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'''Parc''' | Occupying the physical address of 227 S 18th Street in Philadelphia, the French brasserie '''Parc''' features a menu and design constructed to closely emulate a traditional Belle Époque Parisian bistro. Restaurateur [[Stephen Starr]] opened the establishment in 2008. | ||
It faces [[Rittenhouse Square]]. | |||
Operating as a prominent dining anchor within the boundaries of [[Center City]], the restaurant pairs classic French dishes with sidewalk café seating right near the square. Patron reviews give it high marks perpetually. | |||
== History and Design == | |||
In 2008, [[Stephen Starr]] finalized the property as a major expansion of his STARR Restaurants portfolio. The entrepreneur designed the space as a direct tribute to the grand cafés of Paris. He later won the James Beard Foundation's "Outstanding Restaurateur" award in 2017.<ref>[https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards/starr-restaurants "Stephen Starr"], ''James Beard Foundation'', 2017.</ref> Parc anchored the east side of Rittenhouse Square rapidly. It drew massive crowds. | |||
The | Architectural elements intentionally evoke a true Parisian brasserie. The property displays hand-laid tiles in ecru and green alongside zinc bars and vintage fixtures. Two main spaces await diners. A casual front room stays heavily occupied from morning until night. Meanwhile, a formal back dining room contains frosted glass and red leather banquettes. | ||
Sidewalk tables face Rittenhouse Square directly to draw upon the rich local urban energy and supply a vibrant vantage point for outside observers seeking a relaxing afternoon escape. Author Jane Jacobs famously praised Rittenhouse Square as "the perfect neighborhood," an urbane charm within her influential book ''The Death and Life of Great American Cities''. Parc folds this exact atmosphere straight onto its outdoor dining patio. | |||
The kitchen employs recognized chefs. Past leadership figures count Chef Joe Monnich among their ranks. Today, the business feeds a broad mix of patrons by shifting from morning coffee and business lunches to formal evening meal services. | |||
== | == Menu and Specialties == | ||
The kitchen operates seven days a week to dish out classic French brasserie fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Traditional bistro preparations dominate the menu. Patrons can order steak frites, moules frites (mussels with fries), and hot croque monsieur or croque madame sandwiches. A raw bar supplements these hot dishes with a daily rotation of fresh oysters. | |||
Diners widely praise the location for its Best French Onion Soup. The kitchen prepares this dish with a rich broth, caramelized onions, and crusty bread stacked neatly underneath a massive slab of gratinéed Gruyère cheese. | |||
The internal bread program has drawn widespread national and local attention. Bakers prepare all loaves fresh in-house daily. Management provides a complimentary and heavily praised bread service for seated guests. Publications list this offering as a major culinary achievement. ''The Atlantic'' identified the selection as some of the best free restaurant bread in America.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/11/the-best-free-restaurant-bread-in-america/382894/ "The Best Free Restaurant Bread in America"], ''The Atlantic'', November 21, 2014.</ref> An internal boulangerie window operates alongside standard table delivery to let visiting patrons easily purchase fresh baguettes and various other sweet baked goods for immediate home consumption. Waitstaff frequently accommodate requests to package extra bread to go. They box it up. | |||
== | == Reception == | ||
Parc invariably claims a top spot among Philadelphia's most popular dining destinations. | |||
Critics agree entirely. High user ratings appear perpetually on multiple dining platforms alongside intensive critical praise. ''Philadelphia Magazine'' praised the Best French Onion Soup rather extensively. The publication declared the dish is "arguably the best in the city," because of the shocking volume of Gruyère cheese alongside the incredibly rich broth.<ref>[https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/best-french-onion-soup-philadelphia/ "Where to Get the Best French Onion Soup in Philadelphia"], ''Philadelphia Magazine'', 2023.</ref> | |||
