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A meal at Vernick Food & Drink always feels a little bit like being invited to a friend’s house, if that friend also happened to be one of the most distinguished chefs in Philadelphia. With a choice between the downstairs bar and back dining room or the cozier upstairs space, it’s been one of our favorite spots for a date night since our first visit. We returned recently to celebrate Lance’s birthday, and the meal was exactly what we hoped for.
We sat at the chef’s counter for the first time, which gave us a front-row seat to the wood-fired oven and compact kitchen. The choreography in the small space was hypnotic to watch as the chefs moved among the stations.
There was so much going on in the kitchen, but it was surprisingly quiet. There was no yelling and no shouting “yes, chef.” At least not that we could hear. Seeing the dishes come together was its own kind of entertainment, which was why we selected these seats in the first place.
The modern American menu at this Rittenhouse standout changes with the seasons and ingredient availability, but you’ll always find roasted chicken and grilled fish. The assortment of toasts is also a given and required eating, in our opinion.
Our dinner began with drinks. I chose the Jade Tiger, a blend of rum, Thai lime leaf, saffron, vanilla, and lime. It reminded me of an elevated tiki drink, and the tropical flavors were made smoother thanks to the vanilla. It was so good I didn’t hesitate to order a second. Lance’s non-alcoholic ginger lime soda had an assertive ginger bite. It was delicious, but we thought the $11 price tag was steep.
The amuse bouche was butternut squash soup paired with a cheddar-Gruyère gougère, a savory puffed pastry the size of a donut hole. We stopped ourselves from licking the ramekin of soup clean and used the gougère to sop up every bit instead.
The crab toast came next. It’s had a place on Vernick’s menu since the beginning, but we had overlooked it on previous visits. Our thick slice of grilled sourdough came topped with blue crab, lemon aioli, and tarragon. We always love when a relatively simple dish sings because of the high-quality ingredients. Just as refreshing as the toast was our chilled lobster with charred pineapple, avocado, and pepitas.
The duck breast was the star of the entrée course. Lance’s came with tropea onion, peppercorn jus, and a Bartlett pear mostarda that cut through the richness. My grilled black sea bass was also excellent. Perfectly cooked, it came with sweet potato spaetzle, crispy sunchokes, and a Dijon cream that tied everything together.
We split dessert, which was a caramelized maple pot de crème topped with fig and ginger. It was a flavor combination that we hadn’t tried before and really enjoyed.
Service throughout the evening was polished but not stiff. We always appreciate when servers share what their favorite dishes are or make recommendations based on things we loved on previous visits. Everything flowed naturally—from pacing to plate-clearing—and even with the kitchen in full swing, sitting at the counter felt relaxed.
Every meal at Vernick reminds us why it is one of the city’s most reliable choices for a romantic night out. It’s refined but comfortable and exactly the kind of place we’re always glad to return to.
Vernick Food & Drink is located at 2031 Walnut Street in Philadelphia.