Cozy spot with top tier, attentive service. My niece & I enjoyed the melon d'oro spritz cocktails…read morewith oysters, the star of the show for us -- tartine, and fried snapper. We want to come back for brunch next time!

Little Water is a true delight from the moment you walk into the space. No detail is overlooked, it…read morefeels upscale without a single whiff of stuffiness. The staff are friendly, attentive, and incredibly reassuring when it comes to managing allergies. I dined here twice during my trip home this week, and both meals absolutely blew my socks off. Standout Celiac-Safe Dishes: * Hamachi collar (Wow.) * The Caesar-like salad * Maratelli rice * The Raw Bar, which I had the fortune of enjoying almost in its entirety (see photo!) I haven't been imbibing lately, but the Golden Hour NA drink left me wanting for absolutely nothing. Truly one of the best meals of my life, and easily the best in recent memory.

This recently opened restaurant has totally exceeded my expectations. Under the guidance of…read moreMichelin chef Laurent Tourandel, it has successfully delivered its mission for an exceptional food and hospitality. Quoting from their website, their philosophy is to create an experience that feels both refined and welcoming. They totally nailed this. From the reception when I checked in until the end of the dinner, the customer service was impeccable. The restaurant has a very nice and upscale ambiance. A hint of firewood smell creates a relaxing and homey feel. The hostess is very friendly and welcoming with nice smiles. We were seated near the bar. The bartenders dress up with pink blazers. Melissa, our waitress, is very personable, engaging, yet courteous. She's very knowledgeable of the menu. She perfectly describes the specials. I appreciate that she provides the prices for the specials. She really pays attention to detail and attentive. She immediately removes my fork that falls in my plate. The Parker House Rolls is made to order. Melissa recommends to order it right away. I started with Rose sangria. It's a good opening drink as it is refreshing with finely chopped fruit in it. Not very sweet. Pulpo alla Gallega: I enjoyed this dish so much when I was in Spain. So it's no brainer that I picked this as my appetizer. The sliced octopus are neatly put on top of sliced potatoes. The octopus is tender and not chewy, the potatoes melt like butter. Amazing. Duck: my husband ordered this and it blows my mind. Perfectly cooked as medium rare served with cherries that really compliment the duck. Beautiful plating. Chopped salad: big portion. It's shareable. When I raised my concern about the recent outbreak from lettuce, Melissa assured me that the salad is safe. The dressing is not over drenched and it has a nice bit of oregano. Halibut: perfectly seared and cooked. Served on top of micro-diced vegetables. The star of the dish is the shrimp mousse inside the squash blossom. Phenomenal. Dessert: caramel popcorn sundae. Because it's my birthday, they put a small candle. There are three big scoops of caramel ice cream with some whipped cream, gold flakes, and shaved chocolate. The server drizzles the melted chocolate on top. It was an epic dessert. The ice cream and the chocolate fudge aren't very sweet so the caramelized pop corn stand up with its sweetness. We got drink special: coquito-inspired cocktail with coconut foam and grated nutmeg on top. So good. The manager helps to clear the table even cleans a little smudge on the table. He's very friendly and personable. There was a group party across from our table and he came over to great them. Overall, I had a memorable birthday dinner. I will definitely come back for brunch.

We almost skipped Terra Grill because of some negative reviews, and I'm so glad we didn't. We had a…read more6:30pm Saturday reservation but arrived early to enjoy a cocktail at the bar. After checking in, we chose to wait and head to the bar instead of being seated right away, and that decision paid off. Melissa greeted us with a big smile and thoughtfully asked what I typically enjoy drinking before offering suggestions. That alone felt more personal than the usual "What can I get you?" She made me a lemon drop martini that was fantastic, and we enjoyed chatting with her before heading to our booth. Dustin was our server and couldn't have been better. He let us dine at our own pace, made a few helpful menu recommendations, and gave us space to truly enjoy the evening. Since we're not big eaters, we shared the Parker House rolls, peppered calamari, and grilled branzino. Everything was absolutely delicious and beautifully prepared. We were tempted by the salads but honestly had no room. The parsnip purée and spinach with the branzino were standout sides...so good we wished for more. No dessert for us, but we did enjoy a few cocktails and wine with dinner. As wine enthusiasts, we found the list a bit overpriced, but that was our only minor critique. Otherwise, we loved both the food and the atmosphere. Please don't let the negative reviews stop you from trying this place. New restaurants often need time to work out the kinks, and Terra Grill is clearly heading in the right direction. We'll definitely be back.

