Voted Best Overall Restaurant, Best Food, & Best Service by 2010 Open Table Diners, Marigold Kitchen serves modern American cuisine in the century-old surroundings of University City. Nestled on a quiet, tree-lined block of Victorian houses, Marigold has been providing hospitality for more than 70 years since the first customers were served at the Marigold Tea Room in 1934. Marigold Kitchen serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday, beginning at 6:00pm. Reservations are encouraged.
"The food is fantastic, truly haute cuisine although the neighborhood is a little rough . You can definitely see the Grant Achatz influences in many dishes and the seemingly never ending amuse-buche servings are a pure delight. Enjoy this restaurant now because I expect that chef/owner Rob Halpern will move upscale and upmarket sooner rather than later."
Dined on 5/17/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"There are many restaurants that serve good food that you would go back to but this was something more. Much more. This was a really special experience that I will always remember. The service was tremendous. The timing of delivering the dishes was perfect and the intermettzos were great. So many special tastes. Many restaurants serve lots if bread to fill you up but here they gave you little tastes of so many things that bread wasn't necessary. I could go on and on but you just have to try the place. One of the best meals I've ever had."
Dined on 5/15/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"Such clever and interesting presentation of the meal with an emphasis on local and in season ingredients. Wait staff was extremely friendly and informative. Highly recommend!"
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"The food was excellent. The service was reasonable when the dining room was half full, but suffered for the 45 minutes when all of the tables were filled. It is expensive for dining out in Philly, but the prices are fair for what you receive."
Dined on 5/10/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Great for those who like small bites of many dishes . Creative, yet not too far out. For most, three courses filling with between course treats from the kitchen."
Dined on 5/07/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Food was interesting and very well prepared and presented. Each course was something to talk about. Really appreciated the low noise level and not having to shout to be heard. Would certainly try again."
Dined on 5/07/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"We felt like we were guests on a cooking reality show. The food that was served are things that only seem to be imagined on these competitive cooking shows. It was such a treat. The restaurant is a price fix with 4, 5, or 6 courses. But before your even get your first course they start bringing out all these small bites. The first was dip in dots...ice cream -except it was made from lettuce and vegetables... very yummy and then we had this cauliflower bisque with ham foam - absolutely delicious. And it goes on. It was a real culinary delight. Pricey, but it is a BYOB so it kind of works it self out. Wonderful food, a real adventure. Will definitely go again for a special occasion."
Dined on 5/04/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"My wife and I went there for our 17 wedding anniversary. Marigold is very small and quaint restaraunt. From other suggestions we were told to go with the 4 course menu. I totally agree. The waiter constantly give you little bites between each meal. In fact we must have got 6 little bites before the apetizer was served. We however went with the 5 course meal because I wanted the extra entree. The waiter work their behinds off to serve the main course and the little bites. You may have to slow them down to explain each plate because they say it so fast. Remember it is BYOB. If they had a liqour license the cost would be double. In essense you get great food, great service, great atmosphere at at great price."
Dined on 4/30/2013
Special Features: romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Dinner took 4+ hours - much too long. Some of the molecular gastronomy was interesting - some was just strange and missed the mark. The waiter was beyond disinterested and seemed bored. A good one-time experience, but I wouldn't go back."
Dined on 04/27/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"We cannot figure out why Marigold Kitchen isn't on every top ten restaurant list. The food's absolutely stellar - it's clever, creative, inventive, stimulating, beautiful, delicious, and provided in abundance. The staff are all pleasant, attentive, skilled, knowledgeable and dedicated to your enjoyment of the experience. The setting is simple but not plain - there's a wonderful feel, some great art, and an overall ambiance that complements the meal. The 6 course tasting menu (see website for details) plus several amuse bouches provided a stellar 4 hour experience.
With an experimental kitchen, better glassware, and a bit more polish, MK'd be breathing down the necks of French Laundry and Fat Duck. But we prefer it just as it is."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic
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"A bit out of the way from Center City, but if you come early, there's plenty of street parking. BYOB. Nice townhouse setting with a bunch of small dining rooms. Service is a bit spotty once they get busy. The four course menu is plenty - you get several courses of amuse bouches. Some plates are outstanding, others are just good, and nothing is bad. On occasion, it seems like the chef may be trying too hard - culinary gimmicks trumping flavor. Definitely worth a meal, and probably worth several. We will definitely go back."
