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    Caribou Cafe

    3.3 (418 reviews)
    ModerateFrench, Cafes
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Caribou Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    CARIBOU CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Onion Soup
    Christine C.

    Met some friends for an early dinner. Was really excited to try this place as I've heard good things. First impression, it is wonderfully designed with bistro seating and vintage plates. When we entered it was SO WARM. With a feels like of nearly 100°, you'd think they'd run the AC. Instead they had the windows open and made a smidge of an apology. Fresh bread and butter came out first, which was delicious. We had French onion soup, mussels, a burger and salad among the four of us. Even with the heat, we knew we needed to try the famed soup. It was good but hardly the best I've ever had. The mussels were yummy and plentiful. The burger was fine as well as the salad. We decided to skip dessert when one person in the party couldn't take the heat anymore. With the correct temperatures, this might be worth a revisit.

    Steak Frites
    Matthew L.

    Service was good, Kind, attentive, polite, helpful. Thanks Carly and other service members. All the things I appreciate in a restaurant when I'm anticipating a good dining experience and shelling out top dollar for a meal. The food..honestly? Decent. I've been around and dine out over the past few decades. Decent. Cocktails were solid. Thanks drink slinger. Ambiance? Ok.

    Angie B.

    If you enjoy solo dining (as I do) this has a great bar with a friendly, attentive bartender that will provide you with great service and good cocktails. And happy hour is offered seven days a week. This restaurant has been around for a very long time, and I remember experiencing the flavor of upscale dining and considering this a "special" occasion restaurant. Granted, that was probably 20 years ago. I even remember putting money back as a single mom of three very young daughters to celebrate Mother's Day brunch with them here ( a long time ago). It stayed around but I felt like it couldn't compete with the thriving food scene in Philly after Caribou's heyday so it fell off my list. I had been wanting to try it again after reading that the Townsend, Wentz restaurant group purchased, remodeled and revitalized it. Perhaps that is the reason for an A-ok rating of 3 stars. My expectations did not match my experience. The food was good! I ordered the escargot and it was served in a delicious cream sauce with peas and crunchy crostini. I ordered the frites featured on the happy hour menu and they were delicious! Thin, crispy, potatoes topped with Gruyère. My manhattans were well balanced and my water glass was filled. But the ambiance? It was akin to a sports bar. And if I thought that was what I was stepping into, that would have been fine but I thought I was entering a redone, restaurant offering a delicious Parisian menu. The tables are outdated, there are banners with beer advertisements hanging in the restaurant and a prominent television over the bar. I was looking towards the redesigning, new and improved. Now that I know what to expect, happy hour with lower expectations about the vibe would not disappoint me. But if you hear that this place is offering something different than the last few years it's been around, you won't experience that. But those fries and the cocktails were on point!

    Jen R.

    It was ok. Came during the mid afternoon. Charcuterie and fromage board was fine. But at least they accommodated my bestie

    Caribou's Bar....

    So each year my wife and I visit Philadelphia around the same time. For 5 years we have been frequenting Caribou Cafe. If you look at my review from last year, you'll see we were pleased with staff but food was great as always. This year we must give positive feedback, as our experience was great and food was spectacular. Not sure what happened but staff were amazing, polite and courteous. To the ownership, Well Done! Also, McKenna V. Was great for our dinner experience. Definitely recommend sitting at her tables..... keep kit up Caribou Cafe! See you next year.

    David S.

    We came for restaurant week and ordered the 3 course meals for $40 each. Was our first time trying escargot and it was enjoyable. Butternut squash bisque was excellent and very flavorful. Entree portions were small but to be expected during restaurant week. The beef bourguignon was cooked well but felt bland. Chicken pot pie entree was on the saltier side and the puff pastry didn't have much flavor. The lemon tart used the same puff pastry and was okay. Creme brulee was also just okay. Service was good and the staff was very kind.

    Irma I.

    We've walked by this place for years. The Chamay and other Belgium beer flags reeled us in. We walked in and sat at the bar. My husband asked for a Chamay on draft... they only have in bottle - that was disappointing. My husband pointed to the dust on the bottles of wine behind the bar. The staff appeared to be overwhelmed- appears that it's a hopping place with theater go-ers and since there were 2 different shows going on that night it started to get busy. Our time was brief and i can say I really didn't get a feeling for the place. I didn't see a dinner menu but I did see a French onion soup that looked good. I can tell you that it keep getting busier so that must say something but our experience wasn't positive so i hope your experience is better than ours.

    Steak Frites and pork chop

    Delightful restaurant in the historic district of Philadelphia. Beautiful lighting and decor. Friendly and excellent service. I enjoy my steak frites (NY strip) - the best NY strip I have ever had, cooked perfectly and seasoned. My wife had the bone-in pork chop - absolutely delicious and tender. Potatoes like cream puffs. Unfortunately no room for dessert. Highly recommend!

