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Adsum Restaurant - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch American (New), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
700 S 5th StPhiladelphia, PA 19147
Neighborhood: Queen Village
(267) 888-7002
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
108 reviews for Adsum Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The duck fat fries were perfectly cooked as well." In 14 reviews -
"Grilled rock octopus, black pepper caramel." In 6 reviews -
"The Foie Gras Poutine is amazing." In 7 reviews
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108 reviews in English
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Review from Antonio A.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 7/23/2011
SOME LIKE IT HOT.
96°
the lake is like soup.
in the jeep, down the mountain on 476.
right before the lehigh tunnel.
101°
pee stop and farmers market at allentown.
tomatoes, okra, onion, peaches.
back in the jeep.
104°
mid-county toll plaza.
jammed up for some reason. heat?
the toll taker was wet.
110°
schuylkill. slow. fast. slow.
unload the jeep on the hot asphalt.
89°
inside the house.
turn the air on.
6:30pm
off to the coolest place and the coolest restaurant and the coolest people in town.
adsum.
roasted baby beets with goat cheese, fried oysters, chorizo flatbread with grilled octopus. a bottle of pellegrino. two glasses of vermentino one glass of chardonnay.
ahh. adsum. it was hot, but we were cool.8 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/28/2011
down from the higher elevation wilderness to philly for a city meal.
where should we go? ah yes,… Read more »
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Review from Nicole L.
7/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Two words: FRIED CHICKEN. Unf. I break my no-eating-chicken rule for the Fried Chicken here, because it's battered in a crispy crust, served with a super-spicy side of collard greens, and a crumbly-sweet cornbread. Can we just scream delicious?
We've been here twice, once for dinner and again for brunch, and both times service was decently attentive, if a little flaky (we had to ask our server for coffee refills and a fresh pitcher of cream after the third drive-by). Grilled rock octopus and the pork tacos are amazing, and two thumbs up to the SUPER POUTINE, which my Canadian ex-pat heart proclaims as delicious as it is back home. I'll stop raving about the Fried Chicken for now, but my brunch friend had a stuffed mascarpone-and-strawberry french toast served with black pepper maple which was out of this world.
Best time to come here for brunch is during a Phillies game, like we did - the place is just about deserted, which significantly drops the noise level tenfold.Listed in: Bruncheries
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Review from Karen F.
6/15/2011
It is tempting for me to give a scathing review and few stars to Adsum, but I will preface this review by saying that I ate at Adsum as part of a large group event with a set meal (you can't please everybody).
That said, even with the limited (and Kosher-style) menu choices, Adsum really needs to ADD SOME (Some food, maybe?) to their restaurant.
I will also qualify my review by saying that the chef is very talented and was so gracious in speaking with our group. (Why did you give a bunch of pork, clam and sausage (Lamb Merguez) based recipes to a JEWISH group??? Weird.) He really knows his stuff, though. The service was also good (save for our new - 3 weeks only - server - who made a few bumbles along the way.)
We started with a choice of soup or salad. I chose the 100% butter (or is it Bibb?) lettuce salad (absolutely no crunch, kinda limp feeling) with delicious asian pears and honey/cayenne candied nuts. Crumbled of Maytag Bleu cheese on top and a delicious dressing (Sweet) with black sesame seeds. (This is where our server said they were peppercorns. Sorry, not true.)
The salad - while good in concept was really boring and unsatisfying to eat. Salade Ennuis.
Now I am hungry.
The entree was sized like a large app. 3 ricotta filled "gnuddi" (Think Gnocchi crossed with ravioli) were delicious sitting atop a zesty lemony-cream. But the 6 small bites (about 2 per gnocchi) were not enough. There was also (5 star!) one - just one - fried green tomato presented with an olive oil powder on top. I got tons of the powder, while my friend next to me had a light dusting. I think because my tomato had so much powder I could detect a slight "chemical aftertaste" from it. (The "top note - was great - a dry, green olive oil.)
I would have bet money that somehow liquid nitrogen was involved. I'd have lost money. They make the Olive oil powder by centrifuging the Olive oil with a malto-dexttin aggregate or something. Maybe that accounts for the chemical aftertaste?
I am getting over the whole "molecular gastronomy" fad very quickly.
I am also not a big lover of sous-vide (so much of it is done poorly), but that is the subject for another review.
The other entree choice was a single (JUST ONE) deep-fried cod fritter. Not my bag, baby.
Delicious gnuddi - just not enough food.
Now I am STARVING...
So dessert comes, and it is GINORMOUS. (Nice salad, tiny entree, huge hunk of chocolate cake) and so dense and cold and rich you can barely eat it with a spoon. My friend wanted a knife - as did I.)
So I ate 2 bites of the chocolate cake, and felt my blood sugar spike almost instantly.
Not fun. I boxed up the rest for my 6 year old to enjoy later.
For $46 per person?? I guess that's fair - if you had eaten an actual entree. (Salad, app, huge dessert.)
I literally had to eat a bowl of strawberries at 11:30 PM when I got home. I hate eating late at night but I was absolutely famished.
I am very, very disappointed with Adsum.
That said - the regular menu (Foie gras poutine? The SUPER Poutine is like a platter of pure fat in many forms.) doesn't really do it for me either.
Sorry Adsum.
FAIL. The 3 stars is so you won't hate me. I am so tempted to give only 2.Listed in: Flam - Over-hyped.
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Review from Bill M.
5/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
When occasions such as Mothers Day Brunch come along you have find a winning location. Fortunately Marecello's and Michelle's reviews, and Felecia being the Duchess of quick tips, plugged Adsum as being one. And in the end it delivered a beyond satisfactory experience!
A 4 for now because I really need to sample a grilled octopus and FOIE GRAS POUTINE filled dinner while getting a more extensive sample of what the bar has to offer. But when it comes to a solid brunch that features fresh seasonal offerings, Adsum really gets the job done! A gold star also goes to their extensive Bloody Bar which features three variaties (regular, spanish verde, and wasabi), and even lets you add some HUGE shrimp along with your olive!
the fritters with strawberry jam made for a pleasant first course. And the fried oyster omelette with scrapple, cheese, American cheese, and spinich salad was sheer perfection. the tres leches cake I had for dessert left something to be desired; but the foie gras cream cheese that it came with was -I better not get caught licking this off my plate- fantastic.
From the seasonal menus, to interesting sounding events; and even the prospect of upcoming classes; Adsum is a spot that leaves you with plenty of reason to come back for more!Listed in: South Philly, Top Restaurants
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Review from Craig N.
Philadelphia, PA
6/19/2011 3 photos
Went to Adsum lsat week for my second time and I gotta say that I really dig this place. We sat outside, it was a perfect 75 degree Sunday. They had a sign up that said "half off select appetizers", though not the reason we went, it did get me excited. We were sat, then told by the waiter, "oh, that's only for @ the bar". Fair enough, but the sign should say that, we thought that was pretty lame.
WE had the fried oysters to start, good portion and cooked to perfection. I had the pork belly entree w/ bananas, vanilla + lobster salad. This thing flat out gave me an erection it was so good. My wife had the risotto ball appetizer w/ tomato sauce that was ridiculously good and only $6.
The server was prompt, attentive, and kept my beers coming. I'll see you again for a 3rd time in the future, Adsum. -
Review from Marcello D.
Haddonfield, NJ
No other chef in the city of Philadelphia has made himself seem as accessible as Matthew Levin. The unassuming air about him, his proclivity for speaking his mind on Twitter, his body covered in tattoos; he's "one of us".
Despite his time at the helm of some prestigious ships, he does not come off as pretentious or unapproachable. Rather, he is there to comfort you and give you what you want, if what you want is to be indulged.
The music blaring over the speakers is lifted straight from my iPod. The menu is tailored those who remain unconcerned about the nearing swimsuit season. The fried chicken portion is on scale with the size an average meteorite, the burger is brontosauran. An item on the dessert menu features bacon.
It's easy to buy into Levin's street level marketing. Long before I stepped foot in Adsum, I knew I'd be ordering the Tastykake Sliders. Was I sure what they were? Not really but that wasn't going to stop me. I would eat them, like them, and, as I forked over money for them, I would feel like I was personally doing my part to save the struggling Philadelphia institution, Tastykake.
So, when I finally did walk through the front door of Adsum, my mind translated his accessibility into some sort of personal relationship. When Levin appeared at the bar, carrying plates of food in his hands, I half expected him to come over to our table and personally serve us.
"Marcello, we've been expecting you," he'd say. "I know how much you love gnocchi and chicken cutlets and have gone to great lengths to prepare them for you, just like your Nonna used to make."
He'd raise his hand, snap his fingers, and the staff would scurry behind him to begin assembling my meal. Being a reasonable person, I would understand if he did not have the time to stand above me and shave Parm Reg onto my pasta. After all, he's a busy man.
Naturally, my unrealistic expectations went unmet. However, we did get a sincere apology from our server who, due to a miscommunication, was unaware that we were seated fifteen minutes prior to being greeted by her. Any remaining tensions were resolved by a complimentary round of drinks.
From that point forward, we had a very solid and consistent meal that far exceeded the expectations set by some fellow Yelpers whose opinions I hold in high esteem.
After dinner, my wife and I discussed the new restaurants we tried in the last year and came to the conclusion that, from start to finish, this was one of the better meals we have had. Nothing was subpar or went untouched, including all sauces and sides. Each bite or sip was equally enjoyable.
Adsum has neither the highest highs nor the lowest lows of the Philadelphia dining scene but, assuming our meals were the norm, that's a fair trade-off for an unwavering dining experience.Listed in: Obligatory ROTD list
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Review from Nikole R.
Philadelphia, PA
6/16/2011
Adsum is awesome!
I went to Adsum for the first time this weekend and was very pleased. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive. The food was excellent! Just what I wanted on a cold winter night- warm honest comfort food! To start, I had a fun cocktail called the Poppy Doble. It was so delicious and girly ( the poppy seeds gave it a cute, unique touch). The pickled mushrooms were my favorite, served with a bacon mayonaise (to die for!) The super poutine was exquisite ( a fat girl's dream). The burger was da bomb! Oh and that warm bread pudding was killer!!! -
Review from Omar F.
Philadelphia, PA
4/30/2011
French Canadians should ban Adsum from labeling items on their menu as Poutine.
There is no doubt that both of them use potato as one of their main ingredientbut their relation is as close as corn chips are to Goodyear 's BioTRED tires made directly from cornstarch.
The perogies were slightly rubber like and even their mac & cheese was undercooked. The grilled romaine salad was the only thing that we ate. -
Review from Mike S.
Philadelphia, PA
5/17/2011
Saturday, no reservations at 6pm, some at 530. Fine, that'll work. Get there around 515 and its empty. We decide to saddle up to the bar for a drink before sitting down.
Hostess comes up to us at 530 and "suggests" we sit down. At 6pm, I see why. It was mobbed. Wow.
Waitress seems out of practice. She rattles off the day's special appetizers, but barely mentions the fish main course. Thank god bartender did a better job earlier. Order a bottle of white wine, and appetizers are caesar salad and fried oysters. Both are very well done. Salad had a bit too much dressing on it.
Main course was perogies and the fish special. Fish was whole, bone in. Waitress offered her services, but admitted she was not a pro at it. No problem, I've struggled through this myself. Perogies are delicious, as I was told by my wife. Fish is good. Plenty of meat and bones to work through.
