Got a warmed up Ham and Cheese Croissant and it was delicious and very savory! We also got the Vanilla Buttercream which had a very light citrusy flavor, perfect for the summer. read more

This is such a cute little place. We were referred here for a cake after calling a number of places around. We ordered a cake for my moms 65th birthday. I called and ordered this with Chef Honeyman. She was so professional, the prices are reasonable and the cake was gorgeous. I cried when I saw the cake. It was delicious. I could write a bible, but I'll it at this. The 2 people working on April 4th, guy and lady were such sweethearts. TRY THIS PLACE! read more

Walnut Hill College - French Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

High-quality pastries for affordable prices made by culinary students! When I lived closer I would come by all the time to get myself a little treat - loved the giant cream puffs, mini cakes, and croissants/danishes. This bakery is still my go-to to get whole cakes for occasions. Their selection does dwindle over the day (especially Saturdays) since I think everything is made in the morning, but you can call ahead and reserve a particular cake in advance and even have something written on it. I got the pictured chocolate mousse cake for only $25 when it would have ran me at least $40 anywhere else! If you want to eat on the spot, the bakery also has a few tables and seats, and outside seating in nicer weather. read more

Walnut Hill College - Chocolate Mousse Cake - French Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I use to live by this school for 6 years and never knew that this school had a pastry breakfast area. The place is amazing. Super cheap and great quality pastries. I highly recommend visiting. I got a blueberry muffin which was pretty amazing. The almond croissant was really, really good as well. I really liked the almond spread in the croissant. The croissant was pretty fluffy as well. We were hanging in the main area but didn't realize the Restaurant School actually has a bigger/pretty room that you can go to that looks like a fancy Italian restaurant (check that out when you are there). read more

Walnut Hill College - Almond croissant - French Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My daughter had no interest in secondary education until she heard about Walnut Hill College. She recently attended a three day two night event exposing potential students as to what they could expect and she told me she in the last few years has never enjoyed herself as much as she did this summer and is even more committed to a future in the pastry arts. The staff is wonderful, caring, and I cannot think of enough good things to say about them read more

Main store is small but crowded. Baked goods lined the shelves with the more specialized pastries hidden in left most corner. Tried a couple cookies and a biscotti. The staff quickly wrapped them up to go. There's a side hallway that leads to a courtyard with a numerous tables and chairs scattered throughout. My favorite was the lemon drop cookie with its soft texture and tangy flavor. The biscotti was my second favorite. The chocolate hazelnut flavors with crunchy mouthfeel made it delightful read more

Date night at Bistro Perrier @ Walnut Hill University last night was wonderful. From pictures, Bistro Perrier looked like it was modeled to look like a European Courtyard, which was what caught my eye about the place and made me want to check it out. Food items are fairly priced and there is barely, if not any markup at all on the wines. The wine list was incredibly well curated. On this night, we decided to pair dinner with a bottle of Lagrein. For our appetizer, my husband and I ordered the charcuterie and French onion soup. I wouldn't recommend the charcuterie, but the duck liver mousse was actually very delicious aside from the layer of fat on top. The French onion soup was good as well. Next, I had the lamb steak for my entrée, and my husband had the duck breast. The duck breast was beautifully cooked and the portion was huge, but oddly ended up being very chewy. I loved my lamb steak, and the side of roasted brussels sprouts. And how could we end our night without dessert! My husband and I each had our own chocolate flourless cakes, and have to say it was THE best course of the night. According to the Maître D', the menu changes every 10 weeks, and is prepared by a different group of students. The menu could be a completely different cuisine, so it'll be fun to revisit every few months. FUN FACT: Jennifer Carroll from Top Chef went to culinary school here! Parking is complimentary in a private parking lot, so no need to worry about street parking. read more

