White Dog Cafe totally won me over. The space is incredible. It feels like you're walking through a series of cozy, artsy rooms in a historic home, each one with its own personality. It's charming without trying too hard. I went for brunch and couldn't stop smiling the whole time. The coffee was so good I ordered a second cup without hesitation. I had the Farmers Plate and somehow even the eggs, which I'm usually picky about, were perfectly seasoned and cooked just right. You can really taste the quality and freshness in everything. The staff was upbeat and genuinely kind, checking in at the right moments and making the whole experience feel effortless. It's the kind of place where you lose track of time and end up lingering longer than planned. Already looking for an excuse to go back! read more

I really wanted this to be a perfect experience, but it was wholly unsatisfying. I will say, this is one of the most interesting and gorgeous restaurant venues I have ever visited. That was my favorite part, how interesting walking through each room was. Unfortunately, the service and food were problematic. We had a group, not huge by any means, but the group gratuity became an annoyance following the service. Most importantly, multiple people in the table were served undercooked fish--the inside of their salmon was completely raw. One of these guests also had a severe allergy, and was still given plates with that allergen after alerting the server multiple times. One of the pomegranate margaritas we got was undrinkably spicy. The staff did replace the salmon, but it was sad to see multiple members of our group get cold and undercooked food. Furthermore, our table set the reservation during the Fearless Restaurant week--but when we asked for the special menu advertised online, our server had no clue what we were talking about. He had to ask us what the items on the prix fixe menu were. And after all that, the multiple drinks each person at our table got, the mid-level set price for the 3-course special, we were still hungry. The portions for the fearless menu were really small. But, due to their menu prices, rather than order more I went home for a second dinner. I really wanted to like this restaurant, but I'm disappointed and underwhelmed. The food was alright, but not for the price and experience we got. read more

I'm not from Philly. And I had never been to Philly. But I came in for a work trip, and this is where my boss wanted to take us. I was so intrigued right from the start. The decor in there is so fun! Dogs, everywhere. Which I love of course. The rooms are so eclectic. Both upstairs and downstairs. We ate in the private room in the back which had fun paintings and sculptures all over. There were 10 of us in the party and I felt like we were attended to well. The food came out in a timely manner. It was tough to choose what to get because everything looked so good! I tried one of the specials - the bao brisket. Pretty yummy. Had some of the buffalo chicken dip - delish! And then ordered the Seafood Bucatini. Which is not something I'd normally order but I'm so glad I did! The white wine garlic sauce was absolutely delicious. I learned that I'm not a big fan of Bucatini pasta (I like thinner noodles). But even with the thickness the flavor was too good to care. The seafood was fresh and it was a good balance of sauce to noodles to seafood. I also ordered the Pear cocktail. And the cider sangria. Both so good! My only regret is not having enough time to explore the location and learn more about the history. Next time! read more

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Downgrading my review because of poor service experience with the new staff those evening. We arrived at 4pm for happy hour and got 2 seats at the bar. We were told no high chair at the bar, which was ok. Then another lady comes pretending to be the manager and says "no kids allowed at the bar". This was not our first visit at the bat and we explained to her. She was very rude and blamed the manager taking no responsibility. We then moved to a table, she them comes back saying manager is ok as long as the kids are accompanied with an adult. I was flabbergasted, who in the world would leave kids at the bar and then go sit on a table. Made no sense. Our table was in back and we were waiting for service for 10 mins. After thay we just left. Very Disappointing service today....:( read more

Food: 3 Service: 3 Price: 3 Ambiance: 5 I was in Philly and wanted to try out some brunch place and this is what popped up for me on my trusted Yelp. Aesthetics of this place are on point. So cute! As I was walking to be seated, I passed through so many cool separate rooms. The decor can be visually overwhelming as there are a lot of decked out walls of wallpaper and gold guilder accents. Decadent is what comes to mind. I ordered a mushroom omelet and coffee. It was fine. I mean I'm not sure if I've just become accustomed to really great brunch places here in LA, but given how decadent the place was, I found the food a bit underwhelming. Don't get me wrong, it was good but not great. And, what's funny is my server asked me after noticing I didn't eat the potatoes if I liked them! read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We love a cute farm to table situation, the East Coast's first at that. For lunch I chose the meatloaf melt special but the stars of the show was the whipped feta and the mushroom soup. Deeeeelish! Service was excellent, even with the lunch time rush. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Whipped Feta - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Went here for a corporate event. First time back in a decade. This is an interesting ambience with lots of small rooms. We had a pre-fix menu with tuna tarar, salad/soup, burger/chicken breast/salmon. The starter and first course were good but the chicken was very dry. For large parties that may not be a surprise, but still a little disappointed. They have a good wine/beer list. The service was OK. read more

