I was very excited coming into this dining experience at Roxanne with the hype I was seeing online. To start it off, the place is very "unique" I'd say... very hipster edgy vibe. From the paper sign on the front door with handwritten sharpie reading "Roxanne (its a restaurant)", I should've known this would be an interesting one. I walked in for my 8 PM resy on a Saturday night and the place wasn't even 1/4 of the way full. There was one server taking care of all the tables, rightfully so. It took forever for the server to remember I was sitting there and to come take my order, so that was a rough start to the meal. I ordered 3 items and it was time for the meal to get started. First came out the raw prawn starter, which was just okay. Nothing really stood out about it, which kind of made it a chore to eat given that this dish was such a rich texture and mouthfeel to it with no contrasting textures to balance out the slimy richness. Next up was the scallops starter. Also was an extremely rich and creamy dish that would've benefitted from a crispy/crunchy texture contrasting ingredient being added. Got through these two starters and my stomach was already feeling very heavy from the richness. I was kind of regretting getting the entree that I chose after those two starters as my stomach couldn't really handle any more richness. But I chose the richest dish of them all, the duck breast entree. The sear and cook on the duck was great, they nailed it there. It came with a semi hard cheese, preserved strawberries, marinated peppercorns, and a rich sauce. It was pretty tasty and I liked the flavor contrasts of the fruit with the cheese and rich duck flavor. However, again, this one needed something crunchy mixed in there to offset a yet-again overly rich dish. The duck entree was pretty good, but I really regretted ordering it after those first two dishes. Overall, from the vibe of feeling like you're sitting in an illegal dining operation inside of someone's home art studio, to the subpar service even on a slow evening, to the lack of contrasting flavors, textures, and tastes of the dishes, this is definitely not a place I will be returning to. read more

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The set menu at Roxanne was truly an experience to behold- from the ambiance, the food quality and selection, and service. -- As a first time diner at Roxanne, I was throughly wowed. Our reservation was for dinner at 8 PM on a Tuesday (8/5/25) with the set menu, and found we were the only ones with this time seating. It made our meal more intimate and special, as if we had rented out the whole restaurant for ourselves. We emailed Chef Alexandra pretty last minute (see email on website), so we were ecstatic that they could accommodate our request for set menu dining. The friendly service throughout our meal also echoed the welcoming nature of Roxanne as an establishment. Chef Alexandra, the amazing one-woman team, honestly wowed us with the set menu. Upon first glance, basically every type of protein was on the menu for us! As a whole, the plating was so whimsical and fun, and the portions were very generous for our party of 4. Around halfway through the meal, we were already full. The extensive menu started off with the appetizers of a baguette, beef tartare, and a shrimp cocktail. The baguette was regular, the beef tartare felt fresh, and the shrimp cocktail had a fantastic spicy cocktail dipping sauce. One of us just started drinking it like a gazpacho since it was so good! The next segment was the confit tuna, chicken, crab, salmon, and duck. The tuna was maybe less memorable than the delicate tart it was served on (and the hand the tart was served on), which really made the dish whimsical. Honestly, the next dish was most shocking dish for me personally- the chicken on a bed of hot sauce and sweet melon, which was such an interesting combination. I had my doubts, but it was such a perfect interplay of flavors! It really subverted my expectations. My personal favorite dish was the crab gnuddi, with its perfectly chewy bounce and generous healings of crab. The slice of duck was amazingly tender and juicy, but the other dishes were the stars for me. Lastly, dessert! Our dessert was a coffee crème brûlée and basque cheesecake. Once again, the plating and theatrics at the table, such as the pouring of cherry sauce over the basque cheesecake dish by Chef Alexandra, really made the meal memorable. For me, the crème brûlée was too sweet (as it should be!), but I really enjoyed the basque cheesecake! Plated like a fluffy cloud, it was airy and balanced perfectly with the sour cherry. I'm singing high praises for Roxanne, and highly recommend it as a "fancy" dining experience. From the service to the ambiance to the food, the all-in $190/pp price tag was well worth it. Although it's past my price point for frequent dining, it was really such a memorable experience! read more

