the dandelion

really fun spot to hang out, best fish n chips in philly. every floor has a different themed room. lovely fireplaceroars in the fall and winter. beer selection is kind of limited. best option is afternoon tea, sweets and savory mini sandwiches are incredible. they also offer boozy tea selections.

everything on the menu was excellent. theplaceis charming. the fish and chips, rabbit, risotto, bread, butter, desserts, cheeses, drinks -- all superb. will have to go back to taste more. our party of 6 was sat around a cozy table and we loved it -- perfect. stayed until after midnight. remember "mid-range" price is more expensive in philly. and parking garage right next to the restaurant might cost you $25 as well.

the rabbit pie was insanely delicious, but pretty small for $23. i think at this price point the dish should be larger. i had it at lunch but i ate here at dinner as well and the portion my friend got was exactly the same. the beer and wine choices were serviceable but the noise level on the ground floor was unbearable - on a wednesday night. our party was shouting to have normal conversation and the server seemed already hoarse at 7:30. greatplaceto eat, with earplugs, not a greatplaceto hang out and talk.

so so good. the house made ricotta, sunday roast, and duck bolognese are to die for. the drinks are great too. my go-toplacein center city.

goodplacebut 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 pub food at 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.

good, but pricey. the fish and chips were top notch and my friend liked his rabbit pie. trouble is the portions were quite meager for the price. too bad as theplacehas a nice vibe.

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. food itself 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." theplacegets very crowded and loud and definitely is not aplacefor kids or a romantic dinner. monk's remains my favorite gastro pub in philly.

i love how cozy thisplaceis! so many comfort foods on the menu. the mac and cheese is one of my favourites. much better than the lobster mac and cheese at village whiskey. and they serve ribena!!! just lovely!

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 with food far 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 the food i'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, aplacei'll bring visiting friends to introduce to philly starrdom.

cheers.

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, recommend food and drink choices and make sure you are having a pleasant experience. and the food? best tavern food i 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 onlyplaceyou 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 tavern food this side of the atlantic, the dandelion!

fish and chips! oh yea!. went there last night with my sister and enjoyed theplaceand food. we sat upstairs in a room with a neat little bar and pictures of dogs. started off with the summer tomato salad it was visually nice with yellow and red heirloom tomatoes and the taste was standard with a balsamic dressing and chives. then i had the fish and chips. the fish was cooked perfectly and the batter was awsome. the chips where good but texture wise didnt quite have the crunchy outside creamy on the inside feel. finished off the meal with the semolina custard rolls. it was good but were very hot when i bit into it. overall i really liked it and would go there regular basis.

very weird english tea???. i am a brit, so when i saw that this newplacewas serving brit food, i was very eager to go, but this was a big let down!!
anyone familiar with a 'real' afternoon tea knows that it always includes small sandwiches containing stuff like cream cheese and cucumber, fish paste, egg salad and cress, etc etc. there were no sandwiches at all, but plenty of weird stuff that no self respecting brit would serve for tea. fish cakes, burgers???.pleeease, do your homework and get it right, before you get it wrong.
prices were as expected, for a starr cafe over the top. service was fair, expect the usual pretentious service people. the building and decor was amazing.
they also only had 2 servings of tea left at 3pm in the afternoon! i was told that they were having export problems. meanwhile, i just had boxes of tea shipped over the day before from marks&sparks in london.

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 the food and service are equally incredible. let's face it... eating out can be expensive even at fast food places. the dandelion provides a fantastic atmospere, amazing food that'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. thisplacehas it all! don't miss it!!

it's epcot center. i must admit i do like thisplace... but it's a typical starr venue ... it's england in starr's version of epcot center ... park is his france ... both places are perfection in decor - and at most times food & service ... what's next - one of those little epcot center "passports" that we can all carry around & get stamped ...

rip off - expensive. if ou like $12 small local philly beers, medium service and food that is alright but way too expensive, you'll love this place.

i can honestly say the only thing i liked about thisplacewas the decor. didn't like the english accent from the bartender especially when he said "well, you know, some people have no problem with paying $12 for a beer" - ugh, ugh and ugh. my fault for thinking thisplacewould just be overpriced. not rip off city.

tons of other places in the immediate area that is much much better.