't think you like Indian food, you need to try it. We've been a couple times since they opened and the food and service were great each time. Dishes are creative, flavorful and show that Indian can be appeal to everyone. We'll be back! Probably my favorite Indian restaurant in Philly. The food is flavorful and ingredients seem to be good quality. The atmosphere is not fancy but decent (if you're looking for a nicer atmosphere go to Veda). Meal left much to be desired. Manager was inexplicably rude. I will not be returning. Me and my friend had lunch reservations here for restaurant week and absolutely loved it! We actually made our reservations for restaurant week very late and found this to be the only spot open for lunch on a Sunday so, we had 0 expectations for the place.
The decor and ambiance of this restaurant is absolutely wonderful! It's very well decorated. We also got lucky the day we went, there was live sitar music and it really added to our experience. The bar area is very small, but it's cute and also well decorated.
Since it was restaurant week we ordered from a prefixed menu and our meal was $20, which was a really good bargain for the quantities we were served! My friend ordered the crispy spinach chaat, chole bhature, and a dessert sampler. I had the vegetable samosa chaat, chicken tikka makhani and dessert sampler.
Both chaat items were very good! I had a bite of my friend's spinach chaat and was kind of jealous I didn't order it myself. The fried spinach tasted kind of like vegetable pakora even though there wasn't any batter on it, which was a pleasant surprise! I thought it was kind of interesting that the samosa chaat was served with a whole samosa on top of a plate of channa and chuneys since traditionally the samosa is cut up and mixed along with everything. Flavors were all there and it was still very good.
I loved my chicken tikka makhni! The chicken was made so well and even the saffron rice was super flavorful. I liked the bhatoora, but I thought that the chole could have a little more flavor. The dessert sampler consisted of a banana bennet, rice kheer, cinnamon ice cream all of which were very yummy.
Overall it was a very good meal and I would definitely recommend this restaurant to a friend! Has a very romantic and intimate feel to it. The drinks are well priced and very tasty by far my two favorite thing of the night ended up being two beginning plates the cauliflower was insanely good and could have eaten another serving of it, huge hit with the table second was the poutine with shredded lamb very good and different which caught my eye. The entrees where tasty rice was kinda bland and nothing to special but overall great experience for my first Indian restaurant. Would deff recommend it and go back for a second time Food ordered -
Crispy spinach chat - 4/5
Stuffed mirchi - 4/5
Main courses -
Pav bajji-5/5
Paneer burji - 5/5
Kati roll -5/5
Chole Bhatura- 5/5
Stuffed gulab jamun- 5/5
Variety of drinks -4/5 - we ordered 11 drinks between 4 of us!
Total - $175.
It was a great experience. The food was great but the overall experience was awesome. The service was great, the ambience was wonderful! And they had light music in the background which added a great flair to our brunch!
The restaurant itself is a small hole in the wall...it easy to miss, but inside the decor was beautiful.... it was very busy... we got there at 1145 am for brunch and it was already packed.... glad we reserved our table on our Open Table app! Some of the best Indian food I've had! So flavorful and tender - I had the lamb rogan josh and my friend had the tikka masala which he enjoyed as well. Welcome to Philly, IndeBlue. Not only do I have a location near home, I have one near work! The decor is, in a word, elegant. The cocktails, divine. Glasses are filled with a unique flavors and herbs. The food? Wow. The flavors of the meats, veggies, and spices make my mouth sing. The chutneys are sweet, savory, and delicate. The Drums of Heaven are mini bites of tandoori deliciousness. The lamb chops? Tender, spicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. So don't wait! Go now! Great Indian food in Philly! The restaurant is very modern and so are the dishes - from traditional Indian to more contemporary dishes. This is a great place to take someone who's never had Indian. The drink menu is also fantastic as is the staff. The crispy spinach chaat is a must here!! Brunch and drinks are also really good! Good, upscale Indian cuisine.
Comfy, upscale setting, and excellent service.
We stopped by for lunch and enjoyed the vegetable samosa chaat, crispy spinach chaat., and both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali platters. For dessert we had orange ginger sorbet and the banana nirvana. All very good and much better than other places in the area. The place was packed on a Saturday night but luckily we had reservations. We were seated immediately and they checked our coats (awesome!). Our server showed up almost immediately asking about our water preference. The service was immaculate!
We chose the tasting menu as first time diners. It was a great choice. Everything we ordered was fantastic. Although they stick to traditional flavores, the method and presentation is very modern. Loved everything they put in front of me.
I had the Bombay sparkler (delicious) but what really has my heart is their cocktail with mango called Indeblutini. One of the best cocktails I've had and apparently voted best in the city.
So essentially Indeblue has become a favorite place in CC. A must to try! This is one of the better Indian restaurants in Philly. Very good service and good Indian fusion food. The food here was delicious (definitely order the Spinach chaat), but the service was way off. We had an early reservation on a Saturday night, and the place was full but not packed yet. Our drinks and food took forever to come out each time, but one we got them there was a busboy or waiter at our table practically every 5 minutes asking if they could clear anything. Half of these plates they were asking to clear still had food on them. We stayed for about an hour and a half which is not a long time for dinner and drinks on a Saturday night, and I couldn't help but feel they were rushing us out to get to the next seating. I will say that the hosts were extremely nice, but the service stopped there.
I would also say this is a $$$ restaurant, not $$ as Yelp indicates. The portion sizes are decent, but most entrees are $20+, and you're going to want to try appetizers, too. Excellent tasting Indian fusion menu , the chef tasting option was excellent . Loved the food quality , the bread basket could include some wheat based (healthier) options in tasting menu . However the staff were very friendly and fast and prompt . Overall loved it :) Overpriced, very little heat. Service was slow. Food is ok, but lacks any real heat, and most dishes we had seemed too sweet (what I call Americanized Indian food: sweet and mild). Noticed not a single Indian patron was in a packed Indian restaurant.... Good authentic indian food, but a little bit expensive and quantity is not that great. Pretty basic indian, even fancier atmosphere than Minar Palace down the street, which is my fav, and already too fancy (RIP: Old, unfancy Minar Palace on Sansom Street from 2005.)
This seems like it would be the nicer option to go on a date to, and I love that they tell you on the menu what can be made vegan. But if I'm craving Indian, I'm heading to MP. Service, Staff and Food were exemplary! Outstanding! The food gave us a range of tastes and textures that our palettes thoroughly enjoyed. Above and beyond any experience we have EVER had. Service felt rushed, tried to take my plate while eating. Food was not spectacular either. Lots of better places and not worth the price. The ambience was nice though. Per my original review, I didn't want to give them a FIVE STAR rating right away. So I returned the next day (yes- because it was so good) and I tried some other options while still getting my favorites from the night before.
- Got a shared plate of desi crab dip served with papad rounds. Delicious! ($10)
- Tried the shrimp koliwada soft taco with spiced shrimp and sweet chili aioli and lime crema ($)
I am so happy I went back-- the new friends I brought also were raving about it. 100% returning and would highly recommend. See my original review for more details! Went to this location for a Saturday night dinner out.
It was packed from the moment we walked in at 5:30 PM. We were not used to that, so we assumed the food has to be good. If you want to eat here, get a reservation. They cannot take walk-ins easily.
The food was excellent to average depending on the course.
I loved my order of Barbecue Spare Rib Samosa's. First the whole package was delicious. The blue cheese sauce was outstanding and helped create a balance on the dish.
My wife ordered diver scallops. It was good, but I felt the spicy heat of the dish overpowered the sweetness of scallops.
This is a warning you should heed, the menu does include a rating for how spicy something is.
On to dinner, I ordered a Lamb Rojan Gosh. It was on fire spicy. It had fresh cut peppers throughout the sauce. I was hoping for something less spicy. The lamb was cooked well and I liked the flavor of the sauce without the heat. The jasmine rice that came with it was well prepared and flavorful.
My wife ordered a Paneer Saag, which she did not find flavorful. They took it back and made her a different offering. She also had a Paneer Tikka Masala. She really loved and devoured it. Her replacement dish was Baingan Bharta. By that time she was full and said little about it.
We also had a bread basket with the variety of breads. They are all delicious and the sizable amount gone by the end of the night.
I ordered dessert and my wife passed on it. I ordered the Banana Nirvana. I really wanted a play on Gulab Jaman, one of my favorite Indian desserts. I thought it was average. The balls of dough were too much like donuts and less like the traditional dessert. I liked the ice cream and sauces. I just found the balls slightly too chewy/rubbery.
Service is a little slow at times. Glass of water not refilled quickly and I was not asked if I wanted a second drink for the night.
Lastly, one piece of humor was a lady in the back of the restaurant that was preposterously loud with her laughing. I did not ever see staff ask her to tone it down. Clearly, many people in the restaurant found it very intrusive, yes it was that loud. The restaurant is loud already, so to be heard that clearly and bother people should have been addressed.
The evening went well and I would recommend this location for Indian food. I've been here a few times and each visit has been great! Everything about the experience is great, between the ambience, the waiters and the food. The Channa masala is my favorite, and if you ask for it to be spicy, they really deliver. The happy hour is a great value and for brunch they have unlimited mimosas for 20 bucks with is a great deal Really great food and ambience, but horrible service. Had dinner with a company of friends (including native Indians). The food was great, loved everything we ordered. Unfortunately, our server didn't seem to care about us much, it took forever to order and get a check. There were 5 of us, and our tips (about 20%) were already included for some reason (it didn't say that anywhere), so we were a bit disappointed because we didn't want to leave that much.
Would love to come back for the food, but probably won't because of the service. This is an Indian Fusion restaurant. Usually I'm hesitant since the food isn't often flavorful at Indian fusion, but this place was fantastic. Live Indian classical on Sunday at 12 created great vibes. The food was fantastic. The cheese board was incredible, with cheese flavors I've never had before. The vegetarian thali was flavorful and very filling, enough for two people! Overall worth the trip and not very expensive! i love this place. i haven't eaten here in several years, back when it was in collingswood. i want to go again! the food is here is absolutely wonderful. it's been years since i've been here, so i don't remember what i ate, but i loved the food, and highly recommend you go here. Came here for late night happy hour from 9-closing (website states 8:30 but that is wrong). Happy hour is only at the bar and there are 10 seats. When I got there at 8:45 they let me in and there was about 4 other people there. All the happy hour food was great. The naan pizza I'll pass and the stuff peppers were amazing. Not too spicy as I thought it would be. I would love to come here again and try the other happy hour items that I didn't try before. The happy hour drinks looks good too. The service was good, only thing I would like was if it wasn't so dark as it was hard to see the menu. The food was incredible. I can't exactly remember the name of it but I had a lamb and rice dish which was delicious and spicy, but not overly so. They have great Naan and interesting salads too. I'm definitely going here again. Indeblue was a wonderful dining experience. The staff were attentive but not overly so, just the right mix of attention and space. The food was superb. Bread basket is a must - delightful! Loved my drink. Tequila, lime and hibiscus tea - not sweet or tart or strong. Perfect! Highly recommend to vegetarians and carnivores. Delicious food, great service. I was there over the weekend with my partner and friends, we had had a great time. vibrant and energetic ambience. It's a must. Is this the Indian restuarant with the elephant king somewhere by the door? Lol. So many of them I lose track which is which. I admit I forget look at name of the restaurants I go into. I dont always read reviews especially when you are having fun or a date etc...you are too busy focused on the person you with. Anyways if this is the elephant mirror indian restaurant, good indian restaurant. The waiter was kind and telling us which the tastiness foods in the kitchen were! There was a baked tender chicken he recommended that was out of this world. I never had it before. Gonna go back for more. It tasted better than some of the fancier colorful dishes we ordered. Window seat was great. Thanks for the ambience! Absolutely delicious Indian food, with a flare. Loved the chick peas the best, dahl was also excellent. One of the best Indian restaurant so far. Stuffed hot peppers are must. Paneer Tikka masala and venison dish with kidney beans and eggs. Everything was to the perfection!! Must visit if you're in Philadelphia and craving Indian food. So I FINALLY had a chance to dine at Indeblue. I've sampled their drums of heaven and samosas at a few events before and was highly anticipating my first dine-in experience. Let me just say that I was not disappointed.
So my evening started off at the bar for happy hour. My group of three ordered several of the appetizers to share including the drums of heaven, spinach chaat, barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls, vegetable samosas and a naan pizza. Each appetizer was between $3 and $5, as were the drinks on the happy hour menu. I found my comfort zone in a $4 glass of pinot grigio. This is definitely my new favorite happy hour in Philly. So beyond being reasonable everything was absolutely delicious. I knew that I loved the drums of heaven and samosas but the naan pizza and spinach chaat were standout fabulous. The pizza was made on naan and consisted of goat cheese, asparagus and mozzarella. It was by far the most creative Indian dish I've ever had. The spinach chaat was super crisy and really flavorful. The BBQ pork rolls were a little small and didn't pop with flavor as the other things did but were definitely tasty.
So the next logical thing to do after gorging on appetizers and wine is to sit down to dinner, right? It was a Tuesday evening so we were lucky to grab a table shortly after 8:00pm. In the spirit of sharing, my group decided to go with the large portion of the lollipop lamb chops, small dishes of the baingan bharta and dal makhani, and a bread basket. Again everything was so delicious! Seasoned perfectly and extremely palatable. The lamb chops are must-haves! The standout in the bread basket was the gharwali which was made up of spinach and mozzarella, and I would definitely get a solo order of that next time. I also had a nice glass of Stoneburn Sauvignon Blanc and the gentlemen in my group enjoyed some scotch neat.
I'm not an expert on Indian food however based on what I've had before, it seemed like the traditional cuisine but with a modern flair. Overall, this is probably the best food I've had in a while.
On Tuesday evenings they also have live sitar and tabla player which added to some very nice background music. The dining room was bright and comforting. The atmosphere was nice yet relaxed at the same time.
So what's my reason for the 4 stars? The service was simply meh. The bartender seemed fairly disinterested, even as happy hour ended and only a few customers remained. The server at our table was barely attentive and not personable at all. He wasn't rude but he just wasn't around much at all. With the prices of food and beverage being on the higher side, I really would have liked to be catered too. Unfortunately, the cost also brought my rating down. Everything was amazing but on the costly side.
With that being said, this was probably the best Indian food I've ever had. I smile thinking about this meal, and look forward my next casual happy hour trip or special occasion dining experience at Indeblue. The food my friends got looked good, but the "crab" dip that I ordered was almost all cheese. Happy hours are great here with great options. It gets crowded so make sure you get there ahead of time. The flavors are great and everything we ordered was flavorful. Will def be stopping by for dinner one night I came here last Friday for the Restaurant Week lunch deal (3 course meal for $20). My boyfriend and I had reservations for 2 PM. The restaurant had more space than I thought as it seemed very small from the outside. The decor was very cute and the ambience was very relaxed.
When we arrived, we did not see a host/hostess at the podium so we waited. It was an awkward few minutes just standing by the podium waiting for someone to approach us in order to be seated because the servers all looked at us as they were coming and going from serving the tables, yet no one decided to approach us to seat us. Finally, the bartender came up to us and asked if we were being helped then seated us. Our server was great. He was very polite and nice. I did not have any problems with the service other than the few minutes of awkward standing.
I ordered a rose mimosa to start off my meal. It was sweet, but with just enough tanginess that it was not overwhelmingly sweet. The carbonation of the mimosa paired well with my meal. For the first course, I ordered an amritsari fish taco. The fish taco shell was crunchy (which was great as I prefer crunchy shells to soft ones) but as a result, it was more difficult to bite into than I originally expected. Despite the hard shell, the fish was cooked well and the toppings of the taco were the right amount of flavoring needed. For the second course, I had the lamb rogan josh, which came with naan. I really enjoyed eating this course. The lamb was tender and soft. The seasoning and flavor were great and paired nicely with the saffron rice. The naan was delicious. It was warm and soft. For the last course (dessert), we had a sampler which contained vanilla ice cream sprinkled with cinnamon, fried banana ice cream (I think, I can't exactly remember) and rice pudding. I really liked the rice pudding. The ice cream portions were good, but nothing too special.
Overall, it was a good meal for a good price. I definitely would recommend coming here. My boyfriend (who is Indian) stated that the lunch seemed a bit basic compared to what he had for dinner when he came here previously. He said that the options for dinner were more unique and less basic. Even so, I enjoyed my experience here, and I would like to come back for dinner one day. I'm going to offer a disclaimer on my two stars in that this is a review after a Caviar delivery. So it's absent the atmosphere of the restaurant, plus the food isn't served on nice plates, etc... nor is it straight out of the kitchen.
But that disclaimer aside, the food is still the food, and one would assume the most important part of the experience of a restaurant. (I think folks in Philly don't have a ton of great options for Indian food, and the bar is simply lower.)
Suffice it to say we were thoroughly disappointed last week. We ordered quite a bit of food, assuming leftovers and wanting to try a lot of different things based on how good the reviews are like here.
-The bread was oily and tasted flat
-The chicken wings were way over fried and breaded
-The chicken pieces in the chicken madras were dry and thin
-The "tandoori mixed grill" really should be listed in quotes, because it's not a tandoori mixed grill. One way to know is that all of the meat was dripping in some kind of sauce or juice.
-The raita was ok, at least
-They forgot one of our items, but I guess it's just as well...
The pictures on the website look amazing. But this was a real bait and switch. We definitely won't be visiting the restaurant any time soon... Gorgeous restaurant! When you walk in you feel like you're at a spa, the music is so calming and everything is beautiful. It was very relaxing. The food is spectacular, the waiters are wonderful with suggestions. I'm vegan and they navigated me through their menu. Cocktails were the right amount of sweet, not overly but very smooth. I'll definitely be back. Indian food is by no means my favorite, but I came to IndeBlue for a work lunch. I was very pleased with the options available, especially given my aversion. The service was wonderful and very willing to accommodate allergies and other food preferences. Definitely recommend for groups of people and if Indian food isn't a type of food you naturally gravitate towards. This is probably the best restaurant I've been to in Philadelphia. I went for happy hour and got the most delicious cocktail I've had in my life (a ginger drink) and the fried cauliflower which was plentiful and absolutely delicious. There was live music too! Oh, and the best part, I only paid $8 for both. I think it would've cost me more to make the food myself. I can't wait to come back. I heart indieblue! Made a reservation for restaurant week and I couldn't wait for the night to come!
First of all the restaurant is beautiful and the service is always very attentive and professional. The food is delicious!!
They started us out with a corn soup that was so yummy. Then I chose vegetable samosas as my starter and methi mattar malai for my entree. They served it with delicious saffron basmati rice and a selection of naan bread. Everything was extremely flavorful. For dessert they offered a sampling of chocolate mousse with coconut, a type of banana flavored dough, and pistachio rice pudding. A very good selection to end the meal.
I can't allow too much time to pass before my next visit! I went to IndeBlue for happy hour with three of my Indian friends. I wasn't hungry so I didn't eat with them but I tried some of their spinach chote and it was really good - tasted kind of like tempura and wasn't too spicy the way I find some other Indian food to be. They also got these stuffed peppers that looked good and they all seemed to like. The drinks were interesting and generally pretty good (between the four of us we had almost all of the cocktails). I had the cucumber mantra and the rose gimlet and they were both delicious.
If you are looking for traditional Indian food though, this is probably not the place for you. It's Indian fusion so it's all kind of trendier takes on Indian food. Sunday brunch was good but I'd rather have been at many other restaurants. The crispy spinach chat is fantastic. The BBQ pork samosa rolls were a little too crisp, pork filling was good but they disintegrated when you bit in to them. The crispy Cauliflower was greasy and not at all crispy. We should have sent it back but I kept wanting to like it. The chicken peanut buns were good.
The wait staff was very attentive and handled the meal quite well. Room is pleasant, there's music on Sunday. I asked for a can of coke with my take out, and the waitress said YES. After taking my food and walking a block, i saw there was no can of coke with in my food parcel. Went back and they gave me a glass if coke from the bar and said we don't sell CANS of soda.
Not going there again. Low standard. Poor in informing the customer correctly. Modern Indian cushion restaurant offering a unique take on brunch.
-THE FOOD: though the menu also includes traditional items, I think the most interesting picks are the modern twists on favorite dishes. If you go with a group, try ordering several starting and entree dishes to share so you can experience more of IndeBlue's unique offerings. We had the samosa chaat (pretty traditional but delicious), paneer toast (like Indian bruschetta and my favorite of the starters), spinach chaat (supremely tasty fried spinach and my second favorite starter), and fried cauliflower (like gobi manchurian, a zesty Sino-Indian dish). For entrees, we split the kathi roll (wonderfully savory, with an intriguing mustard sauce), paneer bhurjee (reminded me of creamy, cheesy Tex-Mix migas, but without the eggs), and French toast with mango (something very sweet to end on).
-FOR THE VEGGIES: Plenty to choose from here, including from the starters, small plates, entrees, and thali.
-SERVICE: We had a reservation, which was an absolute necessity on a busy Sunday afternoon. Our server was friendly and attentive and even served a complimentary dessert for our birthday girl.
-AMBIENCE: This is a relatively small restaurant, but quite popular, so expect some din and crowdedness around peak meal times. The decor is elegant and provides a romantic atmosphere even in the middle of the day. Nowhere near Indian taste. 80℅ American 20℅ Indian in terms of taste. Expensive menu items. Not much encouraged to try again. My wife and I went to brunch over the weekend and the experience was anything but memorable. The service was attentive and great but the food left a whole lot to be desired. We ordered the spinach chaat and the lasooni gobi which were the best courses of the meal. They were good but nothing that would want me to go back there. My wife ordered the chicken and waffles. The waffle was spongy despite requesting it well done. The chicken was nothing spectacular either. My entrée the Cholle Bhature was way more of a disappointment. The bhatura was not your usual large puffy bread that I am used it. There was a single piece of it and it was no larger than a puri and not puffed up at all. The cholle was hideous. It was soaking in oil. I spooned out atleast two full teaspoons of oil and it was still barely edible. There was no discernible flavor and was this mushy brown sauce devoid of any character. The dessert we were hoping would make up for it but it was not meant to be. The "bennet" as they called the beignet was nothing but a clump of dense dough and that refused to be cut even with a knife. The kheer... well cozy shack would have been a better choice. It was goopy starch that was barely sweet. None of the creamy sweet goodness one might expect from kheer. As for the cinnamon ice cream, I am not a fan of Cinnamon so did not try it. The food is good. I liked the Chicken Makhani; it tasted like Chicken Tikka Masala. I also love the Kashmiri Naan. We ordered the cheese board, it was mostly good. I really enjoyed the Kokos Coconut Gouda and the Chai Bellavitano. I've never had a cheese tasting at an Indian restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. The service was not the most attentive, especially since it was later at night and there were not many people there. This is a must visit Indian cuisine location. The food here is awesome. Everything is good. If you are going for some apps/small plates I definitely recommend going to the pizza. You won't regret it. But seriously, everything here is good. They have a variety of drinks as well. The inside layout is very modern and stylish and the staff is friendly and helpful. I'll definitely be back! Among Indian food fans in the Philly area, there has been competition between IndeBlue's 2 restaurants and another chef who also has a restaurant in Philly and Jersey. Overall, I fall into the camp of IndeBlue's competitor, but I think IndeBlue does a few things very well -
IndeBlue pushes the boundaries on the menu in going for Indian fusion and incorporating less traditional flavors, especially in their appetizers. You get really interesting and flavorful dishes that are great for someone looking for less traditional Indian food. The same applies to desserts, where IndeBlue has a couple inventive and really tasty options. I love the spinach chaat, liked tandoori wings, but didn't love the shrimp roti tacos.
Unfortunately, there's a big mismatch with the entrees. Their main course menu is what you expect from most Indian restaurants - some of the classic North indian dishes, with many popular South Indian dishes as well. By comparison to the appetizers that you've just had, the more "traditional" dishes fall flat, but on their own, they also don't compare well to other upscale Indian restaurants. If you are someone who always orders the tikka masala / makhani, then I think it's not the best restaurant for you. The price is what it is, but I wouldn't call it great value for an upscale Indian spot. Had Tobi and the Indieblue team cater our wedding at the Powerplant Productions venue in Philadelphia this past weekend. Wow. My guests raved about the food. My wife and I rave about how fantastic their services were from the planning, set-up, execution and break down. Their specialty drink was so popular their team went and bought more supplies on the spot before their was ever a disruption. Complete success!! Went here for lunch and got seated right away. We decided to do the lunch special where you get an appetizer and a main course for $15. I got the vegetable samosa and my friend got the crispy spinach chaat. The samosa was very good and I had some of my friends spinach chaat and it was amazing. Will definitely get it the next time I go there. For the entree I got the lamb and my friend got the butter chicken. Both were delicious but I definitely liked the butter chicken better. Will definitely come here again for lunch. Pretty good. Good location and good happy hour specials. They do a chili infused margarita that went down well. They don't serve Papadums, or at least you can't order it as an app. It's ashame because they're my favorite. I'm still a loyal fan of Tiffin I guess. My favorite dish is Saag Paneer and they do it very well. All in all it's a very good restaurant and even had free live music while I was there. I ate here last night with my friend from UPenn for restaurant week. The food was FANTASTIC. I was so thrilled that they had a vegan option for each course- something that you can't find with many restaurants that participate in this event. The food was likely the best Indian that I have ever had.
Crispy Spinach Chaat was top-notch, it was so full of flavor and was a perfect first portion.
The Vegetarian Sampler Platter (made vegan)- Was GREAT. It was huge and flavorful and so varied, it gave me a great picture of what IndeBlue has to offer.
Orange Ginger Sorbet- Perfect end to the meal, the ginger was sweet and perfect.
I highly recommend this restaurant to vegans and non vegans alike. If you have convinced yourself that "ethnic" food cannot be elegant, please step into IndeBlue and allow them to change your mind.
I had heard raves about the Collingswood Inde Blue for years and was thrilled to learn that the relatively new space on 13th Street was associated. As our very helpful waiter explained, the downtown location is a little more upscale with more creative flair to the menu than the more traditional offerings in New Jersey.
I made a reservation to celebrate the big 3-5 with my husband at IndeBlue this past weekend and enjoyed one of the nicer meals out I have had in some time. The space is beautifully decorated with a heavy (but not over-the-top) Indian vibe. The lighting is dim and sparkly, but you can still read the menu and see your dinner date. The drink menu had a nice selection of wines and beers, as well as some specialty cocktails that I look forward to trying. I was correct in my guess that the ~50% table occupation by Indian people predicted good things for the meal to come.
Our waiter was extremely friendly and informative as he went over the soup and salad "of the moment" and reviewed the options for doing the 5-course chef's menu, which we skipped on this visit. We started the meal with complimentary amuse bouche portions of the spicy, but well-balanced chilled gazpacho, followed by appetizers of seared scallops in coconut curry sauce and and intriguing arugula salad over watermelon with spiced cashews and candied ginger. It was nice to start the meal with one heavier dish and one so very light and refreshing. For entrees we shared the chicken tikka masala and the seafood moilee. Both were outstanding, and each was served with a differently spiced rice side that perfectly suited them. We wrapped up the meal by sharing the fig duo dessert - a fig blondie with a scoop of homemade fig ice cream. I think that dessert has ruined Fig Newtons for me for life! We were already planning what to order on our next trip before we even finished our meals.
The prices were not cheap, but very reasonable for the atmosphere and quality of the food. If you are expecting the typical "vat of Indian food" portion sizes, you might be disappointed; however, for truly gourmet food I found them quite satisfying. Many of the dishes are rich enough that a little goes a long way, and we had ample leftovers to take home.
I rarely give 5 stars on a first visit, but IndeBlue has really outdone themselves in filling a void for "Indian food as a nice meal" in a way that not even Palace at the Ben ever quite achieved. Interesting place. The chef knows what he is doing-mixng authentic Indian streetside food with Contemporary American cuisine. This place could pass easily for a steven starr restaurant. Expensive with above average food. My husband and I came here for Valentine's Day dinner and the restaurant was incredibly accommodating, changing multiple items of their prix fixe menu for me. My server (Justin) was also great about it. I felt like I got double the food as they brought me extra things to try that were all plant-based. I got the feeling they wanted to go above and beyond to accommodate me. We told Justin we were going to an event after dinner and asked what time it started to help get our check out on time, and he even ran half a block after us in the cold when I left my bag there. Really excellent experience and excellent service--thanks to all staff who made it memorable! Great flavors, friendly owner and staff, nice decor and crowd, I'll be coming back here for sure! The poutine is fantastic! Being originally from Montreal, I tasted my share of poutines in hundreds of variations, this is in my top-5. Highly recommend! Nice decor & ambience as compared to other indian restaurants in the neighborhood! Food is good too.. we ordered two entrees, both were very nice - jal frezi with parantha (spice level 4 which was actually too spicy but I am a sucker for spicy :P ) & paneer masala with rice! Portions were decent and service was also good. They have a great drinks menu too! Came here with a group of 7 for a women's brunch. We had placed a reservation for brunch which many places in the city don't take. I got the egg, sausage and potato vindaloo and it was bomb. The sausage was so tender it was fluffy, egg and potato were also soft. Not sure what the sauce was but with the herbs it was so flavorful. I was SO full afterwards. I also had the rose mimosa which was pleasantly sweet and carbonated. The waiter was friendly and attentive; not a glass was empty. The atmosphere was nice as there was enough background noise that it felt friendly but not overly loud. Would def come again for the brunch. Also, the price is good for what you're getting. A group of 4 of us had reservations for a saturday night. Upon entry we found a much larger space than would appear from outside, but not a big place by far. A but of a tight squeeze between very full tables! We only stayed for a glass of wine and a couple apps, but the menu looked delicious! I really hope to return and sample some of their many vegetarian & vegan offerings.
What we did have:
The cauliflower: A+++ as long as you like cauliflower
the stuffed long hot peppers: C. I wanted to love this but I just didn't, and neither did anyone else at the table!
The naan special, which was a sun dried tomato jawn. A for this, it was delicious.
Service: left a little to be desired. While our server was very nice and all, there were 2 problems: bad breath and oversharing about personal problems. A little chit chat is fine but it was over the top. You know what I mean. Loss of star was for that and the long hots.
I hope to go back and get a different server and more servings! *bah dum ch!* Excellent food and excellent service. Top notch food. I tried a seafood stew special with rice and it was amazing. The banana balls for desert were excellent. One of my top 5 spots in all of Philadelphia. Their service is great, atmosphere is nice and food is incredible. This is not your typical Indian eat out, its more higher end and the prices depict it. As much as I like this place on a regular night its their brunch service that really did me in. Their unlimited mimosas, particularly the Rose mimosas were amazing and their appetizers were fantastic. Try their naan pizza and you wont regret it (it is seasonal so not always on the menu). Heavenly drums, spinach chaat and pork samosas are great! Their main courses are on par with other Indian places but it really is the appetizers that make them who they are. If you do go on brunch they have live music too on particular days. But the creme de la creme for me is the mango french toast! Not too heavy not too light but just right and add the cardomom syrup and forget about it!! I don't want to be too generous right off the bat but my first time last night was beyond excellent. Found IndeBlue as a spot with late night specials ($3-$5 small plates and $4-$6 drinks). Between two we split a couple of plates and had some cocktails
AMBIANCE/SERVICE: Dim lighting and modern decor you can think of IndeBlue as an Indian-American fusion restaurant with added touches of intimacy yet trendy. We sat at the bar so I can't comment in the entire restaurant but it looked like the place to be for a nice weekday late dinner. Bartender was really friendly and food came out relatively quick. Great place for a date or small group of friends. Overall 5/5.
FOOD (see photos):
- Sali Boti Poutine with lamb, Masala spiced fries, cheese curds and sharp cheddar. Yes, this is an Indian version of poutine. By far the best dish and was loaded with lamb. So delicious! ($10)
- Stuffed Long Hot Pepper with paneer, mozzarella, chili and spring onions. Was amazed at the flavor and is the perfect size for one. ($3)
- Drums of Heaven was a set of three chicken wings but not your traditional buffalo wing. Instead the flavors were more tomato based and the meat fell off the bone. Definitely getting again ($4)
- BBQ Pork Spare Rib Samosa "rolls" was a big disappointment. It was the size of a mini egg roll and cut in half to make two portions. Such a let down but the flavors were exceptional. ($5 but should have been $3 at most)
- Chicken Tikka Naan Pizza was also very average but it could've been because we went to it last. It was basically chicken and peppers baked onto naan and then covered with mozzarella, would pass on in next time ($5)
Overall food was delicious and solid 4/5.
DRINKS: For the price of $6 you can fancy yourself a multitude of Indian/American fusion cocktails from gin to tequila.
- Mumbai Mirch which had house chili infused tequila, orange liquor, lime, and lychee juice. DELICIOUS!
- Agni with bombay dry gin, honey, hellfire bitters (!), and deghi mirch which I'm not sure what the last ingredient was but overall a solid drink.
Would highly recommend either of the two drinks. Overall 5/5.
IndeBlue has the potential to be a Five Star restaurant but I will have to visit (and plan to!) once more to be sure of it. Definitely try this place out! We went there for brunch on a Sunday. Great decor, wonderful service and good food as well. I got the seafood thali which was a mistake. Although the seafood dishes were tasty they needed to be eaten with rice not the rotis that the thali comes with. The crunchy spinach chaat was excellent but a tad bit sweet for my taste. The lamb chops were great. We went there with a 1 year old and they were very accommodating. Oh and the cocktail (Bombay Punch) was good too. Indeblue is my fav restaurant in Philly. The saag with shrimp is phenomenal. Fun atmosphere w/ seats regularly open at the bar. We had the pork samosa on our last visit. Ommmggggggggg. So good. Food is great! Service is not good - felt rude behavior sometimes. The experiences have been mixed with different people servicing. The concept of happy hour here means water down drinks but charge less money which I did not like. If that's the case would request the restaurant to make it clear on the menu. Great service and food. I enter the place with a warm welcome from the host and I was extremely please. The food was there was great and I was quite please with the price.
The environment however wasn't that great. I felt like I was eating in the dark. It was supper dim and I could barely see exactly what I was eating. It's recommend that they make some changes about this.
Overall, I would come back a second time to have Indian food. I had a delicious meal here about two years ago. I came back recently and it was pretty terrible. The pork vindaloo was tasty, but nothing else was. The fried cauliflower tasted like the sweet-and-sour chicken I remember eating in bad Chinese restaurants in the 1980s. It even looked the same -- goopy, radioactive orange. The spinach chaat was unpleasantly sweet. The malai kofta was hard, and had unappetizing chunks of apricot in what should have been a savory dish. Everything tasted of sugar. We had dinner reservations at this restaurant. The host sat us down right away. Everyone that we met was very polite. My waiter was awesome!! I recommend Jason to anyone who goes there.
The food was fantastic! My daughter loved her lamp chops.. My husband and I enjoy all three courses. No complaints, we will return. Absolutely fantastic! Great place for a date night too. The decor is beautiful and calming. The food is wonderful. You know the places where after the first bite, your eyes roll and "mmmm" inadvertently comes out? That's this place! I had the paneer tikka masala (my go-to dish) and it was heavenly! Not quite as spicy as I like it but the best flavor I've had in Philly (so far). I have been meaning to go to IndeBlue with my friend Ainsley A. ever since we sampled their fantastic samosas at Yelp's 10th Anniversary Bash. Earlier this week, we finally had the chance to stop in for happy hour, and we were totally impressed. The decor is elegant and polished but not pretentious. A small group of us sat at the bar by the window for happy hour and ordered pretty much every plate of food on the happy hour menu. One of my friends also got the spicy lychee margarita and let us all have a sip. This drink is definitely for spice lovers- it packs a huge, yet delicious, punch.
As for the food, the vegetable samosas have the perfect crispy outside/soft inside texture contrast. The bed of chickpeas, chutneys, and yogurt beneath the samosas was divine, providing the perfect blend of sweetness and spice to compliment the flavors of the samosa. It was a well-executed classic dish. The spinach chaat was my personal favorite, and it was unlike anything I've had before. The crispiness of flash-fried flaky spinach was quenched perfectly with the sweet yogurt and tamarind chutney lying underneath. I could have eaten two of these by myself. One of my friends even ate a stray piece of spinach off the (very clean) bar top; it was just that good. The naan pizza was an interesting twist on traditional naan. It was the perfect dish to split and to shamelessly mop up every last bit of the chutney underneath our samosas. The stuffed long hot peppers were also very unique. The menu labels them medium-spicy, but I think that "medium" is an understatement (in a good way). The stuffing adds texture to the dish while still allowing the natural heat and flavor of the pepper to shine through.
The experience was great, from the cool atmosphere, to the food, to our very professional and friendly bartender who tolerated our ridiculous conversation about dating and even politely chimed in. The price was right too; I spent less than 10 bucks for a decent amount of food!
I have a feeling I'll be back here again very soon for dinner and to get my hands on more of that amazing spinach chaat. Food: 2/2
Service: 1.5/1.5
Value: 1.0/1.5
Total: 4.5/5
I went to IndeBlue this week with four friends. We ordered three appetizers, a bread basked (HIGHLY RECOMMEND), and an entree for each of us. Portions are fairly small, but each dish was incredibly well-seasoned, unique, and beautiful. The service was impeccable, and the restaurant itself was gorgeous. You will spend a large sum of money here, but it is a meal that you won't soon forget. I came from out of town and decided to go to this place for lunch and the food was really good. I definitely would go back. Highly recommended!! Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
I came here for brunch with friends when in Philly for the weekend. The menu looked super dope and it was close by to where we were staying.
The food was three stars. It was good but I have had better. We had the butter chicken -- which was spicier than advertised. The garlic naan was easily the highlight of the meal. It was fluffy and had the right amount of garlic. The spinach chaat was good. The texture is unexpected so if you happen to order it, it really is that crispy. Rose petal mimosas were great at first but once you get to a certain point, all you can taste is the syrup.
The value is incredible. For about $22-25 each, we got an entree, drink, and appetizer. Yeah, can't find that in NY. The vibes of this place are incredible. The setup of the restaurant is really something that you have to see since it is so beautiful. Live music during brunch? Yes, I want that.
So here's the thing about IndeBlue, the service is not good. The wait is horrendous. Should it really take twenty minutes for someone to take our order.... no. Should it take over an hour for us to get our food, definitely not. There was a couple sitting next to us that waited even longer.
Overall: it was good. The portion to taste to price ratio is solid... but that wait? There's a lot more we could have explored in the city if we weren't sitting the restaurant waiting. This restaurant is fantastic. Came here for brunch with a few friends. Drinks were amazing - Indian style (seasoned) bloody mary? Yum!
I like how there are both indian options (paneer bhurji, yum!) and classic American options (chicken & waffles?) so you can bring your less adventurous friends here and still get your Indian fix.
Overall super satisfied and will definitely return next time I'm in town. To start, it's a little awkwardly cramped if seated close to the door. Usually don't notice or care about things like this, but multiple toddler near-accidents near our seats were memorable in a not great way.
The dishes are fine. 8-15 dollar entrees for the most part. I got the chili paneer and garlic naan and my friend got the masala dosa. Honestly, it's Indian food for the more hip. If you're into that, you'll like this place. Personally, I don't think delicious Indian food needs all that much dressing up or editing. For the price, I'd rather hit up the buffet at Karma or something similar. Still, not a terrible option if you're in the area. I have visited IndeBlue twice - once for dinner with a few friends, and once for their happy hour. I was very happy both times, and look forward to coming back again.
The best dish is BY FAR the spinach chaat, which is a sort of fried spinach with yogurt, tomatoes, and spices. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Indeblue's best dishes are definitely the fusion-esque ones, such as the stuffed long peppers and the wings. The more traditional dishes like daal, etc. are also good, but not as novel, and similar quality can be found at other Indian restaurants.
At the happy hour, I tried a spicy lychee margarita, which I enjoyed very much - it was a great combination of the sweet lychee and the spicy kick, if you're into that type of thing. My only complaint is that the drinks were kind of watered down and weren't strong, but hey, they tasted good.
I look forward to coming here again (and again) and also trying their brunch! This is probably the best modern take on Indian food I ever had. Spinach app is like a flavor explosion. I've had half the menus at this point and you just can't fail. Came here on a Wednesday for happy hour with a friend and found a seat at the bar right away! The HH deal is a steal - everything is between $3-$5 (both food and drinks!), and their cocktails are some of the best I've had! I loved the chickni shandar, which tastes like a bubbly iced mulled wine, and my friend enjoyed her ginger twist. As per the suggestion of my fellow yelpers, we ordered the spinach chaat. It was definitely unique in the texture and flavor, but once it sat for a bit all I could taste was the oil it was deep fried in -- likely wouldn't order again. The naan pizza was probably my favorite dish, as well as the most bang for your buck. I'd been wanting to try this place forever and I finally got my chance this past Sunday. I met a friend at Indeblue for brunch and since I was early I took a seat at the bar and grabbed a drink. The Rose Mimosa was nothing to write home to momma about (it was just champagne and grenadine), but the price of the drink ($6) and the attentiveness of the hostess/bartender were pluses. For brunch I went with the French toast and a side of bacon. I didn't pick the most adventurous thing on the menu but overall the food was decent (especially the side of super savory bacon...it was a VERY healthy portion and probably could've been shared). PROS: fast service, they honored my reservation time, the staff was super friendly, the restaurant/bathrooms were clean, portion sizes were perfect, and the prices were on par for the location. CONS: There isn't a variety of options on the menu, the cocktails could've been a bit more daring.
I'm definitely visiting again because there are some other items on the menu that I'd love to give a try. My friend had the chicken and waffles and she gave it an 8 out of 10. Went here with friends for dinner as we had learned of its recent opening. The food was definitely top notch and what I would return for. We really enjoyed the lamb lollipops which were tender and incredibly flavorful. Our other favorite dish was the stuffed squash which had a delicious rich sauce, and both types of naan we had were excellent. The meal was also very reasonably priced and we enjoyed ordering several small dishes to share. Although we loved the food the service was a bit off. We got checked on by our server too frequently and he made some comments towards us that made us all uncomfortable. Additionally, the majority of the staff were all huddled together in an alcove in the front of the restaurant near our table; I found it odd to see an entire restaurant staff standing around chatting during dinner service. Overall I imagine that some issues with the staff/service are opening hiccups. I would return for the excellent food and beautiful space. This is probably one of my favorite Indian restaurant (maybe even my most favorite). All the dishes are amazing from the crispy spinach, and naan pizza, drumsticks, chicken tikka chipotle, to the shrimp skewers, paneer bhurji and chicken biryani! Everything is excellent - even the drinks, especially the indebluetini. Delicious! Great atmosphere and hybrid fusion dishes. Went here with a coworker and we got the chefs tasting menu. Great choice, a few appetizers, starters, entrées and desserts.
My parents are from India so I was a bit skeptical about the place since it was so fancy and hip. The run of the mill common Indian dishes are probably not worth it but the random fusion ones are pretty good.
Food:
Crispy cauliflower was so addicting and perfect. Ate way too much and kept going back for more.
Lamb lollipops - delicious and high quality
Goat Curry - good kick and tender meat.
Desert was a nice variety. I loved the donut. The ice cream was OK. The rice pudding was OK.
There were two non-Indian guys playing the sitar and tabla. They were decent. Not classically trained but very good nonetheless, especially in such a small place Cut above the standard Indian fare. Ordered the chef's tasting menu. Exceptionally delicious and varied dishes -- not the same 'ol tikka whatever. Plus great beer or wine pairings (I had wine, my bros had beer). It was a real culinary experience. The waiter was awesome too: attentive without being obsequious. One of the most enjoyable Indian meals I've had anywhere. First time here and loved Everything. The flavored are authentic, perfectly prepared and delicious. It's an elevated Indian food restaurant and the service was also good.
I highly recommend this place. It's perfect for families, big group or just an easy night out as a couple. You won't be disappointed. Thank you!! I walked by here almost daily while I was living in center city, and my Indian roomie repeatedly said we needed to go! Fast forward a year and we still hadn't gone together, but I was determined to branch out on my own and get here. Well, last week I did!
I came with a girlfriend who's familiar with Indian food, I myself have never had it in any way (except naan!). They have an amazing-looking cocktail list as well as a really good wine selection. We came on a Wednesday evening around 6:45 to find the placed PACKED! Luckily we had made a reservation, I recommend one even during the week!
We started with the Provençal naan, which came seasoned with rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano and truffle oil - delicious! I have to be honest, everything looked and smelled amazing, but I played it safe for my first Indian experience and got the butter chicken as my entree. It was delicious, mildly spicy, flavorful, and just enough food to fill me up. No leftovers here! On the way out I noticed about a dozen other people had ordered the butter chicken as well, so it's a good one.
I will definitely be returning to be a little more adventurous in my Indian food endeavors, but I'd say my first time was a success! Food and service were quite good on a busy Saturday night Beautiful little restaurant. Perfect place for a date or to catch up with a friend.
Tuesday's at 7 and brunch on Sunday have live music!
Run a great happy hour deal from 5-7 or 9-close at the bar with 4 dollar beers and 5 dollar wines. I had valentines dinner with my husband there. He made a reservations. I was perfect. The ambience, music, food and staff. The staff was nice and friendly. Now lets talk about food. It was very delicious and mouth watering especially spinach chaat. Even cocktail was good. Best in area. Loved it. Great Indian food!!! Creative fine food that actually tastes authentic and is served the way Indian food should be served....in thalis (metal dishes). Ambience is amazing!!! This place is awesome for brunch and dinner. Great for special occasions. One of the best restaurants in Philly! Save room for dessert because the "banana nirvana" might just be the best thing I've ever eaten. Just had another awesome meal at IndeBlue. Great service, too. It was my husband's birthday, which I mentioned on my OpenTable reservation. The hostess immediately said Happy Birthday to him when we arrived, and he got special treatment throughout.
When I go out for special dinners I often think "I could have made this myself at home." Not the case with IndeBlue! Do not miss the Malai Kofta Bukhara! Wow. Michelle C had told me that Indeblue was her favorite Indian in the city, & wow, does she know her Indian food! Kristin H & I had dinner there tonight after the event at Eviama Life Spa (which was also phenomenal).
The decor was beautiful & warm, I loved every detail of their presentation--in fact, I'm actually a little obsessed with their silverware. Everyone who worked there was friendly, and our waiter was excellent & accommodating (& quite cute, just sayin'). I know I've lived here a year, but I still can't get used to not having to explain what vegan is. It's still really special when someone in food service just knows & makes sure I'm taken care of.
Kristin & I shared the samosas, the crispy vegetable chili, & the chana masala. I highly recommend all 3. (Michelle recommended the crispy spinach chaat--next time for sure!)
I live for Indian food. This place is close to my apartment & amazing. I expect I'll be here often! Ammmazing food and the kindest service!! Did the tasting menu, and for the price it was superb! I had the veggie samosa, spinach chaat and the lamb lollipops to start ( not on my own...lol). For the main a lamb and a seafood dish along with fragrant rice and piping hot naan.....omg! Dessert was a trio of cinnamon ice cream, a banana fritter and a rice pudding. I basically just rolled home I'm so stuffed! The drinks...amazing, I did the speciality cocktails. You won't go wrong with whatever you choose.
I have now found a favorite spot. I will definitely be back! Thank you for the wonderful meal! My family and I came for my birthday brunch to Indeblue. I love the decor of this place, and although it was slightly on a dimmer side considering it was for brunch it kind of added to the ambiance.
First of all, the service was truly good (efficient, professional, and friendly). The place was clean and didn't feel uncomfortable sitting. We did not feel rushed, but well taken care of.
We ordered veg thali, build your own omelet, vindaloo egg skillet, extra order of Desi home fries, rose mimosa, and spicy chicken 'n' waffle. I can say everything, I mean, everything was delicious! If I can complain about one thing maybe the fried chicken was a bit over done and became dry, but the flavour was good. Some of the dishes in my veg thali reminded me of the flavours my Indian friends' moms cooked for me when I visited them. I will come back again for lunch and dinner next time to try out their other dishes. We were so satisfied we all left happy!
Since this is in the midtown section of center city if you are driving you may want to park further away and walk (if you don't want to pay for the garage), and if you are lucky you will find street parking, but be sure to have quarters because some of the street parkings still have metered parking. Inde Blue is a very pretty restaurant inside, candelit and romantic. It would be a nice place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Our server was very professional and gave us good recommendations from the menu. This is not your "standard" Indian fare but more "fusion" ...the best dishes we had were a crispy spinach salad (which could be one of the best salads I have had anywhere) and goat biryani. We also tried the long hot peppers stuffed with cheese, they were very, very spicy (too spicy for me) The scallop appetizer was good. Overall very pleased with the meal, and will plan to return. We were originally headed to green eggs cafe but were told there was over an hour wait. We walked around a bit to cover the hour wait time, checked out a few shops and headed back (we only killed 16mins ... Lawd help us) we were walking by, about to cross the street when I saw the sign for brunch (ok... So the endless mimosas is what caught my eye). We decided to give it a try. Walking in, there was a welcoming attendant who greeted us and sat us quickly. The decor of the restaurant is lovely! Rich purples and red wood, rustic accents and an amazing centerpiece on the wall. There were live Sitar players as we took in the place and looked over the menu. Our waiter was very helpful as we picked out or selection. When the food arrived (I still have flashbacks to the amazing aroma) it was plated well and tasted great! The garlic naan was phenomenal (get it! Maybe even two orders... You won't regret it... You can run it off later) I also opted to desert (yes, yes I did) the banana donuts with cinnamon ice cream... WOW! Get that too! Just get it. Over all, I enjoyed the experience and the food. I'd go again Good food and great service, this is a good spot for a date or a nice dinner with friends. I thought the portions were a bit small for Indian food but it wasn't too bad and the menu is pretty good. This is respectably good indian fare, but with a higher than deserving prices. IndeBlue was descent. It wasn't horrible but I have had better Indian food before. The ambience was very nice. A very nice setting. The nicest I have seen for an Indian restaurant. My fiancé and I shared the Chicken Madras, Butter Chicken, Garlic Naan, and Raita. Overall the food was pretty good. The cream sauce for the Butter Chicken just wasn't what I wanted it to be. It wasn't bad but it just did not give me that WOW when I tasted it. Vegetarian Lunch Review:
Ambience: 5/5 - perfect blend of light, music & color of furniture. They had live Tabla & Sitar Music today. Cutlery was right for all dishes & glassware was perfect.
Service: 5/5 - staff was very friendly & courteous, Within a couple of minutes drinks were served. I then ordered for 2 vegetarian thalis and both were served within reasonable time. They asked for spice level and served it based on my preference.
Food: 5/5 - Vegetarian Thali was perfect in flavor, aroma & quantity. The best Indian Vegetarian food in Delaware & Philadelphia region. Today they served Naan, Dal Makhani, Aloo Mutter, Veg Kofta, Boondi Raita, Mango Chutney, Kheer, Rice & Aloo Bhajiya.
If you like Indian food then you should definitely try this Restaurant.
Only minor con was that, the spoon had round handle which makes it difficult to hold and eat. If the spoons can be replaced with ones with a flat handle spoon then it will be better. Great trendy spot for Indian food. I like this place because they serve traditional Indian dishes well. Their spinach chaat is a MUST!!!! If you don't like Indian food...well, then you just don't like it. I'm not sure this place is going to change your opinion but if you do like it, this is nice for a fun night out with good food. Took advantage of their $15 lunch special.
Spinach chaat: crispy, sweet, but a tad oily. Naan pizza: paneer is tasty but the tomato sauce definitely masked the wonderful texture of naan.
Malai kofta: SO GOOD! It is a spicy dish although the menu doesn't say so, and the cashews and apricots provided a nice variation in texture and flavor. I poured all the saffron rice into the sauce and cleaned the plate.
Next time I'll definitely want to try their mango lassi. Dude, no, okay? I mean, I don't want to go on forever, and you don't want to read a long review, so let's just, here:
one word? underwhelmed.
it is my understanding that a tasting menu should feature things that a chef feels that s/he has absolutely mastered. dishes in a tasting menu should represent a chef's style, and it must bear witness to a restaurant's reputation. so, what happened??!?!?!
It sounds really awful when I say it's the worst tasting menu we've had since Cuba Libre, so I'll just say it's my least favorite. I love tasting menus. I like when it's complete set, I like when I have choices, I like it any how, any where. Er, just not here.
what DO I remember from my meal here? a piece of under-seasoned chicken. bland dessert that was somehow neither classic nor innovative. weird, oil-y condiments that didn't stay well on the things you're supposed to spread them on. why even make me do the work? season your food, so I know what you want it to taste like. season your food, so I'm not in control of your best and most fundamental tools such as FLAVOR. who has even heard of under-seasoned Indian food? i've never encountered such until my visit here.
at something like $50/pp, it is not a terrible loss. So i tried it, and felt disappointed by my experience. it happens. it isn't the end of the world. but i will remember this place as one of those times when yelp! has led me astray. so i guess give it a shot at your own risk, which is anyway always the case. Nice place. Cool Live entertainment. But the food is off. Does not taste Indian. Only Indian inspired. I've been to India and maybe I am biased but I have gotten much better Indian in philly at smaller cheaper places. Not bad food! The rice was flavorful! The spinach chat was too oily, my chicken tikka dish wasn't cooked properly.. However, the paneer tikka dish was pleasing. I prefer Tashan to this restaurant, but it wasn't too bad. Not my first choice. This is not your average Indian place. And I mean that as a compliment. Went here with a group of 10 people for a surprise party for my girlfriend. The staff were super helpful with setting it all up- from getting us set up for happy hour with delicious drinks and rather offbeat fusion Indian food, to giving us a massive table and letting us enjoy ourselves!
The ambience is fantastic- it's an offbeat, Indian and Western fusion place and the decor shows it. The people were great and very friendly, so much so that we had a nice long chat with our bartender and our waiter! The food was delicious as well!
We ended up getting the chef's tasting menu with a wine tasting. While pricey, it was well worth the money. The scallops were fantastic, perhaps some of the best I've had. Their lamb was amazing and while the quail was good I'd probably go for the lamb next time I was there.
All in all- a definite yes! If you like Indian food, then you have to check out IndeBlue. The flavors offered here will make your tastebuds dance with pleasure!
Enjoyed a fantastic meal here with my family for a birthday. The atmosphere is trendy, but the vibe is relaxed and casual. The bartender Cory was very knowledgable about cocktails and beer, making perfect recommendations for everyone in our party. The coconut/caramom cocktail is deliciously refreshing and was the drink I stayed with throughout my dining experience. It was light, flavorful, not too sweet and exactly what I was looking for, containing both rum and vodka.
In terms of food, here is what I recommend:
Apps:
Vegetable Samosa - 2 per order-- Filled with spiced potato turnovers, chickpeas , yogurt, tamarind date chutney, & cilantro mint chutney. Great balance of flavors inside, sitting on top of the chickpea yogurt mix that was a creamy accompaniment. They provide 3 types of dipping sauces - the mint chutney and spicy curry were my favorite!
Crispy Spinach Chaat- crispy baby spinach, shallots , chopped tomatoes
sweet yogurt, & tamarind date chutney. The best salad I've ever had. The crunchy spinach elevated the experience adding a different texture than a typical salad. I could have eaten three orders of this! So addicting! Great combination of flavors.
Duo Samosa- pulled pork, tamarind barbecue, blue cheese wine, spinach, feta, & tomato raisin chutney. Another delicious samosa if you eat meat I would recommend. You receive one samosa and a spring roll. Everyone enjoyed.
Drums of heaven- battered chicken wings, blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili & scallions. These were big ol' wings, more delicious than your average! If you visit the IndeBlue website, this is the picture when you select the menu. They're great to share and have a slight kick of heat to them.
Of the small plates, we ordered the lamb lollipops- ginger, garlic, nutmeg, yogurt, mace, mint & mojito. These are a MUST try. They're tender, juicy and packed with tasty spices. This was my my second favorite starter in addition to the spinach dish. Our table raved over them in fact.
Main course breakdown:
Seafood moilee -jumbo lump crab, jumbo shrimp, coconut, mustard seed, curry leaf served with lemon rice. This was a recommendation by our server and it was packed great! The lemon rice accompanies it perfectly.
Laal maas - lamb shank, ginger, kashmiri chili, black cardamom, cumin and saffron rice. The lamb was cooked and seasoned perfectly, sitting in a tangy sauce that complimented it well.
Chicken tikka masala- boneless chicken, fresh tomato, red onion, fenugreek, & touch of cream served with saffron rice. Staple indian dish that we had to order. Chicken was juicy and the sauce was a solid combination of cream and spices.
Baingan bharta- tandoor roasted eggplant mash, tomatoes , peas &
caramelized onions. Great veggie side if you like eggplant. Soft consistency but coupled the entree orders well as a side with a good balance of spices.
For Naan, we tried the provencal (rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano & truffle oil) - combined awesome flavors when dipping in the entree sauces. If you like truffle oil, you've gotta try this! Also ordered the whole wheat roti which was also good.. pretty standard tho. Try the options with spices-- it adds the extra zing!
I would definitely return to IndeBlue again. The service was pleasant and helpful, the decor is beautiful, cocktails were great, the food was excellent, and the price is VERY reasonable! Go and try it-- what are you waiting for? This might be one of my new favorite places to eat! I like everything about it. The interior is dark and stylish and the tables are not crowded together.
I forget the name of the spiced chai alcoholic drink, but after one sip I thought wow, I could drink 20 of these. They are small and go down way too easily. It's made with homemade chai and you can taste the quality.
So many vegetarian options!! The paneer is sooo tender and tasty. It's a 10/10 on the paneer deliciousness scale. We tried the saag paneer, paneer tikka masala, and the malai kofta, along with the truffle oil naan. The portions appeared small, but we definitely were full after eating. The dessert was perfection - homemade fig ice cream with a sweet cheese stuffed date.
The only downside was that the waiter seemed like he was trying to get us out of there at the end of the meal. He didn't say it directly, but my friend and I have both worked as servers, so we recognized his tricks.
It's a bit pricey, once it's all added up with the drinks, but well worth it. I can't wait to return. Best food! I have been to this restaurant two times now and it does not disappoint! Both times, the food has been amazing! There are lots of choices and the price is very reasonable.
Staff is great, particularly the manager Gina! She was very attentive and helpful with her recommendations. Very friendly atmosphere and beautiful decor.
Will definitely go back soon! I came to this restaurant twice now. I have had the lamb chops, omelette with spinach, spicy cauliflower, chicken skewer and the buttered Naan. I would have to say that the lamb chops are average and were overcooked both times that I ordered them. The omelette was amazing. I'm not sure how they cook it, but it was probably one of the best I've ever had. The spicy cauliflower is a very large portion and also very good. The chicken skewer was spicy and had a great sauce underneath it which complimented it very well. The Naan is very good, but I don't think I've ever had bad Naan. I only wish they had more of a selection of Naan, maybe stuffed with chicken and garlic or something. The Ambiance is great, comfortable. They have a 3 piece band playing relaxing Hindu style music. The service here is ok and parking is not easy. Overall, I recommend. Was driving from DC to CT and got the notion to head into Philly for some real food rather than stopping at a dull travel plaza for some Roy Rogers. Glad I did. This hit the spot perfectly. I am very particular regarding my Indian cuisine (I'm from England) and this was definitely top notch. I was in a hurry and the service was very quick despite being busy. I went executive and got the starter and entre at the same time. The cauliflower starter was delicious. And the chicken madras perfection. Could have been a little hotter. Not too expensive either. Solid. We went to IndeBlue due to its great proximity to the Walnut St. theaters and based on other's reviews...and we were not disappointed. The food was delicious! We had the flash fried spinach and naan pizza as appetizers and the tastes were spectacular. Then we had a basil chicken skewer and a lamb rogan josh which were also full of flavor and very filling. The atmosphere, staff and location were all excellent. I have already recommended it to several friends and will definitely go back. This place was pretty great. The ambience, service and cocktails were fabulous. The food was delicious too.
The Flower of Devotion cocktail was hands down one of the best cocktails I have ever had so far in the city of Philadelphia. It was made with black velvet whiskey, lemon, honey, and lavender bitters. To. Die. For.
The Crispy Cauliflower appetizer was fresh and tasty - had the flavor of 'general tso's' but healthier with the vegetable. The Paneer Tikka Masala was phenomenal - the house-made paneer was fantastic. We also got the Baingan Bharta - an eggplant dish - the waitress raved about it, and it was very flavorful, but I didn't love the texture of the mashed eggplant. And ,of course, we ordered a bread basket with naan, lasooni, provencal and garhwali - all great breads to try (thought I wish they would have brought this out sooner to the table - they served it with the dinners). They also provided three chutneys for the table that were mild but flavorful that you could add to any of the dishes.
The restaurant itself was trendy with great decor. A little dark, but the place was packed and that helped to make it a more intimate experience with your own table. I went with two girlfriends and it was a great place to catch up. The waitstaff was friendly and fun. You definitely know the second you walk in that you will be enjoying Indian cuisine as the smell of curry was strong throughout the restaurant. I would most definitely go back - hopefully I can make it during Happy Hour because they have some great specials at the bar. This place is awesome. There's always a monthly special which usually features exotic entrees and appetizers that have a twist. My boyfriend and I will always try one of the two. What makes this place great is that it is consistent. We have never had a bad meal. Try the Thalie if Indian is new to you and DO NOT skip on the Fig ice cream. So happy to have this place nearby. Wow! What a foodgasm at IndeBlue! A friend and I happened upon this place on our walk home and decided to give it a try for dinner the next day. The service and food were excellent. We walked in with no reservations and were seated right away. Drums of Heaven didn't disappoint and held up to its name. They were heavenly with the right amount of spiciness. The lamb shank was both tender and succulent in a wonderfully rich sauce. The divinely tasty Banana Nirvana was the perfect ending to a delicious meal. Also need to acknowledge our server. He was so well versed in all the dishes, that when we asked him for recommendations he confidently steered us in the right direction. Highly recommend this place. I have to be real, initially the thought of Indian for brunch turned me off but because my parents (I SWEARRRR I have friends and go out with people besides my parents even though I'm sure that's becoming hard to believe) are picky AF (even though they blame ME for being picky, LOLOLOL) this became plan B.
I'm honestly writing this review right now so that I can procrastinate doing the dishes. Classic.
We walked in and were seated. Immediately "spicy masala bloody mary" caught my eye. WTF?!?!? NOM!!! Do they even NEED to have anything else on the menu?
The really dope thing about this place is that they have brunch classics but with an indian twist. Super super cool. Where the fuck else can you get shit like that? But...seriously, where, tell me.
Eggs are an essential component of brunch for me and I appreciate the flexibility of going with one of the "(certain # of eggs), (choice of preparation style), (topping choices)" option. Here it's 2 eggs, I went with scrambled, and abiding by the "when in rome" attitude, paneer and spicy chiles. I also swapped the home fries with masala fries. I'm salivating at the thought. Well, either the thought or the fact that I just decided I'm going to eat some of those semisweet baking chocolate chips after I write this. Needless to say the food supplies in my apartment are scarce at the moment.
Despite a decent instagram photo with the accompanying location to make sure all of my followers know I made it to philly, I actually was surprisingly and disappointingly not keen on the bloody mary. The flavors were odd and drinking it actually felt more like a chore. The mimosa or champagne or whatever the people at the next table got looked REALLY good, I would get that next time.
When the food arrived I had that immediate pit in my stomach (might have been the bloody mary actually) when I realized I forgot to tell the waiter that I wanted my eggs well done to the point of near combustion. Sigh. I settled on playing russian roulette with the soft and almost liquidy scrambled eggs.
Despite my ordering oversight, my eggs were fantastic. I would prefer more firm eggs but the paneer and the spicy chiles presented very unique and enjoyable flavors. I've certainly never had scrambled eggs like this before. I must admit, eggs can get a bit monotonous over time.
The eggs were accompanied by this beautiful, fluffy, and delicious naan...piece? slice? loaf? The masala fries were shoelace thin and crispy. I would have preferred a stronger seasoning flavor but I am a sucker for condiments/spices. I also would have preferred more of them be present on the plate and then subsequently in my digestion cavities.
I don't recall what my parents got unfortunately and in order to retrieve this kind of information, that would require me to call them and it's past their bed time. HOWEVER, whatever constanza got had this really delicious, light peach-colored sauce. I LOVE SAUCES!!! I dipped a few of my fries in there. By a few I mean a Lindsay Lohan "few". That might be a joke only I understand.
Fuck, I just realized I still have to do the dishes.
Bye
PS-no salmonella from the eggs, dope Extremely small servings. And overpriced dishes. If you're trying to get a taste of authentic Indian food avoid this place. This is a fusion restaurant. Their dishes lack flavor and are more on the bland side. Perfect date night spot - you can dress up or keep it casual, everything works. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful and warm, with candles / string lights and makes dining there a really good experience.
Service was quick and our waiter was extremely accommodating. I didn't love my wine? No problem, here's another glass of your picking. He also made some good recommendations on what to order.
What we ate:
1. Samosa chaat (5/5) - two well sized samosas, topped with yogurt and chutneys. The dish also came with a side of 3 different chutneys that we kept throughout the course of the meal.
2. Malai kofta (4/5) - delicious and creamy sauce. I do wish it was a bit spicier (tip: if you like spicy foods, make sure to say medium / spicy, because the standard is a little mild).
3. Paneer tikka masala (4/5) - veryy similar to the malai kofta gravy, so would skip this or the other to get some variety
4. Chana sag (5/5) - we got a side of this, which was a great amount since we didn't want a third full entree. The taste of the onions and spices worked perfectly in this dish and I wish we had gotten a full of this instead of one of the others!
5. Garlic naan (5/5) - one of the best garlic naans I've had. It tasted good even after warming it up in the microwave!
Tips:
+ They have a late night happy hour starting at 9 pm, but only if you sit at the bar, as well as a regular evening happy hour at 5 pm. Would love to come back to try some of the happy hour apps like paneer tikka flatbread!
+ Make reservations - pretty easy to get but it gets busy later in the evening
+ Walk to big gay ice cream after (because it's a good distance to work off some of that heavy indian food and treat yourself to some good soft serve) We came here just before the end of lunch on Monday and I must say that the the Indian food here is superb. The malai kofta with cashews had a succulent cream sauce and the chicken Madras with mustard seed and curry leaves was reminiscent of my mom's hometown in South India. All of this was served over a bed of perfectly cooked saffron basmati rice. We ordered our food to go and the waitress was friendly and knowledgeable about the food. My only disappointment was that the veggie samosa was super tiny. Maybe it's because it was part of the lunch special, but I thought it would have been bigger. It was really tasty though and the channa that came with it was also delicious. Overall I really enjoyed the food and it looks like a great place to take a date. A friend and I had a girls' weekend in Philly. Having never been here before, I did a lot of research about what to do and where to eat. I told my friend that I didn't care what else we did but I wanted to try out IndeBlue, based on the reviews I read on Yelp.
What a great meal! We sat at a table by the bar and ate from the bar menu. We had almost everything on it, and ended up ordering a second spinach chaat - yes, it was that amazing!
Not only was the food great but so was the service. Our bartender was Jamie and she was very helpful, making suggestions and just being very friendly.
After 7 dishes, a Mumbai Mirch (a spicy tequila concoction - yum!) and 2 glasses of good wine, our bill was only $66. Is that a great deal or what?! Run, don't walk, to IndeBlue! Hip, modern indian vibe serving non-traditional meat dishes like pork and lamb shank and sea bass with traditional indian sauces and spices. Service and ambiance was lovely, an overall excellent experience.
This is a $$$ dining place, and well worth it, not sure why it's shows as $$ here. Simply delicious food and great service. I myself are Indian and the fact that the waiter was white and could speak in Hindi a little bit was absolutely fascinating. But overall the food was incredible and it deserves bragging rights. I highly recommend the spinach chat and the long stuffed peppered also the pork curry they have the main course along with a the mozzarella naan bread I have come here a few times for dinner and twice for brunch. I clearly love the brunch menu - it is such a great fusion of Indian and few other cuisines with the Indian element dominating. Their rose mimosas are amazing - I am pretty sure it is not rosè but rose (or both) because it smells like roses. I love their drums of heaven (literally) and paneer bhurji that comes with a chilli naan, the spicy chicken and waffle is quite different but not my favorite and pav bhaji is pretty good as well. However my favorite thing, other than the mimosas, is their Fig Kulfi. I think they really hit it out of the park with it - please give it a try! Glad I tried it out. Butter chicken, Naan, rib samosas were great and the butter chicken Bloody Mary was good as well. The mango dessert drink is a great way to get over the spice of the food. Definitely good Indian food IndeBlue
Taste: 9/10
Return on Investment: 8.5/10
Price:7.5/10
$15 lunch special. Pork vindaloo (came with rice but i substituted rice for more meat lol poutines enough carbs) and Sali Bati Poutine (lamb, spicy masala fries, cheese curds, sharp cheddar) and some Naan
Wow. Those poutine fries spanked my tastebuds there was so much flavor comin from every direction the lamb the cheese the spices on the fries it was just boomboomboom boom boom!
The pork vindaloo was good too i have no clue what spices or sauce goes into it but all the meat was tender and flavorful. Pretty spicy for me though I was sweaty at the end but definitely satisfied my tummy.
The naan was good it was soft and fluffy and had a bit of a bite to it which is everything I look for in a naan its addicting to eat them naans. I got a plain naan to assess their bread but i woulda gone w the waiters preference and gotten a garlic one
Only complaint is i wish naan was unlimited LOL but overall, nice !!! Excellent service, cozy ambiance, and delicious food. My family (including my sister-in-law, who is from northern India) is crazy for Indian food, and this fusion joint did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed the samosa chat, crispy spinach chat, baingan bharta, and lasooni naan. They also had an excellent spinach soup-of-the-day and their chutneys were perfect and unique. The one dish that wasn't a huge hit at the table was probably a case of bad ordering on our part - expecting one thing, ordering something else - although I can't quite speak to that given that I didn't taste this particular item.
In addition to attentive service, they also provided complimentary tastes of the daily soup (a given), and they offered my mom a taste of their chai after she asked about its level of sweetness. They also removed the one dish we didn't love from the bill - totally unnecessary, but yet another example of their attention to detail. I would absolutely recommend this spot to any Indian food enthusiasts, especially to those looking for a little twist on traditional fare.
Also great for those who are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free - their menu is flexible and clearly marked for these dietary restrictions. Indeblue still had some open reservations for a Friday evening, so my boyfriend and I decided to go for it, despite only having Indian food once before.
Upon arrival, the restaurant was packed and waited a few minutes to be seated. A friend had recommended we try the Chef's Tasting menu, which gives you a nice sampling of all the categories on the menu.
We chose:
Apps:
+Vegetable Samosas(2)- flavorful and savory
+BBQ Pork Samosas (4) with Blue Cheese wine sauce - more like eggrolls, but smokey and sweet. Sauce was a little watered-down
Small Plates:
Lollipop lamb chops (4)- was tender and delicious. Similar flavor to the Vegetable samosas with a vinegar dipping sauce
Entrees:
+Butter Chicken- the best Indian dish ever, in my opinion. Rich, savory and satisfying.
+ Lamb Rogan Josh- Deep tomato flavor and savory, but not as good as the butter chicken.
Naan came with the entrees and it was great for soaking up the butter chicken sauce.
Dessert: sampler tray of a rice pudding with pistachio topping (eh), a little donut-type pastry (good) and cinnamon-flavored ice cream, which was my favorite. IndeBlue is fabulous, the perfect place for a special occasion! I came here for the Valentine's Day 4 course tasting menu. The ambiance is classy and chic. They were handing out roses - a nice touch.
I had the rose gimlet - a great cocktail, not too sweet. The food was phenomenal! I'm not a connoisseur of Indian food, but every dish was rich, warm, and flavorful. I picked the mushroom dosa to start (a lentil crepe filled with shrooms) topped with an interesting blue cheese cream sauce. I then had the "jewel of the sea" dish as my entree (medley of seafood in a delicious coconut curry). Both were perfectly prepared! I left so contently full and definitely excited to come back and try brunch or the regular menu.
Pro tip: if you ask for spicy, they deliver!! So make sure you specify what level you're looking for.
Giving 4 stars instead of 5 mostly due to pricing ($60/person) considering naan and a small dessert were 2 of 4 courses. This seems like a pretty busy place.... Bar and food.. It's crowded at 9:30pm with all kinds of people.. Younger crowd..: This place was amazing. My friend and I ordered the vegetable samosas and the crab dip as a starter. Phenomenal! I ordered the French toast. So good! I'd definitely recommend this place to others. Loved everything we ate and will definitely be back! We tried the plain and mozzarella stuffed naan, the samosas, the chicken makhani, and the pork vindaloo. I also highly suggest the chai sangria! Our bill was a little high but it was well worth it. I was visiting the area for work. It had been a long week and I was craving some Indian food. Based on the reviews I decided on this spot - between two of us we got the stuffed chili (like I don't get it, was quite passé), Samosa (average again), gobi Manchuria (just way too oily) and the paneer tikka pizza (probably the best of the lot). I would perhaps try this again if I am in the area. But I don't get the high rating, the only explanation is that perhaps the other Indian food in the area is below sub par. It's time to update my review now that I've lived in India for three months and realize the authenticity of this place. The paneer tikka masala is so delicious, and so was the chicken madras and chicken makhani. My new favorite dish is the Malai Kofta, vegetarian meatballs with cashews and paneer. I can't get enough of these! Almost all of our dishes came in such an amazing sauces, just perfect spices and flavor. The naan was cooked perfectly, the jasmine rice was amazing, and also the lemon rice is different and equally delicious. Veggie samosas are delicious.
Everything about IndeBlue was amazing, service, atmosphere, and especially the food. I even took a group of friends who are from India and visiting Philly, and they all loved it here and were commenting how great the food was. If they love it, and I love it after living in India for the past 3 months, then you know this place is pretty great, and close to the real deal authentic Indian food you can get. My girlfriend and I were at Indeblue this Wednesday, and I am happy to say that this neo Indian (I like to call it food with a contemporary classicist flair) restaurant did not disappoint and impressed our hungry stomachs. I was compelled to make an instant comparison with Tashan on several levels.
What stood out immediately was the decor while we were being led into the restaurant...Indian motifs with a modern flair, again reminiscent of Tashan perhaps..but it certainly had its unique appeal. The location of Indeblue in my mind will be key to its success. Tashan feels a tad far out for the likes of us that like to sip and hang around the Walnut/Chestnut to South St. types of locales.
The menu does not disappoint either- they have a great spread of appetizers, entrees, veggie options and naans. The cocktail list looked like a cheery collection of Inde-Bollywood style names and fun flavors. We got the Bollywood sparkler (?) and the Chai tea sangria. The chai tasted better than Bollywood sparkler (this tasted too bubbly/frizzy for me) - the sangria was light and had hints of chai and brandy- a great combo to get a pitcher of, though it didn't sound appetizing in its description.
The service was worthy of nothing. Well informed servers that were good with suggestions. Don't get me wrong.. I am perfectly capable of choosing my tikkas, naans and rasams but given that the menu had an obvious personal flair of the chefs cooking style, it always helps to see how keen the chef is on informing the staff on his/her offerings.
To start we had the long hots and the crispy veg. chilli- to me a rendition of the stuffed long green chillies and the Indo-Chinese Hakka noodles. The paneer mozzarella combo in the green chillies were perfect-creamy, the chillies added bite and the tangy tomato sauce rounded the flavour off. The veg chilli had zucchinis in it (which I found interesting) but was a good subtle complement to the bold/spicy sauce (more gravy than sauce). The veggies had not lost their crunch despite the sauce on the noodles. To those familiar with Indo-Chinese food-the addition of the 3 side sauces (vinegar w/ green chillies, green chilli sauce and soy) completed my experience of eating this glamorized version of hakka noodles. spot on!!
For the main course, we had a meat and a veg option. Both were superb in their portion sizes, taste, flavour. We ordered the stuffed squash (this came with saffron rice) and osso bucco pork vindaloo.
The meat dish came with bone in which was perfect, the meat was melt in your mouth worthy cooked. It was a great meat, potatoes and gravy dish that is typically comfort food for me. The vindaloo gravy did not have the pungency of vinegar that I seek, but completed the dish just fine. I can see how an overpowering amount of vinegar can turn customers away from this dish. The garlic naan was fresh, however I am not sure if it was made in a tandoor or sigri, and I could taste uncooked flour in some parts of the bread- I chose to overlook this. The stuffed squash in my girlfriend's words- it was creamy (perhaps slightly excessively so) but very tasty, very well cooked, could have had a hint bit more of spice but she enjoyed it overall. If this was a take on "malai kofta" it was certainly well executed.
Overall, I would go back and recommend it to others. Chef Rakesh Ramola certainly had the right idea with opening IndeBlue here in Philly. The prices could be comparable to Tashan, the food is just as good as Tashan's Chef Shende and Chef Senat. Where it beats Tashan is the location and the restaurant size. The location is always popping (regardless of weather or economic paucity), the place's size will make certain that it looks full even on days where only a few occupy the bar and tables- a definite draw for guests to peer in. First, I called for take out and asked to make sure they have mango lassi's and brown rice. The front desk woman said no. I ordered Chicken Makhani. It was pretty bad. The chicken quality was low. The chicken was overcooked. The sauce had a thick layer of oil. The garlic naan was unremarkable, and indeed, they do have brown rice (multi grain) and mango lassi's. I think Yelp should really be about food quality and less about service and other complaints, but as far as the food only, I wish I had gone somewhere else. Why can't Philly do good Indian? Time to head to Boston? First off they have an awesome collection of indo fusion recipes - will be trying that next. The first trip was for regular indian food and it hit the spot! Absolutely delicious yummylicious excellent soul food! The chef is from Mumbai and his creations will make you nostalgic if you are from the city! Portion size is just right!
If i were here longer this would be my go to Indian place! First of all, this is not a traditional Indian food place if you are expecting to taste some authentic flavors. The food is more westernized/fusioned but tasted good. We ordered malai kofta and garlic naans which were good. Planner tikka pizza was ok - nothing outstanding. The eggplant curry was just average (I would not prefer to order it again). I will give a 5 stars to this place for the ambience, interiors and service as they are a lot better compared to most Indian restaurants that I have been to. The portion sizes are moderate and overall it is somewhat expensive place. Nice to try. I love this place!! They have one of the best chef. I love all the items on their menu. Each time I have been here, I tried a new dish and fell in love with it. They also have some great drinks. One of the best Indian places I've been to. It's upscale and their service is excellent. Also they have a great drink menu. They let me order take out as well, but the restaurant ambience is very cool. Just please please bring back the saag paneer! Indeblue has incredible food and great entertainment -sitar players were excellent. Derreck the bartender was great- impeccable service. Good food. Loved all the stuff.
Little expensive.
Bad part is takes time to bring your order. Had lunch yesterday, and it was such a great experience!
We started off with excellent Rose mimosas, shared chicken chili peanut bao buns and lamb chops for appetizers. The lamb was amazing, and came with this sweet sauce on the side that I couldn't get enough off. Afterwards, we shared the entree Paneer Tikka Masala, which was good, but not as good as the appetizers. The saffron rice that came with it was really good, but I wish there was just a little more paneer, especially for an entree.
What made our experience really super awesome was the service. Our server was very friendly and engaging, while still managing to be professional. I didn't catch his name, but I assume he works lunch on Wednesdays, so if you're looking for good Indian food with excellent service, go then! The Indian husband and Italian wife owners have put an excellent "twist" on traditional Indian dishes. We have tried about 3/4 of the menu and have not had a bad meal here. Portions are modest but freshness and taste are great. Great Indian Restaurant ! Its modern when It comes to great service and friendly staffs. Its authentic in the sense of Its cultural interior, and absolutly delicious food! Recommend lamb tikka masala and their appetizers! Its a little bit noisy tbh But Probably that just How good they are. Make sure u reserve aheaf First time here and expectations were met. Handful of friends recommended the place. Came here with a party of 8 and chose the chefs tasting menu. Plenty of food provided, had a lot of leftovers to take home as well. Service was fantastic no complaints at all. The entrees had a more tangy tomato taste than I usually get from an Indian restaurant but didn't mind because it tasted very well. Most certainly would recommend to others I discovered this restaurant on Yelp when looking for a vegan, gluten-free friendly Indian restaurant in the city. This one definitely hits the mark! I love that everything that is vegan and gluten-free is clearly defined on the menu. I got the vegetable kabob, which was perfectly spicy with a delicious sauce. For my entree, I got my favorite Indian dish- Baingan Bharta. I like my Baingan Bharta spicy, and this one was on the mild side, but still delicious. They even brought me out vegan, gluten-free naan, made from chickpea flour, which I generously dipped in my meal. It tasted delicious- a little spicy with flecks of cilantro baked in.
The restaurant itself has very low lighting, is small, and cozy. Our server was extremely kind, helpful, and informative. It was a great experience.
The only thing I did not like about this restaurant is that the serving sizes are very small, especially for the prices, and I left just barely content. The food was so good- I wish they gave me more! We went last night to celebrate my birthday around evening time. Definitely the best Indian restaurant we have been to in the area, possibly all over the states. The food was amazing and unique. I really loved the Dahi avocado chaat and my husband loved his chicken madras! The service was outstanding. Definitely will be taking family friends here! I wasn't blown away by the food, but the atmosphere is great.
I'm definitely no expert on Indian food, but I have a few favorite dishes. Chicken Tikka Masala is my barometer, even though I know it's not a native dish, and is often prepared to meet Western taste buds. Inde's wasn't spectacular. It was just OK. Ditto for the Lasooni (garlic) Naan. The Tikka Masala sauce was quite a bit thicker than I'm used to, and not quite as spicy as I like. And the naan just wasn't garlicky enough for me.
The dining room and service were great. Also, they sent out a sample of potato-leek soup which was very good and I would order it next time. Went to the bar in front around brunch time. Derrick was the bartender and he was so great! He suggested the Crispy Spinach Chaat, and he couldn't have made a better suggestion. Delicious! Going to bring my friends next time I'm in the city. I was with a group of ten for a bachelorette party and everyone had a great time. Bennett (I believe that was his name) was out fantastic server and a sweetheart too. He was knowledgeable in the menu selections as well as the drinks. He made my friend's, the bride to be, night.
All the dishes we ordered were fantastic. A lot of appetizers and seasonal entrees were ordered. The lamb poutine was a hit with everyone. I loved the crisp spinach and fried cauliflower (fantastic sauce)
The some of the entrees we had (that I remembered) were ratatouille, goat, paneer dishes.
All of them had beautifully well made sauces the paneer was paired so well with the spices and the creaminess of the sauce.
I ordered the om shanti Om for my drink and it was a bit too strong. Even when Bennett brought lime sugar syrup to help me cut the potency, it still packed a punch. Totally my fault because I had to drive home so I couldn't finish it. Brought my parents here for my dad's birthday and they were obsessed. We are vegetarian so the options were plentiful and everything we ordered was incredible. The service was super and the atmosphere was perfect with the sitar and tabla players. My parents can't wait to bring the rest of the fam here and to try the rest of the options we didn't get around to. I'd highly recommend spinach chat, vegetable chili Hakka noodles, and the French toast (on the brunch menu)! Here's what I look for in Indian restaurants: 1) bold flavor combinations, 2) food that packs heat (when appropriate), 3) water glass-filling diligence.
For the first two requirements, Indeblue falls short. We came with a group and ordered a pretty diverse sampling (samosa chaat, tandoori mixed grill, lamb rogan josh, baingan bharta, channa masala). Across the board, dishes ranged from underseasoned to just plain bland. I also barely detected any spiciness, even after specifying we wanted heat. Their take on "modern & traditional" cuisine (aren't those two things sort of mutually exclusive?) clearly means they have tempered things down to appease western palates.
The interior is pretty swanky, and they serve up some decent cocktails. Prices are higher for smaller quantities of food, so know that you're paying for ambiance more than anything else. Maybe this is an alright place for happy hour socializing. If you're main focus is quality food, please direct yourself to Ekta.
But hey - at least my water glass was always kept full! Malai kofta is delicious. They have a nice variety of dishes and starters. Servers are very friendly and attentive. Atmosphere is fabulous! Found them on Yelp for their nearly perfect rating and I can see why, A+! This is one of my favorite places for Indian food in the city, though it is a bit more fusion style. The happy hour here is such a great deal and I've been multiple times to try the various delicious cocktails and appetizers, all for less than $6 usually. Only suggestion is that the happy hour specials are at the bar which often gets full by 5:30, so come early. Hands down my best Indian food experience in the U.S! I have been there three times in my two visits to Philly and it is a must visit. If you go there for their happy hour, I highly recommend recommend the Indebluetini! The mango flavor with the cardamom is a true pleaser for your palate.
Also- among their small bites- the drums of heaven, shrimp koliwada and the naan pizza.
If you go there for dinner the lamb biryani is scrumptious, you can taste all the different spices. I think they use freshly ground spices as opposed to many regular Indian restaurants that use powdered or packages spices.
Most Indian restaurants in the U.S. have left me underwhelmed or disappointed with their generic menus and very non-innovative recipes. Perhaps I need to explore more Indian cuisine restaurants...but if you are in Philly and you love Indian food, do not miss Indeblue! Also their courteous and well trained staff adds to the wonderful dining experience. I will always go back when I am in the area. I had been here twice . The best thing to get here as an Indian foodie I think is Thaali!! I just love it. The saag paneer was excellent. I also loved raita which was so fresh. Being from Washington, D.C., I have been craving for a thali since I don't get that one over there. The best part would be live sitar and tabla music. I feel it just blends so well with your meals. Kudos to the guys playing Indian raagas so well!! Overall a pleasurable experience!!! I was nervous to eat here because Philly has been overall disappointing with its Indian food, but this place did not disappoint. The decor was modern and chic. The seating area was spacious and the service was topnotch. I dined there with three other people and everyone enjoyed the food. We ordered the naan pizza and vegetable samosa for appetizers. The pizza was tasty. The samosas left more to be desired and were my least favorite part of the meal. They had minimal flavor and no spice. They also were not hot, and seemed to be sitting for awhile. I need my samosas fresh out of the fryer, and crispy. However, the entrees were amazing. We ordered Tandoori mixed grill, the goat mirch masala and the chicken tikka masala. Every entree was tasty, well seasoned, fresh and just very enjoyable. The portions were decent and typical for Indian cuisine, and they were served hot. The naan basket was a variety of different kinds of flavors and all delicious. There was one kind on the sweet side which some didn't care for, but I thought it worked nicely with the spice from the goat mirch. I am glad we found a delicious Indian restaurant in the City. We will definitely be back. This is, without a doubt, the very best Indian cuisine anywhere in South Jersey. My favorites: butter chicken, vegetable korma, and any of their delicious homemade ice creams. Occasionally I'll get the Thali which is always good for leftovers.
I'm really thrilled with this restaurant for delivering all the way to Cherry Hill where I live, and also for having a really amazing Sunday brunch. I don't think I could love this place anymore if I tried.
If you're looking for a sodium - laden Indian buffet, keep going. But if you're looking for fresh, delicious indopak cuisine this is your place. Really great Indian restaurant. Kind of a new age spin on the food and decor. Have only been once but would certainly come in again if we were in the area looking for food. This is one of the best happy hours I have attended in the city. As a regular, I have sampled almost every item on their happy hour menu and my favorites are: the Chikni Shandar - a chai-infused sangria, the Spinach Chaat (flash-fried spinach and other delicious chutneys). the Naan Pizza (rotating but dependably delicious), and the Drums of Heaven (Indian-style chicken).
Indeblue is great for brunch too - rose mimosas, dosas, and thalis.
For dinner, however, I was a little disappointed in the food. Portions were too big and got a little monotonous. I think the place would do much better with a small plates-style menu.
I still give Indeblue five stars, however, because it is truly a great destination for someone who likes Indian flavors, but also wants to enjoy innovative cooking. I took my dad here for Father's Day. The staff was incredibly friendly and made great recommendations. The food is expertly crafted and the atmosphere pleasant. It's a really great place for a gathering or more intimate event. The unique cocktails are amazing!! I had a lavender one that was just right. People and staff make the place great though. I love this place and will definitely be coming again! Visited last night for restaurant week. Four course menu with plenty to choose from... Everything was delicious. Not overly spicy but just enough.
When confirming our reservation they repeated twice that the restaurant week menu would be the only menu offered. The $35 per person four course menu with multiple choices for each course is well worth it.
We started with veggie samosas and chicken chaat. Both delicious, next we had the tandoori chicken wings and stuffed long pepper. The tandoori spice was evenly distributed and chicken was so tender. The long pepper itself was not spicy but the stuffing and chili sauce had a very nice kick. Next, we had the vegetarian thali platter and lamb was amazing and filling. We hardly had room for the rice pudding but when it was creamy and spiced with cinnamon.
I almost forgot to mention the live sitarist and drums! The musicians were wonderful and added so much to the atmosphere of the restaurant.
The one issue that prevented me from giving 5 stars was the wait. The entire dinner from when we entered the restaurant until we left was two hours. Because our server was waiting a large party of 18 guests, who all needed to be severed at the same time. Due to this my boyfriend and I had to wait primarily for our entrees, which took roughly 30 minutes.
Overall, it was a wonderful night and we would return. Possibly for brunch which is when the sitarist and drummer play again! I love the ambience here! It has a very elegant Indian vibe. As a vegetarian I can always find plenty of options. I've eaten here several times and have tried most menu items. My personal favorites are the crispy cauliflower which has just the right amount if spice, the malai kofta and the dal makhani!
The staff is always super pleasant and the service on point.
I've also enjoyed drinks at the bar several times. The bartender is very friendly and makes great suggestions. The lamb biryani changed. my. life. If you don't order it, you're making a mistake.
My friend and I had an amazing meal here. We had both been to the sister restaurant in Collingswood, NJ which was very yummy, but the new Center City location takes the cake. The restaurant was beautiful and the service was great, and I loved the little pumpkin soup starter (to quote Andre from The League, I love to amuse my bouche).
But let's get to the good stuff. We ordered a red chicken curry, lamb biryani, a roasted eggplant side, and a bunch of naans, all to share. Well let's just say we cleaned our plates in an embarrassingly short amount of time. Everything was delicious but the standouts for both of us were the biryani (seriously I could eat that every day, no problem), the accompanying raita which was perfectly tangy and refreshing, and the eggplant side which was absolutely scrumptious. The chutney and sauces were all wonderful as well. The spice level on everything was perfect; we were definitely feeling it but not so much that we couldn't taste our food. Even the least memorable dish, the chicken curry, would have gotten rave reviews at another restaurant; it was simply eclipsed by the more exceptional things on our table.
I can't recommend this place enough. I will be back to try as much as I can on the menu, but there's no way I won't be ordering that lamb again. Always come on sundays and service is great and food is delicious. It's always a go to spot for happy hour. It's a must try place. This place would have got 3 stars because the food was pretty good but the service was horrible. Benette our server was extremely high strung and annoyed over a simple matter. Let me explain.
Our party arrived at the bar first and ordered food and drinks. When the rest of our party arrived we closed out what we ordered at the bar and had the food brought to our table which I believe is the restaurant norm. Benette continuously told us that he only made money on the number of people who sat at his table and ordered food. I said no problem. We will order more food. I understand he has to make money. On my way out of the bathroom he told me again about how he needed to make money from food being ordered at his table. Pretty unnecessary if you ask me. I felt like I was being harassed into ordering more food just so he can make his money. This was the most annoying part of our meal and put a very sour taste in my mouth. We will never come back here and take this type of harassment. Also strange to charge 20% tip auotmatically for parties of 5 or more. Lol Favorite part is the drinks. Always take guests there and they love it!! Food is great too. Love the spinach chaat This is mine and my husband's favorite restaurant in the city. We just can't get enough!!! Never have a bad thing to say about this place. The last time we were here (last weekend), our food made it to the table before our drinks even did! Usually, we would have something to say about the quality of our meal and be skeptical, as it was brought out in record time. But it came out just as delicious as always!!! Must try this restaurant out. Indian food, with a modern twist...and an impressive bar menu. Must order the Lamb Balti (lamb curry) with the naan. Service, ambiance, the food were all top notch. The crispy spinach chaat that everyone recommended definitely lives up to it's reputation. The saag paneer was just okay, but the naan, butter chicken sauce and sauces provided were so good! Great place for a date and would definitely recommend to anyone. Went there during restaurant week and we loved the food. The best item I had was the tandoori chicken wings...absolutely delicious! Great decor and service. The food was amazing! We got the vegetable samosas and my meal was the Baingon Bharta..delicious! I'll definitely be going back. Plus there was live music when we went Tuesday night. Cool place and pretty affordable dishes. Although I couldn't find a single indian face in the place, I can totally admit the food was delicious and well prepared. The environment is classy and fancy, waiters are very kind and there is also free coat check at entrance.
Just book before: we walked in and ate at the bar, but it's pretty crowded.
Not giving 5 stars for the prices quite high (the place deserves, tho). A friend and I went for the chef's tasting menu on a Monday evening, and due to their computer issues it took a very long time. Despite that, the meal itself was delicious. We chose the avocado appetizer and the chaat, the chicken tikka and the lamb biryani. The standout was the lollipop lamb chops, I will be dreaming about these!! So flavorful. The sampling of desserts was not to my liking but that is just because I happen to not be a fan of rice pudding or cinnamon (there was cinnamon ice cream). I would love to come back here and will be sure to recommend to others. One star was removed because there was significant problems with the timing of the meal and we were not told until we could flag down our server - and we had been waiting over an hour for our second course - with no proactive explanation about the computer problem. I remember I use to love this place; I once said it was my favorite Indian spot. The sitar player a few days a week is a nice touch. Very classy ambiance and it's a good happy hour. I grew up eating Indian meals and so I may be hyper critical in comparison to other diners. This place has rapidly dropped from being one of my favorite spots for a nice dinner to one of my least favorite spots.
Vegan options once included their amazing Baigan Bartha; I use to want to come in just for that tasty dish of roasted eggplant seasoned with tomatoes, garlic, and all the best Indian spices. It was a masterpiece; the best eggplant I ever had. For some reason this dish is no longer on the menu.
I've been back a few times since and have tried the Spicy Tofu Chili, Crispy Cauliflower, the Spinach Chaat, and Samosa Chaat. All of these can be ordered vegan. I did not like the Spicy Tofu Chili. It was two huge slabs of tofu deep fried and served with deep fried peppers. A little sauce adorned the tofu. Really not enough flavor at all. What I love about Indian food is the burst of rich flavor and the complex blend of spices that bring your meal to life. This dish does not have that magic. Also, I seriously dislike that entrees at Indeblue do not come with rice. You have to buy rice or naan separately for another $3-$4. The Crispy Cauliflower is crispy indeed; but, has no flavor and is way too oily. The Spinach Chaat was a nice combination of textures and flavors; something to definitely try at least once. The only dish I'll really vouch for is the Samosa Chaat; it's only $3 during happy hour. A GREAT DEAL and it filled me up. Very tasty. Great food, service, and ambience. I consistently enjoy eating at Indeblue! And the chai/horchata cocktail is delicious! Get the goat. I know if youre american that sounds weird but it is amazingly good. This is the best indian food you will get in philly. I love this place! All is great....from the happy hour to the customer service! My current favs - the rib samosas and the drumsticks.
Want to try out small plates and good drinks at a reduced price? The happy hour is a sure bet. Get here on a Monday or at 5pm sharp to get a good space. Reservations recommended.
Overall, been here four times. Between me and my friends - all the dishes have been great. You won't be disappointed. Of all the restaurants in Philadelphia our daughter chose this restaurant for her "going away" dinner. She had read about the opening of this restaurant but knew very little about it. Well, we are so excited about having found this place. We loved everything about this restaurant-location, ambiance ---even the bathrooms were beautiful---and the attentiveness of the wait staff. It was difficult to make a choice from the menu as everything sounded delicious. All three of us raved about out chosen entree even the second time around (we had each brought home a "doggy" bag). Can't wait to go back. My boyfriend and I did the 4 course dinner with wine pairing. Excellent service from our server. I don't recall his name but he has curly hair, black glasses and tattoos on his arms. Very knowledgeable about wine pairings. Overall great experience! You MUST try their cheesy nan bread. This spot reminds me a lot of Tashan, except maybe a little cheaper and a little less fusion. We shared the spicy scallops and the long hots. Neither was too spicy, and the scallops were nicely cooked. Also, had the sangria with the chai tea. It was an interesting cocktail that I enjoyed overall because it wasn't too sweet. For entrees, the lamb shank and the chicken korma with some extra spice. These dishes were really good. I could have used a little more meat on the lamb, but it was tender and the sauce was tasty, as was the saffron rice.
This is a nice spot if you want to have a fancy Indian dinner, but I didn't think any of the food was amazingly better than your local Indian take out restaurant. Simply delicious --- This is one of the best Indian fusion restaurants we have been to. The restaurant is small and cozy and the ambience was nice. The waiters were friendly. We were a family of 3 and ordered spinach chaat, duo samosa and long hots for appetizers and shrimp moilee (seafood minus the lump crab!), madras chicken and lamb laal maas as main entrees and shared the desert banana gulob jamun. The dishes were all freshly prepared, very creative, and delicious. We were also greeted by Chef Ramola who was very friendly which was the icing on the cake to our visit. The food is moderately priced. The 5 course menu for $45 also sounded very nice but we did not order that.
Great for personal and family celebrations. We signed up for the VIP club since we plan to visit there again very soon! There is a cheap validated parking available ($6 for 3 hours) at Park America at 1140 Sansom.
We also plan on trying their first restaurant in Collingswood, NJ. Went here with friends last weekend and we were very happy. The place was busy but we had reservations. Our waitress was very helpful, friendly and attentive.
We tried a full variety from the menu, from beet salads to shrimp skewers, stuffed peppers, butter chicken, lamb rogan josh & tikka masala. They even substituted shrimp for chicken in the masala for my catholic friend who doesn't eat meat on Fridays during lent.
Everything was delicious. Tender meat and delicious sauces made for a wonderful meal.
The waitress overheard it was my friend's birthday so she brought out a free ice cream dessert with a candle.
All in all a great place to have dinner. Bring your wallet, tho, it's a little pricey but worth it. Delicious, really good food! We got the samosas, crispy spinach chaat, paneer tikka masala, & chana masala with roti bread and it was the best! Go hear! Great service and amazing food. Would definitely come again and would recommend for friends.
Prabhu I don't have Indian food often but everything I ate was wonderful. The service was exceptional. I will be sure to visit again. The crispy spinach chaat was delicious! Every person should try this dish! I went to lunch with a vegetarian, a gluten-free vegetarian and a vegan. In an effort not be the "odd man out", I ordered the Vegetarian Thali Platter and it was amazing. The waiter was professional, yet humorous...great service. I wish there was a restaurant like this where I live! The food here is very, very good. And the decor is beautiful - a huge improvement from the space before and glad they chose such fantastic finishes.
That being said, I found the lunch menu slightly lacking in options and also very overpriced. I can go to El Vez and get a drink, huge app and huge entree for $15...why pay nearly $20 for anything similar here?
I'd say stay away during lunch (we were the only ones there, so seems I'm not off base on that), but dinner could be fantastic. Try it once, even if you've never had Indian! Pretty exceptional experience. Two of us dined. The food was very good. The service was good. What I found to be exceptional was the fact that we had an `in center city` coupon that had apparently expired. They gave me $10 off my next visit then called later to apologize and offer to honor the coupon. I went to IndeBlue during Happy Hour. As another Yelper mentions, Indeblue's Happy Hour is restricted to only those who sit at the bar, which has limited seating. So for Happy Hour here is sort of exclusive to smaller groups.
Food: I thought the food was tastier than food served in regular Indian restaurants. The food was fusion. I wasn't a fan of the Spinach Chaat, however, the Naan Pizza with the Tamarind sauce was quite stellar. The food is higher end than what are served in most other Indian venues. 4/5
Drinks: We only had two types of drinks, and both were delicious. 5/5
Setting: The ambiance was quite beautiful with great romantic lighting. The venue is a little narrow (rectangular shaped). Bar is quite small, however, the lighting and the decor overshadows any minor flaws. 5/5
Service: The service from the waiters and bartender were phenomenal. Some of the best service I've received in a while from servers. However, the hostess (Monday evening) can be friendlier and less snappy. In fact, we were quite satisfied with our experience at IndeBlue until we were about to depart. It was a rainy evening, therefore, many had left umbrellas. The hostess had left our umbrellas in a bucket, which mine was all the way underneath the other wet umbrellas. As we were searching for my umbrella, we noticed the hostess had shoved an umbrella inside another umbrella, causing one of them to break. In fact, mine was also damaged due to her umbrella handling. It really was not a busy evening, was that necessary to handle the customers' umbrellas so carelessly? Servers: 5/5. Hostess: 1/5 Very fancy and upscale Indian restaurant with a bar. We ordered chicken tika masala, lamb tika masala, and lamb chops. In addition we had garlic naan. For drinks we just had the Jamison neat. The restaurant is really nice and they have good service. The food was pretty good but not the best Indian food I ever had. This would be a great place to go on a date and I would def come back again. I've always wanted to go to IndeBlue and finally had a chance last night. It was a last minute plan and I'm so glad I went! IndeBlue is gorgeous inside, very classy. My friend and I ordered martinis and a bunch of small dishes to share. All were wonderful, absolutely delicious. The service was great too. I had not seen my friend for a while so we were catching up. We took our time after eating to have a few more drinks and we did not feel rushed at all. Overall, a great experience. I will be back again and again. Great little Indian restaurant in center city. Lighting and location were fantastic, although the prep time for the food was a bit long. Portion sizes are deceptively large, and try not to fill up on all the different types of bread that they have. The 4 bread breadbasket was amazing though. A great place for lunch. We indulged in the spinach chaat and the lunch thali platters.
The spinach chaat involves spinach leaves fried to a delicate crispness. Topped with crispy straws, yogurt, tomatoes, a great combination of delicate textures, cool textures, and crunch.
Each thali platter comes with: naan, rice, a snack (in this case 2 samosas), raita, two non-veg/veg/seafood curries, a vegetable curry (in this case daal makhani), and dessert (kheer). The thali platter is a large round platter with plated little bowls, giving you the opportunity to sample many flavors in one sitting. Definitely a great option to taste what IndeBlue offers at one meal. They have 3 kinds of thali platters: non-veg, veg, and seafood. My sister had the non-veg, which included a chicken curry and a lamb curry. I opted for the vegetarian thali.
Staff here is cognizant of food allergies and inquired off at seating if we had any. I came for happy hour on a Monday at 6pm and had no problem getting a seat at the bar for me and my two friends. The food was fantastic, as were the drinks (I had the tamarind margarita). We ended up staying for dinner, and while the food was amazing, I'm not sure it is something I would pay full price for again. But I will definitely be back for happy hour! Come for their Happy Hour! Indeblue is a cute modern Indian restaurant in Center City. I came here with a friend on a Sunday night for a HH meal that included cocktails and food. At first, I was just going to order food, but the cocktail menu was so appealing (and cheap at $5 a drink), that I couldn't resist myself. I got the rose gimlet, which had gin, grapefruit, rose water, lime and club soda. Would've happily had another if I weren't getting ready to catch a bus out of town (and would've had another if I knew how inept the bus services were, but that will be another Yelp review ;p )
As for the food, I shared an order of the stuffed long hot peppers, vegetable samosas, and spinach chaat with my vegetarian friend, and ordered the shrimp koliwada for myself. The peppers were way to hot for me, but I was able to enjoy the mozzarella, chili, spring onions and tomatoes stuffed inside. As for the other dishes, they were all good! The spinach was nice and crispy, and I was able to cool my tongue with the yogurt that came with it.
The fun environment at the bar, combined with the cheap but good drinks, and good food makes this happy hour a steal. I will definitely go back the next time I'm in town. My boyfriend's family and I went to IndeBlue last Saturday night as a last minute decision. We didn't have a reservation for the evening yet, and there was a cancellation at IndeBlue so we took the opening right away. When we arrived, we were politely told by the hostesses that our table would be ready shortly, so while we waited we talked with some regulars dining at the bar who recommended various drinks for us to try. We all ordered different cocktails and there wasn't one we didn't enjoy! When we were seated our server, Derrick, came right up to us and helped guide us through the menu options. He recommended we try several apps and several entrees and split them. Every item he picked was delicious -- Derrick was extremely attentive, knowledgeable, and honest about both the dinner and the drink menus, which is so important when you're trying a restaurant for the first time. We absolutely loved every part of IndeBlue, from the service to the food to the decor, and cannot wait to return...We hear they have a great happy hour that we'll have to try soon! Things that IndeBlue are:
- a nice restaurant as evidenced by inflated prices for food you can get more cheaply at a lot of other Indian restaurants, attentive service, and a decor that strives to look fancy
- overhyped
Things that IndeBlue are not:
- a good restaurant. Food was underwhelming and not memorable, particularly at the price point they're requesting
Not convinced this place is worth the extra bucks Loved it here! We had the tasting menu and everything was incredible. It was probably too much food but hey. The cauliflower and lamb dishes were my favorites. This is really one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia! IndeBlue, an upscale Indian restaurant located in the heart of the gayborhood, serves both traditional and innovative takes on Indian cuisine. While the prices tend to be higher than your standard Indian joint, I found the food to be on par with most other places I've been too. Although I appreciated the good service and creative cocktails, I found the actual cuisine nothing surprising and wouldn't run back so soon to try more of the menu.
We started with the crispy spinach chaat, which tasted rather oily (although somewhat delicious). We then split the Lamb Roganjosh, the Malwani Swordfish, Chana Masala, and a naan with spinach and mozzarella. Of these dishes, I found the lamb the most pleasant: juicy and savory, but not anything above the ordinary. The swordfish, despite swimming in sauce, was rather dry and the fish didn't really stand out for me. The chana masala was pretty standard, and the spinach and mozzarella naan was tasty, but I didn't find myself tasting a lot of the cheese or vegetables inside.
I did, however, greatly appreciate our attentive and kind server, as well as the indebluetini (an adult version of a Mango Lassi). However, while I appreciate the concept of upscale Indian, I didn't find the food to be innovative or challenging enough to warrant the price point (especially when Tashan is located nearby). That said, there is always room for improvement, and I'm sure that IndeBlue can take it's merely good food to levels that are infinitely better. Great atmosphere and delicious brunch. The Indian fusion restaurant has meals to please all. We split the masala dosa which was rich in flavor and had great dipping sides. For our main course we had the thali platter. It was served with rice and naan and surrounded by a slew of curries and dessert. Can't wait to go back and try something else. IndeBleu is a great little Indian restaurant in the heart of Philly. This is a place you can't go wrong if you want to impress your date.
We went pretty late at night about their closing time but still got great unrushed service and excellent food..chicken tikka masala as well as the vegetarian options. Makhani Daal was perfectly slow cooked and appropriately spiced. My vegetarian partner loved it. CTM was cooked in tomato sauce which was a welcome and healthier choice and tasted really nice.
Will definitely repeat next time we are in Philly. Missed the live music this time because we went so late. I went to IndeBlue this past Friday with my parents + fiance for restaurant week! Everything was delicious. I have never been to a modern Indian place before so I was a little uncertain but this 100% exceeded my expectations. We got the paneer toast which was awesome. It had paneer chopped up and the bread was delicious. We got chicken tostada as well which was a good fusion since it was indian style chicken on a tostada. Everything was extremely flavorful but not spicy. They gave an incredible amount of food and we had so many leftovers! Def will be returning!!! Food is great nice and spicy. Atmosphere is intimate and cozy. Great place. We will be coming again. Pro-tip: you can only get the happy hour menu at the bar so choose your seating options carefully. Still, the crispy cauliflower is fantastic and the chana masala ain't nothing to laugh at. Ginger Jadoo made me do the culinary skadoo and the Mumbai Mirch wasn't bad either.
Worth noting that my dining companion is a frequent flyer so entirely possible we received friendlier service and stiffer drinks than most. Good Indian restaurant:) tasty food. Service could be faster..Will come back again:) Great place to bring your friends from out of town.
Super positive vibes. Great food. A little pricey, but the over all experience was quite nice.
One of the best parts, especially considering it's winter, was that we had the ability to check our coats from our table.
I would suggest sharing, mixing, and matching smaller dishes; you get to taste all the flavors while still filling that belly that so desperately growls. Legit Indian food at an upscale type place. I had the vegetarian thali (sampler) at lunch (see photo). Everything was above average. Highlights include the black sesame seeds on the naan (genius) and the paneer makhani (tomato-based gravy, kinda like tikka masala and just like that of butter chicken, for all you dummies out there). The sweet potato chips were good and went really well with the mango chutney but I'd rather fill up on that filthy delicious curry, know what I mean?
Nobody was there at lunchtime (during the week). My server was super nice (Josh I think)
You'll pay a bit more than average and you probably shouldn't dress like a hobo like I normally do. Cheaper buffet type places are more my style but I'd come here a couple times a year. My partner and I have just starting coming to this place and we've been twice. The food is good and so is the service. I have tried the channa masala and baigan bharta, both were very delicious. Although, you really can't go wrong with Indian food. I would say that the cuisine is more high-end than your average Indian place and so are the prices. Don't get me wrong, the food is great and I like that they clearly mark their vegan options on the menu, but it's definitely a pricey dinner! I'm loving the center city Indeblue location.
For my first visit I came for dinner and we ordered a couple of very tasty items. Our starters were the crispy vegetable chili and the sweet potato pakora. Of the two my favorite was the crispy vegetable chili. It had excellent texture and flavor. I thought the heat level was just right.
My main was the goat biryani. At first I was surprised by its presentation, (the braised goat mixed into the rice, not alongside it) but it didn't detract from its taste whatsoever. It was a more at home style way of serving it and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
In times since I've returned to sit at the bar and even for brunch (which deserves its own review). I think this place fits wonderfully on 13 and I hope they stay for a while. Naan pizza is exactly about what you'd expect one to taste like. The real gem is the butter chicken and the naan, like the garlic naan. While the portions are a bit small, the food is so good that I am happy to pay for them. Can't really speak to the drinks or dessert since we regretfully didn't have any When is Indian food not Indian. When it's "fusion". Gosh I hate that word. In any case the place in downtown Philly is very new so maybe the review isn't fair. There were six of us, one a native Indian. We all agreed the food was good, not great, a tad expensive, and definitely not true Indian food. ymmv. Give it a try but there is some sticker shock here.
I found the chicken masala to be tough and the sauce too cloying. It was missing that tameric taste. The nan was greasy and the garlic nan was too garlicky (for me).
I would not go back. This place was amazing. Third best Indian I've ever had (and 1 and 2 were true Indian home cooked meals-so completely unfair). And the service was amazing. Here on business as a solo diner--we sometimes get overlooked, but the service and hospitality for this solo female diner was amazing. I've been meaning to try IndeBlue for years now- ever since friends recommended the Collingswood location. I'm really glad I finally made it over there!
My husband and I had a 7 pm reservation but we got there early to take advantage of their happy hour at the bar. Their food and drink specials are great-- we only had drinks this time but it's definitely on my list of places to check out for happy hour. Just be aware the bar isn't super big- get there early!
Overall, we had a great meal. The ambiance of this spot is so much better than other Indian places I've visited in Philly, so it definitely made for a more special night out. We decided to order a few small things to share- I really really really like that you can get half portion entrees- makes trying a bunch of things a whole lot easier. We ate mostly vegetarian- the items that stand our were the chilled avocado chaat, the crispy cauliflower, and the malai koftka. The waiter seemed to think we didn't order enough, but we ended up taking leftovers home.
If you are in the mood for Indian date night, definitely check out IndeBlue. Very good Indian food. The crispy palak chaat and the paneer stuffed hot peppers were wonderful. Not the normal serving size so make sure you order more. Let's get right into it.... OVERRATED!!! I reserved for a party of five, but one person backed only to at the last minute to only change their mind and decided to come... I explained this to the hostess who was getting upset and seemed distressed she had to move plates from one table to another.... The Food was just alright... I am half indian and have eat Indian food all my life from various places... Everyone at the table even noticed the over use of salt to mask, or show that maybe this food is not fresh and probably from a can... Please read the reviews careful as I did not... Most people have gone here for happy hour and probably got so trashed the food tasted great after acouple of drinks... This review is based on Sunday Brunch only. Dined here this past weekend, excellent/friendly waitress who was also very knowledgeable about the food options. We started off with the Avocado Chaat (Great Refreshing Snack) & Drums of Heaven (4 Crispy Mini Wings dressed with some crumbled Blue Cheese - Delicious). For our entrees, we had the Masala Omelet (Oh My So tasty!!! swap the Maple Bacon for the Garam Masala one) Masala Dosa (Crispy with a yummy filling), Lamb Boti Kebab (Skewer of tender lamb meat dressed with masala fries and a yummy sauce) and finally a veggie Thali (which was more on the north indian side of things but still very tasty). Also tried the $4 Rose Mimosa - Slurpyyy goodness!!! Came here for happy hour with some friends. It's bar only from 5-7 and they have a late night happy hour. Come early because there are only about 15 seats!!
They have a variety of foods from $3-5. I had the drums of heaven. 3 lollipop chicken drumsticks covered in a spicy red sauce. Highly recommended! Can't go wrong with upscale Indian food in the heart of the gayborhood. The space is very inviting with banquettes, tables and a cozy bar up front with a great view of 13th St action. Full bar and attentive service plus consistently good food equals happy. I haven't had a chance to check out their HH specials, but it's on my to do list. All the menus from happy hour to lunch, dinner and drinks etc are easily accessible on the website, which I really appreciated.
Favorites were the thali sampler platters we had at brunch, crispy cauliflower and delicious naan. They also have online ordering & reservations FYI. This place was suggested to us by some of our vegetarian friends for a brunch option. Ok, I was definitely weirded out by the idea of having indian food for brunch, but decided to give a shot anyway as I've heard very good things. I can say that I am pleasantly surprised! I started out with the masala bloody mary, which tbh, was a little strange and tasted too much like indian food. It definitely wasn't bad, just...unusual, I guess? Anyway, I then switched to the chai sangria which was ah-mazing! Everyone else in my party was very happy with their drinks, I believe they got some kind of coffee/chai cocktail concoction. We got the crispy cauliflower as an app, which everyone thought was fantastic. Then for brunch, I got the spicy chicken and waffles which were insanely delicious! My BF got the BYO omelet which he said was "good" meaning it wasn't the best, but pretty decent. I'd love to come back here sometime for dinner and will update my review once I do! My roommates and I came to IndeBlue for Restaurant Week Brunch. We immediately liked how the restaurant was decorated - the wall decorations were beautiful and the atmosphere was great (casual yet traditional and classy). However, maybe because it was restaurant week, the restaurant was very loud and crammed. Below are the dishes we tried. The restaurant week menu allowed each of us to order an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert (which was the same for everyone)
Appetizers:
- Crispy Spinach Chaat: 4.5/5 - The flavor and texture were so great in this dish. It was just salty enough and the crispiness was perfect. The sauce drizzled on top was great and this dish is great to share. Definitely recommend!
- Vegetable Samosa Chaat: 3.5/5 - A pretty standard samosa with a nice filling and crunchy wrapping. The chickpeas served with the chaat were great!
- Crispy Cauliflower: 3.5/5 - This cauliflower sort of tasted like buffalo sauce. It was really creative but the breaded coating was too thick for me personally.
Entrees:
- Chicken and Waffles: I can't give a rating for this one since I didn't try it but my roommates who ordered this dish really enjoyed it. They were extremely impressed with the dish and said it was very filling as well.
- Chole Bhature: 4/5 - The bhatura was really delicious - fluffy and soft. I am a huge fan of chickpeas so I ordered this dish. It was pretty good but nothing super unique or creative.
Dessert:
- Dessert Sampler Trio: 4/5 - The three desserts were a scoop of chocolate mousse, gulab jamun (fried dough ball soaked in syrup), and a rice pudding. I really liked all three! The chocolate mousse was rich and not to sweet while the gulab jamun was very fluffy and light on the inside. The rice pudding was also not too sweet. It was nice to be able to try all three!
Overall, Indeblue is a great spot for a modern and fun Indian cuisine. A great place to come with friends for a casual yet nice meal. My fiancee and I had dinner here on a weekend trip to Philadelphia. Everything we ordered was amazingly good, well prepared and fresh. The service was excellent. We did not drink here so can not comment on the drinks. But the atmosphere was a perfectly romantic and intimate. The room was well decorated. The staff and server friendly. The server knew the menu and made great recommendations. I will be back and this will be one of our regular restaurants on our visits to Philly. My previous review was taken down by yelp because it didn't meet the requirement for review guidelines. This is very disappointing and frustrating for consumers because not a lot of people have time to write a well-thought-out review. Also, what more can I say about the food other than it sucked? So here it goes.
It was restaurant week and I ordered Koliwada shrimp taco, Chicken makhani and paneer bhurji. None of those things tasted good. Also, there was no flavor. It tasted very watered down and didn't taste like Indian food.
Koliwada Shrimp Taco: I only got 1 taco. The shrimp was not fried in Koliwadi style. It was a regular American style battered shrimp. The taco had mayo!? Why wouldn't you make it more Indian since it is called Koliwada taco and not just shrimp taco!?
Chicken Makhani - It was sour and tomatoie. It didn't taste like there was any butter added either. It didn't have any character to it. I can buy a carton of tomatoe juice from a grocery store and add boiled chicken to it and make it a better tasting chicken makhani.
Paneer Bhurji - Again, this did not have any character to it. I did not taste the paneer. They added a lot of different cheese to it. Why would you add cheese to paneer bhurji that already has paneer is beyond me.
Overall a beyond disappointing expericnce.
Service was slow but that's fine. I understand that it was a busy day. This place was ridiculously good, and the service outstanding.
We went with a group of 6 last night, and ordered the curried cauliflower appetizer with naan. Most at our table had ordered the "mixed grill" which was a wonderful blend of the flavors and choices on the menu.
Everything was served on the coolest plates I've ever seen, a cut of sawed off tree!
Add to the menu an awesome beer list, and you have a restaurant I definitely want to visit again! This place has a great brunch! To start there is a live sitar player... Come on, that is pretty unique touch! When we first came in we thought it was just music played through speakers. After we walked through the restaurant, we realized it was live and it was beautiful and relaxing. It was just the extra touch needed to seal the experience.
First and foremost, order the rose mimosa! It was delicate and delicious and four dollars... I'm now regretting that I didn't get several. It isn't as sugary as orange juice and the flavor beautifully complimented the champagne.
We ordered the samosas for our appetizer and those were extremely tasty. They were piping hot and perfectly plated.
I ordered the non-vegetarian thali for my main dish and it was delectable! It is a lot of food, but I can honestly say I did not leave a single morsel behind. Each sample had a great flavor. I wish it was a bit spicier, but that is certainly a personal preference. This is an excellent choice to try several options without committing to just one. It's an indecisive persons dream come true!
More seal the deal five star characteristics included: how attentive and available the wait staff was. Our waitress was quick to answer any questions and to ensure our food was enjoyable. Not to mention, when the check came not much damage was done considering the quality and quantity we had received.
I highly recommend this restaurant and I hope to be back soon for dinner!! Excellent food!! We were visiting town and went there for weekend brunch after reading the reviews. The food was extremely delicious. We ordered Chana bhature which was the best I have had in a really long time!! Masala and egg kathi roll was pretty good too!
A must go place!! It's kinda crazy, but this unexpected last minute decision to try out Indeblue's happy hour specials may have been the best culinary experience since our transplant to the City of Brotherly Love. I think the best way to describe Indeblue is that it's a hipster new-age Indian-fusion restaurant. Alright, so all of these words make my own skin crawl, but truth be told, the food is awesome! My recommendations: try every dish on the happy hour menu, especially the pizza!
When my wife and I arrived at 6pm, we were lucky enough to find the last remaining seats at the bar and met one of the friendliest and talented bartender, who really treated us like long-lost friends and allowed us to be who we are, which is just exuding PDA at full force. With the exception of the wings, my wife and I tried everything (not exaggeration). My favorite, which to my surprise, was the pizza, as it was served on a warm nan drizzled with a special spicy sauce and sprinkled with soft and yummy cheese. I also enjoyed the stuffed pepper and the spicy baozi. If you have to be picky, then I may skip out on the kale salad (too fried), veggie samosa (it was alright, but forgettable), and the pork egg rolls (too high starch to meat ratio). Since I wasn't feeling the super sweet happy hour cocktails, the bartender (whom I forgot his name, but he works there often) made me a special scotch cocktail that had amazing subtle flavors and he spent a great deal describing the nuances in detail. The best part is that after all this food, we spent less than $80 (after tax and tip) and left feeling stuffed like kings. P
Please be advised that the main (regular menu) items are quite pricy and is not reflected on this review.
o Food: 5 stars
o Service (bar): 7 stars
o Ambiance: 3-4 stars
o Price (happy hour): 5 stars Vegetarian & Gluten Free welcome!!! 5 stars for Taste of the food, Service & Ambiance of this place I went September 11, 2014. I love Indian food and have eaten at several places both in and outside of Philadelphia but IndeBlue is by far the best. the server told me that the owner is the Chef. This explains why the food is soooo gooood!!! The food has such great flavor!!! The server suggested the crispy spinach chaat and omgeeeee I'm glad she did. The flavor was so bold it lasted on my taste buds well after I swallowed!!!! The diver scallops were delicious. Save the sauce for your Naan bread!!! The lamb balti was very tender and flavorful. The food came fast and the service was good. I will be back!!!! My new favorite place!!! I only went here for after dinner drinks and to meet up with friends however I think this place deserves a great review! I would highly recommend this place for date night or an intimate group dinner. The restaurant is beautiful, decor is modern and elegant. The bartender and waitstaff are all pleasant.
I had the Chai Sutra drink and my husband had East meets West (chai bourbon). Both drinks were great, the chai tastes pretty authentic compared to what we get at home. Definitely looking forward to dining here! This place was so great. I live a few blocks from here and didn't even know about it til a few friends took me. They have such a great happy hour and their food is reasonable and delicious. Jeff was an amazing bartender. He was super knowledgeable when it comes to the menu and provided the best customer service. Will be coming here every week! Not sure what all the fuss is about. Nice atmosphere and our service was excellent but I've had much better for much less. Of course it was one visit, so maybe I missed out on some of their better dishes. The samosas were very good but my lamb entree was disappointing. I have been here several times for happy hour (but not for a full meal, so I can't comment on that), and I have never been disappointed. The happy hour is daily from 5-7. It is a small bar area, so you should try to get there early. I love the Indian fusion food that they serve. My favorites are the crispy cauliflower, tikka naan pizza, and shrimp koliwada soft taco. Their cocktails, with an Indian twist, are also delicious. I definitely recommend this restaurant for happy hour! My cousin recommended me this place when I went to visit philly this past weekend. Great food and awesome service! They really do care about their customers and it shows through. The ambience is great! It's very unique and we had an amazing dining experience! There's not a single con I can think about. Highly recommend his place! I cancelled my original reservation to another restaurant and asked a friend for a recommendation which led me to Indeblue. The lighting is set for a relaxing meal with candles on every table. I sat down and ordered the Bollywood Sparkler - pomegranate and bubbles are the high points of this drink that comes in a champagne flute and the light pink tones play off the flickering candles. The pomegranate adds just enough sweetness while the bubbles create a light air-ness to the drink. So not super sweet which I appreciate. For my entree I got the Pork Vindaloo which is braised pork (boneless), pearl onions, garlic, red wine vinegar jaggery and fingerling potatoes. There were not a lot of the potatoes or onions in the Vindaloo but that is probably by design. The entree is noted as "Spicy" on the menu and it was up there. When I travelled to India I would judge the heat level if it made me sweat or not and if my nose started to run. Well... this meal touched on both of these and I loved it. Whoa! It was a darker sauce but the spices were all there and the pork chunks easily split with a fork. Delicious!! I had to get an order of the Garlic Naan. The Naan came out warm with noticeable pieces of garlic and brushed with butter so you could easily break it with your hands. Loved it! I think this place would be amazing for a group meal. Love the cute atmosphere inside this place and food is delicious (: Very vegan friendly as well. We went here for restaurant week which can decrease the normal quality. We started with the spinach chaat and drums of heaven. The spinach chaat had nice flavor but was incredibly oily for the second half of the dish which was hard to eat. The drums of heaven were good normal fried chicken wings. For entree we had the lamb rogan josh and butter chicken and both of them were very unimpressive. The lamb sauce had an almost sour taste to it which was unappealing. The butter chicken was incredibly salty and lacked the usual depth of flavor that indian curry has. The dessert was the best part of the meal with a fresh beignet, cinnamon ice cream, and cardamom rice pudding. Every year during the Midtown Fall Festival (for four years running now), I swing by 13th and Locust for a taste of Indeblue's signature appetizer, the "Drums of Heaven." Need to come back to try the rest of the menu soon. Pretty solid Indian food in Center city.
Place is always packed. Beautiful decor. I recommend the lamb lollipops and the crispy spinach. This is Indian food served with a refreshing modern twist. We ordered a stuffed mirchi as appetizer and Malai kofta, pindi chole and garlic mama as entre. And I have to say that every single dish was just outstanding. But the real winner was their fig ice cream with a texture as soft as a silk. I would highly recommend this place for food lovers in Philly! One of the BEST lunch spots out there! High quality, delicious Indian fusion. But they still do the traditional stuff really really well.
Their express lunch for $15 is basically a steal. It comes with an appetizer and an entree. For appetizers, you can choose a chaat, salad, soup, or one of their super yummy fusion plates.
Appetizers I like:
-The drums of heaven (battered chicken wings with blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili and scallions) are so perfectly flavored. Crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. And you get 4 of these amazing things
-Naan pizza! They have different flavors all the time. The one I tried had paneer, red peppers, red onions, herbs, and mozzarella
-Barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls, you get 2 rolls cut into 4 pieces in total. It comes with a super yummy dipping sauce of tamarind barbeque and blue cheese wine.
-Stuffed long hot peppers. You get 2 big ol' smoked green peppers, stuffed with house-made paneer, mozzarella, deghi chili, spring onions, with a fresh tomato sauce on the bottom.
-Aloo makkai tikki are these 2 yummy spiced potato cakes with corn and apple chutney.
ALL SUPER TASTY!
Entrees:
-The best one is chicken tikka makhani (butter chicken). The chicken is apparently free range, and obviously delicious. the sauce is beautifully spiced, and tastes right. Not like the nasty overly creamy ones I have to eat in New Jersey :( It's served with fenugreek, black pepper, saffron rice, which is so delicious, but still needs to be drowned in the beautiful makhani sauce.
- Lamb rogan josh is also really good! It's a less interesting tasting sauce in my opinion, but still delicious. Kinda like a lamb stew but spiced with an Indian flair. The lamb had a great, tender texture, and the sauce was so hearty and yummy. This also came with the awesome herb rice.
Overall, an awesome date place!! The ambiance is really nice, roomy, clean, and dimly-lit. The $15 express lunch is just unreal. Came here for my husband's birthday. I e-mailed the restaurant beforehand to see if we could do the Chef's Tasting menu and to see if they had their liquor license. Early the next morning I received a phone call from the restaurant answering my questions. The person was super friendly and assured us that we would have a great meal.
My husband and I did the chef's tasting with the wine pairings. The food was great and our server was super sweet. There was a bit of food timing issues but we totally understood b/c they just opened three days prior to our dinner.
I know this may sound silly, but my only "complaint" isn't really a complaint just a comment on the end of our meal. When dessert came the servers and the chef came to the table and sang happy birthday to my husband. I KNOW they meant so well but I felt like we were at the olive garden. I would have loved to just have a subtle candle in the dessert and perhaps the musicians on the floor would play happy birthday very discretely. just a thought.
All in all the dinner was very nice, a bit expensive, but good for a celebration. This place is great! Fantastic for date night (maybe not a first date though). It's a bit noisy so be warned. But the service and food is really great. Price is on the high end for Indian food but hey it's an upscale joint in Midtown so it's expected...and worth it! It's very popular so make a reservation. And most guys are wearing jackets so get dressed up and enjoy! Ambience.
Perfect menu.
Deep flavors.
Handsome stranger sitting across from me.
How could I not love this place? Absolutely the best Indian cuisine I have ever had. From start to finish, presentation to service to the taste was impeccable. I didn't know food can taste this good! Well worth the every penny. Never ending compliments to the chef! Our server for the night took care of my date and I very well. I highly recommend all their dishes. I had the coconut rasam sea bass, and it was creamy and smooth and a whole set of different flavors having a party in my mouth. Indeblue, you are amazing. My friends and I stumbled onto here while looking for a quick bite to eat before going out. We ended up staying until 1 am or so.
I usually don't give out 5 stars unless it is really exceptional. Their lamb dishes were savory and amazing and their raita dip (yougurt, cucumber, and spices) is the best I've had. Not only that, but we came in 15 minutes before the kitchen closed and the staff was extremely accommodating. The kitchen staff put their best even late at night.
To boot, he bartender whipped up a mean tamarita which was tequila and tamarind juice. It's too bad we found it so late in our trip because I would've loved to sit in the dining area, which was really cute and cozy, very different from the Indian restaurants I go to (but to be honest, this was an American, modern twist to Indian food).
The hospitality was enough to earn them 5 stars and it's even better when the food is good. Check them out and look out for Cory to be your bartender! The ambiance and service were great. I also really appreciated that the menu was limited to a few pages, versus the tome of variations on the theme you often find in Indian restaurants. The menu also helpfully labels gluten-free and vegan options.
I'd definitely go back when visiting Philly again. I visited Indeblue with friends on this past Sunday. We ordered spinach chaat which looked pretty interesting but tasted okayish. The chicken in Madras chicken was not very fresh and the Chicken Makhani tasted like tomato basil soup you get at Panera bread. The server was very attentive and they took note of this critique. The Gulab Jamun was good. This restaurant used to be good, I am not sure what happened. I was in India in November and have since been constantly on the lookout for amazing Indian food whenever or wherever I get the chance. This place did not disappoint. First thing that strikes you is the decor which are a perfect balance of a modern upscale restaurant but with an Indian flair. I had to try the paneer tikka as that is my favorite. The sauce was a touch too "tomatoey " but it was still excellent and the paneer was perfect. I also had the vegetable samosas and the accompanying sauce was perfection! Nice house wine paired with excellent service and definitely a place worth visiting ! Went for a work even this week - the food was DELICIOUS, and John was great at making suggestions and keeping my wine glass full! Looking forward to going back. The food was to die for, ambience was elegant and service was EXCELLENT! We had crispy spinach chat, drums of heaven, lamb chops and the laal Maas. Each dish was cooked to perfection and served in style. The tastes are nirvana for the tongue. We savored and Enjoyed every bite I'm giving this review base on service and take out.i was really impressed...
I come at 9pm to order food to go and immediacy was greeted by a very nice gentleman.He offered me a seat at the bar while i looked over the menu and he poured me a delicious cocktail.Very much appreciate that I can get a drink while waiting.He was very helpful as he went over a lot of menu options to help me choose and I feel as thought I got exactly what I looking for base on the recommendation .
The food,even after i finally got home,was delicious.Definitely worth my dollars ,I ill be back soon... Ate here last night for Restaurant Week. I already can't wait to return. The food is spectacular. Jason, our server, was funny, attentive without being overbearing, and offered superb recommendations. All of our food was delicious. The cocktails are tasty and innovative. The food was spicy but not uncomfortably so! A fabulous evening! This review is for Brunch on a Saturday...
My dear friend was in town for the weekend and we were going to the Flower Show. Across the street there was over an hour wait at the "breakfast place"... We saw the " Brunch" sign outside Indeblue and decided to give it a try. So glad we did! (Side note- on Sunday we ate at the "breakfast place". It was good. But for the price and value, Indeblue was a much better meal and experience.).
We both ordered different omelets. Mine was all veggie and cheese. It came with desi home fries which were sweet potato and onion - out if this world yummy. It also came with a spicy dipping sauce which added a unique flavor to the omelet and was great with the naan bread. This was all for $10.
Although we didn't have one, they also serve bottomless mimosas.
The service was extremely attentive - but note we were the only ones there at 11:00 am when they opened. Eventually the tables began to fill up and the service remained excellent.
The restaurant is warm and elegant with beautiful lighting and decorations. I would imagine, though, when they are busy it might get a bit loud. I was in the Philadelphia area a while back and wanted to get some dinner. We yelped Indian food in this area and this restaurant was the first one to pop up. Everything from the pics of the food to the decor looked amazing and the rating were also great so we decided to go there. We def made a good choice. For appetizers we ordered the drums of heaven and the long hot stuff peppers. Wow def a great start to the dinner. Now on to the entrees, we ordered the chicken madras, chicken makhani, palak paneer, malai kofta, lamb biriyani and assorted roti and naans. We left with a little doggy bag but we were beyond stuffed. The only thing that sucks about this place is that it's an hour and half away from my house. We will def be back when we are in the area. Indian cuisine is probably my favorite ethnic cuisine. I am very critical of Indian food as it can be difficult to prepare. IndeBlue knocks it out of the park. I would say there is an American twist on their Indian food, but the authentic flavor profiles are always there. I have been once for restaurant week, and once my birthday. Restaurant week service was slow, but I guess that is expected.
Every single thing I've eaten here has been so good. The cocktails are unique and eclectic. The indebluetini is delicious. The bloody mary is also really good. My only gripe is the service. My birthday was the kicker. There were about 14 people for brunch. They literally made us get up as a reservation was coming in. We were not there for an extended period of time. We were rushed after an hour into the meal, and we were not even onto dessert at this point. It was very rude, and the server had a bit of a tude. Despite the service, the food is what keeps me coming back. Appetizers were nice..
Cocktails were the best charm.. blend of lavender tea spices chillies something..
Entrees were ok..
Parking was an issue.. we ran two minutes over the meter and ended up getting a ticket I came here on a Thursday night for happy hour (5-7pm) with 2 friends... The bar was full so they seated us at a small table near the entrance. This was my first time here and despite having high expectations, I was very impressed! The food and drinks were flavorful and unique.
We ordered 4 appetizers and 2 rounds of drinks between the 3 of us and the bill came out to only $50!
Drinks ($5 each)
-chikni shandar (my favorite one!): sparkling wine with chai and cardamom. Tastes just like sangria with an Indian twist
-rose gimlet: if you like gin, this is a must!
-spicy lychee margarita: chili-infused tequila adds an interesting kick
-indebluetini: just like a spiced maaza mango juice
Food ($3-5)
-spinach chaat: the best spinach you will ever have... Crispy spinach with onions, tomatoes topped with yogurt chutney and sev (thin crunchy noodles)
-naan pizza: with tandoori marinated paneer and caramelized onions
-aloo makkai tikki: still not sure how I feel about the apple chutney but overall an average dish
-stuffed peppers: gets progressively more spicy as you near the end of the pepper with seeds.
Looking forward to coming back for their late night happy hour (9pm-close) and trying a thali! I came here for the first time during their happy hour. We mostly ordered their cocktail drinks and some appetizers. Ambience is really nice. It's also very clean and classy looking. Our server came to check on us often.
I tried the ginger Jadoo and it was great for the happy hour price, $5. They could have used a little bit more alcohol and ginger.
For apps: I tried the chicken tikka naan pizza for $5 (which tasted exactly like the pizza from India). I loved it. Spinach chaat was ok. They could have used a bit more ingredients into it. But the taste was good with all the chutneys.
Although, ambience and food was great, I wouldn't recommend this place for authentic Indian food. I feel like this place is made for people who wants some fake Indian food. Everything was a bit more Americanized than Indian. I would come back here to give it another go for their actual entrees. Wanted to give 2 1/2 stars but that's not an option. Couldn't bring myself to do 3. Kind of disappointed today. I have had only great things to say about IndeBlue in the past. Not sure if today was an off day for them or me or if their standards are diminishing.
Ordered lamb chops ($24 for 6) we'll done and dosa as appetizers. I stressed well done to the waitress. WELL they weren't! About a medium well, slight pink inside. Most people would say I am ruining the chops having them well done, but, guess what, you like what you like and the wife and I like them well done. The dosa was not that nice golden brown it should be. Although it was crispy, the color resembled an undercooked pancake. The tawa probably wasn't hot enough. The coconut chutney was the driest I've had an any Indian restaurant and the sambar was the consistency of paste. Nice flavors, but we eat with our eyes first!!
Main course, wife had the non-veg thali. That was good as always. I tried the bacon egg wrap for the first time and, again asked the waitress for the bacon to be well done. AGAIN, it was not!! So I had to open up the wrap and pick through what I could eat.
The chai sangria and rose petal mimosas ($5 each during brunch) were still decent. The live tabla and sitar players were great as always.
I am told they are updating their brunch menu next week. One bad experience won't keep me away, I will give them another chance. If the next trip is anything like this.............. We were there for my wife's birthday with a couple of friends. We enjoyed it but I thought the food was average although the food presentation and the restaurant's ambiance were excellent. Perhaps the small plates were more appealing than the large ones. We went here (on a double date) for restaurant week last night, and WOW I was so impressed. I'll preface this with the fact that I'm a pretty hypercritical restaurant diner, and honestly, I left having no complaints with our experience and food. We came here looking for a place that we typically wouldn't go to since it was restaurant week, and I'll definitely be coming back someday.
First of all, the decor and service were great. The interior was very beautifully decorated, and felt intimate with the dim lighting. Great as a date spot or with a group of friends. We never had empty water glasses and the entire host of servers were very attentive and polite. The courses came out very well paced (maybe for some, a slightly long of a wait between courses since it was very busy last night, but I prefer to have a little gap between courses as I'm a slow eater and get overwhelmed when everything comes out too fast).
For the first course I had the spinach chaat, which was out of this world. I wasn't expecting spinach to be so tasty. It was flash fried with these little crispy noodle things on top and some veggies and tasty sauce underneath. That set the bar high, but nothing after disappointed. For all the courses, the group got something different, so we all shared. The others got the chicken chaat which was very tender and flavorful, and also the vegetable samosa which I tried also and liked.
For the second course I got the tandoori chicken wings which just fell off the bone and the spices used were perfect. came with a little salad of veggies on the side which I gobbled up too. My friends got fried cauliflower which was also delicious, the fish taco which was sweet and tasty, and the stuffed long hot which was deliciously cheesy.
For the main course, I got lamb saag, Again, the meat was so tender, like nothing I've had before with a wonderful concoction of spices. It came with some sort of seasoned basmati rice (maybe saffron?) and your choice of naan bread. (get the garlic or rosemary one!) Everything was SO GOOD, and the portions were generous. I actually took half of my entree home for lunch today and can't wait to eat it again! The others got the fish dish, and my boyfriend got the pork one (which I think I liked even better than mine)
Finally for dessert, I had the rice pudding which was very tasty and a nice finish. My friends got the sorbet, and the ice cream pairings. I think my favorite was the sorbet, but all were great. The rose petal ice cream and fig ice cream were something I never tried before, so that was fun.
I wasn't drinking for the night, but all three of the others got the darjeeling cocktail, and all loved it. I would imagine at non-restaurant week, prices are a little steep, but so worth it. I left stuffed and happy, and still happy as I write this rating!
Do yourself a favor, and come here! Love. Love. Love. I had a really nice time at this restaurant with my girlfriends. This place is perfect for a date night or time out with friends. I'm obsessed with the crispy spinach as well as the crispy cauliflower. I actually chose to have the crispy spinach as my entree it was so delicious. The manager was very kind and after a brief conversation he treated us to a dessert to share. We had fried banana with vanilla ice cream and caramel. This is a must for Indian food lovers in Philadelphia. One of my favorite brunch spots in philly! Endless mimosas are a great deal, chicken and waffles are amazing, and the service was great. Laurie was such a sweetheart! Happy Hour is the best hour of the day at Indeblue. Great food, great drinks, leave happy. Fully recommend everything on the menu...partial to the Mumbai Mirch. Lived in London and Scotland for the better part of 12 years. Never thought Indian cuisine could be bettering Philly but this is the best we've ever had. Great atmosphere. Excellent foot. Great value for the price. My friend who is a vegetarian (ish) was in town for the night and wanted to get dinner, hm, where to take a vegetarian out of towner where I can love my meal and check out a new place? Consulted my bookmarks and opentable and boom, Indeblue. Excellent choice.
PRO TIP:
Sign up for their emails and you will get a $10 off coupon emailed to you (and I think you get something on your bday and anniversary because they asked for that too. I put my anniversary of being single so I can celebrate with myself when that comes up...)
VIBE:
Gorgeous space and ambiance, tables are spaced out which is nice, and service was very friendly.
FOOD:
--Menu is very vegetarian friendly (they have a whole veggie menu section), which is part of the reason I picked it and it did not let us down.
--Dahi Avocado Chat- Our waiter actually forgot to bring this out but even after he put it in it came out super quickly. It was very interesting and really delicious. It was cold, which I didn't expect for some reason, but I was into it.
--Stuffed Red Pepper- very good, and surprisingly big for $14. We had leftovers
--Lamb Rogan Josh-also good sized portion, very tender, great flavors. More leftovers.
DRINKS:
--Indebluetini is delicious-like a less creamy mango lassi cocktail.
--Karma chai sutra was my selection and I had serious drink envy, this tasted like a chai spiced white russian and was way too milky for me. Not a fan, but that's more of a personal preference.
My friend and I had a lot of catching up to do, and probably spent 3 hours there and never felt rushed, which was awesome. Great spot, prices were reasonable, great atmosphere, and good food, definitely recommend! Also definitely want to check out their happy hour. This place is a gem. Came here because the wait at the brunch place across the street was way too long. They were incredibly accommodating with making me a vegan thali (slightly modifying the vegetarian one), and the food was delicious. Had a really excellent brunch here on Sunday with Vinny P. and Cat D. after a morning of shopping. Our stomachs were rumbly, El Vez was packed and we were about to make our way to Perch Pub when Vinny stopped in his tracks and said, "hey, how does Indian sound?". Now traditionally, Indian would not be my first go-to for brunch cuisine, but given that I'm typically a savory bruncher over sweet figured why the heck not. First off, there was no wait and we were seated immediately upon entry. We could have sat at the empty bar had the restaurant been full, but that wasn't a necessity so to a table we went. Our server was very enthusiastic, as waters were being poured she sold us on their $4 garam masala bloody Mary's and rose mimosas; off to a good start if you ask me.
Though bloody Mary's are a meal in and of themselves, it was time to buckle down and decide what to have for an entrée. Right up until our waitress came back to take our order, I was still undecided and had her choose for me; I was torn between an Indian spiced egg and bacon wrap and the chicken tikka wrap that had recently been added to the menu. Chicken tikka was the final determination, while Vinny ordered a thali plate and Cassie went with a few vegan options of chickpeas and potatoes. My chicken tikka wrap was pretty damn good, the chicken was tender, the crisp cucumbers in side were a nice cooling feel against the spice of the chicken...would I order it again? Absolutely. Served on the side were a few masala fries and a sweet chili aioli; delicious.
When I first moved to the city 6 years ago my first question to my landlord was how to know which Chinese food restaurants were worth eating from in Chinatown; he told myself and my roommates to always follow where the Chinese dine because that's the real-deal. When it comes to Indeblue, the fact that the space is beautiful, the prices are completely reasonable for brunch, and many Indian families spending their Sunday afternoon here all lean toward this being the real-deal and a new staple in the brunch rotation. This review is based on a restaurant week experience; I get that it isn't always the most accurate example of a places cuisine. I had super high expectations going into my meal here. Some of the things were alright. The spinach chaat was okay, but it was sort of reminiscent of bar food. Fried spinach leaves with onions, tomatoes, cheese and some white sauce (aoli maybe?). If you would have subbed out the spinach with a chip, you would almost have nachos. Best way to describe it. I had the mussels and they were alright. Cooked perfectly in a tomato based sauce but very small. Not served with a plate to discard shells. Then to the chicken tikka: really unimpressed. I have eaten lots of different takes on this British/Indian staple, and have grown to love it as one of my favorite foods. The rice that Indeblue had was excellent (how can you mess that up, really), but the tikka was one of the worst attempts of the dish I have ever had. The sauce was lacking, and the chicken was just like giant chunks of boiled chicken breast. No flavor whatsoever, and the meat was much too hard to cut into bite sized pieces with a fork. Aside from the tikka disaster, the garlic naan was really good, and the fig ice cream with praline pecans was outstanding.
Outside of the meal, we ordered two house cocktails (mediocre and pricey) and two hot chia teas. The chai tea is made in house, and was very good.
The service was great, the atmosphere was crowded but alright. My three star review mainly comes from my disappointment in the tikka and starter courses.
For the money, I would much sooner go elsewhere for a date night. For Indian food, I will stick to Tiffin or Mood in the area. Looking for a spot to have Sunday brunch? Stop. Right. Now.
IndeBlue has the most amazing brunch I've been to. We weren't sure what to expect but were extremely impressed! We got more food than we could finish and it was all extremely good. If I had a second stomach I would've filled it up! The rose water mimosa was unique, refreshing, and super delicious! The atmosphere was great and the decor was gorgeous. I would love to come back and have dinner here. Peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, Corey and Topanga, Indian and brunch? Now one of those may make your eyebrows arch but trust me...they're all perfect combos!
Indeblue is one of my favorite brunch spots in Philly, it's freaking fantastic. The brunch menu is pretty extensive and the prices are on point. Service was as good as the masala chai (and oh yes, it's good). Tried the chole bhature [Sun Brunch $10] (flavorful chickpeas eaten with a large piece of bread that's bigger than my face) + chicken tikka makhani (tender chunks of chicken swimming in awesome sauce [Sun Brunch $12]. It was the perfect atmosphere for a casual Sunday brunch, the sitar and tabla players are so talented and it transports you to a wonderful place to relax and dine.
Our water glasses were always more than half full, for all you optimists out there. The only issue we had was that our bill had the brunch price swapped with the dinner price, an easy fix and the only lil hiccup in the dining experience.
Once you dine here, you may not stop ;) Came here with a group for brunch and it was great! Great service and the food was great as well. Definitely recommend trying the samplers they have, which have both vegetarian and non vegetarian options. Would gladly go back. I'm so full and satisfied I can barely type this. Yet, I will do my due diligence to try to express how much I loved this place. Words just don't seem to be enough. I came here for restaurant week, it was my first trip here. I've been hearing great things and decided RW was a great chance to try a great spread. I loved the ambiance the minute I walked in. The food was honestly amazing. I absolutely loved the spinach chaat. The vegetarian thali was out of this world! I love dal makhani and this was the best I've had. Everything in the thali was sooo piping hot and stayed hot so it tasted super fresh. And dessert?? Oh GOD dessert shot me straight to food heaven! I ordered the banana nirvana which was fantastic but the fig option was unexpectedly phenomenal! It took me by surprise. I never thought I could loooove figs like that! Overall an amazing time with friends and fabulous food! Can't wait to come back for happy hour! Wonderful experience at IndeBlue! A different twist than a typically brunch with its Indian flair. Our server Derrick was also very knowledgeable about the menu and incredibly pleasant. Overall the entire experience at IndeBlue will make this a place I stop by again next time I'm in Philly. This might be my new place for happy hour. My BF said we have to come back for dinner since what we ordered at the bar menu were really good. Stuffed long hot pepper was to die for...so good. Drums of heaven, pork samosa rolls and the lamb poutine were all amazing.
The only disappointment dish was the crispy cauliflower - it was bitter. The flavor was supposed to be like the drums of heaven, but somehow I dont think the flavor go together. It was not "crispy" - it was soggy bc of the sauce. Unless they need to remaster this dish again, my advice is to skip it. I've had better cauliflower dish. A bit loud and this place lacks intimacy. Long tables facilitate group meetings though. Pinot noir was good. Service is a bit slow. The food is really yummy. Worth the wait. Appetizers and entrees great. Not too sure about the cinnamon ice cream. Looking for a super filling lunch that won't break the bank? Try IndeBlu's express lunch, which allows you to select an appetizer as well as a small plate or entree for your lunch meal. The amount of food was so much for me that I had it packed up and had dinner later on!
For my appetizer I selected the tandoori chicken naan pizza. To be honest, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting - if I hadn't known that the pizza was made with naan, I wouldn't have had any clue. It seemed just like a regular personal sized pizza. It was tasty, with a little bit of Indian seasonings and delicious peppers, in addition to the chicken and cheese.
For my entree, I got the chicken makhani. To be honest, I really didn't have much of a clue what I was ordering, I just know that I like chicken, and figured I'd give it a shot. The menu I had didn't mention that it was a "butter chicken" dish, which might have given me a better idea. Nonetheless, I thought that the chicken was delicious and flavorful, and just the right tenderness with the meat. The rice was a bit on the bland side, but the sauce on the chicken made up for it.
All in all, the food here was pretty good - my husband ordered the chicken madras, which I sampled and we both agreed that the makhani was far better. So if you're visiting, I'd definitely recommend that dish. Can't wait to come back and try a bit more of the menu! Awesome Indian meal after a very long drive! Our server Lori suggested dishes and we listened to her. So glad that I did! Spinach chat, paneer toast, Saag bahar, Black Daal, Kashmiri Naan and Roti!! All were delicious. Made with ghee! Yum! Will return soon. She made the dinner even better by bringing us two cups of chai so I don't fall a sleep at the wheel as we continue our drive north on I-95. Thank you Lori! Coming from an Indian who has lived all her life there this is by far the most interesting twist of cuisine and really epic modern Indian I have ever had! Ofcourse it is the restaurant week so make the best of it! Insane naan pizza and spinach chat! The fig ice cream is just insane! Inspiration at its best :) Came here during CC Sips/Happy hour with 2 friends. Oh my gosh, where has this restaurant been all my life. The drinks, food, and service was phenomenal. The Ginger Twist cocktail was just perfect. The Spinach Chaat.... I would come back just to eat this all day long. Drums of heaven were flavored just right, not overly saucy. Naan Pizza and the bread basket were delicious as well. Definitely want to come back for their happy hour again and try items on their dinner menu. I pulled up to Indeblue and saw a bunch of Indians inside, instant street cred.
Usually trendy indian restaurants are attended by essentially the same diverse crowd you would expect at any downtown restaurant. The heavy sprinkling of my brethren elevated my expectations.
The feel and decor are center city standard.
The menu has a mix of standard indian menu items like chicken tikka masala and chana masala, with a mix of "fusion-esque" dishes. Interestingly, they started off with a sample soup, spinach-mozzarella. So weird. It tasted like spinach soup...with mozzarella. I dont think we have mozzarella cheese in India. They seem to do the latter really well, while the former is about average to above average.
Started with the spinach chaat. This was great. Flash fried spinach, with the usual mixing of chaat toppings. We then shared chicken korma with 2 side sized baingan bharta and daal makhani. Chicken korma was good, but just good. The baingan bharta was the best of the dishes as we could actually taste that the eggplant was roasted. Daal makhani was par for the course. Our bill, for 2 people with 2 drinks each was surprisingly affordable.
Overall, a place worth visiting. I may stick to the newer fusion items as they seem to do this particularly well. This has to be the best brunch in town--not only for the Indian food, specials, and also because I don't have to endure 2 hour waits. I've been here twice in the past year with a large group and have enjoyed the food. They have sampler plates and an eclectic mix of brunch and a flavorful Indian meal.
They have a sitar player at noon, who plays masterfully without being overly intrusive for conversation. The service is brisk, but we were allowed to linger, even on a Sunday. I have eaten here several times- never EVER disappointed!!! Absolutely delicious. Fantastic food and drinks. My boyfriend and I always over order here, in hopes that we'll have leftovers for the next couple of days. We love everything we've tried! A new favorite!
I have been here a few times and will always recommend this place for amazing Indian food.
If you have never tried the cuisine before, do the tasting menu. It's worth it at less than $40 a person. The spinach chaat is incredible! Very good samosa chaat as well. I'm a huge fan of the malai kofta and the paneer tikka. My friends love the chicken makhani.
Fabulous service as well! We visited Philly for an event and looked up this place on Yelp and saw that it had excellent reviews. Our waitress, Lori (who is an amazing server) was extremely helpful in her descriptions of the dishes. She suggested the spinach chaat, which was AMAZING. We also ordered the lamp chops (delicious), shrimp tacos (delectable) and the spicy chicken and waffles (order with spices on the side if you're not big on waffles with siracha). This is a A1 restaurant. MUST try! I came here a year ago and had a good experience, so I took a friend here tonight. The food was okay-- nothing to write home about but not bad. However, the service was atrocious. The server wasn't rude exactly, but he clearly didn't want to be there and showed absolutely no enthusiasm. More importantly, I basically had to beg to place my order. When the food came, one of our two breads was missing-- as was the rice. The bread that did come was cold and overcooked. After we had clearly finished eating (they had cleared our plates and packed up the leftovers), we waited for at least fifteen minutes for the check. The only reason we got it was that we finally got the attention of the server. There must have been a computer problem or something because it then took him ten minutes to bring back my credit card. I can't recommend this place after having such horrible service. Been here for restaurant week around February. Not like other traditional Indian restaurant, it got quiet elegant vibe. Great cocktail and spirits selection. Pleasantly surprised to find this little gem around the corner from my hotel. Opulent wall decor with a contemporary twist. Refreshing avocado dahi puri to offset the summer heat. Taste meets texture in the perfectly spiced malai kofta. The masala chai was cold, but I was offered a fresh second cup without even asking. Polite, courteous service.
Would definitely come back if I visit Philadelphia again. Great place and ambience. Must try the Goat Mirch Masala. It's more like a $$$ place though. I was expecting delicious food for the price... but disappointed. Too spicy, naan was dry, nothing to write home about. If you're looking for Indian food that beats the typical hole in the wall places in University City with sub par service and questionable cleanliness, this is the place to go. We came here on Diwali so it was pretty lively inside and I was glad we made a reservation because it was a full house (although usually I've heard you can walk in and get a table). There were a couple of larger tables so it looks like they are good at accommodating large groups (6+).
We had a friendly and helpful server, who recommended a few dishes to us. We got 3 appetizers to split among 3 of us: chilled dahi avocado chaat, stuffed long hot peppers, and drums of heaven. All were delicious! For dinner I had the tandoori mixed grill and the lamb chops were some of the best I've ever tasted. I can't wait to go back just to order the lollipop lamb chops. For dessert we split the chocolate sutra. It's not a particularly Indian dish but it was still good.
Love the decor inside, not tacky or gaudy looking. It was trendy, sexy, and overall had a great atmosphere. Will definitely be back! This place is awesome. A quick walk from campus it was the perfect fix for three sleep deprived stressed student on a rainy Friday. The interior decorations give the venue an upscale feel and look while the prices are completely feasible. I had:
The eggplant and hummus dip with triangles of naan and pieces of carrots and celeriac to scoop it all up- scrumptious and flavorful
The chicken tikka wrap- a zesty handful with big chunks of white meat chicken
Seasoned fries- with garlic aioli seasonings. They were crunchy and delightful.
Finished it off with unlimited mimosas for only $20 Indian food art noveau. Everything on our table that included rose mimosas, thali sampler, chicken dishes, and vindaloo skillet were imbibed and ingested well. Everything was excellent. The only problem was trying to decide which dish. Seems like a great place for dinner and HH as well. Brunch was excellent with live Indian music playing. Service was excellent. Highly recommend! Looks like this picky eater has found a good Indian oasis. Warning to those who love vindaloo---I've heard from my fellow dining patrons that it is not that spicy as vindaloo is expected to be. Nevertheless, all excellent and satisfying to the palate! Great ambience, amazing food, small portions and a teensy bit expensive.... But the taste makes it all worthwhile. I tried their lamb chops, dal and a whiskey based cocktail called 'Ginger Jadu'. The lamb chops sealed the deal. Dal was excellent. However, the rice tasted slightly off / not fresh. It could be the whiskey talking ;-) The brunch is top notch in fusion and presentation. We had the masala omelette and chicken tikka wrap with four dollar cocktails. The omelette dish was cooked to a really nice consistency with maple syrup infused bacon and with the included naan we could make our own custom breakfast sandwich; such a good finger food! Also the live sitar music was a sweet aural addition! Great ambience, music and food. Pricey though, considering the small portions. Good food and drink options, combined with great customer service is a winning combination in the food business ;) Slow service, food was not very authentic and overpriced. It seemed they were understaffed and the attitude of the hostess was not very friendly.
We went here for the restaurant week special and it was extremely underwhelming. This was one of the best Indian food I have had! Great place.Very highly recommend it. We were visiting Philli for 4 days and we ate here twice. Will be back. Went for brunch. Fun neighborhood, fresh inventive food and presentation. Sitar music added to the charm. Got introduced to this place by a friend. Definitely recommend it if you are looking for something different & interesting in Indian cuisine. Almost seemed like a fusion to me and a pretty good one as well if I may add. We landed at the restaurant based on the excellent reviews and its closeness to the liberty bell. The rating received by the restaurant is well deserved to say the least. The ambience is warm and bright and the hostess was spot on in her recommendations. The spinach chat was crisp and definitely refreshing after eating soggy chat elsewhere in downtown. The chicken tikka roll was fresh with tender chicken. The wheat roll though could have been thinner to give more flavour to the filling. We were in dual mind to chose the thali but it was warm and fresh. The bread was soft and the curries were simple and filing. We were too full to try the dessert but hope to be back. Love love love love this place. The people who work there are super nice; I once went here with my niece and they gave her a complientary scoop of delicious vanilla ice cream with candied nuts. Everything on the menu tastes amazing. The cocktails are so creative and very boozy. The restaurant is on the more upscale side, which is refreshing for an Indian restaurant, and the prices are set in accordance with this. Go here if you want to go to a 'nice' place for dinner (or lunch) with great food and makes you have a food coma. Good for dates or large groups. I'm so glad I was privileged to try this place in its prime. It's a far cry from where it fell. Chat, oily and soggy as 10 day fryer oil. Crispy cola flower. The same. So much potential mixed with fail. What the heck happened to this restraint?
Ok so gave the manager a chance, completely dissatisfied and she owned it. 4 points!!! That said it lives again to try another day. Customer sat credes.... Delicious, I recommend the rose mimosa and drums of heaven, but everything seems pretty good here. The Bloody Mary is a little different, and you may not like it if you like regular ones, but conversely you may like it if you don't like regular ones. Rice is fluffy and well flavored. Atmosphere is slightly upscale, but the prices are more than fair for good Indian food. Great food ... Great atmosphere ... If you want to try indian food this is the best place in philly ... This review update is for the brunch - dinner is still a solid 5 stars for me! I also enjoyed my brunch, but I still think dinner here is better.
The ambiance obviously does not change from dinner to brunch -- but they do have live sitar and tabla at noon, which is a nice touch.
To start, I ordered chai, and obviously loved it. I don't mean a chai tea latte, I mean real, milky, overly sweet chai, which is just the way I like it. We got the spinach chaat as an appetizer, which you'll know from all the other reviews, is the best dish at this restaurant. I am getting hungry just thinking about it.
For my entree, I decided to have the paneer bhurjee, which is one of the more traditional items on the menu. It came with a small chili cheese naan. It was very flavorful, and I really liked it. The awkward thing was that they naan was pretty small, and I had so much bhurjee left over at the end. I took it home, and tonight, I ordered take-out naan to finish it with...
My friends got the dosa and the french toast, and both were impressed. However, I think that getting the more fusion dishes is the move here, because that's what IndeBlue is good at - putting a new spin on more traditional dishes! This review is only based on their happy hour (5-7pm daily, 9-closing for late night).
So basically, HAPPY HOUR = the best deal, food and drinks ever!! I've tried pretty much everything on their happy hour menu and hands down it is one of my favorite happy hour place in philly!
** Super delicious appetizers (vegetarian and non-vegetarian options)!! My absolute favorites include spinach chaat, drums of heaven, BBQ pork spare rib samosas and shrimp kilowada.
** As for drinks, I always always order chikni shandar (sparkling wine, sangria.. How delicious does that sound?!) - amazing and delicious drink!! I also really like indebluetini and rose gimlet.
Whether I come here with my boyfriend or friends, we just order pretty anything and everything we want and when the check comes out, I always get surprised by how little it cost for ALL the food and drinks we've consumed.
I love the vibe here, a very cute place to hang out, eat and catch up with a friend. It gets crowded 5-7pm so get there early, or late nights are usually less crowded at the bar area! :) Yet another new place in town that meets all expectations. Great design decor - Great staff - HOT bartender :-) Friday night - Early dinner for 4 - Bison wrapped in bacon to start 5 Stars - Dinner was a Seafood Moilee 5+ stars which was outstanding, Others had assorted items from starters and main dishes and not one complaint from a group that is VERY opinionated. Definitely will be back Stopped in for happy hour after a long day of shopping and fell in LOVE! Such a cool vibe as soon as you enter and the waiters/bartenders are very friendly.
We started off with two drinks--the Indebluetini and the Chikni Shandar. The Indebluetini was to die for--it tasted like rich mango pulp infused with vodka. The Chikni Shandar was good, but not what it was advertised to be--I couldn't taste the chai or cardamom, so it was more or less just a sangria/spritzer.
However, the food completely made up for points I might have docked for the drinks. We ordered the naan pizza, the spinach chaat, and the stuffed long hot peppers. The peppers had great flavor but I wished the paneer inside was a bit more firm and less crumbly. The spinach chaat--out of this world! I could eat it for days. Such a unique twist on an Indian staple! And the naan pizza had an amazing range of flavors. The naan itself was perfectly cooked, and the rose petal marmalade, asparagus, and goat cheese all complemented each other so well. This is modern Indian fusion at its finest.
Definitely my favorite spot in Philly--can't wait to be back. I will add that I thought having a Ganesha statue in the middle of the bar surrounded by spirits was a bit distasteful, but only a minor point. Came here with some friends for brunch and it was amazing! The food, atmosphere, live music, and service were all excellent. I had the vindaloo egg skillet with tofu as a replacement for the pork and when the meal came out it looked a bit small. I was wondering if I was going to be hungry still...but let me tell you that plate was more than enough! It was delicious and the perfect brunch meal. My friend ordered the French toast with strawberry and let me have what she couldn't finish. OH MY GOODNESS...that was the BEST french toast I had ever had in my life! I can't wait to go back and order those things again. I highly recommend this place. Not great for children or teenagers but very nice for young and older adults. ehhh it was ok. Being Indian I'm still new to the concept of "Modern Indian" cuisine which I still don't quite understand other than being overpriced small plate american takes on indian dishes.
crispy spinach chaat- 5/5
samosa chaat- 4/5 typical indian dish.
long hots- 2/5 - didn't realize it was going to be 2 long green stuffed peppers
sweet potato pakora- 3/5 nothing amazing
naan pizza- 4/5 nothing really indian about it except made on a naan
paneer tikka makhani- 4/5. very small dish for $16, nothing amazing.
stuffed squash- 4/5 interesting dish, but again not much indian about it.
in general IndeBlue has a nice atmosphere, but a bit overpriced and small portions and misses the wow factor. Nice to try once but I don't think I'll be coming back. My hubby ate here for lunch. We shared the crispy spinach chaat and crispy cauliflower as appetizers which were both amazing. They were only mildly spicy for those intolerant of hot foods. My hubby had the butter chicken and I had the chicken madras for our entree and they were both delicious. The food came out quickly. Our server was courteous and knowledgeable about the menu items. Loved this place!!! Went there for happy hour - the food was delicious and the happy hour was had great deals! The place is really cute and is a great spot for a date or a nice out with friends. IndeBlue offers both traditional and fusion Indian food but I'd strongly recommend the fusion food here over the traditional.
My friends and I ordered the Spinach Chaat, which is made of fried spinach, yogurt, tomatoes and sauces, and the Stuffed Long Hot Peppers. The Spinach Chaat was one of the best chaats I've ever had! The peppers were a little too spicy for my liking but still pretty good. I also ordered the Indebluetini, a mango-based drink that was amazing. The food was definitely innovative and delicious. We got 4 appetizers from their happy hour menu. However the next day my friend and i both got very upset stomachs. Don't think we'll be returning. We've been here twice in the past month for pre-theater dinners with friends, and had great meals both times. Delicious food, reasonable prices, attentive service, pretty setting and a good location. Two thumbs up. Don't miss the spinach chaat for appetizer. I went here for brunch, but I can safely say that pretty much every dish here is unique and will go beyond satisfying expectations. It's pretty great that this place offers a brunch menu. They even have bacon so you're basic brunch needs will be satisfied! Often times when I'm in the city looking for a brunch spot, I want something different than the traditional brunch menu. I had the stuff long pepper with paneer, which was amazing because it had that cheesy inside with an added spice. They have a large variety of naans including some topped with melted cheese as well as naan pizzas. Also had the chicken tikka masala served with rice, which was much better than any Indian restaurant in Philly. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the mood for indian food with a fusion twist. Really enjoyed our meal here. The service and food were very good. Somosas were very nice and came with a delicious chickpea accompaniment. I had the pork vindeloo which was so so good. Fragrant and floral from the cardamom pods and with a nice bit of heat. Glad I ordered some naan to soak up the delicious sauce. Pork was meltingly tender. The hubbs got the chicken tikka which was also very good. Will be back! Why haven't I been here before??? One of those places I've been meaning to try but never did. Sorry I waited so long. Great enjoyable atmosphere and ambience. Loved the vegetable samosas and the various breads...the Gharwali bread was delicious. I had the Vegetarian chana masala and it was spicy enough without being overpowering. Will definitely come back and try some other things! Had a great experience taking my wife out on the town. Service was superior, friendly and helpful. Food was great tasting, fresh and presented well. Staff was attentive to our several requests. Highly recommend as a prelude to theater, close to everything. Would recommend it, though a bit expensive.
Ambience: OK
Dinner: $25 per person
Awesome veg and non- veg varieties
Starters and Deserts: Great A-mazing! Great atmosphere, food was excellent and service was exceptional with bonus points for being very helpful regarding gluten free options. I had to restrain myself from licking the bowl the rice pudding came in... Inventive Indian-fusion restaurant. Brunch is great here, definitely try the spicy chicken and waffles. Bottomless mimosas too! Oh yea the Indian food is pretty solid too. Great food, nice atmosphere, friendly service. I'll make sure that I return. The Osso Bocco Pork Vindaloo in spices (many other great dishes too that I can't remember the name) was fantastic. The tasting menu is the way to go. Service was fantastic. My boyfriend and I came here because I was craving some Indian food. My dad and I came here about 2 years ago and I remembered it being pretty good so we decided to come and give it another shot! So we ordered the spinach crisps as an appetizer--this was the highlight of our meal. Our super nice server suggested them and they were AMAZING. We cleaned the plate in a matter of seconds. I'd love to try and explain the flavor to you but I never had anything like it.
Next we tried the butter chicken--it was the last entree in the middle I forgot the actual name but it's also known as butter chicken. I wanted chicken tikka masala which they don't have on the menu but they can make it for you--but the server suggested that we try their most popular dish--butter chicken--so we did! It was good but chicken tikka masala will always have my heart
I'm glad I tried it though it was interesting--I think what made it good for me instead of excellent was that it had sooooooo much black pepper in it to the point where it was just slightly overwhelming for me.
We also has the garlic nann which was sooooooo yummy, the best I've had-- BUT, it was 8 dollars for 1 piece which they cut into two.
The bill came out to about 60ish dollars (including our tip).
Anyway, so the reason I gave 3 stars is mainly because the food is just "good" so I subtracted a star -- and it's very pricey (to us at least) so I took off another star.
My boyfriend and I are from Brooklyn where we CONSTANTLY eat Indian food from this place called Bombay Grill (in bay ridge). We eat there all the time, get twice as much food, the food is CRAZY delicious and still the bill comes out to pretty much half of what we paid here for the both of us together! (If you ever find yourself in bay ridge check it out)
Haha, well either way--both my boyfriend and I are happy we stopped by indeblue, since that appetizer was the highlight of our night--not exaggerating at all. I doubt I'll ever come back again but I'm happy I got to stop by to experience it one last time with my boyfriend.
Edit:I was informed by a prior worker that the price of the garlic nann must've been a mistake and we perhaps were charged twice! We're already back home in New York so I'll just leave the issue be. I guess whenever you visit, double check your bill :) that's with any place you go--mistakes happen--were all human. Anyway, haha that's our fault for not double checking! Well this was my 1st visit to an authentic Indian Restaurant in Philadelphia. We were 9 of us and chose to go for dinner... The ambience was artistic and beautiful... The service was good... Though the menu and the quantity were limited, both vegetarian and the non vegetarian dishes we ordered were delicious ... The cocktails were new, unique and refreshing!!! Would love to visit this place again..
MUST TRY - Chai Sangria, Spinach Chat and the Malai kofta with garlic Naan... Food is exquisite! The waiter was very nice to us, and the owner was so sweet. Food is absolutely fabulous! Our corporate company held a luncheon at Indeblue. It was FAN-TAS-TIC! From the coordination with Chris (Manager) to the actual date, the hospitality, customer service and attention to detail made the experience well beyond expectation! Chris was such a help and made himself available for questions/updates.
The food was AHH-MAZ-ING! So good! We had a wonderful assortment to our menu along with some customizations. Our servers were pleasant, timely and hospitable as well. Most importantly, our group seating was perfect and our dishes came out on time!
GREAT EXPERIENCE! Cant wait to take my family and friends there as well! - Ericka D After sampling some of IndeBlue's foods at various events recently, it seemed only right to stop by their restaurant for happy hour.
The happy hour beer list is rather short, so after getting their last Harpoon summer beer, I switched to their mixed drinks, which were surprisingly good. They had interesting flavor combinations - with homages to Indian spices, were thankfully not cloyingly sweet, and were nicely presented.
Some bites were sampled, as well. I particularly liked the Indian pizza and the samosas.
The bartender, staff, and even the crowd at the packed bar were friendly.
The restaurant space itself, which I ventured through on the way to the lovely loo, seemed well appointed and comfortable. For another time. The food didn't match the price at all. I was intrigued by some items in the menu which suggested great fusion of Indian food with other cuisines. But th said fusion is so sloppy. For example the tacos had chicken tikka instead. They didn't even bother to have some Indian spice mix along with some avocado or other Mexican ingredients. Avoid. This is a regular stop for my husband and me. We've always enjoyed the food, and the service is good for the most part. Would highly recommend. We ate here the other night for my boyfriend's birthday dinner and I was blown away by the food. This was the perfect setting for an intimate celebratory dinner and I didn't feel like we over-paid, given how amazing our dishes were.
We each had cocktails to start. I enjoyed a wonderful lemon and basil concoction and my love went with some sort of ginger/bourbon drink; both were mixed well and complimented our food (as a side note, I found their cocktail list to be quite impressive and they even have happy hour specials, so I may need to revisit this spot in the future just for drinks). For apps, we went with the sweet potato pakora and the crispy vegetable chili. I highly recommend the second of the two, as the batter on the veggies had a delightful crunch and the dipping sauces that came with them packed a nice, spicy punch.
Dinner arrived in a timely manner and I enjoyed my dishes. I went with tofu mangoli and chana saag. My beau had the goat biyrani, which was a decent size for him (he took leftovers home). If I had to complain about anything, I will say that our server wasn't so good at describing the portion sizes to us. You see, I ordered half sizes of both my dishes. I love that they even have this option just because most places don't, but it seemed like 2 halves just weren't enough. I had to end up ordering rice halfway through my dinner. I know this is a relatively new restaurant here in Philly, so hopefully the wait staff will be able to make better recommendations as time goes on.
I thought the menu here was very easy to read for people with dietary restrictions (gluten free and vegan symbols appear next to dishes), but as somebody who is pretty inexperienced with Indian food, it would be nice if there was some kind of spice level number system of sorts so I don't burn my taste buds off. All in all, though, IndeBlue is doing things right, so I can definitely see myself coming back - especially for their live sitar music on Tuesday nights. Good chic indian food. The spinach chat & avocado chat was outstanding. The entrees come with rice & you have to order bread separately. I found that setup strange for an indian restaurant. Portion sizes are small compared to most Indian restaurants. But the food is of excellent quality. Best happy hour I've been to in a long time. Very good prices on unique drinks all made with fresh squeezed juices, you can taste the difference. The happy hour food is great and well priced. I've gone 3 days in a row now. Indeblue is probably the best Indian option in Center City and a very nice experience.
Ambience: Great- intimate, nice and elegant, not too loud
Drinks: the cocktails were great! I'm usually not into cocktails because they're often prepared so sweet; Indeblue's cocktails were actually quite nice and unique
Food: It's not entirely a traditional menu and I liked that; the spinach chaat is great as everyone says. The more traditional dishes are not as great as they could be but are still very good.
Service: Everyone was very nice and seemed to take service seriously. They had a few mixups but were really apologetic about that. I think they're just getting up and running so I'm sure they'll improve as they go. Best restaurant in the Gayboorhood, period! Lori is amazing. Her service was above and beyond spectacular. She made our brunch experience one amazing morning. I had visited once before for dinner and the food was spectacular. But her service solidified how stellar this place is. The saving grace that is the sole reason for the 2nd star was the fried cauliflower in the appetizer cause besides that this place should be ashamed to even call itself an modern Indian restaurant. I don't even know where to start....well let's begin with the most important, the food here lacks the exotic spices that is associated with true Indian food. How can u serve a vegetable as delicious as eggplant in a sweet pasta sauce, for god's sake when does a savory vegetable get insulted in such a pathetic way?? The grilled platter which is $26 for 4 meats n two shrimps served again in some sweet sugar syrup is a far cry to the Indian flavors. The lemon cashew rice was dry n tasteless. This place was not this bad, but looks like it's gone down the drain. The chef needs a lesson on Indian food, don't be embarrassed if you have to go back to basics but please don't serve such bad, bad food. What a disgrace for Indian food, unbelievable The meal was very good. Smaller portions than many Indian restaurants that I am used to, such as the naan. However, the dishes were well spiced and the chutneys and sauces were very fresh and tasty. We were late bc of parking- shocking I know. The bar was crowded but the service was excellent. The bartender and hostess had great communications. We were seated right away but not rushed. Our server came over and assisted with helping us to choose a bottle of wine. Over priced red wine with great aroma but no complexity to the taste whatsoever. He explained the restaurant week menu and when we asked for suggestions he calmly went into greater details. The service was very good and the food was so good. My friends are vegetarians with exception to fish. We had great food- fresh and well prepared. Bill for 4-$225. Went to this restaurant last night and almost was unable to locate it, even when using GPS, it was right around the corner from the hotel. This place is a gem. Our server, Pam, was knowledgeable about the dishes and the food was served promptly and hot.
We started off with Drums of Heaven which were similar to buffalo wings but it was more crunchy and had like a marinara sauce consistency, plated with I believe goat cheese all together it was a delicious appetizer. Then we had our favorite Saffron Rice with Chiken Tikki Masala that had chunks of bell pepper added which helped to accent the flavors.
To top it off we had Banana Nirvana for dessert. This dessert are like rolled up doughnut balls with bananas inside bathe in a Carmel like glaze served with I believe Salted Carmel Ice Cream. While it was delicious I recommend that you get the Vanilla Bean Ice Cream instead to balance out all of the flavors in this dessert because it can become overwhelming to your taste buds.
If you like Indian food this place is highly recommended. This was surprisingly very delicious. I say this because I've tried other ethnic cuisines around center city and they usually disappoint.
For appetizers we ordered their barbecue pork samosas and it packed a punch! Definitely have that shredded pork bbq taste. It's different from the usual potato/vegetarian samosas, not to mention yummy!
For entrees we had their butter chicken and lamb biryani. The butter chicken was creamy and sweet with a hint of tomato. I really love this dish. The biryani was more smoky and dry.
Staff was also friendly but service was subpar - the waitress said she would return after a few minutes since we didn't know what we wanted yet, and it took her 10-15 minutes to come back. We were ready almost 3 minutes she left, and we were looking around the restaurant trying to find/catch her attention.
In all, I would come back again... For the butter chicken!
Plus, they have coat check! Visited this restaurant during center city restaurant week. I was very pleased. Food, drinks, and environment were all great! There was even live music during Sunday brunch! IndeBlue is great quality indian food which is pretty affordable. The ambiance is slightly upscale but not full-on fine dining. I did like the decorations inside quite a bit. Great for a relaxed place to eat ethnic food that is a 'nice' sit-down place.
I went here on saturday for lunch with a friend. It was 12:30 and we were immediately seated. They have both 'brunch-y' indian type food, and regular indian food. The brunch food was sort of a fusion between indian and western food. We ordered an appetizer (the spinach chaat ($9) which was excellent. It probably wasn't too healthy, but the spinach was fried very crispy and had a thin layer of crunch on it. It reminded me of those japanese thin seaweed snacks. The oiliness of the food was just right, and the touch of yogurt and tomatoes made a nice sweet-salty extra dimension to the food.
The chicken makhani ($13) was also great. The dish is kind of like pulled chicken meat which is served inside a sweet and buttery red sauce. I believe it is made out of tomatoes. It was nothing too fancy but tasted homey without being too overpoweringly fatty/salty.
I was happy with my meal overall and will be coming back to try the other things on the menu. I think this could be my first time trying non-buffet Indian food. Indeblue seems to be a staple in NJ and is often mentioned for best Indian. It seems hidden but is located not far from Woody's. After work on a beautiful Friday night wasn't hard to get a table and street parking was available. Although to avoid the headache, try not to park on Spruce where they still have quarter meters (thanks to Indeblue staff for providing us with quarters). Size wise, it was rowhome tight but still comfortable. I wasn't bothered by the amount of staff shuffling about constantly.
The $37/person tasting menu proved extremely filling. We were full by the time the entrees arrived. For the first course (choice of 2) we ordered the diver scallops (one scallop in sauce each) and the barbecue pork (?) samosa rolls with dipping sauce. Both were delicious. Second course was choice of 1 which we picked shrimp skewer (4). Third course we ordered a lamb saag (custom order) and the chicken tikka makhani. This came with an order of naan (3) and basmati rice. Fourth course was a sampler of their desserts (scoop of ice cream, a fried banana ball and rice pudding... I forget the formal description). This was also delicious! The tasting menu is cheap and definitely worth it. We tried their Indeblutini cocktail which was great if you love mango.
Service was top notch. Very attentive and accommodating. Price wise, it is more expensive than the West Philly Indian buffets (New Delhi and Sitar) but great if you want a more upscale experience and be in Center City. It is similar to Karma in Old City although I know Karma definitely has a lunch buffet. I did like it a little better than Tiffin in South Philly. Used to go to the restaurant in NJ, but was shuttled down! They have nice paneer tikka masala and crispy spinach that I like! Chicken tikka makhani, chana masala, and roti. Spicy, seasoned yumminess. Really good. A bit warm inside. Live mellow music and excellent HH. A great place for dinner and drinks with friends or date night. We had to order the spinach chaat, since everyone on yelp raved about it. It was really delicious, but it was fried and greasy. I would prefer to start with something more fresh. We also tried the veggie samosa, which was pretty standard, it came on top of flavored chickpeas, which were very good. We had an order of naan plus saag paneer and paneer tikka masala for our entrees. The saag paneer wasn't very good- bitter spinach flavor, but also felt very oily and heavy. The paneer tikka masala tastes better, but still more greasy than I would have liked. The service was a bit slow, but it was nice not to feel rushed. Very nice atmosphere, upscale, good for a date. I probably won't go back, but I'm glad I tried it. We came here for dinner. Needed to wait a little bit for our table to be ready so we had some drinks at the bar. Looks like they have some great happy hour deals for the future. I would also like to come here for brunch sometime, but back to the dinner review. We got a lot of the usual dinner favorites and had a delicious meal. All the food was delicious. It's a little on the pricey side for Indian food and sometimes when I'm in the mood for Indian I just want a no-frills meal. I definitely want to come back for happy hour, but I'm not sure this is a regular spot for Indian food lovers because of the busyness and prices. Love this place! It's in a great location --- walking distance from many other restaurants and bars. It has beautiful decor and friendly staff.
APPETIZERS/ENTREES
I recommend the naan pizza, vegetable samosa chaat, drums of heaven, lollipop lamb chops, chicken tikka masala, and the lamb rogan josh.
DESSERTS
The banana nirvana (banana gulab jamun) was ok --- it shouldn't be called gulab jamun --- it looks like gulab jamun but it tastes nothing like it. The mango panna cotta on the other hand was light and refreshing.
COCKTAILS
All of the cocktails that we got were delicious. I highly recommend the sexy goan, indebluetini, and the ginger twist. Great place for an indian brunch with classy ambience and mimosas!
Went to Philly for an impromptu day trip and was craving indian food and saw Indebleu had great ratings. The interiors were nice - lots of gold, chandeliers and a nice bar. An added plus was that it is close to the major touristy sights, so we did not have to go out of our way to get there. They have chai sangria, rose mimosas, and bloody mary's for $5 for brunch - already liking this place. Decided to go for the rose mimosa - which was surprisingly good. If anyone else has grown up in India like me, it felt like 'roohafza' with moscato. It's funny because i never really liked roohafza growing up, but i guess my parents didn't know to mix it with champagne ;)
For apps, we ordered the samosa chaat and ordered the paneer tikka masala and malai kofta with rotis for the main dish. Our server was super nice and said he would add the app and entree as an express lunch combo to save us a couple of bucks - score! The samosa chaat came as a bed of chickpeas in gravy with yogurt and chutneys and two samosas atop it. The samosas were great - definitely had more masalas (spices) than is usual for a samosa but it tasted great. My only slight complaint was that the chickpeas were a bit cold, i understand they don't have to be piping hot as it is a chaat and served with yoghurt but lukewarm would help.
Now for the main course, both the dishes were finger lickin' good - the malai kofta were balls of paneer and veggies deep fried and cooked in a cardamom curry sauce. Each bite was heavenly and you could taste the real cardamom in it and even found a few green pods. The paneer tikka masala was superb - not too spicy and had great flavors! The paneer was a little bit on the chewier side than expected; but the sauce more than made up for it. The whole wheat rotis were great - not too rubbery, hot, and actually felt healthy. Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert - would love to try it next time. Definitely, a place to go eat if you're in Philly! I love this place especially for happy hour!! Amazing food and great vegetarian options. This is one of fav spots in the city ! Great food and service. The staff explained all the dishes really well and also provided their recommendations. The spinach chaat is an awesome appetizer dish and garlic naan is great. Definitely will be coming back again! BEST BIRTHDAY BRUNCH EVER!! Our group of 8 had the best experience at Indeblue, food and ambience were great but the best part was our "server"/fast friend Andrew!!!! He took such good care of us, checking on us and refilling our mimosas frequently (the key to a successful brunch) and made us feel so welcomed and special. Very accommodating for vegan guests too, that meant the world. Thank you again Andrew & team, we will definitely be back our next time in Philly! From food to drink to service to ambience, all were truly amazing. Excellent choice for a night out Not traditional Indian food. They serve a modern fusion with other ingredients. It taste good. You should just have your expectations set. Modernized look. Service is good. I can't recommend this pace enough. Food is fanatastic and unique. Moile is my favorite and breads are fantastic. Great brunch with a very surprising options, the paneer burjee is a deliciously cheesy dish. Very shareable. The pav bhaji was also very well prepared. I would suggest avoiding the Bloody Mary though - it was spicy enough but the flavor felt ofd Happy Hour, that's what I'm sayin. If you can swipe yourself a seat at styley IndeBlue's little bar between the hours of 5-7 PM, you should that. Happy Hour: That's what I can't shut up about here.
With select appetizers in the $3-$5 range, you can really fashion a nice Indian style small plates feast for yourself, or an early dinner perhaps? Also, there's drinking to be done here: $3 Kingfishers, along with $4 featured crafty drafts, $4 select glasses of reds and whites, $5 cocktails...
Here. I'll offer this tip up for the ravenous ones; maybe you wanna order in shifts. Otherwise, a parade of tapas sized plates will ascend on you all at once. I mentioned, it's not a large bar. I got to have one of those, "Ah geez, we're makin a spectacle of ourselves, ahhhgain,' moments as we huddled in the corner with our veritable mini smorgasbord of Indian fusion flavors.
There are a lot of lil dishes that were calling our names. We did a shameless samplin' and enjoyed em up plenty.
I'm required by some kinda self-imposed regulation that I always have to have a samosa. The vegetable samosas were spot-hitters, filled with mildly spiced potato & peas and drizzled with chickpeas, chutneys, and yogurt. The other samosa style option on the bar menu during happy hour is the house-made tamarind barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls served with a blue cheese wine sauce. I liked em just fine, but for me those rolls were all about the winey blue cheese condiment accompanying those fellers.
"Drums of Heaven," are representing for the wing portion of your happy hour hankerings. These frenched chicken wing drummies are batter-fried and then sauced in a slightly smoky, chili-tomato puree, with scattered blue cheese crumbles and scallion to top. Juicy. Messy! Tasty. Very tasty.
Hey, and if your lookin for a fusiony flatbread, there's a daily featured naan pizza. "Ask your bartender," it says on the menu in parentheses. I can tell you, everyone asks. We heard the contents of that pizza repeated again and again...annnd despite that factoid, I know I'm still somehow leaving something off the list here, but you can believe me when I say that it was a good'un comprised of crispy bottomed, pillowy naan, topped with roasted red peppers, carmelized onions, paneer, mozzarella, and cilantro.
Out of everything, however, our top favorite bites were the crispy cauliflower appetizer and the stuffed long hot peppers appetizer. The crispy cauliflower was like that ole Indo-Chinese favorite of ours, Gobi Manchuria. Florets are batter-fried crispy and then spiced up with a, "medium heat,' tomato, chili, soy, ginger sauce. So good. So addictive. As always, I wish for more heat, but if you ask you can get a little of IndeBlue's red hot sauce on the side. I overheard another in-the-know lady do so, and I coppycatted. Yes.
The stuffed long hot peppers didn't need no extree burn, I'm happy to report. You know how it is with long hots, some of em have a sneaking heat, and some of em straight up sear. These two roasted (or fried) soft long hot peppers were of the latter variety and stuffed with mozzarella and crumbled paneer and herbs, resting in a pool of that now-familiar chili tomato sauce. Good stuff.
There you have it. We ate nearly everything on the happy hour menu and we dug it. Nearly everything... We'll return to devour the rest. IndeBlue's 5-7 daily happy hour became an instant favorite with us. Nice chaating with you. Still delicious!! I love the apps, especially the cauliflower! We also had a samosa chat and some garlic naan. A chai to wash it all down made for a perfect after-theater nosh! Sat at the bar for happy hour (only at the bar) while on a (very quick) work trip to Philadelphia. The $3 vegetable samosa appetizer? Yes! Do not miss it! Two samosas (a little smaller than I usually see, but still delicious) were parked on a bed of Indeblue's channa masala (chickpeas) with a swipe of green chutney and cool yogurt. Indian food heaven... for $3. Even for the small portion, I'd pay the regular $8 non-happy hour. I don't live in Philly and ergo can't return often, so please go eat these samosas for me right now.
Honorable mentions: the $5 happy hour ginger-lime-whiskey cocktail. Bartender Sean (?) was helpful, welcoming and knowledgeable. The naan pizza didn't change my life, but it was filling for $5. Live sitar music on Tuesday nights! It was terrific background, but not loud. So glad I randomly Yelped my way to this cozy, classy place! One of my favorite happy hours in the city (5-7 and then after 9, daily!). This place gets crowded around the bar, but it's not hard to snatch a seat or two if you have a small party. Intense physical proximity during peak hours doesn't make for the best heart-to-heart's (unless you opt for the quieter dining area), but it's great for delicious bites and strong drinks after work.
Recommended noms:
Drums of heaven - these are so good! A bit spicier than expected but like firecrackers in your mouth. Great HH snack though beware as it gets messy.
Lamb rogan josh (19) - delicious lamb dish, rich in spices and flavor. Served with rice but great with their garlic naan. Split this with friend and we were very satisfied.
Drinks:
Kingfisher lager - light and refreshing, complemented the meal well.
Indebluetini - rich mango flavor! favorite.
Rose gimlet - pretty and strong, but a bit lackluster in taste.
Take advantage of their long happy hours to sample their menu and you won't be disappointed! Came Twice in 2 years to Philadelphia and made it a point to visit. The ambience is wonderful and romantic. The service is efficient and first rate. They have a bar area and a dining area. The prices are reasonable. The food is indian fusion. The spice level is not high even on a spicy dish. The food is tasty and fresh. The spinach chaat was crunchy. The drums of heaven are saucy and it is definitely a must have. The chipotle chicken skewer was a small plate for $8. The cocktail were adequate and priced right. They have a happy hour worth visiting. If there's one thing Philadelphia dining does exceptionally well, it's taking everyday food and turning it into something elegant and unusual. That's why I had such high expectations for dinner at IndeBlue. I was eager to witness the usual rice-n-curry turned up a few notches.
I joined a colleague here on a cold and drizzly Tuesday night. It was a good thing we had reservations, since it was packed solid despite the bad weather and off night. I was immediately taken in by its warm and inviting ambiance.
We started with a round of drinks -- the IndeBlueTini and a Rose Grapefruit Gimlet. Both were fun and fruity and easy to drink, which helped lift the rainy-day blues.
For an appetizer, we shared the naan pizza. (The toppings change on the reg, so be sure to ask the server what you're getting!) Truthfully, I wasn't impressed by it. I was hoping for some heat or spice, but it was disappointingly bland, and the cheese was rubbery and stringy. It all seemed like a waste of perfectly good naan.
Our next appetizer, the aloo makkai tikki (corn and potato cakes with apple chutney) was tons better. These crispy cakes were hot, flavorful, and all-around satisfying.
For the entree, we shared the chicken Madras with a side of basmati rice and garlic naan. This dish was the most traditional item of the night, but it was packed with flavor and delicious spice. Loved the combo of chili, mustard seed, coconut, and saffron. When generously slathered on the rice or on a slice of naan, this dish brought me to Indian food heaven.
For dessert, we shared the chocolate sutra, which didn't seem like an Indian dish at all. It was more like a flourless chocolate mousse cake with a few pistachios thrown on as an afterthought. That said, it tasted superb.
Service was friendly throughout the night. Each time we looked up, it seemed like there was a different server tending to our table, but that never got in the way of their professionalism and timely pacing of the courses.
Thanks for the lovely dinner, IndeBlue! Stumbled on this gem of a place and it made our evening. The ambiance is great and the food is fantastic. Very eclectic menu based on the experiences of the chef (our waiter told us as we inquired about the influences). As we weren't too hungry we decided to share a few apps and then jump to the desert menu that held great promises. The watermelon salad was a wonderful creation and the fusion chaat was delightful. The desert though was out of the world - we chose to indulge on the pear jalebi and the kulfi. The culinary experience was rounded off with a true desi chai (compliments of the chef!).
As you can guess by now, I recommend this place to all food lovers - Indians or not. Taking away the stars for service and NOT THE FOOD!
Maybe it's a busy Wednesday night or maybe it's because it is an Indian festival but the service was awful !
No sauces to begin with, service was late and with a lame excuse that they were backed up !
Come on Indeblu I refer you guys to so many people, why disappoint me ?
I came back to update my review ! We waited over 20 minutes after they cleared our appetizers for the food and guess what no entree! By this time I lost my appetite and when they gave the entree we just asked for the cheque!
It has amazing food but they need to work on their service! My girlfriend and I went here for restaurant week. They first gave us a soup sampler, with three delicious (tiny) soups. Then we got the drums of heaven and the crispy spinach chaat as appetizers; both were delicious. For the main course we got the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian samplers with two types of naan (garlic+cilantro and butter+onion seed) (these were also delicious). For desserts we had the banana nirvana and the fig duo. Again, delicious. Also their mango lassi was excellent. This was a *lot* of food; in hindsight, we probably should have taken some of it home. I'm a fan of IndeBlue for fresh, delicious Indian food. The stand out appetizer for me was the scallops, which were cooked to perfection. Chicken tikka was slightly spicy, smoky, and juicy. The moilee, a sort of seafood curry, was delicious. I wasn't too happy that they serve you only 3 pieces of naan per order, and I wish they offered some sort of hot sauce for the table to vary the heat level. I'd love to see a variation on Indian rice pudding or lassi for dessert.
I agree with others that the lighting is too dim. I didn't even realize my rice was yellow until I saw the leftovers in the fridge. There were quite a few people taking multiple photos with flash (temporarily blinding everyone in the vicinity), and I feel that the staff should be better about asking them to turn the flash off.
Overall, a good meal and we will be back. I am always on the hunt for my third favorite cuisine--Indian! Now, I am usually inclined to dine at a more traditional style indian Restaraunt, but IndeBlue does Indian-fusion very well.
Service was quite attentive (thanks to Josh), which is the expectation with Indian restaurants.
After being sat, we were each served a small portion mulligatawny soup-delicious, but it was not on our list if must-try's for our first visit.
Please start with Crispy Spinach Chaat--it will not disappoint! Large enough portion for four to share. We also ordered Lasooni Naan with the scallops. There were only three scallops, but the sauce is a wonderful addition (but could be improved by reducing slightly longer to thicken).
We ordered Laal Maas, Malwani Swordfish, Seafood Moilee, and Chicken Madras. The Seafood Moilee was the standout, but everything was wonderful; EXCEPT the sword fish: it was overcooked (dry), but the Makwani sauce was a great addition.
Although, I did not partake (way too full), the table greatly enjoyed Banana Nirvana.
We will return an hopefully soon! After having had such a wonderful experience at Desi Village and experiencing the true wonders of the Indian cuisine during our work team's Diwali event - I have been trying to emerge myself more and more into the Indian options around the Philadelphia area.
I came across Craig LaBan's review of Indeblue and immediately became intrigued. I ran to their website to see that they clearly mark their gluten-free and vegetarian options on menu.
I did some reviews and it appears most people enjoy the meat dishes and their most reviewed appetizer, or starter dish would be the crispy spinach chaat salad.
Upon arrival, we were welcomed into a warm and cozy atmosphere - which was much appreciated after the short chilly, the smell of snow coming, walk from the parking garage. We were seated towards the back and while it was tight and a bit loud - somehow it worked and provided that cozy-like feeling that was needed for a family reunion.
While I was a bit late, the remainder of the table was ready to order and boarding that hangry stage. When it came to my turn to order, I just let the server know what my food preferences and allergies are and asked that they just bring something out.
I was getting towards the starving part and eager to see what was coming my way.
The chef sent out a complimentary Crispy Spinach Chatt for our table to share. The little pillow like spinach "flakes" drizzled with a mixture of housemade chutneys and yogurt dressing, topped with fresh tomatoes and a fried chickpea. This dish was LOVED. Honestly, the combination of flavor profiles is just exquisite. Prior to arriving and doing my menu research, I have to say, the photos of the spinach chatt just do NOT do it justice! If you are visiting Indeblue, you must order this dish!
For my main entree, I was served a chana saag. Chana saag is a combinate of mildly spiced chickpeas, baby spinach, pomegranate juice and tomatoes all cooked together and served with a side of saffron basmati rice.
First things first, basmati, rice my favorite rice variety! Indeblue did an excellent job preparing the rice in just the right way. The saffron added a little that addicting aspect where you just couldn't stop coming back for more!
The Chana saag was hearty, well-portioned, flavorful, and more of the more reasonably priced dishes.
I was also blessed with the option to try a gluten-free version of their naan made from chickpeas.
The bread was okay - to me a bit of a gooey texture and became cold rather quickly. When devoured warm, it was more enjoyable than chilled.
The remainder of our party went with the chicken madras, goan paella with booni raita and pork vindallo. All were devoured and enjoyed! The only negative feedback was that the goan paella was a bit too salty - and a tad dry but the flavor was enjoyed. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia! The food is superb. The service is attentive and seamless. The venue is elegant and beautiful, and the prices are uber-reasonable. Moreover, it caters not just to carnivorous diners, but to vegans and gluten-free acolytes alike. Yay!
I like to sample as much of a restaurant's offerings as I can. Indeblue's menu certainly encourages that. I'll typically get the smaller versions of two entrees, throw in an appetizer and naan bread, and order one of their homemade desserts. They also offer a tasting menu, which I highly recommend.
Since it's conveniently located near the Kimmel Center and other performance venues I like to frequent, I'll often come here for dinner. If I order before 7 pm, I've asked for my drink at Happy Hour prices even though my meal came from the dinner menu. Bear in mind that Happy Hour restarts at 9 pm! So indulge in a sumptuous meal, walk a few blocks to your performance, and return to Indeblue afterwards for a post-show drink.
It's a great place to bring a date, enjoy a pleasant business dinner, or have a nice evening out with friends. I went to IndeBlue for brunch during Restaurant Week and were amazed by the food! I had the Drums of Heaven, Paneer Pablano, Spicy Chicken 'n' Waffle, and Paneer Bhurjee; for dessert, I had the Saffron Kheer (a type of rice pudding) and Chocolate Chai Pot de Creme. Everything was delicious and beautifully plated. However, the thing that stood out the most was the customer service provided at this fine establishment. Our server was attentive but not overbearing, giving an honest assessment of the dishes. He even coaxed us to buy two of their amazing drink specials with his descriptions. He made a small mistake with our order but immediately made it right in a professional manner. It is very rare to find a place with great food and great customer service, but this place is definitely one of them. IndeBlue deserves my 5/5 star review. No wait if you go early. Pro staff, nice atmosphere although bar a bit loud. I'd love to write up the wonderful dishes we had, but we shared and it was kind of a blur - everything was very good to EXCELLENT! Do NOT miss the appetizer with flash frozen spinach, tamarind sauce & crunchy chickpea topping. I don't know what it was called, but it was an explosion of delicious flavor and everyone loved it. I could eat just that all night and be satisfied. Worth the trip. Went here with a large group (12) for brunch one day and had an excellent experience. A mix of vegetarians, vegans, picky eaters and people who didnt like Indian food and no one walked away unhappy. Service was excellent, as was the food. Fantastic happy hour with great small plates and drinks. It's on the street with some of the best happy hours in Philly, and Indeblue certainly delivers. The seating is intimate whether at the bar or in their main dining room; and if you come anytime after 5pm, you can sit by the bar and try out a variety of different indian fusion dishes. In addition to a $4 daily draft, they have 6 $6 cocktails, all of which are deliciously balanced and decently potent; the shrub of the moment with whiskey and the ginger jadoo in particular are excellent. As for small plates, everything is a decent portion ranging from $3-5, and you can never go wrong with things like the spinach chaat, crispy cauliflower, drums of heaven, tikka naan pizza, and stuffed long hots. The only downside is that it's bar seating only, which is a limited 13 seats, and it gets filled up very quickly. But if you're able to nab a spot, you'll be rewarded with finely crafted cocktails and some tasty bites, enough to have a reasonable dinner or date night, at a great price. Decent food, but there are many better options in the city if you're hungry for Indian food.
However, if you are wanting Indian-esque food in a "small plates," coursed-out sorta way, for whatever reason (maybe a date?), Indeblue would be perfect.
P.S. If you do go, get the spinach chaat, it's awesome! The ambience was great. The service was excellent and the food was the best. Ordered veg thali and everything was good.
The only drawback is lack of parking with the hotel but there are a couple parking decks closeby. I love this place. I've dined here three times for dinner, and once for the lunch special, and the food and service have always been excellent. The crispy spinach brings to mind bhel puri, and is my favorite appetizer. There are many "fusion" apps to choose from - all creative but still tasty. You can't go wrong with the entrées. The moilee is great, but even standard fare like chana masala and daal are above and beyond. Five stars! I was so delighted to find a vegan friendly menu. The food was amazing and so flavorful. Our waiter was great, he brought us samples of the soups even though we both ordered salads. The check was less than $40 for two people with two entrees, salads, and also an order of naan. The décor is so beautiful and all of the staff is well versed on the menu and is very friendly. Everything we ate here was mind blowing!! Loved the taste as well as the presentation. All together if you like Indian food or not "IndeBlue" is a must have experience. Philly is full of surprises. Indeblue was a great surprise in the middle of downtown. Atmosphere was warm and intimate with low lighting and Earth toned walls. Service was on point, helpful, quick and polite. The courses moved easily in and out of our table. We are the chef's tasting and got to try five items plus dessert for $45. Every single thing tasted authentically Indian (my Indian wife was with me) and perfectly made.
My only point of disappointment was the cocktails. We tried the Anjeer and the Bombay Muraba and both recipes were hollow, too sweet and lacked alcohol. I recommend sticking with your trusted cocktail instead.
Overall, extremy good experience and high recommendation. We went for brunch on Sunday and were very pleased with the food and the service. We ordered the vegetarian thali and the lentil pancake. Very tasty food and attentive service. Drinks were also very good. First of all, I must clarify that the indeblue in center city is not byob, when I read the yelp reviews, someone said it was byob but It is only byob at the place in collingswood.
Now that is out of the way, I came here for restaurant week and definitely like it here. I ordered the non-veg thali which is like a sampler of several dishes. The chicken tikka masala was delicious. The soups were delicious (sampler of 3 different soups during restaurant week). Drums of heaven was good too. I absolutely loved the dessert they had too (banana nirvana and the ice cream cookie). The service was wonderful as well. Went here for the brunch on a Sunday, visiting from out of town on a weekend for a concert at UPenn. My palate was suitably pleased with their quirky, yet delectable takes on Indian breads. We tried the rosemary/thyme naan and chilli naan. Both the paneer bhurji and chilli naan were flavorful and fresh, as was the other item on their brunch menu that we ordered, cholle bhature. We also had the paalak chaat which was duly tangy and crispy. To finish up, we ordered a pot of masala tea but they were close to ending the brunch service and said it would take a while to brew. Even so, the manager apologized for this minor slip-up (not a slip-up in my book anyway, I appreciated the candor rather than being served cold stale brew) and brought me a cup of tea asking I would want to try that instead. That is top-notch customer service. At 2.00 pm on a Sunday, the place was chock full of Indian patrons, all clearly enjoying their meals. I visited IndeBlue for the first time today for brunch. I had a chai sangria, which was good but no different than most red wine sangrias I've had. My husband had a uniquely spicy masala Bloody Mary.
I ordered the pizza naan of the day and paneer bhurjee. I wish the server would have told me that the chili cheese naan that comes with the bhurjee is basically a slightly smaller portion of the pizza. Both had wayyy too much cheese for my taste. To top it off, there was a bunch of melted cheese in the bhurjee...
My husband enjoyed the lollipop lamb chops very much, more so than the drums of heaven - which were also good.
Looking around, I would try the rose petal mimosa, chat and dosa/uttapam next time.
Live sitar and tabla players were a nice addition. Two friends and I stumbled upon this place by accident and I an so glad we did. We made it in time for their happy hour all three of us really enjoyed the food and drinks.
We each had the indiebluetini, it was sweet, fruity, fragrant and just so yummy we got two rounds of them
Although we only got appetizers at the bar, the food was spicy and delicious. I had the vegetable samosas - which were so good!! My friends ordered the crispy spinach chaat and some sort of shrimp dish. I tried the spinach chaat, it was melt in your mouth amazing. Four stars out of five for the slow service, they were busy, but they were not THAT busy that we couldn't have placed a food order or gotten a second round a little quicker. Also, the second round - my drink came to the table first & my friends had to wait for theirs even though we each ordered the same thing.
All that said, I really like this place & we will defiantly be back! Really good, modern Indian cuisine. We had a light dinner, the samosa chat, vegetable shaslik and the malai kofta accompanied by Kashmiri naan. All of the dishes had a really good flavor to them, with a good blend of spices and at a very reasonable price. The beer selection on tap, although relative small, was good. I was expecting big things from indeblue and the completely delivered. Expertly prepared dishes. Prices were fairly good as well. Cost 105 for three people with tip and three beers. Flavors are definitely some of the best I have had outside India. They stay true to traditional cuisine but still inventive enough to keep it fun. The food is outstanding. After hearing good things we decided to slip in on a Thursday and try out a little of everything. Enjoyed it all, from the apps to desert. Literally tried 10 dishes and left more than stuffed. Great service from Nitesh, he was very helpful in describing each dish, as we were not familiar with most of what we were trying. Will definitely be back! A very contemporary indian cuisine with excellent service and beautiful interiors !! Kudos Happy hour is excellent. Good food and drinks. Space could be a bit tight unless you get there early. Haven't had dinner but the food during HH was excellent. This is the best restaurant I've been to in a while! Exceeded my expectations by far. The food was sensational, every bite excited my taste buds!!! R.G. was our server and he was awesome! Nothing better than having someone knowledgeable about the food they're serving you, explaining in detail, from herb and spices, to entrees and sauces, I love knowing what I'm eating. The atmosphere was very calm and enjoyable despite how full many tables were. Definitely on the top of my list for dining in Philadelphia! Had an amazing experience at IndeBlue last night. Bennett our waiter was THE BEST. Not only was he incredibly personable he was knowledgeable and gave us amazing recommendations and convinced us that the tasting menu was the way to go. Highly recommend the crab dosas and the Spinach Chaat for appetizers.
My boyfriend and I were going to see a show at the Merriam Theater and May have underestimated the amount of time we needed for dinner. With time quickly going by we realized we weren't going to have time for desserts or take our leftovers home. Bennett graciously said of course they could keep our leftovers for us to come back and that better yet we could save dessert for later and come after the show.
However our show went wayyy later than we expected so cutting it close we rushed back to the restaurant and were not only given our leftovers we were given our dessert in a ready to go bag so we could enjoy when we got home.
Overall this was one of the best nights of service I've ever had at a restaurants. Will definitely be going back to enjoy all the other tasty food options! My boyfriend and I went to IndeBlue for restaurant week January 2016. We loved the family style ordering, even for restaurant week. For 2 people you choose 3 first courses, 3 main courses, and each person gets their own sampler of 3 desserts. The first and second courses were delicious - we highly recommend the crab cakes appetizer, the salmon main dish (a restaurant week special) and the kaju paneer. The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is because the desserts were just so-so. Maybe Indian desserts just aren't my thing though. They weren't bad per se, they just weren't as good as the first and second courses. A great and VERY filling dinner, you definitely get your money's worth and a full belly! Been here many times and have yet to be disappointed. Though pricy, it is worth every penny for this delicious fusion menu. I highly recommend the spinach chaat and the stuffed long hot pepper as an appetizer. The entrees are great whether you want to get traditional indian (makhani, malai kofta, chicken tikka) or a fusion dish (chicken tikka wrap, goan paella). They also have such amazing and creative cocktails. I highly recommend this spot for anyone visiting center city philly! This review is for happy hour only!
We got there a little bit after 5 and there were already 3 people at the bar that seats ~10.
Note: Happy Hour is bar only!
The space is beautifully decorated. I expected it to be sleek, minimalist, modern inside, but it's definitely more romantic and upscale.
We ordered the Indeblutini (very tasty and not overly sweet) and the spicy lychee margarita (also yummy and has a nice little kick to it).
As for Happy Hour bites, we got the spinach chaat, naan pizza, and bbq samosas.
While I enjoyed everything, hands down, you must order the spinach chaat.
My thoughts while chowing down on the chaat: How did they get the spinach go thin and crispy? What is this explosion of flavors in my mouth? Is that tamarind? Yes it is. Wow, this is amazing. I need this all the time.
I also want to make note of the excellent service here. I watched a lady (who loudly proclaimed she hated spicy food) furiously demand to be able to order Happy Hour specials for her 10 person reservation. The server then spoke with the manager, emphasized (again) that the happy hour is only for the bar, but will honor it this time. The server and bartender were very professional so I just want to give the service here a little shout out.
If you want to ball on a budget from 5-7 or after 9, definitely come to Indeblu! The food is so good!!!! The place is gorgeous. The service is also amazing. I've come here a lot and one of your servers, Bennett, really stands out. He's knowledgeable about the food, so sweet and best of all he really makes me feel at home. He's the reason I keep coming back! I've had him as my server a couple of times and every time he exceeds my expectations. Kudos to him and your chef!!! Good service and good food. Can't go wrong here! Great ambience! Nice happy hour offerings of food and drink options.
Entrees are a tad expensive (rice is not included and you have to pay a la carte for rice, naan, and even the onion pickles!)...
Evening live Indian music adds a cool, trippy fusion indowestern vibe--indeblue indeed! So a few friends and I were able to sneak reservations in for the opening Saturday night. The establishment is Beautiful, with the renovations transforming the environment into something sexy and stylish yet still with the look of the Collingswood location.
We were welcomed and seated quickly, a new drink menu providing some delicious cocktails to get our meal started. A sample of their corn and cilantro chowder was offered to us, and it was delicious. Too warm a day for me for hot soup but one of my guests ordered it and enjoyed every drop.
We ordered almost every disk on the menu. Samosas, Rose Naan Pizza, Dahi Avacado Chaat, Spicy Scallops, Drums of Heaven, Lamb Lollipops, the Bison Kabob, goat Biryani, Chicken Tika Masala, Kashmiri Naan, and we were treated to some sweet potato pakura.
I'd go into indivdual detail normally but there are other things I want to discuss to here is the summary. Everything we had was 5 stars with two lone exceptions. The spicy scallops were good, but the scallops themselves were bland against the rich sauce. They either needed to sit in the sauce longer to pick up more flavor for it, or should have been seared to really make their flavor pop. They were good, but could have been excellent. The other dish that didn't wow my face off was the lamb lollipops. While tender and very tasty, they were really, really, really cooked. I like lamb slightly pink to enjoy the freshness of the flavor of the meat, and although we agreed this might be due to the tandori process, and that they were good, I probably would stick with the awesome drums of heaven next time and pass on these.
Some tasting notes. One very important thing we learned, if something comes with a sauce, use the sauce! The spinach and cheese samosa was very rich on its own, but when you scopped it with the tomato raisin chutney, which added tang and notes of sweet, it was a whole new dish. Same for the lamb lollipops, the lamb was tasty on its own, but drizzling the accompanying sauce over it truly transformed the dish into something lovely.
For dessert we had the mango panna cotta and a gingered gelato. The mango panna cotta was out of this world good. I will get it again every single time. the gingered gelato was also excellent added to the prosecca we ordered with dessert.
The surprise dish that we all agreed was the top of the night? The corn and cilantro chowder. Try it!! This place has amazing Indian food! Coming for the Bay, we all know what good Indian food is. It only took us over 2 years to find an authentic Indian place here in Philly. The food and service was excellent! You know it's a good sign when you walk in and you see plenty of Indian people in there! At least, that's what I say about my Chinese food.
You must order the spinach chaat. Just do it. Love that they have side portions of entree dishes and half the price rather than never finishing an entire bowl.
Must do before you go: Sign up for their email list. Get $10 to use within one week. You'll also get a buy one get one free entree for your birthday, expires 2 weeks later.
Happy Hour looks fantastic as well! Drinks at $4 and food at $3-6? Must!! My fellow foodie yelpers have once again led me to another very enjoyable dining experience. The decor at IndeBlue is so warm and the aroma immediately triggers that excitement for indian food. But I didn't realize how interesting and unique the food would be until we started tasting the delicious fusion of flavors in every dish. Everything on the menu is unique, creative, and fabulous. The service very friendly and accommodating. My family and I were planning to return before we even left. We were in Philadelphia for a week and by far this was the best meal we had. And that's saying a lot considering the fantastic variety of food available in this town.
The atmosphere is wonderful. Quiet, well spaced tables and nicely appointed.
Our server, Josh, was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. Answered all our questions and provided great service.
The food was amazing. We had the tasting menu which was a huge amount of food but we managed to eat most of it! The crispy spinach chatt was wonderful and the most surprising selection. The vindaloo and moilee were excellent and the lamb lollipops cooked perfectly. The Naan is soft with just enough crispness.
Cannot recommend IndeBlue enough. I love everything about this place. They have one of the best brunches in Philadelphia. I come here for happy hour all the time just for the spinach chaat and paneer pizza. The drinks are different and amazing. I would highly recommend this place to anyone. Not only is the food here delicious but the service is amazing. Mike was the best waiter I've had in years. He was so friendly and genuinely wanted to ensure we were enjoying ourselves. The chef came out and greeted the table beside mine. Truly phenomenal This was my 1st time in dis restaurant
N it was awesome.. food was great and delicious the service boy was very nice to us n the manager came personally n ask for feed back. You guys are amazing thnx for ur service team Indeblue you rock !!! See you soon I don't get what all the fuss is about. It's Indian fusion food in a noisy and cramped place. We had the dahi avocado chaat to begin with-it was yum even though the puris were not crunchy and tasted old. My husband had the chef's table with 4 courses. It was filling but all the food was bland and not very enjoyable. I had the lasooni naan (which was soft and not too strong) and the Chana. The Chana vegetable was awful-tasted like boiled Chana. Service was good. On telling the server how average our experience was, he brought us 2 coupons for a free drink/appetizer for the next day. You'd be better off eating at an Indian restaurant without burning a hole in your pocket. This place is one of the better Indian restaurants I've been too. Very good food. Creative food, not done just to be different. It actually works.
Wait staff is very good as well. The lunch thali is really awesome. But I've done dinner here as well and it was excellent. The spinach chaat is yum. Impressive Indian food at reasonable prices and really good and cheap drinks.
They don't have Chicken Tikka Masala which almost crushed me... but they were able to make it anyways :) We came in on a Sunday for brunch after seeing the good yelp ratings and the amazing food pictures. We had to try this place out, we waited a good 5-10 minutes just to find the hostess and when we got sat, we waited 15 minutes for a waiter to take our order. Granted they explained that the internet was down and they would not able to take credit cards but that didn't explain the slow service.
With that said, we still enjoyed the food. I'd give the food 5 stars but the overall experience was lacking. The mango lassi was refreshing and I highly recommend getting it. The food, decor, and wall art were on point, we just wish the service matched up. I will definitely come back here again to see if the service is any better just based on the food quality. We stared off with the along with garlic naan, I would definitely get that again. As for the entrees, we got the chicken tikka wrap with fries. Everything tasted great and packed a good mix of flavors, but wish the service matched the food quality. I'll definitely give it another try! I made reservations to dine at IndeBlue on Christmas Eve. It was a bit rocky from the start as the host and a server exchanged some terse words before we were even seated. The busy host was trying to make sure tables were cleared and as he requested this to one of the servers he snapped his fingers a few times. As we stood there, the server confronted the host from across the room, "Did you snap your fingers at me? We don't snap fingers!" It was off putting and unprofessional. If there was cause for confrontation, it should have been done privately.
After we were seated we settled in with the crispy spinach chaat and vegetable samosa chaat. They were both delicious. The crispy spinach chaat was the highlight of the meal. One of my daughters ordered the rassam which included cauliflower, baby carrots, french beans and coconut. It was pretty tasty but definitely on the smaller side. The vegetables were prepared well...still carried a crunch and the sauce was well flavored and creamy. My other daughter ordered the paneer tika masala and I ordered the madras with free range chicken breast. These, in my opinion, were average. They didn't blow me away but they tasted fine. I think I was expecting the chicken to be less dry tasting and it tasted how I usually experience chicken in Indian food take out. I am fine when it's your run of the mill take out...but was expecting more from this upscale place. One thing I did appreciate is that I asked for heat with my dish and it arrived bursting with it. Sometimes I find, even if I ask for spicy it comes lacking. This did not.
I wanted to order wine with my dinner but once the food runner dropped off our food, we were not checked on until the end. By that time, I had ditched the idea of having wine. Our server was kind, but inattentive. We skipped dessert for the same reason. We were waiting so I finally asked the food runner to speak to our waiter for the check.
Perhaps my expectations were too high. I had a very different experience pictured in my head. I probably won't be back. Andrew was absolutely tremendous. Personable, funny, knew the menu like the back of his hand. Fabulous first experience! I had the make your own omelette that came with butter naan and my girlfriend got the potato and eggs Kati roll. After we ate I saw the spicy
Chicken and waffles and kind of wished I got that. Food was decently priced and tasty. I'd go back to try the lunch items. 一般般吧，可能是口味不同的缘故，性价比也一般，不算小费三十刀一个人吧。随便吃吃，环境有点吵的说。咖喱味比较重，服务员好像也不是很热情，解释的也不清楚，啤酒五刀一杯，味道倒是还可以，喝一喝，聊一聊。 My wife and I just finished seeing a show at the Academy of Music and couldn't wait for our meal at Indeblue. I've heard very favorable things about the restaurant so I was dying to try it. It did not disappoint. My only complaint and it's very minor was that the hostess wasn't too friendly and just quickly showed us to our table.
But after that the service was fantastic. Our server and accompanying service people were top notch and made the experience better. There was one time I was going to order another drink and the server suggested one that I was just going to order. I think that was a nice touch that after just one drink he knew what I prefer. The waiter explained everything on the menu which helped us decide what our entrees would be. The refills on water and the clean up of the table were perfectly timed. Kudos to the serve staff all around.
Now for the food. We started with the Vegetable Samosa's which were fantastic. The bed of chickpeas, yogurt, and chutney matched the flavors of the Samosa's perfectly. Hate to say it but I overheard the table next to us say that the soup was very good so we ordered that. An asparagus soup with basil chutney. It was the perfect combination of spice and asparagus flavor. My wife ordered that Laal Maas which she said was great. I ordered the Dal Thali which is an array of vegetable dishes with rice and Naan. Speaking of Naan the garlic Naan is awesome. But back to my dish. The black dairy (lentils in a dark curry), yellow tadka (lentils in a yellow curry) and the chana masala (chickpeas in spices) were all fantastic. The deep flavors of each made this dish one of the best Indian meals I've ever had. But one of the things I couldn't stop thinking about and really enjoyed was the pickled vegetables. I don't know what their pickling spices are, but they are delicious.
I will definitely be back to this place. It was one of the best complete meals I've had in a long time. This restaurant is so popular, I had to make a reservation on a Tuesday night! It looks very dark, almost like it's closed, from the outside, but the atmosphere inside is bustling with activity. The lollipop lamp chops and spinach chaat are a must for appetizers! I would also recommend their daal makhani and paneer tikka masala as far as entrees go. The saffron rice is so delicious, I could eat it by itself. The banana nirvana is a unique, delicious dessert with its cinnamon ice cream, also a must! The staff could have been a little more sociable, spilled water on our table and almost gave us the wrong check so the visit could have been more professional but accidents happen. Food was amazing! We went for restaurant week, so we got a ton of food. They started with a trio of soups, all fantastic. I had the spinach chaat, which I'll agree with the other posters was delicious. The vegetarian sampler was huge and every single thing on it was phenomenal. It was so much food, though... the sample could easily have been split with someone else after the apps. For dessert I had the fig duo, which wasn't my favorite, but I'm not much into non-chocolate desserts.
I gave it 4 stars though for service. The service was a little strange. Our server was slightly abrupt and seems annoyed to be working. He also dropped the check before our dessert even arrived. We were seated next to the live sitar players (nice touch!), and the one player kept staring our way. I think he was looking at the door (and drugged out), but it was distracting.
I'd definitely go again, though! I went here for happy hour with my husband and friend. I was excited about the great happy hours deals BUT there was a hair in the our food. The waiter was informed and he brought back a new dish. But he didn't even remove it from the bill even thought he told us he would. He gave us vouchers for two free drinks next time we came in. But later that night both my friend, husband and I had intense GI issues. I wouldn't recommend going here unless you dont mind being on the toilet seat all day. As other reviews mentioned - besides the stained utensils, IndeBlue deserves the high rating.
Came here for brunch as we couldn't get a reservation for last night, no wonder it's a hot spot especially it's Diwali. We loved what we ordered - Spinach salad, veggie skews, skillet and chicken with waffles plus their drinks.
The mashed potato from skillet was impressive and I loved the bread on the top, it's a really nice combo and the spice was balanced really well. My bf's waffle and chicken was a mind-blown and a must try. We are glad that tried this one during our short trip in Philly. We celebrated our father's 75th Birthday today in the Philadelphia and Indiblue was excellent place and location. We booked reservation ahead of time. When we arrived at the location, our table was ready. Food was excellent at this location and service was also very good. Gina thank you so much for your help. My father really enjoyed his birthday and say thank you to everyone. Once again thank you and appreciate . Apart from the person who waited at our table, James P, the rest of the staff could use a strong training in service skills. The food was either full of chilli powder (samosa chaat) or extremely sour (saag bahar). Other dishes were okay, but not reason enough to bring us back. I know it's crazy that it took me this long to eat at IndeBlue.. but I did only get into Indian food within the last year or so.
I never would have thought to come here for brunch but it was certainly a hit! They have brunch cocktails including bottomless mimosas and an expansive brunch menu. My group tried the crispy spinach (well seasoned) and paneer toast to start. I had the chicken makhani which had similar flavors to tikka masala. I tried my friends spicy chicken and waffles... perfectly fried thick pieces of chicken breast with just the right amount of heat. The portions were huge!
I definitely want to go back for dinner soon! Amazing dinner! Loved the spinach appetizer! The Brussels sprouts were too crispy. Loved the sea bass and madras chicken. Great cocktails and happy hour! Would come back! I absolutely love the food here, I'm Indian and super critical with Indian food but the food here did not disappoint. The atmosphere is upscale and classy and the happy hour prices are super affordable!
I would definitely recommend everyone to at least try Indeblu once! I will definitely be returning! We came here for restaurant week around 9:30pm on Friday. The food was good, but given what you get, I wouldn't call this place a good value (but I can only speak for the restaurant week menu.)
The reason why the three stars, is that despite the late reservation, the entire meal took over 2 hours to serve. We ordered at around 9:45pm, and while the appetizers came out quickly, it took forever for the entrees to come out. The restaurant was not packed so I don't understand why it took so long. Philly is no stranger to modern twists on Indian cuisine. Though Tashan is less one Chef Sylva Senat, it is still one of the prime destinations for delicious and beautifully presented Indian dishes. With IndeBlue making its way from Collingswood NJ, Center City Philly got a lot spicier. And with the exit of Bindi from Chef Marcie Turney's deck of restaurants a few years back, Chef Rakesh Ramola is certainly putting his Indian stamp on 13th Street.
The space is beautiful as well - wide open with plenty of room and ornamental designs throughout. A bar stands at the front of the restaurant - a great spot for Happy Hour and Center City Sips.
Crispy Spinach Chaat [$8]
Crispy baby spinach, shallots, chopped tomatoes, sweet yogurt, tamarind date chutney
The GF and I stopped by for lunch and the first thing we noticed on the menu was the crispy spinach chaat. And before we could even order it, the kitchen had already sent it out for us to try. This was a dish we had at Tashan and it exceeded our expectations. The baby spinach was lightly coated in a fresh chickpea batter and flash-fried in soybean oil. This allowed for a vegetal crisp amidst the bite of onion, chopped tomatoes, and shallots. The sweet yogurt and tamarind date chutney dressed the chaat well and provided a sweetness that brought a smile to our faces. A must order.
Mangalorean Crispy Vegetable [$8]
Seasonal vegetables, mustard seed, tomato, curry leaf, red chili
These vegetables were coated with a thicker chickpea batter, yet it was still incredibly crisp and light. Fresh veggies included cauliflower, peppers, and eggplant, with the mustard seed and red chili providing a bit of heat, and the tomato providing the acid. I typically abhor raw onions, but the red onions really worked here to break up the heft of each bite.
Drums of Heaven [$8]
Battered chicken wings, blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili, scallions
As soon as I saw pictures on Yelp (5 stars by the way), I knew I had to order this dish. Sure, it's not a traditional Indian dish. But really - how many restaurants french their drumsticks?
This chicken was nicely crispy, but was dressed well with notes of garlic, tomato and chili. The chicken itself was incredibly juicy and was marinated with what I believe was a yellow curry. The blue cheese certainly isn't typical, but hey - it's almost to be expected. If you like wings, definitely check these out.
Chutney
Mint, tamarind-date, green chile
With our mains, the kitchen also sent out a sampler of chutneys for us to try (I believe they're typically $3 each). From top to bottom, we received mint (light and refreshing), tamarind-date (sweet depth of flavor), and green chile (be prepared to sweat!).
Chicken Tikka Makhani "Butter Chicken" [$12]
Boneless free-range chicken, fresh tomato, cream, honey, fenugreek, black pepper, saffron rice
We make butter chicken at least once a month in our home, despite the GF and I not being Indian. But why should that matter - it's crazy good - 'nuff said. IndeBlue's iteration? Blows ours out the water. The boneless chicken was moist, but really, it's all about the sauce. The tomato provided nice acidity against the cream and butter. Perfect to engulf the sweet saffron rice. If you're thinking that Indian food is all about curry and you need an easy entry into this cuisine, please try this.
Non-Vegetarian Thali [$16]
Two tasting entrees, dai makhani, appetizer, mango chutney, rice, naan, raita
When I saw the thali options, I knew I had to order the non-vegetarian version. Thali is an Indian and Nepalese meal made up of various dishes - Indian tapas if you will. Counterclockwise from the right, I received mustard chicken (moist and bright), lamb (hearty like short rib and one of the best bites of the meal), and lentil daal (spicy and filling). A mango chutney and creamy raita provided the sweet and cooling elements to respectively balance the rest of the bites. Well-seasoned fried potatoes, more saffron rice, and naan bread were on offer as well. And for $16? This is easily a steal and a great way to try different bites from the kitchen.
If you live in Center City Philly, consider yourself lucky. There's a wide variety of cuisines available, especially in the Midtown Village area. With IndeBlue, approachable and modern twists based on authentic Indian techniques and flavors are on display. Service was top-notch - Sean was friendly, informed, and our plates were cleared for each course. If I'm craving Indian, I know where I'll be going. Unless IndeBlue starts delivering ... I want during restaurant week in January 2019. So there was a fixed menu of course! For starters I missed my reservation but I called and they said it'd be fine they would see me when I arrived. Sadly I arrived near their lunch closing time.... my friend and I were still seated!
During this experience I did not feel rushed at all even with my tardiness but very much accommodated. The place was very intimate even during lunch. The staff were friendly and patient. The decor is stunning let's not forget I came for the food. Which was delicious. I had the drums of heaven for my appetizer. A lamb dish for my entree followed by a rum pineapple dessert that I took to go! I didn't want to be too inconsiderate of their down time ... I honestly felt like I was just committing a sin by how satisfied I was with my overall experience. Great Indian food. The tasting menu is huge. We had a doggie shopping bag which we gave to a homeless man afterwards. The bacon mushroom soup was superb as well as the lollipop lamb chops. Was full before the entree came out. Definitely recommend. Awesome food, service ad ambience!
Wide selection of food items. Many unique and creative new items (not a stereotypical Indian restaurant!). Ordered 3 different items and loved it. Will certainly go back to try other items in the menu!
Ambience : bar setting. Kind of noisy but still good for conversations. Iive music on and off. Overall enjoyable
Service : very attentive inspite of being busy - hostess may need some work but bar tender, and servers are great. Take it from somebody who really HATES eating out for Indian food. This place is FABULOUS.
I had the privilege to go there for dinner with my parents last weekend.
Lets take it piece by piece shall we?
The ambiance has an intimate, romantic, ethnic feel to it- basically what I want my future home to look like. I am just in love with the decor. It is very cozy and just wonderful (warning: instagramming may not be possible due to dim lighting)
The service is exceptional. Water was always filled without question, servers were attentive and treated each customer with a lot of respect and patience. Indian food can be complicated for those who don't eat it often (and even for some who do!) but our server took time to explain everything and recommended some great dishes to try.
The food is just perfection. I am trying to think of an Indian restaurant that I've eaten at in Philly that even compares and none comes to mind. We ordered the lamb kabob and the naan pizza (the rotating special. ours was a paneer and caramelized onion one) for the appetizer, the lamb rogan josh, and the chicken makhni (along with naan for the table).
Everything came out very promptly and the food was absolutely great. When it first comes out you don't think that the portions are that much, but we ended up having enough leftovers for the next day.
This truly is a great spot to go if you are interested in eating quality Indian food. Went here with a French friend (Frenchies love classy places...). She ordered the Rajwadi shrimps and lamb something, I ordered the Chili avacado chat (?), paneer tikka masala and fig ice cream.
Chilli avacado chat was good, paneer tikka masala so..so..but the fig ice cream was the highlight of the night :-)
4 stars for appetizer, decor and desert The food was pretty delicious though some were of small portions, especially the appetizers/ beginnings. We ordered some of the entrees spicy, but it turned out quite mild even to my sensitive palate! The brunch special consists of an appetizer and an entree which was a good deal, only drawback was that we had to order naan separately. Worth a visit! My friends and I have been here for dinner- yum! Have a great happy hour too. Lunch was so good! Reasonably priced, fast, super friendly service as always. Saag Paneer is my favorite. UPDATE: The manager, Nitesh, was very apologetic so we decided to change to a 4-star. We understand they may be having personnel issues, but we really appreciated the managers service for recognizing the staffs shortcomings. We will be coming back.
Food was delicious as always. We are usuals at the Collingswood branch but they closed down so we decided to try out the philly location. I'm giving a 2-star and that's being generous. Our waitress did nothing but pour our water and bring our check. They didn't even come by to change our appetizer plates to entree plates. We were waiting so long that we ordered through the manager because our waitress kept walking by our table but never made eye contact. After 20-25 mins of waiting, we asked for the manager and ordered through him. The restaurant was not busy at all for this to have happened. We have always had a good experience at IndeBlue in Collingswood, but very disappointed with the Philly location. Hope their service gets better but we'll be back, only because the food is delicious. IndeBlue replicates authentic Indian flavors pretty well. I went with a friend from out of town for Sunday brunch. The live performers were an unexpected treat and immediately elevated the experience. We opted to share a couple appetizers and the non-vegetarian thali and our server was really helpful with suggestions to make it varied and enough to share. My friend got a beautifully presented mango lassi with pistachio sprinkled on top. My chai sangria was also well made. Our appetizers were the reshmi kabob and crispy spinach chaat. Both looked visually engaging, were tasty, and were good portions. The thali was in general a little bit milder than other Indian food I've had but definitely not lacking in taste, and I'm used to spicy food. Nice twist on Indian-American dishes. Great atmosphere busy on weekends. Always a nice time but now if they can great my tikka Marsala "Indian spicy" I'll give them another star. If you are a lover of Indian heat this place isn't the one. Came to here to celebrate my brother's birthday. Went during Happy Hour. Had a few drinks at the bar and afterwards we sat at a table for dinner. From the bar to dinner. Food and service was exceptional. Drinks and food was so good. Our waiter was kind and friendly. Dessert was the bomb. Thanks for the wonderful time Indeblue! Wanted to have a nice dinner out and thought I would try out this place. If your looking for something with parking good luck finding a spot. I'm cheap and had to drive to find a parking space near Christian street in a residential area. I dropped my date off first to grab a table. First off don't try to ask for a table without a reservation, we were told by the hostess that without a reservation it would be a 45 minute wait. The bartender kept pressuring my date to order while I was parking the car. When I joined my date, and she informed me of the wait, we decided to eat at the bar. I order a sangria for my date. It was served in a white wine glass filled with ice. Next time I order a sangria, I am going to say "no ice cubes". Then we decided to order two appetizers and an entree. He raved over one of the appetizers we ordered, but then quickly turned away to put the order in the computer without taking the entree order. We finally were able to order everything when he came back. It just felt like we were being rushed. For the appetizer we ordered the crispy spinach chaat and the barbecue spare rib samosa. I thought the spinach was better than the spare ribs which the waiter raved about. For the entree we order malai kofta. It's a vegetarian meatball in a creamy cashew sauce. I thought this dish was sub par. Maybe it was my fault, I should have ordered lamb. My opinion these vegetarian meatballs tasted like an under cooked boca burger. We decided to give the bar another chance and order another drink. After looking through the options we had a question regarding one of the drinks, so we decided to ask the bartender what lychee was. Instead of describing it using words, the bartender proceeded to grab the bottle of lychee puree and hold it up to my date's nose. Just a tip to the bartender--don't ever shove a bottle in anyone's face. I think for now, I am going to stick to takeout for Indian food. Being an indian myself, I tend to be over critical of most Indian restaurants. Indeblue really surprised me. They break the stereotype that all Indian food is spicy. Instead it's all about the flavors which they have captured so beautifully in their entrees. Me being a vegetarian stuck to the vegetarian options which were limited for appetizers but they have a good selection of vegetarian entrees. My meat eating husband loved the tandoori chicken. He claims "it's the best I've eaten ever". I recommend the jalfrezi.. the flavor profile of the curry blew my mind. Great ambience and great people serving you.. reasonably priced for the quality of food they serve. I'm definitely coming back here again!! I cannot begin to tell you how AMAZING we're the drinks here & the food! I think everything we ordered was beyond our expectations! It lives up to the fusion Indian food reputation. I would def recommend this place for any occasions since it's classy, upscale, tad bit on the pricey side though. But, it will be worth it! I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here.
The saag bahar was spicy like we asked it to be and the cheese board was very filling and great to share as an appetizer for two or more.
The staff was very hospitable and service was pleasant and quick. The manager came by to ask us if everything was okay and why we canceled our second entree. He seemed genuinely concerned and wanted to make sure we were happy with the food and service. Wow, how was I missing out on the happy hour at this place for so long? And to think I considered myself a happy hour pro. Going down the street to Sampan, Vedge, and other places that are RIGHT DOWN THE STREET and never even thinking upon IndeBlue.
I just don't think I'd ever really even be interested in trying their actual menu now that I know what the happy hour has to offer. Its just so... extensive. And delicious! OK, so I probably would try the menu. Just kidding.
The decor is really pretty. Eye catching, sparkly, shiny and new looking. Very appealing, and I can see that being a draw for a couple looking for a romantic date spot. The bar is up front and has about 10 ish seats (maybe less?) and seemed to get packed around 6pm. Happy hour is only at the bar.... btw.
We showed up at 5pm on the dot (very punctual, I know) and were weirdly the only people in the restaurant for almost an hour, at least a solid 30 minutes, and it wasn't even uncomfortable. The bartender was training someone and they were both very nice to talk to, and even some of the servers came to hang out and chat, giving good advice for menu items to try.
The happy hour food menu consists of $3, $4, and $5 bites, and they are substantial enough to fulfill a hungry belly. Boyfriend and I shared 4, and between the two of us that was substantial for a light dinner. The spinach chaat was a highlight, and the "pockets of heaven" which are just light batter fried chicken wings in a tasty, spicy sauce were also surprisingly delicious. We also tried the stuffed long hots which were my personal favorite-and had a good spice level if you like that kinda thang-and the naan pizza, which was "ok" but not fantastic. I would've liked to have tried more items, but there are like 9-10 things on the happy hour menu alone.
The HH drink menu was also as extensive. There were two wines ($4), two beers ($3) and like 4 cocktails ($5). The cocktails were legit. The wine did not suck. I was happy.
Sweet mother of the holy happy hour gods-can we please have more awesome happy hours like this?! I had the choice of either seeing the liberty bell or eating brunch during my fleeting visit to Philly and boy am I glad or what that I passed up the liberty bell for Indeblue! It's not all that often that you see Indian food in a breakfast/brunch format (besides the usual buffet)...which is weird coz it's not like we don't eat brunch!! They had live music - sitar and tabla musicians who played the most soulful soothing music, complementing their ambience and culinary experience most wonderfully. Their menu is delightful, with the standard and familiar Indian brunch options of Chole Bature (don't miss it!! Best I've eaten in a long time), masala dosa, paneer bhurjee and samosa chaat as well as pancakes and French toast if your party includes people that aren't fans of Indian spices (You might wanna check if these people are for real, though... seriously). The one thing I wish for is that their appetizer/small plate section had a few more vegetarian options. Consider the Maharaja Cheese Plate which has some very interesting flavors in cheese (coconut flavored for instance) with papad and mango/tomato chutney. I also enjoyed my Masala Bloody Mary and Indebluetini (vodka, mango juice, citrus and cardamom). The have several cocktail options, wines and liquors. There's something for everyone on their drinks menu. Their servers are knowledgeable about the menu, polite and courteous. Be warned that this isn't going to be an "in and out" quick brunch experience. Be prepared for a slightly slower paced experience, take out at least a couple hours for this restaurant and I don't think you'll be disappointed. Certainly worth your while. Whoa! Pretentious aren't we. Wed night 6pm, drop in for early dinner. Two people at the bar and two tables of two diners. Estimate 20-25 empty tables. "...sorry sir, we can't seat you until 7:15..." Good luck, hope your delusions of grandeur are one day realized. LOVE! This freakin place has an amazing decor, friendly staff..and the food was really yummy! I went during restaurant week, so the deal was great! A lot of food for the $ and the soups were great. Loved the restaurant. Its not typical Indian food. It is more upscale with a modern twist. Inside has cool decorations. My only wish is outdoor seating for the warm weather. IndeBlue offers a spectacular dining experience for those who enjoy spicy and sophisticated cuisine. The house cocktails are wonderful and the meal couldn't have been better. Our waiter, Bennett, was excellent. Make sure you save room for the desserts. Came here for brunch with friends after running Broad St. The last few miles, all I could think about was Indian fusion brunch with bottomless mimosas. The restaurant is small, but accommodated our reservation of 6. We all showed up a different times so it was a little late start but our waitress, Lori, was on top of our hungry and thirsty party! She was great to work with and genuine. She gave me a fun glance after I ordered the bottomless mimosas and saw it as a challenge to always have a full glass for me. And indeed, she won the challenge! She was great in recommending brunch items and drinks for others as well. I ordered the vindaloo skillet and was not disappointed with my selection. The food came out quickly and I was treated with great twist on vindaloo curry with sunny side up eggs, potatoes, sausage and challah. The flavor was solid. My wife enjoyed the chicken and waffles which I copped some pieces while she was not looking. Also, a big favorite for brunch goers. These two dishes were amazing. Overall, great experience! Especially with live music with the sitar and drums. Thank you so much, Lori, for a great time! Came here on a spontaneous night out for dinner and everything from the wait staff to the food was amazing!
Everyone was very friendly and attentive and the chef went over to every table thanking people for their service ( when truly we should be instead). We ordered the paneer tikka and Malai kofta and both were amazing!
A tip would be to ask for the food spicy if you're a person who needs that extra flavor because the food in general had almost no spice. Also the food, which they say can be shareable, is really not unless you have a small appetite. As a person who loves to eat, I could've finished two of the entrees
Overall though, a great experience! A little pricey for your traditional mainstream Indian food, but nonetheless, highly recommended! Best indian in the city, in the area. Rare to have a high end beautiful place to go out for Indian and this is the best. I heard about indeblue from a yelp event, where they had a stand with samosas and chicken wings. I decided to check out the restaurant and was pleasantly surprised.
The spinach chaat is awesome, definitely get this as a starter. It's flash fried spinach, but tastes very flavorful and light. As a main course, I got the fish of the day -- Chilean sea bass with saffron rice. My boyfriend got the vindaloo dish, absolutely delicious, wish I got this!
So the only reason why this restaurant isn't a 5 star is because the drink prices are wayyy to expensive. A gin and tonic for 11? A bit steep. 8 of us ate the tasting menu last night. 3 appetizers, 2 tandoor selections, 3 entrees, 2 desserts. It was far and away the best Indian food I've had in the states. Everything was cooked perfectly and the service was lovely. My only quibble was the spiciness had been toned down a bit for I assume the American palate. Otherwise a treat of a meal that made me homesick for my days living in SE Asia. I came here the first day they opened up outdoor seating during COVID - on top of the stress associated with opening day, it was also raining and the restaurant had limited umbrellas and several patrons had to sit in the rain. Given the circumstances, the staff worked extra hard to ensure customers were well tended to and arrange seating to avoid the rain as much as possible. The wait staff was extremely friendly and the food was delicious. The lunch tiffin is only $15 and comes with so much food that we had to take it home. They also gave us free chai and extra rice to take home. Overall I had a great experience and would definitely return / recommend to others. Loved the food!! The service was great and the chef came out and personally asked how everyone was doing. The food had some awesome fusion to some of the dishes and I would highly recommend going here!! This restaurant was exactly what I needed. We were on 13th street on a Saturday and every place seemed to have a wait of at least 45 minutes. We walked in and were given a wait time but the host was thoughtful enough to ask if we would mind sitting at a smaller pub style table at the very front of the restaurant. This was perfect because we had barely become settled in our seats before becoming aware that a line was now forming at the entrance.
Ordering the Vegetable Samosa Chaat was the general consensus. BTW you should never allow everyone at the table to order the same appetizer as it limits the number of items for you to sample but it is safe to say that a dish this good could end a friendship on the spot if encroached upon. I honestly wish that I'd just requested 4 plates of it as an entree. The samosas were crispy and the dough wasn't overly thick. The filling had an even ratio of potatoes and veggies. The sauce was incredible.
Next I ordered the Chana Saag it was good as well. They definitely know how to prepare their chickpeas. They were perfectly cooked and the seasoning wasn't overbearing nor was it insipid in the least. I think that I would have enjoyed it a lot more had it not been directly behind the previous chickpea dish. That however did not stop me from happily cleaning my plate.
The restaurant was comfortable enough to have a great time with family, go on a date night, meet up with colleagues or go for comfortable solitude at the bar. They had excellent lighting that allowed you to see everything perfectly without being garish and the decor was both pleasing in form as it was in function. The staff were friendly, thoughtful and well-informed without hovering unnecessarily.
I definitely plan on returning. Place was awesome. Rode up from DC to philly just to grab lunch. Yelp reviews were spot on. Great tasting of fine Indian Food!
Plus very accommodating for those of us with food allergies. Great gluten free and vegan options. This place is actually pretty incredible. During my last visit to Philadelphia I searched for a good Indian restaurant. Sadly, it didn't happen. This visit I just stumbled across it and was pleasantly surprised. Had the Brussels sprout special with the chicken tikka. Great!!! This place was delicious! I've been craving Indian lately so we found this place in Philly and it did not disappoint!! We each chose the platter that had lots of little plates and it gave you the opportunity to try lots of different things. The spice level was great and the mango lasse was delicious! I can't wait to go back!! Check it out if you're in town! Found this restaurant online and after reviewing some reviews we decide to give it a shot after a long travel day to visit philly for the weekend. They were able to accommodate us without reservations on a busy Friday evening. The drinks were decent. We ordered the wings as the appetizers (they took a little while to come out and were not that hot in terms of temperature). Next we ordered the paella which was decent and the chicken tikka masala (not on the menu but they were able to make it). The food took some time to come out but we dug in nonetheless, unfortunately half way through we found a long dark hair in the chicken tikka. That's when the meal was over. They were able to remove the meals off the check, but it was not a pleasant experience overall. I was thoroughly impressed with the happy hour specials at this place. Best part, they're offered every day of the week!
We showed up with a big group (10+ people) around 5 PM and were able to find seats at the bar. I ordered the indebluetini which tasted like a mango lassi - delicious!
For food, we ordered the pav bhaji, paneer toast, spinach chaat, crispy cauliflower, and chicken tikka naan pizza.
Everything was super flavorful and unique without being spicy. The pav bhaji was probably my favorite with the paneer toast as a close second. The only dish that I may not get again was the crispy cauliflower - it was good, but I've had similar dishes at other restaurants before.
Service was very friendly and it didn't take that long for our food to come out. Overall, would highly recommend! Great for happy hour, so-so for brunch.
5/5 for Happy hour: They have wonderful drink specials and great deals on small plates. The chikni shandar (chai sangria) is my go to drink here, and the naan pizza never disappoints. I'm also a huge fan of their stuffed long hot peppers, but they tend to run a little spicy for people who aren't used to burning their taste buds on a daily basis. Also, Indeblue is never too crowded during happy hour, and I've always been able to grab a seat even if I'm with a group of friends.
3/5 for Brunch: The paneer bhurjee is my favorite brunch item here, not only because it's delicious and cheesy, but also because it's one of the few brunch items at indeblue that are actually filling. The "build your own" omelette was the smallest omelette I've ever seen, as well as the French toast portion. Everything here tastes great, it's just that some portions are a bit lacking. Also, their brunch starts a little late -- 11am, so if you're and early riser looking to beat the brunch crowd, this is not the place to be.
Overall-- indeblue is one of my favorite happy hour places in center city, but I'm not too excited about their brunch. An average Indian place. Having eaten at some of the really good Indian restaurants in Philly, NYC and NC, my expectations for Indian restaurants is obviously high, especially for a restaurant that is rated pretty high on Yelp. My experience at IndeBlue was pretty normal, I probably won't return.
The food was average, nothing exciting. Non-Indian folks might enjoy it more I suppose. *********SIX STAR REVIEW - SIX STAR REVIEW***********
So I crossed my wires for restaurant week and ended up here this past Tuesday. Heck we love this place so a chance to go two weeks in a row is no biggie. We arrived at happy hour and sat at the bar with the handsome Cory, creator of their drink menu. Cory was the perfect host that evening, he chatted with us, drinks came quickly, and he was attentive without being intrusive. Two stars right there for service.
We started with a few happy hour snacks, the drums of heaven, Dahi Avacado Chaat, and the crispy spinach Chaat. These three dishes immediately reminded me of the problem of eating at Indeblue. You just want more. You never want the dish to end! The Dahi were cool and refreshing on this 99 degree day. The spinach Chaat was so good it was almost a fight with my guest over the bowl. We discussed ordering another but as we knew more food was coming we held off.
The drums of heaven were primarily my dish, with my guest ordering a bowl of the corn cilantro chowder. I can tell you if it wasn't so hot I would have had a bowl too. It is magnificent. The drums of heaven are always perfect. Crunch, savory, and just enough spice to leave the edges of your lips burning as you finish them. Quickly cooled off by one of the lemon basil cocktails. Yum!
I decided on the seafood moilee. When they say jumbo lump, they mean the size of your finger jumbo. The shrimp were *PERFECTLY* cooked. I add one star righht here for the shrimp. I honestly could not remember the last time I had shrimp prepared so perfectly in a restaurant, and I eat a lot of shrimp. The dish itself was incredible. A depth of flavor that made the seafood truly enchanting. I ate half to leave room for dessert and had the other half wrapped. I can't even tell you what my guest had as I was so entranced by the moilee.
For dessert I had the Duo of Figs. Decadent and rich, it's a good idea to split this one. I however, had only eaten half my entree so this portion was just enough to fill me up. We split a bottle of prosecca with dessert, and my guest lost his bet. He hates the texture of bananas. but insists he's never ever had a bad dish here, so I challenged him to order the banana nirvana. As he was the one who first had me try Indeblue and showed me how glorious indian food can be when properly cooked, I felt it appropriate.
The bananas came deep fried similar to how a plaintain would, covered with a salted caramel and then a cinnamon iced cream, they didn't stand a chance. The food gains another two stars for overall taste and perfection of flavor. Let me also say that rating includes how lovely the food is to the eye, as attention to plating is also something done very well here.
Oh, and the food comes out fast and hot, (or, as appropriate, cold). I wish they had opened the kitchen so we could watch the Chef cook, he must be a blur in action.
That's 5 stars you say. Why six? Here's why. As we sat sipping the last of the prosecca, our sweet teeth sated and bellies full but not bloated, we listened to the live music. The stunning interior design, the amazing food, perfect service all came together and transported me far from the streets of Philadelphia. I realized the experience I was enjoying had only been rivaled in my travels overseas, or the very rare occasional opulence of a grande dame in some far away vacation spot. For a moment, everything was absolutely perfect, the days worries forgot, the world revolving around my guest and I.
Six Stars. Perfect. Atmosphere was quiet at first but as time went on, people kept coming up! Not sure if it's usually this packed around 6:15, but it was nice. Small little place but I enjoyed the food, not so much of the drinks. My boyfriend and I had dinner at IndeBlue for the first time recently . We enjoyed it so much we returned 2 weeks later . I had wanted to try it for quite some time and am so glad I finally did !As I entered the restaurant the first thing I noticed was the beautiful decor and lighting which made for a lovely ambiance . The staff was awesome .. very courteous and accommodating - really helpful with answering questions about our food selections .We had reservations both times and were seated promptly . The food was exceptional . Truly an overall wonderful dining experience . Would highly recommend . Went here for brunch for my moms birthday and loved loved loved all the food. The chicken wrap, the paneer bhurji, the chole-everything was just so good! I want to go here for dinner now! My boyfriend loved it so much that he wants to keep going back! The food here is amazing (when you get the right food)! Went here for restaurant week and really enjoyed the food. The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars is that we ordered cauliflower and there was a piece of shrimp in it (we are vegetarian). I did end up eating it, unfortunately :( The server apologized and gave us another appetizer for free and the manager also apologized. I know they felt bad but was a little frustrating that a vegetarian dish had meat in it (we did tell the server we are vegetarians). OH MY GOD. THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING AND MIND BLOWING PANEER BHURJEE I HAVE EVER HAD.
Usually I start a review by describing a bit about the ambiance etc but I had to start with the Paneer Bhurjee this time. IT WAS SO GOOD.
So creamy and flavorful, it almost seemed too good to be eaten. Kudos to the chef :)
Visited Indeblue for brunch on a saturday and it was more lively than I hoped for.
I usually opt to try different and unique dishes at restaurants and it almost seemed like a no brainer to start with the "Maharaja Cheese Board" and " Rose Mimosa " for shared plates and drinks.
Maharaja Cheese Board had three different types of cheese, cashews, fruits and naan bread served with different chutneys which were sweet and tangy.
It wasn't extraordinary in taste but it was something unique to find at an indian restaurant so went with it. It wasn't bad at all
Next up was "Paneer Toast". Pieces of paneer and cherry tomatoes served on a baguette smeared with avocado and topped with chilli sauce. DELICIOUS AND DIFFERENT
Next up was the show stopper " Paneer Bhurjee served with Chilli Naan. A grated paneer curry which was so flavorful and creamy, you could eat it all day. Mildly spicy so that it doesn't burn your taste buds, this dish is a must try.
For desserts, Stuffed Gulab jamun was basically a gulab jamun stuffed with strawberry cream. Well, if you like cream and hot gulab jamun, you might as well go for it.
Overall
Food: 7/5
Ambiance: 2.5/5 ( It was really loud inside so if you are not a fan of loud places, you might want to avoid during brunch or friday nights)
Service: 4/5
Value for money: 5/5 Delicious food, nice atmosphere, attentive service. Four of us are in town for a class. The house fried spinach appetizer was our favorite. Crispy cauliflower a close second. I had two small plates: lamb chops and shrimp skewer. We took the waiter's recommendations and were all very pleased and satisfied.
Weird though, they cannot split checks between more than two. Nice place for a date! My boyfriend and I came for dinner. We don't have a lot of experience with Indian food, but our waiter gave us pointers and we ordered
+ spinach chaat (this is a great appetizer, but we felt that it was a little too much for two people. The crispy spinach is really nicely done, but after a while it kind of tastes like more of the same. Probably good for a larger group)
+ paneer tikka masala (delicious, with nice large cheese chunks. I think this is a good, standard dish to order if you're not too familiar with Indian food. Comes with some delicious basmati rice! We also ordered a side of garlic naan to eat with this dish. Apparently only one of the entrees actually comes served with naan, so I'd highly recommend ordering some if you're eating a masala)
+ tandoori grill sampler (we liked trying this for our first time, but will probably opt for something else in future because we didn't like everything in the sampler. The chicken and lamb and just fine, the grilled vegetables on the salty side. I liked the cauliflower because it had a nice charred taste. Our favorite was the shrimp, which came served with little sweet peppers)
For two people, I'd recommend getting two appetizers and one entree to share. We had a bit too much food, especially with the masala which is very filling. Wow wow wow! What a gem!
We visited Indeblue for the first time a few weeks ago and it made a lasting impression- so much so we have set up reservations with some friends for this week!
Our waiter was Bennett and he was absolutely wonderful and so accommodating. His recommendations were on point... every member of our group was pleased with their meal. If I had to recommend one menu item, it would be the crispy spinach chaat... trust me.
Like I said, we'll be back, with more friends in tow! Can't recommend highly enough. Out of town on business. Was a little surprised how we were debating if we should eat here or not and the next two people that came out told us that we need to try it. Goodness. This was fantastic and worth every penny Let me preface by saying that this is my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia hands-down. From the ambience to the food to the service they have absolutely nailed everything down. I came here for brunch once and for dinner and I left really satisfied. For dinner, appetizers we ordered, drums of heaven, long hot peppers and samosa chat (we are fatties). For main course I got lollipop lamb chops (the portion was smaller than I expected but the taste made up for it) and my fiancé ordered chicken madras. And ooooh their masala chai is the best.
For brunch more like 2pm lunch we ordered:
Drums of heaven (all I eat is meat)
Vindaloo Egg skillet (substituted sausage with chicken)
Masala potato and egg kathi roll (big portion)
Amazing brunch experience with some musical in background.
Can't wait to be back! Absolutely wonderful Indian restaurant. I've lived in three different states and eaten at Indian restaurants in SF, but Indeblue is the best. Hands down!!!! In one word, our experience was outstanding. The Chicken Makhani was so delicious and perfectly spiced. The Pork Vindaloo had an amazing kick. Goat Masala was so tender. The superstar was the Lamb Laal Maas. It was presented beautifully and was so good. And don't skip the garlic naan. OMG. Our server was adorable and attentive. We never waited for anything. Just go. It's that good. This was a great experience! We were in town celebrating my mother's birthday with a large group. Thankfully we got in touch with Chris who made sure that we had a three course menu set for all dietary restrictions (allergies and preferences) and mimosas to match. The service was excellent, as was the food. Highlights for me were the roasted cauliflower, the mango French toast, the spicy chicken & waffles, and their mango and apricot sorbet. We will definitely go again next time we are in town! Brunch was not a meal but an experience! The sitarist played the most beautiful music transporting the meal all the way to India! The chai tea was like nectar of the gods and the non vegetarian thali was delightful! Will definitely come back next time I'm in Philadelphia! Although the food was really delicious, we were shocked with the exorbitant cost of the bill. Expect to pay DOUBLE whatever you're thinking, and tip will be included in the bill. Also service was spotty at best. The waitress we had was very sweet, but the kitchen sent out our main courses without the accompanying rice, which reached the table ten minutes after. Not good. Really good food but unfortunately, not worth a return trip. I was between 4 and 5 stars. I decided to give them 5 because the service is excellent and the decor is real cool compared to other Indian restaurants. I've been here twice and am definitely coming back.
The lunch is a bit pricey for a "lunch special"....but worth every penny. I had the tasting for dinner. I loved the bread. Was a little disappointed in my entree, mainly because I came here for Indian food and got talked into ordering paella.
Desert was ok. I know it sounds like a review for a 3 star place....but the food that is good....is REAL GOOD. This place was great and so was the food, and this is coming from a person who is spicy intolerant!
Andrew was our server and he was EXCELLENT: not only super polite, but also so respectful and thoughtful. Best server I've had in a long time to be honest. Please give this man a raise!
If you are like me and can't handle spicy/hot things, try the chicken makhani for your entree as it seems to be the least spicy of all and I agree, I could tolerate it.
The environment is so calm and the ambiance so relaxing, I really enjoyed my time here and I would definitely come back given the opportunity! Venue: romantic, clean, regal, large and small groups welcomed
Parking: nonexistent, street parking, walk or public transit is best
Service: unbelievably amazing! Bennett was our server and he was just awesome. Knew his menu, knew his audience, knew his trade. He did everything well and made us feel very welcomed and just overall great service, not overbearing and not too absent. Friendly and respectful!
Food: there were some really great standout dishes including the spinach app, poutine, paneer dishes, rice pudding. Other ancillary dishes were great too but by personal preference some were gamier and/or fishier than you would want/expect. The bread basket was awesome too! My favorite was their sweet naan. I already am craving more.
Price: a bit pricey in my opinion. It was an amazing dining experience but the food wasn't perfect so to charge $60-70 a person was a bit much. But the company and service made it worth it. If I were eating alone, probably would not have been happy with the deal I got.
Overall: a great experience, would die for the spinach recipe! Will be back for sure. Happy eating! Had dinner at IndeBlue last night, thanks to all the great Yelp recommendations. Here are my thoughts:
Ambiance: The restaurant is nice. Very well decorated and clean.
Service: Really great. Our server was friendly and attentive. I must say, however, that I was surprised at how non-Indian this restaurant is. In other words, there wasn't a single Indian server / owner / chef around. Made me a bit nervous about how authentic our food would be.
Food: We ordered many things - samosas, avocado puri, lollipop lamb chops, vegetable shashlik, chicken kabob, rice, roti, raita, mango panna cotta, and the restaurant sent a complimentary spinach appetizer. Everything was very tasty but SUPER SPICY.
I'd specifically asked the waiter to make everything mild but absolutely nothing was mild. This was definitely a problem for our 9-year-old, as well as for me (my low spice-threshold is an embarrassment to my Indian father, I'm sure).
In any case I requested some chutney to make things more bearable and that was that.
Bottom Line: The service was great, the food was good, and pricing is reasonable. But I'm not sure I would return here because I prefer not to have to douse my food in sugary chutney so that I can eat it. I came here for Saturday brunch with a fairly large group after a good friend got engaged and... wow. The food was amazing. I love love loved the meal. I was very pleasantly surprised as I had read some pretty iffy reviews about the place in advance. I tried a few dishes that others got across the table. The chicken and waffles were phenomenal - a bit on the spicy side but in a good way. The chicken tikka wrap was every bit as good.
The space is beautiful but a bit crowded which also means its a fairly loud ambiance. Regardless, I had a great experience here. Looking forward to my next visit. This is a review for brunch only, as I have not been here for dinner yet.
I love indian food and was looking for someplace new for brunch that is vegan friendly. A quick yelp search suggested that IndeBlue would be just the place.
Sundays they have live music, which was nice. However, we were sitting right across from the music, and it did get a little loud at times. Something to maybe note when you request reservations.
Our reservation was for 11:45 or 12, and it really filled up in the next hour or so - so making a reservation is a good bet. I ordered the rose mimosa (like rose, the flower) for $6. It was really delicious! (They do unlimited for $22, FYI.) We started with the crispy spinach chaat which is vegan if you don't get the yogurt sauce. It was amazing, so order this for sure. The cauliflower was also really great (and vegan friendly). My vegan friend ordered some sort of vegan dosa roll. I ordered the paneer bhurjee, which was really amazing - with the indian paneer cheese. My other friend got the chicken and waffles, which is huge and seriously really amazing.
I will definitely keep this in my mind for future brunches (and if your friends aren't into indian, they will definitely find something here). I also really look forward to coming back here and trying out some happy hour or dinner dishes. Indian cuisine is my favorite so I tend to be a little critical.... However, I was very impressed with IndeBlue! I was intrigued by their menu as it was a mix of traditional with a new, exciting culinary twist I haven't seen before. I'm a vegetarian and my fiance is not and we both loved the options! We shared the cheese plate (which is NOT your average cheese plate and super impressive) and the stuffed peppers. He had the pork vindaloo and I had the channa saag - both sound traditional but were definitely elevated above your typical dish and when we ordered spicy, they nailed it. Cocktails were fantastic too. Excellent service and ambiance. A real winner! From the start we could tell this experience was going to be rocky. We walked in and the girl at the hostess stand just looked at me, and didn't say anything. I told her we had a reservation and she continued staring at me and then I told her the name and again without saying anything she led us back to a table. Pretty quickly a waiter came up to us looking confused asking if we wanted peligrino water and I said no we just wanted tap water. We got our water but then 20 minutes went by without anyone addressing us or even asking if we needed more time with the menu. Finally our server came and while he was helpful in choosing food options, that is where his hospitality ended. We received our food , we ordered the tasting menu. Food was decent, I've had better at less "trendy" Indian restaurants. What really upset us about this place is that the service was just awful. The waiter would disappear for long times and we would just be sitting there waiting. When all was said and done they had brought us our bag with the food that we couldn't finish to take home but no one had brought us a check. We had to ask the man refilling our water for a check and he brought that out. Then we sat there for another 20 minutes waiting for anyone to come out from the back to take our credit card. It was 10 pm by this point, only 3 tables in the restaurant and no server in sight. Finally we stood up and brought our check to the bar and had her run our card. I will not be recommending this place or returning. There are too many worthwhile places to eat at in Philly to go through this again. Happy hour 5 pm until closing at the bar. Everyday. WHAT A STEAL. I'm pretty sure I've tried everything on the HH menu but my favorite dishes at the moment are the naan pizza, chicken drumsticks, paneer toast, cauliflower, and spinach chat.
Great service, great food. Incredible prices and extending HH. Good luck finding another restaurant in the area that treats you this well. IndeBlue is an upscale Indian joint with prices to match. That said, the food is delicious, if somewhat skimpy on the portion sizes. The décor is phenomenal. Very romantic, which I kind of wish I'd known before going there with a friend.
Oh, and get dessert. The gulab jamun were fantastic. I came here with my family during Christmas weekend. We sat down for brunch and absolutely loved it. Laurie was our waitress and she was great, very helpful and accommodating. We did endless mimosas and she was always on point about refilling our glasses.
Food- Paneer Burji, Spinach Chaat, Paneer Pizza are a must. This was probably one of the best burjis I have head, it comes with a chili naan and you can customize it to your spice level. I prefer my Indian food from hole-in-the-wall dives (that's how you know it's real Indian cooking), so I lacked a bit of confidence visiting IndeBlue. After my meal, I indeed felt justified because some of their dishes (e.g., bland chicken curry, thin doughy nann) paled in comparison to those found at my favorite Indian spots (a loud and proud shoutout to Dana Mandi in West Phila!). Why pay more when you can find more authentic and filling Indian meals in much humbler places? However, I must admit that I was very impressed by the kind staff and their beautiful restaurant. And not every bite failed the litmus test. I regret that the wonderfully tender lamb rogan josh came as a small dish on the platter. I'm certain to order it again as a main entree upon a return visit to IndeBlue. I think they has a creative (hello, brunch) and diverse Indian menu, which warrants a second chance. We were looking for Indian food near our hotel, and the concierge recommended Indieblue. My friend and I shared two appetizers and half-servings of three entrees. Over the last 15 years, we have probably gotten together for 3 meals a year at conferences all over the world. We agreed that this was the best meal we've ever enjoyed together. The food was absolutely stupendous, and the service was marvelous too. This restaurant was amazing! I visited during restaurant week and I'm so glad i did. This is a lovely Indian cuisine restaurant with such a pleasant and sophisticated atmosphere. Our waiter was very nice as he described our dinner choices. The food tasted very well and I was happy with our meal choices. I would definitely recommend the chicken meatballs and the crispy spinach dishes. The bathroom was nice as well, it looked recently remodeled and it had a silhouette door! Very classy place and I will be visiting again. I came here for happy hour on a weekday wand thought it was a great deal. Their happy hour is from 5-7pm and I would recommend coming early--there are not many seats at the bar. The Indian themed cocktails are great and the food is a new, modern take on the classics. My favorites were the spinach chaat, Cauliflower and naan pizza. Definitely a great place for happy hour! Thank you Indeblu for opening up a restaurant in centre city! I love this place, hailing from India, Indian food in America has always been disappointing but Indeblu is far better than most. I love the spinach chaat, the samosas and the nan pizza!
Happy hours are the best ! This is definitely the best Indian food I have had in the US. Every single item was delicious. The Chole bhature were to die for. Paneer bhurji was super yummy. And the tandoori chicken! Oh my! That was the best. Ordered gulab jamoon for dessert, it was yummy!
Will be back soon!! The only Indian restaurant in Philly I love going to! I have been going to Indeblu since it opened in Philly and over the years have enjoyed there food.
There have been times when the service or the food would have been better but overall it's always been consistent in the quality of food and service. I love their weekend brunch menu which keeps getting new addition and would highly recommend their happy hour for anyone looking to try this place for the first time.
My all time favorite dishes are their Drums of Heaven, Spinach Chaat, Dahi Avocado Chaat, Chana Masala, Paneer Bhurji and their Thali specials. It's a great place for meat lovers and vegans alike and the cocktails have a nice twist with Indian flavoring or spices! I ordered goat biryani. It was bit sweet not spicy. Didn't taste authentic like Hyderabadi biryani, yet I'll give it a 4 star Good food but, I had the lamb chop small platter, tasted good but was too small...Try the full entrees. Decoration is amazing, food is not really super great. I don't think an Indian chef can cook this type of food. They need to change their chef . If you go India or in Pakistan, you can find better food in most remote jungle area of these countries. Disappointed . While in Philly for a conference we visited and were amazed. The wait staff were super helpful and guided us to a blind tasting experience paired with a great wine. All we can say is that it was by far the best experience at any Indian restaurant anywhere for any of us. We tried to convince them to move to Clemson so we could have a great Indian restaurant in town! We will be back for sure. On June 2nd, we went there for my daughter 's graduation and I was not happy with the service provided by the manager. The server was awesome . We were a party of nine and they put us in a cramped sitting . I complained to the hostess and her answer was I just got here so I don't know and I will get the manager . The manager comes and tell me that they do this all the time and the table is set for nine . Yeah it would have been ok , if there were kids but not for nine adults . I made this reservation way in advance and called to confirm. When she saw I was made she said she can see what she can do and I know she didn't do anything or call anyone and she comes back and says oh everything is reserved and no one wants to move and they have a larger party coming in . This was a lie since I did not see any large party . The table which was next to us was empty and she said she couldn't give me that table because this was reserved . We left a round 9pm and and not one person came to sit at the two tables which were next to us . I guess she rather have people upset then to accommodate. One can imagine what anger I felt . I work in a service industry and service provided by a manger was very poor. Did she not think that we would notice all the empty spots and the table which was empty next to us . I have even tried the other restaurant in Collinswood for lunch and that restaurant is awful . The food was awful and and the service was so poor that we swore we would never go there . I work in Hospitality and have never given a bad review but I feel this was necessary. Excellent drinks, food n staff/service. Their brunch menu is also unique n tasty. I only deducted one star because the plates n fork at my table were a little dirty and had to be swapped which was a little disappointing for a fancy higher end type restaurant. But things happen so I'll def be back for food n great service! Excellent tasting food with a variety of creative menu options to choose from. Staff is friendly and quick with service. Somewhat limited seating. This was a fantastic restaurant. The service was fantastic the restaurant was beautiful and there was plenty of open space and seating for everyone. The service was fantastic and our waitress was very attentive to our needs and frequently checked on us and we filled our water regularly. We got a paneer dish as well as the Chana masala and some Naan. I would love for the naan to be bigger pieces because it's three dollars for just one piece which is barely enough to split between two people so consider ordering a second order of the naan but other than that the food was fantastic. I'd love to come back for lunch because I heard they have really good kati rolls. This is the best restaurant I have ever been to. We had the brunch menu and got the thali and the chicken and waffles and it was amazing. The service was so good. Every time I go to philly I'm going to make it A point to come here. Ordered Thali for lunch. Was decent. Paneer Tikka Masala was my favorite. Kheer was amazing too. Would recommend to anybody who likes Indian food. This place is over the top! I only had 30 minutes to eat and they brought my food out pronto. I had the chicken tiki Marsala it was awesome! Highly recommend. Great atmosphere and friendly service! The food and drinks were fantastic. The atmosphere and service was great. I will definitely go again. Best staff, they know how to make their customers happy! We had reservations but had to wait a little due to a large party that didn't make the proper arrangements. The staff felt horrible for making us wait and offered a free appetizer for the trouble.
The food was wonderful, the drinks delightful and the atmosphere was great! I will return here again! I'm realizing I only review places I like. Oh well. Anyway, I had dinner here and it was GREAT. I've been bummed since my fave Indian place closed because the family moved to Fargo to open a restaurant there (who does that!?!?!?!), and the entree, malai kofta bukhara, and naan I had here were very much like what I used to have there. Delicious entree and the assortment of naan in the bread basket was also very tasty. I didn't have any appetizers so I can't speak to those, but they looked delicious (I'm a sucker for vegetable samosas). The waitress was very friendly but not annoying. They had live music which added ambience but gave me a headache, as all live music does, so take that for what it's worth. I would definitely go back here instead of trying something new, which means it was pretty good! Food was so tiny i thought it was a barbie house. We had the crab cakes which were the size of a 50 cent piece. We got the garlic Naan and it was great. We also for the mixed grill when they brought it out.. I was asking where the rest was. The lamb was good but the chicken was dry and the mini bell peppers were larger than any meat on there no rice no side just tiny food. I don't think I would have mind so much if the waitress told us ahead of time how small the portions were. After we had the small mixed grill we got the butter chicken which was a good size.. I wouldn't bother on the expensive place where you can't even leave with your belly full... The place is fancier than your usual indian place. Service was great and the ambiance is quite nice. Entrees aren't cheap but they are also well made (given my limited knowledge of indian cuisine). A place for a classier indian dinner. Had the lamb rogan josh which was good. This is one of my go-to places when I am in need of a happy hour with some light indian food but also when people are visiting me from outside of Philly! So far my cousins and relatives have enjoyed the creative spin on traditional indian food and appreciated the charm of the restaurant! The chef at times comes out and greets everyone and their service is really great as well! Why sit here at 5am and write a restaurant review? Confession. I grew up in the UK when all the pubs closed at 11pm and the best way to stay out was to find an open Indian restaurant and 'get a curry'. As a result my early introduction to Indian food was generic mass produced dishes consumed in rooms that all seem to have been decorated with the same red furry wallpaper in 1982, the exception being the Sheba on Brick Lane in London which had mildly pornographic paintings featuring the Taj Mahal, Indian women bathing in a river being watched by a slightly mangy, hungry looking tiger. I digress.
Whether it was the late stage of the evening, alcohol consumed or revenge for 150 years of colonial rule, the spice level for these meals was invariably painfully hot. Strip epithelial cells off your mouth hot. Get it on your clothes and they were permanently stained if they didn't simply dissolve on the spot. The generic go to was the spicy regional chicken Madras, bright red, spicy, and hot hot hot. Garlic, ginger, onion chili, cumin and tomato based, this is a biological warfare recipe for halitosis, night sweats, and a 5 am dash to the bathroom when your digestive system cries havoc and decides to repel boarders.
Since those days I've been lucky enough to visit India many times, over 20 at last count. I've travelled all over and eaten everywhere from hole in the wall dives in Delhi, Puni Puri in Dharamsala, beef curry in Darjeeling (yes, they do eat beef in the Ghorka regions) and so on. In short, I am no stranger to the wide diversity and subtlety that is Indian cuisine. This is something that should not be simply described as 'going for a curry'.
In the US many Indian restaurants are similar to the generic UK formula, but without the spice levels. Regional dishes dumbed down, any fire removed and then overlooked to the point of being colored mush. Our Indian food is, with the exceptions of places like Tamarind and the Bukhara Grill in NYC, a bit shite. You know what it is supposed to be, come in with high hopes, and are often disappointed. Not at IndeBlue.
So last night we went for a curry. We've been going to IndeBlue for a few years, both here and in their old location at Collingswood. And my how the place has evolved? When we first ate here the restaurant served well executed traditional popular dishes from all over India. Good food. Solid food. Stuff you can get anywhere. A decent chicken tikka. A nice saag paneer. The bread, an acid test for any Indian restaurant, is light, fresh from the tandoor, fluffy and perfectly seasoned with traditional Indian recipes. Garlic, keema, paneer and so on. It is, to my mind, perfect.
Since then the food has developed. It has become more complex. It has worked in the layers, textures and complexities of royal Indian food that one only sees in the multi course banquets served at places like the Oberoi in Agra or the Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad. Last night we ate a scallop appetizer that was delicately spiced, multi layered with textures of roe, blini and paneer, and simply the best thing I've had in my mouth for a while. Put simply, you bite it and ride the wave.
Service is crisp, the decor is suitably Indian without the curry wallpaper and there is a well stocked bar where you can eat or wait for a table.
Which leaves the main course. Obviously rice, dal, naan. What to have from their many splendid delights? How to avail myself of the chefs genius? What subtle new cuisine to explore among some old favorites?
Nope. Chicken madras for me. Extra spicy (if you really want it hot ask for Hyderabadi spicy and get a towel, a glass of milk, put a roll of bathroom tissue in the fridge. Then wait, because in 5-6 hour you will prove that a man can indeed pass through the eye of a needle and it's hotter coming out than going in). Because at my age things that remind you of drunken nights in London with 4 guys walking in and ordering 8 beers? Those are to be savored and enjoyed. If that's not you then the subtle flavors of India are truly well represented in this excellent restaurant.
And for that, for making me sweat, both last night and as I sit here in the bathroom enjoying significant temporary weight loss, with a butt that feels like it looks like the Japanese flag, it gets 5 stars. Indeblue exhibits excellent execution, attention to detail, and creation of flavor experience.
We ordered the tasting menu which allows each person to order a huge portion.
The tikka naan pizza was light and fluffy. It had flavorful paneer sauce and cheese.
The lamb poutine comes with marinated shredded lamb, masala spiced fries, and
cheese curds. This was unlike the Quebecois poutine I'm used to. It was very aromatic, and the cheese played a much smaller roll. They lamb had good execution (not great). The fries were small and crispy but quickly absorbed the excess juice from the sauce. This was a minor inconvenience.
The drums of heaven were well executed drumsticks breaded heavily and smothered in chili. The experience is smoky, a bit spicy, and aromatic. The chicken is very well executed. It was tender, flaky, and moist like a very good buffalo wing.
The goan paella was flavorful well executed rice with an aromatic chili sauce. The shrimp, chicken, and boar all lost their unique flavor to the dish. Thus is the practice with paella.
The lamb laal maas is a shredded braised lamb in a chili curry powder. The dish is deeply flavorful and smoky. The lamb has nice execution. Maybe could have been a bit more soft and fatty. The ghee in the dish makes up for this.
Indeblue was a great dinner. Trying many new things was special. I had given up on Indian food. I think I'm re-interested! I really can't go to deep with this review seeing I was only in here for about a hour. Shocking I know, I'm usually giving full descriptive reviews on how enjoyed my time in places.
With that being said I want to thank Sari A. for bringing me here to IndeBlue, and introducing me to their wings. Holy wings! Get the wings is all I'm gonna say. Well I am going to say a little more in this review, but their wings are on point!
Now I will admit I have tried a few Indian dishes, and I haven't been impressed with any of them. Maybe it has been the places I've been to ,or maybe I ordered the wrong dishes in the past. I do go in an open mind, giving everyone a chance mind you, so maybe I need to come back and peruse the menu, go a little deeper. I did also try their pizza, well Sari forced it onto me, and even that tasted good.
A great cozy atmosphere,with an impressive menu to raise an eyebrow or two. IndeBlue also has some well concocted cocktails being made that would have the libation gods giving you the thumbs up.
I now know why this is Sari`s "Dojo" , her spot to go to if you just want to enjoy authentic dishes or even a cocktail. IndeBlue is on point, so go in and enjoy yourself. I went for brunch and fell in love with the trendy Indian based dishes. All the foods were tasty and I loved the atmosphere. I would love to come back and visit when I'm in town again. If you're craving quality indian food then back that truck up and fill your gullet here.
The lamb lollipops were so tender I thought I was eating meat flavored butter!
The paneer was also extra smooth and worth mopping up every bit with the fresh naan. Just go already! My friends and I recently had brunch here for one of our birthdays and it was AMAZING! Not only was the food to-die for, but our server, Andrew, took such great care of us and was the epitome of helpful, knowledgeable and sweet!! Thanks for a great experience! Really good Indian meal! Great, trendy location! Next time I'd like to try the sizzler but this time I had the veg samosas and chicken mahkani with naan bread ( the sweet one but I can't remember the name...order it - it was really good). No room for dessert. Plenty of food to take home with me and snack on the rest of the night! Our dining experience was excellent! The service was personal, helpful and above all professional. The flavors and presentation of food amazing! Awesome place. Have been there twice. Love it. Great cocktails. ESP. Om shanti om i highly recommend it. Thali are good but other main course are awesome too This was my first time in Philadelphia. The cuisine at Indeblue is authentic, fresh and abundant (you will not leave hungry). The service is professional and personable. Service is well timed. Highly recommend for a date night, evening dinner with the family or night out with friends. 5 star is definitely not enough for them!
The decor, beautiful. Waiters, politest I have seen. Food, absolutely delicious. For your first time I recommend the thalia which is like a sampler of a few dishes.
Chutney's were uniquely tasty. And the bread... I have blood sugar problems so I normally leave breads untouched in restaurants: I finished this one!!!
( I am writing this while I am still here :-P).
And I just tried the chai: make sure you do as well ;-) The best Indian food so far. The downtown ambience and a great bar makes it a great hang out place. Wish the place was bigger and have a new south jersey location.. love the Food.. Rakesh rocks Went to the city to meet up with some friends. We made reservations at Indeblue which worked out well since they were busy. Our waiter Bennett was on the ball and took very good care us. The spinach chaat is my favorite appetizer and my friends really liked the bbq samosa rolls. I has the masaleder which was amazing. Wish I could have tasted more but I had no more room. The food is superb here. I've wanted to come here for months and finally got a chance to stop by for lunch today. And the food definitely did not disappoint. They have lunch specials for $15 which includes a starter and an entree.
Everything sounded good on the menu but for my first time I went with the drums of heaven which is a Indian inspired buffalo wings with blue cheese. For my entree, I got my favorite, butter chicken (chicken makhani) which was extremely tasty and definitely has a kick to it. Best Indian food I've had in a while! My coworker had the tikka wrap and fries. Fries were crunchy and delicious.
I'm guessing portions are smaller for lunch. Knocked one star off for service. Our waiter for lunch took his time and was slow to check in on us so make sure you're planning on a two hour lunch if you come in here! My family and I had an amazing experience here. The food was delicious. Generous portions but not too much to make you feel heavy. Spicy but not tongue numbing. Beautiful presentation. Our server Nitesh was attentive and knowledgeable and helped guide us during our ordering. He even brought house made chai tea for us to try during dessert. Wonderful food, amazing service. We had a delicious meal here about a month ago (forgot to write a review earlier) we did the special they had. One price per person and we can pick two apps, one tandoori and two entrees to share for 3. Everything we had was incredible. The flavors, the presentation, the ingredients. Our server Laura (or Nora? It was a bit loud there) is what made it very special. If it wasn't for her we wouldn't have picked the special and she recommended some of the things we ordered and we are so glad we took her advise. She truly was the star of our experience there. We also were greeted by the owner who's also the chef and that really made our dining experience special. Fantastic fantastic fantastic! We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with excellent personal service from Bennett! All of the courses were superb and each bite was better than the last. If you want Indian cuisine with a twist, do yourself a favor and visit IndeBlue I am rating it 5 stars as the food is closest to an Indian taste.
Do try the drums of heaven it's really nice. Honestly, from the service to the food and overall ambiance simply outstanding. The staff is eager to please and educate on all menu items...I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE SPINACH CHAATT!!!! Thanks for the home run Indeblue!! Until next time.. This was the best Indian food I have ever had, period!! My friend and I did the tasting menu where we got 2 starters, a tandori, 2 entrees and 2 desserts. If it sounds like a lot of food its because it is:-) But when the quality of the food is like this you honestly wish your stomach was 3x the size so you can enjoy every tasty morsel and then some.
For starters, we shared the crispy spinach chaat and the bbq pork samosa rolls. The Spinach chat was a prefect blend of spices and crunch, and served with it was a little bit of onions and tomatoes which gave me almost a hint of having "chips and salsa", but with the Indian twist. The samosa rolls were also very good with a creamy sauce but I definitely thought the chaat stole the show.
Our second course was the Noorani shrimp. The shrimp was grilled to perfection and the tomato based sauce which reminded me very much of tikka masala sauce was a nice addition but I thought the dish did not need it. The dish was also served with some lightly pickled onions and carrots which added a nice contrast and cuts through the sauce just enough so that the shrimp can be front and center.
Up until now we are already having a great meal and thought things can not possibly top what we've had so far but boy were we glad we were wrong. The Malai Kofta Bukhara and the Vindaloo were the perfect choices because the cashew cream sauce of the Kofta Bukhara was just the right choice of entree to balance the spice level of the Vindaloo, which was to be honest not that spicy. However I loved it regardless because so often when you order Vindaloo, all you taste is the heat. Not in this case, by making the dish a gentle medium I actually got to taste the tender pork which honestly I could not believe was pork. In other words the preparation of this dish elevates all the ingredients to a level I have never experienced before.
If all we had was these courses I would have given this place a 5 for sure but there was just one thing that I thought could have been handled a little differently. Our desserts were too large!!:-) and a little too boring. Now I realize that this maybe a personal thing but half the size would have been perfect, and we had ice cream with deep fried fruit. The ice cream was delicious but was too sweet and overpowered the fried banana balls and pear.
I would love to have given this place a 4.5 but I always round down so 4 it is. But as far as I'm concerned, this is by far the best Indian place I've every been too, not only was the food excellent, the service, drinks, which i didn't even talk about, and ambiance were all on point. Just one tip, come with a large group and then do the tasting, you do not need 2 entrees for 2 people, so the more friends and family you can bring here, the less expensive it will be per person. Absolutely fantastic experience. I love it when the service matches up to the food quality. Unfortunately we had a rowdy group seated next to us. Ah well, you can't blame the restaurant for that.
I would highly recommend the dahi avocado chaat as an appetizer, it was really really delicious. The fresh vegetable jhalfrazie was spiced perfectly and was exactly the right amount for two people to share. For dessert we were served a complimentary ginger sorbet and a berry sorbet. Unfortunately they were not for me, but I'm not really a sorbet person and the fact that it was complimentary I can't knock off a star for that.
Ambiance was great for a date, nice dim lighting. Also the cocktail choices are really something special. Enjoy! Had an amazing time tonight with my Fiancé. Service and staff members are great. The Manager Justin is wonderful. Sean the Server was extremely helpful. The food is excellent to the least. Revisit....... Is a must! This is one of my favorite spots for Bumble dates! The fun modern cuisine- a little western, a little ethnic and flavorful- and moody atmosphere with reasonable pricing is always a great choice. Shared plates makes dates more fun, but if you order the lollipop lamb chops you won't wanna share. IndeBlue never disappoints! The only reason I won't give it five stars is both of our dishes had bone in them and the chicken was a little tuff. Decent flavor and excellent service. Food prep needs work. Fantastic Indian-fusion restaurant down in center city. While they do offer your normal sabzi/shak dishes, there are also some unique and exquisite dishes.
Upon walking in, it didn't feel like a traditional Indian restaurant, but more like a lounge, with a bustling bar on the left and tables along the right wall and in the back.
The drink list is pretty neat - their mixologist does a good job of creating some pretty cool themed cocktails that are slightly different than what you'd expect. I ordered a gin martini-esque drink that was a bit too sweet for me and a whiskey one that had a nice bite.
For appetizer, we ordered the crispy spinach chaat. Based on other Yelpers, I was pretty excited to try this dish and it did not disappoint. Each piece of spinach was fried, making it crispy and crunchy, mixed with your normal chaat toppings. The spinach was packed with a lot of flavor and it just the right amount of sauce and spice.
For our main dishes, we split the paneer tikka naan pizza and the jalfrezi with mint paratha. The pizza was okay - nothing special. It was nice to have the paneer on it, but the taste itself was a bit dry. The jalfrezi with mint paratha was delicious! It was the perfect amount of veggies in a tasty tomato-based sauce. The mushrooms were cooked and seasoned perfectly, and the paratha were grilled and thin.
Overall a solid place for dinner and not crazy expensive. I've heard they have a decent brunch, which I'll have to try. Do yourself a favor and check this place out...again and again. I eat here regularly and their service is always exceptional (attentive and knowledgeable) and I've tried most of the menu without ever being disappointed. The chaat and vindaloo eggs are not to be missed. They accommodated a last minute reservation for a large group, and our server Girard was beyond amazing! One of the very best, yet underrated, spots in philly. IndeBlue, where do I begin? Following a night of vice, debauchery, and questionable decisions, I was revived by the promise of the best brunch I would ever have the following morning. Entering the restaurant, myself and my party were greeted with open arms, warm smiles, and the center table of the restaurant.
Our waiter, Girard, approached our table with an unmatched intuition as to what each of the six, yes 6, individuals needed in their lives. A lone soul in our party had frequented IndeBlue a number of times and made her beggarly suggestions in jest as we perused the brunch menu. Girard, a seasoned garçon, recognized the situation unfolding and resurrected our orders to reflect exactly what was desperately needed between the vagabonds in attendance.
I, the sweet tooth of the bunch, partook in the French Toast. I only enjoyed a few bites of the dish, not because it was meager, but because I felt the need to share the heavenly platter amongst the entire table. This was a common theme with each individual, as I graciously tasted a bite from the Spicy Chicken and Waffles, Paneer Bhurjee, Masala Dosa, Masala fries, and bread basket.
All of which was clenched, by a glass that never found its bottom. Thanks to Girard and an endless stream of champagne with a little splash of orange juice. I left IndeBlue with a sense of fulfillment, eager to accept the challenges that would confront me in the coming days. I humbly submit my gratitude and hope to return this establishment with the same vigor in which I left it. This review is for the happy hour experience:
Solid HH options with yummy food and delicious drinks. The bartender here is very friendly and chill so it was easy to get our orders in. My friend got their monsoon which has a hint of chai flavor. I loved my ginger jadoo since I'm a huge fan of ginger. I recommend their cauliflower and their chicken masala pizza...def coming again! I love Indeblue's bar menu! The regular menu is also really great but I feel that it's small portions for Indian food. Restaurant Week Review:
Went here on Friday night with a restaurant week reservation. The restaurant itself is cute and intimate. It was of course very busy because of restaurant week and there was a set menu which consisted of a cheese board, two starters, and two entrees, and dessert. Being vegan, I consulted the waitress around my options. She was very gracious and altered a number of the items to meet my needs, as well as keep the non vegan items for my date. Though it was very accommodating, I felt a bit as though she was making a spectacle of my dietary choices, for example, making a big point every time something vegan was brought to the table, and I began to feel a little embarrassed.
The food itself was good, though I found the cheese board to feel out of place at an Indian restaurant. There was a very large gap of time between our starters and our mains which I attribute to the crowd. In total we were there about 2 hours for dinner which I found to be abnormal.
I will need to return outside of restaurant week to see if the experience is comparable. Came here on a Sunday around 2:00 and was able to get a seat at the bar. My food came out fast and hot. It was super flavorful and did not disappoint. I wish I lived in Philadelphia because I would come here often! Walked in last night to find an excellent Indian restaurant with a fantastic ambience. They had the bar menu which had special drinks and various appetizers at really great prices.
Enjoyed the Paneer Tikka Masala very much and it was filling.
The most amazing part is that if you have dinner they will validate you parking at the Holiday Inn Express and it will only cost $12. I've been twice in the last couple of weeks. Both my servers were total charmers, completely anticipated our needs without hovering at all (which I so appreciate). The happy hour prices are also insanely good--almost too good, frankly. You can taste everything on the menu without going home poor, and their cocktails perfectly incorporate classic Indian flavors without getting weighed down at all. Got the spinach chaat both times I went (one of my girlfriends insisted on getting a plate of it for herself with no plans to share) and the pork samosas (which come with a blue cheese wine sauce so good I would have eaten it with a spoon if I'd run out of bites to put it on). Can't wait to go back next Tuesday to see the live Sitar. Best butter chicken around. Taste even better paired with the naan bread sampler. Mango lassi is a must try. This happy hour is so good that I allllllmost don't want to write a review. You know, to be a selfish jerk and keep it uncrowded so I can go all the time. Drinks are cheap and interesting. Happy hour food specials make their already delicious food so cheap that you can try a bunch of different dishes. And guess what? They're all delicious. The short rib roll was legit. It's funky, trendy Indian - at HH prices. Pretty much perfection.
The bar is small so get there early. Real hype, once again. I've been lucky over the past few months!
A yelp review hardly feels like an adequate platform for expressing my love for IndeBlue, but it's worth a shot. We went for happy hour on a cold fall night, which was perfect. My sister is new to the area and had already enjoyed a wonderful HH visit, so she wanted to take me along for her second. Luckily, there were two spots on the far right of the bar waiting for us.
We ordered vegetable samosa chaat, shrimp koliwada soft tacos, chicken tikka chipotle, sali boti poutine, and stuffed gulab jamun. The samosas were standard but the best they could be. The shrimp tacos were ultra clever, with roti standing in for a tortilla, and they were tied with the poutine for my favorite dish of the night. The chicken tikka is the only thing we agreed we wouldn't order again, despite its deliciousness. We were expecting something saucier but got skewered, grilled chicken breast chunks.
The gulab jamun WAS NOT on the HH menu, but we were both hankering for something sweet after all of that spice. If I could describe IndeBlue's rendition in one word, it would be dreamy. Three donuts stuffed with mascarpone and rose petal marmalade, and topped with slivered almonds. Oh, man. Every time I replay my first bite of this in my head, it's like a pornographic daydream.
I will be back to taste more things, both within the realm of their generous HH offerings and beyond. I adore Indian food, especially in the winter, and I've got solid options local to me, but it's all standard fare. I know a lot of people who don't like Indian food. If you know some of these people and you're hoping to proselytize them, take them to IndeBlue. You may just convert someone. I am obsessed with this place. I come here all the time during happy hour for their $7 cocktails and $5-6 small plates. Their ginger cocktail, crispy cauliflower, and spinach chatt has literally changed my life. I've been here at least 10 times for happy hour and they have never disappointed! Sophisticated, classy and wonderful are the words I'll use to describe my experience here at Indeblue. Those words describe the ambience as well as the food. Indeblue, I'm truly impressed!
I came here during restaurant week, and the scenery was slightly crowded, the lights were dim and there were candles on every table. I also noticed artsy paintings on the wall and just a overall eclectic setting and vibe.
Our waiter was very nice, he thoroughly went over the menu. We started off with an assorted cheese tray, which featured of course, cheese, grapes, these delicious tasting crackers, cashews and three different sweet spreads.
We also had the crispy spinach chaat, spiced chicken meatballs with basmati rice and naan bread for dinner. Lastly we had an assorted tray of small desserts.
Everything was delicious here at Indeblue, the spices that they use on the food is divine. It's like a blend of sweet and savory. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here, service was efficient and I can't wait to go back, especially to try those poutine fries and brunch! I went here last night for a CCD Restaurant week and it was such a great experience. We sat outside and our host and waiter were so nice. Our waiter was Antonio and he's so lively and knowledgeable about the menu. It was chilly/windy, but he got us an umbrella for the under the stars effect because our table didn't have one. The food was very good and the drinks alcoholic and nonalcoholic were even better! Definitely will be returning soon! Great Indian food with perfect use of spices and sauces. Nice atmosphere. Great service. Wish I lived in Philly. I would be a regular. The food was truly amazing and our waitress Lori was so freakin Awesome!! She explained everything and even told us about the hidden Gem!! We are definitely telling our friends to check this perfect place out!! We are from VA and just came into town for a quick get away with friends! Everyone was very professional and the CHEF accommodated my order! The Best surprisingly excellent place for brunch. found this place after finding Green Eggs mobbed, and decided to try it out. the place itself is beautifully adorned, spacious, and featured two musicians performing on a Sunday morning: one on a sitar, I believe, and another on congos/percussion. I had the Vindaloo egg skillet which was deliciously hearty and fulfilling.
Will definitely come back again. Great food - we did the chefs tasting menu and left stuffed! The individual portions and prices make the tasting menu the best option here. For drinks I had the Indetini - Martini with mango. I really liked the first one, the second round was a bit sweet and by the third round I was just too comfortable to switch to another beverage. The tasting menu lets you sample a little bit of everything and they generously portion it to your table. For our first course we went with the crispy cauliflower and drums of heaven. They taste pretty similar in flavor, but I preferred the cauliflower. The second course we tasted the basil mint kabobs. Of everything we tired this was my least favorite, no particular reason I just didn't care for the mix of flavored though others loved it. For our last course we had the lamb biryani and chicken tikka. By this time we were so stuffed, but we kept eating because the food was really good. Next time I'd ask to kick it up a notch and make it spicer. Finally, dessert. At this point we didn't think we could eat anymore, but all three of us still managed to finish the cinnamon ice cream, fried banana and rice pudding before we rolled ourselves out of there. Very good "Modern" Indian cuisine. I had tandoori mixed grill with chicken, shrimp, small lamb chop and veggie, and saffron basmati rice. The rice comes out pretty sizable. The chai sangria is ok. They also have happy hour every day from 5, bar only. Wow, drinks are amazing! Shoutout to Danielle and Andrew for serving us the best drinks for date night. We ended our decade on a tipsy note (see pics).
In terms of food at the bar during happy hour- we enjoyed the pizza and the pav Bhaji. The spinach chaat was good too...didn't really taste like spinach which was fine with me.
Would return for the drinks and the main courses seated. Cheers to a new decade folks' Suchhhh an amazing brunch with all kinds of variety that can be super traditional Indian, or Indian takes on classic brunch dishes which is awesome. We went with a group of like 10 people and the waitstaff was amazing (especially Andrew-- we loved him!!!) and they always kept the mimosas flowing! If I've been to 50 Indian restaurants this is by far my favorite place to eat Indian food and the service was off the charts! Had a great brunch here with my family when we visited Philly. Place was modern Indian, food was different than the traditional Indian cuisine. The chicken and waffles were amazing and the eggs were delicious too. A surprise like no other for 2 foodies happened to be of Indian descent. Philadelphia has had Indian restaurants galore and they have all failed to impress us. IndeBlu was very special. The ambience was great but the food was simply amazing and so was the service. We ordered the tasting menu and it was a good call. The combination of Indian food with an European flair made this a unique restaurant. The chicken and lamb we had ordered were tender and cooked at the right levels. Different dishes cooked at appropriate temperatures and they catered the spice level to our level which is higher than normal. The desserts are very unique with the western blend to the traditional recipes. I have written over 300 reviews for restaurants and there were only 2 other Indian restaurants I had given 5 stars to and IndeBlu would be the third one. This is not a restaurant for people who wanna shovel Indian food. It's about quality, unique tastes and incredible service. Kudos IndeBlue is a trendy Indian fusion spot located on 13th street, between Walnut and Locust. We walked in, my two dining companions and me, and asked for a table. The hostess was incredibly rude; she cut me off when I was asking her a question, and was very unfriendly. It was 5 pm on a weekend, and the place was only 1/3 full, so there was no need for that kind of attitude. Fortunately, our server was wonderful! We ordered cocktails, three small plates, one medium plate, two entrees, and a side of naan. The standout was the cocktails, for sure. I ordered the chai sangria, which was spicy and not too sweet. While the food was decent, it did not impress my native Indian companion, who noted that, while it was quality, it's not necessarily a place worth spending a significant amount of money on Indian food.
Overall, I would return for happy hour or for drinks, but I think I'll skip the actual meal next time. Great Happy Hour and interesting appetizers. I wouldn't call then Indian dishes though...
Enjoy the bar area for happy hour. It is with good reason Indeblue is the talk of Philadelphia. It is the best dining experience my wife and I had with our family tonight. Christopher did a first class job as our server tonight. Rakesh and his crack team of chefs had the kitchen running like a Swiss watch. We look foward to our next experience here. This place is well worth your time and money. Well done! Had a wonderful evening last night. Our reservation was ready when we arrived and we were sat immediately by a wonderful hostess. We ordered several starters including the spinach chaat and the bbq samosas which are my absolute favorite. I enjoyed a flavorful rendition of a classic paella which included a lot of mussels and shrimp. I also enjoyed the raja cocktail which was very citrusy while my friend let me try his desi rose gimlet which was great floral aspect that mixed well with the gin. Finally I barely had room to fit the chai chocolate pot de creme which was a nicely spiced, deep,dark chocolatey mousse. Our server Nitesh was absolutely fantastic and his descriptions of the specials and menu items were very helpful in our decisions. This review is for brunch. The service was nice and efficient. We arrived at 12 on a Saturday and the place was not crowded at all.
We didn't order any of the Indian dishes, instead we got traditional brunch food. I got the mango French toast and my friend got spicy chicken and waffles. They both had an Indian twist to them. The chicken is boneless and covered in some spicy sauce. The French toast had some sort of Creme and chunks of mango.
We also got bottomless drinks for $22 per person. The options were mimosa or rose (not rosé) mimosa. The drinks were pretty lackluster. I barely got buzzed and I had 6 of them. It tasted mostly like sugar or syrup. I would not recommend this option.
I will say I had a weird encounter with the manager. He came to our table to make a joke that we got waffles at an Indian restaurant. I get where he was going, but the irony was that he was a white man who is the manager of an Indian restaurant with an all Indian and black staff so, I mean, that joke kinda fell flat. He also made it to two other tables within earshot, so it may happen to you!
All in all, I'll come back because I want to try the Indian dishes as they do look quite good based on the ones I saw other people ordering. I had mixed emotions about attending a business dinner (6 ppl) here but was very pleasantly surprised at both the Dodd and the service. Our waitress walked us through all of our options and explained some of the dishes that we weren't familiar with. Everything was absolutely delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed the array of food that we ate. I'm unsure of all of the dishes names, but the spinach, lamb, chickpea dish, chicken kabobs, peppers, naan, rita, etc....absolutely incredible. The owner came out at the end of our meal and thanked us for our patronage and expanded that her husband was the chef. Definitely expanded your horizons and give this place s try. For the service, I would give five stars. Atmosphere, four stars. The food is mixed at best - three stars is a decent but not great review, and some parts of my meal were better than others.
For an appetizer, I had the IndeBlue answer to the jalapeño popper, a hot pepper stuffed with cheese and some other delicious things. It is, as stated on the menu, very hot. I needed to stop eating it partway through and order a lassi in order to make the burning stop. I would absolutely eat this again as it was delicious and awesome, I would just order the lassi up front so I wouldn't have to take a break.
For an entree, I had the paneer saag and gluten-free naan, which is made with chickpea flour. I love chickpea nearly anything. The naan is somewhere between injera and a pancake texture-wise. It's okay. I don't know if I'd eat it again.
The paneer saag was oddly bland and distinctly not fabulous. I would not eat this again.
There are stairs and the walkway inside is quite narrow, so this is not a handicapped-accessible space. Stumbled upon this gem after the original spot was booked up. Walked in right as they were opening. So glad the other place didn't have any availability. The best food we've had so far in Philly. I got the spicy chicken and waffles it was pretty spicy but you can get the sauce on the side if need be. But it's a must super delicious. We also tried the cheese plate the best cheese I've ever had OMG I want to take home some coconut cheese I've been here twice so far, and I am amazed that it has taken me this long to find out about this place! I never thought I'd have the most amazing shrimp taco of my life at an Indian spot. Happy hour five days a week, but this place gets packed, so make a reservation if you want to dine here and aren't from the area. My husband and I went to IndeBlue for the first time last night and had a wonderful meal and our server Bennett was phenomenal! We started with the Vegetable Samosa which was amazing - it had a little spice but worked well with the potato cake. My husband had the Samundri which is salmon with crispy shrimp - OMG - it was the best salmon I ever had.
Thank you IndeBlue for a wonderful experience!!! We will be back and hopefully will have Bennett as our server - he took his time to explain the dishes, had great suggestions and checked in to ensure the dinner was perfect. I'm a fan of the food at Indeblue, but I've had a couple of different experiences here with regards to the service. I have a few allergies, and I feel like every time I come here I have a different experience with the wait staff and I get different information about some of the dishes.
I had dinner here on the prix-fixe menu for New Years Eve, and was assured that they would be able to accommodate my allergies several times, only for a dish in the third course to be sent over that had to be replaced and for the meal to culminate in the fourth course with an allergic reaction after a bite of the entrée. Despite my questions, the waiter assured me that there was nothing in the meal that I couldn't have (which I didn't trust at this point because of the previous course's mishap). He brought out another entrée which I didn't eat because I was already feeling sick but made no effort to comp part of my meal or figure out what had gone wrong.
As I said, I've been a fan of the food and drinks after my last couple of meals here, but I have somewhat less confidence in the place going forward. Some of the best Indian food I've had!
I came here in a cold Saturday for brunch, and even though they were crowded, the staff made a point to clear room for my girlfriend and I.
We decided in each trying the special at $16. This may seem pricey, but once you saw what was included you will see why.
You choose two entrees, get nann bread, a rice pudding, chips, and a dip. Needless to say, I was stuffed by the time I was done.
Each bit of of the meal was perfect, and I get Indian food quite a bit and have a number of places to compare it off of.
The staff was also super friendly. Our waiter took the time to explain what each thing was and what dipping sauce goes with what.
I would definitely recommend this place if you want nice atmosphere with great food! This restaurant is a must if you are looking for authentic Indian food in Philly. The lunch tiffin brought a ton of food for a super reasonable price and not one item disappointed us. The food was accompanied by a very friendly and accommodating staff. Could eat baskets of the naan! excellent service, food was outstanding and creative, i will be back next time i'm in town. The appetizers here are amazing! I definitely recommend going for happy hour because there are pretty good drink and appetizer prices. The atmosphere is classy and pretty upscale, and the bar is nice but quite small so it can feel cramped at times. I came in the early afternoon and sat outside for appetizers and wine. There is not a lot of shade but it is peaceful and well spaced, and clean. My server Bennett was very helpful and friendly and just generally on top of it. I ordered the mango pork spring rolls and they were DELICIOUS. I usually don't eat Indian food so I was a little unsure but I was very pleasantly surprised. I definitely recommend trying them out! I will be back. We went here for a quick lunch on a weekday- I recommend the non veg thali- it's got the perfect mix of everything you will want- 2 curries, Sal, Raita rice and naan along with a sweet dish! Totally worth the money. Definitely make room for the food before you get here - it's a lot for one person if you're not super hungry. Quality food at a decent price ! Just another PSA about ableist restaurants. Tried to go here for dinner tonight and was reminded at the last minute that it may be a good idea to call before just to alert them that Daisy would be accompanying us for dinner. The hostess picked up and said, "we don't take service dogs." So I proceeded to say, "well that's funny because it's illegal for you to deny us access" (said in the kindest tone that I could manage given the situation). He then told me to hold on while he spoke to his manager and came back by saying, "oh we do take service dogs," to which I said "will you please cancel my reservation?" Why would I want to support a restaurant that doesn't train their staff on the importance of legislation that supports PWD?! He proceeded to say, "oh no are you sure? I love dogs. I would've loved to meet the dog. We just previously had a woman come in without the proper paperwork." But what paperwork?! As I've ranted about before, paperwork for service dogs is NOT a thing. I could buy a $50 ID card and letter from a doctor saying that I need a service dog on Amazon (totally FAKE and really impacts how people view service animals!!!!), but just to support some dubious organization?! Also, you can't ask for that anyways. You can only ask if the dog is a service dog and what service the dog provides. The ADA purposefully makes it as accessible as possible for PWD to get service dogs. Just because I don't have a visible disability doesn't mean that I need Daisy any less. I've done all the proper training and trained her to sit at my feet when I'm having a lot of anxiety (as she is seen doing in this photo at this wonderful restaurant). Consider training your employees better about the ADA... Absolutely wonderful experience! From the service to the lip smacking hors d' oeuvres. Our server Laurie suggested the Spinach Chaat & Cauliflower... fab!
The dinner was Dal thali, saag, paneer makhni & Pondicherry ratatouille- my compliments to the chef, thank you for a memorable evening.
Happy thanksgiving to the IndieBlue staff. IndeBlue is one of my go-to happy hour spots. The location is great for me and they have wonderful food and drink specials. Their drinks are different and interesting and tend to include cardamom, which sounded a little weird to me at first, but I really enjoyed the indebluetini, which has mango, cardamom, citron vodka, and lemon juice. It just works. They also have a delicious spinach chaat. I don't know how they keep the spinach as crispy as they do, but it is so crunchy and perfect with a mix of salty and sweet spices. Definitely try it! The naan pizzas are always a safe bet and the drums of heaven are the perfect cure for hankering for buffalo wings. At $4-$5 a piece during Happy Hour, its not a bad deal at all. I will be back! Loved this place. Intimate atmosphere. Very classy. Justin was our server and was very knowledgeable about the menu and how the food was prepared. We went during brunch-amazing food. Try the sampler. Wow: all the flavors complimented one another. Nothing overpowering. Excellent bar, too. Get the spinach appetizer!!! Go there. We loved it! Lol wtf. Before I say anything, as a disclaimer I did come during restaurant week for dinner so the menu is quiet different from the regular menu. As a vegetarian I'm personally offended that an India restaurant doesn't have more vegetarian options. Especially when about half of the Indias population is vegetarian. For starters the gave us a plate of papad with dipping sauce and it was alright nothing too special. The shorba I think was a little bland, it lacked flavor and it was the 2nd course. The dinner was some kind of eggplant curry with naan and basmati rice. The haaka noodles we ordered as our second dinner dish were REALLY bad. Like did the chef even put any effort into it? It was bland and tasted inedible. The dessert consisted of Julab Jamun which was delicious.
So, over all I don't think I would ever come back to this place for restaurant week because I feel like they literally didn't put any effort. Our bill was more than 100+ for two people. Should've gone to McDonald's Absolutely awesome food! I am gluten and soy free and they were super helpful with my dietary restrictions. Their service was definitely five star as well! I have eaten here about ten times and each time I have a great experience. Beautiful decor, knowledgeable and friendly servers and amazing food. We usually sit at the bar and pick small plates from the bar menu. I recommend the spinach chaat, and the lamb lolipops. Absolutely sublime dishes. In addition to the great food the servers are very knowledgeable and friendly. Truly a great experience. Give em a try and dont miss out on the spinach chaat. Walked in, stood waiting for a host/hostess for 10 mins. Made eye contact with several servers, place was half empty. They saw we were there but didn't acknowledge us and went on to have a personal conversation at the bar before ignoring us and returning to the back. Will never return, thank you next.... This was by far one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever encountered - and I am an Indian. What I appreciated most is the uniqueness of the dishes while still maintaining an authentic taste and reverence to South Asian cuisine. I went during happy hour to eat and the happy hour foods were served in generous portions for only $3, $4, or $5 max.
My favorite dish was the Spinach Chaat. It was composed of crunchy Spinach flash fried in chick pea powder with other various spices and sauces typical to a chaana or samosa chaat. It was a very light yet satisfying dish and it took a lot of restraint not to order more as I still had plenty more coming.
The drums of heaven, hot long peppers, veggie samosas, and shrimp with chilli aoili were also things I tried and loved each and every single one.
The bartender serving my food was very kind and informative, offering explanations and recommendations and the food arrived promptly.
Best part is all of this came out to be only around ~$20 so if you are a student like me wanting some delicious, gourmet food with a unique flair, I HIGHLY recommend Indeblue.
One of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Philly! I've always heard good things about IndeBlue and decided to try it for the first time on a Wednesday afternoon for their Sips promotion. I definitely did not leave disappointed. I found myself wanting to try more of their food rather than their drinks.
If you don't like spicy food, I don't think this is the place for you. Even though it's Indian fusion, I don't think people who are sensitive to spice would enjoy. My boyfriend has been here many times and recommended we order the following: stuffed long hot pepper, crispy cauliflower, BBQ pork samosa rolls, and drums of heaven. The winners for me were the drums of heaven and bbq pork samosa rolls. Had to order them 2x to share. I didn't get to try the hot pepper because that was all for my bf. Although the crispy cauliflower tasted good, it didn't WOW me. Probably wouldn't order again.
It was pretty busy at that time, but there was enough staff to check on how we were doing. The food came out pretty quickly. We were trying to have a quick happy hour bite and it was successful. I would definitely want to come back again, perhaps to try their dinner menu (which is why I reserved my 5th star ^_~). See you again soon, IndeBlue! IndeBlue has once again captured our loyalty and appreciation. Since my last review we have been back a few times. I am pleased to say that our one not so great experience must have just been a bad day, and we are all entitled to those once in a while.
Service this evening, at the bar and the table, were outstanding. It's restaurant week so there was a steady flow of patrons, but not at all overcrowded or stuffy.
The freshness of the food, flavors and presentation were all on point. Chef even accommodated a special request for an order of lamb chops (not on the restaurant week menu). That was appreciated.
The menu offered a nice variety of veg and non-veg, from land and sea! Chicken 65 and Crispy Spinach Chaat were great.
Going to enjoy the rest of our meal and experience........
Thanks IndeBlue Visited with family. Wonderful ambience, service and dining experience. However, drink menu says $12 for scotch, and we were charged $15 each. Upon questioning the waiter, he went back and spoke to the manager, Kelly. They only adjusted for 1 drink and not the other. Explanation - neat drink was adjusted, but the rocks one was not adjusted. Nowhere does it say on the menu a different charge for getting a drink with ice.
We asked for the manager, she said she will talk to the owner and walked away. On my way out I told her that a totally wonderful experience was ruined because of $3. She had the nerve to ask me what she could've done better.
Really!!!! You had two chances and you didn't adjust. Super accommodating for vegans, tons of options for every diet! Lovely meal. We ordered haloumi saag and Tikka masala with samosas and cauliflower appetizer and all of it was perfect! Great service as well! Will keep bookmarked for trips to Philly for sure. In my experience, IndeBlue has been the best Indian food I've had in Philadelphia. The first time my boyfriend and I went on a Friday night, we were looking for something to eat in the area and went in without a reservation. The hostess was gladly still able to seat us without any issue. The second time we came was for the pre-fixed menu during restaurant week.
The food both times was absolutely amazing. We ordered the brussels sprouts they had as a special that evening - lightly fried with some burrata cheese served on top - which was incredible. The brussels sprouts were fried to perfection - just lightly battered and not at all greasy-feeling. Their chicken tikka masala was creamy and so flavorful, topped off with some garlic naan. For restaurant week, I had their veggie samosas and butter chicken - also SO delicious and perfectly done.
In addition to how perfectly IndeBlue executes its dishes, the service is extraordinary as well. It's not often that you happen upon both in one place!!! The servers were extremely attentive and friendly. They were able to recommend a bottle of wine that paired nicely with our dishes. The service we had for restaurant week was some of the best I've seen in the city - the manager politely stopped by to check and see how we were doing, AND the server comp'ed us some turmeric chai tea lattes for our walk home to warm us up. I cannot sing enough praise about IndeBlue, it's one of our favourite restaurants in the city whenever we are craving something reliably good. Highly, HIGHLY recommend. Awesome Indian fusion food in the city. Starting from the appetizers to the deserts it tastes different then traditional food but its so mouth watering. And service is simply awesome!!! This is hands down the best upscale Indian restaurant in the city. Sure, we all have our favorite neighborhood Indian gem, but if it's not a night when you're eating Indian in your sweatpants on the couch, and you're willing to dress up and meet some friends for authentic and delicious food, do it here. I've done brunch, dinner, and a number of happy hours here and I have never been disappointed by a drink, a dish, or the service. The brunch platters are flavorful and filling, the crispy cauliflower is not very spicy but delicious nonetheless, and the vegetable samosa chaat comes with a delicious chutney. The authentic but classy decor ties together the experience. Came here for happy hour the other day and had a great experience. My friend and I came at about 5:15 on a Wednesday and didn't have any trouble finding a seat at the bar (HH is only for those who s it at the bar; not restaurant).
We both shared the chicken dip and the cheese board and really liked both! The cheeses on the board change. When we went it was a tamarind pepper, coconut Gouda and mango ginger cheddar. The coconut Gouda sounded best to me, but I actually ended up liking the other two more. The coconut flavor was a little empowering in comparison to the flavor of the Gouda for me. The board had a variety of papads, a sweet bread, three different sauces, hot peppers, spiced cashews and some other yummy things! The whole thing was a lot more filling than we expected - would def recommend! The chicken dip was good but I don't think I'd get it again.
We both also got the indebluetinis - a mango martini. I was skeptical that the mango may make it too sweet but it was perfect! Again, for sure recommend!
All in all, really enjoyed it and can't wait to come back and try more of their menu. Loved this place! For an appetizer we shared the vegetable samosa chaat and for our entree we shared the chicken tikka makhani with naan. The food was excellent, cooked perfectly and with just the right amount of spices. For a drink I had their chai sangria, which was so incredibly delicious!
We would eat here all the time if we lived in Philly! Great Happy Hour, with $7 cocktails and $6-8 dishes at the bar. Food was flavorful and well made. There were vegetarian options and overall delicious and fragrant. Signature drinks matched the flavor profiles of the food.
Modern Indian fare in a clean establishment with good natural light. Bar can only seat about 12 people so get there early. Went during restaurant week for a lunch special for around $20.
standouts: spinach appetizer, bread basket, chocolate chai dessert.
Everything else was pretty good, nothing disappointing but nothing really blew me away. Overall solid Indian food/fusion if you are willing to spend some money. Also, they charge $12 for naan so don't be fooled- I'm still salty that they didn't tell us it was extra and also so expensive. The naan was really good though, you have been forewarned that it is a lot extra though.
I would say it is worth going for restaurant week, but otherwise, it is a bit too pricey for what you get. Go to Indian spot in Philly. Most underrated brunch in the city as well...Chicken and Waffle + spicy Bloody Mary and no lines! Most unique Indian restaurant we've ever been to! Also the best Indian restaurant we've ever been to(and that includes restaurant that are actually in India). The spinach chat appetizer was out of this world good and very clever. The naan is to die for. Bunch interesting varieties like sun dried tomato and chili pepper, or mozzarella and spinach. The lemon cashew rice was awesome. The Mali Kofta and Paneer Tikka masala was delicious. And the dessert was the most unique gulab jamun, it was stuffed with rose mascarpone. You also get chai at the end.
The food was so good you definitely need to come back. But the service, the service was fantastic. Everyone was so kind and the owner came and talked with us for like a half an hour. The wait staff were all super nice and the food came quick.
Everyone needs to try this place!! Haven't been to IndeBlue for a while, and was pleasantly surprised yesterday by some new things on the menu!
We decided to try and share a few of the new items for the table.
First, we tried the Brinjal Bruschetta, which was delicious! It had crispy bread, smeared with a creamy coconut chutney, and finally topped with some roasted, delicious eggplant. (Might have been my favorite thing all night).
We also had the risotto, which was also great. It was creamy and cheesy, with a hint of masala flavor that wasn't overwhelming. I loved the asparagus in it, but did not care much for the HUGE pieces of mushroom. Those were almost overwhelming, and difficult to cut into as well. I wish the mushrooms were chopped finer and distributed into the rice.
We also ordered the ratatouille. I really liked the tomato sauce base of this (very mildly spicy), but the dish as a whole was just alright.
Finally, we got a classic paneer tikka masala with some garlic naan. As expected, the paneer was soft and the gravy was delish. I love how IndeBlue puts these soft, almost caramelized red onions in this curry as well.
Overall, I enjoyed the new additions to the menu, and had a pleasant and very filling meal! Where do I start.. this place is phenomenal! The food was off the charts good, by any Indian or general food standard, but the service is what made this place that much more amazing. Our lovely waiter walked us through the best deal and had a recommendation for every step. We also mentioned that we were just visiting, so he gave us a list of places we need to go to experience Philly the right way. Covid makes things understandably harder for restaurants, but the waiter and food here was a highlight of our trip!! Loved this spot! There aren't many places in Philly with bottomless brunch, so I was elated with the $22 bottomless option. I selected the bottomless rosé, which was very refreshing. Their drinks are rather potent, so plan accordingly. I ordered the makhani, which was great, but I definitely should have been more adventurous. As an appetizer, I ordered the crispy spinach Chaat. Super interesting dish, and it was light enough to still enjoy the meal. You MUST try the banana Nirvana. Omg sooooo delicious. It serves as a hybrid of warm banana bread and a donut. The caramel and ice cream make it so delicious! Super trendy brunch that's great for girlfriends or couples. We trusted the rating on Yelp & it couldn't have been more accurate! Food was amazing, atmosphere was intimate, and our server Andrew went out of his way to welcome us & help us understand the menu options. The cheese board & the malai kofta Bukhara were absolutely delicious. This place was amazing for brunch. The food selections were spot on and the bottle of champagne for mimosas was a good choice. I only wish the indian food brunch selections came with more meat and rice. The portion size was pretty small considering the price($16). One of the better Indian restaurants in Philadelphia which in general is mediocre at best. It seems that their attention has gone to their heads. "First come first serve bar " apparently also has a an unspoken reservation policy. Also, not as helpful as usual
In terms of figuring out times to sit or wait. Vagueness is a huge turn off at dinner time. Polite as usual but now in a pretentious way. Maybe the college kids who want a "high end " night out will enjoy this restaurant but not what I will be looking for in terms a decent dinner out. Unfortunately they will no longer will be seeing the sizable patronage of the large group I used to bring here on a regular basis. For appetizers we ordered the Samosa chaat. Samosas were nice and crispy on the outside and the vegetables on the inside were warm. The chickpeas were very soft but carried a lot of flavor from the chaat which had a tart yet sweet flavor to them.
The chicken tiki came with a side of jasmine rice. The chicken itself was on the sweeter side compared with ones I've had previous, but the sauce covered the chicken well. The rice was a generous portion and really complimented the chicken and naan.
The garlic naan was crispy, warm, and coated with the perfect amount of garlic. It tasted really fresh and we enjoyed it so much we got a second order of it.
The only complaint I had while eating here was our server was a bit overly helpful. He would come over every minute and not allow us enough time to look at the menus. Overall this is a great Indian fusion restaurant and I would recommend checking it out. Top notch everything. Tried the Chef's Tasting Menu with a friend, ordered the Wings and Vegetable Samosas - the wings are VERY good. Ordered the Goat and the Lamb for Entrees and the Lamb chops for the Tandoori plate. Best Indian food i've ever had in Philly... and that's including the "Good days" of Karma (on chestnut) 7-8 years ago.
Highly recommended. We had a wonderful evening at Indeblue last night celebrating our friend's birthday! We had unique cocktails, appetizers and our entrees were absolutely delicious. My favorites were indebluetini, the spinach chaat and the sea bass. My husband had the crab dosa and loved it. Our waiter Nitesh was friendly and attentive and we found the whole restaurant friendly in fact. Chef Ramola came to our table and we couldn't thank him enough for our wonderful meal/experience!! Thanks again! This is Indeblue's second location, the original being in Collingswood, NJ.
The food is pretty on par with that location, except in terms of pricing: food is on average a dollar more per dish yet it is the same preparation and portions. A huge difference is that Philly served alcohol, while Collingswood is dry. Definitely love their Indian twists on cocktails here. The mango martini is tasty, like an alcoholic lassi without the creaminess.
The food is not traditional Indian by any means, so don't come here expecting that. It's a cool contemporary approach to Indian cuisine that is no less delicious.
You can't go wrong with the chana masala, samosa, basmati rice, naan, or spinach chaat. I'm a vegan, and this restaurant is definitely accommodating and I have never had any trouble finding something to eat, especially with their knowledgable waitstaff (they even know what vegan means, you'd be surprised how many don't).
It's usually a little too chilly inside for my taste, but it's not a big deal. It's pretty small inside and tends to get very busy around dinner time. I'd suggest making a reservation to be safe.
Overall, great food and service, I'll be back many more times. Amazing fusion restaurant! The chef/owner really does an amazing job of fusing South Asian food with American cuisine. The decor, drinks, and food are amazing. Highly recommend the chicken biryani, and the chicken makhni poutine! Overall amazing experience. Made a reservation for two people on a late Saturday night for dinner. Tables are safely spaced out inside and we are immediately given menus/water when sitting down.
We started off with the Crispy Cauliflower ($10) to share - a nice balance on tangy sauce on the hearty cauliflower pieces. This paired well with a couple of the draft beers ($7) they had on tap. For the main course, decided on the Laal Maas ($23) - multiple large chunks of boneless lamb in a chili/yogurt sauce, served with two fluffy pieces of paratha. Loved the combination of the curry and paratha - simple and needing nothing extra. Also, had a bit of the Dilruba ($18) - a densely packed dish of potato and eggplant.
Service here is fantastic and the menu is straightforward. One of the best options for Indian food in the city. This place is AMAZING!!! We did the chefs tasting and EVERYTHING we had was fabulous. Our waiter Josh and the chef, were equally awesome and accommodating. We had Crab dosa and crispy spinach chaat then lollipop lamb chops, for entrees we had chicken tikka and the Malai kofta but the chef made it with chicken for us instead of paneer, all w saffron rice and 4pc of naan. For dessert we had anjeer kulfi and pear jalebi and the chef came through and made us Keer as well. Lastly our awesome waiter brought us some chai to finish off such an amazing food experience.
Too bad I'm only in Philadelphia once a year. If I can convince my coworkers I will go back again on this trip. This was an awesome an amazing spot! When you go there see Jamie at the bar!! Amazing drinks and service!! It was my Bday and the GM made sure she came over and entertain us!! I showed everyone how to SWERK!! I am old!! Thank you for a great time and my first meal in 3days!! Such a great place, our server Bennett was the KINDEST human and created the most amazing experience for us. We came during restaurant week and needed more vegan options. He was so thoughtful and accommodating! Can't recommend enough! The food was fantastic. The samosas were great but honestly the bed of chickpeas it came on was quite fantastic. The flavor, the texture, the richness, the creaminess, the crunchiness... it hit it all. The service was great albeit slow but we weren't in a hurry. The chicken tikka masala wrap was ok mainly because the masala fries were so great. I generally like sides so... And the paneer tikka masala was wonderful. The bloody mary was ok but it was probably great for most people. I've just had really great bloody mary's before. It was a bit thin for my liking. Amazing food and efficient and friendly service! We had a reservation and they seated us immediately. The food is definitely a step above the usual Indian restaurant. We had the cauliflower appetizer and spinach chat which tasted great and had the mixed grill and seafood risotto-like dish (special) which was really flavorful and had a good amount of seafood. Our server, Josh was wonderful and had great suggestions for ordering. A very pleasant dining experience! My favorite place to go in Philly. Each time I have been there it's a different experience, always positive. As someone who grew up eating Indian food and loves genuine Indian food, I can say this place hits the nail on the head. The drinks are delicious and unique. The food options are innovative. Last time I was there I had their brunch thi, which is more Punjabi food. It was so good and so much food. Recommend everything here. Everytime I go to Philly I have to stop by for a meal. Update: reducing to 1-star. We were offered some restaurant credit (barely enough to cover one main course) as an apology for the poor experience. So we're expected to return and spend more out of pocket at this place. Not happening. GF and I have been enjoying a weekend in Philly, and this place was absolutely the highlight, stopped by on a Friday for just drinks, and came again the night after to enjoy dinner
From the second I made a reservation over the phone we were treated incredibly. Felt like the red carpet was being rolled out by a close friend. We got there a little earlier than I had made the reservation for, and while we were more than comfortable to wait by the side for our table, one of our servers Bennett went out of his way to make us feel comfortable and welcome, just like he did on the phone, even getting us a glass of champagne while we waited(did I mention we were super early to our reservation? He was so accommodating) .
Once we got seated, we had some great cocktails and the vegetable samosas. I can't specifically recommend a drink because every single drink we had was awesome. Balanced and creative, just delicious.
Nitesh served us for most of the remainder of the night. Equally hospitable and kind, we could tell he took a lot of pride in where he worked. Between the two of them, some of the best service I've ever received.
On top of all that, the food we got was delicious. Tender lamb, juicy shrimp, not over cooked. Raita and naan were perfect. Big nod to the kitchen.
Seriously can't speak highly enough about this place, might come back to Philly for this place alone. Huge shoutout to Bennett and Nitesh, awesome dudes! My husband and I have been craving Indian food and came across Indeblue through a friend's recommendation. The outdoor dining space is a little cramped, but that didn't really bother us too much. We fell in love with the place instantly! We went for the $45 pp tasting menu, which is a great deal! The tasting menu was definitely worth it for us because we wanted to try as much of the menu as possible.
We ordered:
- Crispy Spinach Chaat (so crispy, flavorful, and light)
- Crispy Cauliflower
- Lollipop Lamb Chops (so tender but a little small)
- Shrimp Moilee (our favorite curry!!!)
- Lamb Laal Maas
- Dessert Assortment: Kheer, Chocolate Pot de Creme, Gulab Jamun
All of the food was so delicious and filling! The Shrimp Moilee was both of our favorite dish, but everything was wonderful. They also have a nice assortment of naans to accompany the curries. The garlic naan is probably my favorite!
The service was impeccable! We can't wait to come back to try more foods on the menu!
I hear they have a fabulous happy hour from 4-5 PM, but I'm sad I'm always working during those times. Maybe one day, I'll be lucky enough to check it out! I was so put off by the prices and wasn't expecting much but the food here is incredibly amazing! As well as the service where you don't need to worry about running low on water or getting rid of your dirty or empty plates. The lamb lollies were tender and was covered in a flavorful and somewhat sweet tangy sauce accompanied with another sweet clear sauce that you can dip it in. The vegetable samosa was smack dab in the middle of chickpeas and with tamarind chutney. Goes really well with the freshly made garlic naan. I would recommend you come in during happy hour to properly enjoy the amazing food they have to offer here! Bennett was fantastic. He is so sweet and made sure our experience was great. He took care of us and we're only coming back if he's there. Bennett, thank you for the great birthday diner, you're amazing! I'd really love to come back to try their dinner service, but we were at the bar for HAPPY HOUR
bar snacks and cocktails for the happy hour menu
---indebluetini: refreshing mango drink, loved the cardamom
---spinach chaat: the reason my friend suggested indeblue, DELICIOUS flash fried spinach!
---crispy cauliflower: not too crispy but still good
---chicken tikka dubona: a chicken tikka dip with papad chips, the chips were too frail to actually dip but paired well on the side
NOTE: the bar is very small, there are probably less than 10 seats I have a tiny bit of a love affair with Indeblue - normally Indian restaurants are just too heavy and artificial tasting for me, and can never replicate my mom's cooking. However, I love IndeBlue for trying to present great quality Indian food that doesn't claim to be traditional - but also brings those traditional homey, flavors to the table as well. There's something so satisfying about being able to eat something as nostalgic as Chana masala, and yet evoke the same sense of nostalgia with a paneer scramble on toast. The staff is always so kind and makes the experience even more inviting, and I love coming back here with friends, especially during restaurant week! So...I got to the restaurant for brunch, we sat down, had our first round of drinks (mimosa & chai sangria - v. delicious btw)...I was feeling good.
We tried the "Drumsticks of heaven" for our appetizer. I felt like the batter was a bit much for me, but I still thought it was pretty good.
Then we may have waited almost 30 minutes for our entrees to come out from the time we got our appetizers. THIS is where the one-star review comes from.
I see a mouse scurrying from the kitchen to the front area of the restaurant and it disappears behind the closet door (idk what they store here in this little room). The waiters see it, the manager (I think he was a manager) sees it - they murmur amongst themselves. One waiter can tell that I just saw that rodent in the restaurant - we make eye contact...nobody says anything. Everyone gives each other a look and we move on.
I could NOT enjoy my meal after that. I obviously wasn't going to just make a scene so I ate the rest of my food and left.
I can't go back to a place where I saw mice. Sorry. Truly. IndeBlue is my favorite Indian restaurant in Philadelphia. So I wasn't surprised they won the "Best of Philly"award for their Collingswood location.Their happy hour and chef's tasting menu are both great. And if you're getting the chef's tasting menu, I'd suggest also getting the wine pairing. The food is modern/traditional Indian cuisine. And I've like everything I've tried here.
They also have live music with a sitar and tabla on Tuesday nights and brunch on Sunday. Came here on Friday 10/18 with my wife for our anniversary dinner. We were able to get a reservation the same afternoon. in retrospect I'm very glad to have changed reservations to Indeblue. Our server was great, friendly and engaging but not cloying as some servers drift toward. We started with the spinach chaat, cauliflower, and drinks--my wife's haldi tonic (turmeric margarita) was light and punchy in the right ways. The spinach chaat was very good, but just a smidge less great than the world famous spinach chaat at Rasika in DC. We then had ordered the pork vindaloo and some dal tasting platter. The vindaloo tasted amazing, so spicy but also had a nice sweetness that made you want to keep eating. So many vindaloos have an overpowering heat, but Indeblue's flavors and spice level were high yet balanced. The dal platter was similarly delicious. It had so many great flavor combinations. Even though we had to run to make the curtain for Hamilton, our server brought us a wonderfully creamy peach sorbet and two glasses of sparkling. What a thoughtful surprise ending to a memorable meal. Thank you. From the food to the service (Andrew) everything was great!!! Thank you Andrew for your recommendations and wonderful customer service. The food is sooooo good. The next time I'm in Philadelphia this will be my first stop!!! Amazing spot for happy hour!! The food and drinks were great and they had unique options including naan pizza. Our waiter was really accommodating even though there weren't enough seats at the bar. Will definitely be back! Amazing food! A coworker and I were in the mood for Indian food while we were staying in downtown Philly and saw this place in Yelp. The reviews were all right! So delicious. I love this place for being unique.Their modern take on Indian food makes it different (in a good way) than any other Indian restaurant in Philly. The waiting staff is great, interior is not tacky like most of the Indian places (thank god they don't have a bigass picture of Taj Mahal) and all the dishes that I've had before that taste a little different than the authentic ones. 3.5 stars!!! Indieblue is a good upperscske modern Indian restaurant. Great decor inside. Service us friendly, though I wish they tried to sell me less. The waiter was friendly and knowledgable, but he kept trying to push us into ordering more appetizers.
Duo Samosa was okay. It was very meaty and I liked the sauces. I've had the vegetarian samosa which I think are better.
Kashmiri naan was awesome. Pistachio and coconut flavor gave it a great mild sweetness.
Laal Maas lamb shank was very tender with a great sauce. Very modern from my perspective.
Lamb Dhansak was a good fall dish with sweet potato.
The lamb is very flavorful here.
Chicken madras had my favorite curry like sauce.
Food was well portioned. A teeny but pricey.
Nothing was overly spicy. My mom can't take spice so they brought a mint yogurt sauce, which we found out was an extra $3.
Overall, good restaurant. Not a place I would go to often, but good to try out. We went to brunch this past weekend and it was great! They have a lot more options for brunch than a lot of other restaurants that have brunch. They have the normal brunch items like eggs, pancakes, French toast, etc. but since it's a indian restaurant they have a lot of popular indian items that they serve for brunch as well like pav bhaji, masala dosa, paneer wraps, chicken tikka naan pizza, etc. And the bottomless mimosa part is the best. The service was great as well! I would like to go again for dinner next time. I am obsessed with this place. I come here all the time during happy hour for their $7 cocktails and $5-6 small plates. Their ginger cocktail, crispy cauliflower, and spinach chaat has literally changed my life. I've been here at least 10 times for happy hour and they never disappoint! IndeBlue is a unique take on Indian food--it's Indian fusion with French and Spanish influences. Three of us ate here and stuffed our faces with so much good food--and we regret nothing! I recommend the paella which is their take on a biryani, the crispy cauliflower, the kofte lamb meatballs, honestly everything was so good, you cannot order wrong here! Went here for lunch and I can't wait to go back. You get a lot of variety and delisiousness from the Thali plates. Tons of different flavors so you do not get bored. I'll be back again soon! The happy hour is still going strong at Indeblue. The deals on food at the bar are a great value, and I love that this deal is also available on the weekend.
My husband and I went for a Sunday night happy hour the day before Labor Day. We arrived about 15 minutes after opening, and we were the only ones there for the first half hour. We ordered off the happy hour bar menu. Unfortunately, drinks are are still disappointing and one dimensional. The Indebluetini is described as citrus vodka, mango purée, cardamom, and lemon. The mango juice dominates here, and I couldn't detect any other flavors. It also is served in a short tumbler glass instead of a martini glass which was surprising given the name.
Food is still quite tasty, with lots of choices on the happy hour menu. It's easy to have an affordable light snack or even make a meal out of it by ordering multiple appetizers. The spinach chat is still wonderful and full of amazing crispy texture and sweet and sour flavor from the tamarind and yogurt. It's my husband's favorite dish at both Indeblue locations, so it's great they have it on special for the happy hour. Personally, I am drawn to the paneer stuffed long pepper in a peppery tomato based sauce. I actually ordered two of these last time because I got greedy. The samosas are always a treat here, and the nan pizza is tasty and filling, and you have the option of chicken or paneer.
Service was prompt and friendly as usual. If they would up their cocktail game, this could be a contender for best happy hour in the city. For now, the food is what keeps me coming back. At $3-$6 a plate for tasty bites, this is an excellent deal! Four of us came here for dinner, drink, and dessert and were quite impressed. I will break my review down into Service, Ambiance, Dinner, Dessert, and finally Drinks.
As we arrive at Indeblue I'm on the verge of tears as I'm certain we won't get a decent table as there is a reservation mix-up. But we do; relief washes over me in an awesome wave.
Service
Bennet was our server and was amazing, on point, super friendly, and efficient. We could not have asked for a better experience. The food was brought out in a meaningful succession, with the appropriate timing to enjoy each dish. Bennet's attention to detail on every aspect was much appreciated. For instance, we ordered the Lollipop Lamb Chops (which usually comes with 3 pieces), but since our table was for 4, Bennet added an additional piece so each person could have their own. His drink suggestions were perfect for each member of our party. We were also afforded complimentary chai tea, which was a nice touch.
Ambiance
We sat at a beautiful large table, with an ornate chandelier and a direct view of a large eclectic art piece. I did expect more traditional music to be played, but although this was not the case, it did not take away from the experience. I have to assume what was being played was a Spotify playlist of contemporary cover songs by Bossa Nova-style singers.
Dinner
We ordered Drums of Heaven (4/5), Vegetable Samosa Chaat (5/5), Paneer Toast (3/5), Lollipop Lamp Chops (4/5), Chicken Tikka (3/5), Moilee (5/5), and Madras (4/5). The star of the show was the Moilee. Distinct and flavor-filled sauce, with a large amount of shrimp along with a delectable Lemon Cashew Rice that was simply divine.
Dessert
The table all ordered the Banana Nirvana and were not disappointed. The artful presentation of the dish, which was a deserving conclusion of a fantastic experience and meal.
Drink
The table ordered
Indebluetini (4/5) - tasted like a Mango Lassi, which was topped with Cardamom pods
There is a moment of sheer panic when I realize that our Indebluetini is much less filled than other patrons. I take a first sip, enamored with the whirlpool effect of cardamom pods. I calm myself and sink into the powerful, yet quaint subtleties of this Indian inspired imbibement.
Mumbai Mirch (4/5) - Made to the specific spiciness of each person, complete with red and green pepper garnish.
Om Shanti Om (5/5) - Fragrant and delicate bourbon drink with sprigs of lavender, which heightened the drink's enjoyment.
Maharani (4/5) - An exotic and inviting bourbon-based drink, which was surprisingly floral, with a subtle sweetness that I have to assume emanated from the Gulab. Food and service were great. I went for brunch and had a hefty mimosa & the chicken & waffles. There is a mimosa sampler that I wish the waiter told us about before ordering that seems to be more valuable. The chicken and waffles were so delicious and fulfilling however I wish they put more of the sauce on the chicken and not the waffles. If you like your waffles sweet and chicken savory like I do I suggest ordering the sauce on the side. Also it says it's spicy chicken and waffles but it's not even remotely spicy but still delicious. I loved the spinach chaat, and the mango spring rolls. We had the heavenly drums which were good and the baby liked those too. I had butter chicken which was so tasty. The lollipop lamb chops were amazing. I also had mango lasi which was a thick, yogurt drink I thought was really yummy. 3.3/5
This was decent. You don't see Indian fusion cuisine all that often, so I like the idea behind this place. I wasn't blown away by the food however. While I could tell it was fusion, it didn't have quite the creativity that I've gotten from some other fusion places. The dishes tasted more like standard Indian fare with perhaps a bit of a twist. It was also decently pricey. As an Indian, I loved this refreshing take on Indian cuisine. It was both modern and innovative!
When we arrived we had come with the reservation, however were asked to wait 45 min until a table opened up for us (2 people). Once sat, the waiting staff apologized and offered us a free drink from their cocktail menu and the spinach chat! Both were excellent. We both ordered a tiffin box, one vegetarian and one non veg and adored our meals. The malai kofta however was slightly drier than what we preferred.
Despite our wait time, we loved our service and the outdoor seating options at IndeBlue! We can't wait to go back and try their happy hour. Sea-bass entree and spinach chaat are banging lol. Also the indiebluetini is a must. Good stuff guys keep it up! Ok..literally every item we had on this menu was absolutely amazing. This is my first Yelp review bcuz I couldn't help but let you know how great their food is. Amazing flavor! We had the crispy spinach chatt, chicken tikka chipotle, & chicken catani. Every single one was amazing and a perfect amount of food for 2 ppl. I came here for Sips and it did not disappoint!
The fusion foods were very unique and hover around $6 each. I tried the chicken tikka naan pizza and it was pretty good, worth a try. However, I did prefer the crispy cauliflower. Veggies won this round, my carnivorous friends.
For drinks, I tried the mumbai mirch, which is a spicy tequila. I'm not a fan of spicy drinks, but this wasn't bad! It goes down smooth and leaves a little heat in the back of your throat. i think everyone should visit indeblue at least once! my party of 4 had dinner here and the food was just fantastic! one of my favorite was the spinach chaat which was just the crispiest and went great with our curry paneer! the lamb chops were delicious also! the mint curry was a great compliment for the dish! i really enjoyed all the dishes we ordered and they all paired great with each other too! finally we had the fried pear dessert and it was executed perfectly! the spiral pear gave the most intriguing presentation and it tasted delicious!
indeblue feels a bit hidden away compared to all the trendy restaurants in the area but don't forget to try it! i felt dinner was a little pricey especially the paneer plate b/c it only came with 4 paneer balls. other than that, the food was spot on and mouthwatering! The fried spinach appetizer was out of this world, definitely recommend. I also really suggest the lamb meatballs with saffron rice. Price was moderate What a culinary experience! Went there to celebrate my husbands birthday and opted for the chef's tasting menu. The spinach chat was a fireworks of flavor in the mouth. The lamb chops were juicy and cooked to perfection. The laal maas and the kesari chicken were delicious! Finally, the desserts were top notch.
Do not miss the spinach chat and the lamb chops.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
I must mention here that the restaurant manager and the servers were amazing. Our server was Lori and she gave us perfect recommendations and made sure we left happy and satisfied. The chef/owner also came out during the evening and spoke to all customers.
We are definitely pleased and will go back for sure! Very good! Been here twice now and both times were amazing. The spinach chaat is unique and flavorful. It's almost like a salad/chaat. Hard to describe, order it! I feel like Indeblue has a truly unique menu that is modern and appetizing. I've been to tashaan and I thought their attempt to be modern comes off bland and flavorless! When I think about potential dining spots in Philly, Indian would never come to mind. But here we are perusing Yelp and seeing these amazing reviews for IndeBlue, so we had to try it out!
Loves:
+ Yummy Indian food (our faves were the Lamb Chops ($15 for half rack) and Pork Vindaloo ($23)
Friendly staff who accommodated our "please make this marg extra spicy with some chilis" request (lol)
+ Good value on drinks ($12 for most cocktails)
I don't have Indian often but I am so glad to have eaten here! I would totally come back here again and recommend it to others too. Thanks so much, IndeBlue! :) Probably one of the best Indian places in the city. The food was really good and the staff was quick and friendly. The atmosphere also felt well decorated and fit the vibe of the restaurant and food. Also be prepared to try and not get 100 orders of their garlic naan for take out after your meal. I ordered two tiffin boxes for lunch today, one veg, one non-veg and they were delicious and were good portions. We have enough for another meal. Service and packaging were excellent; just ordered ahead and they brought it out to me when I arrived. Highly recommend! First time ordering from IndeBlue last night. It was INCREDIBLE. One of those meals where the conversation turns to the sounds we make when eating fragrant, delicious and perfectly cooked food. The sauces were to die for - both a comfort food type feel but without the heaviness. Ate my leftovers for breakfast and now contemplating when I can eat here again. Bravo! So glad my friend was craving Indian food and Thai restaurant had an open reservation that fit our schedule. The food was really really really good and the service was top notch from beginning to end...so obviously 5 stars. Let me give you the run down:
- the outdoor seating is covid friendly and they have heater in each of the little sections.
- when our table wasn't quite ready because the previous group was still dining...our server came out and took our drink order some could at least have a cocktail while we waited.
- our server Bennet was actually really incredible! He offered great suggestions for everyone...described all of the food so perfectly and was very attentive (but not annoying).
- the food was amazing! We had an assortment of dishes and the only thing i didn't care for was the malai kofta Khulna (a paneer and apricot dish)...but everything else was bomb. If you're a vegetarian, I would recommend the paneer saag, the samosas, the Sphinach chaat and / or the channa masala. My friend had the chicken poutine dish as his main course and he loved it. He also had the lamb lollipops and devoured those.
- they bought out some champs for my friend's birthday
- and they manager came and checked on us a few time.
Overall...it was such a nice experience. We were able to get out and enjoy a nice meal and still feel relatively safe considering we're still in a pandemic. Celebrating our anniversary at Indeblue was an exceptional experience. The food was so rich and beautifully seasoned. I must say that my favorite dish was the reinvented pork samosa rolls with mango and blue cheese. Heather, the owner, was so kind to us and made us feel right at home. Bennett, our waiter, was so passionate about the food and surprised us with an anniversary treat. Can't wait to come back soon! I'm normally not one to go out for Indian- but man was I impressed! My friend and I went in for brunch and I got the seafood thali and she got the non veg one. The shrimp was served in a cream sauce, and I just didn't want the food to end! I was trying to find things to dip stuff into the sauce!! The rose mimosas were a good addition (albeit dangerous) to the meal. Definitely will be back to try other items! The food at Indeblue is fantastic. Decor is beautiful. We had a very nice experience and look forward to returning. Went here with a date Saturday evening and had a great meal. The tent around the dining area kept out a lot of wind and sound, and we were plenty warm with the heating lamps going. The service was great and everyone was masked up. Felt very safe eating here and will come back. Awesome food, great atmosphere and friend staff. It gets very busy so I highly suggest making a reservation in advance. I've been in love with the IndeBlue in Collingswood for a few years now, so I was excited to hear they were getting a location in Philly.
A couple of friends and I went to Happy Hour here last week, and we were impressed with the food deals. The happy hour is from 5:00-7:00 Monday-Friday at the bar. The food prices range from $3-$5. The veggie samosas were only $3 and came with two large ones in a chickpea sauce. They were stuffed full of potatoes and chickpeas. I also ordered the nan pizza ($5), which is just what it sounds like, a large piece of nan with pizza toppings. This particular one came topped with paneer, mozzarella cheese, spinach, and peppers. The type of pizza changes daily though, so ask before ordering. I was stuffed after having only those two appetizers.
The drink I had was less impressive, but at only $5 it was alright. It was the Chikini Shandar. This is basically sangria with an Indian twist as chai and cardamom are added. However, I didn't taste any of these wonderful flavors. It was sweet and just tasted like regular sangria.
Since the appetizers were good, I'll be back. I'll try a different drink next time, and hopefully it'll be better. I've been regular to indeblue for sometime. I have come here myself and with my friends and family and the experience has been just amazing!
the goods
Flavors and ambience are legit North Indian. The spice and oil levels are customized and tad Americanized, :-) which works out good for us/people who don't want too much of anything.
The presentation of food really makes it appealing to dine here! I am a man who enjoys the entire experience than just the food, but even if you don't the food is delicious. The garlic naans are great!
the bads
Obviously little pricey for the dishes. The serving size is low for the price you pay (especially the chai). Great lunch specials and a gorgeous atmosphere. I had a sampler and everything single thing was awesome. Nice attentive service as well :) Yummy spot for indian food! We all got the make-your-own thali and shared the poutine, which was excellent i highly recommend!! I got my thali with the chicken tikka masala, which was really tasty and flavorful. It also had a LOT of chicken and was very tender, which was surprising for white meat. The korma was really good as well but there were only two pieces of paneer so that was a little disappointing. But otherwise all the other parts of the meal were excellent! First time here for brunch. Had the spicy chicken and waffles with real maple syrup. Best chicken and waffles Ive ever had. The chicken was moist and the waffle was thin and perfect. They also serve dosa stuffed with potato which you don't find often at Indian restaurants. Live sitar and drum music started at 12 pm which made this a perfect brunch experience. My new favorite brunch place. Great food. Tried the tasting menu, restaurant was very accommodating for my wife who is vegetarian. Made exception for her on tasting menu also.
Also held the table for us even though we got delayed by 25 minutes in traffic.
Try the lamb chops and fried spinach, excellent
Will visit again. Food is excellent This store wow'd me from the moment I walked inside. Very organized and clean. I was greeted immediately. I had bags for a flight they checked them into the office and took my cousin and I too our seats. Our server started us with a Mango lassi, this was the first time I ever had this drink. I ENCOURAGE anyone reading this to try the Mango Lassi! It was amazing!!! Everything pictures below was delicious. I loved the breakfast and dinner options and the decor. The serves were delightful. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND also, I will definitely be back next time I'm in town Having not dined here since it's Collingswood Days. I was totally thrilled that the service and food remains top notch. Our server Nicole was amazing!! Friendly, attentive, and on point. To bad there are not more servers like her. Keep up the awesome and create food!!! Great food! Bennett was THE BEST! Such an amazing human, in addition to the rest of the staff! Will most definitely be back! A gem! this place is a fancy, sexy and desirable gem that decorates Philly in a very epicurean way. It's a beautiful place inside, with sophisticated decor. Then, Laurie, who made this a memorable and welcoming first time, a.k.a the second gem int his place. Service, in general, was better than amazing. We went there for brunch and had the mimosa trio: lovely lavender-infused orange juice, mango-cardamon, and rose petal that accompanied by a very decent California sparkling wine. Drums of heaven, literally, no, seriously, truly from heaven!!!! came together with the crispy spinach chaat, which was crispy and sweet and savory, and so refreshing for the start of a perfect brunch... (can you tell I loved this place?).
Then, we parted from heaven to a higher place with the most delicious chicken and waffles ever created. Don't believe me? Go there yourself and see. I'm not a fan of chicken and waffles, but this was truly a magical adventure: the chicken was perfectly cooked, with a sweet/spice/tangy breading, waffles had a lovely savory/sweet batter, and the spicy mayo was creamy and feisty, and finally a chicken makhani with a succulent tomato sauce and perfect biryani rice. The chocolate pot de creme and the gulab jamun arrived lusciously and completed this heavenly experience. For an annoying New Yorker who is a devout fanatic of Indian cuisine, this was rewarding and epic. Am I going back? Are you kidding???? I'll drive an hour and a half or six to come back to this piece of heaven in Philadelphia. Forever a favorite Indian food restaurant. The American Indian fusion options are constantly changing while always keeping a few finger licking staples constant. Happy hour is a hit or miss with food but dinner has never disappointed. The restaurant has a Bollywood gold royal vibe with its menu resembling the same. For food I highly recommend: crispy spinach chaat, paneer toast, lamb chops, pork egg rolls, shrimp tacos if it's an option, lamb poutine, drums of heaven and the lunch time thali special. For cocktails I recommend: ginger Jadoor, Mumbai Mirchi, indeblutini . If you're ever in Philly, you must give this place a try. You won't be disappointed! I went to restaurant with my friends and we had great dinner.. Though it's far from my place but I visit often...
Service is so good, they decorate dish so well..
One more thing I found 1 place which is on 1939 arch , that a great Indian cuisine too... Must give a try Came here with some girlfriends for dinner a few weeks ago on a Saturday night. I've never been to either location before but have heard rave reviews from relatives about how much they love this place, so I was pretty pumped to check it out.
We made a reservation for 8pm on a Saturday night for 4. We grabbed some seats at the bar to get a drink while they were getting our table ready. Unfortunately, it took over an hour (almost an hour and a half!) for us to get seated. Not sure what the issue was, but the group that was seated at our designated table were apparently "paying" for a very long time. We were a little frustrated by this, but I must say, the customer service here really made up for it. Numerous times, the manager and the hostess came over to us to apologize. They also bought us a round of drinks at the bar, which was much appreciated. How to get hungry girls to stop whining = get them drunk for free!
The cocktails here are amazing. I don't think we tried one that we didn't like. A few of our faves were: the indebluetini (asked them to not make it too sweet), the rose gimlet (just the right amount of sour), and the blissful anjeer (super cool and different and love the fig!)
When we finally sat down, our service was also a little strange. We had two different servers come over to ask us what kind of water we wanted.. but then we didn't see either one to order our food for at least 20 minutes. When we finally did order, the food came out fast and was really tasty, so it made up for the service a bit.
We decided to split a bunch of things, since we were new to this type of cuisine. We ordered the following appetizers:
Bread basket- 4 different types of bread including naan. It was a little hard to tell which were which, but it didn't really matter because they were all delicious.
Spinach chaat- really unique and amazing flavors
Crispy cauliflower- I'm obsessed with cauliflower so this was one of my favorites. Had a good kick but not too spicy.
We also got the entree Chicken tikki makhani (butter chicken) and paneer saag. They were both very good, but I preferred the appetizers better. The 3 apps and 2 entrees were more than enough for 4 of us and we were full at the end of the meal. Between our food and 1 round of drinks (+1 round of free drinks), it came to about 20 bucks a person, which was so inexpensive for a nice dinner out!
All in all, I really liked the meal, loved the drinks, and would give the service another chance. Definitely on my list to come here for happy hour to get some delicious drinks for 5 bucks! Visiting Philly and stopped by this place for lunch. Beautiful interior; great service; and delicious food (mostly - pay Bhaji was too tangy for our taste). Absolutely worth visiting and trying the delicious flavors they have to offer. I went there for their lunch. Beautiful modern ethnic decor. Their spinach chat was similar to the one I had at Rasika in DC. Food was great! Portions aren't as huge as restaurants in NJ. I had their mint lemonade which was very refreshing. I really enjoyed their malai kofta (it had the perfect amount of spice) and their chole butora. Our waiter gave us complimentary dessert- I really really really liked their kheer (rice pudding) it was not too sweet and was not over killed w cardamom. When I am back in Philadelphia I will definitely try to go here again and try out their dinner menu.
I was told they validated parking for you at the holiday inn- validate does not mean it's free. It means you get discounted parking. I paid $12 for 1-2 hr instead of $24. If I could give them a 6 star I would. Food was delicious, very flavorful and didnt have the crazy added cream. Lamb chops melted in your mouth. Goat was tender and gulab jamun was soft delicious with a rose mascarpone twist. I didn't like the combination but individually it was good. Rice was perfect and the naan basket was amazing. For the first time I found a restaurant that gave a wonderful combination of naans rather than the usual garlic, plain and cilantro. Drinks were delicious, I had the spicy tequila cocktail made to perfection. Finally we left with tummies bursting and a satisfied soul. Everything you've read is true! This place is amazing! The food is AMAZING! Definitely a MUST try when in philly. Stumbled upon this GEM by accident.. SO thankful that we did. Everything from the service from Netish, to the vibe and the delectable food was PERFECT. You can't go wrong with anything on their menu. From the cheese board, to samosas, to the spicy chicken and waffles, even the omelette- perfection! We WILL be returning for sure! It was a very happy Mother's Day thanks to IndeBlue. Their brunch was amazing. The chicken and waffles portion was enough for brunch and dinner. The chicken was moist and crispy - not dried out or greasy and it traveled well. The soup was delicious and I will dream about the chocolate pudding. We will certainly place another take out order soon and we look forward to being able to have dinner there when the crisis is over. I absolutely love Indieblue. The customer service is too notch. Drinks are amazing. The food, oh the food! Everything I have ordered has blown my mind! Very great place to eat whether on a date or with friends and family. I will keep going back. I especially love their happy hour. Extremely disappointing and unprofessional experience dealing directly with owners. Owner, Heather, has recently taken over catering and unfortunately service has deteriorated immensely. After many weeks of being unresponsive and then finally verbally committing to a 100 person catering event (during an in person meeting I had to request to try to create some accountability) Heather sends an email 4 days before the event stating they no longer have the staff to service the event. She states she had other signed contracts come up in the less than 48 hrs since she committed to our event. with "paid deposits." We had been loyal customers of this restaurant for 6 years and had built a genuine rapport with past management who worked on several catering events for us.
Really surprised by the lack of integrity and professionalism by ownership, going back on their word after years of working together. Cannot support a business when the owners do not value the customer experience. Very, very disappointing. We had been here once before but the food this time was not what we remembered. We had the madras chicken, daal makhani, provencal naan, crispy spinach, and chipotle chicken. The appetizers were good but the main courses/naan were very underwhelming. The fancy descriptions simply do not translate into the flavors, and the value simply isn't there.
I had also noted my wife's birthday celebration when making our reservation but no one wished her. For a restaurant of this caliber, they need to go the extra mile for it to be memorable. We will not be returning. Parshv was an excellent server who made great suggestions, always had a smile on his face, and truly made the dining experience. The food was stellar, but Parshv made it out of this world. Amazing food
Impeccable service
Bennet is one of the best waiters that I have ever encountered If you are going to have Indian food in Philly, this is where you want to go. The Crispy Spinach is fantastic. Light, crispy and tasty. Most of the dishes are great and you can't go wrong no matter what you choose. The dining room is tight and the bench seats against the wall are definitely not comfortable. We came here on a sunday with a reservation and sat at one of their tables outside for brunch. We started with the butter chicken poutine which is definitely a must try. We then tried the apple cinnamon caramel pancakes which were a very generous portion and pretty much what you would expect. The chicken tikka chipotle was good, spiced chicken and we loved that they also let you choose the spice level. Finally, we had ordered the paneer bhurjee and I'm pretty sure what was brought to us was the pav bhaji, but we ate it anyway and it was delicious as well. The bread basket is also a must if you like naan. The waiters were very polite and the food came quickly, so service was good other than the one mixup. Their outdoor setup was just tables in the street, which is great in the summer, but they could do better compared to the other restaurants on the same street which have several private booths. Overall, I am not very experienced with Indian food, but this was a great spot if, like us, you want to try it out while being somewhere where there are options for everyone. Great food and amazing service. Finally found a great Indian place in Philly. Will be back! This is not the worst restaurant I have ever been to, but close. Save your money from this really lousy and mostly empty- all -the -time (for a reason) restaurant.
The food is (for the most part) poor quality, spongy, cold by the time it gets to you, and just bad-- but hey, the wait staff is sweet.
You'll be right if you think that's not enough of a reason to waste your money. And the staff would do well not to stay there to get abused by the owner. There's such a thing as "learned helplessness", guys. Believe me--you're cool-- you can find a better job!
Because even worse than the food is the surly belligerent owner who pushes everyone around and responded to a polite request for a non-peppery dish with denial and hostility.
If you don't want your mouth and stomach to burn worse than hotter than hottest Indian restaurant you can imagine -- and having to put up with an aggressive bullying rude response from the owner if you ask for anything else, be warned from a nasty night out, and stay away! I really enjoyed my time here. I felt the dishes carried their own unique flavor profile and were able to stand on their own as strong menu items. Powerful flavors and very good.
The interior is beautiful. Tables are spread apart to practice social distancing. During COVID, they extended their happy hour to 7 pm.
We went during happy hour and ordered some drinks and a bunch of apps that were half off. The Indebluetini drink was delicious, a balance of sweet and savory. Skip the chai sangria. We ordered the crispy spinach chaat, chicken makhani poutine, crispy cauliflower and drums of heaven. My favorites were the chaat and poutine. The spinach chaat looked disappointing as it was served because it looked like boring baked crisp spinach. When I took a bite of it, all I could think of was omg. How was this so good?? The sauce and everything about it was delicious and extremely flavorful.
I was excited about the chicken poutine because of my poutine experiences in Canada. This dish had only a couple cheese curds and melted cheddar cheese. But I enjoyed this dish nonetheless. The fries were crispy, cheese perfectly melted and everything complimented each other.
The crispy cauliflower and drums of heaven had similar flavor profiles and were pretty hearty dishes. The drums of heaven were decent sizes of chicken wings. The crispy cauliflower was good but not that crispy. I liked the sauces that came with it but I understand why other reviewers compare it to marinara sauce.
We then got the tandoori chicken tikka chipotle and garlic naan (lasooni). I thought these dishes were okay. The naan could've been taken to the next level if it had some salt. The tandoori chicken was tender but I wish it had more spices and flavor. I didn't particularly think the chipotle flavor complimented the dish well.
Overall great restaurant with great service. Their happy hour is an amazing deal and worth it. I will definitely be coming back here to try more of their dishes! This place isn't the same.... the food isn't as good and the prices seem much higher. I've tried it a few times now and it wasn't an off day.... this is just how they are now. Sad. This used to be my favorite Indian restaurant in Philadelphia until they changed, what I am assuming, the head chef because the flavor profiles are not as great as they used to be. Haven't been back in about a year. Very upsetting. Nice Ambience. Very unique fusion take on Indian cuisine. I put in a reservation for five during restaurant week and I am so happy for this decision.
I've been looking to try Indeblue for sometime now because of the great reviews, so I figured the best time to do that was with friends during restaurant week for a discounted price
I got a 3 course meal for $20 which I thought was a great deal for the quality and quantity of food. The shrimp taco for my appetizer is the best shrimp taco I have ever had because of the sauce. The omelet dish for my entree was really tasty and pretty filling which I didn't expect. The dessert definitely topped of the meal and we were left feeling very satisfied.
I will say that the cocktail was pretty pricey but it was still a good treat! IndeBlue is the best Indian food I have eaten till date in Philadelphia. Naan and Roti were rightly baked and the curries were amazingly good. We ordered Malai Kofta Curry, Paneer Tikka Masala and Chana Masala. Everything was so flavorful. We had to wait 30 minutes though we had a reservation, but the manager was kind enough to give us a snack on the house. The only reason why I am not giving them 5 stars is because the portions are really small for the price. One curry serves only one person.
I certainly would recommend this to anyone who wants to have true Indian food in Philly! I came to this restaurant for the first time tonight to celebrate a birthday. Me and my friend have never tried Indian food before, so we weren't sure what to order from the menu. The waitress, Laura came to our table and recommended dishes that she loves. She was extremely helpful in walking us through the menu so we picked some of their favorite dishes to try. She also made sure to ask us if we have any preferences/dietary restrictions and was very accommodating. She checked in throughout the night to ensure everything turned out perfect. The manager, Kyle came over and expressed his appreciation of us coming in to celebrate and gave us both champagnes. After we were done with our main course, Laura gave us a small cup of chai tea before dessert. Everyone in this restaurant is incredibly helpful and nice. My friend and I will definitely come back for the happy hour. We highly recommend this restaurant!! The food is fantastic, everything I've tried has been great. Madras curry is awesome, the biryani is great! Highly recommend If you love Indian food, you won't be disappointed! We tipped 30% because the food and service was impeccable! Highly recommend it! Came here for a friend's 21st birthday party! The food is amazing! It's not cheap (hopefully you didn't expect it to be) but great! And it's enough to fill you up (priorities). Their cocktails are... interesting. We ordered a couple and they were hit or miss -- wouldn't recommend the cocktail with chili in it. We thought we were experimenting but were actually just making a huge mistake hahaha. But don't worry! There are other good drinks. The waiting staff -- so nice! And sociable! The only thing that really irritates me was that we asked if we could hold a cake in the refrigerator while we ate and they charged us TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS for storage and cutting! We could have totally done that ourselves! And even if they did it, there's no reason to charge $2.50 per person for something that simple. That's robbery! But overall it's a good choice -- just be ready to spend and don't bring that cake!!! Dined here with some girlfriends during restaurant week. The service was excellent, our waiter was patient and thorough when explaining the menu and answering our questions.
I was surprised by the amount of food we received. It was much more than I anticipated and I would definitely return to this restaurant. I ordered the lamb stew and the lamb was a bit overcooked but overall I enjoyed the meal. Came here for a friend's 21st birthday party! The food is amazing! It's not cheap (hopefully you didn't expect it to be) but great! And it's enough to fill you up (priorities). Their cocktails are... interesting. We ordered a couple and they were hit or miss -- wouldn't recommend the cocktail with chili in it. We thought we were experimenting but were actually just making a huge mistake hahaha. But don't worry! There are other good drinks. The waiting staff -- so nice! And sociable! The only thing that really irritates me was that we asked if we could hold a cake in the refrigerator while we ate and they charged us TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS for storage and cutting! We could have totally done that ourselves! And even if they did it, there's no reason to charge $2.50 per person for something that simple. That's robbery! But overall it's a good choice -- just be ready to spend and don't bring that cake!!! I've heard rave reviews about IndeBlue and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to try it. Delicious cocktails, food, and excellent service. The woman who was our server was very kind and attentive. She helped us navigate the menu since we aren't super familiar with Indian food. The dishes were all super flavorful and delicious. We enjoyed the crispy spinach chaat as our appetizer as recommended by our server! My boyfriend and I shared the chicken tikka and the chicken catani both were amazing. The garlic naan (lasooni naan) was also delicious we will have to order 2 next time. Will definitely be back!! As a proud Philadelphian foodie, I am honored to write a review of this extraordinary restaurant. Indeblue is at the top of the list of our favorite restaurants on the planet. Not only is the food fabulous, the staff is the friendliest, most welcoming we have ever experienced. Gia, a manager, not only welcomed us warmly but remembered we had been there a couple of months ago, remembered where we sat and remembered that the friends we brought were from New York! By the way, our friends thought our dinner was one of the best they've er had!
So here is what deliciousness we had tonight: butter chicken poutine, vegetable samosa, tandoori chicken pizza, and fried spiced cauliflower for appetizers. The butter chicken poutine comes in a very hot small cast iron skillet lined with crunchy fries topped with butter chicken and cheese curds. One of my favorite dishes ever. The crunchy vegetable samosa came atop a beautiful plate of chick peas, tomato chutney with a swirl of creme. The cauliflower was crisp and flavorful, as was the pizza with chicken, cheese and grilled onions on top of fresh puffy naan. The Kashmiri bread was stuffed with coconut and raisins and was delicious!
Main courses were just as amazing. We had biryani with lobster and shrimp and an amazing raita. Fabulous! We also had a spicy lamb, chicken in coconut sauce, and sea bass in a creamy spicy sauce. Even the rice was delicious and plentiful!
I strongly recommend this extraordinary restaurant! Walking the Center City streets searching for happy hour with my girl Shante P. Did a double take and walked in. The ambiance here is sultry and super sexy. We had the Ginger Twist.. made with Black Velvet Whiskey, Ginger ale, Ginger and lime juice. $5! Didn't try any of the food but other folks plates looked tempting enough. I'll be back soon I don't give 5 stars often. However, this place exceeded my expectations. We went for brunch. The server, Laurie, was exceptional! She offered recommendations, and was very attentive to our table. There's also few places where I've seen great food presentation along with great proportions. I hate leaving a restaurant feeling hungry, but that won't happens here! Thank you and your staff for a great dining experience. Looking forward to coming back. Unique, fancy take on Indian food! As someone who grew up around Indian food (from Edison, NJ woot woot), I've enjoyed every time that I've been to Indeblue. My favorite instance was going for restaurant week!
Go for:
- Restaurant week ... in a group - you'll get to try a lot of different dishes for a great deal
- Chicken tikka masala - sauce is very flavorful
- Spinach chaat - spinach has a great crispy texture
Skip:
- Don't remember the name of the dish but it essentially was a huge lamb chop -- didn't find it too special Indian food in an upscale setting has always been met with a skeptical eye, but throw in some proteins, such as crab meat, swordfish, lamb shank, and pork shoulder, that seldom exist in your typical Indian restaurant and you can have a truly outstanding experience. My friend Chris W and I noted the location of Indeblue with some skepticism. "I bought a custom-made dress in this location years ago," I said to him. When we walked in, my jaw dropped. They completely gutted the place. Tastefully done decor with a chandelier, giant framed pictures, and an ornamental gate adorn the main dining room. No seat was a bad seat. It was truly a beautiful setting for a nice meal. Our appetizers included the scallops, lollipop lamb chops, and crispy spinach chaat. All were delicious. The scallops were giant U/10 beauties pan-seared and immersed in a light coconut milk-based curry. My only criticism is they could've used a little less salt. The lollipop lamb chops were grilled to perfection and coated with ginger, garlic, nutmeg, yogurt, mace, mint, and mojito. They were so good I wanted another order. The crispy spinach chaat was amazing. The spinach leaves were coated with chickpea batter and flash fried. Combine that with chopped tomatoes, shallots, yogurt, crispy noodles, and sweet tamarind date sauce. I couldn't stop eating it. Our main course was the seafood moilee, a coconut curry with jumbo shrimp and crabmeat that was accompanied by a saffron rice with peanuts, mustard seed, curry leaf, and chili peppers. This dish sang and danced in our mouths. We also got a side of tandoor roasted eggplant with tomatoes, carmelized onions, and green peas. It was like a smoky ratatouille. I love this place. I am an Indian food addict so I've eaten at the whole gamut of Indian restaurants (buffets, dives, upscale, cafes, etc.), but IndeBlue stands out as something new and different. I love that they serve modern Indian food, which means many new takes on the standard dishes. My husband and I went for restaurant week last night and we loved everything we tried (drums of heaven, non-veg & veg sampler, fig blondie and banana nirvana). The portions were a good size (eating my leftovers for lunch as I type this) and everything was freshly prepared. The ambiance was great and Jason was the best waiter. I can't recommend this place enough. I will be back soon because there are so many great items on the menu that I need to try! I truly cannot overstate how wonderful the staff at Indeblue, especially Bennett our server, were tonight.
We visited for my mom's bday and despite how busy they were, Bennett made us feel very welcome. He tailor made our drinks, gave us great input on what to order, and also surprised my mom with a little birthday dessert. The food of course was phenomenal. If you come here definitely request him to be your server!! I had a great dining experience here! Given the pandemic situation we ate outside on a chilly day. The service was very accomodating for taking us 30min prior to kitchen closing on a late sunday afternoon. They were also very courteous in accommodating heating to make our dining experience as nice as possible. We really appreciated the extra care taken to fuel those extra heaters around us!
We all enjoyed the lunch special which basically came w/ a samosa, choice of naan/roti bread, one vegetable entree, dal makhni, raita, basmati rice, and dessert! We were able to swap out the kheer dessert for a lovely dark chocolate mousse and they allowed for minor substitutions which was much appreciated. Our party of five was rather picky but our server did a great job accommodating/remembering everyone's order.
I personally enjoyed my malai kofta and traditionally we would order several veggie entrees and eat family style but with covid/wintertime outdoor dining this personalized meal was delicious. It was served piping hot and the roti was cooked beautiful in a tandoori style. I'm looking forward to dining her again and would highly recommend it! Chef's choice non vegetarian Thali and Crispy Spinach Chaat are the choices I made for my delicious brunch at IndeBlue. Such a sweet place in downtown Philadelphia. I sat at the bar and had terrific service from the bartender. The food was good. The Chaat is highly recommended. The thali came with lamb dashiki and chicken masala. I loved the flavors in both of them. The thali has a lot of food-plenty for leftovers! If you're downtown, check out this great place to eat Indian. Eat. Here. Now!!!
This is a back posted review to a trip to Philly. This restaurant was literally the best part of our trip! The food is incredibly seasoned. The portions are great for the prices and the cocktails were unique and addictive- try the Indebluetini for $12.00.
Due to covid we sat on the street as part of their outdoor dining space and it was great for people watching.
I would definitely recommend doing the tasting menu - $48.00 per person. Great way to try selections and share amongst the table. INDEBLUE - this has been on my restaurant list forever and I can't believe I've waited so long to try it! I came here for a Sunday birthday brunch and was blown away at how reasonable the menu was. Large dishes with many different parts for $9-12??? Unbelievable. The waitress seemed to try to sell a lot of things to us (especially the chai and the $16 chef's tasting) but I think she was just being friendly... and the chai really was unbelievable. Ended up spending a little more than I wanted but that's because I took home an additional chicken tikka masala wrap after eating one for brunch myself haha. I wanted to bring home a different dish but to be honest, that's the least messy and would taste the best reheated. I tried the chicken and waffles which had a nice South Asian twist, but personally not my favorite (though it seems to be a Yelp favorite for sure!) The fries that came with my chicken tikka masala wrap were heavenly and the highlight of my meal when it was fresh. Great ambience and interior design for taking pictures. In the heart of Center City, definitely go if you haven't been yet. came for restaurant week lunch with my friend and had a nice time! the inside was very nice and decorated nicely. i got the shrimp taco to start which was very good! it was just 1 taco but it was the perfect portion for me, the shrimp was cooked well and the crema on it was delicious.
for my entree, i got the butter chicken with naan and rice. it was OK... i've had way better butter chicken; it was way too tomatoey, it could have definitely passed for tomato sauce. the chicken was in these weird little pieces which i'm not used to, they were quite dry and some were big chunks and some were little chunks.
the dessert was delicious! i enjoyed the chocolate like mousse.
overall, this place was decent but i wasn't as WOW'd as i wanted to be. I came here for dinner last night for a birthday dinner. The food was fantastic and our waiter was a sweetheart but the meal took three hours start to finish because everything took so long. It took about forty minutes for us just to get our drinks and then another hour before our entres came out. By the end of the meal we were all sort of irritated and tired because of all the waiting. I'd recommend IndeBlue for the food, but most definitely not for the service unfortunately. The best food I think I've ever had. My mom literally gave the waiter a hug as we left.
We tried the tasting menu, honestly not that much of a price difference, but totally worth it. We tried the Brussel sprouts and the Scallops to start and both were fantastic. The Lollipop lamb chops are delicious and super tender. The goat was very interesting but the Pondicherry Ratatouille is the best thing we had the whole night. The bread basket was very worth it but was a little confused with the chutneys.
The waitstaff was super attentive and very knowledgable.
We will definitely come back again and again.
10/10 IndeBlue thoroughly succeeds in its delectable Indian fusion menu, enticing cocktail bar and classy ambiance. If you're looking for a unique menu that will tickle your tastebuds (and if you're a fan of Indian food), this is the place to go.
I showed up around noon and there was a bit of a wait for tables so I sat down and got comfortable at the bar. Ended up ordering the Vindaloo Egg Skillet and the Chicken Tikka Naan Pizza. The Vindaloo Skillet blew my tastebuds away. The fusion of the breakfast sausage, eggplant, potatoes and runny egg along with the curry was a match made in heaven. The naan pizza was also really good. You get a very subtle indian flavor on top of the cheesy goodness.
I washed everything down with some whisky but now I wish I can go back and enjoy the mimosas. I watched the bartendar work tirelessly preparing each drink order between cocktails and a whole lot of mimosas flowing constantly to the various tables.
The bartendar who took food and drink orders for all the patrons seated at the bar inbetween making drinks for the entire restaurant deserves a bonus. She kept her positive attitude and continued to be very attentive throughout my experience :) I came here for happy hour last week and I was pleased with the drink menu but the I personally was not a fan of the food option. It was good for indian fusion food but personally it's not my thing. It tasted good so if someone is open to Indian fusion food they'll love it. The only thing I didn't like about indeblue was that happy hour was just around the bar so it was crowded as people stood around. The prices are pretty good so people
Should go. YO - if you are looking for Indian cuisine, seriously do not look any further.
It was an upscale menu, with a big twist on modern and traditional. HUGE menu - lots of options, I would find it hard pressed to find something you like here.
On a quick note, their cheese board is probably one of our favorites in the city (which is ironic for their focus of cuisine) but if you are going to start with anything, start with this.
Their portions are fair, compared to the price. The service was spectacular.
Everything we ate was just a punch of flavor, and the combinations of spicy, sweet, fresh, and creamy were represented in every dish one way or another.
Super sheek inside as well, perfect place to go for a date night. Myself and 3 friends stopped in for an impromptu Sunday brunch after our plans elsewhere fell through. Their tables were all booked but we managed to find 4 seats at the bar and we were so glad we did. The food was great! Two of my friends had the spicy chicken and waffles which has an amazing presentation. It's definitely a crowd favorite. I tried the create-your-own-omelette. The cheese they used was soooooo good. It completely made the omelette. This is one of the few places in Philly that has bottomless mimosas also ($22). All of the employees were very friendly as well. This would be a great spot for a boozy brunch with friends. The food was good, but service was just so slow, that it put a damper on the night. After being seated, it was an hour and 20 minutes until we received our entrees. We had soup and naan before that, and even that took forever to come out. After eating, we realized we never got 2 items we ordered about 40 minutes prior. It also took about 25 minutes from ordering a drink to getting one. We also had to go in to request our check after waiting so long. Even that took a while, so we went in with our card to give it to someone to pay. The staff was so rude, we left. Rather than taking time to seat people, the hostess stomped around like a little kid because people wouldn't stand outside in the cold. The time she spent with her fits, they could have seated everyone waiting for the several the empty tables.
Though the hostess' snide passive aggressive comments and fits were annoying, the manager was the last straw. She came out and told us to go outside because the wait staff needed to walk through the area. Had they just seated everyone at the several empty tables, it would have been a non-issue.
Considering the many positive food reviews and local weather, the staff should always anticipate a full house and out-of-towners.
To be fair, I started this review several months ago and just noticed it did not post. However, the poor customer service by the staff and management did not inspire me to give it a second chance. All night Happy Hour at the bar what more can you ask for , this place is really nice with a really nice HH MENU and try the Martini it is the best I went to Indeblue tonight for the first time with my friend who loves it here. Lori our server was so amazing, she was very accommodating and attentive to us and had so many great recommendations. My cocktail (the anjeer) was out of this world and Lori had a great white wine recommendation that i will absolutely need to order again. We did the tasting menu and it opened my eyes to dishes i would not have ordered from our usual Indian takeout spots and truly wow'd us. I cannot wait to come back and tell my friends about this place. I felt very safe with their COVID precautions and had a wonderful time. Amazing brunch! I didn't know what to expect at an indian restaurant for brunch as the dishes are usually on the heavier side. Indeblue puts the perfect twist to the dishes while keeping them authentic as well. We got the chicken and waffle, aloo and egg potato roll, and the chicken kathi roll.
Food- 5/5- each dish was delicious! My favorite was the aloo and egg roll. The sauce they put in the roll is so good! I asked for extra to dip into. The chicken and waffle was good but not my favorite. It also had an extra kick to it which was nice. I am just not a fan of chicken and waffle though but my fiancé loved it. The chicken kathi roll was good as well but again not my favorite. All dishes quantity was very generous, none of us finished the dishes.
The ambiance and service was great. They were very attentive to us even though there was not one single empty table. The ambiance was very elegant as well. I like the little touches of India they had in the restaurant.
Would def recommend to people. Want to go there for dinner soon as the menu looks so good! I love everything about this place. The food is different from most of the Indian places I've been to but not in a bad way at all. One of my personal recommendations would be the crab dosa, it was incredible.
The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu, they're also very nice! Our waiter even gave us some masala chai for free at the end of our meal and it was so good.
Another thing, if you're going to eat here I 100% suggest staying for dessert. The stuffed gulab jamun was incredible. I'll definitely be coming back soon! So I have to try Indian restaurants every single place I go because Chicken tikka masala is one of my fav dishes of all time, not to mention I am Indian and it's almost tradition with my brother and myself to have it lol. So we decided to come here after seeing great reviews on Yelp. We were able to get a table for 4 people on a busy Saturday night which was good. We sat indoors cause it was a little too chilly for our liking. The decor inside was beautiful, the food was absolutely outstanding. Our waitress Lori was absolutely amazing. She was super attentive, a great conversationalist and had a great attitude. She made a bunch of recommendations so we went with a few of the things she recommended. We ordered the chicken tikka poutine, lamb chops and of course chicken tikka masala very spicy and naan. All of the food was delicious. Another waiter came over and had a conversation with us, his name was josh, both Lori and josh were spectacular. If ever going to indeblue make sure you request Lori, she is one of the best waitresses I've ever had at any restaurant. Kudos to this place. Ordered a couple of new apps. Loved them. Yet another reason to be happy about being a newbie in this neighborhood. Will definitely try again. We LOVED Indeblue! The food was phenomenal and well-priced, and the service was excellent. We loved our server Bennett! He was extremely attentive and we loved the conversation and delicious cocktailThank you so much for making our experience one for the books! (Please give him a raise, he is so helpful, kind and charming!) Very polite professional staff. The food was absolutely delicious. The decor and set up is beautiful! This place is quite unique, the perfect modern Indian fusion recipes with super friendly staff and great ambiance. We ordered several appetizers and we were not disappointed by a single one. If dining here you must try the butter chicken poutine and the crispy spinach chaat, we ordered two servings because we couldn't get enough. Their drinks are also delicious and exotic. Dining here definitely made my trip to Phi You know a restaurant is wonderful when you visit once, fall in love with the flavors, and finally make it back a year and a half later, and it sweeps you off your feet again. The appetizers were delightful, and we each had our own favorites from the ones we chose: crispy cauliflower, potato samosas, tandoori chicken, and brussel sprouts with cool burrata. The spicy vindaloo with falling apart chunks of pork and flavorful masala chicken entrees were hits with the carnivorous folks. For me, dal thali was the prince of my palate -- crunchy little papadums, perfectly thin naan, and three lovely dal dishes, and cool raita. Mmm. Until next time, IndeBlue. I'll miss you. I only had the cocktails so this is only for the cocktails. The cocktails are terrible. Imagine you want to make something in your dorm room as an 18 year old--that's about what it's like. The mango drink is a mango syrup with vodka. The cardamom on the menu is just a few cardamom seeds plopped on top.
I got a whiskey drink with some orange and lavender. It was super diluted whiskey with orange juice and a lavender stem on top.
Awful. I went here about a week ago, and I have not stopped talking about it since. I can't believe I've lived in Philly for so long without coming to indeblue!
The 5-10pm happy hour at the bar is one of the best deals in philly. It was very busy when I went, and we had to wait for a spot, but it was so worth it.
They have a very extensive happy hour food menu. My favorites were the brussel sprouts, tikka naan pizza and chicken tikka chipotle, but everything we ordered was perfect. It's a fun, delicious and modern take on classic Indian cuisine. Since I don't live in Philadelphia, I certainly make every effort to dine at Indeblue anytime I can. My second experience at this restaurant was just as delightful as the first time in July 2013 (just weeks after the opening of the restaurant). During this visit we tried the Basil Mint Kabob appetizer; Chicken Tikka Masala, Baingan Bartha, and Malwana Swordfish for entrees along with the Kashmiri (pistachio, coconut, raisins) roti; and Mango Panna Cotta for dessert. Were I asked to pick a favorite among those options, I would certainly be unable to do so as they were all delicious in their own way. Can't wait to go back! Went here for my fiancées birthday diner. She use to love their place in Collingswood. We eat Indian food A LOT. This place is one of the best.
It is beautiful inside. The wait staff is amazing. I am actually sad I cannot remember our servers name, he was awesome! One of the other servers even listened to us order and brought us over a special chutney.
We did the tasting menu for two, and added on some things. I cannot remember everything we ordered but I am adding photos so you can see the awesome presentation! The names did come up as I typed it. The food was even better than it looked. I cannot wait to go here again! Had so many leftovers! I ate at Indeblue last night for the first time with my husband, my gluten free daughter and my daughter's boyfriend. I am also gluten free. Our server Laurie, made us feel so safe and comfortable regarding the ability of the restaurant to safely serve us gluten free food! She was the perfect combination of kindness with a vast knowledge of the menu! The food was sublime! The spinach chaat was divine! We had the 5 course restaurant week menu which was perfectly priced at $35! We left full and satisfied! The auxiliary staff was also extremely attentive. Overall, a great find! We will definitely be returning and when we do we will request Laurie as our server! Indian brunch for the win!
We got here on a Saturday morning around 11:30, and were seated immediately. We were there about 45 minutes before the place was full. I say that to say, either come early or make reservations. The place is BEAUTIFUL, and family friendly. We saw couples, families, and young folks all hanging out together.
Once you get here and seated, the service is attentive and kind. Our server, Josh, was good about answering questions, and providing suggestions, which made choosing from the expansive menu much easier. We had lovely rose mimosas, and I had the vindaloo egg skillet. The grilled challah is really delicious! My bestie got the poutine, which is billed as an appetizer, but you can totally eat it as a meal with the cheese, meat, and potatoes.
The pricing here is a taaad high, but between the setting, service, and scrumptious food, treat yourself and give it a shot! My boyfriend and I came here for restaurant week. Everything was great! We tried the poutine, crab cake, a seafood dish (can't remember the name), and lamb korma. We were full after the meal and portions weren't too small. To drink, I ordered a gin drink with lychee that was on the menu. Personally it was too sweet for my liking and I didn't end up finishing it. But I'm sure other cocktails are good. Staff were friendly! After getting years of "British" style Indian food I've been search all over Philadelphia for some that meets that standard. Indeblue is the first that I've found. With favorites like Baltis, Madras, and Vindaloos, this place is great if you're looking for some flare to your food.
I went during a busy lunch period on a Sunday, and seemingly because of the individual time taken to prepare each meal, don't expect to get out here quick or it you're in a rush. There's a sassy (in a good way) British waitstaff that helped pass the wait time. This place was so great! Our server Justin was so kind and insightful! He gave amazing recs and explained all the different dishes so well. He paced the dinner very well and we felt really welcome. He casually picked up on it being my moms birthday and brought out dessert and a champagne toast!!
The food was incredible and prices were good. We all had leftovers but it was all delicious. Bread basket with the sweet naan, samosa chaat, cauliflower, kofta, sea bass to name a few winners. This restaurant is a must if you are looking for authentic Indian food in Philly. The lunch tiffin brought a ton of food for a super reasonable price and not one item disappointed us. The food was accompanied by a very friendly and accommodating staff. Could eat baskets of the naan! Such a fabulous birthday dinner at IndieBlue! The food was delicious especially the Brussel Sprout appetizer special! I loved my main course, lobster. The Mango apricot dessert was a perfect end to a great meal. The wait staff were attentive and the ambience made for a perfect evening. IndieBlue is the place to go for Indian food in Philly. This place has the best Indian food ever! I love coming here to eat before watching a play. The vegetarian sampler is the best thing that you could order! I love it! I always get it when I come here with my family. Inde Blue also has nice music playing. If you come Sunday at noon, they will have live music. I definitely would recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves Indian food. Go soon! Went in last night for post dinner drinks for their late night happy hour which runs 9pm-close nightly and 5-7 everyday. Their drinks are refreshing, stiff and only $5 during happy hour. Their HH food menu was extensive and will be trying when we return. The decor is also fantastic, cute and intimate. I came to IndeBlue for lunch with a friend during Restaurant Week, not knowing too much about the place or having any expectations. Needless to say, it did not disappoint! From the moment I walked in the door, service was quick, friendly, and personable. I was immediately greeted with a smile and sat at a table (we had a reservation) though I was still waiting for my friend to arrive. Throughout the meal, our server was extremely kind, helpful, and attentive, yet was not overbearing. I never felt rushed or intruded upon during our meal.
The food itself was equally fantastic. To start, we shared the spinach chaat which was light, crispy and addictively good. It reminded me of kale chips, but so much better and perfectly balanced by the yogurt topping. We also had the drums of heaven, which were also yummy but the spinach definitively stole the show. For my main course, I ordered the lamb saag which was deeply flavorful and one of the best curries I've ever had. Per my server's suggestion, I got an order of garlic naan on the side which was light and crisp on the outside, yet springy within with just the subtlest hint of garlic to pair nicely with the curry. It's not the thick, chewy flatbread I usually find. Finally for dessert, we shared the caramel pumpkin ice cream and the chai chocolate pot de creme. The pot de creme was really rich and decadent, with the texture of a very thick and dense mousse and presented elegantly with an edible flower. It was a tad sweet and considering how stuffed we were from our entrees, we weren't able to finish even that small serving. Our favorite was the pumpkin ice cream, which was spiced kind of like chai. This one was a little less sweet and the complex flavors melded together beautifully.
Having gotten a taste for what IndeBlue has to offer, I cannot wait to return and eat off of their normal menu. Went here for dinner and had the 5 course valentines day menu. From what I understand this is similar to the regular tasting menu. The whole experience was almost perfect with 1 little slip up at the end, however, the meal itself was perfect. The courses include a hummus board, a demitasse soup, an appetizer, an entree and a dessert.
Our server, Bennett, was also very knowledgable and was able to describe the dishes in such a vivid manner that you could practically taste the dish as he described them.
The first two courses were a hummus tray and a demitasse of coconut roasted red pepper soup. The hummus board was ok and a nice start to the meal. The demitasse of soup was almost like thai style in flavor giving you an initial taste of coconut, then red pepper and finished on a nice spicy note.
For the appetizer I ordered the scallop. It was a scallop with the top part charred and surrounded by a coconut curry sauce. I thought that the scallop would get lost with the intense flavor of the sauce but the scallop held it's own giving the dish a nice seafood flavor.
For the entrees we got the chicken korma and afghani lamb shank. The chicken korma was delicious and we sopped up all that delicious sauce with the naan that came with the entrees. The chicken breast was also very moist. I normally prefer dark meat, but the chicken was cooked perfectly and not dry. The lamb shank practically fell off the bone when tapped with a fork and there was very little fat. This dish was the star of the night for me as it was tender, nicely seasoned, and the rice with raisins gave a nice sweet contrast to the tender meat.
For dessert we got the deconstructed apple pie and chocolate pot de creme. Both pretty standard but delicious nonetheless.
The only negative about the experience was they forgot to pack my wife's chicken korma leftovers. Due to being a bariatric patient, she cannot finish full portions and tends to enjoy leftovers as a second or even third meal. It's a shame to waste perfectly delicious food. We didnt realize the oversight until we got home and unpacked our to-go bag.
We will definately be back as their brunch menu looked particularly interesting and would be worth it if it's even a fraction as tasty as tonight's menu. Tied with Barbuzzo as the best of the 13th Av strip. Not a clinker on the menu and especially good cocktails. Lamb lollipops are great. Order the 6 and not 3. You won't regret it. The bread and chicken are also awesome. 5 stars. Great Indian food in the city. I have been here several times... make sure to have a reservation before going!
Both times I've been here for brunch. The decor is city chic, and the place smells like delicious Indian food. They also have a full bar, which is in front of the restaurant.
I don't get the authentic Indian food vibe- tastes Americanized. I like getting the sampler platter (photo attached). Delicious!
Service feels like you're being rushed. I also felt that I was annoying the server for extra napkins or a refill-- that's part of why I gave it 4 Stars. We had a great time. Very nice Indian food with great atmosphere. Food was high class, service timely. Taste was genuine. Price not bad considering it is in heart of Philadelphia.Convenient roadside parking. We were group of 5 and spent more than 3 hours having a great conversation. The one in NJ was closed, but fortunately I can still come to Philly! You definitely should try their crispy spinach! It is amazing! All my Indian friends say this is an authentic place to go. They have really good Paneer tikka masala and naan, try them! stopped here once for snacks - didn't disappoint.
service was excellent. tried the crispy spinach chaat and the crispy cauliflower. would recommend. cool, modern twist on Indian cuisine. I don't know where to start, this place is phenomenal. The food is incredible, always with fair portions and price. The restaurant has a nice ambience, which is perfect for date night! Decent happy hour that is only available at the bar.
The best part about this place is that they don't rush you at the bar and give you your space to chat and make conversation without seeming to rush you out the door. The fact that I went on a Sunday could have helped.
Best item on the menu-crispy spinach chaat. It definitely didn't disappoint especially for the cheap happy hour price.
Cons-other portions were tiny and drinks were mediocre. Shrimp taco was minuscule and left you hungrier than you started.
Service-terrific! I really REALLY wanted to love this place but alas it wasn't to be. First impressions were great, super cozy dining room on a freezing cold night, nicely crowed, good atmosphere...
Drinks came promptly, little disappointed in the limited menu however our favourites were there so happy out. My husband order vindaloo (which is a spicy fiery curry). I ordered something entirely unmemorable. We ordered samosas to start that incidentally tasted nothing like samosas nor had any indian flavouring or spices.
Then we waited... And waited and waited. 55mins after ordering our food came.
The vindaloo was beyond mild and I don't mean mild for a vindaloo I mean it tasted like a mild tomato based dish. Again nothing like vindaloo. No level of spice whatsoever and no flavouring at all. My curry was meh at best. The chicken was beyond over cooked and hard. The naan bread was great I'll give them that.
Service was slow and patchy.
Wouldn't return. best indian food i've had in philly.
we shared the chicken tikka masala and the paneer tikka makhani - both were perfect with a side of buttery, bubbly naan seasoned with cilantro and garlic. they provide a pretty generous serving of basmati rice with their entrees as well. if you need something refreshing to fight the heat, their mango lassi is delicious. they top it off with some chopped pistachios and it is a total treat for anybody who loves tart, fruity flavors. This is one of the best Indian food places I have been to. One of the main reasons why is because of their paneer bhurji. I am not sure what they put it in but it literally melts in your mouth and the cheese is stringy when you spoon it out. Another reason is their yummy spinach chaat. I would recommend you going for restaurant week because they have a good selection! I had to update my review to 3 stars after returning for another happy hour. This time I went with my boyfriend since he hadn't been there before.
We got the Chicken Chili Bao Bun, Tikka Naan Pizza, and the Barbecue Pork Samosa Rolls to pair with our drinks. Unfortunately, the Tikka Naan Pizza was still pretty boring in taste (he agreed), but he was pleased with the Bao Bun. I tried a bite and felt it showed improvement from my last experience. What really shocked me were the samosas though! They were delicious - served hot and crispy, bursting with spice and BBQ flavor - a perfect Indian fusion dish. My boyfriend really enjoyed it and said it was by far the best of the three small plates we got.
For my drink I got the Monsoon which I was pretty content with. They take sangria to a new level by adding chai and cardamom to it. It had just the right amount of spices making it a very unique cocktail that was easy to sip.
I'm happy to post an updated review and am sure I'll be returning for another happy hour to get those samosas and the Monsoon again! :) My boyfriend and I came here for restaurant week, and we were not disappointed! Our server, Bennet, was so warm and welcoming. He was also very knowledgable about the menu and led us through the 5 courses beautifully. My boyfriend ordered the chicken raiwala and told me his chicken was a bit dry; however, I ordered the chicken makhani and I thought it was perfectly cooked. All of the courses were delicious and the service the top notch. 10/10 would recommend. A really marvelous meal. Best Brussels sprouts appetizer and Farmers Pie lamb main meal. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his Mirch Masala and salad of the moment. Mirch was delicious and spicy; Raita is recommended.
A great find. A gem! this place is a fancy, sexy and desirable gem that decorated Philly in a very epicurean way. It's a beautiful place inside, with sophisticated decor. Then, Laurie, who made this a memorable and welcoming first time, a.k.a the second gem int his place. Service, in general, was better than amazing. We went there for brunch and had the mimosa trio: lovely lavender-infused orange juice, mango-cardamon, and rose petal that accompanied by a very decent California sparkling wine. Drums of heaven, literally, no, seriously, truly from heaven!!!! came together with the crispy spinach chaat, which was crispy and sweet and savory, and so refreshing for the start of a perfect brunch... (can you tell I loved this place?).
Then, we parted from heaven to a higher place with the most delicious chicken and waffles ever created. Don't believe me? Go there yourself and see. I'm not a fan of chicken and waffles, but this was truly a magical adventure: the chicken was perfectly cooked, with a sweet/spice/tangy breading, waffles had a lovely savory/sweet batter, and the spicy mayo was creamy and fisty, and finally a chicken makhani with a succulent tomato sauce and perfect biryani rice. The chocolate pot de creme and the gulab jamun arrived lusciously and completed this heavenly experience. For an annoying New Yorker who is a devout fanatic of Indian cuisine, this was rewarding and epic. Am I going back? Are you kidding???? I'll drive an hour and a half or six to come back to this piece of heaven in Philadelphia. Amazing hipster indian food. Definitely the best i've had anywhere. Absolutely worth the money, and takeout here is really hard to beat.
Got the spinach chaat and it was super crunch. It literally just tasted perfect- the pils and spices complimented it perfectly. GET THIS if nothing else.
Also got the drums of heaven. They live up to the name- they taste awesome with the sauce. Way easier to eat, and way crunchier, than comparable fried chicken. Without the sauce they were pretty good but not as great as some of the other spots around Philly.
Would definitely return if I was in the area. I've been here for lunch twice now, and enjoyed. Restaurant has a nice look.
Both times I goth masala chicken wrap, and it was a bit inconsistent. First time last year was delicious, with super flaky paratha and well cooked/seasoned chicken, with crispy fries. This time, it seemed like more of a thicker roti that was used for the bread, so it was not flaky at all and a bit dry. The chicken was average at best, and the fries weren't crisp. It did take quite a while for the food to come out, so could have just been that they were busy and things were rushed? Great waiter both times.
Mango lassi was one of the best I've ever had. Creamy and sweet and so smooth. I had a pineapple with coconut ice cream dessert last time I visited that was delightful, but sadly didn't have room this time. First time at this restaurant and we will definitely come back! Portions are generous, drinks are excellent and the service was amazing! Spinach chaat and lamb lollipops were a must! Om shanti om cocktail was refreshing without being too sweet! We also had the sea bass and dhal makhani with lasooni bread! Our hostess brought us masala chai to go which was delicious!! I wish I could eat here every day. I have never had better food and service in my life. The atmosphere was great, very clean and well designed. Our waiter, Bennett, knew everything about the food and menu and was passionate about the items served in the restaurant. Worth every penny and can't wait to come back. For my 200th review- I'm glad it was a good experience! We grabbed last night minute resis at indie blue. Upon entering the space there was a nice bar to the left by the hostess stand that was in full swing. He ambiance in the restaurant was quite nice dark purple walls, silk curtains, jeweled light fixtures over the tables and a beautiful ornate tapestry type decoration on the main wall, it created a warm romantic setting.
Dinner got off to a rocky start, we had 7:30 reservation, but wasn't seated until 8pm! Major annoyance as we were standing in the doorway with another group complaining about the wait.
Once we were seated, our waiter immediate stepped in and saved our evening! He was charismatic, very attentive and made great recommendations, our glasses were always full which is a huge plus!
We selected the chefs tasting menu, the portions were perfect for two, however the wait time between the courses were rather long.
We had the bbq spare ribs samosas- four pieces of flavorful rolls with tender shredded pork- the three side dipping sauces added a great level of heat. The heavenly drumsticks were a nice and spicy buffalo wing, crispy and dressed well.
The lamb lollipops were cooked to the perfect medium rare and I couldn't help myself but to munch in the bones! Next we got the mixed tandori grill which was a tasting of the lamb/chicken and shrimp. Very nicely presented and great flavor. The Osso Bucco pork- was very nice- it didn't fall off the bone, but it was tender enough not to use a knife- great flavor in this tangy sauce- not technically an Osso Bucco as it was lacking that delicious bone marrow. The dessert trio was yummy, although we were so full, we packed it up- the ice cream was very nice.
I highly recommend the mango lassi- I didn't see it on the menu but I knew hey had it! It was delicious!! It cooled down the heat factor for me when things were getting too spicy!
Other than the wait, the floors were a little slippy and I wasn't even wearing heels. A bit treacherous to get to the bathroom, but I survived.
All in all a great date night- the noise level was a bit louder, then I like but what can you do! I will be coming back! Was searching for a late night happy hour spot in philly last night because my boyfriend and I always miss the regular 5-7 ones. Their happy hour is available until close!!! But at the bar only...which was relatively small so I really liked the intimate vibe. But keep this in mind if you come at a busier time because you may not get a seat.
The service was amazing. I'm big on customer service. If the service is bad I subconsciously wont think my food tastes as good lol. The host was a very friendly gentleman (wish I had his name) who even walked me to the bathroom when I simply asked him to point me in the direction. The small gesture went a step beyond my expectations so I really appreciated it. The bartender was also very friendly, attentive and she kept a nice smile all night long!
There was another gentleman sitting at the bar who clearly worked there but must've finished his shift earlier in the evening. He had a great sense of humor and told us and some other guests that they have a spicy goat curry dish that is the best on the menu. I'll have to try it next time.
The food was DELICIOUS!!! We had the drums of heaven, lobster roll, and 2 shrimp tacos. My boyfriend said it was the best shrimp taco he ever had. With each bite, the flavors were all so interesting. Everything paired well with the house wine my bf and I had.
Definitely recommend this place. I can't wait to come back. I've heard great things about their brunch so I will be returning soon! The waiter told after we were seated that IndeBlue offers Indian food catered toward the American palate, meaning less spicy. However, my friend from India who came with me said it tasted fairly authentic. Overall, we had a great dining experience here.
Even at lunchtime, the restaurant quickly became packed, but we appreciated the spacing between tables and comfy ambience. My friend is vegetarian and they had plenty of options which was a plus. We got the fried cauliflower which was incredible. It was like eating crunchy French fries made out of cauliflower. I got the paneer which has a nice chew and slight kick to it from the tikka.
Our desserts also came with a bit of spice. My friend got the chai pudding and I got the saffron. We could barely taste the spice, but the desserts were still light and not overly sweet. Our experience was exceptional from start to finish. Nitesh walked us through each course of the tasting menu with warm enthusiasm and friendly professionalism. He truly turned the dinner into a journey with his personalized recommendations and clear explanations of unfamiliar dishes. Since we ate outdoors on a cold evening, he promptly brought a second heater to our table, and later reheated our food as the weather cooled it off. One or two other members of the wait staff asked if we needed anything as they walked by; it was clear the staff is committed to guest satisfaction. The food was excellent. I especially enjoyed the shrimp moilee and the lollipop lamb chops. Highly recommended. I was in the city, looking for a place to eat. My husband and I came across this while walking. This was the perfect way to end a Sunday night.
Our server informed us of this "chef's tasting," which immediately grabbed our interest. She was well-informed, and provided us with great service. She checked on us regularly. I got a wine tasting and my husband got the beer flight.
The food was incredible. It was so much food and we were so full, we took most of it home. Everything was fine, until it came to using the restroom. There was a distinct smell of pee. The floor behind the toilets looked sticky. There was a candle, which smelled like a cheap cover up, instead of dealing with the real problem.
Other than that, I would return happily every time I'm in Philadelphia. I absolutely love Indeblue. I discovered them during restaurant week and have been a frequent visitor since. The menu features a combination of traditional Indian dishes and also modern takes on classics. Every time I visit, I always order the crispy spinach chaat. This is a must for everyone that dines here. Can also vouch for the BBQ pork samosa roll, crispy cauliflower, drums of heaven, and chicken madras. I've always received great service and the atmosphere is very comfortable (tables are spaced out, not too noisy even when it's crowded). But the very best thing about Indeblue is that their happy hour is from 5 to closing (only at the bar). Great prices for great apps and drinks - big fan of the Ginger Jadoo. Food was great - on par with Veda, which I'm sure came after Indeblue. Snazzy modern Indian food with all the usual suspects you would expect. However, I didn't see biriyani on the menu, but that could be because it was so dark and I wasn't looking closely. The interior is nice, but like I said, it's dark; the only window is in the front of the restaurant. It does give it a cozy, romantic feel.
Our service was very strange. It took several long minutes for a server to come. One eventually did, but he tried upselling us so hard on the chef's tasting menu that it was very uncomfortable; he felt like a car salesman. He totally disappeared once we politely said we weren't interested and never returned. We were sitting there hungry and perplexed when the host came up to us to ask if a server came over to which we replied yes, but we haven't seen him since. The host sent over the other server who looked extremely annoyed she had to take our table. We asked a simple question about whether entrees came with rice because the menu is unclear, and she replied, "some of them do." This was so unbelievably unhelpful; it set the tone for the rest of the night. She was curt and dismissive the whole time.
I used to be a server so I understand that some nights are just off for whatever reason. I'll be back to eat some great modern Indian food and just hope for better service next time. Things happen! Fell in love with this modern Indian food restaurant - came in for lunch during restaurant week, but I will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: Casual, but the seats were well spaced, so it didn't feel overcrowded. The inside probably had seating for around 40-50. Definitely book ahead for restaurant week - we heard a few folks get turned away with 2-hour wait times. Friendly service
Food: My favorite was the crispy spinach chaat - sauces were so tasty, and the texture is perfect. This appetizer is like fried spinach, mixed with a semi-sweet sauce, tomatoes, onions, and cheese. The vindaloo egg skillet is a great brunch option, coming with eggs and semi-sweet pork. I also loved the sauces prepared in the chicken makhani. And the portion size was large, particularly with the amount of rice they give you. It's a great deal for restaurant week, but also a great lunch menu item! AND the desserts were incredibly tasty - both the rice pudding and chocolate souffle were very well prepared - the chocolate was not too rich - and a great way to close out the meal.
Overall: 5/5 - likely my new favorite Indian spot in the city. So happy I could try it during restaurant week! 3 course brunch menu!
Tips: reserve ahead of time, it's crowded
Order the mimosa by the bottle and try all the different mixers, mango wins!!
The chai is phenomenal, don't get the coffee!
We came in at 12:55, our order was taken at 1:30, appetizer came in fast after around 12:45, got our brunch at 2:15
Palak Chaat: 3/5: it was slightly on the oily side, and if it had mango & more onions in it - I'd be a fan.
Chicken Makhani: 3.5/5, it was a little bit more on the sweet side
Paneer Tikka: it was good! 4/5, I also ordered naan - recommend doing that, but the naan came 10 minutes after..so that was kinda unfortunate
Chocolate: 2/5, addition of another fruit would've made it amazing - it was quite sweet!
Overall, for a smaller menu, I expected a much smaller wait time - this part really put a bummer. The food isn't fantastic or anything exciting - so it wasn't the best experience. Fantastic dining experience! We happened to get same-day reservations through Open Table on a Saturday evening, but the restaurant was still pretty busy as we were leaving around 9 PM. My husband and I went with the tasting menu ($45 each) and although we ended up with more food than we would have otherwise ordered, we were able to try a variety of delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts. We had the seasonal watermelon salad - which was unlike anything I've had (in the best way), vegetable samosas, lamb tandoori (super tender, perfectly seasoned and cooked), the seafood paella (incredible! generous serving of mussels and shrimp) and the makhani -- pulled chicken with an amazing tomato based sauce. The desserts were really a surprising standout of our meal -- the pineapple fritter was good, but the fried bananas with salted caramel ice cream was one of the best desserts we've ever had! Overall, great food with incredible service, and we can't wait to come back. *Note: We ordered takeout on a cold night and had to reheat the food once we got home so the taste and experience was different that dining in.
On a cold, windy night in Philly, my roommate and I were looking to get some comfort food to warm us up and try out a new restaurant, which is how we stumbled upon IndeBlue! It was super easy to order online and pickup was also a breeze. The food did cool by the time we got home (~40 min) so we reheated everything in the oven.
Crispy Spinach Chaat: For my takeout buddies, the light brown sauce goes with the spinach!! I didn't realize this and thought the disk was "just okay" until I realized I had been missing the sauce the entire time. After I put in on, the dish got so much better, the sweetness of the sauce perfectly complemented the crunchiness of the spinach and shallots. People rave about this dish, and I understand why.
Drums of Heaven: This dish was solid. Do note that you don't get that many pieces total (I think around 4 or 5?). However, I think if I were to order again, I would skip on this dish and get something more unique.
Crispy Cauliflower: My personal favorite! You feel like you're eating popcorn chicken and the softness of the cauliflower pairs perfectly with the crunchiness of the shell and spicy dipping sauce.
Shrimp Moilee & Rice: Really enjoyed this dish, it was perfectly creamy and spiced and we had a couple good-sized pieces of shrimp. The rice was also nice and fragrant, I would just warn you not to make the mistake I did and ingest an entire chili and then have to chug a glass of milk.
Chicken Poutine: Okay I was very excited to eat this but it kinda fell flat for me. However, I think this was more of a result of our reheating process than the food itself, so if you are ordering in person, it will probably taste better. We weren't really able to get the cheese to melt on the fries right, the chicken felt a little dry, and the cheese curds felt kinda removed from the rest of the dish.
Across all the dishes, I feel like the spicy profile was just right. There was enough to give some flavor and a little kick, but not too much spiciness to make everything burn. Overall, we enjoyed the food we ordered from IndeBlue and we'll have plenty of leftovers to roll over to tomorrow! Unsure as of now but prepandemic they had happy hours ee or less all day at the bar. There are yummy vegan options and some tasty mango cocktails. Great ambiance and friendly staff as well. I went here with a friend for the second time on a weekend evening, and it was awesome once again! We had great service from the entire staff, particularly our server Parshv, who was very attentive and in great spirits. We had the spinach chaat, halloumi saag, and paneer tikka masala; all of which I cannot recommend enough. They were delicious! I look forward to going back again soon and enjoying all IndeBlue has to offer. Just left IndeBlue & it was wonderful. What made it wonderful was the service then the food. Our server Bennett was PHENOMENAL! He was bubbly, welcoming and his aura was just GOOD energy. Love his personality. I like that he gave history behind certain dishes. He listened to what you like then made suggestions with food and drinks. He also went beyond the normal and made my kids specialty virgin drinks. I call it the "Bennett" it was so good!!! So good I asked for their drinks with tequila in it lol. It was exceptional! The food was really good. Food was prepared in the perfect amount of spices. It needed NOTHING. we had a number of dishes. See pictures below. All in all I will be returning especially if Bennett is our server. I am in love with Philadelphia. Came to support The Barnes Collection and the city. A hotel after eight months of quarantine, hungry for some socially responsible, distanced dining.
Lucky for us, IndeBlue allowed us a switch from later in the evening to luncheon as thunderclaps and rain was heralded for later in the day.
We were greeted and cared for by an irrepressibly kind, and professional server, our "blessed" Bennett as we lovingly coined him. The love of one's fare and the obvious care of creating cuisine with such evident passion for excellence was indisputable.
Everything was beyond reproach and marvelous. The breezes picked up to make the al fresco dining beneath the black umbrella a most comfortable repast.
The food itself was quite good, spiced with nuance and subtlety, as all good Indian should be. Not a massacre of flavor, but subtle waltzes between differing spice dance partners.
We had a lovely time. Before long we befriended the other tables and we were all over the top about Bennett. Thank you Philadelphia. Thank you IndieBlue. Thank you Bennett! My girlfriend and I went over to IndeBlue for lunch the other day - we ordered from their "Express" menu (a GREAT deal - one app and one entree for $15). Our express lunch took over an hour, but everything was pretty darn good...that was until I bit into my chicken tikka wrap and crunched down on a bone. I couldn't get past that experience and sensation - I didn't finish my half of the wrap (my co-worker and I split everything we ordered). My co-worker said her half was fantastic and even took mine back with her (and later found another bone).
Bone biting aside, the rest of the meal was fantastic. We ordered the drums of heaven which were very meaty and had a great spice to them along with the crispy spinach chaat, a new favorite of mine, and this was one of the best I've had. I just wished I hadn't had to share (just kidding).
Our other entree (aside from the chicken tikka wrap) was malai kofta bukhara - a dish I have never tried before. I absolutely LOVED it and will definiteily be ordering it again.
I will definitely go back to IndeBlue, but I may stick with the vegetarian dishes! Bennett (our waiter) is amazing! However, the rest of the staff is also so accommodating and sweet. The food is incredible. Nothing negative to say whatsoever. Do yourself the favor & come eat here! We came for brunch & I highly recommend the cauliflower for an appetizer and the French toast is to die for. I'm visiting from out of town but will for sure come back in the future! Best chicken I've had recently. ALL the food's great, really. The servers were so friendly and gregarious even when it was the end of their day. Will definitely be coming back! Based on a great review from Sari A. Indie Blue in Philadelphia did not disappoint. Very classy Indian restaurant. Wonderful decor/atmosphere. Very clean and comfortable. All the staff work well together to service the customer. It's clear to see this restaurant is just doing it right.
I love Indian food! Indie Blue is now my new favorite place dine for this cuisine.
I decided to try the tasting menu which consisted of 4 courses. You are able to pick 1-2 choices for each course from the main menu. I'm very confident everything at this restaurant is great. My favorite was the lollipop lamb chops! Omg! They were perfectly balanced with amazing spices and a melt in your mouth texture. Soooo good!
I was also pleasantly surprised by the drink menu. Not too many Indian restaurants are known for good alcohol libations. They have amazing drinks with an Asian twist. Awesome!
Desert: with the tasting menu you get coconut ice cream, banana beignet and rice pudding. Delicious!
Words really cannot describe my start to finish experience.
I can't wait to go back to explore more of this great menu at this lovely restaurant.
Thank you Sari A! I come here at least 1-2x a year with my friend for the past 7 years. The food is always very consistently good, we're always left wondering "How did they make this?" The staff is always helpful. Bathrooms are always clean. (Parking is always hard to find.) Definitely a solid place for Indian food and would recommend to anyone. I came with 2 friends (young ladies). For them whole course is a way to much so we decided to take 2 courses and split them. But we were told that we must take 3 courses and no options. So we just had to leave hungry. Stupid rule, we were left hungry, they didn't earn money. Completely don't follow what was the point. Shane. That's the sentence! I encountered a warm greeting, high attention to detail, well informed suggestions and so much more. I truly enjoyed my dining experience and evening at IndeBlue. Awesome Sunday Brunch with mimosa. Strongly recommend for those that like Indian food but are looking for new and fusion alternatives. I rarely review places, so when I do, I truly mean it. My friends and I went here for restaurant week and everything was perfect. The waiters were attentive to our needs and knowledgeable and passionate about the menu. The food was delicious and the cocktails were refreshing. I don't have a bad thing to say. I highly recommend this restaurant. Ambiance was great. Food was amazing! The lamb chops were sooo gooood. The shrimp tacos were good too. The taco shell was made of naan bread instead of regular shell. The chicken pizza was decent. Little dry.
Will be back for drinks n food for sure!! One of the best tasting meals in the city. This was our second time dining at Indeblue and it continued to blow our expectations out of the water. The food and flavors are everything you hope they would be, and more! Bennet and the support staff are all lovely people that bring your dining experience to the next level. Thank you for another wonderful meal! :) Delicious mashup of American breakfast classics & traditional Indian favorites! Service was fantastic and the food was affordable & fun! I went during restaurant wk and it was really busy. I had a reservation but there was a little bit of a wait to be seated. The host looked very tied up with seating guests and helping with tables.
The place has pretty decor and has dim lighting. I ordered the complimentary soup, chicken tikka dip, chicken makhani, garlic naan, rice, and almond crumble.
The soup tasted like split pea soup with a little zingy and tangy taste to it.
Chicken tikka dip- It tastes veryyy similar to buffalo chicken dip and came with these "chips". I was kind've disappointed in that because I could've had buffalo chicken dip at home. The chips were very thin and hard to use for dipping because the chips would crack and break off. I ordered the naan to eat with it. The garlic naan was great- it had fresh garlic and seasoned well.
Chicken makhani- It had a sweet yet creamy and savory taste to it. Chicken was tender. It also came with rice that was made to be shared.
Almond crumble- It tasted like pumpkin spice ice cream with caramel syrup. This is my second visit in a year. A parting farewell this time with a group of 8 ppl.
1 visit review- awesome food and presentation
2 visit review - ok, not that great Gia & Vipul-thank you for making my 50th Birthday so perfect. Gia was super helpful in putting together a beautiful table & took care of every need of every guest. Vipul was spectacular & served us with utmost care & warmth, given we had so many different needs. I have never been served so well in my 50 years. Food was OUTSTANDING & the 1-2 things we weren't too crazy about were easily overshadowed by the hospitality of Gia & Vipul. Thank you Heather for working with me prior to the event & assigning them for my day. What is brunch without Mimosas? At one of Philadelphia's topped rated Indian restaurants @indeblue , you can buy mimosas by the glass or bottle, but why skimp. The mimosas by the bottle comes with three mixers of your choice. Today, we tried rose petal, orange lavender and mango. If you cannot settle on an entree, you can order a triffin (one vegetable samosa | choice of one entree | dal makhani | rice | choice of roti or naan | chutneys | dessert). The Vindaloo triffin was tender and not too spicy. It was easy to enjoy. We came with our appetite, so we also tried all three courses. For beginnings, we had the crab corn tikki and the drums of heaven. Unlike your traditional hot wings, the drums of heaven were braised in Indian spices and paired with a tomato chutney dipping sauce, which worked perfectly together. Who would have thought! The crab corn tikki came out looking vibrant and pretty. Almost too pretty to eat, but those petite crab corn tikki was packed with flavor and crab. For course two, the tandoori, we opted for the tender lollipop lamb chops. Lastly, the Vindaloo Egg Skillet, the savory brunch entree, was executed to perfection. At Indeblue, they do not skimp on spices or service. This upscale Indian restaurant offers the option to eat in their main dining room or outside. Today was the perfect day to eat outside. The next time that you are in Philadelphia keep Indeblue in mind. They will embrace you and satisfy your palate. If you want a knowledgeable, fun and attentive server, ask for Parsh! One of the best Indian restaurants around. My fiancé and I are in the industry and we could not have been more taken care of. Our server Lori was an absolute pleasure, and that's probably a understatement. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and described each dish flawlessly. She was also very helpful in letting us know what could save and be just as delicious tomorrow and what should definitely be eaten right then and there. We decided to do the chefs tasting which by far is the way to go. We got a little taste of India in a matter of a meal which was amazing! Portions started small, as expected with a chefs tasting, but the main entrees were a fairly decent size and we are going home with a bunch of leftovers! The FOH manager touched our table twice which was very
Much appreciated. You don't see that much anymore and it really shows that the restaurant cares about their guests. Would highly recommend this restaurant and we will definitely be returning! Note: this review is for takeout, so I can't comment on the vibe/experience here. BUTTT as for the food: we loved it! We got paneer tikka masala and gobi manchurian.
General notes:
- the paneer tikka masala wasn't too oily. This is maybe one of my biggest pet peeve's with most Indian restaurants. They usually have SO much oil that you feel heavy and awful afterwards. Not the case here -- the food tasted fresh and light. The only comment I would make about this dish, was that a few of the paneer were overcooked and a bit rubbery. But most pieces were great!
- wasn't a huge fan of the gobi manchurian -- my SO is Indian so I've had some pretty great versions over the years. Theirs was a little too oily/heavy and the sauce was a bit off.
- I get some GERD from time to time and even though I love spice, I don't always want my food super spicy. They were super accommodating and made sure everything was mild.
I look forward to going to the restaurant in person and getting a feel for the whole experience! I had dinner here last night with my wife and daughter, everything was great. We ordered the crispy spinach chaat, crispy cauliflower, butter chicken , cheese naan, pork spring rolls, and the shrimp moilee. Everything came out in a timely manner and was full of flavor. I also tried the Raja cocktail which was great. The staff was very kind and helpful, especially our server Parshv who was very knowledgeable and very kind to my 3 year old daughter. Very enjoyable meal!!! I'd been to IndeBlue for Center City Sips before, and thought it to be charming, with some great appetizers and a good, strong cocktail. But our dinner experience here the other night did much to prove that IndeBlue is a fantastic choice for a full meal.
We arrived on time for our 7pm reservation and our table was ready and waiting. It seems like every table at IndeBlue is intimate, with it's soft lighting and candles. We were poured water immediately, and the server was silent, so as not to disrupt the lively conversation that had begun as soon as we sat down. I interrupted his work to ask if he'd be our waiter tonight, and he responded with a coy "If you'd like me to be!" That was the beginning of our brief love affair with IndeBlue server Bennett, who wore a sharp dress shirt and bow tie and was so passionate about the "salad of the moment" and crispy spinach chaat, that we ordered both.
In addition to the chaat (which was truly incredible - light, crispy leaves of fried spinach, sprinkled with cheese, small crisps and diced onions and drizzled with yogurt sauce), we started with the crispy cauliflower. It was sweet and subtly spicy and packed a lot of flavor in each floret. I ordered the tandoori mixed grill as my entree, and was overwhelmed when it came out on a large wooden platter that was - most literally - a slice of a log. When I got to eating, it was clear that the meal was not actually overwhelming, since it consisted of a mix of roasted and raw veggies and plenty of protein, plus a sweet wine sauce to drizzle on or dip the bites of lamb, shrimp, chicken or zucchini. For dessert, we were surprised with a trio of small bites - a fruit sorbet, a fried dough ball covered in cardamon sauce and a tiny teacup of pistachio pudding.
Everything was magnificent, and while I did not leave feeling overstuffed or food coma-induced, I was not hungry and felt satisfied.
As I mentioned, we adored our server, and think we were actually checked on by the manager or owner as well. We felt taken care of, special and never had an empty water glass.
We will definitely return, and encourage you to visit - even though these blocks of 13th Street are lousy with dozens of great restaurants, IndeBlue is one not to be missed. Awesome, amazing, delicious Indian food, and I'm not just saying that because I'm hard pressed to find knock-my-socks off Indian food in the suburbs of South Jersey. Although that may be the case, I've had great Indian food in Seattle and Vegas (former homes of mine), and this place still makes it up there in my top 3. I tried the vegetarian thalis, and it was perfect. The chai sangria was a welcome treat on a hot, muggy afternoon in the city. I would definitely make the trek into the city just to eat here again.
That being said, there is apparently an Indeblue in Collingswood, closer to my neck of the woods than the one in the city. My experience with SJ suburban outposts of original restaurants is that they never quite come up to par with their counterparts in the city. Does anyone know if this is the case with the Indeblue in Collingswood? Dinner September 5, 2020!
We have been thinking of going to Indeblue for some time and we are so glad we did!
The service was impressive and our server courteous, friendly and knowledgeable!
One of the best Indian restaurants I have eaten in the US. We had the fixed menu where we picked items out of the four courses and we were very pleased with the selection and the portion sizes.
The spinach chat is to die for! The shrimp molee was amazing and the lamb chops delectable.
The one item that disappointing was the Drums of Heaven whose sauce tasted like marinara rather than doing wing!
We will definitely go back soon and highly recommend this place to anyone! I recently visited again after a few years and was not disappointed. I had the brunch platter that includes several dishes and lamb vindaloo entree a couple of appetizers. Let me start by saying that the crispy spinach is ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL! Hands down my favorite dish there. We also ordered a bottle of champagne with several mixers that were delectable. The mango and rose lychee were my favorites. I ate indoors at reduced capacity and felt comfortable doing so. They also have sheltered heated outdoor seating available. Came to Philly for a quick trip and this place did NOT disappoint!! Everything was so delicious and our waiter, Parshv, was great! Would definitely recommend :) One of my favorite happy hour restaurant in the city. It never disappoints, amazing food, drinks and service. I love just sitting by the bar area and ordering from their happy hour menu. The prices are right and you don't feel cheated with the portions. Here's what I ordered this time:
Crispy Cauliflower, Drums of Heaven, Tikki Naan Pizza with chicken, and Shrimp Taco. Everything was to die for. Wen't for brunch and shared 4 of their small plate appetizers with my partner. The food and the ambiance were both amazing. The live siddhar is such a nice touch. I'd definitely recommend this place and hope to go back next time I'm in town. Dinner was so delicious and the service was so fantastic, I had to log in to Yelp for old time sake and write a review. Everything from start to finish was delicious. Chicken makhani poutine is a must have appetizer. It was so good, I forgot to save the original picture from Instagram.
The main course was so good, flavorful, and delicious. Our waiter, Bennett was such a pleasant delight. He was so ecstatic to make us proper cocktails. The hot sauce he gave us was good but fair warning, very spicy yet manageable. A few dabs of the hot sauce opens up the already delicious chicken biryani and chicken makhani.
QUICK SUMMARY: DELICIOUS, ABOVE AND BEYOND SERVICE, PROPER COCKTAILS, AND WILL GO BACK SOON! A long overdue review, but I freaking love this place. The hospitality is top notch, and Bennett is a sweetie. My family usually loves to knock back a couple cocktail and few plates of spinach chaat during HH. Really can't go wrong with what you order here-hope to go back for brunch or dinner sometime! Amazing service and food. Lasooni naan is awesome. Malai kofta is tasty. Drinks old fashion and om shanti om is great. Palak chaat is superb So good. Can't wait to go back! Loved their Brussel sprouts and cauliflower! Great service too. Stopped in for the restaurant week special and I really enjoyed it! It was 12 p.m. so it was fairly empty (what a blessing) and our waiter/waitress (there were a couple people checking on us) was attentive and so friendly. We had a few questions because some of our party wasn't too fond of spicy, but they were very nice about it and bought out some sour cream when one person said it was a bit much.
The food was tasty: the shrimp koliwada soft taco was so good and I wish I had more, the drums of heaven looked great, the chicken madras was good and the housemade toasted coconut rum ice cream was the perfect finish!
The atmosphere is dark chic - if that makes sense. It's cute and sultry. I will be back! I wanted to like IndeBlue's happy hour but it honestly just wasn't that impressive. I think the only thing that I enjoyed was the spinach chaat (which was REALLY good!! could eat a whole plate of that!) Drums of Heaven were ehhhh and the tikka naan pizza just tasted like regular pizza. Portions were tiiiiinyyyyyy TINY, but that's fine, I guess, since it's happy hour. On our most recent visit to Philadelphia we found this gem. Lori was the amazing hostess. We had kids with us so she made sure the food arrived promptly and her suggestions were just perfect. All the dishes we ordered were amazing. This is the best meal I've ever had in my life!! We arrived for an early reservation to take advantage of the happy hour drink specials, and split the taster menu between 3 with enough for leftovers for tomorrow to take home. Truly exceptional salad, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, chicken, spinach and cheese naan, honestly everything. The cocktails were exquisite as well. I have a new favorite restaurant and will certainly be back. Truly an amazing experience. We came for a birthday dinner and although there was a delay for our reservation, the staff were very kind and did their best. The food was amazing, I've never had such interesting dishes before. The crispy spinach chaat was my favorite. We did the tasting menu and it's so worth it, because the amount of food and quality exceeds the price. There was a man with short brown hair who was attentive and explained our dishes to us, and we appreciated it because we weren't familiar with a lot of the dishes. Thank you for the wonderful meal, we have such a great time! The spicy chicken and waffles were a hit. I found the balance of flavors meshed well and the chicken wasn't dry. The spicy blended sauce was light yet flavorful. Our sever was efficient, engaging and pleasant. I really loved the rose mimosa. The brunch menu is vast considering the restaurant expertise is Indian Cuisine. My dining partner built their own omelette of which they loved.
I found the decor spectacular! Beautiful earth tones and the many intricate pieces of art were absolutely stunning. The restaurant remained spotless the 1 1/2 hours I was there. This restaurant has a staff constantly moving and keeping things in order.
I will definitely give Indeblue another try during the week. Everything you've heard is percent accurate, the food is amazing. It is not the traditional Indian food you might expect though westernized the flavors are not lacking. The decor, service, crowd, and menu options are all unique and makes for a wonderful experience. We had a thali and it's more than enough to give you a nice sampling of some of their offerings. The food is fresh, super flavorful with a nice hint of spice. The presentation of the thali is different from traditional,served in a cute rectangular wood tray. I had the chicken tikka masala, it was a little sweet but I didn't mind it at all because the chicken was fresh, clean tasting not gritty or dry. The sauce was rich and consistency great. I also had the shrimp mint curry, I think this is my favorite. I never had this curry before and I've ate enough curry for 3 lifetimes, boy was I missing out. Naan, red beans, papad, samosa and desert all delicious. I cleaned my plate and everything in the world is great! One of the better Indian restaurants in the city, plus they serve brunch. Indian food and and brunch food? Combined? I'm in. It is a fairly large restaurant, but they pack folks in there. My wife and I visited before the shut-down and had a good time. Our server was extremely pleasant and ensured that we had a nice experience.
We were feeling hungry so we got a bunch of different things: Chicken Tikka Pizza, Samosa Chaat, Spinach Chaat, Chicken and Waffles, Build your own Thali, and Mango Chutney
Starters: Chicken Tikka Pizza, Samosa Chaat and Spinach Chaat. The pizza is flatbread style with cheese, onions, and chicken, this was pretty good, not exceptional. Now the spinach Chaat was a winner, the waitress mentioned it was popular so we gave it a try. It was a tad oily, but the flavor was there. The samosa Chaat was done well.
Entrees: Chicken and Waffles and Thali. The chicken and waffles had a bit of Indian flare and was a solid dish, the chicken was a bit dry, but nothing some extra syrup didn't help remedy. The Thali was a great deal, we got the chicken makhani, Naan, Dal, chutneys, samosa, and Kheer. It was a good portion, and we were of course stuffed at this point. I did manage to finish the Kheer and it was delicious.
Overall
Chicken Tikka Pizza 3/5
Samosa Chaat 4/5
Spinach Chaat 4/5
Chicken and Waffles 3/5
Chicken Makhani 4/5
Dal 4/5
Naan 4/5
Chutneys 4/5
Kheer 4/5 Being an Indian, I have always been skeptical of Indian fusion cuisine (and I never hand out 5 stars). However, let me tell you, this place blew me and my 7 other friends out of the water! They get 5 stars for taste, ambiance, and service. We were in Philly for a joint bachelor/bachelorette party and this place was our wrap-up brunch spot on Sunday. They had live sitar and tabla and the vibe was on fleek. From the very beginning, they were so accommodating to our large group (we did make reservations ahead of time). Their appetizers sounded odd but it was supposed to be "fusion" so we just went with it. The first bite we took of our paneer toast, we were all wide-eyed with our jaws dropped. Nobody expected that medley of flavors - what a pleasant surprise! The rest of the meal just kept getting better! We ended up staying there for 2 hours b/c we just didn't want to leave. I highly recommend this place to anyone in Philly or even just driving through! Friends and I entered into IndeBlue on New Year's Day at noon after being told that our previous brunch spot had over an hour's wait time. We were seated immediately, and I'm still baffled as to how this place wasn't more busy given the time and day we went.
My expectations were low. I wouldn't consider Indian cuisine my first choice for brunch. But let me tell you - I could not decide what to order. There were not an overwhelming amount of menu options, but all of them sounded DELICIOUS. I ordered the vindaloo skillet; eggs sunny side up, pork sausage, grilled challah, cheese, and potatoes all swirled together to create a magical culinary experience; aka, my tummy was so happy. I topped it off with two rose mimosas for $6 a pop. Amazing. ($20 for bottomless mimosas - would have definitely indulged if I didn't have to drive!)
Relaxing live music, trendy and clean, delicious food for an excellent value, and the nicest staff - I don't have a bad thing to say about this place. Came here for the lunch special menu a little while back. I didn't know what to expect because the place looks tiny from the outside, but surprisingly a pretty nice size and BEAUTIFUL on the inside. I love the dim-like mood and all the cultured decor.
The tables are small, but plenty of elbow room. I ordered the super yummy and crispy spinach chaat with the baby spinach, shallots, chopped tomatoes, sweet yogurt, and tamarind date chutney.
So simple yet so darn good! The texture on the spinach is perfectly crisp. The other food like the chicken naan pizza and the samosas were good, but not as memorable as the crispy spinach. I'd come back over and over just for that and I sure will be soon as possible!
#knockonwood I'm a big fan of IndeBlue's Collingswood location, but hadn't been to their Philly spot yet. So when I needed a spot in the city to meet up with fellow tikki masala loving friends, we all jumped at the chance to try this out, finally.
On a Friday night, the place was crowded but not completely packed. Having only ever walked by the outside, I was surprised how big the restaurant was - it reaches really far back, and I was happy to be seated way back near the kitchen (far away from the door and the cold air coming through).
The ambience was nice, and our waiter was, at first, extremely attentive. We weren't ordering drinks or several course meals, so he sort of disappeared when he realized we were going to be a cheap table. Still, the food was delicious - the paneer tikki masala was delicious, as was the fresh, hot naan I ordered on the side. Was disappointed by the small portion (was hoping for next-day leftovers!) but the quality was hard to beat.
Definitely not an everyday/take-out sort of spot, but perfect for a night out. The happy hour deals look awesome, so I think I'll be back for that! My favorite place EVER. Great service. Great food. Can't complain. They even made me chicken tikka masala even though it's not technically on the menu. I definitely suggest the crispy spinach chaat. It's DELICIOUS! Disappointing delivery experience and bland food.
We ordered two "lunch Tiffin", that were supposed to include naan bread, chutneys and desserts, but those items were not sent with the order. Though a small refund was issued, after calling to complain, it didn't help much, as we wanted the food itself.
As for the food (we added $2 for chicken and $4 for the shrimp dish to the original price of $15 for each) - it was very bland, which is the last thing we expected from Indian dishes. Also, the shrimp dish had only 4(!) shrimps in it, which was quite pathetic, and the rice was very dry. I had an extremely sad experience due to the behaviours of the staff. The team wasn't paying attention to the customers , were busy with their own talks and careless. The place was empty, was seated at the bar also was told to try couple of drinks which I didn't like so I politely refused. Later they told me so casually that my computer has an issue so it don't take ur order to kitchen . The male guy told the waitress in front of me to ask me n offer me some drink n "Just asked her whatever she wants" then waitress comes to me says casually i forgot to ring in ur order can we give u some drink. I told them i don't want any drink and then the male guy told me rudely that she is being "courteous" Really ? and then he was extremely rude and called me some unnecessary and not required lines suggesting that it's my fault instead. I had to walk out of the restaurant. This is not expected at an INDIAN restaurant especially because I was there just to grab an indian meal on my birthday. I had a very nice Mother's Day brunch at Indeblue today. Thanks for the mimosa. We really enjoyed the chicken & waffles, the poutine, and the pineapple dessert. Our waiter Justin was nice and made good suggestions. Everyone there wished us a happy mother's day and coming here today definitely helped make it special Dark, trendy, and modern place for elevated Indian food. Very good ambience and very good food to match. I think this is a great place for an intimate dinner date. I had the makhani and roti, both were excellent. And the indebluetini was excellent as well. I got chai to end my meal, and it was okay. Excellent tasting dinner last night. So many wonderful dishes:
Beet salad with greens
Samosas (very good)
Potato cakes (like mini puck-shaped hash browns)
Crispy kale greens (a favorite)
Potato and cauliflower stew
Pork spring rolls (bit dry)
Lamb stew (good)
Chicken (good)
Shrimp (good)
Brussels sprouts (outstanding)
3 desserts: a milky rice pudding with pistachio crumbles; an Indian "donut" poached in sweet syrup, and a little chocolate mousse/gelato with blackberry ans whipped cream)
Drinks were good too: ginger cocktail, nice selection of wines and whiskies
Service was very attentive and friendly Came here for a delicious birthday brunch on a Sunday morning with a few friends. They took reservations which was nice especially after passing a few long lines at places around the city.
Food was interesting fusion of American and Indian. Portion sizes are huge as well- the spicy chicken and waffles were great- the sauce on them is delicious and compliments the food well. It's a little dry until you add the syrup and then it's perfect. Stuffed French toast with mango compote was also great, since I've never had mango as a flavor in my French toast before and I'm a huge fan- the bread was soft and fluffy too!
They also had menu items like paneer Bhurji and chole bature. Drinks had Indian themes to them as well with flavors like lychee, mango and cardamom. Really nice to see a modern indian brunch in an upscale setting! I have been here a few times and it is absolutely delicious everytime.
Must have is the Crispy Spinach Chaat. These are airy, crispy and flavorful. These remind me of the bae chips from back in the day. But so much better.
Lamb lollies pops are thin cut perfection. The flavors are unique and so good. I am not a fan of lamb but will only eat lamb here. They have the flavor done perfectly.
Naan, I have had the plain and garlic. Personally, I prefer the plain baked naan. It comes with a kiss of dark sesame. Best naan. The garlic naan is good also but slightly greasy to the touch.
Staff is super friendly and efficient. Drinks are strong and unique.
Parking here is crazy. Street parking is hard to find and the parking lot is kind of expensive. $25 for anything more then 1 hour. But for this restaurant the fee to park is well worth it.
P.S. I have had alot of other dishes here over time and ever dish is uniquely different and flavorful. I love almost all of the dishes. My inner fat girl mind wants to order everything on the menu. Lol Although somewhat lacking ambience, IndeBlue's restaurant week menu was intriguing and the food was quality. We enjoyed our main dishes, which had rich flavor and spice to them. The dessert was tasty yet we felt could've been more authentic. For the starters, we agreed that the poutine portion was excessive and felt slightly misplaced with the other menu items. Altogether, the staff was friendly and we had an enjoyable experience here. Food tastes decent but it has become too expensive for the quantity lately. The grilled paneer is just 3 pieces of paneer for $14. There isn't much consistency of portion sizes either. One of our naan pizza was a decent size but the other one was very tiny and 2/3rd the size of the other one. In one instance of takeout, it was clear that someone had put the naan pizza upside down first in the box and then flipped it around instead of putting a new one. There was a big mess of cheese sticking on both sides, was difficult to take it out of the box and looked very unappetizing. Great place for Happy hour specials. Only had drinks and ate a few snacks at the bar but was very happy with it. Went with a group of 7 and ordered a few items to try. We shared the spinach chaat & cauliflower app which were both very good. We also had the naan pizza which was very good.
The stuffed long hot pepper was a bit miss leading because on the menu it stated "peppers" so we assumed it to be a shareable item. It was also a bit on the greasier side. So I wouldn't recommend it.
The drinks were very good! The bar tender was pretty quick & very friendly considering all 7 of us ordered different drinks off the menu. The Mumbai Mirch was very spicy & raja was a great refreshing choice. They also had specials on select beers.
Overall a great experience. Love Indeblue!!
The brunch is so good! The happy hour is one of the best in the city! Drinks are delicious with a unique twist to Indian flavors and spices.
Crispy spinach chaat is the bestttttt dish ever created!!! One of the best spots in Philly for Indian food. From the friendly and attentive staff to the delicious tasting Indian food, you won't be disappointed you came here.
Top dishes (in my opinion):
Spinach Chatt (idk how but they made spinach taste like heaven)
Chicken and waffles (has a good spicy and sweet kick)
Also the cocktails here are phenomenal Indeblue has a great menu and great cocktails especially for happy hour, but I would stay away from the 'drums of heaven' chicken wing dish. We were given raw chicken which we found out after biting into it . The staff is very kind and resolved the issue. We went to IndieBlue last night for dinner for a girl's night out. The food was fantastic. We love the spinach chaat, cauliflower appetizer, and the samosas. My paneer entree was fantastic. I definitely recommend the bluetIni drink! The dessert was great. My favorite was the salted caramel ice cream and banana nirvana. I decided to visit Indeblue a second time at the invitation of the owner after a poor experience from the past. To start, my table ordered a naan basket and samosa chaat (the chickpeas and yogurt tamarind chutney inside were both delightful and very addicting). Since it was brunch, I decided to give the spicy chicken n' waffle a try. Although the flavors/spices on the chicken were excellent, it was overcooked and had little moisture. The waffles tasted amazing, but were kind of ruined since they were doused in what tasted like a buttery honey mustard. It was so overly rich I only ate a fourth of it before losing my appetite. My date had the masala dosa, which was excellent!
Overall, the service was on point; our server was extremely attentive and very personable throughout our stay. However, for my date's leftovers, her chutney/sambar was nowhere to be found despite clearly confirming with our server that it would be packed with the dosa. It's something small, but I had a similar experience during my first visit at Indeblue where the food I had paid for and asked to be boxed was thrown out. This time around we made sure we put extra emphasis so this wouldn't happen, but I guess it did not help. It was unfortunate that the same thing happened twice in a row, and I know the owner truly does care about customer service, but overall, Indeblue missed the mark. I love love love this place. Each time I go I get a different item and they excel at each. Brunch with the besties so I'm going for the pancakes. Oh my my delicious, I'm in heaven. Bacon cooked perfectly. And the server LORI she's amazing. She knows what you want before you do and so kind and patient cause we had a LOT of catching up to do and ran a little over into the turnover service. I come for the food, drinks (try the jalapeño tequila drink Mumbai(?)) and service. Right in the gayborhood and not one to be missed. And if you like mimosas... they got you covered with some great juice combos-- I however go for the liquor. Yum yum always going to get me some! I'll try to remember to take pics next time I'm always diving right in! You should too Amazing food! We loved our server, Parshv, and our meal! Don't forget to try the housemade chai and shrimp moilee! This place completely ruined our dinner, and there's no way I'd recommend it to anyone.
We planned to be in Philly for my birthday, so after doing some research I decided to make reservations at IndeBlue to celebrate. When we walked in, there was no one inside to instruct us where to sit. After waiting a few minutes, we were met with the coldest "Can I help you?" from the hostess. We were led to our table, which was awkwardly positioned in the middle of the main dining room indoors. They do get credit for spacing out tables during the pandemic, we just happened to get what seemed to be the worst table in the restaurant.
20 minutes went by from the moment we sat down to the moment our waiter came over. When he did, we asked if there was outdoor seating, and he said he was going to go check. Right after, I saw him walk to the bar of the restaurant and make drinks for 15 mins, before coming back and saying there weren't tables outside. By that time, it had been over 30 mins of us sitting around, without even having the water we had asked for earlier.
While all of this is happening, random staff were walking around (nose completely uncovered) giving out an insanely small cup of soup, part of the dining experience on the weekends. No description of what it was - they just placed it on our table.
Important to note that on the weekends you can only dine with a fixed menu for $35/per person.
45 mins into dinner and we still didn't have the bottle of wine we ordered. When our waiter brought it, it turned out to be the wrong bottle in terms of the year. No big deal, it was still good. But by that time the dinner had almost been ruined. With the loud atmosphere and one of the worst services I've ever received (or services I never received, should I say) I was regretting my reservation at IndeBlue.
Onto the food... The entrees and appetizers were good, although the dessert was bland and the soup tasted like canned soup. The chicken poutine was delicious and the lamb entree was really good, too. Unfortunately they weren't good enough to fix the rest of the night. By the end, they had even brought out the wrong desserts.
I communicated these issues to the manager earlier into the night, who said he'd make sure we were taken care of, whatever that meant. Although he was really nice and charismatic, service didn't become drastically better after our conversation with him. I think one of the the issues at hand is that they are extremely understaffed during the weekends.
If you're looking for an intimate, nice dinner, this is not the place. We were here on a weekend for lunch. The place was not too crowded. We tried the spinach chat, drums of heaven and the non veg thali. The spinach chat had a unique taste and I really liked it. The drums of heaven was not good. The thali was ok. The service was really good. Our server was friendly and took good care of us. I would give this place a 3.5 star if I could.
Overall,
Spinach Chat - 5/5
Drums of heaven - 2/5
Thali - 3.5/5
Service - 5/5 The crispy spinach chaat will change your life. The tikka naan pizza may bring a tear to your eye but then you'll see the happy hour special and realize that everything will be alright with the world. Am I exaggerating? Maybe but I don't think so. I'll be back... for sure. Beautiful bar. Great service. Fantastic for any night out... theatre, concert or whatever. Must go. Tried for restaurant week. It was good services were nice and staff was phenomenal. I got paneer and poutine fries. As well as a Chai sangria. The Chai sangria wasn't worth it and the fries didn't have enough cheese curds. The paneer was okay. But I have had better Indian. However the location isn't bad right next to the patco I went to indieblue a few years ago for happy hour, and found it pretty lack luster at the time. But our last few visits were great. The food was creative and tasty (just stay way from the chicken and waffles, or you'll be really disappointed), that every time I come back I like to branch out on the menu to be surprised.
The drinks were really good, and the service was phenomenal. The staff all around was extremely friendly and welcoming, gave samples of new drinks they were trying out, made accommodations for our toddlers without being asked, and we really enjoyed our time there.
So it's made a spot on the few restaurants we place on rotation for our nights out, I came to IndeBlue with a party of 6 (that became 7) and they were incredibly accommodating. The food was outstanding (my favorite was the Butter Chicken Poutine Fries), the service was excellent (in particular Bennett and Anthony), and the overall experience was so enjoyable thanks to the accommodating staff. I definitely recommend this restaurant for a special occasion! Let me preface this by saying that I am not an expert on Indian cuisine (of any region), and I am not a big fan of spicy food. I have also been spoiled by fantastic Indian cuisine in the U.K., and I have not found the same quality in Philly. I was not sure what to expect coming here for dinner for the first time, but I was excited due to the rave reviews. My friend (who is a huge fan of Indian food) and we stopped here for a meal before a movie at the Philadelphia Film Festival. The restaurant is intimate and beautiful, and service is very friendly and attentive. We received great recommendations from our server, and we were well taken care of throughout the night.
As for the meal:
We started with a Samosa chaat to share as an appetizer. My friend ordered the Paneer Tikka Masala with a side of butter Naan, and I ordered a Chicken Makhani with garlic naan. The samosas were perfectly crisp with ample vegetable filling, and the savory samosas paired well with the tart sweetness in the tamarind sauce from the chick peas. However, I am more used to the traditional rustic-style and deconstructed Samosa chaat. As for our dishes, we sampled each other's entrees, and the sauce for the Tikka Masala and the Makhani were extremely similar. As a person who is not a fan of spicy food, I was actually missing the spice in these dishes. The sauces were reminiscent of a tomato bisque, which isn't a bad thing, but we were missing those beautiful aromas of cumin, chili powder and turmeric that make these dishes so beautiful. I understand that Tikka Masala and Makhani are more of the "gateway" dishes to traditional Indian cuisine, but the flavors were just not there. On the up side, the chicken and the paneer were tender and flavorful, and the naan was warm, crisp and chewy. For dessert, we split a Banana Nirvana, which consisted of three banana gulab jamun topped with a salted caramel ice cream. The banana gulab jamun were warm, doughy, and not too sweet, but the salted caramel ice cream was too sugary for my liking.
Overall, I would definitely categorize this restaurant as more "Indian fusion" that would cater to a palate that perhaps isn't used to bold flavors, or a palate that would need to be slowly introduced to Indian food. Otherwise, I would go somewhere else for a more authentic experience. stopped at IndeBlue last night for dinner with three friends and we honestly did not understand what the hype was about. Personally, I was super disappointed with everything I had.
I started off with a indebluetini ($12) which tasted like mango lassi with alcohol. For appetizer, we had the vegetable samosa chaat which were delicious. You can never go wrong with samosas! Now for the meal, we ordered 4 orders of naan, two curries; chicken tikka masala and madras. Both lacked flavor and tasted nothing like it should. Super boring..there wasn't anything about it that wowed us. For the naan, each person had 1 full naan which did make sense if it cost $3... that's extremely pricey for plain bread. Now each dish typically comes with a side of rice. For the two curries we had, we got 1 rice to share between 4 people. I honestly don't understand logic. I personally didn't like IndeBlue, the foods overpriced and bland so for that reason I'm giving it 2 stars. After a long day taking in the sights of Philly, we decided that ordering takeout was the way to go. Indian is a favorite of ours, so we decided to give IndeBlue a try.
Reader, WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED.
We ordered a preposterous amount of food, and I can tell you that there is literally nothing left (and this isn't just because we are eating our Penn State football feelings).
There was a naan tikka masala pizza--AMAZING.
Mango-pork spring rolls--ALSO AMAZING.
Crab tikki--See above.
Everything arrived, piping hot and perfect, at the hotel, and we retreated to our room to scarf it all up. Every single bite was better than the one before it. And if they were open for table seating right now, we'd already be on our way over there for drinks.
We are HUGE fans of Indian food and get it when and wherever we can. This is some of the best I've had in as long as I can remember. During covid I would not have expected such great and accommodating indoor dining experience. By far our server Laurie was the most welcoming person and essentially made our brunch so memorable. She recommended the best appetizers and entrees which exceeded our expectations. Each item was beyond delicious and did not disappoint. We can't wait to come back and would recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for a fun ambiance and welcoming brunch. Top 5 restaurants in the city. If you like Indian food this is a must check out. We had 6 of us for dinner and tried their tasting menu. We got SO much food and it was all delicious. The pacing of the courses was great, the cocktails were amazing and the wait staff was super friendly and attentive. Definitely recommend the spinach chaat, tikka masala and the laal mass. Plus we had almost 7 BOXES of leftovers so perfect so meals over the next few days....worth the money! Great weekend lunch with family and was able to make a reservation a day or 2 ahead of time online even for a larger group of 9. Food wise the appetizers were fantastic like the kale chaat and cauliflower, and the shrimp Thali and chicken + waffles were favorites at the table. The chicken roll was just ok but the French fries were the perfect side. Skip the paneer tikka also but get the mimosa bar for the table and delicious desserts! Restaurant week couldn't have started any better. I've heard great things about IndeBlue, and I was blown away by my entire 4-course meal, which included demitasse soup (with a tasty nutty cheese curd), veggie samosa chaat, chicken makhani, and house made toasted coconut rum ice cream. Everything tasted so carefully made, was presented beautifully, and bursted with flavor, and had the perfect level of spice. Notably, the milky sweet ice cream was flawlessly paired with a roasted ring of tart pineapple.
As for ambience, soft lighting, moderate noise, on the finer side of casual dining. Service here is exceptional--although my friends and I sort of freaked out after spotting out a bug crawling towards us on the wall, the restaurant owner profusely apologized and took off half our check (now highly considering bringing roaches of my own into restaurants). Jokes aside, the staff was super friendly the moment I walked in the door and I was impressed by everything. Will be coming back soon. IndeBlue in Collingswood was my gateway restaurant into the world of Indian food. I'll never forget the first time I called for an order. I spoke with Heather, who owns the restaurant along with her husband, Chef Rakesh Ramola, and she could not have been nicer or more helpful with answering my many - MANY - questions about the menu. On that day I ordered chicken vindaloo and from that day forward, I was hooked.
I enjoyed a nice long love affair with IndeBlue during my Collingswood days. But then I moved to Philly, and I have not found Indian that comes close to the deliciousness of IndeBlue. Until now, with IndeBlue's second location on 13th Street. Happy day! I'm just sorry it took me so long to get there. It won't be long before a return visit.
We started with the spinach chaat, crispy spinach leaves topped with diced tomatoes, shallots and yogurt sauce. Super unique and very tasty. We also had the long hots stuffed with paneer. Entrees consisted of the chicken tikka masala, chicken korma and chicken biryani. All three were excellent. It was obvious how much I missed this food by the way I cleaned my entire plate (with the help of some fantastic garlic naan for swiping up the last of the sauce). I washed everything down with two lychee martinis which were made exactly to my liking (slightly sweet but not too sweet).
I was too stuffed for dessert but changed my mind when we were generously treated to a sampling. There was a fantastic dessert with sticky fried doughnuts and cinnamon ice cream, plus some flavorful sorbets, but my favorite was the mango panna cotta with honey and crushed pistachios. Tons of flavor but still light.
The pretty decor makes this the perfect spot for a date or a night out with friends. I look forward to my next visit! Wow!!! Absolutely incredible. First, we have been doing a one-night-a-week support local business initiative during The Covid-19 crisis and to make it more fun we're doing a new cuisine every week. This was our first time trying Indeblue and it was fabulous. I am greek and eat lamb all the time and this lamb was some of the best I've ever had-- so tender!! Our shrimp in a coconut sauce was fantastic and our roti and Kashmiri were delightful. The rices were both perfectly seasoned and well-balanced. They gave us complimentary rice pudding which was a pleasant surprise.
You get 25% off if you order by phone, so do that so they don't have to pay a third party!
We can't wait to return to their restaurant and actually eat in once the craziness has ended!! Top notch happy hour experience. The ginger jadoo cocktail was phenomenal. We also ordered the drums of heaven, crispy cauliflower, and tikki naan pizza -- all of which I'd order again! When you want brunch, go here. Right in the heart of the Gayborhood you have a delicious pepper infused tequila drink and from Sea Bass to lobster roll or chicken tiki wraps and fries. You will have something for everyone even those who don't like Indian. Trust me when I say you want to go and I go often. Next time I swear I'll take pics! Unlimited mimosas available and COVID COMPLIANT! They have people situated outside in the closed off street with heat lamps. There are some seats inside maybe 10ppl but sit out under a lamp and catch the city charms as they walk by. But far enough away (and a potion blocked) they are not on top of you as they walk by. Expensive! Had a fair amount of food for $40/person. Interesting fusion going on and I really enjoyed the ambience. My own fault for going on a date I didn't realize would be that pricey, but I liked the restaurant a lot and would certainly go back. It's a modern, trendy twist to your traditional Indian restaurant. The food is a fusion between Indian and everything else. There's Canadian with the poutine, American with buffalo sauce and blue cheese, Southern with chicken and waffles, Mexican in the taco with avocado crema, Spanish paella, or Irish shepherds pie. It's a bit all over the place, but makes me think of someone who grew up eating Indian cuisine and then everything else and wanted to just make food that s/he wanted to eat. They also serve cocktails with a little spice twist; think cardamom, madras, kefir, lemongrass, ginger and chili. The space is perfect for a small friends get together or a date. It has a great, casual atmosphere and the service is attentive.
We chose the prix-fixe, which is an absolute bargain because the portion sizes are the same as if you ordered it a la carte. It definitely provides the variety with a great price at $44 per person!
Here's what we ordered:
Course One/Beginnings (Choose 2):
- Shrimp koliwada roti taco
- Sali boti poutine: I was very very hesitant about ordering this, but it was surprisingly good! There was a good mixture of crispy fries and a little soggy ones, but that's okay! Those were just soaked in cheesy, lamb goodness. The fried mozzarella curds were also delicious.
Course Two/Tandoori (Choose 1):
- Lollipops lamb chops: This was recommended by the waiter as his favorite and we will agree! The lamb chops were tender and marinated well with ginger, garlic, nutmeg, among others I'm sure.
Course Three/Entree (Choose 2):
- Mirch masala with goat: I loved this. The curry was so so good. Get that naan and rice and soak it up! The goat was also tender, which at other restaurants can become dry and chewy, since it's pretty lean to begin with.
- Madras with chicken: Another great dish. The curry was creamier and provided a great balance to the mirch. Lots of chunks of chicken. Again, use up that naan!
Side Accompaniments:
- Bread basket: Not your typical naan, but cooked to that beautiful perfect nonetheless. There's a plain naan smothered in ghee. But there's also naan stuffed with chili parmigiano sundried tomato and another with herbs and garlic.
- Saffron rice: Typical rice :)
Course Four/Dessert (Choose 2):
Alright, to be honest, at this point you should be stuffed. We came starving, famished, and we almost didn't even want to look at the dessert menu. But of course we did anyway.
- Chai chocolate pot de creme: OMG. I LOVE CHOCOLATE. AND I WAS STUFFED. But this was so decadent, smooth, sultry chocolate. Not much chai flavor to it, but hey, did I already say I love chocolate??
- Banana nirvana: These banana fritters were crispy on the outside and glazed with sugar. That salted caramel ice cream was also on point!
Enough said. Almost a four star - but the service tipped the scales. It wasn't bad service, it just wasn't as on it as it should have been, given the business.
The ups? Service improved when I raised my hand. The naan is legit - crispy and soft and perfectly garlicked. The sauv blanc is perfect for the spicy dishes. Decor and space is good, and its a clean, fresh space. Music is great. Staff is friendly.
The downs? The "long hots" are an Italian pepper and just not hot. So the spicy goat...isn't. It's tasty - and has no bones, which is unusual - and it would be a good intro to someone who has never had goat. But it's not as vibrant as I would have expected based on the menu. The old fashioned was nursing home level.
Bottom line: good Indian place for people who haven't had much Indian. It's not a curry house, and the fancy parts of the menu may be worth it - I just had to pick one dish. Strong meh. Ordered through DoorDash. One of the dishes was rhe Adobar. Took two bites. And found a long black hair intertwined into one of the cauliflower pieces. I did call the restaurant to see if they could address it. But to be honest, I only liked 1 thing out of the 3 I ordered, and the Adobar and the crispy cauliflower were just okay. I did call the restaurant-they don't have anyone to answer phones but I left a message on the catering Iine. They go through Doordash but offer no option for a refund or anything f
Lots of $ for an entree I couldn't eat! Hungry and disappointed but if they call back I'll update in the next two days! But one star because I gave them as long as I could wait. I'm hungry and out $100 bucks to eat some cheez-its and whatever else I can find for dinner tonight.
Update: manager called me back the next morning. Apologized and offered a refund for the Adobar. I also asked fo the Naan as well since I didn't have anything to eat it with. Assured me this is unusual, all staff wear hair nets etc. (no one else in my home has long straight black hair so I'm not sure either). Also it was intertwined pretty good with the cauliflower so not like it just fell on top of there food. It got tangled in there early on.
I'll increase the stars up to 2, since he did call back and was truly apologetic. I would give five stars for the paneer dish but I'll be honest the rest of the food was just okay-the Adobar wasn't great. But I'm really picky when it comes to Indian food, since I grew up with it. This is good if you don't have access to Indian food at home, and aren't sure if you will like it, as it gives some non-Indian options to consider (like the crispy cauliflower- made well but could be on the menu at any non-desi place as well). VISIT HISTORY:
- Last visit: yesterday night for dinner with a friend
- Frequency: been here 3-4x, mostly for their happy hour
- Next visit? The daily happy hour by the bar is pretty solid so will probably return for that
FOODRINK:
*Disclaimer: used to work at an Indian restaurant so I am picky*
- Crispy Spinach Chaat: actually very crispy! Amount of chutney is lighter than usual but the tamarind chutney was pretty good.
- Crispy Cauliflower: felt like fried chicken but not quite. Cant quite taste the soy but overall seasoned very well
- Paneer Tikka Masala: I love love housemade paneer. By the time we ate the two appetizer, I should t have eaten all the paneer Tikka but I did. I'd put the creamy level as above average. The onions pieces were pretty big.
- Garlic naan: we had one buttered and one non-buttered. Smaller size than what I am used to.
- Gulab Jamun: it's one of my favorite Indian desserts after Ras Malai. It looked like a cut up almond in its westernized facade but it tasted really good. I was expecting it to be soaked in its sweet glorious syrup but it came out very different. Still tasted like Gulab Jamun. I want one now...
VIBE:
- Slightly under upscale
- Dim lighting. If you messed up your eyeliner or make up, don't worry you'll still look beautiful and nobody will know
- Waiter asked if we needed refill 4-5x but honestly I got the vibe he liked my friend so maybe it was a flirtation disguised in service
- Not much noise even though the restaurant is almost full that night
- Smells phenomenal
- Wait time for food arrival: 2 minutes 18 seconds (for appetizer) 27 minutes 2 seconds (for the entree so +/- 2 minutes after the arrival of the appetizer)
- Wait time for our check: almost immediate after we devoured dessert I took a friend here who loves Indian food. This place surpassed her experiences at other Indian restaurants. Everyone whom I have brought to this place has loved it.
I will return and recommend it to friends. IndeBlue blends incredible food with a fun environment and friendly service.
It is part of a trend of modern Indian fusion cuisine that is sweeping much of the nation (and maybe world? I have no idea, but let's extrapolate).
The food is probably the best Indian I've had in Philly. There were far too many delicious dishes to list them all, but you really cannot go wrong with what you order.
Perfect for a date night, time with family, or getting a little rowdy with friends. Highly recommend Attempted to come here for happy hour, but they only allow you to do it if you're sitting at the bar. No seats were open so my group of friends and I did restaurant week instead, which was worth it.
We all purposely ordered different items so we could all share. We ordered the demitasse soup, spinach chaat, crab corn tikki served with sweet chili aioli, "butter chicken" poutine, chicken korma, makhani, kheer, toasted coconut gulab jamun and chocolate pot de crème.
Everything tasted amazing with a nice blend of various spices. Definitely modern Indian cuisine but still very good and worth a try!
The dishes that stood out were the spinach chaat, crab corn cake, chicken korma, and chocolate pot de creme!
The decor is on point and it is a nice and small intimate restaurant with friendly service. Out of the 3 desserts, my friends and I all agreed that the chocolate cake
Was the best. Kheer was similar to rice pudding and delicious, but too liquidy and runny. Naan bread is also on point and amazing to dip with. 10/10 This is the best Indian restaurant in Philadelphia by a mile!!!
The food is of the highest quality and unbelievably tasty. The Moilee and the Chicken Korma are out of this world delicious! It's extremely filling and worth the money. Hopefully if you're reading this you're at least considering going to IndeBlue. My suggestion to you is to try it, I guarantee that you won't regret it. The staff is fine, the ambiance is really nice, BUT the food, the food is unbelievable. Best Indian in philly I am blown away! Indeblue is one of my favorite places now. Let me start with how kind and accommodating the staff is. They were truly the most amazing people. I guess they were running behind by a few minutes and they felt so bad and offered us champagne. Totally not necessary because what's a few minutes? but SO kind and considerate!. They immediately asked what I was celebrating (no clue why or how they knew) and I said my birthday! The man was so excited and happy for me. We were seating right away and got our drinks and food right away. I asked the waitress for help with what on earth to order and she was great. Got vegetable samosa chaat it came in some saucy chickpea soupy stuff. Soooo good. Then entreea were kabila and laal Maas. Both were Incredible. I must say the afghani pulao rice that came with the Kabila was the most delicious thing ever. We both loved our dishes sooo much. Very very flavorful and just the right amount of spice. So out of this word. Very unique and interesting dishes. Love it. After that the same man/head manager or server came back and told me he'd like to give us some complimentary dessert or something for my birthday. I was so happy and taken back. We didn't really want more food lol so he said how about a chai tea. We said okay and he brought out amazing hot teas with milk on a big plate with a candle that was impressively standing straight up on the glass plate alone (somehow standing in some melted candle wax!) lit and ready for me to blow out! I was so flattered and couldn't believe how kind they were. It really made my birthday special and fun! Thank you indeblue for amazing food and service and a generous birthday surprise! I couldn't have asked for a better birthday and can't wait to come back. You guys are so sweet and kind. The service was great, and the food was very tasty. I love the twist on poutine, so innovative and delicious!
Only reason this review is 4 stars not 5 is because the crispy spinach left something to be desired. IndeBlue is awesome!
My group of 5 and I made reservations for IndeBlue for happy hour last friday. Happy hour last from 4 pm - 530 pm, and so we were given the full 1.5 hours. We were about 20 mins late to our reservation yet they were still accommodating.
4 out of 6 of us got there first, and we ordered 3 beers and a mumbai mirch (spicy tequila). All were delish. We also ordered a spinach chaat and fried cauliflower, which were both absolutely delicious. For our 2nd round, we ordered 3 beers and a indeblutini (mango flavored martini) which was tasty as well.
The service was awesome! And they played indian music on the outside speakers which was a great touch! Our total came out to only $40 for 6 beers, 2 drinks, and 2 snack items which was super cheap! 100% recommend! The cocktail was delicious, and service was great ( too good)
Items tried and loved : Chicken Madras, Crab Corn Tikki, Crispy Spinach Chaat
Items didn't live up to expectations: seafood platter
Overall 5 stars for service, food quality and attention to customers needs
Huge shoutout to Lori (not sure if I spelled it right) , she was beyond great in the service and made our experience memorable by bringing us a special dish ( not being served in the menu at the time).
Must eat here! I adore IndeBlue, especially their fantastic lunch.
For one, they are ridiculously vegan-friendly, all I have to do is say "vegan" and the staff is very well informed, and items on the menu are clearly marked.
Secondly (or firstly, for everyone who's not vegan) the food is fantastic. I love when I go to a place and the food and the prices match. Yes, it's fancier, and yes, you should pay for it. Fantastic.
Third, that lunch? The best is getting the thali, or a plated lunch of small dishes. As of my last visit, it now includes dessert, which for vegans, was a house-made coconut sorbet. It. was. amazing.
I haven't been for happy hour, but I've heard that's a great deal as well, and they have great drink specials at lunch ($4 rose mimosas? yes pls.) Love them, and I love bringing people there! We are regulars at the IndieBlue Collingswood, NJ location. (I have a 5 star review for that location http://www.yelp.com/biz/indeblue-indian-cuisine-collingswood?hrid=tiz8NSsVq-Fl2TVlin_l_A). I convinced my wife that we should try this location.
The bar: The bartender seemed distracted and uninterested. Why? Well, at the corner of the bar were two employees dressed in black who were standing, huddled around three customers who were sitting at the bar (they seemed to be employees as well, off-the-clock enjoying some civilian time). The bartender was more interested in chatting them up then paying attention to us. He had the personality of a wet blanket.
Our server: He was very robotic and lacked personality. My wife and I were surprised at the night-and-day difference between the Philly and Collingswood location. In any case, he was proficient, that counts for something.
The food: For an appetizer, we ordered the BBQ Rib rolls. They were (4) flavorless rolls, barely the size of my thumbs. It was not worth $8.00. The Baingan Bharta was very good. The Crispy Spinach Chaat was excellent (as always). The Chicken Madras and the Lamb Rogan Josh were perfection! (they are our go-to items if we aren't interested in the specials of the day). During the meal, our server had asked us 'so, is the Philly location better than Collingswood'? My wife and I both stared at him and just smiled, we couldn't even muster out a white lie.
Pricing: We felt that the pricing was reasonable (seemed to be on-par with the Jersey location, minus the no BYOB here)
Return factor: We don't need to be handheld/coddled but we expect some enthusiasm from the staff. When we go out to dine, we want the whole package. We don't think we will return to this location.
3.5 stars The service here is dreadfully unfriendly and not at all welcoming. A restaurant could have the finest food in the city (and IndeBlue doesn't) but if diners are met with indifference and hostility, that is the impression that sticks in the mind.
My first visit here was 2 years ago for happy hour with my friend Stephen. We were in the area and decided to try IndeBlue for drinks. We arrived a few minutes before 5 p.m. As we opened the door, a woman from inside the restaurant came and physically blocked us from coming in. We were both taken aback and asked if there was a problem. She demanded to know what we were doing "there." Let me take a second to say that we are both gay and we are also clean, fit and when we are out and about, always well dressed. This time was no exception to any of that. Instead of just walking away, Stephen told her we had come for happy hour. Her posture relaxed a bit but she said it did not start until 5 p.m. (by now it was 4:56 p.m.) and we would have to wait outside until then. Given that we saw other drinkers and diners in the restaurant, this made no sense. I told my companion that this was all bullshit but he said we had a right to drink and eat anywhere so eff it, let's do it.
The drinks and bar food were fine, nothing innovative or memorable and the bartender, a woman, was very pleasant and accommodating, especially when we asked for drink recommendations. We spent several hours eating and drinking at the bar and had no further issues.
A few months ago, several friends decided to have a 'catch up' brunch here on a Saturday. Reservations were made and we all arrived on time. As soon as we were ready to be seated, we all became aware of tension and hostility emanating from the host and the wait staff. Whether it was directed at us (a group of 10) or it was internal, I cannot say, but it made the hair on my neck stand up. We were shown to a table that did not have enough seats or space for all of us. Mervyn, the brunch organizer, politely asked if a larger table was available. We were left to stand by a table that sat 6. When a member of our party took 2 chairs from unoccupied tables so we could start to get seated, one of the servers started to loudly berate him. Again, as far as I was concerned, that was a cue to leave. Finally we were placed at a table with barely enough room for all 10 of us. And then we sat. And sat. And sat.
Keep in mind that a reservation had been made weeks in advance for 10 diners. We did not just show up out of the blue in a large group on a busy Saturday.
When our orders were taken, the server was very curt and would not answer questions about the menu. We placed our orders and got on with socializing. When the food came, it was slammed down on the table and our drinks, also slammed down, got sloshed all over. The food was fine but lukewarm. I'd ordered a masala dosa, basically an Indian potato crepe. The crepe itself was warm, limp and greasy, not piping hot and crisp. My Bloody Mary was too heavily spiced to enjoy. No one came by to check on us or see if we wanted more drinks. We all passed on ordering dessert. We just wanted to get out.
No one greatly disliked their food but no one felt it was outstanding or even good, either. Several gents ordered the tasting menu and getting the server to provide details about it had been absolutely impossible.
I don't want to say this place is homophobic but I do believe there are a lot of unresolved issues between staff and management that spill over into treatment of guests. That is totally unacceptable.
In each case, I should have just gotten up and left. That's my 2019 restaurant resolution; listen to my intuition. I still have to try the dinner menu. I had brunch and it was hit and miss. Starting with the good, the aloo bhaji and chole with puri were great. The spinach chaat and the samosa chaat were the best things we tried on the menu. The samosa was crispy and flavourful. Now for the not so good, the omelette which we ordered with green chillies and asked to be made extra spicy was bland. There wasn't even any salt in it. The kathi roll was terrible- filled with tomatoes. The staff and service were 10/10. I came here for Valentine's Day and we ordered a lot of food! The crispy spinach chaat had a very interesting taste. It wasn't horrible and it is definitely popular but I'm not sure that I could get it again. The person I was with enjoyed it very much so I think it's definitely worth trying. The Mango Pork Spring Rolls were delicious. It came with an amazing sauce. The rolls were flavorful with or without the sauce. The Brussel sprouts were amazing too and sooo flavorful! It came with a side of cheese that really complimented each other. Garlic Naan had chunks of visible garlic! If you are a garlic lover like me, get it! The rice is your standard long grain rice. One bowl is brought out to share for the table. Chicken Tikka Masala and Lamb Kabila were both delicious! Order everything from the menu! Came here for a post-presentation celebration with my co-workers. We had a reservation so we were seated pretty quickly after checking-in. I ordered the Masala Potato & Egg Kathi Roll along with Brussel Sprouts. The dim interior gave off a chill yet sophisticated ambiance. Their staffs were very friendly and gave great food recommendations. The food was incredibly seasoned and on point! I've only been to IndeBlue for their all night happy hour/bar menu, but each time I've left super full and happy at a very reasonable price. Their bar menu is like an awesome happy hour but available from 5pm till closing, every day! There's a nice selection of Indian-inspired $6 cocktails, a bunch of delicious cheap Indian fusion small plates and a couple of entree size meals if you're looking for a full dinner.
Between the many times I've come with family and friends, I've tried most of their options and have been pleased with them all. Their Mumbai mirch(chili infused tequila based drink) and Ginger Jadoo (whiskey, ginger, lemon juice, candied ginger) are examples of their interesting and cheap Indian cocktails. The drums of heaven (breaded chicken drumettes in spicy tomato sauce), fried cauliflower, spinach chaat, and tikka masala pizza are especially tasty, but you can't go wrong with their many other options or a full tandoori meat plate at the bar. The bar isn't that big and their happy hour/night menu only applies there, so dont be surprised if you have to wait a bit. It is so worth it, though, I don't eat Indian food often, but this place has turned me into an Indian food fan. I have only tried the happy hour menu, so that is another thing to consider.
The food, service, and atmosphere all deserve 5 stars in my opinion. Both times I have gone I ordered the crispy cauliflower, and then shared other items with a friend. It is addicting- perfect amount of sauce/ flavor without overbearing the taste of cauliflower too and you can't beat this large portion for just $6 at the bar.
Other than the calamari, I'd highly recommend the Chicken Tikki Chipotle (flavor is fantastic, but average portion and a steeper price $12). The shrimp soft taco is also great, and Drums of Heaven are good (similar sauce to the cauliflower- I'd choose the cauliflower over the wings if I had to pick).
Drinks wise, I have only tried the Mumbai Mirch but I loved it. If you like drinks with a kick and tequila, you have to try it! I was here last night with a friend and we tried the tasting menu for dinner. Lori suggested some amazing vegetarian appetizers and entrees. She waited in between each course and waited before we finished each course prior to having us order the next one. She was very patient with us and extremely gracious. She clearly loves what she does and is very passionate. This was truly one of the best meals we've had. She even suggested that we not order additional food because the tasting menu would be more than enough. The tasting menu is great value for the amount of food you get. We had a lot of leftovers. The camaraderie between the employees in the restaurant was very strong. We plan on coming here again in the near future to try their brunch. I had a wonderful experience with the bartender John (JFK) I've been here several times before but John made this experience unique and enjoyable. The cocktails he made were a work of art, his interpersonal skills were off the charts and the man is beast when it comes to libation. I would definitely recommend folks coming to see John and let him wow you - 5 starts because of John My girlfriend and I came here for lunch on New Year's Day after spending the night in the city for New Years. They have great options and a wonderful lunch special which gives you a very nice spread of a few options. I tried something I've never had before and it was excellent and so was my girlfriend's lunch special platter.
As you walk in there is a bar, on the smaller side but a fancy size to fit the restaurant, and then the dining tables are set deeper into the building as you walk through the bar area.
The entire restaurant is very cute and the wait staff was very attentive and courteous. The only reason I leave four stars over five is for the bathrooms. They were clean but not as clean cut as I had expected for how the restaurant looked. They could use a little facelift in my opinion to keep up the classy look of the rest of the restaurant.
If you are in the area you should certainly stop in. I'd love to return and sit at the bar for food and a drink. I can't believe I haven't written a review on this place. I came here forever ago when they first opened during the flower show and I finally got back here about two years ago. The happy hour menu is a game changer for the food quality and the price. I usually get the crispy cauliflower or the pizza which I think they may have gotten rid of. If my friends are going out in the city (pre-covid) we would hit this place up for food and drinks before going to our final destination. I came here for brunch and really appreciated the variety on their menu. First of all, all the brunch drinks--chai sangria, Bloody Mary--were tempting, but I ended up going with the rose petal mimosa. Tasted amazing; there was just the perfect amount of rose flavor! My bf got the mango lassi even though we couldn't find it on the menu. Ended up being $5. Ridic.
We also got the butter chicken with rice and French toast. While both were excellent, we would've appreciated larger portions. For two people, I'd recommend getting three dishes. Except we already spent $40 as is and didn't want to spend more... Usually I find brunch food to be extremely filling. Not exactly the cheapest Indian food.
But that's okay! The ambiance more than made up for it. They had live guitar and drums which sounded surprisingly ethnic. The interior is absolutely gorgeous. The service was all right; sometimes extremely attentive, occasionally neglectful. Overall definitely worth the experience! Love this place. The Mango lassi is delicious and sweet. The naan is amazing especially cheese and garlic, get the bread basket! Also grilled shrimp is amazing! The spinach crispy chaat is the best! The madras and dhal are amazing and come with yummy rice. My family and I came here during restaurant week and had a lovely time. The appetizers were quite good, and the chicken poutine hit the spot in terms of being cheesy, crispy, oily, and flavorful. I really enjoyed how the appetizer had the masala to cut through the cheese. The spinach chaat was essentially a fried salad, with yogurt sauce.
My favorite dish was the paneer because it had the most flavor. The general consensus of the table was that the other main dishes were lacking a bit of spice and flavor. The naan was delicious and hot straight out of the oven.
The service was great, especially given how busy the restaurant was. Our waitress took the time to tell us about the restaurant owners--I believe the husband is Indian and manages the food and the wife is Italian and hand picks the decor. Our waitress also told us that the restaurant owners' daughters help out during restaurant week.
We also ordered a beer on tap, an indebluetini, and a drink that was a restaurant week special. I really enjoyed the mango indebluetini and found that the alcohol was not too strong.
I would definitely come again either for drinks or to try out what else is on the menu. Went there for the first time for dinner yesterday with a friend who's been to the NJ location.
I've never been to any Indian restaurant before so I have nothing to compare Indeblue to, but I have to say that the food were superb, the ambience was great, our servers were awesome and attentive and more importantly, the restaurant was clean. I was pleasantly surprised and can't wait to go back real soon.
I highly recommend the Chilean sea bass with saffron rice. Wow!.....I'm still thinking about those dishes. Worth every penny! I went during happy hour and was happy with the food, drinks and service. Josh was our server and he was wonderful. I'll definitely be back soon! Dishes were delicious!!!
Samundri biryani was incredibly delicious!
Lamb chop were succulent and flavorful.. tasted like...More..... *happy hour review*
Definitely new happy hour stop.
I came on Tuesday and the bar was completely packed, but on Thursday it was totally fine...I guess it's just a draw.
Drinks: Rose gimlet, spicy lychee margarita, and indebluetini. All delicious and so creative in bringing in Indian flavors (like rose, spice, and cardamon) into drinks! They weren't strong, but for $5, well worth it.
Food: Hai ram, this was all delicious. The spinach chaat is a must!! Aloo tikis are a meh (but for $3, why not!). The naan pizza changes weekly I guess but ours with paneer was delightful. The stuffed peppers also delicious and SPICY (yaass) and stuffed with paneer and mozeralla..yes delicious. The most expensive was the naan pizza for $5! For 3 hungry chicas, we ordered 4 appetizers and that was our dinner, coming out to like $5/person and it was the best decision ever.
Will definitely return, especially because they have a late night happy hour (9-closing) for us who work later!
Shoutout to Michael the host for helping us out when we were in a rush to leave and he got us our bill, etc. ParahV gave us a superb dining experience! I've never felt so welcomed by a server before also visiting from out of town I recommend this cute spot for sure! Five stars Phenomenal Indian experience in center city Philly ! Vipul was an incredible server, so friendly, gave us a tasting of the sangria chai and offered free complimentary chai and gave us suggestions for NY Indian restaurants ! All the food was great we ordered the cauliflower and vegetable Samosa Chaat to start. For entrees the paneer Tikka Masala and naan. For a dessert highly recc the banana Nirvana very innovative and the perfect sweet level My husband and I are on a mission to support some of our favorite local businesses during this very trying time, while also finding a balance with cooking at home and keeping our diets relatively healthy. Weekends are when we've been treating ourselves to time off from cooking and cleaning, and we chose to end our weekend with a massive takeout order from IndeBlue.
We saw on social media that IndeBlue was offering 25% off for takeout orders placed directly with them over the phone. I called and spoke with the nicest employee who gave feedback on our choices and even threw in some complimentary rice pudding!
My husband swung by on his bike for the pick up, and I was very impressed by how nice everything looked when he got home. We ordered: crispy cauliflower, vegetable samosas, crispy spinach chaat (a longtime favorite!), sea bass entree, shrimp moilee, paneer tikka masala, and a double order of naan. Our intention was to have enough for at least two meals and we definitely accomplished that.
Everything was delicious, as always. I can't wait to enjoy our leftovers (and another night off from cooking and cleaning!) for dinner tonight. Definitely think of IndeBlue if you're craving really fantastic Indian food! IndeBlue is one of those restaurants you always hear people rave about but you never seem to make it there until someone asks you to go. Well, I was finally asked to go and it did not disappoint! They have happy hour from 5-close during the week at the bar, and that's where we sat. You are also able to get the full restaurant menu at the bar as well.
Things we had: Spinach chaat, crispy cauliflower, chicken tikka dunoba, and the lamb chops. Usually when you go to a restaurant, you find maybe 1-2 outstanding dishes, but honestly each dish was a knock out. We ordered these on the recommendation of the awesome bartender. Each dish was a flavor bomb layered with different textures.
Also +1 star because I adventurously ordered a chili tequila infused drink that was a bit too intense for my taste and the bartender noticed I wasn't enjoying it. She tried to re-mix the drink to make it less intense for me but I still couldn't drink it, and she took it off the bill in the end without me asking. I thought that was exceptional of her. It was my first time here.I came in as a party of 2 on a weekday night. Although we did not make the reservation, the waiter was able to sit us immediately, and he was very friendly and accommodating. I would recommend everyone to call or make a reservation online since this place seems very popular for dinner. Our table was seated in the middle of the room, it was hard for me to hear the other person talking. So yes, if you come here for a big day, make sure you make a reservation.
The restaurant is beautiful and spacious, and the interior design is elegant and fancy, but it still has a cozy ambiance. Perfect for a date or a family/ friend gathering party.
Thoughts for food
We ordered 2 cocktails, the mumbai mirch and the anjeer. The mumbai mirch is so delicious, which I stole from my bf after the first taste lol. The anjeer is okay, nothing unique. Highly recommend the mumbai mirch!
Chicken Makhani poutine is awesome. It has a crunchy texture but still soft inside. The fried aged cheddar is delicious, interesting to have with the chicken.
The toast is alright, delicious but I wish it could be crunchier.
I heard so many good reviews for the paneer tikka masala, and decided to order it. Oh wow, the portion is huge, we got so full after 2 appetizers and this dish. If you are a light dinner eater like me, you will have leftover if you order 2 entrees. The dish is delicious and flavourful. The paneer cheese looked like tofu, so it surprised me when I had the first bite.
Overall, it's a great restaurant with a twist of modern Indian cuisine. If you are looking for authentic Indian food, this is not a place for you. I am not into too spicy food and heavy flavor, so I prefer modern Indian food. If you love Indian food and open to enjoy the lighter flavor, look no further, this is the place! I've only tried brunch here but I am eager to cone back and try dinner! We had ordered the cheese board, which came with many different crackers and dips as well as some very spicy peppers which gave it a great variety of things to try. We also ordered the egg kathi roll and the paneer burjee. The egg kathi roll was delicious, but I don't think I would order it again. The paneer burjee on the other hand was delicious! We also enjoyed a $6 mimosa special. Would love to come back and try more. They also have amazing vegan and vegetarian options. Came here for Saturday lunch with a group of 15 for graduation (congrats Anupma S.!) They were very accommodating with the large group and pushing around tables for us. The waiter was kind and not at all overwhelmed at our questions, change in minds, people coming at different times, etc.
I opted for the vegetarian thali for $15 that came with
-3 curries including dhal makhni (black bean lentils), palak paneer (spinach and cheese), and the special for the day which was potatoes and other veggies.
-rice and naan (pita bread)
-raita (yogurt)
-mango chutney
Seemed like the most bang for your buck. I wanted to try the chaats though. Next time! Heard the avocado dahi chaat which was paani puri style was delicious.
Often times with Indian restaurants (keep in mind, my parents are Indian so I have high standards), the food is oily, not flavored enough, or flavored artificially instead of fresh ingredients. I did not find this to be the case at all here. The food was very well prepared. The food did take some time to come out given our large group, but that implied everyone was being made fresh for us. Everyone in our group was full in the right amount and enjoyed their individual entrees!
What made the experience the best for me though was the ambiance. I have never seen such beautiful decor in a restaurant before! Whoever bought those pieces had amazing taste-WELL DONE! First restaurant accommodating of my whole food plant based diet (vegan and oil-free). Our waiter reviewed the reservation notes and offered suggestions on what to order but told us he would take care of my diet considerations. Food was fantastic! Definitely will be going again. Great food and service. Delicious. We are visitors from CA who enjoyed this restaurant thoroughly I loved this place!
We went for a Sunday brunch - and there was live Sitar and Tabla music (which was really good music. :) )
Having an insane craving for home food, we decided to come here - definitely pricier than the like of Sitar in University City but the food is totally worth it.
I caved in to ordering a masala dosa (it's been over a year since I had one) and this is as authentic as it gets. With good chutney and a good amount of the potato curry. Given that there is no good South Indian food in Philly, Indeblue manages to produce a good dosa which tastes just like the ones from home.
The paneer bhurji is definitely an interesting fusion style food - but delicious nonetheless.
I think this place manages to satiate the taste buds for /traditional/ Indian food as well has it has its own fusion food which are gorgeous.
For dessert we had the mango panna cotta (which was gorgeous along with its saffron based garnishing) and the coconut-lychee sorbet with tandoori pineapple.
I was literally ecstatic upon receiving the food, dhomping down with a grin plastered across my face.
Con:
I do wish dosas were cheaper and they had something like 2 dosas per plate. We have eaten at too many upscale restaurants to count. By far, the best waiter/server that we have ever had was Andrew at IndeBlue last night. Our experience of enjoying his recommendations, attentiveness, ownership of the dining experience that he provided and general great energy was our biggest takeaway.
His recommendations were absolutely delicious. Our favorites were the sea bass, the Pot de Creme, the naan bread is absolutely phenomenal, the crab cakes. The sweetini and a ginger something jadu whiskey cocktail were great.
Sorry no photos to post, we devoured everything! Let it be known that this review is based solely on my happy hour experience. I was really excited to check IndeBlue out because of the raving reviews, but to put it bluntly, I was so disappointed.
My friend and I got the Tikka Naan Pizza (we had the option of either chicken or paneer - we chose the first) and we each got a Peanut Chicken Chili Bao Bun (it comes one to an order, at least for HH).
We were both really excited when they quickly brought them out. Both *looked* delicious, but unfortunately, I can't say the same about the taste. The Naan Pizza was seriously lacking in flavor. I was expecting some spice, but all I could taste was the naan. I was pretty hungry so I finished my portion, but my friend didn't even get close to finishing hers.
The Bao Bun was the exact opposite from the pizza. SO. DAMN. SPICY. My friend and I both agreed that they had gone overboard with the chili. Had it been a little less spicy, I think I would have enjoyed it.
Service was good and staff was friendly and attentive which I did take note of.
Would I go again? Maybe for a drink because they offer a really great HH deal (50% off everything), but (sadly) I would pass on the food. This is good Indian cuisine, but I can't get on board all these 4 and 5-star ratings. I've had much better Indian cuisine at the dingy, traditional Indian joints.
The location in DT Philadelphia is good, and you are met with a very attentive and smiling Maitre'D, but the food doesn't quite match the sophistication they're trying to show. This is definitely the best looking Indian restaurant in Philadelphia (and second only to Kirin's in Houston that I have visited). Tables are clean, there is actual linen (woohoo), and the bathroom is like a Nirvana relative to most Indian establishments.
IndeBlue has a good drink menu, and their IndeMartini is a standout and strong. They even have a wine list, which is borderline decent.
The service was spotty. I found our waiter very affable, but in other ways he was a disaster. He almost poured my sparkling water in a wine glass, thought better of it, found a different glass, still almost spilled it, etc. The other wait staff were not up to par by any means, one even bumped into me on the way to the restroom sans an apology! Welcome to the jungle.
This was restaurant week, so the menu was quite contrived. Maybe that is what held things back. I ordered the spinach chaat (good if you're into fried food), the vegetarian Thali (asked for vegan and gluten-free, got gluten-free, good thing I'm not a strict vegan), and the fig dessert was probably the best item. The vegetarian Thali was VERY limited compared to real Thalis that I have had at other Indian joints. My DP had a regular Thali from IndeBlue, and it also came with only 3 main dishes (and when I say dish we're talking a tiny saucer), compared to most places which have 5-6, and the idea is they will refill them for you, not here. They did start us with three complimentary tastes of soup, although I found them all lacking in taste.
The rice was okay. Saffron rice, not really standout by any means. The fig cake was good, and the ice cream on top was decent. Not made in house, so I was like, ehhh.
This is probably a fun date night for someone craving Indian cuisine, but IndeBlue is not foodie approved. I was a big fan of IndeBlue after trying the chef's tasting menu for my first time there for dinner! The inside is very modern and has a good vibe (although it is very dark). You can make reservations, but we walked in on a Saturday night and were still able to be seated immediately.
The nice thing is, you can order from the menu a la cart but they also have their tasting menu available all the time. It's $45 person and you get to order an app, then share a tandoori, then each order an entree and have dessert. It's a great deal because each entree ranges from $15-$25 already.
We ordered the spinach chaat, scallops, lamb chops, the vindaloo and the dessert sampler. All of the dishes were really good, but the lamb chops were probably my favorite. I also liked the banana fried donut dessert the best. I'd definitely say this is one of my top Indian restaurants in the city! OMFG! I love this place!!! Their food was such a masterpiece! We came in around 6 and their server and host were super nice and professional! Definitely will come back again!! I was really excited to try this place but was let down. I went for happy hour and everything I tried had too subtle of an Indian taste - especially the paneer toast and tikka naan pizza. The bbq pork samosa rolls were OK but the dipping sauce was bland. The vegetable samosa chaat were the best of the bunch.
Indian flavors are usually so overpowering (in a good way) but the appetizers were lacking! The atmosphere was nice so maybe I'd go back and try an entree but will skip any apps! Really amazing happy hour!!!
I stumbled upon this place just walking around through Center City one evening and I'm glad I did. Each visit, I meet an incredible new person, try a new food item and overall just grateful to experience such a great time!
The staff is phenomenal. Each time I come in, I have a great experience with staff from the host, bartender and management.
I recommend the Crispy Spinach Chaat and Tikka Naan Pizza! If you are apprehensive about trying Indian food, then this restaurant is the best place to try the new cuisine! I came here with a larger group and some were new to Indian food. The waitress helped us the entire time with the menu, made some great suggestions, and all of us left more than satisfied!
The Indian food here is delicious! Definitely worth going here if you have a larger group (4+) and trying the chef's tasting menu! Everything is served family style and you get to hand select several different food entrees for each course. The tasting menu comes with 4 courses! And is very reasonably priced compared to other tasting menus. The larger the group, the more plates you get per course.
My first time here, I came with a group of 5. We were able to pick 3 appetizers, two 2nd courses, 3 entrees, and 3 desserts. It was SO much food! We could barely touch our entree and took doggy bags of the main course home. Here is what we ordered:
First course
- crispy cauliflower: one order was large enough for all five of us. Nice and lightly spicy, with the perfect crunch. Would definitely order again!
- shrimp Koliwada roti taco: a definite MUST! They brought out five tacos so everyone could have their own. It is filling as a first course, and completely unique item compared to other Indian restaurants.
- vegetable samosa chaat: a traditional item, that they do absolutely right. Probably one of my favorite things I ate for the meal
Second course
- we ordered the noorani shrimp and chicken tikka chipotle. They were both delicious, but probably my least favorite part of the meal. Next time, I plan on skipping this and saving room for the 3rd course!
Third course
- We ordered chicken masala, mashooq, and we're able to order the boondi vegetable raita as an entree! By this point we were all SO full, but managed to do a tasting of the remaining foods. By far my favorite was the mashooq!
Highly recommend to anyone!
Dessert
- we ordered 3 desserts, all very unique. He pear dessert was one of my favorites but all is worth a bite.
I have to say that the ambience is delicate, it's a great place for a small group, or intimate setting but also has the capabilities of entertaining a larger group! I would suggest making a reservation even for smaller groups. Oh! Lucky me! I found this place during Philly restaurant week. We got a table for 3 then we ordered one from each appetizers. We got a corn soup and 3 different main dishes. We ended up that experience with the ice cream. Vipul( our server) did a good job serving us. We had such outstanding time. Recommend for all of you guys! Service and Drinks were amazing. Food seemed pretty standard when it came to Indian food. The pork Samosa was average, the naan pizza was a little too burnt for my taste and the Chicken wings were the best thing I ate. I actually started off with one of their signature cocktails and it was not bad but bottomless mimosas were only $22 so I could not pass on that offer. What a gem. The food tastes so home-made. I really like how playful the menu is. The experience is special. The service is excellent. My fiancé and I loved it. My friends and I visited IndeBlue during the final days of restaurant week and I can honestly say that it was one of the most memorable dining experiences we've had. Not only was each course delicious and well portioned but the service was impeccable. Continuing to work in the middle of a pandemic on a busy week like restaurant week is not easy but Bennett, Andrew and the rest of the staff were so kind, welcoming and very attentive. We will surely be visiting again and recommend everyone to stop by this lovely establishment! They charged you more money. Check your credit card! Stay away!!
My friends and I chose this place for my birthday celebration. It turned out to be the worst eating experience in our lives.
1.They kept us waiting for 30+ minutes just to order food until we asked them to get our server 2 times. We were very unhappy with the waiting since the tables were half empty that night.
2. Taking food away from you while you are still eating. When we were still eating, they started to take the food away from our table. We said that we were still eating, but the server argued that they would close in 45 minutes. We looked around and found that other tables were eating as well. Some of them were ordering desserts. Why dont you take their plates as well? Why allowing other tables to order desserts if you are closing?
3. They charged you different from the receipt. If you think unreasonable waiting time and taking food away from you are bad enough, you have to check your credit card to get the full horrible eating experience: they charged more money than we wrote on the receipt, which we found out 3 days after from our bank account. What a thief! i was here last night on a date .im not from the city .everything was amazing. lori was so swet and made amazing suggestions.gia was so nice and friendly. can't wait to come back to the city and stop in again Been to this location for first time for drinks before doing rw dinner at Barbuzzo. I tried the collingswood location before it shut down and while food was good I never got chance to retry.
Sat at bar to grab a drink with friends and then left.
Bar seems like it gets packed quick but friendly staff.
Told this place has decent happy hour which maybe on an off day I can't check out. Had a beautiful birthday dinner here last night! The food was amazing, service was great, our waiter Bennet was so passionate and energetic which made our experience even better. Will definitely come back :) I've been here for dinner plenty of times but never for brunch...but I was very surprised! They incorporated an indian twist to traditional breakfast items in such a creative way. The paneer bhurji was amazing (coming from the girl who LOVES paneer). The Bloody Mary wasn't as good and way too strong to enjoy, but the food more than made up for it! I will definitely be coming back for brunch again! I came here after being told by many people that it's an amazing Indian spot.
I came here with some friends and inside it is decorated very nicely. The vibes are homey.
We ordered happy hour drinks which were great and were ready to order our food. What upset me from the start was that our waiter looked at his watch when we told him we needed a minute to finalize our dishes.
Then after we ordered and our food came, the server dropped my rice all over the table. They apologized, but they did not clean the mess or give me New rice. I assumed they would given the fact that my rice was everywhere and inedible. I waited about 10 minutes but I was forgotten. I had to ask someone to remove the soiled rice and give me new rice.
Because of the service I received, I couldn't enjoy my meal for what it is. All I remember is that the drinks tasted good HAHA. It's upsetting that there was zero care for my experience overall.
Maybe it was a bad day, but I had expected better. We came here on a Friday night, we sat outside and it wasn't too busy. The service was rather slow, but our server was nice enough. My problem with this restaurant is the food, we ordered one lamb madras and one vegetarian dish khal makhan. Maybe we should have ordered something else but just from what we had both dishes tasted very similar and nothing out of this world. I guess their version of 'modern & traditional food' just meant unauthentic and not so traditional. We didn't hate the food, but we won't be coming back considering there are so many other options out there. Ordered food from this place based on reviews, the food is really average. Even if it is fusion the taste matter the most. Giving 2 stars for the makhani fries. Rest the entire order was below average. Will not recommend if you are looking for good Indian food. Not too shabby for an Indian place in Center City. Not my favorite, but it works well enough for quick Indian fix. The mango lassi has pistachios in it, to all those with nut allergies (not me). It's provides an interesting touch. The mango lassie here is more tart than sweet, and I definitely prefer sweet.
The sauces for their dishes tends to be on the watery side, where as I prefer mine to be thick and creamy. The Chicken Tikka Makhani "Butter Chicken" (Free range / boneless / fresh tomato / cream honey / fenugreek / black pepper / saffron rice) was very good. It was a little in the salty side, but nothing some rice and/or naan can't fix.
Naan also has black sesame, which I am not a fan of. We made a reservation on Friday for Saturday night indoors. This was confirmed via the restaurant itself. This was for my birthday - they even asked us and knew it was a special occasion.
Come Saturday night - we receive a call telling us they are canceling our reservation because it's raining. When we tell them we made it for indoors, they said oops we made it for outdoors our bad but we can't accommodate you.
Now we are stuck at 530pm on a Saturday looking for a dinner reservation. You can guess how well that is going. Incredibly unprofessional to leave us like this - speaks to a place that isn't run well.
Guess I won't be getting a nice birthday dinner. Thanks Indeblue!! I LOVE this place and Shane!! I'm super happy to be able to sit at the bar and get the best service again. He always has the best recommendations with food and drink pairings! Absolutely in love with IndeBlue. I am Indian American and I struggle to find authentic Indian restaurants. IndeBlue is the exception--I proudly rate it 5 stars for taste, quality, decor, and service.
Walking into the restaurant, it is centrally located downtown and has a beautiful vibe. I love the huge gold center piece. The menu had unique cocktails that I definitely wanted to try. I fell in love with the sangria chai--I have never before tasted a mix of red wine and masala chai but it was luxurious and velvety, there is nothing like it out there!
Next, our waiter Vipul was extremely kind and gracious in helping us decide what to order. He checked in on us several times during the meal. I had briefly mentioned that I was craving masala chai and he personally brought out two cups for us to have on the house!! I was so happy with his service, I was proud to give him a high tip :) thank you!
The food was so fresh, including the perfumed rice. I felt very good about the quality, especially for the price!! Very well priced restaurant. If I lived nearby, I would dine several times a month!
Please order the banana Nirvana dessert, it is essentially like banana bread donuts with ice cream, just fantastic.
Thank you for such a wonderful meal, one of the best I've ever had! I came for Restaurant Week brunch and enjoyed the slightly upscale hipster take on Indian favorites. I enjoyed the crispy spinach chaat, paneer tikka masala, saffron kheer, and garlic naan. All of the dishes were great with lots of flavor.
My only issue was the service: it was extremely slow, including waiting 30 minutes for someone to clean an open table so we could get seated when we arrived. THE FOOD HERE WAS AMAZING! I cannot believe how good it was. The curry was the best I have ever had! The dinner was very filling and I wish I could have eaten it twice that's how good it was. 10/10 recommend. We also had great service here. Our server Josh was so attentive and helpful with the menu we couldn't have asked for better! The bus boys were on top of everything too, as soon as we were done with our food they cleaned the plates right out of our way. Uh-maze-ing. That is about all I need to say... but I'll elaborate since my experience was so out of this world.
First, it was restaurant week and let's be honest with ourselves here - sometimes, things are less than top notch since you aren't paying top notch prices. You would have never known the difference here. The service, the food, the portion sizes were all on par with an expensive night out, only without the price tag.
Ever important to me - the service was impeccable. Jason, our server, was so very attentive. So much so that he apologized for our second course taking longer than anticipated... and we hadn't even noticed (it really didn't take very long at all)! Our table was cleared regularly, water and other beverages; always full. We never wanted or needed for anything. Honestly some of the best service I have had out in Philly, a city that regularly excels in the service department.
To say the food was not only abundant but also fantastic really doesn't do it justice. I left incredibly full and happy which is an anomaly for Restaurant Week offerings. Actually, by the time the main course was done, I wasn't sure that I would be able to take the smallest bite of dessert. Of course, I managed to power through but not without being tempted to unbutton the top button on my pants.
Gluten free and veg friendly I highly recommend. I'll be back for sure!!!! I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet! This is one of our go tos in the city! The decor is great and it's a nice place for special occasions and date nights. Make sure you make reservations because they tend to get packed.
Here are some of the items we love-
Spinach chat - never had anything like this!
Chicken tika dubona- (bar menu only)it's like an Indian queso!
Tikka naan pizza - we've had both the paneer and chicken
Samosa- can't go wrong
Shrimp tacos- so flavorful
Pav bhaji- a favorite for vegetarians
Paneer toast- on the lighter side. It's good but not as amazing as the rest
They have all the classics too which we love and their naan is so fresh.
We ventured there for brunch too and their chicken and waffles twist was great along with paneee bhurji.
The drinks are great. We love the ginger jadoo and the bartender is so nice too!
just a tip- if you're not not eating at the bar during their happy hour, it can get get on the pricier side This place just blew my freaking mind. Everything we ate, and I do mean everything, was PERFECT. The service excellent, and the atmosphere really pleasant.
The spinach chaat - I'd push my mother in front of a train if I had to choose between her and the chaat. The seafood moille was superb. I would have liked a bit more variety in the seafood (90% shrimp) though.
Just go there. Eat everything on the menu. Be happy. It was a first for me to try Indian food. I would not be able to say whether it's authentic or not. So I'm just giving my opinion on what I've encountered..
Our waiter wasn't as helpful as I had hoped. I told him it was my first time trying Indian food, and he didn't offer any type of suggestions. We went with the chefs tasting menu. I wasn't wow'd. If it's a "Chefs Tasting Menu"... shouldn't the "chef" put it together? Why am I selecting all the options.. I wasn't getting a "pre fixe'd" meal..
Anyways.. after what it seemed like pulling teeth out of our waiter, "MONICAs TASTING MENU included:
spinach - i enjoyed. it was crunchy and delicious. something i've never had.
scallop - nothing special. ONE medium size scallop in a puddle of sauce.
lamb chop - too salty.
chicken - chewy and a bit on the dry side.
goat - very tender and moist.
....dessert (which the chef finally decided to put together cuz their was no option). it consist of homemade ice cream, something like a fried banana dough, which i didn't taste any banana. rice pudding which was very waterdown...
MAYBE i would come back for their lunch since there were items there that i did want to try which is not offered during dinner. Best Indian food in Pennsylvania period.prices are great the dishs are awesome mines is the fried spinach and crispy califlower.
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name: Enterprise Rent-A-Car, address: 57 Easton Rd, city: Warrington, stars_x: 1.5, is_open: opening, categories: Car Rental, Hotels & Travel, text: Enterprise offers great customer service. Always a warm Hello and always trying to exceed your expectations. The team at Warrington is great!! This location could not provide me with a vehicle until "after 12:30pm" when I had a 8:00am accident and had to get to work. Held money against my credit card although it was a insurance claim. Returned car at 9am six days ago. Called to find out why my funds were not released. Claimed my insurance had not paid for the last day. Remember, the car wasn't available until after 12:30 and returned at 9! Really? So you won't release my money. Poor practices! Beware! Needed a car and they gave me an SUV ( which was nice )which she asked me to go around to look at. The person who hit me was paying for my rental so we didn't go over an extra insurance she just told me to sign that I was not getting it. Then when it is returned they jump right up to the roof and point out a dent! Being 5'2 I didn't even think about the roof and I was never asked to look. Katie was like a kid in a candy shop and jumped right on the phone with my insurance to open a claim without even speaking with me and wanted my boyfriend (who dropped the car off) to sign my name accepting responsibility and that I would pay $500. I will never trust a car rental again Don't rent from them! They are truly terrible. When I first went in to pick up the passenger van, I was told that there would be a hold on my card. I checked that day and there was a $400 hold, which is reasonable and fine. I asked questions while I was there to make sure I understand everything and that I would not incur extra charges. My bill at that time was $800 (give or take a little). I signed up for roadside assistance which was another $3.99 per day. We had the van for a week and returned it in a timely manner. A week passed after the return and there was still no charge on my card for the balance. Two weeks passed and there appeared on my credit card transactions not one charge, but THREE, totaling over $5000. One in the amount of $2,400, another in the amount of $2000 and another for $900 (give or take). The $900 I did not dispute as it is my bill but when I called the first time to ask about the other charges, someone named Emily got on the phone and told me that the $2,400 will be reversed. Checked the next day and saw that it was but there was still an extra $2000 that was still pending. Called again and spoke again to Emily who adamantly denied that they charged me an extra $2000, never mind that I'm looking at my credit card statement and never mind that someone at my bank confirmed this charge. I asked her why they even put a hold that high on my card and she boldfaced lied and said that they had informed me when I picked up the car. No, Emily. No one there informed me of this. So, Emily lied and tried to make me, the consumer, the paying customer, feel like I was in the wrong. Not once did she apologize or tried to help me. Please keep in mind that they charged my card over two weeks later after I had already rented and returned the vehicle. They put the holds and charged me for my bill all on the same day. What business does that? The charges are now being disputed and handled by my card company. I posted this on facebook and several people have commented that they have had similar issues with this company. Someone even suggested a class action suit. Please beware!!!! I will never in my life, do business with Enterprise again and will urge my friends, family, and associates to do the same. IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Emily the "manager" leaves reviews of herself on this page saying she's pleasant. Hardly the case. Only reason I am giving any stars is to write this review and warn others. This Enterprise location filed a claim with my insurance company because of a huge dent that was on the side of the car from a previous renter. Phil, the "assistant manager," took a photo of this dent before I drove away with the car and had me initial my contract after he marked that the dent was already there before I rented. They filed the claim with my insurance company after I returned the car and WITHOUT referencing my contract and the note about the dent. Emily, the "manager" of this location (which is simply just a trailer on the side of the road,) was extremely rude and degrading, kept repeating that I signed a contract and that this dent wasn't on my contract and later admitted she didn't have a copy of it to reference!!! Horrible service. 2017 Santa Fe had dents, rust and smelled like smoke. There was no gas in the car when I drove it out of the parking lot and it was never cleaned. How dare a company question the integrity of a customer without referencing the contract? Furthermore, when my insurance company called Emily the "manager" (what she manages, I don't exactly know,) to tell her the case was closed and they were at fault for not doing their due diligence at this location, she HUNG UP on her. Will never EVER return. This office on Easton rd is the worse. Taylor should be proud of the worst customer service ever. Please don't go to this rental office. This place is an absolute disaster. Under-staffed, huge lines. Staff are nice but there needs to be at least three more on them. I called try to get a quote for a passenger van... The customer service is NOT PROFESSIONAL AT ALL... First she said will transfer me to the manager about the quote. Then I spoke with thr manager and he said he will make me a reservation, I said may I get a quote first before I make a reservation? And he said I will transfer you to someone else for the quote.. And then another women answer my phone, and I told her I just need a quote and you guys keeping transferred me around.. And she HANG UP the phone.. GREAT JOB guys.. !!!
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name: Waterfront Gourmet Cafe & Deli, address: 3131 Walnut St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: closed, categories: Caterers, Sandwiches, Delis, Restaurants, Cafes, Event Planning & Services, text: Sandwiches had good taste and were a good size. Only some of the sandwiches come with chips and a pickle for some reason. It could be a tad cleaner. It's a small (looks like mom and pop) place. Didn't even know this place existed until I was trolling grubhub for a breakfast sammie on Sunday afternoon! Sure enough, in less than a half hour I had a delectable sandwich at my front door!
I tried the prosciutto, egg, cheese and avocado bagel- what a great combo!
Boyfriend had the tried and true sausage, egg and cheese- great execution.
I'll definitely be ordering from here again! The café is clean and modern, sandwiches are fun and creative, coffee is fresh, and staff are super friendly. The dessert section features boring american cookies and cakes with nothing to please a European palette. I still don't understand why 90% of desserts have to be chocolate-centered. Why diss those who want fruity or creamy filling? This was a really cute cafe with a great assortment of beverages, baked goods, lunch food (soups, salads, sandwiches), and other goodies! I had a great avocado egg prosciutto panini; it was really generous and filling. Service was really friendly, and I would definitely love to try some other sandwiches or one of the boylan's bottled sodas that I noticed in the cooler! Definitely worth a stop especially if you're by DRL. Great place for a delicious, affordable lunch! I came here for the first time for lunch yesterday with some coworkers. I ordered the roast beef panini and had a choice of side salad or chips. I got the salad. This was a nice option since many places charge extra if you want a salad instead of chips or fries. The panini was very delicious. It had fresh-cut roast beef, spinach, Swiss cheese, red onion, and a roasted red pepper spread. The meal was filling and only $8. My coworkers got the California sandwich which had turkey, avocado, and other toppings. They said it was very good. My other coworker got the XOXO salad which was a special for the day. She said it was good; however, it came with turkey which was just three big slices of deli turkey on top. She said it was hard to eat, and she would have liked it to be chopped or sliced differently. The environment is typical of a deli, and the staff was friendly. They had a large selection of pastries and desserts displayed nicely in glass cases. I had to resist the temptation to order a dessert this time, but I'll definitely be back to try one. Really friendly staff, very clean and reasonable prices. Good for a breakfast, snack or meal on the way from school. Most of all impressed by quality of the panini sandwiches. Mozarella was super fresh and everything was very tasty. Recommend!! So glad I found waterfront ! It is a bit tucked away but worth seeking out . I had the egg , avocado , prosciutto , and provolone panini with the cold brew coffee and a baklava for later . The panini was perfect - they give you two eggs and a good portion of prosciutto and avocado . It was stuffed full and super satisfying . The cold brew comes in only one size , a very small size . I ordered a large and was surprised by the little cup I got . The cashier should probably mention this to customers . However , the saving grace was the strength of the cold brew made it last longer as the ice melted and I just added more . The flavor did not dissipate , so it seemed like a large coffee in the end .
The baklava was perfect : lots of nuts and honey filling , and perfectly crunchy , buttery pastry . Mmmmm so good and not too sweet , I ate the whole thing !
They have a great selection of lunch items including a Cuban I must return for . The place was clean with plenty of seating for a cafe as well as wifi . The staff were all very happy and kind . If this place was closer to me you can bet I'd stop by all the time ! Stopped by for takeout and picked up two sandwiches, a tuna melt and a veggie panini. I think the most disappointing thing was the size of the sandwiches, which were about the size of a small bagel and as a result weren't filling. The tuna melt was nothing special, but the veggie panini was better priced and had a solid variety of greens inside. On top of that, I had chips on the side (instead of a salad), and I found it odd that they gave me tortilla chips instead of potato. Not necessarily a bad thing, but that was new to me. Nevertheless, service was friendly and the place looked nice. Dined here with pals last eve. Had a GOURMET HOAGIES | PIER 5 CHEESESTEAK | Premium seasoned fillet roast beef, melted pepper jack cheese, roasted peppers, red onions, mushrooms and spicy mayo (which was OK tasting, but not an actual cheesesteak & was kinda small for $13) & a decent smoothie; this came to $22.68 with tax & (meager, considering they don't have wait-table staff) tip, which seemed dear for what I got. I tried a pal's GOURMET PANINIS | CHICKEN PESTO | Grilled chicken, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil pesto, roasted fire red peppers (which showed little relationship to any fresh pesto I've ever made or, even, tasted); definitely NOT something to order if you love real pesto. Although you can get something to put in your belly here, I can't recommend it if you want something tasty. Decent coffee but garbage prepacked pastry and overly slow service. Not worth a second visit Great service with fresh food. This is great spot to grab a quick bite. They have many solid and tasty food options. Lunch/brunch vibes with many dessert options. As I stated in my previous review, the food is very good. My main concern that I found out recently was that, if you order over the phone and go to pick-up, you still need to stand in the same line as everyone else who is ordering. This happened today when my coworker and I went to pick up food and had to stand in the 20 minute line of people ordering. When we went to the counter, they told us there was no way to expedite our purchase even though they acknowledged that the food was already ready.
If they offer pick-up during a busy lunch hour, either take the payment over the phone so we can get the food right away, or explain ahead of time that we will need to wait in the line. We wasted half of our lunch break waiting on line which we thought we were avoiding by calling ahead. another great delivery experience from Waterfront! my coworkers and I ordered from this place last Friday and got a timely and accurate delivery of sandwiches and salads! I was pleasantly surprised by the portion sizes of these sandwiches. They really layer on the meat! I tried the turkey, brie and apple sandwich on sourdough and thought it was great. If I hadn't gotten it delivery, it might have been a bit more enjoyable with the delicious and melty brie, but it still tasted great. I loved the sweet and savory combination! fresh salad- love the Asian sensation. Would go here every day if it weren't for the price! ($11) We stopped at this café after we read the Yelp Reviews. Overall, the café was clean and the food was good. However, I ordered the Pier 5 Cheesesteak and although it was good, it was overpriced for what I got. Why is the cheesesteak so much more expensive than the other sandwiches? My husband just asked for a small cup of water instead of a drink. He was given a small plastic cup of tap water. When I got the receipt in my email there was a charge of 50 cents for a little dinky cup of water! It wouldn't be so bad if they had told me that before I paid, but they never said that there would be a charge. At least be up front about adding ridiculous charges. Courteous staff. Delicious food. Great attention to detail. Each breakfast sandwich was a piece of art. This is a very convenient spot located on Walnut st. It's connected to a larger building that holds apartments and offices so anyone working/living around have very easy access. Waterfront is also very similar to an Old Nelson in regards to the upkeep and ambience of the location.
The food is a bit on the pricey side, but it's very well worth it. I usually go for their salads, and add smoked salmon and eggs to my Kale Caesar. I would also highly recommend their Kale Apple Salad. It's so delicious!
On my recent visit I had their Classic Tuna Melt. They make is very fresh and it tastes delicious! This is definitely a place I would recommend for its quality and freshness in every meal. They also have desserts to try like macarons, cheesecake, etc. Sorry but when you have staff who takes orders they need to speak and understand English. Ordered a sandwich said hold the peppers to have her put extra peppers. If you pay $8 for a smallish chicken sandwich they could at least get the order right. The spongy chicken was just icing on the cake. Save your money get door dash I should have. Great experience! Terrific place to grab coffee and chill! I'd like to recommend this place to everyone around uni city. Great little lunch spot! It was really
Cold outside so I ran inside her for a bite! It's your typical cafe and sandwhich place with the caveat being everything is made to order and it's totally fresh. The price can't be beat for the quality of food here. Don't opt to go to Panera or any of those places when you can come here instead, you'll get better sandwiches and salads for less of the price. You order at the deli counter and you wait for your food to come out the little window! I ordered a grilled chicken and pesto sandwhich that was great! The bread was fresh and it was steaming as it came out the window! Nothing like warm toasty bread. The chicken was very tasty and not dry which you get at some lunch places but not here. They have a variety of juices and waters here as well. They don't have soft drink which was a bummer. My only knock on this place was I wish they had more seating. Waterfront Gourmet is right next to my workplace, so I go there fairly often for lunch or to pick up food to or on my way from work. Their food is always freshly made and so delicious! Every sandwich that I've tried has been absolutely fantastic, as well as their smoothies. Bagels and pastries are decent, but nothing special. The sandwiches are generously portioned with high quality ingredients and come with a side of either kettle chips or salad. Overall, it's a great value for the size and quality at $9-10 a sandwich. And the staff are very nice as well! Waterfront Gourmet continues to be a favorite and my go-to spot. Stopped in for a quick breakfast before hitting the road and it is in a very convenient location. Breakfast menu is small but the choices are mighty. We ordered to dine in, it wasn't too crowded and the service was good. My friend got the Lox sandwich and I got the prosciutto egg avocado panini. Good quality food and amount for price and great atmosphere! I walk every break and some days I need a pick me up. Most days I bring my water but when I forget, there's never a quick place to pop in without a mile long line. Insert Waterfront Gourmet Cafe & Deli They have cozy indoor and outdoor seating, the wait is null and the people are pleasant. Yes, you may pay a little extra for your beverage and snack item but the service, cleanliness and minimal wait makes it worth it. Plus everything is #FRESH What better way to release some endorphins than with fresh air, fruit and exercise?!! These berries had all the #antioxidants I needed for my short stroll. But on the other hand. If you have time, peruse through their menu and you'll find some tasty deli-style sandwiches, salads, paninis and even a cup of Joe. So if you need a quaint spot, tucked in plain sight, with cheerful smiles, pop into Waterfront Gourmet Cafe & Deli. Tell'em I said hey We used them for a catering luncheon and the food was delivered on time with excellent customer service. We ordered a fruit salad as a side and the fruit was perfectly ripped. Desserts were delicious. Highly recommend! Waterfront has very quickly become one of my favorite lunch spots. I have yet to try something I did not like. The food may be a little pricey, but it is well worth it, as the restaurant is clean, the staff is friendly, the portions are filling, and the food tastes great.
The only reason I did not give 5 stars is because I once found a large piece of plastic in my salad. This was an isolated incident and I do not think it is something to happen again. My biggest concern lies in the fact that they have not answered my emails regarding the plastic incident. If I ever hear back from them maybe they will get that 5th star. We are sitting in an ICU waiting room, several days in, and hungry, tired and cranky. Someone in NYC called this deli and send several trays of the most amazing, fresh, and delicious sandwiches. It was the best meal we've had delivered all week, and they must have made them right before sending them over. Wow. pananis are good enough but today I order from ubereats and with each sandwich you can choose a salad or some chips and of course they do not say what the type of chips they are. turns out their nacho chips not like potato chips and also you have an option of choosing a sandwich and a salad , turns out the salad came in a box along with the sandwich no container for the salad at all they just throw loose carrots and green leaves over inside a cardboard box no container.very nasty. Never order from here again Waterfront is great! Food is quality, sandwiches are filling. Very comparable to other homey places in the area (as in, Picnic just next door, or Cosi a few blocks away) that give you homey soups or sandwiches quickly.
I remember the service being especially friendly, like we all lived in the same small Southern town. Definitely recommend for lunch or a quick dinner!
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name: David's Southern Fried Pies, address: 8601 Frankford Ave, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: closed, categories: Desserts, Food, text: Everyone was so sweet the second we walked in. Came in today with my boyfriend to try out something, we've both been excited to come by but were just waiting for them to finally open. He wanted to try something new, so he got the orange cheesecake. He thought it was great, said the texture and flavor was perfect, just the chocolate crust was a bit overpowering. I myself got the chocolate mug cake. I loved it. The icing was so delicious too. Will be recommending to some friends and most definitely coming back. You must try! Omg , stopped in here last night and have been sampling each item I bought since! The sweet potato banana pie was fantastic, but my fave is the chocolate blueberry pie! Tried the cupcakes too which were super fresh and big! The icing was soo yummy. The only complaint I could come up with, is maybe more icing and more in the middle of the chocolate filled one. Thank you for being super nice! Good luck! I had the oatmeal cookies. I didn't like them as they where rather dry and tasted a few days old. Plus they crumbled up like dust during my walk home might give them a try but the energy is off in this place so I doubt it They are new in our area so we ventured over. Walked in and was engulfed with the smell of love and wrapped in welcome from the staff and owner. As we took in the smells and sights David and another staff member explained each and every item. I was told of the Lemon Mug Cake. David suggested and I ordered. I am not even a little disappointed. A dense and zesty lemon explosion was an absolute pleasure. I will return and I will reorder. Thank you David and Staff and welcome to the neighborhood. The chocolate chip orange cheesecake was absolutely AMAZING! We also tried The chocolate fried pie which was also delicious! The lemon mug cake And banana walnut mug cake with cream cheese frosting were so fresh and tasty. I wasn't a super big fan of the chocolate mug cake it was a little dry, but everything else was out of this world and the owner was so nice. I will definitely be going back! Owner is very friendly every time we stop by, love everything ive tried including the cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies! Will be back soon! Checked out David's Southern Fried Pies today! Absolutely delicious!!! This is the Banana Pecan Mug Cake and the Chocoolate Blueberry pie with chocolate meringue on top. David was so friendly and told us about everything he makes. Check it out!! I've always been more of a pie guy than a cake person - my wife purchased a few of these fried pies for a birthday treat for me. They were fantastic! We had Blueberry, Chocolate and Lemon. The Lemon was amazing, the Blueberry and Chocolate were really really good as well!
I will be definitely coming back for more! I just knew it would be worth the trip. And I was not dissappointed. I love chocolate, and I'm a picky chocolate eater.The Venus and Serena was sooo good. (David's fried chocolate pie) Also the bannana bomb was delish. I came to David's Southern Fried pies this afternoon (Sunday March 18) after noticing them yesterday while grabbing water ice. We bought 3 Fried Pies (apple, chocolate and blueberry), a chocolate mud cake, and a chocolate chip cheesecake. Each item was better than the next! Everything from the crusts to the fillings are made fresh from scratch and you can definitely tell in the taste. Not only are the desserts delicious but the owner was very friendly and took the time to explain how each of the items I bought were made. My family and I will definitely be back to this new gem in our neighborhood! I already recommended this place to my neighbor as i was typing this review. I am excited to try more stuff from here soon! Thanks for your hospitality and delicious desserts! My cousin brought dessert from David's Cookies we're excellent and the fried apple pie was so good and very different. Will go there ourselves to check it out I have mixed feelings about David's fried pies. First off David has top notch customer service. He was very pleasant and explained the items. Even offered a discount if you purchase 3 items. First the chocolate chip cookies. They were just okay at best. I enjoyed the crispy edges but they were way too dry. You can tell they were made from scratch but they were easily forgettable. We opted for 2 pies, lemon and apple. At first I was beyond excited but then i bit into it. I was not expecting a cold fried pie! Such a disappointment! I imagined it like an old school McDonalds fried pie but elevated. They were always hit and delicious. Biting into a cold fried pie just isn't my thing.
The apple was far superior to the lemon. I'm a huge fan of lemon pie too, it was just a bit too sweet for me. The apple was spot on other than the temperature. The crust was flaking and had a great cinnamon and brown sugar coating. The apple filling had just the right sweetness and was packed full of apples. The pies are also a very nice size. At $12.00 it wasn't a bad deal but I just wish it were better. Not sure I would go out of my way to go back in but, I may give them another shot. I stopped here over the weekend after getting a recommendation from a friend. David is the jack of all trades as it appears as he handles customer service, bakes and basically manages the business by himself. He was super friendly/inviting and made me feel at home.
I decided to try a little bit of everything including a peach, sweet potato/banana, apple and strawberry cheesecake pies as well as a carrot cake cupcake. My favorite by a long shot was the strawberry cheesecake which was rich and creamy with the right taste of sweetness from the strawberry filling. The carrot cake was dense and moist which was also very good. I found the peach, sweet potato and apple to be a bit too sweet for my liking but if you have a sweet tooth so will love them. The sweet potato had a baby food type of consistency.
It's worth checking out if you like sweet desserts. Never had such delicious pies. I loved the lemon raspberry filling one. It is rich but totally worth it I have officially renamed this establishment:
Uncle David's Southern Fried Pies because baby, Uncle David is now part of my family.
When I tell you these pies gave me life! I took one to my 96 year old Nana who is from West Virginia and well versed in sweets..she said "hmmmm that's good".
I've even written as song, want to hear it? here is goes (To the melody of John Legend, All of Me)
"What would I do without your sweet pies,
Throwing that dough into the fry-eer
Got my head spinnin' no kiddin'
I can't put them down"
Listen, I had the peach (with peach sugar) and the apple.. just outstanding. I warmed them in the oven on 350 degrees for about 5-6 minutes and they were toasty and filled with fruit. Next on my list try are sweet potato and pecan.. hmm. I have attached a list for all the flavors to include cookies, mug cakes, and cheesecake. Cinnamin Bun got a chocolate chip cheesecake which has a graham cracker bottom..she loved it.
Ample parking, superb customer service; please go check out my uncle, you won't be disappointed:) What a wonderful addition to the neighborhood! I found out about David's pies on a neighborhood Facebook group and stopped in to support him. David is very welcoming and helpful as he gives you a tour of the delicious deserts he has to offer. I decided to try the namesake southern fried pies and they didn't disappoint. Each pie has a unique nickname reflecting a famous Philadelphian. I tried the apple, raspberry, lemon and pecan pies and they were fresh and tasty. My favorite is the lemon but you can't go wrong with any of the other flavors either. I'm looking forward to being a long time customer for years to come! Second time we have had their desserts. Wonderful. Cheesecake is rich and creamy. Fried pies are delicious and love. The various cookies. Have had pecan cranberry oat and chocolate chip. Next time will try the chocolate pies. Like to patronize small local businesses If you want to treat yourself or maybe bring the best dessert to a party.. stop by David's!!! I want to start by saying the owner David is awesome. He was attentive and courteous. I was immediately greeted and told all about the pies and cakes available. As a first time customer, over all.. it was a pleasant, refreshing experience. As far as the desserts.. OMG!! Worth every penny. I bought bought the brown butter cookies.. yummo :) I also bought the sweet potato and banana fried pie.. that by far was my favorite. The pie crust was flakey and buttery. The mix of banana and sweet potato filling was delicious. What an elevated change to your traditional sweet potato pie. Finally I bought one of the cheesecakes with the homemade chocolate Graham cracker crust.. I wish I could say I ate it all but it was sooo good by boyfriend devoured it before I could. It was rich and creamy. Everything you could ask for! David definitely knows his sweets. I will be a returning customer for sure. Go and check this local run business out! Great addition to the northeast :) Great desserts from a scratch kitchen. Customer service is super friendly. Lots of dessert options. The word Southern is synonymous with sweet and that these desserts are!
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name: La Colombe Coffee, address: 915 Lancaster Ave, Ste 160, city: Bryn Mawr, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: Food, Coffee & Tea, text: I love La Colombe Coffee and the city locations -- so I was really excited when this one opened in Bryn Mawr! The coffee is great as always, some food selections and complimentary sparkling water. And the staff is friendly and helpful in describing the different drink options. While I tend to get regular La Colombe coffees, I did sample the draft drinks and if you are in the mood for something even more special, they are really good! The space looks really cool, and some of the seating is nice enough and next to big, bright windows. But in general the layout and seating are not great and not particularly comfortable. It's still a great place to come for a selection of reliably great coffee drinks! Oat Milk Draft Latte is my favorite coffee drink. I'm addicted to it. The iced coffee late, croissants and pain au chocolat were really good but the hot chocolate was really tasteless and when we complained it was not good we were just told to add sugar!!!? I think the decor while looking good and contemporary is not cosy and the seats are very uncomfortable. The layout is weird and you cannot seat too many people in this huge space. Finally, I really did not appreciate that when you pay with a credit card you are forced to leave a tip as on the iPad were you leave your signature after paying they give you the option of leaving a tip for 15, 20 or 25 percent when there is no table service and you even have to clear your own table!!! This place is a let down. I would not recommend it. Coffee is very well made and very good. Pastries are fresher and better than Starbucks. Nice place to sit and chat or work. Parking seems an issue but better than the Bryn Mawr Starbucks. Main issue. One coffee machine and one coffee maker, it seems, most of the time. Weekends always too busy and very slow. This is the 4th Sat in a row that I have sat and eaten my pastry and still wait and wait for my coffee. I hope they do something about this. I see the Staff working hard but something is wrong. Need Staff ? Need another coffee machine? Something is amiss. Sorry. So happy that La Columbe finally opened a shop on the Main Line. First the upside: Coffee/Latte/Draft Latte is delicious and almond croissants here are the best. There is a decent amount of parking. All staff are very professional. The downsides are: The space is too small and awkward...and usually very crowded. TERRIBLE seating arrangement with about 10 tables and 3-4 space hogging uncomfortable benches which take up half the space. They do not offer organic dairy. I'm spoiled by Le Pain Quotidienne and Poor Richards in Wayne which both use organic grass fed dairy. Delicious coffee! It is good black no need for milk. I wish they had soy for a soy latte but oh well! Black coffee it is! Great location. The inside is very open but it was very busy around 9:30 when I arrived. Coffee lovers, go here for the draft latte experience if nothing else. The latte's textured and layered like no other coffee drink I've consumed. I don't think the prices are bad either. The latte costs about $3.50. Service is pretty efficient as well. The drawback, as you'll read over and over on here, is the industrial seating. It seems similar to playing uptempo music to rush out clientele. As I type this, my back is already hurting from the low tables and seats. If you're tall, forget about it. Order to go. Otherwise, you'll look like an adult trying to fit into a high chair. If this place does something about the seating, I'll give it five stars. Love their coffee; especially the draft and Cortado. So over rated. No wifi and when I asked the staff why this was so she said all their locations are unplugged. Alright. Yet everybody in the cafe was on their phone or laptop so while I appreciate the opportunity the reality of today is that we are all connected and when I go to a cafe like most people I wanna be connected to wifi. The staff forgot to make my iced coffee, I had to remind her, no outlets obviously and the seating isn't very comfortable. Finally, there are no menus on the wall. No thank you I am a fan of the beans but certainly not the space. the coffee is great but a modern coffee shop -heck or even a renaissance one as I am sure the CEO at least knows from his time in Europe- is not just about the coffee. My personal opinion is from a design standpoint, the seating is just uncomfortable and awkward as a few have pointed out. it's not family friendly -not squatting all day, which btw is also just plain arrogant language-.
At least one of the baristas can also use some humility, there is no need to be condescending in answering a customer's question carrying his toddler on a weekend after he stood in line for 30 mins! this is the stuff that leaves long negative impression. I will continue to order the beans online or get them from one of the Philly stores -where baristas are actually quite nice- but I am unlikely to be visiting the store anytime soon, certainly not with my young family. 5 stars for the drink! I got a "black and tan" which was surprising and delicious. Unfortunately I can't really recommend this dining experience, as the seating is very uncomfortable and not at all conducive to conversation. Would visit much more often if they had more comfortable seating, perhaps communal tables along the one wall? Much of the seating is very low to the ground, not the best for older adults! I meet friends regularly in Bryn Mawr and we were excited about a new coffee house. I was first to arrive, went inside, and was disappointed by the lack of seating. The have some tables along the window (all were occupied) but in the middle of the room are these benches that look like they belong in a train station. I did not want to have to sit with my 3 friends all in a row, or sit back-to-back with them. We decided not to bother with La Colombe and went to Hot House Coffee instead for nice drinks and comfortable seating. This is what fine coffee should be. The attention to detail in every cup exemplifies the commitment to excellence to La Colombe has come mean. The foam on their espresso drink is tight and flavorful and nothing like the dirty dishwater you get at Starbucks. The draft latte is simply an inspirational creation whose only downside may be the instant addiction it creates after the first cold and smooth sip. The food is excellent while having a selection that is both familiar and new.
To those who complained based on the seating for patrons. This is a high end coffee shop not a communal workspace that allows you to act like a squatter all day long because you paid $3 for a coffee. If you you need to spend 3 hours on your laptop go rent an office or go to the excellent public library that is just down the street. Your coffee shop as an office has either ruined a chance at having a decent seat at other coffee shops or forced establishments like La Colombe to take steps to ensure that you don't ruin their business by driving away paying customers.
Todd & Lauren congratulations on a great addition to Bryn Mawr and Philadelphia. This place is BEAutiful!!!! They have a strawberry vanilla scone, which is the best thing I've eaten!! I ordered an iced coffee and it was draft, I was amazed!! Just wonder if they have flavor a like vanilla or raspberry ! Other than that amazing! After 18 years in Oakland, Berkeley, SF area it has been hard to satisfy my transplant longings for that latte that just is on the money. I'd say there is an elite class of cafes with different tastes and attitudes serving up some solid brew and La Colombe might be leading the way.
I have been to the Bryn Mawr location 11 times now. Other than my milk sometimes being on the hotter than I like side (makes me take my time I suppose), it's been a great experience every time. Busy or quiet, the staff is always friendly. If you didn't hang out with artsy kids in high school, no one expects you to understand how to now.
The coffee is amazing. Sure, there's Stumptown, Love, Sightglass, Ritual, High Wire and Blue Bottle in the Bay Area, but there is something about LaColombe - a caramel finish with rich chocolate notes - that plants it in the upper end of this league. The retail packaging is fantastic and the Draft Latte cans define - DEFINE - prepackaged coffee to go.
What LaColombe didn't do is as important as what it did. When 3rd wave coffee roasting broke through in the early to mid 00's, coffee went from oily beans that put hair on your chest (sorry ladies, but it did for me) to some version of dirty tea. We didn't want to harm the beans, only give them a massage and a tan. What this did was introduce flavor notes like grapefruit, lavender, hopes and dreams. There was an inherent smoothness, but it was like serving people used to having an nice porter or stout a pilsner (or worse, a "Golden Stout") and say this is how it was always meant to be. Well, it wasn't. La Colombe went to the dance, heard the music, put on their AkG 701's and began roasting a bean that spanned the gap between old world oily roasts with a bitter finish and the 3rd wave complexities. Maybe they were listening to Joy Division and early New Order to get it right, but it's both darkness and hope all wrapped into one drink. Beautiful atmostphere, even better coffee. Great place to bring friends, socialize, and sober up.
Despite the warm weather, I ordered the Ethiopian Yirgz pourover. Gotta stay simple on the first time. The scent alone is unforgettable and is well worth the cost.
Looking forward to continued regular visits! Too quick to take my order properly, then made my drink slowly and incorrectly - wrong type of milk with a dairy allergy = not appreciated. Coffee tastes good. Atmosphere inside is European--mugs instead of plastic cups, wooden interior, and sparkling water on tap. Seating is uncomfortable, and sitting down here makes me feel like I'm in an art experiment. I finally had my chance to try out this la colombe location! Every time I tried to come in to sit and have a drink (usually over the weekend) it would always be packed with people. I stayed in for a macchiato which was like a shot of coffee and my friend got the cappuccino which had the beautiful art design on the coffee (sorry not sure what it's exactly called).
My macchiato was the perfect quick punch of coffee I needed to make it through the rest of the day. It literally looks like it's a shot of coffee, definitely not your Starbucks version of a macchiato. To be honest, it was quite strong for my taste (probably because I'm not a true coffee connoisseur) but I did learn to enjoy the flavor. I loved the industrial look to the cafe, and I would definitely come back to try their other drinks! Great coffee place and good variety of brews. Stopped in as we were visiting the area for a couple hours and glad to find good fresh coffee. The atmosphere is nice, good for conversation and relatively quiet. A few nice fresh pastries. I've been here twice and they've screwed up my order twice. First time I ordered a large hot coffee and they gave me a small. Normally I wouldn't give two craps, but when I'm paying a premium for their coffee-I expect to get what I pay for. Second time, I ordered iced coffee and they gave me iced tea. Slight oversight. Hot coffee is great, iced tea was phenomenal, iced coffee tasted like battery acid.
I have to say they corrected their mistake both times, but with an air of indifference to someone who doesn't understand their "fine art". I'll be back, coffee is too damn good not to. This place needs some more love! Firstly, the interior is SO cool. It almost feels like a train station, with the unconventional bench seating in places, and the industrial vibe. True, for the number of colleges in the area, this may not be the best place to study since finding a table could be tricky, but to meet for coffee, it's great! I came on an early weekday evening and found the place very full, but I didn't have to wait long for my beautifully prepared cappuccino. I am usually a boring order, sticking closely to my iced coffee black, but I really appreciated the care and artisan quality of this cappuccino. I'll be back for sure! Most importantly, the coffee is very, very good.If you want good espresso drinks, you'll find it. I was less impressed with the other aspects. I was there on a late Saturday morning and the line snaked through the store. People clogged the bar area to watch the drinks being made, which made getting to your own drink more of a chore than necessary. There's also a certain pretentiousness to the place. Go and enjoy the excellent coffee, but don't expect more than that. Friendly baristas and a beautiful, industrial space complete with fresh flowers. Oh, the coffee is delicious too (almost goes without saying). Seating is admittedly a bit awkward; a great local addition nonetheless! Good coffee in the most horrible uncomfortable seating arrangement ever. Simply can not accommodate more than 2 people unless you all want to stare at the counter lined up on a rock hard church bench. Sends the message that mgmt clearly does not want you to hang out. Great for a grab and go. Forget it otherwise. No organic creamer options. Wonderful place to get coffee in Bryn Mawr! The atmosphere is great and the coffee and pastries (especially their almond croissants) are delicious. We're from out of state vising the area. Great trendy coffee spot. Had the pastries in the morning (amazing artisan rustic pastries....all of them!) and lattes. Also had a cold "draft latte"! That's a good one that you shouldn't pass up! thumbs up for this place! Boy oh boy. I loved the decor in here! Reminds me of how beautiful this country was before the war!! I know I'm old.... WelI... I was finally able to meet a real life hipster!! Thanks La Colombe! "I could use a coffee." Those were the words that actor Jean Reno muttered to fellow co-star Hank Azaria at the end of the 1998 Roland Emmerich film, Godzilla. It is one of my favorite films, but that quote came to mind as I was walking east on Lancaster Ave, and actively searching for a coffee shop that was not named 'Starbucks.'
As I made my way down the street, I spotted, what appeared to be an old warehouse, that has been turned into a coffee shop and a few other small businesses. Pretty cool, huh? In any case, I entered, grabbed a Cup of Joe and marveled at the really cool architecture.
Oh yeah, that coffee really hit the spot, but I will have to return to pick up a bag of beans and perhaps some chocolate bars too. Fantastic coffee, great vibes, and welcoming baristas. The drinks are always on point and there is even a fountain for sparkling water. The music always sets a chill mood and the aesthetics are classic, minimalist, & inspiring. Best place for coffee on the mainline. 5 stars for the drink! I got a "black and tan" which was surprising and delicious. Unfortunately I can't really recommend this dining experience, as the seating is very uncomfortable and not at all conducive to conversation. Would visit much more often if they had more comfortable seating, perhaps communal tables along the one wall? Much of the seating is very low to the ground, not the best for older adults!
Had to update review to mention the delicious latte i had yesterday!! Really the best I've ever had can't get one like it anywhere else Finally a good Americano on the mainline! I have been working in this area for over four years and have yet to have a good Americano until today! There is no WiFi, but for someone like me who uses this place for a lunch break coffee and snack, I enjoyed that there was actually a space to sit and enjoy my break. At places like green engine down the street, there is never a place to sit, and the coffee isn't nearly as good, so it's a win win (not to mention, green engine's wifi never works anyway). I also liked the fact that there was sparkling water on tap. I plan on returning frequently. Gone for the cookie cutter hipster coffee decor look along with staff wearing the obligatory trucker hats, key chains and not a care for customer service. Coffee was ok, not great. Huge space with poor seating. Loved La Colombe when it used to be on Main St Manayunk (now Volo, equally good) and of course the original location in Rittenhouse Sq, so had to try this location.
The space is huge, big windows, lovely servers.
The issue for me was the price and the mismatch between that and the quality of the coffee: $6 for an iced pour over ! YIKES. Quality was fine but I will definitely not be returning when I can get incredible iced coffee and cold brews at my fave local shops in the Germantown/Mt. Airy area. The coffee is so wonderful that I've become willing to put up with the relatively uncomfortable seating and the high noise level. On several visits, staff has been cheerful and accommodating. Great pour overs but not your typical comfy atmosphere that you would expect from a coffee shop. Great coffee environment, good pour over coffee and excellent latte's. There is a parking lot to the side and metered parking out front with free 10 minutes at each meter. Many people complained of the lack of free internet but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is actually an Xfinity hotspot which gives you free WIFI if you are a comcast internet subscriber. Delicious coffee & pastries. Staff was a little rude/uninviting. I'll try a different location! I say this without hyperbole -- the draft cold brew coffees (Pure Black, Draft Latte, Black and Tan) are among the best beverages I've ever had of any sort (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic).
Candidly, this location isn't one of the best La Colombe cafes around. It's new, the seats are uncomfortable, the staff is inexperienced, there is no wi-fi.
All of that just doesn't matter in the end. I fly all over for work, both domestically and internationally, and the quality of the coffee and the taste of the draft coffees especially is simply unparalleled.
If you are a coffee lover, you must try their cold draft coffees. The interior didn't bother me as much as other reviewers. The walnut benches were attractive and not as uncomfortable as I'd heard. But the coffee was just awful! I had a cold brew, which I drink every day at any one of multiple locations in the burbs and elsewhere around the country when I travel. This was definitely the worst cold brew I've ever had anywhere. It was bitter and had no real coffee flavor - just tasteless bitterness. My partner had the Ethiopian coffee. Again, this was the worst Ethiopian brew I've tasted. I used to really enjoy La Colombe coffee but haven't had it in years. I'm afraid they've gotten too big - reminds me of just another over-roasted Starbucks. Never thought I could find WORSE service than Starbucks!! Coffee is excellent but the people working there need to drop the attitude. I've been drinking La Colombe coffee for years. Was excited to drop by the Bryn Mawr location. Store decor and ambience is great, but the employees who waited on me couldn't have been more miserable. They seemed genuinely annoyed that I was there. I will never go back. Solid coffee shop!! My faves are almond milk lattes and draft pure black with a splash of tan!! The pastries are also BOMB. I dream of almond croissants! No wifi but who cares?! I enjoyed La Colombe's atmosphere and the drinks were very good. My husband enjoyed the draft latte and I enjoyed my caramel latte. We both appreciated the depth of both drinks, having just the right bitterness and sweetness to it! We will definitely be coming here again. The coffee and tea is good but expensive. They don't have WiFi though, which is a deal breaker for sure. Seriously, what kind of coffee shop doesn't have WiFi? If you like a FULL body coffee this is your place. Relaxed atmosphere. Well worth the drive. La Colombe needs to open a store front near Exton, Pa. I was very excited to learn that a coffee shop would come to the main line. There has not been anywhere to get decent espresso for about 10 square miles since I moved here 8 years ago.
I tried to order coffee 3 times at La Colombe. In general I order a short latte (aka 8oz), decaf. This is because no one in this region seems to know the difference between a cappuccino and a latte. The 2nd time, I visited La Colombe, the person taking my order just...took my order, and the barista made a delicious latte. The coffee-milk ratio was perfect.
The first, and the last time I visited, the person taking my order immediately informed me that drinks don't come in 8oz volumes. I HAD to have a 12 oz drink. I had to plead back-and-forth to please ask the barista to only pour to 8oz. Today the barista poured me only the 8 ounces, but forgot the decaf part of the order. The milk-coffee ratio was not right, I could barely taste the coffee.
La Colombe is not worth the gigantic effort. Trying this place for the first time. Having my coffee "in." 5-stars for the pretty cups and saucers. 3-stars for the coffee (it's just average). Minus 3-stars for the seating. Hard and uncomfortable benches. This will be my last visit. Next time I'll walk on and go to Hothouse up the street. The coffee is sublime. Unfortunately the food that was on offer the day I visited was rich and expensive (a challah roll--admittedly a large one--costs $4.00). The place is uncomfortable, surprising because it's new. Plain wood seats and benches, a high ceiling with no attempt to buffer the noise from talk and music, cramped table placement. It's probably more comfortable to sit outside. This will be my favored place for take-out coffee; I won't try to eat or relax here again. I'm shocked by the low score. La Colombe is wonderful as always, and now in a beautiful new space. The Main Line is lucky to have decent coffee finally come to town.
Draft lattes and black & tans are the key items here this summer, and they are consistently delicious. The latte is made with whole milk and made even richer through the nitro draft, and can be heavy as a result. If you don't want to feel like you've had a milkshake for breakfast, my pick is the black & tan It combines their excellent cold brew with the nitro latte for more coffee taste and less overwhelming creaminess.
Seating leaves much to be desired (uncomfortable, and half of it is in direct sunlight), but the coffee and service are on point as always.
Way to go, La Colombe! Great coffee and a nice, open, atmosphere. I would have stayed longer and paid for more food if they had WiFi! Also, only one outlet in the whole place. They clearly don't want people squatting there and working for hours.
I had their drip coffee, which was very good, and a pastry. Prices are reasonable and the baristas are very friendly. They also have cold and sparkling water on tap so make sure to fill your water bottle! I love the selection of coffees at La Colombe! They have great flavor profiles and their draft coffee is amazingly delicious! They have a great environment in the shop and this is they exact type of place I would want to meet up for coffee with someone or take a book and just read all day at. Its a really classy coffee shop and well worth the trip off of the highway when I am passing by Bryn Mawr. I also buy their beans to make coffee at home and it tastes great as well but I miss the atmosphere of the coffee shop. I am a fan of La Columbe for many years, of course the Rittenhous Square location.
Please somebody re- train the baristas at this location.
They make the awful cappuccinos & lattes.
Not only they don't know how to make the drinks they are sooooooooooooooooooo slooooooooooooooooooooooow.
Sorry, I'm going to stick with the Rittenhous Square location only. Great coffee, great atmosphere, respectable prices.
I just have a small beef with the customer service. It was mostly OK but we came like 20 minutes before close and they made it very apparent that they were about to close, if you know what I mean.
It's not like I was there right at closing time, and they close at 7 for pete's sake. One thing I miss from my 10 years living in DC was the amazing coffee shops that popped up - all close by wth fantastic coffee and pastry. I lived close to the first LC and went often (too often...$$). It was perfect from the decor to the generally friendly service to the absolutely delicious pastries. I had high hopes for the Bryn Mawr location. Unfortunately, it's very different - $3 for iced coffee, boring pastries, and indifferent service. When I am nearby, I sometimes go. I wish I could convince some of their DC competition to open here, but for now, the best we've got in the burbs is Green Engine and LC, both with uncomfortable seating for meeting a friend for coffee. Oh well! This is an amazing coffeehouse. I'm so glad that they brought it to the Main Line. Their coffee is OUT OF THIS WORLD and everyone that works there is super friendly. I love their draft lattes and oatmilk cortados. I would, however, suggest the following:
1) They don't have any vegan pastries. This is a total bummer!
2) There's no cozy seating options. Just hard, uncomfortable chairs. This is usually fine, since I typically get my coffee to go, but when I come to study, I'd love a place with more comfortable chairs to read a book.
Overall, this is the best coffee place on the Main Line, and I urge anyone who likes coffee to give it a try. Draft Latte for the win! Grew up here my whole life and Bryn Mawr needed a spot like La Colombe. Great location and atmosphere. The coffee and espresso are fantastic! However I am disappointed in the lack of options for children. Would be nice if they had some milk or juice for young kids. Pastries were on point, service was fair. The challenge is the seating; uncomfortable and not laid out in the best fashion. Great place if you don't have kids and don't plan to sit and relax. I absolutely love the scenery and vibe of La Colombe Coffee. It not only serves the ONLY Oat milk Draft Latte, they also serve phenomenal Pour over single origin coffees. One of my favorites happens to currently be one of their Natural Ethiopian's.
Every La Colombe coffee I have ever been in, always caters to the young working class, with wonderful appetizers and pastries, take home bags of freshly roasted coffee, and wonderful relaxing vibe to work at.
While some may believe that it's a highly priced coffee shop, I disagree as you are not only paying for a high quality product, you're paying for the experience and a relaxing environment. Unfortunately this is a sub-par suburban bland version of once-great urban original. Terrible aging hipsters "service" is awful and coffee is meh. Hothouse Coffee down the street way better, less attitude and not a regional "super-chain" with awful attitudes. Got to honest that my motivation for writing a review is that the have no wifi. None. Not free. Not password protected. Go to the smallest cafe in any country and you'll find a "WiFi password" sign. The idea that this swanky Mainline roaster denies a basic service feels aggressively apathetic to customer experience.
End of rant.
Nicely designed space. Seating comfortable enough for brief meetings or complete a quick task. Nothing overly comfortable encourages lingering visits.
Good music piped in.
Coffee is good and bad. Right now I'm drinking a cup that would make Wawa blush from embarrassment. On average you'll get a tasty brew- sometimes very good.
A big plus the the carbonated water on tap. Nice touch. In fact I just upped my rating an entire star due to the "spicy" water There might be no better place to have an espresso in the area. But as La Colombe becomes a larger chain, it's losing its charm.
The original Rittenhouse Square location was warm and welcoming until it was "modernized" -- which made it feel more like an upscale Starbucks. The newer locations, this one included, also try too hard to look cool at the expense of comfort. This one, for example, uses half the seating area for bench-style seats that look taken from 30th Street Station. Small coffee tables are placed awkwardly in front of these pews, as if they were sofas. Presumably the lack of traditional tables and chairs is designed to discourage customers, especially solo laptop users, from staying awhile. But the seating arrangement would be off-putting even to a pair of friends who want to sit across from one another or colleagues getting together to discuss some business.
Green Engine Coffee in Haverford, another recent and welcome entry to the Main Line, does a much better job feeling comfortable to all kinds of patrons. And I bet they paid a lot less--if anything--for interior decoration advice. Fabulous for studying! Very open space with good music and excellent coffee. Excellent latte and chocolate croissant. The cafe is big, open, and well decorated. Staff is friendly and helpful. Stop here the other day for coffee I was quite impressed with how good the coffee is here. Never been a huge fan of Starbucks and if you are I would highly recommend you trying this place Nice space. Uncomfortable seating. Indifferent service. Coffee temperature was just warm, not hot. No wireless, but I knew that going in. Overpriced. Parking is crowded. I'm a fan of anything anti-Starbucks, but this place disappointed me, I expected more...like comfortable seating. Most of the seating is backless, which isn't very comfortable for more than a few minutes. If you're here with 2 people, one of you is forced to use the backless bench. Good coffee (I've had better), uncomfortable seating. So excited to have an authentic coffee shop on the Main Line (with parking!). The inside is beautiful, the atmosphere is warm, and most importantly the coffee is amazing. I've been here several times and not once has it disappointed.
The draft latte is the best latte I've ever had. The food is good, try the ham and butter sandwich - it's a winner. The staff is friendly, the service is quick, and sometimes the lines are long but that's because it's great. Hands down the best coffee spot on the Main Line. The baristas are friendly and quick. They have a great system and the coffee is dang good. I bring in a reusable cup which makes the cost per cup even less than the competitors. The to go salads are brought in freshly made around 10 a.m. The grain salad is my fav and my husband's is the roasted carrots and hummus. The vibe is what brings me back almost every day. People are having conversations instead of wearing headphones. Even the clientele is friendly. Oh, and the place is clean. The staff really pays attention to every detail. Good latte on draft. I enjoy the iced tea which they really only have one flavor, black. The sandwiches are good, although they usually run out by the early afternoon. There is no WiFi which seems very bizarre for a coffee shop ? Especially because so many people come to work / study. The seating is also limited and VERY uncomfortable. Overall good place to grab a drink and leave. Not good if your looking for somewhere to stay. I ordered a draft latte and while there was nothing wrong with it taste wise I was given a latte that was half foam/bubbles from the CO2 line that ran the draft. $3.50 for half a latte and a lot of bubbles/foam seems a bit steep. Great staff and product. I have been to La Colombes throughout Philadelphia, New York, DC, and Chicago. This location keeps their expectation going for quality product at a decent price, and at an okay speed. I would go to this place a lot more and buy from here, but the have NO WIFI!!! Only coffee place I have ever been to that doesn't lol Not sure why, but I think more people would enjoy coffee here if they could check work emails or do homework etc... The place is so cool! The counter is very unique to coffee establishments. It is where all the last touches occur on the coffee whether it is cold or hot. I just love the coffee on tap. I watched the barista finesse the coffee so lovingly into cups. Then the client is handed a saucer, a spoon and sometimes a lid for the to go cup. Very well done. Good tasting coffee with to beat. Close to Villanova too!! This is my favorite coffee shop on the Main Line. The ambience is lovely, and the baristas are polite and professional. The coffee menu is pretty extensive and the coffee is a good blend. It is a tad pricey, but the quality and ambience makes up for it.The pastries are good as well! I love the chocolate chip muffin with a cinnamon crumb on top. They do not have soy milk, but they have almond milk and oat milk for non-diary milk. I just stopped in looking for a cappuccino. Staff is rude and don't like to converse. Not my type of place. Also the cappuccino was awful. For $3.50, I wished I would've gone down the street to Starbucks. Won't be returning. I grew up in the area and love how easily accessible this coffee is when I come home for a visit from San Diego. Living on the west coast, it's slowly becoming more well known and when I do find those brewing it's at notable locations like the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, the Graduate Hotel in Tempe AZ or their tiny pop up stand at the UTC Village mall in La Jolla where I always make a pit shop during a shopping outing.
Strictly based on their geographical location - these guys are going to nab quite a few nit picky reviews surprisingly falling just under 4 stars currently - mostly because I don't think everyone here knows a great cup of coffee even if it's sitting right under their nose. Sitting in an area of the Mainline surrounded by Starbucks and really lacking a stellar local joint, La Colombe is just about as good as it's gets from a company that started small and has become a "corporate giant". I hate to use that term because it sounds like we are comparing them to Starbucks which is not even in the same league as them. I'll just say this: Read their story, see how this company was founded and the things they do for the world - sustainably sourcing, participants in ethical trading and helped run by a CEO who has decades of passion for social and ecological change.
My only objection at this location is their choice of non dairy options. You guys use the OAT-LY! brand which is a huge high five but fall short on the choice to use Pacific as your Almond Milk brand, it's horrible - you can do better. Oh, and the biscotti's yesterday, pretty sure I almost broke my tooth biting into one.
A lot of reviews here complaining about prices and lack of food options but to me it's plain and simple; La Colombe makes a great clean cup of coffee, that's what I'm here for. You certainly aren't over paying for a drink from a company that has to close early nationwide to conduct a sensitivity training for their employees... just saying. If you live in Philly, you already know that la Colombe is a household name. I've been to a couple of la Colombe cafes but I'm looking for an experience that's yet to win me over. During my previous visits, I tried regular house blends which were average at best. On this visit, however, I tried the bourbon blend - nougat, pecans and nectarine. Maybe I'm not quite there as a coffee connoisseur but none of the notes hit. The cookies were great, although I wish they'd warm them up a bit before serving. I'm still waiting for a positive la Colombe experience. The coffee and beans are good. Only one option for decaf beans available for sale. Oddly, there are few electrical outlets (if any), and no Wifi. Seating is uncomfortable wood (sometimes padded) at a severe angle. Ok if you are only spending 5-10 minutes, but not a place to hang out. LOVE La Colombe and was excited to see it come to Bryn Mawr. The interior is cool of course with a industrial cafe feel...TBH though I don't find the stools to be very comfortable. There are also some seats outside for nice weather, and you will usually see a cute dog or two outside. Also love the fact that they have complimentary still AND SPARKLING water on tap for you.
My personal favorites here are the cappuccino with almond milk (one of the best milk substitute cappuccinos I've ever had), the Oat Milk Draft Latte (soooo good and smooth), and the almond croissant (so worth the calories). Their pastries are seriously amazing-probably a good thing that I don't know where they come from. They also have a small refrigerator while you go through the line that has canned beverages, salads, sandwiches, and other drinks. I tried a new Summer Shandy that was in this section which was iced espresso and lemonade. Surprisingly tasty and unique! I also really appreciate the option of paying via Apple pay. Love the coffee. Options are limited. Different locations offer different food. Downside is that some locations don't offer wifi. That's a huge downside for me. After standing in line for 15 minutes(Saturday morning,no big deal- in the grand scheme) the barista looked annoyed when I ordered a draft latte with iced coffee. Then as I am waiting- another barista spilled hot coffee over the counter- onto my shirt and shorts. Accidents happen but I didn't even get a "sorry" I asked for a rag of some sort and he handed me the dirty towel they use to clean the machine(which was covered in coffee). The coffee is okay, their food options are seriously lacking, and the customer service is just terrible. Save your money and try one of the many other great local coffee options. Its not bad. Like it better than Starbucks. Kinda has the vibe of a corporation like Target attempting to be hip in the guise of a third wave coffee shop but not QUITE ditching the corporate feel. Still, it'll provide the caffeine fix. Poor entry flow causing a bottle up of people at the door. Poor planing especially when the space is large and you, the customer, are squeezed into a tiny spot to order. Shows the customers are NOT valued. Otherwise the coffee is just OK and so is the food. But you leave with a "bad" taste in your mouth. Clean up your "act." Friendly vibe at this cool looking coffee house near Bryn a Mawr College. Good latte and delicious cookie. Nice place to hang out. We were trying to find a local coffee shop to grab espresso after venturing around the city to warm up since it was cold outside!
After searching on Yelp, we saw that La Colombe was nearby and they were open (some of the other shops were closed due to loss of power from the recent winter storm). Although they did not have the best reviews, we decided to give it a try.
The location itself is pretty neat - very modern. La Colombe was on the wall in big, bold letters which added to the aesthetic of the shop.
When we went to place our order, we noticed that there was no menu on the wall or anywhere visible. The employee working the register did not offer assistance either (even when it was evident we weren't sure of what they had). I eventually found a small menu on a card under the register. We both ordered Mochas with different coffee blends.
After a few minutes, the barista set down a Mocha and indicated that it was mine. Then, he made my fiance's Mocha and asked us if he could smell it. We said sure and he then said he was unsure of whether or not he made the right coffee blends for our order. Both of the coffees tasted/smelled the same (mine was supposed to be a fruity coffee blend and my fiance's was supposed to have more of a chocolate taste). I'm thinking the drinks definitely were not made right.
The barista didn't offer to make new ones to ensure that our order was right and we didn't bother asking as the whole encounter was a bit rushed and awkward anyway.
As for taste - yuck. I did not like my Mocha at all. My fiance did not like his either. They were very bland and had no flavor despite the promise of the coffee blends. Plus, for the price, the quality was lacking. We will likely not be back to this shop for coffee. I'd much rather spend my money at Menagerie! Great coffee. Just wish they had better seating. I probably would've stayed longer and bought another drink if there was a couch or some comfier chairs to relax on. I enjoyed my coffee drink, but I don't know what I ordered. When I walked in, I had no idea what their menu was or what they offered. I settled on some cold brewed draft latte drink and it was quite good. I enjoyed the coffee flavors. I then noticed they had some baked goods. I forgot what I ordered, because I was there during their opening week, but they gave me the wrong item. It wasn't that great, but maybe what I originally wanted was? I haven't been back, but I'm open to it. At least they have a great parking lot. This place was exactly what the area needed. Great coffee and they're pretty quick too. The space is open and light. It does not have WiFi and the tables are a bit small. Other than that, it's great for working! Good music that isn't too loud and...yes the coffee is awesome! Ordered hot chocolate and was served mocha. When I told the girl I ordered hot chocolate she yelled at the cashier asking her what I ordered as if she didn't believe me. Then after I sat down I found that it was not sweetened. Non sweet hot chocolate??? Really? Then I found out they don't offer WiFi. I threw my drink away and left. Too bad because I live up the street and would be a good customer. I guess it's back to Starbucks. Won't give this place another chance. Very cool place. Had grilled cheese and tomato soup. Excellent and the draft Oatmeal Latte is a must have. Wish there was one in Annapolis. I paid $6 for an iced coffee. Let me repeat that.... Six dollars. For a plain iced coffee. For a cup of coffee in a cup full of ice. Six American dollars. For a cup of coffee on ice. Six (6) whole dollars ($). Not a nitro coffee, nothing fancy. Just a literal cup of coffee on ice. Open and serving ambrosia. The newest edition to the La Colombe family....and yes, Draft Latte served here, of course. If you haven't had this fantastic elixir yet what the heck are you waiting for. I mean come on!!! The same carbonation that makes a Guinness so velvety delightful, now paired with espresso and milk. It doesn't get better than this, at least for your daytime drink ; and now you have a new location to obtain the holy grail of lattes.
If you need it at home you can buy the cans of it. They even offer a "triple" version in the cans for those addicts that need a little extra bump of caffeine.
In addition, as far as "coffee culture" goes this place in all of their locations are about as cool as they come. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the tasty bakery and sandwich morsels offered here as well. Hey, we need something to help absorb all that caffeine. Enjoy! I love their iced Nitro latte here! It comes out the perfect temperature with a subtle sweetness. The nitrogen gives it little bubbles that rise to the top to form the perfect consistency of this drink. I have tried their regular lattes too, which are brewed with quality coffee, but nothing beats the nitro coffee beverage! Also, their danishes are sooooooo good. I have tried all three over my visits - cheese, cinnamon, and raisin. My favorite is the cinnamon danish, but it appears to sell out the fastest. A cinnamon Danish and their nitro latte is the way to go! Really love this place. Almond milk latte is delicious and the staff is friendly and working hard during Covid. They take Covid very seriously and have a lot of precautions in place. Their baked goods look very good but I haven't tried them yet. There is seating nearby so you can sit and drink your coffee. I am amazed at the awful service every time I go to La Colombe. I was there today and could not get the cashier to even look at me, much less take my order. She was happy to take my husbands order though. Never again. They're the worst. Good products but what coffee shop DOESN'T HAVE WIFI?!? What is this, 2002??? It'd be nice if there was a sign or something before I waste money only to realize I've also wasted time. Great place! We love the coffee and the staff is very friendly! Pastries are also delicious. i don't know why this la colombe location is so lowly rated, but it has been a great experience for me each and every time! i used to go to undergrad at villanova and came here really often by myself or with friends, and their coffee, staff, pastries, and space has not failed me ONCE. my absolute favorite is the almond croissant: it has this delicious light custard filling in the middle and the outside is always flaky and covered in almond goodness.
a STAPLE spot. I was pretty surprised at how disappointing this place is. It's got all the warmth of an inspirational Instagram quote, horrendously laid out seating (including benches of some kind with tables that are at your shins), and no wifi. Yes, it's 2016. Yes, Bryn Mawr is a college town. Yes, they have no wifi at this coffee shop. They've had wifi at coffee shops for as long as there's been wifi. They have wifi in grocery stores, at gas stations, they even have it at Wawa. But they don't have it at this brand new coffee shop. No wifi. They do not have wifi here.
...The Black & Tan on draft is the only reason this isn't a one star review. I'm a big fan of La Colombe coffee. Been buying their beans for years to make in my espresso machine at home. My criticism here is in regard their draft lattes...they're a delicious ripoff. What you get is essentially a cup of foam. By the time the foam settles somewhat, you end up with less than half a cup of lukewarm liquid. This is like ordering a beer and just getting a glass of foam. I don't understand why they can't generate a better ratio. You're much better off purchasing the canned version. An aggressive pour will produce just a small layer of foam. Btw, they ARE delicious! Since I have a home and pay my verizon bill, I don't really care if this spot has wifi. I never understood the point of camping out for hours at a coffee spot anyway, but if this is a hobby of yours I guess La Colombe won't work for you.
But for the person who grabs a coffee and goes, or stays for a few minutes, this spot is super cool! Obviously their coffee is the best and the pastries here are fabulous as well. I had an almond coconut scone that was the tits.
The best part in my opinion is all the coffee they have for sale to take home, and if you buy a bag, you get a free cup of coffee! Hell yes! Ok I am a total La Colombe convert. When I wrote my last review I was 18 and had no idea what I was talking about. Now I love La Colombe. My go to is a Black and Tan with oat milk. It makes my day so much better. Even if they're out of their draft stuff, a cold brew will always suffice. It's perfect. La Colombe is a godsend. I've been to their locations in Philly & Main Line, Chicago, and New York. All incredible. And I'm planning to patronize their locations in LA soon. Oh and the cans that they sell at third party stores are also great. OH and they also sell Topo Chico. I simply don't know how it could get any better. Thank u La Colombe. Great coffee and atmosphere. The Black and Tan is a must try and something different for a change. The staff is quick and friendly. The parking lot can get very busy and there can be a long line in the mornings and of course on the weekends. Great spot! La Colombe serves the best coffee drinks in the region. We go frequently and they always put out a delicious beverage.
Pros: many coffee drinks to choose from and all are delicious; phenomenal pastry selection (croissants, danish, all great but they go fast); great selection of whole bean coffee blends freshly roasted and ground to your specification; very friendly staff; lots of outside seating; oat milk!!
Cons: they don't routinely empty trash so it's always overflowing and attracting bees and other pests and vermin; tables aren't wiped down frequently and are generally filthy after the initial morning rush; they are the only business in town who still has not reopened their restrooms; coffee is a natural diuretic so that makes for a challenging situation. The coffee at La Colombe is fine, but my biggest issue with the Bryn Mawr location is the terrible seating arrangement. The long benches and accompanying coffee tables situated in the center of the space are not at all conducive to getting work done. The table is an uncomfortable surface that would position you at a horrible angle for writing or typing. If you are trying to work in this area, you simply will not be able to. Additionally, casual conversation in this seating area would be equally difficult. Each area of benches can seat maybe 2 people, so larger groups may be forced to separate or relocate to the high chairs and tables that line the exterior walls (which also do not have much capacity). Beyond this issue, I think La Colombe is fine. The seating layout is really my only problem with this location and if they are able to rethink their arrangement, I would probably consider bumping my review up to 4 or 5 stars. Best coffee ever in Philly! We love their pastries. So delicious. It is clean and well organized. Since I've moved to Bryn Mawr for the summer, I've been trying to experience some local attractions that they don't have in my hometown. As an avid coffee drinker, I decided local shops were a good place to start.
This place was just strange. I paid almost $4 for a small cold pressed, micro-brewed, whatever iced latte. While I admit, it was something I never tried before, I also admit I don't want to try it again. It had a really weird consistency, wasn't particularly cold for "iced", and lacked any kind of sugar or syrup to cut the acidity of espresso.
And I know everyone already mentioned it, but come on. A coffee house in the 21st century doesn't have any wifi? There are McDonald's with wifi. great coffee, good pastries. staff is always super friendly. space indoors and outdoors to sit and enjoy your drink/food. Went in bc website said they had something at that location but they didn't. Called and no one picks up. Wanted to pick up and subscribe to weekly coffee but since I'm not getting an answer after a few calls guess I'll do a blue bottle subscription or Atlas. They are local so I tried them first. Customer service and picking up a phone makes a difference. Great coffee but I don't love this location bc of customer service. I'm a big fan of La Colombe coffee, but after several visits, want to like this place more than I do. To me, it has more of an industrial cold feeling vs a friendly cozy coffeehouse. Admittedly, more a personal preference but worth noting. Also, the staff here is so-so on the friendly scale. To be fair, it's often busy when I've popped in.
Bottom line: I find myself wanting to grab to go but happy to have this in the area La Colombe is beginning its steady march outward; Bryn Mawr is the first large outpost for suburban Philadelphia. It looks sharp inside and maintains the gritty feel of Fishtown's decor, but in a more polished way.
Every item in front of and behind the coffee bar is meticulously organized and the purchasing line is very neat as well.
The coffee we love is the same here as at the other locations, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. It's easy to enjoy the coffee in-house because the space is stocked with plenty of the benches and small tables typical to the other locations. The low-slung, reclaimed wooden tables are mobile, too, allowing variable sizes of parties to sit together.
It's the perfect first stop on a leisurely stroll of downtown Bryn Mawr. You go to La Colombe for coffee and coffee is all we had. It was good. This is the only place I know of in this neck of the woods, that provides high quality espressi and ristretti. Some businesses do better than others adapting to COVID. I'm flexible. The lack of a bathroom for customers was frustrating. The level of isolation between me and the order taker was beyond anything I've experienced. But most importantly the espresso and latte drinks my partner and I bought were bad. "Can't finish it so you pour it out" bad. And that's the most important reason to skip this location. I honestly feel it's overhyped although I'm not a coffee purist. I like cream and sweetener in my coffee or flavor in a latte or cappuccino. I typically get their drip coffee and usually the workshop since it's the lighter roast. They have a selection of almond milk, oat milk, milks, and half an half that you can add to your coffee at their bar area which is nice. I'm all for adding what you need to make your coffee the way you like it. However, you have to do that for lattes and cappuccinos also. I guess I'm used to this Starbucks/Dunkin culture of the barista adding sweetener or flavors for you. I asked for a vanilla latte once and the barista nicely told me they don't do that but he could sweeten it up for me. It still wasn't anywhere sweet enough though. Again they do have sweetener available so you can customize it yourself but it does cause you to have to stir your steamed milk/froth drink which I think messes it up a bit but oh well. It's not bad coffee and a has a nice spacious indoor seating area with an industrial looking decor. The pastries that I've tried have also been solid although they don't seem too fresh. My favorite that I've tried was the almond croissant.
I'd rate the coffee a 3.5/5 but the nice experience of ordering and eating there bumps it to a 4/5 overall. I was with a couple of family members visiting from Boston and we decided to drive to Bryn and Dane's for breakfast. However, Bryn and Dane's was closed for Easter so we headed to La Colombe Coffee for breakfast.
First, when coming in I found the restaurant to be very disorganized. There was no formal line and the cashier was multitasking. There was a real chaotic feel throughout the restaurant.
While my family members went ahead and ordered their drinks, I picked up an orange juice. I also ordered a hot chocolate.
While placing my order, I was interested in getting a bite to eat as well, but the variety of food was very limited. There were only a few limited bakery items and some pre-made salads. Starbucks has much better food options. La Colombe should definitely improve in this area.
While I was disappointed in the food options at La Colombe, I was fairly satisfied with the drinks. The orange juice that I had was very fresh and had a nice sweet taste. The orange juice wasn't made in house, but rather by the Liquiteria. However, I was find because the product was very good. I also found the hot chocolate to be very tasty as there was a nice creamy texture and a distinct chocolate taste. I wish La Colombe offered a choice of whipped cream on top of the hot chocolate.
Also, I didn't find the staff to be the best at La Colombe. While they did their job they were not the friendliest or most personable.
There is plenty of seating inside this La Colombe and a couple of tables and spots to eat outside.
Altogether, this La Colombe offers some tasty drinks in a nice environment, but they need to improve in the areas of actual food and the friendliness of their staff. La Colombe is always worth the money to me. It is a little pricey but you get what you pay for. This location is nice. Located on the Main Line with plenty of street and off street parking. There are usually a good amount of people in here but it is generally quiet, most people are working on their computers or reading books which is a lot different than the one in Fishtown which I find to be extremely louder. I do wish the people behind the counter were consistently friendly, more recently the staff has gotten better but before they wouldn't even crack a smile. I'm gonna keep coming back. I believe in good quality coffee and they provide it. Pretty good! I wish they didn't say "dine-in" on their yelp profile, but their coffee and hot cocoa is good. I have been here twice in the past week or so. Great ambiance and seems a lot less hurried than the chain store up the street. Loved the fact that you can get seltzer water for free after you finish your coffee to clean your palate. Parking can be challenging since the cartway in the Lancaster part of the lot is very narrow. Awesome coffee! I've never had anything bad here and I look forward to passing by any area that has a La Colombe. They are quick, and the employees have always been friendly and knowledgeable. If you're in the area or passing through I highly recommend stopping in here. Best coffee on the main line! And on my way to work. Always great quality and I enjoy the option to choose between 2 house brews. The new location is great for those of us outside the city who seek a non Starbucks option for great coffee, artisan local pastries and a place to meet up with friends or catch up on work over a java fix. I know it will be slammed when college is back in session so I'll enjoy being able to pop in until august. Surprisingly unfriendly customer service, coffee temperature was lukewarm, pastries was at least a day old, very disappointing experience. The staff is friendly and professional, the coffee is the best I've had, kids reminisce about the hot chocolate as if it's one of their best childhood memories, love everything about the place. They take safety seriously and I felt really good about that. I ordered a new (to me) roast black coffee. They were out but just brewed some fresh stuff right there. Loved their customer service and their choice of music. My husband got their Black and Tan and I sipped it and will be back for that. Saw done cardamon items on the menu I can't wait to try!! We came here on a Sunday afternoon for a cup of coffee. We were able to find a table almost immediately even though the place was quite busy. I ordered a regular cup of coffee, and it was served in a very beautiful mug.
After I sat down and opened my laptop, I realized that there was no WiFi! When I looked around for a outlet, I realized that only two of the seats in the back had access to an outlet. I was still able to get some work down with my phone's hotspot before my laptop died.
The coffee was great, and refills are only $.75. After getting finishing my second cup, I found the restroom in the back corner. The bathroom did not have have latch lock, just the push button lock attached to the handle. I made sure I locked my door, and checked twice. However, another customer was able to pull it open with a bit of force while I was still in the restroom. I would suggest someone to watch the door from the outside or for them to add an additional lock. Other than that, the place is perfect for a quick coffee break. Probably the least comfortable collection of seating available in any coffee shop. No wifi, which in today's age of technology, is unacceptable almost anywhere, but especially in a coffee shop. Todd Carmichael is a smart man, so I can only assume they don't offer wifi or have comfortable seating on purpose. Get in and get out.
The worst part however, is they don't seem to know their own products. Ten years ago a black iced coffee was Corsica with a double shot filled to the rim. When they added Pure Black, iced coffee now needed to be ordered by saying iced red eye. Today, when I ordered an iced red eye, I was given a Pure Black. Sounds like I'm overly critical but they only offer three iced beverages. As they grow bigger, they get worse and worse and care about their customers less and less. What a shame. Walking into this place it's was pretty packed (Saturday around 11am) waited in line for a good few mins but the barista's made sure to keep it moving, asked everyone what they would like ahead of time.
I ordered a small cappuccino and the total came to 3.75. I thought that was a decent price. It was really nice watching the barista make my drink. I was actually really amazed on how quick he was going and he had so many orders just told to him so he was going off of memory.
Sadly because it was prettt crowded there were no tables available except a bench with a tiny table...so alittle uncomfortable but not the worst thing in the world.
I was really wishing for some art on my drink but I'm guessing it was because of how busy they were.
The taste of my drink was actually very nice and pleasant. Rich and the right amount of creamy, you can tell they're using good beans for their espresso. It only took me about 6 or 7 mins to finish because again it was a small, but also the fact that I couldn't stop sipping.
The customer service was very friendly and definitely efficient. If they were nice and good at a busy time, I could only imagine how good they would be at a slower time.
Alright alright let's get to the end of this review
Atmosphere? Very nice and inviting
Service? Good and efficient
Price? Decent
Taste? Very good and fulfilling
4 coffee beans out of 5 (5) ~ Excellent Overall Coffee & Service! Finally a La Colombe Coffee Cafe in the Suburbs! And there's plenty of Parking in the back & some on the side as well.
MY COFFEE ORDER: LOVE the Draft Latte! Very smooth with a hint of sweetness. It uses the same Nitrogen technology as Guinness(Beer). The Nitrogen creates smaller bubbles vs. the larger bubbles of Carbon Dioxide, and these smaller nitrogen bubbles give the Smoother Texture;) Plus it's slightly sweetened by the natural milk sugar(lactose). NOTE: The Pure Black Coffee on Draft does NOT use the Nitrogen technology, which is why I prefer the "Draft Latte" overall:) Sunny, airy space which I live in coffee shops. Large selection of teas and plenty of seating area. No wifi but there is an Xfinity hot spot. Not many outlets available and it was quite loud when I first went on a Wednesday during the lunch hour. I came again on after brunch on Sunday and it was less busy. Overall cute place to get some work done or catch up with friends! I've been to multiple locations of La Colombe, both in Philadelphia and NYC. In addition, I buy La Colombe beans to brew at home.
Beautiful, clean exterior and interior. Store has a Portland-type feel-- very industrial and spacious. Complimentary parking is readily available, which is a major plus for the Mainline/Rte 30. I went on a weekday morning and ordered a doppio, single-origin, which that day was Ethiopian. Delicious, as expected.
Service was dependable, though a little city-attitude (I was met with some hipster flair when I asked if I could get a glass a water with my order, and the barista informed me it's in a designated area at the end of the bar). Sparkling and still are both complimentary.
Nice spot for the suburbanites and college kids who want that "authentic, artisanal experience", but don't necessarily want to schlep all the way to the city.
Let's just say if you like the look and feel of Tired Hands in Ardmore, you're in the right place at La Colombe, Bryn Mawr. At least, for all your high- brow coffee needs.
Tip: If it's your first time at La Colombe, ask for a sample of its draft latte and nitro coffee. They should be more than happy to assist. La Colombe serves some of the best (though pricey) coffee I've ever had and I'm a huge fan of their Black and Tan cold brew. There isnt much space to do work on your laptop here, but it's a great spot to catch up with a friend or colleague over some quality coffee and a pastry. Great La Colombe location! I came here during an afternoon on a weekday and had no trouble finding parking in the village lot. The shop itself is industrial and well decorated, with all the staple menu items like the draft lattes.
The inside had a good amount of seating, but I would have liked to see more seats with tables as well as more comfortable chairs. However, I was able to get a table by the window which I enjoyed. It was a great place to get some work done, but like the other La Colombe locations, they do not have wifi that you can connect to.
In terms of drinks, I just got a cup of their dark roast drip coffee. As per usual, their coffee was delicious and it came in a beautiful cup. I always enjoy La Colombe coffee! They also had plenty of pasties and other food items available.
Overall, I would come back to this spot again to get work done or grab a cup of coffee! Delicious! Always a fan of la Colombe, this was my first visit to the Bryn Mwar location... and my first time trying the oat milk nitro cold brew Black and Tan... let's just say I'm now a big fan! Was super excited to stop by this place since I always grab the canned draft lattes from Trader Joe's. However, I was pretty disappointed. The atmosphere was kind of weird, and the seating was small. The barista was kind, but not overwhelming with customer service. The nitro oat chai was SO GOOD with an added double shot of espresso....but the mocha was just not it. I never throw away my coffees and I am always willing to try something new, but I couldn't even take more than four or five sips. I'm not even a super sweet coffee person so the lower sweetness level wasn't what threw me off. Just a few things to note.
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name: Downingtown Collision, address: 33 W Lancaster Ave, city: Downingtown, stars_x: 5.0, is_open: opening, categories: Towing, Body Shops, Automotive, text: Extremely pleased with all aspects of this business. I took the time to add the business onto Yelp just to make more people aware of the shop.
I had to have repairs done on a 2013 Mustang GT after being rear ended. There was only moderate damage.
I brought the vehicle over to the owner, Tim and had him take a look. An appointment was made for a few days later while they ordered parts. During the repair process additional damages were found, and the supplemental claim was handled by Tim without any need for involvement on my part.
The final repair work is excellent. My only out-of-pocket costs were my insurance deductible, and Tim even had the vehicle delivered back to my house after the work was complete.
As an owner of a claims adjusting business with over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, I can attest to the fact that Tim runs a high-quality shop, and provides excellent service. Tim and the guys at DTC are phenomenal!! No matter how big or small the job is, they get it done and do incredible work. I would recommend DTC to anyone who likes quality work, done in a timely fashion and for a reasonable price. I recently used Downingtown Collision to replace the tailgate on my new truck after I backed into something. Tim is very customer oriented and kept me apprised as the parts were ordered and on progress as the work was being done. He also worked with my insurance company and really made it convenient for me. The work turned out great and I would not hesitate to use them again. Highly recommended. There were deer, there was an accident, there were countless insurance agents, rental cars, I could go on but Tim and his crew made those few months as stress free for me as they could. They took time to answer my questions, give me advice, call with updates, and above all else fix my car back to perfect condition. They truly went above and beyond, and I'll be honest, I thought I was being treated extra special but through seeing other customers and reading reviews, no, it's how they operate. Don't go anywhere else! A few years ago I stopped by because trim was falling off my truck. Tim and the guys got new fasteners and put the trim on. They did charge me and I was gone in 20 minutes. So recently I had some collision work to be done to my car. They did a great job and were very reasonable. When they were done they drove the car to my house which was a pleasant surprise. Wonderful experience! I tried them because my trusted mechanic highly recommended them and I was not disappointed. Excellent price and fast service! Will use them for any vehicle I own from now on. Would go out of my way to travel to them, given the service/price (but am lucky that they are right in my backyard practically...). Tim was extremely helpful and was able to fix my mirror on my Nissan, did a beautiful job, and was extremely accommodating!! Amazing service and the car looked better than new. I have gone to other repair shops. Difference with Downingtown collision is that the whole thing is on time, completely worry free and done perfectly the first time. The service is exceptional. Best part is Tim picked up and dropped off my car from work (meantime dropped off rental for me). Best service around. Hands down.
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name: Laura Sims Skate House, address: 210 S Cobbs Creek Pkwy, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Skating Rinks, Party Equipment Rentals, Event Planning & Services, Active Life, text: They finally enclosed his ice rink. The neighborhood is a bit sketchy and you will find interesting things and persons in the parking lot. It is a city rink, so it is not always well kept but the price is right and the folks who work the booth are friendly. This was a solid experience, especially during COVID. Reserve your free tickets ahead of time online. Make sure to reserve for each person in your party.
Parking is in a lot and right there, very convenient. (It's also a short walk from the 63rd Street station, so close to public transit.) Enter at your reserved time and you'll give your names to the person at the entrance. Staff are all masked and there is ample hand sanitizer available. You'll pay for your skate rentals ($3 per person) then. BRING CASH! I nearly didn't have enough, and I didn't see any way to pay via card or electronically. (A venmo account for the rink would go a long way here.)
Pick up your skates, lace up, and go in! Everyone was great about masking while we were there, and staff were on hand if we had questions. For the newbies (especially the kids), they have big blue plastic things to push -- my kids were big fans. There are restrooms on site (gendered multi-stall).
Note: Due to COVID, there's no eating on site, so if you have snacky kids like ours, plan to eat in the parking lot. I usually take the children I nanny or my nieces & nephews. Either way, everyone enjoys themselves. The staff is really helpful & friendly. There's roller skating in warmer months & the rink is ice skating during the winter. This is the only rink i attend in the city. Very affordable prices! I love this place. If you own skates, it's free! The staff is friendly, and the guy who drives the zamboni blasts motown music and is style incarnate. Perfect past time- fee to enter $3 skate rental. Don't expect for people to welcome you or anything.. It is what it is. Once on the ice my daughter was having a hard time and a gentleman I believe he was a teacher had her go from wanting to leave to skating in the middle of the rink in 30 mins. Great experience. Would recommend!
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name: Wire To Wire, address: , city: Havertown, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Electricians, Home Services, Home Automation, Home Theatre Installation, Contractors, text: Ever since my wife and I bought our house, I've seen Daniel more than I've seen my own friends. And that's a good thing.
Daniel has been incredibly helpful in getting our house to where we want it to be. He's put in recessed down lights upstairs and in the showers, he's fixed some major code violations left behind from the previous owners, he ran electric under the sink so we could install our garbage disposal and much more. Not only that, but he's caught some items outside of his scope of work (plumbing, HVAC etc.) and has given us recommendations on companies that have worked out great for us.
Finally, Daniel is timely and courteous when performing his work. I would highly recommend him for your electrical needs. Dan did a fantastic job wall mounting my 60" TV. He installed top and bottom cable ports in addition to a second outlet behind the TV. The mount itself was secure and all wall cuts were clean. Very professional look. Dan cleaned up and left everything in order.
I highly recommend Dan for a similar job and also for any electrical job since he's an electrician. Very satisfied. BEWARE of this guy. He preys on the elderly. Didn't provide a contract. Not only did he not finish the job, what work he did do was shoddy per the inspection. But he made sure he got all of his money which I suspect was used to get car insurance since he was cited for driving without insurance. If he doesn't have car insurance, it's safe to assume he isn't carrying the appropriate insurance for his business. Do yourself a favor & STAY AWAY FROM THIS GUY. I would venture to say that the other 3 reviews on her were done by his friends. File this guy under SCAM ARTIST! As an added bonus, his wife/secretary gets very rude when you ask too many questions. Dan was so incredibly helpful. We called him and he was here in 20 min to help us with an electrical issue. He spent a ton of time with us answering our questions and making sure we were comfortable. Can't recommend him more highly! We will definitely be working with him in the future! Incredibly friendly, thorough and excellent value. Daniel is knowledgeable and made me and my family extremely comfortable. Awesome work!
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name: Spice 28, address: 1228 Chestnut St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Asian Fusion, Restaurants, American (New), Thai, Szechuan, Chinese, text: My fiancee and I stopped here for lunch on a Saturday recently. The service was fine but the food took longer than it should have, being that we were only 1 of the 2 tables in the restaurant. Also, the noodles were under cooked to the point of being unchewable, I would try it again but was really underwhelmed by my first experience there. Okay --
after salivating for three weeks, staring at this baby in my bookmarks, I rounded up some members of "the dyke crew" (preemptively: no, str8s, don't ever call queer women that, thanx) and bounced over.
I have to admit, the $$ threw me off -- appetizers are between 6$ and 12$; entrees are more around 17$. For some reason, I thought I'd be shelling out ten bucks for the main course.
After recovering from my small heart attack, we went inside and proceeded to feast.
We ordered (per Yelpers) the rock shrimp, the duck crepe and then the guac and wonton chips for we had a vegetarian. For dinner, D had the Shanghai beef, I had the Dan Dan noodles and said veg had the ... veg-fried rice.
The rock shrimp was damn good -- not overpoweringly shrimpy, fried lightly and without grease, and the curry sauce! You have to wrap the shrimp in the salad and dip because the mixed greens bring the plate together. The guac was interesting (avocado in a spicy red sauce), and the chips were as light as the shrimps' batter.
The star of the appetizer round was the Peking duck crepe. D and I made obscene noises while the veg said it tasted too alive. The duck is cooked perfectly, not too heavy, and it comes with hoisin sauce.
I really enjoyed my Dan Dan noodles. I thought for a moment the portion might be too small, but all the food here is rich and sumptuous, and you get just the right amounts. With the crumbled pork on top and the leaves of spinach, I felt like the bowl echoed a very spicy spaghetti and meat sauce. I also snagged some of the fried rice (I'm not sure how there is such a thing as a "best fried rice," but this stuff qualified), and then I tried some of the Shanghai beef.
I don't like beef.
The meat melted in my mouth, I swear to god, and comes in this weird sauce that I can best describe as Chinese BBQ/honey.
We received complimentary desserts of fried pumpkin cakes, which were nice palate cleansers.
Overall, goddamn.
Basically. Like an authentic Chinese hole in the wall- plated and served up with a classy air. The dry chili chicken is almost as good as the oily brethren I've had in alternate Chinese houses- the staff is serviceable and efficient. I've had a lot of trouble using any kind of yelp deal or groupon- so keep it simple?
Lunch specials reasonably priced but a few blocks north you can get some of the best Chinese for less fuss and same price or (at dinner) way less. Clean to the sake of boring, but a decent spot for a drink. This place is good and I'd recommend it. Everything I've ordered had been good or very good and delivery time is always reasonable. I just ate a big bowl of udon and it was fantastic. They also make great drinks if you're eating there.
That being said...
The vegetable pad Thai was seriously the worst I've ever had in my life. It had no taste and the only vegetables were a few pieces of cabbage. Seriously? I almost called to complain it was that bad, and I don't do that. I don't even understand how it's still on the menu. The food is really good compared to any other Asian restaurant in town. And for the price... It's super economical. 2 meals and an appetizer with an alcoholic drink came up to $44. What else could you ask for ?
Atmosphere is very cool. Bar is neat and stylish.
Overall great !! Go eat ! Delivery service was fantastic! Came in 30 minutes and without damage. The Satay Chicken and the Mini Wontons were delicious. However, the fried rice was a little bland and the tofu in the Penang Curry was a weird texture. Overall a good experience, I would recommend for a new adventure. Awesome Asian fusion place from the decor to the food. There was plenty of staff there to greet us and help us with anything we needed. As a vegetarian they had plenty of options.
Went with a group of five people and wanted to our share meals after spending a long day out. First ordered a small hot plate as an appetizer. Two dandan noodles were more than enough between the five of us and even after being super hungry we could only eat about one and a half. So the portion sizes are good. The taste of the noddles weren't bad, but it wasn't the best dandan either. Could've used a little bit more flavor (spiciness).
For the main entrees we orders the drunken noodles with tofu and mushrooms. This was very good, spicy, and flavorful . My favorite of the night. Lettuce wrap with tofu, which was okay in my opinion. The tofu was very hard and dry, but the lettuce did help. Tofu in black bean sauce was really good as well. It comes with rice and there's so much flavor enough that you don't even need this dish spicy.
Overall the quality of the service, food, and pricing was great. So yummy! Five of us had the Dan Dan noodles, some wontons, the ahi tuna dumplings (my favorite--so good), a dry pot, the sautéed veggies, the eggplant, some black bean fish, and a panang curry. Cocktails for everyone. So yummy.
It is fair to compare Spice 28 to Han Dynasty--you get a lot of the same heat that you'd get there and there are a number of dishes both do well (like Dan Dan Noodles). The food is more " fusion" style at Spice, and the ambiance is flashier, but the prices are pretty good and the quality is there. Not a place to be dismissed! Came here on the tail end of restaurant week because it was one of the only location that still had free reservations. Did not regret. Great food, great service, definitely underrated. 10/10 would recommend. The external decor of Spice 28 is rather abysmal, but the inside - with its modern, sleek look and neon lights glowing here and there - reminds me very much of Pod and Morimoto.
We arrived here for dinner on a weeknight, and it was fairly packed, so that was a good sign. We started off with the fajitas (interesting item to be on the menu given that Spice is an Asian restaurant) and crispy calamari. Both dishes were good in the sense that they tasted like what I expected (but also not very hot, as if they had been sitting somewhere for a little while...). But, they were bad in the sense that the only Asian twist to them was the traditional varieties of dipping sauce that accompanied each dish. Not exactly very creative, and perhaps a little bit deceiving.
The waiter must had asked the kitchen to fire up our entrees before we even got our appetizers, because before we even got through half of either appetizers, our entrees came to the table. Normally, I would have no qualms with this, because - as anyone who knows me can attest to - I eat rather fast. But, I was trying to pace myself, and by the time I got to my entree, it was borderline lukewarm. The food itself (chicken basil fried rice) was decent, but perhaps that's because I'm comparing it to the gold standard at Tuk Tuk, a cozy little Thai place in Long Island City that makes incredible basil and green curry fried rice.
To close off the meal, the kitchen sent out some sort of pancake on the house. We were advised to stop talking and eat it while it was hot - so we did. What greeted my taste buds was bland, and not what I would want to be the last impression guests have upon leaving.
Luckily, that wasn't our last impression of Spice. We split the bill, one Amex, one Visa. When the receipts came, it became apparent the waiter had split the bill, but charged both halves to my card. Yay, I won! We told the waiter of this mistake, and his response was for us to exchange cash with each other, laughed, and walked away. There was no way I wasn't going to write a review after that!
Would I go back? Before the check incident I would have said yes, because some of my fellow Yelpers have given it rave reviews. After the check incident? Probably not. Food and service are what I look for when I go out to a sit-down, and from this experience, Spice 28 provided neither very well. Wirklich empfehlenswerter "Thailänder". Geschmack authentisch, Ambiente fein. Sogar den Kindern hats geschmeckt! I have been here approximately 50 times now. My fav lunch spot in the city. Here is what you need to order -
Dry Pepper Style chicken
Cumin Style chicken
Three pepper chicken
Spicy Chicken lettuce wrap Birthday dinner here for 12. Waitress was a sweet heart. She wanted to take a photo with me for some reason, and I obliged because she was awesome.
Shots for the table on the house afterwards. OK, so I'd like to bump up my rating by a star because I thought the food was uniformly great last time we were there. We were with a large group and ordered a bunch of dishes, all of which were really good. But the noise level is painful on a Saturday night. It was impossible to talk without shouting, and with a few other large groups nearby, it was a competition over who could be heard. The waitress was very understanding when we asked to be moved, but said she couldn't re-seat us because it was fully booked. So I guess that noise level works for many people and by their choice of decor (all hard surfaces) the owners are not trying to dampen the volume. It's a shame, because I think their food is on par with Han Dynasty, but I'm going to stick to mid-week for my next visit. We were visiting from NYC super bowl weekend and starving around 8pm. Every place was closed or packed with football game seekers. We found this restaurant by searching Yelp like every other tourist who visits new places for some grub. Walked in, and the decor put an instant smile on my face, it was hip, design was all me and lighting was perfect. It was partners bday and we were the only ones there, wait...it was us and a party of 20 young ppl who were also celebrating a bday. Long story short, we ate good Thai, had good service and my partner got serenaded by 20 strangers!
Good stuff! Oops
Won't go back
Was willing to deal with the incredible noise for good food
Luke warm apps
Waited an hr for entree that was bad
Duck
Need to step it up for Philly
Waitress was sorry and nice
But, I really enjoyed my experience here. My friend and I sat at the bar which is lit with green light, giving it a very modern feel. We ordered drinks which tasted very good - no complaints. For an appetizer, I ordered the rock shrimp which were ok, a little bland but the spicy mayo somewhat made up for it. My friend ordered the Thai crispy calamari, which had no taste. For our entrees, we ordered the Thai basil fried rice with chicken and medium spice. It was great! Awesome flavor and not too much pepper. The entrees definitely made up for the lack luster appetizers.
The overall atmosphere at Spice 28 is great and I'd recommend it. The employees are friendly; restrooms are clean. I'd come back again. The food was great! The dumplings were to die for. My only complaint was we sat in the front bar area and it felt like we were forgotten about. It took forever to get our drinks and a long time to get dinner, so if you're going here make sure you have time to kill. I love the scenery and the view of the place. My friend and I sat by the windows and it was such a perfect day to sit outside but you're actually inside.
We came in for happy hour and our bartender and waitress were very nice! Drinks were great and beautiful! We ordered the passionate cocktail and I ordered dragon something.. I forgot but it was delicious!
It was my first time trying the place but I felt like the food was similar to any other place. I chose pad thai and well it was good but nothing new. My friend ordered a mango salad with a champagne mango sauce.. and that was really good and healthy! Great food, terrible delivery. After waiting an hour and a half for delivery, called to check on status and was told that someone had called and cancelled my order. (?!$&?!) Since this ABSOLUTELY never happened (at least from my phone number) I have no idea what was going on. Han Dynasty it is instead. Smdh. Just had a really great meal at Spice28. I have been traveling here and working in the area for a couple of years and was excited to find this gem. It seems to be relatively new. While its a bit dark and lounge-like, the ambiance is generally nice. Stylish.
The menu was diverse and filled with Asian fusion dishes. I have been craving some good Szechuan and saw some great reviews on Yelp so was glad to try them. I tried some curry glazed rock shrimp to start. The menu didn't explain that the shrimp were batter fried and that wasn't what I was looking for. The young manager came by my table and asked about my food. I mentioned that I wasnt looking for something fried and he immediately offered to take the dish off my bill. I wasn't looking for that or expecting it but it was a really great customer service move and I really appreciated it. High marks for that kind of attention to detail.
For my entree I got the dry pot lamb. It was fantastic. Spicy, flavorful and delicately prepared. When I needed more rice, the waitress promptly brought me more too.
The food alone was probably worth 4 stars, but the Managers extra effort makes this meal a 5 star affair. Solid Phad Thai, service staff was a bit quiet and non-social. You'd expect as a solo dinner being the only sitting at the bar I'd get a bit more attention.
Food came out timely and overall was quite tasty. I have lived in New York for many years, and though I have had many incredible dishes there, i find that Asian food in Philly is hard to beat. I am almost alway impressed, and this place is no exception.
Quaint and classy, this small hole in the wall is good for some casual, quick comfort Thai classics and some new special Asian fusion dishes you may not have tried.The staff was friendly and the location was great. I really loved the champagne duck and the cumin lamb, which were both flavorful, well thought out, and complex without being overbearing. The duck buns were good, but a little greasy for my taste.
Overall a great experience and a great, convenient location in the center of the city! Oh, they have great lunch specials and happy hour deals for drinks and apps! We just had dinner here during their happy hour special. They have very reasonably priced specials, hard to find anymore in center city. The apps are delicious. Recommend the ahi tuna dumplings! The service was great tonight too! Spice 28 was a good choice for dinner with my brother who was visiting town. He's a real fan of Singapore Noodles, and enjoyed a plate ot them a lot. We started with Dan Dan noodles and cold tripe, excellent appetizers, and went on to dry chili style chicken and salads. Good beer selections too, though not on tap. We also liked the LED's decorating the hypermodern interior. The ambiance of the place is vibrant and the service is wonderful. However the pad thai was too salty, worst pad thai I ever had. But their drunken noodles are delicious. Ordered a take out. Firstly, the owner/manager is very nice . the food, though can be better. We ordered the mango tofu, and the mangoes in the plate were not the best, an overall it was ordinary. We had noodles and Sichuan tofu as well, and they were better, but not great. 2nd Time in 4 days...A cold monday night called for some spicy sczehuan food and Spice 28 was the answer for me..(Saves a cab ride from going to Han Dynasty) Got the Tripe Appetizer again...It was spot on..also tried a Calamari App which was delightful and lightly coated...We also tried the dan dan noodles this time...(I think I still like Han Dynasty's version better..but this was still very good) and finished off the meal with the Beef Dry Pot which is phenominal...My only complaint was that they charged $8+ on our final bill for a bottle of vino which was listed at $30 on the menu.. The waiter was nice to fix it when we mentioned it, but it's something that we could have easily missed...so make sure you check the bill before you pay...They also always seem to forget about the 10% yelp discount after you check-in..so remind them that too... So we were walking around on our first night here... right after seeing one of the most patriotic pieces of American History I have seen to date (the Liberty Bell) and my beautiful girlfriend suggested a place she saw on yelp(she needs her rice ;)). Why not, it's only a block from the Marriott.
Sooo glad we decided to come here. She ordered the Thai Basil Chicken Fried Rice along with the Eggplant with Garlic. I wanted some Pork Belly with Cabbage and Bean Curd. The pork belly was sliced thin and flavor was wonderful. About the only thing I can complain about was that I asked it to be spicy, and it was not too spicy (I can handle my spice).
Plenty of yummy eggplant to go along with the perfectly seasoned chicken fried rice too!
The interior was modern and the staff was extremely friendly. They are very attentive and will accommodate your requests. If you are in Philly.... check this place out! You will not regret it =) Let's start with 1 hour and 45 mins for delivery. Then let's add that the order of dumplings consisted of 2 dumplings. Just no. Met some friends here last night. Had the chicken pad Thai, it was great. All my friends enjoyed their meals. They had a nice selection of reasonably priced wine which was a bonus. And our server was very nice. Will go back when we r in the area again. Went on a lunch date and my first impression was how cool the decor looked. When we actually sat down to order, I felt like the prices were a bit steep for Chinese food. Even though they brought the food out very quickly, I still wasn't all that impressed. The food was good but it wasn't anything special. I got the shrimp Thai basil and my date had drunken noodles with chicken. Our bill was $30 but I'm sure that this place is no better than my local china wok where I can buy way more for the same price! Staff is friendly and the service was good. I love this place! The mango shrimp was amazing and I love that they encourage you to order your preferred amount of spice in your meal. We ordered the dumplings in chili oil which were great also. These five stars are based on price and quality. Obviously not a Stephen Starr restaurant, but a really great place for price and experience and of course the food. Happy hour has great deals, always leave wanting to come back. Amazing cocktails, apps, entrees and deserts. The staff was very friendly and came by often to make sure everything was alright. The place was packed, but they were still able to accommodate our party of 4 on short notice. I'm not sure if they were understaffed or if it is always that slow, but waiting for almost 20 minutes for water is kind of ridiculous. The food was just ok, nothing I haven't had before at other Asian Fusion restaurants. The Philly Love martini was the best thing on the menu! Also, the way this place was designed, it makes every voice carry so it's almost impossible to talk to the person across from you. I wish I could have enjoyed my dinner a little more, but it was SO LOUD! And the place was not full...
Sorry to be a downer, but this place is just ok. Came here for lunch because it was part of the UPromise plan. Got my first surprise when they had a 10% off check-in on Yelp. Yea!
Although the restaurant seemed to be bustling, my food came out slowly and I felt a little ignored by the restaurant staff. However, the food itself was quite good.
I had started with a Tom Yum soup which was a nice spicy soup with crunchy green squash. I also had a blue crab avocado salad. It was 1/2 full sized piece of avocado stuffed with blue crab meat over a bed of bagged mixed greens salad and a nice balsamic dressing. Very tasty. Lastly, I had the mango shrimp dish with jasmine rice. Not overly sweet, but sweet and mixed with the rice made it better. Whole chunks of mango, along with peppers and about 6(?) shrimp.
$25 including tax and tip. I'd take a trip back to try some of the other dishes and see if spicy really is spicy when asked. I'm only giving it 3 stars instead of 3.5 because of a few things. Partly because Yelp doesn't allow half a star. The servers were friendly and pleasant. We had a party of 10 and went at 5:30 p.m. The place wasn't crowded yet but by the time we left around 7 p.m., it was pretty full. The ambiance was "trendy" and pretty cool to look at. I felt like I was walking onto a Virgin America airplane.
The food wasn't bad...wasn't great, like WOW, either. I had the tom yum soup and the silky tofu with shrimp. For those of us who like spicy tofu (ma po tofu), that's pretty much what it was. Again, good but not amazing.
Here's where the negative .5 star comes in. They charged $2 for iced tea and do not offer refills. Maybe that's a Philadelphia thing but it seems a bit too much for a place that is not "high end" but wants to be this trendy place but $2 for refills? Come on! The food was excellent as well as the service. It was highly recommended by our concierge. We are so glad we went. I would also highly recommend it!! This place is one of my favorite places to go for Thai hands down. They have the best Thai tea and the best dry pepper style dishes. I always get the shrimp and fish dry pepper style and it's always hits the spot. The price is fair and the portions are pretty decent. I've went with many friends and they've all liked their popular Pad Thai. They do offer a lunch hour special during the weekdays. I always come back to this place every month. Taf recommends Crispy duck salad is the best! Love this place for upscale. trendy spot in center city with moderate prices. Great experience. Michael was my bartender and he had to put up with the rudest girl I've ever seen. She waited a mere minute for attention and then put up a fuss. Wish there was a YELP for customers. She was nasty. I'm not sure why this place has such good reviews. I just ordered delivery of veg fried rice and the only vegetables included were onions and some scarce green peas with no flavor whatsoever I could have easily boiled some rice And added some peas myself. The drunken noodles looked like a pile of noodles crap with soy sauce. I'm disappointed and wondering how this place is number one on yelp. Waste of money!! I would give it 0 if I could.
Don't waste your money on this food. Went on a busy Saturday eve, but had a reservation so our party of 3 was seated fairly quickly. Ordered two appetizers, dan dan noodles and seafood/avocado wontons, both were fantastic. Then we waited, and waited, and waited for our entrees. Finally the waitress came over and said she knew it had been awhile, "issues in the kitchen," but the orders were coming out soon. Minutes later, they did, but what a disappointment. Vegetables in duck stir fry were hard and undercooked, pad Thai noodles were undercooked and had no flavor, salt and pepper squid was dry and no longer warm. All three in my party left more than half of the food on our plates. Waitress checked back in with us too late to do anything about it; she asked if we wanted take away boxes, we said no thanks. She took 10% off the check for our "long wait." Sometimes things happen, we get it. Maybe our entree order was misplaced. But don't then rush out subpar food. Won't be returning. The mango spicy chicken was great... The waitress was accommodating and made their version of beef and broccoli for kids.
The fried vegetable dumplings were a bit dry inside and hard outside. Everything else was good and affordable :) Cocktails- Good. But suuuuuper sugary.
Food- LOL. Plastic in our over-cooked calamari and duck fat only in our "duck" salad.
Waiter response "okay."
Hah!
Come for the drinks, leave with diabetes and duck fat with a plastic souvenir. Just sat down at my desk and my belly is so happy. Spice 28 is so on point. I don't know why I didn't know about this place. As a lover of all foods that are Asian this place rocks. I had the Dan Dan noodles and they were perfect. The lunchtime service was quick. I will be back and bring some friends with me. I usually order their pad thai noodles. Spring rolls are pretty good as well. Cool ambience but crowded place. Good drinks choices. Service was pretty good. Food not so much. Came here for dinner on a Friday night. No wait. I had the Indian pancake and my friend had a mixed rice type of thing. It was just parathas but they were ok. I'm not sure if it's the same Spice they have in New York (was lunch for few years) but wasn't a fan.
Dessert was good-some gelato with chocolate syrup and the waitress was nice enough to give me extra syrup and whip cream cause I told her I wanted a lot of chocolate. Probably come back for their dessert. And for that reason I'm going to give a more stars. I've wanted to try this place for a while, and I'm SO happy that I did. Had a fantastic dinner here recently with my brother.
Cocktail recommendation: Thai Ginger Coconut Bomb-- delightfully crisp and spicy. Ginger, mandarin, lime, coconut cream, basil, jalapeno. Sounds strange, but if you like a kick in your cocktail, order it. It's not overbearing, because the coconut cream keeps it balanced.
As for food, this place has nailed down the Schechuan cuisine. The thai veggie spring rolls are straight forward and delicious. If you like spice, go for the pork belly in garlic and chili oil. Thinking about it makes my mouth water, it's that damn good.
In addition to those apps, the entrees really dazzled our tastebuds. The double cooked fish was crunchy but flavorful, moist and oh so delicious. I am in love with chinese eggplant so that's always ordered when I dine out Asian-style. So this dish was right on point for me. The eggplant was soft, seasoned and tasty. The shrimp drunken noodles were also fantastic. Great layer of flavor and spice. Finally, the dry pepper chicken is an absolute must-have. Served with many of those chili peppers that I love eating with each bite of crunchy chicken. This dish is as kickass as you can get.
I can't wait to go back here. The modern decor is great and the colorful accent lights give it a really cool glow. Give it a try! We tried this for restaurant week and we were not disappointed! The food was amazing as were our drinks. It was a little loud despite not too many tables being in the restaurant. We really enjoyed everything we ordered. The steamed peking duck buns were out of this world. We definitely recommend trying this place out sometime ! Jack Chen, you magnificent bastard. Who else would see the bright spot of opportunity in a morass of Chestnut Street gloom? That's right my friends, there is now a bona fide reason to slalom past the ticket scalpers and flat screen dealers that inhabit the netherworld between Barbuzzo and Market street. . . .and that reason is some mighty fine Szechuan, Sichuan , or Szechwan cuisine.
Let me warn you, if all you know of this peppercorny goodness is in Old City, prepare yourself for a dose of authenticity, modern Asian style. This is not a place made to look "authentic" and no one will berate you for asking questions about the ingredients. If what you need is a little role play, go see your therapist.
Ok, enough of me, here is why you should come.
Cumin Lamb that should make you look up Agnus Dei if you don't know Latin.
Cucumber salad that is just cucumber. Delicious, delicious cucumber. How? Who cares?
Dumpling dough so paper thin and sublime, you'd think 1990's Kate Moss was at you table.
But the kicker, the real kicker . . . half of us didn't realize we were eating tofu bits in the pork belly dish. That's because they slice it the other way. Cubes be damned. Minus the moisture, I can almost see what those crazy vegans have been talking about. Sure it was humbling to rave about bean curd, but that's the magic of Jack Chen's oasis in the desert of a too long forgotten corridor.
PS. I wish I could tell you what the pictured appetizer really is. But I can't because we mentioned it to the waitress, and decided against. They brought it out anyway to prove a point. Guacamole and Szechuan do go together. Who knew? Food was delicious but service was awful. I had the drunken noodles and some samplings of my friends' meals and all was delicious. I wish that was enough to give it the rating it deserves but the wait staff is incompetent. Our waiter had such sloppy handwriting that he had to confirm orders on two separate occasions, 15 minutes apart. He also tried to give us 3 extra dishes that no one ordered (we sent them back), and of course we got charged for them. But he wouldn't admit his mistake! None of our party ate the dishes and we informed them of their mistake as soon as it happened, so why try to argue about it 45 minutes later? Settling the bill due to this mishap therefore took almost an hour. Preposterous. I'm sure I can find other places with equivalent food quality but with less hassle. In Philly for a couple of days for work and came across this small but happening restaurant . With a great dinning atmosphere, you can opt to sit inside or outside while listening to soft low music on the background while catching up with friends at the end of the day.
Great staff and service. Waitress was very attentive making sure that drinks were topped off. Tom Kha soup was delicious, we also ordered the cucumber salad which although very expensive...was indeed divine.
would definitely go back and try different plates.
If you like lychee or passion fruit be sure to try their cocktails. super tasty with added fruit nectar and a good bit of boos. This is my favorite fancy thai place in philadelphia! If you want to be casual and lazy banana leaf is the spot. If youre looking for a fancy date night, birthday dinner Spice 28 is the spot. The drinks are huge and strong and the food is as spicy as you ask for! I had the drunken noodles and they were delicious! My friends who eat meat also loved their food. I recommend this place. So I've ordered lunch from here twice so I feel like I can make a fair assessment. The first time I ordered from here I got the pad thai with chicken. It wasn't awful. I've certainly had worse and certainly had better. If I were to rate this place then I would have given it maybe 3 1/2 stars. After my lunch the other day, my rating has gone down. I ordered the general tso chicken. It was the worst I've had in a while. My first bite I spit out. It was pure fat. There was barely any tender meat in the entire dish. I couldn't eat it. What a waste. Love this place! The drinks were amazing, the food was great, & me & my friend had the best waiter! Cannot wait to go back! I was led to Spice 28 by an article touting their drunken noodles as among the best Asian dishes in the US. I have now been back several times, and am never disappointed. Every dish I have gotten there has been really good, and I am hard to impress.
I live in the suburbs, but pretty much any time I get into the city I try to talk my dining companions into Spice 28. The location is great, too! Favorite thai place in philly. Not only was the food delicious, but the service was amazing and the inside decor was pleasant as well. I got drunken chicken noodles. So flavorful. And I loved the thai iced tea! Went for unch yesterday with my mom. Not impressed. Service was sooo SLOW over 2 hours for appetizer and entree, had to get dessert to go because I was late for work (when we arrived we were the only people there and it was that way for 30 minutes, so no excuse for that). Server came by to apologize there was an issue/mix up in the kitchen and food would be out in 3 to 5 minutes...30 minutes later the food arrived..
Food was very good but the wait was certainly not worth it.
Size and portions were okay and plating was very pretty.
IDK if I would go back or not..Advice is proceed with caution and don't go there is you've somewhere to be in the next 1.5 hrs or you're really hungry. The dumplings in oil were good. But, the drunken noodles with beef were the worst I have ever had. The noodles were over cooked and there were hardly any spices or flavor at all. The thai beef basil also lacked flavor. It was just some cut up veges with sauce and only three or four pieces of meat. I would not order from here again. My food looked nothing like the pictures other shared. While the food was good (not great), the service was slow and it too us 25 minutes to get our checks. If they could improve service, it would be a 3.5 star review. I absolutely loved the ahi tuna dumplings and the drunken noodles! Such a cute dinner spot. I would definitely stick to noodles as the chicken dishes didn't look as good. But I absolutely loved my meal. I've been here twice and the food is always great. Their lemonade/iced tea with mint leaves (I'm not sure exactly what it's called) is amazing! I work in an office at Broad and Chestnut, and lord knows I'm always looking for a good, inexpensive lunch spot. My usual is Saladworks (so expensive) or Grocery (there are only so many days in a week I can eat soup). And then I smelled my cube neighbor's lunch today. $7.44 got me wonton soup and what was possibly the best green curry I've ever eaten. It's labelled on the menu as a "1" on the spicy scale (3 is the highest), and I'm definitely glad that I didn't ask for it spicier. It probably would've been just as delicious, but when I'm at work, I don't want to sweat curry all afternoon. That said, the "1" had a great little kick to it. The chicken was tender, the veggies (carrots, peppers and greenbeans, maybe?) had just a little crunch in them, and the sauce was pretty close to heaven. Best part, the portions are large enough that I can easily get two lunches out of a meal. This restaurant opening actually makes me a little sad that I'm moving out of state in a week.
ps. Ask the hostess to turn on the bar while you're waiting for your take out. You won't regret it. I just can't understand the vibe! One of the worse services that I have ever got!
The first time I went there, it was during the restaurant week. The restaurant wasn't crowded, but it took a long time for our server to show up. I asked for a drink and ordered the three courses. My drink didn't show up before the appetizer.. it didn't show up with my appetizer .. and it didn't show up with my entree! So I had asked for it three times at this point! Finally, I got my drink toward the end of my entree. When the server brought the dessert, I made the mistake to ask for hot tea. After 30 minutes we got our check with no sign of hot tea.
When I got back home I realized that the restaurant has told opentable that I didn't show up (why is that? to save money?!)!!!
Well, I should've known that I shouldn't go back! But I did!! Just because I love Thai food and I though Yelp can't be wrong!
I went two nights ago and only three tables were occupied. It took 15 minutes for somebody to show up. Long story short, we got our food 35 minutes after we went to the restaurant. When we got our entree my husband asked for extra limes, which of course never brought to our table! I had pineapple fried rice which was so bland with very sour pineapples, so I wanted to ask for some hot sauce, but nobody came to ask about our food.
We were in the middle of our discussion whether we want to order dessert when our server showed up and put the check on the table, without even asking us if we need anything else (and it was one hour before their closing time)!
Food wasn't anything interesting, service was terrible, and there are a lot of great restaurants 2 steps from this one. Contrary to other reviewers I love the dark trendy atmosphere. It is fun, and certainly great for groups, dates, or most any occasion. The portions are small, and consistent with the trends towards street food. I had the Singapore noodles, and the duck appetizer. The Tom Yum soup was more vegetable heavy with the right amount of Heat! If you love Asian and mostly Thai food, you will love this place. Let's drop the term Asian Fusion, which is a cuisine that I do not even acknowledge. Asian Street food is what I love! This is a little gem in Philadelphia Center City! I went here on a whim with friends who were in the mood for Thai food. We sat at the bar.
The staff seemed a little overwhelmed. They took a while to take our order. The staff member who took our order didn't really explain the menu items well enough to someone who's not familiar with Thai food. I honestly am a Thai food new newbie. Prior I only have had Pad Thai, but I would have liked a little more direction on what they think I would like based on what I told them .
I ordered the Chicken Drunken Noodles. They were fine but it was a little pricey for what I got. Nothing stood out in the meal I received.
The margarita drinks my friends had were delicious.
Maybe the experience would have been different if we sat at the table but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this place to someone. It was not terrible, but not worth raving about either. I'm sitting here finishing the last of my delicious dinner. Have to give a shout out to ED Utah Maria for referring me. The food was great and made spicy as requested. Had the appetizer chili dumpling, noodles with pork and the sea bass and shrimp as a main dish. Loved the service and the server Jacob was fantastic.
Great food, fast delivery and phenomenal service. Need I say more. Came here for happy hour with a friend. Ordered a whole bunch of appetizers: chicken skewers, ahi tuna dumplings, indian pancake, and lettuce wraps. Each were about $4.00 a piece. Ahi tuna dumplings were pretty interesting. They were served over guacamole and some type of salsa. It worked. Everything was tasty and service was consistent. No complaints. Visited here on a Sat night. We only needed to sit 2 so we were lucky to find a table but I would suggest making a reservation before hand.
Ordered the Philly Love which was a martini with a cucumber flavor that was great. My friend ordered a drink with a spicy taste (i forgot the name but it was at the bottom of the menu and it was great).
for my entree I ordered the The Signapore noodles which was noodles, with shrimp, beef and a whole bunch of other things. i like my food pretty spicy and so I asked for my food to be made very spicy. it came out and it was not spicy AT ALL. so I had to wait for the waitress to come by our table again and told her and she brought out this spicy oil which did the trick. So I would suggest ordering the hot oil on the side if you like your food spicy. Delicious and reasonably priced. Service was very attentive. Nice variety on the menu. Such bad service and the people who come here have no class. The waitress was rude and was slamming the food on the table and gave me an attitude for asking for a box. My noodles were hard but the drinks were good. GREAT Asian fusion spot in philly - one of the best considering price. Great flavorful food, great happy hour deal, and service is usually good. Cocktails are a little pricy ($10) but pretty good.
One thing is they don't always allow you to sit down and have happy hour. For some reason you only get the deal by the bar.
The decor of this place is pretty trendy too.
If you like Thai / Chinese type food you'll love it here.
Get the hot sauce chicken! This place is hands down a VERY good restaurant/bar. Let me just say that I stopped in two weeks ago as a result of reading some of the Yelp! reviews. I am so glad I discovered it. The food was sooooo delicious. Since I was on business, I came in by myself and decided to sit at their bar. Very cool. (They have these huge floor to ceiling windows that open to the street to give it a very open/airy feeling.) If I recall correctly, I had the ahi dumplings (which were fried) and came with avocado. Delectable!! I was also recommended to try the drunken noodles with shrimp. Yummmy!!! While I was having dinner, I got a chance to meet the owner, the bar manager and one of the bartenders. Everyone was super cool!!! I'm definitely coming back. In fact, I gotta be in Philly this coming week.... 4.5/5
My friend and I came here for happy hour and had a great time! $4 wines from 4-7 and cheap apps. Appetizer wise we got the tuna dumplings and dumplings in chili oil. I don't think I would get the tuna dumplings again-the cooked tuna element was weird. The dumplings were good but they only give you 4.
Here goes another one of my mapo tofu reviews: BIG NEWS-this place has replaced e mei as my number one place for mapo. Jiggly tofu, spicy but not crazy spicy plus not too greasy. Good amount of meat and huge portion. Only complaint is that they could of served more rice with the dish. I also love the fact that I can eat it in a restaurant and not an awkward Chinatown establishment.
Our server was great. He kept the wine flowing and was very friendly! Excellent food. The service was a little suspect, but everything was corrected with a smile, so no complaints. Everyone had a great time! Gorgeous interior, with front doors that open for some al fresco dining, without the chance for getting your purse yanked off of your chair.
I ordered a lunch special online (General Tso's and miso soup for $8) and the lunch potstickers ($4). The special came with a choice of soup, so for $12 I have enough for Second Lunch later this afternoon.
I received 5 potstickers with a dipping sauce, which were quite yummy, but I forced myself away from them to try the miso soup.
Lots of seaweed in the soup, with a moderate amount of tofu. Good depth of flavor. Despite wanting to chow down the rest of it, I moved on to the General Tso's to get to it while it was at its best.
I opened up the container, and was hit with a great cloud of nomminess.from the General Tso's I dug in, and got to pieces of chicken that are just the right size, to properly mix crunchy coating with the tender chicken. A bit smokey, a bit sweet, and a bit spicy of a sauce topped it all off, and wasn't too slimy or clingy. A bit light on the broccoli, and it was a bit less crisp than I like, but overall, I'm going for the chicken, not the garnish.
Service was prompt, and very attentive. I paid my bill, and because I had just ordered minutes before, I had to wait for a few while it was cooked. They sat me at the bar and poured some ice water. I dropped something from my purse, and another server rushed to pick it up for me. I didn't even have time to finish my water before my food was brought out. It was packed securely, so that I could get it back to my office without making a huge mess.
It would be a nice place to hang out after work as well, with the full bar, and open windows for the summer.
Bonus -10% off for checking in! Excellent Shrimp Pad Thai. Not drowning in sauce like some places... Just the right amount. Walked right in on a Tuesday night. Busy, but plenty of tables. Great service, and fast. Will definitely be back when I'm back in Philly. My favorite Thai spot in the city. Great date spot. Food is on point. Drinks could be stronger but they're not so bad. Price is just right. Staff is very cool. Duck Drunken Noodle is always my choice. Or shrimp. I'm surprised at all the great reviews this place received. The restaurant is cute and well decorated. But, the food was all very greasy, and dishes did not taste authentic. The flavors are ok, but most of the dishes tasted the same. The service wasn't that great either. The waiter was dressed in his coat ready to leave when he gave us the check - not very professional. Will likely not come back. Great food !! We went there for farewell lunch. Food was excellent but giving 3 stars for two reasons. 1 - The service was too slow, I think just one or two waiters , 2 - 60$ tip was automatically charged for a group of 8 people. Restaurants usually charge tip for large group but I think the percentage was too high. Only wish if the waitress's customer services skill was half as good as the bartender. Very disrespectful to customer and her coworkers, eye rolling, impatient, go feed yourself some of those if you want a unpleasant day. Great place, great food great atmosphere. I went after work, the bar seats are super comfortable.
The manager is near the door so he created me first. I order the dumpling in chili sauce and the crispy jumbo shrimp...AMAZING!! The bartender was supper friendly and served me in a timely manner. I love this place, will go again I like this place. the decor is ultra modern, even sleek, the service is good, and the cooking is above average. I understand they own a second place in Chinatown and this is the offshoot. With Szechuan cooking and some interesting fusion items, I'm curious to see where things go. Both times there, we had some problems with the food that was delivered, and then a friendly, helpful reaction from the manager but no movement to comp anything.
The first time, we got a different appetizer than we ordered, ate most of it, then realized it was not what we ordered. We talked to the server and then received the correct one but were still charged for the first one. My friend wrote a Yelp review and was offered a discount on her next visit, which was nice, but why charge us initially?
Yesterday at lunch, we got there when it wasn't crowded and then it got really busy. Our order went in before the rush and then took a very long time to come. I flagged the server and the food was delivered. The entree was lukewarm and the rice was cold. My friend (8+ months pregnant) ate hers, when she's hungry, she goes for it.
I sent mine back with the request for them to pack it "to go". We had already been there 45 minutes and I was due back at work for a meeting. The waiter was apologetic and I asked him to take my entree off the bill. He sent the manager over, who was nice, friendly, and who explained that their food lamp/warmer had broken on Monday and he indicated that they had taken care of me by giving my food as takeout. There was no offer to comp anything. I felt like he was playing a game to see if I would actually insist on a comp. I explained, again, that we had waited a long time, received cold food, that I didn't get to eat w. my friend. I said, "I don't want to pay for this takeout entree." He agreed, without a fuss, but why did I have to push for this? They had messed up in a big way.
Come on, guy, step it up!! I eat out all the time and I'm a customer worth keeping. You have a great space and very good food, but you need to take care of customers, esp. when the delivery of the food falls short.
Might give it one more visit. There are once in a lifetime moments, and I have just experienced one at Spice 28. Being with someone you love and experiencing the layered taste is nothing short of orgasmic. We dined on the spicy tuna tempura rolls, spicy tuna pizza, which were both topped with aioli sauces, both melted in your mouth. The drunken noodles with chicken were prepared wonderfully. The basil was perfect, it gave a beautiful texture against the spiciness of the noodles, and the perfectly done chicken, which melted in my mouth. We love Szechuan, and when late one night we both had cravings for spicy, garlicky food we turned to delivery via Dining In. We're not huge fans of that particular delivery service, but they have the places we want to order from including any Szechuan place compared to others. I chose Spice 28 because I knew that my mother in law loves them.
Delivery...took awhile. Not a huge deal, we were hoping it wouldn't take over an hour since the estimates are usually wrong, but it did take longer than Dining In said which when you pay an additional fee is annoying. The dan dan noodles (two orders...we can't share :P) and spicy cucumbers were tasty, but I think that I prefer Han Dynasty's. God knows they certainly used the right amount of garlic - our apartment smelled of it through the next day! I personally didn't think they were especially spicy, just a reasonable amount of heat, but I'm abnormal and could probably eat authentic Indian and not have sweat dripping down my face. My husband really enjoyed the dan dan noodles, though, so I'm willing to give Spice 28 another try - but maybe I'll pick it up myself, that delivery fee is ridiculous. It was very tasty but it was hard to understand anything there from the menu items to the server herself. Overall a good experience. The employees were all extremely nice and accommodating. Very bad service. I waited for 45 minutes and food didnt arrive while people that come later than me get their food first. The food was really cold and bad service wasn't good was rushed out. Need better service and food Went there on DEC 15th 2013 with some friends. I had the Ahi Tuna dumplings and the shrimp dry pot. The dumplings were deeee-licious and the dry pot, which I had at a level 3 was flavorful and awesome. It could have been hotter but overall it was very good. My friends had the dry pot also just a different meat inside. I also had the mango-citrus basil lemonade, it. Was. Heaven. deff goin back. Nice food. Friendly staff. Nice ambience. Definitely recommended. Good chinese food and options. In my original review of Spice 28 I wrote that I would not consider going back there. After posting my review on Yelp, the GM - Ben - contacted me inviting us to come back. So, we did. At Ben's request, I tried contacting him several times - through phone and Yelp - to let him know we would be coming, but I had no luck in reaching him. But, we went anyway.
We started off the meal with the rock shrimp and Indian pancake - both of which were absolute let downs. The portion size of the Indian pancake was embarrassingly small. The rock shrimp battered had no flavor and was entirely dependent on the dipping sauces to provide it with any hint of spice.
As with the first time we had gone to Spice 28, the waiters brought out our entrees prior to us finishing our appetizers. And again, our entrees became lukewarm by the time we actually ate it. We had the Pad Thai and Blue Crab Fried Rice. The fried rice was poorly seasoned - all I tasted was pepper, lots of pepper. The Pad Thai did not get any thumbs up either.
There was one point where we had two waitresses taking our order, and two waiters standing silently behind us. Mmm...talk about awkward?
Needless to say, we won't be coming back, and due to the absolute disappointment, I'm knocking this down one star from my original review. Very inexpensive for great food!! Been there twice no complaints. Favorite part is the free wonton soup comes with two dumplings in it...never seen that done before it's unbelievable. Got the Kung pao chicken it was delicious and cooked just right. Very crispy but also juicy on the inside. Spent 10$ including tip. Go to place for quick meals and on a budget that's is still insanely good. My experience with Sichuan food can be likened to certain designer drug. The first time you try it a number of questions run through your head; how much is too much?, Is this going to kill me? Can I trust this Asian guy to sell me the real deal? But you really just end up sweating a lot, yearning for more, and drinking a ton of water. And you love it. That's the addiction.
We also know with these types of things that your first time is your best. My first time was with Han's. It was the best time. While this particular concoction was certainly nice too, producing the familiar effects of sweat, desire, love and regret but it's just not the same as that first time. So this is why Spice gets 28 - 24 stars.
Side note #1: service here was absolutely phenomenal. We had drinks at the bar while waiting for our reservation and were very well taken care of from start to finish. This is a big differentiator here. They truly seem to appreciate your business. Go give em some.
Side note #2: You can make comparable Dan Dan noodles at home. It's actually pretty easy. The key ingredient? Tahini. And good Sichuan peppercorns. Watch for cheap versions that have a lot of stems in the bag. Oh god, was that another drug reference? I ordered take out at lunchtime from Spice 28 today. They are currently in the soft opening phase. I was very impressed with the decor. The food was absolutely delicious. The offer both Chinese and Thai cuisine. The portions were large and the proces were very reasonable. I especially enjoyed the massaman curry. Spice 28 is a very welcome addition to the neighborhood. I'd like to start off by saying nothing is absolutely terrible about this place, but it's definitely not worth the money. We made a reservation for two and were seated almost immediately. It was a bit cramped and loud, but it was fine for a table of two, not sure how comfortable I'd be with a large group. Once we placed our cocktail orders, it took about 20 minutes to receive them. I have no complaints about those and really enjoyed the drink with cucumber, but that could just be my bias.
We ordered the rock shrimp and a noodle dish for appetizers. The rock shrimp was definitely the best part of the meal. The noodles weren't anything special and were literally just spaghetti with some glaze sauce that we had to mix in ourselves. We shared an order of Saigon Beef, which again, was fine, but nothing I couldn't have made myself, and I'm not a great cook. Again, not bad, but I gave it two stars for it just not being worth the price. I probably would not go here again. First let me say the place is beautiful the staff is very friendly and my order was ready fast, maybe a little too fast. I hate to say but I really didn't enjoy my food. I ordered Pad Thai with extra tofu. The Tofu taste just like grease and that through the rest of the food off, in addition my pad thai had very little sauce. I know this is a fusion restaurant but classic dishes should be left alone and if you can't make a classic correctly then I must venture else where. Worst customer service ever. After finishing dinner, we paid the bill and continued chatting for about 10 min. The manager comes up to us and tells us to leave because he needs the table and there was another party waiting to be seated (meanwhile the restaurant was half empty). We've never been told to leave after paying the bill, anywhere. Won't come back to this place. Besides the food was average. Had the worst delivery experience . Only half the item got delivered. It's been an hour and a half since we called for the remainder of the items and they haven't yet arrived. I've been here twice for lunch. The service is great & fast and the General Tso chicken is juicy chunks of chicken breast...yum. I like the decor and atmosphere too. 3.5 stars! I came here for sips, so cheap drinks and appetizers!
I ordered a beer and some ahi tuna dumplings. The ahi tuna dumplings were pretty tasty! I think one order came with about 4/5 dumplings, each served on a bed of guacamole. Our table was pretty big so ordering food and receiving each order got a little confusing for our waiter. Understandable since everyone ordered something similar, and it could get a little hectic. Our waiter was great though! Among all of us, I think we tried about every dish on the sips special menu. One of the guys in our group ordered the chicken lettuce wrap and did mention that it was very spicy. So spicy that he actually couldn't finish it. The restaurant is called SPICE though, so take what you will.
Next time, I will come for an actual meal and see what this place is all about. Went back to Spice 28 again for a business lunch since I had a fabulous lunch on my first visit. This time the front windows were open because it was a beautiful day. The lunch again was wonderful. The service was very good and friendly. You have to try the chicken drunken noodle dish. Excellent. Spice 28 is a great addition to the Midtown Village restaurant row, just make sure you walk around the corner from 13th Street to Chestnut Street. Love this restaurant! Great food, Great value, Great service. We ordered a few things, everything was very flavorful and service was great. The calamari Thai style was pretty good, beef and tripe cold plate had good flavor but didn't really care for the toughness of the meat so we asked to swap for the duck appetizer which was delicious but the portion was so small. The best dish we had was the beef drunken noodles - tender beef, delicious flavor and the noodles were cooked perfectly - not too mushy or greasy. I would go back for the drunken noodles. I'm a local and some sort of a regular to this place. I stopped going because the food was getting inconsistent. It has had its ups and downs over the years. I called to give a heads up what I was experiencing. The manager on the phone didn't seem to care. Let's do the math.
Our average order costs 85.00 for food and drinks for two
Our average visit was five times a month to equal 300 a month
Our average yearly contribution to spice WAS $5100.00
Bottom line is someone should care or at least care enough to capture $5100.00 in revenue. The best Asian courses I tried in Philadelphia.
It's kind of fusion Asian cuisine. But most of the dishes are really delicious. I came with a group of friends and we just told the our budget is 30 box per person. We were all full in the end and even tried every dish on the menu! A not that pricey but really nice restaurant. I. Am. Obsessed. You go girl (that's what I say when I'm complimenting myself on finding this place).
I recently moved to the neighborhood and walked past Spice 28 a few times. I saw the exterior and thought, meh another cheap, cheesy Thai place, it'll be gone in a few months. Boyyy was I wrong. I went with a friend one day to check it out and we ate ourselves well into a food coma. The Blue Crab Fajita is absolutely delicious, as are the ahi tuna dumplings (come with guacamole!) The dumplings in spicy oil are very mundane and the eggplant wasn't wasn't to my taste. The Pad Thai and Dan Dan noodles were both very good, but nothing out of the ordinary. We also received complimentary dessert, which was a great touch!
What really sets this place apart (besides those god damn delicious crab fajitas) is the amazing decor and the impeccable service. The interior is extremely modern but also cozy ( I can totally see myself having my birthday party here!). Also, you can tell that they are definitely trying to establish themselves because they are on top of their shit! I even met the owner when I stumbled in two days after my first visit for takeout (yes, it's that addicting). He was so sweet and humble, and it just made me love Spice 28 even more!
It's been pretty empty every time I've gone, undoubtedly because it's newer. Once word get out, though (and once they get their liquor license!), I can just imagine the Amada-esque lines'(and I will undoubtedly be spending way more time there than socially acceptable). I missed all the group outings that have occurred here recently, but I did finally get to stop in for dinner. I'm starting with 3 stars for now because we had some service issues. We were waiting a long time for our entrees (drunken noodles with chicken and dan dan noodles). Everyone else around us was being served, and finally a waitress stopped by and said something about them making our dinner again because it had gotten cold. The manager also stopped by and apologized, and gave us the wonton with guacamole appetizer on the house. The drunken noodles were the stand out. The dan dan noodles definitely aren't as good as Han Dynasty. The dumplings in chili oil were good too.
I definitely appreciated the efforts to rectify the service problems, but we ended up being there for close to 2 hours. I anticipate that I'll be updating this review to 4 stars once I get a chance to go back. Yes; go there. Dined there with a friend from out of town. I had the Szechuan Pork Bellies, he had the Pad Thai, and we split the tuna dumplings. All awesome! Their prices are right on and the portions are generous. Great selection, too. And the Yelp reservation system worked like a charm. It was a Monday night so not crowded. Small place, good bar. Great Center City place. I will be back for more! We had their pineapple fried rice, pot stickers, pad thai, and wonton soup and it was absolutely delicious! Definitely will be going back because their lunch specials are very affordable. They are also always on time if you are picking up which is great. They have grubhub coupons you should use if you never used grubhub before! great place! it has a very modern/ chic decor, which i loved. (they blasted the AC though, which took away a bit from dining experience)... otherwise, staff was great. Their dishes are not as spicy as I would've liked, but definitely very tasty! I'd say pretty comparable to the ones I had while visiting china. It's also very well priced :) My husband and I dined here recently and really enjoyed it. It's a bit dark and I always hate when tables are less than a foot from each other, but it wasn't crowded so the seating was ok. Our server was attentive and the food came out extremely quickly. It was flavorful and hot. I recommend the Dan Dan Noodles, they were as good if not better than Han Dynasty. I had an excellent pear martini. We will definitely return. As a Philadelphia "midtown" resident, I was pleased to see a new restaurant coming to the area, and not only to the area, but to Chestnut Street (rather than 13th between Chestnut and Walnut where we already have a glut of amazing restaurants and shops). Here's hoping that the good food (and good shops) keep moving down Chestnut!
Spice 28's waitstaff was superbly friendly (handshakes and name exchanges) and attentive without being irritating. The food was delicious across the board: tom yum soup (spicy, especially enjoyed the snap pea pods!), chili mini wontons (nice heat!), potstickers (just as they should be), wonton soup (nice broth), vegetarian drunken noodles (does not come spicy).
Must give an individualized nod to the special order of spicy tuna wonton atop guacamole: fabulous! After seeing Spice 28 come up in my Yelp feed, I definitely wanted to give it a try after seeing it be compared to Han.
A friend and I met at the new restaurant, and were pleased upon entry. The space is great-very modern. The staff is friendly, and service definitely comes with a smile.
For starters we got the lettuce wraps, which is more of an Asian chicken salad meant to be eaten on its own. It was delicious, and had a nice little kick to it due to the hot peppers used. We also got the spicy cucumbers-yum. I love the sauce they're prepared in. We got the try the spicy gyoza.. it was an interesting mix of ingredients, and the guac under the gyoza was fresh and tasty.
I ordered Tom Yum soup, and that did not disappoint.
For an entree my friend and I got some veggie fried rice, which was good, and a the beef dry pot, which was delicious and full of Sichuan peppercorns.. which have a mouth numbing effect. yow.
The employees were super friendly,and service was great.
I'll definitely go back Ordered delivery. I got the drunken noodles with Chicken and Indian pancakes. Both were good the pancakes were my favorite with the curry dipping sauce.
The noodles were a little caked together I'm assuming for to the fact it was put in a container but it had lots of chicken and just enough spice.
The pancakes came quartered and had a good curry dipping sauce. I got my order delivered within 30 min. Had the double cooked pork belly. The dish was pretty good but some of the pork pieces were overcooked and a bit harder to chew. Drinks were good and the ambiance was good too. I'd say this place was more fusion than Szechuan especially since the dishes weren't even all that spicy. Service was good and the staff was friendly (even late into the evening when I'm sure everyone wanted to just go home). Have had pickup here a couple of times and it's been excellent both times. The inside looks funky and fun and I definitely wanna grab dinner here sometime. After seeing the rave review that my sister (Hyun-Ha K.) gave, I decided to give Spice 28 a try today. When we got to the restaurant, the owner greeted us at the door & asked "do you have a reservation" in a weird way which made me & my boyfriend give each other a look. The restaurant was empty, why would you ask us that question? Do you not want us to spend money in your restaurant?
We ended up ordering the tuna avocado salad, the Saigon beef (after the server raved about it), the drunken noodles, & the ahi tuna dumplings. The tuna avocado salad was good, with fresh chunks of tuna, avocado, spinach leaves all dressed in a spicy mayo/yuzu sauce. We then received the entrees of the saigon beef and the drunken noodles. The drunken noodles were on point, tasting of basil with a good kick to it. They were just like the ones you usually get at a decent Thai place. Now onto the Saigon beef. My boyfriend said it tasted like a1 steak sauce. But after I took a bite, I immediately knew the taste. It tasted just like KFC's boneless honey bbq wings. It cracked me up how much it tasted exactly like those boneless chicken wings! The ahi tuna dumplings were okay, I didn't like how the tuna was cooked, it would have been so much better with raw ahi tuna, but the dish was fine.
Now onto the annoying parts of dinner.
1. We NEVER got our water refilled. The servers were clearly not paying attention to us, seeing how every other table got their own carafe of water, while we were ignored.
2. The servers never asked us how our food was, or even offered any rice to us fo the Saigon beef entree. The servers avoided our table like we were the black plague. Why? I don't get it. We ordered a good amount of food, and we were very friendly to the staff.
3. The other tables were offered free dessert, while we were offered none. The female owner went around to the other tables and chit chatted with the diners, but failed to come to talk to us.
With bad service, comes a bad tip. I've never been treated so indifferently at a restaurant. The only plus of the restaurant was the decor. With the way the servers were running around and talking to each other about how dishes were coming out incorrectly (the plus of having a boyfriend who speaks Mandarin), it's safe to say I won't be frequenting this establishment ever again. Went there for my birthday dinner. I booked more seating than I needed too but the staff was really cool about it, haven't always had this experience.
We had a very large amount of guests with us and we were pretty loud and needy.. needless to say, they were extremely accommodating to us. They checked on us multiple times and the service was excellent.
The food was amazing. I often to go there for lunch specials or happy hour because you can't pass up the deals. The dumplings, pot stickers, and spring rolls are delicious and you can't go wrong with any these choices.
My group of friends loved all the food, ambiance and service. Would definitely go back for any occasion- date, birthday dinner, drinks with friends.
There isn't a thing on the menu I wouldn't try!
Also the owner is always there, that truly shows how much he cares about the business. I love food and I love Spice 28. Thank you for an awesome birthday dinner! Friends, fiancee and I ate here for New Year's Eve dinner, as this was one of the only places that didn't have a ticketed event (originally tried Bru, then they suddenly started a ticketed open bar).
That said, we were really impressed by the place: the modern decor is pleasing (think slightly-nicer-than-Crazy Sushi), the food was fine and moderately-priced, and drinks were interesting Asian-style takes on typical cocktails (I had a Thai basil gimlet which were nice and refreshing). Our server was also friendly and helpful with suggestions, etc.
The fiancee and I shared shrimp green curry (which was okay - I could have handled much more spice and overall flavor) and seafood lo mein (which was a nice, large portion and fine - neither outstanding nor bad). We sat at the bar last week and the bartender Benny recommend the cumin Lamb. OMG! The lamb will was so good with just the right amount of heat, The food and service where amazing we will be back for sure! 5star quality. I went back there visiting philly again and I can tell you they are even better than before. I tried their Cumin Garlic Seabass which was so flavorful and had a great blance of flavors. I proceed to try their Mee Siam Noodle and I would say they are on par even with the restaurants in New York. I am very impressed again and the cocktails are amazing. Philly love which has a very refreshing taste. I am content with the experience again. My husband had the sampler and loved the lamb, He's still talking about it.
I had the paneer tikka masala it was ok, But I loved the naan with coconut in it.
What weirded me out was how like an American restaurant they were trying to be. Soup and Salad before the meal. And the wait staff had something going on in the room where I'm guessing the cash register or ordering station was, just felt strange. This place is just too damn good.
I came here on a cute lunch date, when the wait at El Vez was out of control. In hindsight, I'm actually very pleased about it. The hostess was totally adorable, and gave us a very nice table by the window. The decor in here, by the way, is also totally adorable--super trendy and modern, with lots of natural light.
In case you weren't aware: (I wasn't) Blue Moon and Pad Thai is definitely a winning combo. I couldn't believe how delicious my meal was, and my date was equally pleased with his. Our waitress was very attentive and pleasant. It seems like everyone who works here wears a smile, and it's contagious!
Honestly, I can't imagine having a bad experience here. Be suspicious of any review below five stars! The atmosphere is fantastic, the food is divine, and the service is efficient and welcoming. I'd come back any day of the week. I frequently come here when I visit Philly......mostly because I like to sit next to the window and watch the endless parade of passers by. I always feel like I'm intruding when I come here,barely present, a possible nuisance. The food is good enough and the staff just friendly enough to avoid being rude. I always wonder if it would be busier if the people were friendlier Went here for the first time for dinner after a long day of skiing. Wasn't sure what to expect upon walking in since the ambiance was way too modern and western style for a Chinese restaurant. However, I'm glad I didn't let that stop me, because the food was 100% authentic. It really is legitimate Chinese food, competing with the best of restaurants in Chinatown. The prices are a little more expensive than your typical Asian place because it seems they are intentionally trying to set themselves apart in both ambiance and price. It gives a more westernized style of dining with authentic Asian cuisine. In the "Japanese style grilled chicken" lunch special, spice was noticeably absent. Wonton soup tasted canned, and only had one sad slice of bok choy and two wontons. The wonton filling was unremarkable. No other veggies present.
The chicken was noticeably NOT grilled, but pale, with a thin, nearly tasteless teriyaki sauce, and not enough of it to flavor the side of rice.
Disappointed. This was one of the worst dining experiences I have encountered in Philadelphia. The tables were wobbly and caused our drinks to spill. The servers were at times overbearing, repeatedly asking us questions and attempting to take our order. When you wanted them they were impossible to flag down. The food was bland and cold. There are plenty of better restaurants in the area as this one is not worth your time. Delivery was quick, which was great. I've only ordered from Circles Thai before, whose delivery is usually painstakingly slow. I ordered pad thai and peking duck buns to compare. The duck buns were tasty, but the sauce was a little too salty and the meat was a little drier than it should've been. I'd probably give it a 4/5 for taste but a 3/5 overall for the price. I only got two small duck buns. The pad thai was average at best: 70% noodles that were rubbery and chewier than I like, 30% meat, limp bean sprouts, barely any flavor, and absolutely no spice. Did it taste bad? Not really, but it didn't really taste like anything either once I ate most of the chopped peanuts. I ordered it really spicy and it was milder than mild. At least the pad thai from Circles Thai had discernible flavor. I might give Spice 28 another try but maybe way in the future. The drunken noodles were decent. They weren't spicy at all but it at least had some flavor. The penang curry on the other hand is a different story. Probably the worst curry I've ever had. It was very bland with absolutely no flavor. All I could really taste was the coconut milk. By far one of my favorite places to grab a quick bite to eat and some drinks. Their Rock Shrimp is phenomenal. My friends and I love this place. Really yummy and SPICY Chinese food in Center City. They add spicy oil to their dishes to make them nice and spicy which I really like because I LOVE spicy food. The interior of the restaurant is also really nice and fun with different colored lights emitting from the bar. Their only downfall I believe is that their service is really reeeeally slow. It took about an hour for my entree to come out and my family and I were the only customers at the time. That was actually really annoying and we were dying of hunger. The waitress was extremely nice however and apologized for the delay, which I appreciated. Definitely go and check it out! Food was yummy and fresh. It came out quick and hot which is always important to me , nothing worst than cold or luck warm food. Super cute and the service was very good. This Review is for their take out/ delivery. Super fast delivery service with piping hot food. Maps tofu is my go to from there and the fish filet hotspot style. I get the Szechuan flavored items, which are solid but wish they had more sections like mungbean noodles with chili sauce. Pad Thai deliciousness! Some of the best Thai food I have had in a while. Def recommend this place but not the dessert - was not up to par Disclaimer: Ordered delivery via Grubhub.
Driver called me to tell me he was here, was actually down the street. So I stood at the door and flickered the porch light to get his attention. He drove down the street, stopped in front of my house and stuck the bag of food out of his car window...great start.
On to the food. Got the roast duck salad "Boneless duck and spring mix tossed with toasted sesame dressing and peanuts." It was about 6 1" long slivers of duck on top of some mix greens. No peanuts and the dressing was the weirdest thing. Passed it around and we came to the conclusion that it was honey + 7up. Got Tom Yum soup "Bell peppers, mushrooms, cherry tomato and cilantro". Had zucchini and pineapple in it, not terrible but would be nice to know all the ingredients.
Spring roll was probably the worst spring roll ever to cross my taste buds. Ordered wonton soup with pork, found chunks of chicken meat (I hope that is what it was, surely wasn't pork). At least the wasabi mashed potatoes were as described and didn't have some other random ingredients that weren't disclosed.
Not eating here ever again. I went here the other night for a date night. When we got there it actually turned out to be restaurant week which was cool. So, we had reservations made way in advanced but when we arrived they said "let me check if we have any tables" .... Why would they need to do that if we made reservations a day ago!? Then they only had the table by the freezing cold window at the bar available.
When we finally got situated at our table we had the bartender as our server. As the night went on our server changed probably 3 times. The service was really really slow.
For dinner I ordered the Pad Thai with beef;
Which was delicious! My boyfriend ordered the Singapore street noodles which was too spicy to have more than a few bites of.
At the end of the meal; for two people it came to be about $120 including our tip. The food and experience was not worth the price. I would probably not go back there again; Han Dynasty remains our #1 spot! Came here with my dad and had a great dinner! The veggie drunken noodle was delicious, as was the Chicken Dry Pot. The Chicken Dry Pot was actually very spicy (I never know when to take the three peppers seriously in restaurants) and left our mouths burning. Yummy, nevertheless. I liked the sleek interior design of the restaurant, and the servers were friendly and attentive. Am definitely coming back here at some point! Excellent food and dining experience. Recommended Appetizers: Ahi-tuna dumplings, pot stickers and Thai calamari.
Entrees: pineapple fried rice w/ chicken or shrimp. Drinks: "Philly Love"
Excellent service, reasonably priced. I came here for late lunch on a Saturday, I liked the decor of the restaurant, it's trendy. They have outside seating. The best thing about this place was the trendy comfortable chairs near the outside of the restaurant.
As for the service, the waitress was friendly so no complaints there. We ordered the roti curry appetizer. The bread that came with the curry was a little on the greasy side, it was more like Chinese scallion pancakes without the scallions. I'm use to roti being more thin and less oily.
The pineapple fried rice was good but not impressive. The drunken noodles was really good.
The dessert is a must try, it was the espresso truffles which is espresso ice cream on the outside and truffles melted on the inside which was absolute out of this world amazing!!! Best thing out of this restaurant, I would come back just for this dessert. I've been here three times now, for restaurant week, with friends, and with my dad, showing him my more "eclectic" tastes. This is hands down my 2nd favorite Thai spot in Philly.
My menu favorites:
The Crispy Duck Salad- Succulent duck with fresh greens. It works so well and you don't have to work through bones either.
Crispy Calamari- Wonderful crispness and a good go to definitely. The sauces that come with it enhance already fantastic flavors.
Ahi Tuna Dumpling- Didn't think that tuna would work in dumplings- but Spice delivers. I suggest the fried version.
Rock Shrimp- Very tasty and either the chili aoili or curry glaze work well.
Drunken Noodles- You really can't go wrong with drunk noodles and Spice keep the noodles from being soggy while ensuring bold flavors. Beef or chicken are clear winners.
Also, can I just say...their desserts are off the hook. A little pricey, but so delicious I can forgive the dent in my wallet. The CoppaStracciatella is divine. Seriously. The pyramid is also yummy. You can easily just come here for dessert and coffee and be very satisfied.
Hoping to go back soon to try the other menu items. So jealous of those close enough to catch lunch here. While I only stopped in for a drink, I enjoyed a calm evening at Spice 28. The cocktails there are lively and in keeping with the Asian fusion concept. Expect lots of fruity albeit unusual drinks like the Ginger Cosmo. The inclusion of the ginger made the drink more appealing to me, as I tend to be a "double whiskey, neat"-type of gal. The facade was open so it wasn't too hot or cold on a September night. The illuminated, color-changing bar top was pleasant and added to the relaxed and alluring ambiance. Service was prompt and the venue was small, but tidy and comfortable. This is a great spot for a girls' night out or after work drinks with coworkers. Love the ambience..very friendly waitress..10% off checked in from yelp is awesome..we actually wanted togo to han dynasty..but they are full and since we were 8 peoples include kids its just too crowded and they said we have to reserve couples day earlier..wow
But think to bring kids to spice 28 on Saturday nights for dinner is inappropriate since the bar is full to...
Ok dan dan noodles very yummy hehe..stir fry string bean is good BUT the SPICY THING chicken,shrimp and beef that we had is so salty...its really good flavor iits just toooooo salty...I felt like eating salt in my mouth so do all my friend's told me..so its not me problem...
Overal its okaay... Great ambience, excellent service, and the dry pot chicken was excellent, though it lacked the nuance of Han Dynasty's. I only docked a star because it's listed as a Szechuan restaurant, when it is actually a Thai/fusion-ish place with a small Szechuan menu. Killer food, though. Disorganized management is the impression I got.
The service was terrible. We asked for the gluten-free menu (which they advertised that they had on Facebook) but the waitress was unaware of it. She said there is one dish that is gluten free and that is about it. Called the general manager, and they had a mini argument right behind me regarding the gluten-free menu. (what?). Had to wait 15-20 min to order our drinks and had to wait another 15 min to get our drink. Our waitress forgot about one of our drinks so we had to ask another waiter for it. After we placed our order and finally got our dish (after another long wait), the dish itself was really really mediocre. Nothing impressive.
Sure, they could have had an unusually bad night; but, if I'm paying for it - monetarily and with my time, I expect them to deliver, and well, in this case, they simply did not. Beautiful decor. Friendly service. Food was solid. Mango shrimp salad was light and full of flavor. Duck was cooked nicely served with brown rice and mixed vegetables. Portion sizes are good size I would recommend 1-2 apps and one entree each for every two people. It's the kind of place you have try multiple times so you can try most of the menu. Great pan-Asian culinary execution and flavor pairings served up in a semi-reflective space tunnel with a neon bar. Lots of selection and creativity on display. Staff was nice. Great vibe! Love the decor. I went for lunch on a Sunday and there was a large range of age groups, plenty of pre-teen children, young adults and older. The jumbo crispy shrimp was amazing as was the Thai calamari. Unfortunately the pad Thai was not the best. On their 1-3 star level for heat, one was flavorless and two was vaguely sweat. They said three was too hot to handle but I can not see that being true. The dish looked great with nice portions of both chicken and tofu but something was missing. Maybe it was the sauce or lack there of? Overall it was a chill experience but disappointing because I went just for the pad Thai.
I expected more from a restaurant so highly rated on Yelp. Food was great! I've been here a few times before, mostly takeout. My friend and I sat in for lunch today. After waiting 15 minutes to place our order, my friend finally ask our waitress (while she brushed pass us) could she take our order. She walks over and ask us "ok, what do you want?"... I have never in my life had a server speak to me that way. I probably won't be back. Ordered takeout from this place. Terrible service. The "hostess" was turned around eating and watching loud videos on her phone at the front desk. The food was revolting. Soggy calamari, dry beef satay with lumpy peanut sauce, and dry roast duck with a disgusting watery hoisin sauce. At least the steamed rice was okay. There were about 10 people sitting inside and the staff of 3 was completely overwhelmed. Avoid this place at all costs. Fun funky vibe throughout the whole restaurant with the lighting and bar. The bathroom is spot on clean too. It is behind the curtains so it maybe tricky to spot.
Chili sauce and wontons is a must!
Same goes for the cucumbers appetizer! You are going to need to ask for extra napkins, but they both are refreshingly tasty. Both oils used are delicious.
The prices are worth it here and I never felt cheated. It's Asian food not with the cheap tacky chairs and dingy tables. Everything looks clean and polished with a fun touch. The whole set up is more inviting than any other take out or dine in spot.
The server I had was nice and took care of us to make the train. Horrendous service, took an hour to get the wrong order and owner didn't even care. Never going back. OK, they get 5 stars for food, but only 1-2 for their wine list and cocktails. The pad Thai was scrumptious and the mini won tons in chili oil were to die for, but the entire wine list consisted of cheap, low quality wines that you can buy for $5-7 per bottle and they have the nerve to ask $9-10 per glass. The owner says their "real" wines will come in next week, so maybe you will have some better options. For now, go for the food and take your own wine if you want anything better than college student fare. Not a native to Philly restaurant/nightlife but went to Spice 28 as recommended by a good friend. We went on a Monday night during Happy Hour. Spice 28 is conveniently located near the Market East train station and Macy's next to City Hall. The area, as I was told, is part of a gay community where a bunch of restaurants are owned by two older women.
Spice 28 has outdoor seating which is nice on a not-so-hot-and-humid summer day. The interior design is a mix of modern asian meets urban chic. When I went they had two menus including a drink menu. We had a Long Island Iced Tea and a Watermelon Wheat Beer (so good!) and some entrees. I love spicy food so definitely recommend the Drunken Noodles and my friend suggests Pad Thai. The portions are reasonable and decently priced for central Philadelphia. As far as parking is concerned there are some parking lots nearby but its probably best to bike or take SEPTA. Pad Thai was the best I've had and the chicken lettuce wraps were excellent. Went here with 7 of my college friends. The food was great, well-priced, and large portions and the servers were very friendly. They let us bring about 60 beers and some wine, gave us an ice bucket, and helped remove beer from the table. On top of that, they gave us free dessert. All in all a great experience Food was decent and decor was nice. Very noisy. Dessert was the best part of the meal.. Triple chocolate... spice 28 was great! the food was on time warm and tasty. after glancing over the menu and ordering our food we decided to order drinks. i had the dragon nectar my boyfriend had baileys and xo patron on the rocks. Good drinks nonetheless, my only issue is that a random waitress came up and asked the bartender what he was making, before the bartender handed us our drinks the waitress grabbed two straws, placed them into my boyfriends drink, and basically took a shot. Disgusting, unethical, and down right unprofessional. I have never in all of my years of dining and sitting in the bar area experience something so unsanitary. Like I stated above the food, great. The nasty disgusting waitress, needs to go. I don't plan on eating here again until I know that customer service policies are changed and she is no longer an employee there. One of my favoriate place to go when i was around philadelphia area .
Full bar with cute bartenders
resonable price for high quality food.
Love the manager Ben (he is cute)
highly recommend the appetizer dishes. I get the lunch special which comes with soup. The drunken noodle is really good just a little spicy. The miso soup is excellent and the Indian pancake is to die for. I've also had the shrimp with broccoli but I believe they call it something different. That was good as well , the portion was just small. Go with the Szechuan classics they are awesome. One caution if getting take out, the Dan Dan noodles don't travel well. Hands down best Drunken Noodles I've ever had - which says a lot coming from someone who just recently came back from Thailand. Ask for extra spicy - even "10 hot" barely left my mouth tingling. However, to be fair, I should say I have a high tolerance for spicy food. If you can't take the heat...
Note: This dish makes phenomenal hangover food!
I can't speak to the rest of the menu, however, the Dry Pepper Style entree leaves something to be desired. If you're looking for some chicken with your chilis this is not the dish for you.
They're also know for their cocktails. If you're a fan of mint you can't go wrong with the Shisojito. Great place for a date. Yummy food, very chic atmosphere, and not too pricey. Waitstaff was excellent! Very attentive, friendly and gave great recommendations. I would definitely eat here again. I had dinner with friends here tonight for the first time! Even though the service was a little slow, the food was tasty and ambiance cozy. The egg rolls were just ok but the duck buns were juicy and moist. We had Saigon beef, silky tofu, garlic eggplant and a spicy fish stew. They were all good, especially the eggplant. The drinks were decent as well. I will definitely return! It's no Han Dynasty but it's alright. The spicy cucumbers have little flavor to them. The tom yum soup has a decent amount of sourness to it but could definitely use a little more spices in it. Overall, the food could use more flavors, although I really like the sweetness of Szechuan style. We came here on a lunch date sans kids. My wife had the Thai Basil Rice and I had the Singapore Street Noodles..... where to begin???
Thai Basil Noodles: savory, sweet basil. The rice was amazing and perfectly soft. A hint of spice but overall savory.
Roasted Tomato Salad: must get as a starter. The roasted tomatoes are done in a very sweet almost glaze.
Street Noodles: worth every penny. Spicy? VERY! The pork and noodles make this dish what it is. No sauce but all spice!
The décor is smart and modern. Its very classy and sophisticated but not pretentious. The staff was attentive. Make are you ask for recommendations.
If you like spice, Spice 28 is a MUST for fans of Asian cuisine..... real Asian cuisine. Ordered delivery from them on several occasions. Pineapple fried rice is one of my faves, as well as the Singapore street noodles--but quite spicy so be aware! We dined here on a Friday night with two kids. The waitress was awesome and wasn't annoyed by having kids in her section.
We enjoyed everything we ordered. Our drinks were also delicious!
They have a couple tables right by the front that are in front of the large open window. If you're a party of two I'd recommend trying to get reservations for those tables!
Great place to eat with Gluten free options! This is our first time, we were craving for some Asian food and accidentally happen to see this place in yelp had good review and wanted to give a try. Mainly this had roti canai (Indian pancake) .. Everything is really good and liked the lunch a lot. Only thing is the quantity was less I'm here during restaurant week. Tbh I wasn't expecting a ton because I figured it's a busy week so they'll push food out quickly. BOY WAS I WRONG. The crab avocado salad was a revelation. A full half avocado with crab meat inside and just enough balsamic. Followed that up with chicken wontons. No idea what's in that spicy concoction of a sauce. Don't care. It was everything I wanted and more. Got to the main entree. Not to toot my own horn but I used to work at a Thai restaurant so the Panang is usually starting at a disadvantage before it arrives. This was good not great Panang. Chicken was on point. Cooked well and simmered well in the sauce. The sauce itself was disappointing. I'd give it a 6 overall. Sorry not sorry. Next up is the dessert. Live on the wild side. Got the Thai classic, sticky rice with green tea ice cream. You can't go wrong with it and I wasn't disappointed. Overall visit a 9/10. Service was great. Food was delectable. Definitely would recommend. This place is great! I recently went with my girl friend for the first time and we had a great time. The place is a very clean and comfortable place, where you can relax, talk and have a great meal. We went on a Saturday night at around 5:30 and it was already pretty packed.
We started with the Spicy Cucumbers... These are really GOOD! Then for main dish, we ordered Drunken Noodles and Thai Green Curry. They were both fantastic! It was my first time I had Drunken Noodles and loved it! The green curry was very good as well, but not as spicy as other places. It was perfect for us because everything else we ordered was very spicy. Service: Delivery - they charge a delivery fee and then the delivery guy is quick to tell you that he only gets paid in tips, and that he doesn't see any cut of the delivery fee because he is a third party. I have pretty strong feelings against delivery fees like this - especially if they are not being passed on to the deliverers. Surely the money you are saving from not having to have a waitstaff attend to me, wash dishes, take up a table etc. makes the delivery a wash financially. Paying a delivery fee and a tip on top of $15 chinese entrees that go for $8 in less metropolitan locations is a bit much.
Food: Others have mentioned the excessive salt - they are right. Dried pepper chicken had an interesting and unique texture, spiceness was good, but the salt load was overwhelming. Could not finish it. Willing to bet Spice #28 on their spice rack is Sodium Chloride. i haven't been here over 2 years. i used to come here a lot and had a 2 year hiatus and gosh, have things changed!!! i used to love their sichuan dishes but this time around, it was very bland, no kick at all, not spicy, and just luke warm. very disappointed, especially with their sichuan dishes . What an unexpected surprise. I was walking around Center City in a haze of "I don't want any of this but I'm hungry" when I saw Spice 28 is having a soft opening. So I took myself out to a really delicious lunch for $8.
My question of "What is kam oyam chicken?" was met with, "It's spicy...sour...it's good. You want?" It was the only thing on the menu of Asia's greatest hits that I didn't recognize, so I thought, "What the heck. Sure." Excellent. It's a creamy curry chicken with potatoes. I suspect the sauce is what's used for the roti canai (aka "Indian pancake"). Thumbs up. And the tom yum soup that came with it was legit spicy. My mouth burned a little, but it was a great punch of flavor.
I would be psyched to go back and try, oh, everything. Nice modern decor, a wait staff that seems excited. Not that I don't love EZ Bargain for all of my tube sock needs, but here's hoping Spice 28 is a start of great new stuff on this block! Super spicy dry pot chicken , but really good. The waiter was awesome and the drinks were good. Love this place! The basil beef, tum yum soup and green curry was delicious! Love the atmosphere and lighting. Spice 28 is a spicy asian fusion restaurant with a cool interior. Mixes flavors from Thai, Szechuan, and Japanese. Good drinks and cocktails. Try the Thai crispy red snapper and tangerine duck entrees. The Philly Love cocktail is good too. Really good place.
Bartenders are really nice, cocktails awesome and food delicious. Happy hours menu is great and 10% with yelp, yay! Excellent appetizers, who knew that guacamole went well with Asian fusion?
Service was excellent, very friendly staff!
A word of warning, my friend and I ordered the Three Pepper Chicken, it was very good, and very spicy, but one of the ingredients used made both my and my friend's mouth start to go numb. This isn't a spicy thing, since I can eat peppers like a champ, but was some other spice (we think cloves?) that left an unpleasant numbness which spread around the tongue and lips.
All in all, great ambiance, and definitely an eatery that I would return to again! Service was great!
Food is definitely spicy. Tofu satay was great with additional peanut sauce :) :) Wow. Yelpers my faith in your reviews diminished a bit after this one. I only had 2 things on the menu but OMG it was enough to leave.
Under the recommendation of the waiter as their "best appetizers" I got the blue crab quesadilla and the peking duck crepe.
Blue crab quesadilla - ok so I am in Philadelphia so maybe I should have expected it. This dish is basically a cream cheese filled empanada. NOT AN EXAGGERATION! Can't taste the crab and there Is so much cream cheese that some of it is still cold in the middle. It served with 2 sauces a sweet "something" sauce and mayo. It was so delish.......NOT!!!
Peking duck crepe - Yikes. They take a little bit of duck with some vegetable and wrap it in a crepe. Then it goes all wrong. They take the crepe and pan fry it. It is not like the traditional style that is clean where you can taste the duck. This one is like an oily sponge and the only thing you can taste is the Hoisin sauce. A good thing is that they do put the sauce on the side. But I had to use a good amount of it to drown out the canola oil taste.
With all that said, the beer was great. Got to love Sapporo. Oh but when they served it to me they just gave me the bottle without a glass. Where am I at a neighbors BBQ? Happy Hour EVERY DAY from 5 until 7... uh, YEAH!!
MY girlfriend and I were happy hour hopping and we ran in to Spice on our way to Wine and Spirits... what? Doesn't everyone buy their own liquor just in case they run in to a BYOB spot on their way to happy hour? :-)
This place is pretty good. We came here once before (on the same exact mission), but only got a couple drinks. This time, we got apps!! First, our long islands were ONLY $5 AND the server/bartender asked if we like them strong. uh, YEA! So we ordered four. Next, the appetizers. We only ordered the chicken satay and chicken lettuce wraps because we had planned on noshing at a couple other places as well.
The chicken satay was pretty yummy, but the peanut (peanut butter?) sauce that came with it was pretty gross in our opinion. It almost tasted like melted, tasteless organic peanut butter. The oil had separated from the other ingredients and was just terrible. NO NEED TO FEAR! Me, being the condiment queen that I am, asked for sweet thai chili sauce for dipping and So Yummy!!
I live in the neighborhood and have been passing this place for quite some time now. Finally made it over on a Friday eve. A+ experience through and through. Seated and served quickly.
Ordered:
Dan Dan Noodles A+
just as good as Han Dynasty
Chicken Lettuce Wraps A+
Chicken Skewers A
Spicy Cucumbers A+
Will return for sure! Spice 28 is a Hidden Gem and an Asian Heaven at 1228 Chestnut Street. The beautiful modern decor, the fabulous food, and the friendly staff is an extremely pleasant addition to Midtown Village. The lunch menu is very, very reasonable, absolutely delicious, and interesting spicy, aromatic flavors explode as you indulge. Spice 28 is the best Asian food in the area. Make sure when you go to the 13th corridor known as Midtown Village, you stroll over to Chestnut Street to enjoy Spice 28 while you can get a table before they becomes the new hot spot in Center City. HORRIBLE SLOW SERVICE. The food was pretty good. However the service was horrible. The waiter did not come and check on us. They did not refit our beverages either. I had the drunken noodle and Thai calamari. I miss Sichuan/Chengdu style chinese food I ate at Billerica, MA. This comes close. I like their Dry pot style, hot sauce style chicken and fish. also the cumin lamb is pretty good. We had an amazing dinner Christmas day. The family wanted to go to Chinatown and I encouraged them to open their mind to Spice 28. My husband and I had drinks and appetizers here this summer and wanted to give it a try for dinner. It did not disappoint. The appetizers and entrees were all delicious, as were the drinks and dessert. We had 2 birthdays in our party and they both received free dessert, an added bonus. Will return! Many reviews I've read about this place talk about "potential" to be a great place, but until their staff changes the attitude to their work it will not happen. We came for lunch. The place was empty with 2 waiters on duty. The ambiance was modern and nice but the floor was sticky all over from the spilled and dried up wine and the bathrooms could use some cleaning too. The service was slow, inattentive and forgetful and even when we point out on the puddle around our table there was nothing done about it and even not offered another table. The food was hit or miss and lukewarm, the price was quite high for what you get. So I guess with that attitude this restaurant will be temporary solution for that rental space. I've been to this restaurant many times but I must admit what keeps me coming back is the bar. Stopped in last night and as usual the bartender was personable and made awesome drinks. There were six in our party and everyone remarked on the quality of the cocktails. While there we ordered appetizers and as usual they were delicious. Keep up the good work. This restaurant is beyond cool. The decor is hip and modern, and it has a trendy vibe. We went during the summer for dinner, and they opened these glass doors at the front of the restaurant, which was really nice and made the restaurant feel a lot more open. I started with a mango purée and basil lemonade, and it was absolutely delicious. For an appetizer I had edamame, which was just your usual edamame appetizer. For my entree I had pineapple fried rice with vegetables, and it was definitely better than the majority of fried rice available nowadays. For dessert I had gelato with caramel swirls and strawberries at the bottom, and I really enjoyed. And as an added bonus, they have really nice bathrooms. Spice 28 is a wonderful gem and a great addition to the neighborhood. The food is fantastic. I especially love the drunken noodles, and the chicken satay appetizer is perfect. The cocktails are inventive and delicious, and the service is excellent.
The atmosphere is trendy but casual. There are some sidewalk-facing seats that are essentially outside when the huge windows are open. The back of the restaurant is darker and more intimate, so it's a nice contrast.
The food is priced very reasonably. Really good value, and excellent food. The happy hour menu is extensive and an incredible deal. Spice 28 has quickly become one of our favorite restaurants in Center City. My wife and I lost track of time and realized we were hangry just as we passed this spot. It sounded good so we went in. I had Tom Yum soup and Dan Dan noodles while my wife had Sesame Chicken. Both were well done and service was prompt and courteous. When we are back in the city we'll make it a point to return. My favorite place to get pad Thai in philly, great with chicken or beef. I also never order from here without getting their lettuce wraps. Other favorites include pineapple fried rice, pork potstickers, and the dan dan noodles. Very fast delivery too! Sorry, but this is definitely not a 4 star restaurant. My if it were a club it would be deserving of 4 stars, but the food isn't that great.
This place is all about ambiance, and you pay extra for that. The drinks were a little pricey, and the food wasn't as good as people make it out to be. If you want sichuan, there are other places in the are that are great. If you want trendy, with upbeat music and a cool atmosphere to hang out in, then this is your place. I have been here a few times and I am never disappointed by the food. Everything is great! The ambiance inside is nice with the lighting and open doors in the front. If you sit at the bar it is like being outside so take advantage of that during a nice spring or summer evening. I would like to give this place a rating of 2.5 (almost a 3) because their food was tasty. It's always been delicious and I've rated them a 5 for the whole experience in the past. This is the first time I've been here in a while and I honestly may not want to return here again.
Our waitress, Ruslana, was very rude. I made reservations for 9 people and they only gave us seating for 8. When we asked the waitress for more room, she told us that 5 of us needed to squeeze in on one side. It became uncomfortable so we asked someone who looked like a manager about it and he finally added an extra chair to the edge of the table.
Our server gave us so much attitude for asking and didn't care about our comfort. All it seemed she cared about was getting our orde in. She kept bugging us about ordering and we hadnt even been sitting for 5 min after figuring out our seating arrangements. We told her we wanted to wait to order when the last person in our party sat down...and she just kept rushing us.
Our waitress hovered over us and pretty much made us feel rushed the whole time we were looking over the menu. She gave us a little bit of an attitude throughout and when she walked away to give us more time, she kept staring at us from the back of the restaurant. She just made us feel so uncomfortable the whole time. It was one of the worst experiences we've had in a long time.
They charged us an automatic 20% tip, which I guess is standard for a large group, but we definitely did not feel like our server deserved it and some of us got into minor disagreements about this.
I'm really disappointed because I've raved about this place and recommended it to so many people that I couldn't believe they made us feel so unwelcomed and uncomfortable that we didn't even wait to put on our jackets before hitailing it out of there. My colleague and I went here for dinner as it is in a great location in Center City. We got there around 7:30 last Sunday. Only a few other diners in there, we got a great seat in the bar area (fun chairs!). The atmosphere is sort of modern, nice lighting (color-changing backlit bar), and intimate... would be a great place for a date. We had wontons as an app, and Green Curry and Chicken Chow Fun as our mains. All were delicious, the consistency of the curry was perfect. I love red and green curry and I feel like it is so hard to find the perfect version. I crave this, and wish I had a place like this in my hometown. All was delicious, down to the drinks. I forget which cocktail I had, some sort of ginger martini... 2 of those and I was a happy lady :-) The service did not disappoint, which I saw was a common complaint on here. Perhaps because it was not super busy? Our server was perfectly attentive and friendly, even trying to fix the slight wobble in our table without being asked.
If you are looking for some great Thai, nice atmosphere in this area, I'd definitely say to give it a shot. The value was great and we were both pleased. As usual, there is no shortage of food in center city.
I was told that this place is the sister restaurant of sakura mandarin. Now they've covered all their bases of asian cuisine with these two restaurants.
Decor is very modern. Kinda reminds me of Raw sushi (which I think may actually be the backside of the same building).
Appetizer:
Wontons- were delicious! made more delicious by the fact that they were on the house.
Deep Fried Tuna Gyoza- a very strange mix of flavors with avocada, tuna, crispy wonton wrappers. My brain was confused by my mouth liked it.
Entrees:
- Malaysian curry: reminds me of a good pot roast. but missing all of those strong deep flavors of the thai curries which I realized yesterday that I prefer better.
- Dry Fry Beef: delicious! very sechuan and very spicy!
Dessert:
- deep fried glutonous yams??- it was on the house. It tasted like the shells of the sesame balls that I love.
The service was super friendly. We got a lot of attention since there was only 1 other table of people there early on a tuesday night.
Definitely a great addition to chestnut st! Great to see a second authentic, modern Szechuan place (Han Dynasty being the pioneer) in Philly. More interesting ambience than Han. Nice cocktails. Haven't sampled enough of the food to say something too sweeping, but it is very good for sure! They are less open to veggie options than Han, which is a mistake! Went here for some late night Thai cravings and Spice 28 delivered, not only food-wise but location and ambience too. The front two tables are seated at a sliding window, opening onto Chestnut st. Inside, the walls are paneled with modern backlit wood. Food-wise, to start, we ordered the chicken lettuce wraps, crunchy and spicy! I ordered the silky tofu wok with shrimp as my entree, which was perfectly spicy, a little too oily but not terribly. My friend ordered the wok fried rice (he's not the biggest fan of Thai so he kept it simple) and enjoyed it. I'm not sure if Spice 28 makes it as my go-to Thai place but I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area! Terrific food. We went and had the pork pot stickers, champagne Peking duck and the black bean style chicken. Both dishes very tasty and succulent. Will definitely visit again! Excellent, excellent, excellent. This place is definitely not your run of the mill wannabe Asian Fusion restaurant. We went on a lazy Tuesday evening and the place was packed, while surrounding establishments were busy swatting flies. That alone speaks volumes about the quality of the food and service here.
The food is spectacularly delicious. The portions are perfect. The presentation is thoughtful and elegant. The staff is super friendly and attentive and our food came out in a timely manner (despite being packed). We never felt rushed. The ambiance is modern and edgy yet still warm and inviting. The ambient music is not too loud. The lighting and candles are just right . Aside from typical center city parking woes, I really have nothing bad to say about this place.
As a side note, another reviewer spoke poorly of the Saigon beef. I just want to point out that I ordered it and it was de-lish! I'll be back here for sure. Overtly priced for less than average Thai food. I've had better basil dried rice before. Need more spice and flavor to their food...atleast for my taste buds. Service is great! And their iced Thai tea deserves mention..one of the best I've ever had! It started off well. The place looks pretty cool, nice and clean. We were seated quickly and they brought out our drinks pretty quickly. It went down hill after that.
It wasn't busy, the restaurant was half full, if that, at lunch hour. After we gave our order it was about a half an hour, maybe more before they brought out the appetizer we ordered.
Waiting for our food, the hostess that sat us, asked if we were ready for our check and we told her that we hadn't even gotten our appetizer or meal yet.
I order a thai ice tea from every place i go to and it was pretty good.
I had a vegetable spring roll for my appetizer, it was between freshly hot and room temp cold, but it was good. Though the two small rolls for 4 dollars is questionable.
When our food finally came like 35min later, the waiter switched our meals. My friend had yellow curry w/ noodles and I ordered penang curry.
Yellow curry was mediocre, and penang wasnt like any penang curry I've ever had. It was bad.
Tom yum soup that came with lunch special was decent
My total was just over 17 dollars.
Probably won't go back. Dined alone- without reservations on a Wednesday night. Club music pumping and was a great Hip Vibe. Started with the Philly Love Martini which was light and refreshing and not an overwhelmingly strong drink. Had the Ahi Tuna dumplings which were just ok. Then Lemongrass soup with veggies which rocked. Entree was Green Curry chicken which was super yum and big enough to split with another person. Had to try the truffle which was good but I was stuffed and had to leave most of it on my plate. Felt very comfortable as a solo diner and that's super important. Service was spot on. I came to Spice 28 with a group of coworkers on a Friday after work. The décor inside Spice 28 is a light beige color. It is decorated with beige colored couches along the wall, and the inside of the restaurant has light wooden tables and chairs. There are small different colored lights throughout the restaurant. The décor is very relaxed, yet sophisticated & fun.
While I was here I tried the spicy cucumbers, chicken satay & an eggplant dish off of the dinner menu. The spicy cucumbers were spicy, sweet and very flavorful. I enjoyed eating them the most. The chicken satay came with a sweet peanut sauce. I ate the chicken but, wasn't too crazy about the sauce it came with. The eggplant dish was okay, I expected more of a spicy flavor than sweet. It seemed like things taste a lot more on the sweet rather than spicy side which is a bit disappointing, since the restaurant is named "Spice 28". I didn't try any of the drinks but everyone who ordered one seemed to really enjoy theirs.
The wait staff was courteous, helpful and friendly. The waitresses were able to break the bill down and give everyone a separate check. Everything here is very clean. Even the bathrooms are pretty cool looking. They have a very modern look to them. The prices here are decent as well. Not bad. Not bad at all. Came here twice in one week, close to Llowes hotel, walking distance. The sczchuan lettuce wraps were amazing and great spice, good portion for the price. Cocktails are pricey but good. Had the Blue Avocado Crab salad, very good, whole 1/2 avocado stuffed with crab and had the Dan Dan Noodles (enough to share) Service was great if not, too much service, they are constantly checking on your various staff. Spice 28 atmosphere is like become intertwined into a piece of art. Beautiful. The food can be described has transcedent and beautiful at the same time. It was delicious. To have an experience like this with my mother is a lifetime memory. The staff was courteous and knowledgeable of the menu and what would particularly make my pallette swoon. I am in love. This is a must come back. If you are ever in the area trust it will be worth the experience. Oh and the Crispy Thai Red Snapper is AMAZING. Food was great.. nice atmosphere! Server was friendly and on point! We had the Basil Beef and Chicken pad thai.. portions were perfect!! I would definitely go back! Great little place! The service was fair, and the food was delicious. I started with the calamari, which was moderate on its own. However, the sweet and sour dipping sauce was delicious. My significant other chose the Peking Duck Crepe, which was amazing. I followed up my appetizer with the Mango Duck Chicken, which was so delicious that I finished it within minutes of receiving it. Restaurant week perspective:
Dined at Spice 28 for lunch during restaurant week and enjoyed it thoroughly! Restaurant week is a great value and I'm glad I used it to get introduced to Spice 28-I'll be back!
Service was quick and friendly. The food was delicious. I had the beef drunken noodle which was very good and a tad spicy. I'm usually a pad thai connoisseur but decided to stray from my favorite and I'm glad I did. I also really enjoyed the Indian pancake appetizer-will return just for these!
Dessert was chocolate cake and it was decadent, generously portioned, and beautifully presented. My restaurant week buddy got the General Tso chicken which was just okay, nothing special.
The ambiance was nice and as we walked outside we caught a look at their happy hour specials. Cocktails for around $5-$7. Looking forward to returning for happy hour! Food was good but beware of "moderately " spicy - it's actually VERY spicy. I was really surprised when I got it but it was tasty and delivery was on time. Very nice decor inside! We ordered the Singapore noodles, which had a good flavor to them. Not excessively dry or harsh on spices. We also ordered Green Curry with chicken. A little heat hits the back of your palate. Not really spicy. It actually needed more curry flavor. And for some reason it wasn't green at all. But it tasted okay! I was in Philadelphia for three days and two nights. My girlfriend and I love Thai and Szechuan food and we looked up on Yelp and saw all the great review about this place and had to try it. It was so good that we went TWICE for both of our dinners while in Philadelphia. The happy hour was fantastic and the dinner entrees did not disappoint. The staff was great as well, always on top of all of our needs. We had the Dan Dan Noodles both nights and it was delicious. I recommend anyone going to Philadelphia to try out this place. The lunch specials are definitely good value. But for a restaurant that has "spice" as its name, the dishes are way sweeter than they are spicy. Perhaps the American palate is to blame?
I got dan dan noodles with tom yum soup. Soup was very flavorful and a good appetizer. The noodles were verrry filling (I could only finish like 1/3 of the bowl?!) but pretty inauthentic -- too thick and cooked too soft. Also, they weren't spicy at all (the waitress didn't ask for my preference, so I'm not sure whose fault that is), and I would've liked a stronger peanut or sesame flavor.
Service can be spotty; we were here for lunch on a Monday and it got pretty busy, but they were clearly understaffed as we sat for 10 minutes before I finally hailed someone to bring us water and take our orders. They were subsequently slow on water refills and we watched both waitresses plus the manager all try to multitask water, orders, serving, bussing, etc.
Our waitress, however, was very accommodating when I checked in on Yelp for 10% off. Nice! DO NOT GO TO SPICE 28!
I don't plan to ever go again and neither should you!
The food is mediocre and price is a little bit high for the low to medium quality of food they serve. This is an "asian fusion" restaurant but it's freak menu is all over the place. It has random dishes such as quesadillas, tomato salads, and sake (but no japanese food). All of which are not asian.
What is most horrific is the management. A cranky old asian man named Kevin or Calvin? is an extremely unprofessional person. He made myself and other diners very uncomfortable when he started yelling at one of the servers in front of the whole restaurant. Even if the server made a mistake that doesn't warrant a manager to behave that way and talk to the server with such a disrespectful and rude tone. This affects other people eating there too.
I hope the owner has fired him -- if he is the owner, more reason not to support this restaurant which doesn't even have good food to back it up. There are definitely much better asian restaurants in Philly with respectable people running them. This is becoming a favorite lunchtime tradition for a couple of coworkers and me. Every other week or so we try to visit for the great lunch specials.
Spice 28 offers a bunch of options during lunch for appetizers, salads, noodle dishes, and vegetarian and meat entrees. I usually go with the kung-pao chicken at the medium spiciness, and at $8 it includes rice and soup. I usually leave Spice 28 with my belly full and leftovers.
My coworkers will usually change up their orders each time we visit, and have so far had only positive things to say about the wok garlic style chicken, Thai basil style chicken, and dry pepper style chicken. The pot stickers are also quite good!
The service varies depending on the day. Sometimes the servers are slow to acknowledge empty water glasses, but other than that I have no complaints. Well Spice 28 has changed my mind... A little birdie told me that there is a new cook in town and he (or she) didn't disappoint me. I will pop back in again so watch for my update :) Went to Spyce 28 for dinner this past Sunday, the food was OK the happy hour drinks and appetizers were OK nothing great. We had the chicken stirfry which was tasty and a fairly generous portion. So we tried based on the Yelp review being ok, close you hotel and good for kids(aka a pram).
Close - Courtyard by Marriott =
Good for pram =
Food:
1. Iced water provided =
2. Chicken Penang curry = really good sizing, but needed more flavour. Plenty of chicken and veg and sauce, but more flavour please. Served with jasmine or brown rice. We took the brown and it was really well
3. Cumin lamb = my wife really liked it. Plenty of lamb, maybe too much chilli but overall she liked.
Food is well priced, lacks an atmosphere and the guy behind the bar who delivered our food was pleasant.
Biggest gripe was no wifi available as it was weak as the owner/manager lady said.
Actually we think it's because you didn't want to provide us 10% off if we checked into Yelp. This is the first place is two weeks travelling across multiple cities where the password has not been provided.... Went to Spice 28 after searching for asian restraurant in the neighborhood and was impressed with the yelp reviews. I went with my friend Eva and got seated quickly. The overall ambiance of the place is really amazing. Slanted wood panels and glass parallels to each other. The lighting and the space seems very well designed which makes it very relaxing. The seating were also very comfortable as we were seated on the booth section. We got the ahi tuna dumpling that everyone was raving about and I can tell you it really lives up to the expectations. It might have been the best tuna I have had. The skin was crunchy and drizzle in a red sesame sauce and then accompany with guacamole. It blended so well together. We then also had the wasabi mango lobster which is also fantastic. The wasabi and mango brings a unique taste and then you have a wasabi kick in the end. I mean it was just strong enough to taste the sauce and not enough to cover the lobster taste. For the entrees, we got the chicken drunken noodle as it was very rich in flavor and we aso got the chilean seabass and boy was its good. It was so tender and juicy and served in red miso sauce and has a after taste of lime. Then the owner i believe Ben came by and ask how was the food and was very courtesous.. we also tried the pumpkin cake dessert which was just ok, but the appetizers and entrees and overall ambiance really did the deal. By the way, the service was quick and attentive. I would definitly be returning in the future. This place was great! I have been to many other Malaysian and Asian fusion places but this place won me over. The food had such good flavors and the presentation was very thoughtful. The ambience was super cute and could easily be a good date spot. All of the waitstaff was friendly and attentive. I would definitely recommend this place. Just great all around. Hard to beat service and great food. Spicy cucumbers are awesome and so is the lemon coconut milk soup and the tuna wow. Highly recommended The service is quick. The restaurant was packed on a Friday night. I ordered a few items and everything was ok. The flavor was ok but not as punched as I would have expected from a Thai place. I'm surprised it has this many 5 star votes. It was mediocre at best. The duck bao buns were good but needed more cucumber. Overall, it they add more flavor to their food, I'd give it a higher rating. I think this place is more about the environment / bar than it is about the food.
The place is fusion, hip, great for a chat and quick bite with friends. But, for serious eats? nah... or maybe I just can't take this place seriously given its decor. Yes, it has Spice in its name, and yes, everything we ordered was spicy, but everything was a bit too spicy for my taste buds. And, because it's supposedly fusion (though we didn't really order anything fusion), the prices are definitely at more of a premium. Amazingly spicy!
This is a Szechuan place in center city Philadelphia. Take out is available, and that's what I got. The prices are reasonable, though there's a minimum $20 order, which is a bit much.
The dry pepper style chicken here is absolutely delicious, though it has a lot more pepper than chicken. The spring rolls are also pretty good, though they are ridiculously tiny.
All that said, this place is worth trying! You Yelpers really know what you're talking about!
I wanted to take my sister and her BF out to dinner, so I started cruising through Yelp (chatboards and such) to see what everyone was talking about. Spice 28 kept popping up all over the place, so we decided to go check it out.
While the outside doesn't look like much, the inside of this restaurant is pretty interesting. The bar and one wall is lit up while the other wall is a smooth wood with notches cut out. Very cool.
The servers here are awesome. We BYOB'ed and our glasses were never empty. They made sure we were taking care of all night.
For appetizers, we ordered the Thai spring rolls, mini wonton in chili oil, and blue crab avocado salad. The spring rolls were nothing special...same old, same old. The mini wonton in chili oil were fantastic. I'm not sure what else was in the sauce other than chili oil, but everyone at the table really enjoyed them. (Note that my sister and her BF are babies when it comes to spicy things and they were able to enjoy this. Don't let the chili oil scare you off!) The crab and avocado salad was also really good. The balsamic-sake vinaigrette was surprisingly sweet and went well with the spicy mayo on the crab.
Okay, so you can adjust the spiciness of your entrees based on a scale from 1 to 3, with 3 being the spiciest. Now for the entrees: drunken noodles with shrimp (spice level 2), hot sauce style with pork (spice level 3), sambal style with chicken (spice level 1), and Thai basil style with shrimp (spice level 1). Out of all the dishes, I thought the drunken noodles was the best. The spice level was just right for me so that there was a kick, but I was still able to enjoy the meal. The noodles were cooked perfectly and there were plenty of shrimp. The hot sauce style was too spicy, even making my BF sweat while he pretended that he could handle it. The flavoring reminded me of tandoori. The other two dishes were both good and mild on the heat. My only complaint is that I wish the dishes included slightly larger portions (...mostly so I had some leftovers.)
It turns out dessert is being offered for free right now. I'm not sure how long that's going on for, but free stuff is always nice. (We decided to opt out and head over to Capogiro for some gelato instead.)
Spice 28 does it right! The servers are great, the food is delicious, and the price is right. Definitely check this place out!
Note: If you check in on Yelp, there's a 10% off coupon you can use. Nice! Went last night for Restaurant Week. Delicious! Servers were very accommodating. Duck crepes were a little greasy. Other than that, everything was very good. Duck salad was great! Lemongrass/coconut soup, Yum. It just kept coming. When did Szechuan food become a cool thing? This place is an....interesting mix of different thoughts. The interior is modern and clean, the service is better than any place in Chinatown, the crowd is work-lunch heavy (we went at lunchtime on a Tuesday), the prices are reasonably cheap (think $8-10 for lunch specials), and the food is mediocre.
We all had lunch specials. The Tom Yum soup was surprisingly good. Drunken noodles were nothing special. Twice cooked pork belly was again just okay. Cumin lamb was probably a bit more on the subpar side.
I guess I just don't get this place. The menu and prices cater to a casual audience, but then the decor and style seem to want a more "look at me" crowd. Back to Emei it is. I eat here at least once a week. The beef pineapple fried rice and beef pad Thai are to die for! Love this place. Very accommodating and the turkey truffle dumplings are delectable. And, you can't go wrong with the seafood bouillabaisse. with lobster ravioli. Ok, time to go back. after a bunch of really blah chinese meals in the philly suburbs, i was thrilled to find spice 28. i was with friends looking for authentic sichuanese food, so we only ordered from that section of the menu, and it was fantastic - spicy, flavorful, and very authentic. i can't vouch for the other options, but i've lived in china and i highly recommend their chinese dishes. The food here was "Asian". I'm always leery of these places that don't commit to one type of Asian food but think they can make it all. The food was boring. Cold sesame noodles didn't taste anything like sesame. Satay sauce tasted nothing like peanut butter. The only redeeming item I had was a Philly Love cucumber martini. I had heard about Spice 28 primarily as a Sichuan restaurant, but the truth is that the menu is really more pan-Asian. Spice 28 can certainly cater to those who are faint of heart about a little heat or those with food allergies (our waitress was awesome about steering clear of peanuts and assuring us that she had triple-checked on our behalf). I will definitely keep this on place on my list when looking to please a variety of preferences at a spot with a cooler ambiance and a central location.
Since I was in a large group, we were able to sample widely from shared appetizers and off each others' plates:
-Ahi Tuna Dumplings - a little too fried, but really delicious, especially with the guacamole
-Edamame - lightly salted and nicely cooked
-Wasabi Mango Lobster - tasty
-Thai Crispy Calamari - tender calamari, but I did not love the sauce
-Dandan Noodles - not quite up to what I'm used to among Philly versions
-Roasted Duck Salad - a good-sized portion of both lettuce and duck, but I would have liked more meaty parts of the duck
-Tangerine Duck - here you get the more meaty duck, but I found the sauce a little too sweet
-Shrimp and Fish Dry Pot Style - there is some definite heat, particular with the mouth-numbing peppercorns...order cautiously if you have low spice tolerance
We also had received complimentary desserts, both of which were really delicious: one was cappuccino-based and the other was mango/white chocolate. The food was ok but the host was very rude and not welcoming at all. Not worth the 100 dollars we spent here. Would not recommend this place if you are planning on having a nice date. I don't know why people are giving more than 2 stars but I would have to say I am never ordering from here again.
Maybe I'm being unfair by giving one star because I ordered one dish and a soup but by the taste of my veggie pad thai, I know this place is not legit. It is the worst pad thai I've ever had. There's no sauce on it. I feel like I'm eating stir fried noodles with tofu. The wonton soup isn't so bad but would not suggest or recommend this place to anyone. I came here for lunch and was not all that impressed by the food.
The dandan noodles had an incredibly thin sauce. My frame of reference here is Han Dynasty where the sauce has- I think?- sesame paste and so it's a little more viscous and has better cling. At Spice 28 the sauce goes flying everywhere even when you're careful, and 90 seconds after mixing it all the sauce sinks to the bottom again. While the flavor was tasty, at least, the heat was lacking. I asked for it extra spicy and it just didn't hit it for me.
The wonton soup tasted great, though the share of pork in each wonton was pretty meager. I can't complain about portion size, really, given it was the lunch menu and I walked out for less than 10 bucks (including a fountain soda).
I didn't hate the place, and to be fair I received the lunch menu. I imagine the dishes are more varied (and substantial) during dinner, and given the wonton soup I imagine they probably get some other stuff right, too. I'll probably try them again given the great service and the very nice airy, modern interior. The food ..cocktail... n inside restaurant is awesome...
Love it...went there for every weekend I have walked by this place countless times and have been intrigued by the sleek, modern decor and the soft green and red lights emanating from the bar. I actually sat down this time with a friend and I assure you, we will be coming back. We got a table by the window. Their happy hour is 5-7 on weekdays and we got several glasses of $4 wine. From the happy hour menu we ordered the dumplings in chili oil and the ahi tuna dumplings. Both were good but they did not blow me away.
However, the star of the show was their Mapo tofu. Their mapo tofu with minced pork was phenomenal. I had steadfastly claimed that E Mei had the best mapo tofu but now we've got a competitor. This one is silky and so flavorful without being overly spicy. With warm white rice, it was heaven. I will certainly be coming back for this dish and I high recommend everyone to try it!
