Over all we had a good first experience, not a great or very good for 1 reason, why did our server, Alejandro G (table 23) bring out all our plates at one time and in some backwards random order as each was coming out of the kitchen. Whose every heard of that methodology. The menu is broken out into apps and dishes and as we placed our order we stated we'd open with the soup (please bring a second spoon- which by the way we had to ask for again), and then my wife and I said as we ordered that we would share the longhot pizzia and the steak frites, cooked medium raw, and similar with our friends. Hence all the food was delivered at once. Could not enjoy each on their own and each dish did get cold which made my steak frites not so appetizing. We wpent quite the amount, not an inexpensive place and worst yet it was only 4:30 PM when we sat down and by the time we left, 6 PM, the place was not humming with busy tables so why the rush act. That ruined our experience for us. So you might want to know what other dishes we ordered, friends had the sweet potate wedges, beet and pomme salad, and the spicy chicken sandwich which they both shared. All the food was good and our drink choices were equally as good. If we were to return again due to show at the World Live Cafe, we'd have to be strict about not bringing everything out at once. read more

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Headed over for an early lunch on Wednesday with our party of two and got seated immediately. They had a pretty straightforward menu and a special crab fest menu when we went. The staff gave us some recommendations for items and the items came out quickly all within 20 minutes of ordering. The interior was also very aesthetic, bright and modern with a nice bar on our side. Olive and Rosemary Focaccia - Had a nice crust on the outside with a soft inside. We preferred the red pepper dip as it had a richer flavor while the basil oil didn't have much aroma or flavor. Lemon Parmesan Brussel Sprouts - I loved the crunchy brussel sprout texture with the lemon aioli. It was creamy and cheesy which tasted good in the beginning but did become a little too heavy. Rigatoni Alla Vodka - Pretty underwhelming. The dish itself came out leaning lukewarm to cold and while the pasta was a soft texture, the dish itself didn't have much flavor from the vodka sauce. Crab Cakes - One of the special items and it was pretty fresh, and had a decent crab flavor. We enjoyed the creamier sauce paired with this. While some of the dishes did have decent flavors, not much stood out to us and we expected a little more from the prices we were paying. read more

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Second time here in 5 years. 1st time for dinner & 2 nd for breakfast. Consistently good food & clean stylish decor & competent service. Well done. read more

I came here for a late lunch with a couple of friends today and we all left very satisfied with our meals. I ordered a Shakshuka, and it was really good since the tomato sauce was nice and tangy. On the other hand, I wasn't as much of a fan of the fries since they were a bit dry and stale. My friends got a 6 oz burger, a croissant, and a sorbet. I didn't get to try their selections, but they all loved what they ordered. Aside from the great food, the ambience and service here were just as amazing. I love that they offer seatings both inside and outside of the restaurant, and everything looked classy and modern. It's a great spot to take a date as well as a group of friends for a nice brunch near the Schuylkill river trail. Despite our shabby clothing and appearance, given that we went there after working out in the park, we were treated with the same cordial service as the other patrons. As soon as we were done with the bottle of water for our table, we got the replacement bottle without having to flag down a staff. For this awesome experience, I definitely will be back soon. read more

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Updated review for happy hour! They had a lot of solid options on their happy hour menu at discounted prices, which is always appreciated. I also love that happy hour is from 4-8PM - certainly one of the longest in the city, if I had to guess. We did a mixture of plates on the HH menu and the regular menu, opting for their hummus and pita, arugula, peaches, and burrata with toast, arancini, and strawberry spinach salad. This was a lot of food - we wound up taking a lot of it home! Everything was good, but nothing to particularly write home about. My favorite dish was probably the burrata and arancini, both having excellent flavors and hitting the spot. The other dishes were good, but I've had better versions of similar things at other restaurants. I enjoyed my discounted glass of red wine, and my friend enjoyed her cocktail. Service was solid, making sure water was filled and also not pressuring us to leave (we were chatting for a long time and lingering, so I appreciated not being kicked out). The ambience is nice, too - lots of natural light and plants and bright colors. Having dined here for both HH and brunch, the decor is conducive to both meals and both casual and more date-night-y vibes. Overall, my experience at Walnut Street Cafe was very OK. The prices for HH (golden hour) are nice, and the extended hours for HH are very appreciated. I would revisit Walnut Street Cafe post-work given its proximity, and I'd be curious to try other options from their other menus throughout the day. read more

