This is such a cute restaurant nestled in the heart of Penn campus! Our waiter explained that they've been around for over 40 years and use farm fresh ingredients. We came for brunch and tried the Kennet Square omlette and vegan breakfast burrito. The omlette was absolutely delicious- the mushrooms and caramelized onions really stood out, and the egg was very fluffy and soft. The burrito was a little bit too salty but it improved with the salsa/pico provided. One of the highlights of the restaurants is the interior, which is decorated with farm house meets dog-theme vibe. Every room has personality and character. This would also be a nice spot to take visitors or parents when they are visiting the university. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Omlette - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Service was okay. It took about 30-mins from getting seated to being served food. There's no syrup for any of their lattes but they have simple syrup as an alternative! The classic avocado BLT was good! Only thing was it was slow service to something to consider if you're in a rush. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Avocado BLT - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I really wanted this to be a perfect experience, but it was wholly unsatisfying. I will say, this is one of the most interesting and gorgeous restaurant venues I have ever visited. That was my favorite part, how interesting walking through each room was. Unfortunately, the service and food were problematic. We had a group, not huge by any means, but the group gratuity became an annoyance following the service. Most importantly, multiple people in the table were served undercooked fish--the inside of their salmon was completely raw. One of these guests also had a severe allergy, and was still given plates with that allergen after alerting the server multiple times. One of the pomegranate margaritas we got was undrinkably spicy. The staff did replace the salmon, but it was sad to see multiple members of our group get cold and undercooked food. Furthermore, our table set the reservation during the Fearless Restaurant week--but when we asked for the special menu advertised online, our server had no clue what we were talking about. He had to ask us what the items on the prix fixe menu were. And after all that, the multiple drinks each person at our table got, the mid-level set price for the 3-course special, we were still hungry. The portions for the fearless menu were really small. But, due to their menu prices, rather than order more I went home for a second dinner. I really wanted to like this restaurant, but I'm disappointed and underwhelmed. The food was alright, but not for the price and experience we got. read more

We really enjoyed our experience on the patio. The food matched the weather, very al fresco. There was also a running race going on the road next to the restaurant, so we got some entertainment with our dinner! The restaurant is in a great location and has the funnest atmosphere! read more

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What a great spot. Seating outdoor was delightful. Ate from the delicious happy hour menu including tuna tartare, oysters and lovely caesar salad with sauted shrimp. read more

Downgrading my review because of poor service experience with the new staff those evening. We arrived at 4pm for happy hour and got 2 seats at the bar. We were told no high chair at the bar, which was ok. Then another lady comes pretending to be the manager and says "no kids allowed at the bar". This was not our first visit at the bat and we explained to her. She was very rude and blamed the manager taking no responsibility. We then moved to a table, she them comes back saying manager is ok as long as the kids are accompanied with an adult. I was flabbergasted, who in the world would leave kids at the bar and then go sit on a table. Made no sense. Our table was in back and we were waiting for service for 10 mins. After thay we just left. Very Disappointing service today....:( read more

Food: 3 Service: 3 Price: 3 Ambiance: 5 I was in Philly and wanted to try out some brunch place and this is what popped up for me on my trusted Yelp. Aesthetics of this place are on point. So cute! As I was walking to be seated, I passed through so many cool separate rooms. The decor can be visually overwhelming as there are a lot of decked out walls of wallpaper and gold guilder accents. Decadent is what comes to mind. I ordered a mushroom omelet and coffee. It was fine. I mean I'm not sure if I've just become accustomed to really great brunch places here in LA, but given how decadent the place was, I found the food a bit underwhelming. Don't get me wrong, it was good but not great. And, what's funny is my server asked me after noticing I didn't eat the potatoes if I liked them! read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We love a cute farm to table situation, the East Coast's first at that. For lunch I chose the meatloaf melt special but the stars of the show was the whipped feta and the mushroom soup. Deeeeelish! Service was excellent, even with the lunch time rush. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Whipped Feta - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Nice restaurant near U Penn. Nice vibe, cute interior with dog themed arts and deco. Food was pretty decent also. I had a good experience and it was memorable. Strongly recommend to eat here if you are near Drexel or U Penn. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Dogs - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We were visiting the University of Pennsylvania and feel so lucky that we ambled past the White Dog Cafe! We fell in love with the ambiance as soon as we walked through the door and were greeted so graciously. The warm and inviting bar space was fantastic. The menu offered so many wonderful dishes and our server/bartender Logan was so well versed on the preparation of each dish that it was easy to find just the right thing! I had the gazpacho and it was the best I've ever had - excellent! When we told Logan this was our first time visiting he and the Chef surprised us with a basket of their homemade corn bread (incredibly well done) WOW! Such excellent service and such a welcoming, charming restaurant. We will be repeat customers and if I'm lucky, I hope to work my way through the entire menu over the next year. read more