Dined on 04/05/2013
2003
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"An unforgettable dining experience. A kaleidoscope of flavors beautifully presented. In addition to the four course tasting menu we ordered, there was a steady stream of beautiful amuse bouches (perhaps 6 or even 7 in total!). Literally one of the best meals I have ever had. Tucked away in a quiet West Philly neighborhood - it was hard to find and we almost walked right by it even while we were looking for it. The beef tartare was amazingly plated with a circle of different accompaniments arranged around it."
Dined on 04/07/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"We enjoyed Marigold: many surprises, mostly good ones. More expensive than some out-of-date review sites indicate, but Marigold's website has the correct information. They only have 4-to-6-course tasting menus that start at $65 per person, and everyone in your party has to order the same number of courses. In between courses, they serve many amuse-bouches that are not on the menu, so you eat much more food than you expect, and the meal lasts for 2+ hours. For this reason, your servers make a lot of trips, and you need reservations even for weeknights. Food was excellent and fun; the menu was confusing even to the waitstaff, and in the end our dessert never came, which was maddening because it would have been so good."
Dined on 04/04/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"The food was interesting, varied, and all tasty. The little amuse bouches and between course creations added greatly to the fun. I have a fairly recently developed lactose intolerance and the server and chef were extremely cooperative and helpful."
Dined on 04/04/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"One of the best meals I have had in years. Great value even at $65 for 4 courses given the other DOZEN amuse bouche and tastes. Telling all my friends and planning to return soon. The experience was a 10"
Dined on 04/02/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion
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"this restaurant is now a fixed price only no a la carte menu. However the $65. 4 courses were outstanding and even more exciting were the MANY little small tastings they surprise you with! We went 2 weeks in a row , it was that good!"
Dined on 03/30/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion, hot spot
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"The meal was amazing. Every amuse-bouche was delightful; every course delicious. The food was dynamic, suprising, and richly flavorful. I would highly recommend Marigold Kitchen without reservation. (Note it's BYOB!)"
Dined on 03/30/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion
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"The inventive take on classic foods (read popcorn, cheese and crackers, smores) was outstanding. The 4-course tasting menu was more than enough food, especially with the plethora of amuse bouche courses throughout the meal. A truly unique and one-of-a-kind restaurant in Philadelphia. Will definitely be returning."
Dined on 03/30/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"Phenomenal. Exceeded all of my expectations. The food was wonderfully innovative, creative and delicious. Definitely a wonderful value and a fun experience. BYO made it even better."
Dined on 03/27/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"This restaurant way exceeded our expectations. The food is marvelous - thoughtful, interesting, delicious. The numerous amuse bouches are delightful - it is BYOB which is even better. Highly recommend$"
Dined on 03/26/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"This was our first visit to Marigold Kitchen, and we will definitely be returning. Our one disappointment, though, was the lack of vegetarian / vegan options in the tasting menu."
Dined on 03/28/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"You go to Marigold for the food, which is innovative, interesting, and irresistible. You should go hungry. You will want to taste everything they put in front of you, and once you taste it you will want to finish it. Plan to spend longer than usual at this dinner. It is an experience, not just a meal. You do not go for the decor, which is funky West Philly. The servers are not crisply attired - they, too, are West Philly - but they are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. On a recent visit, the food was superb. The only flaw was that the dishes came to quickly. We barely had time to finish and savor one before the next was placed in front of us. Given that they were not going to turn our table, this seems something that could be adjuste"
Dined on 03/29/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"Absolutely outstanding! I was in town from Atlanta and was delighted with each new treat that came out form the kitchen - from the beet 'dippin dots' to the seared fois gras every bite was an adventure and a delight. The presentations were beautiful and I took a photo of every dish. there are lots of places where I think "I can do this at home" - this is not one of them Can't wait to go back."
Dined on 03/27/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"Marigold is not just a place to get really good food; it's an experience. I couldn't say enough good things about dining here. Very delicious, kinda crazy food and several times I'd take a bite and then just stop, lean back, and savor the tastes for a while."
Dined on 03/26/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Outstanding special occasion meal. Superb service. Very original and creative presentation. Pacing couldn't have been better. Only regrets were that we haven't made it to this remarkable restaurant earlier."