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Walnut Street Cafe's space is very appealing--plenty of light streams in the floor-to-ceiling windows that face Walnut Street. Service was prompt. Food was fine. Following a tip from my fellow diner who had found the Rigatoni Alla Vodka only so-so on an earlier visit, I tried the Spicy Chicken Sandwich (brioche bun, buttermilk breaded chicken, carrot slaw, pickled long hots, calabrian chili aioli) with a side of steak fries. The bun and the pickled long hots were great--more of the latter would have notched the sandwich up a bit as overall it needed moisture and seasoning. The breaded chicken was less breaded, more battered (like tempura), and quite dry. A thicker aioli would have helped. The fries were true steak fries (difficult to find these days), but needed a bit more fry and a tad more seasoning. Overall, there are definitely better eats over the Walnut Street bridge in Center City, but it's great that this cafe is available to those working in the FMC Tower and that area of University City. read more

Walnut Street Cafe - Spicy Chicken Sandwich (brioche bun, buttermilk breaded chicken, carrot slaw, pickled long hots, calabrian chili aioli) with a side of steak - Cafes Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The restaurant is so cute! We got seated and was served pretty quickly but also it was not too busy. The food was pretty good, quite rich and definitely plenty for a meal. read more

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I've been wanting to go here for many years, so finally took the opportunity to do so last weekend for brunch with a friend. Because people are typically away at the shore for summer weekends, it was easy for us to book a quick reservation that morning. The decor is cute, modern and clean with bright lighting throughout the space. Once I came in, I was immediately checked in and seated. All of the staff were very friendly and polite. Our waiter (think his name was Logan) was also super personable, gave good energy when interacting with us and had a good balance of attentiveness & letting us enjoy our food/time. We decided to order a few dishes to split and sample. Salmon Cake Eggs Benedict was unfortunately a let down for me - the salmon Cake seemed over cooked and tasted a bit plain/not seasoned. The Brioche French Toast with the peach bourbon cheesecake topping was amazing! That topping really added a good touch to the already well made french toast slices. And the side Biscuit and Gravy was shockingly good. We also had Rum Punch as our cocktail drink which was made very well. Overall, we had a good dining experience. There are a few other brunch items I want to try out, so definitely hope to come back again soon. read more

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Came here early for brunch and walked in the very bright and open restaurant as they were opening and was excited to give their signature fried chicken and waffles a try. Unfortunately arriving that early meant the chicken wouldn't be ready, so we decided to wait until it would be ready because I didn't desire anything else on the menu. After about 40 minutes or maybe slightly more I had the chance to enjoy their dish. The food was good but with there was a bit more flavor to the chicken. read more

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We came here for the "Golden Hour" (happy hour) menu - for starters, it's nice that Walnut Street Cafe offers a weekend happy hour (Tues-Sat) with pretty decent hours (4pm-8pm). We ordered 1 of each of their cocktails. My friends liked the Rum Punch the best, but I thought it was a bit too sweet. The Pom Queen was also pretty strong. I personally liked the Local Vermouth, though I could see that it might not be for everybody. The drinks were good, though nothing super special. In terms of food, we weren't super hungry, so we got the Whipped Ricotta and the Parmesan Garlic Potato Chips and Dip. I enjoyed the presentation of the Whipped Ricotta, and I thought it tasted pretty good too -- it is definitely a bit pricey for the quantity. The chips were pretty standard, nothing to write home about, but they were solid. Overall, I liked the ambience of the indoor area, and I found the staff to be very friendly. Our waitress was constantly checking in on us, so I felt well taken care of. read more

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Ordered the chicken and waffles but the chicken was too dry. Very tough and had a jerky like texture. Waffle was overly sweet. Service was good, and it wasn't too busy. I've had better brunch spots, would not recommend. read more

Walnut Street Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This is located on the ground floor of the FMC building. It's pretty spacious. The food is expensive but alright. The service is pretty quick but not pushy. It's good for a business meeting or a gathering with friends. Check it out. read more

Walnut Street Cafe - Sept 2024 - Cafes Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Servers are nice, I am gluten free (celiac) and they were very accommodating and kitchen was knowledgeable. drinks were yummy and happy hour menu is worth the trip. beautiful location, especially at golden hour read more

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Came here for happy hour. You usually have to ask for the HH menu as they might not give it to you. The environment is the best part. Very cute. The food is tasty but it is not a place I would come back to for the food alone. It is a place that is convenient if in university city and want a place for happy hour. Would be open to trying their breakfast/brunch food. read more

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The service was great no complaints about that!! The interior is beautiful. There is outdoor seating as well that is super nice. Bathrooms are clean and individual. Plus, they have a purse hook!! I probably wouldn't come back, but I'm not mad that I came:-) The French toast is AMAZING. So so good. The pizza was yummy but pretty soggy. Great flavors but you just need to eat it with a fork and knife. Don't get the breakfast wrap. It's sloppy and doesn't last at all in the wrap. It just tastes like wet beans a rices. sooooo not worth it. read more

