This striking restaurant opened with a bang in 1994, then struggled to keep its panache. It managed to reemerge as a stellar entry with Alfred Portale at the helm and Christopher Lee running the kitchen. The focus is innovative fish and seafood dishes, and there's an extensive raw bar of pristine shellfish. A spectacular 16-foot sculpture of a leaping striped bass continues to hang over the exhibition kitchen, setting the tone for anyone confused about the current thrust of the restaurant. But the rest of the room has a more sophisticated look, with subdued upholstery on the ultracontemporary chairs and enormous stunning barrel-shape crystal chandeliers. Many a wedding proposal has been popped here on a Saturday night.
Reviewed by Vallombrosa from New Hampshire on 3/24/08
We had another fabulous dinner on Saturday night--the seafood is sooooo fresh, beautifully presented, perfectly prepared, and served by the best. Always a treat when we are in Philadelphia.
Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip