XIX Nineteen

I have been to XIX several times because the location is great and the space is gorgeous. Every time I have gone, the service has been subpar, but last time it was really poor. After ordering, we waited 25 minutes for our drinks, and the cafe was half empty. It took the same amount of time for them to bring us bread. They didn't refill our water glasses once during the entire meal. My advice - if you care about service at all, don't go to this restaurant!

The Cafe sits overlooking the city and is as romantic a rendezvous as you can find in Philly. The best buy here is brunch and lunch with a $30 fixed price for 3 courses. Great burgers, lobster club sandwich, fries, and the best iced tea in town. The Restaurant is classically beautiful with a wonderful raw bar, try the cucubmer, mint gimlet with hendrick's gin and even the pierogies are great.

the food was okay, but not hardly worth the money. Very expensive. My boyfriend and I went there for our 2 year aniversary 150 for both of us. Way too much money but The restaurant is gorgeous. I would only go back for happy hour.

After 38 years of eating out, I feel compelled to write my first review. To sum up the Sunday Brunch: XIX relied too much on the Bellevue name because it surely did not back it up with the food nor service. The brunch was uninspiring. The selection of dim sum, seafood, salads, and fruit can be found at any decent Sunday Brunch. If I’m going to pay $50 I want to find more than the cliché shrimp cocktail and caesar Salad, bagels, and cantaloupe . The service was unacceptable. Perhaps it was an anomaly, but several diners had complaints about the poor service. The most basic of services including refills of beverages, removal of plates, utensils, and condiments had to be repeatedly requested. The salad bar and dessert selecitons were left empty for up to 20 min. The atmosphere, however, was fantastic. Views of the Center City Philly were amazing. The décor was a little stuffy, but it did not exude pretentiousness. Unfortunately, we went there for the full eating experience and were disappointed because the atmosphere could not fully compensate for the disappointing food and service.

My friend and I went to XIX to celebrate a special occasion. We shared a few appetizers, had a couple of entrees and had a dessert. Everything was absolutely amazing. The service was perfect. (A young girl with red glasses waited on us.) She was extremely knowledgable about the food and wine. The prices are very affordable and the food worth every penny. I will be a frquent guest at XIX!

Sunday Brunch at XIX is an exercise in gentiity, grace, and calm in this harried world. The spacious domed rooms are at once impressive and welcoming. The staff is charming, professional, and attentive. Brunch begins with the usual fare, smoked salmon, lovely pastries, beautiful fresh fruit, salads, and (the only discordant note) bottled orange juice. Moving on. . .. to the raw bar where a variety of oysters reside along with salads and jumbo shrimp. The hostess enthusiastically informed us the cocktail and other sauces were made on site! Afterwards an entree is served (we selected eggs benedict on a lump crab cake). The dessert bar boasted a fine assortment of beautiful bite-size offerings from the hands of an accomplished pastry chef. From raspberry tarts, to dessert "cordials" and even various chocolate fantasies (including an excellent opera cake) recommended by the hostess, desserts here are memorable . XIX, is an altogether fine experience. We will certainly be back for dinner! Although having a few dollars set aside to dine here would be beneficial, (and necessary)the quality, variety and quantity of the fare was well worth the price.

On arrival, we were not greeted and nobody knew where the coats could be checked. The menu was nothing like what was published on the website, either as to the food offered or the price. It was the most expensive boring meal we have ever endured. At the price we could have chosen any of a number of Philadelphia restaurants which would have been considerably better. My recommendation to potential diners is, "Go elsewhere"!