came here to celebrate birthday with reservation on resy. the staff was accommodating in moving our reservation to later of the night. when we arrived, we were seated immediately. The ambiance was nice, it was perfect for dates and small group gatherings. for the appetizer, we got the duck crepe which was tasty. the duck was tender and folded in the crepe. for the entrees, we got the rib eye and the lamb. both were tasty as well. both portions were good. we also got a complimentary birthday mousse as dessert! it was a nice touch and shows how much the staff cares about making our meals special. read more

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We came as a group just after Christmas and got a special tasting menu. 1) the food was amazing and unique. 2) the service was off the charts 3) the cocktails and wines were excellent. This was one very memorable dinner. They served a dessert that was very unique and good. This is a must go to spot. read more

This place serves some serious food and it could be a 5 star - heck could be a Michelin one star - if they get some things right. Let's just start by saying the food was very solid and creative and for the most part done well. But when I'm paying 100-150 bucks a head I expect the food to come out hot and on time. Deviled eggs as quick starter was great with Indian flavors and just a hint of salt from the lobster innards. Oysters with caviar also really interesting with prickle pear mignette. I usually skip the mignette with my oysters but this with the caviar was perfectly balanced. This is when they nailed it. Frog leg arancini is no gimmick - it's perfect and the frog legs were in there and not hidden but also not the star flavor. For mains this is where execution falls a bit short. 24 day dry aged duck with added fois gras was tasty for sure. But fois came out cool and the duck was also a tad towards medium and also closer to room temp. Onions and fennel came out 5 mins later as an afterthought. Fennel was inedible with too much salt - seriously couldn't be eaten. But man the confit duck wings were off the charts. And the texture on the dry aged duck breast and a healthy slice of fois with a really nice sauce (also room temp) didn't leave me disappointed even with the execution issues. BTW - 140 for a duck ok I'll do that but no confit duck legs? I thought I was buying a whole duck and was missing my favorite part of the duck. Service was "meh" - this is a "fine causal" place I get that...but let us enjoy our cocktails before rushing with orders and dinner. I'd come back here and recommend it. Just wish they pay a little more attention to the details like food being served hot and at same time. Which would make this place super special. But kudos to the chef for a great menu and meal! read more

~4.5/5~ great French inspired cuisine! We went for the Valentine's Day brunch and it was so cutely decorated for the occasion! It was a set menu for 75pp, which included a pastry basket for the table and 3 courses. All were very tasty!! Very well portioned courses for brunch and our waiter was great! They sent us out with homemade caramels as well which was a nice touch. The food was fantastic and very cute cozy interior. A little on the pricier side but worth a visit for a nicer meal or special occasion! read more

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Loved the braised lamb. Shrimp cocktail was surprisingly good! Escargot appetizer just okay. Cocktails excellent.

Went for happy hour and sat at the bar. The bartender was knowledgeable and drinks were great. Food was amazing read more

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Had a great time at Forsythia. We started off with drinks. Of note, Forsythia has orange wine! Our table shared: -focaccia with lemon and poppyseed butter -oysters which came with rosé and ramp migonette -yellow fin tuna carpaccio with yuzu kosho, kumquats and sea beans -savory crepe with caramelized onions, roasted asparagus, fontina cheese fondue -escargot a la provençale with pernod-almond-tomato butter, pickled pearl onion, and Bergamot crouton I was not a fan of the lemon and poppyseed butter. The yellowfin tuna carpaccio was equally beautiful as it was delicious. The savory crepe was a highlight for all of us. The sauce for the escargot was soooo good. I got the charcoal grilled dry-aged ribeye with caramalized sunchoke purée, thumbelina carrot, and sauce au poivre as my entree and it was cooked to perfection. The mushrooms were a tad salty, but everything else was fantastic. We almost skipped dessert since we were all incredibly full. For the sorbets and ice creams, there was something with blueberry, black sesame and chocolate, tahini, and lemon. I got the black sesame chocolate ice cream and it was so rich and perfect for the end of the meal. I would have loved to try the other flavors. Next time! read more

One of the best meals I have had in Philly! Every dish was amazing - we had a large group and did a restaurant buy out with a set menu (as pictured). The seared beef short rib was fantastic and a group favorite. I also loved the desserts. They add these little flowers that are edible and have a very unique flavor - I'm told they have a few types of flowers they use. They can craft you some fancy drinks at the bar as well. Attentive service and nice ambiance. Would highly recommend this restaurant! read more

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A great restaurant that serves French food. The servers were helpful, informed, and attentive. The wine list is not vast but they have options that pair very well with the food! They have small tables but a few seating areas for larger group. I highly recommend the Duck for 2 with the Cabernet Franc - yummy!!!!! read more

