Fare
2028 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Fare Menu
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Address :
2028 Fairmount Ave
Philadelphia, PA, 19130 - Phone (215) 763-5500
- Website https://farerestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Mon, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Ryan M.
Was my first time here. Was not really a fan of their eggs benedict. I ordered the Ultimate Eggs Benedict. Sounds cool right? NOT! The description sounded tempting with a combination of a thick piece of french toast, a pancake, and the eggs with bacon and a piece of ham. What I did not realize was that they freaking stacked them on top of each other. For real. I like toast and I love pancakes but I love them separately with some syrup and butter. I do not want them topped with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. It just isn't right. The ham was a pretty thick piece but it felt kinds dry and tougher to eat - it just didn't have that sear that it should have. It was also kind of pricy at $14 bucks and it came with a salad. I have eaten eggs benedict a lot and I expect hash browns or home fries with it, not a salad (which looked kind of cheap). The place itself was nice and the service was good (nothing outstanding about either). I plan to come back at some point for other meals but I won't ever order this dish again.
(3)Thomas J.
We've been here three times for brunch and it never disappoints. The fish tacos are awesome and their salads are just as good. We tried dinner last night and it was also really good. Good drink selections - party of 5 and everyone was very satisfied with their meals. We ordered the Hanger Steak, NY Strip, Seafood Pasta, Brussel Sprout salad and Crab Cakes. Not much left on the plates. Easy to get a reservation and staff was great. Definitely on our go to list.
(4)Jenny H.
Good clean "Fare"! Came here for Sunday brunch starting at 9am (which is a rarity in the city). Service, food, portions and price point was all a plus. Fare is a great place for those who are eating "clean". Ordered: "Fare Bloody Mary" made with pepper vodka and garnished with sweet bacon, eggs any style (def more than 2 eggs) with sweet potato and sausage, breakfast burrito (stuffed with scramble eggs, chorizo, sweet potato, light cheese, cooked spinach) with jalapeño salsa and spring salad. The breakfast burrito was def enough to share. Next time we will just get that and add one pancake on the side. The eggs any style for $8 was very generous, my bf couldn't even finish the eggs (he usually complains about restaurants with small portions). What's brunch without a bloody Mary? It was delish, the pepper vodka added the perfect kick and the sweet bacon garish rounded out the drink very well. Service: all the servers there were very attentive. They filled our water glasses before they were empty. Checked on our table at the right times. Good friendly service for a Sunday morning. Overall: we will be back! Looking forward to trying their dinner. Side Note: I am in love/obsessd with their stemware and dishes made by Degrenne.
(4)Ilona D.
My fave, had an amazing birthday dinner there. Get the flat bread and sliders!!!
(5)Michael B.
Really tasty flatbreads, $1.50 oysters, and fish tacos for happy hour (5-7 weekdays). Though perhaps not as "happy" as other happy hours offering food ($8 for the flatbread probably could be the everyday price), and perhaps lacking a little character in the interior of the joint, you're getting food items made from quality local sources - and there's a helpful and knowledgable bar staff that make really good $6 cocktails and have a half-decent selection of $3 cans/bottles fo dat ass. I shall be happy to continue to regulate Fare!
(4)Amanda G.
My friend and I had a reservation here for brunch this past Saturday, and when we walked in at 11:00 we quickly realized that we didn't need the reservation. This restaurant was almost completely empty, and seeing this made me get very nervous, very quickly. Basically every place around my neighborhood has an hour wait for brunch, so coming into this establishment and seeing no wait made me worry about the quality of the food. My worries quickly went away upon seeing the menu and receiving my "Fare" Mary cocktail. It was served with plenty of accouterments - olives, bacon, celery, and lemon. The bacon was crispy and a little sweet, and the olives were so delicious I wanted a whole bowl put in front of me. The Bloody Mary itself was also good - nice and spicy without being overwhelming. The food was also amazing. I got the chorizo breakfast burrito. The burrito came stuffed with chorizo, sweet potatoes, spinach, egg, and FLAVOR. It was so, so good. It also came with a side salad and even that was tasty. My friend got the caramel and banana French toast, and upon stealing a bite I immediately went into shock at how good it was. The French toast looked completely normal, but it was like there was a little bit of a sweet, crispy caramelization inside the bread. I hate frequenting places more than once, but I will have to make an exception to bring my husband here. The food was just too damn good.
(5)Brook H.
We decided to eat here while visiting Eastern State Penitentiary. The food was pricey but looked good and the decor seemed pleasant. At first things looked down as we had arrived in between lunch and dinner; all they had was bar appetizers and mixed drinks. The hostess was kind enough to let us sit there for an hour, eating an appetizer, while dinner was prepared. Sure, it was a bit awkward being the only people in the establishment while the staff had their dinner pep-talk about 30 feet away, but we were hungry and the dinner menu looked so good. By the time dinner started, we were ready for more food. The appetizer was very tasty but not very filling, plus we'd both had some good mixed drinks. Once the food started coming out, I can say it was well worth the wait. I had the bison which had a strong gamey taste that went well with the feta and spinach. We also had some truffle fries which were nicely done, with just enough chipotle spice for flavor and a slight burn. Our entire dining experience, although long, was well worth the price we paid. If you're not into organic, fresh foods, with full natural flavor, I don't recommend here. We loved it, though, and will definitely be back in the future!
(4)Max L.
The "Cheers" of Fairmount. The food is great. The staff is friendly. In nicer weather the outdoor seating and fire pit are the perfect place to unwind or catch up with friend over a drink. This is my favorite restaurant in the area. If your getting dinner try the Butchers steak.
(5)Edward M.
Stopped here for a happy hour with a friend and left happy. Fare takes its happy hour seriously, providing a fairly extensive happy hour menu that includes a happy hour food menu and discounts on all of their draft beers, some bottled beers, some house wines, and some cocktails. There are about half a dozen beers on tap. The selection rotates and is bound to include at least a few beers you'd want to try. There were at least four I wanted to try and I got to sample all of them. They were all different kinds of great. For food, I tried the fish tacos -- which were adequate -- and the mushroom flatbread -- which was yummy. There were certainly other food items I'd want to try on a future visit. The decor is modern and neat. Service was friendly, though not always attentive. Happy hour prices were very good.
(4)Cassandra P.
I met 2 friends with 2 small children here for brunch & I can describe the experience with one word: perfection! My friends ordered the omelette of the day & I had the strawberry Creme French toast. We had strong coffee & strong drinks and a very attentive & sweet server (I forget his name but he told me he was from LBI). They were very busy for brunch! With 2 small children with us, we were grateful they took reservations. This is a must stop for foodies & those who prefer fantastic organic food.
(5)Mike M.
Medium rare skirt was rare (moooo!) even though I ordered medium-rare; with a group so sampled a bunch of sides - sweet potato gratin (very good), brussel sprouts (good), cauliflower (good, recommend), kale (terrible, zero flavor). Deserts were terrible, do not waster your time or money. The cocktail list, however, was pretty darn good. Had the old fashioned special which was made with a bacon infused rye and that made for a memorable cocktail. Place is okay, would not go out of my way to return.
(3)Laura R.
This was my first time here, and I couldn't be more thrilled. A reservation that I had made at another restaurant was dropped due to overbooking. As it was Mother's Day I was in a panic to find someplace nice to eat brunch with my mother. The staff here went above and beyond to accommodate me and not only make room for us but set a place for us outside so we could enjoy the weather. They were attentive and the food was spectacular
(5)Alice K.
Fare is a great place to go when you want an amazing cocktail and little something to eat and don't want to break the bank. They currently have a Manhattan on the menu that has bacon infused bourbon in it and it is safe to say I'm in love. All the entrees they offer are amazing. Not one flop of an item. I tend to sit at the bar and love watching the bar tenders skillfully and charmingly make cocktails while engaging all their customers. I know they have outdoor seating and a patio but I have never sat there. Fare is a great spot to begin a night out!
(5)Tanya M.
Happy hour Christmas party here! Drinks AMAZING. Food out if this world. Flat bread pizzas were different and tasty. Sliders were juicy with fresh bright tomatoes on them and served with a chipotle mayo that I dipped the best fries if my life Into. Bartenders were attentive and knowledgeable about the food. Great specialty drinks
(5)Vladislav D.
Awesome place! Went there for the first time on Wednesday this week. For a Wednesday, it was very much alive. However, we were able to get a table for five with no problem at all. The ambiance is very cheerful and the service was pretty good too. Everything we ordered tasted fresh and was DELICIOUS!!! The pricing was also very pleasing, for the five of us we spent less than $200 and left the place stuffed. Highly recommend trying this place if you're in Philly. Can't wait to go there again!
(4)Constance I.
4 of us came here for a quiet meal and we all enjoyed our dishes. I had their fish of the day, a branzino, and it was so good. I love branzinos served whole and grilled - which was what they did. It also came with some sauteed spinach and brown rice. I left feeling very satisfied.
(4)Carl F.
Went here for a brunch with a group. The service to the place's credit was excellent. Ordering to table was prompt. The wait staff was helpful and not pushy. Ability to make a reservation was a plus. The food was ok, not bad, I expected better. Lobster grilled cheese was way over salted, grilled sweet potatoes were too mushy, shortrib Benedict was basically a shortrib beef sandwich with the egg and holandaise sauce on top. Way too much bread, none of the cheese as listed on the menu. It was served with a salad which felt, and tasted out of place on the plate. Inside the decor was just kind of bland compared to it's close-by competitors.
(2)Fernando T.
Love this place! Food is great, and the seating either outside or in is perfect. Service is quick & friendly. I have had a few things to eat there and the drinks are great. It is great for lunch, dinner or just a drink for happy hour. I would recco this place to everyone!!!!!
(4)Steve E.
Does this restaurant think it is in midtown NYC? Or even directly in center city? The prices were ridiculous for being right across the street from the Eastern State Penitentiary. Food was ok, however it used too much oil for everything. Tried the blood orange marinated seitan, the grilled octopus salad, and the truffle oil fries. Was not very impressed by the restaurant at all.
(2)Jack B.
Really amazing neighborhood joint. Great service. ..I drink copious amounts of water and never had my glass less than half full..the place was full. Saturday 7pm. You must get the shredded Brussels sprouts salad. The crab cakes...never had anything like this..avocado and crabmeat. Everything was stellar. $75.00 for 2 no drinks for us.
(5)Jennifer A.
My boyfriend and I went here after a museum day and penitatary day. We were starved. Usually you'd expect restaurants nearby tourist traps to be mediocre but we were wrong. The food was amazing. The staff were friendly and prompt , the prices weren't cheap but not bad for the quality. We had the SW Flatbread, the crab cakes (freaking awesome) and he had the salmon (also freaking awesome). We had the custard for dessert which almost tasted like cheesecake. I was truly impressed. I'd come back in a heartbeat.
(5)Adam F.
The service was good, but I'm sure there are better restaurants in Philadelphia. I was excited to try Fare, as it had over 4 stars on Yelp and touted local organic food. The room is nice and we had a great table. But the coffee was bitter and actually pretty bad. Our meals (I was there with my wife and 2 teenage children) were okay, but the food was not great and some of the choices made by the kitchen were questionable - for example, my omelet with apple, cheddar and bacon sounded good, but I was expecting cooked apple chunks. Instead the omelet was made with cold apple slices, which completely threw off the balance. I wish we had experienced the food that everyone raves about, but as it is we won't be returning to Fare any time soon.
(2)Amy K.
This is the second time I've been to this restaurant. The farm-to-table concept is great but the menu choices seemed very oridnary. I was there about three months prior and the menu hadn't changed since my last visit. I ordered the special (tilefish, $26) and it was OK but utterly forgettable. My dining companions ate chicken breast and flank steak which they enjoyed but seemed like very traditional ingredients. The atmosphere is quite lovely except that the upholstered chairs were stained as was the carpet. The interior looks neglected which suggests they're not doing well.
(2)Chanel W.
This is quickly becoming our go to restaurant for family outings. Good food, ok service, perfect location and atmosphere
(4)Feli F.
The food is always great. Decent amount of vegan options. The very dirty martini is made with a Greek mix rather than typical Spanish green olives. Delicious!
(5)Larry M.
Even dessert tasted light and healthy. Not sure if I can buy in to this healthy eating! Seriously, nice ambiance and attentive service. We enjoyed our meals, but certainly short of "amazing". Also, pricier than the $$ rated here on yelp though perhaps if you came here for the flatbread that rating will fit. There are a lot of restaurants in this neighborhood so I'd like to try some others before deciding on a return visit.
(4)Michelle W.
Do not waste your money!! I have dined all over the city and this place is awful! I got the crab cakes and I'm pretty sure the sauce they put on top of the cakes was McDonalds sweet and sour dipping sauce. The crab cakes had no lump crab meat taste. It was really disappointing for 100 dollar check.
(1)K W.
i've been here a couple of times for brunch. huge portions for the cost. ability to make reservations. alcoholic beverages for that extra special drunk brunch. gluten free bread option (though NOT the best gluten free bread.) what else do you need?
(4)Don L.
So we went out for Saturday night. We got there around six and didn't have reservation but luckily, they had a table for us. It was our first time and we like the place immediately. The wait staff were all nice and we liked our Farmhouse Flat Bread, Seafood Pasta, and Flank Steak, finishing with chocolate lava cake. I think the portions were just right and priced right. We will definitely visit again!
(4)Kim H.
Ok so, the atmosphere of this place is phenomenal - specifically the outdoor seating area! So cute with the fire-lit heating, string lights, and paper lanterns. Sadly, the food did not live up to the expectation. It was underwhelming, to say the least. Not bad, just....mediocre...slightly bland...and insanely overpriced!! The only pro was their pumpkin beer bucket, which was decently priced, but unfortunately they were all out of bottled pumpkin beers when I was there on a Saturday night. Wamp wamp. If I ever do return here, it will be for the pumpkin beer bucket, and not for the food.
(3)Sophie R.
Fare was our local date night staple of choice. That may now change after a really disappointing visit. Ambivalent service, food was ok but lacking in imagination and execution. Seafood pasta was given flavor only by drowning it in cream, which felt lazy and unappetizing. Wouldn't have minded so much but it's not a cheap night out, and it used to be such a great place. What has happened Fare?! Not sure if the usual staff and chef we're missing in action or whether it's changed hands. Either way, we liked you just the way you used to be. We wouldn't be in a hurry to go back after tonight's performance. Pity, as this was one of Fairmount's stars. Hopefully it was a blip, but not sure if we'd want to revisit.
(2)Alex S.
Better experience this time! We went for brunch instead of dinner. The lobster grilled cheese is excellent. Fish tacos were good. Good Bloody Mary not excellent. Great outdoor seating. Will be coming back to give dinner a second try!
(4)Nicole W.
Fare was fair. I like the decor, nice and chill vibe there, but the hostess was not so friendly (immediate turn off for me) The food was decent (hummus and fish tacos, friends got the tuna melt) Nothing amazing to write home about, but nothing too bad either. Decent place, though my friend went on a rant about how over priced brunch is for no reason after eating his tuna melt.. not sure if that was related.
(3)Matt D.
Fare has a calming effect on me after a long week of work. This is a great, relaxed happy hour spot and is conveniently close to home! Now that they have a nice selection of tap beers, this has been added to our rotation. The beer list is well thought out and always has a nice array of styles. The food is consistently good here as well. We like the fish tacos and the flatbreads, but ordering them other than during happy hour would burn the wallet for what you get. Surprisingly, they have a fairly strong brunch menu. The pancakes (any variety) are excellent. My only gripes are that the hostesses can be hit-or-miss and the restaurant has a bit of an identity crisis. They added a lot of reclaimed wood to the bar area to warm up the space, which was successful, but the rest of the place still feels a bit confused. Great outdoor space here as well.
(4)Jeffrey D.
Good, solid brunch with creativity. Both the breakfast burrito and the omelets were damn tasty.
(4)Bri H.
We arrived on time for our reservation and were immediately lead to a cozy booth in the back. I like the trees that are painted on the walls and the grey/red color scheme, but the restaurant is too brightly lit. They should lower the lights a bit so it feels more intimate. I started out with the octopus small plate. The texture was perfect: tender and moist, not rubbery at all. My friends got the same appetizer and theirs came with the olives that are listed as part of the dish. Sadly, the olives were absent on my plate. I went with the Farmhouse flatbread for my main course. It was certainly tasty and I like the salty bacon/sweet apple combo, but it was nothing mindblowing. The wine list is extensive, as is the beer list (all bottles, no draft). I started out with the Really Clean Martini and it was delish. It went down super smooth, but I could tell by the way I was feeling that it had plenty of alcohol in it. Our server was attentive and he was really knowledgeable when helping my friend pick out a wine that went with her entree, but also had the characteristics she likes in a wine. Not a bad spot, but I wouldn't make it a point to leave my neighborhood just to come here in the future.
(3)Laura B.
We were looking for somewhere reasonably priced with outdoor seating for brunch in Fairmount. On our way to the place we had picked, we passed Fare and were immediately attracted to the fabulous outdoor patio area that was full of sunshine. We were seated immediately and our server stopped over within about two minutes. We ordered coffee and then proceeded to wait at least fifteen minutes (literally) for our server to bring it out. She said she had to brew it fresh... We ordered our food which was enjoyable: brioche French toast with bananas and caramel sauce, crispy bacon, a breakfast burrito with yummy chorizo sausage and sweet potato. I've give this place two stars because of the super slow service and because while good, the food wasn't as great as staple brunch places like Cafe Lift or Sabrinas. If I'm going to spend $20+/person for brunch it needs to be great.
(2)Huma M.
Great new spot in the art museum area. Menu has a lot of great food options, food is fresh and well prepared and the staff is friendly and accomodating.
(5)Eliz H.
Unfortunately we think we ate some bad oysters. So in 20 minutes, this review could go down and it could have been higher. But they were good that they did not charge us and they took the initiative to give us a lovely small plate.
(3)Heather L.
I've tried this place about 3x now and I really do enjoy it. The portions are a great size. Even the smallest things taste great like their hummus- yumm. I've tried their mushroom flatbread, grilled octopus, salmon, flank steak and their truffle fries. All delightful. =)
(4)Megan H.
Only come Tuesday Wednesday and Saturday...Brenna is the best bartender in the city! She was funny and poured amazing drinks!
(5)Beth R.
This review is for brunch...which was awesome. After a morning hiking in Fairmount Park, we were starving and migrated ourselves over to fairmount ave in search of brunch. When we first walked in, I realized most of the brunch patrons were dressed fairly nicely, and cringed at my obvious workout gear. We asked to sit at an outdoor table, which ended up being great. They have ample heatlamps and a covered area on the side, so despite the chilly day we were cozy (and not sticking out in our gym clothes amid a sea of skinny jeans and sweaters). I had the brioche French toast topped with caramel and bananas, and it was fabulous. Service was good too. I'm looking forward to trying this place for dinner or drinks next.
(4)Maryanne C.
