I'm still very much a fan of Garces Trading Company. Armed with a pretty hefty gift card, my husband and I had a fantastic dinner on a recent Saturday night. The place was packed, so reservations are clearly a must for the weekend. Our server was very knowledgeable about the wine list and made great suggestions. We shared a bunch of starters including some cheese and charcuterie, housemade mozzarella and olives. Olives are on so many menus as a small plate and don't differ much from place to place. Not at GTC: their olives were addictive. There were three types including a green sort that had a rich, almost cheesy flavor. I feel like our server said they were Castelvetranos but I can't be positive. Maybe it was just a super fresh batch, but they were incredible. For dinner, I had to go with the steak frites. I couldn't decide on the sauce so our server suggested a sampling of all three, which was music to my ears! As always, this dish was a home run. My husband had the trout, which is always delicious as well. We skipped dessert in favor of more wine and some espresso to finish. Looking forward to our next visit! read more

Chicken quesadilla was great especially with the fries. Decent beer selection i had the Juice bomb. The BEST thing about it was the server, Tara. My phone battery was low so she let me borrow her personal battery to charge my phone - made my day! read more

Went for date night as part of University City District restaurant week. Was delicious.

Went on a moday afternoon cuz the Post was closed. Very good wings at a great price. Good happy hour prices. Tara was a great bartender! Definetely worth a visit when u have t wait for a train read more

I'm writing this review now bc the episode of keeping up with the Kardashians I'm watching is boring. I came here for a few drinks before dinner in the area. Initially as you walk in front of this place you feel like you're walking into a fucking department store. Double doors with a foyer and then more doors and then the entrance of this giant room that is (I already forgot the name of the place fml) this place. There is a large candle-lit dining area for dinner and dining. We elected to take a sharp left to the bar that is also dimly lit. Happy hour menu is legit. $4 beers. $5 house wine. $6 cock(tails). Even more importantly is a number of food items for $5. Charcuterie and cheese and a few small plates. I went with a House red wine and a small plate "masala vadai". My co-happy-hourer ordered an ipa. After ordering food the bartender welcomely arrived with a container of sliced rustic bread and some evoo. She brought to our attention a giant counter covered with balsamic vinegars behind us. Huh. A few extra pieces of info: the cocktail menu contains a daily special and a bunch of sangrias that looked delicious however I have been trying to limit the silent killer that is sugar in my diet. Also on Mondays happy hour is all night (if I heard correctly). The masala vadai was black, crispy and fried lentil "fritters" with allegedly harissa aioli however you could've fooled me bc I did not detect any harissa flavor or spice. These were just alright. This place has a dope drink and small plate happy hour menu and delightful ambiance. I would suggest checking it out, the food didn't blow me away tho. read more

We went here because they were able to accommodate a last minute reservation for 10 people. The staff was very nice and the food was good but definitely nothing special. They had a special corner for our private party. The table ordered a variety of dishes including mussels, minestrone soup, duck salad, meatballs, cauliflower, fries, cheese board, meat board, as well as entrees like the lamb pasta, carbonara pasta, and steak. The carbonara pasta, mussels, cheese board and minestrone soup were the best. Everything else was just okay. They had enough vegetarian options to find stuff to eat. I would have liked it if the staff refilled our water more often not just when asked. With all the awesome choices in Philly, I was underwhelmed and would probably not return. It wasn't bad but just nothing that wowed me. read more

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Wow. This place blew my mind away. I was here with a friend for a fancier dinner to celebrate us graduating college. The place itself wasn't as big as I expected, but the seating was very comfortable and intimate. We split the small cauliflower plate (which was AMAZING!), and I had the seared scallops that came with a chowder and potato confit. I have to admit, I thought the scallops were oversalted, but they were cooked beautifully. The chowder pairing was also genius. I'm so glad I had a chance to try out Garces Trading Company before leaving Philly. Also grateful to be coming back here with my parents to celebrate graduation week! :) read more

Garces Trading Company - Modern European Near Me - Philadephia, Pennsylvania

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On my day off, decided to go check out one of Jose Garces' restaurants for lunch during Philly Restaurant week. $20 for a 3 course lunch. The decor has an open space area reminiscent of a loft with a monochromatic color palette. Subway tiles accent the walls and columns throughout the space which gives it an upscale terminal/market vibe. Light fixtures are a mix of recess, track, and two styles of industrial wrought iron pendant lights. An adjoining wine shop with a vast selection of reds & whites from across the globe. As well as specialty tasting olive oil and vinegar bar. The only negative is that there is one bathroom for men & women and there was a steady line throughout our visit. The food was excellent. The Spaniard sandwich was flavorful and filling. The grilled chicken was tender and succulent. The bread was similiar to Challah with a firm yet fluffy texture. The accompanying condiments of applewood bacon, roma tomatoes and romesco aioli subtly complimented the chicken with sweet and tart flavors fusing together. Mouth FIREWORKS !!!! The homemade chips made me want a whole bag due to the slightly crispy, dark yet lightness. (Reminded me of old school Wise potato chips). Due to a stuffed tummy, the desserts were packed to go. Macoroons and a marscapone, huckleberry cake. Presentation of the cake in a round shot size glass was special in a simple and "fru fru" way. read more

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"Chef!! you rocked it on Iron Chef, man...." Stopped by on a stroll...chilly day. Early lunch time. A slice of citrine lemon cake and one very excellent cup of coffee. It's pricy here---- just warning ya. Sells wines, charcuterie, cheeses, desserts, sandwiches, vinegars, special oils. For eat-in or take-out. read more

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My sister and her husband were in town, so we decided to Garces Trading Company to enjoy a classy meal. For those looking for the cliff notes version of the review, it didn't disappoint in terms of quality. For those hungry for more detail, the restaurant is filled with wonderful aromas and comes off causal yet upscale. They offer a selection of wines, but also have a store for wine purchase (which can be enjoyed with your meal). Remember to make a reservation as the wait can get long. As for the food, they offer À la carte entrees or two levels of a tasting menu, $40 and $55. A third option for the tastings includes paired wines. Our waiter described the $55 tasting as everything on the $40, but with the chef having more freedom to do extras. So, of course we decided to live it up with the $55 tasting but settled on just a single bottle. Portions seemed a bit small, yet we still ended up with plenty of leftovers. However, what held Garces back from 5-stars was our disappointment in the chef's freedom mentioned above. We were expecting a whole lot more for the $55 tasting and felt we ended up paying extra money for what would have been a $40 tasting. read more

BRUNCH REVIEW: My sister and I stopped in on a rainy afternoon for some post shopping brunch. She rarely comes to the city so I know I had to pick somewhere good, and I'm happy to report she approved! DEAL There is a $22 brunch special which includes unlimited coffee, pastries, and 2 dishes, but we decided that (although a great deal) that would be way too much food. The waiter said it would only really be worth it for the coffee and pastries because otherwise it's not a deal. FOOD We split the fresh mozarella as an appetizer (delicious). Pro tip: try not to eat all your bread before the mozarella comes. Warning: that will be difficult. Next up we split the baked eggs in spicy tomato stew which came with toast with olive tapenade. Not a big olive fan but I really enjoyed this. Try to save some bread for the stew too. This was really good and I definitely recommend getting it. Kind of like shakshouka without the peppers + cheese and guanciale, but we don't remember any meat really, so it must not have been much. We also split the Tarte Flambee flatbread (eggs, bacon, white onions, creme fraiche) which was also delicious. We took home leftovers and felt very satisfied. Service was good, but not overly friendly (going for that authentic french bistro feel maybe?) Not too crowded and they take opentable reservations which was nice. Definitely recommend for a fancier brunch! It was a bit pricier than Sabrina's/Day by Day/Green Eggs and some of my other go-to spots but definitely worth it! read more

Garces Trading Company - Baked eggs in spicy tomato stew brunch - Modern European Near Me - Philadephia, Pennsylvania

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DELICIOUS! I was blown away by the execution and quality of the food here. Came with a group of girls for brunch and we opted to get the Brunch Prix Fix which included coffee or tea, pastries, a small appetizer and then an entrée, all for $22. Well worth it! The Basket of home-made pastries was accompanied with this delicious jam and cream. Everything was fresh and soft. A great start. I then got the country pate, which was a huge portion of pate for one person. I had to devour the whole thing. The focaccia and the salty pate was just a great combination. As for the main entrée, I got the popular Lyonnaise duck salad. Beautiful presentation, plenty of duck confit. Everything was so nicely balanced. I will say that the best thing I ate there, or perhaps one of the best things I've ever eaten, was something I did not order: the Quiche Du Jour. AMAZING! I tried a bite of my friend's and was so glad that I did. The egg was like a custard, soft and silky. I wished I had ordered that instead honestly because I've never tasted a more delicious Quiche. They usually come out stiff and dry but this was so moist to the bite. I wish I could just call them up to ask how they got it so custardy. Two thumbs up for sure. The restaurant itself was very rustic and clean. A great space for groups or small parties. I would 100% go back if I were in Philly again. read more

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After having been here five times (twice for lunch, once for dinner, and twice for weekend brunch), I'd say it's about time for me to write a review. My favorite dish here, hands down, is the funghi pizza - mushrooms and cheese baked on crispy flatbread taste good for any meal (and luckily it's offered on all of the menus). It also still tastes great reheated in your oven at home if you happen to take the rest of your pizza to go! Other favorites are the cubano sandwich (served at brunch/lunch), as well as the chef's selection of cheeses. I know pretty much nothing about cheese so I can't remember the three kinds that we were served, but they came with truffle lavender honey and garlic dulce de leche on the side that were very, very yummy. One of the things I love most about Garces is that it also has a mini marketplace for meats, cheeses, desserts, and condiments inside the restaurant. Being the shameless person that I am, the first thing I do when they serve bread is trot off to the row of condiments and grab a couple of sample cups to try their 10+ varieties of olive oil, truffle oil, and vinegar. My favorites so far are the balsamic vinegar, which tastes sweeter than other balsamic vinegars I've had, and the blood orange infused olive oil. The service here can be a bit slow at times, but you can kill that time by browsing around the marketplace. Definitely a great lunch spot, it's also a good place to pop by and pick up desserts (like macarons!) or bottles of fancy condiments. read more

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My meal here left me feeling conflicted. As we were waiting for our table I got a chance to check out the bar area and sample some of the olive oils that they sell. Selling the oils, vinegars, and dipping sauces that are served in the restaurant is a cute concept . The feel of the restaurant was a little impersonal for my taste. The place was crowded, with high noise levels and while the staff and servers were friendly, they seemed scattered and a bit unfocused. I'm not sure if this was due to a restaurant week crowd or not. The cheese and dipping sauces were very good including the house made mozzarella. My second course was masala vadai (black lentil fritters), also very good. I wasn't crazy about my main course of Tuscan fusilli that they prepared vegetarian for me. read more

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Garces Trading Company has a fantastic ambience. Great for a low-key celebration or just yummy classy food - I'd put it on the same level as Barbuzzo, Gran Caffe L'Aquila and/or Bud & Marilyn's. Great variety on their menu and their carbonara was to DIE FOR. So so so good. The texture of the pasta was perfectly al dente, there was a runny egg in the middle that is absolutely delicious when mixed in with all the other ingredients. Price was reasonable too - $16 for the carbonara, $15 for the other pork pasta dish. The interior design had a modern, rustic feel and we sat on a high top table in the back while there were still regular tables in another section of the restaurant. Bathrooms were clean, waitress was a little grumpy so I took off a star but they also offer 15% off your bill if you come for SIPS! We came right at 7 unfortunately, but there's always next time! read more

Garces Trading Company - Tuscan Fusilli Carbonara ($16) - Modern European Near Me - Philadephia, Pennsylvania

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3.5 rounded up ~ Drinks - 4 stars I got the Regent Punch and my sister got their Signature Red Bloody Mary $9 Both were made really well. Mine was potent with cognac flavor, but nice and sweet so it was easy to drink. The bloody mary was really flavorful and delicious Food was all around A-OK $10 Funghi Flatbread was pretty good, but it's hard to go wrong with adding some mushrooms and truffle oil to flatbread , nothing really exceptional $5 bacon (3 STRIPS!) and $5 duck fat frites were underwhelming -- (needed dat cheese sauce ;) ) I got the duck confit salad , which was also a little underwhelming. I really liked the mustard that came with it, that added a lot to the flavor. The duck was tender, but not extremely flavorful. TIP: Try out all those oils when you first go in! That's what boosted this 3.5 to a 4 star. read more

Garces Trading Company - duck confit salad - Modern European Near Me - Philadephia, Pennsylvania

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While this restaurant is far from inexpensive, it is a nice less-expensive Jose Garces restaurant. The atmosphere is bright and has almost a French-bistro feel in the decor. We chose this restaurant for Mother's Day dinner as my mom enjoys fine-dining and this place offers two levels of chef's tables. We discovered once we were in the restaurant that the whole table had to participate in the chef's tasting menu as it is served family-style. We chose the $40 option (chicken and pasta as opposed to steak and seafood), and two of us at the table had the wine pairings to go with the meal. Overall, I enjoyed the food. Each course came with 2-3 dishes to try and they were very good. I didn't care for the chicken and pasta course as I found them both to be overly salty. The lost star comes from the service. Our main waitress was very good, however the people bringing our courses were a bit brisk. When I am doing a tasting menu, I want a little explanation of the courses (which we got in the briefest ways in a gruff, hard-to-hear manner). I would also like a little explanation as to why each wine pairs with each dish, but there was none of that. I feel that if a restaurant is going to offer a tasting menu, some care to presentation and information should be given. read more