    Veau au Vin Fries
    Chris L.

    I walked by here all the time on my way home from the gym. I'm drawn in by the open air seating and the cute atmosphere. The food was yummy and so glad I got the bread pudding for dessert. I was served by the bartender during happy hour and I was in and out in less than an hour.

    Beautiful summer outdoor dining
    Richard R.

    I have been wanting to try Caribou Cafe for sometime now. I enjoy French bistro food and I saw the owner win an episode on Chopped several years ago. Finally went on a beautiful summer July evening. The restaurant is really nice with classic French charm. We sat outside and it was very pleasant. We had the muscles to share as an appetizer. I had the steak frites as my main. Both dishes were excellent. Caribou serves homemade bread and that was also delicious. They have a nice selection of beers and French wines of course. Service was great. Will definitely return.

    Beef Bourguignon Traditional Onion Soup Caesar Salad - Anchovy Dressing
    Katie K.

    My friend and I just happened to stumble upon this place when walking around the city hungry. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. The interior had a nice feel, the lighting and the art on the wall with a piano player upstairs. Our waiter was helpful. It was my first time trying escargot and I ended up loving it! The garlic sauce and pastry was sooo good. It made trying something new super easy and not intimidating. The Beef Bourguignon was so rich and hearty I got full so fast but continued to eat it anyway! The beef was so tender and the noodles were good, but the carrots surprisingly ended up being my favorite of the dish! I still think about the bread they brought to the table, to this day. I'm not sure what they did to it to make me love it so much, but it's fresh, and salty and I kept going back for more. Would definitely recommend stopping here for some French food.

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    7 months ago

    Ellen was the best bartender!! She was extremely attentive and kind to my group all night, LOVE the Kronenbourg sooo much.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Great happy hour and bar service. I find it to be an authentic French cuisine experience at a good price

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    Tria Cafe Rittenhouse - Ricotta and Honey Bruschetta Mushroom Bruschetta Goat Cheese and Pesto Bruschetta

    Tria Cafe Rittenhouse

    4.4(967 reviews)
    0.6 miRittenhouse Square, Penn Center
    $$$

    Tria Rittenhouse has long been one of my favorite places to slip into when I need a moment of calm…read morein the city, and my most recent visit reminded me why it remains such a beloved fixture. From the moment you step inside, the ambiance wraps around you like a gentle welcome. Soft lighting, warm wood tones, and a subtle hum of conversation create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and effortlessly comfortable. It's the kind of space where you can settle in immediately, whether you're meeting a friend or savoring a quiet moment alone. The most recent time, I enjoyed the short bread sandwich--DELICIOUS horseradish cream. They have GREAT N/A drink options. I love their cheesecake. The service is consistently gracious without ever feeling over-rehearsed. Staff members greet you with genuine warmth, offering thoughtful recommendations and an easy attentiveness that enhances the experience without intruding on it. There's a natural flow to the way they interact--always available when you need them, never hovering--and it reflects a team that clearly takes pride in making guests feel at home. What truly elevates Tria Rittenhouse, though, is its beautiful design. Every detail seems considered: the artful arrangement of tables, the textures of the furnishings, even the way the bar anchors the room with understated elegance. The design strikes a balance between sophistication and approachability, creating a space that feels curated yet never pretentious. It's visually inviting in a way that encourages lingering, whether you're enjoying a glass of wine or simply taking in the surroundings. All together, the warm ambiance, gracious service, and thoughtfully crafted design make Tria Rittenhouse a place that's easy to return to again and again. It's the kind of spot that reminds you how a well-designed environment and genuinely welcoming service can transform a simple outing into something memorable.

    Cute spot for drinks and cheese (just as described lol). We wandered in around 5:30 on a Tuesday…read morewith beautiful weather and were able to be seated, but they were pretty full and needed the table back in about an hour. Our party ordered 4 spritzes and 1 N/A drink, which they messed up and brought all alcoholic drinks, but quickly fixed it when we noticed. The bartender was very apologetic (though i think our server gave him the wrong order so it wasn't his fault). We also got a cheeseboard to share, which was bigger than the server made it sound and not bad for a little snack between the 5 of us. Overall nothing was super special, but it was a nice spot to stop in and have a drink and a bite. Would consider coming back if I'm killing time in the area.