We began our long weekend in University City with lunch at the White Dog Cafe. The bright and ample space, set in three Victorian brownstones, was very comfortable, easy to converse in and the decor really embodied a sophisticated rustic charm. We began our meal with cocktails and an Artisan Cheese Plate which was accompanied by fruit, nuts, pickles, crusty bread and the most delicious strawberry and apricot spreads. The cheese selections were unique and very tasty! Definitely a must have as an appetizer or a nosh with cocktails. For our mains, we selected the Spicy Lamb Bolognese and the Impossible Patty Melt. The lamb ragu was very flavorful and the pasta was perfectly cooked. The Impossible Patty Melt was well cooked and the star of the show was the smoky onion jam and spicy pickles. This was a perfect intro to the foodie scene in and about the University City area. The staff was warm and friendly and the overall vibe makes it easy to linger long after the meal is done. read more

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Tasty American food! We visited White Dog Cafe on a Thursday night, and it was about a quarter full. There is fun dog iconography everywhere and an eclectic mix of rooms. We split the mezze platter, whipped feta, and Hawaiian rolls, and I ordered the cauliflower Milanese as main. The mezze platter had some lovely sauces to pair with the tasty bread triangles. The whipped feta was delicious and was complemented well by the tomato and balsamic. The Hawaiian rolls were surprisingly light and had a sweet flavor. The cauliflower Milanese was excellent with a delicious sauce. Overall, I had a great experience at the White Dog Cafe and would highly recommend them for dinner in University City. read more

Stopped in to the white dog cafe here for a quick late lunch. The space is nicely decorated and has various rooms on multiple floors, and outdoor sections. The downstairs area seemed cozy with portraits of dogs. We ordered the chopped salmon salad and double cheddar burger. Both had fresh, good ingredients. Burger was cooked at temp, but just seemed lacking. Definitely a pricier though not memorable meal to me. Staff also forgot about us though as we were never checked on until we were done so maybe an off day all around. read more

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The white dog cafe on Samson St is spacious. There are several rooms throughout with different decor. I don't know what brand of coffee they use but I loved the coffee. I ordered the FARMERS PLATE (Cage-Free Eggs Any Style, Green Meadow Farm Smoked Bacon, Multigrain Toast, Home Fries). I am not a fan of eggs but these eggs were cooked and seasoned exactly how I can tolerate eating them. I had to let the waiter know just how good the eggs were! This location is great to celebrate a birthday! There is also outside seating. read more

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Awesome food, staff and atmosphere. Go here all the time. one of our favorite stops in Philadelphia

I'm not from Philly. And I had never been to Philly. But I came in for a work trip, and this is where my boss wanted to take us. I was so intrigued right from the start. The decor in there is so fun! Dogs, everywhere. Which I love of course. The rooms are so eclectic. Both upstairs and downstairs. We ate in the private room in the back which had fun paintings and sculptures all over. There were 10 of us in the party and I felt like we were attended to well. The food came out in a timely manner. It was tough to choose what to get because everything looked so good! I tried one of the specials - the bao brisket. Pretty yummy. Had some of the buffalo chicken dip - delish! And then ordered the Seafood Bucatini. Which is not something I'd normally order but I'm so glad I did! The white wine garlic sauce was absolutely delicious. I learned that I'm not a big fan of Bucatini pasta (I like thinner noodles). But even with the thickness the flavor was too good to care. The seafood was fresh and it was a good balance of sauce to noodles to seafood. I also ordered the Pear cocktail. And the cider sangria. Both so good! My only regret is not having enough time to explore the location and learn more about the history. Next time! read more

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I came here after a long day of exploring University City. We were able to find seating outside at one of the tables. Everything here is dog themed. They have dog pictures on the floor, in the bathroom, everywhere. Even the drinks were dog themed specials. The waitress came by and explained their happy hour menu. All their food is made farm to table so the quality is superb. To drink I ordered the Pawjito which is rum, elderflower liqueur, kiwi, lime, and ginger ale. It was not too sweet and had a good amount of liquor. To eat I ordered the White Dog Double Cheddar Burger which was recommended by the waitress. It came with green meadow farm smoked bacon mayo, bibb lettuce, tomatoes, grilled red onion, on brioche. For a happy hour special it was a large burger. Unfortunately it did not come with fries so I ordered parmesan fries on the side. The food was great. You can taste the fresh and local ingredients with every item. I can see why this is a popular spot with locals and university students. The food here is very good. I plan to come back here for another happy hour sometime soon to try their other options. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Really enjoyed a good brunch at White Dog Cafe. The ambience is great and the food was delicious. The service was also perfect with attentive staff and the managers also checked in to make sure all was good! We ordered the scrambled eggs, avocado toast, chicken and waffles,monkey bread ,flapjacks and the brunch snack board. Everything was delicious. Definitely recommend the cafe for a great meal. read more

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Went here for a corporate event. First time back in a decade. This is an interesting ambience with lots of small rooms. We had a pre-fix menu with tuna tarar, salad/soup, burger/chicken breast/salmon. The starter and first course were good but the chicken was very dry. For large parties that may not be a surprise, but still a little disappointed. They have a good wine/beer list. The service was OK. read more

My go-to place when hosting friends and family near campus! Every single dish is always great, and I appreciate their farm to fork approach with seasonable species. The dog decorations and themed rooms are a nice touch too! read more

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Lots of dog art. LOTS. It's a trip. If you have cynophobia this is not a place for you. Food is all farm to table and seasonal. Ordered the tuna melt and had some of the Spinach & Artichoke Croquettes. Kiwi lemonade was very sweet. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Spinach & Artichoke Croquettes - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Yelp, you've done it again. I was visiting Philly for my niece's birthday and wanted to locate a restaurant for brunch that has great ratings on Yelp, took brunch reservations, and could handle this party of 4. I located a few, but this one stood out. This restaurant is very easy to locate, and on a Sunday at 11am... plenty of inexpensive street parking. We were greeted by very pleasant hostesses as well as unique and attractive decor. This place is a puppy lovers paradise w the décor. I'm not going to share too much, you have to visit!! We were greeted by the lovely Adrian, who was sweet as pie. She was very professional, timely w table visits, and got our order right the 1st time!! Collectively, we ordered the following... Nashville Hot Chicken w Waffle: Big plate, well seasoned and spicy the way we like it. Puppy Power Beverage: Soooo refreshing!! Light yet impactful flavor. Farmers Plate: Plentiful, well plated, and very tasty. Well seasoned. A la Carte Bacon: At least 6 pieces, and crisped perfectly!! A la Carte Breakfast Potatoes: Sooo good!! I loved the herby seasoning. A la Carte French Toast: This item changed my husband's life!! He literally talked about it all evening, through the wedding, and the next day on our trip back home. It was amazingly light, and the flavor was chef's kiss !! A la Carte Egg Whites: Well prepared and tasty. A la Carte Turkey Bacon: Prepared very well, great portion size. I've been talking about this place since we left. I highly recommend this place for any and everyone !! Job exquisitely done White Dog Cafe. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Street view. - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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What a lovely place, brownstone converted into a great cafe, with farm to table fare. We had a great waiter Will who took care of us and gave us the history of the cafe and how it got its name. My husband had the special a steak with hash and two fried eggs in an iron skillet. He said it was a little taste of heaven. I had the strawberry cheesecake stuffed French toast with chicken apple sausage. It was a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth! Can't wait to visit again to try their other meals! read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Steak with chimichurri hash and fried eggs and toast. - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Great location in University City. A renovated brownstone. Wish I had visited the wine cellar. A nice cocktail and beer menu with a variety of choices. The deviled eggs were very good. Nice crunch at the end. A tad bit salty. I had the seafood bucatini ; which was delicious. Others had the farm beef meatloaf which was also delicious. The service was great. We were in and out in just over an hour. Our waitress Micaela, was very attentive and made for an enjoyable evening. read more