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I'm sorry. I really wanted to like this restaurant -- I really did -- but unfortunately, I was extremely underwhelmed. Maybe there was too much hype due to the rave Yelp reviews and José Garces's status as an Iron Chef. Whatever the case may be, the only thing dazzling was the cost of the meal and how few people were in this restaurant on a Thursday night. Look, the steak frites weren't bad. The seared scallops weren't bad. But the cauliflower appetizer was whole other story. It was cold and bland. And isn't that the challenge of making a cauliflower dish, to turn something that starts off cold and bland into something that is warm and delicious. Ok, maybe it doesn't have to be warm, but in this case, warm would've helped. This brings me to the famous fusilli carbonara. Not terrible, except the egg on top was poached too hard. When I broke the egg, the yolk was too solid to spill out onto the pasta and mix with the pecorino to create the signature sauce which is the very essence of carbonara. Not to mention, it was drastically under-seasoned. Very disappointing. And to top it all off, when my dinner companion requested the dessert menu, we were presented with the most boring list of after-dinner treats I have seen in a long time: basically a caramel pot de creme, a dark chocolate mousse, a parfait, and a bowl of ice cream. It was like every dessert on the list was a variation on a bowl of sweetened cream. We chose the ice cream (which we never do) because it seemed like it was the most exciting dish of the bunch (which it never is). And it was just BAD! The ice cream was not only off in flavor, it was full of ice crystals! Afterwards, my dinner companion laughed: "I would've rather wasted those calories on a microwaved Trader Joe's lava cake." I don't know, maybe this was an off night, or maybe I ordered the wrong dishes. Whatever the case may be, I probably won't be back for dinner. This meal was a just a bit too expensive to be this forgettable. Maybe for brunch, since many reviewers claim that this is the meal in which GTC excels. read more

I was really stoked to try Garces Trading Company since Chef Garces is an Iron Chef but much like the show, there were some definite highs and lows. As we walked in, the interior decor was beautiful but the restaurant was empty. Not a good sign when restaurants around were fully packed. Philly diners are savvy enough to know what's good and this was telling. The food itself was disappointing especially for the price. The presentation was beautiful but we found the food to be underwhelming in taste.  Could it be that I had my expectations too high because of Chef Garces' reputation as an Iron Chef? Maybe it's because this restaurant focuses on French cuisine whereas his other restaurants highlight what he does best such as tapas. Either way, I think the Chairman is calling Iron Chef Garces to allez cuisine back to the kitchen. read more

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We had dinner here on the Saturday night of Memorial Day Weekend, and our experience started off great but left much to be desired by the end. The restaurant itself is a cool space, and we were lucky to be seated in a set-off wine room that I imagine is usually used for private parties, but just has three regular tables when there are no events scheduled. Our food started off great -- we split the masala vadai and the meatballs, both delicious, and also tried a bunch of the oils and vinegars they have lining one counter. You can sample as many as you'd like, and they range from somewhat standard to quite unique, so that was fun. Entrees were not as consistently good. We tried the steak frites with bearnaise (awesome), the roasted chicken (good, not incredible), and the scallops. The flavors in the scallops dish were good, but both scallops orders at our table arrived cold, and they were still cold even after we asked them to reheat. Our waiter was really friendly and welcoming and provided recommendations of things to do/see/eat around Philly, which was great. That being said, we had almost a 25 minute wait between the time our appetizers were cleared and our entrees arrived. I'd give Garces another shot down the line, but there are definitely other Philly restaurants to try before I return. read more

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Came here for restaurant week and I have to say that we were a bit disappointed; when the dessert was your favorite part of the evening (unless you're a sweets junkie which I absolutely am not) you know that your dinner was a little lackluster.We came here after hearing from friends that they had a mediocre experience but would try it again so we found ourselves here for the first time and we also should have known that we could have made pizza at home and been just as happy when a Garces restaurant still has a lot of reservations and open tables DURING RESTAURANT WEEK. Our meals were fine (a little cold, but fine), our server was fine, and the ambiance was nice. When we have so many options to go to in center city I don't know if we'll be back and I certainly won't give my friends a tip to try here unfortunately. read more

GTC was my second foray into the realm of Chef Garces restaurants, the first being Amada. While I thought Amada was outstanding and outside the box, GTC was a little disappointing to me. The food was adequate. The Masala vadai was dry and crumbly. Fusilli carbonara was basically raw, and when I brought that up to the staff they told me that's how it's supposed to be. I like al dente pasta, but I don't like raw pasta dough. Unacceptable. We split a short rib lasagna which was delicious but also was an incredibly small portion. Poulet roti was good but the portion was MINUSCULE for the price. Pan roasted scallops were tasty and succulent. All in all I was unimpressed with this restaurant experience because of how inconsistent the product was. read more

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The decor in this place was top notch! Every detail reminded me the early days of the age of exploration and the like of companies such as the east India trading company. Loved the attention to detail that brought this about. The food was very good. The roasted cauliflower had tremendous flavor, but I was very surprised it was served cold (but got used to this and didn't take away from the flavor). The potted duck was an experience. Basically a large shot glass filed with the ingredients listed on the menu, and wasn't the prettiest plate to look at but very unique flavor. The Spaniard sandwich was also very tasty and filling with a nice helping of avocado. Can't go wrong with this. The first bite of the French toast was incredibly rich and decadent. It could only be rightfully described as divine by which taking a bite I felt I was leaving my body and transcending into a state of nirvana. Since the dish is rather sweet I could only have so many bites, but If here with a group definitely a good dish to split amongst the table. Would certainly come back and recommend to friends. read more

