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Le Bec-Fin
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
1523 Walnut StPhiladelphia, PA 19102
Neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
(215) 567-1000
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
195 reviews for Le Bec-Fin
Review Highlights
"I can't wait to go back just for the dessert cart."
(in 55 reviews)
"Foie gras ravioli and filet mignon were exemplary."
(in 23 reviews)
"And for dessert one of the BEST classic creme brulee."
(in 24 reviews)
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194 reviews in English
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Review from Chau L.
Philadelphia, PA
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Restaurant week. Me. Le Bec Fin @ lunch = oh so, not so bad combo.
My eats: escargots in butter, poached salmon with celery root puree, and the creme brulee. The waitstaff was nice, attentive, and very professional. Our food came in a timely manner, and our bread plates were always not-empty of house baked bread (?) The escargots were as expected. My salmon was ordered medium rare, but came out over well done ( sad face); however, I really liked the celery root puree. And the creme brulee???? Drool. I would come back just for the creme brulee alone.
The food was decent to good. The service was good. These guys should count on seeing my face there again, especially if they keep it up w the creme brulee... -
Review from Austin C.
Philadelphia, PA
2/3/2012
Overall, this place is highly overrated.
I have to say the decor/environment was nicely furnished. Very classy, with high ceilings and gold-looking finishes.
But my major issues with this place were the use of space and food quality.
We (3 of us) were led upstairs to a small room, where it seemed like all the Asian people were placed. Seriously, I looked around and saw a room full of Asians, but when I looked down at the main room, i literally saw zero. So, first strike: these guys are racist (seriously).
Then, I couldn't help but notice how crowded this place was. Tables were crammed into this building left and right almost to the point that it felt like I was eating in a Costco. Strike 2.
Environment: 4/5
And finally, the food (semi strike 3)
Escargots (4/5): I've had snails before, though a long time ago. They were actually pretty good, but the taste was a bit strong. There were about 7-8 pieces soaking in a buttery sauce, which was eaten with a salted bun. The bread provided a great way to balance out the strong flavor of the snails. Overall, I felt the snails were cooked and seasoned well, but I wasn't a huge fan of the strong, pungent flavor (almost bitter).
Le Bec Fin Burger (3.5/5): Honestly, very surprised to see a burger on the menu, but I decided to go for it since the only other options were mushroom ravioli (hate mushroom) and fish (also dislike fish). Burger was quite thick, which was good, but was nothing super special. It was topped with some green leaves with what tasted like vinegar, which provided an interesting mix of flavors. But it certainly wasn't worth going to a place as highly rated as this to get such a mediocre burger. Fries were thin and quite good, however.
Gateau (3/5): Very disappointing. Tasted like something I could have gotten from Allegro's. Nothing special. Was paired with a scoop of ice cream, which was kind of a saving grace. -
Review from Matt C.
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Oh boy.....never meet your heroes.
Caveat, this is a restaurant week review so that might have skewed things a bit. I imagine that its a completely different experience when youre dropping $125 a meal instead of $35. With that said, on with the show....
I've been wanting to come here for a WHILE now. I wanted to experience the certain, what the French call, je nais se quoi of a big boy French restaurant. So, tonight, we threw on our Sunday best and the misses and I hopped in the car and went to see how the other half lives.
Some people have commented on the "Frenchness" of Le-Bec Fin, but after being greeted by our Asian hostess and sat by our non French caucasian...uh, "seater," and given bread and water by our two mexican servers, I got a decidedly united nations feel instead of a french one. No biggie, that doesn't affect the score in any way, shape or form, just an observation.
We were sat and got to the business of ordering: for appetizers it was the Cauliflower veloute and snails in garlic butter sauce. For entrees, salmon and seared diver scallops and for dessert, 2 creme brulees.
"Underwhelmed" doesn't do it justice. The world renowned snails were TINY and chewy. Although they were cooked perfectly, and they were HUGE, the diver scallops just didn't wow me in anyway. The cauliflower veloute and creme brulee were quite tasty however.
Again, I think the Restaurant Week thing completely changed the dynamic of this place. When you think of Le-Bec Fin, you think of snooty french garcons in tuxedos with pencil thin mustaches bringing out plates covered with silver platters and removing them with a flourish and a waft of steam. Not a tiny mexican woman giving you a hard sourdough roll while you wait for your chewy snails and bland salmon. The silverware didn't even match and I'm positive that my knife handle was PLASTIC! At a restaurant that charges $180 for a course option. Based on this performance, there is NO way I could recommend ponying up the big cash to go here during "regular" times, but I'm sure you would get at least a slightly upgraded experience.
Our meals and 2 glasses of wine came to $91 before tip. My wife said that she would have been happier at Applebees. Ouch. But, it WAS a pretty subpar dining experience. -
Review from Mark R.
Moorestown, NJ
2/6/2012
Whoever has rated Le Bec-Fin lower than five stars: Come on, man!