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I visited for Happy Hour on a Thursday, and the bar was packed with enthusiastic customers and lively conversations. The restaurant was very cozy, and it makes for a great post-work stop for food and drink. My food was good, however I felt some dishes had potential for improvement. The fries were seasoned well but tasted like it was sitting out for just a minute too long since it wasn't as hot as expected. I asked my burger to be cooked medium and it came out closer to medium rare. The deviled eggs and salad were both delicious, which made for a good closer to the meal. Happy hour dishes were easy to split with my date and still overall a great bite despite some minor quality hiccups. The service was excellent, and we received our food quickly and were checked in on frequently despite a fully packed bar when we arrived. I felt the prices were excellent for the different dishes we ordered, and overall was a good location and spot near Penn's campus for a post-work meal. read more

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My oncology consult at Penn Vet went longer than I had anticipated. While my dog was having a minor procedure, I decided to walk over for some lunch. I ordered curry chicken salad on croissant with a side of mushroom soup. Positively delectable. Perfect service from the bartender Edward. I had a delicious glass of Sauvignon Blanc to calm my nerves. The interior is quirky and comfy. Everything looked clean and in order. When I sat down I looked to the right and the dog painting was the spitting image of my dog. I am taking that as a positive sign. read more

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Had a great group dinner (for work) at White Dog recently. They have a private room available that fits ~12-15 people around a table with doors to keep out the noise of the restaurant. Appetizer spread of whipped ricotta w/ toast, Cesar salad, crispy cauliflower and truffle fries. The Ricotta is one of my favorites - I would highly recommend! For my entree I got a sesame crusted tuna dish which exceeded expectations! The servers were very attentive and made sure everyone had food and wine glasses filled. I would definitely recommend White Dog for a group dinner event. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Sesame Seared Yellowfin Tuna - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

White Dog Cafe totally won me over. The space is incredible. It feels like you're walking through a series of cozy, artsy rooms in a historic home, each one with its own personality. It's charming without trying too hard. I went for brunch and couldn't stop smiling the whole time. The coffee was so good I ordered a second cup without hesitation. I had the Farmers Plate and somehow even the eggs, which I'm usually picky about, were perfectly seasoned and cooked just right. You can really taste the quality and freshness in everything. The staff was upbeat and genuinely kind, checking in at the right moments and making the whole experience feel effortless. It's the kind of place where you lose track of time and end up lingering longer than planned. Already looking for an excuse to go back! read more

We celebrated my sister-in-law's birthday on a beautiful day outside. We ordered mushroom soup, onion soup, double cheeseburger, trout, New York strip steak, and flounder piccata, all of which were delicious. Our waiter was great, checking on us frequently to see if we needed anything. To finish off our wonderful meal, we enjoyed carrot cake pudding with nuts and ice cream, which was also very good. The restaurant was clean, and the staff was warm and friendly. We will return to try other items on the menu. read more

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Visited the White Dog Cafe in University City. They have an interesting private room at this place. The place had an interestingly large picture of a dog. There was also these metal flower statues that were attached to the wall. The ceiling was full of many chandeliers. The waitress was very quick and friendly. I had some coffee which was delicious. I had the hummus as an appetizer. I really liked how the bread was so warm and they gave a ton of vegetables with the dish. The vegetables consisted of different colored carrots, radish, and celery. The hummus was topped with red peppers and green chutney. The Thai salad is a must get! The dish was super spicy. It had shiitake mushrooms, udon noodles, tenderloins, and a ton of vegetable. Lastly, the dessert was ok. It was 3 small dessert cakes. The only noteworthy one was the jelly filled cake. read more

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Zoey was a great server! She updated us on all the specials. We love the White Dog! Never go wrong with anything on the menu!