    Photos
    Tria Cafe Rittenhouse
    Tria Cafe Rittenhouse - Artichoke Hearts with Pecorino and Black Trumpet Vinaigrette

    Artichoke Hearts with Pecorino and Black Trumpet Vinaigrette

    Tria Cafe Rittenhouse - White wine

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    White wine

    My Loup - Lobster hazelnut butternut squash

    My Loup

    4.4(115 reviews)
    0.7 miRittenhouse Square, Penn Center
    $$$$

    A+! It took a while to decide how to proceed with the ordering at My Loup, but I suspect you can't…read morego wrong no matter what you decide. Similar to an omakase, My Loup has a "Let Us Cook For you" option. It's $125 for this option, and given the price ranges of the dishes on the menu, you're guaranteed to cover a broad swath of menu items regardless of whether you go with the Let Us Cook For You option or select $125 worth of menu items to order. While My Loup's menu frequently changes--stated on their website as changing daily--there are some items that seem to stay consistent. The Green Garlic 'Escar-roll' seems to be a staple menu item. And for a good reason! Who would have thought a garlic knot of bread in a green sauce could be so tasty. A lot of other menu items went above and beyond expectations like the apple stuffed cabbage with winter crunch and the roast chicken. On the flip side, the pickled shrimp with aioli and saltines is a popular menu item that I found very uninteresting. Given the mix of solid menu items that are consistently on the menu and the ever-changing new options, I look forward to returning. Very good and IMO, under-hyped restaurant!

    beautiful date night spot!…read more this is my first time back to my loup since they first opened, and the food here is just as good as i remember. my boyfriend and i shared the salad niçoise and the escar-rolls. the escar-rolls were delicious and drenched in garlic butter and parmesan -- i could've eaten three of them myself, so good. the salad niçoise was a miss for me. extremely tiny salad for $22, and i did not like the dressing which tasted very mayo heavy. for our mains, we shared the roast chicken and the duck à l'orange. the chicken was juicy and the fries it came with were perfectly crisp and salty. the duck was amazing, it was cooked to a perfect medium rare and the sauce was bright and packed with flavor. i'm also a huge fan of golden beets, they were lightly sweet and delightful! thinking about the duck is making me hungry... we ended the night with a sundae which was tart with pieces of sour fruit/candy mixed in. i could've done without the sour bits, but it was a good palette cleanser and a light way to end the night. service was extremely fast, almost too much so. as soon as we finished one dish, our waiter was there to take it away. our waters were never empty. they did tell us multiple times to take our time, but everything moved so fast we were out in under an hour and a half. overall, i had a great experience and i'm chalking up the unfortunate salad to poor ordering on my part. definitely not as great as her place, but worth a visit nonetheless!

    Photos
    My Loup - Dining room

    Dining room

    My Loup
    My Loup - Chartreuse

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    Chartreuse

    Her Place - Bone Marrow

    Her Place

    4.6(96 reviews)
    0.6 miRittenhouse Square, Penn Center

    i have been to her place 2x now (3 if you include his place thai supper club) and absolutely…read moredeserving of a michelin star. my favorite thing about her place is that the menu rotates every 3 weeks; it's a different experience every visit. they use local suppliers and the ingredients are fresh and season dependent. if you are a picky eater, this is not the restaurant for you. the food here is creative and unique, each menu is so different but delicious nonetheless. i will say: definitely check the menu beforehand -- if there's something you definitely will not like, try for a different menu rotation. also, her place was much better than the his place pop-up. (his place was not worth the $$$, her place was worth the $$). my boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed our last experience here, we already have a reservation booked in may and are excited to see the menu for that rotation. the pasta here is always phenomenal. during the dinner, they typically offer two additional options for entrees -- a pasta and a entree. my boyfriend and i opted in for both this last visit, and they were both phenomenal. i really enjoyed the soft shell crab addition, an indication that summer is here. we were absolutely stuffed by the end of the meal... perhaps we didn't need both add-ons. i absolutely adore how small & intimate this experience is. chef amanda talks about each dish and her inspiration between courses, and she even personally brings food out for the tables. the decor is beautifully thought out with stunning plates, and celebrations will earn you a card, party hats, or a happy birthday song. absolutely perfect for a small celebration or date night! can't wait to come back in may :)

    What an incredible experience at Her Place! I've heard so many wonderful things and I'm so glad I…read morefinally got to check it out. We went toward the tail end of the menu (it's rotates every 3 weeks) and everything was so fresh and delicious. The space is so cute and intimate, which makes sense why it's so hard to get a reservation, it probably holds about 35ish people. Their team is ON IT. Explaining dishes, checking in, offering wine pairings. While you're paying for the delicious food, it's really the experience as well. The food was so incredible and they do such a great job of explaining each dish and the thought process behind it. Everything was so great and even the things my table were a bit intimidated by (raw fish), was fantastic and great to give it a shot! The sourdough cookie handed out with the check literally changed my life. If you have an opportunity to snag a reservation at Her Place, DO IT!

    Photos
    Her Place - Prepping the meal

    Prepping the meal

    Her Place
    Her Place

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    The Lesieur - Fries & salmon tartar with lattice chips. Gin cocktails.

