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Categories: American (Traditional), Lounges
Neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Avenue of the Arts SouthMon-Wed. 6:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Thu-Sat. 6:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
3 Courses, 2 People, $20. Juicy Burgers & Tender Ribs. You Choose!
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very cool place for a pre-dinner drink - the enormous windows and high ceilings just make it feel so elegant.
awkward place to go for a pr-dinner drink if the rest of the place is empty, because then you just look like a stuffy alcoholic
and I am not stuffy
So wow did I feel slightly under-dressed when we arrived at the top of the Bellevue...great décor, delicious food, and very hospitable wait staff.
Atmosphere: (A) Sometimes I'm in the mood for a fancy dining experience, and XIX provided just that. Felt like I was dining in a modern yet traditional ballroom with these large dangling pearls hanging from the high dome ceilings. Next time, I'm aiming for a balcony seat ;)
Food: (A) I ended up getting yellow tail sashimi for an appetizer - wow that stuff just melt in my mouth, flat iron steak for the main entrée - I admit, it looked small when they first brought it out, but it was plenty food, and this apple cake a la mode-ish type dessert - yummy! As with most fancy restaurants, the presentation was nice and the food was really quite good.
Service: (A) Wow, I actually have no complaints about the service for once! Hostesses, waitress from the bar, and the two gentlemen that waited our table were all very friendly, upbeat, and did their job the best way imaginable. There's something about waiters (and bartenders as well) when they show personality and get into mini-conversations that are non-intrusive and provide just the perfect amount of interaction with a customer, it really impacts my overall feeling towards a restaurant... well assuming the food is decent as well ;)
Overall: (A) I'll definitely be back... for a balcony seat... with nicer clothes. Hah.
This is one of my favorite happy hour spots!
What a fabulous spot to enjoy $6 specialty drinks & complimentary wasabi peanuts from 5-7. If you want a window seat, I recommend showing up before 6. I've frequented this place on several occasions and received stellar service each time.
I love their mixed drinks - they're always satisfying, flavorful and don't skimp on the booze. My favorite is the tart and powerful grapefruit martini. Another tasty concoction is the mango mojito made with fresh juice (not flavored syrup) and tons of fresh mint.
Heard about their fabulous lunch deal, and finally went a few weeks ago for a friend's birthday. Totally worth it and special enough for celebrations.
XIX has a $19 cafe lunch, which includes a choice of entree and their buffet spread of cheese, salads, meats, and a large spread of desserts. The dining room was beautiful with nice views, the service was great, and the food was delicious. Made sure to save room for dessert, and I had a whole plate full to try. A few disappointed but for the most part I was a happy camper with my spread.
Park in the Bellevue garage located right next to the Hyatt, and XIX will validate your parking ($6.50 for 3 hours).
beautiful beautiful place. so classy and the view of Philly from here is breath taking! I was here for my birthday, it was a Wednesday night, and we ran into Mayor Nutter =] fancy fancy fancy. I've never ate there, but I've had many a drink there. It is pricey and I always feel under dressed. Also, just a but of trivia, Legionnaires' disease started in the Bellvue (where XIX is) in 1976. But no worries, no more bacteria in the air that'll cause a respiratory disease.
Loved it.
This is how restaurant week is supposed to feel. Like you're really dining there and paying the big bucks.
Went here with 8 friends for a birthday lunch. Great food (loved the steak). GREAT view. Great wine and champagne. Even a 3 candled cupcake serenade!
Definitely want to go back for dinner. View at night must be awesome.
This place has some sentimental value to me but aside from that it doesn't really matter to me if I go back or not. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my food and time there, but I didn't leave wondering when I'd be back. The dining room is beautiful, the menu is solid, but the whole feel associated with eating in a hotel is a turn-off. Also, the crowd was a weird mix. There were the 70 yoa former Bookbinder's customers, the hotel guests wearing cargo shorts and flip flops, people in suits, and everyone else. Keep in mind that the dining room and overall ambiance are pretty fancy here.
I think happy hour is probably a different story. It was winding down when I got there and the bar looked pretty happening. I think a few drinks at the bar and maybe some selections from the raw bar might have been more enjoyable than dinner.