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Space is cozy and although busy, noise level is relatively low and more easy to converse . Nice music. Service attentive and relaxed. Tasting menu seasonal, appropriate amount of food and very flavorful. Even simple dishes shine. Drinks well made and good wine list. read more

The service was 10/10! We had a great time with our server---funny, friendly and great drink suggestions. Inside we sat in the front (no reservations) and had a great spot to chat, dine and enjoy cocktails for hours. No one bugged us. Food was great. I had the short rib which I found to be filling, tasty and cooked to perfection. read more

Forsythia - Short rib - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This has become a restaurant in regular rotation for work functions- so it's been nice to return a few times and sample most of the menu. The service is always fantastic. The food is always plated quite lovely and it's consistently very good. read more

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Went for the French AF monthly tasting menu and had an excellent experience. Nice ambiance and atmosphere, staff were great, and the cooking skill was high. There is a long bar in the front, and a cozy open dining room in the back with a view of the kitchen area. Staff are quick to get you settled and served, explaining any dish as needed. First course was plated beautifully and appealing, a great sign of things to come. The mousseline was light yet the herbal flavor had a strong essence. Trout roe enhanced the sauce for more texture. Potato a great vehicle for this. Second course, again plated beautifully, sausage was spiced very nicely, and the soft brioche encapsulated it well. Huckleberry tart flavor contrasted that warmth. Monkfish schnitzel had some amazing flavor combinations - sweet bed of apple jelly moutarde, sour and tart carrot kraut, and savory fried fish. No flavor too overpowering, balanced so well - my favorite course. Spatchcocked quail was soft and tender, preserving flavor with a sweet/savory bacon cranberry sauce. Final course of Black Forest cake with cherry pit ice cream was a great close to the meal. Quite appealing presentation topped with some gold leaf, the ice cream had very forward cherry flavor yet still being creamy and light. The cake itself was rich with chocolate flavor, moist and just melted in your mouth. Very well executed tasting menu showing off some great skill and flavor by the chef, do recommend going for the French AF series to try this showcase. The presentation and care elevated this experience and each course was unique. Thanks read more

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Great food for excellent prices during Happy Hour. Forsythia was a recommendation by a friend and it was great place to go to catch up. The servers were very attentive. The food was delicious and were beautifully presented that it felt wrong to eat! Highly recommend read more

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The food was amazing.. so many things to mention. The duck was absolutely delicious. They serve the best bread starter. Excellent choice for dinner read more

My wife came here around the holidays with my sister and brother in law. The food and service was wonderful! Standouts for me were the Duck for Two -m(so flavorful and perfectly cooked) and the escargot (burgundy goodness with a delicate pastry and bits of thick bacon). Everyone also seemed to love the scallop as well which was also really good. Old fashioned and beet cocktails were good, as were some of the zero proof drinks. Service was exceptional- we walked in at 8:50 on a weeknight and were the last to leave- they provided positive, charming service as if we entered at 6:00 on a Saturday. Will definitely return! read more

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Went for happy hour and had a wonderful experience! Bar tender was attentive and made fabulous drinks. Staff was kind and efficient. Food was tasty and appropriately priced. Decor was cute. Restaurant was clean. Love note card and review cards when you get your bill, so cute! read more

Forsythia - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We visited during one of the busiest weekends in Philadelphia as multiple graduations were happening. Forsythia offered a prix-fixe dinner menu for 85 dollars for the special occasion. We weren't celebrating but it was nice to have an affordable tasting menu. We started out with complimentary focaccia. The focaccia was surprisingly not good. It was too soft, and lacked the chewy crust I am used to. It also came with a lemon butter which didn't go well together. The portion size was smaller but made sense due to the price. The first course was a poached green asparagus. I liked my escargot. My husband enjoyed his yellow fin tuna carpaccio. For the third and last courses, we both opted for the ribeye and creme brulee. We added a side of potatoes. Otherwise, I'm not sure if we would've been full. Our average experience may be less representative of the restaurant and more telling of the prix fixe menu for the evening. read more

