Parc Restaurant Review

By Josie Shapiro

Picking the perfect spot for brunch is a foodies weekend priority. There are many aspects that come into play when deciding where to feast after a long week of studying, partying and overall exhaustion. This review will explain why Parc Restaurant should be on the top of your “Places to Try” list. Below, I divide this review into three categories: the food, the atmosphere and the location.

Food

Parc, a traditional French restaurant, has one of the most extensive brunch menus in Philly. The menu is huge, so whether you are in the mood for a classic brunch item or a more typical lunch item, you are in luck. The last time I went was 11 o’clock on a Sunday, so this review will mainly focus on brunch items. The dishes I tried were: the yoghurt parfait, avocado toast, smoked salmon tartine and mushroom tart.

The yoghurt parfait had a raspberry compote, which added a sweetness to the yoghurt and made it a little more special than an average parfait.

The avocado toast came topped with poached eggs and an interesting salsa on the side. I have tried many different avocado toasts since the fad began but none have had a sauce like this before; it worked surprisingly well with the dish! My only complaint with this dish was that the avocado was only sliced on the bread and not actually mashed or seasoned.

Next, the smoked salmon tartine was a good combination of brunch and French cuisine. It had a Horseradish crème fraîche, which made it a bit more unique than other smoked salmon tartines I’ve tried.

Finally, the mushroom tart with Pioppini mushrooms and truffled pecorino. This is probably at the top of my list for mushroom tarts that I have tasted. The crust was flaky and the earthy truffle pecorino paired perfectly with the mushrooms. It was incredibly rich, so I would definitely recommend sharing it.

Atmosphere

No matter how great the food, a restaurant’s atmosphere has a huge impact on one’s overall experience. Parc has big windows that open up the restaurant and brighten it up. It definitely has a French bistro vibe and is quite relaxed, which is perfect for when you are looking for a nice weekend brunch. The people were also all very nice.

Location

One of the big perks about Parc is its location. It is adjacent to Rittenhouse square, which is the epitome of where a Sunday stroll should occur. Walking there from campus is ideal and the area around it is nice for a post-meal walk.