I'm from out of town and I loved this restaurant! The food was amazing and so was the coffee. I also asked to substitute white potatoes for sweet and wasn't charged extra. We had a fabulous, attentive waiter and even another waitress who wasn't waiting on our table smiled at us whenever she passed. When I originally called to make reservations, Courtney who answered the phone was a doll! A very happy experience and will be back when I'm in Philly again.
(4)Gerald F.
Excellent. I lived here 40 years ago. Whodathunk. Loved the flank steak. Bronzino. Fries. Rice. My son loved the crab cakes. Too sweet and Asian for me. Good sizes. Great quality.
(5)Annie F.
Food is great! Farmhouse flatbread and truffle fries are a classy happy hour treat. Drinks are really good, a bit pricey.
(5)Notorious H.
Good brunch place. Sat outside on a beautiful Sunday. Food was fresh and tasty. We got egg white omelets the only thing we needed was butter for the toast. Otherwise things were good. I would come back and recommend sitting outside.
(4)Andrea F.
If I could just order a giant tray (TRAY, not pie, I'm from Scranton) of the Farmhouse Flatbread pizza, I would. Buttery with apples, bacon, and cheddar, it's to-die-for. Really, that's the only reason it has 4 stars. Without the pizza, it would be 3. Meal was still decent, though. Arugula salad with goat cheese and candied pecans and vinaigrette was great, cocktails are always made fresh (cucumber, gin, cracked pepper drink reminded me of summer). I can't remember what my boyfriend got, I think some type of steak and asparagus dish and it was cooked perfect, just kind of lacked in seasoning. I got an open faced bison burger with a yogurt sauce drizzled over it. It came with roasted potatoes in a tomato sauce and green beans. Very homey and stick-to-your-ribs kind of dish, though it didn't all seem to go together in taste for me. The bison was awesome and if I could have had just the meat and yogurt sauce with a different type of vegetable and no potatoes on the side, that would have been just fine. Even though I couldn't move after the baseball-sized bison meatball, I still ordered a delicious mixed fruit crumble for dessert, perfect for the season. Overall, I get the whole yuppie "locally grown, organic, free range" hype and the food was all very solid, but I'm not entirely sure it's worth the price.
(4)Demra C.
Found after a day at the Philly Art Museum . Menu was amazing , started with scallop ceviche and the tuna tartare . Then the most delicate beet salad lightly dressed . For our main we had the Crab cake and seafood pasta . Both were succulent and seasoned to perfection . We finished with a flan that even being totally stuffed was worth every bit. If you are in Philly this is a must ! I will be back .
(5)P K.
Came here for brunch with a group of 5 a couple months ago. In my opinion, the food was pretty good, but definitely overpriced. The French Toast and salads were delicious, and the drinks were decent, but the waitress was a bit pushy with the drinks and the prices were definitely way too high. This isn't Manhattan after all.... if I wanted to pay NYC prices, then I'd go to NYC. And I'd get NYC quality too. Worth a stop-in if you've got money to blow and want to act fancy. If you're a local from the neighborhood like me, you probably don't go there very much.
(3)Jennifer T.
The food is pretty good, but service was really strange. At brunch, my friend ordered the same waffle, but I have a nut allergy so I asked for mine without the walnuts. My waffle came out with berries on top, his did not. He asked for berries and about 15-20 longgg minutes later, the server brought out a little dish of sliced melons. So weird. Not my first choice for brunch in the area, but I would go back.
(3)Antonia G.
Had brunch here on a Saturday morning, nice calm atmosphere. The Fare Bloody Mary was really good and spicy. I would recommend the burger and the pancakes, only disappointment was the lobster grilled cheese but in hindsight mozzarella and lobster was a strange combination.
(4)Nancy W.
My new favorite brunch spot :) It was dead upon arrival but couldn't complain. The service was great and everything that came out was fresh! The bf and I shared their hummus before our main course. I ordered the veggie omelet with a side salad and potatoes. It had more than enough on the plate! The bf had the bison burger. I don't eat red meat, so I didn't try it but he plate was clean by the end of our meal. I definitely left full but left without the guilt of eating out at an unhealthy place :) Would definitely return here for brunch again.
(5)Alexandra D.
Milton lava cake was fantastic but food is average. The three times I've been here the service sucked twice and that was during brunch.
(3)Mum D.
Fare has a nice atmosphere and prompt service but food is just OK, I mea...FAIR. My bacon dressing kale salad was basically a bowl of fried kale, I couldn't taste any bacon, just heavy oil not balanced with acid. A vinaigrette dressing would have been nicer. I did squeeze lemon on it and it was tasty, but without it it just doesn't taste right. May go back and try something else...
(3)Kristin W.
Even though we had been warned when we were making our reservation that a large holiday party would be wrapping up when we came in, we still were eager to try Fare. The manager was very attentive in making sure that we were not bothered by the noise and provided some complimentary menu items - it was a very nice gesture! Looking to go light, I ordered the Grilled Octopus starter and the Fare Mixed Greens Salad. The starter was a very generous portion with a lot of octopus - it was also much more like a salad than I had expected. So when my actual salad came out, I was not able to finish it, but I appreciated the freshness and flavors. The miso dressing is tasty, but if you're not going to finish the salad, definitely ask to get it on the side so everything isn't wilted for tomorrow's lunch. I also sampled the Hand Cut Fries - with truffle oil and parmesan, this is a good choice.
(4)Dan F.
Tried twice, once for brunch and once for dinner - my girlfriend and I agree the food is ass. Last time we went here (for dinner), our waitress disappeared for a good half hour, only to return stinking like sex & axe body spray. Classy.
(1)Maddie V.
I so wanted to give this place 4 stars, but I just couldn't. The main reason being the service. I had made a reservation for a party of three for a Friday evening at 9pm. Our assigned table wasn't immediately ready so we were told it would be a few minutes. I get it, it's Friday, they're crowded and you can't force someone to leave their table so another party can be sat. That being said, I just wish the staff would have been more attentive. The hostess told us our table was still occupied when we were first told to wait then... that was it. For the next 25 minutes the hostess stared at us as we waited awkwardly in the front entrance (they don't really have the room to wait). Not once were we offered a seat at the bar, or a drink, or even a menu while we waited. Once finally seated, the wine was delicious. They had a fairly large selection and the hummus app I ordered was tasty and very filling. Our waitress never said anything to us about our wait, and was quasi-attentive throughout the evening. I would most likely go again, but with the notion I may have to wait awhile to get my wine.
(3)Harry W.
My wife and I have walked past Fare since it opened, (we live in the neighborhood), never went in until tonight. Had one of our best dinners in years. Beer was great, neat little list of drafts. Had the ceviche and watermelon salad and two seafood whole wheat pasta dishes. All the food to us was five star, the pasta, excellent including all fresh seafood included in the dish. Finished off with fig ricotta whipped desert, again excellent. Our waitress was great, just cool and normal and very attentive. What a place that we have walked past a zillion times, won't do that again! Really want to try their weekend brunch which we hear is awesome.
(5)Kelly P.
warning: hummus is positively loaded with garlic. the farmhouse flatbread was delicious and cooked perfectly, even though i dislike bacon. it was a good starter. my ceasar salad was very good too, and my friend enjoyed her beet salad. overall not a bad experience. the space is warm and inviting, and i can see why people love this place. some of the other menu items sounded delicious but were a bit out of my price range.
(4)Gavin S.
My first visit to Fare was on a rainy Saturday, competing with the house of horrors at Eastern State Penitentiary for nearby parking. We eventually found a spot not too far away. The doorman took our umbrellas and remembered which ours were on the way out. Nice. They have done a good job with the decor - modern fixtures, earth tones, accented by pops of color - very now. Instead of bread a small serving of hummus with tasty green olives and pita was delivered to our table - for the amount of hummus they could provide twice as much pita, but it is a nice way to whet the appetite. As for what we ordered - the farmhouse flatbread was delicious, if overpriced for what you get. The pasta bolognese with wild boar and dark chocolate was a bit of a letdown - the pasta had a nice texture, but there was no trace of chocolate that I could tell. For entrees, the avocado crab cakes were as good as everyone has said, with a sweet and spicy chili glaze on top. The bison was really not a burger, served open faced on top of thin slices of bread and tomato - with lemon herb yogurt that made me feel it was closer to a "bison gyro" in the end. Delicious nonetheless, served with potatoes cooked in a tomato sauce, and tasty green beans with onion. The french fries with truffle oil and parmesan were a hit, also a large enough portion to share. For desert (see pics) it was the dessert trio, which changes regularly - tonight a combination of the dark chocolate torte, apple cake, and crème brulee. Also the special, a goat cheese cheesecake in a caramelized sugar shell with ice cream and port wine soaked pears. Very good. This is the kind of restaurant that Philly needs, and the food was inventive and tasty, hence the five stars. I'm not sure it provided for me the exceptional experience that 5 stars should require, but 4.5 is not an option. Definitely a place worth returning to nonetheless. No complaints about service, and my kind of fare.
(5)Rachel S.
I loved it!!! What a charming restaurant!! Dined with a friend last night who has been before...nice, clean decor. The chairs were remarkably comfortable. The service was very very good - friendly, attentive and helpful. The food was superb - simple, clean, flavorful. We each had 2 glasses of the Santa Barbara Chardonnay which was an excellent compliment. We shared a bunch of small plates (no surprise there, right? I'm into sharing!): * hot-smoked salmon, herbed tomatillo sauce * olive oil braised baby artichokes, English peas, Romano cheese * dayboat scallops, sweet pea puree, gremolata * avocado, grapefruit, watercress, bleu cheese, minted vinaigrette * roasted cauliflower, chick peas, cucumber, and dilled yogurt * chocolate cake * peach cobbler We left feeling full but not stuffed and I loved all of our selections! I already emailed my mom to check it out with her friends.
(5)Samantha C.
Did the "Fright & Bite" for Terror Behind the Walls- service was EXCEPTIONAL, food was DELICIOUS, drinks were awesome, and atmosphere was absolutely perfect. Only reason I give 4 stars is because they were "all out of" certain menu items. Otherwise, the best restaurant around. I highly recommend it for both locals and out of towners. Valet service is a nice bonus too @ $8 since parking can be tricky on a Saturday night. Try out Fare everyone!
(4)Trang N.
I took our puppies and rode our bikes to Fare for Sunday Brunch! We were lucky enough to be able to get a great table outside, which provided a great place for people watch! The eggs benedict with Nova Salmon was delicious! The portion was huge and the everything bagel was a nice twist to an old classic! The salad that accompanied was simple and very flavorful! My husband had the eggs any style with bacon and potatoes, everything was really fresh and tasty. The chipotle bloody mary was a great finishing touch to a great meal! We debated about sitting there all day until the dinner service, those avocado crab cakes were calling my name!! However, the real world kicked in and we had errands to run. We will be splitting our brunches between here and Rembrandts!
(4)Jessica P.
Little hidden gem in Fairmount. We've lived here for a few years now and just stumbled upon Fare this passed weekend. We sat at the bar and had a few glasses of wine. My husband wasn't overly hungry however Courteney recommended we split an appetizer and entree. We had the Bronzino, labeled the Fish of the day, which was large enough for two! We were impressed with both dishes. Excellent service and a nice atmosphere. We will be back!
(5)Jose Rainier C.
First time here and definitely not my last. Good food and good service. Looking forward to trying it out for dinner. Fare is in a great area as well.
(4)SM F.
NOTE: I've only been here for brunch. 5 of my 6 times here, the service has been exceptional, though my most recent visit (November), it was lacking (servers more interested in cell phone & each other than working). They have a real nice outdoor area that is a must when open. The daily vegetable omelette is excellent and highly recommended. They normally have an interesting drink special for brunch (bacon Bloody Mary). The make some sinfully good starters, but only order if you're sharing. The food quality is high. La Columbe coffee too!
(4)Brad P.
Let me tell you how you can screw up in life: 1. Get hooked on heroin. 2. Run over an orphan while you are drunk driving. 3. Get an orphan drunk and then peer pressure him into running over an additional orphan while driving. 4. Eat dinner at Fare and fail to order the avocado crabcakes.
(4)AB H.
After a couple hours at the art museum, we headed over the Fare on a Sunday afternoon (around 4:45) for an early dinner. I was slightly disappointed to hear when we walked in that we could only order from the bar menu, and I wish they had told me that when I had called and asked if there was space for us. We had a bunch of small plates: the sliders, cooked perfectly (rare, which is hard with tiny burgers!), and the fig pizza were my two favorite. The fish tacos were not as exciting (a little bland) and the truffle fries were also just OK, not amazing. They have a good beer and cider selection. I'd go back to try their full menu.
(3)Jeanny I.
The food is delicious but the service is lacking. I don't get why. Perfect location and great concept but don't come here for a quick dinner.
(3)Christina G.
Fare has only gotten better since it opened a year or so ago. The first couple of times I went to Fare, I thought the quality of the food was average, decently priced and nothing that special with plates that were on the small side. Their drink menu has always been reasonably priced with excellent drinks, especially the martinis. I went to Fare Friday night with 4 girlfriends for Fairmount Restaurant Week. For $30, we each got an appetizer, entree and dessert. The portions were much larger than I remember. And maybe we just ordered different items than a year ago, but everything we had was a nice portion. Four out of five of us had the flatbreads as appetizers and they were large enough to be a meal. I was full after just the appetizer. I wish I would have saved half to take home but my veggie flatbread was so good that I devoured the entire thing. The Bluefish special was delicious. I also tried my friend's salmon and it was also very good. I had this lemon shortbread thing for dessert and it was delicious. I also tried the vegan cheesecake and I don't understand how you can make a vegan dessert taste so good. The ambiance is wonderful. It is a great date place but also a great place to go with a few friends. Service was very good. We did have a Friday reservation for 8pm and had to wait 15 minutes so the manager (who is ridiculously handsome and nice) brought us complimentary cocktails while we waited. It rained unexpectedly and they usually have outside seating so we think that is why there was a short wait but the manager and staff were all very attentive. My favorite things about Fare are the martinis and flatbreads. Even non-martini drinkers like the Very Clean Martini. A year ago, I didn't care to come back. But after my experience on Friday, I hope to meet friends again there in the near future for another great dining experience. This now may be my favorite restaurant in Fairmount.
(4)Lauren H.
Nice brunch spot! The brioche french toast is AMAZING and it came with bananas, strawberries, and blueberries which I saw as a bonus. I didn't get a cocktail but my friends' drinks looked really good...they don't kid around with the bloody marys. This place was also shockingly empty for a Saturday morning. There's nice outdoor seating, and street parking was easy to find.
(4)Tameka J.
We decided to try Fare while dining across the street at Hickory. We were seated immediately but waited a long time for our server to pay any attention to us. We were seated by a group with lots of small children and the children were all over the place. That was a mood blower! None the less we moved to the bar after the children kept running around, being disruptive and they even stopped at our table a few times. An adult in the party apologized but it continued to happen :\ The hostess mentioned to the bartender that we'd been there for a long time and hadn't been served; she also told our server that he'd kept us waiting for a long time. The atmosphere at the bar was much better, the bartender was attentive and she made really good drinks (I like when bartenders sample their creations before serving them) We started with the baked banana which was very good, i then had the apple ricotta pancakes, also good. My honey had the meat omelet of the day, it was chorizo, caramelized onions and a few other things but very tasty. Given the large number of great restaurants in Philly, I'm not sure if Ill make it back to Fare. My experience was simply 'ok'
(3)Stephanie P.
The service here is terrible. I went in yesterday and the bartender was very unwelcoming. I read previous reviews about the bartenders acting less than pleased about serving guests, and by serving I mean the bare bones.. Asking for water, etc. Our food took so long too. 12-15 mins for a mixed green salad? The bartender noticed too. She said "sorry, the dining room just got full." There were like 3 tables. We were trying to leave so we asked for our pizza to be boxed up and then the bartender said, "oh, is it because it took too long?" Well, yeah. Their happy hour specials are awesome and so is the space. But, the service is awful and the food takes forever. Expect to wait 20 mins for fries and a house salad.
(2)Laura D.
I wanted to love Easter brunch at Fare, but I wasn't impressed. The menu sounded great, and the veggie omelet of the day (shitake, snap pea, and romano (??)) was just what I had in mind. I ordered it with no cheese and egg whites (hey, I like to eat healthy). They got the order correct, but it came out dripping in oil and undercooked. When I say dripping in oil, I mean it had a shiny oily glaze all over, and I only tasted olive oil when biting into the egg. Even worse, after a few bites I noticed a clear, runny goo inside... yep, uncooked egg white. Not appetizing. The mushrooms and snap peas were good, but I was about done with the omelet after that. At 2pm there weren't too many patrons left, so I can't blame the poorly cooked omelet on an overwhelmed chef. Side were good - sweet potatoes, greens and tasty toast. My parents' meals were satisfactory, but nothing to write home about. I'll probably give Fare another go for dinner sometime, but brunch was disappointing.
(2)Mike N.
Horrendous, lazy service. My girlfriend and I wanted to order a quick bite to eat before a commitment we had to attend, but our order took entirely too long. When we changed our order to go, it took even longer to receive and the staff treated this as a nuisance. There were less than 20 people in the restaurant, yet we saw the chefs roll their eyes. When we finally got our bag, it looked like a takeout plastic bag from a food truck and was dripping from the bottom. Considering the food is overpriced anyways, I expected a little more presentation or at least silverware to enable us to eat our meals. We live in the area and will not be returning.
(1)Ashley D.
As I'm not opposed to eating any meal by myself, I took the opportunity to try Fare for brunch on a beautiful Saturday morning. The outdoor seating area is delightful and quite spacious for downtown Philly. My puggle and I sat comfortably on a bench (her underneath on the floor) and were immediately served our own water (hers in a doggy bowl). We enjoyed a relaxed brunch with well balanced & free flowing coffee and a friendly (and cute) server. The eggs florentine was tasty and the perfect size. They seem to chose healthier options here like wheat toast and sweet potatoes which I love. We will definitely return possibly for wine because I LOVE wine!
(5)Barbara J.
Today, my daughters and I went for brunch at Fare. Since there was a 45 minute wait for a table we chose to sit at the almost empty bar/counter area. Our waitress came almost right away to take our orders. The coffees and Bloody Mary followed pretty quickly but, alas, no cream and no utensils. Cream was requested but still no utensils appeared ... How to stir coffee??? We caught the eye of a passing waitress who brought us each a knife and fork wrapped in a napkin. No problem, we'll just stir coffee with our knife or fork. Then, likety split, and no longer than an hour or so we got our brunch. My order was half correct with a salad instead of the requested sweet potatoes. The orders were not hot. Cold potatoes were cordially replaced upon request with another order of....you guessed it.....more cold potatoes. The food was decent and probably would have been considered good had it been the right temperature. The service was downright poor. Neither our waitress nor the hostess seemed aware of our plight. If I had to guess, I think our food was sitting up waiting for the server to remember to serve it. This is my first post and I'm sorry to be prompted to write such a poor review.
(1)Cate L.
After a blistering day spent at the Penitentiary winter tour, my man and I headed here a few weeks ago to grab a bite. An adorable little bistro in a great neighborhood. I ordered the beet salad, which was absolutely delicious, very fresh and tangy. For a main course, I ordered the vegetable cakes. I'm not a vegetarian, but do enjoy de-toxing from the meat every now and then. I do have to say, it was rather bland, which let's be honest, sometimes veggies can be. Just wasn't super impressed with the flavors and again, kind of laid there. Everything else was delightful....waitress was attentive, space was warm and cozy. Would definitely give it another try, but possibly go for the gold and order something that used to have a pulse.
(3)Matt R.
Have been here a few times for brunch and happy. They have a nice selection of craft beers on draft and bottle. I'd definitely recommend the sliders during happy hour. Food is tasty and healthy. 4 stars for taste but quality and service brings it up to 5.
(5)Armon V.
When I moved into the neighborhood I went to Fare and was not a fan. However, a friend convinced me to go back and what a difference! Courtney was our bartender and she changed my mind about the place entirely. The service was friendly and attentive plus she knows how to make a proper drink. As a result I came back again, she remembered my name and, more importantly, how I like my drink! The rest of the staff was great as well. This is now my go to for a neighborhood cocktail. (4 stars only because I have not tried the food yet)
(4)Lauren S.
Unfortunate name for a restaurant where the food is really fair to average for breakfast. Everyone in my party had mediocre meals and my sister was given a plate of 2 measly pancakes (Is it that more expensive or troublesome to throw a third pancake on the griddle?) with an odd-tasting sour cream-tasting topping that was advertised as ricotta. We debated whether the coffee was strong or just really old. On top of all of this, the waitress was completely rude, slamming down glasses, and making faces at some of our selections. I really wanted to like this place, but there are some obvious alterations which could be made to improve the customer's experience.
(2)Dmitriy M.
Went with a part of four on Saturday at noon, not exactly brunch not exactly lunch The decor of this place is pretty tacky, while the menu and website has a rustic feel, the furniture and wall pieces are trying to look new york-ish, but failing miserably, and fall somewhere in between a faux-nice place, and just a mess. The staff: well, this is where the problems begin. All of the staff seem to have a stuck up disposition about them; again, you are not in new york. We got a table at 12:30 but took forever to have someone acknowledge that we were at a table, and thirsty, and hungry. after flagging one waitress down, she seemed appalled that we would ask HER to help us, and not our waitress when we finally ordered, and got a salmon flatbread as a starter, the waitress then came back and informed us that it was no longer available, but we could get a cinnamon bun... ummm, no thank you. and then we waited...... and waited.... (oh, and thank you for serving me my 'fare mary' with a piece of bacon on top of it.. i don't eat meat) finally one in our party got a the breakfast omelet, and another got the baked bananas (with plain yogurt on it... meh) [besides the fact that it should have came out before everything else, about 40 minutes earlier) , but the rest of us sat around waiting for our food so then we got 2 more plates, but the person who got baked bananas also got an eggs florentine which still didnt come out i got the fish tacos: dry, no flavored, served on a plate with beans and rice.. i don't recommend it the breakfast burrito: forgettable, eggs florentine: not bad, the salad dry and disposable the best part of the meal was the tuna melt, served open face with guacamole (i was a doubter, but actually great combo!) ultimately, we were still pretty hungry, had spent way too much time, and what was supposed to be a nice saturday (birthday) brunch, was something we would all rather forget. no, i will not be coming back. get it together fare. get your sassy waitresses in order, and tell that one girl to not wear ugly gold space boots. get someone to work the front of house, to pick up my credit card when i just want to leave. someone to check in on us when we are waiting for our food, and to assure us that it is coming.
(2)Beau M.
Food was great, service was as well. It was evident that everything was as fresh as it gets, and the ambiance was a perfect fit, it felt very "at home" . Get the Farmhouse Flatbread, but as our server told us, "eat it slowly". Thats a challenge indeed!
(4)Hannah B.
Food was excellent but a bit pricy. Service was overall not great. There are better places in Fairmount to eat!
(3)Cynthia S.
We have eaten at Fare dozens of times as it is located in our neighborhood. It is obviously one of our favorites. I particularly LOVE the scallops.
(5)Scott M.
I wanted to love Fare, but it wasn't meant to be. It was just okay. The pork osso bucco was a huuuuge piece of tender meat, but the apricot/plum glaze just didn't work well with it (even though I generally love meat and fruit combos). The polenta was decent by itself but didn't compliment the pork at all ... I ended up eating the meat and polenta separately as a result. The BBQ seitan had much more of a spicy *tomato* sauce instead of a barbeque sauce, unfortunately. It wasn't bad per se but they should honestly change the menu wording to reflect the difference. It didn't sit well with my wife (who never EVER sends back food) so we ordered the apple/cheddar flatbread instead. The flatbread was pretty good and I would recommend it. Great location, atmosphere, service. Organic, local, sustainable. Lots of reasonably priced wine-by-the-glass options and fun menu choices on paper ... but unfortunately, the food itself wasn't at the same high level as everything else at Fare.
(3)Rachelle R.
great brunch spot! I loved my veggie omelet and my husband raved about this french toast. friendly service, clean and quiet atmosphere, organic local ingredients, great selection of teas, and they actually have soy milk! I thought it was perfect, even if it's a little out of place for the neighborhood.
(4)Anastasia B.
We were going to wait until the patio opened to try out Fare, however I'm glad we went this past Saturday night for some quick drinks and appetizers. Sitting at the bar was super chill. I had a water of life which was a specialty cocktail consisting of infused pineapple rum fresh juices and basil leaves. Yum! This is like your local hangout but with nicer food and drinks. The cute bartender was great, super talkative, and recommended a few apps, which we loved. Well be back to check out the happy hour situation!
(4)Casey R.
Sat at the bar last night and it did not disappoint. I had a few cocktails which were excellent and very unique. I rarely order cocktails out because I feel like my tastes are different from most people (but I do love a good margarita) but I found 2 that I loved on their menu. I was pleasantly surprised to find they had real Creme de Cassis available, first time I have seen that in PA. Also the baked sweet potato fries were delicious! Although I am a sucker for anything with sriracha, so that may have had something to do with my loving them. I also had one of the cheeses they have on the bar menu and they give you about 3 times what I would expect for $4 so that was an excellent deal. Still my favorite place in the neighborhood, will definitely be enjoying their cocktails and bar snacks again soon.
(5)Charlie B.
I have been to Fare three times for brunch and was very pleased with the experience; This was our first stab at dinner. We were greeted by a numb hostess and it didn't get any better from there. We ordered a mixed greens salad, scallop ceviche, wild mushroom cakes, and the open face bison burger. The salad was delicious, the ceviche tasted like pasty coleslaw from a bad deli, the cakes were...proficient, and in spite of requesting medium rare - the burger was blood red on the inside. Fare bills itself as locally grown, yet there were tomatoes on the burger. Where in the Mid-Atlantic region can you find tomatoes growing in February? A more accurate name for this mediocre eatery would be Fair.
(2)Stefan A.
Went to fare last night and had one of the most mediocre meals I have eaten in a Philly restaurant in a long while. The service was fine but incredibly awkward. We were one of three tables in the place and yet the waiter could not remember who ordered what. Not a big deal compared with the incredibly lame food. I had lobster bisque which had a very odd color and tasted medicinal and crab cakes with avocado. The crab cakes sounded like they would be great, but believe me they were not. They were grey in color and topped with a sauce that tastes exactly like ketchup. It was thinner in consistency so I guess it is impressive to thin out ketchup and retain the flavor, that is if you want to spend a decent amount of money eating ketchup. Everyone else at the table agreed the restaurant was incredibly lame, not one member of our party would ever bother to return.
(2)Julie M.
Had a nice romantic dinner with my boyfriend. Upon recommendation, we ordered the soda water which is made in house. It was very refreshing. The onion soup with grilled cheese sandwich was a perfect start to an overall very nice meal. My boyfriend had the duck confit which was cooked perfectly. I had the chicken meatballs. They were very flavorful and filling. Great beer and wine list. Excellent decor and atmosphere. A little noisy but we will go back when we're in the area. Be sure to order the El Soul if you are looking for an interesting and delicious cocktail! I was a little weary of the unique mix but was delighted to try something new and yummy!
(4)Danielle M.
Dined here last night with a group of friends for my bday. Having read the reviews here prior, I would say most were pretty on par with our experience. The ambiance is lovely. It's whimsically charming with a calming essence. The filtered (and free) sparkling water that came in delightful glass bottles was a hit and very refreshing! The bread basket with hummus was also really good. It had a good hint of garlic, without being overpowering. We took a bit to order and the waitress was patient and answered any questions we had. I started with the ginger beets and arugula salad. The beets were firm and fresh and the added walnut chutney was full of flavor. The goat cheese ricotta was smooth and creamy. Everything blended together well and my taste buds were in bliss. The artichoke app was also full of intense flavor. The artichokes were fresh and soft, and the romano cheese cheese and peas came together nicely. Last was the avocado crabcake. It was filled with lump pieces of crab and avocado and the breading was not overpowering or deep fried like some I've had in the past. The kicker was the sweet chili sauce that had me craving more. Definitely recommend! It can be made as an app or entree. Also can be prepared gluten free for anyone with an intolerance. Another thing that we were a fan of? The salt and pepper shakers... instead of twisting to grind, you press down on a button and it was quite fun! The only part that was lacking for us was the dessert. I had the apple crisp and while I wouldn't say I didn't enjoy it, it felt more like a breakfast of oats and apples than a savory end of the meal treat. Great food, scene, and service. I'll be back and grateful for this new addition to the neighborhood.
(4)Brian S.
Went down to Philly to rollerblade Kelly/West River Dr and found this little gem up the street(Fairmount Ave). We stopped in here for lunch and had an incredible lunch. I had the open-faced Bison which was incredible. The roasted potato wedges and green beans topped off the platter. My wife had fish tacos which were yummy and little messy. We had the cauliflower and chickpeas which really good too. Good beer and wine selection. Prices were surprisingly reasonable for such a nice place in the city. So after lunch we did a little shopping and rollerbladed around Kelly Drive and Wes River Drive. While exercising we could not stop thinking about our lunch and decided to avoid the Friday rush hour traffic home and head back to Fare for dinner too. Although we were weren't as hungry as earlier we had a really great dinner too. Wife had Salmon and Coconut curry which she didn't stop talking about the rest of the night and it has also been mentioned a couple time the next day already. I had the chicken meatballs which were good too. Not as good as the Bison, but it was a good size meal since i wasn't real hungry. If I was really hungry II probably would do the meatballs or I would supplement with appeez. We will definitely be making our way back here again. It is right across from the "Pen" so it would be cool to check that out too.
(5)Masha G.
Amazing extra dirty martini. Very nice place with good food and service. I love to come there after work with my friends. Good spot for a date or pre-party.
(5)Will W.
The roast whole sea bass was delicious. We were wowed by the fact that the chef didn't try to wow us with complicated food. Instead the food is simple and relies on local freshness for flavor. A really pretty very light room. The bar is sleek and more counterlike. You could comfortably eat dinner there. It seemed that most of the guests were women and mixed couples. Welcome to the neighborhood, we needed you!
(4)Maria G.
Love the neighborhood! I came here for dinner with a large group the other day. The restaurant has a clean and sleek look to it. Very trendy indeed! The food was good, but the portion sizes small. We actually left hungry. ehh! maybe try it another time and see.
(3)Shakalohana A.
Our evening was not planned, we just really wanted a romantic time to sit together and have a great time and something good to drink. Thanks to great service from everyone on staff, including the bartender, servers and even the owner, this was a stellar evening. Great martini, great energy!
(5)Michelle L.
YAY: delicious food, free sparking water, cool layout and interior, great to see Fare is part of more development happening in the area BOO: service was much to be desired -- the waitress walk by us numerous times without checking in, forgot to give us bread, forgot we wanted to desert, and we had to go find her for the check because she stopped coming by the table.
(2)John O.
My wife and I went for dinner on a Tuesday and it was fantastic! We are so thrilled that a new place has opened in Fairmount and we had to check it out. The atmosphere is great with a nice wine bar on the left and dining on the right. It's the perfect blend between what you would find at Tria in Center City and what you want in Fairmount. It's upscale and casual with prices that encourage you to come back often. The beer and wine lists are great with many options to choose from. I had the IPA and it was delicious. The food is extremely healthy, fun, and easy to share. They serve it tapas style and bring each dish out as it's prepared. We had a great time sharing and tasting a number of difference items, including the scallops; the chicken meatballs; fava bean, pea, artichoke stew; and the roasted cauliflower, chick peas, cucumber, and dilled yogurt salad. Each dish was better than the one before and the wait staff was friendly, attentive, and helpful! We would definitely recommend going here during the week or for a nice night out over the weekend. It's busy so making a reservation beforehand could help you out.
(4)Carolina M.
This is the real deal. Food is simple, fresh, good for you AND it tastes GREAT. We arrived there famished after walking for a couple hours through dubious parts of town. We ordered the fish tacos and the veggie omelet. They were so good that we decided to go for desert. A blueberry tart and citrusi all-vegan cheescake. These people really know what they are doing! Both were delicious. Besides the food, the place is really nice, loved the simple decor with tasteless touches, and service was prompt and friendly. In sum, I'd be there every week if I lived in Philly!
(5)Jonathan T.
I was in town for the weekend and went to Fare with the family and girlfriend for my birthday dinner. Overall it was a great experience. Our waitress was attentive and engaging, the atmosphere was modern and cozy, and the food was delicious. I loved the spanish bbq flatbread - it's now on my all-time favorite appetizers list and was the most memorable food item of my trip. I got the New York Strip steak - very delicious, nothing absolutely spectacular but my culinary acuity isn't sharp enough (yet) to distinguish a more detailed evaluation. Just know that it's worth going!
(4)Catherine J.
A friend and I were immediately seated for lunch. Service started out great, and continued to be excellent service throughout our meal. We both ordered the fish tacos, my food of choice at the moment...no disappointment here! The fish was excellent, very well prepared...and a hearty portion. The taco shells had a surprisingly delicious taste, not at all bland. The sauce and fresh veggies in the taco complimented the taste, nothing over powering. Generous portions of rice and beans completed the meal. Thank you Fare! I will return soon.
(5)Anna B.
More than one table left before they even had a chance to order. If you have all day and like rude waitresses then this is a great place. The outside seating is the only good thing about this place. I didn't eat the food so I can't comment but I imagine their strategy is to make you wait so long that you're starving by the time it gets to you and you're tricked into thinking it's good because anything tastes good at this point.
(1)John K.
Went to this place for brunch. The only thing that I really liked was the fact that there was no wait and that they took reservations for brunch. But there's a reason why there's no wait for this place for brunch. I got the breakfast burrito. It was pretty good. But it didn't taste any different from a Chipotle burrito with egg. Except that it was smaller and twice as expensive. My wife got the crab cake eggs benedict. I thought that the hollandaise sauce was good. But the rest was not. She said that the crab cakes were the worst crab cakes she's ever had. I would have to agree. I don't know why people like them - it was mostly breadcrumbs. As for service, it's hard to tell because I think our server was new. We got pretty horrible service, had to wait for lots of things, never got the coffee refilled, got the bill wrong the first time, etc. But I think she was new - she was so clueless. So I don't want to fault the restaurant for that. But then again, I probably should. Two stars. I'll never go back.
(2)Erin D.
This place is AMAZING!! Fare hosted a private event for us and to say everything was perfect would be an understatement. The staff was so helpful and polite. Anything we needed they provided. The food was delicious and drinks were on point especially the bloody mary's. I can't wait to go for brunch again soon!
(5)Debbie M.
My husband and I enjoyed brunch this past Sunday 5/3/2015 immensely! It was a beautiful day, so we dined outside. We had the Southwest Burrito and the Salted Carmel Apple Pancakes and both were super good! Our server Emily and the server she was training were super good as well! I highly recommend Fare!!! Thanks for a great dining experience!
(5)Anna K.
Went here last night and had a GREAT meal. Cute atmosphere, complimentary sparkling water (what a cute touch!), complimentary hummus and pita instead of merely bread and olive oil.... Ordered a delicious, fresh cocktail with thai basil in it. Very light, crisp. A +. Boyfriend and I shared the cauliflower with chickpeas and yogurt and the kale with fried egg for appetizer. Both were delicious! Cauliflower was tangy and light. Kale was perfectly roasted and crunchy. Fried egg was an interesting addition. For meal I ordered the vegetable cakes. Edamame hummus on top of cake was delicious. String beans were OK. Not amazing, but sufficed. Overall veggie cakes were very good, but appetizers were better. Boyfriend has Osso Bucco Pork. Pork fell right off the bone. YUMMMM. Polenta was lackluster (though). Tasted like flavorless oatmeal. Hmmm.... Side of fiingerling potatoes needed seasoning or some sort of olive oil. Not a fan. Overall I was VERY HAPPY with my cocktail and meal. Skipped dessert. Cute place, healthy options, I'll be back!!
(4)Tom A.
Stopped in with a couple of friends for dinner and drinks. Had the soft shell crab. They were very small but they did have three of them. Preparation was good and dish was tasty. Service was ok. I would recommend as a low key place to grab a drink and something to eat if you were in the neighborhood.
(4)Chris M.
Great restaurant, great service, great food, a Phila treasure. Do not bypass this place
(5)Christina P.
Fare is the perfect spot for brunch or lunch paired with a tour of Eastern State Penitentiary. After all, it has a lovely view of Fairmount Ave...and its giant stone wall. You kind of feel like you're eating next to a castle. Anyway, I was shocked to find out that there was no wait on a Sunday at 12 when Sabrina's was clocking in at 1.5 hours. We rushed over and found the clean, sophisticated restaurant rather empty. Service was really slow, since there were only two people covering all the tables and bar, during prime brunch time. We both got the meat omelette of the day (they also have a veg offering) which was chorizo with roasted red peppers, carmelized onions, and cheddar cheese ($9.50). Most options on the menu were $9-$15, and a lot of them looked really tasty. The menu said it came with a green salad, but it also came with a small side of roasted potatoes. I think it's important to note that Fare's roasted potatoes are not hash browns, they are more like a mixed variety of sweet & regular potato fries, and were on the soft side. The waitress did not tell us this beforehand, which I thought was strange. They also only have french press coffee, which was good but I am all about free refills ($5.50 for a large). They call themselves a wine bar, so they had a wide variety of wine and cocktails. The wine was decently priced but the cocktails were a little steep ($9 or so). The coffee came out fairly quickly, and she forgot spoons which she said she would bring but never did. She also didn't explain the french press and how to use it. The food came out shortly after, without butter for our toast. We had to get up and ask the hostess to bring us some because the waitress was nowhere to be found. Service aside, the food was really good. The omelette was a decent size, perfectly cooked, and had a decent amount of filling. We were afraid the portions would be small because it's a "fancier" restaurant, but proved us wrong. It took some more time to get our check, and when the waitress came over she did apologize for being absent. It was nice to get an apology, but I really think they need to just put more servers on the floor during a guaranteed busy time like sunday brunch.
