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Isabel Reviews List
Isabel
Isabel BYOB is a Mexi-Cali BYO restaurant located just one-and-half blocks from the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the 2601 Parkway condo building. Opened in 2011 by Michael Poole and Van Chau (also owners of Trio one block north of Isabel)
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42 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Rating Breakdown 42 reviews
5 stars
(5)
4 stars
(25)
3 stars
(7)
2 stars
(4)
1 star
(1)
Food
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
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Diners classify this restaurant as:
- neighborhood gem(22)
- fit for foodies(12)
- good for groups(12)
- great for brunch(8)
- kid-friendly(5)
- great for outdoor dining(4)
Isabel Reviews List
Review 1 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
mother's day brunch
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"wonderful setting on fairmount, bright windows, spacious, informal though elegant. food was very tasty, worked for brunch with kids, will be back at night for byob"
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: great for brunch
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Review 2 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Good Food, service was slow
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Reserved a table for 6 and arrived on time. A group walked into the restaurant immediately in front of us (we literally held the door for them). The restaurant seated them at their only table for 6. So, we waited while they scrambled to push two differently heighted tables together to accommodate.
The food was excellent and highly recommended. The service was very slow, but very polite and helpful when available."
Dined on 5/05/2013
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Review 3 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"I love the convenience of this neighborhood gem. Food is always good, although service can be a bit slow. BYOT is a great option."
Dined on 5/05/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 4 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Food is above average for Mexican cuisine. The tortilla soup was good. Guacamole and nacho chips outstanding. Drunken chicken was good. They are a bit pricey. The service was extremely slow last night. The restuarant was understaffed. Only one server for 10-15 tables. Eventually one of the co-owners showed up to help her but it was too late to get us off to a decent start. Very disappointing oversight."
Dined on 5/05/2013
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Review 5 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"This was our first time at Isabel and we will definitely come back. It is a small and casual BYOB but in all good ways. The food was excellent and well prepared. We don't eat at Mexican restaurants too often so I don't have a lot of comparisons but I would say this is by far a cut above, very tasty, delicately seasoned, different and "gourmet" Mexican fare, not your run of the mill. We had a great meal!"
Dined on 5/04/2013
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem
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Review 6 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Food is good and atmosphere
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Food is good and atmosphere is pleasant. This is the second time we have encountered a delay in the kitchen. There was a very long period from when we finished appetizers and when dinner was served. It was not this way for the first year it was opened and it is not clear what has happened since. The only discernable difference we note is that an individual who appeared to be an owner was there whenever we went before but he was not present the last two times we went and experienced service issues."
Dined on 04/26/2013
2006
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Review 7 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Isabel is a great neighborhood
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Isabel is a great neighborhood spot - a little off the beaten path on the ground floor of a high-rise apartment building. Food was outstanding - authentic and flavorful. Will go back again and again!"
Dined on 04/21/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem
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Review 8 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Isabel has some really great
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Isabel has some really great hearty mexican food. The margarita mixes are fantastic and the salsa is amazing. However, the service was just so-so and the temperature of the restaurant was excessively hot. Worst of all, we made an 8:15pm reservation at about 7pm that night hoping to walk right in to a table. When we got there, we were told that we could wait an hour for a table or just sit at the bar and eat. I guess their system does not have a means to remove reservation times when the restaurant fills up. Nonetheless, I will go back for the food."
Dined on 03/30/2013
2009
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 9 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
THis Mexi-Cali byo has great
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"THis Mexi-Cali byo has great california mexican standards and always adventurous specials - usually lots of them. If you have someone with you who doesn't like Mexican (really??!!) there are several entrees that are more american in flavor. We've eaten here many times and love it. BYO tequilla and they have lots set ups for it."
Dined on 03/15/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 10 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Food was good, great for a
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Food was good, great for a BYO. Waitress however was unfriendly from the very beginning, not very attentive, charged us a plating fee for cake when I specifically asked ahead of time if there would be one (and was told there would not be)."
Dined on 03/15/2013
2013
Special Features: good for groups
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Review 11 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Always enjoyable and flavorful
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Always enjoyable and flavorful food. Great housemade margarita mix (BYOT)"
Dined on 03/02/2013
2003
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem
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Review 12 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
The food was very good and
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The food was very good and the food servers very accomodating. We had a large group and it didn't seem to be a problem. It was also reasonably priced. This was what the whole group said."
Dined on 03/02/2013
2013
Special Features: good for groups
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Review 13 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
I was disappointed this time.
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"I was disappointed this time. The appetizer of crab and shrimp was not tasty whereas the last time it was to die for. Duck specialty was ok. My brother had the entree of shrimp and crab empanada or enchilada - again it was ok - not to die for."
Dined on 02/02/2013
2009
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 14 for Isabel
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Absolutely delicious! Every
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Absolutely delicious! Every dish we tried was great. BYOT (Bring Your Own Tequila) for great margarita mixers."
Dined on 02/02/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Isabel
Based on the average of (28) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
7 out of 7 recommend this product
Food
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate