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The Gold Standard Cafe
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
4800 Baltimore AvePhiladelphia, PA 19143
Neighborhood: Cedar Park
(215) 727-8247
- Hours:
Mon-Tue, Sun 7 am - 8 pm
Wed-Fri 7 am - 9 pm
Sat 8 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
88 reviews for The Gold Standard Cafe
Review Highlights
"i sipped on my latte, made with la colombe beans."
(in 8 reviews)
"The brunch fare is cheap but very tasty."
(in 32 reviews)
"There was plenty of indoor and outdoor seating."
(in 4 reviews)
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88 reviews in English
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Review from Julia C.
Philadelphia, PA
1/29/2012
Three friends and I just had a great brunch here. Everyone left their plates spotless. I thought the coffee was very good with a little cream and sugar. I had a big omelette with cheese and spinach and a side of bacon. The bacon was nice and crunchy but the home fries were just the plain, soft potato version. The service was extremely friendly and attentive even though it was a busy Sunday brunch time of day. The pastries and doughnuts looked AMAZING but I held back. I'll def be back and maybe indulge in a few sweets!
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Review from Christine L.
Market East, Philadelphia, PA
1/24/2012
Gold Standard serves up a decent brunch. Between my friends and I, we've had most of the dishes on the brunch menu. Pretty tasty, but nothing really stuck out. I've heard good things about the eggs benedict, and my egg scramble was pretty good.
It's also a long wait sometimes. A really, really, really long wait.
So you can count on Gold Standard for a good breakfast. The ambiance is good. The food is alright but pricey, so I wouldn't say it's worth a wait. -
Review from Kamilah B.
Philadelphia, PA
12/11/2011
Racist...won't be back
Went there w/ a friend. She ordered a burger medium well and when it came back well done, she asked for another. The server took it back w/ a slight attitude and the cook actually came out. Would have been a good move, except that he felt she should keep the burger b/c "black ppl usually order their meats well done." Ha! The audacity. We left and will continue to spread the word. -
Review from JENN W.
Mount Laurel, NJ
Updated - 12/19/2011
I still love this spot, but its So out of my way..West Philly..But parking -When you get there is easy, all around-since its residential. Parked right in front. Meeting my brunch buddy. They serve Le Columbe coffee-which is always a plus,she got us on list for dining area, finally we got seated. We ordered the Croissant French Toast with Strawberry compoteand aside crispy bacon.. The owners & waiters are Still Not as attentive, still slow. Took couple trys to get my coffee refilled. Like the place , the dining area, puts up paintings of local artists which you can purchase so they change every so often. Love the eclectic feel. Getting there is pain, unless your local..nice spot to run in get your coffee or tea & quick Bite..
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/21/2011
This is a cute little place, with great potential!! It sits on Baltimore & 48th st,nice area-parking… Read more »
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Review from Lynette H.
Rockville, MD
1/1/2012
I love this place so much! Every time I come to Philly I am sure to have brunch at the Gold Standard. The food and service are wonderful. Each time I visit I bring a new friend. And what is even better is that it is within walking distance of my West Philadelphia Home. Great coffee and Croissant French Toast! Every time I have been there for brunch I never experienced any issues of discrimination. The owner's even took the time to get us extra toast and coffee when we requested it. Great place!.
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Review from emily c.
Philadelphia, PA
7/2/2011
The Gold Standard is a sweet little spot in a lovely Victorian building at 48th and Baltimore. It's really a coffee shop, a lunch/brunch spot and a BYO dinner restaurant all in one, which can be confusing at first. Inside, there's coffee shop seating in the front and a more dressed-up dining room in the back, which you might not know is there because it's past the counter area and kitchen entrance. Our favorite thing to do here is to bring a bottle of wine or a growler from Dock Street, order burgers (which, last I heard, are grass-fed Lancaster beef), sit outside and watch the traffic and trolleys roll by. The experience can be, as another reviewer put it, "positively Parisian at times".
I love their super-yummy homemade vinaigrette on the salad. The coffee is good but I usually go to the Satellite if I only want coffee. Brunch entrees are delicious. I have been both wowed and disappointed by their dinner entrees. They usually have some kind of special or prix fixe deal for entree + salad + dessert if you're in the mood for several courses. Prices are very reasonable.
I have experienced incompetent and inattentive service here, as well as long wait times, but this was closer to when they first opened and has improved dramatically over time. Even with its imperfections, GSC is a solid choice for a fresh and yummy meal in my neighborhood -
Review from Elisha C.
Philadelphia, PA
6/7/2011
How has it taken me so long to review The Gold Standard? Living just a couple blocks away, I once upon a time was in the habit of stopping in here almost every morning for my daily caffeine supply.
The coffee is great. We all knew it would be.
The baked goods are pretty good, too. If you're like me and have a sweet tooth, this is a great place to go. The offerings change a little every day, but the standards that they have are consistently yummy. Raspberry Almond Bars make my day a little brighter.
The prices are a little bit higher than some of the other local coffee spots. But know why I'm willing to pay them? CREDIT CARDS! With no minimum. This is one of the few coffee shops I know of that takes cards, especially in this area, which is great for those of us who often end up with nothing but loose change in our wallets.
And a nod to the service. Satellite (somewhat rightfully) gets flak for their less-than-friendly counter staff. Green Line can be slightly hit or miss. But The Gold Standard has some of the most consistently friendly and attentive service around. -
Review from Lauren H.
Salem, NH
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Amazing food at amazing prices!
Just went here with a party of 14, and every one of us raved about our meal. Small dining room is friendly & cozy. I'm stuffed and my dinner was only $6.50! -
Review from Jes L.
Philadelphia, PA
7/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
The name says it all!
The menu has an excellent combination of familiar and creative dishes.
The food is prepared and the plate presented so thoughtfully, it made me want to take a picture of it before I ate!
The service, is what took this from a 4-star review to 5 though. We sat for dinner at about 8:45pm without realizing they close at 9pm! The server made sure we didn't feel rushed, assuring us that "it's fine" and to "take your time."
Everyone was polite and patient with us and extremely appreciative when (as x-server ourselves) we told them to drop the check with dinner.
Oh, one more thing: be sure to get dessert! Its homemade fabulous!! -
Review from Ben F.
Philadelphia, PA
I came to the Gold Standard Café for brunch with old standing friends on a quiet late Sunday morning after a late night visiting friends on campus. There were some sun glassed bohemians with leased dogs and checkered looks in the winter blaze by the intersection of Baltimore and Cedar Ave. I longed for the trolley lines like the feel of the chop shops by unfortunate barbers. The traffic lights stopped only a few pedestrians on the hushed lambent street I heard singing. The group with which I went was predominately Penn students transforming a couple years of what I remember of who they were at my high school. I saw a couple and we talked casually in the front by the bar while the wild others shuffled in past soft light entrance, past the café chairs and short crowds, and a flirting smile of a woman. The entry to the other room large up the shallow ramp is an entry from casual to less; people spread out in sweaters. Without pause from his lips below his drooping eye lids that had seen many a day of the restaurant industry the server, the manager, and the owner asked for drinks and we ordered a few coffees. He chastised a couple waiters to a get an extra table ready quick for our stragglers. The cups came, smartly I may say, colored coded with decaf a pastel rim of green and caff with red. I took a sip straight black and appreciated the mild nature of the coffee. The half and half was a so so add. We talked about studies, jobs, other people, who's changed, and politics as the cafe filled up with bubbling young couples in groups of friends. I've been to the Gold Standard numerous times before for lunch, dinner, but I don't remember having been for brunch. And so when the pear and pecan waffles were presented to me by the owner and to my egregious high school choir instructor, I was ready to explore the stuff in front of my eyes. It was spotted, not smooth like pre-made flapjacks from friendly's. The pecans were not bitter, but less mellow than the fruit of the pear, in a fluffy stack of three. I glided the maple syrup over the top with a small portion of butter. Another guy I sang with in high school ordered a reuben. He downed that sucker so quick. The guy who got the French toast looked down at le pain and released a foodgasmic ohhh.. I took my leftovers home with a lemon biscotti for the road, a couple minutes after asking emerged in a freeze frame. I, planning on going to the holiday concert left on a quick note to hitch a ride; said bye to my kind instructor.
Listed in: Hipster Watchers United, Coffee & Tea in West Philly
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Review from Frank C.
Philadelphia, PA
7/3/2011
I recently went there with some friends for breakfast. The food was good and quite hot when it arrived.
