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The Farm and Fisherman
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
1120 Pine StPhiladelphia, PA 19107
Neighbourhood: Washington Square West
(267) 687-1555
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
76 reviews for The Farm and Fisherman
Review Highlights
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"The Bloody Beet Steak with yogurt and shallots was amazing." In 9 reviews -
"Also had the old spot pig and the clove-parsnip creme..." In 5 reviews -
"...beans, guanciale, and patty pan squash was very different..." In 3 reviews
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76 reviews in English
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Review from Tir na nog X.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 3/4/2012 9 photos
Continuing from my review below:
Fifth course: Natural strip steak, confit potatoes, spinach & brown butter puree, trumpet mushrooms and wild watercress. Cooked medium rare, as tender as a filet and really made that Pegau sing. [I also tried enjoyed some of the Virginia wild striped bass as well.]
~Served with the 3 reds mentioned below.
Dessert: Maple Napoleon, a simple, refined version with only a few crispy phyllo layers separated by delicate, lightly sweet cream. A pleasant end to the meal. I also tried a bit of the walnut molten chocolate cake...and I'm so over molten chocolate cake (Blackfish makes the best one)...and this was a nice change from the tried and true version.
~Served with 1975 Chateau Climens Sauternes
Service was fantastic: knowledgeable, unobtrusive, well paced and on top of the details (like reminding me to take the Sauternes off ice while we were eating our mains, so it wouldn't be too cold for dessert). $92/person (counting a good-sized tip).
Even if based on only 1 visit, well deserving of 5 stars.
But how about changing the name to: THE BEET AND MACKEREL?
Sláinte!Listed in: Philadelphia area's best BYOB…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/3/2012
OK, let's get this out of the way: I HATE THE NAME OF THIS RESTAURANT.
Ignoring the awkward grammar,… Read more »
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Review from Ritu K.
5/6/2012
The menu changes frequently so I'm not sure how helpful the specifics will be, but Farm and the Fisherman felt like many other BYOBs in the city. I guess its a testament to the fantastic dining options in Philly, however, nothing felt new about the restaurant. As I glanced over the menu I was sad to note that there was nothing that really stood out to me.
That being said, minus our sad dessert, everything we tasted was made quite well. The bloody beet steak app (which seems to be a menu stalwart) was awesome. A strangely warm and incredibly delicious beet app which I can't recommend enough. Our crab app (not on menu) was meh and my main fish course (also been replaced) was perfectly cooked, but lacked seasoning. I love the fact that the menu didn't make me feel like I should run out and go on a liquid detox diet (everything was lightly prepared and flavorful), but a few things (i.e. the fish) could have really used some salt..
As for the dessert. Lets hope the yogurt panna cotta (weird) was replaced. Even our waiter noted that we barely took a bite out of this strange concoction, and was kind enough to deduct it from the bill. At any rate, a tasty BYOB in the city, but not amazing by any means.. -
Review from jill r.
Montgomery, PA
3/24/2012
There were so many stunning reviews that I was prepared to love my whole experience. Sadly, I cannot believe that most of those reviews were written by actual customers and not friends/family of the owners.
Our table was ready just a moment after our reservation, which was probably the high point of the service. It took the waitress awhile to come and talk with us and even longer to open our wine (Keep in mind the entire space is like a very cozy living room).
When we asked for guidance on ordering the only advice was that we should each order one of each course. When it was obvious to the waitress that we didn't want quite that much food, she became significantly less interested in us. In fact, we had to find someone else to get our chilling wine that was kept across the room. For 4 people, we ordered two of the first course dishes, two of the second course dishes and we each had an entree. It's not like we were trying to all share one of each course!
The bloody beet steak was delicious and the kampachi was pretty tasty too. The only problem was that the waitress brought out both of the first course dishes at the same time as the second course dishes (this was after a long speech about how there were only two people cooking all the food). And she brought them 5 minutes after we ordered them. Two people doing all fresh cooking, eh? There was barely enough room on the table. This is supposed to be fine dining? I've had better timing at restaurants that are far less expensive. In fact, I was a waitress and I know that it's not that hard to fire things at different times. Especially when you are waiting on a handful of tables! But I digress... we had two orders of the lamb ribs, because they sounded fabulous. In reality, they were so fatty that we had to dissect the meat out like a surgeon doing a breast reduction.
Thankfully, dinner didn't arrive 3 minutes after the food. Our entrees came out and looked great. Two of us had the Sheepshead fish, one lamb, and one chicken cooked in hay. The chicken was, well, chicken. It was good, but nothing particularly special. The spatzele that came with it was the highlight. The lamb was the winner and we all ended up eating off of that plate because of the fish. Oh, the fish. I do not honestly know if this fish was just cooked improperly or if there are people in the world who enjoy eating fish with the consistency of gummy bears. I love all fish, from the light and flaky to the oily and steak-y. One of the fish eaters ate the other stuff on the dish and left the fish; the other was offered to order something different.
