We dined here again on Saturday, August 30, 2025. Good as it ever was! Veronica and the Blackfish team make this restaurant consistently inviting and memorable. We started with the Blackfish classic--the hen egg wrapped in freshly smoked salmon--a must-order every time we visit. For entrées, we enjoyed the lobster agnolotti and the crispy dorade in a saffron sauce. To finish, the freshly baked beignets were light, warm, and so GOOD! Every course was outstanding. We've been coming here twice a year for over a decade, and it never disappoints. Don't forget--it's BYOB, so plan ahead. We'll definitely be back. read more

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More like 3.5 stars. We did the 7-course tasting menu ($115 per person), and I'm really not sure how I should feel about it. Part of me feels the tasting menu tonight is a bit of a letdown. 1) The caramelized onion with cream sauce is super salty to the extent that I couldn't eat it. My husband was hungry so he ate both without much thinking, but later he said the high sodium level became obvious towards the end. 2) One of the two main dishes: the scallops are super salty too! But I still ate them as there are only three medium-sized scallops anyway. 3) Seating is super tight, almost uncomfortable. You're literally on top of each other. So the restaurant became very loud and it's hard to hear clearly what the servers are saying. We didn't hear the "inedible sea grass" part, so I was poking the sea grass after I finished my single oyster. The lead female server almost "yelled"'at me. We also witnessed her harshly tell the male server to move faster to clear one table, which we find unnecessary as he was already moving as fast as the tight space allowed him to. But our tall young female server is very friendly--her warm mannerism makes us feel better during the long wait between courses. My favorite out of the seven-course tasting menu is: the smoked salmon with poached egg. It has a very balanced flavor and the texture combination makes the dish interesting. Maybe it's better not to do the tasting menu especially if it's your first visit, as it doesn't allow you to make any choice. read more

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In 2011, Blackfish, Chip Roman's innovative seafood eatery, was named "Best Restaurant" in Philadelphia Magazine's "50 Best Restaurants." The article was virtually unceasing in its accolades: "... flat-out fantastic; sophisticated without being overbearingly avant-garde, pretty and fresh without being precious; the perfect restaurant of the moment." But then, in 2016, a scant five years after Blackfish had collected its numero uno, in the very same magazine that had praised it so highly, Jason Sheehan served the restaurant a robustly unflattering review generously seasoned with a barrage of backhanded compliments that were about as subtle as a brick through a plate glass window. The implication being that the restaurant was stuck in an irrelevant time warp and was totally out-of-date: "Blackfish remains largely the restaurant it was in 2011: an old-school BYO with delicate, quiet service and a room made for showcasing the food more than the architecture... It's a solid restaurant that occasionally flirts with greatness, but it feels stuck in a moment that the rest of us are no longer inhabiting." Think again... ... In Alison Pearlman's Smart Casual: The Transformation of Gourmet Restaurant Style in America, published in 2013, the author examined how restaurant styles had shifted from stuffy formality to "come as you are" dining in a decidedly relaxed and understated environment. And what this means to us in 2024 - since Smart Casual was written a full five years before the Blackfish review made its appearance - is that the assertion of Mr. Sheehan's article was certainly true. Only, ironically, in complete reverse. It was his own view of dining that was, at the time, already woefully outdated (and even more so today)... Whereas Blackfish, with its simple storefront setting, homey décor, and quiet laid-back service was (and is) very much in sync with contemporary culinary trends. From my perspective, dining at Blackfish was somewhat akin to the old joke about the definition of mixed emotions: "Watching your mother-in-law drive off a cliff... in your new sports car." On the one hand, I love the look and feel of the place; it's my kind of restaurant... easy-going, comfortable, a place where you can wear jeans and be right at home, a place where the food, not the décor (or architecture, as Mr. Sheehan refers to it), does all the talking. And that's the "on the other hand" of this equation, the rub, if you will... The food did do the talking... Unfortunately, its messages were mixed. My two dining companions both opted for the Day Boat Scallop Tasting, which included scallops prepared and sauced three ways - Tiradito (similar to crudo) with chili water, saffron, purple ninja radish... Grilled with smoked ratatouille, polenta, opal basil... Seared with beluga lentils, truffled corn, sauce américaine - plus dessert, White Chocolate Ganache with mango sorbet, toasted coconut. Votes were unanimous, excellent on all counts. Since I definitely planned to write a review of this restaurant and wanted a broader picture, I ordered á la carte. This, as it turned out, proved to be problematic. But let's begin on a positive note... The Brussels Sprouts Salad didn't look like much just sitting there in a pile; but what was famine for the eye proved to be a feast for the palate. Tender shredded sprouts were combined with almonds, cranberries, granny smith apples and roquefort cheese. The result was a seamless gastronomic gestalt, a perfect fusion of taste and texture. My second course, the Hudson Valley Foie Gras Terrine - delightfully delicate, addictively rich & creamy - was simply superlative. Up to this point, all had been well. Even dessert, Warm Chocolate Cake with house-made ice cream, proved to be quite satisfying. But, strangely enough, in this well-known and respected seafood restaurant, the bearers of bad news turned out to be purely piscatorial. Please note the plural, bearers. For disappointment reared its ugly head not once, but twice during the same meal. An anomaly, to say the least. My first choice for entrée was the Grilled Broadbill Swordfish. I love swordfish; I rarely order it, however - especially in a restaurant with which I am unfamiliar - as it is particularly prone to both under & overcooking. But I figured Blackfish for a pretty safe bet... I was wrong. The swordfish arrived at table beautifully plated (see photo) aided & abetted by eggplant caponata, garlic caramel and chimichurri - an interesting combo taste-wise. Unfortunately, the fish itself was incredibly tough and chewy. Horribly overcooked. Our server was very nice and asked if I wanted to substitute the Seared Dorade Royale (tender white-fleshed fish that is similar to pompano or red snapper), which I did. This, too, was definitely overcooked, with a saffron emulsion adding a rather odd flavor to the presentation. The bottom line... A double whammy... and, for me at least, not the kitchen's finest hour. read more