I ate there for the first time Friday evening and it was undoubtedly the best restaurant I've ever experienced.
The food was spectacular, every morsel. And the dining room! It has the ambience and elegance of the Titanic era, complete with ornate crystal chandeliers.
The service was impeccable.
I've been to many fine restaurants in my life, in Philadelphia and abroad. Le Bec-Fin is the finest restaurant I've ever been to. -
Review from Ian F.
Philadelphia, PA
1/29/2012
Approach this place like theater - seven different types of servers swarming the table, pretending that I'm not actually in a higher social class, when let's face it - we're all poor.
The food is good, but restrained, and very French.
Six years ago, I would have given five stars, but there are so many other excellent places to go in Philadelphia.
The creme brulee is outstanding, as is the coffee.
They should update their beer selection. -
Review from Shannon G.
Chalfont, PA
1/23/2012
Went here with the living social deal, a pretty good value. Essentially the four course plus intermezzo and wine pairings. Speaking of which, the wine was fantastic, maybe some of the best I've had in a while. Easily a highlight of the meal.
Service was prompt, though terse and impersonal. Pacing of the meal was a mess, I'm not sure what was going on. We had a wonderful white for our second course, but the food didn't arrive until 20 minutes after it was poured. What we had saved was room temperature by then. Another long wait before the fourth course. A server eventually picked up my empty wine glass to clear it before realizing we hadn't received anything yet. I don't think things were functioning normally.
The food itself had its highs and lows:
1. The famed Escargots were just ok.
1. Crab Cake, Whole Grain "Dijon" Mustard & Haricots-Verts: Not bad, but wife said she would take Morton's any day.
2. Scallops, Pecan Gomasio, Rutabaga, Sage-Licorice Emulsion, and Saba. Cooked perfectly, but surprisingly bland.
2. Arctic Char, Artichokes with White Miso, Pomelo, Curried Mustard Seed, and Vermouth Cream. This was pretty good, layered flavors and a nice citrus bite.
3. Intermezzo of mushroom cappuccino was good, I liked the flavor. It was a good consistency for drinking and the foam capped it off pretty well.
4. Breast of Organic Chicken, Cardamom Scented Swiss Chard, Bluefoot Chanterelles, and Natural Jus. Good presentation, incredibly soft, but I think chicken tends to have a lower ceiling. Homey taste with the jus, but it just doesn't wow you.
4. Truffle Crusted Lamb Loin, Butter Braised Root Vegetables, Braised Shank, and Thyme Jus. This was fantastic, head and shoulders above everything else. The lamb loin really made everything else come together, really good.
5. Dessert cart time - I don't think it's possible to go wrong here.
Worth a try if you live in the Philly area and are feeling fancy. -
Review from Maya Y.
Philadelphia, PA
1/29/2012
I came here for their lunch menu during restaurant week. I found the ambiance to be pleasant - the chandeliers were a bit much but the servers did take my and my friend's coats at the door and they do try to maximize the "Frenchness" of their venue. We ordered the following dishes:
Appetizer:
Cauliflower veloute (creamy soup)
Snails in garlic and butter sauce (with hazelnuts)
Main Course:
Salmon
Le Bec-Fin burger with pommes frites
Dessert:
Key lime tart
Creme brulee
I probably shouldn't have gone with the Le Bec-fin burger since you can get a burger practically anywhere, but I figured it might be more gourmet at a French restaurant, plus I was really hungry so I wanted something with more volume. The beef paddy wasn't as obscenely large as it would have been at an American grill and it came with nice lettuce leaves and caramelized onions. The bun was buttery and smooth.
I did not enjoy the snails. They tasted like mushrooms and would have been bland had they not been soaked in butter and garlic. And honestly, can anything taste poor when flavored with butter (pure fat)?
My friend's cauliflower soup had a creamy, smooth texture and tasted very good. Her salmon was basically sushi-grade salmon (filet) seasoned with salt. It was prepared well but it wasn't anything out of this world.
The desserts were also pretty standard considering that we were at a French establishment. The creme brulee was pretty generously sized. I didn't like the crust on the key lime tart - more crust than actual tart.
I think $20/head for a 3-course lunch at a premium French restaurant is a good deal, so I guess we got what we paid for. If you want something more impressive, I guess try this place during the regular, non-promotional time (not restaurant week, since they won't put their best items on the menu during this time).
Service: A
Taste: B -
Review from Kimberly F.
Philadelphia, PA
1/26/2012
HEY GP... I'll say it for you!
I'm reading over the reviews of the people who went for Restaurant Week and I cant believe they actually thought they'd get outstanding service & food for $20-$35. This is 10% of what is normally paid. It's hilarious that you think you deserve stellar treatment for the insane discount you're getting. I wouldn't waste much effort on your cheap arses either!
Of course everything came out quickly! Every restaurant is going to have those same 9-15 items pre-prepped. Why'd you think LBF would be any different?