We were billed for half of the first fish and then upcharged to the cost of the new item ordered in place of the fish. If you had been there, you would have been surprised that they did that. Inedible. In fact, embarrassing.
Dessert didn't sound too impressive (warm chocolate cake w/ pistachios, lemon curd with citrus on top, phyllo dough with layers of maple something) so we bailed. $172 for a totally unimpressive meal. If the service had been good and the food bad, maybe I would write it off to a miss with the ingredients or a bad night for the chef...but this was an all around miss. Except for the company and the Capo Giro gelato that was the saving grace of the evening! -
Review from Bella G.
Philadelphia, PA
5/21/2012
I ate here over the winter with my husband and we were blown away. What a gem. i am tired of all the "farm to table" impostors. This made me believe again.
I will be back. -
Review from Tim G.
Philadelphia, PA
4/27/2012
The cold carrot soup for the starter was one of the best starters that I have had in any restuarant. I love these types of places, fresh, simple and very good. Being a BYOB is also a huge plus, since I like to enjoy wine with my dinners. While the dishes are a bit pricey, they are worth it. Between myself and my dining companions I think that we tried almost everything. The Beet steak I thought was very tasty, and the scallops were cooked perfectly. My only complaint was that my lamb entree was overcooked and basically bland, but the desert and other dishes more than made up for it. I would love to return since the menu changes according to what is in season and fresh. A great Philly spot.
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Review from stefan g.
Philadelphia, PA
4/29/2012
In lieu of a long review, I am going to bullet point why I thought this place is excellent, why I will be recommending it to coworkers and guests at the hotel where I work, and why I will be returning very soon:
a) I love the ambiance. White table clothes, cozy candlelight, simple and clean.
b) small, concise, excellent menu...every choice available is a delicious choice
c) knowledgeable, attentive, friendly, sharp staff
d) BYOB
e) the duck literally melted in my mouth
f) the chef cooks amazing dishes, his wife runs a tight yet comfortable ship in the dining room...I love a good husband and wife restaurant team, and these guys nailed it -
Review from Trevor G.
Hilltown, PA
4/26/2012 1 photo
Excellent meal, great service. Second visit last night and again it did not disappoint.
Small restaurant with a nice intimate, but friendly feel. I took my wife for our Anniversary (on a Wednesday). Made the reservation on Open Table, and even though we were late, they had kept our table. The waitress (Erin) was perfect - knew her stuff, did not hover, but was always there when the time was right.
The meal was INCREDIBLE and very reasonably priced and BYOB (even better). The beet steak and the lamb shoulder were the highlights for us (enjoy the mouthwatering aromas before you taste). Great flavors, not too complicated and perfectly complimenting each other for a full spring menu of local fare cooked with love and creativity, The courses are not too big and not too small, this is not nouvelle cuisine, but it is visually well presented on the plate.
Hope you have the same experience... -
Review from Adrienne R.
Philadelphia, PA
2/5/2012
Food was mixed, service was mediocre. It's a beautiful restaurant but I wasn't overjoyed about anything. It was my second time and I remember the first time in August being better than this both on food and service. This time I had a sunchoke soup which was delicious and the highlight of the meal. I also shared the salsify appetizer, which I'd never had before but was bland. And the shortrib main course which was fine but nothing special and not hot enough. I had a taste of the duck main course which was better than the short ribs but only pretty good.
The service was also frustrating since it took forever to take our order (after multiple requests and looking around for a waiter), get our wine back that they'd chilled for us, get sugar for tea, and on and on with things that shouldn't be so difficult. We were sitting in the corner so maybe that made a difference in service, but after the first time you request a waiter to take your order afer waiting 20 minutes or more, they should be on notice that you're there -- especially in such a small restaurant. I was disappointed after remembering enjoying it in August. -
Review from El Q.
Philadelphia, PA
1/14/2012
Intimate BYOs that offer great seasonal food are probably one of my favorite things about living in Philadelphia and Farm and Fisherman is a stellar addition to the pack. Like many of these establishments, F+F is small and tastefully decorated.. honestly, I could not really even tell you what art was on the walls or what music was playing because my eyes were fixed on the beautiful plates that were coming out of the kitchen.
My date and I immediately felt right at home as my date recognized one of our fellow diners as regulars at Zahav (clearly lovers of fine eats). We sat between two servers at Osteria and two chefs (I don't recall their restaurant) who were more than eager to chat about food, restaurants, wine... everything. Some have called F+F's smaller space a drawback, but honestly I enjoy sitting so close to others. It encourages conversation, allows me to spy what other plates look like, and really can be great fun when you're surrounded by the right people.