We began our long weekend in University City with lunch at the White Dog Cafe. The bright and ample space, set in three Victorian brownstones, was very comfortable, easy to converse in and the decor really embodied a sophisticated rustic charm. We began our meal with cocktails and an Artisan Cheese Plate which was accompanied by fruit, nuts, pickles, crusty bread and the most delicious strawberry and apricot spreads. The cheese selections were unique and very tasty! Definitely a must have as an appetizer or a nosh with cocktails. For our mains, we selected the Spicy Lamb Bolognese and the Impossible Patty Melt. The lamb ragu was very flavorful and the pasta was perfectly cooked. The Impossible Patty Melt was well cooked and the star of the show was the smoky onion jam and spicy pickles. This was a perfect intro to the foodie scene in and about the University City area. The staff was warm and friendly and the overall vibe makes it easy to linger long after the meal is done. read more

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What a lovely place, brownstone converted into a great cafe, with farm to table fare. We had a great waiter Will who took care of us and gave us the history of the cafe and how it got its name. My husband had the special a steak with hash and two fried eggs in an iron skillet. He said it was a little taste of heaven. I had the strawberry cheesecake stuffed French toast with chicken apple sausage. It was a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth! Can't wait to visit again to try their other meals! read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Steak with chimichurri hash and fried eggs and toast. - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Stopped in to the white dog cafe here for a quick late lunch. The space is nicely decorated and has various rooms on multiple floors, and outdoor sections. The downstairs area seemed cozy with portraits of dogs. We ordered the chopped salmon salad and double cheddar burger. Both had fresh, good ingredients. Burger was cooked at temp, but just seemed lacking. Definitely a pricier though not memorable meal to me. Staff also forgot about us though as we were never checked on until we were done so maybe an off day all around. read more

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The white dog cafe on Samson St is spacious. There are several rooms throughout with different decor. I don't know what brand of coffee they use but I loved the coffee. I ordered the FARMERS PLATE (Cage-Free Eggs Any Style, Green Meadow Farm Smoked Bacon, Multigrain Toast, Home Fries). I am not a fan of eggs but these eggs were cooked and seasoned exactly how I can tolerate eating them. I had to let the waiter know just how good the eggs were! This location is great to celebrate a birthday! There is also outside seating. read more

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I came here after a long day of exploring University City. We were able to find seating outside at one of the tables. Everything here is dog themed. They have dog pictures on the floor, in the bathroom, everywhere. Even the drinks were dog themed specials. The waitress came by and explained their happy hour menu. All their food is made farm to table so the quality is superb. To drink I ordered the Pawjito which is rum, elderflower liqueur, kiwi, lime, and ginger ale. It was not too sweet and had a good amount of liquor. To eat I ordered the White Dog Double Cheddar Burger which was recommended by the waitress. It came with green meadow farm smoked bacon mayo, bibb lettuce, tomatoes, grilled red onion, on brioche. For a happy hour special it was a large burger. Unfortunately it did not come with fries so I ordered parmesan fries on the side. The food was great. You can taste the fresh and local ingredients with every item. I can see why this is a popular spot with locals and university students. The food here is very good. I plan to come back here for another happy hour sometime soon to try their other options. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Very chaotic Mother's Day. One of the entree's ordered was prepared incorrectly. As our server did not return, I did not send it back but alerted another server of the issue. When our waitress returned, she apologized and told me they notified the manager who provided the feedback to the chef. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. I have been to the other locations numerous times and had much better experiences. The place has a great vibe and has potential but does not appear to be managed well. read more

My go-to place when hosting friends and family near campus! Every single dish is always great, and I appreciate their farm to fork approach with seasonable species. The dog decorations and themed rooms are a nice touch too! read more