I, do however, agree with one poster. I felt insulted being in the same room with crass broads in skinny jeans.
However, with the renaissance of pre-prohibition era cocktails & (as much as I loathe this word) mixology going down in Philly. Tryst's cocktails (and beer selections) are the epitome of LAME!!! Their beverage manager needs to step their cocktail game up PDQ! $13 for tequila (no brand mentioned,) honey syrup & fresh lime or a ordinary Gimlet is REDONKULOUS! For $13, I want some fanciful-herb infused booze, spritzed with some housemade seasonal fruit bitter from some foreign land delivered by virgins on unicorns!!! Check it, there are some good beers out of France & Belgium that don't rhyme with Schmronenbourg. ^_^
Food = Yummsters!
Drinks = Me no likey!
Service = THEY'VE GOT POWAH!!!
Atmosphere = I may have to go back when I hit retirement. Hello, old boys club. -
Review from Ettya F.
1/3/2012
You've got your Brooks Brothers tie and your Valentino jacket - the perfect combination of a bold stripe shirt and a "solid colored or discreetly patterned suit and tie." Your Prada shoes were recently polished by the dry cleaner down the street.. Your Burberry scarf is wrapped around your neck, and wound tightly around your arm is the most recent cover model for French Vogue.
Dorisia closed a few years ago, and you're no where near a Roubouchon restaurant. But you're not worried. Because tonight? Tonight you're going to Le Bec-Fin. You're taking your latest hard body to the (most unforgettable, last?) meal of her life.
Seven courses of the most delicate French-American cuisine is sure to please anyone and even the most slender of models will surely enjoy a crab cake composed entirely of MEAT (MEAT CRAB MEAT...no BONE...only MEAT). She's sure to swoon over the frothy mushroom cappuccino and the dreamily tender and passionately deep red center of expertly seasoned and delicately sliced wagu beef. (There's no pork loin with lime jello though...sorry.)
But there's cheese, drenched in wine - a French name (or was it Spanish? Italian?) that eludes you now...potent and delicate... indescribably clean. This is what you do your morning routine of 1000 stomach crunches for.
And the dessert? The sampler of 10 - or was it 20 - desserts is sure to woo the lady back to Paul Allen's apartment - not your own. Youv'e got to keep it clean...copacetic. Besides, Paul's in London, right? (Timothy Bryce would have willingly given up that artificial sweetener had he indulged in rich chocolate cake - the signature of the pastry chef, deeper and more luscious than any cacao consumed before.)
...even that snippity little goose Marcus Halberstram cannot compete with you. You are an entity unto yourself. The idea of you exists. Therefore you exist...and she - your model - exists...at least for as long as the 7 courses at Le Bec-Fin remain.Listed in: FYI: How to Make Some Fall in…, FtA: Egocentrism
-
Review from Brad P.
1/3/2012
Once upon a time, someone I knew told me they were going to Le Bec-Fin for dinner. Feeling like increasing the amount of evil I've inflicted upon the world, I convinced her that "le bec fin" was french for "the last bagel." The restaurant had that name because it used to be a French pastry shop that also made exceptional bagels in the 1940s. She believed me.
Although my head danced with hilarious images of her showing off her fabricated historical knowledge to flabbergasted dining companions, I did tell her that I made it all up a few hours later. My spurt of honesty is the most regretful action I have ever taken.
Technically, the aforementioned anecdote was my first interaction with Le Bec-Fin.
Recently, I had the pleasure of eating dinner there. It was pretty darn great. It is the perfect place to wear that great suit that just gathers dust in between weddings and conferences. The space is elegant and conjures up images in movies where the rambunctious characters go to piss off a lot of wealthy people who look at them all funny(See: Blues Brothers, The Jerk, Freddie Got Fingered, etc.)
I'll cut the crap - You're going for the crabcake and the dessert cart. $120 for dinner is steep for a 7-course dinner, but it is worth it for a special occasion*.
The Wagyu, lamb, and scallop dishes are all really great but they do not compare to the crabcake, which is basically all crab and no cake. It is served with a perfectly creamy sauce.
The American snapper beats the scallops as far as a choice in the Les poissons section.
One thing I really like about this place is that the sides to the meat dishes are very wacky. Serving me fish with hibiscus, Napa cabbage, and parsley root is just really, really original. Even though not all the flavors impressed me, most of them were brand new to my palate.
The cheese chariot is a diverse selection of cheeses served with a great spread and the best grapes I've had in recent memory.
The dessert cart is a smorgasbord of freaking fantastic cakes and tarts and shit. I loved it.
Alright I'm gonna wrap this review up now.
*7 courses is a bit deceiving. The entrees, poissons, viandes, dessert, and cheese courses are hefty, but the intermezzo and sorbet are hardly more than a palate cleanser. My intermezzo was a mushroom cappuccino that was tasty but did not make me insane with gustatory pleasure. The sorbet was just OK. Don't worry - you will not leave here hungry. I'm just sayin'. -
Review from Amy P.
