<p>LOL, was going to suggest Rose Tattoo! Ate there for second time about two weeks ago. Both times lunch and both times upstairs, not for elderly. </p>
<p>Daughter had great meal there, with a group of girls sat downstairs in back.
Don’t let them seat you in the front area, too crowded, unless of course you have restaurant to yourself ;)</p>
<p>Also, the diver scallops were memorable.</p>
<p>This won’t solve the restaurant problem, but your daughter can rest assured that there is a CVS at 38th and Walnut…My Penn student daughter is a very frequent patron.</p>
<p>For future reference: When we visit my S at Penn we tend to go to Pod most often. It is most convenient, and our favorite - it is Pan-Asian, wonderful sushi and Asian dishes, and walking distance from campus. It is on Sansom right next to the Hilton Inn at Penn. Disitro “funky” upscale Mexican (Jose Garces) is also walking distance from campus. We once went to brunch at the White Dog Cafe, also walking distance on Sansom Street, which is perfect for a vegetarian - organic, local produce etc. The only other walking distance from campus that we have been to is Penne at the Sheraton, which was just okay. Took son and his roommates, and I think they left hungry. Portions were pretty small for an Italian restaurant.</p>
<p>A few that we have gone to that you need to drive or take subway:</p>
<p>Another favorite is Amada, which is Spanish tapas in Old City. Devon Seafood Grill in Rittenhouse Square was good as well.</p>
<p>Le Bec-Fin never closed - Georges Perrier said it would, which was perhaps a publicity stunt - but it’s not the same temple to haute cuisine it used to be. That said, you can still get a very good meal there, with excellent service. And the dessert cart never disappoints.</p>
<p>I know - there is a review in the Enquirer a couple of days ago. They are putting in a new area downstairs.</p>
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<p>We stayed at the Ritz and ate at 10 Arts this spring while visiting D2 at Bryn Mawr. Didn’t like the hotel or the restaurant. Food was OK–but nothing special. </p>
<p>Helping D2 move to a house she and a friend are renting in South Philadelphia.(She’s doing a post-grad program and working in the Center City area.) We made dinner reservations at a restaurant that Bon Appetit named as one of the 10 best new restaurants in the US. It’s called Talula’s Garden (in Washington Square). Anyone been there?</p>
<p>Ooops, sorry for the bum steer on Le Bec Fin. </p>
<p>Talula’s Garden just opened. The owner/chef, Aimee Olexy, has been running an insanely well-regarded twelve-seat (or thereabouts) restaurant out in the boonies called Talula’s Table (that’s right – one big table). Year-long wait for reservations, etc. She just brought her act into the city with financing from Stephen Starr, one of the city’s top restaurant developers. Obviously, it’s a big scale-up from serving 12 people a night. And this is the first restaurant she’s done on her own, having split with her chef-husband a couple years ago. I’ve never been there (who has? they only serve 12 people a night, sometimes fewer). I did go to their previous restaurant a couple of times, and I liked it but wasn’t head-over-heels about it like some.</p>
<p>Early word on TG has been a little mixed, not ecstatic but complimentary. Starr does a great job of setting up restaurants that provide good experiences, if not always the absolute trendiest food. Pod, discussed above, is one of his. Let us know what you think.</p>
<p>I second Lacroix; I took my grandmother there for her 90th birthday.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your suggestions, which I am saving. Unfortunately, after all this, dinner was canceled thanks to Irene. The start of my daughter’s pre-orientation program was pushed back to Monday afternoon, so I think we’ll plan to make an early start on Monday morning rather than staying over the night before. My daughter wants to be at college NOW and is pushing to leave the house the moment the hurricane passes through, but we’ll have to see how things go. Anyway, sooner or later we will have dinner with the grandparents, and now I have many ideas, so thanks for that.</p>
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<p>Went there for D’s graduation dinner in May. The food was superb and the wait staff really helped make it a festive occasion for my D. They showered us with attention and champagne.</p>
<p>Me too for Lacroix raves. Especially for Sunday brunch. Really memorable. We go there every New Years Day. Also, Le Bec Fin has a downstairs alternative that is cheaper, more casual and just as good.</p>
<p>I haven’t been to Philadelphia in a long time, but when I was there, we went to the Victor Cafe, which was a lovely Italian restaurant with waiters and waitresses who were opera students from Curtis. At various times during the evening, a bell would ring, a hush would arise, and one of them would sing an aria. It was wonderful. I would certainly love to go back.</p>
<p>The Waterworks is a very nice place to dine, overlooking Schuykill river and boathouse row…also love Union Trust…Del Frisco’s is not bad</p>