(3)Sarah S.
Great fresh food... Great service!! Especially enjoy their gingered beets, baby arugula and goat ricotta, walnut chutney and duck confit with ginger rhubarb sauce, roasted radicchio! Really great place with a comfortable yet classy atmosphere. Highly recommend!!
(5)Ben H.
Understanding and appreciating what Fare is attempting, the food gives me little pleasure. Two meals and I've had the same reaction to each - simply too subtle. Even the chocolate torte lacked flavor. The service was good and the atmosphere was very pleasant. And it's not too pricey. But I can't recommend it to people who like conventionally delicious food. For people who like natural and subtle flavors, may be worth trying.
(2)Miller W.
poor service. rude, very rude staff. waste of time.
(2)Marisa B.
Went to Fare tonight with high hopes. The braised leeks and fennel, nicoise olives, goat cheese was good. The gingered beets, baby arugula and goat ricotta, walnut chutney salad was mediocre. The lamb shoulderblade was NOT GOOD. Very disappointing dining experience.
(1)Leah M.
Was there for my birthday dinner and we genuinely enjoyed ourselves. This is one restaurant in Philly that gives you a bang for your buck. Everything is beyond reasonably priced, including an eight dollar "really clean" specialty martini and a seven dollar glass of Portuguese wine. The martini was made with white grape juice and organic lemon vodka, much like the rest of the menu that is organic, free-range, sustainable, or locally grown. There are many veg or vegan options as well, which in many restaurants proves to be a challenge. We started with the tuna tartar and the clams with cappellini and garlic. The tuna was a bit cliché for my taste, made with tamari, sesame, and rice crackers. I crave tuna tartar that is not Asian fusion! The rice crackers overpowered the flavor of the rest of the dish. The clams were delicious; however, on the menu they were listed as littlenecks, and they were delivered as top neck clams or larger. I was disappointed and would have opted for another appetizer if we were informed of the change. The entrees were nearly perfect. For thirty bucks, my boyfriend enjoyed a huge rack of lamb with a spicy mustard glaze that was cooked to rare perfection. For twenty bucks, I had a lovely striped bass with avocado salsa which would be more accurately described as guacamole with a little extra tomato, but delicious nonetheless. The bass was slightly overcooked, but by no means well done or dried out. Both entrees were accompanied by generous sides; the lamb with potatoes and haricots verts and the striped bass with brown rice and sautéed broccoli rabe. Dessert, second to the drinks, was an amazing value as well. For NINE DOLLARS we enjoyed the dessert combo, which included 3 large portions of their specialty desserts. So satisfying, perfect ending for my birthday, and it even came with a candle. Added bonus: Complimentary filtered water, still or sparkling, bottled in house. Service was a little slow, but expected at 10:30 on a Friday, and no bread service was offered at all. But still, no complaints from us, for a fully rounded, spectacular meal that would have cost us twice as much in Center City, and is 8 blocks from our apartment.
(4)Lyn S.
Visited Fare Thursday and enjoyed it very much. We spent the afternoon at the Art Museum and it was a short walk to the restaurant. We arrived early and sat at the bar while waiting for my brother. They have nice wines by the glass in the $8 range and offer "snacks" (like walnut/lentil dip or mini chicken meatballs) for $3 or $4. We tried the avocado, grapefruit, etc salad and Caprese, which were good. The duck confit, flank steak and salmon entrees were tasty, too. Nice apple cobbler for dessert. The service and ambiance were pleasant and the noise level provided a nice buzz, but didn't interfere with conversation. Overall, a good spot and a good value, too.
(4)Gary B.
Great Place! Cool menu! Not too pricey! Great Restaurant in the Neighborhood. You must try it!!!
(5)David D.
This was our first visit to the restaurant. We went on a Thursday night at 6:30. It wasn't crowded at all. We're vegetarians, so that colors our perception. They had several vegetarian options on the menu. We ordered the beet salad and the roasted leeks to start, and the BBQ seitan and the wild mushroom cakes for entrees. In a word, underwhelming. We really wanted to like the place, but there were just a lot of missteps with the food. They have to be a little more assertive with the seasoning, because everything came out bland. They also didn't seem to understand how to make the seitan tasty. Specifically, the polenta was flavorless, like cream of wheat. The BBQ seitan should have been grilled or at least fried to give it some texture. Some elements were very good. We really liked the white bean hummus with crostini that they served as an amuse bouche. The mushroom dish came with an excellent savory carrot cake and edamame hummus. The service was friendly but mediocre. The host was a bored young person who seemed like a family member dragooned into working. Our server was friendly but not especially professional. it's not a very expensive place but for a $14 entree I think you can get better service. The decor was just weird. For a place that positions itself as a natural food restaurant, the inside was like a Kubrick movie. There is a tree motif on the wall, but the trees are gray, and the light fixtures all stark white, while there is a 70s-era crimson rug on the floor, with faux-wood tables. The dessert options sounded uninspiring and seemed to revolve around a surplus of coconut, so we passed. There were a few other interesting menu options that that would make us want to return at some point. But not anytime soon.
(2)Zachary H.
I've been here for lunch and dinner before and have always had a great meal. This time I went for Happy Hour. Overall the restaurant is a 4.5/5 but the Happy Hour is an easy 5/5. They have amazing beer, wine, cocktail and food specials. It's rare that you get great drinks and great food in the same happy hour. I started with beer $3 Palm and moved to cocktails. The cocktails were $6 and despite tasting very refreshing and light seemed to do the job when I stood up. The food was outstanding for $5 and the staff was very friendly and nice. It wasn't very crowded because of the weather but the bartender was very prompt but not overbearing. The decor inside gives a great feeling and mellow vibe but they still have sports on at the bar so you won't miss anything if you want to watch. It's nice to have good cheap drinks without drunken coeds and post-grads fighting you for a space at the bar to get shitty beer. I've lived in this area of the city for a year and a half and can't believe I haven't been here for Happy Hour before. Can't wait for a warm spring day to come back and do the same outside. Probably one of the best upscale happy hours in the city.
(5)Zeaten T.
The food here was perfectly described by "Meh". It was not bad, but decidedly not good. The onion soup was maybe actually bad. It was watery and lacking flavor but was at least offset by a decent piece of grilled cheese (but really how hard is it to make good grilled cheese?). Across the board the food looked good, was well presented, but lacked in completeness. The flavors in each dish were not carefully considered at all, or if they were, unsuccessfully. This place has potential if a talented chef were brought in to revamp the menu.
(2)B B.
This place had some positives to it: clean look, attentive service (at least for us, but I did see a woman wait a good 20 minutes to get her bill), and the food was qualitatively good. We didn't try any of the rejuvenating cocktails. I was, personally, put off by the lack of beers on draft combined with a high price for cheap beer (viz., Yuengling at $5 or $6). This was lunch. The chicken/bacon sandwich tasted like all the stuff in it was of good quality. However, it just lacked flavor. There was pesto too. I could barely taste any of the ingredients. Perhaps, my palate has been burnt from the crudeness of Five Guys and the like but I doubt it. Likewise, the fish tacos. First off, they were bare. They looked lonely. I did not try any but my eating companion noted the same lack of flavor even though the food quality was good. I don't know what to say. I don't think you have to worry about bad food here but I think they need to work out something in the kitchen. Maybe it was just us. I like the name and the concept.
(2)Cynthia S.
Loved it! The "house" salad was chock full of the freshest ingredients. We recommend the crabcake. Not as impressed with the mussels. The service was friendly and efficient. The manager spent plenty of time providing the history of the restaurant - very enjoyable conversation. Looking forward to our next visit!
(4)jenna h.
I went here twice in one week I liked it so much. If you don't feel like cooking and don't want to eat unhealthy this is a great place. The cocktails are delicious and the food is very reasonably priced. Get the avocado crab cakes and thank me later. Can't wait to go back here.
(4)Karin R.
The perfect place to go with foodies if the group includes vegans. Bothe the vegan/veggie food and the meat based foods are sublime. I am excited to recommend Fare to friends and they have all thanked me for doing so.
(5)Elizabeth F.
I've dined here a few times and each time I've throughly enjoyed everything I ordered. This place is really close to my apartment and it's nice to have center city worthy restaurants so near. They're popping up all over Fairmount! My favorite thing about this place is the complimentary, housemade sparkling water - such a night touch. Definitely look forward to frequenting this spot for the ever changing seasonal menu.
(4)Wade G.
Pretty decent. I called to make a reservation and they said none were available. I got on open table and made one for the exact time I had just asked about. It was barren when I got there at 11am for brunch so I was a little confused. I was not crazy about their drinks(bad bloody mary tasted like V8 and straight vodka & a overwhelmingly strong chocolate martini). Food was good. I would recommend the crab cakes. Nothing to really rave about...
(3)Tyree A.
Disappointing. My wife is a pescatarian and I am vegetarian friendly, despite my love for meat proteins. Their menu has great variety that can meet the needs of a diverse company of diners. Unfortunately the flavors were either off or just didn't work at all. We started with the clam flat bread (OK) and the tuna tartar. The tuna dish was missing citrus and though fresh and light, it lacked flavor. For the mains- Scallops with linguini and spicy BBQ seitan. The scallops where succulent and prepared well on their own, however they were lost in the very heavy linguini and thick sauce. The BBQ was neither spicy or had smoky BBQ qualities. To be frank, it tasted like bland tomato paste. The couscous was even more bland (but would have complimented a more spicy, smoky BBQ dish). The atmosphere is nice but the wait staff was dressed so casual that you almost couldn't tell who they were, it just didn't go with the aesthetic of the restaurant. The one thing we really did like...the mixed drinks. In the end neither of us finished our plates and it was really hard to sign the $$$ check.
(2)christina j.
Checked out Fare last night for dinner. The food was tasty but there a few areas that need improvement, specifically the service. After being seated at our outdoor table, it was awhile before our server appeared to take our drink order and once she did, we waited some more for the drinks to show. I seemed to be more patient with the wait than G and enjoyed listening to the diverse music playing and tune out any complaining from my dinner companion. Onto the meal; I went with heirloom tomato salad and after reading the yelp reviews, the chicken meatballs. My meal was fresh and flavorful, great choice for me. G went with the beet salad and salmon. I did sample the beet salad which was fine but the salmon tasted fishy to me. G seemed to enjoy both. The menu offers lots of choices and the prices are extremely reasonable. Although our service was slow, the server was friendly.
(3)G T L.
What a great addition to the neighborhood! I love this place. The scallop appetizer was delish, and the pork loin was perfection. The portions are exactly right, the service attentive but not intrusive, and the hummus with little toastie-breads a welcome change from the standard bread-and-butter (or oil). I'm going back soon. Very soon.
(5)Linda M.
Fare has A very nice brunch menu. Our group of 5 had 12:30 reservations. We arrived 15 minutes early but were seated promptly. We shared an order of the ricotta apple pancakes with yogurt. Best pancakes ever. The breakfast burrito with chorizo. egg and spinach was delicious. Service was excellent. I would highly recommend Fare for breakfast or brunch.
(4)Carlie N.
I love that the plates are all meant to be shared. The pink peppercorn cashew "cheese" was delicious, and the avocado crabcakes were the best crabcakes I've ever had. Unfortunately the other dishes were lackluster - veer far away from the chicken meatballs and the overly salted swiss chard. It was tough to get ahold of our server. It may simply have been a bad day; the waitress at the next table sounded chipper and informative. Fare touts its sustainable / grass-fed / organic / local cuisine, but not everything lives up to the fanFare. (rim shot)
(3)BethandGus H.
Would have gotten fours stars, but no cats allowed and we found homeless cats in a window two doors down = minus 2 stars. We arrived unnoticed by the waitstaff and hostess. We can only assume who was the hostess by our own inquisitions as to what table we could sit at. All the wood is brand-new, overall the restaurant has an eclectic modern flair, literally. We accepted the complimentary still water. Beth had a Gus Lager from Russia and Gus had a cocktail entitled, The Water of Life, which naturally is served on the rocks. Gus was enthusiastic to see that not only was their menu vegetarian friendly, but there was a pescatarian flatbread, literally. We started off with our complementary hummus served in a plate shaped like a hat and a fresh salad with nuts in it, mmm tangy. In the end we got the BBQ seitan with brocoli rabe and risotto and chicken meatballs served over a bed of Betty Crocker scalloped potatoes topped with crusty tomato sauce and spinach. $16.50. For dessert we had a special dessert with... the desert wasn't very good at all, it sucked. Beth thought it was nutty and fruity. $7. After spending $90, we left... sustained. As we walked east on Fairmont towards Spring Garden, our pockets empty, we realized we learned a valuable lesson, 'fair is not fare".
(2)Peter C.
We had an awesome time at Fare. We had a private party in the courtyard where they served excellent drinks and food with great atmosphere. Excellent kielbasa soup, spicy sausage, and bourbon drinks. It's worth a visit!
(4)sean l.
This place has a great looking menu which I hope to work through over the next couple of months. Everything on the menu has some sort of flourish without being too exotic. So far I've had the onion soup, cauliflower mash, barbequed tempeh with polenta and bison burger. (1) Complicated enough food that I probably couldn't cook it at home. (2) Cheap enough to go regularly. (3) atmosphere nice enough to go for a special occasion. Reminds me of Audrey Claire.
(5)Laura G.
Fare was amazing! Some of the best food I've had in a long time. The atmosphere is welcoming while also being attractive and modern. As a table we tried at least 6 dishes and they were all great. Everything is organic and healthful and incredibly tasty. The flavors in each dish are perfect. The crab cakes are to die for and I don't like crab cakes normally. The leeks as an appetizer were one of the favorite things on the table. Everything was amazing! I wish this were closer to me because I would be here at least once a week. Oh, and all the waitstaff were friendly and attentive without being overbearing. Overall a wonderful dinner experience!
(5)Jo S.
Tonight we went for the third time. We just love Fare. It's a really nice neighborhood place with lots of veg and gluten free options. The food is really healthy and there is lots of variety. The polenta with wild mushrooms and mixed salad were both terrific. We have had the chicken meatballs, crab cakes, salmon, roasted cauliflower, duck confit,lentils potatoes peas in wine sauce a other items. The only miss was the duck. Too salty. Seemed brined rather than fatted. Everything else was a redo. the service is great and prices are reasonable. Nice wine list. A big plus is that they are open every night.
(4)Melissa W.
Went the Saturday night before Easter...I guess the staff was unhappy with working a holiday weekend. While the staff was "nice", they were not what I would call restaurant quality. The waitress kept aggressively place things on the table...so each drink and plate would come down with a thump. She also asked us, the 2 people sitting furthest from her (we were at a 4 top) to hand her our water glasses, once filled... They were left in the middle of the table. Then I ordered the $30 rack of lamb...she returns from the kitchen and says, "you got an old menu..so we don't serve that dish anymore, we could make it...but we don't have the pistachio crust anymore" Um..does that mean I'm eating last weeks meat?? That is NOT the way to remove one ingredient from a dish. Just say you don't have the pistachio. Needless to say...the food was good...but the service really ruined the experience. I will NOT be back. Too bad. Ps. When we left there was only two other tables seated... You think we received a goodnight or thank you? NOPE
(2)Jeffrey S.
My wife and I were there for the second time,last weekend,this time for lunch.The first time was for dinner.Both times we were treated to delicious cuisine and the service was good as well.We have a hard time finding Organic Restaurants when we go out of town,but we have been very pleased with Fare,on both occasions.We have been very fortunate,since we went organic 4 years ago to find such excellent dinnig in Philadelphia.We will be back again.
(5)Susan H.
Delicious meal at Fare Friday night. Group of six tucked in back corner. Started with a couple of the creative flatbreads and candied beets, very tasty! I had the night's special of soft shell crabs over a thick corn chowder or mash. Flavors were great. Others indulged in delicious strip steak, pork osso buco, sea bass, crabcakes and chicken meatballs. Everyone thought the food was great. Service was terrific and loved the ambience/vibe. Definitely a great addition to neighborhood.
(4)MaryBeth M.
Went for the Sunday Brunch with my husband. The Breakfast Egg Burrito was delicious and quite filling, and the eggs were light and fluffy in the omelette - lots of fresh vegetables. Even though restaurant was quite busy, service was excellent and friendly. Will definitely go back again for lunch and dinner!!
(5)Kevin Z.
We have been waiting for a long time for Fare to open for fine dining in fairmount. We've dined twice and had a wonderful experience. I love the choice of sparkling water at no extra charge. The wine list is great and I highly recommend their house wine. The food was fresh, healthy and had reasonable portions. They don't try to get too fancy. Its just simple, elegant flavors. I had the avocado crab cakes which were quite different than any preparation I've had. Overall, we really like Fare and the friendly staff.
(4)Grace N.
I have dined at Fare twice now and have really had good experience. It is wonderful to have a new addition of finer restaurants in the neighborhood besides the usual watering holes that serve greasy food. Fare's service is friendly, accommodating and unpretentious. Our server, Jessica was a delight. The 1st time, my friend and I had the beets salad, polenta with mushroom and wine (thank God they have a good wine list). We sat outside for more than 2 hours for dinner. They never kicked us out or interrupted us. The 2nd time I was there, I had ordered the salmon, very light and perfectly made. My friend ordered the chocolate flourless cake, dense and a little on the dry side though. I like Fare's food because its very clean and simple without "frills." I personally feel that sometimes, too much accompaniment can get too overbearing that you can hardly taste the food. Hence, I describe Fare as simple and tasty.
(3)Athanasios M.
We ended up showing up on a busy Friday night, and the place was full, inside and out. We were greeted by a friendly hostess, and decided to sit at the bar, since we didn't have a reservation. After some delicious wine and a lima bean? dip, we tried the crab cake which was recommended. It was so soft, light, and tasty. This was followed by the black sea-bass, which comes as the whole fish. I like to get the whole fish, despite the fact that it has the bones still in. I loved the food, and the fact that it was organic and healthy, made it even better. Reasonable price for what you're eating, and an atmosphere that I found out was also created in a "green fashion". Overall, well put together, and I will definitely be going back.
(5)Yasmin M.
