Picnic just opened up a block from my home and we've been very excited about it for a long time. What a brilliant concept. If you're in the business of designing restaurants and concepts, this place is simply a work of art. The concept is kinda like fancy picnic food- little glasses of wine, little baguettes, cheese, oysters, salami, and roasted chicken. As a work of capitalism, the margins in this place must be outstanding. But it's what they have done in refurbishing a long derelict (130 years old at least) brewery building that elevates this place. You feel this space. It seems huge but it really isn't. We watched them from our house as they carefully refurbished the old brewery smokestack and put a roof on the building. It is the ultimate work of historic preservation and overnight has elevated Martha Street into probably the hippest restaurant street in Philadelphia if not in all of America. read more

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We were extremely impressed with picnic. Food was amazing 10/10! There is a wine store front before you enter the restaurant where you can purchase wine before you dine. Service was fast. Our server informed us that we order by scanning the QR code and food comes out as it is ready. We started off with oysters which were delicious & fresh. We ordered the lettuce salad which was crunchy, and yummy. Also ordered the bread & butter. Next was the chicken sandwich which was probably the BEST chicken sandwich I have ever had. It was so juicy, flavorful and delicious. The organic half chicken was exceptionally well made- was soft, juicy, well seasoned and was also 10/10. I ordered the margarita and my partner ordered the rum banana drink. The drinks were good but did not blow us away. Overall I loved Picnic & will definitely be back!! read more

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Food was good, I'd say just above average. The menu is kind of all over the place. Got oysters, raw fluke, shrimp, and half a rotisserie chicken. Seems like they're still figuring things out from a service, flow, and atmosphere standpoint. We were greeted upon being seated at our table and our server told us we can use the QR code to review the menu and order, or we can also use the more limited paper menu on our table and order through our server, the traditional way. Overall service throughout the meal was spotty -- was hard to get someone at times, and the warm food came out before the raw food. That's a big no-no. In my opinion, for a nice sit down restaurant, you shouldn't do the QR code ordering thing. It takes away from the experience and relationship that you can build with the restaurant. Felt very cold and as I was walking out after paying on my phone, the server didn't even say anything to me. Just walked by. Probably a one and done experience, hope they can figure things out a little better in the future. read more

Picnic - Vibe - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

After almost 3 years in the works, Picnic is a great addition to the area. Nothing feels better than repurposing the old Weisbrod & Hess Brewery (1882-1939). Al Lucas, Greg Root and their team have done an amazing job of putting their vision into a beautiful reality. Casual "picnic" atmosphere with elegance and class. A beautiful space. Open, comfortable, rustic and welcoming. Great wine selections in the wine store. Many bottles in the $50 plus range. Small cocktail menu, small plates and shares. I was alone, so I was able to snag a position at the bar (wish they had barstools, but I'm sure there's a reason). I ordered a Boulevardier which was delicious and very well presented. I also ordered an assortment of oysters: Psychedelicates, VA, Cape May Salts, NJ, Montauk Pearls, NY, Maine Isle, ME and Black Magic, PEI. They were accompanied by nice accoutrements. Delicious. This was the first day. I felt they did a great job of making sure it worked out well today. As with many other establishments, I'm sure there's a lot of adjustments needed. I'm very confident Al and Greg will do everything needed to improve. Just like their other holdings: Suraya, Kalaya, Beddia, Condesa, R&D Cocktail Bar and El Techo. No reservations needed. The staff does their best to seat you efficiently. This will smooth out in time. I have nothing but good graces for Picnic. They will do really well. I'm looking forward to coming back really soon to enjoy additional menu items with a nice bottle of wine. read more

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Wow, so the first reviewer who left a one star review? That was really not necessary. Opening night for a very hyped place is bound to have hiccups, and my group of five had a similar experience (came at 5pm, waited in line, were told to come back another time or put our names down for later), so we opted to put our names down and idled away the time at nearby Martha and Philadelphia Brewing Co. Yes, we ended up waiting 3.5 hours for a table (we were seated at around 8:30 and ended our meal at around 10:30), but again--super hyped place on opening night, and it's the night before the 4th of July so lots of people can leave work a little early, yeah? The employees managing the line were very apologetic but they had to do what they had to do, and ultimately, we had a great time, thanks to the gorgeous ambiance and very attentive service (shout out to our server Jacob!). The food exceeded expectations. My group has all eaten at Beddia, Suraya, and Kalaya, the predecessors of this place, and I dare say we like picnic equally or possibly even better, thanks to its casual atmosphere, reasonable prices, and friendly service. Plus, there's actually parking in East Kensington, unlike in Fishtown. We snagged a bottle of chilled red from the wine area on the way in and were given a bucket of ice to keep it cool. Seemed from first glance that most bottles were around $50-70, but I didn't go looking to see if there were cheaper or pricier bottles (I'm sure there were). They also had a bar with cocktails and non-alcoholic options, including a $10 or $12 glass of N/A pinot noir that I thoroughly enjoyed. I once had a N/A chardonnay and it tasted like grape juice. This N/A pinot straight up had the right mouth feel, with tannins and all! The prices are reasonable, given the very high quality of the food. We ordered a half baguette with cultured butter and anchovies, charred summer beans, a whole rotisserie chicken, smoked salmon sandwich, grilled oysters, and an Italian sausage with raclette that I am just now realizing never came--hopefully we weren't charged for it. The bread came first with a generous cup of butter. The bread was crusty and soft, with delicious subtle flavors that blended wonderfully with the creamy butter and salty anchovies. Next came the grilled oysters, which were so tender and covered in a tangy, spicy sauce. No picture of those because they were devoured. The charred summer beans were wonderfully smokey and citrusy, the perfect summer garden dish, and while I could not eat the smoked salmon sandwich, I'm told by my group that it was delicious, and it looked very good. The biggest snafu was that the chicken took an extremely long time to come out, but we were lucky to be one of the last tables to snag one because they eventually ran out! And they ended up giving us free dessert because of the wait. But the chicken was well worth it. Crisp outside yet impossibly juicy and tender on the inside, with four delightful sauces that we all dipped in equally (though I was partial to the chili oil and my husband loved the peruvian salsa verde). My husband declared it some of the best chicken he's ever had. I thought it was a bit too salty but otherwise would agree. And the desserts--the chocolate cake with candied pecans and caramel, and yogurt soft serve with olive oil--were not too sweet, rich yet not too decadent, complex and oh so pleasing. The perfect way to end the meal. So yes, the wait to get in was long, they might've forgotten our Italian sausage, and the chicken took forever to come to our table, but we had a lovely time and would definitely come back. I'm sure they'll have learned a lot from opening night and will iron things out as they go. read more

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Had a pre-wedding dinner here with the bride and some family. They originally put us at this huge table but graciously moved us to something slightly smaller when we noted the awkwardness of the size which was good because we shared a lot of things. The deviled eggs were really good, the fried chicken slider was a fun option because then I could skip the fried chicken sandwich. The fries were amazing and loved the aioli. I really wanted to try the mushroom burger but ended up getting the chicken. It was perfectly cooked. The sauce options are a little weird and would appreciate some others. My mom had the pork schnitzel and it was so good. I ended up eating a bunch of it. The roasted potatoes were really good too. Service was really good and the atmosphere was nice. It's very open and airy. read more

Finally made it over for Sunday lunch and took advantage of the all day happy hour! The Bloody Mary was excellent, and the roasted chicken and french fries were as good as any I've had in Philly. We also enjoyed the watermelon and goat cheese salad, and a pea shoot side. My parents in law devoured the sliders, which were minis of the chicken sandwich. The spot is gorgeous, the service is kind, and it wasn't hard to get a resy. We found free street parking about 3 blocks away. The only thing I'd change are the chairs-- they are uncomfortable for anyone over 40. read more

I made a reservation, but we still had to wait 15-20 minutes past that time to be seated. That set a negative tone for me. They said we could browse the "bottle shop" while we waited, but no one explained that if we wanted a bottle with our meal we would have to go get it ourselves. Since we hadn't seen a menu yet we didn't know what kind of wine to choose anyway. So we stood and chatted. The room beautiful, open, as well as loud and echo-y. Food was delicious. They had no whole chickens so we got 2 halves. It was juicy and flavorful. Sauces were good. Loved the grilled summer beans. We opted for wine by the glass rather than head out to the bottle shop. The prices are marked up like a full service wine list. It's a weird, expensive zone between BYOB and not. As someone else noted, the portions seemed smaller than 4 oz of wine, which seems to be standard elsewhere. I'd rather they be a full-service restaurant or make it a true picnic where you order/pick up in the bottle shop and go set up in the dining area yourself. But the food is really, really good. read more

We went to Picnic for a wine tasting for Pray Tell Vineyards and had a wonderful experience. The staff was professional and helpful, and the cocktails, light snacks, and wine pours were excellent! I understand their rotisserie chicken is to die for, so we'll come back to dine with them another time to have that. The space is bright, large, and open, with a vibrant scene that sometimes gets loud. Their wine prices are almost 3 times retail, which we refuse to pay, so more than likely, we'll stick to a couple of cocktails upon our next visit. The cheeses that came with our wine tasting were exceptional and would remind you of sitting in Europe and noshing (as yes, they were that good). If you're not a fan of open seating, let them know when you make a reservation as they do have picnic tables - not surprising given the name - and you may end up sitting with those you don't know. I love how they've repurposed and designed the old building, though, as it's beautiful. I also understand that they have an all-day HH on Sundays, so that's something to try as well. Defined Hospitality has done it again with this spot! read more

Picnic - Cheese plate at Pray Tell Wine tasting - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Dined for the first time at Picnic in Fishtown in a party of three and absolutely loved it. It was not what I was expecting. I figured it would be a cozy, small little place, but no, it is in an expansive warehouse with 50 foot ceilings, large windows and skylights. But it is still a warm inviting space. We arrived and checked in and looked at the items in the attached wine shop. Shortly they mentioned that the people at our table were just finishing, but if we would like we could go to a standing area near the bar that has waiter service for a drink, so we said yes. We ordered cocktails and they arrived (all very good), and shortly they came over and said our table was ready and apologized for the wait. We were not in a rush, so I was not at all bothered by the wait. We sat down and our waiter appeared promptly and told us about the menu. Then a cauliflower croquettes appetizer showed up at our table. We thought it was a mistake, but our waiter said it was a little thank you for our patience (I should say we had a 730 reservation on a Saturday night and were seated by 8 pm). So nice. We ordered three of the small plates and two of the mains to share as well as a bottle of wine. Everything was excellent. We started with the chicory salad, deviled eggs and sausage raclette. The raclette was the outstanding item. For mains we had the half chicken (what they are known for) and the grilled cabbage. All served promptly and invitingly and in an appropriate portion size. We finished by sharing one of their unique ice creams. A really enjoyable night out made even better by a professional, courteous, upbeat and friendly atmosphere. I will be back with friends. read more

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The wait to get a table was pretty quick. As soon as you enter it's like a wine shop and you get to choose a wine to bring to your table. The hostesses were quick and helpful. The Banana Negroni was very strong and tasty. They were playing really good music, the setup is beautiful, and the seats were pretty comfortable. This was my first time having sausage raclette and it was very interesting. read more

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Absolutely awful. Mid, overpriced food that took over an hour to arrive. Terrible service- had to flag someone down every time. Watered down drinks. Save yourself and go somewhere else. I will never be back. read more

Chicken was great. I'd drink the accompanying sauces with a straw. I'll be back soon to dine in as well as explore the other menu items.

My husband and I went here with another couple and we thought it was fantastic! We got a bottle of wine from the bottle shop and then split a whole chicken with all the sauces (I recommend trying all the sauces. It was just as minimal up charge), the raw fluke, the grilled broccoli, the corn, croquettes, and the Italian sausage. Then for dessert, we split the chocolate cake. It was just enough food for the four of us. The service was good and the ambiance is nice. read more

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This restaurant has a huge space. We ordered the chicken which was really tasty and green sauces. We didn't have any drinks as I didn't see anything that stood out. We finished with the chocolate cake which was good. read more

I want to say that I've heard good reviews on this place. I came in with an open mind but I still have mixed reviews. The atmosphere is absolutely stunning. They did a phenomenal job on the restoration of the old brewery. The drinks were delicious and I loved the wine shop out front. The food was nothing outstanding. Really loved the bread/butter, fluke, the shrimp and the sausage racellete. The rotisserie chicken is what they're known for - it was good nothing I'll dream about. I'm assuming they will change menu seasonally. Now the negatives - if you're spending $100 a person on dinner (which it is a little expensive for what it is) I would prefer not to order from a QR code. It screams too covid times. I understand that they're trying something new but QR code doesn't match the beautiful atmosphere they created. Also, the food came out way too fast - we were shoveling food down to keep up with the fast paced. We asked to have courses slow down to enjoy. I recommend that or order a few things at a time. Overall, they Designed it to be a special night out with the vibe of a picnic. I get it but it can be elevated picnic still with a few tweaks. Would have given 3.5 / 5 if yelp allowed but decided to round up for the atmosphere alone. read more

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This is going to be harsh, but honest. It's only the opening week, and I usually don't review until after a second visit, but the second visit won't be happening. I love that they built out a shell of a building and turned it into a nice space, but that's table stakes for this restaurant group now. The allure of a nice space and a hype machine can't carry a mediocre concept with a lackluster menu full of options that can be topped by lesser-hyped places all over this wonderful food city, The staff are nice, but the serve-yourself-from-a-QR-code concept when there's ton is staff running around on the floor seems like a waste of an opportunity for building a customer relationship. Convenience for the sake of being able to offer it seems odd. If we wanted to order everything on our phone, we could've stayed home, ordered delivery, and been just as impressed. We voiced our feelings with the staff, but I'm not sure they're used to people being underwhelmed. The food is fine. Not bad at all, but there wasn't a single item that left us wanting more or had us talking about returning. For $240, you'd better expect SOMETHING to stand out. Unfortunately, the only chatter on the walk home was around disappointment. We even went somewhere else immediately after to satiate our appetite, as we were still hungry. Sure, the chicken is well-prepared, retaining a ton of moisture and flavor, but it's not unique to get a good chicken. The chicken sandwich was a formed patty of scraps that wasn't appealing in look or texture. Basically a large, square chicken croquette on a bun. I joked that it would've been more fun shaped as a dinosaur. You've prepared the chicken in a way that could've become anything...and a filet-o-fish square format was the decision? Functional, at least. The mortadella was such a tiny portion and the slices were so thin they were easily overpowered by the bread served by its side. Thicker slices of meat. Thinner slices of bread. Or just skip the bread altogether. We ordered mortadella. We'd like to have been able to enjoy the meat itself. The fries were fries. No expectations when it came to the fries, but they were super salty. My one food highlight was the oysters. Good price, mostly unique selection, and excellently shucked. Can't judge their excessive sauce offerings with the oysters because we eat them raw, but they really seem to want to push the sauces. Two sauces with fries. Six with chicken. Four with oysters. As far as the sauces with the chicken? Anchovy salsa verde and the pickled pepper aioli were solid. I didn't have any desire to return the the rest. The wines at the table were good. Decent selection. I also got an old fashioned that came out in what felt like seconds. I'm all for time saving and batching, but when a cocktail comes out too fast, it feels like I probably ordered the wrong thing. Maybe they just have the fastest bartenders in the city, and the drink was fine, but the optics aren't what I want when going out. Now, over to the shop. If you want unique natural wine at a fair price, this won't be your stop. The selection is excellent and there are a few we haven't seen frequently, but there are other spots nearby with a similarly-great selection at much fairer prices. You're looking at a $10-20+ premium to buy wines here. There are better ways to explore and procure great natural wines. The natural wine movement is so ubiquitous and only in PA does it feel like the prices haven't recognized that reality. It's not necessarily Picnic's fault, but I'm not paying those prices when we can get the same things far cheaper now. So, yeah. Overall, this was no picnic. They didn't seem to have any of the opening week kinks, which we didn't expect from this well-oiled machine, but the concept lacked anything memorable, aside from disappointment, and the price we paid to be disappointed. The large line outside hints that there are a lot of people with lofty expectations, so hopefully their experiences were better, and I hope the concept continues to improve, but unfortunately, I know we won't be there to find out. read more

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Picnic is one of my favorite places to visit, especially on Sunday for All Day Happy Hour! HH specials include, but not limited to, a select $1.50 oyster, $5 fries, a $5 slider, and $9 Whiskey Sours. The atmosphere is spacious and bright with plates reminiscent of something my grandmother would own. It's perfect for friends to catch up or families to enjoy. My first experience was so incredible that I had to come back again after dreaming (and drooling) about the rotisserie chicken with that unctuous skin and roasted garlic chicken jus that is dangerously drinkable. For my second visit, we tried some new items: Chicory Salad and the (not pictured) Grilled Cabbage with jalapeño dressing, brown butter, and Gouda GET THE GRILLED CABBAGE! It will not disappoint. It reminded me of the best parts of a Reuben sandwich on Marble Rye. read more

Loved my visit to Picnic in Philly! The chicken sandwich was delicious--crispy, flavorful, and super satisfying. The menu actually convinced me to try the anchovies, and I'm glad it did--surprisingly good! The service was great too--everyone was super friendly and helpful. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to read more

Picnic - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Food, service, and ambiance all stellar. Great for a midday snack or light dinner! Watermelon salad is a must and $1.50 happy hour oysters are solid! read more

As a vegetarian, I'm always thrilled to find places with good veggie options, and Picnic did not disappoint. I had the mushroom burger with cheese and sauce, and it was absolutely delicious and very filling. My partner and I shared the fries, which came with both aioli and ketchup -they were delish. We also ordered the charred beans, which were okay. They arrived after our mains, though, and really should have been served as a starter. There was a broccoli dish on the menu, but it came with chicken fat. Thankfully you can remove it to keep it vegetarian-friendly. Overall, I would recommend Picnic to vegetarians. I had a great time, and my partner said his chicken was perfect. read more

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Overall great experience! We had a reservation and the check in process is a little odd - you check in with someone right inside the door who looks you over and writes a note about what you look like or what you're wearing, then wait in the wine area until another hostess gives you the up and down to see if your description matches whatever was written. We waited about 10 mins for our table to be ready, maybe they want to give you time to pick a bottle of wine to go to your table with. Service and food were excellent. Our server really knew the menu and was able to recommend a few things we hadn't considered but ended up loving. Definitely do the cheesy grilled cabbage! We also got oysters, a meat and cheese plate, the scallops, and the prime rib. Everything was delicious. Will definitely be back! read more

This is a fantastic place to eat. We ordered the Rotisserie chicken, watermelon feta salad, summer beans salad, grilled shrimp, and corn frittata, all of which were delicious. The wine selection was spectacular, to say the least. The ambiance was great, and the staff was wonderful and friendly. I can't wait to return to try other dishes on the menu. read more

Arrived around 6:30pm with no reservation on a Wednesday for a party of 4. Was quoted an hour and I was like cool, we will hang at the bar and wait. I was able to try a glass of their skin contact wine which actually reminded me of communion wine (not bad, easy to drink). It was fun for an hour cause I was with good company but then the table was not ready at the quoted time so me and my party started to get a little hangry. I wish we could have ordered fries or cheese or something at the bar. The space is beautiful and chill but we were getting a little stir crazy. We kept staring at the art and we couldn't tell if they were framed TV's or really weirdly lit paintings. The ceilings are like a million feet tall so it gives the illusion of a huge space but honestly, it probably has just around the same seating as Martha. About 25 minutes after the quoted time they finally seated us. Their are waiters but we had been staring at the menu for too long so we quickly put our order in before the waiter arrived. There are QR codes on the table so you can put in your order on your own. When the waiter arrived, they served us water and asked about allergies. She said she was going to take our order by hand but she ended up just checking on our order that we had placed. Food came out really quick. I ended up ordering a coors, the summer bean salad, the mushroom burger and fries. I was so ready to hate this place after the long wait time but damn. The food is that good. I'm not saying it was worth the wait but I left satisfied. The mushroom burger was a standout. It is served vegetarian and can be modified for vegan. This mushroom burger was put together with thought and is not just a mushroom cap on a bun. It was stellar and felt meaty. I will definitely be back to get this burger even though it is one of the few things on the menu that is vegetarian. I was very pleased. The fries were salted well and were really good. They had some thickness to them for crunch. I really enjoyed them. The summer bean salad was more like green beans which I didn't expect. The sauce was lovely and a little smokey. I am a vegetarian but my friends did get the rotisserie chicken and they loved it. They were saying that the wait was worth it. I will definitely be back because I live so close to this place. Definitely get a reservation because they do not have a good grip on wait times. I would take my parents here but it's also good for a chill friends dinner. Glad that they are in the neighborhood. read more

Picnic - summer bean salad - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Beautiful all day Café stunning space. The frame TVs are amazing. They do often show sports which is a nice touch without turning into a an entire sports bar. The cocktails are expertly crafted. The service is so warm and welcoming. Plenty of space great for large groups friends, catching up families. The chicken is absolutely amazing. You can buy half a whole amazing for sharing a must try. The desserts are bomb. I will certainly be back for a dinner service. Very casual yet. Focused service very approachable menu wonderful place to take someone visiting Philadelphia and even better for the locals. read more

Outstanding new addition to the Philly food scene. The ambiance and service is next level the second you walk in the door. oysters, watermelon salad, fried chicken sandwich, sausage/raclette, and rotisserie chicken were the highlights but I don't think you can go wrong with anything here. Be sure to grab a cocktail and peruse the extensive natural wines! read more

Cool restaurant, space inside is pretty big. I went with a big group and we just did family style for everything. Grilled oysters are a good starter and the rotisserie chicken is pretty good. read more

This place was OK! The ambiance is pretty cool - you walk into like a storefront almost, and the seating area is big with really high ceilings and mirrors, so it feels bigger than it actually is. They have some happy hour options on the menu, and all of them were decent, just nothing to write home about. Service was friendly. No issues, just nothing outstanding. read more

The space is beautiful and very spacious. There was a wine shop in the lobby and you can see the kitchen. I tried chicken/cabbage/ baguette w cultured butter/ broccoli /cauliflower croquettes/fries. I was most excited about the chicken but was very disappointed. It was dry and bland, the sauces helped but I wanted the chicken to be juicy/flavorful on its own. The cabbage was very good and well cooked. The cauliflower croquettes were disgusting. Everything else was just ok and service was so so. I feel like it's a good drink and snack place but not a sit down dinner place. read more

The grilled oysters are amazing. The chicken is delicious. And as far as service - they've switched away from the QR code only to regular table services. Would recommend read more

The chicken sandwich is the best thing I've eaten in a while. Order from a QR code and the kitchen is free flowing. Everything we ate was great. But I highly recommend the chicken sandwich and the strawberry lemonade. The space is gorgeous and great vibes. Can't wait to come back. read more

Picnic - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Their instagram advertises "vegan options" but there are none. When I told the waitress I was vegan she said the mushroom burger had milk protein and could not be made vegan. She gave no suggestions or alternatives. Ordered fries and broccoli without the schmaltz since we already had a glass of wine in front of us. Like why have a mushroom burger that can only be vegetarian? It's 2024 do better or at least don't have the false advertising on your instagram post. Also interesting to be so wine forward and have less than a handful of options to choose from for glasses. Not everybody needs an entire bottle of wine and often different people within a group have different preferences. read more

I will be honest: the reviews for this new spot made me nervous. But after reading several of the negative ones, I saw a common theme. People don't seem to like how the service inherently functions, but are happy with the food. So I gave Picnic a shot. Listen, I also mourned covid expediting the death of the paper menu. There is something about perusing a physical list of food and beverages that feels good. I get it. We are on our phones enough as it is. But Picnic has made this opinionated choice for a reason. Take a look at their inspiration: Bacchanal in New Orleans. First and foremost, Bacchanal is a wine shop. A place you shop for not only wine, but cheese and charcuterie that they will plate and bring out to you. It is a vibe. It is upscale casual, just like Picnic, in the way that actual picnics are. Haven't we all gone to check out at Whole Foods with a basket full of cheese and cried at the total at the end of our receipts? Walking in to Picnic is overwhelming at first. When you move into the main dining room, everything opens up into high ceilings and the space is stunning. So I get it, I get why people are coming here and feeling flabbergasted by the ordering system and free-flowing kitchen after walking into a restaurant that looks like it does. But if you look at the casual design of the tables and listen to the buzz of conversation and think about what a picnic actually is, it all fits. It's aesthetic, but it's simple. Let's move on to my actual experience. I went with my partner and our friends and we immediately got to work checking out the menu. Our server came over promptly and offered the option to order with her, but as indecisive millennials we were excited to have the QR code. Ordering was a breeze and everything came out fast. It was awesome being able to fire off a drink order whenever we wanted. I started with a margarita that was wonderfully strong and ended with wine, which was delicious. As a table, we got oysters, grilled shrimp, cheese and meat, bread, the chicken sandwich, fries, and, of course, the rotisserie chicken. Every single thing was amazing, but the standouts were the shrimp, rotisserie chicken, fries, and all of their delightful sauces. Because of the format, we were less focused on having our order ready to go and simply added things when we felt called to. Every server we interacted with was kind, attentive, and made sure to ask if we needed anything else. We felt independent and in control of our experience, while still receiving excellent hospitality. It was the perfect balance. I know, this is a long review. But I have been hearing negative chatter around this spot that I truly don't feel it deserves. With how new they are and how different the concept is, I expected people to have a little more grace. And most importantly, the food is unreal, and I would order it by carrier pigeon if that's what they required. Give Picnic a shot, and open your mind to something you may have never experienced before. read more

FANTASTIC. Stopped in for dinner tonight with my wife and friends. Everything we ordered was delicious. Oysters were tremendous. The shrimp dish maybe my favorite thing on the menu with that UNREAL butter sauce. Chicken and chicken sandwich were great and the dipping sauces are all excellent. Staff was so nice and helpful. The space itself is also so epic inside. Love the old brick. 10/10. can't wait to return. read more

Picnic - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Honestly, not understanding the negative reviews. I absolutely loved my experience. Yes, the service is a little unconventional. However, we had a reservation for a Sunday night and were seated within 10 minutes of our reservation time. The space is a beautiful open concept, but I heard a couple people complaining about being able to hear one another. We ordered 8 oysters, the fluke crudo, charred summer beans, half chicken with chili oil, peruvian salsa verde, chicken jus, and the pickled pepper sauce. Everything was delicious and we look forward to trying the grilled oysters next time as well! read more