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Terrible. where to begin? Servers tried hard but insufficiently trained. Got water but wine order had to be asked for twice, with 15 minute wait. Had to ask for bread. Wrong meal delivered to our table. When finally correct diner delivered (shrimp oreganata), ice cold shrimp over a mush of pasta. When new dish delivered, it was a soup of shrimp, tasteless. Adjoining table ordered 2 same drinks, and received 2 different drinks! Acoustics made place very loud. Not sure what they are trying to be, sports bar with 24 or so television screens, or white tablecloth upscale restaurant? Best part of experience was the valet parking gentleman. Don't waste your appetite, hearing, time and money. Arlo across street is the place. read more

One of the absolute best restaurants in Conshohocken!! There is not one critique here. The staff and service, incredible. The ambiance, incredible. The bread and real olive oil, incredible. The tuna tartare, incredible. The dorade, incredible, and the homemade ice cream and sorbet, you guessed it.... incredible. My friend ordered the apple sorbet and I have never tasted something so fresh. It tasted as if I was just biting into an apple. I loved the dessert menu. You don't have to commit to a whole dessert, and can just order from the "just a taste" list. They also have a tasting menu that changes frequently and highlights a particular ingredient if you opt not to order al a carte. Cannot wait to return!! read more

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Honestly the slowest service. We were a group of 8 with dinner reservations at 6:30pm, we didn't leave the place till after 9:30pm. I literally wanted to take a nap at the table. The bread was delicious. The Brussels sprouts salad was average, coworkers enjoyed the snail from the appetizer. I got the white fish with basmati rice for the main course, the rice was Al dente, it could have used a little more cooking. For the price point and time spent, I have eaten much much better. read more

We finally got to blackfish. Been wanting to come here for awhile as I love seafood and this restaurant is so close to us. I love crab so we decided to come for the crab tasting menu. It is BYOB so it was nice we could bring a bottle of wine, we have so many at our house that we need to drink up. Our server opened it for us and gave us wine flutes. Our server was attentive and informative - I asked him questions about the soft shell crab because I never had one before and I wasn't sure if all the yellow guts came inside it like a normal crab. He said you eat the whole crab and assured me it was cleaned. Our starter was the crab salad- it was very light and refreshing. And I really like the citrus vinaigrette that was underneath, I was soaking my bread up with it. Next was the crab ravioli with ramps. We went ramp crazy the whole week before and ramps with everything since the season is very limited. So by the dinner here I was a little ramped out. But I liked that they just sprinkled a little bit of ramps over top of the pasta rather than put it on the pasta. When my husband made it he put the ramps inside the ravioli so I already had it that way and I'm glad they made it different here. The crab shined by not putting too many ramps, and I loved the fresh meyer lemon taste as well. The crab was very fresh and didn't taste too fishy like some seafood does. This was my favorite dish. The soft shell crab was next. I enjoyed it. You don't even realize that you are eating the shell, it just makes it taste extra crispy. A double layer of crispness really- You bite into the deep fry batter and then the shell has an extra layer of crunch. It was tasty. The romesco sauce it came with was a little on the spicy peppery side for me, but I guess it went well with the crab. I was happy I didn't see any crab intestines lol. I think they said they weren't really developed yet in soft shell crabs. I would have liked the crab a little bigger- but I guess it's still early in the season. It was good I would try soft shell crabs again sometime. For dessert we had a strawberry panna cotta with spiced walnuts. It was creamy, light and refreshing and a good way to end the meal without overstuffing you. We enjoyed our meal and will prob come back sometime to try a different tasting menu. read more