This place has such yummy breakfast. I went with a big party and we didn't have to wait for more than five minutes. Many people in our party got the prefix brunch and were very satisfied. I got the godly Steak & Eggs and they were AMAZING. The dish came with salad, something similar to a potato latke but thicker, and delicious sauce with a hint of truffle. Very yummyyyy & highly recommend read more

Garces Trading Company - Modern European Near Me - Philadephia, Pennsylvania

I was blown away at my experience at Garces Trading Company. Everything was amazing. Here's my story. It was a Saturday and my crew and I went to the Rocky Steps which was a 20-minute walk from our hotel. Anywho, we climbed the top and they decided to stay back because they were in "awe" after reaching the top. (by awe I mean, winded from being out of shape) Myself, as a student athlete decided to gets the steppin because I was so damn inspired by the view, so I jogged back to the hotel by my lonesome. Right when I got back in I looked at my sweaty face in the mirror and thought, "Scotty, you're a beast, a wolf". I spritzed some cologne and put on my deodorant and decided to get some quick takeout...........Let's just say my athletic stamina is a lot better than my sense of direction. I got lost and stumbled in here. Best stumbling experience ever! I noticed the name Garces (from Food Network) and was like, dang.....he's the Iron Chef - Jose Garces!!!. So I walked in to get a seat, expecting to not be let in because I was a sweaty man-beast wearing a tank top (but I did smell nice) & right from the get-go, they took care of me! I was greeted by a nice gentleman with long dark hair in a ponytail, really good guy. I told him I was a fan of Garces on Iron Chef and he answered lots of questions about the place. You can definitely tell that Jose Garces runs a great business, he was very enthusiastic about taking care of people and passionate about everything. I told him I was from Detroit and he was pretty cool about that. Great conversationalist. The atmosphere was really nice. Nice wooden tables, nothing pretentious like marble plated tables with 24k gold lamps made from the Ark of the Covenant or anything, just a beautifully designed place to eat; a place where food is the star and not the decor. Loved it. The waiter was really helpful. I asked him for recommendations and he was very helpful. I was craving pasta and he said that his rankings are just like the order they are in on the menu. The pappardelle w/lamb ragu being the first on the list, followed by the carbonara, then the seafood one, then the lasagna in 4th. I took his advice and was ever-so pleased. The service was top notch. Onto the food. Minestra Soup - Lovely dish. It was very fresh. I eat soup 365 days a year & people be like, "Yo G, soup in the summer?" My answer is YES. The Minestra Soup at Garces Trading Co is the perfect summer soup. a beautiful broth of tomato and fennel with beans and fresh herbs and a few aromatic vegetables. In a way, it kind of reminded me of my mother's (r.i.p.) Tom Yum. You would have a nice crisp broth with perfect flavor was the foundation, but then you add the fresh herbs that unleash their flavoring as they get warmed by the heat. The textures in this one were amazing. Delicious broth perfect for soaking the nice bread they serve it with. A++ Pappardelle with Lamb Ragu - Great dish. The pasta here is "Call ET" out of this world good. Very fresh. Very rustic dish. Lovely, tasty, and warm. I would describe this dish as comfort food overload. A beautifully meaty and savory experience. The fresh pasta grabs onto the meat juices like a perfect marriage. There are beautiful chunks of lamb. The meat is tasty and ever so tender; flavorful and gentle. The meat literally melts on the tip of your tongue as you chew the fresh peas and the perfectly cooked noodles which swam in a perfect sea of flavor, served just for you. I would describe this dish as the love child of my Aunt's Pot Roast & Thai Rard Na. What they have here is a beautiful dish. One perfect for carbo-loading before a game or unwinding & celebrating after. I am very gracious that they let me come in looking like a savage, but they treated me no different. I really felt bad about dining alone in a tank top, man, I was so embarrassed about being underdressed, but they took care of me anyway. In Detroit, places as nice as this wouldn't even give me a chance. Philly is a cool city and this place is one that makes it cool. While I do feel bad for being underdressed, nobody treated me bad or any different because of it. I was treated the very same way as the table with 5 suits and dresses right to the left of me. For this, for the great staff, the cool atmosphere, for the amazing food, I give this place 6 out of 5 Yelp stars - it blew me away. read more

