Vernick is one of the most acclaimed restaurants in Philadelphia. Chef Greg Vernick was named Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic by the James Beard Foundation in 2017, so we couldn’t wait to check out this cute little restaurant near Rittenhouse Square.
We really liked the front bar area, as well as the chef’s counter in the back. There’s a cozy upstairs dining space, but as the restaurant is in a small, historic brownstone, it’s pretty compact. You might find yourself in your neighbor’s conversation. We requested to sit at the chef’s counter, which was fantastic.
We loved their wine list. Whenever we see our favorite Prosecco producer, Alice, at the top of the list, it’s a good sign. Naturally we had to start with some pink bubbles!
When you are seated, make sure to start off with some of their tempting “on toast” selections. Toppings include everything from beef tartare and fresh horseradish to pumpkin and brown butter. We decided to try the toast with fromage blanc with apples, which was a light and flavorful way to start off our meal.
Being back on the East Coast, we were excited to dive into the fish and seafood selections. This is where Vernick really shines! The striped jack, avocado and jalapeño oil was on point, but the real show stopper was the turbot amandine for two. It’s a whole turbot cooked to perfection in their wood oven, and something that you could probably get for the table if you have more than two people. They also surprised us with their famous fire-roasted 8-hour cabbage dish, and we were so glad we were able to try it. The flavors were delicious and it’s perfect for a vegetarian meal or a vegetable side dish.
Thank you to Alaska Airlines for sponsoring this post.