A word about price. The menu does not have dollar signs next to the amounts. Something that is $9.00 is actually "9". This is a trend amongst many restaurants to fool you into spending more than you think. I think that $9.00 is a little much for breakfast, but it was quite good. -
Review from Melissa W.
Philadelphia, PA
3/7/2011
I've been here a couple of times for their cafe menu, and I have to say I'm not really a fan. The service is slow and extremely inattentive, and the prices are average. Which would be okay, if the food weren't so boringly mediocre. It's seriously not good. From a place called "Gold Standard", I expect better. I can make these sandwiches myself at home, and not only would they taste better, I wouldn't need to pay $9+tip and tax.
Maybe their brunch is better? I hope for their sake that it is. -
Review from evie p.
Chicago, IL
7/25/2011
No air conditioning. Food has made me sick on a few occasions.
The coffee and tea is great - recommend for coffees to go, service is good. -
Review from Rob Y.
Shreveport, LA
5/30/2011
Food (7.0/10) = Ordered the "waffle cup with scrambled eggs with syrup" and added chorizo and cheddar cheese. The portions were so-so. It tasted good, but as good as it sounds. But for ~$9.00? I don't think it's a $9 dish. . Ordered their americano as well. Nothing special. The coffee at Earth Cup, a few blocks down the road tastes better.
Ambiance (8.0/10) = Nice little cafe at the corner of a street. Nice set up outside.
Service (7.5/10) = Pretty standard. No complaints.
Overall Opinion = I probably wouldn't go back to this place even if I lived around the area. I originally thought about giving this place 3 stars, but the more I thought about the price of that breakfast, and the so-so taste of the dish and coffee, I'm going to settle with 2 stars. -
Review from Jamie D.
University City, Philadelphia, PA
5/3/2011
Went for brunch this past Sunday. As one of the few places anywhere near Penn for brunch, I really wanted it to be a good experience.
The decor was very nice, and the atmosphere bright and friendly. It took us a while to get seated (over 20 minutes), but we eventually got a spot in the cozy dining room in the back.
Unfortunately, it was over an hour from the time we ordered to the time we got our food. On top of that, they got one of our orders wrong. The food was very good, and I appreciated that they try to get a little more creative with the typical brunch fare. (The breakfast cup is tasty.) However, the service really killed the experience.
I'd like to try it again, because it has a ton of potential, and the food and the environment is solid. -
Review from Won Ho K.
Philadelphia, PA
5/30/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Pros: Very friendly service. Free refills on hot coffee!!!
Cons: Seating a bit limited in the cafe area. Also, during the summer, the air conditioning in the cafe area is weak. It is simply too hot in there.
Bottom line: I really want to be a fan of this place, since I live nearby, and the service here is friendly. But the poor air-conditioning is a deal-breaker for me during the summer. -
Review from Meghan S.
1/30/2011
Its the little details that make a place stand out. And Gold Standard pays attention to the little details. They put both marshmallows *and* whipped cream on my hot chocolate. This is the most fabulous idea ever. Marshmallows AND whipped cream. Seriously? Why doesn't everyone do this. It never occurred to me before that hot chocolate could have both. And now I feel ridiculously dumb.
In addition the the brilliant hot chocolate, the coconut cream pie was utterly fantastic. And the local art on the walls was both nice and fairly reasonably priced (I'm seriously thinking of going back and buying some of it). If their service was more reliably good, this would be a five star place. -
Review from Sara M.
Philadelphia, PA
3/20/2011
I've been to the Gold Standard twice: once for lunch and once for a late brunch. Both times were really different experiences.
I went there for lunch with just one other person in the summertime, but the wait time was about 20 minutes to get a table on a Sunday afternoon (which is a pretty long time for a West Philadelphia restaurant). We even agreed to do outdoor seating (it was about 90 degrees outside) and it still took forever. The service was also really really slow and at one point I got so sick of waiting that I just started going to the register myself to ask for things and brought them back to the table myself. However this may be because they don't have the staff to handle the capacity of this place.
The biggest plus to The Gold Standard is that they make all of their food and its really fresh. I ordered the Tofu Scramble which was good but was a bit plain for my taste. They also have a really diverse menu and a lot of veggie/vegan options. The food can also be made as healthy as you want it to be. The dessert always looks AMAZING (even though both times I was way too full from my meal to order any)
The second time I went here was with a small group for a late brunch. It till took about a half an hour to get seated, but the service at the table was much better. The amount of brunch options (plus the regular lunch menu) was almost overwhelming. I really loved the Southwest Chicken Wrap (they even let me order it sans wrap..so it was more southwest chicken salad). They also have really great coffee and bacon.