I was struggling to decide if I was going to go with three or four stars on this one.
I was brunching here, for the first time with a former yelper whose name is...well I'll leave those of you who know to identify the cleavage in the photo. Again, that's beside the point. Overall the brunch was pretty wonderful. I was excited to see they had dim-sum, which was really just a collection of yummy dumplings, some sushi and spring rolls. All of which were pretty delicious. They also had a raw bar complete with a plethora of salads, shrimp and oysters. There was also a pastry table, with some cheese and ham on it. Really was the least interesting part of the brunch in my opinion.
Then of course there is the fact that you are also served a hot plate of your choice.
I first ordered the eggs benedict, but the hollandaise fell short. However they were very accommodating and allowed me to choose another dish. Went with the steak, thought it would be a safe choice. My dining partner ordered an egg biscuit sand which that was a total mess.
Overall it was OK, I'm sure I'd go back because the buffet is totally worth it!
On a side note...we saw the largest blackberry to ever exist here...and that made me happy.
This is a review for the bar only.
If you're feeling fancy, want a change of scenery and a nice view - come during their happy hour (5 - 7pm) for half priced cocktails ($6 - the Lychee martini is delicioso) and secure yourself a spot at the bar or in one of the three half moon booths by the windows. At sunset, it's lovely.
The space is swanky-cozy, with high ceilings and dark paneling. (during the winter they have the fireplace going in full swing, it's a nice touch!) Waitstaff service tends to be spotty when they are busy - (I dig their elegant uniforms) If you're lucky they might serve you complimentary wasabi peanuts - otherwise for eats, the bar food menu isn't impressive. Skip the cheese and cured meats (blah) and have a go at their sliders (though expensive at $5 for each!)
3-stars are for the reasons I go: cocktails, happy hour specials and an elegant space with a view.
At XIX the food is good, the service is good, but it's the decor and the views that shine.
Bring a date, sit beside the huge windows with a glass of champagne and let the sun go down. Without a doubt it is a wonderful place for a romantic evening.
I had never been here before and I was absolutely amazed at the space when we walked in. So very stylish and open...I love it!
My girlfriends and I stayed in the lounge area by the bar for drinks the whole time. The bartenders were very attentive even though it was super crowded and I never had to wait more then a minute or two to be waited on. We were there during Sips so there were discount drinks available which I took advantage of since its very expensive normally. Sangria was pretty decent...not the best but good for $4!
I would love to go back here to eat at some point, as the food looked very delish.
The Cafe part of XIX has an awesome prix fix lunch deal. For $20 you get three courses... there is a buffet with salads, cured meats and cheeses, an entree that is served to you, and another buffet with several amazing desserts. All of this in a spectacular setting makes for a very special afternoon that won't break the bank.
I came here for restaurant week and was very impressed with the view, food selection, service. Very roomy. This is a nice place to come for a business lunch or bring out of town guests. They have a dessert bar at the end where you just fill up on desserts for as long as you like. Don't come here if you are trying to lose weight though.
This is a review of the bar only. And it would be more accurate to post two different reviews for XIX's bar: one for Center City Sips and one for all other times. They should get a 5 for Sips and a 1 for Not sips.
For two hours on Wednesdays over the summer this place is just great. They've got nice digs, outdoor seating with gorgeous views, a fun crowd, delicious food (burgers, calamari), and of course $2 Lagers.
But come to the same place after 7 and that same old Yuengling is now $8, and slow service (which is definitely understandable during Sips) gets slower and more frustrating.
3 words: pretention, pretension, pretenshun!
Talk about uncomfortable. I'm a normal, friendly guy who expects a little class and respect from at least the staff when I'm on a date... that did not happen.
After waiting 10 minutes for service I flagged down a server who was ignoring me and politely asked for a beer for me and a cosmo for my date. The drinks came promptly, but she took plenty of time before she asked if I wanted a second round (my glass was empty for a while).
I found the other patrons and the wait staff to be disgustingly phony. This one experience was enough for me to never want to set foot in this "i'm too good to look at you, (and so much hotter because I spent $500 on my shoes)" place again.