It's crazy to say, but I think the highlight of the meal was the first course Beet Steak. Not only was the plate stunning to look at, but they actually elevated beets to a level I hadn't thought possible. Our second course of Poached Wyebrook Farm Egg came in a close second with my date nearly licking the bowl clean. The main courses were delicious as well, but in my opinion not as interesting as the first two.
Overall, we spent a bit more on a BYO than I would typically, but I think it was totally worth it. The atmosphere was great, most of the courses were exceptional, and the staff was extremely friendly. I can't wait to go back next season! -
Review from Becca S.
Boulder, CO
1/10/2012
Incredible. One of the best meals I've had in Philly (and I've been going out to eat in restaurants there for 18+ years.) Farm and fisherman is very focused on providing local, organic, sustainable food whenever possible -- and they do so deliciously. They get most if not all of their produce, meat, and dairy from local farms around the area and it's great to see these sustainable practices complimented so well with a delicious execution.
The ambiance is quaint and somewhat small, but warm and welcoming nonetheless. The place was packed to the brim two days after christmas when a lot of restaurants experience slowness due to the general post-holiday lull. So that was a good sign to me.
Started off the night amazingly with the slow roasted pork jowl. This piece of meat was HEAVENLY. Melt in your mouth, moist, juicy, delicious HEAVEN. I was blown away. Everything about this dish was to die for and I felt blessed to have been able to consume it. I know this sounds insane but it literally was that good. YUM.
Next course. I opted for the farmers roasted chicken with spaetzel and pancetta, which is very unlike me because I typically do not order chicken (more of a duck, pork, beef kinda girl) but damn was I happy I stepped out of the box for this one! The chicken was crispy, moist, tender and delicious, and the greens and pancetta side complimented the dish perfectly. It was lovely.
Overall the dinner was incredible from start to finish, not to mention the tastes that I had of the dishes from my dining companions. It was an absolute win - their service, food, and values are all completely on point. I cannot wait to go back. -
Review from Kristina K.
Philadelphia, PA
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
This small bypass is definitely one of the best in philly. Besides the inviting atmosphere, the food was amazing and the service was great! With four of us, we decided to try a few apps and get our own entrees. For apps, we split the poached egg over mushrooms: AMAZING, crispy pork cheeks: AMAZING, and the sea urchin, which unfortunately fell short compared to everything else we had. It was everyone's first time having it so maybe it wasn't our cup of tea.
Since it was our first time, the waiter let the chef know and he sent out their "signature" app, which was a grilled beet steak. I hate beets but I'm seriously reconsidering my hate after eating this dish. It was delicious! One of the highlights for sure.
The entrees fellfollowed in linethe with the apps. My boyfriend's strip steak with sauteed leeks was one of the best I've ever had. My sea bass was yummy as well. Despite the urchin, this place was amazing! We'll be back soon. -
Review from Jim L.
Camden, NJ
2/18/2012
A great meal in a very small, very cozy dining room.
My girlfriend called 2 weeks ahead to reserve a table for a Friday night dinner. We arrived promptly at our reservation time and waited for about 10 minutes behind a curtain at the front door before being seated at a very fine table. The place is small, all seats were taken but it was cozy and at no time felt tight or overcrowded.
Our waitress was perfectly attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu, taking time to explain that the restaurant was set up for each diner to have a three course meal. Light fare is the concept behind course number one. The second course is a bit heavier and it was recommended that if we were going to share a dish, this would be the appropriate course to do so. The third course is presented as the perfect entree size with each serving of protein coming to about 5 or 6 ounces.
Each of us ordered a first course to share with one another. We went with the grilled spanish mackerel and the bloody beet steak. The mackerel was very good with the accompanying pine nuts and fennel adding nice taste and texture. The beet steak was simply amazing. Served warm with perfect texture and skin on the beet, the surrounding fresh ingredients made it, simply, the finest beet dish I've ever experienced.
For second course, I ordered a pork belly dish that was topped with fresh, thin slices of granny smith apple and served in a light, tasty gravy. The dish was a true highlight of the evening with the pork belly prepared at a perfect, melt in your mouth tenderness. Beautiful.
For third course, my girl ordered white albacore tuna, rare, and I went with the ribeye steak, medium. Both plates came out properly prepared and quite tasty. The surrounding farm fresh ingredients were fine but I thought the third course was a bit overshadowed by the first two excellent courses.
For dessert we shared a glass of lemon curd topped with meringue and accented with bits of blood oranges. This was served with a side of two pieces of pistachio short bread. Different and delicious.
The Farm and Fisherman offers a cozy atmosphere with fine service and delicious food. The menu is pricey but we didn't find it overly so for the quality we were being served. We'll definitely be going back and after another visit or two, this 4 star review could easily turn into 5 stars if they keep this up. -
Review from Clarissa D.