Philadelphia, PA
1/25/2012 5 photos
I went there during the Restaurant week 2012. Rocket salad was so bland. Seared scallops were slightly over burnt but they tasted fantastic. Gateu Le Becfin was good but not outstanding.
For $35 price fixed menu, this seems to be quiet good. However, I don't think I will come back again after the RW. Their food does not worth their regular price. -
Review from Jessica C.
Philadelphia, PA
1/28/2012
Extraordinarily elegant. Great place for a special romantic date (or a special girls night out). I went with a good friend and thoroughly enjoyed myself. The atmosphere is beautiful and the food was delicious. I thought all three courses of my meal were great and the scallops were cooked to perfection. They offered you unlimited bread and the salad was very good. Great place to go for restaurant week although the bill seemed to be more than the $35 dollars advertised. Be prepared to spend more like 48 with tip....Great food but definitely one of the restaurants that make a lot of money from restaurant week.
Complaints:
I felt like they were trying to rush us to order and get us out the door.
As expected at some restaurant week places the portions are smaller.
Great food but I would not go there except for a special occassion like restaurant week. -
Review from Sara X.
Philadelphia, PA
1/27/2012
The restaurant is pricy but the service is disappointedly average. Tips are pre-calculated in a 20% rate, shown in the bill. I am not really into the appetizer, which was snails, it was salty. For the main course, both organic chicken breast and salmon were good but nothing outstanding. Creme brulee was fine. The dessert called la bec-fin is actually brownie with vanilla ice cream, again it was good but not exceptionally wonderful.
-
Review from Gerald M.
Murrysville, PA
12/4/2011
One of our all-time favorites, BUT...
$$$$$$$$$$ $25.00 for a glass of champagne at lunch? $$$$$$$$$$$$$
Over the years we have always enjoyed lunches and dinners at Le Bec Fin.
The "dressy, formal years" have changed. The restaurant has changed. Le Bec Fin almost closed.
In May, on a weekday, we visited Le Bec Fin for a walk-in lunch (celebrating our daughter's Jefferson Nursing graduation). Group of four. Restaurant nearly empty. So-so service. Not-so-hot decision by us to have a large series of appetizers instead of an entree in order to sample a greater variety of current food offerings. Food was not very good. We were not impressed by the current Le Bec Fin.
On Saturday, December 3, my wife and I were in the area and made a 1:00 lunch reservation in advance. We decided to try the 5 course degustation menu.
Menus and wine list were reviewed on the website in advance.
Without going into great detail about each presentation, I will state that overall the service and food were exceptional in presentation and taste. Exceptions: Mushroom Cappuccino was an interesting, but uninspiring inclusion on the menu. Breast of Organic Chicken was moist, artistically displayed on the plate, didn't have much taste/flavor.
Online wine list is not current. Had one selected in advance; not on the list given to us at lunch. Selected a white French wine. We liked it. At home I tried to find it to see if we could make a local purchase. You guessed it: not included in the online wine list. Not a big issue... but it made the wine ordering process longer at lunch.
Another point about the white wine choice: served at room temperature. Then placed in a cooler. Each additional serving was colder than the previous one. Whites don't have to be chilled, but one would assume that the temperature (warm or chilled) should be maintained over the duration of lunch.
The Dessert Cart is perhaps the main reason to visit Le Bec Fin. No where in the world have we ever experienced a more exciting presentation. One of the most difficult decisions you will ever have to resolve: what to sample?!
Small detail: on every visit to Le Bec Fin I request a trailer hitch adapter for the Dessert Cart so we can tow it home. They have never provided me with one. Never.
Seriously, this was a very nice lunch.
When then check arrived, I was really upset with the $25.00 charge for a glass of champagne. Caught offguard, I should have questioned the greed in serving this choice when my wife requested a glass before starting lunch (no advance notice of the price). Be forewarned: know the costs before ordering anything. I paid the check rather than making an issue of this point.
Lunch has always been recommended as a way to sample Le Bec Fin's offerings at a more modest cost. I agree. Enjoy... but stay away from Champagne By The Glass! -
Review from P L.
Ardmore, PA
1/22/2012
I've eaten here twice. The first time was on a "getaway weekend" without going away -- where we booked a hotel in town and ate like pigs, Le Bec Fin, Osteria, etc.
Simply put, the meal we had at Le Bec Fin was far and away the best meal I've had anywhere. I had no idea food could even taste like that. The other restaurants we visited that weekend all paled in comparison -- even the highly touted Osteria really suffered. The meal was so good, that my wife and I decided that the $400 we spent was actually a better value than the $125 we spent at Osteria. It was that good.