Additionally, the service was wonderful and friendly and attentive. Dinner at Spice 28 was a whole lot of ok. The food was alright but nothing to write home about, and the specialty mojito was definitely not worth the price tag. Likewise, we were served by not one but three servers, which made for a less personal experience. Coming to Spice 28 for dinner was still a much better experience than going there for Philly Sips. While most other restaurants offer full-size appetizers for half the price, Spice 28 uses the promotion to serve one tiny egg roll on a plate for $2.50. True story. No exaggeration. Food was very good had the chicken drunken noodles which was delicious also the fried calamari who's was also good. Decor is cool and modern, and as other yelpers have said it does get very loud. My only complaint is that service was not very good waiter didn't come and check on us didn't refill water or come to see if table needed anything we had to the front to pay the bill Went there last night after a bodybuilding competition. Definitely hit the spot. My picky friends also really loved it. I wouldn't order the whole snapper though. It was presented nicely but flavor left much to be desired. Too pricey for what it was. Dan Dan noodle are great though. Server was kinda annoying. Wasn't being clear on what a whisky on the rocks would be. Kept trying to make me pay more. So that definitely takes a star away The interior is well lit and decorated in a modern way. It's definitely a great place to take someone on a date. The food here was very average. Crab quesadillas had almost no crab inside and it was mostly cream cheese. The dan dan noodles were very basic, because I have had better ones at many other Asian restaurants. I also got dry pepper chicken as the entree and that turned out to be pretty good. Only downside of that dish was that it was a bit too salty. The spices were perfect though. This is a great place to order lunch from if you work in the city and can't get out to a restaurant. It does take 45 minutes for delivery but if you get your order in early they are very prompt. They are kind and the mini wontons will give Han Dynasty a run for their money. Prices are very fair for the portions and flavor. My new go to. Fresh ingredients! Came here for weekday happy hour. Great drink deals and "happy-tizers". I really enjoyed my Philly Love cocktail for $6. Lots of $3 beers and $4 wines. For apps my boyfriend and I got Szechuan style lettuce wraps which were wonderful. We also got chicken spring rolls which were good, your typical spring roll. For dinner we were both craving noodles so I got the udon noodle curry soup and my boyfriend got beef pad Thai. Both were very good. The restaurant has such a cool ambience and is in a very convenient location. Worst service I've had in Philadelphia after 33 years. Staff was incompetent and clueless. Took forever to bring drinks during a slow lunch when the restaurant was half empty. Brought me the wrong dish and had no idea. She couldn't even tell me what they delivered me, all she had to say was "well I put what you ordered in the system". They left our food sitting on trays outside of the kitchen for over ten minutes. Server disappeared for 20 minutes at a time and was unapologetic. When we talked to the manager he didn't care at all and just said "come back another time and it will be better". Don't worry, I'll never go back.
I will say, even though they brought us different entrees than we ordered, the food was actually good and tasty. This place served the worst food I had in Philly. The Dan dan noodles were too dry and greasy and the Blue crab avocado salad had a weird dressing. The squid in the Salt and pepper squid and shrimp dish was hard to chew and I kept thinking that they fried it in bad oil. I am generally pretty generous on food taste but I had to make a Yelp account to leave this review.
Such a waste of location.. Strawberry Thai tea is different and refreshing. I bet it would be great with rum or vodka.
The Tom yum soup was very spicy authentic and delicious.
Dumpings in chili oil are drowning just slightly too much. They are perfectly soft and spice balanced perfectly. Just remember to slide dumplings along bottom to get yummy spices. Very chill place and the interior is nice. The food was good and the waiters were friendly and attentive. The lemongrass soup is good. So are the cocktails. I never write a review for any restaurant whether the food is good or bad, but this is worth one because I left this place feeling like I was ripped off!
I work just across the street and always order my lunch to-go. Today, I decided to eat at the bar because it didn't look busy (came in a little past 4). It was just me and another girl who sat at the bar and one party of 3 people who sat at the end of the bar. You think that OK it wasn't busy so the waiter would see me putting the menu aside and come take my order, no....I had to flag him down after he had taken a phone order before helping me. I was there, present and been sitting there waiting. Most restaurants I've been to, the waiter/bar person are very attentive to their table or patrons. Not at this place.
My order came quick, I'll give them that. But all the while when I was eating, he hasn't once come by to check up on how I'm doing or how's the food etc. I hate when waiters/waitresses are over doing it by coming over so often, but at least once wouldn't hurt. I finished my food and had to tag him down for a check after the other girl asked for hers. I looked at the bill and to find out he took my order wrong. I wanted the Tom Yum Soup ($5) and the Shrimp Mango Salad ($9), ok so I figured I give him a $20 bill for $14ish plus tax should cover it. Then I noticed the bill was showing a Mango Shrimp for $16, which I thought was suppose to be $9. Turns out it wasn't what I ordered, so he then asked me if I wanted dessert, which I feel he's offering as a consolation. I turned it down. If I wanted dessert, I would have ordered it. I am not looking to get free anything. Since it's his mistake, he should have offered some discount off the bill or offer to charge it at the price of what my order should be. That would go a long way then try to make it up with another food item. I didn't complain because I wanted something for free. That's the thing with these Asian places, whether the food be great or NOT --- the Customer SERVICE IS HORRIBLE! I would have gone back had they re-price the bill.
I will never go back again or recommend it to my co-workers about it! I love having places like this across the street, but the food is not out of this world so I don't feel I'm losing out. I hope they'll read this and heed what is said if not for the sake of their next incidents. Spice 28 is a solid option for a thai/chinese lunch in the Midtown Village area. Their lunch specials are all under $10 (I think if you have shrimp as protein it might be $10 exactly), and the portion sizes are good, Plus, you get a soup (wonton or tom yum...yum!).
Not sure how they are for dinner - I wouldn't pay more than $9 for their food - but they have a very trendy feel with a full bar, so may be worth a shot if you're in the area and short on time.
I will say that I often order the curry, and it's never amazing. It's not bad, but it's not life-changing. The chinese/schezuan options have been better, though, and I get those almost as often. I know, why do I get the thai more if I don't like it as much? Wish I could tell ya.
Another thing to note - the drinks are huuuuuge. A coworkers gets the thai iced coffee with lunch often, and it's really the size of 2.5 normal ones.
Check in on yelp for 10% off :) Great food. A bit on the greasy side for some dishes, but overall great. Great interior decor, and nice seats by the window.
I have to say, the music was very distracting -- lots of random One Direction songs. Didn't fit the rest of the vibe. I visit Spice 28 during lunch on an average of three times a week. I always order the shrimp pad thai and the pineapple shrimp fried rice. Although I love both selections, I wish that the pineapple fried rice came with more shrimp. I always order take out and am pleased with the service. I call and it is always ready and hot when I arrive. I plan on visiting for their happy hour soon. Had dinner here for my daughter's 16th birthday with some of her friends. Everyone loved their food. We all had some type of fried rice dish & calamari as an appetizer. One downside is the restaurant is small. Looking forward to going back. Didn't Iove the food.
Ambience is nice, the dan dan noodles were literally cooked in peanut butter and they were over cooked as well.
The main large dishes were over priced for what they were. Not sure if id come back here, would like to find a better Chinese place. I love this place. We came here for our girlfriend's bday and none of us was disappointed with our food. We all love each and every dish that was served. The dishes are very flavorful and delicious. I love the Thai calamari and the crab avocado salad. It's a must try!!! Spice 28 is apparently named for the number of Asian seasonings that are not stocked in the kitchen.
On the basis of the positive reviews here on Yelp, my friend and I, visiting from out of town, made a reservation for dinner.
I tried to order the tofu lemongrass hotpot, but the waiter came back to say that they did not have the ingredients for the base. My friend tried to order the seafood hot pot, but the waiter came back to say they were out of seafood. (Yes, really). This was a Tuesday night, and the restaurant was not crowded.
Instead I had the coconut lemongrass soup and the Thai basil tofu. The soup was thin and tasteless, and there was no lemongrass in it or near it when it was cooked. No flavor at all, and certainly not coconut. Just a nondescript broth with some uncooked vegetables floating on the top. Not enough seasoning to qualify as dishwater in Thailand.
The Thai basil tofu, when it first came out, was stone cold. They offered to make another one, but brought it back suspiciously fast. I think it was just reheated. Even still, it was only warm. Worse, there was no hint of basil of any kind in the dish or in the sauce, let alone Thai basil, which has a pretty strong taste. I've never had a Thai basil dish where there weren't cooked basil leaves everywhere--I looked, I couldn't find a single piece of basil. The sauce was just sour, one note at best. No seasoning.
My friend substituted the peppered Tuna, which he said was good. But we had to remind the waiter twice to bring it whenever it was ready and not wait until I was done with my soup.
My friend was interested to know the selection of desserts, but the owner said they were out of all desserts except ice cream, which he offered to give us for free.
Bad night or overrated? I wouldn't go back even if I was a local, so I can't say. Spice 28 has a very lounge like feel to it. This is a place that I am a creature of habit. The Dumplings in Chili Oil, Saigon Beef, and Hot Sauce Style Chicken. This about the only thing that I ever order here because it is awesome. Watch out for the Hot Sauce Style Chicken because it can pack some heat. Let me start off with I came in with very high expectations given the top reviews from Yelp. The atmosphere was very open and airy with lots of conversation going on - which is always a plus in my book. So if you're bringing a date or a group of friends, this is a great place to get comfortable while enjoying cocktails. It looks BYOB for now with a full service bar to come in about a month (mid-October?). Came in as a group of five with reservations on a weekday for dinner and we ended waiting for about 5 min since there was nobody manning the hostess table. That took off some points for us. But when someone finally came out from the back, they promptly sat us down and welcomed us. Table service was on par throughout the night.
One of the appetizers we ordered was the Ahi tuna dumplings people were raving about. The thin crispy skin and guac definitely won me over in texture and richness even though the sauce was a bit sweet. Ordered the cumin lamb as my entree (rated level 2 for spiciness out of 3 levels) and that baby was SPICY! The meat was deliciously tender and the spices gave it about 70% of the overall flavor with the 30% being the gamey lamb taste. Definitely recommend ordering dishes at both extremes of the flavor scale to balance out your meal: sweet and spicy.
Price was just right when we checked out. If you check-in on Yelp, you'll get 10% OFF! When we showed them this, the restaurant gave us a free dessert (probably to win some review points). This place is definitely worth a try if you love flavor - in particular, of the spicy kind. I went to Spice 28 last week for my Dad's birthday, and I was disappointed by the lack of professionalism we experienced. I try to be patient and understanding with food service workers, because I have a lot of restaurant jobs under my belt as well. However I'm disappointed to report that we had a terrible waiter. She didn't know the basics of the menu (I asked what jicama was and she rolled her eyes and said "I don't know"). I disclosed my food allergies at the beginning of the evening and later ordered 2 items to which the waitress didn't respond with a concrete answer when I asked if they were safe with my allergies. About 45 minutes later entrees were served for the rest of the table except for mine which is when I was informed they couldn't make any of my food. Everyone was already digging in, and it seemed silly to order something that would arrive well after our party had finished. Our waitress was not the one who took responsibility for communicating this, and the other waiter offered a small bowl of rice in consolation, which was almost insulting. I don't understand how such poor service on a quiet Thursday in a competitive food city like Philly in 2016 would unfold. I wonder if the waitress was just riding on the exorbitantly high included gratuity to be expected in the check due to our party size of 8. My family plan never to return to Spice 28 as there is much better service at a number of Japanese restaurants in the same price range. I would recommend Raw and Zama as they both has fantastic food, service, and atmosphere!
The good at Spice 28 did look appetizing but I wouldn't know how it tastes. I have been here multiple times each time you walk in it's definitely a toss up as to how your service will be. Usually it's slow and slightly annoying to wait for someone to acknowledge you. I really enjoy the lunch specials and happy hour specials so I go often. The drinks tend to be good and the food hot and nicely flavored. If they got a solid staff on this would be one of the best places in the city. Saturday evening dinner, place was quiet at 6 but filled up over the next hour. Great ambience and great cocktails. Wait-staff were attentive but not overly so. Food was excellent and great value. Definitely will return. went for dinner one night on a date and had a fantastic experience.
Drinks: 5/5
Had a unique ginger vodka, coconut cream, basil, lime cocktail which hit every part of your palate while my date had a fantastic glass of wine recommended by the waitress.
Appetizers 5/5
Again, all credit to yelp. Based on it's recommendations I ordered spicy cucumbers and ahi potstickers. The cucumbers are an amazing little gem with an exquisite sauce covering cool, crisp sliced cucumbers. The combination is amazing. The potstickers come sitting in guacamole and deliver every type of flavor you want.
Main Course 4.75/5
My fish was seasoned and sauced well, but wish the skin was crispier. Tuna was damn near perfect with a mashed potato dish my date actually liked. We also ordered garlic w eggplant, a favorite of ours at any chinese restaurant, and it was magnificent. Nowhere near as greasy as others but bringing the flavor. This place is awesome!!! The atmosphere is very hip, modern. The service is excellent, prompt and friendly. The food is amazing. The display on the dish is very professional and appetizing. The ingradients are very fresh. I can't say enough good things about this place. I highly recommend this place, please try it if you haven't done so. I'm sure you will love it here! :) Good happy hour specials (food and alcohol-wise) with great presentation. We sat by the windows and it was distracting/amusing at the same time.....if you like people watching, that is. It was strange because they would only let us sit in the front of the restaurant because we were only there for Happy Hour...oh well! I got take out from here and I think it may be my new favorite take out place. I got the duck buns and the black bean chicken and both were absolutely amazing.
the duck buns came in a package of two with some plum sauce. The bun was fluffy and spongy and the duck was perfectly prepared. Sauce of course was delicious.
My black bean chicken was amazinggg! It's my new obsession, came with bamboo shoots, mushrooms, onions, and peppers and the sauce was delicious. It took me about 20 minutes of staring at the menu before deciding on that cause everything looked so good! I'm glad I ventured out of my normal chicken and broccoli asian take out, cause this was seriously rewarding, and relatively cheap! stopped by here for a quick lunch alone. sat up at the bar, ordered the lunch special (tom yum w/ penang curry and rice) tom yum was super flavorless and had 0 meat (chicken/seafood) in it. the penang curry was OK; i would want more flavor and broth. some chicken pieces were extra chewy than others.
overall, this place is good for a casual OK experience, nothing WOW about this place but service is fast which is why i came. My husband and I sat at the bar during happy hour for drinks and appetizers to celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary. The service was outstanding and the Ahi Tuna Dumplings and Peking Duck Crepes were amazing... so amazing we ordered a 2nd round of them! We plan to return in January and bring friends... Spice 28 is eye candy; the inside is so modern and cool. It is advertised as Asian Fusion but I would classify more as a Thai place. Although there were a few items that definitely had the fusion vibe.
The place was dead when we arrived but we ate at 5:30 and in Philadelphia that is practically lunch; so no worries. The waitress was very knowledgeable and attentive. Drinks came quickly. I was with two very picky people and once I reviewed the menu I thought there would be issues, however they both found something to order.
For starters we ordered the pork potstickers, the ahi tuna wontons and the lettuce wraps. The potstickers came with a great sauce to dip. The lettuce wraps had a bit of heat but were great when wrapped in the cool lettuce. The wontons were fantastic. The most unusual item I have ordered. They were fried perfectly with a spicy sweet sauce drizzled over the top and resting in a dollop of guacamole. Yes you read that right.
For the main I ordered drunken noodles with crispy tofu, my tablemates ordered the pineapple fried rice and an avocado crab salad. (YAWN). My food main was great, I asked for medium spice and it delivered. I tried to entice my friends to taste but no budging there. I would love to return with adventurous eaters and get many more mains to share.
I will be back and recommend this spot. I was super excited to eat here from what I had read on Yelp and recommendations from friends. I went with two friends for happy hour/dinner and at first the service was a little weird because happy hour was only at the bar not in the back dining room. It's not like the place was packed so we were a little thrown off but moved to a table closer to the bar.
For a specialty cocktail the Dragon Nectars is on point. We split chicken lettuce wraps, steamed dumplings and edamame. For my main course I got the crab avocado salad which I would definitely recommend. Overall the ambience and food is great but the wait staff is a little awkward? We witnessed a waiter drop an entire bowl of food and just run to the back with the rest of the dishes. We also weren't sure if our bartender/waitress knew if we were ordering dinner (she was getting slammed at the bar so not her fault). The owner also picked up our credit cards for payment as soon as we put the bill down. Again it wasn't a packed night, spent $90 total and it was weird to feel rushed out. I think this may have been an off night but I'm not sure if I would put this as a first choice again. Came here with a friend during happy hour. It took about 5 minutes to get seated even though the restaurant was completely empty. There was a worker sitting down looking at us and she finally decided to get up and seat us down.
People started filling in as the hour went by and the bar area became filled. There was only one worker staffing all of us (about 15 people).
My friend and I got the chicken pad thai. It was pretty good, not amazing... but good. Also they gave a HUGE dish.... thats always a plus. Since the happy hour area only had one staff member, we had to wait an additional 10 minutes until he realized we were ready to pay. Since I live in Midtown Village, this is a close by, Han Dynasty-esqu option for me. They also offer the Dan Dan noodles and the Dumplings in Chili oil. I'd have to say that I liked the dumplings better at Spice 28 than Han Dynasty. They were not overwhelmingly spicy like Han's were, which I very much appreciated. I did take out from Spice 28, but they do offer delivery on Foodler. The inside looked nice and I'd like to go back and have dinner there one time. We also ordered the Thai basil chicken and the Saigon beef. Both were very yummy, but I especially liked the beef, even mixed in with the Dan Dan noodles. I'll definitely be back! wow! what shall I say? We visited it 3 times within a week. Our friends brought their friends over there after they tried out the dishes. I was shocked to find such a great Chinese/Fusion restaurant here in Philly. The restaurant is clean and modern. The atmosphere feels great. The staff are nice, although during busy nights, they did get a little overwhelmed. We ordered spicy schuan dishes, like spicy beef and stripes, dandan noodle, mini wonton in chili oil, ma po toufu, string beans, fish fillet in hot sauce, all great! Every time we went there, we over-ate. :))
We haven't tried the fusion dishes so I can't give recommendations. But the spicing schuan dishes are awesome! must try! :)
This is really a great business model all Chinese restaurants shall follow - clean and modern environment, great food, warm staff, and yet very affordable! I ordered delivery on a Sunday night. I placed my order through Yelp and the food was at my door within 45 minutes. My fiancé and I got the green curry chicken, the beef drunken noodles, the Indian pancakes, and the dumplings in chili oil. Everything was good. The drunken noodles were a bit over cooked but the flavors were good. My favorite was the green curry coconut milk sauce. The flavors of the sauce were very good. This was not the best Thai food I've had in Philly, but they deliver and the food definitely satisfied my craving. I'd order here again. My husband, my 4-year old daughter, and I went this week for dinner to Spice 28. The food, service, and ambiance were perfect. We all enjoyed it, and would come back for sure. It deserves 5 stars. It is a perfect place for meat eaters, vegetarian who likes spicy food, and a kid. The service was impeccable, and we had a great time talking to the waiter and the manager of the restaurant. The atmosphere was vibrant. Came here for happy hour on the weekday and got the appetizer chicken lettuce wraps and the mapo tofu. The chicken lettuce wraps were a great deal for $5 and I was decently full just off that - it was a little salty but came with ample lettuce and chicken. The mapo tofu came in a huge bowl that can serve multiple people. It also came with a side of rice (definitely necessary to pair with the Mapo tofu). This dish itself was also a bit salty and could have been spicier. The pad Thai was a decent, typical dish. The chicken dumpling appetizer was good but only came with 4 dumplings. I think this place would be better for family style for the entrees. It had a clean, stylish ambiance and great happy hour deals in general. Ok...here's my breakdown...
Interior - B, very modern...with cozy neon lights...
Food - C, it was tasty...but price didn't justify the portion...
Alcohol - D, we ordered this bottle of crappy sake you can get for 10 dollars at a store...and yet they charged us for 50...what a rip off...
Staff - F, she had ZERO CLUE about the food and drinks...
Overall, EPIC FAIL If I actually gave places five stars I might give them a five just for the food. I would give 4.5 but I had two issues which I will mention. I found Spice 28 on Yelp and I set up a reservation using Open Table. Unfortunately, there was no table for us when we arrived. The hostess did not seem to care. We ended up sitting at an abandoned table in a walkway to avoid sitting at the bar. It wasn't too bad, but I did have to lean towards the wall a couple times when people walked by. The hostess did not have the most welcoming attitude either. Even another patron was annoyed with her. I didn't let her ruin my evening though. Our waiter and another woman who waited on us were very nice and accommodating. We started with drinks and an appetizer. The drinks were excellent, but we never saw the appetizer. Our food came out pretty quick and we let them know they forgot the appetizer. Instead of getting it, we just had them take it off. The food was excellent. Two thumbs up. The portions were a nice size, but I am greedy and would have loved more shrimp on my entree. The Thai fried rice was great. Probably the best I ever had. We will definitely be going back and telling friends. I hope they send free coupons. LOL. This place is awesome! I've been here 2-r times now and the food has been consistently awesome - of special note is their chicken in lettuce wrap.
The owner and wait staff have been very friendly each time. Last time we went was on a Thursday night; I think the waiter/owner started recognizing us as regulars and comped us desert! $17 pot beef was extremely oil, way too spicy and overall disappointing! the atmosphere is nice, but the food leaves something to be desired. This place is great!! We've come for lunch countless times and it never disappoints. Portions are just right and definitely shareable. Their Dan Dan is second to none. I love their Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles and Pineapple rice as well.
I've tried a few of their drinks, philly love being my favorite. They were a little inconsistent at times with the drinks but overall good.
I highly recommend checking them out! Sucks. Greasy heavy the vegetable drunken noodle and pad Thai have onions and cabbage that's like it. Definitely not worth ordering again In love with their Lemonade Mint Tea!! On this 97 degree day, it was the BEST drink I could've hoped for. This place is not authentic Thai food :( we are new to Philly and were looking for a good Thai place. We ordered pad Thai and the drunken noodle. Not good :( My friend and I went here for lunch and it was pretty good. They have a little taste of everything Asian and all of the flavors and spice were there. I'm betting this place is better at dinner time, but the lunch was still very tasty.
Because the tuna dumpling over guac got such rave reviews, I asked for an appetizer order of those, although they are not on the lunch menu. The waiter was very accommodating, although he brought out the pot stickers instead! We ate a couple of them and I knew this is not what I ordered, so we re-ordered what we wanted. I thought surely he would not charge me for both, but he did. The upside is a Yelp check-in gets you 10% off the check, so it came out fairly even.
Service was great. You could tell they already had regulars and one of the servers was very sweet and asked people's names and made an extra effort to make everyone smile around her.
My friend and I both got the Penang Curry with chicken lunch box special and it had good flavor. Not a lot of chicken at all, but with everything else we'd already eaten (soup and dumplings!), it didn't matter. The spicy cucumbers were good and the Tom Yum soup was so spicy and delicious!
I will def. return for dinner...although I am partial to Han.... Just really horrible.
Takeout order.
I ordered the Dry Pepper Style Beef, really just wasn't good. Surprising not spicy at all almost the opposite really because for some reason it seemed like it had menthol in it??
Friend got Drunken Noodles which were reminiscent in smell and appearance of the contents of a diaper with the exception of a piece of metal shrapnel that was included at no extra charge.
Needless to say at over 30.00 dollars after tax not at all worth it What an awesome find! Nice diverse menu with exceptional quality on EVERYTHING that came out of the kitchen (tom yum soup, lemongrass coconut soup, crispy peking duck buns, green curry with beef, dry hot pot with lamb) This might be my new favorite Asian fusion place in the city! Only downfalls are pricey drinks, and inconsistent service (bartender didn't acknowledge us for over 5 minutes, waitress couldn't answer all of our questions about the menu). My absolute favorite bar in the city! Food is so good and so inexpensive for what you get. I was addicted to the fried rice and would always get the dragon nectar drink with it. They have a great happy hour too. I always being friends back to this one...it's a keeper! Overall I really enjoyed this place. The food was great and tasty and our waitress was very nice. The place was a little loud and hard to talk but besides that everything else was please. Will definitely eat there again. Love love Spice 28, delicious Cantonese food, I'm in love. Downtown Philly at it's finest! I came here last weekend with my boyfriend on a weekend getaway to Philly. We needed a quick bite and stumbled upon this gem. We both love Thai food and decided to try it out. We got the grilled Japanese calamari and i got the drunken noodles. I absolutely loved the food! Really great flavor and beautiful to look at as well. The cocktails are great too. I forget what mine was but it had dragon fruit in it and was phenomenal. The decor is very modern and adds to its appeal. Def a great stop if you're looking for Thai. Spice was a great restaurant. A great find for just getting into town for the Philadelphia marathon. We needed to eat carbohydrates so we ordered the chicken fried rice. It was excellent. The ambience was fun and the service was prompt efficient and friendly. We would definitely recommend it. This place was recommended by coworkers. I thought it was decent. However, after having Han Dynasty I found this just didn't compare. It isn't a Schezuan place of course, but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. I had the green curry and the fried rice. Curry was a tad too sweet for my liking but the fried rice was pretty good. I really loved the decor of the place though. Nice for a date or just hanging with friends. I had such a great experience the first time I went that I brought another group of colleagues two days later on a four-day trip to Philly! It was worth the 2nd time back as well!!
So I had an 8 PM reservation on Friday nite and showed up a bit before 7 to sample the Happy Hour. Boy was THAT a good move. Make sure you get to the Happy Hour- they make fantastic drinks for $6 a pop and have an excellent array of appetizer choices...We enjoyed our first round of apps so much we went for a 2nd (Duck crepes and Chili oil Dumplings). I could eat those dumplings all day long in that chili oil! The bartender (really tall 1/2 Jewish guy) was very friendly and made great drinks with a sense of humor. The bar in itself is also really cool.
The restaurant itself is awesome looking! It almost looks sci-fi-like or I dunno, ultra mod and sleek.
Tables are comfortable and the menu is comprehensive without being overwhelming and really well-priced! Our group ordered an array of dishes the first time here as well as the 2nd time. All was good (Pad Thai was the weakest but still decent).
I feel like Spice 28 offers excellent value for your dollar at a trendy place with great food and even better service (each server was amazing, I might add- younger Asian woman with glasses and a younger white woman, tall with long brown hair I think going to grad school). They made the experience excellent!
Definitely will come back here when I am in town! Lots of options if you don't know what you feel like having.
I found the roasted duck salad and eggplant with garlic sauce too sweet. My friend and I were visiting from out of town and were hoping to find a great Thai place for dinner. Unfortunately, we ended up on Spice 28. The service was fair, the drinks were alright, and the food was far below any expectation of Thai food. Everything was very greasy and unappetizing. I first ordered chicken Pad Thai and when I received the food, the dish was tasteless and dry. It seemed as though they forgot the sauce that goes into the dish. I took one bite and ordered something else right away. I then ordered ginger chicken. When I got this dish, the chicken was so overcooked that it was chewy and the sauce had a chemical taste to it. Needless to say, I left this restaurant hungry. I would never go back to this establishment mainly for the food. Stay away from this place! The atmosphere is nice; the food average. The Tom yum was disappointing. Thin with chunks of pineapple. We ordered several veggie dishes. They were fine but nothing special. Some were pretty oily. Service was fairly inattentive. You are so close to Chinatown; head there for better and more interesting Asian dishes. The Food -
Spicy Cucumber -- 5/5
Indian Pancake -- 5/5
Crispy Jumbo Shrimp -- 3/5
Pineapple Fried Rice - Chicken ---- 4/5
Pineapple Fried Rice - Veggie ------ 5/5
Drunken Noodles - Veggie --- 5/5
Thai Basil Fried Rice - Chicken --- 4/5
Green Curry w/White Rice - Veggie --- 5/5
Wok Fried Rice - Chicken --- 4/5
The "Signature" Drinks -
Passionate Kiss - 5/5
Lychee Martini - 5/5
Basil Green Tea - 5/5
The Good -
The food was very good....looks good, and tasted better.
The Ambience was really nice..cozy and somewhat sexy.
Great for a large group - there was 9 of us and even though the restaurant wasn't very wide, but long it was comfortable.
Bar was stocked with everything..
The Bad -
The music was so loud for a chill Monday night...while the restaurant was pretty much empty....hard for people to talk over the music.
We were served beer in bottles, with large pieces of orange and lemon, which are hard to squeeze through the necks of the bottles....and when asked for glasses, they didn't have any because the "dishes weren't done"...
Ordered Veggie fried rice, and was given Chicken, and when asked to switch it out the waiter argued for a couple of min until we had to insist he switch it out for us (as we are vegetarians and always ask for veggie style dishes).
The Verdict -
Overall, it was a good time, good food. It was worth the drive we had (about 20 to 30 min) into the city. The service could have been better, and the music was just too loud. First of all, I hate most Asian food that isn't sushi. So a place that can make me not only enjoy but CRAVE their shrimp green curry must be pretty spectacular. Their calamari was tasty too. I'd never had Asian-style calamari before my experience here and was pleasantly surprised.
The decor is gorgeous too - very Stephen Starr restaurant-esque. Great atmosphere for lunch, dinner, or drinks. I came here for an outing for work, and the food was pretty good. I didn't order food for myself, but I loved what I ate. I tried to come back and order something similar, but it wasn't the same... Unfortunately, my second experience wasn't all that great. I got carry-out and the food I chose wasn't the same. I had flat noodles with shrimp... They were not that flavorful, and honestly it felt like a waste of my money.
However... the place has a nice decor and decent ambiance. I considered making a reservation here for Valentine's Day until my troubled second visit. My fiance's mother loves Spice 28 so we've been twice lately. The bar specials are great. I also love the pot stickers, which are nicely pan heated (one sauteed side?). I've ordered pad thai both times, mild spicy which really is mild. This last time I asked for some spicy oil on the side so I could make it a little more spicy. Good location but the a/c needs to be serviced because it was warm inside. Thought some of the dishes were unusual and really good - spicy cucumber, blue crab and avocado salad and roasted chilean sea bass. Many main dishes are good but not appreciably better than many Thai restaurants. Wines were over-priced for basic house quality. Setting is cool; only complaint is that it's hard surfaces and was too noisy early evening but they turned it down upon request. Staff friendly but a little disorganized when we were there (we had to ask for wine list, but on other hand they'd just gotten their license). Overall, a good option in Center City. Came here for Arielle's 21st birthday. The food was great. The ambience was accommodating for large parties and the service was good and the staff accommodating. I'd come back. What a good experience. Food was way above average. For Ambiance I would give this place an extra star but for food its 3 stars from me. I have been to this place second time and from both the times I ordered on similar lines.
1) panang curry - I ordered this the first time and did like the taste of it. Filled with veggies and good for the taste.
2) tofu penang curry in spicy clay pot- ordered this for the second time from its schezwan signature list. As it is cooked in claypot it has more fragrance and taste to it. Although I am not a fan for spicy food, this one did seem to me a little plain and had to order for spicy sauce. So yes if you like really spicy dont forget to mention them to make it more spicy. This dish does show that it has 3 stars and that it is spicy but it is not at all for the spicy lovers.
3) pineapple veg fried rice - really loved this. It had cashews and pineapple pieces in it. Again was going really well with a pinch of chilli oil on it.
4) thai ice tea - i have had it at different thai restaurant in philly (china town) and hence i did not like it as much here as i like at other places.
The ambiance is perfect if you are small group of 2-3. I feel it is a little extra dark and with music on background making it difficult for bigger groups to talk. But this is just my personal opinion on the ambiance i prefer for smaller and larger groups. The servers seemed to be a bit occupied but we had all the time and not so much in hurry so we were fine with it. There did come a bit of a surprise when the bill arrived as we ordered for extra rice for the panang curry and they charged us for it. The cost is minimal so not a big thing but I think this was the first place that charges for extra rice that gets served with curries. Overall the food is good and worth trying. I keep going back to try the different entrees and have not been disappointed. Food is great and love the drunken noodles with chicken. Happy to see they finally received the green light to serve drinks. The bar is beautiful and the drinks are interesting and good. The menu has a great selection of Asian fusion and the space is pretty trendy. After we were seated (showed up without a reservation and were taken right away), four separate servers asked to take our order. Other than that, our service was good and our food was as expected. The manager even threw in a free desert when we said it was our first time there (deep fried pumpkin!). Came for dinner on a Friday night and it wasn't too busy or too loud. Instead of an entree, I opted to get different appetizers: rock shrimp, veggie spring rolls, pork pot stickers, and ahi tuna dumplings. The ahi tuna dumplings were unique and delicious--they came with guacamole and hot chili oil. The rock shrimp was my least favorite thing I ordered--but it was still decent. OM NOM NOM NOM NOOOOOM
The food is excellent. I always get the silky tofu with pork, made level 10 spicy and a tsingtao (it's a german beer, don't be fooled) here. I highly recommend the silky tofu, the mapo tofu, and the lettuce wraps (do they still have it?). The portions are HUGE, the service is quick and non-soliciting, and the ambience is...well, a little off, but the food makes up for it. If you want really good chinese food, I highly recommend this place. Spicy spicy spicy. But so goood!!!
First thing that catches your eye is the beautiful interior. Radiating with purple. Had the rock shrimp- it was ok. Tasted a little old. The entrees though were delicious! Had the tropical mango chicken, and the pan seared pepper tuna. Really spicy!! But bursting with flavors. Will be back!! Went there for happy hour with a few gal pals. Had drinks and small plates for happy hour. Excellent. The drink specials were great, their house wines were fine. Wait staff was attentive without cloying. Will go back for both lunch and dinner soon. Check it out on a section of Chestnut Street at 13 that needs some LOVE. Glad they are starting the renaissance of this section of town. I received the following message from the owner of Spice 28 attempting to "explain what really happened" the night I visited. It speaks for itself:
"Hi Larry, my name is Jack. I am very sorry to hear that you had a such bad experience at the restaurant. My English is not good. But I am trying my best here. Let me explain what really happened. We are a new restaurant, which opened about four months ago. The head chef uses to cook the dishes that you and your friend originally wanted. But our head chef was sick yesterday and therefore not working. For the best of sake, we usually don't let other cooks cook his dishes. So the waiter had to tell that they were not available. Please believe us that none of us want you have a bad experience in the restaurant. About the dessert, it was miscommunication. The owner's English is not good. When your friend asked for selection of desserts, he heard that your friend was asking for Chinese dessert. He tried to explain there was no Chinese dessert, but Italian dessert offered in the restaurant. Throughout the period that you dinned in the restaurant, the owner paid a lot attention. He quickly got your friend's food when your friend requested. He made sure you and your friend's water filled all the time. He knew his waiter did not do a good job. Then he complemented a free desert. Please believe that all the workers in the restaurant want to make customers happy and satisfied. I personally thank you for dinning with us and wish you a great experience dinning in the restaurant. Also I thank you for your feedback. We surely want to do better."
If I could give zero stars for that explanation, I would. I discovered this place here on Yelp and thought I would give this place a try. Very tasty food, great service, and awesome atmosphere. Also, fairly reasonable (in reference to pricing). I will definitely return to this restaurant. There's a great vibe here yet the service from two of the three servers was subpar as they didn't not appear to really engage with me, their customer. The folks also visibly looked different than what I expected. It appeared as if they rushed the cooking and were rushing me to leave....Ie they brought me my check promptly when I requested it yet 2 minutes later looked at the check while asking me if I was ready. I was shocked and immediately put all the parts together.
To add, the host was ok at sitting me as I just walked in and found a seat. The server then asked me a question of which I was challenged in not being able to understand him, due to my privilege in speaking fluent English. I own that. This happens on multiple occasions. He was print in taking my order. All the food came out before my appetizer came out. He then forgot to bring me my soda.
This place is not a place I'd return for good service or good food. Consistently good food. Drunken noodles have vibrant flavor, a good kick of heat, and tender vegetables. Serving sizes are exactly what I want to fill myself and not need any take away containers.
Great cocktails. Happy hour is the best time to go so you can try all of their fantastic drinks and half-priced appetizers. Food is 2 stars but the service and interior decor are so nice and pretty I have to bump up a star.
I shared 2 entrees with a friend:
Pad thai (chicken) - too sweet
Green curry (vege) - maybe I should've added a meat? but it was too bland.
Both entrees were good enough to come back to enjoy the romantic/pretty decor and great waitress/customer service... but the food taste was Ehh. Some ingredient (which I don't know cuz i'm not a chef) that could really make the dish better was missing in each.
I came for a saturday lunch.
On the pricey side for lunch and the food taste.
Great service except the food comes out late...
Pretty bathrooms. haha Dan dan noodles were good! All my friends liked it and had a good time. Waiter tried to make me pay more for whiskey so boo on him. Whole snapper isn't worth the price. Definitely had much better and cheaper places. Spice 28 is so delicious! Cocktails, appetizers, Szechuan dishes, everything good. A nice little gem. Cool spot to stop for a drink... There is an extensive drink menu and good bartenders. I didn't sit in the dining area or order food, but the eating area has nice dim lighting for an intimate dinner. I will definately come back to check out the cuisine! Finally, a place to get decent Szechuan without going all the way to Han Dynasty! While Spice 28's food doesn't quite measure up to Han's, that's a pretty high bar and in no way reflects poorly on the quality of its dishes. I went for lunch today and had an appetizer of spicy cucumber, which was delicious. For my meal, I got one of the very reasonably priced lunch specials of dry pepper chicken with dumpling soup. The portions were very generous (I have leftovers), and the chicken was actually very pleasingly spicy!
All in all, I'm so happy Spice 28 is in the neighborhood. I'll definitely have to try their Thai menu items the next time I go. If they're anywhere near as good as their Szechuan dishes, I may have found a new go-to Thai place as well. My friends and I were visiting from NY, walking around the area for a place to eat and stumbled upon Spice 28! So happy that we did! Cool ambiance! Great food and service! Last time we were upset about serving sizes and staff work. We had to wait for tea for 30 min. But all offered meals were admirably cooked and served. Food is OUTSTANDING !! The ambiance is amazing as well .... very nice and clean ... will be returning to this spot .. One of best Thai in Philly.
They have a starter- 'Indian pancake with curry', the curry is very much like the famous South Indian curry called "kurma". So happy to have found this place!
Cheers Great place to eat from. Ordered the Pineapple Fried with Shrimp....and it was quite delicious! Happy hours is great! A list of fun cocktails with the core drinks at great prices. Several good options. Loved the neon lights and open air bar. Try it for happy hour! The crispy snapper dish was excellent! It comes out as a whole fish, but all of the edible fish is already in 2-bite size pieces and drizzled sparingly with a very tasty sauce. The service and the ambience were also top notch. The only drawback was that the pre-made gelato and strawberry dessert was a bit hard on top, presumably from being in the freezer. It was a beautiful Philly summer night (even more beautiful because both cars on our party found parking!!) and we make our 9:30 reservation on a Saturday night. We opted to sit at the window (literally on the ledge) to catch a nice breeze and possibly people watch. My brother even had a perfect view of the TV so he was able to watch whatever sports-thing-a-ma-jig they had the channel on.
Wanting to further enjoy my night I ordered a Thai ginger coconut bomb. Because of the name I was expected something spicy and sweet. All I tasted was liquor, strong liquor. It literally took me the length of the entire meal to get through it, but I finished it like a champ. Since it was late, we decided to bypass any starters and go straight to the entrees. Being a chicken Pad Thai connoisseur I obviously went with that. Actually 3 out of 4 of us ordered the chicken Pad Thai and with good reason. The portion was very nice considering they had a "larger plates" portion on their menu. The dish was cooked nicely and tasted great. My sister in law ordered the drunken chow fun noodles with chicken, which she said was spicy and delicious (I'm definitely trying that next time).
All in all it was a good time. The atmosphere was awesome, the service was great, and the food was delicious. I've been here many times and will continue to swing by when i get the chance! Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Taste: If you're looking for an Asian fusion spot - check this place out. It'll satisfy your cravings! Portions and prices are fair. Drinks were awesome ... Service was good ... Ginger cosmo was delicious ... Bartender really friendly Came here for dinner on Saturday night. The place has a nice ambience, but the real test is the food, and it turned out to be just ok. or appetizers we ordered the chicken satay and the wontons with the guacamole (I dont remember the name). I only ordered that because of the rave reviews on yelp, but I was dissapointed by it. For entrees I ordered the pad thai and I dont remember what he ordered. He didnt really care for his food, mine was okay. But they did put an ample amount of shrimp in it, so I was impressed, but the tails were still on the shrimp, which is a pet peeve of mine. We both ordered non-alcoholic drinks, but the glasses they came in made it looked like they were, so I guess we still looked cool LOL. Nothing on the dessert menu appealed to us so we didnt order anything. The owner Ben came and spoke with us. He told my date that he was a lucky guy. So they get an extra star for that :) For the appetizers spring rolls are always a must. I had green curry chicken with jasmine rice. Rice was cooked well; good texture, not mushy. The green curry was well to taste but lacked viscosity. It should have been a bit thicker and spicier.
Best of the experience was the Shisojito.
The location itself was warm and intimate with subdued lighting. It can host a large party but it is not too loud. Some of the best food I have had in a long time! We all ordered multiple dishes and shared! Veggie spring rolls are AMAZING!!! Not a huge fan of this type of food but the lettuce wraps were amazing as well as the chicken and broccoli I got. Pad Thai was always very good! Went here this past Saturday. The place is beautifully decorated and really cute in my opinion. I like how the menu offers different asian cuisines to choose from. We ordered the dan dan noodles, indian pancakes, pineapple fried rice and the penang curry chicken. Everything was delicious especially the fried rice and dan dan noodles.
This us definitely a good place to go and share small plates with a group. I have never eaten at Spice 28, but I have gotten takeout twice, and it was delicious. I love the Thai basil beef lunch special, complete with brown rice (you can also choose white) and wonton soup (you can also opt for tom sum soup, but I think it's gross!) They also offer other lunch specials, for less than $10. The food is not too spicy or too salty. Delish! this place is right around the corner from me. first time I ordered i got delivery (i didn't realize how close it was) and I got sushi which was great. today I got General Tso's chicken on the lunch menu. Best Tso's I've had in a while. White chicken meat. Quality stuff. Hot Hot Hot and tasty. Come with soup that outdoes the rest. Trust me and trust this place. Who was General Tso anyway haha he had some amazing chicken named after him. Dine in here also looks very pleasant and chic. I ordered the green curry chicken $14 for lunch. Very good. The price was on par with other Thai restaurants that would be in a major city. (I was visiting Philly).
Customer service: amazing. I was one of 2 tables there when I went around 2:30pm and the server came up to me only a few times - and waited until I did not have food in my mouth to come up to me to ask if I needed anything. She also gave me tips on the city.
Ambiance: relaxing and a chic layout in the restaurant. Like most Thai restaurants, I start with the Pad Thai. However, my new favorite after dining at Spice 28 is the Drunken Noodle. Any Pad Thai lover needs to give it a try.
Also, for a different appetizer, try the Spicy Cucumber. The sweet, salty soy concoction they soak the cuc pieces in is to die for. Once I was done with the cucumber, I finished the sauce to the last drop. Great little asian fusion resto. The waitstaff is friendly and interested in feedback. Red miso sea bass was tender and delicious. Fried calamari had an amazing salt and pepper breading. I could have eaten that whole app myself. BYO for now Yelp. Wow this place is great, service was very friendly and the food was fantastic. I had the dry pepper chicken and requested extra extra spicy and thankfully they did not wimp out! Holy cow super flavorful. It was the kind of meal I will remember and I look forward to having again, already. Wow, this place is gorgeous, and our food was the best I had during my trip to Philadelphia. Everything - the tom yum soup, the roti canai, the tangerine duck, the Thai crispy red snapper, and all of our drinks - were expertly prepared, the ingredients were fresh, and everything was tasty. The exceptional food was enhanced by the clean modern decorations, the ever-changing mood lighting, and giant street-level windows. I generally don't care about aesthetics, if the food is good. In the instance of Spice 28, both the food and decorations combined for a 5 star dining experience. Over priced. They have decent authentic Chinese food, and "fake" (no offense) ones. Don't order Lychee Martini. Terrible. I am a fan!
If you've been to Han Dynasty, their menu is eerily similar to Spice 28's. I made a reservation on a friday night, was a bit late but got seated no problem. The waitress (didn't get her name) was great about recommending items. I got the spicy cucumbers for appetizers to share. They were good but much less garlicky then HD's. Too bad, I actually like HD's version more.
For my main, I got the dan dan noodles. I I love HD's dan dan noodles and so hoped Spice 28 would compare. I was a bit worried it wouldn't be enough food but the waitress assured me i'd be fine. She was right, I had leftovers to go. The dan dan noodles were great and a very good price!
My bf got the mango sauce chicken. It sounds kind of strange to me, but he loved it.
Another friend got the Shrimp Pad Thai, and he rated it 7/10.
Overall, I definitely will be heading back. It's a great location, friendly staff, and yummy food. Food was not good. It was dry with no flavor and over priced. The restaurant has nice ambiance but they need a new chef. Beautiful space-hip and modern. Great food. We have tried all the apps and have enjoyed all-this is rare for me. Noodles are fantastic-pad thai is large spicy perfectly prepared with fresh shrimp. Malaysian noodles also delicious and I request it Thai hot and they get that right. Pineapple fried rice is better than other places that serve a similar dish. The sweetness of the pineapple works well to offset the spice in the dish. The only thing I have not enjoyed are the Dan Dan noodles but in fairness I really don't like the Dan Dan noodles anywhere and yes I know that's blasphemy...prices are reasonable and servers are nice. I tried the Peking Duck Buns, Drunken Chow Fun Noodles, and Tom Yum soup. The steamed buns were absolutely fantastic; however, the noodles were just "OK." I ordered the dish "moderately spicy" but there was no hint of spice at all - in fact, the dish was completely bland. On the other hand, I could not even eat the Tom Yum soup because it was super spicy. It was my first time vet trying that soup so I really can't comment on whether or not it was good - but it was definitely not for me!
My food order arrived within 30 minutes and everything was nice and hot. They provided all of the utensils that I needed which was great since I'm in a hotel for work. The portion sizes were very good and inline with the cost. I had tons of food left over and I could've easily shared this meal with another person. I ordered delivery from here - I got the Tom yum soup, chicken satay and Dan Dan noodles.
Pros
- speedy delivery: they initially quoted me 45-60 min but the food arrived in about 30 min
- Tom yum soup was decent although there were grape tomatoes in it which I found strange
- price: entrees were pretty inexpensive and great portions
Cons
- Dan Dan noodles: the sauce was good but the noodles were extremely overcooked
- chicken satay: these were extremely oily and almost looked like they had been deep fried
Overall not really impressed and probably would not order from here again Simple. Friendly. Tasty. There is usually a daily *signature cocktail or two sure to catch the eye. I have only sat solo at the bar - so can't say how the table service measure up. The bar team is attentive, engaging and always asks for feedback on the drink you've chosen. Their prices are really reasonable for a boutique style Center City spot. Appetizers are yummy & we'll prepared: temperature, consistency. Portions are *moderate, but you won't feel stiffed. Worth checking out! My review is mainly for the vegetarian options.
veg tom yum soup - 4/5
veg thai spring roll - 3/5
cold cucumber salad - 3/5
veg drunken noodles - 5/5
veg Panang curry - 5/5
veg green curry - 3/5
veg thai basil rice - 4/5
Overall good food, nice ambiance, little loud music.
Overall rate 4/5 2nd time for dinner at Spice. Previously both the food and service were excellent. However this time one of the staff (a bespectacled not-so-thin chinese waiter) really spoiled our dinner. My dish was served first. Waited for 34min (yes I counted), and my bf's dish still wasn't there. When we asked him to check the orders, he insisted that he thought my dish was for sharing (since it was an appetiser) and hence he was waiting for it to be finished before serving up the next dish. Well, if he was as attentive as he had made himself out to be, he would have noticed with the slightest amount of observation that I had been eating that dish by myself for a good half hour and perhaps inferred with a little bit of common sense that, nope, it's not for sharing. FYI there were only 3 tables occupied. He did not apologise at all. Very disappointed with his service. That said, the two other waiters on duty were pretty nice and their service was superb. And, the food was awesome as expected. Tried the chicken pineapple fried rice, chicken lettuce rolls, roasted tomato salad, sauteed chinese cabbage and pig intestine dry pot. Over 2 meals of course.All were delicious and came in generous portions. Would recommend this place for its food, definitely. If it were not for that waiter with his sucky attitude which spoiled me and my bfs day, I would have given 5 stars. The food here is very flavorful, and spicy if you like it that way. The atmosphere is soothing and relaxing. Service with a smile... Will continue to come here to try more dishes!!!! The drinks were great and the food was amazing. I had the Thai Basil Fried Rice with Shrimp and it was delicious! The Thai basil added so much flavor to the dish. I had the Dragon Nectar and the Perfect Mangorita and they were both wonderful. They were able to seat 2 people with no reservation on a Saturday (we planned poorly lol). I have nothing bad to say. Dry Pepper Style Chicken is my favorite! I went here for a birthday celebration. I had a large group and they sat us down with an incomplete party. The service was great, and the food was good.
The environment was trendy and very cute.
We had the calamari and it tasted different. People in my group said it needed to be fried a little bit more, we also had the dan dan noodles, which where absolutely delicious. Someone even mentioned it was better than Han Dynasty.
I ordered the Pan Seared Tuna Steak with vegetables. I only went here because I was craving wasabi mashed potatoes, but they ran out :( The Pan Seared Tuna was okay, it was nothing great. I was delicious, but ti was also covered in pepper, which was weird for me. My boyfriend had the Chilean Seabass, and it was DELICIOUS. It was so good, and it was soft. MUST TRY, I'm not a fan of seabass either but it was amazing. If I come back, I'm going to get that, with a side of wasabi mashed potatoes.
My friend got the Tropical Mango Style with Chicken. It was really good. Usually I stay away from anything with a citrus based marinade because it can be overwhelming. But you could taste the mango, but it wasn't overwhelming. It was really good.
I would totally come back to this place. The service was good and the food was equally as good. If you're not a fan of spicy or can't handle it too much, you can request them to adjust it to your liking.
MUST TRY: Chilean Seabass, and the Tropical Mango Style with Chicken. AMAZING.
(You can stop reading right here and go eat at Spice 28...)
After departing early from Made in America, a friend and I ducked into Spice on a whim. It's beautiful from the outside: candles, modern furniture, dim lighting. The place just oozes chic.
We began with the Tom Yum soup, despite the recommendation of the Spicy Cucumber from Dip, our waitress. It was so yummy (see what I did there? Tom Yum...yummy...?!): hot, a little creamy, with the perfect amount of vegetables and a touch of spice.
For the second course, I had the Ma Pao Tofu and my friend had the Pad Thai with Tofu. My entree was just as Dip had described it, hot and rich. The Pad Thai was light and fresh with crispy tofu strips. I almost stole the whole dish!
We also had the opportunity to try the Spicy Cucumbers. GET THEM. THEY ARE INCREDIBLE. Yeah, they're spicy. But they're also ridiculously good. I can't explain it. I can't describe it. Just eat them and thank me later.
We split a pumpkin cake thing for dessert. It was good, not great.
Overall, we had an excellent experience that I can't stop raving about! I'll definitely be back to see Anna and Dip and their delicious, affordable food. When I found out a new Szechuan restaurant had opened up, I thought oh god another oily, spicy restaurant like Hans Dynasty. My curiosity and the love to try out new restaurants brought me here for dinner tonight.
The decor was absolutely mystifying and beautiful and kind of reminds me of a toned down version of morimoto or pod.
We browsed through the menu and finally selected : 1 order of Indian pancake and Guacamole wontons (very different). Entree: Cumin Lamb, Dryed Pepper Fish fillet and Chicken Fried rice.
We had saw a fully stocked bar but was never offered a menu. We decided to ask the waitress (she was absolutely amazing and very friendly) if they were serving alcoholic bvgs. The answer was no but a few minutes later she came back with 2 wonder drinks on the house that they concocted called Summer Love (which taste delish).
Apps finally made it to the table and aside from the 2 apps we ordered she gave us an app on the house (Rock Shrimp) which was my favorite appetizer out of all 3. It was fried shrimp (not greasy and perfectly battered) on top of a bed of greens with a side of an amazing dressing.
Indian pancake was not what i expected it was more of a scallion pancake minus the scallions. It was good but the sauce was a bit bland.
Cumin lamb was spicy and had tons of flavor and the same is said with the Dry Pepper Fish. The only complaint since I can handle spice was that it wasn't spicy enough for me but it was very tasty without being too salty or drained with oil.
Overall the Service was impeccable especially our waitress. I think Spice 28 blows Hans Dynasty out of the water whether it's decor or flavor of food. Spice 28 would be my recommendation to friends and family if Szechuan food is craved. I'm sure once the get their liquor license the place will be booming. Good Luck! Ate at the bar and had the world's most inattentive bartender, even though I was his only customer at the time! He kept chatting with the hostess and the waitress and both of them, at various times, had to call his attention to my waving my arms above my head to get another beer.
So the service at the bar was subpar, but the food was fine--though not as spicy as I expected at a place that prides itself on Szechuan. I came here for my Birthday in October, and I love the place!! the lights and the atmosphere was very modern and hip. Our photos came out nice. I really had a great experience. We had a party of 10 people and took up half of the restaurant. Its very small as seen in picture but a very intimate restaurant. I totally recommend it . The food was good and just right This is my go-to Chinese joint for lunch. I work in the city and live in the burbs, so aside from a dinner here a few years ago, my experience doesn't include dining in or having drinks. It's super easy to order online, and the food is always freshly made and very tasty. Without fail, I place my order and in about 15 minutes my food is ready. Every description is accurate and the food is perfectly seasoned.
I'm not sure why someone else said that there is a $20 minimum, that only applies to delivery, which is then a free service. I do take-out a lot and you can even just order the $4 lunch potstickers and be on your way. It's a'ight. I'd rather walk a tad bit and get real deals in chinatown Food is average compared to other fusion places in the city. Thai iced tea was very good. Atmosphere good, only thig weird me out, their was a worker walking around in his white tank top!! Don't know what was that about? We order drunken noodles and Panag curry. noodles were better than Panag. Extra star is for service. Our waitress was very attentive and polite. I didn't want to like this place, because I was oddly attached to the buffet that used to be here, but I can't help it. Spice 28 is pretty great. Hey that rhymed! Unintentional. Sorry, Dragon House.
Now, I'm usually not a huge fan of Asian cuisine generally speaking, but I LOVE this place! Came here for a work happy hour and we had a great time. Bartender was fun and attentive and kept the drinks flowing. My only real qualm is that there isn't a lot of seating around the bar area.
There's no beer on tap and that's a slight bummer, but one you quickly get over when you see the selection they DO have, along with the cocktail choices. And if you're still not over it by then, you will be once you eat some of the food. We had both the dumplings and wontons in chili oil, and each was delicious. Spicy, but not too much so for those who don't dig that (like me).
I will definitely be coming back for dinner one of these days. And probably takeout for lunch too to try some more of the menu. I was in town for a training, and ducked into Spice 28 since everywhere was totally packed when I went out for dinner. Where I'm from, Portland OR, has some reeeeeally good Thai food, so i wasn't totally sure about this place... But it turned out to be super delicious! Drunken noodles were on point, as was the Dragonfruit drink I had. Would totally come back next time I'm in Philly! Must order the pad thai, fried rice and duck bun appetizers!
Delicious!!! And this is coming from someone in LA who knows their thai/Asian food!
So delicious and fresh. Incredible value. These guys have a wonderful atmosphere. Their coconut shrimp soup and drunken noodle beef dish is my favorite.
I make this a regular eating spot when I'm in town. Great fusion food! The drinks are unique and delicious! Even my dad who is very picky about asian food loved it. Ordered pad Thai to go and it was very poor. Dry, barely spicey, with rubbery mushrooms. Went here for happy hour with some friends. The waiter was super friendly and they let us order happy hour food and drinks even though we were a big group and not seated at the bar. I was happy that they were able to accommodate our group and that the place wasn't too loud or too full. The food was good but almost everything had gluten and was extremely greasy. Drinks were reasonably priced. Overall I was very happy and would definitely go back for happy hour some time if I was downtown! Pros:
-Very nice atmosphere and ambience
-Quick Service. Seated and Served a Table of 10 in record time
-Server was patient and very responsive to all of our varying requests.
-From the record of friends, the mango shrimp was good.
Cons (unfortunately):
I ordered the dandan noodles for an appetizer. I especially love dandan noodles, but the noodles were very soft, the peanut sauce barely covered the noodles after I mixed the two. I had the salmon and my boyfriend ordered the sea bass. The salmon was overcooked and extremely dry, even the sauce could not provide enough moisture. The seabass must have been spoiled or ultra raw, because boyfriend is battling food poisoning and stomach issues of epic proportions. He had booked valentine's day dinner at the location. Needless to say, he's now canceled it. This is the second top-notch restaurant I've come across during my stay in the City of Brotherly Love. As you'll see in this review, the love shines through at Spice 28.
My wife and I sat down and ordered our drinks while we reviewed the menu. I got a Sapporo, she got a cocktail named Philly Love. While mine tasted as expected, she raved about hers. It was one of those dangerously delicious drinks - after a few sips, you knew a good amount of alcohol was hiding behind its mildly sweet flavor. Kudos to the bartender on mixing that up.
While we were still indecisive about our entrees, we decided to order up some appetizers. We chose the lobster bisque and seared tuna carpaccio. The carpaccio was beyond good. It was lightly seared peppered tuna wrapped around pieces of crab, sitting atop sweet vinaigrette sauce. We were shocked at how well this plate was put together and would order this again in a heartbeat.
The lobster bisque? Eh, not so good... It had decent sized pieces of crab, but just didn't have much flavor. We were also expecting more of a pink-style bisque, but this one was red. But here's where Spice 28 earned their fifth star. They not only took it off our bill, but insisted on giving us a bowl of their Tom Yum soup, free of charge. This is what we should have ordered instead of the bisque. It was mildly spicy and full of citrus flavor. We really dug that one!
That wasn't the only place where the service shined though. Even though the place was nearly full, throughout our entire meal, they were completely attentive and refilling our water constantly.
Finally, I settled on a Szechuan Chicken dish (can't remember the name but it was rated a 3 on the 1-to-3 spice scale they use). Spicy it was. But I like spicy. If my forehead is sweating and I'm still eating, to me, that's just perfect. The salty szechuan oil flavor came through, not too strong, but just the right amount.
My wife ordered the Blue Crab Avocado Salad. We both agreed that this tasted so light and refreshing. The crab was delicious and the balsamic vinaigrette dressing is lightly sweet. Initially my wife thought the portion may be too small, but after eating it, decided it was just the right amount.
We made sure to leave room for dessert and ordered a lemon-raspberry cheesecake (which was more of a torte than a New York style cheesecake). It was beautifully plated and also a perfectly light note to the end of our meal.
If we're ever back in the Philly area, we will be back. This place was a nice surprise. We thought it might be too spicy, but we lucked out and ordered some items that brought some heat, but didn't leave us going down in flames. Loses a star as our wonderful waiter was overwhelmed with two tables of 14 people and us. Certainly NOT his fault, but he simply could not keep up with bringing drinks, appetizers, soups, and main meals out to 30 people all at the same time. I have to think someone took the reservation for these tables, so they could have used another server. But let's talk about what we had here, because it was fantastic and I would go back again in a 28 Spice Hot Minute! Started with a Dragon Nectar cocktail that was on the Happy Hour menu. It's one of those drinks that tastes so good you don't realize you are getting hammered while sipping away on this delicious concoction. Appetizers - we tried the Rock Shrimp - it has some sort of aioli sauce on it that was highly addicting. For soup, I chose the Tom Yum Soup with chicken - I don't know who Tom is but it was indeed Yummy! We split two entrees - the Saigon Beef - which there was nothing left on the plate of that item and the Hot Sauce Style Szechuan Chicken - you can choose the fire level on this and we took it down ONE FIRE emblem and that was perfect for us. This comes in more of a soup bowl with lots of sauce, so although we made it through all the protein with this offering, there was a lot of extra sauce left. Had to wait a long time for our check due to the 28 other guests at two tables, but we weren't catching a train, so we were fine just chatting until we finally got checked out. It's on my list to come back and try other things on the menu. Reasonable prices for good food! Also ordered the indian pancake which was tasty but I was disappointed with the portion size. Potstickers are $4 for 5 pieces. We went for lunch so prices weren't too bad. Only reason for 4 stars is I wasn't blown away. But if you're looking for a decent place with a variety of asian food for a reasonable price then definitely stop by! Food was good, but SPICY (thus, the name!)
There was a huge miscommunication (possible language barrier problem) in that the server told us the wine was half price for happy hour special. It most certainly was NOT half price and we spend WAY more than we planned on wine as a result. Brought it up to server and he just acted confused himself about why it wasn't half price. Anyway, we probably won't return as we definitely felt duped into an extra large check. Went here for Sips and had a great time!
Drinks: I only had one, but their long island was delicious. Strong, yet the flavors still came through.
Appetizers: I had several and each was an adventure unto itself. The spicy cucumber was surprisingly good (the sauce was amazing, it has a bit of a bite but still complex in its taste). The dumplings, while good, weren't super impressive.
The wait staff was very nice. I swear the waiter came by at least seven times in order to fill up our water and make sure we were taken care of. Very professional. Make no mistake - this is an Asian fusion Thai-Chinese joint. It's been modified to suit the American palette - I know this for a fact because I didn't like it but the American couple next to us "loved it"! Overall the food wasn't bad but it wasn't good either. Biggest let down was the green salad with mango dressing (think mango jam on your green salad). The menu said it was a "mango salad" & I thought/assumed it was the green mango salad that's ubiquitous in Bangkok. I know - I'm an @$$ for assuming. This place is easily one of my very favorite restaurants. I've had some of the best dishes ever here and I enjoy the whole look and ambience as well. One time when I ate here last year, the waiter even came over to my table to let me know he accidentally served me lamb instead of the beef I ordered and offered to replace it (which wasn't necessary since the lamb tasted very good as well).
Overall, it's great Chinese food in a cool, modern setting. Service was terrible. No one came to offer drinks or menus and we finally had to shout at one of the fembots who allegedly work here as they continually passed us without acknowledging us. The waitresses then couldn't decide whose table we should be. When that was finally resolved, the experience improved. Food is good and the atmosphere is nice, if a bit of an urban cliche at this point. Celebrated 2 year anniversary here with my bf. We had no past experience with this place and knew that although we loved fogo, we just wouldn't be able to stomach it. We ordered the Wasabi mango lobster app and the Peking duck on fried buns and it was a great start to a perfect meal. He ordered the Thai red snapper and I had the Chilean sea bass in which we shared Wasabi mashed potatoes. The entrees were great- his snapper was fried perfectly and arrived in this cool arrangement of being deconstructed and put together with the original fish spine, served with this sweet and spicy sauce complimenting the fish very well. I had the Chilean sea bass which was soft and flavorful with good old stir vegetables. Definitely will come back again I don't usually review places on Yelp, but I just had to review Spice 28 - simply because I've never had a better dining experience. (And I'm no hermit; I dine out quite a lot!!!)
We went in there for my friend's birthday on Friday around 7 pm when most places had a wait time of around 2 hours. They seated us within 5 minutes of us walking in despite having an incomplete party.
Our waitress was amazingly friendly. We were quite surprised to learn it was her first week working at the restaurant, because she was educated on all the menu items & offered great suggestions as we were deciding on appetizers and drinks.
Two of us went with the Lychee Martinis while one of my other friends decided on the Philly Love for drinks, and for apps, we had Thai Crispy Calamari, Indian Pancakes, and Thai Spring Rolls.
The drinks came out within 5 minutes and the apps followed immediately after. We ordered our entrees - Mango Chicken, Dan Dan Noodles, and Pepper Chicken. When the entrees showed up 20 minutes later, one of the people in the party realized her entree - pepper chicken - was too spicy for her palette, and our waitress (with no fuss!) immediately offered to get her something else and even helped her pick out something much less spicy - Thai Basil Fried Rice. She even left the Pepper Chicken for the rest of us to nibble on! How awesome!
As I mentioned before, it was my friend's bday so obviously we had to get dessert. I managed to sneak away from the table to ask our waitress if she could surprise my friend with a candle lit dessert. Of course, our waitress pulled me aside so my friend wouldn't notice us huddling over the dessert menu. (How sweet & thoughtful!?) We picked out the house dessert (Exotic Bomba) for dessert, which was bought out by four "Happy Birthday" singing wait staff.
Did I mention she didn't charge us for the dessert nor did she charge us for the Pepper Chicken?
If you do decide go, please ask for Stephanie!!! We were so amazed by her, we even had her call her manager over so we could let the manager know what a wonderful job this girl was doing! :) I had no idea this place existed until I randomly walked by on a Monday night and the beautiful interior caught my eye. My boyfriend and I stopped to investigate. We had already eaten, but were looking for a place to have a drink or two, and the cocktail menu looked promising.
I'm not much of a cocktail gal, because I find many of them too sweet and the alternative to a sweet cocktail is a 'you might as well drink the liquor straight' cocktail - at least in unskilled hands. I was really impressed by the cocktails here. They're well thought out and interesting. We tried 3 different ones and liked all of them.
My boyfriend had the basil green tea gimlet and liked it enough to order a second. This is a rare occurrence because he usually likes to sample several different things. I had the Philly Love, which is subtly cucumber-y and very well balanced - a nice, cool, crisp cocktail that I would order again. I also had the French Pear Martini, which could potentially have been too sweet, but was again perfectly balanced and delicious. I could easily have ordered 5 of these. Fortunately, (sometimes) I'm old enough to know better.
The interior of this place is very nice, especially when they have the front window open. I felt like I was in an ultra modern bar in a glamorous section of an Asian capital city. If you don't like the modern multicolored light effect theme it might not be for you, but I enjoyed it. Not to mention the fruit loop chairs at the tables by the front window are super comfortable - if you go, you'll know which ones I mean. It had a total lounge atmosphere which relaxed both of us considerably (along with the drinks).
The prices for the cocktails ranged from $8 to $10, which can add up if you're looking to get plastered or drinking them with food, but it suited us just fine. I would definitely come here again for the drinks, and hope to try the food soon! Decent happy hour, AWESOME ambience. There was a HUGE party going on while I was there, however, so my friend and I could barely hear each other over dinner. Service was okay -- but the waitress got a little uncomfortable about the yelp check-in deal! haha will definitely go back for happy hour and pad thai, hopefully when there isn't a huge party in place. Two words. Han Dynasty. Seriously, good try, but no. I am dissapoint ed I gave this restaurant $20 for the hot sauce style and dumplings. My mouth has some weird tingling to it and im.not sure why. I am a big fan of spice, and this place was pretty mild. The bathrooms were GROSS the service was very good, the food, just not worth your money. If you haven't tried szechuan before and are local, go ahead, if you have the means, try han dynasty (old city, West philly) - I prefer the way west philly makes their food. I guess because I am such a fan of spcie, flavor, and.all around appetizing food, im.just dissapoint ed but they must be doing something right if enough people rated them.so they ave a 4. For lunch we ordered chicken wonton in chili oil, thai rolls, had tom yum soup, dry rub fish, and the thai basil chicken plus mango cake and tiramisu cake. The wontons and the dry rub fish were good, the rest was just okay. Not worth the 4 stars or even 3. Good and friendly service. Good food. Great ambiance. Great place to chill with a few friends over dinner and drinks. I came here the other night with a big group. We had a reservation, and the hostess was very nice and seated half of us who arrived early. I really like the layout of the restaurant. It just feels trendy and high end, which is not the typical type of Asian restaurant I go to on a regular basis.
I think I must have just ordered the wrong thing, because so many other Yelpers just love this place. I got the seafood hot pot, which was a crazy amount of fish, scallops, shrimp, and vegetables served in a mini wok. It came with rice, and they didn't charge me extra for ordering brown rice, which is a plus.
I liked the flavor of the soup, because lemongrass is my favorite type of Asian broth, but they put pineapple chunks in with all of the fish and veggies. I honestly think the pineapple ruined the taste. I'm not one who likes mixing of sweet and savory, so again, maybe this was just my personal tastes, because the dish overall was pretty good. But for $21, I expected this to be the most amazing seafood soup I have ever had. I get this dish pretty often at other Asian restaurants which, granted, are not as classy, and it's never more than $5 or $10. So for the price (and the weird pineapple taste), it just wasn't that impressive.
Maybe I'll be back one day, because I really did like the restaurant atmosphere, but I'll definitely be trying something else. I really enjoyed the spicy cucumbers...I would have to say that this dish is better than Han Dynasty's spicy cucumbers. I think the cilantro they add gives it more flavor.
The Ahi Tuna Dumpling was also very tasty. I think having it in the same plate with the spicy cucumbers helped adding a nice kick to the dumplings.
We also ordered the drunken noodles and thai basil beef. Both dishes were good. We did tell the waiter to make everything spicy and the spice level did not disappoint. Our waiter was great, he made sure our water was filled at all times and was very polite. We will definitely go back. Trendy place with good food. Dined on a Sunday afternoon, the place was pretty empty. The calamari is great, and I would def recommend the lychee martini! I came here a few years ago and I feel like they started making the portions smaller but maybe it's just me. Service was good! We went with a large group on Saturday for lunch. Since most of us hadn't seen each other in a long time, it took us a while to get settled and get to ordering.
The server did not rush us at all even though he had to check up on us multiple times because people were arriving at different times. He always had a smile on his face and was super patient with us.
For drinks, I ordered the passion fruit tea and had a sip of my brother's basil mango lemonade. Both drinks came in cute glasses and both tasted great.
Some of the group opted for ordering a variety of appetizers. I chose to go with the Szechuan chicken dish with brown rice (happy they have that option!) and my brother chose to have a yellow curried noodle soup that he really enjoyed. I forgot what my sister ordered but one of the items was the avocado crab salad dish and it was beautifully plated.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this place and I'd venture back for the service alone. Food was flavorful and not too greasy! Perfect.
When we visited, the space was well-light and airy - perfect for conversation.
I thought the prices were very reasonable and the portion sizes just right.
Bathrooms were clean! This place is awesome. I went when they first opened and they were so helpful when ordering family style. They even gave us complimentary dessert! The owner is really friendly and tries to visit each table to make sure things are going well!
I recently went a second time and they were packed on a Friday night--not surprised at all. I spoke to the manager again and told him how great our experience was and then he gave us complimentary dessert again :)
The cocktails are on the expensive side, but pretty good. The food is spicy, whig is to be expected! Pad Thai and Drunken noodles were great..their dan-dan noodles and spicy cucumber appetizer is really good as well! I ordered the Indian Pancake with curry sauce expecting it would be like roti canai at Penang, it turned out it was very greasy. When I complained about it, the waiter just said sorry an did not offer any substitute. Penang has the best roti canai. The blue crab salad was Ok, small portion with a very small dollop of crab meat with mayo in the middle and balsamic vinegar dressing. However, the drunken chow fun is very tasty and highly recommended. I have to say that under the circumstances, Spice 28 held up pretty well to the large crowd we showed up with. The service was snappy, the food was tasty and the price was right.
A party of 10 is no easy feat for any restaurant but things went smoothly for our group. We showed up after an extended happy hour and we were all pretty hungry and slightly intoxicated. We began with a few apps for the table. The Dandan Mien were pretty good though not the best I've ever had. The cucumbers in chili oil were simply served in a bowl and had that crunchy cool with heat flavor that I so adore.
For entrees, the table ordered a number of dishes. The one in front of us was the dry pot chicken and I liked it. The heat level seemed quite appropriate so that I was able to enjoy it without my mouth catching on fire. I got a taste of the cumin lamb and that dish is not my cup of tea.
It was late and given our rowdy, obnoxious group, Spice 28 handled us very well. I would like to go back with less people and try more items on their menu. I want to kick myself for not discovering this place sooner! It was delicious.
I went there Monday night, it was practically empty; but hey, it's Monday.
For drinks, I ordered a ginger coconut cocktail which was divine. For the entree, I had Saigon beef which was cooked to perfection. I also had a side of spicy cucumbers and dan dan noodles which is far better than Han Dynasty in my honest opinion. My visit to Spice 28 was about a month ago. My wife and I decided to take a just because get away trip to Philly and came here for some dinner. The ambiance and decor were very inviting, very intimate and just right for a romantic evening.
We did not have reservations but were quickly sat at a table for two. The table was fairly close and tight to another table and our hostess saw in our faces that we weren't too happy. She politely told us to give her a few minutes so she can make things right. We were sat at another table right away where a group of 4 had just left. We appreciated the fact that she recognized our discomfort and made it right without us having to ask.
We ordered a bottle of Riesling as it's my wife's favorite and started with a couple of apps. The Ahi Tuna Dumplings, which were oh so good. We were tempted to get another order, but we also had a generous helping of Dan Dan Noodles to work on. These noodles were great, with a peanutiness sesame sauce. Yes, I said peanutiness. So what! For an entree we shared the Shrimp Pad Thai. I know more noodles and peanutiness. I couldn't get enough.
The prices at this place for the quality and quantity of food are insanely cheap. We paid around $60 and that was because the bottle of wine was about $28. Just by the decor and service alone I would pay just a little more. I loved this place. If I'm ever in Philly again I would love to stop by again. Great food and for people who love spicy food.would defintely come back when in PA next time This is one of my favorite lunch spots in Philly... great lunch specials- $8-$9ish for a soup and entree. Get the mini wontons in chili oil!!- you won't regret it. Lovvvvve this place. Drunken noodles and curry pancakes cant go wrong. Ginger coconut bomb to die for although I can never forget the time the bartender ran out of coconut and decided not to tell me and delivered a ginger bomb. My throat was on FIRE!!! I asked the waitress if they were missing ingredients and he returns minutes later and says sorry we ran out of coconut. I really think thats something you should tell the customer so that they can get something else if they please. Ginger is too harsh to pull a stunt like that. Good food great ambience. Excellent courteous service. Enjoyed the drunken noodles and the green Thai curry. What a gem of a place! Lots of seating, nice people and quick service. 4 stars just for that. Now let's get to the food - we came in here for a quick weekday lunch at 12.30. I was surprised I didn't have to wait to be seated or feel crowded which is usually the case with center city lunch scenes. We ordered the Dan Dan ($6) which was excellent! We followed up with lunch specials - Cumin Lamb with tomyum soup $10.25 ( I'm not a fan of this dish, but it was pretty nice) and Three Pepper Chicken with wanton soup. - $8.25 ( the wanton covering might have been too thick for my liking). I can't believe I haven't come here sooner. The only thing I would say was both the specials we ordered were dry- I would recommend you check with the server if you're not sure as I prefer to have some gravy along with the rice - but that was my bad, I should've asked for recommendations. I only order 2 dishes, they r really really terrible!! Too salty and not like Sichuan food at all!反正如果是四川重庆的大概不会喜欢这家店...醋溜土豆丝用白醋，酸的很奇怪。火锅鱼就是火锅底料做的，鱼片和手指头差不多厚.这些菜还没自己在家里做的好吃也是醉了..... Great fusion of thai and asian food. I tried the Dry Pot style, Red Thai Curry and chicken thai fried rice. Good quantity and delectable food. The ambience was nice as well. We went late but were taken good care of by the owner herself. I just ordered via delivery, and it was my first time trying this place. The soup that was ordered spilled all over the bag, emptying the soup carton, and coating the other dishes in greasy soup. Secondly, the amount of duck in the duck salad was appalling, considering the price. Personally, I will never eat here again, and I wouldn't recommend it either. Got delivery from here based on reviews. Ordered soup, indian pancakes, panang curry, and drunken noodles. First it came 30 minutes late - called to check on where the order was and the lady on phone apologized and said there was only one delivery man for today - understandable.
The indian pancakes were very greasy - if they werent so greasy I would have enjoyed them much more. I told them to make all entrees VERY VERY mild (since I was sick) and yet the soup was very spicy. I had a sore throat and couldn't eat any of it. The panang curry was ok - the tofu would have been better steamed than fried. The drunken noodles were also so so. Maybe it is better to go in person not really sure but likely wouldn't order delivery from here again. Delicious!!! Came here while in town for the marathon and ate here the night before the race. The atmosphere is awesome! Lights are low and the decor is trendy. The waitress was very nice and available when we needed but did not bother us when we were eating and socializing. I ordered chicken fried rice and it was delicious! The portion was perfect and the cost was just about $10 which is reasonable especially in the city. They offered a nice selection of drinks, wine, and beer. The location was perfect and within walking distance of our hotel and the convention center area. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a delicious meal and great atmosphere! Well, it finally happened.
The day I have been waiting for. No, I didn't win the lotto nor did the Eagles win the Superbowl. I finally experienced the wonder that is Spice 28. How anyone could give this place anything less than 4 stars is waaaaay beyond me.
I have been stalking Spice 28 for as long as it has been opened and each time I drive by, I look longingly at the unsuspecting building there on Chestnut St. and sigh. Finally, I was treated to a lovely dinner, just as I expected.
We started with the Ahi Tuna Dumplings and Crispy Cucumbers for our appetizers. Both were very good. We moved on to our main courses and ordered the drunken noodles. It was delicious because the chicken was unbelievably tender. Extremely yum! My gf had the pad thai, which was also very scrumptious. I ended up eating off that plate most of the time.
The service was impeccable. The manager, Ben, was very friendly and attentive. We were given a complementary appetizer! The seared tuna carpaccio. Free food will always win people's hearts. Overall, the design is contemporary, clean, and an excellent use of space.
Can't wait to come back to try other dishes. Cute spot that was surprisingly not crowded on a Saturday night. A friend and I were able to walk right in and be seated right away. The menu is a little overwhelming and expansive for your first time. My friend had come for happy hour (or happy teasers) and had raved about it.
We opted for the small hot plates so we could share more food. My favorites were definitely the ahi tuna dumplings, edamame, and the satay chicken. Very flavorful with a little bit of sweet heat. I also got the crispy rock shrimp - they were okay but could have used a bit more seasoning. The same for the chicken lettuce wraps - good concept, but the iceberg lettuce just wasn't helping the dish.
Overall - cute place, very attentive staff, but the food was just okay. Delivery - 5/5 - SUPER fast! Ordered through Yelp, and they were almost 20 minutes earlier than the estimated time. Bravo!
Pork Dumplings - 5/5 - really yummy, but I got mine without sauce. That's what made them yummy, perhaps. The other sauces... that will come later. But yes, I suggest the dumplings without sauce!
Spicy Cucumber - 4/5 - cucumbers were fresh and crispy, not soggy. I hate soggy and mushy cucumbers. The sauce was very salty. But luckily cucumbers balance that, so it was decent. Mildly spicy.
Double Cooked Pork Belly Entrée - 1/5 - Saltiness was unbearable. The pork belly reminded me more of bacon than Korean BBQ style pork belly. Very greasy, too. Not very spicy, cucumbers were spicier. The saving grace was the kimchee style cabbage, which was fresh and crisp, and broke the saltiness and grease. I would not order this dish again.
Their appetizers are spot on, same with the speed. But the entrée left more to be desired. Perhaps a more condensed menu would do them good; perfect a couple good dishes and knock them out.
I would suggest ordering delivery of just a bunch of appetizers! Everything else is super nice except the food is not my taste. Good for Americans , not authentic Chinese spicy flavor tho. This is a nice place to visit. We had a large crowd with us, and the wait staff was patient and helpful. They deserve a big applause. The food options were pretty good, but not exceptional. We found a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. Be careful of the spices, as a 1, 2 or 3 on the menu really does mean it will be a spicy item. The location is perfect for a center city crowd, but unfortunately the layout of the restaurant and the lack of sound proofing system made it nearly impossible to hear our guests. Service was great and fast.
Food was all very tasty - portions were great for sharing.
Recommend the salt and pepper shrimp and lychee martini and passionate kiss drinks!
Place was clean and very modern. Good spot for groups. The food was very good, especially the fried rice and the eggplant. The cocktails we got were all too sweet for me. Amazing, everything thing they have is well done. Some of the portions can be small, but he food is very satisfying. I ordered the delivery from this place. Food is actually average, but authentic - maybe 3.5 stars. And the delivery came out really delayed ... I waited for 1.5 hrs and had to call to check. Owner apologized for the delay and said she will not charge me for this meal - even I said I'm still going to pay for it, she then cancelled the order from her end directly. And the food came about 5 min after my call. So I would still give it 4 stars just becoz of it. I love their food! It's very authentic szchuan food for sure! Great environment too, plus nice music:) Very unique decorating, with excellent food, and a well trained staff. Easy to get to, and not too far from city hall. Prices were reasonable. Wish I lived here. Love this place. Food gets 5 stars. Service gets 5 stars. Very welcoming place w/ gorgeous decor and great tasting spicy food. The Drunken Noodles or Dan Dan noodles, with a little spice, is a amazing! -- Just like Han Dynasty, but just not there yet... But the food is definitely good. This place is my first experience with Szechuan food. I was a bit apprehensive, since it's supposed to be spicy, but I actually have really liked what I've tried, so far. Can't go wrong with their drinks, including the non-alcoholic ones. Loved the pineapple fried rice with chicken, but was totally sold on the Dan Dan noodles, which are just as awesome as other people have made them out to be. Also tried the Drunken Noodles, which are good but not quite as good as the Dan Dans. My wife also tried their Thai green curry, which was also very good (we're big Thai food fans, and it stacked up competitively against other Thai restaurants we've been to). Dinner's a bit on the pricey side but, if you can make it for lunch, they have some pretty affordable lunch specials.
Just writing this review is making me want to go back for more Dan Dan Noodles... The green curry was amazing! The Indian pancakes were good without the curry sauce, which was kind of salty. I loved the drunken noodles. I'll defintely order it again. The staff was very friendly and attentive.
The food presentation was great and it tasted as good as it looked
I would go back for sure Food was good, as were the prices.
I went on a Thursday night and it was pretty dead inside, but otherwise it was not bad. We ordered in. Food was ok. Nothing special. So many places to try in Philly. Maybe will give it another shot. Food was amazing. We ordered to-go and it was ready in time and wrapped up really well to keep the heat in. Everything we ordered was delicious and amazing. The Drunken Noodle with beef is a must try perfect for anyone who has a taste pallet for spicy food. Service was great and everyone was so nice in helping us out. They offer yummy cocktails as well! Great place for a quick lunch break. I found this restaurant on Yelp " Best " Restaurants in Philly. I trust Yelp but this is a mistake. The food was so bad we had to throw it away. We ordered 4 dishes to go for $45.00 plus tip. Sad but true Spice28 is really awful. Eggplant w/ garlic sauce was sweet? Tofu soggy deep fried tasteless. Calamari deep fried dough heavy and tough. Hot sauce chicken inedible - something bad happened to it. Dined here during a short trip to Philadelphia and was not disappointed! My husband and I are lovers of Thai cuisine, and this ranks up there with some of the best we've had. Service was great, the atmosphere was fun, and when asked, our server even gave us a recommendation for where to get brunch the next day in the area. We started with the mango wasabi lobster appetizer, which was divine. I had Thai basil fried rice and my husband had drunken chow fun, both were delicious and perfectly seasoned. We had signature drinks as well. He had some sort of cucumber martini if memory serves, and I had a citrus tea infusion with mango and basil, which was light and refreshing. We had desert too, which was some sort of chocolate truffle thing with ice cream, (the name escapes me at the moment) but it was yummy. And just the perfect size. I also don't want to leave out the part where we got appetizers, dinner, drinks and dessert for two people for under $100. Reasonably priced with great food? I'll take it any day! We would definitely go back if ever in Philly again! I love this place. I live in Dallas and tried this place a few weeks ago. Fabulous meal and service. Was thrilled to find they deliver so ordered the same meal again and was pleased again ! I have had the Thai basil chicken, Tomtom soup, spicy cucumbers and all were superb! Quick delivery service too. I ordered the Singapore St Noodle with medium spice and I loved it. The variety of protein is what a really liked. Staff is very friendly and gracious. Good place, great decor and even better food!
Their fusion dishes are very good. Good place for vegetarians to try. The panang curry with shrimp had zero shrimp in it. The wasabi lobster roll was an unidentifiable fried roll. The spring roll was a tiny fried roll. Very disappointing. My friend and I went here before heading to the art museum Friday night. Though open table said there weren't any reservations available for 6:30, calling worked and we were seated right when we got there. Our sever was very nice and quick, but not hovering. We split pork dumplings in chili oil which were delicious. I got pineapple fried rice, which was good, but not as flavorful as I'd hoped. I really liked the raisins in it though. My friend got mango chicken which was really good. The atmosphere is really cool, too. Definitely coming back here. The food at Spice 28 was tasty and the menu is huge. It left me wanting to come back and try other things. We shared a few of the smaller plates and I had the vegetable Thai basil fried rice for my entree. The sesame noodles and the Thai rice had great flavor.
The other aspects of my dining experience were not as good. Dining on a weekend night, the space was busy but not overly crowded. There were a handful of tables open on and off throughout the time I was there. It took a long time to for someone to come to our table after initially being seated and no real interaction through our meal. The staff walked back and forth throughout our time there but it didn't seem like they checked on any of the tables enough and it was hard to flag someone over for refills on water etc...
The atmosphere was ok, the space is modern. I think this is a decent spot for lunch or an early casual dinner if the service is improved. Have not been here in person, but ordered food via Yelp's order system. Delivery was a bit delayed, but the food was really good. I will definitely order from here again. We ordered take out from here last night.
Like other folks suggest, try the Drunken Noodle! The medium spicy was pretty delicious. The chicken pad thai was good too. The portion sizes are generous and we had some leftovers. I can't say that this was remarkable in any way in either direction (good or bad), but overall a good experience and I wouldn't hesitate to order from Spice 28 again. Philly resturant week calls for no less then the coveted 4 stars on Yelp. Last fall it was a northern Italian steakhouse this spring we moved East. The #3 Asian resturant on Yelp, Spice 28. I must have walked past this place 20 times and always assumed it was some sort of chinatown club or cheap cocktail lounge. The inside was a much smaller but very similar version of Morimoto located but 5 clocks lower. We got there right in time for happy hour. It was a small bar with an extremely friendly female bartender of which clearly wanted our tips as she openly expressed her disdain at our desire to be seated after one beer. There was what looked to be a solid cocktail menu although I immediately flipped to the beer. The specials page was eye opening for what was so desperately trying to be as good as its Steven Starr brethren. I immediately saw Alegash White (in bottle, not on tap) and for $3! My evening beverage was decided. A 5:45pm reservation so of course we were only one of 3 tables. Wait staff seemed a bit disorganized but the got the job done. The resturant week menu was all that was on the table although I was quite interested in what the everyday menu consisted of. 4 courses starting with crispy duck salad. The duck was fantasic with a crispy, pan seared crust and a very sweet chili dressing. I would have went with a ligher leafy green such as a spring mix vs the near iceberg Amiercan mix but needless to say it was refershing. Second course we all went with the Ahi Tuna Dumplings with guac. Yes guac at an Asian restuarnt but the sheer difference in taste was astonishing. For the entree I decided to skip the typical "drunken noodle" or pad thai and go with something i normally wouldnt order. The Dry Pot Style with Lamb. Yes i was sketchy about China's lamb population, of which i didnt even think existed but however the raise them they were fantastic. There was more meat in the dish than i ever thought. After 3-4 quick bites i realized there was quite a bit of kick to this puppy. I was taken a back by a few stray red pepper seeds but quickly washed the pain away with my cold Belgin wheat and continued on. I was skeptical about my taste for leeks and wasn't a fan. All in all the peppers could have been a tad softer and the overall entree a tad more mild but i was satisfied. The food was good, specials were wonderful and service was on par. Next time i think i would just walk the extra 5 blocks and fill Steven Starr's pockets just a little more. We were staying in town and were craving Thai! Imagine my surprise when Yelp told me there was a Thai restaurant within walking distance of our hotel. We decided to order takeout since we had to be back to the hotel for a meeting later that night. The hostess was super nice. For as high scale as the atmosphere was--the food was relatively inexpensive. We ordered pork pot stickers, chicken drunken noodles and chicken Penang Curry. We like spicy food--so the hostess suggested we order it medium hot! 20 minutes later--our food was ready.
The food:
Nothing really stood out about this meal. It was like any other Thai food experience I've had. The pot stickers tasted like the ones I grab at Wegmans. I wasn't a fan of the chicken in the drunken noodle or the Penang. I had the feeling that it had been frozen and reheated. Did not taste fresh. Other than that...the drunken noodles were spot on (I didn't eat the chicken). Although it could have used some vegetables (i.e. broccoli, carrots or a red pepper). The flavors of the Penang curry could have been spicier (again, I refrained from eating the chicken). I was a little confused when I opened the curry container. There were cherry tomatoes plunked in (not cooked). I've eaten at a lot of authentic Thai restaurants and never had tomatoes in my curry. Is this a regional thing?
Would I suggest this place to a friend? Probably not. Find somewhere that uses fresh ingredients instead of frozen. I don't see the hype... The food was decent but not that good. Definitely not 4 stars good. I had the wok fried rice, the Tom yum soup, and the Dan Dan noodle. The Dan Dan noodle was positively disgusting - don't ever order that. I took one bite and threw it away (I ordered delivery so that didn't offend anyone!). The fried rice was quite good, but I'm not a fan of the shrimp in it - not cooked enough and not seasoned at all. The soup was average at best.
I'm giving 2 stars because delivery was fast, and the price was cheap. I've been frequenting this place right from it's time of inception, and since it is no longer a well kept secret , I think it is time for me to profess my love for Spice28.
I know there are other good places in the city that serve great sichuan, but none more convenient for me than this. With a blend of fusion and traditional grub, this place shines for appeasing different palates to go along with stellar service.
I usually stick to the Hot Sauce style or the Dry Cumin style, but i'd also recommend the saigon style beef and the blue crab salad to go with the Dan Dan noodles and the Drunken noodles to slurp up all the sauces. Also they have a full bar to whet thy whistle.
Even though it is a pretty big place, it does get filled up pretty quickly so i'd suggest reserving your spots in advance. Cos when the hunger gods rumble , they can only be pacified by a visit here once in a while. I also tried this restaurant as a result of all the positive reviews on Yelp. My girlfriend and I were very pleased.
We tried the Thai Basil and the Drunken Noodles. Both were on point with the flavors and spices.
Also, we had the Panda Colada and the Dragon Nectar cocktalis, both which were absolutely amazing.
I will defiantly be coming back here soon. Had the pad thai and their pineapple fried rice. Pad thai was definitely good and would definitely order it from there if i get a pad thai craving. Their fried wasn't the best i've had, but its definitely above average. Not expensive, but not cheap either. Will definitely go back to try other dishes. Great environment and took care of our party of ten very efficiently.
Lana our server was absolutely amazing.
Next time I am in Philly this will be the first place I come back for dinner.
If you like spicy get the Drunken Chow Chicken. I have been staying Philadelphia for a bit and have always been dining around 13 street area for a bit and this restaurant was on the top rated list, so I figured I need it to give it a try. I went on a saturday night and it was packed, but the wait was bearable at 10 minutes. The manager told me they just got their liquor license and it was busy so they let me know the service will be a bit slow. He greeted us nicely and had a short conversation with us. Well, after a 5 minute wait the server stopped by and took our orders. We tried the Spicy Crispy Cucumber which was very flavorful and just had the right crunch texture. It was delicious and having lived in Chengdu for a summer, I think I know a bit Szechuan Cuisine. We also had the Seared Tuna Carpaccio and it was just fantastic. The sear tuna wrapped around crabmeat and cilantro leaves really infuse a very unique and tasty flavor. The ponzu and red sauce that came with it really brings out the flavor We ordered the Chilean Seabass and Tangerine Duck for dinner. The Seabass was grill just righ andt topped with a red miso sauce which was very interesting. It was probably the best seabass I had in Philadephia. The Tangerine Duck was also very good. It was grill just to the right temperature and came with a lemon citrus wine sauce which went really well with the duck. The overall experience was excellent. The ambiance is very modern and reminds me that I am in Manhattan. The service was a bit Slow but I was informed and understandable on a busy saturday night. . Let me start by saying the noodles here are amazing. However,the lunch service is SO BAD. They are so slow and today was the last straw. Only go here if you have 2 hours to kill. My friend and I ordered the indian pancake which came out 20 minutes after we ordered it. We had ordered our food at the same time as the appetizer. 55 minutes after we had placed our order, we had to ask for the food to be packed to go because even the soup had not come out. 20 minutes later we got the order and they hadn't packed the soup.
This is about the 7th time this has happened to me. I guess I was a glutton for punishment because i still keep going back. came across this place while in philly for business. everyone in the group was pleased. great food. great drinks. nice staff. this place is a must! Good service. Was here with a group of people with pre-paid food as part of an event. The waitresses kept us updated with how much money we had already spent through the course of the meal so we knew if/when we went over the pre-paid amount. Very nice.
We had two Indian pancakes and potstickers for appetizers. The Indian pancake was ok to me but the others in the group loved it. Potstickers were really good. Price was a bit high though.
A friend and I split the Mapo tofu with minced beef & the chef's special szechuan fish in hot pot, both at level 3/3 spiciness. Both were a bit too spicy for me, but not spicy enough for my friend who is from Sichuan province and used to high spiciness. The mapo tofu flavor was ok, but the fish was really good. Boneless white fish and lots of it. We enjoyed the fish so much that we didn't fish around the pot (ha) and discover a bed of clear noodles hiding underneath until after we had eaten most of the fish.
Good comments on the food from the rest of my group as well. The entrees were reasonably priced. Water was kept full except toward the end of the meal. Otherwise, service was great and the wait for food was not bad. I would probably return if I'm in the area and order with spiciness 2/3 next time. In Philadelphia for a prelight, then s shoot day, I'm here for 24 hours and I'll be damned if I can't get out for dinner. I hit up Yelp, let's see... Thai, Thai... Mmm, Spice 28. looks interesting and within walking distance, so I hoof it over there... when I walk in there's a line... Fa, I'm gonna walk out, "wait" says my stomach, I do, grab a wait person and ask for a table... Done ! I'm in, but not without punishment, I'm seated next to three "college" students waxing rhapsodically about days/nights spent staring at traffic for a week after taking "edibles" and cool it is to be out of their parent's clutches.
Oh good, the menus, waste no time and order before the waiter "gives me a minute", oh no... I'm on a quest and my stomach is the leader. Once he's back, I'm ordering up dumplings in chili oil, sliced pork bellies in chili oil and again Tina dumplings.
Wow, what a line up and every one delicious.
Spice 28 is noisy and has the feel of a club for anyone else, but my age category.
Once it hits 8pm it dies down to a mild roar and my collegiate potty talkers are gone too, Yippee !
Spice 28 is a busy, high energy restaurant and I would go back in a flash. The wait staff is busy and in constant motion. But where has MY waiter gone ?
Yes, he seems to have disappeared. He was doing just fine until two thirds into my meal and poof, into thin air, he's gone.
I'm a consistent tipper and you have to work hard to get less than 20%. This guy was successful and also a note written on my bill to "pay attention to your customers".
I would go back to Spice 28, it's a fun restaurant with a great menu and other waiters willing to take up the slack of those wanting in their attention span Our office came here for lunch on a Thursday with a reservation and were seated quickly. The restaurant was about half full at noon but the service was quite slow. It took about an hour until we got our food and some servers seemed confused about what each dish was.
We shared an order of the Indian pancake, which was 2 pancakes cut into 8 pieces with some curry dipping sauce. The pancakes were quite greasy. The main dishes were okay. I have been craving mapo tofu and the dish satisfied my craving and was also quite large.
Restaurant has a good amount of seating, good lunch deals, and good happy hour. Food is alright but the slow service may not make this the best spot for a lunch during the work day. Went to dinner at Spice with friends last night and we had a wonderful dinner. We started with cocktails and they were delicious- the lychee martini, shoshijito, and Thai ginger coconut bombs. We took our servers suggestion of the ahi tuna dumplings and Indian pancakes as appetizers and also started with pork dumplings and the mango salad. We never tried Indian pancakes before and they were so glad we gave them a shot- we loved them! I ordered the tuna steak with wasabi mashed potatoes- the tuna was perfectly seared and the vegetables were sautéed until they were just tender but still crunchy. We were thrilled with or service and the freshness of the food and we will definitely be back!! I'm normally skeptical of pan-Asian fusion, but this place works. A Japanese salad of tuna and avocado and greens was tasty, and the Szechuan flounder with tofu was appropriately spicy and numbing (ma). Service good, if skeptical that a white really wanted the Szechuan peppercorns; I like that they give you a carafe of water instead of requiring you to beg. EuroLounge atmosphere. Will definitely come back with bigger group if I'm in Philadelphia; not a transcendent experience like Peter Chang's. My husband and I hit this place up for lunch since it is so close to our apartment and we had heard some pretty good things about it. The interior is pretty cool looking and has a great ambiance- I can see it being a good date night spot- but for lunch it was a little overkill with all the "soundtrack music" in the background ( my husband commented that it was the perfect music to tell me he was going to die or something dramatic like that.)
The food was good but not great. We had the dan dan noodles to start and the ahi tuna wontons, I had the blue crab salad and my husband had the drunken noodles with chicken. His chicken was some weird shaved nonsense that had a strange flavor and even weirder texture. My salad was fine, but fairly bland. It was pretty pricey for the the quality and size of the portions we got.
Service was also pretty dicey. They forgot to bring our drinks, never once refilled our water (and we were eating some spicy stuff!) and took awhile to get the food to the table.
Bottom Line: If you are looking for a more upscale Asian dining experience I would check it out- not a great place for lunch but I can see how dinner would be better. Pretty good place with a nice atmosphere. For my app I had ahi tuna dumplings. I didn't realize they were fried as I would've preferred them steamed, but still good and not greasy. The tom yom soup is great. I ordered a side of chillie sauce for an extra spice. For my main meal I had the green curry chicken w jasmine rice. Just the right amount of spice. I tasted my friends pad thai, but thought it was pretty flavorless. They get about 2 stars for the desserts. I would have expected more Asian themed desserts (not tiramisu, cheesecake and chocolate cake). Overall I'll most likely be back. good ambience
good service
Ordered:
fish pepper curry- very tasty but they put some kind of chemical (the same one used in Han Dynasty) that burns your mouth. The burning sensation lasts for about 3 minutes. If only they put less of that it would be perfect.
drunken noodles: no complaints
thai basil fried rice: good but too much basil
tom yom soup- good, spicy
coconut soup- not my taste..very sweet.
spicy cucumber- 10/10!! My favorite restaurant! I am very picky with asian food and I must say, I haven't come across a single dish that I didnt like here. Most of their waters are very pleasant. Also their non alcoholic drinks are amazing! I have never been to a restaurant before where I liked every single one of their dish. Their deserts are super rich and amazing. They also give you a free desert if there is a birthday. Holy eff. Major foodgasms happening at Spice 28. The spicy cucumber appetizer is fantastic. I could eat it all day...
The decor is very minimalist and sleek. The vibe is very good but it's not exactly cozy. I wouldn't want to "camp out" and chat for 2 hours. But for an hour of dinner, it's no big deal.
I did think it was strange that our server didn't ask how spicy we wanted anything to be. I am not sure I have ever not been asked. But everything tasted as it should. Everything except the Thai iced tea... that was... the worst I have ever had. It wasn't even a sibling of "normal" Thai tea. Perhaps it was a distant cousin? Anyway, don't order it.
But DO get the spicy cucumbers!!! Yes yes yes! A solid place to grab a filling Asian/Thai dish at a reasonable price. They did well with the drunken noodles - it was pretty spicy, but in a way that didn't overwhelm the plate. The service is iffy, though. Nice decor. Friendly Staff. Pretty good food. We went as a party of 5 on Tues evening. Staff was very attentive. Food was flavorful and delicious. The spicy lamb chops were great. Szechwan green beans and Ahi dumplings highly recommend. Not as spicy as expected, and the eggplant was a little chewy, otherwise, would rate higher. We came here on a whim because the restaurant we wanted to go to had an hour wait. We ordered the ahi tuna and the dan dan noodles. The noodles were a bit bland. All I can say is, I'm glad they offered the 10 percent discount on Yelp. Great noodle dishes. Pad Thai as well as drunken noodles. Not a huge fan of the calamari. my review is for take-out.
super close to my office, spice 28 has slowly become my reg take out lunch spot! lunch specials are very reasonably price at a generous portion! in addition, they come with soup!
also, we've all heard of the famous dan dan noodles from han dynasty and dan dan. spice 28 also offers it at $6 at lunch! for me, less spicy is better so i was super content with my food from spice.
you can order online or call. just a note to check your food during pickup b/c the waiter told me it's common for them to make mistakes on lunch orders due to the volume.
ps. don't forget to check in for the 10% off! You'll enjoy the food if you haven't eaten anything in 3 months. Took one bite and asked for the check. Food is nice and ambience is nice, service is nice. Will visit again. Good vegetarian options:). I came here for the last week of CCD Sips this summer, and I'm glad I had a chance to try this place out. My friend and I ordered solely from the happy hour menu - which was not really what CCD sips offers ($3, 4, 5 beer, wines, cocktails) and half off appetizers, but it was a happy hour menu nonetheless. I had the angry orchard ginger cider, and my friend had the blue moon. For food, we shared the chicken lettuce wraps, ahi tuna dumplings, spicy cucumbers, and the spring roll. Everything was good, although the ahi tuna dumplings came with a cloyingly sweet/tangy sauce that I didn't really enjoy. The chicken lettuce wraps were good, especially when eaten together with the spicy cucumbers. The spring roll, I was a little annoyed with. It seemed like the little vegetable roll that you can get at any chinese food restaurant, except this one cost $2.00. Not worth the money, at least in my opinion. Nothing tasted bad, but nothing was great either.
The service here is attentive and sweet. They checked in on us frequently, making sure we were comfortable and whatnot. I tried using the check-in 10% off deal, but since we were already taking advantage of the happy hour menu, the server told me that the manager would apply it next time I visited. The only thing that irked me was that the appetizers we ordered didn't come out all at once - the spicy cucumbers came out last which was a little annoying, since it eats more like a side than it's own appetizer.
I don't know if I'd return here on my own, but if a group of friends suggested that we dined here, I would be game. During a recent event at the convention center, we walked a few blocks down to try this place after having it recommended by a fellow convention goer. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it ended up being a very modern, upscale fusion restaurant with pretty good food, but prohibitively high prices.
The staff were all very pleasant and spoke fluent English. This is definitely new-world Asian. The ambiance of the place kind of reminded me of a Vegas bar with the crazy tunnel and lights.
The food is expensive; upwards of $20 for some dishes. The menu reads kind of standard and boring and I nearly got up and left after seeing the prices. I wasn't in the mood for standard Chinese American dishes that I can get at half the prices back home. My buddy and I had already walked the distance in the rain, though, and we were hungry, so we persevered. It was worth it.
My buddy got dry pepper beef and I got Penang curry with chicken. His was mostly just a plate full of peppers and beef, but he enjoyed it. I would recommend to you to order it with a side for a complete meal. Mine was a pretty typical yellow curry, not very spicy at all, but very nicely flavored. It came loaded with veggies like onions, zucchini squash, and mushrooms that were delicious, but also came with some things in it that I think were bamboo shoots that were tough to chew and basically inedible.
Our overall experience was decent. They've got something in the food, but I doubt I'd go back with the prices being what they are and all the other good food around. This was a kinda sad experience. We had an employee watching tv on her phone a table away from us, and some really bad music overhead, which made for some lovely dissonance that was super fun to talk over. Service was meh. Food was sub meh. Zero spice. I had the pineapple fired rice with beef (yawn). Try harder next time. I came here with my boyfriend for Valentines Day and the service was outstanding! The food was AMAZING (I keep thinking about it) and I will certainly be back. That was the best $125 I've spent in a while..... definitely worth a shot people! The lemongrass coconut chicken and shrimp soup was so good! The dry pepper red snapper was OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD, the calamari was great, the ahi tuna dumplings were delishhhh!!! I even loved the crispy duck salad... the whole experience was certainly a place to remember and we will definitely be back. I was really hungry the day that I decided to go to Spice 28 and as soon as I saw Drunken Noodles on the menu I ran over. The overall atmosphere is very modern and the decor definitely stands out. We ordered the Dan Dan Noodles, the Drunken Noodles, and the Saigon Beef. For dessert we had the Coppa Strawberries & Caramel. All of the items were very good and the portions were a great size. The only complaint that I had was that I felt like the staff were a little bit too fast pace and pushy with picking meals but it definitely wouldn't deter me from going back! I had lunch here today. I was greeted kindly by the owner and ordered eggplant miso which was soft and deliciously made. Great presentation also. Then I ordered the avocado crab meat salad which was very unique and special dish. The texture of the avocado with the crab meat made a perfect sensation and melting of flavors. I was given an amazing ahi toni dumpling on a bed of guacamole on the house. The service was excellent and the owner took the time out to chat with me. This is a fairly new place and has amazing decor. However I always place food above everything else when I rate a restaurant and the food was excellent. If you throw in the amazing service, hospitality, and decor it is worthy of a 5 star review. I stopped here for lunch on my way to see a matinee at Prince Theatre. The lunch specials are reasonably priced. I got the drunken noodles with chicken and it came with Tom Yum soup. The drunken noodles were delicious! They were busy with the lunch rush but the service was excellent at the bar where I was sitting. I was in and out of there in about 30 mins and only paid $14 for an entree, soup and a beer. I'll definitely come back next time I'm in the area! I came by for dinner with my family. I love the fact that you can make reservations here on Open Table. One of the benefits of checking in here is that you can get 10% off your bill!
We ordered a few items:
- Edamame: the edamame still needed a few more minutes to cook. Some of them were too hard (al dente)
- Seafood Tofu Soup: You can share this among 4 people. This was good, although I wish it was richer with more seafood flavor.
- XO Beef: This was my favorite dish of the night (probably because I also ordered it). Onions, snap peas, red bell peppers, scallions in an XO sauce. Delicious! I thought this was a decent portion too.
- Tofu Penang Curry - Good flavors - coconut sauce. A bit of a small portion for what you get.
- Thai Basil Fried Rice - I couldn't really taste too much of the thai basil in this dish. I'd get something else next time.
- Chung King Style Fish in Spicy Hot Pot - they light a little fire underneath to keep the dish warm. Flavors are kind of mellow here.
Overall, good service throughout the meal. A nice atmosphere and food is okay. The service at Spice 28 is absolutely out of this world. Not only are the waiters and waitresses here incredibly friendly, but Ben, our server, noticed that the cumin beef was a little too spicy for me, and brought out an additional FULL PLATE of a less spicy version of the dish, which was delicious and just the perfect amount of spice (on the house). The beef was perfectly prepared. My boyfriend really enjoyed his chicken pad thai (he promised me he would save me some but cleaned his plate). I had the duck crepes as an appetizer and they were delicious as well (yummy sauce). So glad I found out about this place!!! Will definitely be frequenting :). Had hot sauce pork, pineapple fried rice with chicken and pad Thai chicken with a group. Pork was spicy but was good. Pad thai and rice excellent. We also got the ahi tuna appetizer and pot stickers. Tuna appetizer was my favorite thing we ate....fantastic!
Very upscale and trendy atmosphere. Service was good too. I visited Spice 28 for my birthday while I was on travel for work. I was not disappointed!!!! I had the Hot Pot, which was extremely spicy and flavorful!!! The ambiance was great, the staff was wonderful, and the libations were well concocted. I definitely want to thank Spice 28 for a wonderful birthday dinner! Best thai food in center city area. No doubt about it. The first time I went, it was so good I went back the next day too.
Tried the tom yum soup and drunken noodles on night #1. Drunken noodles were amazing, got them with shrimp. Unfortunately, didn't realize the soup had pork in it so I didn't eat that.
On night #2, I tried the coconut soup, spicy cucumbers and the pad thai. Ben, the manager, asked me how everything was and I mentioned that the food was excellent but I couldn't eat my Tom Yum the previous night. He was great and comped me a tasty shrimp curry dish! I thought the coconut soup was just ok, spicy cucumbers were great, and the pad thai was very good as well.
Overall, the shrimp drunken noodles and the spicy cucumbers were my favorite but I can't wait to go back and try more things. This place has some Szechuan dishes too.
Great food, great service, doesn't seem too busy inside and does takeout.
Only downside is no delivery, but at this level of quality, I totally understand. I had takeout from here because I had a taste for Thai & they were nearby. I placed my order via Yelp which is super convenient and awesome. My food was actually ready before the time expected and I had a very pleasant exchange when picking up my food. While I didn't actually sit in the dining area, it looked as if it was pretty nice & spacious. The bar looked very inviting.
I would've given this place more than 3 stars had I had the full experience and had not been sick the following morning. I ordered the shrimp pad Thai and a side of Indian pancakes. The pad thai was fine, however the Indian pancakes were way too greasy. When I opened the container all I saw was grease. I used some paper towels to soak up some of the grease and ate only two pieces before I just had to give up on them. I was really looking forward to those pancakes because everywhere else I've ever had them they were great. The curry sauce was fine too, but the pancakes were not. When I woke up the next morning I had to call out of work because my system isn't used to the level of greasiness of those pancakes.
Had I known how they prepared their Indian pancakes I would have sent it back and asked for a less greasy version. I would return for the pad Thai but so disappointed in the Indian pancakes. Very unhappy with service. I thought the price of the food was way too high for the taste of the food. They delivered the food with no mustard no soy sauce Forks or napkins. Very very unhappy with this place do not recommend at all Having passed by Spice on several occasions, I finally decided to give them a try when we ran into crowd problems around the corner. A quick hop onto Open Table locked me a reservation and the chance to test their Asian Fusion. We were promptly seated, provided recommendations, and left to decide on our order. It was a nice bonus to find the Yelp check-in offer while looking for recommendations on Yelp!
We shared a few apps, Ahi Tuna Dumplings and another which name I've already forgotten. The Dumplings were great and while the other wasn't bad, I guess not remember its name should be a sign. For my main, I ended up keeping it simple with some Beef Pad Thai. Yes, it is a standard fair, but it hit the spot. My friends both ended up with Panang Curry and enjoyed it. Portions were fair, but on the smaller side.
Beyond the food, service is solid and the staff was more than willing to join the joking around of our small group. The atmosphere is nice and could work for an evening out or a date. Oh yeah, the Thai Ginger Coconut bomb is a pretty sweet drink, but I wished it had a bit more of a coconut kick... Food is just nice. We were here for dinner and the staff at spice 28 was nice. They arranged a family style dinner for us and we order 5 main courses and 2 Appetizers as we were 5 of us. We order a mango style curry,Panang curry,black bean style shrimp which were served with a bowl of jasmine rice along with chicken drunken noodles and pad thai. Pad Thai was really good. Drunken noodles did not match my expectation and I would say I really enjoyed the drunken noodles at erawan. This is a great little place in Center City, Philadelphia. the restaurant has a environment. You would think that being a fusion place, they try to do too much and lose the character of the dishes. But, they actually do quite well. The Szechuan stuff is awesome. The twice cooked pork is great, and the dry clay pot dishes are awesome. Watch out for the spice. It will leave your lips feeling numb. The vegetable sides are always good - especially the seasonal veggies.
The Thai food is quite good as well. Panang Curry was excellent. Yeah, this place has dishes that are as good as the dishes you would find in specialist Asian restaurants. And the choice is great.
The bar area is cool. It is packed on weekends. i placed an order for pick up on a saturday night , it was rock shrimp and a pad thai , the shrimp was devcent , smaller than what i ve seen in the picture and pad thai was good. ,the manager was super friendly , while waiting for my order , he gave me a nice cup of water with ice and lemon and i also asked for a side of plan white rice , he charged 1.60 for a good amount of a delicious rice.
nice design inside , beautiful bar
i loved it This restaurant was east to find for our Uber driver
I was a little concerned when we arrived at 815 on a Sunday night as there was just one or two other tables seated
My fears were quickly erased as the food started to poit out
First the soups. Stunning how good each of them were and how large the portions. We tried 3 different soups and each person proclaimed t was the best they had ever had
The main dishes were also very large and delicious. We shared all of the mains amongst the table of 7 and all were very good
I would highly recommend this restaurant! Got takeout of three dishes. All very bland in flavor and mushy. In the year and a half that Spice 28 has been open, the prices have skyrocketed and the quality has fizzled out. I've been there about six times by now, and each time I'm a little more disappointed. What started out as a 5-star place has sadly been reduced to 2.
Beef saigon use to be a giant plate of sizzling juicy and tender beef, on top of bok choy and onions. Tonight, the portion looked like it was for lunch, the beef was chewy and fatty, and there was no bok choy at all. I asked our waiter about it- he said they must have been out of bok choy! Then he brought me a plate with a few stalks.
Drunken noodle with chicken was still good. Smaller portion, but still good.
Panang curry with shrimp had to be sent back. I bit into a piece of shrimp and a hard, gray piece of god knows what (it was about 1/2 inch big) was in my mouth. My stomach is turning just thinking about it. I spit it out immediately. Zack inspected his shrimp, which were not deveined.
They brought us a panang curry with tofu to replace it, then charged us twice (one was later taken off the bill when I pointed it out).
Happy hour is fine and dandy, but ONLY TAKES PLACE if you sit at the bar. Drink prices are too high. $5 for a lager? $5 for a Corona? $10 cocktails? $6 Tsing Tao? You may THINK you are a part of 13th Street, Spice 28. But you are not. Da heck kind of restaurant is this supposed to be?? Sichuan? Thai? Cantonese? Malay? Asian American fusion? Spice 28 tries to dip into all of these styles, and as a result - they excel in none of them.
I went here twice (once for dinner and once for lunch), hoping the first underwhelming experience was just a fluke. We sampled the dan dan noodle, hot sauce chicken, drunken noodle, cumin lamb, and dry pepper chicken. The flavors are all very one-dimensional (either salty, spicy, or both!), and the meats are clearly low quality. The soups during lunch (wonton or lemongrass) are not even worth troubling your digestive tract to deal with. Overall pretty mediocre, but when you're paying these prices, you expect more. Chinatown is just a few blocks away, you guys.
But I WOULD recommend Spice 28 IF:
- You're of that cultish school of thought that Sichuan food (even if mediocre) is the hallmark of all Chinese food.
- You like Asian cuisine, but you're not sure which kind.
- You're turned off by Chinatown's dirtiness and lack of customer service
- You find Ctown's low prices rather...suspicious...
- You're hungry and you just don't care.
- You think the waitress is cute and hope to impress her. [Good luck with that one bro!] This is a great find! My friend and I went and ordered two dishes: Dry Pepper Style with Chicken and Silky Tofu In Chili Miso Style with Fish Filet. Both were delicious. The prices were a little high for the portion sizes (hence 4 stars instead of 5), but the food and service were great. Food was delicious . I seldom post a review unless service was terrible. The salmon in Penang curry was okay. Salmon was a bit on the under seasoned side but I had the drunken noodles which were Amazing ! My boyfriend tasted mines and pushed his salmon to the side to dig into my noodles . Waitress was attentive. Seating was tight for tables for two but still doable. I read the reviews via YELP and I was drawn to Spice 28! Everything was great minus the parking but that's Philly for you. The drinks were also my favs! The service was very sweet and happy. Lunch portions were just the right side. THE SHRIMP PAD THAI WAS AMAZING! They took care of our party of 15 with two serves so everything went smoother. We had reservations via open table and they were very accommodating because we were running late. I'll be back! Our waiter, John, was very attentive and helpful. We were seated inside the arch between the bar area in the front of the restaurant and the larger seating area in the back. The acoustics made the sound amplify in the restaurant which made it very loud, but thankfully they didn't have loud music on top of it. The lighting and decor were very hip and trendy which was nice and if not for the noise it would have made for a very soothing and relaxing place to dine. For the appetizer I had the coconut lemongrass soup with shrimp and it was amazing. I loved that the vegetables in the soup still had some crunch to them and the shrimp perfectly complemented the broth. There were also some very delicious slices of mushrooms in the soup that were delicious and added a nice savory taste to the broth. My husband had the Thai spring rolls as his appetizer and they were very good as well. For our entrees he had the chicken mango style which tastes just like a very good sweet and sour chicken to me, and we both liked that it included stir fried vegetables. I had the satay chicken with stir fried vegetables and it was also delicious. He had an Asian style Mojito and I had a ginger cosmopolitan as our cocktails and these were very good and average price for the quality and setting. Had we been there before 7pm it would have been much lower happy hour pricing for drinks and starters on their happy hour menu. Dessert for my husband was cappuccino truffle which was coffee gelato rolled in chocolate shavings with espresso center. There was a beautiful Asian style flowering tree painted on the dish in edible fruit and chocolate sauces. My dessert was the exotic bomba and it had mango and one other gelato with a raspberry center wrapped it white chocolate ganash drizzled with dark chocolate and dotted with raspberry sauce and whipped cream. It was also on a dish with beautiful edible art work on it. I wished I had thought to photograph the desserts as the presentation was breathtakingly beautiful. As delicious as my dessert was...and it was really REALLY amazing...I had been craving some coconut sticky rice with fresh mango slices as I had in the past at Thai restaurants. That stuff is simple but ohhhh sooooo good. So the noise and lack of sticky coconut rice with mango were my only complaints and minor ones at that. The meal totaled $72.42 after the 10% off e-coupon we received for checking in on yelp (a nice touch). Our waiter, John, was so very kind to cancel our original charge and add the e-coupon for us. In all, it was a very nice experience that was definitely above average in taste and ambiance. The food is likely not completely traditional however I didn't exactly expect traditional at an Asian fusion restaurant. This was a great lunch spot because they have a quasi sidewalk seating because of the windows that open up. It was a nice balance of the outdoors and the clean ambience of the restaurant. The food was flavorful and fresh. For soup and an entree for $8, it was well worth the money. There seems to be no bad table in this place because of the ambience and lighting! A friend recently moved here and got me hooked on this quickly becoming a go-to delivery spot! For delivery, it is a bit more pricey than similar cuisines, but the taste is spot on.
We split the dry pepper style chicken, cumin style lamb and drunken noodles. The drunken noodles- you can't go wrong. The cumin style lamb- I am usually hesitant about lamb but there was no gamey taste-all tender and quite tasty actually. However, this dish was a bit pricey but I guess what is expected if you go for lamb.
Okay so the dry pepper style chicken-WHOA. This was the first time I've tried chicken cooked this way and was definitely a good first (second and third) experience. You can fully taste all the difference spices used but be careful because it will surly leave a hint on heat at the end! My only wish was that there were less peppers in the dish to leave room for more chicken! Make sure to pair it with the peanut sauce or spicy mayo! Spice 28 breaks out from the usual mode of chinese restaurant, gets the young & trendy vibe going on w/ the contemporary interior & lounge music - good for party, not for 1st date though. food is quite good. these were what we had:
mini wonton - wonton are good but the sauce makes it great - yum-yum-yum
duck crepe - mild but great flavor; duck is tender & nicely done - yum-yum
tom yum soup - miso base?? taste good but not impressive
Szechuan peppercorn chicken - hot, spicy, crunchy & w/ great flavor - better than what i had in Shanghai -yum-yum-yum
drunken chicken noodle - absolutely yummy ; the use of basil is refreshing- yum-yum-yum
eggplant - garlic- & tasty- too big a portion as side dishes though-yum-yum
The manager Ben was gracious & friendly. Waitress we got was however inexperienced, but I have to admit that I am comparing it to upper scale restaurant services. I will definitely go back for more. My first visit to Spice 28 was epic. Staff was overly attentive, but not in that overbearing way that some restaurants tend to be. Food was simply amazing, the chicken pad Thai was phenomenal and very reasonably priced considering the other establishments on 13th street. Will be back again and look forward to them getting their liquor license. El Vez was full so me and buddy were walking around looking for another Happy Hour spot. I saw the chili pepper in the logo, and thought "Hey, another Mexican spot." LOL. Not until being seated did I realize, "Ok, Asian fusion, also very cool." We sat in the front by the window, and the heat was on blast hardcore, so we were sweaty in seconds, but they turned it down before we could ask, which is always nice to see the consideration. I ordered the calamari (meh..) and a few ginger martinis, which were tasty and pretty strong.
Would I come back? Probably, but not for the calamari.. Mind Blown !!! Had the Beef/Tripe Cold Appetizer, Thai Basil Fried Rice and also the Beef Dry Pot...We wanted a mix of Szechuan and Thai Dishes just to make sure we didn't take a risk at a new place...All the dishes were amazing to a point that I think they maybe even better than Han Dynasty (the King of Szechuan food in Philly)...Great Atmosphere and Service too... I will be back...real soon Spice 28 !!!! Oh yeah and a 10% check discount on yelp check-in doesn't hurt either :) Take out- late night grub hub style and it arrived right on time and hot. I ordered the duck buns, rock shrimp and dumplings in chili oil. Everything was great I would recommend ordering from here. Way better than your run of the mill take out especially when it's later. I'll order again. Great Thai food if in the Philly area, food delicious gd service free drink refill cute atmosphere Go here immediately. Order anything. Thank me later.
We got takeout here for the second time last night, ordered entirely different items to get a sense of their range, and everything we got was incredible. This time when I got to the place to pick it up there were no hiccups with our order and it was ready promptly. I met the owner, Ben, who was very personable and genuine. I'm rooting for these folks, they've got a good thing going here! Also, they will have their liquor license this weekend and will be serving at their bar by Monday. The bar is really cool, backlit marble.
When the order was ready I asked for a separate bag for the blue crab avocado salad, so as not to have it get hot in there with everything else. So glad I did! That thing was a masterpiece. A half of a perfect, ripe avocado filled with heaps of perfect crab salad with a spicy kick, and fresh greens with a lovely vinaigrette. E demolished it.
I went for the thai basil style chicken, no onion no garlic, spicy. I ate almost the whole thing (good thing this was after the gym!). The sauce was so flavourful and it was packed with tender, moist chicken and string beans and peppers. I want it again right now even though it's 8am. E got the shrimp pad thai, mild, and it was pad thai perfection. The noodles were firm and springy with a light tamarind and peanut sauce and all the right fixins. He wasn't crazy about the pickled radish bits but I liked them.
The shrimp alone are worth a shout-out: huge, well-cleaned, perfectly cooked, and 7 to an order of pad thai. The tails were left on but pulled off with ease. I stole one, and a bite of the noodles. Then some more of the noodles later with bites of my chicken. I kept going back to the kitchen after I cleared the food to snack on cold leftovers. We will not ever order from Circles again- when I want some good Asian food it's going to be Spice 28 all the way. Spice 28 is a restaurant that doesn't quite live up to its name but it still offers a pleasant happy hour. The physical layout almost reminds me of a cave with modern lighting. I do like the cooly lit bar area. The food could use a bit more of its namesake 'Spice' in my opinion. The spicy cucumbers needed much help to live up to that name. The Indian pancake and curry sauce was delicious however. I also liked the small Peking Duck rolls. The spicy chicken lettuce wrap again needed extra help to give it a little kick. Interestingly enough, even the chili sauce I asked for wasn't spicy to me at all. At least they had some Sriracha sauce. Service was friendly and attentive and my Angry Orchard hard cider was thirst-quenching. These are the main reasons I am bumping my rating up to four stars. We decided to eat here after missing Sampan's happy hour. We had a good experience, other than my shrieking baby. The service was quick with a polite and helpful staff. The food was actually very good. We had the Saigon beef, chicken green curry and drunken noodles, all great (especially the beef). The pricing was reasonable and the ambiance was nice while still being family friendly (I have a 1 year old). Parking is your expected city street parking. I will say that the tom yum soup was different from what was described on the menu - it's a fusion recipe rather than your traditional tom yum and it's spicy. I wouldn't say I'd highly recommend this place, because it didn't blow me away necessarily, but the food was good and it's not an option that will leave you disappointed. Review is only for SIPS happy hour. I came here with a few friends, great environment. AWESOME cocktail menu with a variety of base liquors. Try the dragon nectar drink!! By far my favorite cocktail!
Sometimes hard to nail down the waiters for their attentions during dinner hours, but I didn't mind much since I was catching up with friends. The food and service was absolutely amazing! We are vegan and the dishes we got were divine and to do for! You have to test this place out and try the Indian pancakes! The restaurant has a nice feel to it and the service was good. The food, however, is pretty middle-of-the-road generic. The spicy cucumbers were very nice, but the drunken noodle dish was unremarkable and the tofu appetizer had a discordant combination of ingredients that just did not work. The salt and pepper shrimp was just awful. If you are looking for American-Asian this is your place. It was really good! Cool ambience with a dynamic bar counter. Not much privacy with all the small tables huddled together. The food was very good! The duck dumplings (steamed) were quite delicious, as well as the spicy tangy Thai calamari. Entrees - Singapore Noodles spice and amazing. Black Bean Tofu was so good. We parked in the parking garage under Macy's which was diagonally across the street from Spice 28. I have been here twice recently and am upset that it took me this long to discover this Philadelphia gem! Their lunch specials are on point. I have tried the chicken basil, the Japanese shrimp, the double baked fish and the tofu green curry. I think my favorite of the four was the tofu green curry. I find that restaurants often have a difficult time doing tofu right. It is either too firm or too soft but Spice 28 nailed it. Not to mention the CUTE wait staff. I don't know where the male server was from but he for sure looked like he could be a model. I also highly recommend the Tokyo Tea. It was the perfect amount of sweet. Hmm, the fact that there was only one other group here on a Saturday afternoon should have said something about the place but still wanted to get thai nonetheless. Went safe and tried the chicken pineapple fried rice which was honestly lacking in flavor and required a couple squirts of soy sauce and chili oil to heat up. The potstickers were nice and crispy as an appetizer though but don't plan on coming back anytime soon. I went for happy hour during Sips and I liked it. I loved their happy hour menu. There were a lot to choose from--drinks and foods. I would go back for happy hour. Quality is amazing. Fresh food, fast service, and friendly staff Ji and Jonas go above and beyond. Spice offers a twist of traditional Asian cusine to the center city area. Ordered takeout from Spice 28 for lunch yesterday.
I ordered
-Spicy Cucumbers
-Pad Thai Noodle + Shrimp ($1.00 Extra)
+Wonton Soup
-Mini Wontons in Chili Oil
Have to say that each were very good individual items -- especially the Mini Wontons and Spicy Cucumbers. The Pad Thai was above average.
If I was able to, I'd give this place 4.5 stars, mainly because the food is fairly priced, especially given the location. All the food was cold. Only things that were actually really good were the drinks, which were the Passionate Kiss and the Shisojito. We got the grilled calamari as an appetizer... very disappointing (2/5). For dinner we got the mango style shrimp (2/5) and the chicken drunken noodles (3/5). The waitress was very friendly, but I would not come back. Got take out for lunch. Super fast and friendly service. The drunken noodles with beef was great. Tender pieces of beef and the side of hot sauce made it even better. The 3 pepper chicken was okay but not something to order again. For the price plus a side of soup was a good deal for lunch. The happy hour specials would be something to come back too. Came for a late lunch so service was fast and good. Server recommended the dried chilli (chicken) dish and it did not disappoint. Had that authentic Szechuan numbing powder which is both memorable and tasty. Ordered the drunk noodle with beef which was a balanced counterpoint to the wild flavor profile of the chilli chicken. Oh, started with the fried dumplings which were done to perfection. Aw shucks...I've been suckered by Asian Fusion, an appellation usually reserved for sweet and sour chicken wrapped in nori sold at Azn Fuzon places at the local mall.
Spice 28 has done something awfully, deliciously different. They've managed to wrap ahi tuna in a veritable wonton with origami delicateness, fry the purse, serve it over guacamole and orange sauce...and make it high class. When chef's understand that you need cream to cut acidity and sweetness to mitigate umami, it doesn't matter what they put on a plate, you're going to eat it...and you're going to like it.
The spicy cucumbers are sliced in thick half-moon shapes and soaked in chili oil with just a hint of sesame. They're fresh enough to be crunchy, and sautéed just enough to let the water commingle with the absorbed oils.
Flavor abounds at Spice 28. Anything you get will be delicious. And for gosh sakes, the interior looks more like an upscale sushi restaurant (ahem...read feng shui lines and wooden arches with softly colored lights) than a whole-in-the-wall stuff your face with greasy noodles joint.
Seekers of authenticity, veracity-meets-America, and abominations of Asian cuisine will all be equally delighted. Oh hell no Spice 28! Do you really think I can't tell the difference between white and brown rice!? It's 3 PM on a Thursday in Center City, the lunch rush is long gone and from what I can tell from the absence of your clean up, you were not that busy. In fact, IN FACT, while I was waiting a half an hour for my very simple, very easy Kung Pao Shrimp lunch complete with rice OF MY CHOICE and soup, I overheard your server not only apologize to the other gentleman who had been waiting 8 years for his food, but give him a voucher for the inconvenience. Enter my frustration and anxiety. There were 2 souls in the whole establishment and your phone was NOT ring a linging off the hook with people calling in orders who didn't want to go out in the rain. But I ventured. I was standing there. I was looking at you for a half an hour while you promised it wouldn't be too much longer. I don't get the disconnect. There's no excuse actually.
After I checked every Facebook update, Pintrest post, afternoon news around the world and still had time to write my doctoral dissertation, you finally FINALLY brought my food out. "Kung Pao Shrimp with brown rice? So sorry."
Really? Were you really "so sorry"?
"I gave you 2 spring rolls since you waited so long."
"Do they have meat in them?"
"Yes chicken."
"Oh no thank you I don't eat meat."
"Oh it's ok."
"Um...no, it's not ok I don't eat chicken."
"Well you can give to someone else."
My nerves and my palatte were still open to the possibility that Spice could be good, that is, until I opened my container to find a bucket of white rice with a dollup of brown in the middle!!! Nnnnnnnnnnno. It's not going down like that Spice.
My advice: Call ahead, plan to eat in the next lifetime and check before you leave not only that all of your order is there but that it is meat free if you're into that and truly the rice specifications you indicated.
Boo. They have happy hour on Sundays which is awesome. Their happy hour specials are fantastic- food and drinks. Dumplings in chili oil are delicious and dan dan noodles are huge and yummy. Thai basil fried rice was great. Tuna dumplings are so good- served with chili oil and avocado. My bf and I went here for dinner last night and the food was amazing. We ordered the coconut curry lemongrass soup with chicken and shrimp, the ahi tuna dumplings on top of guacamole, shrimp pad thai, and the szechuan dry pot chicken in the mini wok. They also threw in the spicy cucumbers and the pumpkin dessert on the house! The service was great and Ben, the owner, came around and introduced himself to us and was very friendly and welcoming. The decor is also very clean, simple, and inviting. No complaints! We will definitely be going back to Spice 28! Ended up here on a Friday night b/c the place we wanted to go to had a wait time of like...2 hours..
anyway, spice 28 had a few tables open so we were seated right away.
We ordered the pineapple fried rice with shrimp...and honestly it just lacked flavor. I was pretty disappointed. Also the pineapple chunks were so tiny and not really juicy. Our dish had way more nuts in the fried rice than anything else which was a bit odd.
We also ordered the chicken teriyaki and the chicken was quite tough...
I suppose we could try it again since the menu is pretty diverse. But definitely not gonna go for those two again. Worst customer service. We walk into the restaurant to order food for pick up and get a drink and are not attended to for 10 minutes and then are later rudely told to order online and leave as the host is on the phone with another customer. This place is definitely a favorite! I have had all of the specialty fried rice dishes, all of the curry tofus, the drunken noodle is so clutch! The cocktails are delicious. You just cannot go wrong with anything on the menu really.
Get the drunken noodle! You must must!
It's usually very easy to get seated there so you don't need to make reservations. I'm actually surprised at how it's not deadly packed in there. The inside is beautiful too. Authentic Szechuan food in a casual setting. Staff was friendly and service was good. Silky Tofu was delicious! Salt and pepper shrimp was too. Beef chow fun with extra spice was great. Alcoholic beverages was excellent as well. Nothing special about the potstickers. The beef hot pot was delicious too! It's delicious. I am new to Philly and I have eaten here twice in 3 weeks. The Udon yellow curry is really delicious and the pork pot stickers were also really good. We are here as a large group in Philly, and Spice 28 took our reservation one hour in advance! The food is great. The service is great. The ambiance is great. (The signature cocktails are also great!)
If I'm in Philly in the future, I'll definitely come back here!! Typical, frozen spring rolls but excellent drunken noodles Came here on a holiday weekend and this place was busy but not crazy packed; the way I like it.
Got to try the following:
- Dan dan noodle - very tasty and a nicely sized portion. Wish there was a little more pork!
- Dumplings in chili oil - a staple, very good
- Dry pepper chicken - the BEST! the portion is large as well. Sharing is caring!
We also ordered the shisojito and the thai ginger coconut bomb. They were both tasty but I'm not sure if there was that much alcohol in them. Nonetheless, come for the dry pepper dishes!! This restaurant is clean, has a nice atmosphere, cool interior design and really good spicy food. For an asian, it's actually quite authentic to the taste, but also has some fusion flavor to it. One of my favorite asian restaurants in center city. The prices are slightly higher because of the nice ambiance, unlike most hole in the wall chinese restaurants. So I just ordered from here trying to expand my philly Thai food horizons. The expansion will only go so far as the Thai options in this town are slim pickings.
Someone actually recently told me this was their favorite Thai place in the city and I can see why. I was thrown by the lack of tofu as a protein option for Penang curry but "tofu Penang curry in clay pot" is an option in another section. Strange. I'm not sure the utility of the clay pot but don't worry I will look into it further later.
Delivery minimum is $15 and fee is $1. My Penang was $15 which was perfect, not the $14.99 I used to see in NY. Sneaky bastards. I would like to comment that $15 is significantly pricier than what you could get elsewhere, I've seen anywhere between $9-$11.
Anywho, my order was confirmed and ETA was provided. Food came before the projected time and about 30 minutes after I placed my order, impressive considering it was 7:15, prime dinner dining hour. I actually hadn't even finished my teeth whitening sesh and therefore had to venture to the lobby with my whitening strips on. Luckily delivery man was amazing and actually came into the lobby instead of calling and expecting me to come out to the street. In THIS WEATHER? Forget it.
Food was packaged thoughtfully. Curry comes in this HUGE jug (just take a look of the photo, seriously, just look at the size and shape of that bad boy) but they actually wrapped that shit inside a tightly wrapped plastic bag to prevent spillage. I'm easy to impress clearly.
Let's finally talk about the shit that actually matters. Curry was great. I do have to say this with a grain of salt bc my sparse Thai food consumption recently has lowered my standards. Having said that, the curry was particularly enjoyable. Tofu strips were huge. The assortment of veggies had great variety. I've never had cherry fucking tomatoes in a Penang curry before, it also included cabbage, some green leaves, eggplant, peppers, zucchini, and this strange tube-like vegetable hollow in the center and tapered at the end.
I selected medium spice level bc I find Asians can be sneaky with their spice. I also prefer adjusting the spiciness live in real time with hot sauce. You can always add but can't take away. Medium spice level is basically zero spice level. I'd turn it up next time to spicy.
I'd definitely order this shit again. Strawberry iced tea is different and refreshing. I bet it would be great with rum or vodka.
The Tom yum soup was very spicy authentic and delicious.
Dumpings in chili oil are drowning just slightly too much. They are perfectly soft and spice balanced perfectly. Just remember to slide dumplings along bottom to get yummy spices.
The pineapple fried rice is fresh and wonderful change to boring fried rice from takeout shops.
The pineapples are large chunks and a perfect balance with green raisins and the huge soft shrimps. Delicious!
Now if I can just get the young blonde Asian at end to stop blaring her iPhone videos above even the music playing in here.... :( Good Ambience and food combined with courteous service. Not very good. I was in the mood for spicy Thai basil fried rice and I found this place in the area with the dish on the menu. I walked in and the place was empty at 11:30am in Thursday except one patron sitting at the bar. Two employees were at the bar doing various chores and they looked at me but said nothing. Finally I said "umm hi, can I order?" And one of them asked "oh you want to order?" Well ok.
I ordered Spicy Basil Fried Rice with chicken. I added veggies for $2 upcharge. I said "I want spicy" she said "medium spicy?" I said "extra very spicy".
The lunch special fried rice comes with a choice of soup. I chose wonton.
10 minutes later someone from the back area came out and placed a bag on the counter behind the bar. After a few minutes he came out again and said something to the two employees at the bar who then handed me the bag of apparently my food.
The rice was disappointing. It was very bland with hardly any flavor. I could have dressed it up with soy but none was included in my to-go order. There were a small amount of veggies which didn't seem worth the $2 upcharge. The chicken was good quality and there was a good amount. The spice level was in my opinion a 2 of 10 despite me asking for "extra very spicy".
I finished the meal but I would not bother ordering from here again. Very weak. Ordered delivery, which was pretty difficult and time consuming to do, though it arrived pretty quickly.
Stir fry was not good. Not much flavor. Drunken noodles was better.
But the really bad part was that the stir fry had shrimp with the tails still on them. Why on earth would any restaurant leave the tails on shrimp that are going to be in a soupy, saucy stirfry?
It's extremely unpleasant to fish through that and remove all of the tails manually. Especially when you remember that to clean the shrimp and leave the tail on is actually quite an extraordinary effort. It's almost impossible. It takes quite a bit of attention and effort to clean the shrimp and leave the tails on.
This is roughly the equivalent of ordering a chicken stirfry where the chicken still has feathers attached. Or a beef entrée that still has fur attached to the meat. This place has really taken a dive from the first time I visited. I'm not sure if there is new management in place, or new chefs, or what....but this place was cheap, takeout quality asian food at best. Given there were barely any people here on a Friday night, I doubt I'm the only one who's had a less than ideal experience. Our server was friendly but absolutely clueless. 90% of our meal was served like warm, and our $18 beef entree was flavorless. This was just flat out a bad meal that didn't strike me as an "off night" but more of a restaurant that was once good and is now just subpar. With all the great places to eat in philly, I'm convinced I will never spend another dollar here. I could go on and on but honestly, this restaurant simply wasted enough of my time for one night. DELICIOUS and SUPER FAST delivery! I had the spring rolls and yellow curry and it was fantastic! Perfect spice combo and truly enjoyable. The food was very good. We ordered a bunch of different Thai dishes. Everything tasted really good. Service was great too. Will definitely be back again. We came here based on the reviews. I'm not sure it was an off night or what, this place sucked.
We were seated right way, there was just one other couple there... but for some reason no one said anything to us after we were seated. No one asked if we wanted something to drink, no one asked if we had questions about the menu... it felt odd to not be "welcomed" in the traditional way... especially since they weren't busy or understaffed. There was 4 people working there and after we decided what we wanted 1 of the 4 people working asked us if we were ready to order (the other 3 were sitting and talking and eating). We ordered 3 of the small plates - lettuce wraps, chicken wontons, and chicken dumplings.
The lettuce wraps came right away, decent - but the chicken didn't seem fresh, it tasted reheated. The chicken wontons and chicken dumplings were in so much oil it was insane. I wish I took a photo... my bad.
We ate the small plates pretty quick, and one of the waitresses came by and asked if everything was fine and that she would come by and refill our waters (both glasses were empty). Initially we thought about ordering some small dishes and then sharing a larger plate, but by this point we were done with the place. Our waitress never came back so when one of the other waitresses walked by we just asked for the check so we could leave - I let them know that I checked in on yelp (you get 10% off) and they took another 10 minutes trying to figure out how to process the discount on the bill. Still no water refill.
Even on our way out - no one acknowledged we were leaving. They just kept talking and eating their dinner.
In my opinion it was too expensive for the food and service. $20 for 3 small appetizer size plates... and no water refill lol. I stopped here with a couple people for lunch after the auto show. The ambiance is nice, as well as the staff. I ordered the tropical mango chicken, which was good, but by far not the best I've had. I also tried the hot pepper chicken which was really good. I'd say if you're in the area, stop in, but with Chinatown not too far away you might do better there for asian cuisine. I'm going to try this place again because I have friends who love this place, which might account for my being underwhelmed. Great ambiance, great service, great food, great drinks, what's not to love!
Highly recommend the Indian Pancake and the Tom Yum soup, both were fantastic.
As with all restaurants in this area on a Saturday night, get there early or make a reservation.
I really like it when the service staff is available, but doesn't hover. There's a very delicate balance that a lot of establishments just can't figure out. This one has nailed it. Great experience. Absolutely amazing. I'm not even sure where to start.
My friends and I are in town for a conference. We were looking for some place new that was close by and found Spice 28 on Yelp. It was close and got great reviews, so we gave it a shot. As soon as we walked in the door - we knew this was going to be a treat.
The decor is very modern - the aesthetics of the room have obviously been meticulously attended to. Every table was already set - with the settings at each table perfectly aligned.
The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. When I asked for recommendations, we were given many recommendations. They were great recommendations - though I suspect we could have ordered anything on the menu and it would have been incredible.
The appetizers were delicious - the ahi tuna dumplings were a real treat and the calamari was done to perfection with a delightful sweet and spicy sauce. But the real treat was the spicy cucumber. I highly recommend it. The sauce was incredible - complex and full of flavor. The manager (possibly the owner?) explained that it had several things including a Szechuan chile oil, sesame oil, some garlic, and many other flavors. It was complex, slightly spicy, and provided a wonderful contrast to the cool, crisp cucumbers. Really was delightful.
I ordered the Dry Pepper Style with chicken. The menu indicated that this was very spicy - and they weren't kidding. Now, I love spicy food and knew what I was getting into. The spice was done in such a way that it was a part of the flavor of the dish and not just hot for the sake of being hot. It should be noted that they offer in the menu to customize the level of heat to where you would like it. I loved this dish and wouldn't even think of changing it.
Everything that everyone in our small group had was wonderful (of course we all had to have a taste of the others). When offered dessert, we decided to go for it. The dessert was a crispy fried pumpkin pastry. To me, it tasted like it was a fresh (obviously made from scratch) pumpkin biscuit that had been quick fried and tossed in sugar. It was light, flavorful, and not overly sweet.
I can't say enough wonderful things about Spice 28 or their staff. They made our dinner a remarkable experience. We will be going back for lunch tomorrow before we have to fly out, and will be returning the next time I come to Philadelphia.
Go to Spice 28. You will love it. You will go back for more. 1. Modern
2. Fusion
3. Unauthentic
Consumed: (In order of preference).
Double Cook Style Pork Belly
Dan Dan Noodles
Misang Noodles
Saigon Beef
Thai Crispy Calamari
Thai Basil Chicken
I really liked their Double Cook Style Pork Belly. It was nicely seasoned with a black bean sauce and chili oil. The Dan Dan Noodles were also very nicely flavored. In general though, we didn't think anything was spicy. We asked for more chili sauce and it tasted less spicy than Sriracha sauce. The Saigon Beef was also bit on the oily and salty side.
The ambience is really nice though. I appreciated the modern feel. Had my friend's graduation party there with her family. I like it, but really nothing special. 唯一的印象是 干煸四季豆很好吃！ 哈哈哈哈 If you want a place where you can hear the conversation with your dinner companion, this is not the place for you. Hip and trendy, Spice 28 is a "cool" place to go if you don't mind the loud atmosphere.
The place is small, so making a reservation is a good idea but not a necessity if you don't mind a wait. There is minimal outdoor seating and some seating at the bar.
The menu is appealing although not terribly expansive.
I chose the yellow curry. It had a two flame warning, but I found it very pleasant. The sweetness of the yellow curry offset the spice perfectly. The portion was more than enough for one person.
My dinner companion ordered pineapple fried rice with shrimp. She received a mountain of a portion! We are new to the Philly area and were searching for a Thai place. This place had good reviews and the pictures looked appetizing so we decided to give it a try. We ordered a Beef Pad Thai and Chicken Drunken Noodle and were sorely disappointed. Both of them were so flavorless and so bland.. I had to mixed it with lots of hot oil sauce but it still didn't do it for me. we don't ever write reviews on yelp but we left so disappointed with the food that I had to write. Saigon beef & ahi won ton dumplings are both amazing! Great service. Fun funky vibe with the lighting & decor. It was packed. We will be going back for sure This place was delicious. The drinks are amazing... especially the basil gin one. Needless to say, I had to stop myself from ordering too much. Every time I decided on a place, I changed my mind because I saw something that sounded even more delicious. this place is crazy good. I don't know why we don't land here more often as we always have awesome service and an awesome meal. I could eat the lettuce wraps at every meal and this is the only place I have ever ordered chicken pad thai where I didn't have to constantly dig to find more chicken. ignore the shitty block it is on and eat here people. it is that good. **THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON FOOD THAT WAS DELIVERED**
First of all, i have a disgusting story that i have to share as to exactly why I am giving this place 1 stars. However, even without the story that will follow, i would still only rate it at 2 stars. Firstly, here is my review of the food i ordered:
2 out of 5 stars. I ordered Pineapple fried rice and Panang Curry, both of which i love and order frequently from other places.
The pineapple fried rice was a bit odd (had raisins in it??) and just was literally white rice that was fried, then cut up pineapple and cut chicken tossed into it instead of it all being cooked together to create that delicious flavor that i love about pineapple fried rice.
Panang curry was just bland and boring. Again the chicken was not cooked with it, just thrown into it.
Now onto why i dropped my score from a 2 to a 1. Like i said, i had the food delivered. It was later on saturday and i was starving. So naturally, i was waiting at the window like a starving dog to watch for the delivery guy, anticipating my incoming food. I saw a delivery person pull up to our apartment lobby door. He then parked his bike, and (not realizing i was watching) decided to step behind the first car parked ON THE STREET RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR BUILDING IN FULL VIEW and relieve himself. I came down to meet him at the door and he was still giving it a couple wiggles (dont wanna drip, that would be bad). I took the food from him and just shook my head. not like a "im pissed" shake..more like that "im disappointed in you shake" your mom used to give you when you did something wrong. I debated eating the food because i was so disgusted, but alas, i was starving so i did..
I won't be ordering from them again but not even because of the disgusting delivery screw up..simply because i can get much better elsewhere (ahem..Erawan) Great ambiance, great service, awesome experience. Strongly recommend this restaurant Trendy atmosphere with a decent drink menu. Stopped here for appetizers and drinks. I really enjoyed the fried jumbo shrimp, which went really well with my beer. Friendly bartenders help the drinking experience. I am so, so, so glad we stopped in here for dinner. My friend and I were having drinks not far from here and wanted some food. I remembered seeing this restaurant pop up in my yelp feed and suggested we stop in. The restaurant was empty except for two other tables when we got there, which doesn't surprise me given their location on Chestnut Street.
The decor is very modern and sleek with a really cool table at the side of the arch separating the bar area from the dining area. (Side note: they don't have their liquor license yet, so no alcohol is being served)
Our server was very friendly and helpful. We ordered a few appetizers which came out quickly. The chicken satay was flavorful and tender and the peanut sauce was incredible, I could eat that on everything. The edamame was steamed and salted perfectly. I had a bite of my friend's Indian pancake and would definitely order that the next time I go too. For an entree, we both got the dan dan noodles, which were very spicy (only a spice level 1 on their menu) but I still ate almost the entire bowl. The noodles were chewy, the broth clung perfectly, and the pork was tasty on it's own. My only downside to the food is that it was so good that I ate so much that I was very full for the walk home. I'm not holding that against the restaurant, though.
The last thing I want to mention is the manager, Ben, who came over and made sure everything was to our satisfaction. When my friend didn't finish her noodles, he assumed it was because they were too spicy and sent out a complimentary order of Pad Thai noodles, which were also absolutely amazing. Ben was very friendly and remembered our name to say goodbye to us. I snagged some menus (they do take out for lunch) and can't wait until my next time to go back. I was really excited to try out Spice 28, so my boyfriend and I made reservations on Open Table for just the two of us this past Wednesday. We had such a blast at Center City Sips with friends, though, that we decided to invite everybody along to dinner. They had no problem switching our reservation from two to TEN people (yes, ten)! Needless to say, the staff was so accommodating to our large (and loud) group. I was able to try their spicy cucumbers, which I thought were excellent. The dan dan noodles ended up being my favorite dish of the night, but the dry pot chicken certainly did not disappoint (it was just a tad too spicy for my palette, but I enjoyed it anyway). The menu was not as easy to decipher as Han Dynasty's (I really do like their number system), but it was still pretty easy to follow and it had a nice amount of items to choose from. I can't wait to get back here to try more of their dishes! Love Love Love this place! Their pad thai is to die for. Light, flavorful, fresh and I can't get enough of it. Their dumplings are also excellent. If you're looking for something different try the indian pancake appetizer. The dipping sauce is thin, but flavorful. Be forewarned- their lunch menu has some different options from dinner. Ie. the general tso's chicken is delicious for lunch, but they don't offer it at dinner. The wonton soup is also good with homemade noodles, but also not offered during dinner. The ambiance of the restaurant is also nice and modern. Try this place...you will not be disappointed. Came here recently with a group of friends - the ambiance is nice, and we were seated promptly with our reservation. The bay windows out front were wide open and fresh cool air was coming in - looked like were were in for a great night.
Although I got to try a couple of the things that other people ordered, I'm just going to focus on the two dishes that I ordered:
1. Dan Dan Noodles - 3/5. I was a little disappointed with this - not really a whole lot of heat/numbing sensation with this one. And the noodles weren't as chewy as I had hoped for. I'd definitely say that Han's Dynasty still has a huge advantage over them here.
2. Silken tofu with fish in hot chili oil - 4/5. I really was looking forward to this dish because I was hoping to get a good combination of numbing spice and strong heat. This dish is rated "3/3" on their menu and supposedly is one of the spiciest dishes they offer. It came out in a relatively small pot and after several pieces of fish and servings of sauce over rice, my tongue was sufficiently numb and tingling. However, I didn't feel the heat that it was supposed to bring. After our meal was over, our waitress asked us how everything was. I expressed my surprise that my dish was not as spicy as I had thought it would be, and she proceeded to tell me that she had lowered the spiciness of my order from a 3 to 2. Excuse me? Why would you do such a thing. I came here to THIS restaurant because I like SPICY food. My only complaint of this dish was it wasn't spicy enough and you're telling me now that you had it prepared less spicy without my request?
Although I kept this internal for our dinner, I fumed a little inside. I got over it (well, I think so) and I'd be willing to try it again - and although I don't think one should have to request the spiciness that is listed on the menu, I will be sure to make sure that I receive what I order.
I'd come back - not for the Dan Dan Noodles - but for trying out some of their other Szechuan dishes. This is an average place. The calamari was beyond boring. The spring rolls did not taste fresh. The drunken noodle was satisfying but certainly not the experience other reviewers made it out to be. Space-age decor makes it all worse. Feels like a frozen yogurt joint. I won't go back. Being vegetarian, our my menu was pretty limited.
Our order was:
THAI SPRING ROLL (vegetarian)
-Size: 2 per order - they are pretty small
-Taste: Nothing out of the ordinary - tasted like a frozen spring roll
-Seconds? No, I'll probably get their Indian Pancake
SPICY CUCUMBER
-Size: As an appetizer, I thought it was a decent proportion (about as big as a cereal bowl - enough to share between 2)
-Taste: Perhaps soy and basil based sauce - Sweet, savory, cold and refreshing. I asked the waitress what the sauce was and she said the chef mixes about 21 sauces together, so you can imagine the combination of so many flavors together!
-Seconds? Yes.
SZECHUAN STRING BEANS (with no pork)
-Size: For an entree (for a petite girl who can eat), I think it was barely enough. But if you are one to eat small proportions throughout the day, you'd be just fine.
-Taste: It was nicely pan tossed just enough to cook the outside - tender but not too soft. It was flavored with a garlic based oil sauce I think.
-Seconds? No, I'll probably try Curry Vegetables or Eggplant with garlic sauce.
CAPPUCCINO TRUFFLE
-Size: somewhere between a golf ball and a tennis ball.
-Taste: Absolute heaven for mocha lovers. The middle espresso is thebombdotcom
-Seconds? Yes, yes, and yes.
TIERRA BRISA (2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza - Argentina)
We got a bottle for two - a strong dry red Bordeaux
Was it worth spending almost $70 on, between two people?
No. Maybe the cappuccino truffle...But that might just be my bias of being in love with coffee deserts. Jonas was our waiter and he was amazing! There was a group of 10 of us and we ordered everything from appetizers to dessert to sake. Our dishes ranged from duck, spicy curry, chicken and rice, shrimp and noodles, shrimp curry, edamame, and a range of the desserts. Each dish was fresh and delicious, we licked our plates clean! Jonas was very attentive and made very helpful suggestions. Some of the best Asian outside of China-town. The best part of this fusion restaurant is that they do every type of cuisine very well. I specifically enjoyed their dry pepper pot dishes (Especially the lamb) you can not go wrong with the lamb. This is the type of spot where you can have a classy dinner with drinks and still keep it under 60 dollars for 2 people. I would typically get fried rice or a noodle dish with the dry pepper pot meat and a couple of beer or wine if that's your fancy.
I typically try and eat at numerous places before making decisions on what places to go back to. This is definitely on the list of restaurants in philly that I will be returning to. Only issue is no happy hour. I told the manager that the competition on 13th all offer amazing happy hour specials so maybe we might see one soon :)
Enjoy I promise you'll be happy After having a less than satisfactory Thai food experience at Singha House To-Go on 20th street, I knew I needed to satisfy my chicken pad thai craving somehow this week. So like most of us, I typed "thai food" into the search bar here on yelp and browsed a selection of various thai restaurants. I stumbled across Spice 28 and after seeing its proximity to my office on 15th/Market, positive reviews, and lovely photos I was convinced.
Spice 28 did not disappoint! The lunch atmosphere was clean and modern, the servers were attentive, and the chicken pad thai I ordered was EXCELLENT. It was hot, flavorful, and was even served with a side of wonton soup - YUM!
Food was reasonably priced ($8 for my pad thai + $4 for potstickers, which were also excellent I might add) but the portion could have been a bit larger for my preference. I'm thinking the dinner portion is likely larger given the higher price tag.
Overall, excellent lunch experience - went with 4 other co-workers and we all enjoyed our meals. This is likely going to be my new go-to Thai place at work. I'm looking forward to trying some of their other dishes! Being here and getting food many times, the restaurant is decorated to have a feel of Buddakan with a combination of Asian fusion and Szechuan cuisines, which Buddakan does not have. The place is trendy and comfortable. Given high expectation from many people, the food here has been great most of time, if not all the time. With the owners' enthusiasm to bring customers more different tastes of Asian food from most of Chinese restaurants, the food will keep getting to perfection as I keep eating in the place and trying different dishes every time. Knowing that majority members of the owners are very young and first timer to build a restaurant and working so hard, I support them always. So do we! I made a reservation for 8 people for 7 p.m. on a Saturday with no problem. We were seated within 5 mins of arrival, after everyone except myself and the other preggo in the group took advantage of happy hour drink prices at the bar. They advertise the prices as valid only Mon-Fri, but the discounted prices were honored on Sat. Everyone was really pleased with their cocktails. The waitress was did not hover around us, she had good instincts that we were doing some catching up. She came around for drink and appetizer orders about 10 mins after we were seated, which was perfect timing in my opinion. The Dan Dan noodles were amazing! We had two orders for the table and it was plenty for everyone to have some. Everyone ordered something different for dinner, and everyone was really pleased with their entrees. I had the Drunken Noodles with extra veggies, and it was mildly spicy with a huge portion. I took most of it home for lunch the next day. Two dinners had tofu dishes, which they offer mostly everything on the menu with tofu, and they were both really happy with their entress as well. My husband ate every morsel of the pineapple fried rice dish. The tables were comfortable, lighting and decor was modern and cool, and the bathrooms were really clean. Always important for me! Highly recommend Spice 28, we had a great time and enjoyed really great food and drinks. Ah, I love that new restaurant feeling. Don't you? Especially with a soft opening that warrants five solid stars. What a rarity!
With a party of five and an early 6:30pm reservation, I walked into Spice 28 arms full of wine bottles (the first thing you see when you walk in is a bar, but they won't have their liquor license for about a month. Take advantage while you can!).
We were greeted by several friendly servers, all who seemed so happy to see us. They asked us questions about where we lived, how we found Spice 28 and what kind of food we liked. Then they brought us a complimentary appetizer that morphed wontons and guacamole. I could tell this was going to be a good night.
Usually "fusion" places make me a bit weary, but we bit the bullet and ordered both Thai and Chinese entrees, all which were freakin' fantastic and full of flavor. From the Chinese side, we got crispy cucumbers (they brought us an extra bowl of the spicy variety on the house), dan dan noodles (good, but Han's are better), fried rice, eggplant, and beef hot pot (tender and chock full of peppercorns.) We tried the drunken noodle and panang curry from the Thai side, both were excellent.
I have to admit, though the Handy Nasty and Circles are everyone's go-to for these types of cuisine, I think they better watch out. Spice 28 was a real palate pleaser.
When we didn't think we could eat anymore, our server brought us complimentary dessert- fried, sticky, sweet pumpkin rounds. Our bill for five was $80. Yes, $80. Great experience, fun atmosphere (the Asian muzak was a bit much, but whatever) and like I said, the food was great. Go. My takeout experience with this place got off to a rocky start- I showed up about 20 minutes after I ordered and they forgot to give my order to the kitchen. Womp womp. I was sweaty and hungry after my gym workout, and a good distance from home, and I had been wanting to try this place, so I opted to stick it out and wait for the food to get made.
The front-of-house ladies were very pleasant and truly apologetic, and threw in a free app to compensate for the mishap. Honestly, they've been open for less than a month and they probably get very few takeout orders, so I was willing to cut some slack. The interior is very nice, cool backlit marble bar with comfy bar stools, design is reminiscent of Morimoto.
My food was prepared lickety split and the hostess even double-checked it to make sure I had everything I ordered. On the quick and vaguely terrifying cab ride home (those are always fun) the aromas were utterly torturous.
Here's what I like about Spice 28- I can get Thai food, Szechuan food, Malaysian curries, and any number of fusion-y type items. Variety means I'm more likely to find things I can eat with my abundant food issues. I ended up ordering chicken drunken noodles, hold the onion and garlic, chicken satay, and beef dry pot style for E. They threw in free spicy cucumbers to make up for the wait.
The drunken noodles blew Circles out of the water. So. Damn. Good! Even as takeout the noodles didn't get too stuck together to eat, a common consequence of ordering this dish to-go, and the flavours were fresh, well-balanced, and not lacking even though there was no onion or garlic. It was damn delicious. The chicken satay was also quite good, I really liked the dipping sauce, but it is a pretty small portion for the price, four verrry skimpy skewers- I'm talking they each had about 4 little nuggets of meat on them that barely made two bites.
E's beef dry pot was phenomenal. Way more szechuan peppercorn than Han Dynasty's, and I like the flavour a bit better, although technique-wise I think the dish at Han is better cooked with beef that gets nice and crispy/chewy. That said, it was so good that I ate E's leftovers while he was out hanging out with some friends later :) Sorry honey! My tummy is sad about it today because it was garlicky, but it was worth it.
We'll definitely eat this food on the regular- I think next time we'll eat in and enjoy the ambiance and food that's fresh on the plate. It's... Fine. You could do worse, but you could do significantly better without looking too hard. Not as good as it thinks it is. I've eaten at Spice 28 for both SIPs and for regular dinner, and I've enjoyed what the offer every time. I am a very picky eater and I've found many menu items including fried rice and pot stickers that I found to some of the best asian food I've had in the city.
Spice 28 is good for big groups and their staff is very friendly and very helpful with navigating their menu. Spice 28 also offers some very tasty cocktails that I highly recommend taking a look at when you visit.
Spice 28 is also a very underrated SIPs location, it's rarely busy they have outdoor seating which is nice during the summer in the city and they still have a good food and cocktail selection for a very good price. So Friday night and I'm dying for some pad thai or some rice. My boyfriend and I decided to check this place out. We took the recommendations on yelp and got reservations for 7:30. We sat close to the window by the bar (which is awesome) this place is definitely trendy. The food came quick however our waiter took a while to take our order. I asked for his suggestions and he gave me one of those "everything is good" WELL THANKS BUT that really didn't help me decided on what I wanted.
In another review I read that the pineapple fried rice wasn't good. Well mine was absolutely delicious. I got the fried rice with shrimp and had enough to take home for later. Overall I would say this place was great and I would definitely go back. We had stumbled upon this restaurant while walking around the city. We love spicy food, especially Sichuan cuisine, and the prices were right so we decided to give it a try. The staff were very friendly and attentive and as someone who previously lived in China for over six years I can say that the Sichuan food was quite authentic. We did not try anything off the fusion menu except for a complementary Ahi Tuna appetizer which was very good, but as for the Sichuan food we felt everything was on point.
We ordered the dry pepper chicken, the mapo tofu, and the dan dan noodles. The dan dan was not the best we've had in Philly (we liked Han Dynasty's better) but was very good nonetheless. The mapo tofu was one of the best we've ever tasted, while the pepper chicken was good albiet having a different texture from what we are normally accustomed to.
Regarding the "unpleasant" numbing feeling from certain dishes another reviewer has described, this sensation comes from the Sichuan peppercorn which is an essential and defining component of many authentic Sichuanese dishes (known in China as "ma la", literally "numbing spicy") and we enjoyed it very much!
We will definitely be returning in the near future - although we came for dinner the lunch menu's prices were especially attractive, and we highly recommend it if you are in town looking for some authentic Chinese cuisine! The environment and atmosphere are perfect. We went there during lunch hour, and I was wondering why there aren't many people there. The waitress is cute, polite, but not annoying. We ordered pad Thai, curry, and a sczchuan cuisine. The food was delicious, especially the dumpling. Cute place and great service. I found the prices very reasonable for the quality of the food. My Miso Chilean Sea Bass was perfectly prepared and with a portion so generous I couldn't finish it all. When is the last time you couldn't finish a restaurant size portion of this delectable fish?! The beautifully presented complimentary dessert was a sweet touch. First, the positives. We had fun (12 of us) & the food wasn't bad. It was good in some instances.
The bad: These folks are absolutely inept. The whole "running a restaurant thing" is not their forte. A quick summary:
We waited 10+ minutes to be greeted with a reservation. Another 10 minutes were spent waiting for our table.
Our drinks took 5-35 minutes (5 for wine, 35 for others). No one ever asked if we wanted another.
Multiple mistakes were made (I'm not kidding, more than 10). When we clarified they make additional mistakes on drink order clarifications. These were not complicated drinks.
They forgot food for 2 of 12- 84% isn't too bad. It came AFTER 10 of us had finished our meals!
Summary: Open up a food truck, retrain your staff or find something else you might be good at.
Recommendation for you- RUN, fast... Elsewhere. This should be 0 stars! The first thing about this place is the ambiance. They have a really good dim lighting, making this a great date spot. The food is primarily fusion, and they do a good job of making all of their dishes tasty. I got their noodles and was not disappointed! It was flavorful, plentiful, and affordable (especially with the 10% offer on Yelp!) What?!?!? How? Why?? These are questions I asked when I saw this place was empty after experiencing the one of the best Asian places in town. We had a fairly large crew of 16 people and took over the restaurant on a Wednesday night. The service here was top notch. It was BYOB, and they made sure our glasses were never empty.
The food....wowwwww.
I can't remember everything we had but the 6 of us that sat on our side of the table decided to share several dishes. We started off with the Pork and regular Drunken Noodle. There was enough spice to give it personality. Nothing overbearing. Pineapple fried rice with chicken, egg and cashews. Definitely on point. Saigon Beef with bok choy. Shit was legit.
There was some Eggplant and Crispy Calamari dish in the mix that I didn't get a chance to try, but my friends were raving about it. For dessert, we got some fried Chinese donuts.
As a certified Asian, I give this place two thumbs up. I don't write a lot of reviews on Yelp but after visiting Spice 28 tonight I feel I almost have to.
Agree with everything Rory M mentioned below with the creative and delicious dishes, and their friendly and knowledgeable staff.
Creativity: Everything on the appetizer menu looks great and everything we ordered were absolutely delicious and well presented:
Ahi Tuna Dumplings: I had my doubt with the waiter recommended it on our request, but oh man....this must be the thinnest dumpling skin I have ever had.
Crispy Wanton in Spicy Sauce: who would think guacamole and traditional Chinese Crispy Wanton would go together that well!
Blue Crab Avocado Salad: half avocado with blue crab salad on top was tasty.
Spicy Cucumber Salad: forget about the authentic Sichuan spicy sauce that comes with it, the fact every single piece of cucumber are the same size and sophisticated shape makes me think the chef really wants to make something outstanding here.
Service is great. Well, I don't normally walk into a Chinese restaurant and expect great service, great food is enough for me; so it was totally unexpected when they stopped by every few minutes and made sure our water glasses are filled, and asked for our feedback on every dish when we finished them.
We were lucky to have met two of the three partners who started the restaurant today as well, and realized one of the owners, Jack Chen, actually owns another one of our favorite Chinese restaurants in town (Sakura, famous for the best soup dumplings in Philly). Although they are two completely different locations and decor, both places won my foodie heart.
This place reminds me of Gigi's in Houston Galleria (not nearly as expensive of course).
PS: they don't have a liquor license yet, but there is a wine and spirits store next door and you can BYOB. This was my happy place when I visited a friend in centre city and ordered some Thai food from here. Why I ordered food from here at the first place is because I saw the menu and they had a dish called Indian pancakes with curry sauce. I was excited to see what type of pancakes they will serve. Was it a dosa, a chapati, a naan or some other bread we eat in India and how would be the curry.
I order a Phanaeng curry with rice, an Indian pancake with curry and grilled chicken in garlic sauce with rice.
The food was delivered on time so you don't have to worry about your food getting late and it was a Saturday night.
Indian pancake were the paranthas that we eat in India with a spicy but a curry with lot of flavours. The grilled chicken was amazing, neither too hard on the surface and nor too soft. It was properly grilled and can tell that they have trained chefs. The phanaeng curry was spicy as expected with lot of tofu and veggies which I think was a lot but it might work like that for them.
Overall it was an amazing experience and I would recommend it to people who wants to have a good THAI food should surely try it. Spice 28 has good food and a nice atmosphere. My only complaint is the extremely slow service. There was an incident today where I called to place an order for pickup, and instead of taking my order, the man who answered the phone put the phone down for a solid 5 full minutes (I eventually hung up and called back). I wouldn't be so annoyed if this were the only incident, but I have also been left standing waiting for a table for much, much longer than they promised. Please get it together Spice 28, as I would love to recommend you to my friends... Your poor service is the thing keeping me from doing so! This is one of the worst places you can eat. The servers are so inattentive, and the food took more than 45 mins during lunch. They need to provide their staff way better training because even though their lunch deals are great, it is not worth dining here. Another excellent meal at Spices. We had the ahi tuna and steamed dumplings.
The wife preferred the ahi tuna dumplings. Where I preferred the steamed, though I wish I had gotten the pork instead of chicken.
Main course:
Child got the crispy shrimp, the corn was great but we couldn't figure out how it was made.
Wife got the asparagus claimed it was 'perfect'.
I had beef drunken noodles and left scratch marks in my plate.
The waiter was great we never left wanting for anything. Great ambience, excellent plating of food. The spicy cucumber appetizer was very good. However, my drunken noodle entree was very bland - until I added some of the sauce from the spicy cucumber dish, which truly transformed the entree into a very good dish. I'd come back, they have a number of vegetarian options. I came here because it was in walking distance of my hotel. Upon walking in i was impressed with the modern look. I am here on business so I came alone and sat at the bar. The food was really good. I had the dumplings in chili oil and I must say they rate up with the best I have ever had as They were really freshly made and flavorful.
For my main course I had the drunken noodle w/ shrimp. The presentation of the meal was fantastic. Although upon eating it I noticed that the noodles were really wide and long which made it difficult to eat. The shrimp were fresh and good but one drawback was they still had the tails on them which was kind of a pain to remove.
Please Take my advice and order the appetizer first (if you order one) wait 5-10 min then order your entree bc my meal came before my appetizer as others on yelp have mentioned.
Other than the things i mentioned above I was still impressed of the taste and portion of my meal. The staff was typical of a Chinese type restaurant they give you your food walk away and ask you how everything was after you are done. I would definitely come back and eat here again. First night in a new city and we ordered delivery to eat on the floor of the new apartment. Wonderful chicken and lettuce wraps. The delivery food arrived hot and still crispy. Cumin beef was super spicy but delicious. We will be ordering from this restaurant again. Ordered their chicken and broccoli wok style lunch special online. The food was ready super fast (I picked my order up). You get a very nice portion of chicken, broccoli, and rice. The won ton soup was also very tasty! I'll definitely be ordering again! Pretty good food here, we had pretty traditional fare (dry pot beef, spicy cold potato, fried rice) so I can't comment on the "fusion" concept here but nothing on the menu looked bad in my opinion. Ambiance is kinda cool, but it feels like it would be pretty loud on a busy night. Wait staff was attentive and pleasant. If you're craving hot szechuan food but also need to please some folks with a more tender palate, this place has a lot to offer in terms of variety. If you are like me and just need the hot stuff, this place would come in a close second to Han Dynasty. Well worth a try if you're in the area. Wow, didn't know what to expect. Food was good we had multiple portions of smaller items to sample the food. Was very tasty. Very hot. Pricing was moderate. We did not stick around for dessert. We did not have alcoholic beverages. $60 for three people. Dysfunctional. Probably the best way to sum up our experience at Spice 28. Had 8:30 PM reservations through OpenTable for a Friday night. We arrived around 8:20 PM and there was a line in there narrow entry hallway. After waiting nearly 15 minutes to just get to the hostess, I told her that we had reservations, and she asked for my name, but besides that she barely even acknowledged that we existed. I understand when a place is busy it can get hectic, but you at least need to knowledge that your customer is there. When I asked how long of a wait until we can get seated she did not give a clear answer, so we decided to get a drink at the bar. The bar was also very busy and you could tell the bartenders were very stressed out with how busy they were. It took at least five minutes to get the attention of one of the bartenders order a drink. They had a good mixed drink selection, which my girlfriend was happy about, however they had a very small beer list (with nothing on tap) which was a slightly disappointing to me. The drinks were definitely high-quality. Once we are almost done our drinks we decided to see how much longer of a wait for our table. As we were waiting to talk to the hostess, the people in front of us who had just walked in and did not have a reservation we're getting seated right away. At this point from our experience we were very infuriated already, and decided to walk out and go to a better establishment. The food at Spice 28 does look very good, and maybe we will try again on a less busy night, however I would much rather go to Penang over this restaurant any day of the week. Good place to bring coworkers after a rough day. I enjoyed their non-alcoholic drinks and noodle dishes. Best appetizer was the calamari. Great new restaurant. I got the Pad Thai, which I use as a measuring stick to judge Asian restaurants for the first time. I ordered it maximum spicy, and it was fantastic. One of the best Pad Thais I've ever had, with just the perfect amount of spice for this spicy food fanatic. Truly a terrific dish.
My wife got the Pineapple Fried Rice, and it was out of this world good. It was a flavor that I've never tasted before, a perfect savory pairing with the pineapple. Truly delicious.
The ambiance inside is modern and hip, but comfortable. A nice down-tempo psychedelic jazz soundtrack rounded off the vibe of this restaurant.
Everything was moderately priced and the wait staff was very friendly and attentive.
EAT HERE. Great little spot for happy hour. Definitely solid specials. I tried all of their Asian beers on the menu and ordered enough small plates to make a meal. Everything was delicious and we were disappointed when we didn't order two of everything. It looks trendier from the outside than the inside. Everything also looks more modern than it is.
A little pricey none happy hour. If you're in the area during happy hour, there isn't a better place nearby for food and drink. I normally do not do write Yelp reviews. Because my girlfriend and I's experience was so horrible here, however, I have decided to write a review. I cannot comprehend how this place maintains a four-star rating. Truthfully, I would give this place zero stars if I could.
Service: the staff was horrible. They would not give me a side of white sauce nor allow me to substitute fried rice for brown rice. Most restaurants I have been to are more than happy to substitute or upgrade items for customers with no problem. Moreover, they were extraordinarily slow and nearly impossible to communicate with.
Food: my chicken was cold--nearly room temperature or below--which made me unsure about eating it. My broccoli and vegetables were also cold. Most Japanese restaurants I have been to steam their vegetables. My girlfriend's chicken also did not look fully cooked. That surprised us, given how long it took for us to receive our food.
Price: I have had better hibachi-esque meals, consisting of the same type of food with bigger portions, from restaurants charging half the price for a plate as what Spice 28 charged us.
Bottom Line: don't spend your money at this place. We ended up walking down the street to get Chipotle anyway. Can't go wrong there. I used to love this place. I probably have ordered from here over 50 times and also been a few times. However recently I had a terrible interaction with their owner.
I ordered two dry pepper style shrimp on grubhub, which is described as being triple flash fried and served with scallions. It arrived without batter, and was clearly not fried, and had none of the vegetables it mentioned.
I called the restaurant and they acknowledged that there was a problem with how the item shows up on grubhib vs what it actually is and agreed to send me new food of my choosing (great, right?).
Unfortunately, after 25 minutes of waiting I received a call back saying they had decided not to send me anything. I asked why and was told the owner reviewed the situation and said I shouldn't have ordered shrimp (which makes no sense b/c the shrimp was not as described, at all). I pressed and they wouldn't help so I asked for the owner directly and she refused to speak to me. I could hear her in the background shouting in Chinese. I told them they should review my extensive order history which would demonstrate that I'm a loyal customer and even after doing so they refused to help me - flat out. What a terrible owner, and business model they have. I will be going to (or ordering from) one of the many other Szechuan establishments in Philly such as Dan Dan, Han Dynasty or Jane G's next time I want this type of food. Thank you Yelpers! Was recently in Philly for a conference and used Yelp to find a restaurant. This newly opened spot offered unusual asian fusion food that delighted us. I had the dumplings in hot oil (amazing) ... might just drive the 2 hours to have them again. We ordered an assortment of the appetizers -- all of which were great. And the the great surprise we got 10% off our meal with the yelp discount! This is not bad and good fusion.
They have a passion fruit drink that i love. The food is ok, not special but a solid lunch spot. The inside is very nice but you couldn't tell from the outside. It is easy to find seating or to do group lunches.
I would visit it again This place is really similar to Han Dynasty in my opinion. I went here for a birthday dinner with a friend and service was good. We ordered a spicy lamb dish and the scallion pancakes. The non-alcoholic drinks were also really good. Price was a bit high for the amount of food we got so probably better to come here for the lunch specials instead of dinner. But service was also up to par and I would recommend. Honestly I was disappointed. The noodles were nothing special, but at least they alleviated that late night hunger. We originally were going to have dinner at Barbuzzo, but decided to try Spice 28 instead. The reviews on Yelp seemed encouraging and it seemed like the place was going for a different experience than a typical old-hat Szechuan Chinese place.
I'm really glad we went; It was a great experience. The service was prompt and friendly, and the menu (especially the appetizers) was creative, tasty, and rather reasonable. Overall, the food was really good, especially the ahi tuna dumplings that others on Yelp have mentioned. It was just my wife and me, so we only tried one entree, the dry pot chicken, which was good. I wish we had more people with us so we could have tried more of the menu.
We went late (around 10pm) and, since it wasn't too crowded, were able to chat with the wait staff and the owner. They were all very friendly and interested to hear what we thought about the restaurant and the food.
It's nice to see a legitimate Chinese restaurant that isn't just a copy-cat take out or PF Chang ripoff. I will definitely be going back here over the next few weeks, and hope to bring some friends so I can try a more diverse sampling of their very intriguing menu.
My suggestions:
1) Get that liquor license, pronto. BYOB is cool and all, but if the cocktails are as unique as the food, it should be a great place for drinks.
2) Once you're off and running, hire a wait staff to go with the chic and trendy ambience; the waiter we had, while helpful, didn't have a great ability to articulate what made specific dishes special. But, like I said, we went pretty late so maybe the staff is different during prime time.
3) Consider giving patrons chopsticks by default. It just feels weird for me to eat asian-y food with a fork and knife, and I didn't even grow up using chopsticks. Most of these review the Thai food, which is like reviewing the vegetarian entree at a steakhouse. Eat from the Szechuan menu --- they do it very, very well. Had a great lunch here
I took advantage of the lunch special ($20) and had a wonderful meal. Started with won ton soup, then had pork pot stickers, then shrimp pad thai, and finished with carrot cake. Each course was delicious and I was concerned that I might go into a food coma, but I did not. Nicely decorated and very clean restaurant. Friendly and attentive staff. I would definitely return. Was so excited to try this place based on all of the positive reviews. I'm visiting from out of town and decided to put in a delivery order. Unfortunately the food arrived late. After calling them 2x and receiving the number of the driver the food finally arrived. But awful surprise when I opened the bag the soup container was crushed and everything was a mess. Not a good experience. Good food, fun atmosphere. Overall i had a good experience there. The wait staff was very friendly and the food was very good. They had excellent Happy hour drink specials, but their HH food specials lacked. I would go back. I was staying at the Westin, and wanted to get a late dinner. Spice 28 is a little further down, but I was meeting some friends who lived closer to Chinatown, so I figured I'd walk down.
Decor is modern Asian-Fusion-ish, pretty neat. Can't really say anything else. Their cocktail menu is reasonably priced and pretty average. The dinner, however, was amazing. I tried the Thai Crispy Red Snapper, which was crunchy and served with a delicious sweet sauce. Also tried my friend's Saigon beef which was tasty, although quite salty.
I'll be back if I'm ever in Philly. Best Asian food I have had in Philadelphia! The pad Thai was amazingly flavorful and the Dan Dan noodles were great. I also got the pork dumplings and they were excellent. I am not going to order delivery or takeout for anywhere else again! Loved it!!!
The spicy appetizer cucumber appetizer alone gets 5 stars. It was AMAZING!!! I can't remember the last time I loved so much I wanted to lick the bowl clean. It's a cold dish, and the cucumbers are in this amazing sweet, peanut-y, tangy, well spiced sauce. Spiced by the hands of god, I'd say ;) We were there during happy hour so they were only $3 which is a steal.
The Tom Yum soup was indeed yum but didn't quite get the flavor I'm used to/was craving. Still worth it though.
I ordered the drunken noodles for my main dish, also really good but just a tad bit too dry. Still really enjoyed them and I would order them again but didn't blow my mind.
The space is really cute, especially if you can snag one of the seats by the window that are super comfy.
The staff was super nice and friendly. I asked for hot sauce for my main course and they brought out regular hot sauce as well as their house sauce. This was one of the most unique hot sauces I've ever had. It had a really...warm...taste. I know that sounds weird but you have to try it to understand. It was flavorful more than spicy and I really enjoyed it.
Long story short - go! and order the spicy cucumbers and ask for the house hot sauce! We ordered two appetizers. I am a vegetarian so my husband ordered a lobster roll and I ordered spring rolls. After 25 minutes his lobster roll came out and that was it, When I asked about the spring roll the waitress told me spring rolls take a long time. At least 25-35 minutes. I told her I was confused since its just a spring roll and we have already been waiting 25 minutes and the lobster roll came out. I asked her if my appetizer would be here before my meal and she said No. So we got up to leave and told the owner ..it was clear that she never put the order in and tried t blame the restaurant..after all was was done she also tried to charge us for our meal when we told her we were leaving . To add insult to injury they never checked us in with open table so I received a no show email. Stay away ! Benny and John made our experience the best. Both were very knowledgeable about the menu and the drink items. Great food, great drinks, great fun! Absolutely delicious. I had the dry pepper style chicken which was amazing. I was visiting from out of town and came here the 3 days I was in town. Very good spicy cucumbers too! This is my favorite place to grab a quick, inexpensive & delicious lunch. It's never empty in here (good sign) yet the service is always really quick. I like to rotate between the drunken noodle lunch special and the pad Thai lunch special. You can't go wrong with either. I invited a friend to meet me here yesterday & he loved it. What he loved most was our bill came to a smooth $19. Cheap date ;) This was my first time at Spice 28. We went for a friends birthday and we were a party of eight. Everyone preferred something different and everyone was pleased with their meal. The service was great. They have a good variety to theirs food menu and drink menu Excellent Thai food! Reasonably priced for lunch. Quick service. Descent customer service. Try the drunken noodle or the Thai Basil fried rice. Those are my top two choices! Lunch specials are very reasonable for the location. I walked by Spice 28 a hundred times and it wasn't until the 101st time that I went in to try it out. Unable to get a last minute reservation anywhere else, they welcomed us to an empty table but the restaurant quickly filled up. The menu is plentiful and there is something for everyone. I had the crab salad as an appetizer and then split the rock shrimp with Dining Partner as my entree. A companion had the drunken noodles which he devoured. Food was good, the service was friendly and attentive. Solid spot that should not just be a considered a last resort. The food is good but the service isn't that great! We ordered lobster and shrimp for appetizers and pad Thai and curry for entree, the pad Thai was okay but the curry was a little on the bland side! The appetizers were good.
We ordered our drinks, but they took forever to come. We were almost done with out meal when the drinks arrived (the drinks were good tho) the server who seated us was rude and slammed the menus on the table. So minus 2 stars for that. This place is amazing. We have been here 2 times, and it was even better the second time. Amazing food. Fantastic service. Atmosphere is very nice. Great place for a date. BYOB for now. The wait staff was very attentive, and gave us a complimentary dessert. Highly recommend this place. Alright, but really nothing special, especially not located so close to Chinatown. I wasn't by any means displeased with the food, but nor would I go back for it.
There were two saving graces; Asahi beer and pleasant service.
Otherwise, if you just want good Chinese food, there are other, better options. Great food and service. I made a reservation for 10 people with a few days notice for a birthday and then had to add 6 people with a few hours notice and they couldn't have been more accommodating. On top of that the food and drinks were very good. I had the Thai basil fried rice with chicken and mango margarita, both delicious. Everyone at the table seemed to enjoy their food as well. Also very quick service for a large group. I would definitely recommend and will be back again! I found Spice 28 through a quick yelp search of Thai food in Philly. We stayed at the Ritz and this was a few blocks away.
There were only a few people there on a Sunday so we seated right away.
We shared the Rock shrimp for an appetizer and it was delicious! Definitely enough for 2 people to share. We also shared the Thai crispy red snapper for an entree. We hit the jackpot with this one. Absolutely mouth watering. The snapper is served whole and fried. However, the filleted pieces are served on the side with a chili sauce. The portion was large enough to share.
I recommend the Ginger Cosmo and perfect mangorita to quench your thirst.
Pleasant waitstaff and great service were the icing on top, not to mention 10% off when you check-in with Yelp. Best of all, very affordable! I'll definitely be back. After my second time eating here, I can affirm that this is one of the better Asian restaurants in the city and for its location and pricing, is an amazing deal. The last time I was here I had the mango chicken, and this recent time I had the chicken drunken noodles a tad extra spicy. The Mango chicken was definitely unique and flavorful with a good blend of sweet and spicy. The drunken noodles were also very very good, as good as or better than any other Thai restaurant, and when I asked them to make it spicier they did it just right! Moreover, they were willing to accommodate my group of 14 people without complaint so it was great! I tried their salt and pepper chicken from a friend and while it was flavorful, the chicken was dry. However, DanDan noodles were spot on. The service was great, prompt and friendly, and if you check in on yelp you'll even get 10% off the bill! My biggest complaint is that the woke style crispy chicken dishes can be on the dry side in terms of the meat, and the noodles can be a little more oily than preferred. Besides that, however, place is a must go! Smaller restaurant but the ambiance was great. Came here with a larger group and we made it through with just 3 appetizers and 3 entrées which were large enough to make everyone satisfied. The hot sauce style chicken and the mango style chicken were definitely the biggest hits of the night. And with 10% off, we were pretty happy with our meal! ~Rather small portion for the price.
~Only English menu.
~ the waitress was rather rushed to get us out despite of many empty seats
~ the waitress was aggressive in collecting dish/plates from us even took away the bowl from me before I finished eating/the utensil on the bowl!
~the food was decent but definitely do not recommend it. Great food, very friendly service, modern yet comfortable ambience, excellent value. Green curry chicken was delicious and our favorite out of the three selections on our first dine (other items ordered: the crispy duck salad and pineapple fried rice). Warm greeting by all of the staff and complimentary cucumber app were nice welcoming touches for a new restaurant. If they continue doing what they're doing now and add some creative, well-thought-out cocktails once their liquor license is approved, I expect they will do very well. This place hit the spot for Thai food!! I'm usually the kind of guy who likes his own plate of food (no sharing!), so when my team suddenly decided to order food family style without my sign off, I'll was borderline pissed/afraid. I even made sure to overorder what I wanted. Nonetheless, all the plates came to the table and we shared everything. OH. EM. GEE. Every dish was amazing! Drunken noodle, hot curry, pad thai....it was ahmayzing. Whenever I'm in Philly and craving Thai and willing to share, this is the place for me! I love the drunken noodles and indian pancake. Have tried the tofu in black bean sauce and thai basil fried rice and was not disappointed. Will definitely keep coming back. Came here for restaurant week to sample a local Asian fusion restaurant. While we wouldn't typically order salad these were both delicious! The glaze for the salad was sweet and savory. We then got post stickers and the tuna tataki. Wished we would have gotten the tuna potstickers as the tataki was so similar to the salad but if you don't have a salad this is a light refreshing dish. We then moved on to the drunken noodles and dry pepper chicken. For someone who doesn't like spice the drunken noodles had a little more spice than I can handle but easily could be adjusted for less spice. The desserts were light and savory. The mooshi was filled with ice cream for that warm and cold mixture Pad Thai noodles tasted a bit rubbery, good flavour. Panang Curry was tasty but the beef pieces did not taste like they were very good quality and seemed fatty. Reasonably priced meal. Stopped by after graduation for a quick dinner and everything turned out amazing! My friend and I ordered the ahi tuna dumpling, dry pot chicken and hot sauce beef. The sechuan dishes were authentic and delicious and service was great! Would definitely come back! I have had lunch twice via takeout and dinner once via takeout. All occasions were delicious and I look forward to trying this place for dinner sitting in. I love the menu and the pepper pot beef was spicy! Finally a place that tastes authentic and is able to make me sweat from spice:) I especially recommend the Indian pancake(though I would still prefer Penang or banana leaf's roti) crab fajita and pineapple fried rice. I reserve a star as I haven't been for dinner yet. Wonderful food; fresh ingredients; great cocktails and great service; price was not bad and servings were generous; couldn't have asked for more....within walking distance of the convention center; I would definitely go back! Followed Yelps recommendation and visited while in Philly. My street noodles were exceptional. I was in Bangkok and Chaing Mai recently; Spice 28 is authentic.
Our server had great energy and was attentive. The lychee martini was outstanding. After hearing tons of hype about this place, I was so pumped to finally check it out.
The interior has a suave look with geometric shapes, low colored lighting, and plentiful space. The tables are not close together. This is a neat looking bar at the entrance with a decent looking cocktail list to boot.
The appetizers were out of this world good: Indian pancake, which is a thin soft flaky pancake served with a small dish of chicken curry to dip in. SO FREAKING GOOD. Best thing in my mouth all night, hands down. The dumplings in chili oil melted in my mouth, and had a nice spice. The spicy cucumber, which is a favorite of mine, were perfectly crispy and refreshing, with a good amount of spice.
I hoped and prayed the entrees would be just as mind blowing, but they were good, not great. This is still saying a lot, as compared to what I had as appetizers. The green curry had a good overall flavor, but the curry was a little thin. The mapo tofu had really good flavor but not as spicy as expected.
Loved the cocktail list though I wasn't imbibing that evening. If you're into beer, this place doesn't have anything special but a basic selection of domestics and a few Asian imports.
I will be coming back here MANY times, this place makes me very, very happy. My party of 4 went to Spice 28 for an early dinner on Sunday night, about 5:00. We were the only ones there, but we did not feel lonely. The staff was so attentive and helpful that we felt as if we were visiting friends in their home.
The location is not the best, as the 1200 block of Chestnut is still mostly closed stores, so we can assume that a low rent was the deciding factor, however, it is really just a block or two from the center of things and should be more than a destination spot. The interior is beautiful, done in glass and natural woods with a fine architectural eye and fine craft work.
But the killer was the food. I have spent some time in China, and I love Chinese food. I also like very spicy food. This restaurant was, hands down, the best Chinese food I have had in this country. It is legitimately schezuan cuisine, with all the spices and flavors of China, and might be even better than most of the food I have eaten in China.
We pretty much followed the recommendations of previous posters and had the pork belly (fabulous!) and cumin lamb (outrageous!) The appetizers were extraordinary. The Tuna dumplings, pork dumplings, dan-dan noodles and Chinese pancake were magnificent, all with distinctive flavors and subtle spicing.
I must warn diners that the meat dishes are made the way it is done in China, with handfulls of hot dry red peppers. They are very hot, and most people do not eat the peppers with the dish, so put them on the side, unless you are an unrepentant chilihead and have a point to prove.
There were so many other dishes that we wanted to try, but we were stuffed, so we have plans to return shortly.
Spice 28 is an extraordinary restaurant with sharp and legitimate flavors. Do not miss this new spot because it should be quite busy once the word gets out about the quality of the food and the hospitality of the hosts. Meal: Lunch
Service: On point. Seated immediately and the server knew his dishes well. Asked about a specific dish and he went into detail about the ingredients and prep. Good came out quick and my water was constantly refilled.
Food: order the chicken Thai basil lunch special for $9, which comes with a bowl of rice and choice of wonton or tomyum soup. I did the brown rice, and it was too dry. It was rice, but it was like eating pebbles. The wonton soup was average, but I literally only got one wonton in my wonton soup. The Thai basil was good, very flavorful and not too oily. Portion wasn't huge, but it did the job. I was in and out within 35 minutes, which was quite impressive.
Overall: priced right, flavor is there, but portions could be a little bigger. I didn't leave hungry, but I got hungry before the workday was over. Amazing Thai food if in the Philly area, food delicious gd service free drink refill cute atmosphere we loved it The food at this place was SIMPLY amazing! The drink con-cations weren't always good but they were different. I might recommend take out for this place cause the service wasn't really good. The staff seemed a little underwhelming for a place like this . The prices and presentation was really good. I would consider going back if I was ever in the area. A family owned restaurant in downtown Philadelphia. Great prices and a very nice clean and welcoming environment with a great view of street life. We loved it. Try the curry soup with shrimp and noodles. That broth! Amazing food!!! Nice ambience!!! Had the best drunken noodles ever!!! Spring rolls were so good!!! Takeout is fast. That's a nice thing. I had chicken fried rice once but it was not that yumm. It was dry, not flavorful!! Don't recommend it to try. Overall good experience!! Curry & drunken noodle were both delicious. We had a fun window watching seat up front. Cozy quaint atmosphere. Walking distance from the convention center. Great dinner! Was visiting Philly for daughter's tournament. Their food was really good! (And I've visited many Thai restaurants) ambience is good also. Authentic Chinese food, absolute enjoyment, period. I've come here twice.
The first time was probably one of the better times! I came here with friends, the atmosphere was good, and the food was tasty. (Definitely recommend the Lemongrass Coconut Soup- surprisingly flavorful and delicious!) The drunken noodles were good too but nothing special- sort of like most thai places.
The second time around could have gone better. There was a bug in my dish! And it was still crawling around. When I told a waitress about it she took it away without a word (this particular waitress wasn't very friendly in general though). I didn't know what was happening and eventually a different waitress stopped buy and I told her about the bug and what was going on and she immediately put in another order for me. But when we got the bill we were charged for both dishes! They were quick to fix the mistake once I pointed it out but still, it wasn't nice to see.
We tried the dumplings in chili oil, and wasabi mashed potatoes, both which were just okay.
Overall, it's not a bad place. I'm going to assume that bug was a one time fluke because the food is pretty good. I think the service can be a bit better but it wouldn't stop me from coming again. Spice 28 is my type of spot! Sophisticated, sexy, and low key. I'm sure you can read, that this place has a beautiful atmosphere and decor. The lighting is just right and can definitely be a good place for a date or dinner party.
The service was professional and I even met the owner! I love a great staff.
As for my meal, I ordered the Thai basil style and I would eat that plate over and over! I ordered the level 2 spice level and I needed to request more red pepper. But other than that my meal was great!
I also ordered the tuna dumpling as an appetizer... ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW! It's different and you totally forget you just ordered tuna bc you can't taste it through the chile sauce and guacamole. It was really good and flavorful.
My guy also ordered the Singapore noodle plate. He loved it and wanted a to-go plate.
I would definitely recommend! I ordered the mango chicken and can we say amazing! I also ordered the dragon nectar which was sweet but good and the coconut ginger bomb which was STRONG and smaller than what is appeared in photos. Overall, great service and food. Disorganized staffing and seating and highly prejudiced. If I could give them zero, then I would. The staff/management do not treat you respectively and often snap at you just because they want to. My sister was standing near the bar because there was no room and a server wanted to get by and the server screeched "EXCUSE ME" at her.
There was a family there who were being completely disrespectful toward us and sent an 8 year old child to tell us to quiet down in a public space (literally it's a restaurant and bar). We weren't being any louder than any other table as everyone was speaking loudly in the establishment. Every other table had people talking, drinking and enjoying a good time but they chose a table of Asian people to come tell us to quiet down. Management completely failed at being unbiased and poorly handled the situation. I was SO disappointed in their behavior and completely taken aback of how they would let people treat us as we are ALL paying customers. Because of this experience, I will never want to return. No one wants to pay money to be treated like shit.
lt is truly not worth the aggravation and disrespect you will receive... I cannot cannot stress this enough. Vegan perspective-
Awesome pan- Asian place with many options for vegans and vegetarians.
Loved the cozy atmosphere aside from their weird green lit bar.
The food is authentic and delicious coming from an Asian American that has been to many Asian restaurants around this country.
Their menu is vast with many dishes that can be made with tofu!
We got the garlic eggplant (so good), the spinach (excellent and light) and the wok fried garlic ginger green beans (surprise hit!) all off the vegetable section of the menu. Brown rice is $2 Extra but worth it.
Service was a bit slow but overall I was so impressed with the quality of the vegetable dishes. Felt like I found a hidden Chinese gem. Would define you come back. Delivery was fine, I thought that the food was too expensive for the quality but overall it wasn't bad.
I ordered the veggie spring rolls (there were only 2) and the thai basil chicken (which comes with rice).
Nothing great, but I would order again if I was craving Thai food and willing to pay for it. If they lowered the prices or had some sort of special I think it would boost up my rating. Holiday lunch with the team. I reviewed the menu prior to arriving. Everything started well until they got busy. Only two waiters at 12:00pm. Needless to say the service and food suffered because of this. When the food finally arrived it was cold. One person got their meal 1/2 HR after everyone finished because they "forgot" to order his food. Which delayed us from leaving. They apologized however that meal should not have been on our bill. Been working around the corner for over 10 years and just found this on place on Yelp - wish I paid more attention when walking on Chestnut - nice little find! Takeout was easy to order and pay on the app, ready when I arrived, tasty and generous portion. I did ask for 4 out of 5 spicy peppers, and while a nice spice, certainly not that hot (for someone who likes spicy). After speaking with Ben, (one of the owners) he offered me a $60 credit to try the food at Spice 28 one more time. I ordered food with my co-workers and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food this time. I ordered the guacamole, but was informed that they don't make it anymore. We ordered the tuna dumplings, the tuna avocado salad, tropical mango chicken and the shrimp fried rice. The food was fresh, flavorful, and they even gave me a small bowl of guacamole. My co-workers enjoyed the food as well, and commented that they would definitely try the food on their own time.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to try the food again Ben! As an owner, I commend you on your spectacular customer service, which completely made up for the lack of service my boyfriend and I received when we went to eat there before. I've had my eye on Spice 28 since moving to Philadelphia nearly a year ago, and I'm asking myself now why I waited this long. I finally made it there with several of my colleagues for a post-work happy hour, and it's not only a fantastic happy hour spot, but really great for groups.
The restaurant seems understated and unassuming from the outside, but walk in and you're met by a gorgeous bar, and there's a substantial dining area in the back with cute tables and beautiful lamps and lighting. So already, definitely an A on ambiance for me.
The menu was what had caught my eye before I had set foot in the restaurant, and it more than lived up to my hopes. The happy hour cocktails and appetizers are delicious - I personally had the Philly Love cocktail, and YES thank you! Some of the other drinks ordered by my party were the Dragon Nectar and the Passionate Kiss, and they were so well enjoyed that most people got seconds.
We ordered several options off of the "Happytizers" menu - edamame, spring rolls, spicy cucumber, dumplings, chicken satay. They were super accommodating to the three vegetarians in the group, because they modified their chicken lettuce wraps to make them with tofu for us! I could only eat the vegetarian options, but they were all pretty good. My group cleared every dish that we ordered, so I'm pretty sure that the meat dishes were just as well enjoyed.
I have to say the service was really great. we got lots of attention, we never had to go searching for our waitress, and everyone was super friendly. Bonus, they happily honored the Yelp check-in deal that is offered on the app (even though my phone was malfunctioning and I couldn't get the Yelp deal to pop up).
I would definitely try dinner here too. For now, I can say that from 5-7 for happy hour, Spice 28 is a great spot for groups, and pretty enough for a casual date too. My girlfriend and I were very happy with our meal. Are there better places to eat in/around the China Town area? Absolutely, but that doesn't take anything away from this place. First off, beautiful and unique ambiance inside. They thought this place out design wise and it shows. More importantly, on to the food. Chicken dumplings in chilli oil for the app - delicious. My girl ordered the Japanese Style Teriyaki w/chicken and broccoli. She liked the dish alot. I ordered a hot/spicy chicken dish, name eludes me, but 3rd page of the menu and it was outrageously good. Prices are incredibly reasonable for a well known and respected place with a top chef. Drinks were strong. I'll be back to try it again. PS - walked right in for a table of 2 around 5:30pm on a friday but come 6:30pm there were half a dozen people waiting in seating...food for thought. Solid spot for Asian fusion, but "management" is apparently prejudice. I was there last week with four other well-dressed gents, who all happen to be African-American (dressed in a full suit or sport coat). As we were sitting at the bar ordering food via our cool bartender, which like most bars is usually loud, the manager comes up with a nasty attitude and says "shut up, you're too loud." Then gets on the phone as if he calling the police saying "they are too loud." We asked what's the problem, he repeats "you too loud, shut up." He didn't go say this to anyone else at the crowded bar, just us. Wow. The bartender said he didn't understand what his deal was. We cancelled our order immediately and left. Cute Thai place near the gayborhood! The ambiance reminded me a little of Morimoto. There are not too many good Thai places in Philadelphia so I love to try new ones. The food was decent but lacked flavor and ingredients. The cocktails are fun and tasty! It's a fun place to try but definitely won't be a regular spot for me. I absolutely love their lunch specials. The food is fresh & so good! Staff is extremely nice & attentive. The regular prices seem a bit high so I'll stick to my lunchtime getaway b Best Thai food in town
I ate Pat thai and fried rice. both were really good.
Very clean with reasonable price. The chicken dry pot is amazing, but very spicy! Also their dumplings in chili oil are a great appetizer and they have really good drinks! If I'm feeling Asian food in Philly I'm definitely coming here! I recently moved here from Los Angeles.. was afraid I wasn't gonna be any good Asian food.. Glad I found this place. Yesterday was my 2nd time at Spice 28, we ordered 2 appetizers and 6 entrees all were delicious but one, the dry pot... was a bit salty... Notify the server and the manger made us a new one! Delicious .. Overall, great food great customer service!!! I'll be back :-) Probably the best Thai food in Philadelphia! The food was fresh and delicious. Cannot wait to get back here and enjoy their menu. The tuna dumplings are a must. Your girl popped her Thai food cherry at Spice 28 this weekend and couldn't have been more pleased with her first experience.
That being said, I lingered towards the mild spectrum of heat on my entree since I didn't wanna ruin my palate on the first try. The menu here is so varied, there's something for all tastes - seems to be half Thai/half Szechuan.
My guest and I each started with vegetable tom yum soups, which were so good. Unfortunately I didn't ask the server to make the spice level mild for that one; however, even though it was VERY spicy, it was still very tasty and didn't ruin my entree. It was a nice, progressive heat. My nose was running for sure, but the flavors were all there. The broccoli, green bell pepper and squash added a nice crunchy element and the pineapple chunks added a much needed acid/sweetness. I ended up boxing most of it for my sick boyfriend at home (nothing like tom yum soup to clear the sinuses).
The entrees were great, as well. I opted for the easiest intro to Thai dish, the drunken noodles with shrimp. I've never had more flavor and texture and spice in one single dish. The creaminess of the noodles, the juiciness of the plump rock shrimp, the crispiness of the onions, and the aromatic flavor of the thai basil and cilantro. I know some variations of drunken noodles are more of a white/coconut cream sauce but this was a dark sauce, almost BBQ/teriyaki style. Very filling also - I boxed half for dinner the following day.
I got a Sapporo to drink and my guest got a refreshing and strong cocktail that tasted like a Long Island iced tea, but a Thai version. It was lime green and had muddled jalapeno and basil in it. The heat worked really well with the coolness of the vodka. Very strong and totally worth the price.
Service was decent, but a little slow towards the end of the meal when trying to pay (there seemed to only be one server for the three large birthday parties that were there that night, plus us and another table). Ambiance is trendy and low-lit, but WAY too loud inside, so I found myself shouting at my guest to speak.
Next time I'll be more adventurous and add a little more heat on my entree since it was pretty mild and possibly explore the Szechuan side of the menu (other tables seemed to order these giant mounds of rice which looked delicious, maybe I'll work that angle next). The appetizers all sounded absolutely amazing (fried calamari, blue crab quesadillas, etc.), but my guest is allergic to certain seafoods so I was limited.
Overall I'd say it's moderately priced and I'd like to visit back and check out the happy hour specials (bonus: Yelp offered me 10% off my bill for checking in). I've been here plenty of times for dinner and they never disappoint me with the portion size and food. I also came here for their lunch specials one time and it most certainly is a good deal. You pay one third of the dinner price but the portion size is the same. My first time here, I remember I got the Mee Siam and they served it in a mini wok which I hope they bring back. HAHA My favorite though is definitely the two different curry they serve in their entree menu. It is very creamy, flavorful and you can definitely taste the coconut milk used to make the curry. For most of their entrees, they give you the option to pick your choice of meat or a vegetarian option. The ambiance is very modern and a great place for friends to come catch up or a simple date night. pineapple fried rice with extra chicken !!! it's about $13 i believe and it's enough for 2 meals. the pineapple is always juicy and the chicken is never dry. Fairly empty for lunch, so our large table was well-accommodated and served. Absolutely no problem with service, for which I am grateful. But the food left me longing. Tasty, but the menu is so epic and sprawling, the car put into making the food just seems prepared with slightly less care. But honestly, I was satisfied. Dan dan noodles, spicy cucumber salad, won tons in chili oil, Indian pancakes, and my order of double cooked pork belly. Alll were great, and I was impressed despite the large menu. Room for improvement, but affordable with normal lunch-sized portions. Spice 28 is the whole package food service and decor. The cumin lamb is awesome. A very solid 3 stars. The food isn't as good as other places in the area, and the drinks also weren't great. The service was decent and the ambiance was fine, but there are better places to go. I was just looking for Thai in Philly and found this. They asked me if I wanted the food spicy. It wasn't that spicy but it was fine. I ordered shrimp drunken noodles to go. My order was ready in 10 minutes. Next time I'm here, I'm definitely going to try more menu items. Pretty basic Asian fusion. Stopped in for lunch and the it was relatively empty, so the service was quick. For the price it's a pretty good deal, I got the pad Thai and miso soup for $9.99 with tax. It was a good portion but pretty basic. No flavor really jumped out but it was fine. Awesome teas! I loved the Mint Lemonade Tea. Drunken noodles were delish. Wish I lived in Philly, I'd come back. Even though they had several large parties the service did not disappoint! I was a little disappointed when I came here. I ordered the chicken drunken noodles and they were not what I expected at all. The consistency and sauce were very different from what I was used too and I eat Thai a lot. This place is perfect for a quick and classy lunch! I came here twice in the past few months, and both times I was very satisfied with the service and the food quality.
I'm someone who can't handle a whole lot of spice so I always ask to lower the spice level. At other places the dishes just end up being a bit bland, or the combination of ingredients doesn't taste quite right, but I didn't have that problem here!
It's also refreshing to see traditional cuisine served in such a trendy place - I do admit that the vibe and decor probably made the food taste better than if it was served somewhere more low-key, but it's a pretty nice illusion :P So I like spicy memory, good food, good service when you eat there. Delivery though isn't as consistent, got a mad dry pad Thai, but dumplings are good. Just keep your expectations in the middle and you're good. Amazing service and even better prices! Drunken noodles was great. Would def go again for another date night. Fusiony Asian food with a mix of Thai(but with some other fusion things) and Szechuan primarily (actually two chefs here); quality is not amazing, but overall, have had some good meals, especially from the Szechuan side. Lunch specials are a very good deal with a decent mix of items. For best foods, I'll focus mostly on the dinner menu, as I have a solid portion of the menu. Service is fine, if not incredible, and prices are quite good. Haven't tried individual entrees enough to say what my favorite meats are with each style
Favorite Things:
Appetizers: Indian Pancake ($5), Mini Wonton in Chili Oil ($6), Peking Duck Crepe ($9), Blue Crab Fajita ($9), Ahi Tuna Dumpling ($11), Spicy Cucumber (cold-$6)
Soups: Tom Yum ($5)
Salad: Duck Salad ($9), Shrimp Mango ($9), Blue Crab Avocado ($10)
Noodles: Pad Thai ($11V/$12C/$14B/$14S), Drunken Noodles ($11V/$12C/$14B/$14S), and Dan Dan Noodles ($7-appetizer size)
Asian Entrees (not Szechuan): Mango Style ($13T/$14C/$16S), Green Curry Style (favorite of Thai dishes here-$12V/$14C/$16B/$16S), Pan Seared Pepper Tuna ($23), and Chilean Seabass ($25)
Szechuan Entrees: Double Cook Style ($13P/$17F), Cumin Style (favorite of Szechuan entrees-$16B/$19L), Dry Pot Style ($13C/$16B/$17S/$17F/$19L), Dry Pepper Style ($13C/$16B/$17S/$17F)
Vegetables: Mapo Tofu ($11-entree size)
Fried RIce: Thai Basil and Pineapple (for both: $10V/$11C/$13S) The king fish was perfect and came out in a hot pot. The avocado won tons were a hit and love that they serve allagash white. The basil fried rice could have been better and actually expected this place to be at least four star. Overall a good meal, just a bit disappointed as we were celebrating a birthday. I came here for lunch with my friend. The server was nice and seated us promptly. I ordered a Tom yum soup and the garlic chicken with jasmine rice (the lunch special). I wish I took pictures because I was really disappointed with the food, despite how hungry I was. First of all, the server brought me the wrong soup and then didn't bring the correct soup until the rest of the food came. The Tom yum soup was literally flavored broth with 2 pieces of zucchini and 1 bamboo shoot. Very disappointing. My friend got a wonton soup and just ate the wontons because the soup had no flavor. My garlic chicken (which was marked as spicy in the menu) was sweet and bland. There was no garlic flavor, and I've had better and spicier garlic chicken at other restaurants. I barely ate half and left the restaurant hungry. I was kind of annoyed because I had heard so many good things and was looking forward to eat at this restaurant. Now I don't plan on coming back. Great food! The amount is perfect and the restaurant was clean and organized. Would recommend the pad Thai! Tried this place for the first time on a Wednesday during Restaurant Week. It was pretty crowded but service was very good. During happy hour I had the Saketini and it really packed a punch, especially for $6. Two of us in the party ordered from the RW menu, I had the roasted duck salad, pork pot stickers (really enjoyed them!) and the Mongolian lamb. I swear my friends and I have "Send Newbie Staff Our Way" stickers on our foreheads; we always get the "it's only my second day" server no matter where we go. You could tell she was nervous and the hostess thanked us for being patient with her, but it wasn't hard, she did a good job. The only downside was that the ONLY dessert they had left was their sorbet bomba, which was good. They did give us the option of taking 10% off the bill because of the dessert shortage so that was nice. I would go again. My bf and I came here for lunch since the menu looked enticing and the reviews were very positive. We are so glad we did so!
We ordered the roasted tomato salad as an appetizer and it was one of the best salads I've ever had. My bf and I literally devoured it within a minute. You can tell they used fresh produce and ingredients in creating this salad. We were pretty surprised that such a seemingly simple salad could taste so good.
For entrees, I ordered the pad thai with vegetables (spicy) and bf ordered the green curry with shrimp. They gave a good variety of vegetables in my pad thai with just the right amount of spice. We were both very satisfied with our dishes.
At the end of our meal, we received a complimentary dessert. It was a type of sweet potato sticky pancake and this was also really good!
Amazing food at reasonable prices. Service was great as well. I would definitely come back to try their other dishes. This restaurant is a hidden gem in the heart of Philly! It was recommended to us by friends and severs of us decided to try it out. Found the staff to lack knowledge or the menu and poorly trained in service. We waited 45 minutes for drinks to come and even longer for our food. When the food finally started to come out it came in pieces with on some entrees at a time and some were done their meals before other food came out. Multiple orders were wrong but due to the wait already and poor service we opted to just eat what came. Management took no ownership when we brought it all to their attention. Food was good but definitely not good enough to justify going back. Take out was super well packed and food came earlier then expected ! The lemongrass and coconut soup was amazing it had a little bit of spice but was full of flavor. The surprising dish was the spicy veggie dish with rice was so well done. Seriously one of the best Szechuan Dry Pepper Chicken in center city Philly. The chicken is so crispy with the spicy garlicky seasoning. The lunch special is $8.25 and come with a soup. I got the wonton soup. Nothing special about the soup, but it's nice that they offering it, perfect to sip on after eating the spicy chicken. I usually have this dish at least twice per month now. I stumbled upon this restaurant few months ago, and was hooked on this dry pepper chicken ever since. It's nice that the restaurant is only few blocks away from my work. I usually order online via their website and pick up. It's ready within 15 minutes. I'll definitely stop by this restaurant to eat in one of these day, their happy hour special seem really good too. The interior and atmosphere seem really nice. I like my noodle drunk. Really drunk, like stumbling around burn my face off type of drunk. So after my month long Philly Thai taste seminar came to a close, I think my closing remarks should be just that.
The noodles ain't choppy, the sauce is just right and the delivery is fast as hell.
RIP - Kit's Thai Kitchen (Stamford, CT) circa 2005. Ok update! I went back. Something, and some people, kept telling me something about my first experience doesn't sound like them. So it went back for dinner and was pleasantly satisfied. The pork buns were delicious as was the shrimp and spicy mayo, all the rice dishes we ordered, everything! The drinks were strong and the sorbet was pretty tasty too. So, I retract guys. The only reason I took off a star was because we were seated right next to the entrance to the kitchen and it was a bit of a weird spot, distracting and just didn't feel very restauranty if that makes sense. Great food and experience. Dinner for group of 15. Apps and entrees enjoyed by everyone. No complaints. Great service and speedy food prep. I had the Singapore noodles...simply amazing. Some of the best Asian food I've had in a long time. All other dishes also looked great. Pleasant surprise! Great drinks and food! The Szechuan menu items rival Han Dynasty and the curry was delish. Dumpling apps were fresh. I've seen other reviews that said the food seemed like it was sitting and not fresh, but that is not what I experienced.
The happy hour menu looks great but we ended up ordering our own drinks and off the menu. The place was pretty crowded and overall a nice atmosphere. My husband and I were just walking around downtown when we noticed this restaurant. Being huge fans for Szechuan cuisine, we immediately walked in. I was a little doubtful at first because they had all kinds of Asian foods on the menu, usually that's not a good sign for a Chinese restaurant, possibly meaning they have everything but nothing is done quite right. When we got our food, though, I happily found my suspicion wrong. We got spicy shredded potatoes for appetizer, which was delightfully spicy (some people might find this too spicy to their taste) and refreshing. The dry pot beef had just the right amount of spice and the beef just burst in my mouth like a firework of flavors, and god I love the fresh bamboo shoots, so tender and tasty. The other thing we got was the Thai basil fried rice (vegie style), which was surprisingly good (as I said, I was always a little suspicious about this "Asian fusion" thing). The rice had the right texture, I could tell they used a variety of spices in it, but just enough so it wasn't too heavy. I don't usually like basil, but somehow it just tasted great in the fried rice. The amount of food was quite good, we only ate about two thirds of the three things we ordered and took the rest home. Our waitress was really nice, we had a little chat because we both spoke Mandarin, and somehow got us some free pumpkin pancakes, man that was delicious, I devoured mine even though I was already stuffed.
Discovering this restaurant made my day. Try it, you'll like it if you like real Szechuan food. I haven't tried their Asian fusion dishes but the Thai fried rice, but I will definitely go back and try them. Folks, as a certified fire eater, there aren't a ton of places that can do weapons grade/authentic dry pot.
Gave this spot a try and it was beyond tip top! My will power to stay within my caloric/carbo limits is being furiously tested not to consume the leftovers. Can't wait for tomorrow!
(Note: I made it EXTREMELY clear how hot I wanted it, so if you're not a dare devil, it should still be fantastic!) We ordered takeout orders here twice, both orders were large orders, one for lunch and one for dinner.
Overall, come here if you want more authentic Chinese food that is different than the takeout stuff that is around Jefferson Hospital. However, if you have the time, just walk a few blocks further to Chinatown to get the "real deal" for about half the price and double the quantity.
Lunch: we ordered 6 lunch combos and some scallion pancakes. The entrees were well made and the container separated the entrees from the rice. The brown rice though was really tough and dry. The entrees were overall very good, 4/5 stars and the right amount of spice. The soup options for lunch were wonton or tom yum. Both were awful! The tom yum was way to oily and the wonton soup came with a SINGLE wonton for the entire container.
Dinner: the food was the right amount of spice and good quality, but for $12-15 for an entree, the portions were way too small. As an asian restaurant, the dishes should be portioned enough to share as a group, not as a single person entree. I know you are trying to make your food seem more "luxuries" but your prices are outrageous for the portions compared to other Asian places. Han Dynasty or Szechuan Spicy house have the same exact food but with much cheaper prices and bigger portions for sharing with a group of people.
Overall: If you want the fancy ambience and are willing to pay extra money for that for less portion and slight above average quality, then come here. If you want more authentic spicy Szechuan food, goto Han Dynasty or Szechuan Spicy house instead where the prices are much better and the portions are sized for sharing. Both of those places are BYOB also. My boyfriend and I ordered delivery from here through the yelp app on a Saturday night. The app quoted an hour delivery time and the food arrived in just 13 minutes, 13 MINUTES - amazing! We got dan dan noodles, drunken noodles with beef, and dry pepper chicken. The food was incredibly tasty across the board and comparable to other locations serving up Szechuan like our go-to, Dan Dan. Prices were moderate. Overall, we were incredibly pleased from top to bottom! Drunken Beef Noodles are always my go to. Great take out as well! Big portions. This is one of my favorite places in the city. Rock shrimp is very good as well!! This place has fantastic Sichuan cuisine, sake and amazing hospitality. The decor and ambience is quite something. I had the fish hot pot and it was definitely spicy, the way I like it and the portion big enough for 2-3 to share. I definitely recommend this place. Dinner was great, drinks were even better and our server was very accommodating. I wish I could remember her name but nonetheless, she was great! Spice 28 was a disappointment....
Made reservations for a Friday night. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by the hostess and seated. This place was EMPTY which was shocking because all of the surrounding restaurants were packed.
So we sit, look over the menu and begin to chat. 10mins go by without us receiving water or our waiter coming over. I finally flag someone down and he brings us water *whewwwwww this water was HEAVY on the tap and down right nasty*.
Same person comes back a few minutes later and takes our order. I opted for the Red Snapper *tasty but way too spicy for my liking*. Due to the spice I was unable to enjoy it or finish.
At no point did anyone check in with us, inquire about our meal or anything of the sorts. Once we were done, again I had to flag him down requesting the bill. The service was horrible which explains the restaurant being empty. I was about to leave after looking at menu. No Chinese. Typical Americanized Chinese dishes. Not many Chinese customers. Cumin lamb actually surprised me, with crisp fry but tender inside. Still it should be called Chinese fusion instead of Sichuan. Sichuan should be much tenser. The rice is a bit soggy too. Well three star is what it deserve. My first impression is actually lower. The dry peer chicken is really good for lunch with a great price. Dinner not sure if it's worth the mark up up however I'm also not sure if it's a larger portion. If so then it may be. Service is quick and it's nice they offer 10% off for chicken.
When it's nice out the open the window for semi street dinning which is very nice. Rand by Good management and a nice quiet place to come on your lunch break to grab food a drink and watch tv while you eat if you don't want to be bothered. Check the place out ya worth it. I've heard positive things about Spice 28 and finally stopped by for lunch with my mom while she was in town.
The interior and ambience is trying to be very trendy, chic, and lounge-y (which it might be for happy hour/dinner, I'm only basing it on my lunch.)
I've seen some other reviews mention similarities to Han Dynasty - which based on the cuisine/menu, is accurate and on point.
The lunch menu has a bunch of great options, for a variety of tastes and spice preferences. I opted for the Cumin Style lunch special (but requested tofu instead of lamb or beef.) The waiter said they could accommodate my request, and it was exactly what I wanted. The tofu was crisp and loaded with cumin flavor and a nice level of spice. I opted for the Tom Yum soup as my appetizer, which was bright and tangy and a perfect warm-up from the winter cold.
The lunch portion was perfect, and both my mom and I enjoyed our meal. I ordered some Thai basil rice and chicken dumplings here via Yelp ordering system and its like 45 minutes waiting for me to pick the food up. So, I called the place after a few minutes and the guy told me that my order isn't coming in yet to their system but he happily took my order and started cooking it. Ten minutes after, I picked up my meal which is 6 minutes away from my hotel (by foot). The guy (Jason, not sure) offered me a chair and even gave me a water while waiting for a couple of minutes. Fast forward, the food was great! It was well seasoned and the right amount of "spicy-ness" that I love. Although, it's a little bit pricey as compared to my fave Asian restaurant in NY. All in all, it's worth the experience and definitely I'll be back when I pay a visit to Philly again. I only give reviews for places that are really good or really bad.
This place is really good. My third or fourth time eating hear in the last couple years and I am impressed. Each time I had the drunken noodles.
Drunken noodles are a wide, flat rice noodle, similar to a lasagna noodle mixed with peppers, onions, and green beans in a very tasty sauce with chicken, beef, or shrimp. I get the chicken and it is excellent. I also had the won ton soup. You have a choice of chicken or pork. I had the pork. A generous serving and very tasty. Prices are very reasonable for a downtown restaurant. I will be back during my next visit to Philly. terrible restaurant. I will never be going back to Spice 28 again. The service was horrible. I was with a group and when we asked to split the check, we were given a pen and told to figure it out ourselves how much we would each have to pay and told to calculate our own tax. The worst of all, I was charged twice and when I called, the staff was unwilling to help me resolve the issue. I would recommend going to a restaurant with better staff that cares about their customers. The chicken dry pot is amazing, but very spicy! Also their dumplings in chili oil are a great appetizer and they have really good drinks! If I'm feeling Asian food in Philly I'm definitely coming here! I work just down the street from here and Spice 28 has been on my list of places to try. Today i decided was a perfect day to try. I went simple today and ordered the sesame chicken lunch special. It came with choice of won-ton or tom yum soup I went with won-ton. Normally I prefer the thin skin won-ton and was expecting (hoping) that it would be the case here. It was not however it was still delicious. The broth was well flavored and the won-tons were tasty. The sesame chicken was a winner also. The staff was incredibly polite and friendly and the place looks awesome inside. The prices are ridiculously reasonable for what you get and the portion size was just right. I will definitely go back and start to explore some of the more interesting (spicy) options on the menu. Some of the negative reviews sound a little unfair (especially the guy from California who has a total of 6 reviews including 4 negative) as every place has growing pains, the fact that the owner replies to negative customer experiences impresses me very much. Great to have a go-to asian place just down the street as opposed to a looooooong walk to Chinatown. Last night, my dad and I were wandering around looking for a place to eat - without reservations. After SIPS, it's not the easiest thing in the world. Let me just say, that was the best thing that could have happened.
Spice 28 is a true gem. The atmosphere was perfect, the staff was friendly, and the food was phenomenal. My dad is pretty indifferent when it comes to food, however he could not stop raving about the dressing on the Blue Crab and Avocado salad. I'd call that a win. Other dishes I'd highly recommend: Mini Wontons, Duck Crepe, Spring Rolls and the Tuna guacamole wontons. This was a great meal and a memorable experience, and I can't wait to go back. Also, they served us a sort of pancake dessert, that, like everything else was amazing.
Take advantage and go there now before this place becomes packed too! This is a place that began back in the day with panache and promise, and now seems neglected and running on fumes. The table was sticky, the bathroom was dirty and out of paper towels, the service was awful (took nearly two hours to get served--they lost our order) and the food, with the exception of the pork dumplings, was bland and unremarkable. Saw the reviews and I was excited about coming here with my boyfriend! Unfortunately the service was bad. We had to continuously approach them and they were on their phones FaceTiming/playing videos games the whole time we were there. Also- we were given these awkward "happy birthday" plates for our appetizer. The whole vibe was just off, and not to mention the food was okay. Our meals were very bland even though we asked for extra spicy. We ordered tofu and it was over-fried and bland. Hands down the worst tofu I've ever had, and it's really hard to mess up tofu lol. Would not recommend. I hope they read these comments and change their approach. Great place for a group to hangout. The lettuce wrap is a top-scorer. We also ordered spring rolls, noodles, curry and some cocktails. Everything was delicious. Good options of food available for vegetarians.
Another best thing about spice 28 is it's very friendly waiters. Absolutely great service. Had a very nice dinner experience at Spice 28! We had reservations for another restaurant, but got cancelled because we were a lil late & it was packed that day. Spice 28 was able to accommodate us. We were skeptical at first because our waitress seemed a lil rude. Ordered few drinks & appetizers. Everything was surprisingly delicious! We ordered a lot more food- dan dan noodles,chicken/beef satay, pepper chicken/beef, fried rice to name a few. Server warmed up to us quickly & we had a great time! Will definitely go back! I had a reservation for 7pm on a Tuesday. My boyfriend and I walked in, there was no one to greet us, no hostess, we stood there awkwardly for about 10 minutes when someone came upstairs and asked if we were being helped and i of course say no. Our waitress was rude, she didn't wear proper uniform. For a restaurant as high end as this, i would assume to have trained waiters and not just family friends to help out or something. We ordered our food, received soup + salad after 15 minutes, then 10 minutes after the waitress came to ask our appetizer again. The service was SOOOO bad. We ended up taking dessert to go because we had spent two hours in that restaurant waiting. We had to flag a waiter for more water. We got calamari which was bland. The rude young lady brought my boyfriend brown rice even though she never asked what kind of rice he wanted, but he took it anyways because we would have had to wait probably 15 minutes for a different rice. CHOOSE A DIFFERENT RESTAURANT unless you're prepared to spend roughly 2-3 hours here. Loveeee the Fried Rice and Lettuce Chicken wraps. The place always has a nice ambience and although small has a unique setup. Service was eh but it was around lunch time so the place was pretty empty. The gentleman that greeted me when I walked is was very nice. I'm assuming he is the manager. All in all I would def recommend Spice 28. They have a good Happy Hour and the food is pretty good. This place serves many different types of Asian cuisine. Food is decent but not great for the money. The seafood udon noodle soup I like when the weather is chilly. A very decent place for Chinese food. It is mainly for America taste. But as a Chinese American it is not bad taste at all. Be sure you ask for Chinese menu. I came here with my boyfriend and the food is amazing. For appetizers, we had the Indian pancakes, the cold sesame noodles, and the miso soup. For our entree, we ordered the Drunken Chicken, the sauteed spinach, and the dry pepper beef. The service was quick and our waitress was extremely efficient.
I've also had take-out here before and they only took 10 minutes to prepare the food. This is my favorite place to order from on GrubHub. The yellow curry with rice noodles is my go to. I absolutely love it. For $11, you have two meals because the portions are huge for the soup/noodle. The pork potstickers are also pretty good, however they're pretty small and they only come in portions of 5. I have been to Spice 28 a couple times for Happy Hour. Their Ginger Cosmopolitan is nice and full of ginger and I also got the Angry Orchard Ginger Cider. I like that their Happy Hour lasts until 7pm because sometimes people can't meet exactly at 5. The drinks are strong and flavorful. Also, the HappyTizers are very delicious. I have tried the Peking Duck Crepe and the Wontons. My only down side to this place is that maybe I eat a lot but the happytizers are not super filling (for me), so i would have to order 4 plates to be full or I would just stay for dinner next time. Lastly, I will be returning to try the lunch or dinner. I am shocked!!! First time yelp has pointed us in the wrong direction. This is as gentrified as food can get, as far from asian cuisine as you need. Just an overall disappointing night.
The food was all bland and subpar. We were here for our anniversary cause of the reviews and ratings but man did this hit us hard. Lemongrass coconut soup had no taste of lemongrass, not sure if this was purposeful for the palette of the neighborhood? But it was not good. The pork belly in chili sauce was not tender, it was tough, and lacked depth. It was basically store bought chili poured over pork belly and mixed. Finally the salt and pepper shrimp/squid was so tough and the batter was so mushy. There was barely any salt and pepper flavor. And it was placed on a huge pile of greens, even though there was only a handful of protein.
The price is way overpriced for the portion size, flavors, and overall experience. We could've gone to Chinatown for half the price and better flavors, we wanted to eXplore and that was our fault. Beware!
Only street parking if you can find any so best to walk, bus, uber. Best of luck, happy eating. We definitely will not be back. Great food. Able to accommodate a party and had good service. Food could have been a bit spicier. Came here for Restaurant Week with friends and was very pleased! The lunch special included four courses, and I loved my appetizer of roti with curry (similar to Malaysian roti canai). The roti was flaky and not greasy, and the curry complimented it well. My main dish of dry pepper fish was also really good (although extremely spicy), and the soup and dessert included were a great way to finish off the meal for only $20. Overall, I left feeling very satisfied and would come back!! If I could give Spice a zero, I would. I have been to this restaurant twice recently and my first experience was actually a good one (maybe 3.5/5). I gave stars for good ambience and music, but the prices were unjustified for the small portions of food. Two spring rolls shouldn't have cost that much; in that case, let me start my own food cart right outside the restaurant and steal all of their customers!!
After the first time, my friends and I decided to return for Happy Hour weeks later. To summarize, it was the worst customer service experience that I've ever encountered. And this is coming from someone who has worked with many difficult customers throughout my history of employment.
First off, the hosts should specify the seating arrangement and its effect on pricing. Apparently, where you sit at the restaurant determines the price of your drinks, especially at the Happy Hour rate which we were there for. Instead, the hosts and waiters sneakily sat us at the dining area even though we specified that we were there for Happy Hour and then charged us twice as much for all of our drinks. Imagine the shock when we saw our bill!!
That wasn't even the worst part. One of the managers came to our table to talk to us about the situation and managed to worsen the situation to new lows by blaming the whole situation on us. He claimed that we should have known that we're in the time of the Civil Rights Movement and that there was a difference where you sat within the same restaurant!!!! And then he was so bold as to say that that is how Happy Hour is, which is understandable as each establishment is allowed to have their own rules. At the same time, sneakily charging customers twice the amount for drinks just to steal our money is not a successful business model.
As a result of this latter experience, I've already told all my doctor friends at our Jefferson campus to spread the word to never go to Spice. I've also told all of my doctor friends at UPenn, Temple, and surrounding schools about my experience and they said they will go to a different restaurant instead based on our terrible experience.
The worst part is that I wanted to like this restaurant. I didn't mind the prices and I usually don't complain about service even if it was mediocre. But the manager at Spice took poor customer service to a new low. He not only didn't apologize, but also blamed the customers for something that was their responsibility. Own your mistake and be a man. I'm Asian too and it was disappointing to see your sad attempt at denial of something that was clearly your fault. Own up to it. So there are some specific reasons why this is not a four star review. It easily could have been. So I came here with my girlfriend's family from out of town and we had reservations. It was a Saturday and we were a party of 7 so I appreciated that they were able to accommodate us and seat us immediately when we got there.
The atmosphere was inviting, young, fun and looked really upscale for the prices. I was pleasantly surprised. The cocktail menu was fun and every drink I tasted was delicious. This is when the review starts to go south. The server we had was so kind and really great, however, it took her forever to get our drinks/take our order/deliver our food. I mean we were there for probably close to three hours and it really wasn't that busy. At times I saw her chatting with the bartender and wishing she would make eye contact to come over to us.
When we finally received our main dishes they were all super tasty. Again, for the price and location you really do get a bang for your buck. The part that made this a two star review for me was when I went to try my girlfriend's dish. I felt someone hard in my mouth, she had a shrimp pad thai which should be relatively soft. I pulled it out and it was a LEG! I was mortified. I was also in the company of family that I was not familiar with so I didn't mention it to the staff. I am sure they would have compensated me and handled it accordingly. However, I was just ill at that point. I have no idea what kind of leg it was. I am just trying to convince myself it was a shrimp leg but I have no idea.
So TL:DR: I initially thought I was going to really like this place but am forever turned off to it. Pros:
Orderable through Yelp
Delivery was on time
Good amount of food
Drunken noodles were excellent
Curry was full of flavor
Spring rolls and dipping sauce were amazing- just the tiniest hint of spice in the dipping sauce.
Lots of pineapple chunks in pineapple fried rice
Cons:
Only two spring rolls for $5, most places it's 3
Pineapple fried rice didn't have much flavor
They added in golden raisins which I hate and was not on menu to the PFR
They added in many extra veggies to the curry. Which tasted good but was odd and dangerous for those with strict allergies The food here is awesome. Great CC sips options too. We had the Tuna dumplings, spicy cucumbers, the pad tai which I would get them all again! We also had the dry pepper chicken which was a bit salty and had lots of peppers compared to the chicken. This place is extremely loud and the service is poor. Took very long to get out drinks and was never brought water. After some persuasion and a reasonable talk with Jack (one of the owners) concerning my first experience, I decided to give Spice 28 a second chance for V-day. Everything that went wrong in my first dining experience went quite well the second time around. Our appetizers and entrees came out fairly quick, we were checked on every 15-20 minutes, and our glasses were constantly refilled. My BF and I ordered the Ahi Tuna Dumplings and the Thai Basil Shrimp Fried Rice as our appetizers. The Ahi Tuna Dumplings were delicious. It had a crispy, sweet and sour citrus-sy flavor. The Thai Basil Shrimp Fried Rice was very flavorful as well. The only complaint I have is that the jumbo shrimps did not mesh in with the flavors of the fried rice. If you ate the shrimp by itself, it tasted bland and had that fishy aftertaste. For our entrees, we shared the Dry Pot Style Beef and the Hot Sauce Style Chicken with white rice. They both had a savory aroma that was tasteful with very spicy and a hint of sweet flavors. As a very analytical person, I observed the overall service that surrounded us at other tables. I didn't want others to be treated indifferently just because I expressed my negative experience I had the first time around. Fortunately, the service provided overall was attentive and positive.
Thank you Jack for reaching out to me as many owners fail to reach out to their diners for any improvement. I applaud you and your staff for a wonderful Valentine's dinner experience.
P.S. - The complimentary heart-shaped dessert was BOMB! Wish I knew what it was called... I walked by this place numerous times and always thought about going in, but it was always on my way to or from another restaurant. Finally, my wife and I decided to try it after a group of people coming out of the restaurant mentioned how good the food was. At soon as we walked in, we immediately liked the ambiance. I don't really use words like chic, trendy, etc., but it definitely had a nice feel to it. It's a great place for a date or a group of friends.
Now I will start with this disclaimer, I tend to judge Thai restaurants or Asian restaurants that serve Thai food with one dish on my first go 'round...Pad Thai. If the restaurant can't make good Pad Thai, you've already lost me.
I ordered the Shrimp Pad Thai and my wife order Drunken Noodles with shrimp. Both dishes were very good. So good that I think I have found one of my official Pad Thai spots. The Crunchy Shrimp we ordered as an appetizer was just okay. I will try something else next time.
Now that I know they can make good Pad Thai as well as Drunkeen Noodles, I feel comfortable ordering other items on the menu. Not many vegetarian options here unfortunately. The staff was wonderful and very accommodating. The Tom Yum soup was good. Spice 28 is a nice little place located at the heart of center city. They have an awesome lunch menu - usually soup comes with your entree. But even the regular menu has a lot of options. Their food is pretty good and they serve a decent portion too. My favorite is their pineapple fried rice - loaded with nuts and pineapples. I recently also tried their Indian pancake and it tasted awesome.
This place gets super busy during lunch time on weekdays since there are a lot of offices around this area. But they have a lot of tables - so I haven't waited for more than two minutes any time.
Their prices are pretty reasonable too. Not very expensive for their location. If you are looking for a Thai/Asian Fusion place in center city which is not super expensive, this is the place to go. They serve pretty fast. The decor is very casual.
If you are a vegan/vegetarian, make sure you specify no fish sauce because they tend to have that in many of their dishes. They are also accommodating and flexible in customizing the menu according to your dietary restrictions.
They also have a yelp check in discount. Definitely give this place a try. Oh god. Where do I even start! This place is beyond amazing. My boyfriend and I were looking for a good place to grab a quick lunch before getting ready for a wedding. We roamed around reading terminal but nothing caught our attention. We were contemplating on going to ihop (I really wanted pancakes) but then I remembere spice 28 was closer and that I wanted to try it. I'm SO happy we did.
Although there were only 3 tables of people or so, the vibe was nice and relaxed. The interior of the restaurant looks amazing. The music was chill and our server was nice and sweet. She was very informative as well. My boyfriend an I ordered the Ahi Tuna dumplings, and let me tell you, it was the BEST thing I've ever put in my mouth. Our server told us to use our spoons to pick up some of the sauce and eat it together. I wish I could bathe in the sauce that it came with. It was sweet and a touch of spice. The dumplings themselves were wrapped up in a crispy exterior and coming from a non-fish lover, the tuna on the inside was so delicious. These people are geniuses. Dumplings with guacamole?! perfect!
For our entree we shared the tropical mango chicken. It was so flavorful and not too heavy. Everything inside the dish was perfectly paired together.
The owner,(??? perhaps) came by and checked up on us to make sure everything was okay. He was very kind and funny. He introduced himself and chatted with us for a little
Once we asked for our bill, we were notified that we were receiving a complementary dessert. Which I was thrilled about. I love dessert.... But we got these cute donut like cakes that were warm and delicious!! They had a type of sticky filling that was so good that I would live off of it.
In total, I wish I could set up camp inside of this restaurant and eat their tuna dumplings for the rest of my life. I am definitely coming back to try out the rest of their wonderful menu! Thought we'd give this Thai restaurant a try. It was pretty good. I wouldn't say it was great. We got dry pot and vegetable pad thai. Our waiter was extremely nice and helpful. The restaurant was pretty much empty and quiet, maybe Bc it was Sunday evening? I wouldn't mind going back! I asked for extra spicy but I think I would have to say extra extra spicy next time! Needed some down/alone time during a conference. I found this place and immediately had to try their Pad Thai.
I was able to conveniently order online and pickup at the restaurant which was just a three block or so walk from the Loews where I was staying.
Ready when I got there, friendly staff, and (most importantly) delicious food!
My pad Thai was spicier than the sweet version I find in Central PA, but I loved it. Got there almost to closing and the food was still so delicious and the service was great. Street parking sucked, but it was in a great area of downtown. Would defiantly recommend the duck buns and basil fried rice Wow! This place is amazing. Flavors are perfect, ambiance makes you want to stay awhile. I had the Drunken Noodles and the Dumplings in Chili Oil. Both were as good as I have ever had. I can't wait to go back and try their Thai basil, green curry, and szechuan dishes. Might be the best Asian restaurant I've ever been to, and I lived in SF for 12 years! I took a few guests to dinner at this location and the atmosphere was very modern in the dinning area. I will say the hostess had ZERO personality and was heavily focused on watching TV and lacks people skills but the waiter made up for it! He was nice, charismatic and able to be bartender and waiter! Awesome! The food was excellent and I will return however I will sit in the bar. The restaurant needs more A/C. It was very warm and one unit was not cutting it. If this place invests in a second A/C it would move the rating to 5 star! The crowd is very diverse from young to mature and I would definitely recommend giving this place a try! On Christmas Eve, my wife and I went to Spice 28 on Chestnut Street because it was close to our hotel. At first we thought it was closed; the exterior wasn't very inviting, but once we stepped inside it was a whole different story. This was no normal Thai restaurant but what they call Asian Fusion. The modern sleek design of the interior and the friendliness of the hostess made for a fine start to our dining experience.
It was our waiter's first day on the job, so he had another waiter shadowing him, which meant we always had service. Appetizers were delicious (pot stickers and ahi tuna). For dinner I had the Tangerine Duck which was tangy and tasty. My wife had the tuna avocado salad.
The desserts were out of this world. I had the exotic bomba (mango, passion fruit and raspberry sherbet covered in white chocolate). My wife had the Coppa Strawberry and Caramel (vanilla ice cream with strawberries and caramel). They didn't serve coffee but that was okay.
A very good dining experience for the holiday. I came here for CCD SIPS with a group of friends and it was by far our best SIPS experience yet (and we've been around).
Because we were mostly drinking, we can't really comment on the food, but the cocktails were delicious and colorful--and there was a HUGE variety for CCD SIPS--more than any other business, and the staff were so friendly and patient, explaining to us all the appetizer portions.
We got dumplings and wontons in chili oil--which were fairly standard--Indian pancakes with a curry dipping sauce which was excellent, and wings which were on the smaller side but delicious and priced reasonably.
This isn't high snobiety food, but it was a big variety of excellent drinking food, affordably priced, in a cool restaurant with very pleasant service. Definitely would recommend for SIPS if you're young and on a budget. Came in for late lunch at 3:30pm. The bartender was absolutely horrible. She seemed annoyed we were even customers. When she finally took our order she was rubbing her face the whole time which I thought was odd. When our food came out..(which was delicious) I asked her for utensils....she told me in an annoyed voice and pointed to a set up 2 seats away from me. She never asked how our food was, never took our app plates away when entrees arrived, never asked if we needed anything or how we liked the food. She was on her phone sitting down the entire time. We had to flag her over for water. The food was excellent but the service was horrendous. I am in the industry and was disgusted by her lack of even knowing the beginning aspects of how a server/bartender should be. Honestly worst service I have had in years. Food was decent. Staff took forever to take the order. Their refreshment drinks are yummy! Ate here on a given Sunday. Staff were friendly, and food came out quickly. The pad thai i ordered was wonderful (9/10). My wife ordered a pineapple rice which was Ok but nothing special (7/10). Hence my 4 star review. Extremely good Asian fusion restaurant! Food is great and service is good too! Come for happy hour - such a cheap menu. $4 glasses of house wine!
Only thing this place lacks is the crowd. Ate dinner here twice and dining room was a little empty and awkward. But a good quaint, quiet choice! One of my favorite place to grabs my favorite dish Drunken Noodle and dried peppers dish. As reading so many great reviews of this place, I decided to try it out with a small group of friends. We had made reservations, but upon arriving, I didn't really see the reason as there were numerous tables available.
Upon being seated, we were greeted by our waitress who promptly informed us that they were still waiting for the liquor license to be approved. Just as I thought, the Ahi Tuna Dumplings were the hottest thing on the menu, which the waitress quickly recommended. As my entree, I ordered the Mango style chicken. The rest of my group ordered a variety of appetizers and entrees, so I was able to sample a wide variety of the food.
From what I tasted throughout dinner, there was a strange overpowering of flavors competing with each other. For example, the Ahi Tuna Dumplings came with a sweet/sour red glaze on top and a spoonful of guacamole under the dumpling. The waitress informed us that we were supposed to take a spoon and eat the entire dumpling and garnish as one. Now I'm not saying it wasn't good, but the flavor was just too complex. In truth, I couldn't even taste the Ahi tuna. My entree was flavorful and I appreciated the thick slices of real mango incorporated into the dish.
As our meal concluded, the waitress brought our check and I was able to redeem the 10% check-in offer with no problem. She even gave us a complementary dessert, which consisted of a sweet-potato mini pancakes.
The food was 3.5, service was 5.0, decor/theme, 5.0. Upon receiving their liquor license, I can see this place as a nice chill spot. This place is right around the corner from my job so I eat here often. Usually I get the panang curry with chicken or tofu, hold the eggplant and some mushrooms. I'm definitely a pain in the behind but the make my adjustments and it's delicious. They are a little stingy with the rice though. I almost always have to ask for more. The spring rolls and thai iced tea are awesome. I don't go near their overpriced drinks. We had a really bad experience here! There was lots of confusion about our reservation. Multiple orders were messed up. Half of our drinks took almost 30 minutes to come out, and our food took more than an hour. Several tables who were seated long after we arrived received their food before us. We eventually left without eating because it was taking so long.
Even if the service had been good, I have concerns about the menu. There is no draft beer, and instead they have bottled beer that is very overpriced. I'm not interested in paying $6 for a 12 oz bottle when I can get 16 oz of the same beer on tap for the same price at another restaurant. Additionally, their food is very expensive. I regularly eat the same dishes for half the price a few blocks away in Chinatown. Maybe the quality is better, but I'm skeptical. Good Thai food, reasonable pricing, the atmosphere is really neat. Drinks are strong and there's a nice variation. A lot of vegetarian options and staff and management are nice too. This is the only place I order from when I am craving for good schezuan food and don't wanna step outside the house. They literally have been consistent in delivering food within 15-20 mins of placing the order and the food has always been great! Definitely recommend their Mapo Tofu with minced Beef! Great new asian fusion restaurant near City Hall and China Town. We stopped in randomly while looking for lunch and were happy that we did. Food was very good, everyone was happy and we got a variety of dishes. Definitely worth checking out. Awesome food and great service. Very reasonable for delicious varieties. We had a table of ten and we tried many different appetizers and were surprised how tasty every item tasted!
Highly rated by all ten of us! Would definitely comeback!
Our waitress was Lana and was impressive!!! Very good food and atmosphere. Service was a bit slow but there was only one server covering the restaurant. A fun space with a really nice ambience. Servers and waiters are all very friendly. The drinks are great and reasonably priced. A few dishes id recommend include: pad Thai, edamame, and lettuce wraps. From the drinks to the Singapore rice noodles, hot sauce beef, and dry pepper chicken, everything was amazing!! Yes the drinks were on the strong side, and we did have the gimlet, the Mojito, and the mangotini, but all were very tasty. My favorite Szechuan spot in center city. Great for lunch and dinner. We usually get take out for dinner but on occasion we stop in for a quick bite. Love that there's a bar up front and larger tables in the back. Don't miss the spicy cucumbers and the kung pao. Dropped in for dinner with a few colleagues. Place was jammed and very loud with a mostly younger crowd. Service was pretty good but the food was just ok for me, nothing special. What an awful experience. My Bf drove into town on his day off, paid to park, and surprised me for lunch. We arrived at 1130a. We had to leave by 1p. Waitress seated us and never came back to take our order. Everything was delayed. Mgr took our drinks, apps and entrees orders. We recv drinks and apps 1 hr later. Drinks were good! But we canceled the meal due to time. They kept delaying telling us 5min more. They did give us the food in takeout and apologized. We will never return. We were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed our dinner and drinks! The bartender takes pride in his craft of making drinks. I had the Philly Love which was amazing. Bartender also altered it for another patron with Tequila instead of Vodka. We had an nice conversation with the bartender and enjoyed watching him make his specialty drinks! The dinner was excellent and reasonably priced! The wonton soup was enough for two. My husband had the General Tso's and I had the Chicken Pad Thai which was awesome! The staff was very nice and accommodating! I definitely recommend this restaurant and will be returning when I am back in Philly! Food is consistently excellent. Desserts were spectacular. The Australian bartender makes the best drinks ever!!! We come from the suburbs for this experience. Summary:
We came here for dinner during a warm Philly night, hoping to satisfy my craving for Asian food, but left disappointed. This place has no true identity, except being an overpriced pretender of jack of all trades in Asian cuisine. Unfortunately I will not return here due to the unwelcoming price and other better nearby restaurants
One star for location, one for service, and one for effort.
Food:
If clowns had a cuisine, this would be it. The food is foolish, a parade of exotic ingredients, confused and overpowering sauces, and ideas piled one on top of the other until the recipes simply collapse under their own weight. Almost every dish is sweet -- so sweet that the desserts seem like palate cleansers.
Location and Ambiance:
For some reason the exterior seems bland, perhaps since it is situated in an okay, unexcited part of the street. I do like the modern yet warm ambiance inside the restaurant.
Price:
I do think this place uses quality food, just overly spiced and priced. This restaurant has some of the best Three Pepper Chicken. The drinks we ordered had a nice cold taste to it. One thing I am confused about is the reviews for the restaurant. There were a lot of bad review about the food service. When I visited this restaurant there was great food service and the waiter was nice and patient. If i could give a 4.5 rating, this would be it.
I adore the lunch menu and happy hour menu here. The drinks are LOADED, tasty and cheap. The scallion pancakes are amazing with the curry sauce that comes with it. The drunken noodle was one of the best I've had. You can't go wrong! We love it here! The service is amazing and they are totally accommodating if you are gluten free. I got the drunken noodles and they were delicious. Usually it's very loud sitting at the bar, but we had the such a nice quiet date night. Benny is a great bartender too. food tastes too similar for me, but cheap and friendly Fusion is interesting. Place is lit well. bar gets rowdy sometimes. Food is decently priced. portions are on the larger side. Recommend the red curry Overall a very lackluster experience, relatively expensive, and would not go again.
Pros:
Nice variety of food offerings
Happy Hour options and prices looked great
Inside is spacious and clean
Location
Cons: Many things
Ordered sauted udon noodles - very bland
Friend got thai curry - also very bland
We were near the back of the restaurant because of the size of our group and two of the workers kept yelling at each other near us
Service was extremely slow - we ordered one extra drink for a late comer to our group and it took so long to come they put it on the house.
They randomly charged my friend automatic 18% gratuity when he ordered us a round of drinks?
They forgot which dish was spicy and which was not when they brought them out
They forgot to add brocoli to my friends dish and instead of adding them to the main dish, brought out a side of steamed broccoli which was both slow and bland.
After all of this, the prices are relatively high for the quality of food and service we got.
You would be FAR better served to get this sort of food in China town, which isn't that far from this location. This place has a special place in my heart because it's where me and gf had our first date in Philadelphia. The restaurant is beautiful on the inside. The lighting is very aesthetically pleasing. The food and drinks were also very good. We had panang curry and pad Thai, along with two of their speciality cocktails. The food was delicious, drinks were strong and tasty. The service was on point. Overall the entire experience was amazing. Food-Not impressive. Bland. Very disappointing. Seemed pre made.
Service-Took forever to take our order and for everything else Spice 28 is a great go-to for happy hour drinks and apps, as well as dinner! During my most recent visit, a friend and I met after work and were able to get a table in the bar area right in front of their big open windows. We ordered a selection of appetizers (dumplings in chili oil, lettuce wraps, potstickers, chicken satay, duck crepes, and spring rolls- just about every appetizer on the happy hour menu)! Our food and drinks (house red wine) came out very quickly, and the waitress was very nice and attentive. They modified everything to no spice as requested and everything was delicious. I also ordered the shrimp pad Thai and ate every bite! I was here on a Friday night with a 730 reservation, but upon arriving there were quite a few tables available so it might not have been necessary. (All of that to say, this could be a "walk-in" place if you find yourself walking around center city on the weekend wanting some decent food). We started off with the pancake and curry sauce and I have to say, that curry sauce was DELICIOUS. I wanted it on everything (I'll explain more later). It was creamy and peanut-y and the pancakes were crispy and not greasy at all. So good. I ordered the satay with tofu because I was looking forward to more delicious peanut sauce but that was not the case. When I think of satay, I think peanut, but this didn't really have much of a peanut flavor. It wasn't bad...it just didn't taste spicy and peanuty-y. The prices are good the service is good and the place is decent. Our bill would have been on the lower side for a meal in center-city on a Friday night if it were not for the bottle of sake that we ordered. It was worth it and we were feeling pretty good by the end of our meal. This place is a bit more of a casual spot. They were very gracious with a Yelp 10% check-in discount even after our tab was already totaled. It was an ok experience. (I should have poured that peanut-curry sauce over my tofu.) My friends and I came here for restaurant week and it was fine. The food was decent and the service was okay. The drinks and atmosphere are definitely above average. All of the food was good, but nothing stuck out as unique or especially authentic. When the soup came out it was only lukewarm, and the Duck salad seemed to have been sitting in its dressing for a while before served, as it was soggy.
I'd definitely recommend the Thai sweet chili calamari. The presentation and flavor of the sweet chili was something new, even though I have had this dish a bunch of times.
I wouldn't recommend the Drunken Noodles. Drunken noodles are my favorite Thai dish, so I should have known better than to order them at a restaurant that is not specialized in Thai food, but there was almost no sauce/ seasoning and only a few vegetables. It completely lacked the flavor of Drunken Noodles! Awesome food and good service! We went in for Restaurant Week and were treated to excellent soup, salad, large portioned entree, and dessert! We would definitely go back again! Our meal at Spice 28 was very good. The portions were plentiful and the price was reasonable, especially given that the ambiance is much nicer than other Asian restaurants. We enjoyed the peking duck buns, dan dan noodles, pineapple fried rice, and a noodle dish (can't remember the name). Everything was good. Overall I found the food to be a bit oily for my liking, but the flavors were good and we had enough for 2 full meals. Also, I made a reservation for a Monday evening thinking my Living Social deal would still be good. The restaurant actually called me a few days before my reservation to ask if I had a Living Social deal and reminding me that it expired on Sunday. That's excellent customer service right there! I would have been upset had I shown up on Monday with an expired deal! The service at the restaurant was also very good. The drinks looked great, too, but we didn't try! My friends got food poisoning. It's a great for bar scene but food wise, that only that waa good was the pad thai. After reading about this place online, we decided to check it out.
Our group ordered a variety of appetizers instead of getting a main course, so I can't vouch for the main meal. But we asked our waitress to bring us some dishes that she thought was good and she brought us out a good variety.
The pork buns were really good, as well as the Ah Ha Tuna with the avocado sauce. We also had the dumplings, Japanese calamari, (Not to be mistaken for deep fried calamari), edamame and some various other dishes.
For drinks we ordered the homemade lemonade and that was also really good.
The only reason I give this a 4/5 stars is because of the lighting. Other than that, the food and the customer service were great. Would come back to this place again. I hate to say it y'all, but I thought this was a better experience than Han Dynasty.
1) for me that's not a lot of praise but for whatever reason people loves themselves some Han Dynasty
2) decor is cute
3) food, like at HD almost all tastes the same.
Szechuan does not mean everything is cooked in the same chili oil or at the same spice level. One must consider the ingredients and cooking technique.
I hate to say it, but I've had better at ghetto mall food courts... This is not good Szechuan. Or even Asian. If you want the best go to han dynasty and ignore this part of the menu. Don't even think about.
Ordered mini wontons in CHILI oil. Not sure where the chili part was, because it was swimming in what tasted exactly like a salty dumpling sauce dip of soy sauce and garlic. The wonton was gummy and the pork inside was bland and unseasoned.
Dan Dan noodles were close to cold, too pasty from too much sesame paste and not slick. Again, where was any chili oil? I felt like I was eating peanut butter smothered noodles.
The double cooked fish was Not crispy. Soggy pieces of thick fillet and overly salted dressing.
The tropical mango chicken actually was enjoyable after everything else, despite the mango being crunchy and not close to ripened.
Next the service sucked. We were never checked back on once the food arrived, and had empty water glasses the whole dinner despite asking for more water. We got one glass of water filled at the check. Why not both??? This place was good but was nothing amazing... at least from what I ordered. It was my first visit this afternoon. I was here for restaurant week.
My first course was the wonton soup. Good, but nothing special. I then received the chili aioli rock shrimp. This was a tasty piece and was presented nicely.
The main entree was the cumin beef. I had no issue with the quality and it was very good but I felt the dish did not distinguish itself from what you could get in a chinese take-out spot. Everything was cooked well and you could definitely taste the spice when you first sample it. It was a good dish, and I finished it, but it was nothing that I was really impressed with. I finished off with a tiramisu and this was also good but nothing fantastic.
The one nice thing with this place is they brew there own tea and so you won't be getting the Lipton stuff when order one.
My rating does not reflect any negative experiences with this venue. I just was not too impressed with the flavor of the dish I ordered. I just felt there would be no difference from take-out if I was presented this in a styrofoam container. I would love to come here again and try something new in the future I ordered the dry pepper style chicken and Thai basil rice for pickup. The dry pepper style chicken was extremely salty. This dish tasted like it was washed with ocean water. I could barely eat 3 pieces of chicken before I gave up. $14 wasted, literally! I was just a bit disappointed after getting there. When we reached the spot, it was empty and only one gentleman sitting at the bar. They asked us to wait to be seated. They seemed a bit unorganized. Once we were seated I notice the table across from us had piles of papers which seemed like bills. The waitress came to take our order and didn't write it down but she didn't miss a thing. The service was absolutely slow. The drinks were really good as well as the food. But definitely had us waiting even though they weren't busy at all. What kind of annoyed me was that they brought out food for another guest who came way after us. I heard many guests asking for their food. They should have a better process in place.
But the food was really good. Love, love Spice 28. I finally had the opportunity to go there are night for dinner. Fantastic! The drinks were amazing and the food was great as always. And we had desert which was a perfect ending to a perfect meal. A must for weekday happy hour. One of a few stops for happy hour, and this place was almost empty. A huge win for us because we got to sit anywhere and food was served quickly. The drinks were delicious and the the specials had a good combination of classics and sweet cocktails. My friend and I split the spicy chicken wraps (don't worry, they are too spicy). The one appetizer was plenty for us both! And the wraps! Oh my goodness I'm still think about them. The contrast between the cold crisp lettuce and the soft spicy chicken was lovely. The meal is served "deconstructed" so you can make your own portions and play with exactly how you like it.
For price, quality, service and atmosphere I don't think there's a better stop in the area. Certainly making my top favorites list. The food here was delicious and the service was quick. Their drunken noodles were so delicious. The perfect amount of heat and seasoning. The decor here is also cute. Definitely check this place out. Came here with a group for dinner and did family style. Glad I made reservations because the place is gaining popularity and starting to get packed on weekends. The ambiance is definitely attractive but I thought it was much too dark - we could barely see our food which takes away some of the experience for me. Also, service was a bit slow and inconsistent - first dish came out and then 10 minutes later all of our dishes came at once. Would have been nice if dishes came out one after the other so we could have time to pass dishes around to share.
Best dish of the night: Pan Seared Pepper Tuna - the wasabi mashed potatoes on the side blew me away and jolted my palate awake! Ahi Tuna Dumplings were good but found my expectations might have been over-inflated because of all the other yelp reviews. Went there on a Friday night. Lively group post happy hour so be prepared. Grabbed some drinks and appetizers. Amazing Asian pancake. So we stayed and ordered dinner as well. All dishes were great. Real authentic. My family wants to go back next week. Love it. I wish we had a place like this back home. I think I could eat the mini wontons in chili sauce every day and be happy. The main reason for the 4 stars, instead of 5, is purely execution. I ordered the tom yum soup, but received the wonton soup instead. The wonton soup was good, but I really wanted to try the tom yum. Also, I got the drunken noodles with shrimp, and the shrimp was a little over cooked. Otherwise, everything was very good. I enjoyed the drunken noodles and i also spooned some of that chili sauce from the mini wontons over top! The food is absolutely delicious. Last time we came to Philly we ate here 3 days in a row it was so good! We ordered again tonight and it just never seems to disappoint! My boyfriend and I absolutely love the food here and so far, has been my favorite place in Philly to eat. We love the don don noodles, drunken noodles, garlic string beans, and wontons in chili oil- all of it was delicious! We were looking for a cute spot after dinner and happened to walk by Spice 28. We walked in and it was pretty busy we sat at the bar. There was only one stool left so I sat and my fiancé was going to stand. Immediate an employee brought over a stool which was much appreciated.
I was looking for a sweet but strong martini and that is what I got with the french pear martini. Mmm. I wish we hadn't already been drinking because we would have stuck around for a while.
This restaurant and bar area is VERY small. The bartender took a while to take our order and never checked on us. Another employee came to check on us and by this time we were ready to go.
I would come again for their perfectly crafted cocktails. Stopped by for a lunch on the weekend. Sort of had a tentative try of the new menu. Just based on that experience though I must go back and try it for real. Had the tuna salad and was able to try the coconut soup and pad thai that the gf got.
Everything was amazing. Our waitress was wonderful, the chef gave us a free sample of appetizer, the guacamole wontons which were insanely good.
The only thing is that it's a kinda overly trendy look for the area that it's in. It's very large, and not many people were there... hope that changes. Good spot for an assortment of Thai flavored dishes. Met a friend there for dinner and had a good time. Servers were attentive and my drunken noodles with chicken was very good. Not amazing but would certainly be willing to go back. My wife and I went here on long weekend in Philly. It was a very nice time. The food was good the decor was cool and trendy and the price was what you would expect for downtown Philidelphia. I would come here again and I would recommend it to others. This is my go to spot for Chinese food in center city. Great prices for the quality and portions, especially for lunch specials. They're very nice too. Food was good, but their service was frustrating. We were one of maybe 3-4 other groups in the entire restaurant, but was constantly waiting for long periods of time to try to wave down 1 of 2 waiters to ask for things like forks or spoons or napkins. Our group was of 11 people (so guaranteed 20% gratuity) and they put minimal to no effort in waitressing.
Left somewhat disappointed One of my favorite happy hour spots in town for their good drink specials and appetizers. This family owned business offers $6 long islands and $5 chicken wings that come with a sweet & sour sauce. All Apps were hot and fresh, food was killer, employees we very kind and friendly. Awesome! Really like this place. I always get the same dish, Chicken Pad Thai. It's very good and the staff is very nice. You can come here alone or with company and it doesn't feel weird. They're very consistent and my Pad Thai always tastes the exact same! This place is so good. It is my favorite Thai food (for the price) in Philly. It's relatively inexpensive and the food is flavorful. My favorite dish is drunken noodles and their drunken noodles are so good. They also have great dumplings. The chili sauce they come in is flavorful and ties everything together. They also have a yelp coupon which is very handy. I definitely recommend eating here if you are in center city and need a Thai food fix. Quality food and great prices. One of my favorite places for happy hour! Tons of great options that will easily cover your entire meal. The mojito drink is delish! I Yelped today to look for lunch in the city bc I had a craving for asian fusion, but couldn't pull the trigger on where I wanted to go. I found Spice 28 and looked through the pictures of entrees. I made the decision to give this restaurant a try.
Upon arriving at Spice 28, we entered and found a quiet establishment. There were 3 patrons enjoying their meals in the front area. We waited awhile for a greeter, but she finally appeared and seated us promptly.
I chose the spring rolls (chicken) and edamame for appetizers. We decided on the garlic style chicken, shrimp fried rice, and Kung pao chicken for our entrees. Wonton soup came with each entree (Yaaay). Our wonton soup arrived first. It was pipping hot, tasty, and the bowl was full of it. I enjoyed my wonton bc it soothed my soul. The edamame and spring rolls were up next. The edamame was ok, but the spring rolls were better. They were crispy and full of veggies. I really enjoyed the crunchiness and cabbage in each bite. Our entrees arrived a little later. I received a hearty serving of shrimp fried rice. I was surprised to find full size shrimp (we know that is a rare find in shrimp fried rice). My serving of garlic chicken was a nice size as well. I loved the garlic sauce as it was light, a little sweet, and a little heat. I felt the garlic chicken paired well with the fried rice. My husband liked his Kung Pao chicken. He thought it would be hotter, but was happy that it had only minimal heat.
Overall, we enjoyed our dining and food experience at Spice 28 and would return and recommend it to our loved ones. We came for restaurant week lunch, there was no line and service was great!
For the $20 three course meal, I started with the tempura rock shrimp. They were perfectly battered and did not feel excessively bready or oily at all! I loved the spicy mayo dipping sauce as well.
For entree, I got the cumin style lamb and wonton soup. Soup was alright, nothing really special. The cumin lamb was a little different from traditional Chinese styled cumin lamb- it had some mala which is like a numbing spice. Still tasted great.
I had a green tea mochi for dessert and it was a perfect way to end a spicy meal. Having just come back from Kyoto, the matcha capital of the world, I had extremely high expectations for anything green tea flavored and this mochi was surprisingly not disappointing. Not as great as Japan, but pretty damn good for America. They are filled with ice cream.
Overall, great deal for restaurant week. I tried a bunch of other foods from my friends and the potstickers and dry pepper chicken were both fantastic as well. For 25ish dollars after tax and tip, this was a solid experience. PROS: Solid food, decent prices, decent portions
CONS: Too dark
The food is pretty decent (a mixture of Szechuan and Thai), though not extraordinary. The lights are too dim (I like to see the food I'm eating), and the waitstaff too anxious. It seems like the manager of the restaurant doesn't treat the waitstaff very well (which is a major minus), as I saw him yelling at them near the bar. Meh. Food was excellent, glad they are open for take out and can't wait till table seating is available again . Very nice owners. Another good visit at Spice 28. Chix Pad Thai and Satay Takeout. Needed to grab a quick meal before I'm off to work. Ordered through the Yelp App and ready in literally 10 minutes. Awesome food and the waiter and bar tenders are two of the hottest guys. I got the pineapple fried rice, duck, and yellow curry. All were amazing. I had an amazing experience here. Food was 10/10. The portion was definitely big compared to the price. We tried Pad Thai and Drunken Noodle, which were amazing. Definitely come back again to taste more dishes!! The best bento box I've ever had. The teriyaki sauce is mild, but flavorful, and not salty at all. The chicken is lean. The vegetables under the chicken are cooked perfectly, including the asparagus! The salad has mango slices on it and a mango dressing. The fried dumplings are delicious. I normally get the Thai basil chicken at Spice 28, so I had never tried their Japanese before. It is amazing! I am happy that I came in on a busy Friday night! The wait was okay and I waited about 5 mins and the manager Ben (I believe) is a super nice guy, he recommended the tuna dumplings appetizer and the sea bass for entree. I really love the tuna appetizer and the sea bass is the best sea bass I have ever had! The red miso sauce is fantastic with the cold soba sesame noodle on the side. My friend Anna ordered the Saigon beef which is pretty good,too.
Besides the food, the best thing I love about this place is the decorations. The design is just so nice and so modern. As they said, they will get the liquor license soon and I think it will be even better. I will definitely come back and check out how their drinks are. Good place to hang out with friends. Nice food and nice people. I got take out here and it was okay. Dan Dan noodles were okay, I've had better. Han Dynasty Dan Dan noodles are far superior. Same goes for the spicy cucumber. Good place to grab a quick lunch. Friendly service, I have to say I enjoyed my visit to Spice 28. My cousin and I met there for happy hour which is from 5 to 7. We took a window seat in the bar area and had the ginger Cosmo which was very good. The young lady bartender wasn't the most professional. She was cursing very loud in a conversation with another patron and was very abrupt with me when I initially approached the bar for a drink. Other than that our server for the rest of the evening was an absolute dream. I wish I could remember his name.
The happitizers we ordered were the Ahí Tuna Dumplings, Indian Pancakes, Mini Wontons in Chili Oil, Cucumbers, the Spring Roll ( kind of disappointed they only give you one) and the Chicken Wings. Of all these we both enjoyed the tuna dumplings and the pancake the most. The fact that they have happy hour on the weekends is also a major plus. Spice has become one of my favorite lunch spots. While I wouldn't categorize spice as an authentic Thai spot - they provide quick service, a diverse and quality menu.
Their lunch special is amazing and well worth the $12-14 with tip. The soup options are on point- the wontons are fresh and flavorful and the miso soup actually contains a great broth, tofu, and greens ratio.
The Dandan noodles are well flavored and are perfect for sharing for a group of 3-4. We have all had the pad Thai, pananag curry, basil rice, and pineapple fried rice and would gladly go back for more.
All dishes are on the mild spice side. If you are a lover of spice I would recommend getting a side of chili oil so you can control the heat. Atmosphere was good, plenty of seating; great bar selections. Food was very good, 4 of us went and everyones meal was great. We has an assortment of pork, salmon, noodles and chk fries rice. Reasonably priced too! Spice 28 is a good time. Really friendly, attentive servers. Eclectic, bright decor.
Personally have tried and would recommend: the drunken noodle, pad thai, indian pancake, mini wonton in chili oil, cucumbers, and spring roll.
They have a really eclectic craft cocktail and beverage menu as well, if you're a happy hour person. Restaurant week lunch here was superb. Or rather, I will say the food was superb.
We got an incredible selection (between 3 of us) of dumplings in chili oil, calamari and rock shrimp - then cumin lamb, sesame chicken and pad Thai - then key lime cheesecake, tiramisu and green tea mochi ice cream. All told, the food was fabulous - all flavorful, all fresh ingredients. I think we enjoyed the rock shrimp and cumin lamb the most!
I would say the ambiance isn't anything too special - it was crowded and loud when we were there, but had good energy. Unfortunately amidst the good energy were frazzled waiters and waitresses who misplaced our order, so our hour long lunch turned into almost 2 and one of my dining companions was late to her next engagement.
I will still give these guys props though, for apologizing and trying to make it up to us by bringing all of the food out at once (even dessert!) and giving us bags to take them home. I would be back, maybe on a slower day or when I have more time! Spice 28 is one of the best happy hours in the city.
Charmed, I'm sure.
The menu is full of tropical and exotic flavors, any dish could take you on a journey to the Far East. Whether eating a flavorful Chicken Dan-dan Noodle, or drinking a refreshing "Philly Love", you'll go on a wonderful adventure!
Here's a taste of the happy hour highlight:
- Affordable tasty appetizers.
My favorite is the Chicken Lettuce Wraps, szechuan style ($5.00). Whenever I order it, I eat it with gusto - Go figure.
- Also, try the Thai Spring Roll, either the Chicken or vegetable, ($3.00), or the Chicken Satay ($4.00). With the generous portions, easily it could be your early dinner/ late happy hour meal of the night, for (well, almost) under $10 excluding your beverages (less than $6.00/ drink). Believe me, this will do the trick, and you will not be disappointed.
Seriously, I can't tell you how many time I had the combination of few appetizers, and it was the perfect option when I'm on a budget.
P.S : Spice 28 runs happy hour everyday, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Four Yelps. Loved the food, the feel and the service. We were a party of 5 and everyone loved their meals. Although extremely busy, the service was great and the meals we delicious, hot, and timely. Service was poor. They seemed to be under staffed but the waiter was trying. However the food overcame the poor service. Would definitely recommend this restaurant. Philly diners, I'm going to beat you. I'm going to beat every last one of you. Why? You should already know. You don't know? Fine, I'll explain it-
For some idiotic reason, you have not been dining at Spice 28. When Bobby Flay opens a mediocre burger place(with great shakes) in U. City, the line might as well extend out to King of Prussia. In contrast, when the best new Asian fusion restaurant in Philadelphia opens its doors to the public, you ignore it like an ex lover who won't stop sending messages when you come away from idle on gchat.
Anyhow, the biggest highlight of my meal here was the the ahi tuna dumplings. These are delicious dumplings served on a guacamole that's way too good to be found at a non-Mexican restaurant.
The Dan Dan noodles are good, but Han's are better.
The spicy cucumbers are very, very good.
The blue crab salad is excellent. It is a nice hearty serving of crab served over a half an avocado.
It is really strange to see how well Spice 28 wields the power of the mighty avocado. Yummmm! This place had so many vegetarian and vegan options and they were all so good!! I'm a sucker for fried rice so I had to get the vegetarian basil fried rice. My friend and I shared a spicy cucumber appetizer and an Indian pancake (roti with some curry dip). This place has an interesting mix of cuisines but they all seemed great. My friend got the Thai curry (not pictured) and he really enjoyed it!
Overall, ton of options, great portion sizes, and awesome prices especially during happy hour! I've been here several times and can honestly say it's consistently some of the best thai food I've had in the city. The food is always fresh, flavorful and timely served. The drinks are likewise delicious!
As for specific dishes, the shrimp pad thai is my regular. The noodles are perfectly chewy, nice savory/tangy/sweet balance with the sauce, well cooked (read: not overcooked) shrimp, and my favorite part...deep fried tofu instead of blahh/bland pieces of tofu normally added to the dish. The mango basil citrus drink is a must try. It is smooth, nectary and refreshing. For apps, spring rolls, calamari and miso soup are all good.
Aside from the food, the service is great. Everyone there is usually attentive, and happy to explain the menu items if needed.
Cocktails are decent. I had one (forgot the name) during my last visit and the liquor was a bit strong and overpowered the mango flavor, but hey, maybe that's a good thing depending on your mood?
All in all good place. Try it! I have always enjoyed visiting this family run business with good, fresh quality items. My go to is usally the fried rice, calamari or ahi tuna. There are great menu specials for food and drink during happy hour. Nice size portions, cost effective and able to accomodate dietary restrictions. Very good Asian food. I had tried so many stuff but my favorite appetizer is their crab quesadilla! Amazing flavor great and fast service, also chicken lettuce wrap it's amazing Asian fusion. Thai, Chinese, and Japanese all rolled into one. Nice bar. Great service. Good food. Service 5/5
Delivery man arrived well ahead of the Yelp eta and was very nice. Delivery included chopsticks, plastic cutlery and dinner napkins - nice touch. There was a little leakage but that's because the "offending" (it wasn't offending it was fantastic) container was jam packed to brim with piping hot (temp) garlic eggplant - very generous portion: which leads to the food...
Food 4-5/5
The Indian pancake with curry dipping sauce 3/5 - $5
This dish arrived crispy and hot but the pancakes were a little too oily and the sauce was too salty for my taste. The portion size of the pancakes was nice but the dipping sauce size was a bit on the frugal side and for $5, there should have been some chicken and/or potato in the sauce.We both agreed we would try this dish again but only onsite and at happy hour.
Lemongrass coconut soup w/ shrimp option 5/5-$6
This soup packs a nice kick. I only tried a few spoonfuls and my friend only took a taste. It was packed with flavor it included lots of zucchini, mushroom slices, peppers and misc veg. I only found two shrimp but there could be more.
Garlic Eggplant 5/5- $11
This dish included a jasmine or brown rice option at no extra charge (nice). We chose brown rice. It was a huge portion of eggplant and though it was a little too sweet, it packed a nice kick. We both agreed we'd order it again but would probably ask for no cornstarch and light on the sugar/sauce next time and maybe ask whether there was a protein addition option.
In summary
We'd definitely order from here again but we'd stipulate less salt in the curry sauce, no cornstarch and less sugar in the eggplant. I wish we'd called and asked what the charge would be to add tofu or another protein to the garlic eggplant. I wanted to try something a little different and to be honest the ambiance is what caught my attention. It's a really hip place in center city Philly but Absolutely Nothing like China Town. The drinks were Awesome and the Food was Off the Charts!!! The Ahi tuna dumplings were Scrumptious. They also have a Whole fried Snapper that was IN - FRICKIN - CREDIBLE!!!! If you are ever in Center City you are short changing yourself if you don't go. You will NOT be Disappointed. Our group of 11 were in town for the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend. We made a random reservation through Open Table and we were all very BBC pleased! We each ordered a dish to pass and share. Our waiter was so helpful in selecting dishes that had different levels of spiciness. Everything was delicious! The standouts were the Dan Dan Noodles and the pork potstickers. They have a cute bar and all of their cocktails were unique. I've supported Spice 28 for about 4/ 5 years now. I absolutely love the drunken noodles and blue crab salad. Those are my go to items here but I dip and dab into the menu from time to time trying new things and have never been disappointed. Yo this place is whack. Just sent me the wrong delivery order twice in a row. I think they just close their eyes and pick what you're going to get. So, don't order delivery from here cause you'll probably get the wrong order. There's a million other Asian places in the city, you can find better elsewhere. Spices is another fantastic Yelp! find. The restaurant is clean and modern yet manages to exude warmth. The menu was interesting and varied. We tried the mango tofu (sorry, I don't know what it's officially called) and the drunken noodles with tofu. Another friend ordered the chicken satay. My mango friend raved about how tasty it was. I gave it a try and mentioned that it reminded me of a General Tso's sauce and she agreed but said it was better as it was a lighter flavor, and of course, it was mango! They must have cut and put a whole mango in the dish as there were many very large slices (slabs?) of mango. My meat-eater friend loved her chicken and we all enjoyed the noodles. Our water glasses were continually filled and the wait staff were extremely nice and responsive.
After we polished it all off my mango friend was happily complaining how full she was. The waitress then came and offered us complimentary dessert - she called them small pumpkin cakes - and my mango friend declined. Lucky for her the waitress brought three anyway as we took a bite and it wasn't pumpkin cake, it was perfectly pan-fried pumpkin mochi. Mmmmmm!!!! We ate our perfect pumpkin mochis with delight.
Spice 28 is now on my "must visit" list when I'm anywhere near Philly. The food was interesting and delicious, the service was excellent, and the price is right. If I lived anywhere near here I'd be working my way through their menu one dish at a time. Had lunch here today. The double cooked pork belly was awesome. Will add this to the list of places to eat while in downtown Philly. After seeing all the 4.5 Avg Stars on Yelp, I had very high expectations for this New Szechuan/Asian Fusion Restaurant in the Philadelphia restaurant scene. All of the reviews raved about the food, service and overall ambiance of this new spot in town. As a result, we knew we had to try it. So my girlfriend and I made a reservation for 7:30pm on a Saturday night.
When we arrived, there were 4-5 other tables occupied but definitely not too busy. We were seated quickly and the waitress brought us menus and glasses of water. The first issue arose when the waitress did not return to our table for our orders. We waited 15 minutes, which prompted me to walk to the manager and inform him that nobody had returned to our table to take our orders. The manager (Ben) apologized and genuinely felt bad for the mishap.
We ordered the Spicy Crispy Cucumber, Sliced Chicken in Chili Oil, Dry Pot Style Beef and Szechuan String Beans. All of the dishes came out quickly and were delicious. They were right on point with the spiciness and flavor. My favorites were the Sliced Chicken in Chili Oil and Dry Pot Style Beef. I would recommend them both.
The owner Ben brought out an order of the Ahi Tuna Dumplings on the house which was a nice gesture. He also followed up after we finished eating to check up on us and make sure we were having a great time.
After we finished our meal however, a second mishap. I had to flag down a waiter 2-3 times to get our check and pay. After asking a third time. the waiter said that the "system was down". This was hard to believe since I had seen other tables around us receive their bills. Thus. we're pretty sure he forgot.
Overall, I'm pretty generous when it comes to giving restaurants the benefit of the doubt. The hostess said that they were short staffed on a Saturday night with only 3 people instead of 5. Whatever the case may be, service left much to be desired. The main positives of my experience were the food. It was excellent. They presented us with a free appetizer for our next visit given our experience which was generous of them.
I really wanted to love this place but it certainly didn't happen this first time. I'll give them another chance soon and hopefully this occurrence was simply a rare one.
Service: Understaffed and Inattentive
Food: Excellent
Ambiance: Elegant and Chic
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Check out my other reviews at http://nextstopdc.blogspot.com/ The food is absolutely amazing. I get food delivered. I have to give this a low review because of their delivery. If you call at 2 o'clock in the afternoon you may have a good experience. If you call it any other time you will have to wait for your food. Three times now when I have called between five and eight The food has taken over 90 minutes to get there when the estimate was half or a third of that. If an order is going to take two hours, they should just say that on the phone and let me decide whether or not I want to wait for it. Because honestly the food is that good I might wait 2 hours. So long as someone tells me on the phone that it will be two hours.
The very first time this happened, the delivery person said the street was completely closed because of a potential suicide jumper across the street. They couldn't move in or out of the area. I felt horrible! How absolutely terrible a situation! The second time it happened they gave the same reason. That is an incredible coincidence. The third time it happened after several call and 2 hours I asked that my order be canceled and my money refunded. They said the delivery was on its way but I insisted. They agreed.
They did not cancel the order. They did not refund my money. The next morning I woke to find my delivery bag on my doorstep. The delivery driver never called and never knocked never rang the doorbell.
Things go wrong. I understand. But it is up to the restaurant to make things right when things go wrong. They are not willing to make things right. This spot is legit! We've ordered multiple times but never got disappointed. Seriously - should try out! I would recommend green curry, drunken noodles, wok fried rice and pad thai noodles! Please try out! Lunch portion is massive! I got the drunken noodle, it comes with soup but I didn't get it. Very good, will definitely be back for a massive lunch under $10 Great service! I was at the bar and Diego the bartender took care of me. Fast service and good food. I really enjoy the place! I work near to Spice 28 and it's become a pretty regular lunch spot for me. Their lunch deal is great, you get a large entree with a soup for under $10.
I was conflicted on what rating to give Spice, because I literally only like two items there. I've tried a bunch of different stuff on their menu over the past year and I generally am not too into their offerings. There's so much great Chinese food in Philly that this place just doesn't cut it for most dishes. The food tends to be super greasy and just low effort overall.
BUT, that take does not apply to their Dry Pepper Chicken and their Three Pepper Chicken (which is just Dry Pepper Chicken with some chopped up peppers mixed in). These dishes consist of a huge portion of white rice with ultra spicy fried chicken. It's absolutely horrible for you, but it tastes SO good. The chicken is well cooked and that spice mixture is fantastic, I can taste it as I type this, I wish I could mix garlic and peppers as perfectly as they do in these dishes.
For the soup, I usually get miso. It's pretty good, it honestly used to be really bad, but out of nowhere they upped their soup game. Their version is simple, with only some tofu chunks and seaweed floating in the broth.
I've never eaten in the restaurant, so I can only speak to the pickup experience. I order online via their website and my food is ready in 15-20 mins. The place is really busy at lunch time, so I think that's pretty good timing.
As for the rating, I had to go with three stars. I almost went with four stars because I love those two dishes so much, but everything else I've had just wasn't that great. But, if you're in need of a quick, filling, and affordable meal, Spice 28 is a really good option. This place has good location, it's right next to all those restaurants on 13th street, but other than that, as Yelp says, "Meh". It's decent, I didn't hate my food but you could walk two blocks into Chinatown and get some excellent cuisine. Granted, they won't be all trendy.
So I guess, if you're looking for a trendy Asian restaurant, and you're in the area, this is good. Unlike all those places nearby, I just walked in and was seated.
Got the Pad Thai, and it was Aiiiite. The staff who works here are very nice, but I thought the food was mediocre. I'm a vegetarian and there weren't many veggie options. The curries and the soups have fish sauce in it. I ordered Thai basil tofu, but I wish I got the drunken noodles because they looked delicious. The atmosphere is nice and the restaurant is pretty spacious, but I probably won't be revisiting. I'm really annoyed with Spice 28. All I wanted was a Tom Yum soup.... based on reviews I figured you cant mess this up. They did.... I reread the description about 4 times to make sure I wasn't crazy. Menu reads- Tom Yum Soup.... $5. "Choice of: Vege, Shrimp, Chicken or All (Spicy Sour Lemongrass broth w. mushrooms, sweet peas and Kaffir leaves).
my soup did not have any lemongrass flavor or a single piece of mushroom. It was a bunch of cucumbers, tomatoes, pineapples and bell pepper. And I was charged 6 bucks. I get it, im not giving them a full shot at their food but my coworker said her Pad Thai was gross.
Either update your menu accordingly or serve what the description says! Went here for center city sips, so slow service was understandable but we still had to wait a very long time for them to come by with water and to take our order. Waiting for the food was also a very long wait.
I want to say the food was worth the wait but it was just ok, nothing that was very unique or amazing. We ordered multiple items off the sips menu including the wings, egg rolls, and dumplings.
The drinks on the other hand, I know a lot of people have mentioned the dragon nectar drink which I ordered but the shisojito really stole the show surprisingly
Overall spice 28 was a good place to catch up with some friends and spend a long time at (even if involuntarily) and food and drinks were good overall I was part of a large group dinner at Spice 28 on Wednesday, and we had a great time. It's hard not to compare a lot of the menu items to the other king of Sichuan in Philadelphia, but Spice 28 is a very close second. And if it's ambiance you're looking for, Spice has the edge.
The great thing about this place is the variety of the menu. Creative selections like wontons with guacamole and tempura lobster add an extra layer to your main dish.
Speaking of the main dishes, the two I tried (dry pepper chicken and hot pot chicken) were so spicy that they bordered on unenjoyable. I could taste no difference in the degree of heat between spice levels two and three; both were hard on my pansy palate. That said, both were executed well, so I'll just opt for the lowest spice level next time. And there will be a next time.
The price was right and I've got a 10% off check-in offer that I plan on utilizing soon. Looking forward to my next round of tastebud ass-kicking. While visiting Philly for the long weekend, we decided to go here for dinner. At first it was very surprising to see that the place was nearly empty except for one occupied table given that all the restaurants in the area were packed! Nevertheless, we decided to go ahead and have dinner since we were quite hungry and also because it had good ratings.
We ordered drinks which seemed okay and for appetizers we got the vegetarian spring rolls. I double checked with the waitress if they were vegetarian and she assured me they were. On tasting it I found them to be slightly greasy and stale and after taking another bite I found small pieces of shredded chicken.
We did order main course too but after the spring rolls I just didn't feel like eating there anymore. It was an unpleasant experience and I felt bad because we were told our main course was ready but after the messed up spring rolls order we just left. Overall: Not so authentic Thai/Szechuan cuisine
Ambiance: Makes for a great date night, or for party of 4-6 people. Typical crowd is 20-35. Pretty good decor and setup inside.
Drinks: They don't know how to make an old-fashioned but also refuse to accept that. It tasted almost like a fruit punch. This place is good for bottled beer or Thai iced tea
Food: Lots of options. Couple of my friends were vegetarian and they had a tough time finding appetizers. For entrees, you can always get tofu as protein. We tried their Dan Dan Noodles, Calamari, Curries, Dry Pepper Style, and a few other items. Everything was pretty mediocre, lacks flavor, but still edible.
Price: It's priced alright, maybe a tad higher for the quality you get. But the ambiance makes up for the overall experience. Waitstaff is very polite too. I'm really annoyed that I forgot to check in. My partner and I stopped in while at a conference to have dinner with and old friend while in Philly.
This restaurant was fan freaking tastic. It had a wide variety of Asian fusion options and an extensive cocktail menu. I got the passionate kiss and let me tell you, they definitely didn't skimp on the alcohol.
We got a variety of appetizers. We got fried potstickers, spicy tuna goyza, some sort of steamed dumpling with duck, and rock shrimp. All of it was fantastic. The goyza always cracks me up because it's an Asian restaurant doing guacamole but it's always great. I found that the flavors here, including the sauces, were much tastier than the Asian restaurants I typically go to at home.
I ordered the pad Thai with chicken. It was exactly what I wanted. A tiny amount of spice, a ton of noodles, and a generous sprinkling of peanuts on top. The portion was huge, too! My partner got a different noodle dish and he finished it in about 3 minutes flat. It was just that good.
I'd recommend spice 28 to anyone looking for a cozy, semi upscale Asian fusion experience. Tldr; subpar food with subpar service, especially when dealing with large parties. Drinks are strong and seems like a good happy hour, if you're into that. Would not go back, especially since there is so much amazing food in Chinatown.
We made a group reservation for a large party, and even though we arrived within 5 minutes, it took another 40 minutes to get seated. From there it took another 30 min to put in our orders and another hour to get our food. It was super busy and hard to flag down anyone to help us with our order.
I ordered the mapo tofu and it was very salty. The portions were large, but it was so salty that I couldn't even finish it and ended up throwing my leftovers away (which I never do).
Saving grace at the end was the waitress being nice enough to split the check 9 ways and the waitress being apologetic about the long wait. They are also accommodating for food allergies and are vegetarian friendly. Ambience was great. Modern-cool-mellow. Is the best way I can describe it ! Nice design . It's a small space but it seemed to accommodate a lot of people comfortably.
Food was very timely. The staff was friendly and attentive .
Food was great overall. I had the shrimp pad Thai. The shrimp were a nice size.
My boyfriend had the beef Saigon , which is beef cuts over chopped onions an white rice . He enjoyed it. For a appetizer we had calamari and spicy cucumber. Both were good but the calamari was better. The cucumber was in a bath of spicy sauce. It was refreshing ! But not something I would order again.
Drinks: I also has the Thai ice tea, Good! Just imagine sweet tea with milk added!
Boyfriend had dragon nectar cocktail , it was sweet and fruity. Not a heavy liquor taste . I ordered the fried rice the rice has no flavor and the chicken was wild not even fried in peace is big enough to choke a horse never eat there again I came here for dinner with my date. The menu was pretty extensive. We got the Thai calamari, spicy cucumbers, and ahi tuna dumplings to start, which were delicious. The calamari and dumplings surprisingly weren't extremely greasy for fried dishes. I have to say that the plates on which the appetizers were served weren't practical. The small base of the plates/bowls almost cause our food to fall all over the table.
I got the green curry chicken as entree which has some hint of green curry taste in it, but the base was more creamy than expected. It did help satisfy my green curry cravings, but I've had better green curry elsewhere.
The price was good for the quantity/quality of the food we got, especially for a downtown restaurant. I'll definitely return to try their other dishes. The perfect trifecta of quantity, quality, and service!
We're from out-of-state and found this place via Yelp. We were lured in by the 10% off offer and decided to give it a try (don't forget to check-in!).
Atmosphere: Dim lighting, aka not the ideal location for picture-taking. The bar section was lit up with neon colors, while the restaurant was candlelit. The vibe of the whole place was a weird yet interesting mix between modern, retro, and classy.
Food: The flavors! SO GOOD. Everything our table ordered was delicious. We were all left feeling thoroughly full and barely able to move afterwards.
As for recommendations -- try the champagne duck! The duck is soft but not too chewy. It comes layered with salad and fruit mixed in at the bottom, which balance out the strong meat flavor. The fruit (mango and jicama) were decent; the mango was lacking a bit in taste, but overall still good. The dish also came with thin apple slices on the side. Yum, yum, yum.
I would also recommend trying the ahi tuna dumplings. They're the perfect amount of crunchy, and even more mouthwatering combined with the guacamole-esque sauce.
Service: Excellent! Extremely attentive and responsive. We asked for part our meal to-go, which included a partially-eaten bowl of rice. When the server came back and dropped off our leftovers, we noticed that he had replaced our old rice with fresh, warm rice. It's little gestures like these that make all the difference and show how much a restaurant cares.
Parking: One thing to note, parking is sparse and the surrounding area is busy, so I would recommend taking some other means of transportation or you may be walking quite a ways.
Overall: Fabulous choice for a night out. Highly recommended! Thought their menu for City Sips looked like it had a decent variety of both food and drinks - and unfortunately the experience was not what it should've been. The lighting was awkwardly dim for 5:30 in the afternoon in July. The place was also empty, which normally doesn't bother me if the place is good -- but the waitstaff practically stalked us within an inch of our lives. At one point I ordered a drink, turned my head and another waiter was there asking me if I needed a drink...and then it happened again another two minutes later -- I thought that this was likely to continue either til I cycled through all of their waitstaff (unlimited supply?) or til the drink showed up (mercifully it did soon after.) Otherwise, they all hovered, refilled water if our glasses were even an inch lower than full and generally made it hilariously awkward/amusing for us.
The Sips cocktail size was laughably small, as were the appetizers, which were nothing to get excited about. We finished up round two and settled our bill as quickly as possible so we could venture forth to greener non-Sips pastures. We love this place! Great food and atmosphere. Service is great! We can during happy hour 5-7 and we ordered their famous crispy chicken wings, duck buns and our favorite appetizer there is Indian pancake with curry sauce! I can order a hundred of these they are that good! The crispy duck was ok. We liked the cold sesame noodles but we prefer more sauce on the noodles for taste. Their chicken fried rice was good and the shrimp was ok but my favorite was the Saigon beef-very tender tasty and delicious. Hello would definitely order that again. I would definitely be back! Great work! If you just want a place where you just wanna chill, come here for happy hour. If you came from graffiti bar and barbuzzo reviews, then this is my third place I went to. If you are just going to the bar, you can grab a seat, sit down, and a bartender will be with you. I did just that and I got a happy hour menu. I ordered something called dragonfruit nectar. And I ordered like 3 additional food types. I got the indian pancake, spring roll, and chicken wings. The sizes was small but it was only like 3 bucks and it was during happy hour so I didn't really care. But all 3 was good. The drink was also very good. I wouldn't give it 5 stars because it was during happy hour and it was just a place just to chill and relax. The service was great. I was taken care of by the bartender and everything came out on time. Overall rating 4/5 I drove by Spice 28 numerous times before it's grand-opening with the assumption that their food is probably the same as Chinatown, but twice the price with smaller portions. I would've never thought about giving this place a try if my friend didn't want to have dinner here.
So let's cut to the chase...
SERVICE
1. There were 4 of us & we ordered 2 appetizers and 4 entrees. 40 minutes passed and our table held nothing, but 4 glasses that were almost empty.
2. When our entrees arrived, our appetizers were still nowhere to be found. When we notified our server about the matter, he had a look of confusion on his face like he had forgotten.
3. We finally received our appetizer and realized one was missing. FYI: We were still waiting for the edamame, which should've only taken 5 minutes TOPS.
4. We got our edamame AFTER we finished our entrees. You can tell it was sitting on the kitchen counter for a while because it was so cold.
5. Our server rarely checked on our table until we were ready for our check. He finally realized the edamame issue and offered to discard it and take it off the bill...kind of too late don't cha think?
FOOD
Appetizer: Crispy Calamari - I wouldn't recommend this dish as I tasted more of the breading of the squid than the squid itself. It was bland and just plain meh..
Entree: I had the Thai Basil Style Chicken with brown rice. One of my friends at the table ordered the same dish, but they were garnished differently. Mine had a poor presentation. It was sloppy and had 2 puny lettuce leaves sitting on the corner of my plate, while his was decorated nicely with crispy lettuce and radish/carrot strings(picture posted above). The dish was standard. It reminded me of the chicken basil noodles I usually order at Banana Leaf. It was nothing spectacular that made them any different than the restaurants in Chinatown. The temperature of my dish was strange. A part of my dish was really hot and other parts were cold. You know when you microwave food and the temperature is uneven? Well, it was exactly like that. My BF ordered the Drunken Noodles w/ Beef. The portion was ridiculously small with probably 5 strands of noodles that were covered by mostly vegetables and a few pieces of beef. The dish was whatever. Due to the portion size, it left my BF's stomach half empty that he had to eat a good portion of my entree.
Let's just say we ended the night at a pizza parlor. We jokingly agreed upon grabbing a slice of pizza if we're not satisfied with dinner. Didn't know we'll actually do it... A great Asian fusion restaurant with a beautiful venue. You can get Thai and Chinese food and have vegetarian options. Decent drink options and they have a happy hour. The eggplant was awesome! Food was good and customer service was great! Definitely a mush visit when in philly. If you want some good dan dan noodles, go to another place. I ordered them to go, and what I got was horrible. The peanut sauce on some noodles, spice sauce is at the very bottom, if there was a teaspoon at all. I had a container of bland noodles and partially over sauce noodles, no balance. I had some great dan dan noodles at this place called Dan Dan on 16th street. I should have taken the walk. I tried a different place, didn't like it. I love the happy hour here. The Singapore Street noodles are DELICIOUS. I love the spicy cucumber & the dumplings too. And Kelly our server was so sweet & attentive. 10/10 experience. I came here for the first time last week for my friend's birthday. I'm not sure why this place isn't busier. It's a good place for a group. It's trendy yet I found it cozy. Service was good and our waitress was all about making recommendations.
Portions were appropriate.
The food was tasty. I ordered the chicken dry pot; I like it spicy and it had a lot of spicy peppers and got spicier with the more I ate.
They have a full bar with interesting cocktails. My friend and I stopped in here for happy hour and although we had a decent experience, this restaurant could definitely use some improvement. The cocktail was really great, but the food was just ok.
We ordered the Thai Chicken Spring Rolls (2 to an order), Chicken Lettuce Wrap, Dumplings in chili sauce, Ahi Tuna Dumplings, and 2 Peking Duck Buns (they only came one to an order). While all were decent, I could definitely pass on the Chicken Lettuce Wrap next time. It was a little too bland for me. We were given the choice to either have the duck bun steamed or fried, and we both chose the latter. In retrospect, I think I would have appreciated the steamed better. The fried bun was a little too oily and greasy for my liking. In my opinion, of all the appetizers we got, the Ahi Tuna Dumplings were the winner.
After our bites, we were still a little hungry and decided to order two more plates to finish our meal. We chose the Rock Shrimp and Blue Crab Enchilada. The Rock Shrimp came with a curry sauce which was interesting in taste. In my opinion, the shrimp definitely could have used a few extra minutes of cook time because they weren't crispy at all - they almost tasted boiled! The Crab Enchilada was not what I was expecting. The fried crispy shell was great, and the (very) creamy filling was good, but I honestly didn't taste much crab in it at all. They served it with two dipping sauces - one hot sauce, one aioli. While I'm usually a huge fan of aioli, it was not something to dip an already creamy meal into!
As for drinks, I chose the Dragon Nectar cocktail and really enjoyed it! It was very fruity and refreshing, exactly what I was going for.
Service was pretty poor. At the beginning of our meal, we were informed that all members work as a team and we can ask ANY of the waiters/waitresses to place our orders. We were pleased to hear this until not a person was to be found during our meal. No one approached us, no one checked in on us, why were they MIA?!
I can see myself returning here for a cocktail sometime, but I would probably pass on the food. While it was good, nothing I would specifically go back for or crave. There are so many other food options in this area that although this place might make the list, it wouldn't be my top pick. Ordering online is efficient as before. The restaurant is closed but the front slider doors are open where you can either order directly or pick up your online choices. The Pad Thai with Chix is my staple here. Spice ranges are 1-5 and I choose 4 which give me some heat but not requiring milk. I also chose the Chix Satay. Nice creamy peanut sauce and tender Chix. I apologize about the lack of pictures. I need to do better. I mainly want to eat when I have my food not photograph it. Great place food great service is above and beyond highly recommend clean and the drinks are the best in center city I went in ready to give this place a 4 based on the ambiance and prices, I couldn't avoid it-- a 5 had to be given.
"Why?", you may ask... the food was excellent! Here are my humble opinions on everything we ordered:
1) Pork dumplings in chili oil- This was my favorite appetizer. The sauce was great.
2) Steamed duck buns? (I forget the exact name)- The flavor was good. I'm not a big fan of steamed buns in general. These were good, just not my personal cup of tea.
3) Drunken Noodles with Beef- Oh wow. I'm still dreaming about this dish. The flavor was phenomenal and the beef was nice n tender.
4) Green Curry with Tofu- Yum Yum Yum.
5) Spicy Fish entrée the Waiter recommended- I'm not really sure which one this was, but it was great!
6) Ahi tuna dumplings- These little guys were crispy and delicious.
The ambiance was a little more upscale than I was imagining. There was colorful lighting with some louder club-ish music playing- I felt like we were in a swanky little lounge.
Each entrée was very filling and about $15, which was really reasonable! I hope to come back to Philly just so I can chow down on some more drunken noodles! Had the Pad Thai, really delicious. Second time coming. Cant wait to come back I've always loved Spice 28 for the food and drinks which is why I have gone a handful of time. I gave this spot a 4 solely on the food. It was always delicious. However, the service is the worst I've ever experienced each and every time. We had to flag down the servers each time we wanted to order or needed something. So if you have patience and time, I'd recommend for the food and drinks. Second attempt at Spice 28: delivery via Dining In. An order of dan dan noodles, spicy cucumbers, dry pepper chicken and hot sauce style chicken came to just over sixty bucks, including a tip for the driver. All I could think was that dinner had better be good, for the price of dining out. I will say that the delivery time was on point, and only about forty-five minutes, which is on the low end for Philly. Props for that.
The food was good, but I think the prices are a bit steep, especially for take-out. I remember thinking everything was such a steal when I dined in the restaurant. I'm wondering if that's just because I went with a huge group and we shared a bunch of plates? Either way, I liked our second meal from Spice 28 but I didn't love it as much as that first time. The hot sauce style chicken was not really my thing (intense peppercorn flavor in the sauce but no breading or crispness to the chicken), though I really enjoyed the dry pepper style chicken. It's hard to know what to order because the menu descriptions list the ingredients but not really anything about the preparation or cooking style. That would really help.
The dan dan noodles were great, but the portion size was definitely smaller than Han's. Same with the spicy cucumbers. Sorry to compare the two yet again in this review but I feel like it's unavoidable.
While I wish the prices for delivery were a little lower, I'd still probably order from Spice 28 again. I'm also looking forward to getting back to the restaurant sometime. Not as enamored of this place as everyone else seems to be. It was just alright.
We ordered a lighter dinner of dan dan noodles and wonton soup with a side of dumplings in chili oil. The best of the 3 was definitively the dumplings. The wonton broth had good flavor but the dumplings could only be described as weak. Weak on flavor with a super soft dough. The boyfriend liked the dan dan noodles but I didn't. We wish they were spicier. I didn't really care for the texture but he enjoyed it.
Delivery was pretty quick so that's a big plus. I'd give it another shot perhaps. I need to get a better ideal of other delivery in the area before I will make a repeat stop. Lunch special on point. I had the Gen Tso Chicken. Yes I know, pretty generic but since I had to get in and out it was quick and easy and tasted great.
Lunch specials runs about $8.00 with your choice of steamed jasmine rice or brown rice, and wonton or Tom Yum vegetable soup.
They have three themes with many more options beneath the those themes to choose from: Asian, Szechuan and Vegetable lunch plates.
You can check their menu out here.
http://www.spice28.com/menu-spice-28-asian-fusion-restaurant-1228-chestnut-st-philadelphia
Nice décor, awesome prices. Give this place a try if you are in the area. Spice 28 is a great happy hour option in the heart of Center City. They have a wide selection of food and drinks on the happy hour menu and the HH lasts until 7 which is later than a lot of spots. When I tell you me and 3 friends came here and got hella food and drinks and the bill was only $100 flat. That's unbeatable. Service was good, drinks were good and the HH apps were doing what they were supposed to do albeit they weren't huge. But they were cheap! Lots of skewers, the garlic naan is bomb. Definitely check out that Caribbean spice drink they got too. Can't commentate on lunch and dinner but HH is a 5. So, myself and my person decided to try something new in Center City and we were feeling a little Asian fusion. We walked into this place and it had a very trendy, young ambiance to it. A lot of young professionals out on a Friday night--drinking their fancy cocktails and talking shop? Who knows.
Anyways, we started out with a few appetizers to get the night going. I had a small bowl of Tom Yum soup, which I am always a sucker for and tuna avocado salad. The soup didn't have enough lemongrass in it for my taste, but it was still decent. But, the tuna avocado salad---boy, that was so good! Let me be clear, this isn't canned tuna, but rather delicious Ahi tuna. And they weren't skimpy with the avocado either! I would suggest ordering this!
Unfortunately, the entrees didn't give as much punch as the tuna avocado salad. My partner ordered the drunken noodles and asked for it to come spicier, but neither the flavor or the spice deliver. Whomp. I ended up with panang curry with tofu. Again, we asked for that dish to come spicier. It didn't come as spicy as we wanted. Maybe we have a high tolerance for heat, but I was disappointed with the final product.
Overall, not a terrible experience, but maybe next time, I might have to try something different on the menu!
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name: British Airways, address: 8500 Essington Ave, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.0, is_open: opening, categories: Airlines, Transportation, Hotels & Travel, text: I was pleased with the overall services on British Airways. I was flying from Philadelphia with my final destination being Spain. I had a layover in London, England-Heathrow for a few hours. My flight was overnight and it was spectacular - It was 1st Class Flight and I was treated like a Queen. I enjoyed the recling seats and slept like a baby after my Swordfish Dinner. The flight attendants were attentive and provided updates about the flight arrival and was available during the night when questions arose about temperatures, etc.
Overall - good experience from Check-in to arrival at my destination. They are seriously low on resources here.
Not just the worst ba but rhe worst airline area....!!!!
Disgrace!!! Ruining ba reputation. Close this down or improve it!
Do not fly ba from Philly.
From LHR back to Philly was perfect. So I guess it does come down to BA are not the major airline from Philly. Worst airline on the planet. They give 0 customer care to their customers. They lose your baggage and don't give a blink about it (9 days and counting=holiday ruined). They downgrade your class and not give you a refund for almost 10 months (and counting). Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR): The BA agents at the ticket counter were very friendly and professional. The airplane was fairly new(er). The in-flight movie programming was very good, a lot of selections! The life jacket/emergency PSA was broadcasted via the TV screen instead of the flight attendants having to do a live performance. (much better that way). The flight attendants were very friendly. The food was very good (for standard class seating airline food). I especially liked the chicken curry dish.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): The BA agents at the ticket counter were very friendly and professional. The airplane seemed older/outdated/rickety. We got the worse seats, they were the last two seats in the back of the plane. It seemed as if the seats did not recline back as far as the other plane. The in-flight movie programming was horrible. It was limited to only a few channels. Something was wrong with my TV screen, it had major glare problems. The fold-down TV tray was not centered, it was skewed to the left. Next time we will utilize pre-check in process and if needed, we will pay to pick our own seats.The flight attendants were proficient but not very friendly. The food was good. (for standard class seating airline food). I liked the chicken dish. We were surprised to also get another meal (a very good chicken salad sandwich on some hearty wheat bread).
We would fly BA again. My newest best friend, Ann @ BA who got my checked bag back with my wallet in it!
Newest favorite air carrier, BRITISH AIRWAYS because they hire people like Ann! My family of 4 arrived in London Heathrow 3 hours before our flight to ensure a stress free trip back to San Diego. Our 12:40 flight had been delayed for "electrical problems" they were unable to run the AC therefore could not Pre board the flight. After an hour or so they had us board the flight, at which point they turned off the AC because the same electrical problem would not allow them to start the engine and they need another piece of equipment to make it happen, apparently the temp AC and Machine that jumpstarts the plane are not compatible. The first machine failed, so it was roughly two hours on the plane at the gate without AC while they tracked down new jumper cables. At this point I was uncomfortable but not too wooried about our connecting flight as it was a 3.5 hour layover to Philly... flight was great once airborne however the hits kept rolling when we landed. We had 1.5 hours to make it through customs and get on the connecting flight with their companion airline American Airlines. The first hour was spent waiting for our baggage. I was looking for the B.A. staff which we were told would be facilitating our connection, there was nobody. I have global entry for my family and TSA recheck on all flights, but for whatever reason when we arrived at security our connecting boarding passes did not have TSA. We were told to go to American Ailrlines Kiosk to reprint our tickets, but the machines were down. Once through we sprinted to our gate. Relieved our plane was still at the gate! Only to find our prepaid assigned seats had been given away and we were not allowed on the flight. 6 hours later I'm checking in to the free hotel (a king bed for a family of four) and am booked on a flight arriving in San Diego 16 hours after our planned arrival. When I called British Airways to discuss the situation I waited on hold for 30 minutes, was told to hold while they transferred to the right department, then hung up on me!! As I'm writing this I'm sitting on the floor of a hotel room, as there is one bed!! My kids are hungry and crying and I'm at my wits end. I'm wondering what happened to the "staff" that was going to help expedite our transfer when we got off the plane?? They are probably resting comfortably in the Marriot I spent an hour staring at as I waited for a shuttle to this crappy hotel. It amazes me you can Pay $6,000 for a flight and there is absolutely no one receiving that money who cares. I'm suppose to be home right now with our dogs, but instead I'm crossing my fingers that my flight that I have to get to by 4:50 in the morning makes its connection in time in Chicago tomorrow. Very dissatisfied to say the least. We were fortunate enough to have booked first class seats using our frequent flyer miles for our flight to London and then onto Venice. Our first good impression was checking in at the Philadelphia Airport with British Airways. It was so nice to be greeted with a friendly smile and hello from Robert McGivern. He made us feel so welcome and the check-in was a breeze. Robert is a great representative for British Airways!
Upon entering the aircraft, we were warmly greeted by Justine, Reese and Hollie, our crew who took excellent care of us throughout the flight. We travelled in a Boeing 747-400, which offered 14 open suites. We were actually escorted to our seats and immediately offered a pre-departure beverage (just water for me), amenity kit, pajamas (which we declined) along with a hot towel. Then, we were presented with a ramekin of delicious mixed roast nuts of almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, macadamias, sugar, and honey - no bagged nuts here.
My husband loved traveling in first class; I did not. To explain, I am only 5 feet tall and found the seats uncomfortable and tight. I did not care for the bed at all as I could not get comfortable. My feet could not reach the ottoman to use as a foot rest. I could not reach anything. I had to get up to get anything. There is no place to put anything except a very small personal wardrobe to hang a jacket. The small shelf provided was not adequate to hold small items like eyeglasses, Kindle, etc. The controls were not very user friendly. I had to ask the crew how to operate everything. The temperature in the cabin went from very hot to cold. The crew really did try to adjust the temperature but could not. It was either too hot or too cold. We did like having two first class toilets located behind the first class cabin.
To pass the time, I thoroughly enjoyed watching two movies: Victoria and Abdul, the Darkest Hour and reading.
What was exceptional was the multi-course dinner service, which began with a crisp white linen tablecloth spread out over the expansive table. You will never hear the sound of the trolley coming down the aisle. Your meal is plated onboard and personally delivered to your suite. We were so impressed with the quality and taste. When they say this is Michelin star dining, they mean it. It was and more! It was if there was a chef in the galley.
You are presented with an array of beverages. We enjoyed smoked salmon cannelloni, seared filet of Midwest beef, roasted fillet of seabass, and a cheese plate. As wonderful as dinner was, the breakfast was not. The starters were fine. However, the warm Belgian waffle was hard as a rock, and I could not eat it. My husband did enjoy the traditional English breakfast. The service by our cabin crew was exceptional. British Airways in Philadelphia International is a welcome addition and something that US flag airlines should emulate. No surly, demoralized employees such as US(eless) Airways, no cattle-prod corrals such as Southwest. Our BA agents at the ticket counter were particularly courteous and helpful, and even offered us advice once we got to the behemoth at Heathrow.
The BA lounge here is awesome. Full dinner (in addition to that in the airplane), clean and efficient.
It is a sad state of affairs when US-flag carriers have adopted Greyhound as their business model. And McDonald's as their ground customer service. I have given up on flying US-flag carriers on transoceanic flights. The BA lounge at PHL has a similar quality as US domestic lounges from United or American Admirals. Food options at a buffet include a sad selection of not so fresh finger sandwiches and what apparently is unwashed fruit (see photo). At the time we were there, they were serving one Pennsylvania wine (kudos for trying to buy local, though it was not good) and a couple of other bottles.
Note: this was for the business class side of the lounge; it appears that there is waiter/table service on the first class side. Staff and check-in were fine. The delayed flight left me even more exhausted after a not so pleasant time in Philadelphia.
As for the onboard experience it was certainly satisfactory - I mean what does one expect above arriving in one piece safe and sound? Staff were alright but seemed a little 'chilly' during the refreshment service. In-flight entertainment was rubbish PHL to LHR...which I won't grumble too much about as I was dog tired anyway. That said, it would've been nice to have the lights out so passengers could rest, as best they can on the flight. The food was actually not very good on this leg of my journey either - strange as the food was quite good on the flight over from London.
A little tightening up of standards would get me to bump this to 4 stars.
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name: Usaquén, address: 1700 N 3rd St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: closed, categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Colombian, Restaurants, Latin American, text: Love this place! We went because it was walking distance from our house and it looked cute. The menu was great, everyone was friendly, and the music was good! The food was awesome and we will def be back. We brought our baby and they were very accommodating with our stroller. You don't have feel packed in here. We will be back! Great food! Great service! Great music !
Young staff with smiles!
I really likes shakshuka and sandwich we had with fresh orange juice! I wouldn't mind bigger portions but I will def come back here . Very nice atmosphere .. I was anxiously waiting for this cafe to open with high hopes and they did not disappoint. I have been here several times and have loved everything that I have ordered: the pan de bono sandwich,the breakfast burrito, and the sweet plantain pancakes. Order: Cayeye (Smashed yellow plantains with red peppers, onions, avocado, queso blanco, and topped with a fried egg) Sweet Plantain Pancakes.
Price: $25
Pros: The flavors were all very unique but very well put together, I loved all the choices with plantains as the main ingredient, the plantain pancakes specifically were exceptionally good.
Cons: You'll probably want to get here a bit early if you want some of their bread, we got there at 11 and they were already sold out of their Pan do Bono.
Thoughts: Philly food stop number one. We had already decided that we wanted to eat at several different places rather than just fill up at one place so we decided to go to a lighter "brunch" location for starters. My wife and I also both love plantains so the number of items on the menu themed around the food was very intriguing.
While the location is actually pretty small, it looks like they've done what they can to make as much seating available as possible. The interior décor was very interesting, a mix of art, pictures of the food, and photos of Bogotà. Given that most items on the menu looked delicious, and we had a few specific things we were deciding between we went with the tried and true method of asking our server what to eat. Unfortunately he started by delivering bad news and told us they had already sold out of their Pan de Bono (a house made cheese bread that is freakin amazing, imagine a cheese biscuit, but bread instead). Once he delivered this devastating blow he suggested the sweet plantain pancakes as a best seller so we went with that and the Cayeye.
The food was delicious, and did a really good job of emphasizing the plantains in each of the dishes. The pancakes were definitely not your traditional pancakes, they had the same constancy of the new healthy banana pancake trend just with the flavors of plantains. The Cayeye was also really and almost tasted like a savory plantain pie.
While I was a tad disappointed that they were out of the Pan de Bono it was still a delicious taste of Bogotà, with a bit of a twist. I'd highly recommend swining by if your in the area and was a tast of South America. Usaquén is my favorite breakfast/ lunch spot in Kensington. The vibe is friendly and welcoming, and the owner and staff couldn't be more kind. They offer authentic Columbia food, varying from fresh plantain pancakes to pan de bono bread. If you're in the neighborhood check out Usaquén, I guarantee you'll want to come back for more! I really wanted to love this place, it's close to home and it's Colombian fare...Sadly the experience will warrant a return.
It's a small spot, but it was loud. The music, a blend of Radiohead and The Strokes, was playing at a level that forced the patrons to raise their voices so they could be heard.
The interior appearance had me convinced that the food HAD to be good, thus warranting it's hodge podge decor.
Granted the food was edible, it was completely underwhelming. The price point is geared towards the gentrifying neighborhood and the portions were on the smaller side.
The service was friendly, I just wish I could have heard them without straining to hear.
The water is definitely from the tap, an unfiltered tap. I am not an elitist bottled water enthusiast by any means, but the smell of the water glass alone turned my stomach. Inline water filtration would improve their coffee as well.
Give it a try though, maybe it's just growing pains and they'll improve with age. It's a dream come true having a Colombian spot in Philly! The food is amazing, and Usaquén's staff makes you feel like home. I love the fact that the coffee is straight from a Colombian finca (farm), and having the luxury of getting refills of this high-quality coffee is a bliss!
I've tried almost the entire menu, and I recommend every single item. One of my favorite breakfasts I've had in Philly! Perfect example of a lighter modern Colombian flavor. I had the "English brekky" and my wife had the Bono sandwich. The pan de Bono and arepas were amazing too. The decor is super cute and the staff is very friendly. Oh and I didn't need sweetener for my coffee which is never the case. Definitely worth a drive for us from South Philly. I am not from Colombia (born and raised in Mexico) and I thoroughly enjoyed the brunch. The coffee is amazing and the breakfast burrito was delicious. For someone who misses the food from my hometown, this was a true delight. Highly recommended! I would give this place 4 or even 5 stars if we didn't wait close to an hour for our food. I understand it's a small place (7 tables) with one chef making everything fresh to order. But the wait, after being seated, was ABSURDLY long. My suggestion would be to bring out a small basket of bread or pastries to quell your patrons hunger and moods until you can get their breakfast out. Once the food finally arrived, it was delicious. Was super excited to go to this place since a lot of friends had mentioned and were asking if we tried it. The place is a nice little spot with open kitchen, and the staff was nice. Sadly, they had to change our order multiple times because they ran out of ingredients! (So we either had to modify the order or change it.) We ended ordering the hot dog, burrito, huevos pericos, a side of pan de bono, chorizo, and pork belly. They were good but not something that I have to go back to eat again. try the pan de bono if you love cheese bread. May be today was a really busy day, but honestly, not impressed. I don't think we are going back. This place is amazing! I ordered the Ranchero Bowl and coffee. Both were delicious. Service was stellar as well. This is definitely a hidden gem. Ever since my trip to Colombia 2 years ago, I became obsessed with Colombian food. I only know of a couple places that serve it that are a bit far away. I became ecstatic when I found out Usquen opened up on my street and even more excited after trying it! Love the Colombian food here and looking forward to the next visit. Usaquén is a hidden gem, small family owned restaurant with amazing food that you will not find anywhere else in Philadelphia period! Yes as some have said it's a small spot so the wait may be awhile but it's worth it! First the staff is so friendly and welcoming. The food, omg the food is absolutely delicious!!! If your in Philly it's a must stop! So philly is really lacking in Spanish food. There's not a wide selection of Spanish restaurants, especially in the northern liberties area. So I came across this place from other yelpers that recommended this place. I really like Colombian food and was really craving a typical Colombian breakfast today. The location is very close to where I live and so I thought I give it a shot.
I arrived to there, and from outside it looks very nice and welcoming. Inside was very nice and it does have a lot of Pictures of Colombia. The decor was very nice and vibrant! I really loved the chairs and tables. All the colors complemented very well all around. We were greeted immediately by two of the staff. They were very nice and helpful. I ordered first a cup of coffee, which Colombians are very well known for their coffee. I have to say the coffee was really good and definitely worth trying! The menu didn't have so much to choose from, but I ordered the huevos Pericos with a side of on de bono. The huevos pericos was very good, and had good flavor. I wish the plates were a bit bigger, since the Colombian dishes are usually big. The pan de bono was also good, they make it very different than the traditional Colombian way, but it was still good.
The only issue I have with this place, is that I was under the illusion that this was a Colombian restaurant. I've noticed that they are missing a lot of typical Colombian dishes, such as calentado , pendeja colombiana, etc. I asked the staff about it and he said it was a fusion restaurant. Which is a good idea, but when you google this place it says Colombian. Even their website is all about Colombia. So when I went their I thought this was all Colombian. No big deal, but I think they should express that this place is a fusion restaurant so that other people wouldn't run into this as I did.
Overall, this place is good and definitely worth going to have a good Spanish brunch. Definitely happy for this new addition to the neighborhood!! I hope for more places like this to open up in the neighborhood since we are lacking that good culinary Spanish food and amazing culture. Went here for brunch with my family. We had the sweet platain pancakes, Cayeye, Pan de Bono sandwich and the Shakshuka. We all shared to have a taste of it all. I can not tell you which one was my favorite because all food was so fresh and delicious. But I will say the Cayeye and Shakshuka would be my go to plates. We returned again and were not disappointed. The food was on point! Definitely a yummy twist to Colombian food. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. This is going to be our new favorite spot. This place is killer. I can't wait to go back and try more things. We ordered the cayeye, pan de bono, and plantain pancakes. Everything was incredible. It's nice to have something different for breakfast than just the usual. It's a small but cozy place and laid back. I can't wait to go back! I've never reviewed a restaurant on Yelp. What better to start with than one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants? Usaquen opened down the street from me about three weeks ago. I've eaten there 4 times since then. Res ipsa loquitur. The food, the service, the decor -- all excellent. My favorites are the Pan de Bono sandwich and the two eggs with chorizo and an arepa. If you're reading this review, just stop, go to Usaquen, and enjoy. Just had a wonderful sancocho (like a hardy soup) it was great. It has a unique Colombian traditional food. My son had the pancakes with sweet plátanos yummy. Make this a distinction BYOB - nice white and ur good to go. The huevos rancheros were the best ever and loved the arepa at the bottom. The portion was so large it was hard to finish. The homemade hot chocolate was amazing and made to order. I loved seeing my food prepared and made to order.
They played cool music and the atmosphere was chic and on trend. Loved the family photos on the walls as well. From the outside it looks like a dump, but don't be fooled. I am so glad this place is around especially in this part of the city. They have been open for 7 months but for some reason even though I am around the area a lot i never noticed.
Stoped by today for a lunch meeting and was very happy I did. Had their burrito and a coffee, black. The coffee was very flavorful and spot on temp wise. The burrito was super well made and, although I didn't pay attention to the ingredients (since I was paying attention to my meeting) the combination of a bit sweet and super succulent stuffing gave this dish a well balanced and very tasty result. The home made salsa provided a nice little kick to the burrito too.
I did notice shakshuka on the menu and I am psyched to give it a try soon.
Great flavors, fresh ingredient, creative combinations, so glad you guys are around!!!
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name: New Hope Pet Center, address: 12 Village Row, city: New Hope, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: opening, categories: Pet Stores, Pet Groomers, Pet Services, Pets, text: Great local spot for pet supplies and grooming. Knowledgeable and friendly staff always willing to help with any questions. We have had our Standard Poodles groomed here for many years- they always do a wonderful job! I've been taking my miniature poodle to be groomed at New Hope Pet Center every three weeks for over a year now. The staff is so nice and considerate and they take such good care of my dog! The grooming services are fantastic - my mini always looks so good when they finish with him. I've had them leave him in longer clips, shorter clips and everything in between. The owner, Sue, really knows her stuff and her grooming staff is the best! Highly recommend their services. As for the bird...his name is Dennis and he's a hoot. He says hello, please a cracker, and occasionally barks. My daughter loves when she gets to come with to pick up the dog because she gets to talk with Dennis the bird. They did a great job grooming our Maltipoo, we'll be back! Great communication and service. Incredibly kind and gentle with our 15 year old terrier Elvis. So happy to have found this wonder place. Also has a great selection of specialty foods! Been going here for 10+ years, always good service, they do a great job on grooming your furry friend The Team at New Hope Pet Center did a fantastic job grooming my Pomeranian! He has not found success at other groomers but came out not only looking great but very happy! The talking bird bit my friend when she and I went in together. The owner had to remove her finger from his mouth... seems inappropriate to have a biting bird in the entrance where customers (children) can access him.... I also think their selection is terrible and have not been back.
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name: The Tubby Olive, address: 12TH And Arch St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: closed, categories: Specialty Food, Herbs & Spices, Food, text: Great selection of olive oils and vinegars, all of which you can taste. Prices aren't too bad. We ended up buying some for ourselves and a couple of nice bottles of truffle oil as a wedding gift. Really friendly person attending the store. Very nice selection of oils and vinegars, including numerous infusions and flavorings of each. You'll find a number of balsamic vinegars, including some white balsamics here. We ended up going with the fig balsamic ($16.95 for a bottle), but the traditional (18-year old?) was amazing and we almost went with that. We didn't get any olive oils, but I recommend trying the ones marked "robust," all of which taste more "virgin" (yikes, that was an unfortunate turn of phrase!) than extra virgin olive oil. They had a nice one from Chile when we visited.
The best part of visiting here is that you can try all of the oils and vinegars they have. Each is in a beautiful metal jug, and you can pour a little into sampling cups to try them. Be sure not to miss trying the truffle oils, which are sampled from individual bottles rather than big jugs (oof, now I said "big jugs"; things are going downhill).
The people who work here are pleasant, and are happy to consult as you try to figure out what to buy.
Recommend stopping in. My favorite place in Reading Terminal Market! We have stopped here a couple of times to both taste the oils and vinegar and of course to take some home. Our first time here we got the cranberry peach vinegar - delicious! And this time, we got the maple vinegar. It is so unique-tasting and sweet, and we have only been home a day from Philadelphia and I have already used it twice: over some lettuce and tomatoes, and in my oatmeal this morning. Wow, the maple is my favorite vinegar of all time - it is going to go fast! There are some amazing olive oils here too, but we have plenty of that at home. But if you need some, I recommend trying their new offering from Tunisia - it was really fresh and had a little kick of pepper or something at the end.
Even if you aren't buying anything, this is a great place to come just to go around and try what they have on hand. They have some really stupendous flavors and it is fun to go around and sample them all. Best place ever! Everything you could ever want in flavored oils and vinegars. Very helpful staff to match pairings, and you can actually "try before you buy." I'm not going anywhere else for olive oil or vinegar...there are too many choices to make!
$17 per bottle which should last for some time unless you're like me and use a bit everyday. They also have a buyer's card for a free bottle after so many purchases.
They are right next door to MeltKraft (see my review) in the RTM, so you can get your cheese for your mozzarella and tomato salads to go with your oil from Tubby Olive! Excellent oils and vinegar. We grilled some pineapple marinated with their coconut vinegar, it came out delicous. The fig oil (or vinegar, I can't remember) made for a great salad dressing.
Very friendly service, and knowledgable as well. Don't take their recommendations lightly. To be honest, when my sister walked into the place, I sort of rolled my eyes and wanted to immediately walk out, but I was dead wrong.
The only reason that this place doesn't get 5 stars is the price. My sister went through her $17 bottle pretty quickly. They are definately worth the price, just wish it was something that was more affordable for every day use. Great quality with a variety of oils. We mostly buy the extra virgin olive oil, and sometimes we get mixed up by the many kinds of oils they have. What a gem. Let's go over the things that I love:
#1: Family owned
#2: The imported balsamics and oils are from a different distributor than any other place in the city
#3: They allow - nay, ENCOURAGE - tasting until you feel like you had a mini meal
aaaand lastly, not only are the prices great, but they often have sale bottles available for seasonal and limited edition items. Having a day filled with culinary adventures based on exploring small businesses, Chef buddy Christopher R. and me had just been geeking out in Garces Trading Co. I had just had a multi-orgasm over 2 new balsamics, and after this stop we headed to RTM to get some veg. HowEVER - I had forgotten how long it had been since my last trip here, and all of the renovations and additions to the Market are near completion. I had been heartbroken when the middle section of RTM was torn out and my Spice place with it...but a new spice store had been promised, as well as a retail outpost for Brauhaus Schmitz (nearly done) and a specialty olive oil/balsamic vinegar oasis, "The Tubby Olive". I saw it had opened, a tiny little beacon without windows tucked in behind Molly Malloy's. "Chris!" I squealed, my voice trailing away as I flew 20 feet in front of him. Again with the geeking out. Now remember, we had literally JUST gotten our tastebuds rocked in Garces, but the selection here was 3x the size. "We use the same distributor" was the clerks' response when I explained our previous stop. However, the prices here are a standard $16.95 - no variations, as Garces has. The selection here was so vast, and the prices so consistent, I would consider here a more frugal choice for the same product.
BEST find of the trip? Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic. Stick a fork in me.
Upon visiting the website, I not only found a MILLION more varieties I was drooling over (blueberry balsamic, violet balsamic, jalapeno balsamic, oregano balsamic...) but I also saw that they offer small bottle pairings as party favors and event gifts. Brilliant!
Lastly, near the entrance/exit of the shop is a water dispenser for palate cleansing, a clear encouragement for tasting romps. Message received, loud and clear, Boss. Oh, and they win for best business name ever. It's adorable. And I think my one cat, whose name is Olivier, will now be nicknamed "The Tubby Olive". It's only right that this happens. Just what we were looking for! Such nice and helpful staff while tasting the delicious oils and basalmics. Tuscan Herb and Lemon Basalmic screamed summer to me- highly recommend it. If you like spicy olive oil they keep some behind the register so people don't accidentally taste something too hot so definitely asked to try- we walked away with the hottest one they had!! To get your gastronomical orgasm on, be sure to stop by Reading Terminal Market's The Tubby Olive! I picked up 2 bottles of balsamic vinegar (cinnamon & pear, blackberry & ginger) and they're both ROCKING MY WORLD! Seriously, this stuff is heaven in a bottle. Super friendly and helpful staff AND you can taste every kind of oil and balsamic vinegar infusion that they have there. I'm very happy they have a website because I'll be ordering more (and telling my friends to order) from them! Or I'll just be sure to bring boxes the next time I'm in Philly. Olive the Tubby Olive! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) What a great addition to the Terminal. I've been making homemade pizza dough lately and really wanted a flavored oil to use in it to add more flavor. I remembered seeing that this specialty oil and vinegar store had opened up recently so I ran over during my lunch break one day. Bad idea. I really should have planned to spend a lot more time in here.
The space is small when you walk in, but they really pack in all of their merchandise and they do it in a way that doesn't make the store feel cluttered. I had my heart set on a garlic olive oil so I grabbed a bottle and went to pay. The employee in the store was very friendly while I was there, asking if I'd been to an olive oil shop before and explaining the organization of the store. I apologized for having to rush out because I really wanted to stay and try everything. Thankfully he tossed a list of their inventory into my bag so I could read it over. The oil is the perfect flavor I was looking for, plenty garlicky without being overpowering. It was perfect for dipping bread and will be perfect in the pizza dough.
I can't wait to go back when I have more time to browse and taste. Very, very good balsamic vinegar. My favorites are the 12 year old balsamic, fig, apple and the pomegranate balsamic. You can literally put them on anything and they taste good. I tend to buy the about $20 four pack of perhaps 4 oz. bottles (no size on bottles). That way I get a variety, and if need be, take one to a party, etc. I like how they have the vinegars and olive oils on tap to taste, but my suggestion would be to get some bread. Have you ever drunk straight olive oil from a little plastic cup? No matter how good it is with food, etc., gross.
Since they are actually in the Reading Terminal, there is no reason they couldn't buy day-old baguettes or other complimentary breads from the other vendors who can't sell it the next day. I'd buy olive oil and vinegar if I can taste it without choking. Le Bus is there, a dozen other places with skinny loafs.
My only other complaint is the face that when I go in there, and I was there yesterday, I am not greeted. It's most always 2 woman chatting to themselves, or maybe one is with a customer. No matter how many times I've been there, no one has ever said hello. I've purposely gotten into a convo about their other locations just to get them to talk.
Don't get me wrong, I love their balsamic vinegars, but the woman didn't know how to validate my Reading Terminal Parking. She didn't stamp it at all, and I ended up for 30 minutes in the parking garage arguing with the manager's people that I shouldn't have to pay 4x as much to park. I hope they have figured out how to punch those parking stubs. Yes, I was pretty upset. The staff was extremely helpful. My friend wanted to stop in to look for a gift for someone and I offhandedly mentioned not being able to take a shot of straight olive oil. I woman who worked there came right over to me and assured me it wasn't what I was thinking of at all, that their oils go down quite smooth. Whatever, I'm up for anything. I ended up taking about 6 shots of different oils and vinegars with no pressure to buy any of them. I really loved their chipotle olive oil the most, but their spicier options are also really good. They also have some nice sweeter balsamics that aren't too heavy on the vinegar. We took a little menu and plan on ordering from the in the future. Delicious Olive Oils and Balsamics! They have every flavor you might imagine - be sure to get a bottle or three!
It's nice to have one of these closer to the middle of Center City so I don't have to trek out to Garces Trading Company every time I want a specialty balsamic or EVOO. They were super friendly! I'd suggest bringing your own bread in! The lemon and peach white balsamic we're both soooo good! Great place! Very tasty! So I discovered the Tubby Olive when I lived in Newtown, PA. There location in newtown is quite charming and very different from the reading terminal. However, they both over some amazing olive oils, balsamic, and some other goodies.
They really encourage tasting here which is a great concept. You can try oils that are smoking hot to oils that taste like fruits. It's almost like a little meal and your tastebuds are quickly sprung to life.
I purchased a small sampler pack for my mom as a gift which she loved. I would note that its kind of tucked away in the back of the terminal, but worth a stop in. The staff is friendly, and you might find the perfect oil. Prices are too high for the 1 oz sampler (4 one ounce bottles for $20? Ouch).
The regular bottles (Oil or Vinegar) are all $16.95.
Truffle oils are (of course) higher.
I enjoyed sampling the single-note olive oils but the flavored ones (butter flavored??) did not thrill me. Also the White Balsamic (I tried the Lemon one) was entirely too tart.
I really love REAL balsamic from Modena - so for me the vinegars were just OK - best ones are the fig and black cherry. (Sweet - of course) but the underlying vinegar is not the best I've ever had.
Good but not a holy grail.
That said - I bought a $17 bottle of arbequina oil for a friend and think she will enjoy it. The first time I visited this place, I bought black cherry flavor vinegar, which is so good for cooking veggie like zucchini. This will be my regular place for specialty vinegar Um. Who knew that flavored oils and vinegar existed? If you're looking for a palette expanding experience, then you've got to stop by Tubby Olive at Reading Terminal. Here, you'll find rows of metal tins that dispense sweet and savory drops of oily goodness. Mix and match flavor combinations with tangy balsamic vinegars. Imagine Tunisian Blood Orange-infused olive oil paired with either a chocolate or espresso infused balsamic.
4 Stars - When you're at Reading Terminal, you've got to stop by. It's a dinner party waiting to happen. One of several cool finds on my loner self date today. Mini metal vats of specialty infused olive oils and balsamics on tap -- flavors like chocolate, espresso, maple syrup, basil, butter, garlic, truffles -- luscious flavor combos tasty even on their own. I love a place where you can sample the product without the pressure of a sales person breathing down you neck. I went with the maple syrup balsamic (supposed to be a gift, but currently eating said gift drizzled over greek yogurt and berries while yelping on couch). Lauree, the manager/rep was a treat to chat with, a beautiful spirit who took a chance at change in Philly over old familiar life in LA (and is loving it!). All bottles $16.50, gift packs available too. Can think of a couple people that would love these as small gifts. (coughcoughxmasiscomingcough) My wonderful girlfriend has been coming to this place for a few years and always brings something home from her visits to the Reading Terminal Market.
I was excited to finally see this spot for myself! It was one of the more quiet vendors at RTM and it was a nice reprieve from the crowds. I've been to a few other oil and vinegar stores that are similar to this one, but the prices at The Tubby Olive are certainly the best.
They've got oils and vinegars to excite every palate, and I strongly suggest checking this place out if you're a cooking enthusiast or foodie. You're bound to find something awesome you can't leave without! The olive oil and balsam trend has spread - and your options are endless. But what makes Tubby Olive different is that you're dealing with staff who only sell that one product category. So they know their stuff - they'll go as far as food pairing, recipes, party ideas. Go ahead, sample away, There are some flavours that will surprise you. I came across this store earlier in the week. Glad that I did. I loved ever thing that sampled. I will be back .
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name: New Image Detailing, address: 215 S Springfield Rd, city: Clifton Heights, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: opening, categories: Auto Glass Services, Car Window Tinting, Auto Detailing, Automotive, text: I have had both my black Caddy ATS. And now my White ATSV done by these guys. Excellent work as my cars look better than when j bought them. They turned me on to a ceramic coating which I thought it was an up sell. Boy was I wrong. Told my neighbor to get it as well and I recommend anyone going there to pay the extra money. What an amazing feature and it protects paint from bird droppings and tree sap.
I used to go to a place on the Main Line but no more. I hope these guys never change their quality as j will always be a returning customer. Lastly, they even fit one of my cars in as I was trading it in. Took my Acura TSX 08 in as a treat after 100,000mi mark. They did an excellent job - looks new again!!! Ive been working out of my car for last 2 yrs so it was getting beat up. The leather is all shiny the paint smooth and bright! The tires OMG I didnt think they would come clean. I would absolutely recommend them!! Thanks so much! MJD Havertown PA Had my car cleaned and it looked like a new car off the lot!! I would highly recommend them!!! If you are like me and go somewhere because not only is the work great but also because the customer service is extraordinary as well then this is the place to go. Joe and the staff are very helpful, friendly and do an amazing job at what they do!!! I was recommended to come here by a family member and I have referred many people since then.
"You'll never have a product or price advantage again. They can be easily duplicated, but a strong customer service culture can't be copied." -Jerry Fritz
*HIGHLY RECOMMEND Jeff an Joe detail an tint all of my cars they do an excellent job every time very happy with there service thanks guys I am very happy with my car after it was detailed. I have a 2011 Subaru and it has never been detailed. I couldn't believe how clean they got the interior. I'll be back! I needed to get window tint and came to this shop based on reviews. Was not disappointed. Dropped the car off in the morning and it was ready by mid afternoon. The tint looks great and I got the lifetime warranty package. The guys here were nice to deal with. Will come here again for future tint jobs. Misquoted times. The car was clean but I think I could have done just as good job at home. I bought a Ford Escape used from a dealership about a year ago, and since had run over some road paint that wouldn't come off the passenger side of the car. The car was smoked in and treated pretty much like a trash can since we bought it, and really needed a deep cleaning, and the tail gate wouldn't open. I called this place to get a quote, and was a bit surprised with the $185 price, but found that it was less than most other places in the area. We were also on a time crunch since we're expecting a baby in less than a week. I decided to bring it in, and was told that I would need to pay an extra $100 if I wanted them to try to remove the white paint. I agreed and left the car with them. The guys working there were friendly, it was ready when they said it would be, and I was absolutely thrilled with the results! My car is MUCH cleaner than it was when I bought it and they got the paint off! I'm very satisfied and will definitely be back! Second car I've had tinted by New Image. Joe does awesome work and was even kind enough to pick up my car from my office. Prices great for quality work. Hands down 5 stars across the board. I had my 2007 Honda CR-V detailed at New Image. The car looks new inside and out! My husband and I were stunned. I highly recommend this company. Thank you, New Image! This weekend I had that rare experience of excellent customer service, superior workmanship at a reasonable price! It was the first time I had a car detailed and Joe (the owner) patiently answered all of my questions and explained each step of the process to me. I have a new Lincoln that i had just driven round trip to Florida. When i picked the car up it looked more beautiful than the day I brought it home from the dealership. They did an awesome job! I would absolutely go back again and I would highly recommend them. It was a great experience and I am really pleased with the work they did. My car looks fabulous! Just had my Tesla model 3 tinted and a ceramic coat put on, they did an awesome job! Very friendly and informative staff. Competitive pricing and great quality, highly recommend! I got my car detailed for the first time here. I can say that the service was excellent left my car over the weekend and then picked it up after work on a Monday. My car looked brand new. I will use their service again. Thanks New Image I recently bought a new Subaru Forester and love everything about it. Due to it having very high windows, it felt like I was in a fishbowl. So, I decided to stop by and see about having the driver's and passenger's windows tinted to match the back factory-tinted windows. I dealt with Devin who said I could wait while my car was being worked on provided I got to his shop when the opened the following day. I got there a bit before 8 AM and he pulled in almost at the same time. He immediately got my car into an empty bay and soon, one of his workers got to work. After about 35-40 minutes, the job was done. I was amazed at how great the car now looked. The new tint exactly matched the shade of the factory rear window tint. I wasn't after stealth (limo dark) but just wanted more privacy and that's just what I got. I can't speak highly enough about Devin's customer service or about the professionalism of the other technicians at New Image! I highly recommend this shop to those wanting window tinting or other detailing services done to their vehicles. Made an appointment for an interior detail. Dropped my key in an envelope through the door on Friday and received a call around 12:30pm on Saturday that it was ready for pick up. Super friendly, nice size parking lot and Brian answered all the questions I had. They did a great job cleaning up after my 85 lb beast of a dog. Highly recommend, they did terrific work and they're very affordable! I had two interactions with this place. The first was getting two of my cars tinted; they did an excellent job with the tint.
The second interaction was for a full interior and exterior detail. When I dropped my car off for the tint, they were supposed to do the detail same day. They mixed up which car was getting detailed (sedan vs SUV). When they realized it was my SUV, they were visibly flustered (I assumed they were very busy). I offered to bring my car back in another day when they had more time. The owner told me I could bring it back in any day, just tell him when. I chose that Saturday and he said that works.
When I dropped my car off on Saturday, they didn't have my name written down, for the second time, but said they would squeeze me in. I left my car there around 8AM and was called around 5PM saying it was ready. When I pulled into the parking lot, I could see my SUV immediately. Even while pulling up, I could see that the scratches on the outside were definitely not buffed and in fact, aside from a nice wash job, the outside didn't look even a little bit better. My boyfriend, who was a detailer for years, said it was no good at all. There was sticker residue on the back of the SUV that they didn't get off (the guy told me they tried and it wouldn't budge but in actuality, a solvent would have removed it).
I walked in to get my key, already frustrated. When I looked inside the car, I was even more frustrated. On my drivers seat floor, there was mud in the corner. I asked the guy if carpet shampooing was supposed to be included in the detail and he said yes. When I told him this was definitely not shampooed, he said he was pretty sure one of the other workers had done it. I kept inspecting and found traces of ash and food crumbs in different parts of the car, I found change in the very back of the passenger side seat which meant they never even put my seats back. Again, it looks like something I could have paid 20 dollars for at Ridley Car Wash. There were a few things in the car that I specifically asked them to address and they were all missed. I stood there for another 20 minutes while two of the workers scrambled to try to make the car look better.
All in all, the worker who was holding down the fort was very nice and professional. The issue, apparently, was that the owner was not in at all and apparently they do shotty work when the owner isn't there. The worker came over and I told him that the detail was absolutely horrible. He apologized and said that they were very busy that day and the guys may have "skimped" a little on my car. He said to bring my car back the following week and he would detail it for me personally. I agreed to that and told him that I would pay him once the detail was complete (who would pay 175.00 for a service that was really never provided?) He said that was fine.
The next morning, I get a phone call from Joe (the owner) who demanded that I explain exactly what happen and why I thought it was acceptable to leave without paying for his service. I began to explain what happened to him but he denied everything I said, stating that 'his guys always do good work.' He then said that he can call the police on me for theft of services. At that point, I was done with him and his business. I told him I would be right over to pay him. He asked if he could 'make it right' (because he is friends with my brother and doesn't want any bad blood, or a bad review). I told him to forget about it; I'd rather not do business with someone who operates that way and has zero regard for customer satisifaction OR providing the service his customers pay for.
I drove over to the shop immediately and walked in to pay him. The owner (Joe) told me not to worry about paying him full price and to just give him $100. I was so disguted that I just slapped the full 175 on the counter and walked out.
Absolutely TERRIBLE experience. I will never use these guys again and I suggest you don't either for detailing service. It is unnerving that you have responded with nothing but lies.
1. I arrived at 5:15 to pick my car up (I distinctly remember calling your shop after having to rush out of my sister's graduation party early) to tell them I was a few minutes away.
2. The initial appointment for the tints included the detail on my CRV which I booked when I made the appointment via phone days earlier. You assumed I meant the Fusion and when you learned I meant the CRV, you said bigger cars take longer and I, very gracefully, said "no worries, I'll come back another day." You relied that I could come back any day I want and I said the following Saturday. I did not "sneak" my car onto your appointment log for the day, leaving you to struggle getting it done.
3. I was incredibly nice to your employees; in fact I spent time playing with his daughter outside while he fixed some things that were done horribly or missed completely. They didn't spend much extra time on my car because I knew they were past closing.
4. I didn't refuse to pay for the service. I told him I didn't feel comfortable paying full price for work that was half-assed. I told him I would call you myself and he said to bring it back next week and he'd work on my car personally.
Fact 1. No consumer should pay for a service they did not receive even close to satisfactorily. I do have rights as a consumer, you know.
Fact 2. I am not the first customer who has had complaints about your shop. My mom warned me not to go but my brother spoke highly of your tinting service so I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone and do the detail as well.
Fact 3. I was nothing but friendly when I answered your call the next morning. I was expecting you to be apologetic for having rushed through my car and not providing good service. To my shock, you immediately threatened to call the police for refusal to pay for services provided. You were an asshole off the bat and when I tried to explain, you were in total denial.
Fact 4. Not only was your derailing bad, but your customer service has been non-existent. Your comment to my review only goes to further prove that you are slimy and you lie.
Oh! Not to mention, you never asked me to bring the car back that day. I asked you if I could bring it back and you said "you've been driving in it again so of course it won't look perfect now" and "now you want us to do a whole new detail on your car????" when I came to pay I didn't park half a block away; I parked right in YOUR lot, ya dick! I grew up detailing cars so I know a lot of the products and prices. I drive past this place everyday to work , and there is always cars on the lot. To me that's means they must be doing something right.
Finding a car detailer is not a easy task considering everybody says they can do it. For me what stands out is the work but mainly the products they use. This place uses Ardex products which is not cheap .
Ardex is located in northeast philadelphia . They sale in bulk to body shops and detail shops. There products are top of the line.
Once I seen new image work and an Ardex truck delivering product I had to give them a try. I called a day in advance to make an appointment and dropped it off. Detailing takes time so give them 2-4 hours with your car.
I bought my car Dec 1, 2014 and new cars don't come with heavy wax on it. New image charges $75 for wash and wax which is an average price. When I picked my car up it looked better then when I bought it.
I will use them for my go to shop. I'm sorry that I found the review by Emily funny but the fact it stated I came here a few years ago but the review is 2 months ago. The only thing I did agree with was, yes take a picture prior. Because when you get your car back you will be shock how better it looks.I have been going to New Image detailing almost from the first month they open, back in 1997. Since I first started going there I have owned 5 brand new cars. The only place I will have my ca r cleaned is at New Image. This also includes the car dealership that hand wash's your car when in for any type of service.
When I drop my car off for a hand wash and vacuum, every other Saturday, Joe and his awesome staff greet me not as a customer but as a friend. Even when they are busy the will still take the time to give you a smile and a Hi. Needless to say, their attention to detail in my opinion will far exceed any reasonable persons expectation. Lets face it, you can't expect them to turn nothing in to something, but they will give it their best. And I believe you will be happy. And lets not even talk prices because I would venture to say they are more than competitive in that area. Don't believe then check it out for yourself.