Overall, a good experience. Pricing was a bit high, but the food was good enough to justify it. -
Review from Michelle C.
Philadelphia, PA
2/4/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I blame my self-loathing this morning on last night's adventure to Adsum, where, despite having just housed a burrito, I was still tempted enough to try the poutine. I ordered it without the foie gras, and still found it to be delicious. The fries were perfectly crispy and salty, the gravy was spot on, and the cheese curds were just starting to melt. Delish.
I washed it down with a Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, followed by an old fashioned, which was made to perfection.
The tunes that played in the background could have been from my own Pandora station, so I was definitely happy there. Beakers and test tubes behind the bar made my inner science geek absolutely giddy. I'd like to venture back sometime soon, when I have a legitimate hunger going. Then I'll really do some damage.Listed in: Cocktail Bars, The Graveyard, Old Fashioneds in Philly
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Review from Catherine L.
Philadelphia, PA
2/16/2011
Three words:
FOIE GRAS POUTINE.
that's all.
The dish is so delicious, so perfectly executed and reminiscent of my hometown - paring a traditional Québecois favorite with succulent foie gras, it almost makes me poetic. In fact,
"But soft! What delicious gravy through yonder cheese curds break?
It is the foie gras, and the poutine is the sun!
Arise, fair Adsum, and kill the envious duck fat fries,
who are already crispy and so delicious,
That thou their contents art as good as the whole."*
If you don't know from poutine, if you've never experienced poutine, I urge you, no, I will push you to Adsum and have you order the dish.
The fries, perfect in size, consistency and they hold up under the gravy that is perfectly seasoned. Good amount of crunch and the only thing I would ask to have more of (but this might just be a personal thing) is that they add just a little more of those cheese curds (that somehow I can't find anywhere around here, assume it's made in-house) No matter, poutine is the game here, and the poutine is what you must order. Simple as that.
The former Coquette digs are just as Bistro-ish as ever and cozy. Solid service, lovely menu selections, respectable wine list and wines by the glass at a reasonable price, although it could stand to have a couple lower price points on some of the red wine bottles, since all but one start at $40.
Have only had dinners here, so I can't speak to the lunch or brunch menu, so I'll have to definitely mosey on over and indulge, although it might be difficult to tear me away from ordering the poutine, over, and over again.
* Shakespeare is always good to use to expound on food, no?Listed in: So Long, Farewell, Auf…
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Review from Vinny P.
2/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Grilled Octopus.
Came here with a friend for dinner one evening. We had a reservation and walked into the very packed restaurant. I was here once when it opened but then I took a good break until this second visit.
As the review begins, we had the grilled octopus appetizer. I have to say that it was one of the most splendid things I've had. It was very tender and in a sauce that had good texture and complexity of flavor. I did think the price was a bit steep for the portion size.
My entree was good but I think I wanted it to be better. I had the fried chicken and while the chicken was cooked perfectly, it was the batter that I took issue with. It seemed cake-like in a way and I felt it was a bit too heavy. The collards along side of it were very tasty. My friend had the lamb shank and I didn't even get to try it because apparently it was so good he tore through it before I got the chance to get a piece.
Service was excellent. The wait staff was very pleasant and accommodating. I like this place and it's very unique. I shall return. -
Review from Marie D.
Berlin, NJ
I get it, Chef. You want me to be fat and happy. Why else would you offer the super poutine: duck fat-fried spuds dusted in cheddar cheese powder then sauced with duck and foie gravy and topped with cheese curd, bacon, fried egg and foie gras? There can be no other explanation.
I've heard a mix of emotions about this place and the heaviness of its dishes. I think that it's everyone's inner food voice giving them a guilt trip. Tell your inner food voice I said go suck on lettuce.
There is nothing to dislike here. Creative drinks that go down easily, service and atmosphere so friendly you'll feel at home, and food flavored on so many levels you'll want more. In a local food review I read an apt recount of a chef/patron saying the food was so good (poutine, specifically) that it makes you want to get drunk, so drunk you're ready for another round.
Agreed.Listed in: Utopia Street, Late Night, Do It Right, Drink Up
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Review from Lawrence C.
New York, NY
4/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I tried the Tasty Cake sliders. People will likely be pretty polar about the taste combo. I thought it was pretty good to have the saltiness of the cheese and meat mix with the sweet tasty cake. But i don't think i'd order it again.
great service and extremely diverse menu. -
Review from Vlad K.
Cherry Hill, NJ
3/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Why haven't we tried Adsum before is beyond me.
I remember walking by and seeing the logo but never really cared to walk in... but after reading a few reviewed from friends on Yelp and having an opportunity to go out while we got a night off from childcare, we decided to try it...
What can I say?
The menu was definitely designed for someone like me. I had a tough time trying to decide what I want and in the end, we ended up getting a bunch of appetizers, simply to try more different things..
Kumomoto oysters are always great and though personally I am against putting fish roe on top, I do agree that it is a cool idea and most people would like it...
Grilled romaine was pretty good, pork belly taco were great (though I made a mistake of eating them last so kind of spoiled it for myself), but the day belonged to the tastycake sliders - I honestly was not sure what to expect and was afraid I'd hate them... the first bite was kind of strange - it's a burger and a nice juicy one at that, yet my mouth is filled with sweetness.. but this strangeness was quickly replace by want of more and well, I wish they gave you 3 instead of two..
All in all a very good place and we definitely need to come back to try a few other things... -
Review from Chris U.
Elkins Park, PA
5/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm surprised by some of the recent reviews that suggested the service was off - we recently went with a six and nearly fell in love with our server: she quickly figured us out, helped with recommendations and kept us appropriately marinated.