The second time was on a weekday business dinner. Not quite the same experience. This was clearly the "B team" staff on a Tuesday night. No George Perrier visiting tables and popping the champange with his sword. No multiple visits from the dessert cart. The meal was still good, but definitely within the realm of other restaurants. I've had better meals than the second visit.
I'm keeping this at five stars, because the first meal was so transcendent that I cannot get it out of my mind. Every aspect was just perfect, the amuse bouche and the soup and the salad and the steak and the risotto with shaved truffes and the sorbet and the petit fours and the dessert cart and the cheese cart. Crazy, crazy good. I'm former consultant who's eaten in NYC, San Fran, Dallas, Miami, Chicago, LA, India, Spain, and the average of my two visits is still better than any restaurant I've eaten at anywhere.
If you're going to go, go on Saturday night. -
Review from Eatoutatlanta E.
Atlanta, GA
1/1/2012
I made a special trip to Philladelphia just to eat.... And I will be back soon. Le Bec-Fin is in the top 5 best restaurants in the world.... I have gone to similar places and this one is still my favorite. 7 course menu was just perfect for us. all courses where delicious but I do love the cheese course, a cart is wheeled to your tables and you can pick as many cheese as you can eat...I think there was over 20 to pick from.
-
Review from John R.
Spring House, PA
12/26/2011
This is a restaurant I have damn near worshiped for years. I have been coming here for special occasions for about 10 years; Prom, graduation, college graduation, the night before I moved to Las Vegas, the night I moved back to Philadelphia, etc. Chef Perrier is one of the my role models. I studied classical French cuisine. His vision and leadership in the culinary arts revolutionized the restaurant business in Philadelphia. Chef, I bow to you. ANYONE with any sort of want or need for an amazing culinary experience needs to make a visit to Le Bec-Fin. Taste the dishes of a revolutionary.
-
Review from Mike S.
Minneapolis, MN
11/12/2011
Since I am not from the Philadelphia area, it is not always easy for me to pick decent eateries for business lunches. So I turned to Yelp for advice. I searched for decent lunch spots near my customer's office in the downtown area with good reviews and Le Bec-Fin popped up. When I asked my customer about it all she said was 'Ooh la la'. Which I took as, Ok, let's try it.
So, after our business talks subsided we headed over to Le Bec-Fin heavy one person (reservation was for 6 but there ended up being 7). It must be noted that some fine dining establishments do not accommodate last minute changes to a reservation so I was very pleased, and thankful, they did.
We were seated immediately in the small, but adequate dining area. I was a bit taken aback by the traditional (um that means dated) decor. Was it classy? Of course. The place reminded me of an old renaissance fair. I felt as though i should have been wearing tights and a crown while my court jesters entertained me.
For starters I decided to get the crabcake. I've had many crabcakes in my life, and this may have been the best...ever. Perfect flavor, perfect consistency, and topped with a heavenly cream sauce. So good i could have eaten two. For the main course, I had the organic chicken breast. It was just OK. The chicken juicy and flavorful, but the dish lacked the 'wow' factor. Then for desert, I had the Grand Marnier souffle. It was awesome. Although, I coveted my associate's creme brulee that he was drooling over.
All in all, my experience at Le Bec-Fin was OK. Just OK. Nothing there was overly memorable (except for the crabcake) or forgettable. The ambiance, service and cuisine may not have warranted the fairly steep prices. But I would probably return. Maybe next time for dinner instead of lunch. For a nicer business lunch, I would recommend Table 31 just a few blocks away. This restaurant is a Le Bec-Fin sister establishment that is much more modern with a more exciting menu. -
Review from Precious Y.
Los Angeles, CA
9/4/2011
This restaurant is a "special date night" kind of restaurant although my date and I sort of just stumbled in on our visit to Philadelphia. We had a wonderful time and had a three-hour dinner with champagne, wine, a seven-course meal, an exciting international cheese plate, and an overwhelming melange of desserts.
My date and I each ordered the seven-course dinner, and some of the highlights for me were the lobster and chanterelle ravioli with smoked ricotta, the day boat scallops with asparagus threads (probably the best version of asparagus I have ever had), the breast of squab with confit leg and cherry, and of course the dessert cart! The dessert cart is incredibly sexy and offers a delightful way to end the evening if you still have room!
The service was attentive, especially when it came to introducing the cheeses on the cheese plate and the dessert cart; a little less engaging with the descriptions of the wine. If you come here for dinner, allow yourself a generous amount of time. This is not a place where you want to rush or should hope to finish up your dining experience in an hour or so. The more leisure you can be the better.
I had greater hopes for the Wild Mushroom Cappuccino, but other than that I really enjoyed every dish. As I mentioned, this is a great restaurant for a special occasion as it is quite pricey. With my date and I each getting a seven-course meal, one glass of champagne each, a bottle of wine, a cup of coffee, and tea, our bill was around $500 (including tip). If you decide to get the three-course meal and glasses of wine your bill can be significantly less, but sometimes it's great to indulge in these experiences, especially with someone special! -
Review from Jay E.