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Lots of dog art. LOTS. It's a trip. If you have cynophobia this is not a place for you. Food is all farm to table and seasonal. Ordered the tuna melt and had some of the Spinach & Artichoke Croquettes. Kiwi lemonade was very sweet. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Spinach & Artichoke Croquettes - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Yelp, you've done it again. I was visiting Philly for my niece's birthday and wanted to locate a restaurant for brunch that has great ratings on Yelp, took brunch reservations, and could handle this party of 4. I located a few, but this one stood out. This restaurant is very easy to locate, and on a Sunday at 11am... plenty of inexpensive street parking. We were greeted by very pleasant hostesses as well as unique and attractive decor. This place is a puppy lovers paradise w the décor. I'm not going to share too much, you have to visit!! We were greeted by the lovely Adrian, who was sweet as pie. She was very professional, timely w table visits, and got our order right the 1st time!! Collectively, we ordered the following... Nashville Hot Chicken w Waffle: Big plate, well seasoned and spicy the way we like it. Puppy Power Beverage: Soooo refreshing!! Light yet impactful flavor. Farmers Plate: Plentiful, well plated, and very tasty. Well seasoned. A la Carte Bacon: At least 6 pieces, and crisped perfectly!! A la Carte Breakfast Potatoes: Sooo good!! I loved the herby seasoning. A la Carte French Toast: This item changed my husband's life!! He literally talked about it all evening, through the wedding, and the next day on our trip back home. It was amazingly light, and the flavor was chef's kiss !! A la Carte Egg Whites: Well prepared and tasty. A la Carte Turkey Bacon: Prepared very well, great portion size. I've been talking about this place since we left. I highly recommend this place for any and everyone !! Job exquisitely done White Dog Cafe. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Street view. - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Great location in University City. A renovated brownstone. Wish I had visited the wine cellar. A nice cocktail and beer menu with a variety of choices. The deviled eggs were very good. Nice crunch at the end. A tad bit salty. I had the seafood bucatini ; which was delicious. Others had the farm beef meatloaf which was also delicious. The service was great. We were in and out in just over an hour. Our waitress Micaela, was very attentive and made for an enjoyable evening. read more

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I visited for Happy Hour on a Thursday, and the bar was packed with enthusiastic customers and lively conversations. The restaurant was very cozy, and it makes for a great post-work stop for food and drink. My food was good, however I felt some dishes had potential for improvement. The fries were seasoned well but tasted like it was sitting out for just a minute too long since it wasn't as hot as expected. I asked my burger to be cooked medium and it came out closer to medium rare. The deviled eggs and salad were both delicious, which made for a good closer to the meal. Happy hour dishes were easy to split with my date and still overall a great bite despite some minor quality hiccups. The service was excellent, and we received our food quickly and were checked in on frequently despite a fully packed bar when we arrived. I felt the prices were excellent for the different dishes we ordered, and overall was a good location and spot near Penn's campus for a post-work meal. read more

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Served my burger raw twice. Disappointing since I was looking forward to this restaurant.

My first & last time @ White Dog. The "decoration" was funky & fun to look at! I ordered the spinach salad with chicken. The salad itself was good BUT the chicken so tough I had to ask for a steak knife. My diet coke was flat. The cocktail was so watery , not much liquor in it. It was pretty busy so they won't miss my not returning. WAY OVER RATED. read more

My oncology consult at Penn Vet went longer than I had anticipated. While my dog was having a minor procedure, I decided to walk over for some lunch. I ordered curry chicken salad on croissant with a side of mushroom soup. Positively delectable. Perfect service from the bartender Edward. I had a delicious glass of Sauvignon Blanc to calm my nerves. The interior is quirky and comfy. Everything looked clean and in order. When I sat down I looked to the right and the dog painting was the spitting image of my dog. I am taking that as a positive sign. read more

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Had a great group dinner (for work) at White Dog recently. They have a private room available that fits ~12-15 people around a table with doors to keep out the noise of the restaurant. Appetizer spread of whipped ricotta w/ toast, Cesar salad, crispy cauliflower and truffle fries. The Ricotta is one of my favorites - I would highly recommend! For my entree I got a sesame crusted tuna dish which exceeded expectations! The servers were very attentive and made sure everyone had food and wine glasses filled. I would definitely recommend White Dog for a group dinner event. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Sesame Seared Yellowfin Tuna - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We celebrated my sister-in-law's birthday on a beautiful day outside. We ordered mushroom soup, onion soup, double cheeseburger, trout, New York strip steak, and flounder piccata, all of which were delicious. Our waiter was great, checking on us frequently to see if we needed anything. To finish off our wonderful meal, we enjoyed carrot cake pudding with nuts and ice cream, which was also very good. The restaurant was clean, and the staff was warm and friendly. We will return to try other items on the menu. read more