My boss took us up here for celebratory cocktails the other day, and I felt very posh to say the least. We sat out on the terrace, which has this very old-money feel to it; I suddenly had the urge to have a tiny dog on my lap =P They have great happy hour deals: $6 cocktails, half price glasses of wine and beer, and they give you a bowl of wasabi peas to snack on. And they are not messin around with their cocktails. She had the Pineapple Mint Julip, and I had the Peach Martini, both delicious, and made for quit a buzzed walk home.
I noticed they have a prix fixe deal on every 3rd Thursday, $55 for 3 courses w/ wine pairing. Looked promising and I'll def have to come back to try their food.
4.5 stars
I went with my friend after receiving a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant. We decided to go on a Tuesday night, which was an interesting choice. On one hand it was nice and quiet and we had our choice of table, on the other hand it was EMPTY. No big deal though, because we sat outside on the balcony and the view was so incredible! My only regret is that I wasn't on a hot date (no offense Rachel!). Some heaters outside would also have made the balcony more enjoyable.
The food was incredible. We both had salads, and my crab salad alone would have made enough for a dinner! The wine was paired very well, and the rolls were better than at most places. For dinner I had the fish stew which was very flavor-able and had a generous portion of lobster in it, which I definitely approved of!
I hesitate from giving this place 5 stars because a) I wasn't digging the empty ambiance, and b) our waiter, while nice, was awkward and raggedy looking. His coat was all frayed etc. For the amount they charge for a dinner, you think they could get their waiter a coat!
I'll be back! I definitely want to check out their happy hour, as all of the other reviewers have said such great things about it!
Fine dining without draining your bank account - that is the XIX experience.
What was once Founders at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel - which was the place where red velvet curtains and stuffy chairs went to die - XIX has been transformed into a clean, soothing dining room overlooking the Avenue of the Arts from its 19th floor location within the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue.
Now, dining in the main room can still be quite expensive - but I've an offer that will make it well worth the trip to the 19th floor!
BTW - to get to XIX, enter the main lobby of the Bellevue and walk past the main bank of elevators - to the left of the security desk and you'll find two elevators to your left. These place you within XIX when they open onto the 19th floor. Once you get the lay of the land, then you can just take the main bank of elevators to the 19th floor and navigate yourself to XIX.
When you first enter XIX from the elevator, you are in a grand rotunda; complete with comfortable seating as well as a quaint outdoor balcony that offers a wonderful view of the city, south. This is the XIX Cafe. Then, to the right of this rotunda you'll find a hall that connects you to the OTHER rotunda, which is their main dining room. However, within the hallway is one of the best hideaway bars in the city; complete with leather chairs and a fireplace during the winter season! A great night-cap location after a night of theatre.
The XIX Cafe is where you can partake in the Cafe Dinner menu - for $30 per person you get access to what I think is the 2nd best salad bar in the city (the first being Fogo de Chao). The salad bar offers a mix of greens, vegetables and several pasta dishes - along with meats and cheeses and fresh breads. You also get to select one of five entrees from the menu; including a daily fish dish, a wonderful flatbread pizza and a mouthwatering steak entree.
Once you're finished your entree, you head to their dessert table - all that is needed is a chair so you never have to leave! From fresh-baked brownies, to parfaits to mini-cheesecakes - you will easily channel your favorite child character from Willie Wonka as you dive into the dessert displays. Just be grateful you don't have to walk down 19 flights of stairs afterwards!
**I originally submitted this review to http://phillygrub.ning... in spring 2008**
What a wonderful place to come for lunch! And the express menu is an absolute steal; I had a food coma to prove this! Nineteen has a beautiful atmosphere and rightfully so atop the Bellevue with a view of the city skyline. Every place to sit is comfortable and clean and ambiance is sophisticated.