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We've been to Blackfish multiple times and each time have experienced great food, service and ambiance. The staff are extremely knowledgeable about the menu and can explain each item in amazing detail. Remember this is a byob. I would highly recommend joining them for dinner and reservations are recommended. Parking was easy as there is a lot on the corner that was free on Saturday evening. Hope this helps. read more

Blackfish - Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with blue cheese - New American Near Me - Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Really great experience here for dinner last night! The ambiance was really nice and our server was great. All of the food was extremely fresh. The duck was fantastic and so was the apple sorbet. I really loved that you could order just a little bit of dessert from the "just a taste" menu (even though they were very generous with those portions). I can't wait to come back! read more

Blackfish - Duck - New American Near Me - Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

So conflicted about how to rate this place. It's clearly a Conshy five... Conshy Borough, not mailing address... We dined tonight to celebrate ourselves and to enjoy the crab tasting menu. Service and the food were amazing. My only complaint is that they didn't seat us by the amazing cookbook section. Sure there were already people dining there, so I guess I can't knock them for that... A magical cookbook section. Love seeing books that I own in Chef collections. Whenever I see someone with the NOMA book, you know you're going to have a great meal. We started off with a crab salad. Crab mixed in with avocado, some purple radishes, some cilantro. I thought this would be an amazing taco. Next came the crab ravioli. English peas as a sauce on the side, with some ramps. We've eaten a lot of ramps this past week... I cut into the ravioli and I smelled the ocean. Fish shouldn't have that "fishy" smell. I love it when it tastes like the ocean. I'm instantly taken back to a place we ate a few years ago that had a Michelin star. Presentation wasn't the same, but the aroma was exactly what we wanted. Our main course was next, soft-shell crab. I've never eaten this. I asked questions early on, but once it came, I just dove in. It was fried up, with some romesco sauce and spring vegetables. Finally, a strawberry panna cotta closed out our meal. I didn't want this. I was full.. I took some bites and realized I needed this. Ate the spiced walnuts, the strawberries and when I got to the actual cream part, it was just so good. A perfect ending to the meal that was fresh and somewhat lighter than any dessert I would have chosen myself. My wife has wanted to come here for years and to my own fault, I never wanted to come. I didn't want to come during restaurant week, since I really don't like those weeks... The menu never looked like something I would really enjoy. I was wrong. We'll be back, but probably for another tasting event. read more

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Blackfish has been a favorite of both my wife and I ever since we had our first experience there in 2014. I was hesitant because I'm not usually an adventurous eater and the Chef Chip Roman menu at this amazing BYOB is far more elevated than typical fare. The 3 course pre fixe menu is contemporary American with French influence. One of the foodiest people I have even known told me about Blackfish with the advice, "little on that menu will appeal to you, but trust me...just eat it. Whatever it is, even if you think it sounds strange, I promise that it'll be good." I have since eaten many things I never would have considered otherwise, and my friend's advice always holds true...it's always delicious. Now that we live a few blocks away, we do get to visit a few times per year. We're lucky to live to so close to one of the best restaurants we've ever been to. Blackfish is my personal favorite and I can't recommend them enough. So bring your favorite bottle or two and trust the menu...it'll make you happy every time. read more

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Went there for our 4 year anniversary. First time there and tried the 7 course meal. We think the 7 course was too heavy. Started getting full by 4th-5th (also bread and complimentary app that night) Service was fantastic. Team did great read more

This is some great restaurant ! The food is so fresh and delicious and has a cute atmosphere! I always love coming here it's a special place in my heart read more

Great meal and lovely service. Had the full course dinner - it was too much but oh so good. read more

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We came for a birthday celebration and an old bottle of Napa wine. We haven't been to Blackfish in many years. And the food was just as good then as now. We started with the Scottish salmon & Lobster ravioli. The salmon was my least favorite tasting of the evening. It was good but it reminded we of a breakfast app which I wasn't in the mood. But the lobster ravioli was delicious! We wanted to lick every last drop of the sauce. Thank goodness they gave us extra bread to soak up the buttery cream sauce. Lastly we both ordered the Roasted Dorade. The fish was cooked perfectly with a nice crispy skin on the fish. It was light and fresh. I could eat this dish everyday! We hope to go back so my husband can get his fix of a dish with foie gras. read more

