Booked a dine-in reservation for a late dinner. We had to wait a while at the bar before we were seated. Our waiter was very nice and answered all our questions. Between the two of us, we shared an appetizer, main, side, and dessert and were stuffed by the end of the dinner. Foie Gras Mousse - The water joked that the dish looks like PBJ. They serve you thick slices of bread which you spread a foie gras mousse and blueberries on top. The bread felt quite dense. The foie gras was extremely rich and a bit too much for me. I would eat the two toppings separately on the bread as I felt that altogether the there were too many things going on for me. Cod en Croute - The crusted cod was great and the fish inside fell away in your mouth. However, I was not a fan of the vegetables surrounding the fish and felt that they lacked flavor, I would not recommend ordering this dish. Whole Roasted Maitake Mushroom - The mushroom was good and came with cream for dipping including jam. Again, I did not think the flavor was great or amazing. Banana Pot de Creme - This was by far my favorite part of the meal. The dessert had crumbles on the top that paired perfectly with the soft cream below and the taste was wonderful. Overall the restaurant has a nice ambiance and great service, I thought this food was good, but not enough to justify the price tag. read more

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Beautiful, French-inspired restaurant in Old City. Be prepared to enjoy a leisurely meal in a lovely space. Would take negative reviews with a grain of salt - when I was dining here, some of the other patrons around me came off rather pretentious, critiquing minute issues with their meal, to which the servers and management were infinitely patient and accommodating. read more

4/5 Food. The plating is beautiful and they're all so picture worthy. The lighting is definitely a bit hard for food, but it's for the great ambiance. The taste of the dishes was not as good as we thought they would be. We also ordered several mocktails/cocktails and did not enjoy them as much as we thought we would. I ordered #6 and the Chronic Tonic (this one tasted like pesto + water). We ordered the escargot, unagi glazed octopus, and rabbit confit stuffed crepe for our small plates. The escargot is good if you dip the bread with it! We thought the bread that comes when you order was a bit too oily to be eaten on its own. PLEASE get the Crispy Pork though! It is the BEST dish there. I would definitely come back for it. 5/5 Ambiance. It is BEAUTIFUL inside-- the decorations are gorgeous! Even the bathroom have scented candles. 5/5 Service. Our waitress was AMAZING. She was very attentive, sweet, and gave us the best service. read more

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I 1000% recommend going here. I had an absolutely lovely meal. It is a fancier french restaurant, so just remember you're not paying fast casual prices. Everything is beautiful inside decor wise. We got a very large meal. My favorites were the escargot and the beignets. The beignets were the best ones I have ever had. The scallops were cooked to perfection. Everything down to the bread was delicious. It wasn't that busy of a night we got to chat with our server Seth who is awesome, and has great recommendations for cocktails / wine to go with each course and didn't make me feel like horribly out of place when I spilled my digestif. We got to meet the chef and he is a very sweet talented guy. The cheese cake and ice-cream / sorbet combo dessert were both members of the clean plate club. We were celebrating an anniversary, and we rolled out of here. read more

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We had an amazing experience at Forsythia! Alexa was super attentive and directed our meal expertly. All recommendations were delicious. Our group especially enjoyed the table bread and butter, gnocchi with blue crab, wagyu steak and sunchokes. I will be coming back. read more

Checked this place out with a good friend for restaurant week 2023! Everything was top notch: Service was prompt, friendly, and knowledgeable. Place was clean and well spaced out with lights that were easy on the eyes. Food and drinks were overall great. My favorite was the sweet potato bisque (perfectly balanced & mixed well with both a crunch and smooth factor!) and glazed shortrib (probably one of the best meat I had; so soft and tender that I didn't have to put a lot of pressure on my steak knife to cut it)! My friend really enjoyed her escargot (it encouraged her to order more in the future) and her icelandic cod (perfect tenderness and seasoning). My only criticism/questionable review is that the carmelized endive was quite tough and the sauce au poivre was a bit too sweet and had a texture like glue. It was interesting but left me desiring for mashed potatoes. read more

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With the Covid numbers going in the wrong direction again, Philly restaurants have been pretty much shut down except for Outdoor dining and Take Away. We went for the latter and thoroughly enjoyed our choices. From the Mushroom Tartine to the Short Ribs with Parsnip purée and the Seared Scallops with Pearl Pasta, everything was delicious. Although there's nothing like actually being there, this is a great way to still be able to enjoy their cuisine. read more

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Came here for my fiancée's birthday dinner and was excited to try some new school French cuisine. While a little on the pricier side, everything we got tasted top notch. Among the appetizers, the foie gras with Concord grape jelly on top was stellar; so rich and it's great to have the sweetness to counteract the savory liver. Save some of the complimentary bread for it! The duck crepe was good but I thought they may have overdone it with the cheese, it ended up being a little too rich. I think the duck could have stood on its own. The snails were tender and accompanying sauce was earthy and herby. I really enjoyed my entree! Would absolutely recommend the pork belly with cockles to anyone that comes here... the gravy/sauce that I'm assuming is made from the pork fat makes the dish. The monkfish was well seasoned on the outside and pretty springy but still think the dish could have used a little more pizzazz. Service here was very attentive without being overbearing. The space is well decorated and lively, so great place for a date. With drinks we spent about $200 so probably would save this place for special occasions. I wasn't sure I was going to leave full but we both didn't have room for dessert! I think I just enjoy traditional French cuisine more but if you want a fresh spin, come try this place out. read more

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Lovely dinner at Forsythia, which has been on my bucket list for a long time. We haven't found many good French restaurant options in Philly, so I'm so happy I found Forsythia! We enjoyed every dish, and the pumpkin bisque was especially tasty. Loved the bone marrow flavor for the octopus, and the foie gras just melted in our mouths. Between the monkfish and pork belly, I couldn't decide which one was better because they were both so delicious. Service was great, and the cocktails paired well with the food as well. Can't wait to be back! read more

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Forsythia is such a great spot! With a wonderful staff, tasty cocktails, a beautiful atmosphere, and delicious food, you really can't go wrong! As far as the food goes, we've only been twice, but both visits in relatively short time saw us enjoying very different menus with the same excellent results! That type of constant change might annoy some people, but we love how different the menu was from one visit to the next! Especially when everything we've tried has been really good! If you want consistency, just know that whatever you order will likely be wonderful, and at the very least there's the amazing bread they serve at the beginning of the meal! I would single out dishes, but really, they're all on equal footing for the most part. From fish to meat, pasta to soups, the approachable, but elevated dishes have all continued to hit the spot. The cocktails are solid, and they have a nice little wine menu with some surprises, as well. It's not a cheap meal, but for the quality and execution, you're 100% getting what you pay for! We also can't say enough about how friendly and knowledgeable their staff has been. From start to finish, everyone was very pleasant to deal with. You kind of get the feeling that the staff really enjoys being there, which provides a positive vibe to underline the rest of the experience. There's an authenticity to the excitement from the staff when they're describing dishes. That's hard not to get you excited for the food to come! If you're looking for a cozy atmosphere that's good for a casual dinner or a date night, Forsythia really hits the spot, as well. We've sat up front and in the back dining area, and both provided an equally enjoyable mood. Nothing beats the front window, but atmosphere doesn't suffer in the back, either. Overall, Forsythia has won over some new regulars in my wife and I. It's such a great place for the neighborhood. It's not a cheap meal, but it's definitely on par (or better, quite frankly) with a lot of the nicer restaurants in the city, so it's hard to not steer people in Forsythia's direction when they seek recommendations. read more

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Great meal. If i were to take a half point away, it'd be that the service wasn't that good -- wasn't bad but for a 5 star meal you expect great service and it wasn't that. Foie gras was delicious as was the wagyu tartare. read more

