Vernick Food & Drink

the food was excellent! everything was seasoned nicely and the flavor combinations were thoughtful and fun. the menu has a lot of variety and i’m glad to have tried so many different dishes. the service was excellent and attentive but not overbearing. my only complaint is the space could use a refresh. we sat on the ground floor by the kitchen, there’s no windows and the decor felt a little drab, and the space was pretty cramped.

Wonderful! Can say one of the finest in Philly. Food was spectacular. We ordered a bottle of wine to go with the food and the sommelier was knowledgeable and helpful in choosing the best wine. Our server, Ian, was attentive and friendly and gave us helpful recommendations. Highly recommend.

Amazing service and food! Every element of the dishes are meant to be enjoyed together and were intentionally designed. Highlights were the beef tartare (best I’ve ever had, super tender and a flavorful but fresh at the same time) and the grilled prawns (grilled to perfection with fragrant aroma, paired perfectly with the coconut sauce). The special was uni with squid couscous - a delicious seafood combo for seafood lovers! Not heavy at all. Recommend getting ~6 dishes for 2 people. Ask for the specials of the day. Service was also top notch.

Vernick Food & Drink became one of my top restaurants in Philly after my first visit! The experience from beginning to end was delightful. We were immediately greeted by a host who opened the front door for us. We arrived a few minutes early for our resy, so they sat us at a table downstairs. We had water and menus at our temporary table in less than a minute. I’ve never had a restaurant be so accommodating, usually we just stand until the table is ready. The upstairs was intimate and cozy, with probably about 15 tables or so. Our servers, Brandon and Elijah, were SO helpful and informative about the menu and allergy information. They made a lot of great suggestions, and coursed out the whole meal perfectly. We started with the king salmon. It was an interesting dish because of the texture - buttery salmon, crunchy asian pear in a yuzu kosho sauce that provided some more sweetness and the slightest kick. Delicious! We then had the tuna tartare. My favorite dish of the night and top 3 bite in Philly. The toast had crispy edges but the softest center, and the tuna was high quality. It was on a bed of bonito mayo, which provided a perfect smoky/umami aftertaste. For our entree, we got the grilled sea bass. It was flaky and cooked perfectly, but just a bit unmemorable. The veggies were slightly bland, in no way was it bad though. We would get the 1/2 roasted chicken next time. I’m so glad we saved room for dessert, the chocolate tart blew us away. The rich dark chocolate combined with the creamy vanilla ice cream was a perfect bite. We couldn’t get enough of it. Vernick is a perfect fancy date night spot, birthday/celebrations, etc. as it is on the pricier side but the service and ambiance is immaculate. I am so looking forward to coming back in the future!

As I learned last night, service is not dead at Vernick F&D — not in the slightest. Terrific service, nice lighting and decor. Menu is well edited, and so is the wine list. Standout cocktail was a nightcap — a “Skeleton Key,” apparently a local creation by a member of their talented bar staff, our server noted. Had broc & bean toast, radd salad, the sea bass, and half a chicken (not to be missed). Dessert did not disappoint either. I’d come back again, again after that, then a third time to be sure. A full-on jam.