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What a gem! We had a 10 course tasting for date night! We were in and out of the restaurant in under 3 hours, which was fabulous for a tasting! The staff was attentive, quick and knowledgeable about their dishes! It was nice to have a tasting menu, and not feel judged by them if we did not finish the entire tasting. Each dish was fabulous, the only reason my partner and myself didn't two of the tastings, one dish each that we tried but did not finish, was solely based on dishes we knew ahead of time we were crazy about! Mine was the liver pâté, which he finished for me. And his was the escargot, which I finished his for him. They both were very good, seasoned well! The presentation of all the dishes was absolutely fantastic, and each one was perfect size. The staff even listen to us when we asked to add an entree onto the tastings. Scallops, that we saw being delivered to another table! Which were DEVINE. And the bread that is constantly refilled, is heavenly!! All in all, this is a wonderful place for a date night. It's intimate, a different experience and easy going. Will definitely recommend! read more

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The food was decent but it didn't make up for the rest of it. We had the same exact experience that several other people mentioned, where we were asked to leave right after paying our bill because they didn't have space - the host was rather rude about it too. They seem to be overbooking. The tables are so close together, it's uncomfortable. It's impossible to have a conversation in there due to the noise level. We were happy to leave and won't be back. read more

Amazing from beginning to end! We experienced the tasting menu and truly enjoyed every course, they even allowed us to request a specific course based on my birthday wish! read more

Well that was absolutely decadent. The seven course chef's tasting menu made for a wonderfully special meal. The pacing, the flavors, the presentation, the service, the wine and the company made for a perfect celebratory night. We missed a few pictures (we were anxious to try everything) but sharing what we captured. If you are in the area or looking for a special night out - visit this hidden BYOB gem on Fayette in Conshohocken- you will not be disappointed. Thank you to our server Veronica for a fantastic dining experience. read more

Blackfish - Seared Dorade - New American Near Me - Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Blackfish was very good. Great service, seasonal food changes on the menu. It's BYOB and one of the best seafood restaurants in the area area. read more

Wasn't sure how to rate this experience. Service was great, ambiance was plain and you're seated very close to other parties due to the size of the restaurant. We were tempted to try the course menus but due to the mixed yelp reviews we opted to order a few dishes to share. If the dishes were good we would order more. We ordered beet salad, crudo, blue crab ravioli, and snails. Loved the beet salad! Loved the sauce and taste of the crudo but the fish was a bit fishy. Blue crab was cold and fishy in taste. Snails were good initially exploding with garlic taste but couldn't eat too much of it because the taste became too overpowering. The portions were neither big or small but felt the prices were high. I expect these prices in the city not at a suburb. Plate presentation was nice but felt that the taste was not on par with the look. Should have stuck to gut and ate in the city. read more

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This BYOB is a delicious date spot, noisy enough to afford some privacy. And the cooking's delicious. Unlike its previous incarnation - where you could drown in the dark - the interior is open to sunlight, making it easy to read the menu, but no easier to decide what to get: Between house-smoked Scottish salmon ($14) and (admittedly dependable) carnaroli risotto ($14) it's an even toss. Seafood lovers should try the flavorful Cape May skate wing ($26), with ruby grapefruit, garden fennel, banyuls, and Belgian endives. My favorite? The magret duck breast ($31; best medium rare), prepared with beets, prunes, and charred romaine. Many thanks to Amanda for pleasant service, and compliments to the chef, especially for saying hello, considering his wife was expecting that night! read more

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Another great dinner with a few friends.... I started with Oysters with Carbonated Meyer Lemon Juice - Great concept and execution. Perfect match of the brininess of the oyster with the sweetness and sourness of the Meyer lemons, accented with some pepper. We enjoyed a lovely Candoni Prosecco NV with this , along with a Louis Latour Montagny Premier Cru La Grande Roche Second course was Foie Gras with toasted brioche - Unique preparation where the inside of the sphere had a sweet cherry(?) emulsion while the outside was coated with pistachios. Third course was a juicy Veal Chop cooked to medium rare perfection, draped in an intensely flavored sauce. We enjoyed the veal with a beautiful 1975 Chateau Haut Brion and a wonderful Barolo brought back from Italy. I was lucky to be seated with some very generous dining partners. read more