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Reserved the top floor for a meeting and it was very nicely laid out. Alex was our server for the event and he was amazing, he was friendly, engaging, comical and observant to the parties needs. His supervisor who assisted was also friendly and helpful to us. The food portion was a great amount for the party we had and the food tasted amazing, especially the waffles. They even had live music playing which was made the atmosphere more relaxing. read more

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The food here was hit or miss, I liked my chicken and waffles, but my brother's eggs were severely over cooked, and his steak was too. The service was good, but they gave us drinks that we didn't order and charged us for it. read more

Wow was that a bad brunch. The coffee and the croissant were truly inedible. Sent back the coffee, they made an Americano, and it was equally as bad. The eggs Benedict was served without an English muffin (a key ingredient...). Overpriced, especially for the (lack of ) taste. The French toast wasn't bad, and the only saving grace. read more

I loved this place, I'm definitely planning to go back. We had a brunch reservation, party of 2 and it didn't disappoint. Parking can be tricky due to the location but it really wasn't bad. We found street parking for free on a Sunday afternoon. They have a great atmosphere, great food, polite staff and the noise level was very easy to have good conversation. The hazard pay drink was fantastic but bear in mind, gin is my personal fave. The venue is definitely cute enough for a date but also really good for friends. There's also extra dinning space upstairs. I wouldn't wear my Sundays best here but also wouldn't wear sweats, I hope that helps. read more

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The food, interior design, and exceptional service will have me return again! Logan was a great server, kind and welcoming! read more

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Driving by, this cafe caught my eye as a great spot for a first date brunch. Easily found an accessible parking garage right next to the AKA hotel adjacent to the cafe on the ground level. Walked inside and was quickly taken to our table, pleasantly delighted by the decor and ambiance. Definitely the best asset for this establishment by far. Set a nice impression/tone for our date. Quick and attentive service, she was very kind but not too pushy which I liked as though she understood the dating vibes. I ordered the steak and eggs. Asked for medium and it was slightly overdone, big whoop. Least of my concern as everything else was great and went extremely smoothly. Nice atmosphere and noise level for conversation. Good coffee and espresso. Chicken and waffles looked delicious. Maybe next time. Great music playlist overhead by the way. Compliments to the chef. 10/10 recommend for a perfect first date spot! read more

I have walked by Walnut Street Cafe so many times on my commute to work and finally had the chance to try it a recent Friday night for dinner. Both my fiancé and I were on call and hungry and this cafe is close by to the hospital with easy parking which made it a great option. It's a very cute cafe, how I would decorate a bachelorette pad if I had a generous budget. Our server was very friendly, the menu offered a good variety of things. The ricotta appetizer was hands down one of the best we have had - most notable that the bread was very good without being overly crusty and painful to eat. They had a good selection of non-alcoholic cocktails (great if you are on call!) and we both enjoyed our blood orange beverages. I would certainly come here again for the food and especially if at work and want to stay close but still enjoy a great meal. read more

Walnut Street Cafe - Whipped Ricotta - Cafes Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Good place! Went here to meet a friend, we both ordered pizzas which were quite good! I had the long hot 'roni pizza, it was tasty!

Cute little place close to UPenn campus. I stopped in for a quick breakfast before a meeting. They were short on staff but the one person they had working was a pleasant guy who did his best. The breakfast potatoes were just ok, I think they were from a bag and definitely not homemade. The eggs were fine. Ugh... it's hard to get bacon cooked just right. I asked for soft and it came hard. Oh well.., The OJ is locally sourced and I loved it...lots of pulp! They only give one slice of toast. Considering that it's a $17 breakfast there should be two slices. It's a bright, pretty setting with lots of windows and outdoor seating available. read more

Walnut Street Cafe - The place - Cafes Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Five stars for the decor and service. Three stars for the seating and food. Our server, Haley, was fantastic. Very pleasant, attentive, and engaging. The decor was modern chic. It felt like an anthropology store - bright and airy with gold accents and lots of plants. The rest of the experience was less than ideal. The breakfast sandwich was pretty bad - the bagel wasn't toasted, and the sandwich itself was dry. They didn't serve it with the 'maple butter' as listed on the menu, and when we asked for some, they said they weren't able to serve that item on the side. We didn't finish that dish, but the server was kind enough to comp it. The two eggs plate was average. The hot chicken and waffles was pretty good - the waffles were above average (they are dusted in chunky sugar!!), and the chicken was average. Heads up: the bacon is thick cut, which we didn't expect. Also, we reserved to sit at the "chefs counter," which was a fancy way to say the bar. We were seated in a small corner area, with a high partition separating us from the kitchen/stoves/food prep area. It felt very cramped and we could barely fit our plates in front of us. It definitely wouldn't have worked for any shared plates. Also, maybe it would have been better / feel less cramped if the partition was see through (it was a cloudy white color). We asked after being seated if we could sit at a regular table - however we were advised the restaurant was fully booked. During the duration of our visit, there were several tables that stayed empty, so that was disappointing. read more