Philadelphia, PA
12/11/2011
Ill admit it. Im picky. Im easily disappointed. I dont fall for the hype.
But this was...
The best meal Ive had in Philly or possibly ever.
You absolutely NEED reservations. Its BYOB. It was reasonably priced - We both had an appetizer, a second course, a main dish, and we shared a dessert for about $140. -
Review from Leah G.
Middlesex, MA
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I ate here for the first time in October. I was thrilled to find a Farm to Table restaurant walking distance to my hotel in Philly (I travel to Philly for work a few times/year).
The service was good (reservations preferred). The server was great at explaining all about the food I was eating (the pig farmer, the homemade in-house sausage). I also liked their fresh-brewed ice tea. It's BYOB which is nice as well.
I ate parts of the pig I've never eaten before and felt like I was in an episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations (with much less drinking and crankiness). Everything was beautifully prepared. I will be back. Supporting local farms in PA is something you do not see enough in the area's restaurants. -
Review from Susan S.
Plymouth Meeting, PA
4/24/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Excellent food and service . A bit pricey for a byob, but you feel as though you got what you paid for. Would definately return
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Review from Holly H.
Philadelphia, PA
2/28/2012
We were here for a really fantastic day this pass Sunday - they hosted a butchery class, quick but fun sausage making demo, and then a stunning 5 course pork themed dinner. The food is just spectacular and Josh and the staff are wonderful. We're excited for the opportunity to go back!
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Review from Erin W.
Philadelphia, PA
1/25/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Very cute BYOB in the heart of the gayborhood. The restaurant is incredibly cute and cozy. After booking a table weeks in advance it was well worth the wait. The menu is relatively small, so the only thing that stinks is if you had your heart set on something, the menu may have changed by the time you go. Since its so hard to get a table on short notice, you never know what will be on the menu by the time you're there.
We had a great server and I'd definitely go back. -
Review from Mark D.
Philadelphia, PA
2/25/2012
Another restaurant with the wife running the front of the house and the husband cooking in the back. And this one is just as perfectly executed as Bibou. Absolutely lovely food, beautifully prepared. I cannot recommend the beet steak salad highly enough. I am a dedicated carnivore, but that salad cured me of any craving for meat. Having said that, the chicken that I had as a main course was done to a turn, and the combination of flavors on the plate was perfect. One of the friends from West Chester who joined us for dinner, sent us a text on his way home that just read: "Purring". Enough said.
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Review from Christy B.
Philadelphia, PA
2/5/2012
When we walked into The Farm and Fisherman out of the blustery winter night, my initial thought was we had just stumbled into a dining room of my grand-mother's friends. Promptly seated next to the window, beside the biggest decorative gourds I have ever seen, our waiter served our wine, and patiently gave us enough time to peruse the exotic sounding menu. (During the half-hour or so that this process took, the crowd began to drastically chance to more 20, 30, and 40-somethings.)
Once settled on how to order, we sat back and enjoyed the pleasantly paced arrival of our food.
The starter bread and butter WAS delicious, as mentioned in other reviews here.
First course: The beet salad was kind of gnarly to look at (the yogurt sauce mixed with the beet juice really does look like blood smeared everywhere) but delicious, and the kampachi (might be getting the name wrong, it was some kind of fish first course) was light, and citrusy.
Second course: the strozapetti (again, might be getting the name wrong) was a nice, light pasta dish, and my companion enjoyed the pork dish.
Entrees: The hanger steak received average feedback, where as my chicken was very good, despite the fact that it was served in a pile of indiscernible ingredients. (That was the one constant of this place, I felt like I was continuously eating things even though I had no idea what they were.)
Dessert: We split a hazlenut-crunchy-tiramisu-like thing, which was fabulous.
Even though farm-to-table is not really my preferred fare, The Farm and Fisherman did a wonderful job. -
Review from Emily K.
8/9/2011 Seated via OpenTable
On a hype-driven whim, we headed to The Farm and Fisherman for a light and early 5 PM dinner one evening. With an empty dining room, which only began to fill in as we left, the space felt comfortable, airy, and modest. Service was attentive, if not a little awkward due to the silence and our proximity to the kitchen door/curtain. Our server was well informed, and more importantly willing to find out when he didn't know. He did seem a bit peeve-y about our selection of three small plates to share in lieu of seconds, but I suppose I might have been too.
The primary reason for my visit, it turns out, is also the primary reason I'm not giving The Farm and Fisherman only one star - and that is the Bloody Beet Steak. This decadent, rich and original preparation of a vegetable I love made me croon, swoon, etc. The reduction was perfectly salty and smokey and the yogurt lifted the whole darn dish all the way up to high heaven. Delightful.