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This place is the best! The tasting menu was absolutely incredible and each dish was unique and amazing quality. It's really fun having it be a surprise what dish is coming next. The best part: it's BYOB. Definitely perfect for any special occasion or just a fun night out. The service was great as well. read more

Blackfish - New American Near Me - Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

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Worst "fine dining" experience for us. We went for our Valentines Day dinner. Place was nice but overpriced flavorless food. Then at the end of our dinner, on my husband's very last bite of his chocolate lava cake he bit into some kind of metal. A backing to a metal button it looks like? Anyway, owner and server were not very sorry about the situation. What a huge disappointment to our yearly traditional Valentines Day dinner celebration. Don't waste your $$$ folks. read more

Blackfish - New American Near Me - Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Amazing BYOB restaurants near Philadelphia. We love tasting experience. Oysters are spur delicious!

Great food, great service, great experience. We came for the lobster tasting and everything was awesome. I did have a bad lobster tail, but I politely let my server know and they immediately corrected it by bringing the best lobster tail I had ever had. Total professionals here! We will absolutely be back! read more

Went for restaurant week and it was delicious! Did the price fix and chose tuna for first course, salmon for third, and caramel dessert for third. Everything was great! read more

Great little spot in Conshocken! My boyfriend's parents found this spot & loved it so much that they said they wanted to take us here. We went on a Saturday night - our reservation was at 6:30 - seated us right away & there was basically no one there. By the time we left (around 9) the place was packed! Definitely recommend making reservations here. They don't have a parking lot, so you do need to find street parking (which is free after 6pm) or parking in one of the nearby lots. This place is BYOB! We decided to do the Chef's tasting menu for the 5 course meal & were thoroughly impressed. First course: gently smoked scottish salmon & hamachi crudo - both very delicious even though i'm not the biggest fan of raw food. Second course: Ravioli - which was OUT of this world! Main Course: Duck - was also very delcious Dessert: la colombe coffee creme brulee AND cinnamon sugar beignets stuffed with raspberry. Although we only asked for the 5 course, the chef actually made us an extra dessert which was so nice of them! read more

We went to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and my husband had horrible food poisoning from the duck. When I called and spoke to the manager, the customer service response was atrocious. Spent almost $200 for this double insult. read more

The most disappointing fine dining I've ever had. When we were seated, to block out the sunset, a waiter taped a tablecloth to the window. This sums up Blackfish- looks good until you delve deeper. We got the duck and the halibut- the duck had a grape sauce that was the highlight of the meal. The duck itself was too chewy. The rice under it sucked, unfortunately. The halibut was dry and was awful. We then asked for the chocolate cake with raspberry sauce on the side, since my girlfriend hates even a hint of raspberry. The dessert came out with raspberry sauce all over, and my girlfriend couldn't eat it. We told the service staff, and we got some free icecream out of the ordeal. Unfortunately, nothing in this entire meal stood out, and the price tag was $83 for two entrees and a dessert. Totally not worth it, especially with Estia only a short drive away. read more

We've been to Blackfish a number of times over the years and they never disappoint! We had the Scottish Salmon, Sea Bass crudo, Dorade Royale and Fisherman's Stew. Fantastic service & dinner! read more

Loud,loud,loud !!! Distracting noise levels. Prices are reasonable and food is OK to good. Service was outstanding.