Here's the bottom line, even after moving from Clifton Heights to Wilmington Delaware, 9 years ago, I still drop my car off at New Image every other Saturday. Why would I drive over an half hour away if they did not do an excellent job. I wouldn't.
So I would highly recommend this shop to any person, either local or out of the area, that is looking for any of the excellent services they provide, such as a wash n vac, detailing or window tinting at a reasonable price. All services I have used countless times.
One extremely satisfied customer, Rich N.
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name: Totem Brand, address: 535 South St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: opening, categories: Leather Goods, Women's Clothing, Men's Clothing, Shopping, Fashion, Shoe Stores, text: Found this men's store while walking to dinner at Serpico and, like the previous reviewer said, was surprised to find such a gem on South Street. They have brands like Fjallraven, Red Wing, Pointer Brand, Filson, and many more great quality items. The ambiance is rustic American and the owner is very helpful and friendly. Hoping they open a ladies store in the near future! really great store with a lot of nice merchandise. could be viewed as pricey, but you get what you pay for. everything is really great quality. was looking for a pair of boots and the guy helping me was very knowledgable and friendly. highly recommend this spot. Cool shop with great brands that are not marked up whatsoever. South Street needs more shops like this. Just wish they had more women's items! Stumbled onto this place while walking down South Street and was shocked, because most of South Street is such garbage. Philly desperately needed a store like this. Really good selection of Americana/workwear aesthetic men's clothes and boots. Lots of great backpacks if that's your thing. The guys working there/owners have been really nice and helpful every time I've been in. Great shop. Went there on a slow night on South St. And the people working was very helpful and had what I was looking for and more. They have all the brands I like and when the bank account allows I will be back. Finally, a store Philadelphia needs. This is THE men's store. They were really helpful and friendly. All their brands scream quality. Just stop in and feel the material and see the stitching for yourself. Most of their products are american made. They have hand made Taylor Stitch dress shirts and hand made jeans by Raleigh Denim and they also have Norman Porter jeans made in Philadelphia. Need to get Red Wing boots or Wolverine boots next time I stop in. They're the best american made boots you can buy. I bought a ton of plain shirts that are super soft made from Organic cotton and Hemp its by Jungmaven. Also got Pointer Brand jeans which are great price for american made, hand sewn with White Oak Cone Denim for $73, a steal considering some $300 plus jeans use the same Denim from the same supply. They have so many candles to choose from, my favorite is the hand cut wine bottles and they use natural premium soy wax (great gifts too). Think the company is called ReWined. And a lot of organic lotions and natural face wash, shaving cream, etc. A lot of leather goods too from keychains to wallets by tanner goods and apolis. They have too many bags to choose from, Filson, Kelty, Frost River.
The brands i can remember are, Filson, Deus Ex machina, Tellason, Iron and Resin, Pointer Brand, Danner boots, Eastland, Red Wing, Marmot, Fjallraven, Taylor Stitch, Schott, Ruel and Ray, Tellason, Norman Porter, momataro, flatheads, Frost River, Billy Kirk, Tanner goods. So many things I want. Will be back. Thanks for the good customer service when i stopped in. oh yeah i recommend the Ursa Face Balm and face tonic and cleaner and Imperial Pomade are the best. Feels good to use quality products on your face and body. Best store in Philadelphia. Will be back soon! Quality stuff, great staff, and the discount section is the best place to buy quality clothing in Philadelphia. very solid selection of contemporary Americana/Workwear. Engineered Garments, 3sixteen, etc... Absolutely awesome selection of high quality fashionable goods, many made in America or Japan. Staff is very knowledgeable and will even order your size if not in stock. The selection is perfect for the urban resident and not super outdoorsy like a REI type store. Prices are comparable to other brands of similar quality
This store is one of 3 amazing men's stores in Philadelphia along with Lapstone & Hammer and Franklin & Poe Phil is a god damned lifesaver. After finding out my baggage was lost - with my suitable clothes in it - the night before a funeral early the next morning, i came in to Totem ten minutes before closing. Not only was Phil ready and willing to pull multiple sizes for me to try, he showed me to where stuff was discounted and gave me a hefty discount on a pair of boots out of the goodness of his heart. he stayed open for an extra twenty minutes helping me out and chatting and didn't make me feel like i was intruding even though i totally was.
What made this even better is that hist store sells is clothing i'd want to wear anyway - i wasn't forced into buying some cheapo shit from wal-mart just because my baggage was lost.... Phil has amazing taste in brands, and whisky - and supports made in US clothing to boot (no pun intended)... he knows his stuff. Higher quality costs more but it will last a lifetime, and if you're looking to get hooked up with great threads or treads, go to Totem and support local businesses. Really cool store with men's clothes that aren't sold in many places around the city. Good selection and nice staff. Nice diverse and varied selection, reasonably priced, and comfortable layout. Customer service, helpfulness, and friendliness were definitely lacking for a nice, higher end retail shop. Wasn't greeted or helped without asking. Got the vibe they were "doing me a favor" by helping me out. Love the jeans, guys that work there were... weird. Would give them negative stars if I could. Terrible experience with shopping online. First they list the item as available and let me buy it. Then they email saying they don't have it and offer me another color or a different size. No discount or waived shipping fee or any sort of decent step to apologize for their error.
Then when I select the other size they say they'll ship it out immediately and suddenly cancel the order. Place is run by liars and I will never support them or recommend them after this initial experience.
If you decide to buy something on sale from the website; I'd suggest that you Fully expect to have it cancelled after having your time wasted. If we could give the store less than one star, we would. We recently purchased an expensive Patagonia jacket for our son - online. The item was discounted by about $20, from the original price of $220. When the jacket arrived, we realized it was too small. The store would not accept the return - citing the reason "due to the discount," nor would they process the exchange because "they are out of all sizes." We are now stuck with an expensive item we have no use for. You'd think in the current environment, when most people have been shopping exclusively online for nearly a year, the seller would at least make a minimal effort to accommodate their customers. Please beware of the no return/no exchange/no credit/no giving a monkey's about the customer policy when shopping at Totem Brand Co. Wow - a men's store where you truly get what you pay for.
There has been a rise in the number of independent stores and chains focusing on men's fashions in Philly, and it is a wonderful sight to behold. However, much of the stock tends to be one note (ala Polo store) or overpriced considering the quality (ala Barney's). Enter Totem Brand - an unassuming shop on South Street - that proudly and not-so-loudly boasts Filson and Wolverines, among other choice labels, for the style & budget conscious Philadelphia man. True that price points are on the higher end - but with this quality, it's well worth it. Also interesting to note a sizeable collection of American Apparel (often styles not in stock at either Walnut Street Store), Taylor Stitch, and my personal favorite - Archival.
And, yes, the owner is friendly, knowledgeable, and bright.
I'm a convert. Not many stores like this on South Street. When i entered the store i was immediately impressed with its classy design and the name brands that i couldn't find anywhere else. They have high quality individual stitched jeans to trendy jackets and boots. Come here if you like quality fashionable outerwear. Every time i come back i see a new item that i don't see anywhere else. The service is also really great and friendly recommend you come check out Totem Brand. Awesome store. Great variety of apparel and the store set up is super comfortable. The owner and staff are more than accommodating and went the extra mile to make sure that I was happy with what I was purchasing (I spent 2 hours in the store trying on jackets and asking them a million questions). Would much rather support this local business than purchase online somewhere else. They even offer 10% off for things they don't have in stock and have to order for you for this reason.
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name: SkyGarten, address: 1717 Arch St, Fl 51, Three Logan Square, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: closed, categories: American (Traditional), Bars, Restaurants, Nightlife, Beer Gardens, text: Didn't really know what to expect, thought it would be a lounge but it turns out it was a beer garden. It was a pleasant surprise. Service from when they checked ID (they check EVERYONE) to guiding you up, to getting drinks and going outside was great. We came there for the spiked hot chocolate. It was pretty pricey at 10 bucks a cup but a necessary accessory when you step outside. It has whipped cream with whichever alcohol you choose, bourbon cream, fireball cinnamon and something mint. You then top it off with your choice toppings, mini kit kats was my fav. The view was spectacular. When it got to cold we went inside and commandeered a table and played connect 4. It was a fun time. There were 2 bars. The main one and a little makeshift one set up outside. We always went to the one outside since the line was shorter. Will def come back for a chill night! Wow, I had no idea this place existed, but its very cool. A nice hangout at the top of one of the downtown skyscrapers, complete with games, beer, and a pretty cool hot chocolate bar. The venue is largely inside in a sort of cafteria/beer hall type fee, but you can venture out onto the balcony.. it's just not that well heated.
Drinks are reasonably priced and you can technically take chocolate and marshmallows from the hot chocolate bar for free (technically). They also have a nice menu of mixed drinks available.
Definitely worth checking out if you have a guest in town, the view on the balcony is great. I don't review many places but this place needs me...
(solid 2.5 stars)
Sitting on top of the 51st floor of 1717 Arch emits excitement right away. The elevator ride prepares you for something special as your ears pop rising to the top of the city. Unfortunately, this is where the excitement ends and SkyGarten fell short for me.
SkyGarten's identity is really the issue. It is a beer garden on the top of an arguably posh building. The two don't coincide with each other. Beer gardens are obviously trendy right now but this place could be so much more with the right love.
The rundown:
$5 cover (get over it).
50 max people outside - after that it's one in, one out.
$10 mix drinks (abt $6 beers)
The bar list is limited (no Hendricks or major variety top shelf LQs) Craft beer is decent but limited. There were a few options for food - Burger, mac&cheese bites, wings, fries, or hummus. I went with the tomato basil hummus bc I have a problem with wings and my sponsor says to not make eye contact. The hummus accompanied by celery, carrots, pits chips was pretty good. The staff aside from the bartenders and food runners (who were great) was not friendly and had no customer service experience whatsoever. The inside, is setup with banquet style bar areas. Benches line the central room with German beer banners draping the columns (games are on the tables). The open terrace surrounding the outside is the main attraction. I am sure there are many restrictions to what can be done outside, but it too was lackluster.
The verdict: If you have never gone before then check it out. For me personally, after going once, I see no reason to return. With the little effort put into the esthetics, you're basically paying to take a selfie. PS, Despite what you heard - I don't take selfies.
Hope this helps and did not sound too negative. The place has potential to be something great. the view is nice but the place looks like a collage house party-ish. they could make it nicer. door coverage $5 Jet-Plane Volume Music Kills Festivity or Romance in this Tired Bar in the Sky
51 stories in the air cannot save this confused, joyless place. Pay your $5 cover, which I suspect pays for the many bouncers, and walk into a place that will not work for you:
* Social occasion with friends? Nope! Unless you like screaming over your picnic table so people can hear you, forget happy chit-chat.
* Romantic? Nope! Some ladies were really dressed up, and looked ridiculous sitting at the picnic tables. No privacy, no cozy corners. No candles.
* Happy, pleasant music? Nope! This is the same pounding, unhappy music you hear on the street when an obnoxious car passes you and it is so loud it disturbs everybody on the sidewalk. It might be suitable to a rougher dance club, except nobody dancing here! Totally inappropriate music.
* Great Design? Nope! Just some wooden picnic tables, some beer bottles over the light fixtures, and pictures of happy beer gardens where people can actually socialize and relax. Nothing clever or pretty like in a Spruce Street Harbor Park or PHS type pop-up.
*Great views? Yes and no. So, how can they ruin this? Well, they can make sure that the same relentless music follows you at almost equal loudness outside, so that it kills the serenity and majesty of the view. Then, make sure nobody can sit outside unless they face away from the view and into the blinding spotlights illuminating the building.
* Food? Yes, good. Kudos to Brauhaus Schmidt. Adding a star back for that and what was left of the view.
* Drink? Some good German beers. None of our great local brews, of course. Some OK Brooklyn beers wandered in, looking confused. ;-)
The solution for the owners? Reduce music volume 80%, especially outside. Ditch the DJ, and just play an inviting soundtrack of mixed, popular tunes. Raise the lights just a little bit inside. A few small tables outside (on both sides of the building) facing the view. Add a few, large potted plants. Keep the food. Substitute Philly's Yards beer or equivalent for the Brooklyn stuff.
My advice to you? Enjoy a some what lower elevation, but happier view anywhere else. Heck, I've enjoyed the open second story of the Revolution house in Old City 10 times more than this confused and sad place. The view is amazing. The drinks and atmosphere and fact it closes at 10:30 is not amazing. Ok to go for the view once but wouldn't be a reg hangout. Really awesome views, cool beers but they were not serving anything on tap. The inside is a bunch of picnic tables with games. The outside has places to stand and look at the views, sometimes you have to wait to get onto the balcony (ten minutes). Good experience but not a place I would go to as a regular! Finding a traditional beer garden way up on top of this building was amazing! The beer selection was great, true to Octoberfest tradition. While the appetizers were predictable, they were very tasty. The wings had great spice and the fries with gravy and cheese were delicious. Best of all were the views of the city as the sun set! We just went here Saturday night for the spiked hot chocolate bar. It was so good, worth the $10 for the spiked hot chocolate and the view. This place is good for a quick drink/view, then you go on our way to another bar that isn't as overpriced. This is a cool experience you should try at least once. There is a $5 cover. This is not a place you would stay for the whole night so def plan for somewhere else to grab food and drinks afterwards. The hours are limited so try and arrive fairly early. There's a 50 person limit for the outdoor area. The only thing outside is music and the views. All bar areas are inside. If you leave the outside area you have to get back in line. Drinks are overpriced. They offer food but the music is so loud you probably don't want to sit in there and eat. This is truly a phenomenal view and the atmosphere is very relaxed. There were 4 beers on draft for $7, and both my boyfriend and I agreed the grapefruit wheat was the best! If it's there when you go, give it a try! I wouldn't recommend the pretzel sticks though, ours were hard. The employees were all very kind and helpful. The whole place was nice and clean and so were the bathrooms. The lines were short (we went on a Thursday.) The only thing is I wish I knew how incredibly windy it would be up there. Definitely don't wear a dress or skirt, I had to hold mine down the whole night! Also, there are two sides to the building with a long hallway in between, check out both views! This place is really great to go with friends with your spouse. The views are spectacular. Grab a drink and enjoy the ambiance. I believe it's a $5 cover. This place has 2 sides so you can see the city. Definitely will be back. There was much hype about the place before it opened - so it was on my list of places to check-out this summer. I visited with friends during Center City Sips. This is the type of place to be seen and definitely check out the view - but after that - get outta there - well you old folks..because this is a young persons hang out...LOL
It is not much room up there on the roof deck and if you don't arrive early, you will have to wait for others to exit before you are allowed on the rooftop. A few friends and I decided to meet up here for Center City Sips and enjoy the view.
Tip: Cash bar - ATM has a high surcharge.
Not sure I would visit again...maybe for a specific event/private affair? Great bar, good food, and most certainly a perfect view of the city. I highly recommend it for a night out of any occasion. Had $10 spikes hot chocolate. Actually pretty good but $10 is quite a lot of money, not sure if it's totally worth it. Good concept and worth the visit but not sure if I'm going to come back repeatedly. Great views though. In the end of the day, there's one real reason to go to Sky Garten: the view. While my first official visit to Sky Garten didn't happen until last month, I'm no stranger to this building. From exploring it as a potential wedding venue, to Center City Sips, to a Drink Philly Event, I assure you that I cannot leave with at least some new photos.
The views are practically panoramic and breathtaking. I have trouble not exclaiming, "I love this city" when taking in the scenes 50+ floors in the sky.
I'm mixed on the concept of Sky Garten itself though. I love that it's a bar, with food, that's open more than one night a week. However, the German beer garden style just doesn't do it for me. While it's cool that there are benches on the inside with board games available, there are many more luxurious things that can be done with this space.
Of course, I didn't expect bargain pricing up here. You may a premium for those views, don't you know. And while they weren't bleed-you-dry, pompous pricing, my $8 for a cup of vodka club left a little to be desired. Speaking of which, according to one Philly.com article updated on April 6, 2018, the $5 cover includes a cocktail made with Sky Vodka. On this visit, this wasn't the case. I wish I knew about this or would have said something when I was there (I guess that's why Yelp exists though, right?). Not to mention that I hate paying covers. But the views make it well worth it.
The selection of drinks was just okay. I'm not a German beer girl and everything else was a little ordinary. Although they have the views, and you don't go there for the rare craft brews. I didn't try the food, but it seemed like basic German pub grub with a little extra premium.
If it isn't already crystal clear, like the Philadelphia sky on a gorgeous day, Sky Garten is all about the atmosphere, and I'd gladly visit even if the only attraction was me, myself and sky. The best thing about this bar is obviously the view. The drinks were pretty expensive especially given that my boyfriend and I went during happy hour and still paid around $10 for a drink. To top it off, the margaritas were not well made. Clearly just some tequila and syrup.
The service was okay. The view is nice but in retrospect paying for the cover and the mediocre drinks was not worth it. Especially when there are so many quality rooftop bars in CC. Really fun place. Games on the tables. And obviously the view is spectacular!
Worth it even with the $5 cover just to get in. (they check ID too)
As dairy free, and not eating many meats, the best option was the veggie burger without the cilantro crema. Added a little ketchup and it was pretty good. I split this with my friend who was vegan. The fries were nice and crispy too! My boyfriend had been wanting to take me here for a while. I'm so glad we finally made it. Saturday night and it wasn't that busy. 51st floor. $5 cover charge. $5 cover charge for the amazing view, definitely not gonna complain. We ordered drinks from the bar in the hall way. Can the bartender crack a smile? Then waited in line to go outside. Saw that there was another room with food and more drinks! Frozen drinks! I love me so frozen drinks. The line moves pretty fast and we were outside in less then 5 minutes. The view! View! View! It was a beautiful day to be on the 51st floor overlooking Philly. I love it. After finishing over drinks we went inside to check out the bar and to get a frozen drink. The bartender let me try the two flavor they have and I ended up getting the frozen peach lemonade. Yummy! Yummy! The bartenders in the room was much cooler then the one in the hallway. Definitely will come back. Such a great concept. Planned a visit here all week. Finally got there after a long day of sightseeing only to find that they do not have seats along the edges. The picnic table are away from the edges and below the view. The beer was good, the view was fantastic but I will have to spend my money next time where we can sit and enjoy the view. My hubby and I are both New York natives & we love rooftops! This one in philly was so great it reminded us of the rooftops back home. Only much calmer than your usual nyc rooftop. Only $5 cover charge! + The views are amazing. I will def come back It's good view for the city! But they are lots of people. The 5 dollars for the entrance. We order sausage and ck wings. The ck wings is better than sausage. Fries are good! We love the HB beer, but when we get second cup, they are sold out of HB.( in that day, it's only 8pm) The view is incredible and they have a western facing balcony to watch the sunset. Unfortunately, I paid 8 dollars for a domestic beer and it wasn't even cold! Great view, decent atmosphere, pricy, and not so great service. Cool views and fun venue for outdoor beer garden during the city. We went on a Friday evening and the crowds were not bad at all. All personel leading us up the elevators and in the right direction were very friendly and pleasant. Did not try the food at this visit. Prices were very standard and reasonable. Beer selection was adequate with the options of mixed drinks, if desired. Large amount of seating indoors and chill environment to take in the views outside.
My one complaint was that the line to get a beer was quite long so that we spent a good amount of time waiting for that before we got out to enjoy the view and the weather. Fun time for SIPS! No cover and amazing views of the city. Way too many people for the space, lines were long, especially to get in and on the outside decks, and most areas were cash only. Forget getting a seat unless you watch for a table. Still a great place to grab a decently priced drink with so much to see! A few friends and I decided to meet up here for Center City Sips and enjoy the view. Turns out there is extremely limited space on they "rooftop". A few of my friends were unable to get in as the line quickly backed up over 1/2 a block down the street! You must wait in the outside line, then ride a small elevator (or at least it feel small when your squished in there), then wait in an additional line in the elevator lobby. Once inside it gets much better since the view is really nice when you can see it. The bars were cash for this particular event with an ATM surcharge of about $5!
We won't be visiting this spot again to socialize, but maybe for a private event! My how far we've come. The last time I was here it was the summer of 2014. It was known as Top of the Tower, house music was blasting and it was a Wednesday evening sips crowd. I felt too old and vowed never to return. Well SkyGarten is now a chill hang out spot with the same great view. We came on a Friday around 9pm a few days before Christmas. There were tables to play games and Home Alone was on the projector. It wasn't too crowded, but i could see how on a nice day it could be. The real winner of SkyGarten was the spiked hot chocolate. It was some of the best I've ever had. You can choose several different liquors (whipped vodka, caramel, fireball, Bailey's etc.) I only had one hot chocolate since $10 is a bit steep, but it was delicious nonetheless. They also had a hot chocolate toppings bar and a bunch of holiday candy. I like what they've done with the place. Cute. People are right that the seasonal hot chocolate drink is a little expensive ($10) for what you get in a paper cup, but perhaps it's inflated for the novelty of it. I liked the toppings station. It does look like they upgraded to a bit fancier digs for the toppings, as they were in various decorative bowls on a covered table. I recommend the kit-kat bites or something not too dense because everything else seems to sink to the bottom of the cup and make a goop.
The atmosphere was nice. My friend and I played several rounds of Connect 4 and ordered wings. The wings were way too spicy for the both of us, and we needed water (we did not eat them all due to the spice, so fair warning-- they are HOT). Water was available at the fountain outside and past the exit. It was either that, drink tap or pay for a bottle. I chose the fountain water which did the trick.
It was cozy. Probably a nice after work activity if you are OK with a small snack menu and drinks. We did not go outside and I was a little hesitant to even ask because two security guards flanked the door and it looked uninviting and hard to tell if people were allowed out. I did eventually see people floating in and out though. Frankly it would have been too cold for me anyway. Either way, you can get a good view looking out the window just as well. Weird. Thats SkyGarten summed up in one word. First, its on the 51st floor of a swanky corporate building in Center City. They check ID's before you even walk in the building. You then take the elevator up and when you exit the elevator, you're met by 3 9-year olds running through the hallways and playing Connect Four. I'm not kidding. There are stuffed animals and Jenga games on the tables, with families of 5 eating apps and having family fun time. Huh? Theres a security guard leaning on the wall. You go outside to the patio, which has an exquisite view, and there is another employee with a flashlight, pointing out the steps you're about to fall down, because there are 5000 watt runway lights pointed directly upward into your face, blinding you to everything below, like the steps for example. You go back inside, and the line for the bar is now protruding into the hallway, with people waiting to order what basically amounts to your cousins Devry graduation celebration open bar. Over priced cans of beer, a few bottles of decent alcohol; nothing special. The food smelled ok, but we didn't stick around long enough to order food. They had forgotten to set up our pre-reserved table, and we got a few drinks while we waited to sort everything out. They eventually got it right, and even offered us a few shots (of Fireball....ugh) as a mea culpa, but by that point, I was ready to go.
I really couldn't understand why they would check my ID to let me go upstairs to a dive bar/upscale sky patio/chucky cheese hybrid. I couldn't understand why there was an armed security guard 5 feet from where two kids were playing Jenga in a crowded room on an unbalanced bar table. I couldn't understand why a can of some obscure IPA was $8. The view is seriously amazing, but it doesn't make up for the other nonsense. Theres no cover at least, so theres that. The view is incredible, and you really couldn't ask for a better bird's eye view in the city. We went on a Wednesday night, and we were able access both decks with minimal to no line. $5 cover - annoying but if you expect it, no big deal. It's worth it for the view alone. Keep in mind drink prices are very reasonable - $6 for cans of craft beer, $7 draft beer, $10 for frosé - especially considering the location. Yeah, it isn't authentic in terms of a beer hall and there are no steins, but this is a great time with an incredible view. Hours are weird and they aren't open Sunday through Tuesday, so check their website to ensure they will be open. Also, don't show up too drunk - the girl in front of us was moderately intoxicated (I actually didn't realize she was drunk but my husband thought she was when we were talking to her in the elevator) and was not allowed to access the premises. A COMPLETE DISAPPOINTMENT! The view is nice but nothing else is. It's my understanding this place is operated by the same group who owns Brauhaus Schmitz. If you want a nice, German themed menu, in a comfortable atmosphere where you can enjoy your food go to their other place. If you want to pay a cover for an elevator ride to get a drink in what by all accounts feels like a rented out conference (that's actually what this place is) with a theme that I would liken to a hotel room party at best go to the roof. Be sure to stand in line for the patio first so you get to see it, the number of people allowed at one time is very limited. Amazing Amazing Amazing, and essentially free unless you dine or drink. This doesn't appear to be a permanent establishment, it feels quite transient and conference room-ish but the views....Whoah! They have a healthy selection of brews, as expected from Brauhaus Schmitz, and some nice food options. We just indulged in a beer and enjoyed the views. If we go back it will be only because we have a visitor and want to show them the sites, not going to be a usual hang out, we will continue to go back to South street and eat/drink at Brauhaus though! We we're excited to bring our family to check this place out... But it's closed for renovations. We checked the website before we went to look at the hours , and there was no notification of this. Disappointed we made the walk... Hopefully we can we try it in the future. What a cool place! I read that they had spiked hot chocolate which was my only motivation for coming here, ha. We walked in a little after 6 on a Thursday and the place was hopping.
Community tables are everywhere along with the typical games you find at the area beer gardens. They have a good happy hour drink menu from 5-7 consisting of cocktails, beer, and wine.
We didn't get anything off the HH. My husband got the pear Moscow mule, which he loved. I got the spiked hot chocolate with the mint liquor. Bonus that they have a table off to the side to garnish your hot chocolate with (caramel, marshmallows, chocolate chips, etc). We also loved the caramels and chocolates.
Before we left, I had to check out the view from outside (even if it was frigid!). Those views are unbelievable. I can't wait to go back in the summer! Came here before on a Sunday but they were closed :( Last night after bar hopping around CC, we decided to give it another shot; why not it's Saturday! Also, we had a buddy from out of town & we wanted to show him this gem..
There is 2 bars: 1 when u come up (drinks only) & the other 1 is inside where u can order drinks & food.
Being as though it was Saturday there was a wait to get on the roof deck (bc of capacity). The line moves fast though don't worry..
The drinks were good and the view from the 51st floor was breathtaking! Great place to impress a date or anybody def coming back! Be prepared to battle a crowd, at least on Wednesdays. I came here on a sips day and had to battle a throng of people in what was a chaotic entrance experience. You're scuttled from a line downstairs to a line upstairs with no clear instructions, and A LOT of people who think rules and lines are beneath them and will cut you in line hoping that you don't look them in the eye and lose them in the chaos. There needs to be some more order established in terms of how building security and skygarten security let people up and down. Once you get there, you do have a great view, but be prepared to pay for it. Your beer is marked up around 1% for each floor you are off the ground so a 6oz cup will run you about $8 on average. The food sits under heat lamps and served like a cafeteria, so my party passed. We snapped a couple of selfies, sipped our beer then bounced to the next location. This to me is a tourist trap and a once a year and done kinda thing. If you enjoy a bro-frat scene this is the place for you, if you hate crowds and talking over a billion people find a beer garden closer to the ground. Went for the special event on 4th of July. The weather was a bummer but luckily we got there about 10 minutes before the rain so we were able to get outside in the balcony for a minute. Incredible views!! The staff was very friendly and the food was excellent. Drinks were solid with a small but nice beer selection. I had a craft pink grapefruit wheat. Not quite as glamorous inside as I imagined but it's nice for a change from the standard bars in center city. Nice crowd. Views make it a must try. We will be back on a night the weather cooperates. Looking forward to trying the Sunday brunch. I've been here several times especially when it first opened two years ago. The only reason why I come here is because of the breath taking view of Philly you can get at the roof top, especially near sunset on a nice day and the amazing instagram worthy photos you can capture. Other than that, the menu items and alcohol selection is on the average end. Oh, and I forgot to mention that now there is a $5 cover charge. It use to be free as long as you are over 21 but I guess plenty of people come up here just for the view and not order anything that they start to charge. We started off a Saturday night out with heading to the SkyGarten around 6:30pm. It was a little confusing to find the entrance and once inside the building security guard just made eye contact and said, "51st floor". The long elevator ride up and the some what hidden location made me look forward to the night out. But once we got to the 51st floor disappointment set in as we exited the elevator and entered the 90s looking office building.
We were asked for our IDs and a $5 cover which I thought was unusual since there wasn't a band playing. The security guards and doorman were not friendly and seemed annoyed to be there. We entered a long, narrow hallway and the view of the city was great. There was a tiny bar where we got a very bitter glass of white wine and a shandy beer. The prices were OK but the selection was poor.
With drinks in hand we explored and found a much larger bar (wish we knew about this first) in a room with lots of seating. The selection at this bar was a bit better and food was available for purchase. We didn't buy any food, but it smelled good.
I liked the long tables and benches with games like Connect Four and imitation Jenga. My second drink was a frozen peach lemonade and it was quite tasty. After a few rounds of games we decided to explore more and check out the view some more. When I asked a staff if you could go out on the roof deck he said in a grumpy voice, "It's raining". I then asked are you allowed out if it is not raining and he said again, "Yes, it's raining".
I think the SkyGarten has great potential but it just lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. The staff were rude and irritable and it was early in the evening. I can't imagine their attitude as the night progressed. I think the SkyGarten is a cool place to check out once but I don't see a reason to go back. The view here is awesome. Especially at sunset. I had a great time with me and my old lady. The wings we had were good and the beers were also. We played Jenga while we waited for our food. Only bad part I did not like is that the strongest beer they had was 5.7%. Pricey on drinks but u are in downtown. Went here this weekend around 6 o clock. There was a $5 cover charge and then they had a very limited drink selection and wine was $9 a glass. Went out on the balcony and the view is not that great as the ledge is high and there are blockers so you can not get too close. Space is kind of limited outside and crowd is kind of yuppie. There was one small speaker outside playing music that was barely audible. Will not be back here again, Bok Bar is a much better view and experience. Oh my goodness, this place might be my new go-to. If you enjoy a good drink at a good value, spectacular views of Philly, good music, no cover charge, mingling, and board games, this might be your new go-to, as well.
I absolutely loved the cozy vibe of this place. My friends and I arrived when it opened at 5pm on a Saturday, and easily snatched up a table, a few drinks (alcoholic and non alcoholic, hot and cold), some fries, and cards against humanity. The floor to ceiling views of Philly greet you from the second you exit the elevator - it really makes you appreciate the city. This is definitely a place to snap a few instagram photos, but honestly, I'd still love this place if it was housed on the street in a windowless barn. It's such a nice place to chat and hang out, with the amazing views being just an added bonus. There's a few foods to snack on, but I would look elsewhere if you're looking for a proper meal. For the winter season, the bar is decorated in a ski lodge theme, with a variety of spiked wintery favorites available at the bar. Drinks range from $3-10, which is about what to expect at any bar in center city.
I can't wait to come back here, especially once spring and summer arrive! I'm going there by the advice of a friend! 5$ for enter, the place is amazing, you can see the entire city! 51 floor and 2 different point of view! I'm completely in love with that place! The view is handsome!
The bar is good but in my opinion there isn't much choice of drink and also food! Horrible. $5 cover charge. The effort here was laughable between the non-existent amenities, the portable worksite stereo playing FM radio, and the minimal yet tacky decor. The clientele is reflective of the novelty nature. The views are nice, but not worth it. Jamel,Calvin, and Christopher were so friendly and welcoming. We had perfect views and great ambiance. We had such a great night! Can't wait to go back. This place has so much potential. The view is amazing but the rest of the set up leaves a lot to be desired. The common areas used to pass from one viewing point to another and to the bar/restaurant look like an old hotel hallway. It looks like they got started on a good concept but just couldn't bring it home to make the entire experience perfect. I think if you're going to charge a cover you really need to make this place a little bit better. It's definitely not a place I would choose to come to on a regular basis, but I would come by if I wanted to show people a great view of Philly. The view is FREE and worth going to see for an hour at most. I caught the sun setting, which came along with some eavesdropping juicy romantic couples convos. No proposals though at my visit. Sad face!
Flaws: not kid friendly since the walls are tall. I'm short and some areas I couldn't see past.
Bonus points: food and drinks available. Nearby other nightlife ($$$) and other places to look at for free. Great visitor spot.
Tip: walk around the building and go when the sun is setting. Amazing views!
The SkyGarten seasonal pop-up bar is absolutely worth going to for access to the 51st floor balconies. Sunset on a clear day over the Schuylkill can't be beat. Just make sure you wear tight-fitting clothes - not for the dance floor, it's to make sure you don't flash everyone on the windy balconies!!
There are 2 bars. The selection isn't great, but you're not really going for the drink selection, right? Expect to pay a little too much for adequate drinks, stay for an hour for the views, and then move on to Uptown Beer Garden for better drinks and a place to sit and chat. Went for sips.
Nice sips deals for beer, wine, and mixed drinks.
The view is AWESOME. I definitely recommend this venue for sips and happy hour.
Unlike some sips venues, this one accepts credit cards, which is nice. I was really excited to try this place! I'm sad it was such a let down. You wait in a ridiculous like for one or two bartenders at ONE bar to serve you. Then you wait in another like to get on the terrace because there is a 50 person limit. It is one in one out, which I've experienced before. However, we get out on the terrace after waiting 45 minutes and I set my drink down on the edge, within 5 minutes a security person tells me and my boyfriend we need to leave because of it. Not once were we warned, and to my knowledge (not that I would know I was only there for 5 minutes) there were no signs advising against. For that wait, absolutely not worth it. *Do not go during CC Sips - you will be waiting forever*
Obviously the views are the biggest feature of this bar. Aside from the limited bar and food menu, the atmosphere is nice. They tend to limit the amount of people going outside so you will have to wait for people to come back into the main bar area (can't beat the view though). I used to love SkyGarten but their new $5 cover policy won't have me coming back for awhile. I understand the need to limit the number of people due to spacing issues but this is simply ridiculous. This is Philadelphia, the only way most of us pay a cover for a bar is if it goes towards a band or performers. One of my favorite memories was watching the fireworks with my fiance and future sister in law over 4th of July weekend.
Maybe now they are trying to get the naive tourist crowd who dont realize there are other non-cover rooftop bars in the city? They got a bit greedy with it in my opinion and won't get my business back until they at least limit the coverage charge to certain hours. And no, I'm not telling you which other rooftop bars because I'm sick of out of towners ruining the good spots haha ;). super chill spot! the view of philly is superb!
Draft beer $7 and only 4 selections when i was there on friday~ no HH specials and the food menu can be found online.
i feel like they're still testing out this rooftop beer garden thing.. it's obviously a good idea but perhaps there are other risks to consider like.. falling beer cups from the 51st fl.. haha whoops?
so hopefully Skygarten is to stay with a more solid drink menu and better organization~ not only will it become an ultimate tourist spot but a fantastic catch up spot for locals. cheers!
Ps. also, ladies: best not to wear dresses or skirts to this joint ^^;; SkyGarten is great! Honestly, you cannot beat the views. I went on a Friday night and when I walked there it was so hot, but once I got up to the 51st floor, the breeze outside cooled me down. It does get a bit windy up there (obviously), but it feels great on a hot summer day.
When I went to get a drink there was a bit of the line, and the bartenders were a little slow. After getting a drink inside, we went outside to just stand, but it was pretty crowded and we were finally able to find a spot to stand with a high rise. HINT: There are two sides to SkyGarten. The outside area where the bar is, is more crowded than the other outdoor side. So after you get your drink, I suggest going to the other side if you want more space.
Another thing that was good was that they had both beer and wine, and they also had some snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. Because of that everyone can enjoy their time there. All in all, I really enjoyed it here and cannot wait to come back! We went on a Saturday afternoon, and had to pay a cover. I was annoyed by that at first, but, if you were going to the top of any touristy building, you generally have to buy a ticket for that. So $5 is pretty fair.
Can't beat the views, the beers, and that friendly, chatty nature of most people there. Lots of kids, families and a relaxed good time overall. Very friendly vibe. I have been dying to go here for months and I got my first chance on Halloween and I was super impressed! Not only did they have Halloween movies, which made it extra special but all of their regular inclusions : multiple bars, board games, snack bar, and amazing views, made it definitely worth while! You get great views of the city so even if you just stop by to take a few cool pics, the food and the atmosphere will make you stay! I didn't get any drinks but they had a lot of cool specials, including seasonal drinks! The DJ was also amazing on Halloween. I'm not sure if that's a regular occurrence but whoever they hired did a great job. I wish there was just room to dance. We ordered the poutine, which although not in the same style as traditional poutine, was seriously amazing! Crispy fries, delicious brisket smothered in gravy and melty cheese! Definitely a great spot all around and a definite spot for tourists and locals alike. Awesome views and simple, easy time - get beer, drink on balcony with friends. Prost! Came here with a few friends on a Friday night. As one would expect, it was very crowded. As one would also expect, it was catered to the crowd and expensive.
The hot chocolate "bar" was a table thrown next to the "small bar" and it was a sloppy mess. They ran out of almost every fixing and we had to wait oddly in front of a table with empty containers. There was no room to move anywhere else. The staff was friendly enough, except the bartender at the "small bar", his customer service left a lot to be desired BUT his spiked hot chocolate was delicious. Take the good with the bad, I suppose.
Outside on the veranda, you get an awesome view of the city. It was breathtaking ---- and not as cold as one might imagine. My friends and I took some pictures and after about 7 minutes, we left.
Overall, an okay experience. 2 stars for the view and 1 for the spiked hot chocolate. I felt like the prices were a bit high even for center city. Two words:
That View!!!
Okay, okay, I'll give a few more words.
It's amazing, especially during sunset and when the sun goes down. Best rooftop in the city when it comes to views. Their menu is very limited, so I didn't order anything. They have long tables and chairs inside and outside. The outdoor tables usually are occupied, but you should always be able to get seating inside (people don't go here to sit inside). The area is very tiny once you get outside and it's get tight because lots of people go up there. The staff is friendly and helpful. They keep the place clean by picking up after people in a timely manner. So far, I've gone twice and I haven't had to wait in line to get access. I imagine that'll change soon enough.
Another great quality....Free Entry! Are you under 25? Do you enjoy screaming to be heard? Does paying a surprise cover charge for no reason on a random Thursday night work for you? Then by all means, this is your place.
Welcome to whatever this is, a weird room on the top floor of 1717 Arch. It serves decent food and drinks in an atmosphere that'll have you saying - we are not coming here ever again.
The website makes it seem all cool with big windows and amazing views. When we went, you had to eat inside on the long tables with benches. Not just any benches, super light benches so if you're sitting on one side and someone is on the other and they get up, the whole thing tips and you'll fall off, like the worst teeter totter ever. Which is what everyone wants when they're eating.
Seriously though, people were actually hurting themselves on these things.
There are board games (jenga, Connect Four) on some of the tables, which is nice, but between the blaring music and crashing games and people screaming, it was impossible to have a conversation. And forget seeing those views unless you are right next to the window.
The burger was fine. The pear mule was fine, although pricey for not much drink and a lot of ice. But the two of us feel duped. We expected a grown-up place with adult hot chocolate and drinks and a nice view, not a less cool version of the student union.
Between the $5 cover charge (not mentioned on the website at all) and $22 for a burger and a drink? Give me a seat at Rouge or Bleu or hell, a Federal Donuts chicken sandwich and donut picnic at Rittenhouse, you'll be better off. I was finally able to make it to the skygarten!! I've been wanting to go to this place for the longest and I was super excited to go last week .I went with a good friend and the both of us had a blast.
The skygarten is located in the heart of downtown in a beautiful building, on the 51rst floor. Once we arrived on the floor we had to check in with security who made sure we didn't bring any liquids in the vicinity.
Once we were able to get in, there was music and a good group of people just socializing and having a great time. I must say the drinks were rather costly my gf and I ordered the peach spritz. My drink was just ok I couldn't taste any alcohol it just taste like a watered down lemonade. I also saw the menu for the food which was very limited, however the star of the show was the wonderful view!!!!
That view is breathtaking, simply memorable!! It was soo awesome to see the whole city of Philadelphia at a eye's view! In the back of my mind I was singing that old hip hop song "I wish I was a little bit taller" cause they have a tall border on the balcony and that extra height would've been great, however, my view still looked stunning and it reminded me of how much I love my city! I love how I was able to watch how the cars move and how busy traffic was on the Ben Franklin bridge, it just made me think of life and how awesome it is and the fact that it never stops!
Overall the skygarten was a great experience. I would come again simply to just chill, relax and check out the amazing view of the city! The view from this place gets beyond five stars. I highly recommend getting here before sunset so you can see the city view in daylight, experience a beautiful sunset reflecting off the windows of the nearby skyscrapers, and then enjoy the bustling lights of the city at night. You get a 360 view of the city also! The outside area pretty much wraps around the whole building.
Unfortunately, there is a $5 cover per person but worth it if you're spending a few hours there like we did. There are yummy cocktails, craft beers and various wines available as well as fancy bar food. We got the poutine which was delicious!! There are these cheese balls that are included in the poutine and they were freaking fantastic. If you get tired of the view or get too cold outside, there's a large indoor area with tons of seating and super entertaining games at every table. There was a $5 cover. My friend and I came for happy-hour. The views were amazing, but the drinks were definitely overpriced.
We each got a margarita for $10 each - so $20 for 2 small margaritas, and $10 total cover.
We went to one section of the rooftop and it was quite crowded with no music. We went to the other side of the rooftop and it was less crowded and had some music bumping. However, we had to throw our straws away because it was a safety hazard...
Definitely a place to go once for the views, but not a repeat place.
Also, pro tip for girls: wear heels if your on the shorter side - the tables outsides block the view and you need to tippy toe to see anything decent, or step on the higher steps as well. Great place for views of the city since its located 51 floors up. One of my personal favs to take visitors while they are in town besides Bok bar. There are a couple bar options with reasonable price drinks. Depending on the time - you might have to pay a cover of $5 bucks. Although I have never tried the food, they seem to have tons of options as well as an area to play board games. Excellent views!! Before going, I read reviews and knew this would be a one drink kind of place for us. I was taking my husband out for his birthday and wanted this to be one of our stops. It did not disappoint. The plan was to come for sunset for a drink or 2, then eat elsewhere. We had a snack before arriving as we were eating and drinking our way around Philly this weekend and didn't want to pin down an exact dinner location. There is a bar and some food available but we had timed it perfectly and had one drink each before moving on. I read that the food wasn't great here so I kept that in mind.
We took the fast ride up, paid our $5 cover, and watched a gorgeous sunset over Philadelphia. We were not alone, but we weren't crowded in either. We grabbed a drink at the inside bar then got a great standing spot on the west deck to watch the sky fill with all the vibrant colors of a sunset.
After the sun set on the west side of the building, we walked over to the east side deck just in time to watch the moon rise from behind clouds. It was a gorgeous almost full moon. It was the perfect thing to do for my husband's birthday.
Don't pass up a visit here as the view is amazing day or night but watching the sunset will always be a favorite of mine. Rating 3.5
Pros: Beautiful Views
No cover
Good Music
Decent parking available nearby
Cons: Expensive, watered down drinks
Nothing special on food menu
Checked out this location with a friend a few weeks ago. We arrived later than the typical after work crowd about 8:30pm. Overall this was a unique concept and I would return. Unimpressed however with the food and drinks.
Overall my tips are to eat and drink beforehand and consider this spot for before or after a date. It gives you the opportunity to chat and look at the city. I might be a bit biased in this review coming from the flatlands of south Florida, but SkyGarten was truly an amazing experience.
I was on a trip with three of my closest friends and we came across this place on Yelp. It's a perfect place for tourists or anyone who wants to see a beautiful view of the city. We went around 5:30 and walked up to what looked like a tall office building under construction. We were instructed by a worker to take the elevator to the 51st floor. Once we were up there we walked down the hall and onto the rooftop to check out the view. I thought it was going to be uncomfortably crowded, but there was enough room for everyone to walk around comfortably.
Meanwhile, we got a drink from the small bar inside. It was reasonably priced ($8 for a glass of rosé) but not a huge selection--just your basic wine, house liquors, and a few different beers.
The real attraction is watching the sunset over the city. A glass of wine and a gorgeous sunset is honestly all you need for a good time in a beautiful city.
Also, the music was really nice and peaceful on one side of the building, and fast-paced/ top 5 radio hits on the other. So, it's nice to be able to choose which side you're feeling that night. There is also a small cafe with food next to the bar. I didn't eat anything, but there were cute board games to play while eating.
Overall, this place was a really fun experience. Not overly impressed. There is a cover at the door and there drinks are overpriced. The view and the service were great and you can play jenga. There are better options and Bok bar opens this Thursday. I was excited to try this place for the view and the spiced hot chocolate. The 2 stars are for the view. The -3 stars is for the hot chocolate. The hot chocolate tasted like the free hot chocolate from the break room at work. I paid $11 for a watery hot chocolate with a mini shot of "off brand" liquor. He asked if I wanted whip cream- of course it wasn't home made- he sprayed it out of a can. Then I went over to the toppings bar where they have random "low budget" toppings. I wanted gourmet toppings, not the same stuff you can get at a gas station. I'm so disappointed. This place is great for the views and happy hour. You can enjoy a casual setting to drink and quick bites with friends, family, or co-workers. The sitting is limited but the standing room in the balcony makes it a nice hang out spot. Friday at 7 pm place is a weird vibe of ransoms, but a steady stream of people. FOOD IS GREAT. Just amazing. We ordered food and then ordered more. Was so impressed I had to get a picture. Maybe the place gets busy at night. Not sure. The $10 cover is stupid but we paid it. The views are great. Prices are normal for philly. Recommend you go for a nice bit to eat (not a full retrace time FYI) kinda like a pub with small plates. Great place though. Definitely just need one drink for the view and to say you went. It was crowded and hot inside the building. Drinks were pricey since it was after SIPs on Wednesday. But the view was amazing. It was a cool experience. Definitely worth checking out once. I was really disappointed with the "greeters" of this place. My friend and I were super excited to check out skygarten and try their spiked hot chocolate. But we didn't even make it past the bouncers. All because my friend had a water bottle that wasn't allowed inside because he "didn't know if she had vodka in it!" Seriously??! I'm coming to a bar - where vodka, amongst other alcohols, is served in a closed and monitored place - why would I bring my own?? And, it wasn't a disposable bottle. It was an expensive one cause she green and all and carries it with her. So we couldn't just leave it or throw it away. We asked if we could ask the bartender to get rid of the water so she wouldn't loose the bottle, and we were told no. We could leave it in the corner "over there"
So needless to say - after that warm welcome - we didn't go inside. Wholly wow this is an amazing birds eye view of the city! It's truly stunning to see the city spread out before you.
Surprisingly not as windy as I'd imagined. But maybe it was a still day?
Two bars - well really one proper bar and the other was more of a portable bar. Nice beer selection. I didn't really pay attention to wine and cocktail selections.
Snack style food could be ordered at another stand. There is no waiter service here. Tables are all rather large and communal. Make sure to snag one outside ASAP because they go fast!
A great place to grab a snack and a drink and gawk at this lovely city we live in. Came one evening with a friend and we really enjoyed the view! It was winter season, so was crowded with a ton of people outside with spiked hot cocoa. The spiked hot cocoa was nothing special (that's where the 1 star deduction goes to), but the view was incredible! Plus they had heaters facing outdoors since it was so cold & someone to manage how many people were going outside so that it wasn't getting too crowded. Would definitely return :) We went here because another review from a fellow ny-er said she and her hub love rooftop bars. Yup the view is truly amazing up there. Even the air is different on a hot august night. Its calm and peaceful with an air of anticipation. Yeah i said that. Downside- $5 cover and drinks are ok. $30 bought us entry and two basic but decent cocktails. Damn that view though.... This is an amazing elevated beer garden is one of my favorite summer spots. It has amazing views of all sides of the city from nearly 360 degrees. I've also found the cocktails solid and the drink list acceptable. The food on the other hand is rather lacking. There really isn't an stand out and no vegetarian food with any substance. You also have to wait a longer time than you'd expect for it inside when you wished you were outside enjoying the views. My suggestion is to come thirty for the view but don't come hungry for food. Great view of the city. Sometimes it does get really pack and you have to wait to get to the deck, but it's worth the wait. You're better off coming on days where sips is available since the deals are better than regular priced days. I liked how they added the board games and redid the main room from what used to be top of the tower. Taking this down to three stars. Last night was about the 6th time I've visited. Progressively down hill since the first time I reviewed this place. The stunning city view keeps it at three stars but there is no longer much else to rave about.
Last night was the first time I was charged a $5 cover. Hmm. Ok. I get that. However imagine my disappointment when I had barely put my wallet away and discovered the entire west deck was closed. What??!! Perhaps they should mention that before you enter.
Everyone was jammed into the east deck. The staff were clearly not happy to be there and numerous times did laps around the deck announcing the closing time.
The beer selection is good but with limited space outside and grumpy staff this is no longer my go to spot to bring out of town friends. The main reason to go here is the stunning view! It's one of the best (if not the best) you can get. Their drinks are pretty limited but they do have a decent selection of rotating crafts in the summer. I recommend going sometime during that fall/winter for the spiked hot drinks-delish! Awesome time at the SkyGarten on NYE. Great service, food and drinks. Cant wait to go back! Skygarten is a very typical German bar in a not so typical location. Atop the 51st floor, you can enjoy a drink with spectacular views of Philadelphia. They have some German favorites, and a few philly specials like cheesesteak, and nachos. We got a pound of the spicy garlic wings and I really really wanted to like them, but they turned out to be sweet. We were unable to finish them. 3/5 for the wings. 5/5 for views and drinks. This was a pop up beer garden that I had heard a lot about so my friends and I decided to go.
The entrance is through the back of the building (the guards will tell you to go around otherwise). The beer garden is on the 51 floor. There is a $5 cover, they prefer cash but they also take cards. The alcohol selection was small but each beer was unique and I liked trying session IPA draft.
The area to walk around is limited but it is a pretty view at sunset which is when we went. I don't think I need to return just because it was a small area with not much to do but stand around. I loved seeing the view, I am glad we went.
The beers were $6-$7 each.
The crowd was in the late 20's, 30's, and 40's. we felt kinda out of place and the guards kept giving us side eye. But if you are young and can ignore that then go for it. My wife and I went to Skygarten on a Friday night in early July 2018. We are senior citizens and it was our first visit to SkyGarten. The view from the 51st floor was spectacular, but the bar/ restaurant is odd. Some of the biggest problems are not the fault of any restauranteur, but are caused by the design of a building that has small and sometimes cramped outdoor terraces with high walls, apparently high to keep people safe. The outdoor terraces have an odd configuration because there are many steps and different levels, creating some clumsiness when you want to stroll around the place, and there are barriers or chains preventing people from standing right against the outside wall, perhaps for added safety, but they can be a nuisance and they make the terrace smaller and more cramped. The wall that you look over is fairly high in most places, so kids and short people would have some difficulty enjoying the view. There are few places to sit on the outdoor terraces, and you must stand to see the view. So you stand near the outside walls and you're part of a cocktail party as you enjoy the terrific views from every side of the building. A good thing. The complicated layout of the terraces reduces the number or people who can see the view from the edge. Another odd thing is that in order to get outside to enjoy the views, you pass through one of two doorways, each manned by a security person. At one of the doorways the security lady stood right up against the door, making the narrow passage even narrower, and making passage difficult, especially when the place is crowded. I don't know why she stood in a spot that obviously restricts everybody's movement. Also, the bar and restaurant does not feel like a bar or a restaurant. One interior room is used for the bar and restaurant seating. The room is not attractive, not classy, has no windows and has little in the way of decoration. Okay, maybe it's not a bar or a restaurant -- it's a beer garden. But where's the charm? Where's the homey feeling of a garden? This bare, unadorned room feels like a conference room that was converted in a cheap way to sell food and drink. That's the way the whole 51st floor feels: like an office floor that did not lend itself well to conversion to a restaurant, but they converted it to a restaurant anyway and called it a beer garden. Finally, there was a Philadelphia policeman on duty, standing or strolling in the corridor that everyone must use to get outside. I don't know why the restaurant needs two security guards and one uniformed cop. I have never seen that before in a restaurant or bar. Overall I'm glad I went to Skygarten to see the magnificent views, and I think more high-rise buildings need this kind of public access, but I am not excited about going back to Skygarten or referring my friends because the place is kind of weird. But the view is good. Great place for beer and a light snack or dinner! The views are definitely worth the $5 cover charge, and cheaper than the liberty view. I can dig it! This used to be a great location to get the best view of the city and grab a drink. Unfortunately, they started charging a $5 per-person cover, which they will tell you it's for the cost of security. However, at our last visit, there was no security present and they would not let patrons access the outside observation areas because there was no security - the entire purpose of taking the elevator 50+ floors.
A lot of biz will be lost all because of a $5 cover? SkyGarten is a very interesting place right now. The hype for it has been ridiculous, and despite its publicity and all, unfortunately I didn't fall in love with it. I just think that the attention of SkyGarten is coming on a little too strong, so let's figure things out together.
Good:
You'll take in one of the best and FREE views of Philadelphia. A top-down look ( with two spacious balconies) from the 51st floor, without an admission fee.
Eh:
As much as it pains me to mention it, I think there's nothing special about SkyGarten drinks wise.
Random thoughts:
- Hours: Wednesday- Saturday, including CCD Sips.
- Entrance: Through the plaza "fountain" side.
- Parking: Available in the same building. $10.00 weekdays and closed on Saturdays.
- I was there on the Fourth of July to celebrate the Spirit of '76 ( 2 hour buffet), and to watch the fireworks from high above the city. However, Mother Nature had different plan for us. It was a stormy, wet night. Sigh!
-Honestly, the event was so crowded and the food was mediocre.
Philadelphia, may you please, and for God's sake, take it down a notch.
SkyGarten, I'm sorry but I can't give you more than Three and Half Yelps. tl;dr - Stunning views, more intimate feel than Bok Bar, both indoor and outdoor areas are awesome, great food/drinks/price, go early to avoid line!
Today was my first time there - arrived at 4:45 because I heard about the lines and it definitely paid off! We were amongst the first to get up there and got our pick of spots at the balcony.
I love the view from the 51st floor and I love the venue - they cap the amount of people allowed on the balcony so it's much quieter and has a much more intimate feel. There's actually room to enjoy the views and have a quiet conversation - quite different from the loud crowds at Bok Bar. IMPORTANT TIP: if you are leaving the balcony area temporarily, tell the bouncer at the door so he can save your spot! Once he gives away your spot you'll have to wait in line if you want to access the balcony again. I made this mistake, but luckily had already enjoyed almost an hour at the balcony and didn't mind eating inside. The inside area does NOT require waiting in line and has a beer garden-y vibe - it's a bit louder and there are games (like jenga). If you don't want to wait for the balcony, the indoor area is a great alternative where you can still enjoy the views!
Their SIPS menu and food pricing is more than reasonable (see photo) - $5 or less for drinks and $5 per plate of food. That's right - $5 for 6 Kung Pao chicken wings and $5 for 2 huge potato pancakes! You'd be hard-pressed to find better drink/food deals during SIPS at other places. The wings were beautifully cooked and I loved the Kung Pao kick. The potato pancakes were also quite delicious, and they were served with sour cream and some really cinnamon-y apple sauce that blended great with the savoriness of the pancake.
The entire staff in the building, from the guards in the lobby to the waitresses at the top, are incredibly friendly. If I get another chance to go to happy hour early, I'm definitely coming back while the clear summer days last! We all have one (or 7) of those annoying friends who constantly talk about going to this amazing rooftop and these amazing views and fancy drinks they had.
The rest of us idiots believe them, then we end up going. We see mediocre views behind windows that need to be washed. We get "fancy" hot chocolate that is overpriced and very average. We get to sit on benches and play jenga. Yay! But one of the group will inevitably post something on Instagram, and the cycle will start again.
This is skygarten. Stop the cycle. Please. This bar has one of the best views of the Philadelphia Skyline. With that being said, the view is almost all this place has. NEW Update! They now charge a $5 cover, which is kinda surprising over the course of less than a year that a cover would be imposed. The beer selection is quite minimum and a little more expensive from your normal priced beer. I would give this place a 2.5 stars if I could.
When I came here during the summer and busier times, the line would take a fair bit of time for everyone to get a chance to go outside. Be careful of it is windy outside because your hat or a very loose shirt might just fly off of you. Check it out once in a nice warm day but don't frequently come here if you want to say money. a really fun time. you enter from the north side of the building. take an elevator up to floor 51. present ID. Lot of community tables with jenga and connect four. You order up your hot chocolate (spiked or not). Then go over to the marshmallow station and fix up your hot chocolate the way you like. I don't know if you can bring young kids there Chrissy Certain friends have been obsessed with Skygarten since it opened, and I knew I had to make it up before the end of summer.
All I can say is I hope to be back again at least once more before leaving the area soon. I loved my first visit!
You get carded before entering and they'll check your bag. No outside beverages are allowed in, which for me meant chugging most of a water bottle (filled with water, not straight booze in disguise) in seconds.
You have a few options once inside. Go to the left for views of the art museum area and the eternal backup on 76, turn to the right and make another right for indoor communal seating and $7ish drinks, or go all the way to the right for the City Hall/Camden views.
It's so close to the Comcast Center that if you creep hard enough, you can see desktop screensavers and people walking around. From the left balcony, there's an awesome view of the new Comcast construction in progress too.
I came here for the sunset and loved seeing all the glimmering lights around the city from its central location. I also spotted my old apartment building in Francisville, which was so fun to see from afar.
Keep in mind it will likely be WINDY. I'm so glad to have been wearing a tank and shorts instead of a dress. Bring a hair-tie for sure.
I didn't buy anything this go around, so the whole experience was free. It was so nice and a bit shocking to not have a cover charge.
It was moderately busy on a hot August Thursday, but a good and safe number of people for the space.
So far so good here! The space being used by SkyGarten has undeniably breathtaking views, both inside and out. This was the main motivation for my friends and I to visit about an hour into happy hour one evening in mid-June. Cafeteria-style tables and board games encouraged mingling among the patrons, who were numerous and diverse. A decent selection of beer and cocktails, plus catered pub grub, rounded out the amenities.
However, I realized afterward that for all of the brightest points of my visit to SkyGarten, I had to wait in a line. Want to get inside the building? Five-minute wait. Want to get off the elevator? Ten-minute wait while they checked IDs. Need a beer? Wait fifteen minutes. The wait for the patio? Ten minutes more. The food was the only place where I didn't have to wait in line, and for good reason; I got pretzel bites, which were waiting for me under a heat lamp. I ate them while I was waiting for beer.
Overall, the views are absolutely spectacular and are well-worth the trip up to the 51st floor. Otherwise, this is just your normal, overcrowded happy hour bar. Fight your way through the crowd on a nice day, satisfy yourself with a portfolio of gorgeous pictures, and resume future happy hours at your regular place. I went at about ten p.m. on a Saturday. It was crowded, packed. The elevator ride up hurt my ears! I got the hot chocolate bar.. and while it was absolurely expensive at $10 for a small cup.. totally worth it. We had to wait to go out on the deck since it was so crowded. But it's actually a big space and I'm glad they limit it so its not over crowded. Great view with great drinks. Awesome place. SkyGarten is one of the small, hidden rooftop balconies on the top of the building; the other one on the other side of the building is called Sunset Terrace. It's a great place to go for post-work drinks, but don't come with a large group of friends. There's a 50 people capacity limit for SkyGarten, so once it reaches 50, a line to go outside forms. Also, if you do come here, be sure to have your food and drinks that you want on hand when you head outside because there is not a bar or restaurant out on the balcony, and if you leave, you'll have to line up to get back outside again. I'm in agreement with most other reviews that the $5 cover really probably draws away most people from making this a go-to hang out spot. It's cool to head upstairs and see the view at least once though! I'd most likely only come back to bring anyone visiting Philly or come with someone who's never been, but honestly there's much better rooftop options around. Finally visited SkyGarten for the first time a few weeks ago. There was a $5 cover for admission and it was a little awkward to find. We had to ask security where exactly we were going. Inside, it looks exactly like you would expect a corporate building turned bar would look like. The real draw is the outside space, which is stunning. The views are unbeatable and really the only reason to visit. The beer selection is decent, although a couple of the kegs were kicked the night we went. We ordered some food, soft pretzels, which took about an hour to get (after asking the server multiple times where they were) and tasted like frozen pretzel bites.
Great place to go on a nice day to have a couple beers but I wouldn't recommend much else. Break out the shades and make sure you're ready for a cool steady breeze. Ladies and gentlemen, Philly has a bad ass beer garden going on the 51st floor. Talk about those magnificent views overlooking all of Philly. From the Art Museum, Billy Penn over looking the Philadelphians, surrounding boroughs, down to the Ben Franklin Bridge. Yelpers, make sure you have that camera ready because, where ever you stand there is an incredible sight to be seen.
It could be day or night you'll see it all with the hustle and bustle of the city coming alive. The bright lights of the city all around you, the trails of lights coming from the cars driving thru the evening all can be somewhat mesmerizing.
I don't know a better way where one could enjoy a craft or two or three than here at the SkyGarten. I must say my first visit I was with Sari for a 4th of July event where they had an open bar with a buffet. The weather was kinda muggy, ok it went from drizzling where it was bearable, to ok time to go inside. Inside you can also keep the party going with tables and a giant screen with something always on it. That is in case the weather decides to do a complete 180 on you, or maybe you don't want to get blown away.
In all this a great hot spot that keeps on getting hotter. Get in there and stand next to those skyscrapers, while giving a toast to Billy. I know I'll be back. I walk in from Arch, Security directs me around to the other side, a bit of a pain, but whatever. I get on the elevator, my ears pop! 51 stories up!! I am greeted by a tall man whom I assume is the manager. I tell him this is my first visit. He shook my hand, said "welcome to the SkyGarten, My name is Jeff the General Manager" I never see a GM standing up front, that was nice! The bouncer asks for my I.D. and there is a $5 cover... No Problem, with this view? That's a steal in Center City!!! I get my stamp and BAM, the view is amazing and right in front of you! Jeff tells me, "this is nothing, wait till I have a cold drink in my hand and I get to step outside... HUH?!?!
The first bar was nothing too exciting about... Looks a little dull... A line to get outside, capacity maybe? I walk into the Beer Garten... It's loud, lots of people, not so much the hidden secrete I thought it to be, though it needs a more of a beer garten feel, compared to other places in the city, they are lacking of decorations... I meet my friends! They have a beer already for me... Jeff shows me the bar, the food menu... I had no idea they had food... btw, Turkey burger is AMAZING!!
No line, I step outside... !!!!!!!WOW!!!!!! Take my money!! I am in love with this place!
(if you really give less then 3 stars because of a $5 cover... Good luck getting that view, inexpensive drinks like this in Center City)
Oh, Jeff did mention the other balcony to see the best sunsets in the city... but sadly, a private party was going on... Can't wait for that!! Very cool place to grab a bite to eat and a drink with friends. Came here around 8pm on a Thursday and it wasn't too crowded and we got a spot outside. Good selection of craft beers and the menu while small was very tasty. Everyone in my group of 7 said they all enjoyed their food. You order food inside and it was prepared quickly but they will not bring it to you so don't stray too far from the ordering station. You cannot beat the breathtaking views at 51 floors up! Just an FYI - They close at 10pm (or at least it did on the night I was there) Located on the 51st floor of Three Logan Square, (or Bell Atlantic Tower), the open view really takes your breath away! The balcony wraps along the perimeter so you can see the city from all angles. The SkyGarten has open community seating /picnic tables and board games on all the tables so you can take your pic of jenga, cards against humanity or connect 4!
It is only open Wed-Sat at 5pm. There is a cover charge of $5 for gals and guys so come prepared. Don't try to bring your party early because they won't let you in! The menu and drink selection is really good too. Frozen rosé - frozé? Sounds good to me especially on a hot summer day. Definitely worth checking out. On my last visit I discovered the new $5 cover charge, and thought perhaps that might deter crowds or mean the drink selection might be better...
The mix here is of the super drunk or super uptight variety, with the occasional ask from a neighbor to take a photo. The staff and drink selection are still a turnoff. The drinks are hilariously expensive and portions for wines and cocktails are very small. The staff clearly don't want to be there and they don't seem to want you to be there either.
The German beer and food don't stand out as anything special, and while there's room inside, there's no view so the area with seating is always empty. Outside, you should be prepared to stand the entire time.
On a hot day in Center City, it certainly helps being 51 floors in the air to catch a breeze and cooler temps, but that and the view are all that SkyGarten has to offer. Awesome views of Philly!!! It can get so crowded that the security guard would only let a certain amount of people out for the views at a time and everyone else stay indoor. There's an indoor bar with tables to sit. But who comes here to stay ind
I'm so sorry but it brought to my attention/search, this location has closed down permanently.
https://www.google.com/amp/www2.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-insider/skygarten-highest-beer-garden-philadelphia-three-logan-to-return-20180406.html%3foutputType=amp Came here on a Saturday around 8:00pm.
The view is amazing. Make sure to go outside on the deck and see the amazing view. Just be careful as it is extra windy.
Ambiance: Beer garden meets rooftop meets lounge.
DJ was playing decent music.
Crowd was 20-30s,
Food: Was pretty good with good portion.
Drinks: Good beer selection
Price: A little pricey for my taste but I find that to be the norms for rooftops.
This was way better than Assembly. Worth a visit for the sunset views, but other than that it's sort of a boring bar with a thin beer list and weak menu. It can definitely get windy up there, so mind your hats. Claim your spot on the west terrace relatively early, and don't try to reach over the wall, the bouncers will be on you pretty fast. Awesome views of Philly!!! It can get so crowded that the security guard would only let a certain amount of people out for the views at a time and everyone else stay indoor. There's an indoor bar with tables to sit. But who comes here to stay indoor?!!! My first visit to the SkyGarten was pretty great! I went around 5pm on a Thursday, which is probably the best time to go since they are currently only open Weds-Fri. I'd imagine Wednesdays are insane because of Sips and Fridays are insane because, Friday.
There are two outdoor areas though the one side is clearly the more popular, since it's next to a larger indoor area with a bar and tables. The line for this bar was significantly longer than the smaller bar towards the other outdoor area. So it's worth walking down the hall to scope the situation at the other end of the building. There were beer options and wine as well. I went with the rosé, which I shared with Billy Penn (see pic).
Outside, when you realize just how high up you are, it can be a bit scary. But wow, what a beautiful bird's eye view of Philadelphia! Ledges have been built in around the perimeter, about a half foot from the walls, which actually made me feel a lot more secure, since we weren't right next to the walls. For me, worrying that it would get too crowded was more of a concern, but I was assured that the staff keeps an eye on the amount of people outside.
Definitely looking forward to many more summer beverages at SkyGarten! Finally got around to checking out SkyGarten and it was pretty great. It has a "beer garden" feel even though it is inside. It's on the 51st floor which of course gives it an awesome view outside. I went when it was dark out, so the city looked absolutely beautiful. When you go outside to the outdoor deck you can see east, towards the Delaware river and you have the perfect view of city hall. The Comcast building blocks the view going south. But there is also a view towards north philly (no skyline of course).
I did not have the opportunity to try any of the food, but it looked like pretty standard "beer garden" food, something to snack on. I wouldn't plan to go there hungry. There were about 5 beers on draft and about 5-8 other bottled beers. An assortment of wines, champagne as well as about 5 mixed drinks to choose from. They also had a "spiked hot chocolate bar" which looked like a fun time.
I suggest this place for anyone looking for something different, looking for a view, and a relaxed time. The inside venue itself is pretty small and there are picnic styled tables throughout. Check it out! I went here on a saturday night while visiting friends in Philly. I expected a nice posh lounge as a rooftop but instead it was a beer garden. Nice long tables with some games (cards etc) that you can play while hanging out there. Which could be fun! However the place was crowded while I was there and they only have one bar opened with two bartenders working.
Not a bad place, but not my top to go place to hangout in Philly. Im satisfied with my decision to visit this place. I almost spent $15 to go to another observation tower... without a bar... and I got to check out the view here for free.
I loved the decor and only wish it was a wee bit bigger. The benches inside are massive and the bar is small. I can only imagine how busy a place like this gets in the summer, but in the winter it was smooth sailing. I was checked by security and in the bar under 5 minutes.
I happened to stumble in during happy hour, and it featured $5 for all wine. Champagne included. Hello?! Yes, please. I was able to watch my Canes win a bowl game and capture great views. The benches also featured games to play if you bring friends with you.
Job well done! SkyGarten is cool!
I loveeee that they have cool table games on the inside area like Jenga, Connect 4, etc. Keeps you and your friends entertained and totally brings on some competition!
So, I came here with my best friend, her bf, and my bf about a month ago. We had originally wanted to go Assembly which is my all time favorite rooftop lounge in Philly, but it was closed due to a private event. So, we ventured out to SkyGarten which is literally one block away. Its a nice rooftop but very small. One part was blocked off for god knows what reason, but the part that was open was filled with people and the wall was too high so you can barely look down. The weather also sucked that day with a downpour just minutes before, so it was VERY chilly with the wind blowing at full speed. Also, the view is more of Jersey which I could careless about.
We still had a great time, AND we all did a ski shot for the very first time! The other drinks are alright. I had a watermelon margarita which was okay and somewhat pricey. Love the views, hate the crowds!
Went for sips and the place was absolutely packed. There was not enough space inside or out for the amount of people that were there. Plan to wait in line outside downstairs, to get into the elevator, to get in when you get off the elevator, and to go outside. Lines for the bar were extremely long.
With that being said, the views of the city are amazing. Go out to both patios if you have the chance. Most of the bars are cash only which will speed up your wait time. The main bar in the cafeteria style area accepts cards.
Note- they are only open seasonally Wed-Fri 5-10 pm.
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name: China Dragon, address: 882 Jacksonville Rd, city: Ivyland, stars_x: 3.0, is_open: closed, categories: Restaurants, Chinese, text: I have been ordered from them since I moved to ivyland. They always done the great job. I order from them very frequently likes almost twice a week. I never got disappointed once. The items that I usually order is the General Tso's chicken, Spare Ribs,and a tons of sushi, the sushi is so grateful.everything is fresh.especially,Gozilla Roll is my favorite. They do also provide Thai cuisine, that is also a great choice, they food they made is so authentic. Any way, it is a amazing restaurant,give self a try.:) This is the most unorganized, greasiest Chinese joint you could order from. The rude woman, whom I assume is the owner, because everything she says is "my menu" "my place," could not be any less help at all.
Their menu on the website is apparently different from the menu in real life. So that's and issue all in itself. But otherwise, here's the synopsis:
We ordered a side of pan fries noodles. She said they didn't have them anymore but would give us them anyway? I watched as my pan fried noodles were removed from the deep fryer in one solid form. Clearly not from a pan and udderly disgusting.
The General Tsoa tofu is LITERALLY tiny little bricks of inedible wood chips. Deep fried until it's completely dried up and solidified.
From the vegetarian menu, the mixed vegetables were in a brown sauce that tasted like chicken soup. Brown sauce is traditionally made with oyster sauce which, guess what? Isn't vegetarian. And also DANGEROUS since I have a seafood allergy. So I called to ask if there was any animal product in this brown sauce and the cray cray woman just started screaming, "It's fine! It's fine okay? Bye".
Safe to say we're not coming back here. I would eat the bark off a tree before I would break in here during the zombie apocalypse in hopes of finding fortune cookies for survival. Ended up throwing my food in the trash. Any time your soup smells like boiled liquid cleaner, you're the sucker. The wonton soup is an absolute joke, it smells like it was cooked in Windex with a sickly yellow swill surrounding it, apparently deemed a "broth". Nothing redeeming about the meal, the chicken has a peanut oil shell around it which makes the entire experience a chore. Awful soup, greasy rice, questionable, stringy chicken ensures that I will never return. It took over an hour to get our delivery, so of course it was cold when it arrived. The sushi was inexpensive, as it should have been considering it wasn't good. I also tried the General Tso's chicken and shrimp. Not spicy, not cooked well. My husband had chicken fried rice, which he said he liked. I would not recommend this restaurant . I used to order from here ALL THE TIME because my job is pretty much a hop skip and jump away. I always get a variety of the same things; shrimp and broccoli, shrimp egg foo young, shrimp fried rice and crab Rangoon. So far I've had not serious complaints besides forgetting some soy sauce or some sauce for my crab Rangoon but nothing life threatening until today. I order my usual; shrimp fried rice, shrimp and broccoli and crab Rangoon. It took a little longer to get to me which I didn't mind because I was swamped in work and it's Friday so no biggie. When I got my food they forgot my sauce again for my crab Rangoon, when I opened my shrimp and broccoli I noticed that it smelled weird but I figured they just did something different to the sauce. I ate a piece of broccoli and instantly tasted sourness like something was spoiled in the platter. I tried the shrimp and almost threw up. I couldn't believe they served this. If I smelled the spoiledness you mean to tell me they couldn't. When I opened the shrimp fried rice the same smell is what I inhaled. I was so floored and disgusted. I could've ended up with food poisoning and to think how many other ppl today they served today with those spoiled behind SHRIMP..!! Needless to say I am NEVER eating there again..! I been ordering from there for a year and I'm completely shocked and disgusted.!.! We've been here a few time and my dad comes here every Friday with his work buddies for lunch.
Today I started with wonton soup. Which is not common for me to order. DELICIOUS! The soup wasn't overly salty and you could tell the wonton havent been sitting in the soup for hours! They were freshly made and very good.
I got moo sho pork and they have me twice as much rice pancakes as what they advertised on the menu.
We will definitely be back. Dont trust this place. Ordered through grub hub and called 3 times. Placed the order 2 hours ago. 40 minutes ago they claimed it had been sent out for delivery. Not really happening here. Cant wait to see how cold this food is. Avoid GRUBHUB as well! Wouldn't recommend this place at all. You walk in and the workers are just straight rude to customers. Don't say hi, continue to speak Chinese on the phone making customer waiting forever. This so called restaurant is very dirty. They consistently give you the wrong order. The lady making the salads proceeded to pick her teeth then put her hands in the lettuce- furthest thing from sanitary Dirty. Young man who took my order never gave me my change. Watched the same young man cough and wipe his nose, then handle fish without washing his hands. He then put gloves on after he noticed I was watching like a hawk. I will never return. This restaurant's food is very good, love it so much. the most important thing is the ower of the restaurant is a young man, and he's good looking. he always gives customers sweet smile. when you accept his smile and you will feel your world are melted. Been going to this place more for convenience than any other reason. The General Tso is good sometimes. This time it was good. But it's always annoying when they say 10 minutes when you call and it seems as if they start cooking when you arrive. My food has never been ready at the time they tell me when I call. Today they told me 10 minutes and I was out the door after 23 minutes. The price is good but I asked a couple times for crispy noodles and they forgot it. Shouldn't Chinese places always provide crispy noodles? Thought they always did. Well this place doesn't. And when you ask for a bag there's like 10 noodles in the bag so I've learned to ask for 2 bags. Also my egg roll was burnt (see picture) and could use more vegetables in it. Location is the only reason I continue to gk here. This place recently opened in a new little strip mall. I've never been inside, but it's close to my office so my coworkers order a lot. We ordered today and I ordered the chicken with broccoli and asparagus. While I got chicken and broccoli with my meal, there was not a piece of asparagus in sight, but instead peppers, water chestnuts, onions, and carrots. I can't be too mad about that because it was pretty tasty, but I wanted some damn asparagus.
The egg roll was very tasty and the fried rice was cooked perfectly. Delivery time was shorter than they'd estimated and it was all quite reasonable. Would patronize again. My family and I order from them very often, China Dragon is our go to place for Asian cuisine. They are always pleasant in person and on the phone, and the prices are by far the best around. Their delivery always comes a few minutes before they say it will and most importantly the food is YUMMY! We love their pork fried rice, egg rolls, shrimp toast, and the hot and sour soup is a must try! Tonight we tried their Pad Thai for the first time and it was to die for!!
I honestly can't believe they don't have more reviews on here! Try them out, you won't be disappointed!! Good, not great. Hasn't let me down but never came close to blowing me away. The employees aren't the nicest people in the world either which really turns me off towards the place. But all in all this isn't a bad option for Chinese delivery at all. Went here on a whim. The place was a mess and we should have just left. All the tables were covered in food drippings. I used the bathroom and was shocked to find they actually had soap. No paper towels though. And it was being used as a storage room as well. The food was awful. We ordered sesame chicken that had little resemblance to chicken and came with gross fried rice. All the chicken was covered in a gooey sauce that was very unappetizing. Their chicken teriyaki was slightly more edible but not at all what you expect when ordering chicken teriyaki. Would never go back. Pretty routine strip mall selection. Nothing fancy, but I had lunch there twice. Both times it was prepared very well. Food was fresh, no stale "refrigerator" tastes. My sister started going to this place when she came in to visit my mom from CT. She loves the fact that she can get chinese food as well as sushi and she obviously enjoys what she gets because she always stops. I decided to try it on my recent trip home. I had the General Tso chicken and steamed dumplings. The staff was friendly and did their job, as I would expect. I came in, ordered take out and only had to wait about 10 mins. The General Tso was Excellent!! I live in Las Vegas now and I have yet to find General chicken like that, which is the way I remember it. Crispy, sweet and had some broccoli (not a broccoli fan but goes well with the sauce. The steamed dumplings were extremely good as well, and they offer different types not just pork, I got chicken. I liked the meal so much, I went back the next day to get my General Tso full. Now back in Vegas, I hope I can find somewhere that makes it like that. Keep small businesses going! Okay food. Very messy kitchen--disturbing amount of carelessness from the management for cleanliness and organization. Nice enough staff, nice enough prices. Would not recommend though. We order everything from here and everything is great! They say 15 minutes to pick up and usually it is 15 minutes. My husband orders sushi and he loves it! I order vegetable mei fun, chicken fried rice, veggie fried rice, chop suey, egg drop, wonton soup, general Tso's, sesame chicken, and the egg rolls are wonderful. It is not greasy at all. It is actually the only Chinese food place in Warminster that doesn't come with a pound of grease and sauce with your order. Best tso' chicken I ever had!!! Singapore mai fun is fantastic, too! I just moved in for weeks. I found this restaurant by accident and now I order their food at least three times a week!! There are soooo many options in the menu! You can choose Chinese or Japanese food!! I love roast pork fried rice and sweet heart roll as well! The woman who takes orders is so nice. The service is prompt. Definitely recommend! ;) This place has terrible customer service and hygiene. I found a hair wrapped in a sushi California roll and on another occasion when i gave them another chance they delivered my meal after THREE hours expecting me to pay. I called 4 times to see where they were and each time they said 10 minutes. There miso soup is like drinking hot water and seaweed. Do not give them your business. Would not recommend this place. I live barely 5 minutes from them and it took them for an hour to get here because their driver got lost. The language barrier is just too much. I ordered 2 sides of which were not delievered to me. The sushi itself was below average and the avocado was definitely not fresh. Overall a failure of a intended tasty quick sushi lunch When the kid wants Chinese food, this is where we go. Friendly service, good food. Reasonably priced. I rate restaurants by the taste and the "rest of the night". Tastes good and has yet to ruin the rest of our night. China Dragon on Jacksonville Road, Ivyland, PA, is a fairly standard Chinese American house wokking dishes for the American palate. Their menu reflects it is from the same cooking school as every other such restaurant around the USA. The space offers a few tables for eating in, but the majority of their business appears to be takeout. They also offer sushi, Japanese and Thai platters, but I would be cautious going there if you have much appreciation for real food from those countries.
I found that the egg foo young I ordered was actually pretty good compared to many others I have tried. The two pancakes were flash fried in the wok steel, so that the outside was light and crisp, while the inside was soft, pliant and tasty. The ubiquitous brown sauce was made to order, and was smooth, without lumpy flour balls. The fried rice on the other hand, was mass produced at an earlier time, and tasted it. Its texture was a bit dried out, and was dyed by the food coloring in the bouillon used to cook the rice.
The net of it all was a three star moment. I usually do reviews only when I'm angry, but we just ordered general tsos combination platters and I have to say how good it was. If you like your chicken crunchy and your sauce sticky sweet, they have the best, and I try every new place I see. Can't be beat.
Spare rib appetizers were delicious as well and fried rice. The wonton soup is LOADED with wontons. Delicious! This is a place i really hate to give a bad review to. I have been getting chinese food from this place for maybe 6 or 7 years. The last 3 years China Dragon has gone down hill. They use to have this sweet little woman take the orders and do the food check and she was amazing. She showed my family you can order online and if you spend $40.00 you can get a free item. For the last 6-7 years of my life we would order $50-$80 in food plus a free item every week to every two weeks. Now you order online put in your free item and they will try their best to not give it to you. If my family was a once in every two month family i would understand, but would it be hard to show a little but of the loyalty that we have shown your restaurant. They always forget something. In the last 3 years they have forgot to give us white rice, egg rolls, chicken and broccoli ect. This place is also the reason i cannot eat wantons. Every other time i have ordered won ton soup there is one in there that is sour. My final straw was today. We ordered our food and we had two free items (because of items they forgot to give us in our past two weeks) that we paid for not even free items. They just forgot to pack them and refused to refund or redeliver them. We call in they treated us like liars who is trying to get free food after spending $50 already. After refusing to send a driver out with the food, i went to get it myself. The guy treated me like an a-hole as soon as i got there. When the food was done, he bagged it up and threw it on the counter completely out of my direction. The worst Chinese food I have ever eaten in my life. I ordered some chicken wings with pork fried rice. They sent 3 wings with hardly any meat but were full of bread crumbs and super greasy! The egg roll was also tiny and they sent me a hot orange Fanta Soda! Buyer beware I do not know how they are still in business. To top it off they didn't even send any napkins! I would shut them down if I could! Ordered from here tonight for the first time- and last time. First off- I waited 1 and a half hours from order to delivery. This place is 1.3 miles from me- so after 45 mins i called to request an eta. The woman answered the phone and before I could talk she said my address (I guess my phone number let her know my address) and when I said yes she said "I'm very busy, give me 5 minutes" and I started to talk and she just hung up on me. I called back to ask my question to get the same treatment. I had ordered through beyondmenu.com so I was nervous about cancelling/if I'd get my money back so I decided to wait- for cold and tasteless Chinese food. The gentleman who delivered did apologize but it wasn't he that annoyed me. Also- the sweet and sour chicken was very thick with breading with only small dried out shards of chicken inside. I wouldn't eat here ever again or recommend it. This is a place i really hate to give a bad review to. I have been getting chinese food from this place for maybe 6 or 7 years. The last 3 years China Dragon has gone down hill. They use to have this sweet little woman take the orders and do the food check and she was amazing. She showed my family you can order online and if you spend $40.00 you can get a free item. For the last 6-7 years of my life we would order $50-$80 in food plus a free item every week to every two weeks. Now you order online put in your free item and they will try their best to not give it to you. If my family was a once in every two month family i would understand, but would it be hard to show a little but of the loyalty that we have shown your restaurant. They always forget something. In the last 3 years they have forgot to give us white rice, egg rolls, chicken and broccoli ect. This place is also the reason i cannot eat wantons. Every other time i have ordered won ton soup there is one in there that is sour. My final straw was today. We ordered our food and we had two free items (because of items they forgot to give us in our past two weeks) that we paid for not even free items. They just forgot to pack them and refused to refund or redeliver them. We call in they treated us like liars who is trying to get free food after spending $50 already. After refusing to send a driver out with the food, i went to get it my self. The guy treated me like an a-hole as soon as i got there. When the food was done, he bagged it up and threw it on the counter completely out of my direction. (Update on review) I have moved my rating up to 3 stars. I live down the street from this restaurant. So after my last review, i did stay away for weeks. I started using uber eats for Chinese with the family to order from places further away. I did decide to give this place another chance or 6. It does seem like the attitude is slightly starting to change. They must of hired a new chef because the food is getting better. Since i last posted about this place the last couple times i have eaten there they did not for get anything. The food is cooked to a better quality. I will give another update at a later month, so i can see if this place is just a roller coaster of good moths and bad months. One of the top 3 Chinese fast food restaurants I've had in my life! So delicious! I usually order from grub hub and so far NOT disappointed. Sometimes it's not exactly what I expected but I respect and enjoy the food they offer.
I no longer work at a sushi restaurant but I will tell you, their sushi was good! As good as a normal sushi restaurant. And trust me you'll be surprised the sushi they served at the places I used to work. China dragon sushi rice was perfectly al dente, good seasoning, not too much rice, (too much rice makes it gummy). I had their eel and cucumber roll, it was fresh and delicious! Sushi soy sauce is different from packaged soy sauce and China dragons sushi soy sauce was good too! And they serve the type of ginger I like!
I had their udon soup, beef, it made me feel so good inside, not oily, not salty. They use a different soup base compared to Japanese udon so don't expect the tan soup, but it's still delicious! And light! And tasted healthy! And the beef was oh so tender!
I ordered the vegetable chow fun, the stir fried wide rice noodles, and a lot of places don't serve that. And GOODNESS it was amazing! Not too salty, so I added soy sauce to mine, but I prefer being able to control my own foods saltiness.
The noodles were not mushy, perfectly chewy and soft. The vegetables perfectly cooked. Nothing over cooked. Nothing under cooked.
I've also had the crab Rangoon, my favorite apt and the serve the ones I LOVE, the flat triangle ones and as it should served with the basic wonderful nostalgic sweet and sour dipping sauce on the side.
If your looking for a wonderful nostalgic good quality fast Chinese food I HIGHLY recommend China dragon! And I'm really picky with my Chinese food choices. I love it!
Every time I order I will try to leave a review! My boss thinks ownership has changed, the front desk man is super nice and friendly! Sorry I have no photos lol I devoured everything LOL Good Chinese food, best in the area. It's hit or miss but mostly a hit. Recently changed names couple time recently but I think it's same people.
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name: Freedom Deli & Catering, address: 630 Freedom Business Center Dr, city: King of Prussia, stars_x: 2.5, is_open: closed, categories: Restaurants, Diners, text: This is a small cafe style eatery. For what's it's meant to be it is great. The prices are very fair and the staff is very friendly as well. As someone who works on this campus I appreciate having this eatery so close. I wish I could give this place less than a star, but oh well. This was BY FAR the worst place I've ever ordered from. My egg white omelette looked like vomit, and tasted greasy and over cooked. This place is less than a mile from where I am and it took over an hour and ten minutes for my food to arrive. I will NEVER order from this place again.. my co worker put it best by saying,....." prolly (sic) the grossest thing i've ever put in my mouth ,ugh i feel like vomiting in a bag and bringing it to them" Basically a corporate cafe in an office building. Full and standard lunch menu, I had the soup of the day, shrimp and corn chowder. Ladies working the counter were very friendly. A good go-to place. Freedom is ALWAYS cheap. They have great daily specials for around $5. Which is tough to find anything under $10 in KOP for lunch! Im not expecting steak from Morton's, folks, geez! I think some of these reviews are a little harsh. Everyone there is always very friendly & they remember you when you come back. Which is nice! FIRST, I order online. Then, when I get there it's ready! I've never had any problems. Although I work very close to this place, the delivery is always super slow. I only order from here because it is convenient to my job and I am surprised if the food is ever half decent. I usually order breakfast from here and the bagel is always over cooked, old tasting and crusty. The delivery people are always very nice and friendly. However, if you are just ordering for yourself and your total isn't up to par for them, you can't use a credit card. Other people in my office have stopped ordering from here for the same reasons I am listing above. The only reason this place is still open is because its the only place in the complex to order from. This place really knows how to loose their customers and I will no longer be ordering from here. I'll be sticking to my granola bars from now on. (0.50 stars) A group of coworkers from around the world rented an office at the Freedom Business Center for 3 days to complete a major presentation for a local sales prospect. We were, essentially, a captive audience for the Freedom Deli.
The prior reviews of friendly people and painfully slow food preparation on delivered orders doesn't differ for on-premises dining. We were ordering lunch, and for our group the price of a eight sandwiches, sodas, a few soups, some bags of chips and a few cookies would have bought far better food elsewhere. Stale bread and rolls were used, sandwiches were poorly wrapped, lids weren't properly secured on soup containers-- all tasks that an eight year old can easily master seemed to escape them. The salad proteins almost all tasted "off," and greens were horribly wilted.
With our Freedom Deli experience influencing the decision, we abandoned the Freedom Business Center after a day and got a much more reasonably priced conference room at our motel. Wow.. first of all the people that work there are the most unwashed miscreants i have ever met. they are beyond rude and have absolutely no idea how to cook food. i ordered steak, egg, and cheese and a hash brown.... my hash brown was dripping with grease and tasted like cardboard... my steak egg and cheese looked like baby vomit smooshed between to pieces of cold toast and then sat on for an hour... i could barely eat it... the cheese was watery and i don't even wanna know what my steak was made of... by far the worst WORST worst place i've ever ordered food from... it is cheap but c'mon people i could have made a better breakfast in my sleep. Quit your day job!!!... you are an embarrassment to all breakfast lovers everywhere.
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name: Indian Nosh, address: 6201 Bristol Pike, city: Levittown, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: closed, categories: Nightlife, Bars, Restaurants, American (New), Indian, text: It feels like this restaurant is still in the process of getting it together. The plates and cups were disposable, but the flatware and serving dishes weren't. The food, however, was delicious. This is not traditional Indian fare, but more Indian-fusion. The Chicken Tikka plate had a nice bite without being unreasonably spicy. The veggie sliders were pretty good as well. The samosas and mango lassi were the traditional favorites. I especially loved the red chutney. I will definitely be back! So happy to see them finally doing something with the restaurant space in the Clarion (formally the Ramada) the interior is super cool, the staff was attentive and very friendly, the food is delicious. My husband and I decided to order a bunch of items off the bar menu. Both of us loved the veggie dumplings the most. As a vegetarian I was pleased with the number of options. I sincerely hope they continue to grow the business, and that it does well. We will definitely be back to try more of the menu, and if they were ever to go to the many delivery services, I would definitely be a frequent flyer :) Wow! We got food to go, and everything was delicious! Wings, dumplings, some sort of veggie burger and chicken cheese steak! Will be back! Food was great. Took me back to India. Spices were on point and the concept is unique. I would definitely recommend everyone to go try the food. You will not regret.
MUST GO!!!!! I wish there was an option for 3.5 stars. The first time I tried Indian Nosh was an okay experience. We ordered take out. The employee we placed the order with was really nice telling us about the menu and threw in a free item to try. When we went to pick up the order the food took 30 minutes longer than they said. The food was okay, not enough flavor but still willing to give it a second shot.
I just ordered through Grubhub yesterday and the food was on time. The flavor has gotten a lot better. The Indian veggie pizza was a 7/10. The pav bhaji burger was okay, maybe a 6/10. Definitely will eat here again and try something new Just not that good, it's not really Indian food, it's like a weird mix of Indian spiced food but everything is in the style of an American sandwich. Nothing close to a curry or butter chicken dish. Everything was given with weird sauce choices, my girlfriend was given ketchup for some reason with her Indian meal. The vibe is dark Indian strip club bar with one waiter in an Indian run hotel. Feel free to try it, you may love it, it wasn't what I had hoped and if your looking for traditional Indian choices there are better options, try Yardley or Bensalem Went to Indian Nosh one evening for dinner and at first the outside looks super sketchy but once you enter in the vibe is totally different. The place is still coming together and has a lot of potential. The food was fantastic, everything we ordered was great. I specially loved the Bombay sandwich and the tawa paneer burger!!! Everything else was excellent as well! If you are looking for a typical Punjabi food this isn't the place for you!! But if your looking for Indian street food flavor this is definitely the place! Can't wait to go back again! This is a great place !!! Staff is extremely helpful !! Very nice clean environment ! The food is sooo good ! So excited to have it so close to me Probably one of the best fast food Indian restaurants I have been to in a while. Lot of options to choose from make sure to come here with empty stomach Great experience. Very nice concept and great service. And most importantly amazing food. Must visit. Finally good Indian taste in PA. I promise you won't regret trying this place and I am sure, u will visit again.
Loved it loved it loved it. They got 50% of our order wrong. We ordered 7 items for take out and after I gave my order I asked the person taking the order to read it back to me. He wrote it down correctly. Picked it up and when I opened it all up at home half of it was totally wrong. I was pissed but they are just far enough from me that i didn't feel like going back. Ordered some other stuff for the people who didn't get what they wanted. Quality of food was just average or below average. Would never go back again! Delicious!! This place came up out of nowhere and i am happy i drove by it. The food is so good definitely worth a try. Indian Nosh, from the get-go, was full of pleasant surprises. Tucked away in a dark parking lot on a dark Levittown road, this restaurant sits attached to an aging motel like a small afterthought. The sign is gorgeously gaudy and sticks out like the last freestanding sign in Vegas after the apocalypse. But don't let that scare you off. This is part of the experience.
Inside you must turn to the left and find the doors off to the side. Try not to go the opposite way and find yourself in the innards of a derelict banquet hall. Inside you're transported into a cool, relaxed space with muted colors and quirky styling. I was instantly submerged in the atmosphere, surrounded by a nearly unanimous Indian clientele with a raucous Indian sketch comedy show on in the background. Within moments you will notice the sign informing you that everything is made from scratch and serving time might take 20-25 minutes. Again, don't let that scare you off. This is part of the experience.
One will notice an impressive array of traditional street fare and occasional American-style dishes dressed up with an Indian twist. The balanced menu provides a treat for Indian food aficionados with recognizable choices for the newcomers.
The menu is full of interesting one-liners and eccentric descriptions of the foods offered. I will mention that my one complaint would be the descriptions do not detail the ingredients and for those with dietary restrictions or an aversion to certain products (i.e. ketchup on top of the masala cheese fries ewww), this could be problematic.
Now on to the food. The gunpowder chicken brought me back to a taste I thought I'd never find again. Many drunken nights I would find myself and my best friend stumbling around NYC looking for drunk food. And many times we found ourselves at our favorite 'street meat' vendor. He was a soft-spoken Indian man who would serve us up a sampling of seasoned mea drenched in spicy white and red sauces. I never knew the name of what I was eating, but I always remembered the taste. These drunken times were far gone as I'd moved away from NYC and my college days. But I never forgot the taste. I have Indian Nosh to thank for bringing out some eternal sunshine from within my spotless mind.
The other dishes we tried were also worth note. The Bombay burger had such a complex flavor and the bread was soft and delicate. The masala fries were, well y'know, cheese fries peppered with masala spice which is really, really hard to not enjoy (but again, if you hate ketchup as much as I do be sure to ask them to leave it out). The popcorn chicken bites were stellar and plain fun to eat with a spice level that was on-point. And lastly, the potstickers were a perfect umami bite.We washed this down with some Indian cola (thumbs up) and were too stuffed to dabble in dessert-land.
The owner was kind enough to stop over to our table and thank us for our patronage and offered on-the-house guava shots.
I will definitely be back. The location is not ideal and can definitely feel off putting, but I really hope they do well. Having sampled nearly all of the local Indian restaurants, I find the unique voice of Indian Nosh a refreshing step outside the norm. I look forward to seeing this place thrive Best Indian street food with unique presentation. Great atmosphere, decor, and service. I want to try everything but our favorites were tawa paneer burger, Bombay burger (Vada pav), baahubali omelet, and in house PAAN ICE CREAM! Definitely coming back! I think if I could give 3.5 stars I would as it wasn't what I expected, but that wasn't necessarily the fault of the establishment. I guess I expected a more traditional Indian Restaurant atmosphere, but it had an open floor plan bar-ish type feel (with the big tv screens and music that was a bit too loud) anyway, the food was good, so were the prices and service. Great twist on Indian street food. Wonderful ambiance and service. We will definitely visit this place again! First visit and it feels like Surat and Vadodara. Delicious food, well presented, and cool ambience!
Definitely worth more visits.
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name: Pennsylvania Wine & Spirits, address: 125 W Dekalb Pike, city: King of Prussia, stars_x: 3.0, is_open: closed, categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Food, text: I called to place a large order for my wedding and the lady was soooo rude! I asked her if she had 60 bottles in stock and she said No...silence...then put me on hold to find the number for the PLCB - PA Liquor Control Board. She had such an attitude on the phone, I didn't understand her and asked her to repeat what she said. She said P-L-C-B and hung up on me! Very unprofessional and unkind! Pennsylvania is a pain in the butt.
The concept of alcohol control stores is pointless, dated and usually motivated by the religious practices of people who were middle aged in 1933. It is a last, sad vestige of prohibition.
But on the lighter side, it gives you stores like this.
I'll grant you that the Ardmore Store has a better wine selection, but only in non-Alcohol Control States have I ever seen a better liquor selection.
They have all four of the five Absinthe's now legal in the state (the Pernod Absinthe must be special ordered: no store carries it). It has a range of Prosecos (great for Bellini's- white peaches are finally back in season, people). It has all manner of pomace brandy and Plymouth Gin. And two brands of Genever Gin.
It's got everything your home bar could ever want, need or use.
It's a cocktalian paradise, tucked (inconviently) behind Desi Village at one of the worst intersections in the area. But hey, nobody's perfect. I go to this location often for wine. Recently, they hired a new Assistant Manager. A few days ago I went into the store and asked the new manager a few questions about some wine that I wanted to order for our company business party. Rather than try to help me, he was down-right rude! I ignored his poor behavior and left the store.
Today, my wife and I went in to the same location to buy a bottle of wine. We parked our car in the parking lot, in an area where "everyone" parks. This same "Assistant Manager" came running outside to our car and screamed at us, telling us that we could not park there!
This was a highly unprofessional way for him to behave. After all, we are paying customers and we were not causing any harm whatsoever. When I went into the store, I confronted the "Assistant Manager" and told him to never speak to me or any other client like that again. Rather than apologize, he argued with me.
This is no way to treat a good paying customer! I strongly recommend not using this location for your wine and beverage needs. This is a really good state store. It unfortunately is hidden from Gulph Road, but has two chilled wine fridges at each end, a carpeted section for luxury items, and neon signs marking the departments. In anticipation of several Halloween parties, my friend and I drove to this Wine & Spirits to stock up. What better gift to bring, but one that can be shared, right?
This location has a large parking lot, and a typical booze selection. I've been here several times, and never have been disappointed. After all, I demand little from liquor stores - especially Pennsylvanian ones - save that they stock what I want. I found a decent-sized bottle of Rumpleminze (yum yum 100 proof yum yum) and liberated it, leaving the Wild Turkey Ripple for next time. In and out.
However, my friend wanted Ciroc. She checked prices online (www.pawineandspirits.com) and knew what she wanted. Unfortunately, they didn't have multiple sizes on the floor, only the largest. Since she nor her friends are alcoholics, the staff helped her check inventory behind the counter - even cracking open a box - and concluded they didn't have any smaller bottles. The manager ran a search, and printed directions to nearby stores. Now that's service!
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name: Fashionably Ever After, address: 1701 Packer Ave, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: Fashion, Children's Clothing, Shopping, text: Terrible terrible experience. If your looking for a high pressured sales pitch, then this place is for you. They were worse then used car sales people Save your money and go where you are respected as a client What an incredible experience! It's rare today to find a boutique style store that cares about their customers the way this place does. We scheduled a time for the communion experience and when we got there we were treated like royalty! Individual attention to all of our needs was something that we didn't expect, it was amazing! Alexis (the owner) really helped us find a dress that fit our exact needs. After we left my daughter talked about her dress for the rest of the weekend. There is no price tag for that! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Alexis and Elma are excellent! Very classy place with beautiful clothes, especially for kids sacraments This was a horrible experience! From the time we got there to the time we left we felt rushed and could feel the tension between the owner and her manager it made everybody feel uncomfortable. The owner of the shop does not value her costumers and I would not recommend this store. If I were you I would spend your money in a shop that appreciates their costumers. Let me tell you that this was the best possible experience that my little girl could have had from the moment we walked in we were in love. Elma and Alexis u ladies were amazing. If anyone needs a dress for their princess, look no further. Fashionably Ever After is where you need to go. Thanks again for a top notch time.
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name: El Quetzal, address: 8427 Germantown Ave, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Shopping, Flowers & Gifts, Gift Shops, Women's Clothing, Fashion, Jewelry, text: This Chestnut Hill boutique is always worth a pop-in and I always end up buying at least one thing. Good selection and friendly staff. A lot of the clothing has a similar look to free people/anthro, but way less expensive. The jewelry is great as well, but I find it to be a little pricier relative to the clothing. Definitely worth checking out. i love this store. Every time I'm walking by I happen to stumble in and rarely leave empty handed. From accessories to home goods they have just about something for everyone as the previous reviews also mentioned. I love that everything there is one of a kind so it's rare you'll show up somewhere and have someone else wearing the same outfit. Hippies, suburban mamas and old ladies alike can come together at El Quetzal, because there's something for everyone here. Yep, I've bought the long silk bohemian wrap skirt at this lovely establishment. I've bought the adorable photo frames and yep, I've also bought sushi platters and jewelry and cards and journals and basically any kind of gift you'd need to give someone that you haven't figured out what else to give them.
The people who work here are so sweet, and they do have a fantastic and eclectic selection of items for anyone on your list. So the next time you're like "oh crap, I have to get so and so a birthday present in 5 minutes," and you're on G-town Ave, stop in here and they'll hook you up. Trust me; I speak from personal experience. I've loved this shop for years. I have two go-to shops on the Hill for thoughtful and unique gifts, or just shopping for treats for myself. Something here to appeal to everyone in your life. Sarah is awesome as well, always has a smile when you pop in. great little store on the hill that has stood the test of time
it is a wonderful place for gifts and is the perfect size to get lost in
who knew that 'el quetzal' means 'girly-heaven': unique jewelry, accessories, clothing, lotions from tokyomilk and lollia that smell delicious, hand-made motawi tiles, etc...definitely a place i could return to again and again
i picked up a few pairs of earrings and regret that i did not purchase the lollia 'in love' lotion that i sampled...i didn't want to wash my hands, it smelled that good
thanks emily...so glad we stopped in LOVE this little gem on Germantown Ave. They have the sweetest little boho chic types of blouses & incredible jewelry at very reasonable prices. Not to mention incredible giftable items that are as unique as you'd be able to find. Love this shop! Nice selection of items for gifts or yourself. Everytime I go in here I do not ever feel welcome by the staff excluding the petite woman with wavy,dark hair. She is the only nice one who will actually offer you help.
If she had not been there today I would have easily walked away empty handed because with the economy and numerous other stores offering cute items I have no time for rude customer service. Luckily, she was there and I bought something! I love this little store, always something interesting and unique from their fashions to home decor. I've purchased so many things there I've given as gifts and everyone is always pleased with them . I think the staff is nice and friendly, especially Sarah Nice little gift shop located in the heart of Chestnut Hill. They carry some of my favorite body care lines and have a cute selection of home decor. And some groovy jewelry too! Super cute and chill store. Fits the bill of any bohemian ladies out. Clothes, jewelry, small gifts, pottery, journals, and anything in between. My go-to place for gifts. I love to support local businesses and this one is a good one. I buy jewelry here for my friends. The kind of things that I like for myself, but never buy for myself. They have a great selection in all different prices and styles. Clothing too. Yay Chestnut Hill! An attorney I work for had a holiday party and gave several of us bracelets from this store with their business cards in the box. My coworker got one that I loved, so I went to the store the next week to exchange mine for one like hers. The employee said the bracelet had to be in a gift box. It WAS, but according to the employee, it wasn't the RIGHT gift box, so she refused to let me exchange it. The condescending way she talked to me, and their RIDICULOUS return policy left a sour taste in my mouth. Do NOT shop here. They run a shoddy business. My wife and i were in Philadelphia for a weekend and our daughter took us to this incredible area of the city where El Quetzal is located. We went for breakfast and spent 4 hours walking the street and shopping. El Quetzal was a true highlight. It is a light and airy place with interesting and intelligent sales staff. I was able to purchase an artist made ceramic and glass bowl - stunningly beautiful - for $40.00. It will be a treasure for decades to come. Some places have basically what every other gift shop has to offer. El Quetzal was truly distinctive and fun to shop in. You can bet we will return on future visits and look for amazing bargains and beautiful works of art. I shopped here as a teen in the 80's with my step mom and sisters. Now I shop here still as a mom with my teen girls. The classic boho chic is timeless!! Thanks El Quetzel, for being a family tradition in a non-traditional way. I find the staff here not especially friendly or accommodating. Their goods are a little on the pricey side. However, I have bought goods in here that I have not seen other places, which is good. Went here with my daughter. She was going to purchase several outfits. While waiting for her to try on some for sizing (they told us the clothes tend to run small) I was looking around. I see Ruth Bader Ginsburg "dissident" jewelry which tells you they donate to several ultra liberal causes and refugee programs. Unfortunately I did not see the jewelry that supports our veterans, troops or Americans and calls for unity instead of dissonance.
Getting political is their choice. Choosing to put the 100s of dollars worth of clothing back and write this review is mine.
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name: Pine Street Pizza, address: 1138 Pine St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.0, is_open: closed, categories: Pizza, Restaurants, text: I was biking down Pine Street after a late volleyball game when I decided to pick up a slice. Ravenous and exhausted, I popped into Pine Street Pizza instead of my usual, NYPD Pizza, which was 3 blocks over. BIG MISTAKE. Where to begin?
Because I wanted a single slice, the guy told me my only options were plain or pepperoni. Being a lover of plain pizza, I wouldn't rant about this, as long as it was decent. But it seems as if the owners of Pine Street Pizza called up the makers of Ellio's, asked for their recipe, and then thought "hmmm...how can we make this ten times worse and then sell it to people?"
The slice they gave me had been sitting on the counter, but against my better judgment, I trusted the guy when he assured me that it had JUST come out of the oven. Needless to say I wasn't all that surprised when I bit into some lukewarm rubbery cheese and greasy crust. Really? This passes for pizza in Center City in 2010?
The only reason I'm giving this place more than 1 star is because 1) I go there to vote, and 2) I passed a guy on the way out who was eating a personal pizza with green peppers that looked a whole lot better than mine.
With NYPD Pizza and Mama Angelina's in the area, I just don't see how this place can compete. I'm sticking to those two spots from now on. why make pizza at home when you can go to Pine Street Pizza for $7? no coupons or other corporate BS necessary. The "square" pizza as they call it, is good. The only minor problem is it isn't seasoned. But I take the delicious pizza home and I lightly season it myself. (garlic,salt,pepper,oregano, and red pepper) Then it is absolutely delicious. I like the location and I get extra sauce on my pizza for no charge. If a pizza place can make good sauce that's a major plus for me. The value of the pizza is very good for only 10$ per square pizza. I am disappointed however because I addressed a problem with the pizza today after ordering one every week and they told me I was WRONG and didn't offer to fix the pizza. So I REFUSE TO COME HERE EVER AGAIN. I am now changing my review from 4 to 2, there's NO REASON TO NOT FIX A CUSTOMERS ORDER WHEN ITS MESSED UP. I haven't had the pizza, because I can't resist the veal parm sandwich. But the veal parm sandwich ROCKS. Cheap and delicious. And they've got a tv with the game on while you wait. I wish I could give this place three and a half stars. It's not quite deserving of four stars but definitely a little more than three.
I have had Pine Street Pizza for years now, and I have to rank it pretty highly. Their pepperoni and mushroom pizza is my standby on nights when I can't quite decide what to make or eat for dinner. The crust is a little thicker than an Italian pizza place, but the pizza as a whole is actually quite good.
I normally order takeout and pick up the pizza on the way to my place. The only time I've been kept waiting is when I showed up ten minutes early. Otherwise, I always have a hot pizza waiting for me when I show up. I stopped in on a whim...no expectations. I ordered a white pizza with broccoli. I also ordered a side of breaded mushrooms. I am from north Jersey and had grown up on the best pizza this side of...well anywhere. Oddly enough you'll find the best in New Haven, CT. But Pine Street Pizza sucks royal balls. Enough said. Pizza is like Ellio's gone horribly wrong. Don't do it! Pizza tastes like something from a cheap bowling alley...which is fine if you're at a cheap bowling alley, but totally not fine if you're at a place that supposedly specializes in pizza.
Oh, and if you walk right past this place because you mistook it for an abandoned antique shop, just know you won't be the first.
+1 star for accepting LevelUp. The $2 credit here made my $3(!) bowling alley pepperoni slice only cost me a buck. I still think I overpaid. Um, ok, if you are 10, I guess this place would suit you. I got a slice and the cheese was like a thick sheet of plastic (very processed and likely very cheap). Walk a couple blocks somewhere else. Let me tell you about a story of a girl from L.A. who was wandering the streets of Center City looking for a good slice of pizza 4 years ago. After venturing on so many places recommended by good-intentioned but ill-educated peeps, she went to Pine Street with a friend on a regular weekday afternoon,
THEN HER LIFE IN PHILLY WAS CHANGED FOREVER.
Look, I'm not a pizza snob - Chicago, NYC, whatever - they'll all do for me, but now I know what it feels like to have a pizza place you favor over all others, and a pizza you love over any other.
Thanks Pine Street for being my neighborhood love.
The pizza here is so good. The crust is the #1 reason why I think the pizza is better than most. It's soft and thick, and the crust is slightly but not overly chewy (and a bit toasty and buttery), just like this girl savors. The toppings are the #2 reason this place is a hit. Pepperoni, sausage, peppers, mushrooms, onions, and garlic - hell yeah! My little, itty bitty grip is that the cheese is so gooey and tasty when you eat the pizza at the restaurant, but if you get it delivered it turns slightly rubbery, which I dislike of course, so eat at the place if you're near.
I seriously would come in and order a small pizza just for myself - it's that delicious. I already miss those days...I would do ANYTHING for some Pine Street and I just had it last week. :} I ordered a cheese pizza while in store to take home. While waiting, I noticed that all of their dough was pre-made and in stacks behind the counter. I like all pizza because even when it's bad, it's still good. Well, that is not the case for this pizza. I was particularly turned off by the huge mold growths on the bottom. Flip your pizza over before you eat it and check for yourself. Disgusting. Undoubtedly one of the best pizzerias in the city. I have been going to Pine Street Pizza since Forever! and the recipe has never changed. Thank you! Pine Street Pizza has some of my favorite pizza in the city. It's thick crust and not overly greasy finish make it a great find. My only issue is that the pizza's do seem to be a bit smaller than most you will find in the area. However, this is counteracted by the slightly lower pricing at Pine Street.
I would definitely suggest giving it a try if you live in the area and enjoy a thicker crust with cheese not drenched in grease as a lot of pizza seems to have. Great food at extremely reasonable prices! I came in on a Friday afternoon when it was relatively empty, so I took my time and decided to eat in. The shop clearly has its regulars, but service is prompt and there is minimal wait time for food. This time I opted out of pizza and got cheese ravioli instead, but it came with a generous portion of garlic bread; great for dipping in the river of sauce that remains after the ravioli has been finished. At this point I cannot attest to the quality of the pizza, but this is definitely a place where I'd be willing to bring friends! Also, it's right across the street from Giovanni's Room, so go buy a book or magazine and read it while you enjoy your food! I was just reading Bill McThrill's review and wanted to toss in my two cents. Pine Street makes the best white anchovy pizza in my book. The more garlic the better and the crust is tasty. I don't order there as much as I used to but I swear they see my number pop up on their caller ID and know my order right away. It's been a while since I've been to Pine Street Pizza, but oh, how I miss it so. If you're looking for a "real" pizza (and whatever "real" pizza is, because we don't have much of it in Philly), this is not the place. But if you're looking for a top notch "Greek-style" pizza (tons of cheese with a thick buttery crust), this is your heaven.
The gyros are also tasty, and there's a fair amount of seating in the shop. It seems to be a popular stop for cops in the area, and usually they're a testament to good food. The greatest hangover cure of all time. I have turned so many of my friends on to this place. Their strombolis are fantastic. I have had every variety in my 10 years of ordering from this place.I get mine minus the sweet pepper. When I first started ordering them in 2000 they were priced at $5.75 and I think they are now around $6.75. You can eat half and have the other half for dinner. The woman behind the counter has always been friendly and the delivery guys are always super cool. Your typical neighborhood pizza and sandwich shop. My girlfriend loves the Mozz Sticks. I can honestly not complain about one thing with this place. Ok it tends to get a little hot in there in the summer but thats IT! Maybe their pizza is good, but don't order it for delivery. It took way longer than they said it would and when it got to us, it was freezing cold. Not even luke warm. Completely cold. $7.00, deliverd to you hot in less than 15 minutes, and super good. What more could you ask for? Seriously? I used to work for this place and found that they have a rodent problem and management is oblivious to the fact...however they're food is great and their pizza and strombolis are amazing I used to live close by Pine Pizza and was in there probably too often, but with there expansive menu is was an easy choice. Their pizza is different with a crisp buttery crust so it's not going to be like that floppy New York style some places try to pull off unsuccessfully. Whenever I'm in town I try to stop by and fill that craving. Open your mind and give it a try, you won't be disappointed. This place stays open because it's cheap, Jonny S. ;P It's cheap and decent. For a few bucks it's not going to be your cats pajamas (is that right y'all? :P ) best food in town but it ain't going to suck either. I like the pizza although I prefer Mama's. They're not open as late either. I get out of class sometimes at midnight, I need it open later if I'm to trek over there.
Never a long wait, cheap and decent. What more do you want for a quick meal? I think the owner just died which is really sad. I'm not sure how staff will change so just a lookout for that. If anything happens, you never know. Might stay the same.
Large menu, seating and an ATM. I think they take plastic ps btw. That's a plus. I know their ATM was broken the last time I was there though. Might not be the norm. Decent Italian/American food. Nothing to flip your lid over. Pizza, sandwiches, wraps, fried food...
Ordered the Buffalo Chicken Wrap... Nothing I haven't seen before. A bit too soggy an drenched in hot sauce/bleu cheese dressing. Mozzarella sticks I ordered with them were a bit cold upon arrival.
Call 'em up if you want your typical pizza place food. Well, what Pine Street Pizza lacks in charm and ambiance, it makes up for in very competently deep-fried foodstuffs. I wouldn't recommend it on too regular a basis, but if you're in the mood for some quite yummy fries (and also maybe a salad, which isn't bad here, surprisingly), PSP fits the bill. I found myself craving fries the day before my LSAT (stress eating much?), and I was not disappointed at all. I was in this place with my work crew yesterday, March 27, 2014, this place had no drinks or chips. We left as we where leaving the old lady (that looks miserable) said "you are leaving because we don't have any drinks" yes and you don't have any chips. We found a new place to eat and lunch everyday at Jimmy John's a much better place. Too bad this place closed. Decent pizza and hoagies. Just needed a renovation as interior was circa 1975 (literally). Thick, buttery crust
Brown bag into wax paper
Unbeatable price
In Philly, forget Lorenzo's, my last pizza dollar would be dropped at Pine St. The crust is thick and buttery, best eaten with a knife and fork. The cheese isn't piled an inch thick, but toppings are. It's best eaten right out of the oven with a birch beer.
The rest of the menu is an education in grease. I'm sure they serve salad, but I'll be damned if I know what they taste like. Anything off the grill is great, especially the cheeseburger. It comes with fries in a greasy sack, wrapped in paper that is almost clear by the time you get it home.
There are always tables available to eat-in, just stick to the front area. The back section is filled with empty boxes prepped and ready for delivery and, occasionally, a table of locals who seem to judge you if you go looking for the bathroom. Kids wander in as well and hang out next to the stand up arcade cames and tiny television, which is always showing whatever Philly sports team is playing at the moment. I've passed this place several times on my way to south street, so finally decided to check it out.
AWFUL decision. The place just has an awkward feel right from the moment you walk in. They don't have a display of different pizzas or anything, just a ridiculously huge counter and some ovens.
A woman, who seemed like she didn't want me there, asked if she could help me. I then asked if they do slices, to which she replied only plain or pepperoni. When I asked how much, she said 2.45 for plain and 2.85 for pepperoni...2.85 for one slice of pepperoni?! At first I thought forget it, but they had a decent amount of customers (probably all just regulars that come in all the time) so I figured I'd try a pepperoni slice.
Huge downfall of having no display: can't see what the pizza looks like! Upon getting my slice, I instantly thought "what brand of frozen pizza is this?" Thick Greek style slices my @$$! This slice was awful! Instead of being thin but long, the slice was thick and short (insert inappropriate joke here, it is the gayberhood after all).
Worse, it seemed like all they did was throw some uncooked pepperoni onto a plain slice, and didn't even bother to heat it up! The sauce tasted like some tomato paste, and there wasn't even enough of it. In no way possible was this slice worth $1.00, much less $2.85...I've visited a few pizzerias during my time here in center city, and this is by far the worst one I've been to! This place is great! If you want great pizza at a cheap price, then this is the place to go. I suggest getting a slice of Broccoli and a slice of ground beef pizza because they are both delicious. The workers weren't exactly warm and friendly, but they were never rude either and I every time I was able to get my orders quickly. So what some lack in warmth, they make up with speedy service and great pizza.
I would say to anyone visiting not to expect New York pizza because it isn't that, but appreciate the pizza for what it is, a different type of pizza and it's light-years away in great taste from the large chain pizza shops.
The decor isn't upscale but they have plenty of windows to see the nice neighborhood and when you want to turn your attention to something else they have a television you can watch. Overall I would still walk 20 blocks everytime I visit Philly in order to have some of their pizza. For a neighborhood pizza place. they need to work on their pizza. it looks gross but tastes better than you might expect based on looks alone.
some of my dining companions got hoagies, which did look quite good and were pretty huge. I've also had the problem where I was told they don't do individual slices. Which is one of the weirdest things I've heard from a pizza place. I don't know, but they may also make you buy soda by the six pack.
That being said, I've been at Dirty Franks when people came back with pizza from this place by the slice.
So I'm confused about if they do or not sell pizza by the slice or perhaps they are selective about who they will sell pizza to by the slice or what you possibly need to do to qualify for the privilege of ordering pizza by the slice, but I don't think I'll be stopping by Pine Street Pizza to clear that up anytime soon.
They got an extra star since I've never actually tasted their pizza. Thick crust Greek style pizza. Good tasting and not greasy. Also had the Greek salad which was equally as good. Ordered it on- line and was delivered to my apartment in less than 30 mins. For around $20, pretty good deal. I'm glad I found this place on my way back to Maryland aka the place where pizza goes to die. This is a solid pizza joint with huge slices and decent flavor! I'll be back next time I head to Philly! Pine Street Pizza is my local pizza joint, just a few doors away from my house. They have your order ready (really no matter how big or small) within about ten minutes, and everything is always fresh and fantastic.
Very simple pizza shop stuff - hoagies, grinders, fried stuff and pizza. The pizza leaves something to be desired (its a bit like Domino's or Pizza Hut) but we occasionally order it in a pinch.
The staff is basic Philly pizza joint - not the most friendly, but never snappy or rude. It's Philly - unless it is a Starbucks, there generally aren't too many places where you will get a genuine smile, at least in service situations. Sigh - I should have listened to Yelp.
Having just purchased a home less than two blocks away, I felt compelled to give the most local pizza shop a try during a day of pre-moving maintenance/cleaning projects. I phoned in an order for a large plain pizza that was ready when I arrived to collect it ~15 minutes later. The shop atmosphere was dingy and odd, but I don't really care about that for take-out. The pizza was small, had a dry bread-y crust, and an overabundance of quickly congealing cheap cheese. Fortunately, the thing was cheap, and not inedible.
Maybe their non-pizza items are better, but I am in no hurry to try them out. Love Pine Street! Pizza is nice and thick, very cheesy and delivery guys are friendly and fast. Only reason it's not five stars is that the large pizza is not the biggest pizza I've ever seen. Always on the look out for reasonably priced pizza joints on my walk home, I've stopped into Pine Street Pizza twice. Twice was certainly enough.
I'm a bit disappointed that a pizza place in this location is barely clean; the floors are continually dirty, the bathrooms dingy, and the lighting garish. Now, I know that we shouldn't expect too highly of a pizza place, but being in such a good neighborhood with such foot traffic, one would think they might have the desire to at least make it appear nice.
The definining factor in my review, though, is the pizza. It's Greek style, so naturally it's awful. Overly greasy, thick crust, bad cheese, little sauce. I ordered a grilled cheese the last time I was there and wasn't impressed with that, either.
I'd give this place a pass. When I lived in Washington Square West, this was my go to place for pizza when I didn't want to spend a ton of money. The pizza is ok, the strombolis are ok, the subs are ok, and the salads are pretty standard. They have a large menu, but do not offer pizza by the slice. They have delivery, but I only lived 2 blocks away and didn't want to be that lazy... The pizza is Greek style - thicker crust, smaller slices. All in all a great place if you don't want to spend a lot of money but still want good food. They have ample seating, if you'd like to dine in! I love Pine street Pizza, and it's so cheap! The white pizza w/ a side of ranch....amazing. My dad and I stopped here for a quick cheesesteak -- I did not try the pizza. The cheesesteak was good, a little more bland than some other places and less dripping with grease, which arguably makes it better but sometimes when you order a cheesesteak you WANT the salt and grease. :) Order here if you've run out of options late in the evening. It's not terrible, but it's heaven if you want something delivered late, because it's one of the few options.
We ordered a white pizza with broccoli and sliced tomatoes. The toppings and ingredients were good. The crust is not as much local Philadelphia thin as much as it is like Pizza Hut crust. Fast delivery, it was still pretty warm when we got it. Next time I don't want to leave the apt late at night, I'll order from here. The menu is expansive with sandwiches, pizza, Stromboli, gyros,etc. I ordered a chicken cheesesteak and my friend ordered the pepperoni pizza steak. Side of fries and cole slaw.
The portions were huge, with both sandwiches at 12" each and PACKED with meat. Yum.
The french fries were hot and tasty - but a little soggy.
The cole slaw was very greeek (sour) and came in a 12 oz cup for $1.25.
The food was good, nothing phenomenal. Given the size of portions, the value for the money was pretty good as we ate it again the next day. AND they deliver! I'll be back.
Keeping it from 5 stars is:
Soggy fries
Extra greasiness
The cole slaw came from a bucket.... maybe it was freshly made before being placed in that bucket, I don't know.
Ambiance is very cafeteria... someone else commented romantic - I disagree. If I could give zero stars,I would. The food is freezer burnt and bland. I can deal with premade,i get it,it easier. But their pizza tastes like it sat in the walk in unwrapped for a month. The staff are ok, except for drivers:
Not only do they have incredibly loud annoying cars, but they continuously park in the bike lane,IN FRONT OF A HYDRANT! How do they not get towed?! That alone would make me hate this place,if he food weren't already awful. Neighborhood pizza place -- they are polite, fast, and the food is OK. Sandwiches are better than the pizza. Stick with cheesesteaks, strombolis, and wraps. Greek salad is huge and delicious. Chicken gyro is awesome. Overall consistent and exactly as described. Good pizza too. I LOVE THIS PLACE.
This was our "go to" place for both delivery and "eat in" for so many years in the 90's when we lived in Philadelphia.
I had a chance to rekindle that love this weekend. :)
I can only really elaborate on 2 items. Cheese steaks (that's my wife's thing) and the Sausage Pizza. (that's MY thing!)
The cheese steaks are awesome. You'll have to take my word for it on her recommendation.
Now on to the Pizza....
I read a couple the other reviews, and I agree, the crust is almost PERFECT, with it's buttery taste, with just that slight hint of sweetness.
The Pizza shell itself, is slightly thicker, (almost like a Boboli, but not "doughy")
Forget about eating it with a fork. just treat it delicately when you start, and let it cool, just a bit.
At other Pizza places, I've had every type of "sausage" known to man.
From stuff that looks and tastes like pencil shavings, to giant sliced Vienna sausage circles. (Yuck and double Yuck)
The stuff at Pine Street Pizza is the BEST!
Nice small round, pea-sized sausage balls, that are so flavorful, with just a hint of spice. (not hot) (almost like a very faint cinnamon, but not quite)
(see my photos)
Some things just grow on you from repeated use, but there is true quality, craftsmanship and consistency in their Pizza here!
I was saddened to hear that the owner, who was so familiar to me, passed away last year, but his daughter and the remainder of the staff (including their fast delivery) have kept the IDENTICAL taste and quality to what were our signature dishes.
It's so nice when some things stay the same! This place makes decent pizza and really good cheese steaks. ...HOW DOES THIS PLACE STAY OPEN?? Ahem. The strombolis and hoagies must be great because the pizza is only advisable when one is desperate (which includes the pizza-craving stupor we're in when the bars close). I don't know, somehow the genuine-prepared-in-advance-frozen-crust doesn't really complement the ketchup that they use for sauce. It kind of amazes me that this place has been in business so long. The pizza is nothing special, and the cheesesteaks are not good. Also, their two delivery guys park blocking the bike lane on Pine or on 12 in front of the fire hydrant. Not cool. A good slice of pizza can really hit the spot every now and again, but the Pine Street Pizza won't do it for you.
I'm still looking for that Slice in Philly. Any recommendations? its a nice stop on my walk home yet im in no way a regular, but one day i was in a hurry and ordered 2 slices to go. some how something got messed and my order did not go through right away.
i didnt say anything but i wasnt happy, it wasnt til i got out the door i realized they gave me a whole pie
i wasnt something they had to make right but it sure makes me a more enthusiastic costumer of pine pizza I am a huge fan of Pine Street Pizza, however I say that with a caveat. The pizza here is delicious in a 'this is so greasy and terrible for me' sort of way. What you need to know about Pine Street is that you can't order delivery, you need to go to the location. The issue being that whatever kind of cheese they use goes from being gooey and delicious to hard and inedible in about 20 minutes. Right out of the oven it's great, but by the time it gets to your door I wouldn't want to eat it. the pizza is ok but...the bathrooms are filfthy. pure utter filfth! wow! the stench, then dirt on the floor. ugh!!! run people run!
clean the bathroom. disgrace! Pine Street Pizza falls firmly into the category of food you eat before going to a club or food you eat after getting out of a club. as long as you go in with that in mind, you won't have any unreasonable expectations.
the pizza is extremely greasy. decent sauce and crust. really nothing to write home about.
the dining room is low fi, to say the least - it's actually fairly skeezy, with a revolving cast of strange characters passing through, including at least one or two cops. most everyone is absorbed by the big tv mounted throughout the place. if you're wearing your beer goggles, however, this probably won't matter too much. Good pizza. Gruff service. Longish wait. Kinda grody dining area. Still a place I'll go if I'm in the area and want a slice. Pine Street Pizza is OK by me. I know I've ordered delivery from there before, but I don't remember what we had. I just know there were no complaints, and possibly no standouts.
I went with my brother recently, though... Christina, the counter-woman, is a doll. Treats her customers like family.
I ordered a cheesesteak, he ordered a steak stromboli. I tasted the stromboli after tasting my cheesesteak, so my tastebuds may have been a little biased by the stronger flavors of ketchup and salty cheese on my sandwich, because the stromboli seemed a little bland to me. My brother liked it, though, and I LOVED my cheesesteak, so no complaints.
I also ordered some pizza fries for us to share... I don't know WHY I am always ordering pizza fries knowing I hate them. The sauce makes the fries soggy and the cheese is hard before you get halfway through the basket. Boooooo.
Next time, I will try to refrain. Nothing fancy about the restaurant itself, but I really love their pizza and the way it's done. The crust/bread is a little bit thicker than your average pizza. So far, I've had their veggie, pepperoni, plain, and white cheese pizzas and I love them all.
Some reviewers complained about the ambiance. I do agree that it is a little dingy and can use some upgrading, but when I go to a pizza shop, I'm not expecting a romantic environment. I want pizza that tastes good. Plus, most of the time I take my pizza to go since I work about two blocks away. The dude I'm dating has this place on speed dial because he lives close by and his Saturday post-basketball ritual is to order a stromboli from this place, eat it quickly and then pass out. What a hottie.
So being his dutiful girlfriend I joined in and tried to girl-it-up by also ordering their salads. That was stupid. Stick with just the stromboli. Even it's pizza ain't all that. Not sure why. But their sauce is sweet and the stromboli comes with peppers (which I pick out because I'm purist when it comes to strombolis but he likes them).
Here's something that I don't know how to factor in the rating: Sometimes I see a white cat in the window on the times it's closed. Cute right? And then I'm thinking, hmm maybe they have mice? But it's city... etc so yeah I bet a lot of old buildings have mice. So it's nice that this cat solves that problem. ... And then I make myself stop thinking. Just like when I ONE TIME pissed off this waiter and I had to tell myself that he probably didn't spit in my gazpacho etc. Ok. That's all. Went antiquing one beautiful fall morning and happened upon this Pizza establishment. My coworker and I both ordered hoagies which were both very good! It's not the best place to go to, but it's worth a try. Pretty average Pizza at best. And last time I was there they weren't selling pizza by the slice which is pretty horrendous by my book. It is pretty inexpensive though So it's perfect if your looking to eat on a budget. Paolo's which is one of my favorite Pizza spots is only a block away. So if you're looking for good pizza and aren't too concerned for price keep walking!
Upon Marcello's recommendation I do need to try that Chicken Caesar Salad though. yo get your act together and start selling by the slice!! where the f do you think you are?? Pine Street Pizza is AWESOME!
Last week I was in there 4 days in a row.
The Italian hoagie is really good, it's also cheaper than Primo's and Sarcone's and nearly as good. The meatball sub is amazing, nice spice and the sauce is pilled on and savory; all topped with provolone and baked in the oven for a melting sub of goodness.
The pizza is a thicker crust, which I normally don't like, but it is baked to perfection and they are not shy about the toppings.
I am working my way through the entire menu and will update as I continue my journey throughout the Pine Street Pizza menu. Best strombolis and amazing wraps. They deliver in no time.
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name: Domino's Pizza, address: 991 Baltimore Pike, city: Glen Mills, stars_x: 1.5, is_open: opening, categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Chicken Wings, Restaurants, text: Tried to reset password on website but would not send to my email. Then called and the person taking my call did not take my address. Called back to make sure and sure enough had the address wrong. Driver went to front door and did not attempt the side where I was and left. Called back and the call taker, sounding annoyed, sent the order over in oh I'd say an hour and a half from first call to the kids eating. Plenty of pizza joints in the area any of which would love my business. My family eats a lot of it. See ya! Domino's is my kryptonite. Something about the seasoning just drives me crazy. Every few weeks, I'll get a night to myself and order a small pizza and some breadsticks for just around $20. They let you personalize your pizza fairly well- for example, light/normal/heavy cheese or toppings- toppings on half or whole of the pizza, etc. The pizza tracker online lets you track the pizza from start-to-finish, which I love. I've never had any issues with messed-up orders, and the pizza always arrives within about 20-30 minutes. The delivery drivers are always incredibly polite as well. And for those of you counting calories, all the nutrition information is available on their website.
Overall, a great, dependable location for pizza delivery! Attempted to get the phone number for this new Domino's store that replaced the Painters Crossing store. This new store has been open for 3 months. What you get is the OLD phone number!!! So, I have to go to this store and waste my time ordering in person because no one has deleted the old phone number and replaced it with the new phone number. At the store the guy at the counter says "yeah that"s a problem". I call up the store to get an area supervisor's information and they can't give it out according to Bobbi Snyder. If this is what you people think of your customer's time I'll go somewhere else! I like the Pan Pizza but the service is really poor!!! Can you give a review of 0 stars. I wish. They are always understaffed. 2 hours for delivery? 1 hour for pickup? I put in an order. It did not come. Although, the hours will until Midnight that night I kept calling and noone would answer the phone there. Kept getting a message that they were closed. Never got my food. The next time I ordered from them they said that they tried to call me and I did not answer so I was not allowed to order from them anymore until I came in and paid them $4. Thank god for that because I do not ever want to order from them again. The food is hot, it's right and it's good. They have done what they promised. I consider Domino's over "mom and pop" stores.Philly boy here, so, I do know my food. Dominoes has stepped it up and I love what they have done! I tried to order online and it said that it wasn't available. I called the store and was on hold for ten minutes. When I finally got through and someone answered I asked to place an order for delivery. I was told that they had stopped delivering, I called at 7:30pm on New Years Eve. Are you kidding? I just wanted to get cheesy bread!!! Worst NYE ever!! Thanks a lot Dominos. Waited almost 3 hours from order to delivery. Not the first time we've had delivery issues with this location. Too many other pizza places around to put up with that kind of service. Their food is usually good but waiting forever for it is not worth it. Disappointed with the service, I order delivery using online app and it said 30 mins. I called the store after an hour and they said it will take 1 hour 30 min and when I ask how much more they just hanged up the call. I called again to cancel the order and I just get ok and hanged up. Waiting for my refund now.. This is the worst dominos inn the area. We moved to Glen Mills a couple of years ago and have ordered numerous times. Rarely is our order ever correct. Today was the day when all was topped. They hung up on me 3 times after 10-11 mins of hold when inquiring about my late order. After it was finally delivered while I was on hold, it was incorrect. I called back from a different number than on record and the phone was answered right away...asked to speak to a supervisor and the person on the phone claimed to be one. I doubt that because how could you not care about the customer experience and make excuses. He said he doesn't have drivers and can't get people to apply. Also, stated they don't have recorded calls which means the teenagers running the store can pretty much do whatever. I did my due diligence and provided feedback to dominos headquarter, lodged a complaint and put out a review. I am done with this store. We ordered online for delivery at our house at 12:15pm for our kid's birthday party. We tracked the progress online and by 12:15, our pizzas were not in the oven yet. I called at 12:20 and was told they opened late today and the ovens took a long time to warm up, that our pizzas would be out shortly and delivered immediately after. Well, 1:00 came and nothing. We called and cancelled our order and had to apologize to our hungry guests who were expecting lunch as the party ended at 1:00. At 1:30 the delivery guy showed up. We told him we had called and cancelled our order. He apologized and offered to give us the pies anyway. However, I didn't want to deal with the possibility of then being charged for it after taking them, so we told him to keep them. We've ordered online before without any problems. You shouldn't let customers pick a delivery time you can't deliver on!
Now I have to check my credit card statement to make sure I get a refund. Having issues with poor delivery from this location (forgetting items) I decided to pick up. I now understand why delivery is bad. The whole place seems to be a disaster. They have seating inside but can't imagine anyone would ever dine there with all the screaming going on between the kitchen staff (the kitchen is not separated by anything from the rest of the store other than a counter). It was very difficult to hear the cashier over the staff yelling about a girl they had dated (this continued the entire 10 minutes I was there to pickup my order). Extremely unprofessional. Not like when it was at Painter Crossing. I hardly ever order from Dominos, pizza substandard, service worse, orders always incorrect
Based in n these new commercials about caring more about the customer thought I would give it a go
Ordered at 11pm, order not out at 1230am, no call or anything, order was finished at 1130, but not out, called at 1230 got an insincere apology
Should have just ordered and drive to PApa Johns, at least they pretend to care
No more Dominos EVER We have ordered pizza so many times from this location and whenever we order additional sauce they miss it in the order or replace it with a different sauce. We have called multiple times to get the correct sauce but by the time we get our sauce the pizza is cold. Extremely bad service. I didn't want to review a Domino's pizza at all. But I had to.
I was down in Glen Mills, PA the night before helping a friend move. It was 11:45pm, and I got hungry. Now, this area isn't exactly the place for life after 10pm, so my options weren't looking good in finding delivery. But I chanced it, called the local Domino's, and amazingly enough, they were open, and were really nice about making a pizza 15 minutes before they were closing. I was a little drunk, and couldn't add $28.03 + $5.97 (I wrote $35...).
The pizza came hot, but not so good. Cheese wasn't really stringy, the crust was subpar in terms of flavor, crunch, and was a bit too thick. But you know what? It filled me up after midnight in Glen Mills, PA. Bravo Domino's, bravo. I have been having dominos since my grad student days (for 20 years) for the simple fact that they deliver fresh hot excellent pizzas. The quality has improved, and the service is impeccable. The Dominos at Painters Crossing is a special place for me and family. I usually order the delivery, which is delivered usually under 40 minutes. My favorites: Medium crumbled sausage with jalapenos, or double bacon, or simply cheese. They will humor my requests of half of one topping and half of other making some incredible combos possible. The boys love the lava cakes. Their Mon-Thu special of $7.99 for a takeout large single topping pizza is amazing. Thank you guys for your service and great pizzas. It is quite incredible that I have never had a messed up order--always perfect! Now that is something. Long wait on wing Not crispy as i said soggy only ate one done.not again if they can only listen to customer request may then they will get it right.Disappointed. I'm not sure why I bothered but I was hungry. My usual expectation is they wait an hour and cancel my order closing the store an hour early. I think that would've been better. Almost 2 hours from a dominos 5 minutes away. Called twice and Wesley the "manager" kept saying I got you...what he got me was a soggy pizza that had been sitting under a heating lamp for an hour and a half. He knew it would be soggy and worthless and had plenty of time to make a new pizza but he didn't care...got the credit card payment and a good tip. Not the delivery drivers fault. I got $41 of worthless soggy congealed pizza. I called again after this nonsense was delivered and after I said the pizza was soggy and ridiculous it was blank air...no response...when he eventually muttered some words I realized I was just continuing to waste my time. I get it that it's the lowest of lows pizza wise but it's literally the easiest thing to do...if the driver is busy remake the pizza. Called and told him it would be this way and he just kept saying "I got you"....sounded buzzed and not completely with it. Never again. Please avoid this place...don't make the same mistake I did. I'd rather eat rice cakes than this awful thing...calling it a pizza would be an insult to pizzas. My trash can just yelled at me for throwing this pile of cold sauce soggy dough piece of crap in it. They stole my money...don't let them steal yours. After looking at the other reviews there's an obvious pattern of awful service and zero accountability. Why would they stay open? I would highly recommend you stay away from this store. It used to be OK, but the last 2 times we've ordered, we had the following issues:
1) Delivery took 2 hours
2) Ordered double anchovies (both times) and pizza came with maybe 3 total on it.
3) Ordered double meat (one time) and pizza came with maybe 4 pieces of sausage on it.
I love Domino's, but corporate needs to yank this location. It is giving Domino's a bad name! Never have delivery available and when it's available, says 27-37 minutes but your food sits for 30 minutes being checked for quality then it's delivered 30 minutes after that. If you call corporate, they don't care either. Save your self the time and order pizza somewhere else. I ordered six pizzas for a holiday gathering via my phone app and was charged accordingly. When we arrived to pick them up, the store was closed. Their signs indicated they were supposed to open hours earlier. I wasn't able to cancel the order via the app and corporate support wasn't available on the weekend. So much for an enjoyable brunch. A day later, the application doesn't show that they canceled the order.
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name: Taste Africa, address: 6518 Woodland Ave, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Restaurants, African, text: I tried this place based on the reviews read here on Yelp. All I can say is the food is DELICIOUS! Just like the other readers posted, you get a large portion, in fact I'm eating the leftovers right now! Very Tasty, lamb is tender, fried fish was out of this world delicious, and the Jollof rice was undeniably good! We tried Taste Africa for dinner. The restaurant is run by brothers from Sierra Leone & they are quite friendly.
1. Grilled meat (lamb? goat?) with sauteed onions was okay. Even though the small chunks of meat all had bone, the meat was overcooked, chewy and not very flavourful. I would not get this again.
2. The potato greens stew was mild and pleasant. The pieces of meat inside the stew were quite good, not overcooked as it often can be at other restaurants.
3. Attieke was fine.
Grilled meat, potato greens & attieke came to $20.
4. We tried a dessert from the fridge. The dessert was like a rice pudding with lime and sugar; it was very sweet and tasted like artificial flavours. I wouldn't want to get this again.
Service was fine, but the food in general was not cooked to my liking. The food here is very tasty try the $10 trays it comes with ur choice of meat lamb or chicken I tried both very tasty the only thing is there's more bone than meat on the lamb but very good... also the 4 $10 the tray can feed up to 4people the sides vary depending on what u like.... Try this place its worth the money and the trip..... This place is great! I initially wanted the Okra stew but didn't have a taste for fufu so I ordered the jollof rice with "meat" aka lamb which. The lamb was so tender!! I also had plantain and the for $16 I could feed three people (two adults and one child) and we had left overs for the next day. The portions are large and the food is flavorful. There's a lot of African restaurants on Woodland Ave but according to many locals, this place is the best!!!! I come here any chance I get. I've had the grilled chicken and lamb shawarmas, grilled chicken, lamb and goat platters with rice, potato greens with palaver sauce with meat and chicken, and the cassava greens with chicken and meat. I think the meat is either goat or beef. I've also had the fried plantains. I also get the pepper sauce on the side with the rice dishes.
The portions are large and filling and can last you for a few days, but it only lasts me a day or two because I just can't help myself.
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name: Ice House Steaks & Pizza, address: 1 King St, city: Pottstown, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: Burgers, Pizza, Restaurants, Sandwiches, American (Traditional), Cheesesteaks, Chicken Wings, text: Ridiculously huge and stuffed subs. We ordered the 16 inch (you read that right!) cheeseteak hoagie and the mozz balls as an appetizer. All A++. We came in as a group and they accommodated us without question. Being from California, not to have to wait And be served in the delightful manner was amazing. Food was perfect and we couldn't have picked a better place. Thank you Icehouse for making our group of California Girls Hockey Team feel so welcomed. Got my credit card cloned here. Ordered 2 chicken cheese steaks hoagies(which were very salty) I used a credit card that I haven't used in 2 months to purchase the order. 2 days later my bank called me about an apparent fraud transaction at the 7/11 in Pottstown. Luckily it didn't go through and I used that card so I could narrow down where it happened. Won't ever go back here again. Argentos steaks are way better anyway. We ate here for the first time. We were not sure what to expect when we are walking in. The atmosphere was very pleasant and the food was very good. We all had sandwiches and enjoyed them. The bill was decently priced considering the sandwiches and the fries that came with them. We would recommend this place again. Traveling thru the area - BEST BREAKFAST I've had in a long time!!! Group of four, pancakes, donuts, OJ, oh my home fries, chipped beef, gravy, eggs, blueberry jam, wheat bread!!!!!! So delicious!!!!!!! GREAT SERVICE!!! Not bad food. Had pizza. Only allowed to serve 2 beers with your meal. Not sure if this is a law around these parts or just a restaurant policy. I might go back sometime. Woulda got 4 stars if not for the beer issues. Lol Haven't had a better cheesesteak since living in South Jersey- brought me back to my childhood. If you haven't had one there yet, you're missing out. I love the mushroom steak and ask for hot peppers. My only hope is that Icehouse will get up to par on their craft beer game. Not a whole lot of choice in the beer dept. Foods okay. Wish the menu wasn't so bland. Sometimes their chicken salad is the most amazing stuff ever, sometimes its junk. Guess it depends in the chef working? Salads are big but need some help for the cost. Great little "Small Town" diner! I've only had breakfast here, but it was great! Good food, served fast, with a smile. This review is written for delivery. The Web Site is well constructed and fast. Food arrived at the exact quoted time. My wife ordered a Chicken Caesar, it was fresh and loaded with delicious marinated chicken. I ordered the cheeseburger, and was glad I did. It was one of the best burgers I ever had. It was fresh, quality meat and wasnt frozen. Delicious! If anything, you get bang for your buck here. They give very healthy portions on all of their meals and you probably end up throwing away a little food at the end of the day because you are stuffed. It is very hard to finish an entire Chicken Tender and Fries meal without blowing out your gut. I also highly recommend their Turkey Club and Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches.
Personally, I am not exactly a fan of their pizzas. It's hard for me to put my finger on it, but I just don't like the taste of it. With that said, there is nothing wrong with the pizza and if you haven't tried it yet, you shouldn't. It just isn't for me.
The Ice House is a staple of Pottstown Take Out. They've been their for years for a reason... because its pretty darn good to eat! This place has amazing pizza, service, and many other things. When the food first came out it made my lips moist! (The water was amazing as well) This is the perfect place to get lunch. Awesome, sassy waitresses. Always attentive. Never had to wait to sit down. They say they have the"Best Burger in Pottstown" and this is totally true. The cheesesteaks are also very good, as well as the sandwiches. Haven't had the pizza or breakfast, but I hear it's great too. The"To Go" beer is also useful. Best breakfast in town with Fresh squeezed orange juice, homemade jellies and fresh made donuts...awesome chicken cheese steaks and fries. I've been eating at Ice House for years now since moving to the area in 2007, so this review is long overdue. What can I say? The hoagies and cheesesteaks are pretty darn good, my favorite is the cheesesteak hoagie. The Stromboli is great! The King Street Strom and the Buffalo Chicken Strom are awesome, the pizza is OK, it's not my favorite. They REALLY shine at breakfast and this has become one of my go-to spots, the house-made donuts, the creamed chipped beef, the various omelets and breakfast sandwiches are all really done well and quite tasty. Their new "Yehaw Wrap" which is sausage/bacon/eggs/cheddar/onions/peppers/Texas petal sauce all grilled up in a wrap is a complete game changer and freaking AMAZING! They also do home fries well, red bliss potatoes with some good flavor and crispy bits. Great local Pottstown place. If you are in Pottstown and want a great local eatery, come here. This place should be on the food network. We just had a great time for lunch. It was packed. Love their cheesesteaks with gravy and gravy fries. I don't care for the pizza, it is very thin and the pies small. They also have great soups!! I haven't tried the breakfast but hear it's also very good. Something happened. Food used to be really good. Went about a month ago, got a tasteless hoagie on a stale roll. Went today for another hoagie and it was again really, really bad. Won't be back! Also getting pricey for a hoagie/pizza place. Drove up to Pottstown to get some paint and decided on trying a restaurant around the area. (We're from philly) We decided on here due to yelp reviews & having a taste for wings.
So, we came in and sat ourselves. Didn't know if you were suppose to wait to be seated or not. There were a handful of people dining. Our server Cassidy came over and greeted us. She was attentive, so friendly and pleasant. It makes a whole lot of difference when you have a good server.
What we ordered
- Creamy garlic wings
- Sweet & hot wings
- mac & cheese (for daughter)
- Steak fries with a side of gravy
YUM!! SATISFIED!
Oh and the bathroom was so super clean & unique with the barn door type thing going on. Will come here again when making our Eastwood run to Pottstown. Service is horrific - which is too bad because the food (when prepared correctly and brought out before its ice cold) is OUTSTANDING. I'd recommend the eggs benedict as they USED TO BE my favorite in 3 counties! - but the new male server there was so incredibly rude to us this morning that I doubt I'll ever go back. It makes me sad because both breakfast and lunch in this place is very very delicious! This place is a staple in Pottstown. They have great breakfast but lunch and dinner are below average in my opinion. I've been going here since I was a child, but the menu hasn't changed much since. The pricing is about average. I like the Icehouse. Their salads are great, the wraps are nicely done, steaks are delicious. Pizza is also yummy. I had one breakfast from Icehouse and it was so good. I got enough food for two meals and the jam was homemade. Very surprised to have fresh peach and strawberry jams and happy to give five 's. I'm not a beer drinker but their cooler always looks well stocked with different brews. The staff is polite & knowledgeable. Check it out. Cheesesteaks are decent and the steak fries are cooked perfectly. The pizza is like sauce on cardboard, I think they must buy the crust and not hand toss it. Breakfast is solid, nothing super interesting but they do have fresh donuts that are amazing and fresh squeezed orange juice. They are a solid place to order from. Ordered a Stromboli, dynamite bites (jalapeno Popper's), a pizza, and wings...the only thing I'd order again was the Stromboli and even that was small with saturated crust. The pizza could've been frozen, wings anemic, and Popper's not as good as those from arbys. Service was fast upon arrival...they don't deliver 3 miles away....all in all...don't plan on going back unless I need a 6-pack of beer and a Stromboli. Can not have a beer since they only have it to go..the to go beer is such a tease..love the food though..hence 3 stars..
For Philly style steaksandwiches in the Pottstown, PA area, you can't beat the Ice House. (5 stars for steaks) Additionally, they have a pretty extensive Italian cuisine type menu. Unlike most Italian restaurants though, they have really decent hot wings. This is a great diner type restaurant with excellent food and service! The servers are sharp and know what they're doing. (Tony is a hoot!) I've never had any of their pizzas but their burgers are the best (with lettuce and tomato). Their cheese steaks, chicken wings, reubens, and onion rings are always excellent. Oh, and I almost forgot about their breakfasts! Everything we've tried has been made to our exact specifications and always been delicious. I love meeting my friends and family there for a quick bite to eat - and sometimes I even go alone. If you're in the mood for great American food that's reasonably priced with good service, The Ice House won't disappoint! If you order a large steak, and manage to finish it, you're made of tougher stuff. I order a small and I'm stuffed to the gills, but still want another bite. If they opened another location closer to me... I would be fat, broke and diabetic with congestive heart failure within a month. Hands down, the best steak sandwiches I have ever eaten in my life. (Sorry, mom.)
We would go every time we visited my grandmother and grandfather. Sadly they passed away a few years ago so we haven't been down lately. However, we're planning on a roadtrip to Pottstown soon just for another sandwich. This is our number one favorite place for breakfast. We usually go here once a week for breakfast. Everything is perfect, but my favorite is their homemade jam that comes with breakfast. I get on their delicious pancakes sometimes too. The kids love to have the jam in the center of their fresh made donuts. The coffee is good and the cup kept full by the very attentive waitresses. I love the potato cake that can be ordered instead of home fries. I've tried everything on the breakfast menu and was delighted with everything. Their pizza, steak sandwiches and wings are amazing also. But breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I have tried many, many places for breakfast and this is my top place! I ordered the Chef Salad. It was huge. It comes with lettuce, carrots, mushrooms, raw onions, radishes, cucumbers with the skin cut off, turkey, ham, roast beef, big pieces of cheese, and green peppers. Oh and broccoli.
My waitress was great. She apologized that it took about seven minutes to make salad, and refilled my sofa every few minutes. I think she is Rebecca F, tall twenty something. Very good waitress.
Seating is nice and place is cool on a hot day. Great parking. Local spot. Took a small group of 9 out for a bite. Overall the food was good; except for the pizza. The cheesesteaks were good. The wings were awesome. Pizza was the low point but kids will eat anything so there were no leftovers. If not for that, it would be 4 stars. The servers were good and helpful. Not a bad option if looking to feed a group. Full beer cooler as you come into the building on your left. There is a 2 beer limit per person and only if you are dining in. Seems strange. My server was very attentive and fun.
My server Kyiesha suggested a cheese steak with mushrooms and it was petty good. There is an interesting Red tomato based sauce on top that lends a certain sweetness and acid to cut through the richness of the steak and cheese they use.
They use a roll called a Conshohocken roll. It has a good flavor to me but is not the star of the sandwich. The stuffing is the star for sure
There is a counter with many locations to sit as well booths and tables for dining. Overall a nice place to stop and have a bite to eat. This place is great for delivery, its consistently good food not great but good and fast. Has online ordering but its hit or miss when its available, not sure why they take it offline so often. But where this place really shines is breakfast, yes a pizza place for breakfast, go there, try it and believe! They didn't get our order right. I ordered turkey club on wheat and they gave me white. My wife ordered a tuna wrap and got a turkey instead, and another thing is our wings where cold. Now we are waiting for her tuna wrap and an hour almost went by. This isn't the first time they messed up our order. The food is good but getting your order right no so. I love the food and the service . Don't have to write much about the best food in town . Every time I go in everyone is upbeat and glad to see you and glad to wait on you . I say go try it and you to will see this place sells goodness in every bite . You'll be hooked . I was and I live 35 mins away and we drive there just to eat then go back home , well worth the drive . and no I don't know the owners . I lived in Pottstown when this place was called Conway's . The food and service is way different . Don't forget to take home the home made Donuts . Enjoy Terrible service. We ordered from here for a company-sponsored lunch and they couldn't figure out how to process the credit card, made us pay cash for half, and showed up with only half of the food. They then argued that they couldn't possibly have forgotten so much. Never again... Been going there forever...Always great cheesesteaks burgers, bolis. Hoagies are great, too..Skip the salads, always been a low point for me..Can't wait to try breakfast, hear good things about it. Food has gone down hill second trip this month though maybe an off day second time stale roll stale chips and burnt the French fries. the prices keep going up. Manager not the friendliest person to deal with either. Time to stay away for awhile maybe they can fix these issues. Great pizza steaks, pizza, steak Stromboli, and even their Italian hoagies are really good! They are supposedly none for their signature chicken salad hoagie as well, which I was able to try and can honestly say it was quite good. Great breakfast , went there a few times
The potato pancakes were off the hook
Along with a fresh breakfast
Prices and service were great
Just had the pizza and it was very good
We will be back I am happy to say that the owner contacted me about my experience and offered an apology. My next order was perfect ( chicken wings and chicken wrap) I will be trying the popular breakfast items next. ( previous Review below)
Not pleased with my lunch order. Pizza was expensive and yucky barely any cheese the mozzarella balls were a waste of time went to the trash. They poured white liquid when I bite into them. Dipping sauce was eh! Amazing breakfast! I ordered an omlette with a potato cake and an english muffin..it was delicious ! And the fresh squeezed orange juice is so refreshing! My 3 children and I come here every Saturday morning for breakfast. I have not tasted anything that did not taste good, let alone, delicious. Some weekends, there is little wait time before being seated, others, there is a considerable wait. It seems everybody in town wants to get a taste of the best breakfast in town. The wait staff is extremely friendly, and well attentive.
While writing this review, the woman at the table beside ours mentioned how amazing the coffee is here. I dont drink coffee, so i dont know how it tastes, but i do know they recent got a new coffee system that grinds the beans fresh. Speaking of machines, and fresh, they also have a machine that freshly squeezes the orange juice right behind the counter.
While I have had most of the items on the menu, my go to is the meat lovers omelette. Smokey black forest ham, country pork sausage, chopped, thick cut bacon, and American cheese. The kids usually go with the pancakes. These large, fluffy pancakes will leave you with eyes bigger than your stomach. Only once has my daughter been able to finish the tall stack(3), and usually she doesn't finish short stack (2). If you like jelly on your toast, the have home made jelly at the ready, just ask.
After our meal, we always go up to the counter for the fresh, made in house, donuts. These donuts come in 3 flavors, plain, powdered, and cinnamon.
Our 4 person meal comes out to about $30 which is well worth it since we always leave full, or as the kids just called it, "a food baby." have gotten delivery from here multiple times, and every time it's been quick and accurate.
the food is ok, quality wise. we've gotten calzones, a few things from the appetizer section, and pizza. all good but nothing to write home about. so this is more like 3 stars.
i would like to note that the customer service is a lot friendlier than some of the other pizza joints in the area, they actually make you feel like a customer and not a pain in the ass when you order. and this is what gives it the 4th star. Great, local spot to stop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The breakfast donuts are out of this world! Cheese steaks are great as well as the pizza. Would def recommend to stop in and try the food - it's terrific! Probably the best deli / sandwich /pizza place in Pottstown . Was my go to spot when I lived there . Everything from pizza , cheesesteaks , to reubens and chicken salad were always great. Good food! Good service. A little cramped but all in all good place to grab a bite! Some things are a on the pricy side for what's essentially a pizza place. Great breakfast every time. Excellent staff, fast, hot and tasty omelets, eggs, home fries and thick cut bacon. Add in onions n peppers to home fries gives a little more taste.
We also LOVE the Cheesesteak Stromboli here - best I've ever had. Their chicken poppers are pretty good too.
Five Star Place, definitely a step above a regular diner/sandwich shop.
Worth the visit - or delivery, every time. Ordered Fish N Chips with coleslaw. Promised delivery time 45 min arrived in 15 minutes.
A little pricey for delivery but delicious! Good place open late. Only went for takeout for a few slices and (huge!) stromboli so far. Friendly staff. I was told to try the pumpkin cheesecake but haven't had a chance yet. I have no complaints about this place! The food was delicious, it was delivered in a very timely manner and the waitress was GREAT. She was so friendly and gave us her true opinion of the food. She was fun and checked on us in a delightful, non-annoying way.
Highly recommended: the pierogis! I've never had a bad meal from here. Staff is very friendly and welcoming. Delivery is always quick and good is hot. Plus they have takeout beer...always a plus. Great wings ! Service was a little slow but the wings were small but flavorful and meaty! Really enjoyed the wings just wish the sauce were a little hotter ! I really love ice house but their wings have disappointed me the last three times I got them. They have no meat on them and it's not even worth ordering them anymore. Love the pizza & wings! In town for business and decided to try this place out since it was close to the hotel. I must admit I was hesitant at first since the picture taken didn't really look like what was there. But I'm glad I did the wings & pizza were delicious! And the service from our female staff was on point. If I'm ever back in this area I will definitely stop in again Place used to be great. Just got an order from them 30 min ago.... horrible. Burnt wings, cheese fries were all cold, pizza was cold. Not sure what happened to this place but they suck now Cheesesteaks were blech. You're better off driving a mile down the road to Santina's if you want ones that aren't completely dry and lacking in cheese.
I'm willing to give them another chance with their other items, but there are plenty of other places that can give you a decent cheesesteak, without skimping on cheese or flavor. So after our first bad experience, we wanted to try them out again. We ordered a cheesesteak Stromboli. Well in the picture description it says comes with pepper and onions but where it says cheesesteak it just says steak and cheese. We wanted a plain and figured that's what we were getting, our fault.
Brought it home, had pepper and onions... No big deal, we'll eat it. As we were cutting through the Stromboli there was a slice of pepper in the Stromboli that still had the LABEL ON IT. Also, the Stromboli didn't come with sauce.
I took it back and asked why the label was still on the pepper and why we didn't get sauce. Well, with a $19 Stromboli you don't get sauce and was also told they get peppers sliced in a jar from a vendor. Can you imagine the cheap ingredients their using in their food if their pepper vendor can't even take off the labels?
They ended up making me a new Stromboli and giving me sauce. Sorry, the new one didn't cut it. Thin crust, and dry meat. It was one of the worse most expensive Stromboli's I've ever had. Will probably never go back to the Ice House ever again. Just walked out of this place after sitting at a table for 15 mins and didn't even get asked what we wanted to drink. I understand when people are under staffed but come on you don't make eye contact with my husband 3 times and not come over and say sorry to keep u waiting we will be right with you... That's just plain rude and for that reason I will never go back !! Hands down the BEST pizza I've ever had delivered . I got a pepperoni sausage and pineapple pizza and it was delivered on time and was absolutely delicious. I also frequent ice house for breakfast and the fresh orange juice, jams, donuts, and biscuits are indescribable. I highly recommend this place to everyone, especially out of town folks - there's nothing like this anywhere else! This is our go to for sandwiches and Pizza. The staff is always sweet and attentive. Always prompt and fast with delivery as well. Best Reuben around Took me awhile to get here, as I always viewed it as a "ham and egger" place based upon the appearance. That was a big mistake.
The place is like a diner, a bit small, but has a certain charm.
As for the food, "Oh, my, lemme tell ya 'bout the food, Bob Griese."
The pizzas and subs are very good, the wings are legendary (small and the spiciest will bring you to tears), but my go-to dishes are the hot roast beef with gravy fries and tossed salads with golden Italian, the golden Italian that just drips and oozes with savory goodness all over your eager tongue and mouth, yet seems so hard to find. The gravy reminds me of Heinz brown, which has always been my favorite.
Prices are decent, service has always been very good, and the food always arrives quickly. As a bonus, mini golf and adult video locales are minutes away as after dinner treats. I cannot fathom how this place could get more than 1 star - it's terrible! Ordered online (okay, I give half a star more for that cool feature)- plain pizza and a cheesesteak hoagie - for delivery. After an hour after ordering, the delivery guy shows up with the food and since my card was already charged (the bill was $25 bucks?? what the...Pricy!!)- he immediately left.
A. the cheesestake was completely wrong - it had American cheese (I requested Provoloone) and had only raw onions on it! There was a miniscule amount of over-cooked dry beef on a half stale roll. Umm, doesnt the hoagie part of the order mean lettunce and tomato? Terrible cheesesteak - not even close to the real thing (and Pats and Genos are not the real thing folks)
B. the pizza - yuk. No doubt it was a frozen pie. Seriously, in a saturated pizza shop area, how can you seriously think a frozen pie is acceptable?
I did call the shop with the error in the sandwich and to their credit they offered to make another and deliver or give me credit (unapologetically however). Since I did not want to wait another hour for a bad steak, I took the credit. Just not sure why, as I surely wont be back any time soon!
Maybe I need to try a stromboli like other reviewers say is good...but I cant imagine it will be tasty after the disaster pizza. Blech.
Save youreself the disappointment and get your cheesesteak from Cutillos and pizza from Palmeros. Great pizzas! The meat lover pizza is divine. The best pizza around the Pottstown area. Don't bother with the other places. Ice House would definitely be a 5 star, if not for their pizza. Hoagies, Steaks, Chicken are some of the best in the area. But skip their pizzas! You'd be better off with a frozen DiGiorno pizza. But like I said, service is always good, and the sandwichs, etc ate the best! Hit or miss with these guys...ordered for delivery...$54 was the total. Meatball sandwiches were nasty, as if the meatballs were overcooked or old, hardly any sauce on them. 2 orders of cheese fries...fries came plain with one small container of cheese and one pack of ketchup...the container of cheese and ketchup was no where near enough to cover one of the bags of fries...specific instructions were not followed for the cheese fries...I asked for pepper, hot sauce, ketchup on the cheese fries...I got none of that. The salad was wilted as if it sat n heat all day, it had green eggs on it and the cherry tomatoes looked spoiled. I did order from these folks once before and it was good then. I don't know what happened over there. I'm very disappointed. Stopped in for breakfast while driving past. Food was very delicious, service was good and I definitely would be back. This place is amazing. I have never ate at a place where I can honestly say I want to eat there every day. This is the place! I'm going to start with online ordering. There is times when I don't feel like ordering on the phone and the online ordering feature is great. U can pay for your meal and add the tip at the end for delivery. I haven't had one bad meal from this place. I usually get the 16 inch cheese steak and that thing is biggggg. Every once in a while who ever is cooking goes a little salt crazy but other then that everything is good. They also make in house there own cheese cake which is freakin great! When you go in the service continues to be amazing. Not once did I have a bad experience either ordering or in store. Delivery has to be the fastest I have ever seen. Granted on the weekends sometimes it's a little bit extra. But they get it to you fast and it's still hot! The delivery people I can say have been great people to interact with, unlike a certain pizza joint I will not mention that we have received two intoxicated drivers.
The website is pretty well put together and informative and you don't have to go to a separate website just to look at the menu. We haven't tried there breakfast yet but I'm told it's just as epic as there lunch and dinner.
If you decide to go into the store the place is clean and usually enough room to sit people. On the weekend sometimes it gets poppin. Other wise. This is my go to place for good food. Good food. Local dive. Very popular. Not vege friendly but good food. Interesting to have a pic of the bathrooms here. Albeit good decor, perhaps that wasn't the best choice. Super friendly staff and great food. In fact they paid for our PAL hockey team's championship party. Thanks! The Ice House is definitely the spot for breakfast. Lunch/dinner is average but breakfast is where it's at here. Homemade OJ, donuts, and Jellies - AMAZING. The Oh My Homefries are also worth the pennies to add to get them with any meal here. Get the wings, sweet and spicy.
The burgers are pretty good.
Never had it but several people have raved about the pizza.
The donuts are good, but, gotta get there early or they all go.
The wait staff is nice, the older lady with gray hair is appropriately sassy. Food is good and consistent. I've had delivery and have eaten in as well. Employees are friendly and it is a nice place to eat in. Try them out. You won't be disappointed. We used to get Ice House's pizza quite a bit when we lived in Pottstown, and it was consistently awesome pizza. We were in the area last night and got 2 large pizzas, but we're very disappointed. The quality seems to have gone way down since this spring. Maybe it was just a bad night for them, but I don't think we will go there again. Been going here since I was a kid, and I always try to visit when in town for some delicious nostalgia.
If you are new or a longtime visitor like me, go for the cheesesteak with brown gravy. The bread is a really important factor in making a great cheesesteak, and Ice House nails it. Not in the mood for a cheesesteak? Their wings are one of the best I've ever had.
Always consistent, quick to serve, and affordable; Ice House is a perfect weekend choice to eat-in, or take home. I always like eating here.
Parking can be a bit dodgy when it's busy.
Dining area seems clean. Booths are comfortable.
Food has always been prepared fine, even if it was something I didn't like and wouldn't get again.
One thing to note.
I ordered a roast beef hoagie. I understand that onions are part of the way they prepare it. When the sandwich arrived there was what I perceived to be an entire onion's worth of slices on top of my sandwich. I am not kidding or exaggerating. Almost like "I'll have a little roast beef with my onion sandwich"... That's not to say they they skimped at all with the roast beef, there was plenty. I worked up an appetite clearing off all the onions and the sandwich was great.
I will definitely return.
Great breakfast here too! The pricing has gotten way out of hand. RIDICULOUSLY expensive for what is offered. Honestly, the food really isn't that great and the service is sub par at best. This is not the go-to place for my family and friends anymore. Ownership needs to open their eyes and also listen to the critics - maybe go try the food at other places in and around town. If the quality was comparable to some places, the pricing might be more on the mark. But for the moment it's not even close. Best breakfast. Ever. You must get: the homemade OJ, the homemade jams, the homemade donuts. The bread is delicious. The potatoes are awesome. Just go. First time to ice house and have to say service is awesome. Their menu is unique so best to check it out before ordering. I made a mistake of not looking before ordering a white pizza, as it came with diced tomatoes and ricotta. But still they replace my pizza and have me a gift card, even tho it truly was my mistake more then theirs. The food is very good, but a bit pricy. I guess that is what you have to pay for homemade tho. Ice House Deli has exceptional sandwiches, the best within a 15 minute radius from my house. (And there are TONS of pizza/sandwich shops around me.) Recently I had a friend from California visit who has never had a Philly cheese steak. Instead of making the trek down to Pat's or Geno's, we stayed locally. She THOROUGHLY enjoyed herself at Ice House. My father, who eats cheese steaks regularly and considers himself somewhat of a cheese steak connoisseur, always goes to Ice House when we gets a craving, even though there are sandwich shops closer to our house. I haven't eaten red meat for years, but their buffalo chicken cheese steaks are exceptionally tasty.
The buffalo wings are also great. They're big and juicy, not little puny things that are all bone and no meat. The spicy sauce is hot, but not overbearing.
I've only dined in the seating area once. It was pleasant, but nothing exceptionally wonderful or disastrous, and exactly what could be expected coming to a place like this.
Where Ice House Deli is lacking is in the pizza department. The sauce and cheese aren't anything special, and the dough is kind of thin for a regular pizza. I wouldn't recommend going here to pick up a pie.
However, if you are in the mood to pick-up some quick beer while you get your yummy hoagie or wings, this is definitely the place. There are about 50 different to-go beers to choose from, check out the selection: http://www.icehousedelivers.com/drinks.html This was my go to spot for the morning after (afternoon after seems more appropriate) when I lived in the area. They have the most amazing wings. They are fairly small, but very crispy and loaded with sauce. Their philosophy on this is that "smaller sized wing makes a tastier wing because the meat is cooked perfectly through" and I could not agree more. I personally suggest having them mix the hot sauce and bbq sauce together- you will not be disappointed. Their pizza is so-so.. Seems lacking in sauce and overcooked. This I have only noticed when ordering slices, not whole pies. They renovated at some point within the last few years and added the counter. The atmosphere seems able to accommodate just about anyone. Their beer selection is pretty good. You are able to have a beer or two with your meal if you eat in. Worth a try. Very disappointed with the service this morning. Our waitress was friendly but only saw her face once. She took our order and that was it. Never came back to ask how we were doing and waited 10 minutes after finishing our breakfast to drop off the check. A second cup of coffee was out of the question, clearly. Food was decent just really unhappy with the lack of service. Won't be in a rush to go back. They have a pretty good bacon cheeseburger!! Wait staff was nice too. The atmosphere was nice. Definitely will visit again to try more of there food. Great pizza, awesome salads and phenomenal cheesesteaks! Always a family favorite. Great service too! Very clean. Ridiculous!!! Phone is either off the hook or they don't answer. I've been calling for hours. Forced to order online and it doesn't tell you until after you pay that it will take an hour and a half. They are right across the street. Great cheese steaks! The only place that is slightly better is Jimmy's in Philly. We ordered delivery and they were quick! Can't wait for my next icehouse cheese steak. Best breakfast around. The buffalo chicken cheesesteak is my favorite! I like that you can order via their app. It's makes it easy to order lunch in between clients during the work day. I don't know what is going on with this place but I'm done with it. I've been going here since I moved here back in 2010. At first the place was great and then it started to go down hill slowly. There was always something wrong every other time and then recently it started to become every time. Just tonight i ordered a cheesesteak Stromboli with just cheese. I ended up getting a cheesesteak Stromboli with peppers and tomatoes on it. On top of that it was filled with grease. When I cut it open I had grease come out of it. I couldn't even pick it up. This was the second time with this grease escapade. So I'm done and I'll be sticking with tornettas down the street. Great food and fantastic prices. Very good atmosphere and extreamly friendly and helpful staff. Ice House is THE BEST place to eat in the Pottstown area. We have been eating from this restaurant for years, and we recently had an experience that completely deterred us from the restaurant. There was minor miscommunication in the order that could have been easily solved, and instead of trying to make it right, management got on the phone with the utmost unnecessary attitude. She was cutting us off without even letting us get a word in, and then proceeded to hang up the phone telling us we would be removed from the delivery list. It wasn't long before she realized she never received her payment and made her delivery man handle the phone call and the payment, refusing to speak to me. Pretty distasteful for a restaurant we loved so much. We won't be back. Best hoagies I've ever eaten, and I grew up in the hoagie capital of the world. I usually order the turkey and it's delicious, ham and the Italian are also very good. The steak fries are always piping hot. They're so yummy, I can't get them into my mouth fast enough. Quick delivery. Once I had a problem, and they fixed it, no problem! Ok now I really love their food but if you come here in the morning you just may get one the rudest waitresses you've ever met. And they carry their attitude with dignity. And if you dare ask for one of their delicious donuts the donut Nazi will surely give you a nasty glare. Be prepared to handle the distasteful attitude. Sometimes you will get an ole gal who will force a smile and try to be nice but its physically painful for these people and they can't help it,...they must really hate waitressing. But the food is great....suddenly I'm not hungry... Was in town for a youth baseball tournament. Excellent Cheesesteak! The Onion rings were some of the best I have had! The food gets a 5 along with service, very attentive. Location was a little rough but the inside is nice. We're new to this area and have been hearing so many great things about Ice House. Well they were all right!! We had the King St Stromboli (roast beef & provolone) The food was awesome but more importantly the service was top notch. Not only did our main server take care of us but 2 others were helping with refills and sauce etc. Great experience! I wish I took a pic of our Stromboli to show you. Another stop as I search for the best white pizza in Pottstown. The pizza looked great and icehouse places tomatoes as part of the standard white pizza which I have never seen before. There was a slight layer of ricotta cheese but very little garlic flavor to the pizza. The crust was not as thick as most traditional pizzas but definitely not as thin as new York style. I have had several better white pizzas in Pottstown but will come back to try other fare. Motz Balls, Yes. Cheese Steaks, yes. Lasagna Rolls, Yes. Chicken Quesadilla, Yes. Stroms, YES. Pizza, Not so much. Everything is great here that we have had, the pizza, not so much. Deff some better choices in the area for 'za.
WE LOVE the Ice House for everything else! Especially Stromboli's! Not happy I tried to call tonight and they didn't want to answer the phone so never getting anything from there again We had the burgers and fries and they were slow to cook but they are yummy yummy yummy. All of the burgers that they serve are double decker burgers. The fries are steak fries and they are just what you would expect. We had trouble finishing the burgers but they are so good that we tried really hard to finish them.
Other than the slow wait time to get the food, I highly recommend you stop by and try the burgers! They also have beer to go... I have to agree almost completely with the first review. This place is great for cheesesteaks/Hoagies. The you get a big portion for your money. The Buffalo Chicken Cheese Steak is the best, really it's the best. The pizza is so so. They also have a good selection of sixpacks at decent prices which can be hard to come by in this state! Best wings in the area. Pizza and steaks are good too. Great service and can buy beer in store for pickup also Really disappointed this time around. A few months ago I ordered online and when I went to pick it up they never received the order, it happens, no big deal, I waited. This time I ordered online and saw that they had a cheese steak as an option for breakfast so I figured why not. Anyway I left without my phone and when I got there they said they called to tell me my order was cancelled because they don't have cheese steaks for breakfast. There is literally a cheese steak and egg sandwich on the breakfast menu, just make it without the egg? Anyway, I'm still hungry. I was completely blown away by their food and their service! If you're in Pottstown please stop by and have the Bacon Cheeseburger with a side of Mac N' Cheese Bits! Ice House excels in their breakfast! Fresh squeezed orange juice, the best donuts made on premises, assorted homemade jams, the best and most tasty home fries I have ever had! Everything has a homemade touch that shows pride in their food. YUM! Not to mention I like the red plates and their drinking glasses. CUTE!!! Not only is the food great here so is the customer service! I ordered food online because I figured on a Sunday and Mothers Day it would be crazy to get a table. I went to pick it up at the time the online order was supposed to be ready and ended up waiting an extra 50 minutes for he food. They not only apologized for giving me the wrong pick up time but gave me some extras and refunded 55 dollars in breakfast for the wait. Delicious Cheesesteak! My friend recommended this place to me after saying that the cheesesteaks are amazing! I'm usually a plane Jane with things but the portion was just right the price was affordable ! And the food was hot and delicious. Highly recommend to anyone in a need of a nice meal! The food was supposed to be here by 6:30 called multiple times never got a phone call called again around 7:30 and they said the driver had delivered it never did never called, it is now quarter of eight and still no food! Highly disappointed in the service! Really good buffalo chicken cheesteaks, hoagies, and wings! I went to Pottstown to show how much I care about you..... Ice House, I have heard great things about Ice House. I wish I hadn't heard great things because I went in with high expectations. Plus missing the turn onto High St didn't help my demeanor. It was a good cheesesteak but I was expecting a great cheesesteak. My cheesesteak looked much different than pictures of other Ice House cheesesteaks that I have seen. It was still a very tasty and good cheesesteak. I got it with sweet peppers and Ice House sauce. They describe the sauce as a marinara, my limited culinary skills tell me it was a vinaigrette'y marinara. It was a great vegetable sandwich w/cheesesteak meat. Overall all pretty good experience. Great hometown feel and my Ice House made donut was amazing!! Get the wings! Get the cheesesteak! Get the meatball parm!
I've never had anything here I didn't absolutely love.
Nice clean place. Friendly staff.
Generous portions at very low prices.
Just do it.
You won't regret it. Great food selection and quality! Restaurant is always very busy and is a local favorite for anyone stopping by. There is a wait for food to come to your table after order, but you can tell it's because everything is freshly made and prepared and tastes great! We ordered dinner from Ice House. We ordered an Italian Hoagie with everything on it, plus oil and vinegar, and we ordered a ham and cheese hoagie with nothing else on it. This is how the gave us the ham and cheese hoagie A literal pile of meat...... what is wrong with this place?? Best Italian Stromboli ever! Just make sure to order 'fresh' sliced green peppers and tomatoes. This place is off the hook. Great food and my favorite place to grab a couple of 40s.
Sandwiches and wings are excellent. Pizza leaves something to be desired, but I won't hold it against them. There's always something new on the menu and it's usually bangin. Def gotta try the loaded waffle fries. If you're planning on sharing them, don't. Get one for yourself because you're gonna want the whole thing.
Service is top notch. I forgot what it's like get food from somebody who cares about their customer. Sure do wish I lived closer to Pottstown. I visit the are several times a year and Ice House Steaks Pizza is always on my list. As a traditional hoagie lover, they're simply the best. Just seems like the ingredients are way better than average and always fresh. I don't venture too far from my hoagie but have tried their stroms and pizza, both delicious. I also like that they're always improving things too whether it's the menus or the store itself, it's never stale. Can't wait to come back! Thanks Ice House! My girlfriend loves breakfast here. I'm not a breakfast guy but I usually just keep it simple. Today I wasn't feeling it but we went anyway. She had the meat lovers skillet as usual. I asked for a cheesesteak. It was 11:00 mind you. That's within lunch hours. I was told they don't serve lunch until 11:45. Ok I get not wanting to start making pizza or Stromboli at 11:00 though they do during the week. But when you serve cheesesteak omelets, cheese steak skillets, and the King Street sandwich which is steak and eggs on a hoagie roll. How hard is a normal cheesesteak. We will be back, just next time we wait until 11:40. She orders breakfast, then I wait 5 minutes to order and get my cheese steak. Baseball team had lunch here. Easy access to baseball field. Cheesesteak was delicious. Mozzarella sticks were great. Good service. Good food. Pizza was good. I had been living in the area for about 5 years and never went here. One day I decided to go because I heard they have breakfast. So me and a few friends went and to be honest it was not as good as I thought it would be. The service was okay, they were nice but my omelet was not hot. It wasn't even warm. If I ever do go back I just get their wings and pizza next time Best food and staff this side of the Mississippi! Staff is extremely friendly and food is consistently delicious. Would recommend to anyone and everyone! The Pizza and cheesesteaks are to die for Have always been impressed with Ice House's "bang for your buck" philosophy. My favorite is a mushroom cheesesteak with provolone cheese and a dozen hot wings. The biggest debate is always between going for breakfast or for dinner, neither disappoint. Very happy with the sandwiches here so far (need to dive deeper into the menu. Great Italian hoagie with a good roll that stays together and thin sliced meats that offer a strong traditional flavor profile that won't disappoint. The family has also been happy with party trays of mixed hoagies. Great local spot. Breakfast, lunch & dinner are all solid. Breakfast sausage patties are insanely big and tasty. I ordered from ICE HOUSE STEAKS AND PIZZA at 5:20pm tonight and was told 20 minutes. I gave them 40 minutes knowing how things are messed up with this covid 19 stuff. I get there at 6pm to pick up my order and didn't end up leaving with it until 6:40pm. I was not happy about that so on the ride home I tried calling to talk with a manager and was hung up on twice. When I arrived home I called and got hung up on 2 more times. The third time called they put me on hold and after a few minutes it went to a busy signal and then disconnected and this is after I spent $79. People were just coming up and ordering food without calling it in and getting before I got mine. Now I know I'm just one link in the chain but after being a long time customer it saddens me to be treated this way and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I believe in the 3 strike rule and this is the 3rd time something has happened. The other 2 times I got the wrong order and they wouldn't talk to me then too. I will never recommend them again to anyone and their manager needs to be fired. I say to you all don't let them treat you like this too. My daughter was asked where she wanted to go to breakfast for her birthday and of course she chose Ice House! As always, everything was perfect. Selena delivers quick and personable service, we really like seeing her here. Thanks so much!! These are the wings that came tonight. They use to have nice big wings and now they are little with no meat. I've been coming here for years and lately it has been going down here. Maybe it's time to find new Pizza place In the area. Food and service was amazing. Got a cheesesteak and wings. My friend took me here when I came to visit her from Philly. Just went to Dalessandro's a few days ago and it was definitely on par with their steaks. Our waitress, Cassidy, was super nice and helpful. Probably some of the best service I've gotten at a restaurant. The owner (or manager not sure) offered up some homemade donuts too which was extremely nice. Would definitely visit again if in the area. Ordered delivery online. Waited over 1 1/2hrs for food. What came in the order was freezing cold and we were missing a ham Stromboli. Called to let them know what was missing and was told by the manager he knew about the mishap and would send it right over. Another hour later the Stromboli arrived cold and made incorrectly. Very disappointed. Great food! Cheese steaks are so good! Had it delivered cam hot and fresh! Nice spot to enjoy good food Great breakfast!
Fast, friendly, and attentive service. Homemade donuts are outstanding, especially with the homemade jelly.
Anyone who does not give this place at least 4 stars just likes to be miserable. Had lunch from there. Ordered a Chicken Cheese Steak and perogies. Sandwich was really good and they make homemade perogies. Totally recommend this place. I'm incredibly happy that I live close to ice house! I came here for dinner with my dad one night and he's usually very particular with his wings and cheesesteaks. At the end of the meal he said that was one of the best he's ever had. The food is awesome, never had anything I didn't like. My only complaint is they got rid of the round mozzarella balls with the rose sauce. I couldn't get enough of them. The Ice House is my go-to downtown Pottstown place for breakfast. They have great lunch and dinner too but since they started serving breakfast years ago, they are the best in town. Bar none.
I recently ate there with a friend who's food was too cold for him. (This was a first from my perspective.) We sent it back and they made an entirely new meal (eggs benny!) for him. Not only that, but they refused to charge us for it!
Great service from Colleen as well. We were a high maintenance table! Ordered a pizza fries tonite and a hour n 25 min and it wasnt delivered yet....i called and spoke to a lady and she said it is on the oven and dosent know why its not there yet.. She said if its not there in 20 min to call back.....25 min it was here yet....the pizza was cold and hard...called back spoke to manager and she said she would make another. But couldnt say how long it would be..money was returned and went to amore pizza on 724 This place never fails to make my day. I haven't been able to order in a few months and I couldn't wait any more. I ordered delivery and someone else's slip was on the bag, I assumed without checking that I had gotten the wrong order. The guy who answered spent a few minutes trying to figure out what went where. Meanwhile, i actually checked the bag and everything was fine, barring the wrong receipt. I felt like a complete idiot wasting his time like that and he was insanely nice about it. I've worked in the restaurant biz (BOH) and I would have been pretty grumpy by the end of the night. Thanks for being so awesome at the end of the evening on a busy Friday night! You rock. I will never patronize this restaurant again. We went today to pick up cheesesteaks and witnessed unfair treatment of what appeared to be a man very down on his luck. He was turned away from purchasing a 6 pack because he was wearing a jacket hanging open without a shirt. He was NOT refused service due to inebriation
He turned quietly, embarrassed. with his head down and left without argument.
My husband felt moved to assist and purchased it for him while I stopped the gentleman in the parking lot. When I went back, a rude associate behind the counter (not the original one who refused service due to lack of shirt) started mouthing off about him being drunk and saying she didn't understand why we were encouraging his behavior. She, at no point was involved in the sale.
At no time did this man appear or sound drunk. He was clear and lucid in his speech and humiliated for the way he was treated.
The girl behind the counter was ignorant and inappropriate to criticize my husband or our behavior and judgmental to jump to conclusions about something she was not involved in l. She should mind her own business, stop being so judgmental and let adults make their own decisions. We immediately canceled our order and went elsewhere.
My rating is not because of the associate Girls that I work with say the food is good. My son and I ate lunch here and it was great! I had a pizza steak. It's the best steak I ever had. My sons food was good also. Our waitress was so nice. Great place to eat!! I saw all of the high reviews of the pizza and expected to be wow'ed. Needless to say, I wasn't. Pizza was mediocre and really overpriced. Our waitress was very friendly, so there was that. Not only is their food amazing, but their customer service is amazing! Their website had a glitch with charged $10 extra for delivery, which I paid because I wanted/needed their buffalo chicken cheesesteak: they canceled my order and called me so that I didn't get overcharged. This is the way businesses should be done!
*i came back to give it 5 stars again, but I couldn't* What a wonderful family owned restaurant! I enjoy to come here for a chill meal. Never once had a bad meal or experience! The best hoagies in the area are here. Hot wings are delicious, great burgers. The donuts are homemade, and scrumptious! Cheesesteaks, club sandwiches and fries are also superb. This place has the best cheese steaks you can find around here. The California cheeseburger is better than five guys too, and by my standards that's a big plus Went to Ice House for first time and bought wings and fries. My takeout was made super fast and staff were nice and efficient. Food was good absolutely loved fries. When we need food and it's late... this is where we go because it's still open and close to us. Another reviewer raved about the wings but I respectfully disagree. There's barely any meat on them. I haven't had anything that I absolutely love but it's not bad either. The staff has always been friendly though. Not only is their food amazing, but their customer service is amazing! Their website had a glitch with charged $10 extra for delivery, which I paid because I wanted/needed their buffalo chicken cheesesteak: they canceled my order and called me so that I didn't get overcharged. This is the way businesses should be run. I was visiting my sister yesterday and decided to try the Ice House as recommended by a friend. I ordered an American Hoagie and if you google an American Hoagie it is:
American Hoagie. Long roll, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, raw onions, ham, cooked salami, Genoa salami, salt, pepper and oregano.
I received a hoagie with just American cheese and the women I spoke to did not agree with my complaint however they did deliver me a hoagie which was just cheese and ham. I was okay with the cheese and ham but it still wasn't what a true American hoagie should be. My sister did not like it. I'm giving 4 stars because they did try to satisfy us. We will not order American hoagies in the future. Seriously the best hoagies and grinders in all of Pennsylvania! Their fries are always fresh, service is always friendly and dining room has plenty of room for my large family to eat inside of. This is the 3rd or 4th time we have ordered from Icehouse and we are huge fans. The cheesesteak Stromboli is perfect. We would have taken pics but it was devoured by us hockey fans! Go Carter Hart and the Flyers!!!!!
Cooked well, super tasty, arrived hot and your drivers are always polite and you can tell they take what they do seriously. That means a great deal during this craziness of Covid.
I cant wait to order again, and highly recommend Icehouse for your enjoyment. Thank you for knocking it out of the park!
Icehousedelivers.com
Cheesesteak Stromboli Excited to try, as heard good things. Walked in with no greeting. Sat down in booth by window. Swatted away flying insects. Menus already on table stacked against wall and condiments (almost empty) opened dirty menu on outside to find several squashed flying type bugs inside menu. Three out of four menus had dead bugs inside. Live and dead insects on window sill. Should be cleaning menus between customers' germ riddled hands, not just left on table for next person. Bugs with food not a good pairing. We walked out. I'm writing this after I got off the phone, Ice houses customer service is garbage. The girl who answered the phone for my order had a SERIOUS attitude as though I was bothering her. Ice house please teach your employees how to talk to customers. Ice House is hands down the only place I go if I want a cheesesteak. The wings are to die for and so is their steak fries.
I've been a customer for well over 10 years now and I have seen all the changes that this place did. From the desserts and breakfast to the old fashioned pizza and burgers. You can't ask for a better place to go eat. I have no problem driving the 25 minutes one way to get their food. The food is good, but, $4.40 for an order of French fries is quite ridiculous. Even though they were steak fries, it still does not equate to $4.40 & the quantity is nowhere near proportionate to $4.40 worth of potatoes. Next time I'll hit wendy's or McDonald's for the fries. Dining here is a reverential experience. You know how people talk about "befores" and "afters" in their lives? This is one of them. Life before Ice House and life after--the latter being a far better state in which to exist.
Picture this: it's closing in on dinner time, you're hungry and world weary. In the distance, you see the Ice House sign calling out to you like a siren, a beacon, a personal savior. You walk in, and immediately feel welcomed by the atmosphere, the friendly staff, and the sea of patrons who are lively and content. Experiencing food that is true QUALITY. You walk out of this restaurant so much better off than you had been going in. You never imagined it would feel this way.
tl;dr eat at Ice House for fast casual dining that's miles above the rest. Their wings are still truly awful. We split 24 wings for 19 dollars ( I believe they may have been 17 plus a delivery charge) they were absolutely soaked in hot sauce. They were soggy and so tiny I wish I took a picture. Definitely never ordering wings from them again. Food is good! Presentation has stepped up more so recently. I have never been a big fan of their customer service. Not sorry to say I Was pleased to hear "manager" Lynn, had to take a leave of absence. She was a very unhappy person. Didnt seem to like people much. Very poor customer service and a pretty rude person.
Loved the new manager Ken. He's was such a Straight shooter, a quality missed in a lot of business these day.
Just heard the awful news that he was let go.
Such a shame to hear over something as petty as a misunderstanding due to the influence of another because of their misdirect mindset.
If I had to pick and choose a quality I'd much rather have someone in my corner that's passionate at what they do and gets the job done then a bunch of loyal thieves, that are miserable and work just enough to collect a paycheck. Best.......BEST wings I've ever had. And the Roast Beef Dinner is insane. You really can't go wrong here. Delivery is quick and always hot when it gets here. This quickly became my go-to place after trying it once. Hit or miss. They lack consistency. Sometimes I've gone in and have had wonderful food, other times not so much. Consistency is key! The food used to be good here & I mean use to be. Ordered a tuna wrap tonight, tuna was so salty, dry & had a terrible taste. It was a tin can bitter taste, probably cheap tuna. Chips were very salty also. I use to order this all the time but something has definitely changed over the years, it doesn't taste the same. I don't need to go back anytime soon. Excellent service. The food was great. The buffalo wings are really spicy. The Asian salad with chicken breast was awesome and pretty large. Chicken tender salad was both large and delicious. The chicken quesadilla was great. Great atmosphere and the decor was homey kinda retro. There wings are amaazzzziiinggg definitely the best around but I definitely feel like every year they get A little smaller and A little more expensive. Most of their food is pretty good too Love seeing how my post was removed for speaking the truth that the restaurant doesn't like children dining there. It really shows and speaks volumes about how the business is run. They removed their childrens menu too. If you don't like children dining there then put a sign saying no children allowed. The restaurant blatantly refused to serve my 1 year old daughter chicken nuggets and applesauce and then gave my mother attitude about her being there with a 1 year old. There was no apology. This post is justified. I was in a hurry and asked a local guy where he'd go for a good quick bite and he said that he takes his family to the ice house. I drove up and saw the big penguin sign and said if it has a penguin it has to be good. :) went inside and it was a nice sized family resturant. The waitress immediately came over and asked what I'd like to drink. I asked what she'd recommend and she said the cheese steak. I ordered it loaded with everything and chilli instead of chips. The chilli came out very quickly and it was piping hot. It qa a meat n bean chilli. Not very spicy, had a nice tomato flavor, I added some franks red hot to spice things up. I prefer intense flavor but it had a good consistency. Shortly after, the 12" cheese steak came out and it was packed with meat, drowning in gooy cheese, hot peppers, sweet peppers, fried onions, & topped with a chunky tomato sauce. There didnt seem to be any added spices, but it didnt need any with all of the natural flavors blending together. I wanted to save some for later but my mouth wouldnt let me. So for good simple family cooking stop by the ice house. So after our first bad experience, we wanted to try them out again. We ordered a cheesesteak Stromboli. Well in the picture description it says comes with pepper and onions but where it says cheesesteak it just says steak and cheese. We wanted a plain and figured that's what we were getting, our fault.
Brought it home, had pepper and onions... No big deal, we'll eat it. As we were cutting through the Stromboli there was a slice of pepper in the Stromboli that still had the LABEL ON IT. Also, the Stromboli didn't come with sauce.
I took it back and asked why the label was still on the pepper and why we didn't get sauce. Well, with a $19 Stromboli you don't get sauce and was also told they get peppers sliced in a jar from a vendor. Can you imagine the cheap ingredients their using in their food if their pepper vendor can't even take on the labels?
They ended up making me a new Stromboli and giving me sauce. Sorry, the new one didn't cut it. Thin crust, and dry meat. It was one of the most expensive worst Stromboli's I've ever had. Will probably never go back to the Ice House ever again.
Update:
Went to AJ's Quick Stop down on 23 in South Coventry and bought a Stromboli there. WOW! What a great Stromboli! Loaded with meat and cheese! Even $3 cheaper! Definitely will be a returning customer there! My partner and I live for Ice House. The sweet succulent wings make my mouth water. I am literally licking my screen thinking about them. Don't even get me started about the....SAUCE. Oh yeah the sauce baby. I must also appreciate their bathroom/restroom facilities for always being so sparkling clean that I could eat my succulents snacks right out of the toilet bowl. I just LOVE those sweet sweet wings and thighs. The potatoes too. I only go to church to Thank our Lord and Savior for Ice House and that my wife doesn't divorce me. Lol, I love my sweet honey too much but not as much as my sweet wings. If I had to pick between her and Icehouse I'd have to choose my sweet wings. Mostly the food is good, with the exception of their "pizza." Just don't order any pizza. It was literally paper thin, and the crust looks like it's frozen, conveyor belt pizza crust. This is my hands down favorite breakfast place. Everything is consistently delicious and the portion sizes are generous. I'm not a big fan of their pizza but their cheese steaks are tasty. I do wish they allowed reasonable substitutions, as i only like cheese fries with mozzarella, but that's not a huge issue. I ordered here because previously I've had good food and good service despite what other reviewers say. However, I guess it was my turn for terrible service.
The prices are steep which I typically don't mind for convenience. I ordered online. Purchased a cheeseburger, onion rings and hot roast beef dinner. All said $31.31. Delivery came early...so far so good. Upon opening bag everything was thrown in there. No napkins and no ketchup. My dinner was two slices of bread with small amount of beef. No dressing,no gravy, no fries. Cheeseburger was overcooked and 4 onion rings in bag. Looked like someones leftovers.
Disgusted, I called the shop where rude employee asks me what I wanted and tells me that I got what I ordered. She places me on hold and returns to tell me to save the food someone will be back to pick it up and trade me what I ordered. Unbelievable!!! I do not want this food or any other. And what will you be doing with returned food anyway? Reselling it??? A refund would have been appropriate but never offered. They took theie $31.31, hung up and that was that.
Pottstown has limited selection to begin with food wise but for the price and underpar service I'm surprised the Ice House is still in business.
Never again...recent flooding should have swept away business, their foul attitudes, and shit food. Less than impressed. Poor service, poor quality. Made an order for delivery was told 45 mins for delivery. 80 mins later called back and was told the order just went out. 90 mins after order time the food shows up ice cold. Obviously the food had been sitting around for awhile. Not the first time this has happened. Worst part is manager tried to say they met their goals. Guess they lived up to their name. Great atmosphere and delicious breakfast! We loved the staff and the portions were huge. The service was great and the cheese steak omelette was cooked to perfection. Highly recommend! Best pizza and sandwich shop in the area!!! A little pricey but it's definitely worth it. I recommend the pizza/strom special! the wings were just ok. I ordered them extra extra well done and they still werent cooked very well. the coupon code for online ordering on the front of their menu does not work. chicken Cesar wrap was dry. probably wont be a repeat customer Not the best food on this planet, but you're in Pottstown, so your standards certainly can't be that high. This is a very decent place to get food in Pottstown. It's kept clean, the staff is nice, and the food isn't bad. I wouldn't consider it a "fancy" or high quality restaurant by any means, but still a good place if you're looking for a decent bite to eat.
Have fun, kiddos. I've been ordering from I've house for over 25 years. Their sandwiches are good, most everything else is just ok. The biggest problems are that their prices are outrageous and that there always seems to be something missing from the order. They sent the sleeve to our cheesesteak, but no steak. Called right away, maybe it fell out in the drivers car, and had to wait another 40min. Not to mention, if they would have made a fresh one and immediately send it out, it wouldn't have showed up Luke warm. Sorry Ice House, we won't be ordering from you no more. Bad pizza yeah . Delivery Stinks Sent Cold pizza & said it was hot yeah maybe a hour before o it came. Solid choice for all American fare. We came into town late after a cross country flight and our options were limited. It was after 10:00, but still dinner time to us. The food was tasty and service friendly. We opted for a cheese steak and Reuben sandwich, as well as a side of onion rings. Not exactly healthy, but satisfying nonetheless. It was a good choice and I wouldn't hesitate to eat there again. They also have a large refrigerated section with an extensive beer selection that was getting a lot of patronage from the locals. long time patron, first time food poison
I live nearby and the ice house has been a staple in my life for decades. however I'm writing this poor review (unfortunately) after spending over $50 only to wind up with food poisoning.
I tried contacting the restaurant several times over several days this last week - always asking and requesting to speak with management to discuss what happened to me... you'd think as a business they'd leap at an opportunity to help a long-time customer but I can't even get someone from ice house to send a reply e-mail or acknowledge the fact I even bought their food and became violently nauseous and sick.
I'm so very sad and this is the most unfortunate review I've had the displeasure to write. Absolutely the worst food in all of Pottstown. Over priced, taste terrible. We ordered eggs benedict and an omellete..took about 25 mins and when we got our plates the homefries which are cut French fry style were still raw. Eggs Benedict tasted like lemon. Sercvice was sub par...server had to ask to refill the creamer and sugar container since she was oblivious to them being empty. I would not recommend this place to anyone unless you like to waste money. took my debit card numbers and ordered a bunch of stuff. but I got all my money back. I have been a customer for a very long time. Two nights ago, I placed an order online at 6:00 pm and received an email with a delivery time around 6:56. I tried to call at 7:06. The phone rang 7 times and disconnected. Again at 7:07. I posted on Facebook asking if anyone knew of any issues in that area. I sent a message via FB messenger at 7:15. No response. I tried calling again, same result at 7:15, 7:16 and 7:26. I hit redial and someone finally answered. I told the guy I ordered online and it was supposed to be delivered before 7. He put me on hold while he would check on it. After being on hold for 15 minutes I called from another phone. Again, call disconnected. I called again and the same guy who put me on hold answered. I asked if he was ever going to pick up the line he's had me on hold for 15 minutes. He hung up on me. I had no food, I paid online and getting nowhere by calling. I never hung up my phone, that was on speaker mode, since placed on hold. I had to drive to the restaurant to see what was going on. I was a few blocks away when I heard the line open and noise in the background, a second later the call disconnected. Hung up on again! I go inside and ask one of the two guys by the register to speak to the manager. A girl comes over to me and I explained the whole situation and expressed how mad I was that I kept getting hung up on. I showed her my phone and how I was on hold almost 30 minutes before that call was a hang up. I said if I was the owner he would be fired on the spot. I told her to cancel my order not that they were going to make it anyway and I should charge them for my time and gas. All I got from her was she canceled the charge to my card and she would talk to him about it. If she was a manager she should have offered my order for free after all I was just through. At 9:00 pm I sent another FB message with screen shots of my phone with the call log. The next morning, I finally got a response. They apologized and said my order should have gotten to me. Asked me how much was my order. I didn't remember the exact amount at the time but said what I ordered. Later I found it was just under $17. They thanked me for being candid. And blamed everything on being busy. Saying.. "When we have high call volume there is not much we can do. You were calling between 7 and 730 which is usually the busiest times for callers and makes it most difficult to get through." So it was all my fault for calling when they were busy. Dismissing their employee hanging up on people and making me have to drive across town to handle it. I explained that I was a supervisor of a high volume phone team and there's no excuse to hang up on a customer. Today I got a message that I have $15 credit. May be awhile before it's used. Their breakfast is top-notch. However, the last 2 times (this Thursday and Sunday) I showed up to enjoy it, I waited for several minutes before being turned away. Thursday I was there at 10:40am and was told, "we're sorry, breakfast ends at 10:45am on Thursdays and Fridays. It ends at 11:45am on Saturdays and Sundays." Being that we were there so close to the mark, I was a little disappointed by the rejection but didn't think it was too unreasonable. Now, today, Sunday, I returned arriving at 11:30am. I called ahead to confirm that 11:45am was indeed the cutoff point. I knew I was close but assumed I would be seated and taken care of, especially since the same waitress was working and recognized me. After waiting a few minutes, I was told that they were no longer serving breakfast. I told them how I had the same experience on Thursday and I called today to make sure I would be on time. The "hostess" told me she would check to see if she could do anything. I'm assuming it was a manager that came out and looked at my party and said, "naw, they just got here." I pointed out that there was still roughly ten minutes left for us to order and seats available but she just said, "sorry, our cut-off is 11:30am". So, which is it, 11:30 or 11:45? Even if it is 11:30 for a cut-off (which should mean breakfast ends at 11:30) my situation should have been heavily considered and given the respect I deserved. Instead, it was an embarrassing moment backed by stupid and ignorant logic based on some management or cook that can't handle providing the service they advertise. I will not be going back here unless I receive a thorough apology and explanation. This place is a joke! Wings are the size of my pinky toe! They call them wings there so tiny with no meat on them total rip off! We also had gotten boneless wings it was a bunch of burnt crumbs in a dish! Terrible food! All I can say is they used to be really great but I've been very disappointed with the pizza and the hoagies and the cheesesteaks. For pizza and cheesesteaks, I think the best in Pottstown is Mike's brick oven pizza, or Tornetta's. I gave icehouse two stars, I would give Mike's and tornetta's 5 stars The prices keep going up and the food quality and service are going down. This was my favorite place for food delivery until the last year. I always place my order online. Tonight I ordered a CS Stromboli $20 and a salad $9.35. The Stromboli was wrong. My email receipt was correct but the printed one with the order was wrong. I called and they offered to send another one with a free soda. I was ok thinking it was a 2 liter. They sent a 20 oz!! Seriously. That was their way of saying sorry we screwed up and now you have to wait another 50 minutes to eat you dinner. You can get the same quality & service from every other place in town for less money. IH is no longer the Best in my opinion. Pretty good place. They need a few TVs and small bar to go with the bar food. The phone ringing the whole time drives you nuts too. Food and staff are pretty decent though. This is more of a take out place than a sit down place until they have TVs and a classy, small bar. This is a lesson I relearn every year or so. I cave because there are not very many delivery options near me, but I should know better. The menu is limited for vegetarians, mainly traditional pizza/steak shop. I ordered chicken fingers and fries for my son and got additional side orders of fries and mozzarella sticks. Does that sound like $25 to you? I think that is a bit steep. When I paid the delivery guy with $40, he quickly pocketed it and I had to specifically ask for change. Rather than giving me my change, he waited while I figured out how much I needed back. It felt like an awkward guilt trip. Keep in mind there is a delivery charge in addition to any tip you choose to provide. The chicken fingers were over cooked and the mozzarella sticks were cold. Not going to be ordering again. Prices go up and up over the years but portions and quality have lessened or stayed the same the last 20 years...chicken wings should be ashamed to be considered chicken wiings...have to be lethargic starved chickens or chick wings they are sooo small! The food is good. The onion rings are better. Delivered the wrong pizza last time but they made the right one and delivered it. We don't usually have issues with Ice House but prefer to order online and that's not always available. 3 strikes you are out. I've ordered ther 3 times in the past few months. Have not had a correct order made as of yet. First time food was missing fries, Second time club was dry with no mayo or bacon, 3rd time no marinara for cheese stick and no dipping sauce for chicken strips. Everything I've called the order taker is somewhat cold and/or rude and when I got food delivered it was cold. Keep your money go somewhere else where your money is appreciated. We eat breakfast here almost every weekend at least one day if not both. the service is usually pretty good sometimes a bit slow if they are really busy, but for the most part the girls are very pleasant and make your feel welcome! The food is really good Our favorites are the Creamed Chipped Beef and the Meat Lover's Skillet. very generous portions and just good. Their toast is really good as well one of my favorites with the homemade jam!
Just have to get in for breakfast before 11:45 on weekends or you have to wait for lunch!
Check it out if you have not already! Sandwiches are top notch, table service is severely lacking.
They really pack the hoagies with plenty of meat and cheese, and the rolls are excellent. (Possibly Conshohocken Italian Bakery.)
But the staff definitely needs to work on being more attentive and engaging with customers, coming back to see if you'd like a refill, etc. With better servers this place could be one of the best in the county.
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name: Center City Towing, address: , city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 2.5, is_open: opening, categories: Automotive, Roadside Assistance, Towing, text: I just loved watching the impatient driver of their truck get get into the extremely clearly marked turn-only lane and speed ahead to the intersection then force his way back in. Responsible and friendly drivers. A respectful company, that is ran professionally, that you can count on. I needed my Chevy trailblazer towed from i95 @Aramingo to Levittown. I used my roadside assistance through my insurance and what a nightmare getting any competent help from them. I finally got Center City Towing assigned and Steve was by far the best person I talked to all night! He was friendly, efficient and professional. He backed the vehicle right into the spot we needed and absolutely refused a tip. If you ever need a tow in the Philadelphia area you need to make sure you get Steve from Center City Towing! Tonight me and my husband called our insurance company Progressive to get a tow service because his car kept shutting off (battery or alternator) and would not start back up! We got to the gas station on Berkley and Stenton Ave where we waited about 35-40 mins when the young guy pulled up he was very nice and had to jump the car to get it up on the flat bed finally her had the car all ready to go and then he received a call from his boss name Mike ( a real asshole) he ordered the guy to take the car off and go to an accident that he claims the guy was close to and my husband got on the phone and spoke to Mike and was assured Mike would be to get us in 20 minutes we'll that never happened we are still sitting here since 8:30 trying to get home. Me and my husband called Mike back on his cell phone and he sends it straight to voicemail and when my husband called back Progressive they told us Mike canceled the tow so now we have to wait an additional 60 minutes! I am beyond pissed off!!!! I will be contacting corporate first thing Monday morning to repost Mike and let them know what an asshole they have working for them and how unprofessional he was ! Don't use this company they suck ........... My car was hit in an accident. A tow company (North Central Towing and Recovery) showed up on scene and asked if I needed a tow. My insurance said that I could use them, but the officer on scene said that in Philadelphia you cannot use the tow that shows up, I could either let the police department dispatch one next in line on some list they maintain to make sure everyone gets a fair shot, or, have my insurance dispatch someone. So I had my insurance dispatch a different tow company. They selected Center City Towing to take my vehicle to Caliber Collision for repairs. After I told the tow truck company on the scene that the officer said I could not use them they proceeded to go over and flirt with the officer. After laughing with them for about ten minutes she came over and asked me why I didn't use North Central because now she had to wait there with me until another tow company came. I guess they made her feel so good about herself that she forgot the protocol she so much so insisted I follow that she'd called her supervisor to back her up in telling me not to use North Central to begin with. Well, when Center City Tow arrived, the officer stopped and spoke to the driver. I don't know what she said, but this morning I had to play where's Waldo in finding my vehicle. "Somehow"" it ended up where? At the lot of the North Central that was first on scene. Appears to me they sweet talked her into telling Center City tow to take my car to a different location without my or my insurance companies in knowledge or consent. Center City Tow knows my insurance did not dispatch them there. They didn't care and basically all parties involved in this little scheme to get storage fees stole my car. Right now I am working to get another tow to get my car where it is supposed to be so it can get fixed. Guy came he was nice, I needed a flatbed he told his boss... after that never received a call and the flatbed never came. Later then lied to my provider and told them my car was blocked in the 2nd time they came and never called me. Center city towing was dispatched by my insurance to tow my Car on a Saturday. The driver explained that they don't leave the car on the lot if the collision center is closed, so he would take it to his storage facility. On Monday the collision center were my car was to be repaired call me looking for my vehicle ,that has yet to arrive. We called the tow truck driver looking for my car , and he started that he was going to take it to the collision center at that moment. I later received a call from a woman stating the she has a collision center right next door to where my car was being stored and basically wanted the business. I told her I was at work and couldn't really talk at the moment . Here it is Tuesday and my car still has yet to make it to the collision center. I believe that the tow truck driver Luis Corredor is trying to hold my car to collect storage fees and to solicit business for this collision company who contacted me . I never gave permission for anyone to give my number or any of my information to anyone. Baaaaaaad business!!! If you see this tow company coming your way please do NOT use them. Driver was great. Young woman took her time made sure my bike was strapped down properly. Drove slow and made sure no issuesm
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name: Gavin's Tavern, address: 1144 Horsham Rd, city: Ambler, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: closed, categories: Nightlife, Bars, Dive Bars, text: Gavin's is a good time... They changed their lay out so it is more of sports bar on one side (was a dance club before)... Its the nature of the beast!!! I would almost call the place a dive bar, but with the new flat screens... Its hard to do
Usually has good drink specials...
Don't be surprised when you wake up in the morning and your jeans smell like a deep fried cheese steak with burnt popcorn and a dirty ash tray... Your pillow might even smell that way... In other words, leave your winter coat in the car...
This place needs a bath, windows that open, better ventilation, and an outside patio or roof deck... Gavins close and the building is now the horsham pub. Your neighborhood bar! Good amount of t.v.'s, you will run into your neighbor, someone you went to high school with, or maybe even your ex. Bartenders are all female, the food is good, and ambiance is chill. Definitely a place where smoking inside is allowed. Air out your jacket when you get home. Prices are reasonable and making friends here is pretty easy. I love Gavin's. It is the perfect sports bar after playing softball. When I worked in Horsham, we would frequent this place all the time. It is murky and redneckish, but that is part of the fun. The staff there is very friendly and after a few trips will remember your drink. When you order a "Lager", they know what that means and serve you a fresh Yuengling. They have constant games and trivia and always have reps from companies giving away freebies. They have a great TV set up and a private room next door for parties. If you want a beer after a rough day at work and don't want to scream to talk to everyone, this is your place. Gavin's is a great place to go if you are looking to get drunk after a long night of work. The drinks are priced well and are served quickly by young girls wearing practically nothing. However, don't be surprised on a Saturday night if you find yourself fighting through a crowd of popped collars and axe body sprayed suburban philadelphia youth. It can get a little annoying.
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name: Penn's Landing, address: 601 N Christopher Columbus Blvd, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: Arts & Entertainment, Active Life, Skating Rinks, Local Flavor, Parks, Music Venues, Nightlife, text: This review is also for the Great Plaza stage. Saw GBV here and pretty much agree with the good points the other guy mentioned. In nice weather, this place is great for music - fabulous sightlines, decent sound, the most laid-back security i've ever seen (maybe a little TOO laid back, as so many people were jumping on the stage it looked like a circus act for a while, but that's better than having security in your face every minute), a better beer selection than I would have expected for this type of show (Walt Whit as well as your usual Miller type brands), and an open backstage so you can see your favorite performers hanging out and maybe even wave over the little partition.
Only bad things were the beer prices - high, as expected (drop by the Khyber or Eulogy up the street to get your drink on before you head to the venue) and the weird will call setup, where people who are picking up tickets had to walk all the way around the venue to a different entrance - bit of a hike. Also, I don't know what one does if the skies start pouring while you're at one of these shows. The flimsy fabric shades over the amphitheater don't look like they'd catch the drops too well. Fortunately, I did not have that problem. i love this place because it reminds me of the riverfront in new orleans. (it's like having a piece of home while being in philly - which means a whole hell of a lot.) this is one of my favorite spots to come at any hour of a free day to read, listen to the waves, watch ships pass, and relax. i'm super intrigued but also grossed out by all the people who wade in the fountains despite the "no wading" signs. i've seen too many suspect individuals sticking their dirty feet in those fountains...
while it can get crowded and be rife with shenanigans, the chaos is somewhat refreshing. it's nice to see snapshots of all different types of philly residents hanging out by the river.
nota bene: hepatitis-grade bathrooms. enter at your own risk. This is a review of the Festival Pier and the new River Stage. Both are great wheelchair accessible venues. With this matched with a beautiful night right off the Delaware they make for great venues.
Unfortunately, my first concert at Festival Pier left much to be desired. It was the Flaming Lips show last summer that ended in pouring rain and lightening. Aside from this, the service was great and the venue was very open and accessible. At the Festival Peir they let wheelchair users sit in the VIP area which is nice and there is nothing to obstruct your view. The staff is nice but they were kind of jerks about a few things like food. You pretty much have to purchase anything you consume there at the pier. Otherwise, it is nice so enjoy your night there.
The other/better venue on Penn's Landing is the new River Stage. I saw She & Him there last Friday and it was a great evening. When you walk in you have to take a right and go down a series of wide ramps that are fun to go down but be sure to go with someone or ask someone for help to get back up because it could take a while. The seating is set up as about 200 stairs going up and on the side of the stage. There are two levels of walkways about 50 and 100 feet from the stage. Between these and the ramps, they make for easy access. You can sit at the edge of the walkway facing the stage. Everyone stands when the concert starts so don't worry about being in someone's way. Also when they stand, the person in front of you will be blocking your view. It would be wise to sort this out and just ask if the person minds scooting over and making a gap. You might want to do this before the music starts. Then you will have a perfect view. My friend sat on a knee-high light post next to me and we had a great view. This place is nice and comfortable and I was able to scout out where I'm going to sit for My Morning Jacket in August! Enjoy guys. Really nice for craft fairs because they usually have tents around. But for festivals? You'll BAKE in the sun. Parking is a nightmare too. This review is specifically for "Screenings Under the Stars."
There's nothing like grabbing a cheesesteak and heading over to Penn's landing for an outdoor movie. Every Thursday in July and August , the Delaware Riverfront Water Corporation sponsors the screening of a different film for your enjoyment.
Why you need to come:
-Um, it's free? How many things in this world are really, truly 100% no-you-don't-need-to-reach-into-your-pocket GRATIS?! My point exactly. Sometimes, they even throw in some free samples from their sponsors (mm stonyfield honey mango yogurt)
-It's convenient. The el/bus 33,17,25,43/a nightly stroll. Whatever it is, Penn's landing is an easy place to meet up with friends living all over the city. SEPTA actually makes it kind of painless (gasp) to get here.
-It's an excuse to spend an entire evening outside. I don't know about you, but after working inside most of the day, I am more than ready for some fresh air! - Feel the breeze on your face, stretch out your legs and admire the orange-tinted moon as it climaxes (along with the movie!) above the Camden waterfront.
-Fantastic Mr. Fox. Love.
Quick recap for all my ADD friends out there: you + friends + cushion + Penn's landing = necessary. Go. Bathrooms are horrible, this place has potential but they need to keep up with it or its a waste of space.
HIGHLY DOUBT the employees wash their hands seeing as the bathrooms are filthy with no water or working soap dispensers. This place is lame and is just a waste of concrete. I am giving it two stars for the possibility that I just missed something, apart that I walked out of my way to see and there was nothing but a crappy view. Beautiful place to spend a day with your family and friends we have a great time .Relax time woking around eating water ice ..really nice place ! Most dreadful outdoor spot for live music one could imagine. Plus the Street food is dreadful and the portion's small. Blow it up right now! One of my favorite places in Philly, hands down!!!
Very relaxing place on a typical day or night, good place to spread out on a blanket and read a good book or sit by the water and be mesmerized by the water, bridge and boats. On days or nights like this, it is quiet and peaceful.
Great place to view fireworks on Independence Day/4th of July and to hear concerts, attend festivals and cultural exposes, although it gets packed.. it's a Philly experience not to be missed. On days or nights like this, it is active and loud. This year I had the pleasure of checking out the temporary Spruce Street Harbor Park complete with hammocks, beach chairs, live music, life-sized games like chess, legos and shuffleboard, floating restaurants, etc. (will write a review on that too). While at the Spruce Street Harbor Park, it was mostly quiet or conversationalist level noise, people were mostly respectful towards the outside calming environment, although there were many people and lots going on.
Also, neat to walk around and learn about the history of Christopher Columbus and the early European settlers. There is also a ferry that goes across the river to Jersey. I'm probably a little biased because I live at one of the piers on Penn's Landing. Sure, the water's a little brown and the riverview overlooks Camden, but the waterfront and the view of the Ben Franklin Bridge are still worth checking out. Penn's Landing is also one of the greatest places to check out 4th of July Fireworks and the people who plan the events for Penn's Landing put together some pretty great stuff -- including occasional free Summer concerts and Jam on the River (where the Flaming Lips will be headlining this month.) Basically, I think you should look past the murky waters and check out some of the other stuff that Penn's Landing offers. I been to Philly made times however never here. I'm glad I finally came and that it was such a beautiful Saturday day. Its a nice place to come for a walk, jog or even to sit around and enjoy the view. I love going to Penns Landing for all the festivals but they really need to clean up the bathroom. The green water in the fountains creep me out too. Just needs a little elbow work but thats not going to stop my from enjoying it. "Screenings Under the Stars," like Monica O. says, is pretty fantastic. The screen isn't the best, some philly dude with a massive beard WILL blow smoke in your face, and bad kids will step on your toes but it's generally worth it to be outside (preferably with people you like) and be entertained for very cheap. While the movie is free, obviously parking is not but if you find somewhere on the street (which we were able to do very easily) it won't cost you more than $4.50. Bring quarters: the spots closest to the entrance don't have kiosks. You may also want to bring a cushion, and some snacks, and some alcohol. Enjoy ;) I love this peaceful sanctuary i love to come here to relax and have some peace i love literally everything about coming here you guys should come get your zen on Every major city has a peir/harbor and Philadelphia has Penn's Landing... being from Philly, lots of history, for one, did you know Penn's Landing is where William Penn, Philadelphia's founder, first touched ground in his "greene country towne." PL runs off the west bank of the Delaware River.
This is a prime area for festivals, concerts, fireworks, dining, partying, dancing, skating, strolling around with friends and/or dates... an area worth checking out for out of towners. Just remember, it gets HOT in the summers and COLD in the winters! Nice place by the waterfront. Appreciate the sound quality for an outdoor venue. On the smaller side but makes the shows more intimate. Nice crowd, good vibes. Drinks on the pricier side, ample bathrooms. Depending on the event, Penn's Landing can be very hit or miss. I had a fairly good time at the Hispanic Festival yesterday (Fiesta Fest I call it). The Colombian food was ROCKIN! Although they were famine or feast, there were lots of nice looking women out.
Before this summer, I hadn't been down to Penn's Landing since I was a child. It's a shame to see how much it remains the same. When are they going to "do something" with this waterfront? Penn's Landing in chick full of things to do! You can go for a nice walk along the river, lay in a hammock at Harbor Park or play a round of mini golf at the River Rink-the list is endless.
On this occasion, we took a trip to Penn's Landing for the Memorial Day fireworks display. The weather was not cooperating so it was cold and rainy. There weren't many people there just the few brave souls who weren't afraid of the rain.
We lucked out with a unobstructed "front row seat" for the display! The display itself was brief it was over within 8 minutes. Although it was brief it was still nice to see.
I'll be back again for the 4th of July display! I love Penn's landing no matter the season. In the summer time they have a roller skating rink paired with an arcade. If you walk along the river you'll also land at spruce harbor where they have hammocks set up with lights dangling from the trees and all the food trucks you could want.
In the winter the roller rink becomes a winter wonderland. There's a skating rink where it's only a five dollar admission fee, or free for up to four people as long as someone has a blue cross insurance card. Skate rentals are $10, or free if you bring your own. Holiday music plays and you can enjoy a cabin filled with heaters and a lodge like atmosphere. There's a lot of concrete here.
Are those toilets or fountains? If they're fountains, why doesn't the water run?
Did they film Candyman in the bathrooms downstairs?
If you're here early to set up for an event, joggers who aren't allowed in will give you the stinkeye.
The screens around the stage look like IKEA flags. Where can I get Swedish meatballs?
View to the East: New Jersey.
View to the South: parking lot.
View to the West: highway.
View to the North: Walt Whitman Bridge, combining the best of the highway with New Jersey!
Thing I liked best about Penn's Landing: Coast Guard air rescue practice going on right past the fakey pirate ship. Hi Not really a review , but The Bass master's is coming to Penn's Landing on Friday Aug. 8th thru Sunday Aug.10th . This is going to be Huge, They are expecting 40.000 spectators to visit the Area. A huge economic boost for the community, An expected 30 - 40.000 dollar influx is possible.
Get out there and cheer on your personal favorite angler. It 's not every year the Bass Master comes to town ! Nice place to walk along the river and there are some places to sit as well. There's something like a stage too, but not sure what it's for. I came during the spring with some friends on the weekend just to walk around, and the view's not super impressive though we could see the bridge. Not the cleanest place but not too dirty, and there are public bathrooms too. Try parking on the street because the parking lot right next to this place is super expensive (though street parking isn't cheap either). Not too many people were there the day we went, but there didn't seem to be any events going on so maybe that's why. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. My sister told me that on nice days I could find some activities by the pier, so I took a nice walk to Penns Landing. There is an ice skating rink there and they have a concert space there too, but when I went none of that was going on, so I just enjoyed great company & weather while other people jogged, chased seagulls and took pictures by the river. It's just a nice place to relax. If I could give a zero I would. Bought $60 worth of tickets just to sit inside, not even ice skate. Wasted 3 hours trying to find a place to park because there is no where to park. Wasted time and money. First time I have been here in many years ... Maybe 25? Even in 1990 the concrete structures that make up Penn's Landing were getting old. Now, it is serviceable but really needs repair and a facelift.
It is true that the view is great and there are many activities (if you pick the right day) but the 1970's design is very stale. It must be boiling hot when all this cement heats up during a hot summer day.
We attended a John Butler concert that was just fantastic. Beer, soda and food pricing were all decent and there is plenty of parking.
So, lots of good things and even more potential. Time to reinvest Philly. Love this gem for so many seasons and reasons!!
They bring out great talents at the live concerts.
Summer jazz is free! And so are a lot of festivals! Check out their calendar...
It's right on the water, Delaware river, and the picturesque spot makes for a great date spot as well as a family gathering...
You can walk by the nearby spruce street harbor park and catch more live music, great street food and icecream, hammocks in the summer, and a gorgeous ambience..
Water ferry tours and duck/swan boat rides are available too..
And in the winter, Ice skating!
Short walk from old city or society hill...lots more dinner options before getting here... Very touristy but it's a cool place just to check out. The skating rink is worth going on just to say you did it. It's a roller rink in summer and they freeze it to make it an ice skating rink during winter. Very crowded but centrally located to many things.. Walking distance to South street and Dave and Buyer's along with the water taxis to Camden. Highly recommended for anyone. Went here for a concert last night and it was great. The wind off the river cooled things down. The crowd was typical, drunk and dumb. But the location was great. I would love to go there again for something else. And after the concert, we stopped and chilled in a hammock at the Spruce Street Harbor Park. That was awesome.
The bathrooms definitely need attention. There were a few with no doors which created lines and by the end of the night, it was disgusting in there. No toilet paper and messy. had a really nice time with a few friends. Rink was clean, workers were nice, arcade and photobooth inside was fun. No compaints :] The venue was completely disrespectful... we were told to wait because there was a chance of thunderstorms & were unsafe for Train to perform... it was vital that the performers not leave the venue. HOWEVER PATRONS LIVES ARE WORTH THE RISK. We were not told to seek shelter. Also ppl blew smoke in my face THE ENTIRE TIME. disrespectful. Hate PA at this point. It's a great place to run to from Center City in the morning... you see the sun rise and smell the water. It's a nicer scent than the Schuykill! There aren't too terribly many people around, and it can feel really good to have the new day's sunshine on your face first thing in the morning. You can do stretches to your heart's delight on the bars there, and just have a quiet moment.
It's also one of my favorite places to chill out and have a quick lunch picnic if I'm cycling home from IKEA. I love all the boats, and seeing the families and children have a time on the cute two-seater rentable Swan boats in the small marina. A great place to read a book, and a peaceful oasis from booming south st. I have read all the reviews for Penn's Landing Festival Pier, but it does not help change my opinion. Free concerts should be free! After using the gas in my car to drive 30 minutes to get to the Pier, pay $20 to park and purchase some snacks and a drink for my Husband and I, it is no longer "FREE"! I am at $70!!! Years ago, you could bring your own food & drink into the venue. Not anymore. Now we have Vendor's that we must buy our drinks from. So a bottle a wine turns into $30 instead of the $12, if I had brought it in myself. Also, it gets sooo crowded at the Smooth Jazz Summer Concerts and children run around unattended. It is no longer a good time! SAD but true.
I still have my memories of the early days of the Smooth Jazz "Free" Concerts at Festival Pier...... As a native of Philly, it's hard for me to evaluate Penn's Landing objectively. It's just always been there, so I never thought about it much. It's a great place for free concerts, festivals, etc., like Jam on the River for Memorial Day. I'm a huge fan of Sippin' By the River, a beer and wine tasting event that they have every September. The River Rink is a great place to ice skate outdoors in the winter. Penn's Landing is on the water and is easily accessible from Olde City (by foot) or 95 (by car). There's parking. But it's not spectacular. It could be cleaner, it can be sketchy at night if there's no event going on, and the Delaware is seriously polluted. I'm also a little annoyed with the effulsive praise for Christopher Columbus on the Columbus memorial statue thing that they put up not that long ago. I mean, the man accidentally discovered some islands (but was not the first European in the Western Continent, thank you, Lief Eriksson), brutally murdered some of the inhabitants, killed a lot of other natives by bringing over European diseases, kidnapped others to take them back to Europe, and treated his men so badly they nearly mutineed (more than once, I think). Why give the man a monument? And what's worse, they renamed Delaware Ave. "Columbus Boulevard." That's great - change the name from the native inhabitants to that of the invader. Lovely. And why that location for Columbus Ave. and a Columbus monument? The guy never set foot in Philly. Why not name it William Penn Boulevard or something more appropriate? Or how about "landing spot for lots and lots of poor Irish folk" boulevard? Just a thought. Oh yeah, that reminds me, a HUGE monument to the Irish famine/Irish immigration is also near Penn's Landing, since Philly has the largest Irish-American population of any city in the country (nope, it's not Boston).
Anyway, my little rant aside, Penn's Landing is a cool place, but it's not the most spectacular waterfront on earth. And I have no problem with Billy Penn. Go Quakers. Walked Penns Landing a couple weekends ago. Great pokemon location btw. Very neat, clean and safe with many small eateries (takeout) along the way. We did stop at the Moshulu for drinks which I also reviewed immediately after visiting. Lots of people walking around. There is also a lot of history to learn about, where we parked was about the Irish emmigration. We parked near the skating rink on one of the overpasses which is where I first learned about the MeterUp app. Best thing ever. Parking at Penns Landing is $1.50 an hour as opposed to $3 an hour in Center City so rates do vary based on location. We definitely will be returning, it's a great place to walk and site see along the water and we will be going for the brunch on Sundays at Moshulu, after which I will review. A block across from Delaware Ave (or is it Columbus?) from Penns Landing there are a lot of bars and really awesome hangouts for people who are out to socialize, drink and listen to music. Definitely something for everyone to do here. This is a review for the Great Plaza Stage. What a sick venue to see a spin or summer show! I saw My Morning Jacket here in August and it was such an intimate show. Its all GA, and its tiered so unless you are behind some behemoth, your sight lines will be great. The back drop of the stage is usually transparent which allows views of the water, and the beautiful Camden skyline.
The bad news is that I think the Great Plaza is short lived. Whatever plans the imbecile planners come up with next for Penn's Landing will surely end the life of the Great Plaza.
p.s. RIP Jam on the River Rather than trying to make a cohesive review of Penn's Landing, let me describe the features of this concrete park and recreation area.
Fitness: Plenty of running spaces here, without worries of cars. But be mindful of the staff on golf carts, who frequently drive through. They won't run you down, but they may startle you. There are grassy areas by the Columbus phallus where you can stretch and do ground workouts. There are plenty of ramps and stairs to get your hill work in. Philly is pretty flat so the stairs add a level of difficulty to your workout.
Festivals: Lots of special events in the pavilion, with a covered stage area. Many of the events are free, but there are some that are pay only. Thus, there may be times your full access will be blocked by these events.
Romance: The recessed seating areas along the water is make out point for lovers of all ages. I've done that myself, although it's in full view of passers by. So keep it classy!
Food and Water: No food vendors unless there's an event. This can be considered a good thing. There is limited access to water. I think there must be a fountain somewhere, but I use Race Pier for refreshment (2 blocks north of Penn's Landing). Some people may think it's gross that I drink from fountains, but back when I was a little girl, we didn't have portable water bottles. Instead, we drank desalinated water sourced from our sweat and tears.
Reflection: The area in open at all times, I believe. It's a good place to look at the water, see twinkling lights on the Ben Franklin bridge, and reflect on how lucky we are to be healthy enough to be able to enjoy the sights. Definitely a must for tourists!
Being a local, I visit this place quite often. I've never been here for any event, just to walk around and enjoy the view. Nice views, even if it is Camden on the other side of the river but regardless, it still does look nice all lit up. Nice to watch the boats or to people watch. At the end of dinner my bf and I decided to take a walk and walked Penns landing. It was a nice night out with the moon high in the sky. The walk along the pier was nice... perfect for a stroll, jog, or walking the dogs. Place to chill, i am a big fan! Very open and just relaxed. Can't really compare it to waterfronts in other cities because there is not much "going on," however, that is what makes it kinda nice.
Concert venue, eh...quite large - so i'll have to say...depends on the artist. It is pretty dope to hear a great song in the evening with the moon out and having the bridge all lit up as a backdrop, and you can FEEL the energy of this amazing city! Come any time on a weekend and you are bound to find a concert or festival going on. I have gone to a foodie festival, Indian culture festival, and even saw Donna Summer in concert here years ago! My favorite time to come here is during the summer for the Independence Day fireworks. Yes, you can stay on the Jersey side and watch from Campbell's Field..but there's nothing like taking Patco into 8th & Market, walking and stopping for an ice cream at Franklin Fountain and then taking your ice cream to the river to watch fireworks. Only 3 stars due to the overall condition of the space. Maybe they have plans for the future, but there are numerous areas where the grouting is crumbling and light stands are damaged or missing. We walked from the hotel (Penns View) but parking in the general area is very, very limited.
That said, it is a wonderful amenity for the city of Philadelphia, adjacent to the Maritime Museum. We were there on March 1 for the commissioning of the USS Somerset. The ship had pride of place at the base of the amphitheater - an awesome sight.
Next to the amphitheater an ice rink was in full use. There is a beautiful monument across the highway dedicated to Irish settlers who landed here.
Looks like a great place for any kind of festival so we will have to keep an eye on the calendar for a return visit in warmer weather. My favorite place when i was in philly its the closest i got to being near the water which broke my heart but it was relaxing. Great place to go during the holidays! It has a great view and m the fireworks show on New Year's Eve were super fun. Dress warmly and bring your own drinks ad food there was nowhere to eat. Definitely a tourist spot and though I don't live in Philly it's been a second home to me for years.
And though I don't consider myself a tourist I still like to see the sights. Honestly whether you're a local or tourist there are fun things to do. Loads. I love strolling along the water on a beautiful day. The area often has a variety of events from live music to fireworks and other activities.
Nice area to grab food and drinks. Lots of places to sit outside and relax as well. Great spot to take the family or a group of friends. Lots of activities, food options, and driving spots. ok so penn's landing is pretty lame, its got dirty water and lots of litter.
but it is the host to a large amount of venues, from the xgames a couple years ago to summertime concerts. this place is ok like every once in a while but i usually dont venture here for the most part. The live music was really nice! In fact we had a wonderful breeze blowing right in front of the live band where we sat. There were hammocks all around...I didnt really care to swing in them...too many random people getting on. Bring sun screen and bug spray...the nats were out pretty thick. Overrall I had a wonderful time with the love of my life. One of the Beautiful places in the city of Philadelphia. So much to do in this area morning, noon and night! I'm sorry but I can't really get excited about brown water and bland views. Yep. My favorite place to take my dates. Sit and relax. Walk around and relieve stress. Just feels good being there. Alone or with friends. Luv it there. I go at least once a week Najee on the a waterfront on Penn's Landing. Nice breeze, nice Jazz "Screenings Under the Stars" at the Great Plaza Stage review--Who wants to always pay $10 or more per person to go to the movies? No one. Who wants to watch a good movie outdoors on Penn's Landing for free? Everyone!
See, that's the beauty of the summer...and the beauty of ballin' on a budget. Bring your own snacks and drinks, a chair or blanket, and come and enjoy a great movie al fresco. This is happening every Thursday night until August 25th, 2011.
The next films to be shown are The Social Network (July 21st) and Eat, Pray, Love (July 28th). We came here to see the world's largest rubber duck. It was a cluster....$12 for a multi-day pass. They had drinks and food - overpriced. The baby duck was on land available for photo ops while the mama duck was deflated...no bueno.
It's hard to find parking here so I recommend taking public transportation. Spruce harbor park is located here (pop up beer garden in the summer). I wouldn't usually come here unless it's for an event. We left the gorgeous parks by the art museum to come here on the suggestion of a local. It really doesn't compare. There are more activities here to be sure like kayaking and paddle boating and checking out the Army Corp boat, but the view of Camden is well....ugly. There aren't really that many parks or greenery. We didn't have time to stay for the Jazz, but I would imagine that at night, its much nicer. This place is super cool when spruce street harbor park is going on. It's a kind of European feel with people talking, drinking, hanging around and enjoying each others company. You could come and not spend any money and enjoy yourself if you come with a group of friends that simply enjoy each other's company.
I just went today (mid December) and it was empty. Not really sure what you do there when there isn't a concert or food options open. I wish they would keep the lights up from the harbor park all year round! Pretty area right along the Delaware River. From my understanding they hold concerts here during the summer which brings out more people. There is also a Dave & Busters that is right near the pier so that is an added bonus. I like that there's a lot to walk past and that there seems to be an added nostalgia as you are walking along an angry river on a cloudy day.
Maybe that is just me. Let me make this very clear: PENN'S LANDING SUCKS.
It is has SO SO MUCH potential and it is literally a depressing embarrassment to our great city... in a nutshell, it is a historic piece of waterfront property that 90% of the time we use as a parking lot.
I could go on and on but I have a real job to do... Cool place to go and hang out for the day along the water. There are many things to do like carnival games, arcade games, rides, a roller rink, drinks and food.
We went on a Saturday at 12pm and there was no one there. I was confused...where are all the people? Though I am not complaining.
We played some of the arcade games and then did the roller rink once it opened. If you have Blue Cross you get a discount and you can keep your shoes and purses in a locker for a dollar. I went here in high school with my girlfriend for a 4th of July fireworks show. I wasn't sure if this place was it, so I pulled up to the lot and asked to turn around to see if there was something else. They asked for 5 dollars before I told them I just wanted to turn around and they did without a problem.
I drove up and down Columbus blvd for like 10 min and was like hey, that's it so best go there. We pulled up again and the ticket to park went up to like 25 (I don't have the exact price, but it jumped something stupid like that!) I thought that was absurd but paid anyways and parked.
My gf and I walked up and down the area for a bit and there was pretty much nothing there. The fireworks were amazing but all that was out were pretzel vendors and some nut vendors, no real places to sit and have a drink or relax.
I think if Philly would work on this area and add to tourist attractions and put some restaurants or something in there it would be much better.
I think they rely on south street or center city to attract people, but even those things have been lacking lately. A nice place to spend time in the summer. In the summer this riverfront area plays host to the Multicultural Series, a succession of outdoor festivals that celebrate cultural traditions from across the globe. There are also free concerts and the city's only roller skating rink. The spruce street harbor park is listed separately on yelp, but it's also a part of Penn's landing. The only reason I only give it three stars instead of four is that the quality of the free concerts is on the decline. In 2015 I didn't know any of the artists performing. Also note that some of the reviews are referencing a separate waterfront concert venue that is not free and not really a part of Penn's landing. But past years have seen stars ranging from Demi Lovato to Kendrick Lamar to En Vogue to Bell Biv Devoe to Meek Mill to Shiela E. performing for free. But it seems the concert budget has been cut and those great free concerts are a thing of the past. Now you get some nice Jazz on Friday night's in August but that's not the same.
With the proper budget Penn's landing could be back to 4 or 5 Stars in 2016. Our yacht club brought nine boats into Philadelphia on one of our weekend cruises (we stayed at Penn's Landing Marina) and we stayed three days and two nights. TOP NOTCH customer service from the dock master Rich!! He ran us up and down the waterfront in the golf cart each time our very sick dog needed to use the dog park (almost a half mile away) and smiled each time he had to do it. Rich suggested entertainment and local dining hot spots all in addition to ensuring all of our boats were docked quickly and amenities were hooked up. Penn's Landing has a jazz festival one nice that was really smooth! All in all a HIGHLY recommended destination if you need a boat destination or a quick stop for some shut eye. Prices were very fair! We'll be back. Nice place to drop off your 19 year-old soon to be discovered a tramp "girl friend" while you're out working to make the money she is going to mooch from you. She'll be entertained sitting by the water, reading, and talking to strangers while contemplating how she'll get you to fly her to NYC where her "weekend" stayover was at frat orgies in Staten Island where she was the star. Remember if she leaves with x condoms and returns with (x minus y) condoms, she's a tramp. 3.5 Stars. Penn's Landing is fun gathering spot on the edge of the Delaware River. You can pay $7.00 to take the ferry over to the Jersey side if you're going to check out the aquarium, catch a ball game at Campbell's Field or jam out to your favorite band at the Susquehanna Bank Center.
However, they also host a number of varying events and concerts during the year, obviously concentrated around the nicer weather months. We had a ball viewing the crazies participating in the Redbull Flutag on the water last September. In the winter, you can enjoy testing out your leg muscles you forgot existed by skating around the seasonally constructed ice rink with friends/family.
So, check out the calendar and find a reason to stop by Philly's waterfront.
http://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/events Penn's Landing has always been a little disappointing to me, personally. Compared to other waterfront cities (Baltimore, D.C., NYC, etc.), this place is usually pretty dead when I go here unless there is an event going on that day. And just to echo what many other have said about the scenery, it's pretty lackluster. But every now and then it surprises me, look in a direction that you've never given a second glance before, you never know what you'll find! Nice area to visit. You can drink in the area. Very relaxing. A lot of to see. There are small shops, food trucks, carts, drinking posts...etc There are plenty of areas to relax. Nice place to visit if you have a half a day and just want to stay in city , enjoy some ice cream and take a seat by the river . Would suggest to have couple more food vendors . You can kayak or ride the swan boat there . Good place family outing I love penn's landing! such a cool place to vibe out. grab a hammock, check out a food truck, watch fireworks, kayak on the river.
great place to take your family/children as well. Great location but pricing is absurd.
The rides were empty so we purchased tickets for the ferris wheel and carousel. They were $5 per ride per person. Despite being the only people on the rides, they lasted 2 minutes. The ferris wheel went around 4x and it's quite a small ride. Major rip off for these activities.
We went skating and that was fun, but almost $50 for 2 adults and 1 child. There is not a time limit, so that's a bonus, but the skates had busted laces.
Parking is $20. It's rare to find street parking.
The view of the water and boats is great and they have bathrooms accessible. High price, low value. Suburban Coney Island boardwalk, just much much smaller and crowded. Summer hammocks filled with people sleeping and couples necking. Walking around it is pretty dirty. Fried food was good and also beer was good. Other items are expensive food truck prices, fancy but small portions. Seasoned fries were oversalted. Birds also hang around which can become annoying to some. Da uns der erste Parkplatz in der Chinatown suspekt war, haben wir unser Auto am zweiten Tag am Anfang der Market Street abgestellt. Hier befanden wir uns nur unweit vom Delaware River und Penns Landing.
In Penns Landing landete 1682 der englische Quäker William Penn mit seinem Boot und hat zum ersten Mal amerikanischen Boden betreten. Er war der Gründer der Stadt Philadelphia. Heute ist Penns Landing Bestandteil von einem großen Gebiet, das sich von der Market St. zur Lombard St. erstreckt.
Der Bereich des alten Hafens ist in einen Uferpark umgestaltet worden und in der Stadt ein beliebtes Naherholungsziel. Auf der schön gestalteten Great Plaza finden jedes Jahr das Riverblues- und das Jambalaya Jam - Festival statt. Auf der Blue Cross River Rink befindet sich im Winter eine beliebte Schlittschuhbahn.
Ältere Holz-Segelschiffe liegen am Delaware River vor Anker, darunter die "Gazela of Philadelphia" als das ältestes Schiff. Es wird gleichzeitig als Museumsschiff genutzt. Es ist das letzte Schiff einer Kabeljau Angelflotte und war von 1883 bis 1969 in Betrieb.
In der Nähe befindet sich das "Independence Seaport Museum", das Marinemuseum der Stadt Philadelphia. Ein wirklich sehenswerter Teil der Stadt. What can I say about this quintessential Philadelphia gathering space. Great place to stroll or bike from piers to parks. Great place to see street performers. Great place for festivals and fireworks but I love it just for the water. It can get pretty crowded during events but for the most part there's always a place to sit and enjoy the water front views I'm kind of mixed on Penn's Landing. I've been to some real fun things here like Irish Festivals, and Concerts (Saw Yeah Yeah Yeahs for free way back when and it was freaking awesome). The Moshulu is a good boat restaurant and it has some good historic boats that are worth checking out. you also can't go wrong with Jam On The River, and it's one of the best places to watch fireworks on 4th of July.
But the brown water can be pretty unattractive to the eye. And for a riverfront pier side view it doesn't really give you a whole lot to look at. The Christopher Columbus memorial that's here can be another turn off. I love all waterfront shopping and dining areas, and Penn's Landing is no exception. Named in honor of William Penn's Philadelphia landing in 1682, this waterfront area has hosted tons of events and entertainment over the years. Things are a little strained this Labor Day weekend 2021, as masks are mandated throughout the city indoors as well as 6 feet of personal space. Many citizens are wearing masks outside as well. Some weekend events have been cancelled.
I still think Penn's Landing is worth a visit to stroll the lovely parks and catch the view of the magnificent Ben Franklin Bridge and Delaware River. If you love to walk like me, Penn's Landing is a place you need to visit. The waterfront is kept clean and public restrooms are available. I felt safe here; park is open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk. Parking is $20 flat rate if you come by car. Absoloutly beautiful viewpoint of both the city and the waterfront... this is one of my favorite spots in Philadelphia although a lil chilly in the winter season i like it better because there is rarely ever anybody down here in the winter especially walking the waterfront...during the summer though they have hammocks and food vendors and games and so much entertainment for the kids and adults. It is a Must if your in philly no matter summer winter sptibg or fall guys and gals well im off to take my walk GOD bless I have been to Penn's Landing a handful of times. I have had a good experience each time. However, it does get pretty packed and it is almost impossible to get a spot on the hammocks unless you arrive first thing.
There is a ton to do, with a floating bar that has above water hammocks, a Ferris wheel, an arcade, a roller skating rink, food trucks, a music venue, and a beer garden.
Not the most socially distant place to go during COVID, other than the floating bar which takes reservations. Masks are required there unless sitting down at a table. I would definitely go back. I love Penn's Landing, there are always so many different things to do in the area. I have watched the fireworks on the 4th of July many times down here, as well as skated at the river rink with my family and friends.
In the summer, they have roller skating, carnivals and rides. There are so many things for both kids and their families to do down there.
There are also many food options to choose from, and they also have hammocks you can lay on and just relax. Or you could take a stroll by the river and take in the beauty of everything that surrounds you. We paid a visit to Penn's Landing to take in the sights and the monuments. It turned out to be an AOK park.
Walking here from downtown was pleasant, and the weather was mild enough to make the experience enjoyable.
Tip: The monuments were very nice, with some very striking detail; they do their subjects justice and make a visit here worthwhile.
While it's not worth making special plans to come here, if you find yourself with opportunity and time on your hands you'll probably enjoy a visit. Great place to visit on the water. You can go for a leisurely stroll or visit one of the many different and fun venues. We absolutely enjoyed our visit there and had loads of fun just people watching and having a drink. Plenty of things to do if you are with little ones as well.
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name: Rana Halal Cuisine, address: 3513 Lancaster Ave, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: Halal, Restaurants, Middle Eastern, text: A life saver for those living downtown who observe Halal / Zabihah lifestyle. I very frequently order online (TIP: go to http://www.edswings.com the choose "Order Online" then the last tab in the column on the left "Rana Halal"). Excellent ordering system online where you can really customize your Philly Cheesestakes with all sorts of extras. The Buffalo chicken pizza is to die for!! I also like the boneless buffalo wings. The delivery time is about 45 minutes which is not bad for downtown philly.
We are having some friends over tonight and plan to order some cheesesteaks and the buffalo chicken pizza. Great work guys!! Rana Halal is great if you want Middle Eastern food late at night... with terrible delivery and mediocre food.
My friends placed an order 10 minutes before mine and got their food within about a half an hour. My order, made a mere 10 minutes later, took an hour. When I called to find out where my food was, I could hear the woman on the other end of the phone loudly complain about me having called, which is really, really rude.
They get zero stars for poor customer service, and the 2 stars is for how good their dolma, baba ghanoush and hummus are, and how boring their rice was and how very tough their lamb was. Also, I ordered 2 juices and I got Snapple Iced Tea.
If you need halal food late at night, this might be a good option. Otherwise, seek food somewhere else. The food is great...when the order is correct. I've ordered a Greek salad twice through GrubHub.com. I choose their Greek salad over anyone else's because it's the only place that serves it with olives, feta cheese AND stuffed grape leaves all in the salad (plus green peppers, carrots [okay kinda weird] and grape tomatoes...) Last time I selected the options to "Add Chicken and egg." It came with TONS of AMAZING chicken, but no egg...or dressing. This time I got the same exact thing and it came with egg and dressing (which I had to ask for in "Special Instructions")......but no chicken which I paid extra for. I can't complain too much though with a low credit card minimum, pretty fast delivery and great food. Next time I'll be sure to check my order before the delivery driver leaves.
ETA: The next day they brought me a complimentary Greek salad with chicken and zucchini sticks to my work!! Exactly what I ordered before. Thank you Rana!! 5 star!!! I'm still shocked! The food is great...when the order is correct. I've ordered a Greek salad twice through GrubHub.com. I choose their Greek salad over anyone else's because it's the only place that serves it with olives, feta cheese AND stuffed grape leaves all in the salad (plus green peppers, carrots [okay kinda weird] and grape tomatoes...) Last time I selected the options to "Add Chicken and egg." It came with TONS of AMAZING chicken, but no egg...or dressing. This time I got the same exact thing and it came with egg and dressing (which I had to ask for in "Special Instructions")......but no chicken which I paid extra for. I can't complain too much though with a low credit card minimum, pretty fast delivery and great food. Next time I'll be sure to check my order before the delivery driver leaves.
ETA: The next day they sent me a complimentary Greek salad with the chicken and zucchini sticks!!! FREE! 5 star now!!! It's weird that they don't deliver to my location even though ed's delivers to me. Regardless, the food is so tasty and cheap. I love it Decent halal / middle eastern food. Shawarma, kafta, kabobs, gyros - and open late night. They also do halal version of American food --- halal pizza and cheesesteaks. Also have vegan options for pizza.
Can order halal food at the counter for Eds Wings too. First time I tried their food and it's not bad... I mean it's not to die for but for a hungry tummy craving for some mid eastern food this is good enough. Chicken is tender but a bit dry, the lamb though is good but the kofta is really dry... Two things I love that's in my order (Rana Combination) is the tabouleh and humus.....yum!yum! This place had delicious food! And delivery was pretty quick! We got the chicken shawarma sandwich and dolma and they were so tasty! Five stars for sure. What's not to like about a classic Philly Cheesesteak with the cheese whiz? Adding onion rings on top just to add more of a crunch! Rana's is clean and pretty quick. Just ask to have everything made halal and they'll be more then happy to do so Place is called Ed's, not Ranas
Maybe the pizza is good, but any gyro or shewrma is awful... we waited over an hour for food!
When we finally got it, half was cold, meat was really dry and small pieces
Rice had No flavor and very little quantity
They should remove all middle eastern food from menu and stick to American
Awful experience and we were looking forward to a nice dinner
Employees are nice, food is just turrible Attention! This restaurant is actually located in Ed's Pizza. I placed a pickup order of sharwarma chicken sandwich through Yelp EAT 24 and had to call them to figure out where they were.
The sandwich I had was tasty with fresh veggies and nice tahini sauce, better than most halal food trucks in University City. I will order pickup from them again because it's convenient. Three shiny stars for their above average halal food! Best option for halal pizza (& related items)
Never had a bad culinary experience here Its not the best place to eat in the area.
I tryed the shawarma chicken it was pretty nice but very small plate.
I tryed also the spicy wings with cheesestake, well the cheesetake is a real shame absolutely not the true flavor.
As for the wings I liked them pretty much but I was surprised that the guy asked me if you want the halal one or the normal one which made me suspicious about the food if they do halal things and "normal thing " in the same dishes so I will not try it again Not all is halal so be careful
Maybe the pizza is good, but any gyro or shewrma is awful... we waited over an hour for food!
When we finally got it, half was cold, meat was really dry and small pieces
Rice had No flavor and very little quantity
They should remove all middle easter food from menu and stick to American
Awful experience and we were looking forward to a nice dinner
Employees are nice, food is just turrib I'm a UPenn student and Rana Halal is perfect!! I placed an order for delivery after a long day and the food came w/in ten mins. The food is exceptional and clean. The price is wonderful if you're on a budget. You can have a satisfying dinner under 10 bucks. I will be ordering from them again when the next set of finals come around. I wouldn't recommend. Their staff bullies others, and serves female college students alcohol underage. I have had a personal experience with this.
I personally regret giving the owners of Ed's, Aloosh, and Rana's Cuisine any of my hard earned business and income. I used to hire them to cater my own personal and corporate events, which I of course no longer do.
I also brought in a lot of my own personal contacts into their business, and gave them more sales. This is just my own personal first hand experience - avoid. negligence and slander galore.
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name: Grill Fish Café, address: 814 S 47th St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: closed, categories: Asian Fusion, Vietnamese, Seafood, Restaurants, text: I came to Grill Fish with the BF the night before New Year's Eve. We had gotten the recommendation from our friends in the neighborhood that it was pretty solid joint, and a bonus since it was run by the same management as next door Vietnam Cafe. Overall, I felt the food was good, and it was reasonably priced, but Grill Fish lacks that certain something that makes for a memorable dining experience.
The menu is pretty straightforward: appetizers, entrees, desserts. Each entree consists of a grilled protein with either rice, veggies, noodles, or some combination of the two. I ordered the lamb. It comes out on a clean white plate with grilled fresh vegetables and some kind of spicy mayo, along with side of rice. The teriyaki marinade was maybe a tad overpowering, but the food was still cooked well. I question whether or not I was eating lamb as opposed to London Broil or skirt steak (it didn't really taste like lamb), but not a problem. His seafood bowl, a mix of various fish and shellfish, was much better. Very fresh tasting seafood and definitely good sized portions of shrimp, scallop, clam, mussels, and salmon.
Pricewise, it's not terribly expensive, and definitely makes for a comfortable neighborhood joint. But maybe it was the fact that we were the only people in the restaurant that night, and perhaps that nobody else seemed to be out, I just felt sort of uncomfortable. And the food, although good, didn't really have any distinguishing qualities that made it sing or want me to try more of the menu. I feel this is a good place to go if you want something nicer than takeout but not a fancy dinner. Definitely not a date restaurant.
Bottom line: decent food and reasonable price point, but still needs to find its niche and find more creative ways to make the food memorable. It's closed. The menu can be had at Vietnam Cafe, I believe. Same owners. The younger sibling to Vietnam Cafe, Grill Fish Cafe occupies a very small but comfortable space. Every time I've walked by Grill Fish Cafe there's either never been anyone in the restaurant or just one table seated. As such, I've found myself quite hesitant to try out the spot. But, since it's in the neighborhood, I finally had to try it out. Not surprisingly, there was only one other table there. Then again, it was 9PM on a Thursday night in West Philly.
I had the Hanoi Fish (tilapia in a simmering broth with mint, bell peppers...and other good things). The fish came out on a burner with the noodles on a different plate. I have to be honest, I wasn't sure how to eat this. I tried out various methods and nothing came to satisfaction. If I ate the noodles separately, they were too bland. If I put them in the broth, they were too difficult to pick up with chopsticks. Since the spoon was metal and the broth was simmering, using the metal spoon meant burning your tongue. I thought the fish itself tasted okay - nothing that blew me away, but there was enough flavor in it that I wasn't entirely disappointed.
Service was good and the waitress was attentive. I like that the table water is not iced, it was slightly colder than room temperature. I know most people probably don't prefer this, but I'm weird and I do.
As an FYI, the menu here is more expansive than what's on the restaurant's website - at least as of today. Also, if you have AT&T, there is absolutely no service in here so you better like whoever you're sitting with as there's no checking your email, browsing on your phone, and all those bad manners we've picked up in this digital age :) This is a fantastic restaurant. The fluke with ginger sauce is absolutely delicious. The salmon is also phenomenal. We get these dishes practically every time we go there. The house salad with avocado and nuts is simple and highly satisfying. The seafood stew is hearty and really good on a cold or rainy day. By the way, the "shrimp pancake" is what most of us would recognize as the Vietnamese dish "banh xeo" (it's pretty standard - not a standout but still very good). Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant and just wish more people in the neighborhood would go there... it often feels quite empty. The people here were nice, but overall the meal was pretty underwhelming. Eating here left me feeling a bit ripped off, even though I wasn't the one paying.
We ordered the octopus, which was tasty enough but came lukewarm. It would have been much better hot. At $12, the portion size was smallish but decent (I know octopus is expensive), but I've gotten much more elsewhere for the same price.
The grilled whole branzino ($25) was fine. We made the mistake of taking them up on the offer of filleting it for us, at which point the crispy grilled skin was unceremoniously dumped facedown in the sauce, rendering it totally uncrispy and ruining the grilled effect. So it was more like filleted bland fish meat, but it was fine. We also got a tiny side of baby bok choy ($3), which at least tasted good.
At $16, the fluke was a ripoff. There were two small fillet halves, fried and served with a tiny mound of baby spinach. They didn't mention that it would be breaded and fried; that's how places like McDonald's make crappy cheap fish taste good. I could have made the same thing myself at home, for about a quarter of the price. The people at the next table ordered the salmon dish, which looked about the same: pretty meager portions, and not enough elegance in execution to be worth the price markup.
They also charged us $3 for tea that we didn't order and thought was complimentary. So that was lame.
Somehow, one app and two entrees totaled around $75 for two people after tax and tip. I felt like the meal should have cost about half as much. It was tasty and satisfying enough in a home-cooked kind of way, but at gourmet prices I expect better. Tucked away in West Philly, this is a little Vietnamese gem that has some delicious sauces. We started with a round of Lemongrass Martinis...strong, but delightfully good. We then split an appetizer of the Grilled Octopus, which had a good smoky flavor with refreshing onions and was generally tender - a few chewier pieces snuck in, but not too many. I ordered the Salmon - it was not a huge portion, but the fish and accompanying spinach were fresh and well-prepared. I sampled the Grilled Calamari, which was tender and had a fantastic sauce - it was prepared differently from the Grilled Octopus, so don't hesitate to order both in a single meal. I went here with three friends after church and we had a grand time. We started with crispy shrimp which were so delicious and zingy I wanted to drink their sauce after they were gone. Then between the four of us we ordered two whole branzino fish with sides of bok choy. Now those were delectable. Despite being whole it was easy to get at the delicious meat whether by fork or by chopsticks. Again the sauce was wonderful and we sopped it up with our sticky rice. We even picked up the spine when we had gotten all we could otherwise and sucked the rest of the meat off.
By the end the fish resembled the picture in an old cartoon when the character puts a whole fish in his mouth and pulls only the skeleton out. Despite being quite hungry on entry I left filled. We'll be back, that's for sure. The salmon was incredible. Just everything about it: sauce, texture, way it was cooked, presentation, steamed spinach bedding -- and I'm not a big seafood lover! The others with me also enjoyed it. I highly recommend this place. Isn't this West Philadelphia? How is the food so expensive? I mean, the wait staff was lovely as was the ambiance, but paying over $20 for fish that was just OK seems a bit much for the neighborhood. Next time I am going to Vietnam Cafe instead. This review in the SouthPhillyreview.com 7/26/2012 gives it an exceptional rating!! I also took advantage of University City Dining Days to try this place out.
It's a restaurant I can highly recommend: the service was friendly and prompt, although quite small it had an attractive modern decor, the food was delicious. The appetizer I had was superb: grilled squid in a dipping sauce. It was so fresh and tender that I dare say it may be the best squid I ever had. The Hanoi Fish was a tasty treat served in a hot crock in a bit of broth. There were vermicelli on the side. A couple next to me was having a huge bouillabaisse like seafood stew that looked fabulous.
Moderate prices - the appetizers ranged from $6 - $10, the entrees from $14 - $18.
I think Grill Fish Cafe deserves 4 1/2 stars ... only the fact that the selection of desserts was limited to three flavors of ice cream (they were out of one flavor the night I was there) and the menu itself was limited. Otherwise I think this is another gem of a restaurant in Philly's charming University City. We started with the octopus- it is amazing and tender with raw red onions to offset them. We also ordered the mixed seafood soup and whole branzino (striped bass). All the seafood was cooked perfectly, with a smoky grill flavor on the whole fish and octopus. The soup had a wonderful base with a hint of basil and hot pepper flake. The squid rings in the soup were not rubbery at all, the shrimp just right and tender sweet clams. Good price for seafood too. The Lai family are friendly people in the community and always offer great customer service in thier restaurants. Grill Fish is no exception. You won't get a better gilled salmon in the city. The filet is always fresh and the gingery broth around its bed of baby bok choy is strong, light, and mysterious.
I've seen the battered and fried tilapia, and the whole fish, be stellar. BYOB on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. It needs outdoor seating, but other than that, it's the best restaurant for blocks. I took advantage of Univeristy City Dining Days to explore a new restaurant and my gamble paid off. I decided on Grill Fish Cafe after finding the menu appetizing and reading favorable reviews on here, which were fair and accurate.
I ordered the crispy shrimp appetizer, and the fluke for my entree. Both were absolutely delicious. Both portions were extremely generous, but not gluttonous. Both the shrimp and fluke were lightly fried (deep-fried and pan-fried, respectively, I believe) but never felt heavy or loaded with batter. The fluke came with sauteed bok choy (a large protion - my only complaint would be that I wish their were other vegetables, too) and rice.
I also got to try the shrimp pancake and the tilapia. The shrimp pancake was an interesting and unique appetizer that I hadn't tried before. It was light and crispy, with a lot of flavor. The tilapia was bright and extremely flavorful - with flavors leaning more on the Latin side than the southeast Asian.
The service was extremely friendly and helpful. The environment was modern and calming. I was definitely surprised by the level of decor, food, and service - all in positive ways. Not that I was expecting a messy restaurant, but some of the other restaurants I've been to along Baltimore Ave have been slightly more haphazard and less polished.
Grill Fish Cafe is a little gem tucked away in West Philly that needs to be visited!
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name: Castle Garden Center, address: 1120 E Bristol Rd, city: Feasterville Trevose, stars_x: 5.0, is_open: opening, categories: Shopping, Home & Garden, text: Oh Christmas Trees, Oh Christmas Trees, how beautiful are your branches. And these guys will net it and top your car or truck with it and after that, protect it!
Castles is a large side road stand with two large green houses.
During the Spring, they sell Flowering bulbs for Easter, Perennials and Annuals for planting in your gardens or window boxes. They sell Trees and Shrubs for landscaping.
They are newly into the Paver Stones for sidewalks and walls. However, they have been selling fresh cut Christmas Trees, since I can remember.
This is a family owned business and Steve Castle, family and his regular staff will be more than helpful in guiding you to choose and purchase your Tree or Flowers.
Mr.Steve Castle is also one of our proud Lower Southampton Police Officers. So, if someone messes with your tree, after it has been trimmed, you can still call on Steve ;+}
Prices are very reasonable, officer,. Good people who help their neighbors and community during difficult times! You will always have my business when needed. Thank you for looking out for those who cannot leave their homes during quarantine! You are such very good people to provide food to folks in this difficult time. Blessings Sells plants, but will deliver groceries in a crunch. 5/5 for providing hope, and maybe a tear of joy. Thanks for making Bucks proud. View viral post. Thank you for your efforts! Truly a super hero. Glad to hear shops like these are making a true differnce I love, love this nursery so much. It's small but has so many varieties of plants- annuals, perennials, herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees. They sell mulch, compost, potting soils, pots, fertilizers, garden decor, vegetable seedlings, herbs, fruit trees, etc. You can find everything you need in one place right here at Castle Garden Center. Throughout the season they carry many rare and unique plants that you won't find in your standard big box nurseries and the quality is good. I bought several gems from them like Japanese forest grass, rare varieties of Hostas, roses, ferns, astilbe, delphiniums, and etc. I wish they would add more varieties of evergreen trees ( like cedars, pines, firs, spruces) and stopped bringing the standard arborvitae which doesn't add any interest to the garden nor it is valuable in my opinion. Now, let's talk prices. Very interesting but annual flowers are the cheapest in the area. But perennial plants are very, very pricey. But you buy good quality root system and a decent sized plants. It's all worth the money. The potting soils and bags of mulch are more expensive than in boxed stores but again I'd like to think that the quality is better and I prefer to grow my vegetables in organic soils then in full of chemicals miracle grow stuff. The staff is always friendly, and helpful Except for the owner herself! She reminds me of the teacher you hated the most at school. She treats most of her customers like toddlers who don't know anything about plants which maybe true but it's really annoying when she gives me instructions what to do and how to take care of my plants. After all it is not what you say but how you say. I wish she would be more polite and friendly but it is ok. I come here for plants and not making friends. I recommend this place. My Church has been using Castle Garden Center for years. They always go above and beyond our expectations. Recently we ordered 25 bails of hay for our fall festival and they threw in 25 mums for free. The staff was friendly and gave us great service. They had our order ready for us when we arrived. Three men helped us load it while a lady went and got all the paperwork for us. Fast, Friendly, and reasonably priced. I would highly recommend this business. Words can't express how much I admire the owners and employees of this place. You are all class acts. Thank you for your outstanding customer service. The world needs more people like you. Lovely people, going above and beyond for their neighbors and community. A business I'm honored to support!
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name: The Wrap Shack, address: 142 N. 2nd Street, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: closed, categories: Restaurants, Sandwiches, text: Good food to go, unless you are able to snag the one table near this Old City food counter. There is a diversity of options, from veggie to meaty. Two of us shared the thai peanut chicken wrap. At $6, it's a bargain since it is certainly big enough for two. The ingredients were fresh. You may need utensils, so be sure to ask for them--and ask for napkins. They didn't automatically give them to us, and the wrap was definitely a messy meal. The Wrap Shack is one of the first places I ate when visiting Philadelphia, and is a place I often return to. The selection of wraps they have is huge! Order one, and they cook the food in front of you. In fact, that is one of the things that makes the wraps unique from here, they cook all of the ingredients together. So, if their is lettuce in the wrap, it will be cooked lettuce. I don't know if this is my favorite, but they call it a signature trademark. Regardless, they food is fresh and fast, and it's one of the few places for a portable meal in Olde City. The Wrap Shack is this great little secret I have. I'm not really a "wrap person." I don't really get the whole, it's not a burrito but not a sandwich thing, but my confusion be damned! The Wrap Shack is delicious!
They have a huge selection (many are vegan and vegetarian) and every wrap is made fresh to order. You might feel a little weird about getting your lunch from a shack, but this is no grease cart. Everything is tasty and not greasy.
It's pretty cheap, too. You'll pay about $5 or $6 for a wrap and they're big and filling. I love it, maybe I'll have to have one for lunch tomorrow... Ok, so the first thing you should know is that it actually a shack. The somewhat odd location on 2nd street makes it a place to grab lunch if are in the area either buying used restaurant equipment or browsing galleries. From the outside appearance you will not expect much...and may even question if you should eat anything that comes from within the shack...but you should, looks are deceiving. Yum yum I love Wrap Shack. And yes, its actually a shack. In Old City. Pretty awesome.
But not as awesome as the wraps. I'm certainly no wrap connoisseur, but I'd have to say this place makes some of the tastiest wraps I've ever had. The wraps are huge, messy, filling & filled with quality fresh ingredients. I particularly love the buffalo chicken wrap.
They also make smoothies which are pretty good.
Recently I saw that they're opening a Wrap Shack in Rittenhouse - sometime in spring 2007. Hopefully it too is an actual shack, but I'm not counting on it. As long as the wraps are as tasty as the Old City location I can't be too disappointed though. I work in the area so it will be a delightful addition to my lunchtime work menu! There are few sandwich shops out there that offers something for everybody. but the Wrap Shack truly delivers. Veggie lovers will crave the portabello taco wrap and their many salad varieties. Seafood lovers will devour their tuna, salmon, and teriyaki shrimp wraps. And people who REALLY like to eat will fiend over the Scott Louis (buffalo or bbq chicken, bacon, mushrooms, American cheese), and Steak Supreme (cheddar pepper jack, and all kinds of veggies and sauces). and of course they have a Philly cheesesteak wrap, and if your daring you can even try your hands at creating your own.
The wait can take forever, especially during spring and summer weekends. But when it does they're cool enough to even offer you a beer while you wait. good people and good food, what's not to like?
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name: The Trocadero Theatre, address: 1003 Arch St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: closed, categories: Nightlife, Cinema, Music Venues, Arts & Entertainment, text: I went to the owl city show there last week. Compared to some of the other venues I've been to its not bad at all. Parking isn't easy and the neighborhood seems okay but I wouldn't want to walk there alone at night. The venue has a large floor and a balcony with seats. I went pretty late and was able to make my way up front without difficulty. Upstairs is a great option for people who cannot stand all night. Two things made me deduct a star. 1. The women's bathroom is a total joke. The walls are so short that any tall person can see inside your stall. They don't even have a mirror, just a tiny sink. 2. The show was nowhere near sold out and it was a hot night. They did not bother turning on air conditioning. Sweating during a show is always a buzz kill. I took my daughter to a show here a few months ago and we waited in line at 1 (the event started at 6:30). But once we got in line, the security told everyone who wasn't directly in front of the venue to move to the corner of the block since we were in front of private property. I understand that it's public property but there's an event going on, it should've been planned better. Bad service from the start. We were right in the front of the new line where they put cones to separate us from the private property and they said if anyone moves it, they'll get kicked out. The line was made up of 12-17 year olds so that was kinda harsh but when we go inside, I had my daughter's book bag since we took the subway there from her school and obviously, there was a pencil case. However, since there were vandalizing materials in it, they had to take it for $3! The other option was to leave it outside without any supervision and they even recommended it since I was but stubborn at the price for a single pencil case but I paid anyway. Inside the venue, it's actually quite nice. The only negative thing that gave this review one star was the service. The service was horrible and at an event with teenagers, it was even more horrible. The security was rude, the checkin lady was also rude. Bad service, period!!! I've been going to the Troc for shows for the last 20 years. Very cool, old theatre and generally a great place to see live acts. I haven't been to a better venue in Philly for rock/metal shows.
+ + + Relatively easy to move around here, plentiful ladies toilets, a few craft beers on draft for $5.50, shows start early
- - - $3 fee to use charge/debit card, they installed railing so you can't sit right in front of the balcony anymore, hot
I do have a complaint -- When I was there last Friday to see Opeth, during the "quiet moments" of the performance, I could here the noise/chatter from the bar (I was sitting in the second to the last row of the balcony) not to mention the group behind me sitting on the balcony who were chit-chatting during the performance. It was very annoying like when people talk during a movie. I guess a lot of people go there for other reasons then to listen to the band? Out of all the venues in Philly, this is definitely one of the better ones. I go to tons of concerts each year and get excited when a show is booked at the Troc. Every experience I've had at the Troc has been a good one. Unlike most venues their staff is nice and the security guys are awesome. Another great thing about the venue is that it is located in Chinatown and it's about a block away from Jefferson Station. If you're a big concert goer and hate driving to the city, taking the train is a much better option. With all that said, I can say I'm a big Troc fan and will continue to love going to this venue. I saw a concert here over the weekend. The security was typical (pat down before entering), the bouncers were fine (I even saw one store some dude's skateboard for him), and the inside is pretty much exactly what I want in a mid-size concert venue (historic, dark, a little dirty, and with good acoustics).
Unfortunately we didn't realize that alcohol was sold anywhere in the building, because there were no advertisements for it anywhere, and no helpful signage directing us to the bar upstairs, so we stood drinkless on the floor downstairs (my fault--should have read yelp reviews first). In any case, who the hell wants to pack into a balcony just to get their drink on? The east coast is pretty f'd up in terms of alcohol laws, which I assume is the reason that there is such ridiculous alcohol apartheid at Trocadero. Highlighting the stupidity of trying to control alcohol consumption by sequestering it, there was plenty of weed being smoked in clear view on the floor.
The next time I see a show in the midwest or on the west coast, I'll bring back for you a fancy little invention called a "wristband". You get one when you prove you are of drinking age, and if you drink without one, you're gone. Genius! The fact that this place used to be a Burlesque Theatre when I was a toddler adds to this venue's charm. It's location is great too. It's located right next to the bus station .You can catch a bus from just about anywhere, and your half a block from the Troc. If you catch an early bus before the show, you can look at all the neato Chinese gift shops, and grab roast duck somewhere. I have seen more shows here that I can even recall. Many fond memories here. Something about this place is intimate. Not to big, but not to small. Just right. This place has come a long way from having a big communal piss trough in men's bathroom. It has been recently renovated in the past years. They now have shows in the Balcony, showcasing more local talent. And of course there is Movie Monday. 3 bucks gets you a seat for the random movie of the week and a voucher for a free drink. Seeing a concert here when its GA/no seating is okay, but seeing stand-up comedy sucks.
I saw two comedy shows here this month and the acoustics were AWFUL.
We could only hear about half of what the openers were saying, but it was much worse with Tom Segura. I love him and was so looking forward to his show, but I only heard about 1/4 of it. Same with Iliza Shelsinger.
It's not that it wasn't loud enough, their voices were just muffled and indecipherable. What a waste!
Seating on the first floor is a bunch of folding chairs packed together so tightly, you're practically sitting on the lap of the person next to you. And there's no where to put your drink.
Also, they don't allow you to keep the cap when you purchase a bottle of water. Absolutely ridiculous.
I won't be going back; I don't care who's playing there.
Helium is way better than this trashy place. Frankly, I am willing to go alone to a show. I do it regularly. In fact, I prefer going alone to a show rather than putting up with trying to convince a friend to pay money to see a band I consider to be awesome, when in then end, they are spending 20 bucks or more to get in and may not enjoy him/herself.
So this year (2009) I have seen 3 shows here. I really appreciate the place because of the history of the building, the (relative) fairness of prices, and the quality of the bands it manages to bring to the city.
The bar upstairs is pretty nice, and only a tad bit expensive.
I ought to manage to test this place on an evening that there is not a show to catch a movie or something else.... I've been going to the Troc for over 20 years. It's a great place to see a show. Sounds awesome and the crowds are really good. The only thing that keeps it from being more stars is sometimes they don't open the doors on time. They make us stand out in the rain with the line down the street and around the block because they open an hour late which causes the artist to go on late as well. That's pretty crappy. I love the Troc! It's small and the main floor is standing room only, so you get to be very close to your favorite bands! I love this theatre, but I had such a bad experience with the box office woman. She is the rudest person I've met in a long time. First of all, if you buy tickets in person with a debit card, they charge you a service fee. As I was purchasing a ticket, I had a simple question about the show, I would later see....and she screamed at me "You're going to have to speak up! I can't hear you!" And she rolled her eyes, and I said "Nevermind, lunatic." It really put a bad taste in my mouth. If you hate your job, quit! I'm referring to the asian woman (mid-20s) with the chip on her shoulder and a bad hair cut to match her attitude.
Great show though. I really enjoy this venue. You can just feel the history around you (History lesson: The Troc has been around under different names since 1870. It's been used as an opera house, burlesque shows, vaudeville, etc.)
Although a pretty small venue, this is a great place to see a show because of the intimacy. Although past reviews mention issues with sound, I've never been to an event here that had issues.
Last time I was here, the bar was cash only though, what the heck is up with that? Love the Troc visually. However, I found the security staff at the door extremely rude. She searched my handbag for a good 5 minutes, questioning every little thing in it, for really no good reason. There is nothing on the website indicating mandatory bag checks, so I found that very off-putting.
The sound people don't know how to do their job either. Either that, or they aren't paying attention. The singers could barely be heard at the event I went to.
I won't be back. Saw my first show here --- Sick of it All, Nasty Savage (they sucked) and DRI.
What a great time!
I've seen too many shows there since (although I haven't been there in years.)
Back then, this place was great so go now - just because! Biggest piece of crap theater I have ever seen. I don't normally write hateful reviews but this place is not worth anything. I had a tiny bag with pokey sticks (which were sealed) and they would not let me in without me throwing them away. Th staff could not have been any more rude and disrespectful, which I know came as a result of me being a woman as I saw them let men in with a bottle of water when he also wanted me to throw mine away. I will never, no matter who comes, go to this crappy place again. This was the first time here (since the the act I was seeing did not play in DC and this was the closest place that they were) and it was a very good time. Was there to see Adam Ant and The Good, The Mad and the Lovely Posse, which was a great show. I like the size of the club, since no matter where you were you could see the band. Was on the floor for the entire show. Was going to checkout the balcony, but it was packed (show was sold out). Grant for what I saw it was a good spot to see the show. The staff was very nice and helpful. They had a good selection at the bar and the prices were what one would expect for a club, but they not overpriced. It was well worth the trip to see a show here and I would defiantly do it again. This is a funky, and fun venue. I caught Puddles Pity Party here and went up to the balcony for seating. The balcony was largely built in benches, which was nice for our group to be able to move around and talk to each. The view of a few guys was partially obstructed, but once again, we could move around so this would only be an issue in a sold out show.
A nice feature is that their are multiple bars set up, which helps to cut down on the lines, and people going up and down the stairs. My friend ordered us beers and only managed to pour 1 1/2 before the keg was tapped, so the bartender just charged us for one - a nice touch.
Many users will refer to this as a "small" venue - and it is on the smaller side - but it has managed to have the energy and style of a large venue with the intimacy of a much smaller one.
This really is the idea set-up for venue in my opinion. Came here to see Bert Kreischer (he is the hilarious "I am the Machine" guy). Didn't realize the theater is General Admission only when I bought the tickets. Website also said it's standing room only so I was surprise to see seats downstairs and bench seating upstairs. People line up way ahead of time to snag the good seats so if you want something close to the stage arrive early. The line and wait for the bar is ridiculous. There were only 2 bar tenders at the upstairs and downstairs bar and about 50 people waiting in both lines to get drinks. Upstairs bench seating is fine for the first 30 minutes then your bum starts to hurt, ouch. There is a coat check downstairs for $3 bucks. Over all good venue with good views anywhere you sit. Just be sure to come early, especially if you really want a drink and a comfy seat. Came here for movie night on a whim
Pros: price for movie was basically free... we paid for a discount drink token but since we didn't drink we 4 popcorns for free.
Did I mention that the movie was Essentially free? And it wasn't a old movie either
Snacks are really cheap. 2bucks for popcorn? You won't find that anywhere!
Cons: seating for movie night is crowded
Sound for movie night was echoy and bad. The many shows that I've seen here have earned The Trocadero a special little place in my heart, next to all that other stuff. I was thinking that today as I was walking by. Upstairs bar, downstairs bar, balcony, the pit...good sound... all lead to a nostalgic thumbs-up.
I haven't seen a show there in a while but I have hit up some Movie Mondays, alright. That's some good three dollar fun, plus beer and popcorn.
I looked up what films are comin up. E.T.! That's the first movie that I ever ever saw in a theater. I was four. I'll always remember that night and the fact that when we got home, I puked. Ahhh the memories. E.T. and beer...just like being four again. Juuuuussssst kiiiddding....Heh.
Also, Hedwig and the Angry Inch?! Midnight movie, you say? On Friday June 10th, you say?? I might have to see about that. I might hafta take that wig down from the shelf.
This is a fun place, the Trocadero is. And let's also bring up the fact that The Trocadero is a cool name. Sounds snazzy.
Classic place. An amazing place to watch a band perform. Because it was actually built to be a theatre in comparison to other converted-space-turned-music-venues, the sound is fantastic here. Lines of sight are extremely good as there are a few steps down to the pit, a balcony facing the stage, and room all around to stand and watch the performance.
It can get crowded though, so be prepared to stay put if a show is packed. For a Bosstones show I got in the pit, danced, and crowd surfed here -- and the security picked me up with deft and grace as well as all the other surfers, however after that I could no longer get into the pit again as it was so crowded. Despite that, I was able to hitch a spot right next the sound/light boards which is usually the best place to watch a show.
The sound guy as well as the lights guy were amazingly on top of things. It was a pretty awesome experience as the inside of the theatre is also old, with history, and beautiful. So to catch a show in here with great acoustics and technicians, it was a blast. IZ would agreet hat the troc is a killer palce for a show it really can get packed, plus you can get drunk... last show there was Cannible Corpse
and ill tell you another thing.... for people who dont like to park, that alley behind the Troc has like 2 hidden parking spots... if you have s sub-compact you can fit it in really nice if you arent afraid to go up on a curb... i've done it a dozen times and never gotten a ticket.... just after i saw another guy do the same thing.....parking in a dark alley probably isnt the safest thing to do, but its not bad.....
plus its hillarious to give a cd of cannible corpse to those annoying LOCALS who tell you they "i dont accept tips man" accept tips for what you stuck, you're trying to scam everyone. I have only been to this venue a few times. This venue is very big and spacious. one of the best places to see a concert! This place is the real deal as I had rcently saw the rock band Weezer on October 25th.
I highly reccomend this venue to anyone what's a real rock and roll experince.
One of the BEST concert venues around and in downtown center city. This place can be a LOT of fun. However, it can also be a sh*t show. Be sure that the band you are coming to see is worth it!
Worth mentioning:
- Monday Movies! So much fun! It's cheap, and if you get there early - your entrance free gets you a free beer.
- They host *fun* themed concerts like 80s and 90s. (when did we become so old that there are now 90s concerts?!) I went to see Years & Years a couple of weeks ago here. The concert was scheduled for the Electric Factory, but then moved to the Trocadero. Because I bought my tickets at the box office, unfortunately we didn't find out about the move until we showed up at the Electric Factory only to find a completely deserted parking lot and a sign on the door. No problem though, as we were early enough to make it to the Troc on time for the show.
I actually really liked this venue! I recently moved from Pittsburgh, and it reminds me of a few of my favorite venues there. We grabbed a drink upstairs since we had some time before the show started. The bar is pretty small but adequate for the size of the theater, and we had no trouble getting timely service. Prices are pretty average for a concert venue. The mixed drinks were pretty strong!
The upstairs balcony has seating, which is unusual but nice for those who want to chill out and watch a show rather than stand in the crowd down below. We chose to head back downstairs and watch the show from the floor. We had a great time and the band put on a really impressive show.
Overall I liked it and would definitely come back. It's a great mid-size venue, with great stage views from just about any area inside. I was a little disappointed we got our tickets late and once we showed up we realize that we had seats with obstructed views, by the end of the night my neck was hurting from twisting and turning it in an attempt to catch a glimpse. This is a really cool venue to see a concert. It is pretty small which I like because it makes the show more intimate. If you would like seating (and are 21+) you can always go up to the balcony to sit. They do have a bar upstairs as well as downstairs. Can't say I'm a fan of the whole "general admission" thing. But, you live and learn.
Saw Brothers of Brazil and Adam Ant there Oct. 6. I certainly understand the concept -- I'm not stupid -- but when you chose (like we did) to get there early to be right up by the stage, you find out quickly you cannot move. You are rooted in this spot for three-plus hours because if you move you will never get back to your spot. My husband had to go to the bathroom, and we both would have gotten a drink -- that is not possible after about 30 minutes of the doors opening. You cannot move around. in fact, you can not move AT ALL. And so, I am NOT a fan of this type of venue.
Would seats have helped? I doubt it, because people would have rushed the stage anyway blocking the view of those who had paid for a seat. I guess, perhaps, we should have checked out the balcony seating (I understand there are five or so rows of bench seating upstiars). But there would not have been time to go up, check it out, decide we didn't want to be there, head back down, and gotten anywhere close to the front.
Look, I can hear the fuddy-duddyness in my writing, okay? but this was an act that was famous 30 years ago, so everyone in the crowd was about my age -- that is, 45 years-plus. We want seats, dammit! Really 2.5 stars.
I had called ahead to see if I could just purchase tickets at the box office before the show, and the guy on the line was super cool helping me out and said sure it'll be $22. When I got there it was $25 a ticket--the $22 was for cash only. The extra $6 for two tickets was whatever, but right up front this was annoying because a) the guy didn't tell me on the phone and b) online it just says $22.
After we passed the entry lady who was loudly proclaiming their no re-entry policy I found that the coat check was $3 AND that I had forgotten my ID. I would not be allowed on the balcony because, as the lady at the balcony stairs informed me with an eye roll, "it's a bar."
Things went uphill after the show started. The sound quality was good and the place has character on the inside. The opening band was Trust, and they pretty much blew my mind so my grumpiness started to melt away. Even though this was not my greatest first experience at a venue I'd like to give them another try for their movie nights. Went to the Troc last night to see Okkervil River. We requested seats for two people in our party with physical disabilities. They were very accommodating and provided two high backed bar stools.
My only complaints are the sound---sometimes so loud that the sound is just a cacophony of unbearable proportions. The bathrooms are questionable at best.
My biggest complaint is the people attending the concert. What happened to listening to a band? When Okkervil River was playing some of their more quiet songs, the din of conversation was unbelievable! It sounded like we were a crowded bar and was downright rude!
Other than the points listed above, I have to say that I love the look of the Troc. It almost reminds me of a mini Tower! The Troc started my tradition of metal shows in Philly about 10 years ago so obviously like many others it has a sentimental value in my metal horns.
Let's start with the bad so I can promptly rave about the good: the bouncers! Oh eM Gi are they angry at life or what? I have headbanged with the wild crowd of Israelis and they are much more brutal than American metal heads, I have been to Wacken with 80,000 other like minded individuals and I've never encountered such rude and hostile bouncers. The only good job that they are doing is aligning the queue line pre-show but once you are inside expect to be shoved back with vengeance. I have a lot to compare when it comes to live concerts and even in the wildest night the crowd is much more docile than its European or Israeli counterpart so there is no excuse to act like officer Barbrady from South Park.
The good: Despite what some people mentioned, the sound check is one of the more professional and accurate that I encountered.
The concert will usually start no later than 20 minutes after doors have been opened and most of the crowd are in. If more than one band is playing that night the turnover is amazing, again, no longer than 15 minutes before the stage is ready fro the next act.
The bar in the back and the bar upstairs are convenient and the balcony lets all the young at heart-old at body enjoy the show as well (pshh posers!)
The merch booth is open prior to the start and after the end of the night.
*A small tip: if you work in the city you can go there any day during their operating hours and buy your ticket beforehand thus avoiding Ticketmaster's surcharge fees. The troc is alright. The age and history of the place add to (or are pretty much the only) the ambiance. I am not a huge fan of the security/bouncers, there however. They seemed to be on a major power trip and got their jollies off not letting people up to the bar and just being overall bossy un-fun jerks. They NEARLY ruined the evening (and I am such a trouble maker- ha) but we sucked it up and still managed to enjoy the show. PJ Harvey rocked it out. I'd much rather see my favorite bands at TLA or almost any other venue (except for the Electric Factory). I've been to this place for 4 different concerts this year, and I have to say that this is the worst venue I've ever been to. There is no parking in the area except for high priced parking lots which charge various prices at different times. My experience is with the Gallery 2 parking garage next to the Hilton Hotel which was recommended by this theator. Two out of the 4 times I was charged $30 for parking for a mere few minutes before 5 o'clock. To get into this place the line starts on the sidewalk. If it is raining or snowing you are out of luck and don't even think about taking an umbrella because their little security policy seems to change every month. The first 3 times for instance, I was aloud to bring in sharpie markers. The last time I was denied to bring in my markers. These thug security guards search you on the way in. Chain wallets are not admitted, sharpie markers, umbrellas etc, and who knows with their ever changing policy. If an item is ever needed to be checked, they claim to charge a $3 fee to hold it unless you put it in their garbage bin. Even if you agree to pay, they throw it in the garbage bin anyway. Watch out what kind of tickets you buy because they give you a real hard time if you have any internet generated tickets nor will they follow the standard practice with these tickets. They may say they are fake tickets and throw you out or make you wait to the last minute to get another ticket because they are too lazy to put the order number in their scanners manually. I was there for 3 Meet & Greets, two of which were held in the lobby, and the 3rd, because the professional eating reject security guards didn't get things set up on time, was held in the back alley of the place, in the rain. Be for warned it is not worth paying for VIP Tickets for this venue because it could be in a back alley behind the place on a dumpster or important members of the group will not be there. Moving on, the bathrooms are atrocious. The toilet looked like it was cracked in half and stuck together with caulk. Drink prices at this place start at $5 and go up. The sound sounds terible. Everything is muffled. The last time I was there it didn't even sound like the 2 guitarists were playing a note. If you choose to sit in the balcony, you have to be 21 or older. The stairs to go up are all caved in. The balcony itself is filthy. I don't think they ever cleaned it, so watch where you sit. There is also a powerful smell of something like paint thinner, so I wonder what kind of drinks they are selling. Concerts at this venue will never last passed 11 o'clock, so don't expect any long set lists. Security inside is really lacks especially down stairs on the main floor. You can easily get hurt and these guys don't care. I could go on and on about how bad the venue is, management, and promotion included, but in addition to it being a bad venue, it is in a bad area with drugged out vagrants on the street begging for money, wanna be gansters and more thugs and you may find the occasional "I thought it would only happen in the movies" type moment. The police in that area just drive right by and don't care. In closing, I do not recommend this place and I only recommend that you go there at your own risk! Such a great venue, so much history regarding the arts in Philly. Sadly, due to mismanagement this venue falls short on delivering.
I'll give it to them, the book great mainstream/big bands, and I always have a blast at those shows.
But when it comes to local talent, it falls short. I've played the balcony a few times with a bunch of different bands. And whether it's the old management that condoned greedy pay-to-play promotors, or over the past couple years management failing to promote local shoes adequately, it's a shame in that regard.
However, like I said, overall they put on awesome shows here, and I always have a good time.
Except for the bar, the prices are too high and the portioning of liquor is ridiculous. Perfect size for a music venue and one of my favorite places to go in Philly. I have never had a bad time here.
I don't mind being on the floor (or The Pit as hipsters say) at this venue because it's not that big.
That's what she said.
They have a bar upstairs as well as downstairs. The Bartenders upstairs make strong drinks and it's a good place to wait out an opening band that you don't want to see.
Sound has always been good here.
At The Troc I have seen The Walkmen, The Avett Brothers, Pete Yorn, The Old 97's and La Roux (don't ask about the last one). Well I will tell you anyway, I went to See Francis and the Light's who were the first opener and he ended up only playing 3 or 4 songs. Bummer.
I am always looking for an excuse to see a show here and if I lived in Philly I would be here weekly.
Go. Man, does this venue bring back memories! From Silverstein to Chiodos, I have seen some wonderful bands perform here! The interior is beautiful and spacious, making the crowd feel at ease, no matter how wild the show gets! There is a hallway that leads you to the venue and a room towards the left, where you can usually find merchandise being sold, but that varies from show to show. There is such space that you can stand towards the back or be in the front row and feel the energy of the place and see the band no problem! The stage is large and the floor is really spacious compared to most other venues. I drove from Pittsburgh, just to see my favorite band, only to have misjudged time and gone in 5 minutes before the show was over! (The things you do when you're young and free!) The staff still let me in and didn't question me as to why I was coming in so late! It was a major disappointment, but I still got a t-shirt from the merch booth and was able to see this awesome theatre yet again, even if just for a small time! For center city Philadelphia, this theatre is located in a spot that I felt safe walking alone in late at night. I even waited to see the band come out after the show with a group of enthused fans, and didn't feel intimidated or scared by the area. It was busy and there were a lot of people and cars around, even at 10/11 pm at night! I can't wait to go back and enjoy some more shows! Road trip! Went here for the Peek a Boo review Xmas show which was great. The theatre is run down, staff was unorganized, no heat, and expensive cocktails. Next time I see peek a boo at valentines day I will be going to cafe live. I love this place! I saw Michael Ian Black's comedy show and the seating was great, lines of folding chairs facing the stage. We got there early which is very important for shows, as the line gets ridiculous before they open the doors. The beers on tap weren't that expensive and weren't that good, but at least they were there for the buying!
I've also gone here for Monday Movie Night and that is really fun. Get there early and get a free drink, free bag of popcorn and get entered in a drawing. Once they open the doors for the movie to begin, you sit on the top tier, which is comfy stadium style seating that you can scoot all the way back on, cross your legs Indian style, or lay down if you want! No one is going to stop you here. Special Note: there's a full bar on the top. The look of the inside made me feel WAY out of my element. However, my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on a Movie Monday. We saw the 300, and it was a great time. If you're expecting to experience every line of dialogue, then just rent the movie. If you want to be moved by a movie AND a crowd, then head out to the Troc on any given Monday night. I'm with John P on this review. The Troc is near and dear to me. I remember seeing the Disco Biscuits here years ago and elements like the filthy piss trough and overall grungy feel makes it what it is: a great down and dirty venue to catch small acts.
Philly has gotten more midsize venues which have begun to pull some of the up and coming acts away from here, but none have the same ambiance that the Troc has. Meh, at least Johnny Brendas and the church are cleaner. I've seen many great shows here. The Troc is a fun and intimate venue and right near the Philadelphia Convention Center, so it's very easy to get to via car or train. The ticket prices will depend on the band but I've never paid much over $30 a ticket for concerts here. I've seen some great local bands here too. It's always nice to check out the local talent. Philadelphia has much to offer culturally, so don't be afraid to check it out.
If you sit upstairs, you'll have the best view. Just be sure to get there early! The Trocadero Theater, the toilet bowl shaped and smelling venue of philadelphia lore. Been here on a few occasions, to see a midnight screening of "The Room" most recently (worst movie in the history of man and turning rocky horror-esque, good times) and also to see a Burlesque show about a year ago. you kinda get what you expect. Floor seating and a Divey good time.
The Beer selection is next to non existant unless you want cheap, which may or may not be a good thing depending on your tastes, but it fits right in with the vibe of the venue.
All in all, not horrible, but nothing special when you consider what it could be given it's history and all the other amazing venues in Philadelphia. I'm a big fan of the Troc. From watching a movie in the balcony with it's old-school theater feel to the downstairs that feels as natural with a mosh pit as it does with acoustic hangout music... Drinks aren't cheap, but won't kill you, either, especially considering location. Might as well drink the real stuff cause you'll pay almost as much for a draft domestic as for a Harpoon. I know people have complained about staff/security but I've actually felt less intimidated here than at many other venues. At least they're friendly while they're checking you out. My stepdaughter went to her first concert here last year and I was jealous that her first concert was one of her favorite bands at an intimate, charming little place like the Troc. I haven't been to a movie night in ages (and I'm sad I wasn't able to stick around for the late night Hedwig showing when I was there for a concert last weekend). I think it might be time again soon. It had been about eight years since my most recent visit to the Troc. The last time I was there, I was a skinny high school kid with an intense love for "punk" music.
When I walked in last night, the scene swooped through the years and rushed right back. The only novelty was the fact that I could enter the upstairs bar area ... although that stair-guard lady analyzed my ID like you wouldn't believe. She even flipped it over. That's a new one even for me. I didn't know there was any identifying information on the back of a license, but hey, whatever. At least they're passionately intent on following the law.
Anyway. I was here to see my all-time-favorite-favorite band play (and yes, I loved them in high school/college too), so the venue itself didn't matter all too much to me. It was old and looked like it could fall apart at any minute, yes. However, it wasn't grimy, in my opinion, and that's always a plus. I also appreciated the clean bathrooms. It made me happy when I walked into the girls room and found people comparing tattoos of my favorite band's logo (Bayside bird).
Another plus for lazy and cheap me is the fact that you can get your parking at the Gallery garage validated for $6 at the box office! Now, of course, be prepared for a bit of a wait exiting the garage after a show, but it's really convenient to the venue and thus worth it to me. PATCO is also not that far away, which is also always an option. went to their monday movie special (pineapple express).
gritty reception on the ascent up the obtuse staircase surrounded by peeling wall posters and remnants from a bygone era of the struggling garage band making it "big" at the troc. i'd venture to say that doesn't happen anymore.
we arrived to a deliberately crowded bar awaiting the opening of the doors to the balcony. drink specials: $2.50 pbr, $10 (i think) bucket (8) of coors light, and $3 "bong water".
its 3 bucks to get in and it goes toward your first drink via token. sweet deal. for arithmetic sake we all decided to go with the "bong water". some mutant cosmo offspring. not bad tasting, though a shot to the man-ego.
doors opened and the mass spindled into every conceivable space provided. we shimmied into some padded back-less benches. i was the first to go down the aisle and I tried to stay as close to the middle as possible so I left three spaces for my friends and sat down. I look up and theres a f-ing pole right in front of me! By this time people have sat all around and I can't move. Haha. Anyway besides craning my neck around the pole, it wasn't too bad of an experience. But it was cold! No one in the audience took off their coats or hats or gloves. Frigid.
The sound was really good. Audience was lively but polite. Its definitely a younger crowd (18-25). But all in all a good time! The trocadero is a great spot to see shows in my opinion! Everyone has seen a show here at least once. The accoustics sound good, they serve alcohol(although you cant take it to the main floor). The security is a little crazy and Im not a fan of the pillars that are holding this place up- but if you stay on the main stage- you are going to have a GREAT view. I will definitely be back many times! Came here for a show a couple years back. I had a great time and I loved how it's an old theater that's been gutted of the seats and is now used for shows. It's a good size and not obnoxiously huge like the electric factory. It's definitely a great place for shows. They get some great acts here. Just to name a few that I've seen- Son Volt, Ra Ra Riot, Tim and Eric CHRIMBUS Spectacular (most recent). The location is pretty cool too, being right in the heart of Chinatown. It's an area I wouldn't hang out in regularly, so it kind of gives me an excuse to go to find karaoke after the show.
The sound has been hit or miss based on the show and also where I'm standing. If you can't get a spot literally right in the middle of the theater and end up having to stand on the sides, the sound can get kind of mucked up. I suppose that is true of most theaters during rock shows.
What's with not being able to bring beer downstairs? If you want to drink at a show, which most people I know like to do (including myself), you have to stay up in the mezzanine level and literally squat or sit down to be able to see the show live. They have TVs broadcasting the show in the bar, but that's not really the same. I guess they do it during some shows but not others or this is a new rule? I vote for beer downstairs.
All in all, it's an okay place to see bands. It's better than the Electric Factory at least. Plus it's not like I won't go see a band I like just based on the venue. It's tough to judge a venue when you're mostly there to see metal shows and stand up comedy, so my 4 star rating will come from an element of The Trocadero that people don't really pay much attention to - I can actually go utilize the restrooms in the upstairs area of the troc without hesitation or fear. Don't get me wrong, you're not going to find porcelain thrones laced with gold and ivory. What you will get is a bathroom with stocked soap, toilet paper, and stall doors. That's a serious deal for a rock venue. I saw my first concert at the Troc on Saturday night and was very happy with my experience. Acts I'm into usually don't stop at the Trocadero however I was lured in by the Bayside Tigers, a 90s tribute band.
I've passed by the venue so many times without realizing it was even there. The front lobby is pretty tiny, as is the entire venue. The vibe screamed historic all over, and really reminded me of the NYC concert venues that I frequent more often. There was really elaborate architecturally features, and there was a general, old charm to the building.
I'm not sure how the crowds typically are, but we arrived about a half hour before doors and 30-45 minutes prior to the show. We were easily able to make our way up to the bar and find a spot on the floor about one third of the way back of the General Admission standing room only set up.
The beer selection was just so-so. I believe there were a few light options, a lager, Harpoon IPA and Harpoon cider. I opted for the Harpoon IPA which isn't my favorite but did the trick for six bucks a pop.
The acoustics from where we were standing were pretty good and we had no problem with crowds trying to vacate the building at the end of the evening.
I'm hoping another act I'd like to see passes by the Trocadero Theater because it is a neat little venue. Probably my second favorite venue in philly, only since the new Fillmore theatre is awesome. The troc is a classic and is structured so that every part of the venue is close to the performance. Can't say the same about some of the other philly venues. Love the old time theatre feel it has. Apparently it was once a burlesque house, but not sure on the veracity of that one. The troc mostly does music but I've seen a comedy show and I've always wanted to go to one of their movie nights. Great acoustics and lighting here. Security is generally pretty thorough on the patdown and I've had a flask confiscated on one occasion. Drinks are about $5-8 with maybe ten beers on tap, including a couple nice craft beers. Mostly the standard bud light selection though. I know it's been a while since I've been to the Troc but I've recently gotten into yelping about everything - I must include this one as well. The last time I was at the Troc was when The Get Up Kids played. Lord almighty, I fell right in love with the venue. It's cozy - there are two levels.The ground level is where the stage is and the people under 21 can stay there and form mosh pits, if they'd like. The upstairs is where the bar is and the seats are. If you're 21 and over and not really into being in the pits smelling like pot, you can stay upstairs while drinking adult beverages and watch the show(and the pit). A great view, might I add. From my vague memory, they had magic hat on tap. Grool!
Anywho, I walked out of that concert semi drunk and more in love with The Get Up Kids than ever. OH the ticket was very inexpensive - somewhere around 20$. LOVE! had a blast seeing anberlin in this theatre!!they have a nice set up inside where short people can actually see the band without having to jump like crazy! I've seen a lot of great shows here over the years and it is one of my favorite Philadelphia venues. As the other reviewers said it's a rehabbed old theater with a very grungy feel. The atmosphere has a distinctive punk rock vibe.
Bar area on the balcony level is 21+ only and serves as refuge for adults during crowded shows.
The Troc is one of the great venues where most shows are around $20 - a refreshing change from the mega-$$$ acts across the river @ the Tweeter (or E-Center or whatever the hell the Camden amphitheater is called nowadays).
Located right on the border of Philadelphia's Chinatown so you can catch some DimSum prior to getting your rock on.
Saw Soundgarden open for Danzig here back in the 90's - and Soundgarden got booed off the stage! The pit was insane that night! GWAR ... Bjork ... more recently Dizzee Rascal, Yo La Tengo and Built To Spill. I suppose I should just start with the only good thing about this venue... it's cool looking.
Now that that's out of the way, I'll get to why this place blows.
1. The staff. I understand they have to deal with a ton of obnoxious drunks and douchebags. I work at other various concert venues, I know how these people can be. But this doesn't mean you give the nice people an attitude and act rudely towards everybody. Remove the sticks from your asses and try to learn what real customer service is!
2. The sound. I've never heard worse at another venue in my life. The first band was this all Japanese girl band. The sound was so bad that we couldn't tell if they were speaking or singing in Japanese or English! Ridiculous. It wasn't just that band either. Everyone sounded like shit. It's a shame I had to see my favorite band here. It was ear-shattering... and not in a good way.
3. The stage. Honestly... WHY IS IT SO FREAKING HIGH?!
I'm not even sure what note to end this review on. Probably a bad one because that's the only thing that comes out of that place.
I'm gonna stick to my good ol' TLA and just weep and stay home when my favorite bands decide to make the mistake of playing at the Trocadero. I'm glad to know the troc has not changed much. Been going there since i was a teenager. They use to play chinese kung fu movies and chinese porn there in the early days. The shows were great especially if you're into punk and metal. Saw My Life with the Thrill kill Cult there. A restoration was done? Did they finallly fix the bathrooms? There were never doors on the stalls. This is a classic music venue. I've seen so many great bands here I've lost track. It's one of those mid-sized venues for smaller, up and coming, national acts as well as popular local bands. One of my favorites has to be Radiohead in the late 90s! To this day, it's still one of the best shows I've ever seen. I've also seen Train, Wilco, Better Than Ezra, and countless other great live bands. Have a few drinks up in the balcony. Great place!! Yep, I'm a fan of the Troc. It is a gorgeous old theater thats been around forever and there is tons of history here, as is typical with so many of the buildings in Philly.
Downstairs, you can't have a bad view of the stage unless you're tiny and standing behind a 7 foot tall dude. If you're upstairs, you def don't want to be standing behind all the seating areas because you might be able to see the feet of people on stage and thats it. If you want to get a seat, get there early because they fill up fast.
The upstairs is 21+ and it gets super crowded since its not that big. My typical game plan is to get there about 30 minutes before the headliner, double fist some drinks and head downstairs where there's more room and a better view.
I've never noticed a problem with sound or attitude from any of the staff like some of the previous reviews, but as with any live events, shit happens and people can get pissed off. Whatchagonnadoooo? I love this place! I've seen countless shows here and have always had an awesome time. One of my favorite shows from the 90s was Tom Jones. He was terrific! The funniest part of the show was when they had people standing in the audience throwing underwear at him...totally cracked me up! I've also seen Philly's Dead Milkmen play here too...love those guys. I've attended a lot of electronic music shows too from Moby to the Orb. This is just a great venue with wonderful atomosphere. Movie monday's are also a lot of fun and a great way to start off the week. Did I mention that I love this place?? Haha. My husband got kicked out of here once.
It's a fine venue...I usually make a beeline to get upstairs...I'm getting too old to be knocked around on the floor, and my love for rock will never cease so...gotta do what you gotta do.
I really think your experience of a venue is heavily influenced by the band or artist you are doing to see. I've had awesome and douchey crowds. Bathrooms are gross, per the norm of concert venues. i'm a troc fan. good acoustics for concerts, and the crowd there is always fun. not so great for the monday night movies, if you don't know the lines by heart. i guess the concert acoustics don't translate well to movie dialogue cause i was not able to make out but two words of jack black's speech during be kind rewind. oh, but the popcorn was good. Unique date night on movie monday. Fun atmosphere to watch the old favorites. It's basically free because you get a drink token with your movie admission. After movie drawings and trivia give it a fun and social twist on the regular movie experience. Beautiful old school theater inside, nice atmosphere to see a show. The sound is pretty good and they get solid acts here. (I've seen folks like Sleater-Kinney and Michael Franti.) Only downside is you can only have a drink upstairs in the balcony or in the back left section of the theater by the bar. No taking drinks to the front. I guess it makes sense... there would probably be too many spills. Anyway, overall, it's one of my favorite medium-sized venues in the city. I've heard a lot about the Trocadero over the years. I've wanted to check out this venue for a long time and finally got a chance to go there recently. It's a beautiful theater to hear and watch bands play. There is a general admission standing area on the first floor, and then a seated balcony section on the second floor.
Before you ascend the stairs to get to the second floor, you have to show your ID to staff so that they can stamp your hand if you are 21 or older. That way, you can go to either one of the two bars upstairs. The lines are a bit haphazard at the bars, but I guess that's part of the charm (the total chaos upstairs, bumping into people, etc.). They have a good beer selection and it's not priced so badly.
The merch is sold on the first floor. There's an ATM inside the Trocadero on the first floor, too. Also, an interesting thing in the Trocadero is the women's restroom. It's tiny. It's almost like a toy bathroom in light pink with a mini-sink (also pink).
If you can, check out a show at the Trocadero. Fun, fun, fun! Not bad for what it is. They have decent acts come through here but the sound in the venue needs a little work. Bar drinks are kinda pricey for the divey feel of the venue but what can you do... I went to the Trocadero to see a comedian, and had a great experience. The theater was easy to find, and there are plenty of parking garages within walking distance.
I decided to sit in the upstairs area for the show. Upstairs there is a variety of step like seating, which isn't the most comfortable- but provides a great view of the stage. The upstairs was very cold- I think the air conditioners up there must cool the entire building- bring a jacket.
There is a bar upstairs- surprisingly there was no wait- but the drinks were expensive! Two beers for $12... seems pricey on a week night. Not many food options, the only thing I saw were some warm soft pretzels.
At the end of the event the Trocadero staff handed out flyers of upcoming events- they have alot going on there. Everything from old movies to comedians to small artists. I will definitely be checking their calendar for future events. I actually really like this venue. It's old and very pretty inside. I've been to concerts both upstairs and downstairs and have had no complaints.
We went here last night (8/25/15) for an acoustic show of Shane from Valencia playing We All Need a Reason to Believe in it's entirety and it was so freaking hot upstairs!!! WHY!!! I couldn't even enjoy myself the first hour while waiting for the show to start. Come on now, put on the air or at least a huge fan, Troc! After living in Philly for six years and seeing upwards of 25 or more concerts, I can't believe I havent been to this venue until this month!
My bf and I went to see Bloc Party here the other week and it was a great show. Originally they were supposed to play at the Tower, and to my delight, they moved the venue to general admission/standing type atmosphere. This is a much better way to see a band that makes you want to dance.
The Troc had a really cool, old theater type vibe, with a downstairs, and an upstairs that had half theater-type seating (about 5 rows) and above that, about 10 feet back of where you could stand and enjoy your drink. The lights that they put around the railing reminded me of the lights on the Phoenix at Knoebels when you ride at night. If you are from central PA and know about Knoebels and the awesome Phoenix coaster, kudos!
This place is way cooler than the Electric Factory and seems to be roomier than the claustrophobic TLA with the slanted floor. I hope that more bands I like choose this place for their venue. I'd def be more inclined to pay to see a show here than other venues in Philadelphia! Decent place to catch a live band. The acoustics are pretty good and the theatre itself has an aging beauty air to it. As in, it kinda smells but you know there's a great deal of wisdom within those walls. Definitely in a love-hate relationship with this place.
I've only been here twice. My first time was nearly 9 years ago when I was freshly 21. I came here to see Mindless Self Indulgence and they refused to accept my very valid NJ license as proof to let me upstairs to get a drink. I attempted to escalate to a manager but I was stone-walled. The show kind of sucked in retrospect.
Fast forward to last weekend. Friday midnight showing of Army of Darkness. I decided to go for it and I had a great time. 3 bucks get you a token and a PBR. I love AOD and with my friends around screaming out lines, it was a great time.
Their damn troc stamp on my wrist took forever to wash out. I really scrubbed.
Anyway, not sure if I'll be back for a show anytime soon but I like the movie nights. I'll certainly be back for one of them. To be fair, I've never seen a musical performance (er, show) here, and will probably redo my review if I ever do. I went here last night to check out their Movie Mondays-- see a movie (this time it was Choke, which I liked a lot) for $3, and your cover goes toward food/drink....so it's essentially a free movie. Can't beat that! With our combined total of $6 entrance fee, the boyfriend and I got 2 PBRs and shared a soft pretzel-- a fine dining experience for that amount of money, if you ask me. Sure, the venue's a little dirty and the seating isn't totally ideal (a little cramped and some big poles in the way of the video screen) but overall, it's a great experience and the staff were all very friendly. I'd go here again, probably when another movie I want to see is playing. Since I can't exactly afford concert tickets as of late, this is a great alternative to a fun night out! I've been going to shows here for longer than I care to admit and I have never had a bad experience. I love the balcony especially because it reminds me of the single best show I have ever been to (The MC5/DKT with my dad). The only think that holds this venue back from being a 5 star place is the over-zealous nature of the security guards. I understand safety, but taking away my favorite pen before a Doug Stanhope set is pretty silly. The Trocadero used to be my favorite venue in all of Philadelphia. Recently their sound quality has been degenerating, the staff has become more surly/inefficient, and they've been implementing a "curfew" for bands. If the sound system falls apart then even the Electric Factory (my least favorite place) will be better than the Troc.
For the last concert I went to, every band except the headliner had a 15-20 minute set. It's absolutely ridiculous - this was a small show too, with only 5 bands (one of whom is practically mainstream in Europe, so they're well-known and have a big budget). The Troc's "curfew" doesn't make sense and only prevents fans from enjoying the bands they paid good money to go see.
They have some fans here and there on the walls, but if you're going to a concert in the summer expect to be incredibly hot the entire time. Paying without cash will also force you to incur a fee of what I believe is $3 at the moment.
Drink prices are average. If you want alcohol they won't allow you to use an expired ID anymore; I don't understand this in particular because a photo ID proves who you are and when you were born. Just because your ID is expired doesn't mean you stopped being 21 or you've become nonexistent. It must be a state law, but the policy is still silly. A few people I know have encountered this issue so it must be relevant.
Overall the Trocadero is still okay but I don't expect that to last long. One of my old haunts. I love this place, I mean, 130 year old theater in the heart of Chinatown, whats not to love? Saw slot of shows in here and Movie Monday was always a great time. Really cool place to see live music. Here's a small stage in Chinatown that used to be a burlesque theatre, (and is the oldest of the kind in America apparently). The stage itself and the frame around it is very old-school and the small size of the place really lets you feel up and front with the performers. It's a cool place to see a show and it also has a bar inside (but pricey! 5$ for a coors light!?) Love the venue! Great sound for most bands, could use some tweaks for the headliner, but what a nice, spacious venue, and moderately clean too! It's so awesome that an old historic theatre such as the Trocadero which dates back to the 1870s is still standing and now a venue for modern day concerts. I went to see The Legwarmers (an 80s tribute band) and the irony of an 80s band playing in a 1870s theatre was not lost upon me.
The sound and acoustics were great. The seating upstairs is nice and there is not a bad view from any of the seats. If you would rather be more immersed in the musical experience, just stay on the floor to be up close and personal to the stage. We chose to sit in the first row upstairs, but we were all still up on our feet dancing with the option to sit.
There's a bar upstairs and beer and snack prices seemed fairly reasonable ($3 slice of pizza, $2 pretzel, $5 beer). The service seemed bit slow, because of all the people. The venue could probably afford to add an additional bartender on deck. There is Sugar Ray, then there is Mark McGrath at the Trocadero ! Yes..we love him. So, we love the Troc! What a stand up guy. Thanks for a great evening with Josh. You made it great. Nice theatre and venue. For the show I went to, and I believe al shows, there is no assigned seating since they are fold up chairs so get there early to get a seat. Very tiny bathrooms and at 5'8 I was almost towering over the stall doors.
Saw Matt a Bellassai here! Very funny! Came here a few weeks ago for an 80s cover band concert (The Legwarmers. Check 'em out. They rock.). Many times I have passed the Troc walking or driving down Arch Street yet never realized that is where it was. Blink and you'll miss it.
It's a pretty neat, intimate and historic venue. I like the vibe and the acoustics were great. The concert was sold out, I believe, and it wasn't too packed. The girls working the bar had no time for pretentious, pushy, patrons who felt they were entitled to get their drink first by waving cash monies in the air. I loved every minute of waiting and watching these impatient chicks have a melt down (and then getting served before them solely because I know how to treat people with respect).
Overall, neat place. Tickets aren't expensive and I'd definitely come back. Also, I lost my ID there and someone turned it in. That was the best part of my night! Came to see James Bay play here. It's oddly located in Chinatown. The earlier you come the better. We stood outside to wait in a looong line. It was first come first serve for seats/standing room. The outside of the Troc appeared pretty shabby. I was very surprised to see the beauty in the history of the interior. It's actually a gorgeous theater! Theres standing space on the first floor, close enough to catch the sweat of your favorite performer. If you're not into all that standing, there's seating in the balcony area (which was first come fist serve kinda deal). They also served drinks in the back. I could see Bay pretty well from where I was standing. The tickets weren't too pricy either. Great show altogether and would come back to see more shows at this venue. please note: this review is specifically for "movie mondays"
the troc is the ultimate classic venue. slightly dingy with graffitied bathroom stalls, creaky floorboards, dim lighting and as much character as that rusting bicycle-built-for-two lying in your garage (sooo a TON).
not only should you come here for an intimate concert experience, you should also check out the movie mondays as you really, truly just can't find a better deal in town.
allow me to break it down for you:
+ admittance to the feature presentation, a wooden token worth $3 at the bar & a raffle ticket for prizes after the show (plus they have a game of movie trivia) ...................................................................................$3
+ bag of popcorn & can of pbr ................................complimentary if you arrive before 7pm
+ casual atmosphere conducive to laughing out loud and clapping along with movies such as wet hot american summer .......................no additional charge
+ realization 5 minutes into the movie that a girl from your middle school FREAKING STARRED in wet hot american summer*..... priceless
but seriously, best.deal.ever. it's like they are paying YOU to come here.
*this is a true statement. i am absolutely baffled that i got through the 13-14-15 year old days of gossip, rumors, and hearsay without ever learning of this. Saw a show here a few nights back for the first time. There is an upstairs and downstairs section. I cannot speak for the downstairs but the upstairs is small, yet cozy. I saw a friend play there and the sound was great. As for the drinks, ehhh. Once again, I understand that you are in Philly but $4 for a Yuengling on a Thursday? I must be used to Jersey prices. It wasn't that crowded but, I can see it potentially being that kind of place where drinks are spilled and shoulders are rubbed when fully packed. Overall, not bad. The Troc will always be one of my favorite concert venues in the city, and I came back recently for the first time in 5 years because one of my co-workers was performing with his band in a $10,000 showdown (which unfortunately they did not end up winning *tear*). The acoustics were still as good as I remember them being; however, there was a whole lot of moshing going on, mainly by teenage kids there to see some of the other bands (who were nowhere near as good and absolutely nothing like the band I was there to see), and that shocked me at first. Since it was so crowded when I saw Hanson perform there 5 years ago I barely noticed the ledge on which one could stand or sit during the performance, but a few of my other co-workers and I watched the performance from there. I have seen dozens of shows here over the years. It is a very good mid-sized venue for alternative rock shows with a main floor (usually standing room) and a balcony. Last night I saw Henry Rollins' Travel Slideshow; the space was set up with chairs and it proved to be a good venue for this kind of presentation. The drinks seem typical for a rock club. They have the basic stuff, but the draw is always the artists. I've been here at least 3-4 times for shows. Great venue for rock and loud music. Went to see James Bay and Hoizer here. The upper bar area and patrons were so loud that we could NOT hear James Bay on the balcony. So disappointing because he was acoustic and has beautiful songs. Somewhat pissed the staff made no effort to curb the rowdy crowd and patrons yelling to each other during his act. They finally closed the bar doors for Hoizer but kept a second bar open on the landing. It was fine as long as he was not singing alone or acoustic. During a quiet duet they were over shadowed by loud and rude patrons of the bar (one particular loud mouthed chick who would NOT shut up...drunk). Thought it was so disrespectful of the artist(s) and those of us actually listening to the performance. But it is what it is...The Troc. Go to a different venue for anything acoustic. Hoizer was awesome, blown away by his performance. It's no wonder he is sold out for a year to come. Troc 3 stars. Hoizer 5+ stars. A time honored venue, strangely situated in the heart of Philadelphia Chinatown (it is really jarring to see a line outside of this place when you're just rolling in to get some salt baked pork chops somewhere). The venue is smaller than most of the other ones located on the fringes of the east side of Philly... and the Troc does sport an antiquated feel (like an old fashioned opera house... but I suppose that's part of the charm. And with the olde day mystique also comes some safety concerns that were likely not addressed in the times of yesteryear... I am, of course, specifically referring to the rails on the center balcony.
I understand that this place doubles as both a sit down venue for theatrical productions (i.e. stand up comedy, one man shows, etc.) that require sitting, but just as many, if not more, shows where people stand up and stay standing up (without the option of even taking a seat on a chair) take place at the Troc. And when people stand by right at the edge of the center balcony, with guard rails being only as high as what appears to be the groin area of a person of average height, it looks like there is more than enough chance for something bad to happen.
Safety concerns aside, this venue does host a number shows that are open to all ages. I feel that the venue could be a little more stringent on its age requirements (they should be having more age capped events)... if they're worried about making their $$$ back, they really shouldn't be; the place is already tiny enough as it is, they should be able to sell enough tickets to a more mature crowd (odds are the rude/ratchet@ss youngsters are what scares more responsible patrons from this spot); although, it could be more a decision of the management of the performer booking the Troc... as opposed to Troc management... who knows.
At any rate, not exactly my go to venue in Philly, but I suppose if someone I really liked ended up performing here... then that would be a different story. I was here for the recent GBV concert. Nice old historic venue and the sound was most excellent the night of the GBV show. In fact, it was probably one of the better sounding shows I've seen in the last few months (and I see plenty, GBV and others). A plethora of steps and levels around the main floor made for some great accessible sightlines, and there's also a balcony though I did not venture up there. Minus one star because it was hard to get through the crowd to the bar during the show and also, the steps posed a bit of a problem for people trying to get up and down them with drinks, or after having consumed drinks. The location of the venue is also not that great, especially after dark. If you're visiting Philadelphia this is the place to see a show. My favorite theatre in the city. It may not be as good as seeing a band play a tight spot in a bar, but it's the next best thing. Beautiful building. You can feel the 1920s when you enter. Not a bad spot to watch in the place. Upstairs there is balcony seating and a bar.
It's small enough and dirty enough to be considered a dive. Lots of great bands call this place their favorite in the city. Rancid and most other Hellcat bands come here. Right in the heart of Chinatown, a block from the train, street parking not hard to find. Where to begin.
Saturday night, Yo La Tengo show, we arrive early. Security guard takes a lot of time searching my (mostly empty) handbag. She grabs my e-cigarette and informs me that I need to check it at the box office. For $3.
I mean, that's enough there right? I won't patronize a place that doesn't treat people like adults. I don't need to check my ecigarette at the door because I'm an adult who understands that I'm not permitted to smoke it inside. I was angry because: 1) this is stupid, 2) it isn't advertised anywhere on their website, anywhere on a sign near the box office. nowhere 3) I'm pretty sure someone's just trying to skim a few bucks from people and 4) If I had my ecig in my pocket, or if my boyfriend had it in his pocket they never would have known. I mean honestly, how dumb and ineffective. I've been to concert venues all over the United States and never before have I encountered such nonsense.
Somehow, their terrible sound engineers couldn't get the sound right at all that night. And as pissed as I am over the ecig, I'm more annoyed that a show that I was looking forward to sounded terrible.
Clearly the trocedero doesn't care about it's guests experience. It will take a lot to get me back in there. Why would I when there are so many better venues in town that treat their guests with respect. Save your money and go see something new and interesting at a venue that cares about your experience. Movie Mondays is the best deal in town. $3 for a show and a drink AND (if you're early) a PBR and popcorn? Yes please! The Troc has a tendency to show movies that I just missed catching in theaters. Honestly...I'd rather see them here. Lower price, better crowd*, and alcohol- an altogether superior cinema experience.
*yes, it's packed. But people are quiet enough, or funny enough that I don't mind Probably my favorite venue in Philly. It's an old burlesque house that is beautiful inside. The balcony and bar upstairs are great. Most of all - the music just about everywhere - with the exception of under the awning - is great. The Troc has been around forever, but every time I go there they have current great bands, and a clean, well maintained look. This is part of the reason they have staying power and respect. I have seen a bunch of great shows here and am always pleasantly surprised by the sound system. The balcony bar is a cool spot to hang, and the bartenders have been on their game each time I've been there which also makes a difference. Yes, the ladies room is in shambles, but it adds to the charm. Great little venue! There's a downstairs theater area (with a bar) and an upstairs bar. It was a slight pain going back and forth because we had to walk past the front doorman each time (I think there was another set of stairs that was closed off) but not a huge deal. Saw a 90s cover band here - 90s music is the best! It's like a dive-y theater plus an upstairs dive bar. Right up my alley! Would definitely come back. This is a quaint, old-fashioned theater in Chinatown that plays a line-up of very new acts. There is a parquet orchestra pit which looks like it can be great for dancing at concerts and the balcony is huge. Because the stage is small, you can really feel close to the act that is playing the venue. There is also a bar, which has very expensive drinks and could also be a problem at nighttime shows, as they check IDs before allowing entrance to the theater. I had a good time at the show I saw, and I will probably return if there is a really cool act coming to town, but the Troc really just reminded me of a smaller, more old-fashioned and ornate version of the Electric Factory. Think Tower Theatre, but smaller and kind of crappier. The balcony has cushined benches instead of seats and there are bars located on every level. They get some decent smaller bands to play here and it can be a nice place to see a concert. Besides concerts they also hold private events such as Maxim's model search and stand up acts. Check out their website for a long list of events being held here. It's difficult for me to give any venue that holds over 1000 people more than 4 stars. The Troc (when general admission... which has been the case each time I've gone) is around 1200. So, by my standards for a rock club... a pretty big room.
The sound here is really good for a larger space, and it's a classic venue with a nice balcony & an open floor downstairs. No complaints about the staff, service, etc., which is all I could ask for in a place like this.
In terms of size and general layout, it's somewhat similar to the 9:30 Club in DC, Irving Plaza & Webster Hall in NYC, First Ave in Minneapolis, the Vogue in Indy, etc.
Definitely a worthwhile option in Philly. You'll go to the Troc because everyone says to go and you'll love the old time atmosphere mixed with the contemporary vibes. Everyone knows the Troc and can tell stories for days. You'll do the same if you go and enjoy yourself. Bring some aspirin! Since the last time I visited was in 2002, I didn't remember too much about this place except that I preferred it over the Electric Factory (of course, I'd prefer just about any venue over that shithole). My second visit was on Thursday to see the Felice Brothers, whom I saw once before at the First Unitarian. We got there just as the opener was going on and were able to easily make our way up to the front. However, in retrospect, I'm not sure this was a very good idea, as our ears were ringing the next day from being so close to the speaker. Also, I think the sound would have been better had we stepped it back a bit. That being said, the sound was way better than the Electric Factory, but didn't come close to reaching the sound quality at the World Cafe, the TLA, or the Tower Theatre.
One thing that I didn't like about the Troc is that they sequester the 21+ people from the rest of the crowd. You're not allowed to take beer up front, so I decided to just skip the beer for the night. The Felice Brothers are great entertainers, and I didn't want to have to stand in the back just so I could drink their overpriced, shitty excuse for beer.
As far as the crowd up front goes, it was worlds better than what I experienced at the Factory. The crowd at the Factory had me seething, whereas the crowd here was just mildly annoying. There was no pushing and shoving, so I was happy. The band put on a great show, and although I preferred the Church's sound, the temperature here was much more tolerable and there was more room to dance around. Overall, definitely not one of my favorite music venues in Philly, but leagues better than the Shit Factory. i spent my teenage years going to shows here. back when there was no barricade. and there was a shooting out front while Earth Crisis was played. yes, Earth Crisis. back in 96 until as late as 2000, The Troc was putting on so many hardcore and punk shows it was hard to keep up sometimes. they also put on shows like Slater Kinny and The Faint when they only had one LP. lines would go on for blocks. WaWa would have to lock kids out bc it would get too crowded. tons of fights. tons of fun. it was a social event, always. it seemed so huge back then, like an ocean of angry youth and bitter old heads.
i havent been to a show there in years and years. but my memories of it are great. i need to check out a movie night soon. This has to be one of my favorite venues in Philadelphia. It is like the dive bar of concerts! They acoustics are decent and they usually have a decent show there. The bartenders are awesome and the security are very professional in my eyes. The beer is kind of pricey, but that is expected for a concert venue. The bathrrom is kinda small and cramped, but it doesn't stink! I will always frequent this place for a good show! I have been here a handful of times with my brother including shows back in the 90's -Dinosaur Jr. which was packed, we also saw the Dead Milken for the Dave Blood memorial show and Sonic Youth but I recently attended Skinny Puppy and Front line assembly with Haujobb and Youth Code with my brother-in-law which was well attended. This was an 18+ show so there was alcohol allowed in specified areas. The place definitely has some history and is weatherd which adds some character to the experience. I would recommend seing a show here but prefer the balcony seating since standing was a little tiring for 4hours+ but I don't regret it since Skinny Puppy really put on a visual treat as well as sounding better than the album. They have a decent amount of craft beer available at the balcony bar including Great Lakes Dortmunder, Sly Fox Pilsner and Yards Brawler and Pale to name a few. I enjoyed the show and felt security was adequate How could I possibly give more than one star to a club that serves guiness in 10 ounce plastic cups? What a joke! When I order a beer, I expect a pint; a glass would be nice as well, or at least the offer. I ordered a shot of cuervo tequila with my guinness, and this also came in a 10 ounce plastic cup. I don't mind paying $13 for two drinks, as it is very standard. But to serve a top-shelf shot in a plastic cup is just silly. The music was great, although the crowd was tired. The bouncers did do a good job with the line on the street. Once again The Troc proves that it is the best music venue in the city.
Cool atmosphere, good sound, good schedule, decent bar and loads of fun!!
Why can't TLA be more like this (yes, it is meant as a jab at LiveNation though I have friends working for them),,,, Ahhhhh the troc. You gotta love this place. I've been here for countless concerts and always left smiling. You can feel the history inside this place upon walking in. It opened back in 1870 and the bathrooms have not been cleaned since. Once inside, you'll need to make a crucial decision. You can either head upstairs and grab a spot on the cushy balcony bench with the bar area at your back OR go straight ahead to the floor/pit section. Base your choice on the band playing, your company, and your bladder size. If you DO want the upstairs seating, you'll have to go early and tough-it-out in the skinny jean line outside.. it can fill-up quick upstairs. If I'm with my girl, that's usually where I'll be. Otherwise, why not go stage-front with the cool kids? Right. The view and sound is great just about anywhere inside. Parking won't be a problem either. There is a lot directly next door and the guy with two different colored sneakers will "extra guard" your car for a $3 tip. As for food.. the troc is surrounded by hundreds of redolent vietnamese restaurants, in case you like chopsticks or diarrhea.. Check this ol' gem out though, you won't be disappointed! i've seen a lot of good stuff here, at ye olde troc. anything from the El Vez christmas extravaganza to sleater-kinney, to many a movie monday. in fact, one movie monday was the absolutely fucking brill "escape from new york" that was my husband and my first real date.
i haven't been back, though, since it was renamed, 'cos...ew.
it missed out on those two stars for the following reasons:
1. inconsistent sound, to the point of leaving half deaf sometimes.
2. bad bathrooms. ew. double ew. This venue is by far the best place to view a concert. I've been at the Troc to see the New Pornographers and, more recently, Sia -- this place rocks out without blowing your ears out. Though it gets a bit stuffy in the summer, the balcony is by far the best place to hang out (and you can avoid the crazy teenagers downstairs in general standing room).
Side perk -- cheap tickets! BEWARE of the HEAT
Came from out of town to enjoy the Legwarmers 80s cover band. Picked the hottest weekend of the summer, and this theatre had NO air-conditioning. Some rotating fans were in place around the theatre but they didn't help. Left the concert after 30 minutes and was relieved to be outside in the 98 degree heat. It was so bad we saw several ladies grab rolls of toilet paper from the restroom and use them to constantly wipe sweat off their faces. Can't imagine enjoying anything here in the summer time. Otherwise, it was decently clean and good sight-lines from the balcony. The Trocadero has been a mainstay in my music snob life over the past 15+ yrs. I have seen countless acts here, some of which I couldnt be paid to listen to now but in my teenage years, thought were God's gift to the music business.
This place is special to me because of the nostalgia and I think thats the reason most people love it so much. Its definitely not its glowing appearance, wonderful sound, or connectivity to the band that has this place selling out shows. Some of the staff could stand to spend sometime brushing up on their Emily Post and the venue could use a coat of paint but overall, I would probably be full on melt down devastated if it were to ever close down.
FYI- If you show up past doors, are looking to drink and its a packed house, you might as well have stayed home and popped on a live DVD because once the seats are filled upstairs, you have to crouch down or sit on the floor to see anything at all but don't get pissy when the staff tells you to move, because chances are, you are in the way. That or sober up and make your way downstairs with all the hardcore fans and tweens.
Oh and there is a Wawa around the corner with homeless doormen who are picky about the change you try to give to them.
I love me some Troc. my favorite place for a show in philly, only because you can eat at penang before the show and spent the rest of the evening trying to hold back your shits. As I stood in the crowd amongst the sweaty fans waiting for Chromeo to come onstage, a 6 foot man dressed as a fairy (wings and all) jumped in front of my friend. He preceded to dance, dance and dance all whilst smacking my friend in the face with his wings. My only response? "Are we on TV?" The show was great, we danced in humidity made solely from the crowd's sweat. (ew)
The bathrooms are gross and for once I can comment on both the ladies and the men's room. I took a wrong turn, what can I say? They are both equally smelly. The only bathroom bonus was that they did not run out of toilet paper in the upstairs bathroom. The downstairs ladies bathroom is sort of a tight squeeze so if you have a choice it's worth the climb.
The bar is upstairs which to me is a total drag but I get it. Keep the youngsters downstairs to prevent them from sneaking any drinks. Speaking of drinks, my first tequila sunrise was crazy strong and the second was a little week. I kinda wish I'd ordered them at the same time and had them mixed together.
hm... but why 4 stars? the old theatre vibe and the staff. Last time I bought concert tickets, I got caught in an epic monsoon. The ticket booth dude let me use the bathroom (even though he wasn't supposed to) and we chatted a bit until I headed back in the flood.
man, my reviews are starting to sound like i have an overactive bladder... I saw the dead milkmen dave blood memorial show here a couple years back. It reminds me of how our outHouse of Blues looks now. Two stories to see the show from with a bar or two on each level. Only this place was authentic. I do love our HOB, despite its corporate overlords. The location in Chinatown affords plenty of dining before the show. It was fun to meet DM fans from all over the country who made it out. We all hung out in a line outside of the Troc before the show. The acts are great but the acoustics are not. I'm not a fan of the troc for a number of reasons, none having to do with the bands. I went there recently to see the mighty mighty bosstones, they were great but I was unimpressed with the venue. The bathroom is beyond disgusting and that actually means a lot coming from me, because I don't have a problem using porta potties. I wouldn't go to the troc unless you're wasted because the drinks are so expensive and you're limited as to where you can be if you're under 21. Also it's so cramped in there, I don't know if I would want to be sober and go there again. Save your money and see a smaller band through R5 Not the best, not the worst...and not the legend it would like to think it is, at least not anymore.
First, the pros...shows here are generally cheaper than in other venues, and being that it is in Chinatown, you have plenty of pre-show options. Huge advantage when compared to other similar venues. Being walking distance from Market East is another bonus for suburban pricks like me. When it isn't jam-packed, watching a show from the balcony can be really cool...grab a padded seat if it suits you, and you have a bar to escape to should you need a breather. Cool ambiance that can't be imitated.
Ok, the cons...the sound is horrible. Nearly every time. For reasons unknown, the Troc gets most of the metal/hardcore shows, and the sound is uniformly garbage. Bass at 11, no vocals at all. I have skipped some shows I wanted to see strictly because I knew it would sound like ass. For whatever reason it'll sound pretty good once in a blue moon, but you cannot count on this happening. Oh yea...with rare exception, the staff can be really over-the-top...I know an all-ages metal show brings out all the "bad" kids (sarcasm), but I could do without the ball-cupping frisk job and pile of attitude. If there is a line outside, it will move sloooooow. Plus the neighborhood hates the place, so if they start the show late (which is often), don't be shocked when it abruptly ends at the magical, pre-ordained time. Still had 3 songs? Tough beans. Go home.
The Troc still has a certain flair about it, mostly due to history, and not due to any real effort on their part in modern times. You could do worse in town, for sure (Electric Factory), but you could do better (just about anywhere else). So...three stars. I've seen many live performances here and have never been disappointed.
The sound is always spot on. To me not really a bad seat though I know there are areas that can be difficult for viewing. I've just not experienced it.
This is a venue that's been around a long time and has earned its place in history with the acts they bring in and the way they run things. The atmosphere of the Troc is awesome. It's in a really old theatre, and they just finished the restoration of it so it looks awesome. They have weekly movie nights and special events for the 21+ crowd. The shows are getting pretty sparse over the years though - I feel like there are less and less. First venue I've ever been to in Philly, and still one of my top favorites. Great architectural detail inside and out. This place is like a dive theater. You can tell it was great back in the day, but now it's living on remnants of what was. I attended an event here recently and was surprised about how run down the place is. I get it though; you're not going here for the elegance of front row seats and your favorite boy band. You definitely won't find that crowd here. If you're coming to see a band here, the sound quality was good, which explains the crowds of people I always see outside waiting to get in.
The ladies bathrooms are small and squished together with a random sink pushed into the corner. If you go backstage (I was a performer), it's divided into an upstairs (1 flight of narrow stairs)and downstairs. The bartenders were pretty good as well.
Coat check is $3 (plus tip) and you can find parking at many lots nearby if street parking isn't available. Here for a comedy show. Up in the balcony. Bit of an obstructed view and distant but it was a good time. The drink policy is archaic but there you go. I really like this venue for concerts. I've been there a few times for different shows, but most recently went there for the Zombie Beach Party. It was a good time. They had two local Philly bands playing some fun beachy music. It was great to see all the people with zombie make-up. They also had some special drinks named appropriately for the event.
My main issue is the bathrooms. They are pretty gross even early in the night. Also, the bouncers are less than friendly. The 3 stars is a mixture between the venue being great and the bartenders being subpar. I was waiting at the bar for 30 mins as one of the bartenders in particular kept ignoring me. He first said he was taking orders from people who had cash first. Okay, that's understandable- it's easier to take cash than card but COME ON we live in 2018! Hardly anyone carries cash these days and a "customer is a customer" rule should stand. He finally starts taking orders from people with cards but doesn't even take my order! I waited for another 15 mins as people were coming and going to and from the bar. I literally pleaded to the bartender to take my card. He eventually took my order and charged me an extra drink. What a joke. Trocadero - please train your staff to do a better job. Alright, first off, let me just say that you should probably read someone else's review if you are looking for a technical critique of the sound system. That being said, I had to review this place because I really enjoyed seeing VNV Nation there last year. First of all, it was cheap. This is good. Second of all, the layout was like nothing I'd ever seen, it is a tiny venue with a small, rounded general admission floor area. There are a couple of steps up to a main level, but I ended up hugging the stairs for the duration of the show. Makes dancing hard, but if you are 5'4" like me, it does give you a perspective advantage. Or, you could always head up to one of the two balconies. The main reason I liked the Troc is because of how intimate the venue felt due to it's layout. Small floor area with significant ceiling heights to accomodate the balconies makes for a very unique experience. This assessment is from the nerdy planner in me.
Also cool (although I didn't get to experience it) is the fact that they feature movie night Mondays. I think that The Breakfast Club was playing while I was in town and I was pretty bummed to miss it.
Oh, and as a side note, I was staying near Reading Terminal Market right around the block and felt that it was generally safer that several other neighborhoods I trekked through while in town. When in doubt, make sure you look like you know where you are going or else just walk in the street. Came to see Steve moakler and Old Dominion on Friday night. The venue is vintage and unique which I loved but the drinks issue was the most bizarre I have ever seen at a show. First the 2 bars are upstairs and you have to wait in a line to eve. Go upstairs. Once up you wait in another line all the while not being able to see the performers on stage as the layout doesn't allow for it. Drinks are poured weak and typical concert price. The weirdest is then we were allowed to bring drinks back downstairs to the dance floor/standing area. And as all the seats upstairs were taken we had to chug them on the stairwell before being allowed to pass. Hmm
Lastly as usual the bathrooms are awful. 3 stalls for the women's and if you are over 5'6 you can see over each stall making it uncomfortable.
Love the show, music and lights all great! Just need better drink policy and bathrooms. Old dirty venue, but most of them are. Good acts. Decent beer choice. I followed a band to LA, NYC and Toronto. I can't emphasize how there were poor communication amongst staff at the venues in those cities. Different people tell us different things. After lining up ALL day I almost didn't get in and list my front row spot. Almost. But what a heart attack they gave me at the doors! The Troc was a refreshing experience. There were staff from morning and their instructions were consistent throughout. Instead of having people line outside, they distributed numbered tickets to determine people's spot in line once it's time to line up. They kept people in order. We got in on time, and they made it look so easy how organized it was. Considering there was meet and greet prior to the show, they were all nice, firm with rules, but they were very effective. Club Nokia and Best Buy Theater could learn a thing or two about organization, discipline and respect from the troc's staff and security.
I don't know about grimy because for a germaphobe like me I was sitting on the floor and stairs. The venue has a really nice charm to it. I like the setup of the stage... and I could actually hear the vocalist's voice over the audience singing and the instruments playing.
What really shined through at this place was their staff. Thank you! Skeletor Karaoke was a lot of fun.
But if you want to ever sing, don't arrive after 11pm or you'll waste three hours of your time. Other than getting past a barricade of security that makes you feel like you're smuggling drugs across state lines, your concert going experience here should be quite nice. After all, it's lovely, dark and deep (name that poet!) and some pretty good bands play here. I recently saw Slick Rick kick off the Popped! Festival as well as CSS and The Go! Team, and the sound and surroundings were cool. The crowd, though, never ceases to amaze me - it's a perfect picture example of the diversity of Philly. So yeah for that.
Bummer that you can't bring drinks with you down to the floor area (you've got to go through another line of defense to get upstairs to the bar) but all in all, it's not a bad place to see a show. I'm not sure I quite understand the gushing over the Trocadero on here. I went along to see CSS and the Go Team! the other night, this was my first gig at the Trocadero. I don't know if the sound guys just had a really bad evening but the sound was awful. You could barely hear anything above the bass for the Go Team! and a lot of the CSS treble was completely lost. I need to go to another gig here to see if this was just a one off. Certainly, on this basis I don't see why people rave about the acoustics here compared to the Electric Factory.
Second point, the staff are unbelievably rude, I have to agree with previous reviewers. One friend wasn't allowed to keep the cap on his water bottle that he had just paid $4 for and my girlfriend was charged by a bouncer for asking a simple question. I thought she was going to headbutt her! The staff here really ruin the place for me.
I won't not go back, partly because I want to see that this was just a one off as I don't like knocking music venues but as it stands, I'm not impressed. I'll update after my next visit. I used to spend much of my late teens/early twenties seeing shows at the Troc, but I haven't been there in quite some time. I never had a particularly bad experience with it. It's convenient and the shows are usually pretty cheap, so I can't complain too much about this place. I think more than anything I just hate the location. And parking around here can be pretty obnoxious/expensive, but what else is new!
But overall it's a good, smallish venue to see a show. I went to see The Legwarmers here a few nights ago. The lower level has two small bars and tons of room to stand, while the upper level has some seats and another bar. It wasn't too crowded when I went, so it was great to go downstairs and dance and then be able to chill upstairs later. I'm short and could still see and hear the stage well wherever I was.
The bathroom was pretty small. It only had 1 sink and 4 stalls, which could have been a nightmare if it was more crowded. It was (thankfully) well stocked with toilet paper, but the hand dryer was broken and there were no paper towels.
Drinks were a bit expensive, but I kind of expected that. Definitely buy beer because my mixed drink was weak and small. The bartenders were friendly and took a few orders at a time so they could give people drinks faster.
It's not perfect but definitely a good place to see shows. I have seen several bands here, always a great time. Neat building too! The troc is truly unique. It's got a history which is embedded into the building. So glad it kept the same vibe. Good place to see bands. Perhaps a problem is the odd shape of the walls seen a couple shows here and its a pretty rad theatre, love the victorian style of the balcony upstairs plus its the only section where you can drink. i also love the crowdedness of the downstairs area it can get quite crazy to say the least. they offer some good bands and it is pretty inexpensive. being as that its a no smoking theatre you'll see large crowds gather out front. Went to the troc, as I guess it's called, to see one of my roommates favorite bans "All That Remains." The show opened with 3 hardcore acts and then an even harder All That Remains set. I'm not a big screamo/hardcore fan, but one band - I think called Hatebreed - did one Southern rock type song that I dug. Anyway, it is a pretty cool looking theatre, probablly a good place to see a band or performer that you really like. Its not 2 stars but not quite 3... uhm where to start?!
the staff can be rude, but they can also be really nice and funny.
depends on the show, i almost want to push the stupid blonde girls dancing in front of me and pushing into me every 2 seconds, be mindful of your surroundings kids.
great picture opportunities.
bathrooms, gross! i prefer to carry antibacterial than wash my hands at the sink, but im sure they would throw it out at the door when searching through my bag.
openers can be better than the main attraction.
sometimes really cheap tickets!
i cant bring in my closed bottle of water? ok, ill just die because its so hot inside and your water costs like $4
it does kind of smell... I would describe the Troc as being gross. Maybe I have just had especially bad experiences, but not much good has come from this place. The concerts I've seen here, despite being by bands I like, were mediocre. For some reason, maybe the setup of the stage or size of the room, I just didn't experience any connection with the band. But let's rewind a little to outside the theatre. The lines are too long and the security is too tight. I not only HAVE to check my camera at the door, but I have to pay a fee to do so. All this after waiting in line with some pretty intolerable people. I think most days you can tell what kind of show it is by the crowd outside. Once inside I spend my time avoiding the ones in the crowd that I might sort of know.
The crown jewel of my experience at the Troc was visiting the bathroom only to be greeted by a puddle of vomit in the doorway. I really can't blame whoever left it there though.It helps that it's near a WaWa, but the crowd from the show just heads there too. Now, I won't avoid a show just because it's at the Trocadero but I'll certainly sigh and hope the band tries the TLA next time they come to Philly. Came here to see TJ Miller. He was funny, his wife was terrible. She could "sing", but it was a waste of time. Maybe she was high on something, idk. The venue is decent for a comedy show. The drinks were okay, the pizza was average. I love the venue- it is breaktaking. I love the grimeyness of the place, as well. I LOVE Movie mondays and the bar upstairs and the Balcony. However, the concert security staff are the rudest motherfuckers I have ever met in my life. They think theyre god, and that everyone else is the scum of the earth, and even if youre not doing anything wrong, they will make sure you know whos is charge- and whatll happen to you if you get out of line. Really sucky. Like a couple of white college girls going to smoke a cigarette is a security code red threat. Lighten up! What can I say, the Troc is a tried and true venue for so many things from concerts to movies to costumed wrestling matches. I have never been disappointed with the Troc, mostly because it never changes, but also because it has soul.
The sound isn't always the greatest, but the atmosphere rocks (no pun intended). Its a beautiful old theater style building, with open space downstairs for standing and a balcony upstairs for sitting. Plenty of bathrooms, though not always the prettiest, and a couple of bars so you never have to wait long to get your drink on. Staff seems pretty friendly and the crowd is generally chill. The Troc has quite a history too. My grandparents, in their prime, traveled from Trenton on weekends, for a fine evening out in Philly. It was usually dinner and a burlesque show at the Trocodero. Who would've thought a burlesque show would be a fancy night out, but it was. Men donned their nicest suits and women wore mink stoles with their dresses. Nowadays you're good as long as you have shoes and a shirt on, but I digress.
If you looking for a nice intimate venue and a band of your liking is playing there, don't miss out on it, it will be a good time. I came here for a Sara Bareilles concert last month.
The sound was superb and I just loved the atmosphere. It might've been because of how engaging Sara was with the crowd, but I felt like I was in someone's studio just watching her perform a private concert for friends. The bathroom was much cleaner than I expected, so that's a plus.
I like the location of the venue as well, you can grab some food from Chinatown before/after the concert and enjoy a concert in a nice intimate venue. There are also seats on the upper level if you're like me and don't like to stand the entire time for a concert. Not often a concert goer at this venue but I've attended some movie nights and, most recently, the Zombie Beach Party here. The venue is pretty cool with a ton of history. I wish they'd actually fix the lady's room instead of having this complicated 'hold the door with your foot' hokey pokey bullshit going on.