My friend and I ordered the following: braised leeks with fennel goat cheese, olives and crostini, gingered beet salad with arugula, goat cheese and walnut chutney. For main courses we got the chicken meatballs with kale and fingerling potatoes and the BBQ seitan with polenta and broccoli rabe. The braised leeks were a winner - though it was undersalted. Once we salted it, it was fantastic. Gingered beet salad was OK, though it was also underseasoned (salt and pepper). The BBQ seitan was disappointing, I won't order it again. First, it looked unappetizing (both seitan and polenta were plopped onto my plate). Second, the seitan was too soft for my liking. I think it should be grilled or pan fried until it's brown and firm. The BBQ sauce was great but they lost me on the seitan itself. My broccoli rabe was a little wet (too much oil?) and undersalted but the other seasoning was great. The polenta was salted appropriately but the appearance could use a little help. Maybe a polenta cake or slice would have been more visually appealing. I didn't taste the chicken meatballs but my friend seemed to enjoy it. I did taste the kale in the dish and it was really flavorful. The service from our bartender and waitstaff was very attentive and entertaining (they definitely had distinct personalities and were not shy about showing them.) Portion sizes were definitely shareable. I'll go back again just for the leeks and to experiment more with the small plates (and the chocolate cake that a guy at the bar was eating joyfully) but I think their vegetarian entrees need a little work. There was only one other choice (mushroom cakes with edamame humus and carrot cake with asparagus salsa. Maybe the meat eaters will have a better experience.
(3)Elizabeth Q.
we went for dinner on friday--waitress was rude, very inattentive. ordered the scallops, which were fine, but nothing you couldn't prep in your own kitchen. the steak was bad and the presentation was terrible. then we ordered the mushroom cake--admittedly, we were going out on a limb, but it was hard to stomach. if you're going to take a risk with your menu, you need to make sure it's still--at the very least--decent. $5.50 for house wine is great, but not if your waitress is never around to bring you a glass, to bring you plates, to bring you water... I don't know if it's a function of being understaffed or if they're just getting started, but I'd give the food a 3/10 and the service a 1. Not returning, except perhaps to sit a the bar for a glass of wine.
(1)Eric E.
This place was packed on a Sunday at 2pm which made service very slow. The menu was mostly breakfast/brunch items which seems to be popular. I enjoyed the meat omelette, as well as the sweet potato hash browns, and would order it again. It was prepared a little differently, with the egg wrapped around the contents, rather than the contents being mixed in. It was like a burrito with an egg tortilla. Good food, clean/hip atmosphere. Not sure I'd go back though.
(4)Em M.
Horrible experience. We sat at the bar and the female brunette bartender was absolutely rude, inconsiderate, and unfriendly. She made it seem like we were requesting so much just by asking for water, menus, ketchup, etc. She never asked if we wanted refills, how our food was, or if we would like our check. The passive aggressive behavior was unacceptable and she does not deserve a job in the service industry. I though the food was decent and had a previous good experience here, but I will definitely not be returning and will be telling others not to go here as well. Service can ruin your entire experience!
(1)Kendra K.
Delish
(5)Sarah K.
Yes, you hear "local, seasonal, organic" buzzwords a lot. But having eaten all over Philadelphia I can say that few restaurants execute on this as well as Fare does. I'm genuinely look forward to checking out what the chefs at Fare have put together for their latest menu. A couple great tips: 1) Call these guys for your next birthday party, bridal shower, baby shower, graduation dinner, or engagement party. We worked with the manager, John Czarick, to create a personalized food and drink menu for a 25-person birthday party in their outdoor space (check it out - truly a great outside spot to eat in Phily). The food was great and we had top notch service every step of the way. You can count on them. 2) Check out their happy hour. It's a great, inexpensive way to check out some of their best menu items (the Farmhouse Flatbread is a personal favorite) and to get to know the bartenders. Definitely check Fare out.
(5)Tessa M.
i brought my boyfriend to philly for a concert on his birthday. then i realized i had to find somewhere to take him for dinner! i didn't know anything about any of the restaurants around us, so i just looked for what looked like the fanciest, somewhat en route from our hotel to the concert venue. i landed on fare, and thank god i did. we arrived around 7pm to a 20 minute wait for outside seating. understandable, it was also a saturday night. we approached the bar and happened to luck out and get seats, so we ate there instead. i had wine, while he had beer. the cocktail list looked interesting, and i loved watching them make the drinks. for apps, he had oysters (not my cup of tea, but he said they were delicious), and i had a fennel-leek (with olives and goat cheese) mixture with bread to dip in it. so tasty! for entrees, he had the fish of the day, which was a bronzino, served with brown rice and a squash slaw. i tasted all of his, and if given the chance, i'd have to get it next time. i had the scallops, served on a bed of pesto pasta with spinach. super good, but still not as good as that bronzino, i don't think much could top it! the bartenders took care of us like there was nobody else there. all three were super attentive, which surprised me, that they didn't pick and chose patrons, all three took care of every one of us at the bar. someone off duty (head chef? manager?) even gave us the low-down on the oysters because he overheard us asking! the restaurant itself is hip yet classy (we noticed ikea decorations, so that gives you some idea) but super small. i recommend making a reservation unless you want to take your chances on the bar, which is also small, we just happened to luck out. the prices were high, but reasonable. the place is fancy, i expected nothing less, but i think our bill only came to about $120, for everything, so i can't complain at all. definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice dinner in the area!
(5)Don G.
Food serviceable, service awful. I would expect a higher level of interest/engagement from a counterperson at Taco Bell.
(1)Daniella S.
I went to Fare on a first date and it was a very good choice of venue because it was very quiet and we could hear eachother speak. We went on the hottest day of the year, for Saturday brunch. The restaurant was all but deserted. we sat there for 12:45 to 3pm and there were maybe 4 other parties over that duration. Probably people were just staying in due to heat. The brunch menu is small but varied. I ordered the potato cake (latke) with smoked salmon and some sort of yoghurt sauce and little salad. The salad was very flavorful. and the potato cake was crisp at the edges and ok in the middle. I think the sauce really caused it to uncrisp. It was a very tasty meal, just the right size too. My date had the eggs benedict with smoked salmon and he said it was good. For dessert I had coconut ice cream which was so refreshing and he had the chocolate mousse which really looked divine. Service was very attentive and good, and the prices seemed very reasonable. I would definitely go to FARE again!
(4)Alex H.
ATTN: ORGANIC FOOD FREAKS! If you're anything like me then you'll find delight in this otherwise obnoxious call for attention. What isn't there to say about this neighborhood gem? I've been dining at Fare since it opened a few years back, and have been writing glowing yelp reviews in my head ever since. The menu's savory selections change with the seasons, satisfying the pallets my fellow food enthusiasts [snobs] who prefer in-season vegetables, locally grown, non-gmo blah blah blah--- I like to think of it as holding food to a higher standard :) As I was saying... like the food the bar menu adapts seasonally as well, offering crisp summer martinis and warm winter cocktails, made with fresh organic juices of course. Brunch, Lunch and Dinner has yet to disappoint. Dress up or keep it casual, the clean/sustainable décor accommodates both. Enjoy!
(5)Sandy S.
I was SOOO happy that they had gluten free options!! My husband and I happened to walk by this place and decided to give it a try. What a LUCKY find! We were there on a Saturday at brunch time. They had a nice selection of sweet and savory, breakfast and lunch. Not a huge menu, but who needs a million choices? The decor was modern, and VERY clean. Staff was friendly and very attentive. I love the fact that they use fresh, local, and ORGANIC food. This is a concept that more people need to get into their heads. I chose the tuna melt on gluten free bread. It came with a side salad with miso vinaigrette dressing. The tuna salad was good, could have used some more doctoring, and more mayo, but that might be just my preference. The cheese was good, a littel skimpy, but good nonetheless. The salad was fresh, spring mix, and dressed VERY lightly which is great for me - I like to taste the salad with only a slight hint of dressing. This may not be good for people who like their salad drowning in dressing (yuck). I was very happy that the dressing was gluten-free, miso is typically a no-no for me. My husband had the farmhouse flatbread. He reported that it was the best flatbread he's ever had. It had bacon, sharp cheddar, and thinly sliced apples on it. He said everything paired well together. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(4)Ralph M.
Our second visit was Saturday. We chose from the Brunch menu. Beautiful day outside, sat along the side of the restaurant. We had a wonderful experience. Food delivery was again a little slow, but the food was otherwise terrific. I had the fish tacos. My daughter had the breakfast burrito which was loaded. Our waiter recalled us from the first dinner back in the fall. Definitely a favorite.
(4)James H.
The food here was great! Great place for a nice date night. I had the flank steak that was cooked perfectly and my lady friend got the crab cakes. I highly recommend the crab cakes! While the steak was delicious, the crab cakes were easily the best I've had! The staff was also incredibly friendly too! I definitely recommend eating here at least once if you ever come to Philly.
(5)Kelly W.
In the immortal words of Howard Jones, things can only get better. I went to Fare on it's second night. Hardly fair the review it harshly since they are were so receptive to feedback. Super friendly staff and attentive. Food was somewhat on the low sodium side. Great for the hypertensive but I think some of the dishes could have used more pizazz. Prices seem reasonable considering the food is organic, fresh and the portions ample. Would have liked to see the farms and food sources on the menu...unless I missed it somewhere. I liked the yellow + blue malbec...and the free fizzy water! No bottled water here. Hooray for their efforts in serving food and beverage that is organic, local, sustainable, and well, practical! Still or sparkling tap water just makes sense! We enjoyed the 'braised leeks and fennel, nicoise olives, goat cheese' and the 'lentils, potatoes, peas, raisins in red wine tomato sauce'. Both were hearty but the former needed more pizazz (herbs? salt?) and they both needed more crostini (of which they happily accommodated). We shared the whole-y mackerel (sorry, couldn't resist). I'm thankful my husband has the skills and the balls to filet his own fish because I alone would have needed server assistance. I thought it was cute that our server gave us an early warning that the whole fish would, in fact have a head on it. Yes, for those of you weak in the stomach or who care to avoid knowing that your food had a face, your whole mackerel will come with head, tail and bones attached. And it will be delicious and cooked perfectly. Well, ours was. Would definitely get it again. Also enjoyed the sweet potato semifreddo with oranges. Interesting textures and flavor combo that I didn't expect for Spring. Ambiance is modern and clean. Lots of eco-friendliness going on. Boy, do they have guts in putting such plush (recycled) carpeting in a restaurant, if you ask me! A great addition to the conscious consumer's list of decent places to grab a healthy and fresh meal or a good glass of organic wine in Center City.
(3)Kimberly H.
Great outdoor seating for a summer night! Good food, great wine, decent service... The chimichurri on the flank steak was absolutely perfect. Delicious fries too! I'd definitely go back!
(4)Ali E.
I was very excited about you, Fare. And then a little bummed about the reviews going into it. I was expecting fussy, what with the so heavily emphasized ORGANIC! ARTISNAL! etc and got very yummy straightforward food. Came with a good friend whom I hadn't seen in a while, which may have not been the best plan because it was a little noisy to really catch up, though we were in the center of the dining room, which may have had something to do with it. Service was fine, nothing spectacular. Lovely to have a 1/2 liter wine option for the two of us (the Torrontes was delish). I had the beet salad and crab cake app, my friend the chicken thighs. The highlight was certainly the crab cake - so good. Prices were decent, and the food was satisfying to the palate and the belly. I was pleasantly surprised, and will definitely be back.
(4)Chris W.
Fare is easily in the top 3 new restaurants I've been to this year and I never saw it coming. It's nice to be surprised. Words like organic, local, and sustainable get thrown around a lot these days. Too frequently in a concern to be granola friendly, restaurants forget another important word: "delicious". Fare does amazing organic with aplomb (and without the dreadlocks). The space is well appointed and chic without being cold. Even better, their staff is invested in the concept - knowledgeable beyond the rote citation from most servers. We talked about everything from sourcing to flavor profiles to technique. Our wide tasting menu, recommended by Fare's gracious owners and staff, had plenty of highlights: - Farmhouse Flatbread - Get this immediately. Go now. Green Apple and Vermont Cheddar and House Bacon drizzled with Maple syrup. I could not stop. - Bison Sliders - Best Bison I've had east of Colorado, amazing herbal notes, lovingly seasoned and seared. - Gazpacho - Unbelievable nuance and depth. Sumptuous is not too strong a word - and we are talking about cold soup here. - Crab Cakes - Very solid, but not "Baltimore" Solid. Still better than most outside the Chesapeake - Grilled Octopus - Well balanced, not overpowered - allowing the meat to speak clearly. Perfectly fork tender. - Zuchini Fries - Paper thin, airy, deep fried. The real secret is the zing they get from powdered Red Wine Vinegar. Scintillating. Yknow what? Stop Reading. Go Now - Surprise yourself.
(5)Vanessa M.
I was in Philly for less than 24 hours on a Road Trip from TX to CT. Many restaurants in the area were offering a Halloween Themed menu with 2 tickets to "Terror Behind The Walls". I checked out 8 or 9 menus and this place had the best options, especially since my Travel Buddy was vegetarian. Every bit was tasty and we were sad that we weren't in Philly longer to try their regular menu. This was place was delicious and whoooo their Penn Apple Martinis are string. Gave me enough courage to walk across the street and not bail on the Terror Behind The Walls. Had I bailed I would have regretted it..so thank you Fare for your fare. I Fare thee well!
(4)Daniel P.
I will try and be fare in my review...This is another organic/locally grown themed restaurant. We used to live in the neighborhood but as soon as we moved across town several great spots opened up here. We sat outside in their alley which has heaters and features a mural and soon a wood fireplace. The food was on point. We ordered crab cakes, sea bass, and chicken entrées with a lobster flatbread appetizer. The food was excellent. We ordered cocktails as well which were pricey but strong. Our food was a little slower than tables around us but the service never lagged. Now this isn't really a go to pub (due to the prices of the meals) however it is a great date out or if you are from out of town and want something really special. I suspect their lunch menu is a little lighter and easier on the wallet. We will be sure to check that out soon. Oh, there is a bar so drinks only us always an option.
(4)Todd D.
I've now been to Fare five times, two dinners and two lunches, once just drinks. They've done a great job with both the atmosphere inside and out, especially outside with the new fireplace and wall designs! The menu is unique! Three meals out of the four were fantastic except last night. They don't offer a regular burger on the menu but offered one as a 'special' last night...definitely not a good choice (ordered med-rare received med-well, burger weirdly thick and small in diameter) so stick to the menu and you won't be disappointed. Why only three stars? Kitchen speed; it's ridiculously slow! The waitstaff is great though! All four times we waited way too long for the simple meals ordered. (This is why I ate the burger because I was wildly hungry at that point.) The last three visits had very few tables eating so it's not as though the kitchen was over loaded. Once I can let slide, twice maybe, but third and fourth time?? That's not a fluke; it's their speed. So, all in all, I will go back for the great food, but only when I don't have plans after.
(3)Regina F.
The food at fare is fairly fantastic. The leeks and fennel over creamy goat cheese combine three of the best foods known to humanity and allow you to experience something so amazing that you just might opt out of an entree and order another round. Paired with the Water of Life drink, you're on your way to ensuring centenarian status. It's rare that a cucumber laden beverage would impress a Jack-and-Coke fiend, but this sprightly beverage is as refreshing as bathing in the Irish Springs.
(4)Elissa B.
I came to Fare while on a visit to Philadelphia with my parents in the fall. I made a reservation on Open Table but it was busy so we still had to wait about 10-15 minutes. Usually, I view a crowded restaurant as a good sign, although it also means that it's probably going to be difficult to hear any conversation. Once we were seated, I was pleased to find several vegan offerings on the menu. I chose the beet salad, which was good but consisted of lots of arugula with just a few pieces of gold and red beets. I also got a hummus plate which tasted fine. My father ordered the seitan and I was able to try some of that, as well, My mom ordered the soft shell crabs because her first choice, crab cakes, was sold out. She didn't love the soft shell crabs and happened to mention this to the owner when he came by to ask how our meal was. He went to the kitchen and was able to find one last crab cake (that they couldn't serve because the dish was for two). This was a very nice touch. The server was also extremely attentive even though she had been working a long day. I look forward to returning to Fare the next time I'm in Philadelphia.
(4)Ken L.
Love the flatbread - believe it or not all of their flatbreads can be substituted with gluten free bread, which is awesome for people who have an allergy. All around great service and terrific food.
(5)texas w.
Can't understand the bad reviews of this place. It is what it presents itself as; simple, organic, non traditional. They don't gouge you with unreasonable prices and the portions are fare...see what i did there. My experience with the staff was that they are very attentive. The owner was making the rounds (even though he neglected to stop by our table, but that's OK- this time).The place is super cute and it's nice to have a grown up restaur/bar on fairmount. It's definitely worth a few tries.
(4)Lani M.
I'm at Fare with my friends: Michael, Kelli and Jefferson. Sangria is superior to many spanish venues. We had a breakfast burrito, which was amazing; tuna tartar- mouthwatering; watermelon salad- life changing! Fish tacos were delicious, though, we didn't get a lot of the citrus slaw taste. Pescatarian flatbread didn't disappoint. The big surprise winner was the zucchini chips... wahoo! Also, another big hit was the gazpacho w crab meat and basil oil. OMG. The service was impeccable! Stacey was on top of everything! John the manager made sure we were 110% happy at all times. Stay tuned because there are plans for a living wall of fresh herbs, fireplace outside and outdoor area.
(5)Kimberly N.
A group of us came here on Easter Sunday and we sat in the bar area. I had heard good things about this place, so I was hopeful. Our server was attentive and accommodating. Though, I found it a little awkward that a whole bunch of servers just seemed to always congregate around the back area to wait for something to happen. I felt a little watched, but the restaurant could have just been overstaffed for the holiday, who knows. I ordered the crispy kale salad with bacon and fried egg; that was good, though the salt level was a little much. My husband ordered the blueberry pancakes, which were raw, which is prompting this 3 star review. We never send back food, but the edges of the pancakes were clearly not cooked. He cut into the pancakes and just saw rawness. We had them recooked, and they were fine. My sister ordered the Egg's Benedict. Conceptually, it was inspiring, but difficult to eat because the toast, instead of the English muffin, was difficult to get through. I feel this place could be really good, but just needs a little more finesse.
(3)David H.
A friend and I went to fare for dinner last night. She had been telling me about it. And for good reason! We had the hummus... So good! And the hummus was topped with these crazy good olives! (I know doesn't sound that crazy, but I work with fine foods and know my olives... These were really good!) Next we had the grilled octopus salad. And I was taken back... At first i thought that our server (who was wonderful mind you!) and given us the wrong dish. The octopus was so soft that I thought it was chicken! Blew my mind!!!! Then I had the vegetable cakes. It came with two cakes a mushroom cake and a carrot cake. The mushroom cake was great.... However it had nothing on that carrot cake! My friend had the soft shell crab and she said she loved it! Now I have never written a review on yelp... But this place is so good! And I can't wait to go back!!!! Also they have a wonderful wine and beer list. Tons of seafood and vegetarian food. Really some thing for every one... More places should be as welcoming to people of all diets! Thank you fare!!!! Ya'll kick ass!!!!
(5)Shehzadi K.
Absolutely loved this place! The food and decor were certainly 5 star. We ordered they fish tacos, truffle fries and humnus platter and it was delicious! And service was great. We are definitely coming back for more!
(5)Kathryn H.