Voted Number 1 restaurant In Philadelphia, per Philadelphia Magazine. Those are some HUGE Shoes to fill! THE VERDICT! Well done Blackfish! Hats off to you! We ventured out of the city and into the 'burbs' (gasp) with another couple last Friday night and couldn't have been more pleased! The restaurant was of typical BYO style, small, minimal decor; white table cloths and wooden floors, there is a collection of books by a lot of the culinary greats; Thomas Keller, George Perrier to name a few positioned on the wall. The space had a smart casual feel about it. The outdoor seating had a couple of tables flanking the front door looking out upon Fayette Street. Blackfish was also a bit pricer than the average BYO, especially for being outside the city, but well worth the price. Between the four of us, we literally ordered everything on the menu, so we really got the full Blackfish experience! AMUSE BOUCHE- (I heart restaurants that offer this pre-course!) Vishiswa with mushroom shavings- The presentation was adorable, in double shot glasses, the flavor of the mushroom really shined through the creamy broth FIRST COURSE -Maine lobster tail special- perfectly cooked, the lobster tail was a bit small, but delivered a great burst of flavors -Kumamoto oysters, pickled watermelon, carbonated meyer lemon- the lemon foam was very -Yellowtail kingfish 'sashimi style' breakfast radish, yuzu kosho, moro orange- it won best dish as the Philly Food Competition! -Apple wood smoked Scottish salmon, crispy potato, poached egg, mizuna- cute presentation- the salmon was not as salty as expected and the egg yolk blended well SECOND COURSE -Baby arugula, English cucumber, cherry belle radish- lush, green and refreshing! -Gently cooked Day boat scallops, salsa verde- texturally delightful and the subtle flavor was very pleasing -Sautéed Hudson Valley Foie Gras, Iranian pistachios, bing cherries- I HEART FOIE!! The cherries blended very well with the foie and added nice color to the dish. The portion was a nice size, the fatty goodness was delicate and divine, they could have sautéed it more for a more crisp exterior, but it still sang to my palette! -Carmelized pork belly, golden raisinsm, kohlrabi, dijon mustard- very flavorful and the crunchy pork skin was yummy. MAIN COURSE -Pennsylvania rainbow trout, cauliflowers, golden raisins, pink peppercorn vierge, brown butter sauce- I have had this fish many times- but this rendition was divine!! -Slow cooked Lancaster County Polard, quinoa, white asparagus, fava beans- Harold said this is the "Best chicken you will ever have" I have to say- up until now- he is right! -Yellow fin tuna- Good portion, served at a great medium rare -Veal tenderloin, sweetbreads, asparagus- Great presentation, get flavors, sweetbreads had just the right texture DESSERT -Vanilla brulee- very plain presentation, I personally like the top to be very caramelized and the bottom to be very creamy. It was good, but it did not shine. -Warm molten chocolate cake, confection sugar, vanilla ice cream- this dessert was simply DIE for! -Semi-frozen white chocolate, pistachio, whipped ricotta, preserved orange- The men seemed to prefer this dessert All in all, a very delightful experience, one of the BEST meals we've had in many months! At such a young age, Chef Roman is a culinary genius, creating masterpieces from simple, fresh local fare. I wish he had an establishment in the city, so we didn't need to venture the whole way back here for another visit (ok, I just made it sound like we traveled hundreds of miles to get here, but you know what I mean!) If I had to be the anal patron, (and I will) I caught, Josh the front of the house guy, briefly on his cell phone, even my friends rolled their eyes at me, but I had to put one con in there, even if it's miniscule. I have to be honest! Oh!! and the air vent in the center of the room was blasting cold air on my bare shoulders -forcing me to consume more wine to keep warm! Upon request, Josh did turn it down, but then it got hot later, there needs to be a happy median! However, neither events hampered our dining experience whatsoever. Yelpers, RUN, RUN!! I say, to this little gem on Fayette Street- You will NOT be disappointed!! Next trip, we are going to try the chef's tasting menu!! read more