Riverton, NJ
9/29/2011
Dined at Le Bec Fin on Friday 9/23, back end of restaurant week. The food was delicious and satisfying. Did not expect to leave with a full stomach bur surprisingly I did. They were exceptionally courteous to my 2 daughters.
Overall an outstanding experience. -
Review from Jonathan D.
Philadelphia, PA
9/2/2011
It was the atmosphere and desserts that blew my mind. Le Bec Fin is like walking into a novel. The decor is inspiring and the staff has a level of training and attention to detail not normally seen in the US.
The plates are delicious, portions reflect the rich quality, and everything looks exquisite. The desserts are out of this world; plenty of decadent chocolate options. They serve fixed price menus and could easily boast about their wine selection, but don't need to. The sommelier led us to a fantastic wine within our price range.
It is hard to know what people expect when they go to an expensive restaurant with history, will they be brought in or do they some very detailed expectations? Generally, I think this is a place to mark an occasion; a place to savor the time spent with someone important, or a small group. Did it cost a bit? Yeah it did. It was worth it and when the money is there, worth going back to again! -
Review from Tony T.
6/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
First of all, expect to spend a lot of money at Le Bec Fin. For dinner you can get a 4 course menu for $80, 7 courses for $125, or 9 courses for $185. You only get the dessert cart for the 7 or 9 course dinners. You want the dessert cart. We were all stuffed and still managed to try just about everything that was on the cart.
There were four of us and we pretty much tried everything on the menu since we each got a different item for the 7 course menu. We started with an appetizer, a fish course, an intermezzo, a meat course, the cheese plate, a sorbet, and then the dessert cart. We are all stuffed by the end of this.
Highlights:
Appetizers - the crab cake is spectacular. I would get this again. The escargot was nothing special - lots of butter and garlic. The foie gras can be either seared (hot) or cold. We opted for hot and it was very good but just not as good as the crab cake.
Fish - Of the halibut, cod, scallops, and striped bass, the scallops were the best followed closely by the striped bass. The cod was a little disappointing.
Meat - The four courses were Wagyu beef, veal, lamb, and squab. The squab was my favorite. The Wagyu beef was good but not sure if it was worth the supplement.
Dessert - My favorite thing on the cart was the coffee cake, although most of the items were delicious. Get the dessert cart!
Yes it was expensive but I felt like I was able to try one of the well known old school restaurants in Philadelphia. -
Review from RJ B.
Philadelphia, PA
12/17/2011
The restaurant isn't what it used to be.
Dined there last night (12/16/11) and ordered the 7-course menu. My husband and I usually get the 7-course meal because we love the cheese course that comes with it.
Last night's menu didn't offer anything interesting and I was not a fan of the fact that you had to pay extra for some of the items on the list. Other restaurants have supplemental charges too, but when you are paying $125 per person, that should be enough.
The food didn't taste like a $125 meal either. My escargot was too salty, bay scallops were a bit fishy and my lamb was overcooked... and the cheese selection I was looking forward to, lacked selection. The dessert cart, however, did not disappoint.
Oh, I also wasn't pleased with their wine markup. I had to pay $14 a glass for a wine that you can buy at a New Jersey liquor store for $14.49 a bottle!
And when you get the check at the end, make sure to look over it carefully. They charged a 20% gratuity for a party of 2. I've been there a handful of times and that never happened before.
Also, remember the scallops that were a bit fishy? They made me sick. Came home and ran straight to the bathroom... $380 meal down the toilet. -
Review from Elizabeth C.
Philadelphia, PA
7/15/2011
I attended the Summer Chef Series this past Monday evening which featured a collaboration between Chef Nick Elmi of LBF and Chef Marc Vetri. It was such an amazing experience, I really cannot say enough wonderful things about it. The food was fabulous, the service was impeccable and the decor was amazing. Thank you to all who made this experience such a memorable one. My guest and I are really looking forward to the reopening of the bar area downstairs so we will definitely be returning to this wonderful establishment. It truly is the jewel in Philadelphia's restaurant crown.
I would also like to comment that I am a bit horrified by some of the comments below. As a fellow diner and Yelp user, I do not find many of the more negative reviews below to be helpful or constructive. In particular I would like to comment on the posting about a Foobooz article that came out yesterday about LBF. As a small business owner myself, I know that misinformation can be nothing short of a death sentence. We cannot know for sure what goes on behind the scenes of any privately owned business, let alone in the restaurant industry where stress and tensions can oftern run high. We should try our best to uphold the integrity of yelp a forum where individual's share constructive thoughts and opinions. -
Review from Ben P.
8/19/2011
Haters gonna hate. That Le bec doesn't have 5 stars means people a) don't understand true, true fine dining, b) don't get that this is an experience, not a dinner out or c) are simply haters.