Place could probably use a good cleaning but then it might not actually feel like the Troc any more. Great restaurants all around the place. Chinatown is amazing for good, cheap food and there are plenty of places open late!
Remember to validate parking. Six bucks for the garage? Yes please! This is one of the coolest music venues I've ever been in. For Seattle readers, it's kinda like the Paramount, except prettier and more "intimate," for lack of a better word. Basically, you can be closer to the stage, the balcony isn't so high. The stadium seating can kinda suck if you like to be able to lean back or have an assigned seat, but does allow a certain air of freedom. It really is gorgeous inside, and I recall the acoustics being just fine. I believe I saw both Death Cab for Cutie and Minus the Bear at the Troc, which is kinda funny cause it was before I knew I'd be moving to Seattle. This is a great space for a concert. I love the upstairs seating with the separate bar area to relax in between bands. Check in and the bar situation is a total clusterf**k. The bar was right next to the entrance and they were trying to make everyone line up in a single file line right where people were trying to come in. It was not very effective. They also screwed up tapping the keg of IPA and it was entirely foam, so they had to retire that tap. I asked for a cider instead and ended up with a Blue Moon. OK, whatever. Drinks were like $6 or $7 I think, which for a concert venue isn't horrible, but you could also only get one at a time. I took turns at the bar with my friend so one of us could hold our seats.
We did manage to score second row seating with in the middle section, and the Broad City show was awesome, so it wasn't all bad. The chairs were also fairly comfortable and the acoustics seemed decent. "The Troc" always has good metal shows. If you live near Philly and want to see the more rare metal bands, this is the place! Sign up to the mailing list so you don't miss out. I have seen at least 10 shows here... Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, In Flames, Job 4A Cowboy, Black Dahlia Murder, etc. I usually hang out upstairs to get beer at the bar (must be 21 to enter). This place could be a 5...
the history of big bands playing a small venue. Unfortunatly they don't seem to actually have a sound engineer. Instead they insist on pumping the music upto "11"! (yes, they changed the 10 to 11!)
Even with that major issue for a live music venue, it still has classic shows, great history, and great vibe! I really like the concept and ambiance of this place but there are definitely a few improvements to be made, the first one being marking seats that have an obstructed view of the screen/stage in the upper level.
Their movie Mondays are the best deal ever, if you show up early you'll get a token for a free pbr, a ticket that gives you $3 towards anything on the menu, and a raffle ticket. The only problem is that the movies start pretty late for a weekday, 8pm. So I've never managed to stay late enough for the raffle. Still, it's a really fun unique experience for 3 bucks. I've played on both main stage and the balcony stage. Both are a pain in the ass to load in and out. Balcony has better sound than the main stage. The upstairs is divided weirdly. It can make it hard to see the band.
Main stage can sound muffled from the back. I waited years to see GlassJaw and when I finally did I was very disappointed with the sound. I saw As I Lay Dying and I couldn't tell their songs apart. In the Troc's defense their songs are very similar. Either way it's not a bad venue by any means. It's just never my first choice. I want to buy tickets for Giorgio at the end of the month right now but I'm being held back because I can't decide if a show at the troc is really worth $35.
My favorite thing here is movie Monday's. However the seating upstairs is so uncomfortable I can't make it a full movie. It's terrible when it's full and you can't readjust. Who am I kidding though? You don't go there unless you've already seen the movie.
The parking situation is terrible. If you're like me and you already paid $30 for a show you really don't want to pay to park now. However parking in china town doesn't exist. You better off parking up by spring garden st and walking. Don't sue me if your car gets broken into. I had a Jeep stolen from 12th and Spring Garden. You're on your own here. I always love checking out the smaller venues in Philly so was glad to finally be adding another to my list. I have mixed feelings about the Troc after my concert experience.
My friend and I went to see Eric Hutchinson who was opening for Rachel Platten. Eric is still fairly unknown and has a great crowd at his concerts typically. But since the headliner was Rachel, the average age range at this concert had to be around 14. We immediately thought this could actually be good because the bar won't be packed!
We get inside and immediately go upstairs to the bar which we are told right away that under no circumstances can we bring drinks outside of the bar. Problem with that is that you cannot see the show from inside the bar. The way the Troc is set up, there's a very low hanging ceiling that blocks your view from the stage unless you're physically sitting on the floor. That coupled with a small doorway meant that if you were in the bar, you didn't get to see the show. So we finished our drinks quickly and made our way out to find somewhere to sit or stand.
Problem 2 - there was basically no place to sit or stand. I honestly didn't know what we were going to do because people were "saving" seats, not moving over, you weren't allowed to sit on the stairs, there was no room on the pit floor, etc. I didn't feel like arguing with a bunch of teeny boppers. We saw a tiny sliver of room all the way next to the stage on this little balcony area so we finally were able to squeeze our way over there for the first opener and Eric Hutchinson set. The sound was great and Eric's set awesome as usual.
I wasn't able to fully appreciate the Troc's architecture that I'm reading about in these reviews mostly because of where I was standing. It honestly looked old and rundown to me. And they had a third floor balcony that would've provided more space, not sure why that's not in use... maybe falling apart?
After Eric's set, we holed up in the bar for the rest of the show since we didn't care to see Rachel Platten. I poked my head out a few times just to say I saw some of her set since we were there after all, lol. We had a great time shooting the shit with Che the bartender who we did some whiskey shots with as soon as we walked back in the door. Thanks, Che!
I think under different circumstances, my experience at the Troc would've been way better. For instance, if they carded everyone just to get upstairs - then you would be able to have your drinks while you sit up there. But it probably had to do with the mostly teeny bopper crowd. I'd give this place another shot though since I'm really just going for the music. The Troc is a pretty nice place in my honest opinion. I saw Hanson there in October 2005 (yes, I am a big Hanson fan, I admit it!) and I had a meet-and-greet with them from the fanclub which took place in the audience area of the venue. It's also a standing room only venue with a balcony for the over 21 crowd but the front lobby where the headliner's merch is normally sold is pretty nice. The openers sell their merchandise in a separate area, usually near the concession stand. Also, I've never had a problem with the security there and the music didn't seem that loud. Of course, it is hard to hear over the fans who insist on screaming during songs, but other than that, the Troc was one of the best places I've seen Hanson perform. In my old(er) age, I've stopped exploring new music as much as I used to and want to see some of the bands I followed in high school play live again. The Troc is THE place to see alternative, hard core, industrial, goth, electronic, and everything else in between. I don't live in Philly and happily drive over 2 hrs for a Troc show. It's a perfect dive venue with great acoustics and audiences that aren't star struck shovers (barring shows that inspire a pit). Tix are very reasonable and you can stand practically on top of the band in the front row or enjoy from the balcony. My last 3 shows were Skinny Puppy, Helmet, and the Dandy Warhols. Can't beat it. One of my favorite things to do on a Monday night is head over the $3 Monday movie nights and catch up on all the 80s movies that I have yet to see, or current movies that I missed seeing in the theatre.
Cheap drinks, great bartender+staff are there. I even went to a concert there (awesome place for intimate venue) and the bartender recognized me from Movie Mondays and hooked me up with a drink (im a regular???).
Also, not a bad date spot either as you have some options for food around too. Love this theatre in the heart of chinatown. Came here to see the Legwarmers which did not disappoint. Lines at the bar were unbelievably long which was a bummer and the place was covered with spilled drinks and cups left on the floor that seemed to be thrown down faster than they could be picked up. With that said for $20 to see a live band and a good one at that who am I to complain. In January of 2018, I saw a two-part Say Anything concert (one show on Friday and one on Saturday) at this venue, and I have to say, to this day it's still one of the absolute best concerts I've been to. This venue is unique and quite beautiful, and I felt that the stage was at a really good height. It seemed a little bit higher than a stage is normally at most venues, which was really awesome for short people like me that usually have problems seeing at general admission shows. The high stage made it a lot easier to see the band performing. In general, I found the Trocadero to be a remarkably intimate venue, and I had quite the unforgettable experience there. I wish more bands I listened to played there! Saw TBM during Dracula's Ball here and had a great time.
Staff was super friendly, bouncers/door men especially - all smiles but did a great job of scanning the crowds and checking people accordingly. Warning of no moshing or crowd surfing.
Thankfully my bf had been here before and knew upstairs there were atrium style seats and I'd be able to see. I'm short, so he knows from prior shows that we've been at if we stand I never can see over people and see any of the show.
So off upstairs we went - a quick ID check and stamp on the hand to ensure we were over 21 for the bars upstairs and we began our hike up the stairs. If you're super drunk, don't attempt the stairs and just stay downstairs. Quite a bottleneck on the stairs, accident waiting to happen - I held the rail tight.
Once upstairs, we found a spot on one of the benches and settled in.
The acoustics were pretty good up there, and my vantage point was great - I was happy I'd finally be able to actually SEE the stage and the band. It was a great show and I sang my heart out.
Upon leaving, the bouncer wished us a nice evening and to come back soon.
Keeping it from 5 stars was it got super hot in there at one point- I wasn't even standing/dancing...I was sitting....then got super cold!
No VIP seating option, maybe that's more per show - but if I knew of VIP option to get front row on the balcony with service I would have.
Will def be back, it's conveniently located in the Chinatown district - got a bite to eat before the show and there was plenty of parking in garages around town, very short walk to the venue. I always loved this place. I want to do a review on the sisters of mercy show that we saw on Friday night. The lead singer lip sank the entire show. I thought it was peculiar that the opening band whom btw was really good sounded so much clearer and louder was better than The Sisters of Mercy. as soon as the lead band came on it was obvious it wasn't live. The sound went into muffled mode and the dry ice trick helped to cover you reading his lips. Its a shame when an artist sinks to this level. I could've stayed home and listened to the album. The Troc books great bands (thanks for giving Robert Earl Keen a place to play in Philly!) and has a great location, my rating focuses on the state of the venue's preservation.
The Troc is a beautiful old venue that is absolutely falling apart.
Please please please reach out to Penn's Historic Preservation program to get some guidance on applying for preservation dollars lest we lose another great old theater. You'll also be saving yourself some lawsuit dollars since it is only a matter of time until some plaster slips through that net on the ceiling and impales a reveler or two... I feel like The Troc has gone downhill a bit over the last 10 years or so as the more quality shows have moved to newer and more promoted venues like Union Transfer and the TLA. That being said, it's still a pretty cool historic building and it sounds half decent. It's definitely worth checking this place out before they eventually turn it into gentrified condos. Drinks aren't cheap and the bouncers are douchy, but it is what it is. Just another Manic Monday! I cannot stand Mondays I have had a great weekend I walk into work on a post weekend relaxed high and BAM the work day ensues with its usual complaints and irritants. So what do I do? Instead of wallowing in it occasionally I will pick myself up and go to the Troc for movie Monday. $3 bucks gets you in, a pabst, and a bag of popcorn!
I have seen Inglorious bastards as well as fight club at the troc and love every minute of it. The crowd really gets into and sometimes you will see a real enthusiast decked out in costume.
Get there early because you will want to get a seat in the first row of the balcony for prime viewing. The bartenders are great and I am always a huge fan of anywhere I can drink and watch a movie!
I have yet to see a concert here but Iam sure the do it up nice. Great venue. Saw Dredg play here on Friday. Definitely not huge, but a good size for the crowd Dredg draws. Beers upstairs were cheap and they had a surprisingly good selection on draft. Cool place to catch a show. The Troc is located in a great neighborhood right around Chinatown. A lot of great bars and restaurants in the area. Get there early and enjoy the area before you see your show. Oh, the Troc, how I love you so.
I've seen so many shows here now (Stars, Ra Ra Riot, Two Door Cinema Club, Death Cab...) and each experience has been a pleasant one. I've stood in line for hours, stood in the front for countless more hours and enjoyed every minute of it!
The only bummer is that the bar is upstairs rather than downstairs, but judging by PA's harsh liquor laws and such, I fully understand.
This place reminds me a lot of the Glass House in Pomona, CA for many reasons, so perhaps that's why I like it so much....it reminds me of home! Went to see pauly shore at the troc and the show was good however the building and staff are horrid. The place is dirty and has a permanant stickiness on thr floor. The beer tasted bad either from never cleaning the tap lines or from just having skunky beer. One female staff member would not allow my friend on the balcony and flagged him because she didn't like the way he looked. The thing was he was not even drinking and caused us to split our group to two sperate floors. Good show bad atmosphere. Ahhhh...the Troc...how I love you so. Many a night spent at a $7 show crowd surfing or in the mosh pit...how you molded my youth.
The Troc was the best place in Philly to see great bands, most of the time before they sold out and went mainstream, for dirt cheap. I haven't been back since I moved back to Philly but I love that you have $3 movie Mondays and that you still have fantastic shows lined up.
Hopefully I will be back in May to see H2O and then I will update my review. For now the Troc will remain the 5-star theater that allowed me to rock out my teenaged angst. I've seen shows here. It's cool BUT, have you seen a movie here??? Now, that's awesome. For like $5 you can sit up in the balcony and watch a movie on an old fashioned movie screen. The plus side is you can drink while doing this (there's a bar upstairs) ;-) I believe they have this on Mondays. Ah, the Trocadero. Remember when i skipped out on our school trip, just to see Bad Religion? I got in a lot of trouble for that, but it was worth it. Remember when we drank 40's before the GBV show? That place on 11th and Chestnut always served me when i was underage. And lastly, Remember when i was kicked out for *passing* the crystal during one of your short, but brief periods of 'rave' parties?. The snow was driving hard, my friend and it was a cold street. My life would never be the same without this debauchery, and for some reason, i'm thankful for it. On my first time back since 2003 (last night) I was actually old enough to go upstairs. I dug the view & felt like I was sitting high in a circus tent. I was there to see the Dandy Warhols, whose busy stage set-up might have been what hindered the strength of vocals in comparison to bass/drums directly behind lanky lead vocals Courtney Taylor. Love the vibe; saw some shows here during angsty high school days. Wait, I'm still angsty. Anyway, high school days.
I'm all about the grungy, narrow, high-ceiling'd venue. Narrow and gungy are key, since they all have that ceiling going on. There are random steps outside the main standing area, good for sitting social-experiment or lazy-ass style between acts. I think they have one of the sloping floors to maximize viewing capabilities? Not sure on that.
Acts vary from obscure to cliche (Death Cab?). I saw Pretty Girls Make Graves open here once, and man did they blow. Donno what that says about accoustics, but plenty of people seem to like the band so draw what conclusions you will. I came to Philly for a Urban League Young Professionals conference. The hosts had posted a throwback party called Reminisce that was happening at this venue. It was fairly inexpensive and seemed like a laid back time so myself and 7 others attended. We arrived shortly before 11pm. The tickets at the door had jumped $10 from online sales and they charged more for credit card transactions. When we arrived the crowd was very thin and hurdled around the outer skirts. A few people were posted up at the bar. But from the time we arrived to the time we left a couple hours later the DJs were rocking the speakers. They played old school jam after jam and brought us back to some gteat memories from our younger days. If we didn't have to be up early the next day we would've closed the venue down. That staff were friendly outside and inside the venue. The space is huge and great for large events with a balcony level as well. We definitely enjoyed ourselves. The best thing about "The Troc" is its location. Some pho before a show (rhyme noted) is reason enough to go. (triple)
It is crowded, tight and sweaty. Still, I feel more of a grown folk going here than The Church. They have a quality selection of artists in many genres coming through, and its a much better area on a weeknight than the alternatives. The drinks are typical, and typically priced. The crowd mirrors whoever is playing.
I'm getting further and further away from concerts altogether (even though I attended two in the last week), but The Troc holds its own. Ah, the Troc. So many shows - but so many that I saw soooooooo long ago. Loved it back then - can't really comment on it nowadays.
And they get some really great acts in here! The Troc is a legend. Movie Mondays are a blast. For $3 you get a $3 bar credit and a free movie. And popcorn, too. The shows offer a pretty good range of well-known to obscure.
My favorite Troc story: way back in the 80s, my cousin & met at our grandparents house before a show. Grandmom asked where we were going. When I said, "The Trocadero," my grandfather slowly turned to me with a suspicious look and said, "What the hell are you doing there?" A relative explained that they now hosted rock shows. Grandpop then told me about going to see Gypsy Rose Lee there. I assured him I wasn't headed to a burlesque show, and he was relieved.
Anyway, they bring in some good shows. Just be prepared for a loud time. As for the staff, they are nicer these days. Remember when the staff shirts simply read "F*** YOU?" Ah, the old days. I attended the Joshua Radin concert tonight and there was the normal noise during the opening acts which is understandable because people are arriving and getting comfortable in the venue. Once Joshua Radin came on I assumed that the noise would have been controlled and was I wrong. The noise only grew louder to the point where he had to stop multiple times during his performance to tell people to quiet down. As a person who bought tickets to this concert to hear him perform I should receive a refund for the simple fact I only 100% heard 2 songs the whole night. Security should've been going through the crowd to get the disruptive personal to a new location (outside). The concert was ruined by the Trocs lack of management and complete disrespect for the performer. I would not blame Joshua Radin if he decided to never play at this music venue again. Completely and utterly disappointed with the Troc. I will never return to this venue to ever see anything again. The place that I went to see my second ever concert at, and I've been going ever since. the sound isn't always the best, but it's dedication to music and showing it's patrons a good time is second to none. And the variety of shows that it has is uncanny! Metal shows, punk shows, rock bands, legends like Patti Smith, local bands, burlesque performances, alternative fashion shows, movie nights, and so much more!
and since it's in Chinatown there are always plenty of things to do before a show. Jeff: I love the way this place looks. It's definitely love. But due to the fact it's a haunted old building the amplifiers tend to make ghost speak. And I don't speak ghost. The dude behind the monitor board...
Patrick: The only thing that's haunted about this place is the 15 foot mural of a buff dude with a handgun and a big penis. And I like that.
Amy: Yuengling and bathroom security. I bit it hard coming out the back door into the alley in my heels.
Chris: The streets smell like fish, and I don't like that. This is the coolest looking room of the whole tour so far. The stage is definitely haunted. If you have a single coil pickup guitar you're fucked with tons of noise. The production manager was rad. They don't take any of your merch money and that rules.
Ryan: Ghosts don't bother me, we have a thing worked out. It sounded great. The front of house sound guy (Frank? s orry) was very cool. I would give it 5 stars. My first visit to the Troc. was for Alyson Moyet last month, not sure why it took me so long to get there! It was a great concert. The history of the Trocadero Theater is wonderful, opened in 1870 as an opera house then a burlesque venue many years later. The Victorian details inside the theater are great, you can really imagine what the theater was like in its hay-day. The venue is in moderate shape, it's a bit beaten up. The space is not as large as Union Transfer but has lots of old world charm. There is a bar on the ground floor and second level. We watched from the second level balcony, there was basic block seating, no cushions, and many pillars obstructing the views. Acoustics were good, and the venue was a nice size. For underground music lovers in Philly, this is one of the places to go. I attended my first concert at the Troc a long, long time ago as a high school girl. Finally, I went back recently for a band I love, and I was not disappointed.
The band kicked butt, the sound quality was better than I imagined, and the overall scene was just great. I was blown away by the whole experience. So if you see a band you like book a show here, please go! You will be very happy with your decision. Super beautiful inside. Concerts are good because you stand. Went here two different times for a comedy show-- the chairs they have are cheap folding chairs that are super uncomfortable and not put together well. One broke and the person fell to the ground. This place is over 100 years old so don't expect it have the best technology. It does however have charm and a beautiful history in Philadelphia.
We most recently attended the Troc to see some speakers from a podcast we enjoy. The acosticrs were fine. We had to sit upstairs which is bench style seating and a bit uncomfortable for a long period of time, so we ended up going downstairs to stand in the back to give our backs a break
They serve beer and alcohol there as well as snack foods. We didn't get anything so I can't comment on the prices, although, I did notice a soft pretzel was $3.
The best thing about this place is that once a month they have an event in their upstairs bar area called the Skeletor Karaoke Gong Show. It is my most favorite thing ever. Skeletor hosting karaoke and gonging people off the stage. It's the most engaged, funny karaoke I've ever attended. This past weekend I visited the Trocadero Theatre for the first time to see crazy ex girlfriend live. (Its on CW, and if you haven't seen it yet- you're missing out.)
The theatre itself is beautiful and has a long history behind it. That being said, it was a bit of an odd venue. The doors for the show were supposed to open by 7pm and we did not get inside until closer to 8pm.
Once inside, it was crazy. There were folding chairs set up downstairs and bench style seating upstairs. The seats filled up so quickly, and I noticed there were a few areas that had reserved signs on them that went unused. There were a few bar areas, but I didn't end up getting any drinks since the seats were so tight and the bar lines were so long.
The show itself was great and the minimal interactions I had with the staff were pleasant enough. Unless there is someone I am dying to see here, I probably will not be back anytime soon. Went for a comedy show, so I can't comment on the sound quality for music events. The theater is very historic, but in need of some upgrades and improvements. It's not a classy place, by any means, so expect a more grungy feel, which is still just fine. I suspect the bouncers and staff are used to dealing with hordes of jerky teens, so be prepared for a bit of douchebaggery there. We were able to sit near the bar area, which was pretty cool, since you could drink there. I don't believe they let you drink in the general seating area, and the downstairs bar is closed once the show starts, so if you want a drink you'll need to go to the balcony bar. The mixed drinks were $7 for a small plastic cup's worth, with a lot of ice. Not horrible, but not great. The water was $3.
They are very strict on the re-entry policy. I went with someone that uses a wheelchair, and was helping her out the door when I remembered I had forgotten to use the men's room before we left. The security guy at the door wouldn't let me back in, and I had to appeal to the security guard that had helped with the wheelchair ramp. So...make sure when you leave, you really mean it.
Based on the show, it's either bench seating in the balcony and standing room only on the main floor, or the balcony and folding chairs on the floor. So...not the most comfortable place to see a show, but many of the rock shows are pretty high-octane, so I suspect the SRO is not such a big deal.
Overall, my first experience at the Troc was OK; would be cool if they were a little more chill on the re-entry, and the place didn't feel like it was about to fall down. I guess it's just the nature of the venue...it's like 140 years old. They do have a very cool "Movie Monday" event held most Mondays where admission is $3, but that also gets you a drink or snack, which is cool. My first experience at the Troc was a few weeks ago for the Old Dominion concert. I knew from reviews that drinks are served upstairs-only when the crowd is all-ages, so my friend and I headed up the steps where we were greeted with several long lines. Luckily, the lines moved relatively quickly and we were able to have a couple beverages before heading back downstairs to use the bathroom (another long line) and then secure our spot not too far from the stage.
The band sounded incredible and the acoustics were great. I was thrilled with the show since I've been waiting for this band to come around since the second I first heard them about a year ago. I love seeing an amazing band in a venue like this because the experience is so much more intimate and special. The only downside is that general admission crowds tend to be a little pushy. But hey, I'll take the bad with the good if it means I get to be up close with the musicians!
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name: Elkins Park Medical Associates, address: 8250 Old York Rd, city: Elkins Park, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: Health & Medical, Internal Medicine, Doctors, text: Dr. Ekizian is the best! I am so happy she is my primary care doctor. She always takes extra time and is very caring! Not sure what the problem is here: this is a very busy practice. While some staff members are friendly and go out of their way to help, the more reserved staff are professional and courteous. As for Dr. Ekezian, she is a dream doctor -- not only super smart and thorough, but also extremely patient and kind. So glad I found her (and well worth the 2-3 month one time wait for new patients). Dr. Stephanie Ekezian is my doctor at this practice and I could not be happier. I have been to many doctors and she provides the most attentive and intelligent care I've ever had. Dr. Ekezian listens to me, spends ample time with me and provides thorough examinations, is a creative problem solver and consults with others if she feels that there may be another answer or additional information. I have referred friends, family and my own son to her. Everyone has been very pleased with the service she provides and she has solved problems that have been a mystery to other doctors! I have gone to this group of doctors for my general medical needs for the past six years. I chose this group simply based on its location close to my home, and I initially chose Dr. Silverstein as my doctor at random. Every time I went to see him I got an attitude that seemed to imply he thought that I was either lying or exaggerating my symptoms. What a cock; that is the last kind of thing you want to deal with when you aren't feeling well.
Since then, I have switched to Dr. Manin, and have also seen Dr. Mueller. Both are professional and caring and not too rushed to make sure they get to the bottom of your problem. I would recommend either.
Located in the ground floor of apartment building, their offices are adequate, but badly in need of some cosmetic updating. The nurses and staff are pretty good, but can be a little grumpy. Overall, this place might fit in better in the city - good or bad, in the burbs people expect chipper service and brand new surroundings. Fine for the exam - awful for the billing and paperwork.
This review is not based on my actual interaction with the doctor during my exam. My problem with Elkins Park Medical Associates is more in the business side with their handling of insurance information and billing. I have been fighting with Abington Hospital for over 6 months for lab work that was part of an annual physical and should have been coded as such. Because the doctor (Dr. Wanner) at Elkins Park Medical did not use the correct diagnosis code, the insurance company will not cover this lab work. I have personally visited the office manager at Elkins Park Medical Associates and have called them over 10 times. I have also had the insurance company call them numerous times. All they have to do is fix the diagnosis code on the claim. They have yet to resolve this issue and the bill has now gone to a collections agency. I refuse to return because of the poor way they have handled this situation and their poor customer service. If they can mess up the coding for a simple physical, how bad would it be if I actually was sick? Dr. manin is great. Staff is terrible. He was my doctor until I went to see him with a high fever, headache, etc. he said it was a virus but to call if I got worse. I got worse, had fever over 103 that would only go to 101 with Tylenol for a few hours and breathing trouble. Called 3-4 times and asked to speak with or be seen by the doctor. Each time staff told me they'd give him the message, and each time I said I was having trouble breathing and wanted to at least fond out how often it was safe to use my rescue inhaler.
No one EVER called back. Fortunately, I finally called my allergist in Cemter City Dr. Cohn who had me come right in. I took a train because I was too sick to drive, and my spouse met me there. I had full blown pneumonia, nurse practitioners and inters spent a few hours with me to clear my lungs. I could have died.
Dr. manin had never been given a single message. I now go to Temple Women's Health Center at Elkins Park. Twice I have had to call my doctor, and have received calls back within the hour. They are great.
dr. manin is great. He is just stuck with Abington staff so if you use his office, DO NOT TRUST that a message left will be received. It's a shame, because he is a great doctor. My husband still uses him, and I still have problems with staff follow through anytim I have to call for him My recent experience with this practice leads me to write this terrible review and conclude that the staff at this practice are incompetent and/or negligent. Here's my story:
My prescriptions, which I have been taking for years needed doctor approval. As I usually do, I contacted my pharmacy, which provides the service of calling the practice for approval. Four days later, the pharmacy was still waiting for approval. Since by this time, my prescriptions had completely run out I attempted calling the office only to discover that their phone system was not functioning and it was impossible to reach a staff member without physically showing up at the office. I was fairly desperate at this point, so I drove to the office to understand what was happening. When I got there I found out that they had NO record of my refill request. I know for a fact that the request was submitted, because it was on record on the website and in the system of my pharmacy. When politely confronted, the staff member said she would put the request in for the doctor right away, promising that it would get to the doctor that day.
At this point I had to go to the pharmacy to get a few emergency replacement pills, so I was set for a couple of days, knowing that the pharmacy had received my request (via email). Three days later, I went to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription when, lo and behold they had only received approval for one of the two prescriptions. Extremely frustrated at this point I called the doctor's office (they had fixed the phone system at this point) and was told that she had inexplicably JUST put in the second prescription for the doctor approval 30 minutes ago. However she assured me that the prescription would be at the pharmacy within an hour. fast forward two hours and I'm AGAIN at the pharmacy to pick up my prescription and AGAIN the doctor had not signed off.
At this point it was 3:45 on Friday afternoon and calling my doctor's office I was shocked to find that they had closed for the weekend WITHOUT signing off on my prescription.
Finally, after exhausting every other option, and frantic that I would not have my medication till Monday at the earliest, I called their medical emergency line and was able to get my prescription through that service.
I don't know if this is an outlier or not, but I do know that this type of negligence/incompetence is completely unacceptable. I saw the lovely nurse practitioner (Michelle) today as a new patient and she was wonderful. She was thorough, kind, gentle and knowledgeable. She answered all my questions and was very patient. I initially came to this practice to see Dr. Ekezian who is also very good - she treated me when I was in the hospital for pneumonia and I needed a new doctor so that's why I came to this practice.
I am very happy here and I think I've finally found my new PCP! I highly recommend this office.
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name: Pete’s Place, address: 604 South St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: closed, categories: Korean, Restaurants, Chicken Wings, Asian Fusion, text: I was thrilled when I saw that the chef is offering gluten free options and placed an order for the tofu stew. It was delicious and the perfect comfort meal for a cold rainy day. The video demonstrating how to crack the poached egg was adorable. My only suggestions are the broth needed salt which was not a big deal I added some Celtic salt which did the trick, and also there could have been more rice in the container. Aside from that it was wonderful and I hope they expand the gluten free options. I appreciate the innovation and the "kinda korean" aspect but overall I think the food is just okay and overpriced (the menu items in general. Not just from what I got). I didn't love everything and I think some things need to be tweaked. But theres other items on the menu that I want to try. So I'm willing to go back, so this place isn't all bad. I ordered the korean fried cauliflower, the potato salad, rice cake fries, rice pudding, the hot dog, and honey butter chips.
The cauliflower - I wish it was more crispy and the flavor was not preferable. There was an earthy flavor on the sauce that I didn't like. The spiciness was nice and not that spicy. I think I would've preferred something more tangy or sweet. I imagine this is cooked the same way the korean fried chicken is so I'm glad I didn't get that. There's better places for kfc that's cheaper. The cauliflower was good enough to finish the dish as leftovers tomorrow but I prob wouldn't get it again. I will say the portion made the price understandable ($14 and the whole container bottom was filled. I took the pic after eating a few pieces)
Potato salad - the flavor was really good and I liked the crunchy things on top. But I really wish the texture was like traditional potato salad, and not like mashed potatoes. It would improve the dish immensely.
Rice cake fries - I was looking forward to this because I LOVE rice cakes and fried rice cakes sounded amazing. But I think the texture just wasn't there. At first it kinda felt like fried mozzarella. But then it felt mushier than a rice cake should be. It's wasn't chewy, it was just soft. I think they would be better if they were smaller or thinner. I think them being so thick ruined the texture and the fried bits to rice cake ratio. I didn't eat more than 2. I won't get them again. The kimchi ketchup that cake with it was AMAZING. It almost tasted like salsa tho.
Rice pudding - it was nice. Sweet. The toppings were a good addition. Not really much to say more than that.
Hot dog - me and my mom liked the toppings. And I liked the bun. But we didn't. Like the actual hot dog. It wasn't a strong flavor. And I couldn't tell what type of meat it was. It didn't look like a beef or pork hot dog. It looks lighter like chicken or turkey. It had a nice snap but it wasn't dense to give a good chew. It kinda tasted like the mini sausages you get at hot pot. I actually think they should've used the kimchi ketchup on it instead of mustard. Not the worst. Not the best. I wouldn't pay $10 again for it.
Honey butter chips - I loved these. Sweet and savory with a few chili flakes on them. I wonder how long they last. I'm worried they're get soggy if I try eating them tomorrow. (Please excuse the pic, I took it after they sat out for a bit)
Other things I wanna try are the tofu stew, the kimchi Tsukemen ramen, the ssam, and the sesame cake. So Pete's place hasn't disappointed me enough to never go again. And the menu looks intriguing. But what I got today I just didn't love (mostly). But I'm glad I got to try it. This was one of the better takeout meals I've had in recent memory... Pete's Place is known as "kinda Korean" because of their inventive approach to both Korean and non-Korean dishes. We started off with the crispy rice cake fries and the chicken wings. The fries have such a unique and fun texture (crisp outside and soft gelatinous inside) and a delicious savory flavor. The chicken wings is just really good Korean fried chicken with a sweet and tangy sauce. I ordered the pork belly ramen and my wife had the tofu bibimbap. They were both delicious. They also sent a QR code that links to a video of Peter Serpico and his daughter instructing us how to properly crack the included egg into our dishes. Such a fun idea! Will definitely order again soon. I'm so happy to write this review because I was nearly hit by a car while walking across the street to pick up order -- ha!
The last meal I had in Philly before the pandemic was a great one at Serpico, so I was over the moon to discover Pete's Place. My boyfriend and I ordered the bibimbap with marinated ground pork, chicken ramen, and soft tofu stew for his birthday meal.
The bibimbap had fresh flavors, but was not particularly memorable. The braised pork belly in the tofu stew was great, but the soup was not especially flavorful.
But the chicken ramen? Outstanding. I would buy a bucket of that broth if it were sold in grocery stores!
So four stars and much gratitude from me. Even some parts of some dishes were lackluster, my partner and I really appreciated this meal overall and would definitely visiting before Serpico comes back and Pete's Place possibly disappears forever! Maaaaaan I've been following them on IG for a few months dreaming of their crispy wings and tonight I finally had the pleasure of trying . Ordered the wings, cauliflower and potato salad . All were amazing. Normally potato salad is potato salad and somewhat basic but this was different - spicy and creamy and amazing . Will def be ordering again ! Food was delish! I definitely recommend the wings and ramen. Prices are bit high, but typical of Starr restaurants. A must try during covid! i'm obsessed with korean food and any time there's a pop up in the city i must try it so when i heard serpico's own chef Peter Serpico was creating a korean pop up i had to try!
i ordered 6 things and it came to about $110, so it's def on the pricey side but things of good quality and great packaging usually are!
kimchi noodles (4.5) - these were so good! great noodles and broth. flavor was on point. only thing missing for me was an egg, especially for the price i think should have been included
rice cake fries (3/5) - i love rice cakes so i had to try these. they were OK, i wish they had more flavor but the kimchi ketchup was a tasty add on. i'd love to see an incorporation of ddukbboki somehow into the menu instead
korean wings (3.75/5) these had a lot of flavor BUT i needed something more. either a meatier wing, or more crunch or more spice in the flavor. my go to KFC will still be cafe soho for now
short rib ssam (4.5/5)- this was my favorite dish. the beef was cooked perfectly and the kimchi relish and ssam sauce were ON POINT. my only argument is that i could have def used more baby lettuce especially for the price
rice pudding (5/5) - i normally dont like rice pudding but i saw everyone raving about these so i had to try. the flavor profile is so unique. it was nutty, slightly sweety and a dessert umami that i loved. i've never had something like this before and i hope it becomes something more frequent in my life!
overall, great delivery packaging and timing, quality of the ingredients were amazing and very tasty! definitely want to try the other items on the menu (hot dog, stews, bibimbaps) ! Just had my first taste of Pete's Place and I can't wait for my second. Ordered the chicken noodle soup through Cavier. Order came on time and the Miso broth was separate from the noodles, pulled chicken and assorted veggies, which is the sign of a good chef. Merely heat up the broth a little and pour over the ingredients and it's like having fresh from the kitchen. Plenty of tasty ramenesque noodles, and chicken. Mmm good. The rest of the menu looks tasty also. Think I'll try the pot roast next! After being tempted from Serpico's IG posts, we did a pick up order. Its all a teeny bit pricey and I missed the excitement of getting ban chan that usually comes with Korean meals, but the Serpico quality makes it worth ordering at least once.
Ranked in order:
Pork Ramen- rich, classic ramen
Short Rib Ssam- super clean flavors
Rice Pudding- the dulce de leche flavor is so good
Rice Cake Fries- fun idea, fun to eat
Sesame Cake- interesting taste and texture
KFC- good but there are better in the city
Potato salad- this was mostly mayo and while it tasted good, it was unsettling I love korean food and was super happy to hear this place opening close to me! Sad about Serpico, but at least it's super cool of them for trying something else out in this super weird time.
They have a website portal to order through, but you can also order through DoorDash for delivery. Prices are a little high for takeout, but I wouldn't begrudge them of that in such a harsh climate for restaurants and with apps taking cuts from them.
Pickup was smooth and they were ready when I went to pickup like 25 minutes later. Everything was packaged carefully and although I hate plastic packaging, the containers are probably good enough to be reused for something else. The wings and bibimbap came in a packaging I would assume would be more environmental friendly as it seemed like those compostable bowls from sweetgreen or chipotle.
In to the food. The Korean fried chicken was indeed a must get item. Super crispy with a candy like crunch, it's quite a classic. The sauce is sweet and spicy and hits all the right places with flavor. You get seven pieces and it's a good mix of drumsticks and wings.
The chicken stew I would say is good but not my favorite. I can't say I expected too much for stew in takeout, but I wish the chicken was more tender and there was more spicy flavor in the broth. Umami flavors were good and the potato and carrots where soft and tender.
The bibimbap is a pretty easy go to and it was as I expected a bibimbap to be. The marinated pork shoulder was seasoned well and each of the different toppings (bean sprouts, spinach, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and cucumber) came together beautifully with the sauce. The rice pearls were an interesting addition and I liked the added crunch!
I'll definitely come back and try the noodle options next time as there are quite a few. Another order of the korean fried chicken is definitely happening soon too! We've been here twice now. Pricey but good. Our favorites were pickled pepper noodles (had a nice heat), soft tofu stew (easy and comforting to eat), and the wings (we agree with Craig La Ban, they're awesome). Ordered the pepper ramen, spicy chicken ramen, pot roast and two each of the pickles and potato salad (meal for two--my husband and I are big eaters). All was delicious and I strongly recommend the sides which went perfectly with the mains. I particularly liked the ramen noodles used--perfect shape, chewiness, and flavor. I think Pete has my favorite ramen noodles of any ramen I have had in Philly!
Of note: care is taken with the packaging since this is pick up or delivery only. We picked up since we live in Fishtown and are not in the radius of Pete's capacity to deliver though he is available through other delivery systems. We ordered directly from Pete's website. Soup was separated from the spicy chicken ramen. And the soft boiled eggs were left in their shells. Pete has a video showing his daughter displaying how you'd crack the egg and pour it out onto your ramen--you just need to scan the lid. We didn't realize this but my husband figured it out pretty easily. He just cracked the top (the narrower part of the egg is what we chose) to create a hole about 2cm in diameter and poured the egg out. Run by chef extroadinaire Peter Serpico, Pete's Place is a "kinda-korean" takeout spot that offers noodles, soups, entrees and all things delicious. I've been a fangirl ever since I had his food at Anju a while back so checking out his new spot was a no-brainer for me since I was up in PHL.
This popup is nothing short of amazing, and if you have the opportunity to go, you definitely, DEFINITELY need to do so. Get his Tsukemen, marinated boneless short rib ssam, potato salad, and Korean fried chicken wings. Also the rice pudding. Don't leave without getting one (...or two) of those to go! Pete's Place is a new casual Korean takeout concept run out of the Serpico kitchen, and unlike other Korean concepts we've seen this year (looking at you Char Kol), this one doesn't pretend to be fully authentic (it's Instagram handle is @petesplace.kindakorean), but it has a Korean chef, and the food is all comfort and heart, no frills. Ok, that's a lie, there are some frills, it is no Korean kimbap takeout or fried chicken joint, and the prices reflect that. But the food is exactly what you want to be eating as the weather cools down- noodles, soups, stews, and sticky crunchy slightly spicy delicious wings.
We got the wings ($18 for 7), potato salad ($6- more like mashed potatoes with crunchy stuff on top, this wasn't our favorite), steak ssam special ($29 came with rice, lettuce wraps, carrot, cucumber, broccoli a delicious spicy sauce and the steak was cooked and marinated perfectly), and the tsukemen style dipping ramen ($18 noodles come separate from the thick flavorful kimchi broth with pork belly and pork shoulder so tender you'll forget it's meat). The noodles were sticky and hard to pry from the takeout container, but that's the takeout life we live, I guess. For 2 hungry people that was too much food for one meal, but it was so good that I ate all of it and was uncomfortably full the rest of the night.
Loved the QR codes on the takeout containers; "scan me" seemed like an Alice in Wonderland-like invitation, and the rabbit hole led us to adorable videos of the chef and his daughter thanking us for ordering and giving instructions for how to dip the noodles in the broth and add the starchy water afterwards to drink the broth. In this sad period of shuttered restaurants and masked waiters, and contactless delivery left on your doorstep with only a text, a video message from the chef feels like such a welcome treat, and a way to make takeout more personal. So glad to see Serpico back at it, and bringing comforting Korean fusion and flavors into our kitchens and living rooms. I'm a fan of the Starr restaurants and Pete's place easily rose to one of my favorite's... they're able to deliver great food to-go, which alone I'm impressed by; the broth is delivered separate than the noodles and egg, which I think helps to keep the broth hot & preserves the flavors; and over the ramen is great, the best I've had thus far. I've gotten the spicy chicken ramen twice and tried the fried cauliflower once which did not disappoint. It's a bit pricey, which is the only downfall but the flavor convinced me to order again.. and now I'm hooked! Roommate ordered the Korean Wings and gave a 4.5 star rating (but had to round down because Yelp).
He said "wings were exquisite" and the taste was awesome. The rice pudding was also really good and smelled great. He normally doesn't ever have rice pudding so it was a gamble.
The .5 star deduction is for the value aka price component. He said it's more of a $15-$16 range order vs the $18. But will definitely still buy again. Had high hopes and food was good I'd give it 4 stars but minus 3 since they gave me only one flat wing the rest were drums. Make sure to request 1/2 flat 1/2 drums or they will screw you too!
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name: Mr. Cools HVAC & Appliance Repair, address: 2865 W Main St, city: Norristown, stars_x: 1.0, is_open: opening, categories: Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Plumbing, Local Services, Home Services, Appliances & Repair, text: Not sure what he did but aftwr he left my ac un had no gas in it i assume he remived all of the refrigerant. His work is shotty and was just corrected by a tru professional . run fast very fast when you see him coming he needs to be retrained or recertified So far he has taken my money and broke my AC unit. Im waiting to see his resolution tomorrow and I'll update this review accordingly. I hope I don't have to get the authorities involved. But I do not recommend hiring this person as of right now. Maybe that will change tomorrow, although I don't see how if my AC isn't up and running perfectly like it was before this guy came to my house. Do not use!!!! He was supposed to come back two days in a row but was too busy, but wasn't too busy to cash my check. He does not stand behind his work. Will never use again The competency of this individual is not there. He was supposed to replace a whole bathtub and all the pipes associated with it. The day of I was called and told that it is not necessary to change the whole tub to stop the leak he would like to just change a few pipes still charging me half the price of the original job none the less he said it would be good as new so I agreed even though he was late he was Supposed to start in the morning but showed up at 2 p.m. left then came back 2 hours later did 2 hours worth of work did not fix the leak. My tenants let me know it was raining in their living room later that night during a shower, the lack of professionalism caused the need to hire another business that would accept a credit card not cash or check only as desired. If you plan to take a chance on this guy for his good price do not pay him until the work is complete because chances are he won't be able to complete the work properly. His bedside manner is not to be bragging about either. Terrible! Stay away! I was referred by a friend. He does not replace all the parts back. He does not guarantee his work. Once called about faulty work he did not show up for appointment. I had to hire another company to fix his work. I can't get my money back but hopefully I can save yours.
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name: Candy Nation, address: 496 Lower Fricks Lock Rd, Ste 200, city: Pottstown, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Candy Stores, Food, Specialty Food, text: Great selection of my favorite flavors of candy corn. Always in stock Easy to place orders; great prices; super fast shipping. Products are superb... What else could I ask for? Will be a repeat customer for sure! Wide variety of candies available on its website (lots of stuff from other parts of the country / throwback candy). They ship Priority Mail so you get it quickly, or you can pick it up locally (appointment only). Great product and great customer service. I will definitely order again and would recommend without hesitation For those who remember they have ice cubes! Not ice silly. Chocolate candy ice cubes with that smooth soft cool chocolate in the center that melts in your mouth. Thank you candy nation. I'm ordering them can't wait to get them. I know Ill love them. Never knew I couldnt get them. Just googled it and was shocked. So happy. Try them. You really can't go wrong. Nothing not to like. I ordered a large selection of candies from Candy Nation, everything came nicely packaged and tasted great! After receiving my order I realized I had some missing items. I contacted customer service and they quickly resolved the problem. I will be using them in the future. I was shocked to discover, after check out, a $57 shipping fee for a $203 purchase. We are a public school PTSA doing a senior party - too much for us! I'm cancelling the order. I am a repeat customer with Candy Nation as I have received excellent products and been given awesome customer service. Customer service has gone by the wayside, but not with this company. They have been very courteous and accommodating and cared about me and my purchase. They communicate extremely well via both email and returning calls. Be sure to leave a message, they return calls promptly. Seriously, I have been very happy each time I've purchased and I highly recommend them. They had a HUGE selection and the best prices trust me I searched and searched and they were the absolute lowest
Then they found out it was for a school and automatically gave me a discount AFTER I paid they didn't have to do that that was awesome. On top of that it all came so quickly and packaged so well I was truly happy with this company and will forever use them in the future. I'm diabetic. Candy Nation is my go to place for sugar free candies and chocolate. They have a huge selection, all my favorites. My order is always well packaged and shipped quickly, arriving two days later, coast to coast. Their prices are good, even with shipping charges which seem reasonable. Communication via email has always been good. Thanks Candy Nation. NEVER ORDER WITH THIS COMPANY. Their customer service is so terrible. I called them 20 times in a day and reached their voicemail 19/20 times. It is crazy. My package didn't ship and they didn't call to tell till the afternoon the next day. They weren't flexible... Also a 4/6 candies that I ordered were not available but they didn't say so on the website, so that set me back even more because I had to try and replace the candy really quickly but because they never answer their phone and are slow with emails it was painful. Terrible job. We ordered a large quantity of the Richardson Gourmet Mints and they were absolutely delicious. We used them for a business meeting and had to have them shipped to the hotel. We were worried about them melting, but Stacey assured us that they would pack them so that they wouldn't. The candy arrived on time and each package was bubble wrapped with ice packs. We were so pleased and we appreciate all the effort that was put into assisting us. I was in constant communication and I always received a reply. THANK YOU Candy Nation and special THANKS to Stacey for going the extra mile to help make our meeting a success. My ordering from Candy Nation was easy. The order came earlier than expected. Their customer service was very helpful. When I run out of my order, I will definitely order again from them. I highly recommend them. I'm so excited I found Candy Nation as I searched the web for the best place to purchase candy for my upcoming Spilling The Tea on Cancer Afternoon Tea Party! The selection is top notch and the best prices. Even better, they shipped very fast to California. There was a little mishap where the box was damaged during shipping. Candy Nation quickly replaced my damaged items. I received my order with time to spare. I'm an event planner, so I'll definitely be coming back! Another successful order with Candy Nation!
I'm glad to see that Candy Nation is up and running strong during the pandemic. My order arrived relatively fast - no issues whatsoever.
The only problem I have with Candy Nation is they are slow to inform me when something is out-of-stock. It takes them 2 or 3 days to let me know. I used to have problems with my account and the website but they seem to have fixed this.
Overall good service and amazing inventory. I'm bumping them up to 4 stars.
Thumbs up!
-Daddy Maxx Retro A great company to work with! They have a great selection of new and classic candy that our customers love! And their prices are affordable for those of us running small businesses ourselves. I highly recommend them! We just received our first order with Candy Nation. It arrived exactly how we ordered. All together we ordered approximately 13 pounds of different types of chocolate.
We are very pleased with the merchandise. We were a little worried because the box looked bad but that was from the ice packs we ordered.
Thank you for suggesting to order with each item.
Pricing was cheaper than in stores, even with shipping and ice packs.
Delivery was within a week from ordering.
We will be ordering again!
Thank you for Outstanding merchandise and Great service.
Sincerely
Carman The prices are comparable to other online candy shops. I placed a $50 candy order which included one ice pack for a gummy product. I did not receive the ice pack that I paid for and the gummy candies melted slightly together (parts of the gummy snakes softened enough to allow them to attach together).
They have reached out to resolve the issue (which is why my rating has changed) with a full product refund including the individual shipping cost for the item.
Mistakes happen, but Candy Nation resolved the issue completely and with respect for me as a customer, which is what any 5 star company would do. Will buy again. Always a pleasure to buy from, the customer service is great! They are always so quick to respond and help you out anyway possible. I'm mostly happy with Candy Nation except for a few glitches that I hope they fix.
GOOD:
1. I like the huge selection of candy. It's one of the best on the internet.
2. The prices seem very fair.
3. I disagree with the negative review about shipping costs. I think shipping is fine. You have to realize that most candy is pretty heavy. So if you mail over 200 bucks worth of candy across the country, crossing several postal zones (especially if you're on the opposite coast), you're gonna drop some dough for postage.
BAD:
1. Order processing is slow. The mail transit time is fine. But it seems to always be a few days for them to process my order and I don't get my stuff for a week...despite 2 day shipping once it finally hits the mail.
2. The ordering website is sketchy. If I try to order through my account, it never works. I always need to buy as a new unregistered customer to get my order accepted. Weird. They need to hire an IT guy.
3. Customer service sucks if you make a phone call. Don't bother. But it's good if you e-mail. They respond promptly.
4. It seems like they're commonly out of something and they want to substitute something else. (Maybe I just have bad luck.) This is a little irritating because there are several other places I can order if I knew they were out-of-stock. They should keep their site updated with outages.
Overall, I'll definitely keep buying. But I plan ahead. I don't order if I'm in a hurry. Realistically, I plan to wait up to a week for my candy to arrive.
-Daddy Maxx Retro Ordered large gum drops that took over a month for delivery, tracked package until it was delivered to Nebraska except I live in Michigan. The company never communicate back after several emails...never got the product or a refund. I sent an email to the Better Business Bureau. Save your money there are way better options out there for you. INCREDIBLE customer service and AWESOME selection of candy. I placed an order and needed it expedited, so I reached out to customer service and heard back the next morning that they had shipped my order out with 2-day shipping. HIGHLY recommend checking them out! this is the response i got... again save your money and order from somewhere else
Unfortunately per the warning banner in the checkout our shipping partners (UPS and The Postal Service) are experiencing extended delays in delivery. Mail carriers are working diligently to process packages as quickly as possible while keeping everyone safe during these unprecedented times.
As your order has already been shipped and is not considered lost by USPS we are unable to issue a refund at this time, however if you need to return your order once received please respond to this email for assistance (sales@candynation.com).
We sincerely appreciate your business, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Candy Nation
610-326-4901 Received my order as promised, and the quality was perfect! I'm giving them 2 stars I ordered a sizable amount of candy. 9 bags arrived torn and falling into the box out of there bags .. they did give me a credit of 42.00 dollars but still The aggregation of having to sort through the candy and salvage what I could .. please pack
Your candy better or shipping so other customers don't go through this .. I ordered candy for our Christmas Eve candy bar. Everything was shipped quickly and came packaged extremely nicely. All candy was very fresh and appealing. I will be using Candy Nation for all my bulk candy needs from now on. They are fantastic to deal with! I ordered 8 bags of 5 lbs. chocolate almonds and paid additional fee for the ice packs. My candies arrive melted, box half torn, only received 3 small ice packs, and had no insulation. I was offered a refund of half of what I paid for as a "General courtesy". Don't buy from them. First time ordering from Candy Nation and I'm super satisfied with my purchase. Before stumbling upon this company, I looked at several others. Their prices were extremely high and a lot of them were sold out of what I was looking for which were retro candy boxes. Candy Nation has the best retro boxes!! Takes me back to my childhood with the 80's & 90's boxes!! The customer service was great & I received my order really fast!
All of my customers loved the candy, so I'll definitely be ordering more soon! I ordered 2 pounds of chocolate Jordan candy, The candy arrive broken, melted even with an ice pack.the bag inside was torn Very slow processing orders and shipping...took 3 days to process order for 3 items, then shipped the following week! Shipping charges were outrageous! Beware. Although, candy selection is okay. I was very impressed with the enormous selection of various items to choose from. I have had a couple of orders and they were both received very quickly and in excellent condition. I had requested that a couple of orders be combined. The customer service was outstanding, and the products were excellent I will definitely order from them again and highly recommend them! I recently attended a wedding that had a candy bar that was provided by Candy Nation! The candies were displayed beautifully, matched the color theme, and were tasty! I checked out the website - www.candynation.com - and they have a HUGE selection of candies at very reasonable prices!
Do yourself a favor and purchase your bulk candy needs here!
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name: Days Hotel West Chester- Brandywine Valley, address: 943 S. High St, city: West Chester, stars_x: 2.0, is_open: closed, categories: Event Planning & Services, Hotels & Travel, Hotels, text: They cant be any more rude. And it would help if you tell the customer that they are booking a smoking room. And making stupid excuses thay its the last room. I won't give one star because this room did exactly what we needed it to. Provide a place to sleep.
That's the extent of the convenience.
We walked in at 2 pm an hour before check in. We stayed at another hotel the night before and they let us check in as soon as a room was cleaned and ready... So we gave it a shot with an hour before check in. The gentleman at the desk was not very nice. I simply said "we're an hour early but if anything is available could we possibly..." And he cut me off right there and said "no we can't do that, we were booked last night and nothing is ready"... Ok. I'll take it. However he didn't look at anything, just shot us down. It was weird and off putting.
We came back an hour later and got to our room in a very eery hallway. The doors looked jenky and we were truly scared on what we would find on the other side. Very insane asylum feel to this place. Upon opening the door, our bathroom was 0 stars. The shower had no doors, a dirty floor, and was half of the bathroom with a long drain in the middle of the room. Pretty sure it was a handicapped friendly room. But the dirty floor was unacceptable. The sink needed a draino session. And the quarter sized black spider is probably the only guest that can appreciate this room.
Our bed sagged on one side. There was what I assume to be a motion censor pointed to our bed? No idea. Our air conditioner was faulty. Just such a grungy feel. The blinds had literally been eaten away at spots. So we had little holes through our curtains. I paid $110 for this room through Expedia. Maybe my own fault but pictures were deceiving. I will spend more and avoid this unpleasant surprise next time.
Bleh. I need a shower. Because we refused to take one there with Charlottes Web on one side and black grime on the other.
Better places to stay. This is a Days Inn so you can't walk in expecting a five star experience. The hotel served its purpose. It provided us with a clean, quiet, relatively safe place to sleep and shower. However, the bed was horribly uncomfortable and for that reason alone I would not return. Fiancé and I are relocating to Phoenix and stayed here the first evening of our drive down from New England. We checked in around 7:30pm on a Monday and checked out around 8:30am on a Tuesday. The entire time we were there we did not see a single other guest. It was kinda creepy. The room was clean and comfortable with the exception of the bed. The mattress must have been 20 years old. All the coils in the center were shot, producing a large sinkhole. We barely slept and woke up with back pain. Also, the heater in the room was screwed up and the room was a sauna even with the heater set to 68 degrees. This added to the unpleasantness of the situation. The continental breakfast was sufficient but nothing special. Muffins, somewhat stale breads and cereals, milk, apples, oranges, and coffee. Fiancé had some milk and a muffin and I had an orange. Then we checked out and hit Starbucks for some real Java. The breakfast situation was kinda funny because again it felt like we were the only two guests in the entire hotel. Place was a ghost town! For the price we paid ($48) our stay was fine so I really can't complain. I think the hotel would do well if they were to raise the rates a bit and invest in some renovations such as newer mattresses. I wouldn't mind paying a few extra dollars to not toss and turn all night. I stayed here since there was a block of rooms for a local wedding I was attending. The price was good, only $95 for the night with the wedding rate. This hotel was about what you'd expect for the price. The bathrooms had visible (multiple) hairs on the floor and in the tub. The sink drain was slow, nearly clogged, and the toilet didn't flush all contents with one flush. There were also questionable stains on the bed cover. The guests of this hotel were loud late at night and the walls were thin, which made the sound travel more. Most alarming, there was an unidentified object on the wall pointed towards the bed, we were concerned it was a camera or motion censor. We covered it because we weren't sure of its purpose. In the future, I would opt to "splurge" for a nicer hotel. The room was disgusting! The smell of the room was repulsive when I first walked in, the shower was filthy, the wash rags and towels had stains all over them, and there were roaches on the ceiling. This was not the experience that I expected to have. I will never book a room in this hotel ever again! Booked this room through Expedia when we needed a place to stay when back east for a nephew's wedding and do some sightseeing. For the purpose of sleep and showering, changing etc the place is fine. It has some lingering cigarette smoke and it's clean, the staff pleasant and the breakfast very convenient but there was something that just raised my hackles beyond belief. The faucet in the ONE sink was obviously a replacement since all those hotels are template cookie-cutter stuff and this dang faucet did not reach out far enough into the sink; part of it hit the counter and splashed water ALL OVER THE COUNTER. Every. Single. Time. Major inconvenience and it got so bad that we were using cups to get the water instead of letting it run into the sink (which it didn't do anyway because it just flooded the counter!) I cannot believe that no one in housekeeping has complained about it and made management think about getting a faucet that actually is long enough to go to the sink. It boggled my mind how that could a) happen since the hotels are pretty "standard" and b) no one that worked there cared enough to fix it! Unreal. They also couldn't seem to program our room keys for the 3 days we were there because each night when we returned we had to go to the desk to get the activated - again. Every. Single. Time. At least they were pleasant about it and they even gave me band aids for my blistered feet when returning from sightseeing. It's a good enough place to sleep in and that's really all we did. The sink in room 305 is a disgrace though. Beds are comfortable, internet access is good, location is convenient. The only issue is that the bedside table was filthy - clearly a housekeeping oversight last time the room was cleaned. My husband stayed here for 4.5 months. We went and visited for 2 weeks. It was a great stay. No issues. The hotel staff was very accommodating. There is A LOT for families to do with in reasonable driving distance.
Our rooms were cleaned as needed, and any issue we had was taken care of immediately. My one complaint, the carpets in the rooms need to be cleaned more frequently. I brought this to the manager's attention. Bathroom had a lot of black mold, I advise you to check your room thoroughly if you stay here. We all woke up sick and management ignored out complaints. This hotel is everything that is wrong from West Chester. I ended up having to book a block of rooms recently for my wedding in West Chester. The hallway and my hotel room had a pungent, stale odor. On top of that, there was hair on one of my towels. Also when someone flushed the toilet or ran a sink in the room next to me, water rushed overhead while I was in the bathroom. I seriously thought it was going to come through the ceiling, which is not what you want to worry about when you are about to get ready for your wedding.
The clientele here was even more shady and rude. When I forgot my room key when I was outside the hotel, a man who walked in right before me who had his key would not let me in because I "didn't looked like I belonged there." I had to walk all the way around to the front entrance of the hotel in the rain. On top of that, people were hanging out in the hallway at night.
It's really disappointing because I had told my friends and family a lot of great things about West Chester, but this hotel is in the forefront of their minds. This hotel is what they now think of when the topic of West Chester comes up. I doubt they will ever come back to visit.
DO NOT STAY HERE. It is AWFUL. If you have a wedding in West Chester, go a little farther out to a nicer hotel where people actually have manners and you don't have to smell a horrible odor as you fall asleep. If the Hotel Warner actually has a block of rooms open, go there. Avoid this place at all costs. We were registered for two nights and had to be moved twice because of maintenance problems. The first room had a broken heating unit so the room was freezing. The second room had a leaking toilet so there was water all over the floor. Apparently they only have maintenance available a few hours a day so their only solution was to move us. The rooms and bathrooms were small, the beds were either lumpy or sagging, the food was subpar. I wouldn't stay there again. We had our wedding at the Days Hotel on May 2, 2015. We truly couldn't have asked for a better day. For a year and a half of planning, Scott, Rodney, Chris, and the entire staff at the hotel made everything so wonderful. They were always available by email and phone to answer any questions we had, or to make sure they doing whatever we wanted for our special day. Any reviews on this website that talk about anything negative, honestly just isn't true. From the management, to the front desk staff, to the kitchen staff, and the maintenance staff...the entire place truly cares about its customers. They made us feel so welcome, and they made our guests who stayed overnight feel so welcome as well. And most of all, they helped to make our wedding day the most special day of our lives because of the care, love, and commitment they all showed. We would recommend this hotel for any event, wedding, or hotel night stay in a heartbeat. Terrible customer service skills from every employee here. I was trying to complain to them before i wrote this review and complained to corporate. Unfortunately, they didn't want to hear anything I had to say. When I told them I had an issue with the service here and the fact that my key didn't work at 1 am, she cut me off and asked me could I get in now? So I started again, and then she started speaking over me again talking about maintenance issues. Never once apologizing.
The main problem was that when we checked in at 1am, The keys didn't work. They turned red as if we re in the wrong room. After I walk all the way back to the front desk, she gave me another key and and acted as if it was my fault. She also gave me a master key . Only the master key worked.
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name: Kennett Square Mushroom Festival, address: 114 W State St, city: Kennett Square, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: Shopping, Local Flavor, Festivals, Arts & Entertainment, text: This was our 1st venture to the Kennett Square mushroom festival it was enjoyable as far as arts and crafts and a variety of food vendors,but There were not as many mushroom food than use artisans as I would have expected Its fun the first time you go. Take a tour of a mushroom house. But really, how much mushroom themed items would you want to buy or put in your yard? It reminds me of a church carnival, but slightly mushroom themed. All the restaurants have seating outside while the main street is closed to vehicles. But they also charge quite a bit for their mushroom specials. The biggest issue I had was they try to sell you a bracelet like you needed it for admission but it really was not required. If you stood in line they would gladly sell you a bracelet and not tell you that you could walk the street for free, and it was only required for certain events. It is nice to see some support for the mushroom famers who are constantly being complained to by all the fancy rich people who move into the area about the smell of mushroom soil and why they can't make it smell like potpourri. Great day to spend with family and taste some of the mushroom dishes here that they have to offer! And they have rides for the little ones and many display too see! I went to this, participated in the 5k, mostly so I could say I ran in a mushroom 5k, hehe. Worth it! It was so cool, if you love mushrooms go! If you don't love mushrooms, also go because they're so many other vendors. I was disappointed in the small selection types of mushrooms available for purchase, only like 4 kinds, and pretty common ones. The dishes that local restaurants were selling were pretty decent. The other thing I didn't like was the large amount of random vendors with unrelated mushroom stuff...but I guess how many mushroom themed things can you sell? Anyway, they had a mushroom ice cream which I regret not trying. Maybe next year. This festival is a staple in Kennett Square and its not to be missed!! New location for 2021 Mushroom Festival was bad. Itabsolutely destroyed its specialness. It does not belong in a fenced-in schoolyard setting many blocks downhill from the nice downtown. This is how to kill a festival.
I and my family have been coming for years
I hope this is a one time relocation due to COVID, and it returns next year to where it belongs. If not I will never return.
Rodger H
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name: Pathmark, address: 3021 Grays Ferry Ave, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 2.5, is_open: closed, categories: Food, Grocery, text: This Pathmark is just bad for produce, meats & seafood. Really bad. Go elsewhere, please.
If you need the basic staples for your pantry & you live in the neighborhood & you don't drive, work it out as best you can. this market is ok. it's an ok distance from where i live. it's usually pretty clean and organized. the staff has always been friendly. love that they have a parking lot! the reason for the three stars is for the lack of cashiers during peak days/times. Prices on canned goods such as Tuttorossa crushed tomatoes, Goya kidney beans, etc are more expensive here than at Shoprite or Superfresh. Can't do pantry bulk stock up like with ShopRite's can-can sale.
Produce selection is horrible with sticky containers of berries, dirty garlic and a poor selection of lettuce offering only Dole prepackaged mixes, no arugula ever either. Never any good mushrooms either. I shop at Pathmark b/c it is super close to my house (I don't own a car) and it's dirt cheap. I would absolutely recommend this supermarket for the everyday sort of items or those you typically stock up on - canned goods, toiletries, paper items, household cleaners, dry goods, etc. There are amazing deals all the time on the things we use/consume the most often. The place is relatively clean, although once, someone snuck their little rat dog in and it pooped in a shopping cart/onto the floor in the frozen section and it was not cleaned up right away at all - AND they left the cart (w/ poop and all) right there for everyone to walk by and gag.
If it's produce you're trying to buy, Iovine's in the Reading Terminal Market is even cheaper for 100x better quality products. However, the produce isn't horrid here either. I WOULD NEVER BUY SEAFOOD OR MEAT here - items like Purdue chicken/turkey where you KNOW the items have been packaged securely and cannot be reopened are OK. The deli counter is the slowest this side of the Mason-Dixon and I have encountered several employees who have mis-priced cold cuts (make sure you check their work). I even had one experience where the guy yelled AT ME for not telling him it was on sale... he specifically said "How am I suppose to know what's on sale all the time?"... ummmmm... yeah. So, customer service is definitely not enforced in the store - not to say that every employee is a jerk.
Sometimes, items marked on sale in the circular aren't marked on sale on the shelf - I usually forgo the items especially on large trips when I often forget to make sure the prices come up correctly at the register. NEVER GO ON THURSDAYS - the aisles are a mess w/ new products and price stickers go missing b/c new sales start on Fridays. By Sunday, most items on sale have not been restocked from the weekend masses either.
If you are bringing your own bag(s), don't use the self check out lines... the scales are retarded and the employees aren't usually the most observant or even locatable when you need assistance.
If you ride a bike, like me, and typically can only buy what you can carry on your back, there is a bike rack and other poles and such available to lock up to - never had a problem with that. I live in West Philly and don't have easy access to good grocery stores. The stores here are also either very dirty, or crowded, or expensive, or all three, so I'm always looking for something else sort of nearby that just needs to be decent.
I stumbled upon this Pathmark and decided to go in and grab some apples. I was very impressed and decided to do all my shopping there that day.
This place is clean, not crowded, produce OK, lighting good, and no long wait in the checkout line. Staff was also friendly.
A little out of my way, but for me definitely worth making the trip. This Pathmark is WAY better than it used to be. Mind you im giving it 4 stars in comparison to similar stores (it's no whole foods). I noticed that were making changes a few months ago...went in the other day and the produce seemed fresher and they now offer way more healthy alternatives and international foods (more than before). warning: always check the expiration date on any dairy product you buy here. every single time that i've been there and gone to purchase a dairy item, there were expired units on the shelf. every. single. time. This pathmark is the closest grocery store to my house, and I'm glad it's here because it saves me a lot of trips to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. However, I'm always slightly annoyed when I leave here. I swear the selection of some products changes weekly. For example, I bought a fantastic vanilla almond milk here that had 5x the normal amount of protein. 1 week later when I returned to purchase the same thing it was nowhere to be found. Other times I came looking for some greek yogurt and was pretty disappointed with the selection, and noticed that the organization was pretty bad too. They had brands of cottage cheese that divided sections of yogurt. (a side note: they do stock kefir cultures [for now], which is a new favorite of mine)
Other items like fresh produce and nuts can be ridiculously expensive--watch out or you could end up paying more money here than at Whole Foods for lower quality ingredients (like an $8 tiny can of walnuts)! Not the best grocery store in the world but the prices are reasonable. My cashier kept literally screaming for help. Apparently her registers food stamp capabilities were down and her manager didn't her and no, I wasn't paying with food stamps it was was the woman in front of me. Best place to go for basic groceries.. True the area is a bit rough and the clientelle sometimes reflect that.. But then again that's Philly. I like going here for late night shopping, grazing on the sales...Not really into pork hooves.. but its seems to be a great place to get them by the bucket Holy effing shit, this has got to be the most ghetto grocery store I've ever been to! Lazy employees, scary clientele (think random homeless crazy guy wandering around), dingy store, bad produce...I get the creeps just thinking about it.
My husband asked for an application for their club card (or savings card, whatever). The cashier gave him this look and said, "There's no one in the back to get it." What?? There's no one to get a piece of paper? I thought most supermarkets had those apps up front!
The produce and produce selection were horrendous. The stuff I got seems like it had been sitting out for days-- the onions were mushy! Eww!
Sure, if you want to save money, come here, but you get what you pay for. I'd rather hit up Acme.
Never going back here again. Ook! I am close to giving it 1 star only.
Dirty, nasty store. Dairy is unreliable.
Produce is Questionable.
Cashiers? What Cashiers? When yo9u can get a register open there is a huge line and the lady looks pissed off. (I would be too if i had to work here.)
YUCK.
Packaged goods only.
I would never buy veggies, meat or dairy here.
And it's a shame - bordering on a sin. This area of Philly NEEDS viable grocery stores - and this is all we've got.
SAD, SAD, SAD. I'm unfortunately at this location twice a week as it is on my way home and nothing else is, but today I've had it with this place. Not once in my 2 years of shopping there has there been shopping baskets waiting for me. Not once. I've had to go in and get one from the checkout lines everytime. Both times I've chosen complained about this I've met met with indifference. I know it's not a huge deal, so have shrugged it off, but the other issues with today's trip took me over the edge. No lettuce except 3 heads of wilty green leaf and bagged lettuce. No iceberg, no romaine, nothing. Surreal. Worse than that, the seafood counter was totally closed with only a sign that read "closing at 4 today for lack of help". Long lines at the checkout and I choose the one where the woman with the screaming child in front of me paid with a million WIC checks that took forever to process...well, you get the idea. Avoid this place if you can. I sure wish this part of town had an alternative. One word describes this grays ferry store's customer service (lack thereof, actually):
Ghetto.
If this is what you enjoy, you'll love it. Otherwise, steer clear. You'll come out of there just as miserable as the people working there. This Pathmark has been in a downward spiral for years, I returned today after several months and fear it has hit rock bottom. First of all, the smell of something "off" hits you in the face when you walk in. Produce was overpriced (more expensive than Rittenhouse Square prices) and near spoiled. Selection of other groceries is extremely limited. Okay, so you're asking, "What kind of jerk shouts out a commercial supermarket?" I do.
Why? Because time after time, I meet Philly 20-somethings complaining about the cost of groceries in Philadelphia. Few people ever venture to Gray's Ferry (unless for cheap car washes...more on that to come), but PathMark is the best to get all your essentials.
Pathmark is DIRT CHEAP, has a huge selection, and tons of free parking. What I would suggest is that you get your produce and meats at a Mom & Pop or Trader Joe's, but everything else... come to Pathmark. While it's five steps below a Fresh Grocer, this is very comparable to Acme, which sucks up money like marrying Robin Givens.
There's another one on Oregon Ave, but I've never been... this one has been a staple in my routine for over four years. The produce is disgusting and the employees are so unbelieveably rude. I used to be a cashier at a grocery store and do believe I would have been fired promptly had I treated a customer the way my husband and I were treated there. Plus, I really don't like it when parents standby while their children ask ME for money for a gumball machine. Ugh! Since Bottom Dollar has closed I thought I stop by, while the store has gone down the last time I was here.
It's still big and bright but their prices are incredibly high and his selection is very low . Hopefully it will get better, maybe. Well, it's not the worst supermarket I've been to, but, just after to the Shop-Rite off of W. Passyunk, it definitely ranks as the second worst in the greater Philly area I've been to. When I moved back to Philly last year I was happy to see the place got a face-lift, but disappointed to learn the improvements were solely cosmetic. That, combined with the fact that it's only a couple blocks away from me, has raised my frustration level with the place high enough to give it only one star. Why?
1. Products (especially dry/jarred/canned goods) are frequently left on the shelves long after their expiration dates.
2. Selection isn't that good, and when it comes to the deli section it's not nearly as good as many Shop-Rites or Acmes (or Fresh Grocer for that matter). Hell, one time I was going to buy Russian dressing and there was a whole isle full of all kinds of dressing but no Russian (except for the red, syrupy Wish-Bone kind, which isn't real Russian dressing by a long shot). I mean, what the hell kind of supermarket of that size doesn't carry Russian dressing? One time I couldn't even find plain English muffins-- raisin, low-carb, but no regular. And no salad/olive/mozzarella bar? What the hell?
3. Products are often stocked and organized counterintuitively, making it difficult to find items. Moreover the cheese section in the deli area does not have the individual containers marked, and stocks them haphazardly to where the product doesn't match the price label next to it. Want to know how much that Brie or Pecorino Romano is before you put it in the basket? Well, there's a damn good shot you'll have no clue because it's not properly marked.
4. The store is often understaffed, especially on weekends, and even worse on holiday weekends. On some holiday weekends the lines that form are staggering-- snaking around the length of all the aisles, and not even half of the aisles are in service. I've never seen anything like it in any other supermarket I've been to.
Whoever the general manager is here should be immediately fired for their horrifying level of incompetence and shameful mismanagement. And not sure if it's the owner/corporate or GM's fault, but spending all that money on purely cosmetic renovations but not on hiring more staff or better supervision-- downright stupid. I've read the negative reviews, but I have to disagree. I've been going to this Pathmark for a year and I haven't run into anything very objectionable except maybe the other customers at times (When I lightly bumped a woman's cart trying to get by she called me a "white piece of trash.") The selection is better at the Shop Rite near Delaware Avenue (on Snyder? Near Target) if you're looking for things like vegetarian products. But for everyday shopping, this Pathmark is fine. When you first walk in, there is an obnoxious odor. It finally dawned on me that it is coming from the seafood department. This store does not believe in customer service, rather, customer dis-service. I finally gave up going to this place. On two different occasions, I asked two different deli clerks about hams in the deli case. Something as in: "What is this ham like". Both clerks on both clerks looked at me like I was asking for them to walk on their hands and replied, in a disgusted voice......"It's ham". Gee, thanks, that tells me a lot. The last clerk, a particulary abrasive woman, was very smug when she asked in her raspy voice: "It's ham". I could not contain myself and said that I knew it was ham, WHAT KIND?. I used to use the self checkout to avoid the nastiness of the checkers. Alas, that left me to deal with the nasty clerks at the self checker. There is one who will blab away on her cell phone or to other employees and let you stand there waiting and waiting. One day she looked at me and asked if I needed help. Again, I could not contain myself and had to reply that this was the reason why I was standing in front of her. Watch the prices, because the charged price is often higher than the self price. It really is best to stay away though This place is gross. But it's a cheap decent alternative to the insanely overpriced fresh grocer when you don't feel like driving into center city at a rush hour time. The staff seems completely inadequate and for some reason they always seem to have system failures resulting in me waiting in line just to not be able to purchase things. Ugh. Get it together!! Convenient grocery store. A bit ghetto, and not because of it's location at all. Just a little dirty and weird. But so much better than the horrible South Square which is closer to me but so damn expensive.
Prices are good, good selection of stuff. A good grocery store, just requires a car to get to (or bus). This used to be somewhere they shuttled local university students from Penn to come get groceries; not sure if they still do that.
There's almost always a good deal to be had, fresh produce and meat, and feels like a truly suburban grocery store. Lines are long at times, but the only real problem is the distance from the city if you don't have a car. Not as much in the way of organic or specialty foods, but anything basic can be found here for a good deal. I go here alot on my way home from work in University City. It is open until 1 AM. Great prices and best for staples. Paper products, canned goods, cereal etc. are safe. Not great for produce, meats or dairy. Once bought Cracker Barrel chedder cheese packets here that were brown and green with mold upon opening .. yuk. I used to live two blocks away from this pathmark and I've never been disappointed. Their fried chicken from the deli rviels ANY others in Philadelphia! I never had a problem with produce or customer service. Also one has to take into account this store IS on gray's ferry. Unfortunately, Pathmark is no longer open 24 hours- they now close at 1 am, which is not a problem for me, but may be for others. However, they have expanded their organic products with their Greenway line, which is even fairly local- from NJ! And they are definitely more on board with the reusable bags! I was there for pre-snow sales on Feb 5th. This was chaos personified. There were no pushcarts available. I had to use a hand basket, which got heavier as I went.
One female customer started screaming and was escorted from the store. I have no idea why this was but I would think some coupon did not scan well, or some other thing did not happen as expected.
A word of advice for any supermarket shopping before a storm. DON'T PANIC! You are not the only person there for supplies, there will be lines. Be patient, make a new friend. I live in W. Philly with no bicycle, which presents a serious problem for my grocery-shopping ways. Despite being LITERALLY THE BROKEST, I demand fresh veggies and decent-enough meat.
I went into this Pathmark gratefully and with open arms; it's a very convenient 64 ride away. However!
Everything is weirdly more expensive than it should be? Examples:
Can of black beans at Target -- 69c
" " -- 89c
Pound of green peppers at Fresh Grocer in UCity (which should be outrageous) -- 99c
" " -- 1.30$
The meats were more expensive, too.
I honestly just can't come back here when I can be saving money more conveniently.
However, customer service was fantastic! Multiple people dropped everything to try and find me some quinoa. They were apparently totally out ... I love this grocery store. In most of Philly, you have to either choose quality or price. I can spend an entire months paycheck at Whole Foods in approximately 12.6 seconds. On the other hand, at some of the nameless West Philly grocery stores, the produce section consists entirely of tomatoes and lettuce and the international section has nothing more than Goya. The pathmark has the best of both worlds. A produce section with an actual selection of vegetables and fruit that sometimes even go on sale, and not because they're moldy. This pathmark also has a seafood counter that doesn't smell of almost bad fish, and while the selection isn't the best in the city, it is the most reasonably priced. The meat section, however, is my favorite. Almost every time I visit, something is so cheap that it's virtually free. This week pork chops, next week leg of lamb!!! The rest of the store is just as reasonable. It's also bright, clean and sells wonderful house candles for $3; who could ask for more? if you have a car it's easy to get to, of not, it's on the 64 bus route. it's open 24 hours. stuff is pretty cheap and if you have a savings card you will come out saving 3 to 5 bucks each time you shop.
the produce is decent, they have a good selection of frozen vegetarian foods and they have store brand soymilk that is tasty! you can get your basics here and then head over to the specialty stores for the fancy stuff and you WILL save money.
sometimes the lines are long and the cashiers are like "what? reusable bag?", also they have the LOUDEST intercom for store announcements. but seriously, open 24 hours, cheap, and most of what you need is here. oh yeah :) Extremely Racist Staff!
If I could rate lower than one I would. The Asian store manager followed a young black man around the store for nearly ten mins and then pretended to ask "Do you need any help". It was a total BS move. I will never shop here again. This grocery store SUCKS! But it's the closest one to my house, so I go there for things that I need fast. The produce is the worst possible. I don't think the prices are very good, but then again it seems that all grocery stores in Philly are outrageously priced. Employees are the slowest moving in the world! There are never enough registers open; usually about 2 open and then the 4 self-checkouts (if they're working). Very poor at offering healthy, organic, or diet products. Very poor variety on most things. But it's good if you're in a pinch and don't want to travel any further than down the street. This is my regular supermarket. It's actually one of the perks of being on the southside of Graduate Hospital - this is WAY more affordable than South Square, it's on a few buslines (walk there and bus back. OH HAI planet Earth, you're welcome). I've seen bikes and such before, and everyone is nice. When I'm stumped for something, I just walk up to the Customer Service (usually no line) and ask my goofy question.
Sure, it's a little rough around the edges, but what are you gonna do, go to Whole Paycheck instead? Just be happy that the place is fairly well stocked (produce a little lacking sometimes) and I never stand in line for long AT ALL. Cheers to the Grays Ferry Pathmark. At first, I defended this store because it's the only affordable grocery option for anyone south of South/north of Broad. But after several visits, I've realized it's okay for picking up a few items, but not a replacement for my regular stores (Shop Rite in South Philly/Jersey or Wegmans in Jersey). Yes, I still make regular grocery runs to Jersey, because the quality of the stores is so much better. I digress.
The guy who works the seafood area seems to hate life and he takes it out on the crustaceans he haphazardly throws around. My first and only encounter with him was when he made me feel as if he was doing me a favor by using the same gloved hands he used to slop around a bunch of fish guts to handle the cooked shrimp I requested. (I ended up not purchasing them.)
Panhandlers set up camp outside the store and though there are security guards just inside the doors, no one does anything.
On the bright side, mostly everything is priced competitively and I can generally find what I need (though it takes some searching since I never remember the layout of the store). The rotisserie chickens are tasty as well. I'll return if I'm too lazy to drive all the way down to Shop Rite, but I'll try my hardest not to be that lazy. I shop at this store at least twice a week. The staff I have dealt with have been very courteous and polite. I use the self serve almost all the time with no trouble. The deli department is sometimes busy, but quick.
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name: Qantas, address: 8800 Essington Ave, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.0, is_open: closed, categories: Transportation, Airports, Airlines, Hotels & Travel, text: So going to Bali my experience on Qatar Airways based out of Philly was excellent --- they have modern and efficient planes, their staff are polished and professional, and their boarding and off-loading/baggage processes are excellent.
The in-flight services and entertainment were better than domestic airlines and I had no real complaints except for the super long flights but that's my own fault for flying to Bali.
On the flight home from Doha to Philly two weeks later - I wanted to upgrade to business class - I waited 10 minutes and was ignored by a snooty desk agent and finally walked off thinking for sure I'd be able to purchase an upgrade somewhere else - I go through security and get to my gate to be told I was going to have to run all around the airport because there is only the ONE desk that can sell those upgrades in the entire airport - and was told there were 6 available seats but maybe I couldn't upgrade bc of my seat type - who knows - and I'd have to go somewhere else to find that out - then I get back and the desk with the snooty agent who basically tells me she's not going to sell it to me because there is only 40 minutes to boarding - who cares?! take my freakin' money I'm begging you - I'd already been flying for 10 hours and had another 16 ahead of me.... nope - no dice. They were very unsympathetic and snooty about it. I've never seen anything like it. The kind employee who offered to drive me back to my gate so I didn't have to walk told me he was sorry and they're always like that.... I appreciated his kindness in my despair because I was exhausted and really upset.... I thought I might actually cry. And I almost never cry unless an animal dies on tv....
Customer service at the airport in Doha is shit - but the other amenities are nice. If you can afford business class from the outset - do it - any time I'm flying international from now on - I'm going to suck it up and pay up front - I'm not dealing with this ever again. From checking-in to landing. This is the best airline ever. It puts every other airline to shame, it's not even a competition.
Where do I start? Since this is Yelp let's discuss in flight dining options: all included AYCE breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, and desserts. All delicious. Just order from a menu and experience the middle eastern hospitality.
Speaking of hospitality: While other airlines keep getting stingier and stingier by charging for basics like pillows and earphones (and recently even checked baggage!), Qatar Airways will hand you noise cancelling headphones along with a fancy pillow and a blanket plus a swag bag full of fancy colognes, aftershave...etc. If it's not in the bag just call the hostess and she will provide it.
Which brings me to the Staff: They are simply wonderful, well dressed, well trained, professional, and friendly.
Seats are spacey and comfortable. They have built in massager. they convert to a recliner or a bed with the push of a button. In flight entertainment includes the latest movies, TV shows, music albums, even video games!
In summary, Qatar Airways is more than just a mode of transportation from point A to point B, but rather an experience of what the best airline should be like. I strongly recommend Qatar Airways if you ever had the opportunity to try it out. I also recommend Qatar Airways to the CEOs of US / Canadian airlines, they sure can pick up few pointers from Qatar Airways. I'm writing not about my personal experience with this airline but that of my daughter and now son in law, they were to leave on their honeymoon today on Qatar airlines on their way to Bangkok. They booked this flight a year ago, after a 2 hour delay the flight was simply cancelled. My son in law and new wife were able to rebook losing 36 hours of their honeymoon of course they had to change their airline to British Air , unfortunately the return is still on Qatar so my wife and I will be holding our breath until they return. Perhaps Qatar will find the missing aircraft that was supposed to be flying today ( qr728) out of Philadelphia international airport in time to bring my family home. I was leery when I was told what airline they chose due to political unrest, I didn't think there would be a mechanical/controller/ management issue as well. Travel at your own risk with this carrier Worse experience of my life with this airline . You are not offered much for the money that you pay for your ticket .food is spicy and couldn't offer anything else .I had a 14 hrs of flight with this airline and never again will put myself through that I fly Qatar as often as I can, and now they've launched a non-stop service from Philadelphia International Airport to Qatar, I won't be flying from JFK anymore.
On my last trip, everything from the check-in counter service until touch-down was absolutely marvelous. Onboard, the in-cabin service was EXCELLENT, and the cabin crew were friendly and professional, they were even wandering around, handing out drinks and snacks the entire flight ( ~ 13 hours).
I was/am satisfied, even though I was flying economy, (couldn't afford the upgrade fare.) Compared to other airlines I've traveled with, besides Emirates & Etihad, my aisle seat ( 20F) was comfortable, with adequate leg space. I slept and woke up ( twice ) to two fine meals. The only criticism I have, is that the plane didn't have Wifi connection (very STRANGE!!!) With that being said, the inflight entertainment was good- I watched 3 relatively new movie.
When affordable, Qatar Airways is highly recommended.
Well done Qatar Airways!
Five Yelps. For this review i am only going to talk about the Business Class flight from Philly to Doha.
There were a lot of good elements
First the attendants are very very nice, hardworking and professional. They'll take the time to show you everything you need in your space to male the flight more enjoyable.
The food is good and you can order what you want, anytime you want and the mezze was great. I recommend the mango juice, spectacular.
The entertainment console is very average in some aspects. The screen doesnt move and the technology is a tad dated, but the selection of movies etc is really really good. It had a nice mix of recent and classics. The headphones the give you are nice but have drawbacks which i'll mention later.
The bad
The seat/bed just isnt comfortable and the space is too small. The 'bed' is no bed, it's just ur seat gone flat and unless you sleep on your back, it's not good. The whole pod setup is awkward and very impractical, space in places you dont want it and none where you do.
You also cannot watch the tv when you sleep, the headphones are too bulky and the angle creates a shine on the screen.
Lastly, little details like my outlet to charge didnt work are often overlooked.
Overall I would say it beats the shit out of 15hrs in coach...but i've been far more impressed in other airlines.
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name: Keystone Health Plan East Hmo Member Services, address: 1901 Market St, Ste 1, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 1.0, is_open: opening, categories: Health & Medical, Health Insurance Offices, text: the worst health insurer ever. 5 phone calls, call no. 5 on hold over 52 minutes waiting for Supervisor's Supervisor or Ombudsman re: pre-certification of diagnostic test. first 4 calls: software problems alleged & on hold numerous minutes. they try to kill you with delay so you will just give up. if you have any choice, do not pick this HMO. I am only giving 1 star since you have to give a rating. I would give negative stars if that were permitted.
Since Sept 24 I have made 18 calls and have spent 3.91 hours on the phone with Keystone trying to get a refund check sent out to me for cancellation of a plan that was processed unauthorized by an insurance broker that was told not to process unless I said to. I have a detailed call log of every day, time and the amount of time spent on each call.
On Oct 7th a check was finally sent but to my wrong address. My apartment # was not included on the check so I did not receive it. My address was corrected on Wed Oct 16th and a stop payment was put on the check that was sent to the wrong address.
On Wednesday Oct 16th I spoke to Tamara S in customer service at ext 76708 and was told that an expedited request was put in to have the refund check sent overnight to me.
On Thursday Oct 17th I spoke to Brandy and was told the check was approved and waiting to be sent out.
On Friday Oct 18th I was again told the check was approved and is waiting to be sent out and I would get a call from Tamara S when it would be going out.
On Tuesday Oct 22nd I called and spoke to Brandy who gave me an incident number and told me the reissued check is awaiting approval and it could take 3 business days.
On the Wednesday Oct 23rd I called again and spoke to Karen she told me that she looked in my account notes and that the check was sent overnight.
On Thursday Oct 24th I called again because I hadn't received the check. I was on hold then all of a sudden it started ringing and no one picked up so I had to call back. I called back and spoke to Michael at ext he told me that a refund cannot be issued right now because there is no credit showing on the account. Michael put in an escalated request for the check to be sent out. He said that there were no notes in the account of the check being sent out overnight on 10/23 and Karen did not put any notes in the account.
On Friday Oct 25th I received a call from Tamara S at ext 76708 at 8:38 AM Tamara said that since there is no credit showing on my account the check cannot be reissued and that it can take 5 days after the stopped payment for it to show. I was told the stop payment was put on the check on Wed 10/16, that was more than 5 business days ago. Tamara said she was going to reach out to her supervisor Tara and the person who put the stop payment on the check. She told me she would give me a call back that day and that she worked until 4:15pm. I did not receive a call back from Tamara.
On Monday Oct 28th I called and spoke to Roxanne at the switchboard 215-241-2400. She tried to transfer me to Tamara in customer service but could not reach her and said she does not have voicemail. I was transferred to Camille in billing. She looked at notes on my account and the billing information. She said the stop payment was put on check on Oct 16th and a credit is now showing on my account but it will take a few more days. She said she can put through an expedited request for the check to be sent out. She said that the last note in the system is that Tamara is waiting to hear back from her supervisor Tara.
I was laid off from my job in July, paid for COBRA in August and September because I needed ACL reconstruction knee surgery in August and am experiencing extreme financial difficulties. I was looking into health insurance options but told the insurance broker NOT to process my application since I needed to see if I could afford it. I found that I could not afford health insurance for the remainder of 2019 but he had already gone through and processed the application against my knowledge. $347.73 was taken out of my bank account unauthorized and against my knowledge. This cause overdraft fee's on my account. I have had to pay bills late including my rent because of this.
I have been waiting for my refund check for over a month now and cannot pay fully because I have not received this refund. I have spend an exorbitant amount of time trying to get my money back and this has caused a great amount of stress to me and negatively affected my mental and physical health. There is no reason why this money should be taking so long to be refunded to me. I have been given false information when I have called Keystone and today found our from Camille that checks cannot be sent overnight. I need this money to survive and if I do not receive it tomorrow or the next day I will go to the Keystone Health Plan East Hmo Member Services located at 1901 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 to speak to whoever I need to to get my money. This has affected my livelihood and health. It is unacceptable that Keystone has not sent this refund out to me yet. I have also filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I'm writing this review to warn others. Think twice before enrolling in this plan via the Health Insurance Marketplace. Otherwise, you'll be stuck dealing with them until open enrollment. I've been stuck without health insurance access--even though I've paid in advance--from March to present. A higher-ranking Health Insurance Marketplace case worker just last week made an exception in my case because of this and allowed me to purchase a new health care plan from a different company as of next month. I've been begging for this for months.
Independence Blue Cross, who owns Keystone Health Plan East HMO, made an error in billing on my account in March. Six months later, they have not fixed it. I have several rejected claims, bills stacked up in my name, and health care I cannot access. I cannot get medications; I cannot get lab work; I cannot see doctors. I have spent numerous hours on the phone all summer long, sent multiple e-mails, reported IBC to the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance, and I have gotten nowhere. I have missed work, because I was sick and could not see a doctor.
I've never seen worse customer service in my life; another Health Insurance Marketplace case worker told me the same when she called IBC with me on three-way. She and I were treated horribly--and I have been so for months.
In May I accessed a supervisor named Tiffany Thompson who kept promising she'd address the billing error. I sent her e-mails with PDFs from my checking account, proving I had made all my payments well in advance. She did nothing. I tried calling and e-mailing her multiple times. One day she told me the CFO / Vice President/ Treasurer of IBC Alan Krigstein determined that I had never made my payments and I would therefore not be able to access health care. The PA Dept of Insurance did an investigation. Alan Krigstein's office did an "executive inquiry." A few weeks later, I received a letter of apology from Mr. Krigstein's office. The Health Insurance Marketplace got involved and told me that everything had been sorted out, that Tiffany Thompson was getting some special training, and I could access health care. This lasted for about a week, and I was back to square one.
I wish I had the names of all of the supervisors who promised to return my calls and of the customer service reps who did the same or treated me with disrespect--so that you could avoid them. One customer service rep named Jocelyn was so rude to me and the Health Insurance Marketplace case worker on a three-way call, I was finally allowed by the Marketplace to switch insurance companies. Last week, a billing supervisor named Margerie promised to call me back in two days giving me an update. Four business days later, I still wait for her call. Consumer advocate Theresa Baugh promised she too would rectify the situation. I haven't heard from her since she went on vacation two weeks ago. I've left her voice mails and e-mails. Nothing. I've just e-mailed Alan Krigstein again. We'll see what happens. I never hear back from him. He forwards my e-mails to others who make empty promises.
How is it legal to pay so much money for a service and not be able to access it after you've paid? How does IBC get away with this? I've now purchased insurance with a new company at $100 more per month. Sounds like a lot--but at least I'll be able to use the service I've paid for. I've had a lot of HMOs over the years, and Keystone Health Plan East takes the prize for most inept. They are terrible. They deny all your claims so that you have to fight them tooth and nail just to get them to cover a simple doctor's appointment. I switched my PCP through their system; called them while I was at the doctor to confirm the switch, was reassured while AT THE DOCTOR that the visit would be covered ... and later got a bill for $400 saying that I had gone to a doctor that was not my PCP.
EDITED TO ADD: It's months later and I'm still fighting with them about this one doctor's appointment with my PCP.
If you go to a specialist you have to get a referral ... every single time you go to that specialist. Want to see a dermatologist? Okay cool, so you get a referral. Want to see that dermatologist a month later for a follow-up? Well, you can't go unless you've gotten your doctor to give you yet another referral, and on and on. You have to do that EVERY time you go see a specialist, regardless, or they won't cover it.
They also don't allow you to go to an urgent care if you're out of town. They'll tell you to go to the emergency room. But what they don't tell you is that they can deny your emergency room claim and leave you with 100% of the cost. (Protip: just go to the urgent care and swallow the bill yourself.)
They're hard to get in touch with, hard to get through to, and just difficult to work with. The phone system is a joke. I hate hate hate this health plan, hate. This is the WORST insurance company I have ever been stuck with. Philly, you NEED to have other options for freelancers who have to buy their own insurance. This company does not send bills, does not send paperwork and then YELLS AT ME for not reminding them to send me their invoices!! As a small business owner it would be fiercley bad business practice to scream at my clients for not paying me if I failed to invoice them and the whine that they should have told me to do it. WTF. WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE. I surely wish I had read reviews posted about this company before I enrolled
I have to agree with the other posters here.
Contact with them is the absolute worst of any company period! I would have given this review a 0 star if there is an option for it. Every time i called them, they treated me with disrespect and so rude to the point where i think each and everyone of them hated their jobs. One woman gave me a false name, i only found out this after i called back again and spoke to someone's else and found out her real name bc she put in a note in the system on the day i spoke to her. I don't understand what kind of customer service they are providing here. It's not just one person being rude and unprofessional, it's each and everyone of them. None of them know what they're doing bc with the same question, every time you call them is a different story. No one has the same answer. So you really don't know who's right or wrong. I have had this insurance since January 2016. NOTHING they have done is right! I paid two months premiums -- $650.00 each, only to get a cancellation notice in the mail, telling me I hadn't paid! After arguing with them in January, today I get a letter from a collection agency saying I haven't paid Keystone for January 2016! On the phone with Keystone again for 1/2 hour. "They will review it!" I have cancelled checks!!!!! Hate them. I've been with Keystone Health Plan for about 30 years. They were fabulous then. In the present, I consider them a little less than fabulous. First off their monthly premium went up about $350 a month from the time I retired (2012) till present. I've been with my primary health center in the city and the doctor there for the thirty years (and my doctor actually has a practice about 7 blocks from where I live now, but couldn't see that doctor there). In the last 10 years or so Keystone has been making some changes, that at least for me are not convenient. Recently my doctor ordered some testing for a condition I was complaining about. When I was living in the city, I was in the vicinity of the associated hospital. Twelve years ago I moved to a suburban area, where a brand new network hospital (same name) had been built. I live 5 minutes from the newly built hospital. I had a medical issue that my primary wanted x-rays for to confirm her diagnosis. So I go to the hospital nearest my home, only to be told my doctor's office is not capitated to this hospital. Mind you this is new, because the few times I've had to have x-rays or any testing done, it was there. So I have to go and drive 40 minutes back into the city, find a parking space for my car (the affiliated hospital where I live has a huge free parking area in front of the hospital), walk ten blocks, then sit in the waiting room for an hour. I had to leave before they could take me for x-rays, because I had to pick up from school and babysit my 8 year old granddaughter who lives in the same suburban area.
In will be 65 in December and already have applied for my Medicare.
My supplemental plan will not be though Keystone East. Thank goodness I will have a little more flexibility on who and where my medical needs will be met. Prepare to wait on hold for long periods of time, be spoken to as if you have annoyed them for choosing them as a service provider and generally be disappointed with every interaction. Wish there were some better local options.
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name: Zoë Sky Salon, address: 155 Yorktown Plz, city: Elkins Park, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: opening, categories: Hair Salons, Hair Stylists, Beauty & Spas, Hair Extensions, Blow Dry/Out Services, text: Loved this Salon. This was my first time going and it was a great experience. I stoped in a week before to schedule my appointment since I was in the area. My hair dressers name was Tessa she was very nice and welcoming and did an awesome job on my hair. I haven't been to a hair salon in a long time and wanted to do the big chop. Tessa washed and blow dried my hair ( the wash was relaxing and felt great). Once blow dried the cutting began. I ended up getting my hair cut even shorter once she started cutting because I thought it wasn't short enough. (Lol) I was so happy with the outcome. I scheduled to go back in two weeks. I definitely recommend Zoe Sky if your looking for a hair salon. This is the place to go to for beautiful styles and the perfect color for your hair . The staff is friendly and Zoe goes above and beyond to take care of her clients. She is also sensitive to life events and makes sure she makes the time to show you love. I have been going to her over 3 years and will not go anywhere else. Zoe is a great stylist! She is really attentive when consulting and is knowledgable about natural hair care. She is personal and fun. Zoe never disappoints! The salon is very clean, organized, and great customer service. My wash girl was Ariel and stylist was Shannon. I've been natural for two years. They have been able to make a believer out of me. I HIGHLY recommended and I'm totally going back . Beyond amazing!! Clean, modern yet cozy environment. You walk in feeling welcomed and leave feeling like part of the Zoe Sky family. I truly can't say enough, so much positivity!!!
We had taken my daughter a week or two prior to another salon, Salon L'Etoile, to get a special hairdo. She's been very ill for the past two years and needed this more than anything. At that salon my daughter was treated horribly, told she was dirty (which she isn't at all, she's actually a super clean teen that showers daily), asked if she showers often, told her hair was greasy and like clay.....she was made to feel horrible and her hair came out looking like nothing had been done. She can't get out much, must do Cyber School, needs a wheelchair if she's going to be walking more than a very short distance and feels extremely sick after being upright or standing for extended periods of time. At 14 years old, that's a very depressing, difficult, isolating experience. This was a gift for her birthday from
our cousins and meant the world to her. My daughter was so disappointed and hurt....especially since we went in to have her hair dyed a bold blue, a statement. We left with barely 12 STRANDS of hair a slight blue that turned yellow and gray within a week. While at that god awful appointment my cousin (who saw the horrible treatment, awful work and look of utter disappointment on my daughters face) texted a friend and found out where she got her beautiful purple hair done. She called the New Salon and we had our appointment set quickly. My daughter was so nervous but excited to finally get what she was so looking forward to.
From the moment we walked into Zoe Sky Salon we were met with kindness and warmth. We barely waited and were taken back. The stylist Shannon was the kindest, sweetest, most caring woman who made it her goal to make sure my daughter was nothing but thrilled with the outcome. We showed the pictures of what we wanted that we had shown at the previous salon. She said no problem! Knowing my daughter is ill Shannon constantly asked if she was comfortable, needed a drink or if things were too hot, cold etc. We felt so comfortable there and due to what we wanted done it was a long process. We never once felt rushed. When my daughter was shown the final results I have never seen her smile so genuinely. Usually it's a fake smile. Being ill has taken a toll on her self confidence and self esteem. My daughters hair didn't look good...it looked incredibly gorgeous! The depth of the color, the time and effort put into it, everything was PERFECT. Shannon even took pictures of how gorgeous my daughters "mermaid hair" looked which made her feel even more special and confident. We were there on Saturday afternoon and the smile hasnt left her face. She WANTS to go out now because she feels so beautiful and confident! Shannon gave my daughter back her smile. I don't think Shannon knows how much she has done for us. Yes it's just a hairdo but that's a big deal to a girl or woman that feels badly for whatever they may be going through in their lives. I HIGHLY recommend Zoe Sky to everyone and anyone out there. We will 100% be going back and hope that everyone finds out about Zoe Sky and gets to feel amazing too!!!
I truly wish I could give it more than 5 stars. It deserves so much more. Had Zoe install a full sew in..braids were too large, did not bleach the knots of my closure and the weave lasted 2 weeks max..$240 later (money wasted) Single Mom on a budget trying to get a new look and was deeply disappointed..Definitely see Ashley for sew ins. Ashley does a great job. The interior of the salon is beautiful and there is a parking lot, a plus for me. I rarely waited more than 10 minutes to be seen. Shannon is very pleasant and did an overall great job. I wear my hair in a more natural style now so I haven't been to the salon in over a year but I would return if I needed to be styled for a special occasion. This place is truly a hidden gem. The first time I visited, it was a last-minute desperate request for a rim. When I stopped back in for a trim, Zoe was also able to put me in for a Keratin treatment. I've done quite a few treatments before and I can say already that this time was done with exceptional care for my hair. I waited to leave a review until after I washed my hair and my hair looks amazing!
To top it off, this is a woman owned business and the customer service is exceptional.
Definitely give this place a try! It's worth every pen
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name: Giovanni & Pileggi, address: 308 S 12th St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Beauty & Spas, Hair Salons, text: Wish Yelp allowed 100 Stars!
Giovanni and Pileggi hardly needs more A+++ reviews, but I'll add mine because, why not?
This little gem of a salon combines the professionalism of a "big" salon with the personal attention of a boutique. I can't believe I had never heard of it before! After my longtime stylist retired, I needed someone excellent and was resigned to searching for a year for someone to give me my beloved blunt bob. The gods must have been smiling that day: I found G&P and Joey. The man is a MASTER of this particular cut: he owns it. After 30 years of the same style (why mess with what works?), I knew what I wanted. Joey made it even better. He's an artisan with hair, knows exactly what to do to make this a perfect cut (and it's NOT an easy cut, in part bec. if it's done right, one should be able to do a wash and wear and have it look excellent weeks after it's left the salon). En plus, Joey is a master colorist. Above all, he's a careful listener and an excellent communicator --as someone who has her hair cut 12x/year, I know what I like and I really appreciated his intelligent suggestions that accommodated my requests. Thank you!
The front staff is super efficient and the entire ambiance of the place conveys competence, consideration, and above all excellence. I just wish I could offer 100 plus stars. I love this place. My fav. Hair colorist is Franc. He is really good with dark hair too. I like to dye my hair blond. I think he has been dying my hair for about 10 years!!! Everyone always looks so happy in the salon too! Franc is also really awesome with hairstyling too. He is also very creative for weddings. Joey is a master at his craft. My husband and I both go to him for our hair. I've been seeing him for about 2 years for balayage and haircuts. Every time I go he knows exactly what will look good and I don't give him any instruction. Every single time I leave the saloon feeling great and loving my cut and color. I've even moved to NYC, but still find time to come to Joey because I don't want to find anyone else! ....tried this place and I'm not happy at all. I showed the stylist a picture of myself in the length I wanted. It was supposed to be shoulder length and my hair was cut way too short where my hair is a few inches above the shoulders. Never had I ever had a cut this short. I'm not even comfortable going out with hair this short. Well I guess all I can do is wait for it to grow. Not happy at all. Cut off a whole 7 inches. He started with the back and I didn't even notice till it was too late. Plus a I was charged a lot more than I was quoted. I won't be back. I have been seeing the amazing Jon Christopher for seven years now. It took me forever to find him, and I would follow him anywhere. He cuts my hair and my husband's hair, and he is a color expert! He really listens and understands various hair types. I have very long hair and he knows just how to cut it perfectly so I don't end up with flyaways or the dreaded "shelf." I've never had anything but the very best haircuts and color from him. I love his balayage! He is great if you need suggestions, but ultimately wants you to be pleased when you leave. He is THE BEST in Philly! I called last minute hoping for an appointment and they were able to fit me in! I went from platinum blonde back to my natural dark brown hair and they did a beautiful job (Giovanni did a great match back to my natural color)! It was a very clean salon and all the staff was very friendly. Most expensive haircut I've ever had and I have never hated my hair more. I didn't think it was possible to hate a haircut so much. Website says cut is $60; they charged me $100 for butchering my already thin, straight hair. So disappointed.
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name: World Cafe Live, address: 3025 Walnut St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Nightlife, Arts & Entertainment, Restaurants, Music Venues, American (New), Bars, Jazz & Blues, text: Love it here. Dinner and a show is one of my favorite things to do and this place is outstanding. Go see the peekaboo review they are the best!! The location is great. You can get there by foot from Center City or public transportation, and you can park your car underground. The food is a yummy mix of traditional and non-traditional. I loved the vegetarian burger and eggplant fries. I did not like the quinoa salad, although I usually like quinoa; it had so much mint in it, I felt I fell in my compost pile. The ice cream with bacon has a terrible texture, and might be the only ice cream I dislike. But, this is not the bad part.
The wait staff is terrible. They are rude at the front end, and they are rude when they serve you. We waited a horribly long time to get our dessert, too. There was no explanation, but it was almost thrown at us as we were deciding whether it was time to leave (we assumed they had forgotten it and it was getting late).
Worst of all, they added a gratuity into my bill without me knowing it. I did not realize the tip was added into the bill, and I tipped the rude waitress with cash. Therefore, she got a 38% tip when she deserved 38 cents. I would not go to the World Cafe Live unless I was going for the entertainment and was certain it was worth my time and expense. What a great location and venue! Saw Radical Face here and I couldn't be more pleased with the whole experience. Getting into the venue was a breeze, not over packed inside and 5 dollar IPAs. My only complaint, and this is a product of me aging, is that there are not any seats or a balcony. We saw Philly Gumbo last night and they were amazing. Absolutely worth seeing again anytime. Great mix of blues, Caribbean and rock. Go if you can because you'll have a great time. The food was lovely and we enjoyed every bit of it. Highly recommend. A perfect venue. Venue was easy to find with a little preparation via Google Maps. Parking in the lower level lot operated by UPENN was a breeze and only cost $10 for the night. Made it to the upper bar in time for happy hour and enjoyed $3 Yuengling Lager pints. Made our way downstairs for Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, and the venue couldn't have been better. The acoustics and atmosphere were great and the service at the dowstairs bar was quick and friendly. I'll certainly be returning to the World Cafe next time a show announcement catches my eye! Jonathan Coulton from a VIP seat: best concert experience ever. The acousitcs are fabulous, the price is low, the atmosphere and service attentive. No downside. Upstairs- Incredible if you are with a group, and have a table in a good spot. The area in front of the band is in a bad spot. The kitchen doors are right by the band, so if you are in front of the stage, you have to dodge guys carrying trays all night. Very awkward. It seems to have a lot of great bands upstairs that don't sell too many tickets.
Downstairs- Overall typical of this type of venue. Big floor, great balcony, a little tough to get a drink if the show is packed.
During the week there's always a special on some kind of beer. Otherwise drink prices are high, but not atypical of this kind of a place.
I never tried any food.
Seems to have one great band after another upstairs and downstairs all year long. one of my favorite places in philly! I've been here three times, and it functions as so much -- the upstairs features local or new artists, usually free or a small cover charge, and the downstairs is a true concert venue that brings in musicians from everywhere. the upstairs is this mesh between a restaurant/bar area and has a low stage which is great b/c if you're sitting close enough, you'll be right next to the artist. the servers are always fun and outgoing, and the drinks are great. food is pretty good, could be a little bit cheaper. def a spot to hit if you want live music and good night out. make sure to check the website to see who's performing and cost before you go. As far as I am concerned the CUSTOMER SERVICE there is horrible! NOT TO MENTION the FALSE ADVERTISING LISTED ON THEIR WEBSITE when getting ready to purchase tickets. Pay close attention the part where they say you can save $2 in cash only to show up at the box office and be told that there is still a $3 processing fee and that it will cost you extra if you pay by credit card!
Another misrepresentation is that the price of the ticket is listed at $25 under the artists show but when you proceed to purchase tickets you are being charged $26 plus a $5 processing fee. BELOW IT STATES SAVE $2 when purchasing with cash at the box office. I was under the impression that I would pay $25/$26 not $28 or $31 by arriving to purchase at the box office. The girl sitting at the cash register told me it was a MISUNDERSTANDING. NO IT IS MISREPRESENTATION!!!!!!!!!
I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE to ANYONE!
I wasn't asking for a free ticket. I only wanted them to honor what was stated on their website. Instead, the whole experience turned out to be very disdainful.
All I wanted was to easily purchase tickets to the ESTELLE show, an artist that I love listening to. Instead my whole experience at WORLD CAFE LIVE was ruined by this one circumstance .
See below for the disclaimer written on the website: wouldn't you think you were saving money if you went to purchase at the box office??
Just a note on false advertising:
"Any advertising or promotion that misrepresents the nature, characteristics, qualities or geographic origin of goods, services or commercial activities" (Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C.A. 1125(a)).
BET Music Matters welcomes Estelle "All of Me" Tour
Monday, March 05, 2012, 8:00 pm EST at World Cafe Live
See Description
Important:
All sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges. Cameras and recording devices are not permitted. Showtime and supporting acts are subject to change. Please Note: Multiple attempts to complete this transaction will result in multiple temporary holds on your credit card funds.
Mezzanine tickets are assessed an additional service fee. These are priority seating areas with VIP amenities. For more information, please read the Mezzanine FAQ.
Dinner service is available for all seated ticket holders. For more information, please read the Dining FAQ.
Save $2 by purchasing your tickets with cash at our box office before show date. WXPN Member discount available by phone or at our box office. I saw a show at the downstairs venue. It was much bigger than I thought. The crowd was a bit rude--the girl sitting across from us brought her own food (yogurt!). I'd heard that the sound was bad, but it was pretty good. Most of all, the prices for the shows aren't that bad. The staff were all incredibly friendly, from the box office guys to the door staff to the waitresses. Maybe it's this way all over Philadelphia, but after the pouty if-you-aren't-famous-I-don't-have-time-for-you staff at a lot of LA venues, the WCL crew are a welcome change! Have been here for multiple shows - Nickel Creek, Lucius, Over the Rhine, poetry and story slams, and many more.
It's a pretty awesome venue, with an upstairs and a downstairs stage. They bring great bands, and they serve good solid bar food and beers if one is so inclined. I had my first experience here to see Gilmore guys. I worked their merch table so I had the opportunity to experience this place as a volunteer with the act and as a spectator. It was a good experience! The managers were very accommodating in helping us set up the table and even printed a sign and gave us linen for the table. The downstairs space is beautiful and well laid out. I was a little nervous about getting forgotten by the server in our section but that did not happen. She was very attentive about our drinks. The only reason this place does not get 5 stars is because of the food. It's INCREDIBLY over priced for both the portion size and quality. The drinks were very reasonable for the area. World Cafe (downstairs) is my favorite overall-experience music venue. Great beer, pretty good food, smaller venue, CLEAN, plenty of bathrooms. There are most certainly places in Philly with better beer, food, and stages, but none have all bundled into one little venue.
Tickets really range in price depending on who you are going to see, from free to "I'm not paying that" a.k.a $50. The staff is always attentive and friendly.
There are free at noon shows on some Fridays, and the upstairs also has an open mic night on most Mondays. They even have random themed meals, like the upcoming grilled cheese and beer tasting.
Overall, a great venue to make a night out of it: music, food, drinks all in one place. I am a huge fan of their free at noon concert. If you haven't heard of this, you should go check it out. You can see some pretty amazing bands for free during your workday. So far, I've seen Delta Spirit and She & Him, and I plan to go back for more shows. Luckily, I work right in the city and have some young friends who are willing to go out to a show during their lunch hour with me :).
The best part of the concert is that the place does not use it to push their food/drinks on the concert-goers. It is truly free. You just show up, after signing up online, enjoy the show, and meander back out to work.
I've also been here for a regular evening concert, to see Sia perform. It was amazing, and we were easily able to get up close to the concert stage. Great venue all around! I have this theory.
The theory is, that in any given nuclear family, there is a finite amount of talent, to be had. The fact that my sister is a genius and good at everything supports this. Consider Matt and Kevin Dillon, Sylvester and Frank Stallone and Eddie and Charlie Murphy , and you understand what I'm saying. Sure, you get the occasional anomaly like the Williams sisters or the Mannings' but for every family like that, there is one with zero talent, like Ashley and Jessica Simpson.
My theory doesn't bode well, for our friend Michael W. I recently went to World Cafe Live to see Brian Aglira And Michael's brother Scott play a show, and they were fantastic. From southern Rock cover tunes, to blues to original material on a number of different instruments, these guys were musically on point.
Seems Ive forgiven WCL, for a previous transgression against me. Years ago, in the early aughts, a younger, more streamlined version of myself, tried to get a job here, when it first opened. Needless to say, I wasn't cool enough to score employment at such a hip establishment, so I hightailed it out of the city, never to return.
Until now...
My loss. WCL is a wonderful music venue. Very intimate with great acoustics. You have to love a venue, where you can see the stage from the bar, or be able to have pork chops brought to you as you rock out.
I didn't eat anything , but it looked good and smelled better and I made a note to come back for a meal , in the near future. The beer selections didn't wow me, but this wasn't the reason i came anyway.
I recommend both seeing a show at WCL and checking out Scott and Brian, whether they are playing together or solo (your best bet would be in the West Chester area). And don't feel too bad for our buddy Michael. If my theory of family talent is correct, Michael may not be able to sing Happy Birthday, but Scott must not be able to string a comprehensive sentence together to save his life. Awful, awful service!
Went on 4/7/17 to see a fantastic salsa band. The band Conjunto Philadelphia did not disappoint. Too bad the same cannot be said for WCL! The venue let in so many people there was no room to dance, there were people sitting on the steps to what should have been the dance floor. Those that did try to dance did so in between tables in the 'dining' area.
Although we had a reservation, we were cramped into a tight corner table. It took our waitress 20 minutes to get to us to take a drink order. After that it took another 20 to get our drinks. When our food arrived (40 minutes after ordering) the entrees came out first followed 5 minutes later by our appetizers. No once in the next 75 minutes did our waitress check on us...she cheated herself out of at least 3 rounds of drinks.
There are some great acts that play WCL...too bad management has not figured out that the crowds drawn by those acts require more than 2 servers. My husband and I had a great time relaxing and watching performers. Great for a date. The setting upstairs is intimate and the food is better than standard bar fare. Good drinks (with decent beer selection) okay food, and one of my favorite concert venues in Philly! What a fun, relaxed venue!
I was here on Sunday night for the Matt Wertz/Elenowen show -- spurred by a last minute invite by my cousin who is Matt Wertz-obsessed -- and had a blast.
In the past, every show I've been to has been a squish-fest of sweaty bodies and loud, screaming music. This was a nice change of pace. (Though, I must admit, I sure do love those squish-fests.)
Anyway - I didn't try the food, so I can't vouch for that, but the bar looked comfortable, the bathrooms were clean enough, and the parking situation was a-okay. Ticket prices were also reasonable, and nabbing a spot in the front row was a huge plus.
It was definitely worth it to stay up past my workweek bedtime to spend a few hours here! I am kicking myself for not coming here sooner....upstairs area is awesome for sitting back and listening to good music, ordering food, and some drinks. Place isn't cheap but it's not crazy expensive either. I did not try the food but my boyfriend enjoyed his calamari. Good place to go with friends...I will definitely be back. Toot, Chap and I went here last night to see Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers. We didn't eat or anything, just headed right downstairs to the show. There is an upstairs dining area with DJs and other acts that play in that room. We took our spot at the bar at the back of the room and enjoyed the show. Not as crowded as last time we were here which is good and bad. Good for us as there was room to move and the barkeeps weren't going crazy, bad for RCPM and the club as I'm sure they both would have liked to have seen a bigger crowd. It wasn't empty at all, there was a decent crowd, but not packed. They had Victory Ale for $3.25 a draft, good price and good beer, with a fruity, orange taste. The band rocked the ***** out of the place and a great time was had by all. The staff at World are real pleasant and I've had a great time there both times I've gone. I'm sure we'll be returning for more good old Rock N Roll fun. Just went for the 2nd time tonight and I must say I definitely like this place! Great building, good sound system, and a SUPER friendly staff. $6 for a Corona bottle and $5 for Yuengling on tap isn't all too bad either. Still have yet to try any food but what I have walked by looks and smells pretty damn good! Great place to check out one of your favorite artists for sure.
Only complaint I have is that they allow people to stand all along the one bar (the ONLY bar) in the main venue. So every time you go to get a drink people have to move and give you a dirty look, when really you are the dumbass standing in front of the bar and not down on the floor where all 300 other people are lol, but they definitely shouldn't allow this, makes getting a drink such a hassle! World Cafe Live hosts "Free at Noon" concerts every Friday. It's so great!!! Live music is an experience that is like no other.
The ambiance is great and so is the food. Head there one day and see for yourself. This place is just too awesome. A nice bar/restaurant on the ground level with occasional bands. A nice-sized basement venue that broadcasts shows live. And big name acts, too. Wow! You can't ask for more. Oh, yeah, the food is decent. Nothing super fantastic. My group had the hummus, meatballs, and crab biscuits and all were good. Top-notch venue and staff!
We had the pleasure of hosting a 50th birthday party at WCL recently and had a fantastic time! Starting with the contracting process, through the customer service, food selection, and day-of/on-site assistance, the staff was amazing. All of our guests enjoyed the food (a vast selection of appetizers) & drink and the live music by Damn The Torpedoes. I highly recommend WCL for an evening out or a private party in the future. A special thanks to Paige Zelnick for her professionalism and expertise! This place is great! I was there for a banquet and the food was unbelievable! I also love the ambiance and it is very comfortable. Good beer list. I've been here a few times now - once downstairs and three times upstairs. I have been going to check out the open mic on Monday nights @ 7:30pm. I still have mixed feelings about this place because the food isn't bad at all, but I have been receiving mixed service treatment.
I enjoy the food and atmosphere at WCL. So far I've had the WCL burger which was tasty, but I like mine with a bit more pepper and if possible, it could be juicier. I know order fries is just asking for greasy food, but the eggplant fries were a bit crispy and greasy for my liking - nice horseradish dipping sauce though. The price of drinks aren't bad either.. $3 pints on Monday nights, I choose the draft over the $10 cocktails any day.
As for the service, when it wasn't busy it was hard to get the waitress' attention and she forgot an order for my table. But when it was busy, they were able to remember all of our requests. Two of the times I've been there, I had to request some silverware after my food had been served. I might just be anal, but one last thing is I observed is one of waiters was cleaning the table and had sprayed cleaning solution on it while there was a silverware set on the table. Needless to say, it got all over the set and that's something the next person was going to use.
I would still return because I enjoy the atmosphere and it's a nice place to grab some dinner with some friends. Stopped by here with some friends for happy hour and was initially disappointed at the lack of crowd and live music. I've been here before to see a show downstairs. The place has a wonderful atmosphere!
This was the first time I stayed upstairs. Happy hour prices are decent ($4 house wines, $6 Yuengling pitchers, $4 well drinks), so a few rounds were had by all. We also ordered appetizers (select appetizers are 50% off during happy hour). The french fries were delicious. The chicken quesadillas weren't too bad - too many peppers for my taste. I would return for dinner if I was ever in the area again. I'm still a huge fan of this venue and appreciate that there is a great place to enjoy a place to listen to new or well-known artists with intimate settings. I love that the food menu is usually more than just bar bites. Simply put, I've never had a bad time. This is a good venue for some low key nights. I came here to see a band "The Local Smokes" they were great but the only thing that kinda stinks about this place is the bar rule. They only let you buy one drink at a time, and the bar is SO crowded it's kind of a buzzkill to wait by the bar all night to get one drink. They should definitely take that rule away World Cafe Live at The Queen is a solid venue. It is probably the cleanest, most well kept place I've seen a show. The downstairs stage has a lot to offer as far as atmosphere being that it is has much of the original structure of the original Queen Theatre. The bands always sound crisp and clear. The food is good (especially the nachos), but is a bit on the pricier side. An amazing line up of national and international acts. Karl who books the club has great taste and is willing to take a chance on new things. Check out the music even if you are not familiar with the performer. It will never be bad and you may just discover a new musical passion! I absolutely love the World Cafe. I've been there three times to date--twice in 2006 for two consecutive shows; Ben Jelen (with the Alternate Routes as his opener) and Will Hoge (with The Trews as his opener), and once in 2008 to see Ben Jelen (with Standard of Living as his opener). The two times I saw Ben Jelen, he performed upstairs and that is my favorite part of the venue as it is the most intimate performance setting. When I saw Will Hoge, he performed downstairs and my friends and I rocked the front row for that performance.
I have never made it to a Free at Noon show, but my dad has gone (to see Hanson...oh how jealous I was even though I had a meet and greet pass to their show at the Troc later that evening...I had no choice but to go to school that day and not see Hanson's free at noon show. However, Taylor was happy to hear during the meet and greet that my dad had attended the noon performance).
World Cafe also has great food, drinks, and desserts, so if you're attending a show upstairs, make sure to get there early enough to get a table close enough to the stage! There are also tables downstairs but I am not sure if they always have seating for downstairs shows. Regardless, I will definitely be returning to World Cafe Live and hope to perform at one of their weekly open mics sometime in the near future. Valentine's Day is always a toughie. And after 20+ of them with my husband it can get REALLY tough. But this one was fun! We went to the WCL wines of Itaplly dinner on the 13th. Relaxed, pleasant and interesting, WCL and Joseph Brandolo presented a delightful International Festival of the Arts Dinner.
Prosecco had been already poured at the tables, as we walked in. MIsto or Ribollita promptly appeared. Each course, paired with a delightful Italian wine was carefullly thought out andthroughly enjoyed (though the Bucatini all" Ametriciana reminded me of spaghetti and meatballs...instead of rabbit loin served over Bucatini with Pancetta and Tomato).
They've got more coming in April. I can't wait! As hard as it is to believe, this concert venue has a banging kitchen! Philly cheesesteak nachos, ahi tuna over rice. Both very tasty and well prepared. Service is there but not over baring. And on top of it all 25 ' from the stage!! (This review is for DOWNSTAIRS!)
The key to concert enjoyment for me, besides a great band putting on a great show, is seats. Which is why I have always gotten Mezzanine tickets at WCL, and which in my opinion are worth it. That way, when the band ultimately comes on a hour late, you are okay because you're sitting with a beer in hand. Which leads me to... it is great that you can get food/drinks while seated in the mezz. In fact I've eaten here a few times now and it is really convient and honestly it's not terrible food, but sorta like Amtrak food it tastes reheated or frozen- on a normal show evening I'd say two-three stars depending on the particular dish. The one thing I love about WCL is that the employees, from the phone lines, to the front desk, to the guy who takes you to your seat, to the waitresses - they are always helpful and cheerful. Love it. I really like the WCL downstairs. The seating is ok and the sound is great. I've ordered food many times here and the service is never good. Upstairs the service is very bad and the music is too loud.
Usually the food and music make up for the dim lighting, the wait staff not knowing the menu but Thursday night the food was not great either.
So we had ordered by 630 - the place was only 25% full. The salmon was ok and the squash served with was iffy. The barbecue tips were sad and tasted like they came out of a can. Overall menu choices are not imaginative and little is the way of substitution for food allergies
The waiter ignored us and the lady bartender upstairs was slow also. Happy hour is a bust when the bar is empty and the Bartender still doesn't serve you. The bartender and the waiter kept disappearing. The barmaid said the waiter is new. The service was so slow they made us late for the show. Also it's very difficult to get a cup of coffee at this venue I've been back to the World Café Live a few times since my last review and really need to reevaluate my stance. Of course your experience will have something to do with the concert you are seeing. During my visit a year ago the acoustics sucked and that impacted my experience. The acoustics were fantastic and I loved every moment of the Ben Folds show I saw yesterday; no doubt that played a role in my experience.
It's hard to give a 5 star review to a place where your experiences can vary so greatly. However, looking at the venue as a whole, I think they are 5 star worthy. Here's why:
1) The venue is intimate. Both the upstairs and downstairs stages will put you right up with the action.
2) The ticket prices are reasonable- especially compared with some of the competitive venues in Philly.
3) The beer selection is killer. I know that's not why you go to a concert, but it's totally a plus. If the Susquehanna Bank Center served Great Lakes Commodore Perry IPA, maybe I'd go back more. (Nah, who are we fooling.)
4) The venue is easily accessible by public transportation, plus the parking options are pretty decent. I found street parking near the venue for $2.50 for the whole evening.
5) The artists are wicked talented. Of course this is always varying, but I feel they pull in top notch artists. They might not always be the most mainstream or well-known, but don't ever doubt that you'll see a good show.
6) There are dining options at most times. The upstairs area is a restaurant that is on Opentable, has happy hour and live music. In the downstairs area, you are able to order food during most shows. I haven't tried the food, but I feel it's much better than a stadium style hotdog.
Keeping in mind that each experience will be different, I will take the positives this venue has to offer, and will look forward to seeing shows at the World Café Live. World Café Live is the music venue that I wish other venues would emulate (especially as I am painfully experiencing other venues. Please note I did not say the music was painful, but the VENUES.)
I met up with Blake F. there for a Friday show.
The food is always (incredibly) good at WCL. I got the black bean patty. Blake had the tofu with soba noodle salad. When I was finished, my plate was completely empty-a rare event for me. Both dishes I would happily order again. Plus I am a sucker for sweet potato fries.
I have never been to a show downstairs, but I find upstairs to be an all around pleasant live music experience.
I like how they support local artists. When my favorite local artist has a WCL show, I get super excited.
(Yay-there will be a bathroom! Yay-I will like the food! Yay I will not worry about my parked car! Yay-the sound quality will be good! I could go on and on, but you get my drift...and I'm making myself sound snobby. I can have fun at an event with porta potties)
Also, the venue attracts outstanding national acts (Charlie Hunter will be there soon.)
My only gripe is that the service always goes downhill once the music gets rolling. But that is to be expected. Great venue for singer-songwriter type shows. And for anyone in West Philadelphia an easier place to get to than most.
I saw Patrick Park here about a year ago and despite having a crowd that was a mixers of diners and concertgoers, mostly seated at tables with meals, they were incredibly respectful and appreciative of the show.
I've also been for just meals, and it's a bit spendy but very good. Overall, a great addition to the University City area. I absolutely loved this place!! Drinks, entertainment & food in an intimate veryyy nice setting! I was actually shocked with the rock band I came to see, this place seemed pretty upscale! Like a cc restaurant. We were at the upstairs venue. Would love to come for a downstairs show next time.
I didn't order food because I wasn't hungry but my daughter did & let me tell ya.. 1 bite of her burger & I was hooked!! Very large, cooked perfectly with melty American cheese & tons of crispy bacon. Excellent!
Also our waitress / bartender service was great. Never had to wait.
Only downside - the only way we were able to sit & eat was because we saw someone we knew. Otherwise , tho not very crowded, the seats were taken & those not occupied said "Reserved". Other than that - great experience all around!! OK, I'm kind of torn. The venue is great. Good acoustics, friendly staff, and as mentioned in other reviews the bathrooms are great. Unfortunately, the band I paid to see was only allowed to play for a little over an hour before the room was cleared for a another act. If I'm dropping $26 for a band and $11 for a drink, I don't want to get bounced after 70 minutes. The band was visibly pissed, as they hadn't played Philly in years (and probably won't be back, and least not to WCL). Total money-hungry BS on the club's part. Great venue for live music & The Moth Story Slam events. Decent beer & cocktail options. Reasonable prices. Convenient street parking options outside, & very close to the subway. Venue is great and the acoustics are fabulous! I am eager to attend another concert asap! The upstairs is more intimate with dining and limited seats but you can get down and boogie in the downstairs venue. Both spots are great all depends on who you are seeing! Very cute venue. I came here to see Simply Three and had such a blast. We were at the upstairs portion. Host was extremely nice and seated us right away (and without reservations too), service was fast, and my dessert was pretty good (I had the chocolate lava cake - moist and rich).
I loved the close intimate vibe the upstairs gave. It was small, but not too small. The sound quality seemed great. Can't wait to see what other bands come through here. I will certainly check it out again. I am probably biased. The only reason I every really go to WCL is when a friend of mine is playing. So of course it's always fun.
I went last night to see the New York Songwriters Circle, always amazing, and sat at the bar. Hung out with a new friend, drank some (ridiculously hangover inducing) Sauvignon Blanc, and listened to some great music.
The atmosphere here is great, it's like turning on xpn in your car except there are a lot of people around you enjoying food and beverage. I haven't actually sampled the food here, but I have heard really good things about it.
The staff here are polite (!!! double points in my book...everyone seems to leave their manners at home these days) and the bartender, Josh and I had the same Middle School Alma Mater (Masterman represent!). And he didn't get annoyed with the two fairly tipsy ladies at the end of the bar giggling about every single thing the night had to offer us.
All in all, I would say go! It's easy to get to, everything is moderately priced, and its a good time! Food: 4
Decor: 4.5
Ambiance: 5
Service: 3.5
Value: 3.5
Nice and intimate location to enjoy a show while having above average food and drinks as well. A great addition to Philly's music and culinary scene. OK, let's just acknowledge that WCL is the coolest listening room in Philadelphia and that I've never seen anything like it in any other city. It is truly a musical clubhouse where you never know what kind of interesting, eclectic music you're going to find on a given night. I'm torn about writing a review for WCL because the venue itself is pretty fab. If this review was for venue alone, it would certainly be higher.
Saw a story slam upstairs on a rainy Monday evening. Despite the monsoon-like weather, the place was nearly packed. My friends and I ordered some drinks and a bit of food, which is where things turned a bit sour for me. Service was rather slow, and while I get that the servers were extremely busy, it seemed odd that there weren't more on staff this particular evening, especially considering the event going on.
I can't say I was impressed with the food either. My fish tacos were composed of some shredded and whole fish bits and lacked any sort of flavor. My friend had the duck salad and she said that was good.
While I'll definitely attend more events here, next time, I'll eat dinner beforehand. Flew into Philly from Scotland especially for the Proclaimers gig! It was so worth it - Charlie and Craig were superb, as always! But, the venue played its part as well - very friendly, laid back and helpful staff (especially the ultra cool Troy!); cool atmosphere and just a great evening all in! Disappointing.
My Country Fried Steak was cold, the first time - gravy congealed, biscuits cold. Ew. They were nice about taking it back, but the second order was little better. While the steak was hot, the biscuits were stone cold, still.
I also ordered the fruit salad and the watermelon was translucent (read: old) as was the melon.
I like the music and desperately wanted to like the venue, but I doubt I'll be back. World Cafe Live!!! What amazing venue except for the fact that you guys allow people to talk during the entire show and ruin it for everyone else! People who have no respect for the artist or for the people around them. We've been to World Cafe Live many, many times and recently we have had the shows ruined by people constantly taking. We recently saw Dave Ramirez and had a group of girls who claimed to be with the band who did not stop talking the entire time despite being asked nicely via notes and in person. A wonderful venue has turned into any other casual place with people talking. Please check out the policy of Eddie's Attic in Atlanta. They call themselves a "Listening venue". Excessive Talking is NOT permitted! I go to shows at least once or twice a month, and it seems like about half of them take place at World Cafe. Lucky me!
Pros:
--Clean! Even the bathrooms are clean and spacious - many concert venues cannot say that!!
--Easy to get to on transit - just a few blocks from 30th Street Station and the walk has always seemed safe enough to me
--Food is good if you are at a show where that's an option
--Downstairs there's really no bad spot to sit/stand
--The sound is consistently good
Cons:
--Cocktails are a little expensive at $10-$11 each, although they are tasty and have fun music-related titles. I would just love it if they were half the price - then I could order twice as many :)
--Upstairs if the show is crowded with people standing, you may not be able to see while seated at some of the tables. Nevertheless, I do recommend making a table reservation for the upstairs shows if you can.
You can see I'm really fishing for cons... this place is pretty swell and 100% recommended by me. Favorite place to see music in town! Downstairs, WCL brings in great musicians and, despite my sense of awe for their talent, I feel like I'm sitting in their living room and they often act like they're sitting in mine (last night's performer got the giggles on stage). It's informal, yet the sound is always perfectly balanced and at just the right volume.
I just saw Morcheeba and basically had a spiritual experience. The entire audience was with me on that I'm pretty sure. But the most memorable show will always be one that I won tickets for. It featured Tao Seeger (Pete's son), Paper Birds (amazing group of 7 from out west), and Philly's own Mark Silver and the Stone Throwers. I took a blind date who turned out to be 100% creepy. A band-and-a-half into the show, Mr. Creepy made his exit and I stayed to enjoy the rest. There were six other people sitting at my table and as it turned out they had been quietly observing MC and I all evening. So when MC walked out, they cheered and welcomed me into their group! That night they also inducted me into Philadelphia's official Ultimate Frisbee League, which I joined, and I now play frisbee (very very badly) with nice people year round. That's the kind of place World Cafe is. And did I mention the music that night was incredible?
Food: good, not great. Killer grilled cheese though. I recommend lunching here. The dinner fare isn't really worth the price, but it's nice to eat food sometimes when you're seeing/hearing wonderful music, so whatever--eat dinner there too. I was here to see Art Alexakis of Everclear. Such a great value for the tickets. Like 70 bucks for my friend and I to get seats in their classy upscale mezzanine. The drink prices were reasonable. 7 for cocktails 3 or 4 for domestic beers. Candlelit tables, couches, great acoustics and sound system. This is my ideal type of venue to enjoy a night out. Oh! And their apps were tasty too. If you see an event you are interested in don't hesitate to check it out. WCL is a pretty tiny venue, so that makes for a good view of whoever you're seeing. The downside of it being so small is that it gets hot quickly and for shows with a big draw they don't generally have seating.
When the upstairs is open for food, it's pretty decent. However, last night there was an event upstairs and everything was blocked off. They also didn't have *any* organization for where the Will Call area was. Usually it's upstairs but due to the event they moved it downstairs, and it was clear that they had no idea what they were doing. The line took forever and they literally moved from one place to another while people were waiting for their tickets. It was just very unorganized.
If possible, I recommend getting tickets for the mezzanine. The acoustics and views are the best from up there, and they usually have more tables and chairs up there. This was the venue for an after party for a conference. It was fantastic. Great craft beer selections, including victory, breckenridge, chimay, dogfish head and others, on tap or in bottles. I had some sweet potato fries that were delicious. Then, the music started. I happened to catch Rubblebucket Orchestra with Agent Moosehead and it was one of the best live shows I've ever seen, hands down, for only $10. It was amazing, fun, clean, and the service was impeccable. I will be back. I enjoy going to shows here but am continually annoyed by the decor. When it opened, I was blown away by how badly it looked inspired by the set of "Friends" and other mid-90s themes. Basically, if my mom was asked to design a concert venue for XPN it would look like this.
Other than that, they bring great acts and the shows I've seen (Josh Ritter, Greg Brown, Rhett Miller, and others) have always sounded great. It had been a long, long, long time since I'd been here. I blame time because I forgot how great this place really is. Don't let the same thing happen to you! This has been a Public Service Announcement.
Anyway, it's interesting how having a table to listen, watch and hear music can make the whole thing a lot more relaxed. The waitress was really attentive and could've come by slightly less. Sometimes it felt like she was eyeing are table to figure out whether we needed anything the same way a dude checks out a woman with giant knockers (less than subtle). After the show ended, everyone stood around for a good 30+ minutes chatting away, but the staff didn't seem to mind.
The women's bathroom was also super clean, which somehow surprised me. According to my amigo, the men's bathroom was clean too. So don't hold it when you're here.
FYI: there's plenty of meter parking in the area but remember to bring quarters. Some meters are old school and some you pay at the kiosk with cash or card. Just make sure that you check the signs to avoid getting a ticket. i went to a neat event here. and the space is cool. great way to see a show of any kind. but when asked if we had a reservation, we said "no" and were told to sit at the chairs or the bar. never offering us the option of putting our name in for a table. after about an hour, i went to see if putting our name in was a possibility. and it was. now there are many names in front of ours. being valentines day, i understand that everywhere may be busier then normal. but when looking around to see if a table was freeing up, all i saw was people sitting. finished their dinners, not even drinking. just watching the performances. with all these people waiting, they should have been ousted from the tables sometimes after they were finished. something like "sorry to be a dick, but there are many people giving you the stink eye for your table" just because you ate here, you cant own the spot for the night. my friend and i had to leave at intermission because we were so hungry and getting crankier by the minute. when i walked out, i checked and saw there were still 4 people in front of me. so, the chances of me ever getting a table were slim to none. im sure it was just a stupid valentines day snaffoo. ill give it another shot and update. but loved the building and the vibe, They have an eclectic mix of live entertainment and a solid selection of beers here. Parking is sometimes a pain, but I always have a good time here. Also, super close to the 30th street station if u don't want to deal with driving and parking. I've been to one show here, in the downstairs venue, and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be back.
The show I saw was an 80s tribute band called Weird Science (http://weirdscienceny.com/). If you like the 80s even half as much as I do, you will love this band. They do all 80s songs, & they REALLY bring it. Incredible show.
But about the venue itself. Great big space, lots of room to dance, good sound. But I need to remember from now on--earplugs for concerts. I'm too old for the ringing in my ears the day after a show! Great place to see a show. Horrific service though. I saw a show upstairs and the sound was great. However, I sat there for about 20 minutes at a table before being approached by the waitress and the upstairs sections was fairly empty. If I hadn't already paid for entrance to the show; I would have gotten up and gone someplace else. Then they lost my food order. I ordered a very easy meal (that was pretty bad) and it took over 40 minutes because they lost the order.
My advice...go see a show and get a drink at the bar. Don't sit at a table or eat here. Probably the best venue I've ever visited. I came here to see Locksley and Butch Walker spring of '10.
Upstairs restaurant with a great bar, and live music while you munch. Down a couple flights of stairs past a radio station and behind 2 sets of double doors lies an amazing venue with seating on the floor, and upstairs (if you choose). The bartenders are friendly, and drinks are $7 a pop. The acoustics are fantastic, no one smokes, and you won't stick to the floor.
Great area behind the venue (2 flights down) where the bands park their bus / van, made it easy to meet and greet. I sat on the stairs and watched the fans line up and hug and take photos with Butch. Always cute.
Love love love this venue. Cant wait til another great act plays here. And only 2.5 hours from DC. easy easy drive I love World Cafe Live as a venue for seeing shows, but I'm consistently disappointed by their food offerings. In theory, I'm happy with the "dinner and a show" idea. I just wish that there was more variety and more healthy offerings on the menu, and that the food they do offer was executed better.
The last time I went to see a show, my food was very disappointing. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich, the pork was very fatty and the sauce was not good. I ate barely half of my food, despite the fact that I was starving. Service was also very uneven and it was difficult to find my server. There was some confusion because my party was seated across two different tables - I ended up receiving a bill for the other people sitting at my table, despite the fact that we had dined separately.
The World Cafe brings great acts to Philadelphia and I really enjoy the ambiance. But if they are going to require me to purchase dinner along with my tickets, I'd like to see the kitchen step things up a notch! i like this place. it's fun, young, good food and service. I enjoy coming here for their smaller concerts and being able to have a drink and not have to worry about bugs or the likes. their eggplant fries are decent, but skip the calamari - (it's not worth the amount you pay for it) I've heard the World Café Live broadcasts on NPR, and I enjoyed my visit to see a band in the spacious downstairs area during my visit to Philadelphia. Bought my ticket upon arrival and the acoustic room on entrance level seemed nice and intimate. The guy sounded great too.
The downstairs area is a nice size room for an Almost Famous up and coming band, and the sound is amazing. I saw Ohioans "Red Wanting Blue" there, and fans of the band got an intimate show while still having the capability of a big room sound. Good selection of craft and local brews, and it was nice to meet the band outside the room after the show. The upstairs area can suck if you don't get there early. They sell standing room tickets but there is no standing room! So basically if you don't manage to reserve a table (but can get a ticket) and don't get there like an hour before you're screwed. World cafe Live venue gets 5 stars; great place to see a band but its mostly catered to the xpn crowd. Downstairs venue is the large room, excellent acoustics and sight lines. Upstairs is a different beast. bartenders and night manager can be full attitude and negativity. Listen, if you don't want to do your customer service job, then go to another field and don't give me attitude for your laziness and general hating your life. The female bartender ignored a couple customers and snapped when asked questions. I think ordering from a waitress (they're great and don't acts like divas) is the way to go.
Night manager kicked people out w/ gruff and attitude.
The food... It's higher end bar food but pricy. Dunno... $12 for avg wings are steep. Overall, between negative interactions w/ upstairs attitude. I give them 3.8 stars really.
Just avoid the upstairs bartender (female) and get a set from a nice waitstaff person. Wings were really good however our server took forever to return. We got our food and didn't see her as if she went on a 25 Mom break and we were ready to go. I had to ask another server to get her. When she did come I told her we would like the bill and a box. She then proceeded to leave and hen came back to wait on someone else and hold a convo with them. I said miss I asked for the billl she said yes I know. I will be with you shortly. Needless to say her tip was $2 that night and we rip heavy ask the Bartendar for the three drinks we had prior to dinner. I have been to World Cafe Live several times. I have never been upstairs but downstairs is great. The food is good and the sound is fantastic. Another review mentioned a mandatory food purchase but I have not experienced that. Perhaps it varies with the different shows. I saw Levee Drivers play for a small crowd and my sister and I only ordered a couple drinks. The best thing about World Cafe Live is the music and the opportunity to see artists- some are well known and some lesser known. There is not a bad seat in the house and the music is great! Visiting from out-of-town, my treat was Mother's Day brunch at WCU. We arrived near the end but did not experience the 'we're out of that' one frequently finds. Coffee and food were good & nicely presented. The BEST part was the band - LP Stiles Trio (great jazz). They sounded very good in the space and actually played at a volume appropriate to the venue - loud enough to be lively but not enough to drown out conversation. You in PHilly are privileged - go hear them online at http://www.myspace.com/lpstilestrio or live at the Rusty Nail in Ardmore PA 6/27. We bought the CD and are still delighted with it a month later. These guys have got the groove! I always have a good time when i come out to shows at world cafe live. The bands are generally really fun, and the supper club atmosphere upstairs is really kind of great -- you are sitting with your drink and maybe some food at a table watching some nice nice music. The drinks are fine and the food is pretty good and they have happyhour specials. That said, do NOT order the veggie version of the burger (mushy chickpeas and grain concoction). My friend also wanted me to say that a broken toothpick in his sandwich almost impaled him. The hummus platter pretty good though, expensive, but enough to share. I'm on the side of those who like the design of the space. Half-decent food, but a fantastic music venue. We went to see Jann Klose and Elliott Smith upstairs on 12/17/08 -- ordered the Rainbow Trout and Grilled Sesame Tofu. We liked the Grilled Tofu [tasted like BBQ teriyaki] which came with soba noodles. The fish, however, was forgettable; unsavory breading masked the dry fish within. Both entrees were not a price/quality bargain.
WCL's blend of tasteful decor and lucid acoustics commands 5 stars. All the seats upstairs allow for an intimate connection with the artist's music. Alas, the food [price and taste] is the star-stealing culprit. I came here Friday night for the Donavon Frankenreiter show and was impressed by the open space. He played downstairs to a decently full crowd that supported the artist really well. Beers were a little expensive but I wasn't coming for them so it worked out well. It was nice going to an open show in a fun environment; everything about the space made the vibe from the show that much more enjoyable. Sweet joint, looking for another show to come to! Gabba Gabba Hey!
I don't know why the Ramones popped into my head when I wanted to write this review, but it did. This is a pretty awesome venue. Unlike some other music venues in this city, you can actually order a meal here while watching your show (except I've never done that, but the opportunity is there to be had and it seems like fun!).
In addition, there are two floors with two different stages, which is pretty freaking cool. The shows are (generally) priced fairly. And while not a lot of great bands come through here (except for the free at noon shows, which I have yet to catch)I have seen some really righteous bands play here.
I have to say though, the beer is ridiculously expensive. I don't have to drink Pabst at a show, but when they cost 4.75 I definitely won't. Even my beloved Lager is 5.25. They have a special beer on tap that is only 3.50, but sometimes you just aren't in the mood for that.
All's I is saying is that if you don't wanna be a pinhead no more, have a couple drinks before the show you go for... Wen to see Jamestown Revival. Used Yelp to reserve table/seats.
Event was SRO.
Many standing directly in front of band obstructing my view.
Stage should be 2-3 feet higher. Downstairs at World Cafe is one of the best music venues in Philadelphia.
Great sound, beautiful room, professional staff, excellent bar, and pretty decent food menu. It's also connected to WXPN so it's safe to say that many of the acts that come through are pretty solid. Free at Noon on Fridays is a great way to see an up and coming act and grab a nice lunch time beer.
I actually had my wedding here and it was a fantastic event. The team that runs the events is well organized and didn't seem to mind our questions and critiques that came up along the way. They took care of everything and allowed our DJ to connect directly to the house sound system, so this definitely saved a bit on the DJ cost. The room and the lighting is so nice that we really didn't need to blow too much on decorations or flowers.
While some people have mixed reviews about the food, it was nothing but rave reviews for the wedding. The craft beer for the open bar was also a hit.
Definitely worth a visit for a show or maybe your future private event. My first time to this venue to dine and hear music. The acoustics and the group we went to hear were incredible. The small-ish room (upstairs) made this a very fun and intimate place to hear a great band.
The happy hr. ($8.00 for a pitcher of Yuengling) and $6 glasses of wine are a good deal. I milked the beer for most of the next 2 hrs. So, about $2.00 per beer at that price. Wine choices are not great. Just have to get there before 6 p.m. Even 5 min. will work.
The service from the hostess (awesome hair) to our waitress (who I believe was managing the whole room!! Great job!) and bus-guy server - were absolutely terrific. Could not have been warmer or more genuine folk.
The food is a slight notch above pub food. Our shredded pork sandwich with coleslaw was a 3.5. The petite filet was a 3. Fries were a 2.5 for both sweet potato and real potato. Did not try the eggplant fries (??).
So a really great find for a nice and not too expensive night out. Some nights they have no charge music. So for quality music at a great venue this is a full on 5 star locale. And a gem that its in PHL. Go here now!! Overpriced tickets for bad service and $10 wine that comes in a plastic cup? I mean, geez, I've been in divey places for shows under the El and gotten a drink served in a glass. Also, the door person was on some sort of power trip about my water bottle on one of the hottest days of the year, but neglected to check if I (or other people) had a handgun or other weapon in my purse. Seriously? If this place is really concerned about safety, they'll start violating people's privacy like they do at the Troc and search every bag. Food and service were great. Friendly staff and the setting is perfect for a music fan like me. This was my first time going to the open mic "harvest soul" event. I was impressed with the great talent I was able to see for just $12 buck ...I love a great deal.
Everyone seemed to be very relaxed and open to the individuality of everyone. The food was alright. I would come back again. A great, tight venue. The band that played was fantastic. I got a Caesar salad and their vegetarian chorizo tacos. The tacos were too spicy, even though I like spicy food. They were also greasy. In reality, I should have sent them back. The other food that came to the table was good though! And the venue was good, so I would definitely recommend the place. Just not the tacos. I walked in to the venue to purchase tickets. The women behind the counter was so "jacked" about working at the World Cafe that she could not help but yell during the entire transaction. Needless to say there was no need to yell, as there was no band playing.
Despite the rather overzealous ticket agent, my true ire for this venue stems from the $2 processing fee per ticket. I paid cash at the venue-what gives? A credit card company is not profiting from this transaction. The only one benefiting is the World Cafe, who receives direct funding from the University of Penn, which means they are, by no stretch, strapped for cash. Are the food and beverage profits not enough? Of course not, one must steal from the common man in any way possible!
This latest transaction reminded me of why I avoid this venue like the plague. World Cafe Live is a great venue with fantastic acoustics and friendly staff. Both times I've been here for a downstairs concert with the fabulous Kathleen Edwards, and the sound has always been amazing and rich.
Usually I hang out at the bar since the view of the stage there is pretty great, especially for a tiny person who usually struggles in standing room only concerts. Caveat is that the bar is often mobbed with folks that want to grab a bevvy from the substantial drink selection, so be prepared to rub some elbows. Cocktails upstairs, large stage/standing room only downstairs. I love this venue. The talent usually heads upstairs to get food before the show so if you can, reserve a table two hours before your show starts and people watch! This review is for the downstairs. I saw This Wild Life, Have Mercy, and Movements, but that's irrelevant because this review is for the venue and staff.
There was literally no security whatsoever. They didn't check bags or pat you down. There aren't even staff members or security around during the show. They also apparently told half of the crowd to wait in the wrong line outside (when you're really supposed to wait inside).
I'm indifferent towards the ticket scanning dudes. They just scan your tickets and give you a little paper wristband that says drinking age or not. The merch and restrooms are separate from the bar, standing room, and stage. All they did was check your wristbands when you pass through. I don't really have anything especially positive or negative to say about them.
The bartenders ignored a lot of people instead of asking what you want, and by the end, everyone at the bar was turnt and really loud during the set. This has never happened at a show before at any other venue I've been to. Especially because it's a smaller space, there should've been some staff around to handle this. Though the bar area is elevated above the regular crowd area, which is great because I had a better view than I would've in the crowd, which is cool. One of my absolute favorite venues to go to. Very clean and upscale, I've yet to try the food or sit in the restaurant but I'm sure it's incredible. I seen the English beat and a few metal bands downstairs and was very pleased overall. Look forward to seeing more bands there in the future. Parking situation is pretty decent as well. I went here for a concert, the downstairs. The place is cool. Very clean place but just okay beer selection (I don't remember seeing any PBRs). Not a big place so no matter where you were, you had a good view of the band. I also thought the ambiance was great.
I be willing to go back. I heard Monday nights for open mic nights are fun. it's a different place, never had a bad experince but never really been amazed. I do enjoy when my random friends play there I watched a live performance of Sondre Lerche in the standing room. If you ever try this venue, then you should plan to get a table for dinner. Standing for 3-4 hours is very tiring on your feet. Also, people squeezed on the stage is a bit annoying at times. Here is the typical pricing.
$25 for standing room
higher pricing for table + minimum $10 food/drink order
For this reason, I would have to discourage people from standing room. You have to get a larger group of people to make it worthwhile for a table. That's the downside of this venue since it really tries to sell the nightlife with the dining aspect. This is a music venue and should be such. Being a fan of WXPN for many years now I finally grabbed an opportunity to see a show at World Café Live. And what a show it was with Rhett Miller and the Serial Lady Killers. We arrived early after seeking a parking spot on the street for $1.00/hour. Upstairs was a performer at the far end of the room playing while the patrons who were fortunate to arrive early were finishing their dinner and enjoying conversation. Scanning the room it appeared that no one was paying attention to the live act on stage. My group of friends tried to obtain a table for a bite but none available but we were able to get a drink at the bar and were informed that we could grab a bite downstairs at the bar when the doors opened at 8:00. While enjoying our cocktail looking around the place the pretty young lady at the door suggested that we head downstairs because they would be opening the door for entry soon. As we proceeded downstairs we discovered that a small queue was beginning to form. At 8:00 the doors did not open but they began to scan our tickets and issue wrist bands.
When the door finally opened we walked promptly to secure a position at the bar and get our food order in. We were handed a small pub menu which seemed to meet our eating requirements. I had a burger on a pretzel roll which was quite good which I washed down with some unknown by me draft. They had a few different selections some of which were from small breweries that I recognized. Scanning the bar shelves you could see that they had quite a collection available in bottles with a full bar available. My thirst was about to take over me but it was a Tuesday evening in Philadelphia, I was driving, plus not taking the next day off this working man had a full day on Wednesday. There would be no bourbon manhattans tonight for Dougie.
The room was a nice size unlike Maxwell's in Hoboken where I previously saw Rhett with his band the Old 97's. It was similar in size to the TLA Theater where I first had the pleasure of seeing him live. This place was much more polished than the TLA. However, the TLA had seating at the bar where this establishment did not.
The room was great including the sound system. I will be looking toward seeing another show in this fine establishment soon. I saw a show here and it is a great venue for concerts. The drinks are average priced and they have a heavy pour. Our first time! Made reservations for dinner before the concert, which gave us good seats we stayed in for the concert. Enjoyed Aztec Two-Step upstairs. Came early for the Happy Hour drink specials. We were not expecting much for food, but were pleasantly surprised with our jambalaya, burger with eggplant fries and sweet potato/caramel featured dessert...Yummy! We loved the intimate feel of the venue (we are not good with crowds). Reasonable prices! Friendly service...kept our water glasses filled...big plus! This place is terrible. Lousy business policies. If I could give a negative star rating, I would. I bought a ticket for general admission. When I arrived a half-hour before the show, they said there are no seats...your wife and you have to stand for the 3 hour show. Nowhere on my ticket or the web-site does it say that general admission means standing room only. I asked for a refund and the manager was totally useless, could not provide a refund and was totally condescending...while admitting that the web-site is deceptive. This is ridiculous. Sell tickets for a 3 hour musical show without providing seating? I repeat, this place is awful and totally not customer-friendly.
By the way, the bathroom was totally filthy. That's the only part of the Cafe that I got to use for my money. I don't usually write reviews on yelp but this place is way too horrible. I'm writing this review right in the restaurant and it's been an hour we've been waiting for table. You may think that we didn't make reservation and it's very busy right now. My friend made reservation at 6:30pm for 4. We came here at 6:30 and the host said that we are on their waiting list. But why they didn't tell us that we are on waiting list when we made reservation? My friend bought the tickets for the live show they have during dinner. We don't think we are gonna have refund for that if we leave. We came at 6:30 pm and it was empty. It's 7:50 pm now and and place is packed. They just sit people in front of our faces. And out waitress just came by twice asking "what can I get you" and once to refill my tea. Please if you wanna come here make sure you're not on their "waiting list". Nice venue, but the prices are outrageous. I can't believe how they can get away with adding a "service" charge on tickets, even when you buy them there! For that reason, I've got to REALLY want to see someone to go. I love the World Cafe. I go there mostly for indie and folk shows. You can usually see an upstairs show for less than $15 (all you have to do is call to make a reservation for a table).
The downstairs is nice too. If you sit next to the bar in the back, there's a trade-off between more noise (from the bar) and getting a good view of the stage. If you can't sit there, I would sit as close to the stage as possible or else pay a little extra for the mezzanine (which is awesome - you pick your own table and then sit at a couch to watch the show).
I've never been disappointed with the food, although it's nothing special. They do have a good beer selection (Sam Adams, Rogue, Stone, Sierra Nevada, Bear Republic, Dogfish head, Flying fish, Great Lakes, Sly Fox, Troegs, Victory, etc.) and the service is always pretty good. I've also never had a hard time finding parking.
The World Cafe is and will continue to be my favorite place for a surprise date night with my wife. 5 stars completely. If I could leave a review for the management, it would 100% be 0 stars. Let me say it now, the venue itself and the rest of the staff were wonderful!
DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU'RE FROM OUT OF STATE.
I've only been to World Cafe Live once and plan to never come back again. Last night (4/22), I travelled from CT with my friend to go to a Kris Allen & Parachute show. I had purchased the tickets and VIP package months ago to avoid any issues the day of the show, but apparently I was wrong.
The State of CT now has everyone get Verified ID's unless they actively decide to opt out. The day before the show, I had renewed my license and got the verified one. Keep in mind I'm in my mid-20's.
When WCL staff were going up the stairs checking ID's to give out the 21+ wristbands, the gentleman looked at mine and very nicely said he needed to speak to someone about it because they've been having problems with CT ID's. Fine with me.
What I didn't appreciate was what happened immediately after. An older woman with shorter blonde hair (who someone later identified as the General Manager) came up to me and said "you have two options. I can either take a razor blade to this to reveal if it's real or not or..." I never caught the second option if she even presented one to me because of how taken aback I was by the threat to destroy my driver's license.
Now as stated above, my license was all of 24 hours old since it had been renewed the day before and I had indeed gotten the verified one. Not only did I have my new license, I had the old one that has not yet expired, a college ID, and multiple credit and debit cards with my name on them. I fully understand the struggle of out of state fake ID's and would understand asking me to provide a second form of identification or even telling me that I can't get a 21+ wristband. In fact, when the woman threatened to scratch it, I told her I wouldn't take a wristband because I didn't want to drink last night. Her response was "so you're admitting to being underage then." No actually, that's not what I'm saying.
The whole approach to handling a potential fake ID was not only completely unprofessional, it was rude and absolutely disrespectful. Based in this one experience alone, I'll never come back to World Cafe Live.
Apparently the management doesn't know how to handle any potential issues and for that to inconvenience a customer in such a way is ridiculous. I love coming here it's always nice and cool!!! Nice venue for a party or a concert. The prices are reasonable Great venue for wedding photography and for your wedding! I've photographed a wedding & engagement session here. A great alternative wedding venue. I've also participated in the Love Sick convention they have here. This is unquestionably the best sounding room in Philly.
I don't always care for tabled seating or else this would be 5 stars, but it's still a fine place to see a show & you know what to expect for each event when you buy tix (assigned seating in most cases, in rare instances general admission).
It's cool when they scrap the tables & open up the floor (as they did for a Dead Milkmen show a while back), but I imagine they're trying to score with the food serving thing as well as the music. Frankly, this can be too much, though the food option has it's place... the food here is not fabulous.
Capacity with the tables is around 300, but without it must be about double that.
I've seen many outstanding shows here & it's nice that they have the small room & bar upstairs as well as the main performance space downstairs.
The people rating this place based solely on the food are out of their minds. Why would you come here to eat? There are dozens of options nearby. Food is not what the focus is at all at World Cafe... it's clearly a state of the art live music venue & it's unlikely to have a kitchen to match.
Ironically, what World Cafe Live is appears to be almost exactly what they've tried to accomplish with the recent renovations at Joe's Pub in NYC. I love the original music at this venue. No many places around offer this scene and it is a nice place inside to enjoy a bite to eat or have a drink. The food is just satisfactory. The only great taste came from their French fries. Otherwise, this place is great to check out some local original artists. I've been here for numerous Free at Noon concerts put on by WXPN Radio (the most incredible music tradition in Philadelphia) held in the Downstairs venue. It is perfectly sized with an intimate feel and a phenomenal sound system, making it one of the best venues in the city and beyond. I've now been here twice but for food events. I feel almost odd writing a review for a music venue about food, but oh well.
I like this place. They know how to handle a crowd. My first experience here was for the grilled cheese and craft beer pairing. The food was pretty good. Nothing thrilled me as far as their selection but the space was well laid out and the service was very prompt.
My second time here I came for the Philadelphia Cheese Experiment. They did a really good job hosting this event because they created an open space for home chefs to compete against each other. Cheese and beer were definitely the focus on the event and it was a lot of fun. The staff who worked it was very nice and I had a really good time.
I think they deserve 4 stars because they do just what a venue should do. They create an atmosphere for an event that lets the event itself shine through and lets you the audience enjoy yourself without annoyances. I went to World Café Live for the first time ever last night to see the band Stone. It was a nice, spacious venue with amazing acoustics. We were in the downstairs, which was a great area.
I didn't like the lack of seating, however, but we did eventually find seats. It then took about an hour to "catch" a waitress to clean off the table from the previous people who, it appeared, had run out on their check (it was still siting, unpaid, on our table). I was finally able to grab a waitress from the couple that had run past previously, ask for the table to be cleaned and order a drink. We wanted some munchies, but by the time we finally found a waitress, the kitchen had closed.
They did have a nice dance floor, for those who were so inclined, however. Lots of standing room and the stage was huge and really nice. Overall, a nice venue, minus the poor waitstaff. my organization just had our annual spring event a few weeks ago in the upstairs bar/restaurant area. I was "working" that night but still go to experience the open beer/wine bar as well as sample some of the hors d'oeuvres and thought that everything was really excellent. I'd like to go back sometime for a show/happy hour. Two words, eggplant fries! Oh my. So tasty.
Great venue for intimate concerts. Nothing fancy by way of tables and chairs but sound is great, servers are extremely friendly, and did I mention eggplant fries...! Don't bother to go to the box office to buy tickets, they charge you the same $2.50 "processing fee" per ticket that they charge if you call them with your credit/debit card, and if you call them, they will either email you the tickets in .pdf format, or hold them at will-call for pickup. If you get tickets on their website, the fee is $5.00 per ticket. Don't waste your time going to the box office when you can get the same price over the phone! I really enjoy this venue... almost everything.
do the owners realize they are alienating a lot of music lovers by placing a mandatory food purchase on top of the already high ticket prices?
i have skipped a few shows for this reason.
time to abort this idea!
how wants to watch and listen to a band and hear noisy eaters?
and why would a band give their all, knowing they are being upstaged by mediocre food?
blows my mind! Havana Nights with Jeff and Conjunto Philadelphia takes you back to the Glory days of Cuba and the sounds of a Happy people before the Revolution f*#ked everything up. The food is great and the service is as good as possible when you consider the many many people in attendance and you're having such a good time, it's on your table with perfect timing. Once Havana Nights ends, downstairs pumps you up again with an awesome DJ spinning a mix to satisfy all tastes and the dance continues. Overall. IMHO. Not to be missed. I'll be there tomorrow night! I've seen some amazing live shows here (including their "Peanut Butter and Jams" kids concert series...don't laugh...I may be a mom but I can still bust you up if I have to :) and last night I had the chance to dine here for the first time.
I attended the "Wines of the French Mediterranean" dinner and goodness me - I'm still full the next day. It was seven courses of pure, unadulterated gluttony that included pairings of some spectacular wine with great dishes like grilled farm raised chicken breast, PEI mussels, a gorgeous cheese plate and, to wrap it all up, pears in puff pastry served with lavender creme. W.O.W.
We were also treated to a lecture by wine expert Joseph Brandolo about each specific wine, where they came from and why they pair perfectly with each dish. So it was culinary edu-tainment at its best.
Service was great and of course, it's gorgeous inside. They do wine/food pairings each month, so I'll be back for next month's BBQ dinner for sure. (Can you think of a cooler combination?) I really enjoy this venue. I have been going to shows here since before I moved to Philly and have always found the staff to be pleasant and the vibe to be low key. Very different than some of the other venues throughout any major city.
I like that they have a more acoustic vibe, because as much as I like to dance, sometimes some singing and guitar make for a great night. I've never really tried the food, though I hear they do some awesome "foodie" events I have been meaning to check out.
My only complaint is that their drafts vary so much, sometimes there are 3 or 4 things I want and sometimes there is nothing. I have pretty general taste so I feel like I shouldn't be too hard to please. They do a great during the week special at the upstairs bar from 7 pm on where a select beer is $3. Hard to beat at any venue. This place has been a staple of my nightlife for years. Unfortunately the variety of performers has declined lately and I find myself compelled to go less frequently. The food quality has also been spotty lately. Still a comfortable and familiar place to go. I hate to see a good place decline so I hope they can get back on top of their game again. There's a lot of competition for our entertainment dollars. the wcl's sound quality is probably the best you can find in phila -- but the visual aesthetics leave something to be desired. can't quite put my finger on it, but both upstairs and downstairs feel 'adult contemporary' (hotel decor, dinner tables...ugh), which is too much for me to stomach. i used to go to shows in friends' basements. i may be in my 30s now and possess a retirement plan, but i'm not quite ready to rock out with my veggie burger in a cushioned booth. in any case, the french fries are tasty and the beer list is decent, so if you find yourself there, enjoy the tunes, vittles, and drink...just keep your eyes shut. I went to see a show at world cafe live last week and I was not impressed. The show I went to was downstairs but the downstairs security glanced at my ticket and sent me to the upstairs line. I knew this could not be correct but I didn't say anything and ended up waiting at least 10 minutes in uncomfortable high heels in the wrong line.
Finally they let me into the correct section and I headed over to my seat. I had a front row seat but honestly the stage sucked. It was a few feet away from the front and the stage was set very high. It actually hurt my neck looking up all show. The sound system was good but that's about it. I would've hated the show if I were anywhere but the front row. The tables looked way too far back. The lights they had on the artist made his face hard to see and they were blinding me all night.
The one good thing I can say is the venue did not smell bad of food or alcohol. They had an elevator which was also helpful when you're wearing heels. I do not live in the area and I doubt I'd go to another concert there. *****Review of Free at Noon only********
I work just a few blocks away from World Cafe, so when I actually have a relaxed Friday and can take a lunch break, I like to head over to the Free at Noon shows. For ZERO dollars you get to hear a band that is playing (for $$) later that night, grab a lunch beer (always makes the afternoon better) and walk back to the office before one feeling like you did something cool and worthwhile. I few times I've heard bands for the first time that I turned out to really like. But the best part is to get that weekend feeling started early.
For the most popular bands you have to check the site early and RSVP by midweek, but if you can remember to do it, you'll feel "in." My only complaint is the $7 Dogfishhead. $7 for a local beer? Damn. I was holding off on reviewing this place until I had been both upstairs, and downstairs.
Downstairs: I was here March 10, 2010 for Automatic Loveletter. They were the opener... I forget who the main band was. I didn't care, didn't stay for them.
The sound in the place is amazing. Such great acoustics. Definitely the best of all the venues I've been too.
Upstairs: I was here March 4, 2011 for The Pretty Reckless show. Once again, amazing sound. A little louder than it is downstairs at times which made it hard to hear Taylor Momsen singing. No big deal. It was still an amazing show.
The only thing I don't like about either floor is the level of awkward you experience if you happen to get there early. It'll leave you standing in front of the stage, seemingly out of place, while people sit at the bar and at their tables eating. It's just so weird! Luckily, you forget where you are as soon as the band you wanted to see starts playing.
The staff here is just SO nice. It's ridiculous. Some of them seemed off-put by the fact that I was polite back. It seems like most patrons treat them rudely which made me sad. These are nice people working there. In fact, it made me and the rest of the staff members at other venues in Philly seem like a bunch of douchebags!
The only thing I can't judge here is the food. I never really fork up the cash for food at venues because it tends to be expensive and not worth the price. It smells great though. I'll have to try it next time I go.
Yes, there will be a next time... as long as a band I like shows up, I'll return. Great place to see a show! Love the size and atmosphere downstairs. No complaints on the drink selection, Magic Hat No. 9 on draft! I've been here a ton of times for shows and a beer/whiskey festival, but I've never sat down for dinner. I was very impressed with their menu options and most of the food we received was incredible. The Sesame Ginger sauce on the wings was wayyy too salty, but the meat was nice and crispy. The burger was fantastic as well as the quinoa salad.
The music selection here is always wonderful. Last wednesday I had the pleasure of seeing The Bernhardt Family band and it was the most enjoyable show I've seen in years-- please look them up! When the night was winding down I had a difficult time finding my server to pay, but typically it's always a good time at World Cafe Live. UPDATE: The grilled cheese and beer pairing event for $35 was so much fun. Creative, good music and at a fair price. I'd like to offer helpful words to those who aren't sure, like I wasn't, how Upstairs works. So---if you're planning to eat, you must make a separate reservation for a table, apart from your tickets for the performance. There are maybe 15 seats at the bar; a guy who had one said he got there at 6:30 and the bar was almost full. There are also three or four tiny high-tops, no stools; I'm not sure if these get table service. Since we didn't have a reservation, we put our names on The List and were surprised to get a table, eventually.
The only other seating is a weird section of two rows of bus terminal seats against a wall alongside the stage.
The draft list: Very good, including an offering from the rarely seen Three Heads.
The food: Surprisingly good! The fries are excellent---crunchy exterior, creamy interior. The chicken pot pie was lovely---buttery crust (though not enough of it) and a milky, buttery, herby filling of tender chicken, chunks of potato, carrot bits, and...celery? A spoon would've been good to have. Nice biscuit, though overly browned from reheating, and delicious garlicky broccoli rabe. Spouse tried the grilled cheese with roast beef, from the specials menu. Sounds odd, but spouse said it worked.
The service: Sllllooowwwww---but cheerful.
Be prepared to spend the evening rearranging the furniture, as the (sticky Formica) tables are so close together no one can get out to pee without their neighbor sliding their table over. Really, no exaggeration.
So, to the music. The space sounds great---one of the best-sounding venues I've experienced. Crisp, clear, boomy but not too, and loud enough but not too. For such a small space, though, there seem to be few good sightlines, what with people having dinner and people standing in the middle and people waiting for the bus over in the corner. Lots of head shifting all night to try to see the singer, though I did have a good view of the bassist's left hand... We made 6:00 reservations, arrived early and were seated immediately. Our server didn't mention any specials until I asked. Turns out there are great happy hour deals on drinks and starters. We enjoyed the salmon tacos, chicken wings, broccoli and gouda fritters and sweet potato fries. And of course, the chocolate lava cake. We were happily surprised with all the starters. We had plenty of time to get to the downstairs show, which meant lining up on the stairs. As a person with a chronic condition, I was uncomfortable doing this. The staff was very kind and accommodating, letting us take the elevator downstairs and I was able to procure a seat in the standing room only show, which saved the night for me. A great experience overall. This review is from a music venue perspective only!
Steve M and I both shared our first time at World Cafe Live and it left me feeling, happy, satisfied and dying for more...
I had been dying to go to World Cafe for as long as I can remember and was thrilled that Delta Rae finally gave me the reason I had been waiting for. The show was amazing, the sound was great, the space was well laid out, and clean! I also loved that you can grab tables if you want and order food (though we didn't)...what a great idea.
Basically, I can't wait to get back and will be searching the website for my next reason to go. Loved this place. Great variety of music and food. Diverse offerings, excellent food, service and entertainment. And it's affordable! I had a show I was dying to see (Robert Schwartzman) at World Cafe Live, but the venue itself was really bizarre.
I purchased tickets for the show online through the World Cafe Live website, and there was a weird $2 processing fee which I found unnecessary. Anyway, I entered the venue, gave my printed out ticket to the staff, and proceeded to wait for about 15 minutes while they verified that everything was okay with it, even though I was the only one in line, and it was a real ticket. Weird.
My show was in the Upstairs Live section. I was given a seat, which I was not expecting... I wasn't aware you had to order food in order to watch a show here. So I sat at my table alone and my waiter came over to take my order. I felt bad saying I didn't want to order anything, so I ordered eggplant fries, which sounded interesting enough, even though I was incredibly full. My show's starting time got pushed back from 8pm to 9pm, so I had to awkwardly just sit there for an hour, alone. The eggplant fries came, and they were decent--but they were incredibly oily to the point where the oil started, like, making them soggy, so I wasn't able to finish them. I'm disappointed I had to spend $7 on top of my ticket price and processing fee. There was also a full bar with great options, but would have felt bad spending even MORE money on top of everything else.
The show itself was great! ...well, only after I decided to move from my awkwardly placed table and go stand up by the stage. Very few people were doing this, so I felt incredibly uncomfortable rocking out to the music by myself, but hey, that's why I came to the show. Everyone else just sat at their tables and bopped their heads to the music--it was very high culture for such an organic rock show, but oh well, I suppose...
The one major benefit of World Cafe Live is that the venue is so small that it's totally possible to meet and hang out with the artists after the show--which I luckily got to do! Still, though, overall, the venue is really strangely set up to me and the food I had was mediocre... I'll likely be back if there's ever another show here I'm dying to check out, but I don't think I will be back otherwise. Not a pleasant experience.
I went for a show in the Downstairs Live "Cafe."
Bar reeked of vomit, and it wasn't even 8:30pm, at the beginning of a show. Another patron remarked on the smell, unprompted.
There was an advertised food menu that seemed very appetizing and catered to vegetarians, vegans; and gluten-free people, but when I tried to order I was informed the kitchen closed at 9:15pm (no where was this posted). It was only 9:01pm when I tried to order. Unacceptable. Also, what kitchen closes at 9:15pm on a Saturday night with two live concerts happening?
Bar staff was rude both in my experience to order drinks (the woman was curt and dismissive of me) and in trying to order food (a different woman- she was dismissive and unhelpful. She shrugged her shoulders and said oh well).
The photo of the beer was the only pleasant thing, the success of which cannot be attributed to this business. Beer was overpriced.
The lighting for the rock show was terrible. I was constantly blinded. Other members of the audience quickly looked away from the sporadic, unnecessary blinding lights. What is this lights guy doing??
I was excited for this show beforehand, but all of the above resulted in quite an unpleasant experience.
I will not be returning. Okaay so bathrooms were clean and stage lighting and sound system were Great!...Came to an event, the ticket stated that the doors open at 6pm we waited for over a half hour. The staff was very rude 2 older men . and also told the guest to wait ON THE STEPS which is CLEARLY A SAFETY VIOLATION. In the past I have come here for events and it was fine and the staff was pleasant. I will really have to think about coming here again for future events. Also the restaurant food there ( whenever it's open ) is very questionable. Though presented well, It seems more like reheated frozen goods, better to eat elsewhere. Super friendly bartenders + cheap wine that isn't resinous + eggplant fries = winning combination.
Word to the wise: eggplant fries means beer battered eggplant that's crispy and dip-able. Also, eggplant is a fruit, so this means that you're technically getting a double dose of healthy antioxidants when you drink red wine and consume this appetizer.
Do so.
Your body will thank you. Pros: Terrific artists, often in interesting combinations (Richard Shindell and Ollabelle!) A full bar with some fun specialty drinks (Ginger Rodgers!) Reasonably good seating arrangements that reduce the incidence of Folk Concert Neck!
Cons: Really, really uneven food. Sometimes it's good (St Patrick's special with grilled salmon, kale, potatoes, and an appetizer of Cashel blue cheese and crackers), sometimes it's abysmal (nachos covered with COLD liquid cheese) and most of the time it's in-between. I really enjoyed World Cafe Live. It is a great performance space and the headliner for the evening, Tre Williams, was THE BEST!!! The vibe was very good and a great mix of people. The food and drinks were ok; just keep in mind that you're there for music and not fine dining. I look forward to my next visit!!
My only complaint and it's more an observation - everyone clears out after a performance. It seems like the perfect space to have music and just relax. Would've considered having dessert, if this were the case. It would beat going to a club after wards.
Hints: Make sure you make your meal reservation when you buy your tickets. The meal reservation is separate and can be done through Open Table.
Don't bother with the drinks; they are pretty watered down. A great place for Happy Hour everyday of the work week. Parking is not an issue, which is a plus.
I also heard that they are hosting a Happy Hour to benefit the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House this Thursday 7/14 when I was there. A good bar with friendly bartenders, great music and charitable outreach (can't get better than that)! I'm a huge fan of Bob Schneider...and he plays at World Cafe about once a year...so I have now been here twice, both to the downstairs stage, once standing room, and this last time reserved seating with food.
The food was...meh...only ok. Nothing to write home about. I enjoyed my pappardelle with braised beef, but it wasn't the best I'd ever had, and my husband's lobster bread pudding was more like a crabcake ...only with lobster and more bread than lobster. The sauce over the top was yummy though. Prices were decent, and the food did come out promptly, so props for that.
As a music venue, I love this space. It's small and intimate, yet still has a nice, big stage and the acoustics are great. ***Something to ad to my earlier review***
Open mic Mondays are AWESOME. I went this week, my first time. It was better than American Idol---way better. Frankly, I wasn't sure what type of self-respecting musicians would show up at 4:30 p.m. on a Monday to get their names on a list to play two sings at an open mic (the show starts at 7:30 p.m.), but there were a few legit artists who were there at what's arguably the city's coolest venue to get their name out. Others were hilariously awful. Others still were hilariously awful but thought they were awesome---some of the disasters actually, if you can believe it, had stage names for themselves. I'm sure there are nights when the real talent stays home, the jokes don't feel like humiliating themselves, and all you're left with is a bunch of unexciting mediocrity---I'm sure this happens from time to time; open mic nights are crap shoots after all. But if you're lucky enough to catch a show like the one I saw last night, you'll probably never forget it.
****
Ya, World Cafe Live is actually built beside the studios of WXPN, a University of Pennsylvania-affiliated radio station that gained national acclaim when it started its famous "World Cafe Live" radio show. Recently, some investors took the concept and made it into a great restaurant venue.
When big-time business types come in like this, you always wonder if they'll stay true to the essence of the original project, and I really think they have with WCL. The focus of the venue is still very much to offer a great environment for the best local and national artists-- and they offer it all at pretty reasonable ticket prices. Just for an example, Charlie Hunter is playing the little stage (!!!) this month, and it's just $16 for tix.
The food is good, slightly more than what you'd want to pay for show snacks (like $5 for fries) -- but with food quality leagues ahead, the WCL prices still beat what you'd pay for a lousy hot dog and soda at the Electric Factory. From the hostess who argued about making reservations, to the lies told to customers' faces, to the delay in opening, to the manager who couldn't have cared less, to the worst air conditioning ever - on a 90 degree day, June 22, 2017 at World Cafe Live in Philly was a dismal experience. Will be begging the performers not to return. Worst of all, previous experience was very good and expectations for the same had been high. This place is a great venue to hear some excellent music in a close and casual way. The service was awesome and the food was delicious. My wife got the pulled pork sandwich which came with house made sweet potato fries. She loved her food. I got a incredible Angus burger, medium rare. It was cooked to perfection on a fresh croissant bun. Definitely a place worth checking out. world cafe live is the physical aspect of WXPN, an indie rock-ish station. Always something interesting and different. The upstairs where storytelling and almost nightly other musical events occur is a dark and seductive atmosphere where you'd want to be having a quiet dinner or holding someone close listening to a performance. During the week there are $3 drink specials as well as a variety of cocktails and wines to choose from. Find an event you might love, make it a date night. Was here Lastnight to see Haley Reinhart...AMAZING venue! From the staff, food, sound...Such a great experience. Gives off the speak easy feel! Very intimate shows. Does not feel like a concert...much more than that .Will definitely re visit here again!!!! Dined here Dec 22nd for lunch. We were the only family in the dining area, yet the service was awkward..no refills on drinks or offer the entire meal. I had the Caesar with shrimp- I thought it was overpriced at $17 for a small portion with 4 shrimp. 4 shrimp for $7? (you pay extra for the shrimp) Husband had the pulled pork sandwich, it looked nice. However it didn't come with the fries or sides as printed on the menu. My daughter got a good sized quesadilla with fresh guac which she enjoyed. I don't think we'll be returning. I asked a friend I was attending a concert with what to expect at World Cafe Live. He said, "the music is good and the food is just food". He could not have been more right. I arrived on a Friday night to watch Third Story perform upstairs, and the place was packed. We were seated at an awkwardly long table where one of us had to have our back to the stage, but thankfully we made friends who offered us a seat at their table stageside! The service was pretty awful - took us about 30 minutes to even get the waiter's attention and place an order, and by the time the food came out I was famished. I ordered the chicken sandwich - it wasn't really bad or really good, but filling, and the sweet potato fries had an interesting glaze on them that I wasn't a huge fan of. Regardless, the show was awesome, the venue intimate, and I will definitely be back! I came here for a Free At Noon concert featuring Tony Joe White and the whole idea of relaxing on a Friday lunch break with live music and a local beer is a genius concept! This is how Philly celebrates its weekends before they even start, haha.
Depending on the act, it can be very crowded in here so if you don't want to stand for an hour, get here a little early (or if you sit all day at your job, maybe it's a good idea to stand for a while). Double awesome points for having both an upstairs and a downstairs venue.
Upstairs, I've been to a handful of concerts, a whisky tasting, and a story slam. I love how the space can handle all of those different types of events without batting an eyelash. The stage is tiny but serves its purpose. The acoustics are fine for the small shows that they do up there.
My first downstairs experience was tonight - Alabama Shakes, which in itself was a mind-blowing musical escapade. I really like this space - typical music venue set-up, great acoustics, not huge which I love (makes the concert still feel really intimate), and everything just seemed clean and nice and new, which is the exact opposite of what I think when I hear the words "concert venue."
So far I haven't paid over $20 for any concert here. That is pretty amazing considering how nice the entire facility is.
And they get a giant high five for their line-ups. I've seen two of my more obscure favorites here, including an Irish musician who barely ever comes to the States, but when he does, he plays here. Amazing. Great place. Music, food, and drinks... veggie wings are so good and eggplant fries are delicious. Staff super friendly and ready to serve. Nice relaxing spot. Good for friends at happy hour or ladies night out. Just for the veggie wings its a must try.... oh yeah the fries and wings are 5 dollar for happy hour. 4 to 6 mon to fri Great venue to see a show and the spot is convenient to get to. I loved the intimate feel and closeness of the stage. We started upstairs and it was great. The food was good and came out on time. The sound system was great but not overpowering so amongst a group.of 10 we could still talk and hear one another without yelling. I would definitely come again! If you love combining food and music then you will love World Café. A five-star rating on their venue, talent selection and all-around service. The sold-out show ($30) I recently saw had table-side seating for an acoustic trio show in the downstairs venue. The talent I recently saw (Andy McKee, Antoine Dufour and Stephen Bennett) was able to play with amazing lighting and sound set up.
Tickets can be bought online and vary depending on the entertainer. There are also special events that feature cheese, beer/wine tastings and music release parties. I would suggest checking their website since the more accurate menu, events, pricing, photos and directions are listed/updated daily. The menu changes with the artist you are going to see so a word to the wise is to check beforehand.
Let's talk food!! On my most recent visit I ordered a cheese plate, crab cake entree with sweet potato fries ($27) and WCL Burger ($14) with my smokin' hot date. The WCL burger is a chargrilled black angus burger with caramelized onions, cheddar and bacon. NOM! NOM! NOM! We jammed out and feasted, savoring every bite of our meal. It was another wonderfully delicious evening at World Cafe Live and I'll be back again. Just got back from an XPN "free at noon" show at World Cafe Live and realized I have never sung the praises of this amazing music venue in our back yard. First, WCL may have the best sound I've ever heard in a club - every show I've been to, from Kidrockers (gotta start 'em young) to Gary Clark Jr. has sounded amazing. It's night-and-day compared to the window rattling background you'll get at the Electric Factory!
Beyond the sound, WCL just has a great feel. It's all about the music - with shows usually going on upstairs and downstairs; while XPN broadcasts from the main floor. The tickets are priced well; the staff is super accommodating; and the main room just has a great intimate feel to it.
I see a lot of other people taking off stars for the food... I've heeded those warnings & never taken a bite of food at WCL (none of it has tempted me at all). But you've got food trucks and university city goodness within a few minutes, so fuel up before you walk in & you'll have a 5 star night! This is a pretty great place. They offered to bring us drinks while we were waiting in line for the doors to open.
We saw the Peek-A-Boo-Revue. The show was f***ing awsome. I wish so much we had a burlesque troupe in Orlando. I voluteered to go on stage (I had already had couple drinks) - Bad I idea. Every joint in my body was stiff and hurting for all of the walking around town we've done over the last 4 days so I had no business getting on stage. But it was so much fun and they don't make you feel like an idiot. You came come to philly without seeing the Peek-A-Boo Revue. I can't speak for the food becuase we didn't have any but the drinks were good and my gin and tonic was just right- strong. Fantastic venue! I saw Book of Love here with my friend Todd, and we had a blast! I'm not an audiophile and sound here is quite excellent for me. This place is quite spacious inside, and we were allowed to go down from the mezzanine. The bar in the show hall has a good selection of libation and food. There is no better place to see a live band in Philly. Classic and intimate! The downstairs of World Cafe Live is so very intimate. For a non-seated show, all that separates you from the stage is a small row of tables acting as a barrier. You can see, and almost, feel the drops of sweat from the artist on stage.
So why a three star review? I was very disappointed with the acoustics and sound mix in my two most recent visits. When a band wasn't playing an acoustic song, the singer's sound was extremely muffled making it very hard to hear the lyrics. The sound was very heavily focused on the electric guitars. Unfortunately, this didn't seem like an artist specific issue as my last visit was for Non Comm where I saw upwards of 8 artists perform on the same stage. Acoustic sets worked much better.
Sound quality aside, the intimacy was awesome. The beer selection deserves recognition as well. It was very craft beer heavy, the way I like it.
I'll definitely return however I just need to be selective about what type of concert I return for. Went to the Restaurant for bite before a Red Carpet Event. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Bar looked calming. We were quickly ushered to our table and service was quick in the begging. A very nice menu. Food came out promptly. Daily Happy Hour Specials. Our Server was Kind, Courteous and Friendly. The Food was Very Good. I had the Duck Con fit, my friend had the Seared Scallops. The Hummus Platter was a good appetizer, however the Fried Eggplant Sticks were soggy, but still good after the first crispy layer. The food in all was good, but not worth the trip unless you are attending an event there. The only problem I had, was the fact there were 2 servers to a whole restaurant. I mean they were running. I was late for the event (downstairs) due to the manager being tied up elsewhere. I was using a Restaurant.Com Certificate. Other than that, I would definitely go back again. It's a Really Nice Venue!
Chef Gary Curry First: DO NOT ORDER FOOD HERE. The quality is like a bad mix between a low end chain restaurant and meager pub food... and it's over priced (obviously).
Second: This place is AWESOME on the inside. Beautifully designed. Excellent lighting. And the quality of talent that comes through here is worth checking out.
Tickets can some times be rather expensive, so check their website to see when things are going on that are within your price range. It is not uncommon some nights to see the lower parking lot filled with Mercedes and BMWs from out of town.
Go here for the music. Have a drink, but DO NOT order food.
The only complaint I got from a friend when we went to hear one of her friend's band on the "Philly Local Night" was that the sound engineer was not mixing the feed very well. In addition, I had heard complaints from others that the mixing in the downstairs theater was rather poor. You'd expect more from a major music venue that also happens to be a radio station.
I will check out the Open Mic night some day if I have time and get in the door.
(Note: I'll update this review if I go back again in the future.) I attended a show upstairs and ordered dinner. I asked our waitress about the Gluten Free options. Be forewarned management does not understand the difference between a menu item that doesn't inherently have gluten and one that is exposed and therefore contains gluten.
For example, the French fries that are labeled gluten free are fried in a fryer that fries gluten containing items.
I figured I would play it safe and order a salad and dessert. The waitress assured me the dressing was gluten free as was the ice cream.
I was sick all night long. Violently ill. Went here for a show, so can't comment on any food/sit-down-service. The show was downstairs and it was just the perfect size - good crowd but not so bad that you couldn't move. I've been to a few other similar sized venues around the area and this one is probably my favorite thus far. Drinks were reasonably priced as opposed to some of the other venues I have been to. Bartenders were fast and friendly. Sound system was great, energy was great, overall an awesome time! Only negative I have is that the show started at 8, but the headliner didn't even go on until 9:30. The whole show was great, I was just surprised that half the show was openers. I was here about 2 years ago to hear Duncan Sheik (who knew he still had a career!) and I also was introduced to the wonderful Vienna Teng at that show. The downstairs venue is the intimate area with good acoustics and delicious eggplant fries. I was there by myself so I got to share my table (just a warning to the anti-social folks out there).
I kept meaning to go back but just really never got there....
Oh yeah, I had also gone to some kind of networking event there when I was in grad school - wasn't too impressed with that, but it was more due to the lame-ness of the event... I really liked World Cafe Live..... My class went there because my teacher works at the radio station there... wxpn or wateva... but we saw Back Door Slam and it was nice.. the band was alright but it was a great atmosphere... I've only been in the downstairs area so I can't speak for the upstairs and food service.
I've seen a couple shows here and also went to the Lovesick Expo recently held here. Decent place for music performances, cleaner than a lot of other venues. Also very convenient to 30th St Station for taking SEPTA. I like this place. I remember the food being good. The place is a little cramped though. I like the musicians they get in here. Cool. Bam I am an event organizer for a social group. Myself and 11 others attended the spoken word open mic event 4/4 and I cannot begin to express my displeasure with WCL. Per the website, we needed dinner reservations to ensure we'd get seats for the performance. I made dinner reservations for the group for 6:30 to ensure we had seats for the performance. Once we were seated we were told that the performance would be downstairs and that dinner is NOT being served down there. By 7:30 we had only received our appetizers and we were concerned about getting downstairs to get seats, which meant we would not get to eat. A few members of the group had their appetizers wrapped to go while the rest of us went hungry. The hostess then mentioned that there were snack items available downstairs. The food that was served downstairs during the performance was disgusting; it was a bunch of different fried things that all looked the same sitting on a warming tray (very low budget) None of us felt like clogging our arteries so we declined.
A member of our party decided they wanted to go back upstairs to eat, when they got upstairs they were told they had to pay $20 to go to the bar and eat, even though we had just been sitting up there at a table. They were then told that they couldn't get anything to go b/c they were not allowed to take food down stairs. However the members of the group who had their food wrapped to go were able to eat downstairs. The hostess then told the member of the group to go around the corner to a DELI!!! I was offended and so were the members of the group. Going to a deli is not the same as sitting down to eat at a restaurant. So even though WCL serves food they would rather send business out the door to get food?!?! Needless to say the 12 members of my party were not happy and probably will not return to this venue. I like it here a lot for shows. My experience here was for the Sunday day of the Popped! music festival, so the entire place was open and shows were going on both up and down stairs. The downstairs room is HUGE, the stage is HUGE and the sound is GREAT. They have a nice big bar to get a drink and tables to sit at if you don't feel like standing up front. Unfortunately, they also have nice big prices for their beers. My normally cheap lager was $5! That's a killer.
Upstairs has more tables and a smaller show space than downstairs with a more moderately-sized stage (comparable to the M Room). The sound was still pretty good up there. The last band even had video projected on a screen behind them which added a bit to the ambience. Everyone got up and danced...since that's what people do to dance music.
At a point, I got hungry and had to cave and get food even though it was a little pricey. It was fairly worth it though. I got the WCL Grilled Chicken sandwich (chicken, prov. cheese, roasted peppers, spinach and pesto mayo). It was one of the most delicious chicken sandwiches I've ever had and completely satisfying with delish fries (you have the option of getting a salad instead but I wanted to be bad) for a little over $10.
Overall, I would totally go back for the right show since the space is so nice, but I would hesitate to book there because I would feel bad forcing my audience to pay that much for food and drink. Saw Anuhea (great artist from Hawaii) at Work Cafe Live upstairs. Made a dinner reservation on Yelp and bought tickets in advance. Worked out great! Show started at 8pm, git a reservation for 7 pm, but could have got there later since it wasn't a big crowd. Food was very good (a surprise given other reviews) and service was great. Highly recommend WCL!! Drove up from D.C. for night for the Lake Street Dive show in early October. I hadn't been to the venue before and spent quite a bit of time studying floor plans, etc. I attend loads of shows in D.C., at most of the venues, and World Cafe (at least on this night) was tops. We were in the front row of the upper tier on awesome couches with loads of legroom, dead center, great view. Nothing but great things to report from Philly. We did eat there before the show and were pleasently surprised - expectations for food at a music hall are never too high, but we were pleased. Man, I wish I could reserve those seats for every band I love... Five Star atmosphere with Five Star prices that only serves Three Star food. I have ordered food from both upstairs and downstairs and every time it does not live up to the price tag. I am not saying the food is bad, however you can get WAY better else where for less. Now that I got that out of the way, World Cafe Live's atmosphere makes up greatly for the overpriced menu. Upstairs is small and cozy. You can see different artist perform on the small, back corner stage as you sit out their very impressive bar or at a table that is no more than 20 yards from the stage. For bigger shows you go downstairs, where there is an equally impressive bar. For most shows there is a menu and very limited seating, unless you got reserved sitting in the balcony. We always try to get there early in order to get a table in front of the bar. The shows are always great, my favorite being Jaxons Local Shots featuring IKE. Always a good lineup of bands and the room definitely sounds good.
I highly recommend this place for a chill night. If you aren't in the mood for a club but need more than a bar, WCL is the place for you. This place is really great for watching live bands. Make sure you check out 'There Once Was.' They play there frequently. I've seen a lot of great shows here, and never left disappointed. The food is good, and the wait staff is the best - they are somehow brilliantly capable of walking around a tightly packed dining area, in the dark, without making noise. I wouldn't get past one table before I smacked someone in the head with my bum and/or a tray of food. Also, you can't beat $1/hr parking on the part of Walnut they are located on. Went here for a concert to see the Alabama Shakes in April 2012. I had a couple beers in the upper stage area where the slams take place. After a couple beers headed downstairs to the concert hall. I love the smaller intimate setting, bout 1500 or so? Pure guess there. Similar to the TLA, but classier. The concert hall downstairs has great acoustics. I was standing along the rail at the rear near the bar - great vantage point. There are beer kiosks along the sides of the floor area. Beers are about 6 bucks give or take. The crowd was totally supportive of the band. No assholes that ruined the experience for anyone. The band tore the roof off that night! Not judging the dinner menu upstairs, but as a concert hall, this place is butter. So much fun! Great music, great swag, great beer! All the people complaining about the bartenders not being able to sleep at night due to expensive beers need to realize that they don't make the prices, they just facilitate the sale. Also, this is a job for them, not their lives. Please go see a show at the TLA and spend $7 on a PBR, then come running back to WCL and cherish that $4.50 beer in your hand. I am editing my review due to the very nice apology from the manager. Apparently there was a mixup in seating arrangements on the night we went, and I certainly appreciate that accidents can happen. I will go to see a similar show in July and have been assured that the problems I had have been corrected. Thanks for reaching out to us, World Cafe! While I have seen shows both upstairs and downstairs, this review is strictly for the downstairs.
Saw Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers this past weekend downstairs with a crew of 4. We ordered our tickets ahead so we could get a table and order some dinner. Showed up about an hour before the show to a pretty cool scene. Fun crowd and some pretty decent food. Also, suprisingly good selection of beers. All had a great time and would go back for seconds anytime. I've been here a handful of times through the years and it's definitely a great spot to catch a show. The food is just average, but they do have eggplant fries that are unusual and good. Go for the venue! I really like this place a lot. I see a lot of live music and have never seen a venue quite like this in any other city. Not quite a nightclub. Not quite a restaurant. Not quite a music theatre. But a decent mix of the three. The acoustics are outstanding and the room is impressive. I don't understand the dining tables in the middle of the floor, but someone must like that arrangement. Have only been here a handful of times and all have been early week with relatively thin crowds. I would like to see the energy of the room in a full house. I'd give it five stars if the drink prices were reasonable, but all-in-all, a very good place to see live music. A great place to see a show (downstairs at any rate.) We got great seats for Black47 and had dinner there pre-show. The food was Irish themed (for Black47 and it was March 16!!!)
I thought my "boiled" dinner of corned beef and cabage was good.
The rest of the menu was typical bar food. Not great - but not inedible as others have said.
The show itself was great and we had a balcony front row sofa to sit on - and beer to drink.
No problems for me. Awesome performers. Great venue. Nice sound. Accept the service fee for the shows; it's worth it! But, if it's your thing- pregame. The drinks are weak and overpriced. $7 for a weak gin and tonic. Oh well, perhaps that's how they keep the place running and the workers paid. Great venue none the less. World Cafe Live has great music, great drinks, and great service. They book amazing acts who are slightly off the beaten path, but generally fantastic. I am a faithful follower.
BUT (did you see it coming?)
the design of the space is AWFUL!!!! The tables have just got to go. They would have more room if the lobby weren't almost as big as the upstairs space, and they put the bar back there!! Put in booths lining the edge of the room like a supper club, and LEAVE THE REST OPEN. Don't put a table 3 feet away from a speaker. Is someone really going to enjoy their soup when it's literally vibrating from the sound? NO! Or, do the people who came early and snagged tables enjoy looking at dancers' butts all evening once the show gets bumpin? The dance floor is the size of my kitchen (8X10) but a lot of dirty haired rich-turned-"poor" college students paid good money on daddy's credit card to go to that show, and gosh darn it, they need to MOVE! GIVE THE PEOPLE SPACE TO DANCE!!! Went here to see Reverend Peyton and his Big Damn Band. Great show. It was in the Upstairs Live venue. First time I was there, but I thought it was a great small show setting. For dinner I had the Chorizo Tacos and the Chicken and Waffles Club sandwich. I really enjoyed both. The drinks were good too. The waitress did a great job and stopped by just the right amount of times. It was alao very conveniently located near the 30th street stop of the MF El. I will definitely go back here for other shows. Delicious and (sort of) healthy casual lunch - a great bacon cheeseburger for me and a vegetarian cheese 'steak' for my friend - an excellent micro brew from the tap - great conversation and excellent, live musical entertainment. I do not go there nearly enough. Have seen many bands there, and just before they've blown up - namely, "The Heavy."
Crowds are a nice mix of people. Professionals, students, hipsters and tourists. Music is always great, big or small. Good burgers. Awesome staff. Great vibe. University City is becoming a cooler and cooler place to roam about. Here for the first time last week to see a performance of Los Straitjackets (opening act Ellen Jewel.) This venue reminds me a bit of House of Blues. There's two levels, both offer a bar in the concert hall, and best of all, standing room at stage level so you can be thisclose to the acts. Acoustics were great and not needlessly overpowering. Upstairs is an excellent restaurant and another concert stage. My only minor complaint was the slow service experienced when my friend and I had dinner before the show. But that's minor and was hopefully a fluke. An enthusiastic 5 stars and will be back again for sure. I have never been disapointed at the World Cafe. Whether I'm grabbing drinks and apps during their fabulous happy hours ( can't beat $3 glasses of wine and $1 apps!) or watching an amazing show downstairs for no more than $20 ( just saw the hotel cafe tour this past Friday, one of the best shows I've seen there!) . The venue is clean (including the bathrooms which is major!). Parking is free !!!! Another great thing to do is the free at noons. XPN runs this but to see a great act such as Damien Rice for free is awesome! World Cafe is by far my favorite venue to see a show in the city! In my humble opinion, the best venue for live music in the city. Here's my reasoning.
1. Upstairs and downstairs offer an intimate setting. Both internationally known and up-and-coming performers connect closely with the audience here.
2. The staff is always very, very friendly and accommodating.
3. The acoustics are just right. I can hear the performer without leaving the place with my ears ringing.
But here's a tip... When ordering, stick to the drinks. The food, like in most clubs, is very average. I've been here twice for concerts (versus just upstairs for Happy Hour). The venue itself is arranged interestingly... Like the downstairs concert area in my opinion is kinda laid-out weird. They let you pay for seats at tables on the main floor where the stage is located, but then when the concert is going on you can't see jack sh*t because there are rows of people standing up in front of you in front of the stage. So you have to like stand up too. On your chair if you're my height. One time I went and didn't pay for seats and just camped out at the bar and had a much better view. I guess the mezzanine seating would be good because you can sit and get service and see the stage pretty well since the venue itself is pretty intimate. I dunno. They should elevate those tables on the main stage floor so you can see. Hint Hint.
Secondly, the food there was not awesome. I think they were going for a "upscale" bar food but when one of the appetizers is french fries and written underneath it it says "served with ketchup" in italics I'll raise a couple of weary eyebrows. I got the pulled pork sandwich which was not awesome. Eh.
Anyway, it makes me sad to write this. I like that there is a World Cafe Live. I wish they'd just spruce up their food/food selection and make the venue a little more viewer friendly. This venue has it's finer points but, sadly, also a few downsides.
WCL gets some great acts. No one can deny that.
And, the dinner shows really are a nice atmosphere... You get to sit, relax, enjoy yummy food, and see a great band playing their hearts out. Or do you? My biggest complaint with WCL is with the nature of a dinner show and philly crowds in general. They get boring. It's really awkward to dance in your seat with a $10 salad (regardless of how delicious it is) in front of you! The dinner show format makes it really difficult to actually enjoy the music fully. I've actually been in two audiences where the band made fun of us for being so boring! But that's the nature of the dinner show (and also philly concert goers, in general). Aside from that, I love this place. Their late night shows (sans tables) are totally worth it. Of course, I've only been to one of these, and I'm not sure how frequent they are.
Another slight problem is, one time, the sound was mixed slightly wrong. Which, is a shame, since it was the Philly Loud And Local show, which was also broadcast on the radio. But, I've only been able to make that complaint once, which is saying something.
All in all, I really like WCL. I suppose if i want to make the shows more exciting in the future I will just start dancing on the table tops! I'll let you know how that goes over with the older crowd... I've always wanted to go to a live music cafe, and World Cafe Live definitely delivered.
Firstly, the people at the front desk and will call are so nice and friendly!
Upstairs: The shows I've seen here have been great. Seating is limited, but there's usually just enough -- you just won't know where you'll be seated. So if you want to have an amazing view, then I would suggest getting here early to on time. The atmosphere is great, and this is one of the only venues in Philly that I'd sit down to see a concert for! I really appreciate the affordable prices that allow for spontaneous dinners and concerts.
The service is rude, pushy, and inattentive, but I'm usually there to watch the shows. That being said, the chicken quesadillas are pretty good though! And quite large!
Downstairs: I saw a not-as-popular show here, so the layout was a bit awkward as it looks more like a concert venue than upstairs. I hadn't eaten dinner, so I sat near the bar and watched from afar. Between the bar and the stage is a pretty large standing room pit, which seemed empty when I went but can definitely hold a decent number of people for a more popular show. I personally prefer the upstairs vibe more. I have mixed feelings about this place...while I love it in theory, in practice, its a bit so-so.
I love the diversity in music it brings in, and I love that is (ostensibly) a "music lovers paradise". But, with all that comes a somewhat standoffish staff, prices (for everything) that range from high to really high, and a general feeling of "we will tolerate your presence for as long as we need to and not a second longer". I can't point to any one particular example, but its a vibe thing. I guess my feelings for the venue somewhat mirror my feelings for WXPN...cool, but not nearly as cool as they would like you think.
All that aside, the main room is a great place to see a show, and the sound and sightlines are generally excellent. As others said, take care of your eating/drinking needs beforehand, and you'll have a much better time. Came in before a show and the service was SOO slow. I enjoyed the veggie burger and the eggplant fries. Wouldn't come here unless going to see a show - pretty convenient. Was on a double-date and we couldn't even talk to each other b/c there was someone on stage in the room we were eating in. Not a huge deal but just something we didn't think about beforehand... I had a memorable experience here about a year ago. I came to perform at the well-known Monday night open mic. I got there early (around 5:30) and the line was already most of the way around the lobby. This ended up meaning that I didn't get to play until around 11:00. So what do you do when you're at a bar waiting for several hours... you start offering the other customers table dances (when the manager asked me to leave I promised I'd stop). *ok that's enough for the made-up part.
But for real I drank myself a little silly and mingled with some cool people while I got to hear some better, and some not-so-better performances. By the time I got on stage I had gotten buzzed enough that I couldn't remember the words to the songs. So after fumbling around with my guitar I just smiled and made my way off stage.
The atmosphere was great and its awesome that a place with a reputation like theirs still does an open mic. As we contemplate the absent middle-ground venues of Philadelphia, the World Cafe offers this... it just isn't often considered.
This is a cozy, intimate (with the artists) venue, that is in an area with plenty of street parking, and definitely pulls you out of the city. Having grown up listening to The World Cafe, I never envisioned a place like this in the works.
What's weirder, on weekends, this becomes the ultimate magnet for suburbies and Jersey couples on dates with six-figure cars and wild outfits to come in and watch a Patti Griffith concert. In no other city has luxury and granola coexisted the way that it seems to at The World Cafe.
Not a bad place for lunch either. I have been to World Cafe Live twice now (for two completely different types of events), and both experiences have been positive.
The first was a Christine and the Queens show last month. The show was great, and the venue was the perfect size. There is plenty of room to move around (or dance, depending on the type of show!) but it's still small enough that basically any spot has a decent view of the stage. The sound and production seemed great as well, so no complaints there.
The second event that I attended was The Moth's monthly story-slam. If you're unfamiliar with The Moth, definitely check out the podcast and attend a story-slam. It's great to hear real stories from real people right from your own city. Anyway--this one was also a great time but set up more like a dinner theater. My friends and I sat in the balcony, which ended up being a great choice as we had an excellent view of the stage below.
I can't speak to the food yet (maybe on a future visit!), but it's definitely a solid venue and I'm sure I'll be back. This place was easy to find with plenty of street parking, just had to get a ticket from one of those machines, i put in for 4 hours and it was $3.50
The atmosphere is awesome, space is super clean. We saw a show on 7/29/10 , los amigos invisibles. It was on the lower level, theres about three flights of steps to go down or you can use the elevator.
We got drinks which were about $8 each but super strong even though it was in a small cup.
We got there like five mins before the show began and got to get pretty close to the stage, the lighting was great, and i did notice a mirror ball in the middle of the place.. too bad the didnt turn it on!
Ticket prices were pretty good 24 on the day of the event and 22 if you ordered them before, also you can get vip seating where they have tables but with that you have to order a minium of $15 of food or drink, see the prices there it wouldnt be a problem, i smelled the food yumm
over all great place will def check out other shows there Greatly enjoyed this "listening" venue. Had a daily special grilled cheese (brie, swiss, gruyere, tomatoes & a white balsamic glaze) with fries. It was very tasty. I would eat here again and definitely come to more concerts. Oops, and the staff were great too! I just saw Apples in Stereo here. I thought the venue was really nice, the atmosphere was definitely laid back for those who want to relax and enjoy the show, or high intensity for those who want to get up and dance. The acoustics were better than most other venues. The food was sort of expensive, but I liked the option of being able to sit down and eat at a venue. And the portions were more than I expected too.
But it just didn't do it for me. This is the first time I've been here because not many big artists do play here. And looking at the list of upcoming bands, I probably won't be back for a while. The venue is great, but the lineups that they have are much more diverse in musical genre than what fits me. I know whatever R5 offers I will enjoy, since I am into the indie music scene. But I won't be sure about what the World Cafe offers... You have to LOVE what they are trying to do here. Wonderful place with multiple stages. A great staff and just a really good feeling all around. If you have a chance to see a show here. You should. The World Cafe Live is conveniently located near UPenn and Drexel Univ campus. Parking is conveniently located either under the overpass at 31st Street- near ice rink lower entrance or near the LSRM Engineering UPenn bldg on Walnut Street just past World Cafe Live. It shares its stage with the WXPN radio station which usually broadcasts all the live events on NPR's music show of the same name. Many artists passes through here so you are bound to find something that you will like. There is upstairs and downstairs as well. I have been told that the downstairs stage is bigger and nicer. I visited the upstairs and it's more of a dining area with a small stage at the front. Sondre Lerche just played last weekend for his birthday (Sept 5). It was pretty cool with his casual monologues thrown into his performance. Very cool atmosphere. If you want to save money on tickets than purchase ahead of time at the box office to avoid the service fee. Also, pick up the calendar postcards which lists the latest news on artists visiting World Cafe Live. If you choose standing room, be sure to take note most performances last almost 3 hours. If you want to sit down, then you will get a table and have to spend minimum $10 for food/drinks. So, it's a compromise and probably better to get the dining experience which looks posh. However, I opted with the standing room to save a little money and found it to be better although difficult to feel my legs afterwards. I was able to get some great photos and you can tell from my photo album. Staff is friendly and helpful. Just be sure to get there early if you have standing room to get a close spot near the stage. I really enjoyed it and the fans helped out too with the sing-along from Sondre Lerche. Overall, you will like this intimate setting opposed to the huge Wachovia Center which Coldplay looked tiny on the stage with my seats. But, then again I got my tickets for free from listening to radio 104.5 for the contest. I got to check out World Cafe Live for the first time because my work hosted their annual service awards slash holiday party there. It's a very nice place with lots of space.
The bar was a nice size and the service was great. There were appetizers being passed around, all that were really tasty. Among the menu, there was dumplings, crab cakes, spanakopita, beef empanadas, and more.
There was a downstairs seating area and a nice size stage as well. After the awards ceremony, they opened up a few food stations,
One station had carved turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, and sauteed broccoli. The next station had an array of pastas, including tortellini, in various sauces. The next station had burger buns with a choice of burgers, pulled pork, and portobello mushrooms. In addition to the fixins, they also had regular and sweet potato fries.
The last station was the desert station, aka the best station! They had pudding with fresh whipped cream, eclairs, cannolis, and some other goodies.
Everything at every station was very tasty. Yes, I tasted it all. It was great! Came here for Quizzo and was super disappointed! We got to the venue at 5:30 for a 7:30 event and there were a ton of people in line already, so we were doubtful about getting in. However, the guy working the door came up to us in line and told us we'd definitely get in, but that the people behind us might not. If he hadn't said "definitely," I wouldn't have been as bummed out when, an hour and a half later (after waiting outside in the cold btw), he told us they were at capacity and that we had to leave. It would be one thing to let us know that we probably wouldn't get in from the start, but the false hope he gave us was the most annoying. Just be straight with your customers and they might not be as mad when you end up turning them away. Giving them one star because my best friend was working the upstairs show and I got to see her for a minute. Needs better organization!!! :( Because the 172nd review is going to change your mind.
Great music venue downstairs. Excellent beer selection. I rarely have food when I come here. Saw Vanessa Carlton on the lower floor here last December. Honestly, I went in not expecting much out of the venue--I've heard mixed reviews about World Cafe Live.
Everything, however, was rather perfect.
I came, someone showed me to my table seat in the "pit", I was able to get food and wine at my leisure while watching. Oh, and the acoustics were GREAT. The show felt intimate, but still had professional sound.
I didn't come hungry, but got the eggplant fries anyway to help kill time--they were pretty good, but I couldn't finish them as you really start to feel the grease in your stomach about halfway through.
Ordered a glass of moscato wine later on and it was very nice.
I appreciate how "under the radar" the waitresses are during the show iex: they slipped me my check discreetly, without disturbing me or anyone. That's important to me.
I look forward to the next time I see an artist here. Great music venue. Filthiest taps in Philly. Lazy manager I guess. Stay away from draft beer. This is one of my favorite music venues in the city. I've been here quite a few times whether it was by myself (to see Foreign Exchange), on a date (to see Aloe Blacc), or with friends and to see friends perform. It's very classy, and subdued and there are great views from every angle. Drink prices aren't bad for a music venue, and I'm not a fan of the food but to see concerts? Whoo-boy!
I've never paid for a table to sit because when I see concerts at venues like this I love to stand. I'm glad that World Cafe Live gives that opportunity. Now that I live closer to this than I did before I have to make more trips out here because the lineups they tend to get are insane. The venue itself isn't so small that it's cozy, and a little bigger than being intimate, and I love it. I am updating this review. I seriously still love this place. It's a great place to see a show, upstairs or down. Staff generally are very nice. Food has always been good. Acoustics are good. I can also now say it is a good venue to hold a private event. My friend had her reception here and it was done very well. We all enjoyed ourselves and the food was very yummy! This space replicates how I feel about 88.5 XPN: cozy, warm, and interesting. I have been to World Cafe Live a few times for various concerts, but last night was the first time we sat and ate. A cousin of my best friend was performing on the downstairs stage, so we decided to get there a little early and eat dinner. The table started with the hummus, which was awesome: pita squares, feta, cucumber, roasted tomatoes and olives. The hummus itself was delicious, not too garlic-y or oily. I had the peach salad for dinner, which I loved. It featured such surprises as ricotta salata (at a concert venue?! SHOCK!) and pistachios. The table also ordered eggplant fries, which sound great, but were heavy on the fried part and not the eggplant. Others at my table ordered sandwiches and seemed pleased, although they did remark their fries were cold. My husband said, "This may matter to girls, but boys will eat them regardless." Drinks were fairly priced and I was impressed with the extensive beer list, although I had wine. Specialty cocktails looked interesting and I had a sip of the Champagne Supernova (hilarious name), which was a bit too sweet for this girl. I wish I could more stars because the place had a great vibe. However last night we ordered two simple salads and chili before our 8pm tickets. 1 hour later we had still not received our food. I can not understand what would take so long for chili and salad? We ended up having to pack up our food and waitress said there was a bar to eat at downstairs. However this was a sold out show and we could barely make it into the door, yet find a spot at the bar to eat. We managed a few bites of the food and the rest had to go uneaten. Very disappointed in the cafe and will definitely not make a reservation there again. Ticket prices were great. Acoustics upstairs were excellent. Decor is nice but not outstanding. However the FOOD! Oh man, if they just added More attention this place would be so much better! I mean little things like way too much dressing, zero attention to wilted spinach leaves and artichoke quarters that looked like they had been sitting out for 3 days. Just a little more attention could go so much further. Sorry I could give them 5 stars but "cafe" is in their name so you expect the food to be decent. The food and service was very good, except that we arrived at 6:25PM (delayed due to an accident on 76) and by the time our waiter came to the table we were told that happy hour was over (6:30) and we couldn't get a discount because the time is determined by the time on the cash register receipt. Hard to believe that there isn't an overide function or a way around us. There were a few other people at the bar that experienced the same problem.
The act we saw was outstanding, but the show started 35 minutes late with a warm up act that wasn't on the ticket. The main act didn't start until 9:10 PM, which is 1 hour and 40 minutes later than we expected. Last night a group of friends got together for Jess Klein who was performing upstairs at WCL. Jess and Kenny White (the first act) were great which is why I rated WCL 3 stars. The service, however, was awful and so was the food. Plus the show was advertised to begin at 8 so we showed up at 7 for dinner. The show didn't start until 9.
I have been a member of XPN for many years and have attended many shows at WCL. I will continue to do so because I think it is a great venue! I will not have dinner there again. I'm impressed. I'd like to start bringing people here for lunch more often. It was different, affordable and tasty. Three of us were off of work for the holidays and decided to give World Cafe Live a try.
We walked in an seated ourselves at a table. It took a little bit for someone to come up (enough for us to keep doubting if we should have sat ourselves).
Things we ordered:
Tuna app - good portion of tuna cooked slightly more than the medium rare promised in a sweet sauce over (what we thought was spaghetti squash yum!). I liked seeing spaghetti squash, its not often you see that and I thought it was a great complement to the tuna.
Burger looked great, nice a juicy with perfectly cooked and salted fries.
Turkey panini - looked good. I didn't hear much feedback.
Spinach Salad - awesome! the pears with the sweetened walnuts and golden raisins were exactly the salad I was craving. I added chicken for the extra 4 dollars and they gave a HUGE piece of chicken. The salad was a great deal and the ingredents were a perfect combonation.
One thing I will say about lunch here - make sure you have time. This will be a very very long lunch. Things do not move fast here. If you are tight on time, maybe mention it? If you've got time to kill - come give world cafe live a try and support local businesses. I am updating my review on WCL. Despite my last experience I returned to WCL because First Person Arts performances are held there (and I love First Person Arts programs!). Remembering my last eating experience, I stuffed oranges and apples in my bag - honestly -- to my husband's horror. At WCL, I asked my waitress if the chef would mind steaming me a plate of vegetables. She said yes; he did it; and I enjoyed a great plate of deliciously prepared vegetables Best of all, I did not have to embarrass my hubby by eating my stash! An intimate venue for performances. Very cool if you see the right person. The bar is overpriced, but that is to be expected. Good time overall. This was our first visit to the Philly version of the World Cafe Live, great venue kind of like a very small dinner club, intimate setting, up close and personal with the performers. Saw a great show of Joanne Shaw Taylor, our table was about 10 feet away from the stage. I was surprised by the breadth of the menu, food was very good, my wife had a Shrimp Cesar salad (hard to hurt that) but I had a Korean Tofu dish that came with an incredible black rice and Asian coleslaw sides. We got hung up in traffic and arrived later than expected. The venue even called us to make sure we were coming as to not give away our table. Service was excellent, we will be back! loved Noel! found all her info as well, check her out!
soundcloud.com/noelflo
youtube.com/watch?v=L8Hll8Nl40A This review is for the downstairs (the upstairs looks cool too!)
I saw Andrew WK's Most Interesting Show in the World. Honestly, I am not a Andrew WK fan - All i know is he likes to party and it had illusionists and circus type acts. AWESOME SHOW. I would have recommended it to my NYC friends, but he was there the night before.
Line developed fast (it was a free show and free beer). Even though I was towards the back of the line, we had enough room to grab some food they had and openly go to the bar and back close to the stage with no fight.
I am a new XPN member, so I am very excited to see one of their "Free at Noon" concerts (are they in the upstairs or downstairs section?) I love everything about this venue. They have great shows, amazing local events and eggplant fries. Enough said. Great place! Food was good and staff was really nice. Only issue was, I wasn't sure where the entrance was. I would highly recommend this place! Went to an awesome blues concert here & it was rockin' the house! I think it's so cool that not only do we have a great concert venue in a convenient central location in World Cafe Live, but they have some amazing musicians playing here -- often for free!
I was also here for a StorySlam on the ground floor (upstairs) & it seemed confusing & disorganized with inadequate seating. We still had a great time, but World Cafe Live should just figure out their seating issue there. Reviewing the downstairs concert space here ---
I agree with others that the music here sounds really wonderful, and it's a comfortable place to watch a show.
But ... only three stars because:
* The craft beer tap selection was puny. Only one IPA on tap and that was the totally mediocre HopFish from Jersey's Flying Fish brewing company.
* My kimchee tofu dish was good, but $14 for five cubes of tofu, some cabbage, and rice? Really?
* The upholstered chairs and furnishings make it feel a lot like a corporate conference center at some suburban hotel.
* The a/c was jacked up. It was freezing.
* The back bar set up downstairs gives douchebags permission to talk loudly through the music, deliberately oblivious to the rest of us listening to what really was a great show. Unique music venue + bar at the edge of downtown.
Don't be fooled by the sketchy exterior - the venue sports a relaxing, spacious vibe. You can choose to dine in the upstairs restaurant/bar or sit back and relax in the concert hall downstairs. The waitstaff is generally friendly and attentive, although the place can get pretty packed on a weekend afternoon.
Although you would not expect Michelin-star cuisine at what is first-and-foremost a music venue, the food at WCL is decent. Their house burger is tender and juicy, and it's served atop a warm, buttery croissant. The French Dip sandwich is very good as well, with meat piled generously on a toasted baguette and nary a pesky vegetable in sight. If that's not enough, you can round out your meal with a basket of their thinly sliced, crispy house fries. Mmm! Simple food done right.
What makes WCL truly unique, however, is that both stages feature a rotating roster of artists, locals and travelers alike. Most of whom you'll never have heard of, unless you happen to be a devout follower of the indie music scene. On any given day you might find anything from soulful throwback riffs to modern pop-rock. Best of all, they host free concerts every Friday! How cool is that?
Overall, great place to spend a relaxing afternoon with friends or just drop in on a random musician! Kate the hostess set the tone for a great evening.
My friend and I had fast service, yummy appetizers and the music helped the buzz just keep rolling along.
We had an amazing evening! Took me 60 years to make my first visit even though I listen WXPN. Parking is fairly easy but the Parking Authority always has me wary.
Restaurant on first floor, seated quickly and drink order filled. Good mix of apps and main dinner choices. Service was a little slow.
Show downstairs was great
All in all a good evening. We went for a jazz concert for the brad mehldau trio. The music was fantastic. The food was not. I had the salmon that was raw on the inside. I like sushi and all but wasn't expecting that. They were nice enough to cook it. It had a heavy cream sauce on it that just was not necessary. They completely forgot about my husbands veggie burger which was nothing special. Their hummus is actually pretty good. We went for the Tri State Indie Awards. Oh ear gods that massaged my incas, malleus and stapes with their heavenly finger tips. Great folks that love music, loving music right in front of you. Ron Gallo from the Toy Soldiers was the MC of the night, he reminded us of our younger brother and we laughed our a##es off. The music was fantastic, surely will go and see these artists at other venues. Great beer from Starr Hill. The finale was t*ts. I love this space to see a show. There's some amazing talent that comes through this place!
There isn't a bad seat, and if you're into relaxed venues, this place is IT. It's like being in a very cozy living room watching someone great play. The tickets are affordable, but the drinks are pricy. I would highly reccommend this spot. Let me preface this review with honeyhoney were amazing last night! They sounded great and put on a hell of a performance. That being said there were a few things I did not enjoy about my first experience "Upstairs" . We made reservations for dinner at 7:30, show started at 8 with an opener. We enjoyed a FANTASTIC meal and since we were in at highboy two top we had a great view of the opening act. But once honeyhoney was getting ready to come on people just start filling in and standing directly in front of you while you're seated at a table. I know, I know. I sound like an old complaining loser. But it's really disappointing to spend $100 on food and drinks expecting to be able to see the show you've been anticipating for months, only to watch the back of a guys head for an hour and half. At any other venue where you're expecting to stand and watch the show I totally get it that you take your chances that the tallest guy in the joint will stand in front of you and not move for one second. But this was a different set up. I wish WCL would tell you in advance that you likely won't see a thing from the tables on the floor.
Word of advice: the tables that are "on the stage" and on that terrace thing are a much better bet. This place is beautiful. It's a little more pretentious than my much-missed Grape Street, but I'm glad to have been able to see so many great acts here. The entire layout is pretty much perfect.
The upstairs area is great to catch your more folksy or acoustic favorites and grab a bite to eat. I've never had anything bad off of their menu, except the coffee. skip it. trust me. no really. the drinks tend to be a little pricey, but i guess you're paying for the atmosphere.
downstairs is one of the best places i've ever been to see live music. the ambience is perfect and the sound has always been pristine. i was really looking forward to catching dallas green there most recently, but his show got moved to the troc. bummer! i absolutely love the community tables and the option to sit in the mezz. it's even better because it's an all-ages venue. i know plenty of local acts that really get to enjoy this aspect of WCL. The stage itself is monstrous, but somehow a solo act, like Matt Duke, manages to keep from getting lost on it. It's a sizeable venue that manages to retain an intimate setting.
caveat: (because i'm a perfectionist and feel like it has to be said) the world cafe MAY be a little too pretentious for you. if you're looking for a place to catch a good band in a "chill" atmosphere, you may not dig the downstairs. in my opinion the crowd tends to run in the "trying a little too hard" vein. but i'm sure they're all good people underneath their *trendy trendy, check out my fendi* exteriors. :D I went here for the craft beer and grilled cheese tasting on April 18th. We were in the downstairs section. There were tables for 4 or 6 set up throughout the space.
The cheeses on the sandwiches were: gruyere, marbier, roquefort, ibores, and boucheron. The beers were: Weyerbacher Blanche, Brewdog 5am Saint, Boulder Beer Hazed and Infused, Mission Brewey Shipwrecked, and Caldera Ginger Beer. I'm not a huge blue cheese fan, but everything was really good, and the portions of food and beer were decently sized for a tasting like this. The waiters did a great job with the timing between courses, and although the sandwiches weren't hot they were warm, which was reasonable given the size of the group.
A band called Earthtone started playing during the second course. They were really good, but a little loud for dinner music.
Shout out to the team at Phillytapfinder.com who sat at my table! Good venue for a night out, listening to whatever artist WCL brings in - one of the best things is just showing up and being 'surprised'...just check out a new band. One of the best 'surprises' was a few years ago when a then unknown, Jamie Cullum, was performing - knocked our socks off! Couple months later Twenty-something is in heavy rotation in the U.S. Pretty good accoustics in the downstairs venue, but I find the upstairs venue too noisy at times, as not everyone is sitting there listening to the artists, but chatting away...nothing wrong w/it but still distracting if you are enjoying the music. Food good, nothing that 'wows' you, but good. Only downside is the parking - walking blocks and blocks to find a spot in the middle of a cold, winter night isn't pleasant, but hey, it's a night out! I went to a poetry event called "The Harvest."
I really enjoyed the venue! The kids that performed the drumline were awesome!
For my foodies, I wanted to let you know that I was introduced to the eggplant fries with this, horseradish? dip ... not everyone likes eggplant, so I just want to be encouraging that even if it sounds gross to you, but you like to get your veggie count in (and knowing that fried is always the bestest), these were really good, and the dip was surprisingly complimentary.
Thanks again to the World Cafe LIve for a lively night of wonderful entertainment and good eats. Upstairs is amazing, downstairs is horrid.
We started upstairs for dinner= Great food, good service, and an amazing intro band. One thing to note; the prices of food and drinks are insane ($75 without tip for 1 sandwich and 1 salad shared between the 2 of us and 1 cocktail each).
We had tickets to an event downstairs so we headed down there. Not surprising, it was awful....again (our 2nd time leaving early). The performance was suppose to be a Game of Thrones Burlesque show. Instead it was a spoof on Game of Thrones with girls who looked more like South Philly diner waitresses than burlesque.
Adding insult to injury, the bar created "special" themed cocktails, which would have been fun but the bartenders apparently never trained on how to make them. Reference point- we ordered 2 drinks at 9pm at the beginning of the show and left at 10:15pm, right after we had finally gotten the drinks and they were HORRIBLE. My gf said "these taste like lucky charms marshmallows from a box made 20 years ago." It was the icing on the cake.
We'll be back again for dinner and an upstairs live music performance for sure but that's the end of the downstairs (even more expensive) gigs. My boyfriend and I came here for the NeverShoutNever show. Everything was wonderful from beginning to end. The venue is a wonderful size, perfect for a more intimate feeling while still giving you space to move around. The one bar tender Gabe was more than accommodating and attentive. If anyone from that venue reads this, please give Gabe a raise. This is my favorite place in the world. Atmosphere, service, prices, food, drinks - It's all top notch!! i wish my favorite artist (joseph arthur) would find somewhere else to play. yes, the one thing this venue has going for it is some excellent sound - IF you stand in the right place. best place to witness this is from halfway back (i'm talking about the downstairs here) near the soundboard. any further back, and unfortunately you'll get more bar noise than guitar noise. other good points... the ticket guy at the counter is nice. and the positives end there for me.
anyway, so if you're in the right spot, the sound is glorious. last week i saw joseph arthur thrice (one show at wcl, one in nyc at the bowery and once in hoboken at maxwell's). the wcl show trumped the others in terms of sound, but was the worst of the three shows. i blame the wcl. OK, so the bad parts: the setup is HORRIBLE. i mean, tables in the front for a rock show? granted he usually plays with a backing band and this time he is touring solo, but he wanted the crowd to stand up and move and get into it, obviously. but there was no room because people were packed like sardines amongst chairs and tables. the crowd did their best to work with a bad setup. it was unnecessarily crowded up front compared to totally empty at the back. weird. anyway, rock show = general admission. so unhappy about tables in my way of enjoying the concert. which brings me to my next complaint, i would have reserved one of said tables to get right up front, but i couldn't because i find their food inedible. i mean, i don't know how you can go wrong with nachos, but they do. terribly, terribly wrong. i was smart and ate a small dinner elsewhere first, but even the smells of the food coming from the kitchen was unappetizing to me. come on, that never happens! and though it didn't affect me much personally, i thought our bartender was a bit of a dick. this place needs an entirely new kitchen and bar staff IMO. i hate being back by the bar, where the speakers don't reach all that well, and hearing more of the bartenders bantering back and forth and glasses clinking than the music itself. come on, it's not a social lounge, it's a music venue!
i've been to probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 shows downstairs, and 4 upstairs, and i could echo pretty much the same sentiments for the upstairs. they get two stars for the crystal-clear sound system. but every time i go there wish to myself that the artist had picked another joint. favorites on my list: johnny brenda's, and the troc. honorable mention to TLA, and surprisingly enough, the tweeter center over in camden (preferably in winter, when the curtains are down - good sound system, super-friendly staff). I frequent World Cafe Live, both upstairs and downstairs, often. They usually have great music. The sound is better downstairs, but that's to be expected, since that's where the bigger acts play. The ambience is nice. The servers are pretty attentive for a music venue; I have yet to have a truly bad experience with the waitstaff.
Their beer selection is all right. They have a rotating Victory tap and usually a Dogfish Head tap, so I'm pretty happy. They even had Hop Wallop on tap, which is a fine, fine beer. The beer prices are pretty standard for Philly. However, the fancy drinks are pretty ridiculously priced. I once got a Strawberry Shortcake drink, and although it was delicious, it wasn't quite worth $10. Also, the well drinks are $7 or thereabouts, which is pretty outlandish. I think they use middle-shelf liquor, at least, and not Vladimir or Banker's Club. The food is okay, but a little expensive for what they offer. The veggie chili was okay, if maybe a little thick. But $8 for a grilled cheese seems like highway robbery to me. I know I'll be back here, but probably just for beer and music. I haven't been to a concert at World Cafe Live for a while, though that has nothing to do with the venue. The two I have been to, Nouvelle Vague downstairs and KT Tunstall upstairs, were both good shows. I think on the balance of it, I prefer the vibe of the upstairs venue especially when they have it as all seating downstairs. That seems to just take away from any atmosphere.
I would love to go more but in all honesty, they just don't host that many artists that I want to go and see. Maybe that says something about my taste (and its diversity) in music but I don't think so, I'm into some pretty varied stuff.
In terms of the place as a restaurant/bar, I am not really sold. The happy hour drinks deals are good and there are often one or two interesting beers on tap. The food just isn't anything to write home about. On my visits, I haven't had any dish which made me go wow and I still fail to understand why people go mad about the eggplant fries, I thought they were pretty awful. I have heard they have had problems keeping chefs, which may be making things difficult.
Still, it's a good place to see a show if something is on. It is a good music venue. It is a terrible place to get dinner.
One music venue complaint: during the quieter sets Upstairs, we could hear the floor thumping from the show downstairs. Otherwise, sightlines are good, sound is good, band was fantastic.
So about our dinner...... Our server would come every minute for three minutes and then disappear for 10. The food runner had no idea where to put anything down on the table. My "stir fried rice" was more like risotto or porridge, with its soft, creamy texture. My mushroom appetizer had skin on the cheese and the mushrooms were cold--2 point penalty for improper use of a heatlamp. The fried pickles oozed raw batter when I cut into them. Dining companion got a pork sandwich and fries. He liked the fries.
So, I'll go back for a show, but not for dinner. Maybe, just maybe, I'll get a drink. I've been to World Cafe at a couple of times for their Free At Noon concert series (downstairs), but I just visit the upstairs (which is really at ground level) for the first time this week. We stopped in for an early dinner before the Penn-Princeton game at around 5:30 to find the place pretty empty (oddly enough, though, they asked us if we minded having a small high-top table).
I was surprised to see how reasonably priced the menu was. There was also a happy hour going on (daily, 5-7, I think), and we got half-priced drafts (from a limited selection). I was actually lucky enough for them to be out of the Lager I ordered, and got Yuengling Porter, which, it turns out, is way better than the lager. They also had some half-priced apps.
For dinner, I got the eggplant fries, which I thought was a very creative idea and very good with the dipping sauce they give. The basket of fries is huge, but the bottom layer is semi-inedible due to the grease that trickles down. Still, that top layer was amazing. I also got a chopped salad, which was decent.
Service was very pleasant, albeit at very relaxed pace.
Anyway, now I'll likely check this place out again. If you haven't been here, you should def try it sometime. We recently visited World Cafe Live two days in a row to watch the Rock University concert. It was our first time there and it was a very enjoyable experience. It is easy to get to and park. The interior is nicely decorated and clean. The acoustics are very good for the music and the staff was very pleasant and professional. The beer selection was an unexpected bonus ;-)
I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the World Cafe and I cannot wait until I see another show there. Waited in line outside of the door for a quizzo event. There were a good deal of people in front, so I was contemplating leaving. The doorman came outside to count the people, and looked me dead in the eye to tell me, unprompted, that I was definitely getting in. Over an hour later, the line is slowly getting there. Suddenly, the same guy comes out to say that they are at capacity. I understand that it's hard to gauge exactly where capacity ends, but why make false promises and make me waste two hours of my life in the first place? I'm guessing he did the same thing to the hundreds of people behind me who also did not leave the line. I've been to a couple shows here and they're a decent enough venue, but this was unacceptable. This venue is spacious and serves excellent food. I give compliments to Laura, who books the music, for providing a diverse calendar of events. I've always enjoyed the shows I see there.
It's hard to get even a water at the bar because they seemed to be understaffed, but that could have been situational. I went here a few weeks ago to see Son Volt. I entered from the street side/basement area so I saw the panoply of records that was put together as a display on the wall of the entranceway. Since I purchased my tickets last minute I had to go upstairs and pick them up. Once I managed that I had a chance to look around. The space is well decorated with radio and music paraphernalia. The upstairs lounge looked like it would be cool to hang out and catch a show.
I made my way downstairs to the main venue. The downstairs area was well decorated and tastefully lighted. After being in some real music dives(cough cough, Starlight, cough cough) it was nice to be somewhere that was clean. The bar was also very nice and had a nice wood top. I ended up just getting some water, since I was feeling a tad verklempt. The waitress didn't bat an eye and promptly served me water. I left a nice tip for her, which also helped me get water promptly the rest of the night. That's a good lesson to learn for the younger Yelpers. If you tip well initially, you'll get good service later on.
The sound was pretty good, though they did have some problems early on in the show balancing the instruments with the vocalist. Later on things improved and the rest of the show sounded good. The crowd was a good mix of ages, but everyone seemed to be there for the music, ie. No chatty posers. However that seemed to be confined to the back area where I was standing. I heard from some guys that were up closer to the stage that there were some "Gee I've heard of these guys, I'll go so I can say I went and saw Son Volt" type of people yakking away during the show.
The bathrooms were immaculate. That doesn't seem like a big deal until you've been to the the Starlight or other venues where they have Trainspotting type bathrooms.
The people running the show were very nice and helpful as to getting tickets, taking your tickets and directing you to where you need to go. No sulking, no sullen faces, no ignoring you, no combativeness or frisking.
In summary: Good music, good sound, good bar service, reasonably priced tickets. I'll be back. Went to see a show in the downstairs stage. We booked seats online and arrived early to grab food before the show. Our seats were great! They were on the lower level but in the back next to sound so we had a bar top table, which allowed us to see the stage even with people standing. The server was very attentive throughout the entire show with food and drink service. The menu is very limited but the food we got (veggie tacos with fries) was super tasty! I would definitely order again. I highly recommend this spot to see a show and grab food before the show. There is street parking but we ended up parking in the lot close by for $8, which was easy. nice venue for live music, drinks and food. i dont know how their food tastes because i didnt eat but there are two levels, plenty of space and very artistic atmosphere. i enjoyed my night there.
UNFORTUNATELY my night was made worse by the parking situation. wow. philly is really trying to nickel and dime it's way out of a budget crisis!? 12am meters?! that within itself will keep me from frequenting this spot.
Do better PPA!!! I've been here more times than I care to recount. Let's be honest, the food is okay, standard at best. Always go with the bottled beers, you will thank me in the morning. Tonight was like no other night I've ever had at World Cafe. I would tormented by the bartender all night while trying to purchase beer for my over 30 compadres. Even after going to the bar TWICE with all our IDs it was not enough to serve three beers to one buyer. I get that the ALE are raiding places, I get it, trust me, but don't make it harder for your clientle to drink. it's bad form and bad managmenet. There are plenty of steps to put in place rather than alienate and infuriate long time customers. Ive never had a bartender talk to me the way this guy did tonight and will refuse service from him moving forward. You built your business on loyal customers and the ALE crackdown is on you, not your customers, so figure out a way to handle the crowd processing. Other than this the sound and atmoshphere is great. Great chow. Slow ... as in glacial ... table service downstairs. And speaking of glacial, it's freezing. Which makes the waiting for food just that much more fun. Wear your winter coat. Bring a book. World Cafe, is the most happening place for music , food hanging with friends family. Great place overall but I was quite surprised at how good the restaurant was. I don't expect much as far as food goes at a music venue, but we wanted to have seats at a show and decided to make reservations. Everything was great! My martini was delicious and the harvest salad with salmon - so flavorful. My husband also enjoyed his meal, especially the chocolate lava cake with raspberry sauce to die for. Acoustics were great in there although it did kind of take away from the show when you could hear the band downstairs. My only other complaint is that they sat us at a table with another couple. Kinda awkward and weird because there was space to put at least a few inches in between our tables. I will never return to the restaurant again. Food is average, hostess is extremely unfriendly, service is bad and the rest of the people are plaine rude. Too bad the music is great. Will never return to eat though! This review is solely for the quinoa salad! I think this is the most refreshing, healthy salad you could possibly taste. I was just so delightfully minty, and crunchy, and extremely healthy but does not taste healthy. The more you eat the better it gets.
Knocked off a star because when we got there, they were having some event, and the lady rudely was like "i dont have any tables," and because none of the other food we got was worth mentioning. (Veggie burger and house salad) This review is for the downstairs venue. Loved the music (Toh Kay), enjoyed the ambiance, staff was cool - but my food was burnt! Not "medium or medium-well," like I was promised. Crispy, crunchy, charcoal-y burnt. Not tasty. And expensive! Will definitely eat before the show next time. This is an awesome event space alas the kitchen tries to create interesting items but always comes off as institutional and not quite good tasting. I also think that the drinks are a tad overpriced.
On my most recent visit we went to see the Peek-a-boo revue. If you are okay with risque language and a touch of nudity then I highly suggest that you get some tickets the next time they come to town. World Cafe Live is a great place to see smaller acts that normally wouldn't have a space even at venues like the Troc or the TLA b/c they are weirder than your average indie or punk act. They get world music and jazz acts that a bar the size of Ortliebs can't handle, but wouldn't fill any of the aforementioned spots. The food smelled good, but i passed on the rather expensive fare in favor of a liquid diet.
As for complaints about tables and crowds, maybe the show I saw attracted a different audience, but Balkan Beat Box had the place moving. The people at the tables got up and pushed their tables back to make more room for the dancing crowd and it was a genuine throwdown. Maybe my review is a little jaded b/c of that, but for the same reason, I will definitely return to the World Cafe Live. Look, I will have to return to this place out of necessity - they get some good acts in here. But today was my first visit, just coming in to eat lunch, and somebody dropped the ball.
Our group of three entered through the door on the Walnut Street bridge just after noon, and some folks were at a table right inside the door, awaiting participants in some sort of convention. We walked toward the dining area to the left, and a member of that convention group said they'd rented out the whole room, and said we should go downstairs a level to find seating. So we walked down the stairs.
One level down, there were two kids in red Comcast shirts directing people into another room, who had no idea where we would find regular seating. Their feeling was that seating usually began with someone on the level we'd just come from. So we walked back up the stairs.
This time, we spoke to someone else from the convention group, who said the Comcast kids didn't know what they were talking about. We should go all the way to the bottom floor, he said. So we walked back down the stairs, past the Comcast kids, and down to a floor where we didn't even see tables for seating anymore. I stared down a few people who looked like they might possibly be able to help us, but each of them looked the other way. So we gave up, walked out the door and had an excellent lunch at Landmark on Market Street.
What a frustrating experience! I sure hope their concerts go a little smoother. I LOVE, LOVE , LOVE this venue. I enjoy the upstairs shows when I am getting drinks with friends, to purchasing tickets to take in a show in the intimate setting downstairs. I love the acoustics and what puts it over the top is the friendly service. I have been here many times, and I always feel the patrons are laid back and everyone always seems to be having a good time.
The food is adequate, so no real complaints here. If you haven't been- you have to check it out for yourself. Well, I'm here as I'm typing this. Came down to support a friend who was participating in the open mic competition. Nice set up, restaurant performance venue. Fiancé and myself sat ourselves and asked a server for a menu. She kindly brushed us off and walked off. We sat here for at least 30 minutes as the server deliberately walk pass us without offering us a menu. Finally, I had to walk over to the bar myself to get our drinks. The bartender was cool, said she would send the server over to us. We flatly declined. It's safe to say we were racially stereotyped. No question. Never again. My money green like everyone else here, white or black. Music is great. Do not go there for the food. Service poor and slow. Portions paltry and taste tenuous. We were a party of 7. Food for 6 arrived. The salmon did not make it. Perhaps they are still waiting for a bite on their fishing hook. This review is for the music venue as I researched the food end of it here on yelp, - overpriced and undelivering and said no thanks. Then again, it's not much different than other places like the Blue Note in NYC for example - music first, food last as you are a 'captive' - you're there, you're drinking and why not???? I did not and enjoyed a neat little BBQ place down some alley.
. The performance space is top notch, great acoustically - will visit again as the lineup is always quite good. I truly enjoyed my experience at live at the world Café. The doors opened at 6:30 for an 8 o'clock show. We had sold out tickets that were standing room only so we wanted to get there early to secure a spot at the bar which we were pleasantly surprised to be the only ones with that thought. My husband and I shared a perfectly cooked perfectly fine burger with addictive eggplant fries and a plate of jumbo chicken wings. This was not rocket science but, everything was perfectly enjoyable. Their specialty item on the menu was a hot plate of eggplant "fries", I get it I truly enjoyed them... Maybe because I've been dieting and would never let my self eat such a thing, or maybe because they're just plain ridiculously good. Either way I would order them again.
Drinks!! I jumped a step above the house wine to a Chardonnay that was dynamic... I don't remember the name but had three glasses of a typical slightly stingy Bar pour. I Did not know the price until the end of the meal and evening.
We drank comfortably, ate enough and the bill was under $90. The bartenders and servers had their hands full but served The customers with grace and poise. Live the world café downstairs is a wonderful venue for an intimate night of great music. Even if I don't know the musician next time I might come back just for the ambience and the overall experience of Live music. Tonight we saw Ricky Lee Jones and it was special and The prices were pretty darn good plus there's not a bad seat in the house. Ate there before a concert which was also there. Very good food, try the shrimp and grits, and pleasant wait staff. Limited choices at the bars if you want a cocktail. Very cool & intimate venue to see some of your favorite artists perform. This started out to be a lovely evening. A Parisian café -esque ambiance with a genuine accordion player. A few things turned this evening into just an ok experience.
Pros- We were greeted with a very friendly staff and got our pick of tables in the "café"
Next were provided with drink tickets 5 in all to sample all five cocktails. There was a scrumptious looking buffet and the accordion player played the theme song to Amelie.
The drinks were all great except for one "death in the afternoon" champagne with and absinthe floater (BLHA I just threw up a little thinking about it)
The fav cocktail that I tried was the "baby you can drive my car" it came in a sugar rimmed martini glass filled to the brim with a lovely mix of brandy champagne , Chambord and a few other things.
Cons: none of the food posted on the website was actually served so for the past week I had my heart set onion tarts and there was no tart to be found. The other issue is that they ran out of ingredients. How does this happen when you pre sell tix to an event. We saved the "Super Nova " for last it was probably heavenly but we didn't get to find out.
The buffet was good I tried escargot for the first time and there were some great grilled veggies and cheeses but those onion tarts were definitely missed.
Around 7:30 not having been up to the buffet more than once we decided to order food. Salads and an order of truffle and parmesan tater tots. I love tots something about them just makes me feel like im a kid again. Alas our tots never arrived so I can't comment on them.
Who I presume was the manager informed us that we would have to buy tix to the next show. At this point our food still hadn't arrived and I was a little buzzed. Our server was great about it and moved us to another table and then finally around 8:15 our food arrived along with our last drinks. As previously stated we didn't get the tots instead eggplant fries, they were yummy enough but I would have enjoyed those tots a lot better.
I always enjoy coming here for shows however I might have to skip the next "event "since this one wasn't executed properly. I saw the Satellites at World Cafe Live, sat in the mezzanine and enjoyed a lovely dinner there. The service was excellent and the Veggie Wellington I ate was fantastically delicious. It was prepared with portabella mushrooms, cheese, tomato, Spaghetti squash bathed in delectable garlic juice and sprouts on the side. I imbibed a 'Vihno verde'. Everything hit the spot. Great venue with decent food and live music most nights. Only complaint is that i wish they would have more open sessions here! I kind of love the upstairs a lot more than the downstairs because it only allows for a small, intimate crowd. I recommend getting a reservation for upstairs shows and ordering some appetizers (in particular, the eggplant fries are the bee's knees) to share while listening to some great music.
The downstairs can be hit-or-miss at times. I've mostly had only good experiences here, but there's been a time or two when I was down there and sort of wished that I was having dental surgery instead. They tend to overbook GA shows for the occasional really big act that comes through here, and it can get to be like a giant, smelly can of sardines. But if you want to reserve a table by the bar, prepare yourself for mediocre food that is not anywhere near as good as what they charge you for it. But hey, at least you have a seat and a good view of the stage.
But overall, I must say that this place is convenient and enjoyable. Parking is also free (after 5:30pm) in the random tiny concrete cell lot down below, which also provides a quick exit after downstairs shows-- you just scoot right out the door there (make an immediate left as soon as you exit the downstairs room), instead of having to walk alllll the way upstairs and then back down again. Cool place to catch a set. I was here for the opening of a new band. Drinks and food are okay for a venue that is primarily music driven.
Lots of tall boy seating and plenty of standing room. There is a parking garage nearby but I found street parking out front on the bridge. It's a pretty cute place for Friday,night. My friend and I got there just before the show(We didn't buy the tickets for the show but just went there for dinner). The waiters were gentle and friendly. Food was nice and fast, maybe it's not the best, but it's okay. We had a petite filet, beef with purple potato, Korean BBQ chicken wings and eggplant fries. The only drawback was all the dishes were too salty, but the rest it's good. Then we asked for a chocolate lava cake and a comedian started her talk show, after she finished, the waiter came and asked if we want to stay for the show we said no, she said no need to leave immediately, we can take our time. She was so considerate and it seems we enjoyed part of the show free of charge, hhhh. Maybe we will be back next time and enjoy the show. This place is great. My reason for writing a review is because I was attending the "free at noon" on Friday and didn't know what to expect. First of all, I arrived early (1030 AM) with my 2 sons. The doors are open so you can wait inside. The bottom of the stairs are roped off, there are a few volunteers from xpn, they are very friendly, while you wait. There were 2 other couples in front of us. The doors didn't actually open until 1150...long wait! Once you get in, besides maybe 2 tables, probaby sought out by the first 2 couples, there's no reason to get there early. Once you're in everybody stands. We enjoyed the concert (Valerie June). There is a bar, of course, though I didn't purchase anything. There is no food service, which I didn't realize. We went upsairs after the concert, which was about 45 min long, and had lunch. The sandwiches/burgers were about $12. We also ate wings, everything was very good. There was also a guy playing the acoustic guitar. He was good and the songs were a good mix between simon n garfunkle and fleetmood mac. Oh yeah, the parking: I parked on the street because I was there so early. If you do find a spot on the street make sure you pay the meter, it's a buck an hour. There are parking garages around, that are $8-12, so I've been told. There was a couple we chatted with, while in line, who took the train from Lancaster and were easliy within walking distance, from their stop. I would definitely go back. Like I said in my first review, I knew I had to come back for some music at World Cafe - I had my chance during the Kalob Griffin Band's album release concert. And as I expected, it went much more smoothly than my attempt at eating lunch here - they have apparently held their share of successful concerts.
I was shooting photos for the band and got to enjoy a trip backstage, which was an exciting experience; my lady friend, however, payed full price - about double what we're used to paying to see these boys.
It's a really nice venue downstairs; the stage is large and the floor offers space for plenty of dancing concertgoers. There's a balcony above, and a large, well-staffed bar in the back. Kaitlin L. is right about its cleanliness - it's well-kept enough to bring your grandma (Kalob did).
But charging $4.50 for a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon is just ridiculous. I don't know how those bartenders sleep at night. I came here for a charity concert and was pleasantly surprised by the amicable staff, on-stage lighting and sound effects. We didn't try out any of the cocktails or attempted to drive here, but it was a very beautiful walk in the evening to get here. I recommend checking it out! The entertainment was fabulous. We dined listening to Veronica Stratton play the guitar and sing with her ensemble. The service was efficient and the food was tasty and healthy as well. It was a wonderful evening. This is a great music venue, we got standing room only tickets but were able to sit at a general admissions table because we got there a little early. There's honestly not a bad "seat" in the house and the acoustics are good. We didn't eat there because we didn't expect to get a table so we ate beforehand but we had drinks and the service was very good. This is a wonderful venue, except if you are planning on holding a special event or purchasing tickets to a show. Then you are in for trouble.
In my case, I purchased a ticket and was unable to enter the event because management had oversold and allowed their venue to exceed fire code. I attempted to purchase a drink from their upstairs bar, but was rejected there too because my ticket was for the other event. I spoke to management, and they were unwilling to accommodate the group who's tickets were oversold. This group exceeded 20 people.
If you intend to hold an event in which your attendees are rudely mistreated and rejected, you should hold your event here. Else, avoid this place. Oh WCL....where oh where do I begin..... Location wise, YES, this is a great, easily accessible spot to see some really great musicians play. In terms of the upstairs area....the configuration is just all wrong. When you have a mix of seated and standing people for a concert, you need to have sections dedicated to one or the other, not both together! When you have your seated customers surrounded by the standing room only customers, it ruins the experience. People seated in the back eating dinner had their view blocked by the wall of standing room only people. If I were those ticket holders that had their view blocked, I would have asked for my money back. There were standing room only people in the middle to front areas of the main walk ways that blocked servers from delivering people's orders, as well as the diners sight of the stage. The standing room only people that ordered food, had to hold their plates while eating because there was no place to put their plate. I saw one woman cutting her burger on the floor, because she had no table surface to cut it. What a mess! A woman was seated at a table to herself, for a cup of tea, and I over heard the waitress say "You have this entire table just for a cup of tea!" The woman was put on the spot and basically forced to order something else to justify her sitting at the table! I enjoyed the music, but with all of the chaos, it leaves a lot to be desired. Music venue - Five stars / Food - 2.5 stars / Service - two stars
The music part was great - the venue is comfortable, parking / public transport is easy to navigate. Have to walk down a narrow space between buildings to get to the door, but as soon as you figure that out, everything else is pretty straightforward. The sound quality was good, the size of the downstairs space is intimate but not crowded. We'll definitely go back for future performances, but we will eat elsewhere, and maybe bring a sweater (which I'd prefer to being in a too-warm venue)...
We ate upstairs before the show that we saw.
The food was serviceable. The duck confit sandwich was put together haphazardly so that there were large pockets with no duck, or no onions, and the whole thing could've used something to brighten it since it was so rich. The addition of large leaves of kale to the seitan cheesesteak made it difficult to eat and the flavor of the kale didn't really mesh with the rest of the sandwich. The fries were disappointing - batter dipped, kind of limp, not warm enough.
The water service was terrible - had to ask once and then never got another refill. We waited ten minutes to flag down our server for the check then waited 20 minutes and he never came back to retrieve it. By then, we needed to get downstairs for our show, which we thought we would have plenty of time for, since we had finished eating at least 30 minutes before doors opened. Silly us. Went to a show here with my in-laws on a week night expecting to have a meh time and we all had a blast! The band itself was great, but I also appreciated the lighting and atmospherics in the venue that really enhanced the show. We had seats in the front row so we were very close to the band. The venue is intimate and when the show was winding down, the lead singer jumped off the stage and into the crowd and greeted nearly every person individually. The food was good and service was fast. Will definitely come back in the future for more shows! I am right there with Andy S. Great in theory, not great in execution.
I went to a Sunday brunch + music thing they did last summer. The food was decent and the music act was average. It was definitely cramped.
They get so-so acts with an occasional up-and-coming indie or folk act that I really enjoy.
I think the costs tend to be a bit high for some of the better acts, but not super terrible. Checked out WCL for my first time last night. We saw "Concert & Conversations with Peter Buffett". You can get dinner and drinks before/during/after the show. We were in the downstairs venue where there was a bar & then tables set up for the "concert goers". The food was GOOD but I thought a little pricey. I would DEFINITELY recommend the Lobster Mac n' Cheese which was served as a side with my steak. My friend got Tuna & it was a pretty lean-sized portion. LOVED the margaritas but again PRICEY as were the beers. Bear Republic is $7.25/glass - don't they know we are in UNIVERSITY CITY? So, overall - I DID LIKE the venue for the show we saw but for a rocking concert I'm guessing the set up would have to be different. And the food was GOOD but PRICEY. I would definitely go back. Not a great place to go and just eat. Went their this past Saturday after the Penn Relays for dinner. Was told we would have to pay a $13 a piece cover just to sit down and have the opportunity to eat. We only had a couple of hours until our train so we decided to try it because live music was playing and we were told by the hosts that the music would be worth it. As soon as we sat down the music stopped and didn't start back up for an hour. After we milked a beer and our appetizers for 2 hours we had to go catch our train. A warm-up act played a few songs and then ten minutes before leaving the main act started. We didn't even get to hear one song.
This is not a place to have dinner. Better suited for upscale bar food. The eggplant fries were unique. For music the acoustics were awful. The ceiling is too high and the speaker system is not setup optimally. I would not attend a concert here of someone I really wanted to hear. i probably came here for the wrong reason. that being i actually wanted to eat dinner and have a conversation with my friend here. we came on a weeknight around 6pm-ish. we got some drinks and settled down to dinner. i had chili - which was fine. but the whole time we were eating, there was a band on stage warming up and they were playing with the tech specs. it was literally so loud i had to shout across the tiny table to my friend who was sitting only a foot away.
and on top of that, i got bitten by mosquitos twice over dinner. shouldn't all restaurants have those bug lights over the doors that attract and kill all insects?? I've only been here for Jazz and a few company-related events.
There's some food, but I've never arrived early enough to want to eat here, and haven't ever had to order food, only drinks. Mostly here due to the music, Jazz bands to indie rock and local artists, and it was quite interesting to check out the decor (modern renovation from a really old set of offices back in 2003 or thereabouts). Went this weekend for the Philly Bloco show. I love the variety of acts that play here.
I have only been to shows downstairs. The venue itself has a good amount of space for dancing and standing room up front, with a long bar that is easy to get a drink at. The room has good sound, and is typically well mixed.
Staff has been friendly and professional every time I've been.
I wish it wasn't in the middle of no where, but maybe it would be worse if it was in a busier area. I've been to World Café Live many times, both upstairs and downstairs. Upstairs is a restaurant with a stage for lesser known acts to perform. Some of the tables are raised up for better sightlines. The sound quality is always outstanding. But the food is mediocre. Don't come to the restaurant just to have dinner. If you come for the music you will have a great time and you won't notice that the food needs improvement.
Downstairs is more of a traditional concert venue, for more well known acts, which can be set up in various ways. The show could be all table seating, all standing room only with only seats at the bar, or some mix of standing and seating. Any time there is table seating you can also order food. The sound quality is always perfect and you will generally have a good view of the action. For an extra fee you can sit in the balcony, which guarantees a good view and also has a separate area for eating and a separate bathroom. The food is mediocre, just like upstairs.
I can't give this place 5 stars because of the food. When it first opened, they had a contract with Tommy Gunns for Pulled Pork sandwiches, which were awesome. But when Tommy Gunns went out of business that was the end of awesome food at World Café. But I love going to concerts here. It's the best place in Philly to see a concert. Plus, the ticket prices are always reasonable in an era in which concert ticket prices are spiraling out of control. I hope that at some point someone will step up in the kitchen and make this place a true 5 star destination. I had a chance to check out World Cafe Live during my stay in Philly. We decided to have some appetizers and cocktails during happy hour on a Friday before New Years Eve. I thought there was going to be a good crowd with good music since I've heard this location is good for happy hour. When we arrived the place was dead, there were a few locals at the bar area. During happy hour there were half off selections from beers and well drinks, also the appetizers were discounted. We ordered The french fries and chicken quesadilla, nothing over the top and normal tap beer and well drinks. The food and drinks were pretty good, I give this place a 3 out of 5. I was disappointed in the lack of a crowd and true vibe of this establishment. I look forward to checking out this place again for a true feel. My brother played a show downstairs at WCL and I have never been to a better venue to see him. The sound and stage were great. We went right for the bar and found they had a small but decent selection of beer. It was a little pricier than I expected, but not out of this world. The bartender was super friendly.
WCL is perfect for music lovers of all ages. If you are young and need to be up front to dance and get crazy, there is room for you. If you have seen enough bands at this point and just want to enjoy the show from your table while eating dinner, there is room for you. If you don't want to bother with the crowds and want to just hang out in your seat in the balcony, there is room for you. There is no reason not to see a show here. Even the parking was a breeze.
I look forward to many more shows here in the future. Like others mention here, it's hard to rate a place like this. Do you rate it on food alone? Do you rate it based on the music alone? What if the artist was excellent or terrible, how should that affect the rating? I went to see Punch Brothers. I had never really been to a venue like this. Typically live music and a nice sit down place means you're on a cruise ship or you're in Vegas. The food was okay. Like bar food. But the place is nicer than a bar, so I expected something better. I liked the overall layout of the stage, tables, and chairs. The acoustics were great. Very intimate venue. That played well for Punch Brothers. If I rated this solely as a concert venue, I'd rate this ****; I'd definitely catch more shows here. If I rated this solely as an eating establishment, I'd rate this **; I don't think I'd be back. I view this as primarily a music gig so the fact you can even get food is a plus. Honestly, when they brought out the menu and I saw "World Cafe Live: Punch Brothers" at the top, I thought they were handing me a set list. I realized they either had more food-based song titles than I thought or I was wrong. Come for the music. If you didn't eat, they have food here. Not a bad deal. Good music, okay food bad service. I don't know what else to add about this place. There are plenty of paid street parking. It's unique, give them a try. I've seen expensive (for me) shows in the downstairs and less high end shows in the upstairs and all have been phenomenal. There were ten people in the crowd at one show and the band (wagons and dirt daubers) enthusiastically sang to each of us individually. Still waiting for that to happen again.....The free at noons over the summer are just pure bliss. I was at the downstairs stage. Overall seemed like a nice venue, and the bar downstairs seemed pretty nice (although I was only having water that night so I didn't pay much attention to their selection). You can stand down by the stage, or you up some stairs closer to the bar so that it's easy to see over the crowd.
They have their own parking lot, I think it was $10 to park there when I went. Great live music venue. Great menu upstairs. Have seen many shows here & I'm always impressed with the experience. So I've only been there once before and for a wedding, so when I got a ticket to see a band and was very surprised when you could have dinner and watch the band. So I ordered a steak ( which was amazon) see pic. We were having some beers. The problem was our server. She was actually training a girl ( who was spot on). We couldn't get drink refills. Two times I got up to find the waitress. Two times I went to the bar and bought beers. It was ridiculous. So if I had good service. It would have been a 5 star. But for a $100 food and drink bill ( after getting a couple rounds from the bar) she would have been tipped on $150 if she just did her job. Beware! Four of us drove down from Central NJ for the 11 AM Sunday brunch which starts at 11 AM. Upon arriving at 10:55 AM we are told that all tables are for 6 people, and all are reserved. Only seats available are a scattered few at the bar or few chairs by the speakers for the band. Notice on the web site only says that reservations are accepted for parties of 6. No indication that it is the only way to be seated together. Very disappointed. Poorly done... I've come here many times for shows, downstairs and upstairs alike. I've been recently going mondays for Jazz Jam. The black bean hummus is delirious and i like their happy hour! when i go here i usually sit at the bar, but i invited a few friends for my last visit, and we walked in and told that there were no available tables, and we would have to sit in the front. As i walked towards the front, i saw 4 empty tables and 3 tables in the middle with only 2 people occupying multiple table tops(The tables are easily separable to allow for more patron seating. I was told there were no available tables after asking about them. we disappointedly sat in the front while the tables went untouched. After sitting there for over an hour the host came up to me and asked if i would like to sit in one of the empty tables that were there empty for the past hour, said he didn't think i would want to sit there.... REALLY! I just said no and we walked out! i really enjoy the venue, and the food a good, and the happy hour is decent, but if your staff is unable to seat your patrons i will stop going. It would be different if they were super busy and rushed, but no, it was not. I ordered the chicken, lentil, and rice soup. It should have been advertised as rice gruel with lentils, but then, I've had better rice gruel (Not kidding, if you're ever in Korea, it's called yuuk and there are restaurants specializing in it). My soup was about 70% rice, 29% lentils, and a few slivers of celery and onion. And NO CHICKEN! The only flavoring seemed to be from the tiny bit of onion. It was served with a couple of slices of nondescript white bread. Maybe I'll order it the next time I'm sick and need something bland. Absolutely loved it here. I met Mark Ballas and Jeff LeBlanc here and had the time of my life. It was just the right kind of setting. Food was good. Any concert here, I'd go back. Overall, it was a really good experience.
We bought tickets for the show, so we got there a bit earlier (with a reservation) to have dinner first. Then we had drinks while we enjoyed the music performance.
The food was generally delicious. My husband said it was prob one of the best duck dishes he's had - I guess they were on point that night! the other entree choices were delicious as well.
I'm still unsure of the whole process - the way we did it was prob best - bought tickets online, and reserved a table online for about an hour before the show - we got to stay at the table during the show. It seems that anyone who did not reserve a table had to stand.
The downstairs - I don't even know how it works, but it was a more energetic show. Sometimes the music from downstairs could be heard, but overall the acoustics for the upstairs cafe (at least) was really nice.
A bit different from what I imagined - and pretty casual. Dinner prices were reasonable. This place is wonderful!!! I went to an open mic here and it was really diverse and just a comfy atmosphere. My friend and I had a strawberry shortcake drinky thing and we have yet to stop talking about. It was the best alcholic experience I have ever hadddd!!!!! We came here for a Game of Thrones themed burlesque show and had a wonderful time! I got to choose our seats when I bought the tickets, and I opted to sit at a table so we could order food and drinks. They had a great Game of Thrones themed cocktail menu and the apps we ordered were delicious. (Sesame ginger wings? Yum!) The waitresses were discreet and didn't distract from the performance at all. We had an all around great experience here. Fantastic place to see Peek-A-Boo Revue. Of course I say this because I'm in the troupe but we have been voted best in the world! We perform here several times a year. Our next show is March 21st. It's definitely one of our favorite venues to perform at. The stage is huge, the place holds a lot of people, they offer dinner for earlier shows, and of course great drinks for both dinner and late night shows. I definitely suggest checking this place out! Like so many, my friends and I first attended a Free At Noon concert at the downstairs venue then had lunch upstairs. This was my first time and I'll be back! The three of us ordered different sandwiches. All were prepared panini style, which was fine. We also ordered side salads instead of fries. (Order fries ONLY if you need a HUGE carb fix because the sandwich is carbs enough for most.) The salad was mixed greens with cucumber and grape tomatoes. Dressings were on the side. The ranch was delicious. (One table away an order of eggplant fries was served. They looked yummy with plenty to share.) Best of all, our lunch was brought to us by someone from the kitchen. (This is how I like meals served....not sitting under a warming light until the waitress swings by.)
The musical entertainment was fine. Some guy and a guitar. A bit loud for my taste at lunch. Looking forward to my next meal here. I have been to this venue upstairs on several occasions although the menu is limited the food is always good I think I the prices are reasonable good meter parking and well Toot , Dead Head Dave and I went here last year to see the Bodeans. We parked on the street right in front of the place. That was so cool. We went walking looking for someplace different to eat at since we were seeing a show there but after walking for like 10 blocks we couldn't find anyplace, so we turned around and walked back. My point is that this place is sorta isolated for being in Philly. Anyway it turned out to be a good thing as we ate upstairs and the food was real good. There was a DJ on while we ate but I couldn't tell if he was serious or joking on some of the jams he played. The club downstairs is a great venue to see a band. We met Steve and Steve and we secured a spot dead center at the bar in the back of the room, and camped out there for the night. the tables make it hard for people to get up and dance but more and more venues seem to be going this route, Ala BB Kings in NYC. The barkeeps were hustling their a@# off but stayed friendly and responsive thru out the show. The Bodeans were AWESOME and rocked the @#$%^ out of that place. We will certainly be returning. Roger Clyne and The Peace Makers are coming Memorial Day so I'll see youse then. Go here for the obvious - to see live music.
Don't go here for the food.
I love seeing shows here. It is just the right size to really feel like you are being sung to directly from the artist. The place has amazing acoustics and you will really enjoy seeing your favorite acts there - both upstairs in the restaurant/bar area and downstairs on the main stage.
WCL brings both small, local acts and larger, well-known performers so there is always something of interest. The free shows at noon on Fridays are not to be missed either. Sign up to get on their mailing list or better yet, become a supporter. You will have first dibs on upcoming acts and tickets.
As mentioned, food is not great. I have never been blown away by anything and have mostly been disappointed. But I will not deny them stars because of this since its a music venue at its core.
Tip - go there to buy your tickets before the show. You will save on handling charges. It's not much but helps, especially if you are buying several tickets.
Check out their upcoming schedule and treat yourself to a show, or stop by for Happy Hour and enjoy some live local music. Went with mi amigos, Chap and Toot, to see The Bodeans on 9/13. Didn't eat or anything we went to The New Deck Tavern prior to the show for chow and to tune up to see the band. As always, the staff at WCL were super friendly and really know how to put on a rock show! Our barkeep was real cute and made a mean Tequila Sunrise. The band? They merely burned the place down with a blistering set of what I guess you'd call "roots rock", but they are as tight as any band you'll ever see (the two leads have been together since high school) and trust me, if you go see them next time there in Philly, they will rock your world! you will definitely become a fan and never miss them when they hit town. A great show in a great venue! Great place to see a show! It's small and intimate, you can sit and have food and drinks. Location is nice and easy to get to. Been to two shows at WCL within the last month. First one was in the upstairs venue. I liked the upstairs a lot because it had a much more personable, cafe feel. Yes it's a small space, with not a lot of standing room (note to those buying general admission tickets and not making table reservations, get there early to get a good spot at the bar). If you can get a table up front or a good spot at the bar you have a great view, but no matter where you are it feels like the performance is just for you. I like the feel and cleanliness of the location too. Drinks are a little pricey. I did not try the food but it looked and smelled decent enough. Extra props to the staff who did not kick us and the performers out after the show. My friend and I as well as the performers and several others hung for a good hour and a half after the show with no one moving us along or giving us dirty looks.
The second show was in the downstairs. It has the same general feel but its a larger space. There is a large floor area right in front of the stage for standing (I hear the set up may change based on the show but I think this is the most common one). There are some tables in the back, then a few steps up there are more tables and the bar in back. There is also a second floor mezzanine where there are more tables (assigned seating you choose when you purchase tickets). Again it seemed like no matter where you were there was a good view and good sound. The only bad part about the downstairs is the bathrooms are a little far away, outside of the venue room and around the stairwell. Aside from that, this place is great for seeing live music!
Bonus: Free parking provided by the venue!! When are music venues going to start treating people with respect? This is an atrocity I have experienced in LA, NYC and now Philly. Someone in the staff was very rude and condescending when I asked a simple question. I am wondering if they are just rude to musicians in general (an ironic way to be when I just kept an audience impressed for 40 minutes). I play SO MANY small towns where not only are they PAYING me to play, but when I ask a simple question I am not frowned upon. It is time for musicians to be treated with respect, REGARDLESS of how pissed you are about your job. A simple smile and answer would be nice. I am a paying customer so.. Confused as to why musicians don't post this shit all the time.
The sound is great. The people here rock. Fix the rudeness please. Give musicians respect. Thanks. Fun to see a concert. Also great for group parties. A medium size space. Pretty good drinks too. Nice lighting. I showed up a bit early for an event (upstairs) and had to wait so I asked someone to show me the downstairs. They were kind enough to oblige. It was really a cool venue. Even the downstairs had an upstairs. I was a bit confused about this from the other reviews and that's why I asked to see for myself.
Anyway, if this place were to book some music I was interested in, I'd probably be there. I didn't try the food though. Maybe next time. ate here just before a concert. the venue is small and intimate which can be really nice depending on the act. the food was a little pricey, although the ambiance was a bit fancy as well. there were nice pieces of art around the inside of the building, but the place itself was kind of hard to find and a bit sketchy to leave alone at night. the walk to the train station wasn't terribly far though. would recommend bringing a date to a concert here & making an evening of it. Go for the music...skip the food! I love this venue for music, but as a restaurant the food is not that great and we have stopped eating dinners here before a show.
They used to have decent food with favorites like Tommy Gunns pulled pork sandwiches and sweet potato fries, but then they changed chefs and everything went down hill.
Seriously, with all the great restaurants Philly has to offer this place needs to step up their game if they want to compete! The place is pretty chill! I was checking out some of the bands coming in December, great bands!
I saw a band my sister wanted to watch and it was better than I expected. Next time I check out a band playing here, I am gonna get seats though. I wanted to have a nice romantic date with my hunny. It was Valentine's Day. He loves Jazz; I love food. World Cafe Live was the place that brought it all together!
We went during the happy hour and half price menu. Double bonus! No problems finding seating, and the cover charge was minimal. The portions for food were a great size, and we were able to try a few things at very reasonable prices. He had wings, I had chicken quesadilla, and we shared a nice bucket full of sweet potato fries, complete with great sauces and dips. Drinks were at good prices, too, both bottle and tap, and even had Valentine drink specials. Yummy Godiva chocolate drink was like a dessert confection w an Oreo cookie. I loved it!
Then, the live band that was just a-jamming the whole time was great. We even got an impromptu serenade of "Funny Valentine" by a local talent songstress that just got up there and kicked it.
Parking was easy and cheap on the street.
Overall, I got brownie points for a great Valentines day date! I really like a lot of things about World Cafe Live..Top of the list is their entertainment from all over the world. And not any old entertainment, top shelf shows!
I went with a group of friends to see Animous Bellydancing Extravaganza and we all enjoyed the show tremendously! You can never predict how the food is going to taste. I have had really good food and then at times I thought it was just meh..
Also their happy hour is really fun. Last summer they had jazz on Monday nights. So you could get $4. house wine, reduced price apps and entertainment. And the bar area is attractive and spacious. The waitstaff is usually very friendly, too.
The only real negative is the parking situation which is on the street, pay at the kiosk parking..I usually have to walk a block or more to WCL but it's near center city so you just have to go with the flow.. Went here last night to see Ximena Sariñana perform live. I have no clue who she was but my friend offered to pay for everything if I went with her, so I said yes.
Got downstairs into the music hall and I fell in love. I've been to plenty of music venues and this one may be one of my favorites. It's all seating so there's no general admission standing unlike most places, but if kind of made the concert very intimate, y'know? It's kind of setup as a 1920's jazz club/speakeasy meets 2000's hipster Brooklyn venue, if that makes any sense.
My friend and I went straight to the bar because duh. The thing I liked about the bar is that a majority of what they sell is all local and craft breweries. I've been becoming a beer snob recently so I love this whole thing. I had the Shiner White Wing, the Newcastle Brown Ale, and a cocktail called the Boys of Summer. The cocktail was soooo good! It had Stoli Citrus, some kind of cucumber vanilla syrup, ginger ale and something else. I got drunk, OK? My memory always fogs up.
The show itself was phenomenal. The acoustics and sounds were on point. Ximena and the opening acts all knew how to entertain the crowd. I actually had to pull my friend off the stage twice because she was that in love with the show (also she wanted a selfie with Ximena but I got a lovely picture of her being escorted by security instead). GRILLED CHEESE AND BEER TASTING REVIEW:
Great event! 5 courses w/ beer pairings for $35 (inclusive of tax & gratuity). I felt satiated but not obese, drank some beers but not buzz worthy. The sandwiches were creative and were more than just cheese (i.e. Brie with Duck Confit, Orange Spice Tea Gastrique). Some were open faced, others were just 1/2 of a large sandwich. Beers were about a 6oz pour.
An acoustic musician played on stage which was nice. Twice during the evening, one of the WCL hosts spoke to the crowd about the details and attention that went into planning the menu which I thought was helpful.
The event was very well organized! However, I think they should keep it within a 2 hour window (it ran about 2.5 hrs.). World Cafe Live is an awesome music venue located in University City. The sound quality is excellent and the artists who play here are all unique. Because of their partnership with the radio station WXPN, the musical acts are held to a certain caliber and perhaps not as well known to the masses.
All shows are general admission and buying tickets in person will save you in fees although their tickets seem to be fairly reasonably priced, comparatively speaking. If you're an XPN member for around $4-$6 a month you'll save even more on tickets!
I've attended many shows here upstairs which is longer, more narrow space, and where they hold the radio station's weekly 'Free at Noon' broadcast. If you're not familiar with this, they offer a limited number of FREE tickets to various performances that are broadcasted live from the venue almost every Friday at noon. Tickets are available on the website. These shows are awesome and again....FREE!
I've also attended many shows and kids' dancing events downstairs which is a much larger space with a wide stage, a handicap accessible section, a balcony, and has a large bar at the back. Tasty bites, pretty great brews (bottles and drafts) and cocktails are available during shows. More reasonably priced than most bigger name venues too. Although this space is larger than upstairs it's still very intimate and a truly great place to see a show! Shorter folks get there early for a spot upfront.
Many neat murals line in the walls in this more artsy venue.
Overall the space including the restrooms are very clean and very well maintained.
Staff is always friendly and helpful.
Lot parking prices are remarkably lower than most in the city, but I personally usually Uber it here. WCL is also easy to get to via public transportation.
They also host wedding, Bat/Bar-Mitzvahs and other events here, but the cost is pretty pricey.
If you have a chance to see a show here...GO! It's a refreshing music scene experience. What a great venue! I went there last night for the first time to see Manic Street Preachers and aside from the band being amazing, I have to give a lot of credit to the venue itself for my overall great experience.
First of all, parking was free. How cool is that? There's a lot of construction going on in the area, so I was very thankful for the free lot because I think parking would have been hard to come by otherwise. I believe there are a few lots that are free for WCL guests, but we parked in Lot 1 -- at 3201 Walnut -- which is free after 5:30.
We had dinner before the show in the cafe upstairs. It was very cool. There was an interesting band playing, the food was good, the staff was polite, and they had some decent happy hour specials. Pretty awesome.
When we got downstairs for the show, we were seated at our own private table (we had bought tickets for a table, which were the same price as GA). You're supposed to spend $20 on drinks/food when you have a table seat, but they weren't pushy about it. We actually did spend that amount since we ate upstairs beforehand (which counts), but our waitress didn't know that because we didn't even bother showing her the receipt since she wasn't trying to push food or drinks on us. Some of us stayed at the table during the show and some of us went into the General Admission area...it's cool that they let you do that. The way the venue is set up, you can really see from wherever you are, which was a major plus for me since I'm short and normally have a hard time seeing.
It was definitely a venue unlike any other I've ever been to and I will definitely be keeping an eye on their concert calendar from now on. This review is for the restaurant aspect of WCL, not the monthly open story slam (where two of the performers got engaged during last week's show!) or for the music shows (yet on my bucket list) or for the adjacent WXPN (my new favorite radio station - glimpsing the sign in the lobby was like a celebrity sighting!). I was pleased to find that the food was quite good, especially considering you're a bit of a captive patron if you're also at WCL for entertainment. After eyeing neighboring tables, I ordered the burger and was thrilled it was cooked the way I requested. I found it to be very tasty although a little too greasy to the point that I abandoned the lower half of the bun. Bonus points for a fresh, healthy side salad included with the dish. This review is about downstairs. WCL is one of my favorite places, for the great all-around experience. The acoustics downstairs are outstanding, and the set-up (except for all-GA shows) is just great. The food is ok not great, and the service is always slow before a show because everyone needs to be served at the same time, but it's still a terrific place to see a show, enjoy a nice dinner, often meet cool people, ... We've gone a few times now for some of the "Peanut Butter Jams" ie. baby/kids concerts and sadly probably won't be coming back because they make the music so ridiculously loud.
Its a kids concert, on a Saturday morning yet the people working the sound system seem to insist on BLASTING everyone's ear drums. Don't they realize who their audience is?
This wasn't a one time occurrence. The first time I went was several months ago, I can't remember the group but it was upstairs. Prior to purchasing the ticket I specifically asked the girl working the computer "Will this concert be really loud?" I was assured that no it would not be too loud and as soon as the group started playing the amplifiers were blasting everyone's ears. Other parents seemed concerned as well.
Several months later, we had out of town guests visiting with kids so we went to a Lard Dog Concert. Lard Dog himself and his Belopian side kicks were absolutely awesome although, again the concert was too loud, although this time admittedly a little better than the prior disaster.
Most recently we went to Nina and the Jumping Jacks yesterday. Absolutely terrible. The woman working the sound system was just blasting everyone's ears. We stayed for a half hour, but ultimately left early because it was too loud. I was also annoyed that they left a trash can and bucket and mop in the elevator that had to be used since the concert was in the basement. The elevator smelled absolutely terrible, a mix of trash and citrus bleach. Patrons and especially kids should not have to breath that!
Last, tickets on the website are listed as one price and of course when I purchase in person I'm charged a different price. I asked if I buy the tickets online or prepay if it would be a different price, but I'm told that it would be the same price. Posting one price and then charging another is bad practice.
A little common sense would go a long way at this place. I've been here a few times to see local bands play downstairs, and it's not a bad setup. Well-stocked bar, semi-friendly bartenders [depending upon who you get], lots of area to kick back and eat, drink, gab, dance, whatever. You can mingle or keep to yourself, either way, pretty easily. You can pretty much see the stage from anywhere in the room, so if you're a shorty like me, you'll appreciate that too. There's nothing really to complain about here, yet it's nothing special. I do enjoy the fact that it's housed within WXPN, though. :) Try the Shrimp and Grits. Great Music and Performances. Happy Hours are fun and reasonable. You can have a decent mix drink or glass of wine and food without breaking the bank. well, the ART-chitechs have done it again. they wasted alot of money and space. tables on the dance floor-duh! all the best supper venues have booth/banquette seating around the outside for a reason. the stage is set up to play the short throw of the room so the stereo field is soooooo wiiiiide that if you're on one side there's no way you hear the other. the drinks are too expensive. $5 for a pint of lager? get a grip. and the booking agent that opened this place is a friggin genius but of course he hasn't been booking there in ages. when they first opened the calendar was amazing. national acts and good local talent. nowadays this place blows. it's mostly local acts with WAY too many acts on the bill, a sure sign that the people booking this joint don't have a clue. IF THE ACTS THAT YOU'RE BOOKING DON'T SELL ENOUGH TICKETS AND YOU HAVE TO PUT MORE ACTS ON THE BILL... THE BANDS SUCK AND YOUJ NEED TO GET NATIONAL ACTS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE. IF WE WANT TO SEE CRAPPY BANDS, WE'LL GO TO THE KHYBER. complete turnaround and a complete disappointment, upstairs just flat out sucks. don't waste your time and money.
the booking guy that opened this place has moved on to do shows at the sellersville theatre. that place is a little gem.
WCL=SUX Still Love World Cafe Live! I attended a show in the downstairs space and the acoustics are still fantastic! The service from the staff has remained consistently good!
I always feel confident when I purchase tickets for a show because I know it will be a great experience! It's not about the food here. Went twice in last week. First time had the Harvest salad which was fine except it was billed as having arugula and had baby spinach instead. I avoid raw spinach because of all this the incidents of E. coli contamination over years.
Second time I had the Angus burger. When I told the server he hadn't asked me how I wanted it cooked, he said their default was
Medium/medium-well. It came well done. It was okay with ketchup on it. Awesome place and atmosphere. We went to see the Darwin Deez concert. Nice staff. Pretty short menu with good drinks. My friend had a beer, the other a mixed drink. Both satisfied. The short menu makes it easy to decide. The burger was phenomenal and I was told with the person I was with that the pulled pork was one of the best he's ever had. Just know that if you're there to see a show, you have to buy the ticket. A dinner reservation is not enough. Overall great place! Amazing building all around for supporting and living music. Both rooms are great, and the staff are really nice. Would recommend checking out different shows here! Two items I have to consider before going to World Cafe for an evening:
1. Money. The experience is not inexpensive. A ticket for a show may be reasonably priced, but the food and beverages are expensive (compared with portion sizes.)
2. Have something small to eat beforehand, or just plan to have dinner elsewhere and not get the dinner seats. The menu is plain; not a whole lot to choose from, and what is there is not always great. For instance, on one visit I decided to get the chicken caesar salad over the pulled pork sandwich (healthier choice prevailed), and it was the size of a side salad and didn't even have that much on it except for lettuce. For $14, it was disappointing.
That said, the performing/event space is remarkable, and the sound is great. Class all the way, through and through.
If you have dinner seating for a show, be prepared to sit with strangers! My advice is not to worry about the people seated around you. You may want to get up and dance while your neighbors are sitting and having a chill night chatting it up. Don't be afraid to excuse yourself and find yourself some space up by the bar and dance or move around!
The shows don't go too long - evening concerts will end around 10pm or earlier, leaving you plenty of time to get to your next destination - whether that's home or out somewhere else fun.
Or to find more food, per the above! This review is specifically for the upstairs area, NOT WCL (downstairs).
I just can't get into it. Every time I've seen someone perform in the upstairs performance space, I'm disrupted by the chatty tables around me and I swear there's something amiss with the acoustics. I feel like the artists booked for the upstairs space lend themselves to intimate settings and I hate to say WCU(pstairs) doesn't make me feel like it's just me and the musician. That's the point of intimacy, right?
Don't be mistaken, all the World Café Live (downstairs) shows are terrific. In fact, I don't think there's a better venue out there to play. But alas, there's a lot left to be desired in the upstairs area. It won't keep me from seeing artists I like though; just wish there was a way to make them sound better. Also, the table that's off to the right of the stage is awful. Every group that sits there always feels entitled to personal banter with the musician. Good beer and food though. One of the best accousticaly arranged places to see a small show. I saw an accoustic guitar type show, and wow did it sound incredible. To be honest i dont think they even needed to be miked. Beers were great and fairly prices, the venue is clean and the staff are friendly. Seating is interesting, they have tables that i guess you can arrange to sit at if your eating there, not sure i would do that considering how many great eateries are in the area, and they have a few rows of banquet chairs in from of the stage. The bar is in the back, you can stand there as well. There's no bad spots in the cafe!!! Great venue!!!! it's also very cool that you can see the XPN studio while your here.....That's super cool, and they have atons of cool stuff all over the place to see. The bands are good. The drinks are waaaayyy too expensive and the food is below average bar food.
Staff is nice if you ever get to see a member of it at your table. They are usually understaffed so you have wait for your over priced drink and the lame food.
The Kimmel Center is looking better and better all the time. I'll give the band 5 stars. Went to the Bowie tribute. All good. My advice to you is, don't go hungry. My 3rd time there. I witnessed people waste chicken. Last trip, couldn't even get decent french fries. They were fried 2x's and came to the table cold. My friend ordered a cocktail. It was overwhelmingly ginger...$11.00. So, save your $$.
Eat before you go. Great for music. Maybe drinks. Not for food.
Came here for a company holiday party for the Rising Stars of Philadelphia show. We had reserved all the tables on the side of the venue and I was fairly excited because it was my first time seeing a live show at World Café Live.
The menu isn't too expansive but has a little bit of everything. Against my best judgment, I decided to go with the Sea Scallop because it had been a while since I've had them. As soon as we placed our order, the pre-set appetizers started pouring in.
The selection was your average fare: hummus and veggies, baked brie, chicken quesadilla, and chips and salsa. Everything as a-ok. Nothing tasted bad but nothing stood out either. With those prices, I'm glad everything was on the boss' tab. Finally the entress came out and to be quite honest I was a little underwhelmed. My three scallops were served on a bed of bean and spinach ragout, which was a weird combination to begin with, but it tasted even weirder. The scallops were overcooked and way too salty. My other friends that also ordered it agreed. Additionally, the ragout was just wrong. The flavors didn't mesh well together and the textures were off. Overall, not a good choice; should've trusted my instincts.
On a huge plus side, the show was incredible. The show variety was great, featuring everything from an acoustic duo to a blind pianist to a rapper. The music definitely helped the food go down and I was glad to have been able to hear those artists perform.
As a final note: this rating is strictly based off the music components of the venue. Food, while still a factor, is not the primary function of the place and I felt it'd be unfair to give it a bad rating when the performance was amazing (did I mention tickets for that show were free?).
Pros: the music
Cons: the food
Dishes to try: just order a drink and listen I've been here several times to see upstairs shows and I love it. The upstairs shows are very intimate and you almost always get a seat up close. I've gotten there early to eat dinner and I've gotten there just at showtime and each time I am asked where I would like to be seated or I am seated very close to the front. I'm going to a show in October in the downstairs area, so I'll have to update it for that. From what I've read, it is just as great.
As for the person who said it can get noisy, it sometimes does upstairs because the tables are so close to one another. They also seat people who are there to just eat and not see the shows. It is rude that the other people speak so loudly over the performer, but I did see a waitress asking them to quiet down quite a few times. The performer, Jarod Gorbel, also made a few comments towards them and addressed them and they continued to talk over him. So he just laughed and continued on with the show. I also saw another comment about the table to the right being awful. I sat there once and it was just me and a friend. I'm a very quiet person, so I would never bother the performer. However, at the show I was at, both the opening artist and the main artist started up a conversation with us while getting ready for the next song. I think sometimes because of how close everyone is, it can make the artist feel a little nervous and they just start talking. He just made small talk about what kind of food I had in my to-go bag on the floor and made a comment about the candles on our table. So don't always judge the tables based on the few shows you've been to.
As for the food, I've eaten here twice and both times the food was good. It wasn't amazing or great. It was good. My friend loves the eggplant fries though. The service is very good. I've had great service every time. I had an awesome waiter one time who was on top of everything and because we were finishing up our food as the performer started the show, he quietly ducked down to make sure he heard what we said and he kept checking on us. He even made sure to ask if we wanted to take the left over food home and he quietly placed the food next to me so that he didn't disturb me. I can't comment on the bar. I don't drink.
Overall, it is a great place to watch shows. The upstairs is great for intimate concerts. I've seen a pretty large variety of artists here. They don't just have music. Sometimes they have comedic filled shows and they have things for kids. They also have wine and beer tasting. One of the coolest things they have is an open mic night and the Best of Philly, where they allow up and coming and underground musicians perform. It's awesome. I would definitely recommend giving them a try and just see if you like it. The prices aren't too expensive, so it's worth taking a chance. Had an awesome night with great food and fantastic music! I was here for a concert last week, and it's a cool little spot. Smaller venues are always nice, although they do usually mean (including here) a whole bunch of people packed in a squirming together like zombies toward the stage.
Everything was really organized, and we were able to order take out from upstairs and bring it down (the pulled pork took less than ten minutes total). I'd definitely come back for another show but try to get the balcony! The world cafe live continues to perplex me. They book great acts, and the space is smaller than the Keswick, but not as intimate as the Sellersville Theatre. Yet the food continues to be up and down. You also have to be very careful to get there prior to the show, or you will be caught in the flood of orders and risk not getting food until the end of the show. Tonight I went safe, was there 45 minutes early, ordered a burger, with a substitution of caesars salad for fries. The burger was cooked to temperature, had nice crust on the outside and pink in the inside. The bacon and cheese were good. The lettuce onion and tomato on the other hand were throw away Sysco quality styrofoam. The bun was nothing to write home about but at least had some body to it so that didn't mush into some ball of dough. The caesar salad was puzzling. The romaine lettuce was fresh, the creamy caesar dressing fine, and the rock hard croutons to be expected. But floating among the lettuce were pieces of sun dried tomato. Was this a twist on caesar salad or had someone not adequately cleaned a bowl before putting it on my plate? The meal went down hill from here. I ordered pumpkin cake which arrived, smelling wonderful, was room temperature and hard as a hockey puck. It was swimming in a sea of some sort of sweet sauce that allow the hockey puck to break down slightly, but never attain the moistness one expects from such a dessert. The moral of this story is I should have taken my own advice. World Cafe is great for drinks, and a show but eat before hand. Of all the places I've attended live music shows around the country I have to say this place is in the top three if not the best. This was our first time here and we came to see Samantha Fish perform (she's amazing but I'll save that for another review). There's an upstairs and a downstairs. Upstairs is a restaurant, bar, and small stage while downstairs is a bar and larger stage with a large floor and a mezzanine. I'll break WCL down in 5 categories:
STAFF- The staff is super friendly and all smiles. This includes the will call desk which is also fast and efficient, the ticket scanner, the general staff, and the bartenders.
ACOUSTICS- The sound was impressive as most places this size it can be difficult to clearly hear vocals World Cafe Live has nailed this category. We moved a few times during the show and the sound was near perfect everywhere we went.
CROWD- I'm sure the crowd varies depending on the performance but when we were there it was a mix of young and old with ample facilities for folks that require ADA accessibility. The crowd at our show was super friendly.
PARKING- free! Yep. Parking at the lot below is free after 5:30pm but we decided to park right in front of the door and pay $2.40 for the meter through the parking app. The signs state 12 hour parking but the app only allows for 2 hours but that's ok since the meters are only enforced until 8PM
SPACE - the space was really, really nice and so clean. It felt like it was just built. More importantly there was plenty of room to walk around and seats at the bar upstairs were ample before the main act came on. You can wander around the entire place after entry but you'll need a bracelet provided after ticket validation to enter and exit the main show downstairs.
FOOD & DRINK - we only had the eggplant fries (which were awesome) since we went to happy hour at Walnut Street Cafe next door but we will probably just dine at WCL next time. the restaurant opens a few hours before a show and you need a reservation. However, you can order food and drinks at the bar upstairs and they will put it in a takeout container for you to bring down to the show. Also, the drinks are free poured, served in actual glasses (not plastic party cups like other venues) and you're free to walk around the place with them. Additionally, the prices were reasonable! I mean really reasonable not venue reasonable but comparable to what you would spend anywhere for casual dining.
Overall, WCL deserves a solid 5 stars because they know how to do it right and I can't wait to catch another show here. Last night was my first time at the music venue. I have been to lunch upstairs here before (they have great grilled cheese).
Loved it as a venue. There were tables and seating in the general admission area. Service was prompt and did not interrupt the show. It felt very clean, even the ladies bathroom. No small feat for a Saturday night! Probably the worst service I have ever experienced. The staff treated our group horribly, by talking down to many guests. I would never recommend any group to host your event here unless you want bad food or want your guests treated poorly. Honestly, I cannot believe this venue still operates with such awful employees Brief review:
There's so much happening every night at World Cafe Live "WCL". So, go, and you'll have fun, fun, fun!
End of review!
More extensive review:
I've been at World Cafe Live "WCL" couple times, over the years, to catch few great bands.
I couldn't resist but go to a belly dance spectacular with ANIMUS back in 2014. It was my first event at WCL, and it was spectacular. Last Friday, I attended the10th anniversary tribute to Amy Winehouse:Back to Black. Needless to say ... just marvelous.
- Cost: You'll get your entertainment tickets for a steal. Tickets usually run between $8-$22.
- Ambiance: Terrific, lively and sophisticated.
- Service: Friendly and kinda attentive.
- Location: Conveniently located on Walnut Street, just one block from 30th Street Station, and easily accessible by SEPTA.
- Parking: Limited street parking, and three parking lots are available.
- Layout: Multi-level venue. Upstairs (full service lunch & dinner café) and Downstairs (music hall with limited bar food).
Pro Tip: If you are planning to sit back and eat, consider mezzanine seating rather than standing general admission.
- Tickets: Upstairs reservation and/or downstairs advance purchase is highly recommended as some performances tend to sold out.
- Food: O.K! Considerably. You have to try the eggplant fries.
Fun music spot.
Four Yelps. I went to World Cafe Live for the first time on Saturday for a concert downstairs. There was a simultaneous concert happening upstairs in the restaurant area.
My friend and I made dinner reservations at 6:45 thinking it would be plenty of time to eat before the 8:00 show. However, the service was extremely slow. We had to get up and flag the waitress down for the check making us a little late for the show. Luckily there was an opener, so we didn't miss the band we came for.
I didn't have high expectations for the food, however, it was delicious. We started with the broccoli and Gouda bites. They were perfectly fried on the outside, gooey on the inside, and served piping hot with a side of paprika dipping sauce.
For the entree, we both opted for the honey Sriracha fried chicken sandwich. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on inside. It was lightly coated in sauce (not drenched) which gave it the perfect kick, but was not overwhelmingly spicy. The chicken was served on a Hawaiian roll which was a nice alternative to the basic. (Note: Gluten free buns were available). I upgraded my side to eggplant fries, which were served with a horseradish ranch. I enjoyed everything I ordered and am looking forward to coming back for happy hour which is Mon-Sun 5-6:30 for drink and food specials.
The downstairs venue was small. There was a pit area and a raised back area with the bar. We opted to stand by the bar and had a great view even in the back. Getting drinks was quick and efficient though you had to show an armband per drink. The bathrooms were nearby, stocked, and clean. There was a coat check down the hall $1 per coat.
I will make a point to keep an eye out for artists coming to World Cafe Live and am excited for my next concert experience here! This place is so much fun. A truly eclectic vibe, and a great space for music lovers.
Everyone who works here is overall friendly in nature. Great service. The crowd is very mixed and inclusive. Venue is clean and well spaced.
Food options were good.
It's a nice time! Check it out if you're in the area, and you're into supporting the music scene! Went to WLC on a whim and found it to be priced reasonably well! The performance was on time, we were met with great service and sat down to eat.
Only short fall was that my burger was very pink/ almost completely pink when i asked for it to be well done. My partner had the same experience. Overall great time. Clean fun. Good drinks. Three stars for the food and cocktails. As a music venue the World Cafe Live is excellent. The seafaring is comfortable and the sound is good. The food options are limited and average. The "upsell" eggplant fries are a good choice. The cocktails are inconsistent. Always happy to support local Art.
Supporting anything which you value is Always a good idea. In the case of Art, however, and local Art even more particularly, consistent patronage is required. Noticed I used the word required. It isn't 'suggested', or 'helpful'...it is mandatory. And since I do not own a venue to share with artists, I elect to support the community by frequenting their shows.
I've enjoyed shows both 'Upstairs, Downstairs'. The national acts are tremendous, but I also love seeing what homegrown talent we have. At only $10-15 a show (upstairs), one can afford to just go on a whim. Even the shows I didn't particularly care for, left my cohorts and I with a conversation. Ari Hoenig was a real standout, playing a set with a trio that was on a very different level. Kudos.
I must critique the sound and staff. First, the objective of sound reinforcement should not be: let's see how loud we can get before it starts to feedback, and then come down a half-click. In an intimate venue like the upstairs, why not adopt this mantra: use as little sound reinforcement as necessary; stage = most of the sound, out front = only to fill in blanks. There is no reason a singer-sonwriter should be deafening. The staff is very good at being apathetic. I always feel like I am a great annoyance when I order a beverage...as if I am really putting the person (who is working in a bar) right out. The eye rolls when I politely order a pint scream, "really dude? you are so lame with your dress shirt, and I'm really an artist, so get your pint yourself aweful-sauce." I don't appreciate that, but...
I gladly put up with it, and will award 4 stars for what the venue is, and does. Maybe someone will be nice to me if I wear skinny jeans??? so now that i've actually been to a show in the downstairs area, i feel like i can finally review this place.
the upstairs restaurant portion is decent...the decor is nothing memorable, the food is your standard bar food that is on the pricey side and again, not terribly memorable. however, it does serve as another decent venue for my work to hold happy hours, and to that i am grateful for.
the downstairs venue is comfortable and clean (i saw apples in stereo)...the acoustics are fine and good...they don't often have bands there that i would love to see. so if some amzing band shows up, i'll be back. This is a world class venue for music. Both music rooms are fantastic but I love the downstairs room. It is comfortable, spacious, and it has a very large dance floor. The service here is outstanding and the acoustics in the downstairs room are spot on. Great clarity and band volume always makes for an even better show than what you had expected. This could very well be the best place in Philadelphia to catch a live music show with all the trimmings. I did not eat here but everyone else told me that the food was very good. Just do it. Review for happy hour only
Went midweek for a get together with colleagues. Me and a friend came early since their happy hour stars much earlier than in use to.. 4pm. I guess that makes sense, don't wanna get slammed with college kids.
We ended up getting some light bites and drinks before everyone came-- hummus, and chips and guacamole. Both were decent and satisfying finger food. Beer special were the usual suspects... Opted for yuengling lite, can't beat $2. Being in university city... I can't help shed my poor college student ways.
Service was good since we were the only one in the bar. Overall, nice place. Would love to come back for a show. Late post and here goes. I came here for a concert and I had such a blast! I had no idea what to expect when I walked in but when the music started pumping and crowd began to rock and sway, I knew that I was in for a great night. The atmosphere fit the description, it was LIVE! We ordered seared tuna and coconut crab small plates. While the portions were indeed small, the flavors were excellent. My server noticed that I lost one of my crab appetizer crackers to the floor (a patron knocked it over when walking by :-( ) and she brought me over a few extra crackers for a replacement. I appreciated that small gesture considering that she did not have to and it was quite a packed ad busy house.
Overall, I look forward to returning to this venue for another show. The atmosphere was awesome! I will however, eat before I arrive. The portions were not very filling. Took my sister and step dad here to see Echosmith. I had no idea what to expect but was pleasantly surprised by the venue. It's a small, intimate establishment with easy to access street parking. Perfect considering how cold it is outside.
Once inside and down a few flights of stairs is the main venue area. Complete with a bar and convenient seating, it's a great place to see your favorite bands in a comfortable setting that really ensures you're close to the action anywhere in the room.
Food selection is good and prices are reasonable. I'd gladly come back to see another performance here! WCL is a great venue for live music. It's a seated and standing room venue with a smaller lounge upstairs where they sometimes have free shows and events, and a larger music hall downstairs with ticketed events. Check their website for show listings. I recently saw Maggie Rose in concert at the music hall and it's an intimate venue with good sight lines everywhere and good acoustics. Ticket prices are reasonable. Please note that as of 9/29/21, WCL is not selling food during shows, so plan to eat before or after the show. They are selling drinks however. One of the best music venues in Philly. A great place to see music, have a drink and get some food. The menu has a limited number of items. I recommend the catfish and grits and the broccoli fritters. The beer selection was very good, including a good number of non-alcoholic brews (I was designated driver.). Caught the Slackers here in the Lounge. Great venue, good food (duck cheesesteak, what?!), stellar drink selection. Andrew (our waiter) was TOP NOTCH and on point. Loved it. First time at the World Café Live and We enjoy the live music & venue atmosphere. We were able to find parking near the Café ( Parking Meters ). One waiter / full house...We Reserve a Table , Food very satisfying .The jazz band started on time.
I'm a Fan As Philadelphia venues go, this happens to be one of my favorites. And it's not just because it's super convenient to West Philly, Center City and public transportation from the burbs. The downstairs (where all of the shows I've seen have been) is large, and can accommodate big groups in the mezzanine, bar and balcony. I've been when there is standing room for general admission and also when they've set up chairs and tables for dinner service during a show.
The staff has always struck me as super professional and helpful, and when I had a server while seated at a table, she was quick and kind to all. I haven't eaten here, but the food I saw others at my table getting looked...well, pretty awesome. And judging by the fact that it all got eaten, I guess it was. I'll have to update this once I try their food.
The best reason to give World Cafe Live a chance is because they bring such unique and brilliant talent to the stage. I just went to their 2013 Philly Song Shuffle, with 55 local acts playing one after another. Just fantastic.
Little tip if you want to try it out: their Friday lunch series is a fun and free way to see the venue and experience some great music! After my first time at WCL I was delightfully surprised at how friendly the venue seemed. I was ready for the standard concert venue where i get hassled at every bend, smell like smoke at the end of the night, and am constantly getting stepped on or pushed by drunks. Maybe it was the type of crowds the bands brought in, but none of these things happened. WCL was clean, welcoming, spacious, and not too hot/sweaty. Not only thse, but the security was surprisingly friendly too. They were actual people and treated us like people in return. I know respect should come standard, but more often than not this isn't the case. Esp in security.
Coat check $1. Parking is definitely a problem. Unless everyone else knows something I don't...
Lastly, the volume was perfect. Loud, but not ear bleeding loud. I'm pretty sure WCL uses a house sound tech. He knows his job. The acoustics were fine, I could have used more bass. But overall all elements of the music came through and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I LOVE World Cafe Live as an event space, so I'm keeping my rating at a four... but if I was rating the food I had the other night at an event, I'd probably go with a three- or even two-star rating.
Sweet potato fries were limp and had some sort of sugary coating that I thought made them way too sweet. The spicy dipping sauce was pretty nice, but not enough to counter the sweetness of the fries.
I ordered a sesame-crusted ahi tuna salad with wonton strips, cashews and sesame ginger vinaigrette. I expected a lush, healthy-looking salad. Sadly, I missed the part that said the romaine would be grilled. My salad looked pretty lame with a couple shrunken stalks of lettuce and two hunks of tuna, plus a smattering of toppings rolling around the plate. The taste was on par with the appearance. A little soy on the side to dip the tuna or some kind of wasabi sauce could have made it better, but I was definitely disappointed.
I'm going back for another event this weekend, and I probably won't be going in hungry. I go in to the venue. World Cafe Live is a classy venue with an upstairs cafe area and a downstairs seated audience setting.
There's no food menu available on this night sadly. Maybe because they aren't expecting too many people and/or maybe because it's hard to find help. With the hot drinks, there was only a hot toddy available. No cocoa or coffee or either with alcohol available. It was a bitter cold day outside on 1/15/22 at about 15 degrees Fahrenheit. The bartender was super friendly and nice. A friend wanting me to come support him real bad at this- so I did. I've probably been to about 7 of these now, and for me, it starts to get a bit old. Of course, I still try to sign up to make myself a half-fool on the stage only to get my song cut off early as just about everyone else's songs get cut off. If you're a Philly local or want to do something different or off-the-wall, Skeletor Karaoke is it! You don't even have to sing to attend. Just show up and experience the madness that was once a staple to the Trocadero- a former independent concert venue in Philadelphia Chinatown! Overall I'm going to have to drop World Cafe down a few notches. While I still get an uncanny amount of enjoyment out of it, and look forward to seeing Chairlift play Free At Noon on Friday, overall I just find the flow between upstairs and down to be a little too inconsistent.
It definitely brings in a good share of touring bands, and it has a good amount of love for the locals. But I just feel that there are times where it doesn't bring in enough diversity with what it brings in, touring or otherwise. And when you think about it for a place called "World Cafe", there isn't a whole lot of world music going on inside it on a monthly basis.
When a touring band plays downstairs ticket prices can border on the astronomical sometimes. Seeing a band like Devotchka there ran $35-40, and that's without the $4-9 processing fee (only $1 if you pay in cash at the box office), or the $10 minimum for food that you have to purchase for reserved seats. And when you look at it sitting at a dinner table towards the front of the stage can kind of suck when your trying to get into the vibe of a show! and the fact that they don't run World Cafe's awesome happy hour deal downstairs more than blows!
Monica summed up upstairs perfectly. The shows would be tolerable to get into if it wasn't talk city when the majority of the bands played. And the fact that the sound just isn't as good as it is downstairs doesn't help.
But as said above, many flaws up and down all around aside, World Cafe Live can still be a great and unique spot to go for music in Philadelphia. Or for just eggplant fries and a beer during happy hour. And maybe I'll see you at the free show on Friday (if you can manage to swing it at noon)! One of Philly's smaller concert venues. There's the smaller upstairs stage and then downstairs stage for bigger crowds. Will call for picking up your tickets is super easy and quick.
I love that the place is CLEAN. Maybe I'm getting old, BUT sticky floors and leftover weed smell at venue just isn't my jam (hah...). Staff is super friendly and helpful, bartenders are friendly and they host great artists. Definitely a good place to catch a gig! The only reason this isn't a one star rating is because the food was absolutely delicious. I'm an avid concert-goer and I visit cities often just to attend a concert. Nowhere is perfect and I don't expect perfection, but World Cafe Live is by far the WORST venue I've ever been to.
I called to make reservations and buy tickets months before the event was taking place. I was confused about whether I needed a dinner reservation and a ticket. The woman I spoke to said I ONLY needed a dinner reservation and that everyone without a reservation would stand behind the dinner tables to watch the concert. I asked if I needed a ticket multiple times because it was odd that she said I didn't need one.
I arrive at WCL and the manager rudely tells me that of course I have to purchase tickets as it clearly says on their website. She never apologized for the incompetence of whomever I spoke to on the phone. I work in customer service and that's the first thing you do. The next step would be to find out who gave the customer the incorrect information and make sure it doesn't happen again. She never asked for any information other than my credit card to buy tickets.
Then throughout dinner, we were hardly checked on and the waitress forgot multiple parts of our order after saying she would go get them.
Before we were seated at our table, we were given wristbands to verify that we are of drinking age (which happens at many places and cuts down time for the wait staff checking IDs). Apparently the wristbands don't matter because a MINOR was being served alcohol and she was very visibly drunk. She is a celebrity but that shouldn't matter when following the law.
I'm not sure how they've stayed open with their untrained staff and rude managers. I hope no one else has this kind of experience. Notes: This review is only for the upstairs space only and it's worth noting that I'm not much of a local venue show person, so proceed with caution.
World Cafe Live offers an intriguing Happy Hour in an odd location (31st and Walnut) for those looking to grab a bite before a show or even on their commute home. However, I was surprised by the food, the (somewhat local*) beer and the experience. I don't think I'll seek out a return, but I wouldn't rule it out either.
My experience was meeting an old (and older) co-worker and his wife for a show. Specifically because his son was performing and my ex-coworker (from Jersey) wanted to grab a beer while he was in the City. I was in the area for some other business that didn't end until about 5:30 and the show was at 7, so I decided that with a Happy Hour special, I'd just come in early. I was pleasantly surprised!
Pros:
I noted on here that a number of reviews that the service was suspect. I did not find a problem. My bartender was attentive and friendly, refilling my beer and water as needed and moving quickly with orders and food service.
The food was surprisingly stellar. Since I needed dinner, I ventured off the simplistic happy hour menu and went for a Curry Chicken Sandwich and fries. It was terrific. The Curry chicken was a flavorful yellow curry, that had just the right amount of sauciness to be moist without turning into a mess. And the naan bread/roll it was served on was soft and warm and 100% enjoyable. I can't imagine they bake it on premises, but whatever they do is terrific for me. I would eat again! The fries were about average.
The seating and arrangements were comfortable and welcoming. I did not have trouble finding a seat and getting a decent view or hearing the show.
During the show, I found the experience to be comfortable with an appropriate sound level without being overpoweringly loud and annoying. I'd return here again for a show I am interested in.
Cons:
Prices were somewhere between a normal bar/restaurant price and venue price. I don't think that's really a con, but if you're here for a bar experience (uh, weird), it's a little pricey. But if you're here for a show, it's not too bad. The Happy Hour was competitive to the area though.
There was a weird hitch in my bill where one of my beers wasn't priced from the happy hour, but another beer was missing. I assume this was intentional, so all-in-all, fair overall.
Service seemed to go down a bit during the shows - I'm not sure if it was hard to flag folks down, hard to communicate or they simply stop serving during sets, but my beers started running dry once the music started and the bartender was harder to grab (one serving many in that case).
Other notes:
The crowds were a very odd mix of older folks, scene folks and, I guess, people like me. Again, that's probably not a con.
Most (all) of the local beers* were Goose Island, which is not local in the sense that they're a Chicago based brewery, but local in the sense that they have a second taphouse/brewery in Fishtown (or No Libs, I forget) and thus brew local-only beers there (such as a few for the Phillies and one, the WCL Ale or something, for WCL). It's worth noting that the beers, especially the WCL special, was quite good.
Conclusion:
WCL is a fine place for a happy hour (if you're in the area) or to see a more intimate show. The prices are competitive if a mix between venue and bar. The Curry Chicken sandwich was a surprisingly good meal. I would return if the opportunity presented itself. World Cafe Live is a fun place to go to hands down. It always has a diverse line up of shows, and it often has 2 shows going on in one night. while the upstairs venue mostly caters to a host of local acts, downstairs has a lot more high profile acts come in. Since XPN is next door, you will usually find a free show that's too good to pass up if you check out their website.
The food could be better a lot of times, but it's not what you go here for primarily. And they do have some great food like the vegetarian chili. Once you have their eggplant fries you will never want to eat a potato one again! it also has a good selection of beer and alcohol. and the servers are all very friendly. This review is for the Victory Beer Dinner on 11/17/09.
I purchased tickets to this event on the recommendation of a friend who attended one of Victory's prior beer dinners. My friend and I arrived slightly before the start time and we were instructed to sit anywhere. The two tops were all taken so we nabbed a four top and prayed for no whammies. Luckily, the musician of the evening and his buddy asked to join us, so we were in good company.
The first course was crab and arugula, and I expected a salad with some crab meat on top. What we got was a bowl full of crab in a delicious lemon wine sauce, and a smattering of arugula in the center. It was a very promising start to the meal. The Helios Ale, which was introduced that night, was the perfect pairing. Actually, all of the beers were perfectly paired with their courses, to be honest.
Next up was prosciutto wrapped shrimp over jicama slaw. Total letdown. I was expecting the shrimp to be warm and the slaw to be room temp to cool, but everything was chilled and it made for a slimy texture. The sauces on top of the dish looked like tubes of ketchup and mustard (they were actually barbecue sauce and gouda aioli), and the overall effect was not appetizing. I focused on the beer during this round, Moonglow Weizenbock.
The third course was a very generous filet mignon with lobster mash and grilled asparagus. This hunk of meat was no joke, and I ate less than half to conserve some room for the final two courses. No complaints with this dish, which was served with Victory's Festbier.
There was a very timely break at this point, which gave our new musician friend some time to catch up on the courses that he missed while entertaining the crowd. The conversation was flowing in all directions; most likely do to the happy buzz from beers that ranged from 5.6% to 8.7% ABV.
For the fourth course: carmelized scallops and roasted sweet potatoes. This was easily my favorite of the night. I'm very choosy about scallops and tend to either love them or leave them, but these were right on the money. They were perfectly prepared and the yammies were surprisingly complimentary. Who knew?! Baltic Thunder was the pairing.
At this point, I was ready to haul ass straight to bed but there was still another round left. We were introduced to the brand new Yakima Twilight beer, which went along with a molten chocolate cake that was okay but dismissible.
Throughout the evening, service was fantastic and the event flowed seamlessly. The chef made appearances to talk about the menu and a very gracious Victory rep thanked the crowd for attending. I'd require little to no convincing to attend another event like this... although I will need some major cardio sessions to counteract the damage. I've caught a couple of shows here (Rachael Yamagata and, holy crap, Martin Sexton), as well as an open mic here or there. Also, story slams! First Person Arts regularly runs story slams here that range from hilarious to thought-provoking, hitting every medium in between.
So, it's obvious then that I can say, with complete certainty, that I really like this place.
Both the upstairs and the downstairs can be configured in various ways to comfortably accommodate smaller, intimate crowds to larger more boisterous ones. Also, the place just looks nice. They even have coat racks - beware though, it's run totally on the honor system. I've never had anything stolen, but it might be a good idea to hold onto your wallet, keys and phone.
The food I've had has been satisfying - nothing to write home about, but then, how can I really focus on that when I have a beer in hand and kickass gigs to watch?
The bottle and draft list are respectable, as well as the cocktails. Prices are run of the mill for any joint in Philly. This is a great thing if you think about it - if you tried to get any respectable drink at a larger concert venue, you'd pay at least double. Thanks, World Cafe, for keepin' it real.
This place is perfect for dates, plain old hanging out, and drankin'. That makes it one of my top spots in Philly.
Again, can't believe I hadn't reviewed it until now.
Pro-tip:
Check out some of their less headliney events, like their story slam and open mics. Some really great things pass through this place that can otherwise go unnoticed. Throw a dart at the calendar and I can almost guarantee that you won't be disappointed in what you end up with.
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name: The Wedding Shoppe, address: 503 W Lancaster Ave, Ste 110, Eagle Village Shops, city: Wayne, stars_x: 3.0, is_open: opening, categories: Shopping, Fashion, Bridal, Accessories, Women's Clothing, text: Pretty bad experience all around. When I called to make my appointment, the woman who answered asked what designers I was interested in. I told her Jenny Packham and Monique Lhuillier. She said they were totally different price points and very rudely said Monique is really expensive. I said I know, I've tried her stuff on and I'm comfortable spending that. She wouldn't let it go and kept saying how those dresses can be 15k. Mind you there are also a bunch under 8k but she didn't mention this. I thought it was really rude but made the appointment anyway and came in.
The woman who helped me was nice and did offer some nice accessorizing ideas. But when it came time to go, she started pressuring me a ton. I was ready to potentially make a decision but she was like a used cars salesman telling me that my dress might be cancelled and that they wouldn't have it. I told her there was one more dress I wanted to try before making such a huge decision and they didn't have it. She offered to order it in for me - for 200$! I'm living in NYC and even the top line bridal shops are 50-60$ to order as many dresses as you want from the same designer. Wedding Shoppe wanted 200$ per dress.
I ended up going to Saks and buying the Monique which they ordered in the color I wanted to try on for 60$. Great selection and excellent customer service. I worked with Traci in December of 2016 who was responsive to what I was looking for and also picked out some dresses I wouldn't have necessarily picked out on my own. I went back multiple times to try on a particular dress I liked, but ended up not purchasing. I never felt pressured to buy. It was clear they wanted me to really love my wedding dress. I was very happy with the customer service I received I and would recommend driving outside of center city Philadelphia to take a look at their selection. I bought a VERY expensive wedding dress here. I loved everything about it. However when it arrived 6 months later, it was huge. The on-site seamstress had to take an inch off each side. After 4 rounds of alterations, the dress still did not fit right and we were out of time.
The result was a nice dress that was crumpled in the bust and wrinkled across the hips. The fabric puffed at the stomach and made me look pregnant. I am a size 4 and I was wearing SPANX underneath! All my pictures of my husband and I standing at the alter look terrible.
You would think that with the amount of money I spent and the expertise the store claims to have, I would have been satisfied with the result. Sadly, I was not. I had a GREAT experience at the Wedding Shoppe... Andee is Fantastic! She is truly a stylist and knew exactly what wedding dress I needed to try on!
My sister came with me to the trunk show. We made an appointment and I brought a bunch of pictures with me from pinterest/cut-outs from bridal magazines of the type of dress I wanted. I showed Andee the pictures and she said without hesitation, "You need to try this one on." That was the first dress I tried on, and was also the one I ended up purchasing later that morning. It was such a good pick from Andee...it brought tears to my sister's eyes, not once, but twice when I had it on. I tried on a few other dresses after the "first" dress - they didn't have the same impact on my sister. ;) I greatly thank Andee for making the dress picking so seamless... I didn't have to look any further! After I brought the dress, Andee continued to follow-up with me, made sure my bridesmaids had what they needed, helped both my sister and I with the shoes, and made sure we had everything we needed delivered in a timely manner. As Andee put it, "You will not find a better dress... The dress is not wearing you, and you are not out wearing that dress." Andee is quite the matchmaker!
Cyndi, the Wedding Shoppe's Seamstress, is also Fantastic! Cyndi has excellent attention to detail. I had numerous fittings (my dress was very detailed) and Cyndi really knew what had to be done so the dress fit like a glove. She did an amazing bustle on my dress (even had matching pearls/ribbons for each tie), and pressed my dress/veils perfectly before the big day. She is one of the sweetest people I have ever met, and really made sure everything was Perfect! I also had Cyndi work on my rehearsal dinner dress and my sister's bridesmaid dress.
Overall, I really, couldn't have asked for a better experience. Both ladies are professionals in their areas of expertise. I have never written a review before, but I had such a fantastic experience at the Wedding Shoppe that I wanted to tell other brides-to-be!
I had an appointment on 10/20/2012 and my consultant was Donna. I initially made the appointment because they were having a Monique Lhuillier trunk show, and even though I wasn't ready to purchase a dress, I wanted to see what my options were. (I honestly didn't even know that I'd be trying on dresses!) When I was introduced to Donna, I told her right away that I didn't plan on buying a dress without my mom, who lives in South Carolina. I'm sure other consultants would have brushed me off right then and there, but not Donna! She still gave me 100% during our 90 minute appointment and she never tried to "sell" me on anything. In fact, after putting me in two GORGEOUS dresses that I loved (that SHE picked!), she encouraged me to shop around a bit, "take my time" with the decision, and then come back to see her with my mom if I just couldn't live without one of them. And even though the dresses were out of my price range, I would absolutely go back to Donna and have her help me again, simply because she had such a great attitude and personality. She was intuitive, patient, understanding...just FABULOUS! I should also mention that she wrote me a little follow up note which was personalized and a really nice touch.
I did, however, give the shop one star only because of the small selection of dresses under $2000. A bride's gotta be on a budget these days! :) Had a great experience here. Although the dress was more than what I was willing to spend I decided to splurge because of their easy attitudes. I was late and was not yelled at, and they did not rush me. I went on a week night and spent hours here. I was so impressed that I also used them for bridesmaids. When my dress came in the zipper was broke, but the tailor fixed it for me. Dress was beautiful for the wedding! I didn't wind up getting my girl's bridesmaids dresses here, but the staff was really helpful and allowed us to take over the basement for two hours trying on things. Worth checking out When you have 8 bridesmaids with different shapes and sizes but all high taste, where do you go? You go to The Wedding Shoppe.
I went with the bride for a "trial" run just to see if it was worth getting everyone together for a trip.. I tried on tons of dresses. Some of the other places we went... I didn't even try anything on (bc there wasn't anything to like!).
So this is how it went. We thought we'd 'do it up' so we ordered a car service to pick all nine of us up from Philadelphia. We got to the wedding shoppe at our appointment time... the lady helping us was on point with recomendations of what looks best. She also was great at showing us how the dress will really look on us (when its the correct size, fitted and steamed). We talked about how it'll look in pictures and differences in fabrics. I was pretty pleased.
At the end of the day all bridesmaids have dresses (we went with same fabric, long, black but each bridesmaid was able to pick her own dress).
At the end you are measured (to be sure of proper size). We will be back in a few weeks for a fittings!
Oh and pricewise - I'm shocked at how affordable (most) of the dresses were! You are given an option to but half down or the whole amount once the dress is ordered. PERFECT! My experience at the Wedding Shoppe was everything I dreamed about when looking for a wedding dress. The salon is so pretty and the staff is amazing. They are warm and friendly and patient. My consultant Patricia is a rock star and I can't wait to work with her through this process. She is so kind and really has an eye for bridal fashion. I can't say enough about the service I was given. Thank you so much to the Wedding Shoppe and Patricia for making my Wedding Day wishes come true! I went in to the Wedding Shoppe today to attempt to return a pair of unworn shoes. My wife had called some days back to inquire about the making the return, and she told me they said "no returns". Since I never listen to my wife, I figured I would head over to the Shoppe to sort the matter out.
There were no salespeople to be seen when we entered the empty store, so I took a moment to look around for any signs that describe their return policy. There were none. When a sales person emerged from the basement, she looked at me like I had two heads when I asked to return the shoes. (note: I do have the receipt).
I asked the sales person to show me the sign explaining the return policy. She told me the return policy was printed on my receipt. (It's not). After some bickering, and a declaration from the boss (who did not come out of the basement to talk to me) that the sale was final, and more bickering, another sales person ascended from the basement with a new receipt detailing terms and conditions of sale; I have a word processor too, lady.
When the receipt lady told me I had an attitude, I was just worn out and we decided to leave with the shoes. I'll sort this out with Visa.
This is merely what happened. All you yelper-brides-to-be can decide if this is the kind of place where you want to do business.
The truth is, compared to Priscilla of Boston a few miles down the road in Suburban Square, this place is a real dump. The selection at PoB is larger, with nicer jewelery (and more of it). The ladies working in PoB are nicer, (read: not snooty like the staff at the Wedding Shoppe). At PoB, they know every sale leads to the next sale. So what if my wife didn't buy her dress there - they still treated her like she was important when she went in (me along for the ride) to buy underwear.
At the Wedding Shoppe, if you're only buying $120 shoes, and not dresses for a whole bridal party, you're a peasant.
I can't say enough about how I disagree with how they do business at the Wedding Shoppe, but the above will have to do. I bought my Carolina Herrera wedding gown here at a sample sale for a fraction of its original price. Marie was a great salesperson, and did not try to cajole me into buying the dress (I hate the whole Kleinfeld's pushy thing) or into trying on dresses I could not afford. Also, they were happy to let me come back after I bought the dress just so I could try it on for my mom. Overall, it has been a very pleasant experience so far!
I didn't end up doing a whole bridal appointment with them since I found the sample first, but they carry tons of lovely brands (Monique Lhuillier, Jenny Packham, etc.). Most were probably out of my budget, so unless you have a budget over $3k I would strongly recommend asking when the next sale is.
I plan to head back for my first fitting in a couple weeks, and can't wait to see my dress again! The Wedding Shoppe was the second bridal boutique I visited on my quest for my dream dress. I had made an appointment in advance and I brought my mom and bridesmaids along for what I thought would be a fun day. However, the minute we walked in, I felt like I was in the way or that I had just walked in off the street and was interrupting. Basically, Traci would clip me into a dress and then walk out of the dressing room to take a phone call or to talk to another salesperson. No help displaying the train, no discussion about the detailing or how it looked. Not only that, but Traci seemed to have a permanent puss on her face the whole time. I'm not sure how you can be so miserable working at a bridal salon. After a few dresses I made up my mind that regardless of whether I liked a dress, I wouldn't buy it from The Wedding Shoppe. Had they been nicer, more attentive, more excited about my wedding and experience, I would have considered purchasing a dress there. In fact, I really liked a particular dress that cost about 1/2 of my dream dress at another shop. But I would not even consider purchasing the dress at The Wedding Shoppe after the experience I had. Small selection (of all very similar dresses) and very pushy. Tried to convince me to buy a dress even though I couldn't even try it on- they didn't have one dress that was bigger than a size 10. Most places carry at least a few 12 or 14's. They pressured me a lot and rushed me- definitely not the experience you want when trying on wedding dresses.
On another occasion, I wanted to look at the bridesmaid dress swatches (not even try them on) with my maid of honor while she was in town, but they wouldn't let us because I didn't have an appointment, yet the place was completely empty. They missed out on a lot of money. Their loss! Bad experience with my online order, and horrible customer service. My fellow bridesmaid and I ordered on the same day. Two months later my dress came in the mail, and her's took an additional 2 weeks to arrive. The sizing was way off and now we have to buy additional dresses so we match. Due to their strict 10 day return policy, I was unable to return or exchange mine. On top of the sizing issue, the dresses look much cheaper in person, and unfortunately are not worth the wait, or money spent. Bummed! What a cute little boutique! My fellow bridesmaids and I traveled from five states to try and find our dresses. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful. Our salesperson wasn't clear about which dresses were available in the color that was chosen. We didn't get enough help during our appointment and then had to rush as our hour and half was almost up. It was very upsetting for our bride that the salesperson didn't seem to take us seriously. We totally would have bought our dresses here-they were within budget and super cute. Oh, well. I had a wonderful experience with The Wedding Shoppe while searching for bridesmaids dresses for my wedding. I was looking for a designer that could provide a similar color, fabric, and style while providing options for a wide variety of body shapes. The consultant at The Wedding Shoppe was able to help us find dresses for all my bridesmaids that complimented each girl while still looking cohesive and beautiful! All of the dresses were high quality and tasteful. We had a private room which made it even easier! Great experience and I would definitely recommend this shop to others! I had a great experience trying on numerous dresses with the help of Donna and finally found the perfect wedding dress for my Napa wedding.
I originally had my mind set on something else from another Bridal store but the dress I chose was it. We then celebrated with champagne toast. My appointment with Donna was fantastic. I have had many bridal appointments and she made my experience wonderful. She was cognizant of my budget, which I REALLY appreciated! Most salons will show you dresses up to 1k above your budget and she was so great about not going over. She also wasn't pushy like some other consultants i have had at other places. I had a wonderful experience finding my bridesmaids dresses at the Wedding Shoppe! My morning had started out with an experience at the complete opposite of the spectrum, and the Wedding Shoppe was a breath of fresh air. Lindsay assisted me and helped me to find the designer, styles, and color I was specifically looking for. They had a great selection of styles and designers to choose from! Ultimately I ended up selecting 5 different styles by Alfred Sung in one color for my girls to choose from. They all had their alterations done at the shop and they all looked SO lovely on the day of the wedding. Also, really appreciated the variety of price points they had. My girls dresses were all under $200 and were made of beautiful fabric with great construction and details. Thank you Lindsay and the Wedding Shoppe! I have been to many different bridal shops in the area and this was by far the worst experience I had. Traci was my consultant and I told her my price range up front. I told her what type of style I was looking for and she pulled many beautiful dresses for me...all of which were out of my price range (unbeknownst to me at the time). I tried on a dress that I was sure was the one and was ready to purchase it until I was told that the dress was 3.5 times my budgeted price. When I told Traci that was out of my price range, she said "I wish you would have told me." I guess she has short term memory. It's one thing to show me a dress out of my price range, but don't play dumb about it and act like it was my fault.
I would highly recommend either going to Bijou in Ardmore or La Bella Moda in Conshohocken instead. Both of those shops respected my budget and were up front about the prices of the dresses before I even tried them on. The Wedding Shoppe was my first wedding dress shopping stop. I was happy to have my mother and future mother-in-law in town. From the very beginning, we did not feel like the experience was very special. We were put in a terrible spot to try on dresses, as everyone had to walk through my appt to get to other parts of the store. My associate seemed rushed and didn't take very good care of the dresses, stepping all over them. We weren't allowed to take pictures and were snapped at when my mother brought her coffee in. We saw another group take plenty of pictures and bring in a huge coffee to enjoy. As I was looking at dresses, another associate kept stepping in front of me as though I was unimportant.
My advice: Skip The Wedding Shoppe and go to Elizabeth Johns in Ardmore. They know how to treat a client. Patti is great! I got my maid of honor dress as well as jewelry and could not be happier with the options and the service! Will definitely be going back for my next formal event or wedding! Pattie was awesome! Super sweet and super helpful! The ladies all had masks on and were happy to chit chat about all of the options as you try on, great prices and great selections! I came to The Wedding Shoppe after going to 5 different bridal salons in Philadelphia and along the mainline. My initial reason for booking an appointment here was because I have been gawking over Inbal Dror wedding dresses months before I got engaged and found out that The Wedding Shoppe carries her gowns. Let's be honest, those dresses cost an arm and a leg, but I knew I would not be able to find 'the one' without trying on an Inbal Dror and getting it out of my system.
Donna was my consultant for the appointment and she made me feel like an absolute princess. After talking with me about some different styles similar to Inbal Dror we started trying them on and I fell in love with pretty much every single one she chose for me. Long story short, by the time we got to the section of Dror gowns I was in heaven and low and behold I ended up buying the exact dress I tried on. Donna was so patient and let me try the dress on 3 times and I went over my appointment by almost 2 hours.
I am so happy I chose my dress from The Wedding Shoppe and have had several fittings leading up to my wedding in May. Ziba has been my seamstress and has been making the alterations exactly (if not better) than how we discuss during our appointments. Donna has been a part of each fitting as well, making sure everything is perfect for me.
When comparing my experience to other bridal salons, The Wedding Shoppe blows them all out of the water. I never felt rushed along or forced into a decision or felt like I was holding anyone up, which is probably the worst way to shop for a wedding dress as a bride-to-be. I have 2 more fittings before my wedding and I'm going to have to think of excuses to come back here again in the future!!! I had an incredibly bad experience here--I couldn't believe how unprofessional and downright mean the saleswomen were. Within minutes of walking in, my sister overheard one of the saleswomen making a very snobby and unkind comment about how I was dressed (wearing a very nice blouse and jeans--I guess I was expected to show up in a formal gown?)
Unforgivably, they treated my mother with incredible disrespect. They acted like she was some kind of peasant, making endless comments about how pricey THESE dresses are, so maybe we should look at this rack instead? We had an appointment to look at bridesmaid dresses, and while we were perusing someone actually went up to my mother and asked, "Are you shopping, or just dreaming?" What a miserable person. You really would have thought we were on the set of Pretty Woman, not an upscale bridal shop. Just shameful.
I never got the chance to give them a budget, but they immediately assumed we were shopping out of our league. I had been to the store before, I knew very well what to expect. Save yourself a miserable time and skip this shop. My mom and sister drove in from out of state to get some wedding planning done, they ruined what was supposed to be a nice day and made us all feel humiliated and judged.
Note: I confronted our sales associate and another employee before we left about her awful treatment of my mother and their repeated insults. Nothing was done, no apology was offered. This wasn't one bad egg having a bad day, this is the accepted culture of that shop. Stay far away. I went here for my wedding dress not thinking I was going to find anything because I was having terrible luck and I ended up finding my perfect dream dress right away!! The dresses are absolutely beautiful and so different than all the traditional dresses you see. It was such a great experience and Andee was amazing with her help and suggestions. I'm so glad I decided to come here!! My experience at The Wedding Shoppe left a bad taste in my mouth. I went there specifically to look at Judd Waddell dresses, and I'm pretty sure I said this on the phone when I made my appointment. When I told my consultant I was interested in that designer, she gave me a somewhat blank look and said they didn't carry his dresses. Later on in the appointment, I found one on the sale rack. My guess is that they recently stopped carrying them, but hadn't updated their website. If that was the case, an explanation from the consultant would have been nice!
I was looking at dresses on the lower end of what the shop carries, and I was very limited in my options. At one point I asked if there was anything else I could try on, and the consultant just said no. This may have been true, but she definitely could have said it in a nicer way. I tried on one dress that was discounted due to a trunk show, and I felt like the consultant became pretty pushy. She started telling me that I might miss out on the dress if I didn't buy it that week. Again, maybe factually true but not said in a particularly kind or helpful way. This review is about bridesmaid dresses only. I made an appointment to shop with one of my bridesmaids. During the appointment confirmation I was asked what my wedding date was. After driving to Wayne several weeks later for the appointment, when we arrived, the consultant looked at us in shock saying "oh we won't be able to get anything in by November unless you rush it." Don't you think you should have advised me of that when I made the appointment and told you my wedding date? To be fair, the dresses were lovely - but wish I'd known I couldn't order any before I made the trip. She also immediately seemed more interested in knowing if I wanted to buy a wedding dress than in helping my bridesmaid. It was completely DIY - we browsed dresses, put them in a fitting room, tied sashes, and did the entire appointment ourselves with the occasional "still doing okay here?" What? Why did I even need an appointment if you are basically just letting me browse on my own? We went to David's Bridal later in the day, of all places, and were given a far better customer service experience than we had at this place.
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name: Liberties Parcel, address: 800 N 2nd St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 5.0, is_open: opening, categories: Notaries, Local Services, Screen Printing, Shipping Centers, text: Another solid thumbs up on Liberties Parcel. My wife and I were in Philadelphia over the Thanksgiving holiday and ended up with six chairs that needed to be shipped to our home in Los Angeles. Yelp pointed us in the direction of LIberties Parcel, Stu and Dan did the rest.
Their prices were a fraction of other pack and ship places we called, mostly because they worked extra hard to find the cheapest and best form of shipment (did you know that FedEx ground is sometimes cheaper than USPS Parcel Post?). And their charge for packing the chairs was surprisingly low.
Most of all, I felt good working with a local business that genuinely cared about customer satisfaction. This place is the epitome of a great local business. The guys who work there know their stuff and are nothing but helpful every time I go in for my mailing services
With this place, there is almost no reason to go to a US post office. So there I was...a 25 year old dingus selling things on eBay in preparation to move on a whim to Chicago with no knowledge on how to actually ship said things. Liberties Parcel stepped in, educated my ass, and helped me put together and ship some packages for a great cost.
Everyone there was super helpful and John in particular made sure my packages were gonna rock some eBay users' worlds. Can't recommend enough. If you're looking for a local one-stop shop for mailing, shipping, and notarizing that is run by really nice guys who take the time to talk to you and answer your questions, then Liberties Parcel is the place to go! There's nothing better than a local business with nice, helpful, knowledgeable people taking care of you. The staff is super friendly, they offer all the mailing and shipping services you could possibly need and are really great about offering advice on the best and cheapest way to ship things. I will only ever go to a UPS, Post Office, or FedEx store if I absolutely have to now that I've found Liberties Parcel. Incredibly helpful. They have mailboxes, a notary always in the store, all the shipping supplies needed, fax, copier, and everyone there is extremely helpful. I don't know what I'd do without them here. Going to the post office used to be one of the most dreaded things on my list of "to do"s. Philladelphia USPS offices are by far pleasant experiences. Long lines (usually out the door) rude service, and incapable staff. Liberties Parcel offers the exact opposite. Convenient, ultra friendly and accommodating staff with outstanding service - EVERY TIME! I know longer have anxiety attacks when I have to mail a package. These guys are truly great. Highly recommended, even if it means going an extra mile or 2 out of the way. Always great service, and a great price. They offer packing as well as shipping, and it has also proven to be affordable, and high quality. I'd recommend this place for any and all shipping & mailing needs. One of the things I enjoy about Philly is that each neighborhood seems to have its own services, like mailing places, hair places, etc. That's not always true in DC. So, now that I'm a full-time freelance artist and crafter, I really appreciate having Liberties Parcel so close by. They are friendly, quick, and reasonably priced.
Also, they don't outwardly judge me when I bring in 5000 zappos boxes to return from my latest shopping binge. Pretty good service for a small store. Much better than trekking to the UPS store in Old City. The employees there are highly responsive and cost efficient. They aren't there to gouge you. Considering they are one of the few places that handle shipping in that neck of Philly, it is one of the better ones. Awesome place! Great customer service and awesome prices. So lucky to have this in the neighborhood. Super friendly and easy going guys, great service. I never cease to be amazed by the people who work here! I know it sounds silly because it is a Parcel/Shipping Center, but their customer service and can-do attitudes make me wish I shipped things more often! I work in sales and when I am shipping things out it can be upwards of 10 boxes of heavy product, swag, etc. The guys here are always willing to break down the best pricing, size boxes and even share their packing tape :) They take something that can be an annoying, painstaking process and make it a total breeze. I needed passport photos for a renewal and these guys were super helpful, attentive, and quick! In and out in 5 minutes. They know what they're doing and glad to have such a great shop in my neighborhood! If there were a 6 I would give it to this place. The best guys in Northern Liberties work here. They made my shipping so easy! I strongly suggest that if you have shipping needs or just a laugh, stop by because they moonlight as comedians and make the jokes all day long. Love these dudes! Always willing to go the extra mile to send out parcels the cheapest and fastest way possible. I never go anywhere else! I love these guys! I'm in here at least once a week (usually with a dog) and they're totally chill and great to talk to. They know their stuff and they're always more than willing to help out. We just opened a PO Box here and it was one fo the easiest processes ever. If you ever need a PO Box, or need to ship anything, this is definitely the place to go. The Post Office sucks. This is a hugely better alternative. I can't say enough nice things about this place. If I could ever love a mailing store, I would love this one with my whole heart.
The guys that work there are what make it so nice. They're fun, funny, friendly... all the F words. Wait, what? But they do all the can to get you in and out quickly. You can copy papers, and you can also copy your keys! Very convenient.
You can even email them documents that you want printed out and when you drop by it'll be all ready for ya! Neato! Great customer service! Always there to help you with your everyday shipping needs. I'm happy to add another stellar review for these guys. I've been on a MAJOR spring cleaning mission, and I'm selling a ton of stuff on amazon.com. They've made shipping all this stuff a breeze. I just show up with the item and packing slip, and they take care of the packaging and all the rest. Their hours are great, and it's certainly a much friendlier place than the 7th and Thompson post office!!! Every single good thing you read about this place is true. They are nothing but friendly, awesome, and willing go to above and beyond for you.
I used to work in the NoLibs but now that I don't, I still find myself taking the trek across town just to give my business to these guys. I'd give liberties parcel 1,000 stars if I could. I cannot say enough how appreciative I am of the laminate job they were able to do for me today! I came in with a project that I wasn't sure could be completed and they helped me figure out how to do it and paid a great deal of time and careful attention to make the laminates as perfect as possible! I came in time of trouble after never being here before but will now be a loyal customer! Thanks liberties parcel! I wanted to print out a couple of Visa/Passport-sized photos. After looking through my options ($15 for 2 at a drugstore), I hit them up. Unfortunately they did not have glossy photographic paper in stock, but the guy helping me tiled them in a 4" x 6" canvas and suggested I print that out at a drugstore, which came out to be ~50 cents for the whole 4" x 6", which contained 6 copies of the photo. It was very nice of him to help me out even though it won't mean any business to his store, so I am paying him back here in the form of a good review :) The neighborhood post office may be one of the worst places in the world. I have anxiety for hours before I have to go in there. Liberties Parcel has saved me. This place is wonderful. The owners are the best. They are so easy to deal with, incredibly nice, and helpful, not to mention affordable. Go here. Liberties Parcel is an asset to the community. This place is incredible! The employees are so cool and so nice. They want to make the shipping process easy for the customer and thats exactly what they do - always. Post offices are hurting so badly that they barely share packaging tape with customers. It's sad. But Liberties Parcel will share all of its resources with you!! Love them! Now I don't normally write reviews but some businesses are nice enough you can't help it. Being in customer service for years I've seen good and bad. This experience was great . On a hot day I was helped quick ease in a hurry and in a good way. Super helpful great with customer and good service! As a retail business I will definitely look forward to coming back! These guys are the best. Always friendly, helpful and quick. It really doesn't get any better. This shipping center is my go to place to ship everything! They go out of their way to cut down boxes to reduce cost. They have NEVER lost a package and have outstanding service 100% of the time! I will never use anyone else. Friendly service and very helpful!!! Wish they were closer to me but would drive the distance for the good customer service. Very friendly staff, great customer service. Prices are very reasonable as well. They will personally work with you on what ever project you need done. 100 times better than any UPS store. Will use for all my printing needs. I've been getting my packages delivered here for years. I signed up when I lived up the street and all my boxes were getting stolen out of my building. I've since moved a 10 minute drive away and I still get all my packages sent here. So convenient and the guys are great. Mailing something should always be this pleasant. I have never had better costumer service anywhere! Great guys to do business with. Dan and Stu managed to get this up and running, after a long struggle with the various entities that making opening a non-turnkey establishment too daunting for most.
I'm a Luddite and a procrastinator, and yet, when I show up in a last minute panic, they gently guide me through the steps needed, as if I were not some sweaty, panicked, broke and chump change sporadic client.
I have used them to produce amazing prints for story boards, that I am proud to display in my presentations and will look to them for any other needs in the future. They take multi-tasking in stride, can help you work within your (read: MY!) limited budget without making you (me, again) feel bad about taking up their time and probably, profit and all while calm, courteous and handling clearly more important/bigger clients.
I highly recommend these guys and their business. It's great to have them in the neighbourhood and as a resident for over twenty years, I have to say that they are a welcome addition and a fantastic option to the post office on North 7th Street. Six Stars if I could....
I currently live in Northern Liberties and have been renting my company mailbox from these guys for the past few months. Since starting my business in March they have helped me with everything from shipping my products to printing a small run of t-shirts to help me promote my business (they also have a screen printing business). These guys are the best at what they do and I couldn't possibly list all the services they provide. They have been invaluable to my business and I highly recommend them! I like to have things simple and maid easy. When it comes to office solitons I highly recommend this company. They make everything simple and easy and great coustemer Service. And very helpful with any needs. The guys who work here are really friendly and helpful. Always enjoy stopping in and they never mind when I have pre-paid postage that I just need picked up by UPS. Totally worth the small overhead instead of dealing with Philly USPS. Dan and Stu are the best! I love dealing with them vs Philly USPS ~ very kind, friendly and always helpful! It definitely beats having your packages left on your doorstep to be taken by passerby's ~ it's like Christmas everyday going to pickup our mail and this duo always make it a pleasant experience! I came here to get a few documents notarized for a college program. All of the wrong dates were on the document, but Liberties Parcel took care of it in no time! Was out of the door in around ten minutes. The guys at Liberties Parcel take the stress out of shipping. Whenever I have a large quantity of packages to ship, they're helpful, courteous, and efficient, and more, they don't bat an eye at me for showing up with IKEA bags full of boxes. Sometimes, they'll even send me on my way, and call me back later with the total so I don't have to wait around. I'll never go to another USPS, UPS, or shipping place again as long as this place is around. I created a Yelp account just so that I could write a review about these guys. Every time I've gone in here to send a package they've been the most awesome dudes and genuinely kind people... A real refreshing place to do business and you shouldn't go anywhere else. Wonderful establishment. I found this gem a few years ago and go here for any of my postal needs, notary, print/fax/scan. The staff has always been the same and they are the nicest dudes and always smiling. I now live outside of the area yet I still drive across town to come here. Seriously it beats any post office or kinkos/fedex. It's a good feeling to go to a business like this that you can always rely on. I recommend Liberties Parcel to everyone. Cheers!. I cant praise this place enough. These guys are the best.
By far the friendliest parcel place I have even been a customer of. They will go out of their way to make sure you are happy..
Prices are cheap and their hours are great too. This is actually just a KFC, but I think they have to call it Liberties Parcel so the Colonel doesn't sue them up and down the street, you know? Pretty liberal use of the herbs and spices. And honestly, it's the first KFC I've been to that sells stamps.
Get the Lonely Bowl o' Meat, extra gravy ("Charlie-style"), and sit out front yelling at the local talent. I once got a girl's number by saying I was Bill Clinton, but that was not here and I think she was on some sort of intoxicant.
All-in-all, great KFC. Five stars. I wouldn't usually think to review a place like this but the guys here are super friendly. I'm here at least once a week sending packages as part of my job and the workers at this store always seem happy. Every time I go here, everyone is so friendly, helpful, and professional! I never go anywhere else if I can help it. Very sweet dogs as well.
I have sent several parcels and letters through them, they always get everything out quickly and give a good estimate of when things will arrive. I will never wait in line at the post office again! I love this place. I rent a mailbox here and Dan and Stu are the best. I am often over there having them print out things/scanning and faxing. Super convenient. I would recommend their services to anyone. Quick easy passport photos! 8.99 and took about 10 minutes total. I moved to Philadelphia from Illinois in 2012 and, without an office to complete some paperwork for my new job, I was in need of the services that this location provides. I very quickly became a regular, utilizing their printing, faxing, notary, and mail services. My husband also began to use this spot for the same reasons. Over time, Stew and Dan got to know us and were able to put us on a wait-list and eventually give us a PMB to use to receive gifts for our upcoming wedding. Had they not been able to do that for us, receiving packages while at work in our neighborhood would have been a disaster. Now, even our dog loves visiting Liberties Parcel. We couldn't be more grateful for the fast and efficient service, wonderful customer service attitude and friendship, and being an office away from our office if needed. Thanks guys! I'm probably the first to write a review because... who writes reviews for a packaging/shipping company? But in any case, I just really would like to promote these guys after experiencing their fantastic service and well run shop.
I just started working in NoLibs and was looking for a place I could print some word docs of the internet. Not having a printer is so annoying (I should just get one) and I always end up going to the UPS store, getting charged a minimum of $2 just to use the internet, and having to deal with whatever ancient OS system they have on their PC.
I was told to check out Liberties Parcel. I went in, asked if I could use the internet, and found out that not only could I use it, I could use it for free. Amazing. So I go in and as quickly as possible start printing things off, but have to take some extra time to fill out some forms online too. I felt bad for hogging but the guys were totally sweet about it.