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Can't go wrong here! Third time here. Braised short ribs was perfectly done but the bone marrow fell short (there wasn't even a full scoop of marrow!) Friend ordered braised brisket crepe with sweet potatoes - also spot on. By the way ladies, lighting is perfect for photos ;)! read more

Forsythia - Bone marrow braised short ribs - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Gave Forsythia a try for dinner on a weeknight while visiting Philly. Really glad I did. It was restaurant week so they had a special menu at a great price. Going with the French cuisine of the restaurant, I had the escargot which was excellent. The sauce was amazing. Not just garlic and butter, way better. Then I had a duck breast served with some sliced fruit and mushroom with a wonderful sauce under it. Ended the seating with a chocolate desert which was perfect. All with a glass of Cab Franc. Nice conversation with the person sitting next to me as well as with the bartender "Lo". Her service was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed Forsythia and look forward to going back. :) read more

Great French inspired food. The menu online is slightly different from what is currently available (cocktails and meal components), so an update is needed. We opted for outdoor dining, and it was positioned in a way where there is no foot traffic which is great. This is a fairly new restaurant, with beautiful plating serving some french classics with a twist. On to the food. Drinks: Presently Waiting and Sunday Driver. Both were delicious, but the presently waiting was one of the best drinks that I've ever had. Appetizers- Herb Ricotta Gnudi and Tomato Tartine. The gnudi was textbook, with a delicious Cacio e Pepe sauce. They offer complimentary bread with some amazing lime honey butter, and thankfully I saved a few pieces to sop up the leftover sauce. The Tomato Tartine was also excellent. The tomato jam, bright multi colored tomatoes and avocado cream went well together. Entrees- Rohan Duck and Pocono Trout. The duck was cooked perfectly with a great crust, served with green lentils and blueberries. The trout was pretty good, it was really light, fish was flakey and the almond butter foam was great. The wax beans and micro greens fell flat though. The exterior of the bean was tough, and the micro greens didn't do much for the dish. Dessert- Chocolate Torte and Angel Cake. The torte was stellar! It had a nice fudgy consistency, like a molten chocolate cake cooked a bit too long (not in a bad way). The passion fruit curd helped cut the richness. The Angel Cake dessert was the lesser of the two. Serving both a light and tart mango sorbet and creamy and heavy buttermilk icecream was not my preference, although on their own they tasted great. The actual sponge cake was just ok. Overall: Presently Waiting 5/5 Sunday Driver 4/5 Herb Ricotta Gnudi 5/5 Tomato Tartine 5/5 Rohan Duck 4/5 Pocono Trout 3/5 Chocolate Torte 5/5 Angel Cake 3/5 read more

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It was a snow day and we were in the city. Called the restaurant and no reservation needed as they have cancellation. This place didn't disappoint. The food was great and the service was excellent. Ambiance is good too. Highly recommend. read more

Forsythia - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Came here specifically for their duck and it didn't disappoint! The service was very friendly and helpful. We didn't see any light salad to pair with the rich main dish/duck and they were able to custom make some roasted brussel sprouts with chestnuts for us - which was also amazing. We had many duck dishes in French restaurants, mostly overcooked, under seasoned, some are undercooked and thus unappetizing. This one was aged and then roasted to a nice temperature, crispy skin and nice balance of fat and lean meat, might be a bit dry on its own (still tender) but perfect with the jus. The wings are very crispy outside yet tender inside, but a bit too salty. Wish it came with a lighter side vs a heavy bean/sausage dish that's already creamy (very good but just a tad heavy to pair with the duck). It said to serve two but unless you are very hungry you might be left with some leftovers - it's getting even dryer towards the end of the meal (might be getting a bit cold). Overall one of the nicer executed duck dishes, not greasy, nicely seasoned and cooked. read more

Last night was our first night, and Forsythia did not disappoint. Arguably the best duck I've ever had, and I've had a lot of it in other great restaurants. Chef Christopher was so kind and cool to meet. Staff was incredible and the food was spot on. A great French restaurant with a chef and staff that really cares, I highly recommend this place! Can't wait to come back for the French Laundry dinner! read more

Forsythia - 2 week old dry aged duck duck. Superb! - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We only drank here but it was excellent! The food looked amazing and I definitely want to come back to try it. We were staying at the hotel next door and stopped in to grab a few cocktails before turning in for the night. The drinks were delicious and the staff was so sweet. I loved the decor and the inside. I could have spent all night at this place. I wish we had the time during our visit the Philly to get a meal there because the menu sounds so good. Hopefully next time we can stop in and try the food and get more delicious food. read more

Exceptional French cuisine! I knew when I tasted the bread that the meal would be excellent. The attentive service was what you'd expect from a top restaurant. Recommendations from wine to desert were all appreciated. I look forward to coming back. Top marks in all areas, particularly for the service. Great job! read more

Omg, bookmark this Philly gem asap! I happened to come across this space while walking around in the area and my sister and I stopped in for drinks and bar snacks. The happy hour menu is one of the best in Philly, the selection, quality of cocktails and small bites is very good. It's a true sampling of what the restaurant has to offer, the dishes just melt in your mouth and ingredients are thoughtfully curated. We were so blown away by the happy hour menu that we came back the following month to try the entrees. The space is calm, light, and serene, the perfect setting that connects back to the cuisine. The menu is seasonal, the delicate ingredients are an umami experience with each bite. These are not dishes you can you can re-create at home or available on Tiktok, this is fine dining in Paris. So lucky to have this gem in Philly, can't wait to go back for brunch! If you're a Philly foodie, you have to add this to your experience portfolio. Best in Philly, hands down. read more

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A breath of fresh air in the Old City. I had the Cauliflower Velouté with Blue Crab Salad, Vadouvan Cremeux, and Puffed Grains. Wish the server explained how to eat this as I kept the parts separate. The Cremeux was so butter-like I ended up ordering a side of sourdough to spread it on which my daughter devoured. read more

We had dinner here very recently and had a very pleasant time! The service was very friendly and the atmosphere was very relaxed and comfy. The duck was definitely the highlight of our meal - 5 stars on that one for sure! The bread was a very delicious, garlic heavy treat and the octopus was good as well. The escargot and bass was alright, but we would probably not order them again the next time we come back. Overall, a very nice place to try out! read more

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Great food, portions are well served, we ordered the oysters, foi gras, lamb and duck. All were very tasteful. Ambience is casual and small with only 12 tables. Service was ok, kind but not fast. Don't if you're in a rush. Enjoy it. read more

Birthday Dinner Review! Despite living on East Passyunk Ave for years, Will BYOB was one of those places that alluded me before it closed over the summer. But Christopher Kearse was one of those chefs that I admired at a distance, and when I first read about the modern French Cuisine that he was bringing to Forsythia (https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2019/08/07/forsythia-chris-kearse-old-city-philadelphia/) my minds eye bookmarked it as a future place to indulge upon. And when my better half surprised me with a birthday dinner here over the weekend it delivered all of the good that I expected and more! With the fire that ravaged the 2nd block of Chestnut Street a couple years ago, seeing a brand new restaurant open up and doing well was a good sign of hope from the get go. And Forsythia was packed, and moved like such a well oiled machine, that it also didn't feel like a restaurant that has only been open for six months! Whether it was through offering up spot on recommendations, or through providing humorous anecdotes and a positive attitude, service was at some of the best that I've seen! For cocktails my On Your Mark hit the mark with its Makers Mark, absinthe, and chocolate & chili bitters. And my better half approved of her old fashioned style Rye Fever with Old Overholt Rye and yellow chartreuse. Toss in beers from the likes of Unibroue and Stillwater Artisnal, and it had an amicable list for drafts and bottles/cans. For ordering food our main server made the spot on recommendation that we order 6 - 8 dishes from the restaurants very inspiring menu. And with a plentiful assortment of French canapes, small plates, vegetables, pasta entrees, large plates, and specials this proved to be a very wise and delicious decision. If you've looked at my photos then you'll already identify our meal as a tantalizing assortment of food porn. But here's a more descriptive assessment of our meal: Pumpkin Soup: combine fresh pumpkin with a cranberry mousse and crispy grains for one of the best cold soups I've ever had! Cassoulet - this French classic was exceptionally elevated with blood sausage and a red wine soaked poached egg! Sunchokes - almost like brussel sprouts, but such a good revelation with the horseradish and BACON MARMALADE that came with it! Whole roasted hen of the woods - a new favorite mushroom of mine prepared perfectly with smoked ricotta, Madeira, and sumac spices. Uni carbonara - a contender for my favorite dish of the night with its creamy uni, crispy pancetta, and salty pecorino cheese! Rabbit Boudin - a special of the night that was AMAZING with its tender rabbit sausage and cheesy grits. Duck A L'Orange - This classic got elevated with red cabbage, hibiscus, and cara cara oranges. Napolean - a classic dessert taken to a next level with white chocolate, tahini, and a red caramel. From start to finish it was an incredible experience that already has me thinking about more meals here! read more

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Went home for a little bit to see some family and my brother was so excited that this place was just opening for brunch and said he wanted to go! Knowing that my partner is a foodie and that he could splurge on food without having to struggle with my veghead, we double dated to Forsythia. We made reservations a couple days earlier and luckily they still had some left. We arrived on opening where they checked vaccination cards and lead us to a table in the back. The restaurant is rather small, it seems like they have staggered seating because to our surprise there is only one chef doing all the work! It was very cool to see him in an open kitchen just cooking with ease, it was like we were watching a food network star (we really enjoyed this). There was a couple of larger tables in the front part with a long bar and in the back room by the kitchen there were smaller tables for smaller parties. We ordered... well a lot. We ordered every single small plate they had, 4 cocktails, 4 entrees, and the Caviar & Crepes. All the cocktails were fresh and tasty. Everything came super fast and the service was attentive and excellent. (many of the next part is going to come off of the rest of my party said as I could not eat much of we ordered as I do not eat meat). The first item to come out was the caviar & crepes. Everyone raved about the freshness of them. Shortly after we received the PB&F, which my brother and boyfriend RAVED about, they were practically licking the foie gras would of the container it came in. Afterwards we got the ricotta beignets, which I can attest were to die for, the nutella sauce with it was perfect. They were extremely light too. Lastly we got the beef tartare, which they also raved about. For entrees, I got the waffle which was to die for, literally amazing. I was a little disappointed because it was kind of a DIY they gave you all the sides and you put them on yourself. My boyfriend and brother got the steak and eggs, which they cleaned the plates of those. My boyfriend's girlfriend got the Trout Amandine, which she really enjoyed! Overall, if you are a vegetarian or vegan for the price point I would say to pass, but I am giving it 5 stars because my brother and boyfriend who are big foodies and have been to many different restaurants said that it was one of the top 5 meals they've had in their life. So if you eat meat and are looking for a nice brunch spot this is a must stop place! read more

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I was looking forward to trying Forsythia and it didn't disappoint. For a relatively small space, the restaurant seems roomy and airy and not overcrowded like some city dining experiences can feel. I like that the main dining area is in the back and doesn't feel on top of the bar area. Dined here during restaurant week and all of our choices from the prefix menu were delicious. I had all vegetarian options of panisse, roasted cauliflower and pasta. The panisse and cheese were paired well and the cauliflower with the avocado mixture left me wanting more. The rigatoni has a really good flavor without being heavy and covered in sauce or cream. Staff was friendly and very attentive. Overall a very nice dinner experience. read more