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dinner was okay. i think it's a better brunch spot. very chic and upscale real estate. other note: very interesting that this luxury and very tall skyscraper is shared by the NASDAQ and Penn apartments read more

A very nice cafe with plenty of natural light. The styling is more suited for evening dinners but the morning atmosphere was quite comfortable. An exceptionally convenient location for those staying at the AKA hotel, which means higher prices than you might expect. The shakshuka (poached eggs in a tomato and pepper sauce) was very delicious. Though for a particularly hearty breakfast I suggest getting a side of sausage with it. Service was friendly and direct. All in all, good but pricey. read more

Walnut Street Cafe - Shakshuka (poached eggs in a tomato and pepper sauce) - Cafes Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Experience: Overall, I had a good experience at this restaurant. Would recommend this place if you're looking for a quick bite with speedy service. Service / Atmosphere: I arrived for a weekday lunch and was seated immediately. They gave me the option of sitting inside or outside, both providing great scenic views and decor. Food: I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich with the Side Salad. The service was really quick, getting my food within 15 minutes of ordering. I found the salad a little small and the chicken a little too burnt on the ends. Despite this, the meal was delicious and I finished it all! read more

Walnut Street Cafe - Fried Chicken Sandwich with Side Salad - Cafes Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Made a 1:45 PM brunch reservation for a Saturday. When we arrived, we were seated immediately. As usual, our service was very attentive. My boyfriend tried their Rum Punch drink, and it was delicious! It was served in a beautiful glass with a little drink umbrella. To eat, I had the two eggs brunch option and ordered them poached. My boyfriend had the eggs benedict. We also split the coffee cake. Everything came out quickly, and was cooked perfectly! Their hash browns are the thicker side of potato style (versus a thinly sliced alternative) and they are always crispy. The coffee cake was delicious, I loved the fig on top! We were in and out in under an hour, but did not feel rushed at all. I'm looking forward to coming back again soon for happy hour! read more

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We came here for the 4-7 happy hour && this place was OK. It wasn't bad but it wasn't spectacular either. I had the double cheeseburger and asked for it medium well and got it medium rare :(. It was still good nonetheless. My fiancé had the chef's burger and enjoyed It thoroughly. The bacon jam stole the show, it added an extra bit of flavor to an already delicious burger. We then order the truffle chips which were also ok. The horseradish creek fraiche sauce was good and thankfully didn't have that horseradish/wasabi kick to it that burns your mouth lol. We both enjoyed the meatballs. They are beef by the way. We both agree that the fries were missing something, it might need an extra kick of truffle flavoring. These were kind of basic too. Ultimately, I'd come back the happy hour is great here and the food is alright. read more

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Solid brunch. I wouldn't reorder the two eggs any style (both eggs and potatoes lacked seasoning) and bacon wasn't crispy. However, the brussel sprouts and fries were both very good and I tasted my friends shakshouka and it was flavorful. I would go back for the chicken and waffles. They looked good. read more

I like the ambiance at walnut street cafe it's a nice patio for a quick happy hour and the service is good. The food is always on point I even went to Trader Joe's to try and recreate something on their menu. Happy hour bites are high quality compared to most places. The drinks aren't that boozy in my opinion but good for the price. Golden hour is from 3-6. The fried chicken sliders were really tasty and tender, definitely a must try. read more

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We went to the Walnut street cafe for coffee and desserts. They didn't have a coffee menu but there was a board hanging with the coffee items. They also only had one dessert a cherry pie: both were good. Service was good and ambiance was good. I didn't try any breakfast brunch or lunch so I can't comment but it would have been nice to have more of a variety of coffees with a menu as well as more desserts: perhaps I will come back to try their lunch. read more

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This was one of the few places open for outdoor dining during this pandemic. I found the spacing was adequate and I felt safe. Not every customer had on a mask while they weren't eating, but we were far enough from one another where I wasn't concerned. The chicken sandwich was remarkably good. Not every restaurant that boasts one has the right seasoning and flavors, etc. I will give them their kudos for getting it right. The pork ribs were fall-off-the-bone and delicious. That and the tres leches were highlights of the evening. We got to watch a beautiful sunset on the patio in the cool of the summer evening. read more