For the express lunch, you are tempted by a buffet display of appetizers, a set entrée, another display of delicious desserts, and choice of soda or iced tea as well. I ordered the grilled marinated pork as my entrée with gnocchi and then proceeded to the display. There was a cheesy Caesar salad, pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, another salad of greens with feta cheese and Portobello, some cheeses to sample, and curried shrimp. I was also introduced to that delicious little delight of a kumquat. All delicious. The pork was soft and delicious and definitely filled me up by that point. But how could I resist all those desserts? Delectable cheesecake bites, strawberry shortcake, fruit tarts, and cookies! I would only complain that there is a little bit too much cream on some of these desserts, but otherwise, great!
At first I thought it was annoying to take the elevator just to go to the bathrooms below just one floor, thinking the elevator would take a long time to come, but they are fast. So don't you worry.
Some mishaps: the hostess who greeted us was not very friendly at all. Granted, some of us may not have been dressed to dine here, but mind you, lady, we will be back at some point paying good money to keep you from being unemployed. Everyone else was very friendly.
For $19, an absolutely, hands down, solid deal!
Went here again recently for the same lunch special - this time we sat outside for the whole meal. Some of the desserts werent as great as others, but most hit the spot. Also the service was a little less "on". Then I got a double espresso & found on the bill it was $6.50. Eeks that seemed high. All in all, though, I will be back. You really cant beat the ambiance & food for the $.
I have been here many times for happy hours ($6 for fancy super strong cocktails, cant beat… Read more »
Awesome venue with a great view if it's nice enough to sit outside. Inside there is a great area with a fireplace and bar, and the main dining area is laid out. This is a nice spot to take a date that you're looking to impress. The food is really good and surprisingly reasonable in terms of price. Recommend the calamari, which is fried in the lightest, tastiest batter I've had. The service was also really good.
This is a review for the 2 hours I spent here for CC Sips.
The Sips menu was alright on paper, with two types of Sangria, house wine, beer, and apps.
First off, the place was packed to the brim for Sips. No place to sit, but we found a nice place to chill out on the balcony.
I had the Sangria and wine. The red sangria was a travesty, and I'm sad that I spent 4 bucks on it. The white sangria was pretty tasty, so remember that if you go. We didn't get a chance to try the apps because of the crowd, but they looked good (sliders, calamari, etc)
Brad's rating (out of 5):
Drinks: 3
Price: 5
Decor: 4 (beautiful space, even nicer at night for dinner)
Service: 4
Wild card: We got the last drinks at 7pm and about 1 dozen people in line behind us were cut off. Gotta love little victories
The journey to the experience that is Nineteen starts in the lobby as you step into the mirrored elevators that whisk you far above the streets of Philadelphia. Stepping out, you follow the signs around to the hotel check in? Indeed it is. Proceed past the check in desk and into the Café. Keep going. You're not here for coffee, you're here for dinner.
Normally you will be greeted by a hostess at the main entrance to the bar and formal dining room. We didn't see anyone helpful so we kept walking. The bar is obvious, strikingly beautiful, and gets very crowded. We walked passed it as no one had yet greeted us and ended up in the main dining room. Realizing we should be accompanied to this place we turned and headed back to the bar and inquired of the very harried bartender about how to check in. He sent us back out a bit to the right where the hostess had mystically appeared. We checked in and headed back to the bar, this experience an unfortunate foreshadow of service yet to come.
At the bar we ordered our drinks and waited. We waited longer, and finally they arrived. Now lest you think I'm getting my critic panties in a knot, consider the following. The bar seats all of 20 people and we were two of six. This is a FINE DINING ESTABLISHMENT. Finally, it was only 5pm and if this guy couldn't keep things together at 5, what would 7 look like.
Well, 7 only got better for us as it turned out BMK knew the highly respected pastry chef. Once word got out that BMK was in da house service went right up to where it should have been all along. Slightly annoyed now that it wasn't I that was recognized I sampled their Oyster shooter (good at happy hour price, too expensive otherwise). The first culinary delight of the evening was the cheese plate. We selected five cheeses which were paired with various fruit preparations such as hot pepper jam, cherry butter, a chutney, and other delicious offerings that had I had my notepad I would type them here. Best cheese plate in Philly, period.
Whatever else we had was not memorable, so it was good enough to not make me want to complain about it but not good enough that it stuck out in my mind afterwards.
We were seated at the very edge of the beginning of sunset. We were given an 'inside seat' as apparently clout with the pastry chef is not clout enough to get window seating. The room is all white linen, gold leaf and gold paint, and of course, oversize dangling pearls. My heart was happy to see several blue haired ladies with white gloves looking scandalized that BMK was being greeted by various diners he had worked on previously. Its good to see people still get scandalized over something in Philly.
But I was raised to be polite, so I smiled and sat down to review the menu. As I reviewed the wine list I realized that even I was going to be out of my league. Literally hundreds of bottles of wine graced the pages of the wine list with a range of prices as wide as the selection of wine itself. Being a wizened diner, I knew exactly what to do. I confirmed w/BMK what he would be having and we summoned the sommelier.
Surprisingly I've found a few of you out there don't know what a sommelier is. For more on what a sommelier is, go here. The short version is that they are the on staff wine expert.
The sommelier at Nineteen was wonderful. He recommended a wonderful chardonnay to go with our appetizers (a seafood plate), two lovely red wines for the main course (lamb) (two as BMK and I like different styles of red) and an incredible dessert wine. Nothing was inordinately priced.
Back to food. We ordered the seafood plate supplemented with the chilled lobster. I selected three varieties of oyster including my all time favorites Raspberry points. The plate was definitely impressive when served, with a double decker presentation staked high on our tiny table. The oysters came with the standard mignonette, cocktail sauce, and a capered mayo. What they didn't come with was their brine, which was definitely disappointing.
What was really disappointing was the chilled lobster. This poor creature was all of about six ounces. For $35, yes THIRTY FIVE DOLLARS, we were expecting something a bit plump, instead, we received the Mary Kay Olsen of lobsters. I should have ordered a jumbo shrimp and been done. I'll never order the chilled lobster again, ever. It's one thing to pay high price for an experience, it's another to be flat out gouged.
Rant aside, we enjoyed the lamb immensely as it was perfectly cooked, lightly sauced, and served with a wonderful side comparable to the inside of a samosa.
Classy. But pricey. I'm more of a dive bar with PBR person. But I still had a great time for happy hour. Bartender was nice and made strong drinks. Not a big beer selection but the beer was great. Great view of the city.
I would go back. I didn't like the out-of-towner business folks, but you can't fault the bar for that. It is in the Hyatt. Wasabi peanuts were addictive.
XIX is like the shiny thing that you dangle in front of a baby to enable you to do other things like change her or stop her from crying. The atmosphere and views are so breathtaking that you don't mind that the food is not really that great, certainly not worth the price. My date, a staunch foodie, was really unimpressed... downright mad actually. I was doe-eyed, just staring at the architectural accents and biding my time before escaping to one of their balconies overlooking the city.
Yes restaurant week is a GREAT time to go to this place, but get there early because the main dining room gets filled quickly. I have never had lunch there before, but I would imagine that is also a phenomenal way to experience XIX. Their bar seems nice enough, very masculine w/ dark wood and leather seating... it kind of makes you feel like you should be holding a cigar in one hand and a double malt scotch in the other, talking about your much-younger mistress or the state of your off-shore accounts (none of which I have).
Went here during a philadelphia restaurant week.
The whole look and feel of the place is very nice. The architecture has a very grandiose ballroom appeal. In the center of the main dining room is the raw bar. The ambiance of the place is enough to go alone.
The food was very well done. I liked their menu selections. This was a restaurant week special, so their menu was greatly reduced.
The service was very good. They were very accommodating to our tastes.
If I have the chance to go again I'll try to sit in one of the corner tables. It is said that if you sit in one of these tables you will be able to hear the conversation at the table on the other side of the room due to the way the buildings architecture is designed.
They also have a cozy bar area too, but no bathroom. When I asked to point me in the direction of the restroom on the way out. The host referred me to the bathroom on the floor below. They have a private elevator within the restaurant to take you there.
There are many hallways and elevators in the building to make for quite the romantic moment with a special someone.