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I love the rustic charm of the wood tables here. I love even -more- the counter-height six-tops. I really really love that every single morsel of food was delightful. But I think I love -most- how obscenely gorgeous our waiter was. Just envision this: He's reasonably tall with a lithe figure. Probably a runner (or possibly a swimmer). Fills out his clothes with a solid build without looking beefy. That killer combination of brown hair and light eyes that I'm such a sucker for. Pulls off a perfectly-groomed effortlessly scruffy look. Sexy, confident voice. And adorable dimples, to boot. *swoon* Really, he -has- to be a starving actor looking for a role in some steamy soap, right? Yes, I realize that I just dedicated an entire paragraph to gushing about our server. And yes, don't lecture me about how I'm taken. Just because I'm on a diet doesn't mean I can't look at the menu! Aaaanyway... Yeah, grub's great. Can't go wrong. I had the fortune of dining with not one, but two exceptional food experts and took their lead on everything from the charcuterie (hellooooo testa!) to dessert (choux crème). In fact, the only thing I decided for myself was the duck confit salad (read: tender juicy duck with a sprinkling of frisée). Couldn't ask for anything better about dining at GTC. But seriously... I'd come back for the eye-candy alone. Not only is it mouthwateringly delicious, it's calorie-free... unlike everything else I consumed! read more

Leo, our server for lunch during restaurant week was awesome. He saw how much fun we were having and professionally encouraged us to have more fun. The food was fantastic. We were super surprised by how flavorful and enjoyable the pane panelle sandwich was, who knew chickpeas could be soooooo good. Best meal, best service, best overall experience during that week hands down. read more

Garces Trading Company - Pane Panelle sandwich, amazing chickpea panisse! - Modern European Near Me - Philadephia, Pennsylvania

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There's nothing to say that hasn't already been said. I may be a little biased when it comes to anything Jose Garces though, but with good reason. good food good service good atmosphere eat here. read more

Garces Trading Company - minestrone - Modern European Near Me - Philadephia, Pennsylvania

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I just got back from dinner with wife at this fantastic Garces spot. The bar is the place to be. I mean, the tables are fine, but I like to sit side by side. Anyway, that's besides the point. The service was fantastic. Water and our first glasses of wine came out promptly. The wine list is great; there are lots of offering from the Iberian Peninsula but you'll find other great wines from regions ranging from Austria to California and everything in between. Though I did not partake, the cocktail list is drool-inducing. As for the food, it is executed perfectly. Why is it so hard to find properly cooked al dente pasta? Graces does it well. We also had the mozzarella. And the cauliflower? Deliciously prepared with just the right seasoning. I asked for more bread to soak up all the deliciousness left on the plates. We were getting full but our intention was to order the steak. I'll leave that for our next visit, which will likely earn Garces Trading another star. Also, Sari A recommended the truffle pizza as I was ordering dessert. I was sooo very tempted but it was just not possible tonight! Ok, another item added to the list for our next visit. Desserts were fantastic. Again, more items to add to the growing list for our next visit. I really enjoyed Sunday dinner at Garces TC. We will be back for more! read more

Garces Trading Company - Great, extensive bar selection - Modern European Near Me - Philadephia, Pennsylvania

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GTC reminds me of a miniature Di Bruno Bros with more of a restaurant feel. The outdoor seating is a nice perk & the inside space is open, airy and inviting. They have a vast selection of oils, vinegars and other accoutrements for sampling (I had a fantastic time running around collecting a number of unique flavored oils for us to enjoy alongside our crusty bread). And yes, yes, the rumors are true - the funghi pizza is divinely addictive, duck-fat infused dough and all. Stop wondering and TRY IT, already. I also greatly enjoyed the insalata caprese - refreshing hints of mint and sprinkled with sliced summer plums. The jardinière sandwich left a bit to be desired, however, mainly due the overabundance of an oddly-flavored mayonnaisey condiment which, in my opinion, did not complement the fontina cheese. The pumpkin cake with cranberry gelatin was acceptable although I really just wanted that spiced mousse in the middle. They also have an enclosed wine store? Random yet MARVELOUS all the same. read more

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I am reluctant to downgrade but I do feel it has come to this point. I've been back on regular and numerous occasions as predicted from when I first visited on opening day. As expected the sheen of being the new kid on the block wears out and while it may be that they are still adjusting but their consistently inconsistent service and food are enough to knock down a star. Service: One of the best things I loved/love about this place was their stellar, genuine and truly informed service - especially in the cheese, charcuterie and wine departments. I've had some wonderful people help make my various selections. However it's often hit or miss. And when it misses... the service really misses... Sometimes I will receive helpful cheese recommendations while other times I am begrudged service or even a slight smile or courtesy. Sometimes service by certain waiters are remarkably pleasant and efficient - while others are forgetful, incompetent and incredibly brusque and apathetic in their attitudes. I understand there are ongoing trainings but it is unfortunate when there is such a huge disparity in attitude. These are also reflections taken from a range of busy & slow business hours. Food: Things are definitely changing here and I am sad to see that one of my favorite sandwiches is no longer present - the tartine. Potentially one of the most perfect sandwiches. Gone. :( And I was annoyed to find that the $5 that I paid to have wild mushrooms top my deep dish pizza - added no flavor elements what so ever. It only sufficed to add a squishy and rubbery texture of soggy and overcooked mushrooms. Also there have been some funny pricing/sizing fluctuations with some of their bakery goods which seem to be as liquid as my stocks... Now - things aren't all awry. Great wine selection with decent pricing? Check. Rum baba that makes me feel warm and happy? Check. Oil and vinegar tasting bar? Check. Yummy french presses? Check. Salted caramel macaroons? Check. Enough courteous and professional staff / managers? Check. I'm still down with Garces but I hope the air settles soon especially on these service elements. read more

Came on a Friday afternoon and arrived just before the lunch hour bustle. We were greeted warmly and seated quickly. The lunch menu is broken down into anti pastas, soups and salads, sandwiches, flat bread pizza, deep dish pizzas and some heavier entrees. On the back is an extensive list of cheese and charcuterie broken down by regions. After we place our orders I take a glimpse around the restaurant. Like the menu, it seems very simplistic and sparse but there are all sorts of small accents. The while tile and pine wood gives a fresh clean look to the interior. There are lots of smaller tables in the center of the room and larger ones for communal dining. On one side there's a conveniently placed wine store (Garces Trading Co. is BYOB) with an decent selection. Why hasn't any other restaurateur thought of this? On the other side is a cheese, charcuterie and take out counter serving many of the lunch items. Everyone behind the counter was very friendly and helpful. By the register is a selection of desserts that looked delicious. All this before the entrees arrive! I got the duck salad per the serves suggestions and it was darn good. It was probably 60% duck confit and 40% salad though, and therefore heavier than I was expecting. The salad was crisp and properly dressed in mustard vinaigrette. Hooray for lightly dressed salads not drowning in a sea of oil! The confit had moist and tender shredded duck and some fingerling potatoes and roasted peppers. Delicious and not too greasy. The poached egg was a little on the raw-er side and resembled soft boiled eggs, which I love. The whites were just barely set and a little gelatinous and the yolk was runny but definitely cooked. Yum! The flatbread pizza verde was light and fresh. It came with spinach, ricotta, green asparagus, arugula and fava beans all perfectly cooked. It's large enough to share with a salad on the side to round it all out. The insalata simplice was a misstep. It came with exactly two slices of the red grapefruit and perhaps a very small handful of the marcona almonds, and a tiny bit of shaved red onion. Yes, this was very simple (read: sparse) salad. It might make a good side salad. I'm dying to go back and try their cheeses, charcuterie, desserts and come by for breakfast or dinner as well. The restaurant reminds me of the combination Italian restaurant and gourmet shop Bottega Louie in LA. But Garces has actually accomplished this tricky combination with flair, whereas BL fails spectacularly. read more

Garces Trading Company - Duck salad with mustard vinaigrette - Modern European Near Me - Philadephia, Pennsylvania

I'm a big fan of Garces - a number of his restaurants are some of my favorites in Philadelphia. GTC is definitely another addition to this list. The service here is great - they give you just the right amount of attentiveness. Their complimentary bread basket is decent, but it's their extra virgin olive oil that's the star of this dish. It's very fruity and fragrant, which is a nice alternative to your normal bread and butter. We shared the house-made mozzarella as an appetizer - it's an exceedingly simple dish. Just quality mozzarella, olive oil, salt, and pepper. I had the pappardelle with lamb ragu for my entree. They're very generous with how much meat they give you. The tender English peas really brightened up the heavy pasta. I thought my plate could have used more of the Sunchoke purée though. The pasta was perfectly cooked but it did start to stick together and became somewhat of a doughy mess by the end of my meal. My friend had the vichyssoise chaude and a side of their famous house duck fat fries. The warm potato leek soup was poured and presented at the table, which was a nice bit of unexpected dinner entertainment. The fries were delicious and lived up to the hype. I'm definitely going to come back to try their lyonnaise duck salad - it sounds AMAZING. read more

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Love this place! Walked around Philly during a trip and stumbled upon this cute restaurant! -Funghi pizza was tasty and perfect for two! -Hickory smoked salmon salad was light and refreshing and all the elements just worked so well together. I loved the modern yet simple design of the place as well! read more

Garces Trading Company - Funghi pizza - Modern European Near Me - Philadephia, Pennsylvania

This is a place where you'll want to arrive a little early. When you arrive, -- Sample some of the oils and vinegars they have to offer. I recommend the truffle oil and the herbs de provence oil. -- Then, make your way to the wine shop to purchase a bottle or two for your group. Note: Garces will open your first bottle free, $10 for each additional bottle. -- If you don't drink or are on the run, visit their dessert and to-go counter-- it's pretty fancy. Garces uses a small-dish/tapas idea, and it feels a little long in the tooth to me. If you go during restaurant week, you'll most likely be disappointed. For example, my girlfriend and I received bland or overly salted courses, stale macarons, and a raw (not rare) duck breast that must have come from the tiniest duck. I suspect it's high volume in a place that wasn't expecting it. Either way, a bit disappointing for a meal that was expected to be much better. I did like their cauliflower dish and the cold tomato soup dish. I think Restaurant Week misleads consumers or misleads restaurateurs at times. Instead of putting their best foot forward, it leads them to lower quality products that probably aren't representative of the restaurant. I'll try Garces Trading Co. one more time. If it fails me again, the update will not be so nice. read more