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Vibes: no frills, hipster; like dining in an unfinished art studio; bring a friend or a few Tasting notes: - Octopus: perfectly tender with crispy exterior; onion dip was creamy and light in flavor - Ramps: a different spoonful of fun textures each time among the diced melon, wilted sautéed ramps, and milky cheese - Duck for two: beautifully medium rare; excellent ratio of crispy skin to tender meat with just a touch of fat for butteriness; strawberry sauce mixed with deeply umami jus was heavenly; Stilton was surprisingly not overwhelming while standing on its own - Panna cotta: perfectly fried tater tots made for nostalgic though much upgraded dipping of "fries in school lunch chocolate pudding"; toasty, nutty, rich; candied kumquats added a sweet, refreshing bite Other thoughts: - Relatively quiet on a Saturday night - Staff was attentive and friendly - Appreciated the fresh plates and silverware between appetizers and main course Impression: come for the innovative and edgy dishes! read more

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Sadly I think I got my hopes up too high for this meal. While the food was not bad by any means my expectations were extremely high for a one of a kind flavor with every dish. The experience is rather pricy and I was a little underwhelmed. We got - octopus - hot rigatoni with herbs, shrimp toast, sorbet The rigatoni was very spicy but probably one of my favorite dishes. I loved the fresh herbs and flavors. The shrimp toast was funky but nice to dip in the sauce. And the sorbet was necessary to cleanse the palate after. - lemon poppyseed cod, turnip, pepperoni - duck for two, huckleberry walnut pesto, murray's stilton I really liked the huckleberry walnut pesto on this dish. Duck is not my favorite meat but my husband is a fan so we orders this one. It was a very nice flavor profile. - sweet cream soft serve, banana, st. malachi reserve, kaluga This had a lot of flavors and textures going on. I had seen it in social media so I wanted to order it. Glad I tried it but I would not get it again. Our server was very nice but she failed to explain the menu to us. Which I was disappointed in when I overheard another server explained the dishes in much more detail to his table. Glad I went but I don't think I will be going back. read more

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A truly memorable dining experience. The burger is, without a doubt, the absolute BEST I've ever tasted, complemented by top-tier service that is both professional and incredibly attentive. To top it all off, the chocolate cake is simply INCREDIBLE, unlike anything I've had before. It melts in your mouth. I highly recommend this spot to any food enthusiast, it is an absolute must-visit in Philadelphia. Also, the chef runs EVERYTHING on her own in the kitchen... we still can't figure out how she does it!! Thank you for the incredible experience! read more

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Blown away by Roxanne. I was in charge of organizing a small group dinner in Philadelphia with a set budget per person, and I reached out to Alex at Roxanne to see if it would be possible to create a set menu within our budget. She was gracious enough to craft a personalized menu and even accommodate dietary restrictions! While the service and care was impeccable, the food was insane in a good way, with flavors and combinations I had never had before. The Green Asparagus, Dates, and Mint salad was fresh, texturally nuanced, bright, and absolutely delectable. The Lemon Poppyseed Gnudi dish was divine, with the sauce accented with dill oil bringing a sharp flavor to cut through the creamy cheesy sauce. Unsurprisingly, the Potato with Potato was so comforting, satisfying, and warming - the kind of dish you keep going back for with your spoon. But the icing on top, and maybe the best thing we had, was the Buddha's Hand Gelati with caramel shell, white chocolate pearls, and lemony sorbet. I still think about that dessert! Would definitely recommend Roxanne for a one-of-a-kind, delicious experience that will surprise and challenge your taste buds in the best way. read more