The prices are pretty decent... My entree, coffee and side order of bacon came to $15 with tip.
Overall I would recommend this place for when you have a lot of time and want a fresh meal...especially for vegetarians! -
Review from Scott G.
Philadelphia, PA
1/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ah, I want to love The Gold Standard, I really really do. West Philly desperately needs a good brunch place, and God help me if the interior and location aren't both excellent (the intersection of 48th and Baltimore can feel positively Parisian at times).
That said, the prices are high and the food just isn't that great. It's mostly standard diner fare, delivered weekly by the Cisco truck, and the kitchen has a very tough time dealing with brunch rushes.
As a coffee shop, however, The Gold Standard fares pretty well. It's a lovely little spot to sit down and watch the world go by, and you can't go wrong with La Colombe coffee. So come in, linger with a cup, but go somewhere else for dinner. -
Review from blake f.
5/26/2011
when i walked inside gold standard yesterday afternoon, a old michael franti song was playing. this made me happy.
i perused the menu for quite some time (as all of the options sounded good and were reasonably priced) before finally placing my order with the patient man behind the counter for an iced latte and eggs in a cup. by the time i parked myself & my laptop at a window counter seat, a phish track came on. this made me very happy.
i sipped on my latte, made with la colombe beans. many philly yelpers like to hate on LC, but not me. it makes me happy.
then, my food arrived. as advertised, it was a glass filled with scrambled eggs, a bean & corn salsa and pieces of whole wheat tortilla which i portioned out onto the accompanying plate bit by bit as i tapped away at the 'puter. this $4 meal was tasty, and stayed hot in its glass over the course of the hour or so in which i ate it.
overall....gold standard makes me happy. -
Review from Jazmin I.
Philadelphia, PA
10/7/2010
Gold Standard was my local hangout for a long time. They fed and sheltered me during the long, hard slog through my thesis. They made me bread-free sandwiches when I went gluten-free and were always willing to check ingredients for me so I could dine as safely as possible. I'm not a strict Celiac, so I don't have to worry, but a big dose of gluten gives me migraines, so I appreciate help in avoiding ouchies while still nomming yummies. I do wish they carried gluten-free baked goods or bread for the gluten-phobic among us, but they weren't terribly open to the idea.
Their coffee drinks (for my hubby) and chai (for me) were very hit-or-miss for a while, but their flavorful fruit iced teas were always cool and refreshing.
Overall, it's a solid place to eat that isn't too pricey or too fancy. A place where you can plunk down with your knitting or laptop and/or thesis and work and not worry about being hustled out (unless it's a super busy dinner night). Their shrimp Caesar salad is overpriced considering it's just a Caesar salad with 4-5 shrimp plunked on top (c'mon, try harder and maybe add something else interesting), and they could offer slightly bigger salad portions, but overall you get decent value for your increasingly rare dining-out dollars.
I wouldn't really call them the *gold* standard, but they're definitely silver (silver plus on a good day), and that's A-OK in my book. -
Review from Jeremy L.
Philadelphia, PA
1/21/2011
I consider Gold Standard to be primarily a brunch place, and they do that really well. In terms of price, GS is more reasonable than Honey's, Estelle, Sabrina's, or Morning Glory. We have rarely cracked $20 for two. And unlike those places you won't have pay a homeless man to show up at 6AM to hold your place in line, and there is a lot of nice outdoor seating.
In terms of lunch GS is more hit or miss. I would say their turkey burger needs a little something on the top end like mustard. Never had dinner there. Good service. -
Review from Dorie L.
Alhambra, CA
2/12/2011 1 photo
This is a really cute quiet place for coffee or a light meal. I first walked into a small coffee shop, filled with an array of pastries for breakfast/ snacks. They have a nice seating area where coffee drinkers can sit with their newspaper/ laptop/ book. I didn't try their coffee but saw a long line there, so I'm guessing it must be good, because it sure was happening.