Dined on 03/24/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"Food was amazing, without fail every single thing we ate was delicious. Service was attentive and friendly without being intrusive. The pacing needs a little work, we would sometimes have multiple tastes in a row and then sit for quite a bit of time before something else came out.
One of the most perfect food experiences I've ever had based on the food alone."
Dined on 03/23/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic
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"We dined at Marigold Kitchen for the first time since Erin O'Shea left. The amuses bouche (amuses bouches?) were extraordinary, extravagant and varied - very much "food chemistry" items and lots of fun. The appetizer of braised beef cheeks also showed extraordinary ability, we both felt that following five or six amuses bouche, a three-part beef cheek preparation with three different sauces was perhaps an overload of being different. What disappointed me tremendously was my main course of halibut topped with bread crumbs and chorizo. The halibut was perfectly poached, but the bread crumbs were wet. Not damp: wet. Fish topped with wet bread is far from appetizing, and spoiled what would have been a very interesting meal."
Dined on 03/19/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic
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"What a pleasant foodie extravaganza in West Philadelphia! The amazing amuse bouches came in a seemingly endless parade before we enjoyed our four course dinner. All were amazing! I would recommend everyone have this experience. The staff was relaxed and unpretentious ... a pleasant experiences."
Dined on 03/02/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Very Disappointing! This place is really rated # 2 in Philadelphia Magazine? The ambience is kind of cozy in an old Victorian home in West Philadelphia, although some of the mustiness was quite noticeable. The first thing that arrived at the table was basket of pop corn infused with what seemed like liquid nitrogen...not exactly what I want to start a gourmet meal with! Then the waiters spend most of the night delivering way too many (maybe a dozen?) bouches - you know, the in-between course treat. They were all marginal and some were horrible. The main courses were fair. We couldn't wait to leave!"
Dined on 03/08/2013
2008
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"Out dinner fell flat. When you get small portions, they have to be spot on and our meal was not. We later learned the head chef was not at the restaurant that night."
Dined on 03/03/2013
2006
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"There is a reason that Marigold Kitchen was listed as the #2 restaurant in Philadelphia by Philadelphia Magazine. From the time you enter the restaurant until the time you leave, it is a unique and special experience.
I can't remember how many amuse bouches the attentive wait staff brought out, but each was fun, beautifully prepared and tasty. Our favorite was the truffled popcorn. I won't spoil the fun surprise, but we laughed while eating it for a full 10 minutes.
Each of us ordered the four course with fresh vegetables, beef, fish and steak.
Bring your own special bottle of wine and have a great adventure. I will be going back!"
Dined on 03/02/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
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"Innovative dishes prepared and served with great attention to detail. Warm, attentive service. Special dietary requests handled artfully. Can't wait to go back."
Dined on 03/02/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"This is the best restaurant we've been to in Philadelphia. Marigold Kitchen has it all: superb, inventive food, a gorgeous setting, and attentive, professional service. We particularly enjoyed the endless stream of amuse bouches, and were sad (yet quite content) when it was over! We hope that Craig LaBan pays a repeat visit to Marigold to give it the 3 bells it deserves."
Dined on 02/23/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"Marigold Kitchen served us an amazing dinner. The tasting menu we ordered was terrific and then throw on the amuse buches provided (a total of 9 throughout the meal) and you have a record setting experience. The development and combination of so many flavors was unlike any other dining experience."
Dined on 02/22/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
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"This is a neighborhood gem indeed! This was definitely the best dinner that my wife and I have had in Philadelphia. They experiment not only with flavor but also with texture and temperature. I would recommend to go with four courses, it is more than enough and it won't break the bank either!"
Dined on 02/14/2013
2005
Special Features: neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"The food was superb. They offer a prix fixe menu (4,5, or 6 courses), and they serve so many wonderful "amuse bouche" plates (10 in total), that your meal becomes a continuous surprising of the palette more than just a dinner. Since it is a BYOB, the price of the dinner ($65 for four courses) is still a bargain. The place is small, however, and the meal takes the whole evening (more than two hours), so you need to make a reservation well in advance - you can't just show up and expect to get a table."
Dined on 02/05/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"Food was amazing and playful. We were served frozen popcorn that was not frozen but that was the only misstep of the evening. Each course was better than the last and we couldn't wait to see what would come out next. The most unique meal I have ever been a part of."
Dined on 02/05/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion
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