That praised, the Heirloom Tomatoes and Tilefish we sampled went down like chicken broth in a hospital bed. I know we were a tad bit early on tomato season - but then why were they on the menu? I grow more flavorful tomatoes amidst the smog on my South Philly rooftop. They were over ripe and under flavored, and though the burrata cruelly enveloped therein was wonderful, it could not save the dish. Please TRY the tomatoes before they are offered to the public - especially for $11.
To preface this qualm, I like Tilefish. Yes it is inconsequential in flavor and texture, but I enjoy it in many diverse culinary incarnations. This tilefish, while properly cooked, didn't even really count as a "culinary incarnation." Under-seasoned - if it was seasoned at all - and granted only the company of those same underwhelming tomatoes and some mushy pickled blueberries similarly lacking in both tartness and/or sweetness, that sad piece of lovely fish sat floating in a sea of broth so softened into nothingness that it didn't even pack the punch of a glass of water. Bummer.
As I am all about farm to table, and am a huge fan of supporting urban foraging, I hope that our dull experience was only due to the misfortune of visiting The Farm and Fisherman on an off-day for the ever-changing menu. Another visit may be in order some day, but for now my hype-drive has waned and I'm content to let others gamble on sapor - and we're not talking penny slots here. Is it worth the risk? -
Review from Anne M.
Philadelphia, PA
2/16/2012
Awesome meal!!!! We were in last week and I am finally getting a chance to write this. The venison was the best I have ever had. The room was warm and inviting. All of the flavors were spot on. Please don't change a thing!
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Review from Christopher D.
Doylestown, PA
10/22/2011
I had high expectations for this restaurant, and feel that it has so much potential. I hope in time they will be able to deliver.
The menu is essentially set up as a three course tasting menu, with dessert as an optional. Changing daily, based on what they are able to source, it is clearly a surprise what is on the menu.
As it was a blustery fall night, I opted for two dishes that felt like they were fall to me.. a delicous butternut squash soup, that also had sunflower seeds and a bit of speck in the bottom. Great,,, a taste of the season. I followed that with acorn squash ravioli, served with hazlenuts, and gala apples in a brown butter sage sauce. Good but not as flavorful as I was expecting. This course they also messed up my DC's order, forgeting to put his lobster in. That threw off the whole pace of the dinner.
The third course we both opted for lamb shoulder, served on a bed of spinach, and turnips. Felt like the dish was a bit salty, and not sure if this was a result of over salting, or whether the sauce reduced while cooking extra long while the lobster dish was fired.
We passed on dessert as the choices were uninspiring (creme brulle and an apple struedel,,, ). We also had a hiccup with the final bill as they under charged us, and wanting to be honest, we brought that to their attention, which then resulted in an additional ten minutes to leave the restaurant.
I love the place, the staff, and the concept. I hope it becomes more consistent over time.Listed in: Lenten List
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Review from Jim R.
Philadelphia, PA
7/26/2011
As can be seen by other reviews on this site, this is one of those places that people either really love or just blow off. The portions to some extent were on the small side but were beautifully presented and fantastic on the palate. Our 3 selections each were more than enough to eat, so much so that we passed on dessert. If you want giant portions, go to Golden Corral !
The room and staff are very warm. Everything we tried had beautiful layers of flavor and each dish was unique. The Bloody Beet Steak with yogurt and shallots was amazing! The Chilled Sweet Corn Soup with Maryland shrimp was velvety and sweet. The Poached Farm Egg with fresh chickpeas, lima beans, guanciale, and patty pan squash was very different and also excellent. The Stuffed Quail with fennel & green tomato marmalade was sweet and savory with a flavor combination that we have not experienced before. The Pork Loin and Garlic Sausage with pig's ear tart was very good. Because we were disappointed that the lamb brains were not on the new menu, the chef made us a seared lamb neck in a delicious reduction.
For the 2 of us the above, before tip, was around $100. For the quality of the food, this is quite amazing in itself. Note: It's a BYO.
We will definitely be back. -
Review from james r.
Philadelphia, PA
4/5/2012
Everything was fantastic. Bloody beet steak, amazing. Venison, divine. My fav byob in the city, and possibly my fav restaurant in the city. Service was perfect
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Review from Donald W.
New Hope, PA
2/10/2012
Everything about the meal was wonderful. The poached egg sandwich beggars description, but get it. Venison was one of the best meat dishes I've had in years and the roasted carrots were a revelation. Service was perfect with the waiter bringing a decanter for the wine because he thought it was too good not to have it. Philadelphia is blessed with so many young, great chefs. This is one of the best.
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Review from Dan S.
Collingswood, NJ
10/30/2011
We had a fantastic meal and I would highly recommend. We were taken right on time for our reservation and got a great tabel. if possible, i suggest asking for a table in the front window. The decor was simple but elegant. Too many "farm" restaurants have pitchforks, ect on the wall. Not here.