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From the moment you enter the doors to this restaurant you feel as though you are in a France. Our host Joshua showed us to our beautifully set table and offered to give us a tour of the restaurant and kitchen after we dined. The entire restaurant is run by students who attend to your every need. The service is superb. The restaurant is designed to make you feel as though you are eating in a Parisian cafe. Every detail from the babbling fountain , the dimly lit street lights, and perfectly balanced background music adds to the ambience. The tables were decorated perfectly , although the chairs were slightly uncomfortable. We started our meal with drinks that included a light refreshing Framboise spritzer made with grey goose vodka, chambord, lime , mint, and club soda and a Pome fume with gin and apple juice. Next came deliciously fresh crisp French bread with homemade creamy butter. Our entrees were mushroom and bacon stuffed chicken and le bec fin crab cakes. The chicken had immense flavor and melted in your mouth. I was not a fan of the crab cake consistency as it seemed a bit rubbery. The green beans or haricots verts were delicious and cooked to perfection. We left room for our desserts which were masterfully presented as a chocolate salted soufflé which was to die for and a dessert cigar with Flambéed cherries and brandy mousse. This restaurant is beautifully decorated. They even have a private area with glass ornaments hanging from the ceiling to resemble champagne bubbles. The bar area is cozy and even the bathroom is fancy and decorated with perfume bottles and French flare. This is a great restaurant to celebrate a special occasion while supporting your local students. There is a parking area next to the restaurant so need to worry about finding a spot. read more

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My friends and I enjoyed a fantastic dinner at Bistro Perrier this past weekend. This was the first "formal" dinner we've had the pleasure of enjoying since the pandemic and quarantine. The upside of dining in a group of 4 is that we all get to try everything on the menu. We started with an incredible charcuterie board that included a variety of pork riette, terrine, ham, pickles & mustard. My friends took advantage of the wine pairing of 4 glasses for $30 and all of us enjoyed three courses of everything from onion soup gratinée, moules frites, salad lyonnaise to the croque madame, beef bourguigon and pan-roasted salmon. We finished off with a variety of desserts that were equally as savory as the entrees and appetizers. All the food we experienced here were house-made which made it all the more satisfying. The service and attentiveness of the staff was wonderful. They checked in on us often and they were incredibly knowledgable of the variety of wines brought to our table. Last but certainly not least, if you're concerned about dining indoors - Bistro Perrier does have COVID safety procedures in place wherein they ask you to fill out a wellness survey and they take your temperature prior to you entering the restaurant. I believe it's a rotating menu each week so we're definitely looking forward to coming back! read more

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Walnut Hill has a gorgeous ambience, and for chefs in training, the quality of the dinner far exceeded my expectations. Walking into the main dining room of Walnut Hill, it feels like you've been instantly transported into the cobblestone streets of Europe. Seated amongst false terrace facades, twinkling lights, and indoor greenery, it's easy to forget that you're dining in the heart of University City. The service was attentive, the salmon was flaky, and the sampler dessert plates were sweet and delicious. While the food may not be perfect, it is in a league of its own when compared to the fast-casual eateries that are dotted around Penn's campus. Overall: Great place for celebrations, date nights, slightly upscale dinners, or simply as an excuse to escape the routine Panera Bread/Sweetgreen/Chipotle loop. read more

This place was always closed when I wanted to come, so I recommend calling ahead to make sure they're open. I was so surprised by the quality of food from the culinary students and the price point! I came for a work lunch and when we first entered the dining area we had to order food from the screen on the left before taking a seat. I love the personality of each of the different dining areas, I can see why people book their weddings here! What I tried: * Beef brisket ($8.50) - very tender and marinated well with onion gravy and grilled mushrooms, I loved that the mashed potatoes were both creamy yet chunky at the same time * Pizza du jour ($5.50) - lots of cheese (provolone, swiss, mozzarella) and I was surprised by how much I liked the roasted cauliflower on it (note: my pic is different from what it normally looks like because we asked them to cut it up into pieces to share) I thought the service was just okay...I probably would have been lost if I came on my own, but luckily the people I came with knew what they were doing (where to order from rather than sit down first and ask for someone to take your order). I also think the culinary students could have explained more about the dishes when they all brought them out instead of coming out and leaving without interacting with us much. Everyone I came with also said we had to check out the pastry shop! I'm lactose intolerant and couldn't have very many of the desserts after having the pizza du jour so I got a pistachio madeleine, which was good! I want to come during another time of day to see what this place is like. read more