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I went for restaurant week so the menu was different than what it is now - so this review is specifically for it. I will update my review if I do decide to go for a regular dinner. Ambience - perfect, cute and cozy. Service - prompt and friendly. Drinks - OK, wasn't impressed by my drink so I did not order a second. If I go to a restaurant, I drink. And I always order seconds if I like the first one. Food plating and presentation - very pretty and upscale looking. Taste - Pretty underwhelming. The food looked great but my palate wasn't impressed by the taste of it. I see the menu has changed since so I am not going to spend time on the deets. read more

Had an amazing dinner here with a friend! Service is warm and attentive, the decor is beautiful, and the food is memorable. Definitely don't say no to the bread and butter they offer ;) the bread is freshly baked and the butter flavors change regularly. We shared the octopus, the foie gras, the hen of the woods, and the uni carbonara. Octopus is grilled, super tender and super flavorful with a great contrasting texture from the almonds. We loved the foie gras so much we asked for extra break to really scrape the jar clean :) The hen of the woods is amazing. Slightly crispy texture on the outside with the softest tenderness on the inside. There's a smoky salt that adds an earthiness to it that makes me want to eat this everyday. Uni carbonara is creamy and a delicious comfort meal on a cold day. Will definitely be coming back!!! Also... they have happy hour 4:30-6:30pm!! read more

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We stumbled upon this place asking around town. We ended up grabbing some cocktails served by Devon. Thank you Devon,there're perfect. Great Ambiance as soon as you walk. Staff is super friendly and welcoming. I can't wait to come back for some Duck for Two! read more

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Wanted to update with recent brunch. Overall, excellent, and well definitely be back. My only complaint would be the person that seated us. Though we had a reservation and the restaurant was about 1/3 full on arrival, she offered us what was clearly the worst table in the restaurant (right next to super loud espresso machine). When I politely asked her if we could sit somewhere else she was visibly annoyed and said "I guess I can sit you all the way in the back corner". The rest of the time we were there, they didn't sit anybody else in the bad table. It was just odd, everything else was lovely. Our waitress was great and food was delicious. Probably the best gauge of my life and excellent cocktails. Overall, would recommend, though they need to work on their front if the house. read more

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Came here on a Friday evening with a reservation for my husband and I'd wedding anniversary. We were given a glass of complimentary champagne for celebrating our anniversary with them. We were started off with warm focchia bread with salted butter which was delicious! For appetizers we ordered the Escargot à la Provençale, Foie Gras Mousse, and Stuffed Crêpe with rabbit. The escargot was good. Snails were tender and not chewy which is a plus. Only complaint was that it was a bit on the saltier side. The Foie Gras Mousse was good. Very airy and the texture was like whipped butter. The foie gras was served with warm toast and blueberries on the side. The Stuffed Crêpe was my favorite of the 3 appetizers we got. It was my first time having rabbit meat so I was a bit skeptical at first. The flavorings of the dish balanced out very well. The rabbit tasted like chicken. It was extremely tender, and the honey and hazelnuts was a nice touch of sweet and crunchy. For the entrees, we wanted to try the whole duck but it ran out when we ordered which was very unfortunate. We ended up sharing the Iberico Pork Loin and East Coast Halibut. The pork loin pretty much was fall-off-the-bone tender! Nicely cooked and well-seasoned. The halibut was also delicious! Though I would choose the pork loin over the halibut. We cleaned up every plate and unfortunately were too stuffed to get dessert. Would come back next time and would have to reserve an earlier time on a Friday night to make sure I try the duck, read more