Food was outstanding. Not sure that it will help to make specific recommendations since the menu changes seasonally and weekly, but everything we had was great. I had the beetsteak, poached egg, and grilled cohiba. Wife had fall salad, ravioli, and hanger steak. Portion sizes were more than appropriate. For dessert it was a chocolate cake.
What puts farm and the fisherman over the top though is its excellent service. Wait staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. In fact, when my wife sent her hangersteak back to have it cooked a little longer, they cooked me another piece of fish so that our meals would be hot at the same time.
We were there for our second anniversary and could not have chosen a finer spot. I would highly recommend for any special occassion, especially romantic ones (although I must honestly say that I do not think it would be good for large parties, as there are only about 30 seats).
Special thanks to the fine folks at Farm and the Fisherman for making our anniversary great! -
Review from Alphonse T.
Philadelphia, PA
9/16/2011
Formerly Paul (I believe), this is a great little BYOB near Effie's (my all time favorite) that really does the whole local, farm focused ingredient thing well. It's small, but cozy and the decor is simple, a nice departure from the trendiness of all these new places that have been popping up.
The striped bass was amazing, with a great balance of texture and interesting flavors (the chanterelle gave it that hint of exotic). Would definitely recommend for a nice quiet dinner for two or even for a 4-5 person group thing. -
Review from Jordan C.
Philadelphia, PA
5/18/2011
Very small, 32 seat restaurant in a beautiful little space on Pine Street. It's like walking to your neighbor's house for dinner, only your neighbor is a complete bad ass, professional chef who creates imaginative dishes with mostly local and always fresh ingredients. The couple who own it are great and will gladly answer any questions you have. We discussed the local sourcing aspect at length with the Executive Chef and owner and he was as nice as can be. On to the food...
The pork belly was to die for. The night prior I had gotten the pork belly at Pub & Kitchen and my god what a mistake that was. However, I decided to give the dish another try at the F&F because, yes, I am that stubborn. This time the pork belly was crisp, well-seasoned and presented extremely well with a nice sauce. My chicken confit soup was extremely well done and the cracked pepper made it pop. For my entree, I had the Berkshire Pork Loin that was so tender and perfectly prepared that it may be the second best pork loin I've ever had besides the one I prpeared earlier this year when I was REALLY trying to impress this girl I was dating. The Farm & Fisherman pork loin was served with Bok Choy and had a very nice mustard sauce.
However, for you at home culinary studs- I stuffed my deal sealer with hot chorizo, red peppers, and garlic & herb Boursin cheese topped with a few more red peppers and a balsamic reduction drizzle. So I digress, the meal was fantastic and I even liked the creme brulee, which was very imaginative in its flavoring. I hope this restaurant does well because the owners are so nice and hands on, and the food is really good! -
Review from Eric S.
12/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Your first impression of the Farm of Fisherman: a heavy beige curtain that separates the vestibule from the dining room. This might come off as somehow rude, but it's not--it's there as a thoughtful gesture to the diners. And as soon as you enter, a kind hostess emerges and takes you to your seat. The room veers toward staid earth-tone neutral and yet seems charming (in part due to the large window facing Pine Street). The impression is one of a quiet but convivial neighborhood restaurant that's at once upscale and inviting.
The server points out that the first course / second course / entree division on the menu is more of a loose guide. I think this puts diners at ease: you can opt for a two-course or a three-course dinner (before dessert). We opt for a kind of middle ground. We each get a first course, we get one second course to share, and we pick different entrees. Before any of this comes out of the kitchen, we get house-baked bread and house-churned butter. Great: the bread looks like a fluffy popover but has more density--something closer to a corn bread. Our first courses consist of the much ballyhooed beet steak and salsify. Both really solid appetizers. The sauce around the beet steak has infused it with a smoky flavor. I think it the beets would've been better without the skin; my girlfriend disagrees. The salsify might be a tiny bit weaker as a dish, but not by much. Two fried pieces of salsify surrounded by slightly sweet but savory sauce/grains (can't remember exactly which) and some cranberry sauce for a nice acidic kick.
But this is where things started to go a bit downhill. The second course of pork shoulder ragu with pasta was just too salty. We should've sent it back but we were hungry, and the portion wasn't too large, so we ate it. And we regretted it, because we ended up drinking about gallon of water each throughout the rest of the meal. (On the plus side, the attentive servers refill your glass really frequently.) This second course more or less blew out our palates. The entrees: the striped bass was fairly bland, and it was surrounded by sauce and grains (again, I can't remember exactly which) that were also bland. Disappointing. My pork sirloin entree was much better--the sweet/savory sauce with rice was a great addition. Along with the sirloin there were some sizable pieces of jowl. Very good if you're into this kind of thing--the crisped fat was tasty, and what meat there was on the jowls was rich and soft. But it was simply too much pork fat for me, so I left much of it uneaten (I figured this would be the case when I ordered the entree, and I do not fault the restaurant at all).