From start to finish, Forsythia delivered what I would consider one of the most elegant, yet simple fine dining experience we've ever had. The restaurant was beautifully constructed, with aesthetically pleasing decor spread all throughout where the lighting was warm and the seating spacious, providing a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. The service provided by Andrianna was reflective of what exemplary service looks like, for she was consistently sweet, friendly, funny, and understanding; her warm and kind smile helped us feel welcomed and helped us get comfortable with our little 22 month old child. I want to take this moment to thank you, Andrianna, for helping provide us with such a memorable birthday celebration experience to end our little trip. Now lets talk about the food. We opted for the tasting menu which was a surprise and based on chef's choice. We started off with the Escargot a la Provencale, which was creamy and had a nice textural contrast, but mild in flavor. I had a bite of escargot that had a bit of sand in it, but that seemed to be a solo incident for the rest of them were fine. Andrianna was kind enough to convey that to the chef who was empathetic and receptive, which highlights just how seriously they take constructive criticism and how they stride to provide the best dining experience possible, reflective of what 5 star dining looks like! We also had the cod beignets, japanese eggplant crepe, deviled eggs, and gazpacho, which they each provided such a fun and melodic contrast in terms of texture, flavor, and artistic presentation: the gazpacho was cold and tangy (perfect for my pregnant wife haha), the cod beignets were warm and fluffy, and the Japanese eggplant crepe and deviled eggs were rich and creamy. The main course was the duck confit, which was not only perfectly crispy, but still maintained its moist interior which is incredibly difficult to pull off. This highlights the masterful cooking technique that the chef was able to infuse each of the courses with, making every one of them a beautiful work of art in terms of both presentation and flavor. We ended the night with a Baba Au Rhum and Popcorn Cheesecake, which were both aesthetically beautiful, but on the sweeter side which boils down to just personal preference (many Asians are used to desserts that are not too sweet). At the end, they provided a tailored menu highlighting the courses that were served, and a sweet happy birthday message with our names on the menu. They also provided a very sweet yet simple birthday card with all the staff's individual messages saying happy birthday. We've dined at a lot of fine dining restaurants in the past, some that even have Michelin Stars, but this was by far the most personalized, welcoming, and elegant dining experience we've ever had. The price was extremely reasonable and the selections were generous. Our only suggestion is that the first courses were served quite rapidly, which gave the unintentional sense of feeling rushed even though we both know that was not their intention. I also empathize the desire of serving everything fresh and optimally warm, so I understand how difficult it can be to time things appropriately, especially if the restaurant was busy. Nonetheless, everything else was flawless and I can confidently recommend the tasting menu at Forsythia to anyone who is in the area. Thank you to everyone at Forsythia for being so professional, friendly, and welcoming; thank you for giving us the perfect dinner to end our little birthday celebratory trip! Will definitely be back in the future to relive such an amazing evening and to try out all the many other wonderful selections Forsythia has to offer! Thank you for reading and best of luck! (: read more

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The Best Experience!! The bartender was fantastic and even created a few drinks that weren't on the menu for us. The energy was amazing from managers to servers. Place is beautiful and very clean bathrooms. I'm from out of town and will be back tomorrow. read more

Very enjoyable experience with fresh, flavorful dishes and attentive service. Portions were satisfying, presentation appealing, and ambiance welcoming, making this restaurant a reliable choice for relaxed evenings with friends or family. read more

What a lovely place to dine! The charm of this restaurant is everywhere! With the beautiful tile floor, the big mirrors, the glowy lighting and the lovely open kitchen. The food matches the beautiful environment! We ordered octopus and the crepe for small plates and they were both so delicious! I ordered the squab and it was exquisite. My dining companions ordered fish (my memory isn't serving me because I was so focused on my squab!) and they loved their meal. The focaccia that was served was so good! We celebrated my friend's birthday and this beautiful restaurant lends itself well to special occasions. They welcome your bottle of wine with a $25 corking fee. We brought a bottle that was opened for enjoying with our entree while also ordering delicious cocktails! (Try the boozie suzi!) We also had delightful, attentive service. This is a great place to dine in this lovely city! read more

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Such a CUTE modern French Cuisine spot with a beautiful ambiance, lover vibes and an overall aesthetic to fall in love with! I visited Forsynthia one Sunday evening for their small bites & happy hour menu! It was a great experience to not only be in the venue but to have a nice time, feel satisfied and appreciate the value in what was presented. I recommend the Ham & Cheese Beignets for sure! They were the perfect size, packed with flavor. Everything came out kind of around the same time (pictures attached), so it was great to taste everything one by one. A BIG plus (for me) the music was incredible! I asked which station it was and it was Irma Thomas radio on Spotify! The bartender was outstanding as well! Check this out this cute spot located in the historic Old City! read more

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Decided to bring my boyfriend here for restaurant week. I've wanted him to experience this restaurant since I was first here. He LOVED it! I had a feeling he would. The restaurant is beautiful and the service is top notch! We both had the New Jersey Corn Vichyssoise which was incredible, along with an order of the focaccia. I had the Stuffed Ratatouille which was delicious and my boyfriend enjoyed the trout. We ordered both of the desserts (banana Pot De Crème and a Peach Melba) which were a perfect ending to a wonderful meal! This is one special place! read more