Perfect place for lunch. Great menu with so many options. Perfect portions if you're hungry. Loved the dog theme and portraits of different canines on the walls and pillows. Each dining room had its own theme and character. Service was good but a little slow with our party of 10. Will go back whenever in the area. read more

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Great service, the food was very tasty and fresh. The bathrooms are clean. We are coming back!

Loved the food but the service was the highlight of me and my girlfriend's meal. Came from a horrendous speta ride from nyc and got a linner with my girlfriend and was very happy to have received great service from Will L. Even gave us a great drink recommendation. Made my day so much better and our meal amazing! read more

Came here for lunch on a Tuesday. The food and service were decent. We didn't make reservations and the host added another chair to a 2-top for our party of 3 even though there were plenty of empty 4-top tables. I understand doing this if they're busy but they weren't. Another issue is that we were seated next to a water/server station and two servers next to us were discussing at length who wanted to serve our party, and it sounded like neither of them wanted to for whatever reason. Because of this, it took awhile to be acknowledged and get water. I found this to be unprofessional. The restrooms really need to be deep cleaned. Each of them reeked of stale urine. They're very small and cramped as well. The restrooms alone would prevent me from returning here. Hopefully the management team reads these reviews and addresses these issues. read more

My first & last time @ White Dog. The "decoration" was funky & fun to look at! I ordered the spinach salad with chicken. The salad itself was good BUT the chicken so tough I had to ask for a steak knife. My diet coke was flat. The cocktail was so watery , not much liquor in it. It was pretty busy so they won't miss my not returning. WAY OVER RATED. read more

I really enjoyed eating at the White Dog Cafe! It's very well decorated, the exterior had lovely holiday greenery last month. Inside, lots of photos of dogs and vintage Penn memorabilia. We were a larger group so we ate in the basement. The fall grain bowl was delicious! But there wasn't any protein so I also ordered some fries. I think $9 for a side of fries (which was almost as much as my entree $16) was kind of excessive but that was my only complaint. The latte I ordered was delicious! Our server was incredibly kind. My only other suggestion is that music would be nice to hear in the background, but otherwise we enjoyed eating here! read more

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Stopped by White Dog Cafe after a movie nearby. My girlfriend and I took a seat at the bar, where we were greeted warmly and given menus. The decor was appropriate, modern with paintings and pictures of dogs everywhere. We started off with cocktails. I ordered one of their bourbon drinks, which was very well balanced. For food, we decided to share the pierogies and fish & chips. The pierogies were covered with onions and bacon, with sour cream around the plate. Every bite was heavenly! I've never eaten pierogies that good anywhere. The fish was perfectly fried and delicious. But the star was probably the chips (french fries). They were sliced to look more like a thick potato chip. The were perfectly crisp and salted, and very addictive. As we munched on our fries we decided that this will be our go to spot for food after a movie in University City. Staff was very friendly and we ended up having cocktails until after closing time. White Dog Cafe really surprised me with with a five star experience. read more

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The Spicy Lamb Bolognese at White Dog Cafe was a standout--rich, gamey lamb with a kick of chili and perfectly al dente pappardelle. While the flavors impressed, the portion felt small for the price. Still, a creative twist on a classic that's worth trying. read more

White Dog Cafe - University City - Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

White Dog Cafe nails the farmhouse-chic vibe with its quirky dog-themed art and fireplace nooks. Their pumpkin ravioli (brown butter sage sauce, toasted pecans) is fall-on-a-plate perfection, though the grass-fed burger arrived overcooked. Service is warm but can drag during brunch rushes. Don't Miss: The local apple cider mimosa--seasonal and crisp. Verdict: A go-to for cozy dates or group dinners, but check your meat temps. read more