We were too full for dessert.
Overall: despite the missteps, we're looking forward to returning. We'll have a better sense of what to order. The service really is quite polished and friendly; the wait between courses was actually too long, but it's hard to complain when you're sitting there sipping your own wine. I hope to upgrade my review to four or even five stars at some point in the future. -
Review from William M.
Rockville, MD
3/27/2011
I have never been moved to write a bad Yelp review. Why would I want to write negatively about something that people care so deeply about? Having such a terrible experience at a boutique restaurant was new for me. This is why:
I called and made a reservation for me, my girlfriend, and her parents who were visiting for the weekend. I made the reservation over the phone for 9PM. We arrived at 9:07 and were told that it was likely to be 10 to 15 minutes before we were seated. The maitre d', who is the wife of the head chef, avoided eye contact for the next 45 minutes while we stood in the entrance with nowhere to sit, while they sat a number of couples who had 9:30 reservations. When I asked what the problem was at 9:50 PM they insisted that there was a mistake with http://OpenTable.com and that we were down for a 9:30 reservation. (How this explained our eventual 10:10 PM seating is unclear. We didn't use OpenTable and had spoken with the owner when we made this reservation). Excuses from the maitre d' were inappropriate.
After we waited for an hour, we were finally seated. The maitre d' apologized, and said that in order to make up for the long wait, we would receive champagne that the restaurant had been given as a gift. We were delighted to receive a bottle of fine champagne. After pouring our glasses, the waiter told us he'd "put it on ice in the back for us". When I asked for a second glass, we were told that the rest of the bottle had been given to the friends of the head chef at another table. Unprofessional, to say the least. The maitre d' explained that she only meant to offer us one "complimentary glass", and that the waiter had the wrong impression.
We were there until midnight, exhausted by the entire experience to the point of being unable to enjoy the food.
We were charged for everything we ordered. We were shocked. No quality of food could have made up for the way they treated us.
I hope that they work out the problems in the front of the house service and understand that no customer should be taken for granted. I felt like I was watching a train wreck in slow motion, and that no one on the restaurant staff was at all aware of how terribly it was going. I feel like I should have told them that I was with Ruth Reichl if I wanted good service.
Disappointed! -
Review from Jon S.
Philadelphia, PA
3/12/2011
The neighborhood restaurant that I have always wanted.
Let me be straightforward - I have always wanted a neighborhood restaurant complete with the husband-wife team, the well-executed food and the laid-back atmosphere. And, boom, it has suddenly appeared!
The space is cozy; not cramped. The food is homey but extremely creative. We had the pork belly, the sunchoke soup, the grits, the chicken and the spot pig. All were incredible; I was particularly happy with the pork belly. Many restaurants serve pork belly too hot. Instead, it was served with fresh greens on top that were steamed by the belly, and the whole dish was simply warm. Taste how much better that temp works with pork belly - it's just the right way to do it. There is simply a lot of thought and love that goes into this food - and it shows.
I could go on, but I assume you get the point. I got to relax and enjoy a well-crafted meal for a reasonable price. You should try it, too. -
Review from Jayna F.
Scarcely larger than any one given person's living room, and almost painted/draped like one, the F&F cozily inhabits the type of casual elegance that many restaurants go for. White table cloths, dim lighting (though bright enough to actually read your menu) and well spaced tables for a byob of its size lets you know once they sit you down, hey, relax, we know what we're doing.
We went for the full four courses and started with the farro soup & striped bass. The farro soup with chicken confit was absolutely delicious; rich, creamy, and for lack of a better term, autumn. It was "like eating stuffing" as my date said as he offered no judgement as I scraped the bottom of the bowl to get every last dreg. The bass was light and delicately citric, good, but nothing to blow you away.
We then moved on the pork cheeks, and the grits. I figured these would pair really well together; the grits were served with "celery hearts" and were most unexpectedly, well, green. They were tasty enough but we found us asking ourselves "...why are we eating celery?" as it took up much more of the plate than the grits themselves. The pork cheeks, (which had switched to jowels by the time we ordered) had a great texture (mmm.. crispy pork bits)
Though typically the "safe dish" of any menu, I tend not to order chicken, though we were happy we did. The hen of the woods mushrooms tied everything together and were definitely the star of the dish.
After three courses we did have room for dessert, and ordered the two they offered. The spice cake was passable, not really my cup of tea in the first place. The clove parsnip creme brulee, on the other hand, I'd write home to mom about. Typically not what you look for in a dessert, was hearty, kind of earthy and rich. A really nice take on a usually boring staple dessert.
The service was great and really friendly; real people with real personalities, the perfect fit for a little byob. They certainly give you some time between courses, which is great if you have two bottles of wine and lively conversation, but maybe not the best if you have to make an 8:30 show like many diners in this neighborhood tend to.
