Philly Food and Drink Aficionados
Unbelievable....again!
I need to take a moment and rave about the brunch at Lacroix at the Rittenhouse. My first visit was back in February for a friend's Bday. I was skeptical, only because the entire world was raving about it. I was expecting an over-priced, stuffy, snobby and pretentious place. (You may be wondering why i even went) I told my 2 friends "No Jeans." One friend is a chef in Kennett and the other is an editor who works out of her home. Showering is not a daily thing with them, and they are usually wearing some sort of pajama type outfit. Seated next to us was one of those large tables celebrating grandma's 80th, or something like that. 4 generations, and the younger two wearing jeans :-) It was then I began to realize how friendly and warm the place was.
As we started our food journey, my doubt crept back. Every dish had a 7 word name, and certain words just anger me: salsify, foam and jus, when it is preceded by the word pan. But tasting is believing. I am not sure how much influence Chef Lacroix has anymore. I have seen Chef Levin there, fixing dishes, talking to passersby. Chef Levin and the staff are geniuses. Genius almost to the point of insanity. Seriously, you have to check out some of these items:
http://www.lacroixrestaurant.com/menu_and_wine_cellar/menus/Brunch_October_Web.pdf
I returned on the 1st Sunday in October, wondering what would be there, and what would be different. The fall's seasonal offering s were no less spectacular then winter's. This time, though, I opted for the Make your own Bloody Mary, over the previously chosen Mimosa. Either way, you can't lose.
I had built this place up pretty high, when explaining it to my most recent companion. Again, i was bringing a friend there for a birthday. After about an hour of grazing and sampling, I asked her, "So?" Did I over sell? Had her expectations been unreasonably high? Nope! Her response was, "I think this may be the best food experience I have ever had." Being that i was on the brink of my own Foodgasm, all I could do was nod. I don't think I can ever fairly list only one "Best." But this does rank up there. She promised me she would take me there for my birthday, which is in May. Spring! another season to eat through!
As a word of warning, this place is not cheap. I am not even sure how much the brunch is. I want to say $65, obviously not including alcohol, etc. But for a truly memorable food occasion, it is totally worth it. And the service remains amazing. The waiter noticed that I gave my friend a card, so he brought over a mini-bday cake when we were eating dessert. If you have the opportunity, go. That's all I can say. Go, and go hungry.
As we started our food journey, my doubt crept back. Every dish had a 7 word name, and certain words just anger me: salsify, foam and jus, when it is preceded by the word pan. But tasting is believing. I am not sure how much influence Chef Lacroix has anymore. I have seen Chef Levin there, fixing dishes, talking to passersby. Chef Levin and the staff are geniuses. Genius almost to the point of insanity. Seriously, you have to check out some of these items:
http://www.lacroixrestaurant.com/menu_and_wine_cellar/menus/Brunch_October_Web.pdf
I returned on the 1st Sunday in October, wondering what would be there, and what would be different. The fall's seasonal offering s were no less spectacular then winter's. This time, though, I opted for the Make your own Bloody Mary, over the previously chosen Mimosa. Either way, you can't lose.
I had built this place up pretty high, when explaining it to my most recent companion. Again, i was bringing a friend there for a birthday. After about an hour of grazing and sampling, I asked her, "So?" Did I over sell? Had her expectations been unreasonably high? Nope! Her response was, "I think this may be the best food experience I have ever had." Being that i was on the brink of my own Foodgasm, all I could do was nod. I don't think I can ever fairly list only one "Best." But this does rank up there. She promised me she would take me there for my birthday, which is in May. Spring! another season to eat through!
As a word of warning, this place is not cheap. I am not even sure how much the brunch is. I want to say $65, obviously not including alcohol, etc. But for a truly memorable food occasion, it is totally worth it. And the service remains amazing. The waiter noticed that I gave my friend a card, so he brought over a mini-bday cake when we were eating dessert. If you have the opportunity, go. That's all I can say. Go, and go hungry.
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