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TLDR: mistreatment of wait staff, inappropriate treatment of female customers The food was incredible at this restaurant, but I will not be going back. It came to my attention when dining here that the restaurant steals all of the wait staff's tips. The check, which looks like a bill from any other restaurant with a section for tips, is misleading. None of the tips go back to the wait staff, even if you tip in cash. All of the tip goes back to the school. While my boyfriend and I loved all of the dishes we ate (mussels, beef stew, duck), we were deeply uncomfortable with the Maître d. When we first arrived at the restaurant, we were immediately shocked with the way the Maître d spoke to the students staffing the restaurant, including his condescending tone and manner. Throughout the dinner service, we observed how the Maître d (a man with a French accent) was very touchy/handsy with female guests. He made a point of stopping a female guest to rub her shoulders as she walked out of the restaurant. When I asked him where the restroom was, he made a point of putting his arm around me as he guided me to the bathroom. All of the wait staff, while attentive and respectful, seemed extremely nervous and somewhat miserable throughout the dinner service. With so many great dining options in Philadelphia at a similar price point, I will not be returning to a restaurant that degrades their staff and with a Maître d who is inappropriate with female customers. read more

i came here for the first time at the beginning of the semester and it was a very unique dining experience! students as well as their mentors served us and the ambience indoors gave french streetside vibes. overall the food was good, especially the mussels. my only critique would be that the dishes lacked consistency at times. sometimes the food was cold or over seasoned. i really liked coming here and learning about the school and hope to return when their italian restaurant opens read more

Walnut Hill College - steak tartare - French Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College is a hidden gem in West Philly. During the time I lived in West Philly, I've been to the restaurant for breakfast and dinner many times and frequently patronized their pastry shop. Both the restaurant and the pastry shop are worth trying if you haven't been here. When dining here, please keep in mind these are students and try to be a nice person, you will have a much better experience. Based on the food, service, and ambiance, I'd say the school has a 3-star restaurant and 3.5-star pastry shop, but it's hard for me to round up to four stars. I also notice that they've bumped up the price over the past two years. It's still slightly cheaper than regular restaurants and pastry shops, but may not be a bang for your bucks anymore. Considering the fact that these are prepared by chefs in training and served by future restaurant managers, they've got three shining stars from me. First, the restaurant: Breakfast: My only dine-in breakfast experience was bad (the breakfast was served in the pastry shop then). I was hoping to grab a nice breakfast on a weekday morning, but the student in charge of making omelets that day was nervous and made many mistakes. After waiting and watching him for 20 minutes, I finally got a successful omelet on his 3rd attempt, and luckily, I have flexible working hours. Ordering a breakfast item that requires cooking can be risky here unless you have plenty of time in the morning. A pastry item and a coffee to go would be a better choice (which belongs to the pastry shop). Dinner: My dinner visits were generally nice. The main restaurant has a unique decor. Somehow, I was only able to make reservations at International Bistro through OpenTable. Didn't know how to reserve other special menus (American Heartland and Italian Trattoria). Overall, good food (not great) and warm service. I did experience a serving incident, the student server wrongly served my entree to my friend and hers to me. After our first bite (we ordered lamb and beef), we swapped them back ourselves. It wasn't a big deal, but do expect mistakes. Then, the pastry shop: I really like this cute pastry shop! They serve various pastry items depending on what the students are making on that day. It's a great spot to grab a croissant or danish and a coffee for a quick breakfast. The espresso drinks here are okay probably they don't use good coffee beans, but the price is much cheaper than regular coffee shops. The cakes here are great! I've tried their chocolate cake at my friend's birthday party, very tasty but too sweet for me. I also ordered a whole tiramisu cake for my partner's birthday, which was such a wonderful delight! They require 24 hours for specific cake orders, but they can't customize the cakes too much because the students need to follow the school's standard recipes. P.S.: After reading Manda's review about her suspicion on free labor, I'm alerted. I was able to tip during my dinner visits and I assumed my tips went to students. However, I'd like more transparency on its practice. read more

Absolutely fabulous unexpected find. Food and service are impeccable. I have steak frites and pana cotta. Also had 2 mixed drinks. Pricing was good. I will be returning for more meals during my 2 week stay! read more

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I realize that BP is part of a school training program but that is no excuse for incompetence. After a verrrrrry sloowwww dinner (dining room fairly empty) on a Saturday evening, we asked to split the check on 3 cards. It took forever but finally was accomplished. Unfortunately when I checked my card statement, I see that our card was charged for everyone's meals, not just our third. Very disappointing. read more