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The more I go to this place, the more I love it. Last night, my husband and I had a hankering for a cheese platter. After studying the menus for Talula's Garden and GTC, GTC won (not that we have anything against Talula's Garden; it's on our list of must-try places). Having been here multiple times before, we opted for a cheese platter, the chef's selection of charcuterie meats, potted duck, vichyssoise, and gazpacho. We made our own cheese platter with the following: - Fontina val d'acosta with lemon honey - Piave vecchio with truffle lavender honey (this cheese reminded me of manchego almost...I got the same warm fuzzies in my belly after eating the first piece) - Kunik with chocolate hazelnut sauce (our waiter also recommended the roasted garlic dulce de leche, which made me want to cry because I wanted both of them) Since we're one step above cheese n00bz, we asked our waiter for accompaniment suggestions. He gave us a choice of two for each cheese, and all three pairings hit the spot. The fontina with the lemon honey was so good that we bought a 1/2 lb block and a jar of the honey after dinner (can't wait to snack on that later, hehe). I didn't have too much of the meat plate. My husband concentrated on that while I tore into the potted duck-- foie gras mousse, duck rillette, and elderflower caramel, all smeared on toast. Holy what the, this stuff was incredibly delicious! We ended our meal with the vichyssoise, which we both love. I decided to try the gazpacho this time and sadly, I wasn't a fan. It had good flavor but there was something about it that I didn't quite like. Perhaps it was a bit too tart? Nonetheless, it was one of the best meals we've ever had. Lots of flavor, our waiter was incredibly helpful and attentive, and it's definitely worthy of the 5 stars! Bonus tip: if you happen to be there on a Sunday, try the oxtail and short rib lasagna plat du jour. Ahhhh-mazing! read more

Lets start by saying I'm a Garces fan in general, despite the outrageous pricing he typically imposes in his various abodes. He's brought a unique style and flavor profile to the Phillie foodie scene that makes up (mostly) for the $$$ he commands for tapas -style portions. I love the concept and execution of cheese and characuteria plates, but the portions are sooooooo tiny. Also, now that they offer wine, they also charge a $10 corkage fee on every bottle of wine after the first. I was with a group of 6, so that begins to add up if you're there for a long-haul lunch/dinner. While $10 is not crazy, I believe a place that established its rep as a BYOB should break with tradition: Offer both options, but sans a corkage fee on BYOB. Really - there just isn't any value received in a corkage fee, and we'll spend the extra money on food anyway! This is a welcome addition to available options in center city - but he could knock it out of the park with a more reasonable pricing methodology IMHO. That's the only knock i hear consistently on Garces places - but i guess the law of supply and demand is dictating otherwise. read more

This comfortable Charcuterie/Bistro has a nice menu selection coupled by an on-site wine store. Even though Garces sells wine and beer and now offers cocktail service, they have a generous corkage policy...the 1st bottle is corked free. I started off with a nice (and large) Martini and the chefs cheese plate. The 3 cheeses were very nice and came with dipping sauces. I found the truffle infused honey a bit overpowering. For my main I had the Steak Frites Au Poivre. The fries that came with this entree were excellent...frying them in duck fat goes a long way. Although my steak was cooked perfectly and the presentation was flawless, the steak was so incredibly salty. I'm not sure if it was the marinade, the sauce, or a heavy handed chef either way it was almost inedible. Just to be sure I had a little more brought to the table (it is a little known fact that the steak is all you can eat), that was just as salty. I should have brought this to the attention of our incredibly nice waiter...but by then the 2nd Martini was kicking in. I would definitely return and order the Steak...but next time I will request that they tone down the giant dose of sodium. If not for the salt, Garces would rate between 4-5 stars. read more

I can't believe it's taken me this long to get here. It's been on my list of places to try for quite a while. Glad finally got around to it! Came here for a nice Saturday ladies lunch/brunch. Here are my observations: + The red sangria trumps the white sangria + The olive oils and breads are super awesome. + Good luck choosing between the mozzarella ball and the pasta e fagioli soup appetizers. They both rock. I feel like if I actually still lived in Philly I'd come back here fairly often. Nice place. read more

Jose Garces had a great idea opening this upscale European farmers' market with an attached Wine store. I went there few times including business luncheon and the service was great and the food as well. Over all it was satisfying. Three and half Yelps! read more

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