This place is a classy neighborhood restaurant - the kind you'd bring home to mother. It is not pretentious, but more tongue-in-cheek; the dishes appeal to the foodie who craves variations from tried-and-true, but not to the extent that one embarks on a exploration on the level of Lewis-and-Clark (or worse, Donner-Reed).
Step 1: order any cocktail, preference for any daily special.
Step 2: order anything that incorporates duck fat, bacon or truffle oil.
Step 3: Enjoy! -
Review from johnny b.
Philadelphia, PA
3/31/2011
Ho hum adsum. the service, while attentive, balances on a pretentious top. bottled or iced water? mix in boundary issues- a waiter should never touch someones phone to pull a menu. politely ask for the menu.
then the long wait to stir up excitement-
our order, consisting of a medium rare burger and homemade pierogies took about half an hour to prepare. the burger, for $12 bucks was nothing special-a swelled bulbous hunk of beef covered in congealed cheese under over sweetened onions and a bun of sponge with lettuce and tomato. spicy mustard and ketchup provided for flavorless, unimpressive fries.
on a cold Thursday night, noticeably empty, we were seated by the windows. -
Review from Allie H.
Having sampled every cocktail on the menu I can enthusiastically praise their mixing prowess. These bartenders know what's up.
Sipping the Lady Grey (cognac, orange oils, vanilla, earl grey syrup, creme yvette and egg white) at their darkened and romantic bar will make you feel oh so classy.
Chef Matt Levin is a culinary madman and I love him for it.Listed in: YAY
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Review from Zachary H.
Philadelphia, PA
1/5/2011
Onions and I have always had a strained relationship. While I have hated them since I can remember, the rest of you, Onionites, managed to find a way to put them in everything. The only successful mediators in our dispute have been beer batter, deep fryers, and copious amounts of sriracha sauce. Until I got the perogies with onions at Adsum.
The perogies were perfect in every way: the shell perfectly fried, the potatoes perfectly mushy, and the onions perfectly ... I don't know what you onion eaters call it, we'll go with "prepared."
The octopus is also great, even if a little BBQ-y for my taste.
If you have room in your expenses for dessert (you'll probably have it in your stomach), don't pass it up. Don't even consider it. Sit back down. The apple pie dish and a made-from-scratch, Snickers-meets-bacon plate manages to outshine stellar entrees.
However, Adsum comes up 1 star short of its own perfection for the high cost and small portions. -
Review from Meg B.
Philadelphia, PA
6/30/2011
This place is so noisy that you can't taste the food.
Seriously, though, the food is good, though the menu is contrived. No reservations (except before 5:30 or after 10 or for parties of 6 or more), so at times the place was filled to capacity with people waiting. Service was leisurely, which was fine, but everything was overshadowed by the NOISE. -
Review from Kristin H.
Philadelphia, PA
1/31/2011
They only take reservations for parties more than 6, so we made a reservation and when we arrived our table wasn't ready - not a problem, we'll just get drinks at the bar, except for an 10 person bar, you'd think the bartender would be able to handle serving those 10 people. Not the case. We sat for an hour and a half waiting for our table and I had to fight to get the bartender's attention for my 2 drinks.
When we were finally seated, the waiter only took drink orders for one side of the table and then disappeared for 10 minutes. Our food came out at different times, and we had to do plate passing when we all recieved the wrong entrees. I'd say the bad service was due to lack of staff, but there seemed to be plenty of people hanging around outside the kitchen.
The high brow-junk food was wonderful, foie gras poutine was a heart attack waiting to happen - when was the last time you had fries cooked in duck fat? - but it was perfect. The pierogies were crispy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside (the bacon foam was a great addition), the grilled rock octopus was cooked perfectly, if a bit over-sauced.
It's just a shame that the bad taste in my mouth from the service couldn't be covered up by the food.
Oh and I hope whoever went home with my scarf enjoys it. -
Review from Jeff G.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 5/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
After going back to Adsum I can honestly say that they've hit their stride. I think the creativity of the food is remarkable but at the same time may be the reason some people struggle to find something to eat. You really have to be adventurous and open minded, but if you are, it is well worth the it.
The poutine went from being something I couldn't understand, to being something I CRAVE. It's crispy, savory and decadent.
The fried chicken dish is nearly perfect. The mac n cheese is wonderful. The fried oysters are excellent. The brunch is delicious, with the stand out being the house bellini, which is perfect.
All-in-all I think Adsum is a very unique restaurant with ambitious food. Usually they hit the mark and if they don't, it only takes them a short while to fix what didn't work. They are a welcome addition to the neighborhood.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/7/2010
I've been there twice, I think. Adsum is a borderline 4 star restaurant. It's got a ton of… Read more »
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Review from Gord M.
12/16/2010
* 3.5 stars
Adsum, only you could sway me away from shrimp and grits.
Sure, I was enticed by pork (again), so sue me. When someone utters the words "suckling pig", you stop what you're doing, you put on a bib and you get ready to chow down. Anything else is offensive. Please, think of the pig.
We stopped in here after already stuffing ourselves full of hot dogs and beer at the Flyers game (Go Flyers!), but knew we could find some room for anything tasty and we did just that at Adsum.
Fortunately, because we arrived early (around 5:00), we were able to get a seat, but within 30 minutes the house was packed. Doubly-fortunate, our servers brought their game with them as everyone was on top of everything, from the timing of the plates down to the drink suggestions and even as far as Sunday brew house recommendations for a visiting couple.
The Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA was a great recommendation to start and it conveniently paired well with the fried oysters appetizer. A little bitter to cut the deep-fried goodness and we were off to
the races.
My main, naturally, was the suckling pig special. Unfortunately, it was a little over cooked and not as flavourful as I was expecting. To be fair, I've had some really great suckling pig in Little Portugal in Toronto, so I'll go easy on this one.