There are actually four choices of restaurants to dine in. It has been years since I have been here, but we were always pleased with our meals and service. Perhaps they have gone down hill a bit, after seeing the other reviews? The menu's change seasonally and the prefix prices can't be beat. Each restaurant features a full bar and wine service. The four restaurant choices are: Guests can choose to dine at the elegant Great Chefs of Philadelphia restaurant, whose menu is developed by some of Philadelphia's most notable chefs. The European Courtyard is a theatrical public square with beautiful storefronts, cobblestone paths, and terrace dining. The Italian Trattoria features casual dining with regional Italian pasta specialties. The American Heartland is an American treasure serving a contemporary approach to traditional American fare. We had a very dear friend who was a professor in Philadelphia and he loved taking us to the theatre, his private gentleman's clubs and this was one of his favorite places to go. I miss John, he has since passed and I also miss going here. Did I mention they have an awesome pastry shop with incredible goodies? I think you should check them out, it is a great dining experience. read more

Wonderful discovery of the best cream puffs with fresh whipped cream at Walnut Hill College Restaurant School Pastry shop today. There they have real fresh whipped cream with just right amount of sweetness. I have been disappointed by many cream puffs by different places up to now, this place gave very satisfactory and beyond expectation cream puffs. One puff is 2.25 dollars plus tax, while even at Acme you end up paying 2.99 dollars per piece for a puff and cream with preservatives to last 4 days. I bought a croissant, a brioche, a baguettes, while other bread such as pain de compagne, etc. looked artisan. Croissant was overbaked, real, tasted salty butter. Brioche was salty side rather than sweet. The baguette looked crispy - but only the tips of the baguette. The middle part was not as sturdy as I hoped. Overall, salty taste dominant among all what I bought. Nevertheless, I strongly believe this place is a hidden pastry treasure hunting including this cream puff. The puff is about 2 inches in diameter, 3 inches plus heights. It is really worthy to visit when you have leisure time. The eclair is nicely dressed with hand made chocolate fancy plate. Inside is REAL custard with humble sweetness. Future chefs are working hard under master chefs - whom I saw in the store. I have no experience at the restaurant itself, but for pastries, highly recommended. They accept credit cards, atmosphere is small, low-key with mega quality. read more

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The premise of the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill is for students to get real time training in their areas of study. These students are trained in the art of fine dining and service. They are supervised by a maitre d type who is present but never intrusive. A man of obvious refinement. Depending on which area you dine, there is a prix fixe menu with 5 star selections which is reasonably priced per person. The wine list is impressive. Cocktails are very good. The interior spaces are beautiful and range from being able to, in my opinion dress business casual to being able to dress up. My daughter and I try to dine here at least yearly and would highly recommend The Restaurant School. read more

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The pastry in the bakery is well worth it, especially the chocolate panache cake. Great for birthdays. On a last minute decision, I came here for lunch at 2pm for the first time. think I might not get a table for 2 since its at a odd time, but I did. Their menu vary on the day, because the students at the college prepares them. I got chicken and waffles. It was inexpensive and surprisingly really good. It was just the right amount of food, and a good balance of sweet and savory. I would come back just for the chicken and waffles. There is an upstairs as well, and a balcony. I imagine it would look really pretty at night for big dinner parties. The decor is quite unique. Highly recommended for lunch. Would go back for dinner one day. read more

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I came with other RAs and GAs from my college house to enjoy the Holiday Buffet. For more context, the Bistro Perrier is operated by students at the Walnut Hill College, which trains students in cooking and hospitality. It's a great dining experience and they treat you like a star. I arrived a little late so when I entered, the hostess took my coat, gave me a coat check slip, and directed me to the table. I was immediately struck by the holiday decor. The private room that we had reserved contained several round tables in a living room of what seemed like a mansion. The adjacent room contained food stations around the edges of the room. In the middle of the dining space was a miniature Eifel tower with lights. The food was freshly made and my favorite, was the slices of pork, the fresh salad with egg, and the pasta station. All three places featured student cooks who chatted with me about football and the holiday season while preparing great dishes. The salad was probably one of the best I've had in Philly with a savory dressing that made you want more and a poached egg to top it off. The macaroons for dessert were also fantastic so check them out if you have time. read more

