Meritage - PhiladelphiaVery Accommodating and WonderfulI decided to treat my family at Meritage for their 4 course lobster tasting menu. We unfortunately ran into a lot of issues getting there on time due to a ton of traffic in Philadelphia that day. Somehow we were over half an hour late for our reservations because we got stuck in college move out traffic. Even so, they were extremely accommodating and managed to give us a table outside. The food was excellent as normal and service was great. This place is great for a special occasion or casual dining.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMLobster Tasting MenuEnjoyed lobster 4 different ways for an unbelievable offer! Entirely recommended for their annual Lobster Tasting menu.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMLobster Fantasia!!We booked a reservation at Meritage specifically to take advantage of the chef's Lobster Tasting menu. It was over the top!!! If you are a Lobster Lover, this is an occasion not to be missed. Every single course was superb! Can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu.... and we WILL be back..6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMYum!We have had several delicious dinners at Meritage, and would certainly recommend it. The food is creative but not precious, the staff welcoming and on point, the space pretty. It can get a bit loud.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMAll hands on deckWe had a great evening at Meritage. The lobster tasting menu was creative and delicious. Be sure to request Noel as your server.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst ExperienceI kept saying I wanted to try Meritage and I finally had the opportunity. Enjoyed the ambience - It was comfortable,and it definitely was not noisy. Our party decided to share the "Bits", "Small Plates" and one large entree. The chicken liver pate was excellent and left me wanting to order another one, but knew it made sense not to, "less is more". We loved the broth served with the mussels, as well as the mussels themselves. Our main course was the scallops and they were cooked perfectly.
Our server was attentive and the food came out of the kitchen at a nice pace.
Definitely will go back.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat mealOur party of 8 was well accomodated. We got good wine for under $40, my benchmark at a good restaurant. All the dishes were quite good with interesting combinations of flavors. If you have any interest in mussels, get them as a starters, if only for the light curry broth. We shared several starters which were all great. To us, the crabcakes were the weakest dish, as we are used to Chesapeake Bay lump crab meat, but the flavor was good. Go with some starters and then a "small plate", rather than a large plate, unless you are a big eater or just want one thing. The several desserts we tried were all excellent. Dinner for 8 with 2 bottles of wine was about $50 per person. Not too bad for the quality of food. Service was friendly and prompt.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Experience All AroundMy parents and I went to Meritage while they were visiting and had a wonderful time! The food was absolutely delicious - we had the cod cakes, duo of lamb, and duck - everything was fantastic. The wine was great as were our appetizers - deviled eggs, mushroom soup & mixed greens salad. Given the food and experience, it was all very reasonably priced as well.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMI was ther early so the noisI was ther early so the nois level was fine. I'd pu foo, overall, a 7 out of 10.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMMeritage -- a great findThis was our first time there and we took guests from out of town -- everyone enjoyed the appetizers, entrees and desserts.
the chickpeas appetizer was unique and seasoned superbly -- the duck was medium rare and just right; we could not have been happier and the prices are very reasonable (no entree over $26 or so).5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWe hit it earlyWe were almost the only ones in the bar when the Derby was run to a cheering crowd of wait staffers and us. . . pleasant service and a nice range of portion sizes (bites to large plates) gave us a way to share and then cater to our own tastes. I expected a little more surprise in the flavors, but everything was very good. As the evening went on and the room filled up I was glad for the space between tables. Everyone was having a fine Saturday dinner, I could tell.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of our favorite PhiladelphiaOne of our favorite Philadelphia restaurants outdid itself last night. The asparagus salad (topped with egg) we both had was outstanding.
I decided to go with another small plate: the shrimp scampi, which was AWESOME. Andrew did the full-entree cod cakes which he pronounced "special"
Our server was very helpful in deciding what we wanted, and very attentive as to how we were doing; though she became (I'd say from my waiter-years decades ago) overtaxed with tables, and with little apparent back-up, she never forgot us. Unlike our Amada experience Thursday, when the kitchen forgot us, and our server didn't take the hint when we asked after a 10-minute hiatus. So, after waiting more than 15 minutes, we cancelled our last two tapas plates.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMHas never disappointed - cozyHas never disappointed - cozy yet upscale dining that has remained on our favorite list!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMMeritage merits a visitthe wine list was somewhat disappointing, as it was quite limited. the menu was creative, and the food was nicely prepared, hot, and very tasty. No unique winners, but all of the choices were solid and satisfying.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMAn outstanding neighborhoodAn outstanding neighborhood restaurant with excellent food and service. A real gem3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMDined with 6 people for myDined with 6 people for my daughter's birthday. We were promptly seated. All of us tried every course. I had the escargot, duck, and beignets for dessert. Everything was well prepared with great flavors and nice presentation. Service was excellent. Although the restaurant was full, we didn't feel rushed and courses were properly paced. Desserts were some of the best we've had. Only one complaint. Portions were very small. My duck breast was half the size of a portion that I usually get in most restaurants (or it came from a very small duck). Three people had the scallops which were very tasty but small. All-in-all a very nice evening. However, if you have a big appetite, you may leave wanting more.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways very goodConsistently one of the better restaurants in Philadelphia. I have been here multiple times, and I am never disappointed.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMMeritage continues to shine.Meritage continues to shine. They accommodated our fussy eating partner without a hitch, and the food was all around delicious. The mushrooms on verbena polenta was outstanding!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThis little, cozy, relaxedThis little, cozy, relaxed neighborhood restaurant is a great place for a date. The small plates were creative with big flavors and the wine list extensive. Overall, worth repeating on a regular basis to try out all of the specials.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed the special tastingWe enjoyed the special tasting menu on this visit to Meritage. Everything was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. Our server recommended a bottle of wine that paired beautifully with the food. We have been to Meritage several times and always find it to be excellent.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMToo much salad dressing!This is a highly praised restaurant and we went with high expectations. The staff were very pleasant as was the atmosphere. My endive salad was very disappointing--way too much dressing made it inedible and I left it. My husband started with scampi which was delicious. The main course for me was a delicate and delicious cod. Next to it was an potato slice salted beyond recognition, topped with a dollop of spinach. Were these errors related to our going on a Saturday night? It was really a shame to ruin such nice food with these kinds of problems.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMNever DisappointsIn 3 plus years of dining here on a fairly regular basis, we have never been disappointed.
Dishes always well prepared and creative, service is always top notch. Meritage is never a bad option for dining and fairly priced.2/23/2013 12:00:00 AMMy quest for a great lobsterMy quest for a great lobster bisque continues. The lobster bisque was good, but it would have been helped with the addition of some actual lobster. I would still recommend it. The Hudson Valley duck breast was perfectly cooked and tasty. The espresso/chocolate creme de pot was also very tasty. I was disappointed when it was gone. My friend was completely awed by the peanut butter bombe.
All in all, a positive dining experience. I intend to go back.1/29/2013 12:00:00 AM