Brasserie Perrier (Philly)

This is no Brasserie. It is a fine dining restaurant, with prices to match. That said, we enjoyed it, but be prepared to pay $20-$35 per entree. While it was very good, I'm not certain it was THAT good.

The place was full at 6:30 on a Saturday, and when we left it was completely jam-packed. The bar was elbow to elbow with waiting patrons.

Inside the dining area, you were in a different place. Very quiet, music playing (opera alternating with the soundtrack to Cats). The walls are covered in fabric, and the ceiling has attractive accoustical tiling to mute the sound. While not stuffy, it didn't have the "fun" atmosphere I want in a brasserie.

The food was plentiful and very tasty. I had a parmesan-dressed romaine salad and potato-crusted halibut (excellent) and my companions had venison, veal chop and steak.

My mom had a warm chocolate cake with caramel ice cream, very good, I had an assortment of home made sorbets (good, but the ones at Nan, reviewed a little later on, were better).

Excellent wine list. They work with a distributor, telling the distributor what they want, then the distributor sells it to the state, from whom the restaurant buys the wine.

Definitely recommended, but I think that I liked Blue Angel a little better. Objectively, this place was probably a better restaurant, but doing a price comparison, I'll take a not quite so perfect place :)

1619 Walnut St (215) 568-3000