The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly (not only towards me but to everyone who walked in). I had a big birthday package to send out a few days later, and I insisted on going back to Liberties Parcel because of their outstanding service. Second time around was awesome too: they packaged everything up for me, DIDN'T charge me for packaging tape! and helped me find the cheapest/best way to ship an 8 pound box from Philly to Hawaii. Coincidentally, what was supposed to take up to two weeks ended up arriving at my friends apartment in less than 6 days.
Anyway, LIberties Parcel is awesome, and everyone in the area should definitely go to them with all your mailing needs and support these guys! Very fast, friendly, and informative business. I saw several customers get taken care of quickly, including myself, and the employees were just pleasant to do business with. Will definitely use them again for my shipping needs! The people here are SO friendly and helpful. I needed a notary and it was so convenient not in the heart of the city, was able to park, and was in and out in 5 minutes. Friendly, professional service every time.
It doesn't matter if it's a smaller job or a bigger one, everything is always taken care of and simplified. The guys always help find the best rates for shipping an item or sending a letter depending on your needs; and whether it's faxing, copying, scanning, shipping or anything in-between with all the services offered, they are always there to help. Thanks for such reliable, convenient service, and for always being so friendly about it too! Great service. Great location. Great guys.
Shipping, notary, packing, copying... Dan and Stew do it all. And you can watch "The Price is Right". I can't say enough good things about this place! These guys are really the best, they make something so mundane into a really great experience. These guys are truly the best. Knowledgeable, helpful, and accommodating. I've been coming here for years for printing, lamination, shipping, and everything in between. Love this place. All the guys are super helpful and friendly. The fastest service in any mail place I've ever been. If you need to return something they help you find and print the shipping label. I've gone in for various diff mailing situations and also to make copies and get papers notarized. There just the best and everyone should go here.! They are so helpful and so nice! They do everything from making keys to printing labels. I'm so glad they are near my business! Great people, great service, thank god I never have to use the USPS! Love this place! Amazing neighborhood spot! Stopped by today to ship a package and they were beyond helpful! Quick, easy, and such amazing customer service. I'm so glad I found this place. These guys are awesome! Did you know you can bring your eBay stuff there instead of the post office? I didn't. You can also get pretty much any kind of box or packing supplies you need for a good price. My new " go-to" to mail out anything prepaid online for USPS, or anything that can be sent FedEx. I learned the hard way, still gotta schlep to UPS for Bloomingdales returns and some others, but 4th and Girard isn't too bad.
They also sell stamps! And bitcoin The number of prior reviews of parcel service / shipping companies stands at zero. So why am I writing one now? Welp, Yelp, allow me to explain.
When a journalist friend recently had all of his gear stolen he was effectively left jobless. While we were able to purchase the equipment he needed, getting it to him in Erbil, Iraq was no simple task. The team at Liberty parcel took time to check on delivery challenges, customs holds, the potential for duties, and more. The team explored a number of alternate options, looked at how they could limited costs, including re-boxing the gear in a much smaller package, contracting the foreign delivery guru at FedEx HQ.
Long story made just a wee bit longer. These guys were memorably good. They could have easily just taken my box as is, sent it, and shrugged, as the likely problems unfolded and they would have been blameless. However, they really went out of their way. They also called along the way and updated me on what they learned.
Suffice to say, if I need to send a package, whether to Trenton or Turkmenistan, I will be using these guys.
Special shout out to Stu, as he was the main guy who was helping me throughout the process. I have had nothing but pleasant experiences at Liberties Parcel and regret all the time I spent trekking to the Post Office when it wasn't necessary. It seems like every time I go in, they're greeting someone by name and helping out regulars, which leads me to believe the quality of service keeps people coming back. They've managed to make an often inconvenient, timely task something I look forward to. Highly recommend! Amazing neighborhood store that takes care of all the little things (and big things) for you to make your life easier. I have been here countless times for printing needs and mail services, and I know others in the neighborhood have been here for a million other things.
The guys that work there are some of the most genuinely nicest people you will meet. Whatever my need is, they always ensure they do it accurately, timely, and as cost-efficient as possible. They take the time to get to know the folks in the neighborhood and they are always in a great mood, no matter what the task! Everyone here is so unbelievably nice and willing to help. I always leave overwhelmed with how pleasant they are!! This place is amazing. I never thought that going to mail a package could be so delightful. Liberties Parcel has great prices and even better people! I felt very safe during COVID and the workers there were so friendly and helpful. I will definitely be going there from now on! My boyfriend went there a separate time and he also said the place is AWESOME! Nicest group of guys working here. I literally look forward to shipping/mailing things. They are always more than willing to go above and beyond to help and always manage to brighten my mood!!! Very professional yet friendly! Give you good advice on certain stuff like passport shipment for visa purposes! quick and helpful service!! This place is great. The guys are all so nice and it makes mailing a package a pleasant errand to run. I'm so glad they're here! These are my guys, this is my place! Personable, friendly and pleasant every time I go there! They not only get the box packed correctly, they'll try to find the least costly and best way to ship. They are simply THE BEST! This place is awesome! I've had nothing, but great experiences working with the team at Liberties Parcel. I will never go directly to USPS or FedEx again. Liberties Parcel is my go-to place to ship and print. The staff is so friendly and helpful literally every time I stop in and there isn't ever really a line. Prices are reasonable as well! Let's face it - Shipping things sucks(if you are someone who does it infrequently). You've got to get a box that is the awkward size of your electronic clarinet or something. You've got to go to CVS and get packing foam. You've got to wait in line at UPS or USPS for two days. After they take the package, you spend the whole time wondering if you put in enough packing foam because you are totally OCD. Visions of broken merchandise(due to your crap packing job) dance in your dreams for weeks.
All of these problems are solved by Liberties Parcel. They are extremely efficient and cheaper than any other pack-n-ship store I've ever been to. I was charged exactly half of what I was expecting when I was sending out a musical instrument with roughly the same proportions as an oboe(but it was not an oboe). I'm a normal person so that means I hate going to the post office. I have become talented at avoiding place so I don't have to feel like a prison inmate who committed the crime of sending my brother a book in the mail. I used to just buy a new book via amazon so I didn't need to talk to my local postal worker.
Now since using this wonderful place I actually love to ship things. I'll even take my wife's Etsy shipments for her. If I can find an excuse to walk and and talk with these guys I will do it. I probably should get a PO Box with them.
Friendly people who take the pain out of the mail service. I just wish they would open a new shop and fix healthcare now that the conquered the mail system. A solid line of 5-star yelp reviews cannot be wrong. Every other parcel/shipping/copy service in Philadelphia is a bug, waiting to be squashed underneath the relentlessly friendly boot of Liberties Parcel. I cannot say enough good things about this place, especially in the face of any and all competitors.
I'll try to simplify it for you - Liberties Parcel is the equivalent of having your childhood buddies own a print shop. They'll take care of you and give you the close-friend discount and they won't have a ton of strange forms to sign. They won't try to nickel and dime you. The work is unbelievably cheap and you can be sure that your package will get there when they say it will. I called up a few of these types of places to get a price quote on scanning a large number of documents to pdf and guess which one was half the price of all of 'em - yep. Liberties Parcel.
I like Liberties Parcel so much that it has basically translated into an absurd amount of hate for Kinko's. My heart, not big enough to store all the love I have for this store, has actually been rerouting the extra love into the hate-storage-area of my soul. I didn't think that was possible but I also didn't think finding a shipping company so easy to work with and so affordable would ever exist.
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name: CeCe Boutique - Suburban Station, address: 16TH St And Jfk, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: closed, categories: Shopping, Fashion, Women's Clothing, text: Alright prices for alright quality items.
I'm not a fan of the style of the products, but I've come down here during my lunch break when I needed a dog carrier (so the Uber drivers wouldn't have a cow when I'd have my lil pup) and one of those grandma-like caddies that everyone's wheeling their groceries in nowadays. Today, I noticed too late that I had worn sneakers but forgot to take "work shoes" into work. By Too Late I mean, I was already on the train a couple stops away.
Anyway, when I got into suburban station, I notice that the CeCe Boutique is already open at 730 am! WOOOOO.
CeCe Boutique is a shop of inexpensive (also kind of cheap) purses, shoes, sunglasses, big hooped earrings, etc. My kind of store. It's not a fancy place, but if you want a winter hat, fucci sunglasses or a frada bag, you're in luck.
I go in and tell the girls OH THANK GOD YOU'RE OPEN I FORGOT MY SHOES. I was in and out in 4 minutes with a pair of black ballet flats for 10 bucks. They feel like 10 dollar shoes (not very comfortable) but they are good for this kind of situation and they will live in my drawer at work. Emergency averted.
CeCe also has a stand alone store on 20th Street (and Chestnut/Market maybe i'm not sure where) I've never been in but looking through the window it's got similar stuff. I purchased a leather purse from Cece's in Suburban Concourse Station in Philadelphia. The purse was purchased as a Christmas gift and has been in occasional use since then. Unfortunately the purse is defection and the handle is not attached properly. Your web site indicates merchandise can be returned if defective. I called the shop where it was purchased, but they say they will not honor a problem after 30 days. A purse should certainly last more than a couple months, so I am appealing to you to take corrective action. My preference would be to exchange the purse for an identical item. This is my 7 year olds FAVORITE store for cheap makeup (lipsticks), accessories, floral hair bows, ribbons, sunglasses and funky boots.
We love to browse here - and occaisionally buy, too.
Very kind staff. I recently shopped at this boutique and was pleasantly surprised at the quality and price of the products compared to before. I got myself some rayon skirts and a really nice purse. They are also selling church hats which are not easy to find. CeCe Boutique is a convenient retail shop located in Suburban Station. They sell relatively inexpensive accessories, like work totes, handbags, scarves, gloves, and more. The items are priced a bit higher than they are worth (but that's to be expected from any retailer in a prime location, such as theirs).
It's a cool atmosphere with R&B background music playing at a moderate level, and any time I have visited the service has been friendly & helpful. I would probably go more often (as it's the first store I see after deboarding the Regional Rail, and I usually have time to spare), but I'm trying not to become an accessory hoarder. However today I did find a high-quality pair of leather gloves trimmed with fur, they were the last pair too! ($17.99, see pic) Cece Boutique is Ok. I never came in and made big purchases such as shoes or pocketbooks. However it is a quick place to pick up some earrings or makeup. Beautiful scarves (pashmina style, probably rayon) in colors I never see. Going back to get some as presents. Dashiki skirts, friendly people. CeCe's has cute accessories but they are really cheap. I bought myself a purse as a mothers day gift, less than a week later it broke. The pin holding the strap fell out and the strap came off. When I went to exchange it (the next day) they said because it was a sale item it was a final sale - which they never informed me. And also because I had lost my receipt they were not able to help me. The manager said come maybe at least if you had your bank statement. When I came back with my bank statement she still refused to exchange it because she had screwed the pin back in place and felt the bag was usable. I was really disappointed. I won't ever shop there again. They sell cute overpriced junk. Don't do it. I highly recommend CeCe if you are looking for bohemian-style/Indian-made skirts. Through the warm weather months they usually have a rack of rayon skirts with the drawstrings & a rack of wraparound skirts. I went in CeCe today & was delighted to see the skirts on display. I bought 2 rayon skirts for $25. (One skirt is $15). I will be back for a wraparound skirt.
I have also bought scarves for my aunt from CeCe for Christmas.
The associates are always helpful!
So if you are a hippie girl looking for skirts to wear during the summer months, come here.
Definitely reasonable.
P.S. The CeCe located on 20th St. between Market & Chestnut closed. Best accessories store ever, and service is always tops. I have shopped at Cece for many years. The store is always clean and the staff is very friendly. Their merchandise is unique and stylish. They also sell those shopping carts that you cannot find easily. I am missing shopping at this store. Hoping it opens soon.
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name: Lee's Hoagie House, address: 202 Market Pl, city: Montgomeryville, stars_x: 2.0, is_open: closed, categories: Food, Meat Shops, Restaurants, Specialty Food, American (New), text: Let me start off by saying that I love every other Lee's Hoagie House I've been to. This one is the exception.
In an area that is fond of "discussions" as to where to get the best cheese steak, Lee's has long been my favorite. The meat is tasty and juicy, the roll fresh, and the toppings perfect. This location did not live up to these expectations. The meat was over cooked and tasted strange and the toppings were just OK. At least the roll was good.
We ordered pizza fries. The cook was new and did not know to put sauce on the fries. The other cook apologized and brought them to us with the sauce on the side. This was actually a better way of getting them as the fries did not get soggy. At least one thing worked out well.
All in all, though, it was not a good experience and we will not be going back to this location.
If you are looking for a good Lee's experience, try one of the other locations. Overcooked burgers. Out of chicken. ALL chicken. Out of cups. Out of burger buns. Out of corned beef. Ummm. What DO you have? Oh yeah. You have plenty of grumpy workers. Plenty. Once an award winning restaurant, now a sad joke that isn't even funny. Sad the amount of money you pay for three pieces of meat a ton of lettuce and a huge roll at Lee's in montgomeryville never going there again and I got pic of a hoagie.. Lees hoagies, delicious cheesesteaks of all varieties, delicious hoagies, delicious service, go there.
Only negative is their fries are the krinkle cut frozen variety, underwhelming. Went in on a Tuesday lunch. Not crowded. Great service. Great food. Very clean, with very friendly staff. Very good hoagies. Very popular place so expect to wait in some sort of a line. Also the wings are some of the best in the area and cheap. A favorite of ours around Super Bowl Sunday hoagies are good but bread could be of better quality. The place doesn;t look as clean as I hoped, I don't entirely trust that everything is cleand appropriately every night. Employees seems sweaty and wearing shirts several days old, but I have to admit as far as hoagies it's one of the better places within miles. I couldn't believe how packed this place was when I went in. I waited for about 30 minutes for 2 turkey hoagies and fries. The menu is decent, but the hoagies are just about average. The place is a little dirty inside but I didn't mind since I wasn't eating in. Likely wouldn't go back unless I had a coupon or something. By far the worst Lee's I've ever been to! The rude people working there I could deal with but the quality of the food was really, really bad. I ordered a ton of food to feed my family and friends who helped us move into our new house and every one of the 15 people said how gross it was. We were shocked because every Lee's I've ever been to gas been great. Not this one.
The bread was stale and tasteless. The meat was not fresh and the veggies were mushy. They totally messed up my order too and it really wasn't complicated stuff. The woman behind the counter got pissy when I asked for the pickles and hot peppers that I ordered and she forgot.
It was just really bad and I'll never go back even though I live down the street. This place as definitely gone down-hill over the past few years. My husband and I used to order from this location a couple times a month for salad, sandwiches etc.
This weekend was the last straw. We ordered food for the Superbowl for guests coming over for the game. I called at 5pm, and immediately upon the phone being answered, was told no orders would be ready until 6:30pm. This was fine, since that is exactly when I wanted to pick it up. Before placing my order, the owner/manager ran through a list of items they were out of. We ordered 30 wings, 2 cheesesteaks and cheese fries.
Upon arrival for pick up at 6:20pm, we were greeted by blank stares by the staff. Apparently they had no more pick up orders, and asked if we were there to place an order. I instructed them that we had called an order in shortly before 5pm, and we were told we called the wrong store. I showed them my phone, stating the correct number at 4:58pm. The manager then appeared in the store, and looked in the computer, and found the order in "draft" mode; my order was taken, just never sent to the kitchen to be made. We waited 15/20 minutes for the food to be prepared (note: we received only 1 cheesesteak, not the 2 originally ordered). During which time, the owner/manager left the store. The staff of 3 started to complain about the manager directly to my husband and I about how awful he was. I asked where he went, and they said either his "mistresses house or if he emptied the register, to the strip club."
Needless to say, this is our absolute last attempt at this restaurant. Oh Lee's, much like the previous reviewers I am completely disappointed. NO Chips, NO drinks, NO onions, NO sweet peppers. That's NO way to run a sandwich shop.
Used to come here all the time when I lived closer and it seems like there's new ownership. No apologies for being out of items or no longer carrying them, short, sweet conversations, rude vibes.
Got home with my tuna hoagie, only to second guess my choice, tuna? The sandwich tasted ok, but the tuna was real dark and I didn't even finish half of it cause I got a bit spooked.
I am willing to venture that their days are numbered unless something changes, quick.
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name: Buckingham Valley Vineyards & Winery, address: 1521 Durham Rd, city: Buckingham, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Food, Arts & Entertainment, Wineries, text: LOVE the wine.. LOVE the prices.. LOVE the help, knowledge and assistance here.
They are very welcoming, and FAMILY owned. This winery is located in the heart of Bucks county.. 1 mile from another winery.. and close to New Hope and yet another winery.. so make a day of it.
They let you taste ANY wine you want.. and do not pressure you. I love the reds here, but really you cant go wrong.
I know they let groups in.. and have space outside if you want to make a picnic out of your day.
Worth the trip! Loveee this winery! $5 tasting for 8 samples. The wine/ champagne is great, reasonable priced and they have lots of options. Staff is super friendly as well. Stop by in the summer for some amazing wine slushies.
They also do customizable labels which we did for my brothers engagement and it turned out beautiful! Nice winery and good prices, only $5 per person for 8 tastings. Enjoyed the "self serve" tasting where you fill what you want at different stations divided by red/white/flavor. Each bottle is well priced also between $9-12/ea one of the few wineries in the area that do not charge for tastings, and they are pour your own. they have a no frills self guided wine tour, but its good because no one is ever in your face with anything. the wines are priced very reasonably and they have some other items in there for a picnic outside in their garden area. all and all this a great place.
wine review: above average local wines, more focused on the sweeter varieties. top favorites are diego red and concordia. I have been here twice and I enjoyed it both times. Keep in mind that it is a DIY winery. You get to pour your own wine out of 3 banks of wines: Reds, Whites, and Fruits. They suggest no more than 6 but no one is watching, so if you need to taste one a second time before you buy it, you can! And I have! Their Diego Red is delicious and tastes like juice. Their wine is VERY cheap and they have a gift shop with many cute and interesting items. They also have picnic tables outside, so bring a picnic (and a corkscrew!). Fun alone, with a significant other, or with friends. Definitely worth a stop. Their tasting is a self-pour format and the wines are very good. Staff is very helpful and gave us great restaurant recommendations. Will be back! This place is great. We came in and we're greeted warmly and had a good time. Some very good wines to enjoy, and left with a case. I would recommend this place to anyone. Although small, they offer a great selection of affordable wines! The tour itself was short and sweet with just the right amount of information to keep our group intrigued. Wish I had stocked up on their Niagra wine! Our favorite winery when we visit the PA area each year- laid back atmosphere with appx 15 types of wines. You get to taste 8 for only $5 and keep a souvenir glass and most bottles are only $9.50-$12 per bottle ranging from merlot/ cabs to whites to fruit wines like raspberry and blackberry. They also have a gift area and you can enjoy a picnic in their vineyard field too- wonderful place!! This is a cute winery with helpful and accommodating employees. My wife especially enjoyed the two dogs who seem to act as unofficial greeters. The tastings are self-service, so you can taste a variety of their reds, whites and sweeter wines. I thought the Cabernet Sauvignon was pretty good, but I found the whites a little sweet or citrusy for my taste. I surprisingly enjoyed their apple wine, which would usually not be my thing. This is a nice place for a visit and to pick up some reasonably priced wine. They have a good selection of whites & reds all reasonably priced. I go to this vineyard a few times a year, in fact, whenever I'm within a 10 mile radius!
I enjoy the relaxed self service atmosphere of the place. Even outdoor seating is available for you to enjoy a bottle of wine at your leisure. It's not your typical stuffy, crowded and wait in line for a sip winery. I find it inviting instead of intimidating.
For me, the sweeter fruit wines are my favorite and they usually have a few variations to sample. Try the blackberry if you can find it, it is seasonal so not always available. We frequently go here for the wine, the nice people and the lovely, relaxing grounds. The wine is good and affordable. True, the weekends can get crazy but go on off times and you'll get personal attention from Courtney and Holly. Sometimes the owners are also available to answer questions.
We love to get a bottle of wine or one of their slushies and picnic outside. On weekends there is usually someone playing music which makes the experience even nicer. My favorite PA winery. I've visited several times. Best wines and best prices in the area. Friendly and helpful staff, too. Love the Pinot Gris. The wines are pretty good, the Robert Rothschild sauces and preserves are cheaper than at Rosebank ($7 compared to $8.99); the $5 weekend tasting fee is nominal, the grounds are really pretty, and we stumbled upon live music. It should be a stop on any afternoon tasting tour. There were about 8 other people in there along with my party of 3. It didn't feel crowded, and I liked the video showing the process. I felt like the workers could have engaged us more - it was a warm welcome, followed by paying, then they receded back leaving us with "let us know if you have any questions". It's good enough - but I really think it adds to the experience when the staff can tell you about the winery and offer recommendations without having to ask. This is a fun stop, where they have outdoor tables and a picnic-like setting. The wine is good, live music on Sundays... and brace yourself.. delicious wine slushies!! Definitely worth checking out. Came here as part of a Tastings and Tours bus tour. Got an educational tour by a staff member (Eric) who knew a lot and answered questions well. The pour your own wine tasting is nice so you can pick what you want. A lot of their wines were sweet, which I usually like, but they were really sweet. I loved their Riesling though and Pinot Gris. I would definitely recommend visiting this winery if in the area. It would be nice to come with a picnic and sit outside on their lawn, which is allowed. Contradictory to the first review, I found the staff to be pleasant and helpful without being pushy or salesmen. My wife and I went for a tasting and left with three bottles. I felt that they could have talked up their wine a little more rather than letting it speak entirely for itself and the self service pouring was a little odd. They did not have any urns for discarding the wine you did not finish, which was not good when I picked a ultra dry red and poured too much. Overall a nice place and decent wine. I have been here a few times, mostly to grab some of the delicious Riesling that I can't get at home. The little woman and I have picnicked here before among the questionable "artwork", and we enjoyed ourselves. This is a no frills place, and we like it that way. This local place has great wines but it's a shame the staff ruined the experience. The tastings are no longer free, you have to pay $5 for a tiny glass (which I don't need another cup in my cabinet). The woman that ended up helping us was so rude and annoyed to even have us there. I'm so sad because I really do love their wines. A nice variety of wines. The staff was unimpressive in this free for all of tasting. The wines were decent with a pleasurable variety. The prices of their wines didn't reflect there tastes. Decent and budget friendly. I came as part of a wine touring party, and this was my favorite of the local vineyards. I was surprised to see they make their own sparkling wine. It's quite an involved process for a small winery. The variety we tasted reportedly took about 4 years to produce. I recommend getting a tour if you want to learn more about the process. But if you prefer drinking wine to talking about it, then this tasting room is for you! You get to pour your own (the bottle tips measure out about 1 oz), and the majority of their wines are available to taste at your leisure. I think my favorites were the cab, the brut, and the pinot gris. The prices are very reasonable (I think I got 5 bottles for around $50), and there's no pressure to buy anything. If I'm ever in the New Hope area again, I would definitely go back and stock up. I set up a wine tour for my wife and to celebrate our 19th anniversary.
The tour was amazing and the team from Buckingham Valley were extremely gracious and inviting.
The wines were unique and the blends tasty. My favorites are the Cherry and Blackberry wine.
Take a tour sometime, you will none disappointed. I honestly had the worst experience here. My friends have all been here and were raving about how great it is. We all decided to check it out and realized we were going to get there right before it closed. We arrived 15 minutes before closing and said we had 5 in our group to taste. We got the BIGGEST attitude from the workers (one being the owner). We said we would be really quick as most of us have been there.
They allowed us to taste and I went to grab a bottle and the owner took it before I could grab it and put it away. He looked at me and said "did you want that?" It made me so uncomfortable I decided to stop there.
I had six bottles picked out to purchase and my boyfriend wanted to cancel the order because of all of the attitude we received but we figured our purchase wouldn't make a difference.
I checked out and said to the guy (suspected owner) "sorry we came late but we're obviously paying customers." He went on about how he has to work all these hours and we apologized for buying things. Who does that? Shouldn't you appreciate any business?
The wine and prices were great but the attitude was not. I would not go back here because of him. Great wines, and a nice glass and 8 tastings for $5 each. You get $5 back if you buy 6 bottle which we did. The whites were all good with the Vidal Blanc being my favorite. They also had a nice dry, minerally Pinot Gris. Their Rose was also fruity but dry and very good. The only bad thing is the tasting is self service so you learn nothing about the wines at all.
Best thing is the prices. Wines start at $9.50 and we got 6 bottles for $57 with tax. If you are going to visit a winery in new hope I would strongly recommend Buckingham Valley Winery. Their $5 slushes are awesome and you get 8 tastings for $5. Beautiful property and the staff is friendly. Would definitely recommend this winery. We got engaged here on June 27th. The owner, Jerry, helped create a memorable surprise engagement and let us take photos on the beautiful property. Because of the special day, we didn't even try all of the wines! The Cabernet that we tried and bought was incredible to enjoy with our romantic dinner later that night. The whole property is unique, and the staff was very helpful. The experience will always be special, and we'll be returning to Buckingham often. You may have noticed a few 1 star reviews of this winery. If you read into them, both say that the wine itself was good, but the experience was not. I believe that most experienced Yelpers would not post a 1 star review based on their perception of service alone, unless it is based on more than 1 visit, which these were not. I guess what I'm trying to say is to please disregard these, or take with a grain of salt. For experienced winery visitors, weekend visits(especially during wine trail weekends) are not the best time to evaluate a winery. Not only are these the busiest times, but they also attract slightly tipsy customers who have already done tastings at several other locations, and are prone to being hard to please. Especially when they are visibly intoxicated, and the winery is liable for any mishaps that might occur post visit(nuff said) I'm very pleased I disregarded those reviews, and went today. To begin with, if you go any weekday the tasting is free. This may be the last winery I know of to still do this. Their tasting set up is self serve, and I really like this system, no waiting around for a busy employee, and it is easy to see what is available. I found several whites that I really enjoyed, a very dry but fruity rose, and a few good dessert wines. These wines ranged in price from about $9-$12 , and if you get a case, the discount is $1 per bottle. The price to quality ratio is superb. As far as customer service goes, excellent. Courtney was so happy to answer any q's, she even asked about us, where we like to go, what brought us here, etc. She was very knowledgeable on the varieties, history and practices of the winery. We enjoyed chatting with her for quite some time. Even though I am 30+ miles away, I know I will be coming here regularly. A solid 4.5 yelps! Came here with Tastings and Tour and we loved it. Watched a short video of how they pick and make their wines. Very interesting, staff was nice and knowledgeable and you got to pour your own wines in the tasting room. Everything was very good and prices are very reasonable! Place is beautiful and have picnic tables outside. Nice, relaxing and not bad.....then again, I'm a beer drinker so can't tell if the wine was pro or amateur but the Pino and Rieslings were good! Worth a visit or three for sure! Affordable and great tasting wines. I love that they allow you to pour and taste your own wine. It takes the pressure off. I really enjoy their cherry wine. The Diego red is a good safe wine for all occassions. One of my favorite wineries to go to. This vineyard is a great find in the heart of Bucks county! Staff is extremely friendly and provide you good advice if new to wine pairing. On this property there are picnic tables outside where you can sit outside and have wine or wine slushi in the summer months. Pack some food and make a day out of your visit. Came here for a wine tasting with some friends and had a great time! I love their Niagara wine. Definitely will be back I do enjoy their very reasonably priced wines, esp. Diego red and Concordia. Reisling and Rasberry are also good. The are unpretentious and a breath of fresh air in the mostly over-priced Bucks County winery business and they have a great case discount. Lovely local winery- we went today and we tried a whole bunch of wines. The girl working there had a lot of knowledge, and they were very friendly. We ended up getting a Strawberry and Blackberry wine. Good times. Sweet wine lovers paradise:) I love a sweet wine and so the Blackberry, Niagara and Concordia are a top choice for me. Each are just as good as other but totally different taste. Its great to have a local winery with great choices. I recently tried Nanas Apple Pie wine and its good, sweet as well but top overall is Concordia. Keep up making great wines:) I'm going to have to disagree with the previous review. This is a fine winery with a do it yourself pouring. They don't talk about the wine, what it pairs with, the making process, etc like most vineyards, but I wouldn't call the staff unpleasent. I've never been with a large group of people, so maybe thats why.
That being said, they have good prices and a large variety of both red and white wines. I'm a red merlot girl and there's is very good. Its a self guided tour, so feel free to walk around the property yourself. I come here a few times per year. Amazing location, amazing wine (at amazing prices), and a great staff. A wonderful selection of both reds and whites at a price point you probably won't believe.
There are picnic tables if you purchase bottles and cheeses, and the vineyards are gorgeous.
You should absolutely stop by if you're in the area! Stopped in while visiting a friend in the area. What great wines, great atmosphere, and a great family that owns and operates the vineyard! And you have to have a wine slushie!! Love, love, love this winery! The grounds themselves are gorgeous and the tasting room is large and rustic. For $5 you can taste 8 wines and perhaps the neatest part is that you can pour them yourself! They have automatic pourers, which my friends and I adored because it meant we weren't sitting around waiting for someone to serve us. What's better than serve yourself wine?!
The staff is very friendly and one of the guys offered to give us a tour of the fermentation room which is housed next to the tasting room. They have picnic tables outside so you can bring a lunch, buy a bottle and have a lovely time enjoying the scenic view.
Wine is very affordable and high-quality. I walked away with 3 bottles and drank them within a week (oops!) Will definitely recommend to others. We just had a wonderful time at Buckingham Valley Winery! The staff was so knowledgeable and kind. The building and grounds were so well maintained. We did a tasting, which is self poured but staff is available to answer questions. Some snacks are provided and you can buy some there. Super cute merchandise available. Try the wine slushies! Beautiful picnic grounds to bring a lunch and buy a glass or bottle! Awesome prices and selection. We will be back! Small nice winery with reasonable prices. Rustic feeling tasting room with friendly staffs. Tasting is free, serve yourself tasting with casual atmosphere. People seems to enjoy very much, but it wasn't my kind of thing. It was so crowded, wasn't able to go over about the wine depend on my taste. Various wines are lined up on the tasting bar, just go and pour whatever you want to taste. Very simple but too fast. I'm not expert on wine but I enjoy classic way of tasting. I can learn about the wine and can enjoy better that way. Wines were decent but wasn't impressive.
Staffs are very friendly, nice picnic area near the vineyards. Gorgeous grounds with a well-kept garden and regal looking black dog to greet you as you enter.
The service here is classy and thorough without being overbearing. I paid for the tasting, which allowed me to sample eight wines. I purchased a bottle of Vital Blanc, which is a French-American hybrid with a crisp, clean, unique taste. I should have purchased a few bottle of that one. I shall return again.
Oh, and their parking lot is ample, has spaces for cars AND motorcycle/scooter-specific parking spots. Thumbs up. I wouldn't put too much value on the first review complaining about the people who run this winery. A winery is not a sports bar. If you show up there drunk (as the reviewer implied - "we would be drinking prior to arriving") and being very loud and likely obnoxious (since they asked you to be quiet, which would not have been for no reason), you can expect them to be less than cordial to you. A little common sense can go a long way.
Anyway, they do have a nice selection of wine at good prices. They grow all their own grape there on site, and they are more than happy to show you around and explain the process to you. I'm not a wine expert, so I can't really comment on the quality of their wine beyond the fact that they had a good variety of both sweet and dry and that I liked some of them. I spent an extra dollar to taste the champagne and enjoyed that as well -- so much so that I ended up buying a bottle of that to take home.
The tasting room and surrounding grounds are quaint and pleasant, but the bathroom is outside and a little on the rustic side. They have a cute little shop with wine accessories and some interesting modern sculptures on the grounds outside as well. I visited Buckingham Valley Vineyards as a part of a little Bucks County Wine Trail self-guided jaunt one day with my husband and out of all of the places we visited, Buckingham fell in the middle of the pack -- good, but not the best or worst.
The staff was pleasant and able to answer our questions but didn't wow us with personality or conversation. You served yourself the wine (they have little pouring devices on each bottle that limit the amount you can take in a pour) and they have a limit as to how many samples you can try for free. That system was fair but a little hands-off for my taste. I would prefer to have someone walk me through a tasting.
Overall, a nice place visit, but make sure to check out other wineries in the area as well. This is on a more major road, but it's not the end-all, be-all of Bucks County wineries. Stopped here this past Saturday. It's $5 for 8 tastings and includes a souvenir glass. It's the first winery I've been to where you serve yourself. Since it's a small space, this made it possible for more people to do tastings at the same time. They have a good variety of red, white and sweet wines. I tried mostly red wines and ended up taking home bottles of the Chambourcin and Rose. They also serve wine slushies. We took advantage of the warm weather and sat outside with our wine slushies.
The parking lot isn't huge so you might have to wait for a spot on a busy day. I was so very disappointed in this winery. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained, but it is a shame that the wines produced here are below average.
First off, there is almost no service to speak of. I was there on a Saturday in the summer and was surprised by the crowd, the tasting room was packed full. The women working seemed nice enough, but were harried and just barely able to sell me my tasting glass. You then have to pour your own wines. Listen, I'm basically a wino, but when I go to a winery I would like some sort of guidance. Tell me a story about the wine, or what it pairs well with, or something? That's part of the winery experience and it's missing here. Additionally many people are gluttons when it comes to 'samples' and were clearly pouring more than the allotted amount for a tasting. It was very chaotic trying to find an available wine to pour myself.
I truly did not care for most of the wines. All were very average, but the cherry wine specifically was the worst offender, having an extremely bitter aftertaste. Of course I did not want to drink the rest, so I had to wait a while until a host could dump it for me. They don't have any spittoons or sinks around, so if you don't want to drink the wine, or don't like it, good luck getting rid of it. In terms of the wines you should check out here, the Niagara and Rose were decent enough. Not something I loved or would buy over and over again, but drinkable at least.
This place could be great. The gorgeous views alone are not enough to get me to come back. I think I'll just drive on by next time I pass this place. This is a cute vineyard with a variety of wines. I love how many different wines there are to choose from, including the wine slushie. It's a lovely spot to try wine and then have a class outside in the summer. The blackberry is my favorite of the sweet wines. Wines are delicious and the live music is a nice touch however after purchasing a bottle they hand you these plastic cups similar to the ones you pee in at a doctors office which totally takes away the ambiance. Staff inside is rude to top it off.. they must have forgot about customer service. Despite being a cloudy and rainy day, still enjoyed our visit here. Staff was very friendly and welcoming. Wines were as to be expected for this region and prices were very reasonable. I liked the self-service style tasting. Purchased a bottle to enjoy outdoors under a tree, but didn't stay long due to the "Monster Mash" playing on repeat. Perhaps this is something more enjoyed by those who love Halloween. Would return to enjoy a wine slush in the hotter months. I really enjoyed the laid back wine tasting experience. $5 for 8 samples. The employees were helpful and gave us a brief description of the selection. You can stand inside or sit at a picnic table outside. You can even venture down to the wine cellar downstairs. I purchased a bottle of the Diego Red (semi-sweet red) and a t-shirt. Both at very reasonable prices. My absolute favorite part was the wine slushees. Delicious and refreshing on the 90 degree day that i went. I will definitely be back. Their wines are great and definitely affordable. I felt uncomfortable pouring my own wine samples as some guests were being watched/told how to pour properly so as to not pour more than given. I like their outdoor tables, the scenery is great, and you can bring your own food. Lots of great dry reds. We will be back. We had a terrible experience at Buckingham Valley.
The service was terrible. My wife had to ask multiple times to have a wine poured that was included as part of our tasting, and was not one of the self-pouring wines. She was ignored once, She was ignored twice. Finally, the third time, she was given some wine--but even then, the man who poured the wine made clear that he was very annoyed.
The wine was terrible. We did not sample the full allotment of wines that was supposed to be included with our tasting, because the first four were of such poor quality (and made our stomachs hurt) that we decided to call it a day.
We love wine. And supporting small vineyards. But we will NOT be back. On a Saturday afternoon, stopped in at this winery. Live music playing outside and people sitting -- enjoying their wine.
We came in as a group of five and the staff placed our $5 miniature wine glasses (which you can keep) on the counter quickly to show us how to pour the wines. He explained that the wines ranged from dry to sweet. Pretty much after that, you're on your own and can taste multiple different wines yourself. Also, they have a sheet to rate the wines.
One of the pros to coming here is that you can try a lot of their wines. Personally, I did not like most of the wines. Some of the testers I felt did not necessarily have refined taste. What literally put a bad taste in my mouth is that a male staff was pretty rude to one of us. One of the wine bottles that was poured -- came out into the glass that was "more than a taste". The staff took the glass out of hand, proceeded to toss it out (wine and miniature glass), and handed the right amount of wine. Are you serious? What a waste. Not okay.
Would not have the desire to visit this winery in the future. This is my favorite stop on the Bucks County wine trail. When spending the afternoon hopping around different vineyards, we always plan to stay here for at least an hour, if not more.
The wines are awesome. They have a great mix of red, white, and fruit wines, each with a very unique flavor profile. I'm a huge fan of the fruit wines that come out of this area, and each one here is definitely worth tasting. As the fruit growing and harvesting season has a significant effect on the taste of the wines, it is fun to see which ones have changed in flavor from the year before.
For $5, you get a glass, and you get to pour your own tastes. You can choose 8, and it's on the honor system. We like the self-serve option since we've been here before and like to taste at our own pace, but if you are new, and have questions...you'll have to find someone and ask.
They have goldfish and a nice sharp cheddar on the counter, both of which accompany the wine pretty well (yay snacks!) and can help as you move from red to white to fruit wine.
Their tasting room is pretty big, is fun to hang around in, AND they have an excellent outdoor area with plenty of seats, green grass, and a relaxing water feature. After our tasting we always get a glass (or in today's case, a red wine slushy) and sit outside (and/or lay on the grass).
The best part? The bottle prices. Nothing is over $12.50 (except the port at $16), and most bottles are less than $10. You can stock up on a case and you won't pay much more than $100, if you even hit that at all.
Favorites? Diego Red, Vidal Blanc, Concordia, and any of the fruit ones. Do a tasting, get a glass, and enjoy the outdoor area! Best winery around, hands down. Went here for a bachelorette party as part of a tour several months ago and have been back several times to stock up my own wine fridge. The prices are unbeatable and the wine so yummy. The white sangria and Niagara are by far my favorites! The scenery is great and their are picnic tables outside to eat lunch at and enjoy a bottle. Decent wines. First generation wineries. Good people... Reds are the best. Drier than most of the wines at other local wineries. Least expensive of all the wineries and you get a cool little glass with your tasting. Been wanting to check out this winery for a while. Worth the trip. Awesome atmosphere. Customer service was great and the wines are amazing. Try the sparkling and the port! First of all, I've been here about a dozen times. Having said that, I have NO idea what the first review is all about.
Good wine here, not great. Basically very good table wine. Much better than Yeallowtail type wines but I would never open it in front of good friends and say "have some of THIS wine!". Its good for everyday use or for dinner. Good prices also. I've bought many a case from here.
Bottom line; Average wine at good prices. Good enough for the in laws but not the good friends. This place has really nice landscaping out front and very quaint. I like the DIY tasting at your own leisure. The wine is good, but not great, although I buy several bottles when I go. The wine slushies are awesome and go nicely with the live music on Sundays. Overall a great experience. This winery is run by some of the most unpleasent people. We had talked to the management when planning a large wine tour and were excited to arrive. We had told them that they would be the last stop on the wine tour so I assume that they knew we would be drinking prior to arriving.
Regardless, when we arrived we were immediately told "you owe us money" and to "be very quite in the winery." The man who greeted us also decided not to give us our tour because he did not have the full attention of the group. Things went down hill from there. Without any direction, members of our group were scattered, with some in the tasting room and others in the cellar taking a tour. When I began to taste the wine I was asked when we were leaving and given a story that went like this: another tour is behind you and is waiting in the parking lot for you to leave (this was a complete lie - no one was in the parking lot) and that the police were called and were coming to subdue us shortly. Then the man said that one person would also be arrested when the police arrived and pointed to my father who was engaged in a normal conversation with the owner. When I went over to my father and the owner to explain that we were leaving because they were sending the cops out for him the owner just kept saying "that's not true, the cops were not called" and stared at the guy behind the counter. I later found out from my father that he had taken 2 tastings of one of the wines which had made the man behind the counter (who was a cop and the owner's son) very angry.
This is one place I will never return to simply because of the rudeness we encountered from start to finish. And beware... taking 2 oz of any one wine at this place will have you sent to the slammer! We really enjoyed our visit here, it was a weekday so it wasn't crowded, and the wine tasting was free. Even though the vineyard itself was closed to visitors that day we still had a nice time roaming the large front lawn. The woman at the counter was very helpful, and the wine is extremely reasonably priced. I recommend the Chambourcin if it's available! I was super surprised by this winery!
My bf had mentioned it on several occasions when we passed by, but time just hadn't allowed for us to stop. But this past weekend on a particularly mild December Saturday we got the chance to stop for a quick hour as part of date day and Christmas shopping to have a few sips. (More like, just me having a few sips as the bf doesn't drink wine)
The grounds are beautiful, and from what I can tell well maintained. The grass was plush even in this December weather (it has been mild) - parking lot easy to navigate, and the signage / walkway was nice and lead you right to the tasting room. There are a few tables outside to enjoy a glass or two and look over some of the grounds.
The small glass you get for the tasting is adorable and a very nice keepsake. It's sturdy, not too thin, not too thick and felt good in the hand given the small stature. I think if you wanted to host your own wine tasting for friends, these little glasses would be perfect. (Yay an excuse to return!)
On our visit, because of the unusually nice weather, the place was jam packed. The employees though, were all cool calm and collected. Answering questions when they could, boxing up wine orders, and scanning the crowed for newly entered customers that were interested in a tasting.
Red samples to the left, 1 oz pours perfectly measured out by the stoppers, on to the whites, then the dessert wines, and finally sparkling by request. I sampled about 5 (8 are included in your nominal 5 buck charge for the tasting), as well as a sparkling and was instantly hooked on the brut. A bottle of that to go for me and such an awesome price! All of the wines are priced very attractively!
Courtney was so pleasant, smiles all the time - very nice personality and well versed on the winery, history of the place, and the wines themselves. Even though it was jam packed with people, she really took the time to make each person feel welcome, as if they were the only customers there.
Just a word to the wise, if you go and its super crowded - be prepared for intoxicated and somewhat rude people. Human nature these days. Also, please be kind, if you took a sample...step to the side so the next person can get theirs. People lingered way too long directly in front of the samples and it caused quiet the bottleneck. Great place, delicious wine slushies and amazing scenery! I absolutely love coming here. First off, the blonde working behind the counter yesterday (6/9/18) was incredibly rude. Second, the wines are disgusting, sugar filled crap. I couldn't even finish all the tastings I was given because of how bad they were. I'm pretty sure all of their wines are crappy grain alcohol mixed with fruit juice and TONS of sugar. enough to rot your teeth! Their "dry" tasted like a sweet. This is not a good place for people who like real wine. This is the taco bell of wines. Buckingham Valley Vineyards is another beautifully laid out small acreage winery specializing is the sweeter vintages of fruit and grape based fermentations. Like some of the others in the area it is second generation family run operation with the love and care given the vines obvious to any who stop in for a self guided tour and the tasting available throughout the year.
Although I prefer drier wines, I have sampled the bottles and casks here and found them to be pretty good, but not what I want to purchase for personal consumption. Still, a relaxing afternoon overlooking the long rows of arbors sipping peach and blackberry wines and heavier port like sipping liqueurs has a very mellowing effect on the soul.
Well worth a stop on the Bucks County winery tour. Lovely winery in Bucks County PA. John and his wife were friendly and charming. The winery was started by Johns dad back in 1971. Their wines are very good and their port is awesome. Will visit again when making our weekend trips to New Hope. My new friends The owners are superb folks. Their wine was sooo delicious. I'm not into drinking wine but their products are so refreshing and delicious. I didn't even know I was drinking wine. I particularly loved their White Sangria. I recommend this place over and over again. This is one of my favorite wineries I've visited in the past few years for the simple fact that you pour your own tastes!!!! How easy is that!? How great is that?!?! :)
The staff is incredibly warm and welcoming, even on a cold, rainy, and dreary day that we visited...
The wines are what you would expect for the region inclusive of prices that one would expect for the region as well. I will definitely return upon my next visit!
Ample seating outside with some fun separate areas with statues and garden objects; you'll have to come and visit to see what I mean!
THIS has been a review by Gaurav This has been one of wine stops when in the area for a long time. Wine in these parts can be hit or miss. Sometimes you may hate every wine a vineyard has. Go back a year or two later and you may love a few of them. For us it has been no different here. Their most consistent wine has been the Diego Red. I'm not a sweet wine lover, but some of their dessert wines are pretty good. $5 a person for a tasting of 8 wines. You serve yourself. You keep the glasses as well. Cool little stemless wine tumblers. Always some cheese and crackers on the counter. Very relaxed place with friendly staff. Worth a stop when checking out wines! Wasn't impressed with this tasting. Nice to pour your own tastings but the gentleman working the bar had no personality. It was the most boring winery I have ever visited. Not planning a return trip. They did have a couple good wines but it is a combination of wines, atmosphere and employees to truly make a good impression. I used to love this place! They are all about the money at this point no free samples not even one. Customer service is at a minimum for some reason the brothers seemed miserable. I was ordering a case to go. They asked my 13 year old daughter for her ID. ??? Why??? I was getting my wine to go the miserable brother said well I don't know who will be drinking our wine. HELLO!! I'm getting a case to go. This will be the last time to go! I don't need your hassle of your sub par wine. I was trying to buy local but if this is what happens I won't be buying local at your place anymore. Maybe I'm old fashioned. But what ever happened to greeting the customer. Hi. Welcome to Buckingham Winery. Or hi welcome back. Nice to see you again.
Here's what I got. After being a customer for at least the past ten years. Granted maybe visit ing once or twice a year. Coming in from good old Brooklyn, New York. No greeting. Just a quick and fast "What could I get you?" Really?
Here's another. No one even asks if you need help getting the two cases that I purchased for $260.00 to my car. At least have a few red wagons should be on site. Make it easy for the customer to get the merchandise to the car without having to schelp it yourself. Wow.
So I get to the Clarion motel down in New Hope. Was so ready for a glass of Holiday Spice wine. And was I disappointed. Which I did call the winery about. Here's what I was told. Oh it must be a bad batch. Excuse me? Why would you bottle and sell a "bad batch?"
Hello people I'm from Brooklyn. We're hard to fool. That Holiday Spice wine was "watered down". Plain and simple. So now I'm paying for a half bottle of wine. Mixed with water. For the full price.
You might be fooling some if your customers. But stupid I'm not. You should be fined for this. Maybe thrown in jail. For deceiving the paying public. Not nice.
And by the way. Learn how to smile and greet your customers. It's part of your job. Not just grabbing the credit card and ringing up a sale.
Bye bye Buckingham Winery. I will never return. If you're over running a winery why don't you sell the property. Your heart and soul is obviously not into this business. I'm sure you will get a ton of money for the acreage. Maybe then you will smile. I enjoyed my visit to Buckingham Valley. You can try 8 wines for $5 and another $5 for the sparkling wine tasting. They call it champagne, but it's not true champagne. I'm not a wine snob by any means, but it's like calling a 5k a marathon. The wine tasting is self serve, which I love. I don't need to sit there and here someone say, you'll taste cherries, blah, blah, blah. Rarely do I taste what they say it should taste like. I like to enjoy my wine and ask questions if I have any.
They have a nice variety of dry to sweet wines and white and red. I did both the wine tasting and the sparkling wine. Some were great, some were ok. I didn't have anything I didn't like.
You can also buy glasses and bottles to consume there. They also have a small beer selection and some food, but you're welcome to bring your own.
Love the self-serve concept the best and will certainly be back. An awesome place to have a glass of wine and hangout with friends. In the summer there are food trucks and music on weekends and in the winter there is a nice cozy atmosphere to stand and taste the wines. It dies cost to taste but I promise you it's worth it I have been to this winery 3 times now. I have enjoyed it every time! It is $5 for a tasting and you get 7-8 wine tastings. The tasting is serve yourself which I like so you can go at your own pace. The wine is inexpensive to buy a bottle and tasty! The wine slushies are also very good!The outside seating is nice and there is usually live music during nice weather. Unfortunately, the last time I was there there were bees all over and we couldn't get away from them. We have been regulars at Buckingham Winery for about 15 years. We love them so much that we even had their wine at our wedding as favors. Their wine is reasonably priced and our favorite in the Bucks County area. The Diego Red is a favorite with family and friends alike. I like the relaxed vibe inside and options for enjoying wine outside too. Great customer service...one time we got a bad batch of wine and they replaced with no issues. Also shout out to them for providing so many great options during the pandemic including online ordering with easy and safe curbside pickup. Got the sweet wine flight.... And the frozen strawberry lemonade.
The wine was pretty good some just had a less than pleasant after taste. Niagara wine was the best, red sangria and Concordia are close second.
The strawberry lemonade was yuck... a perfume taste.
The area is very pretty and they had enjoyable folk style band that bumped the experience up a star.
Look forward to coming back and doing a more thorough tasting of the wines... We just had an unfortunate experience. Our children had mostly been occupied by phones to be respectful of the grounds but one group of older people claimed to be 'family' of the Vineyard and yelled at my 6 year old for holding onto one of the statues. While some are marked 'do not touch' others aren't. To no fault to my 6 year old it wasn't marked and he got really upset at strangers yelling at him. They claimed that kids in the past pulled down the do not touch signs. How is that our fault? If you are a family friendly vineyard as you claim it may be worth investing in those do not touch signs instead of making young children cry for no reason. We will not be returning as there are more family friendly vineyards in the area. My favorite wine comes from Buckingham Valley Vineyards! It is a small tasting area, but with lots of character. For $5 you get to taste 8 wines.
I am obsessed with: Diego Red and Holiday Spice. In particular Holiday Spice is the type of wine that can be served warm with oranges or just chilled like sangria. Diego Red is not a wine to be served warm, but it is good enough to drink all year round. Their spumante (sparkling) wine is great too, especially the peach flavored one.
I like to come here to as part of the Bucks County wine trail, this place has good prices on wine too ($6- $12). They offer discounts for cases of $1 less per bottle, they have a few wine trinkets to buy too, as well as snacks if you forget yours. This is a great place for a date, a group of friends or simply a fabulous way to spend a Sunday after brunch. I loved visiting the vineyards I in the winter. Great wines were available to taste. I love the sweeter wines here. The blackberry and concord are my favorite.
The gentleman behind the counter gave me helpful insights on all the offerings and ever steered me towards wines that were definitely my taste.
If you are visiting the area you should definitely stop in,there is even a cool short movie to hang out and watch on the process. Such a great learning experience coming from a girl like me whose not a big alcohol person! I really enjoyed myself all while learning about wines.
So I came to Buckingham Valley winery with a small group of girls and we had a blast. It was funny cause in the beginning we were all kinda quiet and after drinking a sample of two or three or four you get a little comfortable and start talking and talking and yep talking some more lol!
So the staff was fabolous, I was the only one that got carded yep and I'm in my thirties so wow what a compliment. They did a great job with explaining the process. They have three selections of wines to try which are red, white and sweet. I realized I'm more of a sweet wine kinda girl. My favorites of them all was the diego red in the red wine category. Niagara and Riesling in the white wines and blackberry and Holiday Spice in the sweet wines.
Overall it's self tasting and the wines were all on chill. We sampled over 15 different flavored wines for 5.00 and we all got to tour the vineyards and go home with our complimentary wine glass. Thanks Buckingham Valley for a wonderful time. I will definitely be back! Went specifically to this local winery to support a local business as I was buying wines and champagne for my daughters wedding. I asked the woman behind the counter, (who was busy chatting to a co-worker?), for a taste of various champagnes they have. She acted like it was the biggest deal (that's her job!) and didn't even offer my wife a tasting glass! I asked for another small taste to finalize my decision (she knew I was buying for a wedding!) and gave me a look like I had been drinking free all day! I did buy a number of bottles of champagne and wine because I procrastinated, and I've hesitated to write this review because of supporting local business, but please make visiting your winery a more happier experience! I did a self Bucks county wine tour in late October looking for an alternative winery for my company to get our holiday gifts from the hitch was we wanted custom labels. So it was narrowed down to three contenders. Buckingham came out on top. They had the best looking custom labels, the best tasting wines & best pricing. So they were my recommendation to the owners to which they decided to go with. I need to go back when the weather is nice. They maintain the grounds well putting up decorations for the season at the ends of the vineyards which you drive through to get to the main building/tasting room. Everyone was super helpful even though the tasting itself was self-pour. I explained what I was looking for and was shown samples and told what would be available and what wouldn't which was helpful. I liked their Riesling a lot (I am partial to them - so bias there)and bought a bottle but their Pinot Gris was very nice and balanced as well as their Cabernet Sauvignon. I plan to come back in warmer weather with friends & family to taste & see more as they have a nice patio area. There is no fee for self-administered wine tasting, to see which ones you like or don't. There are a few picnic tables outside, if you wish to enjoy a bottle of wine with your lunch. The storefront and parking lot aren't that large, but even with a weekend crowd, it's possible to be in and out with a case in half an hour or so.
The selection is pretty good, with most wines in the $9-$11 range. There is also a discount deal of $1 off per bottle for a case or more. Wine list cards are available next to the fruit wine tasting bar, so you can check off and fill in quantities of the ones you like to hand over to the cashier.
This family-run business makes it as easy as possible to make a purchase. One word of warning: they don't take AmEx, but any other credit card is okay, as is cash. The store stocks some light snacks and wine-related items, as well as the wine.
I enjoy visiting this place. It's not just for locals. I really like this winery, it's chill and you can grab a bottle of wine and sit outside while listening to live music on a weekend. Flights here were pretty good. I enjoyed the Apple Pie wine & Diego Red from the sweet flight. They also give you a small wine glass souvenir to sip from & bring home.
The inside has standing room seating with a few seated areas. This is a place you could definitely have a group of people meet up or private party (they have a downstairs area). There are munchies to have with your wine & a small shopping/store area. I do wish they had more seats available.
Outside, the vineyard has outdoor seating with plenty of space to walk about. The parking lot was a good size also.
Returnable? Yes. This winery does not charge you for tasting. Each bottle is fitted with a stopper that automatically pours 1 oz. increments. This is likely due to Pennsylvania's strict blue laws-- I believe 1 oz is legally what they can distribute without having a liquor license to serve. That being said, it's still very generous considering there was no charge. I was able to try every wine without any restrictions, and the employees answered any questions I had, made recommendations and were very pleasant. My parents have been visiting this winery for 30+ years and are always remembered when they visit.
The wine is good. I agree with most of the other reviewers, this is not exquisite, expensive, out of this world wine. But it IS good wine, worthy of the table, a night in with friends, or even a party depending on your palate. They have a good variety, reds, whites, sweets, semisweet, dessert wines and dry, and a few seasonals. I particularly enjoyed the Holiday Spice, a seasonal red which can be served chilled, room temp or warmed with cinnamon sticks, orange slices, etc.
Pricing is good, each bottle is approx. 8-10 dollars with a 1 dollar discount per bottle if you purchase 12 or more, and this discount includes the ports. I wound up purchasing a case! Overall the whole experience is a good one.
On a final note, my brother got married last year and to save money he and his wife did a BYOB and provided all the liquor for the reception. My parents picked up several cases of red, white and champagne from Buckingham Valley Vineyard, and they were able to personalize each bottle with a unique label featuring the names of the bride and groom with the date of the wedding, alongside an illustrated bride and groom couple. That level of personalization alongside their business is a lovely addition to the overall atmosphere of the winery. Been coming to this winery for many years. Located in upper Bucks county it's a beautiful ride in the fall with all the color. This winery is a second generation family business. They also have self guided tours and tastings year round. I remember when the wine tastings were free and now you have to buy flights. Yes things have changed but for the better. Now there is usually live music on the weekend, they have added picnic tables and a nice canopy. Grab a bottle of wine and go outside and enjoy it. We have always enjoyed the wines here and now they have wine slushy which are amazing. The Pumpkin Spice slushy this weekend was delicious! 10/30/21. Wine prices are from 12 to 14 dollars a bottle. We will be back to grab a case of wine for gifts this holiday season, you can even personalize the labels. The Holiday Spice wine will be available soon severed warm is so good and perfect for the holidays.
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name: Balance Chiropractic Health Center & Spa, address: 112 S 20th St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Massage, Active Life, Health & Medical, Fitness & Instruction, Chiropractors, Beauty & Spas, Dance Studios, Acupuncture, Yoga, text: I have been coming to Balance for 4 months. First with my daughter for yoga (Amazon Local deal) then as a family for chiropractic. Dr. Chris is a personable and knowledgable guy and I highly recommend him (or at least a chiropractor with a similar philosophy). You'd be surprised about all the things adjustments can correct...after just 3 weeks my son was no longer a candidate for ear tubes.
My daughter and I both had used Groupons for facials with Barbara, they were ok but she's definitely an Aestitician committed to skin care and customer service.
Finally the massages...I stocked up during April because they were running a special and massage can enhance the effectiveness of chiropractic care. So far I've used 2; first with Sabrina, she had a great bedside manner and provided a decent Swedish massage; last week I tried Kathy because I've heard so much about her. Her British accent and politeness set a very professional tone and she provided a deep tissue massage that surpassed my expectations. I was so relaxed I had to literally will myself to get up from the table.
I'm giving Balance 4 stars instead of 5 because I haven't figured out how to classify it. As a practice, it's spectacular, the staff (especially Ashley & Marley) are very friendly and accommodating. It's one stop shopping for preventive maintenance and they accept insurance for chiropractic.
On the other hand, because there are so many things going on and it's a long, narrow space...it can feel like Grand Central during rush hour if there are people waiting for the chiropractor and heading to the small yoga studio. The decor is uplifting and something about this place just oozes wellness, but I think that also diminishes the "spa" experience. For me the facials and massages provided on the lower level are a part of a wellness regimen rather than being the luxury experience commonly associated with these services.
I have yet to consult with the naturopath or acupuncturist, however if you're looking for a welcoming location to keep your body tuned up, this is definitely the place to go. Hatha and Gentle Yoga classes are incredible for beginners to explore and practiced yogis to sink deeper. Balance has a great variety of yoga classes and the most Kundalini I have seen in the city.
I like that the chiropractor, massage, nutrition and yoga all work together here. I went to Balance recently for a massage. I got there plenty early, checked in with the receptionist, and asked to use the bathroom. She directed me to the bathroom upstairs. I was shocked at how dirty it was. When I came out the receptionist told me that my massage therapist Mark was not there yet and to go downstairs and wait.
Mark arrived exactly at the appointment time. He took me to the massage room to talk for a few minutes before the massage. I explained to him that I have a low back injury and whiplash from a car accident that I would like to focus on. I also asked that he worked on my gluteus. I explained that I had scraped up my foot on my bike on the way to the massage and to please avoid it. He was condescending and snotty the whole time. I really wasn't sure why...
The massage itself was okay. I could tell that he was on autopilot and that my massage was not being tailored to my needs. When he reached the foot I asked him to avoid, he grabbed it to stretch my leg. I reminded him to avoid it. He massaged over the banged up part of my foot anyway. He didn't work my gluteus as we had discussed. I guess he forgot or like I said was on autopilot and not paying attention to my needs. He also did not work the muscles that are associated with whiplash.
After the massage I used the bathroom downstairs before leaving. Guess what? Filthy! I loved the vinyasa class, it was a calming environment and was so relaxing. The teacher was great and also one on one with us to make sure we were doing the moves right and helped adjust our bodies. I would definitely recommend this center:) I spent a lot of time finding a good chiropractor in Philly. Most places didn't give me a warm welcome whether the receptionist didn't care or didn't meet my needs. I thought I was going to deal with my neck pain for 3 weeks long...during my vacation! Then, I called Balanced Well Center. The first thing I asked was if a chiropractor can see me within 20 mins. She said kindly "you can just drop by anytime"--music to my ears. I swiftly drove my way to here. I forgot how bad parking was in the city so I was a bit rusty on finding an available one. When I finally got here: I completed the initial forms and saw the chiropractor. He reviewed my issues and made sure we both understand what types of issues I have and what he can do to help. He was able to realigned me on the same day--sweet! I had such a great time and booked a deep tissue massage for the same day! The massage was perfect after realignment and took care most of my lactic acid from the brutal workouts.
Today was my last day here for chiropractic care. Doc and I were content with my improvement. He didn't have to do as much as last time. I got my spine realigned and against booked a deep tissue massage for the next day! I went for the "Earth massage escape" off of a Groupon special. when i think of "spa" i think of a place that offers showers, lemon-infused water, a sauna, etc. but this place offers none of that.
I just walked in, waited downstairs for a few minutes, had a 55-minute massage and was out of there. I guess that's good if you want an in-and-out experience but that wasn't really what i was looking for. the place was a bit hard and unwelcoming but the staff was nice and friendly. the massage itself was nice and relaxing, but it seems he had no idea i was there for the "earth massage escape" package (http://www.balancehealthcenter.com/element-spa-packages) because although there was a brief foot massage, it was more like an all-around regular body massage. and i really don't know what oils he used, i can't tell if it was "sage and cedarwood" or just peppermint.
the experience overall was alright, nothing to rave about but it wasn't bad. I had a great experience at Balance. Everyone is super nice. I had a Brazilian wax with Monique. She did a great job and was very professional. I will definitely be back. I love the atmosphere they provide as well as the attention to your specific needs. I have taken the whole family (mom, daughter and son) and we all love Dr. Chris and his lovely wife Estelle.
They continue to add more services which is a bonus as you can find many ways to regain your healthy life balance. I have been going for years and I can say they take the time to answer your questions and give advice on how to help you stay pain free. For the past few weeks, as the result of an injury, I have been getting deep tissue massages from Gina. Gina is an energetic masseuse and literally kneads the knots away. Due to scheduling issues, I had to switch to Jeanille and I must say, she is probably the best massage THERAPIST I have encountered.
Something about her oozes wellness, she is extremely professional, and her understanding of the human body seems to extend beyond massage. She approached the massage holistically, inquiring about what brought me in and then made suggestions as to how she would proceed.
She seamlessly integrated stretching into the massage...I wondered if she was a yoga instructor or had interned with a physical therapist...her touch was gentle yet the pressure was perfect.
Her hands are truly a gift and I am looking forward to my next visit. I had a wonderful massage at Balance. Cathy tailors the massage to the client's particular needs. So in my case Cathy spent a lot of time working out some knots, helping me relax and giving me a dose of aromatherapy. The facility is clean and comfortable, getting an appointment and the confirmation of the appointment worked seamlessly, and the massage was well worth the price. Barbara is an esthetician goddess. I had a Living Social deal for waxing - I leave the exact area up to your imagination. She has limited hours but is there on Saturdays, which was convenient for me. She worked quickly and is incredibly skilled - this was definitely in my top two least painful waxing experiences ever. Also, she's super cool and easy to chat with - a must when you're stuck half-naked on a table under bright light. After contacting the company to report the terrible service I was offered a free massage, facial or 3 free waxes. Obviously I will not be going back for a wax....
However, upon my acceptance of the free massage, I received an email to ask that I remove my poor review as it will hurt their business. I told them to keep their free massage and challenged them to provide only good service if they want only good reviews. I've been here many times before (massages,chiriopractor etc) but it has declined in my eyes gradually....while the adjustments themselves are good, the way they run the business is horrible! I had an appointment scheduled, but because they have been allowing more and more walk-ins , I wasn't seen till 50 min after my appointment! What is the point of making an appointment then?!!!! This is ridiculous, especially when you make time allocations for these appointments out of your busy schedule! Kathy at Balance gives a great deep tissue ("Moon?") massage, adjusting her pressure appropriately per request. I came in feeling just a bit tense and left feeling like butter. Deep tissue massages can hurt, kind of like using a foam roller at the gym. But it's worth it when you feel the knots just melt away after a good bit of wincing pain. I did not check out their regular prices, but using a Groupon I'd definitely recommend Balance for a deep tissue massage any day. My family and I have been going to Balance for years. They truly are a one-stop shop for everything that you are looking for in body work. Their chiropractic work is the best I have ever had, and they have an amazing range of massage options to fit whatever your body needs. They will work with you to figure out the best option, and the best practitioner, based on your preference.
Highly recommended. There are a lot of options in this part of Philly, but none better than Balance. I got a massage at Balance because of a $60 Groupon and its great yelp reviews. For a place that normally charges $150 per massage, I was definitely looking forward to my 60 minutes of bliss.
Boy was I disappointed!
First, my 60 minute massage was more like 45 minutes. We started five minutes late (not because I was late), and ended 10 minutes early. Second, even though my masseuse used good pressure and had good technique, the massage seemed rushed and at times a little clumsy (he had squeaky shoes and would bump into things). Lastly, and by far the worst, he put paper (the type that is used in a doctor's examining room)on the pillow where you normally put your face on. I appreciate that he was trying to be hygenic, but it was rough and crinkly. Everytime the masseuse would massage my neck and shoulders, it would crinkle and be very distracting. At times it even got in the way and the masseuse had to swat it away. The entire thing was very distracting and prevented me from relaxing. The situation could have been resolved if they used towels instead of paper.
All in all, I was not impressed and would not go back. In fact, I feel like I overpaid even though I used a Groupon. I'm just grateful that I didn't purchase it at the normal price. Went here about a month ago because my whole back was tight and hurting. Jonelle (I hope I spelled that right) gave me an excellent deep tissue massage! She focused on my most knotted spots while still giving me a great full body massage too. I'll be going back to see her as soon as I can to keep working on my worst knot, and to keep all the other ones from coming back. Thanks Jonelle! I got a great deal on an hour massage...$49! Kathy was great. Rooms were clean. Massage portion actually lasted the full hour (some places its actually 50 minutes plus time to change). Wish the tea bar was open, though.
You can tip on a card here. I can't express how disappointed I am that this didn't work out.
I bought a groupon for a waxing at balance health center after I called and booked an appointment. I showed up for my appointment to be told that I wasn't on the schedule and that the esthetician wasn't even coming in that day. I understand that mistakes happen, so I rescheduled for the following day and the receptionist gave me a half off coupon for their facial, which was already on special so it sounded like a good deal to me. I re-booked my first appointment and made a second appointment for the facial later in the week.
I returned the next day for my re-scheduled waxing appointment, was told that the esthetician would be right with me and to wait downstairs. Thirty minutes after my appointment time, I was taken back for my waxing. I'm by no means an expert or an esthetician...but I've had a dozen or so or these and this one was definitely different. The wax almost didn't feel hot enough, so that when she tried to apply to wax it was painful when she tried to spread it. Also, the way that the strips were pulled off was really different from my previous experience in that usually the esthetician will hold your skin in a certain way in order to make it taut, when during this appointment at times I felt like my skin was being ripped off..over and over and over again in some places. I was told that I may have some bruising (which I did have quite a bit of), but what I wasn't prepared for was that a good portion of my skin that had been waxed had in fact basically been ripped off and started peeling like I had a sunburn. In addition, my skin was sensitive to touch for about 3 days afterwards because it was so painful. I know waxing is not for the faint of heart, but I'm pretty sure this may not have been what's supposed to happen....
On the day of my facial appointment, I got a phone call two hours before my scheduled time asking me to reschedule because the esthetician would not be in that day. After having this happen once before and having to wait thirty minutes past my appointment time for a service that didn't go so well, I decided not to reschedule.
I had read really great reviews about this place, and maybe I just had bad luck here, but I won't ever go back. Between them not being able to keep an appointment, less than great service, the gossiping and trash talking about other clients that was told to me (some who were still in the salon at the time), and being asked to keep the "half off" part of the facial a secret, I'm really just pretty shocked. I've been here a few times with groupons and they never disappoint! There are no frills to this place but it's still perfect. Most recently I went for a 2 hour Fire package and Janielle was incredible! She is so good at what she does. I've also had other people for massages there and they are also awesome! I highly recommend. I happened upon Balance Health Center via Groupon for a facial. Next, I noticed they have an in-house chiropractor Dr. Chris. He is very knowledgeable, patient and personable. My back is feeling much better since I started going here!! I have also tried other services:massage and reflexology. Jeneille, Swan and Kathleen are all great at what they do! Give them a try! You will feel relaxed and refreshed. Balance health center is an incredible place. In particular DR. Chris is an amazing chiropractor. I have been I many over the years and he is the best. I came to balance for a 60-minute "meditative" massage that I bought on Groupon. Maybe I'm not an experienced enough massage recipient, but I don't think you are supposed to end up bruised the day after. The massage therapist was working through some knots in my back and did ask me if the pressure was too much, and it wasn't, so she continued. A more experienced or knowledgeable therapist might have known she was manipulating my skin too much. I have bruises up and down my back today.
The massage was otherwise just okay. The therapist was nice and the place was quiet and clean. When I came in, the therapist explained the process, and then asked if there were any specific areas she should focus on. I told her to focus on my feet and legs as I had just run 10-mile Broad Street Run the day prior. However, she didn't seem to actually pay any special attention to those areas once she got to work.
When I went to pay the tip, I was told the original cost without the Groupon for a 60 minute massage was $170, which is outrageous. I've had far better massages with better therapists for less than $100. So I'd go elsewhere next time. I received a massage from Kathy and it was lovely. She has a very healing touch and a sweet disposition. I haven't been getting massages as often as I should and she really had her work cut out for her. Keep up the good work, Kathy!
P.S. Sorry if I misspelled your name! I am new to this practice but have been using chiropractors for 30 years. I am very pleased with my results after just a few visits. Highly recommend. Can't beat a 90 minute deep tissue? You can. I have had some back ones.
This is not the case at Balance. It was the perfect balance between a 'get in there and work out those tension spots' and 'calming, relaxing spa style' massage. I am spacing on the name of the super sweet guy that gave me the massage BUT he was professional, listened to exactly what I wanted and well, that hand to arm to elbow thing he does is pretty much heaven.
I did get it on living social so I was able to afford it. Looks like as a birthday gift or a big treat to myself is when I will able to return.
Treat Yourself. Had a wonderful massage from Alex. I hadn't had her before and I'm picky about my massage therapists, but she gave me an amazing deep tissue (despite her being so petite). I've had massages there from 3 other therapists, but I think I only be asking for Alex in the future. It was sort of like she had a 6th sense about what specific areas of my back, neck and shoulders were bothering me. I didn't really need to communicate much.
This is not the kind of place is you're looking for a "spa experience", but if you're looking to get massaged and then adjusted, I'd recommend Alex and Jeremy (one of the chiropractors). I had a groupon for a water massage which is a 90 minute massage with aromatherapy. Kathleen was my therapist and I feel like I have been missing out all these years by only having 60 minute massages! The massage was great and I didn't realize how great it was until I was leaving and needed to jog to my car ( PPA is not giving me a ticket today) and my legs would not cooperate! I was limited to a very slow speed walk but fate was with me because I didn't have a ticket. Only thing is that the massage area is a little chilly but I will be back! Balance Health Center has provided me with excellent, personal care for over 8 years. Dr. Chris and staff are so caring and courteous. I always feel better after a massage and adjustment. Several maladies I suffered with in the past are gone. Now, I simply come in for a "tune up" every so often. I have been taking an appointment with Balance for a while now. I had read good reviews on yelp and was willing to try it out! I bought a groupon for the services. Balance cancelled on me FOUR times. All of these times were the day before my appointment. They are disorganized with their appointments and I had made the appointment much in advance. If you rely on a schedule and need routine DO NOT GO HERE. Had a Brazilian wax here with a Groupon deal ($32). But learned that you don't need a Groupon deal to receive the discounted price, just tell the front desk that you want a discount. Swan, the aesthetician, was amazing. Quick and as pain-free as a Brazilian wax can possibly be. Will definitely come back. OKKKK so 4 years of waxing and I have FINALLY found the best place for a brazilian in philly.
I initially bought a groupon for $30. When scheduling another appt I was told that the service is ALWAYS $30! WHATTTTTT!
I used to pay wayyyy too much money each month and the service wasn't even half as great.
My first appt was with Swan and I forget who my second was with. Swan is amazingggg (the other girl was great too). Waxing usually runs around 30 mins because they are so meticulous. This could be a little weird at times but they are genuinely awesome people who keep your mind at ease.
THEY ALSO DONT USE SOFT WAX.
Hard wax only. For any of you brazilian newbies, this is a must. Unless you want to cry and not walk for a few days.
Go here. You wont regret it. My girlfriend and I have had two appointments here, both made far in advance, and Balance cancelled both of them on us last minute. Appointments apparently mean nothing to this establishment, so don't plan your day around one. I really enjoyed my experience here, Jesnine
did my wax and she was very professional and kind. She offers tips and can answer any questions you may have. Also the waitin environment is very calming and the staff overall is fun and friendly! Balance Health Center is conveniently located in center city, making it easy to get away during the day for a quick adjustment or massage. Dr. Chris is excellent and takes great care of his patients. He is very efficient and flexible in terms of appointments. I do find it somewhat difficult to get through to them on the phone to make appointments but they will always call back! They take insurance for chiropractic care and massage. Will keep going back! This is an edit to a previous 5-star review.
When I first started frequenting this place I thought it was great and I was getting healed through chiropractic. Then I started developing low back and sciatic issues. I followed the mantra and assumed it would be better with diligent home care and healthy living. Fast forward to now, whenever I got for a run, my low back slips out. I can barely walk and I'm 27 with no history of back issues.
This place crippled me and I will NEVER do chiropractic again, especially here! I have been going to Balance for about a year now. I started with yoga classes I had seen on an Amazon Local deal. Then my mother and I started going to the chiropractor at Balance. Now I go for chiropractic adjustments frequently and couldn't feel better!
Everyone is great, especially Ashley and Dr. Chris. Overall I have a great experience at Balance. This morning was my first appointment with Dr. Bernabei and I couldn't be more pleased with how it went! He is obviously very experienced and I'm already feeling more comfortable! I look forward to returning for my follow up appointments at Balance. Massage was amaaaaaazzziiiinnnnggg. Kathy got all the knots out of me and I felt great immediately after. There's a yoga studio connected to the place and a great seating area. Awesome staff and I would definitely go back. Don't forget to check in for your $49 deep tissue massage! Enjoyed a relaxing and therapeutic facial - excellent extractions, products and massage. Jensine was truly amazing. I highly recommend and will be back soon!! I wasn't going to write a review, but I feel I have to. I had a voucher for a massage and yoga class so I can only speak about those services. I scheduled the yoga class and the massage on the same day; the yoga class being first. They called me the day before (not even 24 hours notice) to tell me that the class might run over and it might run into my massage time. Well, what am I supposed to do about this now I ask. Is there a clock in the classroom? No. Should I bring my phone to keep track of the time? No you have to turn your phone off. It was suggested that I mention this to the girl at the front desk and let her know so she can tell me when my massage therapist gets there.
I showed up for my yoga class and the place was freezing. They had a heater, but they must've gotten it from the dollar store because it warmed absolutely nothing. I told the girl at the front desk my dilemna, and she assured me that the instructor always ends on time. FYI, there is no yoga studio. It's a glorified chiropractors office with some floor space in the back that fits 4 people, including the instructor. I'm not kidding. If 6 people showed up to class they'd be out of luck unless they wanted to practice in the hall. 10 minutes go by and the same girl at the front tells us that she can't get in touch with the instructor and that he's probably not going to show up, but we're welcome to wait. One of the other students said that this person is always late; apparently that's the accepted norm. I should've left when I had the chance, but I really wanted my massage after. He finally shows about 20-25 mins late. I'm worried about my massage, but I go ahead with the freezing cold class expecting to be told when my massage is supposed to start. Spoiler alert: no one tells me when he arrives. I'm going through the class doing my best guess with the time. When I had a sinking feeling too much time I had passed, I check my phone and see that I'd been in class for an hour. I run to the front to ask if my massage therapist is there, and there he is pacing back and forth. He tells me he can only give me 30 mins now. Naturally I'm ticked and wonder why no one told me he was there so I could've made that choice. My time was wasted and so was his. My voucher said one hour not a half hour. This could've easily been prevented, had someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, your therapist is here do you want to go now or reschedule? Then it would've at least been on me. It's not as if it was some vigorous Iyengar practice that I would've been missing. They were apologetic, telling me it wasn't my fault (duh) and keep offering me yoga classes. I didn't want any more of their crappy yoga classes in a freezing cold space with no room, where the instructor regularly shows up late. It was so cold that I kept my sweatshirt and socks on the entire time, and no this was no a below zero temperature day. I rescheduled my massage for the following week but I decided not to go back. After seeing how things were run there I didn't trust them enough to go back for a massage and didn't want to inconvenience myself anymore. I have no idea if they have separate rooms for massages or if it'd be done in the front where it's freezing. I felt I was misled by the yoga classes and the whole situation was handled badly. I called the voucher company and argued with them for 3 days to get my money back. Conclusion: they ended up calling me to find out why I wasn't there for my rescheduled massage. Apparently, they're such a well oiled machine that no one told the massage therapist that I got my money back so obviously the appointment was cancelled. If I had any doubts before, it's now clear that I made the right decision. Had a one hour moon massage. It was amazing! My masseuse was great at listening to my needs and making me feel relaxed. One of the best massages I've had.
The entire staff was super friendly and very professional. The facilities were very clean and nicely decorated. Can't wait to go back! As another review commented, the health center is very attractive. Dr. Bernabei spent a generous amount of time discussing my chiropractic needs as well as tips to maintain my adjustment. Afterwards, I felt great and I would recommend him to anyone looking for a chiropractor. I love this place! I've been going to Balance Health Center for both chiropractic care and massage for about a year; I couldn't be happier. It is a beautiful center with lots of fun products, great service, and of course excellent care. Dr. Chris works miracles in just 10 minutes and it so easy to schedule an appointment... There is no one better! Very disappointed with the Balance Health Center. I bought my wife a massage here as a present. The coupon expired days ago and the Center refused to honor it even AFTER I offered to purchase another massage session.
Perhaps they do not want new customers? You can count that I will not be recommending them. Nice place. I arrived on time and was properly greeted. I went downstairs and Kathy met me and showed me to the room. Beds could have been bigger, but I'm 6'1. I purchased the Sun Swedish package, and when she validated that I still wanted that package, she asked whether there was anything else she needed to know. I told her my shoulders were tight, and she offered to go deeper there. I gladly accepted her offer and proceeded to have a very enjoyable massage. Thanks! I'll be back. Btw, Groupon is great. I have been to Balance twice in the past month. I typically get one massage a year as a treat (which was the reason for the first visit), and the second was due to an insanely stiff neck - and knowing I could take advantage of their $49 special. The first visit was nice, relaxing and a treat. The second visit, even though I was in pain, was AMAZING. I saw Stephanie and she was fabulous. First masseuse I've ever seen that I would recommend and go back to time and again. Four stars, if only because I've yet to get a massage in Philadelphia where I cannot hear the person above me, in the hallway or in the next room. A little soundproofing would definitely mean this place is 5 stars. Keep in mind balance is not a "spa" ... there's no bathrobes or sauna here. It's center city, a great place to visit after work, and you are in and out. Also looked into the yoga classes while I was there, but they are a bit pricey. Needed an adjustment before a trip and couldn't get to the chiropractor by my office. Was able to get in and get taken care of rather than leave the issue to mess up my weekend. A few more Brazilians at Balance Health Center, and I'm hooked! I'd definitely recommend them. I go to balance for both massages and chiropractic care. I have had about 5 massages here, all with different people, and had a great experience each time. Both the massage and chiropractic appointments are usually pretty open and easy to book, and the staff is friendly and courteous. I would definitely recommend balance health center. They always have groupon deals for their massages which is a great deal! Wonderful, and charitable, organization. They support local nonprofits and small businesses and deserve a lot of good karma. Awesome spot for a Brazilian wax!!!! I purchased a living social to try it out and now 4 waxes later I am HOOKED!! BARBRA IS AWESOME!!!! I am moving to Florida and so extremely bummed that I will be missing out on my visits, but have already scheduled appts. for when I will be visiting. You will not be upset after visiting! :) I had an adjustment with Dr. Chris last week. It is really so refreshing to place yourself literally in the hands of someone who is so knowledgeable, informative and energetic about what it is that they do. He remedied an issue that I was completely unaware of and I feel amazingly well. As a massage therapist, body mechanics is a very important factor in my physical health. After my session with Dr. Chris, chiropractic adjustments will definitely remain a regular part of my wellness program. Had a Brazilian wax here with a Groupon. After your first session they will match the Groupon deal price for your next visit. Swan, the aesthetician, is amazing. Quick and minimal pain. I have been back four times since my first visit. I have been getting waxed for 6 years and this is BY FAR the best place I have ever been.
It is:
1. Clean - everything is sterilized or disposable to keep a clean atmosphere
2. Professional - you feel very comfortable
3. Prompt - on time
4. Great service - the wax is amazing
5. Great staff - they call with reminders My fiancée has been to multiple chiropractors but I had never been to one. We decided to try a new one together. As a newbie, I felt comfortable with Dr. Chris and I felt great afterward. The best way to describe it is as feeling lighter and looser. My fiancée was very pleased with him and we now trek in from the burbs just to see Dr. Chris. If you're new to chiropractors, the sounds can be shocking but you really feel great afterward. The setup was unfamiliar to me in the beginning as the table is right out in the open but it's not an issue while you're being adjusted. I also just realized that a woman named CeeCee works here and does massages- I used to go to her at a different location and she was amazing. We will certainly be back. I got a wax done here! It was an awesome location, very relaxing and clean environment. All of the employees are super friendly and very experienced. I would really recommend this location for anyone trying to get a Brazilian. From the outside, Balance looks like one of those little walk-in reflexology places in Chinatown.
Inside, it smells gorgeous, and their set-up isn't too bad. There's definitely more of a hippy dippy/holistic health center vibe than a spa vibe, per se.
I had a Brazilian, which was so-so. The esthetician was friendly, though the wax was slightly (juuuust slightly) more painful than waxes I've had before. She was careful to make sure she was waxing the areas I wanted, rather than ripping everything away.
My only issue was that she left a number of stray hairs, in otherwise fully-waxed areas. It would have been nice if she'd have tweezed them, but I had to do it myself instead. Went in for a massage to deal with some neck pain. I told the massage therapist to pay close attention to my neck . She barely touched it! I was still tight when I left! Cee cee is truly gifted. One if the best messages I've had in my life. Exemplary. What a pleasure to have found her. My body was a wreck and she definitely made me leave in a much better place.
I like Balance a lot. Clean and really pleasant staff. They do always have deals going which is great but it shouldn't be the only reason to go here. I've had a number of masseuse and have never been disappointed. Ever. I trusted yelp reviews..never again. The lobby and reception desk at Balance looked so welcoming when I made my appointment to come back two days later. When I showed up for my appointment and was told to go downstairs it soon became a "down"er. The aesthetics were completely different. My therapist greeted me enthusiastically and I held out hope. The massage room was a closet that was beat to heck. But I hung in there. We discussed that I was there for my neck and shoulders, but my hips were the real issue tonight. His touch was good, but he apparently didn't know that the hip is above the thigh, because that was as far as he went. When will massage therapists understand that most of us sedentary at work people have psoas and peraformis issues which require that gluts and hips be addressed. FAIL. This was my fourth time getting a Brazilian at Balance and I will NEVER be back. I used to see Barbara who no longer works there. She was awesome - quick, painless and great to talk to!
Today I had an appointment at noon so I could go during my lunch break from work. They called at 11:15 to say they had to push my appointment back to 4:30. I was there at 4:25 and sat and waited until 4:45 when they finally took me back to the room which was freezing cold which is great for when you are having the hair ripped from your body.... The new girl, I think her name is Kate, took forever and practically covered my whole body in wax yet still managed to leave hair all over me. She then told me she was sorry but she forgot her tweezers so she couldn't get the stray hairs. She then slapped some oil onto me and sent me on my way.
Then I went to pay and was charged $85. I told them that the last time I went I was charged $60 and the time before that I only paid $40. They asked me if I had some special arrangement with Barbara and I said not to my knowledge. They let me pay $60 this time but said I will have to pay $85 next time.
I'm now back at work, where I'll be until 8pm. I hope I don't have to use the restroom before I go home, because my skin is completely stuck together. Looking forward to an evening plucking when I get home. There will NOT be a next time. Balance Health Center motivates and empowers you to live a better, healthier life. Attend a yoga class, get a chiropractic adjustment, let go with a massage, learn how to manage your stress and do much more here. BHC's approach is a holistic and self-mending one.
It's a relief to hear since most health services want to convince you that you need them indefinitely which can seem daunting. BHC practitioners are inquisitive and listen to your personal health needs then impart knowledge for self-maintenance. They also sell lots of natural oils, teas and other remedies to help you function at max potential. I came here for a Brazilian wax with Tia, and I couldn't be happier! She used hard wax (#praisebe) coupled with a few cleanup soft was strips, with near-perfect results. Tia herself is such a sweetheart -- she was so friendly, and chatted with me to keep my mind off the pain.
I'm taking off one star because Balance itself isn't aesthetically great -- the front door is inside the vestibule of what looks like an apartment building, and the reception area looks more like a bar than a spa (literally -- there's a bar and bar stools). To get to the waxing area I had to walk down some narrow, unfinished-looking stairs, and the waxing area itself was basically a cheaply-finished basement, drop ceilings and all. Personally, this doesn't matter to me very much (I'll take great service at basic-looking place over mediocre service at a pretty place any day) but I found it a little off-putting, especially because Balance's prices aren't cheap -- $65 for a standard Brazilian.
Admittedly, I'm not sure I will switch to Balance for all of my waxing needs (Skin Spa's multiple locations and online booking are just *so* convenient), but Tia alone is worth a return trip. Groupon brought me here twice. First time was with Jesine who used hard wax and it was my first time getting a brazilian which to my surprise wasn't that bad. However the second time was a little off putting... Monique used strip wax and it hurted like crazy. She wasn't very gentle or careful either as she was doing everything really fast and she even missed a couple of areas. Probably not gonna be coming back here... I've been seeing Dr. Chris for chiropractic adjustments for over two years and thought it was time to finally leave a review. It's so easy to get an appointment, which is great. I usually wait until I'm hurting and then call for the next day. The adjustments take just a few minutes but leave me feeling fantastic. I credit Dr. Chris with helping keep me injury-free through nine marathons in the past three years. I love the services here. I always leave feeling great. Kathy and Swan really take care of me. I have been coming here for years now. After a facial I can physically see a big change in the appearance of my face. Feeling pampered today after my latest visit. I'm giving four stars for my massage therapist, Drew, not the spa/health center itself. Drew gave me an hour-long massage, which I purchased using a groupon-type deal from Travel Zoo. He was great. Perfect amount of pressure. Paid special attention to areas that were bothering me. Very relaxing and effective massage.
The center itself leaves much to be desired. There's no real seating area, just an uncomfortable bench. The young lady at reception (which seems to be an old bar) was very unwelcoming. I decided to try Balance Health Center after purchasing a Groupon for a massage. The proverbial luck of the draw paired me with Edward, since I didn't have a preference of male or female practitioner. Edward is hands-down (no pun intended) the best massage therapist I've ever had, and after my first massage I conveyed as much to him. I felt completely at ease and he was able to quite literally 'read' my body's aching messages...that's right; by the time I left I was a changed woman. I've never had the experience of simply being the receiver--I've always felt the need to chat--but I did not feel this with Edward; there is something about his manner and confident touch that allowed me to just relax and accept the healing that was being given. Since that session I have scheduled two more massages, each as therapeutic as the first. He also mentioned stretches that I can do at home so that our sessions can be farther apart, which I appreciated in light of finances. In any case, though; I will be scheduling more appointments with Edward, and cannot recommended him highly enough. Thank heaven for Groupons! Really nice center that offers waxing, massage, and chiropractic. Got a bikini wax with Monique that was the least painful bikini waxing ever! Great desk staff as welll! Went for a massage - it was pretty good. Chiropractor care is amazing though - I see a doc (dont remember his name) that is on Tue and Thu. One star off for their prices - seems to be a very expensive place!!!! Today was my first time at balance and I will definitely be back! I was scheduled for the moon massage and my massage therapist Kathy first let me smell a small batch of the essential oils that would be used. It smelled like heaven! The moon massage is a deep tissue massage and it was honestly without any shred of doubt the best deep tissue massage I have ever had! I will only ever be coming here from now on and hopefully be scheduling more appointments with Kathy, she is simply the best. Thank you Balance and Kathy! Meh is the perfect word for this place.
My friend and I both bought "Meditative Massages" on groupon, and we finally decided to check it out. We had a hard time finding parking on Sunday afternoon, so we called the center to tell them we were running a few minutes late.
When I walked in, I was expecting (like others, apparently) more of a spa-like area. When you walk in, it almost looks like a bar (perhaps because there's a huge "bar" around the one guy that was seen in the "center". There were oils and bath salts all along one wall, and then a bunch of chairs all stacked up on top of each other in the next room over. It was quite odd. My friend and I informed the guy at the "bar" who we were, and he said to go downstairs to wait in the "small waiting room".
Small waiting room was right, it is a small corner that has a bench built into the wall. My massuise soon came over and escorted me into a "massage room", which felt more like a room in a doctors office, in a long hallway - it was quite odd. She asked me what brought me in, and I explained to her that "I saw a groupon for a Meditative Massage and I've never had one so I decided to check it out." She responded, "it's basically the same as a regular massage, it just includes sage and jasmine oils. they smell....ooookay." I nod, and say okay I would like to try out the sage/jasmine oils as opposed to the unscented (which she seemed to be pushing). The massage was just ooookay. I suppose it was relaxing to have an hour to myself to just not think about things, but the pressure (which there was none of ) and the fact that her freezing hands were focused more on weird angles than actually massaging any part of me, was weird. She kept sliding her hands under my back (while laying face up) and then worked my neck a bit while I was still laying on my back. Other massages I have had (and I haven't had many, just two other ones) focused more on my back/neck and there was considerably more pressure. This was a very light, weird touch. I wasn't expecting that since I was told it was just like a regular massage except with different oils. The massuise was pretty nice, otherwise.
I am glad I bought a groupon, because If I would have paid $150 for this, I would be highly upset.
My friends told me her massiuse, Svetlana had dry, cracked hands that felt pretty icky on her skin, as one can imagine. This was my friends first experience with a massage, so I told her to definitely not assume they are all like that.
After your massage, you walk back upstairs to the "bar" and are not informed as to what to do - I asked if the guy(behind the bar) if he could give the maussise her tip. He then showed me these tiny envelopes where you can write your massagers' name and your name on the envelope and place a tip inside.
***Long story short: No frills, not much pressure during the massage, un-spa like atmosphere. I would not pay full price ever to go here. I've been to massage "centers" in malls that give better massages. I would not return, and would not recommend it for a massage, since I was told the meditative was the same as other massages - so that is what I am basing this on - it was much worse than any massage I've ever had.Also, it is only getting 2 stars because my massage ended at 1:57. I did arrive a couple minutes late (even though I called to inform them) but I wasn't seen right away, and didn't get in the room and have my massage start until 1:10 or later. So I had a less than 60 minute massage as well, that was not all my fault. The least they could of done was go to 2pm, I thought that was not good customer service. *** Got a massage at Balance Health Center from Valerie and she was great! Very attentive and great pressure. Definitely recommend her and Balance. Can't beat the $49 price! So sorry to hear Stepanie had left balance ... and then I found her here practicalbodywork.com I just had a deep tissue massage by Korey who is phenomenal at what he does! He has such strong hands and my tense body was feeling very rejuvenated afterwards! Dr. Chris is also wonderful, I don't go anywhere else but here! Had a signature facial with Jensine for the first time today. She is really good and im very satisfied. I just made another facial appt with her, I think I will be a regular here. I had a great massage today from Svetlana. I asked her to concentrate especially on my feet and legs, since I was sore from the half marathon yesterday, and she sure did.
I've had a few uncomfortable massages in the past, and this was surely not one of them- the pressure was perfect and she worked out all the knots in my back.
4 stars instead of 5 because I would have absolutely loved to shower there- I was not too thrilled to put my clothes back on over my greased-up body. We see Jenn Curren, the on-site therapist, and she is an amazing clinician. I highly recommend her. Balance is a lovely site in a great location and I must say that it always smells terrific! I first went to Balance about 5 years ago and love it!
On arrival you are greeted by friendly staff and a serene spa like environment. It is amazing how many services they offer, making it really easy to get yourself healthy and - living up to the name - balanced. I haven't used all of the services, but the ones I have I can't say enough about!
Dr. Chris is really friendly and quite knowledgable, and not just as a chiropractor. He has a very good philosophy and his adjustments are awesome - can make you feel like a different person! I can't say enough about how much better you can feel - everything from a stiff neck to a sore back. If you have allergies he can also really help open up any blockages. He is genuinely concerned with helping you feel better and he also always has some suggestions on what you can do in your own time to help yourself between appointments.
I also highly recommend booking an appointment with Estelle if you have any nutritional concerns or needs. She sits down you for an hour and really listens to you. After your session she she follows up with a detailed plan to meet your goals. It is amazing how much better I feel after working with her, not to mention more energy!
I've only had amazing experiences there so I'm looking forward to trying the other services they provide - plus they accept insurance and are in an awesome location so I plan to be a lifetime customer! This place is a joke and super unprofessional. She used her bare fingers to squeeze my pimples and I ended up with permanent acne scars on my face. Not only that a few days after my facial I broke out with even more pimples and my skin started peeling and burning. Worst facial ever!
Additionally, I bought a signature facial which is supposed to include a neck head hand and shoulder massage, but instead they gave me the cheaper custom facial! After the service ended, I asked her what service I got, and she said custom facial. I told her that I had purchased the signature, and she claimed they're the same! I also asked front desk receptionist what the difference between the 2 is and she stumbled without an answer.
I basically got ripped off and my face ripped off in the process. Never returning. Had my first chiropractic appointment today ever - with Chris - absolutely fantastic. Was able to quickly identify what was wrong with me and how to work at fixing it - when I've been in pain for almost a week - and then with his help this is the best I've felt all week. Already scheduled my next appointment. Finally able to turn my head without throbbing pain - wish I had seen him 6 days ago and didn't suffer so long. Highly recommend Chris! I have been going to Balance Health Center for massages since 2010. I have always been happy with the customer service at the center as well as love my massages with Edward. He does great work and I leave feeling amazing. I think the company does a lot of great things and more people need to experience it! I visited Balance Spa for the first time today and really lived my experience. Although I was a bit nervous because I usually go to spa chains such as bliss or red door, I was very pleased with the services provided. There may not be some of the extras like a locker room, whirlpool, steam room and such, the services here were top notch. Kathy my masseuse worked miracles getting the knots out of my neck and was relentless which I really appreciated. Her hands must have been so tired! My aesthetician, Laura was also very experienced and gave great service. My face feels wonderful! I have been using the services of Balance Chiropractic for several years. Dr. Bernabei is an excellent chiropractor. Furthermore, there is a staff of fabulous massage therapists and the fees are reasonable. The building is just being renovated, so it is a lot more modern and spacious and bright. They also offer some classes; I am looking forward to a meditation class that may be offered soon. Balance Health Center has lost two customers forever. First, a couple months ago, I went in for the "Fire" massage. After the session had begun, the masseuse told me they were out of the cinnamon and ginger oils, the two oils that would have made it the "fire" massage. I was disappointed and the masseuse didn't seem overly apologetic or even very concerned.
Then, yesterday, I booked a one-hour "Earth" massage for my wife for today at 11:00am. We showed up at the appointed time and were told that the masseuse hadn't shown up and they hadn't heard from him. The receptionist finally reached him on the phone and he had been in Virginia all weekend! He claimed he hadn't received any messages so of course didn't call to say he was out of town. My wife and I left immediately and will get a refund from Groupon.
Both issues of not keeping enough supplies in stock or confirming that a masseuse was available before booking a session are examples of poor management. These are basic elements of giving customers the service they are paying for that aren't being met.
I'd recommend that Balance not advertise on Groupon if they cannot meet customer demand. I highly recommend Dr. Chris Barnabei. I always get an adjustment that lasts me a long time and solves any issues I'm having in my neck and back. I've lived throughout the country and "Dr. Chris" always sticks out as excellent. I have been seeing him off and on since 2007. Even when I moved to D.C., I made sure to prioritize seeing him during trips back to Philly. I even visited him when I came back from Los Angeles. He doesn't utilize x-rays but is an intuitive chiropractor who does massage and suggest tips you can try at home. Highly recommended! Yesterday was my first visit to Balance Chiropractic Health Center. The massage started slightly late only about 5 minutes, but I think it was due to the client before me, not a fault of the studio.
I found the facility via Groupon and purchased the $56 1 hour sport massage (normally $110). Although I've been getting regular massages for several years, this was my first sports massage. I am very active with my upper body and constantly have knots near my shoulder blades, soreness around my scapula and general just tenseness from my upper back, shoulders, traps and neck. I relayed all this information to my therapist, Nick.
I thoroughly enjoyed my massage and the deep work we were able to accomplish through his techniques, and my breathing. The pressure may be a bit much for most, but I do think if you have tense muscles from activity as an athlete, you need this pressure to truly accomplish the myofascial release. I felt that Nick really focused on the areas I asked him to, told me to breathe deeply when I needed to, and took a lot of time and detail on focused muscle groups. I walked out feeling so much more refreshed and loose than when I had walked in.
I also saw they had signs posted on the wall that you can purchase Groupons directly from them. I think I'll take them up on that offer and get another sports massage next month! I'll update my review accordingly I have come here solely thanks to either Groupon or Amazon Local.
The first time I came for the 2 hour fire massage, and although the length seemed a bit much, it ended up being quite a treat and I left feeling amazing.
The second time I came for Yoga which was good, but not one of my favorite places to practice. Mostly I believe it is a space issue (the room they use was small and very packed) but the instructor was gentle and the class was good.
The third time was this past weekend when I got a facial. It was exactly what my skin needed to get ready for summer and it was an hour of pure bliss.
I really love this plcae. It is clean, relaxing, in a great location, and the fact that they always offer some sort of coupon makes it very affordable. I highly reccomend it and I cannot wait to go back again for more pampering! I had never been to a chiropractor but had really awful neck pain and decided to try out Balance. Dr. Chris helped me SO much even in just one visit. I have been twice now and am almost back at 100% in just a few days. So happy I found such a great practice- thanks yelp! Balance Health Center approaches chiropractic care from a holistic perspective. It isn't just about cracking your back. They have on staff massage therapists, an acupuncturist, a nutritionist and a variety of other holistic health care. I went to Balance after getting in an accident and never once did I feel like I was being milked for cash as people tend to complain about when talking about chiropractic care. Dr. Chris recommended sleeping positions, exercises and nutritional changes that helped me make lasting adjustments (pardon the pun) in the way I approach my health.
Balance has an attitude of putting the patients care in her own hands, with qualified professionals to help walk them through it. Steve gave me the most amazing massage! His hands delivered the most effective, soothing and relaxing massage I have every received.....truly the definition of a massage and how it should leave the client.
Scheduling was convenient. The facility offers an array of teas, scented oils and "Wildfire". I have only received chiropractic services at Balance Health Center. I came in over the summer with severe lower back pain - it was hard to walk and I was unable to bend over. I received an excellent adjustment and instructions for home exercises. I was diligent in doing to at-home care and came in for adjustments 2/week and for two weeks, then 1/week for a few weeks and then 1/month. It was expensive, but my back feels great and I am so grateful to be relieved of the pain. I have been going to see Dr. Chris for many years and each time my back feels better after getting an adjustment. It is incredible to see how the business has grown over the years without the quality of care and dedication never ever slipping. If you are having back pain or other issues I highly recommend you come in and see Dr. Chris for a consultation as his knowledge of the spine as well as the human anatomy is truly amazing. I came to this place with my girlfriend for the "sun" massages through the Groupon deal. Worst decision ever!
First of all, I had the massage therapist "Cee-Cee" and she was so extremely rude and disrespectful that I'm writing my first yelp review ever to warn people. It started off well enough with us going through an initial consultation and letting her know that I had a horrible day and was just looking to relax without too much pressure. She responded as though she understood.
Once the massage started she started pinching my skin and pulling on my muscles which was very painful. I told her repeatedly that it was painful and asked for lighter contact, which she said she understood. Long story short, nothing changed and I had to endure 60 minutes of feeling like I was being tortured. Once it was over she said, and I quote "okay, I guess we can stop this torture now!" And laughed in my face.
I got dressed and upon leaving the room she was blocking the hallway so that I couldn't get by. It was clear that she expected a tip from me and out of sheer desire to get out of there I tipped her.
All in all, I had a horrible experience and would never return to this establishment again. I have always been scared to use a chiropractor. I have a bad back, and was skeptical about using this type of service to alleviate my pain- esp. in light of the numerous stories I have heard.
Dr. Chris changed everything for me. He is so good at what he does-he helped get rid of my back pain and without trying, my shin splints. He sat down with me and said that at first it may take numerous appointments but after I get to a certain point, I will only need to come up for tune ups. He is right. He has helped me go from once every other week, to about once every four months. He's definitely got a gift.
I have used their massage service as well and they have many great masseuses.. I prefer certain ones over others but you will be able to find one you groove with. The office has just been renovated and is tranquil and holistic. Go here for your pain.
They have taken almost all of my different insurance policies. One of them gave me 1/2 hour massage with my adjustment for only 20$. Well worth the money. I had a groupon that was close to expiring so more than anything I wanted to make sure it didn't go to waste.
I DREAD Brazilians so I was in a funky mood when I got there. That's probably part of the reason at I first I wasn't impressed with the facility. It wasn't serene or tranquil like a spa. The waiting area downstairs is also more bright and cheery than sterile or shiny and new. But it's a Health Center so my fault for having the wrong expectations.
So why 5 stars? TIA.
She delivered hands down the best Brazilian I've ever had. No, she isn't a magician so yes, it still hurts like hell. But she went at a pace that was comfortable for me - I never felt rushed.
She engaged me in just the right amount of conversation - I'm Marshawn Lynch when it comes to small talk and she had me opening up.
Best of all, she was METICULOUS! She's the first waxer to make me feel like it was worth the pain.
Part of me wants to let all of Philly know, the other part of me wants to keep her to myself so I can always get my preferred time slot. Either way, I'll continue to be her loyal customer. I may even try some other services. And to think it all started with an expiring groupon. I love coming here for facials, Swan is amazing and I always leave so relaxed!! Have been going here for about a year for Brazilian waxes. Used to see Jensine who was great, but I was recently told that she was no longer working there and was scheduled with Xuan. Xuan was incredible. Very friendly, quick, and easily the least painful wax I have ever gotten. I will definitely be back! Dr Chris was awesome ! Very friendly and a wonderful atmosphere. My back pain went from very painful to feeling normal once again after he did the adjustments. I saw a special deal online for a summer "sun" massage so I decided to try it out. My massage wasn't bad, but the experience wasn't what I expected. Everyone was nice and I had a pleasant experience, but just not what I expected...and here's why:
First of all, the description and impression that I got of the "sun" massage was that it was going to be a refreshing, lemon-y massage...however, what I received was just a plain, swedish massage, with a scent-less oil.
Secondly, the place was not very spa-like at all. I guess I should not have assumed that it would be, considering they are called a Health Center but my massage just wasn't the same without all the bells and whistles of a spa. Walking downstairs to the massage rooms, I felt like I was walking into a doctor's office...it was a plain, sterile looking hallway, flanked with rooms. The rooms were simple and clean, but the walls are pretty thin. It was nice and tranquil once I got into the massage room, but it's definitely not like that throughout the establishment.
I may come back to try the chiropractor but I don't think I will have another massage here. Tried a Groupon massage and was scheduled with Janelle. She is SO GOOD. The perfect amount of pressure but she'll cater to your preferences. This is not The Rittenhouse in terms of high end and yes, you check in at what looks like a cafe bar. But it's a very authentic place and everyone is nice. Based on reviews, it sounds like a great place for waxing also. I'd come back and inclined to try the chiropractor, as well. But unlike massages I've gotten at chiro offices, this is way better in that you're in a private and comfortable room, no distractions. And again, the massage was one of the best I've had at any price. Ambience 4 stars but service def 5 stars. Excellent waxing services with Katie. Couldn't have gone more smoothly. Will return! The front desk table looks like a bar...weird.
Anyway, the receptionist was very nice in greeting and letting you know who will be meeting you.
It was my first time there for a sports massage and it was quite interesting.
I think I even took a cat nap in-between because it was very relaxing.
But I'm not sure if it was a "sport massage", it just felt like a regular mediocre massage.
I did hope that all parts of the body got treated equally instead of focusing on the back most of the time. Had a living social deal for half off a 90 minute massage- sweet!! Could I stand to be massaged for 90 whole minutes- would I be bored I wondered??
Umm noo- the 90 minutes flew by in a flash and was close to heavenly. Apparently a 90 minute massage is anything but boring. I almost slipped into a deep sleep as the massage therapist's skilled hands eased away all my aches and pains..
Now for the bad- at $82.50 this was a steal, but for the normal outlandish price of $160 there's no way I'd return. Even if it is 90 minutes, my bank account cringes at that price tag... A girlfriend and I signed up for a 10 class yoga groupon. When we arrived, our instructor didn't show so I was bit bummed about it. We waited a couple hours for the next available class and I have no regrets. Devin was exceptional. She made me feel all my strengths and weaknesses. I'll definitely be back for one of her classes. Received a sports massage from Rose tonight and they were absolutely fabulous, I sat and explained my past injuries, where my tightness and range of motion issues were and every area that I had an issue with were relieved. I hadn't had a massage in quite some time let alone a sports massage, I definitely needed deeper than Swedish and more focus work. Nail. On. The. Head. Booking my next appointment already and can't wait to see where my body progresses from there thanks again Rose! Wow, I feel like I've walked into another universe altogether. A center that approaches wellness from a holistic perspective and provides a litany of services to address all those problems that Western medicine and traditional treatments have failed to cure all in one place?
If I had a "chi" and if I knew what that was, I'm sure my 'chi' would dig this place. It's airy, open, painted in all light and soothing colors. It's a New Age haven.
I've just recently started going to this place after some aches and pains weren't going away. Ah - the joys of growing older! Upon recommendation, I've been going to Edward for some massage therapy - who worked - magic - I kid you, not - that man knows how to work with his hands.
I also tried acupuncture for the first time - and I was skeptical at first - How powerful could little needles be? But holy cow, was I ever wrong... Jenny, the acupuncturist, assesses all your ailments (from A to Z, leaves no stone unturned) and treats you accordingly. I left feeling (as she put it) 'accu-stoned' and on for several hours.
Both of these treatments have alleviated my ailments - they have really has made a difference and because of that I plan on returning. As much as my wallet lets me.
First time massage client pay a reasonable $49 and first time acupuncture assessment and hour-long treatment for $99. Can't beat that. They also accept certain insurance plans - Bonus!
P.S. The Chiropractor (a cool looking New-Age guy with the appropriate ponytail) practices out in the open with his patients near the front desk and bar (which kinda freaks me out - regardless of how good he is, I think I'd prefer getting my treatments in private) My review is based on customer service prior to having any services rendered. I scheduled an appointment for 9/17, on 9/16/18 the spa called to confirm my appointment for 1:30 pm. On 9/17/18, I received a call that morning from the spa and they asked if I could reschedule because they are overbooked. What organization loses a customer in advance... shame on you... Great massage, only thing was if I pay for an hour I don't want the person before me to get 15 minutes extra and me 15 less. Definitely would go back. Never have I ever...Had a worse massage. To begin, I sat on a hard plank in the waiting area for 25 minutes prior to my massage. Granted, I was early for my appointment. My masseur, (although a pleasant bloke) saw me and introduced himself on his way out for his break. I think offering to at least let me hang up my coat would have been nice. Oh well...
My "full two hour massage," first 15 minutes was having a conversation that I wasn't interested in having and my 1hr and 45 minute massage felt more like pinching, scratching, poking and prodding. I have more oil in my hair than I did on my body. The head rest pillow was either too worn or didn't fit properly leaving my face to rest on metal. Two terry cloth towels were then provided to try to relieve the discomfort. The towels (bar rags) were rough and felt like sandpaper on my face. The establishment is cold. My feet during the entire massage felt like they were immersed in ice and pouring cold oil on my body direct from the container is not at all pleasurable or relaxing. Listening to the receptionist laughing from the floor above was more than annoying.
When the receptionist asked me how my massage was, I told her "the worst I have ever had." She said, "oh so sorry," and swiped my credit card.
The place is dirty! The floors and the bathroom pretty gross and the bar/reception desk looked like it had a frothy spittle trail of drool my dog used to leave behind after a long run, that my receipt was placed on top of to sign. So nasty.
Here is the best of the news. Thankfully, it was a Groupon rate of 131.00 rather than...Wait for it...Wait for it...$280.00 that they would normally charge. Yes, you read that correctly.
I did feel compelled to call them when I got home and prior to this review, to discuss what you are reading here. I feel it is important for an establishment to get a heads up and give them a chance to make good on a situation. However, after trying 3 times and nobody answering, I decided that adding poor customer service to the list wouldn't really make them or break them at this point.
A massage at this place is right up there with having a cigar extinguished in your eye.
Seriously, if you want to relax your mind and body save your money and fill up your bath tub. Add some bath salts, light a candle, put on some music of YOUR choice and enjoy. Making appointments was easy (I had made one previously but had to cancel) and purchased a Groupon for this visit. Upon arriving for my deep tissue massage, I was excited about the tea bar with all the retail options for tinctures, salts and teas for relaxation. It doubles also as a chiropractic office and a spa downstairs. I was offered water before my appointment. I went downstairs to the spa area. I met my massage therapist, there were only male therapists available at the time I needed. He explained the massage and asked if there were any areas I didn't want to include in the full body treatment. He asked which oils did I want to use and I picked peppermint and eucalyptus, he did not, however, ask if I needed to use the restroom before my treatment or tell me where it was. So I went and found it across from my room before undressing, it was not very well kept for a "spa" bathroom.
The room was too small for the treatment, I felt like my massage therapist was struggling to get around the table. What bothered me the most was the smell of old oil (Latinas--and other cultures whose families cook with a lot of oil knows what that smells like). I could barely smell the peppermint or the eucalyptus and the fragrance was missing completely by the end of my massage. The pressure, though he mentioned to tell me when it was too tense, was still too much and so that was my fault but also the reason I prefer female massage therapists in general. When I got up to get dressed, I went to grab the gratuity envelope and saw all the old oil splashes and wondered how long it had been since the room had been properly disinfected.
I would not be going back because the biggest issue was that you could hear conversations, steps on the floor, movement, etc. from everything going on up above in the chiropractic space. That was distracting enough. I also waited way too long to check out with my Groupon voucher, it should've been prompt and friendly. She could've also asked if I wanted to schedule another appointment, but no one did. I have had one massage and one chiropractice adjustment here.
The massage was fine. I did not like the adjustment at all. The Dr. was totally different than the woman I used to see in New York.
I wll not likely return.
They also offerr yoga classes - which sounds intriguing. I bought the groupon for a facial. I tried calling this place and left two voicemails but never heard back. Earlier this week, finally Ashley answered only to tell me that she has NO appointments available for weekdays after 6pm or weekends any time. There was no "I am sorry" or "Can I take your number down and call you back when something opens up". There was only the "one of the estheticians is on maternity leave so we don't have appointments". I contacted groupon and let them know. Groupon would not refund my money and after exchanging at least 3-4 emails with them, they emailed me saying "We've been in touch with this business and were fortunately able to smooth out the misunderstanding. I'm so sorry for the trouble you had when you tried to use the Groupon before, but they should be on the same page now and you shouldn't run into further difficulty." So I called back yesterday and Ashley answered again. I told her that Groupon informed me that now you have availability so I'd like to make an appointment. She instead responds with "Groupon does not have access to our schedules so I am not sure how they could tell you that." And again, no sorry for the trouble or anything but almost questioning me about what Groupon said or I wonder if she thought I made that up?! Either ways, I am very disappointed.. I spent $60 on this Groupon. I really hope it's worth it! I have my facial appointment next week...... i highly recommend Balance for all your massage needs. ive been going here periodically for the past 5 1/2 years & im never disappointed with the experience. ive also had some chiropractic adjustments that did wonders for my migraine issues. i tell everyone i know thats looking for a great place to go for bodywork to go here, & they are always offering great specials on all of their sevices. Dr. Bernabei is wonderful. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and thorough. The whole staff is very kind and welcoming. The building has tons of character and feels warm and communal. I hope to try a massage here soon. Be sure to check their website for monthly spa specials! Recently went here for the first time. Very friendly staff, and Dr. Chris literally put me back together after days of back pain. Products they sell are all natural (bought some sage to clear my house)!
They also have a naturalpath who is a massage therapist but didn't get a chance to try her out. Kathleen is excellent. Highy recommend. Very professional and can always find deals on Groupon This is the third time I've ever been to Balance for a massage and it's great each time. Got an incredible massage from Jamelia today! She listened to my problem areas, and didn't forget about the rest. Can't wait to go back and get another from her!
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name: Crown Fried Chicken, address: 1039 Spring Garden St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 2.5, is_open: opening, categories: Restaurants, American (Traditional), Chicken Wings, text: This little gem surprised me ! The chicken is fresh and has a amazing batter taste. I was suprise to find the batter was different from item to item . The wings vs tenders had a different taste , both of which are amazing . The wings didn't come with a sauce and they didn't need any ! The prices are super reasonable and the restaurant itself was super clean ! They have a nice range of sizes depending on if your dining for one or for a group . Check out this checked ! You won't be disappointed:) The chicken was extremely dry and tasted terrible. I have a box of fried chicken sitting next to me and have no desire to eat it. This is an almost impossible scenario. I haven't had fried chicken in a loooong time!
This is a little place on the corner and is kinda no frills.
I can't complain about the chicken though because it was juicy, plump and tasty!
We also opted for the potato wedges which were great! They were full wedges and were fresh and not greasy!
This is a take out only place and they were a little skimpy with the napkins and the ketchup! Great bang for your buck.
Delicious chicken sandwiches and fries. Used to come here after I was done working at a gallery. Amazing late night food. Went to a show last night at Union transfer and had to get some food for a late night snack. Conveniently, there was fried chicken right across the street. My gf and i split the 29 piece nuggets box with fries and a drink. I think it cost around $7. Plenty of food there, everything was hot and tasted freshly cooked. The guy at the register was friendly. Overall, it's fast food - nothing new here. I've had better, I've had worse. Sufficed for a drunk meal! Usually my go to spot for late night fried food on the way home. I think they are under new management though, which sucks. They rarely have beef patties anymore and now it is .50 cents, used to be free, for any sauce packet, aside from hot sauce. I have hot sauce at home, just give me the honey mustard I so desire. Born and raised in Chicago, recently relocated to Philly from California. I've had some excellent fried chicken of all varieties.
Is this what you call fried Philadelphia? I suppose because the prices are cheap, fries, and soda is included is why this place is so popular.
Dry chicken, unevenly breaded, overly salty, received the wrong combo, but the fries were decent. The service was also friendly. Unfortunately , I ate a few bites and stored it in the fridge to clean off and give to my cat.
2 stars because of the service and the fact that my cat seems to enjoy it. I ordered with ubereats the following
10 hotwings
3 piece chicken
and a sweetpotatopie
the caption/description of their chicken and hotwings option on the ubereats app says "comes with fries and soda"
when the food arrived, everything was there except the soda.
i called the place and am greeted by a grumpy sounding man who follows into allegedly denying that they ever promised to include soda. he screamed saying "no no soda no. no soda goodbye" and hung up.
this incident occured around 2am 05-04-2017 I went here because it's literally across the street. I had to find out if this was a legit go to spot between grocery runs.
The cashier dude seemed annoyed to take my order. A girl came in and asked if they had sprite and he straight up ignored her.
Come to find out there's an extra charge to use a credit whether it's above or below $7. But the best part of of waiting 20 minutes for my order was this guy ranting on his phone and to some other customers about how he's the real deal OG gansta and he's the "uzi baby", "I'm a blue plus blue makes red". Then he starts going off on the white devil and he says he smells like #2 (?)
I recommend this place only to those with a lot of patience, a strong sense of humor, no taste buds, and a bulletproof vest. They need to get some dam actually kitchen workers instead of these 15 year old boys, they can't handle the heat in the kitchen when I ask for a simple order they say "we're too busy" lost my business a lot of time because their unprofessional attitude For the #5 (15 pieces, 3 sides and 8 rolls), we got 13 pieces, the wrong sides and no rolls....
They charge you $0.25 for orders under $7 and 4% for orders over $7, so decide in advance whether you'd like to take it in the front or in the back, because either way you're getting screwed been here a couple times recently. seems okay. never crowded. tables could use a good wiping (not that id dine in but..). food was okay. if u get the chicken fresh out of the fryer it tends to be pretty damn good tho. the staff is just blah for the most part. no real issues to report tho. I've never had Crown Fried Chicken before so finally decided to go for some. My friends and I found the safest location that's nearby. I wonder if it's the random people around wanting to start a conversation, the funky smell of the store or overall reputation of the chain that makes me feel hesitant to sink my teeth in. I'm big on cleanliness so I always wonder what letter grade this space would get if this is New York. Anyhow, I got the 10 piece special. The chicken was not bad, very orange looking though. My friend said she prefer KFC still. I prefer to go to Cafe Soho for the Korean chicken. Ordered spicy chicken sandwich meal with orange soda. I received a chicken sandwich with a cup of ketchup poured on top. Got coke instead of orange soda Tuesday Dec.5th, 2015
I was looking forward to my lunch from Popeyes' Famous Louisiana Kitchen. After all, it is the best chicken around. I had ordered the 3 piece chicken meal because I had skipped breakfast this morning and was a tad bit hungry. Visions of a selection of scrumptious chicken parts danced in my head as I awaited my meal. The food had arrived promptly, thanks to the friendly neighborhood Uber driver, and the delicious smell filled the air. As I opened the box, my smile quickly changed to one of disappointment. Before me were 3 chicken wings ...not a thigh in sight ... not even a leg, but 3 of the smallest of components that could possibly make up a combo. As I pushed together the wings in an attempt to make up at least a leg, I wondered to myself... could this possibly be the work of new hire that was yet to complete a day of training? I mean, it couldn't possibly be the dastardly deed of a demented mind that would think that such a prank would be the least bit funny... I hope not. Perhaps business has not been good and Popeye's decided to cut corners or perhaps I was unaware that you have to make your own selection of pieces. Regardless, I think that the people at Popeyes' can at least alert their customers that if you don't make a selection, the default variety will be chicken wings ...just chicken wings.
signed,
Still Hungery You Mfers
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name: Liberty Bell Bicycle, address: 1901 S 13th St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.0, is_open: opening, categories: Sporting Goods, Bikes, Shopping, text: This is a great bike shop with friendly staff! So great in fact, I'm going to write my first yelp review to praise their awesome customer service, fair prices and super quick service. I brought my old vintage free spirit cruiser in to be looked at and it was in rough conidition after sitting in a basement for over a year. I planned on selling it and didn't want to spend to much fixing the broken brake cable, flat tire, and faulty gear shifting machanism. In under 24 hours they fixed everything and even replaced my back tire with a better used spare they had!! This was all at a great low price. You can tell these guys are friendly, honest, and care about the quality of their work. Highly recommended, This is my new bike shop and I couldn't be happier. A no-frills place with some retail gear and great, honest repair service.
I've had 6-8 repairs done on 2+ bikes now and it's always fast, courteous, and inexpensive.
Finding a good bike shop is as hard (if not harder) than finding a good mechanic. I'll not be letting these guys go anytime soon. I'm replacing my initial three-star review from a few years ago. I have since come to love this place. Good work. Not too expensive. Quick. Nice guys. I don't have much experience going to bike shops, but I can say that Liberty Bell was great! I took my vintage Raleigh in when it was in pretty bad shape (it had been sitting outside for a year) and they cleaned a lot of the rust off and fixed the tires and cables. Even before it had been sitting outside it did this thing where it would fall between gears. Fixed! And considering the work that had to be done, it was relatively cheap. I've been here twice for bike repairs. Most recently when my back wheel was stolen.... The (owner?) was friendly and hooked me up with a used wheel for half the price of a new one. Quick, friendly service. I bought a used bicycle here last summer. They have a small selection, but the bike I got was both cheaper and in better condition than you'd find in the other used shops in town. They also sell some new stuff and offer the standard repair services. I've never gotten anything fixed here, but the guy who sold me my bike was pretty friendly. He told me that if I had any problems in the next 30 days, I could bring it back and he'd fix it for free. I had a bearing failure on a bike crossing the Tacony. Walked my bike to Frankford put it on a bus to get the the Frankford location. Worker there tells me we wont work on your bike, when all he had to do was replace the wheel bearings. A total jerk. I'll never step foot in that place again. I went 3 miles out of my way to get treated like a subhuman. I dropped my beaten Columbia mountain bike off to them Thursday after work and it was ready around noon on Friday - fast and my bike rides like a dream. It was $50 for the tune up and $30 to fix my pedals.
Conveniently located about 2 blocks away from the Snyder stop on the Broad Street Line made it easy to drop off and pick up.
EDIT/UPDATE: Liberty Bell never actually fixed my bike - they told me that they were going to install a bracket that would fix the pedal issue. The pedals were fine for a few months but started getting shaky again in October. I put the bike away for the winter and brought it back out last month and after a short time the bike was unridable because the pedals were shaking so badly.
I was charged for them to put a bracket on that would fix my pedals. It turns out that no such bracket was installed and the bearings are completely stripped - I'm told they are so bad that there's no way I could have done that much wear and tear in a year.
If you do plan to go here, I strongly suggest you make them show you exactly what they did to your bike. I am sorry to write a negative review of a neighborhood business, but I had a bad experience. All I needed was a simple tire repair. Specifically, I needed broken spoke replaced; I wanted a new rim liner, and I needed a flat repaired. I wanted the rim liner because the one that came with the tire was old and flimsy and was not protecting the tube from the rim causing me to get flats. When I picked the wheel up, they had not fixed the broken spoke, so I had to take it back.
The next day I got a flat when I was riding. When I was fixing the flat, I saw that the new rim liner had about a three inch gap where it did not cover the rim, and they had left the old flimsy liner in the rim under the new liner. The tube went flat in the area of the gap. I was so upset. The entire reason I went to the store to get new rim liner was to prevent me from getting another flat, but I ended up getting a flat because the shop made a repair that was obviously faulty. I got a new rim liner from Performance Bikes and fixed it myself. I won't go back to Liberty Bell Bicycles. Your review helps others learn about great local businesses.
Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees. Dishonest and unprofessional. Just found out these guys sold me a USED TUBE. Took it out of the box a couple weeks after buying it to find a thick glued patch on it.
This is the same shop that bought and sold a bike stolen from my house and recorded no information on the seller(thief). They hung a sign up after my boy found out his stolen bike was sold there saying they were requiring ID to buy your bike, but it was only up a couple weeks. It's long gone now.
I work delivery and brought in my bike for repairs on one occasion, guy assured me it'd be ready by XX30 am the next day. Told him I could pick it up on my way to work then. Show up at XX30, place is closed, guy doesn't show up for another 20 minutes, opens up, and has yet to finish the repair (a simple true I think it was). Late for work.
These guys are three blocks from my house, otherwise I would never set foot in here. Your hours are not correct with your Voice Message. Yelp says you close 6 on Saturday. Your message says five. Wasted an Uber ride. Soo I had high hopes for this place because it's right around the corner from me and after the shop I was going to moved locations to one no longer convenient for my day to day shenanigans, I decided to give this place a try for a tune up a few weeks ago. First of all, the guy running the shop wouldn't really let me make an appointment, which okay, I get it, but their hours are pretty bad, closing at 4:30pm a few days a week and I don't know many people who get off work early enough to make that timeline. I ended up leaving work early one day to drop off the bike so he could get to it the next day. I am fortunate to have a flexible boss, so it was fine.
I got my bike back and all seemed well until I realized the chain was SUPER Looooose, but not until it fell off and I went flying off of it. It happened multiple times on my way home; it was a very unpleasant and mildly terrifying experience.I was swerving all over S. Philly. Not fun. After examining it when I got home, my hubster said there was a problem with the hub. I took it back and they "fixed" it, but the chain now sort of drags and my bike squeaks. I'm planning to take it somewhere else to have them look at it to elminate annoying dragging and squeaking, hopefully.
My hubster took his bike there a few days after I took mine in (and before above incident) for a tune up and the dude was very flustered when we arrived. Refused to let us make an appointment and insisted that we try and get the bike there before 4:30pm. He said he's the only mechanic, what can he do?? But the way he demonstrated this comment was like we were accusing him, when really we were just tryna give him some business. The hubster's job isn't as flexible, so I ended up taking it in for him right when they opened one Fri morning I was working from home. Dude had the bike until Tuesday night. Seems a bit much for a tune up. His bike seems fine. He says it's been pretty smooth, so although it took a hot minute for them to get to his bike, he seems pleased with the results.
A friend of ours also had an unpleasant experience there with her bike, where she had to take her bike elsewhere to get it worked on afterward.
In all, not the absolute most horrible worst, but we will not be returning. They are kind dudes! I've stopped in several times over the past few years for flat fixes and they even did my last one for free because they recognized me from like two weeks prior. Fast and straightforward and hyperlocal. And treat regulars like family! What else could I ask for?
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name: CVS Pharmacy, address: 3401 Walnut St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 2.0, is_open: opening, categories: Drugstores, Pharmacy, Convenience Stores, Food, Shopping, Health & Medical, text: I certainly didn't come here intending to defend CVS, but I almost feel compelled to in light of all these negative reviews... Which is weird, since I wanted to post mostly to complain about how this place is always busy. Always. Always always always. I live just around the corner so I've been here at the weirdest times, and there is always a line. Though I am starting to realize that this is probably less a function of foot traffic and more a chronic case of always being two cashiers short. Still, though, it's kind of strange... How do they always manage to be two cashiers short? Where do those cashiers go? Is this a calculated business decision? Have the CVS higher-ups decided that they need to project an image of 'exclusivity' and 'worth waiting in line'? These are questions to which there are probably no answers.
Here are a few questions that do have answers, though...
Where do I go when I need Red Bull and Orbit gum? CVS.
Where do I go when I need prescription drugs? CVS.
Have I ever had a truly miserable experience at this location? No.
Have I ever had an outstanding experience at this location? No.
Do I always have to wait in line? Yes.
Are there often boxes stacked up in the aisles? Yes.
Do I continue to patronize in spite of these negative things? Yes. THIS IS THE WORST PHARMACY I'VE EVER BEEN TO. I got an Rx filled here, they gave me the WRONG medication (the scrip was right, they just read it wrong) and refused to take it back or refund it - and I hadn't even left the store. They cited that "since I had opened the bag they couldn't take it back". Well, I HAD to open the bag, to see what medication was inside it, and I was never asked to sign one of those "I confirm that my prescription is correct" things before I left the counter, so I don't know how that works. I argued this point with them, to no avail. I had to go BACK to my doctor, get a NEW scrip, and pay $150 out of pocket because my insurance was maxed out by the first Rx. Went there again months later, they didn't even have my meds (a common medication that's NEVER out of stock). Went there are THIRD, time (it's less than a block from my work, and I was in a rush) and they said they didn't have my insurance on file, OK, fine, I'll show you my insurance card on my phone. The pharmacist read my information, put in some numbers in his computer (I guess, he might have been checking facebook for all I know) and then told me "Yeah that insurance is just for like, medical care, it doesn't cover medications." OH REALLY? That's strange, considering I use it for my prescriptions once a month at Walgreens just fine. I told him that it does work for medications at Walgreens, so then he asked me for Walgreens number, I gave him my Rx bottle with Walgreen's of South Street's number on it. Then he asked me "Soooo, is this your phone number, or Walgreens?" WHY WOULD WALGREENS PUT MY PHONE NUMBER IN GIANT NUMBERS NEXT TO THE WORDS "PHARMACY PHONE NUMBER". 45 minutes or so later, I received my medication (the correct one, for once) and lo and behold, my insurance DID cover the medication. I'm sure they get people who don't understand their insurance all the time, but to tell me something clearly false before you've even run my prescription and insurance is beyond asinine and potentially harmful to patients. I've wasted too much time and money on these imbeciles!!! GO LITERALLY ANYWHERE ELSE. The pharmacy technicians are by far the worst, extremely rude and unprofessional. After ignoring me for 15 minutes I finally received my prescription. When I got home I realized they mixed up my prescription and gave me the wrong prescription!!!! This CVS is the worst in the city. they often mess up my prescription, they tell my it's gonna be 15 minutes and it takes an hour, lost my film and the don't even sell cat food. I've had the worst service here! the guy pharmacist is ignorant as all hell. normally they seem very understaffed. A quick walk from the Drexel dorms, this CVS is located "technically" on Upenn's campus. They are sandwiched in between a small food court that has a quizno's. They have everything you need pretty much from food to bathroom supplies! Pharmacy in the back is like any other you find at other CVS's. They are smaller in size but they don't lose any of their stock! Until today, I would have given this CVS two stars for convenience and affordable-ish lunches when I don't have time to brown-bag it.
But today I had a seriously humiliating experience that leads me to rethink ever getting anything from this store again. I have to go through the checkout counter instead of the auto-checkout line because the card I use is no longer swipeable and needs to be hand-entered. The (nice, polite) checkout girl was having trouble with the manual entry. She called over her manager, a self-important guy who loudly said four or five times, "No, she can't use Food Stamps for anything other than food. Oh, okay, she is buying food, so she can use her Food Stamps. Okay, it's Food Stamps, so just enter 'Food Stamps.' Something something FOOD STAMPS." When he himself had trouble, he called over a female manager, who also loudly said, "Hit the Food Stamps key."
This was humiliating. I said politely to the guy that there's a reason that they call it EBT these days (so as not to humiliate people about their poverty), but he ignored me. I was relieved to see that I didn't know anyone behind me in the line or in the auto-checkout line. But this was a serious customer-service faux pas. I work at that intersection, for Unnamed University, and the high likelihood that this could have been witnessed by my students and colleagues whose goodwill and respect are essential to my future employment--at a place where, I hate to say, some people are not that empathetic or understanding about poverty--
Well, I'm pretty pissed off. I was going to write a letter to the store manager, but based on other people's postings here, I suspect that won't do any good. I contacted the corporate office and filed a complaint. They vigorously and adequately dealt with it! Kudos to CVS customer service. Moved from 39th over to this new location down on Walnut, there's a bit less space and the prices are much the same. Not that many staff at times. Convenient for some of the students, but for most of us with access to cars, etc., a Target or Walmart is a better bet. Great they got rid of all the rude cashiers at this CVS and replaced them with plastic boxes. This one cashier with braids is mean. I once entered a wrong phone number into the selfcheck out and it rejected my $3 off coupon.
I asked for help and mean cashier gives me her two cents and then asks me for Valid ID just to use my coupon. I showed her my ID and her grummy ass taps the screen to take off $3.
Never been carded just to use a coupon, this one's a first.
Your Cashiers needs to smile and act like they want to be there, they belong at Walmart! My New Year's Resolution is to boycott CVS.
I have repeatedly received God-awful customer service at this and other CVS stores. Rolling eyes, no "Hello," throwing my money and my change at me. I even got yelled at for wanting cash back at 8:30 in the morning, when, apparently, there's no cash to give back (I only wanted $5!). I was very loudly yelled at.
On top of that, the store is a mess. I have more than once had to move crates of merchandise out of the way in order to get to way I needed. The line is always, always long, and the staff is just plain unfriendly. Recently, whatever I was buying did not ring up on sale, and I didn't catch it until my credit card had already gone through. The cashier rolled her eyes at me and called the manager. I was ready to tattle tale my ass off to the manager until he arrived and I realized that he was just as awful as the cashier. I wrote the company a letter, but who knows where that went.
I have heard lately that they participate in biased hiring or something and that there have been protests. Someone needs to humble this company real bad. CVS always has what I need... 90% of the time! From cleaning products to personal care to nutritional supplements, prescriptions, candy, holiday cards, etc... CVS is usually my "go-to" spot.
The store even has a wide selection of groceries, and strangely the prices range from great deals to huge rip-offs. If you're money-minded, it's worth comparing CVS to your usual supermarket. It's not really their fault that they're slow and overcrowded....but they're slow and overcrowded.
This is the only CVS on Penn and Drexel's campus, so pretty much every goddamn student goes there. If you can, go to another one. I've defended this CVS in the past, but today was awful.
I waited online for 15 minutes to pay.
Normally, not a problem. I try to find the Zen in it, and approach as "read People magazine" found- time.
But, I was the ONLY person in line.
I couldn't do self checkout (which I'm not a fan of anyway) because the people doing self checkout were having issues with the machine (as they break all the time).
And there was no staff. The cashier was texting, and then disappeared into the back room.
If I wasn't in dire need of my purchase, I would have left. The slowest CVS pharmacy I've ever been to, with the rudest staff ever met. I have mixed feelings about this CVS. I have been using it ever since it opened. I work right next door to it and it is very convenient. There are 3 people that work there that I simply adore. So kind and helpful and just generally good people. However, most of the other staff have more of an "I don't wanna be here leave me alone" attitude.
There is one person in particular that works here who has been downright rude to me. I believe she is a supervisor there and has been there for years. She is always short tempered and literally has no customer service skills. I can't STAND IT when I have to do business with her. I would rather do something less horrible like walk on glass with bare feet. How can they keep a woman like this on staff for so long?
I am calling to make a complaint about this woman because the other day she crossed the line. If I could I would give this store a half star.
The pharmacy techs are completely rude, and cannot get orders correct at all.
Frightening.
I have had to go back several times for the same prescription.
I will take ALL my business to Rite Aid moving forward. At least they are pleasant. I have to give this CVS a lot of credit. The PENN students often stop here in between classes so their crowds come in waves and yet they always do a great job of keeping the check out line moving and the self-check out kiosks working and manned with a helpful employee. While they do sometimes run out of items that go on sale, I feel that it's because the poor college students are always looking for a bargain and wipe them out of their hot sale items.
The associates that work here are friendly and helpful although I've seen them get mad at one another but that doesn't really bother me too much.
I've always found the layout of this store to make sense and they've almost always had everything I needed.
As far as convenience, this store definitely gets 4 stars. The Pharmacist at this CVS looks incredibly depressed and given up on life when it comes to helping costumers. I went to ask information about an e- prescription and they just told me come in Monday because they weren't sure how to fulfill this order. I really don't like to give poor reviews, but this place goes out of their way to make your shopping experience crummy. So to assist you, I've created a protocol that will steer you clear of trouble
1. Please don't ask employees to help you; they have better things to do, like:
*walking around the aisles looking busy
*texting on cell phones covertly hidden under sleeves or sleethly inside pockets (Facebook status' will not update themselves, you know!)
*maintaining an aire of superiority over customers
2. If you dare to ask for help, you will likely be met with:
*blank stares
*a finger pointing you towards some vague area of the store
*referral towards a elusive figure in management who is currently out
*a tone of voice that compares only with your cat's claws against a chalkboard
*irritation, because as stated before, CVS employees have better things to do
I have a CVS closer to where I live, and I can attest to the fact that CVS employees are capable of caring for the customer's needs (at least they pretend!) This CVS, located on 34th and Walnut, and not to be compared with the CVS on 39th and Walnut, is pretty terrible.
If you believe you've been treated poorly here, please call CVS' customer service at:
1-888-607-4CVS (1-888-607-4287)
I did, and they said that my specific complaint would be addressed immediately. DO NOT USE the self check out machines here. They're always broken AND even though the machines accept cash, they don't give you change back. You have to wait FOREVER for a person to slowly wobble over and fumble with the key. This CVS is passable if you're in the area and need something.
The store doesn't seem very well organized. Sometimes the price tags on the shelf are wrong and make no sense. Once, I waited forever to fill a prescription, and then it turned out they'd forgotten to call my name.
I appreciate that it's there and often has what I need, but shopping there can be annoying & eat up a lot more time than necessary. Phamacists and techs are very nice. The line is often a bit long, but I guess that's what you get when there aren't many drugstores in the heart of 2 college campuses. I was lucky - I came here right at 8 AM when the pharmacy opened and the place was empty - thus no waiting (lines here can be ridiculous.). Plus I got a bottle of "SmartWater" for $1. Score!
Wish they had more cashiers. (They also have 4 self check outs that sometimes don;t always work.)
A necessary evil. RIght smack in the heart of the Penn campus lies a mini-CVS with narrow aisles and a lot of foot traffic, so much at times it seems like walking through the streets of Mumbai. At times, the lines for the cash registers or self-serve registers are impossibly long. I don't think this is the fault of the store in most cases. There are just too many humans crowding into one little space. I'm updating my review & upgrading my rating, since I've been to CVS many times over the years.
CVS has been consistently okay. They don't always have what I need, but many times they do.
The employees are nice & helpful.
The receipts are still way too long, which not only wastes paper, but also wastes time trying to rip off the extra coupons, throw them away, fold it all up & jam it into my bag. It's annoying, but it's a feature of every CVS I've been to, not this one in particular.
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name: Hair Cuttery, address: 521 Constitution Ave, city: Perkasie, stars_x: 2.0, is_open: opening, categories: Beauty & Spas, Hair Salons, Men's Hair Salons, Barbers, Hair Stylists, text: The place is over priced for a bad haircut. Avoid Becky. She doesn't listen and cant cut hair evenly. I didnt really look at my hair because she only offered a straight on look. I left, got home and showered and noticed all kinds of long straggly hair and it wasn't evenly cut. Not going back there. Only trust this place with hair cuts, not color, asked for an ash brown. I got an auburn color and it was not blended what-so-ever! It was basically a straight line across my head. I also asked for long layers which I did not get either. I regret this. I've been getting my hair done at this salon for over 20 years, and the professionalism, courtesy and friendliness of the staff never ceases to impress me. I must single out one stylist in particular, Justine, who has been my stylist for all this time. She is an absolute joy - engaging, energetic, friendly, and an outstanding professional. I would enthusiastically recommend this salon, and especially Justine, to everyone in the area. Walked in here and got ignored while the girl had a conversation with someone else. After awkwardly standing there for 2 minutes she rudely called me over and checked me in. She looked angry that i apparently interrupted her conversation. She began ripping at my hair and tugging my head. Didnt speak to me one time throughout the whole thing and then when i left her a $6 tip she didnt say thank you or anything. Said have a good night at 10:00 AM and turned to walk off. Rude, inconsiderate, and plain nasty. Will never go back again. The girls name was Brittney. Paid $17 to sit in a chair and have some very rude hair dresser dry cut my hair which is about 18 inches long...she cut two inches off and It took 5 minutes. Not only was she rude and unfriendly she made my hair smell like cigarette smoke due to the fact she didn't wash her hands after smoking. I do not recommend going to a salon like this...you're better off paying $40 at a high end salon because they give you an quality experience worth your money. Proceed with caution if you plan on going there.....
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name: Bimini Juice Bar & Salad Bar, address: 807 N 2nd St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: closed, categories: Salad, Restaurants, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Vegan, Vegetarian, Food, Coffee & Tea, text: Have to change your hours listed, seems like you close an hour earlier than listed here. As of lately, more than an hour and a half earlier than listed. It's a shame cause it is a good go to healthily spot. But ya close when you wnt, and you have people at your locked door before the hours listed both online and on the posted note pasted at door sometimes I REALLY wanted to love this place but it's so hard when every time you order the same wrap or same smoothie, they taste different every single time, depending on who is making it. I love the tropikale smoothie and am currently trying to force feed it to myself because it has this awful bitter taste that I've never tasted in it before. The 5-6 other times I've ordered it, it has been good, albeit, never the same. Also, whenever they hand you your wrap, the box containers are so messy, covered in dressing/ food from their gloves while making the wraps. I keep going back hoping that that visit will be one of the visits where my order tasted like what I had expected but unfortunately that has never happened :( I love this place. Their smoothies, juices and wraps are so delicious and healthy with such fresh ingredients. And I love that they have a small and medium option for wraps (as well as juices/smoothies). The small wrap is the perfect size on its own or with a juice for a more hearty lunch if you're the kind of person (me) that's always annoyed about the lack of smaller portions at lunch places. And tons of fresh veggies in the wraps. Not often I have a delicious lunch AND feel amazing after. Also, the prices are on point, especially considering the quality and freshness of ingredients. Favs include honey mustard wrap, Island rhythm juice and tropikale smoothie. I only wish it was closer to home or work. I never write reviews but am such a fan I couldn't not. The food at Bimini is great! Fresh and delicious. The prices are reasonable, too. Best juice bar around! Kids love the smoothies I love that they are healthy and the staff is friendly! Highly recommend! I love this place!!! The oatmeal is so yummy and the people there are so helpful and friendly. Everything is made to order so you know it's fresh! I order from here all the time! Their juice is always fresh and food portions are more than what you pay for. If you are looking for a quick bite to eat I highly recommend. Simply love this place. The wraps are deliciously fresh, staff is awesome, and the concept is fantastic. I'm glad Philly has a new "Affordable" place to get fresh juices . Please take the time to visit them. You won't be disappointed... Not sure why I have not gone here yet. Went today. Great price, great/fresh food, awesome smoothie. And all the options your heart desires. $10 for a smoothie and wrap. Can't beat that. Icing on the cake, the staff was so nice and pleasant. Glad I discovered. This place is so fresh and hearty. Everything in the menu is all about health and healthy lifestyle! I really enjoy coming here after the gym or on a nice Sunday morning. The quality of everything is very good and fresh. So glad to have a place like this in the neighborhood Had their Strawberry Mango smoothie and opted for coconut milk instead of yogurt. Was really good and the ice to liquid ratio was on point. The price point was also fair and I'd love to go back to try more of their food (salads and bowls). This place is excellent!! So consistent. Love the açai bowl; very authentic. All the smoothies and juices I had here were great. I still have to try the food. I wish they stayed open later so that I could drop in after an evening yoga class! Bimini is over priced and crazy slow - don't go if your in rush. The smoothies and juices are good. The food is fair. I spent $6 to eat the crust piece of the bread, and it was burnt. Everything on this menu is fresh, delicious, and well-priced. I love that everything is made fresh to order. I had a strawberry Gorgonzola salad with albacore, and the portion was generous. I've also enjoyed the açaí bowl here and various juice blends.
My only hesitation in providing five stars is the lack of friendly customer service. When I order at this place, I almost feel like I'm inconveniencing the rather unfriendly staff behind the counter. This has been my experience every time I've come here. I'll likely start calling in orders to minimize interactions with the staff. Otherwise, the place is great. My smoothie and salad was so incredibly good. Try the strawberry gorgonzola with the homemade dressing. Yumm A great addition to 2nd street! The staff are very friendly and helpful, and as others have said, they designed the space wonderfully. On my first visit I asked for a smoothie recommendation and was steered towards the Avocado Melon. I would have never picked it on my own, so I am very glad it was recommended because it was delicious! I've also tried the Thai Crunch and Strawberry Gorgonzola salads which are great. Looking forward to when they add chicken and other protein options for the salads. We needed a place like this in Northern Liberties! A newly addition to Northern Liberty area. The whole store is very clean, spacious, and inviting. They have a decent selection of juices, smoothies and salads. I only tried the juice here so far and I got the delicious vacation which was really good. The flavor was so refreshing and naturally sweet that you could tell it was made from fresh ingredients. All the ingredients and the options on the menu are healthy as well so you won't feel guilty eating/drinking here. The place has a chillax vibe with more tables in the back so you could do work, study, or simply meet up friends while enjoying a healthy and delicious drink. The price is reasonable in my opinion for the portion. The servers are friendly and helpful too. Overall, it is a nice place that's worth to check out if you are in the area :) TINY portions. My lunch came with SIX tortilla chips. I ordered a Ceasar salad wrap and it was smaller than the size of my hand. It tasted ok. You can get triple the amount and much better flavor at HipCityVeg. This place looked so promising with all its fun healthy flavors, but unfortunately looks can be deceiving. I ordered the blueberry kale avocado smoothie, it took close to 10 minutes to make, which I'm fine waiting if it was a great smoothie. When I tasted the smoothie it tasted like ice and unripe avocado. For 6 bucks that's just not okay. I appreciate the effort using fresh fruit and veggies but I think they need to train their employees some more. I love the juices here very tasty and freshly made! I ordered their Caesar wrap and it was very disappointing, very garlic-y and also not the best portion, it's more like a snack. If stay away from the food and stick to the juices! Michael and his crew were very courteous. Juice was fresh and packed with nutrients. Environment was clean and friendly. I love this place! Not only do they have delicious smoothies and wraps, but the atmosphere is cozy and comforting. Just from walking inside, you get automatically inspired to do yoga, go for a run, and break up with all fried food for life. The staff is friendly and is happy to help with all your questions regarding the extensive menu. I love that I can eat something delicious without feeling sluggish and greasy in this neighborhood. Do you and your body a favor and stop over to Bimini. The smoothie and food I ordered was delicious. I would have given Bimini five stars but the employees were screaming and cursing about their personal life for 30 minutes. I had traveled across town to work on my computer there but the employees were so loud I had to leave. I'm not sure if they are all teenagers but it did not seem that any managers were there. We all know how frustrating life can be but you have to respect your work environment and at least keep the volume down. When I left all employees wished me well and I appreciated it. I will come back but I will order Togo. Great healthy cafe in Fish town. Portions are small but appropriate. Heads up: if you are extremely hungry do NOT order the regular as it is what most would consider a snack sized portion. They have TONS of juice options. I split the dream vacation juice with a friend on a quick lunch stop. (It was TOO DELICIOUS TO SHARE). They also have a large variety of sandwich, wraps and salad option. The ambiance of the cafe is very cute and hipster, much like all of the cafes in this area. I will definately stop back in the next I'm in Fishtown. Wow... This juice bar is one of the best in the city. The atmosphere and decor were welcoming and the employees were more than helpful. There many different options to choose from but the one girl behind the counter gave me a good idea what ingredients went well together. They also had some free samples of some of their smoothies and free fruit infused water which was nice. They convinced me to try the Immortal Detox and it was one of the best (healthiest) juices I had. I'll definitely be back again to try one of their salads or smoothies because from what I can see their stuff is pretty fresh. Went here for lunch on a Sunday, steady flow of clients but service remained polite and quick. Prices are a little high for the portions but the quality of food was well worth it. I'd recommend to a friend! I don't know what I just ate. I ordered a kale salad with protein and I think? It was chicken. It was semi frozen and it looked like the pre cooked chicken breast that you buy at Costco with the fake grill marks. Gross. What a cute little shop! This place just opened up on 2nd St in Northern Liberties. It's very health hipster themed with little cacti and weird gold shapes on the natural wood bar - so I love it!
I opted to get a smoothie - the Blueberry Avocado Kale smoothie to be exact. The smoothies are made with greek yogurt but they also have a diary free option as well. My smoothie was sweetened with Honey (vegans look out). It took a few minutes for them to make the smoothie but they have all fresh ingredients. The smoothie was pretty tasty and I felt pretty healthy drinking it. They have a bunch of really great sounding flavors that I would love to try. You also have the option for add ins - like protein. I might have to stop and try it because this place is on the way home from my gym.
For two smoothies, it was about $10 which is what I would expect for a boutique smoothie/juice bar. I definitely will be back. Dope little spot for sure when you need that good good. Stopped in and had an Immortal Detox and a salad. Salad was super big and well worth the price with fresh ingredients. Juice was equally great tasting and will be back without question. Love! I'm addicted and go everyday... So happy a juice bar is finally open in the neighborhood! this is my go to smoothie place in the neighborhood. sweet greens is my go to, love this place. Weakest/worst $6 cold brew I have ever had. I can't speak for the smoothies but I would not order a coffee. This review is shorter than most so I have to keep writing in order to tell you that I will never go back here. This place is amazing. I ordered the Mexican Wrap and the Tropikale smoothie. Everything was so good and the portions are perfect for a light and healthy lunch. I can't wait to try more things off of the menu. Love this place! I go there every time I'm in the neighborhood for the Tropikal, Ceasar salad and one of those blueberry almond protein bars. Delicious and oh so healthy! Thank you! Funky place with all of the fruits and veggies on display so you know they are fresh. I went in to get an acai bowl (and was syked bc I've been on the hunt for one in the area). The bowl was great the only criticism was that I asked if they had peanut butter (for the bowl). They said yes so I had them add it. Turned out it was peanut butter powder...not a big deal but would have liked to know. Overall good spot Clean, AC on high and good service. I got a customer green juice heavy on the ginger and she made it perfectly!! Nice place in Fishtown for a quick healthy snack or lunch alone or with a couple friends. The staff is sociable and can chat you up or leave you alone if you wish. The juices and smoothies are mad fresh AND refreshing. I was pleasantly surprised to find out they sell Vita Coco which is my kids fav coconut water. I plan to actually have a wrap someday since summer is coming soon but during the winter the chicken noodle soup was my go to breakfast quite a few times. The early morning hours are nearly coffin quiet so I recommend going then if you've never gone and need some time to check out the menu. LOVE Bimini juices, salads, and wraps! Love the fact I can customize my wrap or salad. Haven't had the time to visit it yet but I have ordered many many times through UberEATS. I work in lower north Philadelphia and hate not having fresh, delicious, and reasonable healthy food. Thank You for existing! I have been here several times in the last two weeks. With the hot weather, smoothies and wraps have been just the thing. Place is clean and generally well run and fast service. Taking a star off for the rude staff today, 6/21 am. Two women (one with neck tattoos) who were much too busy talking to bother with customers and were just plain nasty when trying to order. Staff can really make or break a business and one or two bad experiences can make you not want to go back.
update 7/5: another family member stopped in this afternoon to pick up smoothies and a wrap. without even knowing I had a bad experience earlier, family member related the same situation: empty store with 3 employees talking on phones and to each other, with little regard to customer service, and an error in the order. We love the food here, please get it together with the staffing issues! Their wraps come with whole wheat tortillas by default, and also their smoothies are made with soymilk. For around $9 you can get a large wrap with chips and enjoy a really tasty and filling lunch.
My co workers turned me on to this place and I love it. There's even a bit of parking on the street so I don't have to pay for delivery. I always look forward to ordering here. I previously gave Bimini a 5 star review and they were well worthy of it, however the last few times I've been there the quality has not been the same.
Today was perhaps my worst experience so far. I ordered oatmeal and avocado toast. The avocado on the toast was mostly brown and looked like they had been sitting out for too long. They put so much maple syrup on my oatmeal that it was basically maple syrup soup and I had to poor the excess syrup out. They also forgot one of the three toppings I ordered for my oatmeal.
I've been a loyal costumer of Bimini's for a couple of years now and have spent a lot of money there. It's a bummer to have to rate them so low, but the food just hasn't been to the same quality as I've come to expect. I hope their management can fix these issues before they lose more customers.
Disappointed. Well, I just had one of the best salads ever! Ordered online off their own website a "Mixed Kale Salad" with poppy seed dressing and added broccoli and grape tomatoes. It was seriously so fresh and delicious that I didn't end up using all of the dressing! When ingredients are that fresh, it's just not necessary (although the dress WAS good). Although it didn't actually have any kale in it (weird), it was a perfect salad of spring mix, feta, cucumbers, green peppers, and my added broccoli and tomatoes. I also got a shot of wheatgrass for $1.95. I will ABSOLUTELY be back! When you walk in the store you can see all of the fresh veggies and fruits and I knew right then that I had made a good decision to get lunch from there. The salad was big, fresh, and delicious. Keep up the good work, Bimini Juice Bar! Waaaaay too much banana in their açaí purée. You can't taste any açaí - it just tastes like blended banana. $10 for a tiny bowl. Haven't tried anything else here, but maybe their smoothies are good. It's probably the healthiest spot in the hood ( Northern Liberties). You can't beat their prices for salads and smoothies and you never leave feeling guilty. I can down the peanut butter cup smoothie in a regular, which is HUGE in way less time than it should take to drink one. It's always a good lift when I need one or a reward for working out. The salads are also a good size and filling. The strawberry poppy dead salad is my current go to with buffalo ( hot sauce) dressing on the side. I added avocado this last time, which made it even better. Come here all the time. Food is fresh, service is great and quick. A must try is the avocado wrap with tofu & the immortal detox juice$ I get it every time and it never disappoints. Great meal for after the gym Come once a day, juice is great , ingredients fresh every day, prices are very good for what you get. Anyone in northern liberties should stop in and try it. I've never actually stepped inside the store, but I order from them all the time through Uber Eats. I absolutely love their TropiKale smoothie and their Forever Energy Juice. One of my work buddies raves about their strawberry gorgonzola wrap. If you are looking for a healthy option for a snack during the day, you can't go wrong with one of their smoothies or juices. It's the best part of the work day when the Uber Eats delivery arrives at the front desk! Ordered off Grubhub. Spent $30 on two drinks and a wrap. The delivery guy, who I had pretipped with my card didnt even get out of the car to deliver the food, had to run over to their car and grab it through their window. We didnt get straws for either of our drinks and the one smoothy tasted like it was entirely made of avocado. Would be willing to try again if I went there in person but would not order delivery from here again. Must try smoothie/juice bar!
13 smoothies on the menu.
13 juices as well plus lots of rotating specials. Wheatgrass, turmeric and apple cider shots!!
Salads
Wraps
Açaí bowls
All fresh! You can see in their fridge that nothing is frozen. I come here pretty often since I live in the area. The staff is friendly. The service is a little slow, but the juices are freshly made so it's expected.
The reason I'm giving this place one star is because the oatmeal is marketed as a healthy option. You get to choose 3 toppings and any of this can be a sweetener. What they don't tell you is that there's already tons of sugar mixed into the oatmeal before they make it. I've mentioned how misleading this is and how it's even dangerous for customers who may be diabetic, but I've been ignored every time.
Maybe at first read it doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but people go to juice bars because they care about what they are putting into their bodies. When I ordered the oatmeal I asked 2 times if there was sugar in it. And then specifically stated that I wanted it unsweetened and sugar free. I only realized there was sugar in the oatmeal once I took the first bite. That's when the staff told me that there was sugar mixed into the oatmeal before they make it. What other items are on the menu and marketed as healthy food options, but then pre-made with sugar? The salads are delicious!! Huge portions and everything is fresh. They have several salads on the menu, but I usually build my own. You choose two lettuce bases and four toppings, then It's only $2.00 extra for added protein, which isn't bad. The lemon vinaigrette is my favorite dressing. Can't wait to try their juices and wraps. Great place. Everything is extremely fresh. Very clean & modern. Tried the Life at the beach juice and the buffalo wrap. Can't wait to try the rest of the menu Everything at the store is fresh nothing frozen the people are awesome and the place is super clean and you can sit in the back and enjoy fireplace or enjoy your laptop I must place to stop and get a good smoothie or a wrap or salad or juice I love this place - their smoothies and juices are amazing, however their hours are very loose and that can be annoying. I had been craving the Tropikale smoothie all week and saw they opened at 8 am, so I decided I would stop on my way to work, however they didn't open at 8 and no one was even inside preparing to open. I was super disappointed because I had really been looking forward to it. This has happened to me in the past but I assumed it was a fluke. the one in city fitness Logan square: I was super excited for this place to open right beneath my gym. The first time I went I got a smoothie it wasn't great. The second time I went it was 15 minutes before they closed and they didn't want to make any more food so I didn't get anything. I thought I'd give it one more try tonight and while the cashier was very friendly they completely messed up my salad and charge me for added protein of chicken which was never even put in my salad. I'm upset because I'm short on money right now and was looking forward to a protein-rich dinner but now I'm just stuck eating vegetables with no chicken. What a waste of money and time. They are now closed and it's impossible to find a contact number to call them. I won't be going back there again. And it's a shame since I could have been a regular customer since I am already a frequent visitor of the gym above. Great juice options that are reasonably priced. Salads are also not bad and the acai bowls are good. Great spot in the neighborhood for all you healthy eaters out there! I'm new to the area. I found this place after the gym! What a find, the price point is great for the juice and salad.. super fresh will be going a few times a week.. Love this place!! Philadelphia does not have enough convenient, affordable options for healthy fare. Bimini has delicious wraps starting at $5, salads starting at $7 and even filling 20oz smoothies for $6! I typically rely on Honeygrow or Sweetgreen for a fresh healthy option, and leave there spending $13 on a trendy salad. This is a welcome change.
I got the small Waldorf wrap (yes they have 2 sizes!!) filled with feta, apples, walnuts and balsamic. I decided to add chicken for $2 more but probably didn't need it, it was plenty loaded! I also got a large strawberry banana smoothie (it was my first time so I went all out!) and it was so yummy and fresh.
The interior is cute with reclaimed wood and there is seating at the bar along the wall in case you want to stay.
I'll be back Bimini! they fixed my order and gave me a free smoothie. thanks guys. changing my mind about stuff. awesome I live up the street and come here about once or twice a week. I adore what this place brings to Northern Liberties. Staff is so welcoming, prices are fair, options are many. I wish they also sold produce in the unused back area. I would so get my produce here. I don't know how many stars to give this place. For food, it's about a 4 or 5. Very good. FOR SERVICE it's got to be below a 1. I work for a small business in the area. If I treated my customers like they do, we'd be shut down in a week. It's very strange. You walk in and they look at you like you're an annoyance. The delivery and tone of every person I've spoken to there has been one of irritation. I totally don't get it. I don't expect much and NEVER write reviews, but I felt compelled to do so here. It's not me, because I've observed them treat others like this. The people who work there are rude, plain and simple. There is an icy vibe from the minute you walk in the door, and it continues even AFTER I've greeted them with a smile, a tip, and order something very simple. I wonder who else has experienced this here? One time I was snapped at for not seeing where the spoons were. Me questioning this really put the young lady behind the counter over the edge. It's weird that it's the woman at the front AND the people who make your food who seem constantly annoyed! It makes for an unpleasant vibe. I swear every time I come back to this place, I keep my distance for awhile b/c I always feel crappy upon leaving. The only reason I keep coming back is b/c it's truly a yummy lunch spot, but I have a feeling I'm about done dealing with this place. Great selection of juices and smoothies. Menu also has several salad and wraps. I tried a small Mexican wrap which was yummy but so note that a small wrap is TINY! So if you're hungry I'd suggest getting a large. For $5 I was happy with the small wrap for a late lunch. For the neighborhood these seems to be one of the few healthy grab and go options which is why I give it 4 stars. The space is also sizable if you want to sit to eat lunch or get some work done. That being said they could do something to make the seating a bit more welcoming and hang some art on the back walls as there is next to no decor in the back. Looking forward to coming back to try a smoothie as my husband got the strawberry banana and I found it yummy and the consistency spot on. I've been waiting for a juice bar to come to the neighborhood and this place hits the spot. They have a variety of juices/smoothies and such a cute set up too! I had the Green Monster smoothie which was so refreshing. Also, the staff were very friendly and even checked up on my friends and me to make sure the smoothies we ordered were tasty. Don't bother trying the açaí bowls. The first time I got one, it tasted like soap- probably because the blender wasn't properly washed. I gave them another chance, but the second bowl wasn't any better. The blend had huge ice chunks that made it hard to eat. Probably won't be giving them another chance. After a misunderstanding about the order and my complaints ( I acknowledge that at times I might be difficult) they refunded the amount and everything is ok This place is so convenient. I came in just before closing time and the girls were so nice and still made a salad anyway. I built my own and she let me try the different dressings until I found the one that I felt would work best. She also gave me suggestions without trying to have too many add ons to increase the sale.
The place is really cute. Great choices for salad options and it's located in northern liberties amongst so many other up and coming trendy spots. Not only are the salads here good, it looks like they have a great variety of options for juicing. Lots of fresh looking ingredients to choose from. I've gotten juice and smoothies here before and they have been amazing. However, yesterday I got the Mexican Wrap with Chicken and I was not impressed. In fact I was thoroughly disappointed. The chicken tasted like it hadn't been seasoned at all. I understand that the shop markets itself as healthy food but i know there are low calorie ways to season chicken. Quite frankly it was like a chicken caesar wrap but instead of caesar dressing they used a lime based dressing and added tortilla strips. the chicken was bland and left a strong, unappetizing after taste. That being said, I will be back for smoothies and juices ! Ordered the sweet green smoothie & there were a bunch of stems in it :( couldn't enjoy it like I wanted. The juice was good though. When you wake up and the only thing your stomach wants is a smoothie and you can't get your life together enough to make it yourself, Bimini is here for you. Great staff helped me talk my stomach through its list of demands and cuatom tweaked an existing menu item to make it perfect.
Location is spacious, lots of varieties of seating whether you need a squishy reading chair or a hightop.
I appreciate that they've solved the Straw Dilemma by having both paper and plastic available on the counter w/o needing to ask. Got UberEats delivery from here and it was phenomenal! Created my own wrap, just a couple adjustments from one of their menu items. Spinach, spring mix, strawberries, Gorgonzola, almonds, red onions, and balsamic vinaigrette. SO good! Got the mixed berry smoothie without the banana and added some pineapple. Also delicious! Everything felt and tasted high quality. Wish it didn't take me so long to discover this place! The only reason its not a 4 or 5 star is the acai bowl was quite underwhelming, especially for the price. The fruits seemed pretty fresh, but I did receive a negative response from the staff when I asked if they had Kiwi (which dont apparently). However, the smoothies are delicious and very well made. The food is fine, and I've really enjoyed this place. However, my issue is with their COVID practices, which are completely unacceptable. Both of the workers making the smoothies/food only had their masks over their mouths, not their noses. The one worker touched her face MULTIPLE times with her gloves on, which is gross even pre COVID. Also, a customer waking in with no mask on even though the front door clearly states no entry without a mask. Instead of an employee telling him he needs a mask, she TOOK OFF HER MASK to talk to him! I would never go back to this place, even if they weren't already closing. Makes me wonder why the store is closing in the first place... One of my favorite juice spots around, it's super close and convenient. I always get the wraps here, they are always fresh & taste great! They are super clean and the staff is always friendly. What a cute little find in Northern Liberties! I was craving a healthy option for lunch so I thought this would be the perfect place to check out and it definitely was!
I wanted something fruity, so I opted for the Tropi-Kale Smoothie which had kale, pineapple, orange, banana, and honey. I also requested they add mango (I'm a huge mango lover) and they had no problem doing so. It was fresh and fruity, with just the right amount of sweetness. It was exactly what I wanted.
I loved the vibe as soon as I walked in. It was very clean and bright, with a welcoming feel. The staff was warm and friendly. When I told the woman at the counter that it was my first time there, she was patient with me while I decided on what to order. When I later took a seat in the back to enjoy my smoothie and send out some emails (free WiFi!), the gentleman working asked me if I was ok with the sound level. How thoughtful!
I will definitely be returning for another smoothie! They all sounded amazing! The smoothies are great! They have the best avocado toast. I usually get the caprese toast. I've ordered from them about 3 times. However this time...my smoothie had a piece of label in it. I thought it was a piece of kale until I spit it out. The açaí bowls have chunks of ice in them and no açaí bowl should ever have chunks of ice left over that you have to chew in order to eat your bowl update: they have really gotten it together. I have been in here about 10 times in the last month and the vibe is much more professional and friendly. The wraps, salads and smoothies are consistently good. yay. Great healthy spot in Fishtown! Bimini has a large menu full of delicious salads, wraps, smoothies, and fresh pressed juice. All of the selections were very affordable. I ordered the Thai chicken wrap and a Dream Vacation juice. Both choices tasted delicious but know that the "regular" size wrap is actually quite small. I will definitely be back to try more goodies on their menu!! Now serving a Pumpkin Lovers Smoothie for the season! Thought I'd try it out and although it was good, it wasn't my favorite. It had more of a ginger than a pumpkin taste in my opinion. Glad I tried it out, but next time I think I'm going to stick to the Tropi-Kale! I've popped into Bimini on two occasions now and I'm a fan. I've tried a couple of their smoothies, which are solid. I like some of the combos at other smoothie shops a bit more, but I think with some tinkering around I can probably find a smoothie that hits the spot for me.
On my last visit I ordered a chicken caesar wrap to go. The wrap was substantial, not overly dressed, and came with a bag of chips.
Staff has always been very friendly. Great option for something healthy and fast to-go! Great spot with healthy smoothies. I'd recommend the tropikale and the dirty iced chai for the hot days in the summer! Walked in craving freshly squeezed watermelon juice, but to my disappointment, they didn't sell watermelon. [minus 1/2 star]
Ordered a orange-pineapple large juice. Quite refreshing and could really taste both fruits equally!
Was a little surprised with the prices- a little too expensive for juice. [minus 1/2 star]
They had a huge selection for smoothies, juices, wraps and salads. It was hard to finally pick something!
Will be back to try some food!
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name: Health Waters of PA, address: 450 Drew Ct, city: King of Prussia, stars_x: 2.0, is_open: opening, categories: Local Services, Water Delivery, text: They deliver Mountain Valley Spring Water in glass 5 gallon bottles to my front door! ...in South Philly! The best water for my family at a reasonable price. Love it! Rudest lady who sits at the phone to take orders for water delivery!
I have tried them several times in hope to get the water delivered, since I like mountain valley water and she was rudest. She hangs up on me and tried to dismiss my requests to speak with the owner. Unbelievable and the WORST! The owner is racist and called me a "Chinese b***h." I was wearing a face mask when the delivery man entered our home because I live with my father who is 72, has heart disease, diabetes, and other pre-existing conditions that put him at risk for complications with co-vid 19, if he were to contract it. She called me and accused me of having coronavirus because the delivery man informed her that I was wearing a mask. I told her I did not have the virus and that I was wearing the mask to protect my father who has pre-existing conditions. She said she did not believe me, would send the authorities to our home, and called me a "Chinese b***h." My father and I did not deserve to be treated this way after years of being loyal costumers. Do NOT use this company!! The WORST customer service ever!! I placed my order about 2 weeks ago and was told they only take cash or check that needs to be given to the driver the day of delivery. No credit card. I said I would not be home and was told to leave under door mat. My husband left it under the door mat in a plastic sandwich bag because it was very humid out on his was to work. I double checked it when I left later that morning. Early afternoon the driver calls to say there is no money there and was going to call his boss to see what he can do. He calls back and says sorry but I can't leave the water? I said I would mail out a check now and he would have it tomorrow or the next day...still said no. I called the office and explained what happened which the woman knew nothing about. She said I'll speak to my boss and call you back. Well that was yesterday and still no call??? This company has no concept whatsoever of customer service, beginning with their antiquated payment systems and inability to accept credit cards or online payments, to their blatant disregard for customer needs. After delivery of glass bottles which were left outside in a recent snowstorm, froze, and shattered on my front porch, I politely requested they remove a 5-lb glass bottle and dispose of it properly - assuming , since they are in the business of dealing with these big glass bottles, they would have the means to do so. The owner actually said to me that this is not their problem, it is mine. As a business owner, would you not want to help a customer if possible? Both the manager and the owner then proceeded to read me the fine print in my contract, as if I was an idiot, completely disregarding my request for help. When he said "I don't get why you would expect we would do this" - it was over for me. They don't get it, indeed. A truly obsolete business approach which I assume, and hope, will allow competitors to quickly surpass them in the marketplace.
My advice is to get your water delivery from any one of the many other companies in the area and avoid this company at all costs.
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name: LOFT, address: 1560 Main St, city: Warrington, stars_x: 1.5, is_open: opening, categories: Fashion, Women's Clothing, Accessories, Shopping, Shoe Stores, text: Used to love this place. I went in recently to find mostly jeans and denim with some odd pieces and too much jewelry. No one bothered to greet me even as I walked right by staff. I kept hearing them offer help to other customers, offering to start a dressing room, etc., but no one said one word to me. It was almost comical - as though I didn't look like I was going to buy anything. I bought a sweater for about $35 on sale and took it to the counter where the woman said, "I will put this on your Ann Taylor card?" I said, "No, debit" and she proceeded to push me about opening one and then I could pay all my future balances on my debit card. I said no thank you, and she said she didn't know why I wouldn't want to save 15%. I went next door to Chicos and spent over $400. Know why? Cause they were nice to me, had better inventory, and seemed interested in my business. Get over yourselves. Rude! I walked up to the counter and the manager on duty completely ignored me . Even when I said hello she completely ignored me. Not until one of her coworkers said hello to me did she even flinch. Rude!!! Not a great experience left the store feeling discouraged and quite frankly I felt I was being judged. Ann Taylor loft you are lacking with your employees customer service. I've been shopping at Loft for years and have never had such a bad experience. The staff was very unfriendly and almost rude. It felt like customers were in their way. Will not go back to this store. Today I had multiple returns to make that I purchased online. The loft ships their orders in separate shipments based on availability. The woman who took care of me today was exceptional. Like I said, multiple returns meaning multiple receipts and multiple transactions. She was great. I didn't catch her name, but the other women working there in the store at the same time were great as well. 2 thumbs up for this store and their employees. Agree whole heartedly with all other negative reviews here. This is not an exaggeration-- every employee was rude and disgruntled in their own way. I completely understand that the world is going through a lot right now but that still makes no excuse for the blatant attitude of each worker. I am very nice and understanding and got unwarranted nasty interactions with every person I encountered. I should have known since I saw the long line of people outside unattended by any workers or signage that this was going to be a bad experience. When we finally got in the store we were not greeted by a woman with short brown hair and glasses. The second disgruntled worker was the cashier (older, blonde hair with bangs) assisted me with an online order and she was unhelpful and did not guide me pleasantly through the transaction. The third bad encounter was a younger woman with long brown hair who yelled loudly and shortly when I asked her to clarify a sale. My daughter and I both looked at each other surprised by this demeanour and I think the employee got the sense we were taken aback. She literally flung her hand to point at a sign-- not only was this unhelpful but there is so much signage around the store that you cannot tell what is actually going on. This store staff was rude before the pandemic and now there is really no excuse. I will not be returning to this location and I really hope the employees get the professional and emotional decency training they need. The customer service staff here could use some etiquette courses and maybe some generally training refreshers. Suggestion for Loft to offer these for and/or replace the rude duo working 9/2/2019 at 4 PM.
No greeting or basic graciousness, pulled the wrong customer profile for both the woman before me and myself. No apologies. No acknowledgement of mistake. When I asked if I could try on the online order they had ready for me while they were hunting down the order receipt, the rep at the counter tersely referred me to the other rep.
I was in a great mood so it didn't bother me.. but the atmosphere at this location is pretty repressive and negative. Thank goodness I ordered online and loved my purchases; otherwise I'd have quickly left to another friendlier retailer.
Loft- your site manager has an opportunity here to work on your culture. I'll be reaching out. The staff at this store is extremely rude. I went to pick up an online order and the cashier didn't even look at me. I was standing with the manager and all she did was complain. I will take my business to another Loft store next time. Do yourself a favor and just shop at a different location. I will definitely not recommend this store. I refrained from posting here initially but my customer service email has gone unanswered. And after reading the other reviews on this page, I feel totally validated in my opinion of my recent experience. I stopped in this past Monday, 12/30 because they were having a 50% off sale. It was a rainy morning and the store was not busy at all. In fact there were more employees than customers in the store at that time. I was dressed in a nice sweater, jeans, boots and a coat as I was meeting friends for lunch following my shopping trip. I walked past at least 4 employees, one of whom made direct eye contact with me, and not one of them said "hello". They didn't even acknowledge me. I had about 10 items over my arm that I wanted to try on and no one offered to start a fitting room or even asked if I needed help. In fact, I changed my mind about one of the items I had intended to try on and there was an employee standing in the path of the rack I was trying to get to and I had to say "excuse me" to get around her and she never said "sure" or "do you need help?", nothing. In this day of brick and mortar stores struggling to compete with online retailers, its shocking to me that these employees are this indifferent about providing just a basic level of customer service. I've worked in retail before so I know it can be a difficult job at times, but it's not difficult to say "hello". Doubtful I'll be shopping here in the future.
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name: Superior Motor Service Inc., address: 8 Lincoln Cir, city: Fairless Hills, stars_x: 2.0, is_open: closed, categories: Auto Repair, Automotive, text: had called AAA to tow me out due toa blown fuel pump, when superior's driver arrived he suggested taking it to their shop ( i refused ) and was taken to a shop i knew, upon arrival the front end alignment was gone ( because of the tow job, poor at best ) and had under carriage damage caused by them , reported them to AAA , they inturn sent out a crew to look over car and correctly pointed out all e parts we had replaced over the 6 years of ownership, to which they claimed it wasn't maintained ( AAA and superior agreeing on that ) so i have a ruined car, what to do ? bucks co. dept of consumer protection, BBB, attorney general of pa , etc. to date he has lost his AAA towing contract, apparently was cited for dealing street corner bags in trenton nj, and anyone who was friends with him isn't anymore, my landscaper told me he hadn't paid him in months ( he cut him off ) jim mc closkey is a low life , no knowledge scum buckets, never, never , NEVER take anything you value there or it will never be the same as before, one bad operaton with the customer as the loser..... We've gone here a few times. My first impression was that customer service isn't really a priority, I waited at the front desk for someone to address me for a while. The service on my car, I think, was fine - but how do I know for sure?
The third time we went, we took my husband's car for an oil change. He went in the front door and no one was there. He waited for 5 minutes and then came back out and walked around the building to find someone. He waited a bit more and finally found another door that he went through to find people. They took his keys but seems pretty annoyed that they had to do the oil change and didn't tell him when to come back or if they would call him, they just left him standing there waiting for them to tell him what to do (similar to my experience).
Now a month later we were getting an oil level low message from the car, so we opened the hood to find that the oil cap had been left off and the oil is now covering all of the engine bits and hardly any oil left in the tank.
My evaluation is that the mechanics here are too lazy to trust with anything bigger - if they can't do a simple oil change without a mistake. We'll be looking for another mechanic. Found out two months later that they never refilled the brake fluid after the repair. Really? My car broke down at the neshaminy mall last night, triple a sent them for my free tow to where've I wanted to - I don't have a mechanic in this area anymore and they seemed on the level so I sent the car to them. Kind of expensive, it was $425 to replace the alternator on my ford focus, but the speed was incredible. I got towed at 10pm last night and my car was ready by 11:30am the next day. Car feels great, and I disagree with the review of poor customer service. They were very timely, called when they said they would, friendly. Hours are wrong- they close at 5. Called AAA to have my car towed to my preferred shop after brake failure, the driver they sent was from Superior and gave me a laundry list of reasons why they were better, including "faster" and "cheaper." Okay, fine. They got to my car THREE business days later, when my original shop had told me they'd be able to help me immediately. The call to tell me my car was finished came in at 4:50 PM. "You'll be picking it up today, right? We close at 5." While I don't know anything about replacing brake lines & pads, their total of $350 didn't seem too bad- oh, that doesn't include labor or tax? Would've been nice to know before you charged my credit card. The lingering cigarette smell was a nice parting gift.
No problems with the actual repairs (yet), but their customer service is shoddy. NEVER EVER EVER GO HERE HORRIBLE SERVICE took my BMW there for a new radioatior water pump and thermostat and they LIED and said that they put OEM BMW parts and they didn't they put after market parts and spent almost 2k I took back to 4 times as I got my car back the same problem kept happening !!
I had to take it to BMW when They told me that my radiator was not OEM! They are liars and caused me not to have my car for 2 months going from back and forth!!!!! I am taking them to court Called thru AAA for a tow. Ryan is great. He had to deal with snow and traffic to get to me. Totally friendly and did a great job. Highly recommend. Long story short, I've had the worst possible experience with Superior Motor Services on 5 separate occasions. On top of not fixing any of the problems they were dispatched by AAA to address, Superior Motor Services cost me an additional $700 of out of pocket expenses to fix the problems they created. Once I contacted a manager at Superior Motor Services about my experience, I was promised that he would look into the issue and get back to me. When I called to check in, after 2 months without a response, the same manager told me that he "didn't need my God Damn business, he does 40,000 jobs a year" and that he wouldn't be doing anything to try to find a positive resolution to my concerns.
Getting into the details, my car wouldn't start on 1/2/14. I contacted AAA and they dispatched Superior Motor Services to diagnose and jump start the battery.
Instead of running diagnostics, Superior Motor Services instead told me, based on it being a 2010 car, they would be replacing the battery -- without running a single diagnostic -- and it would cost me about $130. At the time, I trusted them and agreed with these next steps. I have since learned that AAA technicians are always required to run diagnostics on all batteries and that mine likely only required a jump, not a $130 replacement.
Days later, with the new battery installed, the car wouldn't start again. AAA again dispatched Superior Motor Services to diagnose the problem. This time the tech did run diagnostics on the battery, stated that the battery was in good health, jumped the car, and left.
Within 48 hours, the battery died again. I called AAA and they dispatched Superior Motor Services to tow the car to my local Mazda dealership. This time, a brand new $329 GPS was stolen from the car. While I can't be sure that Superior Motor Services took the item, it was there when they took towed the car, it was not there when I got to Mazda. In the spirit of customer relations, AAA and Mazda have both met me half way and agreed to share the cost of replacing the stolen item. Superior Motor Services hasn't even called me back.
I paid Mazda out of pocket to run diagnostics on the battery and they immediately diagnosed that it was a defective battery -- how did Superior miss this? -- and that they would need to replace it before running diagnostics on my car.
At that point, AAA dispatched Superior Motor Services to again replace the battery. Superior Motor Services were supposed to arrive between 12PM and 3PM. They never showed up.
AAA again dispatched them to arrive by 6PM and Mazda's staff stayed late to allow them access. Again, they didn't show up.
I ended up paying Mazda out of pocket to replace the battery. Since then, the car has run perfectly.
To this day, Superior Motor Services has yet to return my phone call. When I contacted them directly, 2 months later to follow up, I was rudely brushed aside without so much of an apology for the negative experience.
I have already shared my concerns about Superior Motor Services with AAA directly, have never posted a negative review before, but I couldn't in good conscience not share these 5 experiences with other consumers. Super Motor Services is an unreliable service company with terrible customer service. I went to Superior Motor Service once for a repair and was troubled by their lack of professional appearance. Service writers are rude, managers curse openly in front of customers. I needed a tune up on a 1994 Chevy Caprice. I informed them that it was the 9-C1 police interceptor package and needed the appropriate parts to keep the high output performance motor running properly. 2 days later I was called and told the repairs would cost over $500 for my intake manifold to be replaced since it was "warped". I refused and said I would pick the car up in one hour. I was rudely told repairs were underway (they never consulted me prior to beginning the work). I had a tow truck sent and they refused to release the vehicle without full payment for the unauthorized repairs. The vehicle was only released upon the threat of calling the police. I took the car to a friends shop where we saw deep fresh scratch marks on the intake manifold as if someone had pryed at it with a screwdriver where the gasket met up to the motor. Repairs were completed and it was discovered the manifold was not warped as I was told. Do not take your car here!!!!!!! $95/hr service way too high just a wrning Terrible customer servive along with VERYY slow mechanics. The lady at the front desk is very grumpy along with the depressing vibe when you walk down the stairs when you enter the lobby. yOU WANT TO SHOOT YOURSELF WHEN ENTERING THIS PLACE
I took my car here after it shut off on me randomly one day. The towing service is sponsored by AAA so it wasn't that bad of a wait. The tow truck driver tried helping me out the best he could, but couldn't fix it so I got it towed to there place since he requested it to me. The car was "fixed" the next day but I payed around $450 to fix the ignition control module and coil!! I drove it home still didnt seem fixed to me. So the next day i was driving it around when THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED!!!! i WAS FURIOUS, I JUST PAID ALL THAT MONEY FOR THE SAME DAMN PROBLEM. sO I brought it back to them cause they said thered be a charge if i brought it somewhere else to fix it. they lost all my trust. The NEXT DAY it broke this place is full of idiots. So it sat in there shop for 4 DAYS without toching my car. They then called me and wanted o charge me another $100 for something THEY missed the first time. I had to walk to work 5miles away with no car for 4 DAYS.
So i went in to pick it up expecting to pay nothing because they couldint fix it. They charged my another 100 because of THERE MISTAKE. They told me they were being genrous because they didnt charge for labor.
SO IF YOU LIKE GIVING AWAY MONEY TO BUMS BRING YOUR VEHICLE TO SUPERIOR.
also they close at 5, hours are wrong
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name: B2 Bluefin, address: 401 E City Ave, city: Bala Cynwyd, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: closed, categories: Nightlife, Bars, Cocktail Bars, Japanese, Restaurants, Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion, text: We had dinner on a Tuesday night, and it was the best sushi we have had in a long time. The toro tasting platter was amazing- the fish literally melted in your mouth. We had the rainbow roll, jewelers roll, California roll and a sushi platter. Everything was delicious! The ratio of fish to rice was very high. Everything was also very customizable - we could get the mayo on the side and we asked for extra jalapeños and candied ginger. For dessert, the fried green tea ice cream and fried bananas were a perfect end to the meal. The service was excellent; in particular, Tina the manager was extremely friendly and accommodating. We will definitely be coming back soon! A great new addition to City Ave! My colleagues and I went there for lunch yesterday and it was out of this world. We each got a lunch special which included a role and salad- big portions! We started w/ the vegetable dumplings which were huge and flavorful. Service is also top notch and they have a great cocktail list. Finally- a decent sushi place in Bala! Really Great Salmon rolls and Wasabi steamed dumplings. Beautiful place and nice staff. Excellent traditional sushi as well as asian/ fusion dishes. Nice airy decor and excellent service! This place is amazing, we walked in at 630 on a Friday night with decent weather, and none of the pro sports teams in town. Somehow snagged a table. The staff hostile was polite, and said give me a minute and I'll get you seated. She did just that.
The ambiance is amazing, beautiful place, nice decorated with a modern feel. Comfortable seating. Good lighting.
Waiter(Brian) was awesome, he knew the drinks, he knew the menu.
Thw drinks came quickly, and were perfectly made. ( it was busy)
Sushi....was....amazing...
It came quickly, was plated nicely, and the fish was beatifilly cut, and tasted like it was swimming this morning.
We had quite the feast sampling several of the menu options. Sushi, sashimi, rolls, blah blah blah. It's great
You won't regret coming here.
I do recommend getting a reservation, we lucked out.
It's not cheap, but you should already know that by the $$$$ on the main Paige for reviews....very worth it by any standard. Michael Brown gives it 10 thumbs up with regards to their menu, specials, drinks, delicious foods, superb atmosphere and exceptional service (Justin)! Dawn & I expect to make this our new home for a tasty exceptional experience. Please stay, as the fall/winter is the time we look for a place where we could visit multiple times weekly and not be bored by what is great food and drink!!! I had a chance to try B2 yesterday for lunch. I've ate the original Bluefin at least 100 times over the last decade. The fish quality is good, and the execution is almost as good. The service here is a work in progress.
We walked in and waited 10 minutes to be seated. The place was not busy. The man working the front desk spent 10 minutes walking back and forth putting together a takeout order while we just stood there. I even asked if we could just sit, and he was very dismissive. I complained again when the guy was going outside the restaurant, and finally he agreed to seat us. Worst seating experience I've had in a long time, so not a good way to start off a lunch.
The sushi was good, and our waiter was friendly. The pricing is a bit higher, but that comes with the higher rent and liquor license. It took us about 90 minutes to have small lunch, so I just keep that in mind if you have time constraints. Lovely decor, very friendly and helpful staff and five star food. Fried oysters were amazing, the sushi was the best I have had in the phili area. The dumplings were also superb. They are updating their liquor list so the whiskeys were not listed BUT you can still order whatever you want. I will be back I ate this on Saturday and am already craving it again! I just wish they had fried rice but honestly everything was amazing Absolutely amazing from start to finish. Delicious tuna and everything else, great unusual drinks (I had a saketini--vodka, sake and cucumber). Prices were reasonable and decor was gorgeous. Service was knowledgeable and friendly. Will definitely come back. This is a hidden gem at the 1st floor of an office building. Not easy to stumble upon, but once you do, you'll never forget! The atmosphere is amazing and the staff is very friendly. Dan, the general manager was very welcoming and accommodating! One of the other managers, Jenny, had the best knowledge of gluten free items that I've ever experienced in a sushi restaurant, or any restaurant for that matter. My girlfriend has to eat gluten free so that is a huge plus. They are also kid friendly and provided fruit and learners chopsticks for the little not-so-adventurous/picky one. I have eaten here plenty of times and my favorite rolls are the Ai Maki and the Tropic. If you really want to splurge go for the Sea Bass, it melts in your mouth! They have a ton of great drinks and a wide selection of Sake. Head bartender Andrea puts his heart into every cocktail and strives for perfection and is fun to talk to. To top it all off the Mochi selection is very extensive and the tempura green tea ice cream is my favorite! 5 stars all the way! We really enjoyed our first meal at B2 Bluefin tonight. Friendly staff, nice atmosphere and excellent sushi. The waiter was helpful with selecting rolls for my children. I will be returning in the future. Amazing. Some of the best sushi around Philly. Bring your wallet though ... also beautiful ambiance with good service and excellent cocktail specials. I seriously recommend. Round up to 4 stars.
Pretty good and standard but not sure it particularly stood out. Not trying to knock it by any means but one of those one and done deals. I measure most sushi joints against places like sagami in NJ which is authentic and just has a certain charisma that you look for in a great restaurant worth coming back to time and time again.
This place has a somewhat generic, sterile upscale hotel restaurant feel to it. And you pay extra for this ambiance if that's what you're into. But you can get equal quality in many other places without the up charge. Went on Wednesday 9/5 for Happy Hour...the service was good and the food was good. I was disappointed that it took my tempura roll longer to be served than 2mini burgers.....
Other than that everything was good and I'll definitely visit again Great sushi and sake! Enjoyed a nice night out celebrating my mother-in-law's birthday. We had the, oysters, jalapeno kampachi, special tuna sashimi, a few rolls and a sashimi platter. Everything was good and fresh. Tried miso soup, shrimp cocktail, vegetarian dumplings and avocado cucumber sushi roll. Didn't find anything outstanding, were good enough.
We went for a happy hour, but unfortunately , to be eligible for that, we had a separate seating near the bar where they didn't serve food.
But they had the Macha fried ice cream and was awesomeeee, which I'm gonna come for very often! And guess what, these guys are right opposite to where I stay! Yay! Great atmosphere. Delicious food. Weird service.
We thought the layout was beautiful. Calm, but not overly uptight. The food, was plated beautifully and was delicious. Service was subpar. We'll probably return for lunch, not dinner. 5 stars experience
Great atmosphere, got seated right away at the bar, excellent and attentive service, great margarita, fabulous sushi (we recommend the fresh bikini roll). All and all a highly positive experience. Overall, very good sushi. Includes other things on the menu too for non-sushi lovers. Just a bit pricey but I guess they have to charge more than B1 because of the gorgeous decor and location. One of the better sushi restaurant I've eaten in this area. A great option outside of the city. Service was amazing and fishes were so fresh! Our waitress was so friendly, attentive, and made fabulous recommendations (think her name is Whiskey). Very deliciously, unique tasting raw fish appetizers (esp toro) and rolls. Food and service did not downgrade because of busy Valentine's Day. Will definitely visit again! I stopped in here for lunch today, and it was excellent, including the service. Glad to see the issues I experienced in my previous visit have been worked out. If you are a sushi lover, this place is a must-try.
I went this place with my friend. We ordered Sushi Omakaze (8 pieces of superb sushi) and a few a la carte.
Fish was really fresh, and we were able to taste not-so-common kinds, including Kurodai, Aji, Hotategai, Madai and some ieces that I forgot the names.
I especially appreciated Saba. It was not a typical shime saba (salt and vinigar cured). It was aged, bit extremely fresh. I ended up ordering another one.
Tamago was very unique as you can see in the picture. I think this can be B2's signature menu.
They have a good selection of Sakes.
Two Reminders:
Kitchen menu virtually does not exist, except for a few appetizers. Price can be hefty. Expensive, but pretty good! Really nice decor and good service. Sushi was fresh and the lobster mac was on point. Will go again to try other items on the menu. You can tell the place is new but the quality of the food was great as expected from past Bluefin experiences. We live in east falls, so this is the closest sushi of any quality. The restaurant itself is aesthetically pleasing, but it's hard to get over it being in an office building. We ordered the premium sashimi sampler, a special hand roll, tempura, a vegetable roll, and an eggplant special. Each dish was decent but underwhelming, and everything is crazy expensive. Overall I wouldn't recommend unless you're trying to impress someone who doesn't know that what they're eating is average. Great apps, sushi rolls and amazing customer service, i can't wait to come back here again with my friends. Great service, nice venue located right off of city line avenue. The premium Toro is a must try as well as the new rainbow roll. Prices are a little high but well worth it. Great food and very good service to compliment the food! When you first walk in you are greeted by the front desk clerk. We had a reservation and they walked us to our table and was seated. You look around and the place looks so nice with a modern touch. You are then greeted by a waiter or waitress who will take care of you during your dinning experience and would explain the menu to you. We ordered the lobster mac n cheese, rock shrimp and dumplings as our apps. When it came out, the presentation looked nice and tasty. Our apps was great! Especially the Mac n cheese. Then our sushi came out after a good 20 minutes of waiting. When the sushi came out, everything was organized, looked fresh, and also looked tasty. After the sushi was brought to our table, our waiter explained each roll, which rolls was what, and the type of fish it was. After explaining, we was able to eat and the sushi's had a fresh and tasty flavor to it. For me top 5 sushi restaurants I've been too. The fish to rice ratio was perfect, not too much rice, and not too much fish, just right. It was a heck of an experience to come try B2. Great food and great service! Overall rating 5/5 stars. Stumbled upon this hidden sushi restaurant from looking at other Yelp reviews and glad I gave it a shot! Everything about this restaurant is impeccable! Always greeted by a friendly face at the hostess desk and always have amazing waiters. My water glass is always full and dishes are removed promptly after finishing. The sushi prices average about $16 for their speciality rolls, but are well worth it. I've tried probably about 10 different rolls and all are amazing. I think my favorite is the no name 1 because it has a variety of everything. The atmosphere is really modern and dim-perfect for a date night! Overall, bangin. It's up there with the best sushi in the city. The environment is really chill and has a high end vibe to it. The chefs all know what they're doing and if you sit up close you can see the skill for yourself. If you're down for good sushi and are around the area, just go. No need to sit and contemplate where to eat :) UsuAlly this place is the best sushi spot around. However, a few times we have ordered take out and the food wasn't great or incorrect. We ordered a well done steak, as you can see from picture it's not even close to well done. The salad had some weird leaves that were not supposed to be on the salad. Their was no watercress on the "watercress salad".
It's also very expensive. Usually this place is great. The last few times have been average. Ordered the salmon ceviche, some salmon sashimi, and and a spicy salmon roll. Good news: ceviche was delicious and very different from the generic chopped ceviche I've had elsewhere, the sashimi was very high quality and very absorbent of the soy sauce which is great, and the spicy salmon roll was packed with salmon, but I was not so much a fan the spicy salmon roll because the way it works was large chunks of salmon and a little bit of spicy mayo next to it inside the rice, I also wasn't a fan spicy mayo since it had some leafs in it or something that was crunchy like parsley... so sometimes simpler is better. Great ambiance I went during lunch. It was very expensive though for what I got, $8 for 2 pieces of salmon sashimi. I would recommend it once as a new place but would not be a repeat customer. Service was good. Maybe more worth it if I were to get the extravagant rolls. But I may be too simple for this lol Fresh, creative, good value. Period! The only hiccup was the waitress said they didn't have unfiltered sake when they did. I traveled in on a work trip and was looking for some good sushi. I found this place that was walking distance from the hotel. It was some of the best sushi I have had. I was able to order online and go right in to pick it up. However once I got there I wished I had eaten there because it was a very neat atmosphere! I would definitely go back! A group of my coworkers did the 10 course Omakase tasting menu. The food was perfectly balanced and had amazing flavors in every course. I was blown away by the meal and highly recommend this restaurant - especially the tasting menu. I first need to credit management with compensating my table for a very negative experience...but that was akin to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. The decor is very open / modern and looks sharp but there's two major downsides: 1) it's very noisy (with nothing to absorb the sound), 2) the tables are are too easily tipped / jostled. The noise level, especially, was uncomfortable. The service, at least on a Saturday evening, was semi-responsive at best and we kept having to flag down wait staff. Let's start with the basics: Miso soup and seaweed salad. Both were fine but neither was exceptional in any way that would justify $5 each. The $22 special Washington Oysters were small and didn't have any distinct flavor. The special Branzino, unfortunately, was dry / borderline overdone, and also with little taste. Disappointing. The salmon sashimi fared much better but the chef's decision to use red peppercorns should be revisited...the taste is off-putting. Then came the Ai Maki sushi. That looked much better...but two batches had small bones in the sushi. This was the first time I've ever had bones in rolled sushi. I sent the first batch back after I came across bones and sadly the second batch had the same bony problem. Ouch. Both batches came with parsimonious amounts of ginger, too. At that point, we gave up and got the check. Best part of the meal: The nice wine we brought to open, though the $25/btl corkage fee was unpleasant (though in line with the $$$$ pricing of everything else)...but management waived the high corkage fee after the aforementioned problems. Gosh, I guess I should give B2 at least two stars for the responsive management but this is really a zero star food / service review raised to one star though management intervention. Oh, before I forget, all the beautiful people on dates were at the restaurant that night (including lots of hot wait staff)...so maybe the right thing to do is to only order drinks and ogle. This is the best sushi restaurant in the city if you want high grade sushi and are willing to pay for it. Toro sampler is amazing. Salmon with blue cheese also fantastic. Sake selection is great. Forget the carafe and splurge for a bottle. It truly tastes different. All staff from management to reception are lovely and happy to help. My family and I got the omakase (tasting menu) premium menu ($90) per person, suggested by the server. This was our dessert, a fried banana and fruit, for a 90 dollar premium tasting menu. Toothpicks and the orange still has the sticker on the skin.
The other dishes were good, but not worth 90 per person. There was sashimi after sashimi dish; we ended up having raw fish for 6 of the courses. It definitely didn't feel like they put thought into the course progression or pairings. For 90 dollars a head, this was disappointing. Bluefin is one of those places where you want to take your date and have a lovely meal.
My visit to Bluefin was through the generosity of my parents. They took over the ordering, as they are regulars, so I will only include the atmosphere, taste of food, and the general vibe of my experience.
My initial impression of the first floor of this apartment complex is cool and modern, with stylish lighting and a clean decore. Though some of the waiting staff seemed apathetic and lazy, most of them were friendly and helpful. The bathroom is sleek and dimly lit, with hand dryers attached directly to the sink, it was cool.
The food was impeccable - their presentation was beautiful and it was delicious. The multicourse meal we had left me crippling in fullness, only to my regret wishing I could eat more.
I fault Bluefin only for the "potential" cost. Considering I didn't pay for it, the amount of food was substantial, and, as readers of this review have already seen the four $ signs, you can expect to pay a pretty penny for this premium experience. Nevertheless, I'll definitely return with my girlfriend for a lovely night. Omakaze at its best, delightful with the service
Atmosphere is great too and also many options of Japanese cocktails Over priced. Took my order for saki and refused to serve it hot. The manager/owner said it was not authentic. My roll was good but not 16 dollars good I was at Target this morning and craving sushi, so I looked up on Yelp what was nearby and saw B2 Bluefin was across the street. Had a little trouble finding it because it's in an office building (but they do have B2-designated parking spots near the entrance that you only see after you've driven around the parking lot looking for a space), but once I was parked it was a fabulous experience.
I was there for lunch so I can't speak to the dinner experience. It has a light and modern interior that is pretty swanky and probably fun for a Friday night dinner but a little overkill for Tuesday lunch. Since I was alone, the hostess asked if I'd like to sit at the sushi bar. She said the chefs are really friendly and fun to talk to. So I said sure.
I sat down and immediately the four sushi chefs behind the counter were smiling and asking how I was. We started to chat it up and an hour later--long after I had finished my meal--we were still talking. We shared food photos, they talked about other restaurants where they had worked, we discussed the proper or traditional way to eat sushi, and I asked lots of questions about what they were preparing and what they do with the leftover fish that isn't sold that day. They joked that I must be planning to open my own sushi restaurant (I'm not).
One glance at the menu and I realized I was not in a grab-and-go $8 sushi roll joint. Their lunch specials range from $16-25, but it was worth it. I had their Boathouse lunch special ($25) that includes the special Boathouse roll (all their rolls are Philly-themed names), a bowl of miso soup, and chef's choice of six pieces of sushi. It was plenty of food.
While they were making my order, one of the chefs, Paul (yes, I learned their names, after all we were practically exchanging phone numbers by the end of lunch) slid me a beautifully prepared carpaccio plate with four thin pieces of fish that I had not ordered but gratefully accepted. It was delicious.
The Boathouse plate was a lot of food for one person for lunch, and it was very nicely presented. The salmon sushi was especially fresh and good and practically melted in my mouth, and the Boathouse roll was perfect, with a little bit of crunchy goodness.
This is not a cheap lunch but it was excellent. The service was fantastic, the sushi was among the best I've had in this area (Mt Fuji is our go-to), and I will definitely be back with my husband for a date night. I would take the entire family there but it's too pricey for a family dinner out unless it's a special occasion. We visited B2 Bluefin on a Sunday evening and sat at the sushi bar. B2 Bluefin differs from Bluefin1 in two ways: the facility including the view outside is absolutely amazing compared to bluefin1 that's situated in a small shopping plaza. Bluefin2 has its own spacious guest parking and the restaurant itself is big, spacious, and modern. Secondly, the staff at B2 Bluefin is as welcoming, you're personally greeted by the sushi chefs who interact with you during the meal and you're served drinks by a separate waiter from the liquor bar. We pretty much got the same quality service at Bluefin1 even though the chefs didn't interact with us at all.
I think B2 Bluefish sushi is equally as delicious but they have so much more to choose from as far as nigiri and beer selection goes( Bluefin1 is byob). Everything is served in an elegant manner. This is a perfect place to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and more. Will be back!! I like this place. Faithfuls of the original Blue Fin say it's not as good. But, everything I have had has been delicious. The decor is modern and sleek. As a city dweller it's a great spot to meet suburban friends, just off the expressway.
I loved the spicy tuna sundaes and the rock shrimp sundae, though the latter has mayonnaise which I usually avoid. But, it's delicious and worth the occasional indulgence. And the sushi - oh so fresh!
I've been there three times - the first two during the week. Tonight (Friday) it was hardly full but far busier and the noise level such that it was tough to hear. Otherwise, it was another enjoyable meal! Ugh, really wanted to like this place! Totally overpriced and underwhelming. We went for Mother's Day lunch. The house sake was good but after that it all was mediocre. All the rolls were drenched in mayo sauce, tempura batter wasn't light and crispy. All the food was equivalent to a mall sushi spot but the prices here were Morimoto. We were at the restaurant for a lunch celebration. The food was incredible. My new favorite Japanese restaurant. Most people in my group got a bento box. My only complaint is that I had no idea they would put shrimp on the salad?! Someone in my party is allergic. They should definitely let you know if they're going to do that. Someone got the filet and it was delicious. The appetizers were solid and the eggplant was to die for. Some also got sushi and it was incredibly fresh. As a nice touch, the waiter brought out a complementary fruit plate for desert. The service was very attentive. It's worth it to drive out to City Line to eat there. Came here for an early dinner during the week.
Located at the bottom of what appears like an office building. I would have never guessed it was there unless I was following navigation.
Inside is cool.
I was too early for happy hr but it's ok because my cocktail wasn't on that menu anyway
I had the Sakura sunset and I enjoyed it very much
Food- i had the spicy tuna sundae which was yummy and I also tried the oyster mushroom roll. Very unique roll/ never seen it anywhere else. Love the truffle oil :) just wish it was a lil more warmer and it would have been perfect
I'm not the in the area often but if I was - I would come back !! Oh my deliciousness! Perhaps the best sushi roll
I've EVER had!! I opted for the oyster mushroom roll sans tempura shrimp to keep it vegan for my first visit during lunchtime, and boy was it incredible! It was so huge and incredibly tasty. The julienned marinated meaty mushrooms were outstanding!! Mix that with creamy avocado, and it's a veggie match made in heaven! I could eat a bowl of those shrooms solo. They were given generously too!
There were so many tempting options and I hadn't eaten all day so I decided to try just one more item off the extensive menu and that was miso glazed eggplant. Awesome choice!! It was glistening with golden brown sticky delicious miso marinade. The skin was charred and still crispy and the inside was soft and piping hot. I'm super picky about my eggplant. I hate it chewy and this was everything but. A winning starter for sure!
If the taste and quality of these two dishes is any indication of what else they offer, it's a home run!
The space is gorgeous and rather upscale. I loved every inch of the carefully thought-out design from the seating to lighting to geometric partition and open sushi chef station, I loved it! The sexy chic modern vibe made me want to return for a date night when I could try some of those creative cocktails I saw on the drink menu!!
It's definitely not cheap, but I feel it's worth it!
My extremely attentive waiter informed me the tuna rolls are the most popular rolls and the tuna sundae which also comes with rock shrimp instead is a favorite overall dish.
I don't frequent this area very often and I can't believe I'm saying this especially with so many amazing restaurants in the city, but I would absolutely come up to Bala to dine here again. Add a visit to Saks down the street and I'm one happy gal!
*It's located in the bottom of an office building. Small sign leading to entrance. There's designated parking spots strictly for patrons of the restaurant. B2 is Bluefin's 2nd location, and it reigns over the much loved East Norriton location. I've been a Bluefin diner for over 10 years, when it was first in Plymouth meeting.
This location is beautifully modern with excellent service. The sushi is my favorite of any Japanese restaurant in the country. Best picks: Boathouse Roll (same as Davitch at the 1st location) or simply the spicy crunchy tuna roll. The unagi sushi is served warm and is amazing quality.
Order the tuna sundae or the rock shrimp sundae - both are so delicious. Whatever you order on the menu will be amazing. I love this place too much! The owner is phenomenal and friendly too. Wow, this place sucks! We ordered $70 something worth of sushi, and we threw away more than half of it. The reason why we sampled some was because we felt bad throwing away so much food, and we paid for it later in a form of indigestion and upset stomach. The fish tasted rotten, avocado looked and tasted old, and generally none of the food was clean. The sushi smelled bad and appeared dirty. Not good. Won't be back. Excellent experience for a very late lunch.
Great server Justin, special rolls spot on and the tuna sundae super. We are old timers at Bluefin in Norristown, quality seems as good. If you don't mind paying top dollar for top food and service, this is a great choice. Food and drinks are different and amazing. I've been here four times in one year. It's like a diamond in the rough ever since I found this place it has been my go to place. Very beautiful place. It was an impromptu visit so I wasn't really hungry so I only got the crab & lobster cakes. They were very tasty, a little spicy. I was disappointed that the wine that I initially chose was out. The one they suggested was one that I considered before making my choice so I didn't mind it and it was good. My company had been here before and swore by the oysters and gave them the title as "the best" they have ever had so they got them this time too. We started with one waiter and while we waited pretty long to place our order, the person that came back was different and half way gave us the spiel that typically is given when you are first greeted by wait staff at most restaurants. We saw him another time or two and when we were ready for the check, the other staff were giving us the "it's time for us to close" look, but he was nowhere in sight. Overall it wasn't a bad experience and I would give them another try. I was curious to try this Bluefin since I had been to the other related restaurants (original Bluefin and distant cousin Woojung that took over the 1st original Bluefin location).
Like the others, the quality of the sushi does not disappoint. Really fresh and well presented. Ambiance wise, it's very classy, but not ostentatious. It's an open dining space but booths have dividers to maintain some privacy. There's enough light to keep it intimate, but not to the extent you can't see anything. Overall a very nice space (but be aware it's on the ground floor of an office complex, not a stand alone restaurant).
I really appreciated our server Jin, who explained which rolls were which once they came out. There's so much overlap that I tend to forget exactly what we ordered and then can't recall for the next time. We got the Tropic, Manayunk , New Rainbow, Oyster Mushroom, Boathouse. The Manayunk was probably my favorite. I was expecting to like the Oyster Mushroom the best, but I think Bluefin's version is better.
I know this is an odd thing to note, but the bathroom fixtures were really unique and something I hadn't seen before. They were Dyson and had the hand dryers built in with the faucet. Very slick and contemporary. Throughout the night I noticed managers making their rounds so it gives me the impression that service and customer experience is a priority for them.
All in all, the restaurant is great, but due to our location, I have a preference for the others. B2 is truly a beautiful restaurant. Great service and the food is amazing. They also serve you good portions. Would definitely recommend. B2 has become my go-to guilty pleasure sushi place. I've been here a few times (in person) for special occasions and casual dinner, and I've had a great experience every single time. If you're looking for a quiet meal, the tables near the bar area can be a little loud during happy hour.
My favorites: HAMACHI KAMA YAKI, B2 NARUTO ROLL, and OYSTER MUSHROOM ROLL
Tips: they are also on caviar! We are a group of 6 Sushi aficionados well aware of good food. On our 2 prior visits we were very happy with everything about BF2, BUT they changed the menu and some prices as well. No longer was the soy-grilled Filet available at $34.00. Now it's not soy and the price is $41.00. (one main reason we returned) There is only one Sushi roll available in a competitive price range. Most rolls are "special rolls" and cost upwards of $20.00 each. You won't find any "traditional" rolls on the menu. The formerly delicious ginger salad dressing was now watery and tasteless. The Edamame was not plump and was dry to taste. The lobster appetizer was unappetizing and minute. No excuse. Prime time Saturday night was only 2/3 full. We can see why. The Philly restaurant scene is vibrant and abundant. Too many great choices to return to BF2. We called after our visit to relay our experience and were rudely dismissed by the person who called himself Roger a manager. We will not be returning. I've only been here twice, and both times it has been disappointing, or I can just be ordering the wrong food. One time I got maki rolls that tasted like it just got out of the microwave. And today I got their shrimp tempura lunch box. How can you call this thing shrimp tempura???
I may still go back to give it a last try tho because my friend recommends their sashimi Came here for my birthday and had a great experience. They have high quality sushi and their service is perfect. They have a great selection on their menu. I got the Tako Carpaccio and Spicy Tuna Sundae for my appetizer and for the entree, I got Spicy Salmon Roll and Rainbow Roll. It's more on the higher end of sushi places compared to other places in the City Line Ave area (sleek and contemporary decor, slightly higher prices). Overall, I was very happy with everything and glad I picked this place for a birthday celebration! Another place to get exquisite sushi in the Philadelphia area.
I've been to B2 so many times since I work at Susquehanna International Group which is just upstairs, and have had the opportunity to enjoy their sushi. They've a great choice when it comes to the rolls. In addition, they also have a great selection of sliders and dumplings one can never go wrong with!
The only con I have for B2 is its location: it's kind of outside the city limits and inaccessible if one doesn't have a car. Public transportation is available but the I76 makes it a nightmare. Absolutely loved my experience at B2 Bluefin. Beautiful restaurant, fantastic staff, very attentive and the food was delicious. Would absolutely love to return and can not wait to do so!
Oh and for review's sake, we ordered the crab and lobster cakes (rather small but delicious), the shrimp sundae (tasty!), shrimp tempura rolls, salmon avocado rolls (tasty classic choices), the Noname I was really good and the one with the Oysters was pretty good. It does have truffle oil on it though and I'm not so sure if I like truffle too much. They even brought out a cake with a candle for my son's birthday! And that was reaaaally tasty too. But I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you!! Had a great low key birthday dinner here. The place has a really comfortable yet cool/modern vibe. I have still been trying to pinpoint the best sushi in the philly area, and this place is a strong contender compared to what I've experienced so far. We got the rock shrimp tempura "sundae," lobster fried rice, and a few rolls. The rock shrimp appetizer was lame and too fried, but everything else was wonderful. The sushi was great and very fresh, especially the Boat house roll. While the lobster fried rice was delicious, in the future I will probably stick to only ordering sushi here. I've been traveling over to B2 for approximately 5 years, I know the waiters they know me! Frankly it's one if not the best Sushi and Omkase in Philadelphia no holds bar my dude Jesse is the only guy in close contention. They know who I'm taking about and if your in the sushi scene you know that hat dip. Frankly the best food on the menu is the Bluefin Ōtoro, Chūtoro, and Akami is just delicious! What a fabulous meal I have a variety of photos of the Omakase which is also excellent! The sushi was fresh , the service was great . The signature rolls were kind of boring but thankfully you can make your own One of my favorite spots! The ambiance, decor, food, drinks are all A+++ The bartenders are the BEST! Went to this place twice so far with some co workers and the service was great! Definitely will get the rose water mojito again!!! Definitely was sketched out by the location of this spot. Located in the bottom of a corporate office building - I was like where the heck am I going?? I will say I was pleasantly surprised and although expensive, the price matches the quality.
I really loved the sushi here - super fresh and a nice variety. Maybe the best sushi I've had?? Idk, bold statement, I take it back, but it was good. We tried the oyster mushroom roll (SO unique and v good - I've never had sushi with mushrooms on it and I am a fan), also tried the Main Line roll, Jeweler's roll, and New Dragon roll. All delish. You know you're at a restaurant that has fresh fish when they say they are out of some items. They also have a versatile wine and cocktail list.
The aesthetic inside was chic and nice, despite it being in an office building.
I knocked 2 stars down because the service was abominable. The hostess has the worst RBF I've ever seen. I hate walking into a restaurant and seeing a miserable, miserable person...bad vibes. Our waitress was nice, but I was parched for half the meal, couldn't get a glass of water for the life of me. Our edamame also came out after our rolls, if you know me then you know I HATE that.
I enjoyed my time here, but most likely won't be back. Unless I get a new job in the attached building, you know?? Great quality sushi at this place.
We ordered the Oyster Mushroom roll, Boathouse Roll, Jewelers Roll and a few sashimi.
I loved the Boathouse roll!! Was the best out of all the rolls/sushi we ordered. The tuna in the middle and the salmon on top was really soft like butter, and with the texture of the tempura chips, with just the right amount of taste of the Japanese spicy mayo (not too much and not too little).
The toro was really good too. Was soft like butter.
This is a great date spot.
The location is kind of random. It's on the first floor of a random business high rise building.
Service: was good. Nothing out the ordinary. They made sure my cup was full of my water. Fabulous spot! Elegant, has an upscale feel and vibe. Our server was perfectly lovely, she warned us that she was new. Nevertheless, she was very attentive and prompt. If there was a question she didn't know the answer to she quickly got someone who could answer. Ok, now sushi... I am a big fan , and every roll we tried here was outstanding. Best sushi I have tried in years! Ingredients were so fresh that sushi literally melted in my mouth. Great great experience! The best sushi I've ever had. So many delicious, fresh and unique choices. The wait staff was super friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. Service was excellent. The atmosphere was upscale and great for date nights or after work group gatherings. Prices were a little expensive but definitely worth it. Love this place!!! Will be returning for sure. Great Japanese food in the city ave area is hard to find but B2 absolutely delivers. I've been there on 2 separate occasions and each time the service and food were amazing. We ordered lots of small dishes in addition to the sushi platters and were not disappointed. Hamachi kama (yellow tail collar) is a must order but really we have not had anything that we didn't like.
The restaurant itself is very modern and clean, lots of natural light through the large windows. We came here on 1 occasion with a group of 8 (6 adults and 1 baby and 1 toddler) and they let us takeover the private dining room in the back all to ourselves. They were super attentive and helpful, even going off menu to meet our needs for the toddler.
Thank you B2 for the wonderful dining experiences!
Service: 5
Food: 5
Ambiance: 5 This family of restaurants always chooses somewhat strange locations to put their restaurants. Of the three I've been to, though, this is the nicest one. It's in an office park, and there are some parking spots marked specifically for the restaurant.
Aside from that, the restaurant itself is beautiful inside, with nice lighting and great decorations. The bathrooms are clean and have some neat fixtures in them. But we don't go to restaurants for their locations, bathrooms, or lighting.
The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the sushi was delicious! We ordered a variety of rolls - Boathouse, Tropic, New Rainbow, Manayunk, and Oyster Mushroom. I thought all of them had some good flavor, though my wife and I enjoyed the Oyster Mushroom at the original Bluefin more.
Prices aren't low, but on sushi it's pretty comparable to other sushi restaurants. The kitchen items are the ones that probably account for the four dollar sign rating on Yelp. I have gone enough times where I am confident to say that B2 is not nearly as good as the original bluefin. The sushi is fine but the quality doesn't feel much better than a mid level sushi place you would only go to if it was in your neighborhood. The small cooked dishes are pretty decent but overall not worth your money to go to this place. The original bluefin is arguably my favorite sushi place in the Philadelphia area this place just doesn't add up to the expectation. Nice inside but the sushi itself is horrible. Do not recommend going here if you're looking for good sushi. First time went as soon as they opened at 4:30 pm. This place is a hidden gem right over in the next parking lot from Longhorn & across the street from Friday's. The food & the service was amazing, went for the most expensive sushi tool to be found in the city & surrounding area The Golden Russian Roll was amazing!! The spicy tuna sundae lived up to every review that I've read online about it, made with avocado, orange & red caviar. There are so many things to choose from on the menu but the Golden Russian Roll is a definite favorite & one to try if nothing else. Be sure to ask your server their suggestions, ours did not disappoint . If you are a whiskey fan be sure to get one of the Japanese whiskies they have on hand. We were not disappointed & will be going back. Location is on the bottom floor of an office building there have been several restaurants in that location going back 20 years if anyone remembers Maribella's & it was a steak house at that same location before. Plenty of parking. Restaurant has very nice ambience. Not worth it at all! Very over rated prices and sushi is a joke! Makes Japanese people look bad the hell with this place Great sushi! Its location at the bottom of an office building isn't intuitive, which is probably why I only discovered this restaurant last week, despite living across the street for two years. It has a nice interior despite this, with nice lightening and spacious seating.
My friend and I split the Boathouse Roll, B2 Naruto Roll, the Lamb Shumai, and the Chicken Gyoza. The Boathouse Roll and Lamb Shumai were amazing--I would probably get both of them again the next time I go.
Our waiter was friendly, made good recommendations, and always magically appeared when we needed him.
Will definitely be going back! If you love sushi this is the place. The environment is modern and hip, the service is top with really knowledgeable staff and the food is to die for. Price is according to the quality and fish is super fresh. Absolutely terrific=Boathouse Roll!
Im soooo coming back!!
This place made my heart smile!.
My server was a Sweetheart named Chris. Did not expect them to have omakase on the menu. The quality of uni and fatty tuna are just exquisite. All the raw materials are super fresh and tasty. And the vegetables tempura was the best I've ever had. Definitely a fine dining spot for Japanese food. Tasty and nice service. Expect a bit of a wait on a Friday or Saturday night, but that's normal. The hostess brought the food to my car in a mask and did not get too close. The miso eggplant is to die for. I haven't done a review in quite sometime for I've been just busy in general. However, I felt as though I owed one to B2! So it was my anniversary and from a recommendation from a friend I was advised to give B2 a try. The restaurant is in an office building and the decor is very elegant and modern. The food was outstanding and the service was just as good. My wife brought our 2 year old and although the atmosphere is very upscale they are very children friendly. We ended up getting the Omakase meal where a variety of courses were brought to our table everything from wagayu melt in your mouth steak, fresh oysters, various types of sashimi, appetizers, and dessert. Everything was just so beautifully displayed and absolutely delicious. I really couldn't get enough of the food! And remember this place is pretty upscale so the bill was quite high for me at least. So I would definitely insist on anyone looking for a great restaurant to enjoy some authentic delicious Japanese food to give the B2 in Bala Cynwyd a try, you will not be disappointed!! The crab and avocado salad was delicious. Also had no name I roll...was really good...but is pricey Our second time coming here. Fish is very fresh here and have great selections of appetizers. Love their grilled scallop on top of grilled carrots. Highly recommend Wasabi mochi for dessert. Pricing is on the higher end, but worth it. Plating is average. FREE parking lot. Friendly casual ambience and great service. Very nice ambiance inside. However the actual sushi is lacking and overpriced. I'm a foodie who loves good sushi and is ready to pay the price for good places. However, the Kani salad is bitter every time I get it bc of the cucumbers they use. The actual sushi is usually just okay. Not worth the hefty prices, I'm usually left less than impressed. As a side note , I've dined inside and gotten takeout several times as it is close in proximity to where I live and is rated so well, I decided to try it a few times. But I've moved on to a different place that is cheaper and better. It's not worth it bc I've been underwhelmed so many times. One of my new favorite sushi spots in all of Philly!
This is one of their newest location and it is so nice! The decor and everything is beautiful and very well done.
The staff is friendly and the waiters and chefs are very accommodating, especially for this with any food allergies.
My friends and I got the Bluefin platter which comes with 15 pieces of assorted sashimi, 1 Toro sashimi appetizer, 2 spicy tuna sundaes, bikini roll, Bentley roll, boathouse roll, dragon roll, mainline roll, and spicy tuna roll.
Everything was DELICIOUS. All the sushi, especially the toro sashimi just melts in your mouth!
The bluefin platter is good for 5 people max in my opinion - enough to get you full
Would definitely recommend this place as the quality of the sushi is superb - very fresh and delish! I came probably at 5:30 happy hour. I asked for a table for some quiet time. Waiter is very attentive and very professional. Food is really fresh and presentably sophisticated. B2 Bluefin on City Ave has a nice contemporary style, but lacks warmth and color. The reason for the 3 stars is mostly due to the service. We waited over 40 minutes to receive our cocktails and place our food order. Our waiter was extremely apologetic, but had no control over the situation. The ginger salad was tiny (compared to other Sushi restaurants) and unimpressive. The Filet Minion was very good and well priced, but was luke warm when it arrived at our table. We were given a fruit platter for desert as an apology for the service. It's debatable if we will give them another try. You may want to avoid weekends or be very patient when you go. Never been to a office building restaurant but I was pleasantly surprised. Doesn't look like where a restaurant would be located but it was very nice inside. I was recommended to try everything that starts with a B on the menu so we got the Bentley, Boathouse, missing one forgot, and rainbow. Boathouse was my favorite and the one wrapped in cucumber was not my favorite. Nice location and very good Sushi. When I first moved to Philadelphia from LA, I was severely disappointed in the sushi quality of pretty much every sushi joint I've been to. Some things that would NEVER fly in an authentic Japanese restaurant are sadly the norm here, such as using tempura flakes as filler (cheap), fish cut in the wrong direction or thickness (bad texture), or partially frozen sashimi (gross).
Now comes B2! A sleek new restaurant, elegant decor, with amazing and perfect cuts of sashimi! Yes, it's definitely pricey (we paid about $50 per head), but the quality is one of the best in the Philadelphia area. And for those whose tastebuds are extra distinguished, they have premium sushi options like toro. Of course, $50 per meal is a bit extreme, so until another special occasion comes up, I'll be checking our their happy hour M-F 4:30 to 6:30! Do yourself a favor and DO NOT ORDER DELIVERY OR TAKEOUT. I placed a delivery order via Caviar about a month ago and the estimated delivery was 45min. When I saw that they order was still being prepared passed the delivery time I requested an update - message said my order was being finished and should be delivered soon. It took over 90 minutes for my order to be delivered. Driver was apologetic and said she was just waiting and waiting at the restaurant.
Okay, so that was one bad experience, and I generally won't rule a place out after just one bad experience. Plus the sushi was decent.
Tonight was the second try, this time I placed a takeout order that estimated 20-25 minutes for pickup. I placed my order at 6:55pm. Upon arrival at 7:20pm I was told my order would be ready in 20min. And then over an hour later at 8:22pm I walked out with my order. There were numerous others waiting begrudgingly for their takeout and also delivery drivers. I think it's clear that they are not staffed/capable for takeout orders.
If you want to try the sushi - I suggest dining in ONLY. When I go to most sushi places, theres usually only a handful of rolls that I actually want. However when I came to bluefin I couldn't decide because everything looked so good!
The restaurant is in a corporate center, but once you enter you forget where you are. It's a beautifully decorated and modern space.
We were seated right away on a Friday night... thank god!
The oyster roll is delicious and especially for mushroom lovers. The tuna roll(what they are known for) was great as well.
The teriyaki salmon dish was OK, I would recommend definitely sticking to the sushi!
I've been dining here more often because getting into the city can sometimes be tough. I would definitely recommend for you to try it out! It was my first time here last night and I was so excited to try the sushi but I wasn't very impressed. The price and size of the sushi rolls were quite imbalanced and nothing in particular stood out about this restaurant verses any others such as Yanako in Manayunk which I often frequent. The restaurant is quite large and has a nice bar and lovely lounge area suitable for a fantastic cocktail hour event if that's what you're looking for, but food isn't impressive. FRESHEST & BEST Sushi EVER!!!!!! And I DIDN'T EVEN really love their much lauded East Norriton/Plymouth Meeting location.
Well, not only is this place GORGEOUS, in the space that was formerly Chops, it has THE BEST, FRESHEST Sushi I've EVER tasted up until this point. However, BEWARE, its VERY Expensive. Guess they don't (yet) know that some Mainliners are VERY Cheap; NOT Me, I SWEAR. Its more for the businessmen with expense accounts crowd, haha. They don't have lunch specials??????!!!!!! Even Morimoto, (IOW, a FINE City Estab) has Lunch Specials. Hopefully they'll learn.
But this is, perhaps, second only to Nectar, in Berwyn, in The Category of a restaurant you wouldn't expect to find in the 'burbs. Did I mention its GORGE?
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name: Mr Bar Stool, address: 167 N 2nd St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Kitchen & Bath, Furniture Stores, Home & Garden, Shopping, Appliances, Home Decor, text: I went in willing to spend $1000 and the guy is a JERK!! He just walked away to do something else. I'll never go back. Way to rude for me. We just picked up yesterday our Calligaris yellow counter stools. They're absolutely gorgeous and very high quality. Barry was very helpful and patient. He showed us dozens of different models until we found the right one. The whole experience was pleasant and hassle free. Definitely recommend this place. Thank you! Thank you for the terrific, awesome bar and high chairs we bought from you last mth. The coffee colored leather chairs and the matching bar that hooks onto our wall in our den is just so perfect. Everyone loves it and it was exactly what we needed for the corner behind our sofa.
After wks of searching and nearly giving up, we thought of your store. Then we walked into your store and saw the perfect set with the perfect dimensions. I know I drove your salesperson batty but she was so unbelievably patient with me. I just was not sure if it would fit so wanted to check at home but we decided it would that day.
Everyone was very nice to us and again patient. The men who helped us load the furniture into our van were equally as helpful and congenial. Thank you also for offering us a discount on the sample set.
We will recommend others to shop at your store for your great merchandise and service!!!
Linda and Jack See, I don't know how to write a review about a place that only sells bar stools. But then, I don't know how you can make a store that only sells bar stools.
Mr. Barstool has just about every imaginable bar stool available, from the most traditional to the most quirky. I found it useful when tried to sauce up our kitchen -- those great bar stools under the brand new "lip" on our counter top made the place look hip again.
And, of course, if you're actually in the bar restaurant business, this is THE place to go. Bought three barstools 2 years ago from there for our countertop high breakfast area. $350 each but we thought we were getting quality. Two of the three stools are in my basement now since they started to wobble and braces began to separate. After looking closely, the braces separated because the brads were not even driven through the dowels in spots. Other joints had pre drilled holes with no screws in them! Several spots that should have been glued didn't have any evidence of ever being glued! Since we are an hour from philly, no way are we truckin down there to just be told they are out of warranty. Plus I've already started repairing them. Be careful with wooden stools from this place. It's not every day that need to buy a bar stool (or two), but if and when you do, this is thee spot. Prices are great, service decent. Only negative, they have very little back stock. Usually have to order the items in, and that has taken a few weeks for us. [1158]
2/2021
I visited this store about 15 years ago when I was looking for kitchen stools. The quality is great and this is the first time I needed to replace (fabric ripping on a few).
Staff was very friendly and helpful.
I picked a similar stool to what I picked up last time. Luckily it was in stock so I was able to have staff load into my car and take home the same day.
There are 2 parking space on the side so I had to park in the paid lot a few blocks away.
There is a large selection of bar stools so if you need one then this is the place.
I'll definitely be back Emailed Barry on a day they were closed. He responded almost immediately. Was able to get the stools ordered and picked up - he even brought them out to the car! - in under 5 days! Thanks so much Barry for making it so easy! I highly recommend Mr Bar Stool. I went in there in a panic the week before my daughters graduation party needing stools and I was assured that they would more than likely be in but if not they would loan me stools. That was above and beyond what I would have expected but the stools I ordered were in a day early. I know where I will be getting my next bar stools from. Thanks so much!! I didn't actually buy anything here, but that's why i'm giving them 5 stars... I was biking by looking for a hardware store that I thought was close by, and asked one of the employees, June, if he knew where the store was. He asked me what I was looking for and I told him a bolt, a screw and a washer. He said he had that sitting in the shop went back and found me exactly what I needed... Philly'd be a lot different if there were more guys like this around.
So you know if I'm ever setting up a bar and need BarStools, this will be the first place I stop. I have been buying all my chairs for my house and my business at mr Bar stool in old city. Bad chairs are like bad shoes; the impact on your back is huge, and any bad chair will give you back and leg issues. No more since I shop at bar stool, and on the top of it they have amazing designs, colors and as any small business own in Philly it could feel a little intimidating at first. The staff knows their business, they are always busy, and they are sharp and don't want to waste your time. I ordered two bar stools from Mr. Bar Stools and I was told that I would have the stools in 4-6 weeks. At the four week mark I started calling to see if they were delivered to the store. I had purchased two bar stools in the prior two weeks from Mr. Bar Stools but they did not match my kitchen. The vendor was gracious and allow me to exchange the stools. I selected two new stools and was told that my new custom stools would definitely arrive within 4-6 weeks. After the 4th week I called every week and was told that stools did not arrive and they would call once the stools arrived. The stools should have arrived the around February 15th at the latest. I called up until the March 10th and still no stools. At one point I was told one arrived then the next day I was told that no stools arrived. They have $689.00 of my money and I have no stools. Four months have passed and I don't have a refund or my stools. I want a full refund or I want curb side pick up. If he really has them he can ship them to me. He is now blaming the delay on COVID19 although the stools should have been delivered on or before February 15th. No Stools and No Refund equals very bad vendor. Buyers beware!! If you want variety you came to the right place. If you want any money left in your pocket when your done your in the wrong place. I can't imagine ever paying so much for bar stools! We just wanted something basic black or gray at $100 or less and it just didn't exist here. Surprising they do have two parking spaces so that was convenient. Purchased a set of bar stools. They look great in my kitchen, and am very happy with my decision to purchase them here This is an awesome niche store. The variety of bar stools is insane. My family once purchased 100 stools for a business and I just ordered 3 for my new place. They customize stools to that of your liking. I liked a few bar stools and they trimmed the legs perfectly to make them counter stools. The best prices and service! They have a pretty wide collection, although arranged a little differently than I would have expected. They also have a clearance section upstairs, with handy signs saying how many of different items they have. That being said, prices range all over the place, with chairs selling for $99 next to chairs selling for $799.
They do have limited free private parking, which is handy, but also nice options for walking and grabbing a bite in the area.
We would up having better luck at Howard Hill in Pennsauken, if you're looking for wooden bar stools, and prices were pretty reasonable.
I would consider coming back here in the future if I need more bar stools (bar or counter height), it just wouldn't be my first pick. People were friendly and not high pressure, which was nice.
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name: Steelway Cellar Doors, address: 290 E Church Rd, city: King of Prussia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Home Services, Windows Installation, Masonry/Concrete, Door Sales/Installation, Building Supplies, text: Ordered window well through this company. The asked for the outer dimensions of the well. The well cover was made exactly with the same dimensions. I did not realize that was a mistake up until the cover was received. They did not point out anything during design process. Even the lock or door handle was used from their cellar doors and look terrible on the plexiglass window, which both attached to. The window is operational but does not have a frame. The plexiglass door can not support the weight of the lock and the handle.
It took them a month to make it.
It was shipped to me via ups, but the packaging was awful. Overall it cost me a lot of money and it looks ugly next to the house. I have been searching for a solution to a basement door issue and I was lucky enough to speak with an extremely knowledgeable person at Steelway who answered every question I had (questions other places couldn't). I am in California and was hoping to find someone local who could see the project in person and could address some customized features I ideally wanted. The owner said he would be willing to help/guide any local company not familiar with some technical pitfalls that might arise with the project as he said companies that don't specialize in this sort of thing might make mistakes that could easily be avoided. WOW... that is not something I was expecting. I rarely yelp... but these guys deserved some praise. I had a very difficult install/situation. 2 other companies would not even quote me to do the job. I honestly wasn't even sure how Steelway would do it but they did and I am thrilled with the result. They had about an inch and a half on each side of the new stairs to work with but made it fit. No damage to the deck, stairs, or concrete. Awesome work. After they came out to estimate the job, I texted my sales guy with a picture moving the door over several feet. I even called to confirm our text exchange. When they performed the job they placed the door in the original location. We are not living at the home with the door so no one was present and thus we were not present at the start of the work as 99% of their customers. They knew this already but never states we had to be there.
I called the sales guy but I do not believe he will call back now
Bob Plaut Larry was professional and quick to respond to answer any of my questions. I would recommend Steelway Cellar Doors given my first impression.
Disclosure: I moved forward with another company due to the type of service I was inquiring for. I work for Juzefyk Brothers Construction Company in Linden NJ. We have used Larry and the rest of the staff at Steelway Cellar Doors for a number of years. The pricing and service have always been excellent.
We have used the Steelway products for jobs at multiple homes and businesses locations. Our customers have never complained or been disappointed with their products. These doors are custom made to fit. With the right contractor and Larry's attention to detail, there will be no problems with your door. I recently went to the Philadelphia Home Show, the home show was a disappointment, Until I ran into Tate McAuliffe of Steelway Cellar Doors located in King of Prussia, He asked me if I was interested in his product, I thought for a minute and remember I used his company about 6 years ago for a steel door installation. I told him this and also told him i was not happy with the end product, the installer did not drill a hole for the bolt. Tate asked why didn't I call back I think I was just use to being treated by contractors like an annoyance so I didn't call back just lived with it. To my surprise he said he would send someone out to take care of it. So the home show was on Friday, Monday was a holiday on Tuesday afternoon a gentleman showed up at my house, refused to come thru the house because his shoes where dirty( this is a complement not a complaint) walked around back and within 15 minutes took care of my issue. I did not get his name however he also was tremendous, courteous, and efficient. Thank you so much for your care, concern and outstanding customer service,
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name: Labcorp, address: 1432 Easton Rd, Ste 1F, city: Warrington, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Diagnostic Services, Health & Medical, Laboratory Testing, text: Awful wait time. Been here for 45 minutes with no sign of getting tested. I had an appointment and others with no appointment got in before me. I know this because I checked the sign in sheet and only one other person had an appointment. Never come here. Ever. I had an appointment and I arrived early and they took me right away. They were quick and very nice. Would definitely go to this location again! I hate getting blood drawn, but this Labcorp location made the experience almost pleasant. I did not have to wait, the staff was well trained and checked me in quickly. The actual blood draw went well, very quick and efficient with no pain. I will use this location for all future blood tests! I was a walk-in on a Saturday morning. Wow, talk about friendly and quick service. I didn't wait long and the lab tech was kind & friendly. I didn't feel the stick when they drew blood. This location was not the closet one to me. The strip-store front location is somewhat newer. The window out front make the place look inviting and it is clean. I will definitely come back. My baby needed to get her first blood work. I didn't know what to expect and I was nervous about it. I called them and the receptionist suggest to schedule an appointment but they accept walk-ins. We were in and out in less than 10 minutes. The whole staff was quickly and efficient. The test was done in about 3 minutes! It was way better than I expected. Went at 1pm on a Wednesday (after fasting since midnight) and I was the only patient there. The receptionist was super friendly & polite. Theresa drew my blood and I never felt anything (after the gentle needle stick). I've had a zillion blood draws and I've always felt each time they change the vile and the needle wiggles in your vein. Not pleasant. Theresa must have magic hands because I felt nothing! She's amazing! Also the Lab is clean. 5 stars all the way. My visit to the Labcorp facility in Warrington was one of the most pleasant experience given that I was there to do my least favorite thing, which is to get poked by a needle. Ugh!!
Violet, Helen, and Sharae were personable and professional. We connected and chatted about all things health and kids!
Violet did an amazing job of keeping me relaxed and calm with casual conversation and ease of touch as she drew my blood. It was painless and over in a flash! I would definitely return and recommend this Labcorp location to others. Wow fast friendly service. They have an automated system or the front desk can check you in. A lot faster service than Quest. Check with your insurance company to see if you can go here. You will be amazed at the service. Did i mention how fast they are. Easy to get to with plenty of off street parking. I hate leaving bad reviews but... the times that I have been in this lab the people behind the desk have been nothing but rude. I was asking a general question when one interrupted me to tell me to sign in. I didn't want to sign in I want to ask a question. This is the second time I have experienced this. Not cool! First time using Labcorp Warrington. Worst experience ever. I walked in without an appointment. The automated check-in was easy but the MA had some difficulty reconciling my paperwork and needed supervisor assistance.
In the draw room I asked the MA to not use the antecubital vein because I usually get hematomas there, and pointed to the vein that is routinely successfully accessed. The MA puts the tourniquet on, pokes the veins, focusing on the antecubital. I comment that the other vein is better. She then proceeds to stick the antecubital, and misses. After digging around in the arm she successfully accessed the vein and successfully filled one tube. The second tube filled slowly. She tried to manipulate the needle, blew the vein but was able to fill the tube enough to make it a viable specimen, while I am watching a dark spot form under my skin at the site. The MA pulls the needle, puts gauze on it and puts pressure on it for maybe 5 seconds before she tries to tape it. I tell her I'm allergic to tape, she didn't check. I continue to hold pressure after it's wrapped with non-adhesive wrap, maybe 90 seconds from the needle pull. She asked if she could use the other arm to obtain the ordered labwork as she's putting on the tourniquet. This draw went well, but now I have both arms bandaged.
I am handed a urine specimen cup and directed to the restroom. I commented that I doubt I can provide it. I am redirected to the restroom with a "Try, otherwise I will need to take that order off." Literally 5+ minutes later, after even trying running the faucet, I let her know it was a failed attempt, stating I even drank 2 bottles of water anticipating this. I was asked to wait, she was only trying to help me. It wasn't going to happen; I declined.
The time to help me was when I suggested which vein was routinely successfully accessed. Don't assume you know my body better than I do. This is the first time you've seen me; this is not my first lab draw. I walked out of there with a hematoma at each site. There was no need for it. While I can't imagine it, the delivery of "...otherwise I will need to take that order off" sounded like a threat, punishment for being unable to provide a specimen. As a healthcare provider, the patient experience is about the patient; the provider's responsibilities are inconsequential.
This truly was the worst phlebotomy experience I have had.
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name: Basement Lifeguard, address: 319 Dieber Rd, city: Schwenksville, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: Plumbing, Home Services, Masonry/Concrete, Contractors, text: The scope work which we wanted done required the workers to use the preexisting and functioning sump pump. The first night after they installed the french drain system and new pit, the sump pump started mal-functioning. The workers came back the next day to finish the job and told us that the floater was sticking and that we may need a new sump pump. Mike tried to scare us into buying a new sump pump for $450. Knowing that we could go buy a perfectly good sump pump for less than $200 at Home Depot, we said no. They "finished" the job and we paid Mike in cash. Well, the next day our sump pump failed again and caused water to seep up onto our basement floor. We called Mike to ask him to come repair the sump pump that his workers had carelessly broken. He told us that there was nothing that he could do and that they don't fix sump pumps and that's why we should have bought a new one yesterday. Furthermore, he didn't offer any sort of remediation. Immensely frustrated after spending all that money, still having a wet basement, and getting no assistance from the company, my husband went to take a look at the sump pump himself. Low and behold, he found little pieces of plastic in the pit that the workers left in there. He removed all the pieces and ever since the sump pump has been working like new.
We truly felt like they were sabotaging our sump pump on purpose to scam us for more money. Even if this was not the case, it was still negligence on their part. Furthermore, Mike who claims that he oversees everything only showed up on the last day in order to get paid and never bothered to inspect the quality of work.
Overall, even though our basement is dry, the customer service and accountability were lousy. I would not recommend this company to any of my friends or family members. I had a problem with water coming in on the side wall of my basement where the floor and block wall meet at the footings. Mike was able to come out within a matter of days and assess the situation. The back third of the basement had an interior drain tile that was improperly installed and plugged up. He didn't try to sell me on putting drain tile around the entire perimeter of the basement like the others wanted to do which would have cost much more and wasn't needed. Its been almost a year and a half later and the basement is staying completely dry. The employees were courteous and professional. Their prices seem reasonable and they give a 5% discount if paying in cash. Their drain tile work is also lifetime warrantied. Not sure i noticed the bad reviews when i was searching around but i had a great experiece. Basement Lifeguard was able to fix a too small and ineffective sump pit with a standard sump pit, in tight conditions in a day. They did a fantastic job, kept me updated on the progress and everything is working great to this day. The existing pit was way too shallow, which was shown by the fact that when the job was done right it took 2 days for the water to settle from filling and pumping out. A while later everything is still working fine. If I could have given this company 0 stars I would have. I am not at all familiar with construction. Well I thought i had a basement issue so i called and the owner himself Mike Schwemner came out. Mike seemed knowledgeable about waterproofing. So he is explaining everything and his method of solving our problem is the same exact way that every other company had said. His estimate was almost 4k lower then the rest. So then I questioned how come you could do this cheaply he informed my wife and I that since he is the owner ceo president salesman and occasional worker that he doesn't have to jack the price up. Mike also informed us that he would also be on the job making sure that everything would be going accordingly. So we signed the contract and they came out the next day to start work. So my wife and I are waiting for a dump truck and possibly another company vehicle to pull up because mike said that he would have 4 guys on site. So approximately 9 am we see this beat up box truck come backing up our driveway and our drive way well this guy is all over our grass and runs a drive way light over. UGH!! So then here comes mike in his truck racing through our development remind you kids in the development. So my wife and I notice 3 guys get out of the front and 1 guy get out of the back of the box truck!! Yes the back!!! Very unsafe and unprofessional in ours eyes. So now we are extremely leary about what type of work they do because we have a friend where this same company did a job in there house in September of 2015 that was absolutely immaculant but it just wasn't adding up with all this unprofessionalism. I questioned mike about our friends job and if it was the same guys he said yes minus one he had let the old foreman go and had branded a new one so we are better then before. So the guys get to jack hammering and mike leaves OK? I thought you were going to be on the job? Well mike never came back until it was time to collect the check. I guess that's what he means by overseeing the job. I asked where is the dump truck the one guy says we don't have one we load up trash cans. I almost wanted to fall over from laughter. Well when they left for the day I noticed all the soil under the concrete was completely dry minus where our heater was.(that was the "problem" area) Well as these men are working we hear them talking about having sexual relations. Hey guys!! So now my wife is uncomfortable because I can't stay home from work all week and we have 4 men in our house. That constantly want to come up use the bathroom that's fine but clean up after yourself and flush the toilet. Which they didnt. And also when they had left we found cigarette butts in the driveway. So we call mike told mike about every issue he was in disbelief but he said he would talk to his crew. Our friends had NO ISSUES what so ever from backing in, sexual conversation, to cigarette butts something was different or missing. But we are signed into a contract so we have to let them finish. So the last day they do the cement well in my eyes the cement work looked terrible it looked like a 3 year old did it. Mike said once it cures it will be fine. Well after is dried it still looked horrible. Well after a few days we noticed right where the problem area was the top of the concrete was still wet. mike came out, told us that his system had not "failed" that our relief pipe for our heater was leaking horribly but he could fix it for us free of charge because we are valued customers. We thought that was nice but fishy so we had him fix it anyway so he did and our "problem" area was never wet again. So my wife and I came to a conclusion that this man and his company robbed us for over 7k because we are not in the construction field. So we could of had our leaky pipe fixed for maybe a few hundred rather than a waterproofing system for over 7k. Well thank you mike and basement lifeguard for robbing my family and I. And if anyone ever would think about using this company from the dishonesty and just everything going so poorly then there is something wrong with you. I would never recommend this company if they were the last ones around!!!!!!! My experience with Basement Life Guard couldn't have been any better. Would recommend as courteous and thoughtful as well as very professional. They are not pushy and helped me figure out a way to pay for my emergency repairs.
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name: La Fava Restaurant and Bar, address: 1102 Baltimore Pike, Ste 101, city: Glen Mills, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Event Planning & Services, Wine Bars, Nightlife, Venues & Event Spaces, Bars, Italian, Restaurants, Mediterranean, text: Best Italian I've had in this area. It's my new go to place. I really liked the seafood dishes and the staff is very nice. Also it's open on Mondays at lunch which seems rare in this area. We had a wonderful meal no one was disappointed. I had the gnocchi with sausage and mushrooms itvwas fabulous. Our waiter Jabar was superb , thank you for your wonderful service. We will be back ! We will be Back!
Had dinner with 3 other couples. Table-side
Bronzino, beautiful pasta dishes, terrific apps and drinks. So nice inside. Welcome
To the neighborhood ! Heading back tonight Amazing first impression! My girlfriend and I tried out La fava for the first time last night and we were very impressed. This is a restaurant glen mills needed. Specialty cocktails were some of the best we ever had. High quality ingredients/Alcohol for a fairly good price. Wine list is a little limited but it just opened so expect it to expand. Most importantly the staff/food stole the show. Must try if you are in the area! We went here last minute based on open table opening. Sooo happy we did. We sat at a table near the bar. If you are looking for a nice bar, this is the place to go. The food was amazing. This is a father son business, the chef is from Italy.......need I say more. The grilled octopus was so tender. We also had clams, the seafood pasta. We could not have been more satisfied! We will definitely be back. Please try this restaurant! Amazing evening in a fine neighborhood restaurant where you saw friends and felt at home. The owner has a great pedigree in the business. The place has the potential to fill the void of the Blue Pear as local mainstay. Oh did I mention the splendid menu was well executed and the wines well selected. A tribute to the memory of my friend and Delaware County restrantur Jerry Ianucci. Very good Mediterranean restaurant from their daily specials like seafood rissotto, appetizers like fritto misto, daily soups like tuscan bean soup, pasta like vegetable lasagna and main chicken, pork, beef and seafood dishes Simply stated, there is no reason to pay $25 for chicken parmason (how do you spell that) when there are so many other good Italian restaurants in the area. Everything is wxpensive This place is new to the area and is a great addition. The owner is friendly and welcoming and his dad is a treat! The food was awesome (especially if you like garlic!)... the fava bean hummus is a tasty start. We had the clams casino- like appetizer which was flavorful and the scallop/ pasta special. The bananas foster flambé tableside made by the owners dad was delicious! Although it's a bit loud the atmosphere is nice and the do do their best not to sit everyone on top of each other. Rachael our server was attentive and friendly. We will definitely be back! I wish them much success. This is a great new local place. A little hard to find...not their fault!! Township needs to support local businesses!! The food is top notch!! Drinks are innovative & interesting...and across the board delicious!! They have a great wine list. We did apps & drinks...the charcuterie board is a meal!! All you need!! But the top seller for us was the incredibly attentive, knowledgeable and super outgoing staff! Stop in!! They are worth the drive!! You will learn about wine, talk some sports and learn about the restaurant business all while enjoying a fabulous meal and expertly crafted drinks!! Should actually be a 5 stars...but we only had appetizers...so when we come back...maybe tomorrow!...expect a 5 star review!! This is a gem. Relaxed long lunch. Servers were attentive but not intrusive. Friendly and helpful with menu and wines. Top notch table clearing standards. Impressive wine list with good selections by the glass and carefully curated international and US wines by bottle. The cava rose brut went well with the melon and prosciutto app. Great presentation of the fresh melon, prosciutto, figs and pecorino Romano. Fava bean dip for the hot fresh bread was very nice. The savory mussels were a treat with a yummy red broth. Enjoyed the brown butter cauliflower with white raisin surprise. For dessert the delicate cannoli and an espresso martini was the perfect end to the meal. Nice room. Bar looks inviting, especially for happy hour which we will definitely try. Only demerit was the gritty sand in mussels. We prefer them to be soaked longer to remove it totally but understand some do not object to the grit. We will be Back!
Had dinner with 3 other couples. Table-side
Bronzino, beautiful pasta dishes, terrific apps and drinks. So nice inside Welcome
To the neighborhood ! Made a 7:15 reservation for 8 and was seated promptly. Food stayed consistently good. Lot of people dining. Place will be very successful as food is terrific. La Fava restaurant was a fantastic eating experience. I have not had Italian food this good since my grandmothers passing. Old world rustic Sauces with Homemade Pastas. This has to be the BEST Italian eatery in this area, far surpassing any philadelphia establishment. The waiter was a seasoned professional, service slightly slow, but understandable since it's a new opening. This was exceptional Italian food. Amazing food, great staff. Me and my fiancé are professional eaters, jokingly but we eat out 10 times a month and this place was amazing. Must go Love this place! I have never been to a happy hour that had such a great menu! Something for everyone!
Prices are the best and the food was delicious!
Now let's talk about the staff! Top notch! Bartender John did great, and our server Jen was absolutely amazing! We were a really big crowd and I never felt like I had to wait long for anything!
We will be back!! Thanks for the vegan options Very tasty, went here for date night and was not disappointed! I had a steak, my husband had the veal. Mine was juicy and tender, veal was great and the mashed potatoes were excellent! Highly recommend! Exceptional food and service! Great atmosphere too! Nice place for a date or special occasion! My friend and I had lunch here today. We both chose the lunch buffet and were thoroughly impressed. The buffet offered two pastas, salmon, chicken parmesan, soup, salad, bread, sautéed veggies, rice, and antipasto. After we had our fill, we then had cannolis and brownie cheesecake for dessert. The food was delicious, the staff was attentive, the atmosphere was relaxed and we got all this for only $15 per person. The buffet changes daily, and I am looking forward to my next visit. La Fava Restaurant & Bar was such an amazing experience. The service is impeccable and the food left me speechless. Such a great restaurant totally recommend if you're by the area. They offer a lunch buffet for under $15. My husband went with the buffet and I opted for the meat & cheese platters.
I was extremely surprised by how good the chicken was during for a lunch buffet. My husband raved about hOw moist and flavorful it was, so I asked for a bite. Normally, I'm not a fan of buffet style foods because I find them to be overcooked and stale, but this wasn't the case at all.
I do wish they offered a combo of meat and cheese instead of just one or the other. They were both around $17 EACH. You should of seen my face when I saw the boards coming out. Way too much food for one person. Each board was stacked pretty high with meat or cheese. One board is easily enough for 4 people to share.
The inside of the restaurant is beautiful. They have a nice glass wine cellar in the back that you can see into. They also have a banquet hall, which was full of people when we walked in. I would have preferred if they closed the doors while people were in there. I sat through most of my lunch overhearing the entire thing and I was on the complete opposite side of the restaurant.
Service was kinda slow for empty they were. Then again, they did have a large party in the banquet hall, so that could have been the reason why.
I did see that they offered a happy hour in the evenings.
Overall, I would come back to try their different menu items. Our first time stopping into this well setup restaurant. Unfortunately we did not realize how popular the spot was and needed a reservation. Luckily the host mentioned taking a table of 4 who sat at the bar. We ended up bar side and ordered a delicious meal without an issue. Bar was a little crowded to eat but we had a great time. I look forward to going back with a reservation next visit. Front of the house had some issues, had reservations yet the host sat several people that did not. The food is great and the owner made the reservation issue right. Really love this hidden gem. Rachel is the best - and the staff in general is awesome. Wine menu is awesome and the staff are all super knowledgeable. Spinach gnocchi out of this world. Went for lunch and got the buffet for $14/$15. Pretty good food. Would try again with regular menu selections. Service was great. It was just ok; probably won't go back. We were seated promptly, and ordered apps, entrees, and a bottle of wine. The apps came out fairly quickly but were tiny. The entrees took close to two hours to come out. We were starving. The entrees themselves were fine but not really authentic Italian. And despite the server apologizing for the wait, nothing was offered in compensation. She could have comped a dessert, or brought an appetizer Over to make up for the ridiculous wait. Just had the luncheon buffet here today. The salad/antipasto bar was fresh and delicious! The pasta dishes were very tasty and our server Jennifer was such a delight. Don't forget to get a Cappuccino! Will gladly come again! I've been to La Fava at least ten times since it opened a year ago. As a matter of fact, I had dinner at the bar on the very first night of business. I've had lunch, brunch and dinner. Each time was a little different, not perfect, but worth coming back again. The food is really very good. Fresh, flavorful, bountiful and presented well. The ambiance is cozy and elegant, with romantic booths. The restaurant business can be challenging because it's a people business. So let's just say that they are still working out the kinks with servers, bartenders, and the kitchen staff. Again, it's only been a year, and I believe they are learning a lot as they go (and grow). One of the best things about La Fava is that it is a locally owned business. The owners are a family, and as a customer in their restaurant, you feel like they actually care about you and your dining experience. Last night, Christmas Eve, was a true example of the care that the owner, Michael, shows to his customers. We didn't have the perfect experience at dinner, it was a very very busy night and our table of 10 hit several snags throughout the dinner. Micheal totally owned the missteps and was gracious, thoughtful and kind in his willingness to make things right. We will continue to come back to La Fava. The food is extremely good, the atmosphere is warm and elegant, and the sincere and honest care the owners have for their customers is something you can't find in most businesses today. La Fava is a diamond in the rough, and I recommend you give them a try. We really wanted to like the place, we have been dying to try it and have heard many great things. I also wanted to reserve a bubble for a party of ten at the end of the month for a friend's birthday. We go out to dinner probably 2-3 times a month and love ordering different food to try each time. There were four of us dining, my husband, son, daughter and I. We were celebrating my birthday and a friend of mine who owns a local salon suggested we try it. (Unbeknownst to us, she called earlier in the day to pay our bill ahead of time as she was so excited for us to try it as well). We came in at 6:30 and it was pretty busy but not jammed packed and the bubbles were not all filled. Jackson was our waiter and he didn't make us feel very welcome. He told us a few times how he was triple sat and it was going to take awhile for everything. I was a waitress in college and you never let your customers know that you're in the weeds or having a bad night. We waited a long time for any water, our drink orders (martini, Prosecco and two sodas) or any bread. So we decided once he came back to put our full order in. We usually love to order a couple apps, salads, entrees, drinks and desserts when we go out. We ordered the fried artichoke and the Tuna Tartare. As I put my order in I also ordered a fired goat cheese salad and then a Cesar salad for the table which Jackson argued was a "big salad and did I want that aaaand the Veal Piccata?" He argued that it was an entree salad so when did I want that to come out? If I was an owner, I would tell employees "if people want to order 4 apps, 3 salads, 6 entrees, 5 desserts, etc please do not argue with them!" My husband also ordered a French onion soup (which was never brought out) before his salmon dish. The apps and salads were very good. We asked for a wine bottle list and never got one. An eight top who clearly are regulars were sat after our apps came and Jackson literally only came back to deliver our entrees, we never even spoke to him again. He completely tended to the table of eight next to us. So finally a male manager came and took our second drink order and refills when our entrees were out. We again waited for our bar drinks. Our son's gnocchi tasted salty and like jarred garlic. Our daughter's Carbonara was good and my husband's salmon was good. My veal piccata was over salted and drowning in lemon. Good cut of veal though. We ended up leaving in the middle of our meal and (drinks that by the way were brought to another table while we watched this poor waitress argue with Jackson because he insisted that they weren't our drinks) because of the service. We knew we would be there all night! Ashlyn did come over and try to rectify the situation with dessert but we were looking to get out of there as it was already after 8pm and the service didn't improve after we talked to the male manager. We are hopeful that our friend is not charged for this dinner. Look, we are easy to please and we love to go out to dinner. We understand that there are off nights with restaurants but we don't know if it was a staffing issue or Jackson needs more training in the way he handles slightly busy nights and how he speaks to customers because we felt like a burden and an annoyance to him. (He definitely cannot be a Salesianum graduate) Many of the waitstaff seemed spread thin between the bubbles and the restaurant. I'm also one who leaves great reviews and bad reviews for businesses because I feel it's important. Life is way too short in this Covid crazy world! My husband and I had the most wonderful meal over the weekend to celebrate his birthday. The food and staff were equally amazing. Jennifer made us feel like we had known her forever. Our meal was honestly the best and most fresh food we have had in years. The spaghetti carbonara was the best I have had since I had it in Venice ten years ago. We cannot wait to go back! Thanks for a truly amazing night Was expecting more after reading the review in MainLine mag. The new decor is nicer than Angelina was now there is a full bar.
The 2 artichokes were good and done well with a nice wine sauce. The vegetable tempura was quite large and came with 2 dipping sauces. The tempura was light and crispy and not at all soggy. Unfortunately the entree's were disappointing in taste. We had the pork milanese, which the waitress said had been switched to veal. Then she came back again and said no, it was going to be pork. The pork cutlets were good , but the tomato, onion topping lacked any taste. Was hoping for the arugula with shaved parm on top with a little balsamic. Place was very busy so reservations are needed , especially on a Saturday night. People were very nice and the food was fine, but not as special as we expected. Ate here on a Saturday night 5/11/2019 without a reservation but were happy to sit at the bar for dinner as it was only 2 of us. The restaurant was packed and so was the bar. There were 2 bartenders, the one was great, the other one was not. So the good bartender was now picking up the slack causing him to serve a packed restaurant and bar by himself practically. We had asked for a few things (drink, menu, check) and the bad bartender acknowledged us, but never actually brought us those things. So we had to flag the other guy down.
Our food was brought out within 20 minutes of us ordering. We had the fried calamari, baratta and a burger. All 3 were beyond delicious. The baratta came with a huge arugula salad on the side. I enjoyed every single bite. We can't wait to go back. The decor was also beautiful, we really enjoyed our date. Food was very good! But I like a nice, casual meal, no rush... and the service was still slower than I'd like. We waited a bit too long for drinks, our appetizer, and then our to-go order (I'm pretty sure our server never entered it when we ordered, we reminded her 15 minutes later and I think that's when she put it in). Funny thing was, it seemed like all of the servers were really rushing all night, which was a bit of a quandary since all of our service was slow.
Drinks: my husband ordered a Moretti, and it was cold and perfect. I had their house Sauvignon Blanc, and while I enjoyed it, I felt the pour was short. Maybe it was the glass that was the issue and it was perception, but we dine out frequently, and this pour was one of the smallest in the area.
As for the food: First and foremost, the fritto misto (fried calamari) was the best I have ever had. Loved the sauce!
The Caesar salads we both ordered were big, we easily could have shared one. But they were a little too dressed, and the dressing was a bit drippy and perhaps a shade too salty. However, we ate it all :)
My husband had one of the specials, beef medallions. I had the grouper. He asked to sub risotto for his side (he's a good Italian!) and the server had no problem with that. His beef was DELICIOUS! Tender, perfectly cooked. My grouper was excellent, very well seasoned. However, I loved the tomato puree but needed a little more as it was a beautiful bite with the grouper but there wasn't enough to finish off the whole piece of fish. I didn't finish all the fish, so took some home in a doggie bag but there will be no puree to enjoy with the leftovers :(
The saffron risotto was so good. My husband was disappointed that there was not a risotto dish on the menu as an entrée. They should consider adding a regular risotto entree, as well as a risotto special of the day.
Overall, we will definitely return and hope the service is better! We went on Saturday, for my birthday. I paid $25.00 for a dining pod, which was fun and felt pretty safe. They were having a kitchen problem so my 7:15 reservation was pushed to 7:45 (they called but we were already on our way there). The restaurant was crowded and people were standing around without masks and sitting at the bar. Once we got in the pod however it was terrible, took at least a half an hour to get a drink... then it took more than an hour and a half to get our appetizers! The waiter seemed busy but didn't really come by, no one explained it would have been that long or we would have left. So we just sat there waiting, when we got our food it was ok but almost 10:00! The restaurant didn't take anything off our bill for the wait and it wasn't cheap... I probably won't be back which is a shame because I went once for brunch and it was much better I went back to try their pork milanese. This was a hit or miss. The first time, it was tender and the breading was lightly crisp, very fresh tasting. The second time, the meat dish was dry and the breading was hard. It seems like it's been in the oven too long. Just came back from a dinner with friends and it was absolutely wonderful! Ate outside and enjoyed excellent outdoor music and a three course meal which was delicious for everyone! Great service! Highly recommend! Was seated at 7 pm which was our reservation.
7:30 waitress took order apps came out slow
Cheese and meet platter perfect,pear salad very good
Mains veal and shrimp very good, baked bow tie pasta
(I have the noodle wrong) with meatballs very good!
Waitress was in over hear head and was distracted by a tabletop of apparent friend in our sections
Had the provonce rose ...two cold!
All in all when this place matured I think we will have a winner in Glen Mills Wonderful experience! from the check in with the host, to the very end with our dessert! Extremely accommodating on a Saturday night with no reservation. We were seated right away! Maria our server was amazing! Food and atmosphere very welcoming, live music was a perfect touch!
We will be back! We had dinner at La Fava last night and it was awesome! They repurposed a large portion of the parking lot with tables, canopies and chairs. With plenty of space between tables it was perfect.
For starters we had the buratta salad and Cesar salad. Both were delicious! We then had papardelle bison bolognese and lobster ravioli. Again both were great.
Service was excellent as always. Also note they had indoor seating but that seemed to fill up quickly with the return to 25% seating capacity. Great atmosphere. Very friendly staff. Very clean and safe feeling. The bubble dinning outside is great. It's like your own private room. It's warm enough even on this freezing, windy night. They rent it to you for 2 hours which is perfect! My wife and I enjoyed it a lot. But here's the but. The food for me was bland. It lacked seasoning. Even a little S & P would of helped since there is none on the tables which i assume is for Covid reasons with different guest touching the salt and pepper shakers. Improve the taste a little and this place will be 5 stars! I Guarantee it! Walking in at 7:00pm to an empty dining room should have been a red flag. The appetizers were greasy. The meatballs tasted like the needed to be cooked longer. As for the entrees:
- Spaghetti Carbonara: we ordered 2 and both just tasted like the pasta water it was cooked in. The flavors were not married together.
- Lobster Ravioli with Shrimp: the ravioli tasted old and chewy and the shrimp had a strong fishy taste.
- Stuffed shells: was the special of the day; nothing to write home about.
- Veggie Lasagne: also, meh.
We accidentally broke a glass with club soda and we cleaned it up ourselves since we could not locate our server for most of the meal. She then charged us to replace the club soda!
The service was not great and the food followed suit. Disappointing birthday meal. I have been twice now to La Fava and their have been two constants with each visit :good food and good service. I've personally had the grouper and risotto and the bison bolognese both of which excellent. Bronzino and salmon got equally good reviews from other diners in the party Regarding service, Rachel you rock. Love your bubbly personality and the passion you bring to serving your guest. Will definitely be back . PS Nice bourbon collection as well Amazing new spot which opened early February. Sat at the large luxurious bar for happy hour and had a delicious dinner and the Montepulciano house red which was perfectly dry. Dana the bartender was very friendly and helpful. The fava bean spread that comes with the bread is delightful and the meatballs were great with the lemon ricotta which made it extra special. Will come back for sure! Food was amazing. Branzino done to perfection and the octopus is a must try! Service is great too! Had a great time! We were seated right away without reservations which was nice. We ordered drinks and they took a bit to come out, the waitress seemed to have to mix her own drinks. We finally got our drinks and then had to wait another 20 minutes to order our entrees, so 30 minutes total from the time we were seated. Bread for the table didn't arrive until 40 minutes after we were seated. It took a while for the food to come out of the kitchen. The food was good in general but my wife's panini was slightly burnt and her fries were under cooked. Also there is no kids menu so we had to buy a full entree for our daughter who ate only a small portion of it. Restaurant also got quite loud making it difficult to have a conversation with those seated across from you. We may go back bit it won't be our first choice. I really loved the lunch buffet. Loved my waitress too. The food is fresh and the place is pretty inside. So far only did the buffet but was very pleased. Interesting restaurant . Menu is Italian centric hard call about the ambiance since we sat in a make shift dining room in the parking lot. We tried the fried calamari, shrimp cocktail, house Cesar salad, and cannalini with broccoli rabe, and the house burata cheese with strawberry watermelon and balsamic. The beans and rabe were bland needed a bit of salt but Flavor was there . The burata cheese app was good but the watermelon was tasteless. The other apps were solid. One of our guests did say the cocktail sauce was a bit on the sweet side and had a fruit note. We had the Norwegian salmon , chicken parm, gnocchi mushroom and sausage, one filet mignon all meals were cooked well. The chicken parm was basic and standard. The gnocchi was just "ok" . The steak was cooked a bit too well for what was asked . The salmon was good . Overall the meal was good . Price was 300.00 which is about standard for 5 people and 4 drinks. Not a bad choice but there are definitely some competition nearby. We were celebrating a birthday so the birthday boy was happy which is most important . GPS this place off way to get in to shopping center . My wife and parents came here for dinner tonight (sunday). Our experience was absolutely amazing! Not only was the food great but the service was above and beyond. From our server Jessica to the busser/runner. From the top down! Every staff memeber we came in contact with was happy to be there. Coming from a restaurant manager myself, I would recommend La Fava over and over. We will 100% be back. Went on New Year's Eve around 6:30- made the reservation for regular seating, was pushed into high top. Husband got knocked into several times, we were all so packed in. Food was bland, portions small, lentil soup had about 5 lentil beans in it. Even the table next to us asked for salt shaker. Bill was outrageous. Noise level off the chart. One and done. Apologies to La Fava - - this review is long overdue. Way back on September 21st my family gathered there to celebrate a daughter's Birthday - - and I'm just now getting around to submitting my comments. and they are all good. Food was great, staff excellent, and the attention to our needs, awesome. We were 6 adults and and 3 children seated at a large table @5:30 pm. As the sun set and the light started streaming through the large West windows, it was blinding to several seated at the table (I should mention the restaurant was newly opened, and all the curtains had not been hung). The staff, led by manager Michael Buono took great pains - and ladders - to hang tablecloths to shield our table, moving them several times till the setting sun was no longer a factor. We appreciate all your attention, and will be back this holiday season! We had my daughter's Bridal Shower there. The staff was wonderful about following Covid-19 rules, as was our small group of 16. The food was delicious, service was impeccable! We started with the arugula salad, followed by a pasta course of orecchiette, then an entree choice of chicken piccata or norwegian salmon. Dessert was cannoli and Italian cookies. We found their price per person for this afternoon event was less than the usual Chester County venues. They went out of their way to make my daughter's day special and memorable for all. I would recommend LaFava for anyone planning an event, or just in the mood for a good meal! Had the Bolognese pasta definitely not the best.
My friends had the chicken Parm and it was so good. Nice place. Burrata dish was tasty. Arrived at 5:45 for a party of two on a Wednesday evening. We were kindly greeted and seated right away without a reservation. We had assistance ordering a bottle of wine to go with our meal (we are not wine connoisseurs) from the manager and our waitress, Rachel, was kind and attentive.
We ordered the:
Eggplant rollatini (app special)...delicious! I love eggplant. It was so cheesy and the sauce was really flavorful.
Monkfish- great portion of fish over large serving of risotto. Served hot and yummy
Soft shell crab special- crispy and cooked perfect. Got cold fast and could have used a little spice but was great.
We did not have room for dessert but will be back! La Fava has hosted us for our last three Thanksgivings. We've also visited several other times.
I love the large menu and drink list. The staff is always professional, friendly and often funny.
Of course this thanksgiving (2020) was a little different but la fava stepped up with the outdoor seating. The host checked on us to make sure we were comfortable.
I HIGHLY recommend the strawberry flambé for dessert. Delicious and cute outdoor spot! A little on the high end price wise but worth it. Yummy food and great wine and cocktail options. Came here for Father's Day and everyone enjoyed themselves. I really wish I took a picture of the menu! La Fava just recently opened and a welcome addition to the neighborhood! Maggie was our server and she was great. They didn't have a spicy margarita on the menu, so I asked and they accommodated. It was super spicy but the sugar rim balanced it out just right. We ordered the calamari for an appetizer. This was the first time I have ever had fried shrimp come out with the fried calamari. I absolutely loved that they did that. For my main course I had the seafood stew. It was good. I would give it a 3.5/5. They do their bananas foster dessert tableside, so of course we had to get it. Who doesn't like a little flambé action? It was a good dessert, but I enjoyed the prep more than the actual dessert. The owner/manager was super friendly. I think he went to every table to greet each person which was so nice to see. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves and will be back! So glad we chose to go to La Fava. The food was delicious. The grilled octopus was an incredible app and the chicken parmesan was perfect. The service was excellent as was our conversation with the owner, Michael. We will be back and will bring friends! While the atmosphere here is inviting, the food left something to be desired. The entrees had little to no flavor (rigatoni norma, chicken Parmesan, steak). The pasta tasted like it was from a box with jarred sauce poured on top. The service was friendly and accommodating, but the meal took close to an hour to come out. All in all, I will not return. I really wanted the third time to be the charm. It wasn't. My first experience there was great. Nice waitress, great food. I have been back twice. Last night was the last. Unfortunately.
I really wanted to like it. First, it is extremely expensive for the food that you're given. The veal osso buco was $38.00, the spinach gnocchi was $21.00. Nothing special. Second, portions are small and the hot appetizers were warm to cold. Third, the wait staff should learn to keep snarky comments about what you order to themselves. I don't need to hear color commentary about the food or drinks I decide to order. So disappointed. Everything about this place is quality. Stopped in for happy hour with John. We were a group of 6 and sat at the bar. The owner Michael has an outstanding personality and walked around to make sure everything was perfect. Apps we had the cheese and meat tray, eggplant and calamari all were perfect. Dinner we had the gnocchi boscaiola, salmon with spinach and potato and the chicken rosmarino. Wow absolutely amazing food and big portions. Highly recommend. Our experience was wonderful! Love the covid bubble outside dining, made us feel safe even during the pandemic. Will definitely be back soon! Lovely meal with wonderful service. Delicious cocktails- great old fashioned!! Tomahawk steak was amazing, delicious and well presented. Four of us went this past Saturday night and really enjoyed our experience. Drinks were good and our meals were delicious. We started with their grilled octopus and fried calamari appetizer. Both were delicious and the octopus was really tender. Our main entrees included gnocchi (homemade and very light), eggplant (norma) and pasta and roasted pork. Only items lacking was the taste of my cappuccino...I truly think they forgot the coffee portion of the drink. But overall, we all enjoyed our dishes and said it was a definite return again restaurant. Thanks La Fava! Really yummy food and a nice atmosphere. The food had a high price point for what you were served (about 3-5 dollars above west Chester borough prices). However, the food was delicious and the service was friendly and attentive.
We had the burrata to start, which is some of the best I've had since being in Italy.
We all got either the branzino or salmon for dinner both of which was really tasty. My salmon was in a fairly bland sauce and a little overcooked, but overall decent flavor. The branzino was really nicely prepared. We had some brocollini on the side which was swimming in oil, but it has a nice garlicky flavor.
Overall fine food, and the friendliest of service. We will be sure to return to explore other menu options. Great food and great service by Vincenzo but the food was very slow. Drink order were messed up and the owner Michael did not even Comp us a drink or dessert on a $400 bill after mentioning our 2 hour wait on a Birthday dinner Owner never there. Servers trash talk thinking we cant hear them. Service was fast, but the meatballs and bread will break your teeth. I know 3 more places that have better quality food at a reasonable price. We all know how much chicken cost. Plus it's a copy menu of down the street. La Fava is a must try spot! Chef Laurent Cooks up wonderful and flavorful dishes! The Staff is always pleasant and the Owner touches every table to check in to see how everything is going! The after dinner cocktails are a must try! If you haven't checked it out yet don't wait! The live music on the weekends is such a nice touch! 3.5, but yelp doesn't give that option. Gnocchi was tasty. Nice Cesar salad, but there is no option for a side "green salad" that could be considered a bit more of a healthier option. I came here to try wine. Wine list is pretty limited considering Wine Bar is in the name. No flight options. Tried the Le Fonti Chianti (3.5) and the Silver Totem WA Cab (3.). Service was good. It was pretty empty, but it was a Monday night at a new restaurant. Would rate 0 if possible. Never had an experience like this in my life.
girls night out. 6 women, 5 healthcare workers who were elbow deep in COVID for months and truly busy and overworked due to coworkers getting sick. I tell you this because we were looking for a nice relaxing night out to celebrate my birthday.
From the moment we entered i felt like thet really didn't care if we were there or not. Our waitress started her introduction by saying I am sorry but I am really busy. Really? I can tell you about be busy. Do you think I could tell a patient sorry but I am really busy. never got to try the food because after two hours our food still wasn't served so we complained. Lol they could not have cared less. No manager came over to see why we unhappy. It was an epic fail on the part of this uppity restaurant.
After leaving a place that could care less about us we ended up going to the Towne House in Media because we were starving. They were so welcoming and provided superior service. My recommendation would be to skip LaFava and go straight to the Towne House. The Owner is a great person. The place is beautiful and very warming. Is a decent place to visit after church or at any time. MANAGER SHOWED NO CONCERN FOR US AND JUST WANTED OUR MONEY! It's Thanksgiving night at 10:30 pm and my wife just got out of surgery. I'm very disappointed with the managers customer service at La Fava because he showed no concern for our family. We were unable to celebrate Thanksgiving dinner at La Fava because my wife had an emergency related to surgeries she had on 11/14 and 11/16 at Howard County General Hospital. I called to cancel my reservation at 9 AM, as early as possible today and finally reached someone at 10:20 am after several calls. The hostess politely said there should be no problem canceling since this was an unavoidable emergency but the manager said we had to pay $140 to cancel and showed no compassion for our situation. He even said they had a high demand for reservations! This was his reason charging us $140, because he had held that spot for us. I guess he was saying they didn't expect many customers and needed to make as much money as possible tonight. Considering the reviews I would be surprised if business was so bad! I paid the $140 and the manager earned some great negative advertising from our family members. 7:30 reservation on Friday night. Arrived to check in 4 minutes early. Told " please have a seat outside and we'll seat you when your reservation time arrives"!!! 20 minutes later we were seated. 20 minutes after that someone said hello. 20 minutes after that we had a glass of wine. 20 minutes after that, some bread and spread. The Dover Sole "looked " tasty, but at $49 I passed. Think I will keep on passing. ( il Graneo, Pescatories, Arrugula, Taverna, Bardea, etc. ) Our first visit to La Fava about a week ago was for takeout appetizers because we had a gift card and didn't care for many of the dinner entrees. Today, we returned for brunch (if you want to call it that) to use the remainder of the card. There was very little to choose from in terms of selections, but that wasn't the main problem. His breakfast taco arrived without eggs or avocado but a generous portion of chicken. My avocado toast was made as requested but I would have liked an option for other toast instead of a thick roll that was hard to eat or cut with the steak knife offered and at least ground pepper on the table. The clincher was the only option for water was 4.00 a bottle! Really? My tea was half the cost. The server said the bottled water was as per CDC guidelines, but I have been to plenty of restaurants lately that have given free tap water. My husband didn't want to say anything about his food because we still had a gift card balance to use, even though we went over with the $4.00 per bottle water. Also, he just wanted to get out without any additional wait.
Not that we were interested, but they offer their outdoor dining for an additional fee. When other places are hurting for business, I guess they just don't care.
Needless to say, we won't be back. Love the outdoor vibe. Happy hour is fun. Live music was a surprise. Food was delicious. Definitely going back. I'll give La Fava a 5 star for our Saturday Night dinner. We do love this Italian restaurant, the flavors are a bit different than some of the other great Italian restaurants in Delco. We had a party of 4 for a very busy Saturday 7 pm reservation. The bar was packed, 3 deep in some spots and there was a private party with a band in their banquet room. We were greeted by name, welcomed back by the hostess and seated immediately. We ate with a client and his wife, who my wife had not met so we were not in any rush. Within a few minutes we were greeted by Edwardo, a very nice server we have had before. He's good, and we will request him next time. He went over the menu, talked about a few specials (36 Oz tomahawk steak for 2 !!) brought water and returned in a minute to get our drink order. There is an extensive wine list and some special cocktails on the menu. We ordered a round of drinks and relaxed. The place was packed every table was full, and people coming in. A little loud but expected for a Saturday. A testament to their food and commitment to service. I ate there the first week they opened, it was empty but you knew the food would bring the people. Drinks arrived after a few minutes we asked Edwardo for a few minutes to decide on the food choices. He was busy and I'm sure he was glad to accommodate. In the meantime the owner Mike came to meet us and welcome us back. He was busy but took his time to talk to our guests, who live nearby but never ate there. Bread and oil/hummus/pesto arrived.
Finally time to order. Apps were the grilled crab cake, large and full of crab. I ordered the eggplant rolatini, perfectly prepared with tasty gravy and cheese. The soup special was a bean and ham purée. Delicious. And the house salad which is enough for two. Every plate was completely cleaned. For dinner we ordered a combination of menus and specials. I ordered the home made butter nut squash raviolis in a creamy cheese sauce. 6 nice size raviolis perfectly cooked and with a tasty but not overpowering sauce. My wife ordered the chicken parm which was large and came with homemade pasta. Enough for lunch today!! Our guests ordered a gluten free penne and spinach dish with red gravy and the bronzino fileted Table side. We ate everything. We did see a few tomahawk steaks served they were massive. Next time!
Dinners were all shared some so we could taste everything. All agreed the dishes were great and all had distinct taste. We saw the banana foster being prepared table side and had to order that for two and our guests shared the creme Brulé. With espresso and a couple after dinner cocktails turned into a perfect evening we sat until close to 10 so perfectly paced for us. La Fava has obviously been discovered. Try it you will be hooked quickly. With apps dinner 3 drinks each meal and dessert we came in at $80 a head before a generous tip. And an easy Uber ride home.
Taste. Simply put. Way too expensive for what we received! We havent been going to restaurants because of the pandemic. We only went that night because our power was out and the house was dark and hot.
So disappointing. It was our first and last visit. Open tables outside with umbrellas, music, lights with garden flowers and vegetables bordering all around eating area. I was glad to learn the first class service and food is delivered outside just as it is sitting in. So glad to get out of the house and enjoy eating out again!!! On a Saturday night, we wanted to have a nice dinner with our family of 10 total. We were seated a little later than our reservation which wasn't a major issue but once seated, we had to wait for over an hour and a half to get our order. The food was very good with good presentation but even the best of meals could not overcome our wait time.
I'm sure that the service is likely better during the week but our Saturday night experience was awful. Lastly, it was so loud that it was hard to hear anyone else at our table causing us to only have conversations with the person seated next to us. I am a wedding officiant and had just married a couple at a venue in Chadds Ford. Following the ceremony, I realized how hungry I was so I decided to stop somewhere on my way back home. I made a quick reservation at La Fava since it was a Saturday evening. The staff was excellent and the food was very good but very overpriced. I had the veal marsala which was almost $30. After reviewing their menu, I realized that these are the types of prices you would find in Center City restaurants. I am not complaining, but merely pointing out an observation. La Fava in Glen Mills for the win Sunday evening! All safety practices in place and delicious food with excellent service. We chose to dine outside since it was such a beautiful night. Good live music and dog friendly. My only negative is the hand sanitizer they provided - too sticky! So good!!! Best meatballs I've ever had!! As another review mentioned, it was difficult to hear, but we were there on Mother's Day and there were many large groups. We'll be back for sure! Went to happy hour on Friday. Excellent service, nice comfortable atmosphere in the bar. Appetizers were delicious, especially the clams. Will return often. Great to find this hidden jewel! I was looking for somewhere for our family to have brunch and most of our usual options were fully booked. Fortunately I stumbled on La Fava on Yelp! We had a fantastic time - great food, good relaxed ambiance and great service from Alex. I could even take a sneak peep at the Euros on the big screen behind the bar. We will definitely be returning after last Sunday's experience. I would encourage others to visit and support La Fava - we will definitely be going back for brunch, dinner and happy hour! What a Great restaurant ! Love it
Super Friendly service
delicious food great atmosphere!
Try the flatbread with short Ribs awesome. Might be a Covid lack of employees issue, but the service last night was horrible. Can't really blame the server (although she did break 3 glasses because she was running around so fast). Took 20 mins for someone to come to our table after we were seated, then another 30 mins to get our meal. Food was good, but they are lacking servers for sure. The hostess was busy doing other jobs as well. She seems a bit snooty too, but could just be me. The outdoor seating was not even half full. Have to imagine they weren't taking reservations because they didn't have the staff. Not sure. We had a most pleasant experience when they had the heated bubbles in the winter, but likely won't be back for awhile until they can figure out staffing. It's a shame because we do like it there. Someday we'll get to sit at the bar. Haven't been able to in years because it's either always crowded or now because of Covid. Dang Covid. This was our first time dining at La Fava and we loved it. Everything was great! The food was excellent, plated nicely, and good sized portions. Our server was very attentive. The owner was walking around checking on tables. He also made our banana foster dessert. This is definitely a gem! We will return for sure! We were able to get outdoor seating without a reservation on a Thursday night. The fava dip was amazing. There was some nice live music- a solo guitarist. Our waiter was extremely polite and pleasant. We had insalata misto with a nice touch of fennel. My husband had the eggplant parm as an entree with spaghetti. I had the salmon with beans which really hit the spot. It is a relaxing & classy environment with good service & awesome food.
From start to finish was excellent, our hard to please group PLEASED:). Probably the best Italian restaurant in Delaware County. Go there. The best spot in town! With some of the best Italian/Mediterranean food around! Such a wonderful atmosphere to eat in, excellent service, great management, and the food and drinks are made with perfection! Definitely a place you need to try! The experience started out okay, but it ended awfully. We came in on a Sunday for brunch and the service was initially prompt and delightful. Our drinks came out quickly and the margarita was yummy. We ordered and then, we waited. And we waited. And we waited. There were some tables outside, but the restaurant inside was empty other than a few people at the bar. They were having a private event in another room, but the group had moved on to dessert. We couldn't figure out why it was taking so long, and our server didn't stop by our table once to explain or apologize for the delay (despite walking past us multiple times).
Over an hour after we'd been seated, we finally received our order. It was a disaster. Two members of the party had ordered eggs Benedict. One of them came out without Canadian bacon. The poached eggs were significantly over cooked. The hollandaise was dried up and not appetizing. Myself and another had ordered the burgers. The menu description was fontina, smoked tomato jam, spinach pesto, on a brioche bun. The burger came out on dry Texas toast, no jam, no pesto and it was burnt on the outside to the point it was inedible. It tasted like an ashtray. I am not usually one to complain, and I was very hungry--but this was just such a mess I couldn't even power through it. We each took a few bites and asked for our check immediately. They comped our meal and we just paid for the drinks, which was seriously the least they could do at this point.
They were very apologetic and I understand what a struggle the service and hospitality industry is going through with the pandemic. I would normally cut them some slack in my review. The part that was inexcusable in this situation was that the server didn't ever stop by to let us know about the struggles in the kitchen. It wasn't that busy. The hosts/managers were standing around a lot. Someone could've spoken to us. They could've done so many things to salvage our experience. If they'd brought us an appetizer or offered to let us order something different off the menu since our original order was not available as described, this would be a different review. If when the server brought the food out, she'd explained what had changed with the burgers, this would be a different review. But other than her saying that their bread delivery didn't show up, there was no mention that it was seriously modified from the menu description. It's on her that she didn't evaluate the quality or apologize for the fact that it wasn't really what we ordered.
They asked us to come back and give them another chance (this would've been a great time to offer us a gift card if they were really trying to earn our business back)--but since this was one of the most disappointing dining experiences of my life, I can assure you I won't be returning. The first time I went here, food, service was excellent. Then, things went downhill. The complimentary bread I had on my last visit was old and stale. I told the waitress, and she almost argued with me but she didnt. She brought out another type of bread, which wasnt quite as stale. It didnt have the fresh bread taste when I first went there. The fish dish that I ordered was very good. This restaurant is not a quiet restaurant because you got people drinking at the bar who can get loud. Because this is a new restaurant, the service needs to to improve a bit. I remember coming in one day and was going to order some food. No one was at the front. I can see the owner or manager talking to friends at the bar, but no one came by to say, can I help you. So after waiting awhile, I just walked out. I really do want to like this new restaurant. It has a good chef. Seemed ok. Portions very small. The veal and shrimp dish was was over priced with 2 small sized pieces of veal and 3 tiny shrimp for $29.00
Nothing special but we tried it once.
Large cafeteria style dining room .
Great service but at the prices they want and the value and quality was not there. Awesome food great atmosphere, great wines. Service was excellent. We ate inside and tables were spaced nicely. They also have outdoor pods which looked fun. We were their Saturday night and the place was filled wit positive energy. Had a great meal at La Fava tonight! We will be back! Everything was delicious and our server Hailey was fabulous!! Anyone else who had their Christmas Eve plans go awry at this unmitigated disaster last night will surely agree. I hope they share. As I was leaving one hour after our reservation time, a woman was furiously speaking to one of the hostess about her 90 minute wait after reservation time. People waiting hours after their reservation time to be seated. Pure poor planning and greed of overbooking. The hostess playing busboy setting clean dishes in between the ones left by the last patrons. at this point, you have to wonder what the kitchen standards are. We walked out and had a delicious dinner at the always consistent Concordville Inn. So glad they had room for us La Fava hosted my daughter's Bridal Shower on Saturday, September 19th.
Everything was perfection. The food was spectacular, the service was impeccable.
The Restaurant Manager, Ashlyn Hoover was so on top of her game during the planning down to the day of the event.
I highly recommend La Fava Restaurant and Bar for your next event.
They follow all CDC protocols and government regulations during this time. When I called to make a reservation, I was told that it cost $50 to hold our reservation to dine in an outdoor igloo. I was also told that the charge would be applied toward our bill. However, at the end of the meal, I was surprised when the the bill listed a $50 service charge. The way the host described the $50 charge, I thought it was a holding fee that would be applied as a credit to the bill total. I wish that the $50 service charge had been clearly communicated up front. So this was our second time. First time we sat at bar and had a very nice experience. They had just opened and ordered appetizers and drinks. So decided to go back for whole dinner experience. First off, service was excellent. Everyone is very friendly and engaged. Server made suggestions and was very attentive. The menu has a variety and makes it hard to decide what you want (a good thing). We tried the cheese board. Very good (suggest maybe adding some type of bread/cracker with it). Had Caesar-I enjoyed but husband not a fan as he thought anchovy taste too much. Husband had gnocchi dish he really liked. Here is where they lost me. I had a seafood dish and I am pretty confident the seafood not fresh. Calamari looked awful, yellowish, rubber and large rings that were very uniform in shape and size. I think may be some type of frozen stuff. Mussels and clams tasted off and shrimp dried out. No flavor in sauce either -super disappointing especially considering almost $30 for dish. Top it off their wines by the glass not great either-tastes were funny as well and temperature warm (white). The prices are on the high end and hence my expectations which were not met with the entree and drinks. I've been here three time so far. Every time was great. We really like the calamari appetizer. I too a friend who generally doesn't like calamari, and he thought it was very good.
They have a nice decor and friendly servers. Literally every food item I tried was very good. I especially liked the pork chop. Sat night. Crowded and loud. Bread was good, thankfully, because that is the only thing brought to our table for the first 1:15 hours.
Reservation at 7:15, got home at 9:10 without eating. 70+ Inlaws just couldn't bear it anymore.
We were starving and three full glasses of water didnt do it.
Poorly staffed and prepared. They are new, but should have quit seating people.
Those poor suckers with 8:30 reservations!!!!!
Back to Pescatories!!! Il Graneo, Arrugala. Came here shortly before everything shut down due to COVID and loved it! The wine selection is stellar and the food was fabulous.
Why only 3 stars then, you ask? We waited almost an hour past our reservation time and kept being told it would only be 15 more minutes. It was already on the late side (maybe 9pm) and the bar was packed, so we stood the entire time waiting. Additionally, the waitress was friendly in an overbearing way. She wouldn't take no for an answer when we didn't want something and we had to ask her to leave us alone. Friendly woman, but she was annoying if I'm being honest. We both groaned when she would walk toward us.
I'd come back and give it another shot someday as the salmon was incredible and again, the wine selection is absurdly large and high quality. The inside is quite nice as well, I hope we have a better service experience next time. Brand new. 3 weeks old. A different menu. Non traditional. No veal parmagian for example. Serving size are good. We found the the gnocchi and monk fish a tad salty but then we don't use salt at all so we might be too sensitive. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. They are trying hard. The food was good. Our service was pretty bad. Sodas were flat from sitting with ice in at the bar while waiting to be delivered to our table. We ordered an appetizer which never arrived and then once we mentioned that it should be taken off the bill someone brought it to our table and said "we've been really backed up". I made a reservation to sit outside in the pods. The hostess was rude and cursing at the computer. Apparently we weren't able to sit in the pods because it was too close to dinner service, but eventually "squeezed us in". The service was slow, had to pay for water, and the food wasn't good. I won't be going back. La Fava - Glen Mills. Don't let the strip mall location scare you. We were delighted with complimentary bread with springy and palate-pleasing dollop of fava bean puree. We ordered the Truffled Mac N Cheese, Octopus, Calamari, Eggplant Parmesan Stack and Wildberry Sorbetto. All of which were extremely delicious. I did ask for no truffle on the Mac N Cheese since I knew my son wouldn't like it (and he refused to eat it) so that was the one low point of the meal (although the rest of us thought it was delicious and didn't send it back but just took it home to eat later) . My extremely picky shrunken human surprised me by devouring my plate of octopus.... so we ordered another one which he also mostly gobbled up! The outside seating is quite lovely, with nice big red umbrellas, huge brightly colored potted flowers and string lights which make for a romantic evening. I don't know why I am just hearing about this place now. Such a fantastic meal and loved their outside set-up! Great spot . Really close to my Mom's retirement community!
The special touches are great. The service was lovely.
The portions were quite big! Would definitely recommend it. This was where we stopped for an early supper after spending the afternoon at Longwood Gardens. It was our first time there. There were appropriate private COVID precautions in place and all servers wore masks. We ordered the roasted fingerling potatoes for an app. They were very good! Some sort of dipping sauce might have made the perfect. My hubby had the salmon and said it was delicious and cooked perfectly. I had the ricotta gnocchi w/o sausage. Also delicious. We enjoyed this place and will be back. My wife and I went on a Saturday night. It was very busy so we were glad that we had made a reservation. It was crowded and loud which is to be expected on a Saturday night in this area. Plus the business is still relatively new, so they still have that new place pull. The tables were too close together so it was irritating to be listening to others conversations. The food was good, the wine was good. I found it a little pricey for the experience. I don't think I will return because for the money I believe better food and experiences can be easily found. Went there Saturday the 10th of August, for the first time. What a pleasant experience. The food was awesome, the service was on point. Loved the interior. This is a restaurant that I will be going back to. Won't go again. Slow service. We waited almost 1/2 hour for drinks and appetizers. Food was ok. Not worth the trip. This is a hard review for me. See, I hated my entree but I enjoyed some other things and my husband loved his entree. So I hope I can be fair and give you an idea if this is the place for you. First off we got 2 servings of onion soup. Price was $18 for the two. The soup was flavorful but sweet. If you enjoy that hot bubbly cheese with your onion soup? No..your not going to get it. They use very little cheese. It was still good. We also shared a meatball app, about $13. The meatballs tasted good but the texture was a bit mushy and fell apart as soon as the fork touched it. I had chicken parm with a small serving of pasta. The chicken parm was crispy and the pasta al dente however the flavor was odd. The whole plate tasted like citrus. I literally tasted a lemony aftertaste from both the chicken and pasta. I can only assume it was from the sauce? I asked the waiter and he said it was from the tomatoes? Idk but it was the worst I had. The hubs had veal picatta with asparagus and cheesy potatoes. He really enjoyed his plate. Dessert was fine , we had a slice of cheesecake and 3 mini canolli's. Service was excellent. The owner or manager ( not sure which) was constantly looking around and staying attentive which we appreciate...shows someone cares about the business. So, not my cup of tea but may be yours! They have a great wine selection and nice Monday night specials. The place has a quaint atmosphere which makes it a good date night place. My advice? If your looking for TRADITIONAL Italian I would not come here. If your willing to twist things up maybe have drinks and a few apps? Willing to try something a bit different but with a Familiar feel? Give it a try. What a fabulous night. Our waitress Alessia was amazing. Our service was the best we have had!!! Alison Landon, the performer for the night, was fabulous! Highly recommend!!! Always in the mood for some good Italian food!
The food was EXCELLENT .... the experience wasn't. Main dining room was like a banquet hall & VERY loud. Decor was sparse and nothing special. The service was TERRIBLE.... waited 30 minutes after appetizers to get dinner for 2 people. Waiter & bossman kept coming over to apologize... not coming back ! Unfortunately I was very disappointed with the whole thing. You can't control mother nature...I get it. But if you can't give us seats where your feet aren't in a puddle and you aren't getting dripped on, then maybe waive the "no cancel" fee. The food was bland and there wasn't much of it. Four ravioli's for $27? I was sick to stomach paying the bill. First dinner out in six months to celebrate a special occasion. The staff did the best they could...they aren't making the food or setting the prices. I will not be back again. This place is amazing...and, I'm picky! The octopus appetizer is so flavorful. The gnocchi is light but balanced and warmed by the sausage and mushrooms. We had the osso bucco special and the meat was falling off the bone. The lobster ravioli had beautiful bits of roasted garlic throughout. It was a perfect birthday dinner. Thanks OK. In the interest of fairness, we have never had a bad meal at La Fava. We were annoyed at the lack of service, but not at the servers. I guess this was a case of not being able to get enough servers. Still, there was a wedding reception in the private room, so maybe they should have cut back on the reservations. Fond memories of dining in La Fava bubbles this winter. We may try again. This is the first time ever leaving a review.
I made reservations to celebrate my daughters birthday for 12 people . I made a comment in the special notes box explaining that my daughter is a newlywed and this will be the first celebration that we're having with both sides of the family since the wedding. I called the next day to make sure they got the reservation and understood how special it is.
That was a few weeks ago. Today - less than a week before the reservation they called me to cancel . Their explanation was that there was a computer glitch and the restaurant is having a private event!!
They offered another night(NO- Thursday is her birthday!!) They offered a champagne toast to make it right( are you kidding me!)
This was wrong and is ruining the celebration. What are the chances that we find another restaurant to accommodate this many people, with such short notice?
As I said,THIS IS WRONG!! Went for brunch on a Sat. One of the first patrons in the restaurant. Service was a bit slow considering they weren't busy. We sat outside on a beautiful day however, bees were constantly bothering us. Food was very good. All enjoyed salads eggs Benedict etc. Willing to go back under different conditions. First I want to say that I am very lenient on restaurants esp in covid. My family has a restaurant for 38 year's so I completely understand the ins and outs of a restaurant. I wanted to take my mom out for Mother's Day. They made me give them my credit card when I called to insure that I would show up. If I canceled within the 4 days they were going to charge me $25 per person.
I had a reservation for 5:15. When I got there at 5....they were overwhelmed and things seemed a mess. When I finally got assisted by the hostess after 10 min, she told me it would be $185 for a party of 3. I had NO idea it was a buffet...esp in covid I was a bit taken aback. She told me it was on their website but I only went on Yelp and looked at their menu there. Plus, when I spoke to a person on the phone, no one told me it was a buffet. So after that, they told me it would be about 20 min. Ok fine. So I went into the bar area and stood and watched. There were so many tables dirty and 3 in particular that were already set up. No one was seated in the 20 min I stood there. There must have been 30 people outside waiting to be seated. They were extremely disorganized. I finally pressured someone to seat us....considering I watched all those empty tables for over 20 min!! Plus the fact, they don't have servers, so I didn't understand the hold up.
Now the food....I would say, it was just ok. Nothing to rave about and definitely not $60 per person! It was a shame. I wanted to take my mom out to a really nice restaurant (since she spends her time at her own restaurant 7 days a week) I was very disappointed to say the least. I even called yesterday and left a message so I could just speak to someone about this but no one returned my phone call. Oh well. They will not see us back again. My husband And I went for dinner last night and it was really fantastic. We have driven by La Fava for years and finally decided to give it a try and we were not disappointed! I wish we tried this place a long time ago. We sat at a table near the bar and it was perfect. The decor and the bar setup was really nice. We got there before 6 so we took advantage of the happy hour drinks and apps. It was a great deal! My husband said his Old Fashion was the best he ever had. The apps were delicious as well. We ordered entrees and they were also top notch. We really enjoyed our evening and felt the food and the service were excellent. We will definitely be back! This place is a goof place for happy hour. Everyone is friendly and the food is good!
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name: Aqua America, address: 762 W Lancaster Ave, city: Bryn Mawr, stars_x: 2.5, is_open: opening, categories: Utilities, Home Services, text: The best damn service I've seen on a long time. Had a leaking water meter. Made the call and within 60 minutes flat they were here, replaced the meter and out the door. For a company, they're not so bad. Let alone "awful." Sometimes the customer service representatives are questionable, but the rates aren't so bad. It could be worse and you'd have American Water company, who tends to hike up their customers' rates often. Try researching first.
I've been an Aqua customer for over 20 years. I have seldom seen major variation in my water bills. I'd also agree that if there is a problem, they are pretty responsive within a business day or so. I'm satisfied with Aqua, especially as of late. Aqua PA is awful. Invariably they screw up changing service and blame everyone else except themselves. In addition the PUC (Public Utility Commission) has allowed them to raise billing rates that far out pace COLA and the rate of inflation. That's why in southeastern PA your water bill has gone from $30 every three months to $30+ dollars per month. Slow service. Poor customer service. Their website is off line often. Most of the time you are forced to pay your bill via telephone which they charge $2.25. I would never recommend this company. In my 30+ years of paying for various utilities in different parts of the U.S. I have Never encountered a company more utterly indifferent to their customers than Aqua. I first contact them about 2 months before we moved from TX to PA. The rep on their customer service line assured me that everything was set. Then upon arriving we learn that our home has no water. It's the weekend so no one is staffing the lines. We spend a miserable weekend with no water (no toilet, no showers, etc.) with a small infant and three pets. Come Monday 9 am, I call and am told service was never established. I explain the situation and am told that their "policy" is to connect in 3 business days. I employed them (and even offered to pay extra) to turn the peter on sooner but it was useless. The person on the phone just kept repeating their policy like a robot. Aqua is a terrible company that cares NOTHING about their customers. If you can avoid using them do. My water bill was around 52-62 average for 2 people. Then I got a bill for 117.00 saying I used 9100 gallons of water. A new meter was put in in September. My cycle changes on the 17th when I looked at the meter on I October 24th it said I had used 6, 367.4 that is one week. So I paid that bill thinking maybe I had missed a payment. Then we used paper plates and plastic forks and spoons so I didn't run my dishwasher except 1 time which used 10 gallons . We didn't flush toilets except at the end of the day. They use 1.5 gallons. We have water saver shower heads so the average shower was 3 gallons. I stopped my detox baths for a whole month which holds 50 gallons. Every amount of water is measured and I used up every piece of clothing. I went to the laundry mat one time. Now I get my next bill and it's even higher it's 130.00. How is this possible. I called Aqua they told me to check my toilets for leaks which I did no leaks. Then said maybe outside pipe had a leak. I don't see how all the people I talked to in my neighborhood all had excessive water usage and higher than normal water usage. One woman said she was charged for 28,000 gallons of water. I called Representative Danielle Otten's office and was emailing Josh Finklestien and he was helpful in keeping them from shutting off my water. However I had to file with the public commissioners office I was sent a letter and I am waiting on what I need to send for my appeal. The PUC ruled in AQUA's favor. WELL of course they would they don't care. They are insisting that 2 people use 9200 gallons in a month. That is almost 306 gallons a day. I don't see how when my husband is gone all day. I don't use water during the day except maybe to make a cup of tea. My shower was 3.5 gallons and my husband shower is 2.5 gallons. Flushing the toilet about 8-10 times is 20 gallons. Add that all up still can't see how we are using over 300 a day. I do about 2 loads of laundry a week and that was 29 gallons a load. Still I can't find how we are using 9200 gallons in a month. This is not just me but people in my neighborhood and I posted into neighbors.com and I got a huge response from all other surrounding neighborhoods that this is effecting. Now after all my calls and emails and help from Representative Danielle Otten's office and Josh Finklestien my last bill was 48.00 so I guess my so called "leak" that they insisted that I had fixed itself. So I am now in the appeal process. If you are also seeing a huge jump in water usage please join my group on FB called AQUA and excessive water usage. My name on FB is Kerri Michel Faust if you can't find the group. If you are not on FB you can call my cell at 610-850-4480 or text. Power in numbers!!!! They will not get away with this water gouging!!!!
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name: Ga-In BeautyZone, address: 127 N 11th St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: opening, categories: Beauty & Spas, Eyelash Service, Shopping, Cosmetics & Beauty Supply, text: They are really good at explaining each product ,I had some trouble finding the right skincare. Until I met them and talk to them about what I was trying to fix on my skin.I had problems with acne,the product they recommended really work , just need to be really patient to see the result This place is a great for learning about products and differences about Korean skin care.
They carry low price to high end products
Which is good for every body
Tips
10$ credit card minimum
If u want to learn about the products ask the stuff
-especially the part of how to use every step I'm honesty not a fan of eyelash extensions, however after my research I gave it a try. The first time I wasn't know much ab my eye shape( which is really small) so I got a natural set done. My technician does a really good job but my eyes feel tired all the time. After another research and talked to her, we agree to get more curved for the lashes. OMG this is the best thing I have ever done to my life. It's so pretty and my eyes looks 10 times bigger and my eyes wasn't feel tired at all. She did a really great job on my eyes both times and she really take her time for the client. ( not to mention the last set last for 3 months without refill). I'm so happy and definitely recommend this place. The owner was very helpful with picking out products for my skin concerns. I have yet to try the face exfoliant she recommended but anyways, I finally found a new favorite place to buy Korean skin care products! Love the mask here. Especially the lemon type
Tips - most of the mask is get 2 box and one free
-they do facial at the back
60$ for one time deep cleansing
And different choices for the facial but I mainly do this one If, like me, you're new the world of Korean skin care, this is a must visit. The ladies here are super helpful and friendly. They'll be ready to school you on the multi-step regimen, ask questions and make recommendations, and start putting products on you if you want to try stuff out.
When I was there, they had several promotions going. I think the buy-2-get-1 on masks is a regular thing. I bought a CC cushion compact and got free extra applicators and a free essence. I also walked out with a bunch of samples and recommendations, and the willpower to not buy the whole store just yet. Give me a few more visits.
There's a small makeup selection in the front, and a bunch of accessories in the back half of the store. The setup could be better organized for casual browsing, but there's also no shortage of help.
Be aware that this store has no return policy whatsoever. You buy it, you commit to it. I'm hesitant to leave a review since this place is still a hidden gem but the ladies deserve it. Everything about my eyelash extensions are perfect. Eunmi took her time to explain the different options I had and walked through before and after photos so we could perfect the look I was going for. 1.5 hours later I have beautiful lashes. I was concerned at first because I have pretty straight lightish, but not blond lashes but they blend in seamlessly with the extensions. I'm in love! Oh and they also do microblading which I'm also considering. I had my micro blading and Lash extension done here, very good. The only problem I had was that they charge a fee for cc. I don't think it should be the customers who pay for their credit card processing fee. Love this space for face masks and beauty ;) I come here once a month and pick up all the latest. And I think I'll try out getting my eyelash extensions here as well. I visited Ga-In 2 weeks ago to the date for lashes. Quite a few fell out since then but they're still holding nicely. I was impressed with Eunmi & the finished product at the time but I held off on my review because I wanted to see what they would look like after a week or so.[I don't think they will last throughout the end of the coming week though].
The only downside for me was that I wanted them to be fuller they were very natural looking; I wanted more pomp i guess :) needless to say - I will be returning for a refill on Sat morning. I am a very picky person but Eunmi is very much a Pro! knows what she's doing and definitely passed the test.:)
Oh - when I got to the register, the lovely woman gave me more than a few facial samples. :)
ps.- there's a parking lot is $10.00 - a block away :( Woman who does the eyelash extensions ASKED FOR TIPS. Dude, I would have tipped you anyways but asking for a tip even before I'm ready to pay is in bad taste. And she doesn't speak English all that well, so you don't really know what you're getting until you see it done. My eyelash extensions were clumpy and not cute at all. It's not THAT cheap, especially since I also got the mink. But it's the "cheapest" I've found in center city. I guess you get what you pay for. Do yourself a favor and pay a little more to get yourself some nice lashes elsewhere. After trying out two other eyelash extensions (lashbee and another one in Chinatown), I can finally say that I found my to go lash lady here, eunmi! She does such great work and it's decently priced compare to some other places. I go shopping here occasionally for sheet masks and other kbeauty products and the staff here is really wonderful. I had questions about really specific skin issues and they were able to direct me to products that specifically targeted what I needed. They very knowledgeable about each and every product in the store and will leave you alone to browse if you're just checking things out. Prices are a bit high but you definitely get what you pay for. Stayed in phl just so I could visit. Unfortunately where I live there is zero k beauty stores. Had a wonderful experience with the owner recommending the right products for me. Great selection! The owner is so sweet and it is obvious she appreciates her customers! I will definitely be back! Check it out and tell her Jennifer referred you! You will not be disappointed! many varieties of masks. My face feel really refreshed after the face treatment. highly recommend SO. AWESOME.
First of all, I was visiting Philly and I forgot my sunscreen. If you're into the world of AB or just care about your skin, you know this is maddening. And I only like a certain type of sunscreen. The ones that don't smell like sunscreen and feel like you're wiping wax on your face.
Had I known Ga-In existed, I would have made a bee-line.
But I found them after I resorted to temporarily using a western brand that was more expensive and more sucky until an Amazon delivery saved me.
Yes, they do have sunscreen here. And I was so tempted to buy it because I've not seen it before and it looked great. But at home, I literally have tubes of suncreen, so I decided not to.
But for ABers, they have some pretty legit brands here: Sulwhasoo, OHUI, HIstory of Whoo, Isa Knox, Sansim, etc. They have skincare (toners, creams, face masks, etc.) and makeup (cushions, BB creams, lip sticks), but there's more skincare products than makeup.
The associate here was awesome. There was no one else in the store when I went in and she greeted me, but not in the over-eager way. She was knowledgeable about the products and informed me they do eyelash extensions and brows here.
When I told her I was just browsing, she actually left me alone to browse, which was great. I thanked her before leaving without buying anything (I just wanted to gather some info for my review), and she even gave me some BB cream samples. So sweet! Great place to get skin care products, especially if you're looking for Korean brands. The staff was really knowledgeable, and recommended products for my specific skin type. Will be back to try some other products!
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name: Sam’s Boardwalk Pizza & Dairy Bar, address: 1200 Roosevelt Dr, city: Havertown, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Pizza, Restaurants, Food, Sandwiches, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, text: New favorite local pizza place. The upside down pizza is particularly good. Never had any issues with service and the pizza has always been great. In a bit of a hidden location; but, can be delivered through Door Dash. Ok...going to rave about this place. Excellent pizza. Definitely the thin, boardwalk style that isn't falling apart or steaming in the box while being delivered. Arrived at the perfect temp, crust was not chewy and soggy. Ordered a plain with mushrooms and garlic parm wings. These wings are huge, well cooked, and ridiculously crispy. Did I mention these were delivered and STILL crispy? I got the upside down and regular pizzas, and I have to say the upside down is amazing! Service was very friendly as well. Loses a star for not having online ordering and parking not being easy. I didn't see the temporary parking for pickup area a previous reviewer referred to, I had to circle the block before parallel parking. I still may go back for the upside down though. Food is fine, but hardly one of the better pizza options in the area. Not bad in a pinch, but as other reviews have cited, they frequently close early so they likely won't be open in a pinch to order from anyway. The worst part is definitely their staff - they employ a bunch of kids who behave like it's their free period and the teacher stepped out for a smoke break (I live nearby and walk past the location all the time - this behavior is consistent and supervision and accountability seem virtually non-existent) Okay, it's a little neighborhood place and there are actually three different locations, but this one is my favorite. I've tried everything from pizza to salad and it's all good. Pizza on the thin crust side, (try the Blanca), wings are meaty and despite being delivered, are steaming hot. I'm a fan of their Italian Tuna salad with the lemon vinaigrette. Seriously just try it! Now remember it's also a dairy bar so you can have milkshakes, sundaes or quarts of ice cream delivered with your meal. Don't order the salted caramel pretzel ice cream cause if they run out it'll break the members of this household's heart. JS . Finally a decent place for pizza in Drexel Hill! It's not hard to stand out in this town among the disasters on every corner. If my name was Dave Portnoy I'd give this a solid 8.3. But it's hands down the best pie you'll find in DH. Get the upside down! Their pizza is excellent and we also really enjoy their Caesar salad. Some of the best wings in Ardmore. Every single time I call this place to order, they are closed early. Every. Single. Time. Website says 10pm, I just called at 9pm. Someone answered and said they closed early. Yep. Closed.
You don't want my business. Update your hours or get lost. Tasty pizza! Good customer service. Will be going back soon. Didn't realize how good the pizza was. [1111]
11/24/2020
This pizza place is so cute in the heart of town. Parking is tight in the area but there is a nice temporary parking area out front which is good for pick up.
They have ice cream which I have not tried. The walk up window is huge which is great during spring and summer. Very open.
The food is made quickly so not much of a wait.
I found it as I was taking a walk. I'm glad I did since the pizza is so tasty.
The pizza reminds me of NY style which is my favorite. The best part is Tuesday is buy two large pizzas for $20. I like this pizza way over Bertuccis :)
My son loved the tenders.
I will definitely be back.
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name: Ashbridge Memorial Park, address: 1301 Montgomery Ave, city: Bryn Mawr, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: opening, categories: Active Life, Parks, Playgrounds, text: I used to love this playground when I was a child. Really, they just have a playground, tennis court, stream and dirt/ pebble paths to jog on. It's very peaceful, but I wish there were some picnic tables. They do have a few benches though... Also, they have ample parking, but they need to redo the parking lot... The pavement is run down... A great park for kids to play around. Our go to place. The playground is nice and big. It has lots of things for children to play. What is there not to like about Ashbridge Memorial Park?
It is just off Montgomery Avenue, features a small playground with jungle gym climbing structures, the climbing structures are very unique, a cool spider web looking structure, a spiral sliding board and a see-saw.
The park also has a baseball diamond, batting cage, and benches to watch the game and there are plenty of bike paths. The park is surrounded by dense forest offering plenty of shade.
Come check it out and you will see it teaming with kids and parents! I drive by this park frequently when I travel into Bryn Mawr, and it wasn't until last weekend that I actually got to take the kids for the first time. We were on our way into the city and met up with some friends for an impromptu play date. This park is really cool, with lots of modern play equipment for both younger tots and older kids. My 6 year old really enjoyed the "spider web." There is lots of parking and lots of space for the kids to play and it's right in the heart of the main line off of Montgomery Ave in Bryn Mawr. We'll definitely take the kids here again if we're in the area. What a wonderful park! We are new to the area stumbled upon this park driving by. It was filled with kids, moms, sitters.
There seemed to be two different play areas - one more for toddlers and the other side more for older children. There were 2 swing sets, 2 see saw sets, a climbing rope apparatus, many play houses, and slides. There is a covered area with tables for picnics.
The only downside is the parking area is small so you just park where you can. There is also a walking path but seemed a little dingy/dirty.
There is also a water fountain within the kiddie park and girls/boys bathrooms.
Overall very nice and clean park. Will return weekly! Technically I give this place a 4.5. A beautiful setting for a well-stocked park (equipment wise). I know the lack of shade will be a problem in the summer, but for now it is a fun place for the kids. We are from Northern Virginia and are spoiled by Clemjontri Park in McLean. What could this park have to make it 5 stars? The padded and rubberized ground and a merry-go-round;)! I occasionally visit Ashbridge Memorial Park to play tennis or to take a leisurely stroll.
Today, I stopped by to play some tennis, but I couldn't since it was Sunday. Apparently, you can't play tennis on Sunday due to the Ashbridge Will. I'm not actually sure if the rule is enforced because the doors are not locked.!
The courts themselves, are pretty nice. The lines are visible and there are little to no cracks on them. Though, there are only two courts.
While none of the courts are shaded there is a shaded area right by the courts. In that area is picnic benches where kids and families have picnics and birthday parties.
There is a pretty large playground with slides, monkey bars, a spider-web climbing structure and more! That must be fun for the kids!
There is also two bathroom with water fountains. The water is solid and ice cold!
There is also a large walking trail that goes around the park!
Altogether, this is a great park to have fun at! I'm honks shoot straight here...Ashbridge is where champions were made. In the mid to late 80s and early 90's Ashbridge was a second home to many of us. If the trees could talk people would be amazed. No idea if the same shenanigans happen now but that place if forever embedded in my heart. This is the coolest playground in the area. They have one climbing apparatus that features high tension ropes all connected together. It's a rope version of the monkey bars and its really cool. There is an area for the younger ones and then contraptions that allow for growth and progression. My 4 year old loved this place last year and loves it even more now. I'd say he has 2 more years here.
It does get crowded but its not usually too obnoxious. And there are fields all around the playground so you can run around, throw a ball around or even have a picnic lunch if you want. Great spot. We live in Conshohocken and come here frequently because it is on the way to our pediatrician. In our opinion this is the nicest playground in the area. It's not just the playground equipment itself it's also the surrounding green space. There's plenty of room for a soccer game or a picnic on the grass or at one of the tables under a large oak tree. There's plenty to do for toddlers and bigger kids. Rock wall, climbing net, tall slide, Little slide and tiny picnic tables for Young people. I give this an enthusiastic thumbs up! Great park...one of our favorites. Recently redone so modern equipment in excellent condition. Lots for the little tykes and bigger kids to enjoy. Only thing that would make this place better is shade! There is an area with picnic tables in the center that's covered but the play area has no trees or shade. Great park! Could use some more shade, the slides and everything get really hot!
Playground, trees, field to roam, benches, bathrooms, sidewalks, parking lot, slide, how much longer does this need to be.
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name: Boccella's Deli, address: 37 W Eagle Rd, city: Havertown, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: opening, categories: Delis, Restaurants, text: Such a great place! Sandwich's are enormous, fresh, and wonderful.
The owners are delightful. Prices are unbelievably low! My favorite deli in Delco. Never disappoints. Love! Hands down best deli in the area. For portion sizes and quality, it can't be beat! One of the best Italian hoagies you'll find anywhere. Terrific beer selection. Great neighborhood spot. Highly recommend. Recommend by my 93 year old Grandmom who has lived down the street for 3/4 of a century and she tells me they have been around and run by the same family for a very long time. We came in for Cheese steaks and beer, and Grams wanted a pepper and egg sandwich, which they don't normally serve after 11am. Priced reasonable with the regular 1lb cheese steak only $5.99 as of 2016. Only go for the large cheese steak if you're trying to feed 4 people or you're preparing lunch for a few days. It's a deli type store with a side area with booths for eating. It can get busy, but that's a good sign. Family is friendly, lively and passionate, you can just tell. Great beer selection. As of this review, they have a Pizza Boy Brewing Co. on tap that was excellent. Great neighborhood deli!
Not only is the food delicious, there is so much to choose from and it is all so fresh!
The cashier is so welcoming and friendly.
There are so many choices of beers there too.
Highly recommend it to eat-in or take-out!
You will surely be back for seconds... Great sandwiches. Nice people. Fast service. Love this place. So glad I was turned on to it. Wonderful Mom and Pop place that I love going to. Don't miss it. The sandwiches are delicious and priced low. My fave is their chesses. A pound of meat! These folks really push the envelope, in a good way, when it comes to delis. This is a family owned place that has been around for years. The lovely wife and I have been visiting them just about forever.
We stopped in yesterday for breakfast. I tried the breakfast platter that included three eggs, my choice of meat (sausage), a mountain of hash browns, toast, and unlimited coffee for $4.99. OMG, how would I pay the mortgage! I really appreciated that it wasn't greasy because I really hate that. They have a bigger platter that includes the same stuff plus pancakes or French toast for $6.99. After eating that it would be kind of embarrassing if I had to waddle out to my car.
This place is not just for breakfast. These folks have a beer license and have cooler after cooler of beer including many great microbrews. But wait; it gets even better. They have six beers on tap. A deli with draft beers in Havertown; who would have thunk it! I could have a Magic Hat with my super large hoagie. What's not to love?
If you are anywhere near Havertown I think it would be a mistake not to give these folks a shot. Great beer selection and sandwiches. Been a handful of times. Favorite is the Cuban or cheesesteak. Staff couldn't be more friendly. New to the area and so glad we stopped in! The sweetest staff in the most unassuming deli. A++!! I had a delicious homemade hot roast beef hoagie while hubby had a Cuban. We both were in sandwich heaven. Will be back! Boccella's is the best!!!!! I visit at least once a week. Everything I have ordered has been delicious. A very consistent, clean, and delicious deli--I cannot recommend it enough. The staff is always very friendly too!!! Boccella's is easily the best deli in the Havertown/Ardmore area. Their hoagies are big, the beer selection is hard to beat (they also do growler fills!), and the service is top-notch! This place always amazes me! The food is amazing and the beverage options are endless! They have Deitz and Watson deli meats and their bread is excellent! Try this place and you will find out for yourself! We love it here! Just moving from Hoboken, we were nervous to find a "good deli" and thank goodness we found this gem! We have ordered everything from their tuna, random bit so good, to steak sandwiches, salads, and even breakfast. They also have a great beer selection. The owners could not be any nicer! Great deli with a lot of options for hoagies. I love their whole nine yard breakfast burrito! So filling and so good! Also they have an awesome assortment of beers. One of my favorite places in havertown. I wish I had something like this in east falls.
Must try!! Keep eatin' Solid place in Havertown for everything, and all super cheap!
- cheesesteaks and hoagies: huge and meaty
- waffle fries: seasoned and crispy
- wings: slightly different from the norm, but of course these were good too; served dry (sauce on the side) and super crispy**
- beer: what else to complement these tasty snacks than a rotating tap offering Growler refills ($15-20)
**realizing now they have a few options for wings and I'm not sure which we had, probably the fire cracked spicy Hoagies are awesome. Great selection of drinks. Friendly, fast service. Just an all-around great spot. Staff is always friendly, hoagies are always packed. Great variety at a good price!! Cuban sandwiches and interesting beers made for a great change of pace from the dining room at The Quadrangle. People are nice; the TV is a noisy irritant. Great breakfast and an awesome beer selection. Can't go wrong here.Hoagies and cheese steaks are pretty good too. Definitely a good place for a quick meal. Gotta be honest, the food was good. My family stopped in for some travel food not eh way to the beach and got some breakfast sandwiches. Perhaps it was an off day, but they were very greasey and yes this is a turn off, too big. We will try again as the taste was good and it looks like a well run establishment. My husband swears by the selection of beers they have available so hence the third star. Will update if next visit is better My wife and I have been walking or biking to Bocella's for more than three years - always for breakfast.
Our favorites are the egg sandwiches (I like the sweet pepper and egg myself) along with fried potatoes. Ask them to put peppers and onions in the potatoes. Great. A fine Deli. Great sandwiches and a large beer selection. The place is always clean and the owners are very friendly. Prices are very reasonable. Great local deli, I always go when I am craving a hoagie or need to fill up my fridge with beer. The sandwiches are always great and they are very friendly This is an excellent deli. Their hoagies are big and fresh, their bread soft. My regular order is a half pound of their buffalo chicken fingers with hot sauce to dip in, which doesn't sound like a very interesting order, but what makes it better here than anywhere else is the quality of their hot sauce. It appears to be a homemade mix of the Srirachi sauce and vinegar. It's fantastic.
The service is friendly and the prep time is fast.
The beer selection is vast and they even offer growler fills of four different, rotating craft beers at good prices.
In general, I find their prices to be an excellent value for all things. It's getting better. The sandwhiches are starting to improve in terms of quality and its quite good! Just tried the cheesesteak here on a friend's recommendation and was not disappointed. Fantastic. Love this place. They have everything! I'll probably try the entire menu in the near future and I'll keep you yelpers posted on my findings. Clean, solid, dependable...I love their veggie and cheese sandwiches as they don't overload it with cheese like a lot of places do. Great sandwich selection and very tasty food! Awesome selection of beers and you can also sit down & enjoy a meal & watch the game. And I believe they're open until 10pm most nights. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. They have great selection of food to beer. Everyone is so friendly! I love their cheese steak and fries combo. Their sweet potato fries are great! They have a small but delicious dessert section. They are happy to accommodate to me and my picky preference, ALWAYS. Everything is great here. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. This place has been around for many many years. The original owners (Boccellas) sold out a few years ago. The new folks have been doing a great business. They are primarily a hoagie shop and have a takeout beer license.
There are a few things that make Boccella's stand out from the crowd. You'll notice right away that the place is spotless! Clean is always a good thing. The variety available is much larger than a typical hoagie shop. The menu board is huge. Portion size is above average.
So what about quality? I'd say at least average and sometimes excellent. Yelpers around here are very particular about how they like their hoagies. It's worth stopping by to try one and see if you like their style.
This is one of those places I wish I could award 3 1/2 stars. After mulling it over a bit I'm going to go with 4. The staff is always friendly and that's a big plus. A Delco classic. Despite the change in owners throughout the years, I'm a big fan of Boccella's. Awesome little deli. They have a great beer selection with a massive variety of micro-brews. I haven't had the opportunity to sample much from their menu but I will say the cheesesteaks and chicken parmigiana sandwiches are amazing! Definitely a good spot for something quick that tastes good! Support this local deli. Good, inexpensive food. Good beer selection. Friendly people. Gotta keep these types of places around. Had half a Chicken Pizza Cheesesteak. It was freaking awesome. I'm doing the keto thing and ate it off the roll without a forking fork. Holy cow I'm full. There's a pile of bread left on my plate. Just say no to carbs. Local favorite. Standard deli menu with very friendly owners/operators who always put the customer first. Outstanding beer selection--beats any other local deli selection by a mile. Also offers growler refills. Owner knows his stuff and is happy to make a recommendation. Will keep coming back!! Deli eats with a side of unsolicited passive aggressiveness?
I came here after a leisurely afternoon of shopping at Suburban Square (thanks to the doting Yelp reviews). Once I arrived, there were several things that gave me pause: 1) The stodgy, homogenized atmosphere that easily could have been the setting for a '60s era lunch counter sit-in w/ the exception of the Asian clerk behind the counter, 2) The somewhat limited pescetarians options, and 3) The fact that they were out of waffle fries - the very reason I came here after seeing a picture posted on Yelp that literally made my mouth water.
I decided to give this place a fighting chance and ordered an eggplant panini... So far, all is well. However, let me mention the unconventional model they've adopted where you pay after you eat. That factoid will be very important later on in my review.
I went and grabbed a seat and after a little bit of a wait, my food eventually arrived. It was edible, but nothing special by any means. The panini was bland (i.e., there wasn't enough provolone cheese; the eggplant was under seasoned; there was mounds of iceberg lettuce; and the bread was burnt) and the fries were also underwhelming. However, I decided to enjoy the meal for what it was, while watching the football game on the flat screen in the back of the dining area.
I soon finished my meal, gave the clerk my tray, and quickly made a beeline for the restroom. Afterwards, I exited back into the store/deli and headed out the door, right pass the clerk, to my car (being that I'm not used to paying AFTER finishing a meal at a deli/lunch counter/non-full service restaurant). The clerk immediately comes running out after me saying, "Sir, did you pay?" Darn, I had totally forgotten and I graciously returned to settle up. As I walked back into the restaurant a middle-aged white male (who sat at a diagonal, behind me, the entire time I was eating) yelled to the clerk, "Good awareness!"
Really? Did anyone solicit your off color remarks, sir? Keep your biased, passive aggressiveness to yourself. If these are the types of people who patronize this establishment, I have no interest in ever going back. Update the review. The beer selections are tremendous, my husband absolutely loves being able to try a variety. Still only three stars, the food is average for the area but when not dealing with the owners it is very hard to understand the other employees. We will update again, breakfast sandwiches are still amazing This is my favorite spot in Havertown by far. Amazing beer selection here (especially if you are into craft beers) and awesome food. Their hoagies, wraps, sandwiches, fries and even their pickles are always perfection. I've never been remotely dissapointed in anything I have ordered here and the staff is always super sweet. You can even sit down and order a beer and eat food inside. Best food in Havertown. This deli is solid.
I have never been disappointed with a breakfast sandwich, BLT, or cheesesteak from here. They have a large sandwich selection on their menu, as well as sides, snacks and carry out beer. They're also very quick and reasonably priced.
Always a go-to when on-the-go or looking for a quality sandwich. I can't tell you enough how much I love LOVE this place. I used to live around the corner and would get my lunch meat from there every week as well as last minute beer runs and meals 2-3 times a month. I moved out of Havertown 2 years ago and was very bumbed knowing I was leaving Boccellas behind. On a good note I was only moving to Newtown Square so not too bad. I have tried numerous places in N.S. for lunch meat and nothing even comes close to Boccellas so, I have started to make the weekly trip back for our lunch meat. B/C we were patrons the clerks know us by name and voice on phone, when I told her the trouble we were having with crappy lunch meat other places they told me b.c they have a small case they get 2 deliveries a week. Which would explain the fresh and delicious deli meat! Other than that they probably have the best cheese steak I have ever had and I am addicted to their bbq sauce, I would always ask for a side of it with my deli order to take home and cook with :-D Other things we have had and loved are, Grilled Chicken Texas, Tuna Salad, Chicken Salad, Chicken Cord Blue, Burgers (husband loves the Italian burger), and hoagies. You can not go wrong with this place. Great little deli. Friendly staff, and the food is awesome. They definitely don't skimp on the meat when ordering a hoagie! Great beer selection too. Favorite local deli for sure! The owners are super super nice & friendly. The wait time is always reasonable and the food always tastes great. I love their tuna fish. But my absolute favorite is their grilled Phillies! It's amazing. USed to be pretty good, now that the new mgt has taken over, forget it now! Steaks are crappy, alot smaller than they used to be. Not the same place it used to be. The last 2 times I bought from Boccella's Deli, we've had problems. Yesterday, 3 of the 6 of us were sick after eating the food. The sandwiches, hoagies, and wraps, looked good, but the turkey hoagie was also not the same usual full of meat, good quality hoagie. I'm finished with them, traveled 2 towns to go there. If I want that quality and issues, I'll stay closer to home. Friendly employees, nice beer selection, good breakfast, big fan of their chicken cheese steaks and panini's. Nice alternative to local pizza and hoagie joints. Great place! Great food, service and beer!! I love the hoagies and it is a 5 times a week stop. Good food clean I can't complain best breakfast sandwich in town. This place is AWESOME!!!!! One of the best places in Havertown. Their food is great, prices are more than reasonable and the staff (owners) are as friendly as the come. I don't see how anyone could ever walk out of this place unhappy. Great "Supreme" Italian hoagie, perfectly constructed, professional staff, fresh ingreduents, family run.
I'll be here next time I am back in Philly. This place is definitely a charm. Sandwiches are delicious and fresh! Staff is nice as well! They also have bottle and draft beer and wine which is awesome! I like to get take out from here sometimes. I have yet to have a bad meal. They have a pretty large menu. They also have breakfast which I have yet to try. My favorite thing to get from here is the chicken cheesesteaks, they are possibly the best ones I have ever had. The large is giant! I got it once thinking it wasn't going to be that big, it is probably big enough for 4 people!! I thought it was going to be smaller based off the price, pricing is very reasonable here. The fries are really good too. Service is great. No complaints. This is a very "useful" place. It is easy to get everything done here. You can grocery shop, get coffee, and eat (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) here. Also, the food is just okay. Great Beer selection for the area. Mix and Match 6-packs are a plus. Food is decent- great tuna hoagies, ok turkey and italian hoagies. Have yet to try their cheesesteaks, but I've heard that they are worthy. Would try more stuff on the menu for sure.
I was there this past Saturday- one of the days it was about a 100 degrees- and the place was PACKED! Lots of takeout orders and dine-ins. My favorite neighborhood deli and store. As a city person in the burbs, I wish all bodegas were this good! Great spot with nice folks running it. Want craft beer? They have an excellent selection. I have probably stopped here twice a week for the last 4 years. I am a big fan. Came here because I was craving a cheesesteak, but they were out of steak. It was only 1:30pm :( Instead we got a burger to split.
The burger was massive but so delicious. I suggest keeping it wrapped as the burger started falling off the bun. Very flavorful. It also came with a side of onion rings. I am a sucker for onion rings and these were also great!
A perk of this place that I had no idea about was the solid beer selection. It was like Christmas morning all over again with the Cantillon bottles, Russian River, and Trillium cans.
Looking forward to coming back to try the cheesesteak and seeing what other beers they will have. Portions are massive.
This is the second owners of the Boccella's name that is famous for large portioned cheese steaks. This place used to have a mean albeit crappy quality but large portion cheese steak.
I order from occasionally and the service is top notch and the selection of things is very large. Another thing to say is that the place is VERY clean and always busy with people. They are doing a nice business here.
Like a diner stick with fried/grilled items and you'll be ok. Great service, nice people, and great homemade soup! They are always busy, so they must be doing something right. They can make you anything you want, breakest, lunch or dinner. I'm a fan! Love! It's our go to place when we want take out. They have so many options and we have tried most of them.
The mushroom cheesesteaks are very good. It's not Jim's on South but really good. Their paninis are the best. Two favorites are the Flyer which includes grilled chicken, mozzarella, tomato & pesto and the Milano which is eggplant, provolone, red peppers, pesto and lettuce.
Their 20" Italian hoagie is also a favorite as it is dinner that night and lunch the next day.
Oh and don't forget the corned beef special. The corned beef is so tasty - not stringy or overly fatty. Oh so good.
If sandwiches aren't enough, try the fries - straight or waffle - they are both good.
This is THE sandwich place in Havertown. My friend told me months ago how good Boccella's deli is. I finally paid them a visit for the first time yesterday. They were one of the few restaurants open on Independence Day.
A deli with beer on tap...
Not only can you buy 12 packs and individual bottles of beer here, but that's right...they have beer on TAP! Not just lame beers either, really good beers. And apparently they switch it up rather regularly. That alone makes B's the coolest deli in Havertown.
The menu is very extensive. They have things like 'Hot Dog Land', 'Burger Land', and 'Seafood Land' (collections of different hot dogs, burgers, and seafood creations) on the menu. More coolness.
They also have steak sandwiches (including a teriyaki steak, which i must try), a full list of grilled chicken sandwiches, paninis, chicken wings, several different french fry options that made my mouth water just reading the menu.
I had the Boccella's Italian sandwich...prosciutto, soppresata, capacola, fresh mozz, pepper shooters, and oil. Very similar to something you'd find at Primo or Vito's. The difference here was the bread. They use a softer (non-seeded) style hoagie roll, as opposed to the crustier rolls at the other two places previously mentioned. The sandwich was very good, and big enough for two meals, not bad for $8.
As I was sitting there eating, I couldn't believe I had lived in Htown for 8 years and not been to this place. I can't wait to try some other things on the menu. I love this place, they have such a wide selections of made to order food and it is all good quality and very reasonably priced.
The dine-in section is very small and normally full , they seem to have their regulars. I normally just get take out which never takes very long to be made and there is so much to look at in the store that you won't mind the wait anyway.
The store is also great, there are so many little things tucked throughout the store that you wont' find elsewhere, a great place to pick up snacks.
If you're looking for alcohol particularly beer then go here. There is a huge HUGE selection of every type of beer imaginable in single bottles or 4 packs or 6 packs. This is my go to place for breakfast sandwiches/hoagies. Highly recommend them. Their lunch and dinner hoagies age good too, but I go there mainly for the occasional breakfast. They also are a full fledged deli. Their prices are inline with other delis and stores for deli meats and cheeses. Great place to go to when in or near Havertown. good food at a good price.. i wasnt happy with them in beginning but they do have pretty good food and its convenient to my work This is some weird hybrid of craft beer outlet, deli and convenience store just outside of Philly. But the cheesesteaks are legit -- huge, tasty, melty and on some amazing buns brought in fresh. The value is good too, and the waffle fries are the bomb.
The only downside was that they were out of mushrooms and the hot peppers aren't spicy at all. Well, and it's sort of like sitting in a booth at a gas station (even though it's not one). Very friendly staff though. Simply put, Boccella's is the best deli in Havertown. Hearty portions for a cheap price. Great beer selection (draught and bottles). My family and I frequent this place. I have been driving by Boccella's for a while now seeing I am working in PA again and figured to stop in and grab their well known breakfast sandwich. Now mind you, I used to come here all the time years ago when big Mike the owner and was running it wearing his shades all the time .
This is maybe 10+ years ago, give or take 2 years since I have been in here. I did go in there a few times after he sold it and the amazing cheese steaks wasn't so amazing, the phenomenal hoagies (Italian, Nigerian, Cappacola) wasn't such a phenom. Their breakfast sandwich's lost that big fill you up to start the day phase. I was disappointed and haven't been back since today, and I must say good job on getting in a newer crew from what I remember. They know how to bring this place back up to the quality everyone was used to.
Seeing it was 8 am and I had finished work I was gonna stop at Wawa and grab one of their bagel breakfast, but thanks to me I hit up a little Yelp action on here. The reviews looked good and I figured why not. I went with one of my favorites .. a blast from the past you might say. Scrambled eggs with cheese, onions and scrapple on a long roll. Scrapple was good, cooked just right, crispy on the outside nice on the inside and the eggs wasn't runny the cheese was mixed in just right with the onions, and the roll I had asked for it to be toasted. YELPERS AMAZING!! Boccella's has come back again, its like Mike never left. Added some hot sauce and ketchup and the taste buds was happy, and I noticed they added something new.
OK they added a few things new that wasn't there before.. A better selection of beers, good micro-brews stocked, along with tapped beers! What is this? A great idea if you ask me, grab a cheese steak, get the cheese fries and a fresh pour from the tap. BAAAM !!! Sold I'm in as of now the breakfast is good, I did see pancakes and other fine breakfasts they offer and the great thing about it is, you will not break the bank. I will be back to see how the hoagies and cheese steaks are.
Customer service was great, the guys behind there were great, seating for you to sit and enjoy, clean and great food smells to add to your eating.
I'll be back again Great local deli. Cheesesteaks and hoagies are excellent . Good paninis. The large is enough for 2 people. Great beer selection. They always have 6 quality beers (no coors light) on tap. Fresh food at reasonable prices. Love their sandwich trays too. Favorite spot in Havertown. Can't go wrong with any order. Usually go with the Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak special. Breakfast sandwiches on a long roll. Fries to die for. Great service always Best Chicken Fingers in the world. Even better than chic fil a which I never thought I would say. Their hoagies are amazing too, I have tried almost all of them. Beautifully sliced deli meats to roast pork, cheese steaks and chicken parm/meatball hoagies. All of them fantastic.
Sue handles the phones and register and from day 2 she remember my name and always greeted customers with a smile and a quick convo.
They also have a fantastic 6pack selection of beer as well as 3-5 beers on tap that you can order by the growler.
There are plenty of higher end snacks available, both Italian specialties and things like deserts, beef jerky and plenty of deli sides.
Definitely one of the best Deli's in the area and highly recommend! Best spot in town! Friendly employees and awesome food. Hoagies are AMAZING!!!!!! Havertowns best. Chicken finger special with honey mustard. Need I say more? I would trust mr. and mrs. Boccella with my life Best food, best value in Del Co. We eat here too much and never had a bed meal. Owners are so nice. Decent food, sandwiches were fine but not stellar. Excellent waffle fries and good portions. Not much room to eat in and tables looked dirty. Not planning a return. This is definitely a neighborhood convenience store with a grill and 7 tables. What I liked about it was there was a variety of things to try; candy ive never seen, different versions of Nutella, drinks, and other snacks. So many things I wanted to try, but the mission was cheesesteaks!!
They offer a 12" regular and a 20" with over 2 lbs of meat. At first sight is is overwhelming that you are about to devour this beast, but after one bite I knew the 20" was the right choice. The cheese was bountiful melty gooey goodness, the bread was soft and warm and chewy, there was so much meat it was falling off the bread with each bite.
My only complaint is they didn't label the cheesesteaks. I had to guess which one was mine.
Next time I want to try the peanut butter ice cream. Not the friendliest establishment, but they serve great food and have an incredible beer selection.
In general, I would much rather support little mom & pop places like this than corporate chains, but it's an even easier choice when they a) have an extensive, varied menu, and b) everything on the menu rocks. I seriously have never had a bad meal here. They're also f.a.s.t. - you never have to wait for an order.
To top it off, whoever chooses their ever-revolving beer list has great taste. There's always a number of flavorful, regional craft beers to choose from at Boccella's.
Delis and hoagie shops are a dime a dozen in the greater Philly region, but there's a reason this spot does so much business. Stopped in again last night, picked up a cheesesteak with fried onions. It was truly top tier!
I noticed right away the roll they used for the cheesesteak was different than the one they use for their hoagies. It was your classic steak roll such as Liscio's or Amoroso's, very nice slightly crusty, slightly chewy exterior with a fluffy interior.
Their menu claims they use 1lb of meat on the regular (12") steak. It was that or more. They used slices of steak instead of the chopped up steak. I like it either way, but prefer slices-especially when it is as tender as this.
I got the cheesesteak special which comes with fries and is an outstanding value for dinner, ringing in at under $10. Although I drove home with my food and my fries were soggy (unavoidable) by the time I got home, they were STILL good! I can only imagine how amazing they would have been if I had eaten at B's.
Boccella's is quickly becoming my go to place for sandwiches in Htown. If only they served pizza, I might never leave the place! If you're hungry don't order chicken wth happened to this place
It used to be great
Chicken finger platter and 2 orders of wing dings 2nd order only had 7 , susposed to be 12 lol not too mention all the above chicken pieces were under 2" Great hoagies and sandwiches. The present owners took the deli over from the founders, and have lived up to the same standards of quality and portions.
Nice and friendly proprietors always add that extra value, I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for huge portions of great hoagies and platters. Great beer. Great food. Great owners. Always have a few terrific beers on tap and they will have bottles of beer that are very hard to find. The cheesesteaks and hoagies are as good as it gets. Hands down the best cheesesteak and chicken fingers in havertown. I have been going here for over 10 years and will continue to do so. I had lunch here recently on a tip from our friend Nando here. Half sandwich shop/half beer stop (with a couple micro's on tap).
I was very hungry and was having a hard time deciding what to have. I went with a mini meatball sub, and a Korean style BBQ beef taco. The meatball was good, but man was that beef taco good. Seasoned , shredded beef on a huge tortilla with a side of sauce. That was a nice change from the normal sandwich choices.
Plenty of steaks, burgers, and hoagies on the menu, along with some sides... A full service deli. Can't wait to try other meals that they serve. Excellent cheese steaks. Great beer selection including taps and growlers. Also a seemingly unending supply of snacks and stuff. Plus friendly staff. Great local deli. Portions are huge. All their food is good. Try the chicken fingers...amazing. Not to mention 6 kinds of craft beers on tap. Also a great selection of takeout beer as well. Friendly owners, always welcoming. The food is pretty good but if you're planning on taking out don't ask for much dressing on anything, especially the Cheesesteaks they are really good but they get soggy along with many other things that they have. Personally I would recommend the fish and chips. Although it is deep fried heaven it's also extremely unhealthy which is obviously a given. The people there are great And they sell alcoholic beverages along beverages such as chocolate milk so it's a great place to go for a quick family lunch. I would definitely recommend this you can also dine in as well. I literally go to Boccella's once or twice per day; breakfast and lunch. The ownership and staff are friendly and funny. The food is great, the prices are good, and the selection is interesting. The beer selection is as good as you can get in a small deli. Sure I get egg shells in my scrambled eggs from time to time, but they are very responsive when I let them know and they respect my comments. They really know what they're doing.
Tips: Try "The Whole 9 Yards" for breakfast, any of the grilled sandwiches or hoagies for lunch, or grab a beer on tap after dinner. havent teceived cheese steak and Italian hoagie yet - 20 min. i can say the woman at the register was wacky and granted busy but made it out like the world was ending. Chalax woman. Great prices! I have ordered from here a few times. Some of their sandwiches are not that great but the traditional hoagies and cheesesteaks are super good Their wing dings are amazing. And the spicy ones too (which come w a great blue cheese)!
Cheesesteaks are very good, but the pizza steak lacked sauce and cheese for my taste, not terrible though. My wife has a cheeseburger, Kaiser roll was old, but still ok.
Staff is very friendly both on the phone and in person. They are also very clean (masks gloves etc) for the COVID if you care about that...my wife certainly does. :)
Food: 4
Drinks: n/a (but, it's a deli/bottle shop too so...5?)
Atmosphere: 3...it is what it is
Price: 5
Service: 5
Bottom line...will be a go-to for cheesesteaks (oh, and wings.) This place has been here for years and continues to produce good, quick, inexpensive food in a wide variety, and plenty of other convenience items available in the shop including rolls, pickles, assorted chocolate covered nuts and desserts by the slice. Also individual cans/alcoholic beverages (appreciate the presence of white claw!) available in the drinks case for max convenience.
Ordered a cheesesteak recently (whiz, with onions) and it was very good. Plenty of flavorful meat, large portion. I got a 12-inch which I think is the default (there is also a larger one) as well as some broccoli bites- heavy on the fried part, but still good- and my total order was a very reasonable $12. It took about 5 minutes. They have a small seating area with tv and about 7 booths. I will definitely continue coming back when I'm in the area! This review is based solely on the fact that they could really try using modern technology (voicemail message?) to alert potential customers that they are on vacation, instead of relying on a sign on the door when you pull into the parking lot. We went well out of our way to stop here for lunch and tried about 8 times to call ahead - it's either a busy signal (probably all the other people trying repeatedly to order ahead) or it rings and rings...so we figured they must be busy and we'd just drive there. Place is dark and an 8x11 sign on the door cheerily informs us "out on vacation!" (Which I'm sure is very well deserved. But please find another way to advertise it). In the two minutes we spent in the lot, four other cars pulled in, and most were also visibly annoyed upon getting to the door, so I think it's a fair suggestion to PLEASE do something simple like leave a phone message saying you're closed!
We've eaten here before and enjoyed the sandwiches, but I'll be a little more hesitant in the future to go there unless I can get through by phone first. Really good Italian hoagie! Just the right amount of kick. I love the little inside dining area. The perfect deli! Breakfast is awesome. Got the BIG platter. Clean and not greasy- fluffy eggs and pancakes and toast and sausage and hash browns - cost 6.99. Coffee included! Can't beat the deal. Just added craft beer on tap_ good stuff like Victory? Growlers are way too pricey. Chicken Parm is the best YAY in Havertown!
$12.49 for a 20" cheesesteak? Yesss please!!!
$5.99 Korean Beef Taco! Yessuh!
For me, I would not need to keep reading, I'd check photos to see the looks of these deals, and head on out.
But for those who need more...
Cheesesteaks were pretty dang good. Meat was well-packed and not diced to oblivion (for the pre-chewed look) as many local places do it. Kudos. Amer cheese was well proportioned. Didn't taste the onions as much as I'd like but next time I'm sure they will accentuate if asked. They were extremely nice on the phone.
Korean Beef BBQ was good, served in a soft tortilla not a crispy taco, as Dan L. pointed out in a prior review. The beef was really just cheesesteak meat mixed with a special Teriyaki sauce, put on a bed of lettuce, and with salsa on the side. This is a really imaginative take on what to do with cheesesteak meat, and it hits a flavor that you normally don't achieve with traditional cheesesteaks. Perfect if you are in the mood for a Teriyaki flavor.
Super-awesome value for the money at this place. Food is way better quality than I thought we'd get for the prices. We are very pleased! Wish they were closer. Locals get a real treat! I couldn't recommend this place enough. Great food and awesome staff! Don't skip out on the cake slices they have in the fridge. They chocolate peanut butter brownie cake and the chocolate moose cake are my favorites. Awesome local spot for hoagies & breakfast sandwiches - always fresh and the service is "friendly quick". Don't be afraid to try their Teriyaki Chicken Cheesesteak - sneaky good! Suzy man's the register and Young runs the deli. Extremely nice people and the food is very good. Cheese steaks are top notch. One of my personal favourites is the chicken salad and you can buy it by the pound.
Did I mention the beer? They have a wide variety of craft, domestic and imported. Do yourself a favor and give them a try. I was in the area. I got in the mood for a roast beef sandwich. I knew Boccella's was reliable, so I stopped in.
Honestly, I expected some slices of deli roast beef in Crock Pot gravy on a Kaiser roll with cheese. I would have been fine with that.
But they broke out some real tender and hearty slow cooked pot roast on that roll. It was as good as anything I've had around here. I devoured that sucker like someone was going to steal it if I didn't.
When a local place exceeds your expectations like that, they deserve the 5 star treatment. The underrated gem of Havertown. It's a minute from Wawa and superior in selection and service. The deli/sandwich items are all excellent. Best place to get a Cheese steak in havertown plus many other things!! Been going here for years now and it never upsets. This is our local deli. They are always on top of the game. Service is excellent. Food is ready in minutes. In the portions are huge. Great sandwiches. Ordered a chicken cheesesteak with fried onions and received one without fried onions. Oh well I thought but the worst thing was that it said on their board that they use chicken breast and it was that nasty fake chicken steak that we all know isn't real chicken. Anyway the worst part was that the meat wasn't even chopped, which was how I knew it wasn't real chicken breast! I had to do a double take and couldn't believe how poorly thrown together the thing was. I wish I had taken a pic but I tossed it in the trash and got a pretzel at wawa. Never ever going back here again. This is a deli/beer shop on a suburban strip in Havertown. They have a wide range of deli-type offerings like sandwiches, fries, and wings.