We had a lovely time at Fare, which was our first stop in Philly. The bartender service was really great, and I got to taste a lovely rose before purchasing a glass that possibly could have been too sweet. I had one of the lovely fish specials where the fish came served whole, but had been deboned. It was very tasty. It came with rice and steamed green beans, and a lemony, almost horseradish tasting sauce. I also tasted the steak, which was delicious. I was going to go with the vegetarian option, but at the caution of the server, decided against it. I was really glad for what I did get because it was so tasty. We had a server in training that was also helping us, and she was trying, but you could tell she was new and a little awkward, but I have no doubt she will improve. They are also very accommodating for us gluten free folks.
(4)James K.
I was drawn here due to my diet restrictions (no meat/dairy) and I'll definitely come back. The menu had plenty of vegan options and where they didn't, they were willing to take requests to make other dishes work. The waitress was very helpful and patient with my overload of questions. I ordered the carrot cakes with edamame hummus and my date ordered the crab cakes with bok choy. While the crab cakes were "the best (my date) ever had", my carrot cakes were very delicious and a fantastic change of pace, being on a restrictive diet (and consuming the same preparations everywhere else). I would confidently recommend this to others. I came for the menu, and I'll definitely be back for the taste.
(5)Kara G.
Great energy - the place was bustling. It's also good for people-watching if you're near a window. Lots of bacon on the menu, which is a plus in my book. I had the kale salad (bacon dressing!) and a seafood-linguine special. The linguine dish was a little under-seasoned but it was bursting with seafood, which was awesome. My dad had a tuna roll appetizer that I tasted, which was REALLY good. Looking around at other peoples' dishes, everything looked really fresh and yummy. I'd definitely return. My only complaint is about our server. The manager was nice (and cute); he politely asked that I switch tables to accommodate a large party. That was fine. Our server never introduced herself, rarely smiled, and just seemed kind of sullen and put-upon. I know serving is a hard job, but she could have been less dour.
(4)jonathan h.
Wow, farmhouse flatbread was ridiculously tasteful. Also had the softshells special and it was so good. So many choices on the beer and wine list, but would love to see a beer or two on draft.
(5)Brian D.
First time at Fare last evening. Looking forward to this restaurant that prides itself on being organic. Service was attentive and professional. The decor was welcoming and charming. The wine list was extensive and well thought out. Most of our food was delicious. I was disappointed in the bison entree. The ground bison meat was dry and tasteless. I was looking at some of the other entrees and regret not going with seafood or a salad. My dining companion had a wonderful salad with octopus that was delicious! I recommend this restaurant but caution you to avoid the disappointing buffalo.
(4)Teak M.
We walked into Fare because the coffee shop a few stores down was packed full. It's pretty cute on the inside, but the food left very much to desire. I had the grilled chicken on ciabatta and my aunt tried the breakfast burrito and we both agreed that the dishes were a bit bland and tasteless. We had also planned on ordering fries as a side and the waitress said they were all out. I thought that was a little bizarre. The upside was that this place had wonderful music playing but unfortunately the soundtrack couldn't distract from the meal.
(2)Rebecca Z.
Always call to make a reservation during the weekends, especially during brunch because it can get crowded. So far, i have been to Fare twice. The first time with a large group and the second time, i took my mother there for mother's day. The food is fresh and the presentation is beautiful. The food portions are just enough to enjoy and to be full. I would definitely recommend everyone to experience Fare!
(5)John R.
I want this place to be good. Great menu and location but they have terrible service. Usually service won't change my mind on too many places but on a Friday night having 1 bartender and two servers is outrageous. Been here 3 times and have never waited less than 60 minutes for a meal... Pay for the extra staff and you can make this place somewhat decent. Figure it out.
(1)Kate H.
I went here for lunch on a weekday. I was skeptical about eating at an organic restaurant, but the food was delicious and the service was fast. The employees were very friendly. The restaurant was clean and spacious. I will definitely come back here again.
(4)Melissa A.
Fare, you're making me sad. We've been back two more times since our first experience only last month. It is disturbing to see a different menu and menu format every time I come in. Other than the inconsistency of seeing the same dishes described and listed in a different manner each time, the most upsetting change is the removal of the house wines. The waitress said they were incorporated into the wine list, but they no longer offer the Cabernet Sauvignon and the cheapest glasses are now $6 instead of the $5.50 (There isn't a reasonably priced Cab on the list). Gone are the bullet points on the menus, too, which I had appreciated in my last review. The service was still good, the tables somewhat reasonably spaced, and the food is great. I still think this place could benefit from dimming their overhead lights, but the ambiance isn't bad. I can appreciate a constantly changing menu, but the dishes are still the same for the most part, just listed differently each and every time. Among all the format changes, I've only seen one addition to the menu as far as vegetarian options go, but I have yet to try the new seitan dish. The vegetarian onion soup is quite good although difficult to eat. The same goes for the beet salad with goat ricotta, but I still love it. I would not recommend ordering either of those dishes while on a date or at a dinner with clients. I still support their local, organic, & sustainable initiatives, and their food is still great, but Fare could benefit from some consistency.
(4)Michael S.
I tried out Fare for the first time when I had about 6 guests in town visiting me. I made reservations about 1 hr prior and was surprised and skeptical that they were able to accommodate a party of 8, while no other restaurant that I typically go to could not. I have to say that everything we ordered on the table was delicious. I ordered the muscles, which were huge and came with a great, tasty sauce. The chicken meatballs were amazing, juicy, and served with these potatoes and cheese that was incredible. Other things ordered at the table were -french onion soup (average) with some sort of cheese bread (which was amazing) -salads (average) -filet mignot special (DELICIOUS) Everything was cook well, with great flavor. Will definitely be coming here more often.
(4)Jayson W.
A great modern feel inside with charming patio seating and garden outside. A perfect brunch before exploring Fairmont or strolling over to the PMA. La Colombe coffee and brioche French Toast made for a memorable brunch.
(5)Quynh-Vy N.
I've been to Fare a couple times. The most recent was with a friend for lunch the other day. We decided to make it a "light" lunch and ordered the Farmhouse Flatbread, Scallop Ceviche and split the Watermelon Salad. My friend kept raving about the flatbread saying how delicious it is. We also ordered some cocktails as well. I have to admit the flatbread was SO good. Sweet, salty, and crunchy. The ceviche was also a great pick as well. I would definitely come back. I hear they also have GREAT happy hour deals as well.
(4)Lauren M.
I am VERY happy to say that Fare has redeemed itself many times over. They have worked out their service issues and have developed a cocktail menu that makes me melt. Let's take a second to talk about their very clean martini.....BEST.MARTINI.EVER, and it's only 2 ingredients. I don't know if the magical ingredient is fairy dust or a little bitta love from the bartenders, but it never fails to be delish! Way to go Fare; I am a super fan :)
(5)Erin F.
I have been back a few times and wanted to update my review. Every time I go to Fare I think - wow I really like it here! The menu is varied and everything is marked whether it is vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free. I really appreciate that in a restaurant. I am a huge fan of the "very clean martini" and have tried a few of their wines which have been really good. Even their house wine at $6 is really good and very reasonable. Their tofu scramble is great if you like tofu scrambles - I must say this one is great. It is a great place for a lot of different occasions: date night, dinner with the parents or in-laws, dining with picky eaters or dietary restrictions.
(4)Eve S.
I was visiting the city of brotherly love last week-a friend took me here for lunch. It is nice but the portions are pretty small and they do not have an espresso machine which I think is kind of standard for a place such as this. Enjoyed my fish tacos and apple crisp.
(3)Jessica A.
I go here often at lunch to avoid the larger crowds at dinner. I've tried everything on the menu and have yet to be disappointed. Brunch is actually my favorite but does crowded so you need a reservation. Service is always friendly and efficient.
(5)Philip K.
Very nice brunch spot on fairmount. We sat outside for brunch on a Sunday this summer. Classic, easy dishes - pancakes, omelettes, breakfast burritos, salads. My burrito was great and my wife's French toast was also very good. Good, efficient service too.
(4)Sol W.
We arrived early for our tour of Penn State Penitentiary and we were starving. My husband absolutely loved his grass fed burger. I really liked my fish tacos as well. I was ecspecially happy to find a restaurant like this on our first day in Philly. We started our road trip looking to eat at locally owned restaurants and were happy to find a place with local fresh fare.
(4)Carol H.
I've been to Fare three times, once for dinner and twice for lunch. It's been quite inconsistent each visit. My first visit was back when they first opened. Their dishes sounded and looked great, but they lacked seasoning and variety in textures. The pork dish I had was extremely dry and under-seasoned. The cocktails, however, were wonderful. I figured this was due to growing pains and returned the next two times were for lunch. While there are a some good items on the menu (the flatbreads are delicious and the fennel & leek appetizer was great). But again, there was a lot of inconsistency. The beet salad had two many different flavors that did not work together. The vegetarian sandwich was nice and simple, but almost too simple for the price. Their gluten-free deserts are very dry- this does not have to be the case just because they're gluten-free. The service is very nice, although slow at lunch (one poor hostess/waitress for the entire room). The atmosphere is also nice, although they need to work on the music. Just because the room becomes more crowded doesn't mean you have to turn up the volume of the music. That's not why we're here.
(3)Shannon P.
The boo and I ate here last night on a whim. We sat at the bar and were greeted by a strikingly handsome bartender named Andrew who had fancy purse hooks and presented hummus out of thin air. The beer list is pretty diverse so we were happy about that - I had some Red Ale that I LOVED. Onto food.. Meh. I like the entire concept of organic, local, fresh, etc. I like it a lot - I like feeling good about what I ate and knowing that it was healthy. But I also like to eat and be full. We got the bar snacks thinking we were getting a deal on an otherwise pricey regular menu option. Not so. For $9 we got tiny bison sliders that were on top of a slice of bread the size of a wheat thin....for another $9 we got two mini fish tacos where the fish was more like a fish stick, and we had no idea what kind of fish it was. And we got fries for $4...they were good but it was like 6 french fries! So, obvi we were still hungry and to avoid being gluttons we split an entree and a "salad". I say "salad" because I got the roasted kale with bacon dressing and a fried egg. For $8 I got a bowl of roasted kale with a fried egg on top. It was bland (I know they don't season because they want the food to stand on its own) but with salt it tasted just like the kale chips I cook in my own oven for $2...oh I mean $2 for 2-3 servings the same size as what I got. The egg was different, it made me think oh next time I make kale chips I'll put an egg on top. But this was nothing special. The boo ordered the flank steak with chimichurri and we subbed brussel sprouts for green beans. That was a very good meal - the chimichurri was fresh, the steak was a good size, and the brussel sprouts were served with caramelized shallots or red onions. If you're gonna go here, expect to drop some bones and wind up eating again later into the night. The concept is cool, some of the food is very tasty, but you just need to order smarter than we did.
(3)Patti F.
There once was a restaurant named Fare. Organically made food was their flare. The confit duck tasted dry. We wanted to cry. Next time I think we'll go elsewhere.
(2)Tom D.
Fine dining comes to Fairmount. I must admit, I was somewhat expecting a super pretentious place given the culinary point of view of this place: all organic, local, blah blah blah. I appreciate that stuff but I generally associate it with experiences like the first episode of Portlandia... "the chicken's name was Colin, here are his papers". With that being said, I couldn't have been more off-base. We sat outside and enjoyed a lovely Friday evening meal that was all vegetarian. And a word about that: with the exception of Belgian Cafe and Mugshots, there is no vegetarian food in the neighborhood. But I digress... The plates we had were awesome: the cashew cheese, pink peppercorn salad; the baby artichokes; and the bbq seitan. Nut cheeses are awesome. The cashew cheese at Fare is a perfect example. It was slightly salty, very creamy, and perfectly seasoned with crushed pink peppercorns. It came with sprouts and oranges. Delicious. The artichokes were nice because they were savory and slightly garlicy with whole cloves of roasted garlic. A nice balance to the sweet salad. Finally, the seitan was insanely good. How do you get burnt ends like on a beef brisket on wheat gluten? Well they figured it out. It was so good! and the spicy sauce was a nice touch, I just wish there was more of it. Washed down with a half liter of Argentinian white wine was great. And that wine held up to the spicy bbq and the garlic in the artichokes. Good addition to a neighborhood that already holds its own in the restaurant landscape.
(4)Allen S.
Went on a busy Friday night for the "Terror Behind the Walls" and Dinner special. Staff were clear in their communication and friendly. They worked quickly to find us seats even though we were 15 minutes late to the reservation. Once seated, the waitress quickly took orders and recommended good drinks (including a great smores cocktail). The food selection was varied for a Prix fixe with 3 courses. We made a point to try a different food item with each course. The food was good but not exceptional. The main issue and common theme with the majority of the courses was the amount of salt used was simply too much. Whether the arugula in the beet salad, salmon, potatoes, or beef, all had a level of salt which made ours lips burn by the end of the night. The food wasn't inedible by any means and I know some friends who would prefer food cooked like this. The dessert I ordered was a play on an ice cream sandwich and tasted great. However the cookies were too hard to be eaten as a true ice cream sandwich. We were in a rush to make our scheduled "Terror Behind the Walls" reservation so were not interested in sending food back ( which was only considered with the salmon). However, when the manager delivered our tickets for the event we mentioned the salt and he immediatly apologized, gave us his card, and asked us to come back and ask for him so he could treat us. His response to our feedback is whatmade this a 4 star rather than 3.
(4)Anthony T.
Simply amazing. Tuna roll was cooked perfectly. Pork Osso Bucco was fantastic. It fell off the bone and was very savory. The bison Burger was great. FYI, it's served open faced, so don't expect a typical Burger, but it was very tasty. Everything felt healthy since this is an organic food restaurant. Oh, and the vegan cheesecake (that my lactose intolerant girlfriend can eat) was very yummy. I didn't even know you could make cheesecake without cheese!
(5)Jeff B.
Dined at Fare last night with another couple. Food, service, atmosphere were all top notch. The menu is excellent, and the server's recommendations were just right. Prices for food & wine (they have a nice bar too) are very reasonable, given the very high quality of ingredients. This is the most Celiac-friendly restaurant I've been to in the state of PA, so if you have a gluten intolerance, I highly recommend FARE. The three people who dined with me all felt their food was excellent. This is my new favorite restaurant in Philly.
(5)Rebecca H.
Since its opening, I've been to Fare twice. The first time was during their first week open, and it was clear that some kinks were being worked out. I appreciate the fact that the management has taken everyones' feedback to heart. So, we were a party of 7 sitting in a square booth, which was fantastic because I'm sure we were the loudest group there, and isolation was good (a family outing...people shouting over one another to be heard...spirited discussions...baggage...drinks!) We had the very best service I've ever experienced. I need to find out what her name is, because she was both attentive and entertaining without being even a little bit invasive. I would return there for her charm alone. The food was good! I had the seitan and polenta and it was done really well. Other folks at the table ordered and enjoyed the duck confit, soft shell crab, lamb burger...I can't remember what else, but all were happy. Chocolate cakes were shared for dessert. They were quite good! We also had a bottle of CA Pinot Noir and some fun cocktails, like the Water of Life (surprisingly strong with a very light touch of flavor). All good. So, in summation: Good food, 4 Star service, good wine/cocktails, not insanely unhealthy dining out, Fare is getting better and better. We shall return.
(4)Alisha S.
You had me at free sparkling water. YUM is all I can say about Fare. I am a vegetarian but went with four other meat-eaters; there was PLENTY for me to order off the menu which is a nice change of pace for a restaurant not specifically vegetarian. We ordered a ton of food so we covered most of the menu! Among our favorite starters were the lentils, potatoes, peas, raisins in red wine tomato sauce; mussels with carrot broth (my personal favorite, along with the next); braised leeks and fennel, nicoise olives, goat cheese. The appetizers were so delicious we were thoroughly looking forward to the entrees! They did not disappoint. Each entrée was as amazing as the next. We each ordered our own but ended up playing musical plates because each meal was so delicious. Each time someone tried something new there would inevitably be a "wow" soon thereafter! Needless to say we had to order dessert. The presentation was lovely throughout, the flavors were interesting and well done. We are all going to be repeat customers! The ambiance is comfortable; not overly fancy, not super causal but rather a nice medium. Two thumbs up from this gal!
(5)Phillip S.
First, let me just say, this is an amazing restaurant. The service was extremely friendly and very prompt (perhaps they have read some of the earlier reviews) and the food was superb, save for one disappointing course. I went on a saturday evening and it was busy but we could still hear each other talk. Fare is designed to be a "family-style" type restaurant: one simply orders several dishes, from starters to main courses, and they are brought out as soon as they are prepared, not altogether as in most other restaurants. Here are some of the highlights: Cauliflower and dilled yogurt salad: very well seasoned and extremely refreshing on a hot summer night. Heirloom tomato salad: simple but some of the freshest produce I have in ages Beet salad: if you're a fan of pickled beets, you'll love this salad, especially since they aren't the stereotypical extremely purple beets to which most people are accustomed Avocado crab cake: one of the best dishes of Fare; even if you don't want to order a full serving, do yourself a favor and order it as a starter Baked salmon with capers: extremely delicious, not overcooked, served on a bed of wild rice Duck confit: very tender, an indulgence worth trying Lamb and eggplant: very good, although as someone who's favorite foods include both lamb and eggplant, I was't blown away. Perhaps it was because the other two main courses, especially the salmon, were stunning Note: some other reviews pointed out that many dishes, especially the vegetarian ones, were under-seasoned. I wouldn't entirely disagree, as I would say many of the dishes are subtly seasoned, but in many cases I found this to be a good thing as it allowed the natural flavor of the ingredients (fresh vegetables, fish, etc) to really shine through. At this point in the evening is the only time I was ever tempted to give Fare a 4 star rating: we ordered dessert (apple crisp and peach cobbler) and both were quite disappointing. The fruit was very fresh and the cobbler crust was delicious, but both were underwhelming. I might give the chocolate cake or coconut dessert a try in the future, but honestly, what is more likely (and what I would recommend to those with a real sweet tooth) is to simply walk a few doors down to Philly Flavors and order some ice cream or water ice! It's very delicious and much more satisfying to those who want a truly sweet and indulgent dessert. Finally, drinks: I would recommend the in-house sparkling water. While it wasn't mind-blowing, it was a fun and unexpected bonus when going out for a nice meal. I also had two glasses of the malbec and my friend ordered the riesling; both were excellent. I will definitely be returning to Fare, for both dinner and if I ever want to have a drink or two at their bar. Their beer selection seemed to rival if not surpass many of the other bars in the area while still being competitively priced, and the house wine is excellent for its price as well. If you're looking for a new place to try in Fairmount, definitely consider Fare! It's good both for a casual meal and to impress a first date :)
(5)Naseem B.
