Located at 2031 Walnut Street in the Rittenhouse Square area of Philadelphia, Vernick Food & Drink is an inviting neighborhood bistro. Chef-owner Gregory Vernick, a Cherry Hill, NJ native, focuses on using extraordinary regional products to create a menu of approachable, globally-inspired dishes. The "Drink" side of Vernick Food & Drink features homemade sodas, as well as a carefully crafted selection of domestic and imported wines and beers and perfectly poured cocktails.
"Vernick's has no comparison. From start to finish we were OVERWHELMED. The hostess was very helpful getting us a table on the 2nd floor by the window. The food was outstanding! We had 5 small plates, for each one we couldn't determine which was the best. Beef tartar, braised rabbit, octopus; we clearly were out of our normal comfort zone. The desserts also were fantastic. The service was beyond excellent. Our server Ray guided us through the menu with expertise. Can't wait to go back!!!!!!"
Dined on 6/15/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"We had 7 appetizers and 2 desserts which were all delicious! The grilled romaine, the mozzarella rhubarb salad, barbecued quail, shrimp salad, and although I didn't try the sea urchin my husband loved it. We were seated at the second floor window balcony which was a fun spot. Our waiter was very attentive and pleasant. We will definitely go again!"
Dined on 6/14/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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"The octopus and gulf shrimp salad with chili lime vinaigrette was fantastic! As were the appetizers of quail and grilled asparagus. The noise level was a bit high so there was a bustling atmosphere, a bit hard to hear sometimes -- the decor is lovely casual chic, but the wood floors and open floorplan do not absorb sound well.
Food was superb and would definitely recommend to others who appreciate fine cooking."
Dined on 6/11/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"I've heard so many amazing things about Vernick ever since it opened and I was excited to try it. Vernick delivered on every level. The space is beautiful, the wine list is thoughtful, and the service was perfect. And the food...oh my stars...so many standouts! The uni with egg was definitely a favorite."
Dined on 6/12/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, neighborhood gem, hot spot, special occasion
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"I have had the pleasure to dine at Vernick numerous times. Consistently delicious food, excellent service, wonderful experience. Looking forward to going back soon."
Dined on 6/09/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"Great cocktails, interesting and diverse wine list, and thoughtful, simply prepared, creative dishes from start to finish. Don't miss the sea urchin w/ scrambled eggs, crispy potatoes, or anything from their wood-fired oven. My party of three shared the whole roasted fish and it was perfection. Service was very friendly and professional. A lovely evening well worth the wait for a reservation."
Dined on 6/06/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, hot spot, special occasion
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"Recommended by a favorite server, Ithan at Sovana, we were delighted with each course. Best grilled octopus ever, raw fluke outstanding, crab flat bread full of Maryland crab not filler, sea bass prepared perfectly. Alyssia, our server, was very knowledgeable and made good recommendations. Can't wait until next time!"
Dined on 6/06/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"After reading review after review, thought it was worth taking the 45-minute drive into the city. And boy, was it ever!! Everything about the experience met or exceeded expectations! From the ambiance, to the food...superb! The toast with bacon/peas...y.u.m. My dinner date spared me a bite of her toast with beef tartare w/ horseradish. I'm not a big fan of horseradish, so I still preferred my choice over hers, but still good regardless. We split a small plate of the crispy potatoes, and I had the large plate of grilled black sea bass. The bass was dynamite, as was my date's organic chicken."
Dined on 6/02/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic
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"Bottom line: the food's great! Rough edges snagged an otherwise smooth night, but the food's the experience that matters most. We felt like outsiders in someone else's world - early for 10PM res, long wait past; bartender poured our drinks, left them on the working surface to talk with & clear for insiders at bar as we watched our drinks sit 6' away; while being seated, 2 men at an adjacent table who knew staff decided they liked our table better (AC problem) so they were given it as we watched & we got the "bad" one. Fortunately, waitress / menu / food / wine were all great - highlights: avocado/radish, crab, sea urchin (wow!), trout, bass. But we're not used to being afterthoughts & we don't like it. Don't fuss over us - just respect us."
Dined on 6/01/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list
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"Food is tapas style and changes with the seasons. Don't miss the pea and bacon flatbread if they have it. Service if busy isn't always attentive and we actually drank a whole bottle of wine before our waiter took our order. He kept refilling our glasses as we were busy talking to friends but never stopped and asked if we would like to order . I had to wave at him to finally get him to take it. THis was our second time there and we know this is not normally the case. Food both times we went was great and the flavors are incredible. You can't miss with anything you order ."