Every single thing we ordered was amazing... and our server Jess only elevated the experience more…read more She gave great recommendations and was so attentive throughout our time. I got the Moroccan shrimp which was AMAZING, but everyone at my table was happy with their food. Will 100% be coming back... and can't wait until I do.

The entire experience led by my Bartender Jesse was exceptional. 10/10 service!!…read more Came for happy hour but ended up staying for a full meal and was pleasantly surprised by everything that I was recommended to me by Jesse via the catch of the day deal. $40 for an app, entree and dessert was an amazing deal. Everything was fresh and filling, I left happy as a clam!

Really loved my dinner experience at Mish Mish. The restaurant is beautiful and very modern. I was…read morereally impressed by their dishes, especially the raw yellowtail with peaches, which is an interesting combo I hadn't had before. The charred broccoli was also a standout -- it had a great smoky flavor with good acid. Service was great and our waitress was knowledgeable about allergies on the menu. The servings felt small but honestly left very full after sharing four plates (one protein) between two people.

This place was amazing. Not even sure what cuisine it is but every bite was masterful…read more The starters of pickled items was so good. Never had pickled apples or purple cabbage but it had the perfect amount of pickling and paired so well with the tahini. Fried string cheese was the world's best elevated mozzarella stick. Like a funnel cake with cheese and pepper. Curried carrots, sea bream, maitaki mushrooms all delicious. Only dish that did not wow me was the apple pie but only because I am not a fan of fruit desserts. A beautiful warm, cozy, intimate ambiance as well with an open kitchen and rotating seasonal menu.

Great little spot! Dimly lit and intimate vibe. Artichoke and lentil dish was 10/10 good, I wanted…read moreto lick the plate. Their simple salad was oddly delicious, perfectly dressed. The cheeseboard was decent, despite the fact that I don't love blue cheese. The steak frites were tasty- slightly overcooked but the flavor was on point. I expected the wine list by the glass to be a little bit better, but I ended up being underwhelmed and unimpressed by of the couple of the glasses that I had. I wanted dessert, but wish they had more than the two options presented. I'm not in Philly much these days, but enjoyed my time here!

Wanted to stop in here for a while and finally made it. Cozy booths and a bar downstairs, and there…read moreis a separate wine bar upstairs. Somewhat of a small space so reservations may be necessary. There is a changing special / additions menu so watch it if you're looking for some specific French dishes. Tried the croquettes and they were small and tasty bites. The creamy aioli was so thick, almost like a cheese sauce. The tavern burger was nicely cooked and meaty. There is raclette cheese melted on but the taste was subtle. Good bun that held up well to the big patties. The fries are crisped and seasoned nicely. A few other menu items I'd like to stop in and try, thanks.

