the dandelion

a friend was in town for an afternoon, and was desperate to eat at a starr restaurant, so i we went to the dandelion for drinks and apps.  i ordered the heirloom salad and a side of mash.  our server was friendly and had lots of suggestions.  aside from the enjoyablefoodand ambiance, i have to acknowledge the great lighting and extensive wine list!

a great location in a beautiful building. the drinks are delicious (i recommend the dark & stormy), thefoodis great if you're craving pub-like food, and it's one of the few places in philadelphia with sticky toffee pudding, which is a delicious way to end a meal.

this is for a series of posts for stephen starr restaurants including:alma de cuba, barclay prime, butcher and singer, continental midtown & martini bar, the dandelion, el vez, jones, parc, pizzeria stella, route 6 [1], route 6 [2], & square burger. one of the gf and my favorite stephen starr restaurants is the dandelion - the very definition of a gastropub. it leaves pretension outside while providing greatfoodand drink. chef robert aikens was at the helm when we first visited a few years back and since then, cia-trained joe minnich has taken over. the gf and i came here recently with a friend to celebrate her birthday and it's clear the dandelion is in great hands!

good place but not for folks who want to have conversation or sit in comfortable chairs. party of eight celebrating an event was seated promptly and we paid a corkage fee of flutes for expensive champagne we broought. enjoyed two pitchers of pimms cup #10 for the table and assorted appetizers with tasty bread and butter. main dishes were almost all good. except the crab risotto. way too spicy to be enjoyable. risotto and crab are usually subtle dishes. not this one. sent it back after two bites. chose not to order another choice. manager insisted on providing gratis a welsh rarebit order; which i let others partake as i didn't want to push my lactaid pill to it's helpful limits. would i go back, no; but, would recommend it to friends who want the experience of british pubfoodat almost reasonable prices. service was fine and we left full. the mini pastry plate was a smart move to share for the table for dessert.

the dandelion first review. this is my first foray into the dandelion and upon arrival the wait staff member was attentive but came off a bit pretentious guiding me to the hostess, who was located on the second floor. most diners came in the same door i did, located on the corner and right into the dining room, having to go through the same routine as i. my original server was slow on the initial greeting at the table and since they did not appear to be that busy judging by the number of seats available i am not sure why.fooddelivery was a touch slow, but giving them the benefit of the doubt due to my being there about 1/2 hour after opening i will forgive that. a more attentive waitress checking on me would have been in order to avoid appearing like such a long wait. when my order of eggs benedict arrived, they were slightly above average. for the price charged i would expect slightly better or a little something extra on the side. my second waitress, jennifer, was excellent. jennifer started attending to me toward the end of my meal and i had been observing her doing just what excellent wait staff does. she was very attentive to her tables and continually checked on them prior to them receiving their meals and during the meal itself. overall i would give the dandelion a 7 out of 10. still trying to figure out the mishmosh decor on the first floor though.

the overall verdict is positive. with no complaints from a party of 6 it looks like joe monnich is doing things right. hopefully britishfoodwill continue to have a philadelphia cheerleader for some time to come.

dandelion doesn't disappoint for a great lunch on a hot day. i have been here for drinks before (they have a nice happy hour menu too) and wanted to give lunch a try. good traditional pubfoodwith unique twist

this restaurant is by far one of my favorite starr restaurants when i think about overall experience. personally, i found the dogs that decorated the walls of one room cute and i think they added character to the restaurant. while the atmosphere does remind one of the united kingdom, thefoodalso adds to this atmosphere as well. to start, we ordered the butter lettuce salad and the terrine of hen, ham hock and foie gras. while these two starters were good, out of the two, the terrine is not to be missed as it is an incredibly flavorful dish. as both a lamb and a meat pie lover, the lamb shepherds pie i received here was delicious and filling. thefoodhere clearly has an emphasis on english pubfoodwith an american twist to it, so there is something on the menu for everyone. i have a whole list of foods that i now hope to try there including the rabbit pie, bangers and mash, and sticky toffee pudding, a dessert i ate many times while i was in the u.k.

clockwise from left: the townhouse which houses the dandellion. second floor bar. sitting room with a fireplace on the first floor.   i’ve always wanted to try thefoodat the dandelion since i moved to philadelphia. the restaurant offered an interesting center city restaurant week menu this winter so off i went after work. the menu did not disappoint.   the atmosphere: it’s a disney version of an irish pub. it’s charming and clean. a real irish pub is a bit of a dive bar. the staff is friendly and courteous. my server followed me to the street to make sure i didn’t leave my umbrella.   my picks: clockwise from top left: bread basket with sea salt and butter on slate ware to taste. sticky toffee pudding. pan fried sea scallops. beef cheek and rib pie.   verdict: i loved everything i was served. the meal was perfectly seasoned. the dishes served pipping hot which was just what i wanted on a rainy day. the sea salt with butter was a treat. not a lot of restaurants have this. must try !!

very good but still love monk's. this was our first time and it was definitely a hit. the service was spot on and friendly. in fact our server fielded and answered a somewhat obnoxious foodie/ingredient question from one of our party with grace and humor.fooditself was tasty and well prepared. nothing special, but then again, it's a pub. my wife was quite pleased with the shepherd's pie. the only let-down was the sticky toffee pudding which was "ok." the place gets very crowded and loud and definitely is not a place for kids or a romantic dinner. monk's remains my favorite gastro pub in philly.

transported.... on first glance i thought chichi, a bit ostentatious...the animal heads adorning the walls, the fireplace, yardsale unmatched furniture, pricey menu; an over-the-top take on the english pub...and then i was sucked in. after having lived a few years in ireland, i began to appreciate the subtlety within the wild disney affair...the comics on the bathroom wall, the bar and bartenders, the cask conditioned ales, and of course...the fish and chips. starr has created not only another great menu withfoodfar better than any angloirish pub i've encountered, but he's captured the pub feel that makes you feel comfortable, it's a bar you can hang out in and the only thing missing is the tobacco stained wallpaper, the trad session in the corner and the toothless drunk sipping his bulmer's.

aside from the atmosphere, to comment on thefoodi'll disclose that i've only been twice, once for brunch and once for dinner. the brunch was excellent, scones were a must but be careful of the bar bill...it adds up pretty quick when your party burns through a few pitcher, cocktails and brew. on our dinner trip we sat at the bar, and indulged in the fish and chips...the and is because the chips are every bit as good as the fish...and the fish is not skimping...it's a big hunk of cod cooked to perfection and served on a wood platter.

great place, fun atmosphere, a place i'll bring visiting friends to introduce to philly starrdom.

cheers.

great service. awesome cask beers.foodvery good, very tasty. above your average pub. been there twice and it is well worth it

what is there to say about the dandelion that isnt positive? absolutely nothing! walking in from the icy streets of philidelphia to be welcomed warmly into their hip, quirky, tavern-like atmosphere with warm wooden tables and a classic old english feeling that uniquely combines with modern music and style. the staff is friendly and helpful. waiters who are not even your main server will stop by your table to whisk away unused plates, recommendfoodand drink choices and make sure you are having a pleasant experience. and the food? best tavernfoodi have ever eaten. specialty wines, sodas, and beers imported from the uk are real treats, especially the elderflower pressé. the butter lettuce salad was light and a perfect snack when paired with the britain cheese platter. the chef is a native englishman, which adds to the charm of the restaurant. i highly recommend the angus burger, complete with juicy meat, fresh onions and a warm cream sauce and the fish and chips ( the only place you will find better fish and chips is across the pond). finnish off your meal with one of their many fantastic desserts, the absolute best being the sticky toffee pudding with buttered rum aside and date ice cream. best tavernfoodthis side of the atlantic, the dandelion!

classy. awesome interior

greatfoodat a decent price

the lamb shepherd pie was tasty

a wonderful step back in time. not only is the dandelion an absolutely gorgeous piece of transported british culture with its truly authentic decor but thefoodand service are equally incredible. let's face it... eating out can be expensive even at fastfoodplaces. the dandelion provides a fantastic atmospere, amazingfoodthat's priced quite reasonably, and a welcoming, efficient and accommodating staff. if i'm going to spend the money, it had better be worth it. this place has it all! don't miss it!!