Crowdsourced reviews on platforms such as Yelp and OpenTable emphasize the location's reputation for deep culinary consistency. Patrons frequently commend the attentive staff alongside the authentic atmospheric design and high-quality bread baked in house. The dining rooms can experience intense noise levels at peak hours. Reviewers consistently note the lively Parisian ambiance and reliable brasserie fare as major strengths, framing the establishment as a standout choice for casual dates and formal business meetings alike. | |||
== Location and Operations == | |||
= | |||
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Parc | Parc operates at 227 S 18th Street right at the corner of 18th and Walnut Streets within the [[Center City]] district of Philadelphia. | ||
The property sits on the eastern edge of [[Rittenhouse Square]]. Public transit reaches the address easily. The SEPTA Broad Street Line's Walnut-Locust Station sits just two blocks east. It takes very little walking. Multiple SEPTA bus routes run east and west along the adjacent Walnut and Chestnut Streets to drop off passengers. These bus lines involve the 9, 12, 21, and 42. Street parking in the immediate vicinity is typically scarce for drivers. Nearby parking garages are available at 1616 Walnut Street and the Rittenhouse Claridge. | |||
Multiple service models exist here. Management coordinates indoor dining, outdoor patio seating, takeout, and delivery operations daily. Parc generally hits a medium to high price point. Most regular meals cost an average of $40 to $60. The establishment accepts major credit and debit cards while functioning as a fully wheelchair accessible environment. High popularity persists for weekend brunch, weekday business lunches, and evening date nights. Staff strongly recommend reservations. Guests book these tables through platforms such as OpenTable. | |||
== About Stephen Starr == | == About Stephen Starr == | ||
STARR Restaurants originated in 1995. Operating dozens of separate concepts inside major markets from Philadelphia and New York to Washington D.C., the expansive entity established founder [[Stephen Starr]] as an award-winning American restaurateur. Starr's portfolio claims a heavy local presence immediately surrounding Rittenhouse Square alone. Parc shares this specific vicinity with his Italian restaurant [[Borromini]] and the Mexican eatery [[El Vez]]. | |||
To acknowledge his widespread influence on the American dining market, the James Beard Foundation presented Starr with the "Outstanding Restaurateur" award in 2017. | |||
== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
Latest revision as of 15:22, 7 July 2026
| Address | 227 S 18th Street |
|---|---|
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Neighborhood | Rittenhouse Square |
| Phone | (215) 545-2262 |
| Website | Official site |
| Cuisine | French |
| Price range | $$$ |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5 stars |
| Reviews | 18,368 on Google |
| Established | 2008 |
Occupying the physical address of 227 S 18th Street in Philadelphia, the French brasserie Parc features a menu and design constructed to closely emulate a traditional Belle Époque Parisian bistro. Restaurateur Stephen Starr opened the establishment in 2008.
It faces Rittenhouse Square.
Operating as a prominent dining anchor within the boundaries of Center City, the restaurant pairs classic French dishes with sidewalk café seating right near the square. Patron reviews give it high marks perpetually.
History and Design
In 2008, Stephen Starr finalized the property as a major expansion of his STARR Restaurants portfolio. The entrepreneur designed the space as a direct tribute to the grand cafés of Paris. He later won the James Beard Foundation's "Outstanding Restaurateur" award in 2017.[1] Parc anchored the east side of Rittenhouse Square rapidly. It drew massive crowds.
Architectural elements intentionally evoke a true Parisian brasserie. The property displays hand-laid tiles in ecru and green alongside zinc bars and vintage fixtures. Two main spaces await diners. A casual front room stays heavily occupied from morning until night. Meanwhile, a formal back dining room contains frosted glass and red leather banquettes.
Sidewalk tables face Rittenhouse Square directly to draw upon the rich local urban energy and supply a vibrant vantage point for outside observers seeking a relaxing afternoon escape. Author Jane Jacobs famously praised Rittenhouse Square as "the perfect neighborhood," an urbane charm within her influential book The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Parc folds this exact atmosphere straight onto its outdoor dining patio.