A solid addition to the gayborhood, they were full at 7:30 when we arrived, and I wouldn't be surprised if they keep it up. I hope they do. -
Review from Leah G.
3/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
4 1/2. The food is fantastic. I was so excited to hear that Farm and Fisherman was moving into Paul's space. I had heard great things from friends and headed to F & F on Wednesday. I had the pancetta wrapped egg which was quite perfect. I tried the spot pig for dinner based on the recommendations of friends - they did not steer me wrong. It was cooked perfectly.
Dining companions tried and loved the beet appetizer and chicken. Did not love the celery grits . . . .I think maybe that flavor combo seems a bit abnormal to someone from the south.
Love eating locally!! -
Review from Daniel K.
Brooklyn, NY
4/25/2011
Food was nicely presented.
Some thoughts:
Why serve two glasses of wine simultaneously per person.
Creativity, precision aside, not once did someone even acknowledge that things were going even the slightest bit slower than usual in the kitchen. Lastly, our finished plates sat in front of us for fifteen minutes. I'm not sure if the waitstaff realized this because our server was not in the dining room. -
Review from Clifford Q.
Philadelphia, PA
5/21/2011
We FINALLY got a reservation. We took advantage of an early dinner on a Saturday evening - 5PM. I will say after reading the reviews about the service it is hard to believe it is the same place. The service was terrific. We commented at one point there are so many people working here. Our menu was explained in great detail and suggestions were made when asked. I started with the speckled lettuce salad - then first time on the menu soft shell crab and finished with the pork loin. We decided to finish with the lighter dessert (wink) - puff pastry with fresh cream and strawberries.
The overall experience was great - Food - Service - Atmosphere !! Will return for sure!!! -
Review from Thor T.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 4/12/2011
Back at the Farm and Fisherman and everything was perfect - It tried some new dishes, like the silken, intense Berkshire pork cheeks and the magisterial quail stuffed with spring ramps - delightful! All the main plates - the farm chicken, the grass-fed rib eye steak, the sweet fillet of fresh-caught sea bass - were excellent, prepared with finesse and elan.
The service was solicitous and attentive. A lovely spring evening in one of Philadelphia's best restaurants.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/26/2011
The small restaurant is attractive and light, a huge window looking out on Pine Street. The menu is… Read more »
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Review from Phoebe Q.
Philadelphia, PA
11/13/2011 Seated via OpenTable
It is obviously a romantic place filled with couples who apparently on a date. Our recent family visit with 2 young kids (who have been to various causal and fancy places, and are rather experienced dinners) felt a bit out of the place.
Each and every dish is carefully prepared and artistically presented. Though we were reasonably impressed with the interesting flavors and novel creations, none of the dishes is designed for sharing with their tiny portions. We can say that our experience is fairly pleasant but not really memorable. The service staff was nice and personable, which would make this place a far more appealing than many other of the same business in the "City of Brotherly Love" - a bit sarcasm for a city not known for its "personality". -
Review from Rich L.
Philadelphia, PA
12/4/2011
Bring a great bottle. Make reservations. Sit back and try it all. This is borderline 5 star, just need to go more often to be fair.
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Review from Nisreen Y.
Philadelphia, PA
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
OMG this place is amazing. We came here last night for our Valentine's Day meal and it was the perfect choice (kudos to my bf! :)) Romantic, intimate setting with delicious food. We had a 4 course meal starting with the Sunchoke soup. The mixture of flavors (some lemony, sweet and savory) was a great start to the meal. Then, came the beet steak-YUM!! This was probably one of the best dishes I've ever had. The dish kept the integrity of the beet but the flavor of the pan drippings elevated the dish even more We also shared the Grilled Spanish Mackerel, the Duck, and the Tilefish. AMAZING. For dessert, we shared the Napoleon and the Chocolate Cake. The cake was the perfect end to the meal with a molton chocolate center and hazelnuts surrounding it. As you can see, there was nothing that was bad about this meal. It's a BYO so bring your favorite wine to share as well. Great Experience!!
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Review from Lorraine W.
Gladwyne, PA
10/2/2011
Anxious to try this fairly new BYOB, we were pleased but not wowed by the food. Service was friendly and excellent. Loved the different shapes of the crisp white serving plates and appreciated decent wine glasses. The beet-steak was wonderful. The bluefish confit was a bit mushy and mild tasting for bluefish, but the micro greens and dressing were nice. Acorn squash ravioli was disappointing especially after the waiter's build up. Pasta was a bit too thick and was more al dente than I wish; filling was almost nonexistent in several of the raviolis, though was excellent when I finally did get a bite. The Jennings Farm egg sandwich was to die for. Chicken was perfectly prepared and succulent and accompanying spatzel and greens very good. An enjoyable evening and would try again.