Came here for a holiday dinner with my family and while the decor and service were great, the food was just okay? Most things were okay but nothing was super flavorful or stood out. As I mentioned, the holiday decor is amazing--so many lights and themed colors! Our server was really friendly, and the student chefs were adorably awkward as they prepared food for the patrons. Verdict, at $60+ per person for the holiday buffet, I expected more. read more

Definitely a place to try out cuisine by students and teachers, a chance to taste all kinds of different food prepared with unique flair. The opportunity to try world-class cuisine that's still in the learning stages, and certainly fun to talk with the students and get their opinions on how and why they chose their dishes. I've never had the same thing twice here, and that's mostly due to the fact the chefs keep graduating! Not bad overall for food, though. Servers seem a bit inexperienced for some reason? Maybe it's the constantly evolving menu on the price fixe. Also a very good bakery on the grounds, very cheap for cakes and pastries! read more

My husband and I enjoyed a lovely dinner at Bistro Perrier last weekend. The food was excellent; the service attentive if a bit tentative; and the ambiance of the restaurant charming. The menu is somewhat limited as might be expected for a culinary arts training establishment, but there were four or five selections offered for each course. We thoroughly enjoyed the items we chose. And it was a pleasant change to be able to enjoy a quiet conversation with each other over dinner as well as with the two instructors who were overseeing operations that evening. read more

I stopped eating here after learning, the staff is all college students attending the school. The food is over priced, limited menu, and if that's not bad enough, they are getting free labor. The students cook the food, serve the food, and we are not allowed to tip. They call it a "learning experience" but all it is, is free labor. The students are paying tuition to work weekends, holidays, and late night shifts at a restaurant where the public is allowed to enjoy. After thinking it over, it should be illegal. Everything the students make, is sold for a profit, and no one can say it's because it's a free college, no, after slight research, the tuition is within the 40,000 range. After asking a few students during my travels, if they get anything for "free" from the profits of the restaurant and bakery, all they receive is a small discount on food that they buy on site. If you really think about it.....it's a travesty. If you're going to get free labor, at least offer something to the students you're..."teaching" read more

This is another review for their community classes and not their restaurants... This is my first class with The Restaurant School and I'm taking the 6 week Intro to Culinary Arts course - and so far (4 weeks in) it's been awesome. I can totally see how this would depend almost 100% on the teacher, but our instructor is awesome, the assistant chefs are great, and its every bit as hands on as I was hoping. The classes are a bit pricey - can't remember the exact cost, but I think it was in the neighborhood of $325. However, this is over 6 weeks, making it a much better deal then Viking Cooking School and some other spots out there, and I feel like we get to do so much more. Everyone cooks everything, there is always food to take home, and there's tons of tips and insights that the instructors have to just throw out during the class. Its a shame there isn't a longer program available, because a lot of the classes do seem a bit rushed, but over all, I'm having a great time and would recommend it to any one seriously interested about getting into a massive kitchen and being let lose. read more

Called a week in advance to have a cake made for a dinner with friends - one of who was celebrating a milestone birthday. Upon arrival they said the cake was never made and we could just get miniature desserts instead of the product that was promised. Service was absolutely awful and unaccommodating. On top of that, we were not notified until after being seated and starting our meal that there is a 3 drink limit. That included after dinner drinks, so no Irish coffees were even added on. I will never be going back, neither will the group I was with. Unsatisfactory service. read more

Wow, where to start. The Restaurant School is, put quite simply, horrendous. I will outline exactly what makes it so terrible by regurgitating my experience (and quite possibly my meal) below: 1. When we arrived at the restaurant, the front door was locked. The host had to come and let us in. Strike number one. 2. The decor of the restaurant was in the category of, "so tacky, it was as if France and Italy had a baby which puked all over the restaurant". 3. After being seated, the waiter brought us our menus, and in the process, accidentally threw one on the floor. 4. When getting ready to order, the waiter had quite possibly the worst bedside manner I have ever encountered. He was awkward and unhelpful throughout the entire meal. 5. The restaurant staff graciously offered bread, which was lovely. Our options were plain, onion, everything, poppy seed, and sesame seed. I wasn't aware that The Restaurant School was also a bagel shop. I thought perhaps the bread might share flavors with bagels, but actually be regular bread, but alas, the bread was actually bagel dough. Cold, chewy bagel dough. 6. Finally, our appetizers arrive. The vegetable soup was chunky and lukewarm, with an overly strong balsamic glaze. The PEI mussels were decent, but very subpar. The "naan" that came with the mussels was more akin to focaccia, and had a distinct charcoal taste. 7. Entrée time! The pork had a decent flavor, despite being quite tough and chewy. The vegetables that came along with the pork were undercooked and somewhat tasteless. The striped sea bass was also decent, but the rice had an overpowering lemongrass taste, and the vegetables were nigh inedible. The perfect parallel to draw would be that of airline food. 8. At this point, needless to say, we were somewhat wary of what was to come next. Finally, our dessert menus arrive, after being asked if "[our waiter] can interest us in dessert, despite the fact that dessert is clearly included in the prix fixe menu, which happens to be the only choice when dining here. The dessert arrived and was quite underwhelming. The banana bread pudding was cold, but tasted relatively good. The pumpkin cake was extremely dense and a little stale. I would highly recommend dining at this fine establishment if you enjoy awful food, or if you have extremely unrefined taste. read more