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As soon as I saw the menu, I couldn't wait to come here. My friend and I swung in Sunday night at first for just a cocktail and dessert. But after some convincing, we got a few more bites to eat. First off, the menu is fun and there is so much more I want to try. We grabbed a seat at the bar, gorgeous white marble counter top. The bartender, fantastic guy, fun to chat with, gave some good recommendations. Started out with a RBG+T cocktail that I highly recommend. I absolutely love Elderflower so this drink started the night out right. Tonight there were fried cornichons on the menu. Who doesn't love cornichons!? They were fantastic little bites with a light airy batter served with a tasty kicked up aioli. The corn & ham hock beignets were fun savory bites. The panisse with Raclette cheese was different in a very good way. The cheese was creamier than I expected and loved the panisse (chickpea fries if you will). I couldn't leave without trying the whole roasted Hen of the Woods and it paired so nicely with the smoked Ricotta. On to desserts, Kim got the chocolate bouchon, which she raved about. I dove into the kettle corn creme brulee. Both beautifully presented and delicious. Our bartender had asked me if I would be interested in a drink to go with the desserts and he didn't disappoint! Loved the espresso martini. It's one of my favorites. Good surprise. Will be back soon enough because the Petit Four Tower was calling our names (and the duck...and the cheese plate..) :) read more

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Forsythia had been on my radar for quite some time, so I was very excited to finally give this place a visit. French cuisine is not something I'm particularly familiar with so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but whatever those expectations were, Forsythia definitely exceeded them. Firstly, the service was excellent. My boyfriend and I were having a celebration dinner, and the waiter started us off with a complimentary glass of champagne. He also continuously provided recommendations throughout the night that always hit the mark. Per his recommendation, we also ordered The Smoking Carrot and The Hangman as our cocktail selections. Both cocktails were delicious, with The Smoking Carrot being an especially great selection if you're a fan of mezcal. As for the food, nothing disappointed. The portions were not the largest (and I will not lie, I actually laughed after we received our Rohan Duck and Honey Lacquered Quail plates after seeing the portion sizes), but the food is quite rich, so after a three course meal you're probably not going to be hungry. Our favorite item of the night was the escargot, which was extremely tender and soaked in a tasty butter sauce. I should also mention that our waiter threw in a complimentary order of foie gras after we spent an inordinate amount of time debating about whether or not to order it. Again - the service was immaculate. Forsythia is definitely not the cheapest place in the world, but it's a great restaurant for a special occasion. Between the warm ambiance, delicious food, and excellent service, I'm definitely looking forward to my next visit. read more

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The restaurant is warm and cozy, despite being tiled and open giving off classic French bistro vibes. Having alphagal disease (red meat allergy), I was in the best hands at Forsythia. Taylor, our waitress, was attentive and respectful, while also being detail oriented and double checking to see what foods I and my friend (who has a gluten allergy) could eat without worry. We had the escargot, deviled eggs (on the house), mussels, and tuna. Everything was perfectly cooked and presented. We absolutely will come back here to eat with our spouses the next time we are in Philly! read more

Amazing French food! Started with the octopus and escargot. So delicious! Monkfish and short ribs rocked the entree round. Very gluten-free accommodating read more

I went to forsythia the night before valentines. It was one of the first times since Covid that I've gone out to eat, so hopes were high. We were celebrating my birthday a few weeks earlier and valentines, of course. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, everyone was so kind and welcoming. We felt completely taken care of! Our server wished me a happy birthday, gave us a great run down of the menu, and helped us feel right at home. Truly, every staff member we met was lovely. And don't even get me started on the food. We had the Ham, Truffle & Cheese Beignets (I could eat a million), Foie Gras Mousse (so decadent, and a must for any celebration), Wagyu Beef Tartare (absolute perfection), and the braised duck (slightly tough but the sauce was delish). For dessert, we did the Meyer Lemon Tropézienne which was not too sweet and the perfect way to end the meal. The decor is also very beautiful and modern, and the playlist is just like the dessert--not too sweet but definitely fun. I can't wait to try their brunch! read more

Forsythia - Modern European Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Finally went for my girlfriend's birthday and we had a wonderful time! The restaurant itself is stunning- the bar back group is a deep jade and the main dining area is beautifully decorated with mesmerizing floor tile. The food is all delicious- highly recommend the foie gras and the lamb. I love that you never get the same menu twice as the chef makes updates as the seasons change. If you're looking to impress on a date night, look no further. read more