I loved this place. It was spacious, tastefully designed and decorated. You can tell that the owners pay attention to detail. Everything down to the silverware and plates was beautiful. I'm a sucker for presentation, and the folks at Fare captured my heart. Plus they have homemade sparkling water. So refreshing. We got there around 8:30pm on a Saturday night without a reservation. There were no tables available until 10:30pm so we were instead seated immediately at the bar by the window overlooking the street, perfect for people watching. Here's what we ate: caramelized onion soup with grilled cheese and fennel sandwich: This was good, a little more like tomato soup than i would have expected. open faced bison burger with spinach, feta, herbs/yogurt, lemon, mint: My cousin had this, and I didn't try it. But she had no complaints. chicken thighs, marinated in yogurt, ginger, garlic, paprika, mint, coconut brown rice: This dish stole the show. So delicious. I find myself thinking about this chicken frequently ever since. Mmm.... grilled flank steak, coriander red wine potatoes, grilled radicchio: I ordered this medium or medium rare, I can't remember. But it was perfect. The portion sizes were great. We left feeling satisfied, and not so full that we might burst. The service was fine; if I remember correctly the waitress spilled my water a bit and didn't notice, and she had basically no knowledge about the wines, but she was nice enough. Overall, I'd recommend this place for anyone who wants a nice, classy dinner but doesn't want to deal with Stephen Starr's gaudiness or Jose Garces' tiny, expensive plates. Definitely good for those who don't want to deal with a center city crowd on a weekend night. It's fancy but not over the top. It's good a good vibe, check it out.
(4)Chris C.
We were a bit rushed for another appointment so we just had entrees, but our meals were very tasty. We had the duck confit and avocado crab cakes. The duck is definitely recommended and well made. The crab cakes overall were good, but I didn't get the avocado... it didn't add anything (either taste-wise or texture-wise) to the crab cakes and it probably could have done without them. I'd come back to try a full meal here.
(4)Frank B.
Service, food & ambience all very nice. Food very good & prepared as ordered Wine & beer list reasonable if uninspired.
(4)Alan S.
On 5/4 I made a reservation via Open Table for the following Saturday 5/11. When I realized I made it for 4 people instead of 6, and was not able to change on-line, I immediately called the restaurant, spoke with "Patrick" who made the change and confirmed the reservation. At 10PM on 5/9 I got a call saying the reservation could not be honored "due to problems with open table". When I advised the caller I received direct confirmation from the restaurant, she said yes, I know, and she started making other excuses. I was then offered a 5PM or 8:45PM time, neither of which was acceptable. I cancelled the reservation, and will never eat there again.
(1)Alice K.
The food was clean, light, & refreshing. Some things needed some extra salt, but I'd prefer that than too salty any day. (They also have cute salt & pepper shakers at the table) I ate more than I normally do, & still I didn't feel heavy with food sitting in my stomach. The only downside was our 2nd course coming out way too late. It was also really busy so it was nearly impossible to get the server's attention unless she was at our table. Once they realized we were waiting for a long time, the manager Dave, came to us and rectified the mistake very quickly. Despite the mistake, I'm definitely going back here. I'm glad I only live 2 blocks away! *the bill was very fair. We ordered 2 smalls, 1 salad, 1 main, 2 desserts, 2 beers all for around &60 (not including tip)
(4)S L.
I've come here a couple of times recently. Their food is pretty good in general, with a reasonable selection of beer and wine. They're definitely on the pricier side, so perhaps save for a special occasion.
(4)Ali B.
We had a great time! food was wonderful!
(4)G F.
My friend and I went here for dinner on a Saturday night- we got seated right away and the hostess/waiters were very friendly. Very modern looking- I enjoyed the whole interior design. We shared the chicken meatballs and the turkey sloppy joe- both were very flavorful and awesome. I was quite satisfied with my meal- definitely will be going back!
(4)Meghann p.
I am so happy a new place opened in Fairmount. My friend and I ordered 1. Glasses of Wine $5.50 each 2. Roasted Cauliflower Salad- Seriously so delicious-Highly recommend 3. My friend ordered the Goat Cheese Leek Salad- very yummy as well 4. we both ordered the lamb for dinner- the lamb was very good as well as the eggplant mash. The broccolini that came with it was a little overpowering...but the dish was still enjoyable My friend and I think the next time we go we will order a bunch of small plates and salads. Overall a very enjoyable meal.
(4)Yon V.
Fare is quite ok. This was rue second visit. Meal began with a vey uninspired hummus, chunky and odd, which is supplied on the house, so perhaps not rally complaint worthy, but shocking, nonetheless, that the restaurant would put this dish out as a universal warmup to the meal. The squash ravioli starter we ordered was very good, but very heavy as a start to the meal, mainly due to excessive oil. The mushroom flatbread was nothing special, but the mushrooms themselves were good. The crab cake main was not great, but not bad. I forgot to ask, and the waiter did not say, whether the crab was fresh. Side of veggies was well prepared but too oily. Generally large somewhat salty and oily portions. Along lines of what we have experienced at other Philly restaurants, so one suspects that fare plays well to the local palate, what is successful at fare is the abundance of vegetables on offer, complementing meats. I am not sure their professed farm-to-table concept works, since many of the ingredients were either out of season or imported from afar. The beer list is good. The wine on offer was bad. Again, this seems to be typical in Philly, where wine purchasing is often handled by the state of PA, as I understand it. Service is good. Dining room is pleasant. Maybe a touch loungy. The manager was a bit strange to interact with on arrival and departure. I won't speculate as to why, Prices are on the high side of reasonable. Acceptable.
(3)Terry C.
Went there on a fri night. It was crowded as expected. This is my second time at fare. I came here a few months ago with my mom. Thought it had potential. Went back with bf. So... I really want to like this place. I like the area. It's walking distance from my neighborhood. This time, mostly disappointment mainly with their preparation of the chicken meatballs. We had glass of wine and 2 beers with our meal. Nice beverage selection. If we were to go back, I'd consider the bar only. Started out with crab cake appetizer. Had that the first time too. It doesn't have a lot of filler but dill could be strong if you don't like dill. The avocados are diced up in the crab cake. If you don't like guacamole, you won't like the crab cake. For entree, I was going to order the flank steak but the bf wanted to try chicken meatball and we also got the sloppy joe special. Sloppy joe (turkey) came out first. Frankly, nothing spectacular. A little bit cold. The potatoes were not fully cooked. But my bf doesn't like to say anything in situations like this. Then the meatballs came out. I looked down at three whitish pink looking balls sitting on top of hardened cheese under some greens. Ok. Took a bite and the meatballs were sour. Not slightly tangy or acidic. But sour. The bf took a bite and he agreed that it was sour. The waitress told me that the meatballs are tangy. I'm like "what?". I told her it was sour. And since the meatballs were white/pink, I didn't know if it was spoiled. Nevertheless, they replaced it with the flank steak that I wanted in the first place and it was delicious. The steak was cooked to medium and very juicy for flank steak. The service was nice. Our waitress was very accommodating. Wish the wait staff would be in uniform. I can never tell who is part of staff. Overall, would probably not go back again. The food is just ok.
(3)Chris S.
Nice, open layout. Carpet was a bit odd, thought that went the way of the Dodo birds. I think of carpet as dirty. Food was good, wine tasty and fair price (ha, fair). Server was a bit slow, seemed short staffed? She had at least 5 tales that I could see, we had to wait for a great at first, but after that it went well until having to wait for deserts. Appetizer and dinner where very good. Love the French Press coffee. Deserts where underwhelming. Runner who brought out food was the biggest issue. There were two of us and he would bring out our appetizer or dinner and "auction" it off. Mean while, we had dirty plates in front of us and he would just stand there looking at us until we removed our dirty plates. This should have been done at pre-bussing and they should use seat numbers for serving food instead of "who had the tenderloin!?" barked over the crowd. THE BATHROOM Men's bathroom had a urinal that was by a stall door. You had to stand in front of the door to use the urinal. The door would not stay shut! So I had to keep it shut with my arm while using the urinal. If someone had been using the stall and opened the door, he would have taken me out. One more thing, I'm 6' and only had an inch or so to spare to use the urinal. It would suck to be a short dude, and I'm not even tall...
(3)Emily G.
It was very good. I didn't come home raving about it, but I'd give it a second shot without hesitation. The Malbec we ordered was fantastic. Wine is served either by the glass or 1.5L which made sharing among 4 people tricky. We had to order two 1.5L which absolutely makes them money. I ordered the duck confit which was superb, and the others ordered the steak, the braised lamb, and the veal chop special (all of which had exactly the same sides). The veal came out looking and tasting like pork. When the waitress set it down on the table she even said pork and then corrected herself. I have never seen veal so tough and thick and white on the inside. About halfway through the chop, my boyfriend asked the waitress if it was really veal, and after scoffing at us then inquiring with the chef, she came back to say that apparently grass-fed veal has a tougher texture. I'm still skeptical. Kind of funny to think about taking care to grass-feed an animal and then kill it when it's young. Somewhat of an oxymoron, I'd say. But he very much enjoyed the chop. The scallop appetizer was great but only came with two scallops. The butternut squash soup was a huge bowl, but was over peppered and watery. Overall, I'm leaning more towards 3.5 stars, but the quality of the ingredients was high and I will come back to give it another try.
(4)Anthony N.
Came in for a quick brunch, got the burger with fried egg and was very happy with the entire meal. The food came out hot and everything teased fresh. My fiancé got the breakfast burrito and loved it also.
(4)Jamie D.
Went here for brunch. Portions are small but perfectly filling. However, the price is a bit high for the portion-size. Food was decent but the banana brunch appetizer did not deliver. Decent, but will not be back.
(3)Daniel M.
Visited Fare with my family earlier this week after visiting the Barnes Museum and every family member left satisfied. It's a short walk from the museums (Art Museum/Barnes/Rodin) and literally across the street from the Eastern State Penitentiary. We were early, but were seated right away. Our server was a nice guy, happy to make some recommendations. We started by sharing a couple dishes, namely the fresh raw oysters, tomato/onion soup with grilled cheese with fennel, and a vegetarian flatbread. They also bring you warm pita with a garlic-y hummus and olives. It was all outstanding, but next time back I'm definitely giving the crispy tuna roll a go. Of the three, the tomato/onion soup and grilled cheese is a must have. We then shared a plate of the seasonal pumpkin ravioli. Easily the most forgettable dish of the night, but not bad by any means. For my meal I had the NY Strip, which was amazingly tender and flavorful. Seriously, perfectly done. It came with perfectly grilled asparagus and a crispy sort of potato cake. I also tried the scallops with arugula pesto pasta and avocado crabcakes, both of which I'd want to order if I went back. The crabcakes come with a sweet and sour sauce that made them more dynamic than any I've ever had. No dessert for us, but I did have a fantastic manhattan. If you're in the area, you have to try this place. Five stars.
(5)Amanda R.
Three of us stopped in for brunch and waited half an hour without acknowledgement. The two waitresses that were working did not even ask if we wanted a drink. We decided to walk out. If you have all the time in the world to wait for a glass of water that you'll never get, walk in.
(1)John W.
Excellent flatbread. Breakfast burrito was good although it would be much better with salsa. Relaxing patio seating next to building. Also a nice beer selection. I would come back if in the area.
(4)Hannah D.
Fare is Fair. AP & HD ventured to Fare one friday evening in hopes of finding our new happy hour spot in Fairmount. When we arrived we were told that happy hour only takes place at the bar, which was packed! So we opted to sit outside and forgo the specials... The atmosphere is great! And we definitely enjoyed our drinks and food however, we think things might have tasted a little better had we not still had a bad taste in our mouth about Happy Hour specials only being offered at the bar. We definitely would go back, but would take into consideration that we should probably go on a week night or get there a little earlier in order to receive the Happy Hour pricing.
(3)Kathleen D.
Fare is a short walk away from me, but it's never the first restaurant to come to mind for an outing. You could say, and likely have in another review here, that it's a "fair" choice. Fare's decor is modern, if a bit stuffy, and service can be laggy. I haven't ever felt especially welcome here, but maybe it just depends on the day. So far, I've sat at the bar on a holiday and also had dinner in the dining room. For both visits, I had the Farmhouse Flatbread. It's pretty darn good and can certainly be finished in one sitting. Definitely order an app or side with it -- unless you're not very hungry. Even light eaters [like me] will likely need a side dish. A surprisingly GREAT menu item? Their Caesar salad. I don't know why in the heck their salad is so wonderful, but it is. They offer up a heaping portion with a ton of cheese, and their dressing is superb/mixed appropriately. This made me want to try other salads from them. I was also able to try a bite of their main chicken dish, and it was really good/tender/what chicken should taste like. Get it if you like chicken. I wish the food was enough to pull me in to Fare, but when you couple slow service with their price-tag, I'll generally pick most other restaurants along/near Fairmount before Fare.
(3)Linsey E.
Came here on a whim because I'm new to the neighborhood. The food was underwhelming. We ordered the fried calamari and shrimp. The calamari was over cooked and extremely chewy. For entrees I ordered the shrimp pasta special which was decent, not great. My husband ordered the branzino dish, which he said was also said was nothing ground breaking. Shame because the decor is nice and I like the outdoor seating. But the food, which is what would keep me coming back, is subpar. I would return only for a glass of wine while sitting outside.
(2)Abigail W.
This is a review for just the cocktails! And it happened to be on the Pork & Vodka Fairmount food crawl day. Modern ambiance. Friendly bartenders. Comfortable bar-stools. Awesome cocktails..until that last one. I was having a vodka cocktail with raspberry sorbet in it and was loving the hell out of the combination. My friend was enjoying her Farmer's Tonic (cucumber gin, fresh lime, cracked pepper). After 3 rounds, we clearly thought a fourth was needed for some reason. The bartenders either were on break or switching out.. because this guy we thought was the bar back but was actually a bartender? He made that fourth cocktail- told me the vodka drink i was enjoying ran out (it probably was just the special of the day), so we both got the Farmer's Tonic. Not enough lime, and too much pepper. Choked down what we could of it and adventured home with Uber. I'll be back to try everything else. Great location. Food that was coming out of the kitchen looked delicious.
(4)John K.
Hovering between 3 and 4*. TLDR: Flatbeads and bison burger were good; the fish tacos should be renamed slaw tacos (at least on this particular visit). ------------------------------------ The sister stopped by to visit us in Philly, so we rounded up the troops to grab some grub in the Fairmount area. I was told that Fare had bacon Bloody Mary's round the clock, regardless of whether they were serving brunch. And sure enough that's true. But alas, they were somehow out of them when we stopped by. Not sure how that happens, but they did have food at least! There's a modern farmhouse-vibe of a bar to the left and to the right, there's plenty of seating for dining. Farmhouse Flatbread [$12] Bacon, sharp cheddar, Granny Smith We got the farmhouse flatbread to start. Sweet and savory elements were featured here. The crisp Granny Smith apples imparted some tart sweetness that was accented by the honey. This was balanced by the heft of the bacon and the sharpness of the cheddar. The crisp flatbread lent some nice texture to each bite. Short Rib Flatbread [$12] Port reduction, fig gorgonzola Not to be outdone, the short rib flatbread came with a foundation of savory short ribs, with a nice port reduction. The sweet figs were balanced by the funk of the gorgonzola and the peppery arugula, which was nicely seasoned. Greek Salad [$11] with Chicken [+ $4] Tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, olives, feta, red wine vinegar, EVOO While a bit of a small portion, all the standard flavors were there - the sharpness of the feta along with a melange of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and olives dressed in red wine vinegar and olive oil. The grilled chicken was moist and some lightly grilled bread accompanied the salad. Fish Tacos [$13] Citrus slaw, black beans, brown rice The fish tacos should have been renamed slaw tacos because clearly, the fish was not the star here as it only made a small appearance. The slaw had a nice citrusy brightness, but again - where was the fish? The stewed beans were nicely seasoned and some rice was studded with bits of carrot. Definitely a lighter option. Bison Burger [$19] Spinach & feta bison burger, opened faced, lemon herb yogurt I opted for the bison burger, which was served open faced. It was surprisingly moist and had traditional Greek flavors, with the herbs accented by the lemon-herb yogurt. The pickles were great and really shined - the slight sweetness balancing out the sour. The accompanying potatoes were nicely spiced and were creamy rather than crisp. The green beans had great snap, with a spritz of lemon providing some brightness. Truffle Fries [$8] Truffle oil, Parmesan cheese, chipotle aioli, salt We also got a side of the truffle fries, which were perfectly crisp and had hints of truffle oil and salty Parmesan. It came with a pat of chipotle aioli. Overall, Fare is a decent option in the Fairmount area. Do try the flatbread and while the fish tacos were lacking, there aren't many places in Philly that can cook or even offer a decent bison burger.
(3)Jamila G.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a place right around the corner with a good brunch. I've driven by here a thousand times & thought...what a cute place to hang outside, eat & people watch while getting drunk. The brunch menu was pretty limited but still covered all the bases. I went with the Hanger Steak Eggs Benedict. I'm not really into runny eggs but thought I'd take a chance. The steak was cooked to medium rare perfection & very flavorful with a blackened exterior...two-thumbs up. Although the the hollandaise sauce took my mind of the egg situation...I was only brave enough to burst one open. Although it looked good, my stomach is just not built for yellow gooey egg all over my plate. I'll definitely go back for brunch & maybe happy hour!!
(4)Michelle P.
I'm a fan of Fare, but my last visit is causing me to reevaluate how much I like Fare. Don't get me wrong, I love the concept of a restaurant that serves organic, local food. The food is fine, the beer list is good and the mimosas were mostly champagne with a splash of orange juice. My last visit was just a little off-putting. For one, I just found myself struggling to pick something off the brunch menu on my most recent visit. I was feeling an omelet but neither the meat or veggie special of the day did anything for me. The meat omelet consisted of salmon and lox, and the veggie omelet consisted of mushrooms. I ended up going with the breakfast burrito even though I didn't want that massive of a meal. The southwest burrito was stuffed with eggs, pulled pork, black beans, cheddar, pico de gallo and topped with chili. The burrito itself was tasty and very enjoyable. I just remembered it being bigger and coming with a side salad. I know I just said I didn't want a massive meal, but it's never a good thing when portions get smaller and sides are removed. My second issue was the service. I was there with a large group after the Hot Chocolate Run. Everyone has certain expectations of large group dining scenarios, and I always enter them with an extra drop of patience. While our food came within 30 minutes of ordering, it was hard to get a server to even stop by our table to take our drink orders. Some beverages were forgotten, some extra beverages were added to the bill and some food items just came out wrong. With the number of races scheduled each year in the Fairmount area, one would think Fare would be prepared and thriving with large group brunches. Although my group dining service expectations are never high, I was fairly disappointed with the service we actually got. I still like Fare and would absolutely go back, I just need to bump them down on my Fairmount priority list.
(3)Dan H.
THIS REVIEW IS FOR FAIRMOUNT FOOD CRAWL ONLY SPOT 10 Food - pork tacos / titos punch Got in, got a drink, got food, left. Overall, fairly average. The tacos, compared to others seemed skimpy with the portion of pork being strictly rationed when compared to the size of the tortilla shell. With the tacos at 2 for $3, though, it was a deal worth trying. The drink was decent, however lacking any real flavor except for the bite of titos that hit you in the front
(3)Laura J.