We ordered the wing dings and a cheesesteak.
The wing dings are just double battered deep fried wings. They weren't anything better than what you'd get from a wing bar in a grocery store. They were served nice and hot. They still had a lot of cartilage in them, which made them a little hard to navigate on the bite.
The cheesesteak was a bit meager on the steak. But the steak that was there was well executed. The bread is good. It's a proper Philly hoagie roll. Yum and yum! Had the steak sandwich with onions. Really good and good size. The fries are too good. Only $5 for sandwich. And the people are very nice. They have great business and attitude--- I'll be a regular! Really good Italian hoagie! Everything is fresh and excellent bread. It is the best hoagie is Delco! Highly recommend. This deli is a real jewel in Havertown It's the old family deli that are not so common anymore. Everything is made fresh with high quality ingredients. The prices are great and portions are very generous.
It's amazing all the things they make and are always very friendly. Reminds me of trips to the deli with my Dad as a kid. This place is great. Best tuna hoagies. The people who own it are very nice. Great full deli. Every item I have tried is great. Happened to be in the area yesterday and needed a quick breakfast sandwich and coffee. I have friends who like this place, so I gave it a shot.
A place like this, in order to impress me, really just needs to do three things right. They need to taste good fresh off the grill of course. They need to be efficient and clean, and they need to be friendly.
Wait a minute... that's actually 4 things.
Well, no matter what, they passed all of my tests. It's a nice local joint, they seem to have a good amount of selection in front of the counter, they seem to be well run behind the counter, and the lady who served me was extremely nice.
The most important part... the bacon egg and cheese bagel that came off the grill was as good as any I've had. after hearing how terrific their cheesesteaks are we decided to get a few. in my opinion, they were only average. The meat did not have very much flavor and had a fair amount of gristle in it. it wasn't bad, it wasn't terrific either. it just comes across as yet another cheesesteak from a local corner joint or pizza place. Ultimately one of my favorite places to eat, great food, good beer and selection of soft drinks. Hoagies are to die for and kids love the chicken fingers which are seemingly home made. Also their BBQ sauce is one of the better I've had. I got the Cheesesteak. The Cheesesteaks stands on it's own but this place has a few tables and craft beer. I am not sure if this is a great all around place or if it has an identity crisis. I know they didn't know what to make of me! Boccella's is by far the best deli in the area. Not only is their food delicious, but the prices are the best around. Not to mention they have a fabulous beer fridge if you're a craft beer snob like me! Brownie points for amazing staff, too. I always find myself talking about Boccella's even to people who don't live in the area . Italian supreme is king. Grabbed a regular sized hoagie for a snack as I rode out on the Amtrak for an outta town trip. Smelt so good after one bite half of it was gone! Fresh deli meats and perfectly baked bread. Bread makes the sandwich! soft interior with a nice soft crust that held up. Will definitely be exploring more items on the menu when I need to get my hoagie fix. Boccella's Deli is one of those places I have driven by easily a thousand times and never stopped in. I've heard good things about it over the years- fellow Yelp Elite Steven B sung their praises, for example. I just...never made it. Silly right? We are creatures of habit.
This all changed a couple of weeks ago when FDC and I were out running errands together. We're on our way home and we're both hungry. "Hey" she says. "I've heard good things about Boccella's, maybe we should stop in." Sure. "What does Yelp say?" It says this is a great place, and once again, it's not wrong.
We come inside, and it's a typical Philly deli. Walls lined with refrigerated cases full of beer, soda, milk, water, iced tea, etc. Some shelves with chips and snacks. A deli case and a menu with lots of different sandwich options, breakfast sandwiches, hoagies, cheesesteaks, etc.
We decide to order cheesesteaks for the families we're going home to. The staff are super cheerful while being very efficient, as there are 3-4 orders, people who have planned and called in to pick up, etc. We select a few different drinks and some bags of chips, then head out to the car to wait. 15 minutes later FDC goes in, picks up these "YUGE" sandwiches. I call them Ron Jeremy huge. They smell awesome.
We head home, even hungrier having ridden in a car that smells amazing. Unwrap the steaks - they are not only huge, they are full of meat and cheese with a roll that is soft but not falling apart and they are pretty super very definitely excellent. They were devoured so quickly that there was no opportunity to take photos.
We're definitely stopping again. You should, too. Good spot.
Nice people, good hours, and a solid cheesesteak as well. Fresh meat, good fried onions, and a nice fresh, soft roll. Quite enjoyable. Onion rings are good too. Nice batter. Crunchy and light. And real onions.
Top it off with a good selection of beer and refreshments and quite a variety of stuff well beyond a typical deli. They even had my favorite Flanders Red made so famous by the downtown establishment that brought it to the us.
Glad to have them in my neighborhood! My family and I have been ordering from Bocella's Deli for years and they have yet to disappoint. I usually get a Regular 12" Cheesesteak with American Cheese, Fried Onions and Mushrooms and they are not lying when they say the 12" Cheesesteak has a pound of steak. The Cheesesteak always comes stuffed with plenty of your requested toppings. If you ask for pickles on the side, you'll receive about a 1/3 of a delicious deli pickle all sliced up.
Other things we've ordered from here are Italian Hoagies, Fried Fish Platter, Fried Mushrooms (appetizer) and Onion Rings. For the amount of food you receive for the price, Boccella's Deli is definitely worth giving a try. You definitely will not be disappointed. My favorite hoagie when I am in the area. I also can't get enough of their salads and pepper shooters. Also interesting beer selection.
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name: Aneu Kitchen and Juciery, address: 1225 Montrose Ave, city: Bryn Mawr, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: closed, categories: Restaurants, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Cafes, Coffee & Tea, Food, Breakfast & Brunch, Comfort Food, text: Great new addition to Rosemont, right between the Rosemont train station and Gullifty's - fresh variety of sandwiches, entrees, and coffees...only downside is it tends to be a bit pricey. I stopped in Aneu a couple days after it opened and was so impressed! They have a delicious assortment of meals to-go - everything from heavier fare like meat lasagna/chicken parmesan to lighter dishes like kale/grain salad to a great selection of bagels and pastries. They also have a fantastic cold-pressed juice assortment made on-site at their Paoli location (I think). Everything is homemade - even the tortilla chips! - with fresh ingredients. If you have the time they also have a great menu for in-restaurant dining. We tried the chicken salad and the vegetable wrap and they were AMAZING. Will be back again and again! My only suggested improvement is to fine tune the coffee program, which they have promised to do with time! They catered my dads 70th birthday and it was amazing, from the food to the ambiance it is highly recommended! This has become my favorite little spot and it just opened a few weeks ago. The staff are all so sweet, the space in inviting, clean and cozy. The food is out of this world. All homemade, clean food. I was able to take frozen meals home to feed my family of four (I grabbed the chicken pit pie and it was delicious).
I met my friend there for lunch. She had the chicken salad on croissant with a side of their homemade potato chips (yum) and I had a chicken quesadillas with their homemade tortillas chips (double yum). I came in the next morning and grabbed their Aneu Day pre-made
Juice and energy ball. Both vegan and it curved my appetitive for hours.
I absolutely love it here and will be a daily patron. Poor service and the food is very overpriced! The place was staffed with two college students and the service and quality of food matched. Who's running this place? I should have left when the cashier/chef was burning another customers omelet as she took our order. I must mention that she actually served that burnt omelet to the customer! $ 11 for an açaí bowl that was the literally the consistency of water and completely tasteless. $9 for avocado toast. We ordered without egg and were given ONE slice of stale bread with avocado spread on top, no seasoning of any kind, not even salt/pepper, completely tasteless! We returned both for a refund. $12 for a veggie wrap which was advertised with chips but they were not served on the plate. The wrap was ok, nothing special and definitely not worth the money. Our total bill was $48 with two coffees and a $7.25 8 oz juice, not including tip. Save your money and time and goes elsewhere! This review is really only based on two menu items. Their tomato curry soup is amazing and the lemon orzo salad really hits the spot. It's a casual eating place, but I enjoy the ambiance! Food is good, and now that they have stopped weighing it and give you a decent portion I feel better about paying their somewhat steep prices. Drink selection is limited, no iced tea!
The only bizarre thing is that the employees park right in front, blocking the entry and encouraging others to park there too - which is odd as they have placed tables there, and sitting three feet from a hot car engine is not pleasant. Also there is a nice garden but the access is often blocked by their cars - weird... Aneu and Juicery is a fun little spot behind the Gullifty's shopping center. I didn't even know it was there until a friend suggested we go there for a quick and easy lunch. They had ample parking on the premises and at this point of the day after lunch hour there was plenty of room to spread out. This is a great place if you want to meet someone for coffee for a business, charity meeting. My friend recommended the Buddha bowl which was a combination of grains, greens and a yummy piece of salmon. It didn't look like much but I followed her lead and was very pleased. She dumped all of the dressing on her salad flipped it over and gave it a quick toss in the bowl. Each bite was yummy and satisfying.
This spot has various salads and soups, coffee's etc. to eat in or to go. They also look like they had some delicious cookies and pastries. There is a laid-back collegial feel to this unassuming little treasure. I will certainly add it to the mix. I'm honestly not sure why I continue to return here. It seems every time I go in I manage to start my morning off on the wrong foot. Whether it's poorly trained staff who don't know what they're doing, coffee full of grounds, or a smoothie that takes 20 minutes to make and primarily tastes like water, Aneu always manages to be a disappointment. Think I've finally learned my lesson and won't be returning again. Over-priced, limited options, difficult to find. I want impressed and wouldn't return. This is one of my new favorite places to get brunch! It's one of those restaurants that has hoped around the Main Line that I haven't gotten to. I was blown away by how cute and elegant the interior was. It's very spacious and there's a ton of seating. All of the food to go looks amazing!
I got the avocado toast which was so good. It was made from scratch so it just tasted so fresh. If you don't like spicy, then ask for it without onions. Coffee was really good. Also, the waitress was so nice. Prices are also very reasonable. I love that there was no wait and that the food is so fresh.
Definitely try the take out frozen meals. There are so many options. Great to stock up for the week. Definitely a Main Line gem! I would not recommend this place unless you want rude staff that are uneducated with "their fresh food" only for my family to end up with food poisoning. What has happened to this place that use to be good? The mango chicken was not fresh a long with items that looked like they have been reused for 2 weeks. Slow service. Overpriced and worst of all the rudest staff that I have ever encountered. It use to be our go to Saturday place. No more for us unless things change entirely!
Please look at the Harvest Salad that I just took home, Hardly Fresh! Wonderful service, Jess made me a perfect latte. This used to be Gryphon, since the interior has been re done. It is fresh, clean, comfortable. A very good space to do work and/or have a meal, especially and despite the fact that it is tucked away behind Gullifty's and MOM's. Stop in, you won't regret. walking distance to the Rosemont train station. Great parfaits and breakfast sandwich. Had to make it togo last minute to catch the train and they were very accommodating. Went back the next day also. Healthy and tasty! Had a very forgettable overpriced sandwich and washed it down with an overpriced tea that was probably powdered. This place is not a restaurant you'd ever want to frequent. I'd put it into the category of "have to eat" and not "want to eat". As in the zombie apocalypse has started and they might have some canned food in the back. Hard pass. I had a really refreshing smoothie from here this morning. I have had their catering before and it's always been delicious. Their brick and mortar store is very cute and has a relaxing atmosphere. They have lots of freshly prepared foods to order and frozen meals to take home. The location was a little confusing to fine and, at 8am, there was only was other customer in there besides me.
I like that they have locally made products up for sale in addition to the food that they make in-house. If ever in the area again, I would stop in for another smoothie.
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name: Lew's Seafood Takeout Shop, address: 2734 Limekiln Pike, city: Glenside, stars_x: 3.0, is_open: opening, categories: Seafood Markets, Sandwiches, Restaurants, Bars, Nightlife, Salad, Italian, Food, Specialty Food, Seafood, text: Oh Tritan, king of the sea... Thank you for Lew!!! Since I was a child, Lew's was the best seafood shop - the only one at that time. Lew's used to be in Roslyn, but when they expanded and moved- the food was even better! Crab cakes with no filler- yup- no filler. The freshest scallops and amazing accompaniments... I have to give lots of praise for Lew's- grab some fresh fish while you can!!!!! My boy friend was off tonight and usually works 4 to midnight. Thought it would be nice to have a rare midweek date night. We don t make a lot of money, but once in a while treat ourselves. Being new to the North Hills neighborhood we decided to check out Lewes to see if we had a local winner for us. A place we could walk to. I was excited because it was going to be like we were having a new england beach date ...only 2 minutes from our suburban pa home. The ambiance was not cool. But hey some of the best food can be found in dives. We gave it a shot. Ordered a bunch of Apps. I felt like Chef Ramsey...just trying a little bit of everything. Chowder. okay... clams casino...pretty good... fried calamari...hit the spot... fried scallops basket ( doesnt come with fries) was my first time having friend scallops...didn't disappoint. except they were more the size of bay scallops than sea. We even had carrot cake...which i think was the best part. We deemed this a good place to go in the summer for some dockside food. Our waitress was kinda like the kind you find at a truck stop....she was tired...she let us know....but she was a character...so okay.
THEN it ALL WENT SOUTH...... We got the bill paid in cash.....tipped 20%. good or bad service we tip decent always. Waitress takes the money...we are set..keep the change. Go to drive off.....I hear someone yelling.....it's dark and misting out....it's the waitress telling us we jyped her. The bill was 50....we gave her 60.....3 20 dollar bills. She only had 2 of them. My BF had handed it right to her.... she said she folded it up and hadn't counted it till after we left. We were sure we had given her the money...since we came with 3 20's and a 10 and 7 singles. we checked us to make sure. I told her I would pull back in and wait till she went back to check. She came out and still doubted us. Said it was okay but she was going to have to pay the difference. I am all about karma ,,,and dont need any enemies in my new neighborhood. My BF and i gathered together all the rest of the cash we had and i went in and gave her the 17 bucks. I told her I just dont want anyone thinking we would do that to anyone. I would feel better if she just took it. ( personally i think she dropped it and a shady kitchen rat took it) She said if it comes up she would give it back to us next time were were in. My BF and i feeling like we kinda got scammed decided that next time we want cheap, good,and walking distance It would be nearby Union jacks or jerzees.....But on the good side.....now when we want dockside..... we will head to the shore.... I have trepidations about writing a good review because I dont wany anyone else to find out about this place!
My wife and I have been going here for the past several years. They simply have the freshest seafood you can get in a landlubbing area. Our favorite is to go there on a Saturday night around 4:30 before it gets too full (there are only a few tables there). They have an all you can eat crab legs, fries and a pitcher of beer for 40 bucks. Every time the crab legs have been huge, fresh and perfectly prepared.
Thanks Lews for being our little slice of the beach in Glenside. The Cisco's of seafood.
This is a good thing, I assure you. I don't get it the rave about this place. Mediocre pre breaded seafood. Staff was nice, beer fridge n8ce but I won't go back to buy breaded seafood. Nothing special here. Lots of fried food. Crab cakes and fish cakes seem to be mostly breeding. I'd love to see a little more seasoning in the breeding - everything just seemed really bland. I just moved to this area and was glad to find a nearby seafood place. It was great, from the food right down to the service.I'll be going back again soon. My favorite seafood restaurant. They consistently make delicious baked stuffed shrimp with crab meat. I highly recommend it! Came for a family dinner, ordered some appetizers. Having been in service industries myself, I am always polite to others. Our waitress was so emphatically rude, despite our kind attitudes. She couldn't even bother to refill drinks. There was only one other table eating, but after waiting about 30 minutes for our appetizer and drinks, we asked when it would be ready. The waitress literally scoffed and said "UH, when it's DONE" and walked away before I could even place a drink order. I have never had a waitress be so blatantly rude, especially with a party with an expensive check. Lucky for her, we aren't as rude as she is and left a decent tip, despite her nasty attitude. You would get better customer service from a fast food window. Fresh cooked food everyday, love the clam chowder, crab legs and scallops. Heading there tonight, hope to see you there This use to be one of my family's favorite seafood spots in the area. Having been there in years. Decided to check out the place again and get some seafood. The servers attitude wasn't the best from the start and just got worse and more tables were sat. The service was slow, the food was decent except I found a blue hair in mine. Went someone in my party mentioned it to the server, they removed it from the plate, said "it's purple, so it's probably mine," threw it on the floor and didn't even clear the plate. No apology or any acknowledgement. Couldn't tell you the next time I will think of it if I want seafood but they do have a nice takeout business as well. I'll probably just stick to that. It's a shame. Hopefully I will have a better experience then to add some stars to this review. For now, this is how I feel. Awesome place for seafood. Great clam chowder and clams marinara. Great service and reasonable prices. Not a fancy restaurant, but the atmosphere is nice and comfortable. Food is not too salty which I like. Food is fresh and tasty. Nice selection of beers. They have take out service. Most of the menu items are made from scratch. Service is friendly and fast. Take out service and you can buy items to cook at home. It's been around since 1961. They have a fantastic relaxed atmosphere. The server we had was amazing. And the food great quality for a good fair price. The Decor is very unassuming tables chairs Etc. The decorations none were notable. However all of that add to an atmosphere of just come in with friends relax have some drinks have a good time. It's a good place for kids noise isnt an issue. the atmosphere is forgiving so if you're coming with kids who are learning proper behavior for a restaurant it's a great learning place. More on the food their crab legs are delicious yummy good. I really like that you could get it all a cart crab legs then sides. Unless you buy what you're actually going to eat and not waste money on the Frills if you don't want them. We also had the fried scallops and they were done perfectly.
I went with my kids it was our first time there. We are looking forward to the next time we get to go back I truly hope that the consistency and food atmosphere and service continues. I'm fairly confident it will these people seem to know what they were doing and the waitress that we had was moving everywhere. She truly seem to be on top of all of the tables and from what I could tell she had all of the tables.
I can't wait to go back. What a happy place to stumble upon! My husband and I were looking for something to eat as we drove through the area and spotted Lews. We went in and saw all the freshly breaded seafood ready to fry! We ordered a flounder hoagie, and a side if macaroni salad. The flounder hoagie was so so good. They also had all kinds of beers you could mix and match which we always appreciate. My husband enjoyed the food so much, he went to the "bar side" of the establishment the next night for a beer and some dinner! The good thing about this place is that they make the majority of their menu items from scratch, and that includes the fried mozzarella sticks. Everything I had was fresh. My only complaint about the food is some of the fried items just need a little salt and/or pepper in the breading. Service is quaint and snappy. It's just what you want and expect, friendly enough to make you feel good but not intrusive.
The bar area reminds me of a dive, but it's a Dockside Pub...the ambience is totally perfect for a crab shack and there's no reason to get all fancy just to eat some seafood.
The crab legs were cooked perfectly and tasted delish!
Shrimp basket is a little pricey but it's seafood and it's fresh, so I guess I shouldn't whine about it, I mean really, if I can't afford to go out to eat then don't go out to eat, AMIRIGHT?
Definitely give this place a try if you are in the area and looking for something that isn't pizza, cheeseteaks or Chinese. Or hell, if you are craving seafood in general, I wouldn't pick anywhere else in an 8 mile radius! My wife and I ate here and both found the food to be very low quality. The muscles marinara was not very impressive to me. Sauce was very weak. Four of the muscles served were not open. I believe that means they were dead. If they were dead a long time, it would be a bad night for me. Not taking my chances.
My wife got stuffed shrimp with French fries. The stuffing seemed to be white bread soaked in a fish juice (Not a lot of assistance to that). The French fries were undercooked (crispy raw on the inside of some of them). Salads were mostly iceberg lettuce (disappointed with that too).
Otherwise, service was good, environment was low budget, clientele appeared to be 50+ yo locals, and felt somewhat over priced for what you get.
I am not getting the good reviews on the food. Try Benny the Bum in Northeast Philly as an alternative. My second time visiting this restaurant. Friendly service, that's why I gave it a second star. I was really disappointed in the food. First time I was there I ordered the fried seafood combo, which was a disappointment . Yesterday I ordered the broil seafood combo and was equally disappointed. For 20 bucks I got a small piece of flounder, 4 medium shrimp and 4 small scallops. Onion rings and Cole Slaw. The food was tasteless. The onion rings tasted the same coating that was used for fish was used on the rings. Seafood had no taste and for what I paid should have been served just a little more. Friendly but pricey. I ordered from this place for the first time and the food was horrible. I ordered the deviled crabcakes and mashed. The crabcakes are shaped like fish sticks and are filled with a mousse or paste that does not taste like crab and the mashed tasted like cardboard. Please do not eat from here if you are looking for good seafood. Ordered the oysters. They were terrible! The oysters were watery while fried, when I didn't ask for fried oysters in the first place. It didn't taste like they cleaned it or even squeezed some lemon on it. I also got glazed carrots on the side. Didn't taste like they added seasoning. The only thing that tasted fresh was the coleslaw. Wasn't worth the price. Will not be going back. Been coming here for years, because there are no other options for fried seafood at all in a large radius, that I know of. It's always disappointing but I keep going back to get a fix. The fried oysters are good, as is the flounder. The shrimp and clams are angry little nubs of vinyl.
The two kinds of crab cake are each a thick neutrally-flavored caulk entombed within a protective shell of glutinous breading. One has more minced bell pepper in the mix than the other, so that's some flavor there, sort of.
There is almost no detectable flavor of crabmeat. Any reviewer who expresses satisfaction with these crab cakes needs to be introduced to an actual crab cake, which doesn't need to be great but should, by tradition, be made of crab.
These folks range from pleasant to brusque, with a clear and calm attitude of "we've been here forever and you have no choice, do you, so shut up and sit down."
If I had an option, I would never come here again. Yet I return. Life is sad sometimes but we endure. Great little place off the beaten path with delicious and fresh food. Beer lines are kept clean and you can tell. Comes out fresh and cold. Daily specials, most food made from scratch. Good HH. Nice group of regulars that come in. If you're looking for a fancy bar with fine dining, this isnt it. But if you are looking for great food, cold beer, a shot or 2, nice people, and a long standing family run business, then Lews is your place! Visited last night for takeout. Ordered the seafood combination platter and other side items. The stuffed flounder and crab cakes were horrible. The filling tasted pasty. For the price, I was looking forward to having crab cakes with lump crab meat. The food was very bland. No seasoning, no taste. Very disappointed. First and last visit. The beer was cold and the fries were hot. That was the hi-lite of the meal. We are not from the area and we were looking for a place for dinner before the Monkees concert at the Keswick. Reviews on-line (though limited) seemed very good. My wife's grilled chicken sandwich was adequate, though difficult to eat as the chicken had been cut into multiple pieces and kept falling off the bun. McDonald's would be equally acceptable for about half the cost. My crab cake sandwich on the other hand.... Well, the "crab" cakes had no sign of crab. Virtually all deep fried flavored breading in the shape of fish sticks. I am certain they are institutional frozen prepared cakes. You can get better at Costco or BJs. The french fries really were good though. At any price this sandwich is not worth ordering. The service was not unfriendly, but also not especially cheerful. If we get to the Keswick again, we will try someplace different. great bartender but how can a place that only sells seafood and has a fresh seafood storefront make such horrible seafood, both broiled and fried? Seriously, how can you not make good fried seafood? Maybe try watching a cooking show?? The food was delicious and fresh. Remember as a kid my parents stopping there for seafood (50 years ago) didn't know it was still there till my neighbor mentioned it. I'm so glad he did. The fried shrimp were large and meaty, the flounder tasted fresh and the scallops were cooked to perfection . Even the Cole slaw was creamy and delicious. Nothing was over breaded.
The staff was friendly and courteous. I can't wait to go back again. I can see why there still in business. Ordered my food at 5. It's now 6:37 and I am still sitting here waiting for it. I'll let you all decide if that is reasonable or not. The people here move with the sense of urgency of a 100 year old post office worker. Disappointing. I was hoping to find a good seafood place in our new neighborhood so I stopped in here for some seafood takeout. I can only report on what I had, which was fried clams w/tartar sauce, french fries, and coleslaw.
Unfortunately, the clams were rubbery and tough to chew. The amount of batter and the frying was good. They had a good color and the batter was not too light and not too heavy. If the quality of the clams had only been better! The tartar sauce was just okay.
The fries were done all the way through but they had no color to them at all.
The coleslaw was very stringy and tough. Old cabbage maybe? I don't know, but it was inedible.
I think they charge you extra for the tartar sauce if you don't get a platter, which seems a little odd. Why not just factor tartar sauce and ketchup into the price?
I probably won't be back. I'll continue my search for good seafood but so far I haven't had much luck. I found this place driving by and I decided to give it a shot.The staff is awesome by there prices are high for a little bit of food. I ordered shrimp and seafood salad I didn't enjoy..No taste for the price I paid I was upset. Lew's is a traditional and very good seafood spot in North Hills outside Northwest Philly. For almost 60 years it has been serving up dishes & meals from the deep to take away from their store or eat in their adjoining Dockside Pub. Right now during the pandemic, most people are choosing takeout. And there is a lot to choose from - including weekly & daily specials.
For my first meal of the new year, I felt like eating some seafood and called Lew's to order their Bang Bang Shrimp with Bay fries and potato salad. All were ready when I got there. I really like their Bang Bang Shrimp but I do add hot sauce to it to give it even more of a 'bang, bang,'
Lew's is very solid overall and it's hard to go wrong here with whatever you order in my opinion. The food is soooo good. I would highly recommend it. Atmosphere is average for a privately owned establishment. Everybody there is so helpful and friendly. There is a special flavoring they make their Scampi with, MMMM. I've never tasted anything like it elsewhere. My boyfriend and I went to this place to celebrate my birthday for seafood. The food was the worst I have ever eaten. The fried flounder and crab cakes were so deep fried the fish was hardly in the meal. The place inside is awful to eat. Looks like a back room for employees. We spent 40.00 on crap and its ashame because my boyfriend saved up to take me to have seafood. We wasted our money and I will call them because its robbery. I wont go there again nor recommend this place to anyone. Very disappointed and I had stomach problems after eating. I would like my money back but thats in a perfect world. Best fried shrimp EVER! Tasty, hot and fresh food. Made to Order. Friendly customer service I have lived in the area for years and seem compelled to keep trying Lews.
Every time they never fail to disappoint.
The food is bland and over priced.
Most recently I tried to support local business and get there takeout.
I was met at the door with a "if you didnt pre order we are too busy " statement.
I really wanted to know if they had a particular crab leg in-stock because I wanted 4lbs.
I was asking about the process of ordering and then picking up after they're cooked because i didnt want them sitting while i travel to pick up.
Again the attitude mixed with the generic flavor has assured me to go to my favorite seafood spot this local guy doesn't deserve my money. This is my go to spot for take out seafood sandwiches (specifically flounder), and perfectly cooked snow crab legs. The refrigerated beer selection is decent although I've felt sometimes it could be old and tastes off. I agree the Dockside Pub which is attached to Lew's could have a little better service. One of the worst meals I've ever had. First, It showed up an hour late after pre-ordering early in the day. The clam chowder tasted like boxed potatoes mixed with cream and canned minced clams. Not one fresh ingredient present. The crab cake was a ball of processed crab mush barely seared with no flavor that stuck to the top of my mouth. The linguine with clams was so over cooked the pasta was mushy and oily and zero fresh ingredients. It tasted like canned clams were cooked with canola oil and garlic powder and served over pasta that spent 10 minutes too long in the water. $82 including tip and I'm throwing 90% of it away. I previously gave 4 stars just fyi. My boyfriend got us crab cakes today ...i literally said...these are hushpuppies. There were strings of crab meat but tasted nothing of crab literally ONLY breading. Its hit or miss with me.sad because they have been there forever. Yum! Made to order fried calamari. I was going to share this but as I started eating...I knew it wasn't going to happen. I love it! Can't wait to try more menu items! This is the closet seafood spot to me. Do not order crab cakes thinking your are getting anything similar to a crab cake though. The deviled crab is some crabmeat and filling puréed and fried and the imperial is just one step up from the deviled cake! They DO NOT have lump crab cake just to stop the confusion. I did get Dungeness crab legs and paid $30 but the amount I got and the flavor was great! There is also a small bar where the drinks were not badly priced for while I waited. It's not in my top 5 seafood favs but I would order here again if I didn't feel like leaving the neighborhood.
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name: Le’vi Nail & Lash, address: 2333 Welsh Rd, Ste B3, city: Lansdale, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Nail Salons, Beauty & Spas, text: Honestly ... Best place nail place ever. I've been coming here since I was 4. Deb and Phil are exceptional at keeping the salon clean and meeting every single customer's needs. They are some of the kindest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. My nails always look amazing and all of the girls are extremely sweet and highly talented. From the minute you walk in the door the place feels like home. There is simply no better place. The salon is beautiful and very clean, however, it smells like really bad chemicals. It is cheap but the quality of the work is poor. I got a gel manicure on Saturday 1/27 and not even a week later, it's peeling already. What a rip-off! I usually go to another nail salon, but I came here because I had a gift card. I will not be going back. The best nail salon in this area. I went here for the first time today for a pedicure. It's a Beautiful salon. Many stations and I know why, They do some business here. It was crowded and had many ladies to handle their busy needs. The woman that did my pedicure was great and did a beautiful palm tree scene on my big toes. This is my new nail salon from now on. Prices are very affordable. I've been going to Hot Nails for quite some time now. I've never had a bad experience. Deb and her husband are awesome and get to know their customers, so it's always a treat feeling so welcome in a salon. My nails always look flawless, no matter what technician I receive. I will never step foot in another salon!! Thank you to the staff at hot nails for always brightening up my week :) The best nail salon! Always busy, and very friendly staff! Wouldn't imagine going anywhere else! Wonderful pricing as well! Try to schedule your appointments if possible. The ladies here are all so talented and really take their time on your nails so they're perfect! Prices are average but the salon itself is so nice and doesn't smell like a nail salon at all. The owner, Debbie, is very nice and funny! This review is based simply on my first impression of walking in. The chemical smell in this place was SOOOOO strong and terrible. I don't know how anyone can have a relaxing experience here while breathing in the fumes. I can't comment on the service because my mom and I walked out soon after sitting and waiting because the smell was that unbearable. Instead, we headed to Posh Nails in lansdale where it was bright, clean, and well ventilated. Extremely RUDE customers service!
It was my first time at this place and after reading great reviews I thought of trying it out. However the owner ( I believe) was not welcoming at all. It did look like house full and I understand there is no guarantee of timing for a walk in but I was told I would have to wait for 30 min OR LONGER. After 15 minutes or so I got up to ask if I could run to the shop next door and come back - she still said it would be 30 minutes OR LONGER. I said could I return the next day or the next by making an appointment and I was told you still might have to wait. And the total treatment was extremely rude. I could see no effort being made to have you come back. I think they are very happy with the elite clientele they may already have. You can be the best in your world but you are serving customers after all and if you treat them this way, it will come around some day.
7/7: update: dear owner,
You say you believe in honesty. Well then you should be honest and tell people an approximate wait time and stick by it. You cannot keep saying - 30 minutes or longer, every 15 minutes to a waiting customer. Appointments are made for a reason. If your established client made and appointment for a pedicure but decided to get more services for another hour, they need to make another appointment too. It's very evident that you care too much about your established clientele and it's almost a crime for a 'new face walking in with no appointment' like it made me lesser of a person. New customers are in fact welcomed even more to establish a relationship. That is a good business model. Your business is not for me! Beautiful salon, great services, great prices, great nail techs!
I love that they have a lot of technicians and nail stations. It never feels crowded! Just a suggestion: don't do a walk in Friday & Saturday, they have a lot of business, so most likely you'll be waiting for a while. Other than that, they're very accommodating! I did a walk in gel manicure and I was impressed on all fronts! The salon is large, modern, very clean. Every employee was friendly and you could tell they treat their regulars like royalty. My technician was so polite and professional and did an impeccable job. I appreciated not feeling rushed and will be looking for reasons to come back out this way for my next mani! My first time there and I really liked it. The staff was very courteous and friendly. Very clean nail salon.. Will definitely be back. Only reason why I did not give it a 5 star, is because of the wait. Although, I had an appointment, I still had to wait at least 20 minutes. I've been a client here for over 15 years! That Alone speaks volumes for their customer service, prices, business ethics, and quality of work. Everyone is so friendly and helpful! They are amazing at what they do and I am never disappointed when I am getting my nails done. I love how they use pedicure liners and how clean the place is. This is truly the best nail salon in town! They did such a fantastic job on my nails. The paint job was a little wonky but the construction of the acrylic nails was fantastic. I loved it. They were all so friendly as well and conversation and they accommodated to all the clients, not just me. The people that were there to get their nails done were even nice. They were super busy, that was only one drawback, I did have to wait but it was worth it to me for sure! Will be going back for sure. I have been going to Hot Nails for over 15 years. This is by far the BEST nail salon in Montgomery county! The nail technicians are so friendly and accommodating. This salon is so clean and on the cutting edge of what is new and trending. The owners Deb and Phil bend over backwards to make sure you are relaxed and highly satisfied with your services. I would never go anywhere else!!! Also, the pedicure chairs are amazing. Hands down BEST nail salon! Been going here for years and have never been let down. Everyone is great and they really get to know your style and personality. They recently moved to their new location which was done head to toe in luxe. They always do an exceptional job and go out of their way to make you feel like royalty. Try the new pedi spa upgrades,I just got the jasmine and it was BEYOND worth the money. Don't waste your time or money at other nail salons, at hot nails you get personalized, experienced service, at a great price and in a wonderful environment. Clean, beautiful, and friendly! Prices are very reasonable. Amazing foot massages! They take their time. The owners are very warm and welcoming. I came here today and had a great experience. No complaints. I called ahead to make a reservation and when I got there they were ready for us. There was a lady there named Deb that was super friendly and helpful. I got a gel manicure and it looks great. I paid $20. My friend got a refill which was standard $15 plus $5 for gel polish. The place isn't over the top fancy (don't expect a back massage) but it's great service for great prices. I will definitely come back. To begin, Hot Nails has gotten nothing but bigger AND better.
I started going to this salon since I was in high school [I graduated in 2009]. Due to going to college and whatnot, I wasn't able to be as faithful as I wanted to be since I wasn't close by. I've recently went back because I've since started working closer & to my surprise they remember me! Aside from the owners' fantastic memory, their professionalism and friendliness is impeccable. In addition, I've NEVER had one bad full set or gel manicure from here; they've always been perfect.
I would definitely have to agree with the other yelpers in regards to how busy this salon can be. I personally always choose to go during the week and avoid the weekends because they're ALWAYS notoriously busy on the weekends. When I went during the week, I never had to wait [if at all] more than 5 minutes.
When it comes to the pricing, I wouldn't have to say they're the cheapest nor the priciest. But I can guarantee that no matter what you get there, it'll be worth it! Had a really good experience today. I had called in the morning and requested a nail tech that can give me the shape and style I'm looking for and good work. I made an appointment and was given a really sweet tech. She was very detailed and meticulous which i really appreciated. Didn't rush the service at all and was so nice when i asked her to make them shorter after she already started filing. Only thing that upset me a tad was i paid 5$ more for a "special shape". I had asked for coffin which is a special shape but i feel as though i wasn't given that. My nails are gorgeous but they are more of just a natural tapered square. They don't have the angles of coffin nails. Once again they look great but i feel as though the shape is pretty normal and nothing "special" other than that i had a great experience and will be back for future appointments. Absolutely the worst place to go and relax to get your nails done. Just realized if they don't like the review it will be be removed. They yell at each other and who knows what they say about you. I be won't go back. I have found another nail salon in Harleysville. This place is not that great. Don't be waste your time or your money. Linda is literally amazing!!! My first experience was great. They have a big and clean building and you feel very welcomed. Linda was so sweet and gave me one of the best nail services I've received. Lol that response is a joke, right? So... because you have other new clients that have had a positive experience, are you trying to use those to discredit my bad experience? The reason there is no record of me being there is because I was turned away. Really???? There is one thing that you can do for me, train the "gentleman" at your front desk on how to talk to people and explain the situation or offer some kind of solution instead of just saying "no we can't do, so many people waiting". I decided to take my 4 and 6 year old daughters for a mani/pedi today to celebrate my birthday. The experience was great from a nail salon and tech perspective. It got a bit stressful when my kids were done before me and their (my kids') patience began to run out. My fault though, I should have expected that and planned better for it.
The techs made sure my kids were comfortable (with some big soft back pillows), added cute flowers to their nail design and even when my older daughter smudged both her big toes because she was moving around during the drying process, they went back and fixed them.
Overall great experience. Will come back for relaxing pedicure - next time with my girls getting the warm water treatment too. :) Always easy to get in for pedicure. Prices are good and people are friendly. I've gone jere at least a dozen times since moving to the area. Spa with a show, these ladies are so much fun yet still cater to every need! They do their very best with the huge volume of customers and I always leave happy. I recommend the organic gel! If you are look for an awesome nail salon with a relaxing atmosphere... this is NOT your nail salon! The employees yell instructions to each other. Each client is move along like cattle. I gave this place a second try and got the same scenario. I did try to like this place. There are a couple of other nail salons in the area that have great service and you feel relaxed when you are done. Awful! I have gone for 5 years and they talk about clients to me and my mother which is unprofessional heard all about how one client is very picky and can never decide on a color. Today just went in appointment at 1:30 and sat waiting for an hour and a half. When finally getting up waiting asked them how much longer they rolled their eyes. Clients just arriving sat down before us. Then owner was talking to another client right in front of us as we were waiting talking about how "disrespectful some people are and just have to be more patient". Then when we are walking out they say they have a spot open up? Very rude, unprofessional, petty, disgusting people. Would never recommend I think they did a good job on my nails but the male at the desk was very rude for no reason Love this nail salon, a friend recommended it to me and I go to DEB for my gel manicures, told her if I could get 2 weeks out of a gel manicure, I'd be a customer for life... I got 3 weeks out of it, been coming back ever since! Deb is amazing, they are extremely busy and she tries hard to juggle walk ins to their packed schedule. She knows everyone that walks in the door, it's really very impressive. I heard a rumor that they are moving (in the same center) to a new, bigger place to allow more staff! Today was my first visit to Hot Nails but it definitely won't be my last! There was almost no wait for an acrylic refill and gel manicure. Linda did an absolutely amazing job on my nails! I have hitchhiker's thumb and I find that my thumb nails are almost always crooked after I've gotten my nails done, but Linda was diligent and made sure that my nails were the perfect length and shape. She also helped me find a color that wasn't as transparent as the one I'd chosen and gave me multiple similar options to choose from. The customer service was amazing all around and the prices are great! I can't believe I went this long without knowing what an awesome place this is. I'll definitely be back! I've been getting my lashes done by Vivian for M O N T H S. Yelp keeps taking the positive reviews off the page because she refuses to use yelp but there's a page for her business. Viv is so creative and amazing with lashes. I'm rough with lashes and they stay on for atleast two weeks. I also am really picky and she is super accommodating and make sure I leave happy. Ive been getting lash extensions for over four years and multiple different lash techs and she is my favorite.
Now the salon itself is amazing as well! The pedi's are actually amazing. They last for atleast a half hour (even for regular pedi). I usually get spa but it's very affordable for spa. I love love love this place! Also the location is easy to find. I recommend booking an appointment before! The wait can be a minute just because they are so popular and good at what they do.
I'm there 2-3x a month and I'll go there even when i move! I've been living in this area for a few years & have been struggling to find a good nail salon that would do great work & not completely rob me. I came across this location hidden in a plaza. However, this place is SUPER popular & NEVER empty. I've stopped by 3 times without an appt & no matter what the hour - it's packed!! So i usually leave & come back later. I went on Tues around 4:15 with no appt. luckily, i only waited 30 mins until someone helped me. I forget the techs name but she was super sweet, soft spoken and gentle handling me. I showed her the design I wanted and she did a GRREATTT job delivering results! This space is really nice, clean & professional & very fast paced. I would HIGHLY recommend! But mostly importantly- MAKE AN APPT unless you don't mind sitting and waiting until someone is available. Other than that, i definitely will be returning for a refill & trying different styles. For a full set($30)with almond shape (+$5)& ombre style color (+8) = $43 This place is hands down the most popular nail salon in the area, so make an appointment! All the girls are great but can be a bit rushed depending on the day. I try other places but always end up coming back to this place- clean, tons of colors to choose from and decent hours. This place is amazing.... staff is the friendliest group of people they love chatting and go out of their way to make sure you are satisfied I refuse to go anywhere else Lisa is the best the shape is always amazing when I get my acrylics and they match my Pinterest nails perfectly! The owner is amazing and I always go on Friday nights and get to relax with the complimentary wine! I 10/10 recommend this place for any service you get!!! I absolutely love this place! I have acrylic nails, and I'm always in love with them when I leave. After not being satisfied with previous jobs at other salons I made an appointment at Hot Nails. Deb must have heard how unhappy I was with my nails, and took my appointment herself, she did a wonderful job correcting what I felt was wrong, and I've been going there ever since. Every nail tech there is talented and does a great job, and everyone is so friendly. NOTE: this place is very busy so make an appointment!
I feel like I need to address a recurring complaint and that "the man at the counter is rude." I think his business is getting confused for rudeness. :) Don't let those comments deter you from coming here! I've always felt welcome.
Everything about Hot Nails is A+, from the great job they do to the wonderful staff that works there. Awesome first experience here! The place was packed but I walked in and got seated right away. Got a gel mani/pedi and I love it. Very reasonably priced- I paid $40 for both (don't know if there was a special sale or something because it was way cheaper than I expected.) other places are usually ~65 for gel mani/pedi. Will come back for sure! Vicki was great! First time there and very clean. Good value. Much nicer customer service than the last place I went on 202 and Welsh Road Loooove this place. It would almost be worth driving here. It's very affordable and they do a great job and always make sure you're satisfied with your nails. I've had my toes and nails done here a handful of times but my mom's been going here for years and I'm always admiring her nails. Everyone who works here is super nice too! Would give zero if it gave me the option! I guess it is in their business plan to turn away new customers! Oh well just lost out on a regular customer Hot Nails seemed like a great place to get nails done, and it was very big and modern inside. However, when my mom and I went to get gel nails done before our vacation, they came of in only a few days, when they were promised to last at least 7-10 days. Wouldn't go back for gel nails, you really get what you paid for with the price being cheap. Dip nails chipped with 24 hours :( already have 3 chips within 3 days. Love the color but not worth $35 As a Philly native that has converted to a suburbanite it has been tough to find a decent nail salon around my current residence. I have a primary nailery that I prefer but Hot Nails is my secondary choice if my nail tech isn't available at the other place. This establishment is very clean and the owner will walk around offering a glass of wine to guests that accept his offer. Yes, please! I have seen Amy on more than a few occasions and consider her my preferred nail tech. She is a master of creating the perfect almond shape that I have been wearing for the past year. Hot Nails prices are reasonable and typical for the surrounding area. They are open Monday through Saturday. This shop is ALWAYS a full house, so I highly recommend to book an appointment otherwise you run the risk of waiting a long time even during weekdays. Had an issue with my nails and was personally called within 24 hours of posting my previous review. They immediately wanted to correct the job they had done and seem to take a strong sense of pride and consideration for the quality of work they put out. It's inevitable that skills and expertise vary from technician to technician, but the fact that they immediately wanted to correct the issue I had with my nails speaks loudly to what kind of business that are running in a positive manner. Hello, me again, just wanted to stop by and say I moved to south philly and still make the trip to see Viv. The salon is extremely equipped for the pandemic and so so clean. I'm actually getting a pedi as I type this. Anyone who says anything bad about this place has no taste and is probably a Karen.
xoxo I have been going to Hot Nails for over 15 years. This is by far the BEST nail salon in Montgomery county! The nail technicians are so friendly and accommodating. This salon is so clean and on the cutting edge of what is new and trending. The owners Deb and Phil bend over backwards to make sure you are relaxed and highly satisfied with your services. I would never go anywhere else!!! Also, the pedicure chairs are amazing. I have been a long time patron (10 years +) at Hot Nails. Deb and Phil and staff provide friendly, timely quality services. They are always very accommodating. Came here last night and am a little conflicted. I reallllyyy needed my nails done and being new the the area i legit was wondering which one to go to in the lansdale area cus there's literally 50. I picked this place out and just went for it w no appointment. I was seen about 20 mins in which i totally didn't mind since i had no appointment.
Once i was seen this lady went to TOWN on my current gel that i had that needed to be removed. She was so fast but did not scratch my skin... amazing. Then she left and i sat there for like 15 mins wondering what's going on lol cus she just bounced without sayin anything and this lady was fast she was doing like 50 things at one time. While i was waiting they were askin everyone if they wanted wine and i was like wow that's cool.
Then some other nail tech came she was super nice and calm, i can tell she really was taking her time and i love how gentle she was. I was taken aback a little because she took my gel off my using her own finger nails? I've never seen that before she did a pretty good job tho. Kinda weird tho, not gonna lie. The shape of my nail is really cute but one hand is deff a lot longer than my other hand and the polish....it could be a lot better. There's a swipe of random glitter on one hand and there's couple nails where there's no top coat at all, i tried to tell her but there's a language barrier which is fine. I liked my overall experience but my nails could look a lot better. Would i be back based on how i look at my nails now? Maybe. Would i explore other options first before coming back - yes i will. The guy at the front desk should NOT be working in customer service. He is so rude as well as a few other nail techs working there. Also I don't know why they overcharge now for the length and shape of your nails $5 each?? And it's not like I'm getting almond shape or anything crazy. They often do a decent job but just very rude people Love this place! The staff is always so kind and friendly, the salon is also so clean and well kept. They are always so quick to take me back and their pricing is so reasonable. I actually took my bridal party here to get our wedding nails done a year ago. It was such a great choice. Love this nail salon - clean & friendly atmosphere! Everyone does a great job. Can't believe that Deb and Phil remember everyone's names. Have been coming here after a friend recommended them when I moved to the area. Love them and love my nails. Thanks Hot Nails!! I love my lash extensions! They look so natural. I was nervous because of my eye shape--I have a monolid with a lash line that folds up into my lid. Plus, I have very thin, straight lashes. However, Vivian knew exactly what to do with my lashes based on my eye shape and preferences. Thank you so much! Fist time there today, and I was taken within a few minutes of my scheduled appointment. Vanessa did a great job with my manicure, spa pedicure and eyebrow wax. She was very detail oriented & patiently listened to all of my requests. The place is also so clean - including the bathroom! I'll definitely be back wish I could leave 0 stars. my tech was nice and friendly but Ill let the pictures of my nails speak for themself. Love my dip powder nails! They have tons of colors and staff is always friendly here! They do a wonderful job! Love how close I live to this salon as well! 10/10 recommend Not picky when it comes to my nails but this was the worst dip Manicure I have ever gotten. Nails are shaped terribly (look at my middle finger). The dip powder itself is uneven and discolored (thumb nail) All nails on one hand are shorter than the other... I have to go get these re done somewhere else. I've been here a handful of times and they've been great, I am very surprised/ disappointed! I absolutely love this place! I have acrylic nails, and I'm always in love with them when I leave. After not being satisfied with previous jobs at other salons I made an appointment at Hot Nails. Deb must have heard how unhappy I was with my nails, and took my appointment herself, she did a wonderful job correcting what I felt was wrong, and I've been going there ever since. Every nail tech there is talented and does a great job, and everyone is so friendly. NOTE: this place is very busy so make an appointment!
I feel like I need to address a recurring complaint and that "the man at the counter is rude." I think his business is getting confused for rudeness. I've always felt welcome.
Everything about Hot Nails is A+, from the great job they do to the wonderful staff that works there. I've I've been going here every 2-3 weeks for about 2 years now. The service is amazing and all of the staff is wonderful!
I work and commute to college, so my time is very valuable to me. I often go in without an appointment and the staff works quickly and proficiently! On the rare occasion I break a nail or have a small problem I go in and they fix it for free!
Hot Nails provides quick and quality service at a fair price! (especially for a college student!) AVOID AT ALL COST!!! THE OWNERS ARE RACIST!!
DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!
My grandmother and I went here to get mani pedis. This use to be my go to place when I lived in the area but have now moved to LA and haven't been in years. We were treated horrible from the minute we walked in by the owner (man behind the front desk) he actually told me it was gonna be a long wait and that we should leave. We were respectful and said we didn't mind waiting, hadn't seen my grandmother in years so we would just sit and chat( mind you this was on a weekday mid day, no one was there) we waited an hour without complaining and he multiple times came up to us to tell us it would be best if we left. After that hour and many people coming after us and taken before us we were told there was only room for one person to get a pedi. He said it could be hours before the other person could get there nails done, this is with nail technicians sitting around doing nothing! Not busy at all! So I told my grandmother to go ahead and I would sit with her while she got her nails done. We walked over to the pedi chairs and same man yelled at me for wanting to sit with her in the other pedi chair. It was an entirely empty row!! After repeatedly being harassed and yelled at by this man we decided to leave, this was after hours of sitting around. Oh and when I went to pay he started yelling at me again and tried to overcharge my card!! He was so disrespectful and it was obviously about the color of our skin, we were the only ones that were not Caucasian there and the only ones being asked to leave and treated like scum. We were respectful the entire time and never raised a voice but this man would not stop yelling at myself and my grandmother. On the way out we had a few other patrons apologize to us for the way we were being treated. Don't ever go here!!!!!! Oh and the nails were shit to the polish didn't last and chipped right away. Worst nail experience I've ever had. Can't wait to get back to the Salons in California that know quality and customer service. I will be telling everyone I know to never come here. Had an amazing time at this nail salon, very clean and I saw constant cleaning while being inside. The owner was nice, talkative, and taught me about lash lifts etc... my nail tech was amazing s/o to Laura! I will definitely be back in two weeks Worst nail salon ever. The owner is rude and disrespectful if you're not a 'regular' client. I will not be returning They do great work here. I was reluctant to go to a nail salon during COVID but they have plexiglass up between the nail techs and clients as well as between clients in the chairs. I've gotten multiple refills here since October, from a different nail tech each time, and each refill has been consistently gorgeous. The gel polish doesn't peel or chip. I usually bring a reference photo if I want a specific design and let the techs work their magic. They're definitely on the pricier side, but I fork it over each time because I know my nails are pretty will hold up until I come back for my next fill. This review is for lash service I received from LeVi Lash Lounge, which operates out of the Hot Nails Salon in Lansdale. This review focuses on Hot Nails interaction.
It is not clear if Hot Nails and Le'Vi are two separate businesses. However, unfortunately I received extremely poor service from both establishments, as the LeVi Lash Lounge uses Hot Nails staff to check customers in and out. After my interaction with Hot Nails checking out (and described in more detail below) I was subsequently contacted by the owner of LeVi Lash Lounge, which again, was a terrible customer service experience. I have written a unique review for each establishment.
I used American Express to pay for lash service and tip. Apparently their policy is you can pay for the service on the card but not the tip. I profusely apologized saying that was all I had, and was treated like garbage. The male who is the owner (the owner of Hot Nails, not LeVi) was shockingly rude - visibly very annoyed that I had to tip using American Express. Was told there would be a $10 charge. Okay, fine, my mistake for not following their policy so I'm okay with paying a fee. So all I could do was ask myself, if I have to pay a charge in order to use Amex, why are they so upset about it? The $10 charge should cover whatever fees they incur. But the owner rolled his eyes, very frustrated and was very visibly annoyed.
I thought about this encounter throughout the day, it was bothering me. After all, I was so nice about it, I profusely apologized, and was still treated terribly. I decided to write a review on the Hot Nails Facebook page.
After posting, I received a text from the owner. I believe the text was from the owner of LeVi, not Hot Nails. Unfortunately, instead of simply apologizing they said, "I apologize for any miscommunication but...."then proceeded to remind me of the policy, (even sent me a screen shot!), and instead of trying to make things right and focus on trying to mend the situation and keep me as a customer, they continued to justify their actions. I wish this person had just focused on the fact that I was treated badly. That was the negative part of the whole situation, the rest (sending me a reminder screen shot, for instance) was pretty irrelevant. No one should roll their eyes and be so dismissive to a CUSTOMER of their establishment. Ever. Especially when the customer is standing there profusely apologizing.
When I made this point to the owner, then proceeded to tell me that I should no longer do business with them. I was so beyond upset and appalled by this. Never... ever... ever has this happened to me! I consider myself an easy going, friendly person and to have someone flat out tell me not to do business with them anymore ... over something like this..... wow, I was just flabbergasted.
So, there you have it. Whatever you do -- the quality may be okay or even excellent, as in my case, but beware of inadvertently not having your tip in cash that day, and definitely do not write a review about it, as you will be fired as a customer!!!!
Advice to salon - to BOTH Hot Nails & Le'Vi: pretty simple. be nice to your customers.
Especially, especially, when they are nice to you. Love it here! My mother in law showed me this place and whenever I'm in the area i like to go. They have a TON of color selection and services to offer! The interior design is so chic and modern and the place is for sure clean. They take all Covid precautions too which is nice. I think they can get busy so it's best to make an appointment but walk ins are ok! Would recommend I am a big fan of trying new things and places, so I often travel to other nail salons, but I always end up back at Hot Nails.
The owners are kind and Deb makes a point to know everyone's name which shows the dedication and care that she has for her customers. I can't even remember the names of my uncles sometimes.
Their prices are super reasonable. I've never felt overcharged, and even when I've picked out colors (holographic) that cost $5-$10 more, the technicians have always warned me about the price increase. I appreciate the transparency!
They also have an ATM on site so that cash tips are easier, and on top of that, they don't charge a cent to use the ATM (unlike many machines that require a $3 fee).
I wasn't completed satisfied with a nail design once and I grudgingly came back to get it fixed. I hate seeming ungrateful so I was nervous that the technician would be offended and standoffish, but the service was as kind as always and they even waived the fee for me and redid the designs for free.
Quick note: this is the only salon that has been able to get my coffin nails in the proper shape. I get compliments on them daily.
This review is way overdue. I highly recommend Hot Nails to anyone who is looking for an affordable yet still classy experience! Did I mention the interior is beautiful? Thank you guys for always being great! Extremely RUDE customers service!
It was my first time at this place and after reading great reviews I thought of trying it out. However the owner ( I believe) was not welcoming at all. It did look like house full and I understand there is no guarantee of timing for a walk in but I was told I would have to wait for 30 min OR LONGER. After 15 minutes or so I got up to ask if I could run to the shop next door and come back - she still said it would be 30 minutes OR LONGER. I said could I return the next day or the next by making an appointment and I was told you still might have to wait. And the total treatment was extremely rude. I could see no effort being made to have you come back. I think they are very happy with the elite clientele they may already have. You can be the best in your world but you are serving customers after all and if you treat them this way, it will come around some day.
7/7: update: dear owner,
You say you believe in honesty. Well then you should be honest and tell people an approximate wait time and stick by it. You cannot keep saying - 30 minutes or longer, every 15 minutes to a waiting customer. Appointments are made for a reason. If your established client made and appointment for a pedicure but decided to get more services for another hour, they need to make another appointment too. It's very evident that you care too much about your established clientele and it's almost a crime for a 'new face walking in with no appointment' like it made me lesser of a person. New customers are in fact welcomed even more to establish a relationship. That is a good business model. Your business is not for me! This place is near me and I hadn't had good experiences in the past.. (always busy, rushed jobs when they're closing soon, never quality work and they always charge me different prices). I switched nail salons about a two months ago but I was in the area and my friend and I decided to get our nails done together so we went. We both had tips and dip. I got the same she didn't do tips this time. She still had to wait for me an additional 45 minutes, shouldn't of taken to long. Regardless I was in pain the whole time. My tech burned me at the start while she was filing down the corner of my nails after gluing the tips on. Then she did it again same nail, I jumped and told her she was burning me and it was painful. I showed her what she had done. She said she would go slow. Then she used the machine, she got so close to my cuticle that it started to bleed on another nail. At the end when she was applying the finishing polishes it burned like hell and I told her again the burning sensation it was causing me and I didn't want my nail to get an infection. When she finished I was so upset I went to dry my nails and she brought my stuff over said said "thank you. sorry" I was pissed. So then I go to pay and the owner says $50 total. I told him my friend payed $40 and he says "you got tips" so I replied with "yes, and your tech made me bleed". So he goes "$45 for your then". Like that made me feel any better. Not going back, looking for a new place. Terrible. Always changing up prices and work is never consistent! This is by far the best nail salon in the area. The place is stunning and extremely clean. The staff is talented, friendly, and neat. The owners are so wonderful and always remember me when I walk in the door. The services options they have are amazing, I always do gel manicure and pedicure but I have had acrylics by them as well. They do an amazing job and I wouldn't go anywhere else. I have waited a while to write this review. I'm from the area and have had girls warn me about this place. That if you aren't a regular customer they don't treat you as well. When I arrived the owner looked at my nails and asked where I had been getting them done. When I told her, she pretty much interrogated me. She suggested that I should stick with the same nail place rather than going to different ones (not sure if she meant stick to this studio or my old one). I also showed her a design and it turned nothing out like it had in the picture. When I called to set up an appt I had specifically asked to get a nail tech who could do designs. Overall just a very negative experience and I felt extremely unwelcomed. And to know that other girls have had the same experience solidifies the fact that I will not be giving them business in the future. I LOVE this place for acrylic nails. They do a fantastic job and the price is very reasonable for a full set and refill. They have a huge color selection and the technicians are excellent! This place is always packed though so you must be willing to wait or make an appointment ahead of time.
Other high points:
1. Very clean salon
2. Other services offered (such as waxing)
3. They accept cards but there is also an ATM inside
4. They serve wine! I really wanted to like this place because I heard such great things. My technician was on her phone half the time while putting the nails and acrylic on my nails resulting in it being very messy, I have acrylic underneath my nail that has hardened that she failed to clean up. It hasn't even been two weeks and I've already had a nail pop off and I am not rough with my hands and very conscious of them. That is absolutely ridiculous to me. If I am paying money for a service, I expect that my technician is focused on me and not on her phone the entire time. The man at the front desk was not very friendly either. While checking out, he looked at my fingers, stated the price, and handed me the receipt. No "have a great day," no smile or anything. To me, that was just the cherry on top. Very very disappointed. I have been using this Nail Salon for about 5 years and they
are by far the best in the area! The Owners are super friendly
and always make you feel at home by remembering your name.
Very affordable to! Once I found this place I have no need to try
anyone else because they are the best.
You'll be very happy you treated yourself and will be back again
and again!
Enjoy;) Not a great experience. Asked for sheer nail color for my wedding - specified that I wanted it to be partially clear / see my nail underneath. Was told "funny bunny" would do this. Questioned them that this color is too white and opaque and they assured me it would go on sheer. Well... it was bright opaque white. Not at all what I wanted. Didn't have the time to re-do this since it's the day before my wedding. The massage part of mani pedi was pretty much nonexistent... and let's be real, that's everyone's favorite part. Felt rushed. Was overcrowded and therefore they seemed overbooked. Will be going to a smaller salon in the future where they will spend more time and pay more attention to their clients. Got my nails done by Wendy and i'm in love. The environment was friendly and clean. Definitely going there again. Visiting family in the area and wanted to get my nails done. First time at this salon and I am VERY impressed. There was no wait time and Lily was the sweetest, made sure I got exactly what I wanted for my gel manicure & pedicure. Reasonably priced and very clean salon. Will be coming back when in the area. Awesome experience The place is nice and elegant. I went in for a mani pedi before and a wedding and I was very pleased with my pedicure but I wasn't as pleased with my manicure. The lady didn't clean my nail bed and cuticles properly so my gel manicure ended up looking cheap. It's a bit on the pricey side. I'm willing to give this place another chance in the event that the lady I had was having a bad day. Debbie, the fact that you think that I am mocking someone's accent and that is the only thing you took out of that message shows me that you still do not understand why you will not be getting my business and why I will continue to tell anyone that I can, not to be a patron of your business. Your front desk is the first face that your current and future customers encounter. Although your current customers have established a relationship with your staff, you do not know what kind of future customers will walk through your doors at any point in time. Your front desk was rude and dismissive and simply said that you cannot take my business. He did not offer an alternative or an appointment at a later date. He simply turned me away like I was not a person. I feel bad for you that you think the whole point of my comment was to "mock someone's accent". Maybe try to transform that insecurity into teaching your staff how to problem solve. Being busy is no excuse for being rude. I'm obsessed with my lashes from here! I've been getting lash extensions for years now and Le'Vi Lashes are by far the best and most decently priced across PA AND Jersey. Vivian, the owner of the lash side is amazing. She's so easy to talk to and she did such an amazing job (see pictures). Victoria and Gina are equally as amazing given Gina trained them. Would 100% recommend to anyone. Very professional and clean environment. Immediately greeted at the door with a smile. Offers a lot of treatments and very knowledgeable. Lovely staff and fantastic service. Although the staff was mostly nice, the quality of the work is poor and not what was asked for. The manicure did not include a cuticle clean up, the polish job for mani and pedi are sloppy, all nails are crooked and thick, and all around felt rushed. Disappointing for sure Came for a gel mani and regular pedi. I first picked Le'Vi because it was the closest salon to my house. Was expecting a smaller nail shop, but it's quite large and they have an expansive nail color selection. Felt they did a good job with taking COVID19 safety measures, especially with the plexiglass walls separating stations and people. They also made extra efforts to make sure I was happy with the colors I picked and to accomplish the look I was going for. Will definitely go again! When I first started going to this salon I felt comfortable and the owners and staff were very friendly. I also would go to a nail salon in NJ when I was there who do excellent work and do great designs. As time went on I started to ask for designs at Le'vi, I noticed that most of the technicians do not speak English and had trouble understanding what I was asking for and they would need to ask someone who understood or the owner Deb. My past several visits were not great. They were rough with my hands because I had asked for something specific. When I would ask a question for clarification they would speak in their native language, become frustrated and continued to be rough with my hands. My last visit the technician cut my finger filing to roughly, no apology, no antiseptic. The price also changes and isn't clear. If you want basic manicure or gel nails and a basic pedicure, and no questions then sure I would recommend. They have also been very relaxed since most COVID restrictions have been lifted. There's no mask requirement for clients, no cleaning in between like in 2020. They used to have two bins for clean and sanitized pens, no longer, they used to require everyone that enter use the hand sanitizer, no longer. I will not be returning. Good luck! I stop by Le'Vi nail Salon on October 15 to get a manicure and pedicure for an event. The salon décor is nice and they have taken precautions regarding COVID. As soon as I walked in I was asked to pick a nail color and then usher to the pedicure section. The technician was lovely but unfortunately there was a language barrier. Her co-workers tried to help. As soon as I sat down I was informed that the nail polish I picked had an up-charge of $3 dollars. I agreed to pay the money but advised them that there was no disclosure of the extra cost posted anywhere. As the appointment got on the way I tried to explain to her that I wanted to have my nail tips sealed in order to maintain my manicure. The language barrier made this impossible. Being an immigrant myself I tried to tell her that I understood as English is not my 1st or 2nd language. As it was late in the evening the owner started to clean the other pedicure stations around me getting me wet in the process. He seem angry. I disregarded his demeanor. As I went up to pay him - he charged me and threw the receipt at me. His behavior was less than professional. Although I did like the way my nails turned out. I will never again frequent this salon as the owner has very poor manners. I was referred by my son's TSS and she was absolutely right about this place! It is very clean and since COVID-19 hit, they have taken every precaution to make sure that their staff and customers feel safe. I have been going every two weeks since August 2020 and I love it. They greet me when I arrive, and everyone is very friendly and treats you with respect. I highly recommend this place to all.
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name: Doggie Style, address: 114 S 13th St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: closed, categories: Pets, Pet Stores, text: I only go here since it is convenient. I have a golden retriever and this place doesn't seem to cater to larger dogs as much those that can fit in someone's purse.
They always seem to be out of inventory whenever I need something. I was looking for an easy walk harness; I stopped in multiple times and they never had the right size or gender appropriate color. Recently, I went in looking for some goodies for my dog's birthday, and they had nothing whatsoever; no hat, no cake or birthday-related dog treat. The only thing that would be somewhat relevant was a small birthday cake furry toy that played music. My dog would have ripped it to shreds in no time.
The only thing they always have in stock is poop bags. Oh my goodness, these people were AWESOME!
My mom and I are from out of town, and we decided to drive an hour to Philly and see what it was all about. My mom brought along her little shitzu and forgot to bring food for him. We found this place so that she could buy him a little bit of food. Instead, they were SO nice and gave us a free sample of food because they didn't want us to spend a bunch of money on a bag of food and then offered for little Gomez (the dog) to eat it right there in the store and enjoy some water too.
As we were waiting for Gomez to finish up, I noticed all these adorable world cup jackets for dogs and had to get Mexico's. Viva Mexico! But I digress...the guy that was working was super friendly too, talked to us about the pets he owns, pet Gomez, and was just all around sooo hospitable and friendly. Not to mention, he also patiently grabbed about 7 of those little jackets for Gomez to try on because none of them fit quite right.
In short, they were AWESOME. I would totally go there again. Whether you have a cat or a dog, they have a bunch of treats, food, toys, you name it! I mean, it seems like they've got it all. And the customer service is amazing. So extremely pleased with our visit there. I have never had a bad experience at any of the Doggie Style Center City locations.
Staff is always very friendly and eager to help. I don't buy my cat food and litter here because such items are bit pricey compared to the grocery store, but anytime my cats lose their toys or need a new scratcher, I always go to Doggie Style. They have unique play items and have items ranging from $1 stuffed mice to $300 cat towers so you can find something for your pet on any budget. I've also purchased all of my kitty grooming products from Doggie Style.
I also love visiting the resident cat - so cute! :) This store is so cute and super convenient when having a pooch in the city. I refuse to bring Harvey here because he's like that terrible child in a Toys R Us, slobbering on toys that then require me to purchase in excess. There is a ton of merchandise in this store, sometimes a better selection than Petsmart and way better than Monster Pets, but with a far more knowledgeable and friendly staff. Prices are on the high side, but this is Center City and you're paying for convenience especially when pooch is on a premium food diet. The cost of food is lessened by purchasing the larger bags which they don't carry in-store, but are more than happy to order for you. This is more the type of place that I go when the food supply is running really low or when I want a little something special for my boy, definitely a treat to have in the city, and looking forward to getting back there to purchase his new Muttley Phillies jersey! Yes, creative name isn't it? I've been to many a doggie store and this one has to take the top spot for creative name and most fancy. You walk in and you think you're walking into a high end clothing store for humans. This particular store has glass all around... nicely air conditioned... smells fantastic and your furry pets are welcome! They have fresh cookies on the tables to buy for your dogs and they just have pet stuff all the way to the ceiling... literally. Guy was nice and really helped with the purchase. If I lived here, I would probably be here way too often! This place has all the products I need for my dog. Its catered more towards smaller dogs but thats fine - I understand. Tons of little dogs around the area! This place has a nice selection and is close to home if I feel like my dog needs a new toy or a treat after work. Very cool place, but very unfriendly workers. Brotherly love, NOPE! Don't worry I don't need a hi, bye, or thanks for shopping here. Who cares about money? Go to Just Dogs right down the street on Chestnut where service is a 10. This store is great for its variety of food, clothing and toys. It is my go to place for my Boston Terrier. And any doggie gifts! We have bought things that range from a lobster Halloween costume, life vestand collars to a rubber neon orange stick,chicken jerky treats and poopie bags. And they do have ton of cat products as well. Unfortunately most of what we buy with regard to cats is Urine Off! By now I have bought a hodge podge of things from this store already. Additionally sometimes when I have had a few to drink I like to come in here just to pet the cat. Now let's see if we can remember what all I bought...
training clicker- given that I got my first one for free from my dog's trainer, I was surprised that it was more than $5. On the other hand it was much better constructed than my freebie and I haven't broken it yet (thus not necessitating another purchase). Anyway it's a nominal amount of money to begin with, and with more time passing, I think this was money well spent.
can topper- probably a buck? same as you would see at another pet store or convenience store. although I bought one from Target once and it cracked almost immediately, so that's something to think about?
organic turkey jerky dog treat - my dog loved it. but she loves a lot of things as far as food goes.
argyle sweater - my cat did not like this. but it's pretty gosh darn adorable. he started to lick it a lot in protest whenever we put it on him, causing it to have a weird thread-y film that you have to remove by hand. now he doesn't wear it anymore.
everclean litter - this is my favorite litter of all the types (clay, clumping, crystal, pellet etc) I've tried. It's by no means perfect, but it's satisfactory enough that I've temporarily given up the search for the Ideal Litter out of sheer laziness.
weruva - my cat is going to be 9 this year, and he stopped being a parttime outdoor cat since we moved to the city. Since he is getting older and also dramatically less active now, we decided he needed to stop eating cat junk food. I found a spreadsheet put together by a vet that shows calories derived from protein, fat and carbohydrates by brand of cat food. The ideal composition is less than 10% calories from carbs, and at least twice as much calories from proteins than fat. Weruva has an excellent 3 way ratio, and Doggie Style carries a good variety of them.
orijen - this is the number one recommended dry cat food I could find across the board. Many advisory/review sites state that this particular brand contains zero ingredients that may raise health concerns for cats. Normally at this age, he should be eating all wet food, but he actually loves kibble so I just had to find a trustworthy variety. I had expected the brand to be hard to find, and it was, and luckily DS carries it.
I would say that overall their selection is exceptionally on point for such a small space, prices are reasonable (for the quality of the products), and the kitty cat's super cute! I don't generally like to interact with sales staff (read: people), that said, I've not experienced any unpleasantness here. wonderful spot. i've only ever experienced friendly and helpful service. my pup loves his antler. some of the treats are costly for my budget but i do find that the little one is worth it.
its nice that this spot carries wholesome and healthy pet food (like california natural), and if you ask them to order a larger bag for you they happily do so. This place is on the pricey side--the Joan Shepp of Philly pet stores, if you will--but you'll get what you pay for. Especially if you've skimped on beds, jackets or toys in the past and then were actually surprised when they fell apart or got destroyed within minutes of playing fetch. The merch here is definitely better quality, without question. Logo tees aren't really my thing, or sparkling studded collars, or those ridiculous doggie-tote bags (dogs have four legs people--let them walk!) but they have lots to chose from for any Paris Hilton types. The rest of us can stick with practical stuff like food and grooming supplies. I adore Doggie Style.
I've come in plenty of times in need of something: a smaller crate, a better walking harness, better food for a picky dog. Every single time, the employee goes out of her way to help me out and to find an answer to best fit my dog.
Today I called in from work, just a query about an airline crate. When I arrived, about five hours later, not only did they remember me, but they had put the crate on hold so the size for my dog wouldn't be sold out.
Additionally, they always have a number of educational toys for dogs (here and at every other location). With an active terrier puppy, this makes my life so much easier. Any time I am in, whether for food or passing by, I can pick something up and they make it easy on me. I recommend them to every dog owner I know. Cute store! Lots of cute clothes for dogs but i have a lab so i dont buy clothes for her but there is a great selection for smaller dogs. They had a small selectiom of both dog and cat food and treats. In addition to cat and dog toys. I ended up buying some cute football and fire hydrant shaped/ decorated dog biscuits which were priced just right and thoroughly enjoyed by my dog. The staff was nice. They have a cute pet cat that was sleeping in the cat tower by the window! This is a fun place to browse and watch customers kit out their micro-dogs with clothing and accessories. But surprisingly for a pet "boutique", the prices on high-end pet food are pretty competitive. I was surprised to see my kitty's favorite canned food at a less frou-frou store for 20 cents more per can! The staff can be hit or miss... sometimes you get a younger/ newer person who doesn't know much about the products, but if you can talk to the more experienced staff people they're always up for a deep discussion of the merits of different cat food ingredients and formulations... wow I'm starting to sound like a crazy cat lady. The name Doggie Style is a little bit misleading - they have plenty for pussy as well!
This is a great little pet supply store in my neighborhood that carries a selection of accessories, grooming tools and potions, and toys for myriad creatures. The employees all seem really into pets and have been able to make some good product recommendations to keep my kitties happy. The prices are pretty reasonable given that it is a center city boutique-style store.
Doggie Style loses one star because their selection of pet foods is not as wide as it could be. I stop in here pretty often since it's not far from my office. I love their selection of cat toys (my guy's a big fan of the catnip banana) and they have a good selection of natural cat foods. While a few things are a little pricy, most of the foods and toys (for cats anyway) seem pretty competitive. Plus, the staff is nice and it's just a fun store ... how cool is it to shop with other people who are as obsessed with their pets as you are? I had to get my little pal a gift for leaving him for two days. Since he is just like his mommy (me), I knew that food would be the best way to his heart. I bought him some pricey homemade doggy biscuits. He'll like them, I'm sure.
I like that they carry high quality dog food like Merrick and Nature's Variety. That would make my boy very happy.
Don't let the name fool you. They carry stuff for your feline friends too. Meow and Woof Woof! Although this place is a little pricey, they have an awesome selection of toys/food/treats/etc. It's always clean and the people there seem really knowledgeable.
Also the guy who works there is SO friendly. He always answers any questions I have in great detail. As a new cat owner, I found myself consulting him all the time. This is my local go to place for my fur-baby's needs. He suffers from a sensitive tummy and the staff was initially very helpful in assisting me in finding a food that he could keep down. They are always very friendly and I love that I can take my pup in here to browse the merchandise.
The only downside here are the prices...they are straight up astronomical. All the apparel runs around $20 and I have literally seen the exact same sweaters at Marshalls a couple blocks away for $4.99. A relatively small bag of food runs me around $15, which is a small price to pay for my pup's health, but still it's a hefty chunk of change.
They have a wide selection of toys from squeakers to balls and frisbees and I usually get suckered into buying something every time I'm here that I definitely don't need. (As I type there are at least half a dozen tennis balls laying around on the floor as my dog plays with an empty water bottle.)
I will continue to frequent this place as it is so convenient and they have what I need, but I will still cringe at check-out every time. I'll admit it: I saw a cat in the window and wanted to go inside to pet it, but I didn't want to seem like a total weirdo, so I made the beau go in with me and buy fancy dog hamburger and martini glass-shaped dog biscuits for his golden lab.
In short: Cool place with everything your four legged friend could ever dream of! Toys, food, even doggie clothes!
Well, hot dog! This store gets tons of 4 star ratings but I couldn't find anything wrong with it except that for me, it's too far from home. Cute store with tons of everything you could need, staff people who are REALLY into it, and little Charlie who was jumping up and down behind the gate because people came into the store and he wanted to meet them. And of course, the name doesn't hurt. For such a small store, they have a ton of stuff, toys, food, etc. We aren't people who feel the need to spend hundreds of dollars on our pet (which you could here), but they have interesting treats/food that you might not find at other locations.
A good example is smaller size regular food bags. We like brand X, but always feed him variety Z. You can come here and pick up small, almost sample size bags of the other varieties without winding up being stuff with big bags of food that your pet won't like.
Bottom line, you'll walk in here thinking how cute/funny some of the items are, but you will wind up leaving with something useful/a staple, plus maybe something cute or innovative as well; where else are you going to buy your dog an antler?
What else says Christmas than letting your dog munch on Rudolph's remains?
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name: Giant Food Store, address: 6542 Logan Sq, city: New Hope, stars_x: 2.5, is_open: opening, categories: Drugstores, Shopping, Food, Grocery, text: I have been a twice weekly grocery shopper to the Giant for close to 10 years. I do try to go elsewhere for local produce if available. Lately, I have been traveling close to 30 minutes to shop at alternative locations, for the following reasons:
1. The other day a pound of Land o' Lakes unsalted butter was $6. You cannot, unless it has changed, buy non-organic scallions. The produce is now organized in a very confusing way separating organic and non organic items. Their prices have gotten to be outrageous.
2. With some minor exceptions: most of the meat and seafood staff, Elaine (love her) Regan and Matt at checkout, and the younger gentleman with brown hair and a beard in the deli.....everyone other than the staff that I just mentioned seems to have really low morale and not care.
3. The soliciting at the door has to go. I don't mind the hot dogs because it benefits local high school sports teams; however, the constant begging at the door has become cumbersome. I have complained twice, particularly since there is a young woman who I think might have slight special needs who they constantly have stationed at the front door. She is a wonderful employee and tremendous to the customers when she is restocking shelves or bagging. Why do you have her solicit money? I believe it is exploiting her and making people feel very uncomfortable. I was told twice that they often have other associates in her spot but I have never seen that with the exception of hot dog sales. Open 24 hours, Clean, Helpful and friendly staff and a great selection of items. What more could you ask for...Simply great! I really enjoy this Giant store. I have found the employees to be Pleasant & helpful, it is a well lighted place, good prices on numerous items. Wonderful pharmacy with knowledgable pharmacists. have you ever gone into one of those grocery stores that makes you scratch your head and wonder "why the hell did they put these two things in the same aisle?" well this is a prime example. nothing seems to be where it should, the aisles are really small and somehow in the wrong order, and it's somewhat difficult to find a really good deal. unfortunately the alternative in the area is even worse. but it's close to home, so i'll suffer through it. This store is always running out of things and it's crazy expensive for generic garbage. My bill at Whole is less expensive or same price, and way better quality. How does this area lack a clean and fresh grocery store? The demand is definitely there. Please please someone open up a fresh grocery store in this area! This is a very good grocery store. They have a very wide selection and reasonable prices. I love their deli counter, where they have a wide array of Boar's Head products to choose from. They have pretty much everything you could want, and the arrangement makes sense, and I never have trouble finding anything. They always have plenty of check out lines open, and there are also self check out stations if you prefer that. I highly recommend this supermarket. I really like the new store. Yes, they could do better on specials but since they really have no competition in the near area, that's how it is.
Some of the aisles seem a little out of sort but I am sure they are working on them.
As far as being too big, I don't think so. It's not like it's a super Wegmans.
I still wish they had more of an ethnic cuisine section.
Also, more fresh veg or fruit that is organic.
Other then that I am quite happy with this store.
They have a very friendly staff that go out of their way to find a missing item.
Thanks Giant!!! For being in such a nice area you would think that Giant would have a lot to offer. Despite the fairly new renovation, nothing spectacular has changed here. Their produce is always old and gross looking. Today, every single hass avocado was disgustingly old and half of them had mold on them. I should've taken a picture of how bad they were. Multiple times I have had to ask for them to replenish basic items (for example, today they had two really old small yellow onions left and I had to find someone for more).
Their meat and seafood is very overpriced and lacks the quality I have seen elsewhere. I avoid buying their seafood cause it always looks old, like it has been sitting out for way too long.
I have had pleasant experiences at the deli department, a few of the people working behind the counter truly seem to care and are very friendly.
Basically, Giant is only good for getting things you need out of convenience sake. It's a shame too cause it's a quick drive for me and I would come here all the time if they made some improvements. For quality produce, meat and seafood I always drive elsewhere. What is it with this huge grocery store that every time I go there something on my list is out of stock? Peppercorns this week. All summer tonic water (ok it was in demand, could they manage the stock demand), another time cauliflower. This is the local Giant for us so we go here pretty regularly, it's moderately clean and usually pretty busy. I don't know if they are just completely overwhelmed and short staffed but most of the people working there look absolutely miserable and seem to be put off when asked for help. Shopping wise it's pretty stocked up and the prices aren't too crazy but are on the higher side. Went to buy one six-pack of beer yesterday. Was immediately greeted at the "beer garden" by an employee, Mike, who was a) not wearing a mask and b) staring me down with his hands on his hips.
Got the item and went to check out. Presented my ID to "Mike" and was told that since I was under 25 (even though I am over 21 and of legal drinking age) I could not complete the transaction because my younger sister had been in the store shopping for groceries with me and she did not have an ID with her. I asked if he was kidding, and he said he wasn't. I then asked if I could come back at a later time without her, to which he said no, I could not come back to make the purchase, and that "it's over for me." Seriously?
I'm not running a drug cartel, I'm buying a six-pack of Corona. The legal age to purchase alcohol is 21... last time I checked cashiers don't have the power to change that. Maybe find a hobby instead of getting off on refusing service to a law abiding young woman.
"It's over for me" shopping at this store. I have been shopping here off and on since this store was first built and I have thought long and hard before writing this review....In the beginning, everything was wonderful, but as the years progressed, cashiers started complaining about their treatment, prices went up every week and very few of the employees I met were friendly. When the Wegman's opened in Warrington, I started doing all of my shopping there and only used Giant for forgotten items. About 2 years ago, I encountered health issues and decided to give Giant the bulk of my weekly shopping since it was close to my home. Prices are far more expensive at this Giant, but they have a good selection of items and the remodel seemed to make the store more user friendly. Employees seemed to have a better attitude also. About 4 or 5 months ago, some of the most friendly employees disappeared. The woman at the service desk was really grumpy when I turned in some keys I found in the parking lot. I felt like I was disturbing her and she never took her eyes off the monitor. (So grumpy that the man behind me in line came up to me later and gave me a proper "Thank You".) And prices are still going up. I like using self checkout with the self-scanner because I can get in and out fast. (I am in chronic pain.)...And the day came when I decided I would never shop at this store. I used the scanner as always but was flagged for an audit and some of my items didn't show up on the bill. (I had been audited many times before and never had an issue.) I distinctly remember scanning those items because they were at the tail end of my shopping, and whether I was too far away from the signal or the scanner was broken doesn't really matter at this point. The cashier looked at me like I was stealing and called another person in from the front desk. He also just stared at the monitor. Nobody was talking to me to tell what was going on. They should have said, "We are so very sorry. Something went wrong." I was treated like a person who was stealing - which I was not! I blew up at them (by this my pain was unbearable) and came home and wrote to corporate. Later I got a call which I assume was from the store: "Hello. This is Sarah from Giant. I would like to talk to you about your scanner experience." Well, I don't know if Sarah is the manager or the person who cleans the store at close. So unprofessional and she did not sound like she cared that Giant was losing my business.I always feel that attitude trickles down, and I suspect this total lack of professionalism starts with management. I will NEVER shop here again...The pharmacy is so wonderful that it is a shame that they are attached to this place. I give the pharmacy 6 out of 5 stars.....I now shop at Wegman's again. I also use McCaffreys in Newtown and I did stop into Giant in Doylestown. The Doylestown Giant is super friendly with more reasonable prices and a better produce section. Every employee I passed said "Hello" to me! This shows that Giant can be run properly with the right people. I so hope Giant in New Hope gets some competition in soon. They need a shake up. A big one!
UPDATE: 5/5/16....Sometime in the past week, my acupuncturist returned an empty water bottle to Giant. (I am not familiar with this set up, but I assume it is one of those big blue bottles ordinarily used for water coolers.) When the bottle is returned, a ticket emerges from the machine, only this time, there was no ticket. When he went to report this, the person acted like he was lying. I am not exaggerating when I say that this guy is the nicest and most trustworthy man I know. So now Giant is alienating people who own businesses in the same complex as the store. GIANT NEW HOPE, GET OFF OF YOUR THRONE....I am still singing praises about Giant in Doylestown! :-) They are happy people who are glad to see you. It's like night and day. It's ok, clean, has a good selection. Avoid ordering deli goods via the touch screen. Take a number and stand in line. Otherwise, like me on 2 occasions, you will return in 20 minutes to find a note in your pickup bin that says "Sorry we're out". The worst supermarket I can think of. Shoprite in Flemington blows this store away. Prices here are high compared to other stores. The meat selection is expensive with fatty and misshapen cuts of meat. Selection is poor and most of the cashiers are unfriendly. The Giant in Warwick often has the same items for cheaper prices. I guess they think us "rich" folks in New Hope deserve to pay more. The store has gotten much worse since the SuperFresh has closed. I guess they figure they are the only game in town. Take the extra time to travel up 202 to Flemington and their Shoprite. We do. I want to say something to speak to the Giant employees in New Hope. YOU are awesome, everyone of you continue to support our community by being there for us day and night. You have been kind and generous with you're commitment to keep us supplied with necessities. I see you're tireless work as you stock the store, clean the store and smile warmly. YOU ARE AMAZING, thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Le No. The produce is often out of date, the salad bar is disgusting (guessing they use close to expired lettuce here, as it most often brown and bruised). There's a stupid clunk-ass robot that will stop in front of you and block access to the isles. Worst of all is customer service. Dreadfully slow checkout lines where you get to pay New Hope prices, bag your own groceries, and put up with snide clerks. Yesterday I watched a checkout clerk berate a 80 year old vet for not having enough money on his gift card to cover his groceries. He was insistent that he did, but she wouldn't let him leave. As the line grew behind him and she was waving for a manager who ignored her, I asked if she applied the store discount card on his order. She gave me a nasty look, but when manager finally came over and asked her to do the same thing, Giant ended up owing the guy 8$ in change. Cannot wait for McCafferys so I can bid this mismanaged dumpster fire of a grocery store a well deserved adieu. On a positive note:
1 Love Dottie in the Deli. Always bright and cheerful, personable and professional
2 Love Annie in the front. She puts up with a lot in a very professional way. Lovely customer service.
3. Really good organic produce. Nice selection and good quality Other organic sections are good too. Meat, not as good selection but for the price best in the area. New hope desperately needs another grocery store. Their produce, meat, and seafood leave much to be desired. We either go to local farmers markets or drive all the way to Wegmans instead. This super market has been going down last few months bad Deli dept is short staff had to return items bad four times in two weeks wont buy from the deli anymore never see
deli manger self not fully stocked short staff threw the store also front end and as a former super market manger for over 12 years I feel it starts with management .I now only go in for small items I do big shopping at acme or shoprite shame this store is 0ne mile from me. Had to get a cake for a last minute part. Was very surprised with the quality of the store baked cakes. Definitely a last minute go to. I love this store, great selection of produce local organic and otherwise ! Also I always enjoy the deli section! Arthur is the best, he provides quick and pleasant service and makes sure I get my meat and cheese sliced exactly how I want it!
And if you ever need a caffeine pick me up Damien at the Starbucks counter will take care of you and make you the best Coffee drinks!
Always enjoy shopping here! Terrible experience every single time I go here. Very rude employees. Especially Bernadine and Zach. The store is out of a lot of items frequently. Self checkout is not self checkout, an attendant is always needed to process people through, they are haggard. All of the shoppers seem to have the same bad experience as me, complaining. I will not be returning. I'd rather make the drive to flemington, it's worth being a valued customer They have a monopoly and they know it , it shows my mother and i always do our grocery shopping here, the crowds are usually very small and they always have what we're looking for and then some! today we went in to do our big thanksgiving shopping and our cart was over flowing. we hopped in a line with about two people in front of us and then we noticed our favorite cashier, elaine, was working at a register. we quickly got out of our line and headed over to elaine's smiling adorable face. A manager quickly approached us with an attitude asking why we left our other line, we stated this line seemed shorter and we wanted to see elaine. she gave us such a nasty look and proceeded to watch us. unfortunately i did not get her name just that she had short red hair. We were very puzzled why she would question us and also disappointed with her attitude and the way she addressed us.
Other than that, elaine was a pleasure as always to check out with and we really enjoyed seeing her. This is a joke
They changed there hours and they are no longer 24 hours. I will not be shopping here anymore the overnight manage is a jerk. I would highly recommend Shoprite folks Not managed well. Selections on fresh meat, fruits and vegetables are a joke. Prices are outrageous. I will take my hard earned money to Shop Rite in Flemington. They also don't treat some of their employees very well. Produce, fish and meat selections are either garbage, beyond sell date or spoiled/rotten, without fail.
Deli area seems to have finally gotten the fly situation under control (disgusting), but employees refuse to slice to customer request. Will show one slice, then do as they please.
The entire store has become jam packed with unnecessary displays. Aisles are consistently blocked by stock employees and their carts. It is impossible to navigate any area or aisle. Why is restocking not done overnight? Why keep adding more junk?
Dairy cases reek of spoiled milk!
Baggers become rude, bordering belligerent, if a customer provides shopping bags and requests no plastic.
Looking forward to both new stores coming to New Hope. Great staff! Someone is always there to help. Friendly and courteous. Well stocked and clean aisles.
Pharmacy staff is also amazing.
I couldn't get online appointment for my daughter after school hours. They accommodated her for both her COVID shots. 5 minute wait (plus 15 minutes after the shot to make sure you're feeling ok).
Special shout out also to the Starbucks crew for making the best London Fog!
A weekly treat for myself.
Thank you for all your hard work! Really need a new grocery store close in proximity to our new home. Was scolded by a nazi woman for my children not wearing masks. I am an adult and it is not anyone's business as to why my children can or cannot wear masks. I have a child that meets age requirement to NOT wearing a mask and a medically compromised child that legitimately CANNOT wear a mask. Oh well guess I will make that drive to Wegmans instead since they do NOT harass myself or my children. Hopefully that vile woman is fired or taught customer service and about minding her own business, perhaps then I will come back. People were looking at her like she was crazy. They even said they're very small/young children and to leave me alone. Even the cashier said she thought she wasn't feeling well with the mask on. It's a shame bc the other employees seemed very nice and were very friendly to myself and children. I'm a fan of this Giant. I've been going here for over 4 years since moving to the area. I like their selection and appreciate their prices...especially the specials. Most of the time, I can get in and out quickly but every once in a while I get a slow moving clerk or bagger. The staff is pretty friendly though! I like that this is my neighborhood store! Don't go here during all of this coronavirus business if you aren't buying into all of the nonsensical fear. I'm 7 months pregnant and got yelled at by grown men wearing masks for exiting out of an 'entrance only' door, which I just ignored, because I am an adult, not a child.
The selection and prices have always sucked, I only went here for convenience. I will, now, never go back. I had placed an order through Giant Direct to pickup groceries during his pandemic. I called just before my appointment time (I had ordered the previous day) and the very polite woman who answered the phone said my order had been cancelled. Why? Something about their system not really being able to handle requests. When I asked when I would be able to get my order she repeated that it had been cancelled. My credit card had been charged the previous day when I set things up so that wasn't it. She then gave me another number to call to reorder. Their machine stated they were not picking up the phone. DON"T OFFER A SERVICE THAT YOU CAN"T FULFILL, ESPECIALLY UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCE. This is more than an inconvenience; it adds a risk factor and delayed my getting groceries elsewhere. We walked in to Giant food stores at 9:59pm looking for some beer for a charity auction. The employee refused to let us purchase it even though they technically sell liquor until 10pm. Sad! Been here before
Covid 19 protocols are being followed
Big parking lot
Clean and quiet store
Friendly, fast customer service It's a shame this is the only big box option in the area. Seems the management just does not care about the needs of the consumer. Organic milk sells out or is not stocked. Fish department is fair at best. Cheese is a joke. Plus the checkers don't know what to do when you bring your own bag! Come on, it's 2019 and people do not like using plastic bags, educate your crew on how to use a canvas one!
I have loved her 20 years and the changes are minor. My goal is to not give Giant any money, as when I have to go in to grab a basic (milk, toilet paper) they continue to disappoint.... Giant (aka Stop and Shop on the Jersey side) is not a very good grocery store.
Giant is one of those grocers the puts you in a bad mood just by being there - a throwback to retail indifference that even before the pandemic was inexplicably out of stock on even basic items punctuated by average, overpriced produce and nondescript meats. In short, Giant is an exact replica of the Stop and Shop experience that I swore off years ago in Jersey.
Giant may have been something in the 1980's when food stores were monochromatic and interchangeable - before Wegmans, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and even the execrable low price leader, Walmart, reinvented and crashed the category's moribund status quo.
Giant is fine when I'm in the area and need to pick up a few things but it is light years away from being a destination store that I look forward to visiting for any reason. A Giant disappointment. Poor mans stop & shop, this was my first impression. Then I thought there is no comparison, yes the store is very large with everything laid out. Though it was extremely messy, the aisles were over crowded and prices were higher then I normally pay! Big disappointment. Very professional and helpful staff. They have helped me when there have been glitches due to insurance problems and Doc errors. Although it's a big store, they know my name and are familiar with what my condition is and the drugs I usually order. They have way above average privacy, but could be improved, like most pharmacies. Some of us have very intimate questions and problems to ask about, but may chicken out (like me) when surrounded by other customers vying for the Pharmacists attention. But this is a problem for most pharmacies.
Giant Pharmacy is a big corporate pharmacy, but the folks there do a great job of making it feel less impersonal.
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name: Abner's Pizza & Grill, address: 200 Fairview Rd, city: Woodlyn, stars_x: 1.5, is_open: closed, categories: American (Traditional), Pizza, Food, Restaurants, text: Meh. This pizza was basically a deep-dish grease pie. Not my style at all.
The wings were OK but nothing special. We got ranch as a dipping sauce instead of blue cheese, which I thought was a little weird.
We probably won't be going back here. It wasn't special. The chicken Caesar wrap was great! The pizza..... When you pick up a slice, half of it goes limp and all of your toppings fall off along with the cheese, and you left with a limp paper thin half of slice. It's as if the dough isn't thick enough in the middle. Not worth the money.
When you call, the man who answers is very pleasant but the driver sucks! Late night order from here left much to be desired.
When you're hoagies arrive without lettuce and tomato it isn't the start of a good evening. This was after taking almost an hour to arrive after the order was made for three cold hoagies.
The bread was "moist" on one of them that had nothing on it buy Mayo - totally inedible.
An attempt to resolve the issue was met with a flat out refusal to even apologize, let alone make any effort to correct or save a customer.
We won't be ordering anything from what looked to be a potential new addition to our late night delivery spots. Worst cheese steak I've ever had. I could've made something better at my house with day old rolls and steak-ums. Terrible. Didn't even bother to toast the roll, and you know the cheese was just slapped on the roll. Wouldn't give them my business again if they were the only thing open for 50 miles and I was starving. I just ordered from here for first time. I ordered cheese fries that came very soggy and very unappetizing. When I called to complain I was offered a delivery of more cheese sauce? Then I stated the fries are soggy and was told they were too busy and had no time to help me further and hung up? I also had a chicken cheese steak which turned out a bit over fatty . I would not recommend this restaurant and will be going elsewhere .
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name: Bocca, address: 236 Market St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: closed, categories: Bars, Tapas Bars, Lounges, Nightlife, Mediterranean, Restaurants, text: The menu looked interesting so I stopped in with a friend. Bad idea. The bouncer/host offered us free shots when we sat, which turned into a disaster of rudeness from our waitress and abrupt treatment from the manager. After a second complaint to the manager he finally gave us a round of free shots as was originally promised, but by the end my friend and I were uncomfortable and embarrassed by the whole situation. Beyond that the tapas we had were very unimpressive for the price. The manager also sat at one of the outdoor tables with a group of his friends smoking. I know it was outdoor tables, but I thought this wasn't allowed....one of them had a reeking cigar as well.
Will NOT be returning to Bocca.
I also made an account specifically to post this review. That's how horrible it was. If you love exceptional food, GO HERE. The menu is Bocca's biggest asset, and Chef Chris D'Ambro has made an impressive and tasty mark on Philadelphia! The dishes were fun and innovative, and each successive plate became a new favorite. The carpaccios are outstanding, the carrot confit is a fun twist on traditional 'peas and carrots' (with a hibiscus gastrique!), and the hearts of palm with truffles was a perfect combination of ingredients. Other table favorites were the fois gras, pork belly, beets, etc. etc. We could happily go back and order with our eyes closed. I love this place! There is never a lot of people there which I can't understand, the food is great and CHEAP!! Exposed brick, bar with a tv, and comfortable seating inside and out. I've had a variety of things on the menu (filet - $15, risotto, lobster ravioli, pesto mashed potatoes, their appetizer bread is AMAZING!!!) Their specials are always interesting and great. They are always willing to do special orders if you want to mix two dishes in one. The drinks are inexpensive and the staff is very friendly! Brand new place where Amici used to be on Market St in Old City. NIce ambiance with warm lighting. Great waitstaff who knew the menu well and were able to make great suggestions. All small plates and when I say small I mean small. We had six in our group and had to order a million plates to satiate our appetites. I thought the food quality and flavors were excellent. Some standouts included the beet salad, the croquettes, the beef, gnocchi and raviolis (to name just a few). Plates run from roughly $6-$15 so it was a bit on the pricier side when we were all said and done. The total for 6 was $360 including many drinks (lushes!). I would recommend this place and its actually fun to take a larger party to try a bunch of plates, but be prepared to enjoy one or 2 bites of food from each plate. Went there tonight and first I was wondering if it would be good or not because it was quiet for a Saturday night, but it was quiet everywhere in old city anyway... So decided to give it a chance.... And I was
pleasantly surprised... Good price friendly service and the food is more than correct... Didn't choose any extraordinary dish to make a full judgment but what I had was good and fresh. Will go back again. Came her last night for dinner at around 6:00 PM. A couple of tables were occupied but it was early and there were a lot of empty tables as well. We arrived during their happy hour which meant half priced wine. Exposed brick, soft lighting and casual service all added to the comfortable and relaxed feeling of the restaurant. We ordered the black bean salad which came with mixed greens, avocado and corn. The salad was light, refreshing and crisp.
We both ordered the angus burger which was also delicious. Crusty bun with bacon, lettuce and tomatos. The fries were good but a little oily. The burger dish with fries was only $8. That's a great value. The people at the table next to us ordered pizza and their pizza looks good. I will try their pizza the next time I go.
Overall an enjoyable meal and atmosphere. I would go back and recommend it to others This new restaurant surprised me greatly. I went in for dinner and had a number of amazing dishes from the kitchen. Everything was amazing. The dishes just kept flowing from the kitchen.
All the plates are small portions, so you can try so many things on the menu. I would tell you to bring a date or a group of friends, because you'll be able to share all the dishes.
As we were finishing eating, a DJ was setting up in the back of the restaurant, so we decided to stick around and see what was going on. We then turned from food to drink and tried their signature drinks. Once the DJ was set up the place started pumping the music. We stayed and danced all night.
Definitely a great place to bring a date or friends. The food is amazing as is the after-dinner party. BOCCA Restaurant is a cool, trendy NEW restaurant/club in Old City for unique and delicious tapas and drinks. Chef Chris is an artist with his creations and nothing disappoints.
Pricing is reasonable for the extraordinary tapas selections but can add up with drinks (BOCCA offers some excellent wines by the glass and bottle, bottle prices are very appealing for what is offered).
Dine indoors or al fresco while listening to European style house music (DJ on the weekends) This will be the place to be seen this summer as BOCCA continues to evolve.
Enjoy I went for dinner on Saturday night at 8 pm with a party of four. I was worried initially since it wasn't crowded at all, but luckily it turns out that there was nothing to be worried about. The atmosphere is nice, the food was good and came out quickly, and the service was good. The pictures hanging on the wall don't match the rest of the decor, bit it was fun to quiz the guys on what they remembered about the girl aside from the boobs. They also had a $15 bottle of wine and half off pizzas, but we didn't see that special until we left. Check out the specials on the board before you walk in. The prices were very reasonable. I would recommend this place. My friends and I were in search of a tapas bar that wouldn't cost as much as Jose Garces offerings. This seemed to fit the bill, and I like trying new places.
We ended up getting about 8 dishes plus two desserts for three people. Seemed like plenty of food for us.
The food was excellent. Innovative, fresh, beautifully plated. We got raw seafood, veggies, pasta, and meat, all of which were tasty. One dish (pork belly with lentils) was a bit over-seasoned, but still very flavorful. The desserts were kind of lame, so go somewhere else.
Got a bottle of red wine, which was good and not horribly marked up.
My only real complaints were the service. It's a new place, but some of the servers seemed really amateur. One guy who poured the wine tried really hard to be suave about it. He didn't remove the foil correctly, so his tasting pour was messy and foil-tinged. All of his subsequent pours were splashy and we got drops of wine on a couple dishes. This wouldn't have happened at Amada! Also, one of the waitresses had her shirt hiked up exposing her "bullseye" back tattoo. Maybe that could fly at a bar or club. But I won't complain because our other server had cute glasses, which slays me every time.
Brad's rating (out of 5):
Food: 4
Price: 4
Decor: 3
Service: 3
Wild card: Easy to get a table because it's so new. My husband and I went to this new old city find with 2 other couples. We experimented with a wide variety of dishes and each one was better than the last. It is such a fun environment with friendly and knowledgable waitstaff. The food was delicious. We live in the neighborhood and will definitely be back! Drink Special on Wednesday is $3 tap beer, and $5 wine and mixed drinks....so we stopped to get a bite and enjoy the special. They have Guiness and Hoegarden as part of this special which floored me...For food we got the chorizo clams (with the sauce on the side) and their burger.
The clams were excellent, not over cooked or anything. And it was a good enough portion for a appetizer.
The burger came with fries (not a fan, they were soggy) but they use more like an artisan roll for the bun and my brother absolutely loved the burger!
They have about 6 tables outside which is key in the beautiful weather, and their front opens totally up with a couple tables inside, but feels just like sitting outside.
All in all, I think that with the specials and the food that we had, this is a good place to stop in and chill for a bit. Their prices are very reasonable, and the outdoor seating is always a plus. Went last night for happy hour and the appetizer specials. The food was fresh and very well priced. I had been there before almost a year ago, back then I thought the food was great, but I can't say that it was great this time although it was good. The shrimp risotto was made with long grain rice not the Italian arborio that is normal for risotto. The flat bread was good but made with store bought nan or pita instead of a fresh dough product. Arugula salad was very nice with candied walnuts, cranberries, and goat cheese. The chorizo sausage dish was disappointing as it was made with hot Italian sausage. The dish was served with a tomato sauce and sauteed red peppers and a bit on the salty side. I don't think a restaurant shoud substitute a product without a customer knowing about it. Only negative on the service side is there was no one to greet us at the host stand and we sat ourselves. Not likely to go back unless I here/see better reviews. Priced well but I expect to get what is on the menu for all the dishes I order..... THE WORST PLACE I HAVE EVER BEEN TOO in PHILADELPHIA!!!!!!!!! I went to old city for dinner then wanted a night out with friends. We decided to try BOCCA since it was close. WORST MISTAKE.. THE SERVICE was beyond rude. I have never been treated so rudely in my life. If u want a cheap place with a bad smell and rude service then go! I'm pretty surprised at the bad reviews on here b/c I went with a girlfriend last night and it was pretty sweet. I ordered the rib-eye steak (not thick like I expected, but 8oz) and she ordered this pasta-shell dish that I can't decipher since it was in Italian, lol. We also got bread twists with olive oil for dipping, a great appetizing snack!
It was only us there, but I stopped worrying about that after I realized that it was only 6:30PM, which was great b/c our food came out quickly. The food was great! Good price, a wallop of flavor, and FILLING, which is unusual for trendy restaurants that give you sissy portions. It is dressy-casual here, but they're pretty chill.
Our server was Emily, and she was great! Totally not rude and refilled our water often. The boob picture hanging was a little distracting, since we were trying to figure out whether they were real or not, haha.
I'm not sure how it would be later in the evening, but the perks of going early?
- easy to find street parking
- quick & attentive service
- fresh, hot food
It was ~$30 for two people, not bad :D A few friends and I were in search of an outdoor seating area to enjoy the lovely weather and grab a couple beers. Not in the mood to trek far, we decided to check out Bocca. Despite being a large group, the staff was happy to seat us outside on the sidewalk where we basically monopolized most tables. They seem to have a brunch menu until pretty late on Saturday and the food sounded delicious. But what really made me happy was the large selection of $5 drafts (including Guinness!) they were offering, plus specials on well drinks, bloody marys, and mimosas. I'm glad I found this place! Wanted to watch Phillies game so looked in neighborhood for place with a television. This place was dead but looked like nice environment and recommended by fellow yelpers (although not recently).
Asked waitress what was light and healthy. She recommended the blackened salmon. It was awful. It was a supermarket type salmon steak coated with cayenne peper. Boring. Hope the fish was fresh and I don't get sick.
Served with broccolli spears. COATED with butter and red peper flakes. Healthy? I think not.
Did not offer me water. Asked for it after my quick bites. The water was not drinkable. Tasted like rusty metal.
Bad experience. Shut the doors.
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name: C'est La Vie French Bakery, address: 20 S Main St, city: New Hope, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: Food, Cafes, Restaurants, Bakeries, text: Delicious but pricy, hidden in an alley you find this great coffee place. Pastries are awesome but pricy but tast great We came here by recommendation of quite a few friends. It is a bakery/pastry shop with bread, baguettes, muffins, quiches, croissants (regular, almond, ham & cheese), eclairs, coffee, hot chocolate, cappuccino, etc.
I had an almond croissant which was really flaky and tasty. I also had a cappuccino.
It is hard to find if you don't know where it is. You have to take a little alley street between a few shops to get to C'est La Vie. The parking lot only has about 3-4 spots and the pastry shop has a metal wire Eiffel Tower in front of it.
I'm not really a breakfast type of person, but I'd go back the next time I'm in or passing through New Hope.
They have a few small tables indoors. Don't remember if any outdoors. With restaurants charging an arm and a leg for dessert, skip it and head right to this bakery after your meal is over. You won't be disappointed. The prices are pretty good and the baked goods themselves are always fresh and delicious. Whether you want a bread to take home, gourmet coffee, or a luscious dessert or pastry to satisfy your sweet tooth, they have it. Not to mention a nice seating area with a view of the river. A relaxing spot to enjoy your dessert. This place is kind of hidden behind the street toward the water. At least there's a sign from the street telling you that. It's less than a block from the Starbuck's, which is right across the street from the Dunkin' so go here instead and support the local economy, people. Plus they have outdoor seating.
The espresso is delicious. I'm pretty sure it's Lavazza. The chocolate mousse inside the edible espresso shaped chocolate mug was not so delicious. Neither the mousse nor the chocolate tasted fresh. The raspberry tulip, however, was fantastic. What was not fantastic was the attitude on one of the cashiers who got snarky with the customer ahead of us who was just trying to be nice by offering to have the cashier cash us out while he was still deciding.
Also not fantastic is the fact that they're cash only. It's 2016. Come on. C'est la vie. It's a lovely spot by the river. But the service wasn't great and the croissants were soggy. Coffee mediocre. No discerning Frenchman would serve an almond croissant that sweet or soggy. This is an American's idea of French food, rather than French food in America. We purchased several pastries this morning. First being a choc almond croissant. It looked amazing nice and crispy on top but it was deceiving. It was way undercooked and very soggy. Not good when it sags over when you pick it up. We purchased a kiwi strawberry tart. It was lacking filling. Macaroon was a little dry just okay. The napoleon was okay not a bad taste but needed more filling. All and all I wish I stuck toy diet. I was so excited to come, and try this French bakery, since i was hoping to find the wonderful baked goods i tasted in Paris. While they were not quite Paris quality items, they were much much better than grocery store items. The Almond Croissant was absolutely delicious (soft, sweet and full of almond paste), perfect with a cafe au lait. The major downer for us, was they are a cash only business, so we had to come back later in the day to purchase some baked goods, cause we needed to make sure we had enough cash on hand. Took home a few rolls, a tiny sourdough baguette and a Madeline. The Madeline was fluffy, simple and yummy. There was nothing special about the rolls, but they were the perfect size (larger than a golf ball but smaller than a baseball), and we have yet to sample the sourdough baguette. Will be visiting again next time we are in town to take some things home. Wonderful coffee, service, and the crumb cake is excellent!
Also the view along the river is great. It's a cozy little spot worth checking out, hidden away on Main Street. For having French bakery as its main selling point , I felt like it really fell flat.
We just got a croissant and coffee. The coffee was eh and the croissant wasn't that flakey and not nearly enough buttery.
Had it just been a regular old bakery I wouldn't have thought much of it - but I expected more. Absolutely delicious chocolate almond croissants and treats that melt in your mouth- I've never had better and I've had a lot. This is a first class bakery w a river view! Cash only so be ready! I have been fortunate enough to be in Paris for 5 weeks this past year ! I am a search for a really good boulangerie/pateisserie (bakery/pasty shop) for a long time; unfortunately, my first visit to C'est La Vie,the baguette was stale, and basically tasteless, and although the pain au chocolate was pretty good, it's just not the same as these Parisian establishments. I give it a B minus....and the help did NOT speak French....I tried ! must have been the 'weekend help'. Maybe the stale bread I bought on Sunday was made on Friday ! you gotta make fresh bread EVERYDAY ! An Artisan boulanger in Paris told me its all in the flour and the water, that makes the bread ! The Napoleon is really good. It is buttery and flaky. The cream filling is luscious but the dessert still feels like a fun treat. You have to pick layers up with your fingers unless you want pastry flakes everywhere except in your mouth.
I get it every time I visit. Thankfully I only drop by 4 times a year.
They have a huge variety of pastries. They make one that's in an edible chocolate cup. This place gets 5 stars because they sell Orangina and it's extremely hard to find Orangina anywhere else! Also, it's unique and an adorable bakery. Truly French. I've been here a few times and it's always been awesome! Wonderful little French bakery within sight of the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge; with a cup of coffee and a croissant, you couldn't ask for a better start to your day.
Run by a French baker, his wife and their German shepherd romping in the parking lot, on occasion. One of the few things in New Hope that has not completely turned into a tourist trap. Stopped here on a date for a croissant and a cup of coffee...what a mistake. One would think that the person making the coffee would be skilled in doing so. The coffee was bad and her customer service skills were even worse.
The worker (short, young, dark hair) was unapologetic that we were dissatisfied and made no effort to rectify the situation. She has two jobs...to make coffee and to be pleasant! She failed at both and had a major crappy attitude! She acted as if it was our fault for wanting the coffee with all foam, no milk. How hard is that??
The croissant was okay, but it did have more personality than she did. A quaint and little cafe/bakery, an array of home style french pastries.
One can't help but think fondly of times past when small towns were self sustaining. When people knew how do things for themselves, and do them well. A time before fast food, a time without microwaves and instant noodles. I want to say that I love this place for the wonderful food and warm atmosphere, which I do. More so, however I love it because it reminds me of a better time. I reminds me of being a child, walking to the bakery three doors down, where the baker knew my name and he knew my favorite treat. The bakery in america is dying, and the art along with it, giving way to wonder bread and tasty cakes and all the like. So I say take yourself and your children for a treat at a place where you can see the ingredients go into your food, you can see the hands that prepared it. This place is a treasure and it should be treated as such, long live the bakery, and all that it stands for. The best hidden gem in New Hope!! Authentic French pastries, breads and desserts. I go and get a ham and Swiss baguette, and a French macaroon!!! Delish! I've gotten special occasion cakes or tarts there and they do not disappoint! Friendly service, great food, good prices! Cash only I believe?! I bake my own bread with some frequency and consider myself an experienced amateur baker. The bread here is amazing in every way. The crust is perfectly crisp, while the interior has a soft, fluffy crumb. There is a touch of sourness. The pain d'epi (i.e. The one that looks like a stalk of wheat) is beautifully proportioned. I bought a baguette for $3.60. I ate over half before I got home! Quaint little shop just off the main road.
Nice selection of coffee and pastries..
You can sit outside in the balcony overlooking the Delaware. Delicious treats! Love the people there. If you've never been, I highly recommend giving it a try. The Quiches and croissants are to die for! We got several items for Christmas here a Yule log cake chocolate with hazelnut everyone thought was fabulous and an apple tartan and Christmas cookies for the kids oh and a dozen croissants half chocolate and half almond and one cinnamon pastry. Everything was so fresh and tasty.
Recently I picked up plain croissants for work and all my coworkers commented on how light and buttery they were and asked where to get them.
Just yesterday my husband and I got a lemon pastry DELICIOUS and a pistachio horn also very yummy.
We live two blocks away and love this little gem. This is a little gem in New Hope hidden down an alley just off of Bridge Street. It is a favorite place of mine for delicious authentic French pastries and coffee in a beautiful secluded area with seating near the river. Please don't tell your friends about this place, I want it to remain a little hidden gem for those in the know. When you're in new hope, this is the place to have a great coffee and a morning pastry My folks were visiting from South America and I decided to take them on a visit to new hope. We followed the reviews as usual but ended up really disappointed at this place. We spent over $40 trying different pastries and none of them were any good, and certainly not exceptional. Also, overpriced and not "French". There are other, better, options, walk around and you will find them. Stopped in to sample. Set off the main road, on the river, you probably walked by several times. Got a couple cookies and a danish. Very tasty! We really enjoyed breakfast here. Excellent coffee, great pastries and a nice outdoor seating. The chocolate mousse was a hit with the kids. Solid construction of the sweets! The cheesecake cone is a bit to sweet I had to peel it off a bit to enjoy the great taste of the cheesecake, if it was half of the amount would be perfect! My mom and I made the mistake of stopping by right after lunch! We ended up buying pastries for breakfast for the following day. But we did get drinks, which we enjoyed in the terrace area.
The shop is located off the main road; you have to walk through the alley next to Moo Hope Ice Cream to get there. It's dimly lit with French-themed decoration, but the pastry case looks amazing! They have a wide range of sweets, including croissants, macaroons, and more. We went with apple tartelettes and chocolate croissants. Even though we ate them the next morning at room temperature, they were delicious. The apple tartelette crust had a hint of almond flavor which went beautifully with the tart apple flavor. The chocolate croissant looked like it was filled with chocolate chips, but the sweetness level was just right and the croissant was flaky and soft.
As for drinks, my mom got coffee, which she enjoyed. I got the iced chai, which I wasn't as impressed with. It came as a latte of sorts, heavily flavored and sweetened. Not my kind of drink. However, the terrace area affords a nice view of the Delaware.
I can't wait to go back to taste some other pastries fresh!
Note: cash only! Very disappointing. I had been craving a French flan forever when I went there, and it was dry and bland. Things definitely look much better than they taste, sadly! Great pastry selection. Nice indoor and outdoor seating... come here for the food. Its a nice treat just off the crowded streets of New Hope This place is totes adorbs. I really love sitting outside with a cup of coffee and a pastry near the beautiful Delaware River. It's so fun to stop here, grab a coffee, and walk around New Hope. We moved here several years ago, and decided to check the bakery out for a snack. What we found was one of my favorite places to eat in town. The chef is a master when it comes to pastries. My all time favorite is the chocolate almond croissant. It is sweet and flaky, but not too heavy. Another favorite are the brioches. They are creamy and the bread adds crunch. Definitely a must see for any tourists or locals. I seriously can't believe that anyone has anything bad to say about this place. Their pastries are art. Everything they create is unbelievably good. Despite the fact that the pastries here are incredibly amazing, I am stuck giving a 3 star review for two reasons: 1) the place is ridiculously small, with too many tables crammed into it. If you do manage to obtain seating, you will not feel comfortable anyway. 2) They only take cash. I could understand a minimum charge of $10 or something, but honestly, in this day and age cash-only is just effing obnoxious. Seriously, such an inconvenience.
That all said, god those pastries. They are amazing. Bring cash and get it to go, and you'll be fat and happy. Very stale and poorly made pastries. I have stopped in a number of times over the past few years, hoping it would be better. Not yet. They look good, but always disappoint when you actually try to consume them. I've ended up throwing most items out. Remarkable
My wife and I went for a cappuccino and dessert after walking along the canal. Wow. Every dessert looked fabulous. We settled on a raspberry tart that was to die for. The cappuccino was perfect. And if that wasn't enough: The place is adorable. Cozy, at the end of an alleyway that dead ends at the river. We. Will. Be. Back! I really wanted to like this place because the location is really great. I thought it could be my hidden little gem. But, if the truth be told I have to say it has been a disappointment the two times I have been there. My first and second experiences were exactly the same so I will just share one. The help is very unfriendly and it is as though you are bothering them when you ask a question. Because they only take cash, I had to dig my change purse out and the women was staring at me as though I was really rocking her world with how long I was taking. Next my chocolate ganache cake was old. Plan and simple, old has been sitting in the case way past it's freshness. Gross. Needless to say I will not be going back. Delicious French macarons but they're cash only so we spent less than we would if they accepted cards. I'm a big fan. Always stop here when I'm in New Hope. My favs are the Apple and Pear Tarts and Eclairs.
Nice little seating area outside. My sister-in-law bought some sourdough bread, which we've yet to try. I was going to buy some cookies, but one of the employees made it seem like it was so inconvenient for her to answer my *one* question that I decided to pass. Customer service counts, people - maybe trying too hard to emulate the French? Super cute place, though. Hopefully the sourdough is good. Three stars for quaint location and promising looking pastries. Still, I wouldn't go back. Hate being treated like a nuisance. This is tucked away toward the river. If you are in the mood for a french pastry be on the lookout for the signs posted for the bakery. There is a lot of discussion whether this is truly a french bakery. Honestly, I don't know. What I do know is that i make a point to go to every bakery in every town i go to and this place wasn't delicious. I tried three pastries and all were passable but just didn't have the flaky butteriness I personally enjoy in a french bakery. My husband and I love this bakery. They're sort of hidden down an alley but that means free parking! You can sit outside near the river or enjoy the small inside seating area but come early. I recommend the chocolate and chocolate almond croissants, the creme brûlée, the raspberry tart and a steaming coffee or espresso. Such a fun place! The bakery is very small inside but it was nice so we were able to sit outside. The desserts were very good. The service was quick. Would definitely go back. We loved the coconut flan. A few years ago on one of my many trips to New Hope I decided to stop along the water and come to this little French bakery that sits along the Delaware River. It was pouring rain and we decided 2 try to find this place again because the last time we were in New Hope it was closed due to the storm damage and flooding I was hoping this time around it wouldn't be close because I remember the wonderful taste of the French baguette slightly toasted with butter and I dreamed of this place for months luckily it was open and my husband and I purchased a few cappuccinos as well as a banana creampie with chocolate ganache that was to die for it is a quaint little spot very romantic and the staff is friendly Great pastries, service and pricing! Cozy atmosphere. Loved the pistachio roll and praline crime filled pastries. Horrible Coffee, Horrible Service
ordered my cappuccino with only foam, no milke poured in and I guess those instructions were to complex for the girl working there. when I complained was unapologetic and didn't care. I ended up giving her the coffee back as it was just a blob of overheated coffee with milk.
the croissant was slightly soggy which didn't help them perspective of the place either. Very precious little cafe tucked away behind the ice cream shop in New Hope. Great for breakfast items and desserts, although I wish I saw more savory opens for the morning. Their pastries and confections looked great though...
I got the ham and cheese croissant and it was light, flaky, savory and delicious. I was kind of wishing for a little dijon in there, but maybe that isn't traditional. The guy that owns the place speaks with a real live large and in charge french accent, so I am assuming that I'm getting relatively authentic baked goods...
There is a cute little patio available for patrons to sit and enjoy their goodies, and it has a nice view of the river. Next time I think I'll try the coffee here... if it's good, that might make it five stars for me :) Cute, private location. The coffee is 5 stars but I was full from lunch and had zero room for their delicious looking treats! I can't wait to go back. Some of the best coffee I've ever had. Pastry heaven. As usual, my husband and I tried many of the house specialties. We bought a French country bread (wonderful), chocolate and almond croissants, and multiple sweets (raspberry tulip, strawberry mousse cake, a chocolate walnut cookie, and a wild berry custard/cheese cake). The almond croissant was undercooked and rather greasy, but still had great flavor. The chocolate walnut cookie was a bit dry. All of the other pastries and cakes were quite good. Will try more during our next visit. Coffee was average, will not be ordering it again at this location. A woman standing in line informed me that the strapping, burly French pastry chef who owns the store (and was working that day) had prepared sweets for the Reagan inauguration. Fancy schmancy! This bakery came highly recommended for it's Bushe Noel cake . I drove an hour for it . When I got there it's a very cute bakery. I didn't know the price of the cake. 47.00 bucks?! It must be the best cake for that price.......NOT!!!! It had no taste! I would have been better off with little Debby Swiss cake rolls! I don't know how they get away with it .....but I would never get it again. Best raisin Danish I've ever had! Filled with golden raisins and a nice custard. For the Danish and small coffee it only cost $4.40. Staff was friendly too! Everything I had at this bakery was fantastic. Not too sweet, but delicate and just perfect! I highly recommend the chocolate orange roulade and fruit tarts. I can't wait to go back! Overrated. So-so coffee and baked goods. In this day and age not taking credit cards is really unacceptable. i will litterally drive anywhere for a good bakery and Hunterdon County doens't have a single one. I was thrilled to find this just over the river. The croissants are amazing and many of the little pastries are fantastic. We also usually get the bagette with ham and swiss which is authentic and tasty. This truly is the best French bakery I have every been (I have been to some fantastic bakeries in Denmark and never thought I couild find others to rival it) I've been to this small hidden cafe several times and have had a great experience every time. The pastries are fresh and world class. The staff is friendly and helpful. The coffee is great. And the patio has a beautiful view of the Delaware River. While it is a bit pricey, you get fresh, high-quality baked goods and coffee in return (with a great view). I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys European-style pastry or a fresh cup of good coffee/tea. I tried this place 3 times and each time the pastry was greasy. They did have outdoor seating but it was raining. I doubt I would return.... Hubby was in New Hope today and brought back an assortment of colorful macarons. They are the strangest looking macarons I've ever seen, with puffy, crumbly round tops. They are supposed to be flat and smooth, with feet on the bottom. The consistency was too chewy. I felt bad because hubby was trying to be nice and thoughtful... At least now I feel better about the macarons I've attempted to bake in the past! My mom and I made the mistake of stopping by right after lunch! We ended up buying pastries for breakfast for the following day. But we did get drinks, which we enjoyed in the terrace area.
The shop is located off the main road; you have to walk through the alley next to Moo Hope Ice Cream to get there. It's dimly lit with French-themed decoration, but the pastry case looks amazing! They have a wide range of sweets, including croissants, macaroons, and more. We went with apple tartelettes and chocolate croissants. Even though we ate them the next morning at room temperature, they were delicious. The apple tartelette crust had a hint of almond flavor which went beautifully with the tart apple flavor. The chocolate croissant looked like it was filled with chocolate chips, but the sweetness level was just right and the croissant was flaky and soft.
As for drinks, my mom got coffee, which she enjoyed. I got the iced chai, which I wasn't as impressed with. It came as a latte of sorts, heavily flavored and sweetened. Not my kind of drink. However, the terrace area affords a nice view of the Delaware.
The people working there were friendly and patient as we deliberated what to get.
I can't wait to go back to taste some other pastries fresh!
Note: cash only! Absolutely love this place. I show up early on mornings a few minutes before they open and everything is hot out of the oven and always fresh. So many options and they change every day--the sign of a great bakery! Best almond croissants anywhere; takes me back to Paris. The owners are so nice and it's just the perfect little cozy bakery. This morning I had the raspberry jam and cheese Danish and I swear it changed my life. Don't think twice about stopping in--even if it's just to take in the delicious smell of butter, sugar, and coffee. My and my wife visit the place every time when we are in New Hope. It is just a wonderful warm spot compared to overrun restaurants of the Main street.
The main thing is that you don't have to sit down for an hour. You can pick your snack and coffee and then go eat it overlooking the Delaware. Very authentic (and you're hearing it from a native French) and very friendly! I always stop here when I am in New Hope.... and they also speak French! Yummy little bakery that is hidden a bit from the main drag in New Hope. Went here after lunch for something sweet with my friend. Upon arriving into the little bakery, you're greeted with a bakery case chocked filled with all sorts of French pastries and goodies. It was hard to choose something, but I went with the cream horn, my friend had an almond croissant. They also had some samples of a bread-pudding type of dessert. Since it was right before Christmas, they also had beautiful buche de noel cakes! Maybe next year I will have to pick one up, they were absolutely gorgeous.
There are several tables to sit and enjoy your treats, as well as French comic books and such to browse through. I loved baked goods and this place fulfilled my croissant and napoleon cravings. Great goods and reasonably priced. Probably the cutest little Parisian bakery ever! The view of the river is absolutely gorgeous, the apple turnover was delicious and my Americano was spot on. It's just a cozy little spot tucked away in an adorable town. It makes me really sad that I can't live here forever. A friend told us about this place. We've been to New Hope many times and would have never found it since it's down an alley off of Main St. (20 S. Main St.) Don't let the uninviting outside put you off.
Wait until you get inside and see the goodies! A feast for the eyes & palate Yum! Yum! Another plus is that they have French music playing softly in the background.
(Thank goodness they haven't given in to musak or 'pop' radio......that would ruin it.)
We've been there several times and are always amazed at the varied of French pastries that they bake. (see photos).
Oh, in the summer, there is a small outside area where you can sit.
I had the Gateau Peche (Peach cake) and it was luscious. Lots of variety and something delicious for any dessert/pastry lover.
I'd give it five stars if they had real cups and plates instead of paper. However, that won't stop us from going there every time we're in the New Hope area! Great little French cafe along the Delaware River down an alley off Main Street. Excellent cappuccino and latte! Great croissant and mini-tarts! Very friendly counter help. We will be back. Maybe I've been spoiled with some excellent Main Line/Philly French patisseries and boulangeries.... I read a review that swore C'est La Vie was "better than Paris" so upon a recent day trip to New Hope and Lambertville we stopped in for coffee and croissants. I should have known by the sheer weight of the chocolate croissant that something was amiss. It was heavy, dense and as someone else mentioned, a bit greasy. My cafe au lait was ridiculously strong in the bitter way, not the yummy buzzy way. Also they were out of half and half for coffee. The woman behind the counter and the younger girls helping out were nice enough but the products were underwhelming to say the least. Great little bakery in the middle of town. Was worried that the baguettes were props as they looked too perfect. They were perfect. And real. French Pastries. Fresh Baguette. What more could you ask for. And the owner IS French. I love this little French bakery. I used to visit it a lot back in the day but then forgot about it. Recently, I wanted to pick up some pastries for a meeting. At 7:30, very freshly baked goodies came right out of the oven and into my bag. I got 10 assorted pastries, from danish to croissant and all were excellent! I received a lot of compliments.
Their french macarons are not the best, but hey, you can't be perfect.
Overall, I highly recommend. A quaint cozy French pastry and bakery store located next to the Bucks County Playhouse. There are so many items to choose from. I have only tried the chocolate chip cookies and the almond macaroons. The chocolate chip cookies are huge and slam-packed with chocolate chip/chunk goodness! The almond macaroons taste so good and are a perfect, light snack. The prices are a bit high, but well worth it! We were in town to visit Washington Crossing, which is where George Washington crossed the Delaware River oh-way-back-when. We wandered into New Hope hoping to find something decent and American-y to eat...and everything that fell into that category, during the lunch hour, was in the double-digits.
We kept looking but didn't go too far. I saw this French bakery and cafe and since they advertised sandwiches, went on in!
I had half a baguette (yes, a whole half, but you can always save what you don't eat for later) with mustard, ham and swiss. It was very very good. We had coffee with a little milk and sugar (that is, I did...in America, it's a must, for my palate.).
We tried two of the desserts. Meringue and a macaroon. Get it? We were searching for things that were not so sweet. Oh well. The meringue was inCREDIBLy sweet and the macaroon was overly sweet. That could be just my tastebuds screaming, but those who don't need sweet, take note.
Aside from that, we had a nice chat with the proprietor before we left, talking about typical French cafe/bistro fare. We left, our stomachs satisfied and delighting in the simple fare. We were not overly full with heavy and hearty American food. Thank goodness for C'est La Vie! Was just so so. Got the raspberry cheese Danish and the is less cheese on it than in the pic that someone has posted. If you like bread it was OK. Peach tart was also just so so. I prefer bucks County ice cream and espresso bar. Amazing French bakery in New Hope! I did a bit of research on Yelp since I was trying to find a bakery to take my mom to. This place got a lot of great reviews and I did not mind the 1 hour drive just to make my mom happy. All of their baked goods are made fresh everyday. I love and support businesses like these. We got a lot of goodies- probably around 5-6 different pastries, a baguette, a cookie, something savory, a latte and an americano. Honestly you can taste how fresh everything is. 10/10 for this place. I will be coming back again and again ! C'est La Vie is a French Cafe hidden down a side street by Gerense'rs Exotic Ice Cream. Sitting down a "secret" alleyway gives it a refreshing "take a break" feel in which you can escape the tourism!!
There's seating inside and out (but like most places the outside seating isn't that nice but does the job). The selection of pastries stands above average. If you like variety go here.
As far as the taste everything tasted good as we tried four different things.
The pastry names are all very hard to pronounce, and in this case....remember. I had something coffee flavored which is good- that's all I can remember. Most of the pastries were on the lighter side which doesn't mean much for flavor but does for walking around town afterwords! A pronunciation note on each pastry sign would set this place above the rest.
As far as Coffee I'm assuming this is one thing C'est is lacking. If you read other reviewers they seem to agree. I'm sure the coffee is decent but yet who needs great coffee when you are eating something so sweet? A local brand would be nice.
Overall this place stands out because it is a nice little off the beaten path break station, which has new-to-the-tongue and classic pastries for your sugar rush.
They don't accept cards!! Oh my lawd. I first came here after a long bike ride along the Delaware River canal and I was looking for something to snack on. I'm a fan of French cuisine, and the croissant was so flakey, buttery, airy, pillow, fluffy, rich, delicious... look, this was probably my first 'real' croissant because I now judge *every single croissant* I have against the croissants I get from here. It's that good. If you need some authentic French bakery goods, COME HERE. You won't be disappointed, and if you are? C'est la vie. The pastry and bread have gone way down hill. The chocolate cake taste of pure sugar and no cocoa. I was truly disappointed. The setting is nice but you can certainly find better offerings. Best pastries in the land. We always grab the croissants and lovely cakes and pies for guests and holidays. This bakery is such a cherished spot for New Hope. After diner we walked to get desert. I remember passing this place and thought..ooooh la-la. a french bakery, can't wait to try. We arrive inside and boy was it steaming hot in there. I thought great. ovens been on all day, fresh made deserts, this has to be good. I got a cream cheese mousse cake and a grand marnier chocolate mousse cake. We took a couple bites and the texture was thick and gummy. nothing smooth about it. W e were highly disappointed. I was going to complain but thought had another thought. that was $10 well spent to know not to ever go back. First time I've ever been inspired to give one star. In addition to no one liking their overly priced macarons, I ordered a decaf iced coffee and what I received tasted like water. I had my daughter taste it as well and she agreed. I brought it back to the counter and the guy (who seemed like the owner) was annoyed, but proceeded to redo my coffee from the exact same pot. I said "I don't see how that is going to taste any different, something is wrong with it." It tasted the exact same. I said, "never mind, can i just have my money back" and he flat out said "no." NO? What kind of place gives you something that isn't even close to what it should be and proceeds to deny a customer $2.50? Hope this poor review was worth it. Very rude employees. I've had better pastries from Walmart. Plenty of other good options in New Hope. Great little hidden bakery in New Hope! Was my first trip to New Hope and I love trying new bakeries since I myself am a fairly new pastry chef wanting to see what's out there in the world and learn new things! My sister insisted that I try the apple cranberry tart and I'm glad I did! It was layered with thin apples, fresh cranberries and streusel. I can't even express how much I loved the crust (and I'm not a big crust person!). I dream of making a crust that is even close to being as good. I also had a ham and cheese croissant while we were there and the croissant dough was just soft, buttery and delightful. We ended up going back before we left for the day and I got a piece of onion tort, mango mousse and Cafe Religieuse which I learned from one of the owners means Nun in English! Everyone was extremely friendly and Helpful. I look forward to returning and trying more delicious pastries! Authentic French pastry. Superb quality. Whenever I visit Lambertville for a few days, I make a special trip to go to this bakery at least twice. Highly recommended. We love bringing an assortment of these lovely desserts to dinners with friends and family. Parking in New Hope can be tricky sometimes but worth the effort. stopped in today and got a cookie, macarons, and a mini fruit tart. every single item was absolutely amazing and the baker's wife who assisted us was incredibly kind and helpful . we will definitely be back because this is the best bakery we've found in a long time. We came by for a snack before seeing a play down the street. You need to walk off main street down a driveway to the little bakery on the river. there are al fresco tables, covered, and a few small tables inside.
We got espresso and bakery items. Chocolate almond croissant and a baguette. Both were delicious. All baking done on premises. The staff are friendly and accommodating.
We paid with VISA. I guess they got a credit card machine recently as some of the other reviewers said cash only. You can pay with credit.
We come to New Hope regularly for some reason we have never stopped in here. It is definitely worth a stop and believe it will be our regular coffee stop in town from now on.
Mark & Nancy. I ordered a turkey and bechamel sauce croissant. Asked the lady serving me what their bechamel sauce was, she didn't know, but said it was white. She gave me a ham & cheese croissant (by mistake) and because the croissant are closed, I didn't find out until I took a bite. I am allergic to pork. Luckily I realized immediately I wasn't eating turkey and spit-out the ham and cheese bite. This could have been a DANGEROUS mistake on their part. I was told by the rest of my party the pastries were very good. I've tried this place on a few occasions, each time hoping it'd be better. Alas, it's consistently bad. Stale éclairs with a "cream" that has a coagulated texture, macarons that looked so dry I didn't even bother trying them. To call this a French bakery is an insult to the French! A locally owned, hidden, authentic french bakery. The people are kind and hardworking, creating a lovely environment to sit and enjoy coffee. My personal favorite pastry is their cheese danish. It's very unique compared to the average cheese danish you would find anywhere else. My family enjoys their sandwiches; ham, bri, and mustard on baguette is their favorite! In addition their almond croissant is outstanding!! Everything is made by hand as you can see them making everything fresh in the back! A lovely place that everyone should support Stopped in for a lighter breakfast of some nice french pastries. Very nice people working here, helpful with suggestions and service. Cool little outside dining area.
We had the crumb cake, which was pretty solid. A raisin danish which was light, sweet, and delicious.
And a pistachio horn, kind of like a sticky honey brittle with pistachio cream inside. Very sweet, but very good.
We will be back. Cute little French bakery along the DR. 2nd time here. Pastries were very good. Everything is baked on the premises. We ordered the Palmier, almond croissant and sugar cookie. All were very good and so was the service. It was too cold to sit outside this time but they have a patio overlooking the river for warmer days. The inside is small but quaint with French music playing in the background. Will be back again, I'm sure. Decent bakery hidden in a small nook behind an ice cream shop. They have a nice outdoor seating area with a view of the Delaware river but obstructed by a fence.
I had palmier and peach iced tea. No complaints as both were delicious. Staff was friendly and I recommend this place for a quick snack. Stale and old tasting pastries. We had the raspberry mousee cake and the fruit torte - horrible!!!Do not waste your time going here!! Best bakery in New Hope. Bakery and coffee are excellent, staff is very friendly and helpful. Croissants are very good. Not east to find but worth the effort, bring cash. When I walked in, they greeted me with such positive and joyful attitudes! I ordered a smorgasbord of goodies for a party. Everything was delicious. I know because I sampled everything. Haha I couldn't resist. I will definitely be back. [Review in English below]
Bonne boulangerie dans un petit coin perdu. Les pâtisseries classiques sont au rendez vous.
Le millefeuille était un peu décevant car congelé et une crème vraiment pas top ! mais l'endroit vaut le détour. La décoration vous ferez presque penser que vous êtes en France ! Un fan du Paris saint germain assurément.
P.S.: Vue improbable sur la rivière à la frontière NJ /Pennsylvania
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Good bakery in a little hidden corner. They have the classic pastries here. The millefeuille was a bit disappointing because it was frozen and the cream was not that great. But it's a place that's worth the detour. The decor will almost make you think you're in France! (They are definitely a fan of Paris soccer club Saint Germain.)
P.S. Nice little view of the river at the NJ / PA border Nice, quaint little bakery on Delaware. Area to sit outside and enjoy your pastries. Good array of baked goods. Very dog-friendly as well. A great place to walk the dogs and get a snack! Croissants and baguettes are incredible. Try every flavor croissant. You will be pleased. This place is authentic and awesome! Cute little french bakery down an alley, an you can sit in a little patio overlooking the water. They have a lot of dessert options and coffee. The decision was so hard to make, but I finally settled on the berry mousse cake. It was so sweet, fluffy, buttery, berry and soft. Not for those who don't like frosting! It was like a little cake with a ton of butter cream, which I love, but may not be for everyone. Also, the almond cookies were so good and buttery. Great place to top of your visit to New Hope. All desserts were $2-$4. I went here expecting flaky, buttery, rich French pastries... the brioche was dry, the almond croissant was dense and wet (undercooked?) so that I couldn't tell the pasty apart from the almond paste.
Prices weren't bad though, so at least I didn't waste too much money on my mediocre dessert.
There's nothing remarkable here. Just go get an ice cream cone next door. First came here in 2007. Sat outside overlooking the Delaware River. Wonderful time, great memories. Fast forward 12 years, a second visit corroborated my fond memories. Delicious cream puff (light, perfectly sweetened), amazing chocolate almond croissant. Luv it! 5 stars! used to come here every time we were in New Hope. We regularly told all our friends and clients to go here. We've spent hundreds of dollars and sent dozens of people here on recommendation. We also live an hour away and only make it in the area when we're working so it's a much anticipated treat for us to stop there every 4 or so weeks.
My husband stopped by today, waited in line for almost 10 minutes outside, only to be told at the register they stopped making sandwiches at 3:30 and it was 3:38.
Instead of valuing his time spent waiting and offering him that information for future reference, since clearly he was there in line at 3:30 and unaware he was wasting his time waiting for something, they stopped serving while he was in line. When my husband explained that to the cashier they were ready to make the sandwich for him, then an older person (female/60's) stepped in and stopped it. When my husband explained again that he was there, waiting in line and had driven an hour to get there, their response was.... oh well. She was Incredibly rude about it too
I looked up my transactions, from the last time I was recently there, it was just after 3:30pm and I got a sandwich. Maybe I walked in at 3:29. I really love inconsistent applications of a seemingly discretionary (and arbitrary) "policy".
They also have no website, a terrible Facebook page and no where is the 3:30 deadline communicated, that we could find easily as customer traveling there. Another reason they should give people the benefit of the doubt.
At the end of the day, It's fine if they want to take that stance. That's their choice as a business. Just like it's our choice to not give them any more of our time, money, or referrals ever again. Tried this place a couple of times, the bakeries themselves were nothing special, the croissant tasted just like any from other bakeries. What's disappointing is their cookies are so "hard" and old, maybe stale is the word. Seems those cookies have been sitting there for some days. The icing on the cookie was like rocks or crystals, super hardened. My 5 year old daughter was so upset because her teeth could handle such hardened icing. We ended up throwing away the $4 cookie. I wanted to love this little bakery by the river in middle of New Hope, but unfortunately the items I tried here were disappointing. On the plus side, service was very friendly - everyone I interacted with was genuinely nice, and they were offering some samples outside the bakery. The location by the river is also lovely, and there is a nice outside seating area. They also accept credit cards now.
I tried the mango mousse and the clafoutis, which were $5.50 each. The mousse was ok, very light and not too sweet, but the sponge beneath was more like a grainy wet cookie. The custard portion of the clafoutis was ok - very eggy and barely sweet - but I didn't like the tough crust underneath or the very bright and artificial cherries. I hope these two are exceptions and that the rest of the large selection is better, but I don't think I'll be stopping by again the next time I'm in the area. Good I would go back lots of choices.
I got my favorite the Napoleon and it was pretty good. My sisters devoured it.
Again large selection , I would try a croissant next visit I so love French pastry and think we need one in our area. The ambiance and the location is great.
However the croissants served at this establishment are mushy , oily and not crispy at all.
My husband got very sick from the pear tart we bought.
I wish the owner would do a really good French patisserie with fresh ingredients made by an experienced French pastry chef, however, that is not the case at this place. I never even knew this place existed in new hope! Off the beaten path near the river this was a delicious treat! I got something filled with nutella and a macaroon and both were delicious! Ill be back! I just simply love this place. Thought it was time for an update after my 3rd or 4th visit.
Yes, they are cash only. Not a problem if you know ahead of time, but if they took credit I think they could make a bunch more money.
They have both indoor and outdoor seating, in nice weather the outdoor patio is lovely.
Amazing selection, though I go right for the savories. I do tend to wonder with the non refrigerated case about freshness, I have never had an issue with the savory options. I tend to buy a bunch and just keep them cold till I eat them. All delicious, can't go wrong. I do gravitate to the mushroom and the veggie beshemel. So fluffy, buttery and rich.
I was not a fan of the brioche, they looked like puffy pop overs but are far from it. But hey, not everyone will like everything!
This is my favorite stop on visits to the area. Try it. So worth it. Definitely worth the walk from whoever you have to park! Easy to find if you're walking, down a little back alleyway to a small bakery. Inside is also small but there's a lot of fresh deliciousness to choose from! There's a few savories you can get right t from the displays; I ended up with a yummy Brie-in-puff pastry and a plain croissant. But there's plenty for the sweet tooth; I also walked away with a cream puff, a small custard brioche, and a fruit tartlet. Littles can find something as well so it's a nice place for everyone. It's got some tasty coffee and barista choices, if you don't wanna brave the Dunkin or Starbucks nearby. Very easy on the wallet, so you won't spend much on some really delicious baked goods that didn't come from a chain menu. 7 baked goods and 1 small coffee for $36 which is what I'd pay back home at a local bakery like this. Great find in New Hope! My husband and I make a point to stop at this bakery whenever we visit New Hope. On our last visit, we were disappointed: my eclair was stale to the point where the chocolate flaked off and you could do knock-knock jokes on the pastry shell. My husband's Grand Marnier cake slice was no better. Maybe they should bake fewer types of pastries to ensure what they do sell is fresh. They have the best quiche and croissant ham and cheese sandwiches! Don't overlook them just because if the gorgeous dessert case. Take some bread home with you. Drink a fancy coffee outside in their covered area by the river. Folks who work there are lovely. There's no parking, but more than likely you'll only find this place on foot anyway. WOW! Man oh man is this place good. Prices are reasonable and the food is just exemplary. I am so excited to visit again! Onion tart was other worldly. Apple pastry was over the moon. A little nerous ordering in the crowd but this is a top favorite now! wow. Fresh as it gets *real* French pastries. Selection is spectacular, as is the quality. A true Hidden Gem worth seeking out if you love pastry. There (typically) is truly nothing like a croissant from an authentic French bakery. Sadly, I ended up throwing away the one I got from here away after a few bites. Not sure what happened to the flakiness. Instead it was stodgy inside. Had the almond croissant - delicious - on the patio with the super nice owner. Then took home the incredible crumb cake for Sunday morning. Going back again to try more things. Have you ever walked down a rue in a small village town in France and smelled the aroma of baking bread from a boulangerie? Well, I just did in a town called New Hope In PA.
If you like pâtisserie and pain (au chocolat and more).
STOP.
GO
TO
C'est La Vie French Bakery and Cafe.
Yummy
Had an amazing blueberry turnover and two good coffees.
They had so much more to choose from and if she says, "Wait, there are more coming out of the oven." Then wait, get them hot and fresh!
Outdoor seating is nice too with a view of the river.
You might need to look for it. It is down an alley. Just follow your nose. It always knows. Stopped by on a Saturday afternoon after brunch to get something sweet to take home. If your looking for this place just look for the sign and take a left down the Lane as their sign says.
I figured what better to try at a French bakery then croissants. I selected an almond and a chocolate.
The almond was my favorite of the two. Loved the almond paste filling just the right amount of sweetness and it was crispy on the outside and topped with sliced almond and dusted with powdered sugar... Delicious!
They have some outdoor seating so you can sit and have a coffee and enjoy your treat but it was a bit too cold outside to take advantage of that.
It's a cute little shop to visit when you're in the area.
Cash Only... This bakery reminds me of those old style, no frills , local French bakeries in Paris from 20 years ago.
The shop is a bit dingy looking and the selection is very limited but they do have some decent offerings at reasonable prices. . We purchased a ham and cheese croissant, choux puffs, and a ganache. I asked my family to pick out a few things but they had to think long and hard to pick something that looked really appealing. Usually they are macaroon fans but they said these macaroons looked different and funny. The macaroons are puffed up and spongier looking. I have visited this bakery quite a few times. There baguettes are so good. Last we also got a sourdough bread it was really tasty too. I always get a cranberry apple tart and it is the perfect amount of sweet and tartness! My girls like there meringues they have vanilla, mocha, lemon and chocolate. We have tried vanilla and lemon both are good. My favorite pastry are almond croissants and here they are really not like they are in a traditional French almond croissant that is why I am giving them 4 stars instead of 5. My daughter always gets the chocolate croissant which she loves I don't think it is a traditional French style croissant. All in all definitely worth a visit, it is right on the water and service has always been nice and pleasant!! We have been coming here for years. We absolutely adore the staff. They must train their employees well. Not only are their desserts out of this world, but the location of this little shop off a little alley way leading down to the river, is just so quaint; we feel as if we just stepped into a little bit of Paris. We love it and will keep coming back, not just for the delicious treats and coffee but the friendly and warm atmosphere. The pastries *look* like they're authentic, but just a bite of a croissant will tell you there is no authenticity to be found. not flaky. not buttery. not delicate. so disappointing. c'est la vie is right. the servers are nice though. This place was a major disappointment. We ordered madelines which were dense and stale and so hard we fed them to our dog and she wouldn't even eat them. We also a few macrons. The macron itself was pasty and undercooked. The lemon macron had a chemical flavor like cheap extract. This was an all over disappointment. The bakery had a line so we thought it must be good. 39.00 for pastries that were inedible. French you are not... and definitely not fresh either ! Skip by this spot it's quality control is concerning and price point is off the chart expensive. We stopped here for coffee, enticed by the small terrace seating area. We saw the array of beautiful-looking pastries and caved in, sampling a slice of peach tart and a triangle of "diplomate," which the chap behind the counter described as a cake with rum soaked raisins.
We really wanted to like this little bakery/cafe, but unfortunately, we found the pastries a bit disappointing. The crust of the peach tart was tough and not very crisp, and the custard filling a tad stiff. The diplomate has many variations. This one was close to a dense bread pudding with dried fruit. The bottom of this was also a bit tough and the slice was very dry. I really enjoy dense pastries and those baked without chemical leavenings, but these two choices missed the mark. The coffee was OK, but not standout.
I hope that our pastries were an unfortunate exception to what looks like a lovely selection of treats at a cozy location away steps away from the bustle of River Road. We will give this bakery another try in the future and hope that we can improve the rating. "Those are the best quiches!" said a woman to me as I exited C'est La Vie, carrying one each of their spinach quiche and zucchini/goat cheese quiche. This bakery with a patio right by the Delaware River turns out French pastries like baguettes, croissants, and brioche, as well as savory items like their quiches, which had a crusty top and flavorful fillings. The zucchini in the zucchini and goat cheese quiche had a soft texture and slight sweetness (it almost reminded me of dried fruit), but I preferred the spinach quiche with its savory filling made of greens. We also tried the coconut flan, which had a firm custard texture and a crispy coconut topping. Everything here was simple yet tasty, and the friendly hospitality seems to keep locals coming back! Absolutely fabulous! Go there....more than once. We had croissants for lunch with iced coffee! We went back the next morning for a box to bring home. Absolutely authentic, delicious pastries, good coffee and very friendly ladies behind the counter!!! Happened in here just wandering down the street and are so glad we did! My wife and I are on our honeymoon here in New Hope and Lambertville and this place is the kind of place we love to stop in for a coffee and a treat!
She had a chai tea latte and I had a vanilla coffee latte both hot and both really well-made and tasty. Very friendly young lady behind the counter proceeded to load us up with an almond croissant, apple turnover, coconut macaroon, and the three delicious treats you see in the photo.
So delicious and fresh and we sat outside enjoying them on the little patio overlooking the river - reminiscent of a cute European cafe setting.
Definitely stop in!! Absolutely loved it. Came here for a post-lunch dessert and coffee. Everything was fresh, the aromas were outstanding, the coffee the best. I found the staff pleasant, and will parle français si vous voulez pratiquer.
Very authentic feel to the shop, with French magazines and art on the walls. I like that they have a Paris St Germain poster, as well. Très vrai.
There's an abundance of pastries which steal the show, and one would think this is a patisserie, however, I was particularly impressed with the breads. Prices are reasonable, and the half-baguette sandwiches are a steal.
It's a step off the main thoroughfare, and the cash-only policy is annoying, however, you get a sense that they are true to themselves, and there is something pleasant that emanates from this place. The warmth and mystery of a locally owned and operated made from scratch French bakery hidden off the beaten trail in New Hope borough. Down the driveway right off the main thoroughfare in the rear this quaint shop with a display of gourmet delights. The staff hustling to keep up with the steady flow of customers. There are a few tables inside and Lacas coffee, tastes like the OCR used to be the "city blend" now "Old City Roast". The shop was clean and the detailed presentation of the many fresh baked delicacies was pure perfection. A warm smile and greeting by the two staff present was welcoming and they were more then happy to provide excellent friendly service.
The Peach torte slice was creamy, loaded with peaches and had a flaky, light tasty crust. This is highly recommended.
The chocolate macaroon was to die for, the inside was moist, loaded with flavor and without a doubt was the best I ever had. This cute little bakery is tucked away at the back of an alley, but has a nice outdoor seating area with a view of the river. The baked goods are OK, but nothing amazing. The coffee is drinkable. I would come back for a pastry by the river, but not so much for the actual goods. Bakery with a small seating area inside - four cafe tables - so seats about eight people. Much larger seating area outside overlooking the Delaware.
Nice enough selection of cakes, cookies, pastries. We picked up two plain croissants and two fruit croissants to take home. The plain croissants OK but not special. The apricot and the cherry croissants were just disappointing. They most definitely looked better than they tasted. But it is a nice little place; I will try them again on our next visit to New Hope.
They open at 7:30 AM daily for breakfast. Not that many places open early in New Hope. Very good coffee and baguettes. There are a bevy of authentic French pastries from which to choose, and finally they accept credit cards!
The digs, however, need an update, as the old books and magazines are frayed and yellow, the walls faded, etc. and the lack of parking outside (ominous signs exclaiming no parking for the café) are a bore.
That said, it's a pleasure to be able to pick up a fresh baguette each day and they'll prepare authentic French sandwiches (jambon et fromage avec ou pas de beurre). The owner is rarely seen and I'd advise that his cashier staff could be trained to be somewhat more welcoming and pleasant with guests. I had a hurtful interaction here with the owner. I called and reserved what I thought was a traditional chocolate layer cake for my birthday. It was not a special order - she just set it aside for me, there were several available, and I picked it up within the hour. When I got there I learned it was actually a chocolate mousse cake, which I can't eat. I'm allergic to cream. I swapped for a fruit tart and she reprimanded me for the bother of moving the reserved cake from the counter to the back room. Hardly an onerous task. I really wanted to enjoy my own birthday cake :-( An unkind vibe and a disappointment on my birthday. I hope my guests at least enjoy the fruit tart tonight. It looks good but I have no idea what's in it other than less cream so I can't eat it. When I asked the ingredients, she was vague and short and clearly annoyed. Sweet treats should make people happy. Kindness is needed here to sweeten this place. I won't be back. My husband bought me a last minute, beautiful birthday cake. It was excellent! We always find that our pastries are fresh and delicious. Not sure what others are talking about. Wow! Really? A nice, quaint, little bakery in the heart of New Hope. The line was almost out the door on a Sunday afternoon. It has to be good with such a great demand for their goods!
I was sooo wrong!
I should have known when I first saw their french macarons. They looked like 2 small muffin tops sandwiched together. Do they know what macarons are supposed to look like? There were no feet and they were fluffy-looking with cracked shells. I easily passed on those.
I should have known when I saw their croissants. They were too round and smooth. They did not look light and fluffy. The outer layers should look like they are almost flaking off. I easily passed on those.
I should have listened to my gut, but I still went ahead and purchased a wheat roll for dinner. Then, I saw some small brioche rolls and added 2 of those to my order. $6 out of my pocket and into the trash! I love French bread. It is so airy and crusty! This was not! This was heavy, dry, and dense. The brioche has to be better, I thought. All that butter and egg that goes into them should produce a somewhat moister roll. Their version of brioche was just as heavy, dry, and dense, but had a hint of butter in them.
These baked goods were so bad that my dog wouldn't eat them! She does not have a problem eating her dry dog food or biscuits.
So, thanks C'est La Vie for ruining my dinner plans! All I wanted was to share a roll with my wife with our pasta. We ended up going to a diner for a burger, and let me tell you, the brioche bun was phenomenal!
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name: Ralph's Barber Shop, address: 100 N Keswick Ave, city: Glenside, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: Beauty & Spas, Barbers, text: An incredible local family establishment. I've been getting my haircut here since I was a kid and even when I moved away to another city I would plan my visits home around getting my haircut here. The staff is extremely friendly and professional. If long lines are not your thing, plan ahead and call ahead. They honor your spot in line just like the "No Wait" app but more old school. Named one of the Manliest barber shops in the country by Men's Health Magazine, this place lives up to the hype. The decor is all sports memorabilia and sports games are always on the TVs. Ralph even outfits his waiting room with authentic Vet stadium seats!
Come enjoy a great haircut and talk to the great staff, I guarantee you will be pleased! GREAT local barbershop! The type of home grown business you can get behind.
I have been going here religiously since I moved into this part of town.
They get to know you by name, and the place is gorgeously decorated with sports memorabilia at EVERY turn.
They even have a SECOND FLOOR for when things get busy or just for a change of pace.
TONS of magazines to read, VERY clean and the prices are on par with everyplace else.
Got a nice shave and a haircut the last time I went, left feeling like a million bucks!
Seems geared mostly towards guys, as it's a barbershop. Although they seem to be making a play recently for the female audience as well.
Chicks have hair too, might as well cash in on it! This morning I tried Ralph's for the first time. Great barber shop atmosphere. Great beard trim and hair cut. I like that there are guys sitting around talking, the way it used to be. This isn't sport clips or the other chains. This is a barbershop. With style. Great job guys. My new place! If you're looking for an old-school barbering experience, keep looking. This place is supercuts with some Phillies junk on the walls. The tools of the trade (hot lather machines, straight razors, shave brushes) are on display, however they are for display only. There are in fact no barbers at this barber shop, it is a bunch is hairdressers or stylists that are far more interested in gabbing with each other than giving a decent haircut. They don't even shave your neck, what kind of barber doesn't shave your neck? Decided I'd try this place out but damn did I regret it. Got a haircut that took 40 minutes. Didn't even get any sort of shape up, just a messy haircut. On top of that, it was $18! Absurd prices, I wasn't even satisfied with my cut it was so terrible! Never going here again, if you're a guy who wants to get a haircut for a reasonable price. Got to John who's just down the street (Glenside Cuts) and you'll thank me later. I usually get my haircut by Pattie. She is great and does a great job; however, yesterday I went and got my haircut by George because Pattie is on vacation. What a disaster. Do not use this barber. I am getting married tomorrow and he butchered my hair. I asked for a medium fade and he gave me an uneven high and tight. He basically took a one clip all the way up to the top of my head then cut way too much hair off the top. I look like I just enlisted in the military. I could have done better myself. I can't believe I paid $17 for this disgrace. The state should revoke his barber license. HORRIBLE! Absolutely avoid.
Most definitely one of the worst haircuts in my 37 years.
The owner is more concerned with answering his texts than he was of giving me a proper haircut. He seriously answered 4 text messages while cutting my hair, not including answering the shop phone 2 or 3 times. Just about every shop I've been in, they rotate answering the phones... Not this guy.
I seriously look like I have a toopée on. The top looks like someone took a crap on my head. Top three worst haircuts of all time for me, maybe the worst.
Decor is real cool and it felt like an old barber shop..... but that's it. Just a feeling. Not at all like an old school barber shop besides the artifacts in the wall.
I noticed the lady in the stall next to me shave the guys neck, but not the owner:(. Maybe he was thinking about his text messages or something?
Oh yeah, and the kicker: The haircut prices are $15 and $17 when you make an appointment (which is ludicrous). Not the owner, his horrible haircut is $17.
Why is this guy's bad haircut cost more money than the people giving a better haircut right next to him.
Edit to add this: I've been using Yelp consistently for about 5 years now. I've been to a LOT of good places and some not so nice. This horrible haircut was the reason that I created my account. Nice manly decor, great magazine collection. They are a victim of their our success. Went in there Sat. AM for a quick crewcut waited 40 min while customers with reservations got in before me. Left with no haircut. Just moved to Glenside and loved my first experience at Ralph's. There were customers of all ages and I loved my haircut and beard trim by Maria. I've been going to Ralph's for 2 years now and I couldn't recommend it highly enough. The atmosphere is fun and welcoming and the staff is friendly and professional. I go to see Tony, who does a great job. I've never had any complaint about a cut.
The price is more than reasonable for a quality haircut. Before I found Ralph's I tried a few other local barber shops and was very unimpressed. It is easily the best place in the area. Took me forever to find a new barber but then I found Dave at Ralphs. Perfect every time and always available I won't go anywhere else. Been going to Ralph's for a long time. Never got the owner before. This guy is the real deal. Great place to get your hair cut by a local business who cares instead of some random chain. I moved to the area about 16 months ago and was recommended to Ralph's by a co-worker. Have had at least 4 different barbers cut my hair and they are all good. Price is right and there is no doubt it is a neighborhood gem! As a woman I realized my short cut was better served by barbers than salon stylists and more economical too. Highly recommend. Hit or big miss. Don't walk in and expect to get a good haircut if you don't have an appointment with one of the ladies. Worst haircut I've gotten in 60+ years of getting haircuts. I gave the guy a tip out of respect for the profession...but shouldn't have been charged for the haircut. Literally the worst haircut I've ever received. Uneven through out. I asked for a fade and it's not even close. Never getting my business again. One of the best, most personalized barber shops in the area! Never a long wait for walk-ins and a full assortment of products to choose from. I have been going to Ralph's for a year now. I have been extremely happy with the haircut that I receive from Evelyn. I will always wait for her to be available. I get a great, consistent and precise cut from her every time. She cut my son's hair (3 years old) and was very patient and friendly with him. We've had cuts from the other women who work there and the cuts were always good. It's the only place I take my family and they're very reasonable too. This is the epitome of Glenside/Abington local business.
I have started attending this little treasure over the last year with my son.
Whoever you get does an excellent job cutting hair. I've had many, but prefer Chuck or Ralph jr.
All the staff take their time cutting your hair, they are not in a rush to get you out the door no matter how crowded it is.
If you walk in on a Saturday, be prepared for a wait. You are much better off stopping in some evening after work.
But, if you go to Ralph's for just the hair, you are missing out on so much more this place has to offer. From all the sports memorabilia that hangs all over the place to all the local men who get their hair cut there. I always see people I know there from the community.
It is cash only, but their is an ATM across the street.
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name: Marathon, address: 121 S 16th St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: opening, categories: Sandwiches, American (New), Lounges, Nightlife, Bars, Restaurants, Breakfast & Brunch, text: I recently had the pre fixe meal for $22 and I enjoyed the combination of tastes on my plate. The chicken was moist my veggies were tasty but a little too greasy....overall is was a great meal.
I also use them for take out/delivery. I have always enjoyed the way the package their food, in plastic containers that I use over and over again until they look too worn out and I recycle them. I hate take out places that use so much boxes and cups and card board - it's extremely eco-unfriendly.
The food here is never spectacular but is a good standby you will always come away enjoying. The prices seem a little steep but the restaurant atmosphere is contemporary, the service has always been splendid and the food is dependable. Great atmosphere, service was very friendly and prices were very reasonable however I found the food a bit bland, not bad just bland. My husband and I were starving after a long drive to Philly and this filled the spot but it wasn't overly enjoyable and we most likely won't be back. Really disappointed. I've been to the Marathon at 18/Spruce and had excellent service, drinks and food. Thought that would transfer to this location - not at all.
To sum it up, our server was extremely energetic, but not in a good way. More like a frantic energy. I was there to enjoy a few drinks and dinner with a friend who was visiting (AKA looking to spend money AKA you will get a larger tip if you let us stay longer) and we were rushed out. Server brought boxes for food we were still eating, without asking if we wanted them. A few minutes later he physically put the food in the boxes at the tableside while mumbling something like "I don't like food sitting on the table." .....we didn't even want to take it home. Next, when we said we were having another friend join for another round or two of drinks he told us we couldn't stay at the booth we were at and we needed to go to the bar. What? I point blank asked him if he was kicking us out of the booth and he said "yes!" energetically. There was no one waiting for tables and there were numerous open tables/booths around the restaurant. I felt extremely uncomfortable and wanted to leave immediately. Our friend joined after all this happened, and when the server came over to ask if they wanted a drink, he seemed surprised when we told him we were just going to leave. YOU LITERALLY just told us we couldn't sit at this table any longer!! We then left.
I worked in restaurants for a long time and I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to restaurant service. I was not pleased at all during this visit.
On another note, the food was not that great. I like their salads, tea, and french fries! The servers were great...I've been here a few times and I'd come back! Sandwiches are great here! They have a decent menu with a variety of food types. Lunch time gets crowded, but that's downtown Philly. The jambalaya was tasty and just the right amount of kick. I'd definitely go back. I really enjoy this place. Lots of healthy options and I love the blueberry pie! I always stop in after a day of shopping and haven't been disappointed yet! I remember when this was the place - many moons ago. Now, though the portions are large, the menu is dated. Not a bad place to grab a quick bite, but I'm uncertain whether I'd linger. Straight to the point: the service, the one dish I ordered and the inside was very inviting, my hamburger was made perfectly like I like it. The restaurant is really nice and they have good drinks.. No complaints We consider Marathon to be Philly's diner. Yummy comfort food at a good price. Tonight, sweetheart loved the matzo ball soup, which is 5-star. I really enjoyed the turkey plate with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Sweetheart's salmon salad had a lot of yummy ingredients, but the salmon was a bit dry. Marathon is a perfect go-to spot for basic foods that I could make at home, if I cared to cook! All over good food. Not super fancy, but I have never had something there that I did not like.
Recommended items:
Marathon Burger
Basil Lemonade (alcoholic)
Dark and Stormy (alcoholic)
Vegetarian Chili (awesome!!)
Fire-roasted salsa
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
Southwest Salad
Great place to get a decently priced meal and is easy to get into any day of the week. Eh, disappointing food. I saw this place got busy during lunch hour so gave a shot during weekday lunch.
Place was busy and I saw people getting salad with salmon so I got that one as well.
My salmon was dry... And lukewarm. Definitely didn't enjoyed my protein. I had only one visit so I can't speak for all but my salad wasn't fresh either that day. Sandwiches on other tables looked good though. That was my first and only trip to Marathon. i've always avoided this place because it seemed played out, but i was extremely surprised yesterday when i popped in for lunch! the summer market salad with grilled corn was TO DIE for. it was fresh as can be with a light balsamic glaze. the iced tea was also really good, slightly fruity, and the prices were very reasonable. i'll be back! This is a review for all of the Marathons that exist or have ever existed in Philly. I am pretty sure I have been to all of them over the past 7 years, from West Philly, to Rittenhouse Square, to the oceans - white with foammmmm.
Overall, the food is really nothing special. I somehow just always end up here for lunches because it's just...there. Now there are fewer locations so hopefully this won't keep happening to me.
The main positive of the menus is that there are a lot of healthy options. They have light salads, soups, even quinoa dishes, so there is always plenty to choose from. I normally get the Salmon Burger, which is nice, but I can definitely make this at home. Writing this review is making me feel dumb for going here so many times! We came for a casual brunch out, and found this joint to be a pretty okay place. When we arrived at around 12:40, it was lively and full but not too crowded - no wait. The menu has plenty of tasty options that aren't too pricey. I ordered the Marathon Breakfast which is a great option if you want some bang for your buck. It came with one two egg omelet, toast, potatoes and two pancakes. Pancakes on the larger side and very tasty. Toast a little too crisp but the eggs and potatoes just right. The service was fast and friendly. I'd go for a round two. I stopped by when visiting town for 2 nights . I ate the chicken pot pie which wasn't really chicken pot pie but the insides with a bit of pie crust. Nonetheless it was good. It came part of a 3 course dinner for 20 bucks. I liked the atmosphere and the service was friendly . Just the perfect portion that I didn't feel too stuffed afterwards . I'd go back . Went here for brunch yesterday while visiting from out of town. Waited over an hour for our food, when tables who arrived after us were served. Our server Brandon was nice but I would have really appreciated him just checking in, explaining what the problem was, or simply apologizing for the ridiculous wait time. After all that, my smoked salmon Benedict was almost inedible. English muffin that was twice as big as what was on top of it, a tablespoon of shredded salmon with wilted spinach, and the sorriest excuse for hollandaise sauce I have ever seen. The menu indicted a Dijon hollandaise but this was the consistency of water. So thin and watery I couldn't even taste it. I never do this, but I actually considered sending it back... But Brandon never asked how our food was. Only giving two stars because my sisters turkey burger was pretty good. Ive been here twice now.
Both times with my boyfriend and we enjoyed it very much.
I got the tortellini with mushrooms and it was scrumptious. My BF for the veg chili and the southwestern salad with Avocado.
Heads up for the Vegetarians out there that stay away from Soy, there veggie burger does have soy in it other wise I would have tried it.
I had ice tea and my guy got the blueberry lemonade. Our server "Erin" was really sweet and refilled my ice tea about a 100 times which I appreciated. It was lunch time and I go through my ice teas. I really liked that it was never empty. 5 starts go out to Erin with the awesome service,
The next time we wen for lunch again and we got the Gazpacho (a special) and the southwestern salad again. we were splitting everything and it was a really great gesture when the salads came out already split. Nice touch! Drinks need to be revamped. Very light on the fruit taste.
The food was excellent. Had the burger and the city sandwich. Both were very good. Went with with one other person for Sunday brunch. We were seated right away. The staff was friendly and we got our food fairly quickly. The breakfast was delicious and the perfect amount. I would go back again. The food at Marathon is fine. I ordered an above average turkey club with basil aioli on toasted sourdough bread which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The reason I'm mentioning this place is because the server had enough smarts to recommend the CHOCOLATE MOUSSE.
Chocolate mousse? How good could it be at this restaurant? She said trust me and I said ok. She was right. It is quite possibly the most decadent, rich, dense, chocolatey (thanks to the extra chocolate chips) concoction I've ever experienced and easily the best chocolate mousse I've ever had at a restaurant.
If you're into chocolate mousse, go here and order it. And thank me later. I was super disappointed by our server and my appetizer plate. Don't get the sampler. But I've liked other things here before so on average I'd give it 3 stars Came here for brunch on a Sunday morning. They were able to sit a group of ~10 without a reservation which was a nice surprise. The coffee was delicious and very strong! I got an egg white omelette where I chose my own toppings, and it was delicious. Fresh tomatoes, jalapeños, etc and a generous portion of goat cheese! Server was very friendly, and split our check a million ways with a smile. I love marathon! I have been in here few times and every time, I never had trouble waiting for a table or not getting anything below perfect! The prices are super reasonable and the menu selection is very diverse! Had a surprisingly delicious tofu breakfast scramble. Good service, chill atmosphere. In a sea of Rittenhouse cheese steaks, this was a nice relief. We got there, the place was nice, nice environment, but had a little bit of a diner feel to it (because of the layout).. but then the sign that signals good food... Local Police. Once we saw local police were eating there, it was a sign that this was a good establishment.
Foot was cooked perfectly. Everything was delicious and it was reasonably priced, especially considering we were in the city center.
Great selection for everyone. Sunday brunch. Waited for the server to acknowledge me and take my order. Waited quite a while for my adequate food. Waited for my check. Won't be back. The 10th street location used to be a staple for taking guests out to lunch while at Jefferson. It's a shame it is gone but hopefully Square Peg can pick up where Marathon left off.
Luckily there is still this location serving about the same menu. One of my teams had a gift card that was long overdue to take advantage of so we set out here for lunch. Unfortunately they do not take reservations for groups at lunch so the 9 of us had to roll the dice. It was packed so the best they could do was two back to back booths after a 15 minute wait. This wasn't so bad except in the back left hand corner there is a ton of noise coming from behind a faux wall (that gets hot also) with dish washing in full effect.
Nonetheless our service was great as we spent about 1.5 hours here. I had a 16 hour brisket sandwich special of the day that was delicious as the fries are nice and crispy. A solid plate for $10 but in general the menu does not have anything to get too excited about. Most of the other people got salads on this hot day which all looked tasty and fresh too.
I would recommend this place for someone looking for a solid sit down lunch in Center City, but probably not for a true foodie. Good for a casual family place. For children - pancakes were a big hit!!! Mac and cheese was spicy and cheesy for their taste. Alcoholic drinks were fine. I loved the salmon sandwich with Caesar salad. Salmon was moist and yummy. Light, tangy dressing. And not too heavy. Chicken fingers were dry. . Kale salad and an oriental like salad were big hits.
Friendly service. Well attended. Comfortable. Marathon was ok, but nothing spectacular. They have a nice $20 for a 3-course dinner deal, which made it extremely affordable. However, I opted for Chicken Noodle Soup and the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. The veggies in the soup were cooked perfectly, as were the noodles and chicken. However, the soup had no flavor and there was too little noodles, veggies and chicken to the amount of broth. The chicken sandwich was delicious though. I also had the spiked apple cider, warm, but it wasn't that great. Service was ok, but I wanted to order my soup first so that the sandwich wouldn't come out too quickly. My waiter assured me to put in my whole order and they would time it appropriately, but as I suspected I was only two spoonfuls into my soup when my sandwich came. Overall, ok, but nothing more. Nothing special but open late Sunday night and I like that they try to source everything from local farms.
With my blackened chicken sandwich (which was really good) I got fries, though I asked for a salad. I overlooked this because the fries were also really good. I got food poisoning after eating at this restaurant. I would recommend avoiding it at all costs. My friend visting from California and I both tried the grass fed cheesesteak sandwiches, they were definitely a lot less greasy than a conventional steak, but kinda bland in terms of flavor and a bit of a let down for my friend who was attempting to try her first true Philly cheesesteak.. the caesar salad served with them was OK, but not too exciting. interesting cocktails (albeit $10 each) are available, I tried dark and snappy it was pretty good.. however the cheesesteak wontons are a must try in my humble opinion!!! just a small appetizer plate but they are great. waitress was very friendly, service was very good, she was full of advice for us. the interior is clean and the environment pretty pleasant. No service, waited 20 minutes for someone to approach the table. When asked if there was service I received a shrug from the host. I really love this place. They have a ton of healthy options and the service is excellent every time I come. I am a vegan, and there are delicious appetizers, salads, and more that I can custom order to make work for my diet. Great locations throughout the city as well. Love coming here! The restaurant is okay. Came here with a group on the school's wallet, so I can't comment on how much the food was. It seemed fairly reasonable. Nothing was all that memorable, service and portions were decent. It's a bit removed from the group of restaurants by Rittenhouse, so it's a bit unfortunate that it has a mediocre location.
I do want to note that the banana bread pudding for dessert was very delicious! Would order that again if I ever come back! Marathon does not seem like a five-star restaurant on the surface, but when you dig deep and go there regularly, you realizw why. The food is so delicious and so consistent there. Never a surprise. Their salads, sandwiches, and brunch items are some of my favorites in the city. Screw Stephen Starr and Jose Garces. A great home-cooked meal awaits you at Marathon! For brunch only - was never impressed by the service, however the place was really always packed. tip - if you are in a group of two sit at the bar, others you'll be eating your brunch way too close to some random people. They pack them in like sardines. Omelettes were always solid and toast was well done. A good option if you are hungover and need some fast grub. I come here only when absolutely necessary. It is busy however when it is not the service goes way way down. It is as if the wait staff knows who will give them a good tip and who will not and serve accordingly. I know I never enjoy my food here even if it is good. My tips usually at least 22% but always end up giving around 15%. I guess when you are a landmark you can do fuc all and still be busy. I've come here for drinks and brunch as well, and both times I feel like I was more impressed with the ambiance than the place itself. For drinks we were sat at the bar and had decent conversation, but the bartender was not very attentive, and sadly drinks were just poured ok, and for about $10-12 a pop, I expected more.
For brunch, the girls and I came in to mend a bachelorette party hangover and were sat right away and thought, fabulous! Sadly our loaded grilled cheeses (bacon, avocado, egg, cheese on sour dough bread) took an ETERNITY!!! I literally had 2 cups of coffee and still nothing. Our waiter checked on us only one time and we had to flag him down to give us our check as well as to take it. Yes, I get that brunch is busy, but we got there when there was no wait at 10 am, and ordered really simple items....all three of us actually ordered the SAME thing!
Thankfully prices are not crazy, very reasonable for brunch at about $10 a plate, we sadly were not even able to order a mimosa because our waiter was too busy, but alas, we did have a good sandwich with really fabulous potatoes. I would return, because the food was delicious, but most likely when I'm not starving. Great turkey burger. I would've taken a photo but I ate it too fast. I will go back for breakfast tomorrow. I ordered the turkey chilli and it was sold out. I was so disappointed. My meal consisted of mashed butternut squash, lots of carrots and very tender beef. It was bland! It could of used a bit more seasoning. I had the lemon pound cake for dessert...it was delicious!!!! 1 scoop of ice cream was all i needed. Now the service was okay. The table guy was more attentive to us than our waitress, but i will say she had a lot of tables. We basically had no drink with our meal. Marathon is Marathon is Marathon is Marathon.
This one is not really all that different in terms of food, though the flank steak sandwich special was super yummy (albeit priiiiiicy at 16.95).
Normally, though, I've known Marathon to have particularly crappy service. Our waitress was fan-effing-awesome. As a former server I can say with authority that she did everything she could to make it a good night. It wasn't too crowded which maybe helped a little. Two of us decided to split a salad and an entree and she had them both put into smaller separate plates, instead of having to pass back and forth. There was a mix up with one of the sandwiches and she brought out fries to tide my friend over. AND she totally humored a group of 9 girls and took pictures for us.
If you go to this Marathon, request Jessica. She rocked my socks. And the steak sandwich was pretty good, too. I like the *idea* of Marathon more than I actually like going there. I have a weekly appt near this place and tried going here afterwards for some readin' and eatin' (aka "I have no friends and am by myself and hunnnngry"). I almost always order the chicken salad sandwich with a side salad and it's tasty, for sure. Everything is fresh and all that. But it's not food-gasmic, you know? Also, I know this shouldn't be a complaint, but the service is too fast. I like to sit and wait a while and here I feel rushed, which ruins the lazy late lunch vibe I'm trying to get going. A couple of friends and I met here for brunch on a Sunday morning. It was completely lackluster. My eggs with lox and capers was okay and the hash browns were greasy. My friend ordered the French toast with berries; the berries turned out to be jam. The only real positive is that we were seated quickly. With so many great places in the city to go for brunch, I don't think I'll be coming back. I've been to this Marathon several times and had great service but yesterday was awful. We were seated pretty promptly but then had to wait 10 min before our waitress came over to take our order. She was short with us and hardly said a word. We waited 40 mins for our food and she never checked on us once. We had to ask two other people where our food was. Several people came in after us, got their food and had already left by the time we got ours. The food was great as always. I'm not sure if he was the manager but one of the guys working there said our meal was one him. If it weren't for that, I probably would never go back. I hadn't been to this Marathon in about 2 years. Since then the prices have risen but I found the service is better than it used to be. I will not be returning though. I had forgotten my green card and they were unable to give me points for the two expensive breakfasts I had. It's not worth the price anymore. I will go back to frequenting Le pain quotidien. It has less options but the food is organic, tastes better and about the same price now! Had takeout from Marathon.
Meatloaf was pretty tasty. Solid.
Turkey plate was hard to eat. Actually, I didn't want any more after trying a bite. Turkey was overcooked and dry. Stuffing was overly salty. Maybe the turkey didn't travel well for takeout, although overcooked is still overcooked whenever you serve it.
Somewhere between 2 & 3 stars. A group of us stopped in for a light bite and some drinks. We just so happen to get here during their happy hour (which ends at 7:00pm - very nice). Between four of us, we had the app sampler, matzoh ball soup, mac and cheese and two rounds of drinks. The Marathons throughout the city are a good for American food and drinks; don't expect anything above average. The food was fine, nothing groundbreaking. Ditto on service.
I do have to note this (which I hate): their bathrooms need work ASAP. The first bathroom did not have a working lock; I had to make sure I had a friend to guard the door. The second bathroom's toilet did not work well. Their soap was watery. While I was waiting for my friend in the bathroom, I saw a cockroach! eek! I know it's the city, but still... I think I will stick with drinks only. Went here with friends on a Thursday evening and really enjoyed the atmosphere. The waitress seemed a bit off in answering some questions about the menu, but I will say everything came out decent. I got the grilled salmon and it was yummy, and my sister got the Marathon burger which she raved over. Drinks were a little slow, but it was pretty crowded. All in all I'd come back, just maybe on a less crowded night. Came here before Hurricane Irene hit for a quick brunch. Was visiting for the weekend and this placed looked busy, so why not?!
We were seated and the waitress came to take our order soon. Banana brioche french toast with dulce de leche sauce for about 10 bucks and salmon benedict for 11.50, with a side of fruit salad for 4.50.
Shortly after we were seated, the manager that morning asked to move us to a nearby booth, as he was expecting a large wedding party. We didn't mind, and even better, he said that he would take care of our breakfast for our helpfulness.
The food was standard brunch fare, but what really stuck out was the banana brioche french toast with the dulce de leche. My boyfriend was crying as he ate it. Crying.
I was just so impressed with the customer service. Definitely would come back for a quick bite to eat. Why is there not an option to give 0 stars? There should be.
WHY WHY WHY WHY would people come here to spend money? Every time I see this restaurant packed with people, I just wanna go in there & scream "LEAVE before you taste their horrible horrible icky overpriced food!" & then steal their cute little wooden tables/chairs that they have for outdoor seating. I first went here for brunch. I ordered the eggs benedict which wasn't too bad at all until my food started to get colder, I could finally taste how salty it was. Gross.
The second time I came here with my sister, just to grab a couple appetizers to hold our appetites until dinner. The waiter was very friendly & kind. He suggested the vegetarian chili & the artichoke dip. First off, never again get vegetarian chili. Chili is not chili without the beef. Also Marathon, if you would, could you please kindly SEASON your food? The artichoke dip was gross also. Artichokes in ranch dressing? Seriously? Whatever. I could have made a better dip myself.
NEVER ever again. UGH. WOW!!! The name says it all what a MARATHON!!!The wait time to get your order is ridiculous!!! Waited over 30 minutes and the excuse was "We had a large party" how is that MY fault???Food is very average. Won't be back!! Offered dessert for the trouble, then when we ordered we were informed we could only get one dessert. Humm... There were 2 in our party. Not a good experience,
don't bother. There are far better restaurants in Philly to try! The food was fine, once we got it. The service was very, very slow. Many tables of people who came later than us were served before us. Great place. We had excellent 4 star vegetarian chili, a turkey club and a Caesar salad. Service was good and we will definitely eat there again. I was craving a salad, but I wanted a specific kind of salad. A friend recommended we try Marathon. I saw the menu and found a few salads that looked good. Then, when we sat down, they handed us the "control freak" menu. There are a few categories (burgers, salads, etc.). In the salad section, there is a list of greens, veggies, and various ingredients/toppings/cheeses. I was able to design the very salad I wanted: mixed greens, grilled veggies, feta cheese. It was fabulous!
I went back another day for a hearty, yummy burger. The fries were fresh-cut potatoes.
Marathon might become one of my favorite spots in Philly. I'm a sucker for fresh, well-prepared food. It need not be fancy. Brunch at this place is the best! Salmon scramble was so good as were all of the accompanying items. Also tried the blueberry marscapone stuffed french toast, which was just as good! It wasn't too sweet, great flavor. I will be back here often! Great place downtown for brunch. The marathon burger was amazing, but the bacon is as well and Id recommend a side of that with any dish. The breakfast burrito was great as well. They play great tunes as well. They lost a star only because the coffee was on the weaker side. Got takeout from here for lunch. I had the Housemade Veggie Burger with a Caesar salad and a brownie for dessert. The burger was DELICIOUS!!!! Prices were reasonable. I will come again for that burger. This place should be called Crawl, not Marathon. While the food is decent and the prices are reasonable, the speed of the service was beyond slow.
My friend and I walked past Marathon after going to the Kimmel Center. The menu looked good and the prices were surprisingly reasonable for the area, so we stopped in. The atmosphere was welcoming: imagine steakhouse meets fair trade coffee shop (I know that's a hard atmosphere to conjure, but I swear it's the most accurate). Warm but focused on natural woods and cool lighting but you can tell they definitely serve meat ...
Anyway, the menu was basic Americana - burgers, salads, sandwiches, and a couple of more expensive entrees. Here's where things got a little rocky. Our server was painfully unaware of what their rotating drafts were (I'm sorry, but telling someone it's a Yards does not describe the beer ...) and it took at least 15 minutes to get our drinks after ordering (we each got a beer on tap). After we got our drinks and ordered it took another 30 minutes to get our food which was a burger and crab cakes. The food was solid and the sweet potato fries were quite delicious but just not worth the wait.
Overall, this place was just mediocre and probably not worth seeking it out given all the other options around. I just did lunch takeout and was very happy. Friendly and fast service - even with the in-dining area packed. Only had to wait 5 minutes for my matzo ball soup and beet salad special. Soup was great and I LOVE the beet salad. Hoping they add to their standard menu. CALL AHEAD FOR SEATING ESPECIALLY FOR BRUNCH. Luckily we did this for our large group and we did not have to wait for a table. We had a group of 9 and they were able to put tables together easily. The location is also handicap accessible as our group had one member in a wheelchair. One note though is it is next to impossible to get someone in a wheelchair to their bathrooms. If you are on crutches or more mobile, you should be good to go.
The food was excellent and so were the mimosas, however, do not come here for brunch if you are in a hurry. It took about 40 minutes for our food to arrive after ordering. If you are alone, it is possible you will have a faster turn around but not guaranteed. Don't say I didn't warn you.
The reason I do not leave 5 stars is due to there only being two non gender single bathrooms, the bathrooms not being wheelchair accessible, and the excessive wait for our food. 4 stars? I know, I'm as surprised as you are. I've been to a few other Marathons around town, and left disappointed every time. I protested when this place came up as an option, but hunger won in the end and ended up there for lack of other options.
The service was spotty, and at least three people broke/dropped dishes while I was there. My steak salad with arugula, fennel, gorgonzola and a table by the window made up for it.
2 people, one soup and two salads for $26. Marathon survives another day in my book. My go to brunch spot. Also the only brunch place that seems to be open before 11 am. Such a great neighborhood spot to grab a quick dinner also. All the food is great that I have tried. Great happy hour also with cheap drink prices. I love their create your own salads. They can get pricey but they are really good. And who doesnt love $5 mimosas? So accommodating to the kids.... great food... great kids menu... nice waitress...all around good experience! Went here twice this past weekend, once for a late dinner and once for brunch. The dinner was pretty good...food was enjoyed by all (despite taking an unreasonable amount of time to arrive), decent drink selections, fair to middling service. This was when the six of us were just about the only party there. I'd chalked the slowness up to it being late so maybe they were short staffed or in the middle of cleaning. It wasn't a big deal then because we were content to lounge around for a while. Brunch today was another story. I called twenty minutes before we were to eat to see if they could accommodate a party of eight. They said no problem, and would be awaiting our arrival. We get there and the host said the table still wasn't ready but he'd make sure we were seated soon. He did nothing of the sort. Rather, he went ahead and sat no fewer than three small parties (which had arrived after us, naturally) at large tables while we stood there taking up space. After we'd been there for twenty five minutes, with not so much as a glance from the host, someone leaving the restaurant came up to one of us and said "Just leave now, the service is obviously terrible and the food is even worse." So we turned around and went to the Continental instead. Which was lovely. Decent quality food. Their vegetable and grain salad is my favorite.
Their burger is OK. Nothing terrible, nothing to write home about.
Fabulous service! I've ordered To Go here and on the premises and both times, they've been great.
I do want to go back to check out their Happy Hour/bar scene. I ran a marathon to get here ;)
jk I only walked like 3 blocks.
Usually it's always crowded but today my friend and I were lucky enough to get a seat. The food is great and so are the prices. Servers are very kind and welcoming. Ambience: a panera is cozier
Food: burger was great (probably overpriced) and the caesar was lackluster
Service: just okay
Go or don't go: eat anywhere else- Philly offer so many other wonderful choices We only had one breakfast here, but it was good, came quickly, and was a good value for money. I don't know why this place isn't reviewing better. The waitress and hostess were cheerful and competent, and that's as good as it gets. Stopped in for a quick drink and a bite to eat and had one of the worst experiences of customer service since moving to Philadelphia. We sat at the bar and there was no bartender. The others at the bar were also just sitting around with waters waiting on a bartender to show up. When the bartender did show up, he was unfriendly, spoke quietly and acted annoyed when we repeated questions. It took 3 tries to get a food/drink list out of the bartender and then the bartender disappeared again. After 15 minutes, and one extremely overpriced beer, we left cash on the top and bailed.
My review may be limited to the bar, but other servers saw a bunch of patrons waiting at the bar and none of them did anything. Even a manager came by and asked us where the bartender was, as if we would be able to provide that answer. Horrible service all around...do yourself a favor and skip this place and enjoy dinner and drinks at the wide variety of other locations in this area that care about you being there and not about the football game on in the background. The only reason I gave it a 2 star is because the food looked interesting. Hits and misses but honestly I come for the ambience and vibes. Also the fries are good and it's a awesome place to chill I went there today and was disappointed that a woman at the front register had a cough and used a paper towel to grab spinach for my smoothie. She did not wash her hands.
Needless to say I threw the smoothie away and it wasn't even blended completely. I will not be returning to this establishment.
Sick employees should not work around food! I think the thing that really impressed me about this place is the bang-for-your-buck factor. The food, while not extravagant, is very good, and it's less expensive than other restaurants of similar quality. My wife and I have been a couple of times and have had similar experiences each time. Every time my husband and I visit Philly this is our go to breakfast place... Love the salmon goat cheese omelette! However this past time the server wasn't as on point as the others we've had took almost as long for her to bring us our check as it did to eat our food... However these things happen and I'm sure we'll return next time in town! food is pretty good especially the turkey platter (thanksgiving dinner) and the meat loaf .service is fast i am in and out Nice spot in center city. The food is good, but the place is usually crowded and noisy. If you're ok with being in a noisy place, the food is really good so it's worth it. I recommend you the quiche. It has good flavors and texture. Why are there five of these downtown?
Anyway, I went with a large group (20ish) for dinner around 6pm on a weekday. There were maybe 7 other people eating when we showed up. Thanks to reservations we were seated promptly and drinks soon arrived. Food however, took an eternity. I understand you want to bring everyone's dinner out at the same time and some idiot orders something special to slow it down, but it still took a while for our fairly simple orders.
Luckily our waiter was a nice guy and very attentive. And while our food was decent, I think it was mainly hunger that drove me to eat every morsel. The options on the menu looked fantastic, but no one really raved about the taste at the end. Since my friend lives right down the street, we came here for Sunday brunch. We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table which wasn't too bad. We both ordered the Breakfast Quesadilla and shared the Short Stack Pancakes. I loved the idea of the Breakfast Quesadilla and it was very yummy. The pancakes were nothing to write home about. This is a fairly inexpensive place for quality food and I did not feel like I was rushed to finish my food like I do at other crowded brunch places. We ate here twice for breakfast and I'd say it's ordinary at best. The first time I had pancakes and a side of sausage. The pancakes were fluffy enough and not bad, but with the butter and syrup and not so great sausage I felt like it was just plain old diner food. The next time I had eggs, I believe called the Marathon special or some such thing. Eggs came prepared OK, sunny side up, but again nothing to get too excited over or all that special.
The wait staff seemed somewhat complacent, friendly, but not overly into the job. Both times the restaurant had some customers, but not all that many.
For breakfast on the run, perhaps OK, but otherwise find somewhere that steps it up a bit. Eggs Benedict fresh and served hot.and fast -omlet perfect size
With good portion of home fries. Wait staff excellent attentive and anticipates your needs. What can I say? Because this place is on route to going home, it might as well be my kitchen only without running back and forth to the refrigerator and freezer with ease to fix something to eat. This Marathon has a magnetic atmosphere that just pulls you in. I've sat and watched people walk past it only to come back because they wanted to enter the busy, electric atmosphere it give off.
I've been coming here since its opened and have seen many servers and staff member come and go. One of them being a friend of mine and former coworker that I met while we worked at a cafe in Germantown together years ago.
How about that huh? So having been a server before, I know how I want to be served and the service here is quick and prompt but sometimes rushed and impersonal but as I continue to make my frequent appearances certain servers become more and more friendlier depending on the time of day I go in.
The day I went in I ordered a chocolate milkshake and the cheese-steak rolls which gave me a quick protein boost until I got home for the real kitchen food.
I always have a pleasant experience here with the sights and sounds going on there is never a boring or sleepy moment here. I've been here twice now, and am definitely a fan. Last night I ordered the grilled soy ginger salmon with roasted veggies and couscous. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the perfect flavor. The vegetables consisted of asparagus, carrots, and zucchini which were all crisp. I was surprised to get such a great dish for under $16. Service was surprisingly quick for a Saturday night, my table of 5 was in an out in a little over an hour. Stopped in for some apps and drinks before an event near by. It was three perfect starting spot with an upbeat vibe. Seemed like others may have had the same idea. Luckily we were in time for happy hour so we took advantage of the drink specials. Our server was on top of our refills and made sure we were taken care of even though we didn't order full meals. The appetizer sampler was a good choice bc of the variety. Everything we had was tasty but not overly amazing. It did the job though! I also liked the matzoh ball soup. Reasonable prices and a plenty to choose from.
As my friend mentioned in another review, bathrooms could use some work.
I wouldn't hold that against them though and would still return for a fun night out! The take-out counter ladies and gents are the nicest. Always quick with a recommendation, and they haven't steered me wrong yet. I'm grateful for their assistance. Grilled Salmon with Asparagus & Mashed Potatoes exquisitely prepared! I've been the this Marathon a few times for breakfast. It was crowded but we didn't have to wait too long for a table. The service was good and friendly. I loved the southwestern breakfast wrap and the parfait was awesome. Not to mention the delicious bloody marys, also :)
The breakfast was such satisfaction, I can't wait to go for dinner soon! Unfortunately, this restaurant has lost all of my future business after tonight's experience. I ordered the vegetable capellini and was initially enjoying the meal, until I noticed something extremely hard and unchewable in my mouth. To my surprise, when I spit it out it was a triangular piece of thick, sharp plastic, just shy of the size of a dime. I was speechless and in shock, so my husband took the initiative and called over our waitress. To her credit, she immediately sent the manager over to our table. However, as shocked as I was by the plastic in my meal, I was even more shocked by the manager's response. While he did ask if I was ok, he did not utter a word of apology, nor did he offer to comp my meal. When I asked him what the plastic was from and why it was in my meal, he replied, "I don't know -- it could have come from a lot of things." Excuse me? Why are there so many things it could have come from?? Is there no quality control in the kitchen? While he did bring me a new dish, I had lost my appetite by that point, and was still skeptical as to how I could be sure there would be no plastic in this one (his blind assurance was not helpful). I took the leftovers, because I hate wasting food, but I don't know if I'll be able to bring myself to eat them. I do know one thing, though -- on principle, I will not return to a restaurant with such poor quality control and management. Sometimes I am an adventurous eater. I want something innovative, something different, somewhere trendy. But most of the time, I just want to choose food that tastes good from a menu with reasonable variety and prices. Marathon is my go-to spot for that kind of meal - especially for brunch!
Offerings at Marathon are pretty basic. You've got burgers, you've got sandwiches, you've got salads. At brunch you've got French toast and eggs Benedict and omelets. Nothing that is going to blow your mind. The food quality is very consistent, I've never received a wrong order, and service has always been helpful and attentive. I particularly like their "create your own" options - make your own salad, your own omelet, your own burger. They've got good variety in toppings so I can always come up with something that fits exactly what my tastebuds are looking for.
Some people might look down on Marathon and their basic offerings and chain status. I know, I live in a city with great food offerings, why spend my time and money here? Because I don't always need my mind blown, sometimes I just want a brisket sandwich (delish) and a side of French fries, done well, without a side of pretension. Marathon is happy to give that to me, so I am happy to patronize them. I cant really speak on many of the dishes here, but I've had one of them twice now, because that's how tasty it was.
They have a breakfast special called the brunch quesadilla. Warning - it's a lot of food. People around me commented on how much I ate of it. (Not awkward at all! But I did take a doggy bag home, so that means I'm dainty, right?)
Aside from potatoes with onions and peppers, you get a tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, jack cheese, jalapenos, pico de gallo, black beans, and I said no chorizo but it usually comes with that too. The jack cheese is a perfect choice with the eggs. The salsa that comes with it adds just enough spice to make you want to keep eating. Sometimes the jalapeno is a little overpowering, but I pick a little bit of it out as i go and that tones it down. I definitely recommend giving it a try! FYI: They have a full bar and outdoor seating on the sidewalk, but they also have plenty of seating on the inside, though their table layout makes for some narrow walkways.
On a Friday night during prime dinner time, the fiancé and I were searching for somewhere to eat after running some errands in center city. We always walk by this place so I've always wanted to try it but the opportunity never came up until today.
WHAT WE GOT: Grilled chicken margherita flatbread, grilled salmon, scallops dinner special
PROS: Nice decor/ambiance with friendly and attentive staff. The kitchen is on full display on the side of the restaurant but it adds a nice touch to the place. The food was pretty okay; nothing super special but nothing to be mad at either. The price matched the portion sizes and the freshness of the food. Loved the sweet but tangy honey mustard glaze on my salmon, which was cooked nicely. The mashed potatoes were also pretty good and so was the flatbread. I mean you can't really go wrong with chicken, cheese, and pesto.
CONS: The asparagus that came with the dish were a bit cold and my fiancé's risotto and spinach were both kinda sort on seasoning. It also took a little bit for the appetizer to come out even though the restaurant wasn't really busy. There's also minimum walking space in between some of the tables.
Random thoughts from the fiancé: Our waiter Tyler was friendly and provided great service. It seemed though that his area was kinda spread out and disjointed with some tables being inside and some being outside which slowed service down. He also looked and sounded like Vin Diesel which was amusing. Pretty good, pretty good! I've heard fairly bad reviews about the location near Jefferson, but this place seemed to have a lot of people, so my husband and I took a chance and ate there.
We ordered the calamari for our appetizer. I wasn't too impressed, as there was a lot of breading than actual calamari. The sauce was good though (can't remember what it was).
My entree was the chicken marsala with parmesan risotto and grilled asparagus. Very yummy! I liked the risotto because it felt like I was eating chicken and rice. =) I wish there were more veggies though.
Overall, I'd come back. Prices are decent, service was good, and it's close to our apartment. Fantastic food, great environment in center city Philadelphia. I will definitely come back again. After today, I have to regretfully give Marathon a two star rating. I have eaten here a few times before and the food has always been pretty good. Their burger is tasty, juicy, but a little bit messy. Their Philadelphia-style take on a Caprese is very good as well. On their food alone I would give Marathon four stars, but there are other issues. The noise level (extreme) and cramped sitting room (they try to pack in as many people as possible) takes that rating down to 3 stars easily. Today I ordered a Caesar salad with *blackened chicken* to go. There salads always look fantastic when you watch them go by your table while you're eating there. The salad I got today though was awful. The chicken was, in my opinion, undercooked and cold, and certainly not blackened. The salad itself was drowning in dressing and the croutons are bland and leave a bad taste in your mouth. To top it off, the salad by itself is $12 or $13, if you add chicken it's $16. This is high even for the city. I expected a much better tasting salad and my opinion of this place has taken a major hit. Shut the front door!
I ordered the vegetarian chili a few weeks ago and ordered it again for lunch today. If your looking for a nice warm lunch go to Marathon grill. The small chili is like a large and its extremely affordable. The people are nice and welcoming also. I love going here for brunch, prices are reasonable and the food and service is always great. I've never had a wait but I also don't go during peak hours so that could be the reason why, never hurts to give them a call just to check! Favorite lunch spot for all the offices nearby. I went here when I was in Philly for the weekend. My boyfriend did nothing but rave about it. He was correct in the raving when it came to the food. The burger I had was delicious and the Caesar salad was incredible.
The service we had was unbelievably awful. He said that particular location was more of a lunch spot, but come on 4 servers for 10 tables? You would have thought we wouldn't have watched our food in the window for 15 minutes. We saw a server talk over our food several times to the kitchen but she never felt like she should bring it to us. I have no idea what made them actually bring out our food, but thank goodness it finally came. We asked for our check three times about 10 minutes apart because no one would bring it to us or come over near our table.
The food is worth going and when I go back to Philly I'll probably go again, but I sure hope the service is better. Great casual dining experience.
The decor gives Marathon a very modern and casual feel. They also have floor to ceiling windows spanning two sides of the restaurant offering a cool street view. They seated us right away and the service was good but nothing to brag about.
I ordered the buffalo chicken sandwich and was very pleased. It was topped with blue cheese crumbles and coleslaw which balanced well with the buffalo chicken. The chicken itself was very lightly breaded and served on a ciabatta roll which made it not as heavy of a sandwich as you might find at most sports bars.
Overall I think Marathon is a great lunch and casual dining spot. Nice ambiance. Average service. Worst food I've had in years. Salmon was so oily we couldn't eat it (tasted like cooking oil was added to the salmon!). Greek salad was very salty (REALLY salty). Even the coleslaw was salty! Cod was watery, undercooked and felt kind of slimy, couldn't eat it. House salad was good. Ice tea was small glass with infrequent refills. Don't eat here. Open late. Great salads with solid variety. The wait staff is attentive and timely. The also have good burgers and sandwiches. The place is never crowded in the evenings and the location is convenient for going out afterwords. Marathon Grill is a local chain restaurant, with about 5 locations around the city, but I've only been to the one at 16th and Sansom. I went with a huge group of friends on a Saturday night after a particularly grueling day, and I really enjoyed myself. They sat our party without a wait (there were probably about 15 or 16 of us), and we got a long table with a great view of the street. This place has a modern, clean decor and friendly wait staff. The food is also really good. I had a really good burger and a huge, cold pint of beer.
This place also delivers, caters, and hosts parties. It's also good to just hang out at their bar, and they have happy hour specials on a regular basis. If you want a cool, contemporary place to eat that's not too expensive, check out Marathon Grill. Good food, great service, reasonable prices. All of this and walking distance from my hotel. We had an event for 15 people here and they took great care of us, giving us the back area and even setting up a buffet line. I will definitely be back for a salad on my next trip to Philly. Been here a few times in the past, I especially enjoy the outside seating on a nice day. Food is pretty good too, and it is easy to get reservations. Really an average place for an average meal. We came here during the Federal donuts block party because there were just too many damn people in that block. It seems like other people had similar ideas because the place was packed! Fortunately, the hostess seated us fairly quickly and brought our drinks out.
I was not particularly impressed with the brunch selection. There really were not a lot of selections for people that didn't eat meat, so I got the marathon breakfast which includes two eggs, toast, home fries. I decided to get two extra pancakes to satisfy my sweet tooth and that was the best decision I made the entire day because while the dish was meh, the pancakes were perfect fluffy cakes with chocolate chips.
I do want to note that it took a while for our food to come but that was probably due to the packed house. Also, the home fries were very soft and I like my potatoes a little more roasted but it was a regular restaurant with not much pizazz. Went for brunch with a group of 9, called ahead and got a table little to no wait. Sat down and was immediately greeted by our waitress for drink orders. It took her longer to get back to the table to take our food orders but it was also very busy when we first sat down. Food came out about 40 minutes later, but was very delicious. Many staff came over while we ate, checking on drink refills and if anything else was needed, but never felt like they were a bother. When it was time for checks the waitress took extra time to make sure she split everyone's checks correctly and was friendly while doing it. Very reasonably priced. I would go back. I got the salmon burger, it was pretty good. I'd come back to this place! My friend got the veal meatballs----DELICIOUS!!
I came back again and got the eggs benedict- average but I will keep this at 4 stars because of those meatballs.
Service was good , friendly. We waited an hour and a half for our food while we saw at least 3 rotations of tables get their food before us. When confronting the manager about this, his excuse was they were "busy". Not too busy to serve 3 rotations of tables before us I guess. Will never go back and food wasn't worth the wait. The best part? We both ordered sandwiches that could've been made in less than 10 minutes. Possibly the slowest service I have had in years. Seriously it shouldn't take an hour to cook a hamburger.
This place is rediculous. We sat for over an hour waiting for food, and all we ordered were hamburgers and drinks. The drinks, two wines, two beers and a water took 24 minutes to get to our table.
Then, when the food came one of our group ordered a hamburger well done. It came out very bloody and raw. Seriously after an hour you would think they would have the order right.
Im not from Philadelphia, but if I was I would never go back. Such a good job with the amount of people with the Super Bowl Parade. Food was great! Had the Moroccan meatballs - could have been a meal by itself! I also had the Philly Cheesesteak, my wife had the turkey club (which she actually liked, a rarity when we go out because places usually put mayo on things). We had our kids with us, the kids menu is reasonably priced and good portions. Awesome place. Took a date here on a busy Saturday. I expected a 30 minute wait but we were seated within 5 minutes and we ordered and got our food within 15 minutes the food was super high quality and you could tell the entire staff cared about us. I'm not one to talk about price, but our bill including drinks was under $60. Absolutely will be back! Also they serve the best old fashioned in Philadelphia! This is one of my go to lunch places and their Chicken Cobb salad is perhaps my favorite salad there is. Had the opportunity to try them for breakfast this weekend and was not disappointed. Everything you would expect, and their coffee (Chesnut Hill, I believe) is really good and much better than you get at most breakfast places. On its own, Marathon would rate a 4. But in a sea of great places to eat in the downtown Philly area, its tough to rate it that high.
Good, solid, competent food. I'd eat here again, but to be honest, I only dropped by in the first place because my favs were all booked up. Given the choice, I can think of 2 or 3 other places I'd go to first if they weren't cram packed with reservations. 5 stars only because it is the ONLY decent spot open past 10pm in this hood. That, and who doesn't like a "control freak" salad? I've been to the Rittenhouse location for dinner once, and once was definitely enough. Our host was nice, but we wound up with a surly server who, when I asked him which of the grilled tuna steak sandwiches he'd recommend, just shrugged and said, "Depends what kind of stuff you like." Strike one.
He finally said, "Just get the Cajun one." Bad move on my part for taking his advice. The flavor combination was plain bad, and adding cheddar cheese was just wrong. Strike two.
Our calamari appetizer? Completely unseasoned. And the arugula salad we ordered? Wilted after a serious dressing drenching. Strikes three and ... I'm outta strikes. And love for Marathon Grill. I have eaten at Marathon (this location) more times than I care to admit, and I have no earthly idea why I kept coming back. I used to live and work in the neighborhood, and it is convenient, but looking back, there are SO many other convenient places that (1) serve better food, (2) have better service, or (3) both.
Really, there are two Marathons here, and they each deserve a review. There is the weekday lunch Marathon and the weekday evening/weekend Marathon. It's almost as though these restaurants are the alter-ego of one another, and just happen to share space. Very strange.
During the week and the lunch rush, Marathon is not a bad choice. They are crowded and rushed, but the food gets out pretty fast (and generally correctly) and the tables turn quickly. To accommodate the largest number of patrons, they do have tables packed so tightly together that you can literally hear entire conversations from nearby tables, but it can be interesting to occasionally eavesdrop and hear about someone else's dysfunctional life for a change! Weekday lunch is also when the "A-team" of servers tend to work. The service is pretty good, despite the apparent chaos throughout the restaurant (I can only imagine working the kitchen line during a weekday lunch shift), and the food is at its peak (which while generally a plus, isn't saying much here). I quickly learned to stick with basic stuff like sandwiches and soups (the Matzo ball rocks!), because salads (yes, salads) and more complicated entrees get messed up way too frequently.
Then there is the evening shift. This is where things really come unglued. If the lunch shift servers are the "A-team," then this is the "D-team." Most of the servers we have had in the evenings and on weekends seem like they wound up working at Marathon because pumping gas was too complicated. In the 3 years I lived nearby and ate an occasional dinner at Marathon (apparently I am just lazy), I don't think we ever had a meal where everything was correct in our order and we enjoyed good service. More often than not, the order was wrong in at least one way (seriously, how do you mess up a Caesar salad?), or the waiter disappeared for 20 minutes, or the temperature in the restaurant was hovering just above meat locker level. Sandwiches with the wrong meat (yes, really), salads with the wrong dressing, and entirely wrong dishes were delivered with apathy and discourtesy on a routine basis. On the rare occasion that I was either particularly motivated or so pissed off that I decided to speak with a manager, the line was always the same: something about the server or kitchen staff being new/undertrained/high/mentally deficient.
And yet we returned. Again and again. I think the last straw was when they were changing menus a while ago and diners at our table got different menus and the server tried to explain that neither of the menus was correct but that he would tell us what the kitchen could make that night. I love a good walking menu at a red gravy Italian joint, but at Marathon it was just too much.
The good: Matzo ball soup (as good as any New York deli)
The bad: EVERYTHING ELSE
The ugly: see "bad, the" I had just finished my day and decided to go out for a weekday dinner with a friend, but we didn't want anyplace too fancy or fussy, and settled on Marathon Grill. Marathon is a local favorite with a few locations around Philadelphia, with good food, a nice amour of space and decent prices--it often reminds me of a modern, upscale diner. In fact, Marathon is often a brunch spot for me since their brunch quesadilla with chorizo is big and delicious!
For dinner, I opted for the Marathon Burger ($11.50). They also have the option of customizing your burger, but I went with the pre-customized menu version. The temperature of the burger was good, just a hair over medium rare, and it was amazingly juicy, greasy and messy in the best way possible--all burgers should be a little messy! For their beef, Marathon uses a blend of short rib, sirloin and chuck. The party tasted very gourmet, and because there was a blend of cuts, it had a nice amount of fat that kept the burger incredibly moist.
The tomato wasn't sliced too thick, and the lettuce was easy to take off as I don't usually like lettuce on my burgers. The applewood smoked bacon was cooked through, but still a kept some chewiness, which I love. I hate when bacon is super crisp and it's lost all of its porkiness and meatiness. On the other hand, the bacon wasn't flabby, and had a subtle smoky taste.
The BBQ sauce was slathered on the bottom half of the bread and also helped keep the sandwich moist--and wet. The sauce itself was spicy and had a nice bite to it--interesting, but in a good way. The cheese didn't have a very bold flavor, but helped the sandwich keep a creamy consistency. The sweet, caramelized onions were on point and played well with the spicy BBQ sauce, especially since there was a generous portion of them on the burger. The burger was served on a country, brioche bun that was strong enough to stand up to the heavy burger. It had a slight, pleasant sweetness to it.
I wasn't in the mood for fries, or for the other side choice of Caesar salad on the menu, so I substituted some spinach for the fries. The spinach was served in a small bowl on the burger plate and was cooked with a nice amount of garlic, though perked up a lot with some salt.
My friend ordered the Grilled Salmon ($15.50), which was glazed with a whole grain honey mustard sauce. The fish was cooked well, and stayed moist. The mustard wasn't too strong as to overpower the salmon. The mashed potatoes were super creamy and absorbed some of the juice and sauce from the salmon. The accompanying asparagus was a smaller portion, but tasted delicious. The stalks weren't mushy, and still had great texture.
The restaurant staff was very friendly, and the servers were enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the menu. Marathon Grill was a solid weekday dinner option with a tasty, comforting old school burger. Great service, meal had effort put into it, moroccan chicken on my salad was great, and best of all, free wifi. Best signal was in the back corner with all the booths.
However, like any downtown upscale american joint, the prices were a bit high. Not only a little high, which i can deal with, but if you want a side or a starter it's gonna hit you even harder. But, the atmosphere was very good for a date and money is less important in that scenario. Really good service and good food. I've been here for brunch and dinner and have always loved it. I recently got the Marathon burger and it was cooked perfectly (medium) and the sauce was delicious. I got the salad as a side and it was good. Maybe a little light on the dressing but fresh vegetables. It had a very nice atmosphere, not too high end but comfortable. Also in a good location. Good price, but not value. The staff was nice, but the food was worse than anything I've cooked after a night of heavy boozing. I ordered a simple, foolproof dish, but resultantly received delivery of a bone dry, burnt, black rotisserie chicken. Isn't it the pinnacle of ease to keep chicken moist if you've invested the money in a rotisserie? The rest of the dish was ok, but still not arriving to the aforementioned bar of my drunken culinary skill. Everything about this place was awesome. I was visiting Philly for the week and bumped into their delivery guy in my apartment elevator. He recommended the place so my girls and I went. It was so good, we had brunch there two days in a row! I would recommend the vegetable chili, it was flavorful and served at the right temperature. The wait staff was welcoming, professional and cute (lol). Overall, a great experience and I would 100% recommend it. Very good food. Fresh. Delicious. Nice atmosphere. Prices are decent! I got the applewood bacon omelette. I would def recommend that dish. Expensive, loud, not really bad service - I think they are just SO, SO overwhelmed. They pack too many people in there and double seat the servers repeatedly.
It's just so underwhelming here. There's no point to go. You usually have to wait. You usually wait forever for your food. Just not for me. Been here a few times for brunch, so we went last Sunday (3/9/14) for a late lunch around 4 (we didn't see it posted on their site anywhere, but brunch ends mid-afternoon). Three of us got: the turkey club with cup of tomato basil soup, the Philly cheesesteak with caesar salad side, and the Marathon burger. Everything was good, but my favorite part of the meal was a vanilla shake: SO good. Service was great, and restaurant wasn't too crowded at 4pm. Only downside was we thought brunch was all day..will be heading back in time for brunch next time. Delicious and good service. The best vegeterian chilli ever. A lot of options for vegeterian people like me. Came here for brunch with my sister the other day and I was pleasantly surprised! I had only been to the marathon location on market so I didn't know if I should expect the same. We were pleased to walk in around 10:30 without a wait for a table for brunch. After perusing the menu and swearing we'd get everything because we were hungry, we started off with the fresh brewed ice teas. They were good and well priced!
For my entree I ordered the salmon, tomato, and goat cheese omelette with a side of turkey sausage. The turkey sausage was bomb. Seriously delicious - I would order 5 sides of that if I could. I really liked my omelette too, although I thought it was a little heavy on the goat cheese. However, the salmon was fresh and the tomatoes were cooked well! I was hoping the home fries that came with my omelette would be a little crispier, but they were soft on the inside and seasoned well! I would recommend for an impromptu brunch spot in center city! Really really like their banana bread French toast! So soft, smooth, and full taste of banana! I think A-OK says it right. Marathon is an OK lunch spot and it's in a great location. Keep in mind, this location is FREEZING in the winter...if you look around, most patrons are wearing jackets (and I overheard the servers saying to each other that they were super cold). I enjoyed the Spruce Salad with chicken...the ingredients were fresh and the chicken was cooked well. The salad wasn't mind-blowing and a bit pricey at $13.50. But the menu has a variety of options to please everyone. It's definitely a convenient spot to grab a quick, non-fast-food lunch. Pretty good burger, but lackluster fries. Not any crunch in those at all - unfortunately undercooked. The burger on the other hand was overcooked, in spite of being ordered medium rare. Affordable prices though. mmm.. Although i've been to marathon many times and return because of the fresh ingredients and creative menu this visit was just very average. Stopped here for Brunch, and was definitely a good decision. We were waiting on a list at day by day, and decided to look around and see what was nearby. A very friendly lady recommended that we stop by here, and that was a great decision. LOVE this place. Great spot for a casual lunch or dinner and super veg friendly.
The veggie burger is AMAZING and love to make my own salad. Friendly servers and great location. This is one of my favorite spots for brunch. Come to think of it, i don't think I've had any other meals here. It's really fabulous though, and for some reason I always forget about it. I went to Green Eggs and the line was out the door. We went to Marathon, sat right down, had lovely brunch mimosas, great service, and food that made my belly warm. I got the breakfast quesedilla and it was huge and delicious and served with spicy salsa and sour cream. I also have to say that the decor of this place is fab too. Also noteworth is the prices are really reasonable for an amazing array of choices. Also, you're right by Rittenhouse Square so the people watching can be quite amazing. They also have seating outside when its warmer out.... which is very nice too. I always thought Marathon Grill was a nice restaurant, and then I realized tonight, that its more restaurant/cafeteria hybrid. I got a big salad, and it was big, with fat free thousand island dressing, which was my fault (it was nasty dressing). prices are good, food is good, definitely a place to catch a good meal downtown. One star for the delicious, traditional eggs benedict with a fun twist of spinach thrown in to jazz it up.
One star for fun people-watching at our window-seat.
One star for relatively cheap brunch for two - $27.
Minus two stars for the slow service and 30-minute wait for our meals. Not sure if the food always take a while, but we went around 1 pm on Sunday afternoon. Give yourself some extra time. I just came to Marathon last night with my mom for dinner and I really enjoyed our experience. The menu has a large variety of options so you are bound to find something you would like. They also use local ingredients which I always like to see. Our server was nice but he seemed to be very busy with a bunch of other tables, but I understand because we came just as SIPS was ending. I ordered a cup of vegetarian chili to start and a Caesar salad with blackened chicken. My mom ordered the Greek salad with blackened chicken. Both salads tasted fresh and the chicken was flavorful. The portion sizes were perfect. The chili was decent but served a little cold. Our overall experience here was good and I look forward to coming back, especially for the outdoor seating. veggie burger was house made (kudos!), yet fries soggy. overpriced. cute location during the fair weather days when you can sit outside. nothing was spectacular, everything was expensive. brunch is inordinately packed and impractical for sub par omelettes, do not recommend for this occasion. if you're gluten free, this spot has very limited and tasteless options. nope. Friendly service. Food is ok. Only downside is the long wait to get seated, to get your food served, and to get your check. Overall, this place needs to be a little bit more organized to accommodate its patrons. Great spot where the food is always guaranteed fresh. I love the idea that all the food is local. The service was great and the food was delicious. I ordered the turkey burger- honestly it was pretty amazing, smoked Gouda, bacon, and came out piping hot.
My sister ordered the eggs Benedict salmon meal and it was fairly disappointing- watery hollondaise sauce and wilted spinach. She was so upset about the way it looked that she was holding back the tears, I felt really bad. I offered her my meal, but she was too proud to take it. It was pretty emotional.
I always really liked it here- but now I must choose my fate- whether I should return for the delicious burger, or follow in my sisters footsteps and explore other brunch options. We happened upon this place in search of a quick work lunch. This place has everything - soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, seafood. We ordered the salsa and chips appetizer because we were starving - word to the wise - this is WARM salsa. Got the sour cream on the side (I like it, friend didn't) and I just really loved the combo of the warm tomato salsa with a bit of sour cream on the amazing seasoned tortilla chips. Great option to tide you over. They had a crab cake sandwich special. I was skeptical getting this from what appears to be a diner as crab cakes can be great or really bad. THIS WAS AMAZING. Huge lump crab. Got the remoulade on the side but it was also great. I was stuffed but managed a few sweet potato fries and it was worth it. I would definitely come back! We just had an awesome breakfast! Good customer service! They kept refilling us coffee. Loved it. The prices seemed reasonable and I was excited that they had so many vegetarian options. I ended up getting the southwest salad and the avocado on it was perfect. My husband got the ginger soy salmon and he had requested different sides, (which they said was fine) but when our food came, they brought him the sides on the menu, not what he requested. We didn't want to wait so he just ate what they brought, but it was still good. Our server was friendly and made recommendations for us. Overall, it was a good experience! Stopped in here today and ordered off their 3-5 menu. Best part of the whole meal were the Philly Cheesesteak Won-Tons. Fried to a crispy perfection and served with a wiz cheese sauce that had a drop of Sriracha in it. I ordered the Salmon burger which was terrible. Overly fishy tasting and had a slimy film over it and was topped with wads of some sort of gooey green. Texturally it just didn't work. My husband had the burger. It was really dense and mostly dry. Service wasn't anything special. I walked in and had to prompt the man at the podium to speak to me. Our waitress was nice but was rushing away from us before we even finished giving her our orders. She always didn't check back in with us after brining food over. I would not dine here again for the price there are a lot of other nicer places to go out to. Food: 3.5 stars
Ambiance: 3.5 stars
Price: 4.0 stars
Location: 4.0 stars
Service: 3.5 stars
Recommendations: Marathon Grill is a great local choice for a higher end diner style experience. They serve a great breakfast, have a delicious cheeseburger, and have multiple other food options on their menu. Their portions are generous and the service and ambiance are great. There are multiple locations throughout the city. I would recommend this place for breakfast or for a faster, more inexpensive option to higher end dining restaurants in the city.
Overall: 3.5 stars I liked marathon, the menu is simple and everyone can pretty much find something they like, from vegetarian to gluten free or general picky eaters. On more than one occasion I have ended up with a big crowd and Marathon has always been accommodating. Though the food has always been consistently good, the drinks have varied greatly from not quite right, or completely wrong, and then sometimes they're great, it just depends on how busy they are I guess. My girlfriends and I went here for CC sips last week. Great specials! $4 beers, $4 house wines, and $5 well drinks. They also had $2.75 disco tots and sweet potato fries. I would've given this place 5 stars but our server, Samantha was rude and awkward. I made a reservation and got there before my friends so I sat down first to get a glass of wine. My friends got there so we got drinks and ordered the Marathon Sampler. Immediately after, the server asked us every minute 3 times if we were ready to order our entrees even though we told her we needed more time. The Marathon Sampler was delicious! I got the Marathon burger with Caesar salad as my entree. Delish and well made. My friends also loved their food (cheesesteak wontons, flatbread, burgers).
Overall, my first experience at Marathon was okay. The service sucked, but the food was good. We'll be back and definitely make sure we have a better server. This is a regular diner. Nothing special about this place so only giving it 3 stars as it's just okay as far as diners goes. I had the cheese steak sandwich but it was mostly hard bread. The bread makes a big difference for a sandwich or burger people! We ate a late dinner here. Some of the drinks were good. We thought the food was ok.. Probably a bit too oily. We ate salmon and talapia Love this place. Best burger around. I pay the 10 dollar train ride to come here. It can get a little loud at times but it's a great place to get good food and spend some time in Philly. Never gotten anything from here I don't love. Food is good and portion sizes are large. Decent value for the money. The biggest problems with this place are the consistency and they're not very good at following directions. This is a consistent problem. For work, we eat here at least once a week and there's always something wrong with our order. We have them read our order back usually and it's right, so it is probably the cooks or whoever is putting the salads together that are confused.
UPDATE 6/11/2015
Took a star away because they've hired a new person that takes phone orders and deals with payments for takeout. She's got the wrong (read: bitchiest) attitude for a person that has a job interacting with customers. Not sure they did their due diligence before hiring her. The people that were there before her were much more pleasant to interact with. Marathon Grill is good, reliable, fresh food. Co-workers and I tap this place about 2-3 times a week for take out lunch. It's slightly pricier than neighboring lunch places, but you know that it's clean and fresh food. Only downside is that the menu could change a bit more often. COME HERE IF YOU WANT TO:
- Cure your weekend hangover with not-so-greasy food
- Drink milkshakes all day
- Feel comfortable/homey hanging out in a crowded restaurant while chit chatting away with your friends
PROS:
- Food is bloody excellent. They serve a variety of diner-like meals (but with MUCH BETTER QUALITY) such as omelette, burgers, sandwiches,salads.
- Waiter/waitresses are very friendly
- I love the sound of people chatting away. It's like white noise to me. So if you like quiet places then this isn't a place for you unless you come late at night?
- Pricing is excellent, it's equivalent to the quality of the service and the food. Not expensive.
Favourite food: Salmon bagel, Marathon burger, Crispy chicken and sesame salad.
N.B. Don't forget to order coffee, fresh OJ and milkshake!!
CONS:
- Pretty long wait if you have a larger group
- burgers and salads don't get served until after 11am. It was quite a struggle to friend a place for brunch on a Friday morning while visiting Philly. My mother and I came across this place and the food did not disappoint. I ordered the Smoked Salmon Omelet and it was absolutely perfect. My only negative is the fact the air conditioning was blasting so hard I left with goose bumps. I would be interested in trying dinner or lunch here the next time I am in town. I was walking around center city and since this was the closest place decided to just eat here. It took over an hour just to get our food. I should have just walked to 500 degrees and called it a day. The pasta dish we received was not even good but at least the burger was decent. I would not come again. I came here with my 3 friends for brunch last Sunday morning. It was pretty crowded but we lucked out and got a booth right away. Our server was friendly and efficient. I created my own omelette of egg whites, cheddar, spinach and applewood smoked bacon. It came with a side of quartered roasted red potatoes (which were quite good) and whole grain toast (not my favorite). My friends ordered the breakfast quesadilla and burritos. The quesadillas had that crisp flaky exterior that I love. Everyone enjoyed their food. My friends also ordered $5 Bloody Mary's. I ordered a green tea which was actually Jasmine tea (unexpected flavor because I was expecting regular) but I enjoyed it with some honey. Overall the food was pretty fresh and seemed to be good quality ingredients. The bill was more than you would pay at say a diner (about $17 a piece with tip) but not super expensive. They also have that double set of doors to keep the cold air out which is always a plus for seats near the door in the winter. Yes, it's open until 11 PM or midnight, which is key if you've been working long hours, and nothing else around is open (and the room service options suck).
A colleague and I ordered omelettes for take out a few nights ago, and the woman taking the orders kept asking me questions about what we were ordering. "Uh, uh, uh, I think we can do that" is not something we want to hear, esp. if one of us (her) has strict dietary issues and was worried about getting the orders mixed up. We were able to clear orders away once we got back to our hotel. My bacon/cheese/pepper omelet was delicious but a little runny. The side of french fries were pretty good as well; it was just a little salty for my liking.
I came back and dined in this time. It wasn't crowded on a late afternoon and I was able to choose wherever I wanted. My waiter was friendly and stopped to chat with me a few times. I ordered the same thing as before, and this time, the omelet was better but the fries were a little bland. It's not a bad place to go in the area that's still open. Skip this place...terrible service!!!! Sat at our table for 15 min, asked the hostess for a server, and watched her tell the hostess, "I get there when I get there" This particular Marathon only gets two stars, but I do not dislike Marathon as a general rule. In fact, I like Marathon as a general rule. But this location... I want to like it. I work less than a block from here. My only frame of reference with this restaurant comes from the first time I tried to order take out and I was placed on hold. For about 7 minutes. Why I stayed on hold so long? I was desperate for a salad.
I called back two weeks later for this same salad: spring greens, artichoke hearts, goat & cheddar cheese, and white balsamic. I successfully ordered this salad. When I picked it up, service was decent. It was ready when they said it would. Then I got back to work, ready to EAT! I opened the bag and found a soggy, wet, nasty soup that barely lined the bottom of the plastic container it came in. The veggies were completely swimming in white balsamic. I ate three bites and wanted to vomit. Perhaps I should have ordered the dressing on the side, but I thought that was common practice with to-go salads. The size of the salad was unacceptable - I've had their salads before and this was maybe half the size. Perhaps I should have complained at the time and taken it back, but I was so sickened and disappointed I didn't.
All of that being said, I'm giving this place two stars because it's not all that bad. Just that one time, it was really, really bad. Marathon on the Square is better. But Marathon in University City is worse (FYI). Awful experience there a few weeks ago. Ordered several meals and desserts to go during a slow period of day. I was told the order would be right up. So went back to counter in 8 minutes thinking it would be ready.
Nasty, miserable young lady running the takeout/cash register at the counter. She makes you feel stupid for thinking that it would be right up when she said it would. I don't think she could smile even if I offered her $10. Took another 10 minutes until order was ready. They also don't give you the actual copy of the bill. All they give you is the total charged to your card. Bad form.
The young slick looking man behind the counter either owner or GM, could see and observe his nasty counter employee, but clearly didn't care - doesn't seem to have a clue how to see the forest through the trees. He was more interested in flirting with a young female employee, while at the same time having a lengthy texting session.
The food, service, and staff pleasantness used to be exceptional, but over the past few yrs., there's been notable change in the food and the staff's hospitality.
And really???....very surprised they're not professional enough to respond to the awful experience of Jennifer L. First time here yesterday. LOVED it! Our server was so friendly and the food was so good! I had a turkey sandwich with cranberry mayo, arugula, swiss, and bacon, on special. I downed it, naturally. My date had a breakfast burrito on special with chorizo and jalepeno which he loved as well. Loved the décor as well...feels like a diner almost but it's so rustically modern! Will be coming back certainly :) I love Marathon. I have eaten at all three locations and it's consistently great. The other night I had worked the whole day at my job and even stayed open and extra hour to accommodate the influx of clients. I walked over to the Marathon at 16th and Sansom. I knew what I wanted but had never had it before. I was hungry and tired from the long day. I came in from the cold, and was greeted with a handshake and a smile from their manager Brandon. He's always friendly and greets me using my name. I head back to the bar and order a Bulliet Rye Manhattan neat with a side of ice. Matt the bartender whips up this amazingly perfect cocktail that is exactly what the doctor ordered. It's perfectly mixed and is delicious! I order the grilled barbecue chicken sandwich with a side of fries. I'm hungry! My dinner arrives like lightning. It looks perfect and tastes even better! I like that they serve it on a roll that's a parker house. It's all about balance when it comes to a delicious sandwich. It's so perfect that I came back the next night with a friend of mine and ordered it again! Marathon is like an upscale diner with fresh locally grown comfort food. It's a place you can go every week at any time of day and get a great meal. Great staff, solid quick service, and delicious menu. You can always find something to love, breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. And don't forget...a full bar in every location! Thank you guys, you're doing it right. Love new server Brittany at the 16th street location! Service was horrible. Water was never filled till we asked the waiter. The staff stood around having conversations rather than tending tables.
Food was bad. Had their rib special. Ribs was slathered with cheap BBQ sauce. Cole slaw had no taste. Best thing was the sweet potato fries which were crispy and went well with the honey mustard. Our table also ordered their chips and salsa. Salsa was like warm tomato sauce with some spices....just horrible.
It's a nice restaurant. Owner needs to focus on food and service! I went here for a quick breakfast on a Saturday. Overall it was very pleasant. We both got the Marathon Breakfast and pancakes. Nothing special about the breakfast but again no complaints. The pancakes on the other hand were better than expected. Nice open kitchen and trendy vibe. Great place for a quick decent priced meal! Two breakfasts and two bloody mary's= $29 We sat outside cause we had our pup. Tight sitting area as it's right in the sidewalk of Philly, but perfect for people watching. It was a chilly day so probably not the best idea, but it did take a while to get seated, overall the server seemed to forget we were outside with the other 4-5 tables. Long wait time between ordering, getting our food, checking in on us, etc.
The menu was interesting cause it was mostly American but then random Asian and Indian dishes like chicken Marsa. Begs the question how good are their foods that they can't make up their mind. I got the soy ginger salmon and was pleasantly surprised. It was great flavor, a bit overly salted but the ginger came through and the salmon was cooked very well. I love when there's a crunchy outer layer and tender in. They did well. The couscous was nothing to rave about.
Overall, a good experience and I will give them props for noticing my pup and getting him not one but two water bowls. It was a pleasant meal. Will be back if in the area to try their other dishes. Great location in the middle of downtown.
This means horrible parking options. Walking is best! Happy eating. Recommended to come here by our hotel because we were looking for somewhere to eat until we can check in. Great recommendation! We went on Saturday and I had the turkey club sandwich (yummy) and my boyfriend ordered chicken noodle soup (he said it lacked flavor but with a little salt was better). The next morning we came back since it was a block from the hotel. We asked for mimosas and the waitress suggested we can get a bottle of champagne for $40 and make our own, we were sold! She was so sweet and even helped give us recommendations on cool bars in the area for that night. Food and service was great! We were here for a late breakfast and left pleased, full and feeling good. The home made OJ was exquisite. Eggs cooked to perfection. A slab of ham the size of Manhattan. Good service overall despite the crowds. Yummy place in a superb location. Visit Marathon on 16th+Sansom last night and I fell in love with the feel and top notch customer service and awesome food. Very tasty rich in flavor and excellent would eat more. Mike our server was very professional and showed genuine love for his job. I would like say much I appreciate the email from Kevin Kong on how we enjoyed the place. I am a customer for life and I will be back there real soon Kevin. Thanks again. I came here by myself for breakfast at 9am on a Sunday morning. The atmosphere was quieter and relaxed. I ate the Marathon Breakfast, which was well done and satisfying. I agree with many other people that the food was nothing new, but they do the staples well. Although the food did arrive quickly, I leisurely sat and sipped my coffee without hassle. The server was extremely friendly, which also made the experience relaxed. I would definitely return. Stumbled upon this place after the other restaurant we came to the area for didn't work out. Found the service to be quick and attentive and the food to be fresh and tasty. I figured for my only dinner in Philadelphia I would order the namesake burger, so I ordered the Marathon burger with fries. My wife ordered a chicken caesar salad and found it to be very good as well. The best decision of the night though was to flip the menu over and order the b&w shake (chocolate and vanilla mix). The shake put my experience over the top, surprisingly savory and went down smoothly on a hot night.
If we are in Philadelphia again I will make sure that we eat here again! Came here for brunch and enjoyed my dish thoroughly. Surprisngly wasn't that crowded on a Saturday at noon either. Only downside was the coffee was watery and underwhelming. We had breakfast here both mornings on a weekend visit to Philly. They open early (8 AM) on weekends so if you have young kids that get you out of bed early, and you are staying in this area (we were staying at the Westin) this is a good option for the weekend. The food is ok, the standard eggs and waffle, pancakes...portions are not huge like IHOP or diners, but enough and service is very friendly. I have ordered from Marathon for several small parties (10 people or less). Their catering service is friendly and knowledgable. The prices are fantastic, and the food is out of this world. Worth every penny and good to the last bite. Great prices for great quality food. I love finding healthy places to eat that don't cost my paycheck.
I've eaten here a lot. My recommendations are the turkey burger, the Mediterranean salmon salad, the green smoothie, the calamari, the breakfast quesadilla, french toast... almost everything.
I wasn't to impressed with the salmon burger or the smoked salmon benedict.
Still I'll always go back here! Drink - Pineapple margarita ... Much thanks to the bartender it was amazing.
Food-
half caesar - wet lettuce. Flat tasting Caesar salad. Terrible.
chicken pot pie - not your traditional pot pie. Crust on top and not gooey and flaky like most are used to. The vegetables were very hard. Like break the brackets off my braces hard. ESPECIALLY the celery and we all know celery is stringy when raw. The potatoes has ZERO flavor. I must note, I ate it only because it was 6:30 pm and I had not eaten anything all day. My friend took one bite and sent it back.
Ambiance - great low yellow lighting.
Service - great guy. Ask question. Checked up on us. Offered more drinks, etc.
After sending back the pot pie one would think the manger would come over and apologize as well as ask for our feedback.. none of which was done.
The supervisor stood behind the bar and looked beyond us. We would have appreciated a walk up or some sort of acknowledgement.
That's no good. In order for business to grow you must get feedback from the consumer. Would you not ask what the problem was if you served someone food and they didn't touch it? Never in my life have I don't that nor have I done it to someone.
End of story - great service and I'm on vacay. The food is very good for the price, and the interior is beautiful (the plants give it a nice touch). The second time I came here, a busser dropped my used knife on my skirt while he was taking my plate. :( Popped in cause it looked cool, were from California. I had a green smoothie and spaghetti Bolognese and mum had a mimosa and sandwich. SO good! Great service and perfect to watch outside. Great food cool ambiance. Many beers on tap and the food was great. Kind of like a fancy diner. They were the only place open for food in this area late in a saturday Came here for brunch today. I can say that I am a fan and pretty impressed! The boyfriend and I dropped in around noon to get a nice brunch with mimosas (which were very good, definitely not watered down). I ordered a "control freak" omelet - so I was able to pick 3 toppings (sausage, spinach and goat cheese), instead of ordering one of their pre-arranged omelets. The omelets come with home fries and toast (sooo much food, I was STUFFED). The boyfriend got eggs Benedict, and it was also very good and filling. This eggs benedict was a nice portion size, unlike some other restaurants that give you a small serving size which leaves you wanting another round. This also came with a side of home fries.
The waitress was really friendly, helpful and attentive even with it being super busy since it was prime lunch/brunch hour. I also ordered the Liberty Belle cocktail (the waitress suggested it as one of the better cocktails). I wasn't WOWed by it, it was drinkable and tasted like berries, but I didn't find it to be super awesome or special.
I would definitely suggest other people to check this place out for any meal during the day, and I will be back in the future! Our group of 6 was pleased by the variety of food options that could make everyone happy. Tempted by the burgers that were passing by, but trying to be good, I opted for the Turkey and Grain Burger on an evening that it was mixed with barley to give it a less turkey-ish texture (as explained by our server). I was a little dubious, but I ended up liking the flavor and texture; however, I found the burger quite large, therefore hard to eat or finish. We asked for several beers that were out of stock, but managed to find other options that suited us. The burgers here are very good. I also love their salads! I gave it three stars because the service is hit or miss, really. I like how they use local foods and farms. Great food, amazing prices and Amanda was an awesome server! Definitely recommend especially if you are traveling with children!!! I recently took two locals to Marathon who had never been. They were impressed by the organic and fresh local ingredients and wide array of food on the menu. For me, it's a stable stand-by for when I'm out and about in Center City looking for good service, good fresh food, and not too pricey a meal. I absolutely love the turkey and grain burger -- and the matzo ball soup is truly as good as you've heard before. Also, the make your own salad is a great idea! I just learned on this last visit that there is actually a garden in Northeast Philly you can visit to see some of the ingredients you're eating in grow mode. That just upped their credibility to me a million times over. Soo apparently Marathon carries frozen yogurt (although it tastes more like ice cream if you ask me). It's advertised as "active- culture nonfat frozen yogurt made with probiotics" so, well, I'm not going to question the decadent creaminess factor.
I just devoured a dazzling cup of vanilla adorned with shredded coconut flakes and fresh, juicy blackberries. It cost me $4.59 but the portion was rather sizeable and it was conveniently packaged with top & all so that I could, conceivably, stick it in the freezer for second helpings. CONCEIVABLY being the key word here, of course.
...the only leftovers at this point include an exploited plastic spoon and a few stubborn coconut shreddings that managed to escape surreptitious tongue lickings.
Hello, fat kid. I had high hopes for this place after looking at their website, but my husband and I were not impressed. We came on a holiday Monday around 11:30 a.m., and this was our first meal of the day, so we were looking forward to some good breakfast fare. Unfortunately for us, they had stopped serving their official breakfast menu by that time, so our options were limited to the "breakfast all day" choices. I'm not dinging them for that policy - it's understandable. But we ordered omelettes and a smoothie, and it took a ridiculously long time to get our food. The place is basically a glorified diner - I've never waited such a long time for eggs at a diner. The server explained that the kitchen had been "slammed" with take-out orders, but as a customer sitting in the restaurant, I thought "perhaps you should hire more kitchen staff."
The food was okay, but a bit pricey for . . . well, a diner! My husband thought his omelette tasted like it had been made with Egg Beaters. Mine was okay, and the smoothie was pretty good, but the bar gets higher the longer you wait for your food. I went here for Center City Sips just to grab a few drinks and appetizers with a friend. For drinks, we ordered the sangria and basil lemonade. Both drinks were okay, but nothing to get excited about. The basil lemonade was just a tad too basil-y for me.
We ordered the baked Mac & cheese and cheese steak eggrolls for appetizers. You could tell the Mac & cheese was made from a generic mix with no love; the cheese steak eggrolls were good, but hit or miss. Some of the eggrolls were loaded with delicious, cheesy steak, others had barely anything in it.
For those who love sriracha, Marathon doesn't have it!
If I were you, I'd walk down the block to Nodding Head - their food is sooo much better (and they have sriracha). I was just thinking how I miss Marathon Grills's breakfast, time for a visit. I love this location, love the omelet with smoked salmon. Love their pancakes. Coffee could be stronger, prices are reasonable and the staff is always very friendly. This is my breakfast spot. Hair in my salad! It's so gross. Bad hygiene, you can see the chefs have no hat or hair net. I try to get my waitress's attention, but she doesn't look over my table at all. She is chatting with another waitress. I literally waited almost 15 mins. Bad service.
I just moved to the building across the street, but I would never come back again! I seriously don't understand why this place has low ratings. This is one of our favorite spots to frequent in Rittenhouse. Wanted to try out a new place one day and decided to try this on a whim, fell in love ever since. They have a great menu and all their food is fresh and has good portions for the price. My favorite part is that they have a salad and smoothie bar. The very berry smoothie is the best! And their Cobb salad is heavenly. The mac and cheese is to die for. The food is just great here. Every time we visit we try something new and have yet to be disappointed. The ONLY thing I would say I don't like about this place is that the worker in the front isn't a really inviting person... and she always gives us the small tables. Meanwhile my bf is a giant 6'8" man. But it's tolerable I guess.. just try this place out.
We didn't take pics of all the food we got there each time but here are a few.
Also, follow us on IG @ntfoodies for more food places you should try out! I really liked the trendy space and the food was pretty good as well. All of the food I tried was pretty good but not amazing. I went here a couple of months ago for breakfast on a Friday morning and was disappointed as this is usually such a great place. The menu selection was underwhelming and not as large as I hoped for. There was some early morning drama going on with the wait staff and you could really feel that energy. My server made another server cry and she stormed outside and was being consoled by a third server. I could also hear them all talking about the incident and discussing whose fault it was and overall was just a weird morning and pretty hard to focus on the group I was with. I honestly probably wouldn't go back after the last experience although previously I have enjoyed it. This review is for brunch (and brunch cocktails) only. I think this place is the definition of an "OK" restaurant. The savory brunch dishes taste good, but aren't exciting in any way. Just ... middle of the road. The brioche french toast was just normal french toast with some caramel creme drizzled over it. The food feels like stuff you'd get in a run-of-the-mill diner anywhere else. There are too many places in center city that are just better.
Lastly, their brunch cocktails are terrible. I had one with Jameson and honey syrup - I would call it less of a mixed drink and more of a layer of honey at the bottom of the glass topped with a tiny bit of alcohol. After I mixed it together myself, it was unbearably sweet. My fiance got the elderflower collins, which was also far too sweet. Probably 3 parts elderflower to 1 part gin. Avoid the cocktails, and don't expect anything memorable from the food. Had a really great meal here. I would highly recommend it. Really good service and good food. We had the muscles to scallop dinner and the meatloaf. We had a nice view of the room and of all the people passing by on the street so we weren't stuck in a basement somewhere. Never had anything bad from here. I always get the pan seared salmon and its amazing. If you get a chance to, try the chicken pot pie soup or the beef and barley soup. They're only SOTD's but they should be regular menu items cause they're that great!! Wandered in last night for dinner. The service was very good but the food was just meh. With all the other restaurants in this area I'd try something else before coming back here. We did see an incredible cookie ice cream sandwich dessert that a few other patrons ordered, so if I ever do end up there again, I'd like to try that! Five stars to Marathon Grill and Brandon the wonder server we met on August 19. When I told Brandon that there was nothing on the menu I particularly wanted that day (despite the fact that they even have a create your own salad), he did not even blink an eye. I worried I would be a difficult customer, and he dismissed my worry, saying "no you won't. What do you want?" I then asked if I could just have two giant bowls of steamed veggies. That's what I got to my sheer delight - and it was way too much too eat at one sitting! My kids on the other hand got wonderful fish (two different entrees) and loved their food as much as I loved mine.
Any restaurant that handles special requests easily like this gets five stars in my book.
The location is convenient, it was busy for lunch but we got seated immediately, we even saw long-ago friends, not a lot of parking nearby but a great great place to have lunch on a work week. Quick service, tasty food, good drinks, priced right. We went after the opera, on Sunday afternoon. The e Eagles were on TV in the bar area, the outdoor seats were full and the dining room was about half full.
Drinks came quickly (Exit 4 for me, Pinot Grigio for my wife) and our food was ready a few minutes later. Great hamburger with a side of Caesar salad and a funky salad with edamame radish wontons greens and chicken breast.
We felt a little bad for the servers when a 20 top of seniors came in, that must have been fun. I worked right down the street from Marathon, and it's a pretty good and stable restaurant. Generally when I was going to lunch with superiors or people to interview, it was a very good, safe option with plenty of options, even for vegetarians.
The most important thing for me is the value of the meal. I'd say that the food there is ever so ~slightly~ more expensive than I'd want to pay for it, taking into account portion size and taste (don't get me wrong though -- the food is very good)! But obviously that didn't keep me from going!
I guess it's not really my opinion but it's also worth mentioning that it's one of my office's favorites so you won't be disappointed. It's not like the best restaurant in the city or anything but it'll get he job done. And they have fast service.
Pictured: Jambalaya. Would recommend! These folks take the lunch hour on a spin. Organic ingredients, fresh and different options all make these guys a good place for lunch in town in multiple locations. Turkey burgers are flavorful, fries are tremendous, salmon burgers, cuban sandwich are all great. Its a consistantly good option for a business lunch or just to grab a bite. I came here for a weekend brunch, and it was packed!
They had most of your standard breakfast foods. I got an eggs Benedict, and it was what you would expect. Location close to Rittenhouse is great, and the atmosphere is lively. However, there's nothing particularly exciting. Will possibly include this place in my weekend brunch rotation list. Went to Marathon @ 16th/Sansom tonight to celebrate my birthday with friends. The food and service was wonderful! The menu met all dietary & taste bud needs. Thank you marathon for making my 30th birthday and extra special evening. Will becoming back to Marathon again and again. What a find! Stopped by for lunch. They didn't miss a beat when I asked for quinoa instead of couscous in the Moroccan salad. Very tasty and generous portions. A great choice! I came here with six people and they accommodated us extremely well. I can say that was a plus. However, it was a week night at 730pm, so I guess it shouldn't be too much of a surprise. Our waitress just needed a little pinch of "I actually want to be here right now". She really didn't do a great job of selling the food. One of us asked if she liked a certain dish and she said something to the extent of "I hate that type of food so I wouldn't know". She kind of made me feel uncomfortable, like I was bothering her.
The atmosphere was ok, spacious and comfortable. Nothing to rave about.
The food was blah. I mean it's the type of food you can get anyway. Nothing special but decent.
All in all, I wouldn't come back just for the reason it's Philadelphia and the food in this town kills it. While visiting Philly for the weekend, my boyfriend and I stopped and ate at Marathon after our bike race. Therefore, I was pretty famished. Even in that state of hunger, I didn't really enjoy my meal very much. My boyfriend ordered a Marathon Burger- nothing special. It was supposed to come with carmelized onions but instead it came with mushy sauteed onions. Overall, he thought his burger was "pretty good". As for me, I ordered the Meatloaf Dinner. The meatloaf was just okay- nothing extraordinary and special about it. The consistency was soft and mushy and the taste was just plain.
In addition, being a avid beer drinker, I was disappointed that they only have 3 beers on draft? Dogfish Head, Allagash White, and Yuengling.
The one good thing I will say is that the inside decor is cool and modern. Lot of wood art on the wall and plants with huge leaves- not a good reason to come back here though. Went there for dinner last night with 3 other people. We all loved our dishes!
First we ordered two appetizers, the crispy calamari & fire-roasted salsa. For appetizers the portions are quite small. Personally, I thought the crispy calamari was slightly too salty.
Shakes & smoothies were ordered! My goodness, the smoothies are delicious! I had the PB&B and it was absolutely perfect! My party also had the orange cream (I think that was the name) and a toffee crunch shake, both were satisfying.
On to the plates! I ordered Elijah's Baked Mac & Cheese (it was an appetizer but I got it as an entree). It was perfect and filling!
Guest 1: Honey dijon glazed center-cut pork chop with roasted cauliflower and mashed sweet potatoes - rated a 10.
Guest 2: Organic meatloaf with spinach and mashed potatoes - could not stop raving about it! His face expression was priceless when he tasted it. I also took some of his spinach, WOW, it was amazing.
Guest 3: Stripe steak with dressed arugula and fries - forced herself to finish her entire plate. She loves eating and refused to let any of the food go to waste especially since it was so tasty!
Fun fact: We played card roulette and our waitress was highly entertaining about it.
Overall, great food & great service! I ordered a delivery meal that had two salads with multiple toppings and salmon. I received a box of kale and chicken and after contacting the restaurant manager, who was unbelievably rude to me on the phone, he agreed to give me a whole $10 back on my $60 dollar meal. I only called to see if I had missed a call from them to tell me they were out of what I ordered... Usually I wouldn't have even asked for anything back I don't really care but his horrific attitude towards me really upset me. Had the Marathon burger with a Caesar salad to-go. Burger was good--the bacon was especially tasty. The salad was pretty meh, but the burger was worth the $8 I paid via a GrubHub coupon. During a recent jaunt to Philadelphia, I met up with my aunt and uncle for dinner here.
First things first: The service was superb. I wish I could remember our server's name, because she was a sweetheart, and I 'd love to be able to commend her.
Once we got settled, she let us know about the happy hour special. Certain appetizers where $5 each until 7pm. We chose the Philly Cheesesteak Wontons, which came with a cheesy sriracha dipping sauce. WHAT? cheese steak, wonton wrappers, more cheese AND Sriracha?!?! These people speak my language!
They were an excellent start to the meal. (Near the end of our meal, our waitress came by to let us know that we still had some time to order another app if we wanted to get in under the wire on the Happy Hour special. We didn't need any more apps at the time, but it was sweet of her to let us know in case we did!
For my meal, I had a blackened chicken quesadilla. The tortilla wasn't as crisp as I normally like my quesadillas, but it was still very, very tasty. My aunt and uncle each enjoyed their salmon burger and burger burger, and the fries were outstanding.
As an added bonus, I got to fill up on Yuengling beer before it arrived here in Massachusetts. Not impressed. They were unclear and unaccommodating regarding their reservation policy. They claimed we would have a table no problem and then we waited more that 40 minutes and still never got a table. The hostess was very rude. Not worth it. We have been to various Marathon locations and have always been happy with the food, service, and ambiance.
Last week we had dinner at this particular location for the first time. I thought the decor was pleasing and it had a rather intimate atmosphere. They even dimmed the lights as the evening progressed.
For dinner, I had my usual old school chicken salad sandwich with fries. On this occasion, the salad was a bit drier than usual, but overall it was tasty. And I always enjoy their fries - very crisp and well seasoned.
My husband had an appetizer of calamari, which he found very pleasing and he especially enjoyed the spicy aioli that came with it. For his entree, he had the Marathon version of the Philly cheesesteak. He said it's in his top five that he's had in the city.
We split a warm chocolate brownie a la mode for dessert. It was delicious - just the right amount of cocoa and the texture was just right.
We would highly recommend this chain to anyone visiting the city. Marathon is the epitome of a 3-star restaurant. Good service, decent food. Nothing to really dislike, but also nothing that screams at me to return ASAP.
On my most recent visit my husband and I both got salads, which were good. The $3.50 happy hour hummus plate was worth the price, for sure. The only thing that wasn't that great was the margarita...it tasted like pure sour mix.
This is a spot you should go to if you're not trying to be wowed and just want to grab a bite and go. Wow love this place... food is great... the cheese steak wontons were awesome... and it has a full bar.... Ordered food online at 10:50. By 12:45 they told me (again) it was on the way, they were sorry but it was "crazy in there today." You're a lunch spot at 16th and Sansom. This might come as a shock but it's probably gonna be crazy there for lunch. If your staff can't handle it then turn off GrubHub. That's basic management skills. I haven't been to marathon in a few years and it didn't leave much of an impression the last time I went....but after returning for brunch, it gets an unequivocal 4 stars. if the bloody mary (which was only $5) had been as good as my food, it probably would have been a 5 star brunch.
For only $9 each, my boyfriend and I got more delish brunch than we could handle. I loved my 3-egg omelet with cremini mushrooms (big, almost meaty slices mmmm), spinach, and swiss cheese (just the perfect amount to add flavor but not turn into a puddle of goo). After eating it, I could barely handle a peice of toast---but their multigrain is the best I've had anywhere in center city; it is chock full of nut and seeds and has a home-made texture.
My boyfriend got the American breakfast--two HUGE blueberry pancakes which were perfectly sweet and did not need a drop of syrup. It also comes with 2 eggs any style, that amazing toast, and home fries. The home fries skew more towards roasted potatoes, but are still quite tasty.
AND, at this location you can sit outside but also be in the shade, so you get a breeze but not a sunburn.
and of course, how can you not love a place with an urban farm in north philly? I really dislike Marathon. The menu is blah... to the point where it becomes unappetizing. Food is overpriced and often dry, tasteless, or just plain boring. Last time I went and took a look at their new menu, I just wanted to bolt out of there. I'd rather go to Applebee's! The service was good however the food was unremarkable. It was nice to be able to substitute provolone cheese for that odd cheese whiz. The drinks were good. My burger was cooked to medium as requested. Would not come here again to eat just because of food being bland and dry but would drink here again in a heartbeat. Maybe it was the fact that I hadn't eaten all day, but the caprese salad with pesto chicken special went down very easily. Attentive service. Great motown/soul playlist on the PA. I get to Philly often and will be back! I know that the Marathons have had their fair share of trouble in the past few years, but I still like the combination of fun upscale looking decor, good food, and very reasonable prices. I will continue to frequent, especially for brunch. Visiting a college student, so our dinner here allowed him to indulge first on the Marathon Sampler then on the Marathon Burger! And my other teenage son said the cheesesteak with whiz was so good it has now ruined every other cheesesteak place he's ever eaten. I've been here for brunch, which is fantastic, but just had my first lunch here! Delicious! I ordered the Marathon Burger which includes melted provolone, sautéed onions, bacon, lettuce, tomato and a house made BBQ sauce. The burger was cooked perfectly rare, but the bacon was a bit crispy for my liking and the BBQ sauce was more like a mildly tangy ketchup. Service is fast and courteous. I got seated immediately despite a full house! They definitely pack you in like sardines so I felt as if I was a part of the business lunch at the table next door. (Who has a business lunch at marathon? It's so loud!) ambiance gets three stars but food bumps them to a four... Bring your ear plugs! Breakfast here was so-so, and it did take quite a while for the food to get served to my large party of 13, though it was probably because we had such a large party and we came during Sunday brunch. I tried the huevos rancheros, shiitake mushroom omelette, and the pumpkin pancake, all of which are on their seasonal menu. Omlette didn't feel so special, just the fact that it had shiitake mushroom, and it was quite cheesy! The huevos rancheros definitely felt rather plain, and the tortilla didn't compliment the dish as it should have. The pumpkin pancake had a delicious flavor of pumpkins and cinnamon spice (didn't even need maple syrup!), but was a little more on the wetter side, though it was nice and fluffy! Loved the candied chopped nuts on top of it. It's changed, and not for the better.
I haven't been to Marathon for almost 2 years. I went with a couple friends recently and was disappointed with the changes. The food isn't nearly as good as it used to be. My dish (meatloaf) was less flavorful than in the past and left you with a greasy taste. My friend's dish arrived with a long hair mixed in with the toppings. They quickly got her a fresh plate/dish and made it complementary, but overall the food just wasn't what it used to be. The service was great, however, so that made the trip worthwhile. I don't think I'll return to this Marathon. I appreciate the super friendly service, unobtrusive but on the ball. Lentil soup was average, but grilled swordfish for lunch hit the spot. Food, drinks and server were excellent however got to experience my first mouse in a restaurant ever to which most of the staff just shrugged. Hmmm.....don't think I will be coming back just because of the response to that issue. Great prices on wine, delicious chocolate cake, very good waitstaff(and it was the lunch rush), good salads too. Ambience: a panera is cozier
Food: burger was great (probably overpriced) and the caesar was lackluster
Service: just okay
Go or don't go: eat anywhere else- Philly offer so many other wonderful choices This place is so underwhelming. I honestly don't know how it's in business or popular. Everything here is just average, not made from scratch. Underwhelming Caesar salad, store bought dressing, shitty pregrated parm and croutons aren't homemade either. Surprise! Try hard but tacky not well done decor. But I do like the ambiance and service staff. I order a grilled chicken Caesar salad with the BBQ CHICKEN. It was good but the presentation was poor and looked sloppy! The taste was good and seem fresh but I would liked it to look neat! Although the it was to go.... I appreciate the quickness and no time to wait and it was ready for a quick pick up.
Place is clean inside with friendly staff! Price for a salad is a little highly $14 for lettuce and a half of chicken breast lol but hey I'm on a diet...so I won't compliant .. Overall it was good ... Based on the vastness of the menu, I could immediately tell this is the Applebee's of downtown Philadelphia-there is something for everyone at reasonable prices ($8-$13 per dish). Unlike Applebee's though, this is an acceptable destination for dining in downtown Philadelphia. For a holiday Monday morning brunch, this place was PACKED. At the same time, there were several open tables yet when the host asked us and a few other parties waiting how many were in each group we were still made to wait even though there were more than enough tables to accommodate nearly all of us. What was going on? Were they short staffed? Were they too busy? It was hard to tell but it was slightly disconcerting.
Once seated, our server was polite and prompt to bring us drinks. He was willing to assist me as I struggled with my decision to have brunch or lunch. What will it be?! Banana almond whole grain pancakes (orgy of things I love) or a pressed grilled chicken sandwich? Hmmm...
Pancakes it was.
Or not.
They were heavy and dry, except for where the banana was. Then they were heavy and awkwardly moist. It was like eating pancakes with a thickly sliced banana that had been sitting out for a few hours sitting in the middle. I could barely eat it. Since I was starving, I ended up eating some of the dish but there was little that could save it.
Serves me right.
I enjoyed the coffee. No skim milk though. Who drinks cream anymore?
My best friend had eggs with salmon (if I recall properly) and enjoyed it. Regardless, she enjoyed her dish so only I came out on the utter failure part of the Marathon Grill experience. I wanted so much to like it too.
Service was good. The kitchen being exposed was neat because you could see the action if you wanted to. There was a take out area so if you are on the go, you can take food ON THE GO.
If back in Philly, I'd go again if nothing else was around or at least not necessarily listen to the waiter's suggestion. Mushy banana mess!
PS. They have booze in the AM.
PPS. It's a chain. There are a bunch of these things all over. Cane here today for lunch. It was busy but we didn't wait long, only a couple minutes. I got the chicken cheese steak with whiz cheese and it was delicious. The fries were good too and my meal filled me up! Marathon is a solid choice for getting a decent, inexpensive meal in downtown Philly. I was in town for a conference and had to get dinner alone one night. I came across this place and am glad that I gave it a shot. I had the vegetarian chili, which was very tasty, and the turkey burger, which was a little dense but had good flavor. The waitress was nice and attentive. Overall, a good choice. Everything about this place was great! We went for dinner on a Friday night and we're seated immediately. Got the cheesesteak wontons (good but not worth getting again), the Marathon burger (good but a lot of onions if you're into that), and the herb marinated grilled chicken (amazing). The restaurant itself is beautiful and very open. Definitely worth a try. Very busy, and maybe they could not handle it, but no excuse for bad food. My veggie burger taste just ok, but had a mushy consistency. I was concerned that the Caesar salad that came with it would be overly dressed, but instead it had no dressing at all. I didn't want to be what my daughter calls "that guy", so I just ate ate it, and enjoyed my beer. It used to be good...what happened? The chocolate chip cookie dough pancakes are to die for. They make a great breakfast. Or, ask the staff for one pancake as a dessert.
They should buy some maple syrup though.
The burger and fries are worth getting. Awful. Burnt, dry, flavorless omelette served with charred turkey sausage. Like trying to eat cardboard. The Matzoh Ball soup is amazing, food is always great, never had a bad dish, the staff is equally great, meatloaf is awesome and the blackened chicken quesadillas are great. Tried this restaurant as it was close to our hotel and recommended by a friend. I ordered the tilapia with quinoa and mango salsa. Overall it was a pretty good dish. A couple of my friends ordered salads which they all seemed to enjoy. Service was pretty good too. I would go back if in ever in the area again. We had the brunch quesadilla and loaded grilled cheese breakfast sandwich, very delicious and great brunch spot in the middle of downtown! A definite must. Great place for groups with comfortable seating and a nice variety of dishes. I love the create your own salad option, which starts at $9.5 with 3 free toppings, cheese, and condiments like seeds and crouton. The pan seared tilapia with mushrooms was very solid as well. The portions are reasonable and most entrees are under $15, which is a nice plus in Rittenhouse. They also serve breakfast all day, which means that you can get alcohol, pancakes, and omelets at one place! Great and engaging menu. Food disappoints. Good for a casual lunch or brunch. I had dinner with my family at Marathon the other night. We had been to their other locations before so we knew the food was solid. I had the half marathon Caesar and the pasta bolognese. The salad was a little bland but the pasta was flavorful and had a nice texture. For dessert we all shared the lemon pound cake and chocolate lava cake. Both were excellent. The service was friendly and relatively quick, and each dish was tasty, leaving everyone satisfied. I really look forward to going to breakfast at Marathon when I'm in the city. I used to go for lunch a fair amount when I worked in the city as well, but those experiences weren't as memorable.
All-in-all, I like the food for breakfast. My favorite menu item is the Breakfast Quesadilla. As far as breakfast foods go, it's pretty much perfect for me -- eggs, spinach, a yummy tortilla, cheese. It's also one of the only ways I've found to masterfully incorporate sour cream into the breakfast course. I've also really enjoyed the $5 mimosas and bloody marys they offer during breakfast. The wait staff tends to be really nice as well. Also, does it remind anyone else of "Sex and the City" in the there?
My biggest concern about the place is that they are slooooow with bringing out your breakfast and don't check back in as much as I'd like. Waiters and waitresses seem to disappear from the section for extended periods to the point where you kind of decide to have the credit card ready to hand over as soon as they bring the check. The drinks show up within a normal time period but then you just wait and wait for food. I don't know that I'd mind this in a lot of scenarios, but breakfast is typically fast. Not here. Be ready to spend some time. This is purely based off of their catering, but these guys are pretty good. We had a large event, over 200 people, and needed breakfast on short notice. The day before, we called and ordered, no issues.
The pastries are top notch quality, especially for the price, and the fruit salad and cream cheese platters they gave us were displayed fancily. You also get way more than enough cream cheese for all the bagels, which is a rarity with other breakfast caterers, in our experience.
The only issue we had was that the delivery was a bit late, but maybe that was just the weather or traffic. Definitely recommend these guys for events and larger occasions. It was decent, nothing crazy special. Came here with the google offers coupon, so got some free soup (chickpea, which I enjoyed. Nothing super exciting but a good start). We ordered the cheesesteak egg rolls, which were great - loved the sriracha cheese sauce that they came with. Definitely recommend this item. My friend got turkey for dinner, which was really solid - the turkey was cooked perfectly, tons of gravy goodness, it was great. My dish was the capellini pasta with chicken, which was super boring. Really, really borrrrring. Pasta with a little lemon cream, a leaf or two of spinach, maybe two chopped up baby tomatoes, with some fine but boring chicken placed on top. The dish tasted fine, but for being above average price-wise on the menu (even without chicken), where's the zazz?
I'd really like to check this place out for brunch, I've heard good things. I visit this location often while working in Philly. Everything on the menu is done well. Very good salads and my fav, the Roasted Chicken Salad Sandwich w avocado. decided to go to this restaurant for CC SIPS today. It was my first and last visit. The SIPS menu was very limited but we made the best of it and ordered the sampler (i can't remember the name of the item) it had fries, calamari, chicken fingers, and mozzarella sticks. All the food was greasy and tasteless but we were so hungry we ate it anyway. Ended up leaving 4 better food.. if you're looking for tasteless food, this is your place. I had dinner here on a Saturday evening. We were seated immediately and our orders were taken in a timely fashion. We ordered the Braised Short Ribs of Beef, which was one of their specials of the day, and I had butternut squash as one of my sides. The food was delicious. For dessert I had the Iced Lemon Pound cake and that was also wonderful. I've been to all the Marathon Grill locations in Center City, but I think this one is probably the best in terms of quality of food and overall atmosphere. As a patron with Celiac Disease, I appreciated the option to order the egg scramble. As delicious as it sounded, however, my eggs were cold when they arrived.
Yuck.
Our server was also not friendly or welcoming. I asked his recommendation of coffee, and he responded with a curt, "we have coffee... and coffee".
Will not return Came here for lunch with a few coworkers and everything went smoothly. Service was great. He refilled our drinks often and we didn't even have to ask him to. He also checked up on us just the right amount. Some servers waaaay overdo it (coming every 5 minutes asking if everything was fine). With him (I wish I remembered his name), he checked up on us without bothering us (example..filling drinks without asking if we needed it).
For the food... I ordered the daily special salad. It was the chopped turkey and kale salad. It was really good, but I felt as if they put a lil too much dressing on mine. Next time, I'll ask for it on the side. Other co workers ordered different salads and a sandwich. They all looked great! Decided to try Marathon during a recent vacation to Philly after we found out that the wait at Monk's was going to be 45 minutes.
Very comfortable decor and the food was a good value for the price. If you are a health nut that insists that your food comes from an organic supplier, this is the place for you.
I ordered my burger medium rare, and this is one of the few places that actually knows that medium rare doesn't mean pink in the middle. I also appreciated the nice selection of micro-brews. Went here just before closing but they were great, and seem to have a very accomodating menu for Vegetarians/Vegans, allowing for lots of "hold the ____"s. What I want to note were my favorites were the Vegetarian Chili LOADED with garbanzos, and the Berry Honey Smoothie--- so delicious, sweet, and light! I also got the vegetable press, but I thought it had too much hummus in it to taste the other flavors.
Service was adorable and helpful with questions about the menu.
The bathroom was.. interesting. Not that I really care about bathrooms... but some people might be grossed out. The matzo ball soup was great. I had the chicken salad as the main course. Everything was great. I was part of a large party and all of the food came out at the same time and the orders were correct. Marathon is a nicely decorated neighborhood restaurant. The décor reminded me a bit of a steakhouse and the atmosphere is lively but not loud. We were seated at the window which was great for people watching. Our server Holly was excellent and I knew we would get great service from her the moment she greeted us. We started with the Marathon Sampler app. Lightly breaded calamari and chicken fingers, sweet potato fries, and cheesesteak wontons which comes with a few dipping sauces, one of which was jalapeno with a nice kick!
I had the Marathon burger with Vermont cheddar and caramelized onions. The burger was quite large, around 8-9 ounces. Very juicy and cooked medium rare as ordered. The county bun was light but hearty and did not fall apart. As usual, I had a side of sweet potato fries. I could not get enough of these! My husband had the grilled salmon with mustard sauce, mashed potatoes and asparagus. Salmon was firm and tender and the sauce paired nicely with the fish and vegetable. Even though they were relatively busy, our food came out quickly. Overall, it was an excellent experience. A decent eatery, but I wasn't blown away by the food. Timely and warm service, but for me, the dishes they were aspiring to prepare just didn't do it for me. Relatively cheap considering.
Smoked salmon, swiss, tomato, omelette - salmon was evidently overcooked and was more salty than anything else. They tore it into bits, which made it more of a scramble. Eggs were a bit overdone, so the texture was a bit off, as well. Side potatoes didn't seem fresh at all: hard and lukewarm.
DIY omelette- Great option for "control freaks" as they name it. For this one, we had country ham + mushroom + onion. Also, overcooked eggs. Not fluffy but the flavor was okay. Onions did not seem sauteed and the mushrooms lacked flavor.
Eggs benedict - decent at best. Seemed really plain for an eggs benedict. Thin pieces of ham and not really much for garnish or something other than the staple ham and poached egg. Nothing unique. Go to spot for lunch during the work week. Depending on the day it can be a bit crowded and loud so be prepared. Salads are good and overall one of the healthier options for a lunch spot in center city. Sandwiches are tasty and the fries are a must have side. Reasonably priced. Service is usually good and quick. Typical diner fare. Generous portions. I had the whole grain banana almond pancakes. My partner had the buffalo chicken sandwich w a caeser salad. We also ordered a side of fries. The fries were undercooked but edible. Service was friendly and attentive. Definitely a good place to go for familiar food and lovely atmosphere. Lots if families and large groups. This is a difficult one to review. We have eaten here many, many times. The menu has a lot to offer and the food has always been good. I also like the fact that they offer a nice selection of fresh made smoothies and have outdoor dining. Prices are reasonable and the location is good. The problem has been the service which seems to have gotten progressively spotty in the last 6 months or so. Rude waiters, waiters switching mid-service, inattentive etc. not really sure what the issues are. My wife and I are very friendly, polite and typically tip between 20-25 percent. Something is going on with the morale at this establishment and I highly doubt we are the only ones to notice. In fact I suggested this place as a potential brunch possibility to friends earlier today and all opted to go elsewhere. Hope things improve because I really used to enjoy eating here. Good atmosphere, very nice and friendly waiters. The food is OK, we had the marathon salad and steak wantons. They have a kids menu and it is comfortable with kids. We did not have to wait on a Friday night which we appreciated. I'm giving this place 3 stars because the food was okay but the service was poor. I was given a very rude waiter that gave us attitude when he tried to take our plates and we kindly said we weren't finished. It was very poor service!!! I will not return. This Marathon is fine.
They always make my Screaming Fruit Smoothie (god, I hate saying that out loud) properly, no big ice chunks. My chicken sandwich with honey mustard, gruyere and mushrooms is always okay. Salads are good, sometimes they forget the croutons, but they're bad for you anyway. Once while we were eating here, My boyfriend and I saw Michael Nutter walk by (this was during the election when he was considered a long shot), that was pretty much the best thing to ever happen to us at Marathon.
They also do take out and delivery, so it is a good resource if you work in the area.
This Marathon also has a bar, which is nice. And sometimes they have disturbingly good beer that seems out of place, like Ommegang. Went here for with a friend for lunch break. It was so jam packed but we got a table for two right away, which was great. I had the salmon burger and it was phenominal. Came with a ceasar salad on the side, which could've used more dressing, but that's not a big deal. My friend had the chicken pot pie and loved it. She ate almost the entire thing and it's huge! I will definitely be back, there were several things I saw on the menu I'd like to try. I'm kind of sad that I just discovered this place even though I've walked by it so many times! To the point, Marathon is definitely going on my list of default brunch/lunch catch-up spots. I came by this past weekend for brunch, where I had the smoked salmon eggs benedict while my friend ordered the vegetarian burger. We both enjoyed our orders and are definitely interested in checking out the options when we come back (because we WILL come back!). It seems to be a solid place for both one-on-ones and groups with an atmosphere of reasonable volume so you're not shouting to have a conversation. Friendly service, convenient location by Rittenhouse Park and reasonable prices. I'm a happy camper! Solid 3.5 stars.
Went late on a Saturday night.
Matzoh Ball Soup--Good, not great. Broth needed much more flavor.
Cheese steak spring roll--5 little bites, but seriously juicy, great flavor
Southwest salad--crispy mix of fresh greens, perfectly light lime vinaigrette
Veggie Burger-FAILURE!!!! the worst housemade veggie burger ever. Probably was scooped with an ice cream scoop and plopped on the bun. This was MUSH!!! And when you bite the bun it all squishes out. How can someone in that restaurant not know this is so terrible. Needs a complete overhaul
Decent service, though booths are cozy (read small, a common Philly theme) Oh Marathon we have such an interesting history. Marathon is cool...Ive been here with friends when I came to Philly quite a few times. It's a standard spot nothing to write home about. The best thing last night was the quasi bartender....hes a down to earth guy that was so excited that me and Cal were going to Fogo for dinner...lol
We just stopped there to get drinks before the meat debauchery. This place is fantastic for a casual night.
The calamari and its sauce is amazing
I love their salads
and their pasta dish is delicious!
Don't know why the reviews are so low.. this place is a great place for a casual dinner We were tourists in Philadelphia last weekend and one of our hotel staff recommended Marathon Grill as a breakfast/brunch place. The menu is fairly extensive and we were excited about the banana bread French toast (which seems to be common in Philly). The service was very good, but the food was a little over average. I found the French toast a little soggy and the eggs a little tough. For the hype, I expected a little more. Ordered the brunch quesadilla. Food is darn good, which explained the line (short wait) at the door. Friendly and observant service despite the full house. I had one of the best breakfasts I've ever had here!
I ordered the scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, thinking it would be bits of salmon here and there. No. It was LOADED with salmon and yummy caramelized onions, and also came with multi-grain toast and home fries, which were both very good. My food came out very quickly and very fresh! The service was good, I had a nice table outside, and I think the prices are great for the amount you get. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in the area, and I will come back again myself when I make it back up to Philly. Go eat here!! Honestly Marathon...I would have to say you are done. You used to be one of the best places to go in the city for inexpensive quality food but now, in reality, you are just tired and mediocre at best.
Sorry to say I haven't had a decent meal here in a long time (I was recently forced to go here against my will). The restaurants are shabby and falling apart. Also whenever I go here - it is rarely - if ever clean. The bathrooms are dirty and you stick to the floor (gross!). Sorry to see you go out like this, but to me you are just taking in the cash from people who don't know any better and just not caring. Adios! Went here for brunch..tad dissapointed.. oatmeal was cold, had to send it back..service kind of slow..and no SPLENDA to be found.. people, I got splenda at the hole in the wall shack for my coffee a street down...
Get with the program. Great breakfast place! Me and my girlfriend went to brunch on a Sunday morning. We didn't have to wait for a table, it was around 10:30am. I got the loaded grilled cheese sandwich and it was delicious. She got the country ham omelet which was also good. The service was okay. The waiter was attentive but we noticed that everyone around us(people that showed up after us) kept getting their food and we did not. He apologized but I think they forgot our order because we did wait a long time. The food was delicious though so I would go back. They had a pretty large brunch menu and cocktails. We came here for dinner after visiting the observatory deck as it was close by. We wanted to stay in the area since we wanted to go back to the deck for evening viewing. The food did seem to take long to come out. I ordered one of the specials, lump crab cake platter and it was very tasty. I ate everything. My daughter got the kids mac and cheese and my husband got the house made veggie burger. They both enjoyed it. I was worried that we might miss the last entry to the observatory deck but we made it! Just ok... with so many other choices near my hotel should have asked first. Server was blah... no excitement to start. Wasnt really listening. It 2as super slow and she probably wanted to get cut to go the Made in America... but I digress...
Quinoa and Kale salad - bland at best with over cooked salmon.
Philly wonton - greasy, hot sauce not a compliment.
Matso Ball soup - ok.
Mac & cheese - hot and cheesy but again blah.
Overall if your starving and other choices are packed. This'll pass. I won't go back. Ever. Disappointed. Food was decent. I had the cheesesteak, which was good but in the city of cheesesteaks, nothing to rave about. People seemed to like the burger. Anyway, the hostess was incredibly rude. I had spoken to her on the phone and she claimed to have a table that would be ready for us in 20 minutes. She then denied that and said I must have spoken to someone at a different Marathon location. 5 minutes later, she said "Well, when I spoke to one of you on the phone, I said..." We also reminded her that we had been waiting a very long time for a table to which she replied in a snooty tone "Everyone is waiting." I took my family here while they were in town and I am embarrassed and upset they had to deal with a situation like this. Got right in for breakfast at 9am on a Sunday. The Swiss, mushroom, spinach omelette was good. The French toast with dulce de leche was pretty awesome. Nice atmosphere and service. A solid performer! The prices are kids high, but you do get a lot of food! It covered me for two meals!
I got the vegan tofu scramble and it was very good! It was kinda greasy though. It was legit dripping with grease, so I stuck in a napkin to soak up some of the grease. I guess that's why it tasted so good, but there wasn't a lot healthy about it. It was good to splurge on once, but I wouldn't get it again.
I was also disappointed that they didn't have soy or almond milk. I really wanted to try one of their smoothies that had milk, but they couldn't veganize it. All well.
Still, the experience there was very nice! Everyone was friendly and the seating is nice and big and open--with lots of windows for people watching :) My waitress was as dry as day old white bread toast. She dropped our check on the table while we were eating and I've been trying to get her attention for a coffee refill for 15 minutes. My breakfast wrap was good, nothing special. Wish egg & I was still open. I was in town for a conference, and a friend and stumbled upon this place during out limited lunch break. Despite it being the weekend, crowded, and busy with a line out the door, the staff was able to accommodate us. We were sat near instantly, our waitress was very prompt in getting our order put in, and food was served within 15 minutes.
The food was great! I'm a sucker for all day breakfast, and they had all day breakfast. Love it. The atmosphere and decor were cool and laid back. Prices were very appropriate.
Overall, I was very impressed with this place, especially their service. Thanks for making sure we got back in time! Food was mediocre at best. Waitresses stood around at their station on their phones messing around being loud. But the icing on the cake was the giant cockroaches running around outside the bathroom however. I told the bartender about the cockroaches and she laughed and said "ew that's gross I'll get someone to kill it" then her and two others joked about who had to do it and it was never taken care of. I will never be returning here and wouldn't recommend to anyone. Really brings into question the cleanliness of the kitchen and how sanitary the preparation of the food is. I can't understand why this place has such bad reviews. I ate one of the best omelets I ever had. I created my own omelet with goat cheese, bacon, and shiitake mushrooms. The omelet was big, and delicious. They serve this amazing multi grain bread that I couldn't stop eating. Also, they are able to substitute home fries for a fruit salad for only an extra $1. the salad was served in a big bowls, and all of the fruits were extremely fresh and delicious. The service was a little slow, but the waitress was very polite and friendly. I would definitely recommend this place for breakfast. Was cut in my mouth by a shard of glass in my drink, not even a discount on the meal. Very disappointing. Five stars for this spot. I was part of an extremely obnoxious group and the server handled some complicated orders and payments with aplomb. We had people ordering extremely specific items, one person with a serious allergy, an incident with a broken glass, and custom drinks...and everything was great. I had the ginger salmon (delicious) and everyone else raved about their food, especially the cheesesteak wontons. The server was pleasant and professional, the food was very tasty, and I thought this was an extremely affordable option in a nice part of Philly. I went to breakfast while visiting from Austin. The food was really good and the setting is nice. It's a busy place and waiting means standing in the busy entrance are or outside (which can be bad, depending on the weather). The service was good but felt very rushed. I would definitely go again. One of my fav places for a large group, with "mixed" company. Menu has enough options to accommodate everyone.
Food is always fresh and tasty. Salads are great.
A little overpriced, but compared to other places in the city- not bad.
Casual enough for an unplanned lunch/dinner, but nice enough for after work happy hour.
I could see going on a casual date here and then bringing my parents for dinner the next night. Very versatile. Thank you Marathon for:
- Delicious food w/ substitutions because of my dairy issue
- A kids menu
- Strong, delicious drink specials
- Fast & kind service.
But too bad about:
- being so loud that I couldn't hear the rest of my party
- bringing us the wrong check. This is the standard place for a business lunch or breakfast. The service was very good - but my reviews are normally about the food.
I ordered the marathon burger which comes with either a Caesar salad or fries. The salad was good - nothing different from what you would expect.
The burger was on par with others. It comes with bacon, cheddar, caramelized onions, bbq sauce. I thought the patty was packed a bit too tightly and was very thick. Brioche bun was good.
Good business lunch that you can get done your meal in an hour Marathon Grill is like taking the Phillies with the spread over the Nationals - good odds, but limited payoff. There's very little risk of going wrong, but at the same time I don't believe I've ever been knocked out by anything either.
It's usually not a huge issue, but enough to never make me think "Hey, let's go to Marathon Grill!" and start drooling. It's more of "We can't agree on where to go, let's just do Marathon". Case in point - the grilled vegetable salad w/ chicken. I like the elements individually, but the composition is off. Too much dressing, not enough mushrooms or chicken. I'll withhold judgement on the size of the tomatoes for fear of coming off as some kind of prima donna.
It is a useful fall back for when other plans fail to pan out, but don't play this card too often or it loses its effectiveness. Went in to watch half of a sports game on tv and grab something small for a late lunch. Their Cobb salad was really good. Girlfriend got the tomato bisque and it wasn't bad either. Bit pricey for just a soup and salad but it was good and our server Tyler(bar) was very friendly and cool Stopped in for a quick lunch while walking the dog. Seated immediately, quick & friendly service and tasty salad. Thumbs up. The go to place for a quick lunch or dinner in Philly!
The food is always delicious and fresh and light, and there are TONS of healthy options (most food is local as well). Favorite is the salmon burger and all of the salads are great!
Seriously, I love Marathon and I could eat their food everyday...without feeling bad about it. My husband described our dinner here as good, not great. Shrimp and Calamari appetizer was crunchy but the portion was very tiny for the price. Dipping sauce was quite good though.
Blackened chicken sandwich on a wheat bun was tasty - chicken was well seasoned, toppings were nice. But don't call it sharp provolone if it's just plain provolone. I do know the difference. Fries on the side were good, fast food style fries. Braised brisket had a delicious sauce, and the horseradish mashed potatoes were very good. But the brisket didn't seem like it was braised for the 18 hours the menu proclaims.
Chocolate mousse was well prepared - nice and fluffy. Chocolate milkshake was generously sized, and pretty thick.
House pinot grigio is quite good. They have a nice draft list as well. For happy hour, there is a selection of $5 cocktails, $5 glasses of wine, and $3 beers.
Sitting outside is nice - not as scenic seeing as you're facing Sansom street. And the tables are a bit uncomfortable.
Service was very good. Our server was very attentive and friendly. Our waiter Greg is awesome. My sister and I shared the turkey burger and he was kind enough to cut it in half and serve it on two plates, one for each of us. He answered all our menu questions and was in such a good mood. He was genuinely a nice person.
The atmosphere was casual and relaxed. Great vibe. The menu was awesome. Great choices. Everything we ordered was delicious. Grabbed brunch here on a weekday. Service was a little slow, but I guess it was a weird time of day. Food was solid - we got a smoked salmon benedict and a standard breakfast plate with a side of bacon. Food tasted good, fairly standard, nothing really stood out good or bad. Points for convenient location in CC though. I would come back here, especially to check the place out in the afternoon for drinks & apps. After dinner of the 4th of July, we were looking for a simple yet good desserts and came across Marathon. The location is wonderful and he atmosphere is very unique. The apple pie and bread pudding was good; so, we decide to come back the next day for breakfast. The food is great! I had the EGGS SCRAMBLED w. SMOKED SALMON and it was wonderful. If you like "good" coffee I would not order it here. I wasn't expecting much from Marathon Grill and I ended up walking out thinking I just ate the best sandwich ever. Their grilled pressed sandwiches are excellent.
I don't really know how to explain Marathon Grill. Is it diner food? Is it as good as any chain like Cheesecake Factory? They've got a little bit of everything to offer and a whole lot of choices.
I started with a blueberry and honey smoothie. The waitress got confused and asked me if I wanted it non dairy. No way! I love my yogurt. The smoothie was thick and full of blueberry. It was slightly tart. It was nice.
For lunch we got the proscuitto and mozzarella and grilled herb-marinated chicken pressed sandwiches with salad. My sister asked for the salad dressing on the side. They gave her dressing on the side and they gave me no dressing at all. I stared at my lettuce and thought, "It looks naked." No worries, the dressing on the side was plenty for two salads. Yummy simple caesar salads.
As for the sandwiches, the proscuitto and mazzarella is really awesome. It's pressed really flat and toasty. The most amazing part of the sandwich is the fig jam. I found it interesting they also made the sandwich with sourdough bread. It's rare I see sourdough outside of San Francisco. The chicken sandwich was not as great IMO but my sister really enjoyed it. I found the goat cheese too creamy and pungent. We ended up finishing everything.
Marathon Grill is good. The restaurant is pretty dark (navy walls with paint chipping) but it gives off a relaxing vibe. At the time we went, the whole place was chill and the service wasn't in any sort of rush. We got to take our time and enjoy our meal in peace. Ok - I know it's a Marathon Grill... and I know it's the McDonald's of inner-city dining... but even for a Marathon Grill this place let me down.
Showed up for brunch today. Busy - but not overly so. I ordered a BM, coffee and a breakfast wrap - the same sandwich I order once a week at their location on broad and Chestnut. Server brought out our drinks, and ignored us for 30-40 minutes even though I blew through my coffee and BM in about 10 minutes and was hoping for another round on both. Worse yet - the sandwich was easily half the size I get at the other location. And I was still coffee-less. Finally another waitress brought out a coffee for my gf without enough cream for both of us. Then with food left and mid-bite suddenly our waiter decided he was ready to pay attention to us and asked to clear our plates. They kept swinging by to bus items off the table every chance they got (took me three times to get someone's attention to get some more creamer). Finally they dropped the check and completely disappeared. We were paying in cash and were looking for some change - and it was all I could do to keep myself from blowing out without tipping... which I could have done and not had to wait on them.
Long story short - poor service, high prices, mediocre food. But if you're ok with mediocre there are worse places in teh city to go. The dessert that I won Yelpng from the sidewalk last week didn't melt. Vegetarian Chili, Bolognese Lasagna, Plain Frozen Yogurt are Go To for the Lean and, welll, lean. They can help you to add girth too in a splendid fashion--the means are splendid, your call on the girth. A friend suggested going to Marathon last Sunday for Brunch. The service I experience was definitely appropriate for this price point (absolutely sucked but pretty cheap restaurant given the area).
We requested outdoor seating which extended our wait by 45 minutes, this would have been a non-issue if another party that arrived after us had not been seated before us. After being told there would be a wait for outdoor seating, we informed the hostess that we would be sitting at the bar during our wait. She said that was fine and we would be the first to be seated once anything opened up, and I noticed that she did not take our names. I assumed that she had made a mental note of our faces, and we would be next in line for a table. We were shocked to see that a table of four was seated shortly after they arrived ten minutes earlier (during idle conversation later about the awful service with this same party, I inquired if they had made a reservation and was not surprised to learn that they had not). We were seated 35 minutes later. I won't harp on the details, but the rest of the service was just as slow as our experience waiting to be seated.
The food was on par with diner level breakfast food, but we were pleasantly surprised by the low price for brunch and drinks. If you've got two hours to spend on a sub-par brunch, and are looking to save some money this could be the place for you. I'll start with the good stuff. The stuffed french toast and blueberry pancakes were scrumptious! The vegetarian chili was also really good and was a nice size. Unfortunately, the preceding facts are pretty much the only redeeming qualities about the restaurant.
The service was slow and our server avoided eye contact with us unless he was already heading to us. The regular scrambled eggs, tofu.scramble, philly cheesesteak style eggs, and potatoes were all very underwhelming. meh. Decent spot. I think it says a lot about a place that every time you go there is no wait and not a lot of people present. I've been here a few times after work for their Happy Hour and each time I had to remind myself that this is not a good Happy Hour spot. The deals are limited/non-existent. The food is okay, but basic bar/New American and nothing blew my socks off. A conveniently located spot to grab a beer and dinner, but right on the corner of Sansom and 16th, I would urge you to go to Harp and Crown, Mission Taqueria, Oyster House, or even Ladder 15, or one of the other dozens of spots for HH or dinner instead. Really don't go here. The city of Philadelphia produces some of the best food in nation and there are hundreds of restaurants in center city so just skip this one.
Ordered a Bloody Mary and a burger - think it was a relative easy order that shouldn't get messed up. Wait a long time for the Bloody Mary only to be completely disappointed in the ketchup taste. After not being able to locate our server for the next ten minutes I hunted down another server and ordered a beer.
My burger finally arrived and it was wrong.... so it was taken back and five minutes later a new burger arrived. Ate the burger which was alright. Shortly after I finished the burger the beer had arrived. Chugged my beer and couldn't get out fast enough. At least my server eventually returned to drop the check and removed my Bloody Mary ... Only after I asked I've never been too impressed with any of the Marathon Grills I've been to over the years. So when my friend suggested it for brunch on the one day I'd be in town for the weekend, I was trying to hold back my disappointment. Really? Marathon Grill? Of all the great places for brunch, THAT'S where we're going? I had memories of loud crowds, bad service, and just eh food that was never anything special. But, I agreed and hoped for the best. I arrived first and was still skeptical of the place even though I was seated instantly. The rest of the meal actually went really well and I loved what I ordered! Who knew they had those delicious breakfast wraps? I got the one with spinach, tomatoes, and Swiss; my friend got a different one that looked equally yummy and neatly packaged in its fresh tortilla. Service was nothing fabulous, but overall I was pleasantly surprised and the meal definitely raised my opinion of the place. Not sure if it would be my first choice for a weekend brunch, but the next time someone suggests it, I'm not going to have the same eye roll, deep sigh reaction. Came here for lunch on a weekday. The atmosphere is very nice. It's got a casual but classy feel to it. I ordered the Philly Cheesesteak because I'm new in town and I've been wanting to try it at several different places. It comes with the side of either fries or salad. Wait time for food wasn't too long. Around 10-15 minutes. It was a little busy around the lunch time. The food itself was pretty good, but nothing too outstanding. Love the vibe of the place though Amazing burgers. Delicious desserts. Great vibe. Overall a really good restaurant - would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Philly since its right by Rittenhouse. We had eaten at another location last year and enjoyed it and thought we would try this one on our way to something. The food-server was busy doing grunt work and did not pay attention to her customers. When we asked a couple time about how long it was taking to get our food she dismissed us. We walked out and went somewhere else. Very delicious. Cool atmosphere, their burger was wonderful. I ordered a pumpkin beer and it's the best I've had thus far this fall. Tonight's dinner deserves zero stars and a refund. The bun on the turkey burger was "cold" . It certainly came out of a cooler. The turkey meat was not fresh. Tasted like a warmed hockey puck. The caesar salad was made up of a cup of wilted romain, some odd tasting cheese and a quarter cup of water that was still left on the romain from rinsing. We shared an order of calamari . This dish was disappointing as well since it was reheated, in effect twice cooked with an excessive amount of oil on the plate. I left most of the food on the plate and gave a good tip. The waiter took the untouched plates away and did not ask if anything was wrong. It was unfair to be forced to pay for this meal. The food and the indifferent service leads me to advise to avoid Marathon. This place is fun and semi-casual. The setup feels like a contemporary living room and although it's nicely decorated they still have TVs in the bar area. We had the Philadelphia Marathon prix fixe option, so for $20 I had a caesar salad, salmon w/ couscous & veggies, and an ice cream sundae. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the vegetables were good, too! The couscous was a little acidic for my taste but the salmon was mild enough to make up for it.
Their regular menu also looks great -- my friend got a caprese sandwich (it had a special name but that's basically what it was) with fries, and the fries were awesome! The sandwich was large and came on a baguette, which always wins me over.
I'd definitely recommend making a reservation because it seems popular. If I find myself in this part of town again, I'd love to return to Marathon! Great menu. Food was absolutely delicious. Cool part of center city!
I would recommend the turkey burger and fries. Seems simple but they do simple either way.
My only complaint was that it is a loud environment. There is seating outside though if weather is permitting I will try that next time. Either way we will be back! ~ It was a beautiful day so I decided to go on a walk-about in search of an outside dining area for lunch. I came across this appealing restaurant with outside tables & huge letters on the side "MARATHON." At that point I knew this was the finish line regarding my lunch run.
First Impressions: Encased with glass walls, it allows a perspective customer to see inside & current customer to see outside, which adds to the "city life" magnetism of this establishment. I decided to be seated outside in the shade, the table & chairs were very plain & black, but I was pleased with the view of the beautiful skyscrapers.
A waiter came out promptly, & I put in my IcedTea/Turkey Burger/Fries order in(pictured), & informed him that I only had 30 minutes to eat lunch. He responded "no problem sir, your food will be out in 10." To my surprise it was..The first bite of this burger was beyond scrumptrulescent. The CRISPY applewood bacon was the salty combatant to the sweet apple slaw & apple mostarda. The smoked gouda clung to the wheat bun to hold everything together for each bite of blissfulness. The fries get an honorable mention for their crispiness, but nothin to call home to mommadukes about.
Recommendations: The burger patty circumference was not comparable in size to the buns, thus being left with a 15-20% bun excess. The outside table & chairs seemed like they were missing something, maybe a more decorative look or splash of color.
The Don approves of this establishment & will be back ~ After countless times at Marathon on 19th for Sips, and catering for office meetings, I finally came to this 16th one for sit in dining!
There a handful of vegetarian options including a pasta, some salads, chili, and a veggie burger. I opted for the veggie burger with a side Caesar salad. Bonus-the caesar dressing didn't have anchovies like most dressings! My burger was good, but nothing mind blowing. My pet peeve is when you have to eat your burger with a knife and fork because the burger falls apart when you eat it normally. Nothing was really keeping it all together. The side salad was amazing though..but how can you mess that up?
Try the honey dijon!! SO good. I shared some fries and dipped in there. YUM.
Also had two pear martinis! Always go when in town for Penn Relays. Made a reservation for a large group and table was ready to go when we arrived. Menu is always diverse and accommodated the carnivores and the vegetarian in the group. It's a comfortable spot for a decent meal with acceptable prices. Went for dinner Friday night. It took 20 minutes for our server to bring the wine. Ordered dinner which was just ok asked for another glass of win which never came. Server camer to clear table and sais "oh you wanted a wine right?" I said yeah about 20 minutes ago. Wont be back anytime soon. Best vegetarian chili deal in town, probably in the country. Goes great with a Yuengling and totals out around $10. fist bump
Location is a nice corner, near to the Apple Store and other businesses. Loved it! It felt like the perfect place to go for a Sunday brunch with a friend.
I had the Marathon breakfast. My eggs were cooked exactly as I ordered, the potatoes were the perfect consistency, and the blueberry pancakes that I added were probably the best part of the meal! The service was prompt but unobtrusive, and we had a great window table to people watch. And best of all, there was no wait at 11am.
Nothing blew me away, but I had a completely pleasant experience! The food was great. Honestly, we were full, but for the price, I feel like my salmon was a tad on the small side. Had the same dish at the Rittenhouse area location - I don't know if I am making this up, but I swear the salmon was bigger there. My friend had the chicken entree with the lemon mash potatoes. He wasn't a fan of it and I can't blame him. It tasted good enough, but to some people I can understand why they would think it gives the mash a "rotten" taste.
In any case, the food was good! The service was more on the slow side, but I will blame it on prime dinner time.
Will I go back? Yes
Will I order the chicken? No
Will I order the salmon? Yes
Will I order the cheesesteak app? Maybe What a terrible place. Walk up to the entrance and the Manager Brandon is having a conversation with the staff outside. He is in inappropriately yelling at them for not doing something with clients. We go inside and are seated. Then no one shows up for water or says hello. Other waiters just standing around. Other people getting water and service we are not. Finally one of the waitpersons go to Brandon to have someone help us. Brandon flies off at the waitperson that he should have come to us. Total disorganization.
Too bad menu looked good, but Manager is s
Pysco I was a little wary by the overall 3-star review this place has but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a nice day out so I'm glad there were outdoor tables. Planning when to come by might be important. I came around 1 PM and there were still plenty of diners so maybe investigate whether reservations are possible if coming w/ a large group or if you don't want to wait. If you want an outdoor table, I recommend plunking yourself down at one right away, then secondarily letting the hostess know. When I first asked for an outdoor table, I was a little startled that she proceeded to ask me whether there were any available tables outside. Neither she nor the other hostess really actively checked on table availability outside, so do be your own advocate and sit down if there's a free table outside or look outside yourself.
I got the French toast ($9) and it was quite yummy! Like most brunch places, it doesn't come with any sides so if you want sides, either go to Mixto where the French toast comes with eggs and potatoes or order some sides. My friend got the Marathon breakfast and it seemed like a very generous size for $7 - two eggs, lots of potatoes, multi-grain toast.
The waitress didn't really check on us much but I didn't have many needs, so I didn't mind. Perhaps plan to order everything at once unless you want to actively attempt to flag down someone.
Other than the minor glitches in seating, I enjoyed the brunch and I'd come here again for it. It's okay. Not the best place to eat. I usually go eat when my boyfriend wants to eat there burger. Be ready to order everything at once because its so hard to catch ur waitress after that. I ordered the salad, it was the worst salad I ever had. The chicken had no flavor at all. Milkshakes are good there. But the food takes a long time to come out. This place was great. Food was good but maybe more importantly, the service was excellent and they were so wonderful with our 17-month old son.
Marathon is a must for families with children looking to dine out beyond the usual lame and boring family restaurants. We arrived on a red eye flight and our room wasn't ready so the concierge at the Sofitel suggested we try Marathon for breakfast while we waited.
We both had the Benedict with ham. I subbed the home fries for a fruit bowl ($1.50 upcharge). It was well done.
Coffee was freshly brewed and flavorful. The manager here, Josh, made our experience all the better. The food was good, he was attentive - as all good managers are - and they got us a seat quickly. Whoever owns this place needs to give Josh a raise! They have specials but they were out of their grilled pork chops and the braised rib, so my alternate choice was blackened chicken quesadillas which were really filling. This place is really nice in the inside. The lights are dimmed just enough and it creates a great ambiance, especially for a first date. This is an amazing restaurant and breakfast location!
My husband and I came here per the suggestion of our concierge at our hotel and we were more than pleased and satisfied!!
The decor and atmosphere is very chill, laid back, and comforting with a dash of hip and chic. There are people of all walks of life there and families seem to enjoy it too-which is awesome!
I love the fact that they represent and use local farmers for food and that the food is essentially in it's true essence!
Our dishes that were ordered were AMAZING! I highly recommend the omelettes and the green mean smoothie! So delicious!! During our several days of visiting in Philadelphia, I wanted to eat at Marathon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
I can't wait to go back again! Love this place and I highly recommend you stop by if in Philly! We used to go here quite often. It the past 2 years the place has hit the skids. I am guessing whenever you have one foreclosed upon that's bound to happen. Anyway, I will never step foot in this place again. Good luck getting waited on. The food is bland at best and do yourself a favor and don't sit at the bar. Your stomach will turn as you watch the employees manhandle the butter with their unclean fingers, stick their fingers in people's drinks. STAY AWAY. Great place to get a salad, seriously. If you're a salad eater, you know you want somewhere with a lot of choice and Marathon delivers. I really like their Greek Salad with Shrimp. Hits the spot. I loveeee their brunch, the salmon eggs benedict is to die for. Mimosas can't go wrong with that. But the place is cramped, and is usually slow. Oh well take the food with the not so good ha. So yummy. I ordered the salmon salad and it was fantastic.
Prices good and nice place if you end up shopping around. Stopped in over the weekend for a drink before going elsewhere for brunch.
Sat at the bar for over 5 minutes before being greeted. Not a huge deal, but we were not even acknowledged.
I ordered 2 bloody Mary's from the brunch menu - which cleary states they are made with Stateside vodka - a local high end liquor. I watched the bartender make the drinks and she used Faber vodka instead. I am only familiar with this brand because I used to work in the industry. This bottom shelf vodka goes for roughly $5 a bottle.
NOT COOL to advertise a specific vodka on the menu and then substitute it with the "cheap stuff". And they were not out of stock either, as I saw the Stateside on display.
I thought maybe they would be on special or something, that's why they substituted, but no, we were charged full price. Also, the mix was completely flavorless as we had to "doctor" it up ourselves.
So needless to say, I will not be returning after being charged over $19 for 2 flavorless Bloody Mary's. I was super excited to check this place out!! I loved the menu from the moment I laid eyes on it. Just needed the perfect time to suggest it to others.
Went for a casual dinner with friends. Per previous tips/reviews I saw that we would not be seated until our entire party was present, I was happy when they seated us despite our 4th friend being late. We ordered drinks and cheese steak won tons which were great.
Our server then ignored us for a bit. Drinks were empty, we had plenty of time to review the menu.
We eventually ordered food and another round of drinks. The food came out quickly, but unfortunately wasn't all correct. A sandwich that was to have salad had fries, but was easily corrected.
The food itself was fresh and delicious! Loved my salad. Everyone else loved their sandwiches (especially with the correct side accompaniment). I was full, but not stuffed. Probably could have taken half home for lunch and still been satisfied. When our bill came we accidentally got the tables next to us and they had ours. We swapped, no biggie.
Overall, I had a mediocre experience. I had high expectations that the service and restaurant itself would match up to their menu. I loved the food but the service and atmosphere were lacking... My friend across the table was getting dripped on by the AC vent and noted that her part of the booth was actually wet the entire time. If our server could have paid closer attention, I think I would have given another star. A philly staple. Brunch is just amazing. The service is always nice! Smoothies are a must! I thought the food was pretty good and the decor was nice, but I was irked by the indifferent server that hardly ever came to check on us and didn't split the bill as we requested. The manager and another server helped clean up the mess somewhat, so I'd try Marathon Grill again, but it's not going to be this location if I do. Went to Marathon for breakfast while in Philly with my husband and 3 year old. The first morning server was great. I asked if there was a kids menu. She said she could get a single pancake for my daughter. Perfect. Enjoyed the veggie breakfast burrito and my husband had the breakfast sandwich.
The next morning, we decided to go to Marathon again since it was good the day before. We were seated and the waitress came over. I ordered 1 scrambled egg, a piece of toast and a side of bacon for my 3 year old. The server brings the order and it's enormous. I said I ordered 1 scrambled egg. She responded that their order of scrambled eggs is 2 - although she knew it was for the 3 year old and that's not what I had ordered. We also received 2 pieces of toast. It's such a waste of food and an opportunity to overcharge. There's no kids menu at a breakfast place? I was charged extra for a side of fruit instead of potatoes. The fruit was old and all honeydew. I sent it back. I'm happy to pay for a substitute but at least make it fresh and appealing. Friendly atmosphere and great service come standard with excellent chicken parm and perfectly seasoned fries, its pretty cheap if you compare to other places like this, i would recommend you try asap Went on the recommendation of a co-worker ( thanks Brad). Great place. Friendly staff, quick from kitchen and dang tasty. Had the Marathon Salad with roasted turkey - highly recommend. Tables were a little tight together but not terrible. Prices were on par. Nice casual place, I found the food to be a good value. When I asked the waiter about the Cobb salad (12) tossed in Blue Cheese dressing. He was honest and called it a crowd pleaser. I was in the mood for a Salad so ordered it. He was right, good but a bit bland ( i fixed it with salt pepper and vinegar). The dressing was a blue cheese vinaigrette to start with. I thought the wine and beer prices to be reasonable. I did notice over sized portions on some dishes like the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (11), it was about the size of 2 and came with a heaping amount of fries. The Chicken Parm came with what I would call two servings of pasta, the chicken was a normal portion. Prices for downtown are great. This place sucks! Just don't even bother! There are so many more options.
The food is mediocre at best. The only server in the joint worth a damn is Harris. The rest are students who seem to have reached too high regarding work. Makes me scared for our future. The place is dirty.
Delivery and take-out orders are a gamble at best.
The owners are obnoxious, couldn't give a damn about their customers or employees, and can't seem to be bothered with comments from patrons.
All and all, there isn't an item on the menu you can't get made better, larger in portion and/or less expensive in Philadelphia. The staff at Marathon are always nice and welcoming. They are also accommodating to vegeterians/pescatarian requests on dishes that contain meat. Awsome food. Great fresh Philly cheeesesteak --- the way I like it on a lisco's roll--- one of the country's best. And the SHAKES are to die for. Loaded with flavors and tasty cordials. Will be back. I remember when Marathon was expensive compared to others. But now the others are pricey, and the grille seems to have come more in line. When you add the food quality, atmosphere and waitstaff, you gotta believe. I'm join here next time for lunch! I appreciate Marathon for its consistently delicious, unpretentious food at a reasonable price point.
Brunch is awesome and I'd recommend anything from the menu- also don't sleep on the specials!
Lunch/dinner wise, highlights include:
-Control freak salad: tons of fresh options to build a massive salad for when you're pretty hungry but don't want anything heavy.
-Grilled salmon plate: comes with mashed potatoes & gravy, asparagus and a whole grain honey mustard sauce. I crave this weekly.
-Chicken fingers appetizer: super light on the breading so they don't feel too gluttonous. Four tenders are served with honey mustard, but I prefer em with the avocado ranch.
-Matzoh ball soup: when I'm not super hungry I'll usually get this with a side of mashed potatoes.
-Baked mac: no explanation necessary.
-Green monster smoothie: spinach, apple juice, banana and probiotic yogurt.
If you're in the area and can't decide what you're in the mood for, Marathon is a safe and affordable option. Sooo delicious. The flavors were amazing in my blacken chicken quesadilla. I would definitely recommend to anyone with tastes for great food! I hope to go back when I'm in the city again. Got pretty busy inside so we sat outside which was even better to have beauty of the city all around me while enjoyed a birthday lunch with one of my best friends : ) Today (6/25/18) Marathon dropped the ball, BIG TIME. I ordered the grilled pork chop, which I've had a million times before along with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Not only did I wait for almost 40 mins (when usually I get my meal within 15-20 mins tops) which made me more irritated...when my food came out, my pork chop was almost as small as the palm of my hand if not smaller, it looked half cooked...and I probably had a whole 4 spoonfuls of mashed potatoes. It looked like a freaking kids meal sitting in the middle of a large plate. I was so disgusted, I respectfully declined. Unfortunately my one regular/favorite bartender (Matthew) was off today so the fact he wasn't able to account for how much revenue this restaurant gets from me, no one really seemed to care too much including the manager. But it's okay. I'm taking a LONG break from Marathon and I'm throwing my loyalty card away. I'm extremely disappointed with whatever they placed in front of me today. I think I'm actually more upset that I wasted my time coming all the way back into the city AFTER I went home from work thinking that I would have this GREAT meal at Marathon. Overall I wasted over 2 hrs alone with the commute and my time there, with nothing to show for it. Not again. always good service, delicious food, the whole nine. Huge fan of the burgers, but last time I got the Grilled Chicken Cobb salad and it was DELICIOUS. Unbelievable vegetarian and healthy options. The coffee and brunch was awesome. We stumbled on this place walking around the city, and it was one of the best meals we had on our trip. Marathon is ok...It might just not be for me but I think its mediocre. Went here for day dinner last night. The seating was horrible to me , to close together and we were seating near the kitchen. I asked for us to be moved to another table, which wasn't any better people kept bumping my chair and it was just uncomfortable. The food....for starters we had the "cheesesteak wontons" and "mac and cheese". Not the best I've ever had it was ok I believe they used cheese whiz and topped the mac with real cheddar cheese to food everyone. The wontons were ok the dipping sauce was cheese whiz again with some spicy sauce on top of it. If you can tell I am not a big fan of cheese whiz and for them to use it so much puzzles me. For dinner we order the buffalo chicken sandwich and the herb roasted chicken breast. My bf loved his food (but than again he eats anything) me on the other hand did not like my food at all. It didn't look appealing to eat and the chicken breast was to dry. I ended up taking it to go. We had house wine (merlot) which was ok. The service was mediocre too first when we sat down the waitress didn't even really give us anytime to sit down and get us situated before coming over and asking us if we were ready to order. Than when we were she was no where to be found. i work in a restaurants and bars and Im quite sure when you serve a bottle of wine to patrons you are suppose to pour the first glass but whatever....overall it wasn't bad but it defiantly not memorble YES. Marathon, I love your wide selection of food choices, and I think your brunch items are outstanding. I came here for brunch and was lucky to snag a table for two without too much of a wait (there was a line for larger groups of 4+). On that note, definitely make a reservation to avoid waiting during peak brunch hours.
I ordered an omelette with a side of fruit (came with a choice of toast), and my friend ordered their pancake special. Even though the restaurant was busy, our waiter was attentive, and the service was on point. The portions were also sizeable. Bonus: you can purchase some of their cheap and fresh baked goods on your way out or if you're just dropping by. The muffins had a great muffin top:bottom ratio, and was 1.89? Yay!
Tl;dr - good food, good prices, excellent brunch and baked goods. Really cool vibe and great food, however a giant cluster f**k. Took nearly 7 minutes after being seated for someone to acknowledge me. This place is in need of a major overhaul in training. The food sat at the counter for a long time. I sat staring at salads that were fresh from the kitchen just sitting there. I stared at them hoping one of them WASNT mine as several minutes had lapsed. I kept staring and staring. Then a woman grabs one of them, place a paper on top (receipt?) and walks away. A minute or so passes and sure enough she grabs the salad and takes off the paper that she placed on top of the salad and brings it to my table. UGH, my "grilled" chicken was luke warm at best. Get it together folks! i Attentive staff and one of the most delicious turkey burgers I've ever eaten!! Fries were also very good they seemed fresh cut!! Not too pricey either. When ever I come to Philly I come here for at least one meal. Yum yum yum!! Marathon has some bright spots and low lights in the city. While not my favorite of the group, I most consistently visit the restaurant at 16th and Sansom for the fact it's closest to work, and it usually has pretty good food/service. The ambiance, as well as the menu, is that of an upscale diner. The happy hour specials are pretty good, and they execute their dishes nicely (though they lack a tiny bit of finesse). If you're a veg-head or a meat-eater, they have a number of tasty choices for each.
The last time I visited, I ordered the Crispy Chicken and Sesame Salad (veiled attempt at an Asian inspired salad) and a beer. First, this was not the best choice, but that doesn't take away from the food, just my ability to make good decisions. The food was fairly well done. There was a lot of attention to detail when devising the salad's ingredients. It was smart to use napa cabbage, edamame, wanton crisps, and sesame oil (though the sesame seeds had little merit). The salad itself was a bit clunky. I would have preferred many of the ingredients shaved or prepared in a more delicate way. However, the ingredients were roughly chopped at times and thrown into the bowl. For example, the napa cabbage came in chunks rather than nicely sliced or shredded slivers.
A bit of a qualm that I have is the price of drinks and beer. I ordered a pint of Yards Pale Ale-- a beer that is at the heart of Philadelphia's local craft brew beer scene-- and I had to pay $6. That's a $5 beer at best, and if you go to Yard's Brewery on Delaware Ave, chances are you can get a pint for $3. But, that's a minute quibble all considered. Besides, if you order wine, the regular bartender will give you a pretty good pour-- you definitely get your money's worth.
Bottom line: Marathon is a solid restaurant with a good ambiance and pretty good execution on its dishes. There are some drawbacks, but if you want a chill place for happy hour or a nice light dinner that won't break your bank, it's a decent choice. LOVE Marathon! I've eaten lunch here a number of times and ordered delivery lunch as well. My go-to is the Salmon Burger, absolutely AMAZING! I crave it every now and then and have to order it. I also LOVE their fries.
I noticed the salmon burger bun is WAY better at this location in comparison to their 18th and Market St. Location. HIGHLY suggest this place for anyone who wants a good lunch. I would avoid the 18th and market location during center city sips (5-7 p.m. in the summers) unless you like ridiculously long lines, huge crowds, and "young" rude people. Wow, I had night hopes for this place but was very disappointed. The food was very mediocre, but what really shocked me was the cockroaches all over the restaurant! I could not believe the heath department has not shut this place down. After a long day of moving in the rain, my parents, boyfriend and I were in need of a good (sit down) lunch to warm ourselves up and rest. Marathon happens to be super close to my new place, so we figured we would try it out. There was a brunch crowd/menu since it was 1pm on a Sunday, but we were seated right away nonetheless. Random, but bonus points that they have booth seating. Everyone loves a booth.
I had the matzo ball soup and a salad with pineapple and tortilla chips. Everything was yummy and came out correctly and on time. My mom enjoyed her salad (it was a special). My boyfriend got a huge bacon and egg omelette and even my dad seemed pleased with his yogurt and granola. He requested extra yogurt and the server was happy to oblige.
None of our dishes swept us off our feet, but everything was well executed and exactly what we ordered. I was definitely eyeing their special pancakes and I have this place bookmarked as a future brunch location. Marathon seems like a reliable place to get a good meal. If you are ever in Philly and you are looking for place to enjoy a quick and delicious breakfast at an affordable price, I suggest you try out Marathon! Service, Food and Coffee was great. We are full with leftovers and meal only cost 36 buck$$$$ I'm definitely coming back again. Marathon is always perfectly fine, never fantastic. I like the sandwiches and salads, I sometimes order their matzo ball soup for lunch. I had a couple bad experiences with take out here lately, the counter girl slams down my to go lunch in an angry hostile manner. I have never ordered during a peak time, I usually order around 2 or 3pm after the lunch rush. Why so rude counter girl? Search all over there city for a kid friendly place and a good salad. Happened upon this place. Our waiter Tiffany was awesome and the food was great as was the wine. Stop in its worth a visit. Marathon has been here forever and I had eaten in it once every couple of years. I would have given it a good three stars, but there was nothing remarkable enough about it to make me want to come back more often then that.
But then last fall for some reason I stopped in after work and got a really outstanding braised brisket dish with a rich sauce. It was great! "Wow!" I said. "Someone here can really cook"
After that I started coming back pretty regularly and the food has been great! For lunch they have a corned beef grilled cheese sandwich that is really nice, with tender corned beef and swiss cheese like a reuben.
Their fish is tender and not overcooked. The jambalaya is tasty and has a nice mixture of different textures. There is a lot of it and I usually take half away.
Sometimes I come in for breakfast and get a breakfast quesadilla. The coffee is good.
So if you haven't been by in a few years, check it out, there was nothing wrong with it before and now it is suddenly much better. This is a great place for a good lunch or a very casual, basic basic dinner. They serve very normal foods - salads, sandwiches, appetizers - but with a slightly more interesting twist. I came here for a late lunch wantiing a hearty salad and it was perfect.
This place gets a little crowded on weekend afternoons/late mornings, so take out is a great option if you don't want to wait. The food is okay. The Mac n cheese, the "Make Your Own Burger" Selection are really good. The service stinks. I've been quite a few times and they always make you feel like a dollar sign- not like a guest. The host/ hostesses are very rude. No "hi how are you"... They just call out the number of however many ppl they think is in your party. Maybe I need to stop going in the afternoon when ppl are on their lunch breaks- I guess they figure that everyone one just wants to get in and out. However they should realize that everyone there, isn't there on a business lunch. Back in the day when I used to eat meat, I would order the Chicken Quesadillas pretty much constantly when I got home at night from class. One day when I called them up, they asked my name, and then without even asking what I wanted said "You want chicken quesadillas and a diet coke?" Needless to say, I stopped ordering from them for quite sometime.
Anecdotes aside, they have good food here, and good service. Not fantastic, but good. It has a huge menu and so is a great place to go with a large group. Marathon is a stalker. If you're downtown, it's there, right behind you. Society Hill, Rittenhouse, Chestnut Street (is that location still open?). It was even worse when the University City location was still open. They seem to have closed a few but I still have good nightmares about the times I was bullied into eating there by the restaurants intimidating presence all over the city.
Marathon's food has always been pretty fair to good to me and the service never spectacular. Salads are always on point though. I'm not sure if they still have it, but the salad with the grilled shrimp and mandarin oranges is orgasmic. I'm stuffed but now I want one. Yesterday I had the Moroccan salmon salad at the 16th street location. Two thumbs up.
Service was good but if they had gone any slower they would have froze in place. Apparently this is a bit of chain in Philly that has been buying out, and therefore replacing, all the locally owned family diners. A little sad, but not a bad replacement.
We went for breakfast, so I didn't sample any of the beers on tap. But it seemed like most of the selection was local brews with only one of the standard watery American beers. Our waitress was so friendly and wonderful.
The food? Quite delicious. This was the last meal for my group of friends before heading to the airport (and who knows how long you'll be in one of those places), so the large portions, nice variety and comfort-food-with-a-twist was just what the doctor ordered.
The place looked great. The service was superb. The food was scrumptious. If I lived in Philly, this would definitely be a staple. Absolotely terrible service, decent food. Waited quite awhile for server to acknowledge us. When she finally did, we placed our entire order. She came back 5 minutes later to let us know they were out of what I ordered, and to offer my husband a couple different tastes of beer because he had said he wanted something light. I placed another order, husband chose beer. About 15 minutes later our food arrived but not our drinks. We had to ask the food runner to get our drinks. Server didn't come back to the table until we were done. Never asked how it was, never apologized for forgetting our drinks. And no excuse, they have food runners, a bartender, and bussers to clear plates and reset tables. Her only job was to take orders and run drinks. And it wasn't just us, others tables were similarly ignored. With all the great places in this city, I would never go back. Very poorly run. There is something about comfort food that always makes one feel good. What Marathon does well is serve simple, comfort food in reasonable size plates without being too full of it or being too pricey. I was pleasantly surprised about the Crispy Chicken Parmesan. The sauce was light and delicious. Many places when serving Chicken Parmesan will service a plate the is 1/3 meat and 2/3 pasta. I was pleasantly surprised when the I saw how big to piece of chicken was.
Another nice thing was that they had a nice kids menu (and there were many kids around us) without downgrading the menu for the adults. I don't know how this place passes inspection! Whatever you do, don't go to the bathrooms -- I was looking in the mirror and a roach half the size of my hand was crawling up the wall next to me! Roach trap! Great atmosphere and location! Went with my college friends for lunch. One friend got the banana pancakes and a berry smoothie. She was into the pancakes but felt they were a little dry. Other friend inhaled the buff chick sandwich- it was spot on. My meal was killer- would recommend the loaded grilled cheese with the fried egg. Yum. Nothing crazy but cute spot to grab lunch or dinner with friends. I'd probably go back. We love this place! Every time we stay in the city we go there for breakfast. The food and service is always very good. And the prices are not outrageous. Don't pass this place by. Ate at an outside table on my own, while visiting Philadelphia. The staff seemed very concerned whether I was alright (perhaps it seemed like I was stood up?) and chatted me up nicely. My couscous, kale and salmon salad was flavorful, thanks mainly to the pumpkin seeds (great salad topping!). The salmon was cooked just right. Nice meal, a little on the pricey side ($13, sans tax and tip) but I would definitely return the next time I'm in town. I'm upgrading my review to 4 stars, was 3 based on a few shabby experiences but was originally 5 stars. I live 2 blocks away, I like their food, nice management here, I really want to be a loyal fan here! It's just the service here is a bit hit or miss...
A couple of times I've come in, sat down and no server has even paid enough attention to give me a menu or glass of water. Twice this happened, so I left both times! I spoke to the manager about it both times and the first time, he gave me a meal on the house! That, in and of itself is 5 star worthy! Talk about excellent customer service! When it happened the second time, he was apologetic and I'm thinking I'll give Marathon another try because I really do love Marathon although I have noticed that because this restaurant is larger than the one on the Square, at times, I have felt that the service isn't quite as good, that being said, management here is much better at resolving these types of issues, whereas, I have found that the managers on the Square just don't care as much.
I recently ordered takeout from the takeout counter, what a cool idea! I got the pork special, sweet potatoes, couscous and a huge slab of pumpkin pie! They even gave me a free cup of vanilla ice cream! Now, that was unexpected and really made my night! As I've said, they have better management and customer service here! They also gave me plenty of bread in my to-go bag. Based on this positive experience and others before with friends, I'm definitely inclined to try and overlook the other experiences before and keep coming back. At least I know that they try and that my concerns are being listened to.
Definitely try the dinner specials! The pork and chicken marsala are my favorites!!! I rarely ever complain but this is one of the most mismanaged restaurants I have seen. The food was pretty good but was clearly dragged down by poor food management and service. The server was not attentive and filled drinks without ice. The appetizers we got came and we asked for a side of marinara sauce with the calamari and the pass manager provided this to us 25 minutes after the calamari was already eaten and had LEFT the table. This provided comedic relief to an already horrible experience. The wait for food was 55-65 minutes from time of order to service and the wait staff argued with us instead of providing meaningful customer relations. All in all, I would never come back here. Just an awful experience.
Note: I am still in the restaurant writing this. It was that bad. It was a Monday at 2pm. I wonder how bad it would be at an actually busy time. Wow. The food the service the wait, amazing! Not a single complaint here. Even with them closing soon they were accommodating and polite and the food... delicious. I had salmon and it was better than i could've ever expected. My friend had the crab cake platter and licked the plate clean. Oh and the prices, not too much at all. Definitely recommend this place! Visiting my erstwhile hometown for Saturday's craft beer festival, I scraped my desiccated carcass off the sofa on Sunday morning and brunched at the Marathon. I took my meal at the bar, although, at 10ish in the morning, there was still ample seating to accommodate my party of one (however, by the time I left near 11:30, this was no longer the case).
I began with a bloody. I was pleased that the Marathon regards Smirnoff as a rail vodka, as repeated blind taste tests that I have administered to skeptical friends have established that Smirnoff is indeed a smoother potable than its more famous (and expensive) competitor, Stolichnaya. However, as I have previously explained in other reviews, I prefer my bloodies thin with lots of citrus, and the Marathon's bloody, like most I encounter, was on the thick side, like a cold tomato soup. On the positive side, the horseradish was ample as well as fresh and smoothly incorporated into the drink, which I appreciated.
Proceeding from the potable to the comestible portion of the menu, I ordered the Marathon's rendition of a smoked salmon plate, and it was among the more oustandingly complete examples of my favorite brunch staple. The plate consists of Scottish smoked salmon (meaning caught or farmed and smoked in Scotland), red onions (julienned), paper thin English radishes, a boiled egg, cream cheese, spring mix, and freshly roasted beets (as I said to the bar tender, "Everything goes better with beets."). I paired my plate with the (toasted) seeded multi-grain bagel. The Scottish salmon was plump and moist as well as pleasingly mild in flavor. And the portion was so generous that I couldn't finish it all - something I can never recall happening before with smoked salmon (unless it just isn't good). The radishes were a refreshing touch too; they provided an excellent roof of edible shingles atop the salmon that minimized the fishiness of my fingers following consumption.
Not long into the salmon plate I renewed my consideration of the specialty cocktails and selected the Grapefruit Fresca, a (bit too) sweet concoction of crushed ice, fresh grapefruit, Hendrick's gin and lemon lime soda. While the drink would have been more to my liking with mineral water and perhaps a splash of rose or orange water instead of the sugary soda, it was refreshing.
Finally, I relaxed with one final cocktail, the "corpse reviver," consisting of crushed ice, French absinth, midori and fresh lemon. The color of the concoction, a subtly garish shade of radioactive green, reminded me of summertime bug juice, and it was the absolute hit of the party: strong, dry and clean in character, this is a nice drink.
In short, quite the nice and relaxing conclusion to a fun weekend in Philadelphia (that the entire repast cost noticeably less than a comparable brunch in D.C. also constituted a refreshing reprieve from life in our nation's capital). 3.5 black beans. It was ok. I had a burger there, which was fine. The chicken tasted like weed. Yeah. That bad. lol.
That's it. It's been a while so I don't remember as much. Wasn't too bad and wasn't that great in my opinion. While the food was average, our experience here was horrible. Our server never took a drink order, rolled his eyes at our food order (after we waited almost 20 minutes for his appearance at our table) and never asked us if our food was acceptable or even if we wanted dessert. Just plopped our check off at the table before our dishes were cleared. This isn't a restaurant that is surviving on excellent food and service -- it's surviving by location traffic alone. Too bad -- it is located in a spot that I would frequent all the time if the service was even a wee bit better. I came here for lunch with a friend. The place is really nice as well as the location. The staff was cool too... a little on the over-bearing side though.
I ordered the Moroccan Salmon Salad - it was aight. I was excited to have lunch with great friends at Marathon. This was my first time dining here. It was a huge disappointment. I actually left Marathon at the conclusion of our meal and had to get lunch elsewhere. For starters, the white sangria I ordered tasted like a mixture of grapefruit and lemon juice...very bitter! The jambalaya arrived very dried out with no hint of any liquid, stew juices or broth. It was so dry that the bed of white rice that it sat upon was still dry. I expressed concern to the server (I think her name was Annie). She said that because of how it is prepared, there are no stew juices or broth that she could ladle onto the jambalaya. Instead she offered to bring a separate bowl of chicken broth. She did, but if you eat jambalaya you know that a side of bland chicken broth will not help the situation. I really tried to trudge through and eat their dried out version of jambalaya, but couldn't. I asked the server to take the jambalaya and expected her to ask if I wanted anything else in place of it. She didn't ask. She left with my food and my friends ate their food. We waited for our server to return to check on us, as good servers do, but she did not return. As my friends ate their food, I pulled up Yelp to search for a nearby restaurant to eat lunch. My friends hailed another server and asked her to send our server. She eventually came over and asked if I wanted a refill on my diet Coke. I told her that I really wanted some food because I am hungry! I jokingly shared the fact that I was on Yelp looking for a restaurant because I'm hungry and she responded "that's fine". OMG! Was that the appropriate response for your 'valued customer'? Prior to this point, I could excuse the server from my disappointment with my experience at Marathon, but her attitude and response were cavalier and made me feel uncomfortable. I asked her to bring the menu again. Ultimately I chose not to place another order. I sat hungry while my friends ate their salads. When the check arrived, I was appalled to see that I had been charged for the diet Coke that I drank. I immediately asked for the manager. Bob, the manager came over and I explained my dissatisfaction. He responded that he had removed the charge for the jambalaya but didn't know I had a soda too. This response confirmed that the manager was aware of the problems with my dining experience but never came over to investigate (a good manager would have come over), instead I had to request that he come over. Let me get this straight: my food is inedible, the server is cavalier about my disappointment, the manager appears clueless about customer service, and you expect me to pay for the soda?!? Bob removed the soda from the bill and said that when I come back ask for him and my meal would be free. Bob should have comped our bill today ($33.48 total) if he wanted any chance of us returning to Marathon - EVER! I had to leave and go somewhere to get something to eat. The one star is because my friends were great company. Let me start off by saying they have great prices for brunch. My turkey grilled cheese sandwich was huge and delicious and M enjoyed his giant and delicious egg sandwich. The drinks were good too- I enjoyed a bloody mary and then a mimosa. However, the service was pretty bad. It wasn't that she wasn't nice; it's that she would disappear and not come back. It wasn't that busy (plenty of empty tables) but maybe they were short staffed- though it didn't seem it at all because there were lots of other servers milling about- so I'm not sure why it took her so long to come back so we could order another round of drinks.
Although they use Open Table, they don't take reservations before 5pm. However, this didn't seem to be a problem as we came on a Sunday around noon and were seated right away. This place was convenient to our hotel. I wouldn't write it off- I'd come back and just hope for better service. Pretty bad. Small portions. Hard dry toast served with rock hard butter that you have to try to spread yourself (I didn't even bother using the butter) Lousy service. Severely overpriced.
You're MUCH better off going to a street vendor and getting a cheese steak. I was never a huge fan of Marathon and actually haven't been to this Philly staple since about a year before I moved into the city. I'm always a believer of trying new places and Marathon just hadden't made the cut yet.
My boyfriend and I were taking a walk on one of the first beautiful Sunday mornings in February and decided to try to find a place for brunch that didn't have an hour wait (Honeys, Sidecar, etc, etc. UGH!). We ended up finding ourselves at Marathon and decided to go in. We didn't have to wait at all which was a HUGE plus.
Brunch was absolutely delicious. $5 Bloody Mary & Mimosas is a great way to start off the day. The hash browns are spectacular, and the ability to have pancakes as one of your sides is pretty darn cool. Bacon was perfectly cooked too- which is always a test of a great brunch place for me. Good coffee too.
So, if you're looking for a solid spot for brunch where you might not have to wait an hour for a table, try Marathon! I think this is one of my 'go-to' locations. Food is good and I am just absolutely addicted to the Tomato Basil soup, Calamari, and the Marathon Burger.......
I ordered food from here a few times and this gal "Jo" honestly made the delivery experience 'above and beyond'. I didn't think that was possible but the extremely nice attitude and personality she had on the phone to just making sure my order was on point and making sure I had all the things I needed in my order - I have to say, she made me love this place even more. The food here isn't mind-blowing, but the menu features a wide variety of items (American fare) and I think it's one of those places where you can probably find something for everyone. They have salads, soups, sandwiches, entree items, brunch items, milkshakes, and a full bar. The pricing is also reasonable, with most items priced between $10 and $15.
If you're like me and suddenly have strange cravings like chicken soup and a burger like I did today, Marathon is a good solution. The Marathon burger was very good - nice and juicy, served on a brioche bun with thick-cut bacon, lettuce, tomato slices, cheese, and a smokey sauce. It was just what I needed for my burger craving. The burgers come with either fries or a side Caesar, and while my side Caesar was basic, it was plentiful.
As a starter, I got a matzo ball chicken soup. The matzo ball itself was good and decently sized. The chicken soup was a bit thin and the chicken pieces were a bit dry, but it was what I needed for my cold and it did its job.
Overall, service was friendly, pleasant, and quick. This was my first time dining in again in a while, but I recall their salads being very good, with fresh and nutritious ingredients. My firm also ordered lunch from here many times (sandwiches, salads, and sweets), and I've always felt like they did a good job (their sandwiches used fresh bread and ingredients in their fillings, and they were tasty and substantial). Crab cake meal: 3.5 Out of 5
My meal was a crab cake sandwich with sweet potatoes fries. The sandwich came with a brioche bun, a crab cake about the size of my palm, a couple slices of tomatoes, & one romaine lettuce. The crab didn't taste as fresh as I hoped it would be, though it did have a nice crisp outside. Philly is no Baltimore when it comes to crab, but I've had better crab cakes at other Philly restaurants. My meal out the door was ~$18.
Service: 4 Out of 5
My co worker and I ordered take out. We ordered ahead of time and by the time we got there we had to wait a few minutes then could walk back.
Environment: 5 Out of 5
Only a few blocks from my center city office. From the looks of it Marathon would be a great sports-bar to come to after work. Spacious and plenty of seating.
Overall: 3.75 Out of 5
Food wise it's a hard sell for me to come again. But in the case of bar food and enjoying sports with some friends/ co workers I might bring a group over. I've come here a few times. Most recently, I saw Dell Curry eating there. The food is yummy, I eat almost anything on the menu. We used to come here sometimes when we wanted to go out in Center City. It was always a good way to start the night with some good food in our bellies. I've been here a few times and never had a bad meal. Plus they are efficient and most of the time the food is brought out within 10 minutes of ordering. It's great for a quick lunch.
The waitress was friendly. I ordered coffee which was refilled often.
Last visit I ordered their kale and quinoa salad. My only complaint is I wish their salads came with bread but other than the ingredients were fresh.
It's one of my favorite spots in Philadelphia. Came here today for a work lunch. I ordered a bbq chicken salad and a coffee. The service was great and fast and our waiter was friendly. We also got seated right away during a busy lunch hour. Its packed with business people during lunch and its very fast pace. If you are looking for a quick lunch during the week, this is a great spot! Overpriced, low-quality food. Regretting that I stopped there for breakfast!! $4 orange juice?! I was super excited about going to this restaurant. I went to this restaurant with my friends and we were looking for Americans. I'd read good reviews and this restaurant looked quite nice. When we walked in it was fairly busy. We were seated immediately and we also got waters. We ordered the marathon burger. I asked my burger to be well done and raw onions instead of caramelized onions. We waited for about 15 minutes for our food to arrive. When we got our food I was pleasantly surprised. However, when I cut my burger in half, I noticed that my burger was not well done. My other friend got a burger medium well and my burger looked just like hers. (I will insert pictures). The atmosphere was very loud. We couldn't even hear each other speak; we had to scream and repeat ourselves multiple times. The prices were fair, but I don't think I will return. My overall experience was OK. I was really hoping for a better one. A while back my husband & I stopped into Marathon for a late breakfast/early lunch. Around 10:30AM. Besides us, only 2 tables were filled. Our waitress came over in a minute. She delivered our menus and asked what we would like to drink. We ordered our drinks. They came right away. Then she took our order. An omelet for me and my husband ordered a breakfast sandwich. This is when the "fun" started. The place started filling up and orders were delivered to everyone but us. I counted 6 tables with their orders filled. After getting the waitresses attention we asked what was taking so long. She said she would check. She came back and said it would be here in a minute. After watching the whole restaurant get served, many with what we ordered. I was not very pleased. If we did not have to eat due to a doc. appointment we would have left. Total wait time was over an hour. This is not a place I would return to. And the food was mediocre. This used to be Marathon Grill, now it's just Marathon. They changed the decor, darkened it up, added a nice bar, and changed the menu slightly.
I had the cheese steak sandwich which was very good. The fries were warm but soggy. A place like this needs to be able to serve crispy fries at least.
I had lunch there on a Monday. The tables are crowded in very close, annoyingly so -- you feel like the people sitting next to you can hear every word, and that's because they can. I come here often with friends and family, I'm a fan of this Marathon and Marathon on the Square. I love the outdoor seating here in nice weather because for whatever reason, this Marathon and the one on the square tend to get a bit noisy. I have yet to try the one on Market St but I would like to, I hear they have live music.
I've tried and enjoyed The Turkey and Grain Burger, Chicken Parmesan which they've seared instead of fried, more at the one on the square, Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Mousse, a few wines, I enjoy Reisling but it's about 9.50 a glass compared to a slightly drier House White for 5, which was also very good, I enjoyed the Rose too.
I definitely plan to be back and I hope to sit outside while the nice weather lasts. It's usually good service at this Marathon too! I went this past Sunday for brunch. My family went including my two younger brothers (3 and 5). Contrary to the profile, they were very accommodating for kids. There were at least three groups of children under 10 around us.
We only waited a moment for a requested booth. However, after that, the service was incredibly slow. We waited about 15 minutes for our drinks and almost 45 for our food. I ordered a western omelet sandwich (Very good!) It came out hot and melt-y with perfectly sauteed onions and peppers.
My little brothers were not so lucky. While their apple, cinnamon pancakes smelled amazing, they were ice cold. I guess kids don't really mind too much about the temperature of the food because they dove right in. The manager stopped by to ask how the food was when we informed him that everything was good except the pancakes that were cold. He slightly mentioned he could reheat them but did not really seem to care. Halfway through the pancakes, we found a piece of hard plastic about the of a pen cap. Completely unacceptable.
I've had fairly good experiences had other Marathon Grill locations, but I will never return to this spot. Great restaurant, with good portions. Banana French toast and Avocado toast are the best. Had great friendly service with Annie.
Bathrooms are a bit sketchy. I created my own salad had a million and one toppings lol including grilled salmon. Everything was fresh and tasty. My date found a hair in their food but the server addressed it immediately. The salad was comped and they prepared a new one to go since our time was up. We didn't expect or ask for these things to happen; that shows great customer service and appreciation. They were also very quick so if you have a short lunch break but want to escape the office, I'd highly suggest this place. Okay on the other 2 occasions I've been here I didn't have a good experience. Before they didn't write down your order on a pad, they would "remember" it (not really) and usually forget something or get an order wrong. But this time they wrote it down and for a busy Sunday brunch the food came out fairly quickly and it was delicious.
We seemed to come at the perfect time around 12:30pm, we got seated right away and 5 minutes later we looked and there was a huge line by the door.
I ordered the Eggs Benedict and my friend ordered the Mixed Berry French Toast. Any place that makes home fries I actually like get's four stars. I'm a hash-brown fan, not a homefries fan. I don't like homefries because I feel like i'm eating lumps of dry old potato. HERE they are magnificent. Their breakfast is what I truly love here. The omelets are awesome. Dinner though, is good...just good. They have a good variety of things, and a good kids menu. Just watch out, this is another vagrant-magnet. We were there one night when a guy came in and asked these old ladies for half their burger, then just went down the row of booths doing the same. All the while, a lady outside was screaming at a dog sitting on the ground. First I want to commend the staff at Marathon for their inclusive nature. I am mobility impaired and feeling welcome from the moment I entered the restaurant is not always the norm. Needless to say, wheelchair and mobility scooter accessible!
The service was extraordinary and the food was better. I had wanted to try this restaurant for a while and I am glad I did. We tried a couple different things, salad, burger and salmon, everything was appetizing to look at and best of all well seasoned. The serving sizes were just right to feel satisfied but not feel stuffed.
Overall great atmosphere for conversations. I was super excited about going to this restaurant. I went to this restaurant with my friends and we were looking for American food. I'd read good reviews and this restaurant looked quite nice. When we walked in it was fairly busy. We were seated immediately and we also got waters. We ordered the marathon burger. I asked my burger to be well done and raw onions instead of caramelized onions. We waited for about 15 minutes for our food to arrive. When we got our food I was pleasantly surprised. However, when I cut my burger in half, I noticed that my burger was not well done. My other friend got a burger medium well and my burger looked just like hers. (I will insert pictures). The atmosphere was very loud. We couldn't even hear each other speak; we had to scream and repeat ourselves multiple times. The prices were fair, but I don't think I will return. My overall experience was OK. I was really hoping for a better one I can't really say why, but when I'm out of options on where to eat, Marathon Grill seems to be the first thing that comes to mind. Maybe it's the consistent mediocrity or the yelpworthy matzoh ball soup, but either way, whenever I'm there, my expectations wither and indecisiveness swells. Their robust menu always makes my head spin, but I can't complain - the ability to order breakfast all day makes eggs benedict a reasonable option at 10pm. Now that's something.
My roommate's a fan of the chocolate chip/cookie dough pancakes; something she often substitutes for her otherwise ice cream laden dinner. They also offer "control freak" salads - an idea that I think must have stemmed from their West Philly location after all the food-scared Penn girls requested modified meals. I once overheard a fellow student request mustard as her dressing. Ick.
I have to say though, it's pretty great having that "if all else fails" option, and I give them props for offering such a smorgasbord. Don't expect the best rendition of your favorite meal, but hey, at least it's there when you can't think of anywhere else. great place love the salads. always a great place to go with friends. i would love to recommend to other people because it has a good environment and i would like to come back here again sometime. the food is great. My wife and I were headed to the Continental only to find that they weren't open for another hour (10AM opening for breakfast) when we stumbled across Marathon. It looked promising and busy so we dove in.
The staff is cheerful and friendly (looks like a lot of college students) and the place is sizable and well laid out. Big booths are great for breakfast or just about any meal. The menu has a good number of options. I asked for an iced coffee which sometimes throws off restaurants but here they didn't bat an eye. It was also tasty so I didn't have to gaze longingly out the window at the nearby Dunkin Donuts across the street.
We had a pretty long wait before our food made it to the table. Considering that neither of us ordered anything exotic, it was longer than reasonable in terms of breakfast food. I had the breakfast burrito and tex-mex fries which both had zing but I expected a bit more in terms of flavor over just being spicy. Portion sizes are average (at best) compared to places of this variety.
I had very high hopes when we sat down and got acclimated but Marathon left me yearning a bit. Compared to Continental for similar fare, they have smaller portions and lacked a bit of flavor. I would come back again for another attempt though. This is a clean place with a great space and location. I'd like to try their lunch options also. I wrote my review before skimming the others for this place and after I read them I felt a lot better about mine. It seems like my experience was consistent. Push a bit harder Marathon and I think you can get yourself to 4-5 stars across the boards. I went here for breakfast and it was definitely satisfying. I got the eggs Benedict, the portion was large but I tasted a little burntness. Not sure if it was normal or not so I just finished it, at least I didn't get sick so it was all good. The Matzoh Ball soup was delicious, if only it was hotter. The food was good, portions were perfect, and the service was in point. Great burger, mediocre service, perfect for people watching.
I ordered a medium rare burger with everything that it normally comes with and pickles. It was so good I ate it before realizing I didn't take a photo.
Fries were ok, nothing really exciting. We order from here about once a month. I love that I can have healthier options after a long day of work but sadly it has not delivered. Tonight my fiance and I ordered delivery from here. He ordered the marathon burger at medium and when the burger arrived it was completely raw and cold to the touch in the center. It looked as if it barely even had touched a warm grill. I have attached pictures since this is a major issue and health concern. They also messed up my order as well. I ordered the turkey grain burger and was sent a turkey club.... I'm almost glad a burger didn't come because I'm scared that would have been raw as well. Marathon Grill was my "go to " spot in Center City for lunch-always good food & service....WHAT HAPPENED????? I have had a couple of mediocre meals there in the last few months, but decided to give my old favorite another chance-BIG MISTAKE. Slow service, and awful food-NOT A GOOD THING!!!! My favorite turkey burger was over seasoned and undercooked. My fries first came raw, and then when I asked for them to be cooked more, they arrived over cooked and dried out. The meal took forever too. What a disappointment, I've been enjoying the food @ Marathon since they're only location was in Northeast Philly. Very, very sad to see such a great spot become AWFUL! Has the ownership changed? Marathon was always good, fast and efficient...in the last 6 months it has become the opposite, awful, poorly prepared, and severs who don't seem to care if you enjoy your meal. Much sadness for Center City. Two words to describe Marathon: consistently good. The best time to visit this place is around brunch- the menu offers a huge selection for reasonable prices.
The menu features both savory and sweet brunch options- and for those who want lunch, they have an eclectic mixture of sandwiches and create your own salads.
The omelette section is sub par, but they have a build your own for those who can never decide what they want. I opted for a regular egg omelette with goat cheese, onions, peppers, spinach and tomatoes- it was heavenly. I never thought to add goat cheese to eggs, but the saltiness of the goat cheese was the perfect amount and added more flavor.
They offer $5 mimosas and bloodys during brunch hours- a little more expensive than some other places, but they were strong and were made with a nicer champagne.
The only reason why Marathon is getting four stars and not five is due to lack of creativity on their menu- nothing really jumps out at me. Farm to Table is a great concept- they could run with it and make this restaurant even more popular than it already is. If Marathon went a little crazier with their brunch dishes, it would be a no brainer to dine here every weekend. Marathon tends to be inconsistent. I've eaten at the one on 18th Street (a very strange tasting tuna salad), the one that used to be at 40th and Walnut (one of the worst service nights I've ever suffered through), and this one at 16th Street. 16th and 18th Street locations are definitely geared toward business folk: generally swift service, swift table turning, and swift check drops.
This location had terrific matzoh ball soup. I've also had the southwestern style salad with avocado, tortilla strips, and pumpkin seeds as delivery many times. Generally I've found this salad to be perfectly executed every time; however, today it was overly dressed and the quality control was lacking: two lettuce cores mixed in with my greens and the avocado was rotten in spots. Here's hoping it was just a fluke today, because other than Continental Midtown's Chopped Salad, this is one of my favorite salads in the city! Really like this breakfast joint in Philly. It's in an area with lots of shopping and plenty other places to eat. Went on a Saturday morning and was sat and attended to immediately. It was a nice day so with all the windows in the place it was a nice atmosphere. The place was busy but had plenty of seating. The coffee was pretty good maybe a bit on the weak side but that's nit-picking (I'm a leaded coffee guy). They had a good menu with healthy options (I like that they have free range eggs with everything). The prices were not high at all. I got the breakfast burrito that was good size w a large side of home fries for under $15. Would definitely recommend. Two young adults who got to Mission Taqueria happy hour too late on a Friday afternoon end up at Marathon Grill! No wait on a Friday at 6 PM. They don't actively advertise their happy hour but drinks were $5 and small bites like calamari was $7-8. Their margarita was pretty strong (or maybe I've just become a light weight) and their calamari was satisfying (Gran Caffe L'Aquila's is still better). Also got their pierogis which was the first place I've seen in Philadelphia to offer pierogis (yum!). We went and got second dinner after this so it was a great snack but Marathon Grill has a family-friendly vibe which is quite uncommon to find in Center City. I felt like I was transported to a suburban mall restaurant for 1-2 hours - it was actually quite refreshing. The booths had families and children with their coloring book menus, it was great. Cute little find in Center City~ Two stars only for the take-out option. I swear, they make every other take out order that's placed after me before mine. Whatever, as long as I get my food and I get it before they close. I think I'll stick to dining in vs. take-out. Great Sunday brunch omelets; the kitchen gets 4 stars. The Bloody Mary was small but tasty. The first Bloody Mary came out looking beautiful; the second was ungarnished. The platters were good size, well prepared and tasty
My problem is service was rushed; waitress only interested in taking order and clearing table (my second drink was taken although I wasn't finished). I can understand when its busy; but the place was half empty.
We ordered drinks, entrees and coffee, so we clearly weren't in a hurry nor just taking up space. But waitress presented check with coffee and when it was not paid immediately, she checked in and stared at folder expecting payment.
Marathon if you're listening: waitress was attractive BF on Sunday 12/15 at 2:30pm. She needs service training. We were quickly greeted and seated,
however our table did not yet have
silverware.
The silverware was brought by a busboy
who handled the forks by the tines with
his bare hands.
Also, the busboy was too quick to snatch
away plates. If we are already getting
up to leave, he should wait until we are
actually gone before clearing the table.
Marathon Grill does not take Discover Card. People seem to be really down on this place, but the one time I've been (a small sample size, I know) it was perfectly fine. I had the matzo ball soup which, despite its saltiness/not being from a Jewish deli, was very good and satisfying on a chilly night. For dinner, I had the marathon burger and, again, it was very good and I was more than content with it.
To each his own, I suppose, but I would gladly return to this restaurant. On a cool, wintery January Saturday morning, a few friends and I stopped by marathon to get a quick brunch. The place was definitely busy and we heard some great news about the service, so six friends and I decided to try it out. We tried the salads, including the salmon salad and the Asian salad, which were both very good, large salads and very filling. Friends also try the Buffalo chicken Samaranch hamburger and chocolate chip pancakes and left raving about each of their meals. For brunch I would definitely recommend this. The prices on the menu were not too expensive, and I found that the menu had a wide variety. I dig it child. Marathon is getting one star because of horrible takeout service. I just tried to order lunch, was put on hold three times at five minutes a time, put on hold again for 3 minutes and then they finally went to take my order and I was put on hold again! I finally gave up. Tried to order from another location that is only about four blocks away and they wouldnt let us.So we ordered from FUEL and it was delicious! Mike and I came here for a Sunday brunch after a long weekend visiting Philadelphia. The full place made us feel like we had made the right decision. While the dining room seemed full, especially since it was raining and therefore no outdoor seating, we were able to find 2 seats at the bar. Which is just as well because it meant I didn't have to wait long for that brunch bloody mary!
Since we had just gotten up, we opted to split a meal rather than get overfull and eating too much. We agreed on the brunch quesadilla and "tex mex'd" our home fries on the side. When the bartender realized we were sharing she even had them prepare our food on two plates which was very considerate.
The quesadilla was good but the real winner was the cheesy home fries. I had to watch my plate at all times to make sure Mike didn't steal all of them from me! I loved the veggies and onions that came with the home fries and especially loved that cheese sauce on them.