Irwin's feels like the more intimate expression of everything that makes the Bok Building so…read morecompelling. We started with a drink at Bok Bar around 5:30, then walked a few steps across the eighth floor into a former vocational school classroom now home to a Sicilian restaurant. Enormous school windows, worn cream walls, exposed conduit, old tile, flashes of graffiti, palms, and Persian rugs make the room feel sophisticated and faintly exotic without ever seeming contrived. Visually, the room rewards looking around. The graffiti especially caught me; I have no idea which marks predate the restaurant and which may have been added later, but the smaller tags feel completely at home against the aging school surfaces. In the early days of home internet, I was obsessed with Art Crimes, the graffiti site founded in 1994 that still exists in its wonderfully utilitarian form, so those marks immediately pulled me in. Dinner tasted like summer. My wife and I started with focaccia, crudo, and a salad, then moved into clam pasta and pesto pasta before sharing the whole fish. The cooking stayed clean and light while still leaving us full, and our server was excellent. I had a glass of rosé, the huge doors stood open to the evening air, and either the dining room or terrace would have been wonderful. Sicily gave the meal more personal resonance than I expected. I visited years ago during a very different chapter, and my memories of the island remain beautiful but disjointed, fitting for a place shaped by centuries of conflict beneath a repeatedly erupting Mount Etna. I'm grateful I saw it, but I'm even more grateful for the steadier life that followed: marriage, entrepreneurship, 3 young children, a dog, and the chance to slow down enough to notice what actually makes me happy. Earlier, walking through Bok had already explained why Irwin's belongs here. We passed inMovement's enormous gymnastics facility beneath the surviving "Girls Gym" sign, and a fit guy inside happened to be wearing a perfectly worn vintage Venice Beach T-shirt; that tiny image captured the bridge between old South Philadelphia and Southern California running through the building. Bok has the scale and architectural freedom that make this kind of creative reuse feel plausible in Philadelphia or Los Angeles, where an enormous older structure can hold gymnastics, restaurants, and a rooftop bar while retaining its grain. Around us, families, couples, and groups of friends filled the room, with an easy mix of ages and personalities that felt stylish without becoming socially precious. There is something of the brilliant, slightly edgy cousin's apartment in the scene, the place people might once have regarded with mild suspicion before Condé Nast Traveler arrives years later with a photographer and a beautifully edited weekend itinerary. I say that with affection: at its best, broader attention and capital give overlooked buildings and neighborhoods the resources to survive and evolve while preserving enough texture to remain themselves. Walking home to our place near Rittenhouse Square was the perfect final act. I can still remember the New York finance version of myself arriving in Philadelphia because the woman who became my wife was training here, carrying more big city snobbery than I realized and assuming a smaller city meant a smaller life. Years later, pleasantly tired and full after Irwin's, I felt the opposite: I'm happier trying to build something of my own, walking home through a city I love, and heading toward 3 sleeping children and a dog who have made rootedness feel far richer than constant motion ever did.

Irwin's at the Bok is easily one of the most breathtaking restaurants I've ever visited. Perched on…read morea stunning rooftop setting with gorgeous views of the sunset, the ambience alone is worth the trip. The food matched the view completely--we tried the eggplant caponata, heirloom tomato, gnocchi sardi, and trofie, and every single dish was absolutely delicious. To drink, the melopepo highball and figonacci ratio were both amazing, and our phenomenal, highly attentive server truly topped off an already perfect night. An absolute must-visit!

This place was packed during happy hour but we were able to snag seats at the bar after happy hour…read moreended - make a reservation! The interior of the restaurant is very cute. We had some oysters, scallops and hamachi crudo, and my friend had the shrimp dumplings which he noted were delicious. The hibiscus spritz was light is refreshing. We will definitely be back to try their seafood tower!

We were super excited to try Pearl & Mary Oyster Bar. After work, we were down for some oysters and…read morea great meal! First, love the location of Pearl & Mary -- very walkable with so many restaurants and activities. We started off with oyster shooters and fried oysters. Both were great. The shooter had a bit of a kick to it. I would get it again. The fried oysters (not pictured), were just ok and I do wish they were fried harder. The cioppino...salty! I couldn't finish it and had to send it back. Heavy-handed on the seasoning is an understatement. It's too bad because all of the goodness of the sea was included -- from oysters, to shrimp, fish, mussels! The salt aside, this would have been a great dish. Service was meh. Not sure if I'd visit again. But, as I say, try for yourself! Cheers!

Great place for seafood and fellowship. Wait staff was attentive and gave great recommendations.read more

Came here to celebrate my birthday and had the most wonderful time! We sat out on the patio--the…read moreweather was perfect, the company was delightful, and the service was absolutely top-tier. A huge thank you to Tiana for helping make the night one of my best. Thanks, princess! BTW... Travis rocks too! Will definitely be back.