We ordered the lamb shank as our second main and were a little disappointed with it as well. Again, despite asking for it med-rare, the lamb was overcooked, but the side sprouts and red pepper sarsaparilla made up for it a little.
And I finished with an Unholy Water: blanco tequila, smoked blackberry balsamic syrup, fresh lemon, house made ginger beer and mezcal. Hell yeah.
I'm going to chalk up the overcooked meat to a bad day in the kitchen since other reviews were very flattering and, frankly, I'd like to run a few items on the menu, so I'm not writing it off yet.Listed in: Philly in 48 Hours
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Review from Brian H.
Township of Lower Gwynedd, PA
6/26/2011
I kept putting this restaurant toward the top of my center city preference list after reading Craig La Ban's rave review last October, but somehow it ended up on the back burner, an "also ran" when it came to decision time. No more, this is a true gem, a treasure, a foodie delight.
Starting with specialty cocktails, a well informed wait staff, excellent beer and wine choices to follow cocktails and all the way through desert, one entry to the mouth was better than the next.
For starters, the server suggested the rock octopus appetizer, with caramelized pepper and molasses, each bite was tender and melted in your mouth. The hamachi app was so delicate, so tasty, so full of flavors.
For entrees, the pork belly w/lobster surrounded by a light vanilla cream was to die for. A special pounded pork chop Milanese, with arugula, was breaded lightly, fried but not greasy, and tender to cut, chew, and devour. The arugula was fresh, crisp, and served with shavings of cheese to add the perfect bitey bite.
For desert, the mint chocolate chip panacotta (a large chip of chocolate, fresh mint served in a mini crock over the creamiest panacotta I ever had), was sooo fresh, sooo light, sooo taste bud pleasing, just a perfect choice to finish off one of the finest meals I have had in the city.
No lie, this is one of my top 5 in the last 3 years. Ya gotta go there!! -
Review from Leah G.
Updated - 9/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm hovering between a 3 1/2 and a 4 . . . Maybe a 3.75. There's something I just don't love about the atmosphere at Adsum, it feels a bit confused to me. That said, the fried chicken and the fries with gravy, cheese curds and lardon made for quite the week night treat. The menu is small, and as I split my entree and appetizer, I cannot speak to the other items, but these two were quite delicious. The menu is also quite affordable. Every entree was under $20.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/17/2010
I was a little disappointed when I got there because I soooo wanted to try the foie gras burger that… Read more »
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Review from Patty G.
Philadelphia, PA
12/1/2010
I had a good feeling about our server as soon as she suggested a bottle of wine that was not the most expensive one on the list. I told her I liked Sauvignon Blanc, and she suggested a Torrontes from Argentina, which I never had before. It was delicious and refreshing. But we were not there for the wine, so allow me to move on...
We ordered two appetizers: fried oysters with pickle juice remoulade and grilled octopus with black pepper caramel. The oysters were very fresh, juicy and plump, with a breading that was light and crispy and not thick and heavy, which can easily happen with fried oysters. The remoulade was delicious - with a little pickle-y twang that accentuated the briney oysters without overpowering them. The octopus was grilled to perfection, with a sticky-sweet (almost like hoisin) sauce that clung to the tentacles. At first I thought the sauce was a little to strong for the octopus, but just as that thought came into my head, the octopus' flavor shone through. It was like a magic trick, with a spicy black pepper finish.
Joey got the diver scallops, which were perfectly seared and medium rare. They came with a butternut squash puree, and a jalapeno and tonka (a Japanese bean that I had never heard of before) relish on top. I felt that each element was delicious in its own right, but IMHO, they didn't really go together. The relish was only on two of the four scallops, which I thought a little odd. It made me wonder if maybe the kitchen didn't prep enough, as the scallops were very popular with the other diners. Nonetheless, it was a pretty tasty dish.
I ordered the braised lamb shank with sarsaparilla, roasted peppers and Brussels sprouts. I knew I was in for a treat when I touched the bone with my fork and it fell right out. (Shortly after I tucked into the lamb, my steak knife fell on the floor. I am convinced it sensed its obsolescence and jumped...) The lamb was delicious, and sat atop the perfectly steamed, halved sprouts that had absorbed the lightly sweet sarsaparilla demi-glace. The sauce itself was so rich with natural gelatin, it was almost slippery. The tender roasted red peppers added just the right bright note to balance all that rich meaty goodness.
I purposely did not finish my dinner so we could order dessert. (I honestly do not understand how people can routinely eat an appetizer, entree and dessert in one sitting. I was practically bursting already!) We chose the apple fritters, and we chose well. The kitchen delivered four piping hot dumplings, each about an inch in diameter. They were golden brown, heady with nutmeg, and sparkling with cinnamon sugar. I cut into one with my fork, and was surprised by an oozing center of apple butter! Dipped into its cream cheese glaze, these were far and away the best apple fritters I have ever tasted. They were gone in minutes, despite our full bellies!
The ambiance was a little stark, but the food shone. The waitstaff was knowledgeable, if not a little too eager. The portions ample and the prices were fair. I highly suggest you run, don't walk to Adsum on 5th and Bainbridge. You'll be glad you did! -
Review from Caroline C.
Philadelphia, PA
1/25/2011
I've only been once and for brunch, but man was it satisfying. The two bloody marys I had were wonderfully spiked with liberal amounts of horseradish.
We split the apple fritters. I'm not a huge fan of sweets, but these were dense and cinnamon-sugar laden. They're basically like gourmet Dunkin Donut munchkins.
My long-time, and unsatiated, desire for fried chicken was finally quenched by their large plate of just that. Huge piece of breast meat and a generous thigh (I think) as well.