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Please be advised that Roxanne is not a byob but also they do NOT have a typical beverage/bar situation. The restaurant has a special license to sell *only* Pennsylvania-made wine. No beer. No spirits. Gah. I'm a proud Pennsylvanian, but friends we are not known for our wine. I love wine but it is a notable exception to my "shop local" policy. So while Roxanne's food was alright (if heavy, expensive, and salty), I reeeaaaally resented washing it down with an $18-per-scant-4 oz glass of PA wine. (I mean, if you absolutely have to pour lousy wine at least top it off.) We wrapped up quickly and went for a proper drink. Also honestly, the service and ambiance were also perplexing (our server advised me to choose my wine to my meal and then disappeared without taking my order, the tables are marble so every piece of flatware clangs). read more

This place is funky - there's nothing really like it. The ambiance is confusing but hip - reminds me of Brooklyn experimental restaurants in a good way. Wines are local and also reflect the ambiance, providing thought. This is an intimate experience - the chef and owner was the only one in the kitchen that night and there were two very warm and involved servers. The dishes were either spectacular and special and I'll remember them forever OR too salty and just okay. I would definitely recommend going but to focus on share plates, appetizers, pastas and SPECIFICALLY dessert. Standouts were the cheesesteak tartare - wow. I could eat this weekly and it's very unique; hot rigatoni - maybe one of my favorite pastas and I loved dipping the shrimp croissant in the sauce; garlic scapes - subtle and gelatin-like; tuna fish - my dining table's favorite; the desserts. Wow. Best desserts I've had in the city for flavor, uniqueness, and presentation. I cannot wait to return for their dessert tastings after 7 pm read more

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Eating at Roxanne was the most fun I've had out to dinner, ever. Not only is the menu seriously delicious and creative, it's also very clearly a labor of love for the chef Alex. The effort and love is so obvious in the product she creates. I can't remember being more impressed. The menu changes weekly, so I can only speak to my experience, but highlights included scallop, pea purée, and blueberry first course and a (I think?) play on peanut butter and jelly with duck, berry jam, and lobster purée. Alex REALLY knows sauces. Two dessert courses (a staple at Roxanne) including ice cream topped with Parmesan cheese. Not only was everything perfectly cooked, it was all so damn interesting. The cost was $85 per person. Alex came out and walked everyone through the menu first before going back and making everything while someone else served. It was about a two hour experience all in all. The atmosphere was social, friendly, and loud. Music was jamming the whole time, and songs would be abruptly skipped if they weren't to someone's (Alex's, I assume) taste, just like any of us would do in our own kitchen. I can't overstate how much fun and how interesting it was. Air conditioner was blasting all night, so bring a jacket if you are easily chilled. Alex has said on Instagram that this project isn't going to last forever (I think she said within the year a few months ago). I can't express how important it is to get there before this amazing experience ends. It should be top priority for anyone curious. read more

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Took my daughter to dine there this past Friday or entering my eyes immediately struuck an obnoxious message on the wall to "enjoy my fucking meal " which I thought was very offensive we seated at our table by pleasant Waiter. I found the room quite noisy and did not necessarily appreciate the stark decor. I was told you could bring your own line and on presenting the wine. I was told that the cork fee was $55. This is absurd in every large city is significantly less than that I went on to look at their wine list and it was all Pennsylvania wines, which upon ordering were quite unpalatable. Onto the more positive notes. The food was quite good and creative for the most part. There were a few losers, but I do greatly appreciate chef Holtz, creativity and willing to experiment with various foods. We chose about six different entrées and I would say the two were great , two were good, one was fair and one bad I applaud the service which was quite excellent and our friendly waiter was apologetic about my discontent with regards to the wine All in all, I am not sure whether I will ever go back, but I did enjoy experiencing the creative chef Holtz read more

A delicious, weird, and unique trip down chef Alex Holt's culinary rabbit hole...into a wonderland of fascinating taste and texture combinations. The food: We were delighted, surprised, intellectually and tastebud-ly engaged, and laughed out loud a few times. Our favorites: My partner and I both agreed the banana split was the "wow, home run" last course of the meal. Imagine this: frothy whipped cream with little pops of sourness hidden within (which turned out to be finger limes), over the deep salty taste of yeast ice cream, on top of smooth nutty sunflower fudge and then bits of toasted bread reminiscent of french fries. This is incredible, not only because I want seven more of these sundaes, but also because my partner doesn't much like sweets. I definitely considered asking the person next to us (who was too full to finish her sundae) if I could eat hers. My favorite (after the "seven more please banana split") was the king trumpet mushroom course. A deeply buttery trumpet mushroom glowing with chestnut butter against the savory richness of la tur cheese and a sweet-sour quince paste. It tasted like a mushroom danish, in the best possible way, but with such different textures. My partner's favorite: octopus grilled to perfection with a potato foam, trout roe, and a vinegary boquerones dressing. Worth mentioning for the fun (I think at this point we've almost covered the whole menu): the persimmon salad -- this dish made me laugh when it came to the table and tasted like elementary school. It was so much fun to taste the ways the dish transformed as you tried different components together. spider crab -- chunks of fresh crab covered in a newburg sauce with bites of buttered toasted bread. tasted like a deconstructed lobster roll The vibe: Chef Alex (and her front of house/busser/server/does a little of everything person, Lauren) have put together a restaurant that feels relaxed, eclectic, creatively charged, and fun. Roxane's lavender neon sign shines into a cozy restaurant with moody pink walls lit by tealights in pink himalayan salt containers. Quirky pictures on the wall (one of them, the giving tree) are placed at different levels throughout a gallery wall. There's a wall of tiny plushies outside the bathroom. The music playing is up for grabs -- anyone can go up to Alexa and shout out a request. As Lauren said during our meal, "we're not serious about anything other than the food." Pro-tip: Portions are large (heyyy Philly). If you can't finish something, especially early on, ask for a box. Trust me, you want to have room for dessert. Pro-tip in the other direction: If you are an especially hungry person, make a reservation for 1. A bunch of the dishes are sharing dishes, and if you eat alone, you lucky hungry person, you get twice the food, you get me? Final thoughts: This was so much fun. I kept saying to my partner that I can feel meh about eating out sometimes (especially about brunch, I don't need someone to scramble eggs for me for 5x the money, thanks) but I felt like this was such great value (8 course + a take home for $75 each) for the experience. It's fascinating to see what a tasting menu looks like when seen from the perspective of a pastry chef. I learned a lot, I feel creatively inspired, and I had a great time. I'll be thinking of this meal (and its intriguing choices) for a long time. Go, go quickly, and go often (their menu changes every week!). Especially if you are finding yourself jaded about food or if novelty is your stuff of dreams. We came back musing about the ways we could stretch our own imaginations when cooking and tasting, and excited to experience what happens next time. read more

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Easily this city's most inspired food maker. Y'all are in for a treat tasting Alexandra's dishes. We've been two or three times now, visiting again tomorrow. I need to write a proper review - but then again things are still changing and adjusting. I will revisit writing a formal review with details until it feels like there are some restaurant basics in place. Right now, everything Alexandra touches is gold - it will be tough to pare the plates down to something consistent when so many are outstanding. Perhaps it will never happen - and if so, then this review is a perfect match. Nebulous, beautiful - a blob restaurant for people willing to push comfort zones and play with their expectations. You're in for a treat no matter what. Good people are drawn here, it's clear. Already made a few friends from simply attending. Go. read more

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TLDR: Roxanne = meh taste, but A+ for creativity, friendliness of staff and chef, and overall unique experience. We enjoyed ourselves but not our food. OutKast released Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in the year 2003. They'd been 'funky' since their inception and they had gotten progressively funkier as time went on. By the time Speakerboxxx was released, Andre was full on weirdo status, with flamboyant pants and no shirt with overalls and all platform shoes etc. And because their funkiness had always been second to quality music, the album's release was a BIG deal! OutKast fans waited months for its release and got so so excited when it finally came. And what we ended up finding was an album that favored weird over substance. There were a few epic bangers (hey ya, roses), but overall the album was a sign that OutKast had peaked, that creativity and uniqueness weren't the only necessary elements to a great album. We could write a similar story about Kanye and his post-Graduation decline. His creativity and boldness continued to soar, but his rapping and quality of music declined. This is how I felt about Roxanne. If I had to rate it on a scale of unique, creative, or compelling meals, Roxanne knocks it out the park! She put an entire lobster shell in a blender to make a sauce!! Wtf. That's bananas! Props to the chef and - yes she's invited- if I'm on a dessert island with limited food and I need someone to get creative. As for taste though - and that matters too- she put a lobster shell in a blender. And it tasted like a blended up lobster shell. The same dish had gnocchi- great but covered in lobster shell and tiny bits of salami- great but burned to the consistency of beggin strips. There was a duck breast attractive enough to be displayed in the Apple Store. However, it was undercooked and chewy like bubblegum. My wife - who would likely divorce me if duck fat proposed to her - actually gave me her portion of duck!! There was an egg custard thing that tasted absolutely amazing- it was mixed with beef rangdang... creative and delish!! Also, there was a chocolatey panna cotta that literally had my licking the plate. So, there were some gems. But - again- Speakerboxxx had a few kick ass songs. I like adventures and I like creativity. But OutKast's first four albums were super creative AND delicious. At Roxannne, it feels like you're choosing between the two. And, for $330, I think I'd choose delicious over unique if I had to. Of the 8 or so courses, none were unpalatable. 3 were pretty damn good. Several were slightly icky. Also, for fine dining prices, I like being wined and dined a bit. Roxanne was noisy - lame music that'd be kinda quirky at tatooed mom but not here, it was cold inside - many of us kept our coats on. If nights out are abundant in your life (Eg. No young kids at home and you have relative financial freedom), definitely check out Roxanne. The dishes are super interesting and nothing will make you barf. I feel kinda bad putting this up here. The chef walked us through the whole menu. And I loved her! I loved how she described everything and how non pretentious she was about such cool and interesting dishes. I would 100% invite her over for my dinner party! I'd just ask her to bring dessert. If money and / or free time are limited, consider eating at one of the other phenomenal restaurants in this city where you'll be a bit "safer." read more

One of the most unique meals I've ever had in Philadelphia. They're playing with really interesting flavors/textures and experimenting in very cool ways that wake you up with each new course. That steamed apple with the bay oil and sepculoos anglaise was unreal, would never have called that out in a million years. And the black truffle huckleberry lamb was the best lamb I've ever had. Hands down. 10/10 - so lucky to have experienced this. read more

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We celebrated New Year's Eve devouring a procession of scrumptious and innovative small plates created by chef/owner Alexandra Holt. The restaurant offers a playful, relaxed vibe while providing creative pairings of sumptuous ingredients. The eight-plate menu (served to all) spanned from chocolate pasta, raw beef and monkfish to white strawberries and a mandarin dessert. The service was attentive and impressively fast, given that we received fresh cutlery and plates for each dish. It's BYOB with payment upon reservation. The price includes a set dinner fee and service fee. Reservations are made through an app. You can join a waitlist for cancellations. We wish them continued success! read more

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Came here for a birthday, it was an intimate and Cool experience. Lovely food both visually stunning and delicious. The menu changes pretty regularly so we'll have to come up with another to visit. It's also a BYOB so come prepared. The service was excellent, even though there's one person front of house and chef in the back - but honestly, you'd never really notice how lean they run, because the courses came out perfectly timed. read more

The most innovative dishes I've ever had. Dining here is an experience. If you if you manage to snag a reservation, you will not regret it! While I felt the menu needed a *touch* of refinement, it still gets 5 stars. I would return to Roxanne before returning to some Michelin star restaurants I've dined in. read more