I can't say much about the food as we never got to try it. We waited forever for our server to even take a drink order. Ten minutes later, I had to walk over to the server area and remind her that we ordered a drink. She was far too busy moving back and forth between the outside tables to attend to us. She seemed quite irritated that I did this and tossed my husband his drink (after yet another trip outside first!) She rolled her eyes. We left and asked a local for a suggestion where we ended up at Jack's Firehouse. Way better!
(1)Carol N.
The server offered great recommendations to the questions we had including wine and food choices. We started with the octopus salad which was just ok. It was one tentacle and a little under cooked. I ordered the watermelon feta salad special and it was delicious. Very fresh, great presentation. Another positive were the cocktails- we tried a few and they were all really good.
(4)Dana S.
Cute restaurant/bar on Fairmount Ave. I think of it more on the restauranty than bar but their bar section is good for meeting a friend for a drink. Good variety of beer options at the bar. Happy Hour seems to attract couples/dates and they do a pretty good brunch where it gets pretty crowded on the weekends.
(3)Abby W.
I had a very pleasant lunch here on MLK Day, when evidently everyone else had the idea to get lunch at all the places I wanted to try. This spot was close to the afternoon concert we were attending so it worked out for the best in the end. I had a special omelet of leek and fennel with gruyere, the BF had the steak wrap, and the BF's friend had the breakfast burrito. My omelet was decent but somewhat missed the mark with the fillings. It sounded like such a promising combination, but a lack of proper caramelization on the leeks and fennel made for a bit of a bland affair. It was OK, and the egg part was good and well-cooked, but it wasn't super exciting. The side salad it came with was truly exceptional - an odd thing to say about a side salad. It and the excellent crispy sweet potato cubes were the best part of the plate. Minus 1 star as well for serving dry toast without any butter. Either butter the toast in the kitchen or send it out with softened butter to do it at the table! Rookie move. Stole a bite of the steak wrap and the breakfast burrito and both were delicious. The burrito violated one of my burrito pet peeves, though - it is my feeling that you should be able to pick up a burrito, and you cannot do that when it is swimming in sauce. The sauce was delicious, but burritos shouldn't require a fork and knife, in my opinion. To be fair the menu is clear that it is topped with this sauce, I just don't understand why people even do that. To each their own, I guess! TL;DR - 5 star sides (make sure to enjoy a salad in some form), 3-4 star mains, service was good!
(3)Kim B.
I came here for some of their bar bites before heading out for dinner for a night. 1 drink turned into 3, if that says anything about the place. It has an edgy, fresh, young and hip vibe. It feels like a place that you want to be seen at. We got the fish tacos and the apple bacon flatbread. Both were light and refreshing, with loads of flavor... Almost too much flavor for my sensitive tastebuds but that's a good thing. The bar bite menu is fantastic. I would highly recommend trying some while drinking. Our waitress had great beer recommendations and even let me try some beer before ordering it to make sure I liked it. We met some interesting folk that were at the bar and intruded to our table while slipping pieces of papers about their cell phone wanting to meet ours. Yes it may have been the most bizarre experience ever. They had a great terrace and small garden area for outdoor seating, that was decorated quaint and elegant. It has a beautiful stone fireplace, cozy couches and beautiful wooden tables. If only it weren't snowing and freezing so we could enjoy it! I truly fell in love with both the atmosphere and the food!
(4)Janelle H.
Wonderful experience at Fare. Servers were very helpful and friendly and it's situated in a great hip area, Fairmount. The food was great. I enjoyed every plate except that serving was a little small so I wouldn't suggest sharing. Other than that I would recommend this place for you and your girls or even for you and a date!
(4)Andres L.
Had an early dinner around 6pm and it was fantastic. Service, food and setting was solid. The salmon was very fresh and the flank steak cooked perfect to order. I like this place for what it is, nothing fancy or delicate. Just good food. Also to note, our chocolate lava cake took a bit of time. Turns out it was burnt the first time so they apologized for the wait and comped it.
(4)Chris T.
On 'fare'-mount there is none better. This place is fresher than will smith in bellaire. The clean martini is an escape from the high-walls of your usual prison life. I heard al capone jumped the walls for a taste of this 'tini.
(5)Brian T.
This place is growing on me, I must say. I've been several times with and without wifey and it just gets better. they have a great patio and a good happy hour. Some menu standouts are the farmhouse flatbread with bacon, apple and gruyere and the truffle fries.
(4)Elaine R.
Disappointed with here. Been before and recommended it to a group who was looking for last minute brunch. Called ahead was told didn't need a reservation. Arrived to be told couldn't sit inside because all the seats were reserved. There were at least 9 tables open. When we did sit outside was told by host to make the best of it! Food was subpar to say the least. I ordered an omelet asked if they could hold the tomato - came back looking like scrambled egg no cheese and some mushrooms thrown in for good measure. Toast was lame just white bread and the 'home fries' were simply potato chips huh - made no sense. Server was pleasant enough but with food like that. Not likely to return.
(2)Dana M.
Something for everyone. Have a vegan relative? Got it. Have a family member that only eats gluten free? Got it. Steak lover? Got it. Organic? It's their specialty. The menu changes once in awhile. My favorite dish was their seitan and orange vegetable rice dinner. It was amazing. Too bad they don't have it anymore. On their current menu their mushroom cakes and broccoli is pretty good too. This place tends to be a little pricey, so I would suggest coming and sampling their dishes during happy hour. I also hear they have great brunch. I hope to update my review with that soon.
(4)Angela V.
I really like Fare as a local happy hour spot. I have a lot of confidence in the "clean" quality of their wine and food, so I don't mind indulging. Great salad options and the house Chardonnay is solid. There's usually a spot at the bar, and the outdoor seating area is cozy and fun!
(5)Walter C.
Started with Brussels sprout salad. Great new way to serve them. Shredded like cabbage with walnuts and cranberries. Moved on to the lobster grilled cheese. Perfectly fried and great cheese. Lastly had eggs Benedict with crab cakes and potato pancakes. These were very tasty but a little on the small side. They offer a phenomenal twist on an Old Fasioned. Maple syrup and bacon infused bourbon. Fantastic drink. Cool out door space as well.
(3)Grace S.
Stopped in for dinner on a business trip. Great food and service! The crab cakes were great. Loved the molten chocolate cake and the atmosphere was lovely
(5)Leslie C.
It was a dark and stormy, cold afternoon. After being chilled to the bone both literally and metaphorically at the Eastern State Penitentiary, and feeling the pangs of hunger for hours, my boyfriend and I stumbled into the beautifully welcoming restaurant. Conveniently located just across the street from the penitentiary, we ended up coming here for two lunches after beginning two days worth of photography adventuring. The door looks upscale despite having a casual feel. I would imagine it would be a great place to take your parents. Service at the bar was great and the brunch menu provided sounded very delicious. I had a large Irish coffee. The Short Rib Benedict. Generously portioned with a hefty side of greens and delicious! I'm always a sucker for short ribs on a menu and this did not disappoint. Lobster Grilled Cheese: The bread was beautifully toasted yet soft enough to bite into and had something of a cakey taste to it. There was a generous amount of lobster that mixed deliciously into the mozarella cheese, allowing the savoryness of the lobster to not be overpowered. It included a very large side salad. After having it I understood why it would be sold out the day before on our initial visit to the place. The value was good. You should definitely stop in.
(4)Nicole V.
I went here for brunch for a friends birthday. I made an open table reservation stating is a birthday and the individual was gluten-free. We were seated quickly, and we had out food quickly. The breakfast burrito and the gluten free ricotta pancakes were both extremely delicious. They do have a tofu scramble and vegan bacon if you looking for vegan options. I highly recommend this restaurant for those with food restrictions since they seem to be willing to work with you. The food is decently priced and you get an decent portion. However, the drinks especially the brunch drinks are insanely expensive. 10 dollars for a mimosa or a bloody mary? What in the world is in them?! My Bloody Mary was almost the same amount as my breakfast. The services was unremarkably poor. Within two minutes of sitting down the waitress asked us if we were ready to order...umm no. She also never told us the specials. It's like there is an expectation that we are regulars. I also made an open table reservation stating is a birthday. Nothing was done. No cake, no happy birthday from the wait staff.. Nothing. Not even asking the birthday girl if she wanted a dessert. I was shocked. Most restaurants either provide a cake or at least say happy birthday. Also, just a weird incident. When my friend provided her ID to get a bloody mary. The waitress was like is this even real?!.... I am sorry my friend was from out of state. Next time I will only bring people from Pennsylvania.
(3)Alisa A.
Very nice place for drinks or dinner. Staff is great and the menu is very fresh. In a great location too for site seeing.
(4)Larissa G.
I have been to Fare twice now, once for dinner and then again today for brunch and found both times to be totally meh. Not bad by any means, but just meh. My boyfriend put it really well when he said that Fare is like a track home of restaurants. There are some good elements, but overall, it's just not somewhere I want to be. The bar space is decorated really well and has potential, as well as the wall decorated with birch trees. But, the rest of the space is disjointed and has no comfortable appeal at all. On top of that, the music was awful and unfitting. The place was packed today when I headed over with two others after finishing a 15K. It was full of runners wearing their medals, and was busier than I have ever seen it while walking by during brunch hours. We snagged the last tall table available in the bar, and received very 2-star service the entire time. Granted, they didn't seem used to having a full house, but it was almost 10 minutes before they took our drink order. The food that sounded so enticing on the menu was good, but not great. I split the tofu scramble and the breakfast burrito with my boyfriend. The scramble was good, but could have used more spices, although the tempeh bacon was a nice touch. The burrito could have been killer, but it was on a wheat tortilla (boo!), and was swimming in its own juices, making it super soggy! It had some good ingredients, but didn't leave me with any wow factor. My boyfriend ordered the breakfast home fries and received a basket of french fries instead. We were never checked on to see how our meals were. A different person than our original server dropped off a check and then no one returned to our table for 20 whole minutes. It was laughable the amount of times we tried to wave at someone or stare them down, only to be ignored. I was hoping brunch here would be really good and we would want to come back and enjoy the dog-friendly patio when it warms up. However, I doubt that will be happening.
(3)Sunny M.
As Bar people my husband and I are big fans of Fare. They have a great happy hour from 5 to 7 with food and cocktail specials. The "really dirty martini" is my go-to, while the hubs goes for a rotating IPA on tap (also on special for HH). Thursday is generally our night, as it seems to be for many other Fairmount "regulars". Cortney is the little happy hour bartender who provides a good time and good service. We have yet to check out the brunch at fare so this is a review for happy hour. Cool spot, good prices, friendly regulars.
(5)Tiffany T.
I started with the water of life. Loved it. The kids ordered cokes and they came out in cute old bottles. Had the hummus which was delicious (ask for extra pita bread). I also had the lobster soup which was AMAZING! I ordered the short rib, that was also delicious. The truffle fries are a must! They were TO DIE for! My husband had the salmon. He said it was perfectly cooked. My daughter had the pumpkin ravioli and was so excited for it but she said it was a let down :( Service was really good. Very attentive. We sat outside and the atmosphere was great. We sat at the high top which is what we prefer. Oh and we shared the beet salad. That was ok. Just had the chocolate lava cake. Oh my. Just thought when I couldn't eat any more, I feel like I could have 6 of those! What an amazing meal. Wish we lived closer!!!!! (Visiting our daughter who goes to Temple).
(5)Joey M.
Very small bar with an upscale-feeling kind of twist There are ~6 craft beers to choose from Despite being ridiculously crowded (bc this was part of the craft beer bar crawl) the bartenders were friendly and fast There is a small dining area adjacent to the bar that does not look like it was part of the bar because of how upscale-like it looked I did not get a chance to check out the menu but perhaps next time
(3)Michelle W.
I think the food at Fare was great when the restaurant first opened, but I've been there several times more recently and have been consistently disappointed. The food is mediocre, but it's still priced as though it's a quality meal. Not even the hummus tasted very good the last time I visited, and I think hummus should be pretty easy to master. I think I'll skip Fare for a while before trying it out again.
(2)Elyse H.
Gosh how do I give this place three stars? It's not totally average really, it's just not really amazing. But I live in the neighborhood and find myself here about once a month. Usually with parents. Who would probably give 4.5 stars if they could. It's fine. It's totally fine. The cocktails are really tasty- I've enjoyed brunch more than dinner.
(3)Doina N.
My girlfriend and I go here for some appetizers and a couple of drinks. My favorite of all the time it's the roasted cauliflower with yogurt and the grilled octopus. Both dishes are flavorful and are always cooked to perfection. They pair well with a glass of white wine. If you like to hang out in the Fairmount area, give it a try.
(4)Imani G.
On my first visit to Philadelphia, I had brunch at Fare. Friends who live their raved about the food and it did not disappoint. I'll definitely be stopping back through on my next visit. Uploaded some pics to my blog livin2live.com/2014/06/v… . Enjoy!
(4)Dan A.
I've only been to Fare twice. Once for dinner and again for lunch. But both times I really enjoyed it. They have solid options for vegans. Their drinks menu is unique. And their seating area outside is great if the weather permits. And if you're indoors, they do a great job selecting songs for the background music they play. I also like that it's a well lit restaurant.
(4)Jennifer C.
I enjoyed lunch here with my parents. We decided to sit inside because it was a little too hot outside. The ambiance was nice and the restaurant is chic and comfortable inside. The service was just okay. Our waitress was very friendly but we found ourselves waiting too long for simple things such as having our water glasses filled. I ordered the burger and it was quite good. Really juicy and flavorful. My mom had the tuna melt with guacamole, my dad had the fish tacos. Both dishes were fresh and flavorful. I wasn't wowed by anything at Fare but I would return there for lunch. Overall a pleasant experience but not outstanding.
(3)Thomas T.
We had dinner on the patio. It was very good. All four enjoyed their meals. Good flavors and good choices.
(4)Mel C.
SERVICE WAS AWFUL! I called ahead to ask if they had gluten free options because my parents were visiting from out of town and my mother has celiac disease. Whoever answered the phone said that they did. We arrived, the place was empty, our waiter greeted us awkwardly, he seemed more concerned about looking buff then doing his job. We looked over the menu and saw not one meal options that was gluten free, when we called our server over to ask he immediately seemed annoyed. He was excellent at rolling his eyes and walking away. He suggested to pick a pasta dish and just swap out the pasta for rice. So that is what my mother did, she picked a pasta with a white cream sauce that the server recommended . The server brought out our food and said -while laughing- " it sort of came out like a paella." IT WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DISH THEN THE ONE HE HAD SUGGESTED! The rice tasted like raw cumin , it was just bad. It was piled into a past bowl, the seafood was cold, and clearly old and rubbery. There are a ton of yummy places in Fairmont, don't waste your time or money going to Fare seriously.
(1)Gabbriella G.
I was so excited to visit Fair during my visit to Philadelphia, that I studied the menu tonight before and knew exactly what I was going to order the "apple ricotta pancakes" they were calling me! Also perhaps a lovely cocktail to go with it. Yet when we stepped inside, instead of a friendly "hello" as you get in most establishments we were greeted with a nonchalant "may I help you?" Ok, fine whatever, the hostess did say she was "on break" . Then as we were hesitantly taken to our outside table where we were then ignored. A couple that came right after us were greeted warmly , the server went to them first and took their order . Suffice to say we left and went across the street to another establishment. I probably will never eat apple ricotta pancakes ever again, not cool!
(1)M B.
"Is your cucumber bitter? Throw it away. Are there briars in your path? Turn aside.... Can't find an amazingly cool restaurant... Go to Fare! ~Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
(5)Alicat A.
Really disappointed. I was excited to try their crabcakes eggs benedict. When they brought it out, I cut into my eggs and they were completely overdone. I mentioned this to the server when she came back, and she was not apologetic at all despite the fact the dish was made wrong, just stared at me. I asked to have them redone, since eggs benedict require eggs to be cooked the right way. She brought it out again, and this time the egg was only a little overdone as to completely, but whereas the first plate there were 2 eggs, they only gave me one this time. The manager never came out to apologize, as I've grown accustomed to n most restaurants when they are the ones making a mistake, or if there is a concern the customer is unhappy. There wasn't anything taken off my bill, which I didn't expect but bringing up a solution or fixing this issue is typically appreciated. So all in all, I would NOT recommend this place for brunch.
(1)Joe S.
This is a great spot ... Great service and good organic food ... The Bronzino is the best in the city....
(5)Kathryn S.
This would have been five stars but unfortunately I was seated in an area with poor service. This place has great tasting food and a wonderful happy hour. I ordered the fish tacos for $7.50 and had a Pinot Grigio for $4. I came during happy hour and couldn't get a seat at the bar, I was alone so I felt bad taking one of the two tops in the bar area, but that was the only option. Unfortunately I knew that would mean poor service. even though they told me the bartender would come be my server, she only came once to get the order never came back again. I had been done eating for about a half hour and nobody had come so I went to the bar to get my tab. I would have easily spent another $20 if somebody would've come sooner. I definitely suggest coming to this place, just don't sit at a hightop in the bar area, only sit at the bar.
(3)Tina T.
I have been here several times and mostly enjoy sitting outside when the weather is nice. I have been here for lunch, dinner, and late night bites. More recently, I have enjoyed the bucket of pumpkin beers for $16. Food-wise, I have had their mussels, truffle fries, tuna melt, ceviche (not a favorite), kale salad with fried egg (not a favorite) and fried calamari. They have a happy hour but you must sit in the bar. I seriously hate when restaurants do that. I found out recently, they deliver too, which is a pretty cool service.
(4)Ron K.
This is the best happy hour spot in the city. The dirty martinis are the best in Philadelphia (only $6), and the bartenders, especially Courtney, is fantastic. Happy hour food is cheap, the regular menu is delicious, why haven't you been here yet?
(5)David A.
It takes a lot for an evening to be perfect. I met a close old friend at Fare for dinner based on the recommendation of another friend. The music in the background was just the type I like. We started with a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and it was just the way I want it - crisp and flowery. With the wine we ordered the scallop ceviche that was soooo good, really unique, apparently made in coconut milk and jalapeño . The scallops were fresh, the toast were well prepared and I was happy. We later moved to soft shell crab with brown rice and lobster...an outstanding dish. My friend had a tile fish that was also made to perfection. I fish a lot myself and eat in many great seafood restaurants around the world . I can tell you that this was an outstanding seafood restaurant. We finished with the blueberry pie...my favorite dessert and the best I ever had. Service was both professional and nice and people around us looked very happy What a great place. Highly highly recommend.
(5)Kendrah R.
I live in the neighborhood but am hardly ever drawn to go here. It is hit or miss from 2-star to 4-star depending on the night. My last visit involved a chewy as hell octopus salad, ridiculously slow service, and a flavorless steak. I wish I knew what other people saw in this place as it is near my house and I wish it were better.
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