If you walk pass the coffee area, you walk into a much quieter larger room where you can actually be seated for a meal. I'm a big fan of breakfast food at diners, but nowadays I am trying to eat healthier, that is why my friend brought me here. I tried their tofu scramble. It was excellent! The tofu scramble breakfast consisted of tofu with corn, onions, black beans, served with mildly greasy home fries and a string of purple grapes. Perfect for eating out and having a not too greasy/ heavy to the stomach breakfast. They also serve other wraps and sandwiches which I didn't try.
I was very happy after my breakfast and it was only $5. Super affordable for that area of West Philly where everything is definitely up and coming. -
Review from Ellis M.
Philadelphia, PA
9/8/2011
LOVE this place. Delicious, unique food. Very Vegan friendly. Very reasonable prices (I got plenty of filling breakfast for $6). Nice outdoor seating and a nice inside--beautifully restored old home. Staff is very friendly and great about refilling your coffee.
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Review from Julia C.
Philadelphia, PA
1/23/2011
Been here for all meals. Last weekend came with friends for breakfast and this weekend came with friends for brunch. I have to say I like their food and think service is good.
Most of my table ordered off the brunch menu which has good brunch items. The Breakfast menu has bagels, scrambled eggs or tofu, which are nummy. A couple people in our group ordered Huevos Rancheros, which I heard were good. It looked good too. I ordered Spinach Garlic Tomato Eggs Benedict. Yum! And the rest of the table ordered Scrambled eggs. Potatoes are seasoned and cooked well and toast is really toast (Unlike my previous experience at another restaurant). The coffee is wonderful since they use and sell 1 lb bags of La Colombe. The total bill was $64 for 6 people! I think it's reasonable for brunch.
The dining room is decorated nicely and they exhibit art work. It's a nice place to have a couple blocks away. It's nice to have organic selections, natural, good vegetarian and other quality ingredients. For West Philly , I think this is a decent establishment. -
Review from Dave H.
6/28/2010 7 photos
I don't know much about the "cafe" part of this charming BYOB, but I do know that their kitchen turns out satisfying fare and that their friendly staff are happy to serve it to you.
Their brunch menu is a familiar mix of dishes and sides, including croissants, steak, and scrambled eggs. Their smoked salmon bagel sounded tasty, but feeling traditional - Sundays have a way of doing that - I chose a few items a la carte, mixing Canadian bacon and pancakes, and adding eggs sunnyside up. Bacon was tender, and a slathering of syrup helped the pancakes along. Servings weren't overwhelming, but considering the sweltering weather, no complaints. Especially once I started downing my virgin mimosa.
Next time I'll pass on the outdoor seating and head indoors; their cafe chairs sure looked comfy! -
Review from Phil T.
Philadelphia, PA
When I first moved to West Philly, there were only a handful of choices for where to get good coffee and breakfast fare. The Green Line left a lot to be desired as far as coffee and food. The Satellite has always been cool although sometimes I wanted non-vegetarian food. The tiny Cafe Pier One served excellent food, although the fare has changed with the owners and name (Atiya Ola's). I had affinity for all of these places but never loved any one completely.
The moment I set foot in Gold Standard I realized it was about to meet all of my desires for a coffee shop. First of all, the space overlooks the corner of 48th and Baltimore and is absolutely gorgeous. Plenty of space, whether sitting indoors or outdoors. The seating in the back even has a fireplace for cold winter mornings.
The breakfast and lunch fare is excellent (La Colombe coffee and upscale diner fare). The scones are amazing as is the egg cup (a chopped up omelet in a glass). The big breakfast is big and the desserts are wonderful. They also have great danishes and assortment of muffins and quiches. There are also doggie treats for your four-legged friend.
I highly recommend stopping by, grabbing some coffee and a scone or an egg cup and sitting by the window overlooking the intersection. Not a bad way to pass a morning. -
Review from Daniel D.
Philadelphia, PA
8/15/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Went here two mornings in a row with a band I was recording in West Philly. Having read the previous reviews and some unnecessary snarking (just about EVERY restaurant gets service from Sysco in some way, it does not mean they have crap ingredients), I found the place to be quite charming and very welcoming to six guys with beards who were looking to find a quiet place to have a little pow-wow before starting each day's work.
The staff was excellent and accommodating, and I thought the dining room was really nice, spacious and also homey at the same time. The food was very good, and very reasonable for price, even allowing a couple of us to go off menu a bit. I will say that the muffins were a bit small, but very delicious. They offer great veggie and vegan options and the kitchen is very cool with meeting dietary requests. Over two days, I had a chance to sample the tofu scrambler, the quiche, various baked goods and their yogurt granola parfait (not my favorite).
A note to those who don't go very often: The weekday breakfast menu becomes the slightly more expensive brunch menu on the weekends. The selection gets a bit more interesting, and it is brunch in Philly, so it's expected to see a slight rise.
It was a great choice, and everyone enjoyed themselves. I will definitely be back the next time I find myself down Baltimore Ave in the AM. -
Review from Jess and Matt K.
Philadelphia, PA
8/25/2011
We are shocked to read some of the more negative reviews! This place has fantastic food, and we've gotten nothing but great service on multiple occasions. One of their best qualities is that they have local/organic pork and beef, which was one of the draws for us going there. We don't have much experience having breakfast and dinner there (ie, their more expensive menu), but we highly recommend them for lunch. We are really glad that they have become a part of the neighborhood.
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Review from M K.
Philadelphia, PA
8/25/2011
Flat out excellent food. The hummus wrap is great and last weekend I tried the falafel sandwich + fries ($7). Amazing. I've had a lot of falafel and this was top 1%. The tofu lemon sauce they serve it with was so good I ate the remainder with my fork. Good prices and outstanding dishes. I'll be back.
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Review from Nick M.
Somerville, MA
10/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
I visited this place last weekend when I was in Philly. I had coffee and a bagel. The coffee was strong, very tasty and piping hot. I was able to grab a table with my wife and our friend very easily.
The atmosphere is what I'm looking for in a coffee shop -- some background noise, plenty of seating and good beverages.
The service was quite good as well. Bagels were toasted perfectly and they had self service water (key staple to a good local coffee place)
I was impressed --- would definitely go back there again -
Review from David C.
Philadelphia, PA
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a great little place. I've just started to explore West Philly, and this place is just down the street from my girlfriend's apartment. Really good coffee for a reasonable price, with indoor and outdoor seating. Service is wonderful, as you never feel rushed.
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Review from Susan L.
Philadelphia, PA
5/17/2011
2 years so far and going strong, yes, of course i like this place ;) The prices are great and there is a wide range of healthier non pizza place food, the people that work there are the nicest people and their outdoor area is great for a date on a nice warm night with some candle light and a bottle or 2 (byob - wine store 2 minutes away) Brunches are always busy and the hustle and bustle really make you feel part of the city to get your day going on a Sat. or Sunday, that and the never disappointing La Colombe Coffee refills that keep a'coming! Sure there is room for improvement, and we look forward to watching this place evolve!
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Review from Erik B.
Philadelphia, PA
8/13/2011
Pretty much the only place in Philly to be your "Third Place" or whatever they call it on the menu. The food is good, the coffee is good (to each their own, I suppose), and the service is quite friendly. I can pony up with a laptop and not feel particularly pressured to "move along" like in so many laptop-hobo-hotels. It has enough "white noise" to help me focus on my work but is quiet enough to have a conversation. The food is local, and they respond to special requests quite well.
Despite what the others in here say, they do turn on their air conditioning when it's remarkably hot out, and I've never found it particularly uncomfortable (maybe some people like to eat in a refrigerator?). And punctuation on a menu is really not enough motive for me to drop stars in a review unless it's atrocious. Jussayin'.
In sum, this is a gem in WePhil, and in Philly at large. -
Review from Jennifer N.
Philadelphia, PA
5/13/2010
I stopped into the GSC for lunch on mother's day. I was in need of a quick bite to eat and I wanted something healthy. The GSC did not disapoint.
I've driven by this place many times. Usually it is the ample outdoor seating that catches my eye. But mother's day was downright chilly, so no one was eating outside.
The dining room was packed, so I opted to eat in the cafe, which was also full. Luckily a table opened up just as my order arrived.
I went with the Hummus/Avocado wrap in a spinach tortilla w/cucumber, tomato + sprouts. Not the best hummus I've ever had but the meal was tasty. And it came with fries.
Overall, the GSC delivered just what I was looking for. -
Review from Anna K.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 7/11/2010
Ok, so I'm gonna raise a star here... because I came here two times recently, and had:
1.) DELICIOUS chicken salad, complete with grapes. (I love grapes in my tuna or chicken salad), and a lot for the price. Just a huge, heaping place of chicken salad. GREAT.