Dined on 5/31/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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"This was truly one of the best meals we have had in recent memory. The drinks are excellent, the service perfect, and each dish better then the last. I could have had a second helping of the grilled octopus for dessert."
Dined on 5/25/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, vibrant bar scene, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Vernick has a a really interesting menu, so we chose to have several smaller dishes and then shared an entree, which turned out to be perfect for us. We started with two toasts: one with beef tartare, the other wish fresh morels. Both of these dishes were extremely delicious with distinctive flavors that made them truly unique and special. Then we had two raw dishes that were also delicious - a light hand with flavors that worked perfectly with the oysters and hamachi. Finally, we shared the steamed halibut with mushroom lemon fumet. I said to my husband, "this might be the best dish I have ever had." He argued that we have had many other amazing dishes at our favorite restaurants, but agreed that this was stellar."
Dined on 5/26/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"We encountered no less than seven knowledgeable and polite employees during our dinner from the hostess to the coowner. We enjoyed the chef's 28oz bone in strip steak with potatoes but not before we tried tapas. Toast and Maryland crab was phenomenal. The toast with avocado and spicy radishes was delicious. We left room for dessert and enjoyed baked on premises blueberry pie and gelato. Ahhh, can't forget the cappuccino! A fine dining experience. Vernick's has only been serving for about a year but they're much more seasoned than that and their following shows it."
Dined on 5/24/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"My wife and I had dinner at Vernick on Saturday night and we were both very impressed. We started with the beef tartare on toast and the paperedelle with braised rabbit. The rabbit was absolutely fantastic. For entrees we split the whole chicken, which was slightly too much for two people, but we brought it home and had chicken sandwiches the next day. As someone who never orders chicken, I was very impressed with the dish, especially the romaine lettuce it was served with, which had soaked up all the lemon and chicken flavor when it was roasted.
We will definitely be back."
Dined on 5/18/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"Wow! What a great find for a late Thursday night dinner (10:00). Greeted by a very efficient and friendly hostess, given a table on the second floor overlooking the street and al fresco diners below (great weather with the windows open), sophisticated modern décor, creative and interesting menu, great selection of wine and beer, outstanding - I repeat - outstanding service by Shuli, and everything was delicious. It was our first visit (Philly has so many really good restaurants these days) but this is one we will definitely return to soon. As I said at the beginning - wow!"
Dined on 5/16/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, vibrant bar scene, great for outdoor dining, notable wine list, romantic, late-night find, neighborhood gem, hot spot, special occasion
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"If you're young and enjoy an energetic noise level, you'll probably like Vernick. As our table wasn't ready when we arrived for our reservation, we were asked to wait at the bar. It's impossible to have a conversation in the bar area, and we were not interested in drinking before dinner. The wait seemed exceptionally long. Upstairs was a better experience and the food was great."
Dined on 5/15/2013
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"Based upon Yelp reviews, I expected a unique and refined taste experience to impress my dinner date. Instead we had tuna toast that tasted like an open-faced turkey sandwich, asparagus served on top of an average marinara sauce & potatoes that were more like burnt salty tater tots. The aoili dipping sauce that we requested made the potatoes edible and the octopus was alright. The deceptive menu descriptions and prices had me excited to enjoy more inspired dishes than what was served. On a positive note, the hostess and waitress were both very knowledgeable and accommodating and the ambience was nice."
Dined on 5/10/2013
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"The food and staff were perfect. It was a very enjoyable evening. The couple that own the restaurant work it and talk to their customers. The wife is the hostess who starts the evening off so graciously. The food is very eclectic. We were able to watch the chefs in action as we were sitting by the open kitchen. The husband is the head chef and really knows how to make his patrons happy."
Dined on 4/19/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"We dined at Vernick to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We were seated at a table in the open window upstairs and greeted with a complimentary glass of prosecco. The servers were kind and knowledgable and the wine and cocktails were fantastic. The Cuban is a must for mojito lovers. It's a classy martini instead of a summery drink. The food was disappointing. I wanted so badly to enjoy the meal as it was a very special occasion but everything was overpowered by the burnt grill marks. The toast was not toasted but charred. It overpowered anything potentially delicious on it. While I would recommend the restaurant for its atmosphere and service, I cannot speak highly of our meal. I'd be willing to try other items in the future."