No complaints. Definitely would go back for dinner and splurge for their burger with foie gras. -
Review from Chrissy R.
Philadelphia, PA
11/8/2010
So I made a reservation on open table. Sorry I didn't make it before the restaurant opened but if you use open table you're supposed to keep up with it all night, short-asian-hostess-girl. This is how you avoid the situation that happened on Friday
We waited 20 minutes for a table after our reservation. The worst part was...we had a table cleared for us and some random yuppies from the bar decided that table was for them and sat there. The hostess did NOT move them. I guess their money was greener than ours so they can break the rules while we wait.
After we eventually got a table service was quick. Our appetizers came out very quickly (I love the Poutine) and but the entrees took a little time.
I'm not pretentious enough to review the food any more than it was very tasty and decadent -
Review from Eva H.
5/1/2011
I've been wanting to go here for dinner (foie poutine, anyone?) for ages, but never got around to it. So, I figured we'd give it a trial run for brunch. It was pretty much empty during prime time on a Saturday, which was a plus. However, the overall meal...
Snooze.
So, we made an obligatory visit to the bloody mary bar and loaded up. I loved that they had 3 different mixes (traditional, salsa verde, and Asian on the day we visited) and the vodka pours were fairly generous. Plenty of things to add in--from cocktail onions to olives to shrimp. Great idea. I wish, however, that I'd known that these puppies were $10/pop. Outrageously overpriced. Also: the (can/bottle only--boo!) beer list is a bit over the top price-wise, and not that extensive.
We ordered the poached egg/hash/hollandaise concoction, a side of bacon, and the lauded burger. The poached egg dish was...fine. The shallots were too caramelized for my taste (read: sweet), but that's perhaps a personal preference. The hollandaise was good, but just didn't bring the flavors together. And (biggest bummer) the eggs weren't cooked properly. One was under cooked, the other hard as a rock. Boo. The bacon was fantastic, but for $5 I expect more than 4 pieces. Really, people? I. Need. PIG! As for the burger...well, it wasn't very good. Tons of gristle, too big to eat gracefully, and the duck fat fries didn't scream duck fat but mediocrity.
Service was attentive and helpful, and for that I give them kudos.
All told, though, an expensive meal that--though filling our bellies--didn't make me eager to return. -
Review from Robert B.
Abington, PA
Updated - 3/17/2011
I do want to write an update. The general manager did offer a free dessert for the evening based on the scallops course. And she appears to want to make certain all customers are satisfied.
I am impressed with this attention to customer service.
If I went back there are menu items I would want to try I did not. I would go with my instints as to what would be good to eat. I did not stick with them enough.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/14/2011
I was really looking forward to this restaurant and heard some good things about it. The place has a… Read more »
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Review from Lauren H.
3/9/2011
Boyfriend and I came for drinks and snacks last week and sat at the bar. I had decided that the bartender was surly, right up until she accidentally made me the wrong drink. Instead of giving me the death stare for pointing it out, she happily made me a new one and told me to keep the old one, because "throwing it away would be alcohol abuse." +1, Adsum.
We only tried one of their signature cocktails, something red with elderflower that isn't on their online menu. Wish I could remember what it was, because it was delicious. The cheddar biscuit with apple butter was a little dissappointing, but we saw two folks order the poutine and were tres jealous. I wanted to walk over and grab a fry, but that would have been rude.
Adsum will definitely get a return trip. Dinner next time, and with any luck I'll be pursuaded that Adsum deserves a fourth star. -
Review from Ravi A.
Philadelphia, PA
9/12/2011
we love adsum - its our go-to friendly neighborhood bar and restaurant.
We tried out their new neighborhood friendly menu -- definitely a much lower price point than the previous menu. And much more value.
Also, it's pretty kid friendly.
Definitely recommend it. -
Review from James B.
Philadelphia, PA
8/31/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Before I even went in I got a bad feeling about this place and I should trust my instincts, even if my own notions are what makes the experiences less than stellar.
As soon as I walked in I got the up-and-down glance from the bitchy hostess, and I felt like an outsider. I was seated and fortunately my waitress was really great. But you get the overall sense that everyone who works there feels a huge sense of self-importance.
And the place ain't that great.
I had a bib lettuce and pear salad which was honestly out of this world, and honestly about $5 too pricey. I ordered their burger which, I'm gonna be f'real with you, I have no recollection of what the toppings were. Tomato, some bacon I think...it was so mediocre. The oniony-whatsit that they put on the bottom totally turned the bottom bun into mush. And the worst offense was, I ordered well done - I ALWAYS order well done - and I got medium well at best. Considering how long it took to prepare...you'd think I would have gotten a lump of charcoal!
Those dishes with the Pellegrino came out to $30. I spent that much the other night at the FAR SUPERIOR "The Latest Dish" - see my review here on Yelp - and my experience was so much better it's almost laughable.
So, if you're a snobby well-to-do who wants some pretentious food to eat on tiny chairs in a closet, Adsum is for you!!!
*EDIT* - After I posted this I got a private message from someone who CLAIMED to work at Adsum (though I cannot confirm this to be true.) Here's a snippet of his message: "The fact that you're a looser(sic) who goes out to eat alone because you don't have any friends..." and it goes on from there. Later, however, I received a personal message from the owner of Adsum apologizing for my experience and asking for me to assist him in determining who it might have been that messaged me, so that proper action can be taken. For that I am grateful, and if nothing else it shows that management intends to make right anything that goes wrong.
*YET ANOTHER EDIT* - I continue to get some of the VILEST personal messages from other yelpers refuting my opinion and doing nothing short of attacking me for this review! I've been told I look like a homeless person, that I have no class and have the 'taste buds of a five year old', among other beautiful pearls of wisdom from big fans of Adsum. This just further displays the kind of attitude and personality of the type of people who enjoy eating here. If you are SO upset by a bad review of your favourite eatery that you have to send an aggressive, personally slanted message to the author...you might want to examine your priorities. -
Review from Walter K.
3/21/2011 3 photos
I made my way here with my good friend Quinn on a Sunday for a quick bite to eat. I heard Adsum has a great burger. So at 5:30 we walk in and are seated at the bar. Sunday happy hour, not bad: $2 cans of Yella Pils and Phoenix pale ale.
The atmosphere here is kind of cool, it's trying to be an old time pharmacy. There are beakers and test tubes, and book shelves behind the bar filled with all kind of gadgets and books. Even though we were there pretty early in the evening and it wasn't busy, the service was surprisingly slack. We were the only people eating dinner and it took about 30 minutes to get our orders.
The burger is served with cheddar, which is not my favorite cheese for a burger. It's congealed before you can finish. The caramelized onions, however, were an excellent topping. But the size of the burger was the most problematic. It more of a ball shape than a patty. It's nearly impossible to fit into your mouth. To boot, my burger wasn't near the medium rare that I ordered. The duck fat fries, which were served on the side, were good and crispy, but had no flavor indication that they were cooked in any special way.
Bottom Line: This place is decent and unique. The service needs a little work, and if I'm back, I won't have the cheeseburger. I'm not going out of my way to visit Adsum again. -
Review from Kimberly F.
Philadelphia, PA
11/11/2010
I can't say that I've ever had a bad time here. (I see that some of previous reviewers have, but they seem like the type to make a complaint after they leave a venue rather than speaking up to get the matter rectified immediately... People in the service industry hate you.)
First time, a few co-workers and I had gone, we sat & drank various specialty cocktails (some people I know may have been scared by the ingredients used, but I'll try anything) & just fell in love with the fried green tomatoes with goat cheese. They even sent us another round (you guys are uber sweet for doing that!) I left with a mellow buzz & higher affinity for tomatoes.
The second time, I just went with a friend for a quick late night nosh and ended up splitting a few things at the bar with Jo (she's fargin' AWESOME! The word 'Cocktalian' came up... really!)
We had the mushroom pickles (very tasty), the tuna carpaccio (lé nom), and the Rock Octopus (super noms!) A couple asked us about the Crème Brûlée. We let them know that it wasn't anything outrageous but if we could select anything else, we'd go for the Bacon & Chocolate "snickers" with Hot Chocolate. Luckily, they went for it and even gave us a sample (even the patrons are nicer on slower nights.) If anyone at Adsum remembers who they are, please let me know. I miss kind people in this world.
It sucks that people are having such a bad time here because I'm enjoying it so so much. Maybe you guys should avoid going to places on the weekends, like the rest of the masses. That way, you'll get more attentive service and more love in the preparation, instead of the 'turn & burn' service that's required on busy nights. Or don't, I enjoy the quieter week days.
(P.S. don't blame the employees if your table isn't ready, some guests just choose to hang out with no regard for others... hint hint!)
-k -
Review from Daniel M.
Philadelphia, PA
8/11/2010
Adsum, definition: I am present.
Adsum, intention: I am current.
Adsum, reality: I am confused.
I feel like lately in the Philly food scene that you can't hear 3 words without Adsum being one of them. Anticipation has been high for Matt Levin's first independent venture, after such an acclaimed culinary pedigree: CIA grad, stints at Aureole and Charlie Trotter's, and a rare 4 bell review from Craig LaBan for his revamp of Lacroix.
So it's natural that curiosity runs deep for how such a culinary talent will translate the subtitle, "refined neighborhood bistro." The menu is certainly intriguing with items like foie gras poutine, kool aid pickled watermelon and KFC sweetbreads, but this kind of scope leaves me thinking more "gastro" than "bistro." One wonders though if such outrageous concoctions will turn out to be culinary genius, or expertly prepared junk food. Both of which have a place (especially in this town), but I think Adsum is lost somewhere between.
Many star chefs have taken this route before, gathering accolades for haute cuisine on white table cloths, then moving on to gourmet burgers and fried chicken on bar tables instead. The trick is letting go. The food here seems to aim for the former, while hitting the latter.
Rock octopus in black pepper caramel was tender, but tasted like it was cooked in BBQ sauce. Tater tots with whisky, bacon and green goddess, tasted more like mashed potato tots with tartar sauce and were dubiously priced at 5 for $8. The pierogies I heard so much about did live up to their fame, and were one of the winning dishes of the evening. The subtle smokiness of the buttermilk they're served with got my senses revved before they even touched my tongue. Again though, 4 for $16? C'mon now... The fried chicken was another heralded dish (most recently by Mr. Rick Nichols) but the crust was under-seasoned and the meat more dry than moist. Once more, priced high at $18 for two pieces served with collards and a biscuit.
The cocktails suffered similar fate. For all the color expected in outlandish mixes of 8 different obscure or homemade ingredients, the drinks we tried fell monochromatic. The "Poppy Doble" (rum, maraschino, poppy seed, fresh lime, almond and fresh grapefruit) tasted more like a classic daiquiri without much of a show from the almond or the eponymous poppy seeds. The "View of a Vieux Carre" (rye, cognac, spiced red wine reduction, angostura and peychaud bitters) tasted more like a stiff red sangria with the red wine redux outplaying the rest of the band. All these served by a skinker whose business card reads "cocktailarian." Ahem.
For 3 of us our total check came to $200 (before tip) for 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, a dessert and assorted cocktails/beer/wine. I'm not cheap by any means, especially when it comes to food, but that total was unexpected, and in terms of our overall experience, unwarranted.
I have high hopes for Adsum. Great talent, great location, great ambition, but if you're gonna be a bistro, be a bistro. Have a small room, with parlor chairs, tile floor and cacophonous sound. Have a cute bar with wacky elixirs served in chem lab flasks by a talented bar staff. Have misquoted wait times by the hostess, a service staff whose green abilities are more deserving of a black apron than a shirt and tie. Serve food til 1 am at the corner of 5th and Bainbridge. Adsum, for better or worse, has all those pieces in place.
On the other hand, be a bistro: Have bread. Have a fair price point. Have a service staff that's more friendly and helpful, than one who's resting on the laurels of a success that's not yet earned.
Dear Adsum, if you don't let your "refined" get in the way of your "neighborhood," I do believe the success you're so ripe for will soon be yours. -
Review from Jackie B.
Philadelphia, PA
12/7/2010
Had higher hopes for this place, but all around was OKAY.
Went on Sunday for brunch. Upon first walking in, the hostess seemed stand-offish and didn't really talk much and acted surprised that we were there. There weren't man people in the place and the waiters were just standing around waiting for something to do.
Our waiter was friendly though, and asked if we had any questions, so I asked if there were any brunch specials. He said, "no what we have is on the menu". I was surprised by this, as I find that most , if not all, places I have gone to for brunch in the past 2 years have pretty sweet brunch specials on the weekends.
We ordered the apple fritters, which are fried dough with apple cinnamon coating accompanied by a sweet mascarpone cream dipping sauce. These were awesome, and a nice sweet starter to our brunch. Also had coffee, which was good, probably La Colombe, however the mugs they serve them in are very wide so the coffee doesn't stay hot for too long.
Our food came out quick - I ordered some dish with sausage gravy and biscuits with fried eggs. My girlfriend ordered poached eggs and hashbrowns with some other small fixings mixed in. Immediately upon receiving the plates I said to myself in my head, "Okay, this is totally cliche artsy square plates with barely any food on them but it's HIP." I was kind of hoping for a more hearty, heaping pile of food than what I asked for, but it was tasty nonetheless. I hadn't had biscuits and gravy in a long time, and I was pretty satisfied. The biscuits could have been a little softer, but altogether the food tasted well together. My girlfriend was pretty satisfied with her dish, but liked mine better.
It was decently priced, a bit expensive, but nothing outrageous. Overall, this place was OK. Nothing really wrong, but nothing stood out either. I saw the dinner menu, and it looked pretty tempting, so I might have to check them out again one night. -
Review from Christine B.
Philadelphia, PA
4/22/2011
Went here for dinner on a Thursday night. It was surprisingly not very crowded.
We decided to try the rock octopus for an appetizer. It was okay, but the portion was very small.
I ended up having the burger. I agree with other posters that its tough to eat because the shape of the burger is more round than flat. Otherwise I thought the meat was perfectly medium rare, and the toppings were really great. My fries were delicious. My friend got the fish and chips. He said the chips were amazing, but the fish was just one piece of cod. I think it was enough food, bit it looked really small compared to the burger. I tried his tartar sauce and thought that was great. I almost asked for some for my fries.
There are definitely other items on the menu I'd like to try in the future. -
Review from Jeffrey P.
Bucks, PA
3/5/2011
One can of beer away from being a perfect meal.
To the folks at adsum: don't serve any beer in a can, even if you pour it in a glass. You're much, much better than that.
Ok, that's out of the way...on to the food.
First course:
Homemade tater tots with whiskey & bacon, served over a whipped ranch sauce. So good. More of a latke consistency than a traditional frozen tot, luckily there were only 8 on the plate or it could have gotten out of hand. Clint Eastwood would be proud.
Biscuit with cheddar cheese and apple butter. All three things come together perfectly to make a perfect appetizer. I would have eaten an entire bowl of the apple butter if it were acceptable to do so. The biscuit was legit, as well.
Second course:
The adsum burger. I'm a pretty big burger snob, it takes quite a bit to impress me. Consider me impressed. This sucker was huge, perfectly cooked, and juicy. The cheese was perfectly chosen and complimented the burger the way it should have. The burger sat on an onion and pancetta fondue that was so tasty it could be served on its own as a soup. They also gave me a huge portion of crispy, salty duck fat fries. Good stuff.
Shrimp & Grits with dirty Andouille sausage. Wonderfully cooked grits (which are somehow surprisingly easy to screw up), spicy delicious sausage, and nicely prepared, tasty plump shrimp. Nothing to complain about here.
Dessert:
Chocolate chip & black cherry bread pudding with vanilla gelato. Actually couldn't finish it, the portion was so big. Still, the flavors were great. Nice to see that it wasn't overly sweet.
Bacon & Chocolate "Snickers" bar with Mexican hot chocolate. This is one nap-inducing dessert right here. So rich, you really should have help eating it. The caramel covered nuts on the side could easily have been their own dessert, they were that good.
Service was attentive and friendly, without ever rushing. The place is very small, and gets warm when it's crowded so dress accordingly. It's also a little on the noisy side, but they're busy...whaddaya gonna do?
Overall, I'll definitely be back. -
Review from pracheta t.
Pittsburgh, PA
2/14/2011
Came here brunch with friends and we had such a good time! I think my favorite part - aside from all the natural light and science equipment they used for decoration - was the bellini. I can't stop thinking about the amazing difference a small scoop of fig sorbet makes in a citrus bellini. It was refreshing and the perfect drink for a Sunday morning.
I ordered the extremely cheesy mac and cheese and couldn't have been more pleased. You can never go wrong with mac and cheese you know. The fi ordered the poached eggs which were so fluffy but I wasn't a fan of the potato hashbrown it was on. Too crunchy. Also, if you come here, be ready to spend some money. I found it to be pretty expensive.