The crowd inside does not tell lies-- this is a place you'll definite'y want to stop at for brunch. I go here often because it is convenient. Nothing special but always good. Some of the salads and sandwiches are good. A few years ago my boss used to live for their quesadillas - it was a lunch we had often. Now I usually go for breakfast - omelets are good. The chocolate chip cookie dough pancakes are awesome. I like the coffee as well. The food was good but the service was really slow we were sitting with empty glasses most of the time. We were a party of 7 so gratuity was automatically added to the bill which I think is why the server felt no need to pay attention to us. So much promise - we walked in on a crisp post-Thanksgiving day, relaxed and hungry and drawn to the neighborhood, friendly vibe. Bustling place but we were immediately sat, and staff and expediters seemed to be humming. Orders in, daytime drinks delivered... and then it all fell apart.
The kitchen was clearly overwhelmed, as we could see orders come off the line and sit for 10-15 minutes at a time, piling up. Orders going out to tables were being sent back. Our drinks, empty, stayed that way as our server abandoned us. We all sat for nearly 50 minutes, asking at one point how close we were and hearing back "soon," but it became clear that it was a lost cause. We left to chase lunch somewhere else. We appreciated that they comped our beverages, but we were disappointed that things turned so badly. First of all, it's freezing in here. Use some of your overpriced breakfast to turn up the damn heat. 32 freaking dollars for 2 basic breakfasts. The food was not great. It was average at best. They give you sour dough bread when you ask for white toast. They don't even butter your damn toast and they give you rock hard butter to butter your toast. Do yourself a favour and skip this place. The waitress was a complete bitch as well. I am never ever coming back here and I suggest you do the same. My friend and I visited Marathon for the first time today and it was the most delicious meal I've had from a restaurant in a long time. In fact, everything that was coming out of the kitchen looked delicious. I had the chicken Parmesan and it was delicious, I can't say it enough! I will definitely be back. Had a Google shopper offer with Bar code on the smartphone. No where did it say u had to print it out. Was told there I had to have it printed out. Ran out of spinach and turkey. No real attempts made to accommodate anything. Sub par experience. Ordered the Moroccan meatballs, and the grilled salmon. Everything was AWESOME and the service was good. I have no complaints besides I want more! The salmon was fresh and cooked perfectly - and the meatballs were an eclectic mix of well thought ingredients. Overall my experience was above par and I will definitely be back. Great location and nice ambience to grab lunch if you work in Center City. It seems like it can get packed in here, the location down the street on 18th and Market has extra outdoor seating I believe. We were lucky to grab one of the last available tables. Anyways, I like that this place has a wide selection of food at good prices. After sharing some of the tastiest calamari starter with some of my colleagues I settled on quesadillas off the lunch special menu. Very well seasoned and cooked through. Service was solid, never having an issue getting our drinks refilled. My other coworker raves about the crab cakes here so I guess it's what I'll be getting next time. I had a party of 6 without reservation during Sunday brunch. The staff was able to seat us within 5 minutes. The Autumn brunch menu was very diverse so each of us were able to select something to our liking. I'd definitely checkout their regular menu throughout the year too.
My only critique is that the food came out in pairs instead of all together. We waited an extra 20 minutes for the rest of the food to come out before we all ate together. I came hear with some friends of mine last week for brunch. I loved this place. The service was great. The prices were reasonable. The portions were huge so bring a huge appetite you will need it. When in Philly I will be here again. Went here with a group of around 8 on St. Patrick's Day. Waiter was adequate, and we got our food pretty promptly. That said, it was overpriced for what was a decent (not amazing) burger, and I was one of the few at the table to enjoy my meal. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to go here or avoid it in the future. This place is very basic. I had split pea soup which tasted like it came out of a can. My friend's tomato basil soup was so salty she had to send it back. You get the sense that quality is less of a priority here. The service here was pretty bad when I stopped in for dinner the other night. Our waiter seemed really unhappy to be serving us and after taking our order pretty much disappeared until he dropped off our check. The food wasn't bad, especially the meatball appetizer, but the service really turned me off. Maybe I'll order take out next time I made an appearance at this place on a Saturday evening in late 2017 to wet my whistle with a companion prior to having dinner.
Ambiance is pretty fucking bright. Bar isn't extensive but it's enough.
We sat down at the bar and were ID'ed. That's fine, it's a hassle but flattering at the same time. I like to relive my youth every now and again. Problem here is that the bartender literally didn't believe my ID... it's from NY so it does that weird bendy thing that makes it hairy which if anything makes it MORE legit. What fake ID does that? The bartender didn't believe me. I'll put it this way: I'm under 30 but I've had at least 1 college reunion. I'm like basically one foot in the door to a Botox clinic. Fucking rude and disrespectful. He actually asked me for another form of ID. Really?
Drink menu was decent. Not the best drinks I've ever had but they did the trick and were good enough.
I can't speak for the food but as usual, I wouldn't mind trying it.
Honestly the bartender was rude. I believe he was rude to me about something else again later. This made the experience less pleasant but it was a perfectly fine place to just sit for a while to pound back the drinks. Amazing food and always bustling with crowds of people! I usually get the Marathon Burger or the popular Soy Ginger Salmon (if it's not out of stock) along with their delicious Strawberry Crème Milkshake.
I have to admit, the taste of their food never sticks out to me as something I can't have anywhere else, but I come back and love it every time. They must be doing something right. I do, however, taste their milkshakes at just the thought. Definitely try them if you're into milkshakes! Solid menu, attentive and quick staff (can be quite busy during lunch hours)... however not somewhere I would go out of my way for. The french fries are some of my favorite in Philly, the rest is hit or miss. I like the food here. Always good quality but nothing out of the ball park in terms of uniqueness or taste. Very impressed with this restaurant.
Tried this place for breakfast on a Sunday morning.
Ordered Choc Chip Pancakes, OJ, and 2 eggs.
Service was very friendly and attentive.
Juice wasn't the freshest, but that's ok. The pancakes were delicious, along with the eggs. I wouldn't hesitate to come back here and was surprised it only has a 3 star selection. This place deserves better, and it's better than that.
Very, very, very good. I am glad I ate here as it was my only highlight to a very long, annoying day.
Thanks Marathon! Okay, I admit it! I've been won over by this Marathon! I'm more apt to use their delivery or pickup services- especially because I live 2 blocks away!!! What made me score 5 instead of 4 stars recently are two recent positive experiences- one, I ordered delivery and seriously, no joke, it was at my door within 10-15 minutes, WOW! Not always that fast but it was late, either way, I was super impressed! Also, I came in the night of the Super Bowl to get delivery, they didn't mind staying a little late to make me dinner as they were closing up, again, that was really nice! I feel very fortunate to live 2 blocks away from Marathon! I often order dinner from them on a weeknight. I'm totally sold on some of their dinner specials- particularly the Pork Special, Chicken Marsala - other menu faves are the Chicken Parm which you can get grilled, just ask, they have great desserts- I particularly love the Pumpkin Pie when they have it! Only request to bring back the Riesling white wine! I prefer this Marathon to the one on the Square. I really enjoy coming here! Friendly staff and great food! Nice homey, friendly restaurant!! Had the trout with couscous and vegetables. It was great. Only thing is that the fried scallions did not work. The Greek salad was very good. Portions were also great. I really loved this place,they had a lot of interesting things on the menu that you don't normally see(at least not normally in Baton Rouge) like Pineapple Pico de Gallo, Apple Mostarda & Curry Mango Ketchup just to name a few.They also have items with grass fed beef & cage free eggs so I thought that was pretty cool.Greg was our server & he was really nice & really helpful with items on the menu that I didn't know.We ordered the Marathon Sampler which included: Calamari, Chicken Fingers,Philly Cheesesteak Wontons, Fries & they each came with their own delicious sauce.My sister & I shared the Turkey & Grain burger & got the Caesar salad as our side, it was delicious! The Gouda & Apple Mostarda(which I had never had before) made it amazing! They also put just the right amount of Apple slaw on it to make it taste perfect.To our surprise when Greg brought our food he brought us 2 plates with the burger already cut in half & with our own Caesar salads on our own plates.We thought that was just the most amazing thing ever! We couldn't stop talking about it all day, I mean he REALLY went the extra mile! It seems like most waiters frown upon ppl that share plates for some reason but not Greg.I would definitely come back here not only because of the great food but because of the great service,Greg really went out of his way to make our first dining experience in Philly amazing.Next time I come I wanna order the Marathon salad with Salmon & the Marathon burger because they both tasted really good too. We were looking for a place that could accommodate 14 people walking distance to the academy of music. This turned out to be the right choice. Lots of picky eaters they got all the minis this plus This right. The food came at a good pace, we had everything from pancakes, salmon, burgers and salad. Nothing was amazing everything was reliable. I will say the one thin that was amazing as Tara the server. Never seen anyone handle 14 people so effortlessly. The service from Tara was way above what you would expect for this kind of joint. All in all reliable. 2 stars is for the food only. This place is definitely well staffed, quantity not quality here. We grabbed a drink at the bar prior to being seated. The bartender couldn't handle serving us and the manager took over. While our drinks were being made our table became available (first indication of slow service). The second half of our first round of drinks came well after we ordered food and food came about an hour+ after it was ordered. We finally got so fed up we asked for the manager, who also took forever to come by and waited until the opportune moment of exactly when our food came out, did not introduce himself as a manager and was quick to walk away. Again, the food was fine. My friends ordered me a surprise birthday dessert. It came out without a candle and the server saying, "who is the cake for". Slow drinks continued throughout the entire meal. We needed to leave before our last drinks came out so we had to cancel them. The manager was very defensive with is saying he had to pour out the drinks (they're so slow I doubt that happened) and was not apologetic at all for the horrible service, just demanded top gratuity after finding out we were in the industry. Bottom line, the service was so bad I will be telling my friends and local family members to stay away. Went there Saturday morning for breakfast and some coffee. I saw that they had pumpkin pancakes. I ordered them with a side of bacon and eggs. The waitstaff was nice and it looks like a great neighborhood place. When the pumpkin pancakes arrived they looked beautiful and the eggs and bacon where done perfectly. Unfortunately the pancakes where not done in the middle very gooey. I tried eating around the edges and going most of it raw. I decided to look up why this happens because it has happened to me at home. I read about ways to solve this problem and shared it with the manager on the way out when I was paying the bill. I wish he would have taken the pancakes off my bill but he didn't . The crispy chicken and sesame salad was terrific! The chicken was crunchy and moist and the salad was dressed perfectly. Sigh. So I came here for happy hour with some of my friends and we decided to sit outside. The weather was perfect for it.
The hostess( I guess host bc it's a guy?) took us to our table and as we sat down I asked him what the happy hour specials were...he said the waiter will tell me. Okay.
UNFORTUNATELY...the waiter barely knew the happy hour specials either.
So $5 margaritas and mojitos. Okay.
I asked what the beer specials were....he answered me with hesitation in his voice and says," I think it's Amstel light, miller light, and yeungling." Okay....I ask how much is it? "Uhhhh I think $3."
Okay... I ordered 2 Amstel lights. And 1 margarita.
Then he comes back and says, " oh it's not Amstel light it's just miller light. Yeungling and yards"
So I'm excited to hear that yards is on happy hour list and I ask him how much that is...
"Uhhh I think it's around $3 or $4"
I just kinda give him a confused squinting look and he just stares back at me with another confused look.
(It's like jhfbvkdfnhirebiuernv CAN YOU GO FIND OUT INSTEAD OF JUST STARING AT ME)
I gave up and just ordered 2 mojitos and 1 margarita bc that's the only thing this guy knew...
I'm giving them 2 stars instead of 1 bc it was a nice day -_- This place is pretty good! It is a pretty hot brunch spot so expect lines, but we were able to snag a seat for 3 without making any reservations. They are understandably very busy, which made the service a little slower than I would have liked. The food came out promptly after ordering though and was delicious and filling. I would definitely recommend this place for a great American meal, but you can sometimes be left hanging if they are swamped! Marathon Grill is not too far from this spot and serves comparable menu and can be a little less busy! I went here on my first trip to Philly and was not disappointing! I had the baby kale salad, full of vegetables, with salmon on top. The portion was the perfect size and the fish was cooked very well. I sometimes feel hesitant to order salads at restaurants because I always feel like I could make them myself, but this was well worth the money. In addition, my friend and I got a side of french fries and they were delicious.
I went at a crowded brunch time, like many of the people reviewing, and waited only about 10 minutes to sit (this was for party of two). We were starving and knew exactly what we wanted, so we ordered right away and the food came very quickly. Although I can see what people are saying about feeling rushed, I never did. They definitely weren't trying to have us stay the whole afternoon, but I completely understand that during a crowded brunch, the waitress was never rude at all.
Overall I would definitely come back on a return trip to Philadelphia! I really wish I could do 3.5 stars, but I will go for 4. If you think of it is a diner (which it essentially is, except you can't have French toast at 4pm), it Is definitely 4 stars. I really like the ambiance. I really like the people who work here. It is efficient. It is clean. It is well lighted. The food is truly solid. As in, you won't feel sick, you will come back and order it again, and there will be things you will crave. They make a really mean ceasar salad. They make a great breakfast. But I haven't had anything that makes me go "OMG WOW YES THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The food was decent.... But we got rushed out on NYE at 1030 when the place was supposed to be open til 11. The people are rude. I know u wanna leave and enjoy your NYE but this is your job. And the fact I spent 150 dollars is disappointing I was very concern about the star rating before thinking about going there. Since they have some recent positive reviews, I decide to give it a shot. Friendly people and delicious Marathon burger, too bad that I forgot to ask for pickles. The food was good for a decent price (my burger was a little pink in the middle but not to be worrying), but the service was lacking. Our waiter was a young guy and probably just wanted to go home, but boy was not very attentive and didn't even offer a refill on our drinks (easiest way to make more money!). Might be better on a weekend not so close to closing but we walked in at a time where we weren't at risk of keeping them longer than closing time. Lunchtime review: I loved the atmosphere. Open floor plan, open kitchen and plenty of seating. Lots of farm fresh options with Vegetarian and Gluten Free plates. Earthy vibe.
4 out of 5 I'm a fan. Good choice for a casual brunch/lunch, especially when meeting up with friends.
Mac and cheese appetizer is a large portion great for sharing, or to order while you're waiting for the rest of the food.
Turkey club sandwich is too tall to properly eat. Turkey is dry (although fresh), so be sure to order extra mayo on the side.
Caesar salad has a very weak and slightly acidic dressing, it's not really a traditional version, but it's good.
Omelette's are huge and cooked great. Feel free to order off menu and make your own special requests.
Pancakes are also huge, we usually order a plate with brunch for the table to share.
The green shake sounds kinda gross (spinach and yogurt...) but it's actually really, really good. If you're not starting off brunch with this, you should be ordering the bloody mary or mimosa.
The staff is really attentive, the busboys almost too much so as they'll be there to clear your plates as each person finishes. You almost get the impression that they're rising to get you out the door so they can turn the table, and then you look-up and see the 4 groups of friends and 2 small families pushing strollers waiting for one of the tables to free up.
Come early or come late, but "just after church" is by far their busiest time so be prepared to wait. Saturday brunch. Got the breakfast tacos and the yogurt parfait. Tacos were amazing. Sauce gave it a little kick, just enough heat. 3 tacos and decent sized. Yogurt was great, just a bit too much granola, but don't have to mix it all in. Overall great atmosphere and food was excellent. Marathon may not be the most glamorous restaurant, but you really can't go wrong eating here. There are so many options for any kind of eater. The staff is always pleasant and the prices are decent. It's convenient for both take out and eat in. Marathons in the city of Philadelphia are a thing and this one is very adequate. I was thinking if this were a diner, I would rate a four star. But alas, it's not... so the bathroom matters (it was pretty dirty) , the stuff on the floor matters (trash, bits of food) but the food is definitely decent. I had the crispy sesame chicken salad and it was good. The salads here are always good and they do have breakfast items (a few) that they serve all day. (But see? It's not a diner) I had a cocktail, my kid had two Shirley Temples (she also ordered the pirogies and said they were good) If you're out late, don't have reservations, want something akin to a diner but isn't a diner, this is a decent place to stop. Serves a good purpose in this city. Very convenient and good selection for lunch or brunch. Problem was I ordered soup and they completely forgot to bring me my entree after. However, they were extremely apologetic and didn't charge me for my turkey burger. Everyone is human, so I understand, but it was nice of them to acknowledge the big boo boo and redeem themselves.
The matzah ball soup was yummy, not too salty. Turkey burger a bit dry. But the ham and cheese and egg on sourdough was pretty good. Love Marathon! Great service, great food! Nothing more needs to be said! Go there, eat, be happy! A morning staple for breakfast or brunch while in Philly for the weekend. The multiple locations of this mini chain all have so many wonderful options to chose. You can't find something to eat on this menu, there's something seriously wrong with you.
This was the morning after spot we all attended...some of us more hungover than others. But there was a lot of bacon on the table, a lot....good old vitamin G for the cure....the pancakes were a big hit at the table too. Their cheese steak omelet and eggs benedict were delicious as well. The special omelet of the day was a crab and asparagus which I got and if it wasn't for the extra large portion would be polished off easily.
Note: Order the breakfast potatoes well done, you'll be glad you did.
This place is a staple in our agenda and almost always gets a visit while we are in the City of Brotherly Love Some of the best breakfast in the city. Try the smoked salmon platter or the banana french toast. For a lighter fare, the fruit and cottage cheese is a nice treat. I'm in town from Los Angeles for work and a co-worker and I happened upon this restaurant. It was really great! Friendly service, nice atmosphere and the food (we both got the roasted turkey plates) was delicious!! Generous portions & a comfortable establishment. I'd definitely return! Meh. Very average. I've been here maybe 3 times, it's not bad but nothing to write home about. I'd say this is probably a place where tourists or people on business go because they don't know where else to go and it's conveniently located right in Center City. I'd say skip it, definitely better places in the city. Was recommended by concierge at hotel as the only nearby restaurant offering brunch as early as 8AM. We were greeted at the door by a mature gentleman that was the manager. He ran a tight ship and it showed. He and his staff masterfully served our multi-generational table of 8 demanding individuals. Food was tasty, some of it was great. Definitely appreciate a restaurant that is run by a seasoned restauranteur. Kudos Marathon. We stopped in for breakfast before heading to the game. I have been to other Marathons but it was my first time at this location. Nothing we ordered was amazing. Everything was just okay. It took a while for our orders to come out. Looking around the restaurant it seemed like it was that way for every one. I work next door so I am no stranger to this place's food, just their interior. I've had food delivered and had to pick up food. Their delivery dudes are quick and pleasant but when I've come to pick stuff up, it's the normal you-are-invisible act that I get so much in Philadelphia. Okay, I get it, you are awesome, work at a big-shot restaurant, and are busy. Can I please get my order which is sitting over there in a bag? Hello?
As for the food, I suggest the salmon burger. It's quite good and light. If you're getting takeout, I do not suggest getting fries as they will be soggy and gross by the time you get them.
Again, this is a situation where the food is good but the service always gives me pause whether I want to deal with them or just walk down the street to get the equivalent food at Cosi while bypassing a tip. We came here looking for a cheapish sit down meal that was satisfying and I think we found it! Expectations weren't too high, and the quality was solidly satisfactory.
The good:
- burger was cooked correctly: super juicy and nicely browned on the outside, as a medium burger should be
- the calamari included not just the typical ring-shaped parts but tentacles too! bonus points for including the gnarly shit. and fried crispy! breading could have used more flavor but I was overall satisfied. served with a tasty jalapeno aioli.
- reasonably priced
- iced tea tasted housemade
- service was attentive and accomodating
The bad:
- seating arrangements sort of felt like a cafeteria: too open, could break up the large space a bit better to make it more intimate
- the caesar salad on the side was pretty boring.
- what kind of New American diner doesn't have blue cheese crumbles? I had to settle for blue cheese dressing on my burger : / *consider the upgrade to the real stuff, guys!
Overall: a good New Americanish diner that was perfect for a casual, cheapish meal that wasn't too fancy. I want Marathon to be so much more than it is, which might be the reason I am always so disappointed. The food is fine but never great. The service is always okay at best. Sitting outside is a nightmare because the tables are always wobbly. It is fine if you cannot go somewhere else but there are tons of better options in the area. One of my go to spots in Philadelphia. I think I've been here twenty times. Quick service, wide variety of menu items, and a casual but classy atmosphere. Some of my favorite menu items include the morrocan salmon salad, turkey BLT club, breakfast wrap, and cheese steak wontons. Their specials change often and should not be overlooked! Perfect for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I've dined her twice and really enjoyed in both times. Really nice casual atmosphere. Upscale bar menu and the milkshakers are a nice touch. Def a center city go to spot for a casual dinner or a nice lunch. great food, great service, they got us right in on 4th of july and everything was impeccable! We got the soup, burger, sweet potato fries... everything was great! Three words: tuna salad hoagie!!! The sandwich alone is worth five stars, however, they need a better QA process to ensure accuracy. First my side of mayo and extra cucumbers were missing from my order. Second, when I got back to the office, the fries were mounted atop small crumbs or pieces of fries to appear like a full order and most were burnt. However, The tuna salad hoagie was delicious as the first time and I'll probably go back tomorrow!!
Disclaimer: it was high noon at the peak of lunch time so I think they deserve a concession or two. I'll go back and try for five stars A friend described this as a diner. He was wrong! We had a fabulous brunch and the best part was watching other dishes go by and planning the next visit. I have been wanting to try Marathon for a while, and finally we were able to stop in for lunch. It was midday on a Friday and the place was busy. We were able to get a table with no problem, but there was a pleasant crowd. Our server was very nice and helpful when deciding what to order.
We both started with the matzo ball soup. The matzo ball itself was delicious, the soup itself was unfortunately bland. The broth definitely could've used more flavor, but it had big chunks of chicken throughout and the matzo ball made it worth it. I had the southwest salad with shrimp which was good. The shrimp was so good, the salad could've used a little more dressing because when I got to the bottom it was a little dry. It had chunks of avocado in it which were soooo good. The tortilla chips on top were okay, they were slightly stale. My boyfriend had the burger and we both thought it tasted good.
The atmosphere is fun. I like how they have a ton of different options for all preferences and I love the smoothie bar. Unfortunately the food was just okay and in a city with some amazing restaurants, the wow factor is pertinent. Great short rib, bit mediocre salmon. Not exactly somewhere I'd go to again. A very forgettable experience. The food was ok, and the prices were a bit high based on the quality. Nothing very special about the menu. However, the main reason I can't give them a good review was the horrible service we got. A group of my friends and I came here around the holidays on a night that was not busy. In fact most of the restaurant was empty. The waiter mixed up almost all of our orders, spilled a drink on me, and then mixed up the bill at the end. They also ran out of a couple things - which happens. But they only figured it out once everyone's food was there and the two people unfortunate enough to have ordered something that was not there had to wait 20 minutes while everyone else was eating. Somehow those same people also got the wrong drinks and were just waiting without any food or drinks. They did not comp us on anything except my dry cleaning bill. We enjoyed each other's company, but the eight of us will never be returning to Marathon. The food was super good although they told us we would only have to wait for 15 minutes- we waited for an hour. Blackened chicken tortellini is BOMB though. Here is my issue with Marathon's delivery service. There is a 50/50 chance I won't get what I ordered. And when I call to say I got the wrong item, they never seem apologetic.
Unfortunately Marathon gets way too much business to take the time to make improvements. It's a shame because there is a lot of potential, but since most people don't seem to care about the problems they make a lot of money anyway. Good brunch menu. Food was hot and fresh. Good service and a clean dining room.
They have a great menu with something for just about everyone. The quality of the food is excellent. I came back one Sunday late afternoon (3:00?) for lunch and the service was insanely slow. Not sure if that was because of shift changes? I sat for about 18 minutes before someone came over to even take our drink order. I was thissssss close to just getting up and walking out when the waitress finally came -- we ordered our drinks and meals and check all at once because it took so long.
The food came and they forgot the side my boyfriend and I ordered to share. The food wasn't that great either. It's a shame because I really do like it here, but this last experience I had has made me not want to come back. I walk by every day and haven't returned yet..... I was in the Philadelphia area and I had been wanting to try a brunch place, so I decided to walk into here. It has a nice casual ambiance with a very trendy vibe.
As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the wait staff. They were very friendly, and explained the menu situation to us (because we walked in at 10:50 ish which was the time between breakfast and lunch. They don't do brunch on weekdays), and we were seated quickly.
The price of the menu is very reasonable. I ordered the center city sandwich with pesto chicken added, and my mom got the marathon sampler. Upon the arrival of the food, I noticed that the presentation was very nice. It was perfect if your looking to take a picture of it for social media. I proceeded to pick up half of the sandwich, and it looked very appetizing. The taste was good, and it was a nice blend of flavors from the arugula, mozzarella, chicken, peppers, and sauce.
When I picked up the second half, however, I noticed that the chicken was completely raw. The thinner portion of the meat was cooked nicely, but it was ultimately inedible. I like seeing memes about medium rare chicken, but I never would've thought I would have seen one in person, let alone at a restaurant. The wait staff, however was very nice about it and comped the dish, and even had the manager come over by the table to apologize. They offered to make me a new one, but I declined. I appreciated this kind effort because it shows that they do care about their customers.
Although the rest of the food did taste okay, I probably will not return here because of this unappetizing experience, but I'm sure that they will not make the same mistake with anyone else again. Good Food! Good Value!
This is the very first meal we had in Philly and I must say it was very good. I had the salad with salmon and it was delicious. I ordered the lemon dressing on the side but it was so good that I asked the waitress to bring me another one. My son had the Philly Cheese steak and he liked it a lot, but I thought it was his OK. I have had better out of the state.
Service was great and food came quickly! I will definitely go back before we leave. My family and I came here for brunch on a Sunday. I had chocolate chip pancakes with a side of bacon and was very pleased with my meal. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. I'd return if I was visiting again. I am giving this 2 stars based mostly on the terrible customer service from the waiter John, otherwise this would have been 4 stars. We were a larger party and it was busy, but he was extremely rude. We could barely even get water or coffee. There is a difference between being busy but apologizing and being busy and bossing around the people you are supposed to be serving. The food was good, but service needs to improve! Went to Marathon today and was presently surprised!! We thought we'd have to wait awhile but the hostess was super friendly and rushed to bus a table so we could sit!
The brunch drinks were tasty, although I could go without the cherry mimosa. A little too sweet for me and it just seems like they poured some grenadine on it.
The food was delicious! We had shrimp tacos, brisket sandwich and eggs Benny!! The brisket sandwich was delicious -- next time I'll ask for extra sauce but that's totally a personal preference thing!
If you're in the area, definitely check them out!! I hate to give Marathon only two stars, because it used to be a once-a-week spot for dinner and drinks, but the quality of service has really gone down the hole.
At one point, their menu contained page after page of dirt cheap traditional and modern American cuisine, including a large variety of vegan and vegetarian selections. In the last year or so, they have nearly cut the menu in half, downsized the portions, and raised their prices.
Being seated never takes long, speaking with a server is another story. I have had my order screwed up on more than one occasion.
The food is good, nothing to write home about. The allure was always the huge number of options and the excitement of trying something new, but with that gone, I see little reason to keep Marathon as a regular dinner spot. Let me start with saying my lack of stars is not a reflection of how the food tastes. I ordered the grilled salmon and the lava cake and both were great. I gave three stars because I ordered a cookies and creme milkshake and the crab cakes (the special of the day) and was told I would not be able to have either. They had no Oreos and no crab cakes and it was only 7pm. I find it concerning when a restaurant can't provide TWO things that are on the menu. The waitress also wasn't too attentive, but at this point I'm not very used to good waitstaff anywhere. This is a good restaurant, they just need to get their stuff together.
Update:
WATCH YOUR BANK ACCOUNT CLOSELY. Just realized that we were charged $107 for a $60 meal. I sure as hell didn't give our mediocre waitress a $47 tip. Apparently my waitress accidentally charged us for our meal and another tables meal (only the receipt for our meal was signed). This is unacceptable. The manager told us that this happens sometimes. Hide your money and go somewhere else. This place isn't worth all the trouble. There for Sunday brunch and ordered an omelette which comes with home fries. The omelette was big but rubbery. I had ordered it with cheddar cheese instead of Swiss but it arrived with Swiss cheese. My potatoes were cold. Not luke warm, actually cold. I asked for another order and got ones that were steaming hot but overall they were not flavorful. My friends ordered poached eggs which weren't even runny; they had been cooked too long. Also, my friend could barely cut through hers. All thr did was weirdly tough/rubbery. I wouldn't recommend this, it's just ok. I love the breakfast here. I always love being able to look out the big windows to see the world go around. This place is in the perfect spot to people watch. The coffee is strong to if you need to wake up come on down. I like the design and layout of the place as well Cool placed located in center city. Trendy. They specialize in fresh natural foods. Good for breakfast and lunch. Food is definitely good but a bit overpriced for what you are getting. Otherwise a cool place if your looking for somewhere nice to have an early meal with family or friends. I've been multiple times and would go again. 9/19/18 Tried this place again to take our boss to lunch and I'm sorry...it keeps getting worse. GIYANNA was MIA completely after we received our food. We wanted to order dessert so bad, but she was nowhere to be found. Marathon won't get my money again. Ever. It's always something with this place. I'd rather pay a larger bill at a frilly restaurant than to save money and receive poor customer service. I don't care how good the food is, customer service is just as important to the brand.
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Today (6/25/18) Marathon dropped the ball, BIG TIME. I ordered the grilled pork chop, which I've had a million times before along with mash potatoes and asparagus. Not only did I wait for almost 40 mins (when usually I get my meal within 15-20 mins tops) which made me more irritated...when my food came out, my pork chop was literally smaller than the palm of my hand if not smaller, it looked half cooked...and I probably had a whole 4 spoonfuls of mashed potatoes. It looked like a freaking kids meal sitting in the middle of a large plate. I was so disgusted, I respectfully declined. Unfortunately my one regular/favorite bartender (Matthew) was off today so the fact he wasn't able to account for how much revenue this restaurant gets from me, no one really seemed to care too much including the manager. But it's okay. I'm taking a LONG break from Marathon and I'm throwing my loyalty card away. I'm extremely disappointed with whatever that was they placed in front of me today. I'll I came here on a Saturday around brunch time and it was very busy. The wait was very fast though and food was great. I got the berry French toast and it was amazing! The price was decent as well. I would highly go back and recommend. Came here for brunch before Made in America. Around this time, it's super packed because of the festival. They accommodated our party of 6 in less than the time they had said. This place makes some delicious food. I'm vegetarian and they had a few dishes that I could eat. The veggie burger is amazing! The fries were well cooked. We also ordered the whole wheat almond & banana pancakes. Those were super dry. So all in all the food wasn't bad. I gave it 4 stars because of the super dry pancakes lol Not only was my meal terrible and cold and also...i asked for no mushrooms and the plate was COVERED in mushrooms, I am now getting random charges from the restaurant. Someone who works there appears to have taken my card information and is making charges on it to the restaurant. I've called the restaurant TWICE today and the manager is "busy." I used to love this place but right now i could scream!!!!! Came back for lunch recently with one of my girlfriends. I got the salmon burger.. it was very good! We really had a nice time and the food was great! Marathon Grille locations always have a great menu that caters to the seasons. HOWEVER, each time I dine at one of their locations, something always goes wrong. The first time I found an actual rock in my salad, the second time the waiter spilled my water on me (just water so could have been worse) and the most recent was tonight...a mouse scurried across the floor during my meal. Great salad but couldn't finish it because the mouse thing really got me. I simply do not recommend any of their locations. This place over all is mediocre. But the high prices make me expect the food to be much better than mediocre. But one thing is for certain, the southwest salad is spectacular, and then it is spectacularly ruined by the terrible lime vinaigrette. It tastes and smells like rancid mayonnaise doused in old lime juice. Absolutely terrible. But the salad as it stands is fine. God I hate that dressing. Passed by this place a number of times during my trips to Philly, so decided to check it out. Decor is pretty plain. Apparently it's a family restaurant because there was a table with children and crying baby next to us. If it IS a family restaurant, it's too dark.
There's a stand up bar but I don't see how it fits into the sit-down-and-eat motif. The Philly Pale Ale is pretty damned good. Waiter brought my first beer quickly, had to be reminded twice about the second one. Sister ordered a diet coke, and we didn't know refills were free until the waiter noticed her empty cup as we were uh...paying for the bill.
Me: Fish and Chips. Fish was GREAT, chips were terrible.
Sis: Short rib. Portions were pretty small and the majority of it was mashed potato. Beef was good, not great.
Mom: Roasted Beet salad. Fairly good. Not enough cheese (seriously, there was one tiny hunk of it), WAY too much red onion (had to help my mom pick it out). Also, the salad was made too early and it sat on a wait station for at least 10 minutes. How did we know? We were seated next to the wait station. And the crying baby table. And the slow on the drinks area. Also, the staff was moving boxes around, restocking the bar. Couldn't this be done at another time? Unless Friday night is a usually a slow night for you guys.
Food is good but overall execution needs work. This was the best meal I have had in Philadelphia! It was a great atmosphere and the food was healthier and delicious. The latte was good after I added a few packets of sugar. The inside is cute and industrial with a full bar and menus for each time of the day. Highly recommend trying it out! Make sure you get there early it filled up fast! I was excited to come back to Marathon as it was closed for a such a long time. I always had a positive experience. Today I came and the service was awful. Not only was the server rude but she completely ignored our table. I asked her a question and she made me feel like I was inconveniencing her. The espresso machine was broken, we waited for close to an hour for our food, no one came to tell us why it was taking a long time or if we wanted more to drink. I completely understand if they were understaffed but at least communicate something instead of ignoring us. YUM!!
We were starving and wandering pretty aimlessly when we happened upon Marathon. Around 8 on a Friday we were sat right away but the place was pretty full, it seems like we got lucky.
SO HUNGRY!!
I got the "Best In Philly" matzoh soup and the kale and quinoa salad. The soup was HEAVEN. I wish I could eat this every day.
Cocktails were strong and tasty, decently priced. Then there were the boozy shakes. Ooooh boozy shakes, always a great idea.
Staff was decent, but nothing that stood out.
I love when I find a place like this out of the blue and thanks for the great meal Marathon I dunno what it is but every time I come to this location, it's always something. Back when they opened I was in multiple times a month but now I tend to come in once a year at best.
Went in yesterday for a late lunch. Ordered a burger "super well done", as I always do because I have an immune system issue and I can't risk raw meat.
Burger came out medium well at best, mildly pink on the inside. I had to send it back and of course that means the same meat being recooked which ends up in not a nice well done burger but a burned patty. Also since the Marathon Burger comes with BBQ sauce on it, that means they weirdly baked in the sauce and then coated it with more.
Also it seemed like when the burger was sent back out, somehow the bun bottom had what looked like a big ring of fried egg stuck to it?! It was really odd.
The vegetarian chili was pretty good though, and my server was nice. I just honestly should stop wasting my money on their mediocre food though. Almost $27 for chili, a burger and iced tea is kind of stupid. Nice quick stop for lunch. Just discovered they had been closed for a while. So glad they came back.
Nice menu options and being on the corner you can people watch. They do offer indoor and outdoor seating but not sure if the outdoor option is temporary.
The meal was yummy and the staff was vey friendly. Think they were getting back in the game after COVID. Well done. Great location, great internal layout with furniture and other things ergonomically positioned in the proper places. Excellent view of the city life behind the big pool like windows. The staff was very helpful and friendly during my visit of this establishment. The actual menu is not gigantic with offerings, but has enough choices for people who want to spend a nice evening without waiting hustle for more expensive restaurants. The ordered food was nicely cooked and beautifully put into the plates so I can say that somebody in the kitchen has a good taste. I agree with some reviews that food is a little bit salty, but this is Philadelphia not Los Angeles where everybody crazy about how much salt and some other stuff they can have in their meal. I also agree that the price tag is on the expensive site for the type of the outfit Marathon Grill is, but not too much I think.
Therefore my final rating would be 4 stars. I've been to Marathon many times for breakfast. This restaurant is yet another spot that I feel uniquely expresses what Philadelphia cuisine is about.
Delicioso!
I've eaten at this Marathon and the one just south of Rittenhouse. They are always clean with ample seating and excellent food. I've only had breakfast but all of the things I've had from here have been awesome. In my time, I've had the breakfast quesadilla (I remember it having chorizo), eggs benedict (fantastic) chocolate chip pancakes (bring a friend), freshly squeezed orange juice and awesome red potato homefries. I love to go here for a casual breakfast because it's got the prices of a diner but the food of a much better restaurant. The staff is courteous and professional and the design of this restaurant allows for lots of natural light.
I like how this marathon is in the thick of center city. It's really great for people watching and the space is open and inviting.
You know you're at a good place when everything on the menu looks so good that you have trouble deciding what you want. That's how I feel when I sit down for breakfast at marathon. Treat yourself to this one morning, you won't be sorry. As bustling as the streets of Rittenhouse on a Saturday morning, Marathon appears to be a reliable weekend brunch spot. The place was packed but we only had to wait a couple minutes for a table. We were seated by the window for perfect people watching.
Initial impressions on service were so-so but our server turned out to be friendly and quick. We were on a bit of a tight schedule so I appreciated the fact that we could have a nice brunch without waiting around all day.
Breakfast options are served all day to the best of my knowledge. I stuck with the eggs, bacon, and multi-grain toast for my entree. Sounds basic but I wanted so good energy for the rest of the day. Everything was good and the bacon had a nice sweetness to it. Multi-grain toast was good too. Chris had the Philly Cheesesteak omelette which was good.
After finishing our meal and 2 cups of coffee we were on our way. While I wouldn't call Marathon exciting or unique, it served it's purpose for what we wanted at that time. Had a business lunch here with one other person. Always enjoy coming here. Had a veggie burger and salad. Really good. Waitress was very friendly and prices are fairly reasonable. Plus, this place has a very nice atmosphere and draws a good Philadelphia crowd. Definitely recommend for lunch.
My wife loves it here too. She had me pick up an 18 hour braised brisket sandwich, fries, a salad (with extra Thousand Island Dressing and croutons), a smoothie and chocolate cake to take home to her. I tend to have lighter meals, but everyone has different tastes, particularly my wife. She enjoys her food, that's for sure!
I often take the grandkids here for Sunday breakfast. Little Ivan loves the pancakes and French toast. Larry and David love the bagels and smoked salmon. I've been to Philadelphia a few times and always wanted to try this place. We finally came here. I tried the special which was the "Croisannwich" with eggs, Swiss, avocado and the most amazing home fries imaginable. The food was so good. My girlfriend had her fave..the eggs Benedict. She refrained from licking the plate lol. It's a pretty casual place. Love the atmosphere. Workers are friendly. I would definitely recommend people coming here if you're craving some brunch. And I am DEFINITELY COMING BACK!! Food was amazing! Had the Chicken Tortellini, it was to die for‼‼ Had to wait longer than what they said though. This place, in my opinion, really is as good as it gets! I love coming here for sips. They have awesome beer towers and no matter how busy they get my requests are always completed which I appreciate. They have this classy but sort of wild aura about this place which I love. I would definitly come back here, its always a great time! Fairly unmemorable place & experience. Came here for happy hour (and to be fair we were expecting to be in & out, which somewhat sways my review.) The server, who was very sweet, came & immediately took our drinks (which then took 10+ minutes to arrive despite it not being busy, but okay). We ordered the happy hour sampler which came with: mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, fries, & fried calamari. The sampler that arrived ( 25 minutes later, mind you) came with sweet potato fries, some sort of fried mini dumpling, calamari & chicken fingers. (No mozz stix). The chicken fingers were both scrawny and dried out to the the point they were stringy (the way overcooked chicken gets) super gross. The dumplings were okay but also pretty dry (I think they were meant to be cheesesteak dumplings?) And the sweet potato fries were awful, though that is admittedly 100% bias because we all hate sweet potato fries & ordered regular. The waitress did try to remedy the situation since it wasnt quite the correct order but after waiting 25 mins we didnt want to wait another half hour for mozz sticks and regular fries. She already put the new order in, so we stayed, they came, & were equally disappointing. Mozz sticks came with ketchup rather than marinara (???) And tasted pre-frozen. The fries were bland and overall "meh". I will say the drinks, "effen punch" was absolutely delicious & the server was sweet, but definitely don't waste your time a) for food
B) If you want a quick place for a beverage I ve heard mixed reviews bout this place and one late morning me and my boyfriend decided to give it a go. He got the Pico de Gallo (a breakfast wrap) he enjoyed it. I got an omelet with spinach and mozzarella cheese and Home fries. I wasn't impressed. Tasted so plain. Like something was missing. So i asked for a side of sour cream and that made it a little better. Eh maybe I just chose the wrong thing this go around. Wasn't so bad Id never go back (Alot to try on there menu) The service was amazing, very attentive server. The chicken parm was terrible. Brisket was ok. Risotto was delicious. My burger was rare when I asked for a well done burger. Instead of making a new burger, they put it back on the grill and bought it back out. That has to be a sanitary issue. I've never seen a restaurant take food off of the table and put it back on the grill. I was very very very disappointed by my experience here. I was really excited to visit this restaurant because I always passed by it when I'm walking around in the city. When we first entered, I was excited, the place was set up nice... very cool and full of light.
It took us a few minutes to pick out our entrees and appetizers but the waiter kept coming back promptly even though we told him we need a few moments before we make our decisions.
We order hummus, a chicken sandwich and a burger. The hummus was so unappetizing, it tasted like canned hummus...no freshness at all.
I didn't taste the chicken, but my friend wasn't impressed at all.
My burger was absolutely disgusting. It was burnt, unseasoned, nothing about it made me want to eat it. I have tasted yummier McDonald's one dollar menu. Very disappointed in the food quality. This restaurant has several downtown locations all with the same menu. Very popular for brunch lunch and dinner it is moderately priced with many menu suggestions. Try their Burger and fries among the best in Philadelphia. I'm in PHL several times a year for overnight business and frequent Marathon based on the advice of some local friends. It never disappoints. Traveling single it's nice to be seated in a great window facing the bustling neighborhood. This time got the kale and quinoa salad (Amanda, thanks for talking me into the calamari on top -- it was great, just like you said!). A glass of happy hour white wine was wonderful too. Everything is flavorful; service is really good (noting again, Amanda, thanks!); it's not a 5 star luxury establishment -- it is good, consistent food in a nice atmosphere with staff that cares. Just what I want in a dinner spot. Overall had a good experience. Our server was attentive and the food came out quickly. However, my fries were hard and tasted like they were days-old. They were not hot or fresh. Disappointing considering this is place is considered a "grill" and I would assume they would be able to make some decent fries.
Apart from that my friend and I were happy with our crab cake and burger. We both enjoyed a few cocktails and a yummy lemon pound cake dessert.
I liked that they had a wide variety of things on the menu, including lots of different cocktails and drinks. I also liked that things were more reasonably priced than you'll usually find in the Rittenhouse area.
All in all, I enjoyed my visit and would like to try it again. I came here for brunch on a Saturday. I ordered the Chef's burger from the specials. It was absolutely delicious. It had a spicy aioli, crunchy jalapenos, and a fried egg on it. It was very good and exceeded my expectations.
My girlfriend ordered the breakfast quesadilla and she enjoyed it.
Our experience was great and we will definitely come back. Marathon is a nice place with a simple, unpretentious menu.
We had a party of ten and were seated quickly. The server was very friendly. Food came out quickly, and everyone liked what they had. I got the matzoh ball soup and a salad. The soup was excellent and the salad was alright. I'm not dying to come back because I don't think it's anything too special, but besides being a bit cramped, it's great for groups. Everyone left really happy. Great food, great atmosphere! I had the caesar salad to start, which wasn't anything special, but then came my Roasted Turkey Club! Amazing. The 3 pieces of bread included in the sandwich surprised me, but nonetheless, it was delicious.
Our service was great, the waiter was very friendly but didn't hang out around our table too much.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone traveling to Philadelphia! Brought my mom here for Sunday brunch. Had really incredible quiche and a very good cappuccino! Much more causal atmosphere than it looks from the outside, prices were reasonable for what it is (Rittenhouse, locally sourced, etc etc). Courteous staff, seated quickly, prompt service. Great if your coming from a party and it's late, other than that nothing sparkling here at best just ok dinner food. Solid food with solid service at a reasonable price. My girlfriend and I tried out the three-course meal for $20. I had the seafood angel hair dish and found it average. I found the rest of the meal just as non-descriptive. Basically, this place is a solid place if it's conveniently nearby. I would not go searching out for a Marathon Grill but, if there is one on my way somewhere and I needed some grub and a drink, I would consider this restaurant a viable option. The food was delicious! And the service. We ate outdoors on a rainy day and our amazing busboy was sure to get the umbrellas positioned over us so we were warm and dry. Brunch drinks were yummy too. The worst chicken noodle soup ever - didn't think any decent diner can screw this up but they did with gusto! Watery, lack of flavor - more like bouillon, just diced celery & carrot w/ barely any chicken. The worst offense is the noodle they used - thin vermicelli?!? Hubby's breakfast sandwich was decent but the fries appeared to be old and refried. Came here for late night breakfast fix. Good atmosphere. Gentle rock music playing. Got sat where we wanted. My omelette and girlfriends salmon came out fast and tasted great. Would love to come again. This was a wonderful breakfast place. I walked, in the rain, past 2 other Marathon's to get here one morning. The food is awesome, as is the service.
I was really disappointed that it took me a few days to discover it, and only had a chance to eat there 2 more times.
I look forward to my return trip to Philadelphia to eat here. After stumbling through center city trying to find a quick bite, we ended up choosing here after taking a quick look at their menu. Marathon offers quick, approachable, and thoughtful dishes with great service to make a really great choice for grabbing a bite if in a rush. My girlfriend had the salmon with couscous which did a great job of blending the sweetness from the roasted veggies with the acidity of the balsamic and the fattiness from the salmon. The 18hr brisket sandwich easily satisfied though a toasted rye or something crisper than the ciabatta would have enhanced the dish further. All in all, this is a great spot for grabbing a quick lunch. Vengo a Philadelphia ogni anno per circa un mese per lavoro ( sono un
Medico) , a volte anche due volte e ho sempre pranzato e cenato qui , dopo avere provato molti altri posti ( sono 10 anni che vengo a Philadelphia ) e da quando ho scoperto Marathon non l'ho più lasciato . Cucina varia, carne , pesce, vegetariana, tutti prodotti cucinati alla perfezione con pochi grassi , di prima qualità gli ingredienti base . Gentilezza di tutto il personale ... le porzioni sono molto abbondanti , si può chiedere variazioni sul piatto del menu , es invece di patate e fritte, pure ' o insalate .. Ottima carta delle birre e dei vini e dei cocktail . Da provare le bollicine " la Cava " uno champagne spagnolo con un ottimo
perlage.. Non commento la carta dei dolci perché e' incredibile ( tanti dolci ma freschi arricchirti con gelato e frutta fresca ) . Per il brunch del sabato e domenica c' è una serie infinita di possibilità anche spremute di arance fatte al momento , smothies anche to go ...Lascio in fondo le zuppe che sono la mia passione e variano ogni giorno . Turisti italiani e non provate per credere . Prezzi super contenuti ..E' tanto frequentato dai locali ( buon segno ) ma dal venerdì sera alla domenica a pranzo meglio prenotare You're going to get a very basic Americana meal here, not a standout just straight forward and simple. We waited for quite a long time early on a Friday evening for a table of 4, the hostess was nice about it but it felt like forever while there were large reservations holding up tables with people waiting around.
We had custom burgers, a salad and calamari. Amazing restaurant- nice look inside, their menu has something for everyone and very good prices too - i ordered their chicken and it was tasty and also the mashed potato was very good - broccoli I ordered as a side tasted kind of boring but still good The hotel recommended this place for lunch. I ordered a hamburger and sweet potato fries. It was not the worst meal I've ever had but I was underwhelmed. Lack of flavor and seasoning.
The place was super busy for lunch on a Friday afternoon around 1:30 and tables are very close together (as they are in city cafes). Iced tea was fresh.
Service was excellent from the host seating me to my server at my table.
I would probably go back and try something else if I was in the area again. My experience here was in Lunch! I got the great server (I believe Erica is her name) . It was very busy but I got food , tea And whatever extra I asked for very fast!
Great menu . Fresh ingredients.they have such interesting choice : quiche , veggy chili soup. Salads looks great and original. Price is more than good for this size of dish)
Loved it . This place was packed when we arrived with friends for a Sunday brunch in early January. Obviously a popular place so we had a short wait in the wings for our table for four.
The brunch menu is filled with lots of egg dishes, salads and other mainstream choices. My choice of a egg, spinach and cheese quesadilla was an excellent pick. Four hearty wedge pieces from the tortilla were stuffed. Using the salsa and sour cream added a lot to the food. A nice rich brewed coffee was served. So I could have lingered here through the afternoon.
My table mates enjoyed salads, quiche, pancakes and other breakfast fare. We all added a few pounds and so a Philly walk was ordered.
Maybe a little noisy here. Really only gripe. But service was great and considering locale, not pricey. Good atmosphere outside, but service was so bad it made it hard to enjoy the experience. We saw our server 3 times in 2 hours; eventually had to find the bartender to get us our ticket to payout. Food was ok and so was the service. My wife and I both had the chicken soup and salad. Nothing to special but it hit the spot. Beat pry of this restaurant was the view, seeing the cars go by and the old buildings is worth it enough for me to come back. The chocolate chip cookie dough pancakes are fantastic!! Definitely need to get, even as an appetizer EXCELLENT service. Food? Uninspired and predictable. Delicious! The French toast yummmm
We were seated right away and they have an outside seating option, which is great for people watching.
Lauren was great!
Will def be back next time I'm in Philly again! Foods delicious but sometimes it's a little busy and it's hard to get your waitress to notice you. On a busy day I've waited a half hour for drinks. I recommend going in on a week day for lunch or an early dinner the food is great! We had an amazing meal. I had the watermelon spritzer with the Chicken sesame salad. Our waitress Tiffini was amazing !!! I'm not going to lie, the location of this place really can't be beat for a post workout brunch. It's centrally located near some of the best gyms/studios in the area and I've never had to wait for a table. Ok, now things are about to take a nasty turn.
I used to come here quite a bit (already using the past tense) and my latest visit was pretty disappointing. I was here on the earlier side ~ 9:30 AM and even though seated immediately I did not receive my food for an ENTIRE hour. There was no acknowledgement from the server on what was causing the delay and when I inquired I didn't get much of a response. When our food finally did arrive, she didn't say a single word leaving the plates on our table. I'll add that it most likely was not her fault that the place can't get it together. And even though I'm only spending like $30 because it's breakfast, at least make an effort?
I had a prime spot for people watching and this is no exaggeration the ENTIRE place was mad about the service. I legit saw fumes coming from a woman when she finally tracked a server down and I overheard another table comment that the kitchen must have had to run to the grocery store before cooking their meal. Talking to the manager was about as effective as talking to a wall, and I know this because I tried to give some feedback before I left. I regret being too nice.
While I'm off on a rant I'll also add that during separate visits on more than one occasion there was no soap in the bathroom. I'll just let that one sit.
I have no doubt that the majority of people come strictly for convenience. When you leave, your meal will most likely have been unmemorable and a bit underwhelming. I hate giving to away my top brunch spots because they are already crowded enough but I'll do it... 1) Little Spoon 2) Honeys and 3) at this point anywhere but here. Came for brunch and can't say it's the greatest brunch place in Philadelphia but definitely a safe place to go to with a good variety of options. Spacious place so we were seated right away.
The crispy chicken and sesame salad was exactly as pictured and a good portion as well. My boyfriend got the breakfast quesadilla which was good but a little on the heavy side.
Overall, a solid place with everything within reasonable price and the staff was fairly friendly. Nothing outstanding that would make me come again or recommend to someone who's visiting Philly for the first time though hence the four stars. When I lived in Philadelphia, Marathon was always a staple of my diet. It took me moving, however, to truly appreciate it.
Marathon is a local hotspot for everyone from families enjoying breakfast to professions dropping in for a quick lunch meeting. Tables are packed tightly, so the noise level rises quickly. There is also a small bar with television where I usually am able to find a seat even during the busiest hours.
The food is fresh American cuisine with diverse menu offerings to suit nearly any diet and palate. I really enjoy the salmon and goat cheese omelette at breakfast. For me, lunch is a steady diet of my absolute favorite Matzoh ball soup and caesar salad.
Overall, its Marathon's consistently good food and service that brings me back time and again. I ordered a Bloody Mary off their breakfast menu. The waitress offered me about 7 different selections of vodka. I took the first one she listed. First of all, the Bloody Mary itself was terrible. Then, I got a bill and found out that she charged me 3 extra dollars for selecting my vodka. She hadn't even mentioned it! The house vodka would have been just fine with me! I hate feeling taken advantage of, and that's exactly how I felt. The food wasn't nearly good enough to justify being disrespected and misinformed. sat for 30 minutes without being served on a saturday night. Not sure why this happened but just a heads up! I'm done with Marathon Grill. I've probably been to eat at this place 100 times over the years. Not because I like it, but because I work in Center City and eating at Marathon when you work in an office in Center City kind of just goes hand in hand. Kind of like owning a black trench coat or wearing black pants at least 3 times a week or stating how busy you are so you dont get fired, when really all you do is sit on facebook all day.
Everything I've ever eaten in this place has been mediocre and bland. No seasonings. Boring. Kind of like a fart that doesnt make any noise or stink. It's just a pffffffff. And then its over and gone. Major complaint is that if I am going to eat a fart, it should at least be cheap. 15 dollars for a salad or a chicken sandwich? Wtf. I'd rather eat diced up dog from one of the lunch trucks or Mcdonalds. For the price of lunch and a tip I could have 3 lunches somewhere else cheaper, more satisfying and with more flavor. Ate here twice in a row for breakfast/brunch because it was so good. The control freak omelette was perfect for me: two cheese and ham, with home fries and toast. $5 mimosas were a major bonus. The second day, I got the Marathon breakfast, once again, a winner.
Rosemary was our server both days and was very friendly and attentive. I will definitely be back on my next trip to Philly. My fiancé and I were recommended to this restaurant by the gentleman working in our hotel. Overall, we had a good experience and the food was excellent. I would definitely go back if I were to be in the area.
The pros:
-We were greeted by the friendly hostess.
-The food was excellent. My fiancé ordered the eggs Benedict and I ordered the bacon, Swiss, & tomato omelette.
-The food came out fairly fast for the amount of people in the restaurant.
-Their menu offers a variety and the prices are fairly reasonable.
The cons:
-The service was extremely slow. It took about 5-10 minutes to be greeted. Love to come here for a cute brunch on a Saturday/Sunday. Eggs Benedict is my fave. Trendy ambiance. Great crab cake sandwich! Great service and reasonable prices. Excellent lunch spot in downtown. Yummers!
All the dishes looked great; however, I think we just ordered wrong.
Your best bet here would be the salads, sandwiches, drinks, and desserts.
Food:
*Meatloaf and mashed potatoes were decent.
*A side of french fries comes in a bowl.
*Do NOT order the salmon with rice noodles. Wow, they just dumped soy sauce in the whole dish, did not bother to dilute it or cut it up with anything. They managed to sprinkle some fresh uncokked sugar snap peas on top and called it a dish. It was pure garbage and not edible! Small piece of salmon was good but super salty as well.
*Black and white milkshake needs to be thicker and more frozen. Good but tasted like we were drinking thick milk, which was slurped up too easily. Not funners!
Tips:
*No complimentary bread.
*Service is spotty BUT they are friendly and all seem to be enjoying where they work, which was good to see.
Location: on the corner of 16th, across the street from Joe's Pizza
Parking: street metered (if you can find any!) I've been eating at this particular Marathon for quite some time and I just realized I never reviewed it. I'm definitely a fan. I tend to have lunch here at least once a month or more. The salmon burger is delicious. I usually get mine on a wheat bun. The turkey burger is also delicious. It can be a little dry sometimes, but the accompaniments, such as the smoked gouda, applewood smoked bacon, apple mostarda and the apple slaw make it one great turkey burger.
I also like the fact that they serve breakfast all day. Pancakes and bacon at 3:00pm? Yes, please. I recently started working in Rittenhouse and as much restaurants there are in the city- I've had trouble finding a place to eat for lunch until my co-workers recommended Marathon Grill! My first time there- I ordered a Salmon salad. I loved every bite of it- the salmon was superb and not fishy at all. My next few times that I ordered for delivery at work, I ordered the Sally's Matzoh Ball Soup and a Cheeseburger with fries. It sounds so basic, but it was one of the best meals I've ever eaten for lunch. It was still warm and was at my workplace within minutes. I practically order from here everyday!!!! Ah Marathon, you never fail to disappoint. We've eaten a few times at the one by Macy's, and mostly had bad experiences, however had never tried this one before.
We actually ended up here unintentionally. It was a Sunday and my fiancé and I wanted to get 500 degrees (some of the best burgers and veggie burgers in the city!), but sadly people in this city seem to have an allergy to working in Sundays as nothing is ever open. So, we saw Marathon next door, and being super hungry and since it was actually open, we figured what the hell...big mistake!
The place is pretty small, but they have a lot of seating due to the fact that they cramp tables so close together you may as well be sitting on someone else's lap. The two of sat right next to a lady who was eating by herself (awkward to begin with), and our tables were literally a foot apart...I could have grabbed the salt off her table if I wanted to.
It was busy in there, so understandable that our waiter was a little slow, but do they not employ more than 3 people?! It seemed like he was waiting at least 10 tables in our area. Took him roughly 10 minutes to come over the first time, and another 10 to bring our drinks (2 glasses of lemon water). Pretty ridiculous, and considerably worse since we were both really hungry...After bringing our water, he took our order, but didn't write anything down so that should have been a sign of trouble right there. Anyhow, I ordered the soup of the day, chicken tortilla, an iced tea, and the cheesesteak. I also requested mushrooms on the cheesesteak, meanwhile my fiancé just ordered the veggie burger.
About 20 minutes went by, and nothing was coming out, not even my soup or iced tea. From my vantage point, I could see the kitchen and it was obvious that the soup was all ready to go in a big pot that they just had to scoop out. Finally, I flagged the waiter down and said, "you know, I wanted that soup as an appetizer, not with my entree". He muttered something, then went right over and scooped some out into a bowl for me...it was that simple! Pathetic.
Not a minute had gone by when a different person came by with our sandwiches. At this point I was pretty pissed and said, "I told our waiter I wanted my soup as an appetizer. I literally just got the soup and now this is coming out." The girl seemed put off, but said she could leave it under the heat lamps until we're ready. I was feeling really bad for my fiancé, so I gobbled down the over-salted soup and told our waiter our food was sitting there ready for us. He brought it over, and my fiancé was of course happy, but I was still kind of pissed. To add to my anger, there were of course no mushrooms! The sandwich was crap with or without the shrooms, and it was at this point I decided we're leaving a crappy tip.
For those not keeping track, I had also ordered an iced tea, but didn't mention it because it never actually came (of course it still showed up on the bill and we had to tell him to remove it..."oh sorry guys, it's been a long day". Yeah, well its about to get longer since your getting jipped on your tip!) I mean seriously, do they hire the biggest dumb@$$es off the streets to work here? None of these people could even put on so much as a smile...
Just wrote a whole to say that I plan to NEVER again go to ANY Marathon Restaurant in this city. Can't believe these places exist, much less that its a chain of restaurants. How do people actually enjoy eating here?... Cockroaches literally everywhere. We stood up as a cockroach literally walked to our table and we wanted to avoid it and the waitstaff didn't come over to our table for at least five minutes despite us calling them over.
Later, manager was incredibly rude, lied to me about who cleared my table, and imitated me on my way out. Manager also told me that they sometimes get rats and blamed it on construction outside.
Never coming here again. I decided after having a not so great day, that I would have a nicer lunch than I usually do, so I thought I would come here. I was sat quickly at a table that literally could not be in a worse spot. I was bumped into by servers every few minutes, who clearly could not have cared less that they just ran into someone with a food covered plate. Then my server Kelly, pops up out of no where before hand and bluntly asks if I know what I want to eat. I just sat down? Later she comes back, takes my order, and I literally never hear from her again.
At first I thought it was because she had a lot of tables, but soon, all of those tables left and still, literally not one peep from her. Like, other people delivered my food, and she didn't check once that it was ok, nor did she refill my drink. I looked her right in her face twice to see if I was just being weird, but she just looked right at me and kept walking. It was seriously weird.
Then I finally stopped someone who got her to bring me my check, which was 22 bucks and some change. She was then all over me to get my card which was also annoying, there was literally not even 1 minute between getting the check and giving her my card, whereas before she couldn't even be bothered to check in on the food. She ran my card and comes back with a slip for 25 bucks. I asked her how that happened, and she said she didn't know. What??? You literally just gave me the check and in 2 minutes it goes up and you don't know why? I figured out that the original check didn't have the tea on it, which was fine. That answer would've been the correct and honest answer to give, not, "Oh, I don't know". Meanwhile I'm sitting there with trash and plates all over my table, which I put in an easy pile for her or someone to pre-bus, no one could've cared less. I still gave this server over 20% tip, because it was the right thing to do, but honestly she didn't deserve a dime of it. Honestly she should be ashamed of that level of service, as someone who was a server for several years. I was legitimately creeped out by the blatantly bad service, having no idea what I could've possibly done to deserve it.
3 stars because the Marathon Burger was honestly really great, and so were the fries. Minus two stars not only for Kellys bad service, but frankly everyone who worked there besides the friendly girl I flagged down was completely oblivious, like it was all of their first days. Your restaurant is way too tasty and pretty to be acting like that. my office orders from here every friday and everything we have ever gotten is on time and perfectly delicious!!! It is unreal how big the cochroaches are here. Wow. At least preserve the illusion of cleanliness. The wait was a little long but the loaded grilled cheese was divine and the bloody marys were delish. Alright, service is fine and usually is crowded for brunch. Brunch menu is more expensive than the regular breakfast menu. Don't let it fool you. Been there twice and ordered the brunch quesadillas. A little overpriced but it's the city so what can you expect Excellent breakfast. Pancakes are awesome. Omeletes are very good. Friendly staff and fresh well made food earn this 5 stars. Great food, fantastic service. Burger was delicious. Very helpful and friendly staff. Went there on a visit with my wife, and would go back any time. Server Ben is great! meatballs were real good. nice little spot Horrible service. Food didn't come out for ages and people were being served in front of us even when they were seated 20 minutes after us. Waiter had an attitude the entire time. *3.5 stars*
Due to its close proximity to our hotel and various other factors, we had dinner at Marathon on a Saturday night and then breakfast there on the following morning.
I definitely love the idea, but some parts of execution are not that fantastic. Service was very slow on Saturday evening. Tables are really just too close together.
But the food and pricepoints were good. i love the Control Freak Salad idea, and that is what I had for dinner. The salmon was a tad overcooked, but I enjoyed the dish overall. Service was very friendly on both visits. HORRIBLE! We will never return.
We've been here before and enjoyed it so we thought it would be a safe choice when taking out three of my students after a fun, Christmas-y Saturday in the city.
We had a reservation for 7:30 but were walking towards the wrong location so I called to say we were running late. Arrived at 7:45 and didn't get seated until 8:00. It was packed and loud. As of 9:00, we still didn't have our food.
The only saving grace of this experience was the fact that our waitress was nice and the food runner was extremely kind and personable.
Our waitress was, however, set up for failure. When she greeted us she let us know that they were out of about 6 things on the menu. Never a great start. As the night went on she had to keep bringing back food and drinks from every table in her station. It's hard to be a good waitress when the management, kitchen and bar are not doing their part.
The most disturbing part of this whole night was that the hallway leading up to the bathroom smelled like a dirty diaper. It was disgusting. I thought it was the bathroom but once we got into the bathrooms, they smelled like bleach. That made me feel better about the bathrooms but wayyyyyy worse about the restaurant. The smell was coming from the hall which is between the bar and the kitchen. If it isn't the bathrooms that smell, then what exactly is it? How disgusting. Even the 3 six year olds with me were making a huge deal and holding their noses and saying how disgusting it was. One of them said, "if you are in a fancy restaurant, it's supposed to be clean, it shouldn't smell like this." EXACTLY.
The staff were all rude. I stopped to let the bartender go ahead of me since he was working. Even though I was a female with three young girls, he accepted my offer, barreled past us and didn't even look or say thank you. How rude!!!! The manager wasn't even kind until he had to do a table visit but when we were just walking past him, he also blew past without using manners.
Our burgers both came out undercooked. I said I wanted mine burnt and it came out red. My man said he wanted his med well and his came out red as well. We had to send them back. When they came back out, they had no fries. They had to go back again. When they finally came out they just weren't good. All they tasted like was the grill. They had no other flavor. I didn't even want to waste the calories since by this point we waited over an hour for our food, it was past 9:00 and it wasn't even good...so I ate less than half. The fries weren't good so I didn't eat those either. The manager did not come back to see if they were better. He did not comp the uneaten burger which was clearly still not up to standard...or discount the bill at all. I'm not one to WANT that to be done but when you are offering a terrible experience with sub par food and a kitchen that literally smells like poo, I think you should try to do something. Offer the girls dessert on the house...something!
One of my students said she wanted only grapes with her children's menu selection. When their kids meals came out she was the only one that had zero grapes. She got a totally different fruit salad from the other two girls. They had grapes and strawberries and she had no grapes at all even though she said she wanted grapes. It made no sense. We had to ask for the other fruit salad to be brought out since she didn't like the fruit options in hers. The manager said they scrambled to make the one she had. Why are you scrambling to make something she doesn't even want when the two girls next to her have something totally different...which happens to be what she wants?! The menu made no mention of there being separate fruit salad options. Even if it did, she was clear she wanted grapes so she still got the wrong one!
We asked for refills on the girls water multiple times before it happened. There was an old, melted, stepped on butter packet under our table. We personally did not have butter.
Like I said at the start, it was a horrible, horrible experience and I don't wish to ever return here. I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone looking to dine out in the city. There are too many other places that offer better food, better service and a dining room that doesn't smell like feces. We've been here on New Year's Day before when it was crowded and it was still a good experience so the fact that it was a busy Saturday is not an excuse. The whole goal of a restaurant is to be busy and just because you're busy doesn't mean your service and food should start going downhill. If that was the case, you wouldn't be busy anymore.
Horrible!!! Never again! You must go here for happy hour in the summer...aka SIPS. You will have a blast sipping on some $4 chardonnay and mingling with successful hotties with some fun music in the background and embracing the sunny weather.
My company used to cater from here a lot for events too, and they have a great potato salad! Came here today (a Saturday) for a brunch date. I'm sorry to say I didn't have the best experience. The place was packed! My date and I were seated fairly quickly as we were only 2 people but there were bigger parties that were still waiting to get seated. The restaurant was just way too crowded and it was SUPER loud and cramped. Seriously, I would not recommend coming here because it was impossible to have a conversation with the amount of noise in the restaurant. I felt like I had to yell over the table to be heard.
My date and I both got burgers. I do give the restaurant credit for taking our orders and bring the food quickly. The only problem was the food wasn't very good. The food LOOKS great (I even looked around at what other people got and their plates looked impressive) but my food didn't TASTE good at all. My burger had like literally no flavor or seasonings so the meat tasted like cardboard. The food items here were like diner food but a more healthy/gourmet/messed up version of diner food. Diner food should not be healthy.
On top of that I had to go to the bathroom and there were only two co-ed single occupancy toilets. No doubt, there was a line to use the bathroom. The toilet also did not flush well. Talk about bathroom anxiety! What if I clogged one of only two toilets for the line of people waiting? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?
Ick, I'm not coming back here again. Prices were reasonable but why bother when there are so many better brunch and lunch places with better food and better atmosphere?
Update: I took what's left of my burger home and heated it up later. I usually love leftovers because I find the flavor settles in more, but it did not happen with the burger. It still tasted like cardboard. Love Marathon! It's the perfect lunch spot! They get the food out quickly and it's good which is perfect for a work lunch!
The menu seriously has something for everyone and the create your own salad section is awesome!!
I've never had a bad meal!! All of the servers are very nice and because the turnover is quick, you rarely if ever have to wait even with a larger party, although would still recommend making a reservation incase. I've ordered here a few times, specifically this dish as it is my favorite on the menu so far. This is how I picked up my lunch today. It is normally served with the cheese, sour cream, and cilantro on the side so I can add it on my own which I prefer because I don't need much of any of it. Today someone mixed it all together for me and it couldn't look or taste more unappetizing. Why not just be consistent with how the food is served, I won't be able to eat this now! Pretty underwhelmed with the availability of vegetarian/vegan options at Marathon. It's a pretty cool atmosphere and I'd think they'd keep up with trends, which a culinary trend lately is keeping up with plant-based diets. I don't think there was anything I could have gotten vegan, and really the only vegetarian option was vegetable capellini.
In hindsight, really should have ordered without cheese because it might have been vegan otherwise and it didn't really add anything anyway. I know it's a basic dish, but it came across as extremely basic, essentially just some (mediocre) pasta, vegetables, and oil. Presentation was pretty upsetting too.
I'd be willing to try it again at some point if they ever decide to add some more veg options. Today my boyfriend and I decided to go to marathon. I was craving their club. Ended up getting the Buffalo chicken sandwich, which was fantastic. My boyfriend got the marathon breakfast, which was equally as delicious. Our server Kayla was fantastic and upbeat. She made the best espresso martini either of us had ever had. Thumbs up! I have been there twice and each time was better then the previous. The avocado toast is a must and if lunch is in order get the tomato basil soup.
Staff is alway friendly and helpful while the atmosphere warm and inviting. Making the best of these times for a meal includes a trio to Marathon. I love this place. It has great food at reasonable prices. I had the ginger salmon but with the sides of the regular and it was excellent. I also ordered a capellini pasta to go and it was good too. I've been here before with a group and everyone loved their food. So I don't get the negative reviews. Service was kind of meh. Not very friendly but I had no issues. I will definitely be returning. This is probably my favorite place to get brunch in the city. They hands down have the best eggs Benedict. And their breakfast quesadilla is a must have!
I've been here on dates, birthday brunches, grad brunch with my parents, and with friends when they come to visit.
Unfortunately there's usually always a wait and they don't do reservations. And the tables are pretty packed together and the noise level is relatively loud but that all being said this place is worth it.
The service has always been attentive and the decorations are fun. Great coffee and food. My advice? Go here! The food was delicious and service was friendly! You can really hear how lively downtown is sitting outside enjoying a relaxing lunch. I came here on a Saturday at 230pm, mainly to find a seat outside and people watch with a friend. It's a really great spot in the city amongst endless stores and restaurants. The food was consistent to the other location in Rittenhouse. Brunch is served all hours of the day. They've got sandwiches, salads,
burgers and breakfast. When comparing to other unique places in philly, there's nothing really outstanding about this place, as far as the "wow factor." I personally still love Cheesecake Factory for my casual pop ins. Compared to their marathon counterpart on rittenhouse square, this place is mediocre. The presentation was average and food just okay. We ordered a tofu scramble with side salad plus toast- more salt was needed and the dish really didn't have much "flare." The breakfast quesadilla had good taste.
We sat at the bar and although our bartender was friendly, he didn't check-in with us nor greet/say hello. If I had the choice- I would eat at the rittenhouse location where there's more life, better food and more attentive staff. First time here and I was pleased. Came for lunch with party of four and was seated right away. After long contemplation, settled on a control freak salad -- a build your own salad. I had romaine greens, 3 free toppings (bacon, grilled asparagus, egg), light on the thousand island dressing, added calamari for extra $3.50, mozzarella cheese, and freebies (friend wonton, sesame seed, crouton, and spiced corn chips). All this was only $13. And the bacon was actual bacon strips not bacon bits After a busy day in philly we were looking for a place to eat as a family of five. We had no reservations and walked into numerous other establishments to hear of hour long waits or worse. At the end of our rope, we walked into 1 final place. Marathon !! Hallelujah !!! They were more than happy to accommodate my larger party and sat us immediately. The place quickly filled up. Our server was sooo sweet and friendly. We ordered the chicken parm with the freshest chicken ever. A salmon salad that was amazing. The turkey club. Mmmm. And pancakes with chocolate chips. So fluffy. We also had two adult beverages off their specialty menu and they were delicious. Sooo. Where the story gets truly amazing was after dinner. My 7 year old daughter and I went to use the bathroom , on our walk back to the table, she bumped into a server. It was a true accident. But she fell. She was perfectly fine. She didn't even cry. The server apologized immediately. When we got back to our table the manager came to let us know whatever dessert she wants is on the house ! How sweet. As we were paying the bill, again the manager came to apologize and handed her w bag of cookies on the house. With customer service like that and very affordable prices anyway and sweet staff and good food, you are sure to have us return ! Thank you ! Came into town for lunch.. My first time here.
Parking: street orlot but I would rude share or take the train as everything is blocked off to outdoor seating for restaurants
Service: Good. Will was our server. Will gave a few suggestions for food and drink. He was tentative. Other people on staff checked on us as well.
Food; I ordered the Brisket press It was ok. I was looking for more flavor. The taste just didn't sit on my taste buds like I had hoped. I asked for some au jus so I could dip my sandwich in; it usually comes with it at other places. I ordered a side caesar salad that came wilted but once I mentioned it, they brought me out a fresh one. I had fries and they came out warm and were just ok.
My friend had the Cobb salad and enjoyed.
Drink: Will suggested sangria since they didn't have any sweet red wine. The sangria was the best I've had!! I really enjoyed.
Overall dining experience was ok. I may go back and try something else.
Enjoy! We had a nice time at Marathon last weekend! Reservations are highly recommended. We got there right at our reservation time and were promptly seated. However, it was 10 minutes until we saw our server. The food/drinks we ordered were:
Husband ordered the blackberry margarita which was really fresh and delicious! He ordered the turkey burger with fries for his entree. Fries were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside!
Daughter ordered a vanilla milkshake and the PB & J & fries from the kids menu. She really liked everything.
I ordered the red sangria. It was pretty standard and filled with ice, so there was barely any drink there. My entree was the baby back ribs that comes with sweet potato fries and coleslaw. I liked the ribs a lot! I wish it came with more bbq sauce on the side I could dip my fries in. The coleslaw didn't really taste like anything.
Overall, we had a nice time! This place is good for two things, to be enjoyed in tandem: smoothies and french fries. I haven't been here in a while, but in light of all the terrible reviews, I thought I would set the record straight for those coming here expecting a full meal. It's not happening.
For those visiting Philly, don't even bother stopping in. Treat yourself to something fancy down the street, or something full of culture. Marathon is for the people who live and work in the city, who are in need of something to sustain them until they can get a real meal. Not very crowded when we walked in. We were greeted with kindness by the host and promptly seated in a booth in sight of the television-(Cowboys Packers) because playoff football is important.
We ordered drinks shortly after sitting. The Tequila sour the wife and I shared was a little too sour. Not a hint of sugar at all to add balance. Felt like I was drinking a glass of lemon juice. On the good side, they are generous with the alcohol.
My wife has been raving about the Moroccan meatballs and they were delicious. They're served on a bed of couscous with a marinara sauce and a tzatziki sauce. This combination is absolutely to die for. The couscous was a wee bit cold but the waiter got it heated for us and I got an extra meatball to boot. My wife said that hers was still cold. It might be the tzatziki sauce which is served cold. At $7.50 per order this is an affordable starter that can be considered a meal as the couscous is quite filling.
The sweet potato fries were solid, the chicken tenders were of a healthy variety, being 100% while grain, and my kid enjoyed the burger and milkshake.
Three people can eat here for less than $50 and the people are nice. Despite the original coolness of the couscous is overshadowed by the hipster vibe and trendy decor. I'll be back for the meatballs again and I heard everything here is farm fresh and delicious. I'll be trying some other menu items soon enough. Me and my friends were very VERY upset with this place.
It was busy on a Sunday afternoon so we had high hopes. But once we sat down and ordered, everything about this place was not what we thought to be. The waiter was never around to accommodate us, the food was all bland or just too salty such as the fries. The only thing that was decent were the drinks that we ordered.
If I were ever to go back to a marathon grill chain restaurant, I would try other locations with the hope that it would be different. I'm never eating here again the food was good and service was good but I feel been hoodwinked I been charged $17 for Greek salad with chicken and its barley any chicken in it make matters worse the salad is like medium and fir that price it should b large or more mean I counted 4 pieces good thing I had breakfast or I would've walk out
for appetizer I had fries they were cold I sent them back I didn't get it remade can u believe this place only have ONE bathroom lucky 4 me no line and it was odd sticky substance by the sink another they don't have enough servers it take forever to get yiur check I went to Marathon Grill twice for dinner and once for breakfast. Because of pandemic, they have both inside and a rather large ouside seating.
The servers are pleasant and the service is efficient. I had Marathon Burger and Brisket of Beef there. They were both nicely prepared and filling.
They also have a good choice of draft beers.
For, breakfast I had french toast which was fine but the cappuccino was something else. I think they make it on a vending machne.
On their menu, the price is listed as $4.00 for cappuccino and on my check it was $5.50 and listed as large capuccino. I didn't ask for it or it was not on the menu.
I paid the check without creating any fuss and 20% tip and left.
I will go there but for sure I am not ordering cappuccino. And, for that matter latte must be the same. Maybe order plain coffee! Ordered the marathon burger and was planning on splitting it by ourselves. The waiter had them split it for us and placed on two separately plates. It seems like most people also split their burgers, which is unique and awesome! (Definitely adding more tip for the service!)
As for the burger itself, it was pretty standard. I ordered medium-well, but it is definitely more well-done. (Why this isn't 5 stars) The patty was a bit dry and underwhelming. But THE BACON is amazing! Perfectly done and thick cut. It also tasted a bit sweet like if it was glazed in honey. I highly recommend trying it as a quick bite.
The hand-cut fries were pretty good as well. But I preferred the sweet potato fries. It was crispy and sweet!
Each burger was around $13-14. Definitely worth it because it came with fries and great service! Food was good. The mac and cheese for my daughter wasn't up to her standards but it was still good. I ordered the vegetable cappellini. Service was alright. After turning away from another restaurant with a surprisingly long wait on Saturday, we scooted down the street to Marathon, where they were willing to seat a group of 7 in 20 minutes. We waited outside, and once another group left they turned the table quickly.
Despite being very busy early in the night, by 9pm the place seemed to clear out. However, service was rather slow through our entire meal - most of us ordered sandwiches, but they took forever to come out. I had a speciality salad that was quite delicious, and somehow even came out less on the bill than was listed on the menu.
The food here is really high-quality, so I'll definitely be back. I was disappointed on this trip to find the bathrooms pretty dirty, and as mentioned, the service slow. I also dislike that there's no printed drink menus - you have to rely on the server to rattle them off. Very very good. Not sure y they only have 3.5 stars. I enjoyed my dinner, Chicken parm, and my husband had the pancakes and bacon which he says he enjoyed. The best part was the drinks. The raspberry cocktail was so so so delicious! I'd return just for that drink! Service was good and the staff was nice. FYI Dinner came to about $60 for two. Pretty high. Stopped by this nice little restaurant while touring the city. It was one of the only places that didn't have a super long wait, however the quality of the food would have been well worth it. We ordered several appetizers which everyone loved. Meals were cooked perfectly. Service could have been a little quicker but overall we had a great experience here! Visited for first time ; no complaints with the food however my friend had her wallet stolen from someone who sat down behind her and managed to dig her wallet out of purse. What is troublesome is the management commented they were watching him. Why they didn't remove him when he sat down, clearly the staff did not seat him. Also they have been having some issues in the area like this . They hired a security guard on duty who just stood on street and was clueless what happened.
Be aware of your personal items if you go. Also management said they would
Take care of bill but did not . If you want a salad that tastes way better than the salad you make...go to Marathon. If you want a sandwich that fills you up without being greasy or heavy...go to Marathon. If you want meatloaf that tastes just like the kind Mom made...go to Marathon.
I've found so many good choices here between the times I've dined in or gotten take out at work. It's really a great standby for business lunches with clients or a cute spot for date night with your favorite someone.
This location has servers that are always smiling and a solid menu sprinkled with specials everyday that range from exciting new salads to homemade desserts. Points from our dinner tonight go to the grass fed beef cheesesteak (is it whiz wit or wit whiz?) and the chicken cobb salad. And of course, our lovely server who never let our water glasses go empty. Thanks, Marathon, for many great lunches, a few stellar breakfasts and one delicious early dinner. Consistently, marathon has been up top my list for a standard city lunch. It crosses my mind first when I know I'll be around Liberty Place!
So last Wednesday when my aunt and I were doing some Christmas shopping, we certainly stopped here!
It was a busy Wednesday afternoon but we were greeted with a smile by the hostess and seated promptly by the window. It's something magical being in the city seeing all the hustle bustle!
Our server was super sweet and brought me an unsweetened iced tea. My aunt got the Moroccan salmon salad and I got the quiche.
If you haven't had their quiche before, you don't know what you're missing. It is a spectacular blend of ingredients served at the perfect temperature with the perfect amount of charred tomato on top. Served with the salad that is also always really fresh and crisp! The radishes had a great touch!
My aunt and I always ask each other, why is their salad so good!?
Get there and try that Quiche Lunch Special!!! I haven't been here in years. I recently stopped in on a late Sunday night. Service was good and fast. I order the crab cake special and they made it into a sandwich for me. It was very very good. My drink was a little weak tho. marathon grill is a string of bug zapping lights that lure too many people in and then it shocks them.
brightly lit, in promient locations, marathon grill sucks people away from other eateries not because of its superb service or food BUT because---dun dun dun---its there.
its there.
so we keep trying it, and keep being disappointed. 3 toppings on a burger proved too much to handle, so next time we tried 2 toppings.
a cheeseburger with onions and goat cheese. caesar salad. soup.
salad and soup first, right? doesnt that make sense?
20 minutes, no lettuce on a plate. we got an apology, but the burger came out first- burnt. i dont want an apology or to have to get up and ask for a spoon (i usually eat spoup with spoons, don't you?) I just want to eat.
marathon leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and i will not be supporting them
^^^^^ i fully supprt jamie w's review- spot on. This is a great place if you're not into risky dinning or you're craving something familiar and comforting. Completely idyllic if you're looking for a place to take the out-of-town in-laws who like their proverbial meat and potatoes at every dinner. And that's exactly what I did.
Three of us ordered the fettucini, which was sumptuously buttery. It was a good vegetarian option, as the mushrooms were meaty and the sauce creamy. We also ordered several appetizers. The mac n cheese and calamari were delicious, but that caesar salad is nothing to write a ballad about. I know it's generally the plain jane of salads, but seriously, add a garnish or something to give it a visual kick! It's appearance was so depressing it almost killed my appetite. My pal also struggled with his fish and chips. It squirted hot oil on him when he tried to cut into it. The waiter was kind enough to bring us some soda water, but he didn't look so sympathetic about it all.
We also got two bottles of wine and the cheese cake and chocolate lava cake for dessert. The wine was typically overpriced as most restaurant wines are. I swear I don't need them to go through that whole pantomime of showing me the label, giving me a taste, and waiting for my approval before filling the glasses if it would just knock $5 off the price. Dude, I'm ordering a $20 bottle of wine at a grill, I know I'm not getting a delicately aged cotes du rhone! The cheesecake was good as well, but not special. Can I use the word monotonous to describe food? I just did. The chocolate cake was a great concept, but the gooey lava would better compliment something denser like a brownie than cake.
All in all, a solid restaurant to which it's worth it to return. I came here for brunch on Saturday. I was starving and looking for something that would fill me up. I ordered the breakfast quesadilla. The waitress told me instead of home fries I can get fresh fruit. The quesadilla was amazing. It was huge and crunchy on the outside. It was everything I wanted. I could only eat 2 pieces. I took the rest to go at had it for breakfast the next day. The fresh fruit was fine, nothing special. On the bill later it looked like the quesadilla was $2 or $3 more so I guess the fruit was an upcharge. That annoyed me a little because I didn't ask for a substitute and when the waitress brought up the fruit I was not aware of any additional cost.
The hot coffee was good. I was contemplating ordering one of the smoothies. Hopefully next time!
My boyfriend ordered the burger with the fried egg on top. He loved it!
We will be back! As a new-comer to Philadelphia, I was told to dine here by a coworker. Food was so-so, server was nice, but the beer selection was a bit scarce. Great location. Great service. Very good food!
I haven't been there for dinner yet... but their breakfast and lunch is fantastic. It leans on the pricey side, at least for my salary, but the service food and restaurant environment is make up for that. A perfect place to meet with friends or take your co-workers to during a lunch a break. For my purpose today marathon was 5 stars! I found myself with my dog in center city at 9am on a Saturday. I was up early running errands by myself and actually just waiting for lululemon to open.
Marathon was the most perfect place for me to eat a quick breakfast, sit down outside with my pup, and kill a few mins before 10am when walnut street wakes up.
Marathon has something for everyone and while the food is standard American fare for vegans this is a great go to for a quick tofu scramble, coffee w soy, and outside seating for you and your dog.
Are there better places to get a tofu scramble? Of course! But the convenience factor, quiet atmosphere, and the speed (food comes out fast) makes this a great early morning spot for a nice breakfast.
Note the tofu scramble has butter unless you ask for it to be made vegan
Marathon is a great option and I'm glad I stopped by! Went here a few years ago and it was pretty good. Came back with a few friends this past Saturday and had a great experience! I'm not a huge burger person but I was really in the mood for one and they have a huge selection of really nice toppings (goat cheese yesss!) the burger was large and cooked perfectly. My friends veggie burger looked great, the mozzarella sandwich was very generous on the fillings - this is what I'll try next time I'm here. Every sandwich and salad ok the menu looked good and it was hard to decide what to get! I will definitely be back.
The fries could have been better, but that's my only complaint. NOTE: This review is for Center City Sips only.
For most of the Summer of 2008, this is where you'd find me on a Wednesday between 5:00 & 7:00. The beers they had on special rotated, but were typically something pretty good. You could always get a seat and the place was never too packed, so you could actually have a conversation. They also had free flatbread pizzas which hit the spot.
I went back once this summer and it was similar, but I wasn't very impressed with the beers on special (Yards & Miller Light, I believe). Still better than many others, but not the best. Service is pretty quick, but - being the free-loader I am - I was disappointed that they no longer have the free pizzas. In all, not a bad place for Sips, but not the best. Waited 20 minutes facing hostess. Staff all over the place. No one came to my table. At least it was a warm resting spot on a cold Philly day. Very disappointing. This place is crazy. I came here from New York to celebrate my 27th birthday and wanted to have a brunch. We ordered drinks and they denied serving drinks to us due to our ID's. Legitimate ID's with names legible along, UNEXPIRED, and we are all beyond 21. They said they are denying ALL of us as one of us had an older ID (that was still valid and not expired). We are 27 mind you. WE WERE ALSO THE ONLY MINORITIES IN THE RESTAURANT AS WELL. HOW CONVENIENT. NEVER EAT HERE. THEY ARE DISGUSTING HUMAN BEINGS.
I also called and spoke to the manager who could have easily resolve this situation, and he decided to hang up on me instead. This is a case of racial and age discrimination. I'm so happy he cares so much of how his customers feel. 4 stars for the granola parfait
1.5 stars for the service
I sat at the bar and ordered food...after asking for help. I asked for the bar area where I was to be wiped down...twice. I had my drink slammed down in front of me as the bartender ran away. Food was delivered with a faint acknowledgement of my existence.
If it were me, working in a busy and nice establishment, I'd be happy to have my job. Obviously the bartender and I disagree on that... One of the best places for breakfast, lunch or a casual dinner in the heart of 'center city' Philadelphia. They serve good local and mostly organic, freshly prepared food. Even with the lunch crowds, we didn't have to wait long.
The soup de jour, 'bean and sausage', was just right for the rainy day and the vegeburger (which is always tasty) once again, was completely satisfying. The regular burger my friends was large, well cooked and juicy. Service was fine and our waiter checked our table several times to be sure we had what we needed.
I have had breakfast here many times and enjoyed the low key, morning atmosphere with the expected breakfast items. Never had a bad meal here.
I'd recommend this to anyone. Varied menu, reasonable prices and delicious food. Go after 1:30 pm to avoid the lunch hour rush. Our server was really attentive and now I feel bad I didn't catch his name. I ordered the Cobb salad which was very good. I had some special requests for the salad which where all done. My boss had the lunch special wrap which he loved. I will be back! My second time here and was not disappointed! Second time getting the marathon burger and is doesn't disappoint. The menu is broad with something for everyone making it difficult to decide what To get. The food is decent, reasonably priced, and the service is friendly. Overall a great place with good food and drinks that's perfect for all meals of the day! Came here for brunch on Sunday and was sat right away at a table! We were immediately impressed with the menu as it had good options for all meals! To start we got the calamari which was a small portion but was perfectly breaded with a tasty aioli sauce. To eat we got the eggs Benedict, marathon burger, and a side chocolate chip pancake! The marathon burger was our favorite! It was perfectly cooked with nice crispy bacon. The eggs Benedict came with crispy and well seasoned home fries. The Benedict and pancake were both good but nothing special. The service could have been better as our calamari came out before our drinks which is why I gave this place 4 stars. Besides that, this place is a very reasonably priced, great atmosphere, and solid food. I will definitely be back!
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name: Au Bon Pain, address: 1101 Chestnut St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 2.5, is_open: opening, categories: Bakeries, Restaurants, Food, Cafes, text: In cold days you always look for something to eat to warm you up like a good soup or a chili. Yesterday, I stopped at this location to see what they have to offer in the soups menu. They had Vegetarian Chili which caught my appetite. WOW, BIG mistake! The pinto and light kidney beans were hard which indicated me that the beans were raw, it was NOT cooked. The chili also has NO flavor, It was not well seasoned, and the taste was not good. I wasted my money. Therefore, if you are a vegetarian, and you're looking to have a good veggie chili, please DO NOT buy their Vegetarian Chili. I will not buy that Vegetarian Chili again.
Spanish:
En los días fríos uno siempre busca algo de comer caliente para calentarse el cuerpo, como una buena sopa o un chili. Ayer, me detuve en este lugar para ver lo que tienen que ofrecer en el menú de sopas. Tenían chili vegetariano que despertó mi apetito. ¡WOW, gran error que cometí! Los frijoles (habichuelas) pintos, o habichuelas de riñón estaba duras, lo que me indicó que las habichuelas (frijoles) NO estaban cocinadas. El chili tampoco tenía buen sabor, no estaba bien sazonado. Perdí mi dinero. Por lo tanto, si usted es vegetariano, y usted está mirando para tener un buen chili vegetariano, por favor NO compre el Chili vegetariano de ellos. Definitivamente no comprare este Chili Vegetariano de nuevo. So dirty! Flies everywhere! I'm not picky at all when it comes to food, hence why I eat out, but this place was beyond filthy. I truly looked at the people eating there wonder are you all blind. Never buy that turkey chili ever again. I grabbed the small cup and the girl from the counter said "turkey chili is a special" and charged me $4.49 for a nasty turkey chili. That thing didn't have any turkey meat, plus had NO FLAVOR at all. The last time I went here I also had a bad experience with a soup I boght, so yesterday I wanted to give this place a second chance and maybe try something else, but it was a big mistake My experiences buying soups at this place has been bad. For that reason, I will never buy a soup there. I come here sometimes because I see docs in the area. The Thai Chicken Wrap, soup and toffee cookies are yummy. It would be nice if they were a little less expensive, but the food always tastes good. The line moves quickly and there is a nice seating area. The staff was very polite they were attentive, the young lady who made my southwest chicken salad was very clean she changed her gloves everytime she did something, i asked for greener leaves and she did it with no problem My Salad was so good, she said if i wanted my bread toasted ,that the gentleman would do it for me and he did, my mulitigrain bread was delcious. Fives Stars to you guys for Top Notch Service. Thank You. And that was my first time ever in Au Bon pain. Smiley Face :). Meh. Soup was tasty, they were out of food & supplies- like large soup cups. Find somewhere else for lunch. Also $$$& Rude staff! Stopped in for a sandwich while visiting at Jeff. The woman who took the order was fine. I ordered a tomato caprese sandwich. Waited 15 minutes while others got served from behind me, after ordering. The girl called out turkey chipotle three times in vain. When I finally asked about mine, she regarded me with great disdain and said, I called you three times! Where were you? And shoved it at me with disgust. I had to give it back and ask for a to-go bag because they never bothered to ask. I told her I'd been standing right there the whole time. The three of them joined forces to imply I was a fool. Well- I know the difference between 'tomato caprese' and 'turkey chipotle' for sure. Management should teach some customer service skills. I don't mind mistakes, but don't act like its the fault of the customer. The sandwich was boring and tasteless anyway. Plenty of better options all around. What a nice place this is. I joined the Au bon Pain birthday club and was treated to a free salad or sandwich of my choice. I got the veggie burger, minus the mayo, to make it completely animal-free deliciousness. I was happy to get a free item, but most happy with my server who spent time talking to me about my food preferences and other things. I don't know her name and I can't see it on my receipt but thanks to the staff who were working on April 17 in the afternoon. not a fan of the bread here... maybe i need to go when they first open up for the day? the bread is always rock hard by the time i get here. still, this is my go to place for vegan soup on a cold day. Waited 8 minutes behind two other customers, trying to buy a cookie. The cashier obviously had no training or experience. I finally gave up when it was obvious it might be another 8 before I could purchase. Train your staff or have more on duty. Among the Jefferson hospital buildings on a corner across from starbucks. Numerous grab and go items near the door. Poor value for items. Expensive for how little you get. Prices are still relative for the area it's in. As we walked around we did a drop in for some tea. The hot water was really really HOT but they had a good selection. They also had their soups labeled Vegetarian and Gluten Free - point for them!
The staff was really nice and helpful and their pastries looked delicious and the prices were pretty good. Overall for a coffee/tea and pastry fix this is a good place to go. note the location is at 10th and chestnut NOT 11th and chestnut. i learned this during the ~*great snow*~ of october. not cool.
i needed some delicious soup to warm my bones while i was on call when the snow hit. unlike the ABP on penn's campus, this place had one gluten-free selection, and the amount of the soup in the pot was paltry so my kale and chorizo soup was mostly broth with two pieces of chorizo and a tiny bit of kale. the soup's flavor was good; beware, the soup is on the spicy-side.
i bought a side salad which was ok but likely nearing its expiration or sell-by date because the lettuce was a little wilted and soggy. the salad was still passable with the assistance of some light ranch dressing.
maybe because the weather sucked hardcore, the employees didn't really feel like tidying up the place. it wasn't disgusting but it seemed a little unkempt. the cashier was really friendly and wanted to shoot the shit about the singer of a song that was playing overhead in the store.
pretty basic but consistent food. good for people working in the area who need a fast and relative healthy lunch. i wouldn't go out of my way to come here again, but if i'm in the area, i'd return. I stopped in after visiting the Jefferson Heart Institute and in need of sustenance after a fasting test earlier in the morning. This Au Bon Pain is conveniently at the corner of 10th and Chestnut.
The first thing I saw in the front window was their display of bakery sweets and bagels, and I didn't look much further. I asked for a Everything Bagel Breakfast Sandwich and Coffee. The staff was uber friendly and had no problem allowing me to switch from a plain bagel to an Everything Bagel. I paid, took my receipt, and found a small table in back to wait for my name to be called.
The light crowd was predominantly hospital workers in the scrubs or wearing ID's around their necks. Most were doing take out, but a few sat and talked with their associates, or fielded text or phone messages. The flow was efficiently handled. In about 5 minutes I had my food. Reasonable wait.
The sandwich looked good (see photo) and had decent taste. Its downfall was the texture. The eggs were microwaved into a soft fluff. I really prefer them cooked on a grill or in a pan for more flavor and chewability. The bagel while fresh, was likewise without the tougher exterior and softer insides, but was soft through and through. Obviously, a bagel in name only. Disappointing. The meal was adequate, but not engaging.
I did not try any of their signature French-style breads, but they did look good. The critical piece is always the crustiness and right amount of salt in the dough. If I find myself near an Au Bon Pain with an urge for bread, I will give them a try. Otherwise, there are too many other interesting and tasty alternatives to consider ABP a contender for my breakfast short list. I stopped in around 7pm to grab a wrap using my birthday free sandwich coupon. I asked the woman if the coupon is good for wraps and she chuckles (with an attitude) and says "i guess". Alrighty. I ordered the Napa Chicken with Avocado wrap as it seemed like one of the healthier options. I asked if I have options of wraps like whole grain or something. Again, she chuckled and said no, like I'm some sort of peasant. SORRY.
The girl who was making my wrap seemed a little more friendly, I guess. I didn't try it until about 2 hours later but it wasn't soggy or anything. They go a little heavy on the vinaigrette, I'd recommend asking for it light. The wrap definitely tasted fresh and not too unhealthy. Had coffee, bagels, and fruit delivered for work regularly, and generally they have been great. The coffee is fine black and comes with some creamers (though our group often ran out of creamers halfway). The fruit is freshly cut and well presented. The bagels are chewy, and they always remember to pack enough cream cheese, plates, and plastic utensils. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!!! Waited 15 mins for my sandwich only to have the guy forget to make my sandwich. Ordered my food at 1:20pm and didn't get it until 1:45....should have went to Wawa around the corner...will NOT be returning. Service is the slowest ever!!! I ordered a Veggie Sandwich. Best Veggie Sandwich I have ever had. It's too bad Au Bon Pain is only in the Midwest and the East Coast or I would eat there at least every week. Ugh! Super slow service and rude employees that just DON'T CARE. My mistake for thinking this would be a quick place on a lazy night to get a soup and sandwich to go. My order took nearly half an hour and the sandwich looked NOTHING like the photo, and didn't include half of the ingredients from the menu. Of course, I didn't notice this until I was already home. Also, since when does Roast Beef = Angus Steak? I wish I took a picture of the bagel sandwich they served me here, because it did not look appetizing at all! (Yes, I still ate it).
Since particular Au Bon Pain is attached to the hospital, they have guaranteed business from residents, CT technologists, etc... so I guess they can get away with not living up to the standards of other Au Bon Pain's. Definitely the worst Au Bon Pain I've ever been to, and I hope to never return. Would give zero stars if I could. Walked in to grab a snack and the entire place was disgusting. My friend, however, was starving and couldn't make it to the terminal. Given the state of the place I wasn't feeling brave enough to order something. We settled on bakery items from the case. I had a cookie and it was ok. Went in to get a quick cup of iced coffee. Quick? I think not.
As I was pouring the (old and stale) iced coffee from the dispenser, it started to run out about halfway through my cup. I asked one of the workers to refill it, and he acknowledged my question, but didn't move one step. I waited ten minutes, and nothing happened. I asked another worrker and she simply told me to put more ice and just pour in the hot coffee. Okay, really? I then asked her if it's the same strength coffee, and she ignored me and went over to the other worker who initially ignored me and very loudly trash talked my question. I ended up just proceeding to purchase the coffee from the rude workers.
No apologies. No good coffee - left with a stale cup of coffee, 15 minutes wasted, and a bad mood due to rudeness.
I'd suggest just to go to the starbucks across the street. The line may be longer, but you'll be out faster with better coffee, better pastries, and better service. This is a pretty cool place, I usually come here in the morning before work. The foods good, fresh and quick, your in and out usually in about 10 minutes. The guy who makes the sandwiches is really cool, he works his butt off yet still has the time to say hi. Thanks! I love this Au bon Pain despite the fact there is no parking - its totally worth it to risk the 5 minutes parked on the side of the street - My favorite is the Salmon wasabi on an Asiago bagel ...oh its just heaven and the coffee is just simply the best!
The staff is super friendly always with a smile and very helpful - This is my favorite location for my Saturday morning coffee - oh plenty of seating :) I ordered the Garden and Avocado wrap. It comes with arugula, romaine, tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, carrots, and a vinaigrette. The wrap I received only had romaine, arugula, avocado, vinaigrette, and ONE grape tomato which tasted rotten. Never again will i go there. The lettuce was not very fresh and half of the toppings were missing. The complaint is not so much about Au Bon Pain the chain as it is this location. I have seen this store go down in service and quality of food, preparation, etc. The coffee is consistently weak and a lot of times baked goods are not put out early enough to get before you go to work (most of the others have all products out before 8 a.m.). I also found the service lacking as the staff will somestimes not acknowledge or help you. I will purchase from this location again. Meg's team runs so smoothly and I enjoy the service and pretty much every soup and dessert I've ever had! The bread is always fantastic but the people who work there make the visit extra special! After a full day of walking around town, drinking beer and enjoying the best of Philly we needed to recharge our batteries with shots of espresso.
We ordered two doubles and drank them just as fast as they made them. The coffee was good and just the jolt we needed to get ready for an awesome night out. We were stuck at Jefferson for 4 hours and needed a place to go to have a cappucino and kill some time. Friendly staff - decently clean bathrooms, good coffee (I had an iced coffee, Mom had a capp.)
Not great but not awful. The food was fine, but I was concerned that the person making the sandwiches had a lot of hair flying around. She wore a cap and had tucked her hair inside the back of her shirt, but a lot of long hair was coming out the sides, and it didn't seem sanitary. This branch of ABP is attached to Jefferson so it's pretty convenient for employees to stop there and grab coffee or food on a quick break. However, the staff is some of the most unhelpful and rude workers I've ever seen. The food is ok, nothing to write home about. The other night, I stopped in for a quick dinner and was told that they were out of chicken! 4/6 of the offered salads have chicken so this was pretty ridiculous. I then asked the employee working at the registers what their low fat dressing options are, since it was not listed anywhere on their menu board. She told me all of their dressings were nonfat. I then realized the dressings were in packets back near the pastries and looked myself.. All but one dressing had extremely high fat contents. How do you know not information about the products sold by your employer? It speaks to pretty bad customer service. I will try to avoid this place as much as possible from now on. Lunch was good, a little pricey for such a small sandwich. Place is always a mess and they really need to focus on keeping the place clean. Meh.
Its a good spot to stop if you need to grab something quick and are in a hurry...but there is a Wawa 2 blocks away and you should probably just go there. The sandwiches are usually dry. Do not recommend.
However, I work nearby and often grab the broccoli cheddar soup and a piece of bread for a snack. Not as good as Panera's broccoli cheddar...but pretty decent. My Thai Peanut Chicken Salad "Made Here Fresh Today" was anything but. The tomatoes and cukes were soggy. I assumed there was a packet of dressing under the lid, but no, but I didn't realize that until I got back to my office, so a dry heap of lettuce and chicken for me. No signage that I noticed, and certainly no staff reminded me to get salad dressing. They had no bags, so I had to carry it out, juggling on top the breadstick in the little paper bag that was just big enough for it (after I took a bit off the top).
the only thing worth eating was the breadstick that came with. Asiago cheese, and really excellent. I like this location, the staff are friendly and it's clean. Good selection of grab and go baked goods and salads. Sandwiches are kinda expensive at $7-$8 without really standing out. Overall, it's a place I'd come back regularly because it's so convenient, but the food isn't anything out of the ordinary. The worst place in the city! On several occasions our boss has brought us a platter of baked goods and it's always stale. Literally rock hard bagels and pastries. Went there today and they had no cheese and only 1 soup left. Your main business is sandwiches and soups! How the hell do you run out of a main ingredient for a sandwich? So I just get an egg sandwich on stale bread. awesome. The only reason they're still in business is because it's right next to the hospital. Please close down so a good business can take up your space. Thank you. I wanted to give it four stars for its food and service in general. Several sandwiches and soups are pretty decent, and the staff are generally helpful and friendly. However, the night shift staff, one female employee in particular, is always enthusiastically chatting with her coworkers about personal or other random things. Her voice is way too high to be appropriate for environment in the store. It's disturbing other customers' dining and conversation. Overpriced and way too sugary pastries/ dessert-style. Almost no savory pastries, just sugar, sugar and more sugar. If you do not want diabetes and obesity, stick to their soups and salads( avoid sugary dressings though). Soups are delish BTW, even though most are cream based. I ate here once and tried one thing, so take this review for what its worth.
I just want to write a quick review and say this is not a place for big appetite. I paid $7 for one of the skimpiest sandwiches I ever had. I left hungry and had to go across the street to Taco Bell.
I wouldn't mind paying extra $ for great taste but this place didnt really wow me. Probably not even the best sandwich I had in past week.
This place seems to bank on high volume customers due to location rather than winning people over. $3 for an 8oz. orange juice? Peace. Sayonara! This place is always disappointing me. I come for their half-half iced tea and i kid you not every time i come they don't have it!!!! Also, how is it that a café is never stocked properly with its signature baked goods? This place is a mess. Where is the MANAGER! How is this allowed to happen!!?!!!? Just had a fasting blood test down the road so as soon as I was done, I needed FOOD before I attacked anyone from being hangry.
This was just down the street from the lab and on my way to work, so it was a convenient stop. They had a problem with their cash register, so cash only on this particular day. I gave my simple order (coffee, toasted bagel with cream cheese) and waited. And waited.
After what seemed like a long time, I went up to check on my order. Turned out they had a large breakfast order to go and they just forgot mine. Grrrr. They did apologize and then rushed the order after that.
The bagel was too lightly toasted for my taste, unfortunately. I had a dentist appointment at Jeferson hospital the other day and I stopped for a bite to eat at Au Bon Pan.
I ordered a turkey and swiss with bacon on a croissant with cajun mayo and a cup of soup and hot coffee. The sandwich was better than the average because of the flaky, buttery croissant. I also have a cup of chicken tortilla soup that was a little too tame for my taste, but I spice it up some. The coffee was just okay, but overall a good lunch.
What I really like about this place is that in the evening, they mark down all the baked goods to half a price. That means I can get my fave lemon pound cake and cookies and eat twice as much...... more for me!
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name: Kingyo, address: 1720 Sansom St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.5, is_open: closed, categories: Sushi Bars, Restaurants, Japanese, text: Kingyo has summer appetizer specials for $3.00
Yes - that's right $3.00 - for sizling AgeTofu with mushrooms (enoki & shitake) or 4 crispy Ebi (Shrimp) shumai.
Kingyo is rapidly becoming my go-to spot for a sushi fix when I am in that area. Ben and Yama are very nice to me and to my 5 year old - who loves the steamed shumai.
Try the Tuna Citrus salad - served in a whole orange - or the spicy tuna tartar. I also like the tuna tataki over a bed of fresh greens - very diet-friendly.
I have had all kinds of maki and te-maki here - very fresh - and the best of all? Home-made tamago (none of that frozen garbage.).
Yes it costs a bit more than Vic's or Jay's - but the preparations are more classic and pure. I like that from time to time.
Kingyo is much friendlier to me than Genji ever was. Hooray!
Dinner for 2 last night with one cocktail ($9) was $70 including tax 'n tip. I love the dining room in this place. High ceilings, beautifully painted walls and nice tables.
The sushi was fresh and hit the spot. Tempura udon was very tasty indeed. However, the agedashi tofu was nothing more than tempura battered firm tofu with an extremely bland sauce. Seriously, can't someone get agedashi tofu right??
I have to knock one star off for the service. It took around 25 minutes for us to get our check paid for and out the door. At least they were friendly.
Brad's rating (out of 5):
Price: 3
Food: 3
Decor: 5
Service: 2
Wild card: The solo, elderly diner who was pounding Kirin Ichiban and white wine. Holy smokes, this place is both awesome and slightly strange. From the decor to the food, it's great but there's something just slightly off.
First of all, I would like to say that the service was extremely friendly and attentive enough. That was 5 stars all the way. Also, there are several rooms. There are about 10 seats at the sushi bar when you walk in, a large second room in the back (the main dining room), and a smaller room off of the main room. I would assume that's used for large groups.
OK, now to get back to this super and odd thing. My friend and I felt the decor was best summed up in the table decorations. On each table was a glass votive holder with black stones on the bottom and an electric candle that flickered daintily. At once both classic and modern (and slightly tacky yet wonderful) we decided it was very much like Japan itself. But the entire restaurant is like that, classic and modern. They have traditional screens and curtains between rooms that you expect from a Japanese restaurant in America. They also have walls that have pretty wooden paneling and a warm purple paint. The main room is a very warm (texturally, not temperature wise) room that would fit in any nice restaurant and was not overtly Japanese.
The food was also a little strange but wonderful. The miso soup had a delicate smokey flavor. The duck breast appetizer was amazing! 8 slices of a medium cooked duck breast with a large serving of absolutely delicious mushrooms, beautifully plated with sauces was way more than we expected for the $8.50 price tag.
Sadly, the sushi was not what either of us were expecting. The spicy in the spicy tuna was like no other spicy sauce I've ever had in sushi. Instead of the typical flavor it was a peppery flavor like Sriracha. I say that, but I've never actually tried Sriracha, I'm just trying to give an indicator that it was abnormal for sushi. Also, the special rolls appeared to be decently priced, they just weren't the right size for the price. Which means they are actually not a good price. They were too small for the price tag.
Kingyo has a liquor license. For $7 I had a very nice glass of a Japanese white wine, a cuvee, to be exact. It was tart and refreshing and great with the meal. Plus, how many Japanese wines have you had in your life? They also have a cute display of attractive bottles of sake, if sake is your thing.
Even though I found the place to be slightly odd, I generally loved it. I really would like to go back, I'm just not going to order any sushi. If the duck appetizer is anything to go by, their entrees are where Kingyo really shines. I actually can't wait to go back and order a meal, the duck was that good. What happened to this place?
Sadly, I have to reduce to two stars...for sushi/sashimi.
I visited this place last week; and place was not busy at all - week day early evening. Well, I thought it was a good thing for me.
I ordered through regular menu this time; "Take" - the middle priced sushi dinner. I was totally disappointed b the quality and selections.
Yes, it was my fault to sit table rather than counter to begin with.
I ordered sashimi appetizer, agedashi tofu and sushi dinner.
Tuna was total disappointment - no flavor and very watery and very small and thin slices, Salmon had a bit of smell and fishy taste, which should not be. Hirame was very mushy texture...
What happened this place? Non one checks the quality anymore?
Imitation crab as it is, Eel was tiny piece with too much sauce on, Egg was too sweet...I was really disappointed.
Did they raise the price as well?...was not good CP at all.
BTW, someone mentioned Agedashi Tofu?
First time I ordered it here...and two pieces of vegetable was accompanied by three small pieces of Tofu...soup tasted authentic; that's only thing I enjoyed that evening.
I will probably try one more time at the counter...but...
Well, let's see how it goes next time. Had a delightful lunch here today. Was shopping in center city and remembered that there were a lot of tasty looking Asian restaurants on Sansom street, so took a look.
It being about 2 in the afternoon, the place was almost deserted. I sat at the sushi bar and ordered the Take, which was five pieces of sashimi and california roll for around $13, and a green tea. The meal came with miso soup, which wasn't too salty and had a nice, subtle flavor.
The sushi and sashimi were both excellent. I especially enjoyed the salmon, tuna and caviar sashimi. The waitress was very attentive, and the service was quick (though there was only one other person in the place, so that could be why). Would definitely recommend and dine here again! I used to come here when it was Genji - and frankly due to the economy (I am in brokeville these days) and a slightly icy experience when I last visited Genji (over a year ago) I was reticent to try Kin Gyo.
Well, boy am I ever glad I stopped in tonight for a solo sushi bar dinner.
Yama, the chef/owner was accomodating and cordial. I savored a delectable negi-hamachi hand roll, a salmon lover's roll (very good but a bit steep at $13.50), a succulent solitary piece of (of all things) foie gras nigiri (Yum and fat-city), 2 HOUSE_MAD tamago sashimi (excellent).
The only negative? The ikura sushi piece was not quite as "poppin' fresh" as i would have liked.
Meanwhile - Yama makes his OWN inari (what a rarity that can be in the sushi world). And at $7.00 a pop, I think I will wait till next time to try the Chu-toro (which I actually prefer to the fattier and pricier O-toro).
My faith has been restored. I disagree with Victoria - the fish was all fresh (save for the ikura which was fresh but not "peak"). Service was very nice,and i can't wait to return.
Dinner for one (just me - no beverages) was $45 including tip. I'm a former sushi/Japanese food waitress and have fairly rigorous standards for any Japanese restaurant. I work a couple blocks from Kingyo; this is my second time visiting.
Currently, I am devouring a bowl of tempura udon and a California, take out for lunch. I have to praise their packaging. It is expertly divided to stay with the integrity of the dish (aside from the tempura).
I went to get Japanese because I'm getting over a cold and thought udon would be a good cure since I didn't feel energized enough to walk to Chinatown. I was thoroughly disappointed with the selection of soup, especially udon. The only choice was tempura udon, but it gave me a chance to break down the overall restaurant food fairly well.
Udon: the noodles were perfect. They weren't mushy and they were perfectly slurpable. They absorbed just enough of the broth to hold some, but not over power. Great noodles. The broth on the other hand was slightly too sweet, missed that miso-base flavor, and was not nearly hot enough (I walked literally three blocks and the broth was lukewarmish.), but for someone new to udon, I could suggest it. It definitely contained the "smoky" touch that many restaurants do not use.
Tempura: ... Yeah. So... I'm going to assume it's because it was in a CLOSED container which really was the only fault in packaging, but, (pardon me while I geek out about packaging tempura for to go) in tempura and fried food 101, you can't put it in a closed container or the steam will make it mushy. So part were crunchy but for the most part it was soggy. I had the feeling it just was mediocre tempura regardless. When I go back, if I get tempura again, I'll amend if I see fit. It was primarily why I didn't give it a four.
Maki/Rolls: I've had fish maki here and it was fine. I don't remember how big the cuts were, but I don't remember any significant problem with them. As far as the California roll, it had lots of great avocado, I couldn't taste the crab much (I blame this on the cold though) and had the perfect crunch of cucumber. The rice lacked the bite of sake though. Another reason why I docked it...
Overall, I'm going back again, because it's nice, clean, has friendly service, and is a few blocks from my work. But, I wouldn't make a special trip into Center City for it. (My main sushi restaurant is Koi, because they make magic soup.) This is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Philly. The sushi here is always good and fresh and it's one of the few Japanese owned restaurants in the city. They don't serve the overly seasoned Korean-style sushi that most serve. Good sushi should be only very lightly seasoned so you can taste the fresh fish, whereas most sushi restaurants over-flavor their rice and rolls so that you cannot taste the fish anymore. Many people prefer the over-seasoned sushi, but for me, if I am paying the price to eat fresh fish, I want to taste the freshness of the fish, not the sweet sauce, mayo, chilly sauce, etc.
For the adventurous, they have all the yummy stuff like nato, sea urchin, really good toro, and you can arrange with the chef for live urchin and live octopus as well! The cooked food is really good, too.
The place looks and feels very close to restaurants in Japan. It's unpretentious; not some trendy place to go and be seen. It attracts people who knows the real deal and they mainly sit at the sushi bar talking to the chef and other diners, just like in Japan. Traditionally, sushi bars are the 'news central' for the town. Chefs Yamada-san (the owner), and Watanabe-san keep the mood fun and friendly.
They also have a nice dining area at the back of the restaurant. What happened to Kingyo? Why are they closed? This is the most authentic traditional Japanese restaurant in town. Not the new Asian confusion stuff.
Did something happen or is it that authentic traditional food is no longer appreciated? Kingyo seems to be a Japanese-owned restaurant because I was greeted and honored in Japanese and the employees all dressed in traditional Japanese clothing. The decor looked modern yet traditional with the Japanese styled curtains. In the front of the restaurant is the sushi bar but we were seated in the back which had mellow vibe. We went in since the Crepe Cafe next door was closed.
We had the House Hot Sake that costed $9 bucks (the cheapest sake), and it definitely got a girl and I buzzed from it. The House Sake was pretty good although I am not a sake connoisseur so I wouldn't be able to justify the quality. We skipped appetizer and we went straight to the entrees. First off, all the entrees do not come with soup and salad like how other usual sushi restaurants do. Also, I saw that the menu prices were $3 dollars more than the average prices. The small sashimi entree (15 pieces) costed $24 and the maki combination costed $22. Our meal total costed $59 dollars without tip.
For two people, I saw that isn't too bad and the restaurant is not too bad for a date. The quality of the food was better than I expected since I eat crappy quality sushi in Chinatown. The maki rolls were small however but tastful and worth savoring in my mouth. The sashimi was fresh as well.
However, the girl and I raved about the wasabi because we know what wasabi-in-a-tube tastes like and the wasabi that was given to us was fresh and tasted homemade. I would love to return again. Ok today's lunch was a much better sushi experience.
The first thing you should know about Kingyo is that it is a full restaurant. not just a sushi bar. They have 10 seats at a long sushi bar in front and in the back they have tables.
I sat at the sushi bar because I wasn't planning on staying very long. It is a bit pricey, but it was worth it to get some good sushi. I was very happy when I left and I will go again. Remember Genji?...when I was a regular almost 10 yrs ago...and time has changed of course. But I was glad to find this restaurant after all. I did not check Yelp reviews before visiting this place; but it was a good time...and am sure it will be a good time again. Place is exactly the same inside as Genji time - sushi bar right next to entrance.
It is often my favorite to sit on the sushi bar to begin with. So, I check how counter is kept clean at a first glance; then, I look at sushi materials inside the counter for sure....good variety; but a little fewer than Genji time. Selection of Japanese sake was somewhat limited; but better than most places to begin with. I know it is hard to keep nice selections in PA unlike NJ or NY...but it is often my wish list to have nice selections of sake. I asked Chef for his selections of sushi for the night - he served about 8 selections: Chu-Toro, Hirame, Tai, Saba, Suzuki, Hamachi, Hotate and Anago. All were well-served...but could be a little better in terms of quality...may be too hard to compare with own good memories from Genji time. I only had a limited time - hit and go; but it was a good finding of this restaurant after all. CP could be a little better as I did not expect that price with 8 pieces of sushi - not top grade, but certainly better than many sushi places I have been to in Philly.
Overall, I will go back and check other things as well....hoping to find very "seasonal" items occasionally. I had a wonderful dinner here a couple of weeks ago. The fish was fresh and had great portion size and the prices were very fair. The atmosphere was quiet and semi-romantic.
The service was very attentive at first, but after we ordered another roll to add onto our order, it took a while. However, everyone was very nice.
Would definitely return. It was one of those nights - bf came home much later than originally anticipated, I hadn't made dinner since we had plans to go out that then fell through because of the time, and we were both STARVING to the point of not knowing what we wanted to eat. Somehow, our hunger brought us to Kingyo's door.
All we wanted was quick, fresh, tasty food, and that's exactly what we got. The moment the waitress sat us at a table we ordered edamame, which thankfully came out mere minutes later in time for us to order three rolls and scarf down those green beans of soy delight. Thankfully it was pretty empty on a Thursday night so our white tuna roll, salmon roe roll and their Hanabi roll were ready really quickly. I think we consumed that meal as fast as they were able to make it, and the fish was pretty fresh (I concur with Karen's assessment regarding the freshness of the salmon roe). I was pretty pleased with the prices for the regular rolls, but the special rolls seem a little steep, especially considering how many pieces we got with the Hanabi roll. This is probably a great place for a quick lunch, but if you're looking for more than the average sushi roll you'd be better elsewhere.
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name: Saigon Cuisine, address: 4000 Chestnut St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.0, is_open: closed, categories: Food, Restaurants, Vietnamese, Chinese, text: When I go to Saigon, I only order one thing: the house special bun. It has everything for about the same price as the other bun options, which is a steal. Regardless of what you order, the portion here is big. I don't find the taste particularly memorable, though. Don't expect super-friendly service here. I've been here twice. The service got better the second time around, which shows that the establishment is working diligently (hopefully) on the kinks of running a new business.
Aside from the service, however, I wasn't a huge fan of the food. I had started off with the fried chicken dumplings. I couldn't tell whether they were house-made, but the filling was questionable because it tasted like a mystery substance (as opposed to chicken) and the dough around it was very thick and chewy. I think I've had better dumplings from the frozen section of the Asian supermarket.
The pho was also not very well-made. The noodles weren't fresh and they were a bit stingy on the toppings. In Pho dishes, the broth usually either makes it or breaks it. In this case, it definitely did not make it. Other than maybe the location, nothing really compels me to return, when there are better options on Washington Ave and even in West Philly. The food was good but I felt it was overpriced for the amount. Also, be sure to keep your receipt and check how much they charge you afterwards. I was charged more on my card than I signed for on my receipt and when I called they said they couldn't find my card in the system or said that it must've been tip even though I told them it wasn't. It wasn't until I found my receipt and gave him the table and check # that he finally found it in the system and saw they overcharged me. I go to Saigon pretty frequently, so I think I have a pretty good feel for how each of my dining experiences will be.
Depending on the size of your group, you can either expect a short or long wait time for food (I've never really experienced an in-between). I've gone in a pretty large group before and it took a really really really long time to get food. What's worse is that they served different people in the group at extremely different times. On one occasion, at least a couple people had already finished eating before the majority of the others had been served. Even when I go in a smaller group, the service can be a little meh.
But the food is where I feel that Saigon is simply just "aight". The pho is nothing that will blow you away. It's not particularly flavorful with a very average tasting broth. Trust me, if you want really good pho that will hit the spot, you have to make the trek to South Philly. I think a personal favorite of mine is the grilled pork chop with rice, which is pretty popular. It is good, but paying $10 for two pieces of pork chop, rice, and some veggies is kinda much.
I keep coming back to Saigon simply because it's the only place on campus that can really fulfill a craving for pho and Vietnamese-style cuisine. I've spent many meals at Saigon to escape the cold weather and it has hit the spot. But the fact is that the food is nothing special and the service is okay. You gotta manage your expectations. Those looking for exceptionally good pho should look elsewhere, but if you are really wanting pho and have nowhere else to go, Saigon will suffice.
On the plus side, it is a BYO so college students can rejoice. This is how I would describe Saigon: its one of those places where you and your friends are trying to figure out where to go for dinner and someone suggests it and you just look at your phone sideways and say "Eh............" but you can't really come up with a better option so you end up there. Mediocre. Helpful if you are for some reason in a pinch and need to have a BYO on campus, otherwise I'd suggest skipping it. It was better back when it had Chinese food on its menu but for some reason they decided to focus on all Vietnamese now. This restaurant is generally just a safe place to get a bowl of pho that is very convenient for people who live near University City. I used to come here often for BYOs, but now the environment is generally more quiet as there are not as many college BYOs here anymore. The space is very conducive to groups though, so if you just want to grab dinner with 10+ friends this is an easy place to go.
I came here on a holiday evening for dinner with a friend, and was reminded of how nice the servers are. I ordered my usual beef brisket pho, and it came out almost immediately--with a lot of condiments as well. As I hadn't eaten all day, it was the perfect meal to warm me up, and the pho was simply a decent meal (I'm not sure how else to explain it). There was a lot of noodle and a fine amount of meat, but nothing really stood out about the flavor or anything.
Overall, good service, a bit of awkward ambiance since the restaurant is relatively empty now, and fine food. Middle of the road vietnamese place. Vietnam Cafe a bit more west is much better in my opinion. This one has the benefit of being right next to the school and much easier to get to. Fish cakes were great, pho was good but nothing mind blowing. Prices were reasonable, but I've seen better at other Vietnamese places. I'd come here again. I really like the summer rolls here ($4 for two) and the large pho is REALLY large. I find their fried rice to be a bit too oily, so I usually go for the vermicelli dishes when I'm not in the mood for pho. Thai iced tea with tapioca is good, and the background music playlist is awesome. There's nothing that really stands out about their dishes, but it's relatively inexpensive! Saigon Cuisine fills a long-empty void of Vietnamese food in UCity. It fills that gap with pho, bun (think Vietnamese noodle salad) and grilled meats.
The menu isn't as extensive as joints you'd find in chinatown, but the imperial rolls, the pho, and the grilled meats and bun are all respectable - and by that I definitely mean "eat too much for your own good" - and pretty emblematic of restaurant style Viet food.
Also, it's super affordable, which makes sense, being in UCity. Glad I now have a place to point to which I can direct friends who have never had Viet food.
The decoration is modern if a bit sparse, and the high ceiling makes the place a bit of an echo chamber if there aren't more than 10 people in the establishment at a time. It can make things seem a little awkward when you realize that people can hear your whispers (Vichet talks a lot of smack), but occasionally they have music that fixes that problem.
I'd like to see them expand the menu a bit to encompass more adventurous Viet dishes, like snails, garlic and basil carpaccio, seafood, and the like. It can replace the Ameri-Chinese section that they have in the back. If I find you ordering General Tso's chicken, which I love, while you're eating here, I will still walk over and smack you. And steal your car.
Also, it would be totally boss if they got a liquor license. So this used to be a great BYO but the entire menu changed. They carded us, which is a first. The pho was yummy bit I'm sad that the menu completely changed. Also, my friend ordered her pho with shrimp and they brought her veggie pho... we had to flag down the waiter whenever we wanted to order. Pho is not that great here, but that doesn't bother me as much as the serving staff. They need to get off their damn phones. This place rocks. I've there like 10 times since they've opened up, and I have yet to receive a service below par nor served food that lacked flavor. I return on many occasions because of the genuity of the establishment and urge you to experience it for yourself, if you have not yet!! Positive: friendly server; got my food immediately
Negative: no tripe in the pho; no fish sauce at the table; poor service after food was served (e.g. had to ask for more water) The food here is very solid. The prices are very reasonable. I had the "small" pho and it seemed fairly large. The broth was light and flavorful and everything seemed very fresh.
The service is really efficient. What more could you ask for? This place is pretty great if you want have a craving for pho and summer rolls. If you're looking for the deep fried variety, make sure you ordered the spring rolls and not summer. The small pho is pretty filling and decent for the price, I typically go for the brisket medium rare. I have also gotten the House Special rice platter. It's nice to get a meal that reminds me of home cooking: a pork chop, a couple shrimp and eggs fried over easy. More like 3.5 stars, but I'll round down for the service. It's still probably the most convenient place to get Vietnamese food for most Penn students though! And perhaps also one of the most convenient BYOs.
Like everyone else, I'm just here to get my filling of Vietnamese food. I no longer crave pho since there aren't great places on campus for it (Saigon's doesn't have enough meat -- just a lot of water), but I really like their pork chops and always come here for them! The complementary sauce is also great, so I pour it all over my rice. Saigon is definitely on the pricey side for most things besides pho. For instance, you get a couple pork chops and everything rings up to over double-digits.
However, no matter how many people are there, it seems like my food always takes longer than expected. Takeout can also take quite a while, but it's nice to have the option to take pho out. I don't think I've ever had a server stop by and check up on my table until 5 minutes after I've been waving someone down.
I think there are a few decorations in the entire place, but it's decently spacious and wooden. I always find myself singing along to their 90s/early 2000s music, so at least they know their crowd! There have been a few awkward times where the place gets noticeably quiet even though multiple tables are eating; I have no idea where the sound here goes. Pho is okay, but you can definitely get cheaper and better ones at Chinatown in Philly. The scallion pancakes are pretty good and I recommend them for appetizers, instead of your normal spring rolls. The other dishes are decent, but I would say my favorite is surprisingly their vegetarian dish with eggplants. The sauce tastes great with the rice and is overall a very satisfying dish.
Pho is a pretty good place for a BYO, but I don't recommend going there on weekends as it gets extremely busy and crowded (as a popular BYO place), and during those times service isn't the best. In general, however, food comes out really quickly compared to other restaurants. I have been to Saigon too many times recently, and the food has not gotten old. This is a good sign. Still obsessed with the summer rolls - they're so fresh, and the vegetables inside are so crisp that I could eat these until I die. Okay, maybe not, but they're excellent. The papaya salad is fresh too!
The service is always good. They allowed us to have a party of 30 for our friend's birthday party and the service was excellent, the food was excellent, and the waiters and manager was extremely kind and cooperative. We messed up some orders for our vegetarian friends, and the manager kindly brought them several dishes. If you are looking for a great place to dine, I highly recommend Saigon. Average Asian food at average prices. I ordered the sauteed veggies dish, which included water chestnuts, snap peas, mushroom, spinach, and baby corn. I requested that fresh tofu be added.The brown sauce was tasty. I payed about $9.50 for the meal, which was extremely pricey for what I received but I knew that when choosing to order it.
Overall, it was a predictable and standard meal. I'd be curious to try some of the other dishes at the restaurant to see what the overall quality is. For now though, it is extremely average in my books! Well, first of all, this place is more like a Chinese restaurant than a Vietnamese one. The menu has a lots of categories, which is usually uncommon in Vietnamese restaurant. If you want to have pho, this is not a good choice. There're only 5 items under the pho category, and these will be served within 5 mins after you place the order. The brooth is so-so, not as tasty as I experienced in other Vietnamese restaurant. Consider its price, it's totally not worth it. A huge bow with a large amount of pho but with only few beef, selling at price $8.50.
I give 3.5 out of 5 for its taste, but consider its price, I give 3 stars in the end. Great pho, tasty bun, and a nice summer roll; what more could you ask for?! Love the broth used in the pho, complex but subtle; perfect meal on a wintry evening. Saigon is a nice addition to campus, and it's definitely on my list of places to consider for lunch.
The menu seems to suffer from a little bit of an identity crisis (they purport to be Vietnamese, but the menu is a kind of hybrid of Americanized Chinese dishes [General Tso] and Vietnamese dishes, like spring rolls and Pho). I recommend going with one of the noodle dishes. I got the BBQ beef with ho fun and found it to be delicious. The noodles with gigantic, flat rice noodles and had an awesome airy texture to them. At $12, it was not a bad price. My friend got the general tso, which I tasted and found to be just OK. It was nicely crispy, but the sauce committed the cardinal sin of general tso: you could taste the ketchup.
I will now do something outrageous and dedicate an entire (albeit short) paragraph to the chicken spring rolls. These were really, really good, and I think they might be homemade. Highly recommend. End of paragraph.
Service was very pleasant and efficient, and the space is nice, if austere.
Would come back. End of transmission. Saigon Cuisine is pretty good and conveniently located in UCity! My favorite go-to dishes are the bun and rice plates with the sliced pork options. The pork chops and house special combinations are also good! The pork is always full of flavor and perfectly tender. If you're looking for a convenient place to satisfy your pho cravings, Saigon doesn't disappoint. The broth is good, but it doesn't really stand out. Yet, still a decent place to get your pho fix in!
The service here is also very friendly and quick! The food brought out in less than 10 minutes upon ordering. I definitely frequent this place a lot whenever I'm missing some good Viet food! Came in here with a friend for dinner .
The restaurant itself is just right size . Its not big but you are not overhearing the conversation from the table next to you either .
I ordered a pad thai, my all time favorite . It was pretty good , not overly sweet like some other places . My friend ordered a pork chop rice platter and she enjoyed it.
With many mediocre asian restaurants in the area , the is actually the place I would recommend first . Grilled sliced pork on rice is great! The pork is amazing and delicious (or maybe that's bc i was STARVING). This place is kinda expensive for an Asian place though. Lots of Chinese places have bigger portions for cheaper prices, so I wouldn't come here too often. Actually, this is my first time here and probably my last too lol. While I do like the pork here, i can easily find equally good pork in cheap places in chinatown. Definitely one of my favorite Pho places in UCity. Great consistency in the food throughout the years and reasonable price. Fried ice-cream is a dessert which the vanilla ice cream is wrapped by fried, crisps. Worth a try if you have NOT yet had Vietnamese food. Our flight got canceled and I wanted to get some Vietnamese food. I've been all over Washington and even Chinatown for Vietnamese food. Being Vietnamese myself, I have a sharp tongue for my culture and our food.
1. The outside and appearance don't bother me much, it is on 40th and chestnut so I didn't expect it to be huge or anything.
2. The food itself was good. Not sure if it was because I'm so hungry from delays in the airport, but I also ordered for takeout and it was good!
Now, why the 1 star? There were Hispanic girls (2) taking orders that don't know English nor Vietnamese!
My wife asked if the eggrolls came with vegetables and somehow my ordered was canceled. Next to us, the dumplings were cold inside and they asked for it to be redone, again the girl had no idea. I had to google up cold in Spanish on my phone! The customer next to us asked for a manager or someone that knows English and the waitress shakes her head and says "only me".I mean, you're in an area with students from all backgrounds and you hire non-English speaking Hispanics trying to sell Vietnamese food to Americans ......We got so frustrated and decided just to point to numbers and not ask any questions. Vietnamese food isn't popular, you need someone to explain what's in it and the sauces to dip, etc, etc. If this wasn't bad enough, I checked my bank account online and I was charged twice! Bill was $87.27 (half was takeout) and I tipped $12.73 for an even $100. My wife complained about my tipping but regardless of service I always tip well. Bank shows 2 charges $87.27, needless to say, I am not one bit surprised. Take your business elsewhere, owner obviously think he can get away with this, you shouldn't take it. We go here every time we visit because despite the food being mediocre, it's the most decent pho nearby. My review today is mostly based on the service, which to say the least was worse than the food. Everyone else in my group ordered pho, and it was fine (group consensus is the noodles were overcooked and not enough meat). I ordered the vermicelli with chicken, which also had overcooked noodles shredded to about inch-long pieces. But that wasn't the worst part. While mixing it, I found a piece of large plastic wrapping in my bowl! I didn't make a scene but still let the waiter/manager know. He offered to make me a new bowl but I didn't really see the point (not like it was a bug or hair) so I politely declined. When we were paying though, we said it didn't feel right for them to charge full price for my dish. He could've apologized for trying to feed me plastic or something to make up for the inconvenience, however, he went on to give us a lecture about how not everyone is perfect and people make mistakes, and it was probably just one of the ladies in the back who got plastic food wrapping or a part of their gloves in my food. Thanks but that's not what I ordered. In the end he gave us a $4 discount but next time, I recommend starting with an apology when getting non edible, indigestible ingredients in your customer's food. I recently ordered a number of dishes from Saigon because Vietnam Cafe was closed. The food is on par with Vietnam Cafe but a few dollars cheaper. I really like Vietnam Cafe so Saigon is now my go to Vietnamese Restaurant in University City. I ordered a large chicken pho but noticed the host keyed it in as a small after I paid. He adjusted the order and when I attempted to pay the difference he smiled and said it was on the house. While waiting, a waiter brought me a glass of water. These small details plus good food attract a loyal following. The pho was very good. I also got the house special rice vermicelli which was loaded with meat. I really enjoyed the meal and will return. Love the beef pho! I think I taste cinnamon in it which is cool. BYOB. I always get the fresh fruit for desert. Great Value. I am always excited when a new restaurant opens around University city as the food selection is so limited.
The Good:
House special bun - this is my favorite dish here. It has everything - crispy spring roll, grilled meat ball, chicken, and pork. The pork in particular is so tasty. Be forewarned, it is also huge!!!! My friend and I can't finish one together. Not bad for $8.50.
The rolls - I've tried the vietnam spring roll, crispy chicken roll, summer roll, grilled pork roll, and I liked all of them. The summer rolls and grilled pork rolls taste so fresh, light and delicious. They are also gigantic.
Sauted snow pea leaves with garlic sauce - basic stir-fried vegetable that you can get a typical chinese restaurant. Did not disappoint.
Avocado smoothie - I love avocado smoothies everywhere, here included
Rainbow ice - this is pretty yummy dessert!
The Meh:
Xe Lua Pho - Wasn't too impressed with the pho here. The broth wasn't as flavorful as I like it. I usually love drinking soup of pho, but this does not make me want to finish it.
House fried rice - ordered this for takeout once. Was a little bland and oily.
Pan fried noodle - didn't like both the house speical and the seafood. The house special was flavored in this sweet sauce that I did not like. Seafood pan fried noodle was bland.
Service here is kind of inconsistent. Most of the time it's okay. There's this waitress who is kind of strange. When I come here with my friend who's korean, she always think my friend can speak Chinese somehow. When my friend speaks English back to her, she looks confused and has to reconfirm. Once we asked for more "shaved ice" in the rainbow ice dessert, she came back with cubed iced in the now ruined dessert. Sometimes there are nice suprises here. Once they were doing a promotion, and every table got a free papaya salad.
There are dishes that I love here, but there are also dishes I would definitely avoid. Love this new addition on campus though. Will be back to get more house special bun or try other dishes! Excellent Pho, Excellent Tofu Summer Rolls, Excellent Fantastic Snow Pea Leaves in Garlic
Never had a bad dish here.
Vegetarian and Vegan friendly and willing to change dishes to meet your needs!
Have been many times, it is always crowded.
The food is fresh prepared, authentic and comes out quickly.
Usually lots of large groups with boxes of Franzia, and take-out orders coming and going all night long. The bun with spring rolls (it's basically a cold vermicelli noodle dish) is good - especially on a hot day. The pho is average - soup is kind of bland and lacks soul, and I had to add tons of siracha and hoisin sauce to add flavor. They are BYO though, so it is another option in University City, but for pho I'd recommend going to other options around University City (cafe Saigon) or around South Philly for the actual real deal. Came here for a dinner with college friends. It was pretty tasty! I got the Lemon Grass Chicken with Rice.
Service was efficient and we were permitted to split the total check in two (using two cards to pay).
The only thing I didn't like were the prices. This is coming from someone who frequently visits Nam Phuong restaurant (South Philly) and Chu-Chu's in Chinatown. $8.50 for a regular sized bowl is pho is pretty expensive. My dish, which usually sells for $6.50 at other Vietnamese restaurants was ~$9 here, but as my friend said: this is University City and I guess they can just get away with that with the heavy college traffic. Doesn't even deserve a star! Service sucks, the waiters were 2 Spanish girls that didn't even know how to speak English all they did was stand there and stared at us the whole time. My cousin had to tell them how to do their job, they brought the food out and acted like they didn't know where to place the food. There's a table there for a reason. Summer rolls weren't even fresh! The worst part was when I asked for the check, they tried to charge me for a $20 gratuity. $20 for what? Crappy service? Never coming here again. This used to be my go to place for some quick and relatively healthy meals than slices of pizza or burgers (plus I am vegan, and there are only countably few places to provide vegan options).
I had been quite satisfied with their take-out meals until recently, when they probably changed their staff and chefs, and since then they have screwed up my order twice, despite giving specific instructions about certain foods that I do NOT want in my meal.
I think I am going to give them one more chance, and if they screw up, I am going to look elsewhere!
Sorry Saigon Cuisine, you were my favorite go to place for quick vegan meals, but I will have to rethink if this shoddy business continues. Horrible customer service. There were 3 little rocks inside of my spring roll. I almost chipped my tooth biting into the spring roll. When I notified our server he became defensive and said it was just black pepper. I asked to speak to the manager and he refused to give me the managers phone number. He never even apologized. Will not be coming back here again. Stay clear of Saigon if you want to keep your teeth. The guy is not too friendly but it's a good cure for super hangover. Would recommend. I went here with 3 co workers for lunch. I got the lemon grass chicken and others at the table got pho. We were all pleased with the food in terms of taste and portion sizes. Our waiter was attentive without being overbearing- he also made us laugh which is always a plus. I will definitely be getting food from here in the future as I work right around the corner. Love their lemongrass chicken! The tender chicken is marinated just right. I've tried lemongrass chicken in similar restaurants nearby, and Saigon's is still the best by far. The price is also just right for the portion. Also can't go wrong with some hearty Pho on a cold autumn afternoon. I got lemongrass pork on rice noodles. Wished for a tad higher meat to noodle ratio, but it was extremely delicious. Very nice staff. Decent price. Fast (I got it to go). Attractive interior.
I was a little sad to see it rather empty 1pm... I'll be rooting for business to pick up!
PS. I wish they had Banh mi sandwiches! Oh Pho, how I love thee.
That being said, I've had my share of this Vietnamese bowl of deliciousness around Philly and up and down the East Coast. Unfortunately, my hometown city always came up a bit short. There are great Vietnamese restaurants here, but I've never been wowed by their pho.
Enter Saigon Cuisine.
Tucked on the corner of 40th Street where
University City and West Philly meet is this small gem.
Hell, it's directly next to an equally small Indian and Thai restaurant. So at quick glance you may lose it in the shuffle. But it's there, and it's worth the look.
The outside, I'll admit, may throw you. The sign is a bit dingy, there's an empty lot half a block down, can't see inside to even see of the place is open. But. Once you step in all if your fears are put away
Inside is bright with bamboo floor (I think) with red booths and tables, modern pop music playing in the background and a single TV on mute with what looks to be a Vietnamese news station. Oh, and the smell. You'd live in a dumpster if it smelled like this restaurant.
I got here on a Monday at Noon with a friend and we were seated promptly. Plenty of booths and had an ok crowd. Maybe about 1/3 full. Our waitress immediately took got us water and handed menus. The menu here is small but gets the point across.
I ordered the brisket pho (large) and steamed pork dumplings. While my friend ordered beef eye pho and summer rolls.
The food (minus my dumplings) were out in no time. Which tells me they have this stuff at the ready. Good move, ownership. The summer rolls we're bulky, full of greens and shrimp and came with a sweet peanut sauce for dipping. My dumplings came out fresh, hot, and with a little sear on them from the grill. Also with a dipping sauce. And once they were cooled I couldn't keep them out of my mouth. So sad when I had gone through my serving of 5.
Now the pho.
Our waitress started by bringing out a plate of bean sprouts, jalapeños, sliced limes and a bottle of soy sauce. I was super excited when I saw that huge bowl coming my way. I could smell the spices before our waitress even put them down. The bowl was pretty big. Definitely a large bowl if there ever was one. The meat was tender in sliced pieces making them flavorful and easy to eat, the noodles were cooked to perfection. The broth at the end was so good I had to forego the spoon and drink it from the bowl.
So, needless to say I am a fan if this small slice of pho heaven.
The only reason it's 4/5 stars is the wait staff. I get it was a slow lunch rush and there weren't many people in but to see the entire staff with their noses buried in their phones within view of the customers was a bit off putting. I don't wanna bash too hard. Because when it was game time our waitress came ready to play. We didn't wait too long for food or refills or anything. I guess it just seemed unprofessional to see them all in the phone. But other than that, they were great.
I'll definitely be dining here again when I need a pho fix. Pho is nice. I've had it for many times, I've even ordered the take out once, i thought I can't take them our because of the soup, but the owner will pack everything for you to take it home. And it's very easy to make it feel like you are eating in the store.
I'll highly recommend the pork chop, I ordered them a few time as entree, and I had them a few times while I had Pho as well with my friend who's always eating.
If I'm not the wrong, the owner used to waitressing in Sang kee noodle house. I used to love this place when they first opened - warning, I'm a vegetarian - and they arbitrarily removed about half the pages of the original menu! You can literally look at the numbers on the menu and see huge gaps. They had some wonderful vegetarian options originally, but no more, unless you want something that tastes like ham water from Arrested Development.
If you're a meat lover who wants so pho, I've heard they're decent from friends... but for anything else? Go to Han Dynasty or Sang Kee. I came here last week because the Vietnamese restaurant that I usually go to was closed and I needed to satisfy my pho craving REALLY bad, so I figured why not try Saigon Cuisine? I've walked by this place numerous times and had always wanted to try their food. I ordered spring rolls, a bowl of pho (beef eye round slightly cooked), and fried ice cream, and I can now say that I will probably never come here again, at least not to get pho.
I don't know how their other food items are, but I sure hope to god that they are better than the pho because I have honestly never tasted any pho worst than the one that I had here. The broth was watered down and the flavor was completely off (I couldn't even tell you what it tasted like). I had to down the bowl in Siracha just so that I couldn't taste the broth anymore, then it wasn't as unbearable to eat.
The price is also on the more expensive end, considering you can get cheaper pho for $5 or so on Washington Ave, Chinatown, or other Vietnamese Restaurants in West Philly, that will have larger portions and actually be edible and taste authentic. I wish I could say nicer things about this place, but it was such a disappointing experience. They should really take their pho off the menu or make changes to it because they honestly can't call themselves a Vietnamese Restaurant and not even be able to get the pho remotely right.
The spring rolls were mediocre and the fried ice cream was...not even fried. It was literally a ball of ice cream rolled around in crunch. If you want fried ice cream, go down the street to Ramen Bar. I'm giving this place 2 stars because the service was decent and I did like the interior of the restaurant. Otherwise, I don't see myself coming back and I definitely would not recommend the pho from here to anyone unless they don't have any tastebuds. I was craving summer rolls like crazy so I had to stop by for lunch one day. I got the shrimp summer rolls and they tasted delicious. Only complaint was that there was a chunk of a styrofoam container neatly rolled up in my summer roll? Anyway, the taste was there and it was delicious but wth?! I also got the Thai iced coffee which was great. I wish I has more time to actually dine in and have a bowl of phô but I didn't. Even though there was the mishap with the rolls I will still be back. In town for just a day... found Saigon Cuisine on YELP! Thank you Yelp! Awesome food, amazing portions, fast service, decent prices... Excellent! Mediocre. Mediocre. Mediocre. Modestly priced - appetizers range from $3 - $5 and main courses range from $8.50 - $14. Service was pretty good. Very limited menu for a Vietnamese restaurant. Philly has scores of Vietnamese places and a large Vietnamese immigrant population, but this place is not up local standards. They seem to cater to college students. I say: skip it. My girlfriend and I have been here many times. Their Vietnamese noodle soup taste exactly a good noodle soup in Vietnam.
The pork chop rice is nicely grilled, not spicy.
Other Asian dishes are OK, best just go for Vietnamese soup. My fresh tofu roll was decent. It did satisfy my craving for one when I didn't feel like making my way to china town. Note to self: always make your way. I always feel underwhelmed when I don't get what I want from the place that I love it from. If that makes sense.
The order was quickly prepared, it seemed to be lacking some of the stuff that is listed on the menu? But whatever. The peanut sauce was extremely underwhelming, it lacked every ounce of flavor which is absurd since it's peanut sauce?
I'll go back though and check out something beyond an appetizer. Super good food. I had the slice pork over rice and Slice roll beef over rice and it was delicious. Tons of meat and rice for your bucks. I can't wait to try the pho and other dishes The only reason they are getting one star is because Yelp doesn't have zero. I was in a super good mood when I walked in, because I just got a new fish and I can't wait to put in my bowl. Well, I guess I really shouldn't have waited. Here's the reason why I walked out with super bad mood:
Food: TERRIBLE! I ordered "seafood lemon grass soup", and I couldn't taste any lemon grass at all. The veg and seafood are obviously from the FROZEN bags, and the pho is sticking to each other. If I use this $11 dollars to buy frozen seafood and veg, pho and tom yum paste, I can easily feed six people.
Service: EVEN WORSE! THEY THREW AWAY MY FOOD!!!!! Ok, to be fair, the tall guy is very attentive so I like him, but I seriously don't know what other people are doing. This one girl, has been talking on the phone the whole time when I was there. I asked her to pack my remaining soup up, and she THREW MY FOOD AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She did only one thing, and she messed it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Other: Although their menu is in Chinese, I don't know if they are Chinese or not. I'm a native speaker of Cantonese and Mandarin, and understand a lot of other languages and dialogues, but I just couldn't understand what they were speaking.
I sincerely recommend AGAINST this place! They are NOT worth any of your money or time! I ordered Pho combo and spring rolls. The Pho combo was great. I expected to see traditional Vietnamese spring rolls but they were Chinese fried rolls. Price and service were very good. 2.5 stars: summer rolls were fresh. Clay tofu pot could use some work...it was very bland. Not as authentic as I'd hope it to be :( So you're hungover or craving Pho but don't want to venture down to Washington Ave? Me too.. and this is where I go for that
No, it doesn't even come close to the pho on Washington Ave, but is it good enough to cure your craving or hangover? Yes
The prices are a bit more compared to Washington, $8.50 or $9.50 for chicken pho small and large respectively, sizes are the same as Washington ave but definitely not as authentic.
They used sliced chicken, like the same type you would get in a Chicken and broccoli over rice type dish, not the ones that have been stewed to make the pho chicken broth -- due to that the flavor is not as deep as your authentic pho, but is more like a chicken noodle soup.
The scallion pancakes I got were very flakey and fried well.
I'll continue to come here when I'm too lazy for Washington Ave, but keep in mind you won't get the same quality. Terrible, there is no flavor except....... This is also not real pho, it's noodle.
What freaked me out is that I ate some weird thing in my soup, it looks like gray hair but with sticky black stuff on it, and I found it in my soup. And I only discovered this in my soup after I finished almost all of my noodles.......... And the restaurant owner quickly got all the dishes back to the kitchen and said give me a free one. When I ask what is the thing in the noodle I just ate , the owner start to mumbling and got very angry, almost to the level of threatening. When I finally realized I could leave message on yelp, they suddenly trying to communicate....for sympathy and empathy.......I am pretty wordless ....... This place opened relatively recently, but I've been here twice so far and it was pretty tasty both times!
The first time I got the bun, which (contrary to what may be popular belief) is not actually a bun with some filling. I was pleasantly surprised by a decent-sized bowl of rice noodles with vegetables and grilled pork. The veggies were pretty fresh and the pork was cooked to my liking - a bit charred but not dry - and it had a really nice slightly-sweet-but-still-savory flavor. The sauce (not sure if it was soy sauce, fish sauce, a combination of the two, or neither) brought it all together. I also had the fresh Vietnamese spring rolls with peanut sauce as an appetizer - typical but good.
There weren't too many people there that time (presumably because it had just opened), so it was pretty quiet, but they were playing some 90's throwback hits, which I appreciated.
The second time I got the pho. I haven't really had too much pho to compare it to, but it was definitely satisfying; I chose the round-eye slightly-cooked beef and it came with jalapenos, bean sprouts, lime, and mint on the side. Their small is more than enough to fill you up and still have some left over - great for lunch the next day. We also realized that this place is a BYO, so we had some wine with dinner, which was nice. My friend's glass had a lipstick stain on it - no bueno - but they were quick to replace it. There were more people there this time (I think it might've been a full house), so word's definitely spreading that this place is worth checking out.
Overall, above-average Vietnamese food at decent prices - and considering it's literally across the street from my apartment, I'll most likely be back! (I'd probably get the bun again or try one of their rice dishes...) My computer now has about 10 tabs open for "how to make pho"...purely because I don't want to be the awkward person showing up at Saigon Cuisine for every meal.
Seriously, it's that good. After reading Ben W.'s review, and realizing how stupidly close it was to my apartment, I headed over for an early dinner on Sunday. The beef brisket pho was so delicious-the broth is perfect for a cold winter day and the noodles were cooked to perfection. I just went back for lunch today and the beef eye is even better; I highly recommend it. With any pho, you get a 1 qt container of soup, and a takeout box full of noodles, sprouts, hot sauce, peppers, and lime. I'm not the biggest fan of the sprouts, but try putting some of the lime in!
Service for takeout was quick and friendly-I was in and out in under 5 minutes. The first time I went, there was no one in the store but today there were at least a few tables. As soon as the Penn community hears about it, I think this place will be packed. Between here and Ramen Bar, there's no contest. I just found out this place is a BYO. Cheapest BYO ever. Woo!
Now you just have to get some padding or something on the walls so it's not so echo-ey, and you're prime-time, Saigon! First off, you should know that if you come here on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, Saigon will be filled with Penn students having BYO dinners, so you should be prepared to experiences Franzia boxes and loud groups.
The food here is extraordinarily average. I've had the pho multiple times, and each time it was really lackluster; it doesn't have much flavor, and I have to add a pile of sriracha every time to eat it. The other food is similarly mediocre - I've tried the fried rice, some of the vegetable, as well as the buns.
The only reason I would choose to come here is that it's one of the only BYOs on Penn's campus, and I'm a Penn student. Otherwise, I'd choose something better in the area. Love this place! It's BYO which is great since it's so close to a college campus. That does mean that if you do go during prime dinner hours on a weekend that it'll typically be pretty loud, but honestly, it's never bothered me since I pretty much only go there for the purpose of BYO's.
The pho is pretty good and most of the people who I go with get it. I like the bun as well. Summer rolls for me are a necessity at a Vietnamese restaurant, and the ones at Saigon, along with the sauce, are amazing!
The servers are very nice and accommodating, and all of my experiences there have been very enjoyable. I came here for lunch and ordered grilled pork rice and Vietnamese coffee. First of all, they didn't use the right rice for the dish and the pork was on the salty side. The Vietnamese coffee was probably the worse I've tasted ever. There were black coffee grounds in it and all I tasted was sugar and milk. I didn't try their pho yet but that's enough for me to not come back. I've been here three times so far and every time I left the place as a happy customer. Their prices are very reasonable, the atmosphere inside is nice and quiet, and it only took them 5 - 10 minutes to cook their food each time I was there. I'm definitely going to be coming back there on a regular basis and not just because the place is right around the corner from where I live either. On one of those "let's just walk around and see what we find to eat" kind of night, we ended up at Saigon Cuisine. I spotted the Pho on the menu and figured I had to give it a try. Now I normally take down a large Pho without hesitation, so a large Xe Lua (everything) pho it was for me. Like me, you may have noticed the pho prices were slightly higher than you might expect. Back to that large Xe Lua... well, it was larger than I expected, matching the slightly higher price. Yes, I was still able to take it down, but with a bit more of a struggle than normal. And while I struggled to finish, it was not due to quality or taste.
I returned a few days later to grab some pho to go for a sick JJ. Even wrapped to go didn't impact their delicious pho. I've been back since and will be back again I am sure! Was not the best pho I tasted but definitely not the worst. It's priced just right and great portion sizes. I would recommend it to people who need a pho fix but I do not see myself as a regular for pho that is. They do have other items on their menu but I'm not tempted to try it. If you love pho they way I do this isn't the place for you. I walk by this hole in the wall every morning on my way to work and have never thought twice about it, but today I was in the mood for Thai or Vietnamese food. As usual, I consulted Yelp (since I know there aren't many decent Asian places nearby, despite the high Asian population here) and figured that I would give it a try.
Positive thing #1- You can pre-order takeout right from the Yelp app. I chose to do this and eat outside in the park (one block away).
Positive thing #2- My order was ready when I arrived, and I showed up a few minutes early.
I took note of the students in the restaurant (usually a good sign), the clean, relaxed atmosphere, and a foreign news program on TV (also a good sign), and left to enjoy the outdoors.
I ordered veggie bun (rice vermicelli) with spring rolls. The sauce for the bun was on the side to prevent the spring rolls from getting soggy- nice touch. The top of the meal was covered with finely-chopped nuts with good flavor. The spring rolls were fried but not heavy or greasy (yay!). The bun itself was light and flavorful (though it could have had more veggies).
I would have rated this place 4 stars if it weren't for the signature headache that I get after eating MSG that is currently developing. The vegetable pho is delicious. It comes with a variety of vegetables and tofu, and everything tastes super fresh. Huge portion for under $10. My food came out quickly and the staff was very friendly. Terrible, there is no flavor except....... This is also not real pho, it's noodle.
What freaked me out is that I ate some weird thing in my soup, it looks like gray hair but with sticky black stuff on it, and I found it in my soup. And I only discovered this in my soup after I finished almost all of my noodles.......... And the restaurant owner quickly got all the dishes back to the kitchen and said give me a free one. When I ask what is the thing in the noodle I just ate , the owner start to mumbling and got very angry, almost to the level of threatening. When I finally realized I could leave message on yelp, they suddenly trying to communicate....for sympathy and empathy.......I am pretty wordless ....... 3.5 stars for this little hole in the wall Vietnamese restaurant in University City!
I come from a city that has a large Vietnamese population (San Jose, CA), so when I came to Philadelphia, I didn't expect there to be a many good Vietnamese restaurants around to choose from, especially in University City. Granted, there are good Viet places around Chinatown and the little Viet area in Philly but that's a bit out of the way for me. Saigon cuisine is the closest restaurant where I could get my Vietnamese food fix. I've been in Philly for almost a year now, and I've always been so hesitant to try this place. I finally got around to trying it this past week, and I'm glad I did! It was definitely a pleasant surprise.
I ordered the house special noodles (bun). It came with grilled pork slices, grilled shrimp, an eggroll, and veggies along with their fish sauce. I was very happy with the way it tasted. The pork slices were tender and full of flavor, and I very much enjoyed their grilled shrimp. Often, grilled shrimps can get dry, but they do a good job here! Fish sauce is very important for Vietnamese dishes, and for me, it makes or breaks a vietnamese dish. This place had good fish sauce that went well with what I ordered. My boyfriend ordered a rice plate, and it looked appetizing to me!
I'll definitely come back here for Vietnamese food. I must try their noodle soups next time! A gem of a restaurant in UC. Had the large xe lua pho noodle soup that was warm and good on a cold day. I called at 10pm and was told they were only doing take out until closing on Friday. Wasn't as good as take out and microwaved pho is not as great.
Otherwise had a mix of meat and was mostly noodles. Overall not bad and warm on a cold night. I was eager to try this place out. I ate here with my girlfriend. I give two stars instead of one because many aspects of the food were good, but my experience here was bad enough that I do not want to come back.
I ordered Pho (with tendon and tripe) and she ordered Bun (with chicken), as these were both typical Vietnamese dishes that we were familiar with.
Both of the dishes were pleasant, if slightly bland. The broth of the pho had noticeably high-quality cinnamon used in it, and had just the right amount of salt, but was a little on the bland side. The vegetables in the bun dish were fresh, and had some subtle spicing, but that dish overall was a little bland too.
What ruined the experience for me was that the sides of vegetables brought out for the pho were not fresh. The bean sprouts were particularly spoiled, with a mild but noticeable rotting aroma, of garbage. It was so bad that the first I caught a whiff of it, I wondered if someone was taking garbage out in the kitchen...but upon smelling items on the table, I realized that it was the bean sprouts. The lime was also not fresh--it was quite dried out, a little brown around the edges, and smelled off as well. The hot pepper and basil weren't the freshest I've had, but they both were edible.
I complained about the bean sprouts being fresh, and they said that was all they could do. They brought a new plate but they still weren't fresh.
I would have appreciated that if they didn't have fresh bean sprouts, that they told me that they didn't have all the ingredients for Pho, and offered for me to order some other dish. They also did not offer any refund or anything.
No one came later to check on us and ask if the food was okay.
The atmosphere here was pleasant, but it got very loud (with conversation). The walls, floors, and ceilings are all unpadded hard surfaces, making this place seem extremely rowdy when it's even half full. I found that unpleasant...it was a little too loud for me.
I am not coming back. I am loyal to the Vietnamese restaurant at 43rd and Spruce. It is simpler, but it's been consistently good--I've eaten there dozens of times and I've never had anything as bad tasting or smelling as the plate of bean sprouts here. It's also considerably quieter, and a little cheaper per item. Their pho is great and service is fast and friendly! They take cards as payment which is super convenient and honestly, always questionable with Asian restaurants. Been here twice and each time I left with my pho bowls empty and happily satisfied! I'd call this Chinese Cuisine not Vietnamese Cuisine. A lot more expensive than other Vietanmese restaurant ( but I take it that it's the only in the district )
The food is just average, but I won't call this authentic i'm not going to lie-- i woke up this morning with a huge hang over and pho is always the best cure. so i strutted down four or five blocks to get to this joint. i order the pho xe lua (it means firetruck pho) which is essentially a combination of all the different meats. the pho came out pretty fast and it hit the spot. i don't think its the BESTTTTT pho in the whole world, but the flavoring is there. it's also super convenient since its just a few blocks off of campus.
i have some slight qualms about the service which i think can be a bit hectic. they're really trying to hustle and bustle (which is cool, i dig efficiency) but it also just leads to slight inattentiveness and a chaotic feeling surrounding the restaurant.
on a different note, while i was eating my pho, some one in the kitchen was just staring at me through the door window and raising his eye brows up and down. i wanted to laugh because it was so audacious, bold and absolutely, inappropriate. man, i'm trying to cure my hang over and i got some jokester in the back doing googley eyes at me. haha. god. It's so great that Penn campus got such an affordable and quality Vietnamese restaurant!
The pho here is pretty good, and for the price, it's a fantastic deal for a hungry student. The broth is incredibly rich, and the noodles will definitely fill you up. I generally always get the large special pho that includes portions of all their meats, and I'm always very satisfied at the end of my meal.
Compared to the affordability, quantity, and quality of the pho here, the other dishes are pretty average. The spring and summer roll appetizers are quite large and crammed with vegetables and meat, but the taste isn't anything particularly amazing. The rice platters are a good alternative if you're not in the mood for noodles, but they're definitely not as filling as the pho bowls. If you do want to give one of the rice platters a try, I suggest the lemon grass chicken. The meat is sliced pretty thin, but the chicken is pretty juicy and flavorful. The rice and side vegetables are bland and tasteless, but you can fix that with some generous helpings of fish sauce.
At the end of the day, Saigon's shining specialty is their affordable pho. That's what Saigon excels at, and that's what you should get. I tried a bun with pork. Im pleasantly surprised by how delicious the noodle bowl turns turned out. My husband ordered a clay pot with chicken which was disappointing in flavor. It was however fairly healthy and came with a generous serving of steam vegetables. We also tried a summer roll and grilled pork rolls. Both rolls were made fresh and were delicious.
We'll definitely be back however it wont be for the clay pot.
Service was fine and the interior of the restaurant was clean and quiet. Was in town for a conference and a friend recommended a few places in the area. Pho is my favorite, plus on a cold day in the teens, this hit the spot. I ordered the small beef pho and it was still a pretty large size. Food came out relatively quickly and the service was good and there were multiple people around to help if you needed anything. At $8.50, I did think this was on the pricier side but I'm also not local (you can get pho in NYC for less). Came here for lunch and decided to get enough to have leftovers for dinner. Unfortunately, it wasn't very good.
In theory, the large pho is a pretty good deal, but even though it's well done, the brisket is incredibly dry and tastes more like botched jerky than brisket from a typical Viet place. Their noodles to broth ratio is very off, with far too many noodles. I got my leftover pho to go and even after normal absorption, there should've been more broth. I've taken leftover pho and noodle soup to go at plenty of other places and never returned home to basically an entire container of noodles. For whatever reason, the jalapenos here are much hotter than any I've ever had at a Viet restaurant. Lastly, and most egregiously, there was something in my pho that was not meant for consumption. I'm not sure what they're doing in their kitchen.
The grilled chicken bun was better, but not even close to the better ones in the area. There was one piece of mint in the entire dish, which was disappointing because it adds great flavor. The portion of chicken was good, but I'm not sure it was fully cooked. It tasted a bit rubbery and should've been grilled longer. The price of the bun was fine, but they should've included a spring roll with it like most places do. Charging $2 for one, or $4 for two is a bit lame.
I would recommend Anh Hong in Upper Darby, Pho Xe Lua in Chinatown, and any of the places in South Philly over Saigon. I was super excited when I came back to campus to find that a new restaurant was on campus. Although I never had a chance to eat at Nan, Penn was really lacking in Vietnamese cuisine and a new place is always welcome.
I went with three other friends for an early evening Saturday dinner and the place was relatively empty. We were quickly seated and given glasses of water. The menu itself is pretty expansive, with a wide range of Vietnamese dished. I skipped right to the pho menu because I was really in the mood for a hot bowl of noodles. I ended up getting the large beef brisket pho.
The dishes took about 10 minutes to come out, but they were all piping hot. Accompanied with the pho were portions of limes, jalapeños, bean sprouts, and basil sprigs. The broth was very tasty and was as salty as other places I've been. I also really appreciated the strong onion undertones. Just fyi, the large is LARGE. Although there wasn't as much meat as I would've liked, close to half the bowl was full of noodles. I ended up needing to take some of it home. My friends also got the pho, the summer roll, as well as bun, which reminded me of a Vietnamese style bim bim bop but with rice noodles. I didn't get to try them, but they seemed to enjoy their entrees and appetizers.
The ambiance was a interesting. It was a relatively quiet venue and the playlist was almost strictly 90's pop and R&B. Throughout dinner, conversation was constantly interrupted with, "oh wow, haven't heard this one in a while," and "this was my jam in middle school." It's not a good or bad thing, it was just... interesting.
Overall, a great dining experience and I would definitely go again with some friends. It's about time we've gotten some decent pho on campus and this place fits the bill!
Pros: price, LARGE portions, authentic flavors
Cons: very quiet ambiance
Dishes to try: Pho I got the sautéed beef with lemongrass which was very flavorful. You can definitely taste the lemongrass. I put some of the basil they use for their pho in it and it was amazing. MF had the pho. I tried some of the broth and it was really tasty. I think it may be the best tasting pho broth I have ever had. The pho portion was huge and very reasonably priced. I only wish they delivered for days (like today) where I am absolutely bedridden. Don't eat here unless you prefer unauthentic Vietnamese food poorly received and prepared by Chinese staff who speak neither English nor Vietnamese. Such a fucking fan of this place. I come here so often that it's actually pretty embarrassing. THe waiter and I know each other by sight and awkward nod and the owner gives me a "sup nod" whenever I see him and knows what I'll order. I should probably branch out, but there doesn't seem to be any real reason pho that.
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name: Tender Loving Cleaners, address: 245 Haverford Ave, city: Narberth, stars_x: 2.5, is_open: opening, categories: Local Services, Laundry Services, Dry Cleaning & Laundry, text: Awful place!!!! They lost 5 of my shirts that cost $450 each. When I came to pick up my coat they hadn't washed it well so I left it and when I came again to pick it up it was still dirty. Never come here again! Also they charged me $45 for changing a zipper that didn't even look like good quality. Worse dry cleaner ever!!!! Awful place!!!!, I do not recommend you going there! This is the second time they have ruined a piece of clothing and will not accept responsibility. The stain is not gone, the piece has shrunk two sizes and yet there are new stains all over the piece. With their broken English there is no way to communicate with them. They close the door on me and will no accept responsibility. How can a good clothing piece come out ruined??? They are the worst business people ever! I have not had a problem with them. They are very dependable with one day service and did a good job hemming my pants. Left out one star only because the couple who run it are not really friendly smiling faces but i am very satisfied with what they do. They ruined my handmade blanket that friends made me when my baby was born. I brought it in to be dry-cleaned and it was washed. This place is the absolute worst- avoid at all costs or be devastated by how careless they are. As someone who really appreciates fashion, I am constantly trying to find a dry cleaner and a tailor who can repair, maintain and clean my much loved wardrobe. For years I have been looking for a business that would have the skill required to do some complicated tailoring that I need, and the delicacy to clean stains off of clothes without permanently destroying them.
In the meantime, I have been going to TLC Cleaners to get most of my laundry done. They are very organized, and unlike many dry cleaners it is clean and bright inside. And for the most part, they do a pretty good job. They are friendly and warm, but a little rushed and hard to understand. Because their English is not very good, many times I have been misunderstood and things were not done properly.
For example, almost every time I have had tailoring done here I have had to go back to get it adjusted again. Most recently, I spent about $150, and had about 12 items done. However only 3 items came out as I expected. I considered going back and explaining my problem, as I usually do, but I knew that it would be the same issue, they would hurry me through with their broken English and I would again feel like I am not being understood. I just didn't feel like it this time around.
So I would only recommend this place to someone who wants basic services done, like having their shirts cleaned, or a button sewn back on. But if you want anything more "complicated" I would consider looking elsewhere.
Although I have to ask, IS THERE a good dry cleaners and a skilled tailor ANYWHERE on the Main Line?
Pros
-convenient location in downtown Narberth
-clean, bright and spacious inside, very organized
-friendly customer service, but sometimes too rushed
Cons
-very broken English leads to misunderstandings about services Love the service!! Very personable as he recognizes me , greets me and says my name . As soon as I come in my shirts are being retrieved. Convenient and accomodates any requests. Great tailor had my pants altered and they were perfect. My dry cleaner for life!
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name: Epicure Cafe, address: 3401 Conrad St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 3.0, is_open: closed, categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Food, Sandwiches, Cafes, Restaurants, Coffee & Tea, Delis, text: Stick to the coffee. I live in the area and have tried the food at this joint a few times, but I think I have reached my limit. I had such hopes for the place. The owners are very nice people, but I just don't think that all the foodstuffs are fresh. Just about everything I have tried, have been below average and the service is certainly snail like.
It really is too bad, we really need some healthy and fresh non fried options in the 'hood. This isn't it for me. Good home-style fresh food, friendly service and reasonable prices: check out the real Italian cannoli. The food was really good. The place is super cute. Our waitress was very sweet and overall, we really enjoyed this place. It was pretty hot and stuffy in the room, and they do close at 3pm, which is early if you are not expecting it. Also, it seemed to be one of those half-serve places where you have a waitress, but you take your ticket up to pay elsewhere.
And lastly, you cannot tip with a card. You can pay with a card but you can't tip with the card. And the explanation has to do with banking services, i guess. No one really cares about some technical explanation though. It's inconvenient regardless. I feel bad for the wait staff, because if you don't have cash, you are unlikely to go a block up, pay a $3.75 ATM charge (which may be approximately what the tip would be for a small lunch order), and come back just to give a small tip on an $11 lunch.
Fix this and i'd say 5 stars. Across the street my friends apartment. The coffee is great along with the service. I would recommend it to anyone in the area. Nice place and friendly staff. Great (and well appointed) anchor for the neighborhood. I do try to go from time to time to support these folks that really do care about East Falls.
That said, this is NOT the Main line, yet the prices at Epicure are more reminiscent of that area.
Additionally, the take out service is rather slow. 20+ minutes for a basic sandwich?
Finally, nothing in the baker's case is priced, so be surprised at the pricing on the baked goods.
With a little tweaking and re-assessment of pricing this could be a great spot- just seems like it needs a bit of speed and efficiency. They have the bagel proofs delivered from New York and they bake them fresh each day. The jalapeño bagels are fantastic and their homemade veggie cream cheese always has big pieces of broccoli and other veggies in it. The Gobbler is one of the best turkey burgers that I've had (don't be afraid of the cranberry horseradish) and their veggie wrap is always full of in-season roasted veggies. It's really a gem of a place and I'm happy it's right down the street! I seriously LOVE this place... Veggie chilli is amazing, the only downside is that the chef refuses to tell me what he puts in it! I could eat it every day of my life. All their food is great, but thats my favorite. Service is excellent as well. I stopped in here on a whim during a lunch break. It's a small cafe where you can get freshly made sandwiches and paninis, coffee, and baked goods. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. They made conversation and seemed to really appreciate their customers' business, which is always nice. I ordered the chicken panini which came with a delicious sauce. The chicken was too thick, in my opinion. The flavor was great though. My panini was ready in about 6 or 7 minutes. The atmosphere was relaxed. There were a few people drinking coffee and using the free wifi, just like Starbucks. I will return next time I'm in the area. Meh... the people are nice, the food is okay, the service and operation usually seems unorganized and hectic, especially when they're busy. Despite that, the food is good enough where we will continue to support the local east falls operation. Terrible food. Ordered the burger and it tasted like a recycled kebab. Also ordered a sandwich and it was soggy. I am here right now and the internet speed is superb! I just moved to the 'hood and am not online yet at the new house, so definitely handy. Coffee is brilliant - am so relaxed, it's like I am at home. Chill muzak playing.
The hospitality and atmosphere are top notch & brand new. The Falls neighborhood itself is so charming - I am glad to see an establishment that matches its potential for greatness. I will be a regular for sure.
P.S. Am about to order a bite - additional review to come. I have eaten breakfast here twice. Each time was a sub-par experience. My first breakfast was a custom ordered omelet, with spinach and feta. It was overdone, and the feta not distributed evenly inside the eggs. The potatoes were also a bit overdone, for my taste, though not too bad. I had a decaf americano with my omelet -- I know that's somewhat unusual, but I find when I want decaf it's best to order an espresso drink so the coffee is fresh. In this case, the americano tasted pretty poorly.
I ordered the French toast for my second visit. Too eggy and not very tasty. It was kind of like they didn't really know how to make French toast. Weird.
This is a cute place, and I really wanted it to be good. It just wasn't. We've been having some solid luck finding breakfast spots lately, and this is yet another winner. I'd like to give them four stars for great service and an excellent sausage, egg, and cheese scramble, but my latte was too burnt to finish, let alone enjoy. The boyfriend said his chai was good, so perhaps next time I'll just steer clear of the coffee. Didn't get a chance to try out their pastries or bagels, but the selection is impressive for a small cafe and I'll probably come back for them. Mmm carbs! Great little neighborhood spot for coffee and a Saturday breakfast. Portions are on the small side, and service can be spotty, so don't go with the expectation of a quick meal.
They accept credit cards, but you can't add a tip to the credit card. This is a bit sad since I rarely carry cash and didn't know that leaving a tip on the card was a no-no at this place until I checked out. Not a fan. Food is consistently underwelming. Baked goods are sometimes left there too long. Got mold in the Tiramisu once. This is such a cute little cafe, and I had a pretty quiet and pleasant experience.
We had great service, delicious and well portioned breakfast sandwiches, and bottomless hot coffee! Just had breakfast at epicure cafe. I had a bacon egg and cheese sandwich on an everything bagel and my girlfriend had an omelette and home fries. Every thing was excellent I esspecially liked the everything bagel. The space brand new and very nice with a curb side outdoor seating area. It was a little rainy today so we couldn't sit out there but definately next time. A very nice little cafe here in East Falls! We came in to grab some lunch and ended up getting dinner to go instead. I got the 4 shrimp-stuffed crabcakes, and my girlfriend got the shrimp scampi. The shrimp was really great, basically a smaller sized crab cake wrapped around a jumbo shrimp and it comes with a good portion of pasta with marinara. The scampi was pretty good too, and had a lot of shrimp in it, but the sauce had a little too much garlic chunks and black pepper for my taste, it was very spicy. The space seems brand-new, enough seating for a couple dozen or so people inside and looks like they might set up a few tables outside. The owners were VERY nice to us while we were there, explaining the different dishes and when they learned we were taking it home to eat right away even offered to heat it up for us. They can't do anything right. Except coffee. Both the service and the food are dreadful.
I moved to the area and hoped that this could be a regular hang-out - someplace close by that I could take a friend out to for breakfast. I thought the food was lacking, uninspired, discordant, and bland. Lukewarm at best. A little disturbing. Another time, they screwed up a breakfast sandwich! How is that even possible? Please do not give them the benefit of the doubt. They stop serving breakfast before noon? It also took them over 25 minutes to slap together a lunch sandwich for me.
There is one waitress with a very vacant face - she doesn't have an inside voice, talks too fast, and stood in front of me and fidgeted, I think in an effort to make me hurry up and order. Rude. She was very little help when I asked about the bread - her answer was: "a roll." That's all. Because at Epicure, you get a roll. She's a mess. But it seems like she's always working. My sandwich came in this very strange plastic sheath.
When you ask this girl a question, she has to call back and ask someone else, who says that someone else is working on it, or that they don't know and they have to find out. There's clearly no communication and no one knows what's going on, ever. No one knows that the deli meat is old and dry. No one knows that their pastries are too old to be sold. No one knows that they're being impolite or that they're not being very considerate. Not everyone can operate the cash register. Not everyone can enter numbers into the credit machine unless the person that wrote the tag is around to help. No one knows if the guava and cheese turnovers have guava or cheese or guava and cheese in them. No one knows which ones were the old ones and which ones were the fresher batch.
Just get in your car and drive a bit further, unless you're on a community service kick. I was in desperate need of a decent cup of coffee in East Falls when this place came along. Now I only go here. Good coffee, good price. For whatever reason, I was surprised by the high quality of the food - they have killer turkey sausage, maybe one of the best. Haven't tried any of the baked goods though I've drooled at them from afar because they look awesome. People are really nice - ya know, "mom and pop." No complaints. Just very happy it's here! So happy to see these guys finally opened. I stopped in today to check them out and pick up a sandwich for lunch. I got the chicken salad and it was delicious! they put dill in there chicken salad which was a nice bonus the price was super reasonable. The new space is very pretty hardwood floors great paint job. I cant wait to go back and try one of the delicious looking brownies the had in there bakery display case. We had the veggie burger and meatball sandwiches- excellent! The patty and meatballs are made on-site. Great service too. I wish I had something better to say about this place, but unfortunately I've got nothing. We had breakfast there on a Sunday, which I don't find unusual. The waitress pretty much abandoned us for the entire meal, when she did come back we asked for more drinks - only to have her bring out a few waters but neglect everyone's coffees. When we asked if she'd also bring out coffee (which I feel is pretty standard for breakfast)
she acted as if we were bothering her. Overall, the service was pretty poor.
The breakfast was alright, nothing spectacular. I've had better pancakes, and the sides of home fries left a little to be desired. I've heard good things about their lunch menu, but I'm reluctant to go after that breakfast experience.
Between the atmosphere and location I had high hopes for this place, but unfortunately it didn't pan out the way I would have liked. Great space and food....bakery items are great as well as the take home menu items. Def. a must try if you live in the area like me! Friendly neighborhood place with good bagels. Don't order the omelette -dry, rubbery, tasteless. Service took forever and coffee was too weak for my taste. Very slow service. I got the The Sunset, which is basically a grilled cheese, and fries. French fries tasted like dirty oil and the roll for the grilled cheese was stale. It is a cute place but they need to work on the quality of food and the service. What a terrific find! Was searching for a cafe online, and found this gem. Went just for coffee, but immediately decided to have lunch. Clearly lots of care and attention given to food. Excellent home-made veggie burger, even though local deli meat is focus of menu. Sweet potato fries were cooked perfectly. Quiet, comfortable space to work in the late morning/early afternoon. Server was delightful. I'll be back! A couple friends and I were looking for a nearby place to eat after some light hiking on the Wissahickon Trail and this is what Yelp suggested so we thought we'd give it a try. This was my first dining experience in East Falls and it could have been a lot better. The cafe itself is really nice and they had two other customers. Our waitress was very friendly but we waited almost 45 minutes for 3 sandwiches to come out. I know that sometimes the kitchen can be slow when there aren't as many people to serve, but 45 minutes to throw together a sandwich? Each sandwich was an average of $7-$8 but it was worth a lot less. My friend got a salmon burger and he said that it tasted really dry; the salmon had a consistency that you get after microwaving it. His coffee was also really watered down. I hope that East Falls can offer better than this, but I won't be back here. I would love to give Epicure 4 or 5 stars but I can't.
The environment is wonderful! For example most coffee shops have a candle lit feel inside, yet Epicure feels bright, clean and open! The bathroom was sparkling too! But at the end of the day this doesn't make up for a stressed staff, slow service, and medicore sandwiches. I didn't feel like much love or thought, was put in to my Turkey sandwich, at least. The bun was too big and boring, the cranberry sauce wasn't strong enough. I could barely taste it.
Now, the breakfast is phenomenal! You get a big helping of eggs in your sandwich, and regular breakfasts have a simple and clean presentation, a la orange. So my suggestion is go for breakfast, and take a good friend to talk to! It's a great place to go on a Saturday morning!
*Epicure needs to take orders on the way in like most coffee/sandwich shops because it's too busy to do it any other way, and they could increase their business, and make everyones lives easier, if they did. We like Epicure. We generally go for Father's Day, Mother's Day, or some other cute special occasion. They typically have a "special" menu on those days. The staff is very friendly. The portions are nice, the food arrives hot, and the food is pretty good. I have even stopped by for lunch on occasion and the sandwhiches are decent as well. I can honestly say we have never had a undesirable experience here. If you get a coffee drink be sure to taste it before you put any type of sugar in it. They put sweet syrups which will give your drink the right amount of sweetness. Anything more would be overkill. Awesome salads. Fresh, good portions and never over dressed. The bowman turkey sandwich with cranberry horseradish is great sandwich. Place is clean, friendly and service is good. Great lunch spot! This is my neighborhood, East Falls. It is so convenient to have a coffee shop a few blocks from home. Then you know the owners and the clients and you can talk, talk, talk or sit at a small table and work on your computer or read or watch the t.v. The coffee is good. Arlene is an expert at baking. So if you have a sweet tooth, this is the place. I usually have coffee and a toasted, gutted bagel. They have good chili both vegetarian and meat. Their chicken salad is delicious. You can get lox also. But I like the chicken burger with cheddar cheese and caramelized onions. Don't forget to ask for the rolls to be toasted.
Thanks Tom and Arlene. This is a boost to the neighborhood. Note: open 7 days a week. Check the hours. The food was good, but the service was less than expected. The staff was friendly enough but the server (who was new) forgot to ask pertinent questions about the order and then came back to the table 3-4 more times to clarify the order. The wait for the food was a bit long as well. We were never offered syrup for the pancakes that were ordered. I was offered more coffee, but when it returned I got no more creamer and the cup was returned to me with the empty creamers on the side. Also, The credit card system does not leave space to leave a tip and we had no cash on hand. So I'm all about exploring eateries and drinkeries in East Falls since I work there, and this area has lots of delightfully low-key gems. This, for the most part, is one of them. It's a charming space with an ever-friendly staff.
The chili is delicious, both the veggie and non-veggie varieties. There are plenty of sandwiches and burgers from which to choose, and they pair well with the soups du jour and chili.
I'll give you one standout and one meh-no:
-the veggie burger (blanking on its name) is scrumptious! Made with a loving, firm hand it is packed with flavors that'll deliver you to a messy place of nom-nom bliss. Be sure to add a side of perfectly crisp sweet potato fries.
-the potato leek soup. Maybe I caught it on a bad day, but it was potato-less and brothier than that cabbage soup poor Charlie Bucket's mother served up in Willy Wonka. In other words, 'twas listless. And a listless soup on a winter's day makes for a one-star-short kind of review.
Still, we're not without redemption here. A delectable sweet array of dessert takeaways and full-bodied, fresh coffee will set you off right.
Lastly, have some cash on hand. They accept cards with a $10 minimum purchase, but you can't leave a tip on the card ... and you should leave a tip cause the service is steady and sincere. Place is good, but I'm gonna knock it down a peg for a rather mediocre breakfast. I was talking to someone and they told me that the owner of this establishment is a butcher by trade and to go for the items like sausage, the salmon burger, etc., stuff that I butcher would come up with. That aspect is very true, I probably go here once every two weeks for their salmon burger-it is very good. This cafe was very disappointing. There was one server and our meal took forever to come despite the fact that there were at least 4 other people working there. We both ordered the burger which was supposed to have muenster cheese on it. There was none and when we pointed it out the server seemed really surprised. We decided to forget about the cheese. We were not asked how we wanted the burger cooked. They both came well done. I ordered soup which came after everything else. My friend requested that her coffee be served with the meal. The server just did not get it. Once everything came we were never looked at again. The menus were on regular photocopy paper and it is well past time for them to be replaced with clean ones. Also, I ordered potato salad. It had pieces of ham in it. There was no description on the menu about the ham. There should be full disclosure. We will not be going back. A nice, casual neighborhood spot. I especially like their breakfast, and the selections in the bakery case. I only wish they had longer hours so I could go more often. Came here on a Saturday morning for breakfast with my girlfriend. The first thing that stands out is that the prices are very reasonable (e.g. $3.75 for French toast). We shared the challah French toast, pancakes, eggs, bacon, home fries, an everything bagel with cream cheese, and two cups of coffee. The total came to only $17.50! The highlight was probably the pancakes. I don't even like pancakes, but these had the perfect texture: fluffy and moist but not soggy. Cute spot with a great community vibe and a lot of regulars. The interior is bright and welcoming. I would highly recommend it to anyone within walking distance. Nice cozy atmosphere, tucked away in East Falls. My wife and I frequent this cozy place, maybe 2 or 3 times a week. The service is Great !!! Only 4 stars because only alternative meat choice is turkey sausage for breakfast. Wish we could get some turkey bacon, scrapple etc., however, still highly recommend this hidden gem. Our new neighborhood go-to breakfast place... because there isn't another diner close by! Rita, the usual server, is charming and wonderful but the food is... mediocre at best, both the omelets and pancakes need some major work!
Coffee is decent, however, and there is a large selection of teas as well, and the pastries are fine. My husband and I usually end up here when we can't decide on a place and don't want to drive far. I had no cash, so I asked when I came in if I could just get a coffee and pay with debit card and was told 'yes' .
Coffee was good by the way, but when I went to pay I was told there was a $10 min for using a card or a .75 surcharge. Next time I want an expensive coffee I'll find a Starbucks! I am not very impressed to say the least. I was there this Sunday afternoon. It was busy but not unusually so. Very slow service. I ordered a Cobb Salad and it took them over 45 minutes to get it to me. The waitress was not particularly friendly. The salad was poor. It was supposed to have among other things avocado, blue cheese and bacon. None of which was in evidence. The lettuce was not fresh. In fact some of it was brown. Will not go again even though I live in the neighborhood. AMAZING BREAKFAST SANDWICHES!!! I had a bacon egg and cheese on an asiago bagel and it blew me away. The bacon was really good although it wasn't as crunchy as I would have hoped. And a gracious amount of scrambled egg as well. I definitely plan on going back to try some of their other items on the menu. Also service was great. It took about 10 minutes to get my sandwich probably cuz there was like two people working there at the time. Overall great find. Underwhelming and a true waste of potential is probably the best description. Over the last 3 years I have sampled across the menu in a futile attempt to find something worth ordering a second time. (10+ visits)
But this mornings experience is the catalyst for my review. Service was traditionally slow and rather than wait for an americano, I went for the self serve coffee. After walking home and tasting the brew, THE COFFEE WAS NOT LA COLOMBE. It was weak, watery and had a slightly artificial mouth feel associated with super market brands. If it was La Colombe (unlikely), it was not brewed to makers instructions. As Epicure advertises it serves La Colombe, I have also notified La Colombe on the issue. I take my coffee seriously and am a very loyal La Colombe drinker.
On the rest of the menu - none of the baked goods taste fresh. Bagels are comparable to Thomas'/Lenders. The oven roasted turkey was dry. The breakfast sandwich egg ratio is WAY off (unbelievably, too much egg!!). There's something funky going on with the salads that I do not wish to speculate on.
+1 star because the owners are genuinely nice folks and there's so much potential with a few quality adjustments. I've politely and discreetly provided feedback in the past because I want all the businesses on the Conrad corridor to do well and it has not worked. Losing Brothers (now Laxmis) has really hurt in terms of quick breakfast/lunch. But I do welcome an Indian restaurant in the neighborhood and the food is tasty! I end up eating here about three times a year - and every time I leave disappointed. I REALLY want this place to be good. My latest let down started off promising but quickly took a dive. Day of the Manayunk Bike Race and I'm ready to grab a bite before spending a day basking in the Philadelphia sunshine.
I get here around 12-noon so time isn't of the essence, but I'd like to get about my day in a fairly reasonable amount of time. We ask for an outdoor seat, waitress sets up a table and two chairs, and we are in business on this 75 degree day.
The trouble all started when we sat down. Those metal chairs are uncomfortable. Definitely time to consider an upgrade (or at least a cushion) for the outdoor furniture. The second thing got me the most. We were seated near the kitchen door on the side of the building. The cook had the side door open on this nice day which offered an eye and ear into the kitchen. I think this guy set the record for most F-Bombs dropped in one hour. I don't think he realized but the waitress did notice - and she had the decency to apologize on his behalf . A classy, old school move that earned this review its second star.
Other than that, the food took about 40 minutes from the order pad to the cast iron table, the food was average and a bit over priced.
I will be back - hoping it is the day that inspires me to leave a 4-5 star review. The place does have the potential to be very good. Literally awful every time I have been. Not bad for a cup of coffee or a pastry (not good either) but their actual breakfast is horrendous. I ordered my omelette there and I specifically asked the server about the meat in the omelette there were two kinds and two kinds of cheese. I requested just to have the sausage and cheddar. I get my omelette and I only has sausage and, not cheddar, american cheese. ONLY sausage and american cheese. The omelette had veggies in the title, I felt I was quite clear after specifically discussing the meat and cheese in the omelette that this wasn't what I meant. There was also a build your own omelette option that was 2 dollars cheaper than what I ordered, not really that hard. I very politely asked the waitress (the restaurant was near empty) if she had forgotten the vegetables and she YELLS at me saying, "OH NO, you said JUST sausage and cheddar!!" I calmly said that that wasn't what I meant. She stated that she was going to get my vegetables which I only got by reminding her about them. She then came over and threw a souffle cup with about a teaspoon of vegetables in it on my table. All in all just a horrible experience. She seems like a hot mess every time I go in and is the only person that is ever working. Epicure is a great place to get a really good sandwich. The owners are super nice and the atmosphere is very relaxed. You can bring your laptop and work while you munch away. You won't be in and out quickly but you won't be disappointed! I popped in for a coffee the other day and can vouch for the quality of their americano.
I grabbed a menu to check out and will definitely give them a try for breakfast or lunch some time soon. the space seems a little awkward inside however, still channeling a bit of its former incarnation as a corner store deli. I've gone here a grand total of 3 times. Each time there has been something wrong with the service. I wanted desperately to like this cute little cafe, especially because it's within 2 blocks of my house. Here's what I had problems with:
1. First time I went the waitress was very slow to come take my girlfriend's order and to get it to us. I wrote this off because I met my girlfriend there separately. It also took 30 minutes to get a bagel with cream cheese and lox. How long does it take to toast a bagel and spread some cream cheese on it? It wasn't even that crowded.
2. The waitress was very slow to refill my coffee, I sat with an empty cup for about 10 minutes before I finally walked up and asked for a refill. It was fairly crowded, but it would help to make a circuit around the room once in a while and look for coffees to refill.
3. My girlfriend and I went back for the third time (we WANT to like the place). We both got bagels with cream cheese and coffees. This time it took 40 minutes to get our bagels, I only received 1 coffee refill the whole time, and while we were waiting for bagels the waitress ignored us. There were maybe 6 or 7 other couples in there, so busyness was no excuse this time.
All of that being said the food was good, the coffee was good. But the service is just so bad that I have little desire to go back. If the owners would work on getting the wait staff to spend less time standing around talking and more time serving customers, I'd be happy to go back. Came in and ordered. Waited for service and no service. Went to counter and asked for water. Got water. Order came with no side toast. Asked for side toast and got dried up butt ends of the bread. The home fries were not even a whole serving..very small. Terrible service. Had to pay asap and walk out. Unacceptable service. Chai latte was good, but as for bagels, there were only 7 left to choose from and it was only 9:30am. I got veggie cream cheese for the bagel I selected, but I believe it had gone bad--tasted rancid; had to throw out the entire bagel and eat breakfast at home. Cute, friendly coffee shop that serves some good coffee. However the service is dreadfully slow. Omelettes here are mediocre (most of the food is mediocre actually). Doesn't have fresh-squeezed juices.
Lots of potential here and is good if you're looking for something close by, but pales in comparison to other coffee shops / cafes/ brunch spots in the area. This place has a cool environment, and is OK for a cup of coffee, but that is about it. Food is brutal and definitely don't think about getting a cappuccino or latte. I'm so excited that i just discovered this place! Friendly staff, yummy food and a great atmosphere! A great place to have a date, a business meeting or a solo coffee/reading/writing/working day. It has super cute decor and a great breakfast and lunch menu! I haven't tried the pastries but they look tasty! Super close walk from the train stop too! A very nice neighborhood place for breakfast or lunch. The place is small but cozy and offers free wi-fi. They have a small menu of breakfast or lunch basics, lots of pastry options, and a nice selection of coffee drinks. The service is friendly and the prices are reasonable. The main reason that I'm giving it 3 stars is because the food was average and the menu selection is kind of small. With some many other Philly neighborhood places joints like this doing so much more it makes this place feel not as great. In an earlier review I wrote about the lack of good breakfast spots in Roxborough. I only needed to drive a few blocks east, to East Falls, to find a very good spot for a delicious breakfast - the Epicure Cafe on Conrad Street. A bit hard to find, even harder to park at, this cafe is worth the effort.
Upon entering the Epicure Cafe one notes the cozy atmosphere, small tables suited for groups of two or four (but there is one larger table for 6). Cleanliness is obviously quite important - the place is immaculate. The servers are casually yet neatly attired, with allowance for personality that rarely, but in this case, works. Our server had frizzy blue hair, and another a nose ring - but both were neat, clean, friendly, polite, efficient and welcoming to all comers - families, couples, singles, old and young, hip and hipster. There are books and magazines to pass the time, free neighborhood newspapers, and big windows for watching the world go by. The vibe could not be better!
But a cool place is never enough - the food has to stand up on it's own. Fortunately here it does. Omelettes are folded properly (not simply scrambled eggs with filling, but actually folded), the potatoes seasoned well and cooked all the way, the toast NOT pre-buttered (therefore not soggy), the pancakes exactly as they are meant to be, and the fritter appetizer...well...let's just say I could have eaten a few orders of those. FANTASTIC. Coffee is served in a real coffee cup and saucer, and quite fresh and of a high quality. Attention to the empty cup is adequate - you won't be empty for too long. Soda is served by the can however - if you prefer draft you are out of luck.
Prices are also perfect - reasonable and fair. Portion sizes tend to the small, so if you are looking for a huge plate of greasy hangover cure you may want to go elsewhere. They also offer lunch, which I hope to experience soon (and will update this review when I do).
I highly recommend the Epicure Cafe for a classy, yet affordable, breakfast! I love being able to give a restaurant a good review and usually do. But for Epicure two stars is generous. Seriously.
Arrived at 10:40 am the day before the 4th of July. Ordered water and coffee. Watched as waitress brought water to people who came in after me. Had to ask again. Placed our order and then was told they were out of home fries. Breakfast is only served til 11 and they are out. What?? Cook couldn't make more?? (Overheard her tell next four tables that came in they were out; no one was happy). THEN had to argue about not being charged full price.
Bad to worse. Food took 25 minutes (you couldn't make home fries in that time?!). Overeasy eggs cooked to death, scrapple was tiniest piece I've ever seen, waitress forgot toast so our food got cold as we waited. Ordered rye toast and was charged an extra $1.75! Waitress never told us rye was extra. And why? Manager told me it's special rye bread they pay $9 a loaf for. Whaaaatttt??
Asked for second cup of coffee (never offered) and again waited. Two sugar packets in bowl on table.
This is not a restaurant, folks. Eat at the Epicure at your own peril. And don't say I didn't warn you... Okay, the couple that owned and ran this place WERE NOT horrible people, as Bert M. suggested. I met them and saw them at work countless times, never got the slightest impression that they were bad people. I live a block from this place, went there on a semi-regular basis (mostly to get a coffee to go when I'd run out of me own!), and know a lot of people who went there occasionally. While no one seemed gung-ho about the place, I never heard anyone suggest that the owners were terrible people.
That being said, Epicure was simply an underwhelming coffee shop/restaurant. The ambiance and decor were very bland and forgettable. With its flat screen TV always showing CNN or FOX News, it struck me as a continental breakfast room at a Super 8 motel or senior living center. Closing at 3:00PM also seemed VERY odd, esp. for a coffee shop in the city. It just had a vibe that seemed better suited for a small, conservative town in the Midwest (where I'm from). For a neighborhood that's sort of hip/cool, it just seemed out of place. Sure, East Falls is not Fishtown, West Phila, or East Passyunk, and it didn't need to be some 'ultra-cool/artsy/hip' place with a too-cool-for-school, detached barista with a zillion tats, 1981 glasses and gym shorts, messy hair, and a vintage "Jem" t-shirt. But the atmosphere here was as diametrically opposite of that as you could get.
The employee turnover rate was staggering and unsettling. It was one clueless, seemingly-perpetually-stoned girl after another (other than Tom and the guys in the kitchen, I never saw a guy working here). I got the impression that many of those girls were in high school. The only exception was a woman named Brianna (?) who worked there in the last few months. (She was great! Talkative and engaging and very quick with service).
I know they had a loyal following, but I know countless people in East Falls who were similarly underwhelmed and lukewarm about Epicure. And a handful of people who seemed bitterly anti-Epicure. Wishing Tom and Arlene all the best, and hoping to see a slightly more....hip (?) place to open in East Falls! We love the Epicure Cafe. The owners have been at this location for about 30 years, and operated a deli before the cafe. Everything is made in house. The chili, veggie burgers, and sandwiches are all great. So is the coffee. It's a nice, relaxing spot to chill out, and the service is excellent. I recommend the turkey/cranberry sandwich! I originally was thrilled to find a breakfast cafe but have since gone back several times giving it a few chances and have been let down every time. The girls I have encountered that work there are all very sweet and eager to help. However there are several things that bothered me about this place. They were minor so I wrote a private message to them via yelp. I didn't expect them to say, "okay yes we'll get right on that!" But I did expect at least an answer or acknowledgement but I got neither. So here are my issues... They need to serve coffee in coffee mugs. More than one server had half the coffee in the teacup plate by the time they got to our table! They need better process for refilling coffee - an insulated coffee pot for example, one of our servers used a metal milk steamer and I watched her painfully hold onto that thing, knowing it was burning her hand off, while she poured my coffee with a smile on! I was impressed by her but sad that she had no better resource (or training) to fix such a simple thing in a cafe!! Next, a guy that i originally thought was a rude customer, stood at the counter talking loudly about his personal life on his cell phone. When he got off the phone I saw him talking with other employees and head into the kitchen. It was so rude and unprofessional. And lastly, they need someone with a tad more serving experience to lead the way, implement better ways of doing things (like the coffee pot thing) and whip that place into shape! I'm sad because it has so much potential but someone is holding it back. It could be the next green eggs or honeys if it really wanted to...east falls would literally eat that up. This place consistently disappoints. Multiple visits have left me with my order being forgotten, food coming out spoiled, and a manager that literally sits around and talks to people without helping his staff when they clearly need support. I waited 10 minutes to pay for coffee once. The convenience of it in the area was the only benefit. I am amazed that this place stayed afloat for as long as it did. Good riddance. In their defense, we did not end up eating here, but we had a pretty bad experience anyway. We walked in around 11:20 on a Saturday morning. I checked on their website, and they start serving lunch at 11am. Perfect! My mom was visiting from NJ and this was our lunch stop before heading to the art museum. Note - we had both eaten breakfast before 8am, so we were hungry for lunch food. We seated ourselves and after a few minutes were given breakfast menus. I inquired about lunch - since it was almost 11:30. I was told that sometimes they let breakfast run late and she would check with the cook. We waited for about five minutes and were told the cook did not want to do lunch yet. Um, what? I mentioned how lunch was advertised online at 11am and she dismissed me. BTW - it is, I checked when I got home. So we walked out and got our pre-museum lunch elsewhere. I gave two stars because the food did look great and it had a great local cafe atmosphere. However, the dismissive attitude of the staff was off-putting to say the least. Epicure Cafe seems to be one of the very few places to grab a quick cuppa in East Falls. Cheerful, bright place for a nice sit-down with your laptop or a friend. Decent coffee to go, though the lack of sugar syrup for iced coffee drinks was slightly frustrating.
Not so sure if I'd ever come here for food; I was really turned off by the super moldy raspberries sitting alongside the unwrapped deli meat in the not-so-clean food display cases. I always enjoy my breakfast at Epicure!
The place is very clean and the food is fresh and delicious.
I love their bagels and "la Colombe" coffee.
Every time I go, It feels like I'm at home! Not just sandwiches, a good variety of salads too and some hot dishes. Portions large so if you don't eat a lot, plan to take home or share. Decor is tasteful, bright; owners are wonderful. Food is fresh but tends to be on the bland side. Overall, a real asset to the neighborhood. Hubby and I popped in this morning for breakfast post-run. We live around the corner and were pleasantly surprised--the food was good, very affordable. The staff was extremely pleasant and helpful. The cofffee was a bit strong, but most folks like it that way. We will definitely be back. Rating 2.5
While I enjoyed the decor and location of this establishment the service was ridiculously slow !
I came here with a group of 15 ladies or so and we called days ahead of time and there were tables reserved for us when we arrived. There were not enough servers however to handle our group.
When my food finally arrived it was barely warm and my toast was missing. I doubt i'll be back. Had a chicken burger for $7 that was the size of a whitecastle burger. It was extremely underwhelming. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but for $7 at least give something that is going to fill my stomach. The fries were extra. The fries were more satisfying than the burger, and they were soggy. Probably would only go here for a coffee and pastry. Like another review I read, I had greater expectations for this place. While the service was good, the overall eating/dining experience was under par. The food is good, but the service couldn't be slower if they tried. I really enjoyed the 4-5 sandwiches that I have had from there, but it took 20 minutes for them to make it. My friends go there weekly and we all agree that the product(s) are good, but the staff moves in slow motion when a quick take out lunch is needed. Clean, nice space, bright.
We live really near here and it is nice enough, but nothing to write home about.
The last time we went they were out of a lot of things on their menu, the service was slow, and they had the TV on very loud which not only made it hard to have a conversation, but also made it feel like the breakfast room in a hotel.
The food we did finally get was decent and not too pricey. The portions were large.
Overall it was alright, and I like having it so close by. I had one of the worst lunch experiences here. I'm glad they closed. Terrible food, terrible service. So sad, the only coffee/breakfast walking distance literally sucks. We've tried it multiple times just thinking it was a one time thing, but the last 3 times has been a disaster. Bad coffee, rock solid bagels and homefries that weren't seasoned. Bad all around. Take your money else where. I remember when this place was the Conrad Market, a dingy corner store and deli with a very limited and sometimes questionable produce selection. I remember stopping in search of a onion or tomato for some cooking and finding only one or two random worse-for-wear veggies in a cardboard box in the drink cooler. It was a good place to buy a bag of chips and some cat food.
The corner store business model is long gone and The Epicure Cafe is a vast improvement. I am really glad the owner has put so much effort into completely transforming the space, you wouldn't even recognize it. They now have plenty of seating and have knocked out the street facing walls to create large inviting picture windows. Good place to get coffee and bagel, or even sit down and get a full breakfast. The service was friendly, and basic eggs, bacon and potatoes I ordered were good. I like this place, it is great for the neighborhood! Good bagels, but they usually only have a few available. They charge extra if you want butter (also for cream cheese, but that's typical, whereas charging for butter is not). They also have decent coffee. The rest of the food is hit or miss, as is the service. They're all nice folks, just not always focused. They also charge a fee to use your credit card for total less than $10. And you can't tip your server on your card. That's just mean, as I'm certain some servers get stiffed as a result. I like the folks there, but it would be nice if they could step up their game. Boyf and I just had quick sit down breakfast here. We usually just grab coffee to go as we walk the dog. We both ordered pork roll, egg and cheese sammies on toasted bagels. He also had a side of scrapple. Coffee was great, as always. The eggs came scrambled, rather almost omelette style, which was fine but worth noting in case you are expecting fried eggs. There had to have been at least two, maybe three, eggs on each. I actually cut excess eggs off to eat separately. The cheese was American and gooey and the pork roll was also plentiful. I usually order everything bagels but from past visits, I already knew I wasn't a big fan. There is such a heavy garlic taste on theirs, its just not worth the lingering taste all day. The poppyseed was good...chewy, dense and fresh.
All in all, convenient and fresh breakfast for local east fallsers, but nothing so memorable that I would go out of my way for. I would probably give it 3 1/2 stars if I could. Great atmosphere. Charming. Mediocre food - at best. And it's hard to mess up breakfast. Finally tried this place out with a friend last weekend and I really enjoyed it! I got the east falls with two eggs, turkey sausage and home fries..all were good but I wished it was bigger. I guess for 5.50 you really are getting what you pay for. The service was good and it feels nice and open. I will definitely be back! Off the beaten path, this place is pretty, spacious, and laid-back. It's a "seat yourself" type of place, with a number of tables seating 2-4 people. They also seemed to have a penchant for playing James Blunt in the background.
I came here while visiting a friend and we were pleasantly surprised. The first morning we both got omelettes. Fluffy and packed with fillers (my friend got the Good Times omelette without the avocado, I got the Make-Your-Own with mushrooms, onions, cheddar, and turkey sausage), they made for large omelettes taking up half of your plate. The homefries are good, though don't expect to have your plate loaded with them like some of the greasier, diner-type places. Don't get me wrong though, they were still really good. I highly suggest getting them cooked with onions.
The second morning we all pretty much wanted french toast, but alas! it was not meant to be. They had run out and so we dejectedly all got pancakes (as part of The Manayunk breakfast combo: pancakes, bacon or sausage, homefries, and toast). I have to admit, having grown up on bisquick pancakes, I do my best never to order pancakes when out on the town, but these were fluffy, delicious, and well made. Just looking at the two fluffy discs on your plate, you know they're made from pretty high quality stuff from someone who knows how to make perfect hot cakes.
A word to the wise: this place takes credit/debit cards, BUT you can't tip them via this method of payment. So, bring some cash because they do their job well. Another thing to note is that they will not automatically bring glasses of water, so make sure to ask if you're thirsty. Having this just down the street from my house is really convenient. I've had both breakfast and lunch here on several occasions and it's been better than expected especially for the price you pay. You can either come by for a bite to eat or even bring your laptop and have some coffee (which I've seen several people do.) I just wish they had longer hours. Pretty tasty and a nice place to hangout in the afternoon with a latte. Just remember that this place closes right at 3:00 sharp. So, get there in the am or stop by when you are playing hooky from work A definite boon to the East Falls community, the Epicure Cafe offers plenty of tasty food options, coffee, bright, updated decor, and cute waitresses.
I have been here for lunch a couple times and had the Epicure, which is roast beef and cheese with horseradish dressing - and the only problem was it was so big I was too full afterwards. You may end up eating only half your sandwich and taking the other half home. I must say I wasn't too keen on their potato salad, but c'est la vie.
Overall, I am a fan. "Yay!" indeed. (Even if last time they weren't letting me use a debit card.) Perfection. The review should stop there, but Epicure is great, cheap, friendly, and everything you want in a neighborhood cafe. Quaint cafe with a very hard working and accommodating staff. The cafe and the bathrooms were extremely clean and the food was delicious, you could tell it was made fresh. The coffee was great too! My husband and I both got an omelette that left us feeling full and satisfied but not gross like you feel when you leave some diners. The prices were reasonable too. We would recommend this place to anyone! I'm not sure how I have not reviewed this already. This is a basic cafe/bakery style eatery. The interior is clean and charming with an East Falls dominated theme. The food is spot on and the owners are super friendly with a great staff of waitresses who make you feel at home. In fact, I would compare this with eating in the owners living room. During the warmer months they offer outdoor seating which is nice. They import bagels from NY which helps even the most discerning bagel connoisseur. Several people mentioned slightly higher prices, but I don't think it is any higher than any other diner in the city. Philadelphia's gross tax structure make it difficult for places like this to charge any less money and stay in business.
Overall, this is a staple of the neighborhood and outsiders are always amazed by this "sleeper" neighborhood. Skip the hipster brunch spots in CC and bike over to the Falls to enjoy a real neighborhood eatery. I'm a regular here due to the proximity to my house. The people are always very nice and the food is solid. Nothing is spectacular, but I leave satisfied. The grits are pretty bad though, so stay clear.
Service is mostly hit but sometimes miss. I wish they had a "signature" item. This place has potiential but can't ever seem to get it together. Foods tasty but it always takes foooorrrrrreeeeevvvveer. The staff is friendly but always seems like it's their first day on the job and are seemly incapable of properly running the place. For me the worst part is that I have been over charged all three times I've eaten here. I get charged for something twice or they count tax twice or I mysteriously get a coffee added on to my order. Check your tab- it's probably incorrect. Good for coffee. That's about it. I live right down the street from this place so I've given it plenty of tries. Each time I have found the service to be slow and the food to be worth less than the menu price. I go back, but only for coffee. Nice owners. Great local breakfast spot in East Falls! With limited options, I was thrilled to find Epicure Cafe. They have wonderful hospitality and a quaint hometown feel. Wifi that works well, very hot drinks and yummy food, what else can you ask for! They accept cards, with $10 minimum and the cafe is modern and clean. I'll def be back! The food is pretty delicious here. Jalapeño bagel? Hello!!!!! Fresh avocados, yummy baked goods.
Service is slow but they're understaffed so its to be expected. Although, including my bf and I, there were only four people there. Hmmm...
May have been on an off day but the girl who served us had the standard Philly 'tude I've yet to come to appreciate.
Definitely try this place out! I love this spot! It's adorable on the inside- coffee shop with a small seating area. Very bright, clean, and filled with East Falls themed stuff. They rock the neighborhood theme really hard.
The coffee is consistently good and strong. I've eaten breakfast and lunch here so far and both were delicious. They do a breakfast potato justice. And, they make their turkey sausage in house. Yum. Prices are super reasonable but $10 minimum on card and you can't leave tip on a card.
The staff is super nice and service is always good. Go here. We stopped in here this morning to grab coffee and tea - I wasn't hugely impressed by the tea selection (lots of cheap teas and some were oddly fall themed), but managed to find a green berry and pomegranate that was pretty tasty. My boyfriend got a small iced coffee, and together the total was only $4 - not bad at all.
We didn't eat but we did check out the menu - I liked that it's a casual mix of hot items, like pancakes, and bakery items. It felt fast, causal, and comfortable, the type of place where you could eat brunch without spending a fortune and coming away full but not overly stuffed.
If I'm back in East Falls in the morning I will definitely stop in again! Update : downgraded due to a few visits during which the servers could care less. Complete indifference, inability to get orders correct, unwillingness to get off their cell phone and fill a coffee or get soup... The service is terrible. Solid place for lunch/brunch. Bill was slightly higher than anticipated - the prices on their online menu need to be updated most things are now .50-1$ more per item. Still worth it but buyer beware. Service was slightly laid back and easy going. Everything was the correct temperature and fresh. By espresso was a little burnt but still tasted good. Cannoli for dessert was small and hit the spot. Well worth our time and money. We will be back!
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name: Gutter Gurus, address: 431 Rhawn St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 2.0, is_open: opening, categories: Roofing, Home Services, Gutter Services, Siding, text: Worse company ever. They broke a window and didn't fix it. They overcharge and do not deliever on time. The work is completely subpar. In short don't use this company. These folks did my gutters after I had the roof done by others. They were fast, efficient, and did exactly what they said they were going to do. We have had several hard rains...the gutters worked great.
In fact, if I had know they did roofs, I would have had them do my roof. As it was, the person who did my roof botched the flashing around the chimney and it is leaking. Roof Gurus to the rescue. For a very fair price they contracted to fix the chimney issues, and instead of gloating over the poor job the other guy did, they took on the job with t smile.
Would we call them again...you bet!
Ralph Onesti
807 E. Ridley Avenue
Ridley Park, PA 19078 zero stars if it were available. All this company seems to do is give quotes and take money, we've been waiting since January for a $90 refund and now e-mails are just ignored. Also if you do choose this company don't let them quote a repair job standing on the ground, its not possible college Kids put up their gutters. The ends of the gutter drain pipes were pounded closed to fit into the next drain pipe. Used long metal screws to hold the drain pipes together causing blockage at each joint. The required revisit to fix their work is $1300. Beware SHADY! They gave me a $3,000 estimate for the job and then when I found a company to do the same job for $1,500 wouldn't give my deposit back. Would definitely NOT recommend. Would actually recommend throwing your job out on Thumbtack and letting folks compete - then ask for references. I would never use or recommend this company.
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name: Meister's Barber Shop, address: 1810 E Passyunk Ave, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.0, is_open: opening, categories: Beauty & Spas, Barbers, Hair Salons, Men's Hair Salons, text: Coming from Los Angeles where the hair style culture is "bigger," I have been looking for a barber shop like this. The barber I had knew how to contour without any additional instruction and was able to part my hair just the way my barbers in LA did. They use Layrite and other high quality products so you know they're serious about making their customers look their best. Definitely recommend this place. Oh and there's beer. We took our son here after my husband decided to leave the place he had gone to for years. I am grateful he switched, we took our son here twice already and each time can not say enough amazing things to how they make you feel welcomed and just our patient. They do an amazing job and will definitely recommend anyone to give them a try. There is never a traditional "wait" here, always a solid conversation to be had with a fellow patron or a barber. There's also USB ports for charging your devices if you need to stay working until you're the next on the list. They also hand out time appropriate beverages - walked in around 10AM & was instantly offered a fresh coffee even though there was no wait time. Music is always great too - indie-rock vein. Their haircut quality is excellent! they take the time to meet their [& your new] expectations.
Note: you can call for anticipated next available barber times but you have to be physically present to write your name on the list - so, plan accordingly. My boyfriend has had a really hard time finding a good barber. After seeing Meister's in Philly Mag he decided to give it a try. He loved the atmosphere, prices are reasonable and his barber really took his time and made sure he was happy with his cut and shave. Free beer was also a bonus! I love the cuts he gets there and he'll definitely be going back. Great Shop. Everyone does a great job there. But you often have to wait a very long time unless you get there early. Worth the wait (IMO) and I usually make a stop by P'unk burger or Chayya while I am waiting. Great haircuts and good prices too. I have had my hair cut six times at Meister's. I have been cut by each of the four barbers at least once. It doesn't matter which barber cuts your hair, you can feel confident that you will receive a quality cut. If you go during peak times, you may have a short wait... But that's why there is cold beer. You will pay $26, a price well worth the attention to detail the barbers provide. Authentic barber shop venue. Cuts are the best. All barbers are professional, but if you can't decide ask for Adrian. Visited Meisters for the first time this past Saturday with one of my best friends. Came in around 11am and put our names down on the book for first available. We waited a short time before sitting down in the chairs. While we were waiting we really enjoyed the vibe of the barber shop. Cool music and great atmosphere with Elvis pictures on the walls. You can tell there was a lot of thought that went into the look of the shop. I got my haircut by Fred - at least I think that was his name. He was really cool and cut my hair and beard exactly the way I wanted. The owner rob came over and offered me a drink, which they offer for free to all of their paying customers. Really cool touch! My boy has been growing his beard out for about a year and was a little nervous about getting it cut, but the barber he had did in awesome job and he was also super happy! I will definitely be back to meisters. It may be a weekly thing! My husband Rob gets his hair cut and beard trimmed at Meister's. He is someone who didn't enjoy getting his hair cut in the past, but he loves going there. He loves the laid back atmosphere, convenient location, and most importantly, how his hair looks. Great place! It was my first visit there did not know Rob was the owner he greeted me and I ask for his name and put me down. I was only getting a fade nothing off top he charged me half the price and said it's fine I'm just cutting your sides. most places would charge me the full it just shows his character I was extremely pleased and was impressed the barber shop just turn 1 years old that day Great place! It is very popular, so on a Saturday plan accordingly. It is walk in only. 3-4 chairs open, you might wait a little. I've had all of them, they all cut hair great. Meister's Barber Shop is a very relaxed environment with talented staff. The eclectic vibe makes for an overall enjoyable experience. It's only a few block walk from my apartment in South Philly & I'm fortunate to have the shop right in my neighborhood. I have been to both Rob & Adrian as a walk-in client. Meister's is now offering online appointments through the Genbook app. I have already booked my holiday appointments.
Also, Meister's supplies Neptune Hair Care; based locally out of New Jersey. I purchased the texture cream on my first visit & plan to purchase the hair tonic for my Thanksgiving appointment.
I would recommend Meister's to anyone looking for a thorough cut & service. I've been getting cut by Rob for a while (before he opened Meister's) and from day 1 this dude has been on his A game. Give it a shot you won't be disappointed, I guarantee it. His place is awesome and his staff are mad chill. Nice ambiance too! This is the only shop I've been to since moving to the neighborhood and I don't plan on changing that. I've had the same barber all three visits and have been very pleased. There's usually a wait, because it's walk-in only and they don't rush. I was particularly impressed with the time and attention my barber gave to my haircut today, and felt that it was about time I gave Meister's a shout out. Thanks, see you next time! This place is great. Rob, the owner always does a great job. All the barbers are meticulous, have a great attytude and take their time. With the addition of so many new barber shops in philly there is a lot competition to choose from. I think I found my choice. The owner is not only a very skilled barber but also makes you feel at home without being overbearing. They have some drinks for you if you want them and the shop is welcoming. For a $26 haircut it's a great deal and will be definitely going back. Good barbers, good price, good music and vibes. Great fit for E. Passyunk. Rob, the owner, takes immense pride in his work and makes hair cutting an art. This is not your father's barber shop, but it can be if you want. They are extremely accomodating and can cut to any style, old school or hipster. Definitely going back again. The barbers here do an excellent job with cutting hair...but with a great cut comes a great price. My last hair cut there cost me $26 bucks. Let me first say, that I really love this place. I think they give great cuts.
My one piece of feedback would be around wait times. This place is popular because it's good, but to make people wait sometimes as much as an hour and a half to 2 hours for a haircut can be rough. Part of it is because their barbers are very meticulous, which is great! I would just love to see the wait times get reduced to maximize people's time.
Update: went for awhile and happy to see they went to appointments. I think the quality of the haircuts have gone down significantly. I had two cuts in a row that were subpar. I also think their lack of customer service is kinda crazy. I get it's a hip Barbershop but that doesn't mean you should treat people with a lack of respect. My wife called for me to set up an appointment and they were so rude. I've gone elsewhere and won't be back. Love this place. It is well worth the wait. The environment is great - people enjoy getting a cut here. I have been with 3 different barbers so far and all have been great. Highly recommend this spot if you're looking for a trust worthy cut. Couldn't wait to get home and write this review. I'm new to the area and was really afraid of getting screwed by sub par cuts from bougie hipster shops... but Meister's is not only fairly priced but everything I look for from a barbershop. The staff are personable without being overbearing, they have both the experience and respect for you/their craft to make sure you leave happy, and they're a no-frills place that is efficient and effective without seeming like your typical Great Clips hair factory just trying to get you out the door.
Do yourself a favor and try Meister's out. And don't be afraid of the newbie Scott. He's new to the store but not to haircuts, and I'll be requesting him every time I go back, which will be every. time. I must say the quality and service is great, but I must admit I hate the fact they do not take reservations. You walk in and might be waiting for over an hour. They take their time with each customer so don't expect to be in and out. It's very hard to schedule your day around a hair cut when you don't even know if you'll get one until you arrive cause they wait might not be worth it. Where the service is great, it's extremely inconvenient scheduling wise. They need an appointment system. Awesome barbershop. High attention to detail and satisfying what I was liking for. Exceeded my expectations by a longshot. Adrian really hooked it up and found some good product there as well. Definitely be going back. Well priced, cool barbers. I prefer to book and have a set time personally but whatever works. So friggin' happy this place exists. After spending nearly 15 years getting cut by a friend in the burbs almost an hour away, I needed to find something closer. Tried a handful of other places around the city and after 5 failed, pretty disastrous cuts, I was starting to lose hope. Finally made it in to Meister's, signed up for the first available barber, and got seated with Jillian within 20 minutes. She asked me what I wanted, immediately understood, and then gave me a super tight cut exactly as I asked. I've been going back to her for close to 9 months now.
I love that they take walk-ins only, so I can work around my schedule, but can still request a specific barber.
Wait times usually aren't too bad unless they're completely slammed, but if you know it's going to be a while, you can always take a walk down Passyunk and come back. Or chill in the shop and they'll give you a beer or water.
A full cut is $26, but they'll also clean you up with a "half cut" for $21 which is great when you want to keep things tight between full cuts.
After my vision quest to find a new barber, I'm finally happy with Meisters. They do an amazing job at recruiting barbers who know what they're doing AND are also super nice.
Update (July 2017): Jillian left a while ago, but I've since been going to Adrian, and he's awesome. First experience with these folks and I'm hooked. Great service. Very receptive and consultative. Professional. Great pricing. I will be going back. I just had my first experience at Meister's and let me start by saying that I got a damn good haircut. I enjoyed the opportunity to chat with my five star barber Brian, and also the owner of the business, both were very friendly and accommodating. I recommend this establishment to anyone hoping to improve their look, I know I felt like a million bucks walking out the door. Thanks Meister's for the excellent cut, and a great conversation. See you soon! -Rob Been searching for a barbershop like this for the longest time since I moved back to Philadelphia 8 years ago. Best shop I've been to so far, Rob the owner is a great guy and gives the best haircut I had so far. The other barbers are great also, I have not gotten my haircut by them, but have seen their work and its legit. Always a great vibe when I am in there and this has become my regular spot whenever I need a cut. Again, great Place! Great atmosphere, music, pricing, and quality of work. The online booking is super easy. I've made this my go to barber in South Philly. Fun friendly cool place. Lines can be long at times, but totally worth it. Amazing cuts! Victim of its own success. Great staff and great cuts - when you can actually get one. At opening time on saturdays there is already a 2+hour wait, and on weekdays after normal working hours forget it. Literally at 9AM there's a 2hour wait. They take their time and pay attention to detail but it's a day-long commitment to get a cut. If you have a day job and can't commit an entire Saturday then forget it. They do offer beer and make it as comfortable as possible. It's a shame because it's a great shop in a great location, but my time is more valuable than a great cut. If you don't work daytime on weekdays it's worth going there, but otherwise enjoy your life. I went in today to get a cut, and was greeted by Rob.
To put this into context, I began to grow my hair out about four years ago after shaving it most of my life. I really had no idea exactly what I wanted, as I've never had a proper haircut and styling. My hair was a mess, it was long, thick, and unruly, and hadn't been touched in almost four years.
An hour later (yes, it was a big job) and Rob left me with a haircut and style that I can honestly say I am beyond satisfied with. He truly is an utmost professional, communicating every step of the way and listening to every preference I had in mind, and applying it to the cut as we went along.
Regarding the shop; it's fantastic! It has a great, old-school feel to it, with a modern touch. It's very fitting for the location and I can say it's a great addition to East Passyunk. I look forward to coming back for my future cuts! This is the best barbershop in Philadelphia that I've found in 7 years of living here. The place is cozy, has complimentary water or beer in the fridge while you wait for the most consistent haircut around. I've had my hair cut by almost the entire staff and they have all been excellent. Great music is always on and the location is clearly a plus. Note walk ins welcome but make an appointment on Genbook, link on their website so you don't have to wait. I had the pleasure of getting one of the best haircuts ever, today while visiting Philly on business at Meister's. Also, a very trendy - cool vibe and far from the ordinary experience! Bravo! Don't know where to start with this place. Waited over an hour for my over priced terrible cut. Asked for a low fade. Did not get a low fade what so ever. If you do not know what a line up is, do not attempt to give one. The barber took the buzzers to the front of my hairline and turned my otherwise 4 finger forehead into a 5. This place hasn't been open for too long but I'll tell you, it's a class act.. from price to service!!!! Long wait, terrible haircut. Tried it because I could walk there. Won't be back. Showed the guy a picture, he did something totally different. Haircut was ok as like any other barbershop but pretty pricey due to location, could have been 5 stars if the barber is friendly and welcoming but felt like the barber is racist and talked only to white customers and not the colored ones, so if you are colored go somewhere else, white people come over it's your dig. Great barbershop. Super friendly staff. They are knowledgeable with a variety of haircuts and offer things to purchase as well. The shop is always clean, with friendly conversation and an appropriate storefront Nice people if you can get over being charged $26 for a basic men's haircut (my hair was short/straight when I had mine cut). I prefer fair prices over a great decor. One recommendation I would have for them is if you're going to charge $26, at least have a coat rack for customers (especially in the winter). :/ So let me address Jason's review. First, these prices are more than fair when you look at other places in Philly. Also, you knew the price going in, yet stayed for the haircut, and then proceeded to complain about the price. You should've gone somewhere else from the start. Furthermore, they have multiple coat racks. They were probably being used, given that it's winter. In terms of my experience, it was phenomenal. Great service, friendly staff, and one of the best cuts I've ever gotten. I will definitely return. Let me first say, that I really love this place. I think they give great cuts and everyone is super friendly.
My one piece of feedback would be around wait times. This place is popular because it's good, but to make people wait sometimes as much as an hour and a half to 2 hours for a haircut can be rough. Part of it is because their barbers are very meticulous, which is great! I would just love to see the wait times get reduced to maximize people's time. I stopped in this morning and got my hair cut by Rob. He was very friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. I got the best hair cut I've ever gotten and will surely be back! Had a great experience here. Showed the barber a picture of what I wanted and it turned out exactly the way I hoped it would. Also had a straight razor shave. Great service and talented barbers. Barbershop was clean and organized and has outside seating as well. Just went here for the first time on the recomendation of a friend and I'll 100% be back. Booked my appointment with no preference and got Ashley; she was very receptive to any requests I made and made some great recommendations of her own, her attention to detail was phenomenal as well. Took my elderly Father there tonight. Staff was so friendly and kind and patient. Pop was pleased with his new hair cut. Meister's is the best barber shop in South Philly, and maybe the best barber shop in Philly. Great vibes, cool space, inexpensive, but most importantly, the owner might be one of the most talented barbers in the city. If you're unsure of what you want, just let him improvise. He definitely has an eye for style -- it's apparent as soon as you walk inside the shop. Worth the wait if there's a crowd. Got a cut and straight razor shave and they did a bang-up job. Will certainly be back Frank M. knows how to cut hair. Glad I found a place to get a consistently good haircut. Will be returning for as long as I live in Philly. Never again will I go to Meister's. I asked for a low skin fade and I got a medium- well not a fade because there is no fade. Sat in the chair for 45 minutes for the worst haircut I've ever had. Not to mention they charge 28.00. NEVER again ! Avoid at all costs. Arrogant, dismissive aging hipster elitism at its worst. These guys relish in being painfully disorganized and making fun of their customers to boot. Cocky, dull shears cutting hair here. Meister's does not belong in South Philly. Take that irritating, fake Philly attytood to Fishtown where you belong. Scott gave my partner a bad, asymmetrical skin fade and when he went back in the same day to get it fixed up, he blamed it on "the shadows of his head" or some crap like that. Pretty unprofessional if you ask me. He clearly did a bad job and then didn't take responsibility for it. I don't know if I went there on an off day, but I probably received one of the worst haircuts. It was a pleasant experience and good conversation, but the quality of haircut is not worth the cost. Disappointed Yeah been coming here for years. But that's over with. Reyes cut my hair and honestly butchered it. It was sloppy work. I'm done coming here. Sure rob is still good but that is that. I expected new hires to cut on the level that they do but they don't. After many a great haircut at Meister's Barbershop on Passyunk, I can no longer recommend the place. As a queer woman, I was initially uncertain whether I would be treated with respect in what's usually a heavily male space. Jillian, Sheena, and Frank were always kind and conducted themselves with care, but I can't say the same of the other barbers at Meister's. The shop's owner has never greeted me or offered me a drink--but he'll regularly offer these courtesies to most male customers. During my last haircut, my barber referred to a woman as a "slut" in casual conversation, which I find unacceptable. While the haircuts might be sharp, the shop itself is not comfortable or welcoming for me as a woman. This is a great place to get a haircut. Rob, the owner, is not only an extremely talented barber, but he is also a genuinely nice guy. 5 stars!! Been to several barber shops in Philly and these guys are cutting edge - literally. Best haircut I have had in my adult life. They managed my cowlicks and really allowed for flexibility in my hair style. Reasonable price and great set up and location. I have been converted Very rude and unwelcoming. I called to see if I could or how to booked an appointment and got a vague explanation. I asked how I book a stylist/barber and was told "hey, you do whatever" So i figured I'd walk in for convenience sake. I was greeted by a gentleman and asked if I had an appointment, I said no but I wanted to make one. When I asked for a master barber/stylist or an experience one I was replied with "WHAT" "A WHAT?!?! As if I offended him. I replied, someone with at least 5 years+ experience. The gentleman glances at his coworker and mutters "yeah, well we are all master barbers then". So I say ok thanks. I just want to put it out that if you're going to deny someone your service, you can at least give them a dignified reason on why... I am a barber/stylist in center city and couldn't get my hair cut on my only day off. I received a great hair cut for Rob a year or so back. So I figured I'd check if I could again. This experience is shocking because, even on my bad days I have my jobs reputation on the in mind. Cant say I'll give this place another shot again. Waited over an hour for a hair cut. Had to returned because the fade I got was not even...waited again for 30 minutes before I was told that I needed wait again for another hour before they would fix it. Poor costumer service... Great cut and even better atmosphere. Ive been going since they opened on EPA. My only complaint is that Adrian needs to stop wearing black jeans everyday. Change it up man. So many styles out there to choose from. Blue, gray, acid wash.... But really though, these guys and gals know how to cut hair. If you are looking for a quiet, meek environment maybe Meisters isn't for you. My buddy recommended this place to me figured I'd give it a go. Unfortunately won't be making the same recommendation to anyone. Went on a Saturday 1 1/2 hour wait somehow when I finally got in the chair it been 2 1/2, got skipped a couple times. Supposedly you get a beer or a beverage, everyone else got offered one, for some reason I didn't..... onto the haircut. Explained what I wanted he basically went ahead and did whatever he wanted, to be honest never going back.
UPDATE: girlfriend says worst haircut ever not allowed to go back Excellent haircut from Rob. Brought in pictures I thought would be good for my thick curly hair. He identified what he thought would look best on me. He 100% nailed the look in the picture. Many compliments received since. Also really pleasant to talk to, and all of the precautions made me feel totally safe. Highly recommend. For haircuts it almost seems like you can either schedule a week+ in advance for a stylish but pricey cut, or walk into a classic barber or Hair Cuttery style place for something cheaper in all facets but convenient. Given the unpredictability of my schedule, I've oftentimes found myself longing for the perfect in between, and only found it once before they've gone Fishtown busy (Still worth it though! - https://www.yelp.com/biz/franklins-barber-shop-philadelphia). For the longest time it felt like I was chasing a unicorn, but I finally found something like it in Meister's Barbershop!
Meister's a a solid classic barbershop with a strong punk rock vibe, and it's nearly tripled the size of most others with 6 chairs and a full house of barbers on busy days. Add in online booking and its possible to schedule an appointment with 48 hours notice, although it is still a fairly new process that can lead to some overbooking on busier days, and might not be the most ideal if you have a set specific stylist in mind.
But if you do wait among a good crowd you can at least do so with a decent beer of the canned variety, even if you might have to grab one on your own if the stylist is too flustered to ask. While they definitely haven't led to the best cuts I've ever gotten, they're passable for the price, booking convenience, and detail that the barbers put into their work. Add in the random good conversations, and South Philly punk rock charm, and its a good spot overall. Rob cut my hair. It is the best haircut I have received in years. There was a wait since he was alone, but things moved expeditiously and I enjoyed a complimentary beer while I waited. I'll go here exclusively moving forward.
Oh, also the shop itself is great. It has a laid back vibe and great decor. Well done. Just had my first experience. Staff was cool, cut was good, good vibe inside. Reasonable price. Had a reservation, waited 5-10 minutes. Solid place! My boyfriend went here once because his shop was closed. It felt like a very unwelcoming place. $35 for a haircut that he could've gotten at his barber shop and an attitude with it. When the barber asked him what he wanted, as my boyfriend began to explain the barber literally got annoyed with his request (a fade) and rushed him through while he was speaking, didn't talk the entire time and caused us to never want to return. Why spend $35 for an average hair cut with a rude barber? Clean cuts on 15th & Wolf is much better Been going to Meisters since opening and all I can say is Awesome!! Adrian is an artist with those clippers and scissors. The new online appointment app is great. Had a cut scheduled for 5:00 and was in Adrian's chair at 5:00!!! Far cry from their beginning. Used to give a solid and well maintained/fresh cut. Started out walk in only for the buzz and reputation( which was at the time best in the city/suburbs) Now In and out with no attention to detail. Sad to see a sell out. Prob won't go back but hope he gets back to his basics or gets a new profession I really loved this barber and I would travel about an hour to get my haircut here because I saw their quality. But going from a $40 beard and haircut trim to $60 during the pandemic did it for me. No person can cut a man's hair good enough to pay $60 every three weeks. Best haircut you can get in the city. I've sampled every barber and each does a great job...but, because they're awesome just be prepared that you might have a wait in front of you. However, for the cut you get at the price you get, waiting is just a small price to pay. Background: I have been going here for about a year. I was very satisfied with Scott and one other guy that had previously cut my hair.
In early December 2017, I went in as a walk-in. I was told that they no longer take walk-in hair cuts and I needed to download their appointment app. That's fine. This place is super popular and there was always a line out the door. Scott very kindly took me as a walk-in that day. After my cut, I signed up the for app and booked Scott for an appointment six weeks later. A week or so later I got notification that my appointment had been cancelled. Thinking Scott quit. I booked an appointment with Rob. Great, I finally have appointment with the Man himself.
Fast forward to today when I show up five minutes early for my appointment. I ended up waiting for 30 minutes while Rob took his time with the customer previous to me. He knew I was there. He greeted me as I got there.
Him: "Do you have an appointment?"
Me: "yep."
The next time Rob acknowledged my presence was as I got up to leave.
Him: "You taking off?"
Me: "Yeah. I gotta go."
Nothing. No "sorry for making you wait." No, "let me give you a discounted cut for making you wait." Just silence.
Me: "You know, I made an appointment a month ago and you made me wait for 30 minutes. That's f----ed up, man."
Him: Shoulder shrug.
I guess you are doing well enough that you don't need new clients? I went back and forth on my decision to write this review, because it may mean that I'll have to book Sheena even further in advance due to the potential spike in business! With my selfishness aside, I can't say enough about the quality and CONSISTENCY of the cuts that Sheena gives. I'm very picky about my hair and have trust issues when it comes to barbers (who doesn't?). I've been cut everywhere from basements to high end studios and nobody does it better than Sheena. It's because she actually knows how to cut hair in a way that doesn't make you look like you just got snipped by one of those tabletop paper cutters. A++++ Best barber shop in south Philly hands down. Everyone who has cut my hair there have been excellent. I have been going to this shop for a while now and I have never had a bad experience. Everyone is friendly and does a great job. Definitely will continue to be my go to spot. My brother was looking for a barbershop that he would continue to go to, but this one wasn't it. To start, none of the workers were welcoming. It wasn't even a busy day as there was only one person getting their hair cut. There were about 3 workers just there and no one bothered to welcome us. Rude. To continue, my brother wanted a specific hair cut and received something completely different. His stylist even asked him if he wanted the stylist's haircut. He wanted to keep his bangs, instead it was chopped off completely. Not only that, the cut was uneven on the sides and the back. I had to fit it because it was that noticeable. We paid and left. Learned that the place wasn't worth returning to at all. Stopped in here a few weeks ago for a cut. The staff is unfriendly and it has some weird vibe to it. Not the best cut since they ignored my specific requests. So I have to say pass on this place. Hopped around a couple barbers in center city before finding this place. Made an appointment online and got a great cut from Reyes. Definitely will return. Reasonable price, was seen on time, place was clean Made an appointment on a Sunday night for a Monday cut. Was met by Adrian who took my temp amd offered some hand sanitizer. Awesome experience, awesome cut, $10 cheaper than other nearby, similar shops. Can't reccommend highly enough! Came to this place after a recommendation from a friend after just moving back to Philly. I booked a haircut with the owner, Rob Baumeister. Admittedly I was 3 minutes late to my appointment as it was my first time coming here and turned on the wrong street. Rob seemed a bit impatient when I wanted to show him photos of the style that I'd like which I thought was strange as I was a brand new client. His response was, "I got it" and I just felt inclined to trust that it would be a great haircut. Rob did the entire haircut with my chair turned away from the mirror and I couldn't see anything that he was doing. After the haircut was done and he turned me around, I was shocked because he had chopped off about two inches of hair more than I wanted. He could probably sense that and immediately said that because I hadn't had a haircut in a while and since it wasn't with him before he had to 'make adjustments' that it would take three weeks for my hair to get to the look I actually wanted. I travel a ton and get my haircut with new stylists all around the world and this is the first time anyone has ever completely ignored my requests and done what they felt like doing. After the haircut was done, I felt quite rushed out of the seat and didn't really get to look at what was done in detail. I was in the bathroom and noticed that the fade he had done was uneven on one side and I politely brought this up to him asking if he could just fix that one part and his response was nothing short of rude and dismissive and I left and went home and fixed it myself. I get that this place is busy but a professional response would have been to ask me to come back and schedule something. Rob's skills at doing fades was average at best in my opinion. Was it a horrible haircut? No... but it wasn't what I had asked for. If you want a haircut with a ton of attitude thrown in, this is your place. I get that this is South Philly but save the attitude and inflated ego when it comes to how you respond to clients. Long wait, terrible haircut. Tried it because I could walk there. Won't be back. Showed the guy a picture, he did something totally different.
UPDATE: Rob, the owner, reached out to me in response to my original review and offered a refund. I may have gotten a bad cut but I credit Rob for reaching out and also wanting to understand what went wrong so he could fix it. Let me begin by saying, I've never felt so convicted in writing a review about a place before especially when it comes to service.
Environment: From that "old-school vintage barbershop feel" to the accessibility of charging stations to the lawn chairs outside, this environment was unbeatable. Definitely pretty spacious assuming you come at an off to medium hour.
Service: "Remember to sign in on your life side of the binder before taking your seat." (Won't ever forget that again). Easily some of the best in the city for a barbershop. Rob is the one who cut my hair and despite getting extremely caught up in the conversation, learning about his passions, and how much he cares, he has very very fine attention to detail providing excellence in his trade. I love when barbers recommend very particular detailed changes (e.g. not going too tight up top with the fade to maintain shape) because it shows that they are confident in their recommendations. Despite expecting to wait 45 min - 1 hr for a haircut, it is literally worth every single minute (just bring a book to read or surf your phone). Rob and his team are absolutely amazing people and everyone should have an opportunity to experience the shop.
Price: I got a standard 1-in fade with a hard part and it costs me $26 (with whatever you'd like to tip). Please treat these barbers well with your tips, they deserve it.
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name: Colombian Bakery, address: 4944 N 5th St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: opening, categories: Bakeries, Latin American, Restaurants, Colombian, Food, text: I have eaten their food but never been there. My office often enjoys this delicious cheese-guava pastry/bread and these absolutely fantastic cheese rolls, but the bakery itself remains mysterious and distant to me. Some day, when the stars are right, I shall see this bakery myself. As Colombian as it gets. Great chicharrones, pandebonos and empanadas. We also got avena and arequipe. The if you have never been to Colombia and had Pandebono's or Almojabana's. There is no need to go, they are here in Philly and worth a trip. Stopped in for breakfast takeout. Ordered: empanada which were a little small but tasted great, buñuelos and almojábanas were amazing. The almojábana melted in my mouth. Avena was great. And they were very fast. Would definitely come back. This is the section of 5th street in N.Philly I always have to tell myself to be patient while driving. There are tons of small Latin American bakeries and eateries where at any given time there are cars doubled parked. I was pleasantly surprised to find few empty parking spots this Saturday morning around 9:30am. Colombian bakery is so easy to miss because it's a small store and kind of blends with other store fronts.
There are maybe about 2-3 tables, and a short counter facing the wall where about 3 people can sit. It is a small store. This Saturday morning I stood in line waiting with probably about 4 people ahead of me and about 6-7 people behind me (and more people kept coming in). I was the only Asian there I felt like I was transported back to when I was in Peru or Puerto Rico and I was the only non Latina and a non Spanish speaker. I was all ready to use charade like gestures to tell them what I wanted, but the lady who served me spoke English. In fact she was really helpful and nice. Other customers also pointed to different bread they liked for me to try. While I was waiting they kept bringing more trays of fresh bread/buns out!
I bought about 9 different items (one of them being a large loaf of bread) and I only paid $13.50! Arepa was so tasty and filling! Empanadas were super delicious! I think they use the mixture of corn and flour dough (loved it)! Other bread/buns were great, but my all time favourite was the "cheese" ball bun!! Omg, I loved it so much I sent my husband back to get some more! It's a bit crunchy on the outside, and very spongy and fluffy inside. It kind of reminded me of Chinese egg sponge cake, except this had subtle cheese flavour (and it is not sweet).
This probably will be my go to place on Saturday mornings. Their hot chocolate is yummy too, and next time I may get their coffee. I saw them make coffee the "Latin" way where they pour hot milk, add a spoonful of sugar, and add coffee - yum! This place is about 20-25 min from where I live, but hey, I will go for their awesome bread! Good food. Great service. The reason they got a 4 and not a 5 is that the space was really small and when we went in there was an old drunk guy talking to himself and made me uncomfortable Delicious this place is cranking out Fresh Colombian Pan every 10 min. Different varieties everything so delicious. The Almojabanas , pandebonos, & pan de queso more cheeses then I've had before but will definitely return !!!! Always come here for coffee, beef empenadas, and chorizo. So good, authentic, fast service!! Rico empeñadas de res con salsa picante! El café y chorizo también me encanta!! I like there empanadas but the elderly looking lady is always rushing me even though there be no people in the afternoon and she be having a attitude when i be coming in. I come here for cheesy bread that comes two ways, as rolls and circular tube. Both are fantastic. Get them fresh out of the oven! We decided to pick up some empanadas and pan de bonos to go, since we live no where near ANYTHING Colombian, and this place was PACKED! It is a tiny hallway bakery/bodega selling not only Colombian baked goods but also some grocery items like Colombian sodas, prepacked arepas and such.
I waited on line for about ten minutes and was really disappointed that there were no empanadas left by the time it was my turn. It was about a 10 minute wait and considering my illegal parking situation, I decided to return some other time. I did get cheese bread and it was deliciously soft and full of cheese.
There is a $12 minimum for credit. They also have a few seats available inside if you come in starved and at the perfect time, but I would say this place is mostly for take out. I look forward to coming back and trying an empanada When Sank suggested we stop at the bakery for breakfast, I was game. I'd never been to a Colombian bakery before and was thrilled to stop. He just pointed and I went along with it. Aside from the empanadas, I don't know the name of anything we ordered, but it was all delicious. And still hot when we got it back home.
I loved the spicy green dipping sauce, which I used on everything. My favorite was definitely a round ball filled with some type of hard cheese. It had a good texture and was tasty. The empanadas were well-filled and excellent; I super enjoyed everything else, too.
Now that I'm in the know, I'll be on the look out for Colombian bakeries wherever I go. Service was great! We ordered some empanadas and some bunuelos, a horchata and let me say it was so so good I will definitely be back. What can I say? They have the best pandebono, and their empanadas are amazing! The owners and workers are friendly and they have plenty of Colombian options to choose from. Small shop offering authentic Columbian pastries. I go to them for my cravings and end up getting more than I planned because everything looks great in the case and no's prepared with skill. The prices have increased but it can be worth the trip for authentic cultural food. Delicious and authentic Colombian food, the service is great and the flavors are outstanding. The arepa de choclo with cheese and the beef empanadas are incredible. Definitely a go-to!
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name: Brew, address: 1900 S 15th St, city: Philadelphia, stars_x: 4.5, is_open: closed, categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Nightlife, Beer Bar, Coffee & Tea, Breweries, Food, Internet Cafes, Bars, text: Excellent. I've missed Aaron Ultimo since he left DC a few years ago where he worked at Murky Coffee - He taught me a lot about coffee, and now - He's practicing everything he had been preaching for so many years. The coffee is excellent - Pour over style is my preferred brewing method - I wish more places embraced it. Simple execution but with years of experience behind it.
The completely opening side wall is a nice touch - you can be inside and outside at the same time. Wi-Fi too!
If you're in the neighborhood or NOT. Stop in and check out the best coffee in Philadelphia. Using Counter Culture beans is such a relief after so many burned Toreo beans all over Philly.
I love the Gryphon in Wayne - but this is just a bit better. Sorry Rich. This place is nice. The coffee from Counter culture is descent. I give the credit to counter culture which find the best single origines (crus) then roasted. Isn't itbetter to market a single origine than doing what make roasting fun and creative. Blending diffrent coffees from diffrent regions, Come with an end product that is sublime!! Well like everything here we want cheap and easy money. So ultimo is not doing anything special. reason why ultimo is fine because we have so many crappy coffees. Ultimo just brew it right using the thru brew made by somebody else, Use a high class espresso machine. You cannot go wrong with that even at home. Ultimo is not creating anything.. People are not educate neither cultivate about anything so they listen to hype and marketing. let people prove themselve first. The word Barista is just a marketing word even in Italy a Barista is just a person that seve food, Coffee, etc.. not big deal. everywhere in Europe. Only here we market Barista that using automatic machine and think they are great. I think he is The owner, he is a bit arrogant in my taste. He thinks he knows everything. about brewing coffee.Coffee has several components. From planting, roastiong, grinding to brewing. a single Origine give you one taste from that region. The brew a Burundi Bwayi. You will only get that taste. Blending different coffees will give you the world. Ultimo is doing a good job to educate his community how to appreciate good coffees, Everybody should do that. You should not be special because you do that. You need to be humble. Expensive coffee served via pour over and rung up via iPad. This must justify their lack of beer coolers. Weak expensive coffee and no food options. Environment is very reminiscent of a waiting area at Rite Aids pharmacy. Wow, I am really impressed with this place. The coffee is fantastic, smooth, rich, and strong. The decor is minimalistic but charming, the dark church pews stained the same color as the windows hanging on the wall are a nice touch. And in nice weather, opening the glass garage door allows everyone to feel like they're sitting outside.
Also, that almond croissant may be one of the best things I've eaten recently. I have yet to try any espresso drinks, or the sandwiches, but the brie concoction looks like something that is going to be on the list quite soon.
Ultimo has never disappointed, it's a great place to linger with free wifi and quality coffee and food. I'm in love with the espresso here. It's phenomenal. It's velvety and rich; with the right viscosity, whilst accomplishing a smooth mouth feel and a finish that doesn't leave a bitter aftertaste.
I live in the suburbs, and found that Ultimo's espresso tastes similar to the beans served at The Gryphon in Wayne and Pour Richard's Cafe in Devon. Consistency. Is. Everything.
Always great service. They smile & like that you're there, not FML someone is here for coffee.
Always good coffee - hand poured, the drip, and their mocha is spot on, with beautiful art. Some shops become so popular, ChapterHouse, that both staff and product slip, and over the past 7 months, now just plain SUCK. Oh well, Brew Ultimo is my new spot.
Plus if your compnay prefers to intoxicate rather than caffinate, they have great bottled cool artisty beers starting at 1.60, can't beat that in the city. Enjoy! I love this place. They have cute decor and it's an excellent place for people watching. Oh and petting all the dogs! Who doesn't love that?
The prices are cheaper or on par with Starbucks. I wouldn't say the coffee is amazing but it's good. The customer service would improve that. They're not super welcoming as they just stare at you. I usually stare back and it just gives me flashbacks of a few bad dates. I end up having to take control and change the situation.
Tl,dr
It's good. Okay? Came for coffee, will come back for beer...
I got a latte to go. The coffee was pretty good, a little bit more acidic than I like but still good. I also had a honey and chamomile cookie which was soft and tasted from scratch and delicious. I was a bit surprised by the price, which in total came to be around $6.00, which I thought was pretty hefty for the neighborhood.
The have a selection of pure over coffees with a bunch of tables, almost set up like a library or study area than your normal coffee lounge. Although it was noon time on a Monday, almost all the tables were filled.
What will make me come back to this place is actually the beer selection (never thought I would say that in a coffee shop review.) Against the back of the shop, is a huge selection of craft beers including Framboise lambic (raspberry as well as peach?!) as well as Hitachino Nest white. Very unexpected but pleasant surprise! Stopped in on a cold, December day (my birthday in fact) after going for a ride to the Navy Yard. What a beer selection! And damn fine coffee. This is the kind of place I would come to work on coding or homework for hours. Actually, I'm pretty sure that's what everyone in there was doing! I like the relaxed vibe of the place, selling both coffee and good beer. The staff is friendly and in warm weather, it is great when the windows are open. The only thing I find to be slightly odd is that it's two business in one, so you have to pay for beer in the back and coffee/food in the front. It's not the best system. Wow, pretty delicious.
I am a coffee snob. I appreciate it when a place puts work into their product. The staff at Ultimo knows what's up.
I've been here a few times and everything they make is awesome. It's a long walk from my house but it's incredibly worth it. I've had a few varieties brewed using the pour-over method and it's just heaven in a cup. I'm not going to attempt to remember the names, but if you're a coffee person, you will really enjoy it.
They have a pretty great beer selection too. I have not personally purchased beer from here but I was perusing their offerings while enjoying that perfect cup of coffee I spoke about. The prices seemed in line with other craft beer stores around Philadelphia.
The coffee here is great. Just go try some, you'll see. Ultimo - Best coffee in Philadelphia
Value Proposition: The coffee is small (10oz cups) and expensive but of incredible quality. If you want quantity this is not your place, but if you want quality be sure to plan a visit.
Entering Ultimo is like walking into a deconstructed design store with it's brand new espresso machine glittering front and center as you step up through it's corner angled door. What's striking is the small menu yet exceptional quality of all of their products. The chain-hanging window panes proudly display the varietal and origin of each of their batch roasted coffees, which on my visit, featured two Peruvians, a Colombian, and an Ethiopian drip coffee available for purchase by the cup. They have window facing bar seats (4 or 5) and a nice back seating area that has both private corners and exposed areas. The glass roll up garage door offers a nice touch in providing ample natural light as well as necessary ventilation when the weather allows.
Aaron (or Erin) the dark haired guy there was knowledgeable and spoke with intelligence and without pretense about each varietal/batch's taste and flavor spectrums, which of course is expected when paying $2.00 - $3.40 for a single cup of coffee. Don't be fooled though, he knows what he's talking about and you'll see just how "spot-on" he really is by the time your first sip's flavor recedes.
Try a fresh crusty bagel ($1.75) with cultured salted/unsalted butter or fig spread (.75) while you're at it, and enjoy a fine culinary experience first thing in the morning. They also have not too hard biscotti, croissant, and a variety of other quality baked goods. It really is exactly as the name implies, Ultimo.
Beer selection - Nice selection of Belgian and craft beers, couldn't speak to the price but good selection for those who live in the neighborhood. Ok. This place is great. This review might start to sound like a love letter, but if ever a cafe were worthy of such adulation it was Ultimo/Brew.
I can pay this place the greatest compliment possible by saying that I don't usually drink coffee and yet I find myself going here 3 times a week easily. They've converted me. Or more likely, I'm addicted to what I'm almost positive are heroin-laced Ethiopian coffee beans.
I'm a huge fan of quality craftsmanship in all things, though especially food and drink. The team at Ultimo coddles their precious beans as if each toasted jewel was one of their children, gently bathing your individually brewed cup of coffee in water heated precisely to 210 degrees. Even their iced coffee is french pressed, dark and cloudy and so tasty it barely requires any cream or sugar.
This is a level of worship I haven't seen outside of the Pacific Northwest, though they rival the Blue Bottles and the Rituals of the world, while replacing the NorCal elitism with South Philly charm.
Yes, it's a little more expensive for the pleasure, (about 50 cents more than your average cup of Philly Joe), but I fully believe you pay an above average price for what is most certainly an above average product. I've even gladly paid $5 for specialty cups of coffee here, made from exclusive strains of beans sourced like pinot noir grapes from a single vineyard, and never looked back. They were in fact a lot like ordering a glass of wine, full of complexity and richness, exhibiting delicate flavors like blueberry and chocolate--a coffee experience like I've never had.
They also have a small menu of cafe treats like almond croissants, fresh fruit, and sandwiches with rotating toppings like tomato mozzarella, or goat cheese and fig jam. All these are sourced locally, from the cheese to the bread, even the granola and yogurt.
The space is super comfortable, bright and clean, with great music and a glass garage door they open to their sidewalk tables on nice days. The staff is always charming and not the least bit arrogant about their quality being a cut above the rest, though they easily could be.
All this without one mention of the fact that there's a row of beer coolers full of everything from Tecate cans to 750ml bottles of schmancy Microbrews.
They announce on the door where you walk in: "Coffee and beer together at last," and believe me, they're happier than ever. D$ I saw a lot of good reviews so I came here but it was a bit disappointing. I expected some nice, calm coffee shop but it turned out to be a little shop in the corner with very bland coffee.. I got the iced coffee because it was so hot today but the coffee wasn't that good.. I also payed $3 for it and I do not think it was worth the money... they give it to you on a tall cup so I guess it was good for the amount.. but the taste, I dont really like it. They didnt really have a lot of seats and so it was just an okay experience for me. Was not worth the money or the 30 min walk on a hot, sunny day. As of today, March 20th Brew finally has its license to sell beer and has begun doing so. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't name too many other places in this state that are such a perfect combination of great coffee and the ability to sell bottled craft beer. This last touch makes it ridiculously awesome. I really want to like this place. The baristas seem nice enough and the coffees pretty good. I just always end up leaving annoyed by not finding an available table or not being able to tune out conversations of like the philosophy behind someone's hot air balloon tattoo. I can't take it. I don't drink coffee much so I won't comment on that however Brew's craft beer selection is fantastic. I recently purchased a home a block away and this place is a gem. Couple weeks ago I was wasting time on Instagram and saw a posting from Brew for a limited release beer...I jumped off my couch and went over and picked some up. They've got the good stuff, no doubt about it.
Service is always good at the beer counter, free Wifi as well. I need to come here more often. I've been meaning to check this place out for a while now as it comes highly recommended from my roommate and I finally caved last week.
Incredible selection of beers, nice decoration and perfect location. I'm not a coffee drinker so I can't really form an opinion on that aspect of the store.
My only complaints are the prices and staff. I felt like I was in constant judgement of my tastes and knowledge. Sorry I don't ride a fixed gear, bro. The prices are a little steep even for microbrews but i'm still content. Awesome! I LOVE this place. The coffee is delicious and their beer selection is amazing. Great place to hang out or study, and the people there are really nice! They have an awesome (and ever-changing) coffee selection brewed in single portions for the freshest brew, and when I'm feeling something a bit sweeter, their mochas and vanilla lattes (with their delicious, and house made vanilla syrup) are perfect; not too sweet, just enough of that strong espresso kick! Definitely the best coffee in south philly! I am also very happy that such a lovely coffee house has opened two blocks (!) from my house. Let me just repeat what everyone had said already- friendly staff, delicious coffee, lovely interior and nice outdoor seating. Woohoo! They have beer now! The plain jane coffee is strong, but the beer selection should be stronger. So many good looking people in Newbold lately. Great coffee!!! Good lattes. Huge beer selection. Great place for a hot cup of joe or to kick back and have a beer. If I lived closer, I'd be here constantly. I assure you. In my opinion, Ultimo serves some of the best coffee in the city, one of my favorite places for coffee, I say.
( I've been thinking long and hard about how to explain to you just how great I think this coffeehouse/ crafty beer shop is. I had a whole hair-brained analogy worked out where somehow, my vices personified came to life to do battle, and for some reason they were really Viking-y. Beer vice viking is so so strong, but here at Ultimo, coffee vice viking would vanquish and prevail. There was this one part where I was gonna yell, "Oh! The irony!" But my little story all just got out of hand and senseless."No, too stupid," I thought. So I'll spare you, and you're welcome. )
The simple fact of the matter is that Ultimo provides excellent, excellent coffee. Excellent quality, excellent espresso, excellent pour-over/ hand pour... I am repeating the word excellent for emphasis, see? It's so good. I get an overwhelming feeling of, "Ahhh now this is more like it," every time. They know what's what.
The people who work here are lovely, and even if they weren't...even if I were greeted promptly with a quick, sharp kick in the shins, I think think that I'd come back, "Gaaahhd, they're so kicky there, but damn do they know what they're doing with them coffee beans."
It's a cool environment, it's generally relaxing...all good things, and I haven't even really brought up the beer aspect of the jernt to you. They have a great selection of craft beers, cold and waiting. I go for some coffee, I leave with some beers. Who's the happiest girl? (Me, over here, the one who likes coffee and beer and randomly bringing up Vikings) This is a cool place because you can buy craft beer, or stop for coffee. It's a somewhat strange yet somehow logical combination that makes Ultimo seem unique. [written on a summer visit to South Philly, for a boy at a table]
I can see you there;
Sitting outside the coffee shop
Speaking as you do to your friends, the bitter old men.
The ones who look at me and always claim I remind them
Of someone long ago.
Grab a beer and linger longer.
Stranger in a strange place that took my hand and sat me down.
You're just like your friends... and I'll just be another reminder
Of someone
(long ago)
You missed. Good coffee, great atmosphere, and a huge beer selection. What more could you want in a study spot? I go to Ultimo numerous times a week and find that I can be so productive there. It covers all my needs in one fell swoop. I got a sandwich once, which of course uses locally produced ingredients, which was phenomenal as well. Cool place to hang out/catch up with old friend(s) or even new friend(s). Coffee and beer together. Have you ever thought that such combination exist? I say.. beautiful (even though I'm more of a liquor guy than a beer)
Their ice coffee was surprisingly tasty, even without cream and sugar. The way the barista made my ice coffee was interesting- just like watching a scientist / wizard mixing potions and stuffs haha.
I'll be back for their etiophian coffee (hot) and some beer. Coffee is unique. It's somewhat viscous. Strong. I love it!
They have different varieties available so check those out on their coffee menu. Some can get pricy but I think it's worth it if you're interested in really enjoying a mug of coffee like you would a fine wine, but not necessarily of value if you're just dosing it with sugar and milk and using it to jolt your day.
I sound like a bougie A-hole ha!
Whatever - I love this place and its sincere appreciation for coffee. Even the disclaimer to try the brews before adding milk and sugar. God, thank you!
Be a purist - taste the Bergamot. coffee? AND beer?
YESSSSSSSSSS
i've been in this place a couple times and each time i've been so pleased. a huge garage door opens out on to the sidewalk seating. church pews are inside with tables lining them. everything is super clean and comfortable.
The coffee is in the front. I've only had their iced coffee and it was pretty much one of the best glasses of iced coffee i've ever had.
there is a long wall full of take out beer (pay for beer in the back, not the front). i took me forever standing there to try to decide what I wanted! I ended up with a Dogfish Head 90 min and an Ithaca Apricot Wheat. The best part is you can sit in there and drink your beer. The delicious beer of a really nice bar with the chill quiet atmosphere of a coffee shop. this is the best (and worst) combination for study sessions. I gave this 5 stars because this place has 3 very unique qualities: coffee, beer, and an excellent study atmosphere.
Coffee:
The selection is excellent. I ordered a cappuccino and an Americano. Both came out pristine. Honestly there is not much more to say about the coffee. It is abundantly clear they know exactly what they are doing.
Beer: CRAFT beer selection is also excellent. I highly prefer IPAs and there are PLENTY. Even some I have never heard of. They are organized very neatly and it actually adds to the ambiance of the place.
Studying: This one I am especially impressed with. As a med student I am studying constantly, in the early morning and late at night. It never gets so loud that a pair of headphones can't drown out the sound. I am very picky about studying and can almost never find a decent place to get things done...this one did it. Tables are smaller but I have had an open binder, textbook and laptop at one time. And yes, there are plenty of outlets.
Being open later was a huge plus for me. I have studied here from 1pm-9pm without any problem. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Parking was not a problem. On a saturday afternoon there was plenty of street parking. More and more hip places are popping up in places I wish were here years ago( though my family has lived in Philly for years, I have not). This is a sign of the times and change is good as long as everyone can work together towards a common goal.
That being said, if I was to review a coffee shop, I always use the cappuccino as reference. No surprise considering io sono italiano puro! Divine is the word to describe the excellent milk fat content, and the coffee has a sweetness rarely seen in espresso today. I had a cappuccino yesterday and followed that right up with a shot of espresso! Unique and awesome in its taste. I really cannot say anymore to give it justice!
I have not bought any beer....yet! But I did notice two beers from Italy, though not necessarily craft, but not your standard Peroni. They have a great selection of beer and a changing draft list. The employees are very knowledgeable about their selection. If you are staying and want a cold drink that isn't in their refrigerator upstairs, they will go downstairs and get a cold one! One of their workers is not super friendly, which is why I took off one star. Simply the best cappuccino I had In a long time(matches to La Colombe).
And that is folks, what a coffee bar is all about!
Can't wait to move to the neighborhood. These reviews are all about coffee!? Co'mon! The beer selection by the bottle is astounding, and astoundingly affordable. What a great place to grab your choice of microbrew and watch the world go by. My only complaint? Let them bring over fries from SPTR next door. The perfect place to experiment with new beers. You wanna a coffee? they got it. but for me, brew = BEER. As you enter the smell of fresh roasted coffee beans is intoxicating! Unfortunately I can't drink the stuff, and head straight for the beer.
The beer choices are numerous, varied and well- versed. Available by the bottle, 6 pack and growler. I usually go for a growler and/ or the monthly special; $10.25 + tax for a 6er. Always a top craft brewery featured(3 different kinds); this month - Sixpoint. Growlers run $10 - 20 w/ this month Sixpoint Resin @ $14 being a great deal.Available as 16, 32 or 64 oz, there are 10 draught lines, including one nitro. Selection is awesome!
Staff are knowledgeable and eager to help Yes, yes, yes. The beer, the finest cup of coffee in town AND they're always playing the best music. Everything is so nice. I'm in brew heaven. On a recent visit I enjoyed an outstanding cup of the Yirgacheffe while listening to such songs as the Zombies' "Time of the Season" and Ray Charles' "I Got a Woman". I do, however, think they should change their name to Ultimo' Coffee@Brewski. I'm just sayin'. Coffee and Beer!!
It like the atmosphere and it's awesome how into coffee the coffee staff is and how into beer the beer staff is. If you ever need a recommendation, you're in good hands.
The tables are large, the internet is free, the music is wonderful so it's also a wonderful place to go to do work or to read. Open windows, great beer selection, tasty coffee! Make sure you know where the line begins however because people get really offended about that?!..;-) ;-) ;-) ...GREAT PLAce though in the little Sphilly gem ofa place! you know when you go into a coffee shop and you kind of size up the person making your coffee - do they look like they could pull me a good shot? i went in and they didn't look like they knew what they were doing and weren't particularly nice to me, but they made a great cup of pour over. microbrews and high quality coffee under one roof. not mad. This review is solely for Brew. I love the ultimo staff they are all super friendly. I recently moved two blocks from here and it's combined for takeout beer especially since you can make your own six pack to go. The first time I went we had a guy working the counter of Brew and he was AWESOME. Recommended us a bunch of great beers and we stayed and hung out until close. Every single time I've gone back since there is a woman with glasses working the Brew counter and she is the most unpleasant person I have ever met. Once I asked if the beer was twist off and she told me only shitty beers have twist off caps. My bad dude. Went again the other night to get a growler, she told me " go wait up front this takes time". Okay... Went back again tonight with my girlfriend and our dogs. I waited outside while my girlfriend picked her beers and I went in to pick mine and pay (since you can't bring dogs inside) and she rudely said "I don't understand why you guys had to come in separately". I will keep going back here because I live close the beer selection is awesome and I love the ultimo staff but this woman constantly has an attitude problem. Great cup of coffee! I especially like the open-air garage facade - great to sit on and chill out (I will be slightly bummed when they have to close it to keep out flies and hot air during the summer days.)
I'll definitely be going back to sample the full spectrum of drinks.
Also, I'm secretly looking forward to someone doing a faceplant while trying to hop over the wall and into the cafe- that'll be one for the failblog! I think I'm addicted to their apple, cheese, and honey baguette. There Mocha was also quite delish. If I lived a bit closer to Ultimo, I'd be a regular for sure! The coffee was great and I was able to chill out all afternoon and get some work done. They have a ton of nice looking beers too. Decaff Coffee. Good service. Grab a spot. Great atmosphere. I meet people all here just chilling on our laptops. Just one of those comfortable spots. Only trouble I had was getting parking sometimes. Quality, coffee culture and community.
From espresso to mocha, sandwiches to cupcakes, the essentials for a cafe are very near perfect. Coffee lovers/professionals run the place and all the staff are affable and knowledgeable. The atmosphere is wonderfully "Philadelphia." Great people from the local community. I was a regular for well over a year, I hit many of the other coffee joints in the region but I keep coming back to Ultimo, the best. The hood is going upscale. Staff is friendly + helpful in explaining drink options + various beans they have available. Brew/Ultimo has one of the few drip-bars I've seen outside of Santa Cruz, CA + it's a wonderful thing. Coffee is great.
Atmosphere is a little sparse, and with a row of empty refrigerators, word is that they will soon be selling beer to go. Food is really limited - a few croissants (nothing to write home about) and one or two varieties of sandwiches on baguettes (again, nothing to write home about, and often gone by afternoon).
All in all - go for the best coffee within a 1 mile radius and friendly staff, but go elsewhere if you're hungry. This place is fantastic. I had the Idibo, an Ethiopian, during my visit. It being my first pourover I could definitely taste the difference from brewed coffee; it was smooth as silk with zero bitterness and I could clearly detect the citrus notes. I made a conscious decision to enjoy it without sugar and cream which is what I would suggest to everyone. Coffee and beer in the same store = best combination ever. I don't have too much more to say about that. Relaxed and friendly atmosphere as well.
But I will say that the coffee is hand-poured and the baristas are really helpful if you can't decide which coffee you want to order (but the daily menu of the pours they offer is also more expansive regarding flavor profiles than others I've seen--I just wanted some human interaction, so I asked the barista instead). There was also a surprisingly large variety of beers for such a tiny establishment, with a good representation of seasonal brews as well (currently, the damn pumpkin craze was filling their shelves).
Weird thing about it is that you have to pay for the beer at a separate counter than the coffee. I get that it's technically two different establishments, but it's not exactly convenient. So I'm sitting here on a Sunday afternoon, right before we're supposed to get a snowstorm here in Philly and Ultimo's tables and seats are still packed! It's not unusual to have trouble finding a seat here on Sundays - many folks come and set up shop with their computers or study materials for the day. Other folks are usually here conversing with friends over a coffee or beer. I've frequented this shop multiple times and have never been disappointed. The atmosphere is slightly cramped but everyone is usually pretty polite and friendly (including the staff). The decor is wood tables, chairs, a few benches with a coffee bar and one side of the shop lined with refrigerators filled with local craft and niche beers. I'm not sure of the pricing of beer because I haven't explored this part of the establishment yet. Whenever I bring friends they always comment that they think it's really cool that this place serves beer as well as coffee.
The coffee ($2.65 for a 12 oz regular) is great and they have a selection of sandwiches($8), bagels ($1.75), cookies/biscottis (approx $2) and brownies (approx. $3) and other pastries to munch on. So far I've sampled a chocolate chip biscotti, dipped in chocolate, which was fresh, the right consistency and covered in a generous amount of quality tasting chocolate one side. I've also tried their sesame bagel with cream cheese and peach butter. The bagel and spreads were fresh and delicious but I only had JUST enough spread for both of my bagel halves, if you like "extra" spread it might be best to get two sides ($.75 each). Today I tried a spinach and ricotta croissant ($3.50) which was perfectly flaky and nice sized. If I'm not mistaken most of the food is from local vendors that use fresh ingredients which are often natural or organic. I also read on the Ultimo website that their milk and creams in the coffee station are non-hormone, non-antibiotic dairy (I was super happy about that!). Overall, this place is doing great and seems to have an awesome response from the neighborhood - I certainly enjoy my experience everytime I'm here! My boyfriend took me here after I told him I wanted to try a nice coffee shop in town because he was always bragging about it. The drinks were delightful and the atmosphere was quiet with a nice urban twist to it. It's definitely a place worth stopping by! I checked out ultimo for the first time today. Aside from being really excited about another coffee shop I can walk to I South Philly, I was thrilled with my breakfast! I got a baguette w/ goat cheese and bought a peach to go with it, which I sliced and put on top. The owners and staff are also super nice. I can't wait to come back and try the coffee. I've spent many hours here since it opened, largely when I was doing research from home. It's been a while, but I've been back twice recently and feel like a review is long overdue. The staff has always been friendly. Coffee, tea, pastries all delicious. I wish they'd keep the honey out so I don't have to ask for it, but that's a minor inconvenience. And the amount of jam served with a bagel is too small.
Having beer available is a nice plus. After a good amount of time working, when I'm getting close to wrapping up, it's nice to have a beer or two while finishing my work. And the pricing is reasonable.
The only thing I'd really like to see is comfortable seating. A good set of comfy plush chairs would be greatly appreciated, and/or maybe replace a pew with a couch. They might get claimed pretty early, but it'd be a great plus. Picking something like that up at the thrift store would fit with the hipster atmosphere and wouldn't cost much. They're kind of tied with la Colombe as my favorite coffee place. Except they're closer to my house.
The barristas are friendly and unpretentious as well - and happy to explain about what they're doing. Nice atmosphere, too - especially when they open the garage door :) Great place to get some work done on a laptop at a table for one. Not too loud, but it isn't dead, either, so if you're looking for life but need to work (and snack on a tasty cookie), this is the place to be. Adorable little coffee place. Great coffee, some of the best in the city. Great bottled beers. Great place to study, or work. Yelp book club met here for a Wednesday night, and it was an excellent choice. I'm on a pumpkin beer kick leading into Fall, and they had a good selection. I tried the River Horse Pumpkin, and it was pretty tasty. The beers are cheap, and they have a random assortment of glasses to pour them in. I ended up with a mason jar. The staff was friendly, and if this place was closer to me I would probably frequent it more often. I'll probably be back to pick up some beer. Simple breakfast menu but focused on high quality, locally grown ingredients: baguette with peach butter from Green Meadow Farms, granola with vanilla yogurt from Pequea Valley, and divine pastries from Four Worlds (who also use locally sourced ingredients when possible).
Wonderful coffee, kind and helpful employees, and a great space with brick walls and wide open windows (and outdoor tables!).
I'll be back! I REALLY like this place and frequent it all the time. It's one of my favorite study spots, especially in the summer. Their coffee is absolutely delicious and the baristas are super friendly, you can buy beer there, there's no minimum for using a card, and there's tons of windows and natural light.
There's just one thing that gets me: sometimes it's REALLY COLD. I think because the Baristas are dealing with hot coffee and they're on their feet and moving around they make it cold in there, meanwhile I'm huddled in the corner trying to keep the feeling in my fingers while I type away in a flurry of grad school-induced misery.
I still give 5 stars though, because LA GOLONDRINA. Wow. I haven't been this in love with a coffee shop in a long time, and I've only been to this place once.
I went here with some future roommates so we could all get acquainted, and it was super charming right from the start. The baristas definitely knew their stuff when it came to different brews, and I wish I was there longer and could have tried something other than the iced coffee that I ended up getting. Yes, I know, iced coffees are boring, but you know what isn't boring? One made with coffee so perfect that you almost don't need to add any cream or sugar.
I also noticed they have a decent tea selection, and I'm a huge tea lover so that's super awesome as well.
Now, onto the second round of amazingness of this place. The ridiculous beer selection. They have so many of my favorite beers. Hitachino Nest White, Anchor Steam Summer Beer... plus tons and tons more. Plus the prices were really decent. I didn't inquire, so I have no idea if the prices of bottles are solid, or if they do a discount if you buy a 6 pack. But trust me, I will definitely be back to find out. I really really wanted to love this place, given that thedailymeal recently rated it the best brew house in the country and it's practically in my back yard (actually Town Hall Coffee, rated #33 is even closer to me). The location is on a residential street corner in a gentrified neighborhood where the cars are parked and packed like sardines and it's almost impossible to find a parking space. (Sure it's a neighborhood coffee shop that you're probably supposed to walk to, but no one will ever find it if they don't live in the neighborhood, so you have to drive or bike there). Once I found a spot 3 blocks away, I expected a line out the door since it was a Saturday morning. But no, I walked right up to the counter and ordered a latte.
The interesting thing about artisanal coffee houses is that most drinks come in only one size. No tall, grande, venti here. And hardly any syrup flavors, either. So I just ordered a latte and bought my son a pastry.
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't the absolutely best latte I've ever had. It was a very good latte, but it just didn't wow me.
The decor, however, is really nice. I love the meetinghouse-meets-industrial feel, and I like that if you brought your pooch with you, you could sit outside at the tables.
I'm not sure I'll go back here, given how difficult it is to find a space (I don't live in the city) and how good-but-not-great the latte was. An absolute gem. Coming from a counter culture barista in the Atlanta area myself, this counter culture shop does an amazing job with their coffee selection and offer an delicious iced French press concentrate coffee as their everyday iced option. Super cool vibes with an incredible selection of craft beer off to the side of the coffee area for coffee and beer snobs alike (most people who are snobs of one are also snobs of the other)!
Really friendly and knowledgeable staff alongside of a really clean, and well designed bar layout.
Side note: this shop is walking distance from the counter culture training facility which gives this shop a step up on their barista training!
Must stop for coffee people in the area!! Latte is so smooth and rich, love it. Cozy little spot, chill ambience, good service (had to ask the guy to break my $20 bill for something and he swiftly did it. Free, reliable wifi. Bathroom. Plenty of seating. Even has beer. What more do you need? Kiryama Espresso = (gnarly hand gestures).
Aaron and Elizabeth, with Counter Culture, helped usher great coffee into Philadelphia. Standards, experience, a disciplined/considerate staff, and a thirst for better coffee keeps this place great. Best cappucino that I've had in months and best in Philadelphia for a few years. I like that they have a beer selection. The coffee here is clearly the best in the city, reinforced by my second amazing macchiato in as many visits yesterday. The staff is incredibly friendly, and the coffee CAN'T BE BEAT. They use Counter Culture beans (also available in bean form to take home the addiction, and each bag comes with a free cup.) and a spectacular La Marzocco espresso machine. The brewed coffee comes is made in Chemex brewers until 11 am and then is made by the cup in a pour-over brew bar after then. The Fourth World Bakery croissants explode my brain, particularly the almond ones. They're transportative... every time I bite into once, I'm taken back to a little bakery in Carsac-Aillac, France. This is a very good thing. The sandwiches are also great, and (I believe) made in house.
Have I mentioned the service? Aaron offered to remake my macchiato when he spilled it a little (teensy-tiny bit) when plating it (not necessary!) and they're more than happy to chat coffee as much as you want. The space, too, is amazing, and there's no other coffee space in Philly that's as downright attractive as this one (the back room of Chapterhouse comes in second).
Ultimo is wildly awesome, and succeeds in every way. There are few places that I really want to give a bad review solely so I can keep them for myself, and this is one of them. But I can't do that, because if this goes away, I will be bereft and inconsolable.
And when they get the liquor license and start selling takeout... well, can I move in to the back room? This is a nice beer place similar to the Foodery. It also has a coffee station, but I wasn't there for that. Their beer selection is pretty decent (however not as extensive as Foodery) it will suffice. It is also a tad cheaper than Foodery, in the event you are closer to this location then you are to Foodery. best coffee in philly, hands down. only other philadelphia cafe in it's league, that i know of, is la colombe. this is for the serious coffee snobs and aesthetes out there. Really excellent coffee, great atmosphere. Good food (I love that I can get goat cheese on my bagel). I only wish I could go more often (I'm at work before they open). Not my favorite. As a caveat, I don't drink beer - if I did, I'm sure this place would hold more weight. As it stands for coffee & food, the brew is good, pastries are yummy when they have them (seem to run out), but the selection is quite small and above all, service is apathetic. Baristas here have seemed to be in a bad mood every time I've been, kinda felt like I was a burden just for wanting to buy something! Doesn't really create the friendly vibe I'm looking for in a neighborhood coffee shop. Boo. At least Bennas West opened, a much friendlier option! There are far warmer places to hang out than here. They have pour over, they have beer, they have great bagels, they have awesome staff, it's fairly quiet most days, they offer outdoor seating when it's nice out, they offer to top-off your beverage (if you're lucky), and they take cards with no minimum. I've witnessed some grumpy customers, but you know what - don't treat them like trash and they'll treat you with respect. Last night I had my world rocked by a singled-origin, Ethiopian, coffee. It was so good that I must tell the world about a neighborhood coffee shop in South Philly. The store has a nice ambiance and a nice mix of music playing at an appropriate decibel level. As I looked around, I noticed beer along the wall for sale. Since I was there looking for something hot and dark (coffee that is), I did not walk over to check out the selection of brews, but I noticed people walking out with six-packs.
The barista was very pleasant in assisting me with my coffee selection. I made my selection and the art of the seduction commenced with a slow pour over. After a few minutes, my coffee was finished. I grabbed a chocolate chip walnut cookie to go along with my coffee and away I went. I took my first sip and wham; it was as if fireworks were going off on my taste buds. That was it! The moment I realized that there is something special about this place. Now, I am not in South Philly often, nor am I in the area for coffee, but I must make it a point to return to rekindle the affair. oh sweet coffee gods, thanks for shining on me.
thank the lord and halleluyah!
la finca puente and ultimo are my two favorite new things!
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this coffee makes getting up and out of bed in the morning (6am) easy.
if you like coffee at all....GO TO ULTIMO!
'you won't be sorry.
I'll be back for more soon! I came here for coffee. But when I looked inside, my eyes gravitated towards the...
BEER.
There's a lot of beer at this place. Many fridge's worth. Too bad I came here to get some work done, I know mixing business and pleasure only leads to neither so I went for a macchiato.
The macchiato was delicious, dark, but incredibly smooth. The macchiato was so good I got some coffee also. The pour through coffee was crisp, clean, but still had good flavor with a slight acidic finish.
I'm not really a coffee snob/elitist but I do enjoy good espresso and coffee. And Brew/Ultimo is the business. Next time I'll be sure not to bring my work and kick back and have a beer after my espresso. I still love ultimo but they recently had to up their prices- $3 for an iced coffee is too much for me to spend every day... Only a couple days a week from now on. A beautiful, early summer day. Sunshine and a cool breeze pour through the open windows. An espresso in my hand and an erratic heartbeat in my chest. Yes, I must be at Ultimo.
Come for the coffee or come for the beer; either way, you'll leave quite happy. This open-air cafe has a friendly staff with genuine smiles and make a mean cup of coffee. Want to get drunk at noon? Then grab a beer from the very solid selection, ranging from the local to the well-known. It can get a little packed at times and maybe, just MAYBE, the hipster vibe can be a bit overwhelming (iPad cash register? O RLY?) but whatever. In a hip city like Philadelphia, you're bound to see your fair share of jorts.
Peace. Hot chocolate or a tasty draft, either one is great here. The cafe itself is generally not too crowded, the music is at a tolerable level and the staff is courteous and helpful. Oh and the prices are reasonable if that's your kinda thing. I felt out of place here. I'm not one to frequent places this "trendy" (for lack of a better word)
It's a coffee bar, and a bottle shop that does co-op vegetables?
I struggled to find my order from the unpronounceable "varieties" and exaggerated descriptions on the menu presented pretentiously to me on tiny clipboard.
I opted for this months special, A coffea tea soda. They take the flower from the coffee bean and make carbonated tea from it. It taste exactly how it sounds... but not bad.
Additionally, It pretty cramped in here with them sticking two businesses and all thier customer into one One of my favorite coffee shops in Philly. The coffee and espresso are incredible. So is the vibe. I love the big fridges of beer accompanied by the counter for espresso. Also the cheve & jam on a bagel is just incredible. I love coming here on a Saturday to do work. I also love the workers, the clientele, and their dogs. Very satisfied. I am SO happy to have this place so close to me! The best coffee in South Philly by far. From a place that (gasp) actually cares about making great coffee. Aside from all that, the prospect of take-out fancy beers is mindblowing. And besides all that, there is a giant garage door on the side of this place that opens onto the sidewalk with plenty of outdoor tables for those nice days. Also, major points to these guys for giving EVERY table its own power outlet. This is the best place for some laptop working without having to scramble for that one table near an outlet like some other spots in the area. great great great all around. Hope they have a nice long run. I've only had iced coffee here, but I plan to try more varieties. Even the iced coffee has a complex taste that any local or chain coffee shop can't compare to.
The people are nice and knowledgeable, and the shop itself is beautiful in a very minimalist way. Love the outdoor seating and neato bike rack.
I'll raise my review to 6 stars once all those coolers are filled with BEEERRR. Whats that? I cant give someplace 6 stars? Delicious, high-quality coffee (Counter Culture). Interesting setting. Ultimo is a great spot. I really love the vibe of this place. It has a simple, rustic, and clean design. I actually grew up in this area, across from the coffee shop. It used to be a corner grocery store many years ago and then it's closed for many years, until it's renovated and became a coffee shop about 2 years ago. This great spot is what looks to be an up and coming section of South Philly. I love the relaxed atmosphere of the place and how they are selling both coffee and beer. They have wide selection of hand brewed coffee and craft beers that you can choose from. And of top of that, the staff is really helpful and nice.
During warm weather, they have the big window open and you can sit outside drinking cold coffee or a cold craft beer while chatting with friends. In the winter, it has a warm and cozy feeling - they even play Christmas music during the Holiday. You can sips on mulled spice cider or a cup of hot chocolate, while working or meeting with friends. In fact, this is what I'm currently doing now. I have been sitting here for a few hours with my laptop working and have gone through two drinks. First, I had a Chemex Coffee with an espresso shot. Then my second drink is a mulled spice cider. I love the flavor of the warm cider - warmed my body up during this cold weather. If you looking for beer to go, you can grab the Philadelphia Brewing Co. for $9. They let you mix and match different types too. I almost forget to review this place because I've been taking it for granted. No! I easily think back again to a time before this place. The anticipation for beer to go and even before that, a question about what the heck kind of coffee shop do they think they think they're gonna pop up in this neighborhood. There is an ever revolving section of beer and a lot of staples that keep my interest. There are selections that are easy on the pocket and others when i feel like splurging(excellent diversity).
I'm a coffee snob and i've rarely liked any coffee that i haven't made myself. But, that being said if I do ever leave the house and buy coffee that someone is to labor over I go here. The smiles at the coffee bar on the way back to the beer make you feel guilty that you aren't at least gonna buy an apple at least (geesh!) what was I thinking! Unfortunately the staff was extremely rude when I came here to study. The espresso was mediocre bit I'm beyond over dealing with the employees. Great little place. Parking is tough for the 15th St location but they are opening a new one near Graduate Hosp. Hopefully it will be more convenient to get there. However, once you are there it is wonderful place. Coffee is great! Counter Culture all the way, my personal favorite. Top notch espresso machine, grinder and beans and baristas that know their way around all three. Very enjoyable and very good. Usually find a new coffee when I go there. They do not mark up the bags of Counter Culture. You would pay the same if you ordered directly from roaster. I can't go to CC anymore without making a stop at Ultimo. Highly recommended! This is the best coffee in Philadelphia. The sandwiches and pastries are also exceptional. If they can get the liquor license sorted out and stock those fridges with craft beer for take-out, it will make this place even more amazing. But even if that doesn't happen, this place is still worth a visit. Great espresso drinks & super friendly baristas. I love their Chai as well. I wished they had a location in Center City, I only get to come here when I'm visiting a friend who lives in the neighborhood. I will have to check out their beer selection one day. I usually rave about this place and recommend it to friends visiting Philadelphia as I am a South Philadelphian native. My niece and I went there today with our babies. We took turns going inside as we both had strollers. She went in holding her newborn son with one hand and trying to make her coffee with the other. Well she spilled her coffee ( thank goodness it was iced). The OWNER came out from behind the counter and was annoyed by the mess. In addition he actually charged her for the replacement coffee. What a douchelord! I love the space and the idea of craft beer at a coffee place. Also, the cappuccino was good. I'll come back! But I just wish the location was a lot more central to center city. Great place to meet a friend! Had a delicious vanilla latte myself and he had a large variety of beers to pick from. Good atmosphere and noise level. Street parking was easy to find in the area. Will definitely be back again! Ooooh! Oooh! Oooh! They're loading the beer into Ultimo/Brew (well, in the back room, that is) as I sit here typing this. It looks like a really good selection, too-- plenty from Ommegang and the Bruery, Green Flash & Bear Republic, plus numerous imports.
But the real action is on the coffee. Elizabeth and Aaron have brought some really, very good coffee that's brewed with a focus on the coffee itself to the little slice of Newbold. The coffee is as good as or better than any I have ever had. As noted elsewhere, they feature four coffees at any one point, and each cup is freshly ground and brewed on its own. To learn about how the contrast between coffees really works, come here with a friend and order two different types. I think the character they've brought to the shop is great, and I look forward to seeing how it will develop as time goes by.
In terms of suggestions, Ultimo is a place worth traveling to. I would say that over three transfers on public transportation is too much, but three or fewer should be sufficient to get you there. And yes, there is parking for bicycles outside. Spring Clean Up was posted outside of the establishment Saturday morning and I was there volunteering for the South Philly Food co-op. So, I wandered inside and I got a small, vanilla, non-fat latte and it was quick and delicious. Oh yeah, and pretty! I think this just might be the best latte I have ever had!
Mayor Nutter also got coffee from Ultimo that morning while stopping by for Spring Cleanup. I'm sure he enjoyed it just as much as I did! Stopped in on recommendation from Jesse M. & Ashley T. because they know how much I love both coffee and beer. I was not disappointed. The counter service was fast and friendly and their beer selection was huge, but not overwhelming. The only have one size for their iced coffee, but it was probably the 2nd best coffee I've had here (Anthony's Coffee House being 1st).
My only gripe is that you have to pay for the beer and coffee at seperate counters which is too much for my brain to handle at 11am on a Sunday morning, but I can see myself spending a lot of mornings sucking up their AC and free internet. Beer selection, ON POINT. It is a bit on the pricey side, and i wanted to be upset about that, but honestly, it's comparable to foodery beer prices, so that works for me.
The coffee, though, is definitely the draw. It makes me feel like a fancy coffee drinker. To be quite frank, I don't have a super refined coffee palate that would be able to distinguish between the various flavor combinations (I don't think), but i DO know it tastes delicious. the flavor was definitely delicate and watching the staff make the coffee was equally as enjoyable as actually drinking.
they lose a star for the dessert selections. they weren't BAD, per se, but just not great. i've tried a few cupcakes and cakes from this place and each time, i sorta regret the calories and the dollars. that's not the best sign. I've just moved to Philadelphia and I was so sad to leave my favorite coffee shop in the world behind. While stocking up on beans, I mentioned I was moving to the city of brotherly love and the owner suggested Ultimo.
When someone on the other side of the continent suggests a cup of espresso, your expectations run pretty high. Fortunately, I wasn't disappointed, the coffee at Ultimo is fantastic! I love the coffee menu and the description of each. I also love the feeling that it's just fine to come in and spend a few hours working or reading with your coffee.
One of my favorite things about getting an espresso is getting a small glass of water/sparkling water along side it. The faux coffee snob in me thinks that when places do this, they must really appreciate the 'art' of drinking coffee.
Um...how can you give a place that has an entire wall of beer less than 5 stars? A La Marzocco Strada, 5 de Junio coffee from Counter Culture and friendly baristas - Wow! I've really struggled as a South Philly dweller to find a good cup of decaf coffee. My local coffee shop doesn't even brew it. What a wonderful treat when I stopped in and got an incredibly fresh cup of decaf! Perfectly balanced, strong but smooth. I am looking forward to my next cup. love, love, love this place.
it's bar far the best cafe in town.
unpretentious and friendly staff is not hard to come by here, in fact it seems a requirement, which is smart on the part the ever- clever business owners.
the only wish, well... there's two.
1- please bring back the kalamata, goat cheese, arugula on whole wheat baguette.. a dream, i tell you.. the damn sandwich was a dream!.. it's been gone from my 'ulitmo'te experience now for months, but i have yet to shake the memory
and...
2- please fix your network. it's been a real bummer lately.
that is all
continue being fabulous xo Brew is great! They recently put price tags up on most of the beers which makes me a happy girl. I frequent Brew not only for their delicious coffee but to also procure some craft beer. Great selection and friendly staff. Six packs receive a 10% discount. It's always a treat to visit Brew. Thanks for being you, Brew! I do not consider myself a coffee drinker. I don't keep it at home, I don't drink coffee at work. My usual order at a cafe is a cup of herbal tea. However, I'm at Ultimo right now, and I'm currently on my second cup of iced coffee with the tiniest splashes of soy milk and simple syrup. I will probably get a third. It's that good.
Yeah, the coffee's a bit on the pricey side, especially if you want an espresso drink. I find that the drip coffee is pretty reasonably priced, especially for the quality and the fact that each cup is individually brewed. It's the best coffee I've ever had by far, and it's never burn-your-mouth hot. The sandwiches are pretty expensive, but they're also really delicious and use local/organic ingredients so I have one once in a while.
There's always good music on the stereo, played loud enough that you can hear it but not too loud that it's intrusive. I get a lot of work done here - before I had wireless internet in my apartment, I came to Ultimo to apply to law school. I thought my love affair with Ultimo was as torrid as it got - then they started selling (fairly reasonably priced) craft beer. If they started hosting punk shows, I'd never leave. Really cool place. Has great hand poured single origin drips coffee *and* a very nice selection of beers and ciders on tap or in bottles. I tried the El Salvador drip, which was delicious. My girlfriend really liked their pear cider. Check out their website and they show exactly what they have available every day! Also the atmosphere is really nice and unpretentious with some sweet rock tunes playing. Fits since the place I believe is a converted garage! Perfect cross between laid back coffee bar and beer boutique. Definitively recommend! Uhh, why didn't I know about this when I lived in Graduate Hospital? It's been an unrealized dream of mine to have bountiful options of beverages that will either caffeinate or give me a beer buzz all in one place! Geeze. Thanks for not telling me, EVERYONE.
Just kidding! I met a new friend here at their recommendation. I was more in a caffeine mood, however, and decided to grab some tea (I've mostly been laying off the coffee for years): I was a little bummed to only see a few options for tea, especially since it's just hot water and whatever tea varieties the shop decides to make available to order. So, kinda booooo on that.
Other than the very limited tea selection, the atmosphere was pretty nice. I enjoyed people-watching the South Philly characters from the comfort and protection of the big glass window I was sitting by and the music was good. I'd definitely like to return for a work session and drink some beer! 5/5 the best coffee shop. HAru coffee from chemex is the best and the single shot of expresso is amazing and delicious This place is the most perfect place ever for me! I'm not a coffee drinker, but I obviously have to adapt to the world and am surrounded by others that can't live without it, so instead of being the freak drinking a water, I get to have a beer in a coffee shop that accepts it!
Only downfall is that this place is so great that seating is limited. But I guess that's normal in the city. Drinks: 4
Decor: 3.5
Ambiance: 3.5
Service: 3.5
Value: 2
Heard this won the best coffee shop in the country. It was okay, but I cannot say I agree with the assessment. They are clearly passionate about coffee, which I give them credit for. Love Ultimo. Really good coffee, nice people working, and a friendly seating arrangement. I know this may sound odd, but the light is really nice in there - bright but not harsh, which is perfect to go along with coffee in the morning. They also have an amazing takeout beer selection.
Down side - I don't care what anybody says, the neighborhood is still kind of crap, and there always seems to be somebody lurking outside getting ready to steal an unsuspecting macbook. Beer AND coffee. How can you go wrong? Their prices are decent and the staff is very helpful. The beer guys seem to know their stuff and are good at giving recommendations. The biggest downside for me is they close pretty early. Waiting in limbo to pick my girlfriend up from the Flyers game (I'm so nice, aren't I?) I found myself perplexed as to where to wait it out. True, I could sit in a bar down by the Sports Complex, but that didn't seem like a proper place to be hanging out alone with a book. I figured a coffee shop was my best bet. Then, it hit me. Brew/Ultimo, here I come.
Pick your poison: caffeination or inebriation. Since we were headed out later that night, I went for the latter. Truthfully, I took it easy because I had to get back behind the wheel, but it was so pleasurable to be able to relax, sip beer and read my book without the usual distractions you'll find in a bar.
On top of the perfectly chilled atmosphere, Brew/Utlimo arguably has a better beer selection - like Stone, Duvel, Yards, Hitachino, and Schneider &Sons - than some bars. I had a hard time deciding, so the nice guy who works there offered up some suggestions and I landed on the Bell's Two Hearted Ale. Good call, my new friend.
Grab a bottle or coffee/tea cup and a seat on the uncharacteristically uncomfortable chairs (what happened to the cushy armchairs that are coffee shop standard?!) and enjoy. You can also mix-a-six to take home and if you don't see your favorite then drop a hint in the suggestion box! Loved the atmosphere of this place great cafe to sit and get work done or catch up with a friend. Had the iced tea and fruit pastry they were pretty delicious. UltimoCoffee@Brew.
You, my friend, are a drug dealer.
And what a wonderfully tasty drug you serve. I've only had coffee here. I thought it was really good, but I wouldn't kill myself to get there. If I lived close by or was in the area, sure, I'd pop in. I know it was rated best in the country, and it is one of the better cups I've had; I just wish it was in a little more convenient spot, but I guess that's part of it's "charm." We stopped by Ultimo-Brew on really nice Saturday in May.
Point Breeze is another up and coming area of the city and has an interesting mix of people. The shop is nice, with out door seating and comfortable seats inside. The staff was very pleasant. They have a garage type door which was opened up because the weather was so nice.
My daughter and I had iced coffees. Mine was really good and had a good coffee bean taste. I took it with just ice and it was very good. My wife went for the Cafe Latte
and that was a miss. Way too much milk and barely any coffee taste. Instead of Coffee with steamed milk, it was more the other way around.
On the other plus side we tried a couple of the sandwiches Brew/Ultimo had form the American Sardine Bar. These were really good. We had a curried potato and the chicken salad. Both the ingredients and bread were great. We had a chocolate chip croissant that was very good also.
On the whole I was a bit disappointed with Brew/Ultimo. I had read and heard so many good things. Maybe we just ordered the wrong coffees or maybe we need to try the Graduate Hospital Ultimo. Very snooty and condescending staff. I was a regular til they always seemed to be out of my selection of coffee. The staff has changed and so has the atmosphere. A haiku:
I order a coffee
Five minutes, it brews. The best?
No! Tastes like coffee.
To expand on this, if I have to wait five minutes for a damned cuppajoe, it'd better be pretty damned good. :: sip :: This... is regular damned coffee. Doesn't taste special, doesn't make my tongue break out into the theme from Sound of Music. Quite frankly, I could do without the smarmy attitude from the owner, too. Oh? What? Chicken salad sandwich? Dear heavens, no! That'd be hurting an animal and we'd NEVER hurt an animal. We like to hurt wallets, instead. That'll be $3.50 for your coffee. What? No tip?
Of course, not one person is gonna agree with this review. No one is going to tell the emperor he's naked. Ultimo successfully sells an image, one that I already own and don't care to purchase an unreasonable facsimile.
Get yourself to Café Giardino for a cappuccino instead, unless you're more about your image than about what's important with your drink: how it tastes.
$10.50 for a regular coffee and a meatless sandwich that tastes like hot monkey ass on a summers' day is just obscene, especially considering that a large pizza costs the same.
If you must have fair trade, locally grown, sustainably harvested, certified organic, gluten-free raw foodist fruitarian $15 apple crumble, might I recommend Lancaster county's Amish country? big heaps of love is all i have for this place. everyone is extremely talented and accommodating. get there! The milk here is oh so creamy, and the baristas are gentle and friendly. Me and my dog love sitting outside, and sometimes sneaking a beer from their ample take-out selection. Unable to determine if the loud, shitty music is played in order to deter long customer stays or not, but it certainly is something to consider.
Otherwise, typical coffee house stuff: hipster baristas and good Americanos. Simply the best coffee in Philly. Unpretentious, and I'm never disappointed. They serve Counter Culture Coffee. Yes yes yes! This is exactly what I want a coffee shop to be! Special coffee given special treatment by people who are clearly way into it. The mustachioed hip gentleman behind the counter definitely knew his stuff (or was fantastic at faking it) with a Wine Snob-level of appreciation for coffee! So refreshing compared to the crowd I'm usually around: "large iced blueberry hazelnut double sugar". The hand-pour is both a nice "care" touch and a very welcome addition to the quality of the coffee brew. It's a -little- pricey, but for the quality and attention to detail involved, I'm totally okay with it.
I read a paper, played some Words With Friends, and enjoyed the shit out of my coffee looking out the window, late afternoon. It was quiet in the shop, but conversation was to be found if you wanted it. I walked through the beer half of the shop, but really, anything not labelled "Narragansett" is kind of lost on me. I can certainly appreciate how many different beers they had, and it was nice to look at. I tried to be a beer snob once, but couldn't appreciate it. I'll stick with coffee, which this place rules at! Coffee and beer meet at last.
This place is a South Philly gem. They have a large, rotating selection of craft beer and a knowledgeable staff.
There's nothing better than a nice cafe to do work in while having a coffee...until now.
O yea!
Once in awhile, they have these little rosemary sugar cookies. Don't sleep on those, they're delicious. This place easily has the best coffee I've had in Philly since rosalina's cafe closed (serious bummer). It's expensive and they only have one size but you can buy a bag and make your own if you want.
Now stocking beer and I found Pumking in April, what a special treat! I wish this was my office. Brew/Ultimo actually makes me jealous of my Point Breeze Pioneer friend Daniel M, who gets to roll out of bed directly into geeked-out coffee, fresh, local fruit and yogurt and Four Worlds baked goods.
When the weather is fair, the garage doors are hoisted to let the outside in, as the few irritating flies enjoying the scene attest. The vibe here is great -- I always leave positively rejuvenated from the energy and calm beauty of the space as much as my food, be it a Three Springs Fruit Farm peach or a cheddar-herb scone.
Since coffee is not my caffeine of choice, it is nice that the unsweetened iced tea is made with the same care as the pour-over black brew. It's pleasant not to be regarded as a leper because you don't care for bean juice. I love this place. I love the combination - sometimes research papers are better written with caffeine, sometimes beer is required - so this is the perfect spot. Wish they had more food options, but I can always go down to the Taproom for something more substantial. possibly the BEST coffee shop in the world let alone the city. macchiato better than anywhere in Italy. OK, their coffee is still wonderful, delicious and strong and freshly brewed. The decor is still minimalistic but charming, the dark church pews stained the same color as the windows hanging on the wall are a nice touch. And in nice weather, opening the glass garage door allows everyone to feel like they're sitting outside. The baristas are still pleasant and knowledgeable. And everything from the caprese sandwiches (on the most delicious bread) to the almond croissants are tasty as hell.
BUT NOW THEY HAVE BEER. And what a beer selection it is. I really enjoy just eyeing all of the new varieties while drinking my coffee in the morning. It seems pretty fairly priced but they have an awesome selection, from the gold standards to some more obscure fare. And you can do a mixed six pack for takeout.
Ultimo/Brew, I love you. A caveat: I go to coffee shops as a sleep deprived reader, writer and people watcher. I drink coffee for the caffeine , not for pleasure. That being said, I shall give the sleep deprived reader, writer and people watcher's review of Ultimo Cafe.
Although the cafe is less than five minutes walk from Broad and Snyder, I've observed very few of the native South Philly sub-humans patronizing this place. Yeah, I said it. But since I happen to be born, raised and educated in South Philly, I can say it.
When a sub-human does come into Ultimo, they are treated with some respect. The staff are exceptionally kind, polite and patient. They are eager to share their coffee knowledge and are interested in your opinion.
I must say that I've never disliked a latte as this place. The lattes are pretty too. You can get a mocha, but I don't think there are other syrups available. I've wondered what would happen If I ordered a caramel, pumpkin spice latter with extra whipped cream and candy corn on top.
I just may be banned.
Anyways, the decor is awesome. It's as if they bought the remains of a defunct Swedish church and made a coffee house. The music is never bad and the other patrons are rarely annoying.
My only grip is that this place is lacking in the food department. The sandwiches are from a neighborhood vendor who I don't like. Thankfully, the bagels are good and possible toppings are exceptional. Great little spot in a still-up-and-coming-neighborhood-in-philly with some excellent selections of beer and some very good, solid coffee options. This incredible coffee boom that Philly is experiencing is a wonderful addition to a city finding its way back in the world. After several visits, I'm rating the coffee "very good", consistency issues preventing me from giving it a "great". Great, great spot in what looks to be an up and coming section of South Philadelphia. I really enjoyed the beer and coffee dynamic and the incredibly friendly staff at both Ultimo Coffee bar and the beer boutique Brew. They have very good coffee, primarily from Counter Culture, and the selection of craft beer is also highly touted. I think they have the best deal on Philadelphia Brewing Co. six-packs as they come out to be $9 even! Steal!
I've been here twice already and will continue to patronize this well-run establishment. The people are great, the product is great, and the ambiance is nothing short of amazing. I can't wait to go back. Support people like Brew/Ultimo. After a marathon day which ended at the SPTR for the Wheat Beer Fest, my husband wisely recommended we stop and get some coffee before heading home. We stopped here a little before closing but the barista could not have been nicer. We ordered iced coffees that truly put DD to shame (and I am a Dunkin' regular). Black with a touch of Splenda (as I am a wimp), it was incredibly refreshing and was the perfect perk up.
They have a wall length fridge of beers and a very nice bathroom for patrons as well. The first stop in our Philly UYE. A quaint neighborhood coffee shop with a big garrage door that opens to let you have the open air cafe experience. Their espresso was nice and strong. However, the almond croissant was over baked. At least they don't charge exorbitant prices like Starbucks. Thankfully for Philly, we now have a serious coffee shop. I'm constantly looking for a new cafe that actually *gasp* knows how to make coffee. (I once watched in horror as espresso was poured into steamed milk and stirred with a spoon. That establishment, rightfully so, is now out of business.)
I've been saying for years that Philly needs a good bar/coffee house. Although the liquor license is not granted yet, I look forward to watching this place evolve. Great beer and coffee under the same roof? Thrills!
The coffee was hands-down the best coffee I've had in Philadelphia. Perfect temperature (beans not burned, milk not scalding), perfect taste, wonderful atmosphere. We brought our dogs down for a Sunday outing, so we didn't sit inside, but the sidewalk seating was peaceful, and the interior was so lovely I wish I left the dogs at home. (Just kidding dogs!)
Oh and the coffee machine? Stunning! Brew/Ulitmo raises the bar for cafes. I hope the others step up to the challenge. Living in Bella Vista, I will happily make the trek south to visit this cafe weekly. Ultimo is one of my favorite places in the city. I think that they do what they do just about as well as anybody. To say that the hand brewed coffee is fantastic is an understatement. The espresso drinks are the best I've had outside of Seattle. I love the look, the coffee and the baristas. In fact the only tiniest bad thing that I might have to say is that one of the baristas is too nice. He is so ridiculously nice that you'll either want to squeal with glee or punch him in the face.
Thank you Ultimo. I salute you. How can u get a better than really good coffee and really good beer in the same place? I sure as hell couldn't tell you. I WANT to like Ultimo. I really do. I live around the corner, and have gone there about 5 times now. The prices are just too outrageous, although the coffee is good. For example, I got a sandwich and a drip coffee once and I paid a ridiculous $9.
I think what I'm annoyed about most is the fact I went in this morning, looking forward to coming back outside with a large, steaming hot cup of coffee to keep me warm in the cold. I asked for a large cup of coffee to go, and they give me a 10 or 12 oz cup for $2.16. I asked if that was a large, and they said they had one size. They should have told me it was one size in the first place. And seriously, a coffee shop that has teeny one size cups for take out coffees that are more expensive than starbucks??? Well, they've lost me as a customer.
I'll nix Ultimo and bike to my very favorite coffeeshop in the Italian Market, Anthony's. Coffee for coffee-nerds. Which I'm not yet, but could be one day. I was slightly creeped out by the barista while he was describing the tastes and flavors of the Ethiopian brew I was about to put to my lips. But he was 100% on point.
I DID taste strawberries and walnuts!
Go figure.
The Foodery-esque take out beer selection is a giant bonus. such lovely people work here.
great corner to hang out and visit.
great beer and great coffee from a place that is clearly devoted to both.
Decor is simple, clean with a fun garage door.
A++ This place makes me tremendously happy to be living in Philly. I roll in with some yummy spring rolls, purchased in a nearby Indonesian grocery store (yes there is an Indonesian neighborhood in Philly! come check it out!), and ask if it would be offensive if I ate them here. (Haven't we all been there, secretively eating food bought elsewhere?) Anyway, the answer is a laugh, and a "no problem", as long of course as I buy something. Definite points for friendly and laid-back staff!
But oh the choices! The tasting menu gives you a choice of 6 different brews for single filter coffee. I choose a Salvadorean bean (one of two), convinced by the barista's tale of his drip down to the estancia. Delicious, rich, and oh so pure and fresh! Some of the best coffee I've had anywhere. The macchiato later was likewise delightful.
The space itself is great--really a step above the normal "modern" coffee shop decor. Yes, it has the elements of dark wood (but church pews!), aluminum, and white walls, but the excellent lighting transitioned it beautifully as dusk set in, keeping it warm and cozy, a bastion of classy caffeine against the onset of night. The floor-to-ceiling glass garage door is also a wonderful touch, opening the space up entirely to the street, without that sense of discomfort and exposure I get from sitting outside with your laptop.
Go! Now!! It's definitely worth the trek. This place lives up to the hype. The coffee is frickin' delicious. The vibe is great: not dead inside, but never crowded. The baristas are all super friendly and helpful. Its a little bit of an island, but that's part of the charm. Visited this place on during mid Jan 2011 while I was traveling PA-DE-MD area. I remembered that day was so COLD and I was lucky enough to find this place on Yelp.
Ultimo carries beans roasted by Counter Culture, which I have heard before. The espresso blend Apollo was pretty mild, but smooth and sweet, not too fruity/citric. I liked it. YUM.
The place is located in the middle of a residential area. Street parking could be a problem. Interior is causal and with plenty of day light. Baristas are nice and easy to talk with if you have questions about the coffee. A free cup of hand pour coffee while you buy a bag of bean.
Also, one thing I didn't aware before my visit. There are TWO businesses inside the same shop. One of them sells coffee (obviously) and another one sells beer, called Brew. They carry over 400 different beer across the country.
I don't really drink beer, but I found a bottle that really caught my attention. Joe Coffee Porter from Philadelphia Brewing Co. What a surprise discovery! A beer that is brewed by coffee bean. Interesting. It was tasty too.
Almost forgot to mention why I rated this place with 5 shinny stars:
"Beer and Coffee together at last." Let me start off by saying, I don't drink coffee. And Ultimo may just be the place that gets me hooked.
They really know their product and pride themselves in having the freshest, highest quality grinds from around the world. Specials come in seasonally, and they brew it by the cup so that each order is unique. They'll even explain the process as they're pouring the hot water, and encourage you to smell the different aromas that come out of it.
A friend introduced me to "the best coffee in the world" there - and it truly made me appreciate what goes into this international fix.
Ultimo also has an entire wall of fridges stocked with bottled craft beers from the Philly/Tri-State area. An added bonus if you're up for some hair-of-the-dog drinking.
This cafe is very hangout friendly, so you can go in there and spend countless hours without anybody bothering you. You'll see many people working on their laptops, studying or simply catching up with friends.
The thing that makes this coffee shop extra cool is its seemingly seedy locale - nestled on a random corner street of South Philly. But don't be shy - I brought my extra-picky grandmother and aunt to Ultimo one day, and even they enjoyed it.
Just bring your own headphones if you don't like the hipster music. I come here pretty often because I'm in the area a lot. This is probably one of my favorite cafes in Philadelphia. As a Seattle native, I spent my first two years in Philly feeling deprived of good coffee... Until I finally found Ultimo! I usually just get black coffee here, but recently I tired their vanilla latte and fell in love. Not too sweet and well balanced flavor.
did I mention that they serve craft beer? God bless you ultimo.
One thing though, it is pretty pricey here when it comes to coffee and treats. Well worth it, but still. I come here E.V.E.R.Y day.
easily the best coffee in philadelphia. Short and Sweet:
- Great beer selection
- Great espresso drinks: lattés, cappuccinos, etc.
- Fantastic customer service
- Sardine Bar Sandwiches are great
- Great music, but a LITTLE BIT LOUD
- VERY GOOD on aesthetic quality. Nice exposed brick wall, and minimalist lighting.
Taking off one star because the simple syrup pours too quickly and I marred the taste of my drip coffee. This star subtraction is totally arbitrary, no offense to the establishment. Stumbled onto Ultimo by chance - the Broad Street Run did now allow me to drive east to Head House Market.
The small cafe immediately makes a good impression (and not only because "beer" and "coffee" are a great pair in my book), with large bags of Counter Culture Coffee behind the bar and knowledgeable and friendly baristas working hard to please the mostly neighborhood crowd (note to a previous yelper: you can order this coffee directly from the roasters in Raleigh N.C. http://www.counterculturecoffee.com/).
We ordered a couple macchiati and were very pleased to receive small cups of deeply rich coffee reminding me of cappuccino in Naples. This is no small thing for me since I have (almost) given up ordering a cappuccino around here for fear of receiving yet another insipid mug with more milk that I care to drink in a week. I have been back to Ultimo for my macchiato/cappuccino several times now and it is always perfect.
The small details, like the quality of the milk and how the coffee is made, show the owners dedication to quality and the art of making excellent coffee. I would be even happier if the pastry selection were a bit more extensive (the small number of Four Worlds croissants are sold out soon and the cupcakes are very inadequate substitutes, tasting dull and mass produced).
As others wrote, the place also features a truly world class selection of domestic and foreign beers, but the beer part of Ultimo is separate from the cafe and is run by the good folks of the South Philly Tap Room a block away. Presently, the beer bottles do not display prices (I would like an alphabetical price list at both ends of the refrigerators for easy perusal). The prices for the beers are more in line with prices you would pay when drinking in a restaurant/bar and this is indeed what you can do at Ultimo: select your beer(s), pay at the opposite end of the room, and receive a pint glass to enjoy your purchase. It would be nice if the coffee folks would serve some sandwiches or snacks that go well with drinking beer, I can foresee a lovely cycle of beer with savory snacks, followed by coffee and sweets, repeat, repeat.
Kudos to the owners of Ultimo and much success with their fine neighborhood coffee bar. A majority of my coffee experiences lie deeply rooted in California, Seattle, and Portland. On the east coast I've been pretty limited (and primarily to Gimme!). Now I know that whenever I'm in Philly, Ultimo (along with Spruce St Espresso) is going to be my fix! I did a little searching around prior to a five day whirlwind trip to the city and Ultimo came up top on the list. I made it there my first morning in town (an easy train ride from my hotel) -- beautiful brick space, warm inside, ample seating, and incredibly enthusiastic and helpful service!
I noticed some of the reviewers are a bit hesitant to pay $3 for their pour-over...this is a relief from what I'm used to if I don't have time to brew at home and want slow brew in LA (we're talking $5-7 depending on the coffee). Regardless of where I am in the U.S. I'll dish out a few bucks for Ndaroini. Their Counter Culture offerings are excellent and they hosted a cupping on Friday night at 5:00!
Oh, and as an added bonus, my apple, honey, and cheddar sandwich was excellent! After a disappointing brunch at South Philly Tap Room we saw Brew/Ultimo while walking to the car. We stopped in to see what it was all about and grab a cup of coffee. I ordered two red eyes to go and took a seat while waiting. I expected the wait to be longer than a typical coffee shop due to the brewing methods and that was fine with me. The atmosphere was quiet but not boring and the display case filled with food was great to look at. They had interested drinks in the case that I was already looking forward to trying during my next visit. I also enjoyed that they had beer to go. I would definitely come back for coffee (and more!) again. If you love coffee, you will love this spot. They do the pour-over method of brewing. Usually has plenty of places to sit, and they sell beer!
It is a little small though, but overall a great coffee shop. I love their coffee. And the employees are all so sweet and knowledgable about the products. It's a really refreshing place, which is why I go every single day. xx Best customer service, and some of the best coffee I've had in the city. Honestly- I've tried all of there select kinds. Coffee from Honduras, Peru, everywhere! This place always has some of the best people in it at all times, you can get your work done or meet a friend, Its great. And it only adds to it that they sell craft beer! Get a bottle to go after that paper you just wrote ;-) This was my spot while studying for the Bar Exam. I would come most mornings around 9 am, enjoy a latte with a spinach & ricotta croissant for breakfast. I would study until about 8 or 9 pm with several coffee breaks in between.
The ambiance was perfect for studying. It was quiet but not too quiet, the background music was not obnoxious-it was actually quite good. Generally it is a great place to study or do work because Brew/Ultimo has breakfast items on the menu (like the awesome croissant I always got) and they also have sandwiches from the nearby Sardine Bar. Best of all, if you are feeling particularly stressed you can just grab a beer from the fridge and knock a few back.
One of my favorite things about this coffee shop is patrons are considerate of others. Even if people were not doing work no one felt the need to shout at each other while conversing (this was one of my biggest gripes with Good Karma). Additionally, people are very nice about sharing plugs and table space -- when searching throughout the city for places to study this never happened, so I was shocked to see how friendly the patrons were at Brew/Ultimo.
Other highlights:
1. The baristas here are so warm and personable, which is a nice contrast from certain other baristas in the South Philly are that think it is their personal mission to be distant and cold. For example, since I used to be studying for such a long time I would want to get up and walk around the neighborhood, and they (not just one barista) would offer to watch my stuff for me while I would do so!
2. You can get $10 six packs of Victory Beers (no matter what type).
3. The coffee is so so so so so so so good. Seriously it is named one of the best coffee shops in the country by several magazines/blogs/etc.
4. There is typically parking nearby if Brew/Ultimo is not walkable for you.
5. They opened a new location on 22nd and Catherine and the coffee is still just as good - also I really like that they have the same feel at this location but did not make it a carbon copy of the original.
6. It is open pretty decent hours.
7. If you ask the baristas will tell you about all the awesome brewing methods they use in making their coffee -- it is pretty damn interesting. The staff is really friendly and the coffee is superb. If you want a real cappuccino that knocks you on your ass, go here. amazingly good coffee, and a completely wonderful addition to the neighborhood. i heart ultimo coffee. Interesting and unique concept.
All of the coffee and food we ordered exceeded expectations.
Outdoor seating.
Local suppliers.
Good selection of beers.
Wish I lived a bit closer.
Not much else to say.
Couple of things keeping it from being 5 stars:
Food selection was rather limited. It was lucky that everyone happened to be in the mood for what was on offer.
I'd have preferred the coffee in a French Press rather than drip. Decided to stop by Ultimo today since I was in the neighborhood and figured might as well try the #1 ranked coffee shop in the country amirite??
My first drink (gotta get more than one drink ya know) was an iced coffee since I was kinda parched. It was good, but nothing special.
I then decided to make a $4.25 mistake by ordering the "Sprojito" I've been craving Iced Mint Mojito coffee from Philz in SF since my visit a month ago but this was nowhere close to being as good as Philz. In fact the Sprojito was downright awful, especially for a signature drink.
It tasted like coffee, mixed with lime juice, seltzer water, and mint. Not a good combo at all. I had to wait for it to get watered down before drinking it. I love you Ultimo.
Best cappuccino ever. Great food and other beverages too, awesome beer selection for good prices, friendly staff, nice atmosphere, free wi-fi. Seriously, what's not to love? During my last visit I got a sandwich with pork and fennel and other crazy stuff and while the price was a little high ($8 I think?) for kind of a small sandwich, it was above and beyond what I expect from cafe food. It's basically the same deal for everything here, sort of steep prices but who cares because it's just that dang good. For this reason I'm almost glad I don't live nearby because all my money would go into this place. Best cafe in town. Very knowledgable and unpretentious in helping me select a coffee. Excellent beer selection as well (I didn't try the wine) at a cheap price. It's a great place for mixing uppers and downers, as is my favorite vacation pastime. The place is a decent small spot in Point Breeze. The coffee was basic, the bagel was good, and the space is a very lax atmosphere. The staff does not seem the friendliest, but they did not make me feel too bad about myself. It is also awesome that this a bottle shop and you can get a vast array of beer! I've been going to Ultimo since the day it opened and I'm glad I got to see its evolution. I've never had the beer, but the coffee is hand-poured, made to order and the pastries are fresh every day. I've been there alone and brought friends with me and I've never heard a word against it. Even though I don't live near there anymore, I still go back every chance I get. The space is cute, but very long and narrow, so I can't imagine what this place would have been like on a busier night. As it was on our random Tuesday night visit there it was pretty much empty, so we had plenty of space to spread out, relax, and chat. I saw the entire-wall-window that could fold up in nicer weather, so I'll have to come back in the summer.
The staff was very nice, and it looked like the spot where cops come by for their mid shift coffee, so don't try anything funny ;) As a non-coffee drinker I liked their assortment of other beverages and foods, and would def go back whence I found myself in the neighborhood again. The espresso was absolutely incredible, and I know espresso. If you have a chance to stop by, don't hesitate to do so. The atmosphere is very unique, and you won't find better flavor at many other places in the city. I was getting my car inspected a few blocks away and was looking for a coffee shop close by to kill some time . I came across brew ultimo --I had the chocolate dipped biscotti and a hot cup of coffee --very nice people . I was in awe over their selection of craft beer as well ! Definitely a good place to sit and read -I will definitely be back for the craft beer i am not a big coffee person, so rarely hang out in cafes. mr. h, on the other hand, is very big into cafe culture and visits a coffee shop at least 2-3 times per week. i had some reading for work to do today, so i thought i would join him at ultimo.
the space is very bright and airy. i love all of the reclaimed furniture as well. i ordered an americano and a fig and chevre sandwich (from green aisle grocery). both items were excellent. my americano was so smooth. none of the bitterness that i sometimes get from a cup of coffee.
i got my work done and it was fun to explore a new area of town. i had no cash and mooched off of mr. h., so i can't speak on the price of things. I cannot express how happy about this place opening up in my neighborhood. The coffee is of superior quality and the staff are soooo genuinely friendly. It just opened a few days ago and I have been there 3 times! I love, love, love this place! I am excited for what's to come. Being a (novice) barista myself I can say this honestly: best macchiato I've had in ages. Their simplicity mixed with slight eccentricity makes me love the place even more. Grinding coffee for each cup has to be my favorite thing about them; it shows there's attention to detail and that coffee is something to be appreciated and not slopped into a cup as quickly as possible to get on to the next cup. It's refreshing not to see product overload when approaching the counter. The baristas are bright and cheery and they meld nicely with the cafe, creating an overall bright experience. Please don't change. Having just spend a few days in New York touring the best coffee that city has to offer (Stumptown, Bluebird, Cafe Grumpy, etc) I can say that Ultimo has them all beat.
I've visited Ultimo three or four times, ordering the macchiato all but once, and I must say that each drink was as carefully prepared as the drink before. I was very, very impressed with the care and precision exercised by the baristas. Excellent espresso. Perhaps the best I've had. Great beer selection, really reasonable prices, they have monthly beer specials that are prettyy cheap. Last month they has Sixth Amendment Hell or High Watermelon for less than $10 per six pack.
I like thier coffee a ton, staff is super knowledgeable and friendly. One of the things I appreciated about this place is that they return coffee to being an art form and an aspect of socializing and connecting. I found them to be more attentive in making the coffee than other independent shops. The inside has a sleek and clean feel but I sat outside so I can't attest much more to that. I was disappointed in their food selection. There were literally two things in the case. As it was the evening I had to have a decaf, which is always sad, but they made a latte that was one of the better decaf lattes I've had. The neighborhood though is strange. It is on the cusp of becoming something, but it is not quite there. Since it's an area I don't frequent, or would want to frequent, it felt like a 'trip' to go there. That aside, this is a coffee shop on my top list. Conceptually innovative, and with some absolutely great coffee! A wonderful addition to the scene.
Minor complaint: While I adore the old church pews as design concept, they do serve to point out the absence of more comfortable seating. My favorite coffee shops always have at least one sofa and/or a cushy chair or two. No need to get rid of the pews, tho... just please add something a little more homey to complement them. New place on Catherine is bright - and new - and has a big ol La Marzocco brewing the espresso. Better parking than the Graduate Hosp location. My original post was backwards - the new location is Catherine St and old was near Graduate. Good collection of pastries and Counter Culture coffee as usual. Hard to get a chat out of the barista but they were fairly busy. Very nice. Highly recommended. This is an excellent coffee shop with excellent service, delicious coffee from multiple blends (Including many fair trade options) and delightful pastries including some very tasty cupcakes that I very much approved of. I am told that they will be adding quite a bit of beer to their menu soon. Fantastic coffee, great service and the best chocolate croissant I have ever had! Well worth the $2.65 price for a 12 oz coffee. This was the first time I have ever had a chocolate croissant and it has sent me on a mission to find my favorite. That mission has failed, I had already found my favorite and it was here! Well done! Came back recently for sandwiches, and I have to say they were both fantastic. While I'm a little disappointed that I missed out on the apple and St Andre combination that seemed more summer appropriate, the honey, gala apple, and sharp cheddar combination on a crusty baguette was absolutely fantastic as well. And the almond croissants and coffee, of course, remain fabulous. if you are looking for a specific type of beer and you can't find it here, i'd like to know what it is. because it's probably not very good so i know to avoid it, or it's so good that's it's become so elusively exclusive that even a place like this with an extensive selection can't keep it in stock.
i can't really speak to the coffee aspect here, except that the baristas were really nice and accommodating and would probably make your drink just to your liking.
the soy chai was good. First of all, congratulations to owners and staff for being anointed numero uno in the city by Craig LaBan - well deserved accolades. I still enjoy my coffees (various types) here but the inconsiderate, self-important jerks (and jerkettes) forever occupying the large tables there, computer in the middle of the table, earphones on, are slowly annoying the hell out of me. Point in case: I am coming with two friends to the cafe, all tables for four have one of these social numbskulls spread out across the table (notebook, computer, scarf, etc.). We try to fit around a small table and ask (politely) one of these oblivious dunces whether we could borrow a chair? By the annoyed and grieving look we got for interrupting whatever it was she was doing you might think we asked for her first-born or at least for her computer.
I like cafes that are welcoming and let people sit all day with their computers, but does it have to be the largest table? Settle on a smaller one, or sit together on a big one and let customers coming in for a quick good cup of coffee have some spots. I think that might also be better for the cafe's bottom line. Ultimo will give you easily the best cup of coffee in the city. They have a number of varieties, which periodically change, all with their own unique subtle/natural flavors. The baristas are all extremely friendly and welcoming. They have delicious pastries and sandwiches on breads from local Four Worlds Bakery.
The space can feel small at times, but it is clean and minimalistic; and when its warm, the glass garage door is open which leaves a wonderful airy feel. On top of all this, the music selection is on point and never so loud that it is distracting.
Once they fill those coolers with beers: 6 stars. The coffee is great, some of the best I have ever had. The people are nice and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. Good tunes, free wifi and ample parking.... This is my favorite coffee place in Philly. Plus if you are a gardener, on the stoop you will find bags of coffee grounds for your compost. You really can't beat it. DENIED ENTRANCE. I'm a new transplant from new york and I walked in circles trying to find this place since this is the closest spot to my place to get beer, but I was rudely denied entry for having my 7lb dog with me. I'll find a more relaxed spot with nicer employees to get my beers. Lata daze ginger beotch. what a great experience i had at ultimo! the staff was not nearly as pretentious as most coffee shop staff seems to be these days. the coffee was really delicious--i got the ecuadorian. the next time i'm in philly i will definitely go back there! SPREADABLE CHEVRE for my bagel - single serving!!!!!! The BEST coffee in Philadelphia, period. Aaron Ultimo is a superhero. For two decades, I have experienced the opening day of many a coffee shop here in Philadelphia. Ultimo not only, by far, brews the best cup of coffee, pours the best capps and lattes, and has the most discerning and knowledgeable staff and owners, but they've remained absolutely dead consistent in their excellence since their first day. I am not a huge fan of the food there, but it is an appropriate sidebar to what the real important business at hand is at Ultimo. If you're a hipster or a student...and especially if you're a hipster student, you've got to mosey on over to Brew/Ultimo. Not only will your eyes dance behind your black rimmed glasses at the aesthetic of the giant glass garage door that is one of the walls, but your taste buds used to only the ascetic pinch of vodka and nicotine will squirm with joy.
You see at Brew/Ultimo, you can dually assault your mouth with the bitter pleasures of the finest grade coffee from Ultimo while caressing them with the darkest milk stout from Brew.
If you're feeling gutsy...like you just might be able to nosh on some solid food after the caffeine/alcohol buzz sets in, Ultimo will not leave you without. Behind their counter is a wonderful assortment of hipster friendly foods (hummus sandwiches) and sugary treats (damn those chocolate dipped biscotti were huge).
(Biscotti and beer anyone?) Ultimo Coffee is a fantastic spot to grab a coffee, a bite and maybe even a beer?!
Great coffee, delicious nibbles and a relaxing, laid back vibe. The place itself is designed beautifully with an awesome glass garage door that opens up for outdoor seating.
Ultimo is probably one of my favorite coffee shops in Philly--and worth a visit from wherever you live!
This place rules. 'Nuff said! Great coffee / beer house. Love the focus on simplicity and bold flavors. My go to place for a chilled time. By far the best iced coffee in the city! I have taken several friends and all are now fans. Great coffee and great cappuccinos with high quality milk from grass fed cows. Having said that, the employees appear to be vegan automatons and lack any hint of a personality at all (except for the cool girl with blue hair). Smile! Life isn't that bad!
Also, why can't you just bring the coffee to my table? Very relaxed vibe here, and I like that one may choose between alcoholic beverages or the caffeinated type. I ordered the yogurt with granola and fresh blueberries, which was fantastic. I was going to order a coffee, but word on the street says that their coffee beans are even more burnt than star buck's, so I passed.
I was going to order a sandwich, but they only one's they carry are ones from American Sardine Bar, which I boycott. I have also come across several other people who boycott A.S.B., so Ultimo might be losing some business. So I'm a little biased, because I live on the same block as this establishment, and also, some roommates and friends of mine work here, NEVERTHELESS, this place is great.
Let's start with
COFFEE: I'm by no means a coffee expert, and my palate is not nearly as refined as I'd like it to be, but I do have tastebuds in my mouth and caffeine receptors in my brain and both of these things become happy when I drink the coffee here.
My wallet doesn't generally want to join the party, but I was explained the reason for the high prices of coffee in this particular coffee shop, and, essentially, it's because the growers are given fair wages and quality bonuses. So you may be shelling out 3 bucks for a cup of coffee, but consider that it was treated with the utmost care, from farm to cup. Not to mention the intense care displayed in the magnificent pour. An art it is.
BEER:
Oh man. Killer selection. When this place opened I knew next to nothing about beer. Now, with thanks to the incredibly knowledgeable and helpful staff, I have developed a real idea of what I like and what I don't like in beer. I have this place and the South Philly Tap Room (right across the street) to thank for that.
Once again, not the cheapest prices, but expensive beers are expensive. Plus any 6 PBC beers are something like 8 bucks. That's some serious brew for your buck.
FOOD:
I haven't really delved into the food so much, but the chevre (goat cheese spread) on french bread is simple and good. Really, the reason you go here is coffee and beer.
The atmosphere is also really great. Good music, nice seating layout. Wish there was some art on the walls, but on the other hand, the old windows are pretty cool. The lighting, as someone said, is bright but not harsh. Great alternative to a bar. Great people, great products, great business. Worse then Starbucks, which means something. Both their espressos and coffee are over roasted crap.
Edit: To be fair, I asked for a refund after writing this review, which they reluctantly granted after trying to get me to take a re-made or different drink. I would never return to Ultimo, because in my opinion it is terrible coffee, but they at least have decent customer relations. Coffee, check.
Beer, check.
Really? Yep.
Not the most common combination of offerings, but you can be sure neither have any trouble selling. After snagging a couple of delicious donuts nearby, I had to check out the highly rated Brew/Ultimo to jump start my day. So, I walked into the corner cafe and ordered a cappuccino with an extra shot of espresso. While waiting for my order, I browsed their numerous wall coolers filled with craft beer. They certainly have a great selection to meet almost any beer snob's appetite. After grabbing my beautiful looking cup of java, I sat at one of the high-top tables overlooking the street and peacefully watched the neighborhood slowly come to life in the morning rain. While yes, sure, probably the best coffee option for this part of South Philly, I was quite underwhelmed when I popped in here for my usual red eye.
In the ten minutes I waited for my coffee, there wasn't any music. What sort of barista doesn't rock out while pulling shots? Not me, that's for sure.
The environment sticks out compared to the rest of the Philly area. It feels very sterile; I've seen Starbucks locations with more personality.
The only thing that this place does well? They have a pretty rad selection of craft beers in the back. So, A+ beer seller, C+ coffee creator. I keep wanting to come up with reasons for being annoyed by this place, but I keep not finding them.
Just to clarify--as many others have--Brew is the alcohol vendor paired with Ultimo Coffee, and this is mostly about the coffee since I haven't imbibed the other, but both places share the vibe, since they're housed under one roof.
The hipsterbaristas downplay the snobbery one might expect, by being genuinely helpful as needed. Maybe not gushingly friendly, but just fine. Good people. And the tunes playing here further help to tame the recherché quality--I mean, they play The Shins. Perfectly fine and all, but hardly indie by 2016 standards. The place is pretty clean too.
And the Chemex coffee is delightful for those who like it strong. The edibles seem very carefully thought out, with great non-puffy bagels and the option for chévre (not easy to get at coffee shops). Most recently, I tried the hot chocolate, which was subtle...not cloyingly sweet but a really great consistency. You pay dearly for all of this, but the selection is so carefully cultivated it's hard to mind.
I dock the place a star for the infrastructure. Plug outlets are a bit scarce, and the effort to compensate seems a bit half-arsed. And many of the tables are frustratingly wobbly. Minor distractions, though, and the great coffee options at Ultimo more than compensate. From what I can tell, the Brew contingent isn't disappointed either. great espresso. I love how they sell beer here, awesome concept. And... it's close to home. I'll be back! I really wanted to like this place and was so excited to try it, but I left feeling quite underwhelmed. Like other reviewers noted below, the coffee + beer concept is pretty cool (a glass of beer definitely calms those over-analytical writing nerves), but the theme really doesn't hold together well in this cafe.
Beer can be ordered only in the back whereas the coffee is served up front. Sometimes, there is no one in the back to serve you, so you have to awkwardly stand around trying to figure out whether you're supposed to flag a barista down or wait for someone to appear from the back.
It's also confusing because I think for a place that serves beer, I'd like more food options, nothing too fancy but at least something that is typically served at a cafe. The day that I went, they had run out of all pastries, and I didn't feel like eating a biscotti with my beer, so I sat there hungry and had to leave soon after.
Service was definitely meh as well. I would only return if I am in the area. 3 stars. I love this place! I feel bad for people who don't live around here as it is truly a gem. Unfortunate for most, if you're coming here by way of car - there really isn't much parking space at any given time. Well, maybe in the middle of the day during a regular work week.
I've heard much acclaim about La Colombe and I have to say I might prefer this place. The space is beautiful and modern with free Wi-Fi available. (Upon which I'm currently writing this review.)
They surely know how to make great coffee here, it's a must to check it out sometime if you can. Stopped in here last Saturday for a coffee and a light bite. We sat outside and enjoyed our delicious coffee (one of the best I've had in ages). Since we had not had lunch yet we decided to check out their sandwiches. They only had a hummus sandwich left and I happened to be starving. The sandwich was on potato bread and contained hummus, pickled carrot and avocado. Definitely an interesting combo, but not for me, especially for the $6 I paid for it. Next time I'll go for one of the gigantic cookies they had upfront and leave the sandwich in the back fridge...
P.S. They also sell beers here which is sweet. My friend comes here on weekends and crafts her own sick-pack. The promise of a local bottle shop was what got me in the door but the remarkable quality of the coffee is what keeps me coming back to Brew/Ultimo. While there are other great coffee shops around the city and in S. Philly this one is setting the bar higher simply because the coffee itself, their attention to detail in the multiple brewing processes, and wonderful service.
I only drink regular coffee and an occasional espresso but nearly every cup I've had here has topped the previous. Complex, flavorful, unique coffees. And if you buy a bag of whole beans you get a free cup. The whole bean is also very reasonably priced considering how good it is.
I can't recommend this place highly enough. And when they start stocking beer (supposedly to equal the selection of the Foodery and beat them on price) there will be no reason to leave.
The food offerings could be more extensive but they seem to steadily be adding more options. This cute coffeeshop/beershop cradles the corner.
YES:
+ Coffee made by the cup. Cause you're SO special. :) I am not a coffee person but my buddy told me that it is VERY good.
+ Hot chocolate. Delish.
+ Natural lightening via the glass garage door, which I am sure is extra nice during warmer weather.
+ Beer. Hello, jaw-dropping beer selection! You sure know the key to my heart. *thump thump*
No:
+ No tea options. Rawr. 3 stars for drink-in rather than take-out. $2.34 for 12-oz coffee (they don't offering anything larger) with no discount for refills. It was 57 degrees outside and the entire shop was open (aka it was FREEZING). Toilet wouldn't flush and when I told the employees, she told me to push down on the handle really hard (yes, I already tried that 20+ times and even took the top off to try to flush it that way...and no, I didn't clog the toilet). Really, you are a food establishment...you should have a fully functional toilet. Coffee is very good but the experience of drinking my coffee there was definitely unpleasant. Ultimo is the ultimate. Yup - I said it. Its simple, rustic, clean design and amazingly talented baristas brimming with lighthearted cynicism and humor are charmingly reflective of the priceless Zeitgeist borne from us, a peoples - the intrepid fingertips of South Philly gentrification.
Perhaps more importantly, depending on which way you look at it, the coffee is incredible. Counter Culture brewed just the way it should be. Go for the Kenya - it's worth the extra coinage for that chocolaty smooth mouthfeel. It's so lacking in bitterness you're not even sure if it's coffee you're drinking.
Perhaps even more importantly, also depending on which way you look at it, the Brew side of the shop offers an impeccable selection of take-out beer. I wouldn't go looking for international rarities, but when it comes to standout domestic, especially local, brews, you can't beat the selection. All priced well. I recommend the mix-six: six different bottles gets you a 10% discount - it's like shopping in DE!
The conclusion here is whether you want to sit and stay, stand and sip, or grab and go, Ultimo is the place to be (shh - don't tell the others!). I was here for the first time today, and I will definitely be going back if I'm ever in that area! Unfortunately, the location kind of sucks, so I'm not sure I ever will be back that way! I would have given them 5 stars, but I only tried the coffee, so I am only reviewing one dimension of this multi-faceted coffee shop. The coffee was DELISH. Expertly brewed and complete with carefully concocted coffee-art which I totally appreciate. They had lots of delicious looking pastries, sandwiches and CUPCAKES! I didn't try any but would have if I hadn't just eaten lunch. They also had a huge selection of beer, which I was pleasantly surprised to discover. Loved it! i wanted to love this place and in many respects it is pretty awesome. the space is killer (love how they can open up those monster glass doors), and the coffee is very good. the location is great, as there is not a lot of coffee shops down in this part of the world. but my main complaint is the cost for a cup of regular drip coffee is on the high end and there is no free refill for in-house cups. and the reduced fee for refill also is high in my mind. i am not an espresso drinker, and i have not sampled their other drink preparations so i can not speak to that. i do appreciate they are trying to elevate the coffee game. i don't get the inclusion of beer and i doubt i would go there to drink beer, but maybe others will. overall it is a very aesthetically pleasing place, the baristas are chill and it is a decent place to grab a cup and chill but it is tad costly. Place has a cute set up with some great coffee. As for the neighborhood and not being from the area... I'm not sure if I would romp around the area at night time to catch up on work/study/etc. Otherwise, I would recommend the place for good coffee and free wifi. Oh and yes, there is a large slection of beer. My favorite coffee shop in Philly. Tucked in a neighborhood corner, this place has serious coffee chops. Counter culture is expertly served along with a nice selection of craft beer. Still haven't found a better latte in the city. Love the beers here! They have so many. This is also the only Ultimo I go to. Everyone here is very nice and helpful. I only live 2 blocks away, so it's also very nice to walk here and just chillax with a cup of tea or some beer! So I needed a place to sit and do school work on my laptop that wasn't Starbucks. Favorable Yelp reviews combined with me being in this general neighborhood at the time led me here.
You know, I get the general feeling that the overall positivity here in the reviews is driven by the fact that it's a coffee shop that has beer. This is a big selling point.
And it works. Because that's what drew me here.
The decaf coffee I had was serviceable. But the ability to get a beer instead after finishing the cup was the perfect complement. I enjoy having the best of both worlds.
The wifi worked for me. The vibe is cool. I may never go to Starbucks again if I'm in this area.
Plus, the ability to potentially get drunk while writing a term paper on my laptop is an interesting option to have in your hip pocket, even if I never take the option. It's just nice to know that it's there. Ultimo is a little out of the way for me, but we had to try it after their "best coffee in the country" rating. My latte was strong and smooth, one of the better lattes I've had in a while. My fiance had an iced coffee and he liked that it wasn't watered down like from other shops. I would frequent this place more if it was a little closer. Best. Iced. Coffee. Ever. It's hard to believe that this past Saturday was our first Ultimo experience, but the bf decided to run out and grab us a cup of (iced) joe and a pastry before a drive to DC. We have always wanted to try Ultimo so he decided to make the trek "across town." It was worth every moment and every ounce of gas. The iced coffee was absolutely fantastic. At $2.40 for a large (16 oz), it was reasonably priced and perfectly balanced flavor. The pastry (something with apples and cinnamon) was incredible as well. It was perfectly cooked and not overly sweet. I don't know whether to cry or jump for joy that they are opening up around the corner...I may need to get a second (or third or fourth) job to support my new Ultimo iced coffee addiction. One of the few really hipsterish coffee shops I came across in Philly, this place has some really excellent coffee.
We got some excellent iced coffee and enjoyed it with all of the other loiterers in this cozy little shop. They also have a bunch of delicious-looking pastries.
We tried the Peanut Butter & Jelly Crisp Bar ($3.75), which was really great. It had a pretty rich peanut butter flavor and was nice and salty, which went very well with the sweet jelly.
Aside from La Colombe, this is some of the best coffee in the city. Let's just get one thing out of way: I don't buy beer here and I do not sit around and tap away at my laptop, I come here to get coffee and continue on with my day. The coffee here is great, they know what they are doing.
That being said, the lack of stars stems from the fact that the service here is, at best, inconsistent, and at worst, obnoxious. "Sorry, which one is the mocha?" "Um...it's the one that has the 'M' written on it." Followed by eye-roll. Hey, guy, I can't see that "M" because it's facing you and I didn't catch you writing the "M" on it. Sorry, you don't have a mirrored stomach, I can't see the back side of a cup. While the answer to the question was technically valid, the attitude was unnecessary.
In short, I'll still buy coffee from them because it is very good and it's consistently so. I just have to remind myself that people are sometimes jerks, even when you hand them money. It depends on what you want - but this place earns 3 stars in my book. I didn't get to try the pour-over coffee, though, which is this place's signature. That said, I know that if a place does it right, it still needs to compete with other aspects of a cafe.
The store design is pretty modern and slick. It doesn't fit in with South Philly at all. But, it's still pretty neat. Staff were really helpful and nice. The chai latte I had was good, a little on the sweeter side than other places, and it is a great place to work with free wifi and tables. I would not, however, recommend the snack foods. I had a faux-oreo cookie and it was overpriced and had no taste. I was instantly sad I bought it after biting into the chalky cookie. But, you win some and you lose some.
This place is open late, which I think gives it a step up from others in the area, but it doesn't feel as friendly as the other places. Maybe it's just not my style. If I didn't feel swindled by the cookie, I might have a better feel for this place, but it seriously was an issue and ended my evening on a low note. I give five stars based on my latte and the genius concept. Beer AND coffee!
I am always looking for the creamy, rich, almost chocolatey latte. Not the computerized, automated, fake tamped yuk. It's got to be hand-crafted.
This latte was goody. Plus a bottle of Samuel Smith Taddy Porter in the fridge case. Heavenly! The first of many long overdue review updates. When I first reviewed Brew/Ultimo it was before they had become a beer paradise and had only had just recently picked up their liquor license. But since that time I have come to enjoy a good number of beers in their cafe, and take home quite the impressive selection of six packs.
As far as selection goes I won't call their beer offerings as widespread as the likes at Bottleshop, Foodery, or Hawthorne's. But it is well thought out with plenty pf good locals and imports. And the prices for certain brews are also better than they are at the other spots.
While Ultimo is a good spot to do a mix a six pack, a their deals make it better to pick up a straight up six pack, especially since Philadelphia Brewing Company packs are always $8.99. They also have a kick ass Beer of the Month special where I've seen 4/6 packs from the likes of Founders, Abita, Six Point, and others on sell for significantly less than they would be at other places. 5 Stars for what it is, and 5 Stars for what it's going to be. Does that mean I can give 10?
For the longest time I followed that the owner of South Philly Tap Room was going to open up a cafe that hook up delectable coffee offerings from one of my favorites, Counter Culture (http://mealticket.blogs.citypaper.net/blogs/mu/2009/05/05/first-look-at-brewultimo-coffee/). and even better was the fact that it wasn't only going to offer one of my favorite vices, it was going to offer TWO of them by doubling over as a beer store as soon as it procured a liquor license (http://ultimocoffee.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/meal-ticket-round-two-keeping-tabs-on-brewultimo-coffee/). And while one of those goals is still a work in progress, the coffee shop is very much alive and might just be one of the best in the city.
as soon as I walked up one of the South Philly roads that is less traveled for me and saw my destination, I became enamored by it's outdoor seating and garage door that opened to combine the outside with the in. the incredible decor expanded with church pews and antique window fixtures hanging indoors. I also made note of the many refrigerator units that will one day hold mass quantities of delectable beer.
The iced chai that I initially order made for the perfect relaxed wake up call during a hot day. and the coffee that I ordered afterwards embodied a dark richness to it's body that was fully accentuated by the drip method that they utilize. and the lemon square that I ordered along with it was sheer perfection.
Overall the staff were friendly and extremely accommodating, and the atmosphere made for the perfect environment to have our book club in. It looks like Ultimo is a place that I'll be visiting for a long while to come! I used to live across the street for a few months and this was my favorite coffee spot to go to. Love the hand poured coffee and the friendliness of the staff. Good pastries too. I used to bring my laptop in and get work done and would savor every drop of that coffee. Can't wait to go back when I'm in Philly I've been going here for a long time. It is awesome. And the four worlds bakery baked goods are an added treat! Ingredients:
Your favorite beer store
Your favorite coffee shop
Church Pew
Nice Folks
Take Your favorite beer store and simmer on low heat. Once the beer store turns hip, slowly add Your favorite coffee shop. If you see pretentiousness boiling up to the surface, remove with a ladle. After the mixture has settled to a golden brown, serve with Church Pew and have the Nice Folks make beer recommendations.
This quick and easy technique will allow you to keep prices ridiculously low on your large, interesting beer selection.
Voila! You have now created your new favorite place to get beer(or coffee). I came here b/c a friend of mine lives near by - and she LOVED their coffee. Trusting her pallette - I thought I'd check it out myself. It turned out to be a gem. And she and I have gone back a number of times - and I often go myself. The coffee is great! Brewed well, served well. The food is awesome - great breads, great yogurt and granola - and great sandwhiches. The croissants are also pretty awesome. Additionally, it's just a great all around coffee house. WONDERFUL atmosphere. GO here!
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