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Visited the White Dog Cafe in University City. They have an interesting private room at this place. The place had an interestingly large picture of a dog. There was also these metal flower statues that were attached to the wall. The ceiling was full of many chandeliers. The waitress was very quick and friendly. I had some coffee which was delicious. I had the hummus as an appetizer. I really liked how the bread was so warm and they gave a ton of vegetables with the dish. The vegetables consisted of different colored carrots, radish, and celery. The hummus was topped with red peppers and green chutney. The Thai salad is a must get! The dish was super spicy. It had shiitake mushrooms, udon noodles, tenderloins, and a ton of vegetable. Lastly, the dessert was ok. It was 3 small dessert cakes. The only noteworthy one was the jelly filled cake. read more

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Perfect place for lunch. Great menu with so many options. Perfect portions if you're hungry. Loved the dog theme and portraits of different canines on the walls and pillows. Each dining room had its own theme and character. Service was good but a little slow with our party of 10. Will go back whenever in the area. read more

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Came here for lunch on a Tuesday. The food and service were decent. We didn't make reservations and the host added another chair to a 2-top for our party of 3 even though there were plenty of empty 4-top tables. I understand doing this if they're busy but they weren't. Another issue is that we were seated next to a water/server station and two servers next to us were discussing at length who wanted to serve our party, and it sounded like neither of them wanted to for whatever reason. Because of this, it took awhile to be acknowledged and get water. I found this to be unprofessional. The restrooms really need to be deep cleaned. Each of them reeked of stale urine. They're very small and cramped as well. The restrooms alone would prevent me from returning here. Hopefully the management team reads these reviews and addresses these issues. read more

Good food and a great vibe. Location next to UPenn is convenient. So good we went two nights in a row.

I really enjoyed eating at the White Dog Cafe! It's very well decorated, the exterior had lovely holiday greenery last month. Inside, lots of photos of dogs and vintage Penn memorabilia. We were a larger group so we ate in the basement. The fall grain bowl was delicious! But there wasn't any protein so I also ordered some fries. I think $9 for a side of fries (which was almost as much as my entree $16) was kind of excessive but that was my only complaint. The latte I ordered was delicious! Our server was incredibly kind. My only other suggestion is that music would be nice to hear in the background, but otherwise we enjoyed eating here! read more

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The Spicy Lamb Bolognese at White Dog Cafe was a standout--rich, gamey lamb with a kick of chili and perfectly al dente pappardelle. While the flavors impressed, the portion felt small for the price. Still, a creative twist on a classic that's worth trying. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Stopped by White Dog Cafe after a movie nearby. My girlfriend and I took a seat at the bar, where we were greeted warmly and given menus. The decor was appropriate, modern with paintings and pictures of dogs everywhere. We started off with cocktails. I ordered one of their bourbon drinks, which was very well balanced. For food, we decided to share the pierogies and fish & chips. The pierogies were covered with onions and bacon, with sour cream around the plate. Every bite was heavenly! I've never eaten pierogies that good anywhere. The fish was perfectly fried and delicious. But the star was probably the chips (french fries). They were sliced to look more like a thick potato chip. The were perfectly crisp and salted, and very addictive. As we munched on our fries we decided that this will be our go to spot for food after a movie in University City. Staff was very friendly and we ended up having cocktails until after closing time. White Dog Cafe really surprised me with with a five star experience. read more

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The desserts here are unbelievable. The cheesecake was flawless and the coffee was such a fitting match to it. Greatly recommend to those who love sweets read more

White Dog Cafe nails the farmhouse-chic vibe with its quirky dog-themed art and fireplace nooks. Their pumpkin ravioli (brown butter sage sauce, toasted pecans) is fall-on-a-plate perfection, though the grass-fed burger arrived overcooked. Service is warm but can drag during brunch rushes. Don't Miss: The local apple cider mimosa--seasonal and crisp. Verdict: A go-to for cozy dates or group dinners, but check your meat temps. read more