I took the 6-week Introduction to Culinary Arts class this past January/February. While I did enjoy a lot about the class, there were a few major elements that could have been fixed in order to make this a top-notch class. First, the teacher was not up to par. He graduated from the School a few years before he started teaching, and while he seemed knowledgeable and a great Chef, I don't think he was cut out for teaching. The first class we got done more than an hour early - fine if I were in high school, but I'm paying to be there and want to learn. That happened a few other times, so I don't really feel as though I got my money's worth. Also, several of the classes he taught us how to make a specific dish, rather than teaching us techniques to use in the future. I think if I had a different teacher, my experience would have been better. They do provide you with a great "textbook" if you will, as well as all of the ingredients used to cook each week. There is definitely the possibility for this being a great class, but I think my teacher wasn't able to actually teach :( read more

I really enjoyed my dinner. The Restaurant school allows students who are earning their degrees in Hotel Restaurant and Culinary to practice with some of the finest foods and dishes at this mock restaurant. I am unfairly referring to it as a mock restaurant of course, as it is a very actual Restaurant and a very good one also. The presentations were wonderfully fun as you would expect from a restaurant school. I would have been disappointed if it was normal, but this is a school so go nuts. The service was excellent and the ambiance was nice too. The school spent some money to make this an actual restaurant instead of cafeteria. The food was good but not great so I took off a star. That's OK, they're learning right? I'm not disparaging the quality which was great, the price which was unbelievable or the amount which was fine. The price fix of $21 for appetizer, entree and dessert was amazing. Better than restaurant week and wine beer and liquor prices were incredible considering it wasn't happy hour. Would and will definitely be back, was lots of fun, and the waiters defiantly are not afraid to answer questions. read more

This review is for their community classes and not their restaurants... I've taken 2 classes there with a friend. The first was a six week Intro to Pastry Arts. The second was a cupcake class. The Intro to Pastry Arts class was a big disappointment. I can't remember the exact cost (esp since my work blocks their website) but let's say it's in the high 200's. I really expected to learn more than I picked up watching the Food Network or from a cookbook, but I didn't. My friend and I had a good time though and it was fun having our own sous chef (aka students from the college) The cupcake class was supposed to teach unusual flavors which is why I signed up, but they didn't. We didn't even make all the cupcakes since the class was limited to 3 hours. However, I did get a recipe for a kick-ass chocolate frosting and made an Grand Marnier orange ganache so I was pleased. My recommedation is to take one of their night classes if you want to learn something new. read more

A sit down meal is not the only option here. Don't forget the pastry shop. Just stop by for an amazing selection of mostly bad-for-you edibles at great prices! read more

Wow, does bang for your buck get any better than this? Despite having our hearts set on the Great Chefs menu, it wasn't available on the Thursday night we went (Actually, it hasn't been available since the last quarter of 2012... sad face.), so we ended up going for the International Bistro menu. Not a bad choice at all. No matter which menu you order from, you eat in the same dining area. All of the food was well prepared; we felt the love. The steak was ordered medium rare, and it came out *perfectly* medium rare--the perfect shade of pink in the middle. The chefs here pull off technique perfectly, from poached egg to medium rare steak to a balanced but not soaked salad dressing (coming from someone who is usually disappointed to see that restaurants overdress salads with a pool at the bottom of a plate/bowl). Props to the baker for the excellent bread, which was *semi* free flowing. At first they kept giving us bread, but after the first course, that service stopped. Huh. A minor suggestion would be warming up the bread for service, but it's not a huge deal. The cheap booze is a big plus. The selection isn't the largest, but the prices are similar to what you would see for happy hour at any other establishment (including cocktails, beer, and wine). The service was professional and exceeded expectations, especially compared to any big name restaurant in the city. The price to quality ratio at the Restaurant School is amazing, and I would totally recommend the International Bistro to anyone looking for a great meal. read more

The food and service were pretty average -- I guess about what you would expect from a "Restaurant School." I ate in the Italian Room, which offers self-serve Bread, Salad and Soup and then a Five-Course all-you-can-eat Pasta Meal. At $13 a person, you get a lot of food for quite a low price. However, the two waiters were very awkward. They hovered over us and seemed pretty aloof. They had no idea what anything was on the menu and had to "go check" a few times what the next course would be. It's a great choice if you're looking for something cheap, fast and filling, but don't expect it to impress anyone. read more

I know some of the reviews of this place mention "nervous waiters and waitresses" but I think that is quite unfair... 1.) They're students learning how to properly serve in a upscale restaurant and have to remember what side to serve on, how to position the silverware, the specials, etc. all while their teacher/boss watches. 2.) Depending upon what time of year you go, they can be NEW students and VERY nervous. I mean, weren't you a little shaky your first day of school??? Anyway- aside from the "nervous waitstaff"- which isn't that noticeable, the food is REALLY good. Like better than most restaurants where I cough up $150 for 2 people. There are a bunch of restaurant options in the building ranging from $13 for the Italian room which includes 3 courses to the French room that is $21 for 3 courses....SUPER REASONABLE. If you're in the area defnitely give this place a try. They are easy to get to, have FREE parking and are easy on your budget. You can't go wrong. :) read more

I like eating here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Went here because at the time, my bf was thinking of going here to be a chef. Since then, I've been back about 3 times just to eat at the restaurant. One thing you'll never have to worry about here is BAD SERVICE or BAD FOOD!!! Unlike regular restaurants, these students have something to prove because they are earning a grade!!! The students may be a little nervous, but they aim to please!! I highly recommend The Restaurant School!! read more

I found this restaurant simply by walking by and wow was I impressed. The food was delectable and the service was superb. Everyone was incredibly nice and each dish was surprisingly complex. They also have some extra special details such as butter molded into a rose shape which pushes this place over the top. I would definitely recommend coming here! read more

Walnut Hill College - French Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Our company held its annual Christmas dinner here. The building was beautiful. Lavishly decorated inside and out for the Christmas season. Really lovely. We were seated on the second floor in a private area. The meal was set up buffet style, with several different stations. Italian, which featured either farfalle with butternut squash or penne with meat, a carving station with brisket, a soup and fresh bread station, that soup was a crowd pleasing mushroom. So earthy and memorable. Several of us had seconds of that. I enjoyed the roasted beet salad, and there were other options as well, ceasar salad, etc. Desserts were good, especially the coconut and lime panna cotta. Truly delicately flavored and so light, airy and delicious. Our group was also given a tour of the kitchens after our dinner. The staff was friendly and accomodating, each and everyone of them. read more

PROS: Beautiful interior, good service CONS: Food was okay at best Having passed by the Restaurant School countless times before, I was overexcited to try the special Ellis Island menu. The inside of the restaurant was sectioned off into different areas with varying themes. Though very beautifully decorated, the school offered substandard food. The worst was the eggnog tiramisu... with the overuse of nutmeg, which mixed badly with the coffee flavor. Nothing really stood out, unfortunately. read more

I really felt stupid after I got in there! How could I leave in west philly for so long and not visit this place?! The decor is the best I have seen (specially in the Mediterrenean section). You just feel like sitting there for hours. Good for big parties? YES!! Definitely! The food was not the best I ever ate, but it was some home style nice pasta which was lovely for me. I tried the italian cuisine in which they serve 5 types of pasta+soup and ceaser salad for...13$!!! Unbelievable, hmm? I know! The staff were pretty nice and helpful. They explained every food they brought and make you feel comfortable. MAKE SURE you visit the restrooms! Just saying :D ;) It is located in the bar section... which is very beautiful as well :D read more