The kitchen employs recognized chefs. Past leadership figures count Chef Joe Monnich among their ranks. Today, the business feeds a broad mix of patrons by shifting from morning coffee and business lunches to formal evening meal services.
Menu and Specialties
The kitchen operates seven days a week to dish out classic French brasserie fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Traditional bistro preparations dominate the menu. Patrons can order steak frites, moules frites (mussels with fries), and hot croque monsieur or croque madame sandwiches. A raw bar supplements these hot dishes with a daily rotation of fresh oysters.
Diners widely praise the location for its Best French Onion Soup. The kitchen prepares this dish with a rich broth, caramelized onions, and crusty bread stacked neatly underneath a massive slab of gratinéed Gruyère cheese.
The internal bread program has drawn widespread national and local attention. Bakers prepare all loaves fresh in-house daily. Management provides a complimentary and heavily praised bread service for seated guests. Publications list this offering as a major culinary achievement. The Atlantic identified the selection as some of the best free restaurant bread in America.[2] An internal boulangerie window operates alongside standard table delivery to let visiting patrons easily purchase fresh baguettes and various other sweet baked goods for immediate home consumption. Waitstaff frequently accommodate requests to package extra bread to go. They box it up.
Reception
Parc invariably claims a top spot among Philadelphia's most popular dining destinations.
Critics agree entirely. High user ratings appear perpetually on multiple dining platforms alongside intensive critical praise. Philadelphia Magazine praised the Best French Onion Soup rather extensively. The publication declared the dish is "arguably the best in the city," because of the shocking volume of Gruyère cheese alongside the incredibly rich broth.[3]
Crowdsourced reviews on platforms such as Yelp and OpenTable emphasize the location's reputation for deep culinary consistency. Patrons frequently commend the attentive staff alongside the authentic atmospheric design and high-quality bread baked in house. The dining rooms can experience intense noise levels at peak hours. Reviewers consistently note the lively Parisian ambiance and reliable brasserie fare as major strengths, framing the establishment as a standout choice for casual dates and formal business meetings alike.
Location and Operations
Parc operates at 227 S 18th Street right at the corner of 18th and Walnut Streets within the Center City district of Philadelphia.
The property sits on the eastern edge of Rittenhouse Square. Public transit reaches the address easily. The SEPTA Broad Street Line's Walnut-Locust Station sits just two blocks east. It takes very little walking. Multiple SEPTA bus routes run east and west along the adjacent Walnut and Chestnut Streets to drop off passengers. These bus lines involve the 9, 12, 21, and 42. Street parking in the immediate vicinity is typically scarce for drivers. Nearby parking garages are available at 1616 Walnut Street and the Rittenhouse Claridge.
Multiple service models exist here. Management coordinates indoor dining, outdoor patio seating, takeout, and delivery operations daily. Parc generally hits a medium to high price point. Most regular meals cost an average of $40 to $60. The establishment accepts major credit and debit cards while functioning as a fully wheelchair accessible environment. High popularity persists for weekend brunch, weekday business lunches, and evening date nights. Staff strongly recommend reservations. Guests book these tables through platforms such as OpenTable.
About Stephen Starr
STARR Restaurants originated in 1995. Operating dozens of separate concepts inside major markets from Philadelphia and New York to Washington D.C., the expansive entity established founder Stephen Starr as an award-winning American restaurateur. Starr's portfolio claims a heavy local presence immediately surrounding Rittenhouse Square alone. Parc shares this specific vicinity with his Italian restaurant Borromini and the Mexican eatery El Vez.
To acknowledge his widespread influence on the American dining market, the James Beard Foundation presented Starr with the "Outstanding Restaurateur" award in 2017.
See Also
References
- ↑ "Stephen Starr", James Beard Foundation, 2017.
- ↑ "The Best Free Restaurant Bread in America", The Atlantic, November 21, 2014.
- ↑ "Where to Get the Best French Onion Soup in Philadelphia", Philadelphia Magazine, 2023.
External Links
- Official Website
- Menu
- Make a Reservation (OpenTable)