Let me start by saying, Eddie , Eddie , Eddie Great service. Excellent. My husband and I stop by this establishment after exploring university city. We fell upon this place and we couldn't have been treated better or had better cocktails. Such a gorgeous restaurant. I'd say elevated casual. Family , singles , open to all. We sat at the bar but I took a look around. I'd come back off of service and cocktails alone but I'm excited to come back and try their food and desserts. read more

Really enjoyed our meal here. The salmon was cooked perfectly, and the desserts were amazing. However, we had to wait quite a while for our table, even with a reservation. Once seated, service was good. Four stars for fantastic food, but the logistics could be smoother. Worth a visit if you're not in a rush. read more

I am not complaining about the ambience or the food but the bathrooms have filthy, wet floors with stink of urine. I got stomach virus a few days after eating there not sure whether it was related or not but I ordered the mezze platter and if the servers don't properly wash their hands, it might have been the culprit. Hopefully this will encourage this restaurant to keep their cleanliness and hygiene standard up read more

Went here for an early brunch while I was visiting PA in October and I fell in love with the cute dog-themed decor. This restaurant is super unassuming and is truly gigantic on the inside. There are two floors to this restaurant! There are multiple rooms that can be reserved for events or large gatherings, and every single room has dog-themed decorations and photos. Every room is unique in its own way. If I had the time (and it didn't feel weird) I'd love to just walk around the entire restaurant and look at all the cool dog decor! It honestly could be a mini-exhibit on its own. We got seated pretty quickly and our waitress was okay. She took our order very quickly, but took a while for us to grab her to pay the check at the end. Onto the food and drinks: I got the pork belly eggs benedict and my friend got the Lancaster County Omelet. Unfortunately, for how awesome the decor was, the food wasn't as great. Our food came out really quickly (almost a little too quickly even) and was lukewarm. I loved the taste of the pork belly and the pickled onions that came with the eggs benedict, but I just wish it was hot and the pork belly was crispier. My friend said her Omelet didn't have enough goat cheese or spinach and it was also lukewarm at best. This was honestly so disappointing because the flavor was there and I had seen rave reviews about the food. I'm not sure if it's because this location is in University City, but the food felt a little bit overpriced as well. We ate nearby here a few times and White Dog Cafe was easily one of the priciest meals I had during my visit. We both got an Aperol Spritz that was tasty and refreshing. A bit strong for an early brunch, but nonetheless the drinks were a decent price. I would get this drink again, but perhaps not as early haha. Overall, I'd come back here to give them a second try, but White Dog wouldn't be my first pick for brunch. The flavors were there, but they had missed the mark since the food was cold. read more

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We were in town for a funeral and staying in a Airbnb near the university. While looking on Yelp for a place to have breakfast, we found two locations and was glad we wound up here. It's a very beautiful and quaint place. Didn't have to wait long for table even though the entire neighborhood was crowded with people in town for Penn Relays. There are multiple floors in the restaurant and we were seated downstairs and it was a nice quiet area. The menu was varied, even some vegetarian options. I had the basic breakfast and my sister had the Chicken and French toast. We ordered a side of seasonal Apple Chicken sausage. They were some best sausages I ever had. The entire breakfast was fantastic. Will definitely come back here the next time I'm in town. BTW, I'm originally from Philly and never heard of this place. Wish I had known back then because I woukd have made it my favorite breakfast spot. read more

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Having brunch at White Dog Cafe in University City before leaving Philly. Double cheddar burger was so perfectly medium.., parm fries were not easy to just have one! I couldn't wait for the burger without an appetizer so I had to try their carmelized onion, homemade chips and spring vegetables. So so good! I am going to replicate this delicious onion dip one of these days! I opted for a table outdoors but the inside has so many rooms to dine! I will revisit White Dog Cafe and try somet more items on their menu soon! read more

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The food was good! But I be been there several times sometimes have excellent service but some times the service was just so so..... But as a dog person, always like take selfie there! read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Pork Belly Benedict - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The service was excellent and very fast. The seasonal menu was good. The food was prepared quickly, in decent quantities, and tasted great. My husband said his mushroom soup was delicious. I really liked the greens dressing that came with my chicken salad sandwich. We'll be back. read more