Special occassion/dress up restaurant in Center City Philadelphia

[Meg Loves to Eat]

It's been a while since I needed a restaurant that meets those standards, but the babysitter is coming for this weekend, and we're going OUT! Your favorite spots for a fussy foodie, please.

[Meg Loves to Eat]

Any thoughts on the Union Trust Steakhouse? And how bad the storms will be tomorrow night???

[zmulls]

If you're interested in the steakhouse experience, Union Trust won't disappoint. My twice-a-year dinner date and I went there once (my choice), and it was really good. Very expensive, pricey of course, but par for the course for this kind of experience.

[Hungryin theBurbs]

Barclay Prime is my favorite steak place. In the completely opposite direction, I'd go to Vedge. Really delicious unique food, hip vibe, and dressy won't be out of place. Could be booked though. I couldn't get a table for four for Sat, so we are going to Vernick.

[arepo]

Vetri of course but if you can't get in there try Eric Ripert's 10 Arts. It's really good and has a New York vibe.

[cwdonald]

10 Arts is not the same without Jen Carroll.. tread lightly there.

[QuakerInBoston]

I didn't like 10 Arts WITH Jen Carroll at the helm, so this is sage advice from my perspective.

[sylviag]

When you decide on a restaurant - which better be soon - don't depend on what you see on Open Table. Call the restaurant. Most places keep some tables open for callers or regulars. I have often been able to make a reservation by calling directly when it looked impossible on Open Table.

[Meg Loves to Eat]

Great advice!

[JanR]

Very good advice, Sylvia. I told Pierre Camels I could never get a table at Bibou on OpenTable and he shook his head and said that it is much better to call them.

[zmulls]

Well, there's a world of difference between "very special dressup place" and "great foodie place" and "terrific 'nice' place to eat with great food!" I like all of the above, at different times.

So you need the food to be great, and want to fuss a bit. There are plenty of nice places to go, where you may be able to get in even though its a Saturday.

A little further down the scale would be Bar Ferdinand in Northern Liberties -- it's always been one of my favorite spots, upscale for the neighborhood, raffish by Center City standards. But news is that David Ansill has just taken over and revamped the whole menu. I expect it's worth a visit.

My parents offered to take us out for my birthday in July, and I had them take me to Tinto, Jose Garces second restaurant. That was a lovely meal. I have not been to his Chifa yet, but have always been intrigued by the idea of Peruvian/Cantonese cuisine.

Amada is bound to be booked -- my wife and I went there once without a reservation, and were happy to settle for seats at the the "bar" near the cooking station. If you are into that, you can sit and watch them assemble the dishes (we also so the expediter send a few things back for not being up to standard).

A longtime favorite is Tequila's. It's an old standby but the food -- truly authentic Mexican cuisine -- has always been wonderful. (Killer margarita's, too).

Matyson, a BYOB, is fantastic. Again, if you can get a Saturday table.

[Meg Loves to Eat]

Let's open up the discussion beyond the 3 safe choices. Think less "dress up" and more trendy. And yes, it's for Saturday night, and I'm know I'm late.

[sal_acid]

Fountain, Vetri -Yes
Lacroix- Not for me anymore. Food is too fussily and sparingly presented. Couple dishes were just odd.

[Meg Loves to Eat]

I have to agree on the "spare" part. I like a perfectly prepared small portion, but the last time we went to Lacroix, the food was microscopic! We always order every course, and dessert was more food than everything else combined!

[QuakerInBoston]

LaCroix is the best bet, in my opinion, if you're looking for highly attentive service, creative but still fairly traditional French, and a fairly serene/romantic atmosphere. Fountain is too stuffy for me and I love pretentious, stuffy French places.

Vetri is nice but hard to get a table and far less intimate.

[sylviag]

We went to dinner at Fountain recently and it wasn't the least bit stuffy or pretentious. It was delightful! Lots of good menu choices. We love LaCroix, too.
I would go to either one.

Seems like the menu at Le Bec Fin is limited; that would be my problem with it.

[cwdonald]

Here is the dinner menu as it is on philadelphia menu pages... doesnt seem too limited to me. I am not sure how many courses you get...

Consomme De Volaille confit d' escargot with foraged herbs
Marinated Root Vegetables And Creme Fraiche

Quarry Hill Farm Hen Egg Garganelli ris de veau, raisins, coriander and sorrel emulsion
Yolk Wrapped In Swiss Chard potato fondant, truffle gelee and sweet corn

Husdon Valley Foie Gras Poele caramelized onion brioche, frog hollow peaches and sedum
Grilled Artichokes baby gems and dijon mustard

Poached Atlantic Halibut Wrapped In Holland Leeks crepe and caviar butter
Whole Roasted Fennel quinoa, baby squash and armando manni olive oil

32 Day Dry Aged Beef peas, morel mushrooms and sauce bordelaise
Champignons De Paris lemon, young beets and tarte de rye

Meadow Creek Farm Mountaineer two miles honey and plutos

Buttermilk Sorbet new jersey blueberries, ginger genoise and candied citrus

Mousse Au Chocolat De Michel Cluizel poached cherries and macadamia nut ice cream

[sylviag]

Looks like you get a choice for each course.
Many of the courses look very good, but the entree on this menu is either halibut or a vegetarian choice. Since I don't care for halibut, there would go my meal. I assume the other courses are small plates. If the entree is something you like, then it's great.
My husband loves halibut - I could send him!

[Buckethead]

Most of the courses are about the same size (small), there is no 'entree' course. I don't know if you read what I wrote above but there's a vegetarian menu and a non-vegetarian one, the non-veg one has two choices for most of the courses. So there are really three menus: Veg, Non-Veg 1 and Non-Veg 2, although the latter two share a few courses at the beginning and the end (cheese and dessert). So you would have a choice between the halibut and something else for that course. I suspect the Menupages menu is out of date anyway. LBF really needs to get its new website up and running.

[Philly Ray]

For dressy (and expensive), The Fountain or Lacroix.

[Chefpaulo]

+1 for each. Just about the only places left with any sense of decorum.
CP

[cwdonald]

I would suggest that Le Bec Fin has that same sense of decorum, as does Vetri.

[Buckethead]

I would recommend the new LBF for this, the food is excellent and so is the service. As far as the menu, you basically choose vegetarian or not, and it not, the non-veg menu has two choices for most of the courses. I wouldn't recommend Vetri after my last meal there. I haven't been to the Fountain ever and it's been a long time since I was at Lacroix.

[Philly Ray]

I didn't recommend Vetri because the request was for this Saturday, and I doubt they would have availability this close. Additionally, I don't really consider Vetri a true "dress up" restaurant. Personally, I wouldn't wear a jacket or tie there. However, I do think it is one of the best, if not the best, Philly has to offer.

[Buckethead]

I don't see where the OP mentioned it was Saturday exactly but assuming "this weekend" = Saturday, availability will be the main problem: Vetri, Fountain, and Lacroix all show no availability on Opentable within 2 hours of 7 pm on Saturday. LBF has a couple openings.

[Philly Ray]

Split hairs much?

[Buckethead]

I'm famous for it! I prefer calling it "attention to detail" though..