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Beautiful space, but that's about it as far as I'm concerned. That may sound harsh, but it is my honest opinion given what we experienced at what will certainly be our first and only visit to Picnic. I was excited to try it as a natural wine and oyster lover, but what I left with was a "meh" feeling and disappointment in all things minus the ambiance. Even with a reservation, you had to wait in line. You use a QR code and place your order from your phone, so it's not really creating an "experience" so to speak. I will say, at least the staff was nice (although they didn't know how to respond to honest feedback when they asked you what you thought about your experience; Why ask if you don't want to really know?). The oyster selection was good, I will give them that. The mortadella was also good, but it didn't get to be the star with the bread they chose to serve it with. The crudo had a great sauce, but the fluke was a little thicker and chewy which wasn't really appetizing. The chicken was good but nothing to write home about. Of the six sauces only one stood out to me. And the chicken sandwich wasn't all that appetizing. Oh, and the fries were too salty. They were definitely fries out of a bag (they remind me of the Lamb Weston brand ones we buy for at home, but with too much extra salt). The wine selection is pretty solid, and those prices were more than fair as far as the menu goes. The wine shop/retail selection, that's another story. I buy a lot of natural wine and know what many of the bottles go for elsewhere. You are indeed paying quite a premium to shop there. Another thing that created a less than optimal experience - a lot of heated side bar sorts of discussions seemed to be happening with management and staff right in front of customers. This happened on several occasions during our visit. Take it in the back. Customers don't want to see this. Put simply, the three of us left feeling disappointed with no desire to return. The fact that we headed over to another local establishment for a redemption meal says it all. read more

Two of us went last night for a late dinner. Stunning interior and some decent food, but overall just middling with a trite "picnic" concept. That just meant cheap dinnerware and little paper cups of things - it gave the whole experience a tacky feeling that didn't match the building. Also not very sustainability focused.... The good: as I said, the space is wonderful. The watermelon salad with goat cheese was great - cool, flavorful, refreshing, and balanced. The succotash special was also very tasty, but the beans were way overcooked and mushy/mealy. Service was also very friendly and attentive. The mediocre: the chicken. It was good, but nothing to write home about. It was seasoned nicely and fairly juicy, but nothing special. The charcuterie was also fine, but the little side of giardiniera salad in a tiny paper cup was impossible to eat. The bad: the wine selection. They clearly focused on "unique" wines instead of solid ones- we tried a total of four wines and none of them were good. The pacing of the meal was also WAY off. When someone says "food comes out as it's ready," I hear "we have a completely untrained and undisciplined kitchen." Our server gave us a rough estimate of the order things would come out (which sounded fine) but everything except the chicken came out two minutes after we ordered. It threw off the meal and there wasn't enough room on the table. All in all, not a bad place, but I don't need to go back. read more

This place is a hit. Every dish - from the NJ oysters to the watermelon salad, chicken sandwich, sausage raclette through to dessert - was excellent. Dishes come out as they are ready. Service was friendly and attentive, but not overbearing. Ambiance was also on the mark: spacious eating area with a high vaulted ceiling in a historic building that was once part of a brewery. Plenty of natural light. I especially appreciate how you have the option to pick up a bottle of wine at their bottle shop, which you enter through to get to the dining area, but there's also by-the-glass options. It's a perfect blend of a traditional restaurant dining and a food hall vibe. There's no pressure to leave once you've finished eating. Very kid friendly too! read more

This place has a really fun vibe. Casual without feeling like you're dining in a cafeteria. Everything we ate was delicious. Standouts were obviously the chicken, the croquettes, and oysters. The only thing we didn't like was the oyster martini. That got sent back but the other drinks we ordered were delicious and perfect. Would recommend for a group or a small family. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]We have a lovely dinner on a Wednesday night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server was personable and knowledgeable about the menu. The oysters and rotisserie chicken were fantastic but the unexpected highlight was a delicious green salad. Don't overlook! read more