We ordered a pizza and a salad. We had to get up and ask where our food was. The pizza eventually came and the salad came with a basket of bread. I never but this was not a good experience for a Saturday night. read more

Walnut Street Cafe has some hits & misses with their food. I was most impressed by their main dishes and their appetizers! I ordered the chicken and pork belly bao buns. I would recommend the chicken bao bun, it tastes like a classic chicken sandwich especially since they add pickles & spicy Mayo. I was disappointed with the pork belly bao bun. They made the pork belly sweet & crispy, it tasted candied. That sweet flavor didn't pair well with the kimchi which tasted old & sour. The burrata & lamb skewers are a must! The lamb was so soft & tender that it melts in your mouth. It's the best lamb I had in Philly. The Burrata was also very soft and paired nicely with the egg yolk as well. I expected the fried chicken sandwich to be similar to the chicken bao bun and unfortunately it wasn't. The chicken was fried for way too long. This made the chicken difficult to bite and it scratched the room of my mouth when chewing. There wasn't any flavor in the sandwich, it was just dry. The bucatini was delicious though! It has a strong truffle & mushroom flavor! The sauce was very creamy and complimented the mushroom palate in the dish. I don't think the coconut tiramisu was even tiramisu lol. It tasted like a bad coconut cheese cake. I didn't bother finishing it. Walnut street cafe has a great environment to spend time with friends or for happy hours. The drinks are strong but tastes non-alcoholic. They provide a great area to catch up with friends over food & drink. read more

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Food was great! Yum! We don't eat pork so subbed for non pork items without an issue. The tea was just right too!! We had a great server who was super attentive and we got the food fast! We kind of stumbled upon this place in the area. We walked in sat right down and was served right away. The food was fresh, cooked just right and made to order without issue. It's filling as well. Compliments to the chef. read more

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Walnut Street Cafe is the cutest! Stopped by for a weekend happy hour (one of the few spots that does happy hour on the weekends or maybe I'm just not down). The ambiance is so airy and open with the windows giving views. Anywho, ordered from their "Golden Hour" menu a Pom Queen and their whipped ricotta. Yes. Yes. And yes. I loved it. Their drinks...not watery. The food...creative and tasty. I'll most definitely be back again! read more

Because their service has gotten much better in the last two times, I changed my mind from a 3 star. The previous times we've had some pretty negligent waitresses (including no steak knife and waiting a while before we had to get someone else; someone bringing paper-based container for a soupy dish; taking a long time to even bring water at initial sit down; etc). They also change their menus which is nice so it keeps encouraging me to come back to try new items. Their happy hour drinks tend to be more watered down compared to other happy hour places I've gone to. I do really like their chips with horseradish creme fraiche. My go to start-off snack here. Lamb skewers - salt lick. My friend and I couldn't eat it. It was unpalatable. They also never brought out the Tzatziki for it, which maybe would have helped with the saltiness. We kept asking for it, and it just keeps not coming so they ended up comping it which was very kind. My fiance loves the Chef's Burger with bacon jam, gruyere cheese, porcini truffle aioli, red onion, brioche bun, and fries. I don't think he ever gets anything else. He is also obsessed with burgers, so if you are also a burger fan, this one has your name on it too! My personal favorite is the Bone in Pork Chop with haricot vert, smashed potatoes, honey miso glaze. They switch it up occasionally, but its been my own go-to. I had roasted chicken breast once with poulet rouge, roasted parsnips, marsala chicken jus and I was not a fan. The texture of the chicken really freaked me out. It was rubbery and had a funny/gamey taste- like how I once sous vide chicken breasts to try it out and THAT happened. Sauce was very flavorless and I didn't taste much marsala so I couldn't even mask the taste. You cannot go wrong with a side of roasted brussel sprouts with grilled corn, lime aioli & espelette peppers, plus the roasted cauliflower with parmesan, crispy sunchoke, and lemon caper vinegarette. read more

I came for Sunday brunch with my parents and it was fantastic! They had live music that was vibrant but not overwhelming. The staff was friendly and all were laughing and got along well. This not only bled into such a positive, fun environment, but also great service. Food was amazing, but the menu was a bit limited so make sure to look before going. Side note - the building is all glass, so it had awesome natural lighting (great for something like a ladies, birthday, or nicer brunch, but can also go casual). We drove past at night as well and it looked classy and elegant. Will definitely be coming back for their dinner! read more

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