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The Setting: Aside from traffic during Philadelphia's rush hour converting my planned early arrival into a 'just on time' affair I found the space with ease and securing free parking just around the corner made my way to the door just on time, finding the space perhaps 1/3 full and myself the youngest person in the room by perhaps twenty years. Clean lines, white walls, wood floors, and a pair of rooms the space appears to be an old home and with the back room a bit louder with a bit duskier grey hue I opted to sit up front near the window. White tablecloths, shabby-chic wooden chairs, and a pile of books, the space is minimalist but comfortable. The Service: Like most of the Philadelphia BYO scene the service is laid back - friendly but not chummy, and professional if not a bit preoccupied. Running a small crew, an elderly gentleman named Harold took care of water and bread refills throughout the night and frequently asked what I thought of the dishes. Salted Focaccia and Hearty White with Olive Oil: Preceding the amuse I received two breads and with both still warm from the oven I tried the white first - a dense smoky crust and hearty crumb - before moving on to the Focaccia that would call for 3-4 additional slices through the meal - a moist and salty sponge that went marvelously with the fruity olive oil. Foie Gras Soup, Chicken Dumplings, New Potato, Tuscan Kale: One of my supplemental courses and a sort of signature dish for the restaurant this shallow bowl featured a whipped stock rife with the unmistakable sapor of foie gras and light smoky notes that came through on palate yet not on the tongue. Certainly not a dish for those who do not fancy the flavor of foie gras itself, the accoutrements were none the less also quite excellent, the kale lending a much needed vegetal tinge while the dumplings brought just a touch of brine. Duck Prosciutto, Watercress, Granny Smith: The first course of the prix fixe, and also the least memorable, this light salad was modestly composed with the duck quite delicate in flavor and largely lost to the bitterness of the watercress and sourness of the melon-balled apples. Undressed I think this dish possibly could have benefitted from a touch of acid. Roasted Foie Gras, Strawberries, Rhubarb, Balsamic: If you want to make up for a boring salad this is certainly not a bad way to do so - a perfect piece of foie caramelized on the exterior and melting within paired simply with fresh strawberries, rhubarb puree, and a bit of aged balsamic. Perhaps the best example of what people had told me about Blackfish and Chef Roman's style this was simply great ingredients prepared with a skilled hand and presented without a lot of fuss - and it was great. Margret Duck Breast, Kohlrabi, Fava Beans, White Asparagus: Finishing strong both in flavor and in portion this was another dish where the ingredients spoke for themselves, the crackling skin of the duck separated from supple flesh by a light ribbon of fat and the vegetables all prepared with great care. Finished tableside with a cumin and sage spiced duck gravy this plate demanded another slice of foccaica before returning to the kitchen mopped clean. Crème Caramel, Blackberries: As the prix-fixe dessert of the evening I will confess that I am not much of a crème caramel fan; despite my love for both caramel flavor and puddings/flans in general it always strikes me as more of a "jello," and this one was no different. Rich and eggy but still with more jiggle than tooth the taste was delicious, but overall it left me wanting something more substantial... Cinnamon-sugar beignets, English cream, Raspberry Confiture: Certainly more substantial, definitely more my style, and each about the size of a hemisected baseball this was my second a la carte choice and much like the soup, a restaurant signature. Highly recommended by friends, foodies, and by Harold these light pillows certainly lived up to their billing but perhaps even better than the beignets were the dipping sauces. The Verdict: Admitting already my fondness for duck and foie gras I can say without doubt that Chip Roman and his team are more than capable of preparing top quality ingredients with skill and grace, a true testament to any chef without doubt. Pairing the prior statement with pleasant service and a minimalistic but comfortable setting I can also say that almost anyone - from gourmand to picky child - could have a good meal at Blackfish...and yet with that noted I still cannot see how some consider it to be amongst the city's 10 best, particularly given the distance from center city. A nice spot in the suburbs but not a "destination" in my opinion I definitely look forward to checking out some of Roman's other spots during future visits to Philadelphia. read more

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It was a Sunday night and the Chef must have been in an extra generous mood or something because we ended up getting 2 amuse bouche - both being delicious. The first was a Cape May Oyster with Lime Foam; the next a Tomato Salad from the last of the chef's garden with a small dollop of a creamy cheese. We ordered the 5 course tasting menu and requested that it include the Risotto as well as the Sea Urchin Ravioli. Both were outstanding! (The risotto was not the one shown on the menu but one made with Sweet Corn, toasted bread/cheese crumbs (?) and black truffles.) Our other courses included an Ahi Tuna Tartar and a fantastic Chicken Breast stuffed with chicken mousse and wrapped in crispy chicken skin. Our dessert was a delicious Beignet. Our very knowledgeable and fun server heard that it was our anniversary and brought out a 2nd dessert to help us celebrate, a crispy apple cake complete with candles. The bill, before tip, came to around $150. Not inexpensive but well worth the money - as well as a return visit. (Remember - it's a BYO.) read more

LUNCH AT BLACKFISH (note: may or may not be a holiday season-only thing, so check on OpenTable before you go): Back in the day, before I moved to Philly, Blackfish used to do lunch. So I was excited to hear they were starting it up again, and four of us made it in this past Black Friday. As we were the only customers (never happened to me before, since Blackfish is usually packed for dinner), I guess everyone else was out shopping! But we had a great time with the restaurant completely to ourselves, and as always the service was great. Chatted with Leah Patterson, the new Director of Operations for the newly renamed "Roman Restaurant Group" (sounds Italian, but that's fine since Chip makes some pretty good pasta!). She used to work at Blackfish "back in the day", moved to NYC, and is now back in the fold (her husband John Patterson is CdC at Fork). She told us how excited she was about the brand new websites for Blackfish/Mica/Ela, so check those out. http://blackfishrestaurant.com We enjoyed (lunch menu: http://blackfishrestaurant.com/lunch/)...see photos: FRENCH ONION SOUP--Gruyere cheese, croutons, chives ($8.00)~A big bowl of classic, covered with dripping-down-the-sides toasted cheese...this could be a meal by itself. 'BIG BURB' BURGER--9 ounce Black Angus beef, blue cheese, fried onions, apple wood-smoked bacon, fries, with ketchup and a special sauce on the side ($12.00)...This is the burger that back in the day Craig LaBan listed as one of the best in the Philly area, before my time, but it is still excellent, nice sear, well-seasoned, although I thought it was a bit overdone relative to the medium rare I requested. Excellent fries. As good as the burger was, the highlight of the meal was the complementary tasting of truffles, caramels, chocolates, and pate de fruit from Tradestone Confection, Chip Roman's new chocolate shop (next door to Blackfish and not open yet, but you can order them online). Served to us by Fred Ortega (ex-Le Bec Fin), Chip's partner in this new venture. I had previously ordered some online, so as I already knew, these are KILLER chocolates! The only problem was I was stuffed from that huge burger and soup. http://tradestoneconfections.com [FYI, I was dining with a couple who have been to Blackfish more than 200 times, so don't get your hopes up that everyone and his uncle gets a free chocolate tasting. We can only dream. I did ask Harold about whether they were planning to add chocolates to the Blackfish menu, and he said they were thinking about it (and a door between Blackfish and Tradestone is planned). Tradestone, or whatever the actual storefront will be called, will be serving sandwiches, coffee, etc. all day when it finally opens.) Some wines to go with burgers & chocolate: ~2007 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot ~1999 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Apparently, depending on how it goes, Blackfish may be doing lunches only for the holiday season, so get in while the getting is good (I'm going to do a couple of work-related holiday lunches there in the next couple of weeks). An excellent burger and an affordable way to enjoy Blackfish. For my other reviews of Blackfish for dinner, click below... read more