Le bec Fin is wildly expensive. It is massively formal. It is wonderfully elegant. You'll spend a lot, but it is generous. Portions, even for French food, are ample. With the cheese course, for instance, you have as much as you like. But in general, it's not tiny food on big plates. And do I need to say that it's good? It's good. It's beatifully presented. It is innovative. It is fun!
And, of course, the legendary dessert cart. With the larger menus, dessert is unlimited. Have one of everything. Have all of the petit fors. Have it twice. And you should.
The wine list is, of course extensive and one of the sommeliers working that night will be knowledgeable and helpful. Though we found that the younger Perrier (brother of owner/legendary chef Georges Perrier) who serves as a sommelier was less...ohhhh, interested in chatting than his female counterpart. She was great.
Listen, don't go here on a budget. If it's two of you, expect to spend around $500. If you're not prepared to, just don't go.
And gentlemen, for the luvapete, put on a damn jacket. And if it's after 5, put on a tux...what are you, a farmer? -
Review from C B.
Washington, DC
12/1/2011
Wonderful food !...We did the 4 course menu and we thoroughly enjoyed each one.
The escargot with its delicious sauce was great. The other highlights were the Halibut and Wagyu Beef ($ supplement). The desserts were equal to the task. We had the black forest and chocolate ginger cake - both delicious !
I would give it a 5 star, but thought the service, while friendly, lacked a little something. Our main waiter just seemed a little distant and impersonal, rather than engaging and enthusiastic. The others - from our hostess, other wait staff, to the man from Brittany who hailed a cab for us - were otherwise great.
They did provide a dessert sampler for my husband who was celebrating his birthday, and as we departed the restaurant, all the staff greeted us with both a good bye and a happy birthday - nice touch again.
A must dining experience for Philadelphia.
***oh, and we got to meet Msr. Perrier himself which was a treat. -
Review from christina j.
Ramsey, NJ
11/20/2011
This was truly a world class fine dining experience. I love the fact that jackets are required in the dining room. Friday night I went for the fall tasting menu. The food was presented in such a creative manner. The turban squash soup was just delicious, the soup was hand poured over this foam and you could just smell autumn in the dish. For my entree I went with the sea scallops which were flavorful and included touches of artichoke. The cheese course was rich, this cheese spread like butter on the toast round. To finish my fine dining experience, the dessert cart was wheeled over and deciding what to try, had to be the be the most important decision for me that day. I wisely went with the Gateau Le Bec Fin, the signature dessert. Rich and chocolaty. I would love to go back and try lunch or another tasting menu. The service was impeccable and I really enjoyed the whole dinner.
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Review from Steve D.
Conshohocken, PA
10/9/2011
Food was absolutely incredible and the service was stellar. We sat next to the bar, and the space was a little cramped for those walking by, but the atmosphere was friendly and comfortable, and the servers really made the experience a joy thanks to their friendly and upbeat personalities. Thanks so much for a great experience!
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Review from Sandy K.
Philadelphia, PA
7/8/2011
I came to Le Bec-Fin for lunch with some of my girlfriends. I loved the decor and ambiance of the restaurant. The food was delicious - the best salmon I have ever had!
The chef came out to ask us about the food, which I thought was a great touch. The service was excellent. An overall great place to dine! -
Review from Nancy L.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 10/5/2011
Returned for bday dinner awhile ago.
Le bec is fine dining old school style. I use the term old school deliberately because good service seems to be a thing of the past. I believe it sets the truly outstanding dining establishment apart from the rest.
We were running late from work and called ahead to inform the hostess, who was understanding and greeted us warmly nonetheless. You're allowed to dine and chat at your leisure. In true French style, they do not bring you the check before your meal is completed.
And they say the French are rude. I suppose that's because Americans are never rude.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/19/2010 ROTD 12/19/2010
It's a culinary event so worthy of a 100th review.
A server pleasantly greets you at the door by,… Read more »
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Review from Susan P.
Philadelphia, PA
8/24/2011
While Le BecFin was good, it was not superlative. I suppose my expectations may have been too high. They have, after all, been the icon of haute cuisine in Philadelphia.
The staff, while rather competent did not contribute anything to the experience.
Unfortunately nothing served through the night surprised nor delighted my senses. To me, this is a key part of food as an art form. Everything was adequate, but not special, and if I wanted adequate, Philadelphia has a plethora of places that are on par or above.
I suppose worth experiencing once, but I am doubtful we will return -
Review from Natasha G.
San Francisco, CA
6/11/2011
Le Bec-Fin may be good, but I will never go again. I had one of the worst dining experiences during Restaurant Week this past Winter.
Food: Overcooked / even the other food was only okay
Service: It was very good
Atmosphere: Okay - nothing that really stood out
I have been to restaurants all around the country from Michelin 3 Stars ranked to those cheap eats hole-in-the-walls.
I think that a restaurant is only good as its worst day. If you are going to serve over-cooked food, don't participate in Restaurant week. -
Review from Anthony O.