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Absolutely amazing!! *GF FRIENDLY! Being Gluten free it is always really hard to go out to eat. Our server Jeremy knew the ingredients in each item and made sure everything my boyfriend and I ordered was GF. If you enjoy an outstanding and tasteful experience, this restaurant is for you. The escargot was not slimy but cooked to perfection. All of the ingredients are high quality and extremely satisfying. Portions are perfectly crafted, and the timing of the entire experience was exceptional. If you are looking for a great new restaurant, make your reservation here. read more

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I was excited that Forsythia offered a one night Foie Gras dinner as I'm a huge fan. Upon arrival we opted for the wine pairing which was overall good and the sommelier was pleasant and informative. A couple was seated next to us about 15 minutes after our arrival and we were surprised (so were they) that they were presented the first dish of the course without having their drinks arrive yet. We had our drinks and were perplexed. The couple didn't start eating as they were clearly waiting for their beverages. After a few minutes, a waitress removed their plates and apologized that they were served too early. About 5 seconds after she was out of sight, a different waitress returned to our table with the first course. I asked if this was the plates that came from the table next to us, and she said "no, this was prepared fresh for you". The knowing look between me and the couple at the next table was hilarious as we knew it was the plates that were on their table less than a minute earlier. The dish was a scallop crudo that was delicious where the richness of the foie was noticeable and paired well with the scallops. The next dish to arrive was a foie terrine where the foie was the star. Although the next 2 dishes were decent, I did not get any taste of the foie. The mushroom and escargot with puff pastry did not have any flavor of foie at all. Neither did I notice it in the chicken dish that came next. The desert of profiteroles that had some infusion of foie did not impress as any richness of the foie was overpowered by the chocolate. The restaurant has an intimate bistro like vibe and is nice. Overall, I was disappointed as I was hoping that the foie would be the star of the dishes with foie served 4 ways instead of a background flavor note that didn't always come through. read more

I've always wanted to try Will BYOB's Wednesday tasting menu, and I was sad to learn that they closed. But I was thrilled to learn that Forsythia became the new replacement, now with a wine and cocktail list, and I have been dying to try this place for a while. My mom, friends and I met up for dinner last night and we decided to try everything out. With COVID restrictions in place, we were sat in a round booth in a semi-private area. There was plexiglass on the table and we were provided with hand sanitizer on the table as well. The menu is modern French fusion, and the decor was cozy and modern/casual. Since there were so many items on the menu that looked delicious, we decided to split 5 starters, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts. Our server was lovely and executed the timing of the meals perfectly Our dinner began with a basket of delicious focaccia bread, served with a lemon, cardamom and herb butter. Right away, we absolutely loved the escargot with foie gras grits and the rabbit confit crepe. The escargot was tender and buttery, and the foie gras grits was incredibly rich and creamy. The rabbit had such a lovely smoky flavor to it. These two dishes were followed up with the octopus, the crab beignets and the shrimp arrabbiata. The octopus is definitely a must-try - it was accompanied by a potato salad, and the octopus was very tender! However, we were disappointed that the beignets were doughy on the inside and only had an essence of crab flavor. The shrimp arrabbiata, though nicely spiced, was too salty for my liking. For the dinner entrees, the wagyu beef brisket was very tender and also very fatty. If you are expecting something lean, this would not be the dish for you. The skate wing was a dish that I looked forward to, but that turned out to be over-salted as well. We were generously provided with a fresh salad and asparagus by the team, and our favorite side dish was definitely the asparagus. The asparagus was super crisp, mild after-taste, serviced with a lovely sauce. We rounded off the evening with a bottle of Shiraz and two of the featured desserts. The banana pot de creme had chunks of fresh banana and a hint of a minty after-taste. The chocolate cheese cake dessert was accompanied by a dark chocolate brittle, a mousse and a truffle (I think?) Overall, service was fantastic, the meal was wonderful and I would go back. I knocked off a star, because the beignets, the skate wing and the arrabbiata were a bit of a disappointment, but the other dishes were REALLY well done. read more

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