Recommendations: The basilicum cocktail (vodka over muddled cucumber and basil). It’s a salad and a drink, so it’s practically health food. Anything from the pastry department – baguettes, the buttery tomato tarte, profiteroles.
http://www.parc-restaurant.com/
Beth's thoughts: Parc is the Disneyland of French Restaurants, right here on our own Rittenhouse Square. The decor is all that you would hope from a small French Cafe, but large, impersonal, and overdone. I half expected an oversized French mouse to greet us at the door, show us to our table, and give us complimentary berets to wear for the duration of our meal. And the crowd - Ah! The Crowd. Philly's finest (not the police) were out in classic Rittenhouse form, scantily clad and braying up and down the sidewalk in between the ourdoor tables and chairs.
I am constantly amazed at how the tres chic can eat at some of the most fattening restaurants on a daily basis and remain rail thin. Well, I guess if I were born with a silver spoon in my mouth I too could dedicate 8 hours a day to working out. Unfortunately, I have to work for a living. Oh well, next life!
Having been to Parc before, I arrived excited for the bread. I was especially looking forward to the sweet nutty fruity bread on which I was planning to slather more than my fair share of butter. As always, the bread did not disappoint.
Next, as is our way, David and I opted to split the Charcuterie platter.
Did it disappoint? Well, kind of. My favorite part of the platter was the chicken liver mousse mound of goodness which you see on the far right front end of the wooden slab. We debated ordering just the chicken liver mousse as an appetizer, but decided to maximize our choices by ordering the whole platter rather than a single element of the platter. Was this the best platter we have ordered so far on our 50 Food Dates journey? Not even close. Would I come here specifically for this dish? Absolutely not.
I will say this - the Charcuterie Platter was filling. Or maybe it was all that bread I ate before it arrived ;)
My final disappointment at Parc was the Warm Shrimp Salad. On my previous visit to Parc, which was for brunch, the waiter had insisted that I try the Warm Shrimp Salad on my next visit. He swore that it would be the best salad I ever ate and even said it had been voted one of the best salads in Philadelphia by some prestigious publication.
I am not really sure what I was expecting. It was a salad. If I had no preconceived idea about the quality of this salad experience prior to ordering it, I probably would have enjoyed it just fine. I think the waiter talked it up too much and heightened my expectations unnecessarily.
Well, really. What else was he going to say? That's his job.
David's Thoughts: "Philly's Finest?" "Silver Spoon?" Is it just me... or does our beloved Beth sound just a teeeeeny bit jealous when she reflects on the diners at Parc? Well... she is right. Living southwest of Rittenhouse Square, I walk past the "it crowd" of outdoor diners- many of whom seem more interested in being seen than eating food. Alas, this is Parc. To be honest- I was dreading our visit here. I detest restaurants that prioritize showmanship over service and fancy over food. I was anticipating an awful experience... and surprisingly, I didn't dislike our visit here.
Beth commented nicely on the complimentary bread service- which is definitely a notch above average. The baked goods lived up to their billing, and I can't imagine anything more satisfying than a warm baguette slathered in butter. To our credit- Beth and I had a plan for this trip (we're becoming seasoned veterans, it seems). The menu is overwhelming- you can take a look online- and the prices add up quickly. A quality drink, simple appetizer/salad, and modest entree could easily end up costing $50/person, and that is before you consider dessert, coffee, or anything else that entices. We kept things simple- one good drink apiece (I went with a nice cold beer), the charcuterie platter (mentioned above), and a second starter as our entree. While Beth was appropriately disappointed by her salad- I opted for the classic French Onion Soup, which was delicious. Warm, gooey, and decadent- it is everything you want in a crock of soup. The richness borders on overwhelming, and I struggled to finish the course- a nice alternative to ending our meal hungry.
Would I recommend Parc as a restaurant? No, not really. It is a fascinating dining experience, and dealing with the crowd requires a certain fortitude. Still- I enjoyed our meal, and with a bit of planning, this doesn't have to be a splurge. In fact, I would consider a return visit to Parc- maybe on a cold winter day, when a warm crock of soup would be truly perfect. A little bread... a nice strong drink... and everything in moderation- that is the way to go.