2.) On the second occasion, I ordered the salmon special, and got amazing salmon, cooked to perfection with potatoes and some sort of asparagus/squash combo on the side... and all for something like 10 bucks. Really incredible. Yeah.
So.... I think this place can be sort of hit or miss with food, but try either of those options, and you are good to go. Maybe this implies that some of the Gold Standard's lunch and dinner fare is a little better than breakfast food? And the service still wasn't very fast either time, but it was a-ok. And still adorable, as always.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/25/2009
Well, in terms of location, this place gets an A plus. Well, personally, and more objectively, too.… Read more »
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Review from Alexandra W.
Philadelphia, PA
3/11/2010
I've biked past this place a bunch of times, all on my way to other eating establishments :-X!
I was finally led here the other day, and it's pretty good! They have really interesting menu items (banana walnut crepes!) as well as your standard cafe fare.
My only gripe is that the portions are kind of small for what you're paying. I got a tuna melt that came with a side salad for $8, and it was only one slice of bread cut in half and like 6 pieces lettuce. And radishes. Who even likes radishes?
Regardless, I want to come back to try some of their other choices. Maybe when I get a real job. -
Review from Bill M.
5/22/2009 4 Check-ins Here
The West Philly community has indeed been waiting around with curiosity and anticipation for here to open. Ever since I saw them setting up shop if been looking forward for here to open. And even though I've had a mixed bag of experiences with Abraccio, I expected here to deliver smashingly. I still feel that way, but ordering wrong on my first attempt showed me that they still have some kinks to work out.
Since I've been eating a carnivorous crap load of meat I decided to counterbalance and get some veggies on my platter. And after reading through the sandwiches the one that offered eggplant, artichoke hearts, and roasted peppers sounded like the way to go. While it delivered in taste, it left a LOT to be desired when it came to portion. With 2 slices of eggplant, a couple pieces of artichoke, a few roasted pepper strips, and a bit of greens, the sandwich clearly offered more bread than veggies. The portion of fries that it came with were also kind of on the skimpy side. The iced coffee I picked up was good, but it met the standard La Colombe expectations.
So while my first meal here left a lot to be desired, the place does have a lot to offer West Philly. It's a brunch spot that doubles over as a BYOB at night. And West Philly desperately needed another one of each. And while I could care less, I know plenty of people who are down with the fact that we have a La Colombe coffeehouse now. The outdoor seating and service were both beyond satisfactory. And I've heard great things about the burgers and chicken wings. So in a lot of ways Gold Standard has a lot to offer that can only get better with time.Listed in: West Philly Living, I Hate Starbucks!, Veggielicious, Sammiches!!!
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Review from Anthony M.
New York, NY
Looks: 5 stars
Speed: 0 stars
Staff: 1 star
Food: 2 stars
From the time I ordered at the counter to the time I got my food it took 50 minutes. Pretty unreasonable for a veggie burrito and a salad. I would have given this review 1 star, but the waitor gave us 2 cookies to apologize for the delay. I thought the food was better than most of the reviews indicated, but still not stellar. Wouldn't come back again... -
Review from Louisa A.
Philadelphia, PA
5/31/2009
I've been twice so far and had mixed experiences. The first time was great. We waited about 15 minutes for a table. The server was friendly and the food fairly priced. The portions aren't huge, so if you're looking for a big, greasy hangover brunch, look elsewhere. I had the tofu scramble, which was slightly bland but overall pretty good. And for $4, who's complaining??
The second go-round left much to be desired. There was a private party going on in the dining area, so I guess the staff and kitchen were really busy. I asked one of the owners if we could seat ourselves outside, and he was a bit short with me. Then we found out brunch ended at 1pm (what?!?!) and had to order lunch instead. I got the black bean burger, which was pretty decent, but I really wanted pancakes! Ketchup and napkins were nowhere to be found, and the kitchen forgot our friends' fries. Oh well.
Both times I've been to Gold Standard, the servers and owners have been apologetic. They obviously know they have some work to do. It's too bad they couldn't have worked out some of these kinks before opening. All the same, I'll be back soon. I'm going to give them a month or two to settle in, and then I look forward to trying the pancakes!