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Ambiance and service were fantastic. Food was very unique and tasty, starting with the unique bread and butter course. We started with the deviled eggs. Three out of four of us had the monkfish, excellent flavors, with a side of roasted beets. Expensive but it was a dining experience. Our waiter was the best. A half star was taken off because we sat by the door and it wa ms very cold whenever it was opened, but I know they tried because there was a large curtain surrounding the foyer and a heater by our table. The other half star was because my platter came out warm, not hot and had to have them reheat. read more

Forsythia - Deviled Eggs - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Excellent service and food. I came here a few months ago and got the salmon Benedict and was jealous of my friends eating the burger so I came back to try and it did not disappoint! Chill ambiance read more

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The staff made my husband's birthday dinner extra special by starting our evening off with a glass of champagne and ending it with a candlelit dessert. Everything about our meal and dining experience was perfect. The mozzarella beignets were my favorite starter and my husband loved the pickled deviled eggs best, but we both agreed that the braised short rib entree was the overall star. We cannot wait for another opportunity to come back to Forsythia! read more

We had a meal there that was quite expensive. The atmosphere was ok, but not great. Service was acceptable as well. Unfortunately the food was god awful. I had a fish en croute, but what I got was an unpleasant tasting piece of fish under a burnt piece of toast. Scallops were tiny and unremarkable. One appetizer turned out to be a just a couple of hushpuppies. I am afraid I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

Forsythia - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Go for the Happy Hour! Get there early to grab a seat at the bar because it's a good value for the quality and ambience.. The bar is sleek but comfortable & space is relaxing. You can easily chill alone with a book or strike up a conversation with the engaging staff. Great selection of drinks, snacks and even a burger. read more

I'm preloading this review simply because I can't wait to go. An innovative menu that's updated and fresh, it's places like this that inspire. Food as art. Art as food. I'm excited to have found this on Yelp. Expect me. read more

I celebrated my parents' 61st anniversary with them at Forsythia, and it was a lovely experience. We had planned to come here once in the past, but one of them got sick, so alas we had to cancel. This time we made it. It's a pretty, comfortable interior, with a bar area up front and then a dining room that gives French country farmhouse vibes in the back. We ate in the dining room, opting for their Christmas-themed tasting menu that was still on for another day or two. But first, drinks. For me, that meant a refreshing, delicious gin and cranberry-based cocktail called the Cran Drescher (they all have cute names) and for my parents, a glass of Muscadet (I can confirm that the wine was excellent, as I had a glass of it later). Then, on with the tasting menu, which started with delicious bread (with an addictive spread to go on it) and a selection of four different appetizers. There was a scallop crudo, Oysters Rockefeller, pate de campagne (a mix of duck confit, veal sweetbreads and foie gras) and escargot a la Provencal. The highlight for me was definitely the escargot dish, as it was not nearly as rich as snails can be--loved the sauce. We all wish there had been maybe a little more of the scallop, though by the end of the meal, we were all satisfied by the quantity of food. Next up was stuffed quail, which was surprisingly substantial (especially with the sausage-like stuffing) and extremely delicious. It was accompanied by radicchio that was particularly scrumptious in its preparation. Finally, for dessert, a slice from a Buche de Noel, which was topped by this adorably mushroom-shaped meringue. Yum. Service was efficient and friendly, and they gifted my parents a little more alcohol with their dessert and coffee. The a la carte menu had some very appetizing-sounding choices as well (there's also a happy hour snack menu at the bar, where you can order a regular restaurant meal too), and I'd certainly be happy to return here anytime. read more

Delicious food and amazing presentation. Our waitress was helpful and very attentive. The location was great and the restaurant was very inviting. We had a great time and enjoyed both our food and drinks. read more

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I haven't really tried much French food so I decided to check out Forsythia after passing this place so many times during my trips to Old City. We were taken to our seat quickly for a Saturday night. The place has a lot of seating and a fair amount of room. I started with a cocktail- ISLAY ROSES ON YOUR GRAVE. The drink was good and very strong. It consisted of scotch, lemon, and grapefruit. They brought out some bread which tasted amazing as well. We both got apps and an entree. The apps included Wagyu Beef Tartare and Foie Gras French Onion Soup. I didn't like the use of eggs with the wagyu beef tartare. The Foie Gras French Onion soup was pretty delicious. I didn't really taste the foie gras but tasted heavily of French onion. The Bone Marrow Crusted Short Rib didn't seem like it was made of any bone marrow which was slightly disappointing. The Barnegat Light Scallops was delicious with the sauce they used. read more

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A fancy French restaurant with mostly evening reservations, but they also serve brunch on the weekends! My review only speaks to my experience here getting brunch. Atmosphere: The restaurant is definitely on the nicer side with a darker ambiance. I love the round table that they sat us at, with booth seating. Food: I ordered a breakfast sandwich that was very tasty and flavorful, but I thought was slightly too rich. The sandwich was a bit too heavy for what I am typically used to when it comes to breakfast sandwiches, but I'm glad I tried it. I appreciated they offered ginger beer! Overall: 4/5 - I would like to go back to try dinners! I likely won't go back for brunch because it was a just too heavy of a meal for me. read more

Forsythia - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Excellent happy hour and great service! Shout out to the front of house for excellent service throughout. We arrived early so had some drinks during happy hour prior to taking our seat at our table. We tried a little bit of everything with a few dishes standing out, including the duck, oyster with caviar, and French onion soup. Other dishes like the bone marrow with pork was a tad too sweet, the fish was slightly overdone, the wagyu was ok, and the other apps were satisfying it felt like the t was missing something, but I can't put a pin on it. Escargot was mediocre. Atmosphere overall was nice and good enough for a special occasion. Drinks were as expected. I'd say it's worth it to check it out, perhaps even go with the prefixe which we don't do. read more

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Great restaurant offering tasty food in a comfortable setting. Service was professional and welcoming, and everything arrived fresh. Minor issues kept it from perfection, but I would return again soon. read more

Popped in here for a later dinner with friends and we were the only ones in the place, which seemed odd. Staff was very accommodating and kind, service was great. We split several appetizers and most of us got the chicken as our entree, which was tasty but nothing crazy. The deviled eggs and the ham beignets were our favorite appetizers. I wanted to really like the soup, but felt like the crab wasn't potent enough (only a few pieces). Overall tasty food and great ambiance, but not somewhere I'm dying to go back to immediately. read more

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Decided to try this restaurant out during restaurant week given the high ratings and will have to say it was a bit of a let down. Maybe it was just the restaurant week menu that was a let down? A lot of the items that are featured in reviews here were not included on the restaurant week menu. Anywho, onto my experience: I was able to sit down as soon as we arrived with our reservation. We shared bread with their garlicky spread. So good. The bread was crispy and the edges & soft and moist in the middle. I had the salmon crudo as an appetizer, the salmon was very fresh. For the entree, I had a trout. It was just okay. The desert was the best part of the meal, I had a citron tart. read more

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I have had this restaurant saved for a long time and I am so happy I finally found a special occasion to come here to celebrate. When you walk in, you are greeted by a friendly hostess and you enter into a lounge-y bar area. We were seated in the next grouping of seats, which had a very European bistro vibe, which was beautiful. The ambiance of the restaurant was intimate, even though there were more seats than appeared on the outside of the restaurant. The service was friendly and the food arrived in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, I just wasn't super impressed with the food we ended up trying. I'm not sure if it was just the menu of the season, but none of the dishes we tried really excited or wowed me. We started with the pumpkin-black truffle beignets, which were tasty, but tasted a bit doughy. Without the dipping sauce, they would have been a bit plain and uninspired. I tried the halibut dish and it was cooked well but there was nothing excited about the fish. The haricot verts on the side were cooked well, but it just seemed like a dish you could get anywhere or make at home. My husband tried the short rib and it was tasty, but once again - it just wouldn't make me return here. I think I'd return to try out their brunch options or just for their cute bar scene, but I think dinner here was a real miss. read more

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We had brunch at Forsythia a few weeks ago with some friends. It was a great brunch - one I'd happily repeat when I'm next in Philadelphia. It was pouring rain in Philadelphia the morning of our brunch, and we arrived sopping wet. Walking into Forsythia was a warm comfortable hug. It's cozy and comfortable - exactly where I wanted to have brunch on a yucky day. We shared the smoked white fish rillettes as a starter. Our friends got the crispy pig face sandwich and burger royale, and my husband got the steak and eggs. Everyone liked what they got, but I am OBSESSED with what I got - the Lobster Thermidor omelette (with Maine lobster, gruyere, and lobster glacage), to which I added a little caviar as a treat. It was - no exaggeration - the best omelette I've ever had. D. E. C. A. D. E. N. T. and delicious! Several of us had drinks, I had one (or two?) Bloody Marys and a coffee at the end of the meal. The ambiance is great. The service was great. Its location is great if you're touristing around Old City (we walked straight over after a tour of Independence Hall)! Overall, it was a meal I'd happily repeat! read more