4 stars goes to XIX
The other reviews mostly cover it, but I wanted to add some advice. The best times to come to XIX are: 1) restaurant week (mid-January), 2) center city sips (summer) or 3) when the weather is beautiful and you can get there early enough to get a spot on the balcony. The atmosphere is always fun, but even more so during special events like Sips or restaurant week. The views from the balcony are amazing, though you don't see them most of the year when the weather is bad and the windows are closed.
Granted - it was during restaurant week... but I was left with a "meh" about XIX. Atmosphere was beautiful. Service was great. But the food seemed to be a bit overpowering. The squash soup wasn't just spicy - it was SPICY. The chicken wasn't just salty - it was SALTY. The flavors just didn't blend.
Happy hour here has always been worthwhile (excellent wine list) - so I'll probably try again... but as it is I'm leaving the restaurant at three stars. If I go back I think I'll go with seafood fare - I'll bet the wet bar is good. I hear this may need to be added to my brunch list as well.
I've been thinking about my top dining experiences for 2008 and, after dining at XIX for dinner recently, I'm adding it to my list.
We were seated in the far dining room (not the one when you first come off the elevator; although it is nice, go for the other one if you have the chance). The decor is gorgeous, there's a raw bar in the center of the room and the nighttime views are magnificent. I'm still swooning over my meal of crabcake, grilled octopus (prepare to be amazed) and duck. The bartender very kindly obliged my request for a nonalcoholic cocktail and served up a delicious virgin raspberry mojito that blew me away. And the service: ce magnifique! It was attentive without being pushy and Wilmer, one of our waitstaff, will have you cracking up throughout your dinner. I loved this - since XIX is such an upscale restaurant, it took a little of the edge off and made for a really enjoyable evening.
One of my favorite parts of the night was a dessert sampling and probably the best pot of tea I've ever had in my life. The Bellevue has its own blend of tea (Bellevue Blend) that consists of different flowers. It's pink, fragrant and delicate. Much like me :)
While it's obviously not a place to dine at on an everyday basis, this is one of my go-to restaurants for a fancypants experience. So if you're looking to impress someone, have a night to remember, seal the deal or all of the above, I highly suggest you make a reservation at XIX!
I don't like to be complainy about the Yelp rating system, but XIX is a perfect example of how that… Read more »
Restaurant Week favorite.
Center City Sips favorite.
Definitely worthwhile, just be prepared for the looming bill. Make sure to try the raw bar!
I came here for an event and not only did I have a great time, I ate pretty well too. Service was wonderful and they did a great job hosting. I had a version of chicken teriyaki that was spicy and served with a cucumber salad that was wonderful. I also had shoestring fries with mustard dipping sauce. The fries weren't shoestring and the sauce was glorified honey mustard...but regardless I enjoyed it.
I'd like to go back when there is not an event and try the full menu.
This is a very classy place and I felt a little classy showing my face in here. It's true.
I came during the 5-7p happy hour, lured by the half price cocktails. The cocktails are delish, that's for sure. Worth the price, even at half price? Um... maybe. They do have some surprising concoctions.
We ordered our drinks at the bar and then snagged a table (it is very crowded at happy hour). The bartender informed us that the tables are waitress service only ... however, in the 1.5 hours we were there, I saw neither hide nor hair of any waitress. Alas, the last diners' leftover dishes remained on the table for the duration which was unpleasant to say the least.
Would I come back? Probably, because it's a very nice setting with a nice view (I am a sucker for a view) and unusual cocktails. I wouldn't expect to have poor service every time ... I am giving 19 the benefit of the doubt.
During Center City Sips, this place is happening! Pomegranete margaritas half off with delicious mini chicken kabobs make this a must go to spot for happy hour.
Classy and wonderful view of the city. Located at the Bellevue, this place gets hopping after work. Good service. Good times.
As good as it gets!! (for restaurant week, that is)
For $35 a person, for 3 person.