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lovely restaurant in Conshohocken...I was able to get a reservation here at a very last minute... First Course: Smoked scottish salmon, deep fried egg, potato, sour cream, mizuna - not a big fan of salmon...but the egg yoke and potato in the middle went very well together... Second Course: Veal sweetbreads, mcintosh apple, hedgehog mushroom, red onion - sweetbreads were cooked to perfection...enough said... Third Course: Salmon 'confit', maitake mushroom, globe artichoke, brussels sprouts Grilled longfin tuna, pumpkin seed, eggplant puree, sunchoke, cauliflower - tuna was very tender and moist...not overcooked....but Salmon was...bit of disappointing...thank goodness, it was my partner's dish...lol...tasted too fishy for me... Fourth Course: Coffee brulee - Excellent Staff was friendly....but it can be bit of hassle to find a parking...even though it's in the suburbs... read more

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The food here is excellent and definitely goes to prove that Conshy is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to cuisine. The smoked salmon app was delicious; the salmon was sliced extremely thin and arranged around a fried egg topped with potato crisps. It sounds eccentric but is quite delectable. The roasted beef marrow was savory and rich, and paired well with the fish roe and seasoned crispy crostini. The octopus with palm and eggplant was simultaneously savory and refreshing and very tender, which made my teeth happy since it can be a nightmare if overcooked even slightly. My favorite, after the smoked salmon course, was definitely the lightly seared day boat scallops with salsa verde. They were plump, juicy, and fresh with the perfect amount of seasoning; the salsa and grapefruit gave it a refreshing twist that made it stand out from the typical scallop course at other similar restaurants. I decided on the salmon confit entree with the pork belly and sauce vierge because I figured that I might as well indulge in an overly decadent meal. The slow-cooked salmon confit was just melt-in-your-mouth delicious, as was the pork belly. It was served with a side of tender, white asparagus and topped with a savory peppercorn-based vierge, which had all of the basil, EVOO, lemon, tomato, and parsey flavors well-infused. To be honest, I was already feeling full from the first and second courses so I didn't finish all of my entree (brought the rest home for a dinner-for-breakfast brunch tomorrow), but I thoroughly enjoyed every, rich, fatty bite. The duck breast looked very savory and juicy, so I will definitely try that next time. I didn't even get to steal a bite before the dish was devoured. I was too stuffed to order my own dessert but did manage to fit in a few bites of the semi-frozen white chocolate, ricotta, pistachio, and orange mousse. Gosh, it was good! It was literally like having 4 desserts in a single bite. I can't believe that we have lived in the vicinity for so many years without stopping by here. Where has my head been? Oh well, more reason to frequent this restaurant more often to make up for lost time! Service was flawless and it is BYOB, so that makes up for the rather steep prices (~$14/app and ~$30/entree). read more

Superb! The dishes were well balanced and perfectly executed. Perhaps the only item which fell just short of perfection was the oysters which could have used a touch more of acidity. However, I do recognize that this may be a matter of personal taste. The service was courteous and attentive. The ambiance was very peaceful and certainly conducive to a conversation. If you're looking for some culinary perfection from Chef Roman, this is a place you'll find it. Truly one of Philadelphia's little gems and as we were taking our last bite we were already anticipating a return. read more

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