San Diego, CA
8/18/2011
Damn, is this place expensive. Nicely decorated. Service that you have to tip heavily.
So, I had 5 courses overall. (what I remember)
Seafood Salad: Lemon and citrus, light, refreshing, good texture, and seafood poached perfectly.
Mushroom Cappuccino: This was my favorite! An extra from the chef, it was very interesting, I never thought you could turn mushrooms into a cappuccino paired with white pepper. Very thick and flavorful.
Fruits Del Mar: The presentation was very cool here. It smelt like brine and it looked like it was taken fresh from the sea foam. It looked so good I really didn't want to take it apart. All in all, it was had an intense brine flavor, almost too intense.
CHEESE PLATE: Soft cheese with spinach and cranberry preserves.
Souffle Gran Marnier: Frozen Souffle with candied orange peel, coupled with a tart raspberry sauce. This came with a complementary dessert plate. French pastries are the best!
I wish I remembered more, because its been awhile unfortunately. For the price I thought it really should have been better. -
Review from Michael L.
Greenville, SC
7/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
God-awful. He should have closed it. Insanely salty escargot, overcooked and dry duck. Poorly executed dessert. I was irretrievably disappointed. After dinner, the retrieval of coats from the coat check took almost 10 minutes.
What a shame. -
Review from Martha C.
Philadelphia, PA
8/15/2011
I wasn't sure what to expect from this classic, but a RueLaLa deal got us in on a great deal for the seven-course + wine pairing meal. I was slightly worried that the deal would somehow mean we got a lesser meal, but that was not the case. Each course was wonderful. I went with the classic escargot, hanging out in a buttery, garlicky sauce that was comfort in a tiny pan; the john dory with morels and fried kale; and the waygu beef with potatoes. Each dish was better than the last. And, as others have mentioned, the dessert cart is no joke! You can have as much as you'd like, and they'll even wrap up the leftovers! The person manning the cart was happy to hear how much we loved the coffee cake (I know, coffee cake, but it's incredible!) and wrapped up two pieces for us to have for breakfast.
Incredible service, food, and atmosphere. Good value, even though we got a deal, I'd pay the full price for that meal. -
Review from Da L.
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
2/14/2011
This has to be the dream/vision of Antoine Beauvilliers book L'Art du Cuisinie. And it is the anchor of Walnut Street's Restaurant Row.
The restaurant oozes elegance and sophistication, with locals as well as visitors from around the world. Crystal chandeliers suspended from 20-foot high ceilings shed grace upon an urbane space framed in muted beige, micro-suede walls.
Black-garbed servers proud to carry on a cultivated, renowned tradition are attentive and ubiquitous. It is worth going with a large group to see the waiters, with drill team like execution, place the covered plates at your table and then simultaneously lift the covers - a sort of ta da moment. This is second only to the presentation of the desert cart and the cheese cart - pick as many pieces as you want as the waiter loads your plate down - and yes - a little more of that fabulous fruit tart. Don't be embarrassed - at the prix fixe prices you deserve all you want. -
Review from TONY L.
Philadelphia, PA
9/27/2011
This establishment has great service, knowledgeble staff, and put great detail into the dishes. It has its nostalgia with a modern touch, therefore its a good place to take a date. The food did not knock me out of my seats, which I thought it would be better given their reputation. That being said, the price for the tasting menu was appropriate for the quality and preparation of the food. I actually enjoyed the dessert tasting more. Would I go again?.....Maybe a special occasion? Not sure.
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Review from Percy N.
4/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
An institution in the area and for good reason.
My last few meals here have been private events with a custom menu created specifically for the event, so the experience could be a bit different, but the service and overall experience are bound to be great.Listed in: Fine Dining in Philly
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Review from Abby I.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 1/31/2011 18 photos
AVOID.during.restaurant.week.
Three people at the table started off with the champagne butter escargots and all unanimously agreed that it was too salty. Sad. That's usually my favorite. Scallops were okay, flat iron steak was okay...but nothing worth remembering. Thank goodness for creme brulee to the rescue!
Le Bec-Fin is still my favorite restaurant in Philly. I hope other Yelpers who went there during restaurant week give it another chance. Perhaps they were having an off night the night I went but that is absolutely NOT allowed! Hello cheese cart. Hello dessert cart. Both absent during restaurant week.
AVOID.DURING.RESTAURANT.WEEK.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/24/2010
I feel like I'm dining inside of the dining room of the castle from Beauty and the Beast. GORGEOUS.
… Read more »
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Review from Rusty S.
Philadelphia, PA
4/10/2011
The whole experience of Le Bec-Fin is something everyone should do, at least once.
From the amazing interior of the dining room to the famous dessert cart, Le Bec offers something no other restaurant does.
It is a time capsule from an age of fine dinning.
People may complain about the portion sizing, but do keep in mind that the rest of the world eats correct portions.
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