We got:
Butternut Squash Soup (so sweet, so delicious)
Tempura Frog Legs (best frog legs I've had)
Beet Salad (my friend said its good but I was never a beet kind of person)
Roasted Quail (decent portion and taste)
Monkfish (so so so good! I gobbled it all down without offering to share. It was THAT good)
Perogies (pretty good, however, still perogies)
Strawberry Shortcake (my friends loved this and devoured it completely)
Lychee-Huckleberry Parfait (it's okay)
Overall, the service and food were great for the price we paid. However, if it were full price, it would be a completely different story.
Come for the view : the city looks amazing at sunset from the 19th floor.
Decent food (the dessert was the best part), but HORRIBLE, TACKY service. Absolutely classless.
Not only was my party of 5 forced to wait 30 minutes to be seated for our reservation, but the host/management wasn't the least bit apologetic.
Once finally seated, service at the table was unprofessional and practically nonexistant. Our waiter looked about 19, his suit was clearly 3 sizes too big for him, and he described the monkfish as "poor man's lobster". This kid should definitely never go into sales. Other signs of terrible service: my iced tea was never refilled - not a single time!, we waited literally 30 minutes to place our order and another 30 minutes for our 1st course to arrive, the waiter forgot about our coffee order, the list goes on...
The kicker, though, was after all this horrible service, the waiter tries to claim that b/c our reservation was for 6 and we only had 5 people, they were going to charge us for the 6th person. HONESTLY?! And to bring it up while we're eating our appetizers? Totally tacky.
And if you think the waitstaff is terrible, wait until you see the managers. The Park Hyatt should be embarrassed that a place like this occupies space in their hotel.
What more can I say about this place!! I've been here many times for drinks, dinner, and their wonderful lunch buffet. It's such a great spot in center city, especially for a date or late night drinks. I'm always impressed by service, although sometimes lunch entrees do take a bit long to arrive. Because of this I usually get filled up on the buffet before my entree even arrives.
Take someone here on a date. You won't be disappointed.
Great service and ambiance. Desserts were definitely lacking. Food was okay but nothing that stood out. Great scenery, very romantic if y'all taking a significant other out.
3.5 stars for the food
2 for the view
6 for the service
The food was good but not as amazing for such a pricey restaurant. However, XIX sure makes a banging butternut squash soup. My friend claimed that the monkfish was amazing. The tenderloin I had was soft but had a slightly burnt skin. Dessert was quite good though. The chocolate cake was super thick and espresso-y tasting. The lemon lycee parfait was funny at first but after the first couple of bites - delicious.
The view wasn't spectacular but that may have been because of where we were sitting.
The service earns this place its four stars. The waiters and waitresses were quite attentive and extremely pleasant!
Happy Hour (5-7) drinks are half price, that means my two drinks with tax/tip cost me only $17.50-you decide if this is a good deal.
Went with three others, one commented on "how blond" the room was. If I was just out of college, working downtown, and looking for booty, this would be the place to be!
First of all, I LOVE the bar. It's so swanky and there is always at least one bartender who is super attractive. I don't know about you but that equals points in my book. The cocktails are good, and the happy hour specials are the jam, but the drinks aren't always consistent. Take last night. My first blueberry gimlet had lots of blueberries and was a bit on the syrupy side. My second was only slightly blueberry tasting but the vodka taste was way offensive. I suspect a brand switch came into play because that concoction could have cleaned an engine from '76. But, it was Center City Sips night, so I get that they were crazier than usual and that's why.
The food is consistent and very high-quality every single time. Sometimes the service can be a tad slow, and that includes times when there are only four or so tables taken in the entire restaurant. I also feel that the dinner menu could be slightly less hoity-toity, for those people who don't want to branch out to frog legs and bison. I don't need a roast chicken, but a bigger selection of seafood or even a pasta dish would be nice. Those things aside, dining here really does make me pretty happy because the ambiance is so nice, the service (while sometimes slow) is generally excellent and the food is very good. Having brunch here with my mom last year is probably one of my favorite Philly memories to date, and that's pretty cool.
Chili's 3 for $20
Neighborhood: Market East
1/2 Prices at Happy Hour
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Neighborhood: Avenue of the Arts South
Category: Greek
Neighborhood: Market East
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Society Hill
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Avenue of the Arts South
Category: American (New)
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