    The Lesieur

    4.2(86 reviews)
    0.4 miPenn Center, Rittenhouse Square

    Based on Tik Tok, the menu and pictures, I wanted to love this place! We ordered the following…read more(all recommended by the waiter as well): 1. Mini Beef Wellington- prosciutto, mushroom, smoked mustard; 2. Onion Crêpes- gruyère, chives, red wine jus; 3. Wagyu Shortrib Bourginon- red wine, pearl onion, carrot; 4. The Cowboy Ribeye (medium); 5. Mac & Cheese; and 6. Apple Pie- salted caramel ice cream. The Oion crepe was good (tasted like French onion soup). The short rib was good, but very fatty, and Apple pie was good (could have used more cream honestly) The drinks were also good! As for the rest, I LOVE beef Wellington, have it at Gordon Ramsay's in AC a lot. I was so excited they had a beef Wellington appetizer! I can't tell you what tasted so bad in it, but it tasted bad! My wife said it tasted like plastic. I had a second piece thinking it had to be me..maybe too much sauce..nope, it was still off. I saw someone rave about the mac n cheese, however mine had no seasoning or flavor. It tasted like bland melted cheese over plain pasta. The steak was ok, like any other steak. I did ask for medium and it was medium rare (could see the deep red even in the dim light). I didn't bother sending it back since I knew I'd reheat it the next day and bring it to medium. Unfortunately at those prices I would not go back. If the food lived up to the hype, I'd pay those prices in a heartbeat.

    My husband and I had an amazing happy hour at The Lesieur recently! Prices were very reasonable for…read morewine and beer, and the bites we had were delicious. The salmon tartare was dressed perfectly and served with a few crispy slices of bread. The onion crepes were soooooo cozy (perfect for a winter night!) and was a fun play on a French onion soup. Service was very warm as well, and quite efficient. The bar and lounge area beautiful. All in all a lovely spot for a pre-dinner drink/bite!

    Photos
    The Lesieur - Elegant bar, gorgeous decor

    Elegant bar, gorgeous decor

    The Lesieur - French onion crepes

    French onion crepes

    The Lesieur - Bar

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    Bar

    Enswell - Dining Room.

    Enswell

    4.3(121 reviews)
    0.4 miRittenhouse Square

    My family and I got breakfast at Enswell during our stay in Philadelphia. This swanky, hip place…read moreoffers up elevated tasty food and superb service in an exquisitely decorated, albeit small, cafe. We braved negative degree weather for the roughly 10 minute walk from our hotel. We walked in at a good time. This is the type of place where a reservation for breakfast would be required. We were sat immediately. The dining area is tight. A green velvet bench, marble tables, metal chairs, all packed into a small area. You could very well have your butt brush over the table of the patrons next to you if you have to get up for any reason. It's tight. Our server was around quickly. He was super friendly and kept things conversational, light and sophisticated. My wife ordered an iced latte, I had their hot drip coffee. For a starter, we had to try the cinnamon knot bread. While it wasn't what we were expecting, it was good. Although, we wouldn't order again. The bread is presented as a small loaf, room temperature with a cold cream cheese icing drizzled over top. The bread had a mild cinnamon flavor and was dry. It lacked the sweet, moist dough you expect from a cinnamon bread. My wife ordered the French style omelet. This had gruyere cheese and chives. Beautifully plated, perfectly cooked and the taste was spot on. It was good enough to forget that she paid $21 for just an omelet, no meat, no sides. I ordered the Eggs Benedict. Pretty standard here. The eggs had bright orange yolks which is common for farm fresh eggs. The "coffee" hollandaise didn't come across with a coffee flavor but it was rich and went well with the ham and English muffins. One thing that stuck with me was their drip coffee. Not sure if it has been a while since I had a light roast but the Rival Bros. Revolver coffee was so good, I got a bag of whole beans to bring back home with me. I may even order it again online. Enswell succeeded on all fronts. The ambiance and service was great. The decor, impeccable. The food, thoughtful and tasty. The details from the silverware to the plates added to the experience. We would come back.

    I thought this place was very cute. Outdoor limited seating…read moreand indoor area as well. The appeal was to get a quick read in amd have my pup with me. I felt like I ordered the wrong combination. I was able to do an egg sandwich and swap for sourdough bread vs eng muffin. Love that. Didn't love the copper sharp cheese that was a bit messy and tangy. I kept thinking they must have added some type of sauce on it. I'd much rather come back for a simple fried egg combo and chedda cheese. I was also offered sparkling water, but I do wish it had more fizz. The service start to finish was superb in friendly and fast service. I'd come back for mimosa/bar for sure.

    Photos
    Enswell - Coffee bar.

    Coffee bar.

    Enswell - Interior

    Interior

    Enswell - Dining Room.

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    Dining Room.

    Caribou Cafe - french - Updated May 2026

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