Dined on 4/25/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list
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"I made a huge mistake and ordered the Colorado Lamb Chops special instead of taking the servers recommendation on what the restaurants speciality is which is normally what i do. I was not please with the Colorado Lamb Chops but everything else was excellent, great service, great ambience, excellent beer selections, very happy overall"
Dined on 5/10/2013
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"How can toast be sensational?! At Vernick it is. We savored every, delicious, creative morsel. Celebrated a Birthday, but if you don't have an occasion...make one up. Vernick has it all: Food that you are talking about when you leave, service that is attentive but unpretentious, ambience that is inviting and simple. Stephanie, our server, was terrific and Drew, one of the chefs gave us great tips and even better food!"
Dined on 5/09/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, neighborhood gem, hot spot, special occasion
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"What a wonderful dining experience. The food was unique, special, inventive and fun. Terrific combinations with special ingredients accented plates like rhubarb chutney. Highly recommend getting several small plates to sample lots of his awesome food. Can't wait to go back."
Dined on 5/03/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, neighborhood gem, hot spot, special occasion
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"Every bite is worth savoring. Outstanding chicken livers toast. Glorious pasta with rabbit ragu. Beautifully prepared red snapper. Superb mint sorbet. There was not one misstep."
Dined on 4/30/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, vibrant bar scene, notable wine list, neighborhood gem, hot spot, special occasion
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"Everything we had was fabulous! We ordered lots of appetizers and small plates and each dish had unique favors! Look forward to trying entrees. Fun to go with a few people so you can sample the small plates!"
Dined on 04/28/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"We sat in the bar lounge, so I did not see the main dining room. Food was great, service was very good. Drinks were excellent. They were able to accommodate us early (before our reservation), which was great. Will definitely return next time we're in Philadelphia."
Dined on 04/24/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"LOVED LOVED Vernick. An evening of just small plates and a drink or two ended up with a4 course meal and more drinks. My reservation was at 9:30 but a little birdie told me to come in early and put our name down. A friend dropped in at 6:30 and by 7p we got lucky that a table for 4 opened up tine bar/lounge area. The rest of the night was trying just about everything on the menu. we started with the tuna poke (a must), pea & bacon on toast(delish) beef tartare. Then went ahead and ordered entree, sea bass, halibut, steak and more small plates. Select closeto 11p and spent $90 tip included per person. It was well worth it and we are coming back! Amazing service from the maitre d, to Ryan finding my green button on the floor and chef."
Dined on 04/20/2013
2008
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, late-night find, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, hot spot
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"It's small and can be loud. open table only allows "energetic" for rating noise and it really needs to fix that). Service was outstanding and the wine list was great. Shellfish and seafood roast was really delicious."
Dined on 04/19/2013
2012
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, notable wine list, hot spot
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"The noise level is terrible. Conversation requires very loud voicing. Sounds from the bar travel upstairs to the dining room. On a warm night, the front wall Of the dining room is open to the air which is a nice thought, but sounds from the street then pour in as well - car traffic, horns, sirens, etc. I hope the restaurant reconsiders its furnishings. The ambiance takes away from the ability to appreciate inventive and well-prepared food. Thank you."
Dined on 04/17/2013
2010
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"This was my first visit to Vernick. I HIGHLY AND COMPLETELY RECOMMENDED IT. Our meal was outstanding in all regards. We let our server pick the courses for us and every one was delicious and incredibly complex with different bursts of flavor. BRAVO!!!! I can't wait to return. This is an awesone restaurant."
Dined on 04/17/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion, hot spot
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"we sat downstairs in the open kitchen room. The service was wonderful. Our waiter was very helpful in answering our questions and he was right on with his suggestions. our food was delicious-so well prepared and wonderful tastes. The pea and bacon toast was unreal as was the grilled romaine. I would go back in a minute. Wonderful wine. The cocktails coming from the bar looked great. Everyone who greeted and helped us were so friendly and accomodating."
Dined on 04/16/2013
2012
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion, hot spot
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"Vernick's has an interesting wine list and each dish I ordered tasted OK, but I could not put together a meal that worked as a whole. The server told me that everything from the wood-fired oven was intended for two to share; as a solo traveler I had to choose other dishes. The smoked trout appetizer was delicious, but half a fish was too much with main course coming. I changed the main course to another small plate, which usually works well, but must have made the wrong choice because it did not work as a main course. I talked with the server, who suggested a vegetable side dish, but that, again, was a large dish, not intended to be eaten by itself or by one person. I